Inspectors of the Tennessee Highway Patrol visited the DeKalb County School Bus Garage Monday to conduct an unannounced spot check of buses in the fleet.

Ten percent of the system’s buses were randomly inspected by State Troopers Darryl Winningham and Craig Wilkerson to ensure that they are being properly maintained. All passed inspection. An annual inspection is done for three days in January but unannounced spot checks, such as the one Monday, are conducted during the year.

The DeKalb County School System has 36 buses including 4 substitute buses.

“We do a complete level one inspection on the buses. We go from the bottom to the top and inside, outside but the biggest thing we’re looking at is the tires to make sure they have proper air inflation and for tread depth wear. We look at the steering boxes. We make sure there’s nothing wrong with the tie rods and ball joints. We check the exhaust system for leaks. We also check the lighting system and anything that has to deal with the stop signs for when the children are unloading and loading to see that they are working properly,” Trooper Wilkerson said

Jimmy Sprague, Transportation Supervisor for the DeKalb County School System said he is pleased with the results of the inspection and gave credit to the bus drivers and mechanics Michael Agee and Justin Coats.

The DeKalb County Fair is bringing back one of its most popular attractions.

The Demolition Derby will be Tuesday night, July 17 at 7 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena.

“This is probably the biggest attraction we have this year. I have more people asking questions and talking about it more than anything else we have this year,” said Jeff McMillen, member of the Fair Board.

According to McMillen, the Derby will feature three classes paying out more than $4,000.

“We have three classes, a stock V8 1980 and up class . We have a Ford six cylinder stock front wheel drive class and we have a mini-van/ small truck class. If anyone is interested you can find a set of rules on our website at www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com.,” said McMillen

“This year’s demolition derby is an event where people can actually fix a car and not have a lot of money in them to enter. We have a new guy doing our derby this year, Tim Burton from the Baxter area. He does the Smith County Fair, White County Fair, and a lot of other fairs around and helps them. He is a good guy,” added McMillen.

The Fair begins its annual weeklong run Monday, July 16 through Saturday, July 21 in Alexandria.

Other events during the week at the T.C. McMillen arena include the Bullwhip Rodeo on Monday night, July 16 at 7:30 p.m.; ATV and Motorcycle Racing on Wednesday and Thursday, July 18 & 19 at 7 p.m. each night; and Antique Tractor Pull on Friday night, July 20 at 7 p.m.; and a Super Tractor and Truck Pull on Saturday, July 21 at 7 p.m.

Cash drawings will be held each night at 9:30 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion.

Programs scheduled at the Lion’s Club Pavilion during the week include:

*Junior Fair Princess Pageant Monday night, July 16 at 6 p.m. followed by the Fairest of the Fair pageant and the first round of the Lip Sync battle.

*Little Mister and Miss pageants on Tuesday night, July 17 starting at 6 p.m.

*Little Miss Princess pageant on Wednesday, July 18 at 6 p.m. followed by the Miss Sweetheart pageant

*Senior Day Activities on Thursday, July 19 at 9 a.m.

*Baby Show on Thursday, July 19 at 6 p.m. followed by Vintage Variety Show

*Toddler Show on Friday, July 20 at 6 p.m. followed by the Lip Sync Battle Finale

*Gospel Singing on Saturday, July 21 at 6 p.m.

Events at the Grandstands or Tot Kelly Barn:

*Cattle Show on Monday, July 16 at 6 p.m.

*Poultry Show on Tuesday, July 17 at 6 p.m.

*Corn Hole Tournament on Tuesday, July 17 at 7 p.m.

*Kiddie Tractor Pull on Wednesday, July 18 at 7 p.m.

*Junior Goat Show on Thursday, July 19 at 6 p.m.

*Horseshoe Tournament on Saturday, July 21 at noon

Memory Lane Stage Events:

*Sassy Smithville Stompers on Monday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. followed by Bryan Keith at 7:45 p.m.

*The Back Porch Pickers on Tuesday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m.

*Youth Alive presented by the Smithville Assembly of God on Wednesday, July 18 at 7 p.m.

*Glenn Carpenter on Thursday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m. followed by Terri Lynn Weaver at 7:45 p.m.

* Elvis impersonator on Friday, July 20 at 6:30 p.m. followed by Dessa Ray at 7:45 p.m.

*Donny Barthelemy on Saturday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m. followed by Jesse Claxton at 7:45 p.m.

For more details about the fair visit www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com.

Early voting begins Friday, July 13 through July 28 for the August 2 elections.

Voting will be conducted on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

The times are as follows:

Mondays—1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesdays—9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesdays—9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursdays—2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Fridays—9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturdays—9 a.m. to noon.

Four contested races for county-wide public offices will be settled with the DeKalb County General Election on Thursday, August 2.

Those races are for County Mayor, Sheriff, Road Supervisor, and Circuit Court Clerk.

The lineup of candidates as they appear on the ballot are as follows:

County Mayor: Democrat Tim Stribling and Independent Randy Paris

Sheriff: Republican Patrick Ray and Democrat Michael Jay Agee

Circuit Court Clerk: Republican Susan Martin and Democrat Nicole Wright

Road Superintendent: Republican Danny L. Hale and Democrat Jimmy Sprague

Others running unopposed are as follows:

Trustee: Republican Sean D. Driver

County Clerk: Democrat James L. (Jimmy) Poss

Register of Deeds: Democrat Jeff McMillen

The winners will take office September 1.

Each of the seven county commission district races will be contested in the DeKalb County General Election on Thursday, August 2.

The lineup of candidates in each district as they appear on the ballot are as follows:

1st district: Republican Tom Chandler and Democrats Dennis Slager and Julie Williams Young. Two are to be elected.

2nd district: Republican Sabrina Farler and Democrats Nora Harvey and Myron Rhody. Two are to be elected.

3rd district: Republican Renee Steff and Democrats Bobby G. Johnson and Jenny Trapp. Two are to be elected.

4th district: Republican Greg Matthews and Democrats Janice Fish-Stewart and Scott Little. Two are to be elected.

5th district: Republican Jerry D. Adcock, Democrats Lloyd F. Emmons and Anita Puckett, and Independent William Millard Rutherford. Two are to be elected.

6th district: Republican Matt Adcock and Democrats Betty Jean Atnip and Jeff Barnes. Two are to be elected.

7th district: Republican Bruce Malone and Democrats Beth Pafford and Larry Summers. Two are to be elected.

The winners will take office September 1.

The Smithville Municipal Election will feature a contested mayoral race on Thursday, August 2.

The candidates for Mayor as listed on the ballot are Josh Miller, Jimmy W. Poss, and Curtis L. Rust.

Two alderman candidates are running unopposed, Brandon J. Cox and Gayla C. Hendrix.

The winners will take office September 1. The terms are for four years.

The Liberty Municipal Election also has a contested Mayor race on August 2.

The candidates are Darrell W. Johnson and Dwight Mathis.

The five alderman candidates are unopposed including Dwayne Blair, J.D. Bratten, Derek Johnson, Jason H. Ray, and William Howard Reynolds, Jr.

The terms are for four years.

Three aldermen are to be elected in Dowelltown but only one name appears on the ballot, Ronald L. Griffith. The terms are for four years.

Three aldermen and a mayor are also to be elected in Alexandria but only one name for alderman appears on the ballot Lloyd Dale Dyer. Two other persons plan to mount a write-in campaign for alderman including Shane Blair, an incumbent, for a full four-year term and Bridgette Rogers, for a two-year term that fills a vacancy.

There is no name on the Alexandria ballot for mayor although two persons Bennett Armstrong and Donna Davis are planning a write-in campaign for that office.

The mayor’s term is for four years.