News
Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections Underway
November 19, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, announces that the 2020 FSA County Committee elections are underway as ballots were mailed to eligible voters in Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 2 (DeKalb County) on November 2nd. LAA # 2 generally includes the Alexandria, Helton, Temperance Hall, Liberty, Dowelltown, Dry Creek, Dale Ridge, and Snow Hill communities.
December 7, 2020 will be the last day to postmark voted ballots returned by mail, or to deliver voted ballots to the local FSA office.
Grant Williams was the only candidate nominated for LAA # 2 during the 2020 nomination period. Mr. Williams has been certified as an eligible candidate and is currently completing his first 3-year term on the DeKalb FSA County Committee. Grant owns and operates a farm in the Dale Ridge Community where he produces livestock and hay.
Write-in nominations can be accepted on ballots. However, the write-in nominee must meet eligibility criteria and attest to his or her willingness to serve, if elected, by signing a nominating petition. Agricultural producers were encouraged to submit candidate names during the nomination period that ended August 1, 2020.
“The FSA county committee system is unique among government agencies because it allows producers to make important decisions concerning the local administration of federal farm programs. All eligible farmers and ranchers, especially minorities and women, are encouraged to get involved and make a real difference in their communities by voting in this year’s elections,” says Green.
To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs. A person who is not of legal voting age but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm can also vote.
Eligible voters in DeKalb County LAA # 2 who did not receive a ballot can obtain a ballot at their local USDA Service Center. December 7, 2020 is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than December 7, 2020. The DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee will meet on December 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. to canvass and tabulate the ballots. This meeting is open to the public. The newly elected committee member and alternates take office January 1, 2021.
Grand Jury Indicts 46 People
November 19, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Forty six people were indicted in various crimes by the DeKalb County Grand Jury Monday and they are scheduled for arraignment in Criminal Court December 8.
Those indicted and their charges are as follows:
Crystal Michelle Baker: Possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule V drug (Gabapentin), simple possession of a schedule II drug (3 counts), simple possession of a schedule VI drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Michael Loyd Ballinger: Auto burglary, vandalism over $1,000, and theft over $2,500
Lavar Kinte Bass: Driving on a revoked license (9th offense) and retaliation for a past action
Christopher Elliott Bradshaw: Burglary, theft over $1,000, and vandalism under $1,000
Henry Thomas Butler: Aggravated burglary, burglary, theft over $2,500, and auto burglary
Christopher Gene Burchett: DUI and violation of the implied consent law
Fred Thomas Dowell, Jr.: DUI, driving on a revoked license (3rd offense), and violation of the open container law
Bennie Ted Evans: Aggravated assault
William Doyle Flarity: DUI (2nd offense)
Samantha Bee Florida, Jonathon David Thomas, and Kenneth Adam Wright: Aggravated burglary (2 counts) and theft over $2,500
Royce Avoin Foster: Burglary, theft under $1,000, and vandalism over $1,000
Steven Ray Foster III: Aggravated burglary, theft over $1,000, and theft under $1,000 (2 counts)
Krisann Rene Garmer: Filing a false report
Caroline Rose Guffy: DUI, violation of the implied consent law, and DUI per se
Jamie Lynn Hall: Fraudulent use of a credit card
Amanda Kay Hamilton: DUI (2nd offense, violation of the implied consent law, and introduction of contraband (oxycodone) into the county jail
Gabriel James Hesson: Theft over $1,000
Travis Michael Jenkins and Patrick Ryan Goolsby: Possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule I drug (Heroin) and possession with intent to sell or deliver over 0.5 grams of a schedule II drug (Methamphetamine)
Hope Leigh Lachenauer: Theft under $1,000
Charlotte Elaine Malone and Crystal Gail Malone: Manufacturing marijuana
Melisha Rena Martin: Theft under $1,000
Amanda Lynn McClure: Assault
Harry Carlson McIntosh: Domestic assault
Micah Daniel Murphy: DUI and evading arrest
Bobby Ray O’Conner, Jr. Aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Gregory Michael Patton: Aggravated burglary, theft under $1,000, auto burglary, and theft over $10,000
Shawn Bradley Patton: Reckless driving, evading arrest and reckless endangerment
Stephen Brandon Pirtle: DUI and DUI per se
Gary Christopher Ponder: Fraudulent use of a debit card
Terri Lynn Poss: DUI and DUI per se
Danny Ray Prater: Theft over $1,000
Robert Joseph Salyers: Aggravated assault
Michael Andrew Snyders: Aggravated burglary and vandalism over $1,000
Jessica Lee Steinbach: Auto burglary, theft over $2,500, burglary, and theft over $1,000
Joshua Allen Stubblefield: DUI and DUI per se
Jason Alexander Sturdivant: Evading and driving on a suspended license
Benjamin Theodore Taylor: DUI (2nd offense) and DUI per se
Jonathon David Thomas: Theft under $1,000 and criminal trespassing
Michael King Williams, Jr.: DUI, DUI per se, evading, possession of a handgun while under the influence, and aggravated assault.
Justin Glynn Vandergriff: DUI (2nd offense)
Ismael Vicente Viel: DUI and DUI per se
Ryan Lee Walden: Aggravated burglary (3 counts), theft over $2,500, theft under $1,000 (2 counts), auto burglary, and possession of burglary tools
Steven Michael White: DUI
No Jury Trials will be conducted in Tennessee until at least February due to COVID-19
November 18, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
No Jury Trials will be conducted in Tennessee until at least February due to COVID-19.
The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an Order Tuesday, November 17 suspending jury trials from November 23, 2020 through January 31, 2021, unless an exemption is granted by the Chief Justice. The order is in response to the increased number of COVID-19 cases in the state.
In response, Criminal Court Judge Wesley Bray issued the following memorandum on Wednesday, November 18 to all the Circuit Court Clerks in the 13th Judicial District including DeKalb County and to the District Attorney General and District Public Defender Offices:
“In an effort to keep the “wheels of justice” moving and conform to the Supreme Court of Tennessee’s Order Extending State of Emergency and Suspending Jury Trials dated November 17, 2020, please know that I am available to schedule Zoom pleas, hear motions and to set and hold Bench Trials. Should you wish to do any of the above, or have suggestions to further your matters, please feel free to contact my office. I, truly understand the gravity and effect this Order has on the private practice of law. Please understand my office is prepared to facilitate moving matters forward within the confines of the new Order,” wrote Judge Bray.
Jury trials were previously suspended from March 13 – July 3, 2020. In addition, the Tennessee Supreme Court Order directs judicial districts to revisit and strictly adhere to their previously approved reopening plans; reiterates that the Court’s July 9 Order mandating face coverings for all persons who enter the courthouse for court-related business is still in full effect; encourages video conferencing whenever possible; reminds judges and attorneys that they have an ethical obligation to comply with Court Orders and the reopening plans drafted by the judicial districts; and prohibits anyone with COVID-19 from participating in an in-person proceeding. In addition, the Order directs judges to schedule and conduct in-person hearings in a manner that minimizes wait times in courthouse hallways, which often have limited space for social distancing.
The court’s order is designed to protect all of the participants in the judicial system and the public at large while keeping the courts open and accessible to carry out essential constitutional functions and time-sensitive proceedings. This is the Court’s sixth order related to the pandemic since it declared a state of emergency for the judicial branch on March 13, 2020.
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