Local Petition Drive Seeks to Force Public Referendum on Bond Issuance of up to $65 Million for Judicial Center/Jail

June 26, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A local petition drive has been launched seeking to force a public referendum after the county commission Monday night approved an initial resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds not to exceed $65 million for the development and construction of a judicial center/jail.

The petition must be filed within the next 20 days bearing signatures of at least 10% of the registered voters of DeKalb County in order for the protest to proceed to a referendum. Should there be a referendum, it would be on the issue of the bonds and not the tax levy which has been established for the 2024-25 fiscal year by the county commission.

Jon Slager, a DeKalb County native and Lascassas resident and attorney, said he is assisting with the petition drive.

In a prepared statement, Slager said “I have been approached by numerous residents of DeKalb County about assisting them with a referendum petition regarding the bond resolution passed on Monday. The bond resolution was a tie vote, but the County Mayor did cast a tie breaking vote in favor of the bond resolution”.

“The people that have contacted me are from every end of the political spectrum,” said Slager. “I think people realize that this is not a political issue, but a taxpayer issue. It is difficult for an average person to even imagine borrowing sixty-five million dollars. The people that have asked me to help are worried about DeKalb County incurring this amount of debt and how it will handcuff the county moving forward with funding for other needed building projects. I would even be willing to say that these bond and tax issues have generated more interest in county government than anything in recent memory,” Slager continued.

“The process to try to stop the bonds from being issued begins and ends with a referendum petition. This is a petition that has to be signed by registered voters of DeKalb County. Based on the amount of support, there will be a booth at the DeKalb County Fair for the rest of the week where citizens can go to sign the petition. The booth will be near the Alexandria Lion’s Club food booth. I encourage every registered voter to come by during the fair and sign the petition so that the bond issue can be placed on a ballot and voted on by the citizens of DeKalb County. If you do not get a chance to sign the petition at the fair, there will be some future announcements, likely on Facebook and other social media sites, that will provide locations and times that citizens can sign the petition at local businesses. This petition appears to be the only remedy for the taxpayers to seek, so the level of importance cannot be understated. Also, there is a limited amount of time to obtain these signatures, so time is of the essence,” said Slager.

The Initial Resolution as adopted by the county commission Monday night states as follows:

“Be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of DeKalb County, Tennessee (the “County”) that for the purpose of providing funds for the (i) acquisition of land for, design, site, development, construction, improvement, renovation, repair and equipping of County buildings, including but not limited to a County jail and judicial center and related facilities, (ii) acquisition of public safety and emergency response vehicles and equipment; (iii) payment of legal, fiscal, administrative, architectural and engineering costs incident to any or all of the foregoing; (iv) acquisition of all property, real and personal, related to the foregoing (collectively, the “Projects); (v) reimbursement to the appropriate fund of the County for prior expenditures for the foregoing costs, if applicable; and (vi) payment of costs incident to the issuance and sale of the bonds authorized herein, there shall be issued payment of costs incident to the issuance and sale of the bonds authorized herein, there shall be used bonds, in one or more series, of said County in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $65,000,000, which shall bear interest at a rate or rates not to exceed the maximum rate permitted by applicable Tennessee law at the time of issuance of the bonds, or any series thereof, and which shall be payable from unlimited ad valorem taxes to be levied on all taxable property within the County”.

“Be it further resolved, by the Board of County Commissioners of DeKalb County, Tennessee that the County Clerk be, and is, hereby directed and instructed to cause the foregoing initial resolution relative to the issuance of not to exceed $65 million general obligation bonds to be published in full in a newspaper having a general circulation in the County, for one issue of said paper followed by the statutory notice, to wit:

NOTICE

“The foregoing resolution has been adopted. Unless within twenty (20) days from the date of publication hereof a petition signed by at least ten percent (10%) of the registered voters of the County shall have been filed with the County Clerk protesting the issuance of the bonds, such bonds will be issued as proposed”.

June 26, 2024
By:

State Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville, today encouraged eligible religious organizations in Cannon, DeKalb, Jackson, Smith and Wilson counties to apply for a state grant to increase security at their campuses.

A total of $750,000 in Houses of Worship Security Grant funding will be distributed statewide by the
Department of Safety and Homeland Security. The funds can be used to pay for contract security personnel for eligible 501(c)(3) religious organizations including churches, synagogues, temples and mosques.

“Tennesseans should be able to freely practice their faith without fearing for their safety,” Hale said.

“It is essential that these locations have adequate security in place to protect the many worshipers they serve.

I encourage every eligible organization to apply for this important funding should an emergency unfortunately occur.”

The 2024-25 Houses of Worship Security Grant is a competitive grant with a 12-month period, disbursed
through a Tennessee cost reimbursement grant contract. The maximum award amount is $100,000.

Completed applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on July 12. Additional information about the
grant program, including how to apply, can be found on the Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s website at www.tn.gov/safety/homeland-security/grants.html.

State Rep. Michael Hale represents House District 40, which includes Cannon, DeKalb, Jackson, Smith and
part of Wilson counties.

June 26, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The 2024 Little Miss of the DeKalb County Fair is Jazmin Perez of Smithville

The 4-year-old daughter of Joel Perez and Blanca Jones, Jazmin won the crown Tuesday night during the annual pageant at the fair in Alexandria which featured 17 contestants.

Perez, who was also named Miss Congeniality, succeeds the retiring Little Miss Westyn Elyse Roller, the 7-year-old daughter of Jordan and Kari Roller of Smithville.

Meanwhile Samuel Keith Griffin is the 2024 Little Mister of the Fair. He is the 5-year-old son of Casey and Luke Griffin of Alexandria. Samuel succeeds the retiring Little Mister Bentlee John Myers, the 6-year-old son of Crystal Stibil of Smithville.

First runner-up in the Little Miss Pageant was Eloise Hendrix of Dowelltown, the 5-year-old daughter of Jared and Jennifer Hendrix.

Rozlyn Marie Prichard, 6-year-old daughter of Mark and Amanda Prichard of Smithville was second runner-up.

5-year-old Hattie Donnell of Alexandria was judged Most Photogenic. She is the daughter of Travis and Amber Donnell.

Others in the top ten of the Little Miss Pageant were Elliott Quinn Prichard, 4 year old daughter of Mark and Amanda Prichard of Smithville; Oaklyn Grace Ferrell, 5 year old daughter of Keith and Devon Ferrell of Smithville; Anna Lee Brelje, 5 year old daughter of Andy and Whitney Brelje of Alexandria; Ellie Chapman, 6 year old daughter of Taylor and Josh Chapman of Smithville; Thea Kate Emberton, 4 year old daughter of Josh and Katie Emberton of Smithville; Laurel Cait Kilgore, 5 year old daughter of Colby and Taylor Kilgore of Smithville; and Elizabeth Mary Sue Gammons, 5 year old daughter of Amanda Ford of Smithville.

The 2024 DeKalb County Fair’s Mrs. Fair Queen is 27-year-old Mariah Faith Kilgore of Smithville. The pageant was held Tuesday night.

Kilgore, who was also named Miss Congeniality, succeeds the 2023 Mrs. Fair Queen, 50-year-old Cindy Taylor of Smithville.

Mariah described herself as follows: “I am a wife and mother of two. I own my own business Hair by Mariah as a Master Barber Stylist. I am a flower farmer and enjoy spending time with my family. I home school my oldest baby and I am a member of The Baptist Tabernacle Church of Christ”

First runner-up and Most Photogenic was 39-year-old Andria Lee Graham of Smithville. Andria said “I am a radiologic technologist at Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital. I take X-rays and CTs of people to help make them feel better. I am also a wife and mother of two girls named Alexis and Aleeya who keep me busy running to practices and ballgames. I love living in DeKalb County because everybody is a friend and there is a lot of hospitality in our town”.

51-year-old Shelia A. Tiner of Sparta was second runner up. She said “I have been married for 26 years to my love of 31 years. I have two kids and 5 grandkids. I strive to live my life for Jesus and let His light shine through me. My hobbies are church activities, spending time with my grandbabies and crafting”

The 2024 Senior Fair Queen of the DeKalb County Fair is 59-year-old Tammy West of Smithville.

West won the title during the annual pageant held Tuesday night at the fair in Alexandria. She succeeds the retiring queen 72-year-old Betty Davis of Smithville.

“I am 59 years old and married to the love of my life,” said West. “We have been married almost 11 years. I have two beautiful daughters. I am also about to be a mimi for the first time. I enjoy reading, traveling, and photography as well as cross stitch. It is an honor to represent my wonderful county as Senior Fair Queen,” said West.

First runner up in the pageant was 77-year-old Margie Ann Williams of Alexandria. She described herself as follows: “I am married for 30 years to Gary Williams. I am the mother of five boys and two girls. I have 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. I was born in Smithville but raised in Chicago, Illinois. I am the oldest of 18 children. I have been a caregiver much of my life. I am a member of the Malone’s Chapel Baptist Church,” said Williams.

57-year-old Teresa Faye Winchester Stanley of Smithville was second runner up.  She was also named Most Photogenic “I am a super proud Christian single mother of one grown son named Ross and the nanny of one granddaughter named Alexis. I am a former seamstress, a Tennessee state nurse technician, and a quality auditor by trade. I am now retired enjoying cooking/baking, keeping a tidy home, and weightlifting. I am an active church and community volunteer,” said Stanley.

56-year-old Vonda Brown of Smithville was name Miss Congeniality. Her sister Wanda Redmon of Smithville was also in the pageant.

Brown said “I am married to Glen Brown of Smithville. We have two children, five grandchildren, and a lapdog. I enjoy singing, spending time with family and serving the Lord. I attend the Smithville First Freewill Baptist Church and I volunteer with the Last-Minute Toy Shop. I love to laugh and try to be a comedian. I have two goals. I try to accomplish every day to put a smile on someone’s face and to learn something new no matter how big or small”.

Redmon described herself as follows” What about Wanda Redmon? She writes she is a 56-year-old-young, Christian who attends Smithville First Freewill Baptist Church. She has been involved with many non-profit organizations during her lifetime. Currently, she is a volunteer and founding board member with Last Minute Toy Shop of DeKalb County. She is the Ambassador for Mary & Martha Products. She said one of the blessings she has is having the ministry on Facebook, called FISH-Faith Inspired Shares Hope, where she shares devotionals. She will tell you that she has had many troubles and trials in her life. She has found that with studying and reading her Bible and helping others, she has found that when they rain down, all she does is take her umbrella and turn it upside down. Why may you ask? To capture all the blessings and lessons she receives from them”.

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