Pody Sets Priorities for Upcoming Session

January 6, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

NASHVILLE – State Sen. Mark Pody discussed Friday his priorities for the 2019 legislative session as the General Assembly prepares to convene Tuesday, with passage of a fiscally conservative budget at the top of the list.

The legislature meets to organize the 111th General Assembly on Tuesday when Pody, R-Lebanon, and 17 other senators who were elected in November will take the oath of office as the first order of business.

“Tennessee is ranked among the top financially managed states in the nation,” said Pody. “Conservative budgeting and a healthy rainy day fund, which is the state’s savings account in case of a downturn in the economy, is a big part of that success. Our healthy financial status has also been a key contributing factor to helping us recruit industry and jobs to Tennessee. Like families across our state, we need to save in the good times to ensure that if an economic downturn or emergency occurs in the future, we have adequate reserves to keep our state in good stead. Currently our rainy day fund at $861 million, is shy of the $1 billion our financial experts maintain is needed to be prepared and I would like to see us fill that gap.”

In other budgeting matters, Pody said he would like to see Tennessee better prepare and compensate primary teachers as the state strives to improve the quality of education.

“Studies show that teachers matter more to a student’s academic performance than any other aspect of schooling,” Pody said. “We must ensure that our students are prepared for the classroom. We have made great strides in improving teacher pay over the past several years, and I want to see those efforts continue to move forward in 2019, as well.”

Another top issue for Pody is to provide law enforcement officers in Tennessee the chance to retire after 25 years of service. He said he plans to draft legislation in the Senate that would give them that option.

On criminal justice reform, Pody said he supports efforts to reduce recidivism in Tennessee prisons.

“We need to give those who have served their time a better chance at a fresh start. At the same time, any reform of the criminal justice system should be efficient and place as small a burden on taxpayers as possible, while maintaining strong protections for public safety,” he said.

In addition, Pody said he supports efforts to propel progress in Tennessee’s rural communities, including expansion of broadband accessibility and better health care access to those who are underserved.

“I am very excited about Gov.-elect [Bill] Lee’s plans to meet the needs of rural Tennesseans and to extend opportunities to all of our citizens. I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in the General Assembly to address the needs of the state’s rural communities,” he said.

Pody also called for passage of legislation to eliminate Tennessee’s professional privilege tax. The $400 tax is an annual charge levied on individuals who have an active license to practice professions such as accountants, architects and engineers.

“Tennessee is one of only six states which imposes a professional privilege tax. This burdensome tax puts those who practice a wide variety of professions in our state at a disadvantage. This tax should have never been imposed and should be eliminated,” Pody said.

January 5, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Alexandria Police arrested a woman last week for shoplifting from the Dollar General Store.

25 year old Brandi Nicole Morgan of Lebanon is charged with theft of property and resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search. She was also cited for simple possession of a schedule IV drug. Her bond totals $5,000 and she will be in court January 17.

According to the arrest warrant, Officer Josh Arnold was dispatched to the Alexandria Dollar General Store on Sunday, December 30 in reference to shoplifting. Central dispatch informed Officer Arnold that the suspects, a male and female, had just left the store and were walking on High Street.

“I located a female on High Street matching the description from central dispatch. Upon speaking with her, Morgan she consented to a search of her person. Upon conducting a consent to search of her bag several items were located and later identified as items stolen from the Dollar General Store. Those items included one bag of Gain Flings, two fast Bites Cheeseburgers, one 20 ounce bottle of Dr. Pepper, one Tracfone phone card, one bag of pistachios, and four Nature Valley Granola bars. All of the items recovered totaled $34.45 before tax. She admitted stealing the items listed,” wrote Officer Arnold in the report.

A search of her backpack revealed one and a half round light blue pills believed to be diazepam.

While attempting to detain her in handcuffs, Officer Arnold said Morgan became very belligerent and pulled her hands away to prevent being handcuffed. She was subsequently placed in custody and taken to the jail for booking.

January 5, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Lady Tigers scored a huge non-district victory Friday night handing the 3rd ranked White County Warriorettes their first loss of the season. The final score was 78 to 68.

White County came into the game 16-0. With the win the Lady Tigers improve to 12-4.

The Lady Tigers trailed 13 to 10 after the 1st period but grabbed a 32 to 29 lead at halftime and led 50 to 40 after the 3rd period before going on to win 78 to 68.

Kadee Ferrell scored 26 and Lydia Brown 25 in leading DeKalb County to the victory. Kenzie France, Emme Colwell, and Joni Robinson each scored 6. Mya Ruch 5 and Mallori Hart and Maddison Parsley each with 2.

Meanwhile the Tigers fell to the Warriors 80 to 43 dropping to 1-15 on the season. White County improves to 13-4.

The Tigers trailed 21 to 15 after the 1st period, 34 to 27 at halftime, and 57 to 33 after the 3rd period before losing 80 to 43.

Nathan Atkins scored 12, Dallas Cook 7, Lucas Hale and Nathaniel Crook each with 4, Josh Carlton and Tanner Poss each with 3, Colter Norris, Brayden Howard, Luke Jenkins, Hayden Thomas, and Dakota White each with 2.

DeKalb County will host Upperman Tuesday night and travel to Macon County next Friday night. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

Girls District 8AA Standings as of January 5:
DeKalb County: 12-4 (4-0)
Macon County: 15-4 (4-0)
Upperman: 13-3 (4-0)
York Institute: 6-8 (2-2)
Livingston Academy: 8-11(1-3)
Watertown: 7-10 (1-3)
Cannon County: 10-7 (0-4)
Smith County 5-8 (0-4)

Boys District 8AA Standings as of January 5:
York Institute: 11-2 (4-0)
Livingston Academy: 12-6 (4-0)
Macon County: 7-11 (3-1)
Watertown: 12-5 (2-2)
Upperman: 11-4 (2-2)
Cannon County: 8-10 (1-3)
DeKalb County: 1-15 (0-4)
Smith County 1-11 (0-4)

The remaining schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, January 8: Upperman*-Home 6 p.m.
Friday, January 11: Macon County*-Away 6 p.m.
Tuesday, January 15: Smith County*-Away 6 p.m.
Friday, January 18: York Institute*-Away 6 p.m.
Tuesday, January 22: Livingston Academy*-Home 6 p.m.
Friday, January 25: Watertown*-Away 6 p.m.
Tuesday, January 29: Cannon County*-Home 6 p.m.
Friday, February 1: Upperman*-Away 6 p.m.
Tuesday, February 5: Macon County*-Home 6 p.m.
Thursday, February 7: Smith County*-Home 6 p.m.
Friday, February 8: Monterey-Home 6 p.m.

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