Officials investigating possible Election violations
By Chris Tramel
The DeKalb County Election Commission announced last week that it is investigating allegations of illegal practices during early voting in the Smithville Election by persons engaging in voter intimidation, procuring votes, violations of the boundary line and other prohibited actions related to elections and voting.
Election officials say they have unconfirmed reports of violations and they are asking that anyone with knowledge of voter fraud, in any election, to contact the Election Commission at 597-4146 or stop by the office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In a press release on June 12 Election officials say, "Election laws are quite specific about what is allowed and which practices are illegal. Unfortunately, some people have been 'playing the dirty political game' for many years and seem to believe they have the knowledge to circumvent the law or believe themselves to be above the law.
"In accordance with T.C.A. 2-7-111, there is a 100 ft. campaign free zone established at the polling place. Within the boundary, there may be no display of campaign posters, signs or other campaign materials, distribution of campaign materials or solicitation of votes. T.C.A. 2-19-119 specifies that a person is committing a misdemeanor by violating 2-7-111 while boundary signs are posted during voting hours.
"T.C.A. 2-19-115(3)-It is illegal for any person directly or indirectly, personally or through any other person to practice intimidation upon or against any person in order to compel such person to vote or refrain from voting. If someone comes to your residence and refuses to leave until you sign an application for voting or to receive an absentee ballot, they are breaking the law.
"A person is allowed to assist a person to vote, with the person's permission. T.C.A. 2-19-110 states the person giving assistance should not abuse this assistance and should not cast any vote contrary to that voter's wish.
"It is illegal for any candidate to bargain for support according to T.C.A. 2-19-121. That person may not pay, promise or agree to enter into any contract with any person to vote for or support any particular policy or measure. Likewise T.C.A. 2-1 9-1 22 states it is unlawful for any person to demand that any candidate shall promise or agree in advance to support any individual policy or measure in consideration of the vote or support, financial or moral, of such person in any election. T.C.A. 2-19-126 states it is illegal for any person directly or indirectly, personally or through another person to induce voters to vote or refrain from voting by paying, loaning or contributing anything of value, or to offer or promise any place, office or employment in order to induce someone to vote or refrain from voting. It is illegal for anyone to accept any money, gift, loan or other valuable thing, T.C.A. 2-1 9-1 27. This includes food, money, alcohol or anything of value. Trading goods or services to induce someone to vote is also a violation.
"However, 2-19-137 exempts those from prosecution who testify against other persons violating these statutes, except for perjury. If a person has received compensation for voting and tells the truth they will not be liable to indictment, prosecution or punishment for the offense with reference to which such testimony was given."
Officials went on to say, "Elections are the cornerstone of democracy. It has been said that elections are the great equalizer. All votes are counted the same. It does not matter whether you are old or young, male or female, black or white, rich or poor, all votes are equal.”
“The Commission asks that if you have been a party to or witnessed voting irregularities or violations of the voting laws to please contact the DeKalb County Election Commission office and speak with the Administrator of Elections, Mrs. Lisa Peterson. The office is located in Room 104 in the basement of the Courthouse. The phone number is 597-4146 and the fax number is 597-7799."
Tall truck, low bridge
By Chris Tramel
Smithville authorities worked a traffic nightmare last Sunday evening after a tractor-trailer load struck, and damaged, the Veteran's Memorial Bridge. While the crash left no injuries, it did tie up traffic for many hours as officials assessed the damage.
Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker told The Middle Tennessee Times that the troubles began when a tractor-trailer, carrying two large fork lifts, attempted to travel underneath the overpass on West Broad Street at College Street. "The truck missed the first beam under the bridge, grazed the second beam, and struck a third beam," Parker said. "The force of the crash caused the trailer to twist and almost break in two."
Smithville Police and the Smithville Fire Department responded to the scene, along with DeKalb EMS. Parker says that the impact resulted in damage to the bridge, breaking away concrete and exposing the steel frame. "We closed traffic on both sides of the road, and going across the bridge," Parker told The Times. "We wanted to make sure it was safe so we had to reroute traffic until TDOT could come inspect it."
Chief Parker says authorities had to reroute traffic until nearly 1:00 a.m. the following morning. According to officials, the bridge is safe but will need repair.
School Board considering changes to Director's contract
By Valerie Laprad
The DeKalb County Board of Education had a busy week, as they met last Tuesday in their regular monthly session, and then again on Thursday for an informal workshop to consider changes to Director of Schools Mark Willoughby's employment contract.
On Tuesday, Kathy Hendrix, DeKalb County High School Principal, reported to the Board that summer school enrollment was nearly double that from last year. The higher number of students is attributed to the fact that, with grant funds, some transportation is available for students who needed it.
In other business on Tuesday, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby presented his monthly personnel report. Those who have resigned since the last meeting include Rob Robinson, a Special Education Assistant at the DeKalb County High School; Alisha Rice, Christine Rivers, and Eric Helton, teachers at the DeKalb County High School; Barbara Johnson, a teacher at the DeKalb Middle School; Kristen Reagh, the Band Director at the DeKalb County High School; Amy Fox, a Special Education teacher; Carol Hale, a teacher at the DeKalb West School; and Shane Cook, the Transportation Supervisor.
Those who have transferred include Peggy Semmes and Mike Shockley, teachers, transferred to the DeKalb County High School; Penny Bilyeu, Joy Parker, and Tad Webb, teachers, transferred to the DeKalb Middle School; Judy Redmon, transferred to a teacher position at the Northside Elementary School; and Sabrina Farler, transferred to Assistant Principal at the DeKalb Middle School.
Those employed for the 2008-09 school year include Carol Sampley, as a teacher at the Smithville Elementary School; Via Gay Vickers, as a substitute bus assistant; Michael Kingsbury, as driver, Special Education car; Ray Robinson and Wayne Taylor, as substitute custodians; and Kelly Driver, part-time Physical Therapy Assistant.
On Thursday, the Board met again to discuss changes to Director Willoughby's employment contract. Although his current contract runs through June 30, 2009, the Board is considering ending that and re-issuing a new three-year contract with a few changes.
While most facets of the original contract will remain the same, one change would be in regard to health insurance. His current contract provides for the school system to pay 100 percent of his family's health insurance package. Under the new contract, the school system would pay the same percentage for his health insurance as they do for other teachers, but the difference between that and the full family coverage he is receiving now would be added back into his gross pay.
He is still slated to receive an annual three percent raise, pending favorable evaluations by the Board, as well as State and local system increases.
Since Thursday's meeting was an informal workshop, no action was taken on these suggestions. A special called Board meeting has been scheduled for Friday, June 27, 2008 at 7 p.m. in the Board of Education building to officially take action on contract decisions.
Deputies arrest man wanted for questioning in murder
By Chris Tramel
A man wanted for questioning in a Florida murder case was arrested last week in DeKalb County.
DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray told The Middle Tennessee Times that on Tuesday, June 10, 21-year-old Brandon Christopher Pease of Mine Lick Creek Apartments, which is located in the Austin Bottom area of DeKalb County, was arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant. Sheriff Ray says Pease was picked up on a Marion County, Florida, warrant for trespassing in an occupied structure. Pease is also wanted for questioning about a murder in the same county.
According to Sheriff Ray, Pease has signed a waver for extradition and is willing to return to Florida. He is being held under a $10,000 bond in the DeKalb County Jail.
That same day 47-year-old Gary Wayne Cantrell of Page Drive, Smithville, was charged with driving under the influence. A deputy observed Cantrell on Highway 70 East driving in the wrong lane of traffic. After stopping the vehicle Cantrell was given field sobriety tasks on which, according to Sheriff Ray, he performed poorly. Cantrell did admit to drinking beer.
Cantrell's bond was set at $1,000 and his court date is June 26.
On Sunday, June 15, 27-year-old Jason Ross Frizzell of Maple Street, Cookeville, was charged with driving under the influence. Frizzell was pulled over on Highway 56 North and had apparently passed out under the steering wheel of his vehicle.
Deputies had a difficult time trying to wake Frizzell. After waking him up, Deputies thought Frizzell seemed confused and he also had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. Frizzell was administered field sobriety tasks which he failed. He was placed under arrest for DUI and also he was written a citation for an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.
DHS steps up inspections as the weather heats up
Child care providers across Tennessee are being put on notice-keep the children safe during the hot summer months, or face the consequences. The Tennessee Department of Human Services' child care licensing division is conducting its annual summer transportation crackdown. Hundreds of unannounced inspections and surveillances are planned this summer to ensure child care agencies follow DHS licensing rules and keep children safe as temperatures rise. Those caught breaking the rules face a range of penalties, from being put on notice, probation or even suspension of their transportation operation.
Children can suffer sunburn and dehydration after only a few moments inside a closed vehicle during hot, summer weather. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle climb quickly, rising to more than 107 degrees within minutes. Children exposed to such extreme heat can suffer heatstroke, brain damage and death. Four children died in hot child care vans in Memphis between 1997 and 2003.
"Most child care agencies we regulate are working hard to ensure their children stay safe during the hot summer months," said DHS Commissioner Gina Lodge. "Providers are trained on transportation rules every six months. Our counselors are checking in on them this summer to remind them of the detailed procedures that must be followed, correct problems they discover and, ultimately, help prevent tragedies."
The risk of severe injury and even death, however, is not limited to children transported by child-care providers. Extreme heat poses a serious danger to all children. Nationwide last year, at least 35 children died when they were left in hot cars, trucks and SUVs-one of these deaths occurred in Chattanooga. A 15-month old boy was left in his father's car in May 2007.
The Department of Human Services licenses 3,400 child care agencies across the state, and more than 700 of these offer transportation. The majority of transporting agencies are found in Memphis, with 268 providers offering the service. Knoxville has the second highest concentration, with 64 providers transporting, followed by Nashville with 60, Clarksville with 28, and Chattanooga with 25.
Last year, 80 providers were "put on notice" due to serious violations, including failure to have proper signage on the bus and keep proper maintenance records on the vehicle. Six agencies voluntarily suspended their licenses to transport due to critical violations, including failure to conduct proper walk-throughs, having exposed wires in the vehicle and failure to keep transportation logs. Keeping accurate logs helps ensure that providers know exactly where all the children are at all times and that no children are left on the van or bus.
If you witness transportation or other child-care violations, please call the Child Care Complaint Hotline at 1-800-462-8261. This number is posted on every licensed child care vehicle.
For more information on child care licensing, visit:
http://state.tn.us/humanserv/adfam/cc_main.htm. If you see a child left unattended in any closed vehicle, please call your local police department for emergency assistance.
For more information on staying safe in the summer heat, visit the Tennessee Department of Health website at: www.state.tn.us/health .
Education Billboard –
The DeKalb County Board of Education approved funds to rent a large billboard honoring all of this year's seniors who had an average grade of 93 or above. The approximate cost to rent the billboard for a full year was $4,000.
While some people have raised concerns about the cost, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby told The Middle Tennessee Times that he thinks it's a great way to communicate that education does count in DeKalb County. "These students have worked very hard for 13 years and they deserve to be honored for that accomplishment."
He also hopes that the billboard will serve as motivation to other students, adding that he has already heard from parents who want to see their own children on the billboard in upcoming years.
