Fire Danger Limits Burn Permits Across Tennessee Today

January 31, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Burn permits will not be issued today across much of the state including counties in Middle Tennessee, the Cumberland Plateau, and parts of East and West Tennessee. A forecast for strong winds and the low relative humidity increase the risk for a controlled debris burn to become a wildfire.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry will not be issuing any burn permits online today. The Division will issue permits by phone in some counties, provided certain conditions are met. The county phone number directory is available at burnsafetn.org/phonepermit.html.

The Division of Forestry evaluates debris burning conditions daily. According to the National Weather Service in Nashville, gusty south winds exceeding 30 mph will develop today. These winds, along with low relative humidity values, will elevate fire danger conditions throughout Middle Tennessee. Rain will return to the area on Thursday, with a mix of rain and light snow possible in the Upper Cumberland Thursday evening.

A burn permit is required by law for outdoor debris burning from October 15 through May 15 and is only issued when conditions are conducive to safe burning. The permit is free. If you live inside city limits, there may be additional restrictions. Check with your municipality before you burn.

When permits are issued, the following tips should be followed to conduct a safe debris burn:

– Check with local authorities to make sure there are no local restrictions on burning, especially in cities and towns that have their own burn permit system.

– Notify your local fire department and neighbors of your plans to burn.

– Do not burn on windy days and stay abreast of changing weather conditions.

– Establish control lines down to bare mineral soil at least five feet wide around burn piles.

– Keep fire containment equipment on hand during the fire (e.g. rake, shovel, water).

– Stay with the fire until it is completely out.

Visit www.BurnSafeTN.org for additional tips to burn safely and to protect your community.

Since first employed in the early 1990s, the Division of Forestry’s burn permitting program has successfully reduced the number of escaped debris burns by effectively communicating with citizens as to where, when, and how to conduct a safe debris burn. You will find more information about the Division and its programs at www.tn.gov/agriculture/section/forests.

January 31, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Another outstanding DCHS softball player has signed a letter of intent with Cumberland University of Lebanon to play collegiate ball after she graduates here.

17 year old Kristena Bain, a senior, put pen to paper Wednesday at the DCHS library. Members of Bain’s family, coaches, and fellow players joined her for the occasion.

Cumberland is a member of the Mid-South Conference affiliated with the NAIA.

“The reason I chose Cumberland University was because the school is local and they have a good athletic program and a good nursing program and that is what I plan to major in,” said Kristena.

“I believe Kristena is our fourth or fifth athlete from DeKalb County. We have always had good players from DeKalb County High School and we expect the same from her,” said Assistant Cumberland Varsity Coach and Head JV Coach, Stephanie Theall. Heather Stanfill is the Head Coach at Cumberland.

Tigerette Coach Danny Fish said he is very happy that Kristena will have a chance to play softball at the collegiate level.

“She has been a very hard worker over her career here playing for the Tigerettes. She has come a long way. I can remember hitting with her when she was in the sixth grade and it was a goal of hers to be where she is at today. She is a very goal oriented athlete. She has been behind the plate for us the last three years and she will be back there again this year. We expect good things out of her. She is a very charismatic leader and she really puts everything she has in what she does. Offensively, she swings the bat pretty well but we’re going to ask her to step up her game this year. We want her to get a lot more at bats. Defensively behind the plate we thought we would have a problem when Dani Meadows graduated but she (Kristena) has really slipped into that (role) and been a relentless worker and teammate and because of that we are here today. I am very happy for her. This is a good moment for Kristena,” said Coach Fish.

Before she heads off to college, Kristena has one more high school season in front of her and she is looking forward to it.

“I hope to put in some big hits this season and score some runs and I hope our pitching game steps up and we all hit the way we are supposed to,” said Kristena.

Coach Fish said the DCHS Tigerette softball season begins March 12. “We open up with district play right away and then we will jump into a tournament. We have a really tough schedule this year. We’re going down to Gulf Shores during spring break. It should be an interesting year. We graduated a lot of seniors last year and all of them are playing at the college level now so we have big shoes to fill but our seniors know what it takes to win and I am hoping they will lead the team by example and that we will have a chance to be back where we normally are at the state tournament,” said Coach Fish.

Kristena was joined at the signing by her parents, Bobby Rader and Ann Rader; DCHS Tigerette head coach Danny Fish and assistants Melissa Ruch and Tim Jared, Cumberland Assistant Coach Stephanie Theall; Randy Farnsworth, Kristena’s summer travel league ball coach, along with her brothers and fellow Tigerette teammates.

January 30, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Election Commission has released an updated list of persons who have obtained and filed qualifying petitions for either the May 1 DeKalb County Democratic Primary or the August 2 DeKalb County General Election.

ISSUED FOR AUGUST ELECTIONS: (*) MEANS RETURNED AND VERIFIED

*JIMMY POSS—MAYOR OF SMITHVILLE (INCUMBENT)-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*JOSH MILLER—MAYOR OF SMITHVILLE –PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
BRANDON COX-SMITHVILLE ALDERMAN
JASON MURPHY—SMITHVILLE ALDERMAN (INCUMBENT)
GAYLA HENDRIX—SMITHVILLE ALDERMAN (INCUMBENT)
*DWIGHT MATHIS-LIBERTY MAYOR (INCUMBENT)-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*DARRELL JOHNSON—LIBERTY MAYOR-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
EDDIE DWAYNE BLAIR–LIBERTY ALDERMAN (INCUMBENT)
JASON RAY–LIBERTY ALDERMAN (INCUMBENT)
*DEREK JOHNSON—LIBERTY ALDERMAN- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS—LIBERTY ALDERMAN (INCUMBENT)
J.D. BRATTEN-LIBERTY ALDERMAN (INCUMBENT)
DANNY PARKERSON—SCHOOL BOARD 1ST DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)
JERRY WAYNE JOHNSON—SCHOOL BOARD 2ND DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)
ALAN HAYES—SCHOOL BOARD 2ND DISTRICT
C.D. (CARL) WEBB—SCHOOL BOARD 2ND DISTRICT
ORVIL HENDRIX—SCHOOL BOARD 2ND DISTRICT
JIM BESHEARSE—SCHOOL BOARD 3RD DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)
KATE MILLER—SCHOOL BOARD 4TH DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)
SHAUN TUBBS—SCHOOL BOARD 7TH DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)

PETITIONS FOR MAY 1 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

*JAMES (JIMMY) POSS—COUNTY COURT CLERK (INCUMBENT)- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*BRADLEY HENDRIX—COUNTY MAYOR- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*MIKE FOSTER—COUNTY MAYOR-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*TIM STRIBLING—COUNTY MAYOR (INCUMBENT)- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*RANDY PARIS-COUNTY MAYOR- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED FOR AUGUST 2 GENERAL ELECTION AS INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE
MICHAEL AGEE—SHERIFF-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*JIMMY SPRAGUE—ROAD SUPERVISOR- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED (CERTIFED WITH TENNESSEE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS CERTIFICATION BOARD)
*NICOLE WRIGHT—CIRCUIT COURT CLERK- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*MARK MILAM—CIRCUIT COURT CLERK-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*JEFF MCMILLEN—REGISTER OF DEEDS (INCUMBENT)-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*JULIE YOUNG—COUNTY COMMISSION 1ST DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*NORA HARVEY—COUNTY COMMISSION 2ND DISTRICT- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*JOE JOHNSON—COUNTY COMMISSION 2ND DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
MYRON RHODY—COUNTY COMMISSION 2ND DISTRICT
*JACK BARTON—COUNTY COMMISSION 3RD DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*BOBBY JOHNSON—COUNTY COMMISSION 3RD DISTRICT- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
JONATHAN NORRIS–COUNTY COMMISSION 4TH DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)
*WAYNE CANTRELL—COUNTY COMMISSION 4TH DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*SCOTT LITTLE—COUNTY COMMISSION 4TH DISTRICT-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*BOBBY TAYLOR—COUNTY COMMISSION 4TH DISTRICT. PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*JANICE FISH-STEWART-COUNTY COMMISSION 4TH DISTRICT
ANITA PUCKETT—COUNTY COMMISSION 5TH DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)
*LLOYD EMMONS-COUNTY COMMISSION 5TH DISTRICT. PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
WILLIAM RUTHERFORD-COUNTY COMMISSION 5TH DISTRICT- PICKED UP PETITION TO RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE AUGUST 2ND
*BETTY ATNIP—COUNTY COMMISSION 6TH DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*JEFF BARNES—COUNTY COMMISSION 6TH DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*KEVIN ROBINSON—COUNTY COMMISSION 7TH DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*LARRY SUMMERS—COUNTY COMMISSION 7TH DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)-PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
*BETH PAFFORD—COUNTY COMMISSION 7TH

DISTRICT- PETITION RETURNED AND VERIFIED
POTENTIAL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR AUGUST 2, 2018

PATRICK RAY—SHERIFF (INCUMBENT)
SUSAN MARTIN—CIRCUIT COURT CLERK
SEAN DRIVER—TRUSTEE (INCUMBENT)
DANNY HALE—ROAD SUPERVISOR (CERTIFED WITH TENNESSEE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS CERTIFICATION BOARD)
REED EDGE—ROAD SUPERVISOR
TOM CHANDLER—COUNTY COMMISSION 1ST DISTRICT
SABRINA FARLER—COUNTY COMMISSION 2ND DISTRICT
GREG MATTHEWS—COUNTY COMMISION 4TH DISTRICT
JERRY ADCOCK—COUNTY COMMISSION 5TH DISTRICT (INCUMBENT)
MATT ADCOCK—COUNTY COMMISSION 6TH DISTRICT
BRUCE MALONE—COUNTY COMMISSION 7TH DISTRICT

The last day candidates for county wide offices and the county commission may qualify to run is NOON February 15, 2018. That applies to Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.

DeKalb County Democrats will be nominating candidates in a primary set for May 1. Republicans will nominate candidates by caucus on Sunday, February 11. Nominees of both parties and any independents will run in the August General Election. Winners will take office September 1 and serve for four years.

Thursday, February 1 is the deadline for sheriff candidates to file an affidavit of qualification with the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) and for county road superintendent candidates to file an affidavit of qualification with the Tennessee Highway Officials Certification Board.

The following county offices are up for election in 2018: Road Supervisor, County Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff, Register of Deeds, County Clerk, and Trustee and for the county commission in each of the seven districts (two per district for a total of 14).

The qualifying deadline for five school board seats, municipal elections in Smithville, Dowelltown, Liberty, and Alexandria, and for the August state primaries is noon April 5.

Up for election in August will be school board seats in Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7.

City seats up for grabs in August are: In Smithville the Mayor and two aldermen positions; in Dowelltown three aldermen seats; in Liberty the Mayor and five aldermen spots and in Alexandria the Mayor and four aldermen positions including one alderman to fill a two year unexpired term.

State primary races in August will include State Senator in District 17, State House in District 40 and 46, Sixth District Congressman, Governor, and US. Senator.