Edgar Evins State Park is celebrating National Trails Day on Saturday, June 2 with a new Hillside Story Book Trail, new aviary and a party and you are invited to join in the fun.

A ribbon cutting for a new kid friendly half mile story book trail will take place along with the unveiling of the newly built aviary next to the Interpretive Center at the park. Read, Exercise, and Explore. The new trail combines a children’s nature story with the thrill of being in the great outdoors. Come see how one of nature’s miracles grows from a tiny egg to a flying jewel as each sign posted at intervals along the trail reveals more of the story, based on the book, Where Butterflies Grow, by Joanne Ryder with pictures by Lynne Cherry.

Miss Tennessee’s Outstanding Teen, Mary Humphrey of Jackson will help Ramble, the Tennessee State Park mascot, cut the ribbon on the new trail. Miss Humphrey, whose slogan is “Pages With a Purpose”, has been campaigning across the state promoting literacy.

Guided and unguided hikes will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the Story Book Trail.

Giant pages of the book will be posted on signs at intervals along the trail for youngsters to enjoy. Guides on the tour will help children with their level of reading. The purpose of the Story Book Trail is to stimulate young readers as well as to encourage them and caregivers to enjoy an outdoor experience together. The trail was built by volunteers and park staff as a project of the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park.

The project is endorsed by the Governor’s Books From Birth Foundation, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Ready to Read, Tennessee State Parks, and Friends of Tennessee State Parks Conservancy. Representatives will be on hand to sign up children from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to receive free books monthly from the Imagination Library. Refreshments and party favors will be available along with crafts to make and other activities for the children in addition to the trail and aviary.

The aviary is the Girl Scout Gold Award project of Smithville’s Neely Evans, Troop 1146.

“We are proud of Neely and what she has achieved! Come admire this outstanding aviary and enjoy the birds,” said Fount Bertram, President of Friends of Edgar Evins State Park.

“Spearheaded by the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park with help from park staff, this trail has finally taken shape after over a year of planning and working together. We wish to thank the park staff and many others also for the opportunity to complete and present this trail to the children and families visiting the park. Among these are the Cookeville Children’s Museum, the Public Library Systems for DeKalb, Putnam and Smith counties for their help with games and activities for this event as well as the Friends of Tennessee State Parks and the Tennessee Trails Association for grants of money to help defray costs. Thanks also to the many volunteers of all ages who jumped in to help construct the trail from scratch on the hillside, including members of Tennessee Trails Association, Smithville Brownie Girl Scout Troop 3094 under the leadership of Tanya Hale, and the young men of the former Smithville Boy Scout Troop 875 under the leadership of Cameron Beal, and others,” added Bertram.

The Friends of Edgar Evins State Park is an all-volunteer organization with the sole purpose of helping the park. For more information about contributing money or time please visit our website at www.foeesp.com or Facebook at Friends of EESP.

A man who got drunk and unruly at a party early Sunday morning was arrested for driving under the influence after being asked to leave the premises.

33 year old Brian Quirino of West Lawn Drive, Goodlettsville will make a court appearance on June 14 for DUI and a second offense of driving while license revoked.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Sunday, May 20 a deputy was dispatched to a residence in the area of New Home Road due to an unwanted guest. Quirino was attending a party at this residence but after becoming confrontational with everyone there, he was asked to leave but refused to go.

Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Quirino who was unsteady on his feet. Quirino’s speech was slurred. His eyes were bloodshot and he had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. He admitted to having been drinking all night. The deputy requested that he get a ride home and to return for his vehicle the next day. He agreed and called for a ride. The officer remained at the residence until Quirino’s ride arrived. After the driver picked up Quirino, the deputy observed Quirino get out of that vehicle and into his own automobile. The officer witnessed Quirino jump a ditch as he tried to drive away on New Home Road without his headlights on. The officer immediately pulled over Quirino and placed him under arrest. Quirino refused to submit to field sobriety tasks. A computer check revealed that Quirino’s license were revoked and that he had a prior charge against him for the same offense, driving on a revoked license.

29 year old Timothy William Patrick of Tobitt Road, McMinnville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on June 14.

Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, May 14 a deputy responded to Old Bildad Road due to an unwanted guest trying to enter a home. Upon arrival the officer found Patrick on the back porch of the victim’s house. He was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. He admitted to the deputy that he had used methamphetamine. Patrick was placed under arrest.

57 year old Sammy Gene Taylor of King Ridge Road, Dowelltown is charged with domestic assault. He is under a $3,000 bond and his court date is June 14.

Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, May 16 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on King Ridge Road, Dowelltown due to a physical domestic. A woman told the officer that her boyfriend, Taylor busted a window out of their home, crawled inside, and grabbed her by the arm. She had recently undergone surgery on that arm. Taylor was placed under arrest.

48 year old Eddie Lee Carter of Joppa Road, Walling is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is June 14.
Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, May 19 a deputy was dispatched to Pates Ford Marina due to an intoxicated person. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the suspect, Carter who had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person. Carter was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred.

29 year old Noe Francisco Ambrocio of Fall Creek Drive, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. He was further cited for driving on roadways laned for travel and driving on a revoked license. His bond is $3,000 and his court date is June 14.

Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, May 20 a deputy stopped a vehicle for failing to maintain its lane of travel. He spoke with the driver, Ambrocio whose speech was slurred. His eyes were glossy and bloodshot and he had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on him. Ambrocio submitted to but performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tasks.

Northside Elementary 4th grade student, Yvette Chivers, daughter of Stephany Chivers, was awarded First Place in the Farm Bureau Women’s State Poster Contest. This announcement came on Saturday, April 21st during the 71st Annual Farm Bureau Women’s State Leadership Conference held at the TN Farm Bureau Building in Columbia, TN.

The subject of this year’s poster contest was “FARM TO FORK.” This is an annual contest to promote education in the use of agriculture in daily living and its effects on the economy. Yvette received a $200.00 cash prize.

Yvette is pictured third from left with her winning poster. All 4th Grade Students are eligible to enter this contest. DeKalb Farm Bureau wishes to thank all those who entered the contest and the school system for allowing us to promote this on our county level.