Edgar Evins, Dunbar Cave State Parks Share Resource Management Award

September 13, 2022
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The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has honored Edgar Evins State Park and Dunbar Cave State Park with Excellence in Resource Management awards after they tied in the category in the annual Tennessee State Parks Awards of Excellence.

“These two parks have shown outstanding commitment to protecting our natural wonders,” said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. “From providing a natural habitat for pollinators to the preservation of a cave, the parks show an understanding of the responsibility we have in protecting the environment, and we are proud to honor both of the parks with this award.”

Edgar Evins State Park last year sprayed, burned and hydroseeded over one mile of roadside with a native mix of 21 different wildflower species to provide habitat for native pollinators. The park now has an abundance of native wildflowers along its roadways and steep banks. The park has seen over one dozen native bee species, four native fly species and over one dozen butterfly species working the habitat.

Dunbar Cave State Park was honored for its management of Native American cave art in Dunbar Cave, particularly the Mississippian-era art. Tours of the cave allow approximately 8,000 people annually to view the art. However, the floor was being eroded, so park management partnered with Girl Scout Troop 2434 and the Tennessee Division of Archaeology to construct a raised platform over the sensitive part of the cave. The viewing platform eliminates risk from future foot traffic and prevents visitors from inadvertently touching cave walls. With a new lighting system, these steps ensure the park will be able to share the Native American art for generations.

The Resource Management category for the award includes parks that have demonstrated effective activities, natural or cultural, in managing resources within the park. Those activities can include but are not limited to invasive species management, historic preservation, rare species, inventory, landscape restoration, habitat enhancement or protection, pest management, and oral history collection.

TDEC has also announced awards for the best state parks in the following categories: Johnsonville State Historic Park for Customer Engagement; Henry Horton State Park for Interpretation; and Alvin C. York State Park for Innovation. Radnor Lake State Park was named Park of the Year as well as winning the award in Sustainability.

September 13, 2022
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Artisans and vendors will descend upon Walnut Street in Historic Downtown Smithville on Friday, September 16, for the first Art Walk. The street will become a safe-walking pedestrian area, akin to a European Street Fair, with the festivities occurring from 6pm-10pm.

A variety of local and regional artists (visual arts, woodworkers, luthiers, etc.) are slated to attend, as an MTSU Jazz Trio performs in the street. This event is free and open to the public, with local food and beverage options available for purchase. A private collection of artworks, including an authentic Pierre-Auguste Renoir, will be on display at one of the businesses.

Thierjung, resident artist at TTU’s Appalachian Center for Craft, is helping The Shoppes on West Walnut assemble artists and students, so there’s no doubt you’ll see top-notch pieces.

Confirmed artisans slated to exhibit:
• Gerry Smith Burklow – Felt/ Paper Mache
• Lara Cottrell – Painter
• Karyn Walker – Mixed Media
• Susan Thornton – Jeweler
• Marcella Roe – Painter
• Kerry Judkins -Acrylic/ Oil Landscapes
• Tony Luna – Lakescape Photographer

If you’re interested in becoming a vendor, please contact Karyn Walker at 615-438-6062, or
karynwalkerart@gmail.com.

September 12, 2022
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Beginning with the 2024 election cycle, DeKalb County voters will be casting ballots on new voting machines that will include a “Voter-verifiable paper audit trail.”

(See video below)

The DeKalb County Election Commission voted Monday night to purchase the machines from the Microvote Company, the county’s current vendor. The commission’s action will comply with a law passed by the legislature earlier this year requiring that on or after January 1, 2024 “each voting machine used by a county election commission must produce a voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT).” As defined, a VVPAT means “a paper record that is marked either manually by the voter or with the assistance of a devise that includes human-readable voter selections that the voter may check for accuracy before the vote is cast.”

The purchase price for 32 machines and necessary supporting equipment totaled nearly $150,000. The Secretary of State received an appropriation of $15 million in the 22-23 budget and those funds, along with existing Help American Vote Act funds, are to be used for the counties to purchase the new equipment. The new machines will not be made available for use until 2024.

“We are very appreciative the state is providing funding for these machines and are excited to provide voting machines that will have a brighter, colorful screen and will give the voters another method of checking their selections for accuracy,” said Commission Chairman Walteen Parker.

“There will be very little learning curve for the voters,” added Administrator Dennis Stanley. “The new machines are basically a newer, more modern version of the machines we have now and will include the VVPAT. The short learning curve for voters and our machine technicians was an important factor in the commission choosing these machines.”

“This is just another step toward the on-going efforts of election integrity,” Stanley continued.

Tennessee was recently ranked Number 1 in the Country in election integrity by The Heritage Foundation and all election officials on the state and local level are very proud of that accomplishment.”

More information on Tennessee’s efforts to “protect the ballot box” can be found at https://sos.tn.gov/elections and selecting the Tennessee Election Integrity tab under Election News.

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