Edgar Evins Seeks Support in Tennessee State Parks Competition

January 10, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee State Parks, including DeKalb County’s Edgar Evins State Park, are accepting donations throughout the month of January for the annual My TN State Park fundraiser, which helps local parks fill specific needs.

(Click link below to donate)

https://tnstateparks.com/events/details/#/?event=my-tn-state-park-ee-22

State Park enthusiasts can vote for their favorite state park by making contributions to their favorite, with each dollar donated counting as one vote for that park.

The funds will go toward projects identified by park staff as an ideal use of the funds, including trail repair, birds of prey programs and childhood education activity.

“At Edgar Evins State Park, if we can raise at least $1,000 we plan to work on our butterfly corridor,” said Park Manager Brad Halfacre. “You’ll notice as you enter the park, we have planted some native wildflowers and grasses on the steep hillsides, and we will put some signage up about that. If we can raise as much as $2,500, we will do some work and signage on the Dunham Cemetery trail and gravesites. If we raise up to $5,000, we will do some work to our aviary putting in some signage about the birds of prey and wingspans. Children love those wingspan signs where they can measure their wingspan with the birds of prey we have onsite. These are ways we have thought of to spend the donation money we raise. Of course, we accept donations all the time here at the park but for this month only we will be seeking donations just for this fundraiser. We have signs throughout the park with QR codes so that when you visit the park, climb the tower, or come by the office or gift shop, you can access that QR code and your donation goes directly to this challenge,” said Halfacre.

“We know many Tennesseans feel a connection to their state parks, and this is a way for them to feel even more involved with their favorite park,” said Jim Bryson, deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “Our parks enjoy wonderful support, and we are always eager to improve the park experience for our visitors. This competition helps make that happen.”

Those interested in voting for their favorite parks may donate at the Tennessee State Parks website. Signs about the fundraiser are up at every park.

The format has the 56 state parks categorized in three separate groups based on park visitation numbers. One group is for parks with up to 350,000 visitors annually, another for parks with 350,000-750,000 visitors, and a group for parks with over 750,000 visitors. The parks compete against the other parks in their category with the winning park in each group awarded a plaque featuring the names of its donors. Lists of the groups are online.

Tennessee is one of only seven states in the country to provide free access to its state parks. The fundraising competition provides a way for individuals or communities to get involved further. Last year, the first year of the contest, donors gave over $96,000 to the parks on nearly 3,000 contributions. Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville won the first competition with $14,287 in contributions from over 200 donors. Full results from last year are available online.

Each park will receive 100 percent of the funds donated for it. Funds from last year’s competition went toward items such as pollinator gardens, security cameras, an outdoor fitness station and equipment and clothing for a living history program.

The My TN State Park fundraiser sprang from the surge of visitors to Tennessee State Parks at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a way to show support for the park that “kept them going” in 2020.

This year’s voting will continue until Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m.

January 10, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A total of 52 persons interested in running for county offices in either the May 3, 2022 DeKalb County Democratic or Republican Primary or as an Independent in the August General Election have picked up qualifying petitions from the election commission.

According to the election commission office, the following persons have been issued petitions:

Democratic Primary:

County Mayor- Mike Foster and Timothy Robert “Tim” Stribling (Incumbent)

General Sessions Court Judge-Margie Rigsby Miller and Tecia Puckett Pryor

Register of Deeds– Shelby D. Reeder

Road Supervisor-Wayne Shehane

County Commissioner, District 1– Julie Ann Young (Incumbent)

County Commissioner, District 2– Billy Myron Rhody (Incumbent)

County Commissioner, District 3– Jack E. Barton, III, Susannah Cripps Daughtry (Incumbent), and Jenny A. Trapp (Incumbent)

County Commissioner, District 4– Janice M. Fish Stewart (Incumbent)

County Commissioner, District 6– Michael Paul Atnip, Jeffery K. “Jeff” Barnes (Incumbent), Danny L. McGinnis

County Commissioner, District 7– Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Pafford (Incumbent)

Board of Education (School Board), District 1– Robert D. (Danny) Parkerson, Jr. (Incumbent). Parkerson also obtained a petition to run as an independent candidate for School Board, District 1 but he can only return one petition to the election commission to run either as a Democratic Candidate in the May Primary or as an Independent Candidate in the August County General Election.

Board of Education (School Board), District 4– Dr. Scott Little

AUGUST GENERAL ELECTION:

County Commissioner, District 3– Robert Anthony “Tony” Luna- Independent

Board of Education (School Board), District 7-Emitt Shaun Tubbs (Incumbent)-Independent candidate

Republican Primary:

County Mayor– Matthew N. “Matt” Adcock, Bradley S. Hendrix, Anita T. Puckett

Sheriff-Patrick R. Ray (Incumbent) and Keneth Lee Whitehead

General Sessions Court Judge-Mingy Kay Ball and Brandon J. Cox

Register of Deeds– Daniel A. Seber

Road Supervisor-Danny Lynn Hale (Incumbent) and Shane Walker

County Clerk- James L. “Jimmy” Poss (Incumbent)

Circuit Court Clerk– Susan L. Martin (Incumbent)

Trustee-Sean D. Driver (Incumbent)

County Commissioner, District 1– Bennett Armstrong and Thomas E. “Tom” Chandler

County Commissioner, District 2– James David “Jim” Pearson and Sabrina R. Farler (Incumbent)

County Commissioner, District 3– Joshua Brown Chapman

County Commissioner, District 4– Tony L. “Cully” Culwell and Gregory S. “Greg” Matthews

County Commissioner, District 5– Jerry Adcock (Incumbent), Larry L. Green and Joshua E. Holloway

County Commissioner, District 6– Justin Douglas Adcock

County Commissioner, District 7– Boyd Bruce Malone, (Incumbent) and Trevin Merriman

Board of Education (School Board), District 2- Thomas Alan Hayes (Incumbent) and Matthew J. Quarles

Board of Education (School Board), District 3-Jim Beshearse (Incumbent)

Board of Education (School Board), District 7-Ryan Wayne Mollinet

The Election Commission has also received the proper duplicate petitions (to appear on the May Republican primary ballot) from William T. “Will” Ridley for Circuit Court Judge Part 1- 13^th Judicial District and Wesley Bray for Criminal Court Judge Part II 13^th Judicial District.

Offices on the May primary ballots include: County Mayor; Road Supervisor; Sheriff, General Sessions Judge; Circuit Court Clerk; County Clerk; Trustee; Register of Deeds; County Commissioner in all seven (7) districts (2 can be nominated per district); School Board members in districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7; Constable in District 4 to fill a vacancy; Circuit Court Judge Part I and Part II (13th Judicial District); Chancellor (13th Judicial District); Criminal Court Judge Part I and Part II (13th Judicial District); District Attorney General (13th Judicial District); and Public Defender (13th Judicial District).

Petitions must be returned by Noon February 17th.

There is an additional earlier deadline for Sheriff and Road Supervisor candidates. They must have appropriate paperwork to the Peace Officer Standards Training Commission (POST) for sheriff and the Tennessee Highway Officials Certification board 14 days before the qualifying deadline.

While the above offices will appear on May primary ballots, candidates also have the option to run as Independent candidates who will not appear on the ballot until August. However, the same qualifying deadlines apply.

Winners of the May primaries will square off against each other in the August DeKalb County General Election along with any properly qualified Independent candidates.

The local election office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is located on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

January 10, 2022
By:

DeKalb County Trustee Sean Driver has announced his intention to seek re-election in 2022.

He will be a candidate seeking the Republican nomination in the May 3 Primary Election. Trustee Driver was first elected in 2006.

“I am humbled to say it has been a privilege, joy, and honor to serve as your DeKalb County Trustee. With 2022 now in full speed, I am seeking your trust in me and to nominate me for the office of Trustee. My service to you has become a goal to inspire others to do the same for everyone,” said Driver in a prepared announcement.

“The citizens of DeKalb County have blessed me to serve the office of Trustee for 16 years this coming August. My staff and I have made several enhancements to the office for the people. Listening to the concerns and implementing new procedures and programs, we established online tax payments, partial tax payments, and an afterhours drop box for tax payments. All 3 procedures and programs have become a success.”

“My family and I live in the Liberty area of the county. My wife, Christie, and I have been married for 24 years and are blessed with 3 wonderful sons, Garrett (20), Luke (16), and Ben (12). We all belong to the Dowelltown United Methodist Church. Christie, Garrett, and I are very proud to be active with the Alexandria Lions Club also,” Driver continued

“I am committed to DeKalb County and my heart is here and my home is here. So, I am asking for your vote and support in the 2022 Elections as your DeKalb County Trustee. The job you give me is greatly appreciated. Humbly Blessed, Sean D. Driver”.

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