Masonic Lodge Makes Donation to DMS for Student Garden Program

April 5, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Members of Center Hill Masonic Lodge #77 presented a $200 check to DeKalb Middle School Friday in support of its student garden program.

Making the presentation were Lodge Master Don Adamson, Senior Warden Dustin Estes, Junior Warden Danny Pirtle, and member Mike Conley. Receiving the donation were Suzette Barnes, DMS Positive Behavior Support Teacher, along with Principal Caleb Shehane and Assistant Principal Teresa Jones.

The DMS garden program began last school year as a way to show sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students, especially those who have never been exposed to a garden, how to grow fruits and vegetables.

“We really appreciate this donation from Center Hill Masonic Lodge #77,” said Ms. Barnes. “This money will go into the school garden account, and we will use it to buy seeds, vegetable plants, and other things we need to teach the students how to garden. We mainly do this through our special education department for students within the positive behavior support and CDC classrooms. They get to do more hands on with the garden because of scheduling but we also involve students who attend summer school or the STEAM program to give them an opportunity to participate. They get to plant and tend the garden and when the produce starts coming in the students have an opportunity to take it home with them. Last year we didn’t have any raised beds. We had a community member come out and till the land for us and we did a small in-ground garden and grew things like squash, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables but students wanted to add more things so this year we plan to have five raised beds,” said Ms. Barnes.

April 5, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The annual Walk Across Tennessee event locally begins Monday, April 8 and you are invited to participate.

“Walk across Tennessee is an 8-week team competition to see who can log the most miles exercising,” said April Martin of the UT-TSU Extension Office.

“You are not literally walking across Tennessee. Your team is exercising for 8 weeks, and the goal is to accumulate the equivalent of 500 miles which is the length of the state of Tennessee. It’s a fun friendly competition and what better way to get fit,” explained Martin.

“We have over 200 people in the county and some from outside the county who are joining in this event. There are more than 23 teams,” Martin continued.

“Anyone can be on a team including youth, adults, coworkers, friends, family, etc. and there is no fee. You can have up to 8 people on your team. Each team has a captain and team members report to their captain each week on how many miles they have walked,” said Martin. “You don’t have to just walk. You can do other exercises. For example, the weight training class I am teaching can count as well as bicycling, even gardening, housecleaning, or other daily activities considered exercising. You can count that. We have a conversion chart for that. All this is an effort to get everybody more motivated and to get them outside and more active because the more physically active you are you’re going to lose weight, feel better, build stronger bones, and it helps with fall prevention. There are just so many benefits from walking or exercising,” said Martin.

How to participate?

1. Come up with up to 8 team members

2. Choose a Team Captain and a Team Name

3. Team Captain download the captain’s packet at https://dekalb.tennessee.edu/ and have each team member complete the individual registration. Packets are available outside the office of the UT UT – TSU Extension- DeKalb County located inside the DeKalb County Complex Building.

4. Attend the Kickoff and root for your team on Monday, April 8th at Greenbrook Park.

5. Exercise for 8 weeks. Any exercise counts. We have a conversion chart you can use. Exercise must be purposeful and last at least 10 minutes to count. I.E. Not wearing pedometers/fitness watches and counting all the steps accumulated throughout the day.

Call the office if you have any questions at 615-597-4945.

April 4, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Its story telling time again in DeKalb County with the 19th annual Dots Storytelling Day dedicated to the children of DeKalb County to raise money for the Imagination Library.

Dots Storytelling Day is sponsored by the Smithville Study Club. This year’s theme is “Hero’s Past & Present”.

The event will be presented on Saturday, April 6 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the DeKalb County Complex History Room at 712 South Congress Boulevard, Smithville. For more information contact Susan Hinton at 615-597-9300 or email: hinton@dtccom.net

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