Recovery Court Celebrates Sobriety Efforts of Participants

June 7, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Recovery Court Thursday recognized six participants in the program for their efforts in living a clean and sober life.

“Marina Cornett moved up to Phase II in our program after being in the 1st phase for 90 days and completing all the requirements,” said Kate Arnold, DeKalb Recovery Court Coordinator. “ Marina addressed the court asking that she be allowed to phase up stating “I have learned that I am worthy and deserving of a clean and sober life and I am recovering mentally, physically, and spiritually one day at a time. I also learned that I am a strong and determined woman and I am going to work hard and receive what my new life has to offer. So look out world here I come!,” she said.

“Also our 3 aftercare graduates (Carlos Santos, Grady Murphy, and Anthony Walters), who all graduated 6 months ago in December and have completed their 6 month of aftercare, had encouraging words for the new participants in Recovery Court.  We celebrated their sendoff by enjoying some cake and sharing encouraging words with them,” added Arnold.

“We also recognized 2 participants with 1 year sobriety, Jamie Ramos and Justin Murphy. They were presented with a certificate along with a piece of jewelry representing hope and courage,” said Arnold.

(Recovery Court Celebrates Sobriety Efforts of Participants: Pictured: left to right- Marina Cornett, Rhonda Harpole (case manager), Anthony Walters, Carlos Santos, Grady Murphy, Kate Arnold (coordinator), Jamie Ramos, Justin Murphy)

June 7, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Are you an online ordained minister in the state of Tennessee?

If so, then you soon won’t be able to solemnize a marriage.

Starting July 1^st, a new state law prohibits persons receiving online ordinations from solemnizing the rite of matrimony.

So who can perform a marriage ceremony under state law?

*Current and former county clerks who held office on or after July 1, 2014

*Ordained religious leaders

*Current and former county commissioners

*City mayors

*Current and former county mayors

*Current and former judges

*Governor

*Current and former speakers of the State Senate and House of Representatives

The following are new additions to the law:

*Members of the General Assembly, but only those who have “opted in” by filing a notice with the Office of Vital Records

*Law enforcement chaplains duly appointed by the heads of state and local law enforcement agencies

*Members of municipal legislative bodies

An authorized officiant is required to return the marriage license to the county clerk within three days after the ceremony. The county clerk has no authority to require proof that an officiant is authorized to perform the ceremony and must presume the marriage is valid. The vital records form also must be completed and returned to the county clerk within three days.

June 6, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee will begin offering residents the option of upgrading their driver’s license starting July 1 to meet federal requirements that will affect domestic air travel.

The “Real ID” license allows the state to meet federal standards under the REAL ID Act.

DeKalb County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss was guest speaker at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the DeKalb County Retired Teachers at NHC Healthcare Center and presented a power point to explain the new law.

REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the states and the Federal Government to improve the reliability and accuracy of state-issued identification documents, which should inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification

“Tennesseans are not required to get the upgraded driver’s licenses. However, if residents don’t have a passport, the “Real ID” compliant cards will be needed to fly domestically, go into federal buildings, or enter military bases effective October 1, 2020,” said Poss.

“This started when President George W. Bush was in office through Homeland Security after 9/11 basically saying that while driver licenses do fall squarely within the states (jurisdiction)  the federal government should do something unilaterally for all the states,” said Poss

Currently, 4.5 million people have a Tennessee driver’s license. As of right now, all of those are compliant with the REAL ID act, according to the Department of Homeland Security, but that will soon change because the roll out of the changes has been in stages. The next stage is the REAL ID license, which will add a gold star to the driver’s license, which signifies it as a federal ID.

If you are renewing your license, you’ll pay that normal fee when you go to get your license with a gold star. If your license is current, you will have to pay an $8 duplicate fee to get a license with the gold star.

How do REAL IDs differ from current IDs? 

• The REAL ID is a regular license that adds a gold star. That gold star allows you to get through security when you’re flying or allows you to enter a federal building. It designates your license as a federal form of identification
• 42 other states are already issuing these license
• If you do not get the REAL ID, your license is only a state license, not a federal license and when you renew your license it will say “not for federal identification”
• You must have the Gold star license, passport, military ID (or other TSA approved ID) to get on a plane in the U.S. If you choose not to get the star you cannot travel by air with your driver’s license
• Without the REAL ID, you won’t be able to enter a federal building starting in October 2020

How will that process work? Does everyone have to go to the DMV? 

When you go to renew your license you will have to present proper documentation — same as what the state has always required in the past when you come in to TN – social security card, birth certificate/passport, two proofs of residency

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