New State Law Prohibits Online Ordained Ministers from Performing Marriages In Tennessee

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

June 6, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Children at Justin Potter Library were treated to a visit from “Bentley”, a red-shouldered hawk and “Otis” , a three month old Opossum during Thursday’s Summer Reading Program event.

“Bentley” and “Otis” were brought out for the children to see by Park Manager Brad Halfacre and Andrew Webber, Seasonal Interpretive Park Ranger at Edgar Evins State Park.

IMG_6982 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

“Bentley” is called a red-shouldered hawk because he has a red color on his shoulders. A red-shouldered hawk is not as large as the red-tailed hawk, something very common in middle Tennessee,” said Halfacre.

IMG_7001 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

“In captivity “Bentley” gets a great diet of frozen mice. He does eat some quail, chicken gizzard, and sometimes a fresh dead squirrel from the road. I have had him about a year. I wanted to turn him back into the wild but unfortunately that wasn’t able to happen because he imprinted on me.  In the wild a hawk would be scared of humans but “Bentley” got used to me. When I got him I would open the cage and throw him a mouse. I kept feeding him as he got bigger and later tried to release him. He flew off fine but he couldn’t hunt on his own so he came back to my house and waited  for me to feed him. It took me about three more months to catch him again. Once I caught him again we started the permitting process and now he is a resident bird at the park,” said Halfacre.

WJLE first introduced “Otis” during last Saturday’s National Trails Day at Edgar Evins State Park.

“We rescued him about three months ago after his mother was attacked by a dog when he was really little. When opossums are first born they live in their mother’s pouch and when they get older they ride around on their mother’s back. Otis’ mother was attacked by a dog and he was the only one that survived the attack. We will have him for the rest of his life. When he is fully grown he will have about 52 teeth. He is a nocturnal animal which means he sleeps during the day and is active at night. Otis will live to be about 10-15 years old,” said Webber.

Other Justin Potter Library’s Summer Reading Events:

*Thursday, June 13 at 2 p.m.: Barry Mitchell’s Aliens, Astronauts and a Turtle in Space

*Thursday, June 20 at 2 p.m.: A Universe of Stories & Activities with DPC, Board of Education and UT Extension

*Thursday, June 27 at 2 p.m.: Final Party at the DeKalb County Complex Theater: Scott Humston’s Music, Magic, and Comedy

Alexandria Library Summer Events:

*Story Time & Activities Wednesday, June 5, 12, & 19 at 2 p.m.

For more information call Justin Potter Library at 615-597-4359

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