Motlow graduate Parker Hildreth shares his Passion for the Natural World

August 8, 2018
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Parker Hildreth, a recent Motlow graduate from Smithville, knows what makes him “tick” when it comes to his passion for the world of nature. Whether it is studying crayfish in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or researching salmon in the rugged wilderness of Idaho, Hildreth has a fascination with the diversity and complexity of the natural world.

love for indigenous fauna and its world came at an early age. Instead of watching cartoons or large purple dinosaurs on television like most youngsters, he watched Animal Planet and National Geographic channels. That love led him to study biology at Motlow, and in May of this year he received his associate of science degree. He also received a Motlow Student Excellence Award, and this fall he will attend Tennessee Tech University and intends to develop a career in aquatic research.

His desire to share his passion with fellow students is evidenced by his conducting a carrion beetle study workshop last spring, supervised by Motlow Professors Janet Forde and Chatney Spencer. Hildreth led more than 20 Motlow biology students into the forests surrounding the Moore County campus to set traps to collect carrion beetles. The group returned two weeks later to retrieve the traps, taking them back to the lab for discussion and identification of the collected beetles.

“I designed this workshop to get students involved in an environment that builds fieldwork experience and attempts to create a place where passion for the natural world can be expressed,” said Hildreth. “Collectively, the insect world has a priceless wealth of knowledge seen through the vibrant diversity and numerous niches taken advantage of by carrion beetles.”

Hildreth himself has no trouble expressing his own passion for the natural world. In the summer of 2017 he served as a fisheries intern studying crayfish with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fisheries Department. From his fieldwork and research he wrote an article that appeared in the department’s periodic newsletter.

For the summer of 2018 Hildreth is serving as a biological aide for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, studying salmon in the streams of the Idaho outback. The position entails snorkeling in fast moving water, extended work stints, camping, recording accurate data, interacting with the public, and strenuous hiking over rough terrain. He often works eight to ten days straight followed by four to six days off.

“There are few people that possess as much passion, zeal, and enthusiasm about science as Parker Hildreth,” said Chatney Spencer, Motlow chemistry instructor. “His ability to make relevant connections between seemingly unrelated matters is rivaled by few. If the future of scientific research and discovery is left in the hands of budding scientists like Parker, it truly is a safe place.”

August 8, 2018
By:

Tennesseans love their farmers markets, and the proof is in their growth.

In 2000, fewer than 50 farmers markets were listed with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Pick Tennessee Products program. By 2014, Tennessee had 154 farmers markets, ranking first in the nation in growth of farmers markets, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The DeKalb County Farmers Market is open on Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon beside DeKalb County Ace Hardware and the County Complex in Smithville.

With 168 active farmers markets listed on Pick Tennessee’s website and mobile app in 2018, it is easy to find local events celebrating this week’s National Farmers Market Week. Many markets make the week distinctive with special guests and activities, food demonstrations, and even live music.

Every farmers market is unique, with its own range of farmers, customer preferences, and products, representing its community in an especially nimble way. The modern farmers market has essentially become a community hub. Larger markets often host family-focused seasonal festivals, and even hip night markets complete with wine or beer tastings.

Whatever your market’s size, providing fresh, locally produced foods and other farm-direct products is its core purpose. Knowing how to choose, use, and preserve fresh foods is key to making the most of your visits. Simple strategies like having cash on hand for farmers who don’t accept cards, keeping a cooler in your car, and bringing your own reusable bags are good starts. A list of tips for getting the most out of your local market, as well as a farm-measures-to-kitchen-measures conversion calculator, are available at www.picktnproducts.org.

Pick Tennessee is the free service of Tennessee Department of Agriculture developed to connect consumers to Tennessee farmers, farmers markets, farm products, and activities, plus food and farm products grown or made in Tennessee. Visit Pick Tennessee on the web and via the free mobile app, and follow Pick Tennessee on social media.

August 8, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

If you didn’t complete your high school education, you can go back to school through the adult high school program. Students age 18 and older graduate and receive a diploma as they finish their course work.

“We are not a GED Class. Our Adult High School is strictly regular diploma. We teach the regular classes,” said Susan Hinton, who is the DeKalb County Adult High School Coordinator and teacher .

“The DeKalb Adult High School serves students from age 18 and older and some 17 year olds with special permission who dropped out of school for various reasons or left high school without sufficient credits to graduate and want to come to school in a more flexible setting which enables students (who are working or have families to take care of) to return to school and complete a regular high school diploma,” said Hinton.

How long will it take to complete the class? “This is a frequent question asked by potential students. The amount of time to complete a high school diploma will depend on how many credits a student has on their individual record from previously attended accredited schools. The amount of credits is also dependent upon the year a student started high school and what classes were required during those years,” Hinton continued.

“Some people are able to complete a course per month, but it depends on the hours a student is able to complete classes at school or online. A student is able to complete classes from any online computer as well as attend classes at the adult high school but they are supposed to finish the class they began within one year,” she said.

“Interested students should get in touch with the DeKalb County High School Guidance Department. The student must turn in information that will allow the staff in the guidance department to send for previous records of completed classes from any schools attended. Then individually, the guidance counselor will meet with the student and outline a plan of action to complete necessary classes required for graduation,” said Hinton.

“The student must pass each course with a 70 or above to receive each credit and a certain number of subjects must be completed in specific courses. When the student has successfully completed his or her individual program, a diploma is ordered and presented to the student”.

“Each student works at his or her own pace and receives individual attention when possible. Students who do computer classes must meet periodically with the teacher of the Adult High School to receive extra help or make sure the student is on track for completing the course within a reasonable amount of time,” Hinton said.

“You don’t have to be 17 or 20 years old to enroll. I have had someone as old as 30 plus and in the class and that person only needed about four classes. They came in and did their four classes and got a job as an EMT,” added Hinton.

The Adult High School is located at 242 Tiger Drive directly behind DeKalb Middle School. The classes meet Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. with a one hour lunch break each day from noon until 1 p.m. For more information call 615-597-2254.

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