The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is hosting a public scoping meeting 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 3, 2018 at the Buffalo Valley Community Center to present information to the public regarding a current Dam Safety Modification Study (DSMS) to further reduce risk at Center Hill Dam. The center is located at 2717 Buffalo Valley School Road, Buffalo Valley, Tenn.

Since 2008 the Nashville District has worked to reduce risk at Center Hill Dam from a foundation seepage issue.

“More recently, however, operability issues have been identified with the 70-year old main dam spillway gates that add project risk during a large flood event” said Corps Project Manager, Linda Adcock.

In the early 1990’s a self-eroding structure called a ‘fuse plug’ was built into the top of the saddle dam to add the ability to safely pass a rare, extreme flood downstream.

“If the main dam spillway gates don’t operate as intended, the fuse plug on the saddle dam could operate at a smaller flood than intended,” Adcock added.

Currently, risk of this occurrence is higher than the Corps deems acceptable. A study is underway to evaluate spillway gate repair alternatives and potential changes to standard gate operations during a large flood. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Corps of Engineers is initiating scoping and preparing a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to support the DSMS. The study will produce a recommended plan to reduce potential project risk. The Corps seeks public input on the array of alternatives being considered.

Examples of measures, either individually or in combination, that have potential to affect structures or operations of the dam may include:

a) Replacement of the current gate machinery with hydraulic machinery that can operate under water;

b) Addition of equipment to the current spillway gates to keep them open if the operating machinery is underwater;

c) Modification of the spillway gates or gate machinery to allow operation from the top of the dam;

d) Relocation of the gate operating machinery to the road level, which would require raising or relocating Highway 96 that crosses over the dam;

e) Modification of the emergency operations plan in the water control manual that determines how to manage floods at Center Hill Dam; and

f) Other measures as identified by on-going engineering studies, the public, and agencies.

The announcement seeking public input is located on the Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/04/20/2018-08291/intent-t…. This announcement includes information on how to provide comments to the Corps of Engineers regarding this study.

To read more on the dam safety project, visit the Nashville District webpage at http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Current-Projects/Construction/Cen… . For more information about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District, visit the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and http://www.facebook.com/centerhilllake , and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.

An accident at the Smithville Post Office Monday morning caused some damage to the front entrance but no one was injured.

According to Smithville Police, 77 year old Marilynn Shea was pulling up to park at the post office in a 2008 Hyundai Accent and attempted to apply the brake when she accidentally stepped on the accelerator pedal causing the car to hit the front of the post office building.

Shea was not hurt.

After the accident, a sign was posted on the front door directing patrons to a side entrance to the building.

A DeKalb County man is beginning his law practice after recently passing the Tennessee Bar Exam.

Luke Willoughby of Alexandria took the oath Thursday, April 19 administered by Circuit Court Judge Randy Kennedy of the 20th Judicial District.

Willoughby, a lifelong resident of DeKalb County, is the son of Mark and Marilyn Willoughby of Alexandria. He graduated from DeKalb County High School in 2009 and furthered his education at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City. After graduating in 2013, Willoughby attended the Nashville School of Law where he earned his Doctorate of Jurisprudence.

He will be associated with attorneys Michael Castellarin, Chris Hofstetter, and Michelle Poss in Nashville at 95 White Bridge Road, Suite 509.

“I am very honored to be associating with such well regarded attorneys. All three of them are top notch in their respective fields. Working with Michelle has been a wonderful experience especially with us both being from DeKalb County. She is a 1987 graduate of DeKalb County High School and I have worked with her throughout law school over the past 4 years. Even though our practice is based in Nashville we would both love to assist the folks of DeKalb County with their legal matters,” said Willoughby.

“Becoming a lawyer is an exciting time in my life, but I could not have made if it were not for others who helped me out along the way. Both the DeKalb County 4-H program and FBLA at DeKalb County High School shaped me into the person I am today. I am very thankful that Ron Rogers, Steve Officer and Amanda Brown saw that a loud mouth kid from Alexandria needed to compete in public speaking contests. It is because of them I found my passion for advocating for people and their rights,” he concluded.