News
Ribbon Cutting Held for New Story Book Trail at Edgar Evins State Park (VIEW VIDEOS HERE)
June 2, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Edgar Evins State Park celebrated National Trails Day on Saturday with a ribbon cutting marking the opening of a new kid friendly half mile Hillside Story Book Trail.
Miss Tennessee’s Outstanding Teen, Mary Humphrey of Jackson joined Ranger Ramble, the Tennessee State Park mascot, in cutting the ribbon on the new trail. Miss Humphrey, whose slogan is “Pages With a Purpose”, has been campaigning across the state promoting literacy.
The new trail combines a children’s nature story with the thrill of being in the great outdoors. Come see how one of nature’s miracles grows from a tiny egg to a flying jewel as each giant page is posted at intervals along the trail revealing more of the story, based on the book, Where Butterflies Grow, by Joanne Ryder with pictures by Lynne Cherry.
Guides on the tour help children with their level of reading. The purpose of the Story Book Trail is to stimulate young readers as well as to encourage them and caregivers to enjoy an outdoor experience together. The trail was built by volunteers and park staff as a project of the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park.
The project is endorsed by the Governor’s Books From Birth Foundation, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Ready to Read, Tennessee State Parks, and Friends of Tennessee State Parks Conservancy. Representatives were on hand Saturday to sign up children to receive free books monthly from the Imagination Library. Refreshments and party favors were also served along with crafts for youngsters to make and other activities for the children to enjoy.
“Spearheaded by the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park with help from park staff, this trail has finally taken shape after over a year of planning and working together. We wish to thank the park staff and many others also for the opportunity to complete and present this trail to the children and families visiting the park. Among these are the Cookeville Children’s Museum, the Public Library Systems for DeKalb, Putnam and Smith counties for their help with games and activities for this event as well as the Friends of Tennessee State Parks and the Tennessee Trails Association for grants of money to help defray costs. Thanks also to the many volunteers of all ages who jumped in to help construct the trail from scratch on the hillside, including members of Tennessee Trails Association, Smithville Brownie Girl Scout Troop 3094 under the leadership of Tanya Hale, and the young men of the former Smithville Boy Scout Troop 875 under the leadership of Cameron Beal, and others,” added Bertram.
The Friends of Edgar Evins State Park is an all-volunteer organization with the sole purpose of helping the park. For more information about contributing money or time please visit our website at www.foeesp.com or Facebook at Friends of EESP
Dedication Held for New Aviary at Edgar Evins State Park Built by Local Girl Scout (VIEW VIDEO HERE)
June 2, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
A local girl scout was recognized Saturday morning in conjunction with National Trails Day at Edgar Evins State Park for her efforts in building an aviary at the park’s interpretive center to house two birds of prey, an owl and a hawk.
Neely Evans, member of Girl Scout Troop 1146 in Smithville, made the aviary her Girl Scout Gold Award Project.
Fount Bertram, President of the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park presented a plaque of appreciation to Neely during a brief aviary dedication observance.
Evans decided on the aviary as her project after finding the park was in need of a home for birds of prey in the park’s educational facility. Along with the outdoor aviary, Neely also included a storage area for food and equipment. Rangers at the park will feed and care for the birds while park maintenance workers will provide upkeep for the facility.
“Edgar Evins State Park has a special place in my heart. I have been a member of the Edgar Evins State Park Friends group for over five years and spent hundreds of volunteer hours in the park. It is my home away from home. Building this aviary for them to bring a new program to the park was very important to me,” said Neely.
“I think my favorite part of the project was seeing it finally done. It’s one thing to see it on paper but when it’s in front of you it’s a good feeling. The challenging part was learning how to use the tools to build the cage. I had to learn to use the tools I’ve never used before,” Neely said.
“I feel proud to know I helped the State Park that feels like family to me. I can go there and see what I have accomplished,” added Neely.
“We are proud of Neely and what she has achieved! Come admire this outstanding aviary and enjoy the birds,” said Bertram.
The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA, earned by Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts.
Park Ranger Halfacre explained that “McKenzie”, the barred owl shown in the photo and video above, is blind in both eyes from a train accident. She is believed to be between 12 and 15 years old. Barred owls have an average lifespan in the wild of 10 to 15 years. McKenzie weighs about 1.8 pounds.
Boy Scout Troop 347 Celebrates Milestone
June 2, 2018
By: Bill Conger
Smithville Boy Scout Troop 347 celebrated a milestone last night (June 1). Jaden Wildes officially graduated from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts in a formal crossing over ceremony at Green Brook Park. Troop members marched in a procession to one of the park’s bridges, and Assistant Scout Master Jen Sherwood welcomed Wildes to his next level of scouting.
Later, in a Court of Honor ceremony Sherwood presented Wildes with his Scout award, the introductory rank earned prior to Tenderfoot. Gavin Conger moved up to Second Class, and Zachary Cantrell received the Life ranking, one step away from Eagle, scouting’s highest achievement. Scouts earning merit badges were Cantrell—Wilderness Survival, Emergency Preparedness, Camping, Cooking, Music, and Geocaching; Conger-Aviation; Friedrich Dodge-Personal Fitness and Family Life; Brandon Sobotka-Water and Soil Conservation; Cody Robinson—Hiking and Fishing, and Will Stephens—Hiking. Robinson and Stephens wrapped up their requirements for the Hiking merit badge recently when they completed a 20-mile hike at Fall Creek Falls.
Also, at Friday night’s event, scouts elected Kaleb Wildes as the Senior Patrol Leader and Zach Cantrell, Assistant Patrol Leader.
Meanwhile, the Boy Scouts helped honor our veterans on Memorial Day weekend, placing flags on the graves of soldiers at DeKalb Memorial Gardens and Whorton Springs Cemetery. Then, on Monday they presented the colors during the Memorial Day celebration at the county complex.
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