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Another Candidate Expected to Join Smithville Alderman Race

March 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

At least six candidates may be vying for one of three aldermen seats in the Smithville Municipal Election on Thursday, August 6th.

The latest to pick up a petition is Jimmy R. Taylor, a longtime city employee.

The other candidates who have already qualified for the race are Incumbent Aldermen Shawn Jacobs, Danny Washer, and Donnie Crook along with newcomers, Jessica Higgins and Timothy John Perricone. The qualifying deadline is noon on April 2.

Jacobs was first elected to the council in 2009 and Washer came on board after his first election in 2011. Crook was appointed by the aldermen in 2018 to fill the unexpired term of former alderman Josh Miller who was elected mayor that year.

The City of Smithville has five aldermen and a mayor but they do not all run for election in the same year. Three aldermen will be elected this year. The other two aldermen and the mayor were elected in 2018 and will be up for election again in 2022.

All terms are for four years.

In addition to city races in Smithville, Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections, said petitions are available for school board seats in Districts 5 and 6 along with the following other city races: five aldermen seats in Alexandria; and a mayor and two aldermen seats in Dowelltown. Meanwhile, any local voter interested in running for State House 40 and 46 can also get a petition at the local election office.

“All the local offices will be for four-year terms, except two of the five aldermen seats in Alexandria will be for two-years to fill unexpired terms,” Stanley said. “The state house seats are also two-year terms.”
The qualifying deadline for the August election is Noon April 2.

For the school board in the 6th district Jason Miller and Shawn Washer have both qualified as candidates. Incumbent Doug Stephens will not be a candidate for re-election.

In the 5th district Jamie L. Cripps has qualified for the school board race. Incumbent W.J. (Dub) Evins, III has told WJLE he will not be a candidate for re-election.

Pam Redmon has picked up a petition to run for Mayor but she has not yet returned it.

Phillip Byford, James C. Walker, and James H. White have obtained petitions to run for alderman in Dowelltown. Byford has now qualified for the race but Walker and White have not yet returned their petitions.

In Alexandria Charles William Anderson, Jr. and Lynne Dickerson have obtained petitions to run for a 4 year alderman term while Bridgette Rogers has picked up a petition for a 2 year alderman seat. So far Dickerson is the only one of the three who has qualified for the race.

Meanwhile, State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver of Lancaster in district 40 and Clark Boyd of Lebanon in district 46 have qualified for re-nomination in the August 6th Tennessee Republican Primary while Suanne Bone of Lebanon has qualified for the Tennessee Democratic Primary on August 6th to fill a vacancy as State Executive Committeewoman in District 17.

 




Tennessee’s 2020 Turkey Season Will Be Open For Business

March 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The 2020 spring turkey hunting season is set to be open for business in Tennessee beginning Saturday, April 4. Turkey hunting is an excellent way to keep social distance, enjoy the outdoors, and take part in a popular activity which has seen tremendous growth in recent years.

The coronavirus outbreak has affected many aspects of normal life. Fortunately for the thousands of Tennesseans who head to the woods each spring in pursuit of the wily gamebird, the season will go on as scheduled through May 17. Conditions have forced a change in that turkey check stations at wildlife management areas will not be operational this year.

“We are in extraordinary times that none of us have ever seen before,” said Ed Carter, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s executive director. “At TWRA, we have taken precautions while still providing essential services to the public and our resources. We are pleased that our spring turkey season will go on as scheduled as it adheres to guidelines of social distancing and other recommendations.”

New requirement this year is “Tag Before You Drag” where hunters tag their big game animal in the field prior to moving. They will be able to use the TWRA on the Go app to simply E-tag and report their harvest in the field in one easy step, with or without cell phone service, prior to moving. If you do not have a phone, attach one of the temporary transportations tags that printed at the bottom of your license this year and you have until midnight on the same day of the harvest to check in online at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com.

Spring turkey harvest numbers have been consistent for years in Tennessee. Last year’s harvest again hovered around the 30,000-mark with 28,967 turkeys taken across the state.

A hunting and fishing combination (Type 001), plus a supplemental big game license, or a sportsman license is required. More information on the 2020 spring turkey season can be found in the 2019-20 Tennessee Hunting & Trapping Guide. The guide is online at www.tnwildlife.org and available at TWRA offices and license agents.

Maury County had 879 harvests to lead the state last year. Dickson County was second with 827 and Greene County third at 785. All but six of the state’s 95 counties had harvest of 100 or more.

Hunting hours are 30 minutes prior to legal sunrise until legal sunset (times found based on your location in the TWRA On the Go app). Legal hunting equipment includes shotguns using ammunition loaded with No. 4 shot or smaller, longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows.

Firearms and archery equipment may have sighting devices, except those devices utilizing an artificial light capable of locating wildlife.




DeKalb Schools to Remain Closed Until April 24

March 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

It will be at least another month before DeKalb County students return to school.

Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday urged Tennessee schools to remain closed through April 24, as part of continued efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Last week, Lee had urged districts to shut down for the rest of March.

“As we continue to follow the guidelines of the CDC and state officials, DeKalb County Schools will remain closed per guidance of the Governor through April 24th. We will also be getting additional educational materials out to students.,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.

Previously, DeKalb schools were scheduled to be closed through April 3.

The DeKalb County Board of Education hopes that your families are healthy and safe during this time. All families of students will receive a school messenger call from 615-464-6444 this Wednesday, March 25th at 5pm. Please take this call and answer the 2 question survey. This information will help us better serve our students in the upcoming weeks. Please let us know if you have questions. Stay well. Thank you!




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