Remembering the late SFC Tyler Durden

November 29, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Remembering the late SFC Tyler Durden

The DeKalb County Commission Monday night adopted a resolution in memory of the late SFC Tyler Durden.

SFC Durden of Ft. Campbell and a former resident of Smithville died tragically after being shot in Liberty on October 31, 2019. He was 37 years old.

County Mayor Matt Adcock said he was recently contacted by Durden’s sister asking if the county could name a bridge in memory of Durden.  The county no longer names roads and bridges as a remembrance according to the county’s policies and procedures. Instead, the county makes tributes through resolutions adopted by the county commission.

This resolution honors Durden’s life and service to the country. A framed copy of the resolution was accepted by fourth district county commissioner Greg Matthews, an uncle of Durden, who will present it to Durden’s sister.

The resolution reads as follows:

“A Resolution to honor the memory of Tyler Durden of DeKalb County.

Whereas the members of this County Commission were greatly saddened to learn of the death of Tyler Durden.

Whereas Tyler Durden was an exemplary Tennessean and a consummate professional who worked assiduously to improve the quality of life for his fellow citizens in numerous capacities, and

Whereas Tyler Durden was born on August 26, 1982, in Camp Pendleton, California

Whereas he graduated from DeKalb County High School and joined the military which became a very important passion in his life.

Whereas Tyler was a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army and served his country proudly

Whereas Tyler was a member of the Church of Christ of Lebanon.

Whereas Tyler was also deeply devoted to his family, and he always endeavored to remain true to family values of the highest order; and

Whereas, he was a member of the Freemasons,

Whereas he was devoted to his family with love and care, cherishing his daughter Madison Grace Ann Durden, his sister Jessica (Shannon) Anderson, nieces and nephews MyKenzie, Kayden, Leah, and Kyler Anderson; grandparents, James (Darlene) Matthews and Christine Matthews; father figure Thomas “Ed” Nokes, and many other special family and friends that are forever bonded with the memory of Tyler Durden.

Whereas Tyler Durden leaves behind an indelible legacy of integrity and probity in public life, compassion, and loyalty in private life and diligence and dedication in all his chosen endeavors; and

Whereas it is fitting that this County Commission should pause to remember the bountiful life of this exceptional citizen and human being; now therefore,

Be it Resolved by the DeKalb County Commission of the Great State of Tennessee concurring, that we honor the memory of Tyler Durden, reflecting fondly upon his impeccable character and his stalwart commitment to living the examined life with courage and conviction.

Be it further Resolved that we express our sympathy and offer our condolences to the family of Tyler Durden.

Be it further Resolved that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation”.

November 29, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A Win-Win for Smithville

Christmas came early for the City of Smithville Monday with the announcement that it has been awarded grants for two projects totaling more than $1.5 million to install sidewalks/crosswalks and to replace deteriorating sewer lines. The Upper Cumberland Development District applied for the grants on behalf of the city.

The largest project is to put down sidewalks on Highway 70 east from near the intersection of Highway 56 (South Congress Boulevard) and to install high visibility crosswalks and ADA compliant curb ramps in the areas where Highway 70 intersects with Bright Hill Road and Colvert Lake Road. The total cost is $934,000 but thanks to the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Access Grant, the city will receive $888,000 for this project with a local grant match of $46,000.

The $600,000 sewer line rehab project is to replace 3,800 hundred linear feet of gravity sewer lines and manholes in the Bright Hill and Morgan Creek subsystem areas to keep excessive surface water from entering the wastewater treatment plant especially during heavy rains. Half of the cost ($300,000) will be funded through a Community Development Block Grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The City of Smithville will fund the other half ($300,000) as its local grant match.

The matching portion for both projects will be provided from the city’s available general fund and water and sewer fund reserves.

TDOT’s Multimodal Access Grant is a state-funded program created to support the transportation needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users through infrastructure projects that address existing gaps along state routes.

“Through the Tennessee Department of Transportation, this is a project to install sidewalks and crosswalks from the intersection of state route 56 and US highway 70 and it goes east toward Sparta for one mile to the corner of Highway 70 and Moog Boulevard. They will also install high visibility crosswalks and ADA compliant curb ramps in the areas where Highway 70 intersects with Bright Hill Road and Colvert Lake Road. The project totals $934,000 of which $888,000 will be covered by the grant and $46,000 by the City of Smithville for their matching portion. The math will tell you this is a very good opportunity for the city to lay down some sidewalks,” said Tommy Lee, Deputy Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District who also serves as the planner for the City of Smithville.

The city applied for the grant at least once before but had been denied.

“This is great news for the City of Smithville,” said Mayor Josh Miller.

“We found out just before Thanksgiving that we were going to be successful in getting about 1,700 feet of sidewalks and some crosswalks. As part of the TDOT Multi Modal Grant the sidewalk and crosswalks have to be built along a state highway. It would have been great to have done it on our city streets, but we couldn’t with this grant,” said Mayor Miller.

This will be welcome news to many people who often walk along Highway 70 east but have to stay in the grassy areas on the shoulder of the road said Mayor Miller.

“Even when they were applying for this grant, they took pictures of where there was grass worn down where people had been walking along Highway 70 with no sidewalks,” added Mayor Miller.

This is also not the first time that the city has sought CDBG grant funding for sewer rehab.

“We have submitted this grant application several times and not been awarded and each time the city kept adding a little bit more money into it putting more skin in the game to reduce what they call cost per person to make it more competitive,” said Lee.

Although the sidewalk/crosswalks and sewer rehab grants have been approved, it will still be several months before the work can begin.

“First, they have to do what’s known as an environmental review record to make sure they are not disturbing any historical landmarks or any wetlands, etc. There is more to it but that is the gist of it,” said Lee. “Once that environmental record is completed and approved then they will send in their official plans for the project and then once that is approved, they can start taking bids. As for the sewer rehab that process usually takes from 3-6 months so by the summer of 2023 this project will probably get started. That is typically how those work. The timeline for the sidewalk/crosswalk project is less clear but could take longer,” said Lee.

“I want to thank the Upper Cumberland Development District for their help in writing these grants and for what they do and also to the city aldermen for their support in allowing the city to apply and authorize funding for these grants and to city administrator Hunter Hendrixson,” said Mayor Miller.

“Before I leave office, I want my administration to be known as the one that spent more in infrastructure than any other city administration.  With these grants along with the money we have allocated from the city’s share of ARP and TDEC grant funds, we are being to do a lot of needed infrastructure projects for the city. We are very blessed to have been able to receive all these grants,” added Mayor Miller.

“The UCDD assisted the City of Smithville on both of these projects,” said Lee. “Marcie Ackerman of UCDD wrote the CDBG grant application and Silas Stoddard of UCDD wrote the TDOT Multi Modal Grant,” he said.

November 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

U.S. Representative John Rose’s (TN-6) district staff will hold local office hours for constituents to connect directly with caseworkers and receive assistance with federal agencies throughout the month of December.

During the local office hours, district staff will be available to answer questions and assist constituents with federal casework, such as social security and veterans’ benefits, steps for obtaining a passport, and more. Local office hours occur monthly, if you have questions, please contact one of Representative Rose’s offices so a staff member may help you.

“We are ready to assist constituents with federal casework and welcome anyone with questions to sit down with staff,” said Representative Rose. “My goal is to make the expertise of my staff and the resources of this office easily accessible to every person I represent.”

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

TIME: 10:00am-11:00am

WHAT: DeKalb County Local Office Hours

LOCATION: DeKalb County Board of Education, 110 S Public Square, Smithville, TN 37166

WHO: Representative Rose will be represented by Field Representative Lou Nave during this visit.

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