News
September 2, 2024
By: Bill Conger
I feel like Andy Griffith did when he walked into a football game for the first time. Full of ignorance, he tried as he might to understand what was going on in that cow pasture, which he described on his hilarious comedy record, “What It Was, Was Football.” I’m that same way when it comes to a lot of sports including golf. Still, I didn’t figure my poor knowledge of the sport was that big a deal on Saturday (August 24) when I was a volunteer for the Haven of Hope’s annual fundraising golf tournament.
As a child therapist at the Haven, I was happy to offer my assistance at the Smithville Golf Course. I was given the laborious task of reclining in a lounge chair in the shade and gentle breeze, drinking my Diet Sundrop, as golfers of all talents gave their best shot at something called a Hole-In-One. I thought the object of the game was to get the ball in the hole, but apparently, no one else knew it because not a single one landed in that little cup with a flag. I expected to be taking up money for those wanting to participate in that side event, but it turns out my gig was to make sure none of the golfers were BIG FAT LIARS! Apparently, golf is a lot like fishing except they tell their whoppers about birdies and eagles and other such things from the golf green. Oh, what tales they were forming in their mind as they drove the golf cart 50 yards to the left of the green to pick up their golf balls.
I was stationed to the right of Hole 8 in what I thought was a safe distance away. Then, here came 3 of my buddies from Smithville First Baptist Church, David Burklow, Mack Harney, and Jim Bell. Worn out from eating their barbecue lunch before the shotgun start, they drove their carts to the hole to work off a few calories. I thought Jim was stretching with his club at first, but he was bent over a little too long. A kink in the back? Maybe he was praying for a great drive. If that’s the case, the Lord said, “No!” Full of confidence, Jim swung the mighty iron and struck pay dirt. The ball went 15 feet, dirt flew to the nearest tree limb, and his stroke left a divot the size of an excavation site. To cover up for Jim’s embarrassment, David sliced his shot to the right of the green, and the ball came sailing toward my head. Guess I’ll be getting dentures now! Then, Mack hit the ball with all his might and the ball landed in the hole! I couldn’t believe it! Way to go! Oh, wait. Wrong hole. This one had some water in it. I think it was a wannabe creek. It’s soon to be named Golf Ball Dam because Mack’s golf ball was accompanied by about 20 others that day that clogged up the water.
Finally, Tom Groom, who was the emcee of the event, and a seasoned golfer called upon his years of experience, his keen knowledge of the sport, and two ringers he had Roth Terrell fly in from Crossville. Mark Bass, a former minister at Smithville FBC, and his two golf star teenage daughters, joined Tom on the 18 holes. But Tom said his wise strategy at the charity tourney was for a good cause. ‘Cause he wanted to win!
Somebody did get within 24 inches of making an actual hole-in-one that day, but before I found out who won the tournament. Brad and Mason Curtis came sailing in on their golf cart with an emergency. “Stet! Potato salad needs to be rescued! No refrigeration! A counselor’s job is never done.
All the golfers had a great time Saturday. The best part is that proceeds go to the Haven of Hope Counseling Center right here in Smithville. The Haven of Hope is a not-for-profit Christian counseling agency serving our community and helping to make lives better since 2008.
Tigers pass road test at Smith County
August 31, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County Tigers passed their first road test of the season with flying colors Friday night as they took down the Smith County Owls at Carthage 35 to 6.
The Tigers (2-0) will travel to Livingston Academy (2-0) for their first region matchup of the year Friday night, September 6 at 7 p.m.
After battling to a scoreless tie in the opening period, the Tigers struck first in the second quarter capping a 63-yard drive on a 10-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jordan Parker with 8:44 left in the half. The extra point attempt by kicker Adrian Prater was no good but the Tigers led 6-0.
Later in the half, DeKalb County got on the board again completing a 73-yard drive on a 27-yard touchdown pass play from quarterback Jordan Parker to Ryan Lyons. Parker then kept the ball on a successful two-point conversion play to give the Tigers a 14-0 lead by halftime.
Jon Hendrix took the opening kickoff of the second half to the Smith County 20-yard line setting up the Tigers for their next scoring opportunity. Ty Webb later cashed on in for DC on a one-yard touchdown run with 9:14 left in the third period. Adrian Prater came on for the extra point and the Tigers were up 21-0.
DC quarterback Jordan Parker again hooked up with Ryan Lyons for their second touchdown of the night, this time on a 19-yard completion capping a 39-yard drive and with Adrian Prater’s PAT the Tigers held a commanding 28-0 lead with 5:20 left in the third period.
Smith County’s only score of the game came on a 19-yard run by Kaiden Mason with 1:14 left in the third period completing a 76-yard drive. The PAT attempt was no good, but the Owls had cut the Tiger lead to 28-6.
The Tigers added one more score in the fourth quarter. After Tiger Andrew Dakas picked off a Smith County pass, Cecil Ketchum got the ball on the next play and raced 67 yards for the touchdown with 7:26 left in the game. Adrian Prater added the extra point and DeKalb County went on to celebrate a 35-6 victory.
Could another quarry operation be coming to DeKalb County?
August 30, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Could another quarry operation be coming to DeKalb County?
(CLICK LINK BELOW)
With plans underway for a quarry by Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete Company at the foot of Snow Hill off Highway 70 on North Driver Road, another company is reportedly preparing for a quarry operation of its own between Liberty and Alexandria.
According to the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, Jones Brothers Construction, LLC has applied for a water quality permit for its Jones Alexandria Quarry to be located in DeKalb County at 2159 Old Highway 53 at Liberty on a 110-acre site. The new permit application is for the discharge of treated mine wastewater and industrial storm water into Helton Creek.
“Ultimately this is a water quality permit that has been proposed so this regulates any water that would be discharged from the facility,” said Daniel Lawrence, Program Manager Division of the Mineral & Geologic Resources Mining Section in the Knoxville Environmental Field Office who spoke with WJLE by phone Friday.“The idea being we put limits on that water in order to protect the stream to make sure any water leaving the facility is not going to pollute the stream and cause any problems. That is the main authority the state has over mining facilities. We get a lot of questions and concerns about other aspects of mining and things like blasting, truck trafficking noise, and dust but we don’t have any authority over that and its outside of the scope of this draft permit,” Lawrence explained.
He also described the meaning of the term “wastewater” in the permit application.
“When you hear that word wastewater a lot of people assume sewage, domestic wastewater and that sort of thing. That is technically the correct term but its really rain that has come into contact with processing rock so if there is any rain that falls on a rock crusher the water that runs off of that is considered to be wastewater by the legal technicalities. It doesn’t mean sewage or domestic wastewater discharge in this case,” said Lawrence
The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation’s Division of Mineral and Geologic Resources Mining Section has issued a public notice on the proposed permit action to solicit comments and information necessary to evaluate the potential impact of the proposed activities on human health and the environment.
The comment period is from August 26 to September 27, 2024.
Persons wishing to comment on the proposed permit action may submit comments in writing to the Mining Section at the Knoxville Environmental Field Office, Attention: Public Notice Coordinator; by fax to 865-594-6105; or by e-mail to Dennis.Conger@tn.gov. Comments must be received before the close of the comments period September 27, 2024.
For more information visit http://tn.gov/environment/topic/ppo-water. To comment on this proposal: water.permits@tn.gov.
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