If you need to renew or replace a driver license, the self-service Kiosk in the County Clerk’s Office is a handy source.

For the last six years, the number of DeKalb County residents taking advantage of the service has steadily increased and to date this calendar year DeKalb County ranks number two in usage compared to eleven other Tennessee counties of similar size that host a Kiosk, according to DeKalb County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss.

The statistics on the usage of the kiosk locally over the years is as follows:

2012- 26 transactions
2013- 457
2014-502
2015-1,003
2017- 1,453
2018-653 transactions to date

The kiosk was provided to the County Clerk’s Office in 2012 by the Driver Services Division of the Tennessee Department of Safety. DeKalb County was one of only a select few counties to receive a kiosk. For the first couple of years the kiosk was located down the hall from the county clerk’s office at the county complex. But in the fall of 2014 after he took office, Poss said he relocated the kiosk to inside his office and the usage doubled.

Citizens may renew or replace an existing driver’s license or state identification card and pay for the transaction with a credit or debit card at the kiosk.

The technology takes the citizen’s photograph for use on the driver license. As a security measure, the kiosk performs facial verification with the image on record. A citizen leaves the kiosk with a paper interim document for use until the secure driver’s license or ID card is received. The interim license is valid for 20 days. The secure driver’s license or ID card is mailed to the applicant’s home within five to seven business days.

The state monitors the usage of the kiosks across the state and re-locates any that aren’t being used enough. Based on the numbers locally, that should not be a problem in DeKalb County.

County Clerk Poss said he is happy to provide personal assistance to customers who want to use the kiosk or for other services they may need.

“In addition to the kiosk usage, I am doing other things to assist people more. Sometimes the machine (kiosk) doesn’t recognize people by photo. If they are not required to do a photo I can bring them into the office, sit down at my computer, pull up the same system, and do the same work for them on my computer. I am doing several of those each month. I am also doing reinstatements of driver licenses on the computer for people who need it as well as handgun permits for people who need that done on-line. That service is available at home to people who have internet but I offer anyone who wants the assistance to come into the office and I will help them with hand gun carry permit renewals. I have been told that before the end of 2018, handgun carry permits will be eligible to renew on the kiosk as well as on-line,” added County Clerk Poss.

Cumberland sophomore Tyra Graham earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from the NAIA on Friday, as selected by the NAIA All-America committee and announced at the conclusion of the NAIA Championships in Clermont, Fla.

Graham becomes the first All-American for the Phoenix since Jessica Roper, a Second Team selection in 2014, and only the second All-American in the program’s history.

The Smithville, Tenn., native batted .426 with 20 doubles, six home runs, 37 RBIs and 62 runs scored this season, adding 35 stolen bases. She ranked sixth nationally in runs scored, seventh in hits (87), 10th in doubles and 13th in total bases (129) and stolen bases.

Graham led the Mid-South Conference in runs scored, hits, doubles and total bases and ranked second in batting average and stolen bases. Cumberland improved from 17-33-1 in 2017 and 36-23 this season, doing so with four freshmen or sophomores as well as four newcomers, all junior transfers from junior colleges.

Graham also earned CoSIDA Academic All-District® 2 College Division honors, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) recently.

Student-athletes must be a sophomore, junior or senior, hold a 3.30 GPA and above and be a starter or major contributor off the bench to be eligible for nomination for the CoSIDA Academic All-District® award. Graham posts a 3.75 GPA in Exercise and Sport Science.

Meanwhile’s Cumberland’s Kayley Caplinger of DeKalb County was named to the 2018 Mid-South Conference Gold Glove Team, as announced by the league office during the conference tournament in Bowling Green, Ky.

The 2018 Mid-South Conference Gold Glove Team is selected by the coaches and based solely on fielding percentage at each position from the regular season.

Caplinger did not make an error in 34 chances in the circle for the Phoenix, posting 23 assists.

The Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad will soon be getting another vehicle thanks to the DeKalb County Government and the City of Smithville.

During Monday night’s monthly meeting, the Smithville Aldermen voted to sell the City Fire Department’s 1980 service truck to the county for $4,000. The truck will go to the Rescue Squad for its operation.

Last week, the county commission voted to spend up to $4,000 for the purchase of the truck to be used by the Rescue Squad if the city were willing to sell it at that price.

Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker said plans were to market the service truck using an on-line service. Although the city might have been able to sell the truck for a much higher price through that venue, Chief Parker said he had no problem with the city selling it to the county for the Rescue Squad to meet their needs.

City officials view this move as a donation on the part of the city to the Rescue Squad by passing up its chance to get more money for the truck in advertising it for sale

Since the Rescue Squad serves Smithville as well as DeKalb County, the city fire department may still request use of the service truck periodically should the need arise according to Rescue Squad member Joe Johnson.