State Lawmakers Announce Tennessee Arts Commission Grants

October 24, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee State Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) along with State Representatives Clark Boyd (R-Lebanon), Susan Lynn (R-Mt. Juliet) and Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster) announced today that Cannon, DeKalb and Wilson Counties will receive grants totaling $61,587 from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The 10 grants were awarded to recipients after being reviewed by citizen advisory panels with expertise in the appropriate arts disciplines and a review by the full 15-member Commission.

“We are pleased to announce these grants for deserving organizations promoting the arts in our communities,” said Pody, Boyd, Lynn and Weaver in a joint statement. “This investment will provide children with a more complete education, stimulate economic development and help attract tourists to our area. These organizations do great work to cultivate the arts and preserve our rich local history and culture. We congratulate them for securing these funds. We also appreciate the work of the Tennessee Arts Commission for administering these grants and continuing to support the arts throughout Tennessee.”

This is the first of a series of grants that will be made throughout FY2021.

Grant awards in Cannon County include:

• $24,700 to the Arts Center of Cannon County for partnership support

• $10,800 White Oak Tennessee, Inc. for rural arts project support

Grant awards in DeKalb County include:

• $8,000 to the City of Smithville for creative placemaking

• $1,760 to the Tennessee Tech University Appalachian Center for Craft for Arts Build Communities

Grant awards in Wilson County include:

• $1,000 to Coles Ferry Elementary School for student ticket subsidy

• $2,399 to the Fiddlers Grove Foundation, Inc. for Arts Build Communities

• $5,589 for Monroe Mandolin Camp for arts project support

• $2,300 to Watertown Elementary for student ticket subsidy

• $2,947 to Wilson County Civic League for Arts Build Communities

• $2,092 to Wilson County Convention and Visitors Bureau for Arts Build Communities

“Tennessee is fortunate to have elected leaders who understand the positive impact the arts and culture have on Tennesseans and their communities,” said Anne B. Pope, Executive Director of the Tennessee Arts Commission. “Arts and culture are vital tools for attraction and retention of business, and help build stronger communities by enhancing the distinctive character of Tennessee places.”

According to Pope, the Commission expects to award approximately 1000 grants during FY2021, totaling up to $7 million dollars, including CARES Act funds. These funds have a direct impact on communities across Tennessee, in both urban and rural areas. Grant categories include Arts Access, Arts Education, Arts Project Support, Partnership Support, Major Cultural Institutions, and Rural Arts Partnership.

Other grant opportunities are offered throughout the year with rolling deadlines for qualifying organizations including grants for Arts Build Communities and Student Ticket Subsidy. Additional information on grant programs offered by the Commission is available at tnartscommission.org.

October 24, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb Prevention Coalition and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation encourage DeKalb County residents to take part in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day today (Saturday, Oct. 24) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Unlike similar events in the past, today’s Take-Back will be drive-by and drop-off only at the Smithville City Hall outside under a tent.

The public will be provided the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. (Sites cannot accept liquids, needles or sharp instruments, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

“Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That’s dangerous and often tragic. This year due to COVID-19 the Take Back Event will be a little different than before. This year it will be drive-by and drop-off. Drive to the front of the City Hall and a member of the DeKalb Prevention Coalition will take your medication and place it in the collection box. DPC will also provide medication boxes if you need one to lock your medications in at home. We will not be able to accept liquid medication, needles or sharps. We can collect medication in pill and patch form,” said Lisa Cripps of the DeKalb Prevention Coalition.

For more information please email DeKalb Prevention Coalition at dekalbtnprevention@gmail.com or call 615-580-9290.

“This event encourages the proper disposal of prescription drugs, and TDEC is proud to be a part of it,” TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said. “We have seen how awareness of this issue has prompted strong participation in the past, and we urge everyone to get involved.”

The October event is the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s 19th nationwide event since the program’s inception over 10 years ago. Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 883,000 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. The program has now collected nearly 6,350 tons of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications since the inception of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back initiative in 2010.

To keep everyone safe, collection sites will follow local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are many other ways to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs every day, including the 355 authorized collectors that are available all year long. For more information about locations in Tennessee, visit http://tdeconline.tn.gov/rxtakeback/.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 24 Take Back Day event, go to http://www.DEATakeBack.com.

For more information about TDEC’s Unwanted Household Pharmaceutical Takeback Program, including a complete list of participating counties and acceptable or non-acceptable items, please visit https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/opsp-policy-and-sustainable-practices/community-programs-and-services/unwanted-household-pharmaceuticals-takeback-program.html.

By: Dwayne Page

The late Tennessee Governor Frank G. Clement would have been one hundred years old this year. To honor his life and legacy during this centennial year, the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum in Dickson, Tenn., is celebrating this milestone with its fourth annual Legacy Awards Event. Due to COVID-19, the program will take place virtually and can be seen on the Clement Hotel Museum Facebook Page on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. CDT (https://www.facebook.com/crhmdickson).

The Legacy Awards were created to recognize the integrity and leadership of dedicated Americans whose lives have made a difference. This year’s awards honor three distinguished Tennesseans—U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, Grand Ole Opry Ambassador/trailblazer Jeannie Seely, and Country Music artist, Craig Morgan. Each will be recognized for their contributions to Tennessee, the nation, and the world. Special guests are Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, U. S. Congressman Jim Cooper, State Representative Michael Curcio, State Representative Mary Littleton, Dickson County Mayor Bob Rial, and Dickson Mayor Don Weiss.

“My father served as governor for ten years. Despite his share of controversies and challenges during his tenure, many qualities defined his legacy—namely the courage to make tough political decisions and to reach across the aisle to reach compromise,” said former U.S. Congressman Bob Clement (D-TN). “Our honorees were chosen because they embody many of those same qualities and we are looking forward to recognizing them during this special virtual event.”

The 107-year-old Halbrook Hotel in Dickson was restored and reopened as the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum in 2009. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The history and heritage of Dickson County and the State of Tennessee are displayed through exhibits and collections housed in the museum.

Educational opportunities for students and adults include learning about the birthplace of Governor Frank G. Clement and his accomplishments — providing free textbooks for children in public schools, establishing the first State Department of Mental Health, integrating public schools in Tennessee, and planning/implementing the Tennessee interstate highway system. Daily tours are available to see exhibits about the Civil War era and railroading, in addition to traveling exhibits of interest.

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum, located at 100 Frank Clement Place, Dickson, Tenn., is supported by the Tennessee Historical Commission, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, private donations, and the many volunteers who work tirelessly to make the museum possible.

For more information about the award winners and the Legacy Event, call 615-446-0500 or email the museum at clementrailroadmuseum@gmail.com.

Donations can be made through credit card/PayPal (https://clementrailroadmuseum.org), Venmo (www.venmo.com/Clement-Museum), or mailing a check directly to the museum.
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