County Clerk Updates Retired Teachers About New Real ID Driver’s License Coming in July

June 6, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee will begin offering residents the option of upgrading their driver’s license starting July 1 to meet federal requirements that will affect domestic air travel.

The “Real ID” license allows the state to meet federal standards under the REAL ID Act.

DeKalb County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss was guest speaker at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the DeKalb County Retired Teachers at NHC Healthcare Center and presented a power point to explain the new law.

REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the states and the Federal Government to improve the reliability and accuracy of state-issued identification documents, which should inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification

“Tennesseans are not required to get the upgraded driver’s licenses. However, if residents don’t have a passport, the “Real ID” compliant cards will be needed to fly domestically, go into federal buildings, or enter military bases effective October 1, 2020,” said Poss.

“This started when President George W. Bush was in office through Homeland Security after 9/11 basically saying that while driver licenses do fall squarely within the states (jurisdiction)  the federal government should do something unilaterally for all the states,” said Poss

Currently, 4.5 million people have a Tennessee driver’s license. As of right now, all of those are compliant with the REAL ID act, according to the Department of Homeland Security, but that will soon change because the roll out of the changes has been in stages. The next stage is the REAL ID license, which will add a gold star to the driver’s license, which signifies it as a federal ID.

If you are renewing your license, you’ll pay that normal fee when you go to get your license with a gold star. If your license is current, you will have to pay an $8 duplicate fee to get a license with the gold star.

How do REAL IDs differ from current IDs? 

• The REAL ID is a regular license that adds a gold star. That gold star allows you to get through security when you’re flying or allows you to enter a federal building. It designates your license as a federal form of identification
• 42 other states are already issuing these license
• If you do not get the REAL ID, your license is only a state license, not a federal license and when you renew your license it will say “not for federal identification”
• You must have the Gold star license, passport, military ID (or other TSA approved ID) to get on a plane in the U.S. If you choose not to get the star you cannot travel by air with your driver’s license
• Without the REAL ID, you won’t be able to enter a federal building starting in October 2020

How will that process work? Does everyone have to go to the DMV? 

When you go to renew your license you will have to present proper documentation — same as what the state has always required in the past when you come in to TN – social security card, birth certificate/passport, two proofs of residency

June 6, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Children at Justin Potter Library were treated to a visit from “Bentley”, a red-shouldered hawk and “Otis” , a three month old Opossum during Thursday’s Summer Reading Program event.

“Bentley” and “Otis” were brought out for the children to see by Park Manager Brad Halfacre and Andrew Webber, Seasonal Interpretive Park Ranger at Edgar Evins State Park.

IMG_6982 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

“Bentley” is called a red-shouldered hawk because he has a red color on his shoulders. A red-shouldered hawk is not as large as the red-tailed hawk, something very common in middle Tennessee,” said Halfacre.

IMG_7001 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

“In captivity “Bentley” gets a great diet of frozen mice. He does eat some quail, chicken gizzard, and sometimes a fresh dead squirrel from the road. I have had him about a year. I wanted to turn him back into the wild but unfortunately that wasn’t able to happen because he imprinted on me.  In the wild a hawk would be scared of humans but “Bentley” got used to me. When I got him I would open the cage and throw him a mouse. I kept feeding him as he got bigger and later tried to release him. He flew off fine but he couldn’t hunt on his own so he came back to my house and waited  for me to feed him. It took me about three more months to catch him again. Once I caught him again we started the permitting process and now he is a resident bird at the park,” said Halfacre.

WJLE first introduced “Otis” during last Saturday’s National Trails Day at Edgar Evins State Park.

“We rescued him about three months ago after his mother was attacked by a dog when he was really little. When opossums are first born they live in their mother’s pouch and when they get older they ride around on their mother’s back. Otis’ mother was attacked by a dog and he was the only one that survived the attack. We will have him for the rest of his life. When he is fully grown he will have about 52 teeth. He is a nocturnal animal which means he sleeps during the day and is active at night. Otis will live to be about 10-15 years old,” said Webber.

Other Justin Potter Library’s Summer Reading Events:

*Thursday, June 13 at 2 p.m.: Barry Mitchell’s Aliens, Astronauts and a Turtle in Space

*Thursday, June 20 at 2 p.m.: A Universe of Stories & Activities with DPC, Board of Education and UT Extension

*Thursday, June 27 at 2 p.m.: Final Party at the DeKalb County Complex Theater: Scott Humston’s Music, Magic, and Comedy

Alexandria Library Summer Events:

*Story Time & Activities Wednesday, June 5, 12, & 19 at 2 p.m.

For more information call Justin Potter Library at 615-597-4359

June 6, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville and DeKalb County’s largest two day tourist event is less than one month away.

The 48th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival will be held Friday and Saturday, July 5th & 6th. The Festival begins at 9:00 am each day, and continues until the final competition has been awarded. With over 35 music and dance categories, streets full of hand-made crafts, and over a dozen food booths, there is something for everyone at the Jamboree. You have to experience it in person…come and see the Jamboree!

(2018 Fiddle-Off Champion Maddie Denton Below)

Preliminaries will be held in the following categories on Friday, July 5:

Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (Solo); Junior Clogging (ages 13-39); Junior Buck Dancing (ages 13-39); Old-Time Appalachian Folksinging (Duet, Trio, Quartet); Dobro Guitar; Mountain Dulcimer; Hammer Dulcimer; Novelty Event (Spoon Clacking, Jug Blowing, Washboard, Tub, Saws-Appalachian Related Only); Autoharp, Gospel Singing (Solo); Country Harmonica; Old Time Banjo; Youth Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers); Gospel Singing (Duet,Trio, and Quartet); Mandolin; and Old Time Fiddle Band.

(2018 Grand Champion Fiddler for Beginners Uma Peters)

The top three acts in each category will be called back for the finals on Friday night and a first, second, and third place will be awarded.

(2018 Square Dancing Champion Rocky Top Revue of Franklin)

A United States flag and a Tennessee State flag will be presented on Friday evening. The flags, which have flown over the state capitol, go to the persons who travel the greatest distances, both from inside and outside the country, to get here. The flags will be presented by State Senator Mark Pody and State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Clark Boyd.

The Smithville Community Chorus is expected to perform with a variety of patriotic songs.

Fiddler’s Jamboree Craft Awards will be presented during the weekend for “Best of Show”, “Best Appalachian Craft”, “Best Newcomer”, and “Best Craft Display”

On Saturday, July 6, preliminaries will be held in the following categories:

Junior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance (ages up to 39); Senior Old Time Appalachian Flatfoot dance ( ages 40 and over); Senior Buckdancing (ages 40 and over); Senior Clogging (ages 40 and over); Bluegrass Banjo; Junior Fiddlers (ages 13-39); Flat Top Guitar; Contest Fiddle for the Neil Dudney Award; Bluegrass Band; Senior Fiddlers (ages 40 and over); and Square Dancing (4 Couples-8 Total Dancers).

Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be called back Saturday night to compete for first, second, and third place.

Bluegrass legend, Ronnie Reno, will be honored with the 2019 Blue Blaze Award on Saturday, July 6th during the festival  at approximately 5pm followed by a mini-concert performed by Reno on the main stage

The winners of the Junior and Senior Fiddling competition will square off for the Grand Champion Award, the Berry C. Williams Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the festival.

Meanwhile, the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners will be held Saturday afternoon, July 6 during the Jamboree featuring competitions for children, up to age twelve, in the categories of Buck Dancing, Clogging, Dobro Guitar, Mandolin, Five String Banjo, Flat Top Guitar, and Fiddle.

Preliminaries will be held in each event and then the top three finalists will be brought back to compete for first, second, and third place.

One child will receive the Best Overall Instrumental Entertainer Trophy Award and the top fiddler will get the James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Trophy.

In addition to the on-stage musical entertainment, the Fiddlers Jamboree will feature many crafts, plenty of delicious food; and lots of shade tree picking around the public square.

WJLE will broadcast most of the on-stage entertainment LIVE on AM 1480/ FM 101.7 and LIVE Streaming at www.wjle.com.

For more information on the festival, go to www.fiddlersjamboree.com

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