All four amendments to Tennessee’s Constitution pass overwhelmingly in State and DeKalb County

November 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

By a 4-1 margin, Tennessee voters on Tuesday approved a ballot measure that will remove the last vestiges of legal slavery from the state’s Constitution.

Amendment 3 replaces archaic language that has lingered since just after the Civil War saying “slavery and involuntary servitude” are fit punishments for crime. With 79.5% of the vote, the passage will now be replaced with unequivocal language that says: “slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited in this State.”

The ballot measure was one of four Constitutional amendments before voters this election. All four were approved, but none with a higher margin than the anti-slavery measure.

Voters also embraced Amendment 1, which enshrines “right-to-work” in the state constitution.

Amendment 1 garnered 70% of the vote and swept all 95 counties, despite strong opposition from unions. Proponents have said the measure will guarantee that workers can’t be compelled to join unions or pay union dues. Opponents pointed out that Tennessee since 1947 has had a right to work law measure on its books.

Tennessee voters also approved two other amendments: Amendment 2, which garnered 74.6% of the vote, outlines a line of succession should the governor be temporarily unable to perform the duties of office.

The amendment gives the lieutenant governor the authority to step into the role. Previously, the lieutenant governor would have had to resign from his or her seat before temporarily taking charge.

And voters also approved Amendment 4, repealing a long-disregarded ban on members of the clergy serving in the Tennessee General Assembly. The amendment passed with 63.2% of the vote, but it also garnered the most “no” votes of any of the four constitutional amendments.

All four amendment questions were overwhelmingly approved by DeKalb County voters in the Tuesday election as follows:

Amendment # 1: Yes- 3,272 (71.29%), No-1,318 (28.71%)

Amendment#2: Yes-2,892 (70.35%), No-1,219 (29.65%)

Amendment#3: Yes-3,243 (74.28%), No-1,123 (25.72%)

Amendment#4: Yes-2,752 (64.60%), No-1,508 (35.40%)

November 11, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee’s 2022-23 statewide gun hunting season for deer opens Saturday, Nov. 19. The season traditionally opens each year on the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving. During gun season, sportsmen may also use muzzleloaders or archery equipment.

“Deer hunting season is one of our state’s most cherished traditions,” said Jason Maxedon, Executive Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “We hope everyone will be able to get into the woods and have the opportunity to carry someone with you to continue the tradition.”

The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is two. No more than one antlered deer may be taken per day. Hunters are allowed the following antlerless bag limits: Unit L-three per day, Unit A-two per season, Unit B-one per season, Unit C-one per season (Nov. 19-Dec. 4 only), and Unit D-one per season (Nov. 19-25 only).

In Unit CWD, there is a limit of three antlerless deer per day with no season limit. The statewide bag limit of two antlered deer applies in Unit CWD. However, the statewide bag limit of two antlered deer may be exceeded within Unit CWD if taken under the Earn-A-Buck Program or taken under the Replacement Buck Program. Details on each of the programs are on page 31 of the 2022-23 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 is required to carry proof of satisfactory completion of a hunter education class or be in possession of the Apprentice Hunting License (along with other required licenses) while hunting any species in Tennessee. Hunter education can be completed online for free.

For more information about Tennessee’s 2022-23 deer hunting seasons, exact boundaries of deer units, and complete license requirements refer to the 2022-23 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide available online at tnwildlife.org or the TWRA App. Physical copies can be picked up at an agency office or license agent retail location.

November 11, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A Veterans Day program was held today (Friday) at the county complex sponsored by The American Legion and Ladies’ Auxiliary Post 122.

(View video of the entire program below)

The ceremony began with patriotic music from Susan Hinton on piano followed by the presentation of colors from members of the 1377th Bobby Ray Detachment Marine Corps; Pledge of Allegiance led by Ronnie Redmon, Post 122 Adjutant; and Prayer by Larry Green, Chaplain of Post 122.

“As veterans we are people who were willing to serve our country and do whatever it took to defend the freedoms we enjoy but the freedoms we truly enjoy are the freedoms that God has given to us,” said Green,” said Green in remarks pryor to his prayer. “God is the true Supreme Commander of all the military. God is the one who leads us and just as he promised Joshua as told in the Bible that he would be with him, God is the same God today. He is leading the same people today and He is still leading our people who are serving us today. It doesn’t matter if we are veterans of the military, EMTs, firefighters, police, whoever we are we are veterans who are doing whatever we can do to defend the cause of freedom,” said Green

The program was scheduled to also include performances by the DCHS Band and Chorus but they were unable to attend with school having been cancelled today (Friday) due to sickness

Judy Redmon, President of the American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary introduced the guest speaker, Bill Rutherford, Veteran Service Officer for DeKalb County and the American Legion. During his remarks, Rutherford presented a stirring patriotic Veterans Day video projected on the new video wall in the county complex auditorium.

“Veterans Day started on the 11^th month of the 11^th day of the 11^th hour in 1919. The one-year anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended WWI said to be the war to end all wars. It was commemorated in 1921 with the burial of the unknown soldier from WWI at Arlington National Cemetery. The tomb of the unknown soldier was established as well as Armistice Day. In 1938 Armistice Day became a national holiday and in 1954 the name changed to Veterans Day allowing us to pause and remember our veterans both past and present. Seven percent of the US adult population is considered a veteran. In DeKalb County that is one in every 180 adults residing in our county,” said Rutherford.

“Webster’s definition of a veteran is a person who has significant experience and expertise in a particular field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in the military. The bigger question is who is a veteran?”

“When I see a veteran I see bravery, faith, desire, brotherhood, pride, compassion, honor, and patriotism,” said Rutherford. “As the years go by veterans often ask themselves why am I still here? We are here to remember their sacrifice and to honor them not just on Veterans Day or Memorial Day but every day by the way we carry ourselves and the way we serve our community. Many veterans still fly the American flag and often that of their branch of service as well as the MIA and POW flags. Veterans are patriotic even when it isn’t trendy. Veterans are community driven and continue to serve long after Uncle Sam says you are free to go. There will be many more veterans to come for there will always be some radical extremist group, country, or dictatorship that will attack our freedoms or challenge our way of life. They will challenge our democracy. Sometimes our democracy and constitution may seem flawed but ask any veteran and they will tell you that they are worth fighting for. Our oath has no expiration date. We will continue to serve any way we can, defending our constitution against enemies foreign and domestic,” Rutherford continued.

“As we go our separate ways this afternoon and the day comes to an end rest easy knowing you have the brightest, best trained, and best equipped young men and women in the world standing watch over you. They are our future veterans. Remember to remember this is our country, the great state of Tennessee, and DeKalb County. To those gathered here today, say thank you to our veterans for their service,” said Rutherford.

Following the program, veterans boarded a school bus where local law enforcement and firefighters led the motorcade in parade fashion down Congress Boulevard to the Public Square for the placement of a wreath and a closing prayer by Don Rigsby  at the site of the veterans memorial monument.

Lunch for veterans and their families was served after the ceremony sponsored by Senior Citizens Director Pam Redmon; the American Legion Post 122 and Ladies Auxiliary, and the Woodmen of the World represented by Tom Bumbalough.

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