Center Hill Lake levels rising for 2020 recreation season

February 24, 2020
By:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District has received approval to return Center Hill Lake to normal operations, which means that lake levels will be on the rise for the upcoming recreation season.

The Nashville District has operated Center Hill Lake since 2008 within a targeted pool elevation between 618 and 630 feet as an interim risk reduction measure during the dam safety rehabilitation project. A return to normal operations means the summer pool elevation will be managed between 640 and 648 feet and the winter pool between 625 and 630 feet.

Project Manager Jill Kelley said repair actions involved three major construction contracts. The first project involved a significant foundation grouting effort at the main dam embankment and left rim. The Corps then installed a concrete barrier as deep as 307 feet into the foundation to stop seepage. The project is culminating with the soon to be completed roller compacted concrete berm at the saddle dam to reduce risk of foundation failure and potential back-cutting of the saddle dam.

“Returning to normal operations will give the Nashville District the ability to manage the additional water within the reservoir to best balance all Congressionally-authorized project purposes and support downstream water management operating objectives,” Kelley said. “Returning to normal operations will allow more of the late winter and spring project inflows to be stored in the reservoir.”

Water supply users downstream will likely see reductions in taste and odor issues, improved water treatment, and reduced treatments costs due to increased flows in the Cumberland River during the summer and fall. These increased flows will improve water quality conditions at the lock and dam projects on the Cumberland River, in particular temperature and dissolved oxygen, and will benefit aquatic life downstream of the reservoir.

Kelley added that operations will reduce off-peak hydropower generation during the spring filling period. Subsequently, the water in storage will be available for hydropower production during peak demand periods later in the year, she said.

Recreation on Center Hill Lake will benefit from higher pool elevations during the peak recreation season. Recreation downstream will also benefit from improved water quality conditions and a more consistent flow pattern.

Efforts to lift the restricted operating criteria were coordinated with the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division Water Management, TVA River Operations, Southeastern Power Administration, National Weather Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

February 24, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A man arrested on drug and burglary charges among other offenses after a raid on his Toad Road home by local and state authorities in June, 2018 appeared for sentencing Friday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

31 year old Travis Eric Patterson entered a plea to one count of possession with intent to sell over 0.5 grams of methamphetamine and one count of burglary. He received an 8 year sentence in the drug case and 4 years for the burglary to run concurrently for a total of 8 years to serve at 30% as a range one offender. Patterson was fined a total of $2,000 and must make restitution of $650 to the burglary victim. Patterson was given jail credit of 141 days.

In a prepared statement at the time of Patterson’s arrest, Sheriff Patrick Ray said that “early on Wednesday morning, June 20, 2018 officers with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, officers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit (SWAT), an agent with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and members of the 13th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, executed a search warrant at the home of Travis Patterson”.

“The search warrant stemmed from the sale of illegal narcotics and the illegal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon”.

“Through their investigation, Sheriff’s Department Detectives found that Patterson, who is a convicted felon, was in possession of firearms at his home. As a safety precaution, the THP Special Operations Unit was summoned to assist in the search of the home. The THP Special Operations Unit made a forcible entry into the home after no one came to the door. Patterson finally gave himself up along with another male and female who were at the residence. No one was injured”.

“Upon searching Patterson’s residence, Sheriff’s Department officers found 15 grams of methamphetamine, 6 ounces of marijuana, an assortment of prescription pills, one rifle, two shotguns, three pistols, digital scales, glass pipes, and possible stolen power tools. Detectives also seized $427.00 in cash”.

Patterson was indicted on the charges in November, 2019 and began serving the balance of a four year prison sentence in a previous drug case after violating his probation. He was later transferred to Jackson County and escaped from a work detail at the landfill in Clay County in March, 2019. He was captured a few days later.

February 24, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

An open house will be held Monday, March 2 to give the public an opportunity to view the Tiny House recently completed by students in the DCHS Residential and Commercial Construction Class.

The open house will be held next Monday from 3 to 5 p.m. at DeKalb County High School near the Vocational School where the Tiny House is located.

The Tiny House is now for sale and sealed bids are being accepted. The minimum bid has been established at $22,600. The Board of Education will open bids at the next regular monthly meeting on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. at the Ernest Ray Education Center.

The 8’ x 24’ Tiny House stands up to 13 feet and 6 inches and sets on a modified trailer that can be anchored or moved from place to place.

Accommodations in the Tiny House, although compact include a living room, kitchenette, bathroom, and sleeping space.

Specific features are as follows:
● Mobility by use of a trailer
● Central heat and air unit
● Cooktop
● Solid wood cherry cabinets
● Loft bedroom
● Cherry laminate flooring
● Bathroom with shower
● Metal roof
● Cedar wood siding ( stained and finished)
● 200 square feet including loft

TinyHouse (PDF)

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