With spring drawing near, Tennesseans are taking advantage of the mild weather to work around the home or farm. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry wants to remind citizens that if they plan to burn outdoors, a burn permit is required.
“With two of the past three years experiencing record low fire numbers, we hope to see a continuation of that trend,” State Forester Jere Jeter said. “But we need our citizens’ help. Burning leaves and brush that have accumulated around the yard or using fire to clear an old field is an efficient way to get rid of vegetation. However, it is very important that citizens practice safe outdoor burning. Requiring a burn permit is our way of making the public aware of those recommendations and helping them know when, where, and how to safely burn.”
The free burn permits are required by law until May 15, unless otherwise covered by local ordinances. Residents should check with their city and county government for any local requirements or restrictions.
Permits can be obtained online for burning of leaf and brush piles measuring less than 8 feet by 8 feet in area. The online system also provides permit access during weekend and evening hours. Access the system by visiting www.burnsafetn.org. The website is a good source of information for safe debris burning practices and fire prevention tips, including how to protect your home in the event of a wildfire.
Burning permits can be obtained from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday by calling the DeKalb County office of the Division of Forestry at 615-765-7373. In Smithville phone 615-215-3000. Burning permits can be obtained after hours and on weekends by visiting www.burnsafetn.org.
More than 387,000 permits were issued last year for outdoor burning of brush and leaves, untreated wood waste, and burning to clear land. The volume of requests on any given day can be high, so the Division asks residents to exercise patience if they experience delay in reaching a permit writer. The online system is most effective obtaining a permit for a small debris burn.
Once a burn permit is obtained, debris burners should practice common sense.
•Establish a control line around the fire, down to bare soil before conducting the burn.
•Notify neighbors and local fire departments in advance as a courtesy.
•Have tools on hand such as a leaf rake and garden hose or bucket of water to help control fire that escapes.
•Watch for changing weather conditions as winds can blow the fire in the wrong direction.
•Always stay with your fire until it is completely out. It is illegal to leave an open fire unattended.
Despite the low number of fires in 2015, escaped debris burns were still the leading cause of wildfires in Tennessee, accounting for 251 fires that burned more than 1,900 acres. The Division’s burn permit system has dramatically helped reduce the number of escaped burns since the program began in 1995. Burning without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $50.
Wildfires caused by arson were the second leading cause of wildfires last year, but damaged the most acreage, burning nearly 5,600 acres. Wildland arson is a class C felony punishable by three to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Anyone with information about suspected arson activity should call the state Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline toll-free at 1-800-762-3017.
For more information on the TDA’s Division of Forestry, visit www.tn.gov/agriculture/forestry. For more information on safe debris burning, visit www.burnsafetn.org.
Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry
The Division works to conserve, protect and enhance Tennessee’s forests that cover half the state and provide jobs, timber, clean water, wildlife habitat and recreation.www.TN.gov/agriculture/forestry

Four year old Joshua Ross is the 2016 Little Mister
Ross, the son of Steve and Paula Ross of Smithville, won the title Saturday during the annual pageant sponsored by the Smithville Women’s Club. He was also named Mister Photogenic
Ross succeeds the 2015 Little Mister Jaxsen Theryn Speaks, the six year old son of Justin and Donna Speaks of Smithville.
The contest featured three boys ages four to six.
Tanner Tinsley of Dowelltown was first runner-up in the pageant. He also received the title of Mister Personality. Tinsley is the six year old son of Brandi Tinsley and Wayne Mallory.
Second runner-up was Abram Luke Myers, the five year old son of Joey and Kelly Myers of Doweltown.

The winner of the Little Miss Pageant Saturday was Caitlyn Lee Adcock, the four year old daughter of Jessie and Tia Adcock of Smithville.
Adcock succeeds the retiring Little Miss, Ella Grace Kirksey, the five year old daughter of Graden and Sabrina Kirksey of Smithville.
Thirteen girls, ages four to six, were in the pageant held at DCHS sponsored by the Smithville Women’s Club.
Runners-up in the pageant are as follows:
First runner-up: Karah Jo Ford, the five year old daughter of Amanda Ford and Hector Orozco of Dowelltown.
Second runner-up: Lakelyn Brooke Nelson, the five year old daughter of Dustin and Kristian Nelson of Smithville.
Third runner-up: Emily Danielle Johnson, the five year old daughter of Clint and Dede Johnson of Smithville.
Fourth runner-up: Cora Marie Cox, the four year old daughter of Brandon and Whitney Cox of Smithville.
Miss Personality: McKayla Brooke Colwell of Smithville, the six year old daughter of Eddie and Monica Colwell and Travis and Bethany Bogle.
Miss Photogenic: Cassidy Orcutt, the six year old daughter of Olivia Taylor and Josh Orcutt of Smithville
Rounding out the top ten were:
*Heaven Grace Farris, the five year old daughter of Jessica Guess of Smithville
*Madison Grace Bogle, the six year old daughter of Travis and Bethany Bogle and Holly Owen of Smithville
*Kaydence Shontae Johnson, the six year old daughter of Jeremy Ashburn and Trista Johnson of Smithville
*Cassidy Orcutt, the six year old daughter of Olivia Taylor and Josh Orcutt of Smithville
*McKayla Brooke Colwell of Smithville, the six year old daughter of Eddie and Monica Colwell and Travis and Bethany Bogle.
Other participants were:
Brooklyn Paige Bogle, the six year old daughter of Bud and Jenny Bogle of Smithville; Madison Anderson, the six year old daughter of Tiera and Travis Anderson of Smithville; and Savannah Faith Stibil, the five year old daughter of John and Glenda Stibil of Smithville.

The 2016 Young Miss is seven year old Kaylee Brooke Kent of Dowelltown.
Daughter of Kevin and Beth Kent, Kaylee beat out four other girls ages seven to nine for the crown Saturday during the annual pageant sponsored by the Smithville Women’s Club. She was also named Miss Photogenic.
Kent succeeds last year’s Young Miss, Isabella Faith Rackley, the eight year old daughter of Gordon and Jessica Rackley of Smithville.
First Runner-up in the pageant was Averie Nicole McMinn, the eight year old daughter of Nathan and Amanda McMinn of Smithville. She also received the distinction of Miss Personality
Second Runner-up: Lilliana Grace Vickers, the eight year old daughter of Brandi Norton of Smithville
Third Runner-up: MaKinzy Lynn Jenkins of Smithville, the nine year old daughter of Wally Rackley. Her aunt and caretaker is Maranda Washer
Fourth Runner-up: Allison Faith Marie Goodwin, the nine year old daughter of Roy and Anna Goodwin of Smithville.

Morgan Faith Green is the 2016 Miss Spring Blossom.
Green, the sixteen year old daughter of Suzanne and Jon Harrison of Smithville, won the crown Saturday during the annual pageant sponsored by the Smithville Women’s Club. Green was also named Miss Photogenic.
She succeeds last year’s queen Tyra Grace Graham, the seventeen year old daughter of Kyle and Doris Graham of Smithville.
First runner-up went to Chloe Colvert White, the eighteen year old daughter of Lou Ann White of Smithville and the late Steve White.
Destiny Danielle Franklin, the sixteen year old daughter of Jennifer Ware of Smithville was second runner-up.
Aspen Nicole Flarity was third runner-up. She is the seventeen year old daughter of Doyle and Cindy Flarity of Smithville. She was also chosen as Miss Personality
The pageant featured four contestants ages sixteen to eighteen.

The DCHS Band traveled to Cookeville on Saturday, March 5 to perform in the Upper Cumberland Concert Festival held at Prescott South Middle School.
The band received top honors of a I (Superior Rating) for their performance of Concert Literature.
Bands are rated based on a number of factors and receive either a I, II, III, or IV.
The following weekend, the band took 22 select middle and high school members to the Twin Lakes Small Band Clinic. The students were mentored by expert conductors in their field in the areas of performance. Culminating their three day experience, the students performed two separate concerts(one high school and one middle school) each with nearly one hundred members.

Senior Noah Parsley was named the DCHS Tiger basketball Most Valuable Player Thursday night at the annual team banquet, while Senior Jailyn Bolding received the Lady Tiger MVP honor. Senior Chloe White is the Most Valuable Cheerleader. The awards were sponsored by Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. The MVP and MVC awards are named in memory of Allen D. Hooper.
In addition to being named MVP, Parsley received the team’s Hustle Award, Best Defender, and Best Passer Awards. Bolding,along with the MVP award, was honored for being the team’s Best Ball Handler, Hustle Award, and Best Defensive Player. Bolding received All District Honorable Mention and was chosen to the All District Defensive Team
The season for the DeKalb County Tigers ended with a loss to Cannon County in overtime in the District Tournament at Cookeville last month. The Tigers finished the season at 13-20 overall.
The DeKalb County Lady Tigers wrapped up their season losing to Sequatchie County in the Region Tournament. They closed out the campaign with an overall record of 24-14.
Other individual cheerleading awards included:
MVC: Chloe White
Most Spirit: Chloe White
Most Improved: Olivia Winter
Best Jumps: Zoe Maynard
Best Dance: Kaitlin Rhea
Best Flier: Brooklynn Estes
Best Attitude: Azya McCoy
Best Base: Jennifer Caplinger
Best Backspot: Aspen Flarity
STAR Award (Spirit, Team, Attitude, Respect): Amelia Patterson
Other Lady Tiger basketball awards were as follows:
MVP: Jailyn Bolding
Defensive MVP: Jailyn Bolding
Best Free Throw Award: Ashli Chew
Coaches Award: Joni Robinson
Lady Tiger Award: Macy Hedge
Best Rebounder: Ashli Chew
Most Improved: Maddison Parsley
Offensive MVP: Ashli Chew
Best Passer: Morgan Pedigo
Most Athletic: Hannah Panter
Best Three Point Shooter: Morgan Pedigo
Best Ball Handler: Jailyn Bolding
Hustle Award:Jailyn Bolding
1000 points in high school career: Ashli Chew
1000 points in high school career: Morgan Pedigo
1st Team All District: Ashli Chew
All District Honorable Mention: Jailyn Bolding
All District Defensive Team: Jailyn Bolding
All District Freshman Team: Joni Robinson
All District Freshman Team: Macy Hedge
For the Tigers,
MVP: Noah Parsley
Best Defender: Noah Parsley
Best Athlete: Tanner Poss
Best Rebounder: Gentry Harpole
Best Offensive Player: Marshal Evins
Best Free Throw Shooter: Marshal Evins
Best Ball Handler: Marshal Evins
Best Practice Player: Tanner Poss
Best Passer: Noah Parsley
Best Sixth Man: Colter Norris
Smartest Player: Marshal Evins
Most Improved Player: Austin Johnson
Best Attitude: Trey Jones
Hustle Award: Noah Parsley
All District Freshman Team: Tanner Poss
All District Honorable Mention: Marshal Evins
All District Honorable Mention: Gentry Harpole

DeKalb County High School has named the winners of the 2016 Science Fair
Grand prize winners – Hannah Evans & Olivia Winter
Physical Science Division:
1st place – Maggie Robinson
2nd place – Griffin Goldstein & Daniel Munoz
3rd place – Seth Pack
Honorable mention – Kelsie Merriman, Ethan C. Cantrell, Bradley Miller, Kayla Belk, Savannah Belcher
Biology/Math Division:
1st place – Andrew Fuson & Dosson Medlin
2nd place – Ethan Jenkins & Shalin Patel
3rd place – Sarah Ann Colwell
Honorable mention – Joni Robinson, Callie Mulloy, Sophie Cripps, Macy Hedge, Madison Judkins, Madi Cantrell, Lydia Brown, Addison Oakley, Chloe Sykes, Isaac Walker, Maddison Parsley, Zack Day, Luke Oliver, Luke Bryant, Will Stephens

A Smithville man who labeled an item of drug paraphernalia with his name was arrested in Cookeville Saturday evening for selling and distributing marijuana.
Evan Brady Cripps, of Pine Grove Road in Smithville, was charged in connection with the incident.
Cookeville Police Officer Kyle Farley stopped the vehicle Cripps was in because of a tail light violation and an expired registration. The driver of the vehicle, Braxton Atnip was cited for Motor Vehicle Lighting Requirements, No Insurance, and Expired Registration.
Officer Farley’s report states as follows:
“On March 12 at 7:47 p.m. I initiated a traffic stop on a black Honda Civic at the Breadbox at 850 West Jackson Street for a tail light violation and for an expired registration. I made contact with the driver, Braxton Atnip, and I immediately noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from about the vehicle. I asked Mr. Atnip to exit the vehicle and I asked him if there was marijuana in the car and he said yes. I asked if he would give me the marijuana and he said yes and got a backpack from between the right rear passenger, Evan Cripps, legs,” the report states
“Mr. Atnip pulled a Mason jar out of the backpack that had a bag of marijuana inside it and I asked whose it was and he said it was Mr. Cripps. I asked Mr Cripps to exit the vehicle and I asked if it was his and he said yes. I asked for consent to search his backpack and he did give me consent. Inside the backpack I located a set of digital scales that had “property of Evan Cripps” written on it. I also located a roll of plastic bags inside the backpack that he said he used to put marijuana in. The plastic bag of marijuana weighed approximately 25.5 grams,” the report continued.
“I placed Mr. Cripps under arrest for Manufacture, Deliver, Sale of a Controlled Substance, placed hand restraints on him and double locked them behind his back. I placed him in the right rear seat of my patrol vehicle”.
“I issued Mr. Atnip city citations for Motor Vehicle Lighting Requirements, No Insurance, and Expired Registration,” the report stated.
“I transported Mr. Cripps to the Putnam County Jail where on arrival I met with the Judicial Commissioner, obtained and executed a warrant for Manufacture, Deliver, Sale of a Controlled Substance on him”.
“I had initially made visual contact with this vehicle as it was passing Cane Creek School on West Jackson Street. The vehicle also stopped close to the Busy Bee Preschool at 749 Buffalo Valley Road”.
“The charge for Drug-Free School Zone is pending”.
“I placed the plastic bag of green leafy substance in evidence along with a TBI Crime Lab request for examination sheet for substance identification and quantity. I also placed the Mason Jar, digital scales, and roll of plastic bags in evidence,” the report concluded.

The Tennessee Department of Health has recently confirmed a diagnosis of rabies in two dogs in middle Tennessee. One puppy died in Wilson County in February and was submitted for rabies testing. A second dog was submitted for testing in February from DeKalb County. Both dogs had a strain of rabies found in skunks, meaning they were likely infected by being bitten by skunks.
“The deaths of these animals serve as a somber reminder of the importance of rabies vaccination,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “Our pets are more likely to come into contact with wild animals than people are. Keeping our pets’ rabies vaccinations up to date is an effective and important way to protect both them and our human loved ones.”
Rabies vaccination is the best protection against rabies in household pets. Vaccination of dogs and cats is required by Tennessee law. Having pets vaccinated against rabies helps protect people from rabies, too.
Many Tennessee health departments work with local veterinarians to provide low-cost rabies vaccination clinics at this time of year. Contact your local health department to learn if a clinic is scheduled in your area. A list of Tennessee’s health department locations and their contact information is available online at http://tn.gov/health/topic/localdepartments.
In addition to vaccination of pets, people can protect themselves and their loved ones from rabies by staying away from wild animals. Do not try to help, feed or handle wild animals. If a wild or stray domestic animal seems sick or acts strangely, report it to your local animal control agency. Bats in particular should not be handled. If a bat is found inside, in a swimming pool or brought home by your pets, use precautions and contact your local health department.
“People, especially young children and teenagers, are curious about nature and animals, but wild animals and unfamiliar pets may pose a danger to their health,” said TDH Deputy State Epidemiologist John Dunn, DVM, PhD. “It’s important that parents and other adults teach children to observe wildlife from a safe distance and not to touch any wild animals or unfamiliar domestic animals.”
Rabies is a virus transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. Nationwide, 89 dogs were diagnosed with rabies in 2013, the most recent year for which data are available. In Tennessee in 2015, rabies was diagnosed in 33 animals including one dog, 24 skunks, five bats and three raccoons. Rabies infection occurs primarily in wildlife in Tennessee, but can be transmitted to any mammal. Bites are the most common means of transmission; contact with saliva from an infected animal can also be a concern. Rabies is nearly always fatal, but illness can be prevented in humans by prompt vaccination before symptoms develop.
Here are some things you can do to help prevent the spread of rabies:
•Keep vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs and cats and consider vaccinating horses against rabies. Talk with your veterinarian for details.
•Supervise pets to reduce contact with wild animals.
•Keep children away from any wild or dead animals, including bats.
•Never touch a bat with bare hands. Use precautions and contact your local health department.
•Contact your medical provider and local health department if you’re concerned about any potential rabies exposures to your family or your pets.
For more information or help with a potential human rabies exposure, call your local health department or the Tennessee Department of Health emergency line at 615-741-7247. For questions about animal health, contact the Tennessee Department of Agriculture at 615-837-5120 or animal.health@tn.gov.
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. TDH has facilities in all 95 counties and provides direct services for more than one in five Tennesseans annually as well as indirect services for everyone in the state, including emergency response to health threats, licensure of health professionals, regulation of health care facilities and inspection of food service establishments. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health.
– See more at: http://tn.gov/health/news/38258#sthash.akCiVzdh.dpuf