A number of 4-H members recently completed the 4-H chick-chain project. The chick-chain project began this past Spring when the 4-H members received a group 20 baby chicks. They had the responsibility of providing them with everything from feed and water to shelter and love.
The final step in the project is the annual 4-H Chick-Chain Show and Sale. The 4-H members who started this Spring with 20 chicks brought back five pullets for the show. They were judged and graded based on maturity and growth of the bird into groups of blue and red pullets. Trent Jones of Carthage served as judge of the chick-chain show. A pen of Grand and Reserve Champions were selected from all the entries.
The 4-H members received ribbons and prize money based on how their chickens placed. This year’s Grand Champion pen was raised by Jamison Trapp. The Reserve Champion pen was raised by Summer Crook. Other 4-H members who exhibited chickens at the show were: Briana Agee, Jenna Cantrell, Morgan Clifton, Katie Colwell, Clayton Crook, Lynsey Ellis, Haidyn Hale, Lily Martin, Will Pursell, Madison Ray, Skylar Southard, Kristopher Stansberry, Parker Vantrease, Hagen Waggoner, and Brendan Wagner. At the conclusion of the show, the pullets were sold at auction. Mr. George Taylor served as the auctioneer. The proceeds from the auction will be used to purchase chicks for next year’s project.
Picture captions:
Jamison Trapp exhibited the Grand Champion pullets at the 4-H Chick Chain Show.
Summer Crook exhibited the Reserve Champion pullets at the 4-H Chick Chain Show.
DeKalb County 4-H members who exhibited chickens at the 4-H Chick-Chain Show and Sale were: Briana Agee, Jenna Cantrell, Morgan Clifton, Katie Colwell, Clayton Crook, Summer Crook, Lynsey Ellis, Haidyn Hale, Lily Martin, Will Pursell, Madison Ray, Skylar Southard, Kristopher Stansberry, Jamison Trapp, Parker Vantrease, Hagen Waggoner, and Brendan Wagner

A new member has been appointed to the Board of Education from the fourth district.
Kate Miller, wife of Billy Miller will be succeeding her husband on the school board.
The county commission voted Monday night to make the appointment. Kate Miller will serve as an appointee until the next regular election in August 2016. At that time, an election will be held to fill the remaining two years of the term.
Billy Miller, who was elected to his second four year term on the board in August, was forced to resign after accepting a new job with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation which does not allow him to hold public office. His resignation from the school board became effective September 30.
Kate Miller’s name was the only one placed in nomination by the county commission Monday night.
As required by law, County Mayor Tim Stribling had a public notice of the vacancy published in the newspaper more than seven days prior to the October County Commission meeting. The notice included the procedure under which the vacancy was to be filled.
According to the County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS) before the county commission could take a vote on filling the vacancy, the chair (County Mayor Stribling) was required to allow voters of the county an opportunity to submit names to the county commission for consideration. The names were to be submitted in writing to the chair prior to the meeting or submitted in person at the meeting.
Stribling said Kate Miller was the only person to send him written notification that she was interested in filling the vacancy. He read the letter to the county commission in which she wrote “Dear Mr. Stribling and county commission members. This letter is to inform you of my interest in being appointed to fulfill the term of school board member for the fourth district. The DeKalb County school system has been an integral part of my life for many years. It is not only where I received my education but where my children are also being educated. As the mother of a fourth grader and a seventh grader, I have worked extensively as a parent volunteer. I have had several leadership positions in the PTO and have served as room mother multiple times. I feel like this association to our schools has provided me with a good picture for some of our educational needs. If selected as the board member from the fourth district, I can promise that my every decision will be thoughtfully considered and would be made in the best interest of our children. It would be a real honor to serve on the DeKalb County School Board and I would gladly accept this appointment,” wrote Kate Miller.
Miller was unable to attend Monday night’s meeting.
County Mayor Stribling then opened the floor to give anyone in the audience from the fourth district wanting to be considered for the position a chance to be heard. There were none. Stribling asked if the county commission wished to place any names in nomination. Third district member Jack Barton nominated Kate Miller. There were no other nominations.
Fifth district member Jerry Adcock then asked “Are we going to vote on this tonight?”
County Mayor Stribling answered “It’s up to you (county commission)”.
Adcock said “No I think we need to bring people in and let them interview like we did last time.”
Stribling replied “You’ve got to nominate someone before you bring them in to interview. This is according to CTAS. I can ask our attorney to speak to it.”
“We conferred with CTAS and it’s in the code (state law). This is the way you do it,” said County Attorney Hilton Conger.
Commissioner Barton then moved to cease further nominations. Fourth district commissioner Jonathon Norris seconded the motion. On a voice vote, all voted yes except for Commissioner Adcock.
County Attorney Conger said that if the commission wanted to interview Miller, they could postpone their vote on her appointment. “You do have the option. You don’t have to take your vote tonight if you want to interview,” said Conger
Adcock then said “Alright I’d like to make a motion that we interview”
County Mayor Stribling asked Adcock, “You want to interview Ms. Kate Miller?”
Adcock replied “Or anybody else that wants one”
“Jerry, there’s not anybody else. We’re going to interview Ms. Kate Miller, “answered County Mayor Stribling.
“Then there’s no since in making the motion (to interview),” said Adcock
County Mayor Stribling then called for a roll call on Miller’s appointment to the school board and all county commissioners voted in favor.

Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District is pleased to announce that Middle Tennessee Utility District (MTUD) has merged with the Upper Cumberland Gas Utility District of Cumberland County. Under the merger agreement, Middle Tennessee Utility District remains as the surviving utility and modifies its legal name slightly to Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District (MTNG), serving a twenty two county area. MTNG CEO James Hodges commented, “This merger is definitely a win – win situation for the customers of the two merging Utility District’s”.
The Board of Commissioners for both utilities met separately in June, 2014 and approved by resolutions the agreement and plan of merger.
A petition seeking approval was filed on October 1st with the county mayors in each of the counties served by MTUD and the Upper Cumberland Gas Utility District. A public hearing was held last Thursday, October 23 in Crossville, at which time county mayors in attendance representing the service areas of the two utilities voted to approve the request.
MTUD served over 56,000 natural gas customers in all or a portion of twenty one counties including Bledsoe, Cannon, Coffee, Cumberland, DeKalb, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Jackson, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Overton, Putnam, Rhea, Rutherford, Smith, Van Buren, Warren, White, and Wilson Counties. The Upper Cumberland Gas Utility District served over 2,500 customers in a portion of Cumberland and Fentress Counties.
In the petition, MTNG asserts that “the merger of the two utility districts will provide for more efficient and convenient natural gas service in the areas served by both districts. The customers served by Upper Cumberland Gas Utility District will benefit by reduced rates and additional services. The customers of the petitioner (MTNG) will benefit from the added customers by spreading operating costs, providing access to additional natural gas pipeline supply, and allowing opportunities for customer growth in the resort and traditional communities served by Upper Cumberland Gas Utility District further spreading the operating costs. The proposed merger is economically sound and desirable and will serve the public convenience and necessity”.
Since the utility’s service area has grown from its beginnings in 1955, MTUD will further amend its map and legal boundaries to reflect these expansions. “In the years following the creation of the petitioner (MTUD), neighboring communities and counties have invited it to provide natural gas service. Those requests have been honored under authority found in Tennessee Code Annotated (state law) but the territorial limits described in the 1955 order (creating MTUD) have not been amended to reflect these expansions. An amendment of the map and legal description of the present service area as well as the expansion arising from the merger are sought to redefine the incorporated boundaries,” the petition states.
The petition to merge has also been filed with the Tennessee Utility Management Review Board, but for notice purposes only. The UMRB is not required to act.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made arrests and issued citations in several assault and driving related offenses in recent days.
36 year old Reina Jose Diego of Monterey is charged with a third offense of driving on a revoked license. She was further issued citations for violation of the light law and violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance).Her bond is $4,500 and she will be in court on November 20. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday, October 21 a deputy spotted a red car with a brake light out. After stopping the vehicle, the officer spoke with the driver, Diego. A computer check revealed that her license were revoked on August 15, 1998 for failure to file after an accident. Diego had previous driving on revoked offenses on March 31 and August 9, 2010. She was placed under arrest.
39 year old Gregory Lynn Morris of South Mountain Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court November 20. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, October 24 a deputy received a call about a white truck that had crashed into a fence on Keltonburg Road. Upon arrival, the officer found Morris walking away from the scene of the accident. He spoke with Morris who admitted to being the driver involved in the wreck. Morris was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. He admitted to having consumed a 24 ounce beer and then driving. Morris submitted to and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A computer check revealed that his driver’s license were revoked on July 6, 2004 for a DUI. He was found to be driving on a revoked license on September 29, 2009. Morris was placed under arrest.
22 year old Vanessa Renee Poss of Old West Point Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court November 6. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, October 13 Poss allegedly punched her husband in the left eye causing swelling and bruising. She also allegedly punched him multiple times in the back of the head while he was holding their eighteen month old child in his arms. Poss then allegedly hit both of her husband’s trucks with an axe, shattering the windshields and passenger side windows. She was determined to have been the primary aggressor.
30 year old Harley Davidson Smith of Tullahoma and 34 year old David Jason Lewis of Baxter are each charged with assault. Bond for each is $1,500 and they will be in court on November 20. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, October 13 Smith and Lewis allegedly grabbed and punched each other while both were inmates incarcerated at the jail.
52 year old Richard Chapman of Oakley Hollow Road, Alexandria is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court November 6. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, October 15 a deputy responded to a physical domestic complaint on Oakley Hollow Road. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a woman who said that Chapman punched her in the face and tried to choke her. She had a bloody nose, blood on her cheek and lip, and handprints on her throat. Chapman had scratches on his left arm and the left side of his stomach, which appeared to be defensive injuries. He was determined to have been the primary aggressor.
29 year old Sara Nicole South of Foster Road, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving on a revoked or suspended license. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court November 6. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, October 15 a sheriff’s department detective saw South operating a motor vehicle on Short Mountain Highway. With prior knowledge that South’s license were revoked, the deputy stopped her vehicle. A computer check confirmed that her license were revoked for failure to file after an accident. She also has another case pending in court for the same offense. South was placed under arrest.
45 year old Tina Gail Clark of Lincoln Avenue, Smithville is cited for violation of the light law, violation of the financial responsibility law, and simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana). She will be in court on November 20. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, October 20 a deputy stopped a maroon Jeep for a light law violation and spoke with the driver, Clark. She gave consent to search and the officer found in her vehicle .6 grams of marijuana. She admitted that the marijuana belonged to her. She also could not provide proof of insurance.
42 year old Melissa Lawson Norris of Clear Creek Road, Liberty is cited for violation of the light law, violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance), possession of drug paraphernalia (pipe), and simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana). She will be in court November 20. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, October 21 a deputy spotted a silver car with a light law violation. The officer stopped the vehicle and received permission to search from Norris, the driver . Upon an investigation, the deputy found 8.2 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia (pipe) in Norris’ purse. Norris also could not produce proof of insurance.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made arrests in recent days after finding parents with meth labs in the presence of their children.
36 year old Michael Shone Saylors and Ashley Dawn Saylors of West Main Street, Smithville are each charged with initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine and two counts of aggravated child abuse and neglect. Bond for Michael Saylors is $400,000 and $350,000 for Ashley Saylors. They are to appear in court on November 13.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday, October 14 after receiving an anonymous tip of a possible meth lab, a deputy went to the Saylors’ home to do a probation visit of Michael Saylors. Upon receiving consent to search the home, the officer found a meth lab. Two 11 year old children living in the home were also present. Inside a wooden trunk, the deputy discovered a gallon of muriatic acid, lighter fluid, two cans of crystal Drano, a can of drain opener, four cold packs, lithium batteries, three loaded syringes, four empty syringes, fifty coffee filters, six feet of plastic tubing, five funnels, and a plastic bag containing lye. The deputy also found a marijuana grinder, rubbing alcohol, digital scales, Iodine, and aluminum foil. The officer spoke with Ashley Saylors who admitted that she knew these components used to make meth were in the house. Due to the strong chemical odor, the home was quarantined and everyone inside the residence was directed to step outside. Investigators were forced to use purifying respirators to keep from inhaling the harmful chemicals. The children were taken to the emergency room of the hospital for evaluation and their clothes were removed and placed in quarantine.
According to Sheriff Ray the home will remain under quarantine until the homeowner has it properly cleaned.
In a separate case, 20 year old Nichole Breann Higgins of Young Green Road, Smithville is charged with initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine and aggravated child abuse and neglect. Her bond is $275,000 and she will be in court November 6.
Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, October 22 a sheriff’s department detective and deputies went to a residence on Young Green Road on a complaint of a possible meth lab. Upon arrival the officers spoke with the homeowner who gave consent for a search of the residence. They also spoke with Higgins and she gave permission for a search of her room in the home where several items were found used to manufacture meth. Higgins’ one month old son was also present . Found in Higgins’ room were a Mason jar containing bi-layered meth oil, Coleman fuel, Coleman fuel burner heads, two Coleman cylinders, acid, Pyrex glassware, coffee filters, lithium batteries, turkey Basters, aluminum foil balls, and a propane torch. These items were found next to the baby’s clothes, diapers, pacifier, and the bed where the baby slept. Higgins’ was arrested and the home was placed under quarantine.
The homeowner will be responsible for having the residence properly cleaned.
Meanwhile 28 year old Curtis Allen Lloyd of Rosewood Lane, Smithville is charged with possession of a schedule II drug for resale (methamphetamine). His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court on November 6. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, October 22 a sheriff’s department detective stopped Lloyd for speeding on Highway 56 south. The officer received consent to search Lloyd’s car, a 1997 Lumina and found a baggie containing a white powdery substance still partially wet. The substance field tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 1.1 grams. Lloyd was placed under arrest.

Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, Nov. 2, and while you are changing your clocks, the DeKalb County Fire Department wants to remind you to change your batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms also. Our message is simple and it’s easy to do! Please take a few minutes to make sure life-saving alarms have fresh batteries so you, your family, and your home are protected.
Lieutenant Brian Williams, DeKalb County Fire Department’s Fire Prevention and Safety Officer, reminds DeKalb County residents that after batteries are changed in alarms, take a few extra minutes to test your alarms and remind family, friends, and neighbors to do the same. Not all smoke alarms have batteries that have to be replaced each year. Some newer model alarms have batteries that last up to 10 years. However, it is still very important to test and clean your alarms. You can clean and maintain them simply by using compressed air to remove dust residue that accumulates on alarms that can cause the alarm’s sensor to not operate properly.
If your home is not furnished with smoke alarms, or if your alarms are older than 10 years old, DeKalb County Fire Department will install new smoke alarms in your home free of charge. There’s simply no reason anyone should lay down to sleep at night without having a working smoke alarm in their home! All you have to do is contact Lt. Brian Williams at (615) 330-4066 and provide your name, address, and phone number to get your free alarms installed.
Eighty percent of child fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms. It’s a tragic statistic that can be prevented. Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year, testing those alarms, and reminding others to do the same are some of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. “The vast majority of our house fires happen between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” said Lt. Williams. “Smoke alarm installation and maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely.”
A working smoke detector doubles your chance of surviving a home fire. So, why would you not want you and your family to have this protection? For more information about fire safety, visit the DeKalb County Fire Department’s FaceBook Group page or the department’s website at www.dekalbfire.com.

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 64 million Americans will increase 1.7 percent in 2015, the Social Security Administration announced today.
The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 58 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2015. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2014. The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $118,500 from $117,000. Of the estimated 168 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2015, about 10 million will pay higher taxes because of the increase in the taxable maximum.
Information about Medicare changes for 2015 is available at www.Medicare.gov.
The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

The onsite manager of Lakeside Resort is reportedly on paid leave after allegedly overstepping his authority.
During a meeting Tuesday, UCHRA board members learned that certain actions of Randall Killman were being called into question. In addition to being manager of Lakeside, Killman is also the agency’s human resources director.
According to the Herald-Citizen, Luke Collins, executive director of UCHRA reported to the board that Killman had overstepped his authority concerning some travel issues, hiring practices and a few other things. Killman hired his father temporarily to work at Lakeside without consulting Collins and charged travel time to the agency as well.
Collins told the board he made the discovery on Friday, October 10 and took action the following day.
Killman was written up and put on paid leave for two weeks. He is also required to pay back approximately $400 in travel he charged the agency.

Fall is in the air, pumpkins are on porches, and massive amounts of candy are calling! Halloween is just around the corner, and your local and state fire officials want to make sure safety is kept in mind while celebrating this popular October holiday.
The 11th Annual Boo Bash was held Saturday night in Alexandria and several other Halloween events are scheduled this week in Smithville.
“Halloween is an exciting time, especially for kids, but precautions need to be taken to make sure that fun does not lead to fire danger,” said State Fire Marshal Gary West.
One of the major culprits for holiday fires is candles. Halloween, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is one of the top five calendar days for candle fires. NFPA statistics show that decorations are the item first ignited in more than 1,000 reported home fires each year.
The Volunteer State has not been immune to the dangers unattended candles can cause; from 2009-2013, Tennessee fire departments responded to 464 structure fires that were started by candles. These fires resulted in 9 deaths, 28 injuries and $10.38 million in direct property damage.
“Using battery-operated candles to illuminate your Halloween pumpkins is a great alternative to candles,” said West. “They can keep your celebrations festive, while also making them safer.”
It is also important to stress fire safety in regard to haunted houses that may be operating in your area. Visit the Codes Enforcement section of the State Fire Marshal’s website to learn more about the safety requirements for haunted houses operating in Tennessee (http://commerce.tn.gov/sfm/fpcesect.shtml).
Follow these important tips to ensure your Halloween is fire-safe:
•When choosing a costume, stay away from billowing or long, trailing fabric. If you are making your own costume, choose material that won’t easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or flame. If your children wear masks, make sure eye holes are large enough to allow unobstructed views.
•Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.
•It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candles in a jack-o-lantern. If you use a flame candle, use extreme caution and keep them well attended at all times. When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns, use long fireplace matches or a long-nozzle candle lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters and such high-traffic areas as doorsteps, walkways and yards.
•Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
•Tell children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire. (Have them practice stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their faces with their hands, and rolling over and over.
•Use flashlights or other battery-operated lights as alternatives to candles or torch lights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-or-treaters, whose costumes may brush against the lighting.
•When attending a Halloween party, look for ways out of the home/venue and plan how you would get out in an emergency.
•If you have a Halloween party, check for cigarettes under furniture cushions and in areas where people might have smoked, before you go to bed.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is a division of the Department of Commerce and Insurance, which works to protect consumers while ensuring fair competition for industries and professionals who do business in Tennessee. Visit our website at www.tn.gov/fire for more fire prevention tips. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.

DeKalb County’s unemployment rate for September was 6.1%, down from 6.9% in August and 7.8% in September 2013.
The local labor force for September was 9,090. A total of 8,540 were employed and 560 were without work.
DeKalb County’s Jobless Rate for September was fifth lowest in the fourteen county Upper Cumberland region.
Here’s how they rank from highest to lowest:
Pickett: 9.6%
Van Buren: 9.1%
White: 8%
Clay: 7.6%
Cumberland:7.5%
Fentress:7.2%
Overton:6.9%
Jackson: 6.8%
Warren:6.8%
DeKalb: 6.1%
Putnam.6%
Cannon:5.6%
Macon:5.4%
Smith:5.3%
County unemployment rates for September show the rate decreased in 94 counties and increased in one.
Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate for September at 5.4 percent, down from 6.3 in August. Davidson County was 5.5 percent, down from 6.2 in August. The Hamilton County September rate was 6.6 percent, down from 7.4. Shelby County was 8.4 percent in September, down from 8.9.
The Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for September was 7.3 percent, one tenth of one percentage point lower than the 7.4 August revised rate. The U.S. preliminary rate for September was 5.9 percent, down from 6.1 percent in August.
The state and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted while the county unemployment rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events from economic time series.