Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is seeking low income families in substandard housing who would like to realize the dream of homeownership.
Area residents are invited to get information about this program and to learn how to apply during a meeting tonight (Thursday, April 3) at 6:00 p.m. at the Smithville First United Methodist Church Christian Fellowship Center, which is located across from Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 30.
Habitat is accepting applications from those wishing to become the sixth partner family in DeKalb County. “We’re having this meeting with the hope of choosing a family,” said Marie Blair, member of the Habitat Family Selection Committee.
The purpose of Habitat is to build homes and then sell them to eligible families at no interest and for no profit. Habitat is looking for families who could not otherwise afford a home.
For families to qualify, they must meet basic qualifications, need for housing, ability to pay, and a willingness to partner. Families must have been residents of DeKalb County for a least one year prior to April 2014 and they must be a United States citizen or have permanent resident alien status.
“They may be living in overcrowded housing. It may be that they are spending more on their rent and utilities, more than 30% of their income. They may not have a house. They may be staying with others. They may be living in unsafe or unsanitary conditions. That’s how we determine need,” said Blair.
“The second qualification is ability to pay. Some people have the mistaken idea that it’s a free house. It’s not a free house. It’s interest free. But when we actually sell the house to the person they are expected to pay the amount of the cost of the house without any interest, which if you’ve ever made a mortgage payment or a payment on anything you know that is a huge savings,” said Blair.
For a family of four, the maximum allowable annual income is $26,510 which is 55% of the median income for families in DeKalb County. If you are age 60 or have a special needs household member, the maximum allowable annual income level for a family of four is $28,920. The income levels vary according to family size.
Partner families making payments now on their homes are helping to subsidize the next home to be built. “All of the families who are making payments now, and we have four families who are already living in houses, pay that money back to Habitat through their payments each month and that builds the fund so that we’re able to build another house. We’re not self sustaining yet because we don’t have enough houses but we’re told that when we have ten houses, that will be enough so that we won’t have to be so concerned about fundraising every time we get ready to build a house,” according to Blair.
Eligible families must be willing to do volunteer work and learn basic home repair and maintenance practices and budgeting. “To be a partner family with Habitat you have to earn “sweat equity”. It’s hours that you work. You can work on someone else’s house. You can do community service projects. Whatever your skill level is you can earn “sweat equity” by doing that job. The partner families must perform a certain number of “sweat equity” hours. I believe the total is 500 hours over the entire time before they move into their house. But they actually must have 100 hours before ground is broken. That’s why we want to give them the opportunity to work on the next house to be built this year,” said Blair.
“We also expect all of our partner families to attend an education course. We have a committee called “Family Support” that works on budgeting issues and home maintenance. If you rent a house and something goes wrong you call your landlord. If it’s your house there is no landlord to call. You have to know the things you can do and the things you might need to seek professional help for. We want our families to learn how to do that before they jump into home ownership without realizing all the responsibilities that go with it,” Blair continued.
Habitat will conduct screens and criminal background checks on applicants. “Once a family passes all the milestones, we screen them for income. We will verify employment and other income and have a credit check completed to determine if they are truly in need or can afford a house? One of the last things we do before approving a partner family, we have a group who makes a visit to the home there they live now but that is not to do a white gloves test. It’s announced and planned with the family when it’s convenient for them. We’re really looking at what are their housing needs. Our Family Selection Committee will then make a recommendation to our board of directors. The board is the group that ultimately approves the family, Blair concluded.
If you can’t attend tonight’s meeting or need more information call 615-215-8181 and leave your name, address and phone number.

Four of the five school board races in August will be contested.
Noon today (Thursday) was the qualifying deadline.
In the first district, Matthew Boss and Danny Parkerson will be looking to succeed incumbent school board member John David Foutch who is not seeking re-election.
Second district voters will choose between incumbent school board member Charles Robinson and challenger Jerry Wayne Johnson.
Third district incumbent school board member Kenny Rhody will face opposition from Jonathan Willoughby and Jim Beshearse.
Fourth district incumbent school board member Billy Miller is unopposed.
In the seventh district, Incumbent school board member Johnny Lattimore will be challenged for re-election by Emitt Shaun Tubbs and Brandon Cox.
The terms of each member is four years.
The election is August 7th

The Smithville Mayor race will be contested in August.
Incumbent Mayor Jimmy W. Poss will face opposition from Wallace Caldwell.
Although a newcomer to the political scene, Caldwell is a lifelong resident of Smithville and attends the Bright Hill United Methodist Church. He is married to the former Carolyn Sue Luna. They have two daughters, Kitty Thomas and Tiffany Caldwell and four grandchildren.
Caldwell is former operations manager for the former owners of Omega Apparel, Brian Roberge and Richard Chase; a former second shift supervisor for Kingston Timer; and a former shift supervisor for Moog Automotive.
He currently serves as member and Chairman of the Smithville Planning Commission.
Poss was first elected mayor almost two years ago. He is also a seventh district member of the county commission. He and his wife Joyce have a son and daughter, Tony Poss and Tonya Hattaway and six grandchildren.
Prior to becoming mayor, Poss operated his own lawn care service. He previously worked for eighteen years at Star Manufacturing.
Meanwhile Jason Murphy and Gayla Hendrix will be unopposed for the two alderman positions up for election this year.
Hendrix is a local attorney and former school teacher and business owner. She and her husband Farron have three children, Alli, Lee, and Abi. Hendrix previously served as alderman from 2011 to 2013.
Murphy is seeking his second term as alderman. He is owner and operator of Optimus Pest Solutions. He and his wife Tamera have two children, Nixon and Addison.
The Smithville Municipal Election will be held on Thursday, August 7th. Those elected mayor and alderman will each serve a four year term.
Dowelltown voters will elect three aldermen during that town’s city election on August 7th. The incumbent aldermen up for re-election will be unopposed, Brad Driver, Keith Farler, and Ronald Griffith.

All three of DeKalb County’s representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly will face a challenge for re-election this year.
Clark Boyd of Lebanon will try to unseat State Senator Mae Beavers of Mount Juliet in the August 7th Tennessee Republican Primary in the 17th District. The winner will be unopposed in November.
State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver of Lancaster will be unopposed in the August Tennessee Republican Primary in the 40th District but she will face Sarah Marie Smith of Carthage in the November Tennessee General Election. Smith is unopposed in the August Tennessee Democratic Primary.
Smith challenged Representative Weaver in the November General Election two years ago.
Meanwhile, Candace Reed of Lebanon will be looking to defeat Republican State Representative Mark Pody of Lebanon in the November General Election in the 46th District. Neither Reed nor Representative Pody face a primary challenge in August.
Other candidates in the August Tennessee Primaries:
Republican State Executive Committeeman-District 17: Albert McCall of Lebanon and Dwayne Craighead of Celina.
Republican State Executive Committeewoman-District 17: Jennifer Winfree of DeKalb County, Yvonne G. Hunter of Wilson County, and Pat Fields of Wilson County.
Democratic State Executive Committee Woman-District 17: Rachel Givens of Wilson County
Democratic State Executive Committee Man-District 17: Aubrey Givens of Wilson County and Bob Black
U.S. House of Representatives (6th District):
Republicans: Diane Black of Gallatin and Jerry Lowery of Sparta
Democrat: Amos Scott Powers of Doyle
Independent: Mike Winton of Manchester
The following is a list of individuals who turned in their qualifying petitions to the state by the April 3, 2014 noon deadline for the offices of Governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives. Election officials are processing the petitions on the state level to determine whether the petitions have the required number of valid signatures and whether other qualifying criteria have been met.
Governor:
Republicans: Bill Haslam of Knoxville, Donald Ray McFolin of Nashville, Mark Coonrippy Brown of Gallatin, and Basil Marceaux, Sr. of Soddy Daisy.
Democrats: Charles V. “Charlie” Brown of Oakdale, Kennedy Spellman Johnson of Murfreesboro, Ron Noonan of Sparta, and William H. “John” McKamey of Piney Flats.
Constitution: Shaun Crowell of Spring Hill
Green: Isa Infante of Knoxville
Independents: J.D. Ellis of Savannah, John Jay Hooker of Nashville, Jondavid Balunek of Hendersonville, and Steven Damon Coburn of Cookeville
Libertarian: Daniel T. Lewis of Nashville
U.S. Senator:
Republicans: Lamar Alexander of Walland, John D. King of Knoxville, Joe Carr of Lascassas, George Shea Flinn of Memphis, Fred R. Anderson of Maryville, Floyd Conover of Gallatin, Erin Kent Magee of Knoxville, Christian Agnew of Mt. Juliet, and Brenda S. Lenard of Sweetwater.
Democrats: Gary Gene Davis of Nashville, Gordon Ball of Knoxville, Larry Crim of Antioch, and Terry Adams of Knoxville.
Independents: Bartholomew J. Phillips of Nashville, C. Salekin of Murfreesboro, Danny Page of Greenbrier, Dea Jones of Memphis, Edmund L. Gauthier of Dover, Eric Schechter of Nashville, Harrison Kelly of Bartlett, Joe B. Wilmoth of Baxter, Joshua James of Murfreesboro, and Rick Tyler of Ocoee.
Tea: Tom Emerson, Jr. of Atoka

In the continuing legal battle between the City of Smithville and the DeKalb Utility District, attorneys for the municipality now claim that the DUD underpaid for water purchases from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013 and owes the city more than one million dollars.
(CLICK PDF LINK BELOW TO READ CITY’S ANSWER AND COUNTER CLAIM AGAINST DUD)
Answer of City of Smithville (FB280882).pdf (116.03 KB)
As a result, the city has filed a counter claim in Chancery Court seeking a judgment against the DUD to recover the amount of the undercharges.
Attorneys Kristen E. Berexa of Nashville and City Attorney Vester Parsley, Jr. filed the counter claim last Thursday, March 27 in DeKalb County Chancery Court along with an answer to the DUD’s lawsuit against the city over the $5.00 per thousand gallon water rate.
Even though the city had a water purchase contract with the DUD from March 15, 2004 through December 31, 2013 establishing the amount the DUD would pay for water each year, city attorneys claim a 2013 water cost study found that the municipality had not charged the DUD enough to cover all of the actual costs of producing and distributing water to the DUD, and the City did not recover any of its capital costs from DUD during the period between July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2013.
Attorneys for the City assert that under state law, Smithville is entitled to recover from the DUD the amount by which DUD was undercharged in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated § 7-35-414 which states in part that….”Such rates and charges shall be adjusted so as to provide funds sufficient to pay all reasonable expenses of operation, repair, and maintenance, provide for a sinking fund for payment of principal and interest on bonds when due, and maintain an adequate depreciation account, and they may be readjusted as necessary from time to time by amendment to the ordinance establishing the rates then in force. Any upward adjustment of rates and charges for sewerage services shall not be granted solely on the basis of increases of rates and charges for water service, but shall be made only after a finding by the governing body that such an adjustment is reasonable and justified….”
According to the city’s counter claim, “The provisions of Section 8 of the 2004 (water purchase) contract are void for the period beginning July 1, 2008 through the end of the 2004 contract because they violate Tennessee Code § 7-35-414(a) and the common law requiring DUD to pay just and equitable rates.”
“The total amount DUD underpaid the City for potable water during the period from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013 is $1,099,323 plus the underpayment for the period between July 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012.”
The counter claim states that “At its meeting on December 12, 2013, the Board of Aldermen of the City established a rate of $5.00 per one thousand gallons of water to be paid by DUD on and after January 1, 2014, the same rate that customers within the City are charged for water”.
In the lawsuit against the City, the DUD contended that the $5.00 per thousand gallon rate was unreasonable and asked for a temporary injunction, which was granted by Chancellor Ron Thurman on February 28 forcing the municipality to immediately reduce its water rate to the DUD from $5.00 to $2.67 per thousand gallons, which was determined by the water study to be the city’s actual cost to produce water. The temporary injunction will be enforced pending the outcome of the DUD’s lawsuit against the City.
Attorneys for the City claim the $5.00 per thousand gallon rate is reasonable and is needed to help recover the DUD’s undercharges.
“This rate is reasonable and necessary to cover the costs to produce and distribute water to DUD and to recover the amounts by which DUD was undercharged by the City during the period from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013, according to the counter claim. “At the rate of $2.33 per one thousand gallons (the difference between the $5.00 rate set by the board of aldermen and the City’s cost of $2.67 to produce and distribute one thousand gallons of water), the City will have to sell 471,812,000 gallons of water to DUD to recoup the underpayment from DUD without factoring in the underpayment from July to December 2012. In the most recent calendar year, DUD purchased 307,087,000 gallons of water from the City. DUD has expressed an intention to build its own water production system in the next two years and will cease to be a major customer of the City after DUD’s plant goes online.”
In the counter claim, the city is asking that a judgment be entered in favor of the City and against the DUD in the amount of $1,099,323 plus the amount by which DUD was undercharged for water during the period from July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012; that DUD be denied all relief on its complaint against the City and same be dismissed with prejudice; that the City be granted such other and further relief as is just and proper in the premises; and that the City be awarded its reasonable costs in this action.

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce recently presented a Milestone Award to the Webb House Retirement Center, 115 Jennings Lane, Smithville celebrating 25 years.
In 1988, Webb House admitted their first resident, Mrs. Marguerie Curtis of Alexandria. Since then they have survived five renovations and one terrible fire. Following the fire in May 2005, The Webb House was rebuilt as a new up-to-date facility that can meet most any needs of every resident. During its 25 years, The Webb House has cared for nearly 1000 residents from DeKalb County and surrounding counties and other states. The facility has 37 assisted living suites and 12 memory care suites. The Webb Family and staff is known for treating every resident like family.
In October 2013, they opened a 2nd facility on Manchester Highway in McMinnville. Alan and Lora Webb, along with all the staff and residents, invite you to stop by and give them a visit. Lori Webb says, “We are proud of our 25th anniversary serving the people of our area and hope to continue for many years to come.”

Two new developments in recent days have put the DeKalb Utility District closer to building its own water treatment plant.
First, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has found that the proposed DUD water treatment plant will not significantly affect the environment. The public has until April 28 to make comments before a final decision is reached to proceed. Secondly, although the City of Smithville had no plans to do so, the deadline has now passed for the municipality to appeal a recent court decision that went in favor of the DUD, clearing the way for the water plant to be built.
(CLICK BOTH PDF LINKS BELOW TO READ TDEC WEBSITE PUBLIC NOTICE AND TO VIEW AREA COVERAGE MAP)
http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/water/docs/srf/public-comment_dekal…
http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/water/docs/srf/public-comment_dekal…
Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle, on February 25, dismissed a petition for a judicial review by DUD ratepayers and the City of Smithville who were seeking to overturn a decision by the Utility Management Review Board, who last April ruled against the petitioners in their quest to halt DUD’s plans for construction of a water plant. In her ruling, Chancellor Lyle affirmed the UMRB decision.
Regarding the environmental impact of the proposed DUD water treatment plant, the National Environmental Policy Act requires federally designated agencies to determine whether a proposed major agency action will significantly affect the environment. One such major action, defined by the Safe Drinking Water Act, is the approval of a facilities plan. In making this determination, the State Revolving Fund Loan Program assumes that all facilities and actions recommended by the plan will be implemented. The State’s analysis concludes that implementing the plan (in this case) will not significantly affect the environment; accordingly, the State Revolving Fund Loan Program is issuing this Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) for public review.
According to the public notice, which WJLE obtained on the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation website, “The DeKalb Utility District has completed the facilities plan entitled “2013 Water System Improvements, Proposed Water Treatment and Distribution Improvements”, dated December 2013. The facilities plan provides recommendations to construct a new water treatment plant and upgrade the existing water treatment system serving the DeKalb Utility District (DeKalb, Cannon, Smith, and Wilson Counties), Tennessee.”
“This project will consist of a new raw water intake structure and raw water pump station on the Holmes Creek Embayment of Center Hill Reservoir (Caney Fork River); an 18-inch diameter raw water transmission line from the raw water pump station to the new 2.0 million gallon per day water treatment plant located along Holmes Creek Road; an 18-inch diameter finished water transmission line along Holmes Creek Road, Allen’s Ferry Road, and U.S. Highway 70; and new 8-inch diameter water distribution lines along Big Rock Road, Dry Creek Road, Game Ridge Road, Turner Road, Tittsworth Road, and Walker Lane. A finished water pumping station will be constructed to deliver water from the Snow’s Hill Water Tank to the Short Mountain Water Tank.”
“The new 2.0 million gallon water treatment plant will include clarification, mixed media filtration and backwash systems, and a 250,000 gallon clear well. The total estimated project cost is $12,000,000. The DeKalb Utility District has applied for two Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loans totaling $5,250,000 to fund this project. The first loan is for $2,500,000 with a $2,000,000 loan and $500,000 in principle forgiveness that will not have to be repaid by the DeKalb Utility District. The second DWSRF loan is for $2,750,000. Additional funding includes a Rural Utilities Service loan for $5,000,000, a Rural Utilities Service grant for $1,250,000, and an Appalachian Regional Commission grant for $500,000”
Comments supporting or disagreeing with this proposed action received within 30 days of the date of this FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (March 28) will be evaluated before a final decision is made to proceed. The public comment period ends April 28th, 2014
If you wish to comment or to challenge this FNSI, send your written comment(s) to:
Mr. Sam R. Gaddipati, Environmental Manager
State Revolving Fund Loan Program
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 12th Floor
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
or call or e-mail (615) 532-0462 or sam.gaddipati@tn.gov.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made arrests recently for three separate offenses of DUI and one case of aggravated assault.
28 year old Stephen Hunter Pugh of Woodbury Highway Liberty is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. He was further issued a citation for driving on a revoked license, failure to maintain his lane of travel, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court April 10.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday, March 18 while driving east on Highway 70 near Snow Hill, a deputy spotted Pugh in physical control of a motor vehicle. According to the officer, Pugh left his lane of travel several times and at one point nearly crashed into a DeKalb County School Bus heading west on Highway 70. The bus was able to swerve out of the way to prevent a collision.
Pugh turned onto New Home Road and stopped at a business. The deputy made contact with him there. According to the officer, Pugh had slurred speech. He was unsteady on his feet and he submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also consented to a blood test. Pugh admitted to taking several drugs the night prior. He also admitted to driving the vehicle, saying he was going to the scrap yard to get money for his grandparents.
After conducting field sobriety tasks and speaking with the complainants who all witnessed the event, the officer determined that Pugh was in physical control of the vehicle while being under the influence of alcohol and or drugs. A computer check revealed his driver’s license were revoked. Drug paraphernalia was also found on his person.
28 year old Dustin Matthew Perry of Hickman is charged with driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court on April 17. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, March 22 a deputy was dispatched to Dale Ridge Road at 1:23 a.m. in response to an automobile accident. Upon arrival, the officer made contact with Perry who was unsteady on his feet. Perry’s speech was slurred and he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. According to the deputy, Perry admitted to drinking three to four beers earlier in the night. Perry submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Perry also told the officer that he did not have a valid driver’s license. A computer check confirmed that Perry’s license were suspended for failure to satisfy citations in Smith County. He was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
46 year old Jerry Lynn Merryman of Keltonburg Road is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court April 24. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, March 28, a drug detective was dispatched in response to a vehicle that was reported to be driving recklessly on Highway 70 west in Liberty. The detective spotted a Dodge flatbed truck that was all over the roadway on Highway 70 west in Liberty near College Street. The officer activated his emergency equipment but the truck kept going until it got to the intersection of Highway 70 and Dry Creek Road in Dowelltown. After pulling over the truck, the detective made contact with Merryman, the driver. When Merryman exited the vehicle, the detective noticed Merryman’s pants were wet. Merryman said that he had urinated on himself. Merryman was also unsteady on his feet. He had a strong odor of alcohol on his person and his speech was slurred. The detective asked Merryman to perform a standard field sobriety task. After performing poorly on the task, Merryman refused to do any more but he did submit to a blood test. Merryman was placed under arrest.
39 year old Cecil McKinley Ketchum of Dedmon Hollow Road, Liberty is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court April 14. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, March 28 a deputy responded to a domestic violence call at Ketchum’s home. Upon arrival, the officer observed a vehicle there with broken windows and three flat tires. Ketchum and a woman were both inside the home engaged in a verbal argument. Ketchum told the officer that he disabled the vehicle with a knife and axe to keep the woman from leaving. The woman also suffered an injury when Ketchum shut a door to the vehicle on the woman’s hand. Ketchum was determined to be the primary aggressor and he was taken into custody.

Oh what a beautiful season! Oh what a beautiful day! Begin this most glorious time of year by attending the annual Celebration of Spring at Edgar Evins State Park on Center Hill Lake, Saturday, April 12th from 8 A.M. to 4;00 P.M. This is a FREE outdoor event sponsored by the Friends of Edgar Evins State park and park employees for families and individuals. Bring a lunch, maybe some lawn chairs too, and plan to stay for the day or drop by for a few hours. if you don’t bring a lunch there will be light concessions for sale by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Registration will start at 8 A.M. in front of the Visitors Center for all but most importantly for the 8:30 A.M. nature hike (wildflowers, birds, bees, and more) with the Tennessee State Naturalist, Randy Hedgepath, and for boat rides throughout the day. These offerings are available on a first come, first serve basis. (Children must be over 3 years of age and accompanied by an adult to ride on the boats.)
Youngsters and fit adults can’t resist climbing the stairs to the observation tower. Inside the Visitors Center are also exhibits depicting nature, the park history, and activities of the Friends group. Ramble, the TN State Park mascot, will make an appearance during the morning. Ramble loves getting his picture taken with kids and the young at heart.
There will be other guided nature hikes, a regular 2 1/2 mile hike led by the TN Trails Association on the Millennium Trail, face painting, cookie decorating, Dutch Oven cooking demonstrations by Boy Scout Troop 875, crafts making hosted by Girl Scout Troop 1146, sack and 3-legged races with prizes, kite flying, wild animal shows and other live entertainment. Entertainment will include Smithville’s gospel singing Fuson family, The Mockingbirds bluegrass and folk group from Cookeville, the local Flat Broke bluegrass band, Patricia “Minnie Pearl” Jackson from Nashville, clog and ballet dancers from Cannon Arts Dance Studio in Woodbury, and Bob Tarter and his animals of the NHECM Wildlife Program. (Remember BeeBop the baby bobcat from last year? Come see how much he’s grown!)
In addition to prizes for the 3-legged and sack races there will be a prize for the closest number guessed for the candies in a jar. The prize will be a one day free rental of a canoe or kayak and a sack lunch for two from Caney Fork Outdoors and Big Rock Market, located across from the park entrance. Big Rock Market will be open for breakfast biscuits and lunch sandwiches the day of the Celebration of Spring.
This will be the first year we have invited people to exhibit their show cars in the marina parking lot next to the picnic shelters. Cars may exhibit anytime from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. without charge or reservations. Greg Christensen, Woodbury, is the car show consultant. He says driving there on the hills and curves is a big part of the fun. Premium gasoline without ethanol will be available at Big Rock Market across from the park entrance.
Fount Bertram, Bradyville, President of Friends of Edgar Evins State park says “This is our gift to the community for its continued support of our park and our Friends group in its purpose of helping the park.”
Located on beautiful Center Hill Lake between Cookeville and Smithville, the park address is 1630 Edgar Evins Park Road, Silver Point, TN 38582. For more information contact Fount Bertram, President at fwbertram@dtccom.net or phone the park office at (931) 858-2114 or 1-800-250-8619, ext. 107 or 102. The Friends of Edgar Evins State Park new website (under construction) is at www.foeesp.alturl.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/friendsofeesp The schedule of activities will be posted on Facebook as it develops

A Sparta man lost his life in a three vehicle crash Friday night on Highway 70 near the Midnight Express/Gentleman’s Club.
Dead is 25 year old Jeremy Vick.
The accident was reported to central dispatch at 11:25 p.m.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Vick died when his 1997 Honda Civic struck the rear of a 2005 Ford Mustang, driven by 23 year old Joshua Smith of Morrison who had slowed to make a turn into a parking lot. The force of the crash caused Vick’s car to rotate sideways into the path of an oncoming 2004 Mitsubishi, driven by 22 year old Beth Holeton of Dowelltown.
Vick died at the scene. No one else was injured.
The accident, investigated by Sergeant Eric McCormick and Trooper Johnny Farley of the THP Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) found that Smith, driving eastbound on Highway 70 in a white 2005 Ford Mustang, was slowing to make a left turn into a parking lot. Vick, also traveling eastbound in a silver 1997 Honda Civic and coming up behind the Mustang, was unable to stop or slow down before hitting the Mustang in the left rear. Upon impact, Vick’s car rotated sideways into the westbound lane and into the path of Holeton’s gray 2004 Mitsubishi. Holeton was unable to stop and collided head-on into the driver’s side of Vick’s car.
Vick’s vehicle came to a final rest in the highway after being knocked backward. Holeton’s car rolled to a final rest in the eastbound lane facing west. Smith pulled into a parking lot after the wreck.
20 year old Kara Schneider of Dowelltown was a passenger of the Holeton car. 20 year old James Barrett of Morrison was traveling with Smith.
In addition to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, others on the scene were Sheriff Patrick Ray and officers of the sheriff’s department, DeKalb EMS, and members of the Midway station and the Extrication team of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department.