Tennessee’s 2017-18 gun hunting season for deer opens Saturday, Nov. 18. Deer gun season has the traditional opening date of the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving.
During gun season, sportsmen may also use muzzleloader or archery equipment. The season will continue through Jan. 7, 2018 and the second Young Sportsman Hunt is Jan. 13-14.
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.
For more information about Tennessee’s 2017-18 deer hunting seasons, refer to the 2017-18 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide available at all license agents, TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, and Morristown or on the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org.
This is the third year that the statewide bag limit for antlered deer is two. The number includes those taken during the archery only, muzzleloader, and gun seasons.
The start of muzzleloader season was on Nov. 4, and like much of the fall season across the state, temperatures were above normal for the weekend. The harvest was 4,823 deer as compared to 10,960 over the 2016 opening weekend.
Since archery only season began in late September, there have been 30,505 deer harvested through the first weekend of muzzleloader season, which also includes the Young Sportsman Hunt in late October. The total is 3,048 less than through the same period in 2016.

The City of Smithville will be saving money on the cost of providing health insurance coverage for its employees next year.
During Monday night’s monthly meeting, City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson informed the Mayor and Aldermen that according to the city’s health insurance provider, the overall renewal cost is going down by 6.5%.
“About four years ago we switched from the Tennessee state plan to Blue Cross Blue Shield with Health Cost Solutions of Hendersonville. They assured us they would save the city money. Smithville Electric System also got on board with it. Last month we received an email from Tim Herndon of Financial Blue Print sharing the news about the lower medical insurance rate to the city,” said Hendrixson.
Reading from the letter, Hendrixson said “We love to provide good news about group medical insurance. We rarely have the chance to do it. Great news!. Your medical insurance rate is actually going down in 2018. I have attached the BCBS of TN renewal piece of your plan and it’s going down 5.9%. When you bake the new BCBS rate into the cost of Health Costs Solutions (a third party which oversees the city’s plan) your overall renewal cost is going down about 6.5%. When you add up the estimated total amount of money the City of Smithville and Smithville Electric System combined have saved over the last four years compared to the state plan, the amount is $1,335,920”.
According to Hendrixson, the City of Smithville pays 100% of its employees’ and elected city officials health insurance premiums. Smithville Electric System, which is a separate entity, pays 100% of the premiums for family plans of its employees and board members. The city has about 50 workers. SES has 10 employees.
Alderman Josh Miller asked what the cost would be for the city to pay the premiums for family plans
“Its rather expensive. Unfortunately that’s the only draw back. I see in some ways we’re saving to where we could put it out there but I don’t know how long it would last. Things change from year to year. I would hate to start it this year and then next year find out we can’t do it. Unfortunately once you go to the family plan regardless of whether you have one person or four or five people it goes up. But for next year’s budget we could get numbers,” said Hendrixson.
Alderman Shawn Jacobs asked whether former city employees in good standing could continue to carry insurance after they have retired.
“Once you separate from service from the city assuming you are in good standing and you put in your 30 years and retire or whatever, I wonder if you could take that insurance with you. Would it increase our costs that much if we allowed that employee to take that insurance with them if they paid the entire premium which I would think would still be a lot less for them,” asked Jacobs?
“I don’t want to cost the city any more money but people are hurting when it comes to health insurance and if we can help them get it without costing us too much money, I think its good. For someone who has devoted his or her life to serving the city it would be a little perk to take with them,” said Jacobs.
“I think we would need to get with Health Cost Solutions and let them put the numbers together,” added Hendrixson.

Troop 347 scouted for food at Smithville Food Lion Friday night (Nov. 10). The Boy Scouts collected nonperishable food to stock God’s Food Pantry for the holidays. Scouts asked customers to pick up an extra item or two while they were grocery shopping to be given to the needy families in DeKalb County. Kaleb Wildes, Zach Cantrell, Carter Dias, Gavin Conger, and Webelos Jaden Wildes volunteered between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Scouts collected two baskets of food and 100-dollars that was donated.

A large crowd took time Saturday to join members of the American Legion Post #122 in remembering the service and sacrifices of soldiers during the annual Veterans Day program held at the county complex.
The program began with piano music by Mary Lynn Page followed by a performance of patriotic songs by members of the DCHS Band and Chorus.
Boy Scout Troop #347 presented the colors and led the audience in the pledge to the flag. Victoria Vincent performed the national anthem accompanied by the DCHS Chorus.
Local minister Larry Green offered an opening prayer and Judy Redmon, President of the American Legion Post #122 Ladies Auxiliary introduced the guest speaker Billy Hawkins who opened his remarks by saying how much his fellow veterans mean to him.
“I want to say to these veterans who are here today that we are not necessarily heroes but we were doing our jobs when we were in the military. That is the important thing. We were doing what we signed up to do. I don’t feel like a hero but these other veterans here today are my heroes. DeKalb County has sent many people into the service. We’ve had many that did not come back but we owe you all a deep debt of gratitude,” he said.
M2U02594 from dwayne page on Vimeo.
Hawkins gave a history of how Veterans Day came about and then spoke of what veterans have done for our country.
“A veteran is the cop on the beat who spent twelve months in a desert sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn’t run out of fuel.

A veteran is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in a makeshift military hospital.
A veteran is the POW who went away one person and came back another, or didn’t come back at all.
A veteran is a parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
A veteran is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket who killed the Vietcong in the name of liberty and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
A veteran is an ordinary human being and he may be your next door neighbor.
It is the veteran who has given us freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and the right to assemble. It is the veteran who has given us the right to a fair trial and the right to vote. It is the veteran, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag.
There is no greater way that a person can serve their loved ones or their fellow man than providing freedom, safety and security,”
Hawkins said.
Hawkins then paid tribute to law enforcement officers and firefighters as well as the families of veterans. “ I want to recognize law enforcement officers and firefighters because they serve just as well. They put their lives on the line for every one of us every day when they are needed,” he said.
“I also want to recognize the unrecognized heroes. The people left at home. I salute the families of veterans. They sacrificed every day of their family’s military service. They are the heroes who stayed behind and took care of the children and everything else while worrying about you as a veteran. They were the ones who packed up the household goods, sometimes with very little notice and moved to foreign places. If you are a family member, a wife, husband, child, sister, brother, or grandparent of a veteran I salute you because you also paid a price,” Hawkins said.
Born in Watertown, Hawkins grew up in Tennessee and Michigan, and graduated from Smithville High School in 1953. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1974 retiring as a Tech Sergeant.
Hawkins earned a B.S., M.S., and Ed.S degrees from MTSU and began teaching at DCHS in 1977. He retired from teaching in 1997.
After serving in the Tennessee State Guard for 20 years, Hawkins retired in 2003 as a Brigadier General Commanding the 2nd Brigade known as “the Old Hickory Brigade of Middle Tennessee”. He has served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of the Upper Cumberland Military Officers’ Association. Hawkins is a member of the VFW and the American Legion and has been a supporter and consultant to the Nashville “Operation Standdown” serving homeless veterans.
Following Hawkins’ remarks, American Legion Post #122 Adjutant Ronnie Redmon, Sr. recognized fellow members for their years of service including:
W.D. (Doyle) Smith- 63 years; Thermon N. Harrison-44 years; Lee A. Plummer-43 years; Willie T. Robinson-41 years; Earl Hensley-40 years; George Corley, Jr.-38 years; David R. Laird-35 years; Jerry N. Brown and Calvin L. Hullett-32 years; Ronnie Redmon, Sr., Edsel B. Frazier, and Jimmy L. Driver-30 years; Gary L. Fuson-28 years; Eugene J. O’Neil and Walter N. Johnson-25 years; and James E. Cantrell, Waniford Cantrell, Edward Frazier, and Eddie M. Young-20 years.
American Legion Commander William Edmonds also made welcoming remarks.
Following the program, local veterans boarded a school bus made available courtesy of the School System Transportation Department for a parade escort from the county complex to downtown Smithville for the laying of a wreath at the courthouse veterans memorial monument. Sheriff Patrick Ray along with members of the Smithville Police and Fire Departments, and DeKalb EMS made up the parade.
A high school band member then blew taps to end the program.
At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, World War I came to an end when Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies.
“Armistice Day” was celebrated in the U.S. on Nov. 11, 1919, to commemorate the first anniversary of the end of WWI. Seven years later, Congress passed a resolution for an annual observance. In 1938, Nov. 11 became a national holiday but it wasn’t until 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
Veterans Day pays tribute to all U.S. military veterans, living or dead, for serving the U.S. during war or peacetime.

Three people were sentenced Tuesday in DeKalb County Criminal Court on drug charges stemming from an undercover investigation by the Sheriff’s Department.
Judge David Patterson presided.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 11/06/2017 Thru: 11/13/2017)
Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_47.pdf (2.7 MB)
27 year old Jeffery Mark Hatfield of Smithville entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug (oxycodone) and sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine). He was sentenced to six years in one case and four years in the other to run consecutive for a ten year TDOC term. Hatfield was granted probation and was fined $4,000. He must make restitution of $200 to the sheriff’s department.
30 year old Philando Darnell Fullilove of Shady Lane, Alexandria entered a plea to sale of methamphetamine over half an ounce and received a ten year TDOC sentence to serve but furloughed to Mission Teens. The term is to run consecutive to two other cases against him. Fullilove was fined $2,000 and given 112 days jail credit.
42 year old Stephanie Ann Pierce of Pea Ridge Road, Elmwood entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) and received a six year TDOC sentence to serve 180 days in the DeKalb County Jail. She must make $200 restitution to the sheriff’s department and was fined $2,000. Pierce was given jail credit from August 28 through November 7.
The DeKalb County Grand Jury met in special session Tuesday, May 30 and returned more than 40 sealed indictments mostly against drug offenders.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said officers of his department appeared before the Grand Jury and presented cases against each offender as the result of an undercover investigation. “A variety of drugs were bought during this operation including Xanax, Hydrocodone, Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Subutex, and others,” he said.
“Some of the indictments were for sale and delivery in a drug free zone which is an area 1,000 feet of a school, park, library, and daycare,” he added.
Meanwhile, 31 year old Justin L. Murphy entered a plea Tuesday to domestic assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days with six months of supervised probation and five months and 29 days of unsupervised probation. The term is to run consecutive to a DeKalb violation of probation he is currently serving. Murphy allegedly assaulted his victim by punching her in the left shoulder repeatedly leaving a visible bruise.

The leaders of the Health Information Department at NHC Smithville were recently recognized as the HIM Department of the Year at the annual NHC Health Information Conference. Accepting the award was Tabitha Anderson, Health Information Manager, and Andrea Puckett, Health Information Assistant. Anderson and Puckett both reside in Smithville. The conference was held September 27-29 in Pigeon Forge, TN. The Award for Health Information Department of the Year is given to the department which performs the best in areas such as Medicare certification, chart analysis, survey deficiencies, physician services, and overall excellence. NHC Smithville’s Health Information team also won the Department of the Year in 2013.
“Ensuring that each patient’s medical record is accurate and complete is of paramount importance at NHC Smithville,” Anderson said. “This recognition is a team accomplishment because it takes each partner: CNA’s, nurses, therapists, and physicians, to assist with health information.” Clint Hall, Administrator, added, “Tabitha and Andrea are a tremendous asset to NHC Smithville. They perform their work in a timely, organized, and skilled manner. They also have a deep commitment to excellence that shows in the professionalism of their work and the way they lead themselves personally. This is a great accomplishment for them and for NHC Smithville.”
For more information about NHC Smithville, visit www.nhcsmithville.com or call (615) 597-4284.

Billy Hawkins, retired Brigadiere General of the Tennessee State Guard, will speak at the annual Veteran’s Day program sponsored by the American Legion and Ladies’ Auxiliary on Saturday, November 11 at 9:30 a.m. at the County Complex.
Preliminary music will begin at 9:30 and the main program begins at 10:00. Music and singing will be part of the program. After the program everyone will go to the courthouse to witness the laying of a wreath at the Veteran’s Memorial with “Taps” being played. Afterwards all veterans and their families are invited back to the County Complex for a delicious meal

The commencement for the DCHS Class of 2018 will be on Friday, May 18.
The Board of Education set the date during Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting held at DeKalb County High School. The graduation will be on the high school football field that night starting at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile in his monthly report on personnel, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said Teresa Steele has been hired as cafeteria manager at Northside Elementary School. She will succeed Pam Baines who has resigned from the position.
“We would like to thank her (Baines) for her time and service and for the love that she showed our children while she served in that capacity,” said Director Cripps.
DCHS Principal Randy Jennings recognized students who excelled on their ACT exams.
“We have had several students take the ACT this fall and we just want to congratulate them. We had 103 students make a 21 or higher on their ACT. We have had seven students who made a 29 or higher. Those students are Madison Cantrell, Jasmine Parker, Kelsey Merriman, Kyle Justice, Ethan Jenkins, Daniel Puckett, and Jacob Frazier. We want to congratulate those students on a good job,” said Principal Jennings.
Those who made a 21 or higher on the ACT are:
Mackenzie Partridge, Maggie Robinson, Abby Evans, Kayla Belk, Hannah Brown, Gage Delape, Emily Burklow, Madison Cripps, Jasmine Parker, Will Stephens,Justin Trapp, Tyree Cripps, Brady Driver, Savannah Belcher, Hunter Jennings, Colter Norris, Emme Colwell, Maddison Parsley, Olivia Fuson, Ethan Jenkins, Trey Fuston, Lance Davis, Hailey Redmon, Savannah West, Jaimie Alexander, Jayla Angaran, Madison Whitehead, Callie Mulloy, Anna Rachel Blair, William Dowling, Ami Patel, Andrew Fuson, Marshall Evins, Seth Pack, Ana Amaya, Laiza Martinez, Allison Maynard, Hannah Evans, Logan Painter, Mark Mace, Nathaniel Snell, Jarad Henry, Kyle Justice, Hunter Speaks, Hannah Willingham, Mya Ruch, Carly Vance, Meghan Brandt, Kelsie Merriman, Zachary Atnip, Griffin Goldstein, Ethan Jennings, Kaitlyn Cantrell, Kyleigh White-Turbeville, Kayli White, Hannah Anderson, Sophie Cripps, Chloe Sykes, Madison Judkins, Lee Randolph, Pablo Juarez-Garcia, Ethan Dies, Lydia Brown, Madi Cantrell, Macy Hedge, Dulce Maciel, Malone Fletcher, Braya Murphy, Derek Young, Isaac Walker, Ethan Cantrell, Bradley Miller, Braxton Linder, Nicholas May, Cody Hale, Holly Evans, Daniel Puckett, Trey Jones, Faith Judkins, Robin Pafford, Austin Johnson, Breanna Gibson, Makayla Cornett-Bain, Santanna Ferrell, Gage Bowman, Adrian Lucci, Billy Carpenter, Jacob Frazier, Ethan Martin, Grace Godowns, Eleonor Atnip, Jaynee Angaran, Dailen Brown, Noah Byrge, Hayle Cantrell, Wesley Carpenter, Kiersten Griffith, Dalton Norrod, Megan Redmon, Taylor Reeder, Nick Staley, Devin Vanatta, and Kaylee Whitefield.
DCHS Principal Jennings is also inviting everyone to support Tuesday night’s fundraiser for former DCHS Lady Tiger Basketball Coach Jerry Foster, who is being treated for a type of lung cancer.
“DeKalb County High School along with the Tiger and Lady Tiger basketball programs are honored to host Boyd Christian High School on Tuesday, November 14 for basketball games to benefit former Lady Tiger Coach Jerry Foster. After our financial obligations to TSSAA, all other proceeds will go to assist Coach Foster’s medical expenses as he continues his fight against cancer. Coach Foster has given so much to the students of DeKalb County through his knowledge and love for the game of basketball and this is one small way that DCHS can hopefully repay him for all his contributions to our school, the community, and especially the boys and girls that love the game of basketball. The girls game starts at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. We hope to see everyone there,” said Principal Jennings.
Foster was head coach of the DCHS Lady Tiger basketball program from the 1993-94 season to 1999-2000
DeKalb Middle School Principal Amanda Dakas said another benefit basketball event is also planned for Coach Foster.
“DeKalb Middle and DeKalb West Schools will also have benefit basketball games January 6. Its called “Battle on the Hill”. The junior varsity game will start at 3 p.m. followed by the varsity game. It will be a benefit for Coach Jerry Foster. We’d like for everyone to come out and support this as well,” said Principal Dakas.
She also mentioned an upcoming event for the DMS Junior Beta Club.
“Our Junior Beta students, 8th grade students will be going to the Junior Beta Conference at Opryland Hotel November 20-21. They have another really wonderful program with a great message. Please support and encourage those students. I know they would appreciate it,” she said.

DeKalb County is getting a new Marriott or Hilton type 82 room hotel.
The announcement was made Thursday by Tom Sturdivant, Chief of Staff for Tootsie’s Entertainment, which owns Pates Ford Resort and Marina and the Fish Lipz Grill and now Sligo Resort and Marina and the Restaurant and Cabins at Sligo.
During the noon luncheon with Chamber leaders and other guests at Sligo Restaurant, Sturdivant said the three story hotel will be constructed within 18-24 months at the former location of Center Hill Restaurant and motel on Highway 70 east which overlooks Center Hill Lake.
“We bought the old Center Hill Restaurant and Motel and we’re going to build an 82 room hotel up there. It will be a Marriott or Hilton or one of the shingles. We have not decided yet. But that’s in the next 18 to 24 months,” Sturdivant told WJLE.
In the meantime, Sturdivant said some renovations will be made at Sligo Marina and the cabins on the hill across from Sligo. “We are going to take care of Sligo right now making it a safer place to come to and be at. When we came in we found some safety issues such as cables and docking that needed to be redone so that is in the process of being done now to make this a safer and better place for our structure outside,” he said.
While Pates Ford Marina has more of a club atmosphere, Sturdivant said plans are to make the restaurant at Sligo more family oriented. “This will be more of a banquet room and steak house. It will be a place where you can bring your family after church on Sunday. We may do a buffet or Sunday brunch. Not that Pates Ford is not family oriented but it has more of a club atmosphere with the bands and everything. Here it will be more steakhouse and more upscale. And while at Pates Ford the restaurant is open seasonally, the restaurant at Sligo will be open all year,” he said
Sturdivant said Pates Ford and Sligo contribute much to the local economy and want to be good neighbors here.
“Between Pates Ford Marina and Sligo Marina we have made a $12 million investment in DeKalb County and Smithville. We employ over 60 people, seasonal and full time and we do about $200,000 a year in sales tax of which $60,000 of that comes back to the county and city. We just want to be good neighbors. We want people to know what we’re doing and we want to be transparent. We’re just glad to be part of the Smithville-DeKalb County family. We want them to know we are here to help make this a better place,” said Sturdivant.

Workers at Tenneco Automotive in Smithville have been exposed to dangerous levels of Hexavalent Chromium which can cause lung cancer. Supervisors at the plant first notified employees last spring. They told workers exposure may also have impacted their families because they may have taken home cancer causing dust on their uniforms.
Tenneco spokesperson Steven Blow told NewsChannel 5 that the company quickly took action when they discovered high levels of hexavalent chromium at the plant in February.
“We found an issue. When we found that issue we immediately worked to try and rectify the problem and get a safe and secure environment,” Blow said.
Employees said they were shocked by the news and remain concerned about their health.
In March, inspectors with the Tennessee Occupational and Safety Administration (TOSHA) found employees overexposed to chromium and cited the plant for 20 serious violations.
Tenneco told NewsChannel5 it had doctors examine employees and tested to see if they were taking contaminated dust home to their families.
“The testing that we did on people leaving the plant did not show any elevated levels thankfully,” Blow said.
According to Blow, there have been no reports of medical issues, but some employees have experienced symptoms of chromium exposure such as nose bleeds and dermatitis.
Tenneco told NewsChannel 5 it will install a multi-million dollar ventilation system in the plant to remove the cancer causing welding fumes and is giving welders in affected areas respirators. However TOSHA has reportedly cited Tenneco because some respirators did not fit the employees who were trying to use them.
The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was summoned to Tenneco early Thursday morning after a small fire began in the ventilation system. Small fires of this type often occur at industries locally. The building was evacuated and no one was injured.