The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is observing National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 8-14) by reminding citizens to follow simple safety practices to prevent wildfires. The official start of wildfire season in Tennessee is Oct. 15.
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 615-597-4015. In Smithville phone 615-215-3000. Burning permits can be obtained after hours and on weekends by visiting www.burnsafetn.org.
“It’s important, and required by law from October 15, 2017 to May 15, 2018, that citizens call for a burning permit and follow outdoor burning safety recommendations,” State Forester Jere Jeter said. “Tennessee experienced a historic fall fire season last year due to exceptional drought conditions. Fortunately, that underlying condition does not exist this year, but we’re not going to let our guard down. The permit system helps us communicate to the public when and where it is safe to burn and focuses attention on safety. We need all Tennesseans to volunteer to prevent wildfire.”
The online burn permit system is free, fast and simple. If you are burning a leaf or brush pile that is smaller than 8 feet by 8 feet in size, log on to www.BurnSafeTN.org for approval. More than 300,000 permits are issued each year, and the online system provides a quick and efficient way to apply.
Burn permits are only issued when conditions are conducive to safe burning. If you live inside city limits, there may be additional restrictions. Check with your municipality before you burn.
To learn what materials may not be burned, check the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Open Burning Guidelines at https://tn.gov/environment/article/apc-open-burning.
Burning without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine. Wildfires caused by arson are a class C felony punishable by 3 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 at 1-800-762-3017. The hotline is answered 24 hours a day, and you may remain anonymous when providing information. Cash awards are offered for information leading to an arrest or conviction. To report illegal burning, please call 1-888-891-TDEC.
Visit www.BurnSafeTN.org for additional tips to burn safely and to protect your community.
The Division of Forestry promotes the wise use of forest resources by assisting landowners, fighting wildfires, providing quality seedlings, monitoring insects and diseases, improving urban forests, managing state forests, protecting water quality and collecting forest inventory data. The Division also works to promote primary and secondary forest industries to stimulate the state’s economy. Visit http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/section/forests for more information.

The award winning bluegrass group Dailey and Vincent has premiered a new music video from their stellar eighth album Patriots and Poets and the multi-instrumentalists are giving fans a deeper look at the inspiration behind their song “Unsung Heroes.”
The video features real-life veterans and first responders, an important reminder that kindness and selflessness are still a familiar scene across the country and reflected in those we encounter every day.
Local fans of Dailey and Vincent will take a special interest in this video because it includes appearances by several people from DeKalb County including Edward and Edsel Frazier, Jerry Lee Cantrell, Tommy Webb, Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker, Smithville Fire Lieutenant John Poss, Smithville Police Officer Brandon Donnell, THP Sergeant Charlie and Rhonda Caplinger, Kenny Bly, Donald Gilbert, Paul Robinson, Alan Stengel, Donnie and Kathy Kelly, Valeshia Pedigo, members of Vincent’s family, among others. A large portion of the video shoot took place downtown Smithville in August.

Written by Jamie Dailey, Bill Anderson and Jimmy Fortune, “Unsung Heroes” shines a light on everyday acts of courage and love by those who serve the public. In the wake of the hurricanes that wreaked havoc on Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico and the terrible tragedy in Las Vegas last week, the video offers a message of hope.
Directed by Jennifer Bonior, the video was filmed in Darrin Vincent’s hometown of Smithville, Tenn. and features a cameo from country star Aaron Tippin.
Jamie Dailey says it’s important not to lose sight of all the good being done across the country in these trying times.
“It’s easy to look at these events and lose hope,” said Dailey. “But in the midst of the horror, strangers began reaching out to one another to help. In areas hit hard by hurricanes, volunteers came in droves to help the cleanup and the rebuilding of lives. In Las Vegas, during the shooting, there are countless stories of strangers risking their own lives to save others. Some people stood in line for 3 — 4 hours to donate blood. These people did this with no thought except helping one another. They didn’t even expect a thank you. These are our everyday angels. They are unsung heroes.”
Darrin Vincent says he witnesses these acts of kindness and the impact they have everyday.
“I live in a small community in Tennessee, and I see it all the time,” Vincent says. “People who are suffering one way or the other are raised up by their neighbors who give their time and energy and sometimes money, just to help. It’s really remarkable how the smallest thing can mean so very much to someone in need. We all have the chance to be one of these heroes.”
Patriots and Poets, released in March, features appearances by Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, David Rawlings and Doyle Lawson, among others. Dailey and Vincent are currently on tour across the U.S.

The 2017 average composite score on the ACT for students in DeKalb County has gone up from last year though it fell short of meeting the state goal of 21
According to the Tennessee Department of Education, the average composite score for DeKalb County is 18.8 compared to 18.25 in 2016.
Scores in science, reading, math and English also improved going from 18.97 to 19 in science; from 18.82 to 19.6 in reading; from 17.03 to 17.5 in math; and from 17.55 to 18.6 in English.
“We are really proud of the hard work our students are putting forth and the time and work our teachers are putting in, not only the content they are teaching but with the importance they are giving the ACT test. We are very happy with the progress we have made over the past year and we challenge our students and teachers to strive to continue those gains,” Director of Schools Patrick Cripps told WJLE.
Dr. Kathy Bryant, Supervisor of Instruction for Grades 7-12, cited several reasons for the improvement.
“Last year we implemented ACT prep-online for students and we also implemented ACT prep for all subject areas with direct instruction. We had 4 teachers, each teaching one of the four subjects of science, reading, math, and English. Students went through nine weeks in each of those courses and by the end of the year they completed all four. Not only were they getting ACT prep but they also received a credit by taking the courses. Of course students were able to do an ACT retake last year which may have had an impact as well,” Dr. Bryant told WJLE.
Although the ACT scores were up, they still lagged behind the state. The new composite average for the state is 20.1, which is up from the 2016 average of 19.
State scores in the four subject areas in 2017 were as follows:
*19.6 in English, up from 19.5 in the previous year.
*20.5 in reading up from 20.4 in the previous year.
*19.4 in math, up from 19.2 in the previous year.
*20.3 in science, up from 20.1 in the previous year
Dr. Bryant said the school system will continue ACT prep-online and direct instruction with an emphasis on teaching those ACT standards within all core classes as the district works toward reaching its Composite ACT score goal of 21.
“We are really excited about our progress and want to do more because the higher the students ACT scores are the better their chances for obtaining college scholarships,” added Dr. Bryant.
The statewide results showed that about 1,800 more Tennessee public school graduates became eligible for the HOPE scholarship. That means they earned composite scores of 21 or higher.
“The ACT allows our students to show they are college and career ready, and crossing the threshold to 20.1 shows we are on the right pathway to prepare more students for life after high school,” Education Department Commissioner Candice McQueen said.
Across the state, the results showed students improved in every section of the ACT by increasing their average score in English, reading, math, and science.
According to McQueen, Tennessee is one of 18 states that requires all students to take the ACT or SAT. It’s also the first and only state to offer a free opportunity to retake the exam. The Department of Education said nearly 26,000 class of 2017 students took advantage of the ACT Senior Retake Day last fall.
The department said if a student takes the ACT multiple times, it uses the best score. The national ACT results are based off the last score a student received.
ACT results serve as a nationally normed-measure to indicate college and career readiness. Under a new accountability measure, called the Ready Graduate, earning a 21 on the ACT is one of the four ways that students can indicate that they are prepared for life after high school and able to seamlessly enroll in postsecondary education and enter the workplace or the military.

The Smithville Business & Professional Women’s Club honored three of its members during Monday night’s annual banquet.
Sherry Davis received the Young Woman of Achievement award; Denise Page was selected Woman of the Year; and Angie Meadows was named Woman of Achievement.
October is recognized as National Business & Professional Women’s Club month.
If you are interested in becoming part of DeKalb County’s longest active civic group contact one of these members today.

A woman on probation who was found with baggies of marijuana for resale during a law enforcement search of her home in July was sentenced Friday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
37 year old Amanda Lynette Davis entered a plea to possession of a schedule VI drug (Marijuana) over half an ounce and she received a two year suspended sentence to be supervised by TDOC Community Corrections. The sentence is to run consecutive to another case against her.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 10/02/2017 Thru: 10/09/2017)
Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_42.pdf (3.35 MB)
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Friday, July 7 a state probation officer and a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department deputy went to Davis’ residence on McMinnville Highway to do a probation search and to pick her up on an active warrant. During the search, five black trash bags were found, all containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. Each bag was labeled a different type of marijuana and the pot was still on the stems including THC Bomb, Strawberry Delight, Grape God, and Deep Cheese. Another plastic baggie was found with a green leafy substance weighing 1.15 ounces.
While the officers were conducting their search, Davis went to a truck outside the home and retrieved a glass pipe along with another plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana weighing 0.30 ounces.
Davis admitted during an interview with officers that the marijuana belonged to her and that she had grown the plants herself in the woods. Davis was placed under arrest.

If you never completed high school and would like to obtain an equivalency diploma you have that opportunity.
Free High School Equivalency (Hi-Set) Classes are held on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the County Complex at 722 South Congress Boulevard. Enter through the UT Extension/Motlow College Corridor, Room 119. Mary Anne Carpenter is the class instructor. On-line classes are also available.
Student registration is conducted on Mondays, beginning at 3:30 pm and then again on Tuesdays starting at 8:30 am – 12:00pm. The Toll Free phone number is: 855-516-0160.
Nearly 500,000 Tennesseans between the ages of 18 to 64 are without a high school diploma, according to the American Community Survey 5 year average. 31,015 of those reside in the Upper Cumberland region, and approximately 2,000 reside in DeKalb County alone. By 2022 the Tennessee Department of Labor estimates 32% of existing jobs and 39% of all new jobs will require some post-secondary education.
According to Paraprofessional Carol Pritchard, a focus on Adult Education saves money by reducing public assistance, health care and incarceration costs. Most importantly, adults are given the opportunity to improve their lives and better support their families. The Adult Education opportunities provided right here in Smithville are absolutely free and are designed to prepare students to successfully pass the HiSET®, general equivalency exam.
The General Educational Development (GED®) testing program was developed to give U.S. and Canadian citizens who have not graduated from high school the opportunity to demonstrate the level of achievement normally acquired through the completion of a traditional U.S./Canadian high school course of study. The current High School equivalency test, known as the HiSET®, covers five subject areas: Writing, social studies, science, reading, and math.
Benefits of Adult Education:
•Adult Education empowers individuals to become self-sufficient by providing the basic skills and knowledge necessary to complete a secondary education credential and works with individuals to help them meet their educational and career goals.
•Adult Education in Tennessee prepares students to be college and career ready, while earning a High School Equivalency Diploma. With a strong commitment to quality and efficient instruction that meets the needs of students, programs across the state help these students gain academic skills and credentials to transition to postsecondary education, be successful in the workplace, and contribute to their communities.
•Currently, a person with a high school credential earns about $10,000 annually more than a high school dropout. Individuals without a high school credential are more likely to be unemployed, three times as likely to live in poverty and eight times as likely to be incarcerated.
•Classes are available in every county across the state to enhance future employment opportunities and personal growth.
Process:
In order to enroll, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
•Must be 18 years of age.
•Not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school
•Do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent
To begin, individuals will take the CASAS® (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems) assessment to evaluate their reading, math, and language arts abilities. This will provide both the instructor and the student with an idea of where to best start the instructional process and insure that no valuable time is wasted between enrollment and successful completion of the program.
After completing some classroom instruction hours, students take another short CASAS® test to demonstrate academic gains and to allow the instructor and student to then work together in order to refine the learning process in order to prepare the student for the official practice test, or OPT. The goal is to assist the student to reach his/her goal in the shortest amount of time possible.
The Official Practice Test (OPT) has the same look and feel as the real High School Equivalency Test (HiSET®). The OPT allows the student to obtain firsthand experience answering questions written and developed by the HiSET® test creators. The results of the OPT indicate whether or not an individual is prepared for the HiSET®.
Finally, Governor Haslam and TN General Assembly have allocated funds to cover the cost of the official HiSET® exam. Individuals throughout the State of Tennessee can now enroll in classes and take the HiSET® in order to receive a high school equivalency diploma at no cost.

A community outpouring of love was shown for Suzanne Williams Monday evening as friends and family gathered outside the courthouse to pray for her healing.
The long time Director of the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce was seriously injured in a fall last Wednesday and remains hospitalized at the LeConte Medical Center in Sevierville. The injury has left Suzanne unable to breathe on her own. She has been on a ventilator but underwent a tracheotomy Monday.
“She has come through surgery well,” said Suzanne’s daughter Shan Burklow. “ They have put in the tracheotomy and the next three days will tell how quickly she can heal from that and then we have to look at some long term care for her recovery. We need all the prayers we can get,” Burklow told WJLE.
Among those taking part in leading the prayer service Monday were County Mayor Tim Stribling, General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II, Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, local ministers Isaac Gray and Don Rigsby, and community leaders and friends Josh Isaac, Jen Sherwood, Norene Puckett, and Kathy Hendrixson.
At the conclusion of the service, everyone gathered in a large circle hand in hand to recite the Lord’s prayer
Burklow told WJLE she was overwhelmed by the concern that has been shown for her mother and her entire family appreciates it.
“It’s overwhelming and that’s the term my sister used on the phone. She said please let everyone know how overcome we are with gratitude for the outpouring of our community coming together to pray for our mom. I know she’s the Chamber of Commerce Director and she is an outgoing person and does a lot in the community but she is our mom and just to see people come out pray for her and say such nice things about her means so much to us. When she recovers she is going to have a really big head. Her ego is going to be out of control. We are so grateful and we just want everyone to know that,” said Burklow.

The following story was provided to WJLE by our news partner “The Smith County Insider”.
A Smithville man faces two counts of attempted first degree murder and a host of other charges after firing shots at Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies who were investigating an attempted vehicle burglary during the early morning hours of Thursday, October 5. No one was injured.
47 year old Steve Franklin Mabe, Jr. of Charity Lane, Smithville is charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder, evading arrest, reckless endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia (set of digital scales), possession of a schedule II drug (5 oxycodone, 15 milligram) manufacturing, delivery, sale of a schedule II drug (0.97 ounces of methamphetamine), possession of a schedule VI drug for resale (more than 40 plants of marijuana), possession of stolen property (bumper hitch wooden floor trailer confirmed stolen from Smithville), possession of a weapon by a convicted felon (9 millimeter pistol) and possession of same weapon during the commission of a dangerous felony. Mabe’s bond totals $292,500 but he is being held without bond on the attempted first degree murder charges.
His girlfriend, 37 year old Martha Conger Hale, also of Charity Lane, Smithville is charged with evading arrest (hiding from officers in a camper), possession of a weapon (rifle) by a convicted felon, possession of a schedule VI drug for resale (more than 40 marijuana plants on her property), and two counts of accessory after the fact (for trying to help Mabe evade arrest). Her bond totals $215,000.
Both Mabe and Hale will appear in Smith County General Sessions Court on Thursday, October 12.
Sgt. Jimmy Gregory of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a Ward Hollow residence in Brush Creek following a report of someone trying to break into a vehicle.
Gregory arrived in the area just after 1 a.m. and drove around to see if there was anyone walking down the road. On his way back, he noticed a red Jeep Cherokee next to a building. He went on down to the residence and made contact with the complainant.
According to the arrest warrant, the complainant stated that her dogs were barking at something. She looked out her son’s window and saw a man standing next to her car.
The complainant set the car alarm off and stated that she heard a man and female arguing in the woods beside her house, according to the arrest warrant. She then stated that she heard what sounded like an ATV start up and drive off, according to the arrest warrant.
Around this time, Deputy Nick Campbell arrived at the location. Gregory and Campbell drove up the road and parked.
The officers walked down to a trailer and looked around it but didn’t see anything out of place. They then started walking down the road a bit farther and saw the red Jeep start up and drive a short distance into the woods.
Per the arrest warrant, Gregory described the Jeep as being “kind of loud” and that it could be mistakened for an ATV.
The officers crossed the cable at the building and started walking toward a wooded area.
When Gregory and Campbell were about 25 to 30 yards from the Jeep, a flash and gun shot came from the other side of the vehicle, according to the arrest warrant.
Gregory announced themselves as being with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and for those in the Jeep to come out with their hands up, but they took off running into the woods, according to the arrest warrant.
Dispatch was alerted of shots fired and the SRT Team (Special Response Team) was activated and sent to the officers’ location.
While waiting for the entire team to show up, Gregory heard the Jeep start up. He got on his PA and stated that “this is the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, come out with your hands up,” according to the arrest warrant.
Two male individuals, Joshua Spurlock (25, Silver Point, Tennessee) and Richard Davidson (23, Smithville), walked out of the wooded area and were taken into custody. They stated they had been working on a truck, according to the arrest warrant.
When the rest of the team showed up, they started clearing out vehicles as they came to them. Along the way, they came into contact with a camper on the property, which they advanced to.
While searching the camper, Martha Hale (37, Smithville) was found hiding under a bed with a rifle beside her, according to the arrest warrant.
Hale was placed in custody and then taken back to the staging area with the weapon.
At the point, the search turned to Steve Mabe (44, Smithville). The officers cleared the building behind the camper and then started down some trails.
As they were going through the woods, they came into a clearing where marijuana plants were growing.
Gregory and Lt. Jenkins stayed behind at the camper to guard the plants. While waiting, they heard movement behind them.
The officers went back to the patch, and when they turned on their flashlights, they saw Mabe standing over a bundle of marijuana.
Mabe was told to freeze, and he took off running. As he was running, he turned to the right and fell, according to the arrest warrant.
When Jenkins and Gregory made it to the area where he fell, they looked for him.
According to the arrest warrant, Mabe had put on a ghillie suit and was hiding in the weeds.
Mabe was then found and taken into custody, and Deputy Silcox and Sgt. Gregory took him to the staging area. According to the arrest warrant, a Kel Tec .9 mm fell from Mabe’s waistband.
They went back to the Jeep and found the casing that had been fired earlier, according to the arrest warrant.
When they got Mabe back to the staging area, he was searched again, and a metal box with five oxycodone 15 mg were found in his pocket along with a blue plastic container with 27.3 g of meth in it. They then went back and harvested the marijuana and brought it out.
Units from Gordonsville, South Carthage and Carthage P.D. responded for backup initially and helped set up a perimeter and transport suspects.
Spurlock and Davidson were held for investigation and then released.

Northside Elementary School has been the recipient of two water bottle refill stations. DeKalb Coordinated School Health purchased the stations, DeKalb School Nutrition will pay for the new filters each year, and the Healthier TN Community along with DeKalb Prevention Coalition, donated 800 reusable water bottles to every student and staff member at NES.
The water bottle refill stations have a filter and can fill 3 times faster than a regular water fountain. There is a sensor so the student will not have to touch anything on the station, just place the bottle and it fills and cuts off by itself. They also have a counter on them that records every time a 20oz water bottle is filled, so the school can see how many plastic bottles are being kept out of our landfills. The water bottle refill stations have already recorded over 3500 refills in just over 3 weeks since install.
“We hope that by putting in the water bottle refill stations that we can encourage students to drink more water instead of sodas and also be more eco-friendly. Due to all of these great partnerships, we will be able to make a difference in the health of our students and staff. We would also like to thank the principal, Mrs. Karen Knowles, for allowing us to implement this initiative at NES,” said Elise Driver CSH Coordinator.
Pictured from left to right, Cindy Childers CSH Assistant, Amy Lattimore DeKalb School Nutrition Supervisor, Elise Driver CSH Coordinator, Lisa Cripps DeKalb Prevention Coalition Coordinator, and Norene Puckett-DeKalb Prevention Coalition Community Outreach Liaison.

State Representative Mark Pody (R–Lebanon) joined with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development today to announce that DeKalb County has been chosen to participate in the Select Tennessee Property Evaluation Program (PEP).
Launched in 2015, the purpose of the PEP is to improve the inventory of industrial sites and buildings in Tennessee by evaluating potential properties, advising counties on where investment may be most beneficial, and to discover what is needed to address issues found that may be impeding area economic development.
The PEP benefits counties by emphasizing the importance of and assisting with planning for future industrial development.
“Available and up-to-date industrial properties are essential for a community to be competitive in recruiting new business to the area,” said Representative Pody. “However, developing and maintaining such an inventory is a difficult task, and many of our communities do not have a large range of quality properties available for the market. Through the Select Tennessee Program, we will be able to get assistance from the state that will help us in readying industrial properties for near-term development as well as creating a pipeline of properties for future development.”
For each county selected to participate in Select Tennessee, the program includes an educational webinar on the site selection process, an on-site visit, and a comprehensive assessment addressing each area’s strengths, weaknesses, and recommended next steps to improve marketability.
“Inclusion in the PEP will trigger technical assistance which would otherwise cost thousands of dollars for our community,” continued Pody. “The result of the industrial property evaluations will mean that Dekalb County has a more attractive portfolio of industrial sites to attract prospects and help with future economic development in the area.”
Selection into the program is based on demonstrated local need for industrial properties and also on the county’s ability to assemble viable properties with market potential.
The application process begins with the submission of a letter of intent which is accepted at any time. Upon receipt of the letter, counties are provided with the program application. The letter of intent, along with more information about the Select Tennessee Program, can be found by visiting http://goo.gl/Zms3nm.
Mark Pody serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Consumer & Human Resources Committee. He is also a member of the House Consumer & Human Resources Subcommittee and House Insurance & Banking Committee. He can be reached by email at Rep.Mark.Pody@capitol.tn.gov or by calling (615) 741-7086.