Tennessee’s first segment of gun season for deer hunters opened Saturday, Nov. 22 in all three of the state’s deer hunting units, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
For better wildlife management, Tennessee is divided into the three deer units. (A map identifying Units A (DeKalb County), B, and L can be found on pages 22-23 of the 2008 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide). The season for each unit is as follows:
*Unit A – Nov. 22 – Dec. 7 and Dec. 20 – Jan. 11.
*Unit B (East Tennessee) Nov. 22 – 30 and Dec. 20 – Jan. 7.
*Unit L – Nov. 22 – Dec. 7 and Dec. 20 – Jan. 11.
The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is three, except a hunter may take no more than two antlered bucks from Unit B. No more than one antlered buck may be taken per day.
For antlerless deer hunting in Units A and B during this season, refer to the list of hunts on page 21 of the Hunting and Trapping Guide. There are quota and non-quota hunts listed on that page.
An Annual Sportsman, Lifetime Sportsman, Type 167 Permit, or Type 94 permit is required to harvest antlerless deer during this season on all non-quota hunts in Units A, B, and L.
Antlerless deer are defined as deer with no antlers or deer with antlers less than three inches in length.
TWRA personnel will be collecting data at various check-in stations across the state on Saturday. Antlered bucks will be measured and aged and deer will be checked for evidence of EHD.
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 deer hunting seasons, refer to the Hunting and Trapping Guide available at all license agents or on the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org.

Louise Williams-Owen, M. Ed., CCC-SLP, was presented the Tennessee Association of Audiologist’s and Speech Pathologist’s (TAASLP) Public School Incentive Award. The presentation was made at the TAASLP Annual Convention Awards Breakfast, November 7.
This award was presented “In Recognition of Outstanding Dedication and Exemplary Contributions to the Tennessee Association of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists”.
Mrs. Owen is employed by DeKalb County, TN school system. She is the wife of Mike Owen of Smithville, TN and mother of Holly and Ashley Owen. She is the sister of Deanie and David Yoest of Statesville, TN. Mrs. Owen is a graduate of the Speech Pathology program of University of Georgia, Athens, GA.

The annual Chamber of Commerce Prayer Breakfast will be held on Tuesday, November 25th at 7:00 a.m. at the Smithville Church of God Fellowship Center.
Suzanne Williams, Executive Director of the Chamber, says State Representative-elect, Terri Lynn Weaver, will be the keynote speaker. Special music will be performed by Tomomi McDowell, Representative Weaver, and First Baptist Church’s signing group “Signs of Love.”
Prayers for our community, our leaders, and our children will make this a meaningful and memorable experience. A delicious breakfast will be catered by Jason Evans, head chef at The Inn at Evins Mill. Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased at the Chamber office or from the Chamber Board of Directors. The Leadership DeKalb Class of 2009 will serve the beverages. Doors open at 6:30 a.m.

The City of Smithville’s very first fire engine will be returning to town for the Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 6th.
The parade is organized each year by the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department.
Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker says this 1938 Chevrolet fire engine, which was purchased by the city in 1938 remained in service here until it was sold in 1956. “We’ve got Smithville’s very first fire engine that will make an appearance at the parade this year. It’s a 1938 Chevrolet, the first fire engine that the City of Smithville purchased. We located it. The truck is in running condition. They’re going to bring it back for our parade. The city sold it to some gentlemen in Decatur, Tennessee in 1956. That’s when it left Smithville. It’s been away from here for a long time. It’s either been here or there since 1938. They finally got it in running condition and we’re excited to see it come back.”
Chief Parker says this year’s parade promises to be another exciting event and everyone is urged to participate. “The Smithville Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 6th. It will leave from Smithville Elementary School at 1:00 p.m. and come down Congress Boulevard, then turn onto Walnut Street, and go around the public square. The line-up will begin at 11:00 a.m.. We’d like to get all the floats there by that time so we can start getting them lined up. All the kings, queens, and princesses from all the county pageants are invited to come. We would like for you to call one of two numbers, either John Poss at 597-1135 or Jeff Wright at 597-6750 so they can get your name and who you’re representing in the lineup. We hope you will do that the Thursday night before the Christmas Parade to give us time to get the lineup made. Then just be there at Smithville Elementary School Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m. and we’ll get you in the lineup. We’re looking forward to another fantastic parade. We still don’t have the Grand Marshal yet. We’ll be finalizing that in the next week or so. We encourage everybody to come out to see Santa Claus and be a part of the parade. We do encourage all the churches, groups, and businesses to enter. We are awarding a first, second, and third place in the float category. The Smithville Business and Professional Women also sponsor the Spirit Award which goes to the church or civic group that shows the most enthusiasm during the parade”
Meanwhile, the Liberty Christmas Parade will be held Sunday, December 7th starting at 2:00 p.m. The line-up begins at 1:00 p.m. on the west end of town. There will be four categories for prizes and giveaways after the parade. Santa will be riding into town to greet the public and to visit with the children. Santa will also bring his reindeer plus other animals for everyone to enjoy petting so bring your camera or have Santa’s elves take your picture with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. For more information call 615-536-5101.
The Alexandria Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 13th at 2:00 p.m. The line-up begins at 1:00 p.m. on the Jim Curtis Highway or West Main Street. Call for more information at 529-2171.

A 25 year old Lebanon woman is in trouble with the law after leaving two young children unattended in a vehicle.
Detective Sergeant Jerry Hutchins, Jr. of the Smithville Police Department says Dallas Dorthy Leaf of Coles Ferry Pike, Lebanon is charged with two counts of felony child endangerment. Her bond is $10,000 and she will be in court December 4th.
One of the children was Leaf’s 3 year old daughter. The other child was a 5 year old boy, the son of Leaf’s boyfriend.
According to Officer Hutchins, Leaf left the children unattended in her vehicle downtown Smithville Thursday while she went into the courthouse to check on a pending divorce. The temperature outside at the time was around 43 degrees. The children were in the car for about 20 minutes when they got out of the vehicle and walked to a nearby business, looking to get something to drink. Someone at the business contacted police.
Officer Hutchins says he confronted Leaf after she came out of the courthouse. She was questioned about the incident and subsequently arrested and charged in the case.
He says the children are fine and were released to a family member.

Tennessee Fire Marshal Leslie A. Newman wants to remind Tennesseans to keep safe and warm as winter sets in across the state. But she urges residents to be cautious in the use of alternative heat sources.
“The winter weather means many people will begin to heat their homes with fireplaces, woodstoves and space heaters,” said Newman. “Cold weather months typically have a higher number of accidental fire injuries and deaths due to the use of these alternative heat sources.”
Following a few safety tips can greatly reduce the risk of fires:
•Make it a “house rule” to test your home’s smoke alarms before using a space heater or fireplace. All smoke alarms should additionally be tested once a month. Doing so could save your life.
•Space heaters need space. Never put a space heater within three feet of anything combustible, including furniture, bedding or aerosol cans. Make sure your space heater bears the mark of an independent testing lab such as UL or FM. Look for models with automatic shutoff features, when purchasing space heaters. Never use extension cords with space heaters.
•Before you use your fireplace, make sure the chimney has been professionally cleaned to remove the buildup of combustible materials that accumulate inside the flue.
•Be sure any kerosene-fueled heating device is installed with proper ventilation. A portable kerosene heater must be filled only in a well-ventilated area, free of flame and other heat sources, and only when the device has cooled completely. Use only the type of kerosene specified by the manufacturer, and never use gasoline in place of kerosene.
•Never leave a fire, space heater or flame unattended.
Additionally, make sure furniture, clothing and other combustible materials are not placed in front of permanently mounted heaters like those in walls or on baseboards. If they turn on when temperatures go below the thermostat’s set point, there will be no worry of the items catching fire.
The Department of Commerce and Insurance works to protect consumers while ensuring fair competition for industries and professionals who do business in Tennessee.

A 50 year old Smithville man was injured in a pickup truck accident near Alexandria this morning (Wednesday)
Trooper Jimmy Tisdale of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Edwin Dale Evans of 598 Smith Road, Smithville was traveling east on Highway 70 in a 2001 Chevrolet S-10 pickup when the truck ran off the left side of the road, struck a large boulder, overturned, and hit a utility pole. The truck came to rest upright on it’s wheels. The accident occurred around 6:20 a.m. about four tenths of a mile from the Wilson County line in DeKalb County.
Evans was taken from the scene by DeKalb EMS to meet a Life Force Helicopter ambulance on Highway 53 in Alexandria. He was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.

With the holidays quickly approaching, millions of shoppers will go online for hassle-free shopping. If you plan to shop online, you should be aware that you may get more than you bargain for with internet scams and identity thieves targeting holiday shoppers. Taking precautions before you make those purchases can help ensure your online experience is a safe one.
If you’re going online to make your holiday purchases this year, here is some advice to help you make the most of your experience:
1. Know who you’re dealing with. Confirm the online seller’s physical address and phone number in case you have questions or problems. If you get an email or pop-up message while you’re browsing that asks for personal or financial information, don’t reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email. When the web page asks for your credit card information, the web address should begin with “https://” instead of “http://.”
2. Know exactly what you’re buying. Read the seller’s description of the product closely, especially the fine print. Words like “refurbished,” “vintage,” or “close-out” may indicate that the product is in less-than-mint condition.
3. Know what it will cost. Check out websites that offer price comparisons. To get the best consumer protections, pay with a credit card. If there are any problems with your order the bank can be notified and the charge disputed. Factor shipping and handling — along with your needs and budget — into the total cost of the order. Do not send cash under any circumstances.
4. Check out the terms of the deal, like refund policies and delivery dates. Can you return the item for a full refund if you’re not satisfied? If you return it, find out who pays the shipping costs or restocking fees, and when you will receive your order.
5. Keep a paper trail. Print and save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt, and copies of every email you send or receive from the seller. Don’t email personal or financial information. Read your credit card statements as you receive them and be on the lookout for unauthorized charges.
6. Don’t email your financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting financial information like your credit card, checking account, or Social Security number.
7. Check the privacy policy. It should let you know what personal information the website operators are collecting, why, and how they’re going to use the information.
The Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs is here to help you understand your rights and responsibilities, to resolve complaints through the mediation process, to investigate violations of the state Consumer Protection Act, and to clarify consumer protection laws. We are here to help consumers and business owners who have been affected by unfair business practices.
If you need our services, please feel free to call Consumer Affairs toll-free at 1-800-342-8385 or visit www.tennessee.gov/consumer.

The U.S. Congress has mandated that all full-power television stations convert their broadcast signals from analog to digital by the end of February 17, 2009. Television channels in Tennessee have been carrying public service announcements alerting the public to the switch to digital broadcasts that will occur. But it is understandable that questions might remain about how Tennesseans can navigate the conversion.
“Consumers need to understand how the digital television (DTV) transition will affect them, in order to avoid purchasing items they don’t need,” said Mary Clement, director of the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs.
Analog televisions that rely on rooftop or “rabbit ears” antennas to receive analog broadcasts will not work after February 17 without a converter box. These converters generally cost $50-$70 and can be purchased at electronics stores. The federal government is offering two $40 coupons per household (for two boxes – the coupons cannot be combined to get one box for free). These coupons are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last or until March 31, 2009. To receive free coupons, call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY), or visit www.dtv2009.gov.
If a television is digital or is currently receiving its signal through paid cable or satellite service, the conversion should not affect it. Digital televisions that use rooftop or “rabbit ears” antennas should continue to work and will not require a special antenna or converter box.
If a television is more than 10 years old, it probably has an analog receiver and will be affected by the digital transition. Check the owner’s manual or labeling on the back of the television to determine if a set is analog or digital and look for identifying key words:
• Digital sets:
o Integrated Digital Tuner, Digital Tuner or Digital Tuner Built-In,
o Digital Receiver,
o DTV,
o ATSC, or
o HDTV (High Definition)
• Analog sets:
o Analog
o NTSC
(more)
If it still is unclear whether a television set is digital or analog, consumers should call the manufacturer or a retail professional for assistance. Callers should be sure to have the make and model number on hand. For further information regarding the conversion, please visit www.dtv.gov or call 1-888-225-5322 (voice) or 1-888-835-5322 (TYY).
Consumers who think they have been deceived by a business and have purchased items they do not need for the DTV conversion should file a complaint with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs at www.tn.gov/consumer or call 1-800-342-8385 to request a complaint form.
The Department of Commerce and Insurance works to protect consumers while ensuring fair competition for industries and professionals who do business in Tennessee.

The City of Smithville and other utilities that get their water supply from Center Hill Lake are responsible for paying a portion of the repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of Center Hill Dam, under a water storage agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The city’s portion, at $83,164, is figured at 0.032 percent, a cost that is based on the amount of storage area allocated for the city’s water supply. The city was given the option to pay the bill in a lump sum at the end of construction or to pay based on a cost schedule through the year 2013. The cost to the city is based upon a total repair cost of $263,000,000
Center Hill Lake supplies all the water for the City of Smithville, and the city also sells to the DeKalb Utility District. The City of Cookeville, which also gets it’s water supply from Center Hill Lake, sells to Baxter, Algood and Double Springs, among others meaning those utilities will also incur some of the cost as well. Cookeville’s share is $1.4 million. Riverwatch, which uses a small amount of water from Center Hill Lake for the watering of its golf course, will pay $27,400. Riverwatch’s share of the cost was tallied at 0.01 percent.
Smithville Secretary-Treasurer Hunter Hendrixson says the city will likely pay the bill in a lump sum by 2013.