On July 4th, America will celebrate its birthday. Families across the country will be commemorating this event with parties, parades and fireworks. If you plan to use fireworks this 4th of July, DeKalb Community Hospital encourages you to include fire safety as part of your holiday celebration.
Thousands of people are injured from fireworks each year. More than half of these injuries involve children. “The most common injuries involve bottle rockets, sparklers and firecrackers,” says Eric Phillips, the Chief Nursing Officer for DeKalb Community Hospital. Bottle rockets and firecrackers are unpredictable and can fly in any direction before exploding and sparklers can burn at temperatures hot enough to melt gold.
“Many injuries occur because people often don’t think about how dangerous fireworks can be,” explains Eric. “Too often, they get caught up in the excitement and forget about fire safety.”
DeKalb Community Hospital offers the following safety tips to help ensure a safe 4th of July celebration:
* Always follow directions on the firework label.
* Never let children light fireworks.
* Always have an adult present. Even sparklers can be dangerous if unsupervised.
* Make sure you give yourself enough room. Stay away from buildings, vehicles, flammable materials, dry grass and trees.
* Keep unused fireworks away from firing areas.
* Never ignite fireworks in a container, especially a glass or metal container.
* Have a bucket of water or water hose close by in case of an emergency and to douse used sparklers.
* Always wear eye protection when shooting fireworks.
* Loose clothing can catch fire and should not be worn when handling fireworks.
* Always light fireworks one at a time.
* Never try to re-ignite fireworks that have malfunctioned. Soak them in water and discard them.
* Store fireworks in a dry, cool place.
* Never throw or point fireworks at another person.
* Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
* Never build your own or modify fireworks.
Following these safety measures will help prevent an unfortunate accident. It is important to remember that fire safety is important at all times. Be sure to continue thinking about safety after the celebration has ended.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has approved the county’s request for the installation of flashing beacon lights at the intersection of U.S. 70 and State Highway 83 near Kilgore’s Restaurant.
County Mayor Mike Foster says even though the county will have to bear the costs, the lights are needed because this is a dangerous intersection and several serious traffic accidents have occurred there in recent years. “The way it will probably be engineered, it won’t be a four way stop but there will be flashing red lights on each side of highway 83 and flashing caution lights on highway 70. We are estimating that by the time we pay the engineer and the other costs, it’ll probably be in the neighborhood of $20,000. But it’s a dangerous intersection. We tried to get the state to do it (install the lights) but they said they were not in that business.”
The lights will be installed overhead above the highways, instead of by the sides of the roads, as the county had preferred. Foster says TDOT indicated that Highway 70 was too wide for the lights to be on the side of the road. State officials were also concerned that the lights would be more prone to being struck by passing motorists if they were by the highway.
The county commission, on Monday night, voted to advertise bids for this project.

DeKalb County currently does not require homebuilders to adhere to any residential building codes, but the county commission will have to make a decision by this fall on whether to change that under the Tennessee Clean Energy Future Act.
This new state law has taken effect which calls for the adoption and enforcement of a residential building code to one-and two-family residences across the state. The State Fire Marshal Office’s code enforcement program will begin in October. In the interim, the State will contract with code inspectors, establish a network of issuing agents where the construction permits can be obtained and finalize the process for payments.
Effective October 1st, the State Fire Marshal’s Office will issue residential building permits using a system similar to the electrical inspection program that it presently operates. Owners and licensed contractors will obtain a construction permit from the local issuing agents. Inspectors will then inspect residences during construction to ensure code compliance.
Cities and counties that presently enforce a building code that is current within seven years (the 2003 or 2006 edition of the International Residential Code will qualify) can notify the State Fire Marshal’s Office and continue local enforcement. Local codes may be more stringent than the state adopted code. Cities and counties may also choose to have no minimum one- and two-family residential building code and no inspections to ensure quality home construction by a two-thirds opt-out vote of their governing bodies (county commissions).
County Mayor Mike Foster says DeKalb County has three options: to adopt the state requirements for enforcement of residential building codes; to adopt a plan of it’s own and hire a building codes inspector; or to opt out altogether. But he says, sooner or later, the state will most likely require all local governments to have codes. “Basically we’ve got three choices, either to do nothing and let the state run it; opt out and have nothing for a short period of time, which it will probably be not more than a year before it’s mandatory anyway; or the county can run it themselves and have a local inspector, which certainly would be more convenient for the builders and probably the homeowners. The county commission is looking at that and it will be their decision as to which option to take.’
“What this basically means is that the state has probably had many complaints about some of the quality of the builders and the energy efficiency ratio of the houses being improved. I think what they’re (state) thinking is that this would give some standard to go by to where everybody operates under the same set of rules and it ensures, hopefully, that the homeowner is getting what he is paying for, making sure that the insulation and the other energy saving devices are there in the home and that the house is structurally built like it should be. Their (state) thinking is that there are some unscrupulous builders out there who are doing some of this and they’re just trying to bring some compliance with the rules and regulations. It probably is a good thing for the homeowner in that they’re getting a cheap insurance policy to assure them that their house is being built right and that it’s being built within codes and it’s built so that it is energy efficient.”
“The option for the county is, do we let the state run this or does the county run it and have it’s own local inspector? There are pluses and minuses to both. The county commission is still looking at it and waiting until we get all the facts on it before making up their mind which would be the best way to handle it.”
“Several counties are facing the same issue. Most of the cities have building codes and it really is a good thing in a lot of ways because it just puts down a set of standards that everybody goes by and it helps protect the local homeowner who is getting his house built and his neighbors. It’s probably a good thing to have somebody overseeing the building to make sure that it is built right. Make sure that it is energy efficient. In the long run, that’s a much better situation for the homeowner.’
“If the state does it, once it’s set up, it (building permits) would probably be where you go and get your electrical permits for electricity. It would be done through them. Some of the contractors and other people here have expressed an opinion that if you’re building a house, sometimes weather is a factor and if you have a foundation ready to pour. I think theirs (state regulations) state that you have to let them know within three days. But, you know if you have your foundation ready to pour, you may not want to wait three days because it might rain. You’re depending upon the weather. So a lot of them (contractors and others) have expressed an opinion that they would rather have a local person (inspector) doing that. Of course, it’s a matter of the county commission looking at everything and seeing what they think is the proper, best solution for the county and the people.”
“Enforcing building codes will make new homes safe and more energy-efficient, and will help assure the quality of residential construction meets minimum standards,” said State Fire Marshal and Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Leslie A. Newman.
New State Fire Marshal’s Office regulations adopt the 2009 International Residential Code and the 2006 International Energy Code. These building codes will only apply to new construction of residential structures. Nonresidential structures, such as out buildings and unattached garages, are not covered. Renovation of existing structures, no matter how extensive, is also not covered. Sprinkler requirements have not been adopted, although a city or county is free to adopt a sprinkler requirement.

The Smithville- DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce honored the winners Wednesday in “Project Welcome Mat”.
“Project Welcome Mat” awards three categories, “Most Original”, “Best Worded”, and “People’s Choice”
Bumpers Drive-In received the ” Most Original” award for their sign ” There’s Banjos, Fiddles, Crafts and Food, That’ll Put Ya in a Yee Haw Mood”.
Liberty State Bank won the “Best Worded” award for their two-sided sign “Pick up Your Fiddle and Get in Line. Here Comes Jamboree 39” and on the other side, “Enjoy Your Visit, We’ll Do the Rest to Make Jamboree 39 the Best.”
The “People’s Choice” award went to the First Free Will Baptist Church for their sign “If You Love the Jamboree, Then You’ll Surely Enjoy Us Too Cause We Like to Pick and Grin and Sing God’s Praises Too”
DeKalb Community Bank received honorable mention for their sign “We Hope you have a Grand Ole’ Time at Jamboree 39”
Suzanne Williams, Executive Director of the Chamber, says “We appreciate all the businesses that participated in “Project Welcome Mat” to help make sure that our Jamboree visitors feel welcome. “

Smithville Mayor Taft Hendrixson and Aldermen Stephen White and Cecil Burger, re-elected on June 15th, were sworn into office to begin their new two year terms Tuesday evening during a special meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen at city hall.
General Sessions Court Judge Bratten Cook II administered the oath of office.
After the swearing in ceremony, Mayor Hendrixson appointed each of the alderman as commissioner of a city department.

The appointments are as follows:
Steve White-Vice Mayor and Commissioner of Water and Sewer
Shawn Jacobs- Commissioner of Finance and Taxation
W.J. (Dub) White- Commissioner of Sanitation
Cecil Burger- Commissioner of Streets and Safety
Aaron Meeks – Commissioner of the Police and Fire Departments
Mayor Hendrixson also appointed citizen representatives and aldermen to serve on various city boards.
Hoyte Barrett was re-appointed to a new six year term and Alderman Steve White was re-named to a new two year term on the city planning commission.
Anthony Hagan was re-appointed to a new four year term as a citizen member and Alderman Cecil Burger was chosen again to a new two year term on the Smithville Electric System Board.
Alderman Cecil Burger got a new two year term on the city beer board
Alderman Steve White was re-appointed to a new term on the 911 board.
The aldermen unanimously approved the mayor’s appointments.
In other business, the aldermen adopted a continuing budget resolution to keep city government operating beyond June 30th until a new budget is approved.
The mayor and aldermen will not be meeting on Monday, July 5th because of the holiday weekend. Their next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Monday, July 19th at 7:00 p.m. at city hall.

Members of the Off the Beaten Path artist group will be out in full force for the 39th Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival, with ongoing demonstrations and exhibits of their work July 2 and 3.
“We’ve decided to make the Jamboree our main summer event,” says Susan DeMay, group vice president and ceramic artist based in Smithville. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase the high quality crafts produced in this area, and to raise awareness of our annual Off The Beaten Path Studio Tour.”
More than a dozen Off The Beaten Path members will be participating in this year’s Jamboree. The group has reserved two exhibit spaces and the air-conditioned 303 building on the north side of the square. One tent will feature crafts activities for children, the other a series of craft demonstrations. Friday’s schedule includes demonstrations in clay, wood and jewelry decoration, with additional clay demonstrations planned for Saturday.
“Inside the 303 building Jamboree visitors can take a break from the heat and see exhibits featuring our members’ work in a variety of media, all available for sale,” says DeMay. “We’ll also be on hand to talk about our tour, and invite visitors back to the area in the fall.”
Held the last full weekend each October, The Off The Beaten Path Studio Tour draws thousands of arts enthusiasts to DeKalb and Cannon counties to visit the artists where they work. This year’s 10th anniversary tour, with more than two dozen participating artists, will be held October 29 through 31. For more information on the group and its activities, please visit their website, www.offthebeatenpathtour.com

The Farmer’s Market may have a new home within a few months.
The county commission Monday night voted to accept bids for the construction of a new farmer’s market on the north side of the Town and Country Shopping Center plaza that the county now owns. It will be developed in the parking lot facing East Bryant Street.
The farmer’s market is currently held each Saturday around the courthouse in which local farmers bring their home grown produce to sell.
The county commission, two years ago, voted to seek a $50,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant from USDA Rural Development to help relocate the Farmer’s Market where a proper structure could be built. The grant has since been approved. The project must be completed within 120 days.
The county is also awaiting word from the state on whether it’s application for a $30,000 agriculture enhancement grant is going to be funded from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for the new farmers market location.
County Mayor Mike Foster says the Farmer’s Market helps bring people downtown on Saturday, which is a good thing, but the farmers who bring their produce to sell need shelter from the weather and the proposed new location could provide that. “We have done the environmentals and the traffic flow pattern. It would have a bathroom, a wash area, refrigerated area with storage, a display area, tables, and it’s all handicapped accessible.”

The DeKalb County Commission has given it’s blessing for a new memorial to be erected on the courthouse grounds in tribute to all local military men and women who have died in service to our country.
County Mayor Mike Foster, during Monday night’s county commission meeting, said the project will require public input and community fundraisers. “We have talked about doing a memorial on the courthouse grounds. Since the Anderson boy (PFC Billy Anderson) was killed, we’ve had some people discuss putting up a memorial for him. But we have broadened it (idea) into maybe doing a fundraiser where the community is really involved in doing this and doing it for all wars.”
“I would personally like to see us do a fundraiser where the public is involved in it and that we make it (monument) big enough to put the names of people from World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Korea, the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars and have room on there for others (in the future). Rather than having a lot of single markers or memorials for those people, it would be better to have just one for everybody.”
” I think it’s a good idea and everybody is for it but the design of it, where it’s located, and all of that needs to be studied and worked on. Before we start seeking people to contribute to it and raising money for it, we should at least put in the minutes (of the meeting) that you (county commission) have tentatively approved it and that we start with the procedure and form committees as to how we and the public want it to look and then get the community involved because I think it means more to people if they’re involved in it.”