Multi-GRAMMY® nominees and three-time International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainers of the Year Dailey & Vincent were formally inducted into the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night by Opry members Old Crow Medicine Show and Jeannie Seely. The duo had been invited to join the Opry by Marty Stuart during their 100th Opry appearance in December.
Seely, who will celebrate 50 years of Opry membership later this year, presented an Opry Member Award to Jamie Dailey, while Old Crow lead singer Ketch Secor did the same for Darrin Vincent.
“I had the honor of introducing Dailey & Vincent for their first Opry appearance,” Seely began. “I thought to myself that night, ‘I hope one day I get to see them become members of the Opry one day because they epitomize everything the Opry is on stage and off.’”
“They honor the traditions and respect their elders, but most of all they entertain,” Secor said. “Tonight they join the ranks of country music’s greatest entertainers. … Welcome Dailey & Vincent to the first family of country music.”
“We love the Grand Ole Opry. It’s in our DNA,” Dailey said as he and Vincent recognized family, friends, their band, and members of their organization who’d helped make the night possible. The duo closed their Opry segment with “I’ll Go To My Grave Loving You,” a hit by one of their musical heroes, The Statler Brothers.
“We are very excited to welcome Dailey & Vincent into the fold,” said Opry General Manager Sally Williams. “Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent have been proclaimed the best in their field across the board, winning awards and media acclaim for their songs, their musicianship, and their one-of-a-kind live performances. Over the past 10 years and more than 100 Opry visits, they’ve brought crowds to their feet both with country, bluegrass, and gospel standards as well as their brand new material. We look forward to Dailey & Vincent being active, beloved Opry members as the Opry looks toward the century mark and beyond.”
Among artists scheduled to play the Opry later this month are Opry members Charlie Daniels Band, Del McCoury Band, Rascal Flatts, and Carrie Underwood, along with special guests Brandy Clark, Chris Janson, The Mavericks, and Scotty McCreery. Opry Country Classics continues throughout the spring at the Ryman Auditorium with upcoming Spotlight Artist appearances by Brenda Lee, Lorrie Morgan, Oak Ridge Boys, Tanya Tucker, and more.
ABOUT DAILEY & VINCENT:
Five-time GRAMMY® award winners individually, three-time GRAMMY® award nominees collectively, four-time DOVE Award winners, and winners of 35 IBMA Awards altogether (including 3-time IBMA Entertainer of the Year Award winners and 3-Time Vocal Group of the Year Award winners), Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, backed by one of the best bands on tour today, are some of the most reputable and elite entertainers in American music; bluegrass, traditional country and gospel music. The concoction of the fantastically instinctive vocal blends of Dailey’s tenor and Vincent’s reedy harmonies has gained them well-deserved praise for their own distinctive style and worldwide recognition as American Music gold. Dailey & Vincent has garnered world-wide attention with their first national, top-rated television series, “The Dailey & Vincent Show,” on RFD TV and over 500 airings of their PBS special “Dailey & Vincent ALIVE – In Concert.” Their most recent CD, Dailey & Vincent ALIVE, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass charts and remained at the top position for over 15 weeks. For more information, visit daileyandvincent.com.
ABOUT THE GRAND OLE OPRY:
The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®. Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, and Tuesday Night Opry shows will return February 14, 2017. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. Marking more than nine decades of entertainment, the Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP). For more information, visit opry.com.



Governor Bill Haslam has signed a proclamation designating March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Governor Haslam and the Tennessee disability community wish to recognize the valuable contributions made by individuals with developmental disabilities who live, work, play, vote, volunteer and build relationships in our local communities.
Tecia Puckett Pryor of Smithville and Dawn Fry of Cookeville represent the Upper Cumberland area as the Governor’s appointed members on the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities.
“At our last meeting, the governor-appointed council members were included in a video in which we read the Governor’s proclamation of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month,” said Tecia.
It is shown on this link:

Governor Haslam shared, “I’m proud of our state’s commitment to increasing opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to pursue their goals, contribute to their communities and live quality lives. From inclusive higher education programs on college campuses, to the Employment First focus of state and community agencies, to the new ABLE TN savings program led by the Tennessee Department of Treasury, there are countless examples of state agencies, community organizations and families working together to make sure Tennesseans with developmental disabilities have the chance to thrive.”
The proclamation states “Tennessee is committed to recognizing that every person, regardless of perceived ability, has valuable strengths, infinite capacity to learn and make decisions, and the capability to make important contributions to their communities if given opportunities to do so”. Many individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members still face enormous barriers in accessing needed services and supports they need to be active and included members of their communities alongside their neighbors without disabilities.
“Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month provides an opportunity to reflect on recent public policy successes that are raising the bar for how Tennessee supports and empowers individuals with developmental disabilities,” said Wanda Willis, executive director of the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities. “Tennessee’s new Employment and Community First program, administered by the Bureau of TennCare, has begun serving hundreds of newly-eligible individuals with developmental disabilities by helping them achieve their employment and community living goals through long-term services and supports. We also applaud the continued efforts of the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to transform and improve how disability services can support individuals with developmental disabilities to work and be fully included in their communities. Tennessee has much to celebrate this March!”

Local realtors, June Bilbrey, Josh Miller, and Melissa Miller of Sunbelt Realty recently received the Eastern Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors 2016 Awards of Excellence, thus joining the Million Dollar Club with sales of more than $1,250,000 in real estate. Sunbelt was voted Best of the Best in 2015 and 2016
To date, 800+ REALTORS® from the Eastern Middle Tennessee Association join forces with the 28,000+ REALTOR® members of the Tennessee Association of REALTORS®. Along with the National Association of REALTORS, they have a driving force of 1.3 million members working for and protecting the rights of America’s property owners.
Members of the organization reach further than just REALTORS®, they are also comprised of brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors and others engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry.They join forces and engage each through the profession for the purpose of professional development, research and exchange of information among each other, the public and government for the purpose of preserving the free enterprise system and the right to own real property.

Sophomore Tanner Poss was named the DCHS Tiger basketball Most Valuable Player Friday night at the annual team banquet, while Senior Hannah Panter received the Lady Tiger MVP honor. Senior Captain Allison Rogers is the Most Valuable Cheerleader. The awards were sponsored by Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. The MVP and MVC awards are named in memory of Allen D. Hooper.
In addition to being named MVP, Poss received the team’s Best Offensive Player award. He was also named to District 8AA 2nd team All-District. Panter was named Best Offensive Player for the Lady Tigers and made the District 8AA 2nd team All-District in addition to the Team MVP honor.
The season for the DeKalb County Tigers ended with a loss to Smith County last month in the District Tournament at Cookeville. The Tigers finished with an overall record of 7-20
The DeKalb County Lady Tigers wrapped up their season losing to York Institute in the District Tournament. They closed out the campaign with a record of 11-16.
Other individual cheerleading awards included:
MVC: Allison Rogers
Most Spirit: Haley Dies
Best Stunts: Zoe Maynard
Best Jumps: Malia Stanley
Best Dance: Holly Evans
Best Cheer: Maegan Harris
STAR Award (Spirit, Team, Attitude, Respect): Hannah Evans
Other Lady Tiger basketball awards were as follows:
MVP: Hannah Panter
Best Offensive Player: Hannah Panter
Best Defensive Player: Madison Parsley
Best 6th Man: Madison Parsley
Best Free Throw Shooter: Macy Hedge
Smartest Player: Macy Hedge
Best Rebounder: Emme Colwell
Most Improved: Sophie Cripps
Best Passer: Mya Ruch
Best Ball Handler: Mya Ruch
Best Practice Player: Lydia Brown
Best Attitude: Abbi Taylor
Best Athlete: Nicole Coffee
Toughest Player: Megan Walker
District 8AA 2nd Team All-District: Hannah Panter
All District Honorable Mention: Macy Hedge
All District Honorable Mention All Freshman Team: Emme Colwell
For the Tigers,
MVP: Tanner Poss
Best Offensive Player: Tanner Poss
Best Defensive Player: Bradley Miller
Best Athlete: Bradley Miller
Toughest Player: Trey Jones
Best Rebounder: Trey Jones
Most Improved: Trey Jones
Best Free Throw Shooter: Gentry Harpole
Best Ball Handler: Marshal Evins
Smartest Player: Marshal Evins
Best Practice Player: Alan Munoz
Hustle Award: Alan Munoz
Best Passer: Colter Norris
Best Sixth Man: Chandler Vincent
Best Attitude: Chandler Vincent
District 8AA 2nd Team All District: Tanner Poss
All District Honorable Mention: Trey Jones

The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) reminds Tennesseans to take the time to check their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when setting clocks forward one hour this Sunday morning, March 12, 2017.
“As Daylight Saving Time begins, we encourage citizens to change the batteries in their smoke alarms if necessary and check the age of these important devices,” said State Fire Marshal and Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “Any smoke alarm 10 years old or older should be replaced entirely as it may not function properly in the event of an emergency.”
Smoke alarms more than 10 years old no longer offer a reliable level of safety and are often the source for nuisance alarms. The SFMO urges all residents to determine how old their smoke alarms are (the date of manufacture is located on the back of the alarm). If they’re 10 years old or older, they should be replaced immediately. This includes smoke alarms that use 10-year batteries and/or are hard-wired.
State fire data indicates that 70 percent of Tennessee residential structure fires in 2016 occurred in homes where no smoke alarm was known to have been present. In addition, 46 percent of smoke alarm failures during that period were due to missing or dead batteries in the device.
Both state and national data reflect that many fatal fires occur at night while the victims are sleeping. The smoke and toxic gases generated by a fire can cause people to sleep more deeply, narrowing the chances of surviving a fire. A working smoke alarm can double the chances of survival by increasing the amount of time a person has to escape a fire in their home.
The SFMO shares the following safety tips on residential smoke alarms:
·Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home. For best protection, smoke alarms should be installed inside and outside sleeping rooms. Make sure everyone can hear the alarm and knows what it sounds like.
·For the best protection, equip your home with a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual-sensor alarms. Interconnect the alarms so that when one sounds, they all sound.
·Smoke alarms with non-replaceable (long-life) batteries are available and are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps on these units, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
·For smoke alarms with any other type of battery, replace batteries at least once a year (preferably twice a year during daylight saving time). If that alarm chirps, replace only the battery.
·Remember, even alarms that are hard-wired into your home electrical system need to have their battery back-ups maintained in case of electrical power outage.
·Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning to keep smoke alarms working well. The instructions are included in the package or can be found on the internet.
·Test alarms once a month using the test button. Replace the entire alarm if it’s more than 10 years old or fails to sound when tested.
· Devise a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room and a designated outside meeting place. Share and practice the plan with all who live in the home, including children.
·When a smoke alarm sounds, get out of the home immediately and go to your pre-planned meeting place to call 911.
For more information on making your home fire-safe, download and print the State Fire Marshal’s home fire safety checklist. Tennessee residents can request a free smoke alarm by visiting www.tn.gov/fire.

Business licenses must be renewed by April 15.
DeKalb County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss is urging business owners to get their renewals completed before the deadline.
“I would like to remind all Business owners of standard business license renewals due April 15, 2017 and most expire May 15, 2017. However, a slim number of business owners are licensed with a minimal business license which expire different and are obtained through our local office annually. Few people qualify for a minimal license, but in cases where a business will gross $9,999,00 or less annually this person is eligible for a minimal license. Again, very few people qualify for this license,” he said.
“Also, a reminder for those still with questions filing. The taxes on all standard business license accounts are collected at the state level and the license is issued at the local level. Basically, the owner submits payment to the state, in return the state will email us clearance to issue the customer a new license. Once we receive clearance we in return mail out the new business license,” Poss continued.
“The Department of Revenue mandated this process and began this procedure in 2014. Since then we have been able to assist many in establishing their online account. Some filing from 2014 forward and in many cases assisting several with late filing paper versions which was required prior to 2014. We have had and still see individuals we are assisting filing previous years with penalty and interest 5 and 6 years late. Anyone still having difficulty or questions establishing an online account is welcome to stop by our office and see me as I am currently the only one assisting customers with account set up. Individuals may also do this from home by going to tn.gov and follow the instructions or pick up a How-to manual from our office,” he said
“For those who are planning to no longer pursue the business previously operated. You must be sure to file the year you close and mark this payment and return as Final return. Should you fail to file and mark Final return the state will continue to keep your business active resulting in a minimum charge with penalty and interest added even you claim $0 as gross income.”
“Also to complete the transaction for a new business license you must have the previous year total gross income and if you own the place of business the property tax paid,” Poss concluded.

A resolution sponsored by State Senator Mae Beavers that recognizes pornography as a public health hazard has cleared the Senate and is heading to the House.
Senate Joint Resolution 35, which passed 32-0, states that “due to advances in technology and the universal availability of the internet, young children are exposed to what used to be referred to as hardcore pornography at an alarming rate [and] this is leading to low self-esteem and eating disorders, an increase in problematic sexual activity at younger ages and an increased desire to engage in risky sexual behavior as young adolescents.”
It also declares that “pornography use has a detrimental effect on the family as it is linked to lessening desire in young men to marry, dissatisfaction in marriage, and infidelity.”
The resolution is non-binding and does not create new laws. It does, however, proclaim that the “State of Tennessee is acknowledging the need for education, prevention, research, and policy change at the community and societal level to address the epidemic that is harming the people of our State and our country as a whole.”
Meanwhile, the Senate has adopted another Joint Resolution sponsored by Beavers that urges “President Donald J. Trump and the United States Congress to enact legislation to distribute funding to the states by block grant.”
Pointing out that “federal highway funds are now diverted to a multitude of non-road purposes through federally-legislated mandates and earmarks that dictate how states can expend the funding they receive,” the measure calls for a different approach to distributing such funds.
The resolution states that “One remedy to address this critical fiscal issue would be the development of a block grant distribution plan whereby each state would receive from the federal highway trust fund a block grant equal to the fuel tax revenues raised within its borders and would be entitled to spend such grant on transportation priorities of its own choosing.”
If passed, the resolution would be forwarded to appropriate federal officials and states “this General Assembly urges the enactment of legislation to repeal all federal mandates, either by statute, rule, or policy, that dictate the expenditure of federal transportation funding.”
The House Transportation Committee is the next stop for the resolution.

Members of the DCHS Class of 2017 are asking for your support of Project Graduation.
Myranda Bailiff, a DCHS Senior, urges you to stop by any DeKalb County branch office of Liberty State Bank to make a donation.
“I am a member of FFA, HOSA, the BETA Club, and the softball teams at DeKalb County High School. More importantly, I am a member of the 2017 graduating class. We are raising funds for our Project Graduation event that will take place the night of graduation in May. We will have food and fun activities. It is designed to keep us safe from the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol. In order to hold this event, we must raise funds and request the community’s help. Please stop by your local branch of Liberty State Bank in Alexandria, Liberty, or Smithville and make a donation to our account. All help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support,” said Bailiff.

March is Extension Month in Tennessee. Extension is a national educational program supported by USDA through the nation’s land-grant universities and administered with funding from state and local governments in Tennessee through offices in each of the state’s 95 counties.
County Extension offices across the state are planning various celebrations and commemorations for the state’s 107-year-old Extension program. Here in DeKalb County, the UT-TSU Extension office will be hosting a Meet & Greet for the public on the sidewalk, directly in front of the Extension Office on Friday, March 24 from 11AM-1PM. The office is located at 722 South Congress Blvd, Smithville in the County Complex. There will be various displays and information about what the Extension program offers as well as free hot dogs, popcorn, and drinks.
An integral part of the land-grant mission, Extension programs are delivered in all 95 counties of the state by subject-matter specialists, county agents and volunteers associated with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) and the Tennessee State University (TSU) College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences.
“UT Extension ‘extends’ the university’s teaching and research missions to deliver research-based information and education to all the state’s citizens through youth and adult programs in every county,” said Dr. Delton Gerloff, interim dean of UT Extension. Dr. Latif Lighari oversees TSU Extension faculty as associate dean for Extension at TSU.
In addition to the traditional agricultural production recommendations available through county Extension offices, services for all citizens include the state’s award-winning 4-H Youth Development Program including its summer youth camps; family and consumer educational programs; and healthy living courses.
UT Extension also performs services for the state’s citizens, including managing the statewide Soil, Plant and Pest Center through which clients can have the quality of their soil and forage analyzed and any insect pest or plant diseases identified. Extension also trains clients in the proper use of pesticides and even operates commercially-certified kitchens where small scale vendors can prepare food items for sale while meeting state guidelines for food safety.
Tennessee Extension programs can be seen as an excellent investment of public resources. The statewide educational programs in 4-H youth development, agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, and community economic development are estimated to impact the state’s economy by more than $512 million from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016. This amounts to a return of investment of $8.03 for every $1 in public funds invested in Tennessee Extension.
Many of UT Extension’s educational resources are also available online. From the UT Extension website choose the link to “publications” and enter the topic for which you need information to search the database of available resources. Most are available free of charge. A publications page is also available on the TSU website, which includes a list of available publications by program area. Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu.
Please stop by on March 24 from 11AM-1PM and meet the staff during this time to find out more about what your local Extension Office has to offer.