4‐H members from across Tennessee gathered at the University of Tennessee at Martin for State 4‐H Roundup and All Star Conference. The 94th anniversary of the event, which took place July 24‐28, recognized the outstanding project work and leadership accomplishments of senior high 4‐H members. Approximately 300 high school age 4‐H’ers from across Tennessee met for several days on the UT Martin campus.
4‐H’ers competed in projects such as communications, livestock, computers and technology, and photography for college scholarship money and trips to National 4‐H Congress in Atlanta. The State 4-H theme in 2017 is “Tennessee 4‐H: Made From Scratch.” The idea is that a 4-H’er grows personally and professionally in their time with the organization and always strives to be a better person.
Representing DeKalb County at State 4‐H Roundup this year were Kayla Belk, 12th grade, Caleb Taylor, 11th grade, and Caitlyn Lawrence who graduated this past May. All three students attended as an All-Star member and completed service hours at a local nursing home. They helped clean up and wash windows at the facility as well as play games with the residents.
Kayla also received the Vol State Award, the highest level of recognition a 4-H member can be awarded. This award is only given to current or incoming high school seniors.
Teens from all over the state came together, competed in their project areas, learned life skills such as leadership and citizenship, made lifelong friends and had a great time at Discovery Park in Union City. They also enjoyed a banquet, dance, and learning sessions, as well as campus tours. Roundup is one of the highlights for Tennessee’s 4‐H program. Delegates who attend have spent years of work in their respective project areas. Delegates to the 2017 Tennessee 4‐H Roundup and All Star Conference were also asked to collect toiletry items for families at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
“UT Martin and northwest Tennessee welcome 4-H members from around the state for this traditional event,” said Dr. Keith Carver, university chancellor. “4-H does an exceptional job preparing young people for future leadership roles. Our university is a perfect setting for hosting project competition and recognizing the accomplishments of these top 4-H members.”
4‐H is the Youth Development program for University of Tennessee Extension and Tennessee State University. 4‐H teaches leadership, citizenship and service learning to more than 168,000 youth in 4th through 12th grades. 4‐H also has more than 6,000 adult volunteers. For more information about DeKalb County 4-H, please call 615-597-4945.
Photo Captions:
Round Up 17: Caitlyn Lawrence, Caleb Taylor, and Kayla Belk after the awards banquet at State 4-H Roundup held at UT Martin.
Kayla Vol State: Kayla Belk received the highest honor a TN 4-H member can receive: Vol State Award

The county has received an official notice from the Tennessee Department of Transportation establishing a fair market value of $7,200 for the Cherry Hill Community Center property on Cookeville Highway.
County Mayor Tim Stribling briefed the county commission on the matter Thursday night during an all committees meeting at the courthouse. The issue is expected to be discussed during the regular monthly meeting of the county commission Monday night, August 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the courthouse.
It will be up to the county commission whether or not to purchase the property. The county has until October 3 to send payment of $7,200 to TDOT .
The excess land committee of TDOT’s Right of Way Division met in January and granted approval for the sale of the land clearing the way for the county’s outright ownership of the property.
Although the state deeded the 0.24 acre site to DeKalb County in August, 1981, a restriction currently requires the county to use the property for public purposes. After taking control of the site in the 1980’s the county constructed the Cherry Hill Community Center there. In recent years community interest in the center has waned and the building is now in need of repairs. Members of the county commission have expressed an interest in either disposing of the property or leasing it.
In order to have the “public use” deed restriction removed and for the county to assume total control of the property, the county commission several months ago authorized County Mayor Stribling to file with the Tennessee Department of Transportation an application for “Conveyance of Interest of Surplus TDOT Right of Way”.
County Mayor Stribling explained that through this process the county requested the state to ascertain the fair market value of the property should the county decide to purchase it.
“The committee has determined that the public use restriction can be released if fair market value is paid by the county. After all necessary approvals have been obtained you will be issued and executed a release of all restrictions,” according to a letter to the county from TDOT’s Right of Way Division.
“If we do buy the property at fair market value then that restriction for public use will be removed from the deed,” said County Mayor Stribling.
The county is not required to buy the property from the state.
In other business Monday night, the county commission agenda is as follows:
*Local option sales tax report to be given
*Action taken on budget amendments
*Annual financial reports to be spread on the minutes
*Discuss payment of fair market value for state owned real property at the Cherry Hill Community Center
*Discuss a phone system upgrade for the ambulance service and contract with DTC
*Discuss Jones Lane
*2018 Fiscal Year budget approval letter from the state
*Discuss library board appointment
*Approval of notaries
*Any other business properly presented.

In Tennessee, an estimated 950 men, women, and children die by suicide each year.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of all deaths in Tennessee and the second-leading cause of death among people ages 15-24. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, there were 1,065 recorded suicide deaths in the state in 2015, at a rate of 16.1 per 100,000 people. That’s up from 14.4 per 100,000 in 2014.
On Thursday, County Mayor Tim Stribling and Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss signed proclamations designating September as Suicide Prevention Month in DeKalb County and Smithville.
In 2015, the latest year for which county-specific figures are available, DeKalb County’s age-adjusted suicide rate was 26.1 per 100,000 people, translating into five reported suicide deaths. That is up from 15.6 per 100,000 people or three reported suicide deaths in 2014.
The DeKalb suicide rate is also higher than the state average of 16.1 per 100,000 population for 2015 as reported by the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network.
Clay County had the highest suicide rate among the fourteen counties of the Upper Cumberland Region and the state of Tennessee at 51.4 per 100,000 with four deaths. Smith County had the lowest rate in the Upper Cumberland at 5.2 per 100,000 with one reported suicide in 2015.
Moore County was the only county in the state to report no suicides in 2015.
DeKalb County’s suicide rate was at 16.6 per 100,000 in 2006 and 2007 with three deaths each of those years. But the rate soared to 48.1 per 100,000 in 2008 with nine deaths. The rate dropped to 26.5 per 100,000 with five deaths in 2009 but went back up to 37.4 per 100,000 with seven deaths in 2010. DeKalb’s suicide rate for 2011 was 26.5 per 100,000 with five deaths and 15.9 per 100,000 in 2012 with three suicides and 15.7 per 100,000 in 2013 with three deaths.
In almost all cases, suicide can be traced to unrecognized, untreated, or poorly treated mental illness. It can happen to people of either sex, any race or ethnicity, and any economic status. The average suicide death leaves behind six survivors—family and friends of the deceased—all of whom are at increased risk for a suicide attempt themselves. As if the emotional and psychological toll were not enough, suicide and suicide attempts cost the state of Tennessee $1 billion a year in medical treatment, lost wages, and lost productivity.
The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) and its allies in the public health, mental health, and social service fields are joining forces to recognize the month of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. During this annual observance, TSPN and its allies arrange several educational and memorial events across Tennessee. These projects help teach the general public about the problem of suicide and how it can be prevented. They also provide an opportunity to remember those lost to suicide; to encourage survivors of suicide, survivors of suicide attempts, and people who have triumphed over mental illness; and to recognize individuals who have made notable contributions to suicide prevention efforts in our state.
Details about the Suicide Prevention Awareness Day observance and other events planned across the state will be announced on the TSPN website (www.tspn.org). Additional information about Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is available from the TSPN central office at (615) 297-1077 or tspn@tspn.org.

The DeKalb County High School Tigers will hit the road again tonight (Friday, August 25) as they visit the Upperman Bees at Baxter.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO LISTEN TO WJLE’S TIGER TALK FEATURING COACH STEVE TRAPP AND TIGER PLAYERS GAGE DELAPE, NICK MAY, AND ANDREW FUSON)
http://www.wjle.com/audio/tiger-talk-august-25
Coach Steve Trapp, speaking on WJLE’s Tiger Talk program, said he is hoping his team will bounce back after a disappointing 26-10 season opening loss at Warren County last Friday night. “When you play as badly as we did last week that’s not the tone we want to have for the rest of the season but these guys have an opportunity tonight to make it right. As far as what areas need improvement, that’s all of them. There is no area that cannot be improved. It’s the whole program,” said Tiger Football Coach Steve Trapp.
Upperman is stinging from a 52-7 season opening loss last week at Cookeville.
“Offensively they (Upperman) return their quarterback but they have a lot of new skill position guys and linemen. It looks like they are doing some similar things they have done in the past. Last year they came down here and started doing some different stuff with the Wildcat using some of the bigger running backs that they had so we’ll have to be ready for something like that. Defensively it looks like they are still running that 4-2-5. We just have to make sure our guys understand that and are ready to play mentally. That’s been the biggest thing we’ve harped on all week,” said Coach Trapp.
Kick-off is at 7 p.m. and WJLE will have LIVE coverage on AM 1480/FM 101.7 and LIVE streaming at www.wjle.com with the Voice of the Tigers John Pryor and Luke Willoughby.
WJLE’s Pre-Game shows begin with “Coach to Coach” at 5:00 p.m. featuring former UT football coach Phillip Fulmer and former UT assistant coach Doug Matthews with broadcaster Larry Stone talking Tennessee and SEC football.
“Coach to Coach” is followed by “Murphy’s Matchups at 6:00 p.m., a look at Tennessee High School Football from Murphy Fair with commentary on games and coaches interviews.
“Tiger Talk” airs at 6:30 p.m. with the Voice of the Tigers John Pryor interviewing Coach Steve Trapp and Tiger players Gage Delape, Nick May, and Andrew Fuson.
The game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. with play by play coverage on WJLE with John Pryor and color commentary by Luke Willoughby.
WJLE thanks our sponsors of Tiger football:
*Absolute Kobota
*DeKalb Dental Center
*Dairy Queen
*Wilson Bank & Trust
*Caney Fork Electric Cooperative
*Gill Automotive (DeKalb Tire & Service)
*Charles D. Atnip Realty & Auction Company
*DTC Communications
*Adams Dental
*Liberty State Bank
*DeKalb Funeral Chapel
*Curtis Supply
*St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital
*Three Star Mall
*Bert Driver Nursery
*Alexandria Auto Parts
*Woodbury Insurance Agency
*Bumpers Drive-In
*Optimus Pest Solutions
Tiger Talk sponsors:
*Woodbury Insurance Agency
*Kilgore’s Restaurant
*Jim’s Tire & Alignment
*A Degree Above Heating & Cooling
*Belk Grocery and Sporting Goods
“Coach to Coach sponsor:
*Stonehaus Winery

WJLE’s “Fearless Forecasters” are returning for another season of college pigskin prognosticating next Thursday, August 31 at 4:30 p.m.
This season’s regulars are Dewain Hendrixson, Scott Brown, Chad Kirby, Jeff James, Ricky Atnip, John Pryor, Joe Goodwin, and Darrell Gill.
The “Fearless Forecasters” pick who they believe will win in fifteen of the biggest or most interesting college football games of the week.
They also make an underdog selection each week, picking a team they think will win, even though that team is not favored to win.
The program is sponsored by Liberty State Bank, DeKalb County Ace Hardware, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, DeKalb County Insurance, DeKalb Tire and Service, the Charles D. Atnip Realty & Auction Company, and Sir Pizza Xpress of Smithville
Catch the “Fearless Forecasters” LIVE on WJLE weekly starting next Thursday, August 31.

The DeKalb Prevention Coalition (DPC) has just gotten their first business partner for their Count It, Lock It, Drop It initiative.
Jimmy Poss and his team at the DeKalb County Clerk’s office will be wearing the Coalition’s t-shirts once a week and directing patrons to the prevention office if they are in need of a lock box. DPC’s message is simple; COUNT your pills, keep them LOCKED up, and dispose of them in the DROP box at Smithville City Hall and you won’t become an accidental drug dealer!
DPC would like to thank Jimmy Poss and his staff for helping to get their message out! A special thanks to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of TN for sponsoring the t-shirts!

A special election will be held to fill the unexpired term of State Senator Mae Beavers.
Beavers will be stepping down as of September 1 to devote full time to her gubernatorial campaign. She still has more than a year left in her current senate term.
“Under state law, the timing of Senator Beavers’ resignation will trigger a special election because the 2018 general election is over 1 year away. In fact there will be both a primary and general election likely held this calendar year,” said DeKalb County Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley.
“The first step is for the governor to issue what is called a “writ of election” (or order) and then a primary must be held between 55 and 60 days afterward. The General Election for that seat must be held 100 to 107 days after the governor’s order,” Stanley said.
“Depending on when the governor issues the ‘writ’, the primary could be held in late October and the general election could be held in late November or early December,” he continued.
Early voting dates would also be held for both elections.
“We will know more about the timing in the coming days,” said Stanley.
Senator Beavers represents the 17th State Senatorial District which includes Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, and Wilson counties. She was first elected to the State Senate in 2002 and is in her fourth term, which expires in 2018.

DeKalb County experienced a 5.4% growth in tourism in 2016 compared to the previous year. Out of the 95 TN counties, DeKalb County had the 2nd highest percentage increase.
Governor Bill Haslam and Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Kevin Triplett announced Wednesday that visitors spent a total of $44.99 million in DeKalb County, an increase of 5.4% compared to the previous year, generating a total of $2.69 million in state and $6.04 million in local tax revenues, increases of 7.2% and 6.0%, respectively. A total of 320 DeKalb Countians are employed in tourism-related fields. These figures place DeKalb County third in total travel-related expenditures in the Upper Cumberland region behind the much larger Putnam and Cumberland counties.
Tennessee tourism’s direct domestic and international travel expenditures reached an all-time record high of $19.3 billion in 2016, up 4.7 percent over the previous year, as reported by the U.S. Travel Association.
Chamber Executive Director Suzanne Williams was thrilled when she received the report. Upon hearing the news, Williams said, “The economic impact of tourism on DeKalb County is huge. We are so fortunate to have Center Hill Lake, Edgar Evins State Park, Appalachian Center for Craft, and our many diverse businesses that fuel our tourism revenues including our annual events such as the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival, DeKalb County Fair, Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour, and other local music and art events. Our small town charm, friendly people, and scenic beauty make DeKalb County a desirable place to live, work, play, and raise a family and all these factors keep our visitors coming back year after year.”

Tennessee State Senator and conservative Republican candidate for Governor Mae Beavers has announced that she will resign her seat in the legislature effective Friday, September 1st at noon. Beavers also disclosed key additions to her gubernatorial campaign team.
“It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing that next Wednesday (August 30th) at noon, I plan to deliver a letter to Governor Bill Haslam and Lt. Governor Randy McNally informing them that I am resigning from the State Senate,” Beavers said. “My travels across our state to campaign for Governor should not deprive the taxpayers of the 17th Senatorial District of the devoted and consistent conservative representation they have come to expect.” By resigning now, a special election can take place later this year and ensure that the 17th District has a “fully focused representative in place the day that session begins.”
Since 2003, Beavers has represented the 17th District, composed of Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, and Wilson (and previously Sumner and Trousdale) counties. Previously, she represented Wilson County as county commissioner from 1990-1994 and then as a state representative from 1994 through 2002. Beavers has consistently been recognized as one of the most conservative and effective legislators throughout her public service. She also received the most statewide votes as delegate for President Donald Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primary and was chosen as Tennessee Delegation Chairman by her fellow delegates to the Republican National Convention.
“It has been a honor to serve in the Tennessee Senate for almost fifteen years,” continued Beavers. “It is therefore with a heavy heart, but also with great excitement, that I resign my Senate seat and look forward to a new phase in my campaign to be Tennessee’s next Governor. I have always taken my duties in the state legislature extremely seriously, and I have concluded that it is simply not possible for anyone to run a statewide grassroots campaign while effectively serving during legislative session.”
Beavers also announced key additions to her campaign organization saying, “I’ve been blessed to be able to assemble a top-tier team of conservative talent.”
Emerging Horizon Group will helm the campaign as general consultant. The group’s principal, Mike Shirley, has worked with the National Rifle Association, the Republican National Committee, Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign, Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, and Dr. Kelli Ward’s closely watched primary challenge against John McCain in 2016. Stephen Sebastian, who most recently worked with former South Carolina Governor and now Congressman Mark Sanford, will serve as lead consultant on the race.
Osborne, Shell, & Miller Advertising, which will coordinate messaging and advertising for Beavers, has run more than one hundred political campaigns in Northeast Tennessee including Congressman Phil Roe’s historic upset victory in 2008, the first time in 58 years an incumbent congressman had been toppled in a Tennessee primary. Heavily outspent, Roe overcame a 43 point deficit in the polls in the final 5 weeks of the campaign to become the 1st District’s sole successful primary challenger since 1930 who had not previously held the seat.
The Hines Digital team will handle online fundraising, advertising, organizing, and social media. Hines’ clients have included Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign, the Young Republicans National Committee, Young Americans for Liberty, and the Republican parties of California, Florida, Maryland, and Wyoming, Theresa May’s campaign for Prime Minister, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Before becoming a Republican, Hines helped develop Howard Dean’s pioneering digital strategy in the 2004 presidential race.
Capital Square Funding Group, whose team members have worked with Ron Paul, Chris McDaniel, Ted Cruz, and Roy Moore in various capacities, will be assisting Beavers with fundraising.
“Senator Beavers’ time in public service has been marked by dignity and decency and quiet but unwavering determination,” Sebastian said. “We’re confident that her concrete convictions and amazing accomplishments will cut through the avalanche of slick campaign season rhetoric and attract the kind of conservative firepower we’ll need to win.”
Beavers concluded, “We’re running a grassroots, citizen-powered campaign to hold the line for Tennessee’s future, and it’s resonating because of my record. There are more than enough conservative voters to elect a conservative Republican statewide for the first time in Tennessee’s history.”