Community Calendar

The DeKalb County Commission will meet in regular monthly session on Monday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the 3rd floor courtroom of the courthouse.

A Blood Assurance Drive will be held Saturday, February 22 in memory of the late SFC Tyler Durden from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the DeKalb County Complex in Smithville.

Sergeant Durden served his country for 17 years in the United States Army.

All donors will be given a FREE “Love to Save Lives” tee shirt and will also be entered into a monthly drawing for a chance to win a” Date Night Giveaway”.

To schedule an appointment, go to Bloodassurance.org/tyler or contact Jessica Anderson at 615-318-3974 or gatorfan_jessica@yahoo.com.

Please remember to EAT A GOOD MEAL, drink additional water, avoid high energy drinks and bring a photo ID. Blood Assurance is the SOLE blood provider for our local hospitals

The Alexandria and Justin Potter Library’s Book Sale will start on Friday, February 28th and will continue through Saturday, March 28th. There will be books, audio books, videos and magazines for sale at great prices. The libraries are accepting donations of books and movies that are in good condition for their book sale. They request no textbooks, magazines or encyclopedias, please.  Come by and check out what the libraries have to offer. For additional information, contact Justin Potter Library at 615-597-4359 or the Alexandria Library at 615-529-4124. Visit us on our website dekalblibraries.net or Facebook.

The DeKalb County Retired Teachers Association will meet Thursday, March 5, at Smithville Elementary School at 11:30 am. Current members will share stories of their experiences in their early teaching careers. All retired school employees are invited to attend and enjoy good food and fellowship sponsored by Liberty State Bank.

Interested concerned citizens may receive some free instruction on recognizing the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose Tuesday, February 25 at the UT Extension meeting room in the county complex starting at 10:30 a.m. The DeKalb Prevention Coalition will host a Community Naloxone (NARCAN) training session conducted by Suzanne Angel, Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist for the State of Tennessee Region 3 North. Everyone is welcome. All attendees will receive a free Narcan kit.

A Classroom Hunter Education Course will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 7 & 8 at the DeKalb County Fire Department’s Main Station at 782 King Ridge Road, Dowelltown.

TWRA Officer Tony Cross said classes will be held Saturday, March 7 from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 8 from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. The course is offered free of charge. Participants must Pre-register on-line at www.tnwildlife.org and follow the prompts.

Participants must be at least 9 years old to take the class and must attend both days of the course.

For more information call Tony Cross at 931-287-8427.

Early Voting is underway for the March 3 Primaries.

Voters in both parties are selecting their preferences for US President. Republicans are choosing the GOP nominee for Criminal Court Judge Part II in the 13th Judicial District, and the DeKalb County Democratic primary is being held where local Democrats are selecting nominees for Assessor of Property and Constable in 6 of the 7 districts.

Early Voting runs through February 25.  All early voting will be conducted at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Smithville. Early voting hours (available at www.dekalbelections.com) are: Mondays 1-5; Tuesdays 9-1; Wednesdays 9-1; Thursdays 2-6; Fridays 9-1; and Saturdays 9-Noon.

DEKALB TEE-BALL, COACH PITCH & GIRLS FAST PITCH: Sign-ups will be on Saturday Feb 22, 8:00am to 12Noon in the UT Extension Building in the County Complex. LAST DAY for Sign-ups will be on Saturday, Feb 29th from 8:00am to 12noon also in the UT Extension Building in the County Complex, Smithville. WE ask if everyone fill out the uniform size section on the sign-up sheets & turn in so that we will have uniforms already finished. We will get parents shirts sizes later. Also we are going to try to split the age groups of the fast pitch softball league, IF we get enough players for each group. The ages will be: 10,11 and 12 year olds(can’t be 13 before Jan. 1st, 2020). The 13, 14 and 15 year olds (can’t be 16 before Jan. 1, 2020). Anyone that played last year and falls into the new age group is no required to go down to the new age group but they can, and as always anyone moving up, can play up to the older league if they want to. Check us out on FACEBOOK – we place all our updates on that site under “DeKalb Tee-Ball, Coach Pitch and Girls Fast Pitch”. Brian Hall – League President.

Students and their families will take a fun filled journey through the halls of DeKalb West School Thursday night, February 27 interacting with story book characters and participating in unique learning games and activities as part of an effort to increase excitement and improve children’s reading abilities.

The school’s 5th annual Camp Read S’more Family Literacy Night will be held at DeKalb West School and students from throughout the school system and their parents are invited. Doors will open at 5:15 p.m.

Activities will include camping themed areas to read s’more, a book walk with the Cat in the Hat, Capture the Literacy Flag, and much more. In addition, DeKalb West School students will have STREAM fair projects on display.

The Extended Arms Project is excited to announce its second annual “Labor of Love” fundraising event in DeKalb County with a goal of helping the homeless and less fortunate. The non-profit will host a dinner and auction on February 22 at the County Complex located at 712 S. Congress Boulevard starting with a meal of soup and chili at 4 p.m. and an auction at 5 p.m. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children ages 10 and younger. The Extended Arms Project, a division of Young Harmony, Inc., is a non-profit organization with a mission of aiding the underprivileged with physical, emotional and inspirational needs.

“We inspire and give hope by reminding others of their self-worth, one individual at a time. For those who need help, we provide necessities such as sleeping bags, hygiene products, gift cards for food, temporary shelter and more,” said Wanda Redmon, Grant Director for the Extended Arms Project.

“You may show your support for the effort by donating or helping to sponsor the event. We are seeking support through donations, goods, McDonalds gift cards, etc as well as food for the dinner including chili, soup, and desserts. All items or monetary gifts donated go entirely toward the Extended Arms Project to help others,” added Redmon.

Donations may include toboggans, backpacks, gloves, scarves, bath towels, washcloths, shampoo, bath soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hand lotion, razors, shaving cream, chap stick, socks, combs, brushes, and spoons, and more.

All donations are tax deductible.

For more information on the Extended Arms Project visit, www.ExtendedArmsProject.com

The DeKalb County Democratic Party will host its Democratic County Presidential Convention on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the DeKalb County High School cafeteria 1130 W Broad St, Smithville, TN 37166, to select representation from the county to attend the District Convention on March 21.

The doors open for registration at 11:00 AM and the convention is open to all registered voters in the county who are supporters of the Democratic Party, have voted in the March 2020 Presidential Primary, and who agree to support the nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2020 Presidential election.

The convention will begin at 12:00 PM when caucuses will be held for the top vote getting presidential candidates in Congressional District 6.

The party welcomes all who wish to participate in selecting Tennessee’s delegates to the Democratic Presidential Convention in Milwaukee the week of July 13, 2020.
Information about becoming a DNC delegate and the rules governing the DNC Delegate Selection Process may be obtained from tndp.org, or from the Tennessee Democratic Party, 319 Plus Park Blvd, Ste 203, Nashville, TN 37217, 615-327-9779.

DeKalb Middle School Golf Team Matches

Tuesday March 3rd, @ 4:00 (HOME)-Smithville Golf Course. Playing against Watertown and Davidson Academy.

Friday, March 13th @ 4:00 (HOME)
Playing Smith County

Tuesday, March 17th @ 4:00 (HOME)
playing Watertown & Davidson Academy

Monday, March 30th (AWAY) Lebanon County Club
Playing Walter J Baird, Winfree Bryant, Watertown, & Davidson Academy in Lebanon.

Friday, April 3rd (AWAY) Cookeville Golden Eagles Golf
@4:00 playing Smith County.

Tuesday, April 7th (HOME) @ 4:00
Playing Watertown.

Monday, April 13th (AWAY) Lebanon Country.
@4:00 playing Walter J Baird & Winfree Bryant.

Tuesday, April 21 (HOME) @ 4:00
playing Davidson County

Friday, April 24th (HOME) @ 4:00
Playing Watertown & Smith County.

DeKalb Youth Baseball Signups will be February 8 at Northside Elementary School; February 15 & 22 at the County Complex Main Room; and February 29 at the UT Extension Office in the County Complex.

Registration fees are $65.00 per child and $50 for each sibling. Please bring proof of player age and proof of residency. Player ages determined by what age the player is as of May 1st.

Coach Pitch: 7-8 year olds

Minor League: 9-10 year olds

Major League: 11-12 year olds

Senior League: 13-15 year olds

Tryouts for all leagues will be Saturday, March 7

There will be no concession stand buyouts this year and no parents will be required to work them.

They accept debit/credit cards. Transaction fee applies.

The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) will hold a commodities distribution for DeKalb County on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the DeKalb County UCHRA office. Sign up will be available at the distribution site. This project is funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee.