Drive By and Drop Off Prescription Drug Take Back Event Today (Saturday) in Smithville

October 24, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb Prevention Coalition and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation encourage DeKalb County residents to take part in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day today (Saturday, Oct. 24) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Unlike similar events in the past, today’s Take-Back will be drive-by and drop-off only at the Smithville City Hall outside under a tent.

The public will be provided the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. (Sites cannot accept liquids, needles or sharp instruments, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

“Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That’s dangerous and often tragic. This year due to COVID-19 the Take Back Event will be a little different than before. This year it will be drive-by and drop-off. Drive to the front of the City Hall and a member of the DeKalb Prevention Coalition will take your medication and place it in the collection box. DPC will also provide medication boxes if you need one to lock your medications in at home. We will not be able to accept liquid medication, needles or sharps. We can collect medication in pill and patch form,” said Lisa Cripps of the DeKalb Prevention Coalition.

For more information please email DeKalb Prevention Coalition at dekalbtnprevention@gmail.com or call 615-580-9290.

“This event encourages the proper disposal of prescription drugs, and TDEC is proud to be a part of it,” TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said. “We have seen how awareness of this issue has prompted strong participation in the past, and we urge everyone to get involved.”

The October event is the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s 19th nationwide event since the program’s inception over 10 years ago. Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 883,000 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. The program has now collected nearly 6,350 tons of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications since the inception of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back initiative in 2010.

To keep everyone safe, collection sites will follow local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are many other ways to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs every day, including the 355 authorized collectors that are available all year long. For more information about locations in Tennessee, visit http://tdeconline.tn.gov/rxtakeback/.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 24 Take Back Day event, go to http://www.DEATakeBack.com.

For more information about TDEC’s Unwanted Household Pharmaceutical Takeback Program, including a complete list of participating counties and acceptable or non-acceptable items, please visit https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/opsp-policy-and-sustainable-practices/community-programs-and-services/unwanted-household-pharmaceuticals-takeback-program.html.

By: Dwayne Page

The late Tennessee Governor Frank G. Clement would have been one hundred years old this year. To honor his life and legacy during this centennial year, the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum in Dickson, Tenn., is celebrating this milestone with its fourth annual Legacy Awards Event. Due to COVID-19, the program will take place virtually and can be seen on the Clement Hotel Museum Facebook Page on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. CDT (https://www.facebook.com/crhmdickson).

The Legacy Awards were created to recognize the integrity and leadership of dedicated Americans whose lives have made a difference. This year’s awards honor three distinguished Tennesseans—U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, Grand Ole Opry Ambassador/trailblazer Jeannie Seely, and Country Music artist, Craig Morgan. Each will be recognized for their contributions to Tennessee, the nation, and the world. Special guests are Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, U. S. Congressman Jim Cooper, State Representative Michael Curcio, State Representative Mary Littleton, Dickson County Mayor Bob Rial, and Dickson Mayor Don Weiss.

“My father served as governor for ten years. Despite his share of controversies and challenges during his tenure, many qualities defined his legacy—namely the courage to make tough political decisions and to reach across the aisle to reach compromise,” said former U.S. Congressman Bob Clement (D-TN). “Our honorees were chosen because they embody many of those same qualities and we are looking forward to recognizing them during this special virtual event.”

The 107-year-old Halbrook Hotel in Dickson was restored and reopened as the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum in 2009. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The history and heritage of Dickson County and the State of Tennessee are displayed through exhibits and collections housed in the museum.

Educational opportunities for students and adults include learning about the birthplace of Governor Frank G. Clement and his accomplishments — providing free textbooks for children in public schools, establishing the first State Department of Mental Health, integrating public schools in Tennessee, and planning/implementing the Tennessee interstate highway system. Daily tours are available to see exhibits about the Civil War era and railroading, in addition to traveling exhibits of interest.

The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum, located at 100 Frank Clement Place, Dickson, Tenn., is supported by the Tennessee Historical Commission, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, private donations, and the many volunteers who work tirelessly to make the museum possible.

For more information about the award winners and the Legacy Event, call 615-446-0500 or email the museum at clementrailroadmuseum@gmail.com.

Donations can be made through credit card/PayPal (https://clementrailroadmuseum.org), Venmo (www.venmo.com/Clement-Museum), or mailing a check directly to the museum.
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October 23, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

More than 400 people cast ballots Friday in DeKalb County for the November 3 elections.

The DeKalb County Election Commission reported a turnout of 419 including 403 in person (the largest single day response yet through the first nine days of early voting) and 16 by absentee. That brings the overall early voting total to 3,294 with five days to go plus election day.

Early voting hours Saturday, October 24 will be from 9 a.m. until 12 noon. All early voting is being conducted in the first floor courtroom of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

Voters are also reminded the last day to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday October 27.

Safeguards are in place to help protect both workers and voters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Voting totals for the previous eight days were as follows:

*Wednesday, October 14- 528 cast ballots including 287 in person and 241 by absentee.

*Thursday, October 15 – 320 voted including 303 in person and 17 absentees

*Friday, October 16- 340 including 336 in person and 4 absentees

*Saturday, October 17- 268 including 247 in person and 21 absentees

*Monday, October 19- 362 which was 346 in person (including Webb House residents) and 16 absentees.

*Tuesday, October 20-326 including 317 in person and 9 by absentee

*Wednesday, October 21- 356 including 328 in person and 28 by absentee

*Thursday, October 22- 375 voted icluding nursing home residents and 3 absentees.

Early Voting is underway through October 29 in the first floor courtroom of the courthouse.

Early voting hours are as follows:

Monday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. to Noon.