Children to Experience the Thrill of Christmas Shopping through Regifting

November 20, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Christmas is the season for giving and children who participate in this year’s 5^th Annual Regifting Event will have a chance to experience that by doing something special for their parents and total strangers.

Regifting gives children ages 5 to 12 an opportunity to shop for their parents or caregivers at no cost. The gifts are then wrapped, tagged, and prepared for Christmas giving.

This year’s Regifting Event will be on Saturday, December 7 from 9 a.m. until noon or until all gifts are gone at the DeKalb County Complex. Families must pre-register their children through December 3 in order to receive a door prize.

Donations are collected throughout the year for this event so that those who can’t afford to buy gifts can still share in the joy of giving by regifting something.

“We let kids come in and shop for their parents or caregivers. It’s not income based. It’s for anybody. They shop for free, wrap the presents, and fill out the card,” said Kim Walker, who organizes the annual event.

The children are then asked to prepare a blessing bag to be given to others.

“This year we are doing the blessing bags for the homeless ministry called Compassionate Hands”. The bags may include a blanket, socks, cup, toothbrush, and a toy.  In the past we have done it for emergency foster care, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, residents at NHC, and the homeless shelter,” said Walker.

For their good deeds each of the children get to take home a goodie bag.

Walker said the hope is the children take home more than that. “We’re trying to share God’s love with kids to plant a seed so that no matter how old they are they always remember to help somebody else”.

The kids and other volunteers will also decorate a quilt square. “After they decorate the quilt squares we put them together and donate the quilt to somebody who needs a blessing in the community due to a health or life challenging issue,” said Walker.

If you need more information or would like to volunteer call or text Kim Walker at 931-212-7567, Chelsye Madden at 931-247-3369, or Joanna Fuson at 615-517-9100. You may email patchworkuc@outlook.com

A drop box is available at the World Finance in Smithville

November 20, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee’s 2019-20 statewide gun hunting season for deer opens Saturday, Nov. 23. Deer gun season has the traditional opening date of the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving.

During gun season, sportsmen may also use muzzleloader or archery equipment. In the newly-created Unit CWD, guns have been permitted since the start of muzzleloader-archery season on Nov. 9. The season will continue through Jan. 5, 2020. The second Young Sportsman Hunt is Jan. 11-12, 2020.

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 is required to carry proof of satisfactory completion of a hunter education class or be in possession of the Apprentice Hunting License (along with other required licenses) while hunting any species in Tennessee.

For more information about Tennessee’s 2019-20 deer hunting seasons, refer to the 2019-20 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide available at all license agents, TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, and Morristown. The guide is also available on the TWRA App, or on the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org.

The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is two. No more than one antlered deer may be taken per day.  Hunters are allowed the following antlerless bag limits: Unit L-3 per day, Unit A-2 per season, Unit B-1 per season, and Unit C-1 per season (Nov. 23-Dec. 8 only), and Unit D-1-per season (Nov. 23-29 only).

In Unit CWD, there is a limit of three antlerless deer per day with no season limit. The statewide bag limit of two antlered deer applies in Unit CWD. However, the statewide bag limit of two antlered deer may be exceeded within Unit CWD if taken under the Earn-A-Buck Program or taken under the Replacement Buck Program. Details on each of the programs are on page 35 of the 2019-20 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide. For the exact boundaries of the different deer units, hunters can refer to the guide.

Resident hunters, ages 16 through 64 must possess in addition to other appropriate licenses, an annual big game license for the equipment used.  Lifetime Sportsman license, Junior Hunt/Trap/Fish, Adult Sportsman license and Permanent Senior Citizens license holders are not required to purchase supplemental big game licenses.

November 19, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation will be holding a home dedication ceremony for Caitlin Anderson and daughter Lilly Grace at 155 Evergreen Lane, Smithville on Monday, November 25th at 9:00 am.

The community is invited to attend this very special event.

Army PFC Billy Anderson lost his life in Afghanistan on May 17, 2010, leaving behind his young wife and 8 month old daughter.  The Foundation will be handing the family the keys to a mortgage-free home through the Foundation’s Gold Star Family Home Program.

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to honor the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Siller (FDNY), who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001. The Foundation also honors the men and women of the military and first responders who continue to make the supreme sacrifice of life and limb for our country.

PFC Anderson enlisted in the US Army in June of 2009, and deployed to Afghanistan six months later. He was assigned to the 508th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. On May 17, 2010, with two months left on his deployment, PFC Anderson was killed when insurgents attacked his unit with improvised explosive devices. He was just 20 years of age.

The Foundation’s Gold Star Program, launched in September 2018, honors the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. The Foundation provides a 100 percent mortgage-free home to surviving spouses with young children. The Foundation is committed to raising $250 million to provide 1,000 homes to Gold Star Families.

Further info is available at tunnel2towers.org.