Should the county post a speed limit on Evins Mill Road?

March 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Should the county post a speed limit on Evins Mill Road?

During Thursday night’s committee of the whole meeting of the county commission 3rd district commissioner Tony Luna said he was asked to present a request for a posted speed limit on Evins Mill Road because several dogs have been hit by motorists there within the last month in the same area. The issue may be discussed at Monday night’s monthly county commission meeting.

“On Evins Mill Road from Highway 70 five dogs have been killed within the last 30 days. One had been on a leash. I have had multiple requests from the public wanting to know if we could put up a 45 mile per hour speed limit there,” said Commissioner Luna.

Deb Young, who lives on Evins Mill Road and is among neighbors who have recently had a dog run over and killed, said motorists travel much too fast on that road and she would like to see a posted speed limit there, perhaps even as low as 35 or 40, because its not only a safety concern for animals but children and adults as well.

“You wouldn’t believe how fast they drive on that road. We live in the third house on the left (from Highway 70) and they are flying by the time they get to our house and going down to the stop sign (to Highway 70) its just insane. I don’t see how they stop in time. What gets me is that they don’t even stop (after hitting a dog). They don’t even care. There are kids that play in their front yard and the bus stop is right in front of our house and they don’t even slow down for it and if they are going so fast that they don’t even want to stop after hitting a dog, what are they going to do if they hit a child,” said Young.

Under state law, the speed limit on any county road is 55 miles per hour unless the county designates a reduced speed limit posting.

The law states that “The legislative body of any county, except the legislative bodies of any counties having a commission form of government, has the power to prescribe such lower speed limits as it may deem appropriate on any road being maintained by the county and shall erect appropriate signs and traffic signals. In those counties having a commission form of government, the board of commissioners has the power prescribed in this section”.

Some say while posted speed limits can be a deterrent to speeding, enforcement is difficult.

March 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A Friday afternoon fire destroyed a single wide trailer home at 196 James Place in the Lakeview Mountain Estates area off Cookeville Highway.

In a prepared statement, Captain Brian Williams of the DeKalb County Fire Department said “on Friday, March 22 the DeKalb County Fire Department responded to 196 James Place for a structure fire. Upon arrival, fire crews observed a single-wide trailer that was almost fully involved. Fire crews took an aggressive attack and got a quick knockdown of the fire and kept the blaze from spreading to nearby properties. The home is a total loss. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. The renter Scottie Eaton was not at home at the time of the fire. The owner of the property is Mark (Pokey) Pedigo.

In addition to the responding county fire stations, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, and DeKalb EMS were on also on the scene.

March 22, 2024
By:

Eight DCHS track and field athletes competed at Cookeville High School for their chilly and windy season opener on March 19th. DeKalb and Warren Co High School share a co-op program which allows the DCHS athletes to race and compete. The following ten teams were entered in the meet: Cookeville HS, Cumberland County, Friendship Christian, Gordonsville, Livingston, Stone Memorial, Upperman, Watertown, Warren Co, and White Co.

There were several top 10 performances from the DCHS athletes, two of those being winning relay teams in the 4 x 400.

Results:
1st place Champions:
Boys 4 x 400 (Kaleb Spears, Andrew Key, Julian Martinez, Lee-Allen Esparza)
Girls 4 x400 (Chloe VanVranken, Ella Hendrixson, Aryianna Rippy, Ella VanVranken)

Kaleb Spears: 400m 2nd
Ethan Spears: Triple Jump 5th and 4 x 400 4th
Caleb Gray: 1600m 9th
Ella VanVranken: 300m Hurdles 2nd (TN top 50)
Ella Hendrixson: 4 x 200 3rd
Chloe VanVranken: 400m 3rd
Leah Trapp: 100m 20th
Tytianna Fisk: 200m 16th

Congratulations to these athletes for representing our county!
For complete results go to : tn.milesplit.com.