TWRA Hunter Education Course Set for March 20 & 21

March 15, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A Classroom Hunter Education Course will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 20 & 21 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 20 from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 21 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.

Under state law, every person born on or after January 1, 1969, before hunting, shall possess, in addition to all other licenses and permits required, proof of satisfactory completion of an agency approved hunter education course.

Those under 10 years of age do not need a Hunter Education certificate, but must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age, who must remain in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device.

The basic Hunter Education Course provides firearms safety training and introduces students to their responsibilities in the fields of hunter ethics and wildlife management. The main objective of the Hunter Education Program is to reduce the potential for hunting accidents and ultimately reduce the number of hunting injuries. The course is taught according to standards established by the International Hunter Education Association. By meeting these standards the Tennessee Hunter Education program is recognized by all states, Canada, and Mexico.

The basic course is free of charge and consists of a minimum of ten (10) hours of classroom participation. Most classes generally last 12-16 hours. Students must successfully pass a written test consisting of 100 multiple choice questions. All students are required to participate in a live fire exercise. Students must attend all classes. Students need to bring their Social Security Number and a #2 pencil to the class.

Course content includes:
*Hunter ethics
•Hunter responsibility toward wildlife, the environment, landowners and the general public
•Archery and the history of modern day bowhunting
•Tree stand safety
•History of firearms
•Blackpowder and muzzleloading firearms
•Knowledge of modern firearms and ammunition
•Proper gun handling and storage
•Marksmanship fundamentals
•Hunt preparation: specific laws and various equipment
•Principles of wildlife management and wildlife identification
•Survival
•Hypothermia
•First aid

March 14, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The Upper Cumberland SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) will host a free webinar, The ABCs of Medicare, March 19 from 9 a.m. until noon. This virtual event is a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in learning more about the ins and outs of Medicare; whether you are a beneficiary yourself or wanting to help a loved one.

All of the basics of Medicare will be discussed, including knowing the different types of coverage, plan options, enrollment periods, and extra help programs for low-income assistance. After learning the basics, SHIP staff will have a question-and-answer session where any and all questions can be answered.

SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) and SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) are administered locally by UCDD and cover all 14 Upper Cumberland counties. SHIP/SMP representatives provide free and unbiased Medicare counseling for any questions or abuse concerns. Staff also screen Medicare beneficiaries for low-income assistance programs. Got Medicare? Got Questions? Call SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 or 931-432-4150.

Visit the Upper Cumberland SHIP Facebook Page at facebook.com/UCSHIP or email: ship@ucdd.org to register or learn more.

About Upper Cumberland Development District: The Upper Cumberland Development District provides regional planning and assistance to the 14-county Upper Cumberland region to promote economic growth and community enhancement. The Area Agency on Aging and Disability (AAAD), a division of the Upper Cumberland Development District, connects older adults and adults with disabilities in the 14-county Upper Cumberland region with services and resources to improve their quality of life. Find UCDD on the web at www.ucdd.org and at facebook.com/UCDDconnect.

March 14, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County School District has announced that instead of in person parent teacher conferences at the individual schools, all five schools will conduct virtual parent teacher conferences online Thursday, March 18 from 3-6 p.m.

“We will be doing our parent teacher conferences virtual so parents if you want to have a conference with your child’s teacher they will get in contact with you and we will be doing those conferences over Zoom or Google Media,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.

The remainder of the 2020-21 school calendar shows that DeKalb County students will be off for spring break with no on campus or remote learning the week of March 29 to April 2. Thursday, May 2 will be an administrative day with no school for students. Friday, May 21 will be the last day of school for the year and report cards will be sent home.

Graduation for the Class of 2021 will be Friday, May 14 at 7 p.m. on the high school football field.

The DCHS prom date will be April 9 at the Capital Theatre in Lebanon.