Burn Permits Required Through May 15

March 8, 2021
By:

With the snow and ice behind us, warmer weather is springing up across the state. That’s a sign it’s time for yard and farm clean-up. With debris burning a useful tool to get rid of yard waste, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry is reminding citizens that if they plan to burn outdoors, a burn permit is required through May 15 in most counties.

“Debris burning can be a good tool for residents to clean up their yards, farms, and rural properties of vegetative waste,” State Forester David Arnold said. “We encourage all residents to use caution while conducting a burn. Free burn permits can quickly be obtained online any day, and are our way of communicating with landowners when, where, and how to burn safely.”

Materials that can be burned include leaves, branches, tree limbs, twigs, and other woody vegetation and yard trimmings gathered on site.

Debris Burn Permits for leaf and brush piles of any size are available online at no charge. For broadcast burning, such as forestry, agricultural, and land clearing, call your local Division of Forestry burn permit phone number Mon. through Fri., 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The online system for permits and phone numbers can be found at www.BurnSafeTN.org.

Permits are issued only when conditions are conducive to safe burning. If you live inside city limits, there may be additional restrictions. Check with your municipality before you burn.

A list of materials that may not be burned can be found in the open burning guidelines from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation at www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/apc-air-pollution-control-home/apc/open-burning.html.

Burning without a permit is a serious offense that can result in a fine and/or up to 30 days in jail. To report illegal burning, please call 1-888-891-TDEC. If you have information about an intentionally-set fire, call the Tennessee Arson Hotline number at 1-800-762-3017. The hotline is answered 24-hours a day, and you may remain anonymous when providing information. You could earn a cash reward from the Tennessee Advisory Committee on Arson and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Visit www.BurnSafeTN.org for additional tips to burn safely and to protect your community.

The Division of Forestry protects Tennessee’s forests by fighting wildfires, coordinating hazard emergency response, providing prescribed fire guidance and contract services, as well as wildland fire training. Additionally, the Division promotes the responsible use of forest resources by assisting landowners, providing quality seedlings, monitoring insects and diseases, improving urban forests, managing state forests, protecting water quality, and collecting forest inventory data. The Division also works to promote primary and secondary forest industries to stimulate the state’s economy. Visit www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests for more information.

March 8, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

It was a long, winding road for Tennessee through conference play, but the Volunteers somehow managed to secure a double bye in this week’s SEC Tournament. Tennessee locked up the No. 4 seed Sunday with a 65-54 win over the Florida Gators, immediately sending them to the Friday portion of the bracket.

Tennessee awaits the winner of (5) Florida vs. (13) Vanderbilt/(12) Texas A&M. The Volunteers are set to take the floor in Nashville in the 1:25 p.m. time slot on Friday, March 12.

WJLE and the Vol Network will have LIVE coverage starting with the Tennessee Tip-off show at 1:00 p.m. followed by the game at 1:25 p.m.

Below is the full schedule and tip times for the tournament.

Location: Bridgestone Arena — Nashville, Tennessee

All times Eastern; some start times approximated

First round — Wednesday, March 10
Game 1: No. 12 Vanderbilt vs. No. 13 Texas A&M | 7 p.m. on SEC Network

Second round — Thursday, March 11
Game 2: No. 8 Kentucky vs. No. 9 Mississippi State | Noon on SEC Network
Game 3: No. 5 Florida vs. Game 1 winner | 2:25 p.m. on SEC Network
Game 4: No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 10 Georgia | 7 p.m. on SEC Network
Game 5: No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 South Carolina | 9:25 p.m. on SEC Network

Quarterfinals — Friday, March 12
Game 6: No. 1 Alabama vs. Game 2 winner | Noon on ESPN
Game 7: No. 4 Tennessee vs. Game 3 winner | 2:25 p.m. on ESPN
Game 8: No. 2 Arkansas vs. Game 4 winner | 7 p.m. on SEC Network
Game 9: No. 3 LSU vs. Game 5 winner | 9:25 p.m. on SEC Network

Semifinals — Saturday, March 13
Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner | 1 p.m. on ESPN
Game 11: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner | 2:25 p.m. on ESPN

SEC Tournament Championship Game — Sunday, March 14
Game 12: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner | 1 p.m. on ESPN

March 7, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has two DeKalb County road projects in the next bid letting on March 26.

TDOT will be accepting bids for the grading, drainage, construction of retaining walls and paving on U.S. 70 (State Route 26) from near State Route 53 at Alexandria (L.M. 1.97) to near State Route 96 at Liberty (L.M. 6.10). Project Length – 4.100 miles.

Completion Time – On or before June 30,2024.

Meanwhile TDOT will also be accepting bids for the resurfacing (microsurfacing) on State Route 288 from the Warren County line (L.M. 0.00) to State Route 56 (L.M. 8.33). Project Length – 8.330 miles.

Completion Time – On or before September 30, 2021