DeKalb Seniors to Compete in Senior Olympics (View video here)

September 22, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Let the games begin!

More than twenty senior citizens locally have been getting in shape and honing their skills for participation in the Upper Cumberland District Tennessee Senior Olympics Monday at Crossville.

Although the District Olympics will feature several competitive events, the local seniors will be entering just one, Chair Volleyball hoping to win a ribbon.

“We have four teams and we hope to compete well,” said Pam Redmon, Director of the Smithville Senior Center.

The eldest senior on the team who practices but will not be competing Monday is 94 year old Thelma Williams.

Senior Citizens to Compete at Senior Olympics in Chair Volleyball from dwayne page on Vimeo.

The Senior Olympics is for seniors 50 and older that combines a wide range of competitive activities. The objectives are to recognize people who have achieved and maintained good health throughout their lives; promote physical fitness and the pursuit of lifetime leisure activities; and provide opportunities for fun, recreation and fellowship. The Tennessee Senior Olympics, Inc. is a member of the National Senior Games Association, the largest sporting group in the United States.

Because it is a new event this year, Chair Volleyball will only have competitions at the district and possibly regional level but not at the state.

Ann Huebner, Team Captain and Coach, said DeKalb County plans to have as many as four teams competing Monday (six players per team) at the district level.

“I try to be fair with everybody to get them playing and having a good time. We do have a lot of fun. In fact sometimes we have to tell them to settle down and quit laughing because we have too much fun,” said Huebner.

Chair Volleyball rules of course are different from regular volleyball play.

“The net is five feet high. We use a 20 inch beach ball so nobody gets hurt if they get hit in the head but somehow that back row of ours always likes to hit me in the head,” said Huebner

“We can hit the ball three times in a row before somebody else has to hit it. We can then hit it three times again. We get two tries on every serve. It has to go over the net and not around it and we have to be seated. If we stand up it’s a fanny foul and we love to call those,” added Huebner.

“Chair Volleyball is a fun way for seniors to be active,” said Redmon.

Because players are required to remain seated, it allows those with physical limitations to participate on a level playing field with those who may be more active. Regular participation in this activity can increase flexibility and stamina.

“For anyone in a wheel chair this would be an excellent sport for them to get out for camaraderie and to relieve stress and have a great time. It’s a nice upper body workout and we have fun,” she said.

First Bank, the Smithville Lions Club, and NHC Healthcare Center of Smithville are sponsoring the local seniors in their competition Monday.

“We would like to thank them for sponsoring us with their generous donations. An entrance fee of $25 per person is required  and that is hard for our center to raise but with their sponsorship we are able to pay the fees and get tee shirts so DeKalb County and Smithville are represented well,” said Redman.

Seniors compete yearly in sanctioned District Olympics held across the state. Competition is held in Crossville, greater Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, Jackson, Johnson City, Columbia, Martin and Athens. Finalists from these games qualify for the State Finals, except for Chair Volleyball this year. The State Finals winners qualify for the Nationals held every two years.

In addition to Chair Volleyball the Upper Cumberland District events include pickleball, bowling, golf, swimming, table tennis, horseshoes, softball, basketball three-on-three, basketball free throw, basketball three point, shuffleboard, tennis, and track and field.

DeKalb County Seniors to compete in the Chair Volleyball event Monday at the Upper Cumberland District Tennessee Senior Olympics in Crossville. Pictured left to right-front row: Rita Russo, Smithville Senior Director Pam Redmon, and Team CaptainAnn Huebner. Seated behind first row: Elizabeth White, Frances Gay, Margaret Nichols, Shelly Blaine, Ann Lobello, Jim Branham, Anna Parker, and standing wearing purple shirts Debbie Repasy and Jan Thomas. Back row standing left to right: Phyllis Leonard, Alda Lee, Bill Huebner, Rick Davidson, Mary Lawson, Catherine McKeown, Linda Thomas, Linda Davis, and Nancy Wiebel.

September 22, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

With hot and dry weather leading into our fall fire season, Tennessee’s State Forester is requiring a burn permit for all open-air outdoor fires beginning Sept. 23.

Typically, burn permits are required statewide Oct. 15-May 15. While Tennessee has not seen an increase in the number of wildfires, and indices right now don’t suggest a high fire danger, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is putting burn permits in place early as a precaution. If current weather conditions continue as leaf fall begins, fire danger may escalate.

In DeKalb County to obtain a burn permit call (615) 597-4015 if you live west of the Caney Fork River or (931) 839-2328 if you are east of the Caney Fork River. In the City of Smithville call 615-215-3000.

“This precautionary measure will be beneficial as we continue to monitor fire risk,” State Forester David Arnold said. “The burn permit system focuses attention on safety, and it’s important for citizens to know when, where, and how to safely burn debris. Caution and conservative judgment should always be used when working with fire.”

Obtaining a burn permit is free, fast, and simple. If you are burning a leaf or brush pile that is smaller than 8 feet by 8 feet in size, our online system provides a quick and efficient way to apply. For a larger burn, call your local Division of Forestry burn permit phone number Mon. through Fri., 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The online system and phone numbers can be found at www.BurnSafeTN.org.

More than 300,000 permits are issued each year, and they are only issued 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.

For a list of materials that may not be burned, check the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s open burning guidelines at www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/apc-air-pollution-control-home/apc/open-burning.html.

Burning without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine. Wildfires caused by arson are a class C felony punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Anyone with information about suspected arson activity should call the state Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline at 1-800-762-3017. The hotline is answered 24 hours a day, and you may remain anonymous when providing information. Cash awards are offered for information leading to an arrest or conviction. To report illegal burning, please call 1-888-891-TDEC.

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

September 21, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Defendants convicted in three high profile cases will be back in court this fall. Two of them, 55 year old Gary Wayne Ponder and 31 year old Andrew Billings will be sentenced and the third, 28 year old Cody Ryan Key will be seeking post conviction relief.

Ponder was convicted in July for setting fire in a courthouse vestibule recycling bin on June 14, 2016 causing more than $100,000 in damage to the building.

After hearing several hours of testimony, it took a jury, made up of six men and six women, less than half an hour to deliver it’s verdict. Guilty as charged for aggravated arson.

The range of punishment for this Class-A felony offense is from 15-25 years.

Ponder had been scheduled for sentencing Friday, September 20 but the hearing has been reset for December 10^th.

Billings’ sentencing hearing has also been rescheduled for December 10^th. It had been set for Friday, September 20.

He was convicted as charged of attempted first degree murder in a 2017 knife attack on his wife Adriana. The trial was held in August and it took only 25 minutes for a jury panel of 7 men and 5 women to find him guilty. Along with the verdict, the jury also assessed a $50,000 fine..

As an A felony the range of punishment for this offense is from 15-25 years.

Key is serving a 45 year prison sentence for second degree murder in the death of his girlfriend’s 23 month old son Colten Alexander May on May 17, 2015.

Key is seeking a modification of his sentence in a post conviction relief petition and the hearing, set for Friday, September 20, has been rescheduled for November 1.

Meanwhile the child’s mother, 23 year old Jessica Ashley May, serving an eight year sentence for attempted aggravated child neglect stemming from the fatal beating of her son by Key is reportedly out of prison after completing her term. According to the Tennessee Department of Correction website, May’s sentence expired July 23, 2019.

May entered a plea to attempted aggravated child neglect, a Class B felony in December, 2016 and received an eight year sentence as a range I mitigated offender to serve at least 20% before parole eligibility. She had already served 568 days by that time since her arrest on May 19, 2015.

Law enforcement officers concluded that while Key was the one who had actually severely beaten the child May knew the abuse had taken place and didn’t try to stop it.