Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Drive Monday

February 17, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A DeKalb County Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Assurance Drive will be Monday, February 18 from noon until 5:30 p.m. at the County Complex Senior Citizens Center inside the Bloodmobile.

All donors will be given a FREE t-shirt. All donors will also be entered for a chance to win a $250 Zales gift card.

To schedule an appointment, go to Bloodassurance.org/dekalb or contact Jimmy Poss at 615-464-7426 or jimposs72@yahoo.com. Please remember to EAT A GOOD MEAL and drink additional water and bring a photo ID.

Blood Assurance is the sole blood provider for local hospitals

February 16, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Should medical marijuana be legalized in Tennessee?

State Senator Mark Pody wants to know what you think.

State Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) introduced a bill earlier this month that would pave the way for legalized medical marijuana across the state.

If passed, the Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act would create a framework to allow “qualified” patients to access medical cannabis on a regular basis, as well as regulate the process of licensing growers to cultivate, produce, distribute, transport, sell and acquire marijuana for medical use and scientific research.

“People say different things about what the definition of medical marijuana is. Some people believe if they are a little bit stressed they should be able to smoke a little marijuana to relieve the stress and those people call that medical marijuana. Others say the hemp oils and related products are currently enough. I am anxious to hear what the people of DeKalb County think the appropriate legalization of any of this should be. I have always been against anything that you can get high from but if it helps kids medically for seizures for example, I have been okay with that,” said Senator Pody.

Senator Bowling’s bill proposes that patients with “qualifying conditions” diagnosed by their healthcare provider would be able to apply for a medical cannabis card for $65 that expires every two years. An approved caregiver can also be appointed to purchase marijuana for patients under 18

The “qualified conditions” listed in the bill are Cancer, Glaucoma, Epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s Disease, Muscular sclerosis, Opioid addiction, Renal failure, Severe nausea or chronic pain, Any medical condition producing cachexia, persistent muscle spasm or seizure, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic radiculopathy, Severe psoriasis, Post-laminectomy syndrome, Psoriatic arthritis, Complex pain syndrome, including trigeminal neuralgia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease, End-of-life pain management or palliative care, All “terminal” conditions, and any conditions approved by the commission pursuant to rule-making

For patients under 18 years old, the following conditions also apply: Cerebral palsy, Cystic fibrosis, Osteogenesis imperfecta, and Muscular dystrophy

The bill stipulates that, if passed, the program should be operational by no later than July 30, 2020.

Send correspondence to Senator Pody at

425 5th Avenue North
Suite 754 Cordell Hull Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-2421
Fax: (615) 253-0205

February 15, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Lady Tigers came close but could not swat the Lady Bees of Upperman and lost 36 to 28 in the semi-finals of the District 8AA basketball tournament Friday at Tennessee Tech.

With the loss, the Lady Tigers are now in the consolation game of the tournament and will meet York Institute for third place Monday night at 6 p.m. at Tech.

York Institute lost to Macon County in the other semi-final game Friday night 46 to32. Macon County and Upperman, the number 1 & 2 seeds respectively will play for the girls district tournament championship Monday night following the consolation game at 7:30 p.m. at Tech.

In the game Friday, DC trailed Upperman 6 to 5 after the 1^st period, 24 to 15 at halftime, and 30 to 21 after the 3^rd period before falling 36 to 28.

Kadee Ferrell scored 9, Lydia Brown 6, Emme Colwell and Mya Ruch each with 5 and Joni Robinson with 3.

In the boys semi-finals games Friday night, Livingston Academy defeated Watertown 60 to 55 and Upperman beat York Institute 61 to 57. Livingston Academy and Upperman will battle for the District Tournament Championship Tuesday night, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. In the consolation game, York Institute will face Watertown for third place at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at Tennessee Tech