Bert Driver Nursery to Host Third Annual Hemp Festival

August 14, 2021
By:

The third annual “Middle of Somewhere Hemp Fest” takes over the scenic grounds of Bert Driver Nursery in DeKalb County on Saturday, August 21 for a celebration of all things hemp.

The family and pet friendly event gives attendees the chance to learn about this vital Tennessee crop, and compare and purchase products from the best hemp growers and producers from across the state.

“Since we launched ‘Hemp Fest’ three years ago, we’ve watched hemp and CBD move from the fringes into the mainstream,” says Bert Driver, a fifth generation nurseryman, hemp grower and host of Hemp Fest. “This will be a celebration of all things hemp in every sense of the word, with live music, events, activities and plenty of refreshments, including locally crafted beers.”

Headlining this year’s entertainment is Nashville’s rising rockers, The Weeks, performing originals and covers from their most recent release “Inside The Covers.” The music starts around 6:00 PM with The Weeks slated to hit the stage around 8:00 PM.

The stage, exhibits and food trucks will be set up around Driver’s working nursery for a uniquely scenic setting under the stars. Beverages and CBD products will be available in The Burlap Room tap house and dispensary on site, as well as several outdoor booths.

The Burlap Bus shuttle service will be available serving the Center Hill Lake area to the Burlap Room. Call Lee at 615-516-1803 to book.

“If you’re curious about hemp, want to buy or learn from some of Tennessee’s leading producers, or just looking for some good clean fun in the outdoors, come on out,” invites Driver. “You won’t be disappointed.”

Gates for the Middle of Somewhere Hemp Fest open at 4:00 PM and tickets are $20 advance, $25 day of the show. Capacity is limited. Advance tickets can be purchased at https://bertdriver.com/event-calendar/middle-of-somewhere-hemp-fest-iii or at the nursery, 175 Hurricane Ridge Rd, Smithville, TN 37166. For more information, call 615-597-9560.

August 13, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Four days after several dead fish were found floating in Hickman Creek at Alexandria, environmental officials are still asking the public to avoid the small stream until the investigation is complete.

DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker issued the following updated public advisory late Thursday:

“Officials are still advising the public to avoid fishing or wading in Hickman Creek also to use an alternate source for watering cattle. The affected area of Hickman Creek is from Edgewood Street in Alexandria approximately 1 ½ mile downstream to the Hwy 53 bridge”.

“As of today, EPA contractors have located and identified seepage that was going into Hickman Creek. The contractors have started some remediation to limit and control the amount of material that can enter the creek. EPA contractors also began aeration downstream of the impacted water to mitigate further impacts to the creek. Officials are still awaiting lab results from water samples to determine exactly what the material is,” said Parker

“In response to questions from concerned citizens the Alexandria municipal water supply is still SAFE to drink. Alexandria’s drinking water is purchased from Smith County Utility District and is not taken from Hickman creek”.

“Representatives on site include The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), DeKalb County Emergency Management, and the town of Alexandria,” added Parker.

August 13, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Persons wishing to seek public office in DeKalb County as a Democratic candidate for the 2022 elections may be subject to vetting by a County Democratic Party Primary Board.

The DeKalb County Democratic Party Executive Committee submitted to the Tennessee Democratic Primary Board the names of five nominees to serve on the DeKalb County Democratic Primary Board including: Jon Mark Ivey, Joyce Hendrixson, Dennis Boland, Dianne Hawkins, and Donna Comer.

“We request that the Tennessee Democratic Primary Board appoint the nominated individuals in the order listed until five are appointed,” wrote Jordan Wilkins, DeKalb County Democratic Party Chair in a letter to Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Hendrell Remus. Wilkins, a member of the Tennessee Democratic Primary Board presented the names at their meeting on July 17th and they were approved unanimously.

County Party Primary Boards are authorized by a combination of the Tennessee Code and the Tennessee Democratic Party By-Laws and serve the purpose of determining whether candidates for office in partisan elections for county office are bona fide Democrats. They also have the right to nominate persons of their party as election officials and poll workers. Primary Boards consist of five members two of which are the Chair and Secretary. They are appointed by the State Party acting as the State Party’s Primary Board.

As part of its organization, the Primary Board should develop a set of rules that it will operate under to ensure fair treatment of all candidates. There must be measurable criteria to determine whether a candidate is a bona fide Democrat. The TNDP uses the measure of having voted in three of the last five Democratic Primaries. DeKalb County Democratic Party has interpreted this to be state-wide and federal primaries. The Primary Board can also consider other evidence in reaching a decision such as whether the candidate has openly worked for the election of candidates of another party. The evidence must be real and not rumor. The Primary Board should also reserve the right to make exceptions when they determine it is in the best interest of the Democratic Party.

The Primary Board should consider each candidate as soon as practicable after they file for candidacy and immediately after the filing qualification period closes. The Election Commission is required to furnish information to the Primary Board necessary to perform their duties. Candidates must be notified they are being considered and if they are not deemed a bona fide Democrat, given an opportunity for a hearing to present their side on the discrepancy. If the Primary Board decides the candidate is a bona fide Democrat, the process is over and the Primary Board has done its job. If the Primary Board decides the candidate is not a bona fide Democrat and an exception is not in the best interest of the Party, then it will refer the matter to the County Party Executive Committee for a decision. The County Party Executive Committee may either certify the candidate as a Democrat or refer the matter to the TNDP Chair for a final decision. If the TNDP Chair rules the candidate is a bona fide Democrat, they will appear on the ballot. If the TNDP Chair rules the candidate is not a bona fide Democrat, the candidate will be removed from the ballot.