Area News

    By LYDIA BERGLAR News Editor As part of its summer program, the Dade County Public Library is hosting three adult writing-related workshops: the first on June 21, the second on July 20, and the last on August 12. Estelle Ford-Williamson (author of three historically inspired books) will be talking about how to write…

By LYDIA BERGLAR News Editor The Dade County Board of Commissioners held the public hearing for the fiscal year 2024 proposed budget on June 8. No citizens (aside from those connected to county government) attended or came forward with questions, concerns, or comments. Numerous department heads touched on needs in their areas, budget changes, growth…

By LYDIA BERGLAR News Editor Last week’s paper included a story about the June 1 Dade County Board of Commissioners meeting. The headline read, “Citizens Concerned Over Property Tax Increase.” A more appropriate headline would have been, “Commissioners Concerned About Property Assessments.” First, while commissioners reiterated concerns that citizens have expressed to them, no citizens…

By LYDIA BERGLAR News Editor As a veteran of the Vietnam War, Jerry Harris has spent much of his life working through post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While PTSD remains a daily reality for Harris, he’s found some relief by rescuing animals, using poetry as therapy, enjoying music, working with his hands at Hicks Hollow Farm,…

By LYDIA BERGLAR News Editor Reports of black bear sightings in and around Dade County have spread over the last several weeks. Some of the sighting locations include Ider and Henager in Alabama; Slyo Ridge Road and Pope Creek Road in Wildwood, Ga; Scenic Highway near the flight park and New Salem on Lookout Mountain,…

By LYDIA BERGLAR News Editor In place of its usual meeting on the third Monday of the month, the Industrial Development Authority met on June 5. The IDA’s next meeting will be July 17, during which the authority will amend and vote on the budget for 2023-2024. Executive Director Evan Stone reported, “I did take…

By LYDIA BERGLAR News Editor The Dade County High School Class of 2023 received a total of $2,663,946 in scholarship offers from colleges. Local businesses and community members gave $43,250 of this total. Principal Brent Cooper and guidance counselors Amanda Clark and James Emmett thank the Dade County community for supporting students in their pursuit…

By LYDIA BERGLAR News Editor Wasawillow Farm is hosting its fifth annual daylily sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 10 and 11. The farm, owned by Jane Dixon, is located at 751 Creek Road. Dixon has been growing daylilies for many years, but the first official sale was in 2019. She reported…

By LYDIA BERGLAR News Editor After hearing several reports from Dade County citizens about how difficult it is to contact our local Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) office, the Sentinel explored the issue. The first report came from Rex Blevins, a deacon at Grace Community Church in Trenton. He explained that the church…

By LYDIA BERGLAR News Editor A major topic of the June 1 meeting of the Dade County Board of Commissioners was property tax increases, appeals, and freezes. Before discussion of taxes began, topics from across the county were addressed. Jamey Blevins reported on the historic courthouse project. One current piece of the project is finishing…