The Upper Cumberland Camera; 818

Good evening and welcome to the upper Cumberland camera. Tonight we'll talk to just make room Tottenham's How do you think it is about what lies ahead. For the. County in 1990s. And we'll also hear from a man who ran moonshine 30 years. Without getting. Caught. But first. This. Story. The Cookeville tree board is not only interested in tree preservation here in Putnam County but in other environmental concerns as well. That is why they are participating in a Christmas tree swapping program and tree sale this Saturday at Cane Creek Park. We talked to Norma Mitchell of the tree board about the event. Yes we're happy to participate with the claim Commission and the City of COOK Well on Christmas tree recycling landfill space as explained slaves. And we feel there's no need for discarded Christmas trees to go into landfill taking up expensive space. And when they can be put to really good use here in the city. So the trees that are collected here at King creek.

Will be chipped by the city and used as mulch on the playground areas here at the park on trails and other places throughout the city where they're needed. Trees also can be dropped off at old builds sportsman's center on Jefferson. Those trees will be used as fish habitat tractors in a sort of pale light. So there really is no excuse for any tree going into the landfill and taking up space that we need. The tray board will give a free white pine seedling for every tree brought in to people who would like to replant a tree. These are Christmas tree grade trays and I have a much better success rate if you give them plenty of water and tender loving care for a couple of years. Now this will be on Saturday at Cane Creek Park if you bring your cut Christmas tree here right. It will be this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

there will be someone to take the tray from your car. It really works smoothly and efficiently last year and we expect the same this year about how many people responded last year. We do have quite a few. I don't remember but I was really pleased with the number of people coming through. People drove they didn't have to get out of their car their tree was taken out. They were handed a tree. They drove off and another car took its place. People really seem to enjoy being able to do something constructive with their dead trees to. We will set up our tree sale at the large picnic shelter across from where the tree recycling is taking place. We'll have Christmas tree pines which is a good screening tray a lot of people used to screen their property from something they don't want to see or one went very. We'll have suite which has a beautiful fall color that has a star shaped leaves that's attractive year round and will have 10 states state tree the yellow poplar

and these will be sold I believe for $5 for a bundle of cayenne. Which is our usual prize. How long is the tree boy band existence here in Cabell and why is it necessary to have a tree boy. Jr. tree bore dates back to November 1989 when their ordinance was officially passed or tree ordinance and really the tree board started a little bit before that there were a group of interested citizens. They got together when that some tree work around time was being done that they didn't particularly think was appropriate and they decided it was time for somebody to govern tree care here in the city. So they got together with several professionals including representatives from Tennessee Agriculture Department and the Tennessee Division of Forestry and found out just exactly what proper tree care entailed. And they took it from there they worked with the city council in the road all the bi allows

and so forth to reward would function under. And now they oversee the tree carrying crew will they. If you want to call it that govern it. They you know don't just foresee any kind of allow in people but most people are really sincere in taking care of their trees and they want to do what's right which it always didn't work out that way. But they decide what's good for the trees and they try to advertise that you see a lot of air ads in the paper saying not to top trees. Most people that top their trees really care form and they think that they're doing the right thing that you know there are other alternative method to Truman that are a lot better. That's one reason the tree board exist is to see that area improve. There's a lot of construction damage goes on from time to time and they'd like to see that improvement. You know a lot of trees are lost when people won't save them when they build a new house and you know we just try to educate that's that's the whole key to get their education.

How can you go about educating the public. OK there's several different approaches. There you can take. But you know just the scientific facts are the best approach to take. There are three one that is topped of course is damage in a lot of people would say well you know I don't say this damage my tree you know it's really beautiful that they can do that in greens if in the springtime. But if you'll notice that same tree in the wintertime when that all the branches are shaded after a tree growth has occurred you'll see that there's a great amount of rot in the tree and that rot. Not only is right where the cuts were made but it spreads all the way to the root system. And those trees have a tendency to regrow really fast in maybe two or three times the normal rate of a tree that had been topped. And what happens you get all those rotten stuff and all this new growth comes out on it. And it's more prone to breakage in toppling over here in a windstorm. And like I said people are they do care for their trees it's a reason that they want to have this done they think they're doing the right thing when in fact you

know what's really damage you know and I'll try to point that out to people that just because a tree is Tal is not necessarily dangerous. We do have several reputable tree companies here in Google. They can tell you what that you need to have been to the tree and for the ones that aren't certain what the new types of pruning that we're encouraging citizens to go to we're offering. Free Training classes to the three companies to at least get them started in the right direction. We know that they want to serve the public gratis where their paychecks come from and so you know it's a service to them to do that and to approach the people a lot of times I use the book here by Dr Alex shadow. It's called Tree prone you know World photo guide and it's less a picture is worth a thousand words. Well this book is very brief. It mainly points out things with pictures that people can see and it tells what kind of permanent damage it and what steps could have been taken to avoid that. And there's a copy of this on display Yes

but uncanny library. In anybody's welcome to check it out it really open your eyes to what proper tree care involves So you're perhaps you can tell us how Cookeville got to be designated a Tree City USA. Well OK. And they they worked in conjunction with the forestry department here. And it's there are several requirements one of which is how much money is actually spent on the tree program in the town. And. And there are several other sort of strict requirements and has to be renewed every year. So we hope to continue to be a Tree City USA. One of the benefits though it is part of our educational program and that is that they said they have these bulletins which are most informative. This is number eight the eighth bulletin and a series of eight bulletins and anyone who joins the national Arbor Day Foundation and becomes a friend of the Tree City USA can receive these bulletins and they're there

are all of these bulletins on display at the Library here in Kopel and anyone can go in and look at them and read them and study them. But I see other cities in downtown areas that use trees in such a beautiful way that I really hope that that we can green up our town and make it a beautiful shady place to be. Running moonshine may sound glamorous but Luke Danny Smith still has his regrets he now lives alone in a government subsidized housing project drives a beat up 77 car and has little money. He wishes he had never come in contact with the devil's brew. His story of moonshine running in the 40s and 50s is now chronicled in a new book entitled midnight moonshine rendezvous written by Stoney Merriman Smith when I was a a reporter down then the special I just missed four of you in 1985 and a policeman told me about Mr. Denny.

And I did a feature story. So I talked to him for probably a half an hour before I was convinced that he was telling the truth. And we interviewed Willie Lane who is a moonshiner and then also Sidney Harper a famous sheriff and that was most important for me to make sure that the law was represented and also the moonshiners and bootleggers were represented well that paper sold out in 1985. So I moved to Carthage as a publisher of the Kasich courier and wrote two more stories and those additions sold out. So I talked to Luke and I said Look at him many more people do you know. That are alive today that we could interview for the book. And in 1987 around Christmas time Luke and I sat down in my home and special locust from Smithville to. And we drew up a long list and started interviewing on Saturdays since I you know worked for the federal government

today. And on my annual leave and holidays we would go to the hills of Jackson County or to Rutherford County or the troopers down at Center Hill Lake retired for first. And. Interview them and take pictures. And each time we would take a picture of Luke and the gentleman or like one of his wives together. And then we began to write the next week. I'd give it to loop the copy and then he would set up the next Saturday's interview. When did you first start running moonshine. Nineteen and I appeared Oh why did you get started. Well our phone I went through what we call shot the other runner tried to learn their trade. It was back then they didn't kill me I have to say that. Out of all Trump went out about 15 or 16 where the other man. And I didn't get anything out of it Gifty Baird. But I've gone they told and all my own when I was in hardly 20 years ago.

And how many years did you did you run me around 30 years 30 years and you never get caught. Well I know what cult idea to look at though as I wouldn't call it if I want to I had a band but seem like local women and I knew a lot of people on the web a lot of people still. And back then my memory's a lot better India now and I'll never forget in the names I could call people the first names if I had seen them and stand there that they will know the birth and I. And they helped me a lot. For instance I have a man that ran a store in club buying and a whole lot of which you threw that one out of going to what we called the Western on one our car and all they have known or Galton was somewhere back there and about stop there and get gasoline at his door. And I remember one night about two o'clock one morning he saw a lot of fiction swore up and he come out he saw a bit lower down there. He slipped out and got out there in aid of the road and he would emotion likely have made it go away. And I put the car and I believe I had it in third gear but I put it in

second to go to a little grade very scary but had little Gary and I went through there I guess I do and not if. And they didn't even get after a call while they started doing this on the day of the deed which with a High Sheriff of lifing county that was a close range in part of it in Smith County. And he said no we need to get in a car now so he's been stonewalled one offs don't tell them where they talk about flying you know somewhere you have to be a good driver to run and so a lot had a lot of buying a lot without a good while I took a lot of tanks you take more changes and low down like a dog after red. If the rabbit lose the race he looted a lot but if a dog he gets loose. If they lose a race he looted a meal sold allowed to give the media one more thing they that me go or I doubt I never was called a whole 30 year outlook though I was the closest you ever came to being caught. Well I guess all were flipped over on the street in a restaurant where this

lady friend of mine and I. And the sheriff again manned and unmanned run the place or name of Taylor mall could think of his name and he said ah pek are difficult to share code he kept looking at me and he got a call from the cannon co. sure they are got away from the Gannon County Fair and he called this man and told him says I believe this planned to lobby this gentleman as God of the agency said just a man got a load of whisky and so he ran off and left me so I don't want to go that too a good bit of rock. He got awfully up and reasonably these coming to Smith. He's headed in that direction so you can be on the look up on we've got a lot of moonshine to make on even though we loaded on what you called a big old and Camden County. And of course as a whole just savage on getting caught and this fellow to run around the rector told him that. Well says Luke I don't

believe I don't thank you said Luke but in a way said I don't believe this and cyclopedia. And I started say you bought encyclopedia and I happen to think he and I said well I said you just keep it here a few days maybe I'll be back in two weeks if you don't want it up take it to me said I. And so the sheriff went on I got my car. And this lady and I see God in per person I went in behind her but I scared I beg of you don't holler at me or stop there when you're out of your car you are vulnerable because they get going you're in a car and they were going on you see and he wouldn't had had a warrant because he had sufficient information that I had a lot of whiskey at that time but he wasn't certain who I was. I don't see how many people do you think in like in Jackson County where making moonshine. A gentleman told Dr. Merriman we will they're interviewing him and he said he could remember the good walk up. Not far from where he lived and see the

smoke from 8:00 and 10:00. A.M. in October. You know when everything was stealing though in good weather they could know Montanna told me that my oar would be better might make better whiskey in the month of October and you know the moment I never thought about it till he told me there and I asked another man about he agreed to that will drive that. And that was where one man told me back during the Depression they can make a gallon of whiskey for 15 thing at a gulp from fate. And so it was of popular benefit for the moon towner. Well there's a Rona of course a runner it's a backbone of the whisky industry. But one man told me over there that they had back in the 30s they did Megan dog of worth a benison Jack in Canada annually in one county alone. Yeah Durn it up or if you think about that. Please don't that whiskey.

The first leg of it getting out of Jackson County in May but our som one road to Oklahoma City and hauled the first leg of a two or three more load it went to Brown for Texas and a lot of whiskey went to Indiana from Jackson County and a lot of good to go. How much could you carry in your car one time. How have things I had a 37 forward to get a hundred twenty gallons and Jack again and now I coulda got that much improved or but about made the 90 gallon to a hundred maybe and and per yard maybe not over not a gallon possibly. What's a jacket can hijack it can use a 5 gallon container so a metal can it's got a little strip in a wood around the outside. It's ran like gifted around you to stow Bob but it's a real lot only way to about a quarter of a pound. And that's the best thing I had a wooden handle on it kind of like a water bucket you know with a little wood paneled you know keep your

hand and you could load up maybe 20 and in the back of a car and I'd be a hundred gallantly. Do you regret that you got involved with you know you had been a lot better oh there were few would wish I hadn't but it's done and done I get it now. I can't snap my fingers and make it go away. But I made a gross mistake and pursuing that racket and transport and. And David and whiskey had been a lot better all that I left it all worried my mother day. But she didn't know over the last several years the whole bank well what you didn't know what all of us. Did you think it would have this success. Now. It's just phenomenal. I thought yes that we would sell we would sell some books. Because the relatives are in there or something like that. But it's just unbelievable people have they don't have anything to do with Moen Janick and believe it or

not the ministers. Are some of our biggest customers in this one man from from Fitzgerald Georgia wrote and said I've got to have a copy of that book because this is reality and this shows how a person can end up like Mr. Denny and I want to use this as my sermon. And and so we've said we sent him to Texas and to Washington by mail. I'm averaging anywhere from three to five books a day just mailing them to different people. Where do you go from here you're going to write another book. Well we're as we go to the signings people are coming in saying well in this one case a man by the name of de ink sent his son there and he wasn't in the book and look so I thought he was dead. And he said no no no he's not there he moved from Brush Creek to Lebanon he is alive. So we are collecting data we're contemplating three different ways to move to one

possibly a midnight moment shouted rendezvous to which will. We will interview other folks or law enforcement people and the moonshiners and bootleggers or people who did other unique things like a stowaway. That's his claim to fame he rode with Luke one time as a 10 year old stowaway before Klute found out that you know he was in the back of his vehicle but we do plan to to write a novel loosely based on the life and times of Mr. Denny Evans or not he's a journalist. He and I were in combat together as combat correspondents. And and then if if if that goes we may put together mon Chan Minako chan rendezvous too. And our ultimate goal is to have a movie made. Right here. Where it took place from the 30s to the to the 60s. It sounds exciting. And now you are saying this book is going to be available

for sale and for signing having a signing at Tennessee Tech on next Friday January the 10th. Will be a Tennessee Tech bookstore from 11:30 to 1:30 and then will go down to poor folks restaurant here in Cookeville from 3:30 until 6:30 and of course the books now are available. Of all the last minute that came after you was there like one guy that was always after you and trying to catch you well whatever game and go to print ever have incidentally had with him just the day before Wade died with cancer. He got to be a better friend. But he would only alter. I remember one time he ran me when I crashed through the gate he would direct me that down and you know they have a little community called St. Mary and he got me. I went through the gate and. Then your women said you only don't know I'm going to ram it. And I went through it and he ran me from their addictions crying to about I guess the distance to the dean.

And he he turned around I didn't know we heard later he ran into him at a barbershop and he told me he said Lotta got to that and you hadn't been to that big who come in and hit 70 high. And he said I've turned around down there conspiring come on back to Carthage. He he was after me constantly best driver driver behind me are Paul and Silas Sanderson and were second best drivers ever behind that he was out in the lot on he be active 30 minutes trading going to Prague trying to kick it like you were NO WAY behind you probably would have a lot on he'd say he was smart and literate. Game one over on you to brilliant. I had to read a lot of smart Roman just lock up play I just happen to be lucky I didn't not smart I'm not just looking you know and not I'd take more chances in a day. What Mars ahead for Putnam County in 1992. County executive Doug

McBroom talks about the state of Putnam County. What are some of the things that the county has accomplished in 1991 and what are some of the things we can look forward to seeing completed or happening in 1992. I think one of the biggest things that's been accomplished is the beginning of the Justice Center which is going to take care of some critical problems here in the can the number one thing the overcrowding at the jail and. Number two they are crowding here at the courthouse which is most people probably don't recognize that there is as much overcrowding here as the really I guess that's one of the biggest things. Another important thing I think was putting the ambulance substations and Baxter and in Monterey that's something that we've been talking about for 10 years I think and so we finally get that completed and I think that is very important thing that we do. Of course Putnam County took funds from other sources in order to fund

schools. And so our schools are in pretty good shape right now although have a barebones budget what do you think will happen if the legislature doesn't come up with some solution in Putnam. It's hard to say I know what I think the big catch all in having the fun that state deficit is what's defunded. You continually have to fund it every year thereafter so. I'm afraid this year may be the same way we may be faced with that funding situation again if the legislature doesn't do something. River really haven't heard a lot of optimistic things that they will be anything. There is talk about of course if the education budget is Raul or whatever we're depending on what the legislature does it may seem strange to be talking about building a new school but. Do you think that the plans for a new high school

will go through very 1992. I think the biggest problem is the fact that we're watching the states of say what they do and how much money that we may have to put in to keep. Funding for education at the same level that it is. I think it's the legislature does do something I think then we have a good choice of going ahead and approving it. Isco problem building problem. Do you feel it's really necessary. From what you say appears to me it is that we we need to take a look at and say we're overcrowding problem Iason. Either a high school or elementary school or whatever is needed I think we're going to have to take a look at three or at least three or four schools in the county are overcrowded in this point. Is the county continuing to grow I was the revenue getting better and that sort of thing. The revenues are better. I think we had about a 3 percent increase in sales tax

this year over last year so. And I feel like our population is growing every year even more maybe so than the census as stated that it was. I noticed that the county executive is in the mayors of the of the upper Cumberland development district of come together and passed a resolution saying to the state legislators do not touch our local office and sales taxes. What would happen to Putnam County if that did occur. It would be a devastating blow to their finances. Sales taxes. That's where major money comes from having a very low property tax rate is without the sales tax that we get it would be we would have to have some other source of revenue or a. Property tax. Is there any way that I can I be legally do that and then legally take some of the lot of our time.

I would say they probably can they seem to dictate pretty well what they want. You know it's. So they probably could if they want to. There's a county executive I guess we should give you the opportunity to to make a New Year's Day statement to the never County and I hope everybody does have a very prosperous New Year and I know there's a lot of things that. After that a bout of bugging people like the possible recession and those kind of things but we are having to get into an uncanny end and I hope it continues and becomes even better. And that's the upper crumbling camera 49. Join us next week at the same time for studio 22. Feet up or crumbling here is made possible by the financial support of viewers like you.