Home Care In Lyles, TN

GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. — Lyles Station, the last remaining historic African-American settlement in Indiana, is working to live up to its mission of creating and maintaining a community for future generations.

"Lyles Station is here doing the right thing, and helping people across the world get on their feet, so then they can help someone else," said Stanley Madison, president of the Lyles Station Historic Preservation Corporation.

In September, 11 African-American sites in Indiana were chosen to receive grants to be used for the preservation of landmarks through the Standiford H. Cox Fund. The fund was established by Cox, Eli Lilly's first Black chemist, to support restoration, preservation and operation of African-American historic sites in Indiana.

Lyles Station was one of the sites picked. It received a grant to continue rehabilitation on the Joseph Lucas Home which is becoming an interpretive center and to make repairs to the foundation and ceiling of Wayman Chapel.

With the $25,000 grant, Madison hopes to kick start his dream of restoring other buildings on the property to attract more young people.

"When these people came here in early years, they saw that opportunity of putting down roots and becoming someone," Madison said. "That's what we're trying to do with this museum is to shape and mold who we are and how we are giving back to the community."

The story of Lyles Station dates to 1813, when Charles Grier purchased 20 acres of farmland. He eventually bought more, as the farm grew to 268 acres by 1825. He traveled around and spoke about his farmland's fertile soil and its vicinity to two rivers for moving harvested crops.

Following that, Grier connected with Thomas Cole who married into the Lyles family and eventually purchased more than 800 acres of land. It became known as the Switch Settlement, a safe-haven for fugitive slaves who needed rest.

Lyles Station gets its name from Joshua Lyles, a free slave who migrated to the settlement from Tennessee in the 1830s. Following the purchase of more land and the end of the Civil War, Lyles returned to Tennessee to encourage friends, family and recently freed slaves to join him at the Indiana settlement. There was room for many more: Lyles Station had more than 1,000 acres of land.

"This young community, when it first started out, was dedicated. It set down deep roots." Madison said.

From 1880 through 1913, the self-sustaining community blossomed to some 800 residents. In 1887, Wayman Chapel AME Church, the station's second church was built. In its prime, Lyles Station also had 55 households, an elementary school, two general stores, a railroad station, a lumber mill and a post office.

A flood in 1913 damaged much of the land and caused an exodus. Afterwards, the Lyles Consolidated School open in 1919. It was an integrated school until 1922, transitioned to an all-black school and then integrated again in 1950. The school closed its doors in 1958, then reopened as a museum in 2003.

The museum has been involved in helping others preserve the important history of Lyles Station and African-American farming. Lyles Station volunteers have curated a permanent exhibit in the National Museum of African-American History & Culture that displays different artifacts that have been passed down for generations. They also host a heritage classroom where students in third and fourth grade spend a week in a classroom modeled to match the original 1920s-era design.

Another program that the museum offers is their Underground Railroad Trunk, where any teacher in a 50-mile radius of the museum is able to get a trunk full of artifacts, readings and lessons to educate students on the Underground Railroad.

Madison hopes he can apply for more grants to further develop Lyles Station. He'd like to establish campgrounds, an amphitheater to agriculture classes, he hopes that he can create a way to attract more young people to learn everything about farming.

"We need to share (the history) with as many young minds as we can," said Madison on the future plans of Lyles station. "A field trip or a Saturday afternoon is so important for them to learn about the early African American history of being farmers and how we were were able to take (what seemed like) worthless land, and some flooding land and make a living."

Rayonna Burton-Jernigan covers diversity and culture-related topics and can be contacted at [email protected] or (812) 454-1765.

Lifest is coming to Tennessee for the first time ever July 28, July 29 and July 30 at Hideaway Farm in Bon Aqua/Lyles, Tennessee. The event began in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1990 as a 5K walk/run and became a Christian music festival in 1999. As of 2013, it is a four-day festival in Wisconsin with attendance of about 20,000 per day and featuring 175 Christian musical acts and inspirational speakers. Billed as a “Party with a Purpose”, Lifest Music City will offer more than 75 performances and seminars great for the whole family.

Storyteller Hideaway Farm was once the private retreat of Johnny Cash. The 107-acre farm Cash called “the center of his universe” is now a museum and can be rented for events, such as Lifest Music City. The extensive grounds will feature five stages; a tent featuring artist merchandise; a KidZone with inflatables and entertainment; a marketplace for local artists, craftspeople and service providers; and several worship sites. Also on the grounds will be electrical and primitive camping sites for individuals and groups. Parking is offsite at East Hickman High School located on SR-7 with a shuttle to the event grounds. Food vendors and emergency medical services will also be available.

The event will offer a variety of musical performances, keynote speakers and seminars. Featured artists include Casting Crows, Skillet, Zach Williams, Sidewalk Prophets, Mac Powell, I Am They, Stephen Curtis Chapman, CAIN, and Riley Clemmons. Keynote speakers include Bob Lenz, Kyle Thomas, Eric Samuel Timm, Tom Coverly, and Reggie Dabbs. Seminars topics include: “You Can Make a Living in the Music Industry”, “Why Ministry to Students Is So Important: Going for It”, “Why Local Youth Worker Networks Are So Important: Getting One Started”, “Why Campus Outreach is So Important: Taking Hope to Schools”, “How to Get a Ministry Started at Your School”, “How Lost Are the Lost Really?”, “How to Get Ready for Your 9 Month Mission Trip”, “Deal with It”, and “Taking Lifest and Campus Ministry Home with You”.

“We came for [one performance at Lifest in Wisconsin], and enjoyed it so much that we got tickets for three more days,” said one past visitor.

There will be an onsite blood drive as part of the festival. A Blood Assurance mobile donation unit will be parked with convenient access to the grounds. Blood Assurance is a nonprofit, full-service regional blood center serving healthcare facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and North Carolina. More than 540 volunteer blood donors are needed every day in order to adequately supply these hospitals. Founded in 1972, the mission of Blood Assurance is to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood components in a cost-effective manner to every area patient in need. Blood Assurance is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Public Health, the Georgia Department of Human Resources and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Event founder Bob Lenz is the power behind the non-profit Christian organization Life Promotions, which provides a number of programs during the year instilling hope in youth through embracing Christ. He uses his humorous and down-to-earth style to reach out to those who need inspiration and understanding. For more than 30 years he has spread his message through speaking at high schools, rallies, conferences and festivals reaching more than half a million people each year.

“Thirty years is a long time for someone who never wanted to be in full-time ministry,” explained Lanz on his lifepromotions.org website. “As a high school graduate, my career goal was to work for the Village of Little Chute and drive the big dump trucks… To be honest, I still want to drive a dump truck, but I know my true calling is to reach teens with the love of Christ…My greatest joy is hearing a student tell me he has found hope and new life after having been beaten down by the struggles of life. So, I’ll keep traveling. I’ll keep speaking. I’ll keep pressing on. Because when just one person is found by Jesus and they fall in love with Him, it’s all worth it.”

Tickets begin at $16 for a youth ticket and go up to $150 per ticket for multi-day admission and special VIP packages. Parking, camping, food, and merchandise sales are additional. Tickets can be purchased in advance or onsite.

Additional information about the event can be found here. And about Life Promotions and how to get Bob Lenz to come speak to your school here.

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Flash flooding turned deadly in western Middle Tennessee on Saturday as storms dropped more than 10 inches of rain.

The intense storm triggered a state of emergency as water rescue teams raced throughout the day to help residents. Yards, streets and buildings disappeared in some areas; communications and water services were disrupted; and power outages were still impacting roughly 10,000 customers across Dickson, Hickman, Houston and Humphreys counties on Sunday morning.

As of Saturday night, 10 people had been found dead in Humphreys County and authorities there were worried about as many as 40 people missing. The sheriff’s office provided the figures to multiple news outlets and WPLN News confirmed the toll from Dickson County Chief Deputy Teddy Murphy.

“Pray for all those people, because they’re definitely going to need it. Over the next day or two, we’re just praying that they can find everybody,” he said.

Murphy said he saw numerous vehicles turned over, homes completely flooded and even major roadways washed away while he worked in the county on Saturday.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.

In fact, no one in Tennessee has seen such intense rain. Some areas experienced about a fourth of their annual rainfall in a matter of hours. An accumulation of 17 inches was reported in the McEwen area — likely an all-time record for a single day in the state, according to the National Weather Service in Nashville.

“Today is really an unprecedented flash flood event for Middle Tennessee,” said Sam Shamburger, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service in Nashville. “Today is just astonishing.”

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has again activated its Tennessee Emergency Response Fund to help flood survivors. Contributions are funneled to frontline nonprofits that work on relief.

Meanwhile, the Community Resource Center says it is preparing to deliver relief and has refreshed its wishlist. The American Red Cross is also assisting with shelters and provides a disaster helpline at 1-800-985-5990.

Rain and rescues

Flash flood warnings cascaded across the region early Saturday and again in the evening when at least another inch of rain fell in some areas. There was also a tornado warning just before 6 p.m. in the Charlotte area of Dickson County, which was already hit hard by the rains, and some water rescues were reported in the evening in southern Montgomery County.

A flash flood emergency — a higher level of alert — was declared for much of the day for Dickson, Hickman, Houston and Humphreys counties.

The Dickson Fire Department reported multiple water rescues before 7 a.m., properties were experiencing extreme flooding, and authorities and residents were encountering numerous roads that have been washed out.

One report from Dickson County described “too many water rescues to count,” though authorities there said there’d been no deaths and only minor injuries, if any.

Chief Deputy Murphy described the flooding as “way worse” than the devastating May 2010 floods.

“The city of Waverly, they had a river running through the middle of their city,” he said. “They were left on an island out there by themselves and all the resources — as far as infrastructure — were basically taken out.”

Humphreys County had its telecommunications systems damaged and a boil water advisory was put in effect for Waverly after disruptions to water treatment facilities. Three schools in Humphreys County were impacted.

The weather service said many homes and businesses were washed off their foundations by the flooding, with dozens of structures flooded and some roads washed away.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported flooding closed Interstate 40 in Hickman County in both directions, but it reopened Saturday.

As of Sunday, the state’s SmartWay map notes many other road hazards. Rail traffic, meanwhile, was halted between Dickson and Waverly.

Multiple bridges and roadways — including SR1/US70, SR230, and SR48N — remain closed Sunday.

Emergency declared

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency declared a Level 3 state of emergency on Saturday, with multiple state agencies aiding in the response. The Tennessee National Guard flew in medics to the Three Rivers Hospital in Waverly and dozens of soldiers and vehicles were sent in support.

Shelters were opened in Waverly, Dickson and Centerville, and TEMA reported 89 people stayed in them Saturday night.

The state also created a “reunification center” at McEwen High School that was to be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The state’s departments for education, health and human services are on site, along with crisis counseling teams.

Please be safe as the flooding continues. These are some pictures from our TN-HART team as they fly rescue missions. pic.twitter.com/bB2dGVxFIN

— Nashville Fire Dept (@NashvilleFD) August 21, 2021

The Tennessee Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, Nashville Fire Department and the Nashville Office of Emergency have been dispatched to the scene with water rescue teams.

In Humphreys County, emergency crews expected to begin searching for survivors at 7 a.m. Sunday.

Woodland Park Drive between Lyles and Nunnelly TN 10:15 am #tspotter @NWSNashville pic.twitter.com/nPYRqjiWru

— Andrew Leeper (@AndrewLeeper) August 21, 2021

The Piney River in Hickman County had reached 31.8 feet by 11:30 a.m., which the weather service indicates is far above its prior record crest — 20.08 feet — from Feb. 7, 2019.

Our swiftwater crews spent the day assisting in Humphreys County. The damage observed is devastating. Please keep Humphreys, Dickson, and Hickman Counties in your thoughts and prayers as they work to rebuild and recover. #middletnwx #tnwx #flooding pic.twitter.com/wiuBrMecxu

— Williamson County Rescue Squad (@WCRescueSquad) August 22, 2021

This is a developing story last updated at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Ivory W. Lyles, who prioritized the needs and challenges of the residents of Nevada as associate dean for engagement and director of extension for the University of Nevada, Reno, has been named Oregon State University’s new vice provost for extension and engagement and director of the OSU Extension Service.

Lyles’ appointment begins Sept. 30. He succeeds Anita Azarenko, who served for more than two years in an interim role following the retirement of Scott Reed in 2019. Azarenko is retiring after nearly 35 years of service to OSU in a variety of roles.

“Dr. Lyles has a long history of outstanding leadership in extension and engagement positions in universities in multiple states, and he is a national leader in this domain as well, through organizations like the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities,” said Edward Feser, OSU’s provost and executive vice president. “Most recently, in Nevada, he renewed strong stakeholder partnerships and implemented innovative programs in workforce development and other areas. I’m delighted he is joining OSU’s leadership team.”

Oregon State University’s Division of Extension and Engagement includes the OSU Extension Service and the Office of Professional and Continuing Education. The division’s educational programming and activities serve all of Oregon’s 36 counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs reservation. Programs center within seven focus areas: 4-H youth development; agriculture and natural resources, including the Small Farms program and the Master Gardener program; family and community health; forestry and natural resources; OSU Open Campus, a community-based education partnership; Outdoor School; and Oregon Sea Grant.

“I am very pleased to join OSU and I look forward to helping support the needs of Oregonians and communities statewide by working with university colleagues, the Oregon Legislature, local counties and community partners throughout the state,” Lyles said.

Working at land-grant universities across the U.S., Lyles has served in many extension leadership roles. At the University of Nevada, Reno, where he has worked since 2017, he has overseen about 300 employees, including academic and administrative faculty and support and clerical staff, as well as a budget of about $40 million.

Previously, he was professor, dean and director of land grant programs at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, and administrator of the cooperative extension program at Tennessee State University in Nashville, both of which are historically Black colleges and universities.

He also served as associate vice president for agriculture and director of the cooperative extension service at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock and held extension leadership roles at Ohio State University and the University of Tennessee.

Lyles holds memberships in the National Association of County Agriculture Agents and the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents. He is a member of the national 4-H Diversity Design team and serves as chair of the program committee for the national Extension Committee on Organization and Policy.

Lyles earned his bachelor’s degree at Alcorn State, his master’s degree at Mississippi State University and his doctorate in agricultural education, community and rural development at Ohio State University.

About Oregon State University: As one of only three land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the nation, Oregon State serves Oregon and the world by working on today’s most pressing issues. Our more than 36,000 students come from across the globe, and our programs operate in every Oregon county. Oregon State receives more research funding than all of the state’s comprehensive public universities combined. At our campuses in Corvallis and Bend, marine research center in Newport, OSU Portland Center and award-winning Ecampus, we excel at shaping today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders.

Residents and emergency officials in Hickman County continue to pick up the pieces after flood waters swept through the community during last weekend's heavy rainfall.

An estimated 17 homes were heavily damaged by the rush of water in the community northwest of Columbia. NWS Nashville meteorologist Krissy Hurley told The Tennessean parts of Hickman County endured 11.66 inches of rain early Saturday. Lyles, also in Hickman County, experienced 9.05 inches, according to volunteers who help measure rainfall for the agency.

So far, the county has dodged deaths which, ravaged other parts of Middle Tennessee.

The rainstorm swept through the region, impacting Dickson, Hickman, Houston and Humphreys counties, causing at least 21 deaths and leaving dozens missing.

"There were many folks who were trapped in their homes and trapped in their cars," said Jim Tanner, the director of Hickman County Emergency Management.

"We have families here that have lost a lot. Keep your thoughts and prayers with those who have lost their homes."

The Lawrenceburg Fire Department, Brentwood Fire Department, Williamson County Sheriff's Department and Williamson County Emergency Management were dispatched to the community to assist with rescue operations and the recovery effort.

"Our responders have been out there working hard," Tanner said. "Crews are working and teams are pushing."

The river gauge on the Piney River at Vernon in Hickman County measured nearly 32 feet Saturday, shattering the record crest in 2019 by nearly 12 feet, the NWS reported.

The flooding led to the closure of several roads throughout the region, including a portion of Interstate 40 near mile marker 153 — near the Hickman County community of Bucksnort.

Donations pour in

In the days that have followed the severe floods, Hickman County Emergency Management said it has witnessed a swell of donated food and supplies.

"We have been inundated with supplies and donations," Tanner said. "Thank God we have this problem. We appreciate it very much.

"But we are right at the limit of what we can handle. If you want to donate, that is fantastic, but let's just wait. Hold tight to those donations right now because we have so much stuff."

Help flood victims:How to help residents as extreme flash floods devastate Middle Tennessee

Rescue efforts:After Tennessee floods rushed through, search and rescue efforts inch forward

Hickman County Emergency Management is currently operating a relief center — its storm shelter in Pinewood at the intersection of Highway 48 and Pinewood Road.

A relief center has also been established at Fairfield Church of Christ in Centerville.

Cleanup and repair work continues

On Tuesday, repairs began on roads damaged by the rising waters.

Defeated Creek Road was closed from Highway 100 to the Defeated Creek Church as workers began repairs.

The Meriweather Lewis Electric Cooperative estimated 750 residents remained without power on Tuesday as crews continued to make repairs. Most operations returned to normal for Hickman, Houston, Lewis and Perry counties.

The company's office and garage in Waverly was heavy damaged by flood waters.

“We draw strength from one another and continue to have everyone in our thoughts and prayers as we work as quickly and safely as possible," said Keith Carnahan, president and CEO of the electric company.

"We understand the hurt that you are going through, and we are here to help in any way that we can. We are here to work day and night and make sure that power comes back to you."

Brinley Hineman and Rachel Wegner contributed to this report.

Reach Mike Christen at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH and on Instagram @michaelmarco. Please consider supporting his work and that of other Daily Herald journalists by subscribing to the publication.