Memorial Committee asks for another month for finishing touches on regulations

The Dickson County Commission’s Memorial Committee has again asked for more time to make changes to its proposed guidelines for naming streets, bridges and buildings after county residents. At Monday night’s commission meeting, committee member Randy Simpkins said the committee wants another month to go over its proposal. “We want to make sure we get everything right before we present this,” Simpkins said. Mayor Bob Rial created the five-member committee to come up with guidelines and review requests for honoring local residents after receiving a flurry of requests. Simpkins said he anticipates the committee will be ready to present its recommendations at the commission’s Feb. 19 regular session. Commissioner Robert Wetterau asked if the committee will then be ready to begin reviewing requests, saying he and Commissioner Carl Buckner have one to present that could affect a state highway, meaning it will need the approval of the Tennessee General Assembly. Commissioners have previously mentioned a request to honor Robert Spicer, a nationally recognized teacher of old-time flatfoot or buck dancing. Born on Jones Creek in 1921, Spicer taught thousands of children to dance and traveled the country with his dance team until his death in 2002. He won a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow award in 1990. A buck dancing competition named for Spicer is held annually during Old Timers Days.