ROGERSVILLE — With the holiday travel season approaching, Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson is hoping increased patrols will prevent the county's already high fatality total for 2014 from continuing to grow.As of Monday, Hawkins County had 13 fatalities in 2014, nearly double the total of seven in the county in each of the previous two years.During a news conference Monday in Bean Station, Lawson, as well as the Governor's Highway Safety Office (GHSO), and the Tennessee Highway Patrol, announced state grants for increased highway patrols throughout the holidays and year-round.The press conference, which also included the Grainger County Sheriff's Office, was also an opportunity for the GHSO to announce grants, including $64,000 for the HCSO to pay for extra DUI patrols.This is the second year the HCSO has received a GHSO grant.Last year Lawson used a $62,000 grant to pay for two extra deputies on the road per day to patrol high traffic areas specifically for DUI, seat belts, and speeding, and other infractions that lead to accidents and injuries.Lawson told the Times-News Monday that despite the spike in fatalities, the increased patrols seem to be having a positive impact."In 2012 my deputies worked 1,178 traffic accidents, and in 2013 we had 1,241," Lawson said.