Smithville USDA Service Center Open for In-Office Visitors by Appointment

September 25, 2020
By:

Effective Monday, September 28, 2020, customers of the Smithville USDA Service Center will be able  to conduct business in person in the office by appointment only.

Visitors will be pre-screened based on health concerns or recent travel and must adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Visitors must wear a face covering during their appointment.

Visitors must call ahead and schedule an appointment.

Farm Service Agency: (615) 597-8225, Ext. 2

Natural Resources Conservation Service & DeKalb County Soil Conservation District: (615) 597-8225, Ext. 3

Employees may also be contacted by email at the following email addresses:
Farm Service Agency: donald.green@usda.gov

Natural Resources Conservation Service: gene.robinson@usda.gov
Soil Conservation District: mary.houk@tn.nacdnet.net

Program delivery staff will also continue to work with producers by phone and use online tools for those who do not feel comfortable coming to the Service Center in person.

Online services are still available to customers, including the new Box and OneSpan functionality that enable customers to sign and share FSA and NRCS documents with USDA Service Center staff in just a few clicks.

Producers can get started with a simple username and password for Box or, for OneSpan, a quick identity
verification. Additional services are available to customers with an eAuth account, which provides access to the farmers.gov portal where producers can view USDA farm loan information and payments and view and track certain USDA program applications and payments. Through the FSA website, customers can access certain FSA programs and view FSA data, including maps, on FSAfarm+. Customers who do not already have an eAuth account can enroll at farmers.gov/sign-in.
For the most current updates on program flexibilities due to the coronavirus visit farmers.gov/coronavirus.

September 25, 2020
By:

A record number of absentee-by-mail votes are expected locally for the November Presidential Election, according to Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections.

“As of mid-morning Friday, our office had already mailed out 247 absentee ballots,” he said. “In August, 245 absentee ballots were counted and in November four years ago, only 205 absentee ballots were counted. Obviously, we are on pace to set a record for November elections.”

The last day to request an absentee ballot is October 27, but Stanley said it would be wise to make the request as early as possible.

“Once you make receive your ballot, vote it and mail it back in as soon as possible so it is ready to be counted on Election Day,” he said.

Absentee ballots Must be returned by mail. This includes the U.S. Postal Service and services like FedEx and UPS. Each state is different when it comes to election law. Tennessee law does not permit voters to turn in their ballots in-person or for the use of drop boxes.

Also in Tennessee, voters must have a legal reason listed in the law to be eligible to vote absentee by mail. Call the election office for more information or log onto www.dekalbelections.com or https://sos.tn.gov/elections for more information.

Stanley also said early voting is a convenient way to vote in the upcoming election.

The early voting period in Tennessee begins October 14 and lasts until October 29. In DeKalb County the voting hours during that period are—Mondays 1 to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursdays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to Noon. On two days during that time—Friday Oct. 23 and Thursday Oct. 29—the time will be expanded and start one hour earlier.

To avoid a potential delay in voting early or on election day, voters also need to make sure the election office has their current address.

“If you have moved since you last voted, you may have to vote at a different location on November 3,” Stanley said. “Keep in mind, if you have moved and did not notify our office, you will have paperwork to fill out on election day and you may have to go to a different place to vote.”

Voters are also reminded that a registration does not transfer from one county to another.

“If you have moved from another county into DeKalb, you must register in DeKalb County by the registration deadline” he continued. “You may register at the local election office or online by October 5.”

September 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The county commission Monday night will consider appointing two of the three judicial commissioners to serve for the next year.

A budget amendment will also be up for consideration to increase the monthly pay of each judicial commissioner by $75 per month. If approved their pay would go from $973 to $1,048 per month.

The commission will meet in regular monthly session September 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mike Foster Multipurpose center in the auditorium.

The judicial committee recently met and recommended two persons for reappointment to a one year term as judicial commissioners, Tammy Ashburn and Joy Whitman but also recommended that the third judicial commissioner position be advertised and resumes accepted. The committee will consider resumes received and make a recommendation on the that appointment at the October County Commission meeting. That position is currently held by Harvey Barnes and he may apply for reappointment.

The judicial committee is made up of Sheriff Patrick Ray, County Mayor Tim Stribling, Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin, General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II, and Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong.

Judicial commissioners are responsible for the issuance of criminal arrest warrants upon finding probable cause. They are subject to call at all hours of the day and night. Judicial commissioners serve at the pleasure of the county commission and their terms of office can be one year to four years. Judicial commissioners serve one year terms. Each of them are on call 24 hours a day for one week and then are off for two weeks.

Meanwhile, the County Commission will name a chairman and a chairman pro temp during Monday night’s monthly meeting.

County Mayor Tim Stribling currently serves as Chairman of the County Commission and 6th district member Jeff Barnes, the longest serving member of the commission at 18 years, is the chairman pro temp.

The County Commission reorganizes each September naming a chairman and chairman pro temp to serve for the ensuing 12 months.

Although the County Mayor is typically selected to serve as chairman, the commission could opt to name one of its own for that role.

« First ‹ Previous 1 1153 1243 1251 1252 12531254 1255 1263 1353 2408 Next › Last »