Livestock Forage Program Signup Underway

October 20, 2024
By:

Do you have cattle, sheep, goats, or equine animals? If so, you could be eligible to receive payment from the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency. According to Donny Green, County Executive Director, signup for the Livestock Forage Program is now underway and will continue through January 30, 2025.

The Livestock Forage Assistance Program (LFP) has been approved for DeKalb and Cannon counties due to recent and extreme drought conditions that have affected livestock grazing during the 2024 normal grazing period. LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock on land with permanent vegetative cover or planted specifically for grazing.

According to the U. S. Drought Monitor, DeKalb and Cannon counties were designated as D3 (Extreme Drought intensity) counties on September 24, 2024. This designation qualifies eligible livestock producers in the county for three monthly payments.

Livestock producers operating in DeKalb and Cannon counties are urged to call the Smithville USDA Service Center at 615-597-8225, Ext. 2 to schedule an appointment to complete the Livestock Forage Program application. Signup for the 2024 LFP will end on January 30, 2025.

October 19, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

An Illinois woman has been arrested by Smithville Police for trying to obtain a fraudulent vehicle title.

28-year-old Rodnesha Daniels of Rockford Illinois is charged with theft and altering/changing a vehicle identification number.

Chief Mark Collins said that on October 10 police were summoned to the County Clerk’s Office where a woman tried to pass a fraudulent title. Upon arrival, officers found Daniels trying to leave the clerk’s office and they stopped her on South Congress Boulevard. During the investigation, police learned that Daniels had been to several different counties using fraudulent paperwork to obtain vehicle titles. Special agents from the State of Tennessee assisted in the investigation. Officers discovered the automobile that Daniels had been driving bore two different VIN numbers in different locations. Daniels was placed in custody and her bond set at $110,000. She will be in court October 31.

40-year-old Shannon Herman of McMinnville is charged with simple possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. Chief Collins said that on October 1 an officer pulled over Herman’s vehicle knowing that he was wanted in another county. A background check through central dispatch confirmed the charges and Herman was taken into custody. During a search of Herman’s automobile, police found several items associated with drug use and a large amount of different types of pills. Herman’s bond is $11,500.

39-year-old Angie Hawks is charged with criminal trespassing. Chief Collins said that police were called to Webb Street on September 17 where a homeless woman had previously been ordered by police to keep away from. Upon arrival, officers informed the woman, Hawks that she would have to leave the premises at the property owner’s request but she would not go. Hawks was then placed in custody. Her bond is $2,000.

40-year-old Aryani Martinez and 34-year-old Isabal Soto both of Smithville are charged with public intoxication. Chief Collins said that on September 24 police were summoned to Miller Road to break up an altercation between two women. Upon arrival, the officers found Martinez and Soto in the roadway. Both were unsteady on their feet, had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. They were placed in custody. Bond for each was $1,500.

46-year-old Jason Cline is charged with two counts of aggravated assault. According to Chief Collins, police were summoned to Short Mountain Highway on September 22 due to a fight in progress involving weapons. Upon arrival officers and learned from two victims that Cline had stopped in front of their home, grabbed a tire tool, and began walking toward them. Fearing for their safety, the victims called 911. Police were informed that Cline became upset over a road rage incident that had taken place previously between the parties and that Cline had admitted to having made a poor decision. Cline was taken into custody, and his bond was set at $10,000.

53-year-old Richard Turner is charged with aggravated assault. Chief Collins said that on October 4 officers were dispatched to Fisher Avenue due to a domestic complaint. Upon arrival police spoke with Turner and the victim and found physical evidence of an assault including attempted strangulation. Turner was determined to have been the primary aggressor and placed in custody. His bond is $10,000.

48-year-old Danny Dowell of McMinnville is charged with aggravated trespassing. According to Chief Collins, police responded to a trespassing call on Jennings Lane October 7. Upon arrival, they found Dowell and his vehicle on the property. Dowell had previously been warned by police several times to keep off the premises because residents there feared him. Dowell was placed in custody and his bond set at $4,000.

40-year-old April Sobotka is charged with driving under the influence, driving on a revoked license, and cited for financial responsibility and driving on roadways laned for traffic. Chief Collins said that on October 12 police conducted a traffic stop on East Broad Street for failure to maintain lane of travel and spoke with the driver, Sobotka who smelled of alcohol. She admitted to having consumed a couple of drinks earlier. Sobotka submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. She was taken into custody. Bond was set at $6,000.

October 19, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

In just four days, the early voting turnout in DeKalb County for the November 5th election has already eclipsed the entire number of votes cast in the August 1st elections.

Sample Ballot

From Wednesday through Saturday, October 16-19 the election commission reports that a total of 1,961 people has voted early. The turnout on Saturday was 323 including 314 in person and 9 by absentee. On Friday 530 voted including 521 in person and 9 by absentee. On Thursday, 465 cast ballots including 452 in person and 13 by absentee. And on Wednesday, 643 voted including 492 in person, 100 by absentee, and 51 at the nursing home/Webb House.

In the August 1 election, a total of 1,404 voted in DeKalb County including 700 on election day, 100 paper absentees, and 604 walk-in early voting. DeKalb County had 13,607 registered voters in August.

Early Voting continues through October 31.

In the Presidential election in 2020 a record number of voters turned out locally totaling 8,542 including 4,606 early voters, 511 absentees and 3,425 on election day. DeKalb County had 12,509 registered voters at that time.

On the ballot this year is the Presidential election as well as races for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives (District 6), Tennessee Senate (District 16), and Tennessee House of Representatives (District 40).

In DeKalb County, two referendums are on the ballot regarding a $50 wheel tax and the issuance of general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $65 million for a judicial center and jail.

In Smithville at the courthouse, early voting times will be as follows:

Mondays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Tuesdays: 12 noon until 6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Thursdays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Fridays: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. until 12 noon

In Alexandria at the Sandlin Building on the Fairgrounds, early voting times will be as follows:

Tuesday, October 22: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Tuesday, October 29: 12 noon until 6 p.m.

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