August 1 FSA County Committee Nomination Deadline

July 20, 2022
By:

Donny Green, County Executive Director for the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, reminds DeKalb County and Cannon County farmers that the deadline to nominate candidates for the 2021 Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee Election is August 1.

“The election of knowledgeable agricultural producers to FSA county committees is important to all farmers and ranchers with large or small operations. It is crucial that every eligible producer take part in this election because county committees are a direct link between the farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Farm Service Agency is unique because we have a grassroots farmer-elected committee that oversees and delivers farm programs at the local level,” says Green.

DeKalb County Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 3 will elect a representative in this year’s election. Nominees must reside in LAA # 3, which generally covers the south and southeasern portions of DeKalb County including the Belk, Antioch, Jefferson, Keltonburg, Seven Springs, Shiney Rock, Four Seasons, Evins Mill, Midway, Johnson’s Chapel, and Austin Bottoms communities.

Individuals may nominate themselves, or others, as a candidate. In addition, eligible candidates can be nominated by community-based and other organizations, especially groups representing socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, in the county where the election is being held before the close of the nomination period. Nominations and elections are open to all eligible candidates and voters without regard to race, color, religion, nation origin, age, sex, marital status, or disability. The nomination form (FSA-669A) is available at USDA Service Centers and online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Producers should remember the following dates regarding the upcoming county committee elections. Producers can request, complete, and submit nomination forms through August 1. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters by November 7. The deadline to return ballots is December 5. The elected committee member and alternates take office on January 1, 2023.

July 20, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Twenty-six people were indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury on Monday, July 18 and they will appear for arraignment in criminal court on August 1.

Those indicted and their charges are as follows:

Marcie Jean Alsobrooks: driving under the influence and DUI per se

Emma Katherine Alverson: aggravated burglary (2 counts) and theft over $2,500

Dickie Ray Bain: possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams

Joshua Joel Bain: domestic assault

Kaitlyn Brianna Bain and Seth Garrett Dawson: theft over $1,000

Johnathan Dewayne Barnes: driving on revoked license (7th offense)

Timmy Jay Barnes: driving under the influence

Sean Stephen Bess: aggravated burglary, theft over $1,000, and forgery (4 counts)

Kenny Waymon Dyal, Jr.: vandalism under $1,000

Shane Daniel Gray: possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of prohibited weapons

Michael Allen Johnson: vandalism under $1,000

Marty Eugene Lance: possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams and driving on a revoked license

Dalton Grady Moore: driving under the influence

Terrence Brock Moore: evading arrest

Micah Daniel Murphy: tampering with evidence

James Byron Newton: driving under the influence (2nd offense) and DUI per se

Christopher Bryan Pack: evading arrest

Jimmy Mason Page: false report

Skylar James Pease: possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule VI drug (marijuana)

Jeffery Lynn Sanders: theft of property under $1,000, vandalism under $1,000, and criminal trespassing

Lena Michelle Santana: driving under the influence, DUI per se, and simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana)

Shawn Edward Soales: theft of services over $2,500

Justice Namen Williams: driving under the influence (2nd offense) and driving on a revoked license

Daniel Ray Wilson: burglary and theft of property over $2,500

Kenneth Adam Wright: reckless endangerment, evading arrest, evading arrest with vehicle, burglary, auto burglary, theft of property over 2,500, and vandalism over $1,000

July 20, 2022
By: Bill Conger

Children from Sozo, Uganda in Africa will make a stop on the “Miracle Tour” in Smithville. This 4th tour of the Sozo Children’s Choir will perform at Smithville First Baptist Church during morning worship services on August 7. They’ll sing a second show Sunday night for the community. Donations for the group are welcome.

Sozo Choir from Sozo Children on Vimeo.

“From what I have seen, this is the most talented bunch yet,” says Terry Schrimscher, Global Engagement Coordinator for Sozo Children.

“The kids come here to share their faith and it is our hope that they return home knowing they are loved and their lives truly matter to the world,” adds Sozo Children CEO Suzanne Owens.

The pandemic put a halt to tours for a couple of years. They were scheduled to be in the states earlier this year, but working the logistics out with two governments to travel with the children can be a challenge. Starting in 2016, the Sozo Children’s Choir began to provide spiritual, personal, and cultural development opportunities for those served by Sozo Children in Uganda.

“The choir tour is a way for us to share a faith walk with the children we serve, and it lets them go on a mission trip instead of us just sending people to Africa all the time,” Schrimscher explained. “When we go to Uganda on mission trips, we are a lot different than a lot of missions’ organizations. Of course, we go there to serve but not always to do massive projects, and we don’t go over there for photo ops or to post updates ourselves. It’s not about us! We go there to share faith with the children, our staff, the community and the families we serve. I like to say we walk alongside our Ugandan neighbors and help equip them to serve others in their community well into the future. We are not there to create little American Christians. We find that we learn so much from them. The kids in the choir have an incredible witness opportunity, some heart-wrenching testimonies, and some pretty awesome talent as well.”

This year 12 children from Uganda will be performing in Mississippi, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.

“In the past, the children have come directly from the 130 or more children directly in our care in Uganda,” Schrimscher. “This year, for the first time ever, 5 kids from the neighboring community outside of Sozo auditioned and made the choir. That’s pretty amazing if you think about it. When they moved into the choir house to rehearse with our team, that was likely the first time they had lived in a home with electricity, running water, or the things we take for granted here.”

“Once they join, we have a choir director and a musical director in Uganda who works with them to rehearse songs and dances. They go into a recording studio and make a professional recording of each song as well. They have costumes made and they tour churches and events in Uganda before they come to the United States.”

“They will perform contemporary songs your congregation may recognize like “Waymaker” and “New Hallelujah” and some songs they love from home that you will enjoy like “Jabulani” all with some amazing harmonies and a bit of an African beat. They also have a cultural segment of the show, which we do when venues are gracious enough to give us a few extra minutes, which features African dance and instruments. These kids can dance! You will see the sweetest smiles you have ever seen which are enhanced by the knowledge that the kids come from circumstances we cannot really fathom at any age—things like abuse, neglect, abandonment, trafficking and generational poverty. Yet, they smile and they absolutely LOVE you and love that you came to sing along with them.”

“Fair warning. They have been known to run grab a friendly face out of the crowd to dance in the aisle with them. Wear some comfortable shoes. If they connect with your smile from the stage, you just might be part of the show. Nothing warms our hearts more than seeing people in the crowd get up and let go for a few minutes and just worship God with the kids dancing in the aisle, in your seats, or cheering them on.”

Again the Sozo Children’s Choir will perform for the community on Sunday August 7 at 6 o’clock at Smithville First Baptist Church.

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