FSA County Committee Elections Underway

November 16, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, announces that the 2018 FSA County Committee elections are underway as ballots were mailed to eligible voters in Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 1 (DeKalb County) and Local Administrative Area # 5 (Cannon County) on November 5th.

December 3, 2018 will be the last day to postmark voted ballots returned by mail, or to deliver voted ballots to the local FSA office.

Randall West and Jimmy Womack are candidates nominated for LAA # 1 (DeKalb Co.). Both candidates have been certified as eligible candidates. Randall West is currently completing his first 3-year term on the DeKalb FSA County Committee. Both Mr. West and Mr. Womack operate beef cattle farms in the Jacobs Pillar community.

Robert “Bob” Melton is the only candidate nominated for LAA # 5 (Cannon Co.). Bob has been certified as an eligible candidate. Mr. Melton is a retired Cannon County vocational agriculture teacher and operates a livestock farm in the Hollis Creek area of Cannon County. Bob is completing his first 3-year term on the DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee.

Write-in nominations can be accepted on ballots. However, the write-in nominee must meet eligibility criteria and attest to his or her willingness to serve, if elected, by signing a nominating petition. Agricultural producers were encouraged to submit candidate names during the nomination period that ended August 1, 2018.

“The FSA county committee system is unique among government agencies, because it allows producers to make important decisions concerning the local administration of federal farm programs. All eligible farmers and ranchers, especially minorities and women, are encouraged to get involved and make a real difference in their communities by voting in this year’s elections,” says Green.

To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs.  A person who is not of legal voting age but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm can also vote.

Eligible voters in DeKalb County LAA # 1 or Cannon County LAA # 5 who did not receive a ballot can obtain a ballot at their local USDA Service Center.  December 3, 2018 is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers.  Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than December 3, 2018.  The DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee will meet on December 4, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. to canvass and tabulate the ballots. This meeting is open to the public. The newly elected committee member and alternates take office January 1st, 2019.

November 16, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man was injured in a bizarre midday crash Thursday after he lost control of his car and struck three automobiles in the parking lot of Town Edge Village Apartments on Kendra Drive.

51 year old Patrick Lee was taken by DeKalb EMS to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital for treatment after the accident.

Although there were no witnesses, Smithville Police said it appears that Lee got into his 2009 Buick Enclave in the parking lot of the apartments where he resides and started to leave when he struck three other unoccupied vehicles parked there including a gray 2005 Nissan Titan, a green 1996 Nissan pickup, and a red 2016 Dodge Charger. Lee’s vehicle then drove through the front lawn of the apartments, crossed Kendra Drive, went over a ditchline, and into a field before hitting a patch of overgrowth and coming to a stop.

Lee told police that he was confused at the time of the incident and didn’t remember the crash or even getting into his automobile. It is still under investigation.

Patrolman Will Judkins worked the wreck. Members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department were also on the scene

November 15, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

As investigators continue to probe her cause of death, a memorial service for 28 year old Jessica Whitworth Stephens will be Saturday.

Visitation will be held at Smith Funeral Home in Woodbury on Saturday, November 17 from 12-2 pm. Funeral services will follow in the Smith Funeral Home chapel at 2 pm. James McDonald will officiate.

Stephens passed away unexpectedly on Monday, November 12. She was born in Murfreesboro on March 30, 1990 but had spent most of her life in Woodbury.

Her body was found in a backyard on Parkway Drive in Smithville near Federal Mogul Monday morning. Through fingerprints, investigators were able to identify her. The cause of death will be determined following the completion of the autopsy and toxicology report.

The case remains under investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Stephens is survived by her father, Harold L. Whitworth of Woodbury and his special friend, Debbie Butrum of Murfreesboro; daughters, Khloey Stephens and her father, Zach Stephens of Lebanon, Lakelyn Mae Stephens and McKenzie Stephens and their father, George Holder of Shelbyville; brothers, Tyler Whitworth and Gary Whitworth both of Woodbury; a sister, Nikki Whitworth of Woodbury; and several nieces and nephews.

Jessica was a playful, fun-loving person, and a caring mother. She enjoyed taking her girls camping and fishing. She also loved to teach them how to cook and bake. Just being outdoors in nature gave her a lot of peace and joy. She was more at home playing in a creek than swimming in a pool. She had a caring spirit, which translated well into her training as a certified nurse’s assistant. She took classes while she was in high school, so she could start working. She graduated from Cannon County High School in the Class of 2008. Right after graduating she went to work for the Woodbury Health and Rehabilitation Center for a couple years. She loved helping elderly people and continued to work in other nursing homes.

She had a strong will and determination about things she wanted. She felt she could overcome or do anything. Her faith in God and belief in Jesus were very strong. As her family struggles to deal with the loss we ask for prayers for strength, peace, and comfort. Hold on to those memories no one can take away.

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