Native American Artifacts Show Saturday at County Complex

July 26, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A Native American artifacts show will be held Saturday, July 27 at the county complex auditorium from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. and proceeds will benefit the DeKalb Animal Coalition. Admission to the event is free.

The artifacts show will feature displays ranging from arrow heads to pottery and some items will be available for sale or trade. “I think we have about 65 tables. We sell the table (space). It cost $15 for the table per person and that money goes to pay for all the expenses of the show and any money left is donated to the DeKalb Animal Coalition,” said Mike Foster.

“Tennessee has probably three or four major shows of this kind and this is one of them so we want to invite everybody to come to see the artifacts. I think you will be pleased with what you see”.

“We will have people who will be buying and selling as well as displaying their artifacts but a lot of trading also goes on between the collectors. We also try to make up some gift baskets of artifacts for those really interested including kids to encourage them to learn more about the early history of DeKalb County and Tennessee,” Foster said.

“I like shell beads so I will have a lot of them there along with bone work and tools they (Native Americans) used but I guess the main attraction is flint including arrow heads, spear points, and things like that but there will be some pottery too. I even have a wooden bow from the 1600’s time frame. We’ll have collectors here from Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama among others”.

“You can probably go to any museum in the state of Tennessee and you won’t see the amount of quality and the number of artifacts you will see there. It’s really enjoyable for people who like history or artifacts and it’s free so come on out Saturday because you’ll see some really good collections,” Foster concluded.

The show is sponsored locally and by the Volunteer State Archaeological Society, a non-profit educational organization devoted to the study of prehistoric America. This society is one of the largest of the independent state societies affiliated with Central States Archaeological Societies.

July 26, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The members of the Eastern Star of DeKalb Chapter # 488 recently participated in a statewide project to help communities by providing bottled water to First Responders and Police organizations located throughout the area. Water was delivered to the Liberty Fire Department, Alexandria Police, Fire and EMS Departments, Gassaway Fire Department and Smith County EMS.

According to a spokesperson, it is the desire of the local DeKalb Chapter #488 Order of Eastern Star to be involved and helpful to the different service departments in our community. The Tennessee Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star suggested one way to perform this was to provide water to those service organizations within our chapter area. The project was very successful and allowed DeKalb Chapter #488 to express our sincere appreciation to the organizations for the many hours they spend in service to our communities.

July 26, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher made a stop in Smithville as part of his visits to four counties Thursday.

State Tourism Commissioner Mark Ezell was originally scheduled to join Hatcher on the tour but he was unable to attend.

The meeting, hosted by State Senator Mark Pody and State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver at the county complex, offered local residents a chance to meet the commissioner and learn more about the state of agriculture in Tennessee.

“This is the third of four stops we have been on and the number of people who have turned out has been great,” said Commissioner Hatcher.

Although farmers generally are optimistic, Hatcher said there are concerns because farm income is down.

“In the agriculture community most people are telling me that farm income is down 50% so they are really struggling in all aspects of the industry but they are optimistic because of the Governor we have. He is hugely supportive of agriculture and the department of agriculture and that makes my job a lot easier. There is optimism even though right now farm income is down,” he said.

So what has led to this downturn in farm income?

“There are a multitude of factors. The trade war with China hasn’t helped as far as the commodities go with the crops and soybeans and Tennessee also exports a lot of hardwood to China and that has had an impact and then there is the dairy industry where we have seen fluid milk consumption decline but that is a supply and demand thing so it’s a combination of factors,” added Commissioner Hatcher.

The market for beef cattle and poultry remain strong in Tennessee and Hemp production is growing which could someday make it a leading cash crop in the state

“Hemp could be an alternative to tobacco and maybe one of those cash crops that will really help but we need to be cautious going into it. Farmers, especially tobacco farmers are well suited to growing it because they are used to the labor and they know the drill on it. In general we have the technology and innovation to improve precision agriculture as we move forward with better planting devices and things that save on resources like fertilizer, fuel, and seed so change is everywhere. People don’t always like change but change is coming,” added Commissioner Hatcher.

A resident a College Grove, Hatcher brings a lot of agriculture experience to his role as commissioner being a 10^th generation farmer .

“I am a veterinarian by trade but farmer by life. My family is still in the business. My son has taken over that while I am in this role because I want to devote 100% of my time to it. Agriculture runs deeply with me and I care deeply about it. It is my passion and I love this job because I get to travel across the state and visit with farmers. I have found them to be innovative, versatile, and thrifty,” he said.

Members of the DeKalb County Fair Association presented Commissioner Hatcher with a gift basket filled with home grown and produced products like bread and jars of jelly, honey, and even a DeKalb County Fair tee shirt in appreciation to the Tennessee of Agriculture for providing a grant which made possible a new 18,200 square foot Agriculture Center building at the DeKalb County Fair, part of which has been completed and was used for the first time last week during the annual fair.

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