Summer time is just around the corner, and school is almost over. You may be making plans for a beach or theme park vacation, but University of Tennessee Extension encourages parents to consider sending their youth to 4-H camp. 4-H is the youth development program of UT Extension, which cooperates with Tennessee State University and volunteers to deliver quality youth programs throughout the year, including summer camp.

With a long tradition of youth development and STEM education, 4-H camps offered across the state are an amazing opportunity. Junior camp is for anyone currently in 4th-6th grade and takes place at Clyde York 4-H center in Crossville. DeKalb County 4-H members can attend this camp June 11th-15th. It features shooting sports, arts and crafts, swimming and a water slide, canoeing and kayaking, zip lining, sports and games, and much more! Cost is $300 which includes all meals, room & board, transportation, t-shirt, and activities. Registration deadline is May 18th.

Tennessee 4-H camps are a chance for youth to explore their relationship with the world around them while having loads of fun. Tennessee 4-H camps move by the motto “learn by doing” and also by 4-H’s experiential learning method of ‘Do, Reflect, and Apply.’ Youth are engaged and involved from the time they arrive to the time they depart,” says Daniel Sarver, a youth development specialist with UT Extension.

Not only are campers having fun, making new friends, and creating life-long memories, but they are learning responsibility and life skills while being away from home. Many parents may worry about sending their children to camp, but Tennessee 4-H camps are accredited by the American Camp Association, are directed by caring professionals and volunteers, which include on-site camp staff and county 4-H agents.

For more information and to register for camp, please stop by the UT/TSU Extension office located in County Complex or call 615-597-4945. Payment plans are available. 4-H is a proud part of UT/TSU Extension, the UT Institute of Agriculture, and the TSU Cooperative Extension Program. UT/TSU Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment through the cooperation of county, state, and federal governments. Programs are open to all people regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or disability.

The City of Smithville will be losing more than $60,000 a year in local option sales tax revenue to the county.

A recent study by a Murfreesboro firm, under contract with the county, found that local sales tax revenue derived by a handful of businesses located near but outside the city limits of Smithville were erroneously being credited to the city instead of the county. That money, which comes to $60,568 for the last 12 months, will be re-directed from the city to the county. All future local sales tax receipts from those businesses will now be credited to the county.

City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson made the mayor and aldermen aware of the finding during Monday night’s monthly city council meeting.

“I got a letter from the Financial and Control Division of the Tennessee Department of Revenue concerning our local sales tax. They sent me a list of businesses and asked if they were inside or outside the incorporated city limits. Every one of those (businesses) they sent me were outside of the city limits. We’ve been collecting local sales taxes from those businesses for a long time. The state went back twelve months filed by the taxpayers of those businesses. The amount of local sales tax credited to the city in error is $60, 568. This amount will be deducted from the City of Smithville and credited to DeKalb County,” said Hendrixson.

The review was authorized by the county commission last October when it entered into a Revenue Enhancement Consulting Agreement with the Barrett Group of Murfreesboro.

During a prior workshop, Donna Barrett of the Barrett Group addressed the county commission to explain the proposal.

Under the agreement, the Barrett Group was to conduct a review to make sure the county is getting all the revenues it is due from various state taxes that local businesses pay including sales tax, Hall income tax, beer and liquor tax, excise tax, etc.

For example, if a municipality within the county is found from this review to be erroneously receiving any tax revenues from businesses outside of the municipality, then the mistake will be corrected and the tax money will be re-directed to the county.

The Barrett Group is to receive 50% of any extra revenues generated to the county from this review only for the first year. After the first year, no further fees will be paid to Barrett. Had the review turned up no mistakes, the county would not have owed Barrett anything.

DeKalb’s very first Creative Arts Camp is kicking off registration this week at the DeKalb Community Complex. Josh Issac the newly hired Director of the Complex is organizing this Camp for kids 1st grade through 8th grade who have a passion for all things Arts.

“ I am very excited to bring one of my dreams to life as we gear up for this Arts Camp that brings Music, Acting, and Art to our community,” said Issac.

This camp will be offered at the DeKalb Community Complex on June 4-8. The cost is $75. This pays for all supplies and cost of instructors. This team of instructors are highly trained and excited to teach your children. Helen Sifaik will teach Art, Kennette Dixon will teach Music, Josh Issac will teach Acting,

And Martha Melching will help with choreography and stage production. If you want more info or sign up please visit the Complex or call 615-597-2121. Deadline with no penalty will be May 26th.