DeKalb-Cannon County Producers Urged to Consider Risk Protection Coverage before March 15 Sales Closing Deadline

March 12, 2022
By:

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers of commercial fruits and vegetables they must file application for Noninsured Crop Assistance Disaster (NAP) Program coverage by the March 15, 2022 final sales closing date for the following crops: green beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, potatoes, okra, squash, peas, pumpkins, peppers, watermelons, cucumbers, cantaloupes, and hemp.

NAP provides catastrophic level (CAT) coverage based on the amount of loss that exceeds 50 percent of expected production at 55 percent of the average market price for the crop. The 2018 Farm Bill authorizes additional coverage levels ranging from 50 to 65 percent of production, in 5 percent increments, at 100 percent of the average market price. Additional coverage must be elected by a producer by the application closing date. Producers who elect additional coverage must pay a premium in addition to the service fee. Crops intended for grazing are not eligible for additional coverage.

Eligible producers must apply for coverage using form CCC-471, “Application for Coverage,” and pay the applicable service fee at the FSA office. The application and service fee must be filed by the application closing date. For all coverage levels, the NAP service fee is the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per administrative county, not to exceed a total of $1,950. Producers can elect increases coverage for additional premiums,” said Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency.

Beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged and qualifying veterans are eligible for a waiver of the service fee and a 50 percent premium reduction when they file form CCC-860. A “beginning farmer” is defined as a person who has not operated a farm for more than 10 years, and materially and substantially participates in the operation. For 2022, in DeKalb and Cannon counties, a “limited resource farmer” is defined as having gross farm sales less than or equal to $189,200 per year in each of the tax years 2019 and 2020 and less than $29,419 (Cannon Co.) or $26,500 (DeKalb Co.) in total household adjusted gross income each tax year 2019 and 2020. A “socially disadvantaged farmer” is defined as a farmer who is a member of groups such as: American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Asians, Asian Americans, Blacks, African Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and Women. A “veteran farmer” is defined as a farmer who has served in the Armed Forces and has operated a farm for less than 10 years, or first obtained status as a veteran during the most recent 10-year period.

For additional program details, contact the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, located at 647 Bright Hill Rd., or phone the office at 597-8225, extension 2.

March 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Sophomore Conner Close was named the DCHS Tiger basketball Most Valuable Player Friday night at the annual team banquet, while Senior Kadee Ferrell received the Lady Tiger MVP honor. Junior Amelia Atnip is the Most Valuable Cheerleader. The awards were sponsored by Love-Cantrell Funeral Home and presented by Chad and Shelia Kirby. The MVP and MVC awards are named in memory of Kirby’s grandfather Allen D. Hooper.

In addition to being named MVP, Close earned awards for scoring the most points during the season at 330 or 15 points per game. He was the team’s best three-point shooter at 34% and was selected to the 2nd team All-District 7AAA and named District 7AAA’s Most Improved Player. Close also made the DTC All-Star Team.

Along with having earned the MVP honor, Kadee Ferrell, a member of the 1,000-point club at DCHS, was recognized for having been named to the 1st Team All-District 7AAA and received awards for having the most rebounds and assists during the season. Ferrell also made the DTC All-Star Team.

The season for the Tigers ended with a loss to Cumberland County in the District 7AAA Tournament last month. The Tigers finished with an overall record of 13-14. The Lady Tigers wrapped up their season at 15-14 after losing to Upperman in the district tournament in February.

Other individual cheerleading awards included:
MVC: Amelia Atnip
Most Spirited: Macy Anderson
Best Stunts: Sara Moore
Best Jumps: Eden Garner
Best Dancer: Annabella Dakas
Best Cheer: Reese Williams
Most Improved: Chayla Knauer
Best Base & Best All Around: Katherine Gassaway
DEAR Award (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, & Responsibility: Katie Patterson

Other Lady Tiger basketball awards were as follows:
MVP: Kadee Ferrell
Most Rebounds & Most Assists: Kadee Ferrell
Miss Hustle: Madison Martin
Defensive MVP: Xharia Lyons
Offensive MVP & Best Free Throw Shooter: Ella Van Vranken
Most Improved: Ella Hendrixson
Best Three Point Shooter: Avery Agee
Toughest: Cam Branin
GATA (Get A Team Attitude) Leadership Award: Natalie Snipes

In addition to Kadee Ferrell being named to the 1st Team All-District 7AAA, Ella VanVranken made the 2nd team All-District 7AAA, while Avery Agee earned All-District 7AAA Honorable Mention and was selected to the District 7AAA All-Freshman Team. Both Van Vranken and Ferrell made the DTC All-Star Team

For the Tigers,
MVP: Conner Close
Best Three Point Shooter (34%): Conner Close
Most Points (330 -15 per game): Conner Close
Most Rebounds (145): Stetson Agee
Mr. Hustle & Toughest Player: Isaac Knowles
Defensive MVP: Brayden Antoniak
Best Two Point Shooter (60%): Brayden Antoniak
Most Assists (55): Elishah Ramos
Best Foul Shooter (77%): Stetson Agee
Most Improved: Robert Wheeler
Offensive MVP: Elishah Ramos

Six Tigers earned All-District Basketball honors.
In addition to Conner Close being named to the 2nd Team All-District 7AAA and the District 7 AAA’s Most Improved Player, Elishah Ramos made the 3rd Team All-District 7AAA; Brayden Antoniak and Stetson Agee received District 7 AAA Honorable Mention; Brayden Antoniak and Isaac Knowles made the District 7 AAA’s All Defensive Team, while Jordan Parker was selected to the District 7 AAA’s All-Freshman Team. Both Close and Antoniak made the DTC All-Star Team.

March 11, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Blood Assurance recently hosted a special blood drive asking donors to step up and give blood but also to help raise money for God’s Food Pantry in Smithville. With each unit of blood collected, a $10 donation was made by Blood Assurance and matched by DeKalb County Clerk James L. “Jimmy” Poss.

On Thursday, Trudy Cody, Blood Assurance donor recruiter/account manager and County Clerk Poss presented their donations by check totaling $335.00 combined to Pat Zornow and Hilda Oakley of God’s Food Pantry.

Cody said through this “Great Give Back” effort, Blood Assurance, with the help of County Clerk Poss, was able to help further the pantry’s mission to feed the hungry and meet their other needs year-round.

“Blood Assurance supplies local hospitals with blood products, and we ask people every day to donate, and they are so good to come out and do that, but we also want to do a little something more for the community so each December we have a blood drive called the “Great Give Back” where we partner with a local charity or non-profit organization to help raise money for them. Jimmy (Poss), who partners with Blood Assurance for our Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Drives, suggested that for the December “Great Give Back” we raise money for God’s Food Pantry so we did the blood drive, Blood Assurance donated $10 per donor, and Jimmy matched that. We were very proud to be able to help out,” said Cody.

“I have been working with Trudy for several years helping organize and promote the “Neighbors Helping Neighbors blood drives so when she called me in December it was an opportunity to participate with her on something new (Great Give Back) which I was unaware of. I told Trudy I would be glad to join and help and I would match whatever she collected to go to Gods Food Pantry to help them carry on their mission,” said County Clerk Poss.

“We are thankful for this donation,” said Zornow. “ We always need the cash to not only purchase food, but we pay for utilities and rent for those in need including the homeless. Last week it was $1,300 alone to get an elderly couple into a place where they are now off the street. We use the money for other purposes too. Its not just for food. It’s the whole person approach. You can’t just give them food and let them live outside. There are so many needs out there and we don’t care what county they come from. We had Children Services here this morning. They sometimes have a difficult time getting food from other counties when they are transferring children from county to county but we don’t question. We’ll pack up several boxes for them to feed those kids. We never ask. We just do whatever we need to do,” said Zornow.

God’s Food Pantry, like many other organizations and businesses, has experienced supply chain issues recently and could use all the help anyone can provide.

“Today (Thursday) we were supposed to get a delivery from Second Harvest but it’s not coming until next week and that is what we are dealing with. We would normally be stockpiled to the ceiling and have more food in here but it’s just not available to purchase any more so we are having a hard time getting quantities. We can order from Food Lion if they can get it in like cereals and crackers but many times they don’t get it in so we have to scrounge here and there to find some things,” said Zornow.

“People don’t realize the need is out there like it is. It’s awful. There are so many, and people you wouldn’t think about, that need help. I have been working with God’s Food Pantry since 2008 after I retired and really enjoy it because I know I am helping other people,” added Oakley.

God’s Food Pantry is located at 430 East Broad Street. Call 615-597-4540 to leave a message and someone will promptly return your call.

For more information about Blood Assurance visit https://www.bloodassurance.org/

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