News
March 10, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
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, 2025 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.
Beginning farmers, limited resource farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers and qualifying veteran farmers 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 2025, in DeKalb and Cannon counties, a “limited resource farmer” is defined as having gross farm sales less than or equal to $227,100 per year in each of the tax years 2022 and 2023 and less than $33,658 in total household adjusted gross income each tax year 2022 and 2023. 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.
Three People Sentenced in Criminal Court
March 9, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
Three people were sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Wednesday, March 5.
42-year-old Krista Shaynae Hodges entered a plea by criminal information to tampering with evidence and received a three-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. After two years of probation if she is in compliance with probation, she can be moved to good behavior probation.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that in September 2023 a detective obtained a search warrant for a residence and two phones resulting in charges for illegal possession of drugs and weapons. While looking through the evidence on the Samsung Galaxy A03s the phone shut down and then remotely reset but all information that had been on the phone was lost. Later, an inmate at the jail had a video visit with Hodges which was recorded. On the video, Hodges admitted to having remotely reset the phone. According to Sheriff Ray, Hodges’ act of deleting evidence from the phone effectively hindered the drug investigation.
In other cases, 46-year-old Zeb Donovan Pololu entered a plea to simple possession of a schedule II drug and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $750 and granted judicial diversion.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, November 26, 2021 a deputy stopped a red Chevrolet mini van for the traffic offense of crossing the highway’s middle white dotted lines several times. He then spoke with the driver, Pololu who had no insurance. After obtaining consent to search the vehicle, the officer found in a baggie inside a pocketbook 2.13 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Also recovered were other baggies and two scales, one of which had a white substance on it.
23-year-old Christopher Edward Spoon-Murphy, Jr. entered a plea by criminal information to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) under 0.5 grams and was sentenced to six years to serve at 30% before his release eligibility date. He was fined $2,000. The sentence is to run concurrently with two violation of probation cases against him. Spoon was given 305 days jail credit.
The Joey Reeder Baseball Field Dedication (View Video Here)
March 7, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
The Joey Reeder Baseball Field!
Seven months after the Board of Education voted to name the high school baseball field in honor of the legendary coach, a formal dedication ceremony was held Friday evening at DCHS.
Family, friends, former players, and others gathered for the tribute which took place prior to the Tigers game against Macon County. Surrounding him on the field during the ceremony were Reeder’s mother Faye, his wife Shelby, daughter and son-in-law, Paige and Byron Adcock, and granddaughters Stella and Lakelyn. Coach Reeder also threw the game’s ceremonial first pitch.
After falling behind 5 to 0 in the first inning, the Tigers rallied later in the game but lost to the visiting Macon County Tigers 20 to 14.
Coach Reeder guided the Tiger baseball team from 1982 to 1997.
WJLE’s Voice of the Tigers John Pryor emceed the following tribute.
“On August 8, 2024 the Board of Education voted to name the Tiger baseball field as the Joey Reeder Field due to his 16 years of dedication to the program, the players, and outstanding accomplishments”.
“From the years 1982 to 1997 he led his teams to an overall record of 387 wins and 146 losses for a winning percentage of 73%. His district record was 179 wins and only 15 losses for a district winning percentage of 92% and a post season record of 55 wins and 23 losses for a winning percentage of 71%”.
“During his baseball tenure Coach Reeder won 13 district regular season championships, 13 district tournament championships, 2 district runners-up, 1 district 3rd place, 2 regional championships, and 2 state quarterfinals. Two of his teams ranked in the Johnson City News High School Baseball poll top 25 for the Tennessee Classification”.
“Joey Reeder was a 12-time District Coach of the Year, the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association District Coach of the Year 4 times. The Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year, Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year, and he was named as Coach of the Tennessee High School All Star Game for the East Squad 2 years”.
“During his tenure coaching DeKalb County High School Tiger baseball, his impact on players consisted of 17 players who played college baseball and two players who were selected in the major league draft”.
“We would like to thank the school board for commemorating Joey Reeder, his former player’s accomplishments, and his family for their unwavering support”.
“Finally, on behalf of the former students, your colleagues, and especially your former players, we would all like to thank you for making our lives better and congratulations to you for this well deserved honor Coach Joey Reeder”.
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