The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released new Temporary Emergency Food Program products for the 2008 Commodity distributions announced Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency’s Executive Director Phyllis R. Bennett.
Commodities are surplus agricultural items that are given back to American families through government agencies.
In the Upper Cumberland region, the UCHRA distributes commodities in Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren and White Counties. “UCHRA holds distributions every other month with several hours of distribution at each location,” said Commodity Director Rebecca Harris.
Recertification must be complete before the 2008 distribution. This recertification process is scheduled for January 2 through January 15, 2008 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at your local UCHRA office located at 527 West Main Street in Smithville.
You are encouraged to bring the appropriate documentation and make arrangements to come by during the above dates. Individuals and families receiving commodities through the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency have to be recertified each year to maintain their eligibility. Those persons who receive either Food Stamps, Families First, SSI, LIHEAP or who live in public housing must bring proof that they participate in these programs, and they are automatically eligible for commodities and/or completion of a signed, self-declaration income statement that the total amount of household income is below 150% of the current income poverty guidelines. Individuals who wish to have someone else do their recertification must send a note with the person authorizing them to do so.
The USDA’s Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program is available to all recipients regardless of race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap.

A 45 year old Sparta man was arrested on New Year’s Day after running his vehicle into a county patrol car.
Charlie Lee Shockley of Oakwood Drive, Sparta was arrested for DUI and evading arrest.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says deputies were traveling on Highway 56 south when they met Shockley, who almost hit their patrol car. The officers then turned around and went after Shockley who had turned down Seven Springs Road. Shockley continued onto Old Bildad Road where he wrecked in a curve in a ditch. The vehicle was facing the patrol car. After Shockley’s vehicle stopped in the roadway, Shockley floored the accelerator and ran his vehicle into the patrol car and then hit a tree. Damage to the Patrol car was to the front bumper headlight and fender. After hitting the tree, Shockley was placed under arrest.
Shockley’s bond was set at $4,000 and his court date is February 7th.
The wreck was investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The Annual Membership Banquet of the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce is set for Thursday, January 31st at Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church on Allen Ferry Road, Smithville. The special evening begins with a “Silent Auction” at 5:30 p.m. The dinner and program starts at 6:00 p.m.
The keynote speaker will be popular author and radio personality, Karlen Evins. In addition, the Leadership DeKalb Alumni group will present their winners for “Community Leader of the Year” and “Legacy” awards. Chamber Board Members including the newly elected board members will also be introduced.
Along with entertainment, a meal will be served and a “Silent Auction” will be held. Each Chamber member is asked to donate an item for the Silent Auction. Please contact the Chamber office as soon as possible and let them know what you will offer.
Tickets are $20 per person and may be purchased from any of the 15 board members or they may be picked up at the Chamber office located at 301 N. Public Square, Smithville.

The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was called out to a New Year’s Day grass fire in the Meadowbrook and Green Acre Drive area Tuesday.
Fire Chief Charlie Parker says the fire came close to some houses, but no structures were damaged and no one was injured. “We responded to a grass fire back in behind Meadowbrook Drive. It started around Green Acre Drive. With the high, gusty winds, the fire spread across the grassy field at a pretty good rate. We called the Tennessee Forestry Division because it was in a grassy wooded area. We got them to help us contain the fire because it was headed toward the back of some houses. We measured it out. It was just a little over nine acres that had burned.”
Parked added “It looked like somebody had started it right beside the roadside. They either threw something out or set it on fire right beside the road. We’re still looking into that to see if we can find any suspects and how it actually did start.”

Early Voting dates and times are set for the February 5th DeKalb County Democratic Primary and Tennessee Presidential Preference Primary.
Early voting will be held January 16th through January 31st from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
Meanwhile the last date to register to vote in time for the primary is January 7th.
DeKalb County voters will select Democratic nominees for Constable and Assessor of Property on February 5th.
The candidates are Incumbent Timothy (Fud) Banks and challengers Roy Merriman and Willie Thomas. The winner will face Republican nominee John David Foutch and Independent candidate Sandy C. Brown in the DeKalb County General Election on August 7th.
Democratic candidates for constable are Incumbent Wayne Vanderpool in the third district, Paul Cantrell in the fourth district, Incumbent Mark Milam in the fifth district, Cantrell Jones in the sixth district and Mary Ann Thomason and Johnny King in the seventh district.
The nominees for constable chosen on February 5th will be unopposed in the August 7th General Election. No candidate from either party qualified to run for constable in the first district and Second District Republican Incumbent Reed Edge will be unopposed in August.
Voters will also be voting for their favorite candidates for President in the Tennessee Democratic and Republican Presidential Preference Primaries on February 5th. The Presidential Election will be in November.
Voters must declare in which primary they will be voting, either Democratic or Republican. You cannot vote in both.
The candidates for President in the Democratic Primary are Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson.
Candidates for President in the Republican Primary are Rudy Giuliana, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, and Fred Thompson. Tancredo has already dropped out of the race.