Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, announces that the 2014 FSA county committee elections are underway as ballots were mailed to eligible voters in Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 2 of DeKalb County and Local Administrative Area # 4 of Cannon County on November 3rd. December 1, 2014 is the deadline for eligible voters to return ballots, either post marked in the mail or delivered in person, to their local FSA offices.
“The FSA county committee system is unique among government agencies, because it allows producers to make important decisions concerning the local administration of federal farm programs,” said Green. “I urge all eligible farmers and ranchers, especially minorities and women, to get involved and make a real difference in their communities by voting in this year’s elections.”
Committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on disaster and conservation payments, establishment of allotments and yields, producer appeals, employing FSA county executive directors and other local issues. FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws.
To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm, can also vote. Agricultural producers in each country submitted candidate names during the nomination period held last summer.
Eligible voters in DeKalb County LAA # 2 or Cannon County LAA # 4 who did not receive a ballot can obtain a ballot at their local USDA Service Center. December 1, 2014 is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than December 1, 2014. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office January 1st, 2015.
Close to 7,700 FSA county committee members serve in the 2,124 FSA offices nationwide. Each committee consists of 3 to 11 members who serve 3-year terms. Approximately one-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. More information on county committees, such as the new 2014 fact sheet and brochures, can be found on the FSA website atwww.fsa.usda.gov/elections or at a local USDA Service Center.

One man is dead and another wounded after a shooting arising from a domestic disturbance Sunday evening at 308 Steeple Chase Drive in Smithville.
According to Smithville Police, Darrell Knowles forced his way into the residence and was met by Josh Hawkins. The two men got into a scuffle. Knowles allegedly pulled a handgun and shot Hawkins once in the arm. Although police have not yet completed their investigation, WJLE has learned from sources that Knowles may have died from a self inflicted gunshot wound. He passed away at the scene.
The incident occurred at the home of Knowles’ father-in-law, where Hawkins had come to drop off his children for his ex-wife, who was married to Knowles.
911 received the call of the shooting at 4:51 p.m.
Police were called to the residence about an hour prior to the shooting after Knowles had shown up and gotten into a verbal argument with his wife. Officers had Knowles to leave the premises at that time.
Following the shooting, Hawkins was taken to DeKalb Community Hospital and then later transported to a Nashville hospital for further treatment of his wound, which is not believed to be life threatening.
No one else at the residence was harmed as a result of the disturbance and shooting.
The investigation is being conducted by the Smithville Police Department.
Knowles once worked as a trooper for the Tennessee Highway Patrol

Smithville Police are investigating an armed robbery which occurred Friday morning at Jewel’s Market on South Congress Boulevard.
According to Lieutenant Detective Matt Holmes, the lone robber, believed to be male, entered the convenience store around 9:45 a.m. wearing a mask and carrying a rifle. He approached the clerk and demanded money from the register. The clerk handed him an undisclosed amount of cash. The robber then left the store, got in what was described as a white SUV and fled southbound on Highway 56.
No one was injured.
Although police have followed up on leads after the holdup, no arrests have yet been made. The investigation continues.

The local Woodmen of the World Family Fraternity and Transportation Supervisor Jimmy Sprague hosted school bus drivers to a luncheon Friday at the county complex.
In addition to being treated to a meal, the bus drivers were recognized for their years of service and presented pins by Regina Wilhite, Field Representative for Woodmen of the World.
Some bus drivers recognized were not present.
Bus drivers named and their years of service are as follows:
Starr Ferrell: 37 years
Bobby Martin: 35 years
Danny Bond: 35 years
Lynn Griffith: 32 years
Elaine Davis: 32 years
Myron Rhody: 25 years
Dewayne Cantrell: 24 years
Bill Fowler: 22 years
Ronald Merriman: 22 years
Debbie Eaton: 20 years
Linda Fowler: 18 years
Darnette Hibdon: 17 years
Marshall Ferrell: 17 years
June Dodd: 15 years
Jenean Lawson: 13 years
Kim Lawson: 12 years
Suzanne Dunn: 12 years
Bobby Taylor: 11 years
Freda Johnson: 10 years
Melissa Hicks: 10 years
Julie Fitts: 8 years
Angela Wilkerson: 8 years
Coriene Siefert: 8 years
Dwight Knowles: 6 years
Gayle Pack: 6 years
Carol Swope: 4 years
Donald Haggard: 4 years
Donnie Lewis: 3 years
Debbie London: 3 years
Judy Wiggins: 3 years
Kathy Jacobs: 3 years
Ken Taylor: 3 years
Mike Merriman: 2 years
Rickey Edwards: 2 years
Danny Washer: 2 years
Shara Cowan: 1 year
Danny Jenkins: new hire

A DCHS student who bragged to a fellow classmate about bringing a gun to school was taken into custody Friday after two air soft pistols were found in his automobile parked on campus.
Sheriff Patrick Ray told WJLE that the 17 year old boy is charged in a juvenile petition with committing a delinquent act, to wit: carrying or possessing weapons on school property. He will appear before Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II on December 3.
According to Sheriff Ray, the boy told another student at school Friday that he had a gun in his pocket. When the student said she didn’t believe him, the boy claimed he was serious and held his hand inside the pocket of a sweatshirt he wore in a manner that made it appear he had a gun. The teen never displayed a weapon and made no threats toward anyone, according to Sheriff Ray.
The incident was reported to assistant principal David Gash. Both Gash and Principal Patrick Cripps went to the boy’s classroom, pulled him out of class and searched him. Finding no weapons on the boy, Gash and Cripps went to his vehicle and found two air soft pistols, which resembled real guns. One of them was loaded.
When confronted about the air soft guns, the boy admitted that they belonged to him. He was brought by the School Resource Officer to the Sheriff’s Department . After consulting with the District Attorney General, officers filed a juvenile petition against the teen.
Airsoft pistols shoot plastic pellets commonly known as “BBs.

The Smithville-DeKalb Co. Chamber of Commerce recently presented a Milestone Award to Tenneco celebrating 20 years in business in Smithville. Tenneco employs over 400 employees currently at the Smithville plant. Tenneco manufactures exhaust systems for cars and light duty trucks for Chrysler, GM, Nissan and Toyota.
(PICTURED:
Chamber Director Suzanne Williams, Leadership DeKalb Director Jen Sherwood, Tenneco Plant Controller Anthony Cantrell, Tenneco Plant Manager Jeff Starkey, Tenneco Human Resources Manager Tammie Russell, County Mayor Tim Stribling, Chamber Board Past President Janna Gillard, Chamber Board Secretary Joan Barrett, Chamber Board President Julia Cantrell Vanderpool

A fire Thursday morning has left a family homeless.
David Agee, Assistant County Fire Chief, told WJLE that the fire occurred at a residence belonging to Patricia Fletcher at 5920 McMinnville Highway. Firefighters arrived on the scene and found the home fully engulfed in flames. They were unable to save the structure and all the family’s belongings were lost.
Members of the Keltonburg, Blue Springs, and Short Mountain Highway Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with the tanker and equipment trucks.
Jeania Poss of the local chapter of the American Red Cross came to the scene to help meet immediate needs of the family. If you would like to help, contact Jeania.

Fourth district member Kate Miller met with her colleagues on the Board of Education for the first time Thursday night during the regular monthly session.

Prior to the meeting, Miller was sworn into office by County Mayor Tim Stribling at the Board of Education Building.
Miller was appointed by the county commission last month to serve a portion of her husband Billy Miller’s unexpired term on the school board. Billy Miller had to resign due to job obligations.
Kate Miller will serve as an appointee until the August 2016 County General Election. The election will be held to fill the remaining two years of Billy Miller’s unexpired term which ends August 31, 2018.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby presented Billy Miller a School Bell Award in appreciation for his four years of service on the Board of Education.
Meanwhile, Director Willoughby presented his monthly update on personnel moves.
Employment:
Alison O’Conner,teacher at Smithville Elementary School
Danny VanDyne, custodian at SES
Heather Billings, substitute cafeteria worker
James Storie, cafeteria worker at SES
Martha Wheeler, substitute cafeteria worker
Donna McManus, substitute cafeteria worker
Danny Jenkins, as a full time bus driver
Vickey Atnip, Special Education Assistant SES
Sharon Hunter, Special Education Assistant SES
Substitute Teachers:
Deana Hale, Shirley Ingram, Chris Chapman, Vickie Burton, Walter Burton, Darcie Cripps, Betty Fisk, Carol Hale, LaTonya Kleparek, Layne Mathis, Michelle Overstreet, Helga Thompson and Gabriella Vanatta.
Transfers:
Debora Cunningham, Special Education Assistant transferred from DCHS to SES
B.J. Thomason, transferred from full time to substitute bus driver
Stephanie Reeder, transferred from substitute cafeteria to full time Title I Assistant SES
Jennifer Roller, transferred from Title Assistant to Special Education Assistant
Teresa Billings, substitute cafeteria worker to full time
Peggy Sutton, substitute cafeteria worker to full time
Marsha Martin, substitute cafeteria worker to full time
Resignations:
Ana Guzman, custodian at SES
Chelsea Grissom, teacher at SES
Myra Fox, Special Education Assistant at SES
Kenneth Gordon, Special Education Assistant at SES
Stephanie Walker-Dyer, Food Nutrition Supervisor
Leave of Absence:
Amy Fox, Special Education Teacher leave as requested
Jamie Wright, Site Coordinator at DCHS, leave as requested
Tiffany Cowart, SES teacher leave as requested
Rebecca Whimpey, Special Education teacher at DeKalb Middle School leave as requested

Have you had your flu shot?
The DeKalb County Health Department will host a Flu Clinic on Thursday, December 11 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary.
Flu vaccines are also available at the Family Medical Center and the Good Health Family Clinic.
Certain people are at especially high risk of serious illness or death from influenza, especially the elderly and the very young. People who live with or care for those at high risk for serious illness also should be vaccinated to prevent exposing them to the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that individuals in the following groups receive the vaccine unless their health care provider has told them otherwise:
Children aged 6 months through 59 months (up to the 5th birthday); pregnant women (or those who will be pregnant during flu season); adults aged 50 years and older (especially those 65 and older); residents of long term care facilities; people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes); all healthcare workers; and household members and caregivers of people in these high risk groups.

The holiday season is near and DeKalb County will soon be celebrating.
The Alexandria Christmas Parade is set for Sunday, November 30 at 2:00 p.m. with the line-up forming at 1:00 p.m. To enter or for more information, call Bennett Armstrong at 954-999-3828.
The Smithville Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 6th starting at 1:00 p.m. at Smithville Elementary. To enter call or leave a message with Jeff Wright at 597-6750 or John Poss 597-1135. Antique cars and Horse riders do not have to pre-register. All others need to call by December 4th to make sure you are included in the lineup.
The Liberty Christmas Parade is scheduled for Sunday, December 7 starting at 2:00 p.m. The lineup begins at 1:00 p.m. Prizes will be given away. Come meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. For more information call Charlotte Bratten at 464-8085.