Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb County Farm Service Agency, announces that due to the extreme drought situation that has been ongoing since January 1, 2007, DeKalb County FSA has been authorized to implement the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). Green stresses, “although we have been authorized to accept applications for cost-share assistance, there is no guarantee that funding will become available. However, if you would like to be considered for cost-share approval, you should immediately complete an application for ECP cost-share assistance in hopes of anticipated program funding.
DeKalb County’s ECP signup period will begin October 15 and will continue through 4:30 p.m. on November 4, 2007. This program will provide a maximum of 50% cost share if funding becomes available. Applicants must incur at least $1,000 in cost before cost-share can be approved. Eligible expenses for cost-share under this program include: installing pipelines to another water source, water storage facilities, including above ground tanks and troughs, constructing or deepening wells, permanently installed submersible pumps of adequate size to address livestock water needs, solar panels to provide pump power, contractor costs for hauling water to livestock, portable or permanent holding/storage tanks, truck rental for delivering water to livestock, personal or hired labor for delivering livestock water, and pipelines for livestock watering facilities. All expenses must be documented and must be limited to direct costs incurred as a result of the drought and beyond the normal operation of the farm.
Livestock producers who wish to apply for USDA cost-share assistance should immediately visit the DeKalb County Farm Service Agency office to file an application. Green reminds all applicants that, although his office is accepting the requests, this does not imply that cost share assistance will be made available. If funds become available, the applications processed will receive funding if all eligibility requirements are met. Applications received after 4:30 p.m. on November 4, 2007 will not be approved.

Laura England of Smithville recently participated in the “white coat” ceremony and pledged her commitment to the profession of optometry during the 22nd annual convocation ceremony held at Southern College of Optometry (SCO) in Memphis.
First-year students received their first “white coat” and recited the optometric oath signifying their entrance into the profession of optometry.
A first-year student at SCO, Laura England earned her undergraduate degree from Tennessee Tech. In biochemistry and graduated from DeKalb County High School in 2003. She is the daughter of Brian and Janet England.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2007, Southern College of Optometry was established in Memphis, Tennessee in 1932. SCO is an independent, not-for-profit institution of higher education with a mission to educate men and women in the art and science of optometry.

For student safety reasons, DeKalb County Schools will be closed Tuesday, February 5th for the DeKalb County Democratic Primary and the Tennessee Presidential Preference Primary.
The Board of Education Thursday night voted to close schools that day since the election commission normally uses DeKalb Middle School and Smithville Elementary School as polling places.
Students, who were scheduled to be out of school on May 9th, will now attend that day. Teachers, who were scheduled to attend school for a professional development/instruction day on May 9th, will now attend February 5th
Officials say when school is open on election day, it compromises the safety of the children. The activity in the polling place could allow a non-custodial parent access to a child or allow child predators to roam the halls, and could even be the way for a violent act to be committed against the children and staff.

A DeKalb County man has been indicted on Federal gun charges.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 33 year old Troy Perkins of Mountain View Drive ,Smithville was indicted on October 3rd for being a convicted felon in possession of a fire arm.
The indictment states that “On or about April 19th, 2007, in the Middle District of Tennessee, Troy Perkins, having previously been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce, a firearm, to wit, a : Mossberg model 500A 12 gauge shotgun, Marlin model 60 .22 caliber rifle, Marlin model Glenfield 60 .22 caliber rifle, Winchester model 1200 12 gauge shotgun, Marlin model 336 30-30 caliber rifle, Stevens model 110 30-06 caliber rifle, Taurus model PT92 .9 mm pistol, Smith and Wesson model 66 .357 caliber revolver, Smith and Wesson model 40ve .40 caliber pistol. In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g) (1) and 924.
Sheriff Ray says authorities went to Perkins’ residence located at Mountain View Drive Smithville on April 19th and found 62 pills believed to be Xanax in an unmarked bottle, over one and one-half pounds of marijuana and three jars of moonshine. In addition, pipes, rolling papers, scales, marijuana cigarettes, three handguns and six long guns were found and confiscated. Officers also seized $515, believed to be proceeds from drug sales. He was charged with possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance (Xanax) for resale, possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana) for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of un-taxed alcoholic beverages (moonshine) in DeKalb County. The Tennessee Department of Revenue was contacted and assessed Perkins a $3,000 tax, which he has paid. The Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agency was also notified since Perkins is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess a firearm. Perkins is currently under a $90,000 bond and is still incarcerated in the DeKalb County Jail awaiting a trial.
Meanwhile, on Monday, October 8th, 30 year old Ernest Edward Hill of Chumley Road Watertown and 24 year old Warren Brandon Glasby of Poss Road Smithville were arrested for Burglary and Theft of property over $1,000.00.
Sheriff Ray says the two allegedly entered an outbuilding on Popular Road in the Silver Point area of DeKalb County. Roofing tin and a 1965 flatbed ton truck were stolen. The truck has been recovered. More arrests are pending. Bond for both was set at $30,000 each and their court date is October 18th.
On Wednesday, October 10th, 24 year old Ashley Nichole Owen of Twilla Lane Smithville was charged with theft of property over $1,000. Sheriff Ray says Owen allegedly took 5 long guns and a video camera from a residence on Twilla Lane. Some of the rifles have been recovered. Owens bond was set at $25,000 and her court date is October 18th.
Also on Wednesday, 45 year old Linda Barrett West of Highway 70 East, Lake Motel was arrested on several drug charges. Detectives arrested West after they found various drugs and drug paraphernalia in her room. West was charged with possession of a schedule II drug (Dilaudid) for sale and delivery, possession of a schedule III drug (Hydocodone) for sale and delivery, possession of a schedule IV drug (Darvocet) for sale and delivery, simple possession of a legend Drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia (hypodermic needles and straws). West was also charged with possession of a schedule II drug (Dilaudid) after she threw down a small container which contained one dilaudid pill that she had hidden in her pants. West’s bond was set at $78,500 and her court date is November 1st.

The DeKalb County Board of Education is making plans for a school building program to meet existing and future space and curriculum needs.
Under consideration is a proposal to build a new high school for grades 9 to 12, renovate the existing high school making it into the new location for DeKalb Middle school for grades 5-8, make renovations and additions to DeKalb West School, make Northside Elementary a school for grades 2 to 4, and make Smithville Elementary a school for Pre-K and first grade. The total project cost is between $34-million and $40-million dollars.
Members of the school board met in a workshop session Thursday night, prior to the regular meeting, with Mike Brock, David Brown, and Pam Huddleston of Kaatz, Binkley, Jones, and Morris Architects, Incorporated. The company has two locations, one in Mount Juliet and another in Knoxville.
This firm has prepared, at no cost to the county or school system, a facility study which shows the classroom capacity, the actual student population, and the core capacity of each school. Brown says the purpose of the study is to “gather enough information from the director, teachers, administrators,and the community, and then put it all together from our architectural and school design perspective to give you some ideas as to what the status of your schools are right now and what your options are for handling growth and overcrowding and how to address issues should you decide to build new or add on to existing schools.”
Brown explained that the classroom capacity, on the elementary school level, is based on the BEP student/teacher ratio formula. The core capacity is the number of students for which the school was designed and built to accommodate.
According to the survey, DeKalb West School has a classroom capacity of 470, a student population of 428, and a core capacity of 320. Since the core capacity number should be larger than the classroom capacity and student population, Brown says this means that DeKalb West School is “growing by more students than they have school to handle”.
Brown says the core capacity is also exceeded by the student population at Smithville Elementary School. According to the survey, the classroom capacity at SES is 740, the student population is 645, and the core capacity is 528.
The study shows that student overcrowding is currently not a major concern at Northside Elementary and DeKalb Middle School as far as infrastructure, but Brown says “that doesn’t mean there are not other issues there. One of the most critical issues you can face is overcrowding or exceeding the infrastructure of the school. There are some issues on that front at DeKalb West and Smithville Elementary, but not quite as bad at Northside and DeKalb Middle School.”
According to the study, the classroom capacity at Northside Elementary School is 575, the student population is 526, and the core capacity is 750.
At DeKalb Middle School, the classroom capacity is 620, the student population is 527, and the core capacity is 800.
Brown explained that there is a different set of design criteria for high schools. While elementary schools are designed around classroom BEP student/teacher ratios, high schools are designed around curriculums and courses offered.
The student population at DeKalb County High School is 821 and the core capacity is 1000. Brown explained that while the typical size of a high school is 175 to 200 square feet per student, DeKalb County High School is at 145 square feet per student, and the reason the core capacity number is larger than the student population is primarily due to the addition of the cafeteria a few years ago, which created more square footage, but didn’t fully address other curriculum issues. Brown says new or more modern elementary schools are now usually designed for 125 square feet per student and 150 square feet per student for newer middle schools.
The architects have proposed that a new high school be built for grades 9 to 12. This facility would not only address the space and curriculum needs at the high school level but would also avoid large addition/renovation projects at the middle school and elementary schools. The approximate student population would be 850 with a core capacity of 1,200 for a core utilization of 70% and an average of 212 students per grade. A new 1,200 student high school facility (with athletic fields) would cost $28-million to $32-million dollars.
The plan calls for renovation of the existing high school into a grade 5-8 DeKalb Middle School with an approximate population of 675 and a core capacity of 1,000 with a core utilization of 68% and an average of 168 students per grade.
According to the study, DeKalb West would remain a Pre-K to eighth grade school but there would be additions and renovations to increase the core capacity of the school. The plan calls for the kitchen/cafeteria to either be expanded or replaced as well as the addition of four classrooms. The approximate population would be 428 with a core capacity of 600, a core utilization of 71%, and an average of 48 students per grade. The proposed addition would increase the core capacity. The estimated cost of making the addition to DeKalb West including a new kitchen/cafeteria, classrooms, and administration would be $1.5 million to $2- million dollars.
Northside Elementary would become a school for grades 2 to 4. The second grade would be moved from Smithville Elementary and the fifth grade would go from Northside to DeKalb Middle School. This would relieve the pressure on SES without requiring an addition at Northside. The approximate population at Northside would be 508 with a core capacity of 750, core utilization of 67%, and an average of 170 students per grade. The renovation at Smithville Elementary, Northside, and DeKalb Middle Schools is projected to be $750,000 to $1.5 million dollars.
By moving the second grade to Northside Elementary, Smithville Elementary’s student population would be back within the natural core capacity of the school without an addition, although some minor renovation would still be needed. The approximate student population at SES would be 477, the core capacity 528 and the core utilization would be at 90%.
The study further finds that since there is not a need for another elementary school in this configuration, the existing DeKalb Middle School could be re-tasked as an Adult Learning Center, Alternative School, offices, etc.
Again, the preliminary budget to fund this project comes to $34-million to $40-million which includes, in addition to the construction costs, $650,000 to $750,000 for furniture and equipment; $500,000 to $600,000 for technology; $1.8 million to $2.2 million in fees for site survey, geotechnical, civil engineering, environmental, fire marshal, legal, design, printing and a 3% contingency of $900,000 to $1 million dollars.
The budget figures do not include additional code required upgrades to existing facilities and do not include land acquisition costs. The figures may change based on site survey, environmental and geotechnical information not yet provided. These budget figures should be valid for 12 to 18 months.
This facility study was only presented to the board for review during the workshop and was not discussed during the regular meeting Thursday night. The board has taken no action on it.

Natural gas customers could see lower home heating costs this winter
Les Enoch, CEO of Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, told WJLE Thursday that prices have stabilized. “There is good news for winter heating bills. Natural gas prices have stabilized and if the weather is about the same as last year, gas bills should be about 4% lower.”
“The District has made a concerted effort to stabilize prices for our customers benefit and we believe we’ve been successful. The District’s cost of gas has stabilized as a result of several factors, including favorable purchasing strategies, abundant storage, and increased production activity. A significant portion of our winter supply is already in storage. We are currently 95% full and the price is lower than last year. This helps all of us and of course we’re passing the savings along to our customers.”
Enoch urges consumers to conserve as much energy as possible to save even more money this winter.”Now is a good time to winterize your home. Improving insulation levels, weatherstripping, changing the filters, and keeping thermostats at the lowest possible comfort level will all save energy and reduce gas bills. For example, during the winter, for every degree you lower your thermostat, you save about 3% on your heating bill”

In addition to the farmers, the early freeze and the summer drought has hit the nursery business hard and many nurserymen are hoping to cash in on federal crop insurance.
However, according to the growers, crop insurance only covers dead plants. So while a row-crop farmer can till under a brown field of soybeans, nurserymen must wait, and even if damaged plants survive, growers say consumers would not likely pay full price for them.
U.S. Senator Bob Corker heard from some nurserymen Tuesday during his town hall meeting in Smithville.
Congress has declared the entire state an agriculture disaster area, but that only qualifies those enrolled in the federal crop insurance program for low-interest loans, and many don’t want to take on more debt.
Corker says he understands the problem .”Lamar (Alexander) and I both lobbied the Agriculture Secretary to have our state named a federal disaster area, which he did. We did it both for the freeze in the spring and for the drought later this year. The problem with that is, all it does is make the agriculture community able to access loans, and you can imagine, if you lose a year’s production and then you borrow money to cover that, all it does is dig a deeper hole that sometimes takes seven to twenty years to dig out of.”
“There are a couple of things happening. First, Senator Richard Shelby from Alabama is offering an amendment during this next session, before we leave for the year, to change the date upon which access to direct disaster relief occurs. It’s going to be made to the end of this fiscal year, which would cover the drought that has taken place in the State of Tennessee. Secondly, the agriculture bill is coming through. The Senate mark up right now actually has a permanent category for disaster relief.”
“This has been the worst drought in any recent time, I mean the losses the farmers have had across this state are real. I’ve been on farms all across this state. It is real and it’s been devastating and the tragedy of it is that it’s been at a time when they actually could have made some money this year. I mean corn prices are up, commodity prices are up across the board, and this was going to be one of those banner years.
“It looks like in the Senate bill this year, we will have a permanent category for disaster relief or direct payment assistant that will be offered, so I think we have solutions working. Hopefully they are going to pass, but I assure you we are very aware of what’s happening here and we’ve spent a lot of time discussing it with Farm Bureau and Farm Service Agency officials.”
Bill and Kim Luton of Cumberland Nursery have said in a previous report that the cold snap in April damaged or destroyed every plant that couldn’t be brought into a greenhouse. They’ve since trimmed the nursery’s staff by more than half. They estimate at least a half-million dollars lost at their nursery, alone, a third of their annual revenue.
Tennessee Congressman Lincoln Davis, who sits on the House Agriculture Committee, and others visited with Warren and DeKalb County growers last month in McMinnville and heard many of these same concerns.
The Luton’s say insurance adjusters “don’t understand us, the policies don’t favor us, and considering this is the worst year we’ve had in memory, this should be the year crop insurance pays out.”