Farm Service Agency providing Top Up Payments for Livestock and Row Crop Producers

April 7, 2021
By:

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, announces the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency has issued top up payments for cattle and row crop producers who signed up in last year’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

For cattle, top up payment rates are based on the number of cattle in inventory (on-hand) between April 16, 2020 and May 14, 2020. Cattle producers who had approved CFAP 1 applications will automatically receive top up payments as follows:

Feeder Cattle: Less than 600 Pounds
$7.00/head

Feeder Cattle: 600 Pounds or More
$25.50/head

Slaughter Cattle: Fed Cattle
$63.00/head

Slaughter Cattle: Mature Cattle
$14.75/head

All Other Cattle
$17.25/head

Additional CFAP assistance is also being provided for producers of eligible row crops (corn, soybeans, and wheat) under CFAP 2. Additional payments will be equal to the eligible acres of the crop multiplied by a payment rate of $20 per eligible acre.

Only cattle producers who had approved applications for CFAP 1, and row crop (corn, soybeans, and wheat) producers who had approved applications for CFAP 2, are eligible to receive this additional payment. Eligible producers do not need to submit a new application form or take any action to receive these top up payments for cattle or row crops.

The DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency processed these top up payments on Friday, April 2. These payments were issued by direct deposit and should begin arriving in bank accounts by April 6.

April 7, 2021
By:

Smithville Elementary's Kindergarten Registration for the 2021-22 school year will be Thursday, May 6 from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the County Complex.

Please come at the assigned time according to child's last name:
Last names A-D: 8 a.m.-9 a.m.
Last names E-H: 9 a.m.-10 a.m.
Last names I-L: 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
Last names M-Q: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Last names R-T: 12 p.m.-1p.m.
Last names U-Z: 1 p.m.-2 p.m.
Open: 2 p.m.-3p.m.

Please bring COPIES of the following documents to Registration:

– Certified copy of birth certificate

– Current, up-to-date, physical examination and immunization record (These must be on a
Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization, which can be obtained from
your doctor's office or the Health Department)

– Proof of residency for DeKalb County (i.e. gas/electric bill)

– Your child (they will be tested on registration day)

*Children who register to attend kindergarten must turn five years old on or before August
15, 2021.*

Pre-K Registration forms for Smithville Elementary for the 2021-22 school year can be picked up on Thursday, May 6 from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Smithville Elementary. This will be done in a drive-through fashion. Completed registration paperwork will need to be returned to Michelle Burklow at the Board of Education office.

COPIES of the following documents must be submitted with your registration forms in order for it to be complete:

– Certified copy of birth certificate

– Current, up-to-date, physical examination and immunization record (These must be on a Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization, which can be obtained from your doctor's office or the Health Department)

– Proof of residency for DeKalb County (i.e. gas/electric bill)

– Proof of income for all household members

*Children who register to attend Pre-K must turn four years old on or before August 15,
2021.*

April 6, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A suspected drunk driver believed responsible for a fatal head on crash in March, 2019 on South Congress Boulevard was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday.

40 year old James Christopher Vaughn, who was indicted for driving under the influence, vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, simple possession of a schedule VI drug (Marijuana), and failure to maintain lane of travel, entered a plea to vehicular assault and driving under the influence. The other charges were dismissed.

Vaughn received a sentence of 4 years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Corrections for the vehicular assault and 11 months and 29 days for the DUI to serve concurrently. He was given jail credit for 495 days and will lose his driver license for one year
The crash occurred on Sunday, March 31. 2019. 65 year old Bessie Blevins was seriously injured and died two months later.

According to Smithville Police, Vaughn was driving north on South Congress Boulevard in a Chevy Cobalt when he crossed into the southbound lane and struck a Mercedes SUV driven by Billy Blevins near the intersection of Congress and Bryant Street. Bessie Blevins was a passenger.

After impact, Vaughn’s car came to rest in the center of the road and burst into flames. The SUV stopped in the grass on the west side of Congress Boulevard.

Vaughn, though seriously injured in the crash, was not believed to have suffered any burns. He apparently got out of his car before it caught fire. Before going to the hospital, Vaughn submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Vaughn’s speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. He also had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. Vaughn agreed to a blood test. He was taken by DeKalb EMS to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital and then airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Bessie Blevins was taken by EMS to the hospital. Mr. Belvins went to the hospital by private vehicle. Bessie passed away Wednesday May 29 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro

The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was also on the scene.

The crash was investigated by Smithville Police Officer Travis Bryant