DeKalb County School Calendar

The remainder of the 2020 school year is as follows: Schools will be closed for Good Friday, April 10. Spring break will be March 23 through March 27. Students will not attend on Wednesday, May 20. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend. The last day of school will be Thursday, May 21 and report cards will be sent home.

L.B.J. & C. Head Start is currently accepting applications

L.B.J. & C. Head Start is currently accepting applications to provide free comprehensive child development services to children 3-5 years of age for all children including children with disabilities in a full day program. School Readiness and the well-being of children is the primary goal at L.B.J. &C. Head Start. L.B.J. &C. Head Start also focuses on family well-being. Head Start assists families in obtaining their GED, furthering education, seeking employment, obtain affordable housing, and much more. Let L.B.J. &C. Head Start provide your family with the head start you need to succeed!

For more information contact: Smithville Head Start Center at 615-597-5168.

My free taxes, March

United Way My Free Taxes is powered by H&R’s premium software, so filing is easy, secure, and guaranteed to be 100 percent accurate. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offers, free tax help to people who generally make $66,000 or less, person with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. Call 211 to find your nearest VITA site. If you have questions, please contact Thomas.kimber@unitedwaygn.org

Meeting, March 4

The united Daughters of the Confederacy, Captain Sally Tompkins 2123 will have its monthly meeting Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 1 p.m. in the lower level of the Putnam County Library.

DeKalb County Retired Teachers Association, March 5

The DeKalb County Retired Teacher association will meet Thursday, March 5 at Smithville Elementary at 11:30 a.m. current members will share stories of their early teaching experiences. All retired school employees are invited to attend and enjoy good food and fellowship sponsored by Liberty State Bank.

L.B.J. & C. Head Start Policy Council, March 10

The monthly meeting of the L.B.J. & C. Head Start Policy Council has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2020 beginning at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the L.B.J. & C. Development Corporation, 1150 Chocolate Drive, Cookeville, Tennessee.

Storytime, March 13

Story Time for children at Justin Potter Library will be on Friday, March 13 at 10 a.m. Sanda Ayers the author of “Tommy Tractor Adventures” will be the guest reader along with the book’s illustrator Emory Larson. Please come join us for a fun morning at the library. For further information call 615-597-4359 or visit us on Facebook and our website: www.dekalblibraries.net.

DCHS Graduation will be Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, March 19 at DeKalb County High School from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will also be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 at DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary, Smithville Elementary, and DeKalb West School.

Report cards will be sent home on Monday, March 16 and Thursday, May 21.

Girl Talk, March 5, 12 &19

Your daughter is changing daily from a girl to a young woman. You can equip your daughter with the knowledge she needs for her journey into womanhood, by attending a program called Girl Talk, which is designed for mothers and daughter in 4th-9th grades. Girl Talk is an educational program designed to enhance communications between moms and their daughters about changing bodies, behavior, and beliefs. This program is instructed by April Martin, DeKalb County UT Extension agent, Elise Driver, Coordinated School Health and Megan Kinslow, DeKalb County Health Educator. The following Thursdays: March 5, 12, and 19 at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the DeKalb County Community Complex. No cost to attend. Participants must attend all 3 sessions. Space is limited. For more information or to register, please call April Martin UT Extension at 615-597-4945 or emailamartin@utk.edu

Democratic County Presidential Convention, March 7

The DeKalb County Democratic Party will host its Democratic County Presidential Convention on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the DeKalb County High School cafeteria 1130 W Broad St, Smithville, TN 37166, to select representation from the county to attend the District Convention on March 21.

The doors open for registration at 11:00 AM and the convention is open to all registered voters in the county who are supporters of the Democratic Party, have voted in the March 2020 Presidential Primary, and who agree to support the nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2020 Presidential election.

The convention will begin at 12:00 PM when caucuses will be held for the top vote getting presidential candidates in Congressional District 6.

The party welcomes all who wish to participate in selecting Tennessee’s delegates to the Democratic Presidential Convention in Milwaukee the week of July 13, 2020.
Information about becoming a DNC delegate and the rules governing the DNC Delegate Selection Process may be obtained from tndp.org, or from the Tennessee Democratic Party, 319 Plus Park Blvd, Ste 203, Nashville, TN 37217, 615-327-9779.

Hunter Safety Course, March 7-8

A Classroom Hunter Education Course will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 7 & 8 at the DeKalb County Fire Department’s Main Station at 782 King Ridge Road, Dowelltown. TWRA Officer Tony Cross said classes will be held Saturday, March 7 from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 8 from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. The course is offered free of charge. Participants must Pre-register on-line at www.tnwildlife.org and follow the prompts. Participants must be at least 9 years old to take the class and must attend both days of the course. For more information call Tony Cross at 931-287-8427.  Under state law, every person born on or after January 1, 1969, before hunting, shall possess, in addition to all other licenses and permits required, proof of satisfactory completion of an agency approved hunter education course.

Those under 10 years of age do not need a Hunter Education certificate, but must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age, who must remain in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device.

The basic Hunter Education Course provides firearms safety training and introduces students to their responsibilities in the fields of hunter ethics and wildlife management. The main objective of the Hunter Education Program is to reduce the potential for hunting accidents and ultimately reduce the number of hunting injuries. The course is taught according to standards established by the International Hunter Education Association. By meeting these standards the Tennessee Hunter Education program is recognized by all states, Canada, and Mexico. The basic course is free of charge and consists of a minimum of ten (10) hours of classroom participation. Most classes generally last 12-16 hours. Students must successfully pass a written test consisting of 100 multiple choice questions. All students are required to participate in a live fire exercise. Students must attend all classes. Students need to bring their Social Security Number and a #2 pencil to the class. Course content includes:*Hunter ethics •Hunter responsibility toward wildlife, the environment, landowners and the general public •Archery and the history of modern day bow hunting, •Tree stand safety History of firearms, •Black powder and muzzle loading firearms, •Knowledge of modern firearms and ammunition, •Proper gun handling and storage, •Marksmanship fundamentals, •Hunt preparation: specific laws and various equipment, •Principles of wildlife management and wildlife identification,•Survival,•Hypothermia, •First aid

Stomp Out Child Abuse, March 27

Every child matters. DeKalb County Health Department, 254 Tiger Drive, will be hosting Child Abuse Prevention fun filled day on March 27, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities for children, food and more! 94.7 The Country Giant broadcasting live!

DeKalb’s Community Conversation meeting, April 2

Vanderbilt is participating with DeKalb County Schools to improve the outcomes of students with disabilities that are graduating from local high schools. A meeting will be held April 2 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the DeKalb Community Complex in Smithville. If you have additional questions, please feel free reach out to my supervisor, Erin Maves. Erin.a.maves@vanderbilt.edu

Quilt Show, April 17 & 18

The Stitch and Share Quilt Guild of Sparta, Tennessee will be hosting their biennial quilt show on April 17 and 18, 2020 at the Agriculture Building at the White County Fair Grounds in Sparta, Tennessee. If you are interested in submitting a quilt for display, registration forms must be received by March 7, 2020. There is no fee to display a quilt. For a registration form or questions, contact Bev Loitz at stitchshow@blomand.net, or call her at 931-935-5657. The registration form can be downloaded from the website:stitchshowshare.com. Quilt show hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 17 and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2020. The white County Fair Grounds are located at 565 Hale Street, Sparta, Tennessee.

Alanon Meetings

Will be held at St. Matthew’s Church, McMinnville, TN on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. For family and friends of the Alcoholics.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Donations needed for Jacob Pillar Cemetery

Donations are needed for the mowing of Jacobs Pillar Cemetery. Donations may be sent to Jack Patterson at 6094 Patterson Road, Smithville TN 37166.

Adcock Cemetery is needing donations for its mowing fund. They may be sent to Winnie Petty, 255 Petty Road, Smithville, TN 37166.

Petty Cemetery needs money for its mowing fund. Donations may be sent to Marlene Petty Bly, 825 Driver Street, Smithville, TN 37166.

SNAP being offered to seniors and those with disability

Upper Cumberland Area Agency on Aging and Disability (UCAAAD) is now offering application assistance with “SNAP”, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program for adults 60 and over or individuals with a disability.  The USDA created SNAP to provide eligible individuals with monthly benefits to buy food.   .  

Over $1 million in food stamps are not being utilized in DeKalb County and a total of over $19 million not being used by the 60 and older population in the 14 counties within the Upper Cumberland region, including Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren, White counties. If you know someone 60 and over or an individual with a disability, they may qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

Applicants 60 and over or an individual with a disability can now call UCAAAD SNAP Coordinator, Nestor Chavez, at 931-476-4119 for free and confidential application assistance.

Local Help Center Needs Help From the Community

His Love Help Center has been providing free clothes, shoes, medical items and etc. for over three years to people in our community. They serve all walks of life, such as single parents, the elderly, fire victims, and more. At the current location (1100 S. College St.) the Help Center has to pay rent, phone, water, gas and electric.  In order to stay open and to continue serving our community it needs your help. If you feel you are able to provide financial help, have a building they can use or a one-time donation please stop by the help center or call 615-597-(love) 5683.

Help Wanted – Be a Caris Hospice Volunteer today

Do you enjoy giving support and being a good listener to those around you? If your answer is yes, then becoming a Caris Hospice Volunteer could be for you. Please contact Gail Evans, Volunteer Coordinator at 888-537-3430 or visit the website at www.carishealthcare.com for more information or to apply.

Earn your High School Equivalency Diploma through Free Classes

Free high school equivalency classes are offered Mondays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the complex in Room 119. Registration is 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays. You may also find out about special appointments. For info call 1-855-516-0160. Financial vouchers are also available to help with testing fees.

Domestic Violence Support Group

A Domestic Violence Support Group is held for women in the community at Haven of Hope in Smithville. For more information, please call 615-597-4673.

March 7 Fundraiser for Middle TN’s Burgess Falls

This is a fundraiser for Middle TN’s State Natural area and iconic treasure Burgess Falls. It will be held Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. at Northfield Vineyards, 515 Ray Cemetary Rd, Sparta, TN. This will be a BBQ Buffet, tickets $40 per person or $75 per couple. For tickets contact Barbara Ebel, 931-256-5230. Hosted by Friends of Burgess Falls, a 401C3 non-profit corporation.

 Smithville Head Start Center

L.B.J. & C. Head Start is currently accepting applications to provide free comprehensive child development services to children three- five years of age from low-income families in a full-day program. Services are also offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities. L.B.J. & C. Head Start helps all children succeed. L.B.J. & C. Head Start provides children with activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically. For more information contact the Smithville Head Start Center at 615-597-5168.

March 21-22

Upper Cumberland Community presents: Remote area medical, RAM, Free dental, vision, and medical. This will be held on March 21 and 22 at Cookeville High School, 2335 N. Washington Avenue, Cookeville, TN 38501. This serves 14 counties and DeKalb County is included in this list. No ID required and open to the public. For more information visit RAMUSA.ORG or call 1-865-579-1530.