DTC Communications is proud to announce plans to air LIVE continuous video coverage of the 52^nd annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival exclusively on DTC3, Facebook and YouTube. The Jamboree will begin Friday morning, June 30, 2023, and conclude late Saturday night, July 1. Taking place in the heart of Smithville, this festival brings together talented musicians and dancers for unforgettable performances. 

“The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree is one of the most iconic annual events in this area and DTC Communications is excited to provide exclusive coverage,” said Chris Townson, CEO of DTC Communications. “We’re proud to be able to bring the joy and excitement of the festival to a much wider audience.”

“We are excited to welcome back our loyal fans and participants to the 52^nd Smithville Jamboree,” said Kim Luton, President of the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree. “We are grateful for the support of DTC, who has been a valuable partner in bringing this unique cultural event to a wider audience over many years.”

Alongside the live performances and competitions, the Jamboree offers something for the whole family. Explore the charming arts and crafts booths to find a unique treasure, taste delicious local cuisine from savory barbecue to sweet treats, and enjoy hands-on activities and face painting for the kids.

In addition to the live coverage on DTC3 – which is Channel 3 on the DTC TV service – DTC also plans to web-stream the Fiddlers’ Jamboree live at www.DTC3.tv as well as on Facebook and YouTube.

“Viewers from all around the world can watch the entire event, from start to finish, with no interruptions, both on our TV service and via the internet,” added Townson. “It’s an honor for DTC to present this event. It is sure to create lasting memories and new connections within our community.”

For more information on DTC Communications, visit online at www.DTCcom.net. For more information on the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival and a complete schedule of events, visit www.smithvillejamboree.com. 

DTC Communications is a member-owned telecommunications cooperative established in 1951. DTC provides world-class broadband and technology solutions to improve the quality of life of our members and communities in the regions we serve.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has announced the application period for the 2023 Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Big Game Quota Hunts. The application is now underway through July 26.

There are 18 sites totaling 211 hunting opportunities. Three new WMAs will be hosting quota hunts this year. The Milan Volunteer Training Site, Buffalo Ridge Refuge-Unit2, and Otey Mills are the new locations.

 The WMA hunting instruction sheet lists locations and dates for each of the quota hunts along with drawing rules and regulations. Instruction sheets can be obtained and applications made for the hunts at any TWRA license agent, TWRA regional office or online at www.gooutdoorstennessee.com. Mailed applications will not be processed into the drawing system. Entries must be submitted before midnight (CDT) July 26.

There is no fee for current Annual Sportsman License holders, Lifetime Sportsman License holders, or seniors possessing a Type 167 Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman License. For all other applicants, there is a non-refundable $12 permit fee for each drawing entered. There is a $1 agent fee for applications made at a license agent. When applying at a license agent, hunters must remain at the location while the application is processed to verify the information is correct on the receipt.

For applications made on the internet, there is a $2 internet usage fee. If entering multiple quota hunts, a person must pay the permit and agent fee(s) for each quota hunt application submitted.

After all the drawings are conducted, any leftover permits will be sold online on a first come, first serve basis beginning Aug. 23 at 8 a.m. (CDT).

Local District Attorney Jason Lawson has received top recognition by his peers for his work in the area of child support collection. At the annual statewide meeting of District Attorneys last Thursday, Lawson was named the 2023 winner of the Paul Phillips Award. The award is named for a retired District Attorney General from the 8th Judicial District and recognizes outstanding leadership in the area of child support collections. The award is selected by a committee of serving District Attorneys led by General Dan Armstrong of the 3rd Judicial District.

The Phillips award was the only recognition of an individual prosecutor at the statewide meeting of district attorneys. The award has never been won by a prosecutor from Lawson’s district. The award was presented by Chairman Armstrong, and was given to Lawson in recognition of his innovative work in the area of child support collection, particularly for creating incentive awards for local child support collectors based upon whether they meet certain goals such as the number of cases receiving payments, the amounts collected, and the percentage of cases with court orders establishing collections.

It was also noted that since becoming District Attorney, Lawson had allocated part of his state resources to improving equipment and other support tools to assist child support case managers in meeting these performance measures. “Child support collection is one of the duties that is assigned to District Attorneys,” explained Lawson. “It improves the quality of life of the child and the opportunities available to them if they receive support from both parents. Both custodial and noncustodial parents have an obligation to that child, and I believe that each side doing their fair share is what is best for the child,” said Lawson.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has compiled figures from the state’s recently completed 2023 spring wild turkey hunting season. The total reported harvest is 31,802, a six percent increase from 2022 and a two percent decrease over the previous 5-year average (32,495).

The season saw changes with a two-week later opening date than in previous years and the bag limit reduced from three birds to two birds, only one of which could be a juvenile or jake.

Harvest at the beginning of the season was extremely high and then dropped considerably as the season progressed. Harvest on private land during the 2-day Young Sportsman Hunt and the opening weekend were 71 percent and 45 percent higher than the respective 5-year averages, but by 20 days into the season, reported harvest was above the 5-year average by only 11 percent.

“The steep drop-off in harvest as the season continued may be attributed to the lower bag limit,” said Roger Shields, TWRA Wild Turkey Program Coordinator. “As hunters reached their 2-bird limit, they had to stop hunting. In the past, they may have continued hunting and harvested additional birds.”

Despite the slow finish to the season, a total of 25,500 hunters reported harvesting at least one turkey, 20 percent greater than the 5-year average of successful hunters.

Middle Tennessee (TWRA Region II) had 11,662 turkeys with four of the state’s top five counties. West Tennessee (Region I) had 7,832 turkeys reported, followed by the Upper Cumberland (Region III) with 6,157, and East Tennessee (Region IV) with 6,150.

The 2024 spring turkey season will be held April 13-May 26. The Young Sportsman Hunt is the weekend of April 6-7.

The Cordell Hull Bridge in downtown Carthage will be closed for routine TDOT inspection Monday, June 26th through Friday, June 30th, from 9am until 4pm each day. Please plan accordingly to use an alternate route.

The U.S.Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District announces the temporary closure of Dale Hollow Damsite Campground in Celina, Tennessee, starting Friday, June 16, 2023. The closure will last for at least two weeks due to the severe tree damage caused by a recent storm. Broken limbs are hanging overhead, posing a serious threat to visitors if they fall. The closure also includes the fishing stream below the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery. No vehicle or foot-traffic will be allowed, and visitors are prohibited from entering the property for any reason.

Resource Manager Crystal Tingle said, “our staff is working hard to address the issues and clean the area. However, for the safety of guests and the cleanup effort, it is best to close the entire campground.” Tingle expressed regret for the inconvenience and hopes to reopen the campground as soon as possible.

Guests with prior reservations at the campground received a courtesy email from the Dale Hollow Lake staff, informing them of the closure. They also received an additional email from Recreation.gov with instructions on how to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund. Alternative camping is located at Lillydale, Obey River and Willow Grove campgrounds. Closures also include the nearby fishing stream and walking trail located adjacent to the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery. For safety reasons, walkers and bicyclists are requested to not enter the campground or trail. The day use area and picnic shelter will remain open. Fishermen can access at Moody’s.

The campground entrance station will be open during their regular business hours for purchases of the America the Beautiful and Corps of Engineers Annual Day Use passes. Call the Dale Hollow Damsite Campground at 931-243-3554, or the Dale Hollow Lake Resource Manager’s Office at 931-243-3136 for more information.

The Smith County Administrative Council on Opioid Settlement Funds (“The Council”) invites new and existing organizations to submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) for funding of new or existing programs. The Council had determined that its initial recommendation for allocation of funds will be for programs focused on school-age prevention specifically tailored to the following grade bands: Kindergarten through 4th grade; 5th through 8th grade; and High School.

All Request for Proposals must be submitted to the Smith County Mayor’s Office no later than 4 PM on July 14, 2023. Any questions may be directed to Mayor Jeff Mason at jmason@smithcountytn.gov. Click here to read/download the full Request for Proposal (RFP).

Smith County Extension was honored to host the 2023 Women in Agriculture Summit on May 25, 2023, at River Pointe Ranch in Carthage. Organized by the dedicated Upper Cumberland Extension Team and proudly sponsored by Farm Credit Mid-America, the summit proved to be an extraordinary day of learning, networking, and empowerment for the nearly 150 women in attendance.

Throughout the day, attendees were able to attend breakout sessions on beekeeping, seed starting, farm equipment safety, backyard poultry, and marketing direct-to-consumer beef. They also enjoyed a panel discussion from industry professionals and learned from several speakers on topics like marketing and business plans. Professional headshots were offered by Samantha Teets with Freckled Feather Photography and live music was provided by Cherokee Upton during lunch.

Breanna Reed, who attended the event, said, “Thank you for creating a day for women to gather and empower other women to pursue their dreams.” Other attendees expressed similar sentiments with many female producers saying this is a one-of-a-kind event that recognizes them as a vital part of a farm operation instead of simply a farm wife. The Upper Cumberland Extension Team looks forward to hosting the next annual Women in Agriculture Summit in 2024!

We want to especially thank River Pointe Ranch for allowing us the use of their beautiful facilities, all of our outstanding speakers, businesses and organizations that set up booths in our vendor area, and Farm Credit Mid-America for sponsoring the event and making it possible!

For more information about Smith County Extension and upcoming events, please contact 615-735-2900.