(UPDATED) DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOLS CLOSED THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND MONDAY DUE TO SICKNESS

March 13, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Schools will be closed Thursday, Friday, and Monday after school officials say there is widespread sickness and concern over spread of the illness which includes type A & B flu, strep throat, and stomach viruses.

“Absenteeism has grown each day this week throughout the school system but most of it has been in the lower grades. DeKalb West School has probably been affected the most. Its not only students but several teachers and bus drivers have been out sick,” said Joey Reeder, Attendance Supervisor for the DeKalb School System.

“Before making the decision to close schools we talked to various health care professionals to get their opinions and they said it would probably take up to five days for the illness to run its course,” Reeder added.

The school calendar includes thirteen days that can be used for inclement weather or sickness without any makeup days. After Monday, only two days will be left to use this school year.

Meanwhile the Parent-Teacher Conferences that were scheduled for Thursday, March 14 have been postponed until Thursday March 21 from 3-6 p.m. at DeKalb West, Smithville Elementary, Northside Elementary, and DeKalb Middle School.

March 13, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss is on a mission to save paper records in his office by digitizing them and he is reaching out to interested high school and college students to help him do it.

Poss said any motivated student looking to complete an internship or community service hours may participate. It’s a great opportunity especially for Tennessee Promise scholarship students who are required to perform several hours of community service

Right now more than 100 years of vital records are all in their original paper forms, bound in hardback books.

“Our office has approximately 40 marriage books with up to 500 individual marriages per book prior to 2007. Currently, all marriage records prior to 2007 must be identified solely from hardback books not searchable by computer,” said Poss.

“There are several reasons this job is important and should be completed. Primarily, protection and preservation of the record. In the case of fire, water, smoke, wear or tear each of these books are at risk for damage or complete loss. Also, by inputting every individual handwritten transaction, we will have the ability to secure and preserve the record both locally and off site. Once entered and saved into the data base, the record then becomes searchable to all citizens via internet. This will then allow our office digitized searching and the ability to print and view records from 1854 the same way we print and view them today,” Poss continued.

“Confirmation of marriage records are frequently requested from the Social Security Administration, genealogy research and every day citizens. My hope and goal are to enter these 40 books dating back to 1854 with volunteers needing to complete an internship or community service hours. In order to accommodate students, our office will work with their schedule. Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and most Saturday’s 8:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.,” Poss added.

For more information stop by or call the County Clerk’s Office at 615-597-5177.

March 13, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

WJLE will soon be starting a “Preacher Feature”

Listen and watch for the first segment next week on the WJLE website and on the radio too!

WJLE will conduct a video interview with a minister at a DeKalb County church to discuss his or her background and ministry and the church’s role in the community. The program will be featured several times each month with a different minister

The first guest will be Chris Moore of the Smithville Church of God.