COVID Continues Overall Downward Trend in DeKalb School District

September 18, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The number of positive cases of COVID in the DeKalb County School District and those under quarantine continued to drop this week (9-13 to 9-17) from the previous week (9-7 to 9-10).

The district reported 23 positive cases on Monday, September 13 compared to 34 cases on Tuesday, September 7 and 113 on Monday, August 30. By Friday, September 17 the number of positive cases had ticked up to 27 but was still down from 39 on Friday, September 10 and 92 on Friday, September 3.

The number of those under quarantine on Monday, September 13 district-wide was 141, down from 173 on Tuesday, September 7 and 252 on Monday, August 30. By Friday, September 17 the number under quarantine had dropped to 123, down from 168 on Friday, September 10 and 271 on Friday, September 3.

According to Attendance Supervisor Joey Reeder, the DeKalb School District reported 23 positive cases on Monday, September 13 with DeKalb Middle School having the most at 11 followed by DCHS 5, Smithville Elementary School 4, Northside Elementary 2, and DeKalb West School with 1 case. By Friday, September 17 the number of positive cases district wide had gone up to 27 with DeKalb Middle School having 8 followed by DCHS and Smithville Elementary School each with 7, Northside Elementary 4, and DeKalb West School with 1.

The number of those under quarantine district-wide was at 141 on Monday, September 13. Smithville Elementary had the most under quarantine at 40 followed by Northside Elementary School at 28, DeKalb Middle School and DCHS each with 25, and DeKalb West School 23. By Friday, September 17, the number under quarantine district-wide had dropped to 123 with Smithville Elementary School again having the most at 38 followed by DeKalb Middle School 27, Northside Elementary 26, DCHS 17, and DeKalb West School with 15.

The district reported 13 absences among the staff on Friday, September 17 due to positive cases or quarantine. That’s down from 15 on Friday, September 10 and 27 on Friday, September 3. Smithville Elementary had the most at 6 followed by DCHS with 3, DeKalb Middle School 2, the transportation and cafeteria departments each with 1 and DeKalb West School and Northside Elementary School each with 0

According to Director of Schools Patrick Cripps, the schools are basically relying on parents to report cases of COVID.

“We are not checking temperatures at the door and we don’t get reports from the medical profession saying someone has COVID. We rely on parents to call and tell us. Once we have a positive case we send letters home and a remind app to notify parents that their child is in a classroom where there has been a positive COVID student with possible exposures. We tell the parents that they have the option to quarantine their child and we advise them to please look for signs and symptoms. If the child shows signs, we ask the parents to keep the child home for a few days. Because of the number of students, we are unable to contact trace,” said Director Cripps.

Although remote learning is not an option, students at home can keep up with their homework from packets sent home to them or via Google Classroom.

September 18, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County’s talented football player Isaac Knowles, who has scored points this season as runner, wide receiver and punt returner, led the Tigers back to victory Friday night at quarterback with a 35 to 10 win over the Cumberland County Jets in Smithville.

The Tigers improve to 2-2 overall and even their region record at 1-1 while Cumberland County drops to 2-3 and 0-2 in the region.

The Region standings as of Saturday, September 18 are as follows:

Macon County 4-1 (2-0)
Upperman 4-1 (2-0)
Stone Memorial 3-2 (1-1)
DeKalb County 2-2 (1-1)
Cumberland County 2-3 (1-1)
Livingston Academy 0-5 (0-2)

DeKalb County will host Cannon County for homecoming Friday, September 24. The Lions are 3-2 with wins over Webb School 42-16 and Lookout Valley 39-0 and Sequatchie County forfeit to Cannon County due to Covid exposure. The Lions have lost to Monterey 35-6 and to Cascade 25-0.

Knowles started and finished the game at quarterback for the Tigers in place of Briz Trapp who was out with an injury. Until Friday night, Knowles had scored a total of 5 touchdowns through three games this season. Knowles added 4 more TDs to his total Friday night alone.

The Tigers struck first with 8:44 left in the 1st period as Knowles scored on a 1 yard keeper completing a 51 yard drive. Axel Aranda added the extra point and DC took a 7-0 lead.

After recovering a Tiger fumble, the Jets mounted a 37 yard drive with Ryan Dowlen scoring on a 29 yard touchdown run with 5:14 left in the 1st period. Jaime Perez tacked on the extra point and the game was tied at 7-7.

DeKalb County grabbed the lead again on a 10 yard touchdown run by Isaac Knowles capping a 70 yard drive. Aranda split the uprights on the PAT and the Tigers were up 14-7 with 11:53 left in the 2nd period.

Cumberland County’s kicker Jaime Perez got the Jets on the board again with 9:32 left in the 2nd period on the strength of a 45 yard field goal to cut the Tiger lead to 14-10.

Gifted Tiger runner Colby Barnes extended the DeKalb County lead on a 4 yard touchdown run, his 4th TD run of the season, with 8:03 left in the 3rd period completing a Tiger 66 yard drive. Aranda’s extra point pushed the Tiger lead to 21-10.

Later in the 3rd period Isaac Knowles scored his third touchdown of the night on a 51 yard run and with Aranda’s extra point DeKalb County opened up a 28-10 advantage.

Knowles added the exclamation point to the outcome with 11:32 left in the 4th period on an 18 yard touchdown run. Aranda booted the extra point and DeKalb County snapped a two game losing skid winning 35-10.

September 17, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

“Ruby” is in need of a loving family to give her a home!

Why not make her a member of your family?

“Ruby”, a domestic shorthaired cat, is the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”.

“Ruby is our longest cat resident at the shelter. She is a year and a half old and has been spayed. Ruby is super cuddly and definitely a lap cat. She loves people including kids and other cats. Ruby is an all around good cat,” said Shelter Director Emmaly Bennett.

“If you are interested go to our website at https://www.dekalbanimalshelter.com/ and look for Ruby under the adoptable pet tab. Her adoption fee is $60. Fill out that application and we will call you for an appointment to come in and meet her,” said Bennett.

For more information phone 615-597-3647.

Meanwhile, upcoming fundraising events include a first ever Cars and Paws Car Show to be held downtown Smithville on the public square Saturday October 2 starting at 10 a.m. Most of the proceeds will go to the shelter.

The 2nd annual Hogs for Dogs Poker Run sponsored by the Friends of the DeKalb Animal Shelter will be Saturday, October 16 starting at Twisted Oaks. Check facebook later for more details.

A DeKalb County Haunted History Tour will be October 19 & 21 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. starting at the law office of Sarah Cripps. Tickets are $10 each.