DeKalb Jobless Rate Dropped to 4.4% in August

September 25, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Unemployment rates in nearly all of Tennessee’s counties decreased in August. This marks the second consecutive month the jobless situation has improved in 93 or more of the state’s 95 counties.

DeKalb County’s jobless rate for August was 4.4%, down from 5.2% in July and below the August 2020 rate of 7.5%.

The local labor force for August, 2021 was 7,660. A total of 7,321 were employed and 339 were without work.

August unemployment rates were lower in 93 counties across the state. The rate in Williamson County remained unchanged from July at 2.6%. Unemployment increased in Maury County from 4.2% to 4.5% in a month-to-month comparison.

Seventy-nine counties recorded unemployment rates of less than 5% for the month. The remaining 16 counties had August rates of 5% or greater, but less than 10%.

Williamson County continued to have Tennessee’s lowest unemployment rate in August. Moore County recorded the second-lowest rate at 2.7%, which was down 0.2 of a percentage point from its July rate.

Shelby County had the month’s highest unemployment rate at 6.7%. While it was the highest in the state, the county’s new rate represented a 0.8 of a percentage point decrease from July.

Unemployment in Perry County was the second highest at 6.6%, but that accounted for a 4 percentage point drop from its July rate of 10.6%.

Unemployment statewide improved for the third consecutive month in August. The rate ticked down from 4.7% to 4.6%.

Nationally, the jobless rate also improved in August. It decreased by 0.2 of a percentage point from 5.4% to 5.2%.

Unlike the statewide and national unemployment rates, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted to factor in seasonal economic influences such as school breaks and severe weather conditions.

This week, there are more than 470,000 open positions across Tennessee. The state is working to help unemployed Tennesseans become TN Work Ready, so they can successfully rejoin the workforce. Job seekers can find a multitude of online and in-person resources by visiting www.TNWorkReady.com.

September 25, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Still dropping!

The number of positive cases of COVID in the DeKalb County School District and those under quarantine continued its downward trend for the week of September 20-24 compared to the previous week (9-13 to 9-17).  Cases9-24.pdf

The district reported 11 positive cases on Monday, September 20 compared to 23 on Monday, September 13. There were 34 cases on Tuesday, September 7, and 113 on Monday, August 30. By Friday, September 24 the number of positive cases stood at 11 which was down from 17 on Friday, September 17. There were 39 cases on Friday, September 10 and 92 on Friday, September 3.

The number of those under quarantine on Monday, September 20 was 88, down from 141 on Monday, September 13. There were 173 under quarantine on Tuesday, September 7 and 252 on Monday, August 30. By Friday, September 24 the number under quarantine had dropped to 61 which was down from 123 on Friday, September 17. There were 168 under quarantine on Friday, September 10 and 271 on Friday, September 3.

According to Attendance Supervisor Joey Reeder, the DeKalb School District reported 11 positive cases on Monday, September 20 with DCHS and Smithville Elementary each having the most at 4 followed by Northside Elementary 2, DeKalb West School 1, and DeKalb Middle School 0.. By Friday, September 24 the number of positive cases district wide was at 11 with DCHS having 5 followed by Smithville Elementary and Northside Elementary each with 3. DeKalb Middle and DeKalb West School had none.

The number of those under quarantine district-wide was at 88 on Monday, September 20. Smithville Elementary had the most under quarantine at 23 followed by Northside Elementary School at 19, DeKalb Middle School 18, and DCHS and DeKalb West School each with 14. By Friday, September 24, the number under quarantine district-wide had dropped to 61 with Smithville Elementary School again having the most at 15 followed by Northside Elementary 14, DCHS and DeKalb West School each with 12 and DeKalb Middle School had 8.

The district reported 14 absences among the staff on Friday, September 24 due to positive cases or quarantine. That’s up from 13 on Friday, September 17. There were 15 on Friday, September 10 and 27 on Friday, September 3. Smithville Elementary had the most at 6 followed by DCHS with 3, the transportation and cafeteria departments each with 2 and DeKalb Middle School had 1. There were none at Northside Elementary School.

September 25, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Tigers had reason to celebrate Friday night after winning their homecoming game against non-region border rival Cannon County 49-7.

The victory puts the Tigers at 3-2 on the season with Livingston Academy next on the schedule Thursday night, September 30 at 7 p.m.  The game will be played at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. The Wildcats are 0-6 and none of their games have been close. Cannon County drops to 3-3 on the season.

The Tigers picked up Friday night against Cannon County where they left off last week in the win over Cumberland County with wide receiver Isaac Knowles again going all the way at quarterback in place of QB starter Briz Trapp, still recovering from an injury.

The first score came with 3:25 left in the 1st period on a 1 yard touchdown run by Isaac Knowles. Axel Aranda came on for the extra point and DC led 7-0.

The Tigers racked up four more touchdowns in the 2nd period , the first of which came on a 47 yard pass from Isaac Knowles to John Ellis with 8:29 left in the half. Axel Aranda tacked on the extra point and the Tigers were up 14-0.

Nathaniel Crook scored the first of his two touchdowns of the night with 3:41 left in the 2nd period on a 9 yard run. Aranda’s PAT was good and DC held a 21-0 advantage.

Cannon County’s only score of the night came on a 53 yard touchdown run by Dallas Roller with 2:55 left in the 2nd period. Jack Byford split the uprights on the PAT and the Lions trailed 21-7.

DeKalb County extended its lead on a 1 yard touchdown run by Isaac Knowles with 2:10 left in the 2nd period. Aranda added the extra point and the Tigers were on top 28-7.

With only 36 seconds left in the first half, Isaac Knowles found Holden Trapp on a pass that went for 38 yards and a touchdown and with Aranda’s extra point, the Tigers had built a 35-7 lead.

The Tigers would add two more touchdowns in the second half. With 11:34 left in the 3rd period, Isaac Knowles scored on a 14 yard touchdown run, capping a 67 yard drive. Aranda booted the extra point and DeKalb County held a commanding 42-7 advantage.

The last score came on an 18 yard touchdown run by Nathaniel Crook with 40 seconds left in the 3rd period and Axel Aranda’s extra point made the final score 49-7.

The Region standings as of Saturday, September 25 are as follows:
Macon County 5-1 (2-0)
Upperman 5-1 (2-0)
Stone Memorial 4-2 (1-1)
DeKalb County 3-2 (1-1)
Cumberland County 3-3 (0-2)
Livingston Academy 0-6 (0-2)