All DeKalb Schools to Resume Virtual Learning Friday, December 4

December 3, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

All DeKalb County Schools will be closed to in-person learning starting Friday, December 4 due to increased numbers of COVID-19 cases and quarantines among faculty, staff, and students.

All DeKalb County Schools will continue virtual learning through December 18.

Schools will be closed for the Winter Break December 21 to January 1, 2021.

“We hope to return to in-person learning on January 4, 2021”, said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.

December 2, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The American Cancer Society invites you to make a special donation in honor or in memory of a loved one during the holiday season through “Love Lights a Tree”. A special memory board will be located on the south side of the courthouse that lists the names of loved ones.

The DeKalb County Unit of the American Cancer Society seeks your support in the “Love Lights a Tree” fundraising campaign to raise money for research to find a cure as well as cancer education and patient services. Donations may be made throughout the holiday season. The persons you honor or remember do not necessarily have to have suffered from cancer.

The names are in “honor of” and in “memory of” for a donation of five-dollars per name. Forms may be obtained at the local banks. For more information, contact Ivadell Randolph at 615- 597-5296, Melanie Judkins at 615-464-7664, Renea Cantrell at 615-684-2688, or Gail Taylor 615-597-5936.

December 2, 2020
By:

The Alexandria Fire Department responded to a house fire at around 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.

According to Assistant Fire Chief John Partridge, the fire was discovered by the Alexandria Police Department. Police Chief Chris Russell spotted smoke and found the fire at a house on Shady Lane with heavy smoke coming from the eaves of the attic.

Chief Russell notified DeKalb Central Dispatch who then paged the Alexandria Fire Department along with the DeKalb County Fire Department as part of the Automatic Aid Agreement between the jurisdictions. The Smithville Fire Department was also summoned to respond with their Ladder Truck but the request was cancelled while the Smithville truck was enroute as the fire was brought under control.

Assistant Chief Partridge said the first arriving responders found an unoccupied home with heavy fire in two rooms and throughout the attic. The blaze was attacked from outside initially to knock the bulk of the flames down. Firefighters then made their way inside to the room where the fire started to extinguish it completely.

No one was home at the time. In fact the structure had been vacant for an extended period of time although electricity was still connected to the building. An investigation revealed that the fire started due to some type of electrical failure around a wall outlet.

Nineteen members from both fire departments responded along with three engines.