Region champion DeKalb County forced to quarantine, will miss playoffs

October 28, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The season is over for the DCHS Tiger football team.

DeKalb County will not be able to compete in the TSSAA Class 4A football playoffs despite being the Region 3-4A champion due to COVID-19 and the regular season finale game at home against Cumberland County set for this Friday night, October 30 is also canceled.

The Tigers (6-3, 3-0) is the second mid-state area playoff team that has had to end its season prematurely because of the coronavirus.

According to the Tennessean Stewarts Creek announced Monday its football program was being forced to quarantine because of COVID-19 and would miss this week and next. The Red Hawks were tied with La Vergne for second place entering its Week 11 game with Smyrna.

TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress said spots in the playoffs vacated by teams with COVID-19 will not be replaced.

October 28, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

More people have already voted in DeKalb County for the upcoming Presidential election in 13 days than the 14 day early voting period for the November 2016 election.

As of Wednesday, October 28, a total of 4,579 had cast ballots (4,148 early/ 431 absentees) for next week’s election, up by 587 over 2016. In the Presidential election four years ago, 7,065 people cast ballots in DeKalb County including 3,073 on election day and 3,992 early votes/absentee.

According to the DeKalb County Election Commission 308 voted Wednesday including 295 in person and 13 by absentee.

Early voting hours Thursday, October 29 will be from from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. All early voting is being conducted in the first floor courtroom of the DeKalb County Courthouse. Election day voting on Tuesday, November 3 will be from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. at all 15 precincts in DeKalb County.

Safeguards are in place to help protect both workers and voters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Voting totals for the previous 12 days were as follows:

*Wednesday, October 14- 528 cast ballots including 287 in person and 241 by absentee.

*Thursday, October 15 – 320 voted including 303 in person and 17 absentees

*Friday, October 16- 340 including 336 in person and 4 absentees

*Saturday, October 17- 268 including 247 in person and 21 absentees

*Monday, October 19- 362 which was 346 in person (including Webb House residents) and 16 absentees.

*Tuesday, October 20-326 including 317 in person and 9 by absentee

*Wednesday, October 21- 356 including 328 in person and 28 by absentee

*Thursday, October 22- 375 voted including nursing home residents and 3 absentees.

*Friday, October 23-419 including 403 in person and 16 by absentee

*Saturday, October 24-299 all in person

* Monday, October 26- 342 including 312 in person and 30 by absentee

*Tuesday, October 27- 336 including 303 in person and 33 by absentee

October 27, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Due to high numbers of positive COVID cases and quarantines among staff, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps has announced that the DeKalb County School District will transition to virtual learning for all students beginning Wednesday, October 28.

“The anticipated date of return is November 11, however we will continue to monitor the numbers and will make adjustments as necessary. Our expectation is that all students will continue their education virtually through Google classroom,” said Director Cripps.

The following locations can be utilized for hotspots to download assignments if needed:

*DeKalb Middle School Parking Lot

*Northside Elementary School Parking Lot

*DeKalb West School Parking Lot

*DTC Office Smithville location (beside Walmart) 200 Walmart Drive

*DTC Office location in Alexandria at 111 High Street

*Community Center locations: Belk, Blue Springs, Temperance Hall, Keltonburg, and Midway.

“All schools will be thoroughly cleaned during this time. A meal schedule will also be provided and details about pickup locations will be provided in a later announcement,” said Director Cripps