DeKalb Jobless Rate Inches Up in October

November 25, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County’s jobless rate for October was 4.8%, up from 4.5% in September and an increase from 3.9% in October 2017.

The local labor force for October was 7,890. A total of 7,520 were working and 380 were unemployed.

Jobless rates for October among the fourteen counties in the Upper Cumberland region were as follows from highest to lowest:

Van Buren: 5%
Jackson: 4.9%

Warren: 4.9%

DeKalb: 4.8%

Clay: 4.4%
Fentress: 4.3%

Pickett: 4.2%
Cumberland: 4.2%
Overton: 3.9%
White: 3.9%
Putnam: 3.6%

Cannon: 3.5%
Macon: 3.4%
Smith: 3.1%

Unemployment rates dropped in 26 Tennessee counties and remained the same in 36 counties when compared to September statistics. Thirty-three counties across the state experienced an increase in unemployment during October.

Williamson County continued to have the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.7 percent, which was the same rate the previous month. Davidson County’s October rate remained unchanged at 2.9 percent. Rutherford County also recorded an unemployment rate of 2.9 percent in October, which mirrored its rate from September.

“It’s interesting how nearly all the counties with the lowest unemployment in the state showed no movement in their rates during October,” said TDLWD Commissioner Burns Phillips. “And that was the case with more than one-third of the counties in Tennessee. It is just one more sign the state’s economy is holding strong.”

Lauderdale County had Tennessee’s highest unemployment rate in October at 6.8 percent, up from 6.5 percent in September. At 6.1 percent, Bledsoe County recorded the state’s second highest rate of the month, which was 0.2 of a percentage point higher than the previous month.

“While the employment situation is holding steady in a majority of the state’s counties, we do have areas that experienced an uptick in unemployment last month,” said Phillips. “We need to take a look at those counties and work with our local partners to see what we can do to increase access to new jobs for all Tennesseeans.”

Statewide, seasonally adjusted unemployment inched up in Tennessee last month. At 3.7 percent, the rate increased by 0.1 of a percentage point. Nationally, the unemployment rate held steady for the second consecutive month at 3.7 percent.

Tennesseans searching for employment can access the state’s workforce development website where they will find a wide range of helpful information and services.

November 24, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Two of the three Christmas parades this holiday season in DeKalb County will be held next weekend.

Sponsored by the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department, this year’s Smithville Christmas parade will be Saturday, December 1 and will depart from Smithville Elementary School at 1 p.m. The line-up begins at 11 a.m. The parade will make its way down South Congress Boulevard and turn onto Don Cantrell Street by city hall to the public square.

(VIEW VIDEOS BELOW OF THE 2017 SMITHVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE)

M2U02599 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

(2017 SMITHVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE PART 2 BELOW)

Everyone wanting to get a good look may gather downtown or find a spot along the parade route. Santa will visit with the children after the parade on the square.

A first, second, and third place plaque will be awarded to the best floats and the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club will present a Spirit Award.

The deadline for entering the parade is Friday, November 30 but if you still wish to enter after the deadline your entry will be placed at the back of the parade line.

To enter contact Jeff Wright at 615-597-6750 or John Poss at 931-349-5598

(VIEW VIDEO OF 2017 LIBERTY CHRISTMAS PARADE BELOW)

M2U02601 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Meanwhile the Liberty Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Town of Liberty and Liberty State Bank will be Sunday, December 2 starting at 2 p.m. The line-up begins at 1 p.m. at Salem Baptist Church. No pre-registration is needed. Anyone wanting to participate may just show up for the line-up at 1 p.m. Refreshments will be available and prizes will be given away after the parade. The best entries in the parade will also be awarded in various categories.

(VIEW VIDEO OF 2017 ALEXANDRIA CHRISTMAS PARADE BELOW)

M2U02613 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

The Alexandria Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Town of Alexandria and participating businesses, will be Sunday, December 9 at 2 p.m. with the line-up at 1 p.m. on West Main Street. To enter, contact Jessica Cripps at the Alexandria City Hall to fill out an entry form. Call 615-529-2171 for more information. Prizes will be given away after the parade. The best entries in the parade will also be awarded in various categories.

November 23, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Cash Express in conjunction with the Smithville Police Department is hosting its 3rd annual “Fill A Police Car” event today on Black Friday, November 23 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the business location 126 E. Bryant Street.

The police department has provided a vehicle to be fill up with food, toys, and coats. This event also includes a bake sale, soup sale, and jewelry sale.

(VIEW VIDEO BELOW OF SMITHVILLE POLICE SERGEANT TRAVIS BRYANT AND JAMIE DAWSON OF CASH EXPRESS)

IMG_2918 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

The public is asked to bring new toys, canned food, and winter coats for this collection effort. All the donations will remain in DeKalb County for families in need. Monetary donations will also be accepted along with soups and bake sale items. You may also make monetary donations on Facebook.

Money and toys will go to the Smithville Police Department to be distributed; food will go to a local pantry; and coats and clothes will be donated to the clothes closet. The toy and coat drive will run through December 7 with more than 100 drop box locations in DeKalb County. For questions concerning this event, you may call 615-597-3427