“Back 2 School-Call 2 Prayer” Postponed Until August 16

August 1, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The “Back 2 School-Call 2 Prayer observance has been postponed due to the delay in re-opening DeKalb County Schools.

“Back 2 School-Call 2 Prayer” will be Sunday, August 16 starting at 2 p.m. at the school of your choice where a designated pastor will be waiting to lead you in group prayer. Locations include DeKalb County High School, DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary School, Smithville Elementary School, and DeKalb West School. The school buildings will not be open. Groups may meet outside the buildings.

Parents, church leaders, educators, and community leaders are invited to attend. Prayers will be offered for the blessing, safety, and learning for the students and faculty for the school year.

From the beginning, the annual prayer for our schools observance has been held at a central location but that was not possible this year due to COVID-19.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps announced Friday that DeKalb County Schools will reopen Monday, August 17 instead of the planned re-opening for Monday, August 3 after a school employee tested positive for COVID-19.

June 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A Dowelltown man was arrested last Sunday after allegedly threatening another man with a knife while intoxicated.

31 year old Trenton Thomas Pedigo of Nashville Highway, Dowelltown is charged with aggravated assault, public intoxication, and resist stop frisk halt search or arrest. His bond is $11,500 and he will be in court August 20.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on July 26 a deputy was dispatched to Nashville Highway in reference to someone being threatened with a knife. Upon arrival he spoke with the victim who said another man with no shirt and wearing black pants pulled a knife and chased him. Pedigo appeared to be under the influence and had a half bottle of Vodka. As the deputy was placing him in custody, Pedigo resisted by pulling his hands away and trying to run.

More charges have been filed against a DeKalb County couple recently arrested for burglary and theft offenses.

43 Year old Jessica Lee Steinbach and 35 year old Edward Lee Judkins, Jr. of Keltonburg Road are charged with burglary and theft of property over $1,000. Bond for each is $8,500 and they will be in court August 20.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 10 the couple broke into a semi trailer located on Keltonburg Road and stole several items including tools, welding rods, carburetor, darts, grease gun, and more valued at $1,367.

53 year old Lisa Taylor Chancey of Sparta Highway, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. Her court date is August 20. Sheriff Ray said that on July 23 a deputy was dispatched to Lake Motel on Sparta Highway due to an intoxicated woman. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the woman, Chancey who appeared to be very intoxicated. Chancey was very unsteady on her feet and her speech was slurred. Chancey told the officer that she had drank five shots. He also learned the Chancey had gone to different rooms at the motel and knocked on the doors and windows.

Andrea Colleen Claspell of Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court August 20. Sheriff Ray said that on July 23 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Allens Chapel Road for a welfare check. The complainant said that a silver SUV was parked in his driveway and that a woman in the vehicle was unresponsive. The officer arrived and found the woman, Claspell unresponsive in the driver seat. Keys to the vehicle were in the ignition and the motor was running. He awoke the woman and spoke with her. Claspell smelled of alcohol and her speech was slurred. Claspell said she had consumed some tequila and thought she was in Indiana. Claspell also said she had driven there from Short Mountain Road. Claspell was unable to perform field sobriety tasks due to her level of intoxication.

40 year old Tawanna Ann Evans of Adcock Cemetery Road is charged under a sealed indictment issued on June 2, 2020 with two counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and two counts of the same offense in a drug free zone.. Her bond is $7500 and she will be arraigned in criminal court on August 3.

July 31, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The re-opening date for DeKalb County Schools has been postponed until Monday, August 17 after an employee at one of the schools tested positive for COVID-19. The planned re-opening had been set for Monday, August 3.

DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS PATRICK CRIPPS from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Not only will that employee with the coronavirus be quarantined but so will other faculty members and administrators of that school who may have been exposed to the virus.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps made the announcement to WJLE Friday afternoon. He did not identify the employee nor the school where this person works.

Director Cripps said he consulted members of the school board and the Tennessee School Boards Association before making today’s decision.

“We were notified that we have had a positive result in one of our employees at a building. That employee recently reported feeling not well, then went home, followed all the protocols, and was tested. That employee received the test results today and it was positive. We immediately told that employee you have to be quarantined according to what the CDC recommends for 10 days plus a 24 hour day without a fever before you can return to work. We then began tracing where this individual had been while working and learned that this employee had been around other staff members because we are in in-service. Those other staff members, which involved a large number of that faculty, have been contacted about this matter so we will be pushing back the re-opening of schools for two weeks so we can get through this quarantine and see how the trajectory of the COVID-19 numbers are at that point,” said Director Cripps.

Because this is a delay in the scheduled re-opening of schools, there will be no remote learning during the two week period from August 3-17. The school board will have to decide later how to make up the lost days.