County Commission to Meet by Conference Call Monday Night

April 23, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Commission will meet in regular session by way of a conference call on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be broadcast live on WJLE.

On March 20, 2020, Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order No. 16 (“the Order”), which suspends the requirements of the Tennessee Open Meetings Act (“TOMA”) to the extent necessary to allow any governing body subject to the requirements of TOMA to meet and conduct essential business by electronic means if the body determines meeting electronically is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Tennesseans in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Order applies to any state, county, or municipal governing body or any other public body that may be subject to the requirements of TOMA. It allows members of the governing body to participate and vote in public meetings without being physically present to protect public health, safety, and welfare and prevent the spread of COVID-19. This is a temporary measure that expires on May 18, 2020, unless further action is taken by the Governor. Except as specifically provided in this new executive order, the public notice provisions, meeting minute provisions, and other requirements of TOMA still apply to meetings of governing bodies being held electronically. If a governing body seeks to conduct electronic meetings in accordance with the Order, it must make reasonable efforts to ensure that the public may access the meeting live via electronic means.

April 23, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Free drive-up Wi-Fi hotspots are now active at DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary, and DeKalb West School thanks to DTC Communications.

The service may be accessed at no charge using one’s personal or school provided device from the safety of their vehicle if they are parked near either of these three schools. Its free to the public including students and teachers at DeKalb County Schools.

DTC previously opened free public Wi-Fi hotspots to the general public at the company’s retail locations, and each remains available for the use of any community member.

“DTC Communications is proud to continue its support of the DeKalb County School District by providing additional connectivity at no cost for students and faculty,”said Chris Townson, CEO of DTC Communications.

“I can’t thank DTC enough. This is another community resource that is stepping up for our kids. It’s awesome to see the love being shown to our kids. We will forever be grateful for that. It gives kids that don’t have access to the Internet the ability to drive or ride with someone into a school and they will be able to hook up to Wi-Fi,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.

April 23, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A woman being placed in custody for public intoxication kicked a deputy in the chest during the arrest.

33 year old Tamara Michelle Waddell of Lascassas is charged with public intoxication, assault, and resisting stop, frisk, halt, or arrest. Her bond is $3,000 and she will be in court June 11.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on April 6 a deputy was dispatched to Roy Womack Road due to a possible domestic incident. Waddell was found outside in the roadway extremely intoxicated. She became belligerent and started yelling and cussing. After several attempts to get her to calm down, the deputy placed her under arrest for public intoxication. As Waddell was seated in the back of the patrol car, she was able to get her cuffed hands from behind her back in front of her. When the officer spotted that he tried to get her out of the car to reapply the handcuffs behind her back but Waddell resisted and kicked the officer in the chest after leaning over in the seat. Waddell was subsequently subdued. The deputy was not seriously injured.