DeKalb Schools to Re-Open Tuesday, August 1 for Student Registration

July 31, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Schools will re-open Tuesday, August 1 for registration.

Students will attend for 90 minutes from 7:45 a.m. until 9:15 a.m. to sign up at their schools.

The first full day of school will be Thursday, August 3. Wednesday, August 2 will be an administrative day for teachers only. Students will not attend on Wednesday, August 2.

With school starting, drivers are cautioned to be careful around school busses that are stopping to let children on or off the bus.

Tennessee Law 55-8-151 states that drivers on a roadway overtaking a school bus from any direction must stop when the school bus stops with the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children.

This applies to all roadways aside from “separate roadways” that are divided by a barrier, raised median or an unpaved space of five feet or more where pedestrians are not permitted to cross.

Drivers passing in the opposite direction on a separate roadway of a school bus that has stopped for school children to enter or exit should still proceed with caution.

Failure to stop upon approaching a school bus that is stopped is a Class A misdemeanor. Drivers who don’t stop may receive a fine ranging from $250 to $1000.

The 2023-24 DeKalb County School Calendar is as follows:

DeKalb County students and teachers will have a full week off for fall break October 16-20, Thanksgiving November 20-24, and spring break March 25-29, and a two-week break for Christmas December 21 to January 3. December 20 will be an abbreviated day. Students will return to school after the Christmas holiday on January 4, 2024. Schools will also be closed for Labor Day September 4, Dr. Martin Luther King Day January 15, President’s Day February 19, and Monday, April 1. The last day of school will be May 21, 2024. May 20 will be an abbreviated day.

Report cards will be issued at all schools on October 9, January 9, March 13, and May 21.

Parent teacher conferences will be held at DCHS from 3-6 p.m. on October 10 and March 19 and at all the other schools, DWS, NES, SES, and DMS from 3-6 p.m. on October 12 and March 21.

July 31, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Three more people have been picked up on sealed indictments returned by the DeKalb County Grand Jury last week.

The charges against the following are the result of an undercover drug investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department last year.

22-year-old Jada Beth Butcher of Smithville-Sale and Delivery of a Schedule I drug (Heroin) and Sale and Delivery of a Schedule II drug (Methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams. The offenses allegedly occurred on August 31, 2022. Her bond is $70, 000.

41-year-old Danny Ray Murphy of Smithville-Sale and Delivery of a Schedule II drug (Methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams (2 counts). The offenses allegedly occurred on July 22 & 25, 2022. His bond totals $120,000.

42-year-old Christopher Matthew McPherson of Cookeville- Sale and Delivery of a Schedule II drug (Methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams. The offenses allegedly occurred on April 5, 2022. His bond is $60,000.

All are to be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on August 7.

July 31, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee invites Tennessee families to save during the state’s three-month grocery tax suspension, starting tomorrow, August 1 through October 31.

This year, Gov. Lee and the General Assembly passed the Tennessee Works Tax Act, the single largest tax cut in Tennessee history, which includes the three-month grocery tax suspension. During the tax holiday, Tennesseans are expected to save an estimated $273 million in taxes total.

During the period beginning at 12:01 am on Tuesday,  August 1, 2023 and ending Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:59 pm, food and food ingredients are exempt from sales tax.

Sales of prepared food, dietary supplements, candy, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco are not included in items exempt during this period.

“In Tennessee, we cut taxes any chance we get because families should keep more of their own hard-earned dollars. Starting Tuesday, we’re inviting Tennesseans to take advantage of savings at the grocery store this August through October,” said Gov. Lee. “I thank the General Assembly for partnering to deliver three months of savings for Tennessee taxpayers.”

The three-month grocery tax holiday starting Tuesday, August 1 through Tuesday, October 31 will give Tennesseans the opportunity to save up to 6.75 percent in state and local option sales tax on food and food ingredients.

“We’re proud to be able to offer three months of tax-free groceries to help hardworking Tennesseans save money,” said Department of Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano. “I thank the Governor and General Assembly for their efforts to steward taxpayer dollars responsibly and cut taxes for Tennessee families.”