DeKalb Jobless Rate Increased to 4.6% in June

August 1, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The seasonal impacts on employment, such as school breaks, continued to have an impact on Tennessee’s county unemployment numbers in June, according to newly released information from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

DeKalb County’s jobless rate for June 2023 was 4.6%, up from the rate of 3.7% in May and just below the 4.7% rate in June, 2022.

The local labor force for June 2023 was 8,285. A total of 7,900 were employed and 385 were unemployed.

County unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted to take into account the effects of seasonal layoffs, while the statewide unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted.

The June 2023 data showed unemployment rates increased in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties during the month. Seventy-seven counties had an unemployment rate of less than 5% in June, while the remaining 18 counties had rates of 5% or greater but less than 10%.

At 2.8%, Williamson County reported the lowest unemployment rate in June. Its new statistic was 0.3 of a percentage point higher than the previous month’s rate. The rates for both Cheatham and Sevier counties were 2.9% for the month. The rates in both counties increased by 0.3 of a percentage point between May and June.

Bledsoe County had Tennessee’s highest unemployment rate for the month. At 6.5%, the county’s June rate jumped 1.2 percentage points when compared to its May rate. Scott and Van Buren counties shared the next highest rate of 5.9%. That represented a 0.6 of a percentage point increase for Scott County and an increase of 1.8 percentage points for Van Buren County.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate matched the state’s all-time low statistic of 3.2%, which represented a 0.1 of a percentage point decrease from the previous month.

Employers across the state having a difficult time finding employees can learn how second chances work by viewing the Second Chances Work Employer Resource Guide. The Tennessee Office of Reentry can work with businesses to show them how hiring justice-involved individuals can benefit their workforce and their budget with tax incentives and job training funds.

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.