Liberty and Alexandria Christmas Parades Set for Sunday, December 5

November 28, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The Liberty and Alexandria Christmas parades will be on the same day but at different times next Sunday, December 5.

The Liberty Christmas Parade will be Sunday, December 5 starting at 2 p.m. Participants may line up at 1 p.m. on West Main Street. First and second place awards will be given for best floats, kids and animal entries, and vintage cars, trucks and tractors. drawings for cash giveaways will follow

The Town of Alexandria Christmas parade will be a night parade again this year. It will be held on Sunday, Dec 5 at 5pm beginning on West Main Street and ending at the Town Square. There will be prize giveaways immediately following the parade at the Town Square. Participant forms are available at Alexandria Town Hall at 102 High Street or on the website at townofalexandria.us

November 28, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

For the second year in a row the DeKalb County School District’s graduation rate dropped in 2020-21 thanks again to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to data released by the Tennessee Department of Education, 83.6% of DeKalb County high school students graduated on time in 2020-21, a drop of 8.3% from the 91.9% graduation rate the previous year (2019-20) and down from 94.4% in 2018-19. The rate was 93.7% in 2017-18. The DeKalb County graduation rate for 2020-21 was also below the state’s graduation rate of 88.7%.

According to the Tennessee Department of Education, of the 2020-21 cohort, 88.7% of students graduated on time this year statewide compared to 89.6% last year, 37 districts improved their graduation rates, and 37 districts graduated 95% or more of their cohorts.

As the COVID-19 pandemic spanned the entirety of the 2020-21 academic year, the department offered several interventions to mitigate learning loss and provide necessary student supports to ensure they were prepared for graduation and postsecondary success, such as summer programming, free ACT prep workshops, and AP Access for All.

“Our state remains committed to swift and urgent action to mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19 on our students,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “The department was prepared for the negative impacts of the pandemic on our statewide graduation rate, but we are confident that with the right investment and the partnership and dedication of our districts and schools, we can resume the upward trajectory in graduation rate and ensure we are preparing Tennessee students for success.”

November 27, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS basketball teams suffered their first defeats of the young season Friday night dropping a pair of games at Warren County.

The Lady Tigers were handed a 52 to 35 loss while the Tigers were beaten 79 to 64.

Both DC teams are now 3-1 and will travel to Watertown Friday night, December 3. The girls game starts at 6 p.m. followed by the boy’s game. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

The Lady Tigers trailed Warren County 13 to 8 after the 1st period, 24 to 21 at halftime, and 41 to 26 after the 3rd period before falling 52 to 35.

Avery Agee scored 11 points followed by Kadee Ferrell 10, Ella VanVranken 7, Dare Collins 5, and Madison Martin with 2.

The Tigers led the Pioneers 18 to 15 after the 1st period but trailed 40 to 34 at halftime, 59 to 53 after the 3rd period and lost 79 to 64.

Conner Close led in scoring with 19 points followed by Jordan Young 15, Stetson Agee 10, Brayden Antoniak 9, Isaac Knowles 5, and Robert Wheeler, Elishah Ramos, and Zach Birmingham each with 2.