Local sales tax collections up in DeKalb County during pandemic year

January 25, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County pulled in more local option sales tax dollars in the fiscal year 2019-20 than the previous year—even with the pandemic.

The local option sales tax collections in DeKalb County totaled $1,146,811 from July 2019 to June 2020 which is up from collections of $967,741 from July 2018 to June 2019 and $853,233 from July 2017 to June 2018 according to the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

DeKalb collections of local option sales tax dollars for the first half of the current fiscal year 2020-21 (July-December 2020) have also been up compared to the same time period in 2019-20.

Figures show that DeKalb County collected $814, 952.44 from July-December, 2020 which is up from collections of $575,865.74 from July-December, 2019.

June 2020 was the best month for collections of local option sales taxes in DeKalb County during the 2019-20 fiscal year at $122,195 followed by January 2020 at $120,455 and $118,949 in August 2019 and $112,770 in July 2019.

So far this fiscal year 2020-21, July has been the best month at $150,968 followed by August $145,266, September $138,476, October $137,940, November $117,000, and December $125,299.

A host of factors plays into the sales tax. Many believe that more people have been shopping locally instead of traveling to larger cities during COVID-19 and that online shopping may have increased causing a spike in local option sales tax collections from online purchases.

Since the fall of 2019, Tennessee has been collecting sales taxes from online retailers even if the retailer does not have a physical address in the state thanks to a US Supreme Court decision allowing states to collect such taxes.

January 24, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Senior quarterback Axel Aldino was named Most Valuable Player of the 2020 DCHS Tiger Football Team during the annual Awards Banquet held Saturday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building. Meanwhile Talon Billings, a senior received the Most Valuable Player Football Cheerleader Award.

The trophies were presented to Aldino and Billings respectively by Tiger Football Coach Steve Trapp and Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller.

“In his four year 40 game career as quarterback, MVP Aldino threw for 61 touchdowns and had 5,848 passing yards. He completed 369 passes out of 639 attempts with 22 interceptions and 43 sacks. Aldino had 472 carries running the ball for 2,024 yards and 24 touchdowns. A job well done,” said Coach Trapp.

Aldino’s high school career awards and honors include the following:

2020: Region 3-4A MVP and 1st Team All Region
2020: Tennessee Football Coaches Association All State
2020: DTC Player of the Year
2020: Mr. Football Semi-Finalist
2020: Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Combine Invitee
2020: Tennessee Football Coaches Association Division 1 Class 4A All State Team
2020: Preseason Academic All American
2020: Preseason All State (Murphy Fair)
2020: 615 Preps All Area Offense 1st Team
2020: 615 Preps Player of the Week
University of Central Missouri Football Commit
Team voted Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019
Region 3-4A Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 and 1st Team All Region
Region 3-4A Most Outstanding Quarterback in 2018 and 1st Team All Region
2020-21 Quarterback for Team Tennessee 7 on 7

Meanwhile senior Jasper Kleparek received the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award presented by members of Edwards’ family, Abram Edwards and Sarah Rathbone, son and daughter, and their mother Tena Edwards-Jacobs. Kleparek also received the Special Teams Player of the Year and the All-Region Most Outstanding Kicker honor. Prior to the 2020 season, Kleparek had never played high school football but he quickly excelled after joining the team in the second game of the year and he never missed an extra point or field goal kick in eleven games.

In presenting the MVC Award, Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller talked about Billings’ determination and the example she set for her fellow cheerleaders.

“She has been cheering for a very long time at school and in competitions. She cheered for basketball at middle school but thankfully changed to football cheering in high school. I remember the excitement of the girls on the team when they found out she was trying out for football cheerleading. I didn’t really know how good she was at that time but I soon found out. From the first day she has been one of the easiest people to work with and for others to get along with. She is always smiling and respectful to others. When it comes to stunts she is always willing to try whatever we ask her to do. Her experience and talent have given her the ability to be successful in most of the things we have asked her to do. She has been an example to her team on how to work hard and persevere and not worry about the little things. We will certainly miss seeing her in the air and cheering on the sidelines,” said Coach Fuller.

The season ended for the Tigers in the second round of the state playoffs in November at 7-5 although one of the losses was not on the field but a COVID-19 forfeit to Cumberland County. The 2020 Tigers made history by being the first DCHS football team to win a regular season region championship and the first to host back to back state playoff football games in Smithville.

Other individual Football Player Awards are as follows:
Offensive Player of the Year- Desmond Nokes
Offensive Lineman- Caven Ponder
Offensive Back- Colby Barnes
Receiver- Trevonte (T.J.) Alexander
Defensive Player of the Year- Isaiah Harrington
Defensive Lineman- Evan Jones
Linebacker- Aidan Curtis
Defensive Back- Isaac Knowles
Special Teams Player- Jasper Kleparek
Most Improved-Silas Cross
MVP- Axel Aldino
Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award-Jasper Kleparek
Scout Team Player of the Year: Ari White
Newcomer of the Year: Wil Farris

Seventeen players and four coaches on the 2020 DCHS football team earned All-Region honors in Region 3-4A.

Tiger Coach Steve Trapp was the Region’s Coach of the Year while members of his staff earned the following region honors:

Offensive Assistant Coach Michael Shaw, Defensive Assistant Coach Thomas Cagle, and Special Teams Coach Corey Rathbone.

Tiger players with Region honors are as follows:
Most Valuable Player: Axel Aldino
Defensive MVP: Isaiah Harrington
Offensive MVP: Desmond Nokes
Most Outstanding Defensive Back: Isaac Knowles
Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Caven Ponder
Most Outstanding Wide Receiver: Trevonte (TJ) Alexander
Most Outstanding Kicker: Jasper Kleparek
All Region 1st Team: Evan Jones, Peyton Leaf, Diego Coronado, Bryan Portillo, Ean Jones, and Aiden Curtis

All Region 2nd Team: Colby Barnes, Josh May, Antwon McCoy, and Wil Ferris.

Individual Cheer Awards are as follows:
Most Valuable Cheerleader- Talon Billings
Most Spirited- Sadie West
Best Dancer- Keirstine Robinson
Best Cheer-Presley Agee
Best Stunts-Hannah Trapp
DEAR (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Responsibility-Presley Agee
Best Jumps-Addison Puckett

January 22, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

If it’s time to renew your vehicle registration be sure to check your mail closely because notices being sent from the state now have a much different look.

Starting this month, the Department of Revenue is sending postcards to motor vehicle registrants to remind them of upcoming renewal dates.

The postcards are replacing traditional letters and will reduce state mailing expenses by an estimated $500,000. Other states – such as Kentucky, Maine, Montana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming – also send postcard notices for registration renewals.

“The renewal notices provided by the state are much smaller than the previous envelope style and have a new look in the form of a two sided card,” said DeKalb County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss. “Be sure to check your mail closely because you don’t want to mistake your notice for something else and possibly discard it”.

“This is a more efficient, effective way to remind citizens about their upcoming registration renewals,” Commissioner David Gerregano said. “It’s also a good way for the state to save money without sacrificing any services.”

The department partners with the state’s 95 county clerks to administer vehicle title and registration in the state. You can find more information about renewals, as well as a sample postcard, on the department’s website at www.tn.gov/revenue/renewals.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the department encourages motorists to renew their registration online at www.tncountyclerk.com. If you do not have online access or your county does not have online renewals, you can mail in your renewal to your local clerk. The TNCountyClerk website also allows registrants to sign up for e-mail and text message reminders about renewal dates.

The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The department collects about 87 percent of total state revenue. During the 2020 fiscal year, it collected $15.1 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $3.2 billion in taxes and fees for local governments. To learn more about the department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue.

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