Close & Paschal

News

July 2024 Local Option Sales Tax Collections Down a Bit from July 2023

August 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The new fiscal year has started off not quite as robust in terms of local option sales tax collections in DeKalb County compared to 2023.

According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue, DeKalb County took in $206,432 in local option sales taxes for July 2024 which is down from $210,447 in July 2023.

In Smithville, July, 2024 local option sales taxes totaled $407,834 compared to $422,519 in 2023.

Collections for Liberty in July 2024 were $27,373, up from $10,528 last year.

Dowelltown took in $3,215 in July 2024, up slightly from $3,044 in July 2023.

Alexandria ‘s collections were up in July 2024 at $30,662 from $29,741 in July 2023

Net Collections with the county and cities combined dropped from $676,282 in July 2023 to $647,918 in July 2024.

July sales tax collections reflect previous month activity.




Former TBI Director Mark Gwyn has passed away

August 23, 2024
By:

The former director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), 61-year-old Mark Gwyn, has died at his Nashville-area home from what appears to be natural causes, officials announced Thursday morning. Gwyn has family in DeKalb County including sister and brother-in-law, Steve and Cathy Officer.

According to the TBI, Gwyn — a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University — began his law enforcement career in 1985 as a police officer in his hometown of McMinnville. Three years later, he became a special agent in the TBI’s Criminal Investigation Division. Eight years after that, he was promoted to executive officer and later served as assistant director of the Forensic Services Division.

Then, in 2004, Gov. Phil Bredesen appointed Gwyn as TBI director, making him the first African-American to hold the position, authorities said. Gwyn served in that role until he retired in 2018.

“I am deeply saddened to hear of Director Gwyn’s passing,” said current TBI Director David Rausch. “Mark had a profound impact on the Bureau, contributed to its growth and innovation, and solidified our reputation as a law enforcement leader. We will honor his contributions, remember his legacy, and celebrate his life in the days and weeks to come.”




Plans Moving Forward for New DeKalb Health Department Building

August 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Plans are moving forward for the eventual construction of a new DeKalb County Health Department facility.

The Tennessee Department of Health has plans to build a new 12,000 square foot health department center in Smithville in partnership with DeKalb County using American Rescue Plan Act Funding.

The project has been in the making for more than two years.

At the time of the initial announcement the project was estimated to cost $3,915,400 but most of it is to be funded from the state’s allocation of ARPA funding. The county set aside $398,000 from its allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds to meet the match.

County Mayor Matt Adcock informed the county commission during a workshop meeting Thursday night that the new health department can be built on property adjacent to the site of the current health department building on Allen’s Ferry Road.

“We finally got a green light to go forward with our new health department building,” said County Mayor Adcock. “We have figured out where the property lines are. We had to research the deed to find out who really owns the property. Initially it looked like the school board owned all of it including even where our existing health department sets but after looking back at some old records, we (county) were actually supposed to receive some of that property. We now have a survey that divides the property lines, and we do have enough to construct a new health department right next to the existing health department”.

“We did speak to Caney Fork Electric Cooperative about moving some power lines and they are working on it now to give us more accessibility to build over there. That’s a win for us because it will save a lot of time and money. We are now moving this state grant money in place to be able to start paying for some things,” said County Mayor Adcock.




« First ‹ Previous 1 12 102 110 111 112113 114 122 212 2492 Next › Last »

WJLE Radio