Paislee’s Foundation Craft & Home Show Set for October 13

September 2, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Losing a child is unspeakably painful and perhaps the most devastating ordeal a parent could have to encounter.

Tyler and Jessica Cripps of Alexandria know what that’s like. Their daughter Paislee Cheyanne Cripps was stillborn on May 3, 2013. Their hearts were broken. Their world was shattered.

But during their grief they received the love and support of family, friends, church, and the community in such a way that it inspired Tyler and Jessica to help other parents mourning infant loss. As a result, Paislee’s Foundation was formed by the Cripps’ along with their friend Wesley McCubbin.

Paislee’s Foundation is a 501c 3 non-profit organization. Its purpose is to support those whose lives have been touched tragically within the past six months due to stillbirth, infant loss, or child loss up to three years old. Through the foundation, families can receive funds to assist them with funeral costs or other expenses. Many families have been served since the foundation was established in October, 2013.

One of the annual fundraisers held to support the foundation is set for next month, the Paislee’s Foundation Craft & Home Show. This 5th annual event will take place on Saturday, October 13 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. inside the Kenneth Sandlin Building at the DeKalb County Fairgrounds in Alexandria.

Admission is free and there will be plenty of free parking. Donations will be accepted for the foundation.

If you would like to set up an inside booth as a craft vendor the cost is $25.00 for a 10’x8’ space. Outside space is also available. Demonstrations are welcome.

All proceeds fund Paislee’s Foundation. No one associated with the foundation gets paid. All funds collected go to support those grieving from still birth and infant loss.

For more information call or text Darcie Cripps at 615-464-5139 or email paisleesfoundation@gmail.com

September 2, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County’s unemployment rate for July was 4.9%, down from 5% in June and the same as July, 2017.

The local labor force for July was 7,960. A total of 7,570 were employed and 390 were unemployed.

Jobless rates for June among the fourteen counties in the Upper Cumberland region were as follows from highest to lowest:

Van Buren: 5.7%
Jackson: 5.4%
Clay: 5.2%
Fentress: 4.9%
DeKalb: 4.9
Warren: 4.8%

Overton: 4.6%
Cumberland: 4.5%

Pickett: 4.5%
White: 4.3%
Putnam: 4.2%
Macon: 4.2%
Cannon: 3.8%
Smith: 3.4%

The unemployment rate in 57 Tennessee counties improved in July 2018, according to statistics released today by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

The unemployment rate remained the same in 19 counties when compared to June and the number of unemployed Tennesseans increased in 19 counties.

“The summer months significantly impact the unemployment situation across the state,” said TDLWD Commissioner Burns Phillips. “People are not working seasonal jobs, they’re out of town and not able to work, or they’ve just graduated and are looking for work. There are many factors that play a role in summer unemployment figures.”

Sixty-two counties had unemployment rates below 5.0 percent in July, while 33 counties had a rate of 5.0 percent or greater.

Once again, Williamson County had the lowest unemployment rate in Tennessee. The county’s July rate of 2.9 percent was down 0.1 of a percentage point when compared to the previous month. The county’s unemployment rate was also 2.9 percent in July 2017.

Davidson County had the state’s second-lowest unemployment rate during July; it decreased by 0.1 of a percentage point and came in at 3.0 percent. The top ten counties with the lowest unemployment each had a rate of 3.5 percent on less.

Weakly County experienced a significant jump in unemployment in July. Its rate of 7.6 percent was a 2.6 percent increase compared to June. In a year-to-year comparison, the July 2018 figure was just 0.5 of a percentage point higher than it was in 2017.

Last month, Lauderdale County had the highest rate of unemployment in the state. During July the county experienced a slight decrease in its jobless rate; the figure dropped 0.1 percentage point to 6.9 percent.

Eight of the top ten Tennessee counties with the lowest unemployment surround Davidson County, while Knox and Sevier Counties round out the list. Seven of the state’s counties with the highest unemployment rate is located in West Tennessee, with the remaining three in East Tennessee.

Tennesseans who are searching for employment may find a variety of valuable resources on the state’s workforce website.

By: Bill Conger

The DeKalb County High School Fighting Tiger Band is small in number this year but powerful in performance. With 36 members, Band Director Tracy Luna and Assistant Band Director Jonathan Holland took the marching band to Baxter Saturday (September 1) for the Upperman Exhibition.

“I think the band ramped it up today and did great,” Tracy Luna told WJLE following the band’s performance. “Friday night they went to Stone Memorial, and they weren’t quite on their game, but today they put it all together. The focus was there, and they produced a great product for an early run during the season.”

Area bands converged on the football field at Upperman High School to display their talents. Around mid-day storms forced the musicians to move inside to the gym where they performed an adjusted version of their field show. DeKalb’s first contest of the season will be in two weeks for the Cumberland County Invitational in Crossville.

Luna says the students put in a lot of hard work for an eight minute show, but it pays off.

“We spend two weeks in band camp getting music, and what we call drill, which is pictures with movement and music together,” Luna said. “It’s generally long hours for just an eight minute show, but when it’s all said and done, the kids wouldn’t do anything else. I wouldn’t do anything else. It’s worth it.”

“We practice three times a week, and we work on pictures, which means that on a football field, we divide it up into a grid, and they all have different coordinates that they memorize that go along with music. It’s kind of complicated, but the kids get used to it, and before long they’re professionals at it.”

“Phantom of the Opera” is the band’s 2018 marching band theme

I’ve never done “Phantom of the Opera.” I’ve always loved the musical, and I thought the kids needed to be exposed to the good quality Broadway music. It’s music that people can sing and hum and can remember. It’s not off the wall. It’s very popular with a crowd. I thought too this was a good year to do it. I have the brass to do it, and we pulled it off.”

The D.C.H.S. band will perform next at the Tigers’ football game against Watertown Friday night

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