Census Takers to Start Follow Up With Nonresponding DeKalb County Households

August 1, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

If you’re a census slacker and haven’t yet filled out the form for the 2020 head count, expect a knock on your door soon from a representative of the US Census Bureau.

The current DeKalb County self response rate to the census is at 50.3% which is approximately 12% below the Tennessee average. Self response rates for the cities are as follows: Liberty-49.2%, Alexandria 55.2%, Smithville 57.4%, and Dowelltown 57. 4%. The final county wide response rate for 2010 was 62.3%.

“Beginning August 11 we will have census takers out knocking on the doors of those who haven’t yet responded to collect their information. In some cases they (census takers) may just leave a request to respond behind at the home and in other cases a masked census taker will collect your responses from a safe distance. They will be carrying a tablet or cell phone to enter the information into our website the same as you would do yourself,” said June Illjana, Partnership Media Specialist of the US Census Bureau in an interview on WJLE Friday afternoon.

“We sent out the first invitations to respond to the census in mid March and initially people responded pretty quickly but as of right now only about half the households in DeKalb County have responded to the census. We are at 50.3% here so we really need to encourage the other half of the households to respond as quickly as possible because we are running out of time. We do know based on 911 system and U.S. Postal Service records how many residences there are in a community but what we don’t know is how many people live in those homes and that is critically important,” said Illjana.

The U.S. Census Bureau has also announced that it will begin emailing households in low-responding areas to encourage them to respond to the 2020 Census. The email messages will invite people to respond online at 2020census.gov. People who receive the email and haven’t already responded should click on the link provided and complete the census online. It’s easy, safe and important.

“Responding online is quick and easy. We only ask a few simple questions. We ask for the names and birth dates of everyone living in the home. We ask for their race which is used for voting district boundaries, and we ask the respondent’s relationship to the householder. If you don’t have Internet access or you are not comfortable in that environment you may phone the Census Bureau and answer the questions. That number is 1-844-330-2020,” Illjana continued.

Census takers will wear masks and follow local public health guidelines when they visit your home. All census takers complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing and other health and safety protocols before beginning their work in neighborhoods.

If the census taker who visits your home does not speak your language, you may request a return visit from a census taker who does speak your language.

If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail.

If someone visits your home this year to collect information for the 2020 Census, check to make sure they have a valid ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. Census workers may also carry Census Bureau bags and other equipment with the Census Bureau logo.

If you still have questions about their identity, you can contact your regional census center to speak with a Census Bureau representative.

During the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will never ask you for: Your Social Security number, Money or donations, Anything on behalf of a political party, Your bank or credit card account numbers. Additionally, there is no citizenship question on the 2020 Census.

If someone claiming to be from the Census Bureau contacts you via email or phone and asks you for one of these things, it’s a scam, and you should not cooperate. For more information, visit Avoiding Fraud and Scams.

Your personal information is kept confidential. The Census Bureau is bound by federal law to protect your information, and your data is used only for statistical purposes.

Your responses are compiled with information from other homes to produce statistics, which never identify your home or any person in your home

The 2020 Census will provide a snapshot of our nation—who we are, where we live, and so much more.

The results of this once-a-decade count determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives. They are also used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

Over the next decade, lawmakers, business owners, and many others will use 2020 Census data to make critical decisions. The results will show where communities need new schools, new clinics, new roads, and more services for families, older adults, and children.

The results will also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP.

“In the U.S. Constitution, the census data or number of people living in a community is used to reallocate federal tax dollars back to those communities based on their population. A complete census count affects how much money the state of Tennessee and DeKalb County get each year for the next ten years to support things like roads, schools, healthcare, Medicare, nutrition programs, school lunches, and all kinds of things that affect everyone everyday,” said Illjana.

Households have until October 31 to respond to the 2020 Census.

August 1, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The “Back 2 School-Call 2 Prayer observance has been postponed due to the delay in re-opening DeKalb County Schools.

“Back 2 School-Call 2 Prayer” will be Sunday, August 16 starting at 2 p.m. at the school of your choice where a designated pastor will be waiting to lead you in group prayer. Locations include DeKalb County High School, DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary School, Smithville Elementary School, and DeKalb West School. The school buildings will not be open. Groups may meet outside the buildings.

Parents, church leaders, educators, and community leaders are invited to attend. Prayers will be offered for the blessing, safety, and learning for the students and faculty for the school year.

From the beginning, the annual prayer for our schools observance has been held at a central location but that was not possible this year due to COVID-19.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps announced Friday that DeKalb County Schools will reopen Monday, August 17 instead of the planned re-opening for Monday, August 3 after a school employee tested positive for COVID-19.

June 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A Dowelltown man was arrested last Sunday after allegedly threatening another man with a knife while intoxicated.

31 year old Trenton Thomas Pedigo of Nashville Highway, Dowelltown is charged with aggravated assault, public intoxication, and resist stop frisk halt search or arrest. His bond is $11,500 and he will be in court August 20.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on July 26 a deputy was dispatched to Nashville Highway in reference to someone being threatened with a knife. Upon arrival he spoke with the victim who said another man with no shirt and wearing black pants pulled a knife and chased him. Pedigo appeared to be under the influence and had a half bottle of Vodka. As the deputy was placing him in custody, Pedigo resisted by pulling his hands away and trying to run.

More charges have been filed against a DeKalb County couple recently arrested for burglary and theft offenses.

43 Year old Jessica Lee Steinbach and 35 year old Edward Lee Judkins, Jr. of Keltonburg Road are charged with burglary and theft of property over $1,000. Bond for each is $8,500 and they will be in court August 20.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 10 the couple broke into a semi trailer located on Keltonburg Road and stole several items including tools, welding rods, carburetor, darts, grease gun, and more valued at $1,367.

53 year old Lisa Taylor Chancey of Sparta Highway, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. Her court date is August 20. Sheriff Ray said that on July 23 a deputy was dispatched to Lake Motel on Sparta Highway due to an intoxicated woman. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the woman, Chancey who appeared to be very intoxicated. Chancey was very unsteady on her feet and her speech was slurred. Chancey told the officer that she had drank five shots. He also learned the Chancey had gone to different rooms at the motel and knocked on the doors and windows.

Andrea Colleen Claspell of Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court August 20. Sheriff Ray said that on July 23 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Allens Chapel Road for a welfare check. The complainant said that a silver SUV was parked in his driveway and that a woman in the vehicle was unresponsive. The officer arrived and found the woman, Claspell unresponsive in the driver seat. Keys to the vehicle were in the ignition and the motor was running. He awoke the woman and spoke with her. Claspell smelled of alcohol and her speech was slurred. Claspell said she had consumed some tequila and thought she was in Indiana. Claspell also said she had driven there from Short Mountain Road. Claspell was unable to perform field sobriety tasks due to her level of intoxication.

40 year old Tawanna Ann Evans of Adcock Cemetery Road is charged under a sealed indictment issued on June 2, 2020 with two counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and two counts of the same offense in a drug free zone.. Her bond is $7500 and she will be arraigned in criminal court on August 3.

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