COMMUNITY CALENDAR CANCELLATIONS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

March 20, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING CANCELED
The county commission meeting scheduled for Monday March 23 is canceled. By limiting potential exposure to the coronavirus, experts say it will slow its spread.

COURTHOUSE AND OFFICES IN COUNTY COMPLEX CLOSED TO IN-PERSON BUSINESS 

The DeKalb County Government continues to monitor developments and updates from federal and state public health officials related to the coronavirus. Beginning Friday March 20th, the DeKalb County Courthouse and the main entrance of the County Complex County Offices will be locked in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Employees are still reporting to work but residents who need to do business with them are urged to call first. Signage is posted on doors with phone number of each office for people to call. They will inform you how your business will be handled. The County Clerk’s drive thru window is open.

DEKALB COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION OFFICE OPEN

The DeKalb County Election Office is open to receive and issue candidate petitions.
However, candidates and potential candidates should call the office in advance to make arrangements for someone to give them access to the building. The election office phone number is 615-597-4146. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The qualifying deadline for the August election is NOON April 2.

MIKE FOSTER MULTI PURPOSE CENTER CLOSED UNTIL APRIL 4TH
The Mike Foster Multipurpose Center is closed through Saturday April 4th. This will include the exercise room. If you have rented a room, you can reschedule or request a refund.

DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOLS CLOSED THROUGH FRIDAY, APRIL 3
DeKalb County Schools are closed through Friday, April 3 due to the coronavirus threat. All planned school related trips, extracurricular activities, and sporting events are also canceled during this time.

DEKALB COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM CLOSED
The DeKalb County Library System is closed until further notice, and as deemed appropriate by local, and federal health agencies. For more information check out the library facebook page or call 615-597-4359. Library patrons may still take advantage of the Tennessee Regional eBook and Audiobook Download System (R.E.A.D.S.) from home using their own devices for digital book checkouts.

COUNTY CLERK ENCOURAGES PUBLIC USE OF DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW FOR SERVICES

DeKalb County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss reminds patrons that all of its transactions in the County Clerk’s Office will be completed by the drive-thru service beginning today (Friday, March 20).
“As a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus, we are offering online and drive-thru service for the safety of our customers and employees, based on recommendations from the CDC and the Tennessee Department of Health. We recommend utilizing online services available at www.tncountyclerk.com whenever possible. While DeKalb County Clerk’s office is implementing the CDC’s recommended social distancing practices, we are still committed to serving you. Full staff will continue working normal business hours providing services for both businesses and citizens. In-person services are currently Not available. Please contact our office for assistance. Our phone number is 615-597-5177. We apologize for the inconvenience during this time. Office Hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays 8:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.

DEKALB SENIOR CENTER CLOSED

The DeKalb Senior Center is closed to the public thru Friday April 3. If you need assistance, call 615-597-7575 and leave a message.

ALEXANDRIA SENIOR CENTER TO BE CLOSED MARCH 23 TO APRIL 6
The Alexandria Senior Center will be closed March 23 to April 6.

SMITHVILLE CITY HALL BUILDING CLOSED BUT DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW OPEN
Although Smithville residents will not experience an interruption of city services, they will have to do city hall business at the drive-through window through the end of the month. The Smithville City Hall building is closed to the public for in-person visits or any business transactions through March 31. This will apply to the city hall offices of the mayor, city administrator, public works, police, tax, or water and sewer department. City officials will still be working normal business hours but if you have a need you will have to call city hall at 615-597-4745 or the police department at 615-597-8210 or you may stop by the drive through window to speak to a city employee. Payments may also be made at the drive through window, by phone, at the city hall night depository, or online at www.smithvillecityhall.com.

CIRCUIT COURT CLERK ENCOURAGES PUBLIC USE OF ONLINE SERVICES

DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin is asking that anyone having business with her office please call 615-597-5711 or conduct business online if possible. Customers can do certain business and make payments via the DeKalb County Circuit Court Clerk website by clicking the link below and following the prompts. http://www.dekalbtennessee.com/circuitcourtclerk.html

COURTS CLOSED TO IN-PERSON PROCEEDINGS

By order of Tennessee Supreme Court Ruling, In Person Court Proceedings have been temporarily suspended until March 31, 2020. Due to this order In—Person court proceedings and hearings scheduled for this timeframe that are not of an emergent or immediate nature will not be held until after March 31, 2020. If you have an attorney – you should contact your attorney to potentially reschedule your court date. This suspension applies to all DeKalb County Courts including General Sessions, Circuit, Chancery, Criminal, Child Support, DCS, Juvenile Court, and the City of Smithville Municipal Court. All persons summoned for the new Grand Jury and term of court March 30 are not to report that day but will need to call 615-597-5711 extension 6 for further jury information after 5 p.m. March 31.

DEKALB SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT RESTRICTING PUBLIC ACCESS

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is restricting public access to the facility until further notice due to the threat of the coronavirus. “Our number one priority is to prevent possible exposure to staff as well as inmates therefore we have placed the sheriff’s office and jail on a soft lock down which means that the general public will not be able to enter the facility. The front door to the lobby will be locked. Anyone in need of an officer or services such as a warrant must press a button at the front door which will ring for a correctional officer who will meet you at the door to offer assistance,” said Sheriff Patrick Ray.
For all non-emergency issues please call 615-597-4935. “Tuesday night church services and family visitations with inmates at the jail will be prohibited except for online visitations and the inmate roadside litter pickup program will be suspended until the threat subsides,” said Sheriff Ray. “Offenders brought into the jail will undergo established protocols during this time and rather than an in court appearance, video conferences will be arranged for defendants needing an immediate hearing before a judge for certain matters such as bond conditions, etc.,” he added.

OTHER CANCELLATIONS

*Keltonburg United Methodist Church has cancelled all services through April 5th.

*The New Union The Baptist Church in the Belk Community has cancelled all services for this week (March 22) and next week (March 29th).

*The Covenant Baptist Church has cancelled services for Sunday morning and night (March 22) and Wednesday night (March 25)

*New Hope The Baptist Church of White County is cancelling services for the next two weeks including the April 11 singing.

*Temple Independent Missionary Baptist Church is cancelling services until further notice

*Mount Pisgah Free Will Baptist Church is cancelling all services until April 5

*The Smithville Church of God has canceled all midweek services and Sunday services through March 29. They will be having a Facebook LIVE stream service available on Sundays at 11 a.m.

*The Smithville AG will not be holding any services or events at their physical location through April 4th.

*The child abuse prevention event on Friday, March 27th at the health department has been canceled.

*The Father-Daughter Dance to benefit Habitat for Humanity April 4th has been canceled. It will be rescheduled later in the year

*The Harlem Wizards fundraising basketball game to benefit the DeKalb Middle School Junior BETA Club set for April 9th has been cancelled.

March 19, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County School System, with help from local churches, is working to make sure students, regardless of income, are fed despite school being out because of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Beginning Monday, March 23, students can pick up a box of food items for the week of Spring Break at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center and at DeKalb West School from 10:30 a.m. until 12 noon.

However because of state and federal guidelines, the food will have to be distributed in a “drive through” pickup line at both locations and students, age 18 and younger, receiving the meals must be in the vehicle.

“We have had an outpouring of churches wanting to help our students to make sure they are getting food so Monday, March 23 churches are preparing food boxes for our students,” Director of Schools Patrick Cripps told WJLE.

The following week, March 30 and until school goes back in session, the school system will be taking on the food distribution on Mondays and Thursdays with continued support from churches.

“The churches are still going to carry on with us and we greatly appreciate that,” Director Cripps continued.

“We will be preparing meals on Mondays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. until 12 noon at the same locations, the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center and at DeKalb West School. We will be putting together breakfast and lunch meals and additional food on Mondays starting March 30 for a three day supply and a two day supply on Thursdays beginning April 2,”

“We will have volunteers distributing the food. As you pull up to the buildings we will hand out food for the numbers of students age 18 and younger who are in the car,”he said.

March 19, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Two 911 Communicator shift partners of the DeKalb Emergency Communications District have been commended for their exemplary performance in handling an influx of emergency and non-emergency calls on a night of heavy rain and flooding last month.

Stephanee Wright and Kelsey Logan were singled out for the DeKalb 911 Telecommunicator Commendation by Bradley Mullinax, Director of the DeKalb County ECD.

“I would like to congratulate Kelsey and Stephanee for a job well done for their performance on the night of February 5, 2020. As you may recall, the DeKalb County area suffered significant rain fall that resulted in area flooding, multiple vehicle rescue missions, and traffic hazards across the county. In addition to the multiple non-emergency calls, there was a spike and abundance of emergency calls for service,” said Mullinax.

“Their performance in coordination with each other as shift partners that night illustrated confident, decisive, and proficient actions that led to a better than expected outcome for our community and responders. In addition to our internal review of their performance, I have received calls from multiple agency department heads from different disciplines praising them for their performance,” Mullinax continued.

“Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins stated that “It is very comforting to know that the voice on the other end is confident and decisive with their job”.

“Further, DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green stated “he was very impressed with the performance of the two communicators because the event was chaotic, and everything was handled very professionally”.

“I feel the actions of these two young ladies are exemplary because of their dedication, confidence, and ability to remain calm in a very stressful situation. I have been managing the communications center for over 15 years, and I feel this type of performance sets the bar for other communicators and dispatch centers. I am extremely proud of these two professionals for the work they have done”.

“Thank you for a job well done,” added Mullinax

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