DCHS Graduation Tentatively Rescheduled for June 19

April 26, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County High School Class of 2020 graduation will not go on as planned Friday, May 15 due to COVID-19 but the commencement is being rescheduled.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said Friday, June 19 has been set as a tentative date for the graduation but if COVID-19 restrictions are still in place, the commencement could be delayed again until Friday, July 17.

“I have some information from the state department and I hope the social distancing requirements are lifted before then (June 19) but they currently want us to keep the kids at least six feet apart and limit the amount of people coming in,” said Director Cripps.

School administrators are hoping to have the graduation in the same setting as always so that the graduates can celebrate together and with their families and friends.

“My goal is to have a normal graduation. I don’t want to do a drive through. I don’t want to do a walk down the street. I know some schools are bringing one kid up at a time where parents can be there watching them get their diploma and a video made. I don’t want to do that. I want it to be as normal for those students as possible and that is the goal of both myself and DCHS Principal Randy Jennings. We ask that parents and public be patient with us because until we know for sure we’re really playing this by ear,” said Director Cripps.

The DCHS graduation is typically held on a Friday night at 7 p.m. on the high school football field.

April 26, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Will the Smithville Municipal Swimming Pool open this summer?

The question may be answered Tuesday night when the Mayor and Aldermen meet at city hall for a work session at 5:30 p.m. followed by a special meeting. That issue will be  one of several addressed.

The pool normally opens to the public on Memorial Day weekend in May.

After acting on his own to close the golf course to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Josh Miller said at a recent meeting he wanted the aldermen to make the call on the pool.

Although the state is beginning a phased in reopening of certain businesses and venues, others remain closed as COVID-19 continues to be a concern. Even if the pool opens this summer, Mayor Miller said the city may have to limit its hours of operation due to the lack of lifeguards.

In other business the aldermen are expected to adopt a resolution to accept a state grant due to COVID-19 and action may be taken on a proposed amendment to make some minor changes to a mutual aid contract between the city and DeKalb Utility District on sales of water to each other during times of need.

April 24, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Gov. Bill Lee announced guidelines Friday allowing restaurants and retail businesses to reopen later next week. Beauty shops, barbers, tattoo parlors and gyms are to remain closed until further notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court extended its closure of state courts. Based on an order released Friday morning, in-person court continues to be closed until May 31, and no jury trials are to be held until July 3.

Lee said this is the first step in a phased reopening of the state’s economy, which entails rebooting industries as they are safe to pursue in 89 of the state’s 95 counties. The state is working with Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Sullivan on plans to reopen businesses in those counties. Lee added that many Tennesseans are facing not just potential sickness but crippling financial hardship, particularly in the service industries.

Tennessee restaurants will be able to reopen Monday at 50 percent occupancy. Additionally, Tennessee retailers may reopen on Wednesday at 50 percent occupancy. The state recommends that employees in both industries wear cloth face coverings and that business owners follow federal guidelines for hygiene and workplace sanitation standards related to the pandemic.

(CLICK LINK BELOW TO READ THE GUIDELINES)

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/governorsoffice-documents/covid-19-assets/ERG_Guidelines_Deck.pdf

“Like the rest of the country, Tennessee has taken an unprecedented economic hit with families and small businesses feeling the most pain,” Lee said. “We must stay vigilant as a state, continue to practice social distancing, and engage in best practices at our businesses so that we can stay open.”

Lee’s administration assembled the Tennessee Economic Recovery Group, pulling together the state’s departments of tourism, economic development, and revenue, members of the Tennessee General Assembly, and business leaders to safely reboot Tennessee’s economy. The group is chaired by Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell.

Ezell said the state’s guidelines for restaurants and retail stores were developed in cooperation with business leaders in both sectors, mayors from across the state, and members of the legislature and health experts, as well as Unified Command which includes the Tennessee Department of Health. He added the reopening of future sectors would be accomplished with similar input from industry leaders and elected officials.

“We need Tennessee businesses, workers, and consumers to step up and pledge to follow these guidelines,” Ezell said. “It is critically important that we maintain our commitment to social distancing and adhere to these new guidelines so that we can continue to reopen our economy.”

“Tennesseans pulled together to flatten the curve, and it is time for people to begin to get back to work and back to their businesses,” Lee said. “We are pursuing a careful, measured approach to reopening our economy that does not depend on heavy-handed mandates but instead provides practical tools for businesses of all sizes.”

Lee underscored the Tennessee Pledge plan for safe economic recovery is supported by data showing Tennessee’s curve of novel coronavirus infections hitting a plateau. Lee also pointed to the unsettling economic reality COVID-19 has created in our state.

Tennessee has seen the average daily growth rate remain stable for 14 days, in addition to a steady downward trajectory in positive tests as a percentage of total tests since April 1. The state has also had a massive ramp up in testing, including open testing available to all Tennesseans across 33 sites over last weekend, 18 this weekend, and more the next.

On the economic front, 15 percent of Tennessee’s workforce filed unemployment claims as of this week – more than 400,000 people. State officials predict a $5 billion loss in the state’s gross domestic product during 2020.

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