DeKalb Health Department Opens COVID-19 Assessment Site

April 3, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Health Department has established a COVID-19 assessment site for county residents at:

DeKalb County Health Department
254 Tiger Drive, Smithville
Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm

Additional information about Tennessee’s assessment sites is available for each county on the Tennessee Department of Health website at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/remote-assessment-sites.html.

Most people, particularly those with mild or no symptoms, do not need assessment for COVID-19.

Those in high-risk categories, including contacts of confirmed cases; people in occupations with exposure to large numbers of contacts; health care workers; nursing home residents; severely immunocompromised patients; critically ill patients; pregnant women and people who have COVID-19 symptoms, are prioritized for testing.

There are many things DeKalb County residents can do to reduce the impact of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water (or alcohol-based hand rub) for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing;
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
• Stay home when you are sick;
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with your arm or a tissue;
• Clean and disinfect objects (e.g., cell phone, computer) and high touch surfaces regularly; and,
• Practice social/physical distancing from others, be safer at home.

All Tennesseans, especially those in high-risk populations, should take the following actions to reduce the possibility of getting sick with COVID-19:
• Keep space (at least 6’) between yourself and others;
• Limit your time in public to essential needs only, such as grocery trips, medical care, pharmacy needs or emergencies;
• When you are in public, avoid crowds as much as possible, and keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often;
• Avoid non-essential travel, especially on airlines and cruise ships; and,
• Stay home as much as possible to reduce your risk of being exposed.

TDH has additional information available at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated information and guidance available online at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

April 3, 2020
By:

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed Executive Order 23 requiring that Tennesseans stay home unless they are carrying out essential activities as data shows an increase in citizen movement across the state.

Meanwhile, DeKalb County still has 5 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 75 people who have tested negative for the virus as of Thursday, April 2.

“Over the last few weeks, we have seen decreases in movement around the state as Tennesseans socially distance and stay at home,” said Gov. Lee. “However, in recent days we have seen data indicating that movement may be increasing and we must get these numbers trending back down. I have updated my previous executive order to clearly require that Tennesseans stay at home unless they are carrying out essential activities.” Data from the Tennessee Department of Transportation analyzed traffic patterns for March 2020. While safer at home measures and further restrictions on businesses showed a steep drop-off in vehicle movement from March 13-29, data beginning on March 30 indicates travel is trending upwards, again. The Administration also analyzed data from Unacast to understand cell phone mobility and determine movement trends among people. Unacast indicates the movement of Tennesseans is trending toward pre-COVID-19 levels. “The month of April stands to be an extremely tough time for our state as we face the potential for a surge in COVID-19 cases,” said Lee.

“Every Tennessean must take this seriously, remain at home and ensure we save lives.” The executive order remains in effect until April 14, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

April 2, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Five candidates will be vying for one of three aldermen seats in the Smithville Municipal Election on Thursday, August 6th.

(Today) Thursday at noon was the qualifying deadline.

The slate of candidates include Incumbent Aldermen Shawn Jacobs, Danny Washer, and Donnie Crook along with newcomers, Jessica Higgins and Timothy John Perricone.

The City of Smithville has five aldermen and a mayor but they do not all run for election in the same year. Three aldermen will be elected this year. The other two aldermen and the mayor were elected in 2018 and will be up for election again in 2022.

All terms are for four years.

Meanwhile a mayor and two aldermen will be elected in the Dowelltown City Election on August 6th

Today (Thursday) at noon was the qualifying deadline.

Incumbent Dowelltown Mayor Pam Redmon will be unopposed for re-election while Phillip Byford and Chris Walker will be running for Dowelltown Alderman.

The terms are for four years.

Although five aldermen seats were to have been filled on August 6th in the Alexandria City Election only one person qualified to get her name on the ballot. Lynne Dickerson is seeking a four year term as Alderman.

Today (Thursday) at noon was the qualifying deadline

There will only be one contested school board race on August 6th. Jason Miller and Shawn Washer will be seeking the 6th district seat to succeed two term incumbent Doug Stephens, who is not running for re-election.

Meanwhile Jamie L Cripps will be unopposed in her bid to succeed long time 5th district school board member W.J. (Dub) Evins, III who is not seeking re-election.

The terms are four years.

Today (Thursday) at noon was the qualifying deadline.

State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver of Lancaster in District 40 and Clark Boyd of Lebanon in District 46 will be unopposed for re-nomination in the Tennessee Republican Primary on August 6th. No candidates qualified for these offices in the Tennessee Democratic Primary. Weaver will face opposition from Independent candidate Paddy Sizemore of Smith County in the November Tennessee General Election.

The terms are for two years.

Suanne Bone of Lebanon qualified for the Tennessee Democratic Primary on August 6th to fill a vacancy as State Executive Committeewoman in District 17.

Today (Thursday) at noon was the qualifying deadline.

Republican Congressman John Rose of Cookeville will be unopposed in the Tennessee GOP Primary for re-nomination on August 6 but he will have challengers in the November Tennessee General Election.

Christopher Martin Finley of Sparta is unopposed for the Democratic Nomination for Congressman on August 6 and will be in the November race and Christopher B. Monday of Cookeville is an independent candidate for the office in November.

The only county wide race in the DeKalb County General Election on August 6th will be Assessor of Property.

Republican Incumbent Assessor Shannon Cantrell, seeking a second four year term, will face a challenge for re-election by Democrat Tom Duggin.

All seven constable candidates will be unopposed in their respective districts on August 6th including Waylon Kyle in the 1st District, Darrell Johnson 2nd District, Travis Bryant 3rd District, Paul Cantrell 4th District, Mark Milam 5th District, Jason Brown 6th District, and Johnny King in the 7th District.

All are Democrats except Bryant.

The terms are for four years.

Meanwhile, Republican Criminal Court Judge Wesley Bray will be unopposed in the 13th Judicial District special election on August 6th to serve out the last two years of former Judge David Patterson’s unexpired term. Patterson stepped down from the bench last year and Bray was appointed by the Governor to succeed him until the August 6th, 2020 election.

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