DeKalb Jobless Rate at 3.6% in May

July 1, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County unemployment rate for May was 3.6%, up from 3.4% in April but well below the 4% rate for May, 2018.

The local labor force for May was 7,910. Employment was 7,620 and 290 were unemployed.

Newly released unemployment data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) for May 2019 shows unemployment rates for nearly every county in the state are below 5 percent for the month.

Ninety-one counties have unemployment rates lower than 5 percent and four counties have a rate of 5 percent or higher in May.

While Tennessee continued to experience low unemployment in May, 90 of the state’s counties did see a slight uptick in their rates, one county remained the same, and unemployment dropped in four counties

“It’s not unusual to see a minimal increase in local unemployment rates at the start of the summer season,” explained TDLWD Commissioner Jeff McCord. “May is a month of transition; many high school and college graduates enter the workforce for the first time during the month and most school personnel start their summer break in May.”

At 2.2 percent, Williamson County currently has the state’s lowest unemployment rate. That represents a 0.3 of a percentage point increase when compared to April.

Davidson County also experienced an uptick in its unemployment rate, increasing from 2 percent in April to 2.3 percent in May.

While Clay County has Tennessee’s highest unemployment for the month, its new rate of 5.4 percent is still 0.2 of a percentage point lower than it was in April. Hancock County recorded the second highest rate in May at 5.3 percent, a 0.4 percentage point increase from the previous month.

Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate experienced a slight uptick in May. For three consecutive months, it remained at the all-time low of 3.2 percent but increased by 0.1 of a percentage point when compared to April’s rate.

Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent, mirroring April’s national rate.

County unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted, while the state and national rate use the seasonal adjustment to eliminate outside influences on the statistics.

June 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb Animal Coalition sponsored a Shelter Adoption Event Saturday at Tractor Supply on West Broad Street in Smithville and all 11 cats and kittens there were adopted during a four hour period from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Kittens were $20 to adopt. A full refund is made with proof of a spay/neuter for pets at least six months of age.

Adoption fees for adult females was $75 and $60 for adult males.

The shelter, located at 186 Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive, is now open for business Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12pm-4pm and Saturday 10am-12pm.

The new phone number is 615-597-3647 (DOGS).

June 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Andy Patterson is the new pastor of the Smithville First Free Will Baptist Church and he will be preaching his first sermon there on Sunday, June 30.

Patterson and his family moved here this week from Erwin, Tennessee where he has been minister for 8 years.

He is the focus of this week’s WJLE Preacher Feature.

“We just moved in on Monday. We came in from Erwin which is about a three and a half hour drive and we’re still getting everything unloaded. We’ll probably be living out of boxes for a while,” said Patterson.

Born and raised in Cookeville, Patterson was educated in Putnam County and met his wife Charity there.

“I am from Cookeville. I was born in 1979 and lived there for the first 20 years of my life. I met my wife there at Cookeville High School. We were high school sweethearts and went to each other’s proms,” he said.

Patterson said he became a Christian in 1995 and soon after felt the call to preach.

“ I had never been in church or thought anything about church but after being in a car accident I felt an incredible urge that I needed to get in church and I did. I met the Lord in 1995 at a little church called Lilly’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church at Baxter and from there I just had this strange sense and burden that I needed to preach even though I was the most bashful person in the world. In 1996 I preached my first sermon. It was on the Ten Commandments and I preached every one of them in five minutes. That was pretty interesting. I don’t do that anymore but 1996 is when I began preaching and the Lord blessed us to preach all over the Upper Cumberland region. In 2000 we moved from Cookeville on up to Glasgow, Kentucky and I was pastor there for 10 years. I preached for about a year in Arkansas and then we have been in East Tennessee at Erwin for 8 years. It was a leap of faith but God has been so good to us all these years,” he said.

After being away from this area for several years, Patterson said he and his family sought to return and learned that the Smithville First Free Will Baptist Church was in search of a new pastor after longtime minister Bernard Houk had decided to retire.

“ We had a real burden to come home after 20 years because I have roots here in Middle Tennessee and my family is all still in the Cookeville area. To be honest I just missed my mamma and daddy so we began to pray that God would allow us to come home. I reached out to a preacher friend in Cookeville and asked if he knew any place that was open. Brother Bernard Houk had just announced his retirement here in Smithville so they put me in contact with them and the rest is history and we are excited to be in DeKalb County and Smithville,” said Patterson.

The Patterson’s are the proud parents of two children, 16 year old Noah and 14 year old Hannah who will be attending DeKalb County High School starting this fall.

“They are nervous but excited. My daughter is in the band and has already met Mr. Tracy Luna. We’re excited about being in this community and everybody has been so wonderful in welcoming us with open arms,” he said.

Asked about his vision for the church, Patterson said it is to continue and expand on the work already being done there.

“My vision for this church would be to reach out to the community. I know DeKalb County is like a lot of others. There are many needs and I think the church has a great responsibility not only to look inward but to reach outward. My wife has really had a great ministry through the years reaching out to folks in need and that inspires me. We would like to translate that here to Smithville. I know the First Free Will Baptist Church has been a great church in this community but we want to continue to reach out to this town and be a blessing to people. I know folks are struggling with so much and times are hard for a lot of people but I feel that the church can help alleviate some of that so that is our passion. Not to be just an inward church but to reach out to people in need,” said Patterson.

Services at the Smithville First Free Will Baptist Church are Sunday School at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m. evening service at 6 p.m. and Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

“We would love to have anybody from anywhere come see us no matter what you are facing or what you are going through. All are welcome and we would love to have you join with us anytime,” said Patterson.

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