DeKalb Jobless Rate Drops to 6.1% in September

October 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The unemployment rates in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties decreased in September, according to new data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

DeKalb County’s unemployment rate for September was at 6.1%, down from 8.5% in August but still higher than the 3.8% rate for September 2019.

The September labor force in DeKalb County was 7,512 . A total of 7,053 were employed and 459 were without work.

Twenty-seven counties recorded unemployment rates below 5%, while 68 counties have a rate of 5% or higher. There are no counties with an unemployment rate higher than 10% in September.

Once again, Moore County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate. Its September figure of 3.2% is 1.9 percentage points lower than the previous month’s rate.

Shelby County continues to have Tennessee’s highest unemployment. While its September rate is 9.9%, the new figure represents a drop of 3.7 percentage points from where it was in August.

The rate in Memphis dropped 4.2 percentage points to 12.1%. Nashville’s September rate is down 3.1 percentage points and sits at 7.5%. Knoxville saw a 2.4 percentage point drop in its rate which is now 5.8%. Unemployment in the Tri-Cities area stands at 5.3% for the month, down 1.9 percentage points from its revised August rate.

Statewide, unemployment dropped to its lowest level in September since hitting an all-time high in April during the peak of COVID-19 business closures. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the month is 6.3%, a decrease of 2.3 percentage points from the revised August rate of 8.6%.

Unemployment also decreased nationally in September. The seasonally adjusted rate for the United States is 7.9%, down 0.5 of a percentage point from August’s revised rate of 8.4%. Tennessee’s unemployment rate is now 1.6 percentage points lower than the national rate.

Businesses across Tennessee are ready to help the state’s economy rebound by reemploying out of work individuals. Jobs4TN.gov, Tennessee’s workforce development website, currently has 219,000 open positions for all job skill levels.

Jobs4TN.gov also offers online assistance with writing a resume that will catch the attention of employers, advice on how to engage and impress during job interviews, and details about potential job training opportunities.

There are more than 80 American Job Centers across Tennessee that are open for business and offering job seekers one-on-one personalized assistance. Career specialists are ready to work with individuals to devise a reemployment plan that will help them rejoin the state’s workforce.

All the assistance is free to anyone who needs help finding a new job or career path.

October 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Almost 3,600 people have cast ballots through 10 days of early voting in DeKalb County for the November 3 elections.

The DeKalb County Election Commission reported a turnout Saturday of 299 all in person for a 10 day total of 3,593 with four days left of early voting Monday through Thursday, October 26-29 plus election day.

In the Presidential election four years ago, a total of 7,065 people cast ballots in DeKalb County including 3,073 on election day and 3,992 early votes/absentee.

Early voting hours Monday, October 26 will be from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. All early voting is being conducted in the first floor courtroom of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

Voters are also reminded the last day to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday October 27.

Safeguards are in place to help protect both workers and voters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Voting totals for the previous eight days were as follows:

*Wednesday, October 14- 528 cast ballots including 287 in person and 241 by absentee.

*Thursday, October 15 – 320 voted including 303 in person and 17 absentees

*Friday, October 16- 340 including 336 in person and 4 absentees

*Saturday, October 17- 268 including 247 in person and 21 absentees

*Monday, October 19- 362 which was 346 in person (including Webb House residents) and 16 absentees.

*Tuesday, October 20-326 including 317 in person and 9 by absentee

*Wednesday, October 21- 356 including 328 in person and 28 by absentee

*Thursday, October 22- 375 voted including nursing home residents and 3 absentees.

*Friday, October 23-419 including 403 in person and 16 by absentee

Early Voting is underway through October 29 in the first floor courtroom of the courthouse.

Early voting hours are as follows:

Monday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

October 24, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb Saints Football Team and Cheerleaders celebrated their accomplishments this season during an awards banquet held Friday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center.

Ty Webb and Axel Aranda were named Co-Most Valuable Saints Football Players while Annabella Dakas received the Most Valuable Football Cheerleader award.

“We decided to award Co-MVP’s this year. I feel like these two guys left it all on the field. They busted their tails each and every day and it has been an honor to coach them. I believe they have big futures in football if they stick with it and work hard,” said Saints Coach Justin Poteete.

The Saints recently completed a 6-3 campaign.

Coach Poteete said while the season didn’t turn out quite the way he had hoped the program managed to overcome adversities including COVID-19 concerns.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming in as far as kids who were going to play. We had 43 kids in the beginning who signed up to play but then the Coronavirus concern started and we wound up with 22 players and they contributed to our program and showed up each and every day. I am just blessed we were able have a season. At times we didn’t look our best while at other times we looked pretty good. We went 6 and 3 and didn’t accomplish what we wanted to but we had a chance and put ourselves out there. To our 8th graders I just want to say you left your mark and you set the foundation for the next group coming up,” said Coach Poteete

Football Award Winners:
Ty Webb (Co-Most Valuable Player and All-Conference)
Axel Aranda (Co-MVP and All-Conference)
Andrew Dakas (Defensive Player of Year and All-Conference)
Jordan Parker (Offensive Player of the Year and All-Conference)
Alex Lemons (Best Lineman and All-Conference)
Wyatt Carter (Most Improved),
Wesley Kent (Saints Award for Best Model Player On and Off the Field)

Football Cheerleader Award Winners:
Annabella Dakas (Most Valuable Cheerleader)
Allison Estes (Most Improved)
Lily McDerman (Best Jumps)
Deanna Agee (Best Dancer)
Madeline Martin (Outstanding Leadership)
Macy Anderson (Most Spirited)
Brylee Kirby (Best Attitude)

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