County Mayor Encourages Use of Masks But Has No Plans to Issue Mandate

July 30, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County is currently not under a county wide mask mandate due to COVID-19 and County Mayor Tim Stribling has no plans to issue one.

In a prepared announcement released Thursday afternoon, Mayor Stribling said while the governor has delegated limited authority to county mayors to make directives, his approach is to encourage the use of masks at all times in public rather than hand down a mandate.

“There is a rising concern with the rising number of positive cases of COVID-19 throughout DeKalb County as well as the State of Tennessee. Our local health department is averaging about 80 tests per day plus other medical facilities are testing as well. Most of the positive cases are asymptomatic. If they do have symptoms, the majority are sinus type symptoms or gastrointestinal symptoms”.

“As most of you know Governor Bill Lee delegated limited authority to local County Mayors to make directives encouraging or requiring the wearing of masks in public places subject to certain limitations. In considering both sides of the situation, I have spoken to the general public, local elected officials, many other County Mayors and have heard the opinions of the medical professionals.”

“I have put much thought into my decision concerning the mandating of masks for both residents and visitors and I will not make it a county wide mandate that would require the wearing of masks in DeKalb County. I encourage and recommend that masks be worn at all times in public. Right now, we’re just talking about masks, and we’re forgetting social distancing, forgetting the crowds and forgetting the hand sanitizer that keeps us safe as well”.

“I encourage people to wear masks. If a person chooses to wear or not wear a mask, that is their decision and I ask that you respect that right. If a business chooses to require or not require a mask upon entering their establishment, that is their decision and I ask that you also respect that right. We all have individual liberties and the freedom of choice. As you exercise those rights, take a personal responsibility to stay safe and to protect those around you”.

“I take this COVID-19 pandemic seriously and not mandating the wearing of masks in no way means I am making light of it. At the start of this pandemic, I have recommended and encouraged the citizens of DeKalb County to follow CDC guidelines regarding not only the wearing of masks but also washing hands frequently and practicing social distancing. I am asking each and everyone to make their own decisions and do what they feel is safest for them and their family”.

“We will continue to work closely with the Tennessee Department of Health and all agencies of government at all levels to minimize the impact on the residents of DeKalb County. That has been and continues to be our primary concern. We will get through this together as everyone takes a personal responsibility to do everything they can to protect our county,” said County Mayor Stribling.

July 30, 2020
By: Bill Conger

Besides the physical battles COVID-19 has caused across the world, the pandemic is also leaving a trail of emotional scars. As a result, there have been increases in depression, suicide, substance abuse, overdoses, family conflict and child abuse and other mental health issues. Thanks to the Tennessee Recovery Project grant program, help is available.

“The purpose of the COVID-19 grant is to provide individuals who may be suffering from emotional or social issues as a result of either fear of disease, isolation or loss of job, or experiencing any kind of issues as a result of the pandemic and need someone to talk to,” says Program Manager Donna Vize, LSMW.

A hotline is manned live seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. for anyone in the Upper Cumberland counties needing assistance. The number to call is 833-954-2424. The Hotline provides connection to resources, short-term supportive counseling, long-term counseling referrals, and coping advice.

In addition, virtual groups will gather on the Facebook page, “Tennessee Recovery Project: Emotional Recovery from COVID-19.”

“The benefit of participating in a group or a live chat is one to eliminate that feeling of isolation to see if there are other people who are experiencing the same thing and two, to gain insight and support from other people who are experiencing the same kind of issues that you may be experiencing,” said Vize.

Here are some of the signs a person is experiencing stress: difficulty falling or staying asleep, having nightmares, low energy or difficult concentrating, irritability, outbursts of anger, crying and feeling sad, excessive drinking or drug use, feeling nervous or “on edge,” constant worrying, incapacitating guilt and self-doubt, sudden painful emotions, feeling apathetic or numb, withdrawing from others, and developing a fear of leaving home.

Again, the hotline for the Tennessee Recovery Project is 833-954-2424.

July 30, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A man who escaped from custody after appearing in General Sessions Court Thursday morning has been apprehended.

Acting on a tip, detectives of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department found James Ricky Ashford, Jr. inside a shed by a residence on McMinnville Highway, only hours after he made his getaway. Ashford was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Sheriff’s Department where he has been charged with escape.

According to Chief Deputy Robert Patrick, Ashford was placed in custody during court Thursday morning due to multiple outstanding warrants against him for violation of probation.

“Ashford was handcuffed and escorted across the street along with other inmates from the court house to the Sheriff’s Department when he bolted from a court officer and the correction staff and ran toward North Mountain Street near central dispatch before getting into an early 2000’s model (blue) Chevrolet pickup truck and fleeing the area. The incident occurred at 10:16 a.m.,” said Chief Deputy Patrick.

The information on Ashford was entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) data base and a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) was issued to surrounding counties. Although he was being taken there Ashford had not been incarcerated at the jail facility at the time of his escape.

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