All Aboard: DeKalb West School Moves Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead

March 18, 2022
By: Bill Conger

Mix in some Music, Reading, and Art with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and you have a concoction of academic entertainment. Science disciplines and the liberal arts joined forces for S.T.R.E.A.M. Fair at Camp Read S’More on March 3 as more than 400 students, families, faculty, and staff attended at DeKalb West School. Going on a book hike, making slime, a search for Legos, and Minute-to-Win-It games were all part of the fun.

“The pace of the night was great,” says Librarian Amanda Mullinax, who coordinated the night’s activities. “I saw several pinch pots as well as books, buttons, and bookmarks,” Mullinax said. “I heard about instruments and experiments as well as the question “Do I have to complete this in a minute?” randomly throughout the night.”

This year’s fair took at twist on past years when literacy was the primary focus.

“By bringing Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics together with Reading, we were able to expand our ideas and take a different direction with our activities and sessions,” says Mullinax. “The experiments and makerspaces were a hit! Since we haven’t had many opportunities over the last few years for events such as this, Full STEAM Ahead at Camp Read S’More allowed us to be together as a DWS school family. It also provided an opportunity for the students and families to enjoy learning together.”

DWS Junior Beta students and high school volunteers gave of their time to pull off the large scale endeavor. Lisa Cripps and Jennifer Matthews with DeKalb Prevention Coalition, Leigh Fuson with DeKalb County 4-H, DTC, Ria Baker, and Mary Ann Puckett contribute their time, talents, and resources. DWS staff and Central Office employees rolled up their sleeves to work the project.

“I know sometimes my name is associated with this night, but it would not be possible if the teachers and staff weren’t willing” Mullinax said. “They go above and beyond to make this night what it is. I could plan and plan and plan, but this night would not happen without them, without their creativity, and without their love for this school and our students.”

Computer teacher Lori Pryor coordinated the STREAM Fair projects that were on display that night. Judges chose the following students as winners in their respective categories.

PreK-1st Literature:
1st Marley Pyburn
2nd Auna Starnes
3rd Ripley Barnes

PreK-1st Science:
1st Drew Salvilla
2nd Claire Cripps
3rd Josee Cripps

Family Science:
1st Kaden Mullinax and Karson Mullinax

2nd, 3rd, 4th Literature
1st Mollie Reynolds
2nd Cash Hancock
3rd Carson Maynard
Honorable Mention Jackson Dunnaway

2nd, 3rd, 4th Science
1st Levi Reynolds
2nd Christian Cripps
3rd Bryce Harvey
Honorable Mention Billy Clark, Cameron Pursell, Emma Thomason , Aiden Garza, Hailey Brown and Cainnan Humphrey

2nd, 3rd, 4th Social Studies
1st Grady Thomason
2nd Jaxson Keenan
3rd Charley Prichard
Honorable Mention Averie Winchester , Zane Griffith, Lillian Dillard

5th, 6th, 7th Literature
1st Camille Barton
2nd Autumn Crook
3rd Porter Hancock
Honorable Mention Ava Melton, Lucy Moore, Bella Franz

5th, 6th, 7th Social Studies
1st William Johnson
2nd Michael Justice
3rd Fiona Street
Honorable Mention Pixie Willingham, Cameron Salas, Cash Dotson, Ellie Ray

5th, 6th, 7th, Science
1st Katie Beth Swearinger
2nd Sophie Desimone

8th Author Study
1st Danica Collier
2nd Ethan Reynolds
3rd Chaylea Lunsford
3rd Cameron Stanley

March 18, 2022
By:

The 2022 concert season at Bert Driver’s Burlap Room and Beer Garden kicks off Saturday, March 26 with “Lebowski By the Lake,” a concert and celebration of the comedy classic The Big Lebowski.

Directed by the Coen Brothers, this cult favorite features Jeff Bridges as The Dude, aka Jeff Lebowski, a stoner mistaken for a millionaire who shares the same name. Festivities include a photo booth, trivia, concert, and costume contest. The featured band for the evening will be Kinfolk, playing a mix of classic rock.

All shows in the 2022 concert series will be held on the scenic grounds of Bert Driver Nursery in Smithville. These are family and pet friendly events, and gates open at 4. Specialty food trucks will be on hand with refreshments. Local craft beers and CBD-products will be available inside the Burlap Room Tap Room.

“Every year, attendance at our concerts and festivals has grown as word spreads about the unique experience we’ve created here for live music under the stars” says Driver. “This year we’re offering a series of shows with something for everyone, whatever your taste in popular music.”

The current line-up for the 2022 Burlap Room concert series includes:

•Lebowski By The Lake festival with Kinfolk
•Crawfish Boil II with Soul Project NOLA
•Earth Day IX with Airshow and East Nash Grass
•Center Hill Lake Fest with McKinley James
•The Upper Cumberland All-Stars Tribute to Tom Petty
•Southern Rock Jam featuring The Joe Harvey Band
•Outlaw Country Review featuring Cody Purvis & Friends
•Middle of Somewhere Hemp Fest IV
•Music City Stones Tribute to the Rolling Stones
•Dia De Los Muertos III

All events are rain or shine; in the event of rain the concert and festivities move inside to the enclosed Solstice Stage. Tickets can be purchased in advance or day of show.

For more information, head to www.bertdriver.com, follow us on Facebook: @bertdriverburlaproom, and Instagram: @burlaproom

March 18, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The end of seasonal work at the start of the new year was one of the contributing factors that led to higher county unemployment rates across Tennessee in January. While statewide unemployment numbers are adjusted to consider the impacts of seasonal labor, county unemployment rates are not adjusted.

DeKalb County’s unemployment rate inched up from 3.4% in December to 3.8% in January, but it was still below the 5.5% jobless rate from January 2021.

The local labor force for January 2022 was 7,763. A total of 7,471 were employed and 292 were unemployed.

Each of Tennessee’s 95 counties experienced an increase in unemployment during January, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Eighty-five counties reported rates less than 5%, while the remaining ten counties had rates of 5% or greater, but less than 10%.

Williamson and Moore counties had the state’s lowest unemployment for the month. Both counties recorded rates of 2.2% in January. That represented a 0.3 of a percentage point increase for Williamson County and a 0.2 of a percentage point increase for Moore County, when compared to their revised December 2021 rates.

At 9.2%, Perry County had the highest unemployment rate in the state. Its January number increased by 2 percentage points when compared to the revised December rate. Cocke County had Tennessee’s second-highest rate for the month. The new figure of 7.1% marked a 2.3 percentage point increase from December.

Statewide, January’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.5% was the lowest it has been since November 2019. It was down 0.1 of a percentage point from December’s revised rate of 3.6%.

Across the nation, seasonally adjusted unemployment for January increased slightly from 3.9% to 4%.

Tennessee has more than 100 American Job Centers across the state where job seekers can walk in and receive one-on-one help finding a job. From resume writing to skills training programs, career specialists can help individuals take advantage of all the services available to them.
Job seekers can also find a variety of services online. From a virtual American Job Center to information on adult education programs, it is all available at TNWorkReady.com.

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