School Board Meets Briefly (View Video Here)
by: Dwayne PageMar 16, 2025
The DeKalb County Board of Education’s regular monthly session Thursday night was brief with only routine business on the agenda.
The board approved the extended utilization of four school buses, adopted board policies as recommended by the state, and Director Patrick Cripps announced the resignation of Erica Garrett, Pre-K Assistant at DeKalb West School.
When asked by Board member Jim Beshearse, Director Cripps said that Mike Hollingshead of Hollingshead Materials, LLC (Smyrna Ready Mix) recently made a $20,000 donation to the school district.
The board also approved the DCHS boys soccer team attending the Smokey Mountain Invitational Tournament March 21-23 at Gatlinburg, approved DeKalb West School and Northside Elementary School applying for a grant, approved World Vision using the DeKalb West School campus as a start/end for a 6K run, and approved the DCHS FBLA students attending the State Conference April 6-9 in Chattanooga
DeKalb among 82 counties to start 2025 with unemployment rates below 5%
by: Dwayne PageMar 16, 2025
Eighty-two of Tennessee’s 95 counties reported unemployment rates below 5% in January including DeKalb County even as most counties saw an uptick in their rates over the previous month, according to newly released data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
DeKalb County’s rate for January was at 4.3%, the same as December 2024 but up slightly from 4% in January 2024. The local labor force for January was 7,916. A total of 7,575 were employed and 341 were without work.
In 87 counties, January’s unemployment rates were up compared with December 2024’s rates. Rates remained the same in six counties and decreased in two counties, Cannon and Monroe.
Williamson County reported the lowest unemployment rate for the month at 2.8%, the same rate as the previous month. Rutherford and Macon counties followed at 3%. Rutherford’s rate was the same as in December, and Macon’s rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point.
Perry County had Tennessee’s highest unemployment rate at 7.6%, a 2.3 percentage point increase over the previous month.
Pickett and Cocke counties had the next-highest rates at 7%. Pickett’s rate was up 1.9 percentage points over December, and Cocke’s was up 2 percentage points.
Data released last week showed that Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January was 3.7%, the same as December’s revised rate. The national rate was 4%.
While statewide unemployment rates are adjusted to consider the impacts of seasonal labor, county rates are not.
Career specialists are ready to assist job seekers at American Job Centers across the state at no cost. Find the AJC closest to you.
Older Tennesseans can find meaningful work through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). The program serves those who are 55 and older, currently unemployed, and in need of updating their skills. Participants are placed in a paid community service position that matches their personal goals. They receive training while working an average of 20 hours a week. Contact a program in your area and get started today.
Two men indicted in separate cases of especially aggravated kidnapping
by: Dwayne PageMar 16, 2025
A man accused of holding a woman against her will at knifepoint and then repeatedly raping her back in December was indicted by the Grand Jury Tuesday, March 11.
34-year-old Timothy Ryan Lawson of Poss Road is indicted for especially aggravated kidnapping; aggravated rape (2 counts); rape (2 counts); aggravated assault; and interference with emergency calls.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on December 14, 2024 a detective was summoned to the hospital where a woman was taken after a possible rape in her home. Upon arrival, the detective spoke with the woman who reported that on the night of December 13, 2024 Lawson allegedly held her hostage, displayed a large knife and forced her to have sex with him saying he would kill her if she didn’t. After allegedly taking her phone so she could not call for help, Lawson then allegedly raped the woman a total of five times from the night of December 13 to the morning hours of December 14, 2024.
Meanwhile a man who allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, and robbed his own grandparents in April, 2024 was indicted by the grand jury Tuesday, March 11.
43-year-old John Brent Williams of Four Seasons Road, Smithville is indicted for especially aggravated kidnapping; aggravated robbery; and aggravated assault (2 counts)
Sheriff Ray said that on April 16, 2024 a deputy was summoned to the sheriff’s department due to a report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival he spoke with Williams’ grandparents who reported that the day before on April 15 Williams came to their residence at around 9 p.m. and entered a bedroom where he stole a handgun and then held his grandmother at gunpoint refusing to let her leave the home while ordering his grandfather at gunpoint to hand over the keys to their vehicle, a 2017 black Ford Escape. During the incident, Williams allegedly tried to strangle his grandmother and began dragging her by the hair.
Williams later left the residence with the gun and the vehicle. The Ford Escape was valued at $11,000
Williams was arrested on other charges in Kentucky and extradited back to DeKalb County.