Students across Tennessee are down to the final days of the school year and they are preparing for the summer months ahead. Many of those teenagers will trade time in the classroom for time on the job during their break.
Tennessee has child labor laws to guide both teen workers and their employers, through the process of helping young people become an important part of the state’s workforce.
Students can start working for Tennessee employers, on a limited basis, at age 14. State law governs the time a young person can spend in the workplace. When school is not in session, teens aged 14 and 15 can work eight hours per day, 40 hours per week, but cannot work after 9:00 p.m.
Those 14 and 15-year-olds are not permitted to work without supervision, they are not allowed to cook, including prep work, and they cannot operate any machinery other than office equipment.
Teens who are 16 and 17 can work until midnight when school is not in session but must have written consent from a parent to stay on the job until that hour.
State law prohibits minors from working several types of jobs including; taking orders, serving intoxicating beverages or working at an establishment where more than 25% of the gross receipts come from the sale of those beverages, working in occupations that involve pornography, participating in door-to-door sales, and working jobs declared hazardous.
Teens are not permitted to operate motor vehicles or heavy equipment as part of their job nor may they work with any type of explosives.
Tennessee law does allow exemptions for some prohibited work for student-learners and apprentices, under certain circumstances.
State law mandates break requirements for teenagers and employers must maintain records of those breaks. Employers must also keep proof of the minor’s age in the employee’s file.
Employers may be subject to an on-site child labor inspection if a minor is hurt on the job, there is a complaint against the employer, or for a routine inspection.
If an inspector finds violations, the employer could receive a warning for an unintentional violation or a penalty ranging from $150 – $1,000 per violation.
More information about the Child Labor Act in Tennessee is available at https://www.tn.gov/workforce/article/child-labor.
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The DCHS Tigerettes run in the TSSAA Class AA Girls Softball Tournament ended Thursday with a 5 to 2 loss to White House Heritage in Murfreesboro.
The Tigerettes finished tournament play in the final four and concluded the season at 35-6-1.
White House Heritage scored 5 runs on 9 hits and made 2 errors. DeKalb County scored 2 runs on 4 hits and made 3 errors.
White House Heritage scored 3 runs in the 4th inning and 2 runs in the 7th inning. DeKalb County scored 1 run in the 5th and 7th innings, both on solo homeruns by Tyra Graham.
In addition to Tyra Graham’s 2 homeruns, Katie Hall and Dani Meadows each had a single.
Kayley Caplinger gave up 5 runs on 9 hits. She struck out 3 and walked none.
After defeating Dyersburg in the first round game of the tournament 5 to 3 on Tuesday, the Tigerettes lost to Waverly Central 6 to 2 on Wednesday night and then advanced in the loser’s bracket Thursday morning beating Chester County 5 to 1 before being eliminated Thursday afternoon by White House Heritage 5 to 2.

The DCHS Tigerettes defeated Chester County 5 to 1 today to advance in the losers bracket of the TSSAA Class AA Girls Softball Tournament at Murfreesboro.
DeKalb County will play either White House Heritage or Dyersburg today at 4:00 p.m. at the Starplex #2 field in Murfreesboro.
The Tigerettes scored 5 runs on 6 hits and made no errors. Chester County scored 1 run on 4 hits and made 2 errors.
DeKalb County scored 3 runs in the 1st inning and 2 runs in the 3rd inning. Chester County scored 1 run in the 3rd inning.
Kayley Caplinger gave up 1 run on 4 hits through 7 innings. She struck out 5 and walked 5.
Tyra Graham had a single and double. Hannah Walker had 2 singles and Katie Hall and Myranda Bailiff each had a single.

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce recently had a Ribbon Cutting for Dr. Kimberly Tabor of Saint Thomas Medical Partners. Her new office is located at 518 West Main St., Suite A, Smithville, next to DeKalb Specialty Clinic, in front of Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital. Dr. Tabor is a family practice physician who is now accepting new patients. Dr. Tabor formerly had her practice in Cookeville and now resides in Liberty on her family farm. For more information, call 615-215-5270.
The Chamber also recently had a ribbon cutting for the Smithville Sleep Center announcing their new location at 1190 West Broad St., Smithville. Hours of operation are Mon thru Sat from 10 AM to 8 PM and Sundays from 10 AM to 6 PM, For more information, call 615-318-1045.
TOP PHOTO:
Pictured l-r:
Chamber President Kathy Hendrixson, Angela Crick, Deb Agee, Gordon Ferguson, Sue Conley, Chamber Director Suzanne Williams, Keishia Poss, Alan Sharp, Myra Reffue, Dr. Kimberly Tabor, Ashlie Tabor, Melanie Nistad, Karen Weaver, Chris Asbury, Lauren Nelson, Shannon Atkins, Jessica Etz, Angie Boyd-Chambers, and Shan Burklow
BOTTOM PHOTO:
Pictured l-r:
Chamber Director Suzanne Williams, Chamber President Kathy Hendrixson, Smithville Sleep Center owners Kyle Casper and Chris Wyke, SSC employee Andrew Fittis, and Chamber Board Member Shannon Atkins

The DCHS Tigerettes lost to Waverly Central 6 to 2 in the second round of the TSSAA Class AA Girls Softball Tournament in Murfreesboro Wednesday night.
DeKalb County scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning but Waverly scored 5 runs in the 4th inning and 1 run in the 5th inning. The game was halted in the bottom of the 5th inning for a one hour rain delay.
The Tigerettes scored 2 runs on 4 hits and made 4 errors. Waverly scored 6 runs on 4 hits and made 1 error.
Kayley Caplinger and Myranda Bailiff each had a single. Katie Hall had 2 singles.
Kayley Caplinger gave up 6 runs on 4 hits through 7 innings. She struck out 2 and walked 2.
The Tigerettes will meet Chester County (28-16) in the losers bracket of the tournament Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. at Starplex #2 field Murfreesboro. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.
If the Tigerettes win, they will face either White House Heritage or Dyersburg at 4:00 p.m. at the same location.

A petition has been presented to the election commission asking for a referendum in Smithville on permitting grocery stores to sell wine.
DeKalb County Administrator of Elections, Dennis Stanley, said the petition has been verified with the number of signatures required to get the question on the November 8 election ballot subject to approval by the election commission.
“A wine at retail food stores referendum may only be called by petition of registered voters in jurisdictions which have held and passed either a referendum to authorize retail package stores or a referendum to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises,” said Stanley.
“Two years ago Smithville voters approved retail package stores, thus making the city eligible for wine at retail food stores,” he said. “To call a wine at retail food stores referendum, a petition must be signed by 10% or more of the registered voters casting a ballot for governor in the last city election.”
In addition, the petition has to be filed with the election commission no later than 75 days before the upcoming November election. That requirement
has also been met.
If the effort is successful, that will be the second liquor referendum on the ballot in November. A petition to call for an election to authorize alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises has already been turned in and Stanley said there were enough names to put the issue on the ballot.
Both referendums apply only to the City of Smithville. He also noted that no liquor referendum may be placed on the same ballot or conducted on the same day of a primary election.
“The city will conduct its normal election on August 4, but that election falls on the same day as the Tennessee State Primary,” Stanley said. “As a result, the liquor referendums must be held in November.
“A Retail food store” is defined in the law as a business that derives at least 20 percent of its sales from the retail sale of food and food ingredients and has floor space of at least 1,200 square feet. The law requires that food sales be those types of sales taxed at the lower, 5 percent state rate, rather than the higher sales tax rate applied to sales of prepared food. It appears that this definition will prevent most convenience stores and gas stations from obtaining licenses to sell wine.
If voters approve the sale of wine in grocery stores, the Alcoholic Beverage Commission will be the body to issue “retail food store wine licenses”.
Applicants must submit a certificate from the city, signed by the mayor, stating that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony in the past ten years and that the applicant has a location for their business inside the city limits. If a city fails to issue a certificate to an applicant within 60 days after receiving a written application, the commission will waive the certificate requirement.
Store ownership is not required in order to receive a license, as store owners may enter into franchise or management agreements with licensees. Cities may not limit the number of retail food store wine licenses to be issued in their jurisdiction nor require that applicants reside in the city.
Grocery stores located within 500 feet of package stores may not obtain licenses to sell wine until July 1, 2017, unless the package store owner provides written permission to the commission. Any package store owner who refuses such permission cannot sell those additional items permitted by the law until such time as the grocery store obtains permission to sell wine.

Forty students graduated from DeKalb West School on Tuesday, May 24 during a special ceremony before administrators, students, family and friends.
Principal Sabrina Farler presented the Principal’s award to students who scored all A’s their 8th grade year. Students honored were Trenten Shores, Holly Evans, Christian Trail, Cody Antoniak, Dallas Cook, Peyton Harris, Alexis Gammons, Clayton Crook, and Haley Dies.
Picking up Academic Awards in Math were Dallas Cook with a score of 98 from Karen France’s homeroom, and Holly Evans, Haley Dies, and Trenten Shores, who all tied with a perfect score of 100, from Cynthia Wilson’s homeroom. Shores was also honored with the Tennessee Math Competition award. In Science, Dallas Cook and Makenzie Ray tied with a grade of 99 from France’s room, and Holly Evans, Haley Dies, and Trenten Shores, again all tied with 100 from Wilson’s room. In English/Language Arts: Christian Trail won with 96 from France’s homeroom and Holly Evans picked up the award with a 99 from Wilson’s homeroom. In History, Dallas Cook and Christian Trail tied with the top score of 98 from France’s room, and Holly Evans had the top score with 99 from Wilson’s homeroom. Andrea Coleman and Sara Carver won the writing awards from Wilson’s and France’s homerooms respectively.
The PAWS Most Improved award went to Taylor Gibbs in Wilson’s room and Migel Quintero in France’s class. The Citizenship awards were handed out to Holly Evans and Clayton Crook in Wilson’s room and Peyton Harris and Sara Carver in France’s room. Picking up honors from the activity teachers were Jake Isbell, Andrea Coleman, and Cody Antoniak in Art; Trenten Shores and Braeden Jett in P.E.; Chelsea Cantrell and Mariah Mofield in Computer.
Lisa Hayes presented the Georgia Young Award in honor of her mother and late DWS Cafeteria Manager to Taylor Gibbs.
Perfect Attendance awards were presented to Seth Harris, Clayton Crook, and Peyton Harris. They were present every school day, were never late and never left the school day early.
Librarian awards were given to Christian Trail with 3,360.4 Accelerated Reader points, Dallas Cook (1847), Holly Evans (1338), Mariah Mofield (1097.8), and Alexis Gammons (1014.5). Trail won the Amanda Mullinax Librarian Award for earning the most Accelerated Reader points during his school career at DWS. He won that honor for the 4th year in a row.
Junior Beta students were recognized with certificates for their service work performed for the school, church, and community this school year. Haley Dies (71.75 hours), Holly Evans (70.75 hours), Cody Antoniak (23.5 hours), Peyton Harris (23.5 hours), Dallas Cook (20.5 hours), Clayton Crook (18.25 hours), Trenten Shores (16.25 hours), Sara Carver (13.5 hours), Noah Roberts (12.25 hours), and Christian Trail (11.5 hours). A local committee also nominated Holly Evans to the National Beta Club’s Most Valuable Player award titled the John W. Harris Award, named after the organization’s founder.
The names of students who walked the line at 8th grade graduation are as follows: Cody Landon Antoniak, Elijah Thomas Aucoin, Gabriel Lewis Aucoin, Shawn Wayne Bishop, Chelsey Colette Cantrell, Ethan Laine Cantrell, Sara Beth Carver, Alaysia Chalet Christian, Andrea Coleman, Matthew Dallas Cook, Latravia Shea Cox, Clayton Nathaniel Crook, Colton Wayne Curtis, Dylan Tyler Denson, Haley Elizabeth Dies, Holly Caroline Evans, Austin Lee Foster, Taylor Lynn Foutch, Alexis Jade Gammons, Taylor Nicole Gibbs, Peyton Allen Harris, Seth Harris, Douglas Anthony Hendrixson, Preston Lee Ingram, Jake Cole Isbell, Braedon Christopher Jackson Jett, Mariah Shea Mofield, Mattalynn Hope Mofield, Juan Migel Quintero, Alleyona Rader, Makenzie Dawn Ray, Derrin Wayne Reeder, Makayla Jean Riddle, Noah Brown Roberts, Trenten Shores, Kirra Evan Smith, Dayton Nicholas Tittel, Christian Aron Trail, Justus Clint Tramel, and Kendra Shea Whitehead.

The DeKalb County Tiger and Lady Tiger Basketball Camp will be June 20-23 from 8:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the DeKalb Middle School Gymnasium. It’s for boys and girls ages 5-14.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW REGISTRATION FORM)
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A fee of $60 is required. Each additional child from a family will cost $30.
Registration will be Monday, June 20 at 7:30 a.m.
DeKalb County Coaches Lynus Martin and Seth Willoughby are the camp directors and Tiger and Lady Tiger players are camp counselors.
Each camper will receive a camp T-shirt. Competitive contests include Hot-Shot, 3 point, free throw, and speed dribble. One boy and girl winner from each age group with each contest.
Three age divisions: NBA-ages 5-7. ACC-ages 8-9, and SEC-ages 10-14

The DCHS Tigerettes knocked off Dyersburg 5 to 3 in the first round of the TSSAA Class AA Girls Softball Tournament Tuesday in Murfreesboro.
DeKalb County (34-4-1) will face Waverly (36-10-2) on Wednesday, May 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Starplex # 2 field in Murfreesboro. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.
The Tigerettes scored 2 runs in the 1st inning and 3 runs in the 2nd inning while Dyersburg scored 1 run in the 1st inning and 2 runs in the 7th.
DeKalb County scored 5 runs on 7 hits and made 2 errors. Dyersburg scored 3 runs on 4 hits and made 1 error.
Kayley Caplinger, the winning pitcher, gave up 3 runs on 4 hits through 7 innings. She struck out 7 and walked 2.
Tyra Graham had 2 hits including a 2 run homerun in the 2nd inning. Lexi Bates and Katie Hall each had 2 singles and Hannah Walker singled.

Fifth graders at DeKalb West School received certificates during the annual D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony held Tuesday.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program was conducted by D.A.R.E. Instructor and Chief Deputy Don Adamson of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Each student prepares an essay during the course and those with the best essays from each class are recognized and awarded. This year’s essay winners at DeKalb West School are Emma Martin and Aniston Farler. The fifth grade teachers are Jeanna Caplinger and Nadina Manganiello.
Martin was the over-all winner and she read her essay during Tuesday’s program. In addition to the award, prizes, and recognition, Martin gets to keep “Daren the Lion” the D.A.R.E. Mascot and she received a $50 check from Judge Bratten Cook II.
In addition to Sheriff Patrick Ray and Chief Deputy Adamson, others on hand for the ceremony were DeKalb West School Principal Sabrina Farler, Assistant Principal Joey Agee, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps, Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, County Mayor Tim Stribling, Trustee Sean Driver, County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss, Assessor of Property Scott Cantrell, Road Supervisor Butch Agee and employees of the Sheriff’s Department.
Fifth graders in Jeanna Caplinger’s class are:
Cameron Bailey, Jeanine Boody, Gavin Conger, Luke Driver, Rebecca Eastes, John Ellis, Noah Evans, Aniston Farler, Lane Goss, Aly Griffith, Emily Hendrixson, Hailey Hendrixson, John Iervolino, Jr., Olivia Knowles, Devon Maxwell, Bralin Moss, Lexie Overstreet, Joel Rader, Kortnee Skeen, Jarrod Smith, Jr., and Destiny Strickland.
Fifth graders in Nadina Manganiello’s class are:
Isaac Brown, Caleb Dies, Abbi Gann, Jackson Gibbs, Bonnie Hale, Kailyn Jordan, Jamison Marlar, Emma Martin, Madison Martin, Will Mathis, Alex Moreno, Matt Nokes, Braxton Page, Audrey Pierce, Madison Tarpley, Faith Tripp, Ellie Vaughn, and Brett Walker.