DeKalb County Schools Re-Open Tuesday

Students will return to school on Tuesday, January 5.
Monday, January 4 will be a stockpile day for teachers.
The remainder of the school calendar is as follows:
Schools will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 18; for President’s Day, Monday, February 15; and Good Friday, March 25.
Spring break will be March 28 through April 1
Students will not attend on Wednesday, May 25. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend. The last day of school will be Thursday, May 26 and report cards will be sent home.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, March 17 at DeKalb County High School from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will also be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 22 at DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary, Smithville Elementary, and DeKalb West School.
DCHS report cards will be sent home on Tuesday, March 15 and at all other schools on Thursday, March 17. All schools will send home report cards on Thursday, January 7 and on Thursday, May 26

DeKalb Jobless Rate at 6.7% for November

The DeKalb County unemployment rate for November was 6.7%, up from 6.6% in October but below 7.7% in November 2014.
The local labor force for November was 7,080. A total of 6,610 were employed and 480 were without work.
County unemployment rates for November show the rates decreased in 12 counties, increased in 59, and remained the same in 24 counties.
For the month of November, Davidson County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate at 4.2 percent. The Knox County rate was 4.4 percent, Hamilton County was 5.1 percent, and lastly Shelby County was 6.4 percent. All of these major metropolitan counties had an unemployment rate that remained unchanged from the previous month of October.
The state and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted while the county unemployment rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events from economic time series.

Smoke Alarm Alerts Family Member to Fire

A bedroom fire caused some damage to a home on Cedar Drive Wednesday afternoon but a smoke alarm may have prevented greater destruction.
The fire occurred at the home of Gene and Vicky Foster at 262 Cedar Drive. It was reported at 2:50 p.m.
“A family member was at the house and discovered the fire in a bedroom closet after apparently hearing a smoke alarm alert. She alerted DeKalb 911 and the DeKalb County Fire Department was dispatched to the address. Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke coming from around the eaves of the home and located a fire in the back bedroom. Mr. and Mrs. Foster were out of town and the family member was able to get out the house safely,” said County Fire Chief Donny Green.
“Firefighters entered the home and successfully extinguished the fire in the back bedroom and then cleared the smoke from the home. The fire was contained to the bedroom and an area immediately outside the bedroom. However, the entire residence, as well as its contents, received extensive smoke and heat damage. The fire department, assisted by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, determined the fire to be accidental in nature and the likely source was an electrical connection in the bedroom wall outlet,” said Chief Green.
The DeKalb County Fire Department’s Short Mountain, Main, and Keltonburg stations responded, along with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services. The family is temporarily staying with relatives.

Phyllis VanDyne

Ms. Phyllis VanDyne age 90 of Smithville passed away Saturday morning, December 26, 2015 at her daughters residence in Pegram, TN. Phyllis was born August 8, 1925 to her parents the late Emory and Ruth Corrington Sharp. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth VanDyne; 1 daughter, Donna Bell; grandson, Jesse VanDyne; and 2 brothers, Jack and James Sharp. Ms. VanDyne was a homemaker. She is survived by 3 children, Sharon VanDyne of Smithville, Leann Walker of Pegram and Philip Gotro of Smithville; 13 grandchildren, Timothy VanDyne, Todd VanDyne, Danny VanDyne, Christine VanDyne, Steven VanDyne, Penny VanDyne, Teri Rowe, Kathy Carter, Brittney Bell, Jennifer Hitchcock, Taylor Walker, Kelli Bess and Scott Bess; several great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Delores Tripp of Ithaca, New York. Funeral services will be conducted 12 Noon Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bro. Michael Hale officiating and burial to follow in Gunter-Grizzle Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be on Tuesday 10AM until the time of the service at 12 Noon. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Georgie Rhea Willoughby

Mrs. Georgie Rhea Willoughby, age 80, of Temperance Hall, TN, passed away Saturday, December 26, 2015, at the Saint Thomas Dekalb Hospital.
Mrs. Willoughby was born September 15, 1935, the daughter of the late Elmer Lee Ellis and Mary Athelene Curtis. She married Johnsie B. Willoughby and he preceded her in death on April 7, 1983. Mrs. Willoughby was also preceded in death by Daughter-in-Law; Sandra Witty Willoughby and Sister; Jeanette Fields. She was a member of the Memorial Baptist Church on Dale Ridge.
Mrs. Willoughby is survived by Sons; John Lee Willoughby of Alexandria, TN, and Phillip (Melinda) Willoughby of Smithville, TN. Grandchildren; Johnathon (Rena) Willoughby, Jessie (Jeannie) Willoughby, Katie Willoughby, Josh (Erin) Turner, Jessica (Lynus) Martin, Jennifer (Robbie) Sykes, Lacey (Russ) Williams, and Seth Willoughby. Fifteen Great grandchildren; Lydia and Jathan Willoughby; Jesse, Jake, and Maddie Wilson; Chloe, Alley, and Kenna Sykes; Aidan and Liam Turner; Keegan, Kale, and Krew Martin; and Harper and Hadley Williams. Brother; Junior (Sue) Ellis and Sister; Mildred Clayborn also survive.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Willoughby are scheduled to be conducted from the Chapel of Avant Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at 2PM with Bro. Elmer Ellis, Jr. and Bro. Johnathon Willoughby officiating. Interment will follow in the New Hope Cemetery.
Visitation with the Willoughby family will be held at the Chapel of Avant Funeral Home on Monday from 2PM until 9PM and again on Tuesday from 11AM until the time of the service at 2PM.
In lieu of flowers, the Willoughby Family requests donations be made to the Memorial Baptist Church.

Velma Bell Hutchings

81 year old Velma Bell Hutchings of McMinnville died Saturday at St. Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville of an extended illness. She was a retired employee of Kingston Timer and a member of the Bluff Springs Church of Christ. The funeral will be Monday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of High Funeral Home in McMinnville. Teddy Jones will officiate and burial will be in the Webb Cemetery at Bluff Springs in Warren County. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the service. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Delia Curtis Moffitt. Her husband, Aubrey Hutchings. Four brothers, Lester, J.C., Alpha and Jesse Lee Moffitt. Five sisters, Eunice Christian, Wavie Hooper, Minnie Whiteaker, Dona Moffitt, and Lona Kirby. She is survived by nephews, George Christian, Garry Whiteaker, Charles, Steve, Tom, and Bill Moffitt, and Eddie, Terry, Larry, and Mike Kirby. Nieces, Jerelene Prince, Carolyn Doig, Kathy Wylie, JoAnn Gregory, and Betty Whitlock. Brother-in-law, Edward Kirby. High Funeral Home in McMinnville is in charge of the arrangements

David “Larry” Hilderman

David “Larry” Hilderman age 82 of Smithville and a native of Florida passed away Sunday afternoon December 20, 2015 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was born September 28, 1933 to his parents, the lated David and Anna Louise Creech Hilderman, Jr. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Michael Stanley Hilderman and a brother, Jimmy Hilderman. Larry was retired from Bell South as a switch man, attended New Life United Pentecostal Church and a U.S. Army Veteran. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Lois Hilderman of Smithville; 3 children, Judy Lynn (Robert) Howard of Oak Grove, Missouri, Bobby (Cindy) Hildreman of Columbia, IN, Wendell Hilderman of Sevierville, TN; 5 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Mary Lou Evans of West Palm Beech, FL; 1 brother, Donald Hilderman of Florida; several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be conducted 2PM Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bro. Dwayne Cornelius officiating and burial to follow in DeKalb Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Veterans Honor Guard. Visitation with the family will be on Tuesday 4:PM until 8:PM and Wednesday 11 AM until the time of the service at 2:PM. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

J. E. Young

J. E. Young was born on June 23, 1941 and passed away on Dec. 19, 2015. He was born in Sparta, TN to Winifred and Edna Young.
He served in the Army from 1961-1964. He was a retired truck driver.
He is survived by his loving, devoted wife of 52 years, Jane Young. Also by his children Steve Young, Jeff (Wendy) Young, and Jana (Mickey) Beck; Grandchildren Steven Brock Young, Tyler and Seth Beck, Samantha Haughertz, and Cameron Wilkins; Great-grandson Wyatt Young, brother Winifred Young, Jr. and step-sister Sandra, and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Kristen Ancell at Nashville VA, Dr. Peter C. Meadows of St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital, Dr. Karen Leidy of Murfreesboro VA, and the nurses at Alive Hospice.
If sending flowers, please try to send small plants so they can be donated after the service. Visitation will be held at Murfreesboro Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 from 11am until 1pm, with a Memorial Service to follow. Arrangements handled by Murfreesboro Funeral Home. 615-896-2229

David Gipson

61 year old David Gipson of Sevierville died Thursday at LeConte Medical Center in Sevierville. He was retired from the Army National Guard with more than 27 years. He was also a Baptist and a former State Trooper and electrician. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Gaylon Dawson and Dean Gipson will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens with military honors. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3-8 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kristie Cook Gipson; parents, Joe Gipson, Jr. and Ruby E, Shrum. Grandparents, Joe and Nelly Gipson, Sr. and Walden Shrum and Cora Drake. Survivors include a daughter, Misty and Tim Pomplun of Murfreesboro. Three step children, Justin and Mary Lohorn of Smithville, Darin and Cheyene Caldwell of McMinnville, and Erica and Austin Highers of Smithville. Six grandchildren. Four brothers, Billy Gipson of Murfreesboro, Larry and Kathy Gipson of Murfreesboro, Dean and Shirley Gipson of Shelbyville, and Rickey Gipson of Murfreesboro. Mother-in-law, Faye Cook of Smithville. Father-in-law, Eddie Cook of Smithville. Several aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces, and his dog Bella. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Sarah Frances Walker

73 year old Sarah Frances Walker of Alexandria died Friday at NHC Healthcare of Smithville. She was a former secretary at DeKalb West School. Walker was also a member of the Dry Creek Baptist Church. A graveside service will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Prosperity Cemetery. Donald Owen will officiate. Visitation will be Saturday from 4-8 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Ray and Maibell Bethel Jennings; and brothers, Van Jennings and Donald Jennings. She is survived by her husband of 32 years, James Robert Walker of Alexandria. A daughter, Dawn and husband Jon Hall of Crossville. Grandsons, Mason Hall and Tyler Hall both of Crossville. A sister, Linda and husband Roy D. “Pig” Curtis of Watertown. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria is in charge of the arrangements