DCHS Awards Final Teacher, Student, and Parent of the Month Honors for 2023-24 School Year

May 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County High School last Tuesday presented its final monthly awards of the 2023-24 year for teacher, student, and guardian of the month. These honors were for the month of April.

Each received a certificate from the school and a gift card for a meal from Kilgore’s Restaurant in Smithville.

Veteran educator Donna Emmons, who is retiring after more than 20 years, was chosen by the administration as Teacher of the Month while Senior Emily Lattimore is Student of the Month, voted on by the teachers. The parent of the month is Sara Fultz and this honor was based on a winning essay written by her daughter Alyson, a 16-year-old freshman at DCHS.

For our April awards this month, we chose Sara Fultz as Parent of the Month. Her daughter Alyson wrote an essay for her mom,” said Assistant DCHS Principal Thomas Cagle. “These essays are submitted by the students and a couple of teachers and I go through them to judge. Its not based on the academic quality of the essay but for the meaning of it. Alyson is another good example of a student painting us a picture of how much their parents mean to them and the things they are doing to help keep them successful in school and life. We are really proud of Alyson for taking the time to recognize her mom and we want to thank her mom for all she is doing to continue to guide Alyson and help her have success while she is here at school and beyond that. We congratulate them both,” said Cagle.

Alyson said her mother is very deserving of this honor.

“I really appreciate my mom, even though we sometimes don’t get along. I just really just love my mom because she is kind of like my creator,” said Alyson.

Sara said receiving this award was not something she had expected.

“I’m a little surprised but very grateful to my daughter for sharing her sentiments. She doesn’t share them a lot at home, because a 16-year-old is kind of in their own little world but knowing that she actually does feel that way warms my heart,” said Sara.

“I work from home so I have to tune out the world a little. When it comes time to be Alyson time there’s a lot of dedication. You have to take off one hat and put on another to do everything needed. Sometimes you don’t feel gratification as a parent but I feel it today,” added Sara.

Once she finishes high school Alyson said she would like to pursue culinary arts as a career and perhaps become a zoological veterinarian.

“For our Student of the Month we have Emily Lattimore,” said Cagle. “She is another student who has been really awesome for us as a teacher’s aide and office aide. We were really blessed with office aides this year including Emily who have helped new students coming into our school orientate. Emily always has a smile on her face and is always very welcoming and polite. We are really going to miss her. We couldn’t be prouder of Emily and all she has accomplished and what she is going to accomplish. We are very proud to award her as Student of the Month,” said Assistant Principal Cagle.

“It’s amazing. It’s been such a good experience in school, and I’ve been an office aide for three years,” said Emily. “They’re always so kind up there and they don’t mind helping anybody to keep you having a good day.”

Daughter of Ronnie and Joyce Lattimore of Smithville, Emily said she intends to further her education in business at Motlow State Community College with an eye toward a career in accounting.

Emily, who graduated last Friday night, said she will miss DCHS.

“I have enjoyed being a student here. Every class I have had and every teacher, I love them so much. All the teachers are amazing,” said Emily.

With the close of this school year, Donna Emmons is retiring, completing her long teaching career at DCHS.
Assistant Principal Cagle said its only fitting that the Teacher of the Month honor for April go to her.
“Mrs. Emmons is leaving us,” Cagle explained. “She’s officially retiring, so I feel like I’m losing somebody pretty close,” he said.

“Mrs. Emmons was invaluable to me even before I became an administrator as a teacher. We worked really close together with the instructional team, helping plan PLCs and train teachers. You can pick a subject and Mrs. Emmons’ name is going to pop up as part of it. I couldn’t have more respect for her as a professional and I’m really going to miss her. We wish her all the best in retirement,” said Cagle.

Emmons said she is honored to be recognized in this way by her peers.

“It’s humbling and I’m very grateful,” Emmons said. “I’m grateful to the system, and for the many years of great comradery and fellowship, and helping kids achieve their goals. I never thought I was going to be a teacher. I was a paralegal for 20 years but then I came here and found my niche. I started subbing in 2000, and then I got the bug to teach. I already had a Master’s degree in mass communication. The first year I taught algebra and later English, journalism, honors English, and yearbook working with Debi Depriest. I have had this RTI job for about 10 years. I really enjoyed working with my students and I still hear from many of them. We are friends on Facebook. That’s the most rewarding thing of all is to see them grow and strive and become teachers or whatever they want to do,” said Emmons

May 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Three prisoners at the DeKalb County Jail have been charged with assault for attacking a fellow inmate.

29-year-old Dustin Allen Sullivan, 34-year-old Jerry Donald Cantrell, and 52-year-old Marcus John Peregoy are each under a $5,000 bond and will make a court appearance May 23.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, May 2 at 9:09 p.m. jail video surveillance showed Sullivan exchanging words with another inmate before walking up to him and inflicting several blows to the head. Cantrell and Peregoy could also be seen on the video joining in the attack on the inmate.

A woman arrested recently for a DUI offense and bringing contraband into a penal institution has been charged again for identity theft after investigators learned she provided someone else’s name and date of birth during booking.

28-year-old Shadayda Storm Farris of Nashville is under a $10,000 bond. During her DUI arrest, Farris said her name was Skylar Fox and gave her date of birth as November 14, 1995. Farris’s actual birth date is July 3, 1995.

Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, May 2 after her fingerprint confirmation came back through the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), it was revealed that Fox’s real identity is Shadayda Storm Farris and that she knowingly and intentionally gave the wrong name and date of birth during her April 28 DUI arrest. Farris later admitted in an interview that the name and birth date she gave previously was that of a close friend.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 28 a deputy was summoned to Coconut Ridge Road to perform a welfare check on a woman behind the wheel of a silver Chevy Silverado who was spotted driving on the wrong side of the road. The officer pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Farris who appeared to have been highly intoxicated and was dozing in and out of consciousness. Farris was unsteady on her feet, and she refused to submit to field sobriety tasks. A strong odor of marijuana was coming from the vehicle. While being escorted to the jail by a correctional officer, a glass container fell from her person that held more than 13 pills believed to be Alprazolam.

30-year-old Keith Clifford Lafreniere of Fall Creek Drive, Smithville, an inmate, is charged with vandalism for damaging a jail surveillance camera. He is under a $3,500 bond.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 1 at around 11:35 p.m. while manning the front desk, a jail correctional officer spotted Lafreniere in a cell trying to pull the camera off the ceiling. Other officers were notified and responded to the cell finding that Lafrenier had torn away the camera. They assessed the damage and informed Lafrenier that he would be charged. Lafrenier replied that he did not care and that he had committed the act because he was bored.

60-year-old Kevin Ray Wilson of Highland Street, Smithville is charged with driving on a suspended license, possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is under a $50,000 bond and his court date is May 30.

A co-defendant with Wilson, 50-year-old Dwayne Edward Reeder, Jr. of Old Highway 53 Liberty, is also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond totals $46,500 and he too will make a court appearance May 30.
Sheriff Ray said that on May 10 while patrolling, a deputy spotted a white Chevy Blazer, driven by Wilson. Knowing that Wilson’s license was suspended, the officer pulled him over and confirmed that Wilson’s license was still suspended. As Wilson stepped out of the Blazer, the deputy noticed a straw with a crystal-like substance in the vehicle’s door panel. Reeder was a passenger with Wilson and when he opened the door to exit the vehicle, the officer observed in the floorboard a baggie which held a clear crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. A subsequent search turned up a bag behind Wilson’s seat which held a needle and three straws with a white crystal-like substance along with two pieces of aluminum foil wrapped around clear baggies containing what appeared to be methamphetamine that weighed 1.7 grams. Another piece of aluminum foil was found which had burn marks believed to have been left from someone having smoked meth.

34-year-old Brett Alan Simmons of McMinnville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court May 30.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 11 a deputy was traveling west on Sparta Highway when he saw a black Ford Explorer leave its lane of travel. He pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Simmons who smelled of alcohol. His eyes were red and watery, and his speech was slurred. Simmons admitted to having consumed alcohol prior to driving. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

18-year-old Joseph Bryson Stembridge of McMinnville is charged with underage driving while impaired. He is under a $2,500 bond and his court date is May 30.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 11 while patrolling south on College Street, a deputy saw a white Ford F150 company truck go through the intersection of South College Street and McMinnville Highway without coming to a complete stop. The officer pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Stembridge who smelled of alcohol. His eyes were red and watery. He admitted to having consumed an alcoholic beverage prior to driving. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

49-year-old Joseph Nathaniel Bragg, Jr. of North Congress Boulevard, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and violation of the implied consent law. His bond is $7,000 and he will make a court appearance May 30.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 12 a deputy was traveling west on East Broad Street in Smithville when he spotted a silver Ram 1500 pickup truck leave its lane of travel several times. The officer pulled over the automobile and spoke with the driver, Bragg who smelled of alcohol. His eyes were red and watery, and his speech was slurred. Bragg would not agree to give a blood sample for testing or submit to field sobriety tasks.

31-year-old Alyson Nicole Fiscus of Keltonburg Road, Smithville is charged with assaulting a first responder. Her bond is $7,500.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 2 a state trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol had Fiscus in custody and was at the hospital to obtain a blood draw from her. As a deputy was assisting the state trooper, Fiscus kicked the deputy in the groin area causing bodily injury.

41-year-old Justin Keith Liggett of Lewisburg is charged with a violation of an order of protection. His bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance on May 23.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 7 a deputy was summoned to Pumpkin Hollow Road to conduct a welfare check on a woman. Liggett, who is under an order of protection to keep away from this woman, was on the premises. He was taken into custody.

37-year-old Ryan Joseph Ray of Hickman is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court May 23.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 5 a deputy was dispatched to Wolf Creek Road due to a traffic accident and upon arrival spoke with Ray, who had been driving a blue BMW and had hit a parked Ford F150. According to the officer, Ray smelled of alcohol. He was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred.

34-year-old Whitney Rochelle Byard of Nashville Highway, Liberty is charged with domestic assault and vandalism. Her bond is $8,500 and she will be in court May 23.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 9 at 11:56 p.m. a deputy was summoned to a residence on West Main Street, Dowelltown due to a physical domestic complaint. Upon arrival, the officer found Byard outside and asked what had occurred. Byard replied that she had been screaming at her boyfriend from outside but had never entered the residence. The deputy then talked to Byard’s boyfriend who said that she had used a house key to make entry into the home and then began physically assaulting him. He then called 911. According to the officer, the man had scratch marks on his back and arms. The deputy was also informed that Byard had allegedly used a key to scratch words of profanity on the hood of the man’s vehicle with an estimated cost of the damage placed at $2,000. Byard was taken into custody.

72-year-old Rick Allen Meurer of West Main Street, Smithville is charged with violation of the sex offender registry. He is under a $5,000 bond and his court date is May 24.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 8 a detective learned that Meurer had failed to meet his requirements for reporting to the jail. He had last reported in September, 2023 and was to have reported again either seven days before or after January 12, 2024 but he had not done so.

42-year-old Charles Shaman Cantrell of Atwell Drive, Smithville is charged with driving on a suspended license. He is under a $2,500 bond and he will be in court May 23. Sheriff Ray said that on May 7 a deputy was patrolling New Home Road when he spotted a blue Toyota SUV leave its lane of travel and cross the solid white line. The officer pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Cantrell. A background check through central dispatch revealed that Cantrell’s license was suspended for failure to appear in court on January 9.

May 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Something to cheer about!

Family and friends of DCHS football cheerleader Allyson Fuller gathered at DCHS Monday to celebrate her signing with Tennessee Tech University where she will be joining the Golden Eagles’ cheerleading team next season. Sydney Hickerson, Tech’s head coach of cheer and dance was also on hand for the signing.

Fuller, an outstanding high school student and cheerleader, graduated last Friday night from DeKalb County High School and will be furthering her education at Tech toward a career path in nursing. She is the daughter of Anthony and Amanda Fuller.

“I am super excited. Cheerleading in college is something I have always wanted to do,” said Ally. “I like the atmosphere of Tech. I have gone and watched them cheer at their games so many times. They are amazing. Their team is amazing. They are like a family there and Tech is not far from home so its perfect for me,” she said.

Although Fuller has had cheerleading success at the high school level she still had to prove herself to Tech.

“I had to try out,” said Ally. “They saw me in every aspect of cheer and everything that I could do. They picked me out of around 60 girls that tried out so it’s a really big honor. Its definitely a higher level but it will be really fun to do,” she added.

Fuller received the 2023 DCHS Most Valuable Football Cheerleader Award during the team banquet in January. Ally’s mother Amanda, who has been the DCHS football cheer coach, said she could not be prouder of her talented daughter.

“Having my daughter be a college cheerleader is amazing,” said Amanda. “It’s a goal Ally has had for a long time. Only two percent of the people actually get to cheer in college so that in itself is a great accomplishment. As a mom watching her go off to college is difficult to deal with but its also exciting because she is going to further her education, her skills as a cheerleader, and she will have a lot of opportunities”, she said.

In announcing her MVC award at the team banquet four months ago, Coach Fuller talked about Ally’s lifelong love for cheerleading.

“She has been around the DCHS football cheerleading program her entire life. She has been cheering since she was six years old. Ally has genuine crowd appeal and makes it all look natural and easy. She has participated in gymnastics and competition cheer, and now works as a tumbling instructor at Infinity Athletics, She has been an NCA All-American nominee every year in high school and she made the All-American team last year. She has looked up to so many amazing cheerleaders over the years and now she has become the one that many young people look up to. She is so very precious to me. She makes me proud every day,” said Coach Fuller.

Coach Hickerson said she is excited about Ally joining her program.

“Ally is a really hard worker and learns very fast. She is versatile and can play a lot of different roles, anything that the team would need. She has a great game day presence,” said Coach Hickerson.

“Ally will cheer for all home football games, then we split up and rotate squads for our basketball season, just because there are so many home games. We will travel to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and then if we go to March Madness, the NCAA Tournament we will travel to that as well. Last year our men’s and women’s basketball teams made it to the championship game of the OVC conference tournament and our women’s team actually won the conference, so we got to go cheer at two NCAA games which was amazing. Ally has a lot of really neat things to look forward to,” Coach Hickerson explained.

“Tennessee Tech Cheer and Dance is actually under athletics so Ally will receive all the same perks and priorities as the football, basketball, and baseball players. She will have a strength and conditioning coach, academic advisor for athletes, athletic trainer, and nutritionist,” said Coach Hickerson.

“We compete in the small co-ed game day division at the Universal Cheer Association (UCA College Nationals) in Orlando Florida. Its tough competition and very rigorous. A lot of training goes on in the fall and over Christmas break, so our teams make a lot of sacrifices to go and perform at nationals. We love doing it and we’re 4th in the nation so we are really proud of that. Next year I am looking forward to hopefully hitting that top three or top one spot,” said Coach Hickerson.