Tigerettes to Play for State Softball Championship Friday, May 23 at MTSU (Listen LIVE on WJLE)

May 22, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Tigerettes have never won a state softball tournament championship but today they are closer than ever to reaching that goal.

In a thriller Thursday that had Tigerette fans on the edge of their seats, DC defeated McNairy Central 8 to 7 in the Spring Fling at Murfreesboro.

(View Class 3A state softball tournament bracket at link below)

Bracket

The Tigerettes (26-5-1) and undefeated in the TSSAA Class 3A tournament this week at 3-0, will face Gibbs (40-3) Friday, May 23 at 10 a.m. at MTSU in the state title game. WJLE will have LIVE coverage on AM 1480/FM 101.7 and on the LIVE audio stream at www.wjle.com.

(View Game Stats at link below

https://tssaasports.com/event/results.cfm?id=129019

In the game Thursday, DeKalb County scored 8 runs on 11 hits with 3 errors while McNairy Central scored 7 runs on 12 hits and 3 errors

Kora Kilgore gave up 7 runs on 12 hits. She struck out 6 and walked 4. The pitcher for McNairy Central, Chanley Steele gave up 8 runs on 11 hits. She struck out 4 and walked 2. Bailee Shelton came in for the 7th inning and struck out 2.

DC scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st inning but watched McNairy Central score 6 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning. The Tigerettes answered with 6 runs of their own in the top of the 5th inning. McNairy Central got a solo homerun from Bailee Shelton in the bottom of the 6th but DeKalb County held them off in the 7th securing an 8 to 7 victory.

On Wednesday, DeKalb County opened the state tournament with a 4-2 win in 8 innings over McNairy Central and followed that with a 1-0 shutout of Unicoi County.

McNairy Central eliminated Unicoi County 3-0 in the loser’s bracket Thursday morning earning the right to face the Tigerettes in a rematch.

May 22, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

The opening day of the TSSAA Class 3A softball tournament Wednesday could not have been better for the DCHS Tigerettes as they defeated both McNairy Central 4-2 in 8 innings and Unicoi County 1-0 to advance in the winner’s bracket of this double elimination competition.

(View Class 3A state softball tournament bracket at link below)

Bracket

The spring fling run continues for the Tigerettes today (Thursday) as DC will face either McNairy Central or Unicoi County again at 11 a.m. at McKnight Field #1 in Murfreesboro. WJLE will have LIVE coverage on AM 1480/FM 101.7 and on the LIVE audio stream at www.wjle.com.

McNairy Central and Unicoi County will face off in the loser’s bracket today (Thursday) at 9 a.m. at McKnight Field #1 for the right to have a rematch with DeKalb County.

Tigerette Pitcher Kora Kilgore was nothing less than spectacular in both games recording 19 strikeouts through 8 innings with 3 hits allowed and 2 runs against McNairy Central and 17 strikeouts, one hit, and no runs given up against Unicoi County.

In the first game Wednesday, a 2-run walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 8th inning by Hannah Brown propelled the Tigerettes to a 4 to 2 win over McNairy Central in the first round of the tournament.

Bailee Shelton, the pitcher for McNairy Central who has committed to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville struck out 13 and gave up 9 hits.

DC scored 2 runs in the 1st inning and did not score again until the game winning homerun in the 8th inning. McNairy Central scored 1 run in both the 5th and 6th innings.

For the Tigerettes, Riley Wilbur had a double and scored a run; Zayleigh Bain singled, Bryna Pelham had 2 singles and an RBI and scored a run, Kora Kilgore had 2 singles and an RBI, Maggie Hendrixson singled, Brooke Fuson singled and scored a run, and Hannah Brown had a 2-run homerun and 2 RBI.

In the 1-0 win over Unicoi County Wednesday afternoon in the tournament, Zaleigh Bain for the Tigerettes had a single, a double, and scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the 4th inning. Bryna Pelham, Kora Kilgore, Tatum Young and Sophie Adcock each singled.

The Tigerettes improve to 25-5-1 on the season.

(WJLE Programming note: Because of today’s game, WJLE’s midday programming will be rescheduled by two hours. The noon news, normally at 12 will air at 10 a.m. starting with Fox News, Local News and State News. Cross Connection with David Revelle of the Upper Helton Baptist Church, normally at 11:55 a.m., will air today (Thursday) at 9:55 a.m.)

May 22, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

After 20 years, DeKalb County will have a new sheriff come September 1, 2026.

Sheriff Patrick Ray, a Republican, announced today (Thursday, May 22) that he will not seek re-election to an unprecedented sixth term next year.

Ray, who was first elected sheriff in 2006, has served longer in the office than any other person. He will be completing his fifth and final term as of August 31, 2026. By that date, his total law enforcement career will have spanned 37 years.

He chose to make the announcement today (Thursday) because May 22 has a special significance for him. “Today is my law enforcement anniversary date. I started my career at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department on May 22, 1989 with Sheriff Kenneth Pack, “he said.

Prior to becoming sheriff, Ray held many other law enforcement related positions both in DeKalb and Warren County.

“I served as a Lake site Patrolman, Dispatcher, Deputy, Detective and the last four years as Chief Deputy (under Sheriff Pack). I worked 13 years and 3 months with the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department leaving on August 31st 2002. On November 12, 2002, I went to work at the Warren County Sheriff’s Department as a Criminal Investigator for Sheriff Jackie Matheny Sr. I worked for Warren County for 3 years and 9 months leaving on August 31, 2006 after I was elected Sheriff,” said Ray.

When asked why not try for another term, Sheriff Ray said he felt it was time to leave.

“When I made a decision in 2004 to run for Sheriff in the 2006 election cycle. I never prayed to win. I prayed that the Lord’s will be done. Every election cycle after that, I have prayed that same prayer, but adding, that the Lord would let me know when it was time for me to leave office. Now, I know it is time for me to leave office at the end of this term. The Lord has given me peace with this decision,” he said.

During his tenure, Sheriff Ray said he has worked to battle the war on drugs and other crimes to make the county safer for its citizens; to improve public relations; to maintain a department that is trustworthy, professional, keeping up to date on technology and services, and to better the pay and benefits for his employees, all while being fiscally responsible and without neglecting his church and home life.

“Law Enforcement has been my life career. I have truly enjoyed all of my career. I have made many new friends along the way. I want to thank all the citizens of DeKalb County for allowing me to live my dream. It has had many ups and downs, but at the end of the day, it has made me a stronger person,” he said.

In addition to thanking his supporters and residents of the county for the privilege of serving them, Sheriff Ray also expressed appreciation to his family for their love, support, and sacrifices to allow him to do this job as well as “The Lord for all His many blessings”.

With a new sheriff coming in next year, Sheriff Ray pledges his cooperation for a smooth transition.

“Whoever wins the Sheriff’s race, I want him to come into the office as soon as he can. There is so much information about running a jail he needs to know before he takes office. I want to assist in any way possible. I also want the sheriff-elect to have a part in making a decision on what the budget will be next year. The budget will probably pass under my administration but I will only have 2 months use of it. I want to make sure the sheriff-elect has whatever he needs to run the Sheriff’s Department and Jail. I look forward to working with him on my way out. I want a smooth and orderly transition,” said Sheriff Ray.

As he leaves office next year, some may ask what’s next for Patrick Ray?

“I have been asked what I am going to do when I leave office. This is all I have to say. The Lord has a plan for me. My faith is strong in Him. I faithfully believe he will guide me in the direction that I need to go”.

The following is Sheriff Patrick Ray’s entire prepared announcement:

“I’m not going to seek a 6th term for the Office of Sheriff. I made a decision in 2004 to run for Sheriff in the 2006 election cycle. I never prayed to win. I prayed that the Lord’s will be done. Every election cycle after that, I have prayed that same prayer, but adding, that the Lord would let me know when it was time for me to leave office. Now, I now know it is time for me to leave office at the end of this term. The Lord has given me peace with this decision.

I am the son of Patsy Ray and the late Roy Ray.

My wife’s name is Dessa and we have one son PJ (Patrick Ray Jr.)

We attend New Union The Baptist Church where I have attended my whole life. I have been a member there for 43 years and where I also serve as a Deacon.

Today is my law enforcement anniversary date. I started my career at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department on May 22, 1989 with Sheriff Kenneth Pack.

I served as a Lake site Patrolman, Dispatcher, Deputy, Detective and the last four years as Chief Deputy. I worked 13 years and 3 months with the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department leaving on August 31st 2002.

On November 12, 2002, I went to work at the Warren County Sheriff’s Department as a Criminal Investigator for Sheriff Jackie Matheny Sr. I worked for Warren County for 3 years and 9 months leaving on August 31, 2006 after I was elected Sheriff.

I was elected Sheriff in 2006. At the end of this term, August 31, 2026, I will have served as Sheriff for 20 years.

My total law enforcement time will be 37 years at the end of this term.

Law Enforcement has been my life career. I have truly enjoyed all of my career. I have made many new friends along the way.

I am the 50th elected Sheriff in DeKalb County. I have been blessed to serve longer than any Sheriff before me. I have been told; I am the only Republican Sheriff who ran for re-election who did not have a democrat challenger. That happened in the 2010 election cycle. I have been truly blessed to be able to serve the citizens of DeKalb County.

When I was first elected, I made myself a few promises.

* One, that this job would not destroy my marriage. This year Dessa and I will be happily married for 29 years.

*Two I wanted to leave the Sheriff’s Office with good standing in the County.

*Three, that I would fight for my employees for pay raises and benefits. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Jail has always been behind the eight ball on pay and benefits for its employees. These men and women put their lives on the line every day to protect you and your families. They all deserve a comfortable pay for the great job they do. I have worked with the county commission for 18 years this far, and 3 County Mayors, Mayor Mike Foster, Mayor Tim Stribling and now Mayor Matt Adcock. They have been great to work with. With their help, I have brought the pay scale up from where it was. We are not where we should be yet, but we are a lot closer.

I also made a few promises to the Citizens of the county when I ran for office.

I have tried to be a leader for my department and not a dictator. I have tried to show leadership through example, while on duty and also in my personal life.

*To have a professional Sheriff’s Department that Citizens could be proud of,

*to work hard on drugs and other crimes,

*and that my department and I be trustworthy and courteous just to name a few. I hope my department and I have done that for the citizens of the county.

I have tried my best to be available to the public. Either in the office, on the phone, and social media.

I have financially worked within my budget for the Sheriff’s Department, Jail, and Drug Fund over my tenure.

I have tried to improve the Sheriff’s Department and Jail with updated technology and equipment.

All the patrol vehicles now have computers with internet in them. The Deputies can communicate with dispatch through their computer. They also can run their own tags, driver’s license and do their incident and accident reports from their patrol vehicle. A lot of these have been paid by grants.

When I took office in 2006, we had one School Resource Officer or SRO in the High School. With the help of the county commission and school board, I was able to put 5 more school resource officers in our schools over the years. Today DeKalb West School, Smithville Elementary, Northside Elementary and DeKalb Middle School has one School Resource Officer assigned to their School Campus and DeKalb County High School has two School Resource Officers assigned to the campus there.

I have tried to be actively involved in many of the county events that has taken place throughout our county.

I have just recently opened the first ever DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department shooting range where our county officers have a place to qualify with their weapons and where the Sheriff’s Department and Jail staff can do their training. All of the repairs and updates were done through grants or donated items. I used inmate labor to do almost all of the labor to the building and gun range.

I want to thank all the citizens of DeKalb County for allowing me to live my dream. It has had many ups and downs, but at the end of the day, it has made me a stronger person.

I want to thank all of my past and present employees. I have not done this job alone. Our Sheriff’s Department and Jail employees have made DeKalb County a safer and better place to live, worship, and raise a family in. I know without all of you and your dedicated service to DeKalb County; DeKalb County would not be what it is today. Thank you so much for your service to our County.

To my extended family, close friends, and loyal supporters, thank you for always being behind me and helping me along the way. I cannot say thank you enough for all of your support over the years.

To my wife Dessa and son PJ, you have made so many sacrifices for my career. There have been many times I have had to be away from you doing something with the Sheriff’s Department or Jail. I can think of one time when PJ was young, we drove to Florida for our first vacation since I was elected. We drove for 10 hours to only spend the night and turn around to come back home the next morning because of a Jail Escape. Needless to say, they were not happy with this decision, but this is just one example of many, of their support for me and my career. Thank you so much for allowing me to do a job I truly love. I am so blessed to have a wife and son as understanding as you two have been. You two are my rock and I love you so much.

But above all, I want to think the Lord for all his many blessings. He has blessed me so much. He has walked beside of me through a lot of tragic events within my career. I have prayed many prayers to Him for the victims of crimes, for the families it has affected, the accused and also myself. I know a lot of people have prayed for me and my department also and I appreciate it so much. It has definitely made me a better Christian and public servant.

Whoever wins the Sheriff’s race next year, I want them to come into the office as soon as they can. There is so much information about running a jail they need to know before they take office. The jail is the biggest task for a Sheriff, especially a new one. The jail is the biggest risk for lawsuits. With a new jail coming, there are going to be huge challenges for the sheriff-elect and his administration. I want to assist in any way possible.

I also want the sheriff-elect to have a part in making a decision on what the budget will be next year. The budget will probably pass under my administration and I will have 2 months use of it. I want to make sure the sheriff-elect has whatever they need to run the Sheriff’s Department and Jail. I look forward to working with them on my way out. I want a smooth and orderly transition.

Some people have asked what I am going to do when I leave office. This is all I have to say. The Lord has a plan for me. My faith is strong in Him. I faithfully believe he will guide me in the direction that I need to go”.

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