Tigerettes’ Stellar Softball State Tournament Run Continues Today (Thursday, May 22)

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”.

May 21, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps met with the county budget committee Tuesday night to present the Board of Education’s proposed spending plan for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

The budget committee has not yet taken action on the school budget.

Director Cripps explained that the proposed new school budget includes $2,000 teacher bonuses from the state through the voucher program to those who qualify, and $2,000 bonuses funded locally to those educators who don’t qualify for the state bonuses. Support staff would each get a $1,000 bonus funded locally with passage of this budget.

“We don’t have any pay raises in this budget but our step increases are still in there for teachers. All we have in this budget is our bonuses and those will be funded by the state for certified staff. What’s coming from the state will be a little over $500,000 for the bonuses. About 30 people would not receive the state bonus but we did put that (local bonus) in there for them ($2,000 each). We feel like they are equally deserving of that bonus as the others that the state recognized which is certified people with licenses. The noncertified staff would not have received anything (bonus) so we put $1,000 in for each of them for this school year. All of that $245,000 (locally funded bonuses) is coming out of our budget reserves. This is a one-time bonus,” said Director Cripps.

Also included is $1.3 million from the school budget’s $13 million school reserves for the purchase of land for a future new school although no location either for a high school or middle school, has been publicly identified.

During the budget committee meeting Tuesday night, County Mayor Matt Adcock echoed a suggestion offered by the county’s fiscal agent Steve Bates last week on using local purpose or local option sales tax revenue to fund the purchase of property for a future new school without the money coming out of the school budget’s reserves.

“The school board and Director Cripps did not ask for us to take this $1.3 million out of the local purpose fund (to purchase land) but Steve (Bates) made this suggestion. The school board is trying to be proactive in looking for land to build the next school on. They are trying to put some money in their budget so they can have funding in place to buy it if an opportunity for a good piece of land comes along. Steve thought it wouldn’t make much sense for the school board to take $1.3 million from their budget for it when we have this local purpose tax fund from sales tax collections that we are funding new school construction out of. Steve said it would be better to take that $1.3 million from local purpose since that is what this fund is for anyway which is the construction of schools, land and things of that nature. If you choose to do this the unassigned fund balance as of June 30 in the educational capital projects (local purpose sales tax fund) would still be $16 million even after that $1.3 million comes out of it and it would not affect the payment on the new school we will be building. It has a pretty healthy fund balance. We have collected a lot of sales tax revenue over the past several years. I think this would be a better option,” said County Mayor Adcock.

As with most budgets, Director Cripps said the school budget has seen an increase in the annual cost of doing business especially with insurance.

“The killer for us is insurance (increased costs). That is where we took a hit. Last year we budgeted a 5% increase for insurance but that wasn’t enough. You will be seeing some budget amendments coming from us next month for your (county commission) approval so we can balance our budget in those line items for insurance. This year (new budget) we bumped that up again by another 5% but I don’t know if that is going to be enough. The state has still not told us what our insurance (budget) lines will be. That is the one area of our budget (insurance) that has really increased,” explained Director Cripps.

While nothing major is planned during the year as far as capital projects, other than the installation of classroom walls at DeKalb Middle School over the summer, Director Cripps said something could crop up that needs to be addressed.

“We don’t have any major projects or big-ticket items coming up or planned this year unless something pops up out of the blue. We just got verification that we will be going forward with construction of our walls at DeKalb Middle School and that $400,000 project will be funded in this budget we are currently in (2024-25). The only other big-ticket item is the $1.3 million for land,” said Director Cripps.

No new positions are to be created this year, according to Director Cripps, and some programs deemed not necessary or ineffective will be eliminated as the school district tightens its belt.

“We don’t have any new positions in this budget. Last year we added a couple of positions that we never filled. At this part of the year, we are cutting staff. It’s a hard thing to do but at this time you have to start tightening your belt. I understand you can’t have high pay and a thousand teachers. We are a small community, and you have to manage your money to fit community needs. We are absorbing some positions that have been in place because numbers are decreasing, and we don’t need those positions anymore. We are also absorbing positions as they retire or as they move to another county to work. We are not rehiring those positions unless it is an absolute need. One of those things you never know about is special education. A kid may move in with an individual education plan (IEP) who requires a certain type of teacher so we leave a buffer in there (budget) for that,” he said.

“Since 2020 (during the pandemic) we had received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) federal money to provide instructional platforms for our teachers and students but now that money is gone so we will have to pick that back up locally. We have culled back on some programs funded by ESSER. I went to our principals and tech coordinator and told them I needed to see which programs were and were not being used. We are getting rid of those programs that were not being used with consistency showing proof that students were making gains on their tests and schoolwork. We have pared it down to those programs we feel have been effective for our teachers in benefitting students,” explained Director Cripps.

The school district continues to be pro-active in search of new programs to meet needs and save money. Through a partnership with DeKalb County, Graduation Alliance provides versatile pathways to high school graduation for youth and adults.

“We get estimates from the state on the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) dollars (the district receives) and last year it was almost $29 million. The estimate this year came in at $33 million but those numbers are fluctuating like mad right now. The April estimate was $200,000 less than the March estimate,” said Director Cripps. “We had a graduation coach in place who worked with our seniors, but she was also doing an adult school. We were not real comfortable with how that school was running because kids were not coming in and doing the work they were supposed to do. We weren’t graduating kids from it. We knew we needed to do something different. We partnered with a company called Graduation Alliance. It is a virtual adult high school. Under that contract they help us with the kids and our budget. With us losing students to home school this is another way for us to generate money in addition to what the state is sending us. Our virtual adult high school has generated almost $4.5 million which reflects on the (TISA) money we receive. But under this contract we only get 10% of that or $450,000. The rest flows back out to that company to teach those kids. All we have to do is keep the data on those students. We don’t have to hire a teacher for it or buy any computers and books. We’re just housing the data and putting them (students) on our Skyward Family Access account. They (Graduation Alliance) do all the work,” said Director Cripps.

The next meeting of the county budget committee will be Tuesday, May 27 at 6 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse.

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