Karson Mullinax Wins the Two Top Reading Awards at DeKalb West

May 23, 2025
By: Bill Conger

For the second year in a row 6th grade student Karson Mullinax was the recipient of the top reading award at DeKalb West School. DWS School Librarian Amanda Mullinax, who is also his mom, presented Karson with the Amanda Mullinax Librarian Award for earning the most Accelerated Reader points since starting at DeKalb West. He has earned 2,364.5 points in his school career, securing him a prestigious spot on the plaque in the school library.

“Since last year when he accomplished his goal of having his name on the plaque, I am so extremely proud that he has continued to pursue his love of reading!” Amanda Mullinax said.

Karson also earned the Mrs. Sabrina Farler Principal Award for earning the most AR points this year with 458.1 points.

“Karson is the absolutely best student,” 6th grade teacher Melissa Sliger said. “He is a super hard worker and is always so kind. As far as reading goes he is always the first to finish his work and always picks up his book to read. By doing this I believe he is able to drown out everything around him because he is so into his book. I have never seen him without a book. He always has one with him. In March he started reading the series Warriors and he says he is loving it. Overall, I would keep Karson forever if possible. He is quiet, respectful, and truly enjoys reading “.

Karson is a brilliant student who shies away from the spotlight. But his past teachers have had no trouble bragging on the kind-hearted, studious young man.

“Karson was one of those students that was constantly reading in class,” says Karson’s 4th grade teacher and now Assistant Principal Cindy Snow. “As soon as he got finished with his work, he was reading a book. Free time…reading a book. During math class…reading a book. He would read any chance he would get. It seemed that reading was his “escape”, and he could totally zone everything else out while reading.”

“Karson is one of very few students in my many years of teaching that I have watched firsthand find the joy in reading,” 5th grade ELA teacher Rachel Desimone said. “He will complete his schoolwork and then back into the book he goes! The AR point system encourages some students as they watch their rocket soar to new heights, but I think Karson would stick with reading even if it weren’t for that. This says a lot about him and his love for reading.”

He has always loved books!” his mom said. “We all read to him when he was younger, which I believe showed him the importance. Here’s a funny: It wasn’t long after he learned to read himself that he made it very clear that he didn’t want me to read aloud to him anymore. He said, “You read too slow!” Which, in comparison to him now, is true; he is a much faster reader than I am!”

His teachers see that Karson’s passion for reading is reflected in his academics. This school year Karson earned “Leader of the Pack” awards in every subject area, straight A’s and is an active member of the Junior Beta Club.

“Due to the fact that he is such an avid reader, he has always had a more expanded vocabulary than most students,” says Snow. “He is quick to understand and create puns and figurative language, and we enjoy (outside of school) using quite a bit of sarcasm and joking with each other,” she adds with a laugh. “Also, his writing shows evidence of the fact that he loves to read. He is imaginative, humorous, and detailed in various forms of writing.”

May 23, 2025
By: Bill Conger

Kaylee Womack dominated the Academic Awards at the DeKalb West School 8th Grade Recognition. Womack was honored with the ELA, Math, History, and Science awards from Dwayne Blair’s homeroom. From Mrs. Bratten’s homeroom, Gabriel Blair picked up the Math and History awards while Halia McDaniel received the ELA award and Dakota Ferrell was handed the Science award.

Named to the Principal’s List (All A’s) for the year were Gabriel Blair, Grant Brown, Mia Hall, Kaden Mullinax, Caroline Neal, and Kaylee Womack. Named to the A & B Honor Roll for the entire year were Jaretzy Aguilar, Adam Brown, Cryslan Cecil, Dakota Ferrell, Katelynn Fry, Bella Gonzalez, Yesica Gonzales, Makenna Lomas, Halia McDaniel, and Kylie Pierce.

The Making Tracks (Most Improved) Award were awarded to Josh Floyd and Javan Hefflin. Four students were awarded with the Citizenship Awards: Gabriel Blair, Halia McDaniel, Levi Cripps, and Caroline Neal. The 4 PAWS Awards went to Kaden Mullinax and Cryslan Cripps. Mullinax and Adam Brown were highlighted for Perfect Attendance.

The following five students were acknowledged for earning the highest grade point averages in middle school (6th-8th grades): Gabriel Blair ranked one with a 3.732 GPA, Kaylee Womack ranked 2nd with a 3.682 GPA, Kaden Mullinax ranked third with a 3.645 GPA, Mia Hall ranked fourth with a 3.643 GPA, and Halia McDaniel was fifth with a 3.580 GPA.

These students were recognized by their activity teachers: Jonah Maynard and Caleb Dickerson for Guidance, Logan Winfree and Malachi Gaither for Library, Savana Muncey and Javan Hefflin for Music, Gabriel Blair for STREAM, Halia McDaniel and Logan Winfree for Computer.

P.E. Teacher Kelly Pyburn recognized several students for their sports activities with different teams. Jacob Johnson and Slade Bennett, who are members of the high school fishing team, will be in the state championship. Dayton Heflin, who fishes in the TBF Tournament series, has won with his teammate 1st at Norris Lake, Melton Hill Lake, 2nd at Dale Hollow Lake, and 3rd at Nickajack Lake. Kaylee Womack was the leading scorer for the Lady Bulldogs this past season, was also named to the All-tournament team at Forks River Tournament. Gabriel Blair achieved his black belt in Taekwondo and is now able to teach students. He also has won multiple medals at three different tournaments this year. Caroline Neal was on the DMS Saints softball team that finished 3rd in the district, and she was named to the All-Tournament team. Kaden Mullinax, a member of the Cross Country team, also placed 4th in his age group at his first-ever half marathon. Levi Cripps helped lead the football team to a regular season and conference championship. He was named All-Conference. In basketball, Levi was the leading scorer and was named to the All-Tournament team at the Forks River Tournament. Maddux Pyburn also made the All-Tournament team at Forks River. As a member of the DWS baseball team, Maddux helped lead them to regular season and district tournament championships. The Bulldogs continued to make their way into the finals of the sectionals.

Librarian Amanda Mullinax presented the following Accelerated Reader awards: Halia McDaniel and Jaretzy Aguilar-Castellanos with a $5 gift certificate for earning 400 points; Bella Gonzalez, Kate Pistole, Makenna Lomas with an AR pin for 500 points; Halia McDaniel, Caroline Neal, and Kate Pistole with a bowling trip for being the Top Readers in 8th grade. Awesome Accuracy for scoring a 95% or higher on AR tests went to Halia McDaniel, Kenzie South, and Dakota Ferrell. Kaden Mullinax was presented with the 1,000 + points certificate. He earned a total of 1,703.9 points.

Mullinax also earned the most Jr. Beta service points with 108 hours. Other 8th grade Junior Betas recognized for service include Gabriel Blair with 73 hours, Bella Gonzalez- 10.5 hours, Mia Hall- 21.25, Caroline Neal- 15.75 hours, Kate Pistole- 42.75 hours, and Kaylee Womack- 38 hours.

Here are the members of the 2025 DWS 8th Grade Class: Jaretzy Aguilar, Slade Bennett, Gabriel Blair, Adam Brown, Grant Brown, Cryslan Cecil, Kayla Checchi, Adonis Cooprider, Levi Cripps, Caleb Dickerson, Jacob Dies, Dakota Ferrell, Joshua Floyd, Katelyn Fry, Malachi Gaither, Bella Gonzalez, Yesica Gonzalez, Spencer Gregory, Jada Hale, Mia Hall, Marilda Hatfield, Dayton Heflin, Javan Hefflin, Jacob Johnson, Makenna Lomas, Jonah Maynard, Halia McDaniel, Ezzy Moore, Kaden Mullinax, Savana Muncey, Jaython Myers, Caroline Neal, Jake Nokes, Allie Pedigo, Kylie Pierce, Kate Pistole, Maddux Pyburn, Aydin Reed, Isaac Scott, Kenzie South, Miley Tays, Harley Willingham, Logan Winfree, and Kaylee Womack.

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.

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