Tiger Quarterback Axel Aldino a semifinalist for the Class 4A Tennessee Titans Mr. Football honor

November 5, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DCHS Tiger Quarterback Axel Aldino is in the running for the 2020  TSSAA Class 4A Tennessee Titans Mr. Football honor.

The list of the semifinalists was released Thursday which includes Aldino and four other players from Class 4A.

The Mr. Football Award honors the top player in each classification as well as the top kicker in the state regardless of classification during the regular season.

The winners will be announced Dec. 8 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

The semifinalists will be whittled down to three finalists on Nov. 17.

Aldino has led the Tigers in compiling a 6-3 record and the program’s first ever regular season region championship at 3-0. Aldino has rushed for 10 touchdowns and thrown for 21 TD’s this season. He will lead his team hosting Spring Hill Friday night, November 6 in the first round of the TSSAA playoffs in Smithville. Kick-Off is at 7 p.m. and WJLE plans LIVE coverage.

Aldino has also been selected to participate in the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Combine in December. This event replaces the East-West All-Star game this year due to the COVID-19 virus. It will take place at Oakland High School on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020.

A committee of statewide sports writers selected nominees for Mr. Football based on performance in the 2020 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. High school coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer people will be permitted to attend this year’s awards ceremony. More than 100 people, including the 30 finalists, family members, and coaches are expected to attend the 2020 luncheon.

Here are the 2020 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football semifinalists

DIVISION I
CLASS 1A
Hunter Frame, South Pittsburg
Kyler Parker, Moore County
Kolbi Stewart, Huntland
Jared Stone, South Pittsburg
Kaden White, Moore County

CLASS 2A
Blake Carroll, Lewis County
Khalik Ganaway, Peabody
Will Meadows, Meigs County
Kolby Morgan, Oneida
Luke Myers, South Greene

CLASS 3A
Anthony Brown, Milan
Grey Carroll, Alcoa
Isaiah Cox, Alcoa
Martino Owens, Pearl Cohn
Ty Simpson, Westview

CLASS 4A
Axel Aldino, DeKalb County
Troy Parker Hughes, Elizabethton
Rivers Hunt, Hardin County
Bryson Rollins, Elizabethton
Jakobe Thomas, Tullahoma

CLASS 5A
Kalib Fortner, Knoxville Central
Jermarcus Johnson, Henry County
Prince Kollie, David Crockett
Jordyn Potts, Powell
Destin Wade, Summit

CLASS 6A
Raymond Banner, LaVergne
Jake Briningstool, Ravenwood
Jaxson Campbell, Independence
Jalen Hunt, McMinn County
C.J. Taylor, Warren County

DIVISION II
CLASS A
Jon Lewis, DCA
Na’Kelin McAfee, King’s Academy
A.J. Quinn, Davidson Academy
Aaron Smith, Jackson Christian
Griffin Swinea, Davidson Academy

CLASS AA
Jackson Bradley, Knoxville Webb
Alex Broome, Lipscomb Academy
James Dunn, CAK
Langston Patterson, CPA
Dietrick Pennington, ECS

CLASS AAA
Michael Dallas, Briarcrest
B.J. Harris, McCallie
Dallan Hayden, CBHS
Elijah Howard, Baylor
D.C. Tabscott, Father Ryan

KICKER OF THE YEAR
Upton Bellenfant, Stewarts Creek
Bryson Flynn, Gatlinburg-Pittman
Teagen Lenderink, Brentwood Academy
Trey Turk, Oakland
Connor Wood, Lexington

November 5, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A Dowelltown man has been charged with vandalism for causing damage on the property of the DeKalb Utility District water plant last month.

40 year old Nathan Joseph Wilbert of Vandergriff Hollow Road, Dowelltown is under a $5,000 bond for vandalism over $1,000 and he will be in court November 12.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on October 20 Wilbert destroyed a key pad to an electric gate to gain entry to DeKalb Utility District’s water plant on Yulonda Hills Road. He also used a steel water meter cover to destroy an electric service meter inside the fenced area. The total damage was about $1, 490. Wilbert was found in the front yard directly across from the water plant and placed in custody.

36 year old Amanda Jean Moss of Cookeville is charged with violation of the sex offender registry law. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court November 12.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 21 the chief deputy and a detective went to a residence on Banks Pisgah Road to do a home visit where Moss was supposed to be. Moss had listed this address on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry as her primary residence. When they arrived the officers learned from someone else there that Moss only stays there up to five days per month and she does not have a secondary address listed on the registry where she is living.

Harry Carlson McIntosh of Old Mill Hill Road is charged with violation of bond conditions. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court November 12.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 26 a deputy was dispatched to Old Bildad Road due to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who said that McIntosh showed up and began yelling and knocking on her door . McIntosh later came to the jail and admitted being there. After discovering that McIntosh is under active bond conditions to keep away from this woman, he was placed under arrest.

November 5, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County needs 3 more mentors for the Tennessee Promise Scholarship program. Can you help?

tnAchieves, the local partnering organization for Tennessee Promise, which provides two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in Tennessee, is looking for mentors to assist seniors in pursuing higher education. tnAchieves mentors spend about one hour per month working with a group of students to help them achieve their college-going goals. In 2021, mentors will serve their students using tnAchieves CONNECT. tnAchieves CONNECT is a new virtual mentoring tool that allows mentors to remain connected to their students in a safe, online environment. It will also enable mentors to serve from their home and on their schedule

The deadline to apply as a mentor for Tennessee Promise students is December 4 at https://tnachieves.org/.

After applying, you will receive a confirmation email and instructions to set up your mentor account. While Tennessee Promise funding is critical, the mentor serves as a difference maker for many students who are the first in their families to attend college. The mentor ensures students meet critical deadlines by sending reminders, answers questions as students navigate the college process, and be the person who says “we can do this together”. A minimal commitment of time as a mentor helps to ensure that students receive the encouragement and support they need to continue their education and receive a post-secondary credential tuition free.

According to tnAchieves, more than 3,400 mentors are still needed statewide to meet student demand. Specific areas of need can be found on the mentor recruitment dashboard at https://tnachieves.org/mentors/dashboard/.

As a mentor, you will invest 10-15 hours annually assisting 5-10 high school seniors. Many mentors spend as little as 1 hour per month serving as a resource to students. The role of mentor is simple, but significant. The time commitment consists of a one-hour training session, two one-hour meetings, and communicating with students every two weeks via email, phone or text as they transition from high school to college.

To learn more about this important opportunity and to apply, visit https://tnachieves.org/ or scan a QR code with your phone to complete an application by December 4.

Meanwhile, parents and students are reminded that the deadline to apply for the Tennessee Promise has been extended to Dec. 1.

Previously, the deadline was Nov. 2 but a statement released by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission announced that the deadline has been extended a month due to the pandemic.

The scholarship and mentoring program aims to increase the number of students enrolled in college in our state.

The scholarship can help cover tuition and the cost of mandatory fees not covered by the Pell grant, the HOPE scholarship, or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award.

Students will also receive a mentor to help guide them through the college admissions process.

tnAchieves is encouraging more students to apply.

“The class of 2021 application began serval weeks ago 40% below where we were this time last year,” said  tnAchieves Executive Director Krissy DeAlejandro. “So it was a very eye-opening moment for all partners involved with Tennessee Promise, so what we’ve done is close the gap to 14% but we are not satisfied.”

To apply online, you’ll need the student’s name, birthday and social security number.

“Every student has a different story and we want to celebrate that story but provide them with that level playing field so that they can, in fact, find success,” DeAlejandro said.