DeKalb Saints Fall to Macon County 34-16 on 8th Grade Night

September 13, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb Saints recognized the 8^th grade football players, managers, and cheerleaders Thursday evening on 8^th grade night before playing host to Macon County.

The Saints lost the game 34 to 16 slipping to 2-4 on the season and will host Cumberland County next Thursday night, September 19 at 6:30 p.m.

DeKalb Saints 8^th grade football players, managers, and cheerleaders  pictured here in the group photo are as follows: Front row left to right: Abby Cross, Ansley Cantrell, Chloe Lawson, Ellie Dillard, Ally Fuller, Jade Mabe, Elaina Turner, and Caley Taylor. Back row left to right: Konner Young, Austin Nicholson, Trace Hamilton, Wil Farris,  Bryce Stembridge, Briz Trapp, Ari White, and Aaron Hatfield.

*Abby Cross is the daughter of Tony and Shelly Cross. She has been a football manager for 2 years. Her future goal is to work in the field of labor and delivery.

*Ansley Cantrell is the daughter of Tony and Amee Cantrell. She has been a football manager for 1 year. Her future goal is to become a neonatal nurse.

*Ellie Dillard is the daughter of Lance and Courtney Dillard. She has been a DMS football cheerleader for 2 years. Her future goal is to attend the University of Tennessee and become a district attorney.

*Wil Farris is the son of Bruce and Kathy Chapman. He has been on the DMS football team for 2 years and plays on the offensive line and at defensive end. His future goal is to keep playing sports.

*Ally Fuller is the daughter of Anthony Fuller and Amanda Fuller. She has been a DMS football cheerleader for 3 years. Her future goal is to attend the University of Tennessee and become a nurse practitioner. She hopes to play basketball in college and be a part of the NCA staff.

*Trace Hamilton is the son of Lynda Hamilton. He has been on the DMS football team for 2 years and plays on the offensive line and at linebacker. His future goal is to join the Navy and major in criminal justice.

*Aaron Hatfield is the son of Jeremy and Jennifer Hatfield. He has been on the DMS football team for 1 year and plays as an offensive and defensive lineman. His future goal is to pursue a career in sports or become a lawyer.

*Chloe Lawson is the daughter of Victoria Poteet and Adam Denney. She has been a DMS football cheerleader for 3 years. Her future goal is to go to college and become an orthodontist. She would also like to travel the world.

*Jade Mabe is the daughter of Barry and Lisa Mabe. She has been a DMS football cheerleader for 3 years. Her future goal is to go to Tennessee Tech University and become a physical therapist.

*Austin Nicholson is the son of Steve and Amy Reed. He has been on the DMS football team for 1 year and plays wide receiver and defensive back. His future goal is to get a scholarship.

*Bryce Stembridge is the son of Latosha Stembridge. He has been on the DMS football team for 1 year and plays as an offensive and defensive lineman. His future goal is to get a scholarship to play football and major in engineering.

*Caley Taylor is the daughter of Brandon and Shayna Taylor. She has been a football manager for 1 year. Her future goal is to become a cosmetologist.

*Briz Trapp is the son of Brad and Kim Trapp. He has been on the DMS football team for 2 years and plays quarterback and linebacker. His future goal is to play sports.

*Elaina Turner is the daughter of Shane and Regina Turner. She has been a DMS football cheerleader for 3 years. Her future goal is to attend the University of Tennessee and become a dermatologist. She would also like to play softball in college and be a part of the NCA staff.

*Ari White is the son of Jimmy and Adria White. He has been on the DMS football team for 2 years and plays running back and linebacker. His future goal is to get a scholarship to play football in college and major in business.

*Konner Young is the son of Jeremy and Kim Young. He has been on the DMS football team for 2 years and plays as an offensive lineman and linebacker. His future goal is to play baseball in the major league.

September 13, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Todd Perry is the featured artist on “Jammin’ at the 428” this morning (Friday) on WJLE.

The program will air at 8:30 a.m. following the “Old Time Country Community Radio Show”

Jim Hicks, the host of the show, will interview Perry and showcase his music on today’s program.

To hear this show and the previous programs click the links below or click the dropdown box under the “Community” section of the WJLE homepage near the top and look for “Jammin’ at the 428”.

Jammin at the 428 September 11

Jammin at the 428 September 5

Jammin at the 428 August 29

“We love the honesty of Todd’s music and his songs are so kecthey,” said Hicks.

Perry records at Rick Scruggs’ Studio in Smithville, also known as the 428.

September 12, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Board of Education has a new chairman.

During Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, First District member Danny Parkerson was elected to serve as chairman for the next twelve months. He will succeed Fifth District member W.J. (Dub) Evins, III who has served as chairman for several years. Evins will remain a member of the board.

Meanwhile, Seventh District member Shaun Tubbs was elected Vice-Chairman, succeeding Parkerson, who had held the position. Third district member Jim Beshearse will succeed Tubbs as a Tennessee Legislative Network (TLN) representative

The board re-organizes each September electing officers to serve for the year.

In other business, the School District’s closed door policy is now a thing of the past.

The Board of Education voted 5 to 1 to adopt a policy amendment on second and final reading to allow non-resident students to apply for admission to DeKalb County Schools subject to approval of the Director of Schools and payment of a $750 per semester tuition per student. While the district will be able to count them for state funding, the tuition will largely supplant the county’s per pupil funding for these kids. All voted in favor except second district member Alan Hayes. Fifth district member W.J. (Dub) Evins, III was absent. The board approved the amendment on first reading in August.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps reminded the public that proposals are being accepted through Thursday, September 26 at 10 a.m. from any landowner in DeKalb County, preferably within the City of Smithville or within five miles of the city, who has 25-100 acres of property to sell for construction of a new Pre-K to 2nd grade elementary school to replace Smithville Elementary School.

“We have put our (Request for Proposals) RFP out and we are looking at September 26 for those to be turned in to the County Mayor’s office. We will look at those and the parameters we have set as a board and as our architects have talked to us about what we need for schools. Hopefully we will have some news on September 26 but if not we will keep going forward,” said Director Cripps.

The property should have favorable topography, good vehicle access, and be accessible to sewer, water, and natural gas services.

Prospective bidders may pick up an RFP (Request for Proposal) packet from the DeKalb County Board of Education. A proposal form is also attached here.

(CLICK LINKS BELOW)
RFP.pdf
Request for Proposal

Sealed proposals are being accepted until 10 a.m. Thursday, September 26 in the office of the County Mayor at the courthouse, public square, Smithville and will be opened publicly at that time. Such proposals would not only have to be reviewed by the Board of Education but also by the County Commission’s Purchasing Committee.

Director Cripps also renewed his plea for more bus drivers. The school district still has a shortage of drivers and that is affecting the bus routes.

“We need bus drivers and we know that this has been a challenge for our parents because there are some routes which have not been able to be covered. We are short of bus drivers and we are looking for people to be part of our solution. If you are interested in driving a school bus, even if you don’t want to drive full time or if you are willing to be a substitute driver, we are taking all comers. Contact Jamie Vickers at the Board of Education Central Office or call Michael Agee, the Transportation Supervisor at the school bus garage,” said Director Cripps.

In his monthly personnel report, Director Cripps said Melanie Crews has been hired as an educational assistant at Smithville Elementary; Barbara Jiminez as a teacher at Northside Elementary School; James Wilkerson and Zach Adams as mechanics at the school bus garage; and Brittany Simpson as an EA at DeKalb Middle School. Carol Sampley, a teacher at Northside Elementary School has resigned.