Red Sand Project raises awareness of human trafficking

July 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Representatives of the DeKalb County Health Commission including the DeKalb Prevention Coalition, DeKalb County Health Department, Coordinated School Health and others gathered Tuesday to mark the last week of July as Human Trafficking Awareness Week.

They did so by pouring red sand into cracks of sidewalks “to show how human trafficking survivors have fallen into the cracks of society.”

‘’Human trafficking is a hidden crime in our state and across the country because victims rarely come forward to receive help or services,’’ said Tennessee Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado, MD, FACP.

‘’It’s up to all of us to bring an end to the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The Red Sand Project reminds us how crucial it is for communities, both urban and rural, to engage in awareness and education activities that support survivors of human trafficking and strengthen our prevention efforts.”

The Red Sand Project is an interactive art exhibition where community members, individually or collectively, pour red sand into the cracks of sidewalks to show how the survivors of human trafficking fall through the cracks of society.

Communities across Tennessee will use Red Sand Project events also as opportunities to create art installations, pouring natural, non-toxic red sand into sidewalk cracks, and to host human trafficking educational events and provide information about resources.

Tennessee’s local health departments, tn.gov/health/health-program
areas/localdepartments, will have information about Red Sand Project events in their communities. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development also will have Red Sand Project event information available at their Welcome Centers across the state, tnvacation.com/welcome-centers.

Contact the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-558-6484, if you know someone who needs help to escape trafficking. The National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373- 7888, or text 233722, can also provide information on local community resources.

For more information on human trafficking visit humantraffickinghotline.org.

July 26, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The annual prayer for our school’s observance will be held Sunday, July 30 at the newer DeKalb Middle School gym starting at 2 p.m.

It’s the first time the event has been scheduled at a centralized location since 2019, prior to the COVID pandemic. For the last three years, the observance has taken place in smaller groups at each of the five individual schools.

Parents, church leaders, educators, and members of the community are invited to attend this special “BACK 2 SCHOOL -CALL 2 PRAYER” gathering.

Prayers will be offered by religious leaders for each school in DeKalb County, school sponsored activities, and the school board. Prayers of blessings, safety, and learning will be offered for the students and faculty for the school year.

The order of the meeting is as follows:

*Opening and Welcome- Iain Swisher Smithville AG

*Pledge of Allegiance – Student lead

*DeKalb West School- Christian Cudney – Refuge

*Smithville Elementary- Robin Philipps- Church of God

*DeKalb Christian Academy- Iain Swisher Smithville AG

*Northside Elementary- Chad Ramsey- First Baptist

*DMS- Chris Moore – Church of God

*High School- Josh Moon – Smithville AG

*Day Schools- Nathan Thomason- Outreach Baptist

*Athletic Teams and Transportation- Jordan Atnip – First Baptist

*Faculty- Isaac Gray – Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian

*School Board- Graden Kirksey – Refuge

*Close- Iain Swisher Smithville AG

July 26, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

DCHS Tiger football fans who want to travel can see the team in action for the first time this summer in a pre-season scrimmage Friday evening, July 28 at 6 p.m. at York Institute in Jamestown.

Tiger Coach Steve Trapp, during a media day event Monday, told WJLE the team is in preparation for the season opener at Warren County on Friday, August 18 at 7 p.m. with pre-season camps having been held and scrimmages upcoming. Monday was the team’s first day in full pads.

“We’ve had a good June, prior to our dead period. We came back here after the dead period and spent three days at Tennessee Tech at the FCA 7 on 7 Linemen Camp. We had a really good week there. A lot of work got put in,” Trapp said.

“We came back the end of that week and had our youth camp, and this past week we started fall camp. We did a couple of days in helmets, then three days in helmets and shoulder pads. We had our sleepover camp Friday night and our day camp on Saturday,” Trapp continued.

“Today (Monday, July 24) is our first full day in pads. We have a scrimmage coming up on July 28, at York Institute, at 6 p.m., then we’ll have two more scrimmages that will be at home on Friday, August 4, against Friendship Christian and then the following Tuesday, August 8, against Providence Christian. The Friday after that will be the Jamboree at Smith County High School and we will be playing Clay County at a time to be announced.”

Coach Trapp is beginning his 19th year as leader of the Tiger football program and this year he is welcoming a new assistant coach, Eli Cross to his staff along with returning assistant coaches Michael Shaw, Luke Green, Cole Parsley, and Cason Wheeler. Lucas Phillips is also an assistant.

“Our new assistant coach is Eli Cross, a guy that played for us,” said Coach Trapp. “He and Luke (Green) actually played together. Both those guys are doing offensive line and defensive line. Eli played on a championship team at Lindsey Wilson College a couple of years ago. He graduated last December and has a job here already teaching, so he’s in the building with us.”

“Coach Michael Shaw has been with me for over a decade,” said Trapp. “He’s my right-hand man and does a lot of stuff out here. He controls our weight room and does a great job with that. He is our defensive coordinator, and also works with our running backs on the offensive side of the ball. He’s coached everything during his time here, so we enjoy him being here”.

“Luke Green, this is his third year,” Trapp said. “Last year was his first year of being the main guys’ offensive lineman coach. He is a guy that used to play here for us, so we’re really excited to have him. He also does defensive line.”

“Cole Parsley, this is his second year with us,” said Trapp. “He is another guy that played for us. He’s our JV defensive coordinator, and works with the JV offensive linemen, as well as our inside linebackers for varsity.”

“It is Cason Wheeler’s second year with us,” Trapp said. “He is our JV offensive coordinator and helps with our scout team and works with receivers, and defensive backs.”

“We also have Lucas Phillips. He’s a familiar name. He played with us back in 2012 as a Quarterback here. He’s helping us out this year, working with the wide receivers and defensive backs”.

“I’m tickled to death to have all these guys on my coaching staff. They are all former players aside from Coach Wheeler, but he fits right in with the rest of us”.

The White County Warriors and the Gordonsville Tigers will join the 2023 DCHS Football schedule replacing Goodpasture and Cannon County.

DeKalb County had no choice but to add White County which has left Class 5A, Region 5 and stepped down to Class 4A, Region 4 in 2023.

With the addition of White County, the former six team 4A region, is made up of seven teams as the Warriors join DeKalb County, Upperman, Livingston Academy, Stone Memorial, Macon County, and Cumberland County which have already been part of the 4A region.

DeKalb County’s non-region schedule will include Warren County, in the season opener at McMinnville on August 18; Smith County in Smithville on August 25; Watertown on the road September 8, and Gordonsville in Smithville for Homecoming on September 15.

Gone from the 2023 schedule are Goodpasture, which had been a Tiger opponent for the last two years, and perennial border rival Cannon County, who elected not to schedule DeKalb County in 2023.

The season kicks off on Friday, August 18 at Warren County followed by the home opener August 25 against Smith County.

All games start at 7:00 p.m.

WJLE will have LIVE coverage each week.

The DCHS 2023 Football Schedule is as follows:

REGION OPPONENTS (*)
August 18: Warren County- McMinnville 7 p.m.
August 25: Smith County-Smithville 7 p.m.
September 1: Livingston Academy*-Smithville 7 p.m.
September 8: Watertown-Watertown 7 p.m.
September 15: Gordonsville (Homecoming)- Smithville 7 p.m.
September 22: Stone Memorial*-Away 7 p.m.
September 29: Macon County*-Smithville 7 p.m.
October 6: Cumberland County*-Smithville 7 p.m.
October 13: BYE WEEK
October 20: White County*-Sparta 7 p.m.
October 27: Upperman* Baxter 7 p.m.

The Tigers will also compete in a pre-season Jamboree at Smith County on August 11.