Meet Patty (View Video Here)

April 24, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Meet Patty!

You’ll find Patty in the “Catty-Corner” at the DeKalb Animal Shelter.

Patty is the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”

“Patty is a 5 month old beautiful tuxedo kitten. This cat is so super playful and so much fun and if you have other cats that love to play yours would be the perfect home for Patty. She has been fixed and is up to date on everything with flea prevention on board and she has been micro-chipped. If you are looking for a fun, playful companion, especially if you have kids, Patty is the cat for you. Her adoption fee is $100,” said Shelter Director Emmaly Bennett.

“If you are interested in adopting Patty please check out the adoptable pet’s link on our website to fill out an application at https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/ and see her picture and we will call you to come in and meet her. Please give us a call so we can find Patty a good home,” said Bennett.

The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4 and Saturday from 8 to 12 at 186 Transfer Station Road. Phone 615-597-3647.

April 23, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Junior Conner Close was named the DCHS Tiger basketball Most Valuable Player Saturday night at the annual team banquet, while Junior Ella VanVranken received the Lady Tiger MVP honor. Senior Katherine Gassaway is the Most Valuable Cheerleader. The awards were sponsored by Love-Cantrell Funeral Home and presented by Chad and Shelia Kirby. The MVP and MVC awards are named in memory of Kirby’s grandfather Allen D. Hooper.

For Close, it’s back-to-back MVP titles as he won the team’s highest award for the 2021-22 season as well. In addition to being named MVP, Close earned awards for being the team’s Best Offensive Player and he was selected to the 1st Team All-District 7AAA. Close also made the DTC All-Star Team.

Along with having earned the MVP honor, VanVranken, a member of the 1,000-point club at DCHS, was recognized for having been named to the 2nd Team All-District 7AAA as well as the District’s All-Defensive Team and she made the DTC All-Star Team.

State Representative Michael Hale presented to VanVranken a resolution adopted by the Tennessee General Assembly honoring her for having scored more than 1,000 points for her career. Ella scored her 1,000th career point on December 21,2022 in a holiday tournament between the Lady Tigers and Ezell Harding at Wilson County High School in Lebanon leading the team in scoring with 26 points that day in a 56 to 51 victory for DeKalb County.

The season for the Tigers ended in February with a loss to White County in the District 7AAA Tournament. The Tigers, under first year coach Joey Agee, finished with an overall record of 12-15. Coach Brandy Alley’s first year Lady Tigers wrapped up their season at 14-15 after losing to White County in the district tournament in February.

Other Lady Tiger basketball awards were as follows:

MVP (Love Cantrell Funeral Home Allen D. Hooper Memorial Award): Ella VanVranken. She was also named to the 2nd Team All-District 7AAA as well as the District’s All-Defensive Team and DTC All Star Team

Leadership Award: Madison Martin

Most Improved: Darrah Ramsey

Best Defensive Player: Chloe VanVranken. She was also named to the District 7AAA All-Freshman Team

Hustle Award: Cam Branin

Sharp Shooter: Avery Agee. She also made the DTC All Star Team

Best Teammate: Tess Barton

For the Tigers,
MVP (Love Cantrell Funeral Home Allen D. Hooper Memorial Award) and Best Offensive Player: Conner Close. He was also named to the 1st Team All-District 7 AAA and DTC All Star Team

Defensive Player and Best Sixth Man: Alex Antoniak. He also made the District 7AAA All-Defensive Team

Best Ball Handler: Elishah Ramos. He also received All District Honorable Mention

Team Leader: Stetson Agee

District 7AAA All-Freshman Team: Jon Hendrix

Best Rebounder: Robert Wheeler. He also made the 3rd Team All District 7AAA and DTC All Star Team

Most Improved: Zack Birmingham

Best Sixth Man: Ean Jones

Other individual cheerleading awards included:

MVC (Love Cantrell Funeral Home Allen D. Hooper Memorial Award) : Katherine Gassaway

Most Coachable: Averie McMinn

Outstanding Jumps: Yvette Chivers

R.O.A.R. Award (Respectful, Outstanding, Accountable, and Reliable): Katie Patterson

Outstanding Motions: Annabella Dakas

Team Favorite: Hannah Lohorn

April 23, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

DCHS Junior Basketball Star Ella VanVranken received a special honor during Saturday night’s team awards banquet at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center.

VanVranken, the 2022-23 Love-Cantrell Funeral Home Allen D. Hooper Memorial Most Valuable Player on the Lady Tiger team and latest member of the DCHS Basketball 1,000-point club, was presented a resolution by State Representative Michael Hale recently adopted by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed by the Governor honoring her for having scored more than 1,000 points for her career.

Ella scored her 1,000th career point on December 21,2022 in a holiday tournament between the Lady Tigers and Ezell Harding at Wilson County High School in Lebanon leading the team in scoring with 26 points that day in a 56 to 51 victory for DeKalb County.

In making the presentation, State Representative Hale read from the resolution as follows:

“A RESOLUTION to honor and congratulate Ella VanVranken of DeKalb County High School on scoring her 1,000th point in varsity basketball.

WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should recognize those incredibly successful student athletes who have attained significant milestones in their careers; and

WHEREAS, junior Ella VanVranken of DeKalb County High School recently scored her 1,000th career point, reaching that incredible milestone in just three seasons, something that most players can only dream of attaining in four years; and

WHEREAS, the daughter of Zach and Kristen VanVranken, Ella has already enjoyed a storied basketball career at DeKalb County High School, winning Freshman of the Year and All District 3rd Team honors her freshman year and All District 2nd Team honors, the DTC Award, and Offensive MVP after her sophomore campaign; and

WHEREAS, during her freshman season, she recorded 367 points, 123 rebounds, 33 assists, and 60 steals and tallied 427 points, 158 rebounds, 67 assists, and 70 steals during her sophomore season; and

WHEREAS, a player who leads by example, Ms. VanVranken joined the 1,000 point club on December 21, 2022, against Ezell-Harding, scoring 26 points; she has already accumulated 346 points, 67 rebounds, 47 assists, and 34 steals so far this season; and

WHEREAS, Ella VanVranken has now claimed her rightful place among the most elite basketball players in DeKalb County High School history; and

WHEREAS, Ms. VanVranken exemplifies the spirit, determination, and perseverance for which Tennesseans are notable, and she is richly deserving of our approbation on this special occasion; now,

Therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, that we honor and congratulate Ella VanVranken of DeKalb County High School on scoring her 1,000th point in varsity basketball and wish her all the best in her future endeavors, both on and off the court”.