D.C.H.S. Band Performs in State Competition

November 13, 2022
By: Bill Conger

The D.C.H.S. Fighting Tiger Band saw the marching season come to an exhilarating end at the 41st Annual Tennessee Division II State Marching Band Championship. Under the direction of Don Whitt and Assistant Director Erica Birmingham, the 45-member ensemble performed admirably against some of the biggest bands and strongest schools in the state November 5 at Stewarts Creek High School in Smyrna.

Judges ranked the band and percussion section as Excellent and the color guard and drum major Serenity Burgess as Superior. While the band didn’t make it to the finals, they placed 14th out of 22 bands, and the color guard was 7th overall.

“I think the band performed really well,” Director Don Whitt said. “They have come a long way. Our staff and I listened to the judges’ comments on the bus [after the preliminary round] while the students were eating. I could tell that the grading of the judges was going to be tough. However, we placed 14th overall in our division. We have a lot of young students that are 7th and 8th graders and only a small select few that will be leaving this year that are seniors. So, I look for us to grow and build upon for the next several years.”

The musicians began preparations for the marching season in July and continued to critique and make improvements all the way to the culmination at the state contest.

“Near the end we practically rewrote the entire drill of the show,” Whitt said. “This was something I thought we could do if it we did not have any bad weather. However, I saw that it gave a much needed boost to our momentum.”

This year’s success built on major steps forward from the previous year.

“I am not necessarily new to the role. I would have to say, that thankfully I have had a great deal of help. I could not have done it without first of all the Band Boosters under president Keith Mosely, treasurer Megan Mosely, secretary Jennifer Nokes, Randy Maple, Jr., and Stephanie Carter. We have the best band parents there are. I have had a lot of help from my assistant Erica Birmingham, Shannon Johns, Color Guard instructor, Jennifer Peterson former Westmoreland band director who is a friend and mentor to me and assistance from Smithville Elementary School teacher Maxwell Patterson.

“The drive this year is to be better than we were last year, musically and visually. As every band director, my education and experience have prepared me to teach the students when it comes to music theory, good practice routines, marching techniques. However, if I did not have help from the people we just would not be able to compete. So, I’d say thanks to them.”

“Secondly, I focused on my students’ strengths and abilities. I know my students’ abilities better than anyone. We have a lot of great leaders. They tell me what they are interested in. When I was thinking about what we were going to do last year for this year’s show, it hit me when the students were going down the road in the bus to one of our football games. The students were singing all of these songs from the 1980’s. I said, “Hmm, that gives me an idea.” From there, I started drawing and thinking about what we could come up with for an 80’s show. Everywhere we went people just said, “I love your show!” I would be in Walmart and people would come up to me from everywhere and tell us how good we were doing at half time.”

“Thirdly, I had to teach on preparation. A huge key whether it be in sports or in life is preparation. This can mean a lot of things like getting the equipment ready for the season, determining my goals for the year, planning on unforeseen events like not having power to your keyboard at a competition. I’d have to say what works for us is we are not a large band at all. So, I have told the students concentrate on quality not quantity.

Students sometimes look at other bands at competitions that may have 100+ band members. The students put themselves down because they don’t have all of the bells and whistles that other bands may have. However, I try to have a better outlook in life. It is easy to get caught up with other bands that have bigger budgets, bigger programs, more staff, and have all the bells and whistles with technology and lavish sets. I tell my students that when I have overheard them questioning do we have a chance at a Tennessee State Championship? I say, “Absolutely!” I want them to focus on their gifts and abilities. I want them to stick to excellent practice routines, maintain the right tempo, work on discipline, and learn to have good technique and proper form.”

“I would say we try to be positive on a daily basis. Setbacks are going to happen. I tell the students to view them as challenges to be conquered. Sometimes, we have worn out equipment, scheduling problems and bad practices happen to every band. Yet, we have to stay positive and keep on keeping on.”

The band will play in the Christmas parades in Smithville, Liberty, Alexandria and Cookeville. A Christmas concert is also planned, but the date has not been set.

November 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

By a 4-1 margin, Tennessee voters on Tuesday approved a ballot measure that will remove the last vestiges of legal slavery from the state’s Constitution.

Amendment 3 replaces archaic language that has lingered since just after the Civil War saying “slavery and involuntary servitude” are fit punishments for crime. With 79.5% of the vote, the passage will now be replaced with unequivocal language that says: “slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited in this State.”

The ballot measure was one of four Constitutional amendments before voters this election. All four were approved, but none with a higher margin than the anti-slavery measure.

Voters also embraced Amendment 1, which enshrines “right-to-work” in the state constitution.

Amendment 1 garnered 70% of the vote and swept all 95 counties, despite strong opposition from unions. Proponents have said the measure will guarantee that workers can’t be compelled to join unions or pay union dues. Opponents pointed out that Tennessee since 1947 has had a right to work law measure on its books.

Tennessee voters also approved two other amendments: Amendment 2, which garnered 74.6% of the vote, outlines a line of succession should the governor be temporarily unable to perform the duties of office.

The amendment gives the lieutenant governor the authority to step into the role. Previously, the lieutenant governor would have had to resign from his or her seat before temporarily taking charge.

And voters also approved Amendment 4, repealing a long-disregarded ban on members of the clergy serving in the Tennessee General Assembly. The amendment passed with 63.2% of the vote, but it also garnered the most “no” votes of any of the four constitutional amendments.

All four amendment questions were overwhelmingly approved by DeKalb County voters in the Tuesday election as follows:

Amendment # 1: Yes- 3,272 (71.29%), No-1,318 (28.71%)

Amendment#2: Yes-2,892 (70.35%), No-1,219 (29.65%)

Amendment#3: Yes-3,243 (74.28%), No-1,123 (25.72%)

Amendment#4: Yes-2,752 (64.60%), No-1,508 (35.40%)

November 11, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Tennessee’s 2022-23 statewide gun hunting season for deer opens Saturday, Nov. 19. The season traditionally opens each year on the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving. During gun season, sportsmen may also use muzzleloaders or archery equipment.

“Deer hunting season is one of our state’s most cherished traditions,” said Jason Maxedon, Executive Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “We hope everyone will be able to get into the woods and have the opportunity to carry someone with you to continue the tradition.”

The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is two. No more than one antlered deer may be taken per day. Hunters are allowed the following antlerless bag limits: Unit L-three per day, Unit A-two per season, Unit B-one per season, Unit C-one per season (Nov. 19-Dec. 4 only), and Unit D-one per season (Nov. 19-25 only).

In Unit CWD, there is a limit of three antlerless deer per day with no season limit. The statewide bag limit of two antlered deer applies in Unit CWD. However, the statewide bag limit of two antlered deer may be exceeded within Unit CWD if taken under the Earn-A-Buck Program or taken under the Replacement Buck Program. Details on each of the programs are on page 31 of the 2022-23 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 is required to carry proof of satisfactory completion of a hunter education class or be in possession of the Apprentice Hunting License (along with other required licenses) while hunting any species in Tennessee. Hunter education can be completed online for free.

For more information about Tennessee’s 2022-23 deer hunting seasons, exact boundaries of deer units, and complete license requirements refer to the 2022-23 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide available online at tnwildlife.org or the TWRA App. Physical copies can be picked up at an agency office or license agent retail location.