DeKalb West School Graduates D.A.R.E. Students

December 16, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Forty-seven fifth graders at DeKalb West School graduated from the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in a ceremony Wednesday afternoon.

D.A.R.E. is a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department-led series of classroom lessons that teaches fifth graders in DeKalb County how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives.

Billy Tiner, the Sheriff’s Department’s School Resource Officer at DeKalb West School, doubles as the D.A.R.E Officer instructor for the fifth-grade classes.

The 10-week course identifies fundamental, basic skills and developmental processes needed for healthy development including: Self-awareness and management, Responsible decision making, Understanding others, Relationship and communication skills, and Handling responsibilities and challenges.

D.A.R.E. believes that if you can teach youth to make safe and responsible decisions, it will guide them to healthy choices, not only about drugs, but across all parts of their lives. As they grow to be responsible citizens, they will lead healthier and more productive drug-free lives.

As part of the course, students prepared essays on what they have learned from D.A.R.E. and a winner was selected from each fifth-grade class. The winners at DeKalb West School were Makenna Lomas from Ms. Rachel Desimone’s homeroom class and Kaylee Womack from Ms. Jeanna Caplinger’s homeroom class. Halia McDaniel was the overall winner, and she received a $50 check from General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II presented in his absence.

DWS D.A.R.E. students are Krystopher Barrick, Slade Bennett, Gabriel Blair, Adam Brown, Grant Brown, Kayla Checchi, Joelle Cool, Adonis Cooprider, Levi Cripps, Jacob Dies, Elliott Dillard, Bobby Joe Dillon, Elijah Emberton, Robert Floyd, Zander Ford, Katelyn Fry, Riley Gibbs, Ayres Gonzalez, Joslyn Gorman, Spencer Gregory, Jada Hale, Mia Hall, Jaretzy Aguilar-Castellanoes, Javan Hefflin, Dayton Heflin, Jacob Johnson, Makenna Lomas, Jonah Maynard, Halia McDaniel, Ezalee Moore, Declan Moss, Kaden Mullinax, Savana Muncey, Jaython Myers, Jake Nokes, Allie Pedigo, Kate Pistole, Maddux Pyburn, Levi Randolph, Aydin Reed, Isaac Scott, Kenzie South, Miley Tays, Harley Willingham, Logan Winfree, Hunter Winne, and Kaylee Womack.

December 15, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Lady Tigers couldn’t match White County and lost at Sparta Tuesday night 83 to 29 to the highly ranked Warriorettes. The Tigers, meanwhile, lost to the Warriors 53 to 37.

https://www.wjle.com/tiger-talk/

White County jumped out to a 27 to 5 lead in the 1st period of the girls’ game and held a 46 to 10 advantage by halftime. The Lady Tigers trailed 64 to 24 after the 3rd period and lost 83 to 29.

Senior Kadee Ferrell was out of the game still recovering from an ankle injury last week. Ella VanVranken scored 9 followed by Avery Agee 6, Ally Fuller and Dare Collins each with 4 and Madison Martin and Ella Hendrixson each scored 3.

The Tigers trailed the Warriors 15 to 12 after the 1st period of the boys’ game and were down 37 to 15 by halftime. White County led 40 to 34 after the 3rd period and went on to defeat the Tigers 53 to 37.

Stetson Agee led in scoring for the Tigers with 12 points followed by Nathaniel Crook 6, Elishah Ramos 5, Jordan Young 4, Brayden Antoniak 3, and Isaac Knowles, Robert Wheeler, and Alex Antoniak each with 2.

The Lady Tigers drop to 5-4 (0-2) while the Tigers slip to 6-3 (1-1)

Next week, the DCHS basketball teams will be heading in different directions. The Lady Tigers will compete in the Heritage Christmas Classic at Maryville Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, December 20, 21, & 22 while the Tigers will play in the Riverdale Christmas Classic at Murfreesboro on Monday and Tuesday, December 20 & 21.

December 15, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Motorists on South Congress Boulevard can expect lane closures next week at the intersection of East Bryant Street as the contractor on the highway construction project cuts through the pavement to install pipes across the road.

The work is planned for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, December 20, 21, & 22 at the traffic light at East Bryant and South Congress Boulevard near Ace Hardware and Walgreens. Traffic may be held up for short periods or diverted while the work is underway. Motorists may wish to take an alternate route while the project is in progress.

Meanwhile traffic has been shifted onto the detour between SR-288 and Old Blue Springs Road for the contractor to complete grade work in the area. Flaggers may be present to move equipment across roadway, unload equipment, or complete utility work. Traffic shifts in Smithville will remain from Vaughn Lane to the end of the project to allow the contractor to complete work. There is a temporary diversion for Ferrell Road, and one remains in place for Williams Road to allow the contractor to construct a new alignment. The speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone.

Motorists should use caution in this area and watch for flaggers and construction equipment.

The contractor, Jones Brothers Contractors is also continuing construction of bridges and paving from south of the Warren-DeKalb County line (LM 24.5) to East Bryant St. (LM 2.9) and is installing concrete box culverts and drainage structures. Grade work, bridge work, paving operations, and utility work on the new roadway alignment are ongoing.

TDOT opened bids in June 2019 and Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC was the low bidder on the construction project at $43,691,948 which will be done in two phases from south of state highway 288 near Magness Road to East Bryant Street in Smithville and from south of the Warren-DeKalb County line to near Magness Road in DeKalb County. A proposed third segment from near State Route 287 in Warren County to near the DeKalb County Line is not yet ready for bid letting.

The state plans to build largely two lanes of a proposed four lane project and maintain traffic on the existing Highway 56 (alignment) while construction is done on the new portion.

The estimated completion date for the two phases is May 31, 2022.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation also reports that construction of Highway SR-26 (US-70) between Alexandria and Liberty is going well with grading, drainage, and construction of retaining walls and paving from near SR-53 (LM 2) to near SR-96 (LM 6.1): The contractor has begun clearing operations, installing erosion control measures, and water and gas line relocation. Intermittent lane closures and flagging operations are expected. Intermittent blasting operation has begun resulting in temporary road closures. Motorists are advised to use caution and be alert to all construction signage while traveling through the work zone.

TDOT awarded a bid to Twin K. Contractors, Inc. for the reconstruction project at $30,875,122 which includes the grading, drainage, construction of retaining walls and paving on US 70 (State Route 26) from near State Route 53 at Alexandria to near State Route 96 at Liberty. The project is 4.1 miles long and the completion date is on or before June 30, 2024.