THP Officer Among Four Injured in Thursday Night Crash

December 17, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A THP officer and three others were injured in a Thursday night crash on Allen Ferry Road (State Highway 83).

34-year-old Robert D. Melching, a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer, was among those hurt. He was in a 2022 Ford Explorer, a state vehicle and reportedly on his way home after being on duty. Others injured were 29-year-old Destiny L. Pendergraff and two children, ages 2 and 7, who were in a 2018 GMC Yukon.

According to the THP accident report, Pendergraff was westbound on Highway 83 (Allen Ferry Road) while Melching was traveling eastbound. The report states that Pendergraff attempted to negotiate a left turn onto Golf Club Drive when it crossed into the lane of Melching. The two vehicles collided in the eastbound lane of travel. Pendergraff’s vehicle came to a final rest on the roadway across both travel lanes facing south. Melching’s vehicle came to a final rest along the south side of Highway 83 facing north.

No charges were filed. Pendergraff was not wearing her seatbelt at the time but the children in her vehicle were restrained. Melching was also wearing his seatbelt.

December 17, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Bryan College, known for its award-winning fishing teams, has landed a big catch from DeKalb County High School.

Senior Jaxon Humphrey signed a letter of intent Friday to further his education career at Bryan in Dayton, Tennessee on a fishing scholarship after he graduates in May from DCHS. It is the first ever fishing scholarship awarded to a DCHS student.

Jaxon was accompanied at the signing by members of his family including parents J.D. and Cathleen, and brother Cainnan Humphrey along with his DCHS fishing coach Jeff Taylor, and Bryan fishing coach Mike Keen.

Humphrey explained why he chose Bryan College.

“I had heard about their fishing team. They are really good,” said Jaxon.” It’s a smaller school. Its also a private Christian school. I just like everything about it,” he said.

A member of the DCHS fishing team, Jaxon said he has enjoyed the sport since he was a child. “I started out when I was about 12. I just love it”.

His favorite high school subject is biology and when he gets to Bryan he plans to study criminal justice with a goal of becoming a game warden.

Jaxon’s high school fishing coach Jeff Taylor said fifteen members make up the DCHS team and it is and will be active almost all year long.

“We fish from August to almost the next August in tournament after tournament,” said Coach Taylor. “The kids are able to go and fish in different counties in middle Tennessee and even out of state. Jaxon for all 4 years has competed in Tennessee Bass Nation HIgh School tournament events. He was one of the team members that got to go to Lake Hartwell, in Anderson, South Carolina last year to fish in the nationals. We follow as a team the TN Bass Nation High School Trails and the next Bass Nation Tournament is in March. There is also a Bass Master Tournament, which I have a team signed up to fish in scheduled for February. We are looking forward to the 2024 season”.

Coach Taylor said he is excited for Jaxon.

“Jaxon is our first college signee on a fishing scholarship and we are pretty excited for him to be going to Bryan College. We are anxious to see what his future education and fishing opportunities hold for him. We expect big things from Jaxon,” said Coach Taylor.

“This is a great opportunity for Jaxon and it’s a great day for us too,” said Bryan head fishing coach Mike Keen. “We are really proud to have hooked up with Jaxon. He is the kind of young man that we are looking for. He is a bright young man and he will fit in good at Bryan”.

Coach Keen said the fishing program at Bryan, which he helped start, has been in existence for about 10 years and has reeled in several championships during that time.

“The Lord has blessed us tremendously. We are really a pretty young program. I started the program and this will be our 10th season of competition and during the first nine years we have won three national championships. We try to honor Christ in what we are trying to do and in turn He honors us,” said Coach Keen.

“I’ll carry anywhere from 20-22 team members including boys and girls on my roster and we will fish mainly in the spring but we do have two or three tournaments in the fall. We’ll go all over the southeast including Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. In June we’re going to Bay City Michigan to fish Saginaw Bay and then we will go to the Carolinas. It’s a whole lot like high school fishing except the travel sometimes is a little farther,” added Coach Keen.

Bryan College is a regionally accredited, liberal arts college in Dayton, Tennessee dedicated to educational excellence with a foundation in biblical principles. With both on-campus and online programs, more than 50 areas of study are offered for Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees, as well as professional certificates. Founded in 1930, Bryan College has a rich legacy of educating students to become servants of Christ and make a difference in today’s world. Bryan College is also a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) which inludes sixteen full members in seven southeastern states, making it the largest NAIA-affiliated conference.

December 16, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Tigers’ five game winning streak was snapped Friday night as the home team lost to the Cannon County Lions 51 to 48 in Woodbury.

It was against the Lions that the Tigers began that winning streak with a 54 to 52 victory on November 28 after starting the season 0-4.

Meanwhile, the Lady Tigers were again beaten by Cannon County Friday night and this time by the score of 61 to 46. In the last meeting on November 28, the Lady Tigers lost 53 to 46.

Both DeKalb County teams are now 5-5 and will host Watertown Monday night, December 18 starting with the girls game at 6 p.m. followed by the boys game. WJLE will have LIVE coverage. In the last meeting on December 1 the Tigers beat the Purple Tigers 59 to 43 while the Lady Tigers won 44 to 37.

In the boys game Friday night, the Tigers led 14 to 13 after the 1st period but trailed 23 to 22 at halftime. DC was down 34 to 29 after the 3rd period and couldn’t recover losing 51 to 48.

Conner Close led DC in scoring with 24 points followed by Dallas Kirby with 11, Jordan Parker 5 and Alex Antoniak and Jon Hendrix each with 4.

The Lady Tigers trailed the Lionettes 18 to 12 after the 1st period of the girls game and 26 to 19 by halftime. Cannon County led 43 to 29 after the 3rd period and went on to defeat DeKalb County’s girls 61 to 46.

Ella VanVranken led the Lady Tigers in scoring with 14 followed by Chloe VanVranken and Allie Melton each with 11, Avery Agee 6, and Tess Barton and Brooklyn Fuson each with 2.