Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association Makes $1,000 Donation to DCHS FFA Chapter for New Greenhouse

December 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The Future Farmers of America Chapter at DeKalb County High School is getting a new greenhouse and it has the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association to thank for it.

Leaders of the TNLA presented a check for $1,000 to the FFA Chapter on Tuesday to reboot the Plant Science program at DCHS.

John Flanders, 2nd vice president of Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association made the presentation joined by Bert Driver of Bert Driver Nursery, who is also a member and Legislative Chair/ Ex Officio of the TNLA. Receiving the donation were Morgan Oyster, local FFA Chapter Advisor, FFA President Laura Magness, FFA Secretary Elizabeth Gaines, and DCHS Principal Bruce Curtis.

With DeKalb County being part of the nursery capital of the world, Flanders said the donation to the DCHS FFA program is fitting and he credited Driver with having come up with the idea.

“We are donating $1,000 to the DeKalb County FFA to support the construction of a new greenhouse here at DCHS. The project was originally championed a couple of years ago by past President of TNLA Bert Driver. I was on the board at the time too. I have recycled back onto the board now due to a vacancy.  We had a golf tournament that raised a couple thousand dollars and we designated $1,000 of those proceeds to help the kids here at  DeKalb County FFA. One of our mandates at the TNLA is to promote education and in agriculture specifically and that is what we are doing here today,” said Flanders.

Oyster said this donation is a big boost to the agriculture program at DCHS.

“This is a huge thing for our program because we are wanting to get the plant science program built back up at DCHS. Over the last 5-6 years the greenhouse really hasn’t been kept up, so this was a goal of ours and it’ll become a huge fundraiser for us to be able to have a plant sale in mid-May every year. In the spring I have a double block of plant science classes so we will be in there (greenhouse) each day beginning in January to May planting thousands of plants. It will give them a hands-on learning experience, but it will also benefit our chapter,” said Oyster.

“We appreciate TNLA and their donation,” added Principal Curtis. “This is something I started last year as far as wanting to get the greenhouse back up and running. Its great for our kids because it is hands on. They are actually able to get out and work with plants but its also a great fundraiser for our organization. I look forward to getting it back up and running this spring,” said Curtis.

Driver, a leader in the nursery and landscape industry in Tennessee, said he is hopeful that a reinvigorated plant science program at DCHS will result in more students being able to qualify for scholarships to advance their agriculture ambitions.

“The TNLA has had an ongoing scholarship program for both high school students and college students for decades and part of that fundraising effort at the golf tournament goes to these scholarships so this public funding for public students to be in agriculture was a thought that maybe the greenhouse here could be upgraded so that those students could apply for the scholarship also. It’s a win-win for everybody involved and it brings some recognition to the program in DeKalb County and to the association which has been here for over 100 years,” said Driver.

Others who may want to support the DCHS FFA program may reach out to the school.

The Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association was founded in 1905 as an organization where nursery and other related industries would have the opportunity to share ideas, foster research and further educate members in order to benefit owners, employees and consumers.

Throughout its 117-year history in Tennessee, TNLA has seen tremendous growth in membership and services provided. Because of this growth, TNLA has evolved into The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc.

Today, TNLA hosts an annual trade show (Tennessee Green Industry Expo www.tngie.com), sponsors seminars, offers scholarships, sponsors a field day, maintains a website and more for its members. Currently, over 300 companies profit through their TNLA annual membership. They come from every part of the industry: nursery production, landscaping, irrigation and lawn care.

TNLA goals include making every nursery owner, landscaper, and garden center owner in the state aware of the organization and giving them the opportunity to benefit from the services provided. The ultimate goal of TNLA is to increase the production and marketing of Tennessee grown nursery stock.

December 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Tigers improved to 6-1 Tuesday night with a 69-59 win at Smith County, but the Lady Tigers (5-2) fell short losing 49 to 38 in the girls game.

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

The DCHS teams will open district play at Stone Memorial in Crossville Friday night starting with the girls game at 6 p.m. followed by the boys contest. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

The Lady Tigers got out to a 10-7 lead over Smith County in the 1st quarter but trailed 23 to 22 at halftime. Smith County extended its lead to 31 to 23 by the end of the 3rd period and went onto win 49 to 38.

Ella VanVranken scored 19, Cadee Griffith 9, Maddison Martin 5, Avery Agee 3, and Camryn Branin with 2.

In the boys game the Tigers opened up a 20 to 9 lead after the 1st period and held a 31 to 26 halftime advantage. DC led 52 to 41 after the 3rd period and went on to win 69 to 59.

Robert Wheeler led in scoring with 19 followed by Conner Close with 17, Zack Birmingham 12, Elishah Ramos 11, and Stetson Agee and Alex Antoniak each with 5.

DECEMBER
Fri, 12/9 6:00pm-Stone Memorial- Away • District
Tue, 12/13 6:00pm- White County- Home • District
Fri, 12/16 6:00pm- Cannon County- Home • Non-District
Mon, 12/19-TBA-Adidas Shootout-Riverdale • Non-District
Tue, 12/20-TBA- Adidas Shootout- Riverdale • Non-District

JANUARY
Tue, 1/3-6:00pm-Livingston Academy-Away • District
Fri, 1/6-6:00pm-Macon County- Away • District
Sat, 1/7-3:00pm-Warren County- Away • Non-District
Tue, 1/10-6:00pm-Watertown-Away • Non-District
Fri, 1/13-6:00pm-Cumberland County-Home • District
Tue, 1/17-6:00pm-Upperman-Away • District
Fri, 1/20-6:00pm-Stone Memorial-Home • District
Tue, 1/24-6:00pm-White County-Away • District
Fri, 1/27-6:00pm-Livingston Academy-Home • District
Mon, 1/30-6:00pm-Smith County-Home • Non-District
Tue, 1/31-6:00pm-Macon County-Home • District

FEBRUARY
Tue, 2/7-6:00pm-Cumberland County-Away • District
Fri, 2/10-6:00pm-Upperman-Home • District
Game times listed are the start of the Lady Tigers game. Tigers games to follow.

December 6, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Northside Elementary School has added a Drama Club and Chorus Club to its after-school programs this year and these groups have been working hard during the first semester preparing for a special performance to be held Thursday, December 15 called “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

The presentation will take place at 6 p.m. that night in the NES gym and the community is invited to attend.

Two NES student cast members of the presentation, Kimber Davis and Jack Howard, recorded a public service announcement promoting the event for WJLE which can be heard at the link below

https://www.wjle.com/north-side-elementary/

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids.

Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys Herdman are an awful bunch. When the Herdman’s show up at church for the free snacks and suddenly take over the Christmas pageant, the other kids are shocked. It’s obvious that they’re up to no good. But Christmas magic is all around and the Herdman’s, who have never heard the Christmas story before, start to reimagine it in their own way. Come watch as the Herdman’s learn about the meaning of Christmas.

The new clubs are part of the Lottery for Education or LEAP’s Program. The overall goal of LEAPs is to provide Tennessee students with academic enrichment opportunities that reinforce and complement the regular academic program. Although LEAPS is not new to the school district, it has been expanded this year to include these new clubs at NES. LEAPs activities are offered after school until 5:30 p.m. and the school has a Breakfast Club that meets before the start of the school day.

“Over 130 students at Northside Elementary School participate in the program which includes a breakfast club and afterschool classes,” said LEAP’s Site Coordinator Amanda Mathis. “The LEAPS schedule includes time for homework, support, a healthy snack, physical activity, and socialization. Participants also have regular opportunities to engage in enrichment activities connected to science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM). We believe these activities are important for developing curiosity, thinking, and fostering a love for learning,” said Mathis.

“LEAPs plays an important role in helping students develop positive relationships between students and their teachers and peers outside of the regular school day. Participants also benefit from academic support and opportunities to engage in fun, enriching activities in a safe, supervised environment. Together, these opportunities help students develop positive attitudes about learning and school,” Mathis continued.

“Family and community involvement are an important part of our program. The community is encouraged to come and see the performance of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” from our drama and chorus clubs on Thursday, December 15 at 6 p.m.,” added Mathis

For additional information about the program, please contact Mathis.

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