DCHS Band Performs at Golden Event

September 20, 2021
By: Bill Conger

The DeKalb County High School Fighting Tiger Band traveled to Hendersonville High School over the weekend to compete at the 32nd Annual Hendersonville Golden Invitational. The band was entered in Class D Small Band division with Trousdale County, Watertown, Cheatham County Central, and White House Heritage high schools.

“I think they did a terrific job!” Band Director Don Whitt said. “When you look at where we started from band camp, from August to now, we have come a long way. Half the band has gone through the COVID situation. The theme of the show is “Getting the Band Back Together” by the Blues Brothers. Literally, we’re getting the band back together.”

People in the stands gave an enthusiastic reception to the band’s performance and a non-scoring judge gave the band a wonderful critique. Unfortunately, the band didn’t bring home any trophies Saturday.

Whitt points out that many in the band are new to marching and are learning the proper techniques.

“For more than half of the kids, this is their first year of marching. We have probably ten that we could call veteran marchers.”

“We’re learning how to perform in front of a crowd. Three weeks ago we weren’t performing; we were just going through the motions. We were learning our craft so to speak and how to count, getting on the field and off the field and playing in tune with each other. Now, it seems like they’re coming into it. Everything seems to be coming to fruition.”

Whitt credits his staff, Assistant Band Director Erica Birmingham and instructors Maxwell Patterson, Shannon Johns, and Emily Wallace with helping the band progress. He says while some things need to be cleaned up, it’s a very entertaining show.

“This is my first one [competition] as a 50-year-old band director starting my first year. I think we did a great job. There are some things we’re still trying to fix. For our first competition this was tremendous.”

The band travels to Gallatin Saturday (Sept. 25) for the Station Camp Marching Invitational and to the Sonic Boom in Livingston on October 2. They are scheduled to wrap up the marching contest season at the Mid-South Marching Invitational in Clarksville.

September 20, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The number of COVID cases in DeKalb County stands at 217 as of Monday, September 20.

According to the Tennessee Department Health, DeKalb County had 217 active COVID 19 cases on Monday, September 20, which is down from 226 on Friday, September 17. Four new cases were recorded in DeKalb County on Monday.

At last report a total of 8,174 people (39.9%) have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine and 6,730 (32.8%) are fully vaccinated in DeKalb County.

There have been 60 deaths in DeKalb County since the pandemic began in March 2020 and 101 have been hospitalized.

Over the last seven days, (September 13-19) DeKalb County had a case count of 101 for a daily case rate of 70.4 per 100,000 residents.

For the most recent 14 days, (September 6-19) DeKalb County’s case count was 316 for a daily case rate of 110.2 per 100,000 residents.

For the 14 days prior (August 23 to September 5), the case count was 442 for a daily case rate of 154.1 per 100, 000 residents.

From March 5, 2020 to September 19, 2021, DeKalb County has had a total of 3,941 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 for a daily case rate of 34.2 per 100,000 residents.

Over the last 7 days the average percent positive was 20.5%.

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) wants to remind Tennesseans that COVID-19 vaccines are the best defense in preventing the continued spread of the virus. Individuals seeking more information on the COVID-19 vaccines can visit covid19.tn.gov or www.vaccines.gov to schedule an appointment with a local vaccine provider.

September 19, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Remembering Roy Nelson Pugh.

During the annual meeting of DTC Communications Saturday in Alexandria, CEO Chris Townson, on behalf of the Board of Directors, paid tribute to Mr. Pugh, a long time member of the Board from the Auburntown Exchange, who passed away last December.

“We lost a great leader of our company and our community this past year,” said Townson. “It is a tough thing to stand here and talk about Roy Nelson Pugh and the fact that he is not with us anymore. If you knew Roy you knew how much he loved this company, our community, and serving. We are very fortunate that his wife Kathy is now serving on our board and doing a fantastic job serving our members as well,” he said.

The plaque presented to Mrs. Pugh reads “In loving memory of Roy Nelson Pugh who served as director of DeKalb Telephone Cooperative Incorporated from 1983 until 2020. Roy left a legacy of dedication to family, friends, community, and this cooperative. He truly made a difference in the lives of those he served,”

Kathy Pugh then talked about her late husband and what his service to DTC meant to him.

“My husband was a very compassionate person and he had a lot of heart. I think it was that passion that made Roy a good director. He cared about the employees and the membership. I want to publicly thank this board of directors who are a highly intelligent group of men and to Chris Townson and (attorney) Keith Blair for allowing me to sit in this position and serve, not only the Auburntown exchange, but anyone in our service area. I just want to say thank you,” she said.

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