Early Morning Fire Destroys Smithville Home

January 27, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

An early morning fire Saturday destroyed a Smithville home.

Members of the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department were summoned at 5:13 a.m. to a rent house owned by Donald League on Smith Road.

According to Chief Charlie Parker the residents were not home at the time of the fire. Firefighters were unable to save the home as it was fully involved in flames by the time officers arrived at the scene. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

In addition to the Smithville Fire Department, the Smithville Police Department and DeKalb EMS were also on the scene.

January 26, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Isaac Cross, a senior offensive lineman, team captain, and Tennessee Tech signee, was named Most Valuable Player of the 2019 DCHS Tiger Football Team during the annual Awards Banquet held Saturday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building. Meanwhile Katherine Malone, a senior and cheer captain, received the Most Valuable Football Cheerleader Award

The trophies were presented to Cross and Malone respectively by Tiger Football Coach Steve Trapp and Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller.

In addition to his MVP trophy, Cross received the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award for the second year and he was named the All Region 3 Class 4A’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. The Clay Edwards Award was presented to Cross by members of Edwards’ family, Abram Edwards and Sarah Rathbone, son and daughter, and their mother Tena Edwards-Jacobs.

“DeKalb County football has been a big part of my life. All the coaches have done so much for each of us as players and individuals. I can’t thank them and the people of the community enough for all of their support,” said Cross.

“Its not just what he did on the field that makes him so special but its what he embodies as a human being and a leader. Isaac was a tremendous football player and captain for us. In his career here he played all five positions up front for us. This year he was our main stay at left tackle .He is the first player to ever win the MVP and Clay Edwards Tiger Pride Award in the same year and to get the Tiger Pride Award for two years in a row. That speaks volumes about the type of guy he is. We are going to miss him but he is on to bigger and better things.,” said Coach Trapp.

In December Cross signed a letter of intent to play for the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles next year. Cross will graduate from DCHS in May.

“One reason I chose Tech is that it is really close to home. They offered to pay for everything which is really a blessing between academic and athletic money and Tech has a really good football program. I absolutely love coach Dewayne Alexander. He is an amazing coach with great principles. I love just about everything about the program,” said Cross.

Tennessee Tech competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference.

In presenting the MVC Award, Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller talked about Katherine Malone’s drive and determination to be the best cheerleader she can.

“Having someone like this girl on our team, we knew we had someone who was very responsible and dependable and knew how to get things done. Having her meant we had someone we could trust as a leader in practice on the sidelines. She would push and encourage her team to be better but even more than that she would set an example by pushing herself to work as hard or harder than everyone else. As an honor student she is a perfect example on and off the field. She is a very strong base. If she is part of a stunt its going to hit. She has an excellent memory so she knows all the cheers and dances and is very good at teaching that to others with lots of patience. She is a great captain and has earned the respect and love of her teammates and I am so thankful and honored to have been her coach for the last four years,” she said.

The DCHS Tigers concluded the 2019 season at 8-5 overall, a 2nd place finish in the region, and a 2-1 record in the state playoffs, the first time a DCHS football team had ever advanced that far in the post-season.

Other individual Football Player Awards are as follows:
Offensive Player of the Year- Axel Aldino
Offensive Lineman- Diego Coronado
Offensive Back- Nathaniel Crook
Receiver- Tyzaun Ladet
Defensive Player of the Year- Desmond Nokes
Defensive Lineman- Dylan Denson
Linebacker- Aidan Curtis
Defensive Back- Isaac Knowles
Special Teams Player- Alan Munoz
Most Improved-Jonathon Garcia
MVP- Isaac Cross
Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award-Isaac Cross
Scout Team Player of the Year: Silas Cross
Newcomer of the Year: Bryan Portillo

Thirteen players on the 2019 DCHS football team earned All-Region honors.
Tiger players honored were as follows:
Offensive Most Valuable Player: Axel Aldino
Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Isaac Cross
Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman: Dylan Denson
Most Outstanding Returner: Desmond Nokes
Most Outstanding Defensive Back: Isaac Knowles

1st Team All Region: Diego Coronado
1st Team All Region: Aidan Curtis
1st Team All Region: Tyzaun Ladet
1st Team All Region: Antwon McCoy
1st Team All Region: Peyton Leaf
2nd Team All Region: Alan Munoz
2nd Team All Region: Evan Jones
2nd Team All Region: Nathaniel Crook

Individual Cheer Awards are as follows:
Most Valuable Cheerleader- Katherine Malone
Most Spirited- Sadie West
Best Dancer- Malia Stanley
Best Cheer-Kiersten Griffith
Best Stunts-Alley Sykes
DEAR (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Responsibility-Morgan Walker
Best Jumps-Sara Carver

January 26, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The County Commission Monday night gave formal approval of a resolution to apply for a $420,000 Community Development Block Grant to fund the purchase of a tanker truck for the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department.

The CDBG program is administered by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and DeKalb County is eligible to apply under the CDBG Community Livability category including the three star bonus. If approved the county would be responsible for payment of a local grant match for the total project cost plus any additional funding required to complete the project beyond the grant amount.

The Upper Cumberland Development District would prepare all necessary documents for the completion of the grant application at no charge to DeKalb County. Should the grant be approved UCDD shall perform all administrative services for the project.

The county first made application for the grant last year but was denied.

“DeKalb County did not score high enough to be awarded a CDBG grant. The cutoff was 178 points and DeKalb County scored 159,” said County Mayor Tim Stribling.

In other business, the commission Monday night reappointed County Fire Chief Donny Green and Assistant Chief Anthony Boyd as officers of the department for another year.

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