State Representative-Elect Michael Hale to Speak at Chamber Prayer Breakfast Thursday Morning

November 14, 2022
By:

Everyone is invited to attend the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber Prayer Breakfast to be held on Thursday, November 17th from 7 AM to 8 AM at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center, 101 W. Church Street, Smithville. Doors open at 6:30 AM.

“Our guest speaker is State Representative-Elect Michael Hale. People from our community will lead prayers making this a meaningful and memorable experience. A delicious pancake and sausage breakfast will be prepared by Smithville First Baptist Church’s Men’s Group,” said Chamber Director Suzanne Williams.

Tickets are $5 per person. Email the Chamber at: swilliams@dekalbcountychamber.org or text 615-464-7760 with your name and the number of tickets you need, then you can pay at the door.

“Everyone is invited to attend this special and inspirational annual community event. Please join us as we give thanks to God for His abundant blessings upon our county and ask for His guidance as we move forward into the future,” said Williams.

The Chamber’s Annual Prayer Breakfast is a wonderful way to usher in the holiday season. A BIG THANK YOU to our Chamber Prayer Breakfast Sponsors: Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital, DTC Communications, FirstBank, Liberty State Bank, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas “Project Hometown Help,” Wilson Bank & Trust, and Caney Fork Electric Cooperative.

November 13, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

New season, new coaches!

The DeKalb County High School basketball season starts this week and both the girls and boys programs are under new leadership.

Brandy Alley, a native and resident of Crossville, succeeds Danny Fish as the Lady Tiger Coach while Joey Agee is taking over from John Sanders as the head coach of the Tigers.

Action begins Tuesday night, November 15 as the DCHS teams host Van Buren County in the Hall of Champions starting with the girls game at 6 p.m. followed by the boys contest. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

Although she has served as a travel ball coach and an assistant to head basketball coaches at White County, Cumberland County, and Stone Memorial spanning the last five years, this is Coach Alley’s first head varsity basketball coaching job. Alley also headed up or was involved in the freshman and junior varsity girls basketball programs during her time at those schools and was head girls volleyball coach for one year at Cumberland County High School.

“I am beyond excited to get started as a head basketball coach. I have had some great coaches I was an assistant for who have prepared me for this moment so it’s exciting for me to get a team and let it be my own and get our season going,” said Coach Alley.

While originally from Cumberland County, Alley’s family later moved to Murfreesboro. She played basketball and graduated from Riverdale High School in 2014. Alley furthered her education and basketball career at Faulkner University at Montgomery Alabama where she earned a Masters Degree in Biology. From there she attended Tennessee Tech University and earned a Masters Degree in Education Curriculum Instruction. Alley moved back to Crossville four years ago. Her parents now reside in White County. Coach Alley, age 25 said her plans are to eventually move here.

Having been a post player, Coach Alley said that is her preference as a coach. “I am biased to the post. I do like to play post style basketball, but it really depends on the team and the girls. This year we do have a little bit more guard orientation so we will be focusing on some of that, but I have two solid post players coming in and good forwards that will give high post looks so every game will be a new challenge. We will see what happens for this team as it develops,” said Coach Alley.

As a member of the seven school District 7 Class 3A, Region 4, Coach Alley understands the challenges that DeKalb County faces with each opponent.

“This is a tough district, and it will definitely show what we have coming out of the gate. There are great teams in this district like Stone Memorial which will be solid this year. White County will be really good. Cumberland County will have some great players. Upperman is always a great competitor and then there’s Livingston Academy and Macon County so every one of them will be a tough game. It’ll be a battle every single night,” she said.

Coach Alley will be joined courtside by Maddison Parsley, who stayed on as an assistant after the departure of Coach Fish, who is now the head coach of the Warren County Pioneers boys team.

“She is one of the greatest to work with,” said Coach Alley. “I was glad that she stayed and wanted to be part of it. She has taken over the guards and been able to fine tune some of their skills. She has also got me better acclimated to DeKalb County having introduced me to people and getting me involved as much as possible. She is going to be fun,” added Coach Alley.

Although a familiar face as a former DeKalb Middle School boys head basketball coach, this is Joey Agee’s first high school head coaching job, but he is anxious to get started.

“I am excited. I used to dream about being a high school coach. It’s been a while since I have been on the sidelines as a coach in a capacity like this even though I have done a little AAU over the past few years, but basketball never really left me. I have two kids who play but even if you’ve been doing this (coaching) for 20 years you are always going to be a little nervous going into a new season,” said Coach Agee.

Joining Coach Agee is Assistant Cody Randolph who came over to DCHS from DeKalb Middle School where he had served as the Saints boys basketball coach for the last eight years.

“Coach Randolph has a great basketball mind. He is also a great individual, and those kids really respect him. He actually coached most of these kids at the middle school and knows what they have done well in the past. We’ll implement some of those same things he ran at the middle school to give the players something they are familiar with,” said Coach Agee.

The Tigers will be led by five seniors along with several juniors and sophomores.

“We have five seniors including four coming back from last year and we’re expecting great things from them, Stetson Agee, Zack Birmingham, Elishah Ramos, and Robert Wheeler. We added Ean Jones back this year. He is a football player and didn’t play basketball last year, but he has returned this year. Our juniors include Alex Antoniak, Conner Close, Ian Colwell, and Kaleb Spears. We’ll have sophomores Seth Fuson, Owen Snipes, and possibly Jordan Parker but he got injured playing football, so we don’t know his status yet. Sophomore Dallas Kirby also suffered an injury that will sideline him this season,” said Coach Agee.

White County and Stone Memorial are picked to finish highest in District 7 Class 3A, Region 4 with DeKalb County somewhere in the middle of the pack. Coach Agee said that will give his team a little extra incentive to compete.

“There are a lot of good boys basketball teams in this district. Our first two district games, White County and Stone Memorial are the two picked to finish one and two in the district so its not going to be easy for us early. Stone Memorial went to the state tournament last year and their best player was a freshman but from top to bottom it will be tough. They’ve picked us to finish in the middle of the pack maybe at 4th or 5th, but I told our kids that it really didn’t mean anything and that it was based on expectations from last year. Maybe it will give us some motivation,” he said.

Coach Agee said he believes the community will rally around the program and be supportive as in the past

“Both Coach Randolph and I played under former Tiger Coach Danny Bond and he (Randolph) under former Coaches Bond and Lynus Martin. It’s a since of pride for us. We love this county and I think the community will rally around us. We are also blessed to have a great group of kids. These players have done everything we have asked them to do since we got here with no complaints. They have worked hard and we expect that to continue,” said Coach Agee.

2022-23 DCHS Tigers and Lady Tigers Basketball Schedule

District – 7AAA Games
Date -Time -Opponent- Home/Away

NOVEMBER
Tues, 11/15- 6:00pm- Van Buren County-HOF Home • Non-District
Sat, 11/19- TBA- Gordonsville- HOF Away • Non-District
Tue, 11/22- 6:00pm -Cannon County- Away • Non-District
Fri, 11/25- 6:00pm- Warren County- Home • Non-District

DECEMBER
Fri, 12/2-6:00pm-Watertown- Home • Non-District
Tue, 12/6 6:00pm- Smith County- Away • Non-District
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.

2022-23 DCHS Tigers Basketball Roster
# Name Grade
10 Stetson Agee -Senior
24 Zack Birmingham- Senior
11 Elishah Ramos- Senior
33 Robert Wheeler- Senior
20 Ean Jones- Senior
14 Alex Antoniak- Junior
15 Conner Close-Junior
12 Ian Colwell-Junior
40 Kaleb Spears- Junior
0 Seth Fuson- Sophomore
23 Dallas Kirby-Sophomore
34 Owen Snipes- Sophomore
2 Jordan Parker- Sophomore
4 Jon Hendrix-Freshman
21 Logan Duke- Freshman
32 Aiden Turner- Freshman
3 Wyatt Carter- Freshman

Managers Brayden Summers, Nickolas Daw, and Davis Wheeler
Head Coach Joey Agee
Assistant Coach Cody Randolph

2022-23 DCHS Lady Tigers Basketball Roster
# Name Position Grade
00 Larissa Mooneyham-Guard, Freshman
1 Cadee Griffith- Guard, Junior
2 McKenna Miller
3 Camryn Branin- Forward, Junior
4 Chloe VanVranken- Guard, Freshman
10 Maddison Martin- Forward, Senior
11 Ella VanVranken-Guard, Junior
13 Addison Murphy-Guard, Freshman
14 Allyson Fuller-Forward, Junior
21 Ella Hendrixson-Guard, Junior
22 Avery Agee- Guard, Sophomore
23 Emily Young-Guard, Sophomore
31 Dare Collins-Center, Sophomore
32 Tess Barton- Center, Junior
33 Makayla Scales Guard Junior
34 Darrah Ramsey-Center, Senior
Head Coach Brandy Alley
J.V. Coach Maddison Parsley
Managers Leah Smith, Deanna Neal, and Allyssa Hendrix.

2022-23 DCHS Basketball Cheer Roster
Seniors:
Amelia Atnip
Katherine Gassaway
Hannah Lohorn
Katie Patterson
Reese Williams

Junior:
Chayla Knauer

Sophomores:
Sage Atkins
Annabella Dakas
Eden Garner
Madeline Martin
Sara Moore
Addison Kyle

Freshmen:
Yvette Chivers
Averie McMinn
Bella Rackley

Shelia Kirby-coach
Kaitlyn Roller-coach
Hayley Martin-coach

November 13, 2022
By: Bill Conger

The D.C.H.S. Fighting Tiger Band saw the marching season come to an exhilarating end at the 41st Annual Tennessee Division II State Marching Band Championship. Under the direction of Don Whitt and Assistant Director Erica Birmingham, the 45-member ensemble performed admirably against some of the biggest bands and strongest schools in the state November 5 at Stewarts Creek High School in Smyrna.

Judges ranked the band and percussion section as Excellent and the color guard and drum major Serenity Burgess as Superior. While the band didn’t make it to the finals, they placed 14th out of 22 bands, and the color guard was 7th overall.

“I think the band performed really well,” Director Don Whitt said. “They have come a long way. Our staff and I listened to the judges’ comments on the bus [after the preliminary round] while the students were eating. I could tell that the grading of the judges was going to be tough. However, we placed 14th overall in our division. We have a lot of young students that are 7th and 8th graders and only a small select few that will be leaving this year that are seniors. So, I look for us to grow and build upon for the next several years.”

The musicians began preparations for the marching season in July and continued to critique and make improvements all the way to the culmination at the state contest.

“Near the end we practically rewrote the entire drill of the show,” Whitt said. “This was something I thought we could do if it we did not have any bad weather. However, I saw that it gave a much needed boost to our momentum.”

This year’s success built on major steps forward from the previous year.

“I am not necessarily new to the role. I would have to say, that thankfully I have had a great deal of help. I could not have done it without first of all the Band Boosters under president Keith Mosely, treasurer Megan Mosely, secretary Jennifer Nokes, Randy Maple, Jr., and Stephanie Carter. We have the best band parents there are. I have had a lot of help from my assistant Erica Birmingham, Shannon Johns, Color Guard instructor, Jennifer Peterson former Westmoreland band director who is a friend and mentor to me and assistance from Smithville Elementary School teacher Maxwell Patterson.

“The drive this year is to be better than we were last year, musically and visually. As every band director, my education and experience have prepared me to teach the students when it comes to music theory, good practice routines, marching techniques. However, if I did not have help from the people we just would not be able to compete. So, I’d say thanks to them.”

“Secondly, I focused on my students’ strengths and abilities. I know my students’ abilities better than anyone. We have a lot of great leaders. They tell me what they are interested in. When I was thinking about what we were going to do last year for this year’s show, it hit me when the students were going down the road in the bus to one of our football games. The students were singing all of these songs from the 1980’s. I said, “Hmm, that gives me an idea.” From there, I started drawing and thinking about what we could come up with for an 80’s show. Everywhere we went people just said, “I love your show!” I would be in Walmart and people would come up to me from everywhere and tell us how good we were doing at half time.”

“Thirdly, I had to teach on preparation. A huge key whether it be in sports or in life is preparation. This can mean a lot of things like getting the equipment ready for the season, determining my goals for the year, planning on unforeseen events like not having power to your keyboard at a competition. I’d have to say what works for us is we are not a large band at all. So, I have told the students concentrate on quality not quantity.

Students sometimes look at other bands at competitions that may have 100+ band members. The students put themselves down because they don’t have all of the bells and whistles that other bands may have. However, I try to have a better outlook in life. It is easy to get caught up with other bands that have bigger budgets, bigger programs, more staff, and have all the bells and whistles with technology and lavish sets. I tell my students that when I have overheard them questioning do we have a chance at a Tennessee State Championship? I say, “Absolutely!” I want them to focus on their gifts and abilities. I want them to stick to excellent practice routines, maintain the right tempo, work on discipline, and learn to have good technique and proper form.”

“I would say we try to be positive on a daily basis. Setbacks are going to happen. I tell the students to view them as challenges to be conquered. Sometimes, we have worn out equipment, scheduling problems and bad practices happen to every band. Yet, we have to stay positive and keep on keeping on.”

The band will play in the Christmas parades in Smithville, Liberty, Alexandria and Cookeville. A Christmas concert is also planned, but the date has not been set.

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