News
Jon Jones named Teacher of the Month for August at DCHS
September 16, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
DeKalb County High School has named its “Teacher of the Month” for August.
Jon Jones, a three-year Spanish teacher at DCHS, was awarded Thursday by Principal Bruce Curtis and Assistant Principals Jenny Norris, and Seth Willoughby. The “Teacher of the Month” is voted on by the administration.
“It was really touching that I would receive this honor. It was a real surprise,” said Jones. The administration here has been really supportive of me and the work I enjoy doing. They make it a really great place to work,” he said.
Jones and his family came here from Wisconsin where he spent a couple of years doing non-profit work in community building. He is a veteran teacher of 15 years including his time here and a previous tenure teaching in west Tennessee.
“I teach Spanish here and work with students that are learning English that come from Spanish speaking countries,” said Jones.
He and his wife have six children ranging in ages from 10 months to 15 years old.
In his spare time, Jones serves as a coach for his son’s archery team and he is involved in other activities. “I read a lot and enjoy doing remodeling and minor carpentry projects. I like listening to music with my kids and watching movies. My family and I help out at our church in McMinnville and my wife plays the piano there,” said Jones.
DeKalb County man found safe after going missing
September 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
A DeKalb County man who went missing Saturday has been found and is now safely with his family.
According to Chief Deputy Brian Williams of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, 55-year-old Glen Wilson of Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown was spotted by a resident Sunday afternoon about a quarter mile from Wilson’s home. He was found lying in a field. Wilson was taken to the hospital to be checked out before being released to his family.
The TBI issued a Silver Alert on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office Sunday when Wilson could not be found. He had last been seen Saturday near Old Mill Hill Road. According to the alert, Wilson has a medical condition that may have impaired his ability to return safely without assistance.
Chief Deputy Williams said the search effort for Wilson had been concentrated in an area near the Wilson family farm on the Liberty to Dismal Road where his cell phone had pinged. Wilson’s mother had thought that Wilson had the cell phone on him when he went missing. However, investigators later learned that Wilson and his mother had been at the farm prior to his disappearance Saturday and that he had left the phone there.
Chief Deputy Williams said the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department wishes to thank the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad and the White County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit for their assistance during the search for Wilson.
Undefeated Saints to Host Conference Playoff Game (View Video Here)
September 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
The undefeated DeKalb Saints football team (8-0) will host a first-round play-off game Thursday night, September 19 against Fentress County in quest of a conference championship. The game will kick-off at 6:30 p.m. at the DCHS football field.
The Saints completed an undefeated regular season Thursday night at Sparta beating White County 26-0. The Saints’ unblemished record also includes wins over Fentress County 8-0, Cumberland County 46-8, Macon County 36-0, Smith County 34-6, Warren County 40-0, Prescott Middle 32-6, and Upperman 36-0.
(In the video posted here recorded Friday, September 13, Saints Coach Justin Poteete and three of his eighth grade players, Rocky Cantrell, Bryson Redmon, and Jordan Schipp are featured talking about the season. Cantrell plays slot receiver, safety, and cornerback. Redmon’s assignments are at defensive end and receiver and Schipp plays at left tackle and defensive tackle)
“Its been a good ride so far but there is definitely more work to do because its win or go home now. Its time to put our best foot forward and get after it,” said Saints Coach Justin Poteete.
The conference is made up of two divisions. The Saints won their division of the conference and Avery Trace won the other division.
“Thursday night was for first place and whoever won (Saints or Sparta) would be first going into the playoffs and the loser would be second,” explained Coach Poteete.
“It’s a four-team play-off,” he said. “It’s one versus two. We (Saints) will play the number two team (Fentress County) from the other side of the conference. Avery Trace is the number one team on the other side and they will play our number two team (Sparta). The winners of those two games will meet up for the championship,” said Coach Poteete.
“By being first you get to host a game but still win or lose you have to show up and play because no bad teams are in the playoffs. We got the win Thursday night. We celebrated it. We enjoyed it but today our mindset is on York.” he continued.
Asked about how the team could improve after scoring so many points this season and giving up so few, Coach Poteete replied that there is always room for improvement.
“We have had some mess ups this year like on the D-line as far as jumping offside and things like that but the effort is there for the most part and that makes it easier to coach. There is always room for improvement but the good thing about this group is that it’s a tight group and a very competitive group. They like to come out and hit. That’s the key thing about football. They embrace that physicality, and I think that makes us what we are. We need to make sure we are disciplined but as long as we fly around and play football, I think we will be alright,” said Coach Poteete.
Credit for the Saints’ success is given by the coach to the entire team but three players in particular have played key roles.
“We have a three headed monster in the backfield with Collin Donnell at quarterback, Reed Midgett at halfback and running back and Gavin Frazier at running back or halfback but with this team they don’t really care who has the ball and how many touches they have because for them its how many points are we going to score and how many points are we going to give up as a team. Its a team game,” he said.
