DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOLS TO BE CLOSED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6

March 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOLS TO BE CLOSED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6

March 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A Walling man who stole an ATV four wheeler last month and  caused some damage in the process will make a court appearance this week.

22 year old Timothy Tyler McWhirter is charged with aggravated criminal trespassing, two counts of vandalism, and theft of property. His bond is $42,000 and his court date is March 7.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on February 8 McWhirter stole from a residence on Four Seasons Road a 2017 Honda Recon 680 and drove it through a fence while leaving the property. McWhirter’s actions destroyed the fence and damaged the ATV’s ignition lock. He also spray painted the frame of the ATV. Total damage came to $12,000.

The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department Detective.

March 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The success of the DCHS Lady Tigers and their upcoming appearance in the state tournament on Wednesday has generated a lot of excitement in the community

Not since 1965 has DCHS sent a girls team to the state’s big dance. The Tigerettes, as they were known then, were coached by Harold Luna and completed an undefeated regular season and finished in fourth place in the state, having beaten Walland (40-38) and Hillsboro (61-42) before losing to Sevier County in the semi-finals 37-34 and then to Bradley Central 49-34  in a consolation game. Their final record was 28-4. It was Luna’s first year and he coached both the DeKalb County girls and boys basketball programs.

Katherine Wright Pack was a sophomore and member of the Tigerettes in 1965 and although she wasn’t a starter, Katherine played often during the season including two games of the state tournament scoring a total of eight points.

Speaking with WJLE Monday, Katherine said she is excited for the Lady Tigers as they begin their state tournament run.

“I just want to say congratulations to the Lady Tigers and Coach Danny Fish. They have had a really good season and hopefully will have a few more games. This has really brought a lot of excitement to our town and I would like to encourage everybody if you haven’t been out to see any of their games please try to get out and see the game on Wednesday. As I watch the Lady Tigers play today I see some of the similarities with the team of 1965. We enjoyed playing basketball back then and these kids enjoy it today. Some of the players and coach on today’s team also have relatives who played and coached on that 1965 team,” said Pack.

Although the style of play was different in 1965, Katherine said seeing the Lady Tigers on the court today brings back memories of the time when she played.

“I played at a time when basketball was a lot different than it is now. The girls play full court now. We played three on three. In 1965 I was not on the main team as we always called it. I did not start. I was a sophomore that year but I did start for DeKalb County my junior and senior year and I was very fortunate to play with Betty Carol Fite for two years. She was a fantastic player. It’s hard to explain how good she really was but she made everybody feel like we were really one team,” said Pack.

In prior years, DeKalb County had basketball programs at high schools in Liberty and Smithville but in 1963 that all changed when the two schools merged into what became and remains DeKalb County High School.

“That 1965 team was a newly consolidated team. This was our second year in high school. I was a freshman the year the school was consolidated and Liberty and Smithville became one school. We had people from Liberty and Smithville on the team,” said Pack.

Katherine remembers fondly her high school playing days and still cherishes her letter sweater.”This sweater has been very important to me over the years. It is something I have always treasured. I laugh and tell others it’s probably the only thing I own that my kids will fuss over when I am dead and gone. The sweater represents a lot of memories,” said Pack.

Notes and statistics from the 1965 Tigerettes appearance in the state tournament:

Betty Carol Fite scored a total of 123 points (averaging 30.75 points in the state tournament). Her biggest game came against Hillsboro scoring 50 points. She scored 20 points against Bradley Central in the state consolation game, her lowest point production in the tournament.

Only three other Tigerettes scored in the 1965 state tournament including Brenda Cripps with 22 points, Elaine Harvey with 16 points, and Katherine Wright with 8 points (two games).

The Tigerette guards were Judy Young, Wanda Williams, Sherry Frazier, and Kay Davis.  In the state tournament Young had a total of 22 rebounds, Williams 14, and Frazier 24, and Davis with 2 (only one game).

The Tigerettes’ first win of the tournament was an overtime game against Walland in which only two points were scored in the OT by DeKalb County for a 40 to 38 win.

In the semi-finals game, the Tigerettes and Sevier County were tied after three periods but Sevier County outscored DeKalb County 9-6 in the fourth period to win the game 37 to 34.

Sommerville won the state tournament in 1965 going undefeated at 34-0.

Pictured above:

DCHS Tigerettes 1965 State Tournament Team: Front Row (L-R): Katherine Wright, Elaine Harvey, Wanda Williams, Brenda Cripps, Betty Carol Fite, Kay Davis, Sherry Frazier, Judy Young.

Back Row (L-R): Shelia Poss (Manager), Judy Evins, Deborah Haas, Betty Evins, Linda Cubbins, Janice Hutchings, Rickye LaFever, Patsy Barnes, Susan Clayton, Sarah Thomason, Carol Cope, Coach Harold Luna.

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