Peyton Norris named DCHS Class of 2024 Valedictorian and the Salutatorian is Kathryn Hale

February 28, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County High School has released the names of the 44 Top Rank and 35 Honors students in the Class of 2024 including the Valedictorian Peyton E. Norris and Salutatorian Kathryn A. Hale.

Norris is the daughter of Jonathan and Jenny Norris and Hale is the daughter Shannon and Yvonne Hale.

To be considered for top Rank, students must take at least 10 honors, dual enrollment, and AP courses and students must have a 21 or higher ACT composite score.

The DCHS Class of 2024 Top Rank students are as follows:

Peyton E. Norris, Kathryn A. Hale, Maleah P Ruch, Kendall M. Davis, Alexander H. Antoniak, Ian D. Colwell, Kaleb T. Spears, Jackson W. Vantrease, Konner G. Young, Jade A. Mabe, Tess A. Barton, Patyn L. Carter, Nathaniel D. Wessel, Ella J. Hendrixson, Karson J. Smallwood, Allyson R. Fuller, Paul D. Oliver, Ella G. VanVranken, Daniela Amaya, Jacob B. Hendrix, Micah L. Gandy, Carson J. Vincent, Serenity E. McCrary, Kyra M. Baker, Conner T. Close, Jaxon D. Humphrey, Briahna R. Murphy, Olivia P. Diego, Lilly H. Waggoner, Zackery W. Farris, Cadence A. Griffith, Dominique C. Young, Devin W. Holt, Makaylee A. Winchester, Madelyn R. Johnson, Evelyn J. Mitchell, Briz Trapp, Caroline G. Tobitt, Ethan L. Thompson, Matty M. Hollingsworth, Topanga T. Patrick, Xavier M. Parker, Elvia A. Sanchez, and Gavin W. Cooper.

The following students have met the requirements for graduating with Tennessee State Honors by meeting all of the ACT or SAT subject area readiness benchmarks. The ACT benchmarks are as follows: English-18, Reading-22, Math-22, and Science-23. The SAT benchmarks are as follows: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing-480 Math-530

Daniela Amaya, Alex Antoniak, Tess Barton, Payton Carter, Ian Colwell, Gage Ikonen, Kendall Davis, William Dickens, Olivia Diego, Briana Fletcher, Micah Gandy, Kathryn Hale, Tristan Hall, Jacob Hendrix, Ella Hendrixson, Devin Holt, Jade Mabe, Serenity McCrary, Evelyn Mitchell, Peyton Norris, Paul Oliver, Xavier Parker, Markaya Rebertus, Maleah Ruch, James Slager, Lucas Spare, Kaleb Spears, Ethan Thompson, Jackson Vantrease, Lily Waggoner, Jazmine Wagner, Owen Warren, Nathaniel Wessel, Dominique Young, and Konner Young.

February 28, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A search warrant executed by Smithville Police Tuesday night resulted in the arrest of a couple for child abuse or neglect and for various drug charges. Two small children, ages 3 & 4 were also removed from the home by the Department of Children Services after authorities discovered the family to be living in squalid conditions.

According to Police Chief Mark Collins, both 39-year-old Frank Andy Checchi and his girlfriend, 36-year-old Randi Renee Dossett of 549 Cooper Street are each charged with child abuse or neglect, possession of schedule II drugs (Ritalin, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Methamphetamine), possession of a schedule III drug (Suboxone), possession of a schedule IV drug (Xanax), possession of a schedule VI drug (Marijuana), and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond for each totals $119,000 and they will be in General Sessions Court on March 14.

“During the search several miscellaneous drug paraphernalia objects were found in the home including meth and marijuana pipes, scales, needles, burnt tin foil, cut straws, residue, and grinders along with 1 hydrocodone, 41 Adderall, 7 oxycodone, 2.5 grams of meth, 5 grams of fentanyl, 11 suboxone, 5.5 Xanax, and 10 grams of marijuana. Drugs were also found in the common areas easily accessible to the children and living conditions were found to be squalid,” said Chief Collins.

According to Chief Collins, Dossett is the mother of the two children, but Checchi is not their biological father. He added that the charges against the couple were the result of an investigation based on numerous complaints.

In other recent cases, 28-year-old Juan C. Cervantes Soto of Cecil Hale Road was arrested on January 1 for public intoxication. While patrolling Braswell Lane, police spotted a man in the road wearing all black clothing. When the officer got out of his vehicle to speak with the man, he noticed him to be unsteady on his feet and he had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. The officer learned that the man, Soto, had consumed 4-5 beers and was heading home. Due to him walking in the middle of the roadway in dark clothing, Soto was taken into custody for his safety and that of the public. His bond was $1,500.

Robert James Clay of Short Mountain Highway was cited on January 4 for violation of the traffic control device/signal law and for possession of drug paraphernalia. Police observed a vehicle run the red light at Short Mountain Highway and East Broad Street. After conducting a traffic stop, police received consent to search and recovered several hypodermic needles.

31-year-old Terry Lee Jones, III was arrested on January 8 for failure to appear. Police received a call of a man knocking on doors at Gentry Avenue. The officer confronted the man, Jones who was found to have an active warrant against him.

32-year-old Jesse Dan Nelson of Walling is charged with public intoxication and resisting, stop, & frisk. Officers were dispatched to the hospital due to a discharged patient, believed to be on Methamphetamine, who refused to leave. There they confronted the man, Nelson, who appeared to be under the influence and seemed to be talking out of his head. For his safety and that of the public Nelon was arrested although he resisted forcing officers to deploy a taser on him. He was then taken into custody. Nelon’s bond is $7,500.

52-year-old Tammy Denise Currie of Toad Road was arrested for theft on January 23. Police were summoned to a residence on Tommy Harrell Street in reference to a stolen vehicle. Video from a neighbor’s home captured the theft showing a woman walking down Tommy Harrell Street toward the residence and walking onto the property before getting in the vehicle and driving away without the owner’s permission. An investigation resulted in Currie being found in possession of the stolen vehicle. Bond for Currie is $10,000.

52-year-old Richard Turner of Fisher Avenue was arrested on January 27 for violation of a protection order. Police were dispatched to a residence on Fisher Avenue due to a 911 call in which dispatchers reported hearing someone screaming and yelling on the phone in the background. The caller stated an intoxicated man had left the home on a bicycle. An investigation revealed that Turner and the victim, under an active court order between them concerning bail, had been in an argument. Police also learned that the court order had been modified allowing them to have social contact but that it was on condition that Turner not have or consume any alcohol. Turner was found to be unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred, and he had an odor of alcohol on him. Turner’s bond is $5,000.

31-year-old Sonny Roman Smith of Wade Street was arrested on January 31 for domestic assault. Police responded to a residence on Wade Street due to a possible domestic assault. Upon arrival, police spoke with the victim who reported that Smith had threatened, cussed and thrown several items, almost hitting her. The victim said she ran out of the house afraid that Smith would harm her. Smith’s bond is $2,500.

33-year-old Dustin Lynn Sissom of Jennings Lane was arrested on February 4 for DUI and he was issued a citation for failure to maintain lane of travel. Police pulled over a black Nissan car for the traffic offense and spoke with the driver, Sissom who had a strong odor of alcohol on him. There was also a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Police learned that Sissom had consumed beer and liquor earlier that night and had smoked marijuana while in the car approximately 30 minutes prior to the traffic stop. Sissom consented to but performed poorly on sobriety tasks. His bond is $3,000.

23-year-old Mercedes Leanne Hegwood of Talley Road was arrested on February 7 for public intoxication. According to police, Hegwood got into the passenger seat of someone’s car, whom she did not know, and refused to get out. Upon arrival, police found Hegwood to be confused and they could not understand her. Hegwood’s pupils were large and she jerked involuntarily consistent with signs of intoxication. She was taken into custody for her safety and that of the public. Her bond is $2,000 and her court date is February 29.

32-year-old Stephanie Michelle Mooneyham was arrested on February 12 for theft over $1,000, theft under $1,000, and burglary. Shortly after receiving a report of a stolen vehicle on Tommy Harrell Street, police learned that it was located in front of a residence on Wade Street. A detective found in the car on the passenger seat, a black Tauras handgun, along with a wallet containing the identification of a second victim, who had just reported that her vehicle had been burglarized on Tommy Harrell Street. Police learned that not only had Mooneyham stolen the first victim’s vehicle, but that she had burglarized the car belonging to the second victim stealing the gun and wallet found by the detective. Mooneyham’s bond is $20,000.

24-year-old Evin Andrew Skylor Dyer of Ed Taft Drive was arrested on February 13 for domestic assault. According to police, Dyer and a family member were at Family Medical Center for a doctor’s appointment when Dyer got upset and became angry. Dyer then closed his fist in anger toward the doctor before walking out of the patient’s room. Upon exiting the room, he threw a chair into the wall of the doctor’s office. The family member indicated Dyer’s actions placed her in fear and he was taken into custody. Dyer’s bond is $3,500.

27-year-old Hugo Vazquez Villareal of Ginger Drive was arrested on February 15 for DUI and driving with no license. Police spotted a black 2015 Nissan Altima parked in the middle of the road on South Bright Hill Street with the engine running and a man passed out behind the wheel. The officer stopped to conduct a welfare check on the man, Villareal. After knocking on the window for several seconds, Villareal woke up but he could barely stay awake as police tried to talk with him. The officer detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Villareal and his vehicle and found in the passenger side floorboard, an empty 32 ounce Corona alcoholic beverage container. As Villareal stepped out of the vehicle, he became unsteady on his feet and he refused to perform field sobriety task. A computer check with Central Dispatch revealed that Villareal had no driver’s license. Bond for Villareal is $5,000 and his court date is March 7.

45-year-old Robert Charles Alexander of White Oak Drive was arrested on February 17 for DUI and possession of a handgun while under the influence. He was also cited for violation of a traffic control device/signal and the open container law. Police spotted a vehicle run a red light on East Broad Street and pulled it over. The officer spoke with the driver, Alexander and found his speech to be slurred and he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on him. Police also observed in plain sight a plastic cup of beer in a cup holder. Alexander consented to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. The officer also found two handguns under the driver’s seat after being told weapons were in the vehicle. Alexander’s bond is $5,000 and his court date is March 7.

Amanda Nicole Wilson of Shady Place was arrested on February 17 for driving on a revoked license, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with evidence. She was also cited for a window tint violation. Meanwhile, 43-year-old Brandon E. Smith of Cooper Street, a passenger in the car was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. Police spotted a 2008 Nissan Altima with dark window tint traveling on East Webb Street and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, Wilson, was found to be driving on a revoked license. While speaking with Wilson, the officer saw a clear pipe containing a crystal-like residue next to Smith’s foot. After the officer had the two step out of the vehicle to undergo a probable cause search, Wilson became agitated, tried to get back in the vehicle, would not completely follow commands, and she acted as if she was trying to conceal something. While conducting the search, the officer found a clear box containing a small black pipe with residue consistent with burnt marijuana, a grinder with a green leafy substance, a tamp tool with residue and a pink and white strip sock in a makeup bag with one loaded needle, one empty needle, a tourniquet and the mouthpiece to a clear pipe containing crystal-like residue. After finding those items inside her vehicle, the officer placed Wilson in the back of his patrol car before completing the search. As the officer was writing Smith a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia, Wilson was able to slip her left hand from the handcuff and ingest crystal-like residue contents of a small clear bag she had in her possession. After the officer found the bag Wilson had while searching the back seat of his patrol car, and for Wilson having slipped her hand from the cuffs as well as her behavior during the entire episode, she was charged with tampering with evidence. Wilson’s bond is $24,000 and her court date is March 7.

40-year-old Jackie Blake Sanders of Andrew Street was cited for shoplifting on February 18 after being spotted trying to hide a flashlight in his boot at O’Reilly’s Auto Part. The flashlight was recovered and returned to the store. Sanders’ court date is March 7.

44-year-old Jessie Comer Harris of Jackson Street was cited February 24 for possession of drug paraphernalia. Around midnight, police spotted Harris walking on the road in dark clothes. As the officer stopped to conduct a welfare check and asked for consent to search his person, Harris threw a bag containing drug paraphernalia. His court date is March 7.

February 28, 2024
By: Bill Conger

The DeKalb County High School Winter Guard has “A Killer Show” this season featuring some of the horror movie’s greatest villains. The guard has already competed at Green Hills High School and Wilson Central earlier this month. At the Wilson Central contest, the Winter Guard placed 4th out of 10th in their class, and they improved their score 3 points from the previous competition.

Students in the Winter Guard are Ashton McClain – Captain (sabre, rifle, flag), Crissy White (sabre, rifle, flag), Elizabeth Cardin (sabre, rifle, flag), Bairon Hernandez-Avalos (sabre, rifle, flag), Jamey Bradshaw (sabre and flag), Kara Inglis (rifle and flag), Jay Bare (rifle and flag), Hadley Vergeson (flag) take on the villainous roles of Jason Vorhees, Chucky, the girl from The Ring, a person from the Purge movies, Billy the puppet from Saw, Pennywise from It, Stephen King’s Carrie as well as a “little girl” that is not from a movie but turns out to be a killer in the end.

“The song is titled “Playground”, and the soundtrack starts with a creepy, little, lonely girl looking for playmates,” explains Guard Director Shannon Johns. “We open with Ashton in the center of the floor while the villains peep out at different times from behind large props which are black and white pictures of old playground equipment. Then, away we go with the creeps intermingling with the little girl throughout the show until *gasp* she takes them out one by one at the end of the show.”

“Select students from this group volunteered to help write portions of the show with equipment they are most comfortable with or in one case the dance portions that are their expertise,” Johns says. “I have found when they help with the creative process they are more invested in the show’s success.”

“We have mostly seasoned vets, but a couple of new faces as well. The experienced students do such a great job embracing the new ones and helping them get up to speed. Practicing only on Saturdays is quite a challenge for any group, but these kids handle it with ease and I am very proud of them. They represent DeKalb well at the contests and are having a great time showing off their skills with this fun, spooky theme.”

The Guard will compete three more times this season — Columbia Central High School on March 9, Siegel High School on March 16 and then the championships on April 5 at Western Kentucky University’s Diddle Arena in Bowling Green KY.

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