DWS Basketball Players and Cheerleaders Honored

February 6, 2023
By: Bill Conger

The hard-driving teams of basketball players at DeKalb West School were recently honored at a banquet on January 26.

Bulldogs Head Coach Kelly Pyburn presented Chase Young with the Best All Around Player award. Ben Barton was honored for the Biggest Gains while Ethan Brown was chosen for Best Defense, and Ben Driver was named the Scrappiest Player. Porter Hancock took home Best Offensive Player while Drew Cook received the plaque for the 6th Man Award. Izzy Prichard was named Best Manager.

“I am really proud of how much the boys improved over the season,” Coach Pyburn said. “They had some really good games and it was fun to coach them.

I will really miss the four 8th graders that are leaving the team to go to high school. I look forward to next year’s team and the continued improvement we can make as a team!”

Lady Bulldogs Head Coach Mary Ann Puckett handed out varsity awards to the following players: Kenadee Prichard–Best Teammate and Best Attitude;

Sophie Desimone–Best All Around / MVP, Best 3-Point Shooter, Best Ball Handler, Autumn Crook—Best 2-Point Shooter, Best Rebounder, Heart & Hustle Award;

Camille Barton–Most Points Scored, Best Rebounder, Best Defense; Hannah Brown–Best Free Throw Shooter, Most Steals and Assists, Heart & Hustle Award, Best Passer;

Emily Fry–Most Improved, Best 6th Man, Best Face Guard. JV Awards went to Kaylee Womack (JV)–Best All Around / MVP, Best Offense, Best Ball Handler; Katelyn Fry (JV)

Best 6th Man and Quietest Player; Bella Franz (JV)–Most Points Scored, Best Defense, Best Rebounder; Zoey Skeen (JV)—Best Rebounder, Heart & Hustle Award, Most Aggressive; Caroline Neal (JV)–Best Teammate, Best Attitude, Best Passer; Kylie Pierce (JV)–Most Improved.

“We went 11-8 for the season and faced several tough opponents,” Coach Puckett said. “Even though we would’ve liked to have had more wins, our improvement from the beginning of the season to the end was tremendous. Each player grew in their basketball skillset as well as their awareness of being good teammates and showing leadership on and off the court. The challenges we faced from game to game gave us all great chances to grow and learn. Each girl welcomed those opportunities and got better, and that made for a meaningful and memorable season.”

“We will really miss our three 8th graders. Hannah’s scrappiness and determination, Kenadee’s rebounding and positive energy, and Emily’s tenacious defense all helped us out so much this year. We wish them the best as they move up to DCHS and hope to see them playing Lady Tiger basketball next year.”

Cheer Coach Tammy Payne announced the 2022-23 Cheer awards. The Best All Round Cheerleader Motions/jumps/dance/pom/leadership/spirit), as voted by her peers, went to Miah Hall. Charli Cripps received the Coaches’ DEAR (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Responsibility) Award. The “Ruff” Award went to Timothy Goss (Mascot); Most Improved: Miley Tays and Most Spirited: Mia Hall.

“The 2022- 23 DWS were an amazing group of girls,” Coach Payne said. “Each cheerleader (all 8) brought their own strengths to the squad; they put the “T” in teamwork, working together to get better and better as each practice and game progressed. I will miss them; they are family.”

February 5, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville Public Works Department has announced that Carter Street will be closed to through traffic starting this week for the rehabilitation of deteriorating sewer lines and manholes.

Although the street will be closed to the general public, residents who live on Carter Street of course will have access.

The work is the beginning of an almost one-million-dollar project to rehab sewer lines and manholes in certain parts of town including Earl Avenue and West Main Street in addition to Carter Street.

Last September, the aldermen voted to award a bid to the John T. Hall Construction Company of Sparta in the amount of $939,620 which was the least expensive of the three bids submitted. The other two bids were from Pipeworks of Tullahoma at $1,159,000 and H.L. Construction Management of Cleveland for $1,186,000.

Earlier in the year the city had budgeted $750,000 from its share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) grant funds to cover costs of the rehab effort but as it turned out that amount was not enough. The city is making up the difference from its water and sewer fund reserves.

Last March, the city contracted with J.R. Wauford & Company Consulting Engineers to provide services related to the project.

Daniel Tribble, Manager of Field Services for the J.R. Wauford Company who addressed the mayor and aldermen in September said the project will be done in phases.

“Phase one of this project includes the open cut sewer replacement of approximately 2,700 feet of sewer line along Earl Avenue, West Main Street, and Carter Street. The second part of phase one of this job is the CCTV or closed-circuit television inspection of approximately 7,400 feet of sewer lines mostly in cross country areas that flow along creeks and not in roadways. Our plan is to review the CCTV footage and make a recommendation to the city as to the appropriate rehabilitation methods for these areas,” Tribble said.

February 4, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky will soon get two of DeKalb County High School Football’s finest!

Seniors Shadie Rankhorn and Ean Jones, both offensive and defensive linemen for the Tigers, signed letters of intent Friday at DCHS to join the Blue Raider program this fall. Both Rankhorn and Jones, who will be graduating from DCHS in May, were joined at the signing by family members and coaches.

“I went to visit there over the summer, and I just liked the coaches and the program,” said Rankhorn when asked why he settled on Lindsey Wilson.

“Its an amazing atmosphere being up there,” added Jones in explaining why he chose the Blue Raiders. “The coaches came in and talked to us. We all had a good time,” he said.

“Shadie was a really good football player for us,” said DCHS Tiger Coach Steve Trapp. “Going into his junior year, I sat him down and asked if he had any interest in playing college football because he would be the first-person college coaches would ask about when they looked at our roster or if they just saw us walk out onto the field. Shadie has the size to do it and to be that big of a guy he can move really well. As long as he continues the work ethic that he showed for us these last couple of years I think he will have a really successful college career,” said Coach Trapp.

Rankhorn earned All Region 2nd Team honors for the 2022 season.

Jones was named the Region’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman for the 2022 campaign and received the team ‘s Offensive Lineman of the Year honor at the Tiger football banquet last month along with the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award.

“I have told a lot of college coaches about Ean,” said Coach Trapp. “He is an undersized guy. He doesn’t have that size like Shadie does but I did tell every college coach I spoke to that he was our dog. You put a helmet on Ean and he has a different mentality about him. He plays football the way it is supposed to be played and if you are playing against him you probably don’t like him too much. As an offensive lineman and a defensive lineman for us, he did a great job and pretty much played all spots up front. They (Lindsey Wilson) are probably looking for him to play center or potentially guard on the offensive line and Shadie will probably play at guard or tackle for them. I think its good that these guys get to go together. Lindsey Wilson is a place that has had a hand full of our players over the last few years and it is the one school ever since I have been a coach here, that has physically stepped foot in here and asked about our guys and I have made sure I let them know that too. They understand what kind of guys we have. I am appreciative of the work these guys (Rankhorn and Jones) have put in and for Lindsey Wilson in acknowledging that. I am really excited for these two young men in continuing their football careers,” added Coach Trapp.

Jones said his plans are to earn a business degree at Lindsey Wilson and possibly one day start an auto mechanic repair shop here. His favorite moments being a Tiger include receiving the Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award in January and the team beating the Smith County Owls 17-14 at Carthage on a last second field goal last August.

Rankhorn said he hasn’t decided yet on a college course of study but may pursue a business career path with an eye on possibly starting a furniture store someday. His high school football career highlight was as a freshman in 2019 when the team defeated Marshall County on the road to advance to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. He also ranks the last second win at Smith County this past year as one of his favorite moments as well.

Lindsey Wilson College is a private four-year college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The school currently offers associate degrees in 10 areas of study, bachelor’s degrees in 26 areas of study with Minors in 20 areas, and master’s degrees in counseling and human development, Education, and interactive design. Lindsey Wilson is a member of the Mid-South Conference of the NAIA.

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