DCHS Bestows Monthly Honors to Deserving Teacher, Student, and Parent of the Month

March 14, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County High School continued its monthly observance Monday of recognizing a teacher, student, and parent of the month.

Each received a certificate from the school and a gift card for a meal at a local restaurant.

Morgan Oyster, a first-year agriculture educator at DCHS was selected by the administration as Teacher of the Month while freshman Yoselyn Garcia is Student of the Month, voted on by the teachers. The Parent of the Month is Jennifer King and this honor was based on a winning essay written by her son Daniel Stiffler, a sophomore at DCHS.

A dream come true!

That’s how Morgan Oyster describes her new experience being a first-year agriculture teacher and Future Farmers of America Advisor at DCHS. And to also be named “Teacher of the Month” is just an extra bonus.
“I am very appreciative of this honor. Its not something I thought I would get this year because I am the newbie at DCHS but it is my home school and it was always a dream of mine to come back here. For me being teacher of the month really says a lot because I am trying to build this program back up. Its been a challenge but it really pays off when you get recognition like this. I know the full potential of the FFA program here and the ag department and I love being able to get kids the hands on experience whether it be in the greenhouse or out doing beautification things,” said Oyster.

DCHS is familiar territory for Morgan, who graduated there just seven years ago.
“I graduated from DCHS in 2016 and went to Motlow for a year since I did dual enrollment here. I finished at Motlow in one year and then went to MTSU and graduated in 2019. From there I taught at Smith County High School before coming here to DCHS”.

Morgan and her husband Coleman have a son, Sawyer Oyster who will soon be three years old.

Assistant DCHS Principal Thomas Cagle said Morgan’s passion for the ag program and her students has not gone unnoticed. “She has done a great job bringing a lot of new excitement to the program and FFA whether its teaching in the classroom or being in the greenhouse or helping with the beautification process of the school and grounds here. The kids are excited to be part of FFA and the competitions. We are very fortunate to have Morgan as part of our school family this year,” said Cagle.

Yoselyn Garcia holds the distinction of being the Student of the Month at DCHS.

A freshman, she is the daughter of Vicky Garcia and Arturo Munoz and she has an older sister, Casandra Garcia who is a senior at DCHS.

“They are great parents,” said Yoselyn. “They inspire and encourage me. Each morning my sister also urges me to do my best at school”.

“Its awesome being Student of the Month,” Yoselyn continued. It’s a big thing. This is a really good school with a lot of positivity,” she said.

Although challenging, Yoselyn said math is her favorite subject. “I excel the most in math. Its one way I like to challenge myself”.

Yoselyn said one day she would like to become an auto mechanic and maybe have her own shop to work on cars. She plans to take an auto mechanics class next year.

“Yoselyn is a great all-around student and another representation of the amazing students we have at our school and their willingness to help each other and to help others around them which is the reason she was nominated and voted on by the teachers to be the Student of the Month,” said Cagle.

Jennifer King is also deserving of the Parent of the Month honor according to Assistant Principal Cagle.

“Daniel Stiffler wrote an essay for his mother talking about the many wonderful things she has been able to do in his life to help him be successful not only in school but outside of school as well. That is the purpose of these essays is to give us more insight into the things these students and their parents are doing or going through that help make them a stronger individual here at school and then after they leave school. Daniel’s essay was a great testament to what his mother has been doing in raising him while persevering through personal struggles and how that experience has given him strength,” said Cagle

“I wanted to write this essay to express how I feel about my mom because she has been a great mother to our family. She is always there for us even though she is disabled with health issues and is in chronic pain. When I see her persevere through personal struggles, it makes me want to persevere too. She gives me strength and is the one person I can always talk to and count on in my life. She makes me happy,” said Daniel.

“It feels great knowing that Daniel feels the way he does about me and its great knowing I have been able to be there for him. I am very proud of Daniel,” said King.

King is married with a daughter and stepson along with her son Daniel.

March 13, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Members of the Family and Community Education Club (FCE) will learn about the serious issue of Human Trafficking during a meeting Tuesday, March 14.

The guest speaker will be an expert on the topic, Ashleigh S. Chapman, JD, a human rights lawyer who has been working for the past 20 years to protect the most vulnerable populations. Among her many efforts, Ashleigh is the founder of Justice U™ which is an online learning platform that delivers training from some of the top experts in the anti-trafficking movement… and delivers it in a way that everyone can better understand the specific things they can do to help end human trafficking. She works domestically and internationally.

Prior to founding the ALLIANCE FOR FREEDOM, RESTORATION, AND JUSTICE (AFRJ) Ashleigh served as the co-founder and Director of the Center for Global Justice at Regent University School of Law in Virginia; the Director of a non-profit serving thousands of at-risk youth in Tennessee; a Children’s Pastor; and a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in foster care. Ashleigh is a licensed attorney in the state of Virginia. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Juris Doctorate from Regent University School of Law, receiving the school’s Most Outstanding Graduate award, and Summa Cum Laude with her B.S. from Tennessee Technological University.

The meeting Tuesday will begin at 10 a.m. in the UT Extension Meeting Room of the County Complex. Everyone is invited to attend.

March 13, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Two people found with methamphetamine during a traffic stop last week have been charged in the case.

28-year-old Raymond Marcelle Marks of Antioch, Tennessee and 24-year-old Savannah Elizabeth Derrick of Crestlawn Drive, Smithville will be in General Sessions Court on March 30. Marks is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver, felony possession of a firearm and driving on a revoked license. His bond is $22,500. Derrick is charged with possession of methamphetamine (2 counts) with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. Her bond is $40,000.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 9 a deputy spotted Marks driving on Nashville Highway with Derrick as his passenger. Knowing that Marks’ license was revoked, the deputy pulled him over and confirmed the offense through central dispatch. During a search of the vehicle a zippered bag was found in the floorboard between the driver and passenger seat which held 10.53 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. The bag was within reach of both Marks and Derrick. Marks also had on him a Glock 26-9-millimeter handgun.

Derrick got out of the vehicle with Marks and retrieved a backpack personal carry bag from another automobile before trying to enter an apartment. She was then detained but refused to give consent for the officer to search her bag. After a search warrant was obtained, the deputy found inside the backpack, a green bag which held 1.088 ounces of a crystal-like substance thought to be methamphetamine and another bag of the same substance that weighed 1.37 grams.

In a separate case, 38-year-old Jason Duane Madewell of Ferrell Road, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and public intoxication. His bond is $11,500 and he will be in court March 23.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 7 a deputy was on patrol when he spotted a man who appeared to have been intoxicated. He stopped the man, Madewell, at Mapco Express in Smithville and found him to be unsteady on his feet. Madewell was sweating profusely, and he couldn’t focus during conversation with the officer. When the deputy asked if he would consent to a body search, Madewell admitted to having methamphetamine in his left front pocket and said that he had consumed some meth three hours earlier. The meth found on him had container weight of 16.1 grams.

43-year-old Toby Lynn Young of Short Mountain Highway, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $10,000. His bond is $30,000 and he will make a court appearance March 23.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 7 Young went to a residence on Midway Road and allegedly stole a 2002 Harley Davidson Softtail Motorcycle valued at $15,000 and a Troybilt riding lawnmower valued at $2,500.

24-year-old Steven Lemont Waller of Sparta Highway, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault (2 counts). His bond is $30,000 and he will be in court March 23.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 9 a deputy was summoned to Shady Drive due to a complaint of shots fired. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a man who reported that Waller fired a round from a rifle in his direction during an argument. The sheriff’s department was called back there the same day due to another complaint of shots fired. This time the officer spoke with a woman who said that Waller fired a round from a rifle in her direction during an argument.

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