Cora Marie Cox Wins Fall Fest Autumn Princess Title

October 27, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Cora Marie Cox won the title of 2018 Fall Fest Autumn Princess Saturday.

The 7 year old is the daughter of Brandon and Whitney Cox of Smithville. She was also named most photogenic. Her little sister, 4 year old Clara Ruth Cox won the Miss Autumn pageant earlier in the day

The pageants were held at the County Complex Auditorium sponsored by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Cox was among six girls ages 7-10 vying for the crown.

1^st runner-up was Destiny Keys, the 7 year old daughter of Kendra and Rick Guinn of Smithville. She was also honored for prettiest dress.

Isabella Faith Rackley was 2^nd runner-up. She is the 10 year old daughter of Gordon and Jessica Rackley of Smithville.

3^rd runner-up went to Averie  Nicole McMinn, the 10 year old daughter of Amanda and Nathan McMinn of Smithville. She also received recognition for prettiest smile and people’s choice.

Charley Loren Prichard, the 7 year old daughter of Andy and Chrissy Prichard of Liberty was awarded for prettiest eyes.

The other contestant was Miah Johnson, the 9 year old daughter of Bobby Johnson and Kelsey Pyles of Smithville.

October 27, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The 2018 Fall Fest Autumn Miss is Clara Ruth Cox.

She was among five contestants ages 4-6 featured in the annual pageant, sponsored by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club Saturday at the County Complex Auditorium.

Cox is the 4 year old daughter of Brandon and Whitney Cox of Smithville. She was also judged to have the prettiest hair. Clara’s older sister Cora Marie Cox also won the title of 2018 Fall Fest Autumn Princess Saturday.

Brylee Michelle Key, the 6 year old daughter of Shannon and Holly Key of Alexandria was named 1^st runner-up and received honors for people’s choice and prettiest smile.

Lyra Dell McMinn, 6 year old daughter of Amanda and Nathan McMinn of Smithville was 2^nd runner-up and was judged to have the prettiest dress.

6 year old Arraya Jenae Taylor, daughter of Angie Taylor  of Smithville, was 3^rd runner-up and was honored for prettiest eyes.

The other contestant,  Shaniya Bates, the 4 year old daughter of Tom and Ada Bates of Liberty was named most photogenic

October 27, 2018
By: Bill Conger

Yesterday, we featured Harley Sloan, the first of three DCHS senior band members. Today, we turn our focus on Axel Rico, the award-winning drum major with the Fighting Tiger band.

Rico, the son of Rich and Pearl Ortega Rico, fell in love with music as a fourth grader when he heard The Osborne Brothers sing their iconic song, “Rocky Top.” He had to play the banjo and started taking lessons from Timmy Nixon. Two years later, he was offered a position to play saxophone in the band, where he continued for the next six years.

“I always thought saxophone was a really cool instrument,” says Rico.

While Axel played banjo and sax, the multi-instrumentalist continued to try his hand on mandolin, electric guitar, bass, and drums.

“I think it was easier for me to learn all those instruments because I had lots of enthusiasm to learn and grow,” Rico says.

Axel has his own bluegrass band called the DeKalb County Ramblers, and for the past year and a half he has served as the worship leader at First Hispanic Baptist Church in Smithville. This school year Axel tried on a new role with the marching band, drum major, the fulfillment of a dream from long ago.

“When I was in 5^th grade, the band came to Northside and I saw the drum major,” Rico recalls. “I thought that’ll be really cool to have that position one day. When [2017 drum major] Junior Ingram graduated, there was that spot open.  It was always my dream and my goal to become a drum major one day. I practiced and practiced and tried to show them that I had the skills and the leadership skills to be able to do it.”

“The job of the drum major on the field is to keep the band in time. You represent the band wherever you go. You’re the face of the band. If you mess up, it’s going to get out there. As a drum major, you always have to represent the band the best you can if you’re at the grocery store, filling up your car with gas, or if you’re at a competition. You have to be on top of your game wherever you go.”

“It’s pretty tough when people aren’t there to [perform or practice] or when people aren’t mentally focused, but that’s my job to steer them in that direction, to be focused and to be always prepared and to be on time.”

Through lengthy band camp days and three hour practices three days a week, Rico has built up his stamina. But using his arms to conduct the band to stay in time can be quite tiring.

“Whenever you have the big jacket on, it kind of wears you out. Whenever you have all the pressure from the judges and the band, you kind of have to prepare yourself mentally not to give up and just push through it. It puts a lot of stress on your arms by the third or fourth song, especially with the faster tempos. But a drum major should be consistent when he’s conducting. Usually, it just becomes muscle, and the more you do it, the less it hurts.”

Rico has taken home a first place trophy for his field commander performance at two competitions this marching season.

If all goes as planned, next fall Axel will start at Boyce College in Louisville, KY, where he will major in church music. From there, he says his future is up to God’s direction.

Today (Saturday) Axel is leading the band in the last marching contest of the season at the Foothills Classic at Seymour High School in east Tennessee. On Sunday, we’ll wrap up our band series

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