Legendary Former DCHS Baseball Coach Joey Reeder Honored by School Board (View Video of Meeting Here)

August 16, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

One of the most successful high school coaches ever at DeKalb County High School is being recognized with an honor for all time

During Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Board of Education voted to name the DCHS baseball field for former coach Joey Reeder, who guided the Tiger baseball program for 16 seasons from 1982 to 1997.

The recognition took Reeder by surprise and staff at the central office where Reeder works as the school district’s attendance supervisor had to cleverly plan for the presentation without his knowledge.

Speaking with WJLE after the meeting, Reeder said its an honor to be recognized, and he gave credit to all the athletes who played for him over the years for their dedication along with his family for their support.

“It’s a tremendous honor for me and every player that played for me during those years. It was a great time of life. We certainly had a big time and were fortunate to have won a lot of baseball games. Hopefully we all learned a little bit about life. I was very fortunate to have grown up here and then to get a coaching job right out of college and have all of these good players. I want to thank all the people who played for me. I am just shocked and humbled to receive this honor. I had no idea,” said Reeder.

In making the announcement, Director Patrick Cripps, who was among many high school baseball players under Coach Reeder, choked up with emotion as he spoke of his friend and mentor.

“We are all given a beginning in time, a birth date. We are also given an end of time, a death date. There is a little thing in between called the dash (-) and that dash is what you do with your life and what impact you have on your community, your society, and the people around you,” said Director Cripps.

“There are four individuals in this room (Director Cripps, DCHS Principal Bruce Curtis, Supervisor of Instruction for grades 6-12 Randy Jennings, and School Board Chairman Shaun Tubbs) that have been impacted by sports in this town playing baseball for Coach Reeder,” Director Cripps continued.

“Its my recommendation that we name the baseball field the Joey Reeder Baseball Field. Coach Reeder’s stats I dare say will never be met again in our community. His district record was 179-15 (.993) and if you look at those 15 district losses that’s over a 16-year career. But as much as he taught us on the field on how to play, he expected us to be that type of young man and represent his club. We had to make the grade in class. We couldn’t get in trouble at school and definitely couldn’t get in trouble on the streets because at that time, he could boot you. He didn’t need you and he would not keep you around if you got in trouble. I have used him many times over my career as a reference and as somebody that I go to. Coach, it’s a privilege to say that field is going to have your name on it from now on,” said Director Cripps.

In his tenure, Coach Reeder compiled an overall record of 387-146 (.663). His district record was 179-15 (.993) and during the post season his teams went 55-23 (.705). Under Coach Reeder, the Tigers secured 13 District Regular Season, 13 District Tournament Championships, 2 Regional Championships, and 2 State Quarterfinals appearances. Reeder is a 12-time District Coach of the Year and he was also named 4 times as District Coach of the Year by the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association and as Regional Coach of the Year by both the Tennessee Athletics Coaches Association and Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association.

For the last several years, Reeder has served as the Attendance Supervisor for the DeKalb County School District

The following statistics further tell the story of Coach Reeder’s success:

13 District Tournament Championships
13 District Regular Season Championships
2 District Runner-up
1 District 3 rd place
2 Regional Championships
2 State Quarterfinals
16 Consecutive Without a Losing Record
17 Former Players signed or walked on to play College Baseball
2 Former Players selected in Major League Draft
2 Years Finished Ranked in the Johnson City News High School Baseball
Poll Top 25 (All Classes)

12 District Coach of the Year
4 District Coach of the Year Award (Tenn Athletic Coaches Association)
1 Regional Coach of the Year (Tenn Athletics Coaches Association)
1 Regional Coach of the Year (Tenn Baseball Coaches Association)
2 Years Coached for the East Squad in the Tennessee State High School All
Star Game

August 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Almost a week after a body was found inside a car in a cornfield on New Bildad Road a positive identification has been made

In a joint statement, Sheriff Patrick Ray and Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said Thursday the body is that of 29-year-old Rebecca Ann Maxfield of Smithville.

“A missing persons report was filed with the Smithville Police Department on August 4 in which a friend stated she (Maxfield) had not responded back to them for a couple of days,” said Sheriff Ray and Chief Collins.

Investigators discovered that Maxfield’s phone had pinged in Warren County where she was last seen.

“Both the Smithville Police Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were working together with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department when the body was discovered in DeKalb County last Friday, August 9,” according to Sheriff Ray and Chief Collins.

“The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Warren County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Smithville Police are still investigating the death of Maxfield”.

No more information will be released at this time.

August 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Fewer students are enrolled in the DeKalb County School System than this time last year.

Comparing the numbers for the period of August 7-14 total enrollment from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade district wide was 2,955 as of Wednesday (August 14), down by 33 students from 2,988 last year.

This marks the third year in a row that enrollment district-wide has been lower than the year before. Two years ago, enrollment to start the school year in August 2022 was 3,007 which was 52 students more than this year.

“Our enrollment numbers are down, and I think it goes back to the easy availability of home schools. Its affecting enrollment in school districts across the state,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.

More than a decade ago in August 2013, DeKalb County’s student enrollment district-wide was 3,052 or 97 more than today.

According to Attendance Supervisor Joey Reeder, the August numbers are down from last year by 33 students at Northside Elementary School, 16 at Smithville Elementary, and by 13 pupils at DeKalb Middle School but the count is up by 12 at DeKalb County High and by 15 students at DeKalb West School.

Currently, the largest class by grade district-wide is kindergarten with 246 students followed by the fourth and nine grade classes each with 243 students. The smallest class district-wide other than the pre-K classes is twelfth grade at 189 students.

As of Wednesday, August 14 enrollment at each school was as follows compared to last year:
DCHS: 826 (up by 12 students) * In August 2013 DCHS enrollment was 834.

DeKalb Middle School: 559 (down by 13 students) *In August 2013, DMS enrollment stood at 592.

Northside Elementary: 559 (down by 33 students) *In August 2013, the Northside enrollment was 591.

Smithville Elementary: 534 (down by 16 students) * In August 2013, the Smithville Elementary enrollment was 621.

DeKalb West School: 475 (up by 15 students) *In August 2013, the DWS enrollment stood at 414.

The following is the current enrollment by grade system-wide:

Pre-K: Smithville Elementary-66 (down by 20)

Pre-K: DeKalb West-13 (down by 2)

Kindergarten: 246 (up by 32)

First Grade: 210 (down by 8)

Second Grade: 207 (down by 23)

Third Grade: 217 (down by 30)

Fourth Grade: 243 (up by 32)

Fifth Grade: 218 (down by 30)

Sixth Grade: 242(up by 11)

Seventh Grade: 234 (down by 3)

Eighth Grade: 231 (down by 7)

Ninth Grade: 243 (up by 32)

Tenth Grade: 193 (down by 13)

Eleventh Grade: 202 (same)

Twelfth Grade: 189 (down by 6)

TOTAL ENROLLMENT DISTRICT-WIDE: 2,955 (down by 33)

The enrollment by school breaks down as follows:

Smithville Elementary: Pre-K 66, Kindergarten-190, First grade-162, and Second grade-116: Total 534

Northside Elementary: Second grade-37, Third grade-162, Fourth grade-192, Fifth grade-168: Total 559

DeKalb West School: Pre-K 13, Kindergarten-56, First grade-48, Second grade-54, Third grade-55, Fourth grade 50, Fifth grade-50, Sixth grade-54, Seventh grade-47, and Eighth grade 48: Total 475.

DeKalb Middle School: Sixth grade-188, Seventh grade-187, Eighth grade-184: Total 559

DeKalb County High School: Ninth grade-243. Tenth grade-193, Eleventh grade-202, and Twelfth grade-189: Total 827

Reeder also provided numbers on how the enrollment has been trending over the last 11 years district wide.

Year 2014: 3,005 students

2015: 3,015 students (up by 10 students)

2016: 2,950 students (down by 65 students)

2017: 3,039 students (up by 89 students)

2018: 2,993 students (down by 46 students)

2019: 2,999 students (up by 6 students)

2020: 2,881 students (down by 118 students)

2021: 3,044 students (up by 163 students)

2022: 3,007 students (down by 37 students)

2023: 2,988 students (down by 19 students)

2024: 2,955 (down by 33 students)

Enrollment numbers at each school from 2014-2024:

Smithville Elementary: Year 2014-609; Year 2015-569; Year 2016-540; Year 2017-578; Year 2018-556; Year 2019-561; Year 2020-552; Year 2021-574; Year 2022-581; Year 2023-550; Year 2024-534

Northside Elementary: Year 2014-623; Year 2015-658; Year 2016-640; Year 2017-639; Year 2018-603; Year 2019-594; Year 2020-552; Year 2021-578; Year 2022-577; Year 2023-592; Year 2024-559

DeKalb West School: Year 2014-389; Year 2015-382; Year 2016-376; Year 2017-409; Year 2018-389; Year 2019-397; Year 2020-384; Year 2021-425; Year 2022-447; Year 2023-460; Year 2024-475

DeKalb Middle School: Year 2014-554; Year 2015-536; Year 2016-521; Year 2017-546; Year 2018-572; Year 2019-607; Year 2020-579; Year 2021-577; Year 2022-544; Year 2023-572; Year 2024-559

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