News
September 13, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Still undefeated!
The DeKalb County Tigers ran their season record to 4-0 Thursday night with a 45 to 27 victory over the visiting Watertown Purple Tigers for Homecoming. Watertown remains winless at 0-4.
Quarterback Jordan Parker ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to Jon Hendrix. Along with Hendrix, Ty Webb and Cecil Ketchum each scored a rushing touchdown and kicker Adrian Prater added a field goal and the six extra points for the DC victory.
Next week, DeKalb County (4-0) travels to Gordonsville (3-0). Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. Friday, September 20. Gordonsville is scheduled to play Jo Byrns tonight (Friday) at home.
DeKalb County’s first score of the night came on a 32-yard keeper by Quarterback Jordan Parker with 9:01 left in the 1st period capping a 63-yard drive. Kicker Adrian Prater booted the extra point, and the Tigers led 7-0.
Watertown answered with 5:11 left in the opening period on a 3-yard touchdown run by Landon Harper. Kicker Brody Osborne added the extra point, and the game was tied at 7-7.
DC’s Jordan Parker found Jon Hendrix on a 20-yard touchdown scoring pass play with 4:24 left in the 1st period completing a 66-yard drive. Prater’s extra point put the Tigers up 14-7.
After catching a pass for a TD, Jon Hendrix scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 9:20 to go in the 2nd period finishing off a 74-yard drive. Prater added the PAT and DeKalb County owned a 21-7 lead.
Watertown cut the deficit with 2:51 left before halftime on a 1-yard touchdown keeper by Quarterback Blake Waldorf. Osborne kicked through the extra point and the score by halftime was 21-14 in favor of DeKalb County.
Ty Webb gave DC more breathing room with 9 minutes left in the 3rd period on a 1-yard touchdown run completing a 53-yard drive. Prater booted through the extra point and the black and gold Tigers held a 28-14 advantage.
DC quarterback Jordan Parker scored his second rushing TD of the night on an 80-yard dash with 3:20 to go in the 3rd period and with Prater’s PAT, the Tigers had built a 35-14 lead.
Watertown fought to get back in the game and scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Quarterback Blake Waldorf to Eathan Owen with 1:08 left in the 3rd period. Osborne added the PAT and the Purple Tigers trailed 35-21.
DeKalb County extended its lead with 10:40 to go in the 4th period on a 3-yard Cecil Ketchum run. Prater tacked on the extra point and the Tigers were in command leading 42-21.
Watertown’s last score of the night came on a pass from Quarterback Blake Waldorf to Jesse Bratcher covering 65 yards for a touchdown with 10:28 left in the game. The extra point attempt was no good and the Purple Tigers trailed 42-27.
Tiger kicker Adrian Prater put the exclamation point on the win converting a 32-yard field goal with 3:40 left in the contest and DeKalb County went on to celebrate a 45 to 27 homecoming victory.
Shaun Tubbs Re-Elected School Board Chairman (View Video Here)
September 12, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Seventh district member Shaun Tubbs has been re-elected Chairman of the DeKalb County Board of Education.
During Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, Tubbs was again selected by his fellow board members to serve as chairman for the next twelve months. This will be Tubbs’ fourth year as Chairman.
Meanwhile, Third district member Jim Beshearse was re-elected Vice Chairman of the Board while Sixth district member Jason Miller will again serve as the board’s Tennessee Legislative Network (TLN) representative.
The board re-organizes each September electing officers to serve for the year. It was the first meeting for Fifth district member Megan Moore who was elected last month.
In other business, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps announced in his monthly personnel report that Caitlin Fox has been granted a leave of absence as requested.
(UPDATE) Courthouse Cleared After Bomb Threat
September 12, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County Courthouse was evacuated this morning after a bomb threat was phoned into 911 and as a result the public square was closed for a few hours while investigators conducted a search of the building. No explosives were found and the courthouse will reopen Friday.
DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray and Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins issued the following joint statement about the investigation:
“On September 12, 2024 at 9:46 AM Central Dispatch received a call from a male subject stating there was a bomb in the DeKalb County Courthouse. The caller also referenced additional bombs but did not give locations at the time. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Smithville Police Department, Smithville Fire Department, DeKalb EMS, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit, Tennessee Homeland Security Agency, and a K-9 and handler from Lebanon Police Department were all summoned to the scene. The Courthouse was evacuated and searched by Officers and the K-9. A package of concern was found and was cleared. There are no more active threats at this time that we are aware of. Two people of interest were picked up and questioned. No arrests have been made thus far, but the investigation continues. Anyone having information on the caller, please contact central dispatch at 615-215-3000. Any and all bomb or school shooting threats will be prosecuted to the highest extent of the law,” according to the statement.
Charlie Parker, DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency Director said downtown businesses at the time were alerted to the courthouse threat.
“We went to all the downtown businesses and told them of the threat. We asked them to stay out of the front glass areas of their buildings. Some of the businesses decided to close,” said Parker.
“Every agency takes all threats as credible and we exhaust all means to ensure the safety of the public,” Parker added.
General Sessions Court was scheduled for this morning but had to be postponed due to the threat. Judge Brandon Cox said all cases set for today have been rescheduled for next Thursday, September 19.
Meanwhile, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps has issued the following statement about some misinformation about a perceived threat against DeKalb County Schools being circulated in the community which is not a threat but pertains to DeKalb County, Georgia.
“It has come to our attention that there has been some misunderstanding regarding a “list” being circulated among students and parents in our community. This list includes references to DeKalb County Schools. This list is from the state of Georgia and refers to Title I Schoolwide (SWP) and Targeted Assisted (TA) Schools, including the DeKalb County schools in Georgia”, said Director Cripps.
“Schoolwide Plans provide services for all students in an eligible school, which Targeted Assistance Plans provide services only to identified children. This is NOT any sort of targeted hit list,” Cripps explained.
“Please clarify to anyone referring to this list as something dangerous or harmful. It is not and it does not include our schools in DeKalb County, Tennessee. Thank you for your help in clearing up this misunderstanding,” said Director Cripps.
