DeKalb Saints Celebrate Homecoming Victory over Macon County

August 16, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Players, managers, cheerleaders and fans of the DeKalb Saints football program were in a celebratory mood Thursday evening for homecoming, and it was made all the more exciting as the team shutout region foe Macon County 36-0.

Kenli Fish, daughter of Tiffany Pedigo and Cody Fish was crowned the 2024 DeKalb Saints Homecoming Queen during a pre-game ceremony. She was escorted by Bryson Redmon and Reed Midgett.

The program featured two honorary attendants, Carragan Cox, the six-year-old daughter of Brandon and Whitney Cox, and Emberly O’Conner, the three-year-old daughter of Mikey and Courtney O’Conner.

The Homecoming Court included the 7th grade attendant of DeKalb West School Hailey Brown. She is the daughter of Brad and Cassi Brown and was escorted by Conner Nash and Chaz Westerman.

DeKalb Middle had two 7th grade attendants including Ella Taylor, daughter of Chad Taylor and granddaughter of Ronnie Taylor. She was escorted by Zander Simpson and Braxton Bain.

The other DMS 7th grade attendant was Destiny Guinn, daughter of Rick and Kendra Guinn. Her escorts were Hayden Quarles and Grant Slager.

The DeKalb West 8th grade attendant was Ezzalee Moore, daughter of Andrew and Allie Moore. Her escorts were Levi Cripps and Pasha Hennessee.

Reagan Williams was one of two 8th grade attendants at DeKalb Middle School. She is the daughter of Sarah Williams and Brian and Stephanie Williams. Williams was escorted by Collin Donnell and Rylan Thomas.

The other DMS 8th grade attendant was Ella Kirksey, daughter of Graden and Sabrina Kirksey. Her escorts were Gavin Frazier and Jayden Gutierrez.

Others recognized during the ceremony were Saints cheerleaders Caitlyn Adcock, Charley Prichard, Molly Sutton, Addison Curtis, Cora Cox, Callen Tramel, Baylei Benson, Caroline Farmer, Presley Harrington, Lillie Williams, and Lakelyn Nelson, and managers Lyra McMinn, Lydia Wright, McKenzie Redmon, Lydia Slager, and Kenna Denton.

The Saints are 3-0 with a win over Fentress County at home in the season opener two weeks ago 8-0 and a victory last week against visiting Cumberland County 46-8.

The remaining Saints schedule is as follows

August 20: Smith County* (HOME) 6:30 p.m.
August 23: Warren County (AWAY) 11:00 a.m.
August 29: Prescott Middle* (AWAY) 6:30 p.m.
September 5: Upperman Middle* (HOME-8th GRADE NIGHT) 6:30 p.m.
September 12: White County* (AWAY) 6:30 p.m.
Post Season:
September 21: Conference Playoffs/Consolation-TBA
September 26: Conference Championship-TBA

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.

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