Blaze from Unvented Fireplace Causes Extensive Damage to Trailer Home

December 21, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A fire Wednesday night caused extensive damage to the double wide trailer home of Chasity Hayes on Walkers Creek Road.

DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green said central dispatch received a call at 9:09 p.m. of a chimney fire at the residence. “ We got there and found heavy smoke and fire coming out through the end of the trailer,” said Chief Green.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze with the fire damage confined to one end of the trailer although the entire home had extensive smoke damage.

Hayes, her boyfriend, and others at the residence got out of the home without injury.

According to Chief Green, the home had a propane fireplace installed by a previous owner, who had later built an extension to the trailer and roof which covered the fireplace vent. Hayes and her friends, unaware of that decided to build a wood fire in the fireplace which was not properly vented causing the fire to start in the attic.

Members of the Liberty, Main Station, Cookeville Highway, and Tanker Truck responded along with manpower from the Temperance Hall station. DeKalb EMS and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were also there.

December 20, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Lady Tigers won in physical fashion during the 1st round of the Smokey Mountain Classic in Gatlinburg today (Thursday) beating Clay County, Kentucky 51 to 42.

The Lady Tigers were led in scoring with 28 points from Lydia Brown. Kadee Ferrell scored 9. Mya Ruch 6, Emme Colwell 5, and Joni Robinson with 3.

DeKalb County trailed 13 to 12 after the 1^st period but in the 2nd quarter Brown heated up scoring 14 of her 28 points to pull the Lady Tigers ahead 29 -21 at halftime. To start  the 3^rd period Clay County went on a 14 -3 run to take the lead 35-32.  The Lady Tigers responded in the 4th period with a strong defensive effort and some clutch shooting to finish off a 19-7 run to secure the  51 to 42 win.

With the win DeKalb County improves to 11-2 on the year.

The Lady Tigers will play Station Camp in the 2nd round Friday, December 21. Game time is 11:30 a.m. (eastern).

The tournament is being played at Gatlinburg Pittman High School.

December 20, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps has announced the 2018-2019 Teachers of the Year at the building level of the five schools in the county.

This year’s honorees are first grade teacher Vicky Hawker at Smithville Elementary School;  fifth grade teacher Cheryl Vandagriff at Northside Elementary School; Jessica Antoniak, a sixth grade math and science teacher at DeKalb West School; Justin Nokes, a seventh grade history teacher at DeKalb Middle School; and Linda Parris, a home economics teacher at DeKalb County High School.

“Our district’s Teacher of the Year program recognizes and honors outstanding teachers in DeKalb County. We applaud teachers who care about our children, who devote their professional lives to enriching the lives of DeKalb students, and who demonstrate exceptional gains in student achievement. We are not just exceptionally proud of our Teachers of the Year, but we are also grateful for all of our educators in DeKalb County,” said Director Cripps.

According to Michelle Burklow, Supervisor of Instruction, “Competition for the district-wide John Isabell Teacher of the Year award continues through February, and will be announced at DeKalb County’s Teacher of the Year Banquet in the spring. Additionally, three DeKalb County teachers will be chosen by a committee to compete at the regional level in March, and if selected they will represent DeKalb County at the state level competition.”

Teachers of the Year are selected competitively through five cycles: Building, System, Field Service Core Center Region, Grand Division and State; and from three categories (levels of teaching); Grades Pre K-4, 5-8, 9-12.

Teachers selected at each cycle receive local recognition and awards underwritten by local sources. State recognition/awards include a banquet honoring the nine State Teacher of the Year finalists and certificates of appreciation from the governor. In addition, the State Finalists and the State Teacher of the Year receive cash awards.

Dr. Kathy Bryant, Supervisor of Instruction, concludes, “The Tennessee Teacher of the Year Program is designed to promote effective teaching practices by recognizing and rewarding outstanding teachers while encouraging others to join the teaching profession.”

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