DeKalb County High School has set graduation for Friday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m. on the high school football field.
Dr. Hugh Don Cripps will be the guest speaker. Dr. Cripps was President of the Class of 1964 at DCHS.
The commencement program will also feature the presentation of the White Rose and Citizenship Awards to members of the Class, a performance by the DCHS Chorus, and remarks by the Class Valedictorian Kelsey Evins and Class President Jordan Wilkins. Honor students will also be recognized including those who have earned top rank, honors, and distinction status. The DCHS band will perform the processional and recessional. Principal Patrick Cripps will make brief comments and present the class to Director of Schools Mark Willoughby, who will then award diplomas to the graduates as their names are called.
A total of 169 students make up the Class of 2014 at DCHS including the following.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW PHOTOS OF GRADUATES. BE SURE TO CLICK EACH PICTURE TO OBTAIN A LARGER VIEW OF THE GRADUATE AND TO READ HIS OR HER NAME)http://www.wjle.com/graduation-2014
Marisol Acuna, Salma Yvette Acuna, Annatasia D. Alexander, Jorge Luis Alvarez-Tinajero, Elisha Brooke Anderson, Jordan Eugene Angle, Peter Zechariah Antoniak, Julia Carolina Armendariz, Courtney McKenzie Avera,
Karem Sylvana Bain, Brayde Magallester Baker, Hannah Michelle Ball, Zachary Bandy, Ashley Michelle Barnes, Brandon Cole Barnes, Charles Hudson Beltz, Dean Andrew Betsworth, Dustin Hunter Billings, Chelsey Michelle Brannon, Erika Nichole Brown,
Christopher Thomas Caldwell, Courtney Nicole Caldwell, Hannah Grace Cantrell, James Robert Cantrell, Taneah Brooke Cantrell, Taylor Brook Cantrell, Kayna Elizabeth Caplinger, Jacqueline Danielle Ruth Chastain, Nathaniel Andrew Chastain, Rachel Nicola Checchi, Morgan Shenee Clark, Tiffany Ann Collier, Dillon Michael Colwell, Lauren Elizabeth Colwell, Austin Taylor Cook, Kayla Grace Cook, Alexis Cintara Cornelius, Juan Rodrigo Cuellar, Chelsie Loraine Cunningham, Briana Nicole Cutliff,
Joshua Philip Davidson, Jenice D. Davis, Makala Jaye Dawson, William Gatlin Dougherty, Joe Delmer Driver, Bryan Christopher Duncan,
Hunter Lee Eckert, Sarah Elizabeth Edwards, Katlin Alli Emme, Kelsey Elizabeth Evins,
Joseph Bradley Faulk, Darian Cheyene Ferrell, Dustan Lee Ferrell, Kalab Anthony Ferrell, Travis Dale Ferrell, Austin Tyler Frazier, Shannon Randall Freeman, Corey Blaine Frye,
Thomas Dustin Garrett, Michelle Gay, Hannah Rebekah Gaylord, Seth Joseph Gerringer, Conner Anne Giddens, Eli Cody Gill, Kelsi Nichole Glenn, Cody Daniel Gooch, Thomas I. Graham, Haley Jada Gray, Christianna Faith Grubb, Ricky Wilson “Trey” Guinn, Geovani Guadalupe Guzman Godinez,
Deana Marie Hale, Kaylee Megan Hale, Anthony J. Hamlet, Michael Cody Harrell, Cody Wayne Hattaway, Megan Nicole Hawker, Ashley Caitlin Hershman, Kayla Lynn Hogue, Chase Ramsey Hoke, Sarah Elizabeth Hunt,
Christopher Lewis Jablonski, Zachary Bly Jerrells, Daniel Lynn Johnson, Magan Jewell Johnson, Nicholas Wade Johnson, Kaitlynn Jones, Ethan Curtis Judkins,
Tyler Blane Keen, Lukas Phillip Knowles,
Cayton Lance, Matthew Charles Lane, Elizabeth Catherine Lasser, Haley Rachea Lawson, Steven Jay Laxton, Lauren Alexandrea Lewis, Nicholas Cade Linder, Eli Nathanial Lomas, Tiffany Amber Ludwig,
Kelsey Ann MacDonald, Elizabeth Jane Mason, Tayza Cristina Matthews, Lauren Ashley Medlin, Brittany Leisha Merriman, James Joseph Messina, Anthony Mofield, Tyler Ryne Monette, Caleb Joshua Moore, Jacob William Moore, Mickael Flyn Mosley,
Chancy Newsom, Megan Nicole Nichols, Alivia Jade Nokes,
Ashley Nichole Pack, Steven Allen Page, David Ross Parker, John Hunter Parkhurst, Brandon Fransisco Pilcher, Thomas Franklin Pollard, McKenzie Brooke Poteete,
Victoria Ann Redmon, Danielle Taylor Reed, Laura Lynn Reed, Cameron Allen Rhea, Courtney Leigh Rice, Emma Katherine Rigsby, Jody Dayzion Ringo, Austin Rochefort, Ethan Lyn Roller, George Eugene Roller, Victor John Roller, Jr., Joshua Lynn Rushing,
Carlos Alfonso Serna, Roger David Sharp, III, Samantha Renee Sircy, Emily Anne Snow, Zack Snyder, Bryan Ezequiel Sosa Morales, Patrick Bailey Spare, Zachary Dominic Sparks, Cheyenne Delores Stacy, Mallory Elizabeth Sullivan, Devin James Cobb Summers,
Allison Renee Taylor, Jordan Chase Taylor, Kristen Nicole Taylor, Shauna Faith Taylor, Andrew McilWain Thomas, Rebecca Nathallia Hope Thomas, Kalynn Michelle Thompson, Krysta Renee Thompson, Jordan Alexander Turner, Danielle Franseen Tyson,
Eloy Nehemias Velazquez, Crystal Page Vickers,
Dakota Esbie Waggoner, Xena J.B. Walker, Katelyn Michelle Walz, Evan Gregory Ward, Waylon John West, Kayla Ashley Wheeler, Brittany Nicole Wilkerson, Jordan Allen Wilkins, Jessica Marie Williams, Matthew Dillon Williams, Skylar Paige Winningham, Justin Brady Wiser,
Dylan Howard Young and Taylor Brook Youngblood.

Edgar Evins State Park celebrated a grand re-opening of its 60-site campground on Wednesday, May 21 with state and local representatives. Most of the 60 sites received upgrades from 30 amp to 50 amp electrical service. In addition, the platform-type sites of steel and concrete were inspected and any potential structural degradation issues were repaired.
The renovation project also included the extension of the length of several sites to accommodate larger RVs. Situated around the slopes of Center Hill Lake, many of the sites have lake views.
Edgar Evins State Park is located on the shores of Center Hill Lake in the steep, hilly Eastern Highland Rim. The 6,000-acre park provides many recreational opportunities and accommodations on one of the most beautiful reservoirs in Tennessee. In addition to campsites, Edgar Evins State Park has 34 split level cabin suites, including ADA accessible and pet friendly units.
Reservations can be made by contacting the park at 931-858-2114 or online at https://tnstateparks.itinio.com/edgar-evins.
(ABOVE PHOTO: (left to right): Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce Director Suzanne Williams, King Construction Company’s Adam Hall, TDEC Deputy General Counsel Jenny Howard, TDEC Legislative Liaison Ryan Swindell, TN State Parks Senior Advisor Anne Marshall, Edgar Evins State Park Manager Carl Halfacre, Upland Design Group’s Derrick Clemow, TN State Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, Friends of Edgar Evins President Fount Bertram, Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill, Upland Design Group Project Manager Scott Nicholson, TN State Sen. Mae Beavers, Edgar Evins Facilities Supervisor Jason Cross, East TN Park Area Manager Robin Wooten, TN State Parks Facilities Management Director David Benton, Edgar Evins’ Leona Bain, King Construction Company’s Tobin Stevens, Edgar Evins’ Charles Rodgers and King Construction Company’s Brian King.

Fifth graders at DeKalb West School received pins and certificates during the annual DARE graduation ceremony held Thursday.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program was conducted by DARE Instructor and Chief Deputy Don Adamson of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Each student prepares an essay during the course and those with the best essays from each class are recognized and awarded. This year’s essay winners at DeKalb West School are Jordan Crook and Riley Overstreet . The fifth grade teachers are Jeana Caplinger and Nadina Manganiello.
Crook was the over-all winner and he read his essay during Thursday’s program. In addition to the award, prizes, and recognition, Crook gets to keep “Daren the Lion” the DARE Mascot and he received a $50 check from Judge Bratten Cook II, presented in his absence by Tish Summers.
In addition to Sheriff Patrick Ray and Chief Deputy Adamson, others on hand for the ceremony were DeKalb West School Principal Danny Parkerson, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby, Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen and employees of the Sheriff’s Department

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is now accepting applications for its new Agricultural Conservation Easements Program (ACEP). Up to $366 million is available nationwide for the purchase of conservation easements on eligible agricultural lands and wetlands.
“This is an exciting new opportunity for even more people to get involved in conserving natural resources,” said Tennessee State Conservationist Kevin Brown. “We encourage state and local governments, non-governmental organizations and private landowners to contact their local NRCS office to find out how to apply.”
The ACEP, created through the 2014 Farm Bill, funds easements for agricultural lands and wetland reserves. Approved agricultural easements would prevent productive working lands from being converted to non-agricultural uses and maximize protection of land devoted to food production. Cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forestland are eligible.
Wetland reserve easements would restore and enhance wetlands and improve habitat. Eligible lands include farmed or converted wetlands that can be successfully and cost-effectively restored.
Applications are currently being accepted for wetlands reserve easements and will be rated according to the easement’s potential for protecting and enhancing habitat for migratory birds, fish and other wildlife.
Applications must be submitted to Tennessee NRCS by June 6, 2014. Applications are available at local USDA Service Center and at www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted
Agreements will be evaluated starting in late August. The ACEP combines NRCS’ former Farm and Ranch Lands Protection, Grassland Reserve and Wetlands Reserve programs. Learn more about ACEP and other Farm Bill programs at www.nrcs.usda.gov/farmbill.
To get started with NRCS, visit your local USDA Service Center or www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted.
Learn more about the Farm Bill at www.nrcs.usda.gov/FarmBill.

Fifth graders at Northside Elementary School received pins and certificates during the annual DARE graduation ceremony held Wednesday.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program was conducted by DARE Instructor and Chief Deputy Don Adamson of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Each student prepares an essay during the course and those with the best essays from each class are recognized and awarded. This year’s essay winners at Northside are:
Sofia Amaya from Amy Raymond’s class
Eli Judkins from Amanda Griffith’s class
Leah Davis from Carrie Gottlied’s class
Avery Valdez from Ginger Wenger’s class
Mallori Hart from Alisha Day’s class
Kiley Staley from Mary Ann Blair’s class
Emma Jennings from Melissa Hale’s class
Monica Carlton from January Agee’s class
Mallori Hart was the over-all winner and she read her essay during Wednesday’s program. In addition to the award, prizes, and recognition, Hart gets to keep “Daren the Lion” the DARE Mascot. Tish Summers presented Hart a check for $50 on behalf of General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II, who was unable to attend.
DARE is a cooperative effort by the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County School System, parents, and the community.
Other officials present for the ceremony were Northside Principal Dr. Gayle Redmon, Guidance Counselor Dr. Linda Bush, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby, Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, Trustee Sean Driver, and Tish Summers on behalf of Judge Cook. Other members of the Sheriff’s department were also in attendance along with Sheriff Patrick Ray and Chief Deputy Adamson.
(Top Photo: Tish Summers presents check on behalf of Judge Bratten Cook, II to DARE Essay winner Mallori Hart. Chief Deputy Don Adamson and Sheriff Patrick Ray also pictured)
(Bottom Photo: DARE Class Essay winners: Monica Carlton, Leah Davis, Kiley Staley, Eli Judkins, Sofia Amaya, Emma Jennings, Mallori Hart, and Avery Valdez)

The DeKalb County Tigerettes were eliminated from the State Softball Tournament at Murfreesboro today (Wednesday) with a 1-0 loss to the Dyersburg Lady Trojans.
Dyersburg scored its only run in the seventh inning on a homerun by Madison Caldwell.
Kayley Caplinger was the losing pitcher. She gave up one run on three hits through seven innings. She struck out four and walked two.
Katie Hall singled for the Tigerettes.
DeKalb County concludes the season with an over-all record of 40-8

Have you read with a child today?
It’s the most important twenty minutes of your day.
Just 20 minutes a day reading aloud with young children strengthens relationships, encourages listening and language skills, promotes attention and curiosity, and establishes a strong reading foundation. These skills are essential for success in school and in life.
The DeKalb County School System seeks to heighten awareness of the importance of reading with a young child over the summer break so they will be better prepared for the start of school in the fall.
“Every year 40% of children walk into kindergarten one to three years behind. But there is something you can do about it,” said Gina Arnold, Special Education Supervisor. “We do honor parents as a child’s most influential and most loved teacher so for this reason we want to call your awareness to some statistics about early literacy. Students who are not prepared for school usually struggle for years to catch up and many never do. In fact, 50% eventually drop out. However, the single most important activity for building knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children. This is especially so during the pre-school years. How young boys and girls spend their time at home predicts success in school. Not your income or your family’s background. Effective parents talk and read with their children. They spend time daily sharing learning activities and they limit television and computer games,” said Arnold.
It’s also a good idea to communicate with the child about what you’re reading. “As you read with your child, talk about the characters and what they are doing,” said Dr. Danielle Collins, Federal Programs Supervisor. “Nudge comprehension skills by asking simple who, what, when, where, why, and how questions. Emphasize the meaning of a story. This is a good age to use books about numbers, colors, geometric shapes, and classifications. Your child will comprehend these concepts more easily when encountering them again,” said Collins.
Vocabulary matters too.
“Five year olds typically understand about five thousand words. Yet some children know only a thousand words when they start school,” said Arnold. “Vocabulary is an essential pre-reading skill because it links directly with a child’s comprehension. Reading many short stories and talking about them helps young children build strong vocabularies,” she said.
“Make books a part of your daily routine. The more that books are woven into the children’s everyday lives, the more likely they will be to see reading as a pleasure and a gift. This can be incorporated at meal times, in a car, at the child care drop off, at the doctor’s office, at a grocery store, at nap time, at the day’s end, at bath time, and at bed time,” Collins said.
“Read with your child. It’s the most important twenty minutes of your day,” said Arnold. “Studies show that children must hear and share in hundreds of stories before they are ready to learn to read in school. It is also important for them to talk about what they see every day and to say the sounds of letters that they are learning. For read aloud tips, visit www.readingfoundation.orgparents. Also we will have a link on our www.deKalbschools.net website for summer activities that you can share with your child for reading improvement,” Arnold continued.
“Parents you do make the difference. Imagine a kid who practices batting and pitching a ball for an hour every day all summer from the time the child is three until he is eight. Imagine a second child. No practice. No training. He or she has never slipped his or her hand in a baseball glove. Has never ran the bases. Has never swung a bat. Has almost never seen a full game played. Imagine that they turn out the same day for Little League tryouts. The skill level between these two young ball players is like the skill level in reading readiness for our incoming kindergarteners,” said Dr. Collins.
Parents are asked to involve your children in summer reading programs at local libraries. Local businesses are also urged to help spread the Read 20 message on their signs and marquees. “As parents are caregivers, you want your children to be happy and successful in school,” said Arnold. “Northside Elementary and Smithville Elementary will have open libraries this summer. During the weeks that school is first dismissed, May 29 through June 18, there will be morning and afternoon hours at both libraries. Also we encourage students and pre-schoolers to join the summer reading program at the local library. They have a science focus this year. It’s called “Fizz, Boom, Read”. They are signing up on May 30 and we encourage all kids to get involved in this fun activity. We ask the community to help us with this investment of Read 20. We ask the community to consider on your marquee for your business or your news letter, please encourage parents and remind volunteers to Read 20. When you see Read 20 throughout our community, that is going to remind you how important it is for young children to talk and to read books and to spend time with an adult. We ask that you would consider to read 20 minutes to your child on your business memo. Perhaps on the memo section of your billing. Anything that you can do to help us raise awareness. If you would like to have a yard sign for Read 20 or a chart to hang in your business, please contact the DeKalb Board of Education. Remember, Stop, Drop, and Read to a Child,” Arnold concluded.

The Valedictorian and the Salutatorian from the DCHS class of 2011 are still making the grades at Tennessee Tech University. Britney Campbell, an Education Major, and Martha Webb, a nursing major were initiated into the Honors Society of PHI KAPPA PHI on May 7. The Honors Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. Tennessee Tech University selects the top 7% of all juniors from all majors to be involved into this honor society.
In 1897 at the University of Maine, ten senior students, two faculty members, and the school president created an honor society that was different from the few others then in existence-one that recognized and honored excellence in all academic disciplines. Under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann, the group formed the Lamba Sigma Eta Society, which was later renamed Phi Kappa Phi from the initial letters of the Greek words forming its adopted motto: Philosophia Krateito Photon, “Let the love of learning rule humanity.”
Phi Kappa Phi’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”

The DeKalb County Tigerettes lost to Greenbrier 8 to 0 in the first round of the State Softball Tournament Tuesday in Murfreesboro.
The Tigerettes are scheduled to play again in the loser’s bracket today (Wednesday) at around noon at the Starplex in Murfreesboro
Greenbrier scored eight runs on five hits and made one error. The Tigerettes were held scoreless on three hits and made three errors.
Greenbrier scored one run in the first inning, five runs in the fifth, and two runs in the sixth inning.
Kayley Caplinger was the losing pitcher.
Katie Hall, Lauren Colwell, and Shauna Taylor each had a single in the game.

DCHS Tigerette Softball standout Chelsey Brannon will play for the Tennessee Wesleyan Lady Bulldogs next season.
A signing ceremony was held Monday afternoon at the DCHS library. Her scholarship award is $58,000 from Tennessee Wesleyan
Brannon’s mother, coaches, and fellow players joined her for the signing. “I’m really excited and really thankful and ready to play,” said Brannon.
Although she initially didn’t have a desire to play college softball, Brannon said she changed her mind after a visit to Tennessee Wesleyan and a little encouragement from one of her high school coaches. ” (Assistant Tigerette )Coach Danny Fish recommended it (the school). At first I didn’t want to play college softball but later I decided I didn’t want to quit. He told me it is a great school and I think it would be a great fit for you so I said okay. We went down for a visit and I fell in love with it,” said Brannon.
“We are very excited to be getting Chelsey,” said Toby Brooks, Softball Coach at Tennessee Wesleyan. “I’ve got to come over and see her play quite a few times and we’ve had her over for a visit. She is a great kid and a great fit and we’re really excited to be getting her as an addition to our team next season. We’re going to be a very young team next year. We had a big graduating class. We’ll have a lot of new kids playing. I really feel like Chelsey can come in and fit right in that mix and contribute early on. She’ll be playing as an outfielder for us. We’re probably looking at her in left field. I really think she is that prototypical left fielder,” added Coach Brooks.
“She is very deserving of this opportunity. Not just because of her playing abilities but she is a good student. A good citizen. A good person,” said DCHS Tigerette Coach Danny Bond. “She batted fourth for us and played left field for us this year. She came on last year as a player and started hitting the ball real well. She has an on-base percentage of. 585 and her batting average at this point is .377. She has 37 RBI’s. She is leading the team in drawing walks at 22 so she has a good eye at the plate and sees the ball real well when it is thrown over in the strike zone. She does a good job of putting the ball in play and when it’s not (in the strike zone) she sees it and ends up getting on base with a walk. That’s the reason she has a high on-base percentage. She has had only two errors in the outfield, which is good and she has made some fantastic plays,” added Coach Bond.
“I am ecstatic. This is more than we could have every imagined,” said Chelsey’s mother Amanda Brannon. We are just so very thankful that it’s all kind of come together at the end and her hard work has paid off. I am just thankful to the coaches for the hard work they have put in and the dedication of the team. I think the girls have really come together this year and worked together when they needed to pull it out. It’s been a wonderful season,” she said.
Located in Athens, Tennessee, Wesleyan is an NAIA school and a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Coach Brooks is in his eleventh season leading the Lady Bulldogs.
In addition to the $58,000 scholarship from Tennessee Wesleyan, Brannon also received a scholarship from Cookeville Regional Medical Center and Pepsi for $1,000 and the David Wayne Alexander Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 during Monday night’s Senior Awards program at DCHS.
(Top photo: Seated: Amanda Brannon, Chelsey Brannon, and Tennessee Wesleyan Coach Toby Brooks. Standing: Assistant Tigerette Coach Melissa Ruch, Coach Danny Bond, and Assistant Coach Danny Fish).