Smithville Student Wins Award at Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention

June 13, 2022
By:

Sixth-grade student Anderson Fortner from Smithville, son of Joe and Misty Fortner, was honored recently for his ingenuity at the seventh annual Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, powered by The Henry Ford. This student was among over 68 award-winning K-12 inventors from across the nation who were celebrated at the awards ceremony held on June 3.

Fortner earned the Manufacturing and Tools Industry Award and Cooley Patent Application Award for his invention of the Tire Lock

“The Tire Lock is a mechanism that will hold your lawnmower or four-wheeler stationary on a trailer during transportation.”

Invention Convention Worldwide is a global K-12 invention education curricular program mapped to national and state educational standards that teaches students problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and creativity skills. The program helps young inventors build lifelong confidence in their invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship abilities.

Following two years of holding the competition virtually, Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention U.S. Nationals returned to its in-person home at The Henry Ford for its seventh annual event. Prior to advancing to the US national event, students competed at local and regional levels. To participate in Invention Convention, students had to submit a video presentation of their invention, a prototype, an inventor’s logbook showing the journey of their invention process, and a display board highlighting key points of the invention process.

Prizes and opportunities this year included pro bono patent awards from law firms WilmerHale, Cantor Colburn, Cooley, and Clark Hill, gift cards, and scholarships from the event’s sponsors, including title sponsor Raytheon Technologies. The winner of the event’s top accolade, the Raytheon Technologies Most Innovative Award, received a $2,500 scholarship.

The mission of Invention Convention Worldwide is to bring invention education to every student everywhere. Organizations interested in bringing the year-long program to their region can get more information at www.inventionconvention.org.

Located in Dearborn, Michigan, The Henry Ford, a globally recognized destination, fosters inspiration and learning from hands-on encounters with artifacts that represent the most comprehensive collection anywhere focusing on innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness in America. Its unique venues include Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Benson Ford Research Center and Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school. Together with its online presence at thf.org, its national television series The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation and Invention Convention Worldwide, the growing affiliation of organizations fostering innovation, invention and entrepreneurship in K-12 students, The Henry Ford inspires individuals to unlock their potential and help shape a better future.

Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With four industry-leading businesses ― Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense ― the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

June 13, 2022
By:

The DeKalb County Department of Health is encouraging parents and caregivers to go to the Tennessee WIC website, https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/fhw/wic.html for important information on the infant formula shortage that is impacting many people in our county, the state and across the country.

“We know the infant formula shortage is a scary time for parents and caregivers, but our staff are here to help and there are several helpful resources available to help,” said Michael Railling (County Health Department Director).

A substitution list of nutritionally equivalent formulas can be found at https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/program-areas/wic/TN-WIC-Temporary-Formula-Substitutions.pdf. The formula substitution list is pertinent to all consumers, regardless of if they are a WIC participant or not.

Tips for parents and caregivers:

• Do not dilute formula because this can lead to chemical imbalances that can be dangerous for an infant.

• The FDA and American Association of Pediatrics strongly discourage using homemade formula. It could cause additional health concerns such as chemical imbalances, gastrointestinal distress, or allergic reactions.

• Parents should consult with their pediatrician about introducing cow’s milk if their baby is close to one year of age. It may be a good option for a limited time depending on your baby’s age and other conditions.

• Parents can begin to introduce solid foods beginning at 4 months of age for healthy infants for additional nutritional support. Parents can consult with their provider or American Academy of Pediatrics resources for additional information https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx

• Parents should only use FDA-regulated infant or toddler formulas and please consult your pediatrician or local WIC office if you have questions or concerns about formula.

A mother’s breastmilk is the best nutritional support for her baby if she is able to breastfeed. Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed if possible. Families, workplaces, community spaces, and religious groups can encourage this by providing appropriate space and time to breastfeed.

For more information contact the DeKalb County Health Department at (615)597-7599.

June 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County High School has a new girls basketball coach.

Meet Brandy Alley

The announcement was made Friday by DCHS Principal Bruce Curtis.

The 25-year-old Alley, a native and resident of Crossville, will succeed Coach Danny Fish who announced his resignation last month to take the boys basketball head coaching job at Warren County High School.

Although she has served as a travel ball coach and an assistant to head basketball coaches at White County, Cumberland County, and Stone Memorial spanning the last five years, this is her first head varsity basketball coaching job. In addition to her role as assistant, Alley also headed up or was involved in the freshman and junior varsity girls basketball programs during her time at those schools and was head girls volleyball coach for one year at Cumberland County High School.

While originally from Cumberland County, Alley’s family later moved to Murfreesboro. She played basketball and graduated from Riverdale High School in 2014. Alley furthered her education and basketball career at Faulkner University at Montgomery Alabama where she earned a Masters Degree in Biology. From there she attended Tennessee Tech University and earned a Masters Degree in Education Curriculum Instruction. Alley moved back to Crossville four years ago. Her parents now reside in White County. Coach Alley said her plans are to eventually move here.

Principal Curtis said he became acquainted with Alley when she was an assistant coach at White County High School.

“I’ve known Coach Brandy probably for four or five years. She came to White County when my daughter was there (student and basketball player) and worked with her quite a bit. Then she (Alley) moved onto Cumberland County and later to Stone Memorial working with Coaches Mike Buck and Radhika Miller, who are in my opinion two of the better coaches in the area. I felt like she (Alley) gained a lot of knowledge from them,” said Curtis.

Alley said she was excited to get the call from Principal Curtis and she is ready for the challenge.

“I was looking to further my career. I am very excited about being a head coach. DeKalb County is where my great uncle Bobby Hale started his head (football) coaching career decades ago and I have always kept up with the girls here especially with them having been in our district last year. I watched them play and loved them so as soon as he (Principal Curtis) presented me with this opportunity (to be head coach) I jumped on it and couldn’t be more excited,” said Coach Alley.

“The biggest thing I want to focus on with this program is taking the great foundation they have and keep pushing it further. One thing that always stood out to me was how much potential this group of girls has and how good of a foundation they have and how good they can be so we will take each day as a new opportunity for them to grow and develop and keep telling the girls that there is a lot more than just this game but that we can use this game as a tool to teach them how to be better people,” she continued.

“I know its going to take a lot of work but from what I know about these girls already is they will be willing to do it. They are very competitive and have potential to do some great things in this district and cause a stir. I really want to turn the work potential into action,” she concluded.

Coach Alley becomes the fourth female head basketball coach all time in the history of DeKalb County High School behind Helen Lee, Holly White, and Amy Tobitt.

Principal Curtis said bringing on a female coach to lead this program was important to him. “I was seriously wanting to try to find a female coach if we could for our girls. I just think that is something that in today’s society has become very important,” he said.

Coach Alley will meet her team for the first time Monday for a play day.

In the classroom, Coach Alley will be an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and when there is an opening, Principal Curtis said she will be moved into a biology and physical science teaching position.

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