DCHS Graduate Becomes Published Author

June 30, 2024
By: Bill Conger

This time four years ago there were a lot of disappointments for Braedon Jett. The COVID pandemic had caused the loss of what would have been some key wonderful memories in the life of the 2020 D.C.H.S. graduate. He was planning to take a trip to Europe, compete in a state Political Science contest, and enjoy several other pivotal times in a senior’s life. Fast forward four years and life is much different.

Jett, a Tennessee Tech graduate in Marketing, has become a published author and actually traveled to a variety of countries from Madrid to Warsaw. The son of Mollie Bratten and Ryan Jett, he recently released his self-published book, Did People Have Beds Just for Eating Food? The 115-page book is the hilarious history of everything in your bedroom.

“It is a history book for kids, middle school and below, about everyday objects they have inside their bedroom,” Jett explains. “Some of the chapters go over video games, beds, clocks, closets, things like that, that almost every kid has.”

Jett, who originally had plans to major in History, knew he wanted to write a book but didn’t know what topic he wanted to explore.

“I thought maybe I’d like to do history, but I had no idea where I wanted to start with that. One day I was sitting in my room just looking around, and I think it was my clock that I looked at. I was thinking what’s the history behind it, where did it come from, how did we go from using shadows as clocks to having digital clocks on our nightstands. That’s where the idea came from. I went on from there. I wanted to do one for every object I can find in my room and my brother’s room. I walked around and picked up objects that I thought would have an interesting history behind it.”

From emperors sleeping on rocks to rich Victorian women with jeweled bugs crawling all over them, this book contains crazy funny facts about your bedroom.

“I’m not naïve. I know a lot of people don’t have the same love for history that I might have, but I still think history is an important thing to learn about. I’m not a big fan of math, but I understand it’s still an important subject to learn about. So, I tried to be child friendly in writing this book, but also I wanted it to be interesting enough for people who might not have that interest in history like I do … and maybe give them curiosity to learn about normal things around their house.”

I didn’t want to make an American-centric book. I wanted to take history from all over the world because that’s what history is. It impacts everyone around the world so I wanted to take objects not just from Europe but also things from the Middle East to Africa, the Americas before the Spanish came over. I wanted to take all that to diversify the history and also possibly get kids from other parts of the world interested in the book as well.

Jett is already writing his follow-up book, the second in a continuing series on the fun facts about others parts of the house.

“The next book I am writing currently is over bathrooms. I think that would be very enjoyable for kids. I only have five chapters so far. I think it’s really funny.”

June 30, 2024
By:

A Friday night fire rendered significant damage to a Liberty industry.

DeKalb County Volunteer Firefighters were summoned to an industrial structure fire at the Liberty Machine Shop on East Main Street at 9:35 p.m.

“A neighbor spotted fire coming from the roof and called DeKalb 911,” said DeKalb Fire Chief Donny Green.

“The Liberty, Temperance Hall, Main, and Cookeville Highway stations had a quick response and found heavy fire and smoke coming from the front of the building near the roof line. Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack and were able to quickly contain the fire. However, due to the building age and type of construction, firefighters were required to perform extensive overhaul operations to extinguish fire extensions between the tongue and groove ceiling, dense insulation, and the metal roof. After an extended operation, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, ventilate the building, and perform salvage operations to help protect machinery and other property inside the facility,” said Chief Green

“Due to the extended period of operation and physical demands on firefighters, mutual aid was requested from the Alexandria Fire Department and Smithville Fire Department to provide more fire personnel. Approximately 40 firefighters were on the scene,” Chief Green explained.

Others providing assistance were the DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Fire Department’s Rehabilitation Unit, Caney Fork Electric Company, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, and several members of the public who provided drinking water to firefighters.

“The building received significant fire damage to the front interior portion where the blaze originated in the ceiling area. Other portions of the facility received moderate smoke and water damage,” said Chief Green.
No one was present at the facility when the fire was reported and there were no injuries during the incident. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined.

County firefighters were called upon again on Saturday in a separate structure fire at 2:35 p.m. on Obie Adcock Road in the Belk Community.

“Upon arrival heavy smoke was showing from all sides of the structure,” said Chief Green. “Firefighters made entry and extinguished the fire quickly. With the quick attack, firefighters were able to contain the fire to one room,” he added.

On the scene were members of the DeKalb County Fire Department’s Belk, Keltonburg, and Short Mountain stations, Tanker 2, Rehab, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department , and DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services.

June 29, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Twenty-nine toddlers from ages 13 to 47 months were featured Friday evening during the annual Toddler Show at the DeKalb County Fair.

First place winners received a blue ribbon. Red ribbons went to those receiving second place.

This year’s recipients are as follows:

DeKalb Fair Toddler Show-Twins (13 to 47 months)
Winners: Mariella Louise and Lorelai Renea Dyer, 29-month-old twins of Brandon and Mandee Dyer of Liberty

DeKalb Fair Toddler Show-Boys (13 to 18 months)
Winner: Kohen “Briggs” Garrett, 13-month-old son of Ryan and Erica Garrett of Liberty
Runner-up: Paxton Lee Dawson, 15-month-old son of Pamela and David Dawson of Smithville

DeKalb Fair Toddler Show-Girls (13 to 18 months)
Winner: Indy Hart Williams, 16-month-old daughter of Brian and Stephanie Williams of Smithville
Runner-up: Emerson Grace Orchard, 15-month-old daughter of Donny and Elisha Orchard of Smithville
Other participants: Corie Smith, daughter of Jesse and Chloe Smith of Smithville, Parker Kayte Harvey, 17-month-old daughter of Chad and Kayla Harvey of Alexandria; Raelynn Goodwin, 13-month-old daughter of Dakota and Kyra Goodwin of Alexandria, Berkley Era Lee Pettit, 15-month-old daughter of Zach and Taya Pettit of DeKalb County, and Nora Drew Dedmon, 16-month-old daughter of Brey and Samantha Dedmon of Dowelltown.

DeKalb Fair Toddler Show- Boys (19 to 24 months)
Winner: Jonathan “James” Griffin, 20-month-old son of Luke and Casey Griffin of Alexandria
Runner-up: Kingston Vincent, 20-month-old son of Seth and Kayla Vincent of Smithville

DeKalb Fair Toddler Show-Girls (19 to 24 months)
Winner: Callie Blake Roller, 21-month-old daughter of George and Abbey Roller of Smithville
Runner-up: Oaklynn Coronado, 20-month-old daughter of Kaia and Diego Coronado of Smithville

DeKalb Fair Toddler Show-Boy (25 to 30 months)
Winner: Vander Phillips White, 26-month-old son of Phillip and Brittany White of Liberty

DeKalb Fair Toddler Show-Girls (25 to 30 months)
Winner: Enleigh Brooke Phillips, 28-month-old daughter of Kyle and Makenzie Phillips of Dowelltown
Runner-up: Davina Skye Baldwin, 28-month-old daughter of Jessica Ray and Aulbury Baldwin of Alexandria

DeKalb Fair Toddler Show-Boy (31 to 36 months)
Winner: Bentley Farris, 32-month-old son of Madison Gossard and Bryson Farris of Smithville

DeKalb Fair Toddler Show -Girls (31 to 36 months)
Winner: Elsie Pearl Paschal, 33-month-old daughter of Justin and Makagan Paschal of Alexandria
Runner-up: Everleigh Hope Wright, 34-month-old daughter of Nick and Mikayla Wright of Smithville
Other participants: Maelei Gail Dawson, 33-month-old daughter of Pamela and David Dawson of Smithville, and Sydney Ann Barrett, 32-month-old daughter of Stephen and Vickey Barrett of Dowelltown

DeKalb Fair Toddler Show -Girls (37 to 47 months)
Winner: Khloe Raye Curtis, 47-month-old daughter of Brooke Hutchings of DeKalb County
Runner-up: Emma Chapman, 45-month-old daughter of Jocelyn and Corey Chapman of Dowelltown
Other participants: Charlotte Moore, 37-month-old daughter of Jacob and Megan Moore of DeKalb County. Renley Kayte Roberts, 39-month-old daughter of Jordan and Dalton Roberts of Smithville, Everleigh Jade Blackford, 37-month-old daughter of Bobby and Nichole Blackford of Smithville, and Madeline Martin, 40-month-old daughter of Hassie and Elijah Martin of Smithville.

The DeKalb County Fair line up of events and attractions for the last day is as follows:

Saturday, June 29:
Square Dancing (Smithville Select, Caney Fork Circle Eight, DeKalb Dancing Delights, and Center Hill Hoedown Square Dancers – Lions Club Pavilion-6:00 p.m.
Harvest Moon –Lions Club Pavilion- 7:00 pm
Pet Show- Ag Center – 6:00 p.m.
Demolition Derby- TC McMillen Arena – 7:00 p.m.
Cash Drawing- Lions Pavilion – 9:30 p.m.
Homemade Ice Cream Contest -Ag Center-6:00 p.m.

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