Clearing Work Underway in Preparation for Highway 56 Construction

September 30, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC has begun clearing trees and structures on Highway 56 south to be followed by utility relocations in preparation for road construction.

During construction, the Tennessee Department of Transportation is advising motorists to use caution and watch for construction equipment and personnel in the roadway.

Much of the clearing work currently being done is between Seven Springs Road in DeKalb County to the Green Hill Community in Warren County.

TDOT opened bids in June and Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC was the low bidder on the construction project at $43,691,948 which will be done in two phases from south of state highway 288 near Magness Road to East Bryant Street in Smithville and from south of the Warren-DeKalb County line to near Magness Road in DeKalb County. A proposed third segment from near State Route 287 in Warren County to near the DeKalb County Line is not yet ready for bid letting.

The state plans to build largely two lanes of a proposed four lane project and maintain traffic on the existing Highway 56 (alignment) while construction is being done on the new portion.

The estimated completion date for the two phases is May 31, 2022.

Meanwhile, TDOT has announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is replacing a box culvert on State Route 141 as part of the Center Hill Dam restoration project. SR141 will be closed adjacent to Long Branch Campground from October 1 – 22. The road will be impassible during construction of the culvert and a detour route is posted.

One lane of State Route 96 is closed and traffic is controlled by a temporary signal due to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam restoration work. Motorists should exercise caution as they travel through the work zone. Estimated project completion date is June 2020.

September 30, 2019
By: Bill Conger

The Fighting Tiger Band stung competitors Saturday (September 28) at the 14^th Annual Marching Yellow Jacket Invitational. The D.C.H.S. band went up against two more similar-sized competitors, Forrest High School and Gordonsville, in their class.

“We walked away today very happy,” Band Director Tracy Luna said in the band room following the day’s competition. “We didn’t score first place in our class, but there’s more to numbers than first place in the class. Out of 17 bands, we were 5^th overall with the sweepstakes. That means the combined scores of the percussion, drum major, color guard, and the band’s score were all averaged. There’s a formula.  We were behind the big bands, and we were the top scorer in small bands out of 17 in the class.”

“Forrest edged us out by half a point in our class, but in the sweepstakes we turned the tables a bit, and we were a point higher than Forrest,” adds Luna. “We were very proud of our overall performance.”

In addition, the percussion and color guard took home first place trophies while drum major Brianna Beatty picked up a 3^rd place finish.

“They did a great job,” says Jonathan Holland, Assistant Band Director and Percussion Instructor. “[They are] ‘The Little Percussion Section That Could’. We’re definitely competing against sections that have four to five times as many percussionists as we do. We are holding our own. They’ve really dug in, and they are working really hard. They did extremely well, especially considering we had to substitute in a new player just this past Monday,”

Sixteen bands competed during the mid-90s, high humidity day. Not only did the students perform their “Shades of Latin” show well, the judges recognized the DeKalb County band parents with a special award for the day.

“It comes as a surprise to some folks but not to me because we have one of the best parents groups around,” says Luna. Their enthusiasm, their overall positive attitude, and willingness to help the band was looked at pretty closely. The judges had no idea that this was our Homecoming week, and the parents were bailing me and the band out all week. It was terrific.”

The band will travel to Livingston to play the halftime show this Friday. On October 12^th the band will compete in the Middle Tennessee Small Band competition in Chapel Hill, TN.

September 30, 2019
By: Bill Conger

The community of DeKalb County continues to rally around Baby Hudson. The infant son of Chad and Brooke Mathis was born with a life-threatening condition that requires a heart transplant. For the last month the anxious mom and dad have been camped out at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, hoping for a miracle.

“It’s been a long wait,” says Brooke Mathis. “We’re holding up the best we can.

Born on July 8, Hudson weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20 ¼” long.

“I thought he was the sweetest thing I’d ever seen,” the proud mom remembers when she first saw her son. “He’s just a real happy baby. He’s always smiling. He’ll smile at everybody that comes around him.”

But behind the smile is a little boy in need of a new heart to continue living. His mom, a private duty nurse, and dad, Chad, a delivery worker at Lowe’s, knew about their son’s rare heart defect before he was born. It’s called congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA), a condition where the heart’s lower half is reversed.

“His right and left ventricle are on opposite sides. His right ventricle is pumping to his whole body. His left ventricle is pumping to his lungs where it should be the other way around. He also has a tricuspid valve. It’s deformed and it has a severe leak. That’s really what’s causing the problems.”

Friends, family, churches, and people the Mathis family doesn’t even know have jumped in to offer help.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by everybody coming together and supporting us and praying for us. We really do appreciate it. We get through the day with prayer and God. “

A music benefit and silent auction will be held for Baby Hudson on Saturday, October 5 at the DeKalb County Complex from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.  Special guests during this music benefit and silent auction will be Sadie Faith, Shelby Lee Lowe, Jake Hoot, and local artist Seth Willoughby will be performing. All funds donated will go to help Hudson and his family.

The following weekend on October 12 a Truck and Tractor event called “Hookin’ For Hudson” is scheduled at the Alexandria Fairgrounds. Admission is $12 (5 and under free). Money raised will help provide financial assistance to the family and also medical bills while Baby Hudson stays at Vanderbilt. For more information contact Tasha at 615-663-4109.

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