News
Sunday Fire Destroys Lake Home
June 2, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A Sunday fire swept through and destroyed a home on Coconut Ridge Road.
DeKalb Fire Chief Donny Green said that the department was summoned to the scene at 3:05 p.m. and upon arrival found the structure well involved with fire venting through the back of the roof. Firefighters were challenged with lack of apparatus access due to the narrow one lane road and water supply in the remote area.
Although the structure was a complete loss, firefighters, Emergency Medical Services, the Sheriff’s Department, and the department’s rehab unit were on the scene for over six hours. No injuries were reported, and no other property was damaged. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined.
The Main, Cookeville Highway, Liberty, and Temperance Hall stations, Tanker 1, Tanker 2, Rehabilitation Unit, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, and DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene.
Special thanks to Domino’s in Smithville donating pizza to feed firefighters on scene.
Meanwhile on Saturday at approximately 10:36 a.m., the DeKalb County Fire Department was dispatched to 450 South Mill Street in Dowell town for a commercial structure fire.
According to Chief Green when firefighters arrived, they found two vehicles fully ablaze inside the building. Crews quickly made an interior attack and extinguished the fire containing it to the area where the fire originated. There was significant smoke damage through the large building.
The staff at the facility reported they had been using a cutting tool to disassemble one of the vehicles when a spark from the tool ignited flammable materials nearby. One facility staff member onsite received minor burns to his hands but refused emergency medical services transport.
The Liberty, Temperance Hall, Main, and Cookeville Highway stations responded along with both tankers, DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Library Summer Reading Fun Begins Thursday, June 5
June 2, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
The Justin Potter and Alexandria Libraries Summer Reading Program will begin on June 5th and end on June 26th. All events for both libraries will be in the DeKalb County Complex Theatre Room at 2:00 pm. Children of all ages can register now for Summer Reading at both libraries. Each child that registers and meets their goal will receive a participation certificate and other goodies at the end of the Summer Reading Program. Program attendance is not required to participate.
Color our World programs include the following events:
Thursday, June 5th at 2:00 pm – Opening party with Mr. Bond’s Science Guys and DTC Photobooth.
Thursday, June 12th at 2:00 pm – Barry Mitchell’s “Show of Many Colors” and DeKalb County Health Department.
Thursday, June 19th at 2:00 pm –. Edgar Evins State Park Rangers and Animal Friends.
Thursday, June 26th at 2:00 pm – Final Party with The Nashville Zoo.
They hope you will join them for a fun filled Summer Reading Program.
For more information, call Justin Potter Library at 615-597-4359 or Alexandria Library at 615-529-4124 visit us on Facebook, Instagram or our website at www.dekalblibraries.net.
DeKalb County Historical Society to Meet Tuesday, June 3
June 2, 2025
By:
Are you interested in the History of DeKalb County and Tennessee? The DeKalb County Historical Society will hold a Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025 – 6:00 PM at the DeKalb Room, located at the DeKalb Community Complex, 712 South Congress Boulevard, Smithville, TN 37166. Any individual interested in DeKalb County and Tennessee History is invited to attend!
This re-formed organization is making plans for future guest speakers and projects. At the May meeting, the Historical Society’s mission was adopted as “Preserving our DeKalb County, Tennessee History For OUR Future.”
The Vision for the organization was discussed at length, which includes:
DeKalb County History Museum, where the county’s historical artifacts can be shared with the public;
Digital preservation of the historic documents from the county;
Exploring the possibility of additional Historic Districts to be formed in DeKalb County;
Outreach to Youth and Schools;
Oral History Project – Telling the Story of DeKalb County;
Advocating for Historic Preservation.
If these are some things that interest you, please join us at our next meeting!
For more information, contact DeKalb County Historian William Freddy Curtis at 615-691-1538 or email = wmfreddycurtis@gmail.com.
