Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
(TN/Bonner)
While others touted the beauty of Cummins Falls during its dedication Tuesday, Carol Hudelston saw a greater purpose in the new state park. The Cookeville woman lost her 18-year-old son, Bryan, in an accident at the falls in September 2009. Tears flowing, she joined the crowd Tuesday to show her support for the state takeover of the site and its provisions for visitor protection. He came here a lot to swim, Hudelston said. He was walking a trail climbing down, and he fell. Its been my goal for it to be state-monitored, preserved and made safer, and it already is safer. When he fell, there was nothing for safety. For me, it makes it a permanent memorial spot that I know will always be saved and kept beautiful, just like he loved it. Park advocates boast of the beauty of its 211 acres that stretch across the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River in Cookeville, but Meg Lockhart, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, called it a park in progress. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120523/NEWS21/305230098/Cummins-Falls-new-state-park-safer-venuenature-lovers?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News
American market. "A $30-billion company that has operations all over the world chose Tennessee because of a prior relationship and they see how well we've done, (it) speaks volumes," said Governor Haslam. The new center will employ about 144 people and is expected to be finished by the end of 2013. http://www.newschannel5.com/story/18579920/mars-breaks-ground-on-new-facility-in-williamson-co
Tennessee makes $4M investments from INCITE fund (Nashville Biz Journal)
The state of Tennessees INCITE fund has fueled more than $4 million in private investment in ventures including health care, business services and the sports world. In an announcement, The Tennessee Technology Development Corp., which is administering the fund for the state, announced $4.4 million in private investment following $1.9 million from the government fund. INCITE is a nearly $30 million pot of federal money the administration of Gov. Bill Haslam, a Republican, developed as part of a larger innovation and job creation plan. The Nashville Business Journal reported earlier on the funds focus as it ramped up, as well as debate over its guidelines. Excerpts from the recent announcement: W e are encouraged by the level of participation in this initial round of INCITE Fund co-investments and are optimistic about the positive economic impact this program will have on our great state, Dr. Leslie WisnerLynch, president and CEO TTDC, said. of http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2012/05/22/incite-tennessee-bill-haslam-ttdc.html
Women arrested in drug round up face TennCare fraud charges too (W VLT-TV)
Two Sevierville women are each facing two counts of TennCare fraud following a joint investigation by the Office of the Inspector General and the Sevierville Police Dept., the OIG's office announced on Tuesday. The Special Agents of the Office of Inspector General are working closely with local police officers all over the state especially as it pertains to case involving the illegal use or sales of prescription drugs, Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. The entire law enforcement community is clearly committed to eliminating prescription drug abuse, added Faulkner. Minda McCracken, 38, is accused of using her kid's TennCare benefits to buy Adderall on two separate occasions. The drug, which is prescribed for children with attention deficit, has side effects which can lead to abuse. Police say Jennifer Parton, 36, tried to use her TennCare benefits to get Morphine Sulphate with the intention of selling part of it. http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/Women_arrested_in_drug_round_up_face_TennCare_fraud_charge s_too_152669175.html?ref=175
crime declines last month, a devil was lost in the details: Drug crimes rose to their second-highest number in 11 years. The story was repeated across the Nashville area. While overall crime in 2011 was a mixed bag, drugrelated incidents generally rose in Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, W illiamson and Wilson counties. In Davidson and Rutherford counties, drug crimes rose by double-digit percentages, possible fallout from the states battle against prescription drugs and methamphetamine. The prescription drug problem also could be fueling a growing appetite for heroin, law enforcement officials said. It is probably no surprise to law enforcement or anyone who reads the newspaper every day that drug violations are up, especially with the methamphetamine problem the state has been facing and the surge of prescription pills being diverted, said Kristin Helm, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The problem is being felt in homes, as well. As police have increasingly dealt with more drug cases, so have rehabilitation centers, which are ushering in a new generation of drug addicts. Thats exactly what were seeing. I see younger and younger kids that are exposed to opioids, typically prescription opioids, said Dr. Chapman Sledge, chief medical officer at Cumberland Heights Foundation, a drug and alcohol treatment organization. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120523/NEWS03/305230086/TNdrug-crimes-rise-overall-crime-declines?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News
THP gearing up for Memorial Day weekend enforcement (Daily News Journal)
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is planning to step up efforts to enforce seat belt usage over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. State Troopers along with other state and local law enforcement agencies are participating in the national seat belt enforcement campaign, Click it or Ticket, May 21 through June 3. The 2012 Memorial Day holiday period begins at midnight Friday and ends at 11:59 p.m. Monday. Nineteen people were killed on Tennessee roadways during the 2011 Memorial Day holiday weekend, six more than in 2010. Last year, alcohol was involved in six of the fatalities, and 50 percent of the vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seat belts. During the 78-hour holiday time period, two pedestrians and seven motorcyclists were killed. Drivers can expect to see plenty of State Troopers on the road, enforcing seat belt laws and looking for aggressive and impaired drivers. More than 70 checkpoints are scheduled throughout the long holiday weekend in an effort to reduce fatalities and serious injury crashes in the state. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120522/NEW S01/120522004/THP-gearing-up-Memorial-Day-weekend-enforcement
Challenger to State Rep. Joshua Evans has DUI Record (TN Report)
A Capitol Hill lobbyist looking to unseat a rank-and-file House Republican has an arrest on suspicion of drunken driving in his history a fact that a couple GOP incumbents want to highlight even while a fellow member of their caucus faces trial for DUI himself. The two legislators are careful to say the run-in with the law shouldnt disqualify Lee Harrell from being seriously considered in the race against Rep. Joshua Evans for the Robertson County House seat, but firmly add that its a fact voters should know. I think its probably important for voters to have that information and be able to use that in their consideration, said Evans, a Republican from Greenbrier and small business owner. Evans is beating back a challenge from Harrell, a lobbyist for the Tennessee School Boards Association, in the 66th District encompassing Robertson County. The August primary election race is one of 21 this year where House Republican incumbents are trying to fend off challengers. Harrell was arrested Sept. 4, 2010, on drunken driving charges and refusing to submit to a blood alcohol test. It was certainly a mistake, but I learned from it. Ive moved on. Im a better person because of it, Harrell told TNReport. http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/05/22/challenger-to-state-rep-joshua-evans-has-dui-record/
The Shelby County Commission may not have the last word on a county government operating budget it added nearly $1 million to and for which it raided the countys $90 million reserve fund to balance the budget. They will send the budget up to us and like every resolution, we either sign it, veto it or not sign it, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell said after the Monday, May 21, vote by the commission. Well sit down and well sharpen our pencil and look at what we can do and what cant do and make our decision. Shelby County Commissioners added nearly $1 million in grants, bumping up the county governments consolidated operating budget to $1.2 billion for the fiscal year that begins July 1. As part of that, the commission increased funding to the Penny Hardaway Fast Break basketball courts project from the $150,000 recommended by the administration to $300,000. But the commission then made the county funding contingent on moving the location of the facility designed to hold basketball tournaments to the inner city from its planned Cordova site. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/may/23/commission-approves-12-billion-budget/
rare
in
Tennessee's
3rd
District GOP
primary
debate
Yes-or-no questions don't always get an easy answer from U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann and his Republican challengers. At Monday night's 3rd District GOP primary debate, WRCB-TV anchor David Carroll asked Fleischmann, Ron Bhalla and Weston Wamp to assume they had won the Republican nomination. Would they debate the Democratic nominee? Bhalla and Wamp said yes. Fleischmann praised "the debate process," described it as "very, very informative" and said it was "what our Founding Fathers wanted." Carroll swiveled to a clearly confused Wamp. "Did he commit to debate?" W amp asked. "I believe he did. You have committed to it?" Carroll asked Fleischmann. The congressman nodded "yes" 45 seconds after the question was asked, setting the dominant trend in a debate that often lacked clarity. Since he entered the race last year, W amp, the 25-yearold son of former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, has accused Fleischmann of bending to "pay-to-play expectations" from industry-backed political action committees, also known as PACs. The younger Wamp turned up the heat Monday night after Carroll asked Fleischmann to square his $363,000 in PAC donations with a campaign pledge from 2010 in which he said "special interest groups in W ashington will not find a door in my congressional office." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/23/chattanooga-straight-answers-rare-in-debate/?local
They are among 30 finalists; 15 winners will be announced this summer. Iostudio, a marketing firm, sends care packages to deployed employees throughout the year. TVA sent 4,000 care packages to service members overseas among other initiatives. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/23/tva-marketing-firm-finalists-for-pentagon-award/
Tennessee, Bearden High School in Knox County ranked 11th statewide and 1,303th nationwide, Morristown West ranked 12th statewide and 1,471th nationwide, and Greeneville High ranked 15th statewide and 1,895th nationwide. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9046954/dobyns-bennett-ranked-no-8-among-states-high-schools
MNPS
to
cut
100-plus
special-ed
jobs
as
stimulus
funds
dry
up
(C.
Paper/Garrison)
Faced with depleted federal stimulus dollars, Metro Nashville Public Schools plans to cut jobs of more than 100 special education paraprofessionals, or trained aides, the school district announced Tuesday. While cutting positions is not easy, we have been very careful to review all students needs and we will continue to meet those needs, said Debbie McAdams, the districts executive director for Exceptional Education, the division that oversees Metros special-needs students. According to Metros central office, the district currently employs 632 paraprofessionals who work with students with special needs or disabilities. School officials maintain that the elimination of the 100-plus positions does not signal a redirection from new employment policies or its focus on inclusive special-ed practices; rather, the federal stimulus dollars that paid for the extra special-needs instructors are no longer available. MNPS leadership anticipates retirees and employees leaving the district or changing positions will reduce the number of employees directly affected; a final number, however, wont be known until later this summer. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/mnps-cut-100-plus-special-ed-jobs-stimulusfunds-dry
Cleveland City Schools to keep the best teachers, although with fewer resources, he said. The county schools plan to add two middle school guidance counselors, a special education instructor and four part-time special education assistants. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/23/cleveland-bradley-schools-budget-ready-for-review/?local
increased revenue from better economic growth and from further cuts to state payrolls and spending on schools. "This was just a war," Mr. Donohoe said. "There is just no doubt we can become more efficient." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304791704577418641784902500.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 (SUBSCRIPTION)
MORE
charge, which had the contrary effect of making him seem defensive and rote, his scripted responses more programmed, strident and vacuous than convincing. By comparison, Weston Wamp, the congressman's 25-yearold novice challenger, came armed with a broader view and more nimble, reasoned and naturally assured responses. In arguing persuasively for bipartisan outreach to break the congressional gridlock in Washington, he seemed more the thoughtful veteran on the stage than his incumbent opponent, who bragged about his lockstep opposition to any give-and-take with the Obama administration. The third candidate in the debate, Ron Bhalla came off more humble and human, even though he discounted the merit of his candidacy by promising always to vote, in the widening digital age, according to the continually polled views of the majority of his constituents. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/23/tennessee-debate-in-a-vacuum-tn-third/?opiniontimes
10