News 2012

Hilton Sandestin Beach Basketball Blowout Results Thursday Spanish Fort 63 Cannon County Lions 50. Friday: Paxton 59 Cannon County Lions 34 (Lions eliminated) Cannon County Lionettes 83 Walton 51. Today’s schedule Semifinals 5:30 Cannon County Lionettes vs Paxton. Game will be streamcast live including video on jockjive.com today

A Christmas Eve argument over who’s turn it was to watch TV escalated into domestic assault charges against a Cannon County man.  According to police reports Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputy Tommy Miller was dispatched to a Jim Cummings Highway residence.  After arrival, Deputy Miller spoke to Ms. Olive Marx who stated that her brother Elijah Althen had been mad all day and became even more angrier when he was told to let his sister Ms. Carolann Truesdell watch TV because it was her turn.  After Mr. Althen refused to let her, Ms Marx stepped in and turned the TV off.  This action caused Mr. Althen to yell and cuss at Ms. Marx.  Ms. Marx’s husband Kenneth Marx, stepped in to intervene at that point.  After Mr. Marx stepped in the hallway heading for his bedroom, Mr. Althen then lunged toward Ms. Marx, and when Mr. Marx got involved Althen assaulted him.  These actions were committed in front of several witnesses including small children in the home.  Althen was then placed under arrest for Domestic Assault and transported to the Cannon County Jail  

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development is warning the approximately 30,000 unemployment claimants who are receiving federally extended unemployment insurance that they are facing the abrupt end of those benefits when the program expires January 2, 2013.Congress created the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program in 2008 to provide unemployment benefits to workers who have exhausted the first 26 weeks of state benefits (maximum). The original legislation has been amended 10 times since it became effective July 6, 2008.
“We want to alert claimants that they are fast approaching the end of federal extended benefits,” said Labor Commissioner Karla Davis. “EUC08 assistance was created as a stopgap measure for the long-term jobless until they could get work. With that ending in a couple weeks, we encourage claimants to use Jobs4TN.gov and to visit one of our Career Centers across the state for help in finding jobs.”
The last payable week for all claimants receiving EUC08 federal benefits will be the week ending December 29, 2012, meaning claimants will certify for that week and receive their last payment the first week of January. All claimants in the EUC08 program — no matter how many weeks they were initially notified they would receive, what tier of EUC they are in, or the amount of balance in that tier — will receive their last EUC08 payment during the first week of January.
After January 2nd Tennessee will return to the system in which an approved new claim could have a maximum of up to 26 weeks of Tennessee Unemployment Compensation benefits.
Additional updates will be provided on the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development website at www.tn.gov/labor-wfd.

Nissan North America recently awarded the Core Consolidation Project to Cumberland Plastics Corporation out of Woodbury.  The project is a high visibilty project in Nissan and would entail receiving automotive component cores from all Nissan dealers across the US.  Very conservatively according to Cumberland officials, the project will create 7 job with more in the long term.  This new project will require additional space with docks.  Sehkar Reddy president of Cumberland Plastics Corporation has been in communication with Randall Reid chairman of the Cannon County Industrial Development Board on the purchase or renting of the vacant County owned building located at 475 Bryant Lane.  In a letter to County Executive Mike Gannon, Mr. Reddy requested Gannon to help in getting the Bryant Lane Building for rent and or purchase and said that this deal would help Cumberland Plastics to expand and prevent from having to move operations to implement the Nissan Core consolidation project.  Executive Gannon in turn wrote a letter to the Industrial Board Members urging them to consider the proposal.  That proposal along with other potential proposals will be discussed at the Cannon County Industrial Development Board Meeting on Thursday January 3rd.  Other items on the agenda include a update on the PC Disposal debt and the status of THC Select.   A committee will give a report on some industrial park property.  The board will discuss the status of outstanding loans. Set up the meeting schedule of the board for the 2013 year and address the repair requests from Crane Interiors including a sink repair and parking lot gravel.  The meeting will take place at the Cannon County Courthouse at 6:00 on Thursday January 3rd  

On the Christmas wishlist for one Cannon County resident was to replace broken dishes and glassware.  Last Thursday, Cannon County Sheriff Deputy Seth Perry was dispatched to a Seals Hollow Road residence in reference to a break in.  According to police reports, upon arrival, Deputy Perry spoke with Mr. James Furguson.  Mr. Furguson returned home and found that his home had been entered and his cabinets containing dishes and other glassware had been turned over and broken.  A red couch was also slashed with a knife and some plants in a pot had been dumped onto the floor.  When he returned home, he found the doors had been locked back and the only way that was possible was with a key.  Furguson stated that he had been in a relationship with John Olesky and that it had ended badly.  The only person that had a key to the residence was Olesky and stated that he might currently be in Kentucky.  Deputy Perry obtained a written statement from Furguson and photographed the scene.

Tennessee State Parks will sponsor free, guided hikes on New Year’s Day in commemoration of the park system’s 75th Anniversary. Each state park will host its own special hike in the first few days of the New Year.“We are very excited to continue the celebration of Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary in 2013, beginning with this series of First Hikes,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau. “These First Hikes offer a great way to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature and welcome the New Year with friends and family.”
From Meeman-Shelby to Fall Creek Falls to Roan Mountain and every state park in between, the 2013 First Hikes are designed for all ages and abilities. Some hikes will be approximately one mile in length and tailored for novice hikers, while others are lengthier and geared toward more experienced hikers. For a more in-depth look into planned First Hikes in your area, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/parks/firsthikes/.
Tennessee State Parks’ First Hikes of 2013 are part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes initiative in all 50 states. America’s State Parks First Day Hikes offer individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors by taking a healthy hike on January 1, 2013, at a state park close to home.
In addition to the First Hikes slated for early January, Tennessee State Parks will host a variety of special events in 2013 in celebration of the 75th Anniversary.
The Tennessee State Parks system was established through legislation in 1937, and those laws – with modifications and additions over the years – remain the framework for park operations today.  As in most states, Tennessee began in cooperation with federal programs that instigated individual parks. Later, Depression era recovery programs gave a boost to the idea and the possibility of creating parks. The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration worked on land conservation, but also delved further into the actual planning and construction of what would become the first of 54 Tennessee State Parks.
Today, there is a state park within an hour’s drive of just about anywhere in Tennessee.  A 2009 University of Tennessee study highlights the positive economic impacts that state parks provide local communities, particularly in rural areas of the state.  The study found that for every dollar spent on trips to Tennessee State Parks, an additional $1.11 of economic activity was generated throughout the state.  When the direct and indirect expenditures were combined, the impact of Tennessee State Parks to the state’s economy was $1.5 billion in total industry output, supporting more than 18,600 jobs.
“Our vision statement highlights the inherent value of our natural environment, along with the value of the many physical reminders of Tennessee’s past,” added Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill. “Tennessee’s state parks have played such an important role in our history, and they play a critical role in our health and quality of life, which will benefit Tennesseans well into the future.”
Tennessee’s state parks deliver a rich fabric of natural landscapes, wild places, preserved ecologies, outdoor recreational opportunities and protected historic scenes and resources – together representing the heritage of Tennessee in the landscape.
Tennessee’s 54 state parks and 82 state natural areas offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families or business and professional groups.  State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses.  For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call toll free at 1-888-867-2757. For upcoming events in connection with the 75th Anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, please visit the state parks website at www.tnstateparks.com.

Once again it is about to be moving time!  Adams Memorial Library will close on January 7th, 2013 and will reopen on the main floor on January 14th, 2013.  We will need this time to get phone and computers changed back to their final location.  We will also be offering only minimal services as we are presently doing in the lower level meeting room until the collections are brought out of storage and reshelved.  No library fines will be charged for days the library is closed.  
If you would like to help with the move and the unpacking of over 1000 boxes of library materials, please give us a call at 563-5861. We can use all the able-bodied volunteers we can find to help carry materials, construct shelving, and fill those shelves. We will be working hard to get the library setup in its beautiful new home and we are anxious to show it off. 
 
Remember that the Auburntown Branch Library will be open regular hours during the week we are closed and can provide faxing and photocopy services.
 
Happy New Year to everyone!  We look forward to seeing you soon in your lovely new library!

The Stones River National Battlefield is offering a full slate of programs and activities to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Battle of Stones River. The battlefield is accessible from Thompson Lane and Old Nashville Highway. Events are free.: Wednesday-Friday
All programs begin at the park visitor center.
10 a.m.: “The Approaching Thunder” — Join a ranger for a talk that focuses on the events of the Stones River campaign 150 years ago to the day. 30 minutes
11 a.m.: Battlefield Walk — Join a ranger for a walk through a different section of the battlefield each day. 60 minutes
1 p.m.: “Stones River Stories” — Listen as a ranger shares the story of a soldier or group of soldiers who fought in the Battle of Stones River. 30 minutes
2 p.m.: Battlefield Caravan Tour — Visitors will follow a ranger in their vehicles and stop at four sites to learn about the events and people that are part of the story of the Battle of Stones River. 90 minutes
3 p.m.: “Living Under the Guns” — Discover how the Battle of Stones River changed the lives of civilians. 30 minutes
Dec. 29-30
Camp programs near the battlefield’s visitor center:
9 a.m.: “The Approaching Thunder” — Join a ranger for a talk that describes the events of the Stones River campaign 150 years ago to the day.
10 a.m.: “Rising Tide” — Learn how the Confederates shattered the Union right flank during the morning of Dec. 31, 1862. Musket demonstration.
11 a.m.: “Resisting the Tide” — A ranger will recount the harrowing fight in the Slaughter Pen where Union forces bought time for their comrades to build a new defensive line. Musket demonstration.
Noon: “Covering the Retreat” — Watch cannons fire and learn how Union artillery struggled to hold back the Confederate tide with mixed results. Cannon demonstration.
1 p.m.: “Hell’s Half Acre” — A ranger will recount the bloody struggle the of Confederate infantry as it attacked the Round Forest. Musket demonstration.
2 p.m.: “Fighting for the Pike” — A ranger will tell visitors how the Union infantry made its final stand at the Nashville Pike on Dec. 31, 1862. Musket demonstration.
3 p.m.: “Artillery Saves the Days” — Visitors will learn about the critical role of cannons in forging the Union victory. Cannon demonstration.
4 p.m.: “A Hard-Earned Victory” — Join a ranger for a discussion of the important military, political and social impacts of the costly Union victory at Stones River.
• While you wait for the next demonstration to begin, join soldiers and civilians in an interpretive camp and discover the stories from beyond the battlefield. Presentations will deal with Gen. George H. Thomas, the Signal Corps, artificers, camp games, the provost marshal and the civilian story of Holly McFadden. The interpretive camp will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
• Young visitors can gather at the Family Fun Tent from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and complete activities to earn a special 150th anniversary Junior Ranger badge.
All programs will last 30 minutes and begin at the park visitor center.
Monday Dec. 31
9 a.m.: “The Line That Wouldn’t Break” — Join a ranger for a walk along the Union line that halted the Confederate tide along the Nashville Pike. Walk begins at the visitor center and lasts 60 minutes.
• Book Signings — Historians Michael Bradley, Shirley Jones and Chris Kolakowski will sign copies of their books about the Civil War in Tennessee in the park visitor center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each author will also present a 30-minute talk:
11:30 a.m.: “The Battle of Stones River” — Chris Kolakowski
1:30 p.m.: “Murfreesboro in the Civil War” — Shirley Jones
2:30 p.m.: “The Tullahoma Campaign” — Michael Bradley
• Voices of Stones River — Tour the battlefield and find living history demonstrations at Tour Stop 2 and the visitor center featuring descriptions of the Battle of Stones River as written by the soldiers who were lucky enough to survive the carnage. Thirty-minute programs will be offered hourly at each location from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. Artillery demonstrations at the visitor center and musket demonstrations at Tour Stop 2.
4 p.m.: “A Hard-Earned Victory” — Join a ranger for a discussion of the important military, political and social impacts of the costly Union victory at Stones River. 30 minutes
Tuesday, Jan. 1
10 a.m.: “The Eye of the Storm” — Learn about the quiet, but critical, events of New Year’s Day that shaped the outcome of the battle. 30 minutes
11 a.m.: “Digging In” — Walk around the earthworks built by the Pioneer Brigade and discuss how the use of field fortifications changed the course of the battle. 60 minutes
1 p.m.: “Mr. Lincoln’s Proclamation” — President Abraham Lincoln will share his thoughts on creating the Emancipation Proclamation and how it changed the Civil War and the nation. 30 minutes
2 p.m.: Expressions of Freedom — Students from McGavock High School will share the videos they created for the National Park Foundation’s Expressions of Freedom contest. 60 minutes
3 p.m.: “Mr. Lincoln’s Proclamation”
All programs begin at the park visitor center.
Wednesday Jan.2
“The Very Forest Seemed to Fall” — See and feel the power of Union artillery and experience the battle’s bloody climax through the stories of the cannoneers who stopped Breckinridge’s charge.
Programs at 10 and 11 a.m., 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. at the visitor center.
 

Tennessee Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak wants to remind Tennesseans to keep safe and warm, as colder weather becomes more common across the state. But she urges residents to be cautious in the use of alternate heat sources.  
“The colder weather means many people will begin to heat their homes with fireplaces, woodstoves and space heaters,” said McPeak. “Cold weather months typically have a higher number of accidental fire injuries and deaths, due to the use of these alternate heat sources.” 
“Tennessee occupies an undesirably high spot in recurring rankings of states with fire deaths,” McPeak said. “One of the main causes remains falling asleep while smoking. If you smoke, please refrain from doing so in a bed or chair in which you tend to fall asleep.” 
 
Following a few safety tips can greatly reduce the risk of fires. For more, visit the State Fire Marshal’s home safety checklist at http://ow.ly/7tpOU: 
 

Make it a “house rule” to test your home’s smoke alarms, before using a space heater or fireplace. All smoke alarms should additionally be tested once a month. Doing so could save your life. 

Space heaters need space. Never put a space heater within three feet of anything combustible, including furniture, bedding or aerosol cans. Make sure your space heater bears the mark of an independent testing lab such as UL or FM. Look for models with automatic shutoff features, when purchasing space heaters. Never use extension cords with space heaters. 

Where independent lab logos are concerned, try to purchase surge protectors from established retailers. Some bargain retailers have unwittingly sold lower-quality surge protectors bearing counterfeit markings of independent testing labs. Some labs have begun using holographic labeling to combat the counterfeiting of their seals.

Before you use your fireplace, make sure the chimney has been professionally cleaned to remove the buildup of combustible materials that accumulate inside the flue. Be sure any kerosene-fueled heating device is installed with proper ventilation. A portable kerosene heater must be filled only in a well-ventilated area, free of flame and other heat sources, and only when the device has cooled completely. Use only the type of kerosene specified by the manufacturer, and never use gasoline in place of kerosene. 

Never leave a fire, space heater or flame unattended – this includes decorative candles.

Additionally, make sure furniture, clothing and other combustible materials are not placed in front of permanently mounted heaters like those in walls or on baseboards. That way, if the vents blow warm air, there will be little worry of the items catching fire.

Middle Tennessee State University will be closed from Saturday, Dec. 22, until Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, for the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. 
All campus offices and departments will be closed during this time. The closures will include the Cope Administration Building; James E. Walker Library; Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center, Health Services and Campus Pharmacy; Student Union Building; Keathley University Center; MT Dining food service facilities; and James Union Building.
 
Many MTSU offices and departments will be open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Jan. 2.
 
However, a scheduled power outage on campus Jan. 2-3 (with Jan. 4 reserved in case of adverse weather on either one of the other days) will force the closing of several buildings during normal business hours.
 
The outage is required to repair damage to electrical equipment from the most recent electrical fault and continue progress toward completion of the underground electrical project.
 
Affected buildings Jan. 2-3 will include the library, the John Bragg Mass Communication Building, Wood-Stegall Center, the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, Student Union Building, Project Help and the Dyslexia Center on North Baird Lane, and various residence halls and other buildings.
 
With the closing of the library on those two days, all electronic resources (databases, journals, ebooks) will be offline.
 
Campus Recreation Center is scheduled to reopen at 7 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, unless the extra day is needed for the power outage.
 
Spring 2013 classes will begin on Thursday, Jan. 17.
 
The new Student Union Building will reopen at 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4.