News 2013

The Thanksgiving weekend is a time when many of us spend time reconnecting with family members and sharing family stories. At the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA), families can also explore stories of their relatives who lived many years ago. For the third consecutive year, the staff at TSLA is encouraging Tennesseans to visit the library and celebrate ‘Family History Day’ by learning more about genealogical research.
Trent Hanner, a reference librarian at TSLA, will host a beginning genealogy workshop providing an overview of resources available at the library and how to navigate through various databases. Afterwards, staff will be on hand to help visitors with their research.
The workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the TSLA auditorium, which is located at 403 Seventh Avenue North, directly west of the State Capitol building in downtown Nashville.
While the workshop is free, reservations are required due to limited seating. To make a reservation, call (615) 741-2764 or e-mail workshop.tsla@tn.gov. Please note that TSLA will be closed on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday, so it’s important to make reservations before then.
Although parking in front of TSLA’s building is limited due to construction, there is plenty of additional parking behind the building.
“Researching family history is a great way to spend a Saturday,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. “Many people who give genealogy a try quickly find themselves hooked on a rewarding new hobby.”
 

illions of Americans will be preparing meals and traveling throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The American Red Cross has safety tips for the kitchen and for the highway. 
“More home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year,” said Mike Cowles, Chapter Executive, Heart of Tennessee Chapter. “The week of Thanksgiving is also one of the busiest travel periods. We want people to arrive at their destinations, enjoy time with their loved ones and make it home safely.”
 COOKING SAFETY Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and related injuries. Follow these safety tips:

Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the cooking area.

Clean all cooking surfaces to prevent grease buildup.

Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling food. Turn burners off if leaving the kitchen.

Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire.

Place turkey fryers outside and away from the house, deck and garage.
 TRAVEL SAFETY Vehicles should be in good working order before heading out. Remember to:

Pack emergency supplies like blankets, water and snacks, flashlight and first aid kit.

Fill the fuel tank, check air pressure in tires and top-off windshield fluid.

Buckle up and obey all traffic signs.

Avoid distractions while driving like using mobile phones to talk or text.

Designate a driver who won’t be drinking whenever alcohol is served.
 
The Red Cross has a variety of emergency supplies and first aid kits available at redcrossstore.org.
 KNOW HOW TO TREAT EMERGENCIES People can learn how to respond to emergencies by downloading the free American Red Cross First Aid App. Users receive instant access to expert advice whenever and wherever they need it. The app is available in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.
 

MTSU will close Nov. 28-29 for Thanksgiving holiday observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. 
No classes will be held and all offices will be closed as students, faculty, staff and administrators celebrate the holiday with families and friends. Also, no Saturday, Nov. 30, classes will be held.
 
Classes will resume at their regular times Monday, Dec. 2. All offices will reopen at 8 a.m. that day.
 
Thanksgiving dinner for students staying on campus will be served in the Scarlett Commons Clubhouse from 2 until 5 p.m. Thursday. The MTSU Parent and Family Association will provide the food, which will be catered by MT Dining/ARAMARK. The Housing and Residential Life staff will set up and serve the meal.
  
After being closed Nov. 28-30 for the holiday, the James E. Walker Library will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, to 2 a.m. Monday.
 
The Campus Recreation Center, also closed Nov. 28-30, will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
 
The Student Union will be closed Friday, open from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and open from 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday.
 
All MT Dining/ARAMARK locations will be closed Thursday. These on-campus dining locations will be open the rest of the weekend:
 
• McCallie Dining Hall — 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday;
 
• Student Union Building Provisions on Demand — 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday;
 
• Panda Express in Student Union Building — noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday;
 
• Cyber Café market and Subway — 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday;
 
• Starbucks in Walker Library — 3 p.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday; and
 
• Popeye’s in the Student Union — 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
 
The north side of campus will be busy Saturday afternoon. The MTSU men’s basketball team will entertain South Alabama at noon in Murphy Center; the bowl-eligible football team hosts the University of Texas at El Paso at 2:45 p.m. in Floyd Stadium in the final home game of the season. For more information, visit goblueraiders.com.
  
In case of campus emergencies during the holiday weekend, call MTSU Police at 615-898-2424.

Three local businesses are making an impact on their community by auctioning off decorated Christmas Trees to benefit United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties.   
The trees will be displayed at Reeves-Sain Drug Store located at 1801 Memorial Boulevard, Bombshells Hair Studio and Spa located at 803 N. Thompson Lane, and Hylabrook Antique Mall located at 204 Chaffin Place. 
 
Each location will decorate the tree and provide items to go along with the tree for the auction.  Bids can be placed by visiting the three locations, and the auction will end on December 14.
 
For more information regarding the tree auction, contact United Way at 615-893-7303.

Christmas in Lynchburg.  Saturday Dec. 7.Cystic Fibrosis Red Nose Run. 7:45 am
Breakfast and pictures with Santa at the Masonic Lodge.
Bottle signing from 9 am until 1 pm at the Jack Daniel Visitors Center. 
Goat & Dog Christmas Costume contest at 12 noon. 
The Christmas parade at 2 pm.
Flat Creek Contra Dancers on the Square 2:30 pm
The Iron Kettle’s Chili Supper, 4 pm. 
Lighting of the Barrel Tree on Majors Blvd 6 p.m.
For a complete schedule of Christmas in Lynchburg, visit www.lynchburgtn.com.

The world changed dramatically in 1981. IBM sold its first personal computer loaded with MS DOS software. The space shuttle Columbia made its inaugural flight. MTV brought music videos into living rooms. Just when it appeared technology was making life better for nearly everyone, doctors in San Francisco, Calif. were baffled by an illness that defied all known treatment. That frightening, incurable disease would soon become known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS.In the more than three decades since AIDS emerged as a deadly threat, health officials have watched a roller-coaster of public fear and understanding about it. David Reagan, MD, PhD, chief medical officer for the Tennessee Department of Health, said while some shifts have been good, others are troublesome.
“It’s good we have more accurate information about AIDS, including its causes, effects and treatments but it is disturbing that too many people have become complacent about it,” he said.  “When we look at the alarming rate of new cases in some Tennessee counties, we believe there are many who don’t understand how it can change and end lives.”
In 2012, the Tennessee counties with the highest number of new Human Immunodeficiency Virus cases were Shelby with 413 and Davidson with 169. In the other 93 counties combined, there were 341 cases. By the end of 2012, a total of 19,038 Tennesseans were diagnosed with HIV, which can damage the immune system and lead to AIDS.
“While there have been advances in drugs and treatments, there is still no cure for HIV or AIDS,” said TDH State Epidemiologist Tim Jones, MD. “Once you have HIV or AIDS, you can only try to manage it as a chronic disease with costly medicines that may help some people more than others. We encourage people to be tested to know if they are infected, and to avoid the risky behaviors that can lead to HIV infection.”
“All of us need to know our HIV status definitively,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “It’s not enough to hope we don’t need treatment or that we won’t transmit it to others. We need to know, and it is easier than ever to be tested.”
There are numerous locations across the state offering free or low-cost testing, including Tennessee’s county health department clinics. To find an HIV testing site near you, go to www.cdc.gov/hiv/prevention/index.html.
According to federal statistics, every nine and a half minutes another person in the U.S. is infected with HIV. While many of the early victims were homosexual men, more than one-fourth of new HIV infections today involve heterosexuals. Unprotected sex and injection drug users sharing needles still account for the majority of new cases.
“The distressing number of new HIV/AIDS cases we are seeing tells us there is not enough understanding about prevention,” Reagan said. “Discussing sexual activity may be uneasy for some parents and community leaders, but we need to have those talks to stem the rising tide of new infections. The physical and emotional toll for individuals, along with the economic healthcare costs to our state and nation, are too significant to be ignored. HIV/AIDS affects all of us in one way or another, and we must all work together to ensure fewer people are hurt by it and to assist those who have been infected.”
For more information about HIV and AIDS, go to www.cdc.gov/hiv/.

Federal officials have informed the state that they would not extend the necessary waiver to allow the CoverTN program to continue beyond December 31, 2013.  
Due to reported difficulties accessing insurance on the federal Marketplace, the state identified the state dollars needed to fund an extension in coverage and asked federal officials if they would grant a waiver which would allow the CoverTN program to continue to provide coverage to members until April 30, 2014.  This would have allowed members to maintain current coverage for 30 days following the end of the Marketplace open enrollment period.  
 
However, federal officials informed the state that no waivers would be granted.  A waiver would be required for programs that have annual limits to continue to operate after January 1, 2014.  CoverTN is a limited benefit program that has a $25,000 annual limit.  
 
Members were notified in September that their coverage would be ending December 31, 2013 due to new federal regulations and that they should seek coverage through the federal Marketplace. 
 

Sue Conley-CEO of DeKalb Community and Stones River Hospital was recently honored as a 2013 Hardin-Simmons Alumni Award recipient along with receiving a key to the city. Friends who observed the arc of her career aren’t surprised she has been selected to receive a 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award from her alma mater. “During her undergraduate years at Hardin-Simmons University, Sue demonstrated the multi-tasking skills, energy and determination that propelled her to healthcare leadership,” one friend commented, “Back then, she completed requirements for two bachelor’s degrees while working full-time and managing a family.”“Sue is an amazing leader with a hands-on attitude,” said Shan Burklow-Marketing Director for DeKalb Community and Stones River Hospitals, “I was not surprised in the least when Hardin-Simmons came to her with this distinguished honor. She radiates a positive ‘can-do’ perspective on life and work. We are so blessed to have her here at our hospitals and communities. We work hard every single day, striving to be the best hospital in the nation…and (Sue) is leading us there.”
Conley is the Chief Executive Officer of two hospitals and is no stranger to hard work and multi-tasking. Sue earned a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, in biology in 1989 and added another BS degree in medical technology in 1990. Not surprisingly, she also earned membership in Beta Beta Beta, the national biological honor society. While Sue excelled in the classroom and the laboratory, the time demands of her life did not afford the opportunity to build a long Hardin-Simmons resume. “I really did not have many HSU activities,” she explains. “I worked full time most of my enrollment—and had two kids and a husband.” Still, Hardin-Simmons shaped and empowered her, Sue recalls. “Even though I was a non-traditional college student, I have many great memories of my time at HSU—particularly the great people I encountered, both students and faculty,” she says. “I learned so much there and will be forever grateful for my experiences and for my family’s support during my college years. Education is something that no one can take away from you, and I feel it was the key to any success I have achieved.”
Sue’s choice of the phrase “any success” is quite an understatement. In 1989, she went to work for Hendrick Medical Center, just south of the HSU campus in Abilene. She worked her way up from medical technologist to continuous quality improvement coordinator for the 400-bed, 2,500-employee facility.
Out in the “real world,” Sue learned on the job. “When I started working in the lab, I started to think that maybe administration could use some help in making decisions, because, of course, when you’re younger, you think you have all the answers,” she notes. But when she took the quality-improvement position, she adds, “I learned decisions that are made on the administrative level—there was a lot more information I didn’t have. That made me understand administrators need to communicate to their staff. … If you can just explain why you’re doing something or what the issues are, your staff is so much more supportive and understanding and can even give you help.”
In 1996, Sue earned a Master of Science degree in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio and also joined the staff of Brownwood Regional Medical Center. In Brownwood, she started as assistant administrator and, in less than a year and a half, rose to chief operating officer.
Then in 2000, she took another COO position, this time with Medical Center of South Arkansas, in El Dorado. The next step up the healthcare ladder took her to Mesquite, Nevada, where she became chief executive officer of the brand-new Mesa View Regional Hospital in 2004.
Six years later, Sparks Health System in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a 492-bed facility, recruited Sue to become COO. From there, in 2011, Sue became CEO of Summit Medical Center in Van Buren, Arkansas. And last year, Capella-St. Thomas Health Services chose Sue to lead two of its Tennessee facilities—DeKalb Community Hospital in Smithville and Stones River Hospital in Woodbury, both southeast of Nashville.
Her engagement and recognition extends beyond the hospitals she has led. In Tennessee, she is a board member of the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce and a member of the local Lions Club. Among her affiliations in Arkansas were board member of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce and vice chair of the Arkansas Valley Trauma Regional Advisory Council.
In Mesquite, Nevada, she was named Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 2009 and Business Person of the Year in 2006. She also led the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce as president. Conley currently resides in Cannon County with her husband, Alan, and adorable dog, Buddy.
 
 

Thanksgiving travelers will enjoy a smooth drive through Tennessee again this year during this busy travel holiday.  The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will halt all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state.  All construction related lane closures will be stopped beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27 until 6:00 a.m. Monday, December 2.“Nearly a million travelers in Tennessee are expected to drive to their holiday destination this year,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. “Halting road work during this busy time will provide maximum capacity on our roadways and help alleviate congestion, especially during the predicted peak travel days of Wednesday and Sunday.”
While all lane closure activity will be stopped, workers may be on site in some construction zones.  Motorists are reminded to drive safely and obey the posted speeds, especially in work zones.  Drivers convicted of speeding in work zones where workers are present face a fine of up to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums. 
“The Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO) and TDOT are partnering with law enforcement across the state for the I-40 Challenge, with the goal of having zero fatalities on the 455 miles of I-40 in Tennessee,” said GHSO Director Kendell Poole. “The Tennessee Highway Patrol will have troopers stationed every 20 miles on I-40, along with increased law enforcement on all highways. We want everyone to have a safe holiday so remember to buckle up, drive the speed limit and don’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you’ve had anything to drink.”
Some long-term lane closures will remain in place on some construction projects for motorists’ safety.
AAA predicts 43.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving holiday. An estimated 953,041 people are expected to travel by automobile in Tennessee. Nationwide, 90% of all travelers will drive to their destination. In the southeast region, travelers are estimated to journey 525 miles round-trip. According to AAA, Wednesday will be the busiest travel day with 37% of travelers leaving for their destination.
Updated travel and construction information can be found on the TDOT SmartWay website at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway or you may call 5‑1‑1.  You can also receive traffic alerts via TDOT’s multiple Twitter feeds, including statewide traffic tweets @TN511 or any of TDOT’s other Twitter pages.  Smartphone users can download the TDOT SmartWay mobile app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store for Android to access TDOT’s SmartWay cameras, messages displayed on overhead Dynamic Message Signs, and information on construction related lane closures and incidents on interstates and state routes.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination.  Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

Outdoor, gas-fueled fryers cook up juicy turkeys in a fraction of the time it takes to roast one in an indoor oven. However, the State Fire Marshal’s Office is joining the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in discouraging the residential use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil because they pose an enormous risk for injury.“Outdoor fryers heat gallons of cooking oil to very high temperatures to cook the turkey. The risk of this oil being spilled is significant, and the resulting injuries can be severe,” State Fire Marshal and Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak says.Turkey fryer hazards:

The fryers are often bumped or tipped over when the turkey is put in or taken out, presenting a greater risk for the oil to splash or spill. Outdoor fryers that come with a stand pose the greatest risk of tipping.

The oil is heated to such a high temperature for frying that the vapors could ignite, resulting in a fire. 

If you use a turkey fryer during rain or snow, the risk of injury is increased. When rain or snow hits the hot oil, the oil can splash or turn to steam, which can cause burns. 

Numerous fires have ignited when fryers have been brought indoors or into a garage to keep the appliances out of the rain.

Moving the turkey from the fryer to a serving plate presents another chance of contact with hot oil. 

Turkeys that are not completely thawed may cause the oil to splash, which can cause burns.

Children have been severely burned when running into turkey fryers while playing nearby.
It is recommended that consumers utilize the oil-free models that are available or seek commercial professionals to prepare this entrée. Fried turkeys can be ordered from some supermarkets and restaurants during the holiday season.If frying your own turkey is an absolute must, the following safety measures should be carefully followed:

Turkey fryers must always be used outdoors and a safe distance from buildings and other flammable materials.

Never use turkey fryers indoors or on a wooden deck.

Make sure the fryer is used on a flat surface to prevent accidental tipping.

Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.

Never let children or pets near the fryer, even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use.

To prevent spillover, do not overfill the fryer.

Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.

The National Turkey Foundation recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of weight.

Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease or oil fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call the fire department by dialing 911.
Caution should always be used when using any kind of deep fryer. Since 2008, 76 fires have been reported in Tennessee as a result of deep frying. These fires injured three civilians and three firefighters and damaged $1,993,887 of property.