News 2012

Incoming MTSU freshmen students and their parents or guardians soon will be coming to campus to attend the annual CUSTOMS orientation program.CUSTOMS helps new students and their parents or guardians become acquainted with what will be their academic and social home for the next four years. Though not mandatory, students are strongly encouraged to attend the entire orientation so they can familiarize themselves with their new surroundings, and be able to establish their fall semester class schedules with advisers in the final stage.
Major scholarship recipents will attend a session held Wednesday and Thursday. Sessions for business, liberal arts, mass communication and education majors will be held May 31-June 1, June 12-13, July 6-7, July 19-20. Those planning to study basic and applied Sciences or behavioral and health science may attend June 5-6, June 15-16, June 21-22, July 10-12 and July 24-25. All sessions are open to undeclared majors. Additionally, an open session will be held July 31-Aug. 1.
For more information, visit www.mtsu.edu/customs online or call 615-898-5533.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and Greenhouse Ministries recently reported that its partnership to provide VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites produced 346 total returns with a total refund amount of $492,000. 
The VITA partnership provided free tax filing services to qualifying local residents (annual household incomes of $50,000 or less) that assisted those individuals in claiming their tax refund dollars. Sites were available in both Rutherford County and Cannon County.
 
While Greenhouse Ministries provided financial education services to those receiving VITA services, local banks also partnered with the program to offer assistance with financial management and account services. Participating banks included SunTrust Bank, Regions Bank, F&M Bank, Wilson Bank & Trust, FirstBank, MidSouth Bank and First Tennessee Bank.
 
The 34 volunteers that participated in the program underwent an intense training process and served in capacities such as tax preparation, screening and greeting. Those volunteers were: Douglas Lukonen, Gia Cawthorn, Emily Ziadeh, Nathan Robertson, Tom Fix, Beverly Hancock, Ryan Kieffer, Annetta McGee, Christine Vanderweedt, Carolyn Willis, Teresa Erwin, Tyson Kimbrel, Scott Miller, Cindy Rhea, Gary Richmond, Jane Smith, Jana Lowe, Gloria Sanders, Gary Hunter, Betty Cox, Jan “Niki” Delk, Dawn DuBois, Sharif Ansari, Vicki Allen, Kristi Brockelsby, Szu Brown, Zehua “Casey” Li, Daniel Clanton, Christine Estes, Kirk Garrett, Christopher Hanvy, Jonathan Habart, Margarita Haag and Willie Gunter, Jr.
 
“I was honored to be a part of such a successful VITA site this year,” said Beth Gill, Tax Consultant with the Internal Revenue Service. “Everyone involved played an incredible role in the success of this site and because of that success, Greenhouse Ministries received President Obama’s Martin Luther King Drum Major Award for Community Service.”
 
The Drum Major Award honors outstanding contributions to community and society in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King’s teachings and philosophy of love and nonviolence.
 
“We hope that our results reflect a dedication to Middle Tennessee’s residents,” commented Nathan Butturini, Site Coordinator for the VITA program.
 
The VITA program is expected to resume in January 2013. For more information, please visit www.greenhousemin.org or www.uwrutherford.org.

Community partners continue to make great things happen in Cannon County Schools. Coordinated School Health received a $200 grant from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas for CPR classes, which covered round one of training. Then Stones River Hospital stepped in and offered four additional complementary training sessions. Many school personnel realize the importance of emergency preparedness and are always ready and willing to go through additional training as needed.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has received reports of suspected cases of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) infection in horses that participated in a recent trail ride in Tennessee. Six to 8 suspected cases of the neurological form of EHV-1 have been reported to the state veterinarian’s office. Horses are being treated, isolated and monitored by their attending veterinarian.
The horses may have been exposed to EHV-1 during the Bucksnort Trail Ride held April 23–30 in Humphreys County. The event drew approximately 100 horses from multiple states. The movement of horses that attended the event is being restricted on a case by case basis.
 
TDA animal health officials are working with event organizers, neighboring state veterinarians and private veterinarians to identify other horses that may have been exposed or are exhibiting symptoms.  
As a precaution, State Veterinarian Charles Hatcher recommends that horse owners who participated in the Bucksnort event work with their veterinarian to restrict movement and to monitor their horses. Hatcher also recommends that isolation and monitoring continue for 28 days if any clinical signs of disease are observed. Veterinarians should report suspected neurological cases of EHV-1 to the State Veterinarian’s office at 615-837-5120.
 
Equine Herpes Virus is highly contagious among horses but poses no threat to humans. The symptoms in horses may include a fever, nasal discharge, wobbly gait, hind-end weakness, dribbling of urine and diminished tail tone. The virus is easily spread by airborne transmission, horse-to-horse contact and by contact with nasal secretions on equipment, tack, feed and other surfaces. Caretakers can spread the virus to horses if their hands, clothing, shoes or vehicles are contaminated. The virus can cause aborted foals and can be fatal in some cases.
 The State Veterinarian also recommends that horse owners practice good biosecurity such as using your own trailer and equipment, not letting your horses touch other people’s horses, disinfecting shoes and equipment, washing hands after helping others with their horses and limiting access to your farm. A downloadable brochure about horse biosecurity is available from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_v….
 

The menu at the upcoming June 1st and 2nd Wartrace MusicFest features plenty of Bluegrass, Blues, and Bar-B-Q. But what about dessert? Music fans 18 years and older have an opportunity to consume as many Little Debbie Oatmeal Crème Pies as they can eat in 45 seconds according to Ron Stacy, MusicFest chairman and Mayor of Wartrace.It’s one of the rules for contestants who enter the Little Debbie Oatmeal Crème Pie eating contest on Friday June 1st at the eighth annual Wartrace MusicFest. In addition to eating his or her fill of crème pies, the winner will walk away with a $100. gift certificate. Registration for the contest is from 5 to 6 PM and the competition begins at 6:00 PM. As an appetizer, the first 600 people through the gate will receive a Little Debbie Oatmeal Crème Pie.
In addition to Bar-B-Q and Crème Pies, 12 hours of music will be served with thirteen bands performing continuously from 6:00 PM to midnight each evening. Friday night is all bluegrass with The Gallagher Trio, Lonesome Valley Grass, Just Thrown Together, Tom Brantley & Missionary Ridge, Golden Hollow Bluegrass, and Friday Night Orphan Brigade.
Saturday night is a blues bash with Nashville’s Bad Moon Blues Band, Soul Patch, the Andy T Band featuring James ’Nick’ Nixon, The Midnight Special Band featuring Bobby Cochran, and the McKenzie-Fox Band.
Admission is $5. per night with children under 12 free. Rough camping sites are available, alcohol is prohibited, and bringing your own lawn chair is encouraged. For a copy of the eating contest rules and regulations, and vendor and camping information call 931-389-6144. Additional information and directions are available at www.wartracemusicfest.org and at http://www.facebook.com/wartracemusicfest. MusicFest is presented by the Town of Wartrace and the Wartrace Chamber of Commerce as a non-profit endeavor to fund community improvements.
 

Adopt some ducks for a chance to win 5,000 bucks during the annual Child Advocacy Center Duck Derby June 23. 
            People who want to adopt a duck pay $5 for one duck, $25 for a six-quack, $50 for a quacker’s dozen or $100 for a flock of 25 ducks, said Queen of the Quackers Kristin Demos. Each duck will be assigned a number.
 
            About 10,000 numbered ducks will race down the Stones River beginning at 4:23 p.m. at the Sportsman’s Club at 1231 Medical Center Parkway. The person who adopted the winning duck will receive $5,000 bucks from presenting sponsor Sudsy’s Car Wash.
 
            People who adopted the next 15 winning ducks will receive a total of about $18,000 in prizes.
 
            Ducks may be adopted online at www.duckrace.com/murfreesboro or at Demos’ restaurant, Bell Jewelers on Northwest Broad Street, JoZoara’s at North Thompson Lane, Cox Family Martial Arts on South Church Street, Slick Pig on East Main Street, Lanes, Trains and Automobiles on Butler Drive, Top of the Block on Lokey Avenue, Sudsy’s Car wash on South Church Street, Murfreesboro Post on Rutherford Boulevard and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office on New Salem Highway.
 
            CAC Executive Director Sharon De Boer said all proceeds go to the Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford and Cannon counties.
The Child Advocacy Center is a nonprofit agency that serves victims of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and drug-endangered children, along with their non-offending family members. In the last 12 years, the Child Protective Investigative Team consisting of the Child Advocacy Center, the Department of Children’s Services, law enforcement, mental health counselors, and the District Attorney’s Office have investigated and prosecuted over 7,500 child abuse cases in Rutherford and Cannon Counties. 
“We have had amazing sponsors for the 2012 Duck Derby,” De Boer said.
Troy and Donna VanLier and Sudsy’s Car Wash are the presenting sponsor. Many other businesses and organizations have supported the Child Advocacy Center for the last five duck races including Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, Bell Jewelers, Demos’, MidSouth Bank, Predators Foundation, Bob Parks Auction, Bridgestone, C & K Hardwood, Parman Energy, Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Pediatrics, Waldron, Fann, and Parsley, Sandra Benson, John and Sharon Sant Amour, Bill and Lucy Whitesell, and many others.
Other prizes include:
Second prize: A MOAB bicycle with accessories.
Third prize: A $500 gift certificate from Bell Jewelers.
Fourth prize: A $500 gift certificate from Demos’ restaurant.
Best of the Boro Fifth Prize: Gift certificates for Lanes, Trains and Automobiles, Discovery Center Children’s Museum, Cox Family Martial Arts, Champion’s Run Golf Course, Sam Davis Home, Chuy’s, Stones River Grille, Miller’s Grocery, Puleo’s Grill, Slick Pig, Sir Pizza, Hickory Falls and Five Senses restaurant.
Gatlinburg Getaway Sixth Prize: Two nights at Clarion Hotel, tickets to Dollywood, Rafting in the Smokies, Sweet Fannie Adams Theatre, Christ in the Smokies and Tip a Canoe Rental.
Romantic Nashville Getaway Seventh Prize: One night at Gaylord Opryland Hotel, tickets to the General Jackson showboat and breakfast at Pancake Pantry.
Memphis Blues Eighth Prize: Two nights at Holiday Inn Select Downtown, tickets to Graceland, Memphis Rock ’n south Mueseum, Belz Museum, Chucalissa Museum, Pink Place, Lichterman Nature Center, Sharpe Planetarium and dinner at Folks Folly Prime Steak House and Huey’s.
Hello Huntsville Ninth Prize: Two nights at Embassy Suites, massage at Spa Botanica and tickets to Burritt on the Mountain.
Let’s Get Pampered 10th Prize: Gift basket from Top of the Block and four one-hour massages from Bodyworks Massage and Tangerine facial, manicure and pedicure.
Nashville Elegance 11th Prize: One night at the Sheraton Music City, tickets to Cheekwood, Frist Museum, Nashville Symphony, Hermitage and dinner at Peter’s Sushi.
Nashville Family Fun 12th Prize: One night at Courtyard by Marriott, tickets to Adventure Science Museum, Centennial Sportsplex, Lane Motor Museum, Traveler’s Rest, Tennessee State Museum and dinner at Ginger Thai restaurant.
Lucky No. 13 “Honey, we’re going to Tunica” 13th Prize: Two nights at Bally’s Casino, two nights at Gold Strike Casino and dinner at Chicago Steak House.
Reelfoot Lake Fisherman’s Getaway 14th Prize: Two nights at Boyette’s Resort Cottage, Bo’s Landing fishing boat rental and dinner at Boyette’s Diner.
Chattanooga Day Trip 15th Prize: Ruby Falls, Tennessee Aquarium, Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center, Hunter Museum, Tennessee Valley Railroad, Southern Belle Riverboat and dinner at English Rose.
Last Duck Standing All for a Year 16th Prize: Car washes at Sudsy’s Car Wash, Bowling at Lanes, Trains and Automobiles and Cox Family Martial Arts membership.
For more information, contact De Boer at 867-9000.
 

As of Monday, May 21st, access to the parking area and ramp at the back of the Adams Memorial Library will no longer be available. A temporary ramp will be constructed at the main College Street entrance using wood from the old ramp.  This will make the building less accessible to the physically challenged during the first part of the week.
During that time, those who need assistance should call 563-5861 during open hours to receive special attention including “curbside service.”
Thanks for your patience while our wonderful new addition and parking area is being prepared.

Individuals planning to participate in the Tennessee Agriculture Enhancement program must have a current Beef Quality Assurance certification and premise identification for the farm you plan to construct the project. During the next couple of weeks, certification meetings are scheduled to meet these guidelines. In the event that these dates are not convenient, please call Bruce Steelman at 563-2554 to schedule an appointment.
All programs conducted by the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service are conducted on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, Religion, veteran status or other legally protected categories.
BQA training schedule –
May 24 – Cannon County  U.T. Extension Office Basement 6:00 A.M., 9:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M., 7:00 P.M.
May 29 –Woodbury Lions Club Building – 5:00 P.M.
 

The Mrs. Annie Cox Memorial Scholarship Committee is proud to announce the awarding of a scholarship to Mr. Dylan Rogers Miller, Cannon County High School Senior – Class of 2012, who will graduate May 25th, 2012. This scholarship is in memory of longtime educator and beloved Cannon County citizen, Mrs. Annie Cox. It has been established as an additional financial resource for a student intending to major in Elementary Education who has demonstrated achievement and based on need. Mrs. Cox was a very special person to all of Cannon County, and appropriately this scholarship honors her “Love for Education and Children, Character, Capability, and Need.” The scholarship personifies Mrs. Cox’s words, “I love to see children learn! I just love it! And want to make a difference in the life of a child.” — Mrs. Annie Cox.The Scholarship amount was $1500.00 in which Dylan will use toward his demonstrated need to attend Tennessee Tech University. Dylan intends to major in Elementary Education. He is the son of Danny and Tina Miller of Woodbury. Dylan stated in his essay which was a part of the scholarship application, “The love of my teachers (including Annie Cox ed.) inspired me to pursue my dream of becoming a certified elementary educator…I truly believe that by becoming a teacher I can influence children and become a driving force within their lives. Children can enjoy learning; all it takes is an educator that is willing to listen and make learning enjoyable for each student!”The Mrs. Annie Cox Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a Cannon County High School Senior that is on track to graduate this year, have an application pending to or acceptance received from a state accredited two or four year college/university, recommendation of a CCHS faculty member, intending to major in Elementary Education, and write a 300 Word Essay entitled, “Why I deserve this scholarship, and why do I want to be an Elementary Teacher?”
There will be various fundraising efforts by the committee to fund this scholarship including the Annie Cox Memorial Scholarship Car Show held in the Fall 2012.
 

The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s annual “Spring Fling” begins Monday, May 21, and MTSU summer-school parking and traffic may be affected as a result.In preparation for the weeklong event, the University’s Greenland Drive parking lot will be closed May 21-25.
MTSU’s Smith Field is serving as the venue for the state baseball championships. All TSSAA Spring Fling track and field events are being conducted at MTSU’s Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium.
On Monday and Tuesday, anyone with a valid MTSU permit will be allowed to park in the Greenland Drive at no cost. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Greenland Drive will be a “Pay to Park” lot only.
The Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building lot and Smith Field baseball lot also will be used to accommodate Spring Fling fans as “Pay to Park” on Thursday and Friday. Anyone with a valid MTSU permit, however, will still be allowed to park free in the nursing and baseball lots during the event.
Students, staff and faculty who normally park in the Greenland Drive, nursing or baseball lots may want to park in the Rutherford Boulevard lot and ride the Raider Xpress shuttle into campus to avoid traffic congestion.
A printable campus map is available at www.mtsu.edu/parking/Spring2012.pdf. A map of the Raider Xpress routes is available at www.mtsu.edu/parking/images/Bus_Routes_Map_Spring_2012.pdf.