News 2013

Stones River National Battlefield and National Cemetery re-opened to visitors yesterday. Visitors can access the park and cemetery immediately. They have been closed since October 1 due to the lapse in Congressional appropriations. 
“We are excited happy to be back at work and welcome visitors to Stones River National Battlefield,” said Superintendent Gayle Hazelwood. “Autumn is a particularly special season to enjoy all that the park has to offer.”
 
Ranger programs – talks on weekdays and auto caravan tours on Saturday and Sunday will continue through October 31. Saturday bike tours continue through October 26,
 
During the weekend of October 26-27, we will present living history programs commemorating the 150th anniversary of the creation of the 13th United States Colored Infantry, one of the first regiments of African American soldiers in the Civil War, which were established after the Emancipation Proclamation.
 
On the weekend of November 2-3, we will present cavalry programs by the 7th Tennessee Cavalry group, who bring their horses and camp to the battlefield.
 
Stones River National Battlefield main entrance is located at 1563 N. Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro. The visitor center is one mile from the entrance. Additional information is available at the visitor center, by calling 615-893-9501, or at the park website www.nps.gov/stri.
 

 If you’re proud to bleed “True Blue,” rest up, eat right and roll up your sleeves Oct. 21-23 to save lives at MTSU’s True Blue Blood Drive. True Blue supporters across the Midstate can still make an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org/mtsu to donate in the three-day drive at MTSU’s Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center.
Appointments are still available from noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, and Wednesday, Oct. 23.
The blood drive, now in its fourth year, has traditionally been a competition between MTSU and former Sun Belt Conference rival Western Kentucky University linked to their annual football matchup.
The Blue Raiders aren’t facing the Hilltoppers this fall because of MTSU’s switch to Conference USA, but MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee said the need for blood remains urgent.
“Part of the True Blue spirit is being a giver, and what better way to do so than giving the gift of life by being a blood donor?” McPhee said. “I encourage the Blue Raider community and the wider community to respond like we always have in the past in supporting such a worthy cause.”
“The need for blood won’t wait until next year when we play Western again in Conference USA. That need is here every day,” added Chris Massaro, director of MTSU athletics. “We want to see the same people — and more — who’d donate if we were in a competition. It is a competition: to save lives.”
James Lee, president of MTSU’s Student Government Association, a co-sponsor of the True Blue Blood Drive with MTSU Athletics, said the “Bleed Blue” drive has become a community tradition, drawing alumni and community supporters from across the Midstate as well as across campus.
“Around this time of year, people recognize that MTSU has a big blood drive, regardless of any competition, and they get ready to donate,” Lee said. “The people who donate know they’re not just reaching people in Middle Tennessee but all over the world.
“They’re making such a generous donation, something that is literally a part of them, to save lives.”
The Rec Center is located on Blue Raider Drive on the east side of the MTSU campus. A campus map with parking notes is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap13-14. Blood donors also will have access to reserved parking at the Rec Center during the drive.
Walk-in donors will be welcome, but organizers are encouraging all donors to make appointments early to get convenient times and speedier processing on donation day.
“Some people are afraid of needles, and being a donor myself, I understand that it’s an intense experience,” Lee added, “but it’s also a very rewarding one. They (Red Cross personnel) are great, and people really respect blood donors. I encourage everyone, on- and off-campus, to come out and help.”

he commissioners of the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) today announced specific actions their agencies are taking to help curb the number of traffic fatalities in Tennessee. As of October 17, there have been 800 people killed on Tennessee roadways in 2013. That is the same number of fatalities this same time last year.TDOT Commissioner John Schroer announced his department will display the daily traffic fatality figures on its dynamic message boards across the state. This figure will be updated each weekday and will be compared to the number of fatalities on the same date in 2012.
“It’s my hope that seeing the fatality numbers on a daily basis will help drivers make better decisions that can save lives,” Schroer said. “Whether it’s putting your phone down, watching your speed, buckling your seat belt, or choosing not to drive impaired, every single motorist can do their part to prevent more tragedies on our roadways.”
TDOSHS Commissioner Bill Gibbons said the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) will continue to focus on specific DUI and seatbelt enforcement efforts that will include special enforcement campaigns throughout the upcoming holiday travel season.
“While we made great progress in the first six months of 2013 compared to last year, the last three months have been very deadly on Tennessee roadways,” Gibbons said. “I know that our stepped up efforts at DUI and seat belt enforcement have saved lives. We will continue to focus on those areas.”
Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott released preliminary data that show decreases in the state wide number of alcohol-related crashes and the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes to date in 2013, compared to this time last year. A total of 172 individuals have died in alcohol-related crashes through October 16, compared to 252 at this time in 2012 (a drop of 31.7 percent). To date, there has been a 10.7 percent decline in total alcohol-related crashes this year.
The THP has taken a strategic and data driven approach this year to DUI enforcement efforts that has resulted in 5,039 arrests for driving under the influence through October 16. That is a 10 percent increase over the number of DUI arrests made this time last year (4,578). 
State troopers have greatly focused on issuing seatbelt citations in 2013, as well, resulting in a 52.2 percent increase compared to this time last year (59,918 citations in 2013; 39,392 in 2012.) So far this year, there have been 289 unrestrained fatalities on Tennessee roadways, compared to 331 this time last year (a 12.7 percent decrease).
“I believe our enforcement efforts are making a difference. I know we have helped saved lives. But I am concerned that the number of fatalities continues to rise. We will continue to use proven enforcement campaigns, such as Operation Nighthawk, and other aggressive efforts, especially during the holiday travel season,” Trott said.
“The safety of the citizens who travel our roadways is our number one priority. We will continue to work together to utilize education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency response to increase safety, especially when we see alarming trends in fatalities like we’ve seen over the past three months,” added Kendell Poole, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Office.

Author Weldon Payne will sign books and talk with readers during a reception in the Follett Bookstore on the Motlow College Moore County campus this month, according to Carol Horn, bookstore manager. Payne will sign his new novel, Scuppernong, at the reception which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Follett Bookstore is in Forrester Student Center.
In addition to Scuppernong, Payne is the author of six other novels: Alone, Mister Malone, Lonesome Time, Little Boys Bad, Beyond the Rain, and To Taste the Wild, and his column, “Through the Pane”, runs in several Tennessee newspapers. He is a U.S. Navy veteran, former editor of the Manchester Times and Tullahoma News, former instructor at Motlow College, and retired from the University of Tennessee Space Institute, where he was public relations director.
The novel is described on Amazon.com as, “A poignant and powerful novel, grappling with the perennial core question of how far should one go in attempts to help colleagues attain salvation.”
“Weldon Payne develops powerful characters quickly, and then rounds them out as he tells their stories,” wrote a reviewer on the Amazon.com website. “A simple, small town story about a few people who look at the world a little cock-eyed. And then a few surprises along the way.”
Another reviewer wrote, “I love books that can make me laugh, cry, rage, love, learn and one that can inspire. This book does all that and so much more.”
The event is being sponsored by the bookstore and the Moore County campus Phi Theta Kappa chapter.
– See more at: http://www.mscc.edu/news/101713WeldonPayne.aspx#sthash.5tZAfpQv.dpuf
Author Weldon Payne will sign books and talk with readers during a reception in the Follett Bookstore on the Motlow College Moore County campus this month, according to Carol Horn, bookstore manager.
Payne will sign his new novel, Scuppernong, at the reception which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Follett Bookstore is in Forrester Student Center.
In addition to Scuppernong, Payne is the author of six other novels: Alone, Mister Malone, Lonesome Time, Little Boys Bad, Beyond the Rain, and To Taste the Wild, and his column, “Through the Pane”, runs in several Tennessee newspapers. He is a U.S. Navy veteran, former editor of the Manchester Times and Tullahoma News, former instructor at Motlow College, and retired from the University of Tennessee Space Institute, where he was public relations director.
The novel is described on Amazon.com as, “A poignant and powerful novel, grappling with the perennial core question of how far should one go in attempts to help colleagues attain salvation.”
“Weldon Payne develops powerful characters quickly, and then rounds them out as he tells their stories,” wrote a reviewer on the Amazon.com website. “A simple, small town story about a few people who look at the world a little cock-eyed. And then a few surprises along the way.”
Another reviewer wrote, “I love books that can make me laugh, cry, rage, love, learn and one that can inspire. This book does all that and so much more.”
The event is being sponsored by the bookstore and the Moore County campus Phi Theta Kappa chapter.
– See more at: http://www.mscc.edu/news/101713WeldonPayne.aspx#sthash.5tZAfpQv.dpuf
Author Weldon Payne will sign books and talk with readers during a reception in the Follett Bookstore on the Motlow College Moore County campus this month, according to Carol Horn, bookstore manager.
Payne will sign his new novel, Scuppernong, at the reception which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Follett Bookstore is in Forrester Student Center.
In addition to Scuppernong, Payne is the author of six other novels: Alone, Mister Malone, Lonesome Time, Little Boys Bad, Beyond the Rain, and To Taste the Wild, and his column, “Through the Pane”, runs in several Tennessee newspapers. He is a U.S. Navy veteran, former editor of the Manchester Times and Tullahoma News, former instructor at Motlow College, and retired from the University of Tennessee Space Institute, where he was public relations director.
The novel is described on Amazon.com as, “A poignant and powerful novel, grappling with the perennial core question of how far should one go in attempts to help colleagues attain salvation.”
“Weldon Payne develops powerful characters quickly, and then rounds them out as he tells their stories,” wrote a reviewer on the Amazon.com website. “A simple, small town story about a few people who look at the world a little cock-eyed. And then a few surprises along the way.”
Another reviewer wrote, “I love books that can make me laugh, cry, rage, love, learn and one that can inspire. This book does all that and so much more.”
The event is being sponsored by the bookstore and the Moore County campus Phi Theta Kappa chapter.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is calling all 5th graders from across the state to participate in the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) 2014 National Missing Children’s Day poster contest by entering at the state level for a chance to be selected as the national winner and awarded a free trip to Washington D.C. The purpose of the contest is to demonstrate America’s united effort to bring missing children home safely, while highlighting the importance of proactive education programs.  
The U.S. Department of Justice, through its Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Child Protection Division, sponsors an annual Missing Children’s Poster Contest for 5th grade students to develop artwork that represents America’s united goal to bring missing children home safely. TBI is the clearinghouse for missing children in the state. The poster contest provides teachers and parents with tools to educate children about safety and the prevention of child abductions. It also allows for peer education and students can explore the importance of the contest’s theme “Bring Our Missing Children Home.” The National Missing Children’s Day ceremony will be held on or around May 21, 2014. The ceremony will be a time to recognize people who work to bring missing children home safely and remember the children who remain missing.
 
Fifth graders in Tennessee can enter the poster contest by submitting them to TBI which will then pick a state winner to enter into the national contest. The winner of the Tennessee’s 2013 contest was 11-year-old Paisley Epps from Dover Elementary School in Dover (see the winning artwork on this news release). Please see the requirements and application for the poster contest attached to the end of this release.
Tennessee entries and completed applications should be mailed to:
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
c/o Tim Hitt, Criminal Intelligence Unit
901 R.S. Gass Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37216
TBI must receive entries by January 31, 2014 for consideration. The state winner will be notified soon after and the entry will be submitted to the national contest. The national winner will be selected and notified in April 2014.
 

Support area veterans by registering now for the 2013 Warrior Challenge 5K/10K Race to be held Sunday, Nov. 10, at Middle Tennessee State University. Proceeds will benefit the newly reorganized Blue Raider American Veterans Organization, better known as BRAVO, as well as race partner Vet6, a Middle Tennessee advocacy organization that helps veterans secure good jobs.
MTSU sophomore Malcolm Stallard, president of BRAVO, said race organizers are “trying to get up to 1,000 people” to register for the race, which will start at 8 a.m. near the MTSU Veterans Memorial adjacent to the Tom Jackson Building. Chip timing will be used for all racers.
Entry fee is $25 for veterans, $30 for nonveterans. To register and learn more, go to http://warriorchallenge2013.com or register through Facebook by searching for “Warrior Challenge 2013.”
Stallard, who served in Iraq from 2009 to 2010 and has served in the U.S. Army since 2008, said BRAVO currently has 250-plus members. A portion of race proceeds will go toward BRAVO’s emergency relief fund, which is used to assist veterans and their families who are having financial troubles.
“It’s a support for the veterans,” said Stallard, a social work major now living in Manchester, Tenn. “We address issues to faculty members on behalf of the veteran population. We are here for veterans if they want to talk. We have a mentoring program set up.”
Dr. Hilary Stallings, manager of recruitment and resources for the MTSU College of Liberal Arts, serves on the university’s veterans and military affairs committee, representing a core group of faculty and staff supporting student veterans on campus.
An avid runner herself, Stallings is encouraging the community to register.
“This is going to be a great race — good time of year to run, beautiful campus, unbelievable cause,” Stallings said.
“I run a lot of races a year, but my favorites are the ones in support of military/veterans. Feels good to have a way to be able to honor their efforts.”
In spring 2013, about a thousand MTSU students were attending the university on GI benefits. Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee is home to more than 10,000 veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
MTSU remains the first choice in higher education for Tennessee’s veterans. And with services such as the VetSuccess office and military affairs center, for the third consecutive year, G.I. Jobs magazine has designated MTSU a “military-friendly campus.”
For more information about BRAVO, contact Stallard at 1-877-837-4635 or email mtsu@vet6.org. To learn more about Vet6, visit www.vet6.org.
 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty, along with Great Lakes Cheese officials announced today the company will open its first Southeast manufacturing facility at the Manchester Industrial Park in Manchester, Tenn. Great Lakes Cheese will invest $100 million and create over 200 new jobs in Coffee County. “I want to thank Great Lakes Cheese for their valuable investment and welcome them to Tennessee,” Haslam said. “It speaks very highly of our state’s qualified and dedicated workforce when a company decides to expand here in Tennessee. I appreciate Great Lakes Cheese’s confidence in our state as they help us toward our goal of becoming the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
“Tennessee’s ideal location, first-class infrastructure and unparalleled logistical advantages allows companies like Great Lakes Cheese to feel confident in their decision to open a new facility here that will yield a high return on investment,” Hagerty said. “I appreciate Great Lakes Cheese’s investment and look forward to their continued presence in Tennessee.” 
Great Lakes Cheese will construct a 330,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Manchester. The new facility will be the 4th super plant that Great Lakes Cheese operates and its 9th facility nationwide.
“The decision to open another super plant is a measure of our commitment to delivering quality cheese products to our customers who count on Great Lakes for logistical efficiencies,” Vice President of Operations for Great Lakes Craig Filkouski said. “We believe that having strategically placed manufacturing facilities is essential to serving the evolving needs of our customers and to provide opportunities for future growth.”
The new facility also adds capacity for new customer acquisition in the southeastern United States. Employment at this new plant is anticipated to reach 200 people by 2019.
“I am looking forward to working with the Great Lakes Cheese Company and consider this to be a long term partnership with our community,” Coffee County Mayor David Pennington said. “Thank you for picking Coffee County to be your home.”
“The city of Manchester is very fortunate that Great Lakes Cheese has selected the city of Manchester for their business. It will be a positive impact offering employment opportunities and retail growth for the city of Manchester and Coffee County,” Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman said. “The aldermen were in agreement with all that was asked of the city of Manchester. The city appreciates the Coffee County Industrial Board’s long hours of work and efforts to bring Great Lakes Cheese to Manchester. Manchester welcomes Great Lakes Cheese.”
“I am extremely excited that Great Lakes Cheese has selected the Manchester Industrial Park as the site for their new plant,” Coffee County Industrial Board Chairman Bill Comer said. “This huge operation is a great first occupant of the park and will provide many high quality jobs for area residents. This successful recruitment was the result of a cooperative effort among the Coffee County Industrial Board, the Coffee County Commission, and the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen.”
“TVA and Duck River EMC are pleased to welcome Great Lakes Cheese as they announce plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Manchester,” TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley said. “It’s always a great day when companies announce major investments and jobs in our region. The strong partnerships like those we have with the state of Tennessee, city of Manchester, and the Coffee County Industrial Board continue to facilitate decisions by companies to locate and grow in our communities.”
Great Lakes Cheese is headquartered in Hiram, Ohio and has seven other locations: Fillmore, Utah; Plymouth, Wis.; Adams, N.Y.; Cuba, N.Y.; La Crosse, Wis.; Wausau, Wis.; and Seymour, Wis.
Great Lakes Cheese anticipates they will begin the hiring process for the new facility in fall of 2014. More information will be available at http://www.greatlakescheese.com/careers.
About Great Lakes Cheese
Great Lakes Cheese is an award-winning, premier manufacturer and packer of natural and processed bulk, shredded, and sliced cheeses. Superior cheese products are provided from coast-to-coast through eight state-of-the-art production plants. As one of the largest packagers of cheese in the United States, Great Lakes serves grocery, club and super stores as well as restaurant chains and foodservice distributors. The company manufactures, packages and distributes a portfolio of private label and Adams Reserve branded cheese products. Privately owned with over fifty years of experience, each plant is SQF Certified to meet or exceed global food safety regulations.

It’s time for Fire Prevention Week, and from October 6-12 the State Fire Marshal’s Office is joining forces with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to remind local residents to ‘Prevent Kitchen Fires.’ During this year’s fire safety campaign, fire departments will be spreading the word about the dangers of kitchen fires—most of which result from unattended cooking—and teaching local residents how to prevent kitchen fires from starting in the first place.  
According to the latest NFPA research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two out of every five home fires begin in the kitchen—more than any other place in the home. Many of these fires occur within minutes of residents leaving the kitchen.
 
“Cooking fires are the second leading cause of fatal fires in Tennessee so far this year. Fifteen percent of fire victims died from fires caused by cooking,” said State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak. “To prevent these tragedies, we must be mindful in the kitchen.”
 
Among the safety tips that firefighters and safety advocates are emphasizing: 

Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food.

If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.

When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you of when you should take it out.

If you have young children, use the stove’s back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three away from the stove.

When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.

Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop.

Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.

If a small pan fire occurs, put on an oven mitt and carefully slide the pan’s lid onto the pan to smother the flames. Turn off the burner and do not remove the lid until the pan is completely cool. Never pour water on a grease fire!

When in doubt, just get out!  If the fire is large or you do not feel comfortable smothering it with the lid, quickly exit the home and call the fire department. Close doors behind you to try to contain the fire.
 
The State Fire Marshal’s Office urges Tennesseans to have working smoke alarms installed in their homes and to develop and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways out of every room and a common outside meeting place.
 
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is a division of the Department of Commerce and Insurance, which works to protect consumers while ensuring fair competition for industries and professionals who do business in Tennessee. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Polls show that a majority of Americans don’t understand how the health reform law and the new insurance exchanges that rolled out last week work.  In an effort to help clear up some of the confusion, the free Rutherford’s Best Doctors Health Fair October 26 at the Lane Agri-Park Community Center in Murfreesboro will include one-on-one consultations about Obamacare and how to find the best plan for individuals and families.New polls show that Americans are worried and confused about the new health insurance exchanges. Most wonder whether the main provisions of the law will end up costing them more money. 
A new Kaiser Family Foundation study found that nearly three-fourths of those surveyed were very or somewhat worried that they would have to pay more for their health care or health insurance and that their income would be outpaced by rising costs.
Coverage for new enrollees will begin on January 1, 2014.  Enrollment in the state-based exchanges began Oct. 1, allowing already-insured and uninsured Americans to shop for new plans that organizers say are intended to keep premiums low and provide low-income discounts. 
But who can sign up and what will be covered? How much will it really cost?  What are the differences between health plans?  What are the differences between each health plan’s provider networks?  These are questions that Americans say are making the new health insurance marketplaces seem so confusing. The one-on-one consultations at the Rutherford’s Best Doctors Health Fair can help participants make an informed choice.
Last spring’s Health Fair was one of the largest in Rutherford County’s history. The next Rutherford’s Best Doctors Health Fair will be on October 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rutherford County Agricultural Center on 315 John R. Rice Blvd. Physicians from many specialties will be in attendance.  There will also be free health screenings, giveaways, demonstrations, and more. 
Rutherford’s Best Doctors is a division of the Stones River Regional IPA, an organization of independent physicians centered in Rutherford County that is dedicated to achieving easy access to quality medical care for the people of Rutherford County and the surrounding areas.
To pre-register for a fast pass and learn more about the Rutherford’s Best Doctors Health Fair, including an updated list of exhibitors and sponsorship information, visit RutherfordsBestDoctors.com or like Rutherford’s Best Doctors on Facebook at facebook.com/RutherfordsBestDoctors.

Internationally-renowned speaker Matt Glowacki will bring his unique message ‘Walking is Overrated’ to Motlow College students and the general public during a pair of presentations on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Glowacki will share his ideas on disability, diversity, respect and success with audiences on the Moore County campus in Eoff Hall at 10:50 a.m. and at the Smyrna Center in Room STH-204 at 3 p.m.
‘Walking is Overrated’ is a humorous program that has been presented to over 500,000 students in 43 states during the past 15 years. Former President George W. Bush said, “After spending time with Matt and listening to his ideas, I can tell you he is truly a great American.”
Matt was born in 1973 in Janesville, Wisconsin. His birth drew attention because even though he was healthy, he was born without legs. From the very beginning, his parents made sure to provide him with every opportunity to participate in a normal life.
In his senior year of high school, Matt earned the rank of Eagle Scout, served as the Governor of the State of Wisconsin’s Key Club District, and managed his own business. He continued his education and community involvement at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.
Matt resides in Sun Prairie, Wis. where he is active in many local organizations. He served on the State Easter Seals board of directors. He was chosen by the Governor of the State of Wisconsin to serve on the Governor’s Rehabilitation Council, which monitors and oversees the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Over the past two decades Glowacki has spoken to over 600,000 students and teachers nationwide. In spite of being born without legs, Matt has shared his messages about diversity and disability with two United States Presidents, has traveled to 26 countries as a member of the United States Sit Volleyball Paralympic team, owned and operated two successful businesses, and designed wheelchairs for athletes all over the world.
Matt also donates his time and efforts to The Confluence, a not-for-profit Wheelchair Sports Foundation in St. Louis, MO. He serves as a coach, mentor, mechanic and friend to athletes of all ages. The program sponsors a variety of sporting endeavors including wheelchair basketball, tennis, wheelchair softball, and waterskiing.
For additional information about Matt, visit his website at www.mattglowacki.com. For additional information regarding Matt’s appearances at Motlow, contact Sonya Hood, director of disability and testing services, at 931-393-1765 or by email at shood@mscc.edu.