News 2016

Summer is fast approaching and that means plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun and adventures across Tennessee. Thousands of music lovers will visit Nashville and Manchester June 9 through 12 for the CMA Music Festival and Bonnaroo. Thousands more are expected for Elvis Week in Memphis Aug. 10 through 16 and in Bristol for Bristol Motor Speedway’s NASCAR event Aug. 20. For all these activities and many more, the Tennessee Department of Health reminds fun-seekers to ‘Respect sun’s might, fight the bite and hydrate right.”

“We are blessed to have an amazing abundance of outdoor activity opportunities in our beautiful places and spaces every Tennessee summer. Don’t we want to enjoy them without worry?” said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “Even if they don’t make us sick, bug bites, sunburn and dehydration can spoil some fun, so it helps to remember to ‘Respect the sun’s might, fight the bite and hydrate right.’”

TDH reminds Tennesseans that preventing tick and mosquito bites, while always important, is more crucial this year in light of international concerns about Zika virus disease. There is no vaccine to prevent Zika virus disease and no medicine to cure it. While its symptoms are mild in most people, it can cause the birth defect microcephaly if a mother is infected with it while pregnant.

“Although Zika virus disease can be transmitted sexually, in most cases it is acquired when a mosquito bites an infected person and then moves on to bite someone else,” said TDH State Epidemiologist Tim Jones, MD. “Thus far we have not had this type of Zika transmission in Tennessee. We are hopeful more people will understand how serious the disease can be for pregnant women, and that they will take appropriate steps to protect themselves, and ultimately others, from harm.”

“This summer maybe it’s time to think differently about coming together for a great event or hosting and add a couple of questions to what we ask our friends and guests:  Can I get you a cold drink? How about some sunscreen? Ready for some repellent?” Dreyzehner said. “Like knowing what your friends’ favorites are, it shows we care and are thinking about their comfort and their health.”

“Respect the Sun’s Might”

To prevent damage to skin and eyes from potentially harmful UVA and UVB rays, TDH recommends:

    using a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or higher and applying it as recommended;
    slipping on a hat to protect the face, head, ears and neck;
    being aware of time outside from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the sun is strongest;
    wearing sunglasses that provide 100 percent protection against UVA and UVB rays.

To see more information about sun safety, visit www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm.

“Fight the Bite”

To prevent mosquito and tick bites, TDH recommends:

    Put any sunscreens on first, then apply repellants to skin often. These can include lotions, liquids or sprays. TDH and CDC recommend use of repellants that contain DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane 3, 8-diol and IR3535. Duration of protection varies by repellant; read labels on products to determine when reapplications are necessary for optimal protection. To learn more about insect repellants, visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/.
    Wear ‘long, loose and light’-colored shirts and pants and wear socks. Tucking shirts in pants and tucking pants into socks will help form a barrier. Wear closed shoes or boots instead of sandals.
    For more complete protection, especially in higher-risk situations, treat clothing with permethrin or purchase pretreated permethrin clothing.
    In locations lacking window screens and/or air conditioning, the use of bed nets is advised. These should reach the floor or be tucked under the mattress. In camping situations, make sure tent screens are in good repair, zip flaps and make sure mosquitoes have not gotten inside.
    Avoid perfumes, colognes and products with fragrances that might attract mosquitoes.

For more information on avoiding tick and mosquito bites, visit wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2016/the-pre-travel-consultation/protection-against-mosquitoes-ticks-other-arthropods.

“Hydrate Right”

Seeking shelter during the brightest part of the day is a good way to reduce the risk of harmful sunburn; it can also help your body cool down. Drinking water is another way to protect yourself from summer heat and is critical in protecting your body’s organs. TDH hydration recommendations include:

    Drink when you feel thirsty. Simple, and it turns out your body’s thirst mechanism is really good at judging when you need water; it’s best to pay attention to it. Don’t overload on water and don’t get too behind.
    Cold water is a great way to rehydrate. Flavor it for variety.

    Limit or avoid too many caffeinated drinks (some sodas, tea and coffee); they may cause some people to urinate more frequently or cause anxiety or a feeling of nervousness.
    Limit or avoid drinks with high amounts of sugar and sodium. Read the labels.
 

I’m writing to you today from my Gallatin office where Dave and I just hosted our annual sendoff luncheon for our 6th District U.S. military service academy appointees. It is always a privilege for me to be able to meet with these students and their families, treat them to a special reception in their honor, and personally thank them for their commitment to serving our country. Before I head back to Washington next week, I wanted to share these quick updates with you:

Traveling Soon? Then You’ll Want to Read About This Letter

If you’ve flown out of Nashville International Airport recently, or just turned on the news, you may have noticed that the security lines at our nation’s airports are becoming a real problem for travelers. Most Tennesseans don’t mind being a little inconvenienced if the system actually works to keep them safe, but it doesn’t. An internal investigation released last summer found that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had a 96% failure rate in detecting weapons and fake explosives. When travelers are waiting upwards of 90 minutes to board a plane, and they’re not even any safer as a result – it’s time to do something different. That is why I sent a letter to the TSA this week highlighting the need for privatization of airport screenings.

TSA states publicly that it “contracts security screening services at commercial airports to qualified private companies” yet, today, only 22 airports have established such contracts. My letter demands to know why. Congress must ensure that the TSA’s culture and policies aren’t standing in the way of allowing businesses the ability to compete for these opportunities. The unacceptably long wait times at airports across the country cannot become the new normal. There’s a better way forward and it’s called the private sector.

Working to Defund Sanctuary Cities

Sanctuary cities flout our laws and put their own citizens at risk. We need only look at the tragic, 2015 murder of Kate Steinle in San Francisco to see the grave danger of allowing cities to ignore federal immigration policy. Last year, the House passed a standalone bill by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) to defund sanctuary cities with my support, but the problem is, we know that bill faces a Democratic filibuster if it is ever brought up for debate in the Senate.

Sometimes, if you want to get a conservative measure enacted into law, you must attach it to broader pieces of legislation. So that’s exactly what I did last week. When the House took up the Energy & Water Development appropriations bill, I went to the House floor and offered an amendment that ensuring that NO funds from that bill would be given to sanctuary cities. Some of my colleagues scratched their hands and asked why I would bring up sanctuary cities on an energy and water bill. My answer is simple – amnesty for lawbreakers impacts every aspect of our society; our jobs, our security, and in the case of Kate Steinle, a young, innocent woman’s life.

I’m proud to tell you that my amendment passed the House of Representatives. You can watch a video of my remarks on the House floor at the time of the vote HERE. Unfortunately, the underlying bill to which my amendment was attached ultimately failed because of a poison-pill amendment offered by House Democrats. That’s why I’m committed to continuing to bring up this issue again and again – because when cities put their citizens at risk in defiance of federal law – there’s no reason in this world to continue spending federal money there.

On June 2, 2016 just before 5 p.m. Deputy Charles Taylor, received a call of a subject that had gone under water in Normandy Lake at Fire Lake Bridge on Mt. View Road. Upon Taylor’s arrival at 5:05 p.m. another deputy, Brandon Reed obtained information that Donald Edward Everett age 19 of Clarksville had gone under the water and not re-surfaced. Deputy Reed did enter the water in an attempt to locate Everett but was unable to do so. Everett, a baseball player at Vanderbilt University had come to Normandy Lake to fish with 2 teammates and 2 other people. According to all four individuals Everett was on the west side of the bridge with one of his friends when he entered the water and attempted to swim across to the east. They stated that Everett got about halfway across the waterway when he began asking for help. All four individuals stated that they thought Everett was “just joking around” because he was smiling and did not seem to be in distress. One person did enter the water and pulled Everett several feet but stated that he is not a good swimmer and was struggling to stay afloat. He stated that Everett did not seem to be struggling. The friend stated that he let go of Everett and swam back to shore still thinking Everett was “joking”. He stated that when he looked back, Everett had gone under and did not re-surface.
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department did launch a boat to assist with the rescue with the Coffee County Rescue Squad. Divers from the Coffee County Rescue Squad entered the water at 6:38 p.m. and surfaced and dove again at 6:47 p.m. At 6:49 p.m. divers found the body of Everett in approximately 25 feet of water approximately 15 feet off the shore line. Everett was transported by Coffee County EMS to Harton Regional Medical Center Tullahoma and then transported to Nashville by State Medical Examiners for autopsy.
(WMSR)

The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development (TDLWD) announced Tuesday a new digitized filing system is now available to employers issuing WARN notices.  The online portal allows TDLWD to more quickly assist employees affected by layoffs.
   “The new WARN filing system streamlines the process for both the employer and our agency, reducing the response time in getting critical services to employees impacted by a pending closure,” TDLWD Commissioner Burns Phillips said.
   The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act protects workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of plant closings, mass layoffs, and sale of businesses.
   Companies having 50-99 employees affected by a layoff or closure are typically required to report this information via a WARN filing to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development required under Tennessee law (T.C.A. 50-1-6-1). Employers with more than 99 employees should refer to the Federal WARN Act.
   “WARN laws allow folks to prepare for possibly difficult times that can come with a layoff, giving them a chance to make plans for the transition.  The laws also give our agency time deploy numerous resources to assist everyone impacted by the layoff,” said Commissioner Phillips.
   The new digital process allows employers to provide all required information online without concern of missing items or receipt of submission.  Employers may file their WARN Notice on https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/warn_notice_information.

A US Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 jet crashed in Smyrna, killing the pilot. The plane crashed around 3:00 o’clock Thursday afternoon in a field between the Sam Davis Home and the airport.In an announcement from the Navy, Captain James “Jeff” Kuss was killed in the crash. They said that all six Blue Angels aircraft were practicing for this weekend’s Great Tennessee Airshow when Captain Kuss’ aircraft went down shortly after take. off in a field between the Sam Davis Home and the Smyrna-Rutherford County Airport.
A news release from the Navy, says an F/A-18 Hornet with the Navy’s elite demonstration squadron crashed shortly after take-off Thursday (6/2/2016), killing the pilot just days before a weekend air show performance.
Blue Angels pilot Marine Captain Jeff Kuss was killed in the crash.
Captain Kuss’ biography says that he joined the elite acrobatics team in 2014 and accumulated more than 1,400 flight hours. He was a native of Durango, Colorado, and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Marines in 2006. He previously served in Afghanistan before joining the Blue Angels
The Smyrna crash was the second military fighter jet performance team crash to occur on Thursday (6/2/2016). Earlier in the day, a U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 crashed after a flyover at the US Air Force Academy’s graduation near Boulder, Colorado. President Barack Obama was in attendance there. The Thunderbird pilot was able to safely eject before his aircraft hit the ground

(WGNS RADIO)

DTC Communications is pleased to announce that Chris Townson has joined the cooperative as its new chief executive officer. Townson brings with him 22 years of industry experience, along with an understanding of and commitment to the cooperative business model.
“I am excited to be joining the DTC family, and I look forward to getting to know the employees and the communities they serve,” Townson said. “DTC Communications has an established history of serving its members well, and that comes down to dedicated employees and a board that cares about their neighbors. I want to hear from our members so I can serve alongside them.”
Townson understands the important role cooperatives play in their communities. Born and raised in northeast Alabama, Townson relied on cooperatives for both electricity and telecommunications service. He began work with Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative (based in Rainsville, Alabama) in 1994. His experience there included outside plant, information systems, industry and external relations, government affairs and business development.
His most recent senior management responsibilities included serving as assistant corporate secretary and manager of customer service and support. In this role he led employees in all functions of the cooperative’s local and competitive operations with respect to customer service, sales and support activities.
Townson holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management and a Master of Business Administration.
Joining Townson are his wife, Melissa, a high school language arts teacher, and their two sons Christian, 17, and Ethan, 12.
“Cooperatives matter because people matter,” Townson said. “These are challenging times for the telecommunications industry. We are facing changing regulation, rapidly evolving technologies and the need for broadband expansion. But when local people work together to keep each other connected, we can accomplish great things. I’m proud to have the opportunity to lead DTC during this important period.”
DTC Communications is a member-owned telecommunications cooperative established in 1951. The cooperative provides communication, entertainment, and security products and services to residential and business customers, primarily throughout Middle Tennessee.

Saint Thomas Health has announced changes in leadership at Saint Thomas DeKalb, Highlands and Stones River Hospitals. In a statement made by Gordon Ferguson President and CEO of Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital and Regional Hospitals, Ferguson said  “These communities and hospitals are very important to Saint Thomas Health and our goal is to strengthen them for continued service.  We are nearly one year into the transition of ownership and, overall, things have gone very well.  We have a new CEO at Saint Thomas River Park.  We’ve had two successful Joint Commission surveys at Saint Thomas Stones River and River Park and we’ve made significant capital investments in the hospitals.  Recent surveys of the community have shown that the ownership and management by Saint Thomas Health is perceived very positively.
There are, though, additional opportunities for consolidating operations and leadership and we need to make changes. For this reason, after much thought and prayer, we have made the decision to bring Saint Thomas DeKalb, Highlands and Stones River Hospitals under one chief executive officer.  This means that Sue Conley and Bill Little will be leaving their roles as CEOs for these hospitals.  We are very grateful to Sue and to Bill for their years of service to Capella and, more recently, to Saint Thomas Health and the communities served by these three hospitals.”
Leadership changes will take effect immediately and Saint Thomas Health has begun a search for the new CEO.  In the interim, Craig Norris, who was previously Chief Operating Officer at Saint Thomas River Park Hospital, will serve as interim CEO for Saint Thomas DeKalb, Highlands, and Stones River.  
Conley also serves the Cannon County and Dekalb County Communities as President for both the Cannon County Chamber of Commerce and the Dekalb County Chamber of Commerce.

The lineup is set for Saturday’s Gassaway Homecoming.  The day will get started with a Ham breakfast starting at 6 in the morning.  Musical Entertainment will start with Harold Duggin at 10 and morning entertainment will have performances by Ridge Top, Lorianna Blanton and Greg Mitchell.  After the parade at 1, afternoon entertainment will feature 61 Seconds, Woodbury Maroon and Gold Band, Karen Ashford, Bluegrass Friends and Patsy and Nick Nokes.  Jeff Nokes, Kevin Roberts, Nokes Boys and the Gilley Boys will round out the evening entertainment at the community celebration which happens annually on the first Saturday of June.  There will also be a fish dinner offered from 4-7P
 

Recently a Cannon County woman filed a report in reference to a possible stalking situation.  The victim stated back in March she began receiving multiple letters and phone calls from a man who stated that he worked for the Census Bureau.  She stated that he asked her how many people were in her household, what hours she was home and a few other questions.  The victim told the Cannon County Sheriff’s Investigations that she was afraid not to answer the questions as he said he was with the Census Bureau.  The man who went by the name Terry Cox, told her he would need to follow up with her every few months.  According to the victim, the man went to three of her former employers trying to find out information on her.  Then she began receiving phone calls from two different area codes all claiming to be with the Bureau.  Then a recent call came through from someone claiming to be Cox’s wife.  A person by that name claiming to work for the Census Bureau has a Facebook page saying he lives in McMinnville TN.  Police are continuing to investigate.

Larceny charges are pending against a couple of Cannon County men after they allegedly stole an XBox One, Acer Computer and Samsung TV.  According to Sheriff’s Department reports, Christopher Davis arrived at the Sheriff’s Office and stated those items were taken from his residence.  Davis stated a day earlier a couple of men Austin Smith and Dalton Porter contacted him and stated their grandmother kicked them out of her house and they needed somewhere to stay.  After leaving them alone at his residence, Davis stated that he returned to find the residence locked and Smith and Porter gone.  When he entered the residence, he noticed the items gone.  Davis said that Porter allegedly logged into Facebook using Davis’s phone and never logged out.  He observed a message sent to someone stating that he and his brother had an XBox 360 for sale for $50.  At the time of the report, it was not know where Smith or Porter were located or where the stolen items are.  Value of the stolen property was over $1500.  Warrants are pending upon follow up investigation.