Tullahoma Kiwanis Club member Mike Rutherford said last week that it will take about $18,000 in donations for the club to sponsor a July 4 fireworks show for the City of Tullahoma.
Rutherford spoke to club members and others last week at Lakewood Golf and Country Club who are interested in reviving the fireworks and airshow canceled in 2014.
“It takes about $18,000 without a band and airshow,” Rutherford said. “And about $24,000 for the airshow and a band.”
Last year, the event was canceled due to a lack of funds. Inclement weather in 2012 and 2013 caused a drop in attendance and in donations, which led to the cancelation of the 2014 show.
Tullahoma Fire Dept. Chief Richard Shasteen said Thursday afternoon that “there is a possibility for the fireworks show to be held at the football practice field if they use six-inch mortar shells” if they meet with him and set up a meeting with Angela Lansbury of the state fire marshal’s office to survey the area.
The Tullahoma Kiwanis Club began sponsoring the fireworks show in 1969. (Wayne Thomas Tullahoma News)

A new poll by Middle Tennessee State University shows overwhelming support for Gov. Haslam’s program to make community college and technical schools free for upcoming high school graduates. The MTSU poll found that 79 percent approve of the program known as Tennessee Promise. The polls showed 12 percent against it, 8 percent were unsure and the rest gave no answer.
Over 2,000 students signed up to participate in the program at Motlow College and over 35,000 students statewide registered for the Tennessee Promise.

State Sen. Lee Harris has filed legislation that would use revenue from municipal red light cameras to send students to college. Harris said the proposal will create a new scholarship opportunity for students. Under the proposal, all revenue generated by new red light camera contracts after July 1st, 2015 would go to the Drive to College scholarship. According to a report by The Commercial Appeal, red light cameras have generated $3.1 million in camera-related fines in Memphis alone, but the Arizona-based contractor earned $4.8 million. Last month, State Rep. Andy Holt said he plans to file legislation to ban speeding and red light cameras in Tennessee.

A smoggy day in Nashville is the result of ground-level ozone that can make breathing more difficult for many people. Photo credit: Tennessee Dept. of Health

With residents of cities like Nashville living with high levels of smog, eyes are on the Environmental Protection Agency and its pending decision on whether to strengthen emission limits. Smog is a byproduct of tailpipe and industrial emissions and the EPA is debating a tougher limit of 60 parts per billion, instead of the current limit of 75. The American Public Health Association’s executive director Dr. Georges Benjamin says at current levels, smog is linked to a number of health problems. “It exacerbates people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and it causes not only just these attacks, but can cause premature death and other morbidity,” says Benjamin. “It’s a significant problem and we can address it by reducing the amount of ozone produced.” Some industry leaders say the current standard is effective but Benjamin says there is solid science showing it isn’t strong enough. Public hearings wrap up today in California, but written comments can be made until March 17. Last year, the American Lung Association ranked Nashville as the 29th most polluted metro area in the nation for smog. Both Davidson and Sumner counties received a failing grade for their air quality. Pulmonary physician Dr. Dona Upson associate professor of Medicine at the University of New Mexico testified at one of the hearings last week. She says the limit will go a long way in protecting public health. “The EPA’s analysis has shown that setting a standard at 60 parts per billion would prevent up to 7,900 premature deaths, 1.8 million asthma attacks in children, and 1.9 million missed school days each year,” says Upson. According to the American Petroleum Institute, the stronger limit would be expensive. But the American Lung Association’s senior vice president for advocacy and education Paul Billings says the standards are not set based on cost, but on the levels at which this type of air pollution is considered dangerous. “You want your doctor to tell you what makes you sick, not what it’ll cost to cure you,” says Billings. “So, the API is really at the wrong part of the process. Cost and feasibility come into the conversation when we try to meet these standards, what strategies are employed.” The standard has not been updated since 2008 and a final rule is expected by Oct. 1.