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Some Tennessee employers pushing for COVID vaccinations
By Nadia Ramligan, TN Public News Service
Some Tennessee employers are ramping up efforts to convince their employees to get vaccinated, as the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreads.
As of early July, it had accounted for more than 50% of new cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And in Tennessee, the state’s Department of Health reported 125 cases of the Delta variant as of July 8.
Jeff Lamarche, executive director for the General Motors plant in Spring Hill, said his facility has offered onsite vaccinations for employees.
“Two onsite clinics with Murray County Health Department, bringing nurses onsite, provided vaccinations to several hundred employees onsite, in two different clinics, so that means two times of providing both doses,” Lamarche outlined.
Other employers have offered bonuses, paid time off and other incentives to get the shots, but vaccination rates continue to stall. According to an analysis by the New York Times, it would take six months for Tennessee to reach 70% of adults with one dose at the current pace of vaccinations.
Lamarche added despite loosened COVID protocols nationwide, his plant has been cautious to let go of masks and social distancing.
“Even though the CDC has changed their guidelines, the auto industry, basically the Detroit three and the UAW, have, I’d say, stepped back and taken a more cautious approach before we really start to dial back down our protocols,” Lamarche explained.
He acknowledged companies are absorbing the costs of keeping infections at bay, but emphasized higher vaccination rates could reduce expenses to get operations back on track.
“Throughout COVID, we had to deal with higher absenteeism levels, higher costs of the extra protocols we put in place,” Lamarche recounted. “There was a lot just to continue to keep the operation running.”
He reported thousands of Spring Hill plant employees have been vaccinated so far.
First full day of school two weeks away
Bad news kids, but the return of school is right around the corner! Thunder Radio is getting calls daily about the dates for first day of school. They are as follows:
Coffee County School System and Manchester City Schools will have similar openings: both will have an abbreviated day on Monday, Aug. 2. Coffee County Schools abbreviated day will be two hours, while Manchester City will be one hour. The first full day of school for both systems will be Wednesday, Aug. 4.
Birthdays- July 19
Terri Dziadkowiec
Parker Jones- 18- Pizza Winner!
Ronnie Bowers- 51
Braxton Gray- 12
Birthdays- July 18
Jeff Keele- Pizza Winner!
Birthdays- July 17
Peggy Bryan- 84
David Martin- Pizza Winner!
Ashley Parker- 29
Andie Clutter- 18
Predators announce preseason schedule for 2021-22 season
Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today the team’s six-game 2021 preseason schedule, beginning with a doubleheader on the road against the Florida Panthers on Sept. 26. The Preds will play a home-and-home against the Tampa Bay Lightning before taking on the Carolina Hurricanes twice to close out their preseason slate.
After no preseason games were played prior to the start of the 2020-21 NHL season, this will mark the ninth time in the last 10 training camps that the Predators and Panthers will play a split-squad doubleheader. Nashville will then face off against the Lightning, traveling to Tampa on Sept. 30 and hosting the defending Stanley Cup champions at Bridgestone Arena on Oct. 2. The Predators will round out their preseason schedule with two games against the Hurricanes – Nashville’s first round opponent in the 2021 playoffs – with the first at PNC Arena in Raleigh on Oct. 5 and the second coming four days later on Oct. 9 at home. The 2021-22 NHL regular season is scheduled to open the following week.
The team’s 2021 rookie camp is scheduled to open on Sept. 16 in Nashville. The group will take part in a rookie tournament in Estero, Fla., from Sept. 17-20 before joining Nashville’s main training camp.
Tickets for the Predators’ two preseason home games will go on sale on Friday, July 23 at 12 p.m. CT on Ticketmaster.com.
With the 2022 Stadium Series outdoor game taking place at Nissan Stadium on Feb. 26, now is the best time to secure a Nashville Predators Season Ticket package for the upcoming 2021-22 season! Visit NashvillePredators.com to join today!
Nashville Predators Hockey can be heard live on Thunder Radio – your exclusive home for Predators Hockey in Coffee County – presented by realtor Charlie Gonzales, Weichert Realtors Joe Orr & Associates.
Titans 2021 Training Camp Preview: A look at the running backs
Tennessee Titans football can be heard live on Thunder Radio all season long – presented by realtor Charlie Gonzales, Weichert Realtors Joe Orr & Associates.
In camp (7): RB Derrick Henry, RB Darrynton Evans, RB Brian Hill, RB Jeremy McNichols, RB Mekhi Sargent, RB-FB Khari Blasingame, FB Tory Carter.
Offseason developments: After being named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in February, Henry went back to work. His superhuman offseason workout videos once again went viral, and when he showed up at the team’s minicamp he looked fit and ready to go. Back in March, the Titans signed veteran Brian Hill, formerly of the Falcons. Darrynton Evans worked some in the slot at receiver in OTAs, and he looked good. McNichols is back, but the team didn’t re-sign Senorise Perry, who remains a free agent. Blasingame has added size and bulk, which should help him even more as a blocker. The team added a pair of undrafted free agents in Carter (LSU) and Sargent (Iowa). Sargent is small in stature (5-8, 208), but he’s competitive and showed some quickness in offseason work.
In the spotlight: Henry. Heading into his sixth NFL season, Henry has shown no signs of slowing down. He’s led the league in rushing two years in a row, and he’s coming off a year when he racked up 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns. Henry has continued to work on finding ways to improve, and he spent breaks in the action during minicamp playing catch with running backs coach Tony Dews. The Titans have a new offensive coordinator in Todd Downing, and some new weapons at receiver in Julio Jones and Josh Reynolds. The Titans might not have to rely on Henry quite as much in 2021, but if the train keeps on rolling down the track, why derail a good thing?
Battle to watch: Brian Hill vs. Jeremy McNichols. A fifth-round draft pick of the Falcons in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Wyoming, Hill is in line to win a back-up running back spot. He has valuable experience, with 45 games played and 982 yards and three touchdowns on 209 carries in his career. With the Falcons in 2020, Hill ran for 465 yards and a touchdown on 100 attempts while catching 25 passes for 199 yards. Hill needs to settle in during camp and catch the football on a consistent basis. Assuming he does, he should be an upgrade over Perry from a year ago. Plus, he can help on special teams. The competitive McNichols won’t go down without a fight, something he’s proven during his time with the team.
Keep an eye on: Darrynton Evans. A third-round pick out of Appalachian State in the 2020 NFL Draft, Evans didn’t make much of an impact as a rookie. He was slowed with injuries, and really only showed what he’s capable of in small glimpses. Evans enjoyed a solid offseason, and he figures to be in the mix a lot more in his sophomore NFL season. Evans generated some buzz when he lined up at receiver in OTAs, but let’s get this straight – he’s a running back. But yes, he could be used in situations where he’d line up outside to find himself in a favorable matchup. Just how much Evans factors into the plan could depend on Evans and his health, and performance.
Next up: Offensive line.
Barbara Norris-Eckerle
Barbara Norris-Eckerle, formerly of Monrovia, MD, died Friday, July 16,
2021, at home in Manchester, TN. She is survived by four children, Leslie
B. Fowler, Manchester, TN; Lorena Bredenberg (Greg) of Tullahoma, TN;
Deirdre K. Perney (Billy) of Mt. Airy, MD; and Michael E. Norris (Lisa) of
Chapel Hill, TN.
Besides her children, she is also survived by one sister, Julie (Jean)
Marlow of Brigantine, NJ, as well as several grandchildren, including Amber
B. Della Giustina (Bill) of W. Springfield, MA; Brook R. Wood, (Gretchen)
of Charlottesville, VA; Paul N. Fowler of Nashville, TN; Lee D. Fowler
(Tanya) of Louisville, KY; Amanda K. Brewer (Casey) of Antioch, TN;
Christopher E. Norris (Kristen), NC; Barbara Norris, PA; Eric Norris
(Erika) Frederick, MD; Angelia Taylor (MD); Madison Norris, Michael Norris,
Jr., Mercedes Norris and Madden Norris, all of Chapel Hill, TN; as well as
several great grandchildren.
Barbara was born on January 19, 1927, in Boston, MA, the daughter of the
late Vincent F. Russo and Kathryn Cole Russo. She was a graduate of Girls’
Latin School in Boston and was one of the first women to win a scholarship
to MIT. In her early years, she was an avid sailor and also learned to
pilot small planes. She met her late husband, Eric Norris, while at MIT in
1945. With him, she traveled extensively and spent several years living in
Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil. She spoke Portuguese fluently.
Barbara was also an avid skier and traveled all over the United States,
Canada and Switzerland to pursue her skiing. She also pursued photography,
painting and sewing, and she was proficient in all of these.
As a young adult, upon returning to the US from Brazil, Barbara went to
work on Capitol Hill, working for three congressmen, and was actively
involved in planning the Metro subway system in Washington, DC. On retiring
from work as a legislative aide, Barbara became involved in breeding and
showing pedigreed Persian and Himalayan cats. She was a member of several
cat clubs, including the Hidden Peak Cat Fanciers Cub and the Mad Catter’s
Club. Her cats won several grand championships.
Later in life, after her husband Eric had passed away, she met and married
the late Kenneth L. Eckerle in May of 1992, whom she met while taking
ballroom dancing classes.
Barbara will be buried at Glade Cemetery in Walkersville, Maryland, beside
her late husbands, Eric Norris and Kenneth Eckerle. A memorial service will
be held at a later date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, we request that donations be made to the American
Cancer Society or the ASPCA.
Tennessee Department of Education approves 29 virtual schools for upcoming school year, including Coffee County
Last week, the Tennessee Department of Education announced the approval of 29 new virtual schools for the 2021-22 school year, bringing the total number of virtual schools operating across the state to fifty-seven.
“As we head into the new school year, educators and school and district leaders throughout the state are focused on ensuring student achievement and serving the needs of all students in their communities,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Last school year, districts responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing additional operating models and learning formats to ensure that families had options and students could continue learning with their classmates and teachers when out of school buildings. While research shows that students benefit most from in-person classroom instruction, districts are ensuring families who prefer a virtual education setting for their students have those options and can continue to make the best choices for their children.”
Beginning in 2011, the Tennessee Virtual Public Schools Act was passed and allowed local education agencies to create virtual schools to offer an alternative mode of instruction for students.
Included in these new approved schools are Coffee County Virtual Academy, available for grades 6-12 in the Coffee County School System, and Tullahoma Virtual Academy for grades 9-12 in the Tullahoma City Schools.
Due to COVID-19 disruptions during the 2020-21 school year, in June 2020 the Tennessee State Board of Education promulgated an emergency rule to require school districts and public charter schools to develop Continuous Learning Plans (CLPs) that addressed how they would continue to provide instruction in a fully virtual environment. By the end of the 2020-2021 school year, all Tennessee offered in-person learning options, and in April 2021 the State Board passed a permanent rule which limits the ability for districts and public charter schools to utilize a CLP to provide remote instruction in the upcoming 2021-22 school year unless the Governor declares a state of emergency and the commissioner of education grants permission. As a result, families desiring that their students continue to receive a significant portion of their instruction remotely must enroll their students in a virtual school.
For the 2021-22 school year, applications came from districts throughout the state working to implement a variety of instructional delivery modes that work best for the students, families and communities they serve.
Tullahoma School System recommends masks for non-vaccinated students to start school year
The first full day of schools for Tullahoma City Schools will be Monday, Aug. 2. The system issued a statement Monday to address COVID-19 protocols for the start of school.
“Even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, we experienced a successful 2020-2021 school year thanks to our teachers, staff, students and families. We responded appropriately to the challenges of COVID-19 and made it through a most unusual year,” said TCS Director of Schools Dr. Catherine Stephens. “We appreciate all of the efforts put in place to ensure that we maintained a safe, healthy, positive and productive learning environment.”
As the new school year approaches, TCS will be referring to the updated CDC school guidelines to direct COVID-19 practices. This is the first of several communications that the district will publish regarding the start of the 2021 – 2022 school year. We will provide more information in the coming days and weeks.
Please review the following updates:
● Mask use is recommended for students, teachers, and staff who are not fully vaccinated. Generally, when outdoors, individuals do not need to wear masks.
● Tullahoma City Schools will follow CDC recommendations on maintaining 3 feet of physical distance when feasible.
● The district will continue with enhanced cleaning and disinfecting high traffic use areas, as well as the overall facilities and buses.
● Students, teachers and staff are recommended to continue proper soap and water handwashing routinely throughout the day. Hand sanitizer usage will be acceptable when hand washing is not feasible.
● Taking temperatures of students, employees and guests before entering each campus will not be continued during the 2021-2022 school year. Data from the previous school year did not indicate that this was a beneficial practice.
● Visitors will be welcomed but on a limited basis in order to reduce possible transmission of COVID-19 or variants, based upon school and classroom capabilities at the discretion of school-level administration.
Tullahoma City Schools encourages students, teachers and staff members to stay home when sick.
Additionally, the district encourages the use of outdoor classrooms and spaces for learning, exercise and socialization. Please note that the above guidelines may be altered based upon local transmission rates or from updated guidelines from the CDC. Visit the Tullahoma City Schools website to read the latest guidelines.