Category: News

Outside Batesville plant in Manchester... By Barry West

Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Karla Davis have awarded $25,000 to Batesville Manufacturing, Inc. in Manchester for job training.

“If Tennessee is going to become the number one location in the Southeast for high-quality jobs, then we must offer a well-trained workforce to employers,” said Governor Haslam. “This kind of training grant not only helps educate workers, but also provides incentive to employers looking to relocate or expand in Tennessee.”

In their application for the grant, Batesville Manufacturing, Inc. stated this grant will directly contribute to improving company processes by aligning skills required to produce 18- and 20-gauge burial caskets with the current and future processes and capital investments. The training will provide their associates with the tools needed to efficiently manufacture and assemble burial caskets and help to ensure cost improvement.

“I would like to thank Governor Haslam and Commissioner Davis for their involvement in awarding this grant to the workers of Coffee County,” said Senator Eric Stewart.

“By investing in the skills of Tennessee’s workforce, we’re also investing in our future economic success,” said Representative Judd Matheny.

Workforce Solutions played a key role in awarding the grant to Batesville Manufacturing, Inc.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers the Incumbent Worker Training program. The program has been structured to be flexible to meet the business’s training objectives. The business may use public, private, or its own in-house training provider based on the nature of the training.

A proposal that would prohibit students from dressing indecently in school is headed for floor votes in both chambers of the Legislature. The measure unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee 7-0 on Wednesday and is now being scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor. A full vote in the House is scheduled for Monday evening. The bill seeks to prohibit students from exposing “underwear or body parts in an indecent manner that disrupts the learning environment.” A stricter version of the proposal failed to pass the Legislature three years ago. That measure particularly targeted individuals that sag their pants below the waistline and imposed a fine of up to $250 and 160 hours of community service. Under the current proposal, school districts would decide a less severe punishment.

A proposal that would require all doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges in a licensed hospital, either in the county where the procedure is performed or in an adjacent county, has passed the House.

The measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Matthew Hill of Jonesborough was approved 72-24 on Thursday. Eight Democrats voted for the mostly Republican-backed proposal.

Hill has said the bill is about women’s health and safety and he reiterated that Thursday.

Critics, however, contend that abortion providers are being singled out because the law doesn’t require doctors at other ambulatory clinics to have hospital admitting privileges.

The companion to the legislation is awaiting a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

A measure that was designed to allow teachers and coaches to join with students in prayer – before and after school – received its final OK in the Tennessee House of Representatives this week.

Earlier this week, the Senate added a new amendment, with no debate and little explanation. Rep. Phillip Johnson, a Cheatham County Republican, tried to explain the addition in the House.

What the amendment actually says is that school boards may also approve other “constitutionally permissible religious activities on school grounds.” Those activities are not defined.

The bill now goes to the governor for review and his signature.
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Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday – March 31, 2012

Free to all participants!!
THE EGG HUNT LOCATION FOR 2 TO 7 YEAR OLDS IS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR!!
Age Categories & Times are as follows:
2 to 7 year olds will be held at 10:00am at Dave King Park
8 to 12 year olds will be held at 8:00pm at the Babe Ruth Field at Fred Deadman
This hunt will take place in the dark please provide your child with a flashlight!!
All participants must bring their own basket or bag to hold their eggs.

Firemen and deputies control the scene... By Barry West

A home occupied Adam Walker and his wife at 784 Pete Sain Road was seen with smoke coming out of it around 11:30 Wednesday morning. Neighbors called 911, and the Summitville Fire Department was dispatched. The fire was contained to one room of the home and was put out quickly. The home suffered moderate damage and no one was hurt. The cause of the fire was unknown and is under investigation.

Summitville Firemen put out fire... By Barry West

Dispatchers in Marion County confirm the body of a construction worker, missing since Monday, has been removed from the Tennessee River. The recovery operation lasted several hours. Coffee County Rescue Squad diver Les Bradford made the recovery after using the squad’s special underwater camera. Franklin County divers assisted in the recovery. Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett says the man’s body was found 70 feet below the river’s surface, just below the Haletown Bridge. Burnett said that the body was identified as Abimael Contreras Martinez, of Morrison, Tennessee.

Jody Baltz

To reduce court system delays and add potential greater punitive measures to get city code violators into compliance, Tullahoma is considering an administrative hearing officer program. During a work session the Board of Mayor and Alderman agreed to have an ordinance drawn-up for consideration for adopting the program that would have a special judge decide codes violation cases and make punitive decisions. Jody Baltz, city administrator, said the process often has little effect because the cases involve a lengthy process with the city taking legal action through Chancery Court, and violation cases are often placed on an extensive docket. Baltz explained that with the administrative officer, fines totaling $500 or $1,000 could be assessed, which is a much greater incentive to have violators address the violations.

Robert Alan Harris

Robert Alan Harris of Tullahoma was promoted to Major General in a March 19 ceremony at the Tennessee National Guard’s Regional Training Institute in Smyrna. Maj. Gen. Harris serves as the Assistant Adjutant General-Army for the Tennessee National Guard. He is married to the former Susan Lightner of Tullahoma, and is the son of the late Tom and Lee Harris of Tullahoma. General and Mrs. Harris are 1972 graduates of Tullahoma High School.

The Elk River Public Utilities Board (ERPUD) commissioners have approved hiring a Georgia-based company to perform the utility’s yearly gas survey. The commissioners approved the contract that will pay Southern Cross Corp., of Norcross, Ga., a total of $14,800 to complete the survey of all ERPUD’s distribution lines in Estill Springs, Sewanee and Cowan, which amounts to approximately 250 miles of mains serving about 5,000 customers. The survey checks for leaks on ERPUD’s distribution system. The project added to that list this week will provide natural gas service to homes in the Cherokee Estates subdivision currently under development in Decherd. ERPUD already provides service to the area surrounding the future Cherokee Estates, but has not yet moved into that subdivision.