Category: News

Immigrants could help Tennessee fill its health-care workforce gap, according to a new report by the Business Forward Foundation. Foreign-born individuals currently make up less than 5% of the state’s total population. 

President of the Business Forward Foundation Jim Doyle said the number of Tennessee seniors will nearly double by 2070. He pointed out that without new immigrants, the ongoing doctor shortage and lack of health-care access experienced by people living in rural parts of the state will worsen.

“It’s totally reasonable for people in Tennessee to be asking the question, ‘Are we full?’ or to be worried about immigrants,” Doyle said. “It’s just important to understand the underlying math. And the math suggests that if we cut off immigrants, then Tennessee is one of the states that’s going to suffer most.”

The report also found immigrants provide Tennessee around $527 million in economic contributions each year.

Doyle said without a steady flow of new immigrants, over time, an aging and shrinking population will impact Tennessee’s schools, pensions, infrastructure and economic opportunity.

“We’ll see slower job growth, lower tax revenues, falling property values, and this begins to create a whole negative cycle that’s hard to break,” he said.

Tennessee’s immigrants are also starting new businesses. According to the report, more than 20,000 immigrant entrepreneurs across the state have created 82,000 new jobs. Doyle pointed out that immigrants are more likely to both have advanced degrees and be of working age. 

“We can grow our economy and create jobs by welcoming immigrants and reforming our laws,” Doyle said. “Or we can try to keep them out, and we can pay the price.”

The report’s authors said less restrictive immigration policies could grow Tennessee’s Gross Domestic Product by $9.9 billion over the next decade.

Attention all high school and college students students.The 2020-2021 FAFSA is now open! Make sure to complete the FAFSA by February 1, 2020. For more information, contact your high school guidance counselor or college admissions office. 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Here are a few numbers from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation regarding domestic violence. 

*In 2018, 73,568 cases were flagged as domestic related in Tennessee alone. 

*The overall number of domestic related offenses decreased by 5.8% from 2017 to 2018.

*Females were three times more likely to be victimized than males; accounting for 71.1% for all domestic violence victims, while males accounted for 28.8%.

*Juveniles made up 9.8% of reported victims in 2018.

*Domestic violence resulted in 98 murder victims in 2018

If you need help, Call the state’s Domestic Violence Helpline at 1-800-356-6767.

A link to this complete TBI report can be found by clicking here. 

Forecasts indicate that Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s temperatures will reach record highs. Projected afternoon temperatures in the mid-90s will create a high electricity demand due to home cooling. DREMC predicts that this will be the highest daily purchase of energy from TVA so far this month. Because of that, we need your help to limit that purchase.

“Our daily max purchase from TVA sets the demand portion of our monthly wholesale power bill, and that equals 40% of our monthly bill,” explains, DREMC Member Services Manager Carol Garrette. “Our Beat the Peak program is all about lowering the peak energy usage on those predicted days for just a few hours. Every month we try to predict the handful of potential peak days and conserve energy on those days. If we get it right, the money saved eventually impacts retail rates.”

The Beat the Peak alert window on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 1 and 2, 2019, is from 4-6 PM. DREMC asks that members turn up their air conditioner thermostats by three degrees during the peak period. If the setting is normally 75 degrees, adjusting the thermostat to 78 will help lessen our energy demand.

In addition, members should:

✓ Defer use of hot water. Give the electric water heater a break by not showering, running the dishwasher or using the washing machine.

✓ Delay running the clothes dryer.

✓ Close shades and curtains to block sunlight. If you have a swimming pool, turn off the water circulation pump.

✓ Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.

✓ Keep the oven turned off.

When the peak period has passed, normal electricity use can resume.

“With Beat the PeakTM, we attempt to hold down DREMC’s wholesale power bill,” Garrette added. “To reduce your individual bill, look for many resources on our website including home energy audits, energy calculators, and low-cost/no-cost summertime tips. Also, The Tennessee Magazine, mailed monthly to our consumer-members, features energy efficiency advice worth checking out.”

Beat the PeakTM is a network of thousands of residential households that are sent peak alert warnings via email, text message and ads broadcast on local radio stations. Members voluntarily reduce their electricity use during the time when DREMC predicts a new potential peak demand.

To sign up for Beat the PeakTM emails and texts, go to www.dremc.com and click on the “My Account” tab, or contact your local DREMC office.

Motlow State has been selected to receive a 2019 National Association of Developmental Organizations (NADO) Impact Award from its support of regional workforce development through the Automation and Robotics Training Center (ARTC)in McMinnville.

Impact Award recipients will be recognized at a special reception during NADO’s 2019 Annual

Training Conference, scheduled for October 19-22 in Reno, Nevada.

“This project’s ability to gain traction and make swift forward motion is a product of regional public-private partnerships,” said Dr. Michael Torrence, president of Motlow. The ARTC provides short-term training and industry-recognized certifications for the world’s three leading robotics manufacturers. and provides PLC training as well. Under Torrence’s leadership, the ARTC is already expanding its course portfolio to include Mitsubishi and Rockwell training. 

Torrence has a stated mission to build other public private-partnerships that advance the needs of middle Tennessee. He holds up the ARTC success as evidence of the effectiveness in championing blended missions.

ARTC classes and outreach efforts also include teaching and training in coding and other STEM programs. The ARTC serves as the lab site for Motlow’s associate of applied sciences degree. The college seated its first cohort of degree-seeking students this fall. The facility was completed ahead of schedule, began teaching classes within two weeks of opening, and is now poised to provide instruction to national clients.

“There are scores of people who deserve a frameable copy of this award. It took a lot of teamwork to lift this initiative,” said Terri Bryson, vice president of external affairs at Motlow who, with Larry Flatt, Motlow executive director of the robotics center, led the development and launch of the ARTC. “We should all pause and reflect on the energy and power of this collaborative effort. This is not an award for an idea, or a plan, or a building. This is an award for impact, and the impact it recognizes is the result of model public-private partnerships collaborating to achieve shared missions. That’s a big deal. It endorses our regional partnership as a national model. A lot of people deserve hugs and handshakes for this award. We should all be eating cake over this piece of paper.”

“With the completion of the ARTC facility, we are now offering courses that are essential to the

needs of local industries that utilize robots,” said Flatt. “We are proud to have received this award in recognition of our hard work and dedication to meeting the region’s robotics workforce need.”

The Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD), which includes Warren County, nominated the ARTC. According to the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) report prepared by the UCDD, workforce development is the number one priority for the region. The implementation of the ARTC was a highlight of that report.

“Motlow is grateful to UCDD for recognizing the impact the ARTC will have on workforce development in our region,” added Bryson. The NADO Impact Awards program honors NADO members for their creative approaches to advancing regional community and economic development and improved quality of life. The projects recognized by NADO have made significant impact on specific regions and demonstrate the diversity of services and program delivery provided by regional development organizations across the country.

“NADO is a unique quality indicator for Motlow’s robotics mission,” continued Bryson. “This is national recognition for a regional initiative. To win NADO, it takes demonstrating concrete and collective advances in community, workforce and economic development.

“This is evidence that what we started is worthy of national dialog and national attention. When you can teach high-wage skills in four days in a friendly, easily accessible, student-centric, high-tech specialty facility, happily, word starts to get around.”

The ARTC, celebrated at a grand opening event earlier this year, is located adjacent to the Motlow McMinnville campus on 4.5 acres of land donated by the Warren County Commission. 

The facility is the first of its kind in Tennessee and is designed to support the specialized needs of business and industry, providing training for the top three robot manufacturers in the country: ABB, FANUC, and Yaskawa Motoman.

Under the vision and leadership of Fred Rascoe, dean of career and technical programs at Motlow State, the program also provides two-year degrees in mechatronics with a concentration in robotics. Rascoe worked with the community team that authored the Drive to 55 grant. That team included members of the Business Roundtable Action Committee (BRAC), regional economic development leaders, industry leaders, and subject matter experts throughout the region.

The 2019 Fall Career Fair, open to MTSU students and alumni, will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, inside MTSU’s Murphy Center. A searchable campus map is available at http://bit.ly/MTSUParkingMap.

Employer registration costs and other information can be found at https://mtsu.edu/career/fallfair.php.

“MTSU has a student body known by employers for their work ethic and diverse skills in communication, problem solving, teamwork, and technology,” said Dusty Doddridge, director of MTSU’s Career Development Center, which provides services such as career counseling, help with resumes, job search coaching and assistance with graduate and professional school applications. 

“Many students will be seeking entry-level employment upon graduation and internships while currently enrolled, making the Fall Career Fair a great opportunity for employers and students to connect,” Doddridge added. “Sponsorships remain available and space is limited, so register soon. This signature event typically attracts over 140 organizations and 800 students and alumni.”

The Career Development Center is located in Room 328 of the Keathley University Center. For more information, call 615-898-2500 or email career@mtsu.edu.

Billy Ray Cyrus (third from right on stage) performs “Amazing Grace” at Rotary Amphitheater Sunday morning in Manchester. (Photo by Holly Peterson, Thunder Radio)

Billy Ray Cyrus was on target with his performance Sunday morning at an 8 a.m. memorial for Channing Smith at Rotary Amphitheater in Manchester.  

The country music star struck a solemn tone early, belting the lyrics to “Amazing Grace,” with Channing’s dad playing Channing’s acoustic guitar alongside Cyrus. Channing’s brother – Joshua, along with his parents took the microphone after the song to talk about Channing’s life. Joshua also spent a significant amount of time talking about awareness and Justice for Channing, which has become a rallying cry for friends and family over the past week after Channing’s suicide, which happened after other students placed screenshots on social media outing Channing’s gay sexual orientation. 

Cyrus finished his appearance with a stripped down acoustic version of his recent hit “Old Town Road.” Following his set, Cyrus climbed onto Channing’s motorcycle and took it for a quick spin down Highway 41, much to the pleasure of those in attendance. 

After his performance, Cyrus jumped on Channing Smith’s motorcycle and took it for a ride down Highway 41 and back to Rotary Park.

During the service, Joshua Smith said that the sheriff’s department has said that criminal charges should be brought against those responsible for posting the screenshots, but that District Attorney Craig Northcott is against that. 

However, Thunder Radio spoke to Coffee County Sheriff’s Department investigator James Sherrill Thursday. Sherrill confirmed that screenshots of text messages were posted on social media that outed Smith’s sexual orientation. Sherrill reiterated the investigation is open and that the department is awaiting the results of digital forensics and will present its findings to the District Attorney’s office at a later date. Sherrill said that multiple students have been interviewed.

Northcott also released a statement that no charging decisions have been made because the investigation is not complete. He added that when all relevant facts are available, his office will advise the sheriff’s department on what charges, if any, are appropriate.

“I, like the rest of the community, am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the young life of Channing Smith. I express my heartfelt condolences to his family. My office has encouraged, cooperated in and supported the investigation into the events leading to this death. Ethically, I am prohibited from commenting on an open investigation or prosecution. However, procedurally, no charging decisions have been made by my office nor has the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department asked for a decision since the investigation has not been completed. When all relevant facts are available, my office will advise the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department on what charges, if any, we believe are appropriate to help guide it in that decision. Any report that my office has failed or refused to act is inaccurate and I wanted to clarify this for the sake of the Smith family as they do not need the added burden to the already incomprehensible pain that they are experiencing. I would ask for the everyone to extend their prayers for the family and to respect their privacy as this process moves forward.”

(Watch most of the ceremony in the video below, posted by Thunder Radio Sunday. Click here to like Thunder Radio on Facebook.)

Wreaths Across America has placed wreaths on military veterans graves at Arlington National Cemetery for 27 years. The program has grown to almost 1600 cemeteries nation-wide in 2018. The Coffee County Wreaths Across America Committee plans to place wreaths on military veterans graves in at least four Coffee County cemeteries for the third year. The committee was formed in 2017 and that year placed wreaths on some 300 military veterans graves at Oakwood Cemetery and Citizens Cemetery in Tullahoma and Hurricane Grove Cemetery in Coffee County just north of I-24 exit 105.

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFPN) — Christmas wreaths adorn head stones at Arlington National Cemetery.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi)

In 2018 the committee added Fredonia Cemetery in Coffee County with almost 100 military graves. Another group worked with the committee to place wreaths on Revolutionary War and Civil War graves at the Beach Grove Confederate Cemetery. If enough funds are raised another cemetery may be added.

One hundred percent of all funds collected locally is used to order and place wreaths on military veterans graves. A donation of $15 sponsors one wreath- $30 sponsors two wreaths – $75 sponsors five wreaths and $150 sponsors 10 wreaths.

Checks should be made out to Wreaths Across America and dropped off or mailed to Cyndi Clower (931) 728-9898 at Clower Automotive at 1406 McArthur St., Manchester TN 37355.

Wreaths Across America is an IRS 501c3 non-profit and donations are tax deductible.

If you would like to volunteer to help raise funds or help place wreaths call Bobbie Morse at (931) 247-4545 or Cyndi Clower at (931) 728-9898.

A ceremony to remember and honor our military veterans and lay wreaths on graves will be held at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 1600 locations nation-wide on Saturday December 14th. Ceremonial wreaths will be placed at the Old Coffee County Court House ‘War Memorials’ on the square in Manchester at 9 a.m. Cemetery ceremonies will be held at 11 a.m. (the same time the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery).

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department welcomes deputy Scott Steele after his graduation last week from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy. 

Steele spent 12 weeks and many long hours working to being a graduate. While the department is adding Steele to the team, it also says goodbye to deputy Wendell Bowen who retired last week after serving the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department after 20 years.

Deputy Wendell Bowen, center, retired from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department after 20 years. He is pictured with Captain Frank Watkins, left, and Sheriff Chad Partin.

Deputy Steele, left, graduated from law enforcement training academy last week. (photo provided)