Category: News

Tennessee Army National Guard Colonel Milton Thompson on Tuesday took command of the 30th Troop Command, headquartered at the Tullahoma Readiness Center. Thompson assumed the leadership role from Colonel John Krenson, who served as the 30th’s commander since March, 2014. Brigadier General Tommy Baker, Assistant Adjutant General, Army, officiated over the change of command ceremony.
“I’m blessed and truly honored at the opportunity to lead and serve with this vast talent of men and women… these Soldiers… of the 30th Troop Command” Thompson stated. “I look forward to working with the local community leaders and the different community agencies as we demonstrate our combined expertise.”

A bill that would have allowed Tennesseans to weigh in on whether to decriminalize possession of low-level amounts of marijuana has failed in the Legislature.
The Senate Judiciary Committee killed the proposal on Tuesday.
The measure, which was sponsored by Memphis Democrats Antonio Parkinson and Sara Kyle, would not have legalized marijuana possession. Instead, it would have allowed voters to make their opinion known on whether police should arrest people in possession of one ounce of marijuana or less or give them a warning instead.
The proposal would have allowed Metro governments or municipalities with their own police departments to put the question on whether to arrest or warn to voters during a normal election. The results of the election would be advisory only.

Tennessee State Parks and State Natural Areas are offering a variety of volunteer events across the state on Saturday, April 16 to help Tennessee Promise Scholars log community service hours required to meet their scholarship commitments.
It’s a great opportunity for Tennessee Promise Scholars to improve a state park or natural area and bank volunteer service hours while having a little bit of fun at the same time. Volunteer events are listed below by park and include meet up time, location, duration, activity description and point of contact.
State Parks officials ask that all participants complete an online registration form that is available at < http://tnstateparks.com/about/special-event-cards/tn-promise-saturday>. These RSVPs help park staff be better prepared for their volunteer crews on April 16 and also make it easier to provide information on volunteer hours on behalf of participants.
If you have any questions or need assistance making your reservation for a TN Promise volunteer event, contact Laura Williams at <laura.williams@tn.gov> or (615) 253-9945.

Tims Ford State Park

TN Promise Saturday Trail Work Day, 8 a.m. to Noon

Meet at the Park Visitor Center

Event Contact: Park Manager Kenny Gragg 931-962-1183

Event Contact Email kenneth.gragg@tn.gov

Maximum Number of Participants 20

All volunteers should bring appropriate clothing for doing trail work. Trail work will consist of utilizing hand tools to cut new trail and remove exotic invasive plant species.

Be sure to bring water and appropriate foot wear (no flip flops or sandals). Long pants and bug spray are recommended. Gloves will be provided.

 

Old Stone Fort – Manchester

TN Promise Saturday Volunteer Day, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Meet at the Old Stone Fort Museum – 732 Stone Fort Drive, Manchester TN 37355

Event Contact: Ranger Josh Waggener

Email joshua.waggener@tn.gov

Maximum Number of Participants 25

Volunteers are needed to come assist in preserving the 2,000-year-old Native American enclosure mounds located at Old Stone Fort.

Volunteers are asked to bring gloves and wear comfortable outdoor clothing.

 

Fiery Gizzard – in Grundy County

TN Promise Saturday Fiery Gizzard Trail Building, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Meet at the Grundy Forest Trailhead, 131 Fiery Gizzard Rd. Tracy City, TN 37387

Event Contact: Ranger Jason Reynolds 931-924-2980

Event Contact Email jason.reynolds@tn.gov

Maximum Number of Participants 50

Flex your volunteer muscle by helping with a major trail reroute along the famed Fiery Gizzard Trail. This exciting project cuts through some difficult, rough, beautiful terrain, so be prepared with sturdy footwear and plenty of water/snacks.

If you have a favorite tool or pair of gloves, feel free to bring them. For more info, call the South Cumberland Visitor Center.

Coffee County Deputy Mike Jarvis reported to a structure fire at 641 Lake Hill Road in the northern part of the county on Monday afternoon. Jarvis said in his report that when he arrived on the scene the home was already fully engulfed with flames. The report goes onto to say the residence was completely destroyed by the blaze.
Volunteers from the North Coffee Volunteer Fire Department reported to the scene and were joined by volunteers from other volunteer fire departments from the area.
Upon speaking with the owner, Fred Hobbs, Jarvis reports that the man stated he had left his residence around 3 pm. He also stated that the only thing that he had left plugged in that was out of the ordinary was the battery charger that was attached to his wife’s vehicle that was parked in the attached garage area of the residence. The home has an estimated value of around $400,000.
No one was injured in the fire and an investigation is continuing.

What started off as a kitchen fire on Perry Rd just outside Manchester turned into the Hickerson Volunteer Fire Department being involved in an accident on Monday afternoon. The fire truck and a Nissan Sentra collided as the Hickerson fire truck was in route to the scene. Manchester Fire Department provided mutual aid with other Hickerson units to clear smoke from the kitchen fire.
No one was seriously injured in the accident. The Tennessee Highway Patrol was in charge of the crash that occurred just after 2pm.
Manchester Police Department, Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and Coffee County EMS all responded to the scene.

Until now, not all financial advisors in Tennessee and the rest of the country were required to put their clients first, before any investment funds they represent. This month that’s expected to change after the U.S. Department of Labor issued a fiduciary rule, taking full effect in 2018, that requires all financial advisors who give retirement advice to act in the best interest of their clients. Jim Lardner, communications director for Americans for Financial Reform, explains what the problem was. “Brokers, insurance companies, sales people and others can take advantage of loopholes and have taken advantage of loopholes to promote high-commissioned investment products that do very well for them,” he says. “But are not so good for the investor.” This is the first time the rules have been updated in 40 years. Opponents say it requires excess paperwork and will result in higher costs for investors in the long run. Though the policy hasn’t been mandated by law before now, many reputable investment companies require their advisors to sign a contract committing to act in the best interest of their client. Experts say to protect yourself, ask your advisor if they’ve committed to such a standard. Americans for Financial Reform estimates the lack of consumer protection until now has cost savers more than $17 billion annually. Lardner says financial advisors looking to make extra profits on the backs of their clients can cost big bucks over time. “The cost of this kind of conflicting so-called advice, which is really a sales pitch disguised as advice,” says Lardner. “Can run into the tens of thousands of dollars for an individual worker or retiree.” According to a study by the Center for American Progress, even a seemingly small extra fee on an investment in a mutual fund can add up over time. A 25 year old, earning $30,000 a year and investing 5 percent of her salary annually, would end up paying almost $100,000 extra over a lifetime with an extra fee of less than 1 percent.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is joining states across the nation to remind motorists “Don’t be THAT driver: Work on safety. Get home safely. Every day.” TDOT will spread that message statewide during National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 11-15) in an effort to improve safety in Tennessee’s interstate and highway construction and maintenance work zones.
“Work zones include everything from major interstate widening projects to pothole patching and mowing, and conditions in those areas can change quickly,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. “We want everyone to get home safely, so don’t be that distracted or aggressive driver in work zones. Please pay attention to signs, reduce your speed, and move over when possible.”
The spring and summer months provide perfect weather for highway work, and motorists will encounter work zones across Tennessee in downtowns, along interstates and in rural areas. Last year in Tennessee, 18 people died in work zone crashes, including workers, drivers and passengers.
Work zone safety messages will be displayed on TDOT’s overhead Dynamic Message Signs on interstates in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville. There will also be special displays across the state to honor the 109 TDOT workers lost in the line of duty since 1948.