The safety of co-op members and employees is a top priority at Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC), especially during extreme weather events when power outages might be widespread. When this happens, linemen and field personnel rush to aid those affected. If system damages are serious, like during the February 2015 ice storms, it might take several days to restore power.
Line crews take necessary precautions before they work on downed power lines. First, they verify a circuit has been de-energized and that proper switches are opened and tagged to isolate the circuit from the system. They place grounding chains on the circuit — on both sides of where the repairs are underway — to ensure the line cannot be energized while work is being done.
But even with these safety measures, their lives remain in your hands.
DREMC is proud of its outstanding safety record, but no matter how many steps are taken to keep everyone safe, co-op members with portable generators might unknowingly put lives in danger.
Portable generators, widely used when power lines are down, can prove fatal to line workers and the public when used improperly.
No one would purposely cause the death of a lineman. Nevertheless, a generator connected to a home’s wiring or plugged into a regular household outlet can cause high-voltage back-feeding, posing the danger of electrocution even if the co-op’s line seems dead.
DREMC employees are not the only ones in danger when a portable generator is used improperly. Generator owners themselves may be at risk of electrocution, fire injury, property damage, or carbon monoxide poisoning if they do not follow the necessary safety rules.
Portable generators can be very helpful to consumers during outages. But DREMC urges members to follow these safety guidelines:
♣ Never connect a generator directly to your home’s wiring unless the proper protective switch has been installed. This can cause back-feeding, sending electricity from the generator back onto the power line. Across the U.S., linemen are injured and killed every year in mishaps caused by generator back-feeds. Have a licensed electrician install the equipment necessary to safely connect an emergency generator to the wiring in your home.
• ♣ Always plug appliances directly into generators. Running appliances directly from the generator is a safer way to provide power in the absence of a protective switch wired into the home.
♣ Use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cords. Make sure extension cords are free of cuts or tears and the plug has three prongs. Overloaded cords can cause fires or equipment damage.
♣ Ensure your generator is properly grounded. This is extremely important. Members of the household could be in danger if the grounding is faulty.
♣ Never overload a generator. A portable generator should only be used, when necessary, to power essential equipment or appliances. Follow the manufacturer’s wattage recommendations and never overload the generator.
♣ Turn off all equipment powered by the generator before shutting it down.
♣ Keep the generator dry. Operate it on a dry surface or under an open-sided structure. Never run a generator inside a house due to the danger of carbon-monoxide poisoning.
♣ Always have a fully charged fire extinguisher nearby.
♣ Never fuel a generator while it is operating.
♣ Read and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation. Never cut corners when it comes to safety.
DREMC encourages co-op members to protect the well-being and safety of themselves and their families during power outages, but also to safeguard those who come to their aid during emergency situations.
Category: News
Lives Are on the Line, Warns DREMC
Harton Regional’s CEO Announces Retirement
Harton Regional Medical Center
Russ Spray, Chief Executive Officer of Harton Regional Medical Center, announced this week that he will retire in February.
“I’m proud to finish my career at Harton Regional with some of the most talented and dedicated physicians, employees and volunteers I’ve known,” said Spray. “Although I will certainly miss supporting their work to care for southern middle Tennessee, I’m glad to be spending my retirement in the community that has been our home.”
Spray joined Harton Regional in 2011. In that time, the hospital has increased healthcare resources with the recruitment of physicians to the community and the expansion of the critical care unit, among other enhancements.
“As a native of the area, Russ has led with a keen understanding of the healthcare needs of Tullahoma and the surrounding communities,” said James Lane, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “He leaves the hospital positioned for continued growth and excellence.”
Spray has spent his 37-year career within 100 miles of his hometown of Fayetteville. He has led hospitals in Fayetteville, Winchester, McMinnville, and Gadsden and Huntsville, Alabama. He began his career as an auditor in Nashville.
The search for a new permanent CEO will begin immediately. Members of the Board of Trustees, medical staff and hospital leaders will be involved in the selection process.
Harton Regional Medical Center is a 135-bed facility serving the residents of Coffee, Moore, Franklin, Bedford and surrounding communities. HRMC received The Joint Commission Seal of Approval and full accreditation as a Chest Pain Center from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. For more information about the services offered, visit hartonmedicalcenter.com
Bonnaroo 2016 Lineup Coming Tuesday
Cooling fountain at Bonnaroo
Tune in to TBS TV for the CONAN show on January 19 for the big news of the Bonnaroo 2016 lineup and other fun surprises. Bonnaroo is very excited to share the announcement and begin celebrating 15 Years of Magic with you in 2016!
Tune in to TBS at 10pm central.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival organizers announced this week that the installation of a permanent water line is in the works.
The water line means flushable toilets, permanent showers and water filling stations for the thousands of festival attendees.
Bonnaroo officials added in their announcement that the amenities will be in service by the time the festival kicks off on June 9.
In addition to the water line, the festival will implement a car camping pass for every vehicle to pass through the event’s tollbooth.
The pass will cost $59.75 and proceeds will sustain the “temporary city.”
Tickets go on sale January 22 beginning level one General Admission price of $324.50 plus fees. Ticket fees are $34.90 per ticket, which includes a $6.00 facility fee, $3.00 contribution to Coffee County, $2.00 donation to the Bonnaroo Works Fund, and other fees.
Two Coffee County Men Arrested During Murder Investigation
Special Agents with the TBI have charged two men in an ongoing homicide investigation in McMinnville.
Wednesday morning, authorities arrested 19 year old Tyler Jones of Manchester and 20 year old Nicholas McGee of Tullahoma in connection with the death of 43 year old Osbaldo Luna, whose body was found Tuesday morning outside a residence on Beersheba Street.
Both men have been charged with criminal homicide and were booked into the Warren County Jail on a $1-million bond each.
The investigation is continuing with the possibility of additional suspects and charges. Tuesday night authorities said as many as six people were picked up and questioned about the murder.
New Data Shows Decline in Tennessee Traffic Fatalities
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security said in a news release that the number of traffic fatalities in 2015 is the third lowest annual figure in Tennessee since 1963.
Traffic fatality numbers are reported by all Tennessee law enforcement agencies to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Preliminary figures indicate there were 965 vehicular deaths on Tennessee roadways in 2015.
In 1963, there were 941 deaths. The 2015 fatality number includes 112 pedestrians and 10 bicyclists.
From 1964 to 2010, Tennessee averaged 1,234 deaths on roadways.
Over the 46 year period, 1973 was the most tragic year, with a total of 1,444 traffic deaths.
From 2011 to 2015, the five-year annual traffic fatality average has been 971, with those five years making up five of the six lowest years since 1963.
Preliminary national figures indicate an increase of about 15% in 2015 compared to 2014.
THP Colonel Tracy Trott said state troopers’ commitment to enforcing DUI, seat belt, and distracted driving traffic laws is producing results. State troopers arrested 7,805 individuals on suspicion of DUI in 2015 and cited 114,047 individuals for not wearing their seat belts. There was a 20.9 percent drop in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2015 in Tennessee and a 3 percent drop in the percent of fatalities involving unrestrained motorists compared to 2014.
Nashville Amends Teacher Evaluation Criteria
Nashville’s school board has joined Knox County Schools in calling for test scores to not be used for teacher evaluations this school year.
The Tennessean reports that the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board unanimously voted Tuesday in favor of a resolution that urges state officials to either provide a waiver this year in using TNReady for teacher evaluations or allow districts to use only observation data for teacher evaluations.
The Knox County school board approved a similar resolution last month.
Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesboro, has filed a bill asking for a two-year exemption of TNReady student growth scores on teacher evaluations.
Motlow Ranks Among the Best in the State
The 2015 fall semester will go down as one of the most prolific time frames in Motlow State Community College history. By accomplishing multiple significant milestones, Motlow has stepped to the forefront of higher education institutions, not only statewide, but nationwide as well.
From leading all colleges in the state in percentage enrollment increase to the Smyrna campus being the second-fastest growing college campus in America, and from having the National Honors Council Student of the Year.
Every successful team needs dynamic leadership. Prior to the beginning of the term, Motlow welcomed the college’s sixth president, Dr. Anthony G. Kinkel. Dr. Kinkel has brought a renewed energy to all four Motlow campuses through his innovative ideas and creative concepts.
At the top of the list of achievements is the astonishing growth of the student population, fueled by the inaugural semester of the Tennessee Promise scholarship program. Compared to the same period in 2014, Motlow led all public universities in Tennessee with an enrollment (headcount) increase of 10.5 percent and a Full Time Equivalency (FTE) increase of 21.9 percent. This amazing increase qualified Motlow as the fastest-growing college in the state of Tennessee, and placed it among the fastest in the nation.
Motlow student recognition abounded in the fall semester. One hundred percent of the 2015 nursing program graduates passed the National Council Licensure Examination, yet another Motlow best-in-state performance.
Caitlin Tripp, a sophomore from Tullahoma, was recognized as the National Collegiate Honors Council Student of the Year at the national conference in November. This singular award recognizes an outstanding honors student selected from two-year colleges nationwide, and a Motlow student has now won the award two consecutive years.
The Motlow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) education program graduated its inaugural class, consisting of 10 Paramedic and 12 Advanced Emergency Medical Technician graduates, all coming from the immediate service area of the college.
Major facility renovations are another highlight of the fall semester at Motlow, led by the completion of a comprehensive upgrade to Simon Hall, the primary classroom building on the Moore County campus.
These impressive accomplishments underscore the resurgence of Motlow State Community College as one of the leading higher education institutions in the state of Tennessee. As the spring semester begins, Motlow is poised to continue its momentum in better serving its students and communities.
Gas Prices will Continue to Drop through the end of January
Gas prices are likely to fall even lower this week, due to the falling price of oil. Crude prices declined $3.60 last week, which could lead to a decline of about 9 cents at the pump.
“A global glut in oil keeps pushing oil prices lower, which makes it cheaper to produce gasoline,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Unfortunately, gas prices could eventually rise about 50 cents between February and May as gas supplies tighten due to seasonal refinery maintenance.”
The average price in Tennessee is $1.73 – 2 cents lower than last week, and 25 cents lower than this time last year.
In the Coffee County this week Tullahoma has the low price of $1.61 and in Manchester the low price per gallon is a $1.63.
Powerball Rises Above $1.5 Billion
The world’s largest lottery jackpot had grown to $1.5 billion as of Tuesday afternoon because of continuing strong Powerball ticket sales.
The record-breaking Powerball jackpot could grow yet more before Wednesday’s drawing if ticket sales continue to exceed expectations. Officials reassess the estimate daily.
The odds of matching all six numbers to win the jackpot are one in 292.2 million.
The $1.5 billion prize would be paid in annual payments over 29 years. Or the winner could opt for a lump-sum payment of $930 million.
Tennessee Communities Face Student Loan Debt
Sixty-three percent of Tennessee households have high rates of student loan delinquency, according to a new report. (DodgertonSkillhause/morguefile)
The organization mapped debt by ZIP Code and found many counties in the state have high debt rates, most in rural areas.
Report co-author Maggie Thompson, campaign manager for “Higher Ed, Not Debt,” says this isn’t a problem only for Millennials.
“This is not just an issue for young people or students; it’s really an issue that’s fundamentally affecting our economy,” says Thompson. “Student loan debt is something that’s limiting people’s ability to buy homes. We have stories from several borrowers who are delaying marriage because of student loan debt.”
Nationwide, student debt amounts to more than $1.3 trillion, and 43 million Americans owe debt related to their student loans. The report highlights relief programs, particularly for borrowers with federal loans, but Thompson and others say many in need are not aware of the help available.
Mor Aframian accrued $75,000 in student loans to get her undergraduate and master’s degrees. Now at age 28, she says she has paid off just one-third of the balance, as she looks for work with her marketing and event-planning expertise.
“All of my offers told me I was either overqualified for the job, or they’re not really looking for somebody with a master’s degree,” says Aframian. “So, it kind of felt like I went on and got this additional education – but now, nobody can afford to hire me.”
Tennessee received recognition in the report for its Tennessee Promise program, which covers tuition costs not covered by federal aid for qualifying students to attend community college.
Thompson calls it an important step forward.
“For states like Tennessee, it’s obvious that people are starting to see the need for more affordable higher ed, in general,” Thompson says. “Pairing that with policies that can help borrowers, people that are already out of school and paying the debt, is one way that states can really have an impact.”
The report recommends that at the state level, as with other kinds of debt, student-loan borrowers should be allowed to refinance their debt, which is currently difficult to do.
