Category: News

The Manchester, TN KOA Campground has been awarded the 2015 KOA President’s and Founder’s Awards by Kampgrounds of America Inc., the world’s largest system of family-friendly campgrounds. The awards were presented Friday, November 14 at KOA’s Annual International Convention in Charleston, South Carolina. KOA is celebrating its 52nd Anniversary in 2014.
The KOA President’s Awards are presented annually to campgrounds that receive high scores in customer service from their campers, and also receive high scores in KOA’s annual Quality Review.

On the heels of the most controversial issue of the recent election, there’s a plan to add more regulations to abortion in Tennessee.
WSMV-TV reports a bill on the table will require any woman seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound before the procedure. The measure is modeled after a similar law in Texas.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Rick Womick (R-Rockvale). It requires a woman to have an ultrasound between 24 and 72 hours before having an abortion, unless the abortion is part of a medical emergency.
The bill would require the woman to view the ultrasound. If she chose not to view it, a medical professional would describe it to her, including details like the size of the embryo, the presence of a heartbeat, and arms and legs.
Planned Parenthood opposes the bill, saying that most women have already made up their minds before they have an abortion.

A Cannon County woman was killed Friday night in a one-vehicle crash on Short Mountain Road, just outside Woodbury.
According to a report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 30 year old Charity Simons was driving westbound on Short Mountain Road when the vehicle went out of control, left the roadway and crashed into a utility pole before going through a fence and coming to rest in a field.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say speed was a factor. Simons was not wearing a seat belt.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam earlier this week unveiled a report by the Governor’s Veterans Education Task Force outlining ways to improve higher education opportunities for returning veterans.
Recommendations made by the task force are: support standardized, statewide training for campus leaders on veteran education practices; provide opportunities for colleges and universities to compete for funding veteran-focused initiatives; and establish a comprehensive veteran education web-portal.
“Veterans returning home from serving their country should have a smooth transition when enrolling at one of our colleges or universities,” Haslam said. “I appreciate the hard work of the Veterans Education Task Force to look at this issue and how we serve those veterans who have served so bravely for us. These recommendations will improve veterans’ access to higher education and help Tennessee toward the goals of Drive to 55.”
The governor’s “Drive to 55” initiative is aimed at increasing the number of Tennesseans with a certificate or degree beyond high school. By 2025, 55 percent of the jobs in Tennessee will require a post-secondary credential, and currently only 33 percent of Tennesseans qualify.
Haslam formed the Governor’s Veterans Education Task Force in November 2013, charging the group with identifying hurdles for transitioning veterans, researching best practices to serve student veterans, and making recommendations on improving opportunities for veterans to earn a post-secondary degree or certificate.
The task force will work with stakeholders from the state Department of Veterans Affairs and higher education in the coming months to begin implementing the recommendations, with planning on the statewide training initiative and web-portal beginning immediately.
The nine-member task force met once a month for six months and hosted meetings at college and university campuses across the state, focusing on those campuses that have been the most successful in educating veterans.
Dr. Mary Lou Apple, President of Motlow State Community College is a board member.

A contagious infection that most people thought was a long-distant memory is on the rise in Tennessee.
Whooping cough is nowhere near the epidemic proportions in California where nearly 9,000 cases have been reported so far this year. There’s not been as many cases reported in Tennessee but numbers are up.
The Tennessee Department of Health reports 238 cases so far in 2014 compared to 179 cases for the same period through early November in 2013.
The Tennessee Department of Health says that under a doctor’s care, vaccination is the best form for preventing whooping cough.
It says newer vaccines developed after 2000 are safe, but not as long-lasting, so some people may need booster shots.
The department has also indicated that family members of whooping cough victims can prevent getting the infection by taking certain vaccinations.

Folks who want to eat their turkey while enjoying some of Tennessee’s natural wonders can do so at one of eight state parks that will be serving Thanksgiving dinner.
Tennessee State Park officials say restaurants at those parks will be open on Nov. 27, serving their annual Thanksgiving Day feast.
The traditional trimmings, along with an assortment of desserts, will be available beginning at 11 a.m. until closing.
The state parks are: Cumberland Mountain, David Crockett, Fall Creek Falls, Henry Horton, Montgomery Bell, Natchez Trace, Paris Landing and Pickwick Landing.
For more information about Tennessee State Parks, visit http://tnstateparks.com .