Paris, TN

(Left to Right) Norma Steele, with the Heritage Center and Susan Jones, Publisher of Paris magazine, at the 19th Annual Small Business Expo.

The Small Business Expo allows small businesses to display their new business or new product lines. It is a marketing tool that highlights valuable members of the Chamber of Commerce. The businesses were allowed to sell their services or merchandise at their booth. Henry County Medical Center gave free health screenings. The event usually takes place around the 3rd Tuesday in October in hopes that businesses that partake in the event will stick in the minds of those in attendance during the holiday season.

Dola Beaty of Dola’s Monograms.

This year’s event was put together by 10 volunteers of Chamber member businesses including Tory Daughrity, Marketing and Public Relations Director at Henry County Medical Center, who was Chair of the event. Each year, the event is slightly different so that it is fresh and new to the public. This year the theme was “The Big 80′s”, and the people in attendance were able to choose the booth that best used the theme. This year’s winner was Eiffel Gardens with their theme of Alf, trolls and all things spatter painted, and they will receive a free booth at next years expo.

Jennifer Wheatley, Executive Director of Paris-Henry County Chamber Of Commerce, was very excited to have two graduates of the Chamber’s small business class, Kevin Buie of K & B Supplies and Dola Beaty of Dola’s Monograms, showcase their new businesses at the expo. Ms. Beaty enjoyed her day at the expo, especially since her only way to reach the public right now is through business cards and events like this one. She currently runs the business from her home.

Kevin Buie of K & B Supplies.

Other businesses at the Small Business Expo were Rogers Jewelers, First Bank, Volunteer Home Care, Paris Country Club, Abbott’s Print Shop, Freedom Fitness, Tennessee Quality Home Care, Foundation Bank, Carey Counseling, Hamilton-Ryker, Eiffel Gardens, St. John Security, Commercial Bank, My Favorite Things, Morningside of Paris, Tennessee Rehabilitation Center, Paris Civic Center, Pepsi, West Tennessee Printing, Adult Learning Center, Grace Clinic, TSBDC, Tennessee Technology Center, Downtown Paris Association, The Toggery, Arrowhead Home Sales, Robbie to the Rescue, Paris Realty, Paris Natural Gas, Henry County Medical Center, WTPR, Paris! magazine, West Tennessee Chiropractic, Circle A Fundraising, Bethel University, West Tennessee Moto Coach, Extendicare Home Health, ComfortMaxx, Hi-Tech Prosthetics and Orthotics, OrthoWorks, Albert Ross Tharpe Associates, Healthsouth Cane Creek, Sign and Trophy Express, Career Center, Hulmes Sporting Goods, McEvoy Funeral Home, Paris Health Care, and Vern Steedly State Farm.

The event is slated for March 28 at 8 a.m. at the Henry County High School parking lot in Paris, Tennessee. The course is “fast and certified.” Entry fees are $15 for the 4-mile, $10 for the 2-mile if pre-registered (form must be postmarked by March 14), and on the day of the race, $20 for the 4-mile, and $15 for the 2 mile (from 6:30-7:45 a.m.).

Four mile awards will be presented to the top male and female overall, and masters medals to the top three in each age division: 10 & under, 11-14,, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and 70 & older.

All pre-registered participants are guaranteed a t-shirt.

Entry forms are available at the Paris Civic Center. Make checks payable to the Paris Lions Club and submit entries to the Paris Civic Center, 6745 Hwy 79N, Buchanan TN 38222. . For more information, call Lnace Winders at 731-644-1600.

Fees are $40 for the first child, $20 per sibling in the same household with an $80 maximum per family.  Sign-ups are open to all youth between the ages of 4 and 18 years of age.

Players must try-out only if they moving up from Rookie to Minor League or are nin-years-old and have never played in this league before.  All games from T-Ball to Major league will be played at McNeil Park.

Jennifer Williams and Stacie Plunkett greet Healthcare Expo visitors

In a four hour block of time, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, the Paris Civic Center was a buzz of activity as over six hundred visitors passed through the center’s doors during the sixth annual Healthcare Expo .

Visitors were greeted by Paris Chamber of Commerce representatives Jenifer Williams and Stacie Plunkett, and asked to sign-in and register for free door prizes and give-a-ways. Each visitor received a free gift bag to fill with the free hand-outs and gifts provided by the diverse vendors. Stacie is chairperson of the Chamber’s Healthcare Committee which coordinates the health expo.

At the center of the expo hall’s setup was Henry County Medical Center’s free testing and screening multi-station. Blood pressure checks, blood sugar reading, cholesterol reading, hand grip strength testing and osteoporosis screenings were provided free. The results were recorded and given to each visitor for review with their personal medical care provider.

Paris Civic Center Walking Track

It must be noted that the Paris Civic Center, in addition to being an excellent meeting facility, is a well-rounded fitness center in its own right. Swimming pool, gymnasium and walking track and weight/aerobic fitness rooms are available on a daily full packet price. Daily passes for the separate facilities are also an option.  Annual passes are available at family, senior couple, senior single, adult single and youth single rates. Payment plans are available.  The center offers various fitness programs and classes, for a fee. For more information, please call the Paris Civic Center, 731-644-2517.

The Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce provided free copies of its Medical Services Directory, a guide to healthcare providers and allied services. There was information on the Henry County Medical Center’s rehabilitation services, which include physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech/language pathology. The center offers both inpatient and outpatient services. Also under the Health Center’s broad range of services is the Home Health & Hospice Program. It bridges the gap from hospital to home, providing a special kind of support for people with a limited life expectancy and their families. HCMC Home Health and Hospice serves Benton, Carroll, Henry, Humphreys, Stewart and Weakley Counties.

Free copies of Golden Years, the Peddler Advantage Retiree and Senior Citizen Magazine were distributed at the  Eiffel Gardens station. Eiffel Gardens is an spacious assisted living community whose station was staffed by personnel from the residence. There was a bounty of information of assisted living and the allied medical support services available to their residents.

Dr. Todd Keller,West Tennessee Chiropractic Center

Chiropractic Centers were well represented with West Tennessee Chiropractic and Paris Family Chiropractic each giving free screenings. West Tennessee Chiropractic’s Dr. Todd Keller performed upper and lower back scans and included free x-ray exam follow-up at their 1024 Mineral Wells Avenue office.  Paris Family Chiropractic performed energy balance scans. Dr. Elizabeth Craig of Paris Family  Chiropractic also specializes in acupuncture therapy. Both facilities also offer massage therapy, as does Escape A Day Spa- 1000 Cornerstone Drive and Dr. Robert Wesley, 212 Memorial Drive, both in Paris.

Freedom Fitness Tanning Spa

Fitness and exercise centers were also on hand. Freedom Fitness Spa and Tanning Center displayed a stationary exercise bike in combination with a near-infrared light therapy station. Fitness center and program information was also on display. Freedom is a 24-hour fitness spa center. They also offer massage, skin care and spa. Gift certificates are available. Visit them at www.freedomfitnesstn.com

Behavioral and mental health counseling services were the focus of several vendors. Carey Counseling Center displayed information on their diverse behavioral counseling services and extended stay facilities. Other developmental services vendors included Community Developmental Services and Henry County Medical Center Lake Haven. Youth Villages, 107 Memorial Drive, provides youth and family services.

Orthopedic surgery and sports medicine was the the focus of Henry County Therapy Center, Dr. G. Blake Chandler, Dr. Heather Gladwell, Dr. Eugene Gulish as well as the Henry County Medical Center’s Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation. Displays included mock-ups of knee, ankle, neck and spinal assemblies with informational handouts that discussed the various types of injuries each could sustain. Corrective prosthetics and external supports were also displayed. This included braces of various kinds, venous pulmonary support hosiery and diabetic support shoes. Diabetes information and health tips were available.

Walgreen's hands out sports water bottles

Several pharmacies had also set up displays with free give-a-ways. Walgreens distributed sports bottles, coffee mugs, stress relieves, hand sanitizer samples and printed materials on a variety of health issues covering high blood pressure, diabetes, dental hygiene, heart disease, physical exercise for health maintenance, flu immunizations and more.

In any discussion of health care in the United States health insurance is bound to be part of the conversation. Several insurance vendors provided handouts, mouse pads as give-a-ways, pens, had personnel on hand to answer questions from the visitors. Ricky Rhodes Insurance & Financial Services, Consolidated Insurance, the Allison Insurance Group, Tennessee Rural Health-Henry County Farm Bureau and Dixie Hines Agency were just a few of the agencies on site. Ricky Rhodes provided free juicy tangerines for all visitors to their station. Very tasty treats!

Tomorrow’s Hope Pregnancy Help Center manned a station with information centered on providing pregnancy counseling, natal and post-natal counseling and care, anger management and parenting classes.

All the while the many vendors were interacting with the continuously changing crowd of attendees, door prizes winners were being called out. The ultimate winners however must be acknowledged as the people of the Henry County regional area who have access to the many fine services showcased at this health expo.

The Paris-Henry County Health Care Expo will have answers to your questions about health care, wellness and fitness, when medical centers, health experts and health service providers gather on February 7, 2009, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the Paris Civic Center, 650 Volunteer Drive in Paris.

The event is sponsored by the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Henry County Medical Center, and the Paris Civic Center.

The exhibit is designed to provide a centralized resource for area residents to access information and information about  medical care and service providers.Exhibitors have until January 30, 2009, to register, and three sizes of booths are available: 10×6 $110), 12×6 ($150) and 14×6 (225).  Non-Chamber members add $25 for booths if available. The booth fees include a draped area with skirted table and one chair, a business sign, trade show kit, and publicity. A $25 fee will be assessed for electrical service.

Door prizes will be provided by the exhibitors and will be given away throughout the day.

For more information, call the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce at 931.642.3431.