Dover, TN – Please join APSU staff, Fort Donelson staff, and volunteers on November 5th, from 9:00am – 3:00pm for a day filled with hands-on activities about water resources in Tennessee.

One portion of the workshop will be held at the Stewart County Visitor Center, located nearby the entrance to the national park. In the afternoon, educators will apply the information they’ve learned at Fort Donelson.

WET Workshop

Who is invited? All public and private school teachers and non-formal educators, park rangers, home school educators, nature center and museum staff, teachers-in-training.

• Fun, engaging, hands-on activities
• Learn about Tennessee’s water resources while receiving six hours of in-service credit
• Incorporate environmental education into the classroom
• Help students become better stewards of their environment
• Learn the importance of stormwater quality and its impact
• Best Management Practices (BMPs) teach students real-world applications
• Conduct water sampling tests and discover what the results teach us

Protect WET Infomation

Date: November 5th, 2011

Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Registration: Contact Kathy DeWein; deweink@apsu.edu 931-221-6480. Send a $10.00 non-refundable check made out to APSU at PO Box 4718, Clarksville, TN 37044 with you registration form.

Where: Stewart County Visitor’s Center, 117 Visitor Center Lane, Dover, Tennessee

Lunch: Provided

Dress: Comfortable casual. Water shoes

Deadline to Register: October 26th, 2011

Directions: Hwy 79 in Dover, Tennessee, approximately 30 miles from Clarksville, TN, 30 miles from Paris, TN, and 35 miles from Murray, KY.

Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide

Each participant receives a copy of the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide 2.0 containing over 500 pages of various water-related activities for K-12th graders.

Lessons cover a variety of formats: whole body, group, discovery science, and laboratory investigation, local and global issues. Lessons correlate to Science, Language Arts and Social Studies with the TN standards.

What is Project WET?

WET stands for Water Education for Teachers. Project WET is an international, interdisciplinary, water science and education program for formal and non-formal educators of K-12 students.

In Tennessee, the mission of Project WET is to help teachers provide water education to their students with the goal of reducing nonpoint source pollution and improving water quality. This service is provided primarily through educator workshops. Project WET is located in The Center of Excellence for Field Biology of Austin Peay State University.

For more information, visit: www.apsu.edu/wet

The yearly reunion for those from the Stewart County, TN portion of LBL provides a chance for former Between the Rivers residents to celebrate and reminisce. It will take place Sunday, September 4th, at the Bison Range Picnic Area, on The Trace in the southern portion of LBL.

All former residents, relatives, and friends are invited. Those attending should bring food, beverages, lawn chairs, and any other picnic or recreation items they wish. Restrooms, picnic tables, and grills are provided. For more information on the Stewart County Between the Rivers Homecoming, contact LBL at 270.924.2000.

A Between the Rivers Homecoming is also planned for Lyon County, KY on September 17th. It is held annually at Star Camp picnic area. All former residents, relatives, and friends are invited.

About Land Between The Lakes

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education. We encourage visitors to review our website at www.lbl.org each season, and throughout the season, for our Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, safety information, maps, and temporary trail and road closures. Follow us on Twitter @LBLScreechOwl and on our blog at http://landbetweenthelakes.blogspot.com/. Additional LBL and “Friends of LBL” information is also available on our website or by calling 1.800.LBL.7077 or 270.924.2000.

State and federal officials continue to encourage anyone with damage or other losses in the disaster-designated counties to register. “You may think you don’t need assistance, but you could later have disaster related losses,” said TEMA Director James H. Bassham “Registration with FEMA is free. It’s better to get your name in the system before the August 9th deadline. After that date, it will be too late.”

There are two separate disaster declarations for Tennessee. The August 9th registration deadline applies to both.

Severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and associated flooding April 25th-28th.

The counties included in this disaster (DR-1974) are Bledsoe, Bradley, Carroll, Cocke, Crockett, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Henry, Johnson, Knox, Madison, McMinn, Monroe, Montgomery, Rhea and Washington.

Severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and associated flooding April 19th-June 7th.

The counties included in this disaster (DR-1979) are Dyer, Gibson, Lake, Lauderdale, Lincoln, Obion, Shelby, Stewart and Tipton.

“We are here to provide all authorized assistance to every eligible survivor of these disasters,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer W. Montague Winfield, the official in charge of FEMA’s work in Tennessee. “We can only fulfill this mission if eligible Tennesseans register before the August 9th deadline.”

To get help from FEMA and to register for assistance, individuals and business owners are encouraged to call the Helpline, 800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7:00am to 10:00pm local time. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or m.fema.gov on a smartphone or tablet.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

About the Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

FEMA’s housing assistance and Other Needs Assistance grants for medical, dental, and funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be considered for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses. Applicants who do not qualify for a SBA loan may be eligible to receive Other Needs Assistance grants for these items.

Nashville, TN – County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for May 2011, released today, show that the rate decreased in 56 counties, increased in 24 counties, and stayed the same in 15 counties.

Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 9.7 percent, up slightly from the April rate of 9.6. The national unemployment rate for May 2011 was 9.1 percent, up from April’s 9.0 percent.

May Paris-Henry County area unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate for Paris-Henry County stayed the same at 11.9 percent.

Lincoln County registered the state’s lowest county unemployment rate at 6.1 percent, down from the April rate of 6.6 percent, followed by Williamson County at 6.6 percent, down from 7.0 percent. Scott County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 20.8 percent, down from 22.1 percent in the previous month, followed by Lauderdale County at 14.8 percent, unchanged from the April rate.

Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 7.4 percent, down from 7.7 percent in April.  Hamilton County was 8.2 percent, unchanged from the previous month.  Davidson County was 8.6 percent, down from 8.8 percent in April, and Shelby County was 10.0 percent, unchanged from their April unemployment rate.

Dad got to England in July of 1944. Soon after he landed, he was on a landing craft headed for Normandy. As they crossed the English Channel, over the loudspeaker came the familiar voice of Roy Acuff singing, “The Great Speckled Bird.”

Years later, Dad would remember that no son of the South, and few from anywhere else, had dry eyes as Acuff sang that Grand Ole Opry favorite and their thoughts returned to home.

They hit Omaha Beach and before long were fighting in the hedgerows. A few days into combat, Dad was wounded, but it could have been much worse. For thousands, it was. So on he fought with his buddies, all part of the Ninth Infantry that famed war correspondent Ernie Pyle once called “a beautiful machine.”

Army troops on board a LCT, ready to ride across the English Channel to France. Some of these men wear 101st Airborne Division insignia. Photograph released 12th June 1944. (Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives.)

About three months after Dad finished basic training, his Ninth Infantry claimed to be the first Allied force to start the liberation of Belgium. The GIs were greeted by throngs of happy Belgians who had waited four long years for freedom.

Did the soldiers always know what they fought for? For some, the words “freedom” and “home” were enough. Historian Stephen Ambrose in his Citizen Soldiers reports a soldier who, upon discovering the horrors behind the gates of a concentration camp, said, “Now I know why I am here.”

By September, almost none of the original men of Dad’s company, the men he started across France with, were still with him. Then his turn came. The Nazi mortar nearly took his life. The wounds and soon the infections that raged in his shrapnel-riddled legs then almost killed him. Finally, after nearly a year in hospitals in England the United States, he came home to Tennessee.

That was more six decades ago, yet for many families, the story is familiar. With wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Americans continue to hear stories of loved ones and neighbors serving as citizen soldiers with unthinkable courage and suffering tragedy unimaginable.

I think of my Weakley County neighbor, Billy Laird, whose soldier son Dustin died in Iraq. I think of another Weakley Countian, my friend Mike Morel, whose son, Marine Captain Brent Morel, also died in Iraq. I think of my friend Steve McConnell, an Army vet, who last year helped saved my mother’s life in a hospital intensive care unit. His son, Daniel, a helicopter pilot, was terribly injured and even lost an arm on a mission in Afghanistan.

We remember those who are gone and those who have suffered so, not only for their sake but also for our own.

President Abraham Lincoln said, “Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.” This Memorial Day, may we remember our American heroes. May we honor their sacrifice. And as we remember them, may we be inspired to follow their leadership and continue their legacy of patriotic service.

Your friend,

Roy

About Roy Herron

Small-town attorney and Christian author Roy Herron is the Tennessee State Senator for District 24 (Benton, Decatur, Henry, Henderson, Lake, Obion, Perry, Stewart, and Weakley Counties).

As a part-time citizen legislator, Herron has fought predatory lenders, passed laws that are tough on criminals, and wrote and passed the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights. In addition to God and Politics, Herron is the author of Things Held Dear: Soul Stories for My Sons and Tennessee Political Humor: Some of These Jokes You Voted For (with L.H. “Cotton” Ivy).

He and his wife of 23 years, Nancy, live in Dresden Tennessee and have three sons.

The $33 million project widened a 4.6 mile section of the roadway in Dover, joining a previously reconstructed stretch of State Route 76.

“Projects like this are vital to the mobility and economic development in Tennessee’s rural areas,” said Commissioner Nicely. “The completion of this project marks major progress in TDOT’s efforts to increase access, capacity and safety along this entire route.”

Representative Butch Borchert, who was instrumental in the development of this project, joined Commissioner Nicely at today’s ceremonial opening event.

“This is an important investment in Stewart County’s transportation system and its economic future,” said Representative Borchert. “I want to thank TDOT for working closely with me to prioritize the improvements to this corridor.”

Senator Roy Herron

Senator Roy Herron added, “This project will improve traffic flow here in Dover and provide motorists with a safer and faster commute to Clarksville and I-24. I’m pleased the state could make this investment in Stewart County.”

A number of widening and reconstruction projects on State Route 76 in Stewart and Montgomery Counties have already been completed.

Another project to widen the remaining section of State Route 76 from State Route 120 to just east of the Montgomery County line began in late 2009. The $21 million project is expected to be complete by October 2011.

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.