The musical features such memorable songs as I Could Have Danced All Night and On The Street Where You Live.

The production continues with show dates for July 2, 9 and 10. Curtain time for all shows is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15, $5 for students- twelfth grade and under. Groups of 15 or more- $12 each. Book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Lowe. For more information, call 931-2889-ARTS (2787)

Houston County has been declared a federal disaster area following flooding from the from torrential rains during the weekend of May 1-2. The county sustain heavy damage to business and personal property, and most of the road and bridges in the county sustained damage.

While current food stamp recipients are eligible for the federal benefit to replace food lost in the floodwater or because of power outages, even those not currently receiving food stamp benefits can get a one-time benefit.
Recipients must meet low income requirements and live in counties declared disaster areas. Those who have also registered for FEMA help are eligible for a one-time cash payment of $250 through the Department of Human Services.

Applicants for the emergency food stamps and cash assistance must apply in person at a county’s Department of Human Services office or at the FEMA disaster center at Pageant Lane in Clarksville.

Programs target disaster counties

NASHVILLE, TN: The Tennessee Department of Human Services is working quickly to address some of the basic immediate needs of the low-income families and individuals affected by the devastating storms and floods that swept through Tennessee the weekend of April 30th. The programs began today and only be available for seven days in counties that have received a presidential disaster declaration. DHS offices in affected counties will be open this Saturday.

The federal Food Stamp disaster program has been approved by the USDA to serve individuals and households not currently enrolled in the program as well as providing additional benefits for those families currently enrolled in the program. Food Stamp disaster benefits are available to households that meet the following criteria:

• Reside in a county that has been designated as a federal disaster area
• Have unreimbursed expenses because of storm/flood-related property damage or loss
• Have an adjusted income below the Food Stamp disaster income limit after allowing for disaster-related expenses

In addition, DHS is operating a replacement Food Stamp program for current beneficiaries that experienced food loss due to power outages but did not have other flood related damage. If a recipient lost power for more than 12 hours due to severe storms, replacement benefits can be made available for the food that was spoiled. Recipients must report the loss to DHS by May 21.

The state has also created a short-term emergency cash assistance program for low-income individuals and families whohave registered with FEMA. Cash payments of $250 are available to one and two person households or $500 forhouseholds of three or more individuals. Household income cannot exceed 130 percent of the federal poverty limit, and the applicant must live in one of the counties designated as a federal disaster area. The applicant’s home or apartment must be uninhabitable on the date of application or the home requires repairs due to damage from the disaster.

Request for assistance must be made at the local DHS office in the designated disaster counties. Disaster emergency cash and Food Stamp (SNAP) assistance programs will be available for seven (7) days beginning Thursday, May 13 and run through Thursday, May 21. Offices will be open on Saturday, May 15 but will be closed on Sunday. DHS office hours for the affected counties during the seven days that these emergency programs are in operation will be 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit the DHS website at www.tn.gov/humanserv.

Residents throughout Tennessee can also call 2-1-1 for Food Stamp/SNAP and other disaster information or visit the TEMA website at www.tnema.org. For a list of DHS offices in the affected areas, see the following page:

Disaster Income Limit: 1 person,$1503; two people, $1815, three people, $2126; four people $2450; five people, $2788; six people, $3125; seven people, $3437; each additional person,  +$312.

Disaster Food Stamp Amount: 1 person, $200; two people, $367; three people, $526;four people, $668; five people, $793; six people, $952; seven people, $1052; each additional person, +$150.

Gross Monthly Income:  one person, $1174; two people, $1579; three people, $1984; four people, $2389; five people, $2794; six people, $3200; seven people, $3605.

For assistance, go to the agency in your county.

DHS Cheatham County Office, 286 Frey Street, Suite 101, Ashland City, (615) 792?5628

DHS Dickson, County Office, 250 State Street, Dickson, (615) 740?2251

DHS Houston County Office, 21 Store Front Drive, Erin, (931) 289?4105

DHS Montgomery County Office, 350 Pageant Lane Suite 301, Clarksville, (931) 648?5500

DHS Stewart County Office, 1011 Spring Street, Dover, (931) 232?5304

Debbie Stinson of Radical Mission Compassionate Ministries offers her assistance to a flood victim.

The Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce Flood Recovery Expo took place today at Austin Peay State University’s Red Barn. The Expo, which opened at 10 a.m., brought together agencies and organizations applicable to flood relief assistance. Each participant had access to a booth space, round-robin style, to present and hand out information to flood victims.

Debbie Stinson, a volunteer for Radical Mission Compassionate Ministries, explained the importance of helping the community. “Anyone that can offer help should,” said Stinson. “Radical Mission is willing to help with emergency housing, food provision and so much more.”

United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region was also at the Expo to volunteer their services. The United Way hand-out included a list of county-wide collection and distribution sites for access to food, clothing, cleaning supplies and bedding. “Our community should stand united and lean on each other during this time,” said Beckie Moore, Executive Director of United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region.

FEMA was on hand at the Flood Recovery Expo to explain the process of filing a flood damage claim.

National agencies such as FEMA and SBA Disaster Assistance saw a steady stream of people seeking information at their respective booths. “The U.S. Small Business Administration is able to grant both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans to Cheatham, Davidson,Hickman and Williamson counties in Tennessee,” said Michael Lampton, SBA representative. “Small businesses and most private non-profit in Dickson, Humphreys, Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Perry, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner and Wilson counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans.”

The Clarksville Police Department offered advice on safe business redesigns for those businesses faced with rebuilding due to the amount of damage incurred. The police department also offered tips on setting up a neighborhood watch program to help secure vacant or damaged residences.

Wendy Harrison, a Clarksville-Montgomery County Career Center employee, said that she hopes businesses impacted by the flood will be able to get back to work soon. “I don’t want to see anyone have to try and find another job,” said Harrison. “People are already hurting so much.” Unfortunately, the booth was handing out a lot of information regarding filing for unemployment due to the number of businesses on Riverside Drive that are temporarily not open.Those employees are eligible for fast-tracked unemployment benefits.

Susan Thomas, Health Department RN, hands out information on free tetanus shots for flood victims.

The following agencies and organizations participated in the Flood Recovery Expo:

• Better Business Bureau
• Charter Communications
• City of Clarksville Building and Codes
• City of Clarksville Chief of Staff
• City of Clarksville Fire Department
• City of Clarksville Gas & Water
• City of Clarksville Housing and Community Development
• City of Clarksville Police Department
• City of Clarksville Risk Manager
• City of Clarksville Street Department
• Community Action Agency
• FEMA
• Hands on Clarksville
• Montgomery County Health Department
• Operation Homefront
• Radical Mission Compassionate Ministries
• Clarksville-Montgomery County American Red Cross
• Regional Planning Commission
• Salvation Army
• Small Business Administration
• The Community Foundation
• TN Department of Labor
• Unemployment Office
• United Way
• Urban Ministries
• Workforce Development
• Workforce Essentials

Highway 49 in Erin, with receded waters

Houston County EMA Situation Reports  show no hospital admissions although  has been admitted to the hospital while three people were treated and released. Twenty-six evacuations recorded in the county thus far. Over two hundred sixty persons have used the county shelter, a number that is likely to increase as more EMA assets are deployed into remote areas, according to Houston County EMA Director David Hardin. Thirty-seven homes are reported as damaged while eight have been destroyed. Fourteen mobile homes have been listed as damaged and four have been listed as damaged. Twelve public buildings have been damaged and one has been destroyed.

Twenty-six commercial or industrial facilities have been damaged. Six business facilities have been destroyed.  Jobs affected number at one hundred forty-five at this time. Forty bridges are listed as either damaged or destroyed. Four hundred culverts are tallied as damaged or destroyed. One hundred miles of roadway are listed as damaged or destroyed. Every road in the county has sustained some form of damage from the flood, according to County Road Superintendent Jimmy Felts. Utilities damaged or destroyed include the Erin Water and Sewer Department, TEC (telephone cable) and Merriwether-Lewis Electric Co-op.

A boat rests on the railing of Hwy 49 in flooding at Wells Creek in Erin; Photo by Curtis Davis

Estimates on the extent of crop acreage or farm losses are not yet available. Additionally, there are no current estimates for storage buildings, garages or barns that may have been destroyed or damaged. Four churches are listed as damaged and one is listed as destroyed. Local public schools have not re-opened at this time.

FEMA is expected to also set up a Disaster Assistance Center in the Erin City Hall. Call City Hall for more questions,  931-289-4108.

Free legal assistance for flood disaster is available through the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services.  The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services is working with the Tennessee Bar Association, other statewide legal organizations and local bar associations to help flood victims in need of advice about insurance claims, replacing lost documents such as Medicare cards, applying for benefits and other issues.

A toll-free legal assistance line (1-888-395-9297) was activated on Friday for victims of storms in counties designated as a federal disaster area. The service, operated in partnership with the TBA, local bar associations and other legal organizations, is staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and messages can be left any time. Victims who qualify for assistance will be matched with lawyers who will provide free legal help.

Once the Pastor's House, this house crashed into the Wells Creek Bridge at Albert Mathis Road during the 2010 flood. Flood waters from Wells Creek carried the house downstream.

In the aftermath of  recent flooding, the Junction 434 area before Cumberland City and many areas like it have been strewn with cracked dust, but surrounding farm lands were still part of the river or had standing ponds. Cumberland City itself remains littered with debris and both businesses and homeowners are in shell-shocked recovery.

Noah was here

Noah's Ark strikes a bridge in Erin in the Flood of 2010. As water flowed across the bridge, pavement washed away and the bridge rails warped.

A mother lamenting the loss of her son’s business. A father’s relief for his daughter’s safety. A neighbor concerned about the people who lived on Bakeman Branch Road and Albert Mathis Lane. A man wondering how his best friend will start over after losing his home. In the aftermath of the Flood of 2010, harrowing stories of survival and hardship abound in Erin, Tennessee after irrevocable loss. The scene in Fred’s parking lot was surreal; a mannequin that had a ‘closed due to flood’ sign on it. Across from Fred’s, the rushing waters of Wells Creek had rammed a boat into the bridge, up-heaving it like a flag above the oncoming traffic. Spray painted on the side were the words, “Noah’s Ark.”

The scent of smoke hung heavy in the evening air; the last embers of a still smoldering fire left by the Cumberland Church from clean up efforts burned debris. Just past the old Cumberland Church, silver birches rustled in the breeze; the triangular leaves shooting out from the crown of arched branches weaved an eerie quiet around the old ring of white barked trees. The silence of the site where two trailer homes and the pastor’s house had all three been washed away was quiet and still. Several “beware of dog” signs, unrecognizable debris, and part of a wooden back or front porch was all that was left on the site. No trace of the animals remained, save for the signs.

For some unaffected people in Houston County, it was a normal day for a family horse ride to the BP station on Highway 149 and as two teenagers rode on a lawnmower. Yet a few miles down the road, life in Erin was anything but normal. A once green and pleasant land running along Highway 13 had been transformed into a war zone of man versus nature. The two stores that followed the Wells Creek Market, Natural Essence followed by Common Ground, were three of the businesses ruined by the flooding of Wells Creek.

Wells Creek Market

A lone Indian woman walked along Highway 13 until she reached the Wells Creek Market and threw her hands up in silent exclamation. Mrs. Bobby’s face was on the verge of tears as she explained in few words that her son has lost everything. When asked what they were going to do, she explained, “Don’t know. We’ve no insurance…”

Her son, Neena Bobby, ran and owned the Wells Creek Market, the only convenient place to stop for gas for miles around and a longtime community landmark.  The waters of Wells Creek may have retreated to normal levels, but many business owners and families who live in the area shared losses similar to the disheartening loss Mrs. Bobby experienced in Erin.

A community under siege reveals the character of that community. No truer is this than in fellow Erin dweller, Clint Smith’s, statements regarding Mr. Bobby, “Everyone around here just calls him Bobby. Bobby’s a great, great guy and he runs a down home store and everyone around here loves him and his family. I believe in times like these that people, no matter what their differences, will pull together, and we’ll get through this.”

The Good Neighbor

Sandy Fessler’s youngest daughter held a bouquet of spring irises as Fessler stopped to describe the flood’s carnage in Erin. “The 233 Highway just disappeared! My daughter was going to prom Friday night and was headed out the door, and the next thing we know—we hear that school is canceled on Monday and Tuesday. […] The Assembly of God church became our emergency center here because it sits up on a hill, in the highest point in Erin. In Bakeman Branch, at least seven to eight homes were destroyed. There is one home hanging off a bridge halfway into the river where it slammed into the bridge. And there’s a church that will probably have to be demolished from being submerged in Wells Creek.” Local churches had volunteers helping the people down Bakeman Branch earlier yesterday.

According to Fessler, a woman who lived in down Two Eagles Drive in a picturesque home became trapped by flood waters when her wide bridge over Wells Creek was washed away. “The woman who lives here was floating on her mattress and had to be rescued by boat,” Fessler said. The once charming home and surrounding hillside of the home at Two Eagles Drive is now covered in debris and parts of the once perfect wooden bridge.

Lady of the Lills’ Woods

Glenn Lill of Tennessee Ridge with his daughter, Denise Rangel. Rangel's home was on a hill, but the roads below became part of the raging Wells Creek.

Poison sumac crept along the road leading to the bridge by Albert Mathis Lane and Wells Creek where the pastor’s home had been swept. The inside of the house was gutted like a hunter guts a deer, with the refrigerator and the couch visible from the bridge. While walking down the gravel road, dandelion seed floated above the adjacent fields near the creek for a long, surreal moment reminiscent of anime director, Hayao Miyazaki’s, critically acclaimed Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Where the culvert washed out was on Albert Mathis Lane near the bridge, and as flood waters began to rise, families were stranded and endangered.

Glenn Lill of Tennessee Ridge who happened to be hauling brush and cleaning up the mess leftover by the flood waters on his Ford tractor and recounted the events of the previous weekend and it’s impact on Erin along with his daughter, Denise Rangel. “We were all very fortunate. We lost a bridge, we lost running water and we lost electricity. There are quite a lot more people with more and worse damage… I work at the Renaissance Center in Dickson and some of my co-workers had four feet of water in their homes here. Compared to what other people are going through, we’ve been fortunate,” Lill said.

According to the Lill family, all the back roads were flooded. Lil and Rangel admitted that the area surrounding Wells Creek Market was hard hit. “We were in that store for twenty minutes and when we came out of it, the water was up to our shins and it rained all that night and into the next day,” Rangel said. In the days that followed, the Wells Creek Market became completely submerged in the flood waters.

“The second hand store,I think that’s where the boat on the bridge now came from. By Cumberland Church over the bridge there is the second hand store and they had all fairly new furniture; I imagine everything is lost. A shed washed up into Fred’s parking lot and they had a mannequin on the shed with a store closed due to flood sign. It’s amazing to see the resiliency of the people and they bounce back,” Lill added.

According to Lill, the house that smacked into the bridge at Albert Mathis Lane at one time and may be the preacher’s house from Cumberland Church. The house was carried up the Wells Creek from where it once sat, 200 feet from the bank. The flood waters then came up into the Fred’s parking lot where emergency boats sped through to rescue people.

A collapsed home in Erin, TN, along Highway 13.

Rangel explained how the water came halfway up the sides of her GMC truck, but she made it safely to her home up the hill a quarter mile. Water rampaging from Wells Creek ran over the bottom of the bottom roads, ruining neighborhoods. “There were two trailer homes past the church and they’re both gone. We don’t know where they are, if they just broke up, they’re just missing,” Lill said. “The first family past the bridge as you come to the culvert of Albert Mathis Lane, that got washed out, though the neighbors had his son and family had to run up into the woods to avoid the water—they survived but lost everything they owned.”

“As bad as it was here and on Highway 13, part of Erin’s downtown was completely flooded—the damage is worse there,” Lill said. In downtown Erin, Jap’s Barbecue, apartment complexes, and businesses were flooded and people living in the apartments had to be rescued by emergency boats.

No loss of life was reported from Erin. Two people died in Stewart county on Highway 149. “The Ritenour lady whose truck flipped, pinning her husband up to where he couldn’t save his wife. Their next door neighbor tried to save Mrs. Ritenour and both her and the neighbor, Steven Zywicki, were swept away and drowned. There’s some debate as to whether it was Stewart or our county.” Lill and Rangel said. Clint Smith recounted the death of Linda Ritenour as well, “One week ago, they[the Ritenours] just closed on their house and they were trying to get their dogs. She was found on my dad’s property on Tennessee Ridge downstream with her glasses still on her face.”

The Best Friend

“Insurance in a flood zone is so expensive that it’s ridiculous. My best friend, Dave Barnes, has six feet of water in his home and has no insurance. My best friend has a wife and kids and now they’ve lost everything they have,” Erin native, Clint Smith said.

With the magnitude of the damage and obliterated homes, it is lucky there were not more causalities. Wells Creek was more like a babbling brook today, gurgling with such serenity that it is hard to imagine the full wrath of nature it was last weekend. Clothes washed up from the flood clung on tree limbs. Washed out roads and sign-less roads near the crossroad of Wells Creek greeted vehicles. Clouds of dust rose up as vehicles shook over the bumpy remnants of rock and dirt from the former road.

While traversing the rocky, eroded pavement Houston county and surveying the the incredible carnage, the thought occurred that Erin could have used Fort Campbell’s help in the same way Clarksville had that assistance last week. Families and people in Erin have been displaced by the Great Flood of 2010, but the community’s ability to bounce back has not been damaged. Neither the raging Cumberland nor the waters of Wells Creek can cover the great reserves of strength, or the resolve of the people who live in Erin.

Photos by Curtis Davis

Sen. Tim Barnes provided an update on ways to give and receive help in our area, as well as details on applying for federal assistance.

How to help

• Hands On Clarksville is organizing area relief efforts, including 17 volunteer opportunities for Monday. Visit http://hon.org/AboutUs/index.php/clarksville/handsonclarksville.html for more information on how you can get involved.
• The local chapter of the American Red Cross is accepting monetary donations at 585 S. Riverside Drive , Suite L, Clarksville , TN 37040 . Contributors should write “local” or “ Clarksville ” on checks to dedicate the funds to local relief efforts.
• The Clarksville Area Ministerial Association is accepting non-perishable foods; new and gently used clothes, shoes, blankets; and bottled water. Call 931-358-3010 for more information.

How to get help

• Several area churches are offering food, clothing and other forms of aid. Those churches include Faith Outreach Church, 731 Windemere Drive in Clarksville , which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day this week to help victims. Please contact your area churches to find out about their relief efforts.
• The Red Cross and the Emergency Management Agency are distributing clean-up kits and bottled water at Veterans Plaza in Clarksville from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cheatham, Houston and Montgomery Counties have been declared a federal disaster area, meaning residents affected by the flood can contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency for damage assistance. You can apply for federal assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or you can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Montgomery County residents can go to the temporary Red Cross shelter at Hilldale Baptist Church , 2001 Madison St. in Clarksville to fill out FEMA forms and receive help.

What FEMA expects from you

When you apply, the agency will ask for the following information:

1. The address of your damaged home or apartment.
2. Names of people living in your home or apartment.
3. A description of your disaster damages.
4. Insurance information.
5. Your Social Security Number.
6. A telephone number where we can reach you or leave a message.
7. An address where you can get mail.
8. If you want your disaster assistance funds sent directly to your bank, you will need to provide your bank account type, account number and routing number.

What you should expect from FEMA

• FEMA will give you an application number when you apply. Write it down and save it, because FEMA will ask for it whenever you contact the agency.
• Save receipts for any relief supplies you purchase, as you may also turn those in to FEMA.
• When it comes to housing needs, FEMA can provide funds for temporary housing, repair and replacement – but FEMA will cover uninsured losses only up to $29,900. For some victims, that will make just a small dent in the losses they sustained. That’s why the continued support from our community is so important, because only together will we be able to help our neighbors fully recover.
• For those who have been affected, FEMA also offers low-interest loans of up to $200,000 for those rebuilding homes, and up to $2 million for businesses, through the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA loan applicants can call 1-800-659-2955 for assistance.

Finally, please be wary of out-of-state contractors and repair offers that seem too good to be true. You can check or report any business by calling the Clarksville office of the Better Business Bureau at 931-503-2210 or 1-800-989-4222. You can also call the BBB’s 24-hour hotline at 615-242-4222. It’s hard to believe there are people who would want to take advantage of these victims, but they are out there, and we all need to be aware of them.

Please remember that this is just the beginning of our road to recovery. If you need any help getting to the right avenues for assistance, don’t hesitate to contact my office. You may reach my office (State Senator Tim Barnes) , toll free, at 1-800-449-8366, ext. 12374.

The Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce, City of Clarksville and Montgomery County are holding a Flood Recovery Expo this week for all local residents and businesses affected by the floods.

The expo will be held Wednesday, May 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Austin Peay State University’s Red Barn at 256 Marion Street, and will be a “one-stop shop” for recovery information. Agencies involved in disaster recovery will be represented including city and county departments, relief and volunteer agencies, and service providers

For more information, contact Mark Hays at (931) 245-4339 or markh@clarksville.tn.us.

No missing persons reported in Stewart nor Houston County. Few roads are reported as closed or blocked.

As the whirling waters of the Cumberland River recede from its terrible highs of past weekend, emergency management efforts in Stewart County have shifted focus to rescue and evacuation efforts. The earlier sandbagging operation has produced a reserve supply of twelve pallets of sandbags for use on local roads. The receding waters however make their use seem less likely as time passes.

Bumpus Mill Road closed at the Pit Stop Mart. Photo by Turner McCullough Jr.

State Highway 49 past Bear Springs has reopened to traffic in both directions. Highway 149 is open to Erin and Clarksville. Highway 233 is still closed at the juncture just before the TVA Fossil Plant in Cumberland City. The TVA plant is still operational. Bumpus Mills Road is still closed just past the Pit Stop Mart off Highway 79.

In Cumberland City, the Water Plant is operating, providing clean, safe, fresh water. The waste water treatment plant is also working. There was no ‘Boil Water Order’ issued for the county. Bottled water distribution in the county has been suspended with the resumption of the water plant operations.

In a correction to reports of missing in Houston County, emergency management officials declare there are no missing persons reported, as yet, in either Houston nor Stewart County. The earlier report was a mis-communication about culverts around Houston County. Road damage in that county is plentiful as culverts and creek bridges have been washed away in many spots and sections of road are also weaken.

TVA's Fossil Plant at Cumberland City from the Cumberland River

In the more isolated areas of Stewart County, emergency assistance personnel are checking on trapped residents. They offer those residents transportation to the shelter upon evacuation from their homes. For those who choose to stay in their homes, the emergency personnel provide food and water to see them through for a few more days. In Stewart County, an emergency shelter has been opened at the local high school but as yet no residents have chosen to re-locate to the shelter. When people do leave their home, they are choosing to move in with other family in the community.

Highway 46 is closed off at the Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge entrance road. Two hundred tons of rip-rap is expected to be delivered at 6 a.m. Friday morning. As this reporter was leaving the emergency management center, a call for a family evacuation came in. The response team swung into action and radioed the boat rescue team that they had received another request.  The situation has not yet ended for the people of Stewart and Houston Counties just yet. Recovery is still an ongoing process here.

Deceptive blue skies at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Health Department belie the situation unfolding downtown.

The Montgomery County Health Department has free Tetanus and Hepatitis A vaccines available for anyone who was involved in water related rescue and evacuation activities.

The Tennessee State Heath Department was listed as one of the Nashville locations closed Wednesday due to situations brought on by the epic flooding in Nashville, limiting public health information. The Tennessee Government Health Department in Nashville is slated to reopen on Thursday per TEMA’s website. However, the CDC has the following information regarding flood health and safety during cleanup.

Flood water cleanup

Before you start cleaning your home after a flood, the flood water in the Clarksville area contains sewage from the submerged waste water treatment plant. Protect yourself and your loved ones by following these precautions:

• Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
• Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of affected area.
• Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products).
• Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
• Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, counter-tops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent
• Avoid musculoskeletal injuries by utilizing teams of two or greater to move heavy objects; avoid lifting more than fifty pounds by yourself.
• Stay cool and hydrated in the heat during clean-up and wear loose fitting, light-colored clothing.
• As soon as access to the flooded building has been allowed, have the building certified as safe for reentry by a building inspector or other government authority.
• Clean up and dry the building within 24-48 hours and give yourself proper ventilation by opening doors and windows. Throw away any upholstered item that cannot be dried out quickly and toys like stuffed bears due to mold. Remove mold by mixing a solution of 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water; wear rubber gloves when cleaning mold.
• Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
• Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent. It is recommended that a laundromat be used for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your on-site waste-water system has been professionally inspected and serviced.
• Throw away canned food that is bulging or open, and wash canned goods after removing the label with a bleach washing; relabel cans individually with sharpie markers with the kind of food and the expiration date.
• Make sure well water is not cloudy or contaminated. Please be aware that treating water with iodine tablets, chlorine tablets or liquid bleach will not kill all the parasites in contaminated water; boiling the water or appropriate filtration is required.
• If your city or municipality’s water supply has been contaminated, boil water by bringing it to a rolling boil for at least one minute. Allow the water to cool effectively before drinking. If boiling is unavailable, and the water source is cloudy, then strain the water via a clean cloth or coffee filter before boiling as contaminants frequently attach to water particles. Also, unscented laundry bleach (at the rate of 1/8 teaspoon per 1 gallon of water) provides some treatment when mixed well; wait thirty minutes before drinking.
• The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation can assist well owners with well disinfection information. Call toll-free at 1-(888)-891-TDEC (8332) or view their website
• Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.
• After completing the cleanup, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing your hands).
• Y0u may also use water that has been disinfected for personal hygiene use (solution of 1/8 teaspoon [~0.75 milliliters] of household bleach per 1 gallon of water). Let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy, use a solution of ¼ teaspoon (~1.5 milliliters) of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.
• Have your on-site waste-water system professionally inspected and serviced if you suspect damage.
• If you have been exposed to flood waters, consult a doctor as soon as possible in regards to Tetanus shots and Hepatitis A/B shots. Get treatment for open wounds that have been exposed to flood waters.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill. Be careful to pace yourself and be aware of exhaustion from physical and emotional strains. Setup orders of priority for cleanup tasks. Ask friends, family, or professionals for help and seek professional help if necessary.

The facade of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Health Dept appears deceptively serene during the Flood of 2010.

Proceed with caution

Flood waters in Montgomery county in all likelihood may contain potentially dangerous materials, such as fecal material from the overflowing sewage systems, agricultural runoff, or chemicals from industrial areas. Wading in flood waters can also be a cause of infection or result in a variety of injuries. Be alert for snakes and water moccasins and do not engage stray animals in the flood zone. Call local authorities to handle animals on the loose to avoid rabies exposure. Use DEET or Picaridin based insect repellents and wear long pants, long socks, and long-sleeved shirts to prevent mosquito bites.

In addition, beware of chemical and hazardous materials in flood waters as well as possible electrical and fire hazards. Wash skin that comes into contact with any hazardous material and consult the local authorities in regards to how to handle disposing of such materials. NEVER touch a downed power line and call the local department of electricity to report fallen power lines. Do not turn the power back on until after a qualified electrician has inspected the structure. If electrical equipment or circuits have gotten wet or are submerged, turn the power off at the main fuse / breaker first, if accessible.

Residents may apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov to learn what help you might be able to receive from FEMA and 16 other U.S. Government agencies

Pitts also recommends residents in need of services to repair their property or homes to call the Clarksville office of the Better Business Bureau  to check out any company soliciting your business after the flood. The phone number is 931-503-2210 or 1-800-989-4222. There is also a 24 hour hot line which is 615-242-4222. You can also go to their website at www.nashville.bbb.org, click on “Check out a Business” or you can click on “Find a BBB accredited business”. The BBB also suggests people to go to the TN Division of Consumers Affairs web site at www.tn.gov/consumer. This web site will also provide a “Buyer’s Beware List”. Their phone number is 615-741-8307 but they are currently not able to work due to flooding and power outages. The BBB also suggests hiring only people that are local or are listed in the phone book.

Pitts also noted that CAMA is collecting clothing items, personal hygiene, cleaning supplies and pet food for the Salvation Army and the local Red Cross. Please bring all items to Faith Outreach Church Gym located at 731 Windermere Drive, Clarksville, or call  931-358-3010.

You can also take your items to the Walmart located on Wilma Rudolph starting at 6:00 am.

“Cumberland City is virtually an island,” Mathis said. In addition to sandbagging in Dover, the effort is also in attempt to keep one lane of Highway 149 open. The volunteer effort consists of people of all walks of life shoveling and moving sandbags. Mathis also said that the fuel plant is still operating, but indicated that an evacuation may be possible.

Since the Houston County water treatment facility is disabled, bottled water is slated to be distributed at Houston County Middle School.

Check back with Business Clarksville for more on this developing story.

Harding noted that the county’s waste water treatment facility is okay and functioning but water supply to outlying areas has been valved off — that means that east and west Houston County, Cumberland City and the Cumberland Fossil Plant. However, residents are urged to boil water as a precaution, although no immediate danger is present. Erin and Tennessee Ridge has a separate water supply, and should be able to sustain themselves with cautious water usage.

This afternoon, 37,000 gallons of water will be arriving in Erin for distribution beginning later today.

For the Boy Scouts of America, 2010 is a year-long celebration and an invitation to the nation to experience Scouting like never before.

“This is an incredibly exciting and important time for our organization,” said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive of the BSA. “The methods of Scouting continue to evolve to reach the current and future generations, but the Scouting message is the same as it was a century ago. We invite Scouts, alumni, volunteers, and the public to join in our celebration throughout the country over the next year. We are excited about what the future holds, and invite America to continue to be a part of the journey.”

While a 100th Anniversary may seem like an occasion to reflect on an impressive past, the BSA is looking towards the future. Eight major national 100th Anniversary engagement programs have been designed to reintroduce Scouting to the next generation of young leaders and reconnect millions of alumni with the organization. The BSA?s strategic approach to its 100th Anniversary celebration has garnered the support of organizations such as AT&T, ExxonMobil, the United Nations Foundation, the Arbor Day Foundation, and other organizations.

"The Unknown Scout" - Illustration circa 1910

BSA has launched “Adventure Base 100,” a 10,000-square-foot interactive campus featuring immersive and exciting Scout-related experiences. Adventure Base 100 will travel the country throughout 2010, providing more than 40 markets with a hands-on view of Scouting and the difference it makes in the lives of millions of youth.

Designed to reach people of all ages in new, exciting and engaging ways, Adventure Base 100 offers something for everyone:

• A high adventure ropes course for all visitors more than 4 feet tall weighing less than 200 pounds.
• A multi-sensory experience that will provide visitors with the sights, smells and sounds of Scouting through an IMAX-like video, GoScouting! Dome.
• A stage show featuring contests, trivia and skill demonstrations from local Scouts.
• An opportunity to interact with hands-on digital exhibits relating to the Scout experience.
• A chance to ask current Scouts and Scouters questions about their experiences and the organization’s local chapters.
• A traveling museum featuring artifacts from the National Scouting Museum in Irving, TX, as well as the BSA’s 100th Anniversary National Time Capsule, which will include artifacts submitted from local Councils throughout the country.

The closest Adventure Base 100 gets to Montgomery County are the following locations:

• Atlanta, GA: Apr. 16 – 18
• Louisville, KY: Apr. 23 – 25
• Chattanooga, TN: Jun. 11 – 13

‘Celebrate Scouting’ stamp unveiled

In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Postal Service is honoring the scouts with their own “Celebrate Scouting stamp, which will be sold in the summer of 2010, coincides with the Boy Scouts of America?s 100th anniversary.
The new stamp design was created by illustrator Craig Frazier of Mill Valley, California, and depicts the spirit and outdoor adventure of scouting through a backpacking scout and a large silhouette of a scout surveying the landscape.
Since the creation of the international youth scouting movement some 100 years ago, hundreds of millions of children have benefited from opportunities for adventure, skill building, leadership, personal development, and community service provided by scouting organizations.

“I’m very proud to represent the United States Postal Service as we unveil the artwork for the scouting commemorative stamp to be released in 2010 and to recognize what scouting has done for boys and girls alike for more than 100 years,” said USPS Sustainability Vice President, Samuel M. Pulcrano. “I learned a great many things from scouting when I was a boy, and many of those lessons came from my father who served as my assistant scoutmaster. The experience made such an impression on me that I now serve as assistant scoutmaster for my son’s troop.”

BSA Centennial Events

• May 2010: National Hall of Leadership inductees announced
• July 26, 2010: National Scout Jamboree begins
• July 31, 2010:  A Shining Light Across America
• August/September 2010: Pitch for Scouting days at the ballpark
• November 2010: Adventure Base 100 makes its last stop
• December 2010: Last chance to purchase BSA 100th Anniversary trees
• December 2010: A Year of Celebration, Get in the Game, Alumni Connection, and
• January 2011: U.S. Mint completes production of BSA silver dollar

For more information about the BSA’s 100 Year Anniversary celebration activities, please visit our 100th Anniversary Web site at www.scouting.org/100years.

Are you an educator interested in planning a field trip to experience the Land Between The Lakes (LBL) ‘outdoor classroom’?  If so, don’t miss out on LBL’s Educational Field Trip Grant for the 2010-2011 school year.  The deadline for the field trip grant application is April 30.

LBL’s Educational Field Trip Grant is available to public school districts within 100 miles of LBL.  The grant assists schools in covering costs for transportation, facility admission fees, program costs, and dorm rental during the 2010-2011 school year.  The grant amount awarded to schools is based on the school’s matching funds and number of students and LBL programs in which the school participates.

Snowbound pond at LBL's Elk and Bison Prairie- photo by Turner McCullough Jr.

LBL programs are designed to support the Kentucky and Tennessee State K-12 curriculum guidelines for science, social studies, and arts and humanities.

“The programs offer students a hands-on experience to connect with nature and history,” stated Richard Lomax, LBL Environmental Education Specialist.  “An LBL field trip is an excellent opportunity for students to gain an understanding of and appreciation for science and history, as well as the outdoors.  It is an experience that will last a lifetime!”

The grant program is sponsored by USDA Forest Service, “Friends of LBL,” Swift & Staley, Calloway County Homemakers, and the Johnston-Hanson Foundation.  For more information about LBL’s Educational Field Trip Grant, visit www.friendsoflbl.org and click on Interpretation or call 270-924-2038.

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Serviceand U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education.  Additional LBL information is also available on our website or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.

LBL encourages visitors to review our website at www.lbl.org throughout each season for our Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, and temporary trail and road closures.  Find out more about “Friends of LBL” at www.friendsoflbl.org.

Billed as the Economic Forum with the Fed, the event will feature Lee Jones, regional executive of the Nashville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He will be at APSU from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 2 in the Morgan University Center Ballroom. His role is to ensure information on the local businesses and industries in the Nashville zone is gathered in support of one of the key initiatives of the Federal Reserve Bank’s research department.

The Clarksville area is included in what the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta identifies as the Nashville Branch zone. The Economic Forum with the Fed event is intended to give Jones an opportunity to get acquainted with the Clarksville community and to exchange observations about regional economic conditions, industry trends and outlooks.

Preregistration is appreciated. Space is limited, and registration will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Certificates for professional development credit-hours for educators will be provided at the conclusion of each event. To register, call Dr. Dennis Pearson, assistant professor of economics, at (931) 221-7851 or e-mail to pearsond@apsu.edu by March 1 to confirm attendance.

“The Colors of Charpentier” will be presented by Dr. Korre Foster, Assistant Professor of Music, at 3 p.m. at the APSU Library.

Dr. Korre Foster, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities, will outline the compositional style of Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1634-1704), a French Baroque composer known for “breaking the rules.” Charpentier’s music is full of distinct melodic and harmonic colors setting his music apart from the other Baroque composers. The presentation will demonstrate these colors by looking at Charpentier’s work Messe pour Monsieur Mauroy.

The purpose of the Library Athenaeum is to host events that promote and enhance the intellectual life of the University and the community.   These events may include presentations, lectures, panel discussions, debates, artistic performances, readings, and other educational experiences.   Presenters may be current and retired faculty members, administrators, staff, students, alumni, and community members.

For a complete listing of this semester’s presentations, please see the Library Athenaeum web site at http://library.apsu.edu/events/2009_2010athenaeumschedule.htm.

Tutu’s visit to Murray is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 22, 2010, at 7 p.m., in Murray State’s Regional Special Events Center. Previous series speakers include Richard Norton Smith, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Benazir Bhutto, Lech Walesa and F.W. deKlerk. This lecture series provides this region’s population with an unusual opportunity to come face-to-face with world leaders. The lecture is free and open to all.

As the issue of apartheid intensified, Tutu became heavily embroiled in the controversy, speaking out against the injustices of the system. For several years he was denied a passport to travel abroad. He became a prominent leader in the crusade for justice and racial conciliation in South Africa, and received a Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to that cause in 1984.

A retired Archbishop of Cape Town, Tutu was granted the honorary title of Archbishop Emeritus in 1996. In recent years, he has turned his attention to a different cause – the campaign against HIV/AIDS. The archbishop has made appearances around the globe to help raise awareness of the disease and its tragic consequences in human lives.

The Presidential Lecture Series is sponsored by the MSU President’s Office, the MSU Foundation and MSU’s Student Government Association.

Romeo and Juliet, with Josh Carpenter and Brandi Rhome, will be presented on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. and again on Feb. 23-24 at 10 a.m. All three performances will be held in Lovett Auditorium. Also, The Knight of the Burning Pestle will be performed Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium.

Tickets for both plays are $5 with an MSU I.D. and $10 for general admission. For more ticket information, call (270) 809-2397.

NOTE: Please notice that the Feb. 21 performance of “Romeo and Juliet” has been relocated from Johnson Theater to Lovett Auditorium.

News tidbits on biofuel industry happenings.

Biofuels facility saved from bankruptcy in Wisconsin

From South Wisconsin comes news of Valero Renewable Fuels acquiring a biofuels plant facility for $72 million dollars. The facility is an ethanol plant located in Jefferson. The plant had been in business for six years and had a production capacity of 110 million gallons per year (mgy). When Renew Energy filed for bankruptcy, seventy employees were faced with possible unemployment if a buyer could not be found.

After battling with three other competitors, Valero emerged with the winning bid. With this purchase, Valero boosts its plant portfolio total to ten ethanol plants with a combined production capacity of 1.1 billion gallons per year (bgy). Valero distinguishes itself now as one of the nation’s largest ethanol producers.

Ethanol Demo plant opens in Tennessee

Tennessee increased its imprint on the green energy marketplace with the opening of one of the world’s first cellulosic ethanol demonstration facilities. The demonstration plant is located in Vonore and opened with a ribbon-cutting affair and a tour of the74,000 square foot plant.

Guests numbering in the hundreds gathered to witness the opening of the demonstration refinery, the result of a partnership between Genera Energy and Du Pont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE). The facility has a production capacity of producing 250,000 gallons of ethanol per year by converting switchgrass and corncobs to ethanol.

President and CEO Joe Skurla said the opening of the plant is a big step towards developing alternative fuels. When commercial production gets underway utilizing technology developed at the plant, Skurla projected that the U.S. could be generating 16 billion gallons of biofuel per year by 2022. At this stage of development, 25,000 gallon tanks are being utilized, but full-scale production could result in implementing million-gallon capacity tanks.

The ethanol creation process requires the switchgrass to first be pre-treated and then for sacrification to occur-(the process of producing sugars from starch). This is followed by fermentation, distillation and filtering.  Kyle Althoff, director of feedstock development for DDCE, characterized the process as operating as across between oil refinery and an alcohol distillery.

GM joins reduced carbon footprint in supporting bio-fuels industry

First it was Ford, then it was Chrysler. Now General Motors is joining the reduced carbon footprint with its support of the bio-fuels industry.  General Motors has created a new Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel engine that can utilize a twenty percent biodiesel fuel. The new engine will power the 2011 heavy-duty models such as the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra pick-up trucks, Chevrolet Express and GMC Savanna vans. Chevrolet is expected to unveil its 2011 Silverado truck line at the upcoming Chicago Auto Show.

‘B20 capability in our new heavy-duty trucks is the latest edition to a growing number of alternative fuel options offered by General Motors. We are seeking different paths to fuel solutions in order to maximize efficiency, reduce emissions and minimize the dependence on petroleum,’ said Mile Robinson, VP of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy.

Modifications to the Duramax and its fuel system compatible with B20, General Motors upgraded some seals and gasket materials, upgraded fuel filters and added additional heating to the fuel circuit. This development by General Motors comes after Chrysler began supporting use of B20 in its 2007 vehicles. Chrysler was then followed by Ford. Combined, the three companies currently manufacture over eighty percent of the bio-diesel blend-friendly vehicles sold in the U.S.

[Biofuels logo above created Steve Jurveston. Used by permission of (Creative Commoms Attribution 2.0. <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en>)]