“Protecting our environment ensures that our communities remain healthy and strong,” said Fyke.  “Today’s award ceremony honored those groups and individuals that have demonstrated true dedication in taking environmental stewardship to a new level.  I commend all of our honorees and encourage all Tennesseans to follow their example in preserving our natural resources.”

In its 24^th year, the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program recognizes exemplary voluntary actions that improve or protect our environment and natural resources with projects or initiatives that are not required by law or regulations. Thirteen awards were presented to individuals, community organizations and government agencies in a number of environmental categories.

Three additional honors were announced at today’s ceremony.  They are the:

• Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award – Jeanie Nelson, The Land Trust for Tennessee;
• Governor’s Award for Excellence in Sustainable Transportation Solutions – Tennessee Department of Transportation; and
• Commissioner’s Award for Exceptional Commitment and Public Service – Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner Paul Sloan.

The Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award

The Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Nashvillian Jean C. “Jeanie” Nelson, with The Land Trust for Tennessee.

Nelson currently serves as The Land Trust for Tennessee’s executive director and president of the board, a position she’s held since The Land Trust for Tennessee was founded by Governor Phil Bredesen.  Nelson has served as chief deputy attorney general for Tennessee, general counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the EPA administrator’s liaison to Vice President Al Gore’s office.  She has also served as president of the Tennessee Environmental Action Fund (now called Tennessee Conservation Voters) and on the boards of the Tennessee Environmental Council and Southern Environmental Law Center.  During his tenure as mayor of Nashville, Bredesen appointed Nelson a founding co-chair of the Metro Greenways Commission, and she was instrumental in identifying and procuring sites such as Shelby Bottoms Park.

“Each year, we recognize an individual who has devoted a lifetime of exemplary service to environmental protection or conservation stewardship in Tennessee,” said Sloan.  “Through her work over the past 30 years, Jeanie Nelson has created a positive impact across Tennessee and beyond.”

Robert Sparks Walker was a native of Chattanooga and a leading Tennessee naturalist.  Winners of this lifetime achievement award reflect Walker’s contribution to a greater awareness of Tennessee’s environment and the need to preserve its natural beauty.  Nominees must have at least 25 years of service devoted to enhancing Tennessee’s environment through natural resource management, conservation, education and public service.  Previous winners include Dr. Patrick Doyle, Mack Prichard, Ann Tidwell, Gary Myers, Happy Birdsong, John Noel and Judge Larry Potter.

Governor’s Award for Excellence in Sustainable Transportation Solutions

A new addition to the 2010 awards roster is the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Sustainable Transportation Solutions, which was presented to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for their demonstrated performance over the past seven years.  This new category acknowledges the role of thoughtful transportation planning, coordination, design, construction and operation in determining the conditions of our land, air and water for current and future generations.

“Moving people, goods and products across Tennessee is vital to the quality of our environment and communities,” said Sloan.  “We are pleased to present TDOT with this inaugural award and appreciate their ongoing efforts in a number of areas including sensitive design, enhanced public participation, and progressive environmental and long-term planning.”

TDOT also was recognized for several initiatives and projects, including its innovative I-40 SmartFix project, ongoing stormwater management and education, and automotive fluids management.  Also noteworthy are TDOT’s aggressive air quality improvements, including anti-idling policies, diesel emission reduction efforts, serving as an EPA SmartWay partner and expanding availability of alternative fuels for motorists.

Those eligible for the Sustainable Transportation Solutions award include transit organizations and providers, planning groups, construction companies, professional service firms and non-governmental organizations. Recipients may demonstrate innovation, creativity and improvements through specific projects or larger-system processes that qualify for this recognition. This can range from creative solutions for moving people from place to place in ways that reduce harmful air emissions to new ways for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and helping eliminate needless congestion.

Commissioner’s Award for Exceptional Commitment and Public Service

A highlight of this year’s award ceremony was the special recognition presented to Deputy Commissioner Sloan, who received the Commissioner’s Award for Exceptional Commitment and Public Service.

“It has been a great privilege for me to work side by side with Paul Sloan,” said Fyke. “Recognizing his exceptional commitment and public service over the past five years was a very fitting end to today’s ceremony, as he has successfully managed the many challenges and priorities that define the department’s Bureau of Environment.”

Sloan joined the department in 2005 as head of the environmental regulatory bureau, leading the senior management team responsible for safeguarding human health and protecting the quality of Tennessee’s land, air and water.

Holding a law degree from Vanderbilt University, Sloan’s career includes success in education, law, business, and conservation advocacy.  He was a founding board member of Cumberland Region Tomorrow, a former trustee of The Nature Conservancy and a former board member of the Cumberland River Compact.

With a long-standing interest in identifying practical ways public policy can create a more sustainable future for Tennessee and the region, Sloan has worked closely with Governor Bredesen’s office and other local, state and federal agencies on critical issues involving water resources, energy conservation and alternative fuels in Tennessee.

The complete roster of the 2010 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award winners is as follows:

• Agriculture / Forestry: King Dairy Farm / The King Family, Sullivan County
• Aquatic Resource Preservation: City of Athens / Athens – McMinn County YMCA
• Building Green: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee / New Cameron Hill Campus, Hamilton County
• Commissioner’s Award for Exceptional Commitment and Public Service: Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner Paul Sloan
• Energy Leadership: Nissan Americas, Williamson County
• Environmental Education / Outreach: The Water Quality Rainy Day Brush Off, Knox County
• Greenways and Trails: City of Clarksville Greenways, Montgomery County
• Green Schools / K-12: University School of Nashville, Davidson County
• Green Schools / Higher Education: Pellissippi State, Knox County
• Governor’s Award for Excellence in Sustainable Transportation Solutions:  Tennessee Department of Transportation
• Hazardous Waste Reduction: Tri State Distribution, Inc., White County
• Natural Heritage: Friends of Warner Parks / Preservation of The Hill Forest, Davidson County
• Parks and Recreation: A Sustainable Bonnaroo, Coffee County
• Pollution Prevention: Chattanooga Green Lodging Certification Program, Hamilton County
• Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award: Jean C. “Jeanie” Nelson
• Solid Waste Reduction: Knoxville Regional Medication Collection Program, Knox County

For more information about the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/awards/.

Archivists will be at the Montgomery County Archives, 350 Pageant Lane in Clarksville, Suite 101D, from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. that day. During that time, they invite area residents to bring in photographs, documents and other artifacts related to the Civil War.

Individuals may call (615) 253-3470 or e-mail civilwar.tsla@tn.gov to schedule a reservation with the archivists. Reservation forms and available times may be found on the State Library and Archives’ section of the Department of State web site at http://tn.gov/tsla/cwtn/events.htm.

The archivists will scan or take digital photographs of the materials, some of which will be featured in an upcoming exhibit titled, “Looking Back: The Civil War in Tennessee.” The archivists will not actually take possession of the items from their owners.

“This is an important project for the Tennessee State Library and Archives,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. “The Civil War was obviously a major event in our state’s history, so we need to take appropriate steps to make sure these treasures are properly preserved for future generations.”

Attendees at the event will receive copies of the digital photographs and tips on how to preserve their Civil War memorabilia.

Archivists plan to visit all 95 of Tennessee’s counties in search of material for the exhibit, which will commemorate the Civil War’s 150^th anniversary.

Any person wishing to make a comment regarding use of funds is invited to attend a public comment period June 16  at 1:30 p.m.  in the briefing room at The Clarksville Police Department, 135 Commerce St., Clarksville.

2010 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards honors

NASHVILLE: Clarksville Greenways took top honors in the 2010 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards in the  “greenways and trails” category.

Governor Phil Bredesen and Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke announced the 2010 awards winners today.  The 14 winners, including Clarksville, will be recognized for their achievements and positive impact on the state’s natural resources in an awards ceremony to be held in Nashville on June 24.

Clarksville has added a 3.6-mile trail to its current greenways and trails system. This particular addition was constructed on on a six-mile abandoned rail bed with an estimated cost of $2.5 million for the project, but due to city leadership, local community support and the help of various city departments, the project only cost the city $330,000.  Materials and labor for the walking path were donated by local businesses and the majority of the land and right-of-way were donated by private citizens – further reducing the cost of the project. The addition of the greenway will help establish a buffer along the Red River and nearby streams, while providing a habitat for diverse plant and animal species.

“Tennesseans continue to make tremendous strides to protect and preserve our environment,” said Bredesen. “This year’s roster of honorees is exemplary. Their efforts are raising the bar while demonstrating environmental stewardship can come from every facet of our communities – from dairy farms and educational institutions to the hospitality and music industries.”

The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program recognizes exceptional voluntary actions that improve or protect our environment and natural resources with projects or initiatives not required by law or regulation. This marks the 24th year for the awards program. Thirty-nine professionals from various public and private organizations judged more than 100 nominations to determine the award recipients.

The winner of one additional honor, the Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award, will be announced at the awards ceremony in June.

“Protecting our natural resources is crucial to our quality of life and ensures that our communities remain healthy and strong,” said Fyke.  “This year’s award winners have worked extremely hard to preserve and protect our environment and we are pleased to recognize their innovative efforts and dedication, while teaching others that everyone can work together to make a difference.”

The 2010 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award winners are:

Category:  Agriculture / Forestry

King Dairy Farm – Sullivan County: The King Dairy Farm has been in existence since 1774. Today, the farm has more than 180 cows, which are milked twice daily and average over 20,000 pounds of milk per cow each year. Almost all of the feed for the herd is produced on the farm and they incorporate conservation best management practices into their crop production.  Corn silage yields are exceptionally high because they practice conservation tillage to reduce soil erosion. Because 100 percent of the farm’s confined animal and milking parlor wastes are stored and kept out of the nearby stream and lake, the farm is able to use the waste as fertilizer to help reduce the amount of nutrients purchased. A 2,600-foot underground pipeline was also installed to deliver this valuable waste to cropland through an irrigation system.  The farm also practices crop rotation and winter cover to control runoff, soil erosion and to improve soil.  The farm installed a new energy efficient, variable-speed vacuum pump for its milking parlor and continually makes environmental improvements each year.

Category:  Aquatic Resource Preservation

City of Athens/Athens-McMinn Family YMCA – McMinn County: With two streams listed on the state’s impaired waters list, the city of Athens teamed up with the local YMCA to take a plan for a traditional parking lot and build an all-green parking area, showcasing various green technologies. Located on city property behind City Hall, the lot uses pervious concrete and pavers, geoblock green paving and rain gardens – all focal points combined for the first time at one location and using technologies that have approximately a 50-year life, as opposed to asphalt with a 20-year life. The rain gardens allow the rain gradient to percolate through six inches of stone underneath the entire lot and clay berms help keep water in the garden’s sub-base longer. The city of Athens supplied the labor and equipment, saving a total of $60,000, and utilized a local Eagle Scout candidate to help build an educational kiosk with the first “green” roof in the county.

Category:  Building Green

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee / New Cameron Hill Campus – Hamilton County: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee built its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design corporate headquarters on Cameron Hill, consolidating 4,500 people from 10 locations throughout the city of Chattanooga while reducing its operating costs through environmental and design efficiency. Once certified, the 950,000-square-foot headquarters will be the largest LEED project in Tennessee. The campus provides employees a smoke-free environment, a 17,000-square-foot fitness center, employee pharmacy and clinic, an outdoor walking path and reflecting pools. Additionally, more than half of the 52-acre site is preserved as undisturbed forest area. As part of its new campus, BCBST restored Boynton Park – the historic Civil War memorial, which now serves as a public park.  Building design reduced energy costs by 20 percent or $265,000 per year.  Through low-flow fixtures, efficient irrigation systems and low-water use plants, approximately 20 million gallons of water are saved annually.  Other innovations include a raised floor system, which lowers energy costs from 30 to 60 percent; high performance and task lighting controls, which can increase employee productivity; and seven percent of the parking spaces are designated for low-emission vehicles.  The company will save approximately $4 million a year in operating costs.

Category:  Energy Leadership

Nissan North America Headquarters – Williamson County: With an investment in excess of $100 million dollars, Nissan North America’s 460,000-square-foot corporate facility in Franklin includes a site design that minimizes energy consumption, maximizes open space, uses high-recycled materials and incorporates on-site renewable resources.  Preserving large areas of open green space, the facility sits on a 50-acre site and has 2.5 acres of improved wetlands.  Located between South Prong Creek and a tributary, the wetlands provide long-term protection and enhance local aquatic ecosystems, as both streams are listed on the state’s impaired waters list, and provide a third tier of storm water protection and exceptionally clear runoff. In addition to tracking and benchmarking their energy performance, Nissan developed a plan to reduce energy intensity across all operations.  Electrical power use is continuously monitored at the Nissan North America facility to ensure they use only what is needed.  By preserving green space, Nissan uses the site to naturally absorb storm water and to reduce the heat “island” effect typically caused by large areas of asphalt.  Other efforts include the reduction of impervious pavement by 70 percent, a “green” roof covers the office tower and daylight harvesting.  Overall, Nissan’s energy efficient strategies include a 33-percent reduction in consumption, saving 1,600 tons of coal per year.   Throughout construction, Nissan collected, separated and recycled 3.78 tons of steel, six tons of cardboard, 14 tons of wood and 325 tons of concrete construction debris.

Category:  Environmental Education and Outreach

City of Knoxville / Rainy Day Brush-Off – Knox County: Created in 2008 by the Water Quality Forum of Knoxville, the Rainy Day Brush-Off artistic rain barrel competition features actual works of art on 55-gallon rain barrels to help raise awareness about water conservation and water pollution.  Engaging the regional visual arts community, the Rainy Day Brush-Off produces a unique collection of barrels, while providing the community with an aesthetically compelling and easily accessible water conservation tool.  Since its inception, the Rainy Day Brush-Off has created 89 unique rain barrels produced by artists, school groups, 4-H clubs, design collectives and businesses.   The painted barrels are displayed throughout Knox County and feature helpful information on the benefits of using a rain barrel and tips on reducing storm water pollution.  Currently there are more than 2,000 functioning rain barrels throughout the Knoxville area.

Category:  Green Schools – K-12

University School of Nashville – Davidson County: Illustrating their growing environmental commitment, The University School of Nashville involves students of all ages in “greening” its campus, studying environmental issues and conducting community environmental outreach.  Beginning in kindergarten with the award-winning Young Naturalists Program, students become grounded in nature and develop an environmental stewardship ethic.  This year, 6th graders studied deforestation and global warming and examined the concept of the “carbon footprint,” making a difference in offsetting their own carbon by planting 178 trees in the community.  In addition, the Middle School photography class used their skills and love of nature to publish a field guide to the trees on the Edgehill campus. The school’s previous field guide for the H.G. Hill property was used as a fundraising tool by the West Meade Conservancy and Friends of Warner Parks to raise $10.4 million for acquisition of the old-growth forest property. This 324 acres will eventually become part of Warner Parks.  The students also researched the annual quantities of styrofoam plates, cups, and cutlery that were costing the school $11,200 and ending up in a Middle Tennessee landfill.  Changing over to non-disposables and budgeting for a bigger, more energy efficient dishwasher – the school was able to reduce their waste.

Category:  Green Schools – Higher Education

Pellissippi State Community College – Knox County: Pellissippi State Community College has engaged in a combination of sustainability initiatives, including new building design, green job education and student participation in recycling. Students, faculty and staff have developed cooperative, mutually beneficial efforts that increased sustainability in the operations of the college, offered new sustainability education programs to the community and trained 40 students – involving students directly in the process of sustainability within the campus environment. Efforts include the expansion of the school’s bicycle storage, the inclusion of shower/changing facilities for individuals riding their bicycles to campus, reserved parking near campus buildings for carpool vehicles, and charging stations in reserved parking spaces for alternative fuel vehicles. Other initiatives included a new building constructed to LEED standards, educational programs in photovoltaics and energy conservation, and campus student projects designed to maintain college-wide recycling efforts.  By expanding recycling from 15 collection containers for aluminum to 70 single-stream collection containers, collections rose to approximately 350 pounds per week in 2009.

Category:  Greenways and Trails

City of Clarksville Greenway – Montgomery County: The city of Clarksville has added a 3.6-mile trail to its current greenways and trails system. This particular addition was constructed on a six-mile abandoned rail bed with an estimated cost of $2.5 million for the project – but due to city leadership, local community support and the help of various city departments, the project only cost the city $330,000.  Materials and labor for the walking path were donated by local businesses and the majority of the land and right-of-way were donated by private citizens – further reducing the cost of the project. The addition of the greenway will help establish a buffer along the Red River and nearby streams, while providing a habitat for diverse plant and animal species.

Category:  Hazardous Waste Reduction

Tri State Distribution, Inc. – White County: Established in 1992 as a prescription container manufacturer, Tri State Distribution, Inc. has nearly 350,000 square feet on 23 acres in Sparta.  With help from a third-party consulting firm, Tri State Distribution assesses its operations every six months for health, safety and environmental issues.  During one of those assessments, it was noted that employees were mixing hazardous waste with non-hazardous. By eliminating the acetone mix with that activity, Tri State Distribution has dropped from a Large Quantity Generator to Small Quantity Generator – going from 1,348 pounds to 230 pounds per month.  This reduction in acetone mix was achieved while growing their operations by 24 percent in 2009. Tri State Distribution also sends its non-hazardous waste off-site from its White House facility for laundering and reuse.  Tri State Distribution recently installed an oil / water separator – a $30,000 investment to minimize their oily water solid waste stream.

Category:  Natural Heritage

Friends of Warner Park / Save Our Ancient Forest – Davidson County: Made possible by the Friends of Warner Parks, the “Save Our Ancient Forest” project includes the acquisition and preservation of a 324-acre natural area with approximately 225 acres of old-growth forest in Metropolitan Nashville / Davidson County.  The Metropolitan Nashville Board of Parks and Recreation approved the acquisition as an addition to the 2,684-acre Warner Parks system.  This project will have a significant positive impact on Nashville’s environmental, educational, recreational and economic goals. Another innovative component of the project is the partnership with area high schools and universities, in addition to the opportunities for a living laboratory in the old-growth forest.  Inventories of the flora and fauna and other research projects will reveal information and help  influence resource management priorities. An initial birding survey of the property identified three bird species of High Conservation Concern to this region. The “Save Our Ancient Forest” project preserves and protects Tennessee’s natural landscape through the acquisition of one of the largest remaining stands of old-growth forest in the United States – ensuring its gentle use and enjoyment today and for future generations.

Category:  Parks and Recreation

A Sustainable Bonnaroo – Coffee County: Bonnaroo is a four-day music and arts festival in Manchester, which attracts 80,000 people each year. In 2009, Bonnaroo addressed product consumption, education and outreach, waste management and energy consumption in a comprehensive plan to reduce waste produced for this recreational event. Thirty-three percent of the waste produced by the festival (by weight) was diverted from the landfill.  This included 81.49 tons of commingled recycling, 19.07 tons of scrap metal, 27.18 tons of cardboard, three tons of cooking oil and 30 tons of compost – totaling nearly 161 tons diverted from the landfill. This waste diversion, combined with education and outreach promoting sustainability, locally sourced products, on-site composting and environmentally friendly purchasing, lead to the highest amount of materials recycled in the history of the festival. New in 2009, Bonnaroo provided re-usable water bottles for attendees to refill with free filtered water from on-site wells. Bonnaroo also retired 900 metric tons of carbon dioxide, accounting for and offsetting all emissions generated from the festival.

Category:  Pollution Prevention

Chattanooga Green Lodging Program – Hamilton County: The Chattanooga Green Lodging program has been recognized as a national model for sustainable tourism planning and is internationally recognized by Green Globe.  An initiative to promote and support Chattanooga’s vision for a sustainable city, the Green Lodging program encourages hotels, bed and breakfasts and other lodging facilities and restaurants to be aware of their impact on the environment and to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint, while enhancing the overall sustainability of their operations. The program provides guidance and resources that will greatly reduce impact by using proven techniques to reduce waste and, in many circumstances, save money. Once certified, properties are encouraged to take an active role, including working with the city’s Chattanooga Green effort to increase awareness with businesses and in the community, reduce waste from operations, promote natural resource conservation and efficiency measures, as well as alternative energy deployment. The Chattanooga Green Lodging program represents a uniquely cooperative effort transcending public and private lines, providing a meaningful but achievable certification program at an affordable cost. The net result of the program can be seen at the business level as companies become more energy efficient and operating costs are reduced.

Category:  Solid Waste Reduction

Knoxville Regional Medication Collection Program – Knox County: A task force including the Knoxville Police Department, the city of Knoxville, city and county Solid Waste, Knox County Health Department, Department of Environment and Conservation, University of Tennessee’s Academy of Student Pharmacists, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Hallsdale-Powell Utility District, Knoxville Utility Board, Volunteer Rescue Squad and Earth Fare was created to develop a solution to medication disposal problems. Since its inception, the program has collected more than 1,000 pounds of medication from over 600 participants at various collection events and through permanent 24-hour medication drop-off boxes located at law enforcement facilities. Also collected were more than 500 pounds of mercury thermometers and 474 pounds of medication packaging.  Some unique characteristics of this program include collection of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and prescription medications, focusing on the environmental concerns of its proper disposal, as well as public safety – helping keep medication out of waters and off the streets. Today, Knox County’s efforts are being mirrored by nine separate entities across the state.

For more information about the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program, please visit http://www.tn.gov/environment/awards/10awds/10winners_1.pdf.

Sitting benches line the plaza walkway

Woodlawn Park Sports Center has been given a new lease on life with the completion of a renovation project that lasted more than the better part of a year. Opening ceremonies for the newly renovated Woodlawn Park will be held Saturday, May 15,  at 10 a.m. County Mayor Carolyn Bowers, along with other county officials and community leaders will be on hand for the opening.

The five-diamond complex now proudly boasts play areas for small-fry and young children, four auxilliary diamonds and one grand diamond, a batting cage, basketball courts and shaded picnic benches. A paved meandering plaza runs through the baseball diamond area, with a concession center that sits central to all the diamonds. Three parking areas offer abundant space for visitors to support their favorite teams with no worry about finding a spot.

High vaulted roofline shelters the restrooms area

The architecture of the scorekeepers boxes and central announcers station give a modern and timeless allure to the complex. The natural surroundings enhance the overall tranquility of the park complex. Woodlawn Park is now poised to become a major attraction in the county’s recreational facilities lineup.

The park is located at 2910 Woodlawn Park Road. Take Dover Road- Hwy 79, turn left onto Hwy 233, continue for about two miles, turn left at the road sign.The park is on the right.

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.

Mayor Johnny Piper informed BC of that decision shortly after 4 p.m. today. The declaration opens the door for FEMA assistance for individuals and small businesses.

Elizabeth Black

Although Montgomery County Mayor Carolyn Bowers planned to meet with media regarding the historic flooding on the Cumberland, the mayor herself was not at the 2:30; she was in a helicopter with Gov. Phil Bedesen and City Mayor Johnny Piper surveying the devastation the flood of 2010 has caused.

Bredesen and Bowers did the flyover even as they are anticipating a FEMA declaration that would designate Montgomery County a federal disaster are, opening the door to financial assistance for hundreds of businesses.

“When the waters recede a bit more, we will without a doubt be declared a disaster area, Elizabeth Black  said.

Black  added that since Monday, county offices have been deluged with offers of volunteer assistance and other help. Those calls and offers are being redirected to the Community Action Agency, which is understandably overwhelmed by the volume and scope of the disaster.

Business and homeoeners are being asked to document and photograph as much of the damage and loss as they can, but also stressed that the utmost precaution and concern for safety should be maintained. Damage can be reported to 931-553-5162.

“We know that people want to get back in there, but it is a dangerous situation,”  Black  said. The water and debris may be contaminated, and the kind of massive clen-up requires a certain amount of training and preparation. The Community Action Agency (931-648-5774) will be offering instruction and advice for safely handling the clean-up.

At this point we are still waiting for the waters to recede, and until that happens, there are areas we cannot survey.

Commercial inspections begin Thursday

The county will begin commercial assessment inspections on Friday, May 7,  and Saturday, May 8, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Monday, May 10,  8:00 a.m. – 5:00 pm. Owner and/or occupant must be on-site at the time of scheduled appointment to meet with the inspector(s). Inspector(s) will provide proper City I.D./credentials.We will continue assessment inspections after the aforementioned dates.

The City of Clarksville would like to request any homeowner/business owner located in the City that has been affected by flood waters to contact the Building & Codes Department to schedule your inspection at (931) 645-7426 for the following:

Residential inspections:  We will begin residential assessment inspections of all affected basements/garages, and living areas on Wednesday, May 5,  from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 p.m.

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.

Gov. Phil Bredesen (center) accepts top honors for Tennessee from Publisher Ted Coene (left) with EDC Commissioner Matt Kisber (right). Turner McCullough Jr. Photo

A small group of business and civic leaders gathered at F&M Bank Tuesday for a brief ceremony honoring another “best” for the city. Ted Coene, Executive Publisher of Business Facilities Magazine presented Clarkville’s Economic Development Council with a silver award for 2009 Economic Development of the Year for the $2.5 billion dollar Hemlock Semiconductor Deal. First place award went to South Carolina, which won the race in attracting Global Aeronautics and Boeing to Charleston.

The awards are featured in the January 2010 issue of the magazine, which was distributed at this ceremony.

Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation, a subsidiary of Dow Corning, is projected to make a $1.26 million direct economic impact on the community, created 1,500 directly related jobs, and another 3,254 indirect jobs as the Commerce Park plant is built and running.  The company will funnel $85.5 million in personal income (wages), and $90.5 million of indirect income.  (UT Center for Business and Economic Research). Jobs that will come with the opening of the plant as skilled positions chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering, hemical processing, electricians, accounting specialists, skilled tradesmen and other workers.

Megasite certification”fast-tracked” serious inquiries about the Clarksville location, according to city officials.

Coene on Wednesday presented Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen with top honors as State of the Year for economic development, citing the Hemlock deal and Wacker Chemie AG’s billion dollar investment in the state for making Tennessee “a leader in the green energy supply chain.”Business Facilities Magazine referred to Clarksville as “Tennessee’s Top Green Spot.” The city was nominated by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. “Aggressive and innovative economic development strategies

The impact of Hemlock Semiconuctor development is the addition of a new technology building, now under construction at at Austin Peay State University, that will be furnished and equipped with a million donation from Hemlock.

In recent months, Clarksville and the state of Tennessee have accepted a number of top honors, including the naming of Clarksville as one of the best places in the country to start a business.

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TN state Parks open for Thanksgiving

Here’s a different twist on the Thanksgiving holiday; instead of worrying about cooking that perfect turkey and pumpkin pie, make your reservations at a participating state park restaurant and be pampered in a festive atmosphere with no stress, no fuss  and no dishes to clean up afterward. Then stroll along the grounds and trails and enjoy Nature’s seasonal wonders and perhaps catch sight of some native wildlife as well. We in Montgomery County are fortunate because Paris Landing is among those state parks participating in this offering.

NASHVILLE – Spend less time in the kitchen and more time with friends and family, while surrounding yourself with Tennessee’s natural wonders during this season of thanksgiving.

Tennessee State Park officials are pleased to announce that all eight state park restaurants will be open Thursday, Nov. 26, serving their annual Thanksgiving Day feast. Thanksgiving turkey and all the traditional trimmings, along with an assortment of desserts, will be available beginning at 11 a.m. until closing at state park restaurants across Tennessee. Selections and prices will vary depending on location, ranging from $10.95 to $14.95 (excluding drink and gratuity). Group reservations are recommended.

The Tennessee State Park restaurants serving Thanksgiving Day dinner are:

• Cumberland Mountain State Park…(931) 484-7186
• David Crockett State Park (Lawrenceburg)…(931) 762-9541
• Fall Creek Falls State Park… (423) 881-5241
• Henry Horton State Park…(931) 364-2222
• Montgomery Bell State Park…(615) 797-3101
• Natchez Trace State Park… (731) 968-8176
• Paris Landing State Park… (731) 642-4311
• Pickwick Landing State Park… (731) 689-3135

Tennessee’s 53 state parks offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families, or business and professional groups. State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses. For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call 888-867-2757. For additional information, visit our Web site at www.tnstateparks.com.

Governor Square Mall’s Management offered their facility to enable the City of Clarksville and Montgomery County emergency personnel and the staff at Gateway Medical Center to exercise, evaluate, and coordinate a multi-agency response to a critical incident situation.  There will be a many challenges offered to responding personnel.

The exercise will be set up for a scenario which involves “Black Friday” at the Mall.  As the scenario evolves, it will involve emergency personnel interacting with a large group of role players that mimics a holiday shopping crowd exposed to a situation resulting in injuries and possible fatalities.  The emergency personnel will have to diffuse the critical incident as well evacuating personnel and dealing with the aftermath on scene and at the Gateway Medical Center.

We will provide more info closer to the exercise date as to where the media will be staging. We also plan on setting up an interior area in the mall for the media to be able to observe some of the operational portion of the exercise.   If possible, we would like to know in advance which media representatives will be attending.

Please contact Lt. John Smith, MCSO at931-320-1829 for information about the full –scale crisis response training exercise.