Friday, December 31, 2010

Haywood County Attractions Join Haslam Inaugural Celebration

In honor of Bill Haslam’s inauguration as the state’s 49th governor, Haywood County museums are joining with cultural and historical attractions across the state to stay open and offer free admission on Saturday, January 15, 2011.

The theme of the inaugural celebration is “Tennesseans: Working Together, Moving Forward.” In the spirit of this theme, the governor-elect has asked that cultural establishments, tourist attractions, museums and other points of interest open their doors on Inauguration Day at no charge to the public.

“We’d like to offer this day as a time for Tennesseans across the state to come together in the celebration – wherever they are in the state - and take part in our culture, inventions, history and heritage, as a collective people,” says Kim Kaegi, director of the Haslam inaugural team.

Haywood Countians are encouraged to be a part of this historical event by visiting their local museums. Museums in Brownsville and Stanton will participate and include the Haywood County Museum, Haywood County Sports Museum, Felsenthal Lincoln Collection, Dunbar-Carver Museum, West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center and the Stanton Welcome Center and Lending Library.

College Hill Center
Home to the Haywood County Museum, Haywood County Sports Museum and The Felsenthal Lincoln Collection

The Haywood County Museum, located at the College Hill Center, 127 North Grand, will be open from 1-3 p.m. The Haywood County Sports Museum and the Felsenthal Lincoln Collection, housed at the Center, will also be available for viewing during this time. College Hill was originally established as the Brownsville Baptist Women's College in 1851 and later became the Haywood County High School.

Dunbar Carver Museum is located on the site of the former Carver High School. The Brownsville Unit of the Boys and Girls Club is also located here.
Dunbar-Carver Museum will extend their hours and will open at 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. They are located at 709 East Jefferson Street. The Dunbar-Carver Museum tells the story of African American life in Haywood County through events associated with the one hundred plus year existence of the Dunbar-Haywood County Training-Carver High School.

Blues Pioneer Sleepy John Estes' last home is located on the grounds
of the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center.
The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, located at 121 Sunny Hill Cove behind McDonald’s, will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Delta Heritage Center is home to three museums that explore the early history of cotton production in West Tennessee, music greats who were born and called West Tennessee home and the scenic Hatchie River, the last wild river of the lower Mississippi.

A Historical Marker was placed at the Stanton Welcome Center September 28, 2008, courtesy of the 2008 Leadership Haywood County class.
The Stanton Welcome Center and Lending Library will also open. The Center is located at 49 Main Street in Stanton, and serves as an archive for history and memorabilia for the Town of Stanton, family histories of Stantonians, and digitizes historical photos and stories.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Happy Birthday, Shiloh ... and you're invited!

You're invited to the 116th anniversary of the establishment of the Shiloh National Military Park. The event will take place Tuesday, December 28, beginning at 2 p.m., at the Shiloh Visitors Center. The event is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Park was established by Congress December 27, 1894 and commemorated the April 6-7, 1862 battle that raged around Shiloh Church and Pittsburg Landing. That event produced more than 23,000 casualties and was the largest engagement in the Mississippi Valley campaign during the Civil War.

Learn more about the Park: http://www.nps.gov/shil

Santa Bucket Truck

Santa doesn't need a sleigh or 8 tiny reindeer when Southwest is around. What in the world am I talking about?

You remember that Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation won first place in the Hatchie Fall Fest Scarecrow Contest. They also won the People's Choice Award. When it was time to remove the scarecrows from the courthouse lawn, Southwest chose to move theirs to the lawn of their headquarters.
October 2010
I thought that was a great idea but never dreamed that it would be used in so many ways. At Thanksgiving the bucket was occupied by a Pilgrim, complete with a hunting rifle. Now, Santa is using it to get on rooftops.  
December 2010
See what I mean ... and the bag of toys actually has toys peeking out of it.

I'm sure it brings a smile to the faces of those that drive by each day. I know it has mine. Today I made myself turn around and go back to get the picture. I am sorry that I did not get one of the pilgrim at Thanksgiving (maybe next year).

So cute and creative. Can't wait to see who shows up in the bucket next.

Merry Christmas!

Bredesen appoints Hayes to State Commission

Sharon L. Hayes
Governor Phil Bredesen has appointed three women to serve on three state boards and commissions. Among them is Sharon Hayes of Brownsville, who has been appointed to serve on the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. Hayes recently retired from the University of Memphis and is the Director of Planning for the City of Brownsvillle.

“The state of Tennessee relies on citizens like these women who are willing to serve the state through its boards and commissions,” Bredesen said. “I appreciate their willingness to offer their service to our state, and thank them for the valuable additions they will be to the organizations to which they have been appointed.

“During my eight years as Governor I’ve had the privilege of making thousands of appointments to various boards and commissions. With these final appointments of my term, I want to express my sincere appreciation to all of these Tennesseans for their willingness to serve our state. Much of the function of our government relies on the honorable, voluntary service of these individuals, and I thank each of them for their contributions.”

Appointment terms vary based on statutory recommendations or term limits specified by geographic or other qualifications. 

The other appointments are:
Governor's Council on Service Members, Veterans and Their Families
Alyson Delaney, Fort Campbell

Tennessee Historical Records Advisory Board
Beverly G. Bond, Germantown

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A Message from the Brownsville Police Department

A Little Holiday Cheer Can Go a Long Way on Our Roads This Holiday Season
Remember: Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest


As party-goers celebrate the holidays with friends and family, everyone should heed Brownsville Police Department’s (BPD) warning to keep the party off the road or be ready to face the consequences. Law Enforcement will be out in force beginning December 16, cracking down on anyone caught drunk behind the wheel.

“After hearing about the dangers of drinking and driving time after time, most people have gotten the message that if they’re planning on drinking, they should always plan a safe way home,” said BPD Lt. Barry Diebold. “But sadly, millions of Americans still think they are invincible and regularly choose to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink.”

“We know that the holiday season can be one of the deadliest and most dangerous times on America’s roadways due to an increase in drunk driving.” Said Lt. Diebold. “Don’t let your 2010 end in an arrest or worse, death. Remember, whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many, it’s not worth the risk!”

The Brownsville Police Department will be conducting saturation patrols and Sobriety Checkpoints for impaired drivers and drivers violating traffic laws from Thursday Dec16, 2010, thru Monday January 3rd, 2011.

Remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

The Miracle of Christmas

Brownsville's annual Christmas parade was again a sight to see. Many colorful floats, cars and boats. The Rescue Squad works hard to make this happen each year and deserve a lot of thanks for all their hard work.



1st Place - Haywood County Schools
 
2nd Place - Upper Salem Baptist Church

3rd Place - First South Bank


Brownsville's First Annual Children's Christmas Parade

Here are scenes from this year's first Children's Christmas Parade. Sponsored by Brownsville-Haywood County Rescue Squad and New Wave Communications.

http://tinyurl.com/2d298fq

Operation Medicine Bottle

The City of Brownsville Police Department, Ward 2 Neighborhood Watch, and the Haywood County Community Coalition would like to announce an upcoming event that is designed to help clean up our neighborhoods and reduce the availability of old prescription medications. We are hosting our first prescription medication take-back program that is called OPERATION MEDICINE BOTTLE.

OPERATION MEDICINE BOTTLE will be held on Saturday Dec. 11th from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at the W.O.W. building on Boyd Ave. by the HHS football field.
 
This program is designed to help reduce (3) primary problems:
  1. To reduce the amount of medical waste that is FLUSHED down the drain polluting our water supply. According to the EPA, ¼ of our water supply is currently contaminated with trace amounts of medications and antibiotics.
  2. To reduce the abuse of prescription medications by teens. Juvenile courts across the country have seen an increase in teen prescription abuse. Most teens get these prescriptions from friends and relatives medicine cabinets.
  3. To reduce home burglaries that target medication theft.(primarily of citizens taking medications that are for pain, like cancer treatment drugs)
To help, we are asking everyone to bring in old containers of prescription medications. All you do is drop off the medications at the WOW building. You do not sign anything when you leave the medications. Trained medical personnel will count and itemize the pills for Police Destruction procedures. The plastic containers will have the labels peeled off and they will be destroyed with the medications following all Police procedures for destruction of evidence. The empty bottles will be sent to the county recycling site.

Please help us spread the word, DON’T FLUSH OLD MEDICINES bring them to the WOW building on Dec. 11th for proper destruction, and help keep our community clean and safe.

For more information contact Lt. Diebold at the Brownsville Police Dept. 731-772-1260

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Brownsville chosen for Tennessee Downtown Program

Brownsville's effort to create a better downtown commercial district was rewarded yesterday with the news that an application to be a part of the Tennessee Downtown program had been accepted. Here's more about the program and the 11 other communities that were also chosen.

http://news.tennesseeanytime.org/node/6440

Congratulations Mayor Matherne, Steering Committee and staff people who put together the winning application.