Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Brownsville Police Department Launches Intensive Crackdown on Impaired Driving

Police Vow to Arrest Everyone Found Driving Over the Limit

The City of Brownsville Police Department today announced it will join nearly 10,000 other law enforcement agencies nationwide in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving August 19–September 5, known as “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

The problem of impaired driving is a serious one. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows the number of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in America fell from 2008 to 2009, but the numbers are still too high. 

In 2009 alone, 10,839 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes was the 21-to-24 age group.

“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life. Because we’re committed to ending the carnage, we’re intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. Since twice as many alcohol-impaired accidents occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, we will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” said Lt. Diebold.

The Brownsville Police Department] will be aggressively looking for allimpaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone they find driving while impaired — regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day.

“Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences. So don’t take the chance. Remember, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

For more information, visit the High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Headquarters at www.StopImpairedDriving.org.

TN Downtown Program launches in Brownsville

Sun, July 24, 2011 8:39:42 PM

Brownsville’s Tennessee Downtowns Steering Committee met with Tennessee Main Street Program Director Kimberly Nyberg, National Trust Main Street Center Officer Kathy LaPlante and Bridgett Massengill, Massengill Consulting, July 19, to do an initial site assessment and officially launch the Tennessee Downtowns program in Brownsville . Pictured (from left) are Hayden Hooper, Pat Cummins, Nyberg, Pat Bailey, John Ashworth, Sonia Outlaw-Clark, Sharon Hayes, Andrea Barbour, Albert Campbell, LaPlante, Mayor Jo Matherne and Massengill.

 Tennessee Main Street Program Director, National Trust Main Street Officer Conduct On-Site Assessment

Tennessee Main Street Program Director Kimberly Nyberg, National Trust Main Street Center Officer Kathy LaPlante and Bridgett Massengill, Massengill Consulting, conducted an initial assessment visit in Brownsville July 19, to launch the Tennessee Downtowns program. Brownsville is one of 12 communities selected to participate in Tennessee Downtowns, a competitive community improvement program for cities and counties seeking to revitalize traditional commercial districts.

“The National Trust Main Street Center applauds Brownsville for embracing the revitalization of its downtown commercial district, and we look forward to hearing many success stories here and across the state as a result of Tennessee Downtowns,” said LaPlante.

Tennessee Downtowns is a tiered program affiliated with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s Tennessee Main Street Program. Communities selected to participate in Tennessee Downtowns are home to downtown commercial districts established at least 50 years ago and have demonstrated their readiness to organize efforts for downtown revitalization based on the successful “Main Street Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalizationtm.”

“Tennessee Downtowns is a unique opportunity for Brownsville to take the initial steps toward revitalizing its downtown business district,” said Nyberg. “I would like to congratulate Brownsville again on being selected to participate in Tennessee Downtowns and look forward to working with you in the coming months.”

Main Street revitalization is a comprehensive, incremental, self-help economic strategy that also focuses on developing public-private partnerships to enhance community livability and job creation, while maintaining the historic character of the district. For information about the Main Street Program and the Main Street Four Point Approach, visithttp://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/about-main-street/.

Tennessee ’s Main Street program provides communities with technical assistance and guidance in developing long-term strategies that promote economic growth and development. The program provides information and assistance in forging public networking and training opportunities for downtown commercial districts.

For more information about Tennessee Downtowns, visit www.tennesseemainstreet.org.

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tn.gov/ecd.

Bluegrass featured at August “Concert on the Porch”

Join the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, Tenn., for the fourth in its 'Concert on the Porch' series Saturday, August 20, beginning at 7 p.m. This month's concert will feature Wildwood Express, a group of five area musicians who perform the old time stringed music of yesterday. Also appearing with Wildwood Express will be 11-year-old Emma Webb of Memphis.

The concert will open with Webb. Webb is part of the Generation Next series of the Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission and she is also the youngest member of the Memphis Songwriters Association. Webb has been performing in the Memphis area since she was 8. Her performances include music from the 80s to current pop songs plus some originals.

Wildwood Express performs the old time stringed music including bluegrass gospel, instrumentals and old time country. Their instruments of choice include the banjo, dulcimer, mandolin, upright bass and guitar.

The band is made up of Grover Westover, of Brownsville, who does vocals and plays guitar. Paul Jackson is from Bells, Tenn., and does vocals and plays mandolin. Gary Spraggins is on the upright bass and is from Alamo, Tenn. Coley and Marilyn Graves are from Bartlett, Tenn.; Coley does vocals, guitar and banjo, while his wife, Marilyn plays the hammered dulcimer. All are members of the Jackson Tennessee Area Plectral Society whose main purpose is the preservation of old time stringed music.

Everyone is invited to this free event. Bring your lawn chairs or blanket and enjoy an evening of old-time music. For more information, call the Center at 731-779-9000 or visit online at http://www.westtnheritage.com/.

Clark extends education with annual program on Georgia Campus

Sonia Outlaw-Clark, director of the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center is among three area tourism professionals who have completed their second year of STS Marketing College in Dahlonega, Georgia. Pictured with Clark are (from left) Jackson Tenn. Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Lori Nunnery, Clark, STS Vice President of Communications and Public Relations Neville Bhada, and Shiloh National Military Park Superintendent Woody Harrell.

Sonia Outlaw-Clark, director of the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, Tenn., has completed the second year of a three-year professional development program that will lead to certification as a Tourism Marketing Professional (TMP).

Clark was one of 232 tourism professionals enrolled at the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College last month.  The week-long program turns the facilities of North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Ga., into a laboratory to teach tourism marketing each summer.

There is no other professional development program like STS Marketing College, and it is recognized nationally for its training of tourism leaders. 626 people have earned TMP certification.

“In the tourism industry, TMP certification carries a lot of weight,” said Bill Hardman, president and CEO of the Southeast Tourism Society, a 12-state organization that promotes travel and tourism in the Southeast.

The STS Marketing College began in 1992 to provide continuing education for tourism professionals and feted its 20^th anniversary this year.  Tourism ranks as the first-, second- or third-largest industry in each STS member state. Students come from convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, attractions, hotels and other segments of the tourism industry.

The curriculum covers topics such as branding, social media, packaging and sports marketing.  Heritage tourism and research are courses that have attracted special interest in recent years.

Twenty-four senior executives in the travel and tourism industry were the volunteer faculty. 

The program attracts students from throughout the Southeast and occasionally from other states.  This year’s program included students from Maryland and Oklahoma.

“Southeast Tourism Society is recognized nationwide for the cohesiveness and camaraderie it fosters in the region.  No other region in the U.S. has a similar organization.  STS Marketing College is a major project to build skills and professionalism in the tourism industry,” Hardman said.

Brownsville’s Hatchie Fall Fest set for October 15

During the annual Hatchie Fall Fest, events and activities are planned for all age groups including the kids. Children’s activities include bouncy houses, a petting zoo, games, face painting and more.

With over 8,000 attending last year’s Hatchie Fall Fest, this year promises to be bigger and better than ever. Held annually on the historic court square in Brownsville, Tenn., this year’s event will be Saturday, October 15. It will be a fun-filled day of kid’s games and activities, cooking and eating contests, live music, arts and crafts, a quilt show and more.

One of the most popular festival events is the Frozen T-shirt Contest. Enjoyed by all ages, participants compete to see who gets the frozen t-shirt on the fastest. The Pet Show and Blessing of the Pets is another event that adults and kids both flock to.

Are you a good cook? You can show off your skills at the cake and pie-baking contest. Maybe you’d rather try your eating skills during the hot salsa-eating contest? While the kids are busy in the bouncy houses, getting their face painted and enjoying the many games and activities, you can find great bargains at the more than 100 arts and crafts booths and local merchant’s sidewalk sales. For a bit of nostalgia, visit the “Heritage Quilts of West Tennessee” exhibit featuring heirloom and modern day fabric creations.

The fun starts at 10 a.m., and continues all day, including live performances from the main stage area: local and regional performers singing your favorite gospel, country, blues and rock melodies.

During this year’s festival you will also be able to visit Oneal Lake on the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge and participate in an Amateur Radio event. The ham radio operators will be celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week and the rich cultural heritage and significance of the Hatchie River.

The fun continues on Sunday when the Elma Ross Public Library parking lot gets revved up for the 32^nd annual Tennessee Trash Car Show. Classic and show cars from all over attend this show that has been happening in Haywood County since 1979.

The Hatchie Fall Fest is held annually on the third Saturday of October. Admission to the festival is free and open to everyone. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.hatchiefallfest.com.