Don’t Let Holiday Celebrations End Tragically

The holidays are a wonderful time of year, filled with celebrations, time with loved ones and good cheer. But, for the 775 families whose loved ones were killed during December 2010 in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes, the joyous celebrations ended in disaster. 

That’s why the Brownsville Police Department is joining with highway safety partners and law enforcement organizations across the country this December to remind people that during the holidays and throughout the year, drinking alcohol and driving do not mix and that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.

“Drinking and driving is never a good combination, and it’s just not worth the risk,” said Brownsville Chief Chris Lea.  “Driving a vehicle or riding a motorcycle while intoxicated jeopardizes your safety and the safety of others on our roads.  If you are going to drink, plan another way home before the celebration begins, and encourage your friends and family to do the same.” 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 32,885 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes during 2010 and 31 percent (10,228) of those fatalities involved alcohol-impaired drivers.

The holiday season is particularly dangerous. During December 2010, 2,597 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes, and 775 of those were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers.

“This tragic loss of life can be reduced if we get impaired drivers off our roadways,” says Lt. Barry Diebold. “That’s why we are working hard to remind everyone to never drink and drive.”

This holiday season, the Brownsville Police Department is encouraging people to take three simple steps to ensure their holiday celebrations don’t end in tragedy.  

1.      Plan ahead; be sure to designate a sober driver before the party begins.

2.      If you will be drinking, do not plan on driving.  Even one drink too many increases the risk of a crash while driving a motor vehicle. If you are impaired, find another way home. Call a sober friend or family member.

3.      Be responsible.  If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.  If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life, and inaction could cost a life. 

“The holidays should be a time for celebration, not tragedy,” says Chief Lea.  “Please help us make Brownsville’s roadways safe by never driving after drinking. Remember, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving, so never drink and drive.”

For more information on Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving, please visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.  

Brownsville kicks off the holidays with new traditions

Brownsville will kick off the holiday season Thursday, November 29, with a plethora of events planned for the whole family. Among the activities are the lighting of the community Christmas Tree, a visit from Santa, opening of this year’s Festival of Trees, Brownsville – Let it Shine Church Illumination and Thursday Night Shop Hop.

Parade Grand Marshal Carolyn Flagg
will throw the switch to
illuminate the tree.

For the first time in many years, an official tree lighting will signal the start of the holiday season in Brownsville. City and County officials will join the chamber and business association to mark the beginning of what is hoped to become a long-standing tradition.

"The tree is something we have talked about for over a year and I'm excited to see it happening," says Chamber President Clinton Neal. "We also have lots of other fun activities planned and hope everyone will come out for an evening downtown."

According to Neal, the tree will be approximately 18 feet tall and will stand at the front of the courthouse. The lighting ceremony will begin at 6 p.m., and includes a performance by the Haywood High School Show Choir.

Area children are invited to stop by and visit with Santa inside the courthouse beginning at 5 p.m. Parents are encouraged to bring a camera to be sure and capture the moment. Kids will also be able to drop off their letters to Santa at a special mailbox located at Morris Jewelers. Santa will return to Brownsville every Thursday night until Christmas.

Area clubs and organizations, along with local businesses, will display themed Christmas trees for public viewing beginning Thursday evening as part of the Brownsville Exchange Club’s “Festival of Trees.” Enjoy hot chocolate and other goodies while browsing the displayed trees inside the courthouse. The exhibits will remain open during regular business hours through December 5.

Local churches will show off their beautiful stained glass windows during a “Church Illumination” walking and driving tour of downtown churches from 5-7 p.m. This is a new Brownsville – Let it Shine event presented by the Tennessee Downtown – Brownsville Steering Committee.

Sixteen local merchants will remain open until 7 p.m., for shopper’s convenience beginning Thursday, November 29, and continuing on Thursday evenings through December 20.

"We're happy to be teaming with the Chamber this year," says Kenny Ellington, president of the Brownsville Business Association. "It's given us an opportunity to bring back Thursday night shopping and build some new traditions."

The “Thursday Night Shop Hop”  kicks-off the beginning of the Brownsville Business Association’s Shop Brownsville First campaign. The campaign allows shoppers to make local purchases during a time more convenient for them and to register for great prizes. The big prize giveaway will take place December 20, 7 p.m., on the courthouse lawn.

Haywood County's Youth Leadership class will be offering free gift wrapping to anyone presenting a local receipt on November 29. The Youth Leadership class will be set up at Insouth Bank from 5-7 p.m.

For more information about these or other upcoming events, contact the Brownsville-Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, 731-772-2193, Brownsville Business Association, 731-780-5144, or visit www.ShopBrownsvilleTN.com.

Tourism generates $13.46 Million in economic impact for Brownsville and Haywood County

In 2011, tourism generated $13.46 million in economic impact for Brownsville and Haywood County, Tenn.  This is a 4 percent increase over the previous year and includes $1.3 million in local and state tax revenue. Haywood County ranks fifth in Southwest Tennessee for direct tourism expenditures.

“From our fire and safety protection to our public education system, our community relies on tourism,” said Sonia Outlaw-Clark, director of the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center. “Travel supports not only the 80 travel-dependent workers in Brownsville, it also brought in $580,000 in local sales tax revenues."

 With our location on Interstate 40, travel promotion is an important economic driver for Brownsville and Haywood County. Contributing to these figures is the more than $84,000 collected through the local hotel/motel tax. According to Clark, the hotel/motel tax collected in 2011-12 fiscal year was up .2 percent over the previous year. Visitors to the Delta Heritage Center also increased more than 4 percent during 2011.

"These numbers will continue to increase as we develop our tourism product and give visitors a reason to stay longer," explains Clark.

The 2011 tourism impact numbers were announced at the Governor's Tourism Conference held in Sevierville in late September. The economic impact for the state is a record $15.36 billion spent by visitors. The figures represented an increase of 8.7 percent from 2010. This is the first time the state has exceeded $15 billion. It was also the sixth consecutive year that tourism businesses generated more than a billion dollars in state and local sales tax revenue. For the second year in a row, all of Tennessee's 95 counties saw an increase in direct tourism expenditures.

The West Tennessee DeltaHeritage Center is the primary destination marketing organization for Brownsville.