CEO TO LEAVE HAYWOOD PARK COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

Jeremy Gray, Chief Executive Officer of Haywood Park Community Hospital, Brownsville, Tenn., is leaving his post effective September 1, 2012.

“I am proud of the work we have done together at Haywood Park and will miss the camaraderie with this outstanding team of board, employees, physicians and volunteers who provide personalized, quality care,” said Gray. “This decision was difficult because of the great working relationships we have here.”

Gray joined Haywood Park as CEO in 2010. During his tenure, the hospital has added numerous service lines, including sleep lab and alcohol and drug medical stabilization, as well as three new primary care physicians to the community – Theresa Woodward, M.D., Sonya Shipley, M.D., and Garrick Clouden, M.D.

“Haywood Park has a firm foundation for providing excellent patient care that will continue,” said Alan Callery, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Haywood Park Community Hospital. “We wish Jeremy much success in his new position and thank him for his many contributions to our community.”

The search for a new CEO is underway, and the hospital’s leadership team will ensure a smooth transition. Members of the Board of Trustees, medical staff and administration will be involved in the process to select a new chief executive.

Jackson State offers classes in Brownsville beginning Fall

Jackson State Community College (JSCC) will begin teaching classes at the Tennessee Technology Center in Brownsville starting this fall semester.

A variety of classes will be taught in an effort to extend Jackson State classes to residents in the Brownsville area. The classes are slated to be offered each semester saving local students drive time and gas expenses by avoiding the drive to one of Jackson State’s campuses located in Jackson, Humboldt, Lexington and Savannah.

There is still time to enroll and register for classes. Contact 731.425.8844 for more information and to begin the process of enrolling and selecting a schedule of classes.

New Book "The Women of Haywood" set for August 12 release

The Women of Haywood, Their Lives, Our Legacy, a new book about four professional African American women in Haywood County, Tennessee, is set for release August 12. A celebration and reception will be held from 3 - 5 p.m., at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville.

Almost 20 years in the making, the collection of four oral history interviews is interspersed with essays from area scholars and reflections from local residents. This is the seventh book by Haywood County native Dr. Cynthia Bond Hopson.

The book is based on interviews with Susie Ella Taylor Ashworth, Nola Walker Bond, Mayme Dell Rives Bowles Dotson and Eva James Davis Rawls. Bond Hopson interviewed  these ladies while a doctoral student at Southern Illinois University in the 90s,

“These women used their lives and talents to make us and the world better," says Bond Hopson. "This book simply tries to chronicle how and what made them great. I think their stories will tickle and bless your heart.”

Nola Walker Bond, an activist/teacher/businesswoman, was killed in a traffic accident in 1998 and Eva Rawls, one of the first African American registered nurses in Brownsville, died earlier this year. Mayme Dotson, who taught first-grade at the Douglass Elementary School for 43 years, lives in Nashville and Susie Ashworth, who retired after 58 years as a beautician, lives in Brownsville.

The book’s foreword was written by Brownsville businesswoman Cynthia Rawls Bond and features essays from Dr. Dorothy Granberry, Dr. Norma J. Burgess and Dr. Jo Zanice Bond, all scholars with Haywood County ties. Other contributors include Elma Bond Rogers, Greta V. Sanders, Laura Pruiett Smith, Dorothy Mann Bond, Louvern Tucker, John Ashworth, Dr. Thomas Averyheart and John M. and Barbara Bond. The book is self-published by Touched By Grace Publications and profits will stay in Haywood County to benefit scholarships, women’s empowerment and historic preservation.

During the reception, Bond Hopson will be signing copies and there will also be an opportunity for guests to make videotaped tributes. The book is approximately 160 pages and will be available in paperback ($24.95) and limited edition hardback ($34.95). Pre-orders may be made by calling 615-449-2858 or by e-mail to drhopson007@aol.com.

The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center is a tourist information center and three regional museums located just off of Interstate 40 at Exit 56 in Brownsville, Tenn. For more information about the Center, visit www.westtnheritage.com.

Leadership Haywood County accepting applications

The Leadership Haywood County Board of Directors is currently accepting applications for the 2012-2013 class. The program, which is sponsored by the Brownsville-Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, is designed to heighten the awareness of community leaders, workers, and volunteers about the community’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunities.

For eight months, class members will learn about economic development, law enforcement, local government and infrastructure, healthcare and social services, quality of life, education and local and state government issues. Graduates of the program join more than 200 Leadership alumni to work together to make a better Brownsville and Haywood County.

Applications may be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office at 121 West Main Street, or download here. The deadline to submit an application is August 10. Classes generally meet one day per month. Tuition is $400. A $50 deposit is required with the application and is applied to tuition or refunded if not selected. Upon acceptance to the program, tuition must be paid in full no later than August 23.

For additional information about Leadership Haywood County, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 731-772-2193.

Community invited to meet new Chamber Director

The Brownsville-Haywood County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors cordially invites the community to meet Renee Moss at a Welcome Reception Monday, July 9, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., at the First South Community Room, 308 West Main St. A short program will be presented at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Moss is chosen as new Chamber of Commerce Director

The Brownsville-Haywood County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors recently announced the hiring of Renee Moss as its executive director. Moss, a native of McNairy County, comes to the Chamber with a variety of skills and will officially assume her new responsibilities  July 2.

"We're excited to have Renee," says Chamber President Bob Wallis. "We look forward to working with her and to what all the future holds for our Chamber."

Renee Moss

For the past seven years, Moss has served as curator of the Buford Pusser Home and Museum in Adamsville, Tenn., where she is responsible for day to day operations. She is an active member of the Adamsville Partnership, a professional organization that works with issues such as business development and livability in the community. Moss is the current secretary of the Partnership.

Moss  also serves on the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a graduate of McNairy County Leadership. She is actively involved in the Youth Leadership program, is an official Miss Tennessee Pageant judge and serves on the Board of Directors of the Tourism Association of Southwest Tennessee.

"I am honored by the warm reception I have received from the citizens of Brownsville and Haywood County," says Moss.  "I am looking forward to meeting everyone and working with such a supportive group of individuals."

The community is invited to a reception welcoming Moss on Monday, July 9, 4:30 -6:30 p.m., at the First South Community Room on West Main. A short program will be presented at 5:30 p.m. 

Brownsville to receive Historic Preservation Fund Grant

Gov. Bill Haslam and the Tennessee Historical Commission recently announced 28 grants to support the preservation of historic and archaeological sites, districts and structures. Among them, a $18,000 grant for surveying of the Brownsville historic districts.

“History becomes real when you visit these sites, and it matters that the state helps reflect on and protects its historic places,” Haslam said. “Today’s announcement represents more than $600,000 in assistance to communities across the state, ensuring that Tennessee’s rich history will continue to be shared with future generations.”

This year’s selection process emphasized projects conducting architectural, archaeological and historic site surveys.  Such projects are designed to identify and to record historic districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects built before 1960 that are significant to Tennessee's history.

Surveys could be for a specific geographic area or for sites associated with themes or events significant in the state's history.  Priorities for funding survey projects included areas experiencing rapid growth and development, other threats to cultural resources, areas where there are serious gaps in knowledge regarding cultural resources, and thematic surveys based upon existing historic study units produced by the State Historic Preservation Office.

“These grants help facilitate the protection and revitalization of Tennessee's treasured historic buildings, sites and neighborhoods – places that make our state unique,” said Patrick McIntyre, executive director of the Tennessee Historical Commission.  “Heritage tourism is one of our state's biggest industries, and restoring historic buildings creates construction jobs and is key to helping create a sustainable environment.”

Assistance also was made available for other types of historic preservation projects, including preservation planning studies for towns, neighborhoods and historic districts; the preparation of nominations to the National Register of Historic Places; planning or pre-development work necessary to undertake restoration of a historic property; and restoration of historic properties. For restoration or restoration pre-planning, properties must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The grants come from federal funds allocated by the Department of Interior under the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act. The programs in Tennessee authorized by this Act are administered by the Tennessee Historical Commission. The grants pay for up to 60 percent of the costs of approved project work, and the grant recipient must provide the remaining 40 percent of the costs as matching funds.

The grant recipients and/or sites of the projects include:

Anderson County: Coal Creek Watershed Foundation, Inc. - $9,000 for the restoration and painting of the Briceville Community Church.

Carter County: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park – $24,000 to survey the grounds of Sabine Hill for the locations of outbuildings and other possible features on the 4.28-acre site.

Claiborne County: Claiborne County Historical Society - $16,740 for brick and stone work restoration and repairs to shutters and windows for the historic Claiborne County jail.

Fentress County: Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation - $45,708 for the continued rehabilitation of the north addition of the York Agricultural Institute building.

Haywood County: City of Brownsville - $18,000 for a survey of the city’s commercial and residential historic districts.  

Montgomery County: City of Clarksville - $15,000 to update the city’s existing historic district guidelines, including revising and expanding the standards with more detail and graphics.

City of Clarksville - $20,000 for a restoration plan for the Smith-Trahern Mansion.

Putnam County: Silver Point Community Association - $7,788 to repair and replace missing and broken windows in the West End Church of Christ in the Silver Point community.

Rhea County: Friends of Cumberland Trail - $12,000 to prepare a multiple property submission and nominations for historic resources associated with the Dayton Coal and Iron Company.

Rhea County - $15,000 for the restoration and repair of the Rhea County Courthouse’s windows and doors.   

Roane County: City of Harriman - $25,000 for the structural repair and stabilization of the Temperance Building.

Sullivan County: Sullivan County Government - $10,200 to survey and update the National Register nomination for the Blountville Historic District.  The revised nomination will include Battle of Blountville Civil War information.

Sumner County: Fullerton Laboratory for Spatial Technology (Murfreesboro, MTSU) - $15,842 to use airborne remote sensing technology to survey the topography of the Castalian Springs area, in an attempt to locate prehistoric and historic sites in the vicinity and compare the data with previous ground observations.


Multi-County Grants:
Tennessee Division of Archaeology - $35,009 to fund a survey of Rosenwald Schools and sites located throughout the state, involving schools built in the United States primarily for the education of African Americans in the 20th century.

Tennessee Preservation Trust - $15,000 to fund the 2013 Statewide Historic Preservation Conference.

Tennessee History for Kids - $8,000 to fund posters for Tennessee schools and libraries, highlighting historic preservation in Tennessee.

Middle Tennessee State University - $35,000 to digitize data for historic /architectural survey files and for survey data entry for computerization of survey files.

East Tennessee State University - $11,500 to survey rock shelter selection by prehistoric inhabitants of the Upper Cumberland Plateau, using GIS technology.

University of Tennessee - $21,896 for a prehistoric site survey of the South Cumberland Plateau, a cooperative effort between UT and Sewanee: The University of the South.

Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University - $9,470 to prepare a multiple-property submission and two National Register nominations for properties associated with the East Tennessee marble industry.

Upper Cumberland Institute / Tennessee Technological Institute - $15,000 to fund survey data entry for the computerization of historic and architectural survey files.

South Central Tennessee Development District - $50,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the South Central Tennessee Development District.

East Tennessee Development District - $32,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the East Tennessee Development District.

First Tennessee Development District - $25,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the First Tennessee Development District.

Greater Nashville Regional Council - $25,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Greater Nashville Regional Council.

Southeast Tennessee Development District - $52,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Southeast Tennessee Development District.

Southwest Tennessee Development District - $54,028 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Southwest Tennessee Development District.

Upper Cumberland Development District - $50,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Upper Cumberland Development District.

For more information about the Tennessee Historical Commission, please visit the website at: www.tn.gov/environment/hist.