Predators steam toward playoffs

Victory over Red Wings builds momentum

ASSOCIATED PRESS • March 30, 2009 DETROIT — The Predators capped a big week with a confidence-building victory over the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. Ryan Suter broke a tie on a power play with 4:36 left, and Pekka Rinne made 33 saves to help Nashville win its third straight, 4-3 over Detroit on Sunday night.

Not only did the Predators defeat the defending Stanley Cup champs, who are also second in the Western Conference, but they also beat the conference's top team, the San Jose Sharks, on Thursday night, and Los Angeles on Saturday night in overtime.

"This crew deserves a lot of credit for this week," Coach Barry Trotz said. It also was Nashville's fourth game in six days.

Steve Sullivan had a goal and an assist while Joel Ward and Jerred Smithson also scored for the Predators, who are seventh in the Western Conference playoff race with six games remaining. "We're in the fight of our lives for the playoffs," Sullivan said. "We've still got a lot of work to do." Henrik Zetterberg, Mikael Samuelsson and Johan Franzen scored for Detroit, which lost is second straight and third in four games. Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom each had two assists, and Chris Osgood stopped 22 shots.

"The bottom line is we got to find ways to win games and we're in it together," Osgood said. Suter beat him with a slap shot from the top of the left circle for his seventh goal, just 29 seconds after Chris Chelios took a cross-checking penalty.

Sullivan made the play as he took the puck off the left boards inside the blue line and headed into the middle of the ice, but he then passed it back to Suter at the left point, who moved in and blasted a shot high on the far side.

"Sully made a great play coming off the wall," Suter said. "I thought he was going to go to the other point. But he passed it back to me. I moved in and was looking for someone to pass to. I saw (Radek Bonk) in front of the net and then I just tried to go far side."

Franzen tied it at 3 with 5:25 left with a wrist shot from the high slot for his 32nd goal. Goals by Ward and Smithson 20 seconds apart gave Nashville a 3-2 lead. Ward tied it at 2, putting in a rebound for his 17th goal with 8:25 left in the third period. Smithson took a pass from Cal O'Reilly and beat Osgood from the bottom of the left circle. It was Smithson's fourth goal.

"A point shot. I went to the net to try and create traffic," Ward said. " And I was able to chip the rebound in."

Both goals were the result of Detroit turnovers. The first came when Jonathan Ericsson and Tomas Kopecky almost collided in the neutral zone.

"We actually checked our own guy in the neutral zone on the one," Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock said. "We found a way to lose the game. That drives you crazy, especially this time of year. It's the time of year you want to be ramping it up."

Samuelsson's power-play goal gave Detroit a 2-1 lead with 4:47 left in the second period. It came with the Red Wings holding a two-man advantage. Samuelsson put in a one-time shot from the left circle for his 19th goal.

Sullivan opened the scoring with a power-play goal 2:25 into the game for his 10th goal. Zetterberg tied it with his 30th goal, a short-handed effort at 4:29.

"I thought we were gassed after the first period," Trotz said. "But the guys just sucked it up."

State layoffs are still likely, governor says

Stimulus money will cut numbers By Erik Schelzig • ASSOCIATED PRESS • February 19, 2009 The money Tennessee will receive from the federal stimulus package may reduce the number of state workers facing layoffs, but some will likely still be let go, Gov. Phil Bredesen said Wednesday. The governor said the number of layoffs would be substantially lower than the 2,300 that had been under consideration, but that he doesn't know what the total number will be. The governor said he hoped to avoid most layoffs through attrition. "I can't give you a ballpark, but I do not think right now there's enough money in the stimulus package that's flexibly available to preclude the possibility of any layoffs," he said. Tennessee is in line to receive $4.3 billion in federal money over two years, according to an analysis by the Federal Funds Information for States, a service of the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures. But most of that money is directed to specific programs. Bredesen had been planning for $900 million in cuts for the upcoming spending year. A preliminary look at Tennessee's share of the stimulus money indicates that about $500 million of the money will be available for plugging budget holes, he said. About $573 million of the federal money has been designated for road and bridge projects that can get under way quickly. The state Transportation Department has compiled a list of $850 million worth of projects that have been identified as "shovel ready." Bredesen criticized lawmakers who raised concerns in a Senate Transportation Committee hearing a day earlier that not enough road and bridge projects paid for by stimulus money are being directed to their home districts. "People doing the complaining probably ought to just re-look at what we were asked to do here," Bredesen said. "It was not a list that was designed to be fair to every county or every region of this state, it was a list of projects that were ready to go."

Nashville's WKRN Channel 2 won't lose jobs in bankruptcy

By Wendy Lee • THE TENNESSEAN • February 17, 2009 Young Broadcasting Inc., the parent company of WKRN-TV, Channel 2, in Nashville, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid steep declines in ad revenue and swift competition among stations for clients, according to court documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York last week. The company said it needed the protection to deal with mounting debts. Locally, Young Broadcasting's Chapter 11 filing will not affect its Tennessee operations, according to Gwen Kinsey, general manager for WKRN-TV and WATE-TV in Knoxville. No layoffs will occur at the local stations as a result and although ad revenue is down industry-wide, there is a "very healthy cash flow" at the local stations, Kinsey said, but she declined to state by how much ad revenue has declined. "We have money in the bank," Kinsey said. "Our normal day-to-day operations aren't going to be affected." Young Broadcasting listed total assets at about $574.6 million and total liabilities at around $980.4 million, according to court documents. The company, which owns and operates 10 television stations across the nation, said operations would not be restructured. "In these difficult economic times, domestic media companies across the board have witnessed an unprecedented decline in advertising revenue and, as a result, industry-wide revenue and operational performance has suffered," James A. Morgan, the company's executive vice president and chief financial officer said in court documents. Morgan said the decline in ad revenue had been going on for years, but it has been "accelerated and exacerbated" by the recession and "dislocation" of the credit markets. The company owes about $338.1 million in a senior credit facility and had $484.3 million outstanding under senior substantiated notes as of the end of December, according to court documents. Losing on two ends Broadcasting companies nationwide are suffering because they purchased stations starting in the 1980s at inflated prices, said Ray Harris, assistant professor of multimedia at Lipscomb University. The problem is the amount of time a station can air commercials is limited due to hours in a day and the ad price is determined by the economy, Harris said. Stations "are losing on two ends," Harris said, explaining that they're either losing ad accounts altogether or their existing customers aren't able to spend as much as they once did. "It's a double whammy." In response to the declining revenues, Young Broadcasting had a cost savings initiative to save the company more than $25 million by the end of fiscal 2010 by reducing the workforce by 15 percent, bringing in new technology, creating a consolidated accounting system and terminating certain outside professional services, according to court documents. In January 2008, the company planned to sell its largest station, KRON-TV in San Francisco, because it had suffered cash flow losses but had to suspend the sale process in November 2008 amid the decline in market conditions. In January and February this year, the company decided to forgo making the interest payments on some of its debt. Earlier this year, the company's stock was de-listed from Nasdaq.

Input sought on Middle Tennessee bike and walking paths

The Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization wants the public to weigh in this month on the development of regional bicycle and pedestrian paths for Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Wilson and Williamson counties. Meetings will be held Feb. 23-26 at the following dates, times and locations: Rutherford County: Monday, Feb. 23, 5:30- 7:30 p.m., the Smyrna Town Centre, 100 Sam Ridley Parkway E., Smyrna. Williamson County: Monday, Feb. 23, 5:30 -7:30 p.m. at Franklin First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 143 Fifth Ave., Franklin. Davidson County: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 5:30-7:30 p.m., East Park Community Center, 700 Woodland St., Nashville. Wilson County: Thursday, Feb. 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Lebanon City Hall, 200 Castle Heights Ave. N., Lebanon. Sumner County: Thursday, Feb. 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Hendersonville Public Library, 140 Saundersville Road, Hendersonville. Residents are encouraged to come prepared to share their thoughts and ideas, the agency said in a news release. More information is available at www.nashvillempo.org.— MARIA GIORDANOmgiordano@tennessean.com

Digital TV switch postponed to June

By Joelle Tessler • ASSOCIATED PRESS • February 5, 2009 WASHINGTON — After weeks of debate, Congress is giving consumers four more months to prepare for the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting. The House voted 264-158 on Wednesday to postpone the shutdown of analog TV signals to June 12, to address growing concerns that too many Americans won't be ready by the Feb. 17 deadline that Congress set three years ago. The Senate passed the measure unanimously last week and the bill now heads to President Barack Obama. The change is being mandated because digital signals are more efficient than analog ones. Ending analog broadcasts will free up valuable space in the nation's airwaves for commercial wireless services and emergency-response networks. The delay is a victory for the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress, who maintain that the previous administration mismanaged efforts to ensure that all consumers — particularly poor, rural and minority Americans — will be prepared for the switchover. The Nielsen Co. estimates that more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog TV sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals still are not ready. People who subscribe to cable or satellite TV or have a newer TV with a digital tuner will not be affected. Speaking on the House floor Wednesday, Rick Boucher, D-Va., chairman of the House Commerce Committee's subcommittee on communications, technology and the Internet, said a delay was needed to prevent the digital transition from becoming a failure. Opponents of a delay warned, however, that the move will confuse consumers, create added costs for TV stations that will continue broadcasting both analog and digital signals for four more months and burden wireless companies and public safety agencies waiting for the airwaves. "It's time for us to move forward on this and keep our word to the American people," said Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., calling for the transition to proceed on Feb. 17. Democrats have tried to address these concerns by allowing broadcast stations to switch to digital signals sooner than June if they choose, potentially freeing up spectrum for public safety early. But it is unclear how many TV stations plan to use this option. The National Association of Broadcasters welcomed the delay. The group said it would provide new television spots to promote the June 12 deadline, and work with stations to coordinate additional analog shut-off tests to raise awareness and help consumers prepare.

Hermitage Precinct Newsletter Feb 2009

http://www.police.nashville.org/bureaus/fieldops/hermitage/default.htm Officer Troy Meadows Hermitage Precinct Community Affairs Unit Metro-Nashville Police Department Phone 880-1781

Juvenile crime victims' electronic records mislaid

Flash drive had kids' names, account infoBy Michael Cass • THE TENNESSEAN • February 3, 2009 A Metro auditor misplaced a portable computer storage drive containing the names of more than 500 juvenile crime victims who receive government funds, potentially exposing their bank account numbers and balances. The victims' addresses, phone numbers and Social Security numbers were not on the device, and banks have been alerted to look out for suspicious activity on the accounts. But most of the victims are still minors, and their names alone are sensitive information that isn't meant for public consumption, Davidson County Juvenile Court Clerk Vic Lineweaver said Monday. "I don't see how they could have lost it," said Lineweaver, who was held in contempt of court in 2007 for failing to produce two files for a Juvenile Court referee. "But we're all human." Metro internal auditor Mark Swann said the computer flash drive was last seen Dec. 19 — almost exactly a year after thieves stole two laptops containing Metro voters' Social Security numbers. But the auditor who misplaced it didn't tell his bosses until mid-January. Swann said the auditor has not been disciplined for either the lost drive or the delayed report, however, because the office didn't have a policy on flash drives at the time. It has one now: Using flash drives is prohibited. "I wish it didn't happen," Swann said. "We realize the severity of the incident." Swann said his office was conducting a routine audit of victim compensation accounts in December. Parents or guardians of minors who are victims of crimes can use the accounts to pay for counseling, education needs and other court-approved expenses. The money comes from a federal grant that the state passes on to Metro. Swann said the auditor used the flash drive to transfer information from one computer to another in a different part of the Juvenile Court complex. After the transfer was completed, the drive "got lost in transit." The device contains 559 names but just 419 active accounts, because some victims' accounts have been closed since they became adults. Swann said 367 of the accounts contained less than $10,000 each. Lineweaver said the average account has $1,500 to $3,000. Lineweaver and Swann said they're waiting on advice from Metro attorneys before notifying the victims and their parents or guardians. Lineweaver's office asked banks late last week to watch for anyone trying to close an account, which would be unusual.

January NES bills stir new calls

December charges also shocked customers By Chris Echegaray • THE TENNESSEAN • February 4, 2009 Nashville's Adugna Denbel purchased his first home in October, a 2,069-square-foot house built in 2005. But the thrill of being a first-time homebuyer lost its luster after he made payment arrangements to keep the place heated, Denbel said Tuesday. His most recent electric bill was $356, up from $190. "I've kept it at 68 and 65 degrees, no longer at 70," said Denbel. "I'm told nothing is wrong with the meter. It's just cold. Imagine that." Nashville Electric Service has received 35,000 calls — 12 percent of its residential customers — about January bills, including requests for payment arrangements. Some might also be among the 31,000 who called about their December bills, NES spokeswoman Laurie Parker said. A normal call volume for NES would be 2,000 a day, including making regular payments and typical inquiries, Parker said. After the January bills hit mailboxes, NES averaged 5,000 calls a day, mostly complaints, she said. NES serves about 355,000 customers in Davidson County and other parts of Middle Tennessee. "It's been unusual," said Parker. "It's been the perfect storm. The rate increases have been compounded with the cold weather." NES has maintained that the high electric bills stem from the Tennessee Valley Authority's 9.1 percent rate increase, the more than 20 percent fuel cost adjustment, extra days tacked on to bills and the cold weather. NES is working with customers, making payment arrangements and, in some cases, waiving late fees. It has customers who never had late payments calling and making arrangements. "We have people calling to complain, but they do pay the bills," Parker said. Denbel, originally from Ethiopia, said he went in person to deal with the issue, but there's not much he could do but pay the bill. The main question from many residential customers is why the kilowatt usage jumped at an exorbitant rate. Lori Eslick, who lives in an insulated home in Inglewood, said her kilowatt usage has increased by 3,000 kilowatts compared with last winter, translating to a January bill of $642. 26. "It just really makes no sense," Eslick said. "We are fortunate enough to be able to pay this. But no one can explain the kilowatt usage. Of course, my heart breaks for the people who can't afford these ridiculous bills."

50,000 are jobless in Nashville area

Employers have their pick of applicants as state sees worst job market since 1986 By Chas Sisk and Wendy Lee • THE TENNESSEAN • January 30, 2009 A year ago, Buckley left Memphis for a job welding and bolting steel components for the Terrazzo condominium in the Gulch. After a July layoff, Buckley, 51, found himself out of a job, out of his apartment and out of luck. "I'm homeless because I can't work," Buckley said Thursday at a Nashville job fair for military veterans. The labor market has tightened across Tennessee, as all 95 of the state's counties posted a rise in unemployment in December, according to data released Thursday by the state. The Nashville-Murfreesboro area reported 6.5 percent unemployment, up from a 4.2 percent rate a year ago. Some rural counties in Middle Tennessee were much worse off — with rates as high as 11.3 percent in Smith County. In the Nashville metropolitan area, the ranks of the unemployed surged past 50,000 people, and thousands more are thought to be underemployed as the state wrestles with its worst job market since 1986. Many companies have slowed investment in their operations, and people fortunate enough to have jobs have held onto them more firmly, leaving fewer employment opportunities for those out of work. It's in this environment that Buckley has been trying to find work. He has sent résumés to 50 employers, trolled online job listings, and even flagged down truck drivers hoping for tips on openings at their companies. Each time, the answer has been the same: Maybe they'll hire, if things improve later in 2009. "That's not just one company," Buckley said. "That's almost every company I went to." The tight jobs market has made it hard for people to advance their careers. Adrian Edsall, 29, earns $15,000 a year teaching classes on health and safety as a part-time instructor at Middle Tennessee State University. He longs for higher pay to provide "a better lifestyle" for his 4-year-old son. Like Buckley, Edsall searched for a better job at Thursday's career fair. He has applied for 300 positions, including jobs such as a customer service representative, since being medically discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 2007. He has been turned down for several positions on the grounds that he is over-qualified. He jokes that he will soon list only his high school diploma on his résumé. "I've not found a better job than the one I have," Edsall said. Employers at the job fair at LP Field seemed to have their pick of applicants. URS Corp., a U.S. military vendor, said it would hire about 50 percent fewer people than a year ago for its Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Alabama, in part because fewer people are leaving the facility, said Rhonda Ford, a human resources specialist. "Because of the economy, we haven't lost anybody," Ford said, adding that she sees more white-collar job applicants these days. Meanwhile, others are considering renewals or first-time hitches in the military amid the slower civilian job market. The Tennessee Army National Guard has seen a 20 percent to 25 percent increase from a year ago in people expressing interest in joining, said Sgt. 1st Class Julius Santini. He described it as the biggest surge since just after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "When people are losing their jobs, they are looking for stability," Santini said. Rural counties worse Nationally, on Thursday, the U.S. Labor Department said the number of people continuing to receive unemployment benefits reached a seasonally adjusted 4.78 million for the week ending Jan. 17 — the highest level on records that go back to 1967. As a proportion of the work force, the latest total is the highest since August 1983.Companies across a variety of industries have been slashing their payrolls by the thousands. Starbucks Corp., Eastman Kodak and Allstate Corp. became the latest major employers to announce big job cuts — 7,000 at Starbucks, 3,500 to 4,500 at Kodak, and 1,000 at Allstate. "It seems like we've gotten through the financial crisis. Now we're dealing with global synchronized recession," said Brian Battle, vice president of trading at Performance Trust Capital Partners in Chicago. In Middle Tennessee, even as jobs become harder to find in urban areas, they are even scarcer in the state's rural areas. Thirty-six counties now have an unemployment rate higher than 10 percent, including Macon and Smith counties. Hardest hit has been Perry County, 90 miles southwest of Nashville. It has been reeling since the auto parts maker Fisher & Co. moved to Mexico in September. In December, Perry County's unemployment rate topped 20 percent, and many more are under-employed, said John Carroll, the county's mayor. Workers at another major auto parts plant have been working on reduced shifts. "We need more employers in the area," Carroll said. "We're trying to attract, but nobody is having a lot of success. A lot of people are not turning loose of the money and investing." Chas Sisk can be reached at 615-259-8283 or csisk@tennessean.com. Wendy Lee can be reached at 615-259-8092 or wlee@tennessean.com.

Davidson County crime log from Jan. 19-22

These are the most serious calls handled by the Metro police, listed by time, crime reported and address. Some reports may be unfounded. Police calls are listed by police precinct or town. When police cannot immediately determine the location of a crime, the address given is that of the police station or hospital where the crime was reported. Jan. 22 Antioch 3:06 p.m., residential burglary, 2100 block Mullen Circle Donelson 10:34 a.m., residential burglary, 700 block Woodcraft Drive 9:59 p.m., residential burglary, 3300 block Fall Creek Drive Hermitage 8:40 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 4000 block Lebanon Pike 7:49 p.m., residential burglary, 1200 block Catina Drive South 1:49 a.m., residential burglary, 100 block Plus Park Boulevard 10:37 p.m., residential burglary, 900 block Winthorne Drive Jan. 21 Antioch 2:54 p.m., residential burglary, 2100 block Ransom Place 7:15 p.m., residential burglary, 5100 block Hickory Hollow Parkway Donelson 2:28 p.m., residential burglary, 2500 block Crossfield Drive 3:03 p.m., residential burglary, 700 block Airways Circle Hermitage 3:18 p.m., holdup/robbery, 5800 block Old Hickory Boulevard Una 1:04 p.m., residential burglary, 2500 block Willowbranch Drive Jan. 20 Antioch 7:36 p.m., residential burglary, 800 block Bishopsgate Road Hermitage 12:45 p.m., residential burglary, 800 block Pin Oak Drive 10:06 p.m., residential burglary, 400 block Rockwood Drive South 6:56 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 15100 block Old Hickory Boulevard 5:25 p.m., residential burglary, 900 block Kable Circle Jan. 19 Antioch 10:02 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 1300 block Bell Road Donelson 12:11 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 3100 block Lebanon Pike 2:48 p.m., residential burglary, 2900 block Lakeland Drive Hermitage 10:51 p.m., residential burglary, 400 block Rockwood Drive South 9:26 p.m., holdup/robbery, 600 block Bell Road 10:42 p.m., holdup/robbery, 5300 block Hickory Hollow Parkway 10:44 p.m., holdup/robbery, 1100 block Antioch Pike Una 11:58 a.m., residential burglary, 700 block Nashboro Boulevard 4:59 p.m., residential burglary, 2500 block Willowbranch Drive

House Defeats Bill To Delay DTV Transition

Channel 5 News (AP) WASHINGTON - The House has defeated a bill to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12. House Republicans succeeded in scuttling a bill to delay the transition, which is scheduled for Feb. 17, less than two days after the Senate unanimously passed the plan. The defeat is a setback for the Obama administration and Democrats on Capitol Hill, who fear too many Americans are not ready for the switchover. The Nielsen Co. estimates more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals could see their TV sets go dark next month if the transition is not postponed.

Davidson County crime log for Jan. 15-18, 2009

CRIME LOG These are the most serious calls handled by the Metro police, listed by time, crime reported and address. Some reports may be unfounded. Police calls are listed by police precinct or town. When police cannot immediately determine the location of a crime, the address given is that of the police station or hospital where the crime was reported. Jan. 18 Antioch 1:16 a.m., residential burglary, 3300 block Clapham Road Hermitage 2:04 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 3400 block Lebanon Pike 3:24 a.m., residential burglary, 4400 block Lavergne Couchvlle Pike 8:05 p.m., residential burglary, 5700 block Old Hickory Boulevard South 9:44 a.m., residential burglary, 3000 block Summercrest Trail 11:14 a.m., holdup/robbery, 600 block Bell Road Jan 17 Antioch 8:56 p.m., residential burglary, 1400 block Clapham Court Donelson 2:17 p.m., residential burglary, 3800 block Lakeridge Run 11:29 p.m., residential burglary, 3200 block Lakeland Drive Hermitage 8:28 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 700 block Spence Lane 4:25 p.m., residential burglary, 1000 block Aladdin Drive 8:18 p.m., holdup/robbery, 100 block Charles E. Davis Boulevard 8:52 p.m., rape, at Frist Boulevard South 2:10 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 500 block Murfreesboro Pike Una 12:03 p.m., holdup/robbery, 2500 block Murfreesboro Pike Jan. 16 Antioch 7:40 p.m., residential burglary, 2800 block Evergreen Ridge Point 7:55 p.m., holdup/robbery, 1100 block Bell Road Donelson 7:44 a.m., residential burglary, 1700 block Woodland Point Drive 9:33 p.m., holdup/robbery, 2700 block Elm Hill Pike Hermitage 1:13 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 1000 block Murfreesboro Pike 12:07 p.m., nonresidential burglary, 600 block Fesslers Lane Priest Lake 7:32 a.m., residential burglary, 6300 block Paddington Way South 11:32 a.m., holdup/robbery, 300 block Zermatt Avenue 1:11 p.m., holdup/robbery, 200 block Desoto Drive 3:28 p.m., residential burglary, 6700 block Sunnywood Drive 4:06 p.m., holdup/robbery, 6900 block Lenox Village Drive 4:17 p.m., holdup/robbery, 7700 block Sunbar Lane 5:29 p.m., holdup/robbery, 3000 block Hamilton Church Road 9:38 p.m., holdup/robbery, 6900 block Lenox Village Drive 10:55 p.m., holdup/robbery, 3000 block Hamilton Church Road Jan. 15 Antioch 12:15 p.m., residential burglary, 5100 block Rice Road 9:40 p.m., holdup/robbery, 30 block Hickory Hollow Place Donelson 8:29 p.m., holdup/robbery, 2600 block Lebanon Pike Hermitage 9:27 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 3900 block Bell Road 9:42 a.m., residential burglary, 4700 block Hickory Way 2:50 p.m., residential burglary, 2800 block Windcrest Trail 7:53 p.m., residential burglary, 8200 block Eva Drive Priest Lake 4:38 p.m., residential burglary, 3100 block Towne Village Road South 7:43 a.m., holdup/robbery, 5300 block Hickory Hollow Parkway 3:57 p.m., residential burglary, 400 block Foothill Drive

Clinic offers sex education, substance abuse services to students

By SUZANNE NORMAND BLACKWOOD sblackwood@tennessean.com 259-8268 • October 3, 2008 Sex education will be a strong focus at the new clinic that opened at Glencliff High School through a partnership with United Neighborhood Health Services. The clinic also discusses with students matters concerning substance abuse. The clinic does not provide contraceptives, but it does offer pregnancy tests and screenings and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. Although parents are generally entitled to information about their children's health in Tennessee, exceptions include pregnancy tests, concerns related to substance abuse, and screenings and treatment for STDs. "We follow the rules of HIPAA," said Luz Salazar, a nurse practitioner at the clinic, referring to the federal healthcare confidentiality law. Students have the right to confidentiality, she said. The only exceptions are if a student's life is in danger or the student is threatening to harm someone else. If a student reveals that he or she has been experimenting with drugs, Salazar said she first talks to the student about the situation. If the student has a serious problem, she refers him or her to Project SELF, a school-based substance abuse treatment program for youths. A social worker from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a psychologist from mental health care provider Centerstone also work with Glencliff students. In Tennessee, those age 16 or older may seek counseling without parental consent. Parents also don't have access to information exchanged during sessions with school counselors unless a student is threatening to harm himself or herself or someone else. "We'd rather have them talk to somebody than do something wrong," said Salazar. She said students might not get help if confidentiality were not protected. "We are patient advocates," she said. "We're not here to judge them; we're here to serve them." Private policy has pros, cons Salazar said most parents don't challenge confidentiality policies. "Parents most of the time want the best for their children," and that may mean giving them some privacy, she said. "I agree with that," Pamela Stiles said about the policy. Stiles' niece, Bobbie Jo Puryer, lives with her and is a senior at Glencliff. Stiles, who also has children of her own, said teenagers sometimes need someone personally they can go to with issues. Parents might overreact and not know how to handle the situation. It often helps to have an objective adult who is emotionally detached from the situation and can offer professional advice, she said. Also, said Stiles, teenagers will often listen to other adults before they will listen to their parents. "It's a good thing that students have a place they can go and feel comfortable," said Maria Bernabe, a sophomore at Glencliff. A student with an STD, for example, might delay seeking medical care if he or she fears that his or her parents might find out. Then, by the time the student gets help, it's too late, Maria said. Sophomore Jessica McCarroll said that sometimes parents should be involved. After all, whatever is going on with the teenager may involve changes that need to be made by the parents, she added.

Schools audit finds Metro lax, not fraudulent

By JAIME SARRIO • Staff Writer( Tennessean) • September 26, 2008 Metro school leaders sent computers for needy students to the wrong schools, couldn't find projectors and other equipment when asked and paid some teachers out of the wrong accounts, a state audit released Thursday revealed. Its authors found no evidence of fraud but wrote the district's history of lax bookkeeping and poor internal communication makes the district an easy target for abuse. The Tennessee Department of Education took a deeper look into Metro's finances after a routine spring check-up was stalled by the district's inability to produce paperwork on its spending. The state, which allocates federal grants, slapped a high-risk label on Metro schools in April. The label endangered $35 million in federal funds bound for Metro students and prompted the in-depth audit. In the meantime, state officials installed a new leader over Metro's federal grants office, Kecia Ray, and added new positions to help with the workload, district spokeswoman Olivia Brown said. She said the district is taking other steps to move forward and "be transparent so it is easy to see where the money is, where it went and how it is being utilized." For the next year, the state will monitor how Metro uses its federal funds. Each month, the state will release more federal money as the district proves it has fixed its problems. "This is a very unusual move for the state and one we have not done so tightly before," said Julie McCargar, executive director of the state's office of federal programs. "We're using a lot more control to ensure these things are in place." Other issues found in the audit included: • Metro couldn't ensure grant money was allocated and spent within the grant's approval period. • Metro didn't follow federal regulations in selecting vendors and contractors. • Employees didn't sign documentation of their work. Part of the problem was Metro's short-term approach, McCargar said — fixing problems long enough to get approved for federal funds that year but skipping long-term, systemic changes. The audit stopped short of placing blame for the mismanagement, but McCargar said it was the previous administration. Schools Director Pedro Garcia left in January after conflict with the school board over his management. Garcia didn't return messages requesting comment on the finances. Many must take classes The state is requiring district employees to take classes on how to manage federal funds, and a consultant will visit for weekly progress checks. If the district follows orders, its "high-risk" status will be reviewed again in July. But for some, the damage has already been done. Michael Holt, a taxpayer living in Bordeaux, said he does not think school officials are held accountable for how they handle money. "What you have is people who are educating our children — and that's a deep passion — but I think these people think they are owed any sum of money to do whatever they want to with it," he said. "And they'll spend money rather like it is their own." Mayor Karl Dean said that while he was happy the audit showed no wrongdoing, it's important that the public trust how tax dollars are being spent, especially when education is getting so much of the pie. "Because for me, politically, you're putting your credibility on the line when you say let's give money to education," he said. "There's got to be a sense it is going for the right purposes. It's going to be a challenge continuously."

Metro Public Health to open flu shot clinics

Metro Health Department will offer one-day flu shot clinics at five community locations in addition to Lentz Health Center Monday, Oct. 20. The clinics will be located at area churches, a Metro Police precinct and community centers in East Nashville, Antioch, North Nashville, Madison and South Nashville. Each year about two of every 10 Americans get the flu and most of these cases could be prevented with the flu vaccine.Cost is $20, but the fee will be adjusted for those who cannot pay the full amount. Medicare Part B and TennCare insurance will be accepted. The locations and dates for the one-day flu shot clinics are: October 20th - 24thLentz Health Center, 311 23rd Ave. North, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m..; Tuesday, October 21st, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.October 27thSouth Inglewood Community Center, 1625 Rebecca Ave.; 8 a.m.-3 p.m.October 28thWingate Church of Christ, 99 Thompson Lane; 8 a.m.-3 p.m.October 30thAntioch United Methodist Church, 41 Tusculum Road; 8 a.m.- 3 p.m.November 3rdMadison Church of Christ, 106 N. Gallatin Pike 8 a.m.- 3p.m.November 10thMetro Police Department's North Precinct, 2231 26th Ave. N. 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. For more information, call 340-2100 or visit www.health.nashville.gov.

Fuel shortage spurs turmoil at area pumps

Posted: Sep 19, 2008 01:02 PM CDT Updated: Sep 19, 2008 01:40 PM CDT WKRN News Channel 2 Gas has become harder and harder to find across the Mid-State, creating long lines and flaring tempers at several area stations. Most of the fuel in Middle Tennessee comes from a pipeline that starts in Houston. Mike Williams, executive director of the Tennessee Petroleum Council, said until refineries damaged in Hurricane Ike are up and running, drivers will continue to see problems at the pump. "We're in a very unusual circumstance right now where the refineries aren't operating at full capacity," he told News 2 earlier this week. "Tennessee depends mostly on a pipeline that comes from Houston to New Orleans to Atlanta to Chattanooga to Nashville and Knoxville. That's where most of our gasoline comes from." The pipeline is called the "Colonial Pipeline" and it distributes 95 million gallons of fuel every single day across the United States. "The pipeline has been running slowly because there's no fuel to put in the other end of it," said Williams. "You can't get some out of this end if you don't put some in the other end." In Williamson County, the three gas stations at the corner of Highway 96 and Royal Oaks Boulevard in Franklin had no gas Friday morning. In Brentwood, at the corner of Mallory Lane and Moore's Lane, stations had gas but also had long lines of frustrated drivers. State officials said the shortage can be blamed on "panic buying." Emily LeRoy, associate director of the Tennessee Oil Marketers Association, said some Nashville stations reported double their usual fuel sales volume for a week since Hurricane Ike came ashore in Texas. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jeremy Heidt called the situation in Nashville a "temporary pinch point." He said while Knoxville had similar problems earlier in the week, the city was receiving adequate delivery and prices had dropped. Memphis and Chattanooga also reported no problems obtaining fuel, Heidt said. The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Nashville Friday was $4.08, down four cents from Thursday. The nation average Friday was $3.75 a gallon. Consumers can report suspected price gouging at www.tn.gov/consumer or by calling 615-741-4737 or 1-800-342-8385. Consumers need to provide the name of the gas station, address, the price and grade of gas.

Deaner elected Metro public defender

By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer • September 16, 2008 The Metro Council just elected Dawn Deaner to be Metro’s public defender for the next 20 months. Deaner, an associate public defender since 2003, takes over the position that Ross Alderman held until his death in a motorcycle accident last month. She will be eligible to run for countywide election in May 2010. Deaner received 26 of 39 votes, defeating four other candidates on the first ballot. Contact Michael Cass at 259-8838 or mcass@tennessean.com

The Largest Water Cleanup in Nashville's History

Way to go Nashville, we’re kickin’ butt on trash. Percy Priest needs your help! You can make a huge difference on Saturday, September 13 by participating in the second Nashville Clean Water Project. We have trash bags, gloves and sunscreen for you... we have snacks, hand sanitizer, T-shirts and hats... ...we even have gobs of giveaways and live entertainment. It’s the largest water cleanup in Nashville's history, and, oh yes, it's absolutely free. When: Saturday, September 13; 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at a *new location: Four Corners Marina (for directions, click on our link called "The Skinny"). Please sign up for a three hour block of fun, new friends and help for Mother Earth. Departures to specific lake locations at 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 9 a.m. Our first cleanup in May 2008 was huge -- the largest Nashville has ever seen! Together we gifted more than 1,800 collective work-hours to the environment and filled five (5) commercial rolloff dumpsters from Waste Management, Inc. with trash. Bottles, cans, plastics, coolers, tires, styrofoam, chairs & BBQ grills, full-sized traffic light, office copier, a residential air conditioner, even a mannequin arm. All told, we collected 100 cubic yards of trash – more than an average shopping mall produces in a month! Unfortunately, that’s just 40% of the estimated surface trash at Percy Priest Lake – even Music City's largest water cleanup wasn’t enough. So join us as we continue this very necessary public campaign against litter on Percy Priest Lake's 24 islands and 213 miles of shoreline. Can't attend September 13, but still want to help? Your donation in any amount will help defray the cost of supplies and other expenses. The Nashville Clean Water Project is a 100% volunteer effort and appreciates all support.

Hickory Hollow Mall may add office mix

Owners have 'no intentions to close,' but will refocus on malls its size By SUZANNE NORMAND BLACKWOOD • Staff Writer • August 25, 2008 Hickory Hollow Mall is here to stay, a mall official says. At a recent meeting of the Hickory Hollow Business Alliance, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. regional manager Mike Johnson bluntly dismissed any notion that the mall may be nearing its end. His statement was in response to rumors that the mall has become not just a victim but a near-casualty of crime and competition. We have no intentions to close Hickory Hollow Mall," Johnson said at the meeting. "Our intentions are to keep it as a very viable center." CBL & Associates Properties purchased Hickory Hollow Mall in 1998. A couple of years later, the mall underwent major renovations that included a whole new interior motif, as well as improvements to the exterior. But the mall has struggled in recent years to keep up with its peers, CoolSprings Galleria and Rivergate Mall, both of which are also owned by CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. Last year, the mall had an 84 percent occupancy rate according to CBL & Associates filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Occupancy rates at CoolSprings and Rivergate were 99 percent and 97 percent, respectively. Although the mall's parent company is determined not to give up on the traditional mall concept, the company is devising strategies it hopes will give the mall a more promising future. Mall to remain primarily retail Johnson said the mall would remain majority retail, and anchor tenants would continue to be a huge part of its focus when it comes to leasing. A new tenant the mall recently announced is Famous Labels, a value retailer which will be making Hickory Hollow its first location in Tennessee. But CBL & Associates Properties is refocusing its efforts on malls this size, Johnson said. Johnson said possible future partnerships include something like that of 100 Oaks Mall and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where medical offices are moving in with the retail mix. "We're looking at alternative uses," he said, adding they would be complimentary to the retail environment. "It's becoming unusual that malls this size can support 100 percent retail," he said. The company also plans to redevelop Hickory Hollow Courtyard, which is an adjacent piece of property associated with the mall. Johnson said the company is planning to add more retail, as well as restaurants there. The movie theater and TGI Fridays, which currently sit on the property, would remain. Marketing strategies target trade areas In determining the tenant mixes for its malls, CBL & Associates Properties looks for tenants that "offer products and services that fit that trade area," Johnson said. Also, Johnson said, although the company's three malls share advertising during peak retail seasons, Hickory Hollow targets its marketing toward its own trade area. "We have a pretty traditional marketing concept," he said. Johnson said Hickory Hollow is always looking for anchor tenants that don't have a presence in other markets. But, he said, having tenants that are duplicates of those at its sister malls helps more than it hurts. Johnson said there's no doubt that changes in the demographics and competition have forced the company to rethink its focus. "There's no question that the Cool Springs area has a higher per capita income," he said, adding that demographics do make a difference. Also, he said, an "influx of competition" from places such as Opry Mills and The Avenue and Stones River Mall in Murfreesboro have had an effect. "That has affected the tenant mix quite a bit, which is why we've refocused our efforts on finding some alternative uses." Malls everywhere are facing challenges The recent announcement that Dillard's would be leaving the mall this month has caused concerns to escalate about the mall's ability to survive. Linens 'n Things has also announced it would be leaving, following former tenants J.C. Penney and Hallmark. Bill Vaughn, president of The Shopping Center Group, said that many of the problems that department stores are facing, however, are national and not specific to Hickory Hollow Mall. Regarding the local situation, Vaughn described the mall as "a work in progress." "It's just reflecting the change in demographics of that trade area," he said. Britt Beemer, founder of America's Research Group, said the mall should be cautious about how it adapts changes in its customer base. The mall, he said, needs to be attracting new customers as quickly as it's losing old customers. Also, said Beemer, the mall is likely facing some of the challenges that malls everywhere are facing. "Many malls simply don't have enough traffic to make all of their numbers work," he said. This is both a reflection of the economy and changes in shopping trends, he added. And most malls lack individuality and features that would keep them fresh and current and, thus, attractive, he said. Contact Suzanne Normand Blackwood by telephone at 259-8268 or by e-mail at sblackwood@tennessean.com.

Today's Business Briefs

The following permits were among those issued Friday by the Metro Codes Administration: School addition. Value: $3.3 million. Shankle-Lind LLC took out a permit to build a 23,734-square-foot addition to Una Elementary School.