Holiday season brings increased needs for homeless pets

Holiday season brings increased needs for homeless pets

Bredesen, Kisber, Farr create solar company

Ex-poll worker trainer chosen as Davidson elections chief

By G. Chambers Williams III • THE TENNESSEAN • November 4, 2010 Albert Tieche, a University of Tennessee consultant based in Nashville, will be offered the job of Davidson County elections administrator, the county Election Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday. He will replace retiring administrator Ray Barrett in the post, which is responsible for running Nashville's elections, managing a $3.5 million annual budget and supervising 21 full-time employees. Tieche, who trained the commission's poll workers under contract from 2003 to 2008, was one of seven applicants interviewed by the five commissioners — three Republicans and two Democrats — last week. At Wednesday afternoon's meeting, Republican Commissioner Steve Abernathy made the motion to hire Tieche, and it passed with little discussion. The commission also authorized its chairman, Republican Lynn Greer, to negotiate a starting annual salary from $82,500 to $85,000 a year with Tieche. After Tieche passes a state elections administrator's certification exam, his annual salary will rise to at least $96,000, the commissioners said. Barrett, who has held the job for the past six years, makes $103,000 a year. He will leave the office at the end of the year. Commissioners said they'd like to bring Tieche on board within the next two weeks so he can work through a transition period. His appointment is contingent on passing a comprehensive background check. That will include a detailed examination of Tieche's education and work record. Tieche is author of a training manual for poll workers that the election commission has used in the past, Greer said.

Column: Antioch woman finds creative life even with lupus

Juanita Cousins • THE TENNESSEAN • November 2, 2010 An Antioch woman with lupus is balancing her full-time employment with a home-based business, school and writing. Stephanie Ricks, who works in the Tennessee State University records office, tells that story of success in her book Finding Me Through Lupus. The self-published book details how Ricks has balanced her health issues with school, work and launching Variety House, an event and wedding consultation business she operates from her living room. “It all started when I was 5 years old and a flower girl in my aunt’s wedding,” said Ricks, 28. “I started to love everything about weddings, bridesmaid dresses, colors, flowers and all the detail that it takes to put a wedding together. Then I decided I might as well work in my passion.” Ricks is now working on her second graduate degree, an online master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Amridge University (based in Montgomery, Ala.) and a professional development program from the Association of Bridal Consultants. Her goal is also to be able to provide premarital counseling for couples as she plans their weddings. She offers packages, ranging from $700 to $1,500, depending on the help and planning necessary. “I make sure they stick within their budget and give them outlines on everything I will do,” she said. “Piecing together a wedding by yourself can be very hectic. What I try to do at Variety House is make everything smooth and calm.” Ricks also works as a local publicist for Nashville artists and authors and plans corporate picnics, holiday parties, reunions and birthday parties. Contact Juanita Cousins at 615-259-8287, jcousins@tennessean.com or Twitter.com/talljournalist.

Wednesday's crime report: Fatal shooting investigated in Nashville

Tennessean November 3, 2010 Hermitage Precinct detectives are investigating Tuesday afternoon's fatal shooting of Randy Claybrooks, 22, according to Metro Police. The incident happened in the 100 block of Lafayette Street in the J.C. Napier public housing development. Witnesses told police that Claybrooks was shot during an altercation with another man at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. He was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died.

Gaylord may spend up to $10 million for better levee

State Elections Results

Crime Watch 2.0: Nashville neighborhoods try anti-crime signs

By Stephanie Toone • THE TENNESSEAN • November 1, 2010 Would-be criminals have a message waiting for them in the yards of 85 different homes in East Nashville, Antioch and Germantown. The two piercing eyes on black-and-white signs relay to criminals that burglaries will not be tolerated in those neighborhoods, said Manuel Delgado, Eastwood Neighbors Association member. “You’re being watched,” Delgado said. “We want to get that image burned in people’s minds. We hope those with the intent to break in will pause and move on.” Delgado and Gracie Vandiver, co-chairs of the association’s crime and safety committee, developed the sign idea this summer. By September, the association began selling the signs to residents throughout the area, Vandiver said. Nashville photographer and designer Alison Slamon designed the signs, and they sell for $10, which covers the cost of printing and contributes to the association’s crime prevention projects. The signs remind residents to call the Metro police department’s non-emergency number, 615-862-8600, if they see suspicious activity. “It’s Neighborhood Watch 2.0,” she said. “They’ve (criminals) seen the old signs so much they ignore it. Hopefully, the signs will serve as a reminder to residents to trust your gut if you see something suspicious.” Vandiver said she was motivated to raise awareness about crime when her East Nashville home was burglarized in May. She started talking to her neighbors after the break-in and realized the need for neighborhood crime prevention. “One of my neighbors said she saw someone looking in her neighbor’s window, but she didn’t call the police,” she said. “The police can’t be everywhere, but we have to inform them when we see something suspicious.” East Precinct Cmdr. Bob Nash said the effort could have an impact on crime in East Nashville and other neighborhoods. Residential burglaries in Nashville neighborhoods have increased over the last six months, he said. “This is one of the ways we can fight the burglary problem,” Nash said. “We have to use different strategies to combat it. Crooks will see that this neighborhood is engaged.” Wags and Whiskers, at 1008 Forrest Avenue, serves as the vendor for the crime watch signs. The Eastwood Neighbors Association will print 100 more signs this month, Vandiver said. Bob Acuff, who holds weekly meetings on crime in East Nashville, said he has purchased a sign for his Woodland Street home because he wants his neighbors to know he’s watching out for them. “Police officers can ride the neighborhood, but they don’t know the neighborhood better than the neighbors,” he said. “This gives our neighborhood a little energy. It’s a great idea.” Reach Stephanie Toone at 615 259-8079 or stoone@tennessean.com.

Bellevue, Antioch have highest Davidson turnout so far

Most complaints against TN judges lack merit, judiciary official says

Middle Tennessee police to get share of drug-bust cash

Middle Tennessee police to get share of drug-bust cash

Elderly woman dies in Antioch house fire

ASSOCIATED PRESS • November 1, 2010 NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- An elderly Nashville woman has died in a fire at her home. WTVF-TV reports the blaze was discovered shortly before midnight Sunday by firefighters on the way back to their fire hall from another call. The body of the victim -- who was in her mid-80s -- was found in the family room. The station reported the woman's daughter escaped the burning home. The name of the victim wasn't immediately released.

Prescription deaths mount in Tennessee: 1,600 in 3 years