Sutton Ole Time Music Hour in Granville expands

GRANVILLE – A bluegrass dinner show broadcast live from Jackson County now has an expanded reach.

Major growth for the Sutton Ole Time Music Hour, performed weekly at Sutton General Store in Granville, means the show is now being broadcasted in 18 counties in the Upper Cumberland and Middle Tennessee; four counties in West Tennessee; eight counties in South Central Kentucky; 21 counties in West Virginia; as well as Springfield, Colo., Goodland, Kan., Kimball, Neb. and Beaver, Okla., according to Chris Neeley, production manager.

The show is also streamed from 106.9 Kicks Country, 101.3 Hank FM, CatCountry.org, Smokingbluegrass.com, The Bluegrass Mix and Music Mix Central.

The Sutton Ole Time Music Hour began in April 2008. For more information, visit www.granvilletn.com.

Rehab center boosts admissions increase, plans capital improvements in 2014

SMITHVILLE – NHC Smithville completed 251 admissions in 2013, a number that represents an 83 percent increase for the 120-bed skilled rehab center, which had 137 admissions two years ago. NHC officials also said they were able to return 61 percent of patients home, a steady increase from 49 percent just two years ago.

“We are honored to provide quality care to DeKalb County and the surrounding communities,” administrator Clint Hall said in a release. “Having nearly doubled the number of admissions in two years and increasing the number of patients returning home are true measures of being a rehab center of choice in the community. Our team of professionals works tirelessly to help our patients achieve their highest level of function and these numbers bear that out.”

NHC employs 125 professionals and paid out more than $3.6 million in wages in 2013. NHC contributed nearly $45,000 in city and county taxes and more than $250,000 in state taxes in 2013. NHC also provided job training to 80 graduates of the certified nurse assistant course and served as a clinical site rotation for registered nurse/licensed practical nurse students at Motlow College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology.

“We view our role in the local economy as very important,” Hall added.

Preparations are already underway for growth in 2014, he said. Investment will be made in capital projects at NHC Smithville to improve customer experience.

“In addition to capital improvements, we look forward to improving some of our internal systems and streamlining our procedures so that our patients and families experience a seamless transition from hospital to NHC, then back home,” Hall said.

NHC Smithville offers inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative care. The inpatient health care center offers skilled nursing and rehabilitation services to adults on a short-term and continuing care basis. NHC Smithville’s outpatient clinic offers physical, occupational and speech therapy services. For more information about NHC Smithville, visit www.nhcsmithville.com or call (615) 597-4284.

Alexandria business gets ‘F’ from BBB

DEKALB COUNTY – A DeKalb County company has received an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

The BBB said it has received more than 20 customer service and delivery-based complaints about Personalized from Me to You, an online monogrammed gift business in Alexandria. Specifically, complaints allege that the business cannot be reached, and they fail to respond to email messages or telephone calls. Consumers also state they are unable to check on the status of their orders and have not received the promised merchandise in the time quoted by the business.

The BBB recently issued a release identifying several other Middle Tennessee businesses that offer services and products that have resulted in numerous complaints alleging misleading ads/offers, unsatisfactory services and misrepresented products. Personalized from Me to You was the only one listed from the Upper Cumberland.

Each business identified in the report was contacted by BBB, the organization said, concerning their business practices, unresolved customer complaints and failure to discontinue the cause of customer complaints.

Burckhard named New York Life’s Agent of the Year

COOKEVILLE – New York Life Insurance Company agent Andrea V. Burckhard has received the Agent of the Year Award. This award recognizes the agent with the company who has achieved the top production commissions among all agents at the Knoxville general office within a calendar year.

“We applaud Andrea V. Burckhard for this achievement,” said Kyle Jahng, managing partner at the Knoxville general office. “Being acknowledged as the Agent of the Year is a significant accomplishment and recognizes Andrea for her ability to meet the financial needs of families and businesses in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee, through her office in Cookeville on the square.”

Burckhard, an agent since 2007, maintains her insurance securities license and is a qualified member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT). Burckhard has been in the business world for more than 30 years, is active in the community and serves on several boards such as CityScape, TTU Friends of the Library, WCTE, Heart of the Cumberland and Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation. Burckhard also was named Rotarian of the Year in 2013 by the Cookeville Rotary Club.

New York Life Insurance Company is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States and one of the largest life insurers in the world. For more information, visit www.newyorklife.com.

Bennett named business development director at life Care Center of Crossville

CROSSVILLE – Life Care Center of Crossville has welcomed a new business development director, Jean Bennett.

Bennett comes to the skilled nursing and rehab center from Countryside Care Centre in Aurora, Ill., where she served as director of marketing for seven years. Prior to that appointment, she worked in the electronic interconnect industry. Caring for her own parents led to her interest in health care.

“I am excited to welcome Jean to our facility,” said Ellen Metcalf, executive director. “She brings years of experience and a great energy to our community and team.”

Bennett earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications. She currently resides in Crossville. She has two sons.

“I love the seniors and love to know that people are well taken care of,” Bennett said. “As far as marketing goes, I just adore meeting new people and making connections.”

Located at 80 Justice St., Life Care Center of Crossville is one of 25 rehabilitation and skilled nursing centers in Tennessee managed or operated by Life Care Centers of America. For more information about Life Care, visit www.lcca.com.

APICS group names board; offering plant/facility tours for 2014

UPPER CUMBERLAND – The Upper Cumberland APICS chapter has named its board for 2014. Among those position- holders are Kathryn Flatt, president; Sandra Bohannon, treasurer; Sherri C. Lytal, vice president, membership; Dr. Nat Natarajan, vice president, education; Melissa Winningham, vice president, programs; and Dr. John Burnham.

APICS is the leading professional association for supply chain and operations management and the premier provider of research, education and certification programs that elevate end-to-end supply chain excellence, innovation and resilience. Founded in 1957 and now with over 37,000 members and more than 250 international partners, APICS is transforming the way people do business, drive growth and reach global customers. The local Upper Cumberland chapter facilitates industry speakers, operations/plant tours and educational offerings for business professionals and adult students as well as providing networking opportunities.

The chapter currently has plant and facility tours planned for 2014. For more information on activities and networking, call Flatt at (931) 432-7233 or email k.flatt@tutco.com.

New safety council selects first officers

COOKEVILLE – The Upper Cumberland Safety and Environmental Council, a group that aims to promote safety, health and environmental management, installed its 2014 slate of officers in January.

The oath of office was administered by Margaret Noland of Wimberley, Lawson, Wright Daves & Jones PLLC. Elected president was Mitchell Kemp, Cummins Filtration; vice president, Angela Moore, Flowserve; treasurer, Rick Firestone, CHC Companies; secretary, Wanda Richardson, Cookeville Regional Medical Center; and trustees, Gregg Cupp, Flowserve, and Craig Homer, Automation Tool.

The installation of officers was the culmination of 12 months of work to develop a professional peer organization in the Upper Cumberland for those with safety and environmental responsibilities in their organizations. The core group that developed the council also include Edna Homer of Hutchinson; Mitchell Kemp, safety, security and environmental manager of Cummins Filtration; and Moore. They begun meeting and working together in early 2013 to develop an organization for the education, sharing of best practices and networking of individuals who lead health, safety and environmental programs in the Upper Cumberland. Cummins Inc. and Flowserve Corporation have both been recognized by EHS Magazine as one of “America’s Safest Companies.” Plant leadership of both Cookeville facilities have been extremely supportive of developing the council, organizers said.

The overall objective of the council is to promote safety, health, and environmental management in all fields of activity, including, but not limited to traffic, occupational, school, and general public safety and environmental stewardship in the Upper Cumberland region.

The council meets from noon-1:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at Nashville State Community College. For more information, email ucsec.tn@gmail.com.

Baird named senior VP for Cookeville, Knoxville bank markets

CHATTANOOGA – FSGBank National Association recently named Robert Baird senior vice president-market executive for the Knoxville, Jefferson City and Cookeville markets.

Baird joins FSGBank from First Century Bank in Tazewell, where he served as executive vice president and chief lending officer. Baird brings more than 35 years of banking experience, including nearly 25 years with SunTrust Bank in the Knoxville market.

“With the addition of Robert…we believe we can substantially grow our market share,” said Michael Kramer, president and CEO of FSGBank.

FSGBank, which is headquartered in Chattanooga, provides retail and commercial banking services, trust and investment management, mortgage banking, treasury management products and services, financial planning and Internet banking with 28 full-service offices in East and Middle Tennessee and northern Georgia. Along the Interstate 40 corridor in Tennessee, FSGBank operates under the name of Jackson Bank & Trust.

Conservative organization rates UC state Legislators

NASHVILLE — The American Conservative Union (ACU), the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots conservative organization, recently released its “2013 State Legislative Ratings” for Tennessee, and eight Upper Cumberland Legislators made the list.

Named an ACU “Defender of Liberty,” an award presented to those members of the Tennessee General Assembly who scored 100 percent on the rating, considered the organization’s highest honor available, was Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville). The ACU also named its “ACU Conservatives,” or members of the Tennessee General Assembly who scored 80 percent or higher on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. Those included Sen. Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet), Rep. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon), Rep. Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville), Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma), Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma), Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster) and Sen. Ken Yager (R-Harriman).

Following are the remaining UC representatives and their respective ACU scores: Sen. Charlotte Burks (D-Monterey) 63 percent; Rep. Kelly Keisling (R-Byrdstown) 70 percent; Rep. Charles Curtiss (D-Sparta) 70 percent; and Rep. John Mark Windle (D-Livingston) 40 percent.

For more information on the American Conservative Union or the Tennessee 2013 State Legislative ratings guide, visit www.conservative.org.

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