National Park Service Releases Review of Chimney Tops 2 Fire
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke issued an independent review of the Chimney Tops 2 Fire that burned 11,410 acres in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in November 2016 and merged with other area fires, which caused 14 deaths and millions of dollars in damage in the Gatlinburg area. The report outlines the origins […]
Tennessee Teams Deploy to Texas to Conduct and Support Swiftwater Search and Rescue Missions in Hurricane Harvey’s Historic Aftermath
Swiftwater search and rescue teams representing the State of Tennessee will make their way toward southeast Texas this afternoon to conduct life-saving operations to help local authorities dealing with the unprecedented impact of Hurricane Harvey, now a tropical storm. “Tennessee and Texas have a long and storied connection and we are proud to help in […]
President Donald J. Trump Approves Texas And Louisiana Emergency Declaration
Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Harvey beginning on August 27, 2017, and continuing. The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency […]
Faulkenberry Elected as Chairman of Jefferson County Industrial Development Board
The Jefferson County Industrial Development Board met Friday for the first time since February, joined by guests Darrell Helton, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, and Russell Turner of the County Commission. This meeting would also be the first to include two new members: Scott Faulkenberry, exiting Director of the Jefferson County Economic Development Agency, […]
Back-to-School: Smart Tips to Ease the Load of Kids’ Backpacks
As parents and caregivers prepare for the new school year, it’s important they ensure that kids have an appropriately sized backpack to help reduce their risk of common back, neck and shoulder pain and injuries. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 12,900 individuals were treated in emergency rooms for backpack-related injuries […]
Rotavirus Vaccines Continue to Reduce Diarrhea Hospitalizations, Medical Costs in US Kids
Following the introduction of routine childhood vaccination against rotavirus, a common cause of diarrheal illness, more than 380,000 children avoided hospitalization for diarrhea from 2008 to 2013 in the U.S., thus saving an estimated $1.2 billion in direct medical costs. The estimates, from a new study published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases […]
Bohanan Reunited with Family After 11 Days
After spending 11 nights lost in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Austin Bohanan walked out of the woods along Panther Creek and flagged down a passing boat for help on August 23 at approximately 2:30 p.m. He was quickly reunited with his family who has gathered daily near the site since his […]
Mountain View Youth Development Center Update
DAVID SEAL JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 9 MOUNTAIN VIEW YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER UPDATE History Concerns about Mountain View were expressed earlier this year after the Department of Children’s Services announced plans to restructure the program in that facility. Those concerns focused on details of security changes, planned operation of the facility by a private contractor, […]
Is it Really “Just an Eclipse”?
One sentiment that’s made the social media and water cooler rounds lately has been, “it’s just an eclipse…” While millions anxiously awaited today’s celestial event, it seemed a sizable number of people were unimpressed by the prospect of a total solar eclipse. In 2017, we have more intricate knowledge of space than ever before. We […]
Team Continues Search for Missing Team
On Sunday, August 20, searchers continued looking for missing teen, Austin Bohanan, in a remote section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The searchers are working in three teams comprised of 24 trained individuals from the National Park Service, Backcountry Unit Search and Rescue (BUSAR), Blount County Sheriff’s Office, and Blount Special Operations Response Team […]
No Guts, No Glory: Harvesting the Microbiome of Athletes
Elite athletes work hard to excel in sports, but they may also get a natural edge from the bacteria that inhabit their digestive tracts. Scientists have now tapped into the microbiome of exceptional runners and rowers, and have identified particular bacteria that may aid athletic performance. The goal is to develop probiotic supplements that may […]
Despite Benefits, Half of Parents Against Later School Start Times
Leading pediatrics and sleep associations agree: Teens shouldn’t start school so early. Yet University of Michigan research finds parents are split almost down the middle on whether they support delays in school start times that might permit their 13- to 17-year-olds to sleep later on school days. The results come from a nationally representative survey […]
Teen Drivers, Parents Encouraged to Get Smart About Auto Insurance
With the back-to-school season underway, many teen drivers are taking the wheel and driving themselves to class for the first time. Before handing over the keys, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) encourages parents to do their homework on auto insurance and talk to their teens about the importance of responsible driving. “It’s […]
Summer Deer Mortality Attributed to Common Virus
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) offices are receiving reports of dead deer in scattered areas of the state. The timing and details of the reports are all indicative of hemorrhagic disease (HD). HD occurs at varying levels of severity each year in Tennessee’s deer herd. The catch-all term for this disease is hemorrhagic disease (HD), […]
Haslam Issues Statement on Nathan Bedford Forrest Bust
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam issued this statement today regarding the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest in the State Capitol: “My position on this issue has not changed – I do not believe Nathan Bedford Forrest should be one of the individuals we honor at the Capitol. The General Assembly has established a process for addressing […]
TDH and TDOS Encourage Safe Viewing During the Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse, when the moon completely covers the sun, will be visible August 21. Tennessee is one of 14 states that will be in the path of totality, a 70 mile-wide path where the sun is completely blocked by the moon. The Tennessee Department of Health encourages everyone to enjoy this once in […]
