Picasso Coming to Monthaven

From the Tennessean:

The exhibit "Picasso: Master in Clay" will be at the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center through Oct. 20, 2019.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Atchley Throws Tantrum, Resigns

Sumner County Administrator of Elections Lori Atchley is throwing a fit (and playing and loose with "the facts") as she leaves her post by way of resignation.

The Hendersonville Standard has more:

Citing a growing frustration with the Sumner County Commission’s unwillingness to pay her employees a comparable wage, Sumner County Administrator of Elections Lori Atchley has resigned from the post she has held since 2011. Atchley’s resignation will become effective Nov. 18. 

While Atchley claims the County Commission is not paying attention to her staff's salary needs, here's what Budget Committee Chair Chris Taylor had to say:

Budget Committee Chairman Chris Taylor says the budget committee met and used the comparative information Atchley provided and came up with a fair raise of 12 percent for election office employees.

“Her budget was increased more than anyone else’s budget,” said Taylor. 

Atchley acknowledged that her department employees received a seven percent raise as well as the same five percent cost of living increase all county employees received.

Atchley also indicated she's tried to improving voting in Sumner County -- this despite the fact her office has actually worked to close polling places and reduce satellite early voting:

In recent months, the Election Commission has voted NOT to have satellite early voting in the Presidential Preference Primary in March -- which is also the primary for the Tax Assessor position. Then, the reaffirmed that vote, in spite of resolutions from the cities of Hendersonville, Portland, and Goodlettsville asking for the voting. And most recently, they voted against allowing a public comment period before meetings.

The facts just aren't on Atchley's side.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Toward a City Administrator?

It appears the City of Hendersonville is moving forward with plans to hire a City Administrator, reports the Hendersonville Standard:

Members of the city’s General Committee unanimously voted Tuesday to recommend the city move forward with hiring a city administrator.

The full Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 7 to 6 on May 28 to establish the position of a city administrator – a controversial vote preceded by nearly three years of discussion as well as the formation of a special committee to explore the issue.

Those who opposed the new position have argued it would take away many of the responsibilities performed by an elected mayor and put more control in the hands of the full Board of Mayor and Aldermen. A city administrator will report to the full board, and not just the mayor.  

MORE>

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

One Call Could Save a Life

From the National Alliance on Mental Illness:

Too many lives are cut short by suicide. The national suicide crisis is affecting our friends, our families, and our communities. And tragically, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people ages 10-34.

The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, H.R. 4194, is a bipartisan bill that would create an easy-to-remember 3-digit number as the nationwide hotline for suicide prevention and mental health crisis*. This number will make it easier for people in the U.S. experiencing a crisis to receive immediate and appropriate mental health support and referral.

This Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we need your help to make this number a reality.

Contact your member of Congress. Ask them to cosponsor H.R. 4194, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act.

Want to have more impact? Personalize the message to your member of Congress.

*If you or somebody you know is in mental health crisis, help is available now. Text “NAMI” to 741741 or call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. This bill will make the Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number 3 digits, so it’s easier for people to remember.

EMAIL NOW

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Fewer TN Kids in Poverty

Tennessee News Service has the story on kids in poverty in Tennessee -- and, finally, some good news on that front:

The number of Tennessee children living in poverty has fallen by 7%, according to a new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

That makes the state one of 29 nationwide making progress in reducing child poverty. Richard Kennedy, executive director of the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, says an improved economy is a contributing factor.

"It would be difficult to not acknowledge just the tremendous growth that has happened,” says Kennedy, “especially in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area, with investments and corporate-headquarter relocations."

Still, Kennedy points out there currently are 200,000 Tennessee children living in concentrated poverty – that's almost one in eight children in the state.

MORE>

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

State Boosts Suicide Prevention Efforts

From Tennessee News Service:

Earlier in 2019, Gov. Lee authorized a funding increase for the state's Suicide Prevention Network to expand staff, as suicide deaths continue to rise among Tennesseans. The executive director of the Network, Scott Ridgeway, said in nearly all cases, suicide can be traced to undiagnosed or untreated depression, among other factors.

"Suicide is a very complex issue,” Ridgeway said. “No one dies for one reason. It's usually a combination of a lot of different reasons. And that, we sometimes just do not know what that person is going through."

On average, three Tennesseans choose to end their lives each day, and suicide now surpasses car accidents as a leading cause of death in the state. 

MORE>

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Rose Seeks to Protect Trump from Accountability

6th District Congressman John Rose (who represents Sumner County) has filed legislation that would take away the power of the Judicial branch to hold Presidents accountable.

Apparently, Rose needs to take a Civics class at a high school in his district where he would learn that each branch of government (Executive, Judicial, and Legislative) are equal. He'd learn the importance of checks and balances. Sadly, he's content to be a rubber stamp for this President while also working to remove further accountability by way of judicial oversight.

MORE from the Hendersonville Standard:

I am proud to file H.R.4219 as my first bill, because nationwide injunctions impact every one of us. The bill is an effort to curtail nationwide injunctions, which have the potential to severely restrict new government policies. It is a harmful trend and a practice that must be stopped.

Broad injunctions have unfair and detrimental effects. In fact, President Trump has already been impacted by close to 40 nationwide injunctions over the course of his past two years and eight months in office.

Here's the deal: Injunctions don't stop a President from exercising their authority. All an injunction does is prevent enforcement of an executive action until judicial review can be complete. In some cases, actions initiated by President Trump have been found to otherwise comply with the law and are allowed to proceed. In others, certain modifications are necessary.

What Rose doesn't tell you is that his legislation would remove this accountability -- and give even more power to ANY President, Republican or Democrat.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville or Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews


Got a news tip? Email us: newshendersonville@gmail.com

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

From Becky Stoll in the Hendersonville Standard:

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. With more knowledge about suicide prevention methods and available resources, we are better equipped to make a difference and ensure young lives are not cut short. With the upsetting trend of increased suicide rates among youth and young adults in mind, here are several points to know and share.

Signs of suicidal thinking – It can be hard to discern between typical adolescent angst and behaviors that would indicate a young person is considering ending his or her life. But some actions just shouldn’t be overlooked. 

Take it seriously if a young person threatens to hurt or kill oneself; seeks access to weapons or drugs; expresses feelings of hopelessness; engages in risky or unsafe activities; increases alcohol or drug use; withdraws from friends and family; exhibits rage; talks or writes publicly about death. If these actions are displayed, it’s time to have a conversation.

READ MORE from Stoll on the signs and how to prevent suicide.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Got news? Email us: newshendersonville@gmail.com

Halloween Wars

The Tennessean has the story of a Hendersonville woman carving pumpkins on the Food Network:

For Liza Slaughter Barker of Hendersonville, gearing up for fall means something unique.

Slaughter Barker is “crazy about Halloween,” and although she sculpts year-round with oil-based clay and even chocolate and cakes, this time of year means working with a seasonal specialty: intricately carved three-dimensional pumpkins.

Her 3D pumpkin sculptures step away from the typical jack-o'-lantern mold to resemble realistic faces and characters.

“Normal people faces get boring,” she told The Tennessean last year.

Slaughter Barker — who likes to hang onto her “Halloween-y” maiden name, Slaughter — is showcasing her pumpkin-carving skills on Food Network’s “Halloween Wars,” kicking off its ninth season Sunday, Sept. 29.

MORE>

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Sumner Democrats Announce September Potluck

From an email:

Please join us for our monthly potluck on Thursday, September 19! 

We are excited about our two speakers: 

Maria Brewer from TNDP will share important details about delegate selection process.

We will also have the Young Democrats President Lindsey Smith. She will speak about reaching out to young Democrats in our area.

We have several opportunities for you to be a part of SCDP by joining one of the committees. Bring your talents to the party. We need event planners, singers, artists, graphic designers. If you want to stay flexible we encourage you to join our volunteer list. 

Share a dish unless it's your first potluck! 

Bring a friend, always! 

A variety of options and wonderful deserts. Doors open 5:30pm, dinner is served at 6pm. 333 W Main St., Suite F, Gallatin, TN.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Got an event or news tip for us? Email: newshendersonville@gmail.com

On Tires, Sprouse and Clary Agree

Mayor Jamie Clary and Alderman Scott Sprouse, two city leaders who are often odds, found a point of agreement recently: Rezoning related to a tire store.

The Hendersonville Standard reports that at a recent meeting, the Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Alderman denied a proposed rezoning of land near Lowe's that would have allowed for a new Firestone tire store.

The story concludes with a note about the final vote -- 2 in favor of the rezoning, 11 opposed:

The request to rezone the property failed 2 to 11 with Mayor Jamie Clary and Ward 2 Alderman Scott Sprouse voting for the zoning change.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Tire Store Rezoning DENIED

The Hendersonville Standard has the story of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen denying a request by Firestone to rezone property in order to open another tire store:

Less than a month after receiving a unanimous recommendation from the city’s planning commission, Hendersonville’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted down last week a request to rezone property on East Main Street that would have allowed for a second Firestone Tire Center.

Hendersonville planning commission members recommended 10 to 0 on Aug. 6 an ordinance to rezone 1.04 acres east of Callender Lane and north of East Main Street from rural residential to general commercial.

FS Hendersonville, LLC requested the zoning change in order to build a corporate-owned Firestone Complete Auto Care.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Basically Shut Down

Hendersonville-based supplement company Basic Reset has been shut down by court order after selling items as legitimate treatments for common ailments -- including a special necklace that supposedly wards off cancer.

Here's more from the Tennessean:

A federal judge ordered a Middle Tennessee distribution company to shut down on Tuesday after prosecutors accused the business of blurring the line between proven medicine and dietary supplements with no scientifically-backed use.

Prosecutors also said the company was selling an $80 necklace based on false claims that it could ward off childhood cancer by protecting against electromagnetic waves.

Basic Reset, which also goes by the name Biogenyx, must halt all sales unless its products are reviewed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration and an independent auditor, according to a court order from U.S. District Judge William Campbell. 

The shutdown is in response to Basic Reset and it's owners failing four FDA inspections since 2012. Prosecutors petitioned the judge to take action last week, saying the owners were "repeatedly warned" about the company's violations of federal laws.

MORE>

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Alone Time

A woman arrested for stealing jewelry from a Hendersonville home where she was babysitting indicated she needed some "alone time" before she allegedly committed the crime. More from The Hendersonville Standard:

A Gallatin woman has been charged by Hendersonville police with stealing $35,000 worth of jewelry from a woman she was babysitting for, according to a police affidavit filed in Sumner County General Sessions Court.

Jocelyn Stewart, 27 of Smokey Mountains Drive, was arrested and charged Aug. 20 with theft over $10,000 and simple possession of Schedule II and Schedule IV drugs.

The woman Stewart was babysitting for called police after discovering the jewelry and $200 cash were missing from her home on Gadwell Circle in Hendersonville. According to the affidavit, Stewart told the woman’s daughter she “needed some alone time, she had to call her husband,” and went into the woman’s bedroom and closed the door.

MORE>

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews