Wednesday, May 23, 2012
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Displaying items by tag: Parking

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security on Wednesday partnered with various state and local agencies to conduct Operation Safe Highways, a statewide safety enforcement and awareness exercise to help make Tennessee safer for motorists. Both the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) and the Office of Homeland Security organized the enhanced enforcement effort that incorporated a “team approach” to inspect commercial vehicles travelling to and throughout Tennessee.
Operation Safe Highways was conducted with assistance from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and local sheriffs and police departments. Enhanced inspection efforts were carried out at six Department of Safety and Homeland Security scale complexes, including:
· Robertson County Scale Complex on I-65, just south of the Kentucky border;
· Coffee County Scale Complex on I-24 near Manchester;
· Knox County Scale Complex on I-40 in Knoxville near the I-75 interchange;
· Greene County Scale Complex on I-81 near Greenville;
· Haywood County Scale Complex on I-40 near Brownsville; and
· Giles County Scale Complex on I-65, just north of the Alabama border.
In addition to the routine inspection of commercial vehicles at the scale complexes, state troopers and other law enforcement officers also looked for seat belt violations, suspected drug or human trafficking and other Illegal activities, and hauling dangerous materials. Various units within the THP, including Interdiction Plus troopers and K-9 units, participated in Operation Safe Highways.
“While the primary focus of Operation Safe Highways is enforcement, the other key element is creating awareness. We want the trucking industry to know it can help play an important role in ensuring the safety of the motoring public in Tennessee,” Commissioner Bill Gibbons said.
State troopers informed commercial vehicle operators on the signs of suspicious activity and encouraged trucking industry professionals to be on the lookout for this type of behavior while on the road. Troopers distributed printed educational information to truck drivers, who have a unique perspective and can be key allies in the fight against crime in Tennessee. This information included important phone numbers to law enforcement across the state, and reminded commercial vehicle operators if they see something, to say something.
Operation Safe Highways was not based on any specific threat. During the four-hour operation, 12,646 commercial vehicles were inspected statewide and troopers issued 88 commercial vehicle citations, including 16 for registration violations, 14 overweight citations, and eight defective vehicle tickets. Additionally, 42 commercial vehicles and 16 commercial vehicle drivers were placed out of service.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.

Published in Travel

WASHINGTON – Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) today congratulated University of Tennessee Coach Emeritus Pat Summit on being named a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“After 1,098 career wins over 38 seasons, Pat Head Summitt isn’t just the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history, she’s a living legend. Pushing excellence both on and off the court, Coach Summitt has prepared her players to be successful women when they hang up their jerseys. One of Clarksville’s own, Coach Summitt has dedicated her career and magnificent journey to the great game of women’s basketball and the 161 student-athletes she's championed. I congratulate her as she will receive the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”

 

Published in Local News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Rocketown, a downtown hangout for teenagers, has created a youth program that creates jobs for young people and provides an extra parking option for downtown drivers.

It's no secret that downtown parking spaces are a commodity these days while construction is underway for the new convention center.

Rocketown Outreach Coordinator Ben Cissell told News 2, "The city has basically put a perimeter around Rocketown for the Music City Center, and they've closed down 1,800 parking spaces."

So, the staff at Rocketown decided to rent two neighboring parking lots, on 6th Avenue South and Peabody, with a total of 90 spots.

Instead of staffing the rented lots themselves, Rocketown decided to make it a program and let the young people try their hand at planning and budgeting.

Charvez McCann said, "It was a lot of planning we had to come down here and measure this parking lot, just check how many cars we can fit in here. They really put everything in our hands to do."

McCann has been coming to Rocketown for four years, but now, at 18-years-old, he's too old for most of Rocketown's programs.

William Holt came up with the program, called Making Achievement Possible, or MAP.

Holt said, "The programs that we have didn't meet their needs anymore, and we needed something that did."

MAP offers kids like McCann a real job, complete with a paycheck and responsibility.

McCann said, "They reached out to me and didn't just let me wander off on my own."

With staff supervision, the young people work and monitor the lots which charge between $5 and $10 for Rocketown and Bridgestone Arena events.

It's the support they get at Rocketown that means just as much as the resume they're building.

Derrick Jackson is another Rocketown graduate.

He said, "They love us like we are just like a relative from their family. They don't look at us like anyone from J.C. Napier or north Nashville."

Rocketown is located on 6th Avenue South in downtown Nashville. For more information about the skate park and music venue, go to Rocketown.com.

Published in Local News

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