SIX NEW SCHOOLS TO JOIN THE ASD IN 2014-15

by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Dec 16, 2013 | CMG News

School matches, including two new high schools, made following three-month community engagement process

Today, following a three-month community engagement process, the Achievement School District (ASD) announced its 2014-15 school matches.  The list includes two new high schools—Fairley High School and Frayser High School—three elementary schools, and a start-up middle school.

“The feedback we received from parents, teachers, and community members was incredibly helpful in making these matches, and we are excited to officially welcome these new schools into the ASD,” said Chris Barbic, ASD superintendent.  “Over the last few months it’s been great to see our new charters— a mix of both local and national organizations, all led by amazing educators—deepen existing relationships and build new ones in communities across Memphis.  Now that school matching decisions have been made, these educators are ready to continue the important work necessary to prepare for a terrific 2014-15 school year.”

Charter operators Aspire Public Schools, Freedom Preparatory Academy, Promise Academy, Frayser Community Schools, KIPP Memphis, and Green Dot Public Schools will be running new ASD schools next year.  All but KIPP—which will have a “new start” school—were partnered with existing neighborhood Priority schools (in the bottom 5%) as part of this year’s school matching process.  “Last year, we had our first 5 schools in Memphis, and next year, we will grow to serve 22,” said Barbic.  “This translates into thousands more students in Memphis who were zoned to attend a Priority School now with an opportunity to attend a school that will better prepare them for success in college, careers, and life.”

For the second year in a row, the Achievement Advisory Council (AAC)—a group of twenty-five volunteers representing neighborhoods across Memphis—led the community engagement process that informed the school matches.  “From September to this Monday, when we made our recommendations, we have been meeting and talking with community stakeholders and parents, and it’s clear how much they care about their neighborhood schools and want what’s best for kids,” said Katrice Peterson,  an AAC member.

Schools joining the ASD next school year

Note: Pathways in Education—Memphis, an alternative school, will open this January and serve grades 7-12

About the ASD

The Achievement School District—a state-wide public school district formed in 2011 as part of Tennessee’s winning Race to the Top application—is dedicated to moving the bottom 5% of schools in the state (Priority Schools) to the top 25% in five years.  The ASD is both an operator of schools—running six schools in Frayser in 2013-2014—and an authorizer of high quality public charter schools.  This year, there are 16 schools in the ASD—15 in Memphis and 1 in Nashville—serving over 4,500 students in grades Pre-K through 9^th.

 About the 2014-15 charter operators 

 Freedom Preparatory Academy

Freedom Preparatory Academy is a local charter school serving students and families in the Whitehaven and Westwood neighborhoods of southwest Memphis. With a slogan of “Education is Freedom,” the mission of Freedom Prep is to prepare students for success in college and life. Freedom Prep currently serves a 100% minority student population, 86% of which qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. In 2012, Freedom Prep was the only charter school in the Memphis City School district to be honored with “Reward School” status by the state for academic proficiency and growth, and was recognized by SCORE as one of the best middle schools in the State. The charter school strives for results through rigorous academic expectations such as double blocks of math and reading, an extended school day and year, and required after school tutoring, intervention, and homework support. Alongside the academic culture, Freedom Prep also incorporates a set of five core values: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community. The theory behind the Academy’s core values is that character development is essential to preparing all students to excel in education and the professional world. www.freedomprep.org

Green Dot Public Schools

Green Dot Public Schools is a non-profit public charter school network of 19 middle and high schools serving more than 10,000 students in the Los Angeles area. Green Dot schools are publicly funded, free to attend, and open to all students. Each Green Dot school shares the common mission of preparing students for “college, leadership and life.” Based on California’s Academic Performance Index – a comprehensive measurement of academic performance that includes attendance and graduation rates – Green Dot schools have shown sustained growth in student achievement exceeding comparable public schools in similar neighborhoods. Among Green Dot’s 14 high schools, the two- or four-year college acceptance rate of graduating seniors was 86% (compared to a 67.6% college enrollment rate of students in the same region of California).  What makes Green Dot unique as a major charter management organization is the achievement of better student results with a statistically similar student population, lower funding than the surrounding district schools, and a unionized workforce. Green Dot has even led a turnaround of a high school with more than 3,000 students—the largest single-school turnaround in the country. www.greendot.org/results

Frayser Community Schools

Frayser Community Schools, launching Martin Luther King Jr. Preparatory (MLK Prep) in fall 2014, is seeking to reach high school students in the Frayser community of Memphis, TN.  MLK Prep’s mission is to prepare students for success in college, careers, and their community through a rigorous academic program and an emphasis on discipline, character, and service.  MLK Prep will use a small and supportive environment and extended school day and year to reach the students of Frayser. Leading the charge is Bobby White, Jr., a native of Frayser who has also served as a teacher and middle school principal in the neighborhood. In addition to his deep connections to and familiarity with the community, White is a current Senior Fellow of the Tennessee Charter School Incubator where he has gained experience in charter school management. www.fraysercs.org

Promise Academy

Promise Academy is a local K-5 charter school founded in 2005 on the north side of Memphis, TN. As one of the earliest charter schools in Memphis, Promise Academy was a leader in education and in the community. Open to any student, the charter school’s student population is 100% minority and 95% are eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch. The mission of Promise Academy is to teach and inspire the mind, body, and spirit of children so they can “rise above” the rest and succeed in any academic or cultural setting. The daily schedule allows for extended blocks of reading and math

instruction as well as time for reading intervention and test preparation. Promise Academy boasts a low student-to-teacher ratio along with daily interventions for students not meeting reading and math benchmarks. In 2012, 52% of Promise Academy students were at or above proficient on the math TCAP, 5% higher than the state average and 26% higher than Memphis City Schools’ average. http://promiseacademy.com/

Aspire Public Schools

Aspire Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that currently operates 37 high-performing, open-enrollment public charter schools serving 13,000 students in underserved communities across California and in Memphis. Aspire is one of the highest-performing public school systems in California, delivering a rigorous “College for Certain” education to students in grades K-12. An unrelenting focus on college preparedness led to 100% of graduating Aspire seniors being accepted to four year colleges or universities in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Aspire currently operates two Pre-K through fifth grade schools at Hanley Elementary in Memphis.  http://aspirepublicschools.org/

KIPP Memphis Collegiate Schools

KIPP Memphis Collegiate Schools (KMCS) exists so that ALL children may reach their potential and choose their own futures. We empower our students with the knowledge and the character traits necessary for success in college and life so that they will become lifelong students and good people that give back to their communities. We put learning first by building partnership among parents, students, and teachers. Our outstanding team builds a strong culture of achievement to help all students climb the mountain through college. http://www.kippmemphis.org/

National Black Caucus of State Legislators 37th Annual Legislative Conference to focus on PROGRESS: Moving Our States Forward Through Policy Action

by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Dec 2, 2013 | CMG News

State legislators to convene in Memphis, TN with advocates, corporate executives, and public policy experts.

WHO: Black lawmakers from across the United States, advocates and community leaders, corporate executives, leading public policy experts, media personalities, and celebrities including U.S. Secretary of Labor, Thomas Perez; NBCSL President, Representative Joe Armstrong (TN); Emmy winner, Lynn Whitfield; Radio personality and author Michael Baisden; Grammy winner CeCe Winans; and Award-winning journalist and TV One Host, Roland Martin.

WHAT: The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is holding its 37th Annual Legislative Conference in Memphis, TN. A primary focus will be the discussion and ratification of policy issues submitted by members of the organization with collaboration by community stakeholders. Those policies will be the foundation for state and federal legislation, the NBCSL policy platform for 2014, and collaboration with community-based organizations.

The closing plenary, Galvanizing A State Agenda on Civil Rights will be moderated by Mr. Martin with remarks by The Honorable Thomas Perez; Pulitzer Prize Winner, Doug Blackmon; Lucia McBath, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America; Tamika Mallory; Former Executive Director of the National Action Network, and Kim McCray, Executive Director, Trayvon Martin Foundation.

Members of the media are encouraged to attend. Credentials are mandatory for admission into events that are open to the media. Please pick-up media credentials daily in the Alonzo Locke Room at The Peabody Hotel.

WHERE: The Peabody Hotel, 149 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38103

WHEN: December 11-14, 2013

About the National Black Caucus of State Legislators The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is a membership association representing more than 600 African-American state legislators hailing from 45 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. NBCSL members represent more than 50 million Americans of various racial backgrounds. NBCSL monitors federal and state activity and provides this information to its members through policy symposiums and conferences. Each year, NBCSL members pass policy resolutions that directly impact federal and state policy. The organization focuses on issues that directly impact U.S. domestic policy and is committed to policies that positively affect all Americans. Learn more at www.nbcsl.org.

Saint Francis Healthcare Launches ‘Path to Health’ Campaign to Drive Community Engagement and Enrollment in Health Insurance Exchanges

by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Oct 31, 2013 | CMG News

Saint Francis Healthcare and its hospitals – Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis and Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett – today launched “Path to Health,” a community education and outreach initiative to raise awareness and understanding of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  “Path to Health” is designed to inform and educate the Mid-South’s uninsured population and others within the community on how the changes implemented in the healthcare law will impact them and what they need to do in order to secure affordable healthcare coverage.

“We’re excited to bring the ‘Path to Health’ campaign to the Mid-South and partner with local organizations to educate the community on what the opening of enrollment of health insurance exchanges mean for them and their families,”  said David Archer, CEO, Saint Francis Healthcare.  “We have always been committed to delivering safe, quality care in the communities we serve.  As care givers, ensuring that our community and our patients understand all of the coverage options available to them is an extension of that mission.”

The “Path to Health” campaign will work with community partners and offer educational materials and resources around navigating the insurance exchanges and the ACA.  The comprehensive campaign will break down the barriers of this complicated law, and provide user-friendly guidance and tips on what community members need to know in order to make sure they are prepared to choose the best coverage for themselves and their families.

For more information, visit www.pathtohealth.com or call Marilynn Robinson at (901) 765-1805.

About Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis is a 519-bed full service hospital located at 5959 Park Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee.  The hospital has been recognized for excellence of care by United Healthcare, CIGNA, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Aetna. Offering a wide array of medical services, Saint Francis is noted for its many Centers of Excellence, including its Center for Surgical Weight Loss, Sleep Center, Chest Pain Emergency Center, Heart & Vascular Center, Surgical Services, Diabetes Center, and Women’s Center. The Knee and Hip Replacement program and Stroke Center have received special certification by The Joint Commission.

Saint Francis Hospital serves as an academic training site for University of Tennessee Surgical, Family Practice, and Psychiatric Residents.  The hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.  To learn more about Saint Francis Hospital, visit www.saintfrancishosp.com.

About Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett

Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett is a 156-bed full service hospital located at 2986 Kate Bond Rd in Bartlett.  Opened in 2004, the hospital provides an extensive offering of medical services including a 24 hour emergency room, critical care, cardiac care, The Women’s Center, neonatal intensive care, oncology, urology, physical therapy and a 16-bed Orthopedic/Spine Unit. Cigna has recognized Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett as a Center of Excellence for knee replacement. In addition, Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett has been honored with the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure Gold Plus Achievement Award.

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis Earns “Top Performer on Key Quality Measures®”

by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Oct 30, 2013 | CMG News

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis today was named Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health

Care organizations in America.  Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis was recognized by The Joint Commission for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions.  The clinical processes focus on care for heart attack, pneumonia, surgery, children’s asthma, stroke and venous thromboembolism, as well as inpatient psychiatric services.  New this year is a category for immunization for pneumonia and influenza.

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis is one of 1,099 hospitals in the U.S. earning the distinction of Top Performer on Key Quality Measures for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance.  Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis was recognized for its achievement on the following measure sets: Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Pneumonia, Surgical Care.  The ratings are based on an aggregation of accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the 2012 calendar year.  The list of Top Performer organizations increased by 77 percent from last year and it represents 33 percent of all Joint Commission-accredited hospitals reporting accountability measure performance data for 2012.

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis and each of the hospitals that were named as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures must: 1) achieve cumulative performance of 95 percent or above across all reported accountability measures; 2) achieve performance of 95 percent or above on each and every reported accountability measure where there are at least 30 denominator cases; and 3) have at least one core measure set that has a composite rate of 95 percent or above, and within that measure set all applicable individual accountability measures have a performance rate of 95 percent or above.  A 95 percent score means a hospital provided an evidence-based practice 95 times out of 100 opportunities.  Each accountability measure represents an evidence-based practice – examples include giving aspirin at arrival for heart attack patients, giving antibiotics on hour before surgery, or providing a home management plan of care for children with asthma.

“Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis and all the Top Performer hospitals have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to quality improvement and they should be proud of their achievement,” says Mark R. Chassin, MD, FACP, MPP, MPH, president and chief executive officer, The Joint Commission.  “We have much to celebrate this year.  Nearly half of our accredited hospitals have attained or nearly attained the Top Performer distinction.  This truly shows that we are approaching a tipping point in hospital quality performance that will directly contribute to better health outcomes for patients.”

“We understand that what matters most to patients at Saint Francis Hospital–Memphis is safe, effective care.  That’s why Saint Francis has made a commitment to accreditation and to positive patient outcomes through evidence-based care processes.  Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis is proud to receive the distinction of being a Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality Measures,” says David Archer, CEO.

In addition to being included in today’s release of The Joint Commission’s “Improving America’s Hospitals” annual report, Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis will be recognized on The Joint Commission’s Quality Check website (www.qualitycheck.org).  The Top Performer program will be featured in the December issues of The Joint Commission Perspectives and The Source.

About Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis is a 519-bed full service hospital located at 5959 Park Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee.  The hospital has been recognized for excellence of care by United Healthcare, CIGNA, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Aetna. Offering a wide array of medical services, Saint Francis is noted for its many Centers of Excellence, including its Center for Surgical Weight Loss, Sleep Center, Chest Pain Emergency Center, Heart & Vascular Center, Surgical Services, Diabetes Center, and Women’s Center. The Knee and Hip Replacement program and Stroke Center have received special certification by The Joint Commission.

Saint Francis Hospital serves as an academic training site for University of Tennessee Surgical, Family Practice, and Psychiatric Residents.  The hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.  To learn more about Saint Francis Hospital, visit www.saintfrancishosp.com.

BlueCare, Religious Leaders Team to Tackle Health Care Disparities

by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Oct 29, 2013 | CMG News

Volunteers to educate minority populations on proper health care  

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases publishes annual immunization rates for children between the ages of 19 and 35 months. Only 21% of African-American children and only 11% of Hispanic children in Tennessee received their recommended immunizations last year.

That’s why BlueCare Tennessee has set a goal of partnering with more than 1,000 faith-based institutions to reduce racial, ethnic and other health disparities throughout Tennessee with its “Lifting Our Members” health information toolkit. With the campaign in its third week, BlueCare has already partnered with more than 200 houses of worship.

“The faith leader’s voice can be powerful in promoting good health,’ said Rafielle Freeman, director of quality improvement for BlueCare. “Just as they encourage and lift their members’ spiritually, they can help us take those health disparity populations to higher levels of understanding about their role in better health.”

Examples of health care disparities include:

• African-American women are 34 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than white women.
• 64,431 of BlueCare members in Shelby County did not obtain appropriate preventative care screenings.
• 74 percent of non-Hispanic whites received flu shots during the 2009-2010 flu season, while only 61 percent of Hispanics and 58 percent of non-Hispanic blacks were immunized.

In 2013, BlueCare Tennessee formed a statewide Disparities Advisory Panel made up of local leaders across Tennessee who were already working to eliminate disparities in their own communities.  Based upon the recommendation of this panel, BlueCare developed a faith-based toolkit to assist leaders of worship in addressing the health care disparities faced by their own congregations.

The “Lifting Our Members” toolkit includes a health care calendar, which focuses on important health issues each month, and a preventive health guide with flyers and information relevant to various health concerns faced by different population groups. The first phase of the initiative will target childhood immunizations among African-American, Hispanic, and rural white Tennesseans.

And to help distribute and train religious leaders in how to use the toolkits, more than 100 employee volunteers from BlueCare and its parent company, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, will hold training sessions onsite at various religious organizations throughout the state.

For more information about the “Lifting Our Members” toolkit initiative, and for the toolkit itself, visit bluecare.bcbst.com and search for faith-based toolkit.

About BlueCare Tennessee

BlueCare Tennessee is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Founded in 1993, the Chattanooga-based company focuses on managing care and providing quality health care products, services, and information for government programs. BlueCare Tennessee currently serves more than 450,000 members.

The National Civil Rights Museum Announces the 2013 Freedom Award Honorees

by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Oct 27, 2013 | CMG News

The Freedom Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions in civil rights and have laid the foundation for present and future leaders in the battle for human rights

Today the National Civil Rights Museum announced that the 2013 Freedom Award will be presented to three individuals whose work spans decades and continues to speak to current education, economic and political concerns in the U.S. and globally.  The honorees are Mary Robinson, first female president of Ireland and human rights champion; Geoffrey Canada, CEO and president of Harlem Children’s Zone and a leading advocate for education reform and equality; and Earl Graves, founder and publisher of Black Enterprise Magazine, activist for black consumer and black business power.

Themed “Shaping a Culture; Building a Nation,” the Freedom Award is scheduled for Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, followed by the Gala Dinner at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.

“In their careers, each of the honorees has been engaged in shaping a culture and ultimately defining important aspects that drove change,“ said Beverly Robertson, president of the National Civil Rights Museum. “It is particularly timely to honor and hear from Geoffrey Canada who has instituted a new model for educating inner city youth that’s being emulated nationwide.  We all could stand to listen and learn from the extraordinary lives of our honorees and the examples they have set.”

Mary Robinson, International Freedom Award honoree, is the President of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice.  She served as President of Ireland from 1990-1997 and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997-2002. She is a member of the Elders and the Club of Madrid and the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the President of the United States Barack Obama. She is a member of the Lead Group of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement.  In March 2013 Mary was appointed the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region of Africa.

A former President of the International Commission of Jurists and former chair of the Council of Women World Leaders she was President and founder of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative from 2002-2010 and served as Honorary President of Oxfam International from 2002-2012.

Mary Robinson serves as Patron of the Board of the Institute of Human Rights and Business in addition to being a board member of several organizations including the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the European Climate Foundation. Mary is the Chancellor of the University of Dublin since 1998.  Mary’s memoir, Everybody Matters, was published in March 2013.

Geoffrey Canada, National Freedom Award honoree, has dedicated much of his life to community outreach with a special focus on education and providing resources to poor families. His passion for education and inner-city youth directly tie back to his own experience growing up in “rough” South Bronx, New York.

The educator and president of the Harlem Children’s Zone, a nonprofit organization that provides education and support to local children and their families, has become a “shining example for how to save America’s failing public schools.”  In the grim public education documentary “Waiting for Superman,” Canada stands out as the singular voice of hope in a film that paints the nation’s public school system as suffering and struggling.

Canada’s Harlem Children’s Zone model, which is now being replicated by other communities across the country, has expanded its reach to more than 20 sites throughout Central Harlem and continues to affect the lives of more than 12,300 children and 12,400 adults.

 Earl Graves, Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, recognized early the importance of Black consumer power, as well as the need for more Black businesses. Considered by many to be the “Black Business Bible,” Graves’ Black Enterprise Magazine, has remained steadfast to its mission of educating and empowering entrepreneurship in the Black community. The business has grown immensely, and so has its reach. Now formally titled Earl G. Graves Limited, the company is now home to programs and events such as the Wealth for Life Initiative, the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit, the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo and more. Broadcast programs such as Black Enterprise Business Report and Our World with Black Enterprise also reach out to an array of Black entrepreneurs, corporate executives, investors and innovators.

Earl G. Graves’ lifetime commitment to empowering Black business and the economic of the Black community has forever changed how the community and the world perceive Black businesses. He taught us to never underestimate black consumer power, nor to underestimate the power we each have to create our own success. He leads by example and serves as a reminder of our ability not only to succeed, but also to thrive.

Sponsors of the Freedom Award include the International Paper, Nike, Hyde Family Foundations, First Tennessee Foundation, Ford Motor Company and FedEx.

Freedom Award activities on Wednesday, November 6 include the following:

10:00 a.m.            Public Forum                     Temple of Deliverance (369 G.E.Patterson)

                                  6:30 p.m.           Award Ceremony            Cannon Center for the Performing Arts

                                  8:00 p.m.           Gala Dinner                        Memphis Cook Convention Center

The Public Forum is free and open to the public.  Visit www.civilrightsmuseum.org or call

(901) 526-1813 for more information.

The Freedom Award is an annual event presented by the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis TN. Since 1991, the Freedom Award has served as a symbol of the ongoing fight for human rights both in America and worldwide. Recipients are celebrated for their tireless contributions in civil and human rights, education, the arts, sports & community service, justice and for their dedication to creating opportunity for the disenfranchised.  The Public Forum is an event focused on area youth and features remarks from Freedom Award honorees. The Keepers of the Dream award is given to six local youth who have demonstrated acts of compassion, leadership, courage and service.

TDOT Awards Contract to Improve I-40/I-240 Interchange / Work to Begin in Fall 2013 and to be Completed in Summer 2017

by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Sep 24, 2013 | CMG News

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) awarded a construction contract to Dement Construction Company, LLC to complete infrastructure improvements on the I-40/I-240 interchange in Memphis from Sycamore View to the east, White Station to the west, Walnut Grove to the south and Covington Pike to the north. The contract was awarded on Friday, September 20, 2013.

Dement Construction, headquartered in Jackson, TN., submitted the lowest bid of $109,341,000 for bridge work and heavy construction. “This award is the largest single contract TDOT has ever bid,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. “This is a large and complicated project, but it will provide great benefits to Memphis and the entire region. We look forward to getting the work underway and completed on time and on budget.” The project is scheduled to begin this fall and will be complete by the summer of 2017.

Continued growth on the east side of Memphis has created congestion at the I-40/I-240 interchange. The construction of new ramps and the widening of I-240 will improve traffic flow not only on I-240 and I-40, but also on local roads that feed into the interstate system. The project includes a four-level interchange, the first of its kind in West Tennessee. Once completed, the fourth level structure will rise more than 70 feet above Sam Cooper Boulevard, which will be completely rebuilt with an additional lane in each direction.

For more information on TDOT construction project activity visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/. Travelers can also dial 511 from any landline or cellular phone for travel information or can follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel information or www.twitter.com/Memphis511 for traffic information in the Memphis area.

Android and iPhone users can download TDOT’s SmartWay Mobile App to assist them in navigating Tennessee highways. The app provides up-to-the-minute customized traffic information and enables the user to access TDOT’s SmartWay cameras, messages displayed on overhead Dynamic Message Signs, and information on construction related lane closures and incidents on interstates and state routes. The TDOT SmartWay App is free and available for download in the Apple App Store and Play Store for Android.

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

Mid-South Fair Crowns 2013 Queen, Announces Main Stage Performers

by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Sep 20, 2013 | CMG News

As opening day to the Mid-South Fair approaches, the excitement continues to build with events leading up to the 157th annual Fair. The Mid-South Fair hosted the Miss Mid-South Fair Pageant and Youth Personality Contest on Saturday, September 14.

Thea Wilkens-Reed, 16, was crowned Miss Mid-South Fair 2013, at Saturday’s pageant. Wilkens-Reed is a 10th grade homeschooled student whose hobbies include tap dance and theatre.
Wilkens-Reed shared her enthusiasm about winning this year’s title, “It’s an honor to be crowned Miss-Mid South Fair and be a part of a longstanding tradition in the Mid-South community.”
The Mid-South Fair also crowned Allison Marcom, 16, Miss Youth Personality 2013. Marcom is a junior at Houston High School and founder of the “I AM BEAUTIFUL pageant,” a pageant fundraiser for children with special needs.

In addition to crowning this year’s Miss Mid-South Fair winners, officials have released the Main Stage lineup which includes various Mid-South performers and nationally acclaimed musicians.
This year’s main stage performers include Two Mule Plow, Blind Mississippi Morris, Overton Rock Band, Nick Boddington, Micaelyn Oby, New Era, Shekinah, Zealous, Flight 2, Jack Rowell Jr. & Triplethret, Memphis Allstars, Navy Band Mid-South, Erek Stone & The Fabulous Steeler Band, New Era Funk, North Mississippi Allstars Los Cantodores & Friends, Tierra Mestizi Dance Company, Maggie Thorn, The Original Riverbluff Clan, Papa Don McMinn & B3GB and Kris Thomas.

All shows on the main stage are free with general admission to the Fair.
For the complete main stage lineup and schedule of appearances, visit the Mid-South Fair website at www.midsouthfair.com or call 901-274-8800.

About the Mid-South Fair
The original and still the best, the Mid-South Fair has entertained families since 1856. As a non-profit organization, we exist to create a cultural and entertainment experience that exposes people in our community to items and events they might not otherwise encounter. The Fair is governed by a board of directors, operated by a full-time staff and funded by sponsorships and donations. Since 2001, the Fair has given out $64,000 in educational scholarships for excellence in Youth Talent, Creative Arts, and Agriculture. For more information about the Mid-South Fair visit our website at www.midsouthfair.com