“Mark your calendars because this will be our only collection event of the year,” said Solid Waste Director Mac Nolen.

The event is free, and all households are encouraged to participate.

Acceptable items are home maintenance/improvement products such as used strippers and thinners, adhesives, driveway sealant, roofing tar and wallpaper remover. Home lawn and garden products that are accepted include pesticides, fertilizers and wood preservatives. In addition, acceptable miscellaneous items include pool chemicals, photo processing chemicals, aerosols/compressed gas, mercury thermostats and thermometers, fluorescent tubes (can be taken to Haley Road too), and compact fluorescent bulbs. Medicines and drugs will also be accepted, but please empty medications into a zip-lock plastic bag before bringing to the event. Needles and sharps in puncture proof containers with sealed lids are now accepted, as well. For a complete list refer to: https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/environment/sw-mm-household-hazardous-waste-program/sw-mm-household-hazardous-waste-acceptable-unacceptable-items.html

Items that are not accepted include infectious wastes, automotive gas tanks, explosives, ammunition, gun powder and fireworks. In addition, radioactive wastes such as smoke detectors and radium paint will not be accepted.

Nolen also pointed out that paint of any kind will not be accepted at this year’s event. “Last year was the last year we accepted latex paint.” For more information on how to properly dispose of latex paint, visit: solidwaste.rutherfordcountytn.gov.

Electronic waste is also NOT accepted at his event. Instead, it is collected each Monday through Thursday, and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 1140 Haley Road in Murfreesboro. For more information please go to:

http://solidwaste.rutherfordcountytn.gov/electronic-waste.html.

For more information about the event, please visit: solidwaste.rutherfordcountytn.gov or contact the Solid Waste Office at 615-898-7874.

Public Health Department Director LaShan Dixon shared a timeless quote from Nelson Mandela, “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”

“This is what we have built this entire campaign upon,” said Dixon. “In Rutherford County, we’re operating from a place of hope, rather than fear.”

The campaign features a host of people and organizations native to Rutherford County who have already received their “dose of hope” in an effort to encourage others to do the same. Medical professionals, educators, public safety personnel, and others have rolled up their sleeves in hopes of reducing the virus’ impact to their families, their work places, and on an even larger scale, the community.

The photographs will be soon be released on the County’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as displayed on RCTV (Channel 19 on Comcast/Xfinity), and shared by other jurisdictions within the county on their respective platforms.

Dr. Lorraine MacDonald, Medical Director for Rutherford County Health Department said recently, “Our best chance of fighting COVID-19 in our community is herd immunity, which can only be achieved if a larger percentage of the local population takes the vaccine.”

“It is our HOPE, that you will get your dose of HOPE today,” said Dixon.

Vaccines are available to persons 12 years of age and older at Rutherford County Health Department 100 W Burton Street Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. You may also visit vaccines.gov to find a location and make an appointment at a location near you.

Persons wanting more information about the various vaccine offerings including the recently FDA-approved Pfizer vaccine, are encouraged to visit https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/covid-19-vaccine-information.html or to contact their health care provider for more information.

According to RCFR Captain Adam Rose, two men were tying down their boat, when they heard a dog barking and what they thought was a woman yelling for help. The two ran down to the bank and pulled the dog from the water, but did not see or hear anyone.

RCFR and RCSO searched the banks on foot, ran rescue boats up and down stream, used sonar in the immediate area, and flew the drone over the other boat ramps and nearby trails, but found no overturned boats or kayaks or any other indicators to warrant continuing the search.

“We certainly take any reports of a possible missing person very seriously,” said Captain Rose. “After an extensive search using various resources and techniques, we did not find any evidence that anyone was still in the area.”

Rutherford County Pet Adoption and Welfare Services (PAWS) was called to the scene to attend to the animal. The animal control officer (ACO) used a microchip scanner to determine that the dog, a Husky, was microchipped.

The ACO was then able to input the chip identification number into the system and found a name for the owner. Unfortunately, the information in the system had not been updated, and the initial owner had used a pet rescue to rehome the animal.

The current owner’s name was unavailable, but PAWS was able to get with the previous owner to find out more information.

PAWS spoke to the woman believed to be the current owner, but she notified them that she also sought to rehome the dog, named Kobalt and also known as “Boo Boo”, and he was currently being fostered. She advised that Kobalt’s foster family was a truck driver and his wife, and that the dog often traveled with him.

“We are now operating under the assumption that Kobalt somehow got separated from the truck driver and ended up on the banks of the Stones River,” said PAWS Director Michael Gregory. “Our personnel are attempting to connect all the dots so that he can be reunited with his fosters and ultimately adopted permanently into a caring and loving home.”

Kobalt, approximately seven-years-old, is currently at PAWS and doing well. “He is happy, playful, and healthy,” Gregory stated.

If you have any information leading to the reunification of Kobalt with his foster family, please contact Rutherford County PAWS at (615)-898-7740 or email paws@rutherfordcountytn.gov.

PAWS also wants to remind pet owners or rescues to continually and consistently update data connected to microchips. “When information is not updated in the system, it makes finding the current owner a lot more difficult, and sometimes, impossible,” Gregory mentioned.

For more information about microchipping, please visit: http://paws.rutherfordcountytn.gov/microchipping.html.

“If you have latex paint, no center will accept it in liquid form,” said Solid Waste Director Mac Nolen. “You must dry it yourself.”

Nolen says on these warm, summer days, it’s best to take a large piece of plastic and place it on a flat surface on the grass, open the can, stir it as if you were going to paint with it, pour a thin layer onto the plastic and allow it to dry.

“You may want to roll the edges of the plastic to create a bowl,” he suggested. Mac also warned about keeping pets away from the paint, “You want to keep them far away from the area where the paint is drying. Ask me how I know,” he joked.

Nolen says to continue adding the paint in layers and allowing each layer to dry until the can is relatively empty. “Leave the lid off of the can and allow any remaining paint to dry as well,” he added. After this process, he says all of those items can be thrown away in your regular trash.

Rutherford County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection event will take place November 6, 2021, but Nolen says latex paint will NOT be accepted at the event as in years past.

Additionally, Nolen says oil based paints, stains, and aerosol paints are accepted by appointment only. Call (615)-898-7739 to make an appointment.

Lastly, Nolen mentions that fluorescent bulbs are accepted daily at the Haley Road Recycling Center (1140 Haley Road). Hours of operation are Monday-Thursday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Haley Road center is closed on Fridays and Sundays.

For more information about Rutherford County Convenience Center operations or items accepted at each center, please visit: solidwaste.rutherfordcountytn.gov.

Each year, the ACA holds two major conferences at which they offer a variety of training courses that are very beneficial to all facets of corrections including officers, administrative staff, medical services, food services and in programming with a focus on reducing recidivism and making jails and prisons operate with a focus on rehabilitation. Along with training, members have the opportunity to network with each other and vendors/suppliers of correctional goods and services and are able to tour select facilities in each of the host cities and surrounding areas of the conference.

The ACA conference tours focus on facilities that excel in meeting the ACA’s standards and are considered exceptional in their fields. RCCWC certainly meets those criteria as the center was accredited by the ACA in 2015 and has done exceptional in each audit, including reaching a score of 100% on all mandatory and non-mandatory applicable standards in its last review.

“The RCCWC not only sets out to meet and/or exceed best practices in the field, but also sets out to lead the way in modern correctional practices with programming that is geared towards reducing recidivism by setting inmates up with career paths and certifications prior to being released back into society,” said RCCWC Superintendent William C. Cope.

When asked about being selected as one of facilities chosen by ACA to tour at this year’s conference, Cope stated, “We have reached a new milestone in our professional efforts. I was very honored to accept this request especially since we are one of ONLY four facilities asked to show off our wonderful agency.  Even more special is the fact that we were the ONLY facility being toured outside of Davidson County.”

Participating ACA members received a guided tour through the Rutherford County facility with Lieutenant Jason Peralta and Sergeant Thaddeus Oclaray, and were given a detailed description of operations, with time built in for questions.

TCI Executive Director William Wall had this to say about the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center, “As a member of the ACA host committee and on behalf of all Tennessee Corrections Institute Staff, we are extremely proud of the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center being part of the showcase facilities that achieve excellence within the correctional community.  The dedication your facility and community exhibit towards rehabilitation, education, and reentry is surpassed by no other.  Your agency is on a national and world stage; being recognized as one of the premiere agencies in our country and abroad.”

“We are extremely proud of RCCWC being pinpointed by the ACA as a tour-worthy facility,” commented Mayor Bill Ketron. “It was an esteemed honor to host correctional industry partners from around the world right here in our community.”

Founded in 1870, the America Correctional Association (ACA) is the largest and oldest association of its kind in the world. Their purpose is to set standards for correctional facilities to improve safety, security and the overall functionality of jails and prisons. For more information, please visit aca.org.

RCFR, Kittrell Volunteer Fire Department, Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services, and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the address shortly after 12:30 p.m. and discovered a vacant home fully involved with fire.   

RCFR’s Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate and determined the fire to be suspicious in nature.

“We are requesting help from the community,” said Fire Marshal Joshua Sanders, who urges anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the Tennessee Arson Hotline at 1-800-762-3017 or the Rutherford County Fire Marshal’s Office Tip-line at 616-907-3600, option 5 to leave an anonymous tip. 

Sanders says the crime of arson is one of the most costly human-made disasters. Arson indirectly contributes to increased insurance premiums, higher medical costs, lost jobs, lost income, and the increased cost of fire services.

“The Rutherford County Fire Rescue Department needs your help to combat this serious crime,” said Sanders. “Information that leads to the successful arrest and conviction of an arsonist can result in a reward of up to $5,000.”

The Commissioner of Veterans Services with the State of Tennessee Tommy Baker presented McFarlin with a commemorative flag, a challenge coin, and certificate of appreciation as other state and county dignitaries looked on.

Other dignitaries in attendance were State Representative Mike Sparks, Judges Jimmy Turner and Lisa Eischeid, County Commissioners Rod Key, Rhonda Allen, Paul Johnson, Pettus Read, and Chantho Sourinho, Mayor Bill Ketron and Deputy to the Mayor Steve Sandlin, and Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh.

While McFarlin will not officially retire until October 1, 2021, this was his last graduation. To honor the occasion, the treatment team presented him with a plaque of appreciation and a streamer of his very own.

Streamers are often inscribed with the veteran’s name and the date it’s presented and attached to the headpiece of the assigned flag denoting the veteran’s participation in a particular battle, military campaign, or theater of war.

“God has truly blessed me to allow me to help our Veterans who have sacrificed and made it possible for us all to live in the greatest country on earth,” said McFarlin. “Their accomplishments in our Veterans Treatment Program are nothing short of amazing. The heart and soul of this program is the treatment team and I give them all the credit. They are the best team in the state. I thank the Mayor, our County Commission, and the citizens of Rutherford County for their support of all of the Recovery Courts.”

The ceremony, the first full of its kind since the pandemic began in 2020, honored four graduates; one having just completed the program and three other previous graduates who did not get to take part in a ceremony. Graduates placed their streamers on flags representing their respective branch of military for which they served.

“Judge McFarlin put it best when he said ‘while the person may have graduated, they are never forgotten, and will always be a part of the court’,” said Recovery Director Trish Breeding.

“Graduation days are my favorite days at this job,” she continued. “It is such a moving experience to hear participants give their testimony of recovery, having witnessed the progress they have made. Today was especially meaningful as it was Judge McFarlin’s last ceremony. We are so appreciative of the foundation that he has laid for this program and his service to Rutherford County veterans and their loved ones.”

“It was heartwarming to see our Veterans benefit from both justice and redemption merging in the same place,” commented Commissioner Baker.

Representative Sparks spoke about the graduates and also McFarlin’s dedication to the program, "Congratulations to those veterans who graduated. Rarely have I witnessed an event where one can go from laughter to tears in seconds. Judge Ben Hall McFarlin is tough--yet compassionate. I have personally witnessed him offering hugs and encouragement to help transform lives and it's priceless. I wish him and his wife well in his retirement."

County Mayor Bill Ketron stated, “It was a bittersweet day. While it was such an incredible experience to hear the testimony of the graduates and celebrate them for completing the program, it was also somewhat of an emotional time knowing this was Judge McFarlin’s last ceremony. We truly appreciate the work that he has done to move Rutherford County forward in a progressive direction as it pertains to recovery and helping clients improve their quality of life and residually enhance the overall quality of our community. We wish him well in his retirement.”

Veterans Treatment Court is a judicially supervised program that allows individuals who have served in the United States Armed Forces the option of treatment in lieu of jail.  While in the program, participants engage in individual counseling, group counseling, peer support meetings, and case management.  Anyone interested in applying can do so online (county website) or in person at their office located at 525 N University. For more information or eligibility requirements, please visit: http://rutherfordcountytn.gov/recovery-court/veterans-court.html.

The course participants were arson/explosives investigators from the following agencies:

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

Tennessee Highway Patrol, Special Operations Unit

Nashville Metro Police Department Bomb Squad

Nashville Fire Department

Rutherford County Fire Rescue

Cookeville Fire Department

Bedford County Fire Department and EMS

Anyone with information on fire/explosives incidents should report it to your local law enforcement.  Information can also be received by calling 1-888-ATF-TIPS.

More information on ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.

In attendance from RCFR:

Fire Marshal Joshua Sanders

Investigator Cole Bennett

Investigator Jake Rusch

"The RCFR Fire Marshal’s Office Fire/Arson Investigation Unit is responsible for investigating fires, arson, and explosions in Rutherford County," said RCFR Fire Marshal Joshua Sanders. "This class is essential to prepare our Investigators to respond to and effectively investigate bombings and other explosion incidents that may occur in Rutherford County.  Our Office is committed to ensuring the proficiency and expertise of our investigators in every situation."

County Mayor Bill Ketron received noticed Monday of the credit opinion update and was immediately elated at the news, “This is a BIG deal for our county,” said Ketron. “We are incredibly proud to boast this honor, not for bragging rights, but to achieve this rating signifies the due diligence of our budget and finance team members and leadership in the county of managing credit responsibly.”

What exactly does this rating mean? According to Finance Director Lisa Nolen, Aaa-rated bonds have a high degree of creditworthiness because their issuers (in this case, Rutherford County) are easily able to meet financial commitments and have the lowest risk of default. “This is meaningful to the taxpayer because as a low risk, the county should receive the best interest rate when selling competitively,” said Nolen.

County Commissioner and Budget and Finance Committee Chair Robert Peay, Jr. commented, “I am really pleased for our county. This achievement is indicative of good stewardship of our county dollars and budget.”

Ketron, Peay, and Nolen acknowledged past commissioners who worked hard over the years toward this goal, as well as Mayors Ernest Burgess and Nancy Allen, Budget Chair predecessors Joyce Ealy, Bob Bullen, and Will Jordan, and former Finance Directors Randall Matlock and E. Paul Long for paving the way for this milestone.

“I also thank Sam Crewse and the late Tom McAnulty for guiding the county for decades through our debt issuances,” said Nolen.

Rutherford County Schools Director Bill Spurlock, whose district is often the recipient and steward of the bonds, said this of the news, “We’ve always strived to use taxpayer funds efficiently and to invest in our students and our schools using proven, cost-effective strategies. We also work diligently as partners with the County Commission to pass operating and capital budgets that help us achieve our goals but without straining our county’s financial resources.”

“This is just another way Rutherford County is working to set the ‘Gold Standard’ for the state for other counties to follow,” said Ketron.

FEMA regularly tests the public alert and warning systems to assess the operational readiness of the supporting infrastructure. The tests help identify any needed technical and administrative improvements to warning the public about emergencies.

This week’s testing will be the sixth test of the nationwide public alert and warning systems and has been planned since June 2020. The test’s purpose is to assess the effectiveness of the Emergency Alert System to receive and convey a national message via radio and television, and of the Wireless Emergency Alerts infrastructure to deliver a test message to mobile phones.

FEMA is asking you to participate in the first-of-its-kind Wireless Emergency Alerts live test survey. We want your feedback about how this test performs in your area. Wireless Emergency Alerts provide life-saving information to the public during emergencies, and it is important to know if they are reaching their intended audience. Every piece of information you provide will help our effort.

RCEMS Director Carl Hudgens announced Monday that Chris Reed, Joe Shannon, and Darryl White were awarded three vacant lieutenant positions.

“I am very pleased to announce the promotion of these three gentlemen,” said Hudgens. “I am proud of the work they have done up to this point, and have no doubt that they will be a tremendous asset to their respective shifts in this capacity.”

Reed, who joined RCEMS in 2010 as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), has served as a relief supervisor for over two years. Prior to coming to Rutherford County, Reed spent time as an operations supervisor where he gained experience in EMS logistics and marketing. Reed will work in tandem with newly promoted Captain Mike Johnson to oversee RCEMS’s D-Shift upon its implementation in mid-September.

“I am excited about the new position,” Reed said. “I look forward to working with Mike Johnson to kick off the new D-Shift.”

Shannon began his career with RCEMS in 2013 as an EMT. During his time with RCEMS, he has worked diligently to gain experience in field training, field supervision, and fleet management and has served as a relief supervisor for the past few years. Shannon assumed his new role effective immediately on B-Shift.

“I have been working on B-Shift for a while now, and I enjoy the people I work with,” said Shannon. “I look forward to serving alongside them in this new role.”

White, with RCEMS since 2007 when he hired on as an EMT, has served in many areas within the department. Most recently, he played a key role working with paramedic students, while acting as a relief supervisor when needed. White is assigned to C-Shift and will officially assume the role in the near future.

“I am honored to be chosen to serve in this new role,” said White, “and excited to be a part of RCEMS leadership moving forward.”

Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron said, “I would like to personally congratulate these men on their accomplishment. Rutherford County is so fortunate to have experienced, skilled, and compassionate professionals who are dedicated to serving our community.”

1. Wear thin, loose-fitting clothing around the house to stay comfortable without keeping the room temperature low.
2. Keep blinds, shades and curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day to prevent sunlight from heating your home.
3. Run ceiling fans counterclockwise, forcing air to move straight down. Even mild air movement can make a room feel three to four degrees cooler.
4. Stoves and ovens can raise a kitchen’s temperature as much as 10 degrees. Use an outdoor grill or microwave as much as possible to keep the temperature down.
5. Limit chores that produce heat and moisture, like cooking, cleaning, ironing and laundry, to the cooler early morning and evening hours as much as possible.
6. Set your thermostat at the highest comfortable tempera­ture. The smaller the difference between your home’s inside temperature and the temperature outdoors, the lower your cooling costs will be.

The change is expected to take effect in mid-September.

“We saw an opportunity to step out as one of the first EMS department’s in the country to move to this shift with the main goal of providing our employees ample time between shifts to decompress,” said RCEMS Director Carl Hudgens.  

“EMS is not a regular 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and never has been, but the previous 24-hour on/48-hour off shifts were not allowing our personnel to effectively balance their work/life responsibilities and time,” said Hudgens. “At RCEMS, our employees and their families are extremely important to us and we want to make sure we’re taking care of our own so that they can be who they need to be when it’s time to go home each day.”

County Commissioners voted to move to the shift change effective July 1. Mayor Bill Ketron’s request to give employees a four percent pay increase was also approved. RCEMS employees, if eligible, could receive up to a 5.75 percent pay increase.

“We have some of the best first responders in the state of Tennessee,” said Mayor Ketron, “I happen to think some of the best in the country! We want to ensure that we are providing them with benefits that positively impact their careers and families respectively.”

“We are certainly thankful for Mayor Ketron and our County Commissioners and their support of all public safety personnel,” added Hudgens. “We are also grateful to our Public Safety Committee, chaired by Commissioner Pettus Read, for the assistance in developing our plan.”

With EMS departments all across the country experiencing a shortage of personnel and qualified or even interested applicants, Director Hudgens and RCEMS staff are hoping that this new change, along with the long list of additional benefits, will draw a diverse group of qualified candidates to serve Rutherford County.

“In addition to the upcoming shift change, we provide our personnel with excellent benefits including insurance and retirement, adequate personal time off, and multiple opportunities for advancement,” commented Hudgens. “There are other future progressive changes in the works as well.”

The department recently issued a recruitment video in an effort to attract new candidates as well. View here: https://youtu.be/OUw5VP04fzo.

There are several AEMT and Paramedic position openings. To find out more, visit: hr.rutherfordcountytn.gov.

“Josh Wright has filled many roles over the years,” said RCEMS Director Carl Hudgens. “He’s worked tirelessly as the Interim B-Shift Captain. His leadership has made great strides, and I look forward to him serving permanently in this role.”

Wright, who began his career with RCEMS as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 2004, became a Paramedic in 2008. He serves on the department’s Honor Guard detail and as a SWAT Medic. His officially assumed the new role on July 13.

“I am honored and humbled to serve Rutherford County in this capacity,” said Wright.

Mike Johnson will lead RCEMS’s newly added D-Shift as Captain upon the new shift being implemented. RCEMS recently made the decision to move to 24 hours on/72 hours off.

“Mike has been a valuable asset to RCEMS and to C-Shift as a supervisor,” said Hudgens. “His talents and experience have benefitted our service several times over.”

Johnson hired on as an EMT in 2006 and became a Paramedic in 2008. He serves as a SWAT Medic and also as an investigator for the Rutherford County Medical Examiner’s Office.

“I am thankful for this opportunity,” said Johnson. “I look forward to stepping out in this role and supervising our newly added shift.”

“Rutherford County truly has some of the best first responders and public safety personnel in the state,” said Mayor Bill Ketron. “Congratulations on your promotions, Josh and Mike. Thank you for your dedicated service, compassion, and professionalism. Our county is truly blessed.”

Chad Alexander, Doug Roell, Tyler Benefield, Bret Miles, and Brandon Young were promoted to Lieutenants on July 1. Tyler Ruiz, Jay Turner, William Steele, Lora Stover, Austin Garner, and Matt Stevens were promoted to Engineers also on July 1.

As of July 7, Daniel Alexander was promoted to Lieutenant and Brad Matthews was promoted to Engineer.

Phillip Nichols was promoted to Lieutenant in April 2021, but due to an oversight, there was no previous announcement.

“Rutherford County Fire Rescue was awarded additional Lieutenant and Engineer promotions to allow for every paid fire station to have one of each position on shift,” said Fire Rescue Chief Larry Farley.

“We are proud of the men and women who promoted to these positions, as we know they will serve our department and the community well,” he added.

“Rutherford County is fortunate to have some of the most incredible first responders and public safety personnel in the state,” said Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron. “I would like to personally congratulate these personnel on their recent accomplishments. We are so blessed to have you serving our amazing community.”