Friday, June 1, 2012

ANDY GRIFFITH BIRTHDAY
Today is Andy Griffith’s 86th birthday. He's known throughout the world as Andy Taylor, a homespun man of the people who, at least on the small screen, lived in a community where everyone cared about everyone else. For more than 40 years, television viewers have invited him into their homes. You can read about Griffith, and what his REAL LIFE is like today, HERE.

JOB FAIR FOR NISSAN SATURDAY
There's a job fair in Murfreesboro tomorrow. They're taking applications for jobs at the Nissan Plant in Smyrna. You can come by Saturday, June 2, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Murfreesboro Career Center on 1313 Old Fort Parkway, Murfreesboro.
The company is recruiting to fill long-term, full-time positions, with starting pay ranging from 13.23 to about 20 dollars an hour. (contact RJ Sherr at (615) 478-3184.)

AMAZON STILL HIRING
And Amazon.com is still hiring for its distribution centers in Murfreesboro and Lebanon. You can get details and apply online HERE.   

NASHVILLE TRAFFIC 32ND WORST IN COUNTRY
You know Nashville traffic is bad. But how do we compare to other cities? A new study says traffic congestion here is 32nd worst in the country. Our most congested corridor -- and one of the worst in the nation – is I-440. (Nashville drivers spent an average of more than 15 hours stuck in traffic last year.)  

DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC TO SEE EXTRA DETOURS SAT. WITH TASTE OF MUSIC CITY
Speaking of traffic, don't forget that in addition to the I-24 construction this weekend, the Korean Veterans' Memorial Bridge will be closed tomorrow for the "Taste of Music City" event. (www.tasteofmusiccity.com   The event is Saturday, from 5 to 9 pm.)

THURS NIGHT STORMS KNOCKED OUT POWER TO TEN THOUSAND IN MIDDLE TN
Thousands of people lost power last night as storms rolled through Nashville. There were still about a thousand people in the dark as of this morning. No major damage was reported. 

RUTHERFORD COUNTY COURTHOUSE EVACUATED FOR BOMB THREAT
The Rutherford County judicial building in Murfreesboro had to be evacuated yesterday morning after they got a bomb threat. Some guy called the court clerk, said there were three bombs in the building and that Judge Don Ash was the target. No bombs were found and everybody was back at work by about noon.

DRUG SMUGGLING INTO DAVIDSON COUNTY JAIL STOPPED
You'd THINK that the last place you'd find a drug smuggling operation would be the Davidson County jail. But a correctional officer found a stash of drugs, including prescription pills, crack cocaine, marijuana and cash... in a wastebasket in the jail visitors' lobby. Apparently visitors bring it in, trustees take it back to the prisoners.

VANDERBILT'S JAMES FRANKLIN APOLOGIZES FOR COMMENT ABOUT HIRING PRACTICE
Vanderbilt University coach James Franklin has apologized for saying he would never hire an assistant coach unless the candidate's wife is good-looking. Franklin says his foot does not taste good and he hopes he didn't offend anyone.

CATFISH KING BUDDY ROGERS FUNERAL FRIDAY The Tennessean is reporting that the funeral for Buddy Rogers, the man who founded Uncle Bud's Catfish Restaurants, is today at Middle Tennessee State Veterans' Cemetery. Rogers passed away this week at his home in Nashville. Uncle Bud Rogers was 73. 

MURFREESBORO CITY CAFE HOPES TO REOPEN MONDAY
The Murfreesboro City Cafe hopes to reopen Monday, after being seized by the state last week for not paying taxes. Owners of the 112-year-old Café say they've taken care of the problem. 

SCIENTISTS INVENT MARIJUANA WITHOUT THE HIGH
Not everyone who smokes marijuana wants to get high. Many people use it for pain control, eye problems, diabetes, even some psychiatric disorders. Now scientists in Israel have found a way to neutralize the THC in the pot (THC is the chemical that causes the high) so patients can use it without that side effect.

CORONER SAYS CHEMICALS IN MAN'S AIRBAG CAUSED DEATH
A man in Scotland has died from his car airbag. Ronald Smith was involved in a car crash in 2010, his airbag deployed and he was okay. But soon after, he started having problems. The chemicals in the airbag caused a lung infection and Smith just died of bronchial pneumonia. Vauxhall, the company who made Smith's car, says it's investigating the airbags used in the vehicles. 

SUBWAY GETS HEART ASSOCIATION SEAL
The American Heart Association is now endorsing heart-healthy restaurant food and the Subway sandwich chain is the first to get the "Heart Check" seal. As many as 42-percent of the fast-food chain's entrees meet the Heart Association's requirements that limit cholesterol, fat, saturated fat, and sodium.

JUNE IS ADOPT A CAT MONTH
June is Adopt a Cat Month, and many animal shelters are offering special prices or even free adoption for cats, because they get overrun with cats this time of year, and many end up being put to death.

BNA FENCE JUMPER UNDERGOING MENTAL EVALUATION
The man accused of jumping a fence and boarding an empty plane at Nashville International Airport says he thought he was on a reality show. Officials have ordered twenty-eight-year-old Ram Porat to be mentally evaluated to see if he's fit to stand trial.

GAYLORD ENTERS INTO A DEAL WITH MARRIOTT 
Gaylord Entertainment company has just signed a 210 million dollar deal with Marriott hotels... for Marriott to manage Gaylord's properties in Nashville, Dallas, Orlando and Washington D.C. (Other Marriott hotels include Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard and Fairfield Inn & Suites.) 

RECENT RESTAURANT INSPECTION SCORES
In the recent health department restaurant inspections the only low score was the Shoney's on Thompson lane. They got a failing grade of 57, for not having sanitizer in their sink, and foods not being held at safe temperatures. (Inspection Date 5/17/2012) 

SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE WINNER
Snigdha Nandipati, a 14 year old San Diego girl, has won the Scripps National Spelling Bee. She'll get more than 40 thousand dollars in cash and prizes for her efforts.

FROM MS. CHEAP'S GUIDE TO SUMMER:
Link worth saving!
The popular Saturday-night Centennial Park Big Band Dances start this Saturday and run through Aug. 25th. THIS LINK also lists about a dozen other free events would be great for families. Some of them are the kind you just don't think of, until you hear about it later and go, "Oh, I forgot that was this weekend!"