Tuesday, May 29, 2012

MEM DAY WEEKEND ONE OF BUSIEST FOR LIFEFLIGHT, MANY INJURIES ARE ALCOHOL-RELATED.
This weekend was one of the busiest ever for Vanderbilt's LifeFLight helicopter. By late yesterday they'd flown more than 65 emergency trips. Jerry Jones with LifeFlight says that's three times as many as last year, and that many of the emergency injuries this weekend involved alcohol. (He says with any outdoor activity, when alcohol is involved, the chances go up for someone to end up hurt or killed. (The LifeFlight communications staff typically handles one phone call or radio traffic every 43 seconds. This weekend, it was non-stop.)

VANDERBILT DOCTOR DIES IN POLO ACCIDENT
A well-known Vanderbilt surgeon has died after falling from his horse during a polo game near his home in Franklin. Dr. Craig Ferrell was supposed to be out of town but had stayed home because his first grandchild was due. He got to see the baby and mother -- in his hospital room -- but he died later on. He was 62. Ferrell helped found the Vanderbilt Bone and Joint Clinic, he was the doctor for the Olympic equestrian team, and did charity work for Brightstone - a group that helps disabled adults. His funeral is Thursday. (Ferrell’s son Jonathan has Down Syndrome. The family asks you to make a donation to Brightstone instead of sending them flowers. Visitation for Doctor Ferrell is planned from 4 PM to 8 PM on Wednesday, May 30th at the Harlin Student Center on the campus of Battle Ground Academy, 336 Ernest Rice Lane, Franklin.  The funeral is planned for 2 PM. Thursday, May 31st at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, 2015 West End Avenue, Nashville.  The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Brightstone, 140 Southeast Pkwy Ct., Franklin, TN 37205)

SOUTH STILL ‘STROKE BELT’
A new report finds Americans are having the same number of strokes this year than last, but the treatment is better so more of us survive. Tennessee, however, is still one of the states with the highest number of strokes per year, because of our risk factors: more of us smoke, are obese, and have high blood pressure. (People who're older and have lower levels of education are also more likely to have a stroke...again.. mostly because of their lifestyles. )

ELVIS' CRYPT UP FOR AUCTION
The Crypt that Elvis Presley was buried in... is for sale. This is the crypt where he was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis... but then he and his mother were moved a couple of months later to Graceland. You can bid on the crypt at Juliensauctions.com next month.. but you'll have to arrange transportation from Memphis. www.juliensauctions.com

EXPLOSION LATE LAST NIGHT AT PARKWAY TOWERS
There was an explosion last night at the Parkway Towers on James Robertson Parkway downtown. Apparently a fire started in the basement, travelled up to the 6th floor of the parking garage, and when the sprinklers came on and hit a transformer, it exploded. Crews got the fire under control quickly and there were no reports of injuries… but the power was still out as of last night. The Parkway Towers has several state offices, including the Board of Probation and Parole. 

BOY FOUND RUNNING DOWN STREET IN DIAPER, MOM CHARGED
A Clarksville woman was arrested over the weekend after her two-year-old son was found running down the street in a diaper, seven houses away from home. 27 year old Tabitha Savoldy said she was on the back deck of her home, talking on the phone when the kid made a getaway. Cops say the 2 year old was out in 90 degree heat, alone, for at least half an hour before he was found. The mom was arrested.

CHEATERS RISK DEADLY HEART ATTACKS
Men who cheat on their wives are more likely to die from heart attacks. A new study from Italy says men are more likely to have a fatal heart attack while they're being romantic with their mistress than men who are faithful and are only 'romantic" with their wives.

FACEBOOK SMARTPHONE RUMORS START AGAIN
Facebook is reportedly renewing efforts to build its own smartphone. Rumors of a Facebook smartphone have been circulating since 2010.

DOLLYWOOD, GRACELAND, DISTILLERY OFFER NEW PERKS
Tennessee tourist attractions are making some changes this summer to pull in more tourist money. Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, has a new roller coaster that's 21 stories high and goes 61 miles an hour, Graceland in Memphis will offer a new Elvis Presley Stable Tour, and the Jack Daniels distillery in Lynchburg, is letting visitors sample the whiskey on sale. (There are signs that the state's $14 billion tourism business is picking up.) 

POLICE WARN NOT TO LEAVE CHILDREN IN PARKED CARS
At least 38 kids, on average, die each year because a parent or caregiver left them in a hot car.  Most of those are children younger than three, and are strapped into a car seat. It's difficult for parents to take the kids in and out of the cumbersome seats.. and they figure they'll only be inside for a minute... but something happens and it takes longer. Health officials remind you that children are more susceptible to heat than adults, because their bodes heat up three to five times faster than an adult.  Franklin police Sgt. Charles Warner says they warn people about it every year, yet every year they end up having to take people into custody because they've left children unattended in parked cars.

POLICE: SPEED LIKELY FACTOR IN BOAT CRASH  Clarksville authorities believe speed may have been a factor in a boat crash Sunday night. The boat went around a bend at a high rate of speed, and lost control. One person was taken to the hospital. No word yet on whether charges wil be filed or alcohol was involved. ( The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is also involved in the investigation. )

2ND RED PANDA FOSSIL FOUND AT TN EXCAVATION SITE
A second fossil of a red panda has been found at the Gray Fossil Site… in Washington County in Upper East Tennessee. It was lifted from the ground a few weeks ago. The first red panda was found at the Gray site in 2004, after a TDOT construction project unearthed the find. Since then dozens of fossils have been found: tapirs, turtles, elephant-like animals and more, dated at between 4.5 million and 7 million years-old. 
There's also now a Museum and visitor center on site, that's open to the public. The Panda discovery was the only one of it's species in the world. Now they've found a second, right here in Tennessee. READ MORE
East Tennessee State University and General Shale Brick Natural History Museum and Visitor Center, opened its doors on August 31, 2007. 

"BACHELORETTE" EMILY CHATS WITH DOLLY PARTON ABOUT LASTING LOVE 
 A couple of country stars are helping Emily as she searches for a man on ABC's "The Bachelorette."  On Monday's episode Emily went on a one-on-one date with Arie to Dollywood and met Dolly Parton, to get some advice.

JUSTIN BIEBER ALLEGEDLY ROUGHED-UP PHOTOGRAPHER
Teen idol Justin Bieber is wanted for questioning by Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators - after a paparazzo complained of being roughed up by the young pop star at a shopping center.
The scuffle allegedly happened when the photographer tried to snap pictures of the 18-year-old and his girlfriend Selena Gomez, after they walked out of a theater at The Commons at Calabasas today.
Sheriff Lt. Robert Wiard says the photographer in question called 911 on Sunday and complained of pain to his chest

EASTWOOD DAUGHTER BURNS BIRKIN BAG, RECEIVES THREATS
The daughter of Oscar winner Clint Eastwood is the target of death threats after burning a pricey handbag for a recent photo shoot.  Francesca Eastwood is catching plenty of flak for lighting a 100-thousand-dollar Hermes Birkin [[air-MEHZ bur-ken]] bag on fire after cutting it half with a chain saw with boyfriend Tyler Shields.  TMZ.com says Francesca's Twitter and Facebook accounts have been flooded with threats since she and Tyler made their "art project" public.  Many of the comments mention the wastefulness of money and insensitivity to families who can't eat. 

IS A FRIENDLY CELEBRITY SOCCER GAME SUPPOSED TO END IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM?
It was supposed to be a friendly affair, but Will Ferrell and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay got more than they bargained for - the latter ended up in hospital - at a charity soccer game on Sunday that was rougher than anticipated.
The actor, 44, hobbled off with an apparent leg injury, while the celebrity chef, 45, had to be stretchered off and given oxygen after a clattering tackle by former pro player Teddy Sheringham at the annual Soccer Aid game in Manchester, England.
"Thx 4 all the messages. Out of hospital after receiving amazing care from medics at ground & hospital. Bit sore but fine," Ramsay wrote Monday on Twitter.
Woody Harrelson, Ed Norton, Mike Meyers and Gerard Butler also participated in the game, which raised more than $6.4 million for the children's charity UNICEF.