Pelham Ball Park Goes Smoke Free!

Health Check – Pelham Ball Park Goes Smoke Free!

Posted on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 2:16 pm

“Pelham ball park is proudly tobacco free as of April 2013,” stated Tonya Garner, Grundy and Franklin County’s Health Educator. “Ball players, coaches, volunteers and observers were able to breathe free on the opening night of ball games in Pelham. Leading by example, Pelham is exposing children to one less health risk when at the ballpark. The whole community agrees that we need to make a positive impact on the children now when the kids are the most easily influenced.

Children’s exposure to smoke in Grundy County is a major concern of the Grundy County Health Council. Our adult smoking rate is well above both the national and state average and over 25.6% of Grundy mothers report smoking during pregnancy vs. 10.4% for the US and 18.4% in the state.

The Health Council is committed to working to improve the health of all residents in our community. We encourage those of you who do smoke to be careful and only smoke far away from children and any other person who might be exposed to the smoke. If you would like to stop, the Health Council is offering workshops to help. Please call the Grundy County Health Department for more information. Together, we can make our county a healthy one for all residents.”

Allowing our children to grow up in a clean air environment is part of the many-sided foundation for their becoming healthy adults. Part of this foundation includes getting lots of fresh air and sunshine through outdoor exercise to balance their classroom education. Make the choice today to be part of making our community a healthier place to live.

Choose Health!

BE A PARENT NOT A PEER

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PARENT PLEDGE

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We're asking parents to make an active pledge to "Be A Parent. Not A Peer." Join the movement, ask others to pledge and help us spread the word.

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Enabling underage drinking, by supplying alcohol to teens or allowing them to drink despite the law, is a poor choice that can result in permanent negative consequences -for both adults and teens- that extend far beyond dependency.

Even if you don't allow underage drinking in your home, other parents might. Talk to the parents of your children's friends and openly ask them if this is a rule in their home.

By pledging you become a part of the movement. We need your help in reaching as many parents as possible with this important message. Share posts with your friends, ask others to pledge and help us to spread the word and save lives by joining our online community.

*Please note: the laws and consequences named on this page are in reference to Tn state law.*

Come on GRUNDY !! We are ready for you .. Lets get those medications off the streets and out of our water supply. Join us in the NATIONAL DRUG TAKE BACK INITIATIVE !!

Time to get those un-used and expired medications out of the house.  The Grundy Safe Communities Coalition and local law enforcement agencies have partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and have scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications. In the five previous Take-Back events, DEA in conjunction with our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners have collected more than 2 million pounds (1,018 tons) of prescription medications were removed from circulation.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications. Coalition Coordinator Dave Hodges says, “ This also helps to keep your home from being a target of drug theft.

The Grundy Sheriffs Office ,Monteagle & Tracy City Police Departments now have permanent drop locations for you to be able to drop of medications any time. Lets get these medications off the street and out of our water supply.

 

CLICK HERE FOR  THE 2012 REPORT 

Grundy County targets alcohol sales to minors

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by Lindsay Burkholder
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The County Commission voted last week to establish a county beer board that would standardize alcohol sales and how authorities punish violators.Grundy County, Tenn., is cracking down on alcohol sales to underage buyers.

"We're hoping that the county beer board will set the bar and the standard for the other city municipalities to follow," said David Hodges, spokesman for the Grundy County Sheriff's Office.

The Grundy Safe Communities Coalition, an organization consisting of a number of county representatives including the mayor's office, businessmen and faith-based communities, has been working to curb underage drinking since its formation in 2010.

The decision to form the county board came after the coalition asked that retail compliance checks be done in Grundy stores to be sure alcohol wasn't passing into the hands of underage buyers.

The results were surprising.

Fifteen of 33 Grundy County stores failed the checks. In some instances, the coalition found that sales clerks were giving the alcohol free of charge to underage buyers.

Further research showed that a number of store owners had been issued licenses without paying the annual privilege tax.

Several city beer boards were unclear on what to do when stores sold alcohol to underage buyers. Some fined the clerks, while others did nothing. County Mayor Lonnie Cleek said the county has had a beer board in the past, but when there was little to do, members stopped meeting.

"Due to some unfortunate things going on in our community, our community started up a Grundy County Safe Communities Coalition, and we've applied for some grants to assist with teenage drinking and drug abuse," Cleek said of the board's revival.

Cleek said the county panel will work with municipalities to make sure the rules are uniform and applied fairly.

"We wanted to give the opportunity for city governments and the local beer boards ... to handle their violations themselves," Hodges said.

The board has four members -- one representative from each county commission district.

Members will meet with the coalition March 21 to determine guidelines for operation and standardized fines.

"The county has taken a very big step forward in putting the beer board back together," Hodges said.

Staff writer Ben Benton contributed to this story.