The City of Jackson will receive sealed bids for an LED messaging center for the Carl Perkins Civic Center, 400 S. Highland, Jackson, TN 38301. Complete information can be found here: LED Messaging Center Bid for Civic Center.
On September 6, 2019, Shiloh National Military Park, the city of Parkers Crossroads, and the Tennessee Historical Commission will have a public signing ceremony commemorating the establishment of Parkers Crossroads as an affiliated area of the National Park Service. The ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Parkers Crossroads Visitor Center, located at 20945 TN-22, Parkers Crossroads, TN 38388.
Representing the National Park Service will be Dale Wilkerson, Superintendent of Shiloh National Military Park; representing Parkers Crosswords will be Kenneth Kizer, Mayor of Parkers Crossroads; and representing the Tennessee Historical Commission will be Patrick McIntyre, Executive Director.
“Earlier this year congress passed, and the president signed, public law 116-9, which formally established Parkers Crossroads Battlefield as an affiliated area of the National Park Service,” said Shiloh Superintendent Dale Wilkerson. “Becoming an affiliated area offers many benefits to the battlefield, and allows the National Park Service to enter into agreements to provide assistance for interpretation and preservation of the battlefield. We are extremely pleased to be able to formalize our long-standing relationship with Parkers Crossroads.”
“The designation of Parkers Crossroads as an affiliated area of the National Park Service is a tremendous honor,” said Tennessee Historical Commission Executive Director Patrick McIntyre. “This recognition is a testament to the importance of this place, as well as an endorsement of the work by those who have been instrumental in preserving this battlefield for posterity.” “Parkers Crossroads is pleased to establish this partnership,” said Mayor Kenneth Kizer. “It is going to raise the level of interpretation and increase visitation to this historic site. We appreciate all the efforts made at the federal and state level to bring this to fruition.”
Parkers Crossroads Battlefield preserves and interprets the site where almost 2,000 men commanded by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest were engaged by two Federal brigades commanded by General Jeremiah C. Sullivan on December 31, 1862. After the fight, General Forrest was able to cross the Tennessee River.
To learn more, visit the National Park Service. 
Leadership Jackson Class of 2019
The Jackson Chamber is pleased to announce the nominees selected for its 2019 Leadership Jackson class. Leadership Jackson is a leadership development program for community members who demonstrate leadership potential. Sponsored by the Jackson Chamber, the program is an opportunity for local professionals to learn more about the community and the challenges it faces.
The class will participate in a full day information session in early September to get acquainted and find out more about what their Leadership Jackson experience will entail. Leadership Jackson 2019 Co-Chair Russ McKelvey, Branch Manager, Mack Pest Control, Inc. and Co-Chair Shelby Matthis, Community Advocate will direct the session.
“To say that I’m excited for this year’s class would be an understatement,” says McKelvey. “We have a fantastic group of talented people. It’s going to be fun as we learn them and see their leadership skills grow. Leadership Jackson does a phenomenal job of taking its students inside Jackson in ways that they’ve never experienced while building lifelong bonds and sharpening their leadership tools. We’ve been working hard to create a fulfilling experience so I’m glad that we’ll get to work with Class 41 very soon.”
Class members will meet weekly for sessions on various topics. A leadership skill-building component is incorporated into each session. Leaders in key areas, such as health care, criminal justice, economic development, quality of life, education and government will share an overview of the present state, challenges, and future vision. This information provides the class with a broad understanding of the interworkings of Jackson-Madison County and a big picture view. It also engages them in a self-analysis of where they can best make a positive impact by getting involved or by being a resource for their company or sphere of influence.
“Leadership Jackson has been a pillar of leadership training in this community for 41 years” says Matthis. “I am honored to serve this year’s class. We have an incredible group of professionals and I look forward to seeing them challenged and their leadership skills strengthened. This program opens the door to a unique opportunity, one that impacts how participants view the community around them and their place in it from a renewed perspective. The positives that happen in a community are the result of passionate, knowledgeable, engaged leaders and I am beyond excited to see the impact that LJ41 makes to continue to propel Jackson forward.”
The 2019 Leadership Jackson class includes:
Jennifer Alexander, Gerdau
Mike Baskin, Town & Country Realtors, Inc.-Joey Hale
Blake Beckham, Jackson Christian School
Jonathan Bell, BancorpSouth
Ryan Blake, West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex
Joey Conner, Conner Real Estate
Holly Dean, Regions Bank
Kristy Dew, Jackson Chamber
Dan Drogosh, theCO
Aaron Fitzgerald, Christian Brothers Automotive – Jackson
Jared Freeman, Leaders Credit Union
Jennifer Graves, Union University
Nick Hayes, Hiller Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Electrical
Dr. Nina Heckler, Class 101
Danielle Jones, Jackson Police Department
Christy Kelley, CanopyNation
Daniel Kennedy, Clay Williams & Associates, Inc.
Lauren Kirk, City of Jackson
Braylin Laster, Lane College
Alexis Long, Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC
Melanie Luckey, Jackson Energy Authority
Walker McWherter, Central Distributors, Inc.
Wendy Mercer, STAR Center, Inc.
Kelsea Merriweather, Toyota Bodine Aluminum
Tony Neihoff, RE/MAX Realty Source
Brandon Shields, The Jackson Sun
Beth Ann Simpson, The University of Memphis - Lambuth Campus
Jenci Spradlin, Jackson-Madison County Library
Dawn Thomason, FirstBank
Marda Wallace, City of Jackson (Councilperson)
Nikki Watlington, LIFELINE Blood Services
We have our winner for tickets to Destin, Florida from Air Choice One! (Book online and use promo code D15TIN to save 15% to fly to Destin!)
See new members, find out more about Jackson Young Professionals, view ribbon cuttings and if you've been wondering about Tacos 4 Life, take a look at the Member Connection interview in the video. 
West Tennessee HealthCare Rehabilitation Hospital (WTHRH), in partnership with Encompass Health is Jackson, Tennessee’s newest rehabilitation hospital. Formerly Spire Rehabilitation Hospital, in partnership with HealthSouth, it opened its doors in in July 2017 at 616 West Forest Avenue. Its goal and gold standard of success for inpatient rehabilitation is for patients to recover and return home and get back into the community. WTHRH is doing just that, with as many as 82% of all patients returning home.
With many amenities, West Tennessee HealthCare Rehabilitation Hospital spans 55,000 square feet. This includes 48 private patient rooms with 10 equipped for dialysis. It has the capacity to expand to 80 beds in the future and offers a spacious therapy gym, daily living suite, courtyard, cafeteria, and dayrooms. WTHRH is equipped with state of the art therapy equipment to serve patients overcoming debilitating illnesses and injuries including stroke, brain and spinal cord injury, and complex medical conditions.
This local hospital assists patients recovering from life altering conditions by restoring their functional abilities such as, walking, talking, bathing and other self-care tasks. Benefits of receiving care through inpatient rehabilitation include 15 hours per week of intense therapy, frequent visits from physicians, and 24/7 rehabilitation nursing care.
If you have questions regarding a referral for your loved one, or would like a tour, call 731-574-3000.
Tennessee saw 119 million domestic visitors in 2018, up 5.1 percent from 113 million the previous year and hit a record-high $22 billion in domestic and international travel spending. Travelers in Tennessee spend an estimated $60 million per day. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell made the announcement at the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Tennessee’s growth is outpacing the nation in all areas of travel; including tax revenue, expenditures, payroll and employment.
Tourism generated over $50 million in new state and local tax dollars in 2018, approximately $25 million of which supports public education. The report’s findings also show tourism’s value to Tennessee taxpayers. Travel in Tennessee generated 189,757 jobs and $1.81 billion in state and local tax revenue. Without tourism, each Tennessee household would have to pay an additional $712 in taxes each year. Those tax dollars support education, health and human services, public safety, business and economic development.
In 2018, Tennessee ranked number 3, after Pennsylvania and Colorado, for international spending growth over 2017, according to Tourism Economics. International spending growth in Tennessee is 7 times the national average.
“From our thriving cities to our beautiful rural landscapes and everything in between, Tennessee has solidified its place as a leader in tourism across the country,” Lee said. “Our booming tourism sector is outpacing the nation in every category. World-class food, music, and adventure are just a few things folks find when they come to Tennessee, and thankfully, folks are visiting this remarkable place more than ever.”
“Tennessee’s diverse cities and small towns offer quality tourism products and remarkable brands that drive visitation,” said Commissioner Mark Ezell. “We would not have these numbers if it weren’t for renovations, capital investments and passion shown by tourism partners across the state. The record-breaking millions who come here discover the music, history and culture, family experiences and scenic beauty that make Tennessee ‘The Soundtrack of America.’”
Highlights of the report include:
- $22.02 Billion Travel Expenditures, 6% increase (Source: U.S. Travel Association)
- Growth rate was 20% more than the national average of 4.9%
- Travelers in Tennessee spend an estimated $60 million per day.
- 119.37 Million Domestic Visitors, up 5.1% from 113 Million in 2018, the highest growth in the past 6 years.
- Record Setting – 81.3% of visitors were leisure travelers, an increase of 5.5%
- Daily spending per person - $128 (Source: D.K. Shifflet & Associates)
- Tourism generated 189,757 jobs for Tennesseans, a 2.9% percent growth year over year.
- Travel in Tennessee generated $1.81 billion in state and local tax revenue. (Source: U.S. Travel Association)
- Travel generated tax revenue results in $712 in annual state and local tax savings for the average Tennessee household (Source: U.S. Travel Association, U.S. Census Bureau)
- Travel and Tourism is the state’s second largest industry by employment (Source: U.S. Travel Association)
- In 2018, Tennessee ranked number 3, after Pennsylvania and Colorado, for international spending growth over 2017 (Source: Tourism Economics)
- International spending growth is 7 times the national average.
- 5.4% TN vs 0.8% U.S.
- All 95 counties saw an increase in domestic travel spending
- Each county saw more than $1 million in direct travel expenditures in the economic impact of tourism. (Source: U.S. Travel Association)
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development works with the Tennessee Tourism Committee, local convention and visitors’ bureaus, chambers of commerce, city and county leaders, tourism attractions and the hospitality industry in all 95 counties to help bring travelers to the state. Locally, Lori Nunnery of Visit Jackson serves on the Tennessee Tourism Committee.
To view the full report, click here.
Photo credit: @edrode/TNVacation.com
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Tennessee is the home of the blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, soul, rockabilly, and rock ‘n’ roll— delivering an unparalleled experience of beauty, history, and family adventure, infused with music, that creates a vacation that is the “Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee.”
Explore more at tnvacation.com and join other Tennessee travelers by following “TNVacation” on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube, and “Tennessee” on Snapchat.