TN.gov Newsroom

Memphis, TN – The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and its local, federal and private sector partners in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut will hold a media opportunity on the morning of February 7, 2012. More than 2 million people will participate across nine states in the second annual earthquake preparedness drill.

NASHVILLE – Plans for the Tennessee Forestry Commission, originally scheduled to meet Feb. 8 at Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville, have changed. The commission will still meet on Feb. 8 but will convene instead at Legislative Plaza, located at 601 6th Avenue North in Nashville.

The commission will make its annual presentation on Tennessee’s forest resource and the Division of Forestry to the Senate Energy and Environment Committee at 8:30 a.m. and to the House Conservation and Environment Committee at 12:30 p.m.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. –TDOT bridge inspectors will perform their regular quarterly testing and inspection on the Market Street Bridge in downtown Chattanooga on Sunday, January 22, 2012. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. EST the bridge will be closed to traffic as crews conduct the inspection and open the drawbridge portion of the bridge. The bridge will be reopened to traffic no later than noon.

Nashville, Tenn.–Two of the biggest names in Tennessee tourism are teaming up to bring a major family entertainment zone to Nashville.  Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET) and Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Company have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a 50/50 joint venture to develop  a 114-acre family entertainment zone adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.  The Dollywood Company will serve as the operating partner.  Phase one of the project is a yet unnamed approximately $50 million water and snow park, the first of its kind in the United States.  A late 2012, early 2013 groundbreaking date is expected with the park opening slated for summer of 2014.

Chattanooga, Tenn. – To continue work on the U.S. 27 reconstruction project, TDOT contract crews must disconnect the street lighting on U.S. 27 South within the 1.6 mile project area between the Olgiati Bridge and U.S. 127 (Signal Mtn. Blvd.) The lights will be disconnected either tonight or tomorrow night, and U.S. 27 South will remain without street lighting until new lights are installed and activated during the latter stages of the project, which is scheduled for completion in October 2014.