GOLDEN EAGLES prepare to soar. D1 Herald-CitizenSUNDAY,Herald-Citizen MARCH 31, 2019 | COOKEVILLE, TENNESSEE 117TH YEAR | NO. 64 $1.50 Th e bees knees New school buses big on safety features BY JIM HERRIN HERALD-CITIZEN Electronic stability. Full view camera technology. Collision mitigation. Those are some of the terms used to describe safety improvements for Putnam County’s newest school buses. “These are the Cadillac buses that we got this time,” said Transportation Director Kim Bradford, describing fi ve new vehicles that went into service this week. “We are very, very fortunate that we got these.” Sales rep Ashley Scurlock said the Ca- dillac description comes not from the cost ($104,226 per vehicle), but from the safety features included with the 78-passenger buses. “Collision mitigation alerts the driver if something is in their way,” she said. “If the driver is distracted driving down the road, there is radar that checks the path that the bus is on and will alert the driver that they need to make a decision because something is stopped in their path.” In some cases, the bus will brake on its own to avoid a collision, she said. Besides BEN WHEELER | HERALD-CITIZEN that, electronic stability control works to Luna the chihuahua-terrier dressed as a bumblebee for the costume contest at the first ever Upper prevent the bus from rolling over if a driv- Cumberland Pet Expo Saturday at the Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion. The event was designed to er takes a turn too sharply. The buses also raise funds and awareness for the Cookeville/Putnam County Animal Shelter, while giving loving pet have updated camera systems, including a owners a hand with things like training and vaccines. back-up camera that allows the driver to see a wide-angle view immediately behind the SEE BUS, PAGE A2 Pre-K program registration begins BY JIM HERRIN needs of young children in all room activities throughout the HERALD-CITIZEN areas of development including year to keep them informed. language, early literacy, math, Enrollment in the Voluntary Although several weeks still science, social studies, the arts, Pre-K program is based upon a remain in the school year, regis- physical development, social emo- child’s eligibility as identifi ed by tration is already underway for tional development, and healthy state law (TCA 49-6-101-104). next year. living.” “First priority are students PreK-5 Teaching and Learn- Ramsey said each day is planned identifi ed as economically disad- ing Supervisor Jill Ramsey said to provide hands-on experiences vantaged,” Ramsey said. “This Putnam County parents whose that develop and support a child’s identifi cation is based on income children will be four years old by love and joy of learning. levels set each year by the Depart- Aug. 15 may be eligible to attend “The classroom environment ment of Health and Human Ser- B E N W H E E L E R | H E R A L D - C I T I Z E N the Putnam County Schools Vol- creates a safe, nurturing and sup- vices, and used during the applica- Cookeville couple Richard and Terri untary PreK program. portive place for young children to tion process to determine income Grogan booked a dream vacation to see “A child’s fi rst year of school is explore these new learning oppor- eligibility for enrollment.” the Aurora Borealis, but were among an exciting time for both you and tunities and to set the foundation Other priorities include stu- reportedly 464 passengers airlifted off your child,” she said. “The goal of for future learning in the years dents with disabilities, students their Viking Sky cruise ship. the pre-K school year is to engage to come,” she said, adding that identifi ed as English Language each child in learning through a the child’s teacher will provide curriculum that focuses on the parents with information on class- SEE PRE-K, PAGE A2 Safe on shore Cookeville couple survives TTU Clothesline cruise nightmare BY BEN WHEELER Project is Tuesday HERALD-CITIZEN Richard and Terri Grogan set off on a Since 1998, the Tech Pride Room has been the cruise to witness the Aurora Borealis, but site of the Clothesline Project, a visual display the dream adventure ended abruptly. that bears witness to the violence against wom- The Viking Sky cruise ship that the Gro- en. gans were on board became stranded off the During the public display, a clothesline is coast of Norway after engines failed report- hung with shirts, with each shirt decorated to edly because of low oil levels. represent a particular woman’s experience, by What started as a dream vacation ended the survivor herself or by someone who cares up becoming a nightmare. about her. “It was wonderful. Early parts of the The shirts will be on display Tuesday, April 2, cruise, no complaints at all,” said Rich- from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 4 to 7 p.m. ard Grogan. “Getting down into the sea, “It’s a way for the community to understand we noticed there was a real storm taking the extent of interpersonal violence,” said Diana place outside. Somewhere in the lunch time Lalani of Tennessee Tech’s Women’s Center. “A (Saturday), we noticed there was a big reef lot of people walk out feeling informed and want ahead of us.” to do something to end violence.” Clothesline Project shirts will be on display Tuesday, “I expected the boat to go down a ways, The Clothesline Project started with 31 shirts April 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 4-7 p.m. turn into the channel and go right around in the Tech Pride Room in the Roaden University SEE PROJECT, PAGE A2 Center at TTU. SEE SAFE, PAGE A2 herald-citizen.com INDEX 5 sections | 40 pages OBITUARIES Page A9 DEAR ABBY B2 MORE! B1 Nicholas Jacquin, Cookeville James McReynolds, Cookeville Jerry Phillips, Gainesboro CALENDAR A8 OPINION A4 Larry Henry, Cookeville Leroy Miller, Crossville Frances Daniel, Monroe CLASSIFIED C1 SPORTS D1 Mary Key, Cookeville Clarence Anderson, Silver Point A2 HERALD-CITIZEN FROM PAGE 1 SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2019 herald-citizen.com 0LOTTERY0 Upper Cumberland Pet Expo Friday Cash 3 Evening 7-8-3, Lucky Sum: 18 Midday 3-1-3, Lucky Sum: 7 Morning 3-4-2, Lucky Sum: 9 Cash 4 Evening 8-6-9-2, Lucky Sum: 25 Midday 1-7-3-1, Lucky Sum: 12 Morning 9-8-3-0, Lucky Sum: 20 Mega Millions 05-14-15-62-66, Mega Ball: 3, Megaplier: 3 Tennessee Cash 09-16-19-28-35, Bonus: 3 Estimated jackpot: $540,000 0READER SERVICES0 JIM HERRIN | HERALD-CITIZEN Address: Showing off Putnam County’s newest school B E N W H E E L E R | H E R A L D - C I T I Z E N 1300 Neal St. buses are, from left, Safety and Training Brittany Copley, right, helped Ziva and her owner Kelly Carpenter find Cookeville, TN 38501 Coordinator Laura McMurray, Ashley Scurlock their way to the microchip clinic at the Upper Cumberland Pet Expo on of Cumberland, Tennessee’s IC bus dealer, Saturday at the Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion. Mailing Address: Putnam County Transportation Director Kim P.O. Box 2729 Bradford, and Assistant Director of Schools Cookeville TN 38502 Corby King. Phone: 931-526-9715 BUS: Five new school buses Fax: 931-526-1209 FROM PAGE A1 News bus. That camera complements others on the inside. [email protected] “We’ve got fi ve cameras. We’ve got a camera in Sports the back that shows what’s going on in the back of [email protected] the bus, we’ve go two in the middle, we’ve got one on Advertising the driver and one on the dash facing out,” Bradford [email protected] said. “We’re fortunate enough that one of the buses Living also has the stop sign camera on it.” [email protected] The stop sign camera, she said, is intended to Circulation catch drivers who ignore the warning signals on a [email protected] school bus. Business News “You can get real tight on the driver,” she said. [email protected] “We can even get the tag number.” Church News She said the new rear-engine buses also have an- [email protected] other advantage not specifi cally related to safety. School News “We needed trip buses, and that’s pretty much [email protected] what these buses are going to be for because they Classified Ads have pass-through cargoes. We can get a lot more BEN WHEELER | HERALD-CITIZEN [email protected] cargo in them,” said Bradford. “You can’t store a lot Xavier was one of a number of adoptable pets at the Upper of football equipment or things like ice coolers in Cumberland Pet Expo. The pointer and Labrador mix was brought by Letter Guidelines the cargoes of the ones we have now.” the Putnam County Animal Shelter on Saturday to the Hyder-Burks All letters to the editor must be Bradford said the fi ve-bus purchase won’t com- Agricultural Pavilion. signed and include the writer’s pletely make up for the seven vehicles that will be name, address and phone going out of service at the end of the school year, but number. Letters are subject to offi cials are exploring avenues to potentially pur- editing and/or rejection. A strict chase two more. 400-word limit will be enforced.