Church Files Loan For Life Center Rehab

Trafalgar Village Baptist Church Inc. has filed a $1.6 million construction loan through Triumph Bank to renovate the church gymnasium at its 6161 U.S. 70 (Summer Ave.) campus into a family life center. The loan was filed Jan. 25.

The church, whose roots date to the 1960s, sits on 5.14 acres along the east side of Summer Avenue, just north of Raleigh-LaGrange Road.

Trafalgar has dubbed the renovation project “Extreme Makeover: Miracle Edition.” The overhaul calls for a complete transformation of the gym facility into a new worship area, said Bob Matthews, associate pastor.

“It will be a total makeover,” Matthews said.

In addition to the renovation, Trafalgar bought four acres of land adjacent to its campus, connecting the property to Raleigh-LaGrange Road. The long-term plan is to have an entrance to the church from that road.

Once complete, the family life center will have new mechanical systems, seating for more than 600 worshippers, a large stage, a baptism area, additional classrooms, renovated restrooms and additional storage space. The project also calls for a covered drop-off area and more parking on the campus.

Trafalgar averages 250 to 300 congregants for two worship services in its current sanctuary, which Matthews said is too small for the church’s current needs, and about 200 members in its Sunday school classes.

Worship services won’t be interrupted during the construction process, which is expected to begin soon and take eight to nine months.

Future construction phases call for the renovation of the church’s fellowship hall area and the creation of a new lobby entrance, the addition of a steeple and the development of its newly acquired land.

A church member is handling general contracting duties for the project, Matthews said.

Source: The Daily News Online & Chandler Reports

– Eric Smith

Tenn. Smokers to Keep State Health Insurance

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner is abandoning a proposal to refuse health insurance to new state employees who smoke.

Turner, of Nashville, announced on the House floor Wednesday that he is withdrawing the proposal under the “strong encouragement” of fellow Democratic Rep. John Litz, a tobacco farmer from Morristown.

The measure would have denied health insurance eligibility for tobacco-using state workers hired after Nov. 2.

– The Associated Press

Senate Rejects Veto On Menu Labeling

The state Senate has voted 24-7 to override Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen’s veto of a menu labeling bill.

The bill would only allow local elected government bodies to require calorie counts on menus, and prohibit unelected ones like health boards from setting those requirements.

Bredesen vetoed the bill in July, citing Tennessee’s obesity rate, which ranks among the highest in the nation.

It takes a majority vote in both chambers of the General Assembly to override a veto. Republican Rep. Susan Lynn of Mt. Juliet, the main sponsor of the House version of the bill, said she hopes to bring the veto override up for a vote in the lower chamber next week.

The full text of bill, S.B. 1092, is available at http://www.capitol.tn.gov.

– The Associated Press

LRK Nabs Five Architecture Awards

Looney Ricks Kiss Architects received five Best American Living Awards, which were presented at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.

LRK was honored with the “Platinum Award/Best One-of-a-Kind Custom Home – 6,501 square feet and over” for a private residence in Memphis and a “Gold Award/Best One-of-a-Kind Custom Home – 4,001 to 6,500 square feet” for a private residence in Eads.

The firm also received a “Platinum Award/Best Rental Development – five stories and over” and a “Best in the South Central Region” award for the Arthouse at Keller Town Center in Keller, Texas. The firm also took home a “Gold Award/Best High-Rise Multifamily – six stories and over” for the Paramount on Lake Eola in Orlando.

The Best American Living Awards are sponsored by “Professional Builder” magazine and the National Association of Home Builders. The awards showcase projects that demonstrate design excellence and success in the marketplace.

Sixty-seven winners in 37 categories were chosen by a panel of six judges. Winners will be featured in the February issue of Professional Builder magazine.

– Taylor Shoptaw

Wharton Seeks Advice on 9th District Race

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. told The Daily News he’ll be talking with his advisers for advice on who he will endorse in the Democratic primary for the 9th Congressional District race, which features a matchup between political titans Steve Cohen, the incumbent, and former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton.

“I’m going to be getting their advice,” Wharton said of his advisers, “because whatever I do, I want there to be a ‘One Memphis’ approach to it, so that it won’t just be one little skinny guy saying this is who I’m for or against.”

Memphis Attorney Censured by BPR

The Tennessee Supreme Court Board of Professional Responsibility has publicly censured Memphis attorney Murray B. Wells of the law firm Horne & Wells PLLC.

Wells, the owner/operator of a title company, was an authorized title agent and closing attorney for a title insurance underwriter. He was “to maintain an escrow/trust account and reconcile that account monthly under his agreement with the underwriter,” according to the report from the BPR.

The censure states that Wells failed to complete monthly audits of his trust account, leading to a theft when he failed to properly supervise the non-attorney closing agent he hired to assist in the matter. Also, the BPR said Wells “failed to provide recompense to the insurance underwriter,” although it noted no consumers saw any losses.

Wells violated the Tennessee Supreme Court Rules of Professional Conduct 5.3(b), failure to supervise a non-lawyer assistant, and 1.15, which deals with the safekeeping of property.

– Rebekah Hearn

Local Head Start Receives $1.6M Grant

Shelby County Head Start has received a $1.6 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to create an Early Head Start program.

The new program will focus on offering educational, medical and social services for pregnant women as well as children up to age 3.

The program aims to assist in reducing the infant mortality rate by underwriting home-based prenatal services for 23 pregnant mothers to include health, nutrition and proper care and nurturing of children. The program also will benefit 121 children up to age 3 through educational services, disability and mental health screenings and evaluations.

Plans to implement the grant are under way, and the services are scheduled to begin in June.

The federal grant is awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The federal Administration for Children and Families will oversee the local Head Start program.

– Taylor Shoptaw