Today, after having to re-schedule his visit with Union City Rotary, due to an accident while biking here in Obion county, State Senator Roy Herron will bring us up-to-date on happenings on Capitol Hill in Nashville.
Besides being our State Senator for the past 22 years, Roy has an active law practice in Dresden, still helps manage the family’s farm, he is a former minister, and has taught for years at Vanderbilt University’s Law and Divinity Schools.
In the Senate he has chaired the Senate Democratic Caucus and committees dealing with health issues as well as children and youth. He has authored literally dozens of laws ranging from the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights to the Student Religious Liberty Act, while only missing one legislative session in those 22 years, the day his youngest son was born.
Senator Herron has authored three books, including, Things Held Dear: Soul Stories for My Sons, Political Humor; Some of These Jokes You Voted For (with L.H. "Cotton" Ivy), and God and Politics: How Can a Christian Be in Politics?
After graduating from the University of Tennessee as Martin, Roy studied New Testament and ethics in Scotland at St. Andrews as a Rotary Scholar, then became one of Vanderbilt University’s first two joint divinity and law graduates.
Roy enjoys the outdoors, hunting, Scouting, and running with sons John, Rick, Ben, and his bride of 23 years, Nancy. Roy is a marathoner who has finished over 230 marathons, and has completed three 140.6 mile Ironman triathlons.
Next week, is another big day for Union City Rotary, as the Verhine Scholarship program unfolds for 2011.
The Verhine Scholarship fund is available only to graduates of Union City high School who have completed at least one year of higher education in an accredited college, university, or trade school.
The Verhine program began in May 2002, when Union City Rotary received a gift from the F. Fern Verhine Estate in the amount of $3,855,000. The income from this money has since been awarded to students mentioned above on the basis of need and scholastic ability.
This year there will be $132,500 distributed to 91 graduates of Union City high School. These scholarships vary fro $500.00 to $3,000.00.
Again we wish to extend our appreciation to our scholarship committee for their tireless work screening these recipients, making sure that the youth of our county and city get every opportunity there is to fulfill their dreams of advancing their education and becoming responsible citizens of this great country we live in.
Last week, Jo Ann Speer, manager of Everett Stewart Regional Airport, along with David Moss, with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, visited and brought us up-to-date on the expansion of the airport, a project which has been in the making for several years.
Jo Ann had a slide presentation going on during the entire meeting, displaying historical pictures of the airport from it’s beginning, including photographs during the time it was used for training purposes for World War II Pilots, right up to the present, with construction events and projects which have already been completed for the expansion process.
Mr. Moss took the podium first, explaining the process of how the monies were obtained for the various expansion projects, where it was coming from, how it was applied for and went into detail as to how the State of Tennessee finances it’s multitude of airports and heliports across the state.
He reported that currently there are 73 general aviation airports in the state of Tennessee, similar to the local airport, which means there are no commercial flights in and out of these airports. In addition there are 5 airports in the state which are classified as primary carrier airports, such as Memphis, Nashville, etc. In addition he reported there are 126 heliports across the state, most related to medical needs. David also went into some detail as to how much the Federal Avaition Administration was involved in the airport business and how it has increased since 911.
Toward the end of the program, Jo Ann displayed a short power power point presentation, naming the members of the Board of Directors serving now, explaining the marriage of Weakley and Obion County in order to be called a Regional Airport, naming the corporate customers using the airport at the present time, and explaining the advantages of the extension of the runway, saying that when the extension was completed, the airport could handle 80% of all commercial aircraft.
Coming Attractions
June 10 - Kihyon Kim, Rotary Shelter Box Program.
June 17 - Joshua Owens, UN Projects in the Sudan.
