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 Local Homebuilders Association makes donation to two memorial scholarshipsWhen members of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Homebuilders Association learned that two scholarships were being set up at Austin Peay State University to honor the memory of two local teenagers, they overwhelmingly agreed to show their support. Earlier this semester, after the tragic deaths of incoming APSU freshman Jack Amos and Rossview High School senior Amy Stringer, two memorial scholarships were endowed at the University. The scholarships will provide opportunities for future generations to earn college degrees at APSU. On a Friday morning earlier this month, members of the local homebuilders association stopped by campus to present a sizeable donation toward both scholarships. "We had a golf tournament, and the proceeds from the golf tournament, we felt should go toward these scholarships," Rex Hawkins, president of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Homebuilders Association, said. "A lot of our members at the golf tournament donated to this," Karen Blick, executive officer of the homebuilders association, said. "This donation is from the membership." Jim Amos Jr., father of Jack and a member of the association’s board, was also present for the donation presentation. "Clarksville is truly a community in every sense of the word," he said. Sitting next to him was Tasha Stringer, sister of Amy Stringer. "Knowing that people donated to this, it leaves us speechless," she said. "It's actually very healing, and it helps with the grieving process." Alan Burkhart, past president of the association, was also on hand for the presentation. The donation will help toward endowing the Jackson Amos Memorial Scholarship and the Amy Stringer Memorial Scholarship at APSU. Anyone wishing to contribute to these scholarships can contact the APSU Advancement Office at 221-7127, or send donations to the APSU Foundation, Box 4417, Clarksville, TN, 37044.  Support for a Clarksville Vet Center Needed Rep Joe Pitts enlists community letters of support for a proposed Vet CenterState Representative Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville) is asking the greater Clarksville-Montgomery County community to write letters of support for a proposed Clarksville Vet Center. In 1979 Congress passed the Readjustment Counseling Service law to create Vet Centers. Vet Centers serve veterans and their family members by providing professional readjustment counseling, outreach to special populations, brokering services with community agencies, and providing a key access link between the veteran and other services in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. There are now a total of 224 Vet Centers throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and Guam. "As more and more of our veterans return from serving our country, we are finding a greater need for readjustment services for the veteran and their families," Pitts said. "The Vet Center is an invaluable resource to help this important group of people cope with the rigor and stress of war, multiple deployments, injury, disability and more." The idea of a Clarksville Vet Center was brought to the attention of the Montgomery County delegation of the Tennessee General Assembly by the Rev. Jodi McCullah, of the Lazarus Project, a ministry of the Wesley Foundation at Austin Peay State University. Rev. McCullah started the process and enlisted the help of Sen. Tim Barnes (D-Clarksville) and Rep Pitts during the recently concluded legislative session. Rep Pitts, Many-Bears Grinder, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs, along with Deputy Commissioner Mark Breece, visited the Nashville Vet Center several weeks ago and came away from the visit impressed and committed. "We hope to point out that while the Nashville Vet Center operates at a very high level, our community, with a growing population of veterans and their families, deserves a facility of our own," Pitts said. "We will collect letters and send them in one package to reinforce our community’s support for this critical service." Letters of support should be sent to Representative Pitts by Tuesday, August 16 and can be sent via email, fax or mail. To mail a letter please send to:
Representative Joe Pitts Please specify support for a Clarksville TN Vet Center. For more information about this matter or other issues of importance, please feel free to contact Rep Pitts at rep.joe.pitts@capitol.tn.gov, or 615/741-2043.
 Job Corps and VETS Launch Veteran Employment ProjectJob Corps and VETS Launch Veteran Employment Project: All expenses paid - including housing, job placement and transition support. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)'s Employment and Training Administration and the Veterans' Employment and Training Service have announced a demonstration project to assist eligible veterans who have recently left the military in gaining enhanced skills to compete in the civilian workplace. This project will apply the comprehensive training model of Job Corps - a no-cost education and vocational training program administered by DOL - to support the education and training of 18- to 24-year-old veterans. The initial project will enable young veterans to live and train in one of three Job Corps centers: Atterbury Job Corps Center in Edinburgh, Indiana; Earle C. Clements Job Corps Center in Morganfield, Kentucky; and Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. This demonstration project supports the Secretary of Labor's goal of "Good Jobs for Everyone." It will recruit eligible veterans and teach them the academic, career, technical and social skills they need to become employed. This education and training will be provided to them through services provided by Job Corps. Veterans accepted in the demonstration project will live among non-veterans and other veterans who are also transitioning from the military to civilian life. One of the Job Corps program's key benefits is its post-graduate support. When veterans are ready to begin transitioning into their careers, Job Corps staff will assist them in job searching, resume drafting and job interviewing skills. Job Corps will provide graduates with transition services for up to 21 months after graduation, including assistance with housing, transportation and other support services. Upon completion of training, veterans will be assigned to career transition counselors to assist them with job placement or enrollment in higher education. Participation by veterans in this demonstration project will be free, including transportation to and from the Job Corps center, housing, meals, basic medical services, academic and career technical training, bi-weekly living allowances, and job placement and post-graduation support. For an overview of the program, including locations of Job Corps centers, click here. For a list of FAQs about the program, click here. To view the program brochure, click here. Applications for this program are currently being accepted, and DOL-VETS officials are hoping to fill the available training positions as soon as possible. Veterans are urged to apply by calling the Job Corps at 1-800-733-JOBS.  PetSmart Voluntarily Recalls Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits PetSmart is voluntarily recalling seven of its Grreat Choice Dog Biscuit products that contain peanut paste made by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation into potential salmonella contamination of peanut butter and paste made at its Blakely, Georgia facility.
Contact: PetSmart is voluntarily recalling seven of its Grreat Choice Dog Biscuit products that contain peanut paste made by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation into potential salmonella contamination of peanut butter and paste made at its Blakely, Georgia facility. Although PetSmart is not aware of any reported cases of illness related to these products, it has removed these products from its store shelves and website and is conducting the recall as a precautionary measure. The recalled products include only the following types of Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits sold between Aug. 21, 2008 and Jan. 19, 2009:
* Small Assorted 32 oz., UPC 73725702900 Customers who purchased the recalled dog biscuit products should discontinue use immediately and can return the product to any PetSmart store for a complete refund or exchange. Customers can visit www.petsmartfacts.com for more information or contact PetSmart Customer Service at 1-888-839-9638. No other products or flavors are included in this recall.
 Support for Our Troops and Their PetsSupporting our military service members, veterans, and their beloved pets to ensure they are reunited with their owners following deployment or emergency hardship. Military Service Members and Veterans needing assistance in locating a caring, loving, and safe home for your pets during deployment or emergency hardship can contact: Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pets
  Tenderpaw's Therapy Group Tenderpaw's Pet Therapy Group meets at 10 a.m. the first Saturday of the month in the Legacy Room, Gateway Medical Center. To have your pet screened, call Kathy, 553-8959.
 Dangerous Foods for Our PetsAs pet owners most of us already know about the dangers that chocolate & onions pose for our pets, but, there are several others including: Avocados, Beer, Nuts (esp. walnuts & macadamia nuts), Chocolate (esp. dark and unsweetened baking chocolates), and Candy. Please be aware of anything containing Xylitol, a common sweetener found in some diet products, Caffeine, Grapes & Raisins. For more information click.  
Your Donation to Loaves and Fishes Can Multiply Monetary donations to Loaves and Fishes during the month of April will bring even more money to Clarksville’s soup kitchen, which serves hot lunches to the city’s hungry and homeless every weekday. Local donations to Loaves and Fishes will determine how much that agency will receive from the Feinstein Foundation, in Cranston, R.I. The Feinstein Foundation gives away every spring a total of $1 million to non-profit agencies nationwide helping the needy. The Foundation's philosophy fits in well with the biblical story behind "Loaves and Fishes." Their website notes that local agencies use Feinstein money as a spur to their own fundraising. It boasts, "In the last 7 years, our annual $1 million giveaway has brought in-for over 2000 agencies across America-a total of 475 million dollars!" You can help Loaves and Fishes multiply your donation by giving this month. Donate online by visiting this website: Loaves and Fishes or send your donation to:
Loaves and Fishes
Volunteer To Help SafeHouse SafeHouse, the domestic violence shelter for women and children in Clarksville, needs volunteers. For more information, contact Christy Hood at Urban Ministries or telephone 648-9100. The Montgomery County Association for Retarded Citizens MCARC was established in this county in 1952 by Katherine Rudolph and a small group of local parents. Their primary goals, in the beginning, were to establish education rights for all children regardless of abilities. Later, the local chapter worked with all state and national chapters to acquire financial stability,( SSA and SSI), and health care access, (Medicare and Medicaid), for individuals with mental retardation. Today, the MCARC is an advocacy unit of the national organization, The ARC. Although they do not directly provide services for individuals with mental retardation or similar disabilities, they do advocate on their behalf by assisting families in acquiring SSI,SSA or adult services in the state of Tennessee. Additionally, MCARC provides social outlets for adults with M/R by hosting a monthly Saturday Recreation Program the first Saturday of each month. For approximately 15 years, MCARC has raised funds for its activities by operating a small thrift store, ARC Thrift Store. The store is currently located at 312 Madison in beautiful downtown Clarksville! Open Monday – Saturday from 9 AM – 5PM, this 501 (C) (3) organization accepts donations daily and can give tax receipts for all donations. For further information about MCARC or The ARC Thrift Store you can call (931) 905-0900.
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