New edition alert: Lawmakers adjourn for the year and we hand out our annual TNJ awards
The latest print edition of The Tennessee Journal is out. Here is what’s in it:
— With the legislature safely adjourned, we hand out awards for the year’s best legislation, lobbying effort, and administration liaison. Also, an assortment participation medals for less laudable actions during the session.
— Party purity? Trump-backed candidate kicked off GOP ballot, but pot-smoking party switcher stays.
— Twenty-two Republican hopefuls failed to meet party standards but 13 are restored to the ballot, including a challenger to Rep. Scott Cepicky and three of four GOP candidates to succeed retiring Rep. Michael Curcio.
Also: Weston Wamp says he’s not behind attacks on rivals, Knoxville hires a new police chief, lawmakers deal final insult to Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle, and the latest intrigue surrounding Bruce and Rebecca Griffey.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Or subscribe here.
Lee announces environmental stewardship awards
Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner David Salyers have announced the winners of the 2021 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards. See the full release below.
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers today announced the winners of the 2021 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards.
The winners will be formally recognized for their achievements and positive impact on the state’s natural resources and communities in an awards ceremony Oct. 4 in Franklin.
“Whether it’s a private business, a government body, or a college or university, we want to recognize those who are showing a commitment to protecting the environment in Tennessee,” Lee said. “Our honorees this year have proved worthy of such recognition.”
“We have an outstanding group of award recipients,” Salyers said. “We want these awards not only to honor the winners but to encourage others to follow their lead.”
The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program recognizes exceptional voluntary actions that improve or protect the environment and natural resources with projects or initiatives not required by law or regulation.
In its 35th year, the awards program covers the following categories: agriculture and forestry; building green; clean air; energy and renewable resources; environmental education and outreach; materials management; natural resource conservation; sustainable performance; and water quality conservation. TDEC did not name a winner this year in the clean air category.
The 2021 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award recipients are:
| Entity | County | Category |
| The City of Kingsport | Sullivan | Natural Resources |
| Clayton Savannah | Hardin | Materials Management |
| Coffee County Soil Conservation District | Coffee | Agriculture and Forestry |
| Cumberland River Compact | Davidson | Water Quality |
| Nokian Tyres Dayton | Rhea | Sustainable Performance |
| Tennessee Tech University | Putnam | Building Green |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Davidson | Environmental Education and Outreach |
| Vanderbilt University | *Bedford, Davidson, Franklin | Energy Renewable Resources |
| Not Awarded | Clean Air |
*The Vanderbilt University award is listed with three counties because the project took place in those counties.
The Knoxville Utilities Board, Metro Nashville Department of General Services, and Tennsco in Dickson are recognized with Pursuit of Excellence Awards, which recognize past award winners who continue to demonstrate a high regard for environmental stewardship.
The Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the awards ceremony.
A panel of 11 professionals representing agriculture, conservation, forestry, environment, and academic professions judged more than 75 nominations and selected this year’s award recipients based on criteria including on-the-ground environmental achievement, innovation, transferability, partnerships, and public education. Details about each award winner can be found in the accompanying attachment.
Tennessee State Museum gets reaccredited, wins award for food exhibition
The Tennessee State Museum has been awarded a renewed accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. The facility also won an award from the American Association for State and Local History for an exhibition titled “Let’s Eat! The Origins and Evolutions of Tennessee Food.”
Here’s the release from the museum,
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – May 20, 2020 – The Tennessee State Museum has received prestigious recognition from two major national museum organizations. The Museum has been re-accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition signifying excellence afforded the nation’s museums. In addition, the Museum is a recipient of an Award of Excellence from The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) for its 2019-20 exhibition, Let’s Eat! Origins and Evolutions of Tennessee Food. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 75th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.
“Recognition like this on the national level is an achievement that the Museum and the people of Tennessee can be extremely proud of,” said Ashley Howell, executive director of the Tennessee State Museum. “It indicates that we are operating at the highest level in our service to our community and visitors, and in the presentation of our exhibitions and programs. The museum continues to serve through digital programming during our current closure.”
Originally accredited in 2003, the Tennessee State Museum’s re-accreditation comes more than a year-and-a-half after the Museum opened in its new location at Rosa L. Parks Blvd and Jefferson St, at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville. From October, 2018 through February, 2020, some 275,439 visitors came to the Museum and Military Branch of the Museum, including 56,257 students and adults through field trips and group tours. In addition to its permanent exhibitions, the Museum opened and closed four temporary exhibitions in that time, including Let’s Eat! Origins and Evolutions of Tennessee Food. It is readying its latest, Ratified! Tennessee Women and the Right to Vote, for when the Museum reopens to the public. Complementing its exhibitions, it has hosted dozens of events, lectures, panel discussions and film screenings. Through its statewide education outreach, the Museum offers schools and cultural organizations throughout the state access to its Traveling Trunks program and traveling exhibitions. In its first year in its new location, 55,307 students were served through the Traveling Trunks program.
