Thurs, December 29, 2011

In today's news, below, read whether Titan's Mike Munchak wants to coach at Penn State, get Bill Hall funeral details, Jimmy Hoffa 'found', and see the Year-in-review through amazing photos. After today, Anna's News will be next updated on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Happy New Year! 

2011 YAHOO YEAR-IN-REVIEW
Great photos and a look back at top stories, and top photos that moved us.

MUNCHAK NOT INTERESTED IN PENN STATE JOB
Mike Munchak says he is NOT going to Penn State to coach. After rumors that the Titans coach might be called to replace Joe Paterno, Munchak says he loves his alma mater but never wants to leave Tennessee.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS SET FOR LONGTIME NASHVILLE WEATHERMAN
Funeral arrangements have been set for longtime local weatherman Bill Hall who passed away late last week. There'll be a public viewing today from 1 to 5 at Temple Baptist Church, visitation starts tomorrow at 10 and the funeral is at 11. Bill Hall was 65.

POLICE SAY TO PARK SMART THIS WEEKEND
Metro police are reminding you to park smart this weekend. They say there were a LOT of car break-ins reported at holiday events, such as games or the New Year's Eve celebration... and usually it's when people get in a hurry and leave valuables in the car. Cops say you should put EVERYTHING in your trunk so thieves will see your empty car and move on.

JIMMY HOFFA BELIEVED TO BE BURIED UNDER GM HEADQUARTERS
If you're not over a certain age you won't know who I'm talking about... but older folks know the mystery of what happened to ex Labor Union boss Jimmy Hoffa has never been solved. A new book claims to know what happened. Hoffa's former driver-turned-police informant, Marvin Elkind, claims Hoffa is still in Detroit, buried underneath General Motors' headquarters. Elkind's book is called, "The Weasel: A Double Life in the Mob". (Hoffa disappeared in 1975 while reportedly on his way to meet two mafia figures. He was declared legally dead in 1982, but his body has never been found. Hoffa rose to fame as the Teamsters leader, but was booted from power after being convicted of jury tampering, conspiracy and mail and wire fraud. )

IT'S ILLEGAL TO LEAVE RUNNING CARS UNATTENDED
On a day like today, it's tempting to start the car and let it run to thaw out, but police remind you it's illegal in Tennessee to do so. If someone steals your car and it's involved in an accident, YOU may be liable for the damages.

MIKE MUNCHAK SAYS HE'S 'NOT INTERESTED' IN PENN STATE POSITION
Despite reports of Titans' head coach Mike Munchak being named a top candidate to take over as head coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions, he says he has no interest in the position. Munchak says they've not even contacted him, but if they do, he's staying here. The 51-year-old coach played football for Penn State under former head coach Joe Paterno from 1978 to 1981. Munchak just replaced Titans head coach Jeff Fisher in February.

Light Bulb Phase-Out Starts Sunday
I'll bet you've seen people buying light bulbs recently. Here's why: incandescent light bulbs are being phased out. President George W. Bush signed a law in 2007 that requires us to change over to bulbs that use at least 25% less energy than incandescent. Starting January 1st, it'll be illegal to make or import 100-watt incandescent light bulbs...though stores can sell those they already have in stock. (The second phase of the nation's switch from Thomas Edison's 131-year old creation will start January first, 2013 when 75-watt bulbs will begin their death march. Forty-watt and 60-watt bulbs will be phased out starting New Year's Day, 2014.)

MUSIC NOTE DROP
And Nashville is getting ready to Rock Out the old year and Ring in the new with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Nashville's New Year's Eve party starts at 7 Saturday night on Lower Broadway, with a street party. Includes music from Lynyrd Skynyrd, and fireworks, and wraps up with the midnight Music Note drop. Admission is free.

SOBER RIDE NUMBER NO LONGER FOR PICKUP
Even though only about a thousand people will probably use the Davidson County Sheriff's department's Sober Ride on New Year's eve, the Sheriff's department is really pushing it because every drunk you help keep from behind the wheel, could be a life of someone else saved. So spread the word... to get a free sober ride home... you have to get to the bus stop at 2nd and Church or 5th and Broadway, between 10pm and 2am New Years Eve, where you'll be taken to LP Field, and a volunteer will drive you home. If you forget where they are, you can still call 862-RIDE. Not to BOOK a ride, but to find out where you need to be to catch the bus to LP Field, and a safe ride home.

GOOGLE PLUS EXPECTS 400-MILLION MEMBERS BY 2012
Experts say Google's social networking site Google Plus is expected to have 400-million members by the end of 2012. With about 625-thousand new users being added every day.... the site hopes to challenge the supremacy of Facebook, which has about 800-million subscribers. Experts say Google Plus is benefiting from an increase in the number of people using Google's Android smartphone software.

POSTAL SERVICE USED FLAWED DATA TO TARGET CLOSURES
The U.S. Postal Service did not use good information in deciding which post offices and processing centers it wants to close. That's the conclusion of the Postal Regulatory Commission. Commission chairman Ruth Goldway says Postal Service officials don't have good data to tell them which post offices will grow and which are on a downhill path. The Postal Service wants to close about 36-hundred post offices to stem operating losses that are expected to be more than 14-billion dollars next year. Congress prevailed on the Postal Service to hold off on closing any facilities until spring, to see if Congress can shore up the agency's finances.

GEORGE JONES' FRANKLIN ESTATE ON HGTV MONDAY
If you've ever wondered what George and Nancy Jones estate in Franklin looks like, here's your chance to see it. It'll be featured on Hollywood at Home... Monday night on HGTV. The show takes you on a guided tour of the 78-acre estate which features two lakes, five outbuildings, two caretakers' homes, an outdoor kitchen, swimming pool, a stable, and the ten-thousand-square-foot main house.

STOLEN EQUIPMENT FOUND AFTER DEPUTIES KILL MAN 
McMinn County authorities say they found an estimated $250,000 in stolen equipment at the home of a man after deputies fatally shot him. Allan Shepherd was killed Monday morning when he ran from the officers and then pulled a handgun on them. The deputies had gone to the home of the 37-year-old man and his wife, Leah Shepherd, to serve indictments a grand jury had returned against the couple. They were suspected of disassembling stolen vehicles and equipment and selling the parts. Among items found at the couple's home were a farm tractor stolen in Niota and a pickup truck stolen from the Sweetwater Housing Authority, according to The Daily Post-Athenian (<http://bit.ly/rVwICw>). The two deputies were placed on routine administrative leave while the TBI investigates the shooting.

LOHAN DAD HOSPITALIZED AGAIN 
Lindsay Lohan's dad is reportedly back under medical watch after collapsing at an Alcoholic's Anonymous meeting on Tuesday. RadarOnline.com says the actress' father, Michael Lohan, was rushed to Palm Beach Gardens Hospital in Florida where doctors found a clot in his lung. Sources tell the website doctors gave Michael medication to break down the clot and conducted a thorough exam to make sure it had not spread to his brain. It's not known when he will be released from the hospital. Test results are pending.
Lohan underwent surgery earlier this month to repair blockage in his heart. He has been serving out a court-appointed rehab stay following his arrest in October for violating the terms of a restraining order. Lohan is expected to return to rehab once he is released from the hospital.

HORSE SLAUGHTERHOUSE DEBATE HEATS UP 
The horse slaughterhouse debate is heating up in Tennessee. "The Tennessean" reports state Representative Frank Niceley says opening up the facilities for killing and processing meat is a humane way to address horses that are otherwise starving or abused. A recent federal funding bill reversed the stipulation that prevents the USDA from using its money to inspect the slaughterhouses. Inspection opens them up for processing horse meat for human consumption. Animal rights activists are outraged.

PINNACLE COMPLETING TARP PAYBACK 
Pinnacle Financial is on its way to paying back TARP money to the federal government. The "Business Journal" reports Nashville's biggest locally based bank is paying back loans from the Troubled Asset Relief Program with its own money, rather than the road taken by many other banks, which is raising new stock or taking on new debt. Pinnacle told investors yesterday it had paid back 25-percent of the shares owned by the U.S. Treasury, close to 24 million. They say they could pay it all back by the end of next year.

OFFICER DEATHS UP THIS YEAR
2011 wasn't the best year to be a police officer, at least for personal safety. A report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund shows on the job deaths for officers rose 13-percent this year. Spokespersons from the organization blame budget cuts, resulting in officers getting less training on how to deal with dangerous suspects.

SPRING HILL COULD OPEN CITY'S FIRST MOVIE THEATER
Spring Hill city officials are scheduled to decide if a private roadway should be open to the public, which would allow the city to build its first movie theater. Mayor Michael Dinwiddie said he hopes the movie theater will be built in the area next to the Crossing's development on the south side of the city. The mayor and alderman are set to vote on the road issue Thursday night.

HOW/WHERE TO RECYCLE HOLIDAY TRASH, BATTERIES, ELECTRONICS
Holiday Trash and Recycling Pickup
Recycle your live Christmas tree beginning December 27 at 11 locations in Davidson County. All trees must be free of lights, ornaments, icicles, all tinsel and garland. No flocked trees will be accepted.
You'll also find information on getting rid of your holiday trash, and where to recycle old batteries (Radio Shack). 
Old Electronics and Computer Equipment
Residents of Nashville & Davidson County can take all types of electronics including computers and monitors (limit one computer system per household/month), printers, TVs, microwaves, music and video cassettes, computer disks, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and more to Metro's household hazardous waste facility.