Month: April 2010

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley receives major gift and matching funds challenge from Charlie and Moll Anderson Family Foundation

Posted by admin – April 29, 2010

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – (April 29, 2010) – Today, during the Gift of Hope Fundraising Luncheon that benefits Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, Moll Anderson representing the Charlie and Moll Anderson Family Foundation announced an outright gift of $150,000 to the organization, plus another $150,000 as a challenge grant.  For any person or organization donating funds during or after the luncheon, the Charlie and Moll Anderson Family Foundation will match that contribution, dollar for dollar, up to $150,000.

Since any funds donated will be matched by the Charlie and Moll Anderson Family Foundation, this is the best opportunity to donate to Boys & Girls Clubs. Essentially, this campaign has the capacity to generate $450,000 for the organization.

“We had heard of the struggle that Boys & Girls Clubs is going through right now. Budgets are tight for everyone, but this is an organization that the East Tennessee community should never be without,” said Moll Anderson. “I personally have a wonderful history with Boys & Girls Clubs through my son and I can say first-hand that the organization makes an extremely positive difference in the lives of our youth. So, my husband Charlie and I are doing everything we can to motivate the community to donate as well.”

It costs Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley approximately $1,000 per child each year to serve all 6,000 members of the organization. If the goal is reached and $450,000 is donated from this campaign, that means 450 children will in essence be “sponsored” from the community.

“We are challenging organizations and individuals to give or raise $1,000 and sponsor one child each. And this is a great way to get friends involved – host a bake sale, a car wash, and have fun with it! We’ll match dollar for dollar, so any money that’s donated will go even further,” said Moll Anderson.

“We are thrilled that the Charlie and Moll Anderson Family Foundation is stepping up to the plate with this contribution. We have had to cut $1.2 million from our budget over the past two years and we cannot cut further without seriously curtailing services,” said John D. Lee, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.

The Gift of Hope Award, which was presented today, was created to honor and recognize Emmet P. “Buck” and Linda Vaughn for their many years of outstanding dedication, inspiration and hope they have provided to the members of Boys & Girls Clubs. Buck and Linda honored the George Sampson Family and Cherokee Distributing Company with the award in appreciation of 32 years of exceptional support of fund raising events, programs and services of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.

Boys & Girls Clubs is embarking on a 15-month fundraising effort to raise $1.3 million, beginning with the annual Gift of Hope Fundraising Luncheon. Half of that is needed between now and Dec. 31, 2010, in order to maintain programs and critical outreach services. The organization also must raise $1.3 million every year in the future to sustain operations.

Boys & Girls Clubs currently serves 5,825 members, ages 5 to 18 years old throughout the region. The organization also provides 414,970 USDA hot meals and snacks annual for members free of charge. The Clubs see as many as 1,200 youth walk through the doors on any given day. There are 15 Club locations in Knox, Blount, Loudon and North Anderson Counties.

Those who are interested in donating may do so by visiting www.bgctnv.org. For more information or to schedule an interview, contact John D. Lee at (865) 248-1100 or jlee@bgctnv.org.

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About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley

Boys & Girls Clubs has served the Tennessee Valley region since 1943. Its mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need the organization the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The organization’s programs are focused on Character & Leadership Development, Education & Career Development, Health & Life Skills, the Arts, Sports and Fitness & Recreation. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley serves members in Knox, Blount, Loudon and North Anderson Counties. The organization employs more than 260 trained, professional, caring staff and welcomes more than 1,200 volunteers annually. It is a charter member of United Way.

Media Contact
Sarah Malak
Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
smalak@ackermannpr.com

Initial Sevier County Education Hall of Fame Class Inducted

Posted by Ryan Willis – April 28, 2010

Sevierville, Tenn. – Last night, the first class of honorees for the Sevier County Education Hall of Fame was inducted during the 16th Annual “Teacher of the Year” Banquet and Ceremony held at the Park Vista Hotel and Convention Center.  The Hall of Fame was created by Sevier County Bank in partnership with Sevier County Schools to recognize outstanding teachers, administrators and support staff.  The initial class includes fourteen recipients, each receiving an eternal flame trophy, while their names will appear on a plaque in the Sevier County Education Central Office.

“This group represents the absolute best of Sevier County Schools, spanning many years of education in this county,” said Dr. Jack Parton, Superintendent of Sevier County Schools.  “We would like to thank Sevier County Bank for being the driving force behind this wonderful initiative, helping us honor and recognize those who have given so much of their lives to our schools, students and this community.”

2010 Sevier County Education Hall of Fame Class

“We have so much admiration and respect for the time and dedication all of the teachers, administrators and support staff put forth,” said R.B. Summitt, Sevier County Bank President.  “The Hall of Fame provides a way to recognize their hard work and also celebrate the achievements of school system employees’ from many years ago that have played a large role in shaping the Sevier County community.”

Below is a list of this year’s inductees:

Mr. William Wesley Williams – Mr. Williams was born and raised in Sevierville, TN and graduated from Sevier County High School in 1956.  He began teaching at Sevier County High School in 1966, teaching for 37 years before a short-lived retirement.  He taught for seven more years before retiring once again this past January.  He taught every science course available during his 44 years at Sevier County High School.

Mr. Chan F. Huskey – A graduate of Pittman Center High School in 1934, Mr. Huskey held a number of positions in the Sevier County School System.  He served as a teacher, principal, Superintendent of Schools, coach and Board of Education member as well as working in the Tennessee Education Department.  He worked at a number of  Sevier County schools, including Bellevue, Flatt Creek, Dripping Springs, Fair Gardens, Gatlinburg Pittman High School, New Center, Fairgrounds, Pi Beta Phi, Sevierville Middle School and Sevier County High School twice.

Dr. William A. Smith, Jr. – Dr. Smith was an educator all of his life – not just in academics, but in his teachings of life, responsibility, joy, accountability and love, by his story telling and by example.  Throughout his years in the Sevier County Education System, Dr. Smith wore many hats from teacher to assistant principal to principal and Central Office Supervisor.  The late Dr. William A. Smith, Jr. and his wife Sherry have two children, Will and Kristy.

Eleanor Hayes – Eleanor Hayes’ title was Instructional Supervisor for Middle Grades Education, but her dedication to middle grades students reached far above and beyond her job description.   She created many unique programs that continue to provide academic enrichment within the Sevier County School System, including the County-wide Spelling Bee, Science Fair and Fun and Fitness Day.

Emma K. Atchley – A native of Dayton, TN, Mrs. Atchley began her time with Sevier County Schools as a substitute teacher from 1955 until 1964.  In 1964, Emma became a full time educator spending a half day teaching French at the elementary school and the other half teaching English and math at Sevier County High.  From 1965 until 1994 she taught English, algebra and geometry at SCHS.  In 1988, Emma was selected as the Sevier County Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Grady Floyd – For many years Mr. Grady took care of the Seymour and Seymour Intermediate buildings.  He led his life as a model for others to follow.  Nothing was ever not his “job.”  He was always looking for a project, always ready to help fix something and always there, taking great pride in all that he did. Mr. Grady considered a clean, safe building as important as a textbook.

Johnnie M. Ballard – Born in 1915 in the Boyd’s Creek community, the first school she attended was built on land donated by her family to Sevier County and aptly named, Ballard School.  After this school closed she then went to Chilhowee Elementary, now known as Seymour Elementary, where she worked as a teacher and principal for most of her 40 years as an educator. In 1963 she was named principal of Seymour Elementary, the only female principal in Sevier County at the time; she also was a full time teacher and the school’s secretary.

Julia P. Householder – Mrs. Householder was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and taught at Sevier County High School for 33 years.  Her subjects included civics, geography, business law and salesmanship, world history and American Government.  She also had many other responsibilities within the school and was the first guidance counselor at Sevier County High School.  In 2009, she was inducted into the Sevier County High School Athletic Hall of Fame and later received a diploma making her an honorary alumnus of SCHS.

Leroy Helton – Mr. Helton grew up in Sevier County and graduated from Sevier County High School in 1966. Following graduation from the University of Tennessee, Helton began teaching agriculture at Sevier County High School and continued in this position until his retirement in 2004.  He taught for 39 years and also enjoyed working with his students in the Agriculture Education youth organization (FFA).

Mary B. McMahan – Mrs. McMahan was born on July 7, 1896 in Williamsburg, Kentucky.  She spent 38 years teaching at Pleasant View School in Sevierville, and was the first teacher in Sevier County to earn a Master’s Degree and the only teacher in Sevier County for several years to obtain this high level of education.  Mrs. McMahan was honored November 10, 1968 along with five other women as the most deserving Sevier County Educational Americans at a service banquet sponsored by the Jayettes Organization of Sevier County.

Norma Elizabeth Stonecipher Blair – She graduated early from high school in Oakdale, Tennessee.  In 1971, her family moved to Sevier County and was hired by Sevier County High School, where she set out to prepare students for their college careers.  She devised and wrote a course curriculum for Advanced Composition, which her principals encouraged her to implement in the classroom.  In 1990, she was nominated as East Tennessee Regional Teacher of the Year.

Reba Caughron Hood – Reba Hood served Sevier County for 60 years, beginning her teaching career at Laurel Lick School, a small two room school, in Sevier County in 1939.  She then taught high school English at Pi Beta Phi High School in Gatlinburg before serving as principal of Underwood and Sunset Gap School.  She later returned to her home community of Pigeon Forge where she taught from 1949 until her retirement in 1988.  In 1988, she opened Montgomery School where she continued to share her love for children for the next fourteen years.   Mrs. Hood was named to the Tennessee Teachers Hall of Fame by the Tennessee Education Association in April 2000.

Rubye F. Shields – Born on October 20, 1914 in Vardaman, Mississippi, Mrs. Shields and her husband moved to Sevier County in 1944.  She began teaching at Laurel School before going to the one room Shady Grove School.  When Shady Grove closed, Mrs. Shields went to Caton’s Chapel as principal and teacher.  In 1956, Mrs. Shields began teaching English at Sevier County High School until a science position became available.  She later became head of the science department and taught biology, chemistry, and physics.  She taught the first physics class offered at SCHS, and in 1979 she retired after 37 years of teaching.

Freda Hodges – A graduate of Sevier County High School, Mrs. Hodges worked as an assistant and drove the bus for the Douglas Cherokee Head Start Program for several years.  After that, she spent time at Kodak Elementary before moving to Northview Middle.  In 1985, Mrs. Hodges began working at the Sevier County Education Central Office, serving as a receptionist until she retired at the end of 2001.  Since her retirement in 2001, she has worked as a receptionist part-time at the Central Office, bringing her time spent with the Sevier County Education System to 35 years and counting.

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Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com

2010 Sevier County Teacher of the Year Awards Announced

Posted by Ryan Willis – April 28, 2010

Sevierville, Tenn. – Three Sevier County teachers were recognized yesterday as Sevier County’s 2010 Teachers of the Year.  Cheryl Deaton, Pigeon Forge Primary; Debbie West, Seymour Middle and Karen Kelley, Pigeon Forge High School received the awards for their outstanding performance and significant contributions to the education of Sevier County’s students.  This is the sixteenth year the awards have been presented; they are co-sponsored by Sevier County Bank and Park Vista Hotel and Convention Center.

2010 Sevier County Teachers of the Year

“By leading, challenging and inspiring students, these educators play a key role each day in developing the young people of our county,” said R. B. Summitt, Sevier County Bank President.  “It is truly an honor for Sevier County Bank to once again be a part of these awards, saluting these teachers for their steadfast commitment to providing a quality education to the students of Sevier County.” 

The 16th Annual “Teacher of the Year” Banquet and Ceremony was held at the Park Vista Hotel and Convention Center in Gatlinburg.  Since 1994, nearly 600 outstanding teachers have been recognized with the recognition

dinner and program designed to highlight their special achievements. 

“Each of these teachers represents Sevier County’s very best because they put student achievement above all else,” stated Dr. Jack Parton, Superintendent of Sevier County Schools.  “With the continued support of Sevier County Bank and Park Vista we are able to recognize these wonderful educators for their dedication and outstanding work they do with our students and future leaders of this community.”

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Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com

Internationally-recognized magician Terry Evanswood makes new, permanent home at WonderWorks

Posted by Erin Freeman – April 27, 2010

Terry Evanswood

Terry Evanswood at WonderWorks

Pigeon Forge, Tenn. – The movies have the “Oscar” and magic has the “Merlin.”  Both are highly sought-after awards given only to the most outstanding performers and artists.  WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. is now the permanent home to Terry Evanswood, one of a very select group of magicians to ever earn a Merlin.  Harry Blackstone, Doug Henning, Siegfried & Roy, and David Copperfield are a few of the past Merlin winners.

In addition to Evanswood’s daily performances of “Wonders of Magic” at WonderWorks, a new museum called the “Hall of Magic” just opened inside WonderWorks showcasing some of magic’s most treasured artifacts from legendary magicians like Harry Houdini, Howard Thurston and Harry Blackstone.  A huge collection of priceless props, costumes, autographs, mechanical toys, memorabilia and antique magic sets are now on display in the free Hall of Magic museum.

Over the years, Evanswood has thrilled audiences with his performances throughout the world, with some of his biggest fans being other famous magicians.  Now that Evanswood has found a home at the popular WonderWorks attraction in Pigeon Forge, he is within a one-day drive of most major cities in the Eastern U.S. and a must-see for visitors to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“When I begin my show,” Evanswood said, “I look out and see an audience full of children, parents and grandparents. By the time I am half-way through my performance, I look out on each and every face and I see an entire audience of kids.  The look of complete awe and wonderment on their faces turns every single person in the room into a child.  That’s the most impressive magic trick I can ever hope to perform.”

Merlin Award

Terry Evanswood's Merlin Award in the Hall of Magic Museum at WonderWorks

Evanswood, who knew he wanted to be a magician since he was 9 years old, has performed in front of well over a million people (including being invited twice to perform at the White House in Washington, D.C.).  Along with his cast – Brittany McElroy. Natasha Volvacheva, Linda Black and Mike Phillips –  Evanswood continues to thrill huge crowds daily at WonderWorks with magic, illusions, sleight-of-hand, Houdini-style escapes and a dose of comedy.

WonderWorks, is an indoor theme park that opened in 2006 and has nearly 60,000 square feet of fun for all ages. WonderWorks is housed in an upside down building (you have to see it to be believe it).  The building appears to have been ripped from its foundation and set back down on its roof.

Inside WonderWorks, guests will find 120 interactive adventures that include the “Challenge Zone” with a rock wall climbing, physical and psychological endurance competitions and even a “bed of nails” to lie on.  In the “Space Zone,” visitors are entertained with interactive, 3-D films about outer space plus life-size recreations of space suits they can try on for size, a Mercury Space Capsule, and simulators that allow guests to land the Discovery Space Shuttle as it glides in from outer space.

WonderWorks also houses a “Sound and Light Zone,” a “Natural Disaster Zone” (where guests can experience a 5.3 earthquake), and the “Control Center” where visitors create roller coasters on computers and then get to ride the roller coaster they created in a coaster simulator.  WonderWorks also features the WonderDog Café where guests can enjoy the world-famous WonderDog with its secret recipe chili sauce without ever leaving the attraction.

Every evening, WonderWorks comes to life with the “Hoot N’Holler” dinner show – one of the most popular shows in the Great Smoky Mountains.  For years, visitors have enjoyed a fantastic three-course dinner with their family while experiencing the 90-minute performance featuring “Scraps,” whose antics leave guests rolling in the aisles with laughter.  Kids are always FREE at the Hoot N’ Holler diner show with a paying adult.

ValueVacation tickets to WonderWorks are available in a variety of packages that meet the needs of any size family.  To learn more about WonderWorks, the Hoot N’Holler dinner show and the new Wonders of Magic show featuring Terry Evanswood, visit www.WonderWorksTN.com or call 865-868-1800.

WonderWorks operates from 9 a.m. to midnight every day.  We also operate in Orlando, Fla. and will open soon in Panama City, Fla. and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Wilderness at the Smokies, Titanic Museum Attraction and WonderWorks on Sirius-XM Radio

Posted by Erin Freeman – April 26, 2010

Christine Eads

Christine Eads recently asked Ackermann PR’s Rick Laney to do a travel segment about East Tennessee for Sirius-XM Radio’s national talk show BroadMinded.  Christine and her son came down from Washington, D.C. to East Tennessee for a few days and Rick had the opportunity to show them some of the best new resorts and attractions the area has to offer.

The interview includes Wilderness at the Smokies resort, the new Titanic Museum Attraction and WonderWorks.  All three are clients of Ackermann PR.

The interview (which can be listened to below) has been divided into two segments.  The first segment covers primarily Wilderness at the Smokies resort and the second segment covers mostly the Titanic Museum Attraction.  Take a few minutes to listen in, even if you live here.  You might be surprised at how people from other parts of the country respond to East Tennessee.  You might want to take in some of the new local attractions yourself — they’re just down the road.

A special thanks to Christine Eads and the crew from Broadminded.  We look forward to seeing them back in East Tennessee again real soon.

Wilderness at the Smokies segment

Titanic Museum Attraction segment

Interview is © Sirius-XM Radio’s BroadMinded.

Cellular Sales goes from a single cell phone store to the nation’s largest retailer of Verizon Wireless

Posted by Erin Freeman – April 22, 2010

Dane Scism

Dane Scism at the opening of Cellular Sales' 300th store.

Knoxville, Tenn. – Like most 20-year-olds, Dane Scism held a number of part-time, low paying jobs while working his way through college at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.  Eventually, Scism ended up selling cell phones at a small cell phone store a few miles from campus.  It was during this time that Scism realized he possessed a real talent for sales.

After college, Scism struck a deal with his boss and ended up buying the solitary cell phone store in the run-down building on Kingston Pike in Knoxville.  Now, 16 years later, Scism owns that store and 298 others from Maine to Florida to Texas – and everywhere in between.  His company, Verizon Wireless Retailer, Cellular Sales, is the nation’s largest retailer of Verizon Wireless products and services.  This week, the company celebrated its 300th store opening in Maryville, Tenn., just a few miles from Scism’s very first store.

In recent years, Inc. Magazine has named his company one of the nation’s fastest growing retailers, and in spite of the tough economy, Cellular Sales continues to open 30 to 50 new stores every quarter.  That one location in a strip center has turned into a more than $300 million annual business that maintains an annual growth rate of more than 150 percent and has 2,000 sales consultants across the country.

Dane Scism Cellular Sales

Cellular Sales founder and CEO Dane Scism talks to the media.

“Cellular Sales is a testimony to customer service,” said Scism, founder and CEO of Cellular Sales.  “Our business model is based on treating every customer as if they were our only customer.  People notice it when you take care of them.

“How many people are there that know exactly who to call – by name – when they have a question about their cell phone or their service plan?  Our customers have a name and contact number for their own personal wireless consultant, a real person they can talk to right there in their own community.  We’re proud of the way we take care of customers, and we know it is the reason we are growing.”

For the past 16 years, Cellular Sales has consistently outperformed the rest of its industry, and is now the nation’s largest retailer of Verizon Wireless.  By year end, Cellular Sales plans to open 50 to 75 additional stores, bringing the company’s total number of locations to nearly 400.

“When the economy is booming, growth is expected,” Scism said.  “But companies that are growing in spite of the economy – like Cellular Sales – have to be doing something different.  I’m most proud of those things that make us different.”

For more information about Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless, visit the company’s website at www.cellularsales.com or call (865) 588-3855.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Animal Planet star visits Knoxville

Posted by admin – April 20, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – Knoxville gained a little more star power today when Joel Silverman (pictured below), host of the popular television series “Good Dog U” on Animal Planet, paid a visit to PetSafe Village.

Silverman stopped in Knoxville as part of a traveling tour to promote his new book, “What Color is Your Dog?,” a training book that presents a new color-coding technique to recognize and then enhance dog behavior based on the dog’s personality. He also performed a presentation and dog-training demonstration with his dog, Foster. A book sale and autograph session also accompanied the event.

Besides hosting his own series on Animal Planet, Silverman is also a nationally-recognized dog trainer. In fact, he has worked behind the scenes training animals for movies, television shows and commercials. For the past 10 years, he has been closely involved and responsible for coordinating and training the dogs and cats in most of the IAMS national commercial and print advertisements. Additionally, he has created his own line of dog training videos.

“We were thrilled to host Joel today. He’s an expert in his field and is extremely passionate about animal welfare, so it’s a true honor to have him in Knoxville,” said Randy Boyd, founder and CEO of Radio Systems Corporation, makers of PetSafe brands.

“It’s so important that a community be pet-friendly. I am thoroughly impressed with Knoxville and its community leaders who have the passion to pursue making this a place that is friendly toward animals,” said Silverman. “A pet can really have an enormous positive impact on a person’s life, and it’s critical that America’s communities support that.”

Silverman’s visit fits into the effort to make Knoxville and Knox County the Pet Friendliest Community in America.  The effort consists of focusing on major expansion of pet activities and events, pet-focused tourism and more pet-friendly park acres and businesses and more. Numerous community leaders from City of Knoxville, Knox County, Young Williams Animal Center, the University of Tennessee, PetSafe, the Knoxville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation have been involved from the start of the movement, which kicked off in July 2009.

For more information about Joel Silverman, visit www.companionsforlife.net. For more information on the Pet Friendliest Community initiative in Knoxville and Knox County, visit www.PetFriendliestCommunity.com.

About PetSafe®
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, PetSafe® is the industry leader in the management of pet behavior, offering pet training, containment, safety and lifestyle product solutions. PetSafe® introduced the first do-it-yourself electronic fence to the pet market in 1991 and the first wireless fence in 1998. PetSafe’s product line up includes: kennels and electronic underground fences; bark control systems; a selection of remote training products; pet doors; pet identification collars; heated wellness products; pet feeders and a growing line of lifestyle products. For more information about PetSafe®, visit: www.petsafe.net.

For more information:
Sarah Malak, Ackermann PR
865-584-0550
SMalak@AckermannPR.com

More than 20,000 people turn out to launch the Titanic Museum Attraction in East Tennessee

Posted by Erin Freeman – April 14, 2010

Pigeon Forge, Tenn. –  The new Titanic Museum Attraction in East Tennessee had a star-studded weekend-long Grand Opening hosted by Regis Philbin this weekend. The event also featured numerous descendants and family members of those on board the Titanic and included a christening of the ship by Captain Edward J. Smith.

The weekend-long Grand Opening Celebration at the new Titanic Museum Attraction included the christening, a special Grand Opening ceremony hosted by Philbin, a free concert by country music legend Neal McCoy, a free concert by Beatles cover band Liverpool Legends (hand-picked and managed by George Harrison’s sister), amazing nightly fireworks displays and special events and performances over a three day period.

More than 20,000 guests from all parts of the nation visited the attraction during its opening weekend. During the free evening concerts with Neal McCoy and , standing room only crowds overflowed onto the sidewalks and nearby properties. Traffic on the well-traveled Parkway through Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park came to a halt once the nightly 25-minute fireworks display lit the night sky for miles around.

The Grand Opening Celebration was covered locally by WBIR, WATE and WVLT television as well as television stations from Nashville, Tri-Cities and Chattanooga.  The Knoxville News Sentinel, The Daily Times and The Mountain Press all gave considerable coverage to the special event and radio stations from all over East Tennessee showed up to do live broadcasts.  Nationally, the event was covered by USA Today, The TODAY Show, Regis & Kelly, ABC News, The New York Post and a large number of travel magazines.

Titanic Museum Attraction is a half-scale, permanent, three-deck recreation of the Titanic. The museum houses 20 galleries to display nearly 400 authentic, priceless Titanic artifacts that were either carried from the ship and into lifeboats by passengers and crew, or were found afloat soon after the sinking and quickly salvaged by rescue boats.

Regis Philbin addresses visitors

Inside the Titanic Museum Attraction, visitors find full-size recreations (built to actual Titanic blueprints) of Third-Class quarters, a First-Class suite, dining rooms and – the museum’s centerpiece – a $1 million exact reproduction of the Titanic’s Grand Staircase. The First-Class suite in the Titanic Museum Attraction, which is dedicated to Isidor and Ida Straus who co-owned Macy’s Department Stores, was also the cabin used in James Cameron’s blockbuster movie Titanic as Rose’s suite.

In addition to being a world class museum in the truest sense of the word, Titanic Museum Attraction is also highly interactive and offers a hands-on experience for children, teenagers and adults. The ship is anchored in water to create the illusion of Titanic at sea, and a two-hour self-guided tour gives guests the sensation of sailing on the original ship’s 1912 maiden voyage. Upon entry, each guest receives a boarding pass bearing the name of an actual Titanic passenger or crew member whose fate is revealed on the Memorial Wall at tour end. Along the way, powerful emotions surface as guests:

• Walk Titanic’s Grand Staircase
• Touch the frozen surface of an “iceberg”
• Feel the chill of that fateful “Starry Night”
• Study some of the largest, most detailed Titanic models ever built
• Grip the ship’s wheel and follow the Captain’s commands
• Tour world-class galleries and the rare historical artifacts they hold
• Sit in a Titanic lifeboat and listen to actual survivors tell their stories
• Send an SOS from the Marconi Wireless Room
• Test their balance while standing on mini-decks built to show the ever-steeper slope of Titanic as she sank
• Watch children eight years and younger explore the special interactive Tot-Titanic Play-and-Learn Room
• Dive to Titanic’s wreck site via spectacular underwater camera footage

Captain Smith christens the Titanic Museum

The Titanic Museum Attraction – which is conveniently located to all areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville – is now open every day from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. ET. Tickets are available online at www.TitanicPigeonForge.com or by calling 1-800-381-7670.

Cedar Bay Entertainment, which owns and operates Titanic Museum Attraction, is a privately owned entertainment and development company headquartered in Branson, Missouri, the site of Cedar Bay’s first Titanic Museum Attraction. Since its April 2006 grand opening, it has welcomed more than 2,000,000 guests.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Entrepreneurs use Knoxville as healthcare launch-pad

Posted by admin – April 13, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – Call them mavericks. Call them healthcare matchmakers of a sort.

A two-month-old company that connects cash-paying or uninsured patients to high quality, low cost test/imaging services is launching a revolution from the Knoxville area to reach across the state and later this year, across the country.

Samaritan Diagnostics brings affordable, viable healthcare solutions to cash paying patients and providers. Essentially, it is a web-based organization that connects cash-paying or uninsured customers to providers that have unused diagnostic capacity. Samaritan does not perform the actual procedures; it has a network of certified, highly qualified providers that offer reduced pricing for services in exchange for guaranteed payment.

So what exactly does that mean for the patient who needs a diagnostic test? For patients who are:

  • Uninsured
  • HSA holders
  • High-deductible health plan carriers,

Samaritan Diagnostics provides access to tests for up to 75% less than patients would pay elsewhere. (Comparative price chart is below.)

For example, a typical MRI can cost between $1,400 and $2,500, but with Samaritan Diagnostic’s pre-negotiated, discounted pricing, the same MRI is $500 to $700. Affordable pricing is a reality because Samaritan sends the imaging/testing providers an abundance of cash-paying customers, with money collected up front.

“For customers, the process is simple. They contact Samaritan with a doctor’s order and we help them make an informed decision by providing the price and location of participating facilities. We offer global fees for each service, so customers know the exact price of the procedure up front. After choosing a provider, payment is accepted and customers are connected with the provider to schedule and perform the test,” said Brad Rasmussen, Samaritan Diagnostics spokesman. “The process is quick, simple, and affordable.”

“Unfortunately, patients who pay out-of-pocket for medical services are charged more than any other group in the healthcare system. The self-insured and uninsured are often charged more than insurance and government reimbursement rates – even when given a discount for cash payment,” said Dr. Mark Clapp, co-founder of Samaritan Diagnostics. “The largest threat facing these people is they usually cannot afford the test that’s needed, and they end up paying much more for a medical emergency that occurs as a result of undiagnosed symptoms.”

Patients may purchase an expanding package of medical services from Samaritan, including diagnostic imaging, diagnostic endoscopy and labs. These include MRIs, CT Scans, Colonoscopies and EGDs. There are no membership fees or hidden costs. Full, up-front payment is required to receive the discounts.

Samaritan Diagnostics currently partners with the following imaging/testing provider locations:

  • Ambulatory Care Center of Wartburg (Wartburg, Tenn.)
  • Cookeville Pathology Laboratory (Cookeville, Tenn.)
  • Diagnostic Health (Knoxville, Tenn. – Hall of Fame Drive)
  • Dr. Robert Yatto Internal Medicine (Crossville, Tenn.)
  • East Tennessee Diagnostic Center (Knoxville, Tenn. – Dowell Springs Blvd.)
  • Jamestown Regional Medical Center (Jamestown, Tenn.)
  • Parkway Cardiology Associates (Oak Ridge, Tenn.)
  • Spectrum Labs (Jamestown, Tenn.)
  • Spectrum Labs (Knoxville, Tenn. – Sutherland Avenue)
  • Wartburg Surgical Center (Wartburg, Tenn.)
  • Woods Memorial Hospital (Etowah, Tenn.)
  • Upper Cumberland Cancer Care (Crossville, Tenn.)

Physicians/groups who refer cash-paying patients to Samaritan Diagnostics:

  • Ambulatory Care Center of Wartburg (Wartburg, Tenn.)
  • Athens Medical Group (Athens, Tenn.)
  • Cherokee Health System (Seymour, Tenn.)
  • Deer Lodge Medical Center (Deer Lodge, Tenn.)
  • Duck Family Practice (Rutledge, Tenn.)
  • Family Health Center (Farragut, Tenn.)
  • Fentress Family Practice (Jamestown, Tenn.)
  • McCreary Primary Care Center (Whitley City, Ky.)
  • Mountain People’s Health Clinic (Oneida, Tenn.)
  • Prodigal Primary Care (Knoxville, Tenn.)
  • Timothy J. Collins Family Practice (Etowah, Tenn.)
  • Trent W. Cross, M.D. (Oneida, Tenn.)
  • UT Health and Wellness (Alcoa, Tenn.)

For more information or to schedule an interview with Samaritan Diagnostics, visit www.SDSaves.com or contact Brad Rasmussen at (865) 224-0502 or brad@samaritandiagnostics.com.

Media Contact:
Sarah Malak
Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
smalak@ackermannpr.com

Invisible Fence Teams With Local Vets to Help Memphis Firefighters Save Pets

Posted by Ryan Willis – April 7, 2010

Memphis, Tenn. – Every Fire Station in Memphis will now have equipment to administer oxygen and help save dogs and cats that are often injured in house fires…and the equipment isn’t costing taxpayers a penny. 

That’s because Invisible Fence of Memphis and the Memphis/Shelby County Veterinary Medical Association (MSCVMA), with the help of more than 80 local veterinarians and their clients are donating enough of the masks to equip all 56 fire stations within the City of Memphis.  Clients of local veterinarians have really embraced the effort, with some sponsoring an entire 3-mask oxygen kit set in memory of a family pet. 

“The whole focus of our business is to protect pets,” said Barney Raborn, President of Invisible Fence of Memphis. “It just makes sense for us to extend that effort to save pets that may be injured in a fire. Dealing with the loss of a home is bad enough, losing a member of the family like a cat or dog can make it even worse. Thanks to efforts from the MSCVMA and local veterinarians, we hope to prevent that.” 

“We want to thank Invisible Fence for their generosity and believe that these kits will help us save more pets; we can all recall a fire from the past where these kits would have helped save a pet,” said Alvin Benson, Director of the Memphis Fire Department. 

Invisible Fence has been equipping fire stations across America with pet oxygen masks. Although the number of pets that die in fires is not an official statistic kept by the U.S. Fire Administration, industry web sites and sources have cited that an estimated 40,000 to 150,000 pets die each year in fires; most succumbing to smoke inhalation. The company hopes to help drastically reduce that number. 

“We’d like to get that number to zero,” said Raborn, “That may not be possible, but it won’t be for lack of trying.” 

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About Invisible Fence
Invisible Fence® Brand is the original electronic fence containment system sold nationwide by professional dealers who offer custom installation and certified Perfect Start™ Pet Training to create an environment of safety and freedom for pets. For more information, visit www.InvisibleFence.com.

Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com