The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • B2

2B SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010 LOCAL NEWS THE TENNESSEAN SEARCH ACTION FOR MORE ACTION LINE STORIES ON TENNESSEAN.COM ACTION LINE Flood victims question NES bill were flooded in May are puzzled by utility file the tennessean Some Bellevue residents whose homes bills they have received, george walker iv are not using much electricity, air conditioners and dehumidifiers draw a tremendous amount of power when they are operating, Hill said, in particular when the house has a lot of moisture. The summer's extreme high temperatures also contributed to higher bills. Power equipment to clean up and make repairs also is tapping electricity. Hidden-use appliances such as hot water heaters See power to the Get things Oin your one fixed community, click at a tennessean.comseeclickfix QUESTION: Anne Henderson says she has had enough to deal with after her River Plantation home was flooded. So it is adding insult to injury to keep getting utility bills, especially from Nashville Electric Service, when she says she has not used any electricity since May 2.

Her NES bill for July 7 through Aug. 5 was for $90.09 and snowed more kilowatts used than last summer during the same period. Henderson said she contacted NES and learned she had to have a new meter installed and that the bill was estimated. She asked why didn't her bill have a note that it was an estimate, and how will it be adjusted? QUESTION: Linda McLean, another Bellevue resident, also is angry that her electric bills are continuing even though her home was flooded, too. She has been using the air conditioner but not any other appliances.

Her son took the washer and dryer to his house. So how can her bill be so high, she asks. ANSWER: NES spokesman Tim Hill says recovering from the flood, particularly in the BellevueRiver Plantation area, has been complicated because so many electric meters were underwater and had to be replaced. He stressed that customers who have questions or challenges to bill amounts should contact NES and have their cases reviewed. NES workers will go to the home and reinvestigate the issue, and the utility's administration will review a bill.

At homes where the meter was not working, such as Henderson's, the usage was estimated. It will take a couple of months of readings from actual usage to check whether the estimate was valid. If not, the bill can be readjusted, Hill said. And while customers might think they JENNY UPCHURCH will get results when you have DAVIDSON COUNTY Firm receives green awards Freeman Webb, private ownermanager of apartments, recently earned two honors for leadership in eco-friendly design, an International Green Apple Environment Award and the Industrial Conservationist of the Year. The Green Organisation, a United Kingdom-based environmental group, gives the Green Apple Award to businesses that promote best environmental practices, according to a news release.

Freeman Webb will be the only American firm to receive recognition this year. The Tennessee Wildlife Federation awarded the Green Hills company the conservationist award. STEPHANIE TOONE THE TENNESSEAN Fort Nashborough joins list of endangered properties Fort Nashborough, the old state transportation building on Charlotte Avenue and the former Dede Wallace Center are among the endangered historic properties that made this year's Nashville Nine list. The list, compiled by the Historic Nashville, features historic properties threatened by demolition, neglect or development. The 2010 Nashville Nine includes a diverse group of properties dating from the antebellum era to the 1960s.

NANCY DEVILLE THE TENNESSEAN Friends of Warner Parks seeks master plan designer Friends of Warner Parks expects to announce on Oct. 1 a list of candidates in contention for designing a master plan for the group's 448 acres between highways 100 and 70 South, the site of an old-growth forest. Friends, the nonprofit dedicated to supporting Percy and Edwin Warner parks, worked from 2004 to 2009 to buy the land adjacent to the parks to preserve it and one day hand it over to Metro, to be included in the parks system. The group took out a loan, accepted monetary gifts, doubled a $300,000 matching grant and received pledges to pay for the Hill Forest, 225 acres of which is now a state natural area LEA ANN OVERSTREET-ALLEN THE TENNESSEAN Nossi sets new standards Nossi College of Art has set new, more competitive standards for students and faculty this fall with a move to a new campus in Madison. The building includes state-of-the-art equipment and studios.

Nossi's new facility has space for 750 students. It opened this fall with about 450 students. The school has beefed up its curriculum and admission standards to go along with the new building. -ANDY HUMBLES THE TENNESSEAN You can disconnect water service, Harvat said. Metro will lock the meter, and there will be no monthly charge.

However, there's a reconnection fee of $35 to $50. Fix Disconnecting may be beneficial if the house is vacant for a long time. It will prevent damage if pipes break, and it will bar someone from using your water, such as tapping an outside spigot, Harvat said. comm unity WHOM TO CALL: Metro Water Services, 615-862-4600. UPDATE: Some changes in Nashville airport parking will take effect Monday.

First, there will be only one-way traffic from the airport entrance to the Long Term A parking lot and the Short Term garage. That will last for two months, which will be until mid-November. You also may see detours within the Long Term A lot because of the construction of the new rental car facility. Second, a new walkway will open from the Long Term A lot to the terminal. It goes between the Short Term garage entrance and exit.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Go to Tenn essean.com to see a map, or visit the Nashville airport's website, flynashville.com. 726-5970. Include your full name and residence. SUMNER COUNTY Gallatin seeks long-term solutions for drainage City officials have outlined a plan to find long-term solutions to drainage problems that twice this year caused severe flooding in Gallatin. The initial project list presented last week was not meant to be all-encompassing, city officials said.

Mayor Jo Ann Graves told residents during the public comment portion of the meeting that the city is aware of the several smaller drainage issues and will continue to work on improvements. SARAH KINGSBURY GANNETT TENNESSEE Website offers parents access to classrooms Sumner County schools recently launched Parent Portal, an online program that connects parents with the classroom and lets them monitor their students' grades, attendance and even assignments at any time, school officials say. Parents also can pay for their children's meals and obtain electronic copies of the student handbook as well as the school district budget. Parents must go to their children's schools to obtain usernames and passwords. -JENNIFER EASTON GANNETT TENNESSEE Hendersonville wrestles with drainage issues Hendersonville aldermen visited some residents who voiced their frustration at a public works committee meeting on Sept.

7. Those who spoke said their lives have been turned upside down by at least two recent heavy rains. "What will you do to keep this from happening again?" resident Carl Gabrielle said. "Every time it rains I have this fear of being inundated." The drainage issues aren't related to each other, said Public Works Director Jerry Horton. He and his staff are assessing each situation and plan to meet with homeowners on a case-by-case basis.

-TENALEE GANNETT TENNESSEE Bishop Choby recovering from heart surgery Bishop David Choby is expected to leave Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville later this week as he continues to recover from heart bypass surgery. Choby, 63, had surgery for six blockages on Sept. 10, said Rick Musacchio, communications director for the Diocese of Nashville. -TENALEE GANNETT TENNESSEE are still using electricity. Another scenario NES has found is people drawing power from outdoor outlets, Hill said, perhaps construction crews working on the house or even a neighboring unit.

To prevent that, NES urges residents to cut off power at the panel with the main circuit breaker. WHOM TO CONTACT: Nashville Electric Service, 615-736-6900. QUESTION: Henderson also wondered why she is having to pay a minimum charge on other utilities, such as her water. ANSWER: As long as a customer has an open account, Metro Water Services has to have water at the meter, says spokeswoman Sonia Harvat. The minimum charge pays for maintaining the pipes and treatment plants.

The monthly charge is about $12 for most residences. a problem. Reach her at actiontennessean.com WILLIAMSON COUNTY Frozen yogurt shop spreads to Middle East Sweet CeCe's, a frozen yogurt shop that opened in Belle Meade in summer, 2009 and spread to Franklin a few months later, will be spreading to Kuwait and Dubai, possibly as soon as next month. Just 14 months after first opening the first CeCe's, Brian and CeCe Moore are signing franchise agreements for stores across the Southeast and into the Middle East. -JOSH ADAMS THE TENNESSEAN Husband sentenced to life in 2007 slaying of wife Brian Henneberg was convicted last week of beating his wife with a 2-by-4 and stabbing her multiple times with two knives.

The three-day trial ended with the jury taking only 45 minutes to render its decision of guilty of first-degree murder charge. Henneberg was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Megan Henneberg, 25, was found lying dead on the bed of the couple's Spring Hill home at 2855 Sutherland Drive on Oct. 12, 2007. HARRIET VAUG HAN THE TENNESSEAN Thompson's Station must answer sewer question A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation spokeswoman said Thompson's Station has 30 days to reply with a plan for repairs at its 4-year-old sewer treatment plant, where leaks were discovered weeks ago in an unused treatment lagoon.

Town Administrator Greg Langeliers said the town must identify what exactly caused the ground to collapse under the lagoon cell liner before making the repairs. JILLWIERSMA THE TENNESSEAN Chinese delegation given unforgettable experience A Chinese trade delegation from Zhejiang got the Leiper's Fork treatment last week in what businessman Aubrey Preston described as taking the golf outing or the power lunch to another level. Preston's Homer Dever band played twangy country classics as the businessmen and government officials ate barbecue ribs and corn pudding, then were pulled out onto the dance floor by the locals. "They will never forget this for the rest of their life," said Li Weaver, the state's trade liaison to China. -JOSH ADAMS THE TENNESSEAN or RUTHERFORD COUNTY Deputies receive badges Sheriff Robert Arnold held a pinning ceremony for Rutherford County deputies being promoted last week.

Arnold discussed the heavy strain being in law enforcement puts on a family and thanked family members at the ceremony. Chief Deputy Randy Garrett and Deputy Chief Virgil Gammon presented officers with collar pins, while Arnold presented them with their respective badges. MARK BELL GANNETT TENNESSEE La Vergne principal garners nomination La Vergne Middle School's principal, Dirk Ash, is a 2011 nominee for Tennessee Principal of the Year, the state Department of Education announced last week. With over half his students economically disadvantaged, Ash makes a positive difference in the lives of students and staff, the nomination letter states. Ash has been principal for six years at the school of 887 students.

CHRIS ECHEGARAY THE TENNESSEAN Maney neighborhood to get update on upgrade Murfreesboro officials working on the Maney Avenue upgrade plans will hold a neighborhood meeting to update residents 6-8 p.m. Tuesday in Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, 224 S. Maney Ave. Improvements include installation of a larger drainage pipe, brick-like crosswalks and decorative lighting.

"We sent notices to homeowners," said City Engineer Chris Griffith, noting that other stakeholders are being contacted. "We're still in the process of acquiring right of way and easements for the project." SCOTT BRODEN GANNETT TENNESSEE Smyrna sisters charged with TennCare fraud Twin sisters from Smyrna were charged with TennCare fraud for visiting multiple doctors to get prescriptions. Bridget and Nicole Heath, both 25, were arrested and charged with four counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain a controlled substance, the Office of the Inspector General and Rutherford County Sheriffs Office announced last week. Bridget Heath also was charged with one count of identity theft for identifying herself as her sister. TennCare fraud is a Class felony carrying a sentence of up to two years.

-GANNETT TENNESSEE WILSON COUNTY Red light cameras stay in Mt. Juliet, for now The Mt. Juliet City Commission has voted against a resolution sponsored by Mayor Linda Elam to eliminate red light cameras or alter the program. Citing concerns about an early contract termination penalty of $790,000, the city commission decided to leave the program in place at least until the contract expires in another two years. DEBORAH HIGHLAND THE TENNESSEAN Wilson implements 911-SAFER service The Wilson County 911 has implemented a new service it hopes will save lives.

911-SAFER allows residents and businesses to provide 911 operators with information such as whether you use a wheelchair or if someone in your home is bedridden. The new system also allows people who have only a cell phone to register that number and their address with 911 so emergency service responders will know where to go if they receive a call from a cell phone. Anyone interested in participating in 911-SAFER should provide the special advisory with applicable phone number(s) to the Wilson Emergency Communications District at 1611 W. Main Lebanon, TN, 37087, fax to 615-443-3911, send by e-mail to kmoorewilson911.org or through the website at www.wilson911.org. DEBORAH HIGHLAND THE TENNESSEAN Run raises $220,800 for cancer patients, families Sherry's Run raised $220,800 for cancer patients and their families.

Some 3,581 people ran or walked the course last week in Lebanon. The 5K run raises money to help any family affected by any kind of cancer. That family or cancer patient must live, work, attend church or seek treatment in Wilson County or the surrounding communities. DEBORAH HIGHLAND THE TENNESSEAN.