More than 220 people gathered at the Doubletree Hotel in Jackson on August 30 for the Southwest Tennessee Development District’s Annual Board of Directors Meeting and its first ever awards program to recognize individuals and organizations who work cooperatively with SWTDD’s Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities (AAAD) and its Economic & Community Development (ECD) divisions. Winners were selected by way of nominations submitted from throughout the region.

Dr. Jamie Frakes of Dyersburg State Community College was presented with SWTDD’s “Regional Collaboration Award” for DSCC’s role in organizing and hosting the Tri-County College Summit.

District Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announces the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and Tennessee Highway Patrol’s second “No Refusal” campaign.

The “No Refusal” enforcement effort, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 31, 2012 and concluding at midnight on Monday, September 3, 2012, will also coincide with the Labor Day holiday weekend. “No Refusal” is the latest enforcement strategy aimed at deterring impaired driving and reducing fatal crashes on Tennessee roadways. The new law, passed this year by the General Assembly, allows law enforcement officials to seek search warrants for blood samples in cases involving suspected impaired drivers.

Members of the 25th Judicial District Attorney's Office and the 25th Judicial District Drug Task Force attended training in Nashville this week, where former 25th DAG and Tennessee Attorney General Paul G. Summers was a keynote speaker. Prosecutors and Agents participated in intensive training in new trends and techniques in successful drug investigations and prosecution, and were also instructed on best practices and administrative policies and procedures in operating and administering a Drug Task Force operation.