Dorcas Taylor (right) of Cordova and Ashley Warren (left) of Atoka participated in the traditional Florence Nightingale lamp lighting ceremony during DSCC’s Nursing Pinning Dec. 9.

A team of volunteers prepares bicycles to spread Christmas cheer to Fayette Cares clients.

Pictured L to R:  Quinique Jelks, Kelsey Greer, India Hogan, Shuntavious Robinson

Michael McCant aka Billionaire Catt

J. Houston Gordon, a nationally-acclaimed trial lawyer from Covington and 1968

graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin, is shown addressing the fall 2016 graduating

class during the university’s commencement exercises Dec. 10.

MARTIN, Tenn., Dec. 12, 2016 – BREAKING GROUND – A ground-breaking ceremony Dec.

7 at the former Methodist Fayette Hospital in Somerville signaled the start of renovations that

will create a new home for the University of Tennessee at Martin Somerville Center. The

Tennessee General Assembly approved $250,000 in recurring funding for the center in the state’s

2016-17 budget. Also approved was $875,000 in one-time funding to support the hospital

facility’s renovation. The building is expected to open in fall 2017. Participating in the ceremony

were (l to r) Marlin Mosby, higher education committee member and donor; Bob Turner,

administrator for the town of Somerville; Kara Tapp, UT Martin Somerville Center director; Dr.

Bob Smith, UT Martin interim chancellor; Dr. Brian Donavant, interim executive director, UT

Martin Office of Educational Outreach; Skip Taylor, Fayette County mayor; Ronnie Neill,

Somerville mayor; Ellen Wadley, architect, Fleming Architects; state Sen. Dolores Gresham (R-

District 26); and Charley Deal, UT Martin associate vice chancellor for alumni relations and

annual giving.

WKKF CEO and President, La June Montgomery Tabron