NBC affiliate WNBJ channel 39 arrives in Jackson

You’ve seen the billboards.

WNBJ 39 – is NBC’s newest affiliate in Jackson, but it’s not on the air, yet.

When the station goes live — and a date has not been set — what you will see is what you see when watching WMC-TV out of Memphis, with one exception.

“There will be no local news at the present,” Michael Steele, WNBJ general sales manager said. “And at this point, we don’t know if we will or not.”

Steele left Charter Media for his position with WNBJ, 101 N. Highland Ave., which is owned by Jackson TV LLC.

“Jackson is its own market,” Steele said. “Why do we need Memphis (television) stations? We have ABC and Fox affiliates, so why not NBC?”

Steele said he looks for the affiliate to be available on cable through Jackson Energy Authority and Charter Media, and Dish and Direct TV on satellite.

WNBJ’s producer is Chuck Scott and Wendy Turner is an account representative or media consultant.

First Friday

Ben Ferguson, co-founder and CEO of theCO is guest speaker when First Friday is held at First United Methodist Church, 200 S. Church St., at Noon, Friday.

theCO is designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, engineers, tinkerers, students and creatives in West Tennessee.

Ferguson is a native of Jackson and is also the president of Personnel Placements Holdings, LLC a staffing and recruiting firm. He also co-founded the Jackson Young Professionals Group and is an active member of the community serving on several committees and boards including Hands Up! Preschool, the Jackson Chamber and the Kirkland Cancer Center.

Ferguson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and his master’s degree from Stetson University.

A $7 lunch is available. For more information, call the Jackson Downtown Development Corporation at 427-7573.

Breaking ground

A ground breaking will be held for a new 7,800 square foot retail center at 715 E. Main St., in Henderson, at 11 a.m., Friday.

When complete, Fast Pace Medical will occupy 3,500 square feet of the complex which will be located across from Chester County High School.

“We can’t release the name yet, but a high-profile fast food restaurant will go in the same development,” Brandon Buchanan of Buchanan Realty Group in Jackson, said. “Fast Pace Medical will have 15 employees and the fast food restaurant will add about 25, so we’re looking at 40 jobs total.”

Buchanan said for leasing information call him at 225-0560.

Free breast screening

All uninsured women 40 and older are invited to take advantage of a free breast cancer screening from 8 a.m. until noon, at the West Tennessee Imaging Center, 300 Coatsland, Saturday.

A reminder from The Kirkland Cancer Center — all women 40 and older — if not earlier, need to have a breast screening if they have symptoms or family history of breast cancer.

Physicians will be available to provide clinical breast exams and schedule mammograms if needed.

For more call the Cancer Center, 541-5087, to make your appointment for this free screening, which is sponsored by the Kirkland Cancer Center, the East Jackson Family Medical Center, the West Tennessee Imaging Center and the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation.

Mitchell to address Alzheimer’s Support Group

Dr. C. Ben Mitchell, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Union University, will be the guest speaker at the monthly Alzheimer’s Support Group, in the Medical Founders Room A at Jackson Madison County General Hospital, at 6:30 p.m., today.

His topic is “Lessons from Iris,” and the public is invited to attend this free meeting, which will benefit those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease.

Test your knowledge

When Forbes released its list of the 400 wealthiest people in the United States, Monday, how many Tennesseans made the cut? A) 6 B) 7 C) 8 D) 9. (answer can be found at the end of the column)

At the AMP

One more time, at least for this year.

Paula Bridges, Chuck McGill, Colton Parker & The Bandstand Group will perform at the Amphitheater at the Market in the season’s final concert, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

SBA disaster loans available

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes in Tennessee as a result of flooding and excessive rain on June 29 through July 9.

The disaster declaration includes Madison, Chester, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood and McNairy counties.

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers or ranchers.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 2.625 percent for private non-profit organizations of all sizes and 4 percent for small businesses, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Unemployment rates

Rates for August changed fractionally for West Tennessee counties in August according to figures released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Madison County has the lowest rate at 7.6 percent and the highest is Weakley County at 11.3.

Benton County reported a 9.7 unemployment rate, Carroll, 10.4; Chester, 8.2; Crockett, 8.8; Decatur, 9.1; Dyer, 9.1; Gibson, 10.8; Hardeman, 9.9; Hardin, 8.9; Henderson, 10.1; Haywood, 9.9 and McNairy, 10.1.

Answer

The answer to the business quiz is B) 7.

David Thomas, 425-9637