The 2010 Sizzle Award, sponsored by FranklinIs.com and Southern Exposure Magazine, recognized Darrell Waltrip Automotive as the Best Automotive Dealership in Williamson County.
Darrell Waltrip Automotive has won the award for Best Auto Dealership annually since 2007.
The Sizzle Awards recognize outstanding local businesses in a number of categories, including services, cuisines, shopping, personal care, home, and more throughout Williamson County.
The awards were presented at the 5th Annual Sizzle Awards Banquet, hosted by Harry Chapman, at Jamison Hall in The Factory at Franklin on March 7, 2011.
This was the fifth year for the Sizzle Awards, the online community poll for Williamson County presented by Southern Exposure Magazine and FranklinIs.com.
Thank you to everyone who voted for Darrell Waltrip Automotive!
Nashville (Tenn.) - Ambulance services that come to Nashville hospitals from outlying counties often have to return home leaving valuable equipment behind that is still being used to stabilize patients.
Spine boards, straps and head immobilization devices are just some of the thousands of pieces of equipment left at Nashville area emergency departments. Getting this equipment back is often challenging and the loss of equipment can be quite expensive for ambulance services.
Vanderbilt LifeFlight will soon begin delivering equipment back to EMS agencies in an effort to assist them maintain proper levels of the life-saving equipment and save money on lost equipment.
Thanks to the generous donation of a van by Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group in Franklin, Tenn., Dana Keele, EMT, outreach liaison, will be making regular equipment delivery rounds to counties in the LifeFlight service area.
“We are very excited to begin this new program and appreciate the assistance from Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group in helping make this happen,” said Jeanne Yeatman, RN., EMT, director of LifeFlight.
"Darrell Waltrip Automotive is proud to be able to provide a van to assist Vanderbilt LifeFlight in their life-saving work in the Nashville and surrounding areas," said John Gallagher, General Manager, Darrell Waltrip Honda-Volvo-Subaru. “This donation is a continued example of Darrell Waltrip Automotive's commitment to the community. Over the past 10 years we have been able to invest more than half a million dollars into Nashville area non-profits and are pleased to continue to do so." Initially the effort will focus on returning more than 300 pieces of equipment currently at Vanderbilt and once this is done, LifeFlight will pick up and return equipment left at other Nashville hospitals.
“We are excited that Vanderbilt is providing this service. Currently we have to send a part-time employee to Nashville at least once a week to retrieve equipment that EMS crews were unable to bring back at the time of their transport. This will allow us to utilize this employee more effectively with other tasks”, said Keith Douglas, director of Sumner County EMS. “I believe this is yet another great example of Vanderbilt's dedication to the EMS community and they are a tremendous partner for Sumner County EMS.”
Chad Graham, director of Bedford County EMS, agreed.
“Bedford EMS is excited to see Vanderbilt LifeFlight taking a proactive role in dealing with equipment recovery,” Graham said. “With limited funds available to serve our communities, this service will make a positive impact in our system.”
Another EMS provider located south of Nashville, said the new program will allow his ambulances to return back to their service area faster. “We are 85 miles from Nashville and it will make our turnaround time faster not having to retrieve equipment,” said Richard Wright, director of Lincoln Medical Center EMS.
Agencies that have special needs or urgent requests can e-mail EMSEquipment@vanderbilt.edu. Once the initial equipment is returned, a regular schedule will be established so that EMS agencies can anticipate the day each week their equipment will arrive.
“This is a milestone in our customer service efforts and a fantastic way to show the hard working EMS professionals that we are proud to be a part of their team,” said Brent Lemmonds, MS, RN, EMT-P, FACHE, administrative director of Emergency Services.
Vanderbilt is the only hospital in Middle Tennessee to offer personal delivery service.
February 15, 2011 marked the start of Darrell Waltrip Automotive’s Hometown Heroes program.Each month, Darrell Waltrip Automotive will recognize one hero and make a $500 donation to a charity of their choice. Additionally, all heroes will also receive a special prize package as recognition of their own hero status.
What a beautiful morning! My commute to work was alright, despite the rain; but as I got closer to Franklin, I could feel my car hydroplaning as I exited 65-South to Murfreesboro Road. Luckily, it was around 6:30am, and there were no other cars on the road- but what to do if you are in particularly heavy traffic?
In case you, or someone you might know, would be interested in some helpful driving-in-rain tidbits, I wanted to point you in an excellent direction for guidance.
Edmunds published these Tips and Techniques for Driving in Rain, and after reading them, I must say they do come in handy.
Allow more time for travel. I think this is extremely important- with the buildup of oil and grease on the road, trying to get anywhere in a hurry is risky business. Add a couple inches of water, and it can mean disaster quickly. Plus, we all know how Nashville traffic can get, and traffic will be backed up somewhere- so go a little slower. Break earlier and with less force. This follows the ‘allow more time for travel’ (and go a little slower) part. Making sure that you allow enough room between you and the car in front of you helps when traffic stops to a stand-still. Additionally, it allows time for the driver behind you to brake as well. Avoid Puddles. Water typically runs to the side of the road, so making sure you remain as close to the middle as possible helps prevent running into deep standing water. “Water splashing up into your car’s engine compartment could damage its internal electrical systems”, and masks problems on the surface. Is there a pothole under the water? Trouble. Don’t Use Cruise Control. In bad weather reaction time is of the utmost importance- cruise control allows you “to be less vigilant”, so try not to use it in rainy weather. Turn on your headlights. With visibility an issue, it allows other drivers to see you, and allows you to see the road. Defog your windows.
If you do start to hydroplane, don’t brake suddenly or turn the wheel. Like I did this morning, release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, Edmunds offers, “tap the brake pedal”- unless you have anti-lock brakes, then you can put your foot down.
Make sure you stay on top of your car’s condition- if you have any questions about your tires (pressure and tread depth), brakes, front/rear wiper blades, or defroster, call your local shop to get it checked out! For service call 615-791-1101 and ask the receptionist to connect you with Honda, Volvo, or Subaru Service.
November 11, 2010 marked the 9th Annual Franklin Veterans Day Parade. The Veterans parade prior to September 11th 2001 had only been held once before in 1946, after the end of the Second World War.
The parade boasted 612 Veterans from the area, and represented World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan. WAKM Radio worked in conjunction with Franklin Special School District, Williamson County Veteran Affairs Office, the City of Franklin, and Williamson County Archives.
This year was the first year for the parade to host a reception for the Veterans, which was a phenomenal success and allowed the Veterans and civilians to browse through the extensive archives documenting the military and societal history of Williamson County.
The 2010 Sizzle Award, sponsored by FranklinIs.com and Southern Exposure Magazine, recognized Darrell Waltrip Automotive as the Best Automotive Dealership in Williamson County. 
