Tobacco.org

SAMETS: A smoking ban will hurt the campus community 

Before someone had the bright idea to hire me as Opinion Editor of the Hustler, I served in Vanderbilt Student Government. I spent much of last year fighting what was at the time a "proposed" smoking ban. Along with Andrew Morse and John Gaffney, I authored a resolution opposing the ban that passed the House and Senate by wide margins, and the Torch wrote an editorial praising our work. I met with the Dean of Students to discuss this, and I thought we had made clear that opposition to the ban was widespread and that we had killed the ban.

Well, it looks like that did a lot of good.

In an email to students on Monday morning, Dean of Students Mark Bandas announced our "New Campus Smoking Policy." Vanderbilt will now be "smoke free," except for a few "designated smoking areas . . .

The administration's solution of designated smoking areas will be eyesores and ostracize students who would otherwise walk to class along with their friends while smoking a cigarette. . . .

This smoking ban has been forced on students by the Faculty Senate. That's fine that they don't like smoking on campus - but they don't have to live here. Vanderbilt forces students to live in dorms, then at the same time says that if you're Sutherland and want to smoke a cigarette at 3AM, you've got to walk to the staff parking lot behind the Commons Center. Not only is that annoying, it's unsafe.

Vanderbilt calls itself a residential campus. Now they're imposing unfair restrictions on students while still mandating that we call the campus "home." . . .

it's time to stand up and be counted. Write Dean of Students Mark Bandas (mark.bandas@vanderbilt.edu) and make your voice heard.

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A smoking ban will hurt the campus community | InsideVandy 

Before someone had the bright idea to hire me as Opinion Editor of the Hustler, I served in Vanderbilt Student Government. I spent much of last year fighting what was at the time a "proposed" smoking ban. Along with Andrew Morse and John Gaffney, I authored a resolution opposing the ban that passed the House and Senate by wide margins, and the Torch wrote an editorial praising our work. I met with the Dean of Students to discuss this, and I thought we had made clear that opposition to the ban was widespread and that we had killed the ban.

Well, it looks like that did a lot of good.

In an email to students on Monday morning, Dean of Students Mark Bandas announced our "New Campus Smoking Policy." Vanderbilt will now be "smoke free," except for a few "designated smoking areas" . . .

This smoking ban has been forced on students by the Faculty Senate. That's fine that they don't like smoking on campus - but they don't have to live here. . . .

Vanderbilt calls itself a residential campus. Now they're imposing unfair restrictions on students while still mandating that we call the campus "home." . . .

it's time to stand up and be counted. Write Dean of Students Mark Bandas (mark.bandas@vanderbilt.edu) and make your voice heard.

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Smoking in bed ignited apartment fire » Knoxville News Sentinel 

An arson investigator determined a fire at a Christenbery Heights apartment where a woman was found dead was caused by smoking in bed.

"The cause of the fire, I can safely say, was smoking in bed," Knoxville Fire Department Fire Investigator Darrell Whitaker said this morning.

While Whitaker is clear on what caused the flames about 5:20 a.m. Saturday, July 24, at 320 Tiberious Road, he's not yet confident as to what killed 52-year-old Marissa Boatwright.

Firefighters found Boatwright's badly burned body in the bed where the fire started.

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Monroe man killed when cigarette ignites oxygen tanks 

SWEETWATER - A man died after apparently igniting his oxygen tanks with a cigarette, causing an explosion that burned his mobile home and hurled him from the residence.

Jackie Smith, who was in his 50s, died in the 4:30 p.m. Wednesday explosion, according to Sweetwater Fire Chief Doug Watson.

"It looks like he was on oxygen and a heavy smoker," Watson said.

Four of the oxygen canisters, which stand about 30 inches high each, exploded during the incident, the chief said.

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Man accused of pouring tobacco spit on Wal-Mart computers 

Police say what started as a simple cell phone repair ended with tobacco spit being dumped on five laptop computers after a Wal-Mart customer reportedly became "furious" when an employee saw a questionable picture on his phone.

According to an Alcoa police report, a loss prevention officer at Wal-Mart, 1030 Hunters Crossing Drive, Alcoa, reported the July 10 incident at 4:56 p.m. Sunday.

At about noon on July 10, a man came into the store with a cell phone that wasn't working correctly and asked an employee of the store to fix it, the report said. . . .

But at 3:11 p.m., video surveillance at the store recorded the man re-entering the store through the Tire-Lube Express entrance while carrying a plastic bottle containing what appeared to be "a brownish colored substance," which he allegedly poured onto five laptop computers at the store.

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No smoking zone established at Justice Center 

Employees and visitors at the Hawkins County Justice Center who want to use tobacco products will have to keep their distance.

The county's Public Buildings Committee voted Tuesday to establish a "No Smoking Zone" around the building, which houses the sheriff's office, jail, courtrooms and related offices, that will keep anyone from using tobacco products within 20 of any entrance.

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Riverbend says tobacco vendors in compliance  

Riverbend organizers are dismissing complaints from local health officials that tobacco vendors could be violating a federal settlement that prohibits marketing tobacco products to children.

Camel, USA Gold and Longhorn smokeless tobacco vendors are providing free samples to Riverbend patrons of legal age, said Chip Baker, executive director of Friends of the Festival.

PDF: Open letter to Chip Baker

“They are absolutely in compliance,” he said.

Leaders of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Health Council and the county Health Department sent Mr. Baker a letter Thursday, urging organizers to make the festival a smoke-free event.

Health officials said they are concerned that the vendors’ presence at a family-oriented event could violate the 1998 multistate master settlement agreement, which bans marketing of tobacco products to people under 18.

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Health Department Concerns About Tobacco Vendors At Riverbend 

The Hamilton County Health Department is concerned about the tobacco vendors at Riverbend.

It says they're in violation of the Master Settlement Agreement by advertising and distributing products in the presence of children and teens.

Friends of the Festival say this is not the case.

WDEF News 12's Mandy Odom explains.

Hamilton County Health Department Coordinator of Tobacco Education and Control Jay Collum says, "Riverbend is a great festival. Kids love it, and precisely for that reason we feel that it's not ideal to be promoting and marketing tobacco products."

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Cigarette label laws take effect today 

After the Food and Drug Administration gained the power to regulate the tobacco industry last year, one of its first acts was to change the way cigarettes can be advertised and sold. Manufacturers may distribute any leftover packs bearing the banned terms through July 21, but they can't print new ones.

Dropping labels that make smokers believe their choice is less harmful is a positive move, said Dr. Roger Zoorob, chair of Meharry Medical College's Family and Community Medicine, but it won't help current smokers overcome their addiction. He runs a smoking cessation clinic.

"I'm in favor of this law. ... There is no such thing as good or light tobacco," Zoorob said. "It's about nicotine. It's harmful and addictive."

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• Regional Health Council Charges Riverbend With Violating Federal Prohibition On Tobacco Advertising  

A coalition of local health-related agencies led by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Health Council says Riverbend Festival officials have violated a federal court agreement by allowing cigarette companies to promote their products to children, teens and young adults. . . .

"In 1998, the attorneys general of 46 states, including Tennessee, signed a Master Settlement Agreement with the four largest tobacco companies in the U.S.," according to the letter . . .

The letter, in its entirety, reads:

June 17, 2010 Chip Baker, Executive Director Friends of the Festival 180 Hamm Road Chattanooga, TN 37405-

This letter is a follow-up to correspondence dated December 31, 2009 and April 30, 2010, sent to you from the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Health Council. These communications referenced the past practice of the Friends of the Festival allowing tobacco product vendors to advertise and distribute tobacco products at Riverbend in the presence of children, teens and young adults, which we believe is a violation of the federal Master Settlement Agreement of 1998.

It is with much regret that we find that you and your organization made the apparent decision to proceed with having tobacco product vendors at the Riverbend Festival again this year, knowing that they are continuing to distribute free tobacco products including cigarette samples.

To add insult, we observed this year that the Longhorn Tobacco Company trailer has been positioned next to the Children's Play Area and the Camel Cigarette tent near the food court where many children and families gather. . . .

In addition to complying with the law, we urge you to be proactive and join other entities such as the Neyland Stadium and the Bristol Motor Speedway in making Riverbend a smoke-free outdoor venue, which would prevent deadly second hand smoke exposure to all festival goers.

The following organizations endorse this joint letter, urging your organization to adopt a new policy that protects our children and families from the influence of the tobacco industry:

Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Health Council Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department Smoke-Free Chattanooga Coalition American Lung Association Chattanooga Chapter American Cancer Society Chattanooga Chapter American Heart Association

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Nashville Hygienists Partner with Oral Cancer Foundation to Raise Awareness of a Silent Killer 

For the second year, the Nashville Area Dental Hygienists' Society (NADHS) has organized a successful walk to promote oral cancer awareness for a disease that affects so many, yet so few know about. Hundreds of Nashville locals gathered for the "Boot Scootin' for Oral Cancer Screening II" event that recently took place at Nashville's Centennial Park to raise disease awareness, and funds for the Non-Profit Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF).

The walk was lead by NADHS president Nicki Raines, who encouraged the organization to embrace the cause of oral cancer detection when she began her two-year presidential term. . . .

Dr. Ross Kerr, an oral medicine specialist from New York University, who is an advisor to the foundation, commented on 24 year old survivor ShayLynn Grant. "Most people have a perception that this is a disease of older people who have spent a lifetime using tobacco, and finally develop the disease in their sixth or seventh decade of life. That is no longer completely accurate. With the Human Papilloma Virus #16 becoming an increasing cause of the disease, young non-smokers are the fastest growing segment of the oral cancer population." OCF operations manager, Megan Cannon added, "Oral Cancer is not a rare disease. It kills one person every hour of everyday in the US, and 100 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed each day. These are staggering statistics, making these events so important, as awareness of the disease and its risk factors in the US population is so low.

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Nashville Hygienists Partner with Oral Cancer Foundation to Raise Awareness of a Silent Killer 

For the second year, the Nashville Area Dental Hygienists' Society (NADHS) has organized a successful walk to promote oral cancer awareness for a disease that affects so many, yet so few know about. Hundreds of Nashville locals gathered for the "Boot Scootin' for Oral Cancer Screening II" event that recently took place at Nashville's Centennial Park to raise disease awareness, and funds for the Non-Profit Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF).

The walk was lead by NADHS president Nicki Raines, who encouraged the organization to embrace the cause of oral cancer detection when she began her two-year presidential term. Her committee worked countless hours to ensure that the event would top last year's successful effort. . . .

."

Dr. Ross Kerr, an oral medicine specialist from New York University, who is an advisor to the foundation, commented on 24 year old survivor ShayLynn Grant. "Most people have a perception that this is a disease of older people who have spent a lifetime using tobacco, and finally develop the disease in their 6th or 7th decade of life. That is no longer completely accurate.

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• RJR closing plant 

The phrase "end of an era" tends to be overused and over-sentimentalized.

But it is perhaps a fitting way to react to yesterday's announcement that R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. will cease cigarette production in its hometown of Winston-Salem by mid-2011.

The company said it is closing its Whitaker Park plant, once the muscle of its manufacturing might, and shifting 540 production and 40 salaried employees to its plant in Tobaccoville beginning this summer.

As part of the consolidation, Reynolds is also closing a plant in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, eliminating 60 jobs there. It will keep a distribution center open in the country.

"As has always been the case and will continue to be the case, Reynolds Tobacco's future staffing needs will be based upon the company's ongoing business performance and volume trends, plus the natural attrition rate among employees," spokeswoman Jan Smith said. . . .

In another move, American Snuff Co. LLC, a subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc., is expanding its smokeless-tobacco processing and manufacturing capacity in Memphis and Clarksville, Tenn.

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Knoxville men plead guilty in contraband cigarette case 

A pair of Knoxville men pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Knoxville to federal charges of conspiracy to transport contraband cigarettes, among other charges.

According to a release from Eastern District of Tennessee U.S. Attorney's Office, Iqbal Hussain Bhimani, 55, and Abdul Karim Bhimani, 40, both of Knoxville, were the subjects of a long-term undercover investigation by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, which was looking into cigarette smuggling by convenience store owners in East Tennessee and elsewhere.

The Bhimanis operated Wholesale Outlet, 1800 E. Magnolia Ave., Knoxville, at the time of the charges.

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Reynolds to shut down Whitaker Park plant for good by mid-2011 

Whitaker Park, once the muscle of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.'s manufacturing might, is being shut down for good by mid-2011. the company said today.

The plant is closing, along with a plant in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, and the production is being shifted to Reynolds' plant in Tobaccoville.

The company said that no local jobs are expected to be affected immediately by the restructuring, with the production and employees being shifted to Tobaccoville beginning this summer. The company is eliminating 60 jobs in Puerto Rico. The company has 540 production and 40 salaried workers at Whitaker, spokeswoman Jan Smith said.

American Snuff Co. LLC, a subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc., is expanding its smokeless tobacco processing and manufacturing capacity by investing in facilities in Memphis and Clarksville, Tenn.

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