One of the new things we’re doing here at the Standard is handing out a wellness newsletter with our paychecks. As you might expect from something that boldly promotes itself as a wellness newsletter, it’s packed with all sorts of fascinating tidbits about how we can enjoy healthier lives.
Of course living healthier is really just a code name for doing things that aren’t necessarily fun, such as avoiding donuts and engaging in exercise. Something tells me this wellness newsletter is never going to encourage me to indulge in a double cheeseburger.
The most recent newsletter stressed the importance of physical activity and how damaging it can be to zone out in front of the TV. The newsletter went so far as to say no one should sit and watch TV for more than two hours a day. Well OK, but what am I supposed to do for the other 22 hours?
One easy way to sneak in a little extra activity, I’ve been told, is to take the stairs instead of the escalator. Normally, I would scoff at this advice, but taking the escalator appears to be getting increasingly dangerous.
Two Boston-area commuters have become trapped in subway escalators in the past two weeks, with one man getting his pants ripped off by the moving stairs. He was left standing on the escalator exit ramp in only his blue boxers.
Many of you may remember one of the most horrific escalator accidents in recent history happened last year in Montreal. A 47-year-old mother of two got her scarf caught in the escalator and was strangled. According to published reports, several onlookers tried to free the woman before her death, but to no avail.
I’ve often thought about ways I might meet my death and I must admit I don’t think I’ve given an escalator death fair consideration. Sure I’ve thought about plunging six floors down an elevator shaft, or about getting my head trapped in the elevator door as it closes, but I’ve neglected the escalator possibilities.
All this is a rambling way of saying I’ve been thinking more and more about taking the stairs. However, just as I’m about to make that mental commitment, I see an article in Popular Science that says 12,000 people die in the U.S. every year from falling down a staircase. OMG, another deathtrap.
So I’m looking over this wellness newsletter for a second time to see exactly what’s so bad about watching TV. Has anyone ever choked to death on the remote?

Diverse Medical up and running

It was back in the fall when I told you about Michael Frey and his plan to open Diverse Medical Management in Morrison. The business is located in the old Apex Construction building on Manchester Highway.
Some five months later, Michael’s plans have come to fruition as Diverse Medical Management is up and running. The company has been providing mental health services for the past 45 days and already has 153 clients.
Just last week, Diverse Medical opened a walk-in clinic with Leann Nokes serving as nurse practitioner. She’s been involved in local healthcare for years, working for a couple doctors including Dr. del Valle for six years.
With all the major industries located in Morrison, the walk-in clinic is a convenient way for people to get medical care without an appointment. Hours are Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
One of the most interesting things about the walk-in clinic is the personal healthcare plan that’s available. For $100 a month an individual can get unlimited healthcare at the facility. The cost is $175 a month for a family.
“That cost covers all their needs for the month,” said Michael, who noted it’s common for some family health insurance plans to charge $500 a month or more. “We’re not going to be setting bones or providing specialized services, but they can get primary medical care at a cost that’s probably going to beat most anyone else. I think we’re filling a niche which needs to be filled.”
If you don’t want to pay for the insurance plan, walk-ins are welcome, even with no insurance.
Michael is certainly ambitious and he has plans to open Diverse Medical Management offices all across Tennessee. He said Shelbyville, Cookeville and Knoxville are areas in which expansion will likely take place first.
“Our goal is to have 15 operating offices by the end of 2015,” said Michael.
The behavioral health side is another big part of the company as health counselors offer a variety of services. This includes everything from working with children in the school system to working with people as they make their way through the criminal justice system.
Diverse Medical offers: substance abuse programs, anger management, DUI school, relapse recovery, parenting classes, and other psychiatric services.
“One of the things that makes us a good fit for the court system is we offer comprehensive care,” said Diverse Medical representative Natalie Miller. “They don’t have to be sent to a bunch of different places. They can get everything they need right here.”
To find out all the services available at Diverse Medical, you can visit its website at www.DiverseMedicalMgmt.com. The phone number is 815-8525.

Let’s go antiquing!

The older I get (which is not very old, for the record) the more I appreciate antiques. If you enjoy hunting for antiques, you should check out Annie’s Corner Cottage on Morford Street. The business is owned by Sharon Cadoret, affectionately known as Annie.
I stopped by Wednesday to see what this charming store has to offer and was pleasantly surprised. There are 18 vendors with booths inside the shop and there’s some really attractive merchandise.
“I have some good vendors with a lot of nice stuff,” said Sharon. “So far the business has been good considering the weather has been so bad. A lot of people have been coming in here.”
Sharon says she developed a love for old furniture when she was a young homemaker. Over the years that love has grown to the point where she wanted to open her own antique store.
“I have a bunch of grandma’s old stuff,” said Sharon. “We have more vintage furniture than anything else. To be an antique it’s supposed to be 100 years old so really the technical classification is vintage furniture.”
Making my way around the store on Wednesday, there was a wide selection of furniture, glassware, lamps, clocks, enamel ware, and other items. Sharon says Annie’s Corner has something for just about anyone with prices starting as low as $2.
Sharon Lemons is among the many vendors on board with her floral arrangements. She’s been a merchant at that spot since 1995 with the exception of one year she spent on Main Street. Sharon’s flowers are a nice complement to all the furniture.
I was well impressed with Annie’s Corner and encourage you to take a look if you’re into antiquing. Store hours are Tuesday thru Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is 506-7165.

A daring delivery

If you’re wondering what’s happening at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, I have the answer. The technical school recently received a 4,900-pound piece of equipment that required a death-defying forklift maneuver to get it unloaded.
The new machinery was an American-made Haas TL-1 programmable lathe delivered to the tool and die shop at the facility. According to school instructor Randy England, the lathe allows “one-at-a-time teaching” with different types of tooling, all on a computer-numeric controlled platform.
What this means to you is if you’re looking for a career path and want to learn on the most up-to-date equipment, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology deserves consideration.
The new Tennessee Promise scholarship program, offering two years of tuition-paid study at a community college or technology center starting this fall, is expected to create an influx of incoming students. Both England and Mike Garrison, coordinator of student services at the McMinnville TCAT, say the program has the potential of doubling the number of enrollees at the local campus.
“We would love to start night classes and fill our day classes, including such fields as practical nursing, machine technology and others,” Garrison said. 
Garrison invites prospective TCAT students to contact him at 474-8324 or visit the institution’s website for more information.

That’s all folks

While most people were frolicking in the snow, I was gathering business news. I realize this week is somewhat of an abbreviated column, but everything seemed to shut down Thursday and Friday. Cut me a little slack.
Take care, have fun, and be cool. Business tips: 473-2191.