Wes Harris, State Farm Insurance Agent – home, auto, life & banking – 319 Vann Drive, sponsors Strictly Business, a weekly column that takes a look at a few of this week’s business highlights.

Hotel construction continues in Park Place West near Sportsplex

When complete, a 40,000-square-foot Best Western Plus will offer 92 rooms, and SpringHill Suites – Marriott – is building a 95-unit, 45,000-square-foot hotel on 2.0 acres, in Park Place West.

Both hotels are being built next to Affordable Dentures on Christmasville Cove, and are expected to open by Spring of 2019.

Kirkland’s: Fiscal 3Q Earnings Snapshot

Kirkland’s Inc. (KIRK) on Thursday reported a loss of $2.8 million in its fiscal third quarter.

The Brentwood, Tennessee-based company said it had a loss of 18 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 13 cents per share.

The home decor retailer posted revenue of $154.6 million in the period.

Kirkland’s expects full-year earnings to be 50 cents to 60 cents per share.

Kirkland’s shares have decreased 37 percent since the beginning of the year.

Kirkland’s, which has a 52-week high of $13.48 and a low of $6.78, closed at $10.85, Friday.

West Tennessee Healthcare – Board approves resolutions

Resolutions to purchase a medical waste disposal system and Milan, highlighted the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital’s Board of Trustees monthly meeting for November.

The Board authorized $1,541,730 of current budgeted District funds to purchase and install a replacement San-i-pak waste treatment and disposal system.

Jackson-Madison County General Hospital has been managing the Hospital’s medical waste on site since 2005, and San-i-pak has developed a replacement system that lowers the cost of waste disposal and improves safety through the modernization of the waste process.

Updating the San-i-pak equipment will result in operational savings and will maximize infection prevention with modern technology.

The Board also authorized the acquisition and installation of the Cerner RxStation Automatic Dispensing Cabinet System and its related service contract throughout the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital District hospitals in the amount of $13,687,100 of budgeted District funds.

The Board agreed after Management recommended the current medication system Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, Dyersburg Hospital, Volunteer Hospital (Martin), Milan General Hospital, Bolivar General Hospital and Camden General Hospital with the Cerner Cabinet system and its related service contract, should proceed at this time in accordance with the specifications and cost estimates defined by Management.

West Alley BBQ & Smoke House leaving downtown for Vann Drive

West Alley Bar-B-Q & Smoke House is leaving its 215 W. Main St., location for 1110 Vann Drive.

The popular downtown eatery closed Wednesday, and is scheduled to open in a 4,640-square-foot facility with a brewery in late February, 2019.

The new location was home to Casa Adobe Restaurante in The Columns.

Casa Adobe closed in June.

The brewery will offer six- to eight different taps.

“We understood the lack of local businesses in this particular area, which is currently full of chain restaurants,” said Christian Brantley, co-owner of West Alley BBQ, “The (new) location is right off Interstate 40, which is great for visitors.

“We are humbled by the support of the Jackson community since we first opened five years ago. The customer appreciation party is a thank you to everyone who has made us successful.”

Mable McKinnie named employee of the month at West Tennessee Healthcare

Mable McKinnie, an admission specialist has been an employed by West Tennessee Healthcare for 31 years, is the organization’s employee of the month for November.

Jeff Blankenship, chief financial officer, West Tennessee Healthcare, Executive director Beth Wells, Patient Access and Lori Owrey, director admitting made the presentation during the West Tennessee Healthcare’s Board of Trustees monthly meeting at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, Tuesday.

According to a press release, she goes above and beyond her daily routine, and you will never hear one complaint.

Her coworkers say they strive to be more like Ms. Mable every day, and believe she is very deserving to be the employee of the month.

Through her attitude and actions – whether she is at work or with her grandchildren and children – she shares her genuine self.

NOTE: Jeremy Walls, who was named West Tennessee Healthcare’s employee of the month for October, was unable to attend the meeting.

He was recognized at Tuesday’s meeting.

Unemployment rates for counties in West Tennessee

Labor force estimates for West Tennessee counties. Average statewide – 3.7 percent

Benton County, 5.1
Carroll County, 5.4
Chester County, 3.8
Crockett County, 4.0
Decatur County, 4.8
Dyer County, 4.8
Fayette County, 4.3
Gibson County, 4.7
Hardeman County, 5.6
Hardin County, 4.5
Haywood County, 5.4
Henderson County, 4.7
Henry County, 4.7
Lake County, 5.1
Lauderdale County, 6.8
Madison County, 4.0
McNairy County, 5.5
Obion County, 5.6
Tipton County, 4.3
Weakley County, 4.3

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(PHOTO: Wes Harris, State Farm agent)
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