The old blacksmith shop at the McCoy Farm & Gardens has been rebuilt on the original site by the Signal Mountain Lions Club. The original chimney and forge were saved and are operational. In addition, some of the original siding was salvaged and used on the interior of the shop. A few tools from the original shop were saved and McCoy has received some donations of tools and equipment, including anvil, vise and an old manual drill press. McCoy Farm volunteers would like to to have more old tools from the early 1900s that would typically be found in a farm/blacksmith shop. These tools will be prominently displayed in the shop. If you have tools that you would like to donate to McCoy Farm & Gardens, please contact Paul Jenson at (423) 886-2889 or email him at jensbrow@epbfi.com. On Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Signal Mountain Police Station and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 15th opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs in pill or patch form. Bring your pills for disposal to the Signal Mountain Police Station at 1111 Ridgeway Ave. Note, liquids, needles or sharps will not be accepted. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. The collection point will be located in the Signal Mountain Fire Department truck bay. Pull in through the garage bay doors off of Hershel Dick Road (entrance of the parking lot for Police and Fire Department) and exit through the garage bay doors on to Rolling Way. Last October, Americans turned in 456 tons (over 900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in tbe 14 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 9 million pounds—about 4.5 tons—of prescription drugs. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards. If you are unable to participate in the Drug Take Back event on April 28, the Police Department has a permanent collection bin located in the lobby of the police station. The lobby is open 24 hours a day, and citizens are welcome to stop in and deposit their unused/unwanted medication at any time. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 28th Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website or contact the Signal Mountain Police Department at (423) 886-2124. |