Tennessee meningitis deaths hit 12
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Health has announced a 12th death among patients sickened by tainted medicine linked to an outbreak of fungal meningitis.
Health officials also reported Friday the total number of Tennessee cases has increased by three to 78.
The people became ill after receiving steroid shots in their backs or a major joint. Besides meningitis, the illnesses associated with the medicine prepared by New England Compounding Center are posterior strokes and epidural abscesses.
Deer archery season opens
Long bows, compound bows, crossbows and muzzleloading firearms of .40 caliber minimum are legal hunting equipment for this deer season.
The boundaries of the state's three deer-hunting units are listed in the 2012 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide, available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold and online.
The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is three, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. No more than one antlered deer may be taken per day. Limits for antlerless deer vary by the unit.
The muzzleloader and archery season runs through Nov. 16.
Tennessee's gun season for deer opens the following day.
Helicopter used to rescue hiker
GATLINBURG, Tenn. - A man trying to hike the entire 2,180 miles of the Appalachian Trail was rescued Friday after calling 911 to say he didn't think he'd be able to make it out of a section in Tennessee because he was blocked by snowdrifts up to 5 feet high.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park spokeswoman Molly Schroer said rescuers used two helicopters to lift out 56-year-old Steven Ainsworth, of Washington, N.C. Schroer says Ainsworth was airlifted to a Gatlinburg airport and then transferred to a medical center in Sevierville for evaluation. LeConte Medical Center spokeswoman Amanda Palletz said he was in stable condition.
Decorated vet to talk Sunday
MONTEAGLE, Tenn. - Col. James C. Harding, retired from the United States Air Force, will speak Sunday at the Monteagle Veterans of Foreign Wars Clyde W. Bennett Post 9586 at Grundy County's GOP "Veterans Tribute" event.
Harding is the 24th most decorated veteran, by points, in U.S. military history, according to event organizers.
The event is scheduled for 1 p.m. CDT. For more information, go to www.grundygop.org or call 931-871-6040.