Lee Dickerson, a physical therapist with Erlanger hospital’s trauma services department, was awarded the Allan Jackson Service Award during Erlanger’s annual Trauma Symposium, a news release said.

The award is named for former Erlanger clinician Allan Jackson, who died in February.

Beth Jordon, trauma coordinator, said in a news release that Mr. Jackson was “an exceptional nurse, teacher, leader and friend.”

The honor is awarded to a trauma care provider who goes beyond the call of duty to enhance care at Erlanger, the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center.

Mr. Dickerson, a 10-year employee of Erlanger, was honored for his commitment to patients with debilitating trauma injuries.

Volunteers helping flooding victims

Local disaster volunteers from the Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross left Thursday to help flooding victims in Kentucky, according to a news release.

Will Rowe and David Kaplan traveled to Pikeville, Ky., in the national emergency response vehicle, which will be used to help feed those displaced by flooding, the release said.

Five counties in eastern Kentucky have been hit by severe flooding that destroyed 186 homes and damaged more than 900 others. The Red Cross is operating four shelters.

Red Cross assistance is free and supported through donations. To help victims of flooding in Kentucky, send a donation to the local chapter of the Red Cross and designate “Kentucky Flooding" on the check. Donors also can visit www.chattanoogaredcross.org/donate to help.

Drug discount card launched in East Ridge

This week the East Ridge launched a discount drug card program to help its residents in the economic downturn, according to a news release.

The free card, sponsored by the National League of Cities, will provide average savings of 20 percent off drug retail prices, a news release said. The discount card program is administered by CVS Caremark.

“In the current economic climate, where many people are watching what they spend, the City of East Ridge is happy to partner with the National League of Cities to make this prescription discount card available for our residents,” said Mayor Mike Steele in the release.

The cards may be used by all East Ridge residents regardless of age, income level or existing health coverage. The card can be used when purchasing prescription drugs at any local pharmacy around the city and at more than 59,000 participating pharmacies nationwide. Residents only need to show their cards at participating pharmacies when purchasing medicine, the release said.

Anti-nuke groups challenge Bellefonte permit

Three anti-nuclear groups said Thursdayday they have filed a legal challenge to the reinstatement of a construction permit for the Bellefonte Nuclear Power plant.

Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy said the Nuclear Regulatory Commission failed to follow its own guidelines in restoring a construction permit for units 1 and 2 at the Bellefonte plant in Hollywood, Ala.

Sandra Kurtz, a Chattanooga environmental leader and a member of the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team, said the NRC “got the cart before the horse” in reinstating the construction permit before verifying the condition of the plant.

“Contrary to their own procedural requirements, they’re handing out construction permits for reactors on a 40-year-old gutted plant site before new reactor designs have been approved and before environmental impacts have been determined,” she said.

The NRC voted 3-1 in March to reinstate a construction permit for Bellefonte. But the permit was granted only for a “terminated” plant and must be upgraded before construction could be resumed.

The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will decide whether to conduct a hearing on the objections filed to the NRC decision.

TVA is considering finishing the original reactors at Bellefonte, as well as building new Westinghouse AP-1000 reactors at the site.