Monday, March 31, 2008

Dugouts - Chicago Style Hot Dogs



We have a new place to eat in town. Dugouts Chicago Style Hot Dogs

It's in the strip mall behind Tractor Supply and Regions Bank.

I tried them on Saturday with my hubby and then went back again today with Mom and Sister in tow, they are that good! The people are friendly and they will be glad to see you too.

If you have ever seen a Chicago style hot dog, it has just about everything on it but the kitchen sink. They will make it just the way you like it though. I had the "Smyrna Dog", a good beef dog on a poppyseed bun with BBQ sauce and cole slaw.

Ya gotta try'em!

Image is from Vienna Beef Dogs, which is where Dugouts get their dogs.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Another small business gone

While Smyrna is about to lose another business, I'm happy to say that they are not going out of business, just moving.
One of Smyrna's popular dining destinations is closing its doors.

The Chicken Shack at 37 S. Lowry St. will remain open until April 26 before heading to Murfreesboro. It first opened in May 2006
I hope they have luck in M'boro.

Paid off

News that the debt owed by the Sam davis house is being paid off by the Christy Houston Foundation is great news for Smyrna and the surrounding area. The regular BBQ festival is a big draw to our city and growing every year.
Word that the Christy-Houston Foundation has agreed to pay off the debt on the Sam Davis Home’s museum and visitor’s center is the best news Katherine Walkup has heard in a while.

“That doesn’t happen very often. My feet still haven’t touched the ground,” said Walkup, who has volunteered at the historic site for several decades.
........
Representatives of the foundation will present a check in the amount of $212,511 to Sam Davis Home board members April 10.

“Hopefully, that night we’ll have our note for our board to burn. I wrote the grant in September for $240,000 and since then, we’ve managed to pay down $27,000,” she said.
Just one question. who the heck, or what the heck, is Christy Houston? I googled the name and found that the foundation seems to be two people in Murfreesboro.
Company Profile: Christy Houston Foundation Inc
Year Started:1986
State of Incorporation:TN
URL:N/A
Location Type:Single Location
Stock Symbol:N/A
Stock Exchange:N/A
Also Does Business As:N/A
NAICS:N/A
SIC #Code:8399
Est. Annual Sales:$89,000
Est. Employees:2
Est. Employees at Location:2
Contact Name:Robert B Mufflin
Contact Title:Executive Director
No webpage, but an annual sale of $89,000 and still I'm no closer to knowing what they are. I just know they sure are busy handing out checks.

Monday, March 24, 2008

J.C. Penney

Looks like J.C. Penney is still a ways off.
J.C. Penney is slated to open in the fall of 2009 in the new Gateway Centre development at Sam Ridley Parkway and Wolverine Drive.
The 105,000-square foot store will anchor the 260,000-square-foot shopping center, which will also include additional retail, restaurants and service businesses.
Late next year. My poor wife will have to suffer until then.

It should be noted that till they open many new businesses will be opening one small shop at a time in the many strip malls being build as I type. These are mostly Smyrna owned and would really welcome your patronage.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Another point of view needed.

On an earlier post this comment was left by anonymous.
Pssst....just a lil secret...



...there's never been a woman on Smyrna FD.
I feel one set of standards should be set and they hire from those who pass them irregardless of their sex. I will admit that I can only see this from the viewpoint of a fat person who may depend on someone dragging me from a building or vehicle, because of that I want the strongest hulking individual there is to be hired.

What are your thoughts?

Growing into a recession?

The numbers are hard to argue against. Rutherford Rocks.
For instance, our community received some extraordinary rankings in 2007. In the September issue of US News & World Report, the magazine ranked Smyrna one of the top 10 best places to retire. Forbes ranked La Vergne 61st on its list of “America’s Fastest Growing Suburbs.” And once again, the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro MSA was ranked as one of “America’s 50 Hottest Cities” in Expansion Management magazine.

There are many reasons why our county “rocks.”

For instance, we have the fifth largest and second fastest growing county in the state. Our county’s population is more than 200,000 with most people between the ages of 20 and 54.

We have an available workforce of 611,140 people. MTSU is the largest undergraduate university in the state.

Finally, an 80,000-square-foot conference center and all suite luxury Embassy Suites Hotel will open its doors later this year off Medical Center Parkway.
Now understand that these numbers are based on compiled data. data that is from last year or the year before. Current data cannot be placed into context until it is all in, so the current numbers are in question. Sadly one of the questions involves recession.
Is Rutherford County in a recession?

Well, it depends on whom you ask.

Most local experts admit that Rutherford County’s economy has slowed some but not to the speed of the rest of the country.

David Penn, executive director of the Business and Economic Research Center at MTSU, is reluctant to say Rutherford County is in a recession.

“I am not ready to say we are in a recession,” he said. “We need to see more losses for another couple of months, more severe losses to really convince me.”

By and large, Rutherford County is still experiencing growth in all segments of the economy but just not at the record-setting pace of a couple of years ago.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Rutherford County can’t keep up with that amount of growth, Penn said, referring to the cost of constructing new schools and roads.
Smyrna'a comprehensive plan is based on the growth of Smyrna and the surrounding community. No or slow growth and the plan slows. A while ago Mark O'Neal said that if the growth is not there, then the town will delay the plan till the city keeps up. No hammering ahead be-damned the numbers.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Wow!

I held off writing about last nights town council workshop to figure out the best expressive word to describe part of it. 'Shocking' is the best way to describe it.

It involves the town and a request to sell or swap some land with a church so it can have more parking. The problem is the land houses the Smyrna Rescue Squad. Mr. Johns showed that he was there to protect the interests of the rescue squad and was forceful and blunt about it.

When the workshop goes online at the channel 3 archives go and watch section 5. Have a cold beer and a comfortable chair to view the fun.

Bella Blue coming to Smyrna

Bella Blue 11-B North Lowry St. Smyrna, TN 37167

(Parking in back of store.) Men, Women, Teens & Mom's to be...........

Consignors needed for a new Fun & Unique
Consignment - Gift Store opening in Smyrna, TN.

April 5, 2008

☺☺Accessories Wanted☺☺

Shoes, purses, make- up cases, travel kits, scarves, hats, new hose, socks, undergarments, house slippers, swimwear, sleepwear and any type of jewerly.

☺☺Also, Consigning small gift items ☺☺

Picture frames, jewerly boxes, nail polish, new make- up, unusual magnets, stationary, new candles, journal books, shower hooks, decorative drawer pulls, nightlights, unique. Christmas ornaments, coasters, novelty buttons/pins, desk accessories, perfume, spa soaps, hair accessories hair pieces, belts, ties,,sunglasses & sunglass cases.

☺☺I look forward to meeting you. ☺☺

Please call if you have any questions. 631-5744 Jamia Pace
50/50 Split
MTSU Students 60/40 Split with ID

Now accepting all Spring & Summer clothing
Friday, March 21st 5:30- 7:30pm,
Saturday, March 22nd 10:00am- 4:00pm
Friday March 28th 5:30- 7:30pm
Sunday , March 30th 2:00- 4:00pm

Must be on hangers, clean & free of stains or tears.
(please try & limit your clothing to about 30 pieces at one time) Also, Please make sure the styles are current & not from 1980............. (sometimes you need a good sense of humor) ☺

Once the store opens April 5th. I will take consignors on Wednesday & Thursday 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Come have some fun..........☺

Smyrna go and check them out! This could be a fun store to shop at because its locally owned and operated. Shop Smyrna!!!!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Blogger meet today

I hope to see you there, and even if you're not a blogger drop by and say "hi". I would love to meet some of the readers of 'This is Smyrna, TN." and I really really need at least 5 people there for my talk.

Espresso Joe's, Smyrna Tennessee, 2pm today.

Friday, March 14, 2008

The Middle Tennessee Blogger and Podcasters’ Group

Tomorrow is the meeting for The Middle Tennessee Blogger and Podcasters’ Group at Expresso Joes.
We look forward to seeing you Saturday, March 15th at 2:00 PM at Espresso Joe’s in Smyrna, TN. The Middle Tennessee Blogger and Podcasters’ Group is a friendly bunch that get together on a regular basis to talk about life, technology and anything else that may be waying on their minds. Come out and make some new friends and joing the Middle Tennessee Blogger and Podcasters’ Group Meeting (MTBPG).
I have a class project for school and will be giving a talk on the core belief of Libertarians. This talk should only be about 5-8 minutes with questions at the end.

You are all welcome to attend.

Pop goes the Trenton

A local blogger popped out on March 3rd a 8 pound 11 oz. little bundle of joy. Drop by and give Trenton a big welcome.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

We are awaiting the delivery

A local blogger named Amber is on the verge of creating a little sub-domain called a child and is due anytime if i count my weeks correctly.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Almost 31 weeks
So I have about 9 weeks left of this pregnancy. I think I will be glad once its all over. Finally getting to meet this karate kicking machine that moves all the time. Matt and I still haven't decided on a name yet. 'Trenton' is high on the list. Everytime I start to like a name he suggests, he comes up with another and decides he changed his mind on the last name. GRR! Now he is liking the name 'Victor' but all I can think of is Days of Our Lives. So that name is way out and not even going to be considered. Not that I hate Days, I just hate relating my child's name to something or someone that has no personal meaning to me.
In mid February thinks were even closer.
Friday, February 22, 2008
36 weeks
Sorry for not updating like I should. Went to the Docs this morning. Everything is good. I gained 1 pound in the last month. I am now my official heaviest at 200lbs. I hope not to go beyond that within the next 3 weeks or so of being pregnant.
No update for a few weeks so I am on edge and hope things are okay.

Call us Amber.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

How far to the nearest hotel?

The town council and others are having a retreat to discuss the comprehensive plan where through edicts.... I mean enforced standards will create a community identity. of course silly old me thought the people in the town created the community identity. I'm glad they saw through that old fashion idea.

Just one question. With the pride the council is taking in the growth of Smyrna, and the growth of Rutherford county, do they always pick Fall Creek Falls (Pikeville Tennessee) to have their retreats? Is there no other meeting places within 114 miles?

So you're invited. Just make sure you have a full tank of gas.
The Town Council and Planning Commission of the Town of Smyrna will conduct a joint workshop retreat on March 13 and 14, 2008 for the purpose of the Town of Smyrna Comprehensive Plan and its implementation.

The workshop retreat will be held at Fall Creek Falls State Park Conference Center in Pikeville, Tennessee. The workshop retreat will begin on Thursday, March 13th and will conclude on March 14th. Members of the media and the public are invited and encouraged to attend.
I guess I'll miss this meeting.

Just one more week

That's all the time left until the light goes fully functional at the Sam Ridley/ Motlow Blvd. intersection. During the town meeting last night Manager Mark O'Neal announced that the light will be flashing for one week to announce that it is on, then will go active Wednesday after 7 days.

All I have to say is "It's about time!". 10 months was unnecessarily to long in my view.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Blogging the town council meeting

Two council members area no show tonight but a quorum was met so the moved forward.

While watching the meeting an item being addressed was the requirements for "key boxes: for ease of entrance for the fire department during an emergency. An odd situation occurred. The mayor read a letter from a Mike Wood(If I heard correctly) with certain worried about the safety and cost of these new key boxes. Oddly the letter was read, but not a single one of his worries was addressed. The mayor said that he had already had several conversations with him and was not able to convince him of the good of the program. After reading they voted and went on to the next item as if the letter was not read. It brought up several items I had not thought of. Why read it if you will not address the issues?

My term on the board of adjustment and appeals ended and I did not reapply, so I was replaced on the committee. Many other appointments were made to pretty much all the town committees at the meeting. I am still on the Storm water advisory committee.

They voiced the reminder to fill out your census so the town can get the proper amount of money from the state.

Also it seems that LaVergne is going to donate a police dog to Smyrna saving us over $6000 plus and I would like to say "Thanks" to our neighbor city. It is a trained tracker/drug sniffer dog and will be an important asset to our police department.

Monday, March 10, 2008

New Smyrna community blog

I have decided to post local videos of interest at their own blog. I am surprised at the number of local videos that I find online. So many in fact that they deserve their own blog.

Thus I have created "This is Smyrna TV" as a place to view local videos, podcasts and other multi-media material created and brought to my attention.

We already have a single post couple of posts and it is still bare, but it will grow I hope.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Local video of interest

Our local county commissioner Mike Sparks has put together a video with Dan Miller, the author of a book dealing with the changing economics and job market that we are experiencing today.



Other videos put out by Mike Sparks working with WGNS 1450 can be found here.

New Local blogs

There are some local blogs and family websites that may be new to you that have been added to the sidebar.

Smyrna Tennessee History and stuff is a self titled history blog run by Lori Sellers.

Shayne and Michelle's life is a family website by a local resident.

The Cutting Edge is a local political blog run by Serr8d.

Sneakers for Snorts

I was asked to share this email with you that I received from Amber Norton Vongsamphanh
I am hosting a fundraiser for Pug Rescue at Hilltop Park in Smyrna at the end of March and was wondering if it would be possible to have it added to your calendar of events.

All the information about the fundraiser is available at the following blog
Sneakers for Snorts

The fundraiser is to support Southeast Pug Rescue and Adoption, a 501(3)(c) charity that rescues, fosters, and adopts out pugs and pug mixes throughout the southeast. I live in Smyrna and have been volunteering with them for a little over a year. If you'd like to learn more about SEPRA, their website is www.rescuepug.com. Thanks so much for your time!
Looks like a good cause for pet lovers out there.
Welcome to the new layout for This is Smyrna, TN.

We will be using the current blogger system of comments for the time being.

If you feel a link has been dropped, or needs added to the right please comment and I will make the correction.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Pretty but dangerous

There comes a time in a person’s life that the desire to be polite goes out the window and anger fills its place in their heart. For me the time occurred when I heard that Smyrna Mayor Spivey was bothered by several mentions In the Smyrna AM of the delay in placing the streetlight at the Sam Ridley and Motlow Blvd.

He has voiced his unhappiness on the Smyrna AM commenting on the delays and that has bothered me.

For me the issue goes all the way back to the beginning of last year. The talk in the town council was about getting a light for the intersection. Sadly the meetings from then are not archived or I could quote the person specifically, but even then it pissed me off to no end. They were talking about the poles and how the normal creosote poles would look bad and they were going to do it right. Big pretty metal poles in the town's effort at pretty’fication.

Now on the surface that may just look like a wise investment until you look at it in more detail and reach a conclusion. Time’s a bitch when it comes to statistical chances and for many the odds kicked them a good one

Now the issue of needed lights there was first mentioned on “This is Smyrna, TN” By Michael on November 2006. The next mention was in January 2007 when I asked the town manager and he quoted the price of 200,000 to install the lights. The next month I mentioned that Mayor Spivey had talked about his contacting the state about assisting funds for the intersection.

Finally in April 10th of last year the DNJ reported that a light had been Okayed by the state.

Then three things occurred very close together and it has left a bad taste in my mouth since then and the recent news brought to my attention about the mayor has made me write this column.

The first is the season. Not the season to give or the holiday seasons, but tornado season and the extreme damage they can do to a village or town. When that happens many things occur, the first is to help people, but the next is to start rebuilding the damaged infrastructure. Crews in big trucks scurry about the area in a chaotic dance of repair and fixing. One of the things they fix is power and lights. Traffic lights to be specific and those lights can be rebuilt and running at an intersection in less then a day. Extra equipment can be brought in from spares and used to get things going. Keep this in mind.

The next was an accident. I blogged about it here on April 27th and was horribly impressed.

I was driving past the Smyrna video and saw that the whole row of stores had their power back on at 9pm. A total rebuild in just 8-9 hours by the city utilities. Consider me impressed.
In just one day they rewired, and put up two poles and all the transformers and damned if they did not have 5 plus trucks there with people doing it. I found out later that it was the power company and not the city, but was still impressed.

The third item was a city meeting. It was the sister city committee meeting and when I got there I found the door locked and no one seemed at home. Turns out there were there, you just had to knock to be let in. I mentioned that here and the next day I got a call from the town manager. I did not blog about certain parts of the town managers call until other things popped up.

The current problem I'm in started back in May. I had a question on a proposed ordinance that the city was thinking of passing. It seemed that the town attorney was the one to call so I left two requests to talk to her. I never got called back from her, but the next day I did get a very interesting phone call from Town manager Mark O'Neal. In what I best described to my wife as a "pissy attitude" he told me that I should address ALL questions to him in the future and not to anyone else. I did not mention this online in May because I figure that maybe he was having a bad day. We all have them.

He wants to be the wellspring of all information in the city hall. I can live with that.
Near the end of that phone call on May 2nd I brought up an idea that had come to me after the Smyrna Video Wire tear down.

Why not use extra spare parts and wires to put up a TEMPORARY light system to work until the poles came in, and I mentioned the crews and what I saw. I was pretty much brushed off.

So here we are today. 11 months since the plan to put the ‘pretty’ lights were Okayed, and damned if the mayor is upset that the Smyrna AM has mentioned a few times the delays lately.

You want pissed? Fine. I’m pissed that the town government of Smyrna TN did not put up emergency temporary lights for 10 months because they just had to have the pretty poles, and let the intersection stay dangerous . Every time a person drove through that intersection, and that includes my wife, family and friends, the chances of an accident that could financially, physically, and emotionally scar them for life increased till an accident did happen. Luckily not to anyone I care for, but the ones who have had accidents do have people that care for them. They should be enraged.

I lay at the feet of the town government every accident at that intersection for the last 10 months, all in the name of a pretty town, and a person's dismissive attitude.

Will this piss people off? I could care less. I plan on trying to get the recording of the town council meetings for the first 5 months of last year to find who made the disparaging comment about the black light poles and write a column that will make this one look like a damn walk in the park.

Time Line
2006 November: T.I.S.T. mentioned need for light
2007 January 24th: Town Manager mentioned 200,000 cost for pretty poles.
2007 February 14th: Mayor Spivey mentioned talking to state
2007 April 10th: DNJ reported light has state 'okay'
2007 April 27th: Post on accident and speedy repairs to poles and wires.
2007 May 1st: Mentioned sister city meeting locked.
2007 May 2nd: Call from Mark O'Neil and my suggestion of temporary lights. Dismissed suggestion.
2007 May 3rd to today: Smyrna resident and visitors left in danger due to need for pretty poles.

A truck hits a pole and tears down the lights and they can be up and running in a day, but when a dangerous situation occurs they do nothing. I'm more then bothered. I'm mad. A viable solution was offered and they did nothing, and now some in the government are bothered that the delay keeps getting brought up. Sorry but the delay is small fries when compared to the accidents that could have been avoided. But they are a small price when it comes to the town's desire for pretty poles.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Sad news

What was feared by many and assumed by some has turned out to be true. The remains found near the stones River National Battlefield memorial near the quaries on Old Nashville Highway have been confirmed to be the remains of Analyce Guerra.
Smyrna police confirmed that bones of a small child found in January in a quarry belong to Analyce Guerra.

The 2-year-old vanished in April 2006 from a Smyrna apartment. When her mother awoke at 4 a.m., the child was missing. The front door was also unlocked, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Web site. The child lived in the Meadow Wood Apartments on Nissan Boulevard.

Detectives confirmed that her bones were found in a quarry near the Stones River National Battlefield. Detectives suspected they could be Analyce's but DNA testing confirmed the bones belonged to the child.
I truly wished this was not true as many had a glimmer of hope that she would be returned, but it is not to be.

New Restaurants & Stores Coming to Smyrna

Gosh I've been terrible about writing here! SORRY! But I wanted to share with you what I heard at our sales meeting this week at my real estate company.

The following businesses are coming to Smyrna - you may have already heard about some but maybe there's a surprise or two in store!

Sam Ridley Area
I-Hop
Red Robin
Demos'
Theater (we've known about this...)
JC Penney's

Almaville Road Area
Taco Bell
Publix