request

I normally go to the town website by typing "Smyrna Tennessee" into Google. The town government website has ALWAYS been number one in the returned results.

I went this afternoon and the town website is not listed on the first or the second page.

Would you do a simple Google search and see if you get the same results. Thanks.

A helping hand

Robin Garner, another of the Smyrna AM columnists, emailed this to me. A fire displaced 10 people and one of them is a SHS student.

The 16 year old listed in the story is a member of the SHS Football team. SHS is collecting donations for this family, and the Quarter Back Club is joining in their effort.

The QB Club will also be collecting donations during our last home game this Friday night against Wilson Central.

If you would like to donate, please contact me (Robin Garner) or SHS.

Her email address is bnshopn (AT) hotmail (dot) com.Time to help a local family in need.

Signs, signs, and a phone call UPDATES

Smyrna is enjoying a bumper crop of political signs. what I did not expect was an automated phone call from one of the candidates. Just a few minutes ago I received on my cell phone (how they got the number I'm not sure) an automated message from Tim Morrell reminding people that tomorrow was the last day for early voting and how he would fight against any tax increase (He might have said property tax increase but don't hold me to it).

I almost did not answer it because it came through as a "private" call. Luckily for him I get intrigued enough to answer most private calls.

UPDATE:
I received a "private call" yesterday and today. I missed both so I can only best assume they are political calls, but not who from. From comments some are bothered by them and rightly so, but they are a tool to get a quick message across with having to answer a door or throw more paper fliers into the landfill.

Since I already voted they are pretty much wasted on me.

UPDATE II
Sprint sucks...and so do these Razor cellphones. It took a few days but the message was recorded and finally showed on my phone. They both were from Tim Morrell and they were different from each other and from the first I got. He's really hitting the full media playbook for votes.

UPDATE III
It's 7:25pm Monday and I received another Tim Morrell call, this time from "Unknown".

I wonder how much he paid for these calls?

7th Annual Smyrna Fire Department Food Drive

click for larger image

The Smyrna Fire department is having a food drive for the Smyrna/LaVergne food bank. I hope you understand how important this service is to our town and how much good it does. The Daily news Journal has an article on how the economy is hurting their supplies of food.

The Smyrna-La Vergne Food Bank saw a 30 percent increase in applications in September 2008 compared to the previous year, according to Denise Esker, director of the food bank in Smyrna. Earlier this month, 10 families applied for help for the first time in the same day.

"Denise is the greatest person in the world," said Dan Fedele. "Even though I showed up an hour late she took care of me right then."

The Smyrna-La Vergne Food Bank has been providing food to needy families since 1982 and is one of 47 agencies and programs supported by the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties.

The food bank depends heavily on donations of nonperishable food through area food drives to stock its shelves.

I'm one who feels this economic turmoil we are suffering is not going to end soon, so we need to do what we can to voluntarily help others.

Take a little money and go check out the sales at ALDI's or some other place and do what you can. Be a good neighbor. Also for those who shop at Krogers. They have a small bundle of food items that you can purchase for 5$(If I remember correctly) that goes right to the food bank also.

Good afternoon Smyrna. Here's your regular (mostly) update on happenings around town.

Our town government has a few meetings planned.

Historic Zoning Commission: October 27, 2008 - 5:00 PM
Next Town Council Workshop is: October 28, 2008 - 7:00 PM

The Historic commission's meeting tonight will have on it's agenda the property owned by Phyllis Campbell who made the horrible mistake of asking to have her property rezoned. Her property is within eye sight of the Historical district so our fine town council said that it should be added. She did not ask for it, but what the heck. Tonight she will find out if she loses a lot of property rights in the name of pretty'fication.

In local events
Mourning

Widows, Weepers and Wakes: Mourning Customs Exhibit
October 01, 2008 - October 31, 2008
Held at Oaklands Historic House Museum, 900 North Maney Avenue, Murfreesboro. Victorian mourning customs will be explored. Contact: Oaklands Historic House Museum, (615) 893-0022

More mourning

A House in Mourning - Expression of Mourning Customs in the 19th Century
October 08, 2008 - November 02, 2008
held at the Sam Davis Home, 1399 Sam Davis Road, Smyrna. The Sam Davis Home will host "Cult of Mourning" which was at its peak during 1850-1890. The house will be prepared for a funeral, with mirrors draped in black cloth and clocks stopped at the time of death. View the Mourning Artifacts and learn the history of this practice to respect and mourn for the deceased. Contact: Sam Davis Home, (615) 459-2341

Pumpkins

Pumpkin Patch Days
October 27, 2008 - October 31, 2008
Held at the Sam Davis Home, 1399 Sam Davis Road, Smyrna. For educational groups only. Tours of the historic home, Halloween games and activities, reading circle, and an opportunity to pick your favorite pumpkin.Call to schedule your event. Contact: Sam Davis Home, (615) 459-2341

Hunting ghosts

Tuesday, Oct. 28
Presentation on the Paranormal: 6:30 p.m., Smyrna Library, 400 Enon Springs Road. Noe will talk about paranormal activities and guide the audience through an investigation.

Well that's it for this week. I hope to have some good material during the next week or so. As always if you have material you wish posted please contact me or leave a message in comments. I'm hoping Rebecca who wrote this wonderful comment will volunteer to do a guest column...or two.

I don't have two heads...honest!

Earlier this year I went in front of the town council and asked for them to review my idea of a good neighbor fowl program. let's say I was looked at like a two headed freak. I was VERY disappointed in how the subject was addressed by the administration of the town.

In comments and in posts(item 6) by OTHERS on this blog the idea lives on. This article I found from the Christian Science Monitor addresses the idea that some people just go ahead and do it be damned the laws, and some have a town council that looks openly at the subject and agrees that it isn't an idea that will destroy a town.

The Worldwatch Institute reports that a growing number of US city-dwellers are raising their own chickens, often in defiance of local ordinances.

Citing unsanctioned henhouses in Denver, Boston, and other cities, Worldwatch’s Ben Block notes that an “underground ‘urban chicken’ movement has swept across the United States in recent years,” flouting authorities’ concerns about noise, odors, and public health.

But in some cities, such as Ann Arbor, Mich., Ft. Collins, Colo., South Portland, Maine, and Madison, Wisc., owners of these clandestine coops have successfully changed the laws to allow them to keep a limited number of hens. (Roosters, whose characteristic crowing can disturb neighbors, are usually more restricted, but they’re not needed for hens to lay unfertilized eggs.)

Take a moment and read just a few of the comments to the article.

I don't have two heads and damned if I feel that if I can be a good neighbor then why the heck is the town government involved? I live in a town where we have already been judged as doing it wrong before we even try.

Smyrna. Where you're a bad neighbor before you even start...

more from Worldwatch.org

The Perfect Council-Person in 12 Easy Points

Here's a recipe for the perfect town council candidate, in line with the traditional American values of private property, low taxes and small government.

1. Candidate is anti-debt. The town would avoid taking on any new debt and would actively pay down any debt currently owed. Debt is more often a trap than a tool! If paying off debt requires selling city land or property, then it should be sold. We're in economic decline right now because of federal and corporate profligacy - let's set a better example on the local level.

2. Candidate recognizes sovereign right of citizens over their own property. This means that codes would be minimized and citizens would be encouraged to "talk over" issues between each-other without involving the city. It also means that city property taxes on homeowners would be eliminated.

3. Did I mention NO property taxes on homeowners?

4. Candidate would fight to abolish historic district and its draconian rules. Then property owners in the current district could run their businesses without the long noses of the city being poked in everywhere. It's tough enough to make money already!

5. Candidate would support a savings fund for emergencies to avoid having to take out any new debt.

6. Candidate would push for "good neighbor" poultry policy and loosening of codes. Gardening, urban homesteading, and composting should be encouraged.

7. Candidate would oppose any new boondoggle programs like a bus system, digital signs and other silliness. We don't need them, we don't want them!

8. Candidate should agree that development should only proceed without running over the property rights of homeowners.

9. Candidate should respect the senior citizens of Smyrna. They made this town what it is and their voices should be honored in return.

10. Candidate should fight to reduce the size and scope of town government.

11. Candidate will not cow-tow to established interests, old families, or those with money and power. Alternately, candidate should not oppose established interests for the sake of being reactionary. Rich, poor, black, white, old, young - all voices should be noted and respected.

12. Candidate will fight for individual rights - not corporate interests, government control, or personal power.


Whaddya say, Smyrna? As far as I can tell, we don't have a freedom-oriented candidate like that in this race.

Maybe next time?

Maybe it'll be you?

-DG

What is a...

I was looking at the Smyrna town government website for the meetings Monday when I noticed something new. I'm just not sure what it is or why.

The town has always been good at putting up minutes for their meetings and you can find them here near the bottom of the page. what is new...at least to me, is something called a "legislative report that lists like a set of minutes the happenings in a more formalized fashion. I'm curious about why this has been added.

Here is a copy of the only one posted as of yet.

2008-10.14LR - Upload a Document to Scribd

I'll ask someone the next time I go to a town council meeting. Maybe they have been putting them up as an informational item until the minutes can be agreed on by the council. I might have missed this item but it is interesting to me at least.

Voted today and an admission

I went to meet my wife for lunch in Murfreesboro and after we sat at Stones River park and enjoyed the weather for a bit we decided to vote. The lines at the Park building are short and we spent only a minute or two in line.

Sadly my legs were killing me so I could not do something that I had planned on doing. I simply could not stand long enough to do it, but my wife did have time and she cast a write in vote for...me. I was hoping to get at least two votes.

Fun activity planned

HIP 2008 -5th Copy for Web - Upload a Document to Scribd

Afew adult happenings this week

Here is a few happening for adults to do this week in town s I hope you get out and support these businesses but remember if you drink dont drink and drive!

1. Open Mic Tonight with $2.00 Domestic Long Necks - Open to Close.
Open 3 PM
No Cover.
Blend Into Our Scene at Chameleons!
6528 New Nashville Hwy
Smyrna Tennessee
615-585-3242

2. We are hosting our "Horse of a Different Color" event ths Saturday.
The theme is "Cowgirls and Cowboys Gone Country"!
Grab your boots and grab your stetson's!
County Line Dance lessons begin at 8 PM and 10 PM with Jamilynn.
Anyone riding in on a real horse drinks half price all night best Dressed Cowgirl and Best Dressed Cowboy Awards.
Food Tent Available with hot off the grill foods by T & T Grillmasters.
Open 5 PM Saturday till 3 AM.
Ice Packed Beer/Coolers for the Coldest Beer in Town!!
No Cover.
NO ID/No Entry.
Additional Parking in Rear.
Horses Parked in Back Play Area Only!
Blend Into Our Scene @ Chameleons
6528 New Nashville Hwy
Smyrna Tennessee


3. Thursday October 23rd is My birthday bash being held at the Smyrna Bowling Center. The fun starts at 11:30pm with 3 hours of free bowling and includes shoes, so come on out and help me celebrate my 42nd birthday and you may wear your halloween outfit if you desire. I hope to see some of you there!


If anyone has anything else they would like to have me post about adult happenings please feel free to email at bearroller9640@yahoo.com.

Now I am off to enjy my vacation this week so I will see some of you out and abut this week in Smyrna Tn.!!

Music at Ron's

Ron's Tavern at 104 Front Street in Smyrna's historic downtown is just one of many live music establishments that are not well known. Here is a performance by Chris Kempen performing a piece he composed.

Slow down in planned growth

The last few years heralded the new comprehensive plan the town had put together. In March Mark O'Neal commented about the economy and its possible affect on the plan, an issue I worried about last year.

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.

well it seems that parts of the plan may be deferred for the near future. The town council discussed this subject in the last town meeting they had.

Town Council members discussed postponing a portion of a $26.74 million bond this budget year until January 2010, for projects such as sidewalks and the development of Cedar Stone Park, the 80-acre community park for residents in the Almaville Road area.

Finance Director Mark Tucker said only $10 million of the bonds would be sold by the end of the year, with the additional portion to be sold at various other times.

However, due to market conditions, some projects may be put on hold or altered. For a week, some variable interest rates were higher than 9 percent.

I'm glad this is the approach they're taking. A hammer ahead be damned the economy is how a lot of municipalities end up with empty arenas and other projects. A sensible way to deal with the world going to pot.

Good Monday Smyrna. A truly lovely week as it is almost assured that the heat of summer will now be touched by the coolness the night brings for the rest of the year. As someone who works tirelessly for the banning of summer I find much pleasure in that small bit of knowledge.

Now what is our town government up to this week? It looks like only two meetings this week.

Storm Water Advisory Committee: October 20, 2008 - 7:00 PM
Parks Advisory Board: October 21, 2008

A slow week, but news reported by the DNJ last week is mentioned in another post about the planned projects that town had in mind.

In other local events we have a lot that you can do listed
more pumpkins

Great Pumpkin Fest
October 23, 2008
Held at Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, 502 S.E. Broad Street, Murfreesboro. 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Reduced admission to $4 per person with a donated canned food item. Contact: Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, (615) 890-2300

A fare fair?

Middle Tennessee Fair
October 22, 2008 - October 26, 2008
Held at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum, 304-B West Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro, Free admission. Contact: Miller Coliseum, (615) 494-8879

Death

Widows, Weepers and Wakes: Mourning Customs Exhibit
October 01, 2008 - October 31, 2008
Held at Oaklands Historic House Museum, 900 North Maney Avenue, Murfreesboro. Victorian mourning customs will be explored. Contact: Oaklands Historic House Museum, (615) 893-0022

More death

A House in Mourning - Expression of Mourning Customs in the 19th Century
October 08, 2008 - November 02, 2008
held at the Sam Davis Home, 1399 Sam Davis Road, Smyrna. The Sam Davis Home will host "Cult of Mourning" which was at its peak during 1850-1890. The house will be prepared for a funeral, with mirrors draped in black cloth and clocks stopped at the time of death. View the Mourning Artifacts and learn the history of this practice to respect and mourn for the deceased. Contact: Sam Davis Home, (615) 459-2341

Death by candlelight

Mourning by Candlelight at Oaklands Historic House Museum
October 24, 2008 - October 25, 2008
Held at Oaklands Historic House Museum, 900 North Maney Avenue, Murfreesboro. A tour of Evergreen Cemetery and Oaklands Mansion by candlelight will be given by reservation only. Contact: Oaklands Historic House Museum, (615) 893-0022

A tour of death

Ghost Tours at the Sam Davis Home
October 24, 2008 - October 25 2008
Held at the Sam Davis Home, 1399 Sam Davis Road, Smyrna. Ghost Tours begin with a haunted hayride of the Sam Davis Home plantation. Once the hayride comes to a dead stop, enter the historic home to hear tour guides share their own strange experiences from beyond. This tour is not recommended for anyone under the age of 10. Contact: Sam Davis Home, (615) 459-2341

A night of fright...plus dinner?

A Frightful Night at the Sam Davis Home
October 25, 2008
Held at the Sam Davis Home, 1399 Sam Davis Road, Smyrna. A Frightful Night at the Sam Davis Home will feature a catered dinner, a frightful movie, and all that is included with our Ghost Tours. First enjoy dinner and a movie before embarking on a haunted hayride of the plantation and guided ghost tours of the Sam Davis Home. Reservations are required for the dinner and movie. Call for pricing, movie details and times. Contact: Sam Davis Home, (615) 459-2341

Fun in the park

Halloween in the Park
October 25, 2008
Held at the Sharp Springs Natural Area Park, Smyrna. 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Costume contest for ages 3 years and under through age 14. Hayrides from 3:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Haunted Hayrides from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Games and inflatables, vendors and food booths. Contact: Monty Perkins, (615) 459-9742

Smyrna Parks and Recreation

Halloween in the Park: 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday October 25, Sharp Springs Natural Area Park, Smyrna. Event features costume contest, hayrides, games, inflatables and candy. Bring carved pumpkins to enter in contest. Call Monty Perkins at 615-459-9773. (PDF link to flyer)

A real busy week for those with kids due to the holiday.

As always if you have an activity you would like listed, or something of the like, please email me at the contact link.

Have a good day people.

nice mill

nice mill
Originally uploaded by Donna In Tn

This is right off of Sulpher Springs road near Smyrna and a wonderful place to go and relax.

Meet your candidates

The Smyrna AM has a series on the four candidates running for town council.

Mary Esther Reed

James Yates

Paul Johns

Tim Morrell

I thought the one candidate who admitted that "I once woke up with a tattoo I don't remember getting" was very revealing....if I was telling the Truth.

Good afternoon Smyrna. Sorry about the lack of updates on our lovely town last week, but life and school overwhelmed me and the blog had to be placed last.

Let's get down to the business of Smyrna. The town government has planned a few meetings that might interest you.

Project Assistance: October 14, 2008 -5:30PM
Next Town Council Meeting is: October 14, 2008 - 7:00 PM
Board of Zoning Appeals: October 16, 2008 - 5:00 PM

The town council meeting is unusual in my eyes for what is not there...but that's the subject of another post.

In local events there are not as many as normal
Death

Widows, Weepers and Wakes: Mourning Customs Exhibit
October 01, 2008 - October 31, 2008
Held at Oaklands Historic House Museum, 900 North Maney Avenue, Murfreesboro. Victorian mourning customs will be explored. Contact: Oaklands Historic House Museum, (615) 893-0022

More death

A House in Mourning - Expression of Mourning Customs in the 19th Century
October 08, 2008 - November 02, 2008
held at the Sam Davis Home, 1399 Sam Davis Road, Smyrna. The Sam Davis Home will host "Cult of Mourning" which was at its peak during 1850-1890. The house will be prepared for a funeral, with mirrors draped in black cloth and clocks stopped at the time of death. View the Mourning Artifacts and learn the history of this practice to respect and mourn for the deceased. Contact: Sam Davis Home, (615) 459-2341

Legacy

The Legacy of Stones River: Pathways to Freedom
October 18, 2008
Held at the Stones River National Battlefield, 3501 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro. A symposium featuring lectures and park programs that focuses on emancipation during the Civil War. Park programs will feature demonstrations by United States Colored Troops. Contact: Stones River National Battlefield, (615)893-9501

People having fun

Fortress Rosecrans Encampment
October 18, 2008 - October 19, 2008
Held at the Stones River National Battlefield, 3501 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro. A variety of living history demonstrations will tell the story of soldier and civilians during the Union occupation of Murfreesboro. Contact: Stones River National Battlefield, (615)893-9501

Old Cars

Saturday, Oct. 18
Team Chevrolet second annual Cruise-In, Swap Meet and Car Corral: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., swap meet and car corral (no charge for participants); 1 to 5 p.m., cruise-in (no charge for participants or spectators), Team Chevrolet, Smyrna. On display will be Sterling Marlin's UT National Championship No. 14 Monte Carlo. Open to muscle cars, classics, hot rods, antique race cars and motorcycles. Music, fun, food, drinks available. Proceeds benefit the Smyrna High School varsity cheerleaders.

let us not forget safe kids.

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of children. Over eighty percent of children riding in motor vehicles are at risk because they are not restrained properly. Parents and caregivers can receive guidance on how to correctly secure a child in an appropriate child safety seat by using the services offered by the Smyrna Police Department this Wednesday, October 15th from 3pm to 6pm. As a reminder to Smyrna Police will be doing these checks on the third Wednesday of every month. We encourage you to take advantage of this service.

Looks like a good ammount of 'stuff' to do. As always. If you have something you wish me to post please email me or leave the information in comments.

Gardening in Smyrna

Well, I suppose if Gunner can post on economics, I can post on gardening. If we're really heading into the next Great Depression, gardening might soon become more than a hobby for a lot of folks. So... let's jump in and get dirty!

First of all - it's Fall! I'm originally from South Florida (zone 10!) so this is the time I would be planting if I was still there.

Now that I'm in TN, however, I'm learning to work with the seasons, the clay, and the variety of different fruits and veggies that thrive here.

This last week I've been taking advantage of the leaves to "sheet compost" some new planting beds in my backyard. In order to do this, you lay down some newsprint and/or cardboard, then stack leaves, hay and other compostable material on top of it. This is also called "Lasagna Gardening." Basically, the idea is to kill the weeds and improve the soil at the same time.

This is my first attempt. I like the idea of killing crabgrass and re-using cardboard that would normally be disposed of. I just wish I could find a source of more free "green" compost, like chicken manure, rabbit droppings, grass clippings, rotten fruit, etc. Leaves are easy to find, but the "active" ingredient of nitrogen-rich material is a taller order. Anyone have any ideas?

And please... share any suggestions, gardening tips, etc., as we head into Winter! I'd love to know more about your garden.

Happy planning.

-DG

Filler

I write a lot of stuff that I never submit to the Smyrna AM, and never even show others, but in this time of economic turmoil I wrote this weekend a small piece I want to share with you.

The whole system is collapsing and the wolves are at the door. Why? Poor people of course. Those ignorant people who took out loans to buy houses that they could barely afford and now that the interest rate is up and the economy is down their bad choices have ruined the country.

In the papers, in comments, and on the TV I hear over and over that it all started with bad loans to people who could not afford it. They’re right and damnably wrong in the same breath. How amazing is that?

You don’t know poor unless you grew up with no doctor. Poor is getting your shots at the local health clinic after taking two buses there and waiting an hour, the repeating it in reverse to get home while being dragged behind your mom.

Poor is living several years in the projects of Kentucky and remembering the boxes. The boxes of food from your mom’s church that comes extra big during the holidays, and normal during the rest of the time. Boxes of clothing donated by someone who’s kid just grew too big for them…”but it might fit your kids”.

I never understood why mom got so mad when I was young and absent mindedly lost my jackets. It’s just a jacket to a kid, but an extra expense to a lone mom. I know that now and wish I knew that then. Kids normally never really think they’re poor if there is food.

Poor is when you hope and dream of owning your own house and one day you hear about the programs, those HUD (housing and urban development) programs to get low income people to purchase housing.

Poor is buying a house and living the dream because the government might have helped you and that means it must be alright…right?

Then a rate is changed by the Federal Reserve, or the economy turns and that house that was a dream become another stone around your neck. You see the cost go up and up, and you hear the people screaming about those damned evil poor people who purchased houses they could not afford destroying the economy and you wonder how your dream could go away so fast.

Then the clock starts, you get the paperwork telling you that you need to move and those old feelings come back. Where do I live, where do I move, and why did it go bad so fast?

You never knew you were so powerful, a member of a movement so strong as to bring down a whole market and ruin the economy of the worlds greatest super power. Maybe that poor person even laughed at their “power” as they shoved their kid’s toys into the empty cardboard box they picked up from behind the liquor store…the one not in Smyrna thank God.

I’m rather tired of people sitting down and laying the blame of the world on the ones who bought into a dream they could not afford. Unless you’ve lived at the bottom and found the only place to look is up, then don’t you dare look down in judgment on them. Maybe many did over reach when trying to grab the dream…but to give them the power to pull down a whole economy is foolish in the extreme.

Just something to think about.

No weekly update

School has me by the short hairs and I'm hurting for time. Maybe Wednesday if I'm lucky.

I AM SO DUMB!!!!

I made the classical error of doing what the government agency said to do and that has screwed me in attempting to find the Rutherford County Government Access Channel.

It seems that when their website said

To view a live feed from Channel 19 click here. This feature requires Windows Media Player.

it really means "it aint going to work"

That "click here" link goes to

mms:\\media1.rutherfordcounty.org\live

My wife noticed a link inside the link bar on the left and under the RCTV channel 19 is this link.

mms://media1.rutherfordcountytn.gov:1031/live

This hidden second link DOES work. Please go by and at 7:30 pm the Smyrna council candidates will be up, and as I type this the candidates for the LaVergne town council are up.

Watch...It's important that you are informed.

Tonight is the night....if you can see it.

Tonight is the night for the debates between the candidates for the the sister towns of Smyrna and LaVergne. They will be broadcast on the Rutherford County Government Access Channel

• 6:45-7:15 p.m.: La Vergne Alderman. Candidates are Senna Mosley, Dennis Waldron and Mike Slinker.

• 7:30-8 p.m.: Smyrna Town Council. Candidates are Paul Johns, Tim Morrell, Mary Esther Reed and James Yates.

I have a request for the two...or maybe three regular readers of This is Smyrna.

I have tried for three days to get online and check out the online streaming feed supposedly at THIS link (link also on the RCTV page). At first I received this error message.

Windows Media Player cannot play the file because the server is not responding. If you entered a URL or path to play the file, verify that it is correct. If you clicked a link to play the file, the link may not be valid.

I emailed them and they responded that the problem should be fixed...but now I get this error.

Windows Media Player cannot play the file because a network error occurred. The server might not be available. Verify that you are connected to the network and that your proxy settings are correct.

I have gone to other streaming sites that stream through windows Media player and they all work, and have even updated to the latest version of media player and all to naught.

Will you click to see if the link works for you, and if not could you email them. I received no response after the second email, and I really want to watch the debate. Sadly my plans to go view it have been derailed by a bum knee that I have re-hurt. Yep. Back on crutches for a while.

I know a good number of people view the town meetings here in Smyrna by way of computer and if everyone is having this issue then it needs to be corrected.

Give it a try and tell me in comments if your system works. Thanks