I'm shocked

The Stewartsboro Crossing mall was recently sold for a good amount less then originally purchased for in 2006.

Smyrna Holding LLC - whose mailing address matches the L.A. brokerage firm - bought Smyrna's Stewartsboro Crossing last month from Atlanta-based Servidyne.

Servidyne, once known as Abrams, sold the the Food Lion-anchored shopping center for nearly a fifth less than it paid for it in 2006. After paying $5.2 million for the tract in 2006, Servidyne sold it to Smyrna Holding for $4.3 million in December — an 18 percent loss over four years.

I'm a bit surprised for a few reasons. The intersection I feel is going to have growth in the future and that should have driven up the price. While nothing like the Sam Ridley pkwy growth, the area is growing. In the recent past we have seen the new Walgreens get built and the old Walmart building become a call center with a few hundred employees. The open fields just scream for development. I know the economy can best be described as corpse like, but a $900,000 drop seemed counter to how I see the area.

Bad boys, bad boys, what ch' going to do?

CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE

The police are asking if you might know this person, or have seen him.

We are hoping you can help us locate a suspect.

On September 21, 2010, our suspect took a stolen debit card into Target, Wal-Green's, Staples and a Shell gas station. He primarily used the stolen debit card to purchase Visa and MasterCard gift cards. Total theft/fraudulent usage of the stolen debit card totaled a little over $800.

Our suspect is described as a black male, medium build with a beard and tattoo on his right forearm. The suspect left in a maroon vehicle with a spoiler on the back, possibly a Nissan and possibly a Maxima.

Anyone with information about this suspect is urged to contact Detective Jason Anderson at (615) 459-9742, ext. 5733.

We appreciate any assistance you may provide.

Sergeant Bobby Gibson
Smyrna Police Department

Want some community exposure?

The parks and recreation department is seeking sponsors for local events. These have a big draw and you can meet the people face to face.

Smyrna Parks Event Sponsorship by Local Businesses

Smyrna Parks & Recreation holds various events throughout the year, including Movies in the Park, Music in the Park, 5K Run, Independence Day Celebration, Baseball Camp, Halloween in the Park and other fun and exciting events. Local businesses that would like to be part of an event through sponsorship and a way to PR your business, may contact Monty Perkins, Smyrna Parks & Recreation Event Coordinator, 615-459-9742 X2612; monty.perkins@townofsmyrna.org ., or Jeff Marler at 615-459-9742 X2622; jeff.marler@townofsmyrna.org.

Absolutely Gospel Music Awards

The nominees for the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards have been announced.

The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) are proud to announce the nominees for the 2011 Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards. As in year’s past, the nominees were chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com and select media representatives. Starting on February 1, 2010, the fans will get a chance to vote for their favorites in each category.

The date for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration is Tuesday, April 12, 2011. The event will again take place at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee and is free to the public. Like last year, the event is still tentatively on schedule to be streamed live as well.

This is one of the larger religious draws to our community and open to all.

HobNob Smyrna

The HobNob Smyrna site has really kicked into high gear this last month and made a big splash on the SmyrnaTn Facebook page. I'm not sure is running the site, but two of there articles ask for the best place to eat and who has the best burger.

Drop by and give them a read. Original content is a sign of a good sight.

Equality in Smyrna

Taylor Loyal said in the Smyrna AM this about the recent robberies.

Ascend Federal Credit Union was robbed last Wednesday morning, making it the third time the bank was robbed in the last three weeks and the fifth bank robbery in Smyrna in four months.
It’s the longest string of robberies in Smyrna in recent history.
According to police records, there were no bank robberies in Smyrna from Jan. 1, 2009, to Sept. 23, 2010. Then a rash of robberies began the morning of Sept. 24 that is bizarre for a town the size of Smyrna.

Well guess what happened today?

Police alert.

We hope you can put this image out to your viewers/readers and help us locate this suspect.

Today, January 25, 2010, around 9:25 am, the Bank of America located at 589 South Lowry Street in Smyrna was robbed. The suspect gave the bank teller a note demanding money and it stated the suspect was armed and was in control of an explosive device. The teller complied with the suspect and the suspect left the bank without further incident.



The suspect did not display a weapon and no evidence of an explosive could be found.

Our suspect is described as a white female, mid 30's - early 40's, approximately 5' 7" tall and weighing approximately 180 - 220 pounds. The female suspect may have left the area in a black Chevrolet Trailblazer.

I have attached a photo of the suspect. Anyone with information about this robbery or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Detective James Scott at (615) 459-9742, ext. 2547 or the Smyrna Police Department at (615) 459-6644.

Sergeant Bobby Gibson
Smyrna Police Department

I will admit a little pride that Smyrna is ahead of the gender equality curve. In America only 6-10 percent of bank robbers are women, but in Smyrna we are running an impressive 17 percent. TAKE THAT AMERICA! There is always a silver lining in even the worst of times if you look hard enough.

Need more mental energy

This blog is NOT dead, but is troubled by having the main blogger, me, being occupied with other issues in life. I'm up for any guest columns and more then happy to allow other people to post here on Smyrna related subjects. Drop me an email at the link on the blog.

Third times a charm

DAMN! The Acsend credit Union has been robbed for the third time in three weeks. What the heck is going on here people?

Today, January 5, 2011, around 10:03 am, the Ascend Federal Credit Union on Nissan Boulevard in Smyrna was robbed. The suspect entered the bank, approached the teller and implied that he had a gun. He then said "give me the money, hurry up." The teller gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of money and the suspect left the bank. The suspect ran from the bank and entered a vehicle waiting nearby. The vehicle was driven by an accomplice and left in an unknown direction. We have some images attached to this email and we hope one of your viewers/readers may recognize the suspect and provide us with some information that may lead to an arrest. Anyone with information regarding this robbery or the two previous robberies at this Ascend location, is requested to contact Detective Allan Nabours at (615) 887-3319 or (615) 459-9742, ext.5434.

Robbery suspect information:
white male
late 30's - early to mid 40's
approximately 6 feet tall
170-180 pounds
brown hair
wearing blue jeans, white tennis shoes with a green hoodie style sweatshirt with some type of emblem on front (possibly a clown face)

Robbery driver information:
white female
blonde hair
wearing glasses
unknown age (possibly similar in age to robbery suspect)

Suspect vehicle information:
silver, 2 door Chevrolet Monte Carlo (late 90's model)

Any information you can get out to the public is greatly appreciated.

This wave of robberies is looking bad and really needs to stop.

What?

I was sad when the Sam Davis home dropped the BBQ festival, but now it seems that this is a month with no tours.

In an effort to save money, the Sam Davis Home will close for tours during the month of January.

Executive Director Anita Teague said the board of directors reviewed four proposals on how to cut costs. It took three months to come to a decision, she said.

“We really had to look our budget. We’re already very, very, very tight and have never had a lot of fluff,” Teague said, adding that she and Meredith Lane, the site’s events coordinator, are the only two full-time employees. “We just had to figure out a way to not go in the red.”

I wish I knew of way to increase donations to them, but nothing comes to mind.

Free Health Clinic Coming

I wanted to share a post that I already wrote on the LaVergne site here with Smyrna, too. Coming in mid-February is a free two-day health clinic for people with no health, vision, or dental insurance. It will be held February 19th and 20th at McGavock High School.

People needing medical assistance are encouraged to get in line by 3:00 a.m. on both days to ensure they will be able to see a professional.

For more information, visit the WSMV web site.

Event reminder.

Stones River Baptist Church located at 361 Sam Ridley Pkwy in Smyrna TN is having their holiday hayride today and tomorrow. Have fun.

We are celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ with our community by having a Bethlehem Hay-ride and Nativity with live animals on December 18-19 from 5:00 PM till 8:00 PM. This is a Free event and we want to share this info with as many people as possible. I am not sure of the protocol for this type of promotion and would appreciate your assistance. I can be reached at (615) 809-4210 Thank You and Have a Blessed Day...

Raid in Smyrna.

From the Smyrna police department.

On December 10th, around 6 pm, the Smyrna Police Department Narcotics Division executed a search warrant at the Mi Pueblito restaurant at 409 Smyrna Square in Smyrna. The search warrant was the result of a several months long investigation into illegal narcotics sales from the restaurant.

The restaurant owner, Claudio Castellanos, was the prime suspect in the distribution of cocaine from the restaurant. Narcotics detectives located and seized 3.8 ounces in powder cocaine, over $4000.00 cash and a semi-automatic handgun from the restaurant. Much of the seized cocaine was already pre-packaged into 65 separate, plastic bags for resale/distribution.

The restaurant also was in violation of Tennessee liquor laws since it did not have a permit to sell liquor but did have liquor on the premises. This information was forwarded to the Alcohol Beverage Commission.

There were 3 other employees (2 adults and 1 juvenile) as well as 4 customers in the restaurant when the search warrant was executed. Mr. Castellanos was the only person charged at that time and all others were released once the search warrant was complete. The juvenile was released to parents.

A second search warrant was executed later in the evening upon Mr. Castellanos' home at 613 Zellwood Drive in LaVergne. Narcotics detectives from the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office assisted with this search warrant and more cocaine was located within the home.

Castellanos was charged with Felony Possession of Cocaine within 1000 feet of a School Zone, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Operating a Business to Sell a Controlled Substance. Other charges against Castellanos are pending.

Rather interesting.

Revoke Section 11-3

Smyrna has a law outlawing businesses that use supernatural powers under the guise of fortunetelling. A recent lawsuit in Tennessee brought to mind that not all laws are legal...but they do try to keep us Brentwood-lite.

CHAPTER 3
FORTUNE TELLING, ETC.
SECTION
11-301. Fortune telling, etc.
11-302. Violation and penalty.
11-301. Fortune telling, etc. It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct the business of, solicit for, or ply the trade of fortune teller, clairvoyant, hypnotist, palmist, phrenologist, or other mystic endowed with supernatural powers. (1991 Code, § 11-234, modified)
11-302. Violation and penalty. A violation of this chapter shall subject the offender to a penalty under the general penalty provision of this code. Each day a violation shall be allowed to continue shall constitute a separate offense.

Now that lawsuit is in East Ridge Tennessee and already the judge has ruled in a way for the fortune teller.

A federal judge in East Tennessee has blocked East Ridge from enforcing a ban on fortunetellers, hours after a woman filed a lawsuit that says the ordinance violates her free speech rights.

The court order signed Friday by U.S. District Judge Curtis L. Collier granted relief sought in a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Candice Wohlfeil, a disabled grandmother who describes herself as a "spiritualist."

The restraining order allows Wohlfeil to reopen the booth where she had been reading tarot cards for three years before the city threatened a fine that forced her to shut down

I think that the town council might want to change or drop the law before we end up in a lawsuit. This area already has seen at least one suit.

In 2004, a federal judge in Nashville struck down a ban on fortunetelling in Dickson.

Smyrna tax payers should not have to risk paying to defend a lawsuit that is obviously going to be lost.

I don't believe in 'supernatural powers but if you want to spend $10 to have some cards shown to you I say go for it...but I will laugh at you behind your back. Honest!

Seasonal hayride

Bob Gronowski from the Stones River Baptist Church located at 361 Sam Ridley Pkwy emailed me and asked me to share this event. It is open to everyone and looks like a good time for the kids in your life.

We are celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ with our community by having a Bethlehem Hay-ride and Nativity with live animals on December 18-19 from 5:00 PM till 8:00 PM. This is a Free event and we want to share this info with as many people as possible. I am not sure of the protocol for this type of promotion and would appreciate your assistance. I can be reached at (615) 809-4210 Thank You and Have a Blessed Day...

Good News

Every time I want to start a post with "Good news everyone" I hear his voice in my head. Oh well.


The good news is that the Smyrna Airshow is a 'GO!' for returning to Smyrna next year. Economically and tourist wise this is great news.

The Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority is announces the return of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds to the Great Tennessee Air Show at Smyrna Airport on May 7 and 8, 2011. This signature event has been held at Smyrna Airport for over forty years allowing the community the opportunity to experience aviation up close and personal.

This is great as we also lost the BBQ festival and a need for a tourist event was very much needed.

Food!

A ham breakfast should be in your future.

The LaVergne Rescue Unit is hosting a Country Ham Breakfast this Saturday, Dec. 11, from 6 to 10 a.m. at the LaVergne Rescue Building at 141 Gambill Ln. Breakfast includes country ham, biscuits, gravy, potatoes, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee. Cost of the breakfast is $7.

Lil Cakes

A new local blogger has a review up of Lil Cakes.

This bakery is the real deal. Lil Cakes sells all kinds of flavors that sound amazing and they even have tasty whoopie pies – a must if you’re a fan of red velvet cake!!

Drop by and say howdy to Callie.

Coats?

You do not have to leave your house this year to help someone and no credit card is required.

Gently worn/used coats are much needed for the many homeless this year. Keller Williams Realty in M'boro is collecting coats at 450 St. Andrews Drive, OR, call the office at 895-8000 to donate and arrange for yours to be picked up before the 8th.

Information Link