Can you help the local SPD

The Smyrna Police need your help to find two people suspected of theft and credit card fraud.

The Smyrna Police Department is asking for the communities help. On November 25th a black male and a black female stole credit cards from an individual’s purse at Panera Bread located at 499 Chaney Road. They in turn went to Target at 803 Industrial Boulevard where they used these stolen credit cards on over $3,000 worth of items. These subjects were last seen in a newer model blue Ford Fusion or Taurus. We need the public’s help in identifying these criminals. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call Detective Alan Nabours at the Smyrna Police Department at 615-459-6644.

Book fair right now

The Smyrna Public Library is hosting a book fair right now and you're missing it!

Please look at these pictures.

I hope you take a moment and look at these pictures to assist the Smyrna Police department in catching these criminals. Not just because they committed a crime, but more so for the fact that one of them brought along a child...now that pisses me off to no end.

The Smyrna Police Department is asking for our communities help. On October 10th, 2012 two (2) white males accompanied by a small female child entered Gil’s Ace Hardware at 415 Nissan Drive in Smyrna. These two male subjects proceeded to remove power tools from their packaging and conceal them in their clothing. In turn the males proceeded to walk out of the store without paying for the items they stole. They were last seen in a silver four door vehicle with black rims. If anyone in the community has information that could lead to assisting us in identifying these persons responsible, please call Detective Alan Nabours of the Smyrna Police Department at 615-459-6644.

Smyrna Christmas tree lighting tomorrow

The town website and I wish to remind you that tomorrow they will be lighting the town's Christmas tree.

Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
Smyrna’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony is a great way to kick off the holiday season with family and friends. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, November 27th, 6pm at the Smyrna Town Centre on Sam Ridley Parkway.  The festivities begin at 6:00pm.  The Smyrna High School Jazz Band will perform, and children will join in a sing-a-long. The Town Council will “flip the switch”, lighting the Town Centre Christmas Tree.  Santa is scheduled to make a brief stop at the ceremony. Children of all ages can pose for a photograph with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  Hot chocolate and cookies will be served.

Camp Fire Cookout today

From the good people at the Parks and recreation Department.

Join us this evening from 5:00pm-7:00pm, Sharp Springs Park (Espey Drive entrance) for our Campfire Cookout.

Hot Dogs, Chili, Hot Chocolate & Coffee will be provided, along with campfire sing-alongs  and stories.

Following these activities, children & families will be able to enjoy smores, cinnamon twists and campfire cones over the campfire, followed by a walk by flashlight.  Bring the family and enjoy!  Sincerely, Monty

Nissan Pulls Plug on Battery Plant Grand Opening - Nashville Public Radio

This is an odd piece of news. The grand opening has been cancelled. No photo ops and little fanfare.

Nissan Pulls Plug on Battery Plant Grand Opening - Nashville Public Radio

Mobile Health Unit for November

Here is a local resource you might want to know about. This is a service of the MTMC in Murfreesboro.

The Mobile Health Unit Collaborative is a reflection of MTMC's Mission which calls us to "improve the health of individuals and communities" and to have "special attention to the poor and the vulnerable."  This Collaborative effort helps achieve access to health care, helping overcome barriers and obstacles.  MTMC, as a faith-based institution, is motivated by the principles of Human Dignity and the Common Good.  These same principles are shared by our collaborative partners:  The Guidance Center, Primary Care & Hope Clinic, Saint Thomas Corporate and Community Medicine, and Saint Thomas Emergency Services and Event Medicine. 

The Mobile Health Unit is in service four days per week.  We are available to serve during these hours of operation, and we are happy to answer questions at any time.

For those in Smyrna the service will be local on the following dates.

November 
Primary Care & Hope Clinic
Tuesday, November 27th: Smyrna Middle, 8 - 3

The Guidance Center
Thursday, November 8th: Smyrna Middle, 8 - 12
Thursday, November 15th: Wherry Housing, 8 - 12

The Nutcracker

Our local theatre is offering a holiday classic and it looks like fun for the kids.

This is your chance to see The Nutcracker right in Smyrna at the beautiful Springhouse Worship and Arts Center venue. This special event is sponsored by Lamplighter's Theatre Company and will only be playing for two evenings the week of Thanksgiving.
November 19 & 20 @ 7:00 PM 

Tickets are for Adults are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Tickets for children ages 2-12 are $10 in advance (a wonderful deal!) and $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance online through Tickets Nashville or at the Welcome Center of Springhouse Worship and Arts Center on Sunday mornings. 

He only comes once a year. Don't miss it!

Wilderness Walk Saturday

From the Smyrna parks and recreation department.

Smyrna Parks would like to welcome you to the Wilderness Walk that will take place tomorrow, Saturday, November 10, from 10am-12pm, Sharp Springs Park, Smyrna.

Enter through the Jefferson Pike entrance and we will be set up at the O’Connor Shelter.

Activity agenda is as follows:

10:00am – 10:30am:  TRPA Fish Presentation and Wildlife Demo Rachel Singer
10:30am – 10:50am:  Wilderness Walk (stroller friendly)
10:50am – 11:10am:  TRPA Fish Release
11:15am – 12:00pm:  Crafts & Lunch Provided

Bring your family out and enjoy! 

Local Boy Scout Fundraiser

A local scout troop is hosting a fund raiser this coming Saturday for the local VFW lodge to assist veterans with disabilities and other needs.

In observance of Veteran's Day, the Scouts that are sponsored by Smyrna VFW Post 8422 will again distribute the "Buddy Poppy" at local stores.  On the morning (9-12) of Saturday, November 10, Cub Scouts and Webelos from Pack 842 will hand out poppies for everyone to wear.  That afternoon, (1-4), the Boy Scouts of Troop 422 will also give out these patriotic reminders.  All donations received will go to the VFW, for assisting local disabled and in-need Veterans and their families.

Smyrna locations are as follows:
Big Lots, Advanced Auto Parts, Kroger-Sam Ridley, Lowes, PX-Smyrna Base, Tractor Supply.

The use of poppies as a remembrance of war and veterans goes back to World War 1 and a poem entitled "In Flanders Field".

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

Bean Dinner this Friday

The Smyrna Lions Club and the Smyrna Senior Citizens are hosting a Bean Dinner this Friday, November 2nd from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Lifepoint Church (formerly First Baptist Church) at 506 Legacy Drive in Smyrna. Tickets may be purchased at the door and are $6.00 each. That will get you homemade White Beans with Country Ham, Cole Slaw, Cornbread, Assorted Desserts and Tea or Coffee. Carry-outs are available. Please support these two groups and come out for a delicious lunch. For more info, please call Ed Garner at 615-415-2595.

Missing dog

A reader has had their dog run off and could use your help to find this fine looking animal.

Her name is Abby and she ran off from home on Monday. I live near the Stewarts Creek schools, near seminary, rocky fork and Almaville road. I really don't know how far she might have gone, it's been over 24 hours since she was last seen. 

Abby is a 15 month old chocolate lab, about 60 pounds. She is a little skittish around people but is not mean at all, and will probably run away from anyone getting too close.

Here she is on the left side.

Steve's email is(steve@smyrnaweather.net) and his cell phone is 615 - 579 - 1187 if you think you have seen her.

Today

Reminder for the 27th - Halloween in the Park

Smyrna Parks and Recreation Presents Halloween in the Park Sponsored by Smyrna Gas Department Saturday, October 27th 3pm - 8:30pm Sharp Springs Natural Area Costume Contest Hayrides ($1 fee) Games & Food Pumpkin Carving Contest 70+ Vendors

Fall Festival event Friday

I received this email from the director of the local Le Petite Academy here in Smyrna. The La Petite Academy is a large supporter of the Make-A-Wish foundation, and there corporation and individual locations have raised over 7 million dollars to help this great cause. If you have time please drop by, and remember that 100% of the proceeds go to Make-A-Wish.

we are having our annual fall festival to support the Make-A-Wish foundation at La Petite Academy, 1212 Hazelwood Dr.Smyrna this Friday night, October 19th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Entry to the fall festival is completely donation based (meaning families can donate any amount they wish to gain entry to the fall festival). We will have games, prizes, and of course a LOT of fun! We also will be serving chili at the fall festival for $3 for an adult and $2 for a child. We are asking for prepackaged baked goods to be donated to our cake walk, those donations can be made at La Petite Academy any time on Friday. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the middle TN chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Thank you for your time and attention!

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY

From the Parks and Recreation Department of the Town of Smyrna.

Join us this Thursday, October 18th, for CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY at Town Centre Fitness Center. We appreciate your patience during our locker room renovations and want to Thank You with fun, food, and door prizes throughout the day. See attachment for more details.

A bit of the old ultra-violence

Outside of the grocery store, church, and the occasional trip to a restaurant, most people do not take the time to find the fullness of Smyrna. There is so much more to our humble community then being a bedroom town and a historical site.

A good example is violence....yes I said that correctly. Smyrna is the site of a small gathering of fighters and if you make plans, you can go and see people kick the crap out of each other....legally. On the south side of town heading towards Murfreesboro is Hoopstown. Known for the site of amateur basketball and good health, it also was recently the site of a Mixed Martial Arts fight night, and another is planned for early next year. Last year the Murfreesboro Post did an article on the MMA fights that were planned. I missed those fights and this years fights.

Tirado likes to call himself a “hybrid” fighter, in which he could end the fight in many different ways including knocking them out by striking with the feet, knees, elbows or punches or using the ground game to put a submission move and making his opponent tap out. 

He will join several of his teammates from Nemesis Gym as part of the MMA fight card that will take place Saturday night at Hooptown USA in Smyrna. 

This years fight happened in September, and here are two videos from that night. I would warn you that the videos shows violent acts, but the subject matter should already imply that fact already.





The fights are put on by Rival Cage Fights and they already have another date scheduled for next year in February. I know that I will try to make it out there. Smyrna has a lot to offer people and this is just one facet of a rich community.

Violence in Smyrna

This morning the Smyrna Police Department released the following statement.

On October 13th, 2012 at approximately 6:41am the Smyrna Police Department received a call from a neighbor of 1224 Bolton Drive that an eight year old child had come to their home carrying a handgun and informing the residents that his parents were dead. The neighbor secured the weapon and officers on the scene took possession of the weapon when they arrived. Investigation has revealed the parents are Sharon Forbes, DOB 05-04-1978, and Adytia Ramotar, DOB 01-17-1975. (Adytia is pronounced Ah-did-tee-ah.) Detectives have concluded that Mr. Ramotar murdered Ms. Forbes and then turned the weapon on himself. Mr. Ramotar and Ms. Forbes had been married at one point in their lives, had divorced, and then were attempting to reconcile. Two children in the home were of the ages of 8 and 6 and were the biological children of Ms. Forbes and Mr. Ramotar. Another child in the home was a 2 year old nephew that was living in the home with his mother which is the sister of Ms. Forbes. The mother of the 2 year old was not home at the time of this incident. Mr. Ramotar and Ms. Forbes were natives of the country Guyana but were legal residents of this country. The Smyrna Police Department has never had any prior contact with either Ms. Forbes or Mr. Ramotar. The children are in the custody of the Department of Children’s Services and are being prepared to be handed over to family. Our investigation so far reveals the children did not witness the violent act in the home. 

As we were on the scene this morning numerous neighbors came forward showing support and concern for the family and the children. If any additional details come forward I will notify you as soon as I have them. Thank you. 

Right now our thoughts and well wishes should be with the care of the little ones.

Debate online with local people

This is from the Digital Director of the DNJ

Hey, Just wanted to let you know that we’re trying something new tonight on dnj.com. Underneath the livestream of the vice presidential debate, we’ll be live chatting. You can jump in and join the conversation. We’ll start at about 7:45. If you’ve got time tonight and you’re watching the debate anyway, please join in. It’s really easy and it will mean I’m not talking to an empty room.

Drop by and join the conversation.

Beginning of Fall on Stewart Creek

Beginning of Fall on Stewart Creek, a photo by susanc59 on Flickr.