Local editor joins Pitkin Review staff

By Bill Larson | July 31, 2007 |

Clarksville Online editor Christine Anne Piesyk of Clarksville has joined the editorial staff of the Pitkin Review, a semi-annual literary journal published by Goddard College of Plainfield, Vermont. The soft cover journal, which made its debut in 2004, is published each spring and fall.

The Pitkin Review features a mix of poetry, fiction, nonfiction works, literary analysis, art and photography. Editors meet and work online to evaluate submitted manuscripts and produce the journal. Each edition is presented at a fall or spring residencies at both the Vermont and Port Townsend, Washington, campuses. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, News | 2 Comments

Should the Bible be taught in schools?

By David W. Shelton | July 31, 2007 |

This is a question that has polarized the secular and religious community since the early 1960’s. A casual glance at most Christian websites that offer political commentary will reveal a very popular assumption, that our national moral decline is a direct result of the Bible being removed from schools. Therefore, they say, the Bible should once again be taught in public schools.

Some youth pastors have encouraged their youth groups to take their Bibles to schools and to even do reports on Bible stories. I won’t comment on prayer in school, since there’s serious prayer every time a hard test is scheduled for the day.

According to School Board director Mike Harris, there are currently no Bible classes in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School systems. As we prepare to start another school year, it might be interesting to entertain this question. Should elective Bible classes be considered as an option for our schools? «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics, Spirituality | 6 Comments

State offers tax “holiday” August 3,4,5

By Christine Anne Piesyk | July 31, 2007 |

Just in time for a back to school shopping rush, the State of Tennessee has rolled back the sales tax for a three day weekend, giving a break to parents and teachers preparing for the start of the new school year.

Starting at 12:01 Friday morning (August 3) through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, shoppers will not be charged sales tax on school supplies, school clothing priced at under $100 an item, and computers priced at $1500 or less. For the first time, basic art supplies such as art paper and watercolors are included in the tax break.

The tax break is not limited to students and teachers; anyone shopping can take advantage of the savings during the weekend. Clothing may include, shoes, belts, outerwear, school uniforms, shirts, dresses, undergarments and more. The tax exemption also applies to layaway items for which the final payment is made over the weekend, and items placed on layaway during the tax holiday. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

Trolley Tour highlights housing, neighborhood revitalization

By Christine Anne Piesyk | July 30, 2007 |

Seven dozen residents of the Red River and Brandon Hills neighborhoods surrounding downtown Clarksville converged at the APSU campus for a Trolley tour of the areas with an eye to redevelopment.

The Clarksville Office of Housing and Community Development sponsored the early evening event as part of a six-event series that will assess the areas and shape future development of housing and business. The first community meeting was held July 24, and additional meetings are slated for tonight (July 31), August 14, and September 4 and 18, when the final report will be issued. Clarksville Transit Authority trolleys were used to transport participants through both neighborhoods. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Politics | No Comments

‘Cooling at the Cave’ draws crowd on a sultry summer day

By Debbie Boen | July 30, 2007 |

Though day was ghastly hot, well over 100 Clarksville residents came to “Cooling at the Cave” for that natural air conditioning to be found at the mouth of Dunbar Cave. Some tables had to be moved away from the cave entrance because guests were freezing there (due to the 58 degree air coming out of the cave!).

Many people began playing board games just as soon as they found a nice table to claim for their own for the day. They knew what they were doing because they’d done it before. People played games, listened to the band and socialized. The cookies were wonderful, the lemonade great and the helpers (Friends of Dunbar Cave) attentive, refilling my cup if I even looked like I was a bit thirsty.

It was a day of nostalgia for many folks; organizer Barbara Wilbur was right when she thought that this would attract a lot of people. I heard stories about how Dunbar Cave used to be. Many visitors remember the days when Roy Acuff owned Dunbar Cave and they came to the swimming pool, bowling alley, the lake with its paddle boats, and the sounds of music at the cave. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Events | 2 Comments

The Ribb Doctor moves to Madison Street, expands menu

By David W. Shelton | July 28, 2007 |

The Ribb Doctor, a popular award-winning local barbecue restaurant, has moved from their longstanding home on Tiny Town Road across from the Great Escape theater to 1923 Madison Street, in the Tradewinds South shopping center. The Ribb Doctor took over the slot once occupied by Mancino’s Pizza & Grinders. The shopping center is located opposite Barksdale Elementary School in the same shopping center that houses Carmike 8 Cinemas.

The restaurant’s manager, Debbie Mercado, had hoped to reopen the store at the end of June, but was delayed almost two weeks due to utility and other quirks that had to be ironed out. She has already seen several of her regular customers from the Tiny Town Road location who were glad to find their new home for what Mercado calls “the best food in town.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business | No Comments

City Council plans town hall meeting to review final strategic plan

By David W. Shelton | July 28, 2007 |

Ward 2 City Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin has released the final version of the Strategic Plan which was discussed at the summit during the weekend of June 10. Immediately after the summit, officials released a 21-point strategy. The document Councilwoman McLaughlin released is a much more detailed version of the initial report.

Areas of major focus were identified as Economic development and job creation, Infrastructure planning and development, Operations and communications, Public safety, Recreation and parks, and Standards and beautification. Each of the 21 points of the strategy touches at least one of these areas. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | 2 Comments

Images of Thursday’s Concert at the Park w/The 91st Division Army Band

By Bill Larson | July 27, 2007 |

On Thursday night, the 91st Division Army Reserves Band from Camp Parks, California came to Clarksville. They performed their “Trail of Dreams” concert to a good sized crowd. The music was lively, full of patriotic fervor, and very entertaining. The crowd was diverse and representative of the city of Clarksville.

This event continues the Clarksville Parks and Recreation department’s commitment to bring fun wholesome activities for the average family to do in our city. This is something that should continued, and even to be expanded to bring even more frequent and varied activities for the citizens of Clarksville.

Tomorrow night be sure to attend Movies in park at the fairgrounds, games start at 7:15pm and the movies begin at 8:30pm. If movies are not your thing, check out the Friends of Dunbar Cave’s Cooling at the cave event which is being held at Dunbar Cave from 4pm to 6pm. Or you could attend both!

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure | 1 Comment »