Happy 43rd Anniversary, 1964 Civil Rights Act! Title VI Compliance Still MIA In Clarksville

By Turner McCullough Jr. | July 4, 2007 |

We are now in the 43rd anniversary year of the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. That’s quite a milestone for the nation. Sadly, it’s a dark anniversary for Clarksville and the state of Tennessee. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law on July 2nd of that year. (Pictured left.)

Tennessee State Archives records show our own state legislature didn’t adopt it into the state’s law code until 1993. That’s twenty-nine years after it had became the law of the land! The law of the land, that is, except for the State of Tennessee.

That lag in time may help explain why our own city council has refused, even now, to adopt Title VI of that law, as the city’s official non-discrimination policy. There is a policy statement on display in city offices and the city’s website, to be sure. However, since it is required that the legislative controlling body of local government formally adopt Title VI mandates as official policy to receive federal financial assistance, these displays are meaningless without the council’s follow-thru. A mayoral proclamation is inapplicable. As TDOT’s Commissioner Nicely noted in August 2005, the city is not in compliance with the federal law. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

Watch “Independence Day” this July 4th!

By Turner McCullough Jr. | July 4, 2007 |

What better timing than this! The 1997 hit, “Independence Day” is the perfect video flick for the day. Starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsch, Mary McDonnel, Margret Colin, Robert Loggia,Vivica A. Fox,  Randy Quaid and Harvey Fierstein, this is THE FLICK you should view today.

Look at what it’s got going for it:

An American President whom the public embraces and believes, alien terrorists invade earth, bent on our destruction, high level government deception and intrigue, world allies looking to the U.S. for leadership, romantic and personal devotion, commitment and sacrifice, family cohesion, romance, ethnic and religious diversity, ACTION, drama and humor. That’s a lot of wallop in a single punch! «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure | 1 Comment »

Community Comes Together for “Stop the Violence Community Forum”

By Terry McMoore | July 4, 2007 |

On Tuesday July 24, 2007 the Community of Clarksville TN. will come together for a “Stop the Violence Community Forum”

This will be a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together, listen, learn and most important, heal from some of the emotions felt by recent gun violence and the lives we have lost in our community.

The forum will take place at: New Providence United Methodist Church, 1317 Fort Campbell Blvd Clarksville, TN from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News, Politics | 1 Comment »

Two arrested in Ross murder; gang connection dismissed

By David W. Shelton | July 4, 2007 |

The grand jury has indicted two people in the shootout that resulted in the accidental death of former Northwest High School basketball coach Willard Ross. The two men were arrested and racked with several charges each. Jovan Preche Dixon, a 27-year-old man who gave an address of 267 Millstone Circle, and Jeremy Andrea Jarvis, a 19-year-old man who listed his address as 211 Oak Street, have both been arrested.

A press release from the Clarksville Police department indicates that both men were arrested “in connection” with the shooting incident that resulted in the death of the beloved high school coach. Ward 2 City Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin said that the hard work [of the police department] has paid off. “It has been suggested that this incident was gang related,” she said in an email, “It was NOT gang related.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

Do you have what it takes to become a citizen?

By Bill Larson | July 4, 2007 |

When immigrants want to become Americans, they must take a civics test as part of their naturalization interview before a Citizenship and Immigration Services (INS) officer. The questions are usually selected from a list of 100 sample questions that prospective citizens can look at ahead of the interview (though the examiner is not limited to those questions). Some are easy, some are not. We have picked some of the more difficult ones.

NOTES: The INS plans to revise its list of questions in 2008 (a pilot program is using these new questions at selected INS sites). Also, the questions in the test below are as asked on the official United States Immigration and Naturalization Services Web site. Candidates are not given multiple choices in the naturalization interview, which is conducted orally.

Take the test: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19552808

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues | 2 Comments