Mike Fuqua is the president and owner of the store, which is renowned for its balloon center, rentals, costumes, party supplies, wedding department, and wildly popular inflatables. Because of this, Party 1 is the number-one party store in the city.

Mike Fuqua president and owner of Party 1 Superstore.

It is no accident that Party 1 is not like traditional party stores. “The previous party stores had party supplies, balloons, and different retails. I thought it would be more successful if we went into the party-line of merchandise and focused on parties. We wanted to have an upscale party store where you can get everything under one roof. You can rent your equipment from us.” In total, there are three Party 1 Superstore locations. “We have two stores in Bowling Green, KY, and one in Clarksville. We’re possibly thinking about another Clarksville location in the near future,” said Fuqua. At the moment, another Party 1 Superstore is in the works for Bowling Green that will be located on Scottsville Road.

When customers browse through the store, they are often quite surprised. At Party 1, there is always potential for the unexpected. “During Halloween, we carry costumes like everybody else does. But how many Halloween shops or mass merchandisers carry a gorilla suit in colors of white, yellow, red, lime, blue, purple or pink? That’s how many different colors we carry. When customers shop here, they find us very unique with what we have,” explained Fuqua.

Party 1 is also special for being one of the few stores to maintain helium. According to Fuqua, helium suppliers may soon ban helium in the United States with the exception of hospitals. “When the earth runs out, we’ll never get it back,” he said.

With the holidays approaching, the store has several events lined up.

The employees are planning on revamping Party 1’s Wedding section. They will be adding more dresses and merchandise to the bridal shop. “We’ll match or beat anybody’s rental price by 10%. We do invitations, napkins, tuxedos, and all of that,” said Brown.

Fuqua is proud of his store, and has been sufficiently impressed by the Clarksville crowd. “We’re very greatful to Clarksville, TN. It’s a nice place.” With Party 1 in town, people do not have to go to different stores to get balloons, inflatables, decorations, or party supplies; all of these items are available at Party 1 Superstore, located at 2817 Wilma Rudolph Boulevard.

For more information, visit www.party1superstore.com

Video

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Tess Lankovich displays a realistic painting of herself

Clarksville, TN - Local Artist Tess-Marites B. Lankovich plans to take her artwork to the next level in the near future. “I want to move on from state to state and enlighten people on the other side of mosaic artwork and what I have created,” said Lankovich, who is one of the leading mosaic artists in the city.

Lankovich was born in the Philipines. Before moving to Clarksville 12 years ago, she and her family lived in Connecticut. Lankovich has been painting since she was nine years old, but didn’t realize how gifted she really was until 15 years ago. Lankovich has always enjoyed expressing herself through her artistry. “I love everything that contributes to creativity,” she said.

A perfectionist, the artist works hard to ensure that each of her creations present a clear story to her audiences. Every piece has meaning. “A lot of people can benefit from the study and development of it. I love what I do. Hopefully some of the educators and universities will find it interesting enough to show other people what it’s all about.”

Like many artists, Lankovich finds inspiration in legendary painters like Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gough. However, she is influenced by people of other talents as well. “I am actually inspired by a lot of talented people in the world,” she explained.

Lankovich is currently a student at Bethel University, planning to graduate in early 2014 with a bachelors of science degree in business. Though she is busy with school and work, she still finds time to channel her creativity with her work. Nearly every inch of her home is full of her art, each piece telling a unique story of its own.

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She presented an exclusive called “From the heart.” The model is a collection of military gadgets in honor of the troops including military belt buckles and flags. One of her favorites pieces of mosaic art is called “The Sacrifice,” a portrait that depicts Jesus Christ carrying the cross on the way to cavalry. Another of her pieces had dollar bills in it as a visual prop.

The last stunning display on the tour of her home was a portrait of Lankovich that was painted by painter Derrick Quarles. The realistic portrait depicts Lankovich wearing an elegant black hat and blue shirt. With assistance from Lankovich, Quarles perfectly captured her facial features and complexion. In the picture, Lankovich is standing in front of a blue background with her long dark hair descending into her crossed arms.

Lankovich recently submitted two water-color paintings to The 2012 Regional Juried Art Exposition. Together, the two paintings tell a story. The first is entitled “Waiting for you,” and the second is called “I’m here.”

Lankovich has an exhibition planned for later in the year. “This is the future for me,” she explained. “I want to continue exhibiting. I want to leave a special legacy so that when I pass on, my family will have my work and I can inspire other artists.”

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“We’re a family-owned operated business,” said Wall. “We care for dogs at all times of the evening. We like to go the extra mile to make our customers happy.”

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The building, which used to be the Island Bar and Grille, has a large fenced in area outside for the dogs, as well as an incredibly large playroom for them to run around and unleash their energy.

There is a grooming area and an apartment within the building for the 24 hour live-in person that monitors the animals. “There is always someone here overnight with the dogs,” said Wall. “We have a 24 hour live-in with boarders seven days a week and all night.”

Wall, who is also a cosmologist, sells dog toys, treats, shampoos, collars, bandanas and other items in her gift shop. Another bonus is her pet photography. Wall takes professional pictures of her dog clients. There are framed pictures of her photography on the walls of the gift shop.

One of the happy clients at Shannon’s Doggy Daycare Boarding and Grooming

Customers are also pleased by the lack of crating; no dog is ever crated or kenneled unless there is an absolute need. “They will be cage-free unless they are an aggressive dog,” Wall said. Prices are also convenient. Small dog boarding is $15.00 a night, medium size dogs are $18.00, and large dog are $20.00. The daycare is $13.00 per day.

Shannon’s Doggy Daycare is open for daycare and grooming on Monday through Saturday from 8:00am until 5:30pm. However, hours are easily re-arranged when convenient. “For boarding it depends on the availability when the customer needs to pick up and drop off,” Wall explained. The dogs are available for pickup on weekends as well.

Shannon’s Doggy Daycare (Boarding and Grooming) is located at 2551 Madison Street.

For more information, visit their website at www.shannonsdoggydaycare.org .

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D.J. Pryor recently auditioned for popular filmmaker Tyler Perry

Clarksville, TN – Since the age of four, D.J. Pryor has been making his friends and family laugh. Pryor, 24, is a comedian living in Clarksville, TN. He learned early in life that making people laugh was his gift. “It was a way to get out of trouble,” he said. “My way of getting out of trouble was to make my aunt and grandma laugh.”

Pryor is originally from Petersburg, VA. His father was in the military, which transported the family to Clarksville.

One thing that changed Pryor’s life forever was when he aunt gave him the permission to curse. “She said, ‘I’ll let you curse. But only if you do it in front of my guests and make us laugh,’” said Pryor. In addition to cursing and telling jokes, young Pryor would twirl into a Michael Jackson dance routine or do other silly antics to get a rousing reaction from adults. When he turned 15, he started to do stand-up professionally.

Pryor remembers sneaking to watch legendary comedians like Richard Pryor on television. “My grandma would allow me to watch Bill Cosby, but Richard Pryor was a whole different ball game.” Other influences for Pryor include Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Kevin Hart, Chris Tucker and Flip Wilson.

Pryor’s witty comedic style is a combination of all of these comic greats, but he says his diversity sets him apart from the others and may be his trademark. He can perform at a club and then at a church, sometimes using the same material.

Pryor was recently in the spotlight when he auditioned for filmmaker Tyler Perry. Perry held a contest allowing young film hopefuls to submit a youtube video with an original skit, and he would pick the winner to have a small role in an upcoming film. Pryor was supported by many people and came close, but didn’t win. Regardless, his eyes lit up when he talked about the opportunity. “I almost had it. I was right there, man. I was so close.”

In the skit, Pryor plays a young man whose girlfriend instructs him to park alone in a parking lot just so she could break up with him over the phone. Pryor’s hilarious reaction was sparked by a Luther Vandross song on the radio. The song, “If this world were mine,” sent Pryor over the edge. He cried, he jerked his body viciously in the car, and then stepped out of the car to throw a childish tantrum by jumping up and down. “Secretly, that’s what every woman thinks a man does when they break up with us,” Pryor joked. The entire skit was written by the young comedian, but inspired by the Vandross song. “I built the skit around the song,” he said. “I wanted older people to vote, too. I figured that song would lure them in.”

Pryor recently performed at Unity Day in Clarksville, and has performed at different locations in Nashville and Clarksville. He also performed at the Virginia House of Comedy in Virginia. Once, he opened for former American Idol contestant Corey Clark in Nashville. “We’re trying to get him up and running,” said Kasey Carlton, Pryor’s promoter and manager. Pryor is in the process of writing and filming more comedy skits and auditioning for more film opportunities.

Pryor is also heavily involved in No Dayz Off, a team of young people that work hard producing music, video and other projects. For more information on Pryor, visit his facebook page. (facebook.com/officialdjpryor) or follow him on twitter @ DJ_Pryor.

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The biggest underdog was Michael Graham (1-0) who won a 30-27 decision victory over Cory Robison in his professional debut at XFC 18 at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium.

SSF’s Michael Graham punishes Cory Robison with a jab during his pro debut at XFC 18 in Nashville.

“Everybody counted me out before the fight,” said Graham. “That was the sweetest part of it. Everyone thought I was gonna go out there and get blasted. XFC put all their promotion behind Cory Robison.”

As fight night approached, Graham appeared to be withdrawn and focused. Daley stirred anger in his young fighter by calling him a sissy and other names, hoping to generate an aggressive performance. Graham put on the great show that Daley desired, but ultimately got the last laugh. “If he won the fight, I told him I’d go to church with him every Sunday,” said Dayley. Keeping his word, Dayley now sits next to Graham every Sunday at church.

Nate Landwehr (1-0) knocked out Billy Mullins in 1:22 of round 2 at the same event. Even after he had Mullins hurt, Landwehr kept attacking until he was halted. “I knew his cardio wasn’t gonna be there in the second round,” said Landwehr. The fighter was so full of adrenaline that he couldn’t keep still during his post-fight interview. Hopping up and down between questions, he hollered out “Nate The Train, baby!! Whoo!!” He then flaunted his muscles for the camera. Mullins, a Pan Am World BJJ Champion and BJJ black belt, was the favorite going into the fight. That didn’t matter to Landwehr. “Nate’s like a rat on crack,” observed Dayley.

The following night in Memphis, TN’s Agricenter, Chris “Dodgin” Coggins lived up to his name as he quickly defeated Austin Lyons by submission in 1:30 seconds of round 1 at Empire Fights. Lyons had trouble catching Coggins early on. “He had a really hard time hitting me,” said Coggins, who has the mobility of a prime Muhammad Ali. Eventually, Lyons got impatient and jumped on Coggins. As they struggled on the floor, Coggins noticed his opponent’s arm was open and locked him in an armbar. Seconds later, the fight came to an end. “It was nasty. I could definitely hear the arm crunching,” recalled Coggins. “He was tough. He wasn’t screaming, but his teammates had to carry him out.”

Coggins is more than pleased with his performance. “My hand speed and strength definitely showed. I was in-and-out a lot. That’s why they call me ‘dodgin.’” After his victory, Coggins ran after the cage celebrating. He has received offers to fight in the XFC in Knoxville, and is also planning a possible boxing match in August.

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Bell has been called “truth” for a long time. “No matter what the situation was, I didn’t care what rolled off my tongue. I was known for hurting somebody’s feelings,” he said.

Bell’s upbringing was tough. He and his brothers were born in Clarksville and found themselves in foster care as infants. There was no stability—they were moved around constantly for six years. “A lot of bad things have happened in my life,” he explained. “Those bad things have led me to do some unpleasant things to get through. But those bad things make me a stronger person.”

Bell credits his writing talents for keeping him on the right track. “I’m good with words. That’s all that I have,” he said. “Instead of my hustle being an illegal hustle, its a legal one. If I’m not doing something to better myself for my family, I’ll go back to doing the things I used to do out of a sense of urgency.”

In 2003, an incident in court enraged him. Searching for a healthy way to vent, Bell found a productive one—writing. One night, on a date with young lady at Olive Garden, Bell asked the waitress for her pen. “I had these words in my head and I wrote them down on a napkin. I’ve been writing ever since. I still have the napkin at home.”

Bell started to carry tablets around and let people read his poetry. Impressed, many of his friends suggested that he put his heartfelt words to music. Around Thanksgiving 2005, he announced that he was dropping out of college to pursue his music full-time. “The hell you are!!” his girlfriend replied. “I’ve never heard you sing. What do you know about music?” At the time, Bell was four years into his college career and close to graduating.

Rather than argue, the two struck a deal—if Bell failed at a music career, he would resume his education. Ironically, just as they came to that agreement, the phone rang. On the other end was someone with the connections to offer him free studio time. Not long after, Bell was in the vocal booth of a recording studio. He remembers closing his eyes and rapping in front of a microphone for the first time. Everything flowed so smoothly that Bell knew his calling at last. His debut album, “Controlled Aggression” was finished soon afterward.

Unlike some other rappers, Bell’s music isn’t boastful or random. He tells his listeners a story. Essentially, his music is an autobiography accompanied by music. Every lyric on each song is the truth.

Today Bell can look back and see that the vision he once had for himself is being achieved. “This all started out one day as a thought in my head in 2003,” said Bell. The long dreadlocks, the self-confident approach, the hip attire; all of it was what he initially envisioned.

However, there are still people that try to crush his dreams, something that Bell won’t stand for. “People have told me, ‘Fool, you’re a 44 year-old rapper. Nobody wants to hear that.’” But Bell has a story to be told, and has learned from the mistakes of those before him. “I watched a whole lot of hustlers before me, and I’m watching those same hustlers fall off.” He encourages young people to “push on” and do what they want to do no matter what their detractors say.

For more information on Bell and his music, visit www.reverbnation.com/tonyakatruth . He can also be found on Facebook.com under Tony A.K.A. Truth.

Video Interview

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The studio is owned by James and his wife Kawanda Moss, and first opened its doors in October, 1996.

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Moss has been familiar with Clarksville his entire life. His mother is from the Montgomery Central area, while his father originally lived in Christian County.

He was a gospel singer during his early adulthood, and also spent time in the military. However, it was his gospel roots that led him to his wife Kawanda. “She was the preacher’s kid,” Moss explained. Eventually, their relationship lit the spark that would lead to Standing Ovations.

“She was already a hairstylist when I met her. First, I was thinking about going to barber school, but she said ‘work with me and do cosmetology.’ God blessed us and we finally opened our salon in October of 1996. I’m enjoying every minute of it,” Moss explained.

Moss is the most popular loctician in Clarksville. He styles and fixes the dreads (or ‘locs) of lawyers, doctors, principals, professors, journalists, and other important members of society. Nashville gospel rapper Stephen “Duck” Williams is another high profile client of Moss. “You can sit there and talk to him about real life stuff. He won’t be judgmental. He’s the master of dreads in Clarksville.”

Williams, like most of Moss’ clients, formed an instant connection with the hair dresser. “I went to Standing Ovations that first day, and we clicked. He became a father figure to me.” Moss is also renowned for his low prices. A hair wash and re-twisting for locs will cost only $35.00 or $40.00. “I set my prices where I want them. I’m not focused on what everybody else is charging. Price is not really important. We just believe in using the best product,” said Moss.

Moss’ popularity was an odd circumstance for his son, Aevorie, who also wears long dreads. “It’s kinda strange how everyone knows him,” he said. “I’m proud of him.” Aevorie grew up watching his parents style hair, and has considered following in their footsteps. “I watched them grow their shop. It might be something I’ll go into in the near future,” he said.

James and his wife Kawanda Moss

The salon is really popular for its smooth, laid back atmosphere. Standing Ovations is christian-based, with a ‘no drama’ policy. Tyrone Johnson is a client who has worn his hair in dreads for almost six years. He often visits the salon even when he isn’t scheduled for a hair appointment. “It’s like home. I come in here to talk and kick it with everybody.”

Several summer ago, Moss taught natural hair classes at Miller Motte Technical College and Queen City Beauty College. He was a huge hit with the students. “I was teaching them different techniques,” he said. The loctician showed the cosmetology students various demonstrations and offered quite a few tips. “They were really excited about it,” said Moss.

Moss is also quick to explain that dreads are not a ‘black’ thing. “It’s actually a spiritual thing…not an African thing.” Moss has witnessed the meteorite rise of dreadlocks in popularity. “People want to do it now because their hair will grow really long without wearing weave,” he said.

He also noted that 16 years ago when he started growing his dreads, there were not many salons that implemented the style. It was rare in those days to find a salon that fixed regular hairstyles and dreads in the same setting. Before finally getting a haircut last year, Moss’ locs hung 27 inches from his head. If he’d never trimmed his hair since dreading it, his locs would probably be dangling around his ankles by now.

“This is our natural hair texture,” Moss explained.  “People don’t realize that this is how our (African American) hair will grow if we don’t use chemicals and relaxers, but replaced it with natural stuff; the shea butters, the rosemary oils, and different things like that.”

“The people who say these things don’t understand that locs are a part of our natural (African American) hair. It’s what our hair does when we don’t comb it. Locs have been around since the cradle of civilization,” Moss explained.

Although dreads have always been present in one form or another, the style is still discriminated against in various places. Some people have even had to cut their locs off in order to get professional jobs. Dreads are gradually becoming more and more accepted, but the style still has a while to go before it can triumph over discrimination entirely.

Dreadlocks became popular during the Rastafarian movement, and although the style was always present in the United States, its appeal gradually reached a high point in recent years. Whoopi Goldberg and Bob Marley were two of the first major celebrities to wear the style. Later on, it began to catch on as others adopted the style, including former heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis, singer Lauryn Hill, and actor Malcolm Jamal Warner.

Standing Ovations performs a large variety of styles, not just dreads. Curls, hair coloring, crimps, braids, relaxers and weaves are among the assortment of styles performed by the staff.

For more information, go to www.standingovationssalon.com or www.jamesmosslocks.com. The salon is located at 2764-C Wilma Rudolph Boulevard (Austin Square) Clarksville, TN 37040. To reach Standing Ovations by phone, call 931.920.4232.

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Clarksville, TN

Clean Paws and Lawn began in July 2009. Reyes left the Military and was having a hard time finding employment in Clarksville. Things were looking grim, but Reyes realized that so many people found themselves leaving work on their breaks to tend to their dogs.

Acknowledging that Clarksville desperately needed a pet-sitting business, Reyes decided to give it a try. Together with his fiancee, they started Clean Paws and Lawn. They get clients not just from Clarksville, but from the surrounding areas areas as well. Generally, they work the entire circle between Hopskinsville and Ashland City.

Tina Dybas is one of the couple’s satisfied clients. “They do an excellent job. They provide a lot of services.” Dybas explained that Reyes and Spaulding took great care of her German Shepherds when she was absent. They took the dogs to the park, on walks and engaged in other fun activities. “They do things on short notice,” Dybas added. Once, she had to leave town on an emergency, and Clean Paws and Lawn were readily available. “Who else at the drop of a hat can pet-sit?” said Dybas. “They do it all. That’s what I like.”

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Together, there is no animal that the couple cannot handle. “Ever since I was born, we always had animals,” said Spaulding. “I grew up on the farm. We had cows, horses, goat, sheep, chickens. I’ve always loved animals, and I assisted in a vet’s office for a while.” Reyes grew up with many pets as well, including dogs, hamsters, gerbils, birds, (including a cockatoo) and others. “That’s the way my family was. We just had a huge love of animals. That’s how I grew up,” he added. “We do all pets and livestock,” said Spaulding. “If it’s an animal, we do it. We also do basic bathing and pedicure.”

The couple hears one particular question quite often – If they spend all year pet-sitting for others, when do they get to go on vacation for themselves? “Usually it’s no vacation time whatsoever,” said Reyes. “We basically let other people have their vacation so we don’t get ours,” Spaulding said with a laugh.

Reyes and Spaulding never kennel their dog clients. Instead, they own a doggy daycare. Unlike a dog care center, the dog camp has training and exercising activities for the pets, rather than confining them to a kennel for the majority of the day. However, some people will have to leave their dogs for a longer period of time, but those people are in luck. “Since we only charge for the 9-5 period, if someone drops off their dog at 7 A.M. and picks it up at 7 pm, then they’ll get four hours free,” said Reyes. The couple also takes care of dogs if their owners are in the military and deployed.

One of the new aspects of the service is a pet boutique. “We offer all natural pet treats and little outfits for the pets,” said Spaulding.

There are several ways to contact Clean Paws and Lawn for service. “We have a contact form that clients can fill out on our website. We also have a referral service on a different website,” said Spaulding. Calling the business number is another option for service. Reyes and Spaulding interview their potential clients to see if the owners and pets are compatible with them. They also require the pet’s vet records, and insist that the animals (primarily dogs) get along with other animals. The price depends on the amount of animals a client brings in and the time frame of the services.

There are discount deals available for the pending dog camp. Current (or retired) Military civilians get 10% off. Public Officials (such as firefighters and police officers) and senior citizens also receive 10% off. However, these groups will only receive five percent off for the dog camp.

Business is very steady for the two, but things pick up dramatically during the holidays. “The major holidays are really busy,” said Spaulding. “Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, etc. Christmas is the busiest.”

In addition to taking care of pets, Clean Paws and Lawn also house sit when people are away. They open the blinds, rotate the lights, water the plants, bring the mail in, and do other duties to create the illusion that the original resident is still home.

To get in touch with Clean Paws and Lawn, call (931) 320-9254 or (931) 338-9950. Visit their website at http://www.cleanpawsandlawn.com.

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The event is titled “XFC 18: Music Mayhem.” Landwehr’s blond hair may be long and pretty, but nothing will be pretty about the beating he plans to administer to Billy Mullins.

“I’m not gonna be shy to pull that trigger.” The 23 year-old fighter has been an athlete his entire life. Several months ago, he was jogging and discovered Clarksville’s SSF Submission Academy, owned by Ron Dayley, a former professional fighter. Landwehr peeked inside, signed up, and is making his professional debut in less than a month.

Like Landwehr, Molly Dupertuis has always enjoyed the thrill of combat. As a little girl in Tampa, FL, she practiced judo, brazilian jiu jitsu and other fighting styles. Her husband is in the military, which brought the couple to Clarksville, TN.

Dupertuis, 25, will be fighting Hannah Fitzpatrick at Absolute Action MMA 27: Caged Aggression in Belfry, KY at Belfry High School on June 23rd. Dupertuis is looking forward to facing a seasoned opponent. “The last time Fitzpatrick fought was in 2010. She’s a real tough girl. I get to rank myself with someone who’s been around for awhile,” said Dupertuis.

Dupertuis is known for her “spinning backfist.” In her previous bout against Tanekka Taylor, Dupertuis missed a kick but spun around and surprised Taylor with a crushing spinning-backfist right to the face. Taylor immediately dropped to the mat, unable to recover from the blow.

Dupertuis finished her off with a rear naked choke, ending the two- round contest. “One of the things I like to do is inspire other women,” said Dupertuis, who currently has a record of 1-1 in MMA and 1-0 in Muay Thai.

20 year-old Michael Graham is another fighter from SSF Submission Academy with a point to prove. After earning a 4-0 record as an amateur, Graham decided to turn pro and, along with Landwehr, will make his pro debut at XFC 18 next month. Before training at the gym, Graham used to wrestle in his backyard.

Graham will share the ring with Cory “Check-Mate” Robison on June 22nd. Robison excels at grappling on the ground, something that Graham plans on not allowing him to do. “Hopefully I can keep the fight standing,” said Graham.

Chris Coggins currently has a record of 5-2 as a professional. He will be fighting Austin Lyons at the Agricenter in Memphis, TN at Empire Fights on June 23rd. Coggins, also from Clarskville, is ready for the fight and even looking further ahead. “After I beat him, (Lyons) I’m going to call out the guy who’s ranked first at 145, who happens to be his teammate,” he said.

Another successful Clarksville fighter training at SSF Submission Academy is Steven Durr, who recently defeated Michael Manley at XFC Apocalypse 17. Durr, who has a professional record of 1-1, won the ISKA TN 145 State Championship last year before turning pro. The month of June will be an exciting one for these Clarksville fighters, each of whom is ready to dominate.

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Ron Dayley has trained fighters in UFC, Strikeforce and other top level professional events

Clarksville, TN – Last month marked the five-year anniversary of the SSF Submission Academy in Clarksville, the only school in town to propel fighters to success in Strikeforce, UFC, King of the Cage, K-1, Pride, and other top level shows. “There’s other gyms in town, but there’s only one fight school,” said Ron Dayley, owner of the academy. “If you want to become a professional or amateur fighter, we’re the only place you can go other than Nashville. In this area, we’re it.” Scientific Street Fighting is a term coined by legendary martial artist Bruce Lee.

Dayley is originally from Washington, D.C. He has managed and trained fighters in Strikeforce, The UFC, XFC, Bodog and other big events. The former professional fighter is licensed in Tennessee by the ISKA and in Kentucky by the KBWA as a referee, trainer, promoter, timekeeper and corner-man. He is a BJJ brown belt and MACP Level II certified.

In addition to owning the academy, Dayley is the head Mixed Martial Arts and Sambo instructor. When necessary, he will fill in for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The expert is a fan of all types of physical combat. Inside his office in the gym is the famous George Bellows painting of Luis Firpo knocking the legendary heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey out of the ring. (Dempsey climbed back through the ropes to knock out Firpo seconds later.)

In 1997, Dayley assisted his training partner Bill Anderson in teaching Scientific Street Fighting in Northern Virginia. Years later, tragedy struck; Anderson died after suffering fatal injuries in a car wreck in Japan as he prepared for an upcoming fight. Dayley eventually moved to Clarksville, and opened the SSF Submission Academy to continue teaching what he and his late best friend began.

Several professional fighters have emerged from training at the academy. One of them is Steven Durr, who won the ISKA TN 145 State Championship last year. He later vacated the title to turn pro. Durr recently won a unanimous decision over a struggling Michael Manley at XFC Apocalypse-17, bringing his record to 1-1. Before coming to the school, Durr had no training or fighting background whatsoever.

Another success story is Michael Graham. Five years ago, Graham was a participant in “backyard fighting.” Dayley was interviewed on live television and said that the kids involved in this activity looked “dumb and retarded doing that.” Furious, Graham stormed into Dayley’s gym planning to yell at him, but instead took a class and wound up enjoying himself. Dayley has a joking relationship with his aspiring pupil. “He’s making his pro debut at XFC on June 22 in Nashville. I’m proud of him, going from a little punk-ass to a pro fighter.” Thomas Campbell is another fighter at the academy. He fought at several Strikeforce events and currently has a record of 3-2.

The academy is open to men, women and children of all ages. No matter what someone’s size is, they can master a set of skills. “Women and smaller men are real technical because they can’t rely on the strength. They learn technique, and it’s nice to see that,” said Dayley.

For more information, call 931.249.6598 or visit www.clarksvillemma.com. The SSF Submission Academy is located at 812 College Street, Clarksville, TN 37040.

The following is the Class Schedule.

Mixed Martial Arts

7:00pm-8:30pm — Monday and Wednesday

Boxing

8:30pm-10:00pm — Monday and Wednesday

General Sparring

7:00pm-9:00pm — Friday

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

7:30-9:00pm Tuesday and Thursday

Sambo

6:00-7:00pm Tuesday and Thursday

Muay Thai

6:00pm-7:30pm — Tuesday and Thursday

Youth Program (BJJ and Boxing)

6:00pm-7:00pm — Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Cardio Kickboxing

11:00am-12:00pm — Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Fitness Pole Dance

5:00am-6:00am — Tuesday and Friday

10:00am-11:00am — Saturday

Womens Boot Camp

8:30pm-9:30pm — Tuesday and Thursday

11:30am-12:30pm — Saturday

USA Wrestling

1:00pm-3:00pm — Saturday

Open Mat (for gym members only)

11:00am-12:00pm — Monday, Wednesday, Friday

12:00pm-1:00pm — Saturday

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Treva Gordon

Clarksville, TN – In just seven years, Treva Gordon has become an actress, singer, playwright, writer, motivational speaker, mentor, TV and radio personality. She has made an impact on not only Clarksville, but other cities in Middle Tennessee. “We’re doing some great things that’s affecting the community. We’re excited about what God is doing,” she said.

Gordon was born in Detroit, MI. When she was two, her family relocated to River Rouge, MI. Working hard was something that she learned to do at a young age. Gordon had her first job when she was seven. For $1.00 a day, she would sweep the floor at a store in her neighborhood.

In 1992 she joined the Army, where she worked as a United States Army Transportation Specialist (88M). It was around this time that she met her husband, Robert. They were married in 1993 and eventually had three children. “In 1995, I exited the military to become a stay at home wife and mother for five years,” said Gordon.

Gordon enrolled in Austin Peay State University and graduated in 2005 with a B.S. Degree in Corporate Communications and Marketing. (Her grade point average at the time of graduation was 3.5). During her years at APSU, she was a reporter for the campus newspaper, The All-State, and served as student president of the International Business Communicators (IABC) student chapter.

It was a near death experience in 2004 that sparked Gordon’s desire to achieve her goals. She nearly died giving birth to her daughter in Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. “I promised God that everything I told him I’d do, I would do,” she said. “It’s like I’m on a mission and I can’t stop.”

2005 was the year when Gordon began to turn her dreams into reality. She and her husband started The Clarksville Convenient Shopper Magazine. “I started it with no money in the bank,” Gordon revealed. “It was just an inspired vision. We had to pre-sell all of our advertisements in advance. The only employees were us. It was hard work, but we believed… now it’s full of advertisers.”

Gordon is one of the most outgoing and friendly people in the Clarksville community. She is present at many events, often appearing as the well-dressed charismatic woman with a camera or microphone in her hand.

“Since 2005, I have participated in, and or supported more than 150 community-wide events,” Gordon said. “In 2010, I co-hosted an event in Paris, TN alongside Ambassador Bobby Jones for the WORD Network that broadcasts to millions of viewers. I am the first in my immediate family to ever go to college and to graduate. I am the first to graduate with honors from a University.”

In 2011, Gordon debuted her first play, “Guess What I Heard?” The next year, she produced “Guess What I Heard? Home For The Holidays.” Both shows were impressive and turned out to be successful.

Gordon’s most recent achievement is “The Treva Gordon Show,” a weekly program that airs on youtube.com. Noticing that her single friends would sometimes complain about their lack of intimacy, Gordon decided to create a program where different people of all ages and occupations would offer their advice.

“Maybe America can help single people come up with some answers,” Gordon said. “I don’t have all the answers, so we want you to tune in and help these single folks out.”

Gordon was honored with the Woman of the Year Award last year, and was the recipient of the Business Woman of The Year Award by Gospel Music City Awards in 2012. She wrote and performed a song in 2011 called “Devil U’s a lie.” Gordon also became an evangelist last year. “I give God all the glory,” she said. “I am so blessed to do what I do. As I look to the future, I can only give God the glory for what’s ahead.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

The future looks bright for Gordon, who continues to achieve. To find out more about Gordon, visit trevagordon.com.

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$izzul, whose real name is Kory Marlowe, was born and raised in Nashville Tennessee. He attended Austin Peay State University, where he discovered his rapping talent. Marlowe’s roommate was Stephen Williams, who is currently a gospel rapper in Nashville, TN known as “Young Duck.” Williams and Marlowe used to “rap it up” as Marlowe says.

$izzul recently released his new album, "The Star Child."

Marlowe has his share of musical influences, including Common, Kanye West, and Outkast. But it was Busta Rhymes who caught his eye first. “I like his energy and creativity,” said Marlowe. “He wasn’t afraid to be different.”

Being unique is something that Marlowe appreciates about Hala-X, one of the producers of his new album, Star Child. “I like his style because he’s not afraid to be different. He takes something and goes completely left field with it.”

Hala-X produced the album’s opening track, a catchy hip hop track with the feel of a James Brown song, complete with funky rhythms and synth horn arrangements. The song, titled “Out on the street,” introduces Marlowe to his listeners and provides candid detail on how he grew up. In addition to Hala-X, other music producers featured on the album include Tristan, Ozone, Beat G33ks, Adamack, Sinima, Quickbeats, Cortez Leavell, Allrounda, and Sean Divine.

Another of Marlowe’s favorite cuts from the album is called “Keep Splashing.” The song is about overcoming obstacles and self doubt. “If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else can do that for you,” explained Marlowe. The lyrics offer a glimpse into the soul of the 6’3 musician. “A lot of rappers need gimmicks but I need none//I put my faith in the Lord until my time comes//Sometimes I feel like I’m in the rain with no umbrella//holding a glass slipper praying for my Cinderella.” “I’ll never be” is another of his favorite songs, where he explains that he’ll always be himself and not a follower.

The 29 year-old doesn’t spend all of his time on music. He is currently majoring in english education online at Grand Canyon University. A patient man, he knows that all goals will be accomplished in time. “I’m taking it slow because of other obligations and priorities.”

Marlowe is seemingly always in a good mood. Every morning he texts his friends “Good morning” even if he doesn’t talk to that particular friend much. His music has the same charming quality. “I want people to hear my music and appreciate it for the realness that it is. I want people to hear my music and feel like they know more about me on the personal level.”

Marlowe will make visits to the south to promote his new album. He has shows scheduled for Nashville in the summer. He also says he’s interested in performing in Clarksville at APSU. The rapper is currently working on getting his music on i-tunes. His music can currently be previewed at www.reverbation.com/sizzulethegr8.

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APSU President Tim Hall

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University President Timothy L. Hall has been with the university since August 2007, and the school has grown by 20% since he arrived. In fact, APSU has become the fastest growing university in Tennessee since the year 2000.

Hall says he’d never set foot in Clarksville before taking the job, but had read great things about the area and was eager to get involved. “Clarksville is the furthest north that my wife and I have ever been,” he said.

Before succeeding Dr. Sherry Hoppe as APSU president, Hall had accomplished other tasks in his life. Born on October 28th, 1955, Hall grew up in Texas City, Texas. After graduating from Texas City High School, he attended The University of Houston where he majored in Philosophy. In 1977, he married his high school sweetheart Lee Nicholson.

The following year, he graduated from The University of Houston and attended Rice University. “I went to Rice University for a couple of years majoring in religious studies, thinking that I would be a professor in that area, but I discovered there weren’t many jobs.”

Not discouraged, he decided to go The University of Texas Law School in Austin, Texas. He graduated in 1983 and worked for a federal judge for one year. Not long after, he became a Litigation Attorney with Hughes and Luce. In 1989, he moved on and settled in Mississippi where he started work at the University of Mississippi, a job he held for 18 years. During his time there, he published several books, including a christian book about marriage called “The Labor of Love,” and another informative book called “Religion in America.” A devout christian, Hall is a baptist but has fellowshipped with all kinds of religions during his lifetime.

He says his faith in God helped him overcome a frightening battle with prostate cancer. “My father died of prostate cancer when he was 62 years old,” Hall explained. After his father’s death, Hall made sure to get himself tested each year. Two years ago, doctors discovered that Hall had a feeble case of the cancer. “It was relatively mild,” Hall said. “They performed a surgery to wipe the prostate out.”

The cancer scare didn’t stop Hall from being himself. The current APSU president has always been social with everyone on the campus. He can be spotted almost anywhere at the university with his smiling wife by his side. It’s easy to catch Hall chatting with students, faculty, or anyone within reach. He’s just as approachable on his Facebook page as he is in person. “I don’t think I would make a good ‘desk president’ who sits behind a desk that pushes papers,” he said. “I much prefer to talk to our students, staff and alumni. I do what I like to do, and I think it helps the university.”

The growth of Clarksville and the popularity of APSU has resulted in more and more students each year. “Clarksville itself is growing,” said Hall. “Austin Peay used to be relatively unknown outside of Tennessee. The school is becoming more known, and students are increasingly understanding that this is a great place to come to school.”

In recent years, APSU has added Starbucks, Papa John’s Pizza, and Subway to their food options.

As Hall and his wife, Lee, stroll casually around the campus, they enjoy the atmosphere and often wish that they had attended a school like APSU, where the faculty is open and available. “We’re really engaged in the students,” he said. “We wish we could have been to a school where you can see the president and the staff out in the open. This is that kind of place, and I consider it a great privilege to be able to work here.”

The post APSU President Tim Hall Reflects On Life And Austin Peay’s Future appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

“We’re community people who care,” said Angela Egbon, program coordinator of C.A.R.E. “Our goal with C.A.R.E is to help ex-offenders find employment. Some people that come out of jail and can’t find employment will go back to what they know. We can help them find job and give them a sense of who they are as a person. We want them to be successful.” Egbon, who also works as a social worker and employment interviewer for the program, has been with C.A.R.E for almost two years. “We’re sponsored by Senator Joe Pitts,” she said.

Angela Egbon is the program coordinator of Clarksville Area Re-Entry at Tennessee (C.A.R.E.)

C.A.R.E is one of the newest additions of the career center, which also provides community programs such as Veteran Services, Family First, Food Stamps, Work Force Essential, and Jobcore. C.A.R.E does a lot to help former prisoners. “We’re willing to hire ex-offenders,” said Cobb. “We job search and offer mentorships. We also offer a class called ‘Lifeline to Success’ that works with resumes, how to act in an interview, and handle conflict in the workplace. We also connect them to employers who are willing to hire ex-offenders.”

C.A.R.E is proving very useful to not only Clarksville ex-offenders but former prisoners from other places as well. Egbon revealed that Clarksville gets ex-prisoners from all over the state and some from outside of it. Because of this, C.A.R.E will not be relegated only to Clarksville. “They plan to expand the program across the state. The CARE program is a pilot program for that,” said Egbon.

According to Egbon, the racial population of people that use the program are generally mixed, but men apply for help more than women in most cases. It is sometimes a hurdle to find employers who will hire ex-offenders, but the ones who take the chance are pleasantly surprised quite often. Egbon says that most of the ex-offenders are determined to change their lives around and become hard workers when hired. “They don’t have many choices, so they will be one of your dedicated workers. They’ll come to work and sometimes employers will get more experience than they’re actually paying for.”

The C.A.R.E program is located at Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 406 Clarksville, TN 37040. Their office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:00am until 4:30pm. To reach the office by phone, call (931) 648-5530. Egbon can also be reached at *protected email*

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Jarrett Crawford

Clarksville, TN – Last year, Jarrett Crawford opened the Clarksville Wadō-ryū Karate School. At the academy, Crawford teaches wadō-ryū, a style that originated in Japan. “It’s the first Japanese style,” said Crawford. “It’s completely Japanese.”

Crawford first began displaying his karate moves when he was 8 years old. That’s when he realized that he wanted to open his own school someday. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do from the time I was little and beating up on my cousin,” said Crawford. The instructor is a 4th degree black belt.

At the dojo, there is a photo of Wadō-ryū founder Hironori Ōtsuka on the wall near a Japanese national flag. A few feet away is an American flag. There is also a 270 punching bag, workout equipment for adults, and large space for combat and practice.

Wadō-ryū differs greatly from kung fu and other fighting styles. “Wadō-ryū is basic fighting principles. You don’t want to waste a lot of movement,” he explained. Conserving energy and using swift counters are important factors of Wadō-ryū.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The school has classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4:30 pm. There is a children’s class for children aged between 5 and 10, and another for children between 11-15 years old. The adult classes begin at age 16 and up. The price for the course is $99 a month. There are  discounts for active and retired military.

Crawford says that he is teaching self-confidence, self-discipline and self-esteem through learning self defense.

The school is located at 2535 Madison Street Suite H. For more information on Clarksville Wadō-ryū, visit www.clarksvillewadoryu.com.

Map

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