Clarksville, TN – Marshall Chapman is in herself a blaze of glory so it’s not surprise that her new CD is called, “Blaze of Glory.” To be in the room with Marshall is to find yourself in a place where the unexpected is the norm. To put it mildly, Marshall is a ball of fire.
This new CD, coming out on May 28th (and you can preorder at her web site, www.Tallgirl.com), is the best so far—and that’s no mean feat.

“Blaze of Glory” by Marshall Chapman
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Robert Penn Warren
Clarksville, TN – Robert Penn Warren is the only writer to date with three Pulitzer Prizes, two in poetry and one in fiction. In 1980, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter, and in 1986, Warren was named the first Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry by the Library of Congress.
His senior year was spent at Clarksville High School prior to his attending Vanderbilt University. Although he had been appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, he was unable to enter school there because during the summer, his brother had tossed either a stone or piece of coal that landed in Robert Penn’s eye; this eventually resulted in blindness and the removal of his left eye. While at Vanderbilt, Warren became a member of a writers’ group known as The Fugitives and the rest is history. «Read the rest of this article»
In the best attended event of the past several years, the 15th Annual Clarksville Area Intertribal Powwow held at the Port Royal State Historical Site attracted hundreds of visitors from the surrounding area. The Native Cultural Circle sponsors this event each year and donates sets of books about the life and customs of Native Americans to Montgomery County elementary schools with the proceeds.
Visitors see beautiful regalia worn by many Native Americans, most of whom spend from Friday night through Sunday night or Monday morning in tents on the Powwow Grounds.

The Head Lady Mayola Maizeand the Head Man Jesse Cross lead a dance
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Clarksville, TN – The Fall Friends of the Library Book Sale at the Montgomery County Library will be held beginning at 4:00pm on Thursday, October 25th, for members only. You can become a member at the door for only $5.00 for an individual or $10.00 for a family.
This membership is for an entire year and is a super bargain because you can get into every book sale on the first night when the best bargains are available. (Think first editions, best sellers, rare books, your favorite authors—and the list goes on!)

There was a good turn out for the last Friends of the Library book sale.
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Bud Willis
The name Bud Willis isn’t exactly a household word in spite of the fact that he is to accept the 2012 Distinguished Arts and Humanities Medal for Literary Arts in Memphis on November 9th. This honor was formerly bestowed on John Grisham, Eudora Welty, Shelby Foote and other luminaries in the world of literature.
Many Clarksville area residents know Bud as their stockbroker and manager at J. C. Bradford and Company from 1972 to 1982. His second book, Marble Mountain:A Vietnam Memoir, was featured in a well-attended book-signing at F & M Bank in June, 2011. Bud has been featured on Clarksville Online in “Bluestocking—A Family Story with a Tennessee Heart,” “Marble Mountain: A Vietnam Memoir Is Unforgettable,” Seredipity—An Afternoon with Lee and Bud Willis and Friends,” and “How I met Bud Willis.” «Read the rest of this article»
With the Presidential election on the horizon, Chuck Sambuchino just hit the market with RED DOG/BLUE DOG: WHEN POOCHES GET POLITICAL, one of the funniest political books to take the stage in recent times.
Each page features a humorous dog picture with a caption for either the political view of a Liberal or a Conservative.
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Clarksville, TN –
A highlight of Riverfest every year is the display of artistic talent from the Montgomery County area. Three shows—the Senior (Downtown Artists Co-op), the High School (Customs House Museum) and the Amateur and Professional Divisions (Smith-Trahern Mansion)—feature exceptional talent in all age groups. Juror Suzanne Gaudette Way chose winners from about half the entries that were submitted in the juried shows; even sorting the artworks into the final display was an extensive job this year.
Ellen Kanervo, Executive Director of Clarksville Arts and Heritage, presented the awards for the High School Division. The exhibition was held at Customs House Museum in the main gallery at 5:00pm on Friday evening.

Artists and Patrons at the Smith Trahern Mansion on Friday for the Tour d’Art at the 2012 Riverfest Celebration
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Doris Findley of the Jason Foundation has a job that no one envies. She speaks to people about suicide, especially among teen-agers and children. Yes, even children talk about and sometimes attempt suicide. Here are some of the facts she tells her audiences.
The Jason Foundation (www.jasonfoundation.com) was started after the suicide of Jason, an average 16-year-old who seemed to have everything to live for. He was the son of Clark Flatt, now the CEO and President of The Jason Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of suicide.
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Rodger Dinwiddie is a national speaker on Best Courses of Action in Bullying Prevention. Chief Executive Officer of STARS and a Certified Lead Trainer for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, Dinwiddie said that even the word “bullying” has been politicized.
He asserted that four areas of emphasis must be involved in order to create an effective plan to prevent bullying: school, classroom, individuals, and the community (including parents and guardians). «Read the rest of this article»

Novelist, essayist, playwright, Gore Vidal died at home in Hollywood Hills on Tuesday at age 86. Born on October 3, 1925, at West Point, New York, he succumbed to complications from pneumonia.
Author of Myra Breckenridge, Lincoln, and Burr among 26 novels, 26 works of nonfiction, eight plays and 14 screenplays, he is also especially remembered for contributions to “Caligula” and “Ben Hur.”
A political liberal, he was known for his outspoken comments on candidates and officeholders, the rich and famous, anyone about whom he wished to make a comment alike, and challenge authority at every turn. He enraged mainstream critics and wrecked his political ambitions because he announced his homosexuality. For about 30 years, he lived with his partner, Howard Austen, in Ravello, Italy; he insisted that the success of their relationship was based on their not having sex together. «Read the rest of this article»