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MCDP to open Election 2008 headquarters

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 19, 2008 |

Gene Lewis stands outside the MCDP's Madison Street headquarters

Montgomery County Democratic Party members were hard at work Monday moving into their Election 2008 headquarters on 534 Madison Street in downtown Clarksville (corner of University Boulevard and Madison Street). A ribbon-cutting ceremony and a “meet and greet” reception, open to the public, will be held tonight at 5 p.m., and refreshments will be served.

Gene Lewis, chairman of the MCDP, said that although the site is officially open, the “real work” will begin as the Democratic Convention winds down. “Once the convention is over, we hit the ground running,” Lewis said. «Read the rest of this article»

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CAMTAN addresses HIV/AIDS pandemic in seven county area

By Turner McCullough Jr. | August 19, 2008 |

Local ministry effort confronts HIV/AIDS pandemic. Offers general health advisories and assistance to those suffering from the disease.

Five years ago, a meeting of local area ministers resulted in the founding of the Clarksville Area Ministers Technical Assistance Network, CAMTAN. A non-profit group organized to provide mental, physical, and spiritual assistance to those confronting an HIV/AIDS infection. CAMTAN also seeks to provide capacity building faith-based responses to HIV/AIDS. The organization furthers seeks to combat this disease with a prevention education outreach campaign as well.

Dispelling the vast amount of misinformation and simply false data about this disease that is circulating within the community takes a considerable amount their time. CAMTAN’s client service area includes the city of Clarksville; Montgomery, Robertson, Chetham, Dickson, Stewart, Houston and Humphreys Counties. Clarksville is the central operation base.

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Green Party’s Cynthia McKinney takes presidential bid across Tennessee

August 18, 2008 |

Green Party candidate for President Cynthia McKinney will be visiting Tennessee to speak to voters and campaign in Memphis, Jackson, Dickson and Nashville this Wednesday and Thursday August 20 and 21.

Nominated as the Green Party candidate for President at the Green National Convention in Chicago last July McKinney served as a representative of the people of Georgia in Congress for six terms as a Democrat before seeking the Green Party nomination for President in 2008.

The Green Party of Tennessee is honored to host Ms McKinney as she visits four communities across the state this week. “From community problems like landfill issues in Dickson to community solutions like the Biofuels plant in Memphis and community gardens in Nashville Ms McKinney will get to talk to people who are impacted and those with community-based solutions, a Green Party Key Value”, said Katey Culver Green Party of Tennessee Co-chair. «Read the rest of this article»

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Flying the U. S. Flag at half-staff is no grandstanding gesture

By Turner McCullough Jr. | August 18, 2008 |

City and County Mayors’ Proposal, while noble, oversteps the authority of their office. The U. S. Flag Code delegates half-staff order authority to the president.

Clarksville High School Color Guard post The Colors during Memorial Day Candlelight Vigil

Recently our city and county mayors announced plans to fly the national flag at half-staff on a monthly basis. They proposed to do this in honor of our fallen soldiers. The gesture certainly strikes an undeniably appealing accord. It is, without a doubt, noble in its initiative.

It would unquestionably be a notable, emotional salute to our military personnel, especially in light of the fact that soldiers from Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division are facing daily peril in the Iraq and Afghanistan war theaters.

However, upon closer review, there is cause for reconsideration of this action. The flying of our nation’s flag is governed by specific and strict protocols that must be observed. «Read the rest of this article»

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Legal Aid Society, Executive Director to host reception for departing local attorney

By Turner McCullough Jr. | August 18, 2008 |

Clarksville Office Managing Attorney Patricia Mock is ending 25 years with Legal Aid Society. The Clarksville community and surrounding area are encouraged to acknowledge her service and help bid farewell!

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands announces the coming departure of Attorney Pat Mock, managing attorney for its Clarksville office.

The Legal Aid Society will host a reception at the Clarksville office on Thursday, August 21, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. to express appreciation for this sterling example of dedication and service.  “We wanted to express our appreciation for Pat for her 25 years of dedication and service to the Legal Aid Society, the Clarksville Office, LAS clients and our community” said Gary Housepian, executive director of The Legal Aid Society.

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VA Chapels: Open, welcoming to all faiths

By Rev. Charles Moreland | August 17, 2008 |

In our own community, we are fortunate to have a Veteran’s Administration clinic and a short drive to a VA Medical Center in Nashville. These facilities provide outstanding service to all eligible personnel. Even though there is a significant increase in patients, they continue to offer individualized professional medical care.

For three years, I received medical attention from the Clarksville clinic; they were always professional and I was always left with an appreciation of their services. By following their medical advice, my injury from Vietnam and duty in Germany continued to improve.

The VA is also focused on the spiritual welfare of its patients. At the VA Medical Center, Chaplains are on staff and space is dedicated to serve as “chapels.”

The Department of Veteran Affairs requires that their chapels be open to all faiths. This policy is similar to the guidelines in the use of Army Chapels, too. In the Army, the chapel’s religious symbols such as the Cross aren’t afixed to the building as a permanent attachment unless the symbol could be covered when the chapel wasn’t being used for worship. In the Army, a chapel could be and often is another facility for all faiths including Christian. «Read the rest of this article»

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Clarksville For Obama brainstorms platform for DNC national convention

By Turner McCullough Jr. | August 16, 2008 |

As the Democratic Party’s convention nears, results of “Listen to America” to shape party platform

Traditionally, every four years, the Democratic Party leadership meets in closed session and develops a platform for the next four years of national political focus. Senator Barack Obama wants to change that. He has proposed that, starting this year, the party draw input and ideas from the American people directly. To that end, several hundred local groups across the country participated in “brainstorming” events. The national leadership will formulate the new direction of the Democratic Party based on the priorities identified in the work product from the many local Obama Campaign “Listen to America” Committees across the nation.

Clarksville For Obama met recently to do its part in crafting this new national party platform. About 50 people converged at “Get Some Coffee” at the Great Escape Theater Complex along Trenton Road for Clarksville’s “Listen to America” event. Jim Robertson and Tyrone Taylor, Clarksville for Obama and Tennessee for Obama members, respectively, co-chaired the event. The meeting objective was to choose five topic areas, brainstorm to finalize, prioritize and develop enactment of those particular interest proposals. Five brainstorming groups were formed to consider the specific topics. «Read the rest of this article»

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CTS riders to see changes in fares, routes; Transportation Committee approval pending

By Turner McCullough Jr. | August 15, 2008 |

The City Council Transportation Committee will meet August 25 at at 4:00 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room One Public Square, 4th Floor, to review adjustments made by CTS to the original budget including fare increases and route changes.

An August 11th Public hearing provided opportunity for give and take in confronting higher fuel costs and demands of public transportation needs. Citizens voiced their concerns and found sympathetic officials willing to hear them.

The Clarksville Transit System public hearing August 11 at the Public Library lwas a bright example of citizen outreach being given a receptive audience by public officials. The meeting was attended by about 50 CTS riders and supporters. Able-bodied and mobility-impaired alike were well represented in the attending gathering. «Read the rest of this article»

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