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If you want it done right: Do It Yourself

By Julie Suzanne Capouch | September 29, 2009 |

Does he really know what he's doing?

I”m a former HGTV junkie. I used to sit and watch hours of it, and I absorbed more interior decorating, real estate, and DIY than I could possibly use in a lifetime. I would probably still be that way, but my current occupations as mommy, taxi, nurse, teacher, finance manager, counselor, cook, maid, and of course, writer, do not leave much of an opportunity for television.

But if there was one thing I learned from my HGTV education, it’s that preparation is key when doing any type of project. I’ve put this principle into practive with every job I have done and have always had great results. Whether it is painting a bookshelf or completely gutting a bathroom, you have to start out the right way.

I wish someone had told that to the handyman I hired a couple of weeks ago to paint my kitchen buffet. As the  DIY mommy, I prefer to do things myself, but for this particular project I was pressed for time and wanted it done before my husband returned from a business trip. So, I found two local “experienced” handymen who came complete with referrals to tackle the simple task of painting a hutch along with a few other small things around my house. Sounds great, right?

Not really. «Read the rest of this article»

An Unnecessary Trial

By David Cutting | September 23, 2009 |

This is an update to David Cutting’s previous letter “Theft by City Hall“

The Logo of the Clarksville, TN Gas and Water Department

If the Clarksville Gas & Water Department (CGW) had been upfront and honest, there would be no need for a lawsuit to force the promised return of deposits. If Judge Shelton had followed standard court procedures and issued a default judgment when the duly served defendant Mayor Johnny Piper or his counsel did not appear, the case would have ended then. If City Attorney Lance Baker would right the wrongs, rather than defend immoral actions by the city through his superior knowledge of the law, we would not need an attorney.

However, with the publicity generated by Clarksville Online publishing my letters to the editor, we now have a volunteer. A federal attorney who feels that we can win this case. We are grateful to him. This is good news for all consumers served by CGW. We will seek to establish a legal precedent, and tell municipal bureaucrats that they can no longer be able to tell residents that “The city can do whatever it wants.”

Now we are looking for witnesses and other victims. For the witness we need people who can testify that they paid a service deposit to CGW and later had it refunded back. We also need other consumers who had their deposits seized, even though they had always paid their bill in a timely manner.  It is now appropriate to move to convert this suit to a class action, which will benefit all of the victims of this “theft” by City Hall.

An update on my case against CG&W for breach of contracts

By David Cutting | September 15, 2009 |

This is an update to David Cutting’s previous letter “Theft by City Hall“

The Logo of the Clarksville, TN Gas and Water Department

Many readers requested updates to my article about theft by city hall, in which I wrote how I am battling to get the City’s Gas and Water Department (CG&W) to honor contracts and return customer deposits.

Yesterday, September 14, 2009, we suffered a minor defeat when Judge Grimes denied my motion for evidence, due to technical legal errors. He admonished me that although I am without counsel, he will cut me no slack for not having an attorney. I understand this, as it would be unfair to attorneys to hold them to higher standards. However, he should not have given Lance Baker, the city attorney, free legal advice by telling him he can “quash” my future subpoenas. «Read the rest of this article»

“Theft” by City Hall

By David Cutting | July 22, 2009 |

The Logo of the Clarksville, TN Gas and Water Department

On May 25, 2005, I opened an account with Clarksville Gas and Water Department, and gave a $225 deposit, which I was told would be refunded after four years. Four years later, on May 26, 2009, I applied for the return of my deposit. The clerk and her supervisor told me that new policies instituted by new management prohibit returns until after service ends, and “THE CITY CAN DO WHATEVER IT WANTS”.

I filed suit, charging breach of a legal contract, diversion, and unfair trade practices. No attorney arrived to represent the city in General Sessions Court on July 8, so Judge Shelton phoned the city attorney, Lance Baker. He later met with me, which gave me the opportunity to explain my case and share the evidence. We then went before the clerk, who reset my case for a two-hour trial before Judge Grimes on November 9th. «Read the rest of this article»

Shareholders seek to prevent Fidelity Investments from indirectly contributing to genocide

By Beth Robinson | June 24, 2009 |

I tend to ignore voting on issues where I receive proxy materials in the mail for my 401k retirement accounts. However, Fidelity Investments has a proposal pending to prohibit fund managers from investing in companies contributing to genocide, or crimes against humanity. Obviously, I am not in favor of contributing to genocide in Sudan, or any place else.

This is valiant attempt by some shareholders to influence a huge corporation’s policies. This is not a theoretical proposal, you see Fidelity was one of the largest holders of PetroChina, which through its parent company, the China National Petroleum Company, is providing funding that the Sudanese government uses to conduct its genocide in Darfur.

«Read the rest of this article»

Happy Fathers Day

June 21, 2009 |

It is that time of year again. When we honor our dads for the contributions they make in our lives.

Sherman made the terrible discovery that men make about their fathers sooner or later… that the man before him was not an aging father but a boy, a boy much like himself, a boy who grew up and had a child of his own and, as best he could, out of a sense of duty and, perhaps love, adopted a role called Being a Father so that his child would have something mythical and infinitely important: a Protector, who would keep a lid on all the chaotic and catastrophic possibilities of life.  ~ Tom Wolfe, The Bonfire of the Vanities

Clarksville Online wants to wish all the dads out there…

Happy Fathers Day!

Potential City Ban on Dogs in Parks

June 11, 2009 |

As a tax paying resident of the city of Clarksville, I want to express my outrage that the city is trying to deny responsible pet owners and their leashed dogs their right to utilize public city parks and recreation areas. It is appalling that “doggie deposits” left by irresponsible pet owners at the Riverwalk, could result in responsible pet owners and their pets being banned.

I am referring to ORDINANCE 97-2008-09, which passed first reading by the city council at the June 4^th meeting. This ordinance would give the city Parks & Recreation Department the authority to ban dogs at any city park or recreation area, for reasons of “protection of public health, welfare, or safety, or for aesthetic reasons.” Fortunately, as an ordinance, it must pass two readings before it becomes law.

«Read the rest of this article»

Empathy for justice

By Scott Beasley | June 1, 2009 |

President Obama used the word “empathy” to describe Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Its one thing to be empathetic towards people to grasp an understanding of their struggles, but its quite another for a judge to be empathetic. That is not a judge’s job. Their job is to apply the law. It is not to legislate from the bench, as even Sotomayor has openly stated, and openly said she should not say that. It is also not a judge’s responsibility to see that “justice” is done. It is their job to interpret and apply the law. Sotomayor seems to believe otherwise.

Many do not really see the big deal in replacing one liberal with another, but the effects of such a nomination will continue to affect this country long after Obama is gone (just like his huge debt).

Her ruling against the New Haven firefighters was, for lack of a better word, despicable. Firefighters who deserved a promotion based on performance, skills, evaluation, and experience were snubbed because of racial quotas. They call this “reverse discrimination”, but whenever one is judged solely on the color of skin, no matter the color, for any reason, its just good old fashioned discrimination to me. How have we gotten to the point where racial quotas, charity, subsidies and preferential treatment have surpassed traditionally historical methods of advancement such as self-reliance, education, business experience and work skills? Yes, that is old fashioned and mundane, but it has never been more true. You cannot instantaneously ingrain equality into society no matter how badly you want it. Equality is something that has to be attained, not handed out like coupons. Suppose you lived in New Haven and were trapped in a burning building. Would you rather have competent emergency response crews responding, or one which meets the specifications of racial quotas? Would it matter what color the person was pulling you from the fire? «Read the rest of this article»

Fumbling the Football

By Rev. Charles Moreland | May 13, 2009 |

Football ignites the headlines already. The season starts well before baseball season is over – it’s already a headline catcher.  Football coaches at every level of the sport, whether high school or professional, are being reminded that there is a restriction on religious activities that coaches can promote with the team. The Supreme Court stated that a “school district has a constitutional right to protect students from religious coercion…” «Read the rest of this article»

Bill to control puppy mills in Tennessee Senate

April 27, 2009 |

We have an opportunity to stop puppy mills in Tennessee. Currently before the Tennessee Senate is the Commercial Breeder Act (HB0386/SB258). Please voice your support to Montgomery County State Senator Tim Barnes.

We need to make our voices heard. We cannot continue to see Puppy Mill after Puppy Mill raided on the TV news. We must urge our State Legislators to support this Bill. Please highlight in your emails and telephone calls that Puppy Mills trade in domestic animals and currently have little if any regulation. There have been several puppy mill busts recently and it is time as a community to make a stand against this. It is expensive to the state; to the residents and obviously dangerous and harmful to the animals. «Read the rest of this article»

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