Currently browsing: Opinion

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»

City’s drive for new enforcement cameras must be stopped!

By Bill Larson | April 13, 2009 |

Enforcement cameras are coming to town, and it’s time we stand up and say, NO!

In our society an innocent person does not have to fear the intrusion of government into their lives. They won’t be followed by dark men with dark intentions unless of course they commit a crime. Automated enforcement cameras will change our free society to one where everyone is constantly watched, a potential criminal.

We all feel a guilty pleasure when we see someone who proceeds through a signaled  intersection while we stop, getting pulled over for a ticket. There is even a term for it… Schadenfreude: Happiness at the misfortune of others. While it might feel good, these cameras come at a cost: your money, your civil rights, and your civil liberties.

The first cameras have not yet been installed, however, city officials hungry for easy revenue have announced that they already plan to expand their camera programs. They have already authorized red-light cameras, and are now considering installing mobile and fixed speed cameras, and stop sign cameras. These cameras don’t stop accidents; they simply allow the city to profit from technical violations  the vast majority of which, do not result in accidents. The sad thing is these cameras have a rather nasty side affect, they increase accidents, damage, injuries, and fatalities. Don’t take my word for it, go and read the studies for yourself! «Read the rest of this article»

As spring arrives, let us find personal and political renewal

By Rev. Charles Moreland | March 21, 2009 |

As we move into spring and the substance of 2009, the year will continue to bring renewal. Changes in power, approaches,  and results  will impact Clarksville, the State of Tennessee and the nation.  For when we pray “God Bless America,” there is the opportunity for renewal for us personally as well as nationally throughout this year.

In 2009,  we have a favorable wind of renewal available to re-establish virtues, moral principles, and moral quality to our government at all levels. In foreign policy let us be done with torture, rendition and the deliberate misleading of the public in the guise of justifying action that leads to placing our men and women in uniform unnecessarily in harm’s way and demolishing governments of other nations. Let this year be the year to bury the order of pre-emptive military intervention against what we perceive as nefarious nations. «Read the rest of this article»

PAT 2009 Regional Conference includes luncheon and afternoon panels

March 11, 2009 |

[Part II] Conference Luncheon and Afternoon Sessions

The February 28th PAT 2009 Regional Conference continued with a luncheon and afternoon sessions. This report covers those activities and discussions.

Dr. Minoa Uffelman introduces the keynote speaker, Dr. Ted Ownby.

The luncheon keynote speaker was Ted Ownby, University of Mississippi, Professor of History and Southern Studies, Director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. His topic was “Free Bird, Roots, and Family Values: Southern Culture in the 1970s.” Ownby centered his talk on “What it means to be part of a family in the South in the 70’s.” Three elements must be considered. “The South in the 70’s is working out integration and is no longer a rural agrarian culture. The South is establishing a new relationship with the federal government.” «Read the rest of this article»

Someone delights in you

By Rev. Charles Moreland | March 9, 2009 |

A few words directed to a friend, neighbor or family member or even an adored pet, can release a resevoir of strength within . Normally, these are words of appreciation and acknoledgement.

At Fort Leonard Wood, the Army’s largest basic and advanced training post, I served with command leaders to include hundreds of drill sergeants of all ranks. I served, too, commanders that I would have followed into combat at any time and any place. How did these men and women impress me and receive my loyalty? They were leaders trained in reassuring and encouraging others. They elicited a sense of self with new recruits, NCOs and officers with a reassuring word. «Read the rest of this article»

MOAA lobbies for military veterans

By Rev. Charles Moreland | March 1, 2009 |

The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a dynamic lobbyist for all military retirees. Members include veterans — retired Marines, sailors, Air Force and Coast Guard personnel.MOAA is a non-profit , veteran’s association dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and to preserving the earned entitlements of members of the uniformed services and their families.  It is vigilant in safeguarding and extending the benefits of all veterans. When MOAA speaks to Congress, they listen, and take immediate action. «Read the rest of this article»

Add a little humor to your life

By Rev. Charles Moreland | February 22, 2009 |

Humor in Uniform is a favorite section in the Reader’s Digest.  Having served as a soldier and Army Chaplain, for 20 years, in time of peac and for two years of war in Vietnam, I appreciate recognition given our soldiers, even if its humorous.Being rather serious and solemn by nature, I have a psychological need for entertainment, especially humor.  I meet this need for balance for jocularity by selecting cheerful TV programs to watch while exercising at the Athletic Club. When I get there early enough, I’ll watch my all time favorite, M.A.S.H. «Read the rest of this article»

Anti-gay adoption bill ignores existing applicant shortage

February 21, 2009 |

Despite the budget shortfall and other major problems that the Tennessee state legislature must face, anti-gay and other “morality” bills have found their way into consideration by lawmakers. Despite a shortage of couples and singles willing to adopt, a new bill, HB 0605/*SB 0078, the companion bills from Senator Paul Stanley’s (R-Cordova) and Rep. John Deberry (R-Memphis), would deny adoption of a minor to anyone who’s in a sexual relationship other than being legally married.

This isn’t the first time they’ve attempted such legislation, either. Senator Stanley and Rep. John Deberry were the same people who filed a more strictly anti-gay adoption bill last year, which failed. They also had a similar bill which would prevent unmarried opposite-sex couples from adopting. It foundered as well. This new bill is a combination of both of the previous bills.

Apparently, not only do bad ideas come from the same legislators, but the same bad ideas come from the same legislators. If it doesn’t pass the first time, then try, try, again. One doesn’t have to stretch the imagination too far to observe the visceral and sensitive nature of same-sex relationships and homosexuality in general. Just what do they hope to accomplish? «Read the rest of this article»

Is the Fairgrounds Marina a failure to plan or a plan for failure?

February 19, 2009 |

Dave Ramsey has an adage, “People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.”

The ongoing saga of the city of Clarksville efforts to construct a marina on the Cumberland River at Fairgrounds Park continues to astound. Having secured funds well in excess of the specified required amount, laying an enormous debt on the taxpayers in the process, the city is apparently stumbling along in baby steps to compile the paperwork needed to gain the federal and state permits to allow the construction to take place at all. All the while the public is being told these are great strides in advancing the dream of a marina into a reality.

2009 Clarksville City Council

Recently, the City of Clarksville announced that excavation bids would be sought by May, 2009, for some excavation to begin at the fairgrounds in July of this year, with Marina construction to be completed by October, 2010.

On February 18, 2009, CO Author Turner McCullough Jr. received the following communication from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Conservation Biologist Tadd Potter in response to six questions asked of the USACOE: «Read the rest of this article»

Journey to the North: Part 2

By James Butler | February 16, 2009 |

Late evening on the second conference day and my mind is working furiously to process the information provided to it, as well as to thaw itself out.

The morning began well enough with a 7 a.m. bus ride to the sprawling University of Indiana campus. Breakfast with eggs to order was available for a reasonable price along with an assortment of general snack food.

Granted, this was somewhat less fancy than Austin Peay’s Saturday fare, though I’ve been assured that had I known more about the campus and area, I could have achieved highly delectable food service. This certainly seems likely, as the 75 person cafe area could hardly be expected to be the main cafeteria establishment. «Read the rest of this article»

© 2009 Clarksville, TN Online is owned and operated by residents of Clarksville Tennessee.
» We are Hosted by Compu-Net Enterprises; In Partnership with Discover Clarksville and Discover Paris