April 29, 2008 | 
 The Montgomery County Democratic Party Executive Committee will host a “Meet and Greet” for U.S. Senate Candidates Bob Tuke and Mike Pagent, along with local candidates for 22nd District Senate, 67th district and County Candidates. The “Meet and Greet” will run from 5:30pm -8:00pm, Friday May 16, at IAM Union Hall, 121 Union Rd. The public is invited to come to this event and meet the candidates and discuss the issues. Suggested donation is $5.00.
The Montgomery County Democratic Party meets on the last Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Smith Trahern Mansion in downtown Clarksville. For additional information, call Gene Lewis 931 801-6209.
April 29, 2008 |
Better Choice of Living hosts elegant dinner-dance in May
Doris Witherspoon’s Family Properties sponsors its fifth annual black-tie dinner and dance on Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17 at the Holiday Inn in Hopkinsville, Ky., 2910 Fort Campbell Blvd.
Hosted by Better Choice of Living, a recently-founded nonprofit organization, the gala begins on Friday, May 16, with a cocktail hour at 6:30 p.m.; dinner will be promptly served at 7:30 p.m. The menu consists of rib eye steak, chicken breast w/pepper sauce, twice baked potato, steamed California mix, salad, rolls, desert and tea. A dance, to include live entertainment, follows dinner.
On Saturday, May 17, the cocktail hour starts at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday’s menu includes prime rib, chicken breast w/ pepper sauce, parsley new potato, whole baked apples, salad, rolls, desert and tea. The dance and live entertainment follows dinner.
The Variety Pack Band from Detroit, Michigan, will provide the entertainment on both nights. The band features Mary Burns Owens, a native of Ripley, and James P. Witherspoon, formerly of Columbia, U.S. Army retired and a Vietnam veteran.
Tickets for this black-tie affair spotlighting blues, jazz and r&b with a touch of elegance are $40 per person. Deadline to purchase tickets is May 5. Reservations only; tickets will not be sold at the door.  Contact: 931-552-0286. Email: familyproperties@bellsouth.net
April 28, 2008 |
Tennessee is One of Few States Lacking Racial Profiling Definition. A prayer vigil in support of families being torn apart by deportation is planned.
 In the last days of our state’s legislative session, a bill has been passed to the Senate Judiciary Committee that would address law enforcement’s lack of a definition of racial profiling. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider SB 3459, a bill that, “Prohibits racial profiling by law enforcement; establishes a cause of action for aggrieved persons; makes violation a Class C misdemeanor.” The bill is characterized as human rights legislation.
There are several bills that bear direct impact on the immigrant communities in our state. Legal status is something that cannot be determined by merely looking at a person. Lack of a proficient command of English should not be grounds for scrutiny by law enforcement. Nor should having an accent! The tenor of several of these bills should make the average person’s blood run cold. One bill would actually have the effect of fostering the hiring of undocumented immigrants, only to see them denied payment of their wages. Under its provisions, the employer would not obligated to pay the employee for his or her labor. Even the indentured servant of colonial days received some compensation in the contract.
April 28, 2008 |
A cruel joke is being perpetrated upon the public at city council meetings. Actually, it’s a travesty!
 For some inexplicable reason, knowledge of parliamentary procedure seems to be in short supply at recent city council meetings. The dubious conduct of meetings and voting sessions has caused some citizens to raise a ‘Point of Order’ regarding the April 24th executive and special called voting sessions. Additional review of the printed and published agendas for those meetings brings a serious question to mind.
Questionable agenda ‘order of business’?
 Since the city of Clarksville utilizes Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised as its parliamentary authority, citizens must question how the agenda for any of its public meetings can contain a public comment segment AFTER the adjournment of the meeting. By all generally understood interpretations of Robert’s Rules of Order and every other parliamentary authority manual, adjournment is the conclusion of the called gathering, the point at which all agenda business and discussion has been addressed and decided. How then is the public supposed to impart its input upon the deliberative body that is city council, when the meeting is no longer in session and the people’s representatives are released to leave the gathering? «Read the rest of this article»
A vulture nearly flew into my face. That was just one of the adventures that happened at Dunbar Cave during the annual Spring Fling on Saturday, April 26. Hundreds of people came out to see live raptors, snakes, amphibians, and rescued wildlife.
Over the course of the day’s events, visitors took hikes, pausing to look at wildflowers or spot birds along with the general trekking. They learned about bluebirds, backpacking and many other things, topping off the day with the opportunity to canoe in the lake. Dozens of enthusiastic volunteers helped set up and take down equipment for this annual event, which was sponsored by the Friends of Dunbar Cave, the Warioto Audubon Chapter, Tennessee Trails Association and TN Wildlife Resources Agency. Access to canoes was arranged by the Dunbar Park manager.
The event also attracted the interest of Tennessee’s Wild Side, a television show that came to film parts of this event. What was supposed to be a rainy morning was in fact a clear, sunny day with a nice breeze, a perfect spring day for this type of event. «Read the rest of this article»
April 28, 2008 |
Racial epithets amid high dollar vandalism alarms citizens, but not police
 Vandalism of a Dorothy Cove home in Jackson has caused alarm and distress. The Jackson Police Department (JPD), is investigating the vandalism as a property crime. The damage has been estimated at between $8,00 and $10,000. However the Jackson-Madison County Branch of the NAACP has said it views the incident also as a hate crime. Police have not denied that racial epithets were found at the home last Tuesday, as part of their investigation.
Harrel Carter, president of the Jackson-Madison County NAACP Branch issued a press statement denouncing the hate crime. He based the characterization on the presence of racial epithets found in the home on Dorothy Cove. Carter held a press conference in the lobby of the Jackson Police Department, 234 Institute St.
«Read the rest of this article»
April 27, 2008 |
Significance of Parliamentary Law and procedures upon everyday activities often unrecognized!
 Have you ever been in a meeting and heard the phrase ‘in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order’ or ‘parliamentary law’ spoken? Did you understand the action or question that was being considered? Do you know what it means when the presiding person, “calls for the question?” Did you understand what was being referred to? Ofttimes, we all have heard these terms in some group setting and may well have wondered just what does it all mean. “Robert’s or Demeiter’s? Which is better?” “Is there a ‘Dummies Book’ for that?”
Perhaps you’ve attended a business meeting where a vote was taken but you were not certain that it was done correctly. Ever attended a city council meeting and questioned whether the discussion was conducted properly? Maybe you belong to a civic or social group and want to be more active, perhaps even seek office, or serve as secretary, but are silent because you are unfamiliar with parliamentary law. These are not uncommon occurrences. “RRONR, anyone?”
The general public is woefully uninformed about Parliamentary Law and procedures. How do you overcome this deficiency? Glad you asked!
«Read the rest of this article»
April 27, 2008 |
 Controversy erupted last week in one South Carolina town over the posting of a politically-based query on the Church’s outdoor sign, a sign usually oriented to the more generic posting of denomination-sponsored events or church services.
Did Pastor Robert Byrd of the Jonesville Church of God step over the line in Jonesville, South Carolina, when he posted the following words outdoors on a church sign for all to see: “Obama, Osama, hmm, are they brothers?” Pastor Byrd maintained it was not intended to be racial or political and claims it was meant to foster thought about having a non-Christian, non-Christ follower, leading the country. Byrd says he doesn’t know if Obama is Muslim or not but wanted to pose the question. Quite frankly, I don’t see what spiritual direction or choice has to do with one’s ability to run the business that is the United States of America. I wasn’t a Romney fan for many reasons, but his Mormon faith was a non-issue. Funny how no one questions religious affiliation to Christian candidates such Mike Huckabee, who is now out of the race too. «Read the rest of this article»
 The Reverend Joel Osteen is highly admired by his colleagues in the ministry. This popular preacher/pastor is a best-selling author as well as the spiritual minister to hundreds upon hundreds of people. In addition to the phenomenal growth and development of this spiritual organization, Pastor Osteen earns respect for his political views. He quietly lives his principles on politics and the church and clergy, and it is policy worth emulating by all churches. His policy on religion and politics is a dignified example.
Though he is concerned about out society, he doesn’t use the pulpit to endorse candidates for political office. Of Senator Clinton, Senator Obama and Senator McCain visited his congregation, they would be introduced but not given the opportunity to speak, and it would the same for any other dignitary or social leader. «Read the rest of this article»
April 26, 2008 |
NCC members meet with State Senator Rosalind Kurita. (l-r) Dr. James Cossingham-member; Virginia Moore-Secretary; Senator Kurita; Virginia Moore-Secretary, Doug Kirby-President. (Not shown- Turner McCullough Jr-member/photographer)
Members of the Clarksville Native Cultural Circle recently met with members of the Montgomery County State Legislative Delegation to urge support for pending legislation that would grant state recognition of Tennessee Native American tribes. The legislation is seen as a first step towards correcting discrimination against Native American Indians in Tennessee.
The focus is two-pronged: Eliminate recognition barriers and support of state recognition for Tennessee Native Tribes.
Following the Trail of Tears Removal, those Native Americans who did not abandon their homesites were subject to punitive laws and regulations designed to strip them of their rights to property and deny their parental rights. Many families hid their Indian heritage to avoid the consequences of proclaiming their ancestry. During the era of Jim Crow laws, Native Americans were also victimized by these repulsive abuses of political authority along with African Americans. Tennessee does not recognize recognize Native Americans as a minority group. «Read the rest of this article»
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Full
Meeting adjourned. Now for public comments!
A cruel joke is being perpetrated upon the public at city council meetings. Actually, it’s a travesty!
Questionable agenda ‘order of business’?