Topic: Clarksville TN

Sewer problems plague Hazelwood area; moratorium on new construction

By Christine Anne Piesyk | November 30, 2007 |

Development in the Exit 1 area is on hold. Mayor Johnny Piper announced the moratorium to the city’s Gas and Water Committee, citing an overburdened sewer system and repeated back-ups of that system as the root cause.

It’s one of those “no kidding” moments. Anyone paying attention should not be surprised, since the rapid rate of development in that area has surged far beyond the capabilities of its infrastructure that currently exists to support it.

Piper, in reporting to the Committee, said that the Hazelwood lift station, which serves 4500 homes, is overloaded; it’s running at 100% capacity and has overflowed five times in the past year. Now the problem has become an issue with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News, Politics | 1 Comment »

Street lights: The whole dim truth

By David W. Shelton | November 9, 2007 |

In the last few years, sidewalks have been the heralded luxury for Clarksville subdivisions. Perhaps we should consider that street lights are also needed for our neighborhoods. At least two subdivisions are so badly lit at night that danger beckons.

Arbor Greene and Arbor Greene North, two subdivisions near the intersections of Trenton Road and Tylertown Road, are poorly lit—if there are any lights at all. Granted, I can’t say that there aren’t enough lights in the Arbor Greene subdivision since there are thirteen light poles in the neighborhood. Arbor Greene North, however, isn’t quite so lucky. That subdivision has less than one light per twelve houses.

However, if these lights were the typical mercury vapor lamps that are installed throughout the Arbor Greene South subdivision and several other “underground utility” neighborhoods, then it wouldn’t be a problem. Unfortunately, the lights in these two areas are best described as “ornamental” lights with a globe perched on an 8- or 10-foot pole. And what kind of light bulb do these glorified candles take? If you guessed anything but a standard 100-watt bulb, you’d be mistaken. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Opinion | No Comments

Gang Awareness Task Force to launch S.E.C.U.R.E. website

By Terry McMoore | October 1, 2007 |

The Clarksville Community Gang Awareness Task Force will launching S.E.C.U.R.E., their new Safe & Effective Community Using Resources for Empowerment gang awareness and educational website, at a community open house event on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at Xtreme Ministries Church, 1596 Fort Campbell Boulevard, Clarksville, (behind Hardees Restaurant, next to Food Lion) at 7:00 p.m.

The task force is a community-based organization consisting of parents, neighbors, youth, elected officials, faith leaders, law enforcement and educators. Their mission and purpose is to educate the community-at-large about gang violence that is occurring, and offer information on the signs and indicators of gang activity. The Task Force is chaired by Pastor Tommy Vallejos, with media coordination by Terry McMoore. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News, Technology | No Comments

Reform required: Outdated City Charter is Clarksville’s weakness

September 27, 2007 |

The Constitution of the City of Clarksville has been identified as as a weakness for the people of this community, but that’s on the brink of change.

The City finally has formed a Charter committee to look into and reform the Charter and Codes, the documents that form the Constitution of the City and its laws. But why did it take so long when it was identified years ago that the Charter was indeed a weakness.

It had been reported (LC Sept 27, 04) to the people that one of the many problems in our city government is ineffective communications between city leaders, and this is true. However, this is only a symptom of a greater problem of which was also identified. I am referring to our city constitution which was identified as “an outdated city charter.”

This was identified at a session of the Council’s strategic planning process which was facilitated by a member of U.T. Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS). MTAS is the so-called expects in the field of city government, but what exactly do they say about charters, and our abilities to understand and question our charter? «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | No Comments

Metro Clarksville: Maybe it’s time

By David W. Shelton | September 9, 2007 |

The 21st century has seen some wonderful changes in the way business is conducted in Clarksville, including some refreshing progress in settling some old baggage. Specifically, the City Council approved settlements for the lawsuits filed by Kenny Austion and Tony Blakely.

The Clarksville Police Department has long been struggling with the multiple lawsuits that have been filed against them. No one could say “there’s not a problem,” after the City started losing these suits, one by one. Action was needed. Thankfully, action has been taken.

Further, this isn’t the only area where we’ve seen progress in Clarksville. No matter what one’s opinion is regarding the current or previous mayoral administration might be, it’s clear that things are beginning to change. Clarksville is growing up, and we’re starting to see some much-needed progress in several areas in town. To be fair, I don’t think any one mayoral administration can lay claim to most of these projects, since they’re often the result of years of planning: «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | No Comments

Clarksville PD lock down; HazMat checks “suspicious substance”

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 13, 2007 |

When Clarksville resident and APSU student Sandy Shirley signed on for a ‘ride along’ with the Clarksville Police Department, she had no idea she’d spend the evening locked down in the station, waiting for clearance from Emergency Management officials and a determination that a white substance brought into the station was– or preferably - was not a contagious virus such as smallpox.

Shortly after 7 pm. a young man walked into the station on Commerce Street with a package with a white powdery substance and possibly a syringe. Unconfirmed reports state that a syringe labeled smallpox fell from the package, confirming much of what Ms. Shirley witnessed. At one point she was a mere five feet away from the young man carrying the substance.

Response was immediate; the building and its staff and visitors were locked in and the rest of the world locked out. Within ten minutes, Commerce Street was closed to traffic, four fire engine, assorted EMS vehicles, an ambulance and numerous cruisers lines the street and parking areas. A decontamination station was erected near a department entrance, but then it became a case of hurry up and wait in the hot humid evening air. Wait for word on what the substance really was, and if it posed a real threat.

«Read the rest of this article»

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Possible smallpox contamination at Clarksville PD

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 13, 2007 |

The Clarksville Police Department on Commerce Street was locked down shortly after 7:30 p.m. after a young man walked into the department with a “suspicious” package possibly containing smallpox. Within minutes the City’s Rescue Squad, Fire Department and Homeland Security vehicles arrived on the scene. No one, police officers or civilians, was being allowed into the building, or allowed to leave. The police could not yet confirm definitely that the substance was smallpox virus.

Clarksville Online contacted the department but officers refused to comment on this breaking story or events leading up to it.

A witness to the event, calling from the station after the lock down, reported being told by police that they believed the substance in question to be smallpox virus and would have to wait out the investigative process.

We will continue to follow this breaking news story. A press statement is expected at approximately 8:40 p.m.

Sections: News | 2 Comments

Dallas Cowboy Fans Invade Clarksville

By Terry McMoore | August 7, 2007 |

A Clarksville Dallas Cowboys Fan Club Rally will be held on Saturday, August 25, at noon at the New York Pizza Depot (NYPD) At 3297 Fort Campbell Bvld. in Clarksville, across from Gate 3 at Fort Campbell.

Join Cowboy fans from Clarksville, Montgomery County, Fort Campbell & Hopkinsville, KY, and the middle Tennessee area for fun, food and networking as we celebrate the Dallas Cowboys.Click here to visit the official Clarksville TN Dallas Cowboys Fan Club website

Sections: Sports | No Comments