Topic: Clarksville

Quake hits Illinois, disturbing vibrations reach south to Clarksville

By Curtis Davis | April 18, 2008 |

No, you’re not going crazy. There was an earthquake felt in middle Tennessee during the wee hours of the morning. An earthquake hit the Midwest today, originating 135 miles southeast of Springfield, Illinois, and merely 38 miles from Evansville, IN. At magnitude 5.4, the epicenter of the quake was 6 miles from West Salem, IL.

I was watching StarGate SG-1 when the floor shook. And it wasn’t the surround sound. I stood up as vibrations rattled the front door of the house, coming from that direction. The cats all freaked out and stared in the same unnerving direction I was staring in.

The vibrations grew, and the tremors then dissipated. By coincidence, I heard sirens going off down the road not long afterwards as I listened to the news, and checked online for any reports. Early reports to the United States Geological Survey spilled in from the IL/IN area.

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People searched, silenced at public forum; redevelopment questions go unanswered

By Bill Larson | March 21, 2008 |

The Castle Coalition, a national grassroots property rights group working on eminent domain issues, came to Clarksville Thursday to participate in a rally prior to the city’s public forum on the redevelopment plan held in the Burt School cafeteria on Thursday.

The rally featured Christina Walsh , Clarksville Property Rights Coalition Spokesman John Summers, Dan Brown of the Tennessee Preservation Trust and others. They addressed plan opponents and members of the press on the issues they perceive in the current version of Clarksville’s Redevelopment Plan. Summers and Brown have been frequent speakers at CPRC meetings.

After the rally, the public forum began in the Burt School Cafeteria. with Mayor Piper making the first statement. The program continued with a presentation by Knoxville’s KCDC President Alvin Nance, followed by Downtown District Partnership board member and recent appointee to the Clarksville Housing Authority Frank Lott. The presentation given was identical to the KCDC video on the “Our view: The updated redevelopment plan still has major flaws” article; watching that video provided all the same information as last night’s forum.

Laws mean exactly what they say on paper; it does not matter what those who created it intended for it to say. What counts is in the actual letter of the law. Members of the City Council do not see any issues with the plan they approved, even though a common sense reading shows that this plan is faulty, open to major abuse, and was clearly intended to make it easier for developers to take private property from its owner and then profit from it. Mayor Piper and the council have denied that, but that is exactly how the currently plan reads.

Counting heads, the Fire Marshall allowed only 180 people inside the hall for the meeting, with another estimated 150 people turned away. [Editor's note: At the Train Station meeting in December, more than 300 people turned out to oppose this plan.] CPRC members provided a list of the names and addresses of people who were denied access to this public forum: page after page was full of names and addresses. «Read the rest of this article»

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City offers yard debris pick-up

March 21, 2008 |

Are you raking up the dregs of last fall’s foliage?

Or cleaning out the garden for spring planting?

Maybe collecting the small branches and twigs blown down in recent storms?

Or raking the grass clippings from that first bout of lawn mowing?

The City of Clarksville will offer a yard debris pick-up March 24-May 5. Citizens are asked to put the items that they would like to have picked-up close to the road.

Items to be removed must be in biodegradable paper bags or cardboard boxes. Yard debris is defined as normal yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves, limbs and etc. Tree limbs must be 4-foot in length or less. Tree limbs left from tree pruning by a commercial company will not be accepted.

If you have yard debris that you would like to have picked up, please call the Clarksville Street Department at 645-7464.

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Unlit Eternal Flame dishonors all veterans

By Bill Larson | March 16, 2008 |

Saturday was the fifth anniversary of the launch of the invasion of Iraq. Since the 2003 invasion America has suffered the grievous loss of some of it’s best, brightest, and most patriotic citizens. As I noted just a few days ago, the casualties of this war had reached 3987; 84 of those were from Tennessee, 4 from Clarksville.

As many of you know, I have in the past written articles strongly disagreeing with the Iraq war. I still oppose it and will continue to protest until it is finally ended, and the last American soldier has safely returned home. Now that we have made that clear, I must make something else clear.

 I have nothing but the highest respect for the dedication and the totality of the sacrifices that the soldiers serving our country make. As someone who has served in the military I understand that those who serve in our military are not granted the privilege of being able to cast a moral judgment about the legitimacy of the wars they are ordered to fight, and they share none of the blame so richly deserved by those who intentionally lied us into this conflict.

So on Saturday around dusk I went to Public Square in downtown Clarksville Tennessee in order to conduct what amounted to a one person vigil honoring those lives which have been lost in this unjust and immoral war in Iraq. I said my silent prayers for the souls of those no longer with us, and my continuing prayer for the safe return of those who are still in harms way.

After I was finished, I went for my camera. It is frequently said that a picture speaks a thousand words, so I will let the picture I took speak loud and clear, “Someone has a lot to answer for!” Fuel the flame; honor our soldiers.

Sections: Issues, Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »

Red light Cameras: Albuquerque, NM

By Bill Larson | March 15, 2008 |

I just love the fact that the above video points out that the Albuquerque Mayor claims cameras have reduced accidents by 20%, while multiple independent reports show they increased by 20%, this sounds a lot like Knoxville… One side has to be lying! Who might that be? I vote for the city since they are receiving a financial benefit from the cameras that they would lose because if the citizens knew these cameras increased accidents, they would be demanding they be removed. Lets avoid this issue in Clarksville totally by saying no to traffic enforcement Cameras!

Remember our city officials want to install the type system here and our lights are still timed to cause more congestion not less. How many times have we all seen Riverside drive back up over 1 mile from the Riverside Drive intersection clear to McGregor park. North Second street back up clear up Emerald Hill towards Forbes and Marion. Kraft street backed up almost to Lincoln Homes. All because New Providence BLVD is backed up all the way to Peachers mill.

This leads to frustrated drivers trailing through the intersections whom with the cameras the city will likely be able to profit from.  Do you really think they will have any incentive to fix the clear problems with our roads when it’s generating a profit for them? «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »

City of Clarksville plans revenue consolidation

By Bill Larson | February 27, 2008 |

Mayor Johnny Piper announced today, that Clarksville Gas & Water’s Downtown service center at City Hall, would be closing on March 14th as part of a reorganization of the cities’ revenue generating departments. Once freed up, that space will be used to expand the existing finance department payment center, and to house the city court clerks. All of the clerks would be cross trained for both jobs, and be able to handle tasks for either department. «Read the rest of this article»

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An open letter about the “blight” ordinance

By Katrina Gunn | February 7, 2008 |

I sent this letter opposing the Clarksville Center Redevelopment Plan to Clarksville City Mayor Johnny Piper and all twelve City Council members on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008. So far I have only received four replies.

To my elected representatives:

As a registered voter and a property owner I am extremely concerned and alarmed about the so-called “blight” ordinance, 73-2005-06. I live within the area designated as “blight” by this ordinance, and am beyond disappointed at both this current city council plus administration as well as with the former city council plus administration.

I NEVER received proper notification of this ordinance in any stage of its development. I received absolutely nothing in 2006 when it was up for its first reading, nor did I receive anything this past fall when it finally was scheduled for a second reading. Had I received proper notice of this you would have certainly heard and read my thoughts long prior to today. This document should have never been passed.

Continued below the fold…

Editor’s Note: The Clarksville Property Rights Coalition is asking that people who oppose the redevelopment ordinance to attend tonight’s city council meeting wearing red. The public address period begins at 7:00pm, while the official city council meeting starts at at 7:30pm. The council meeting is being held at the Board of Education building, which is located at 621 Gracey Avenue (approximately where the old Acme Boot building was on Crossland).

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