Topic: Fort Campbell

Mixed Martial Arts: More than just a fad

By Terry McMoore | June 19, 2008 |

Critics of mixed martial arts fighting might say that Fort Campbell and Clarksville are not ready for this type of event! Well, try telling that to the 600 plus spectators that showed up at Froggy’s Fight Night on the Fort Campbell army base in Kentucky for a invitational tournament held by the Scientific Street Fighting (SSF) Submission Academy.

Mixed martial arts or MMA is a style of fighting that combines a wide variety of fighting techniques; a mixture of Martial Arts traditions, boxing, and wrestling. The sport was made popular in the early 1990’s by the Gracie family of Brazil, who organized some of the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bouts in the country. Its popularity had already reached legendary proportions throughout Japan, Europe and the Pacific regions of the world under the name “Vale – Tudos”, or “Anything Goes”. «Read the rest of this article»

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A simple thing proves to be beyond us!

By Turner McCullough Jr. | May 26, 2008 |

Lighting a flame is just too much to ask. Even during Memorial Day Weekend, the flame is out. Yet “We support the troops!” claims and stickers are everywhere. Who’s foolin’ who?

Yet another national observance dedicated to honoring the nation’s debt to its military forces, past and present, is upon us. Flags are flapping in the wind. Boy Scout Troops are preparing to descend upon various cemeteries to place small flags at veterans graves. Politicians gear up to make patriotic oratory praising America’s military forces and the noble sacrifices made by them and their families, past and present. Even the president has reminded us to remember the veterans as we celebrate this weekend. All of these annual gestures of reverence are expected and applauded

But there is an affront to all this staged posturing in our community. For quite some time now, Clarksville has been playing footloose and cheap with its symbolic gesture to military honor and sacrifice- the eternal flame on Public Square. The flame has been unlit for most of this year. Citizen inquiries have resulted in a myriad of replies, to include being told that, “Surely, the wind must have just blown it out!”

«Read the rest of this article»

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Weapons of war in the hands of children

By Christine Anne Piesyk | May 4, 2008 |

What were they thinking?

As I browsed the 1000+ photos taken by Clarksville Online photographer Bill Larson at Rivers and Spires 2008, I was impressed with the event and the attendance, weather notwithstanding. Still recovering from an illness, I was unable to attend such a big event, but my eyes scanned the images — just about all of them — one by one. In the interests of fair coverage, I included several shots I personally found to be repugnant . (The children are cute; it’s the context that’s debatable).

Despite my opposition to the Iraq war and my personal distaste for the Bush administration tactics and policies, I have every respect for our military, who are doing what they promised with less than optimal help from our Washington bureaucrats. Our soldiers are the front lines; we wish them no harm and want them back, whole in body and spirit.

At Rivers and Spires, our troops were amply and ably represented. But it was “too much information” for some of us. I scanned a photo of sandbags, a high powered weapon of some sort (machine gun), and a young child taking aim at the crowd with parent and siblings watching. My stomach turned. Technically it was a great shot. But do we really need to be placing our children’s hands on the trigger of such a gun? Another shot, well angled, beautifully lit, shows a small child perched on a tank with the gun barrel from the turret over her shoulder. I flinched, again. Stomach lurched. I didn’t have any Pepto Bismol handy. Darn! «Read the rest of this article»

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Military tribute launches Rivers & Spires

By Bill Larson | April 18, 2008 |

Rivers & Spires, an award-winning festival with live music, activities for the kids, and great food, returns to Clarksville for its fifth season. Rivers & Spires is staged on every street corner in historic downtown Clarksville and at Riverfront Park.

Rivers & Spires Festival orginated in 2003 as a tribute to the soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division who, at the time, were returning from a deployment. Since then, it has continued to honor the community’s heritage by paying special tribute to Fort Campbell soldiers, many of whom are are currently deployed overseas, and their families.

The 2008 event opened with a re-igniting of the eternal flame on Public Square. Before the ceremony, I was reassured by City Councilor Geno Grubs that the flame, which has been off more than on over the past year, had been snuffed by a mechnical problem, and not by a city trying to save money or “the wind blowing out the flame.” «Read the rest of this article»

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Online enrollment keeps climbing at APSU

By Austin Peay State University | April 3, 2008 |

With 13 fully online degree programs and scores of online classes, Austin Peay State University’s online enrollment continues to soar.

Prior to Fall 2000, APSU offered no online courses. As of Spring 2008, online enrollment has reached 3,430, compared with 2,936 for Spring 2007—a 17 percent increase in one year.

Julia McGee, interim director of the Center for Extended and Distance Education, said, “In addition to those students pursuing an online degree, many main campus and Fort Campbell students supplement their courses with online offerings.” «Read the rest of this article»

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“Disgusted” army wife speaks out on Army’s response to soldier suicide surge

By Debbie Boen | February 4, 2008 |

Editor’s Note: Even as Ms. Boen was preparing this article, the issue of soldier suicide exploded on the news front again with these statistics:

Last fall, there was an article in the Leaf Chronicle [10.12.07] titled, Fort Campbell General stresses suicide prevention. It reported that with nine suicides for the year, and 16 deaths pending investigation, and with three suicides in the last two weeks, the general said:

“This is unacceptable and it must stop. I want everyone associated with Fort Campbell to take pause, and to focus on what we can do as a community to reverse this trend.”

According to the Fort Campbell Courier, [12.20.07 vol. 43, no. 51], Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, Commanding General at Fort Campbell, made suicide prevention his priority since he took command in 2006. He expanded the “buddy care” program, which has soldiers watching out for each other, to “unit watch,” a program used by commanders when a soldier has suicidal thoughts. Now he is training families to recognize signs through “Building Family Resiliency” programs. He was quoted as saying:

“The individual has got to take personal responsibility. They have got to take responsibility for themselves and realize that they can save their own lives. It comes back to the individual.”

An army wife spoke out about these articles and about what was going on at the base because of the suicide scares. This is her view, in her words:

I only became aware of these “programs” when there was apparently an increase in suicides in the November/December time frame.

At first I thought they had to be kidding.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Opinion | 2 Comments

Theatre Row arrives at APSU with ‘Paradise’

By James Butler | November 11, 2007 |

“Allah Akbar!” is the cry of Jihadists around the world. This motto of holy rollers shall soon be heard on Austin Peay’s Trahern stage. Glynn O’Malley’s Paradise will open in the Trahern Theater Wednesday November 14, exactly one year after the New York and former APSU resident artist’s death.

Paradise is the second part of O’Malley’s famous war trilogy and is set amidst the horrifying conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terrorists. The play follows the lives of two young girls, one Israeli and one Palestinian who in another place could have been friends. O’Malley follows their lives, their teenage crushes, their dreams as the cloud and horror of war looms over them and colors their world.

The show was first requested by The Cincinnati Playhouse as part of its educational outreach, but in the Post 9-11 world, the tour was cancelled and a threat was made to cease the production. However, the play eventually opened to a sold out opening night at the Kirk Theatre on New York’s Theatre Row in March 2005 for a limited run, and has since played to standing room only audiences through out the United States. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure | 1 Comment »

When grief comes …

By Rev. Charles Moreland | October 7, 2007 |

On occasion, I allow my mind to meander down the dark and gloomy path of grief with thoughts of events or experiences that are yet to be. Sometimes we are victims of anticipatory grief, as it is called by professional in psychology.

Anticipatory grief can be healthy, depending on its duration and our response to it. To think about the inevitable, such as our own demise, though sad, can motivate us to positive action, such as making a will, establishing a trust, and keeping our beneficiaries updated on our finances at every level.

Cassie, our beloved twenty-pound Chinese Pug, is more than a pet; she is a family member. Now nearly15-years-old, she has been in our care for the past ten years. She is a delightful companion and affectionate even to strangers. If animals can love, she loves children and adults alike. Singing her accolades is easy, and she is ideal for us.

To further her quality of life, she receives frequent health care from her vet, Dr. Winn; a nutrional diet, and a monthly grooming at PetSmart. «Read the rest of this article»

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