Topic: Tennessee

Experts examine Dunbar Cave graffiti; questions asked, answered

By Debbie Boen | January 12, 2008 |

When you see the amount of graffiti on the walls inside Dunbar Cave, you can’t help but feel shameful about that horrible violation to the cave.

Thousands of scribbled signatures cover the fragile walls of this living underground environment. One visitor commented, “I wonder if there was a time when each person was handed a marker as they were going into the cave?” Visitors also see little of natural stalactites or stalagmites; many of them were taken down either through vandalism or for grinding up into mineral waters.

Nathan Smith, David Britton and Ranger Adam Neblett

A one-quarter mile length of cave on the tour shows very tiny drips of new growth on the ceilings and floors. The cave owners since 1973, the State of Tennessee, have been preserving the cave from vandalism. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure | No Comments

Lottery surplus: It’s all about HOPE

By Jimmie Garland, Sr. | December 31, 2007 |

America, a land of many opportunities, has both real and perceived problems in communication between the have’s and the have-not’s. As citizens of this great country, we must never forget the trials and tribulations our ancestors witnessed as they worked to carve out our heritage. Many worked in the fields while others were viewed as “privileged” to work in the homes of their owners.

One might believe I am only referring to the plight of the blacks. That is far from the truth. Throughout the history of the United States, there were servants of all ethnicities and both genders.

I make this statement as a prelude for my response to Leaf Chronicle editorial (12.31.07). The editorial addressed the division of funds generated by the Tennessee Lottery to fund the HOPE Scholarship program. The apparent position of the writer was that anyone who can not maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average doesn’t deserve a chance to achieve a college education. Let me remind that writer that there have been presidents of this country who had less than a 3.0 GPA, and some who had no formal education at all.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | 8 Comments

Since 2000, more issues than answers arise in e-voting’s short history

By Bernie Ellis | December 13, 2007 |

In the wake of 2000 election issues, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in 2002. HAVA was intended to address the problems of accuracy and functionality such as “hanging chads”– of the voting systems then in use. HAVA’s mandate also included ensuring that all voters with disabilities have access to voting systems that would provide private and independent voting.

These changes were required in every state for the 2006 federal election. Millions of tax dollars were allocated and dispersed to the states to upgrade and buy new equipment that would incorporate these requirements. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues | No Comments

Gary Odom to speak at MCDP reception

By Christine Anne Piesyk | November 28, 2007 |

Tennessee House Majority Speaker Gary Odom will be the featured speaker at the Annual Montgomery County Democratic Party Christmas reception to be held Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. at the Smith-Trahern Mansion in downtown Clarksville.

Senator Rosalind Kurita, Speaker Pro Tempore, and Rep. Joseph Pitts of the 67th District are featured guests.

The MCDP is also asking for donations of American-made toys for the annual Fire Fighters Toy Drive. Toys may be brought to the party. the public at large is also asked to support the Firefighters toy drive with donations of toys that can be dropped off at any fire station in Clarksville.

For more information, call 931-216-9795 or 931-801-4821. Information on American made toys can be referenced at Clarksville Online’s Nov. 25 story, Toy Shopping? Buy Made in the the USA“.

Sections: Events | 1 Comment »

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»

Sections: News | No Comments

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

City Council plans town hall meeting to review final strategic plan

By David W. Shelton | July 28, 2007 |

Ward 2 City Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin has released the final version of the Strategic Plan which was discussed at the summit during the weekend of June 10. Immediately after the summit, officials released a 21-point strategy. The document Councilwoman McLaughlin released is a much more detailed version of the initial report.

Areas of major focus were identified as Economic development and job creation, Infrastructure planning and development, Operations and communications, Public safety, Recreation and parks, and Standards and beautification. Each of the 21 points of the strategy touches at least one of these areas. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | 2 Comments

Nashville Kurdish Gang Suffers Major Disruption, Denies Police Label

By Turner McCullough Jr. | July 1, 2007 |

The recent rash of weekend violence that has hit Clarksville has many talking about a rise in gang activity. Interim Clarksville Police Chief Al Ansley, in an effort to allay fears has said that the last three shooting incidents are not related and that Monday’s shooting of former NWHS coach Willard Ross specifically is not gang related. This declaration has been met with skepticism by some within the community.

Some commentators on The Leaf Chronicle’s story chat site have expressed serious concerns that the recent rash of violence is directly related to current gang presence. Many opine that not enough is being done to combat the menace. The following story from Nashville details a police action to address a gang problem in that city.

The Nashville City Paper reported on Thursday, June 28th, of a police department operation that resulted in the arrest of four major figures in the Kurdish Pride Gang (KPG). Apparently these individuals have an extensive history with Nashville law enforcement. Nashville police officials do not deny that KPG is viewed as a gang operation and menace to the city. For more details, go to the City Paper’s article.

Sections: News | No Comments