Sherry Chris (far right, in white) congratulates the staff of Better Homes & Garden Real Estate Hometown Connection on their successful open house and new location. Photo by David W. Shelton

With the spirit of a neighborhood backyard barbecue, a dunking booth, and a fair amount of ice-cold bottled water, Better Homes & Garden Real Estate: Hometown Connection celebrated the opening of their new facility at 108 Centerpoint Drive. After outgrowing their previous location at Trenton Road and Wilma Rudolph Blvd. earlier this year, it became clear that with more than 70 agents, a larger office would be needed.

The open house also featured the company’s new mobile charcoal grill that’s geared for such large events. Several vendors were invited to participate, and all paid a nominal fee, which went directly to the Manna Café Ministry, a non-profit organization that works to feed the homeless. Manna offers food distribution to anyone who applies, plus a mean one night a week — Thursdays. An additional meal will be offered at separate location starting in August.

Joey Haley, Jr., who recently jointed the locally-owned Better Homes & Garden office, cited the innovative nature of the marketing model. “They are on the leading edge of real estate marketing,” he said. “Their network is unique in the way they reach out to customers.”Haley’s sentiment is not unique, however.

Maurice Vaughn, CEO of the local Hometown Connection franchise, echoed Chris’ remarks. “Better Homes & Garden is much more than ‘houses for sale,’” he said. “It’s a comprehensive brand strategy — a lifestyle brand.” The appeal to him for BH&G was not only the management of the company itself, but also in the wide appeal and brand recognition of the BH&G name. Vaughn also emphasized that the Real Estate market is a “relationship industry,” and built on service — which is emphasized at both the local and corporate level.

Sherry Chris, Better Homes & Garden Real Estate CEO (Submitted)

In fact, the marketing and outreach strategy of the company as a whole stems from the the leadership of CEO Sherry Chris, who was on hand for the franchise’s celebration today. “Once I got the invitation, I knew couldn’t miss it,” she said.

Such hands-on activity as an executive has helped guide the Real Estate brand of the popular Better Homes & Garden label from its infancy to a multinational corporation that spans 17 states and will soon open offices internationally. She also contributes to the “Clean Slate Blog,” a frequently-updated technology-related blog that’s straight from the company’s corporate center in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Chris’ goals for the company not only include clear growth plans, but a focus on outreach to recruiting younger Real Estate agents and tapping into the fast-growing technology sector for marketing. “The average age for Realtors is 50,” she said. “They’ll stay in the business for years. They don’t retire. They love it too much!” The company is actively looking to recruit younger “echo boomer” generation agents who fit within the demographic of 18-34 years of age. This is especially important since 1/3 of the nation’s population fits within this same demographic.

“It’s sometimes difficult for older agents to start out today,” Chris said. “The biggest issue that our many 50-plus agents find when they get into the business is that they must be tech-savvy.” In fact, the National Association of Realtors indicates that 90% of modern Real Estate customers begin their search online instead of with an agent.”

It’s a far cry from the days where the Realtor was the gatekeeper for specialized MLS listing information — which was not allowed to be given out — to the vast resources online that allow home buyers to search multiple databases, search engines, and listing systems. “Our role as Realtors has gone from being the ‘keeper of information’ to the ‘trusted advisers,’” Chris said. “In a time where we almost have too much information — I can even find the nearest Starbucks on my iPhone — we have to stay with technology.”

And stay with it, they do. In fact, BH&G recently launched a free iPhone app that allows home buyers to help organize their home search with location searches, photo filing, and ranking. “It’s already been downloaded more than 70,000 times,” Chris said. The corporate website is also very inclusive — providing a resource for various tips and services that all aide the homeowner long after they’ve settled into their new home.

Complete with a twitter account, Chris is the leading force for her company’s technological prowess. Her level of technological focus garnered her with an award on July 16th as the Inman Innovator of the Year, which cited the firm’s growth to more than 125 offices worldwide. On top of her own hands-on blogging, she also instituted social media boot camp classes for new agents. Not bad for a two-year-old company.

With the added benefit of the Better Homes & Garden brand, local agents and franchises are able to use that technology to market their services and homes using a database of 85 million magazine subscribers, including that of the popular Better Homes & Garden magazine, the flagship publication of Meredith Corporation, who also publish Parent, Family Circle, Home Journal, and Quilting magazines.

“If an agent wants to market to young families who might be looking for their first home, they can search for renters who read Parent magazine.” The agent, however, would not be privy to any private personal information — not even a name — and would just opt to send out the directed marketing to only those that fit the profile in their search query. Such a process is a much more consumer-driven and targeted marketing strategy than bulk postcard mailings.

Agents will continue to be relevant in the fast-changing Real Estate market, and Chris noted that they will offer what computer searches can not: first-hand knowledge of how the industry works, and most importantly, intimate knowledge of the community. “They’ll always be able to say why a certain neighborhood is popular, which schools are better, and why a property sold for a certain amount.”

Tiggy, Customs House Museum mascot

The Customs House Museum mascot, “Ms. Tiggy Green,” is about to get new “digs.” Customs House personnel have obtained the design plans  for her new quarters. A public fundraiser effort for the materials is now underway.

Anyone who has ever been displaced  persons will appreciate the dilemma facing Tiggy,  Clarksville Customs House Museum’s mascot and resident iguana. Tiggy, a diva among iguanas, has a great personality; however she has outgrown her current apartment in the Museum’s Gift Shop and is looking forward to getting new living quarters.

Museum personnel have obtained blueprint designs for her new living quarters. With proceeds from an ongoing fundraiser, Tiggy looks forward to moving onto her new more spacious digs before year’s end.

Tiggy in her current 'apartment.'

Tiggy sits resplendent in her “apartment,” observing patrons as they enter the gift shop and peruse its diverse selection of gifts. Tiggy never makes a sound of protest or complaint about her condition; she is a very modern, internet savvy kind of lady with her own facebook page: screen name , “Tiggy Green.” You can also view videos of Tiggy and other museum related events at  http://www.youtube.com/user/MuseumTiggy.

Donations may be made at the museum’s gift shop or by mail: Clarksville Customs House Museum & Cultural Center, Attn: Tiggy’s New Quarters, 200 S. Commerce Street. Clarksville, TN 37040. For more information on how to contribute, contact  Shae Otto, (931) 648-5780 or Terri Jordan, (931) 920-4188. There is also a donation jar available at our Imagine Media Solutions business office, 741 B Madison Street during regular business hours.

Terry Strange, Gerald Nicely, Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper, Montgomery County Carolyn Bowers, Rep. Curtis Johnson, Rep. Joe Pitts,HSC Expansion Project Director Jim Russo

Clarksville’s newest industrial center, Hemlock Semiconductor, celebrated another benchmark in establishing its corporate imprint on the city. State and local officials  turned out to mark the facility’s access road completion.

Under a large white canopy, officials all levels of government and business, along with interested citizens, gathered to celebrate the completion of the new four-lane county road to the new Hemlock Semiconductor complex. The access road has been designated as Solar Way and will serve as the primary means by which HSC employees, contractors and all vehicular traffic will access the Hemlock facility.

Terry Strange, HSC Site Manager, launched the ceremony; Strange will take control of the  complex when construction and equipment installation is done. Strange noted that, “the solar array will lead the way for this area to become the leader of the solar industry in the United States.” Its economic growth is already impacting the community.  “Construction site workforce numbers have doubled to over 650 since March, when they were just 300. That number is expected to grow to over 1200 by year’s end. While program directors and managers will bring their own managerial teams with them, the majority of jobs created by this facility will be filled by local people here from your community,”  Strange told the gathered audience.

Observing the large numbers of cranes visible at the construction site, Strange noted that HSC is spending approximately one million dollars a month in building this new industrial center. That adds up to 10-12 million dollars a year just in construction costs. He credited TDOT with helping to make the project move  smoothly by its ability to complete the roadway project ahead of time. With that, he introduced TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely.

Gerald Nicely, TDOT Commissioner, addreses guests

TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely commented on the significance of the roadway project’s completion. “This project is part of our Industrial Development Program. Governor Bredesen has stressed the need for state agencies to be supportive and active in furthering economic development and business recruitment.” The 2-mile roadway was surveyed, designed and permitted in four months, followed by another twelve months of actual construction. The roadway was completed  six months ahead of time. Now that the roadway is complete, HSC employees, contractors and all vehicular traffic will utilize it to access the work site and continuing support facilities.

Among those gathered for the ribbon cutting, in addition to Commissioner Nicely and  Strange, were HSC Expansion Project Director Jim Russo, State Representatives Curtis Johnson and Joe Pitts, County Mayor Carolyn Bowers, Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper, Montgomery County Sheriff Norman Lewis, City Councilors Barbara Johnson, Marc Harris, Geno Grubbs, and Joel Wallace and Community Advisory Committee member Tommy Vallejos, Susan Menees, Elizabeth Black, and Donna Bright.

Jim Russo, HSC Expansion Director

Russo said that construction is on schedule to turn the project over to Strange. “We’re right where we want to be at this time.” That projection is based on the number of buildings under construction at acceptable levels of completion. “We’re within a week of schedule for the installation of equipment.

Strange, in commenting of pastoral setting of the complex location, noted that the Clarksville site is much like the parent location in Michigan, an industrial dynamo nestled among farmland and wooded pastures. This insures non-intrusion on residential neighbors and minimal risk of negative industrial impact on the community.

Photos by David W. Shelton

While some might frown on the idea of celebrating the country’s 234th birthday a day early, it’s not unheard of. In fact, John Adams, the first American Vice President, declared that we should always celebrate our independence with “pomp and circumstance” — on July 3rd. And celebrate, the city did.

The City of Clarksville sponsored the night’s festivities along with several other sponsors: The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville Family Magazine, Clarksville Now, the Five-Star Radio Group, Cumberland Bank & Trust, Aetna Insurance, US Bank, Fort Campbell Credit Union, Planters Bank, Lamar Advertising, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville’s Best Buys, and Ingram Materials.

Business & Heritage Clarksville is pleased to present this gallery and video of tonight’s festivities.

Photos and video by David W. Shelton

2010 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards honors

NASHVILLE: Clarksville Greenways took top honors in the 2010 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards in the  “greenways and trails” category.

Governor Phil Bredesen and Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke announced the 2010 awards winners today.  The 14 winners, including Clarksville, will be recognized for their achievements and positive impact on the state’s natural resources in an awards ceremony to be held in Nashville on June 24.

Clarksville has added a 3.6-mile trail to its current greenways and trails system. This particular addition was constructed on on a six-mile abandoned rail bed with an estimated cost of $2.5 million for the project, but due to city leadership, local community support and the help of various city departments, the project only cost the city $330,000.  Materials and labor for the walking path were donated by local businesses and the majority of the land and right-of-way were donated by private citizens – further reducing the cost of the project. The addition of the greenway will help establish a buffer along the Red River and nearby streams, while providing a habitat for diverse plant and animal species.

“Tennesseans continue to make tremendous strides to protect and preserve our environment,” said Bredesen. “This year’s roster of honorees is exemplary. Their efforts are raising the bar while demonstrating environmental stewardship can come from every facet of our communities – from dairy farms and educational institutions to the hospitality and music industries.”

The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program recognizes exceptional voluntary actions that improve or protect our environment and natural resources with projects or initiatives not required by law or regulation. This marks the 24th year for the awards program. Thirty-nine professionals from various public and private organizations judged more than 100 nominations to determine the award recipients.

The winner of one additional honor, the Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award, will be announced at the awards ceremony in June.

“Protecting our natural resources is crucial to our quality of life and ensures that our communities remain healthy and strong,” said Fyke.  “This year’s award winners have worked extremely hard to preserve and protect our environment and we are pleased to recognize their innovative efforts and dedication, while teaching others that everyone can work together to make a difference.”

The 2010 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award winners are:

Category:  Agriculture / Forestry

King Dairy Farm – Sullivan County: The King Dairy Farm has been in existence since 1774. Today, the farm has more than 180 cows, which are milked twice daily and average over 20,000 pounds of milk per cow each year. Almost all of the feed for the herd is produced on the farm and they incorporate conservation best management practices into their crop production.  Corn silage yields are exceptionally high because they practice conservation tillage to reduce soil erosion. Because 100 percent of the farm’s confined animal and milking parlor wastes are stored and kept out of the nearby stream and lake, the farm is able to use the waste as fertilizer to help reduce the amount of nutrients purchased. A 2,600-foot underground pipeline was also installed to deliver this valuable waste to cropland through an irrigation system.  The farm also practices crop rotation and winter cover to control runoff, soil erosion and to improve soil.  The farm installed a new energy efficient, variable-speed vacuum pump for its milking parlor and continually makes environmental improvements each year.

Category:  Aquatic Resource Preservation

City of Athens/Athens-McMinn Family YMCA – McMinn County: With two streams listed on the state’s impaired waters list, the city of Athens teamed up with the local YMCA to take a plan for a traditional parking lot and build an all-green parking area, showcasing various green technologies. Located on city property behind City Hall, the lot uses pervious concrete and pavers, geoblock green paving and rain gardens – all focal points combined for the first time at one location and using technologies that have approximately a 50-year life, as opposed to asphalt with a 20-year life. The rain gardens allow the rain gradient to percolate through six inches of stone underneath the entire lot and clay berms help keep water in the garden’s sub-base longer. The city of Athens supplied the labor and equipment, saving a total of $60,000, and utilized a local Eagle Scout candidate to help build an educational kiosk with the first “green” roof in the county.

Category:  Building Green

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee / New Cameron Hill Campus – Hamilton County: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee built its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design corporate headquarters on Cameron Hill, consolidating 4,500 people from 10 locations throughout the city of Chattanooga while reducing its operating costs through environmental and design efficiency. Once certified, the 950,000-square-foot headquarters will be the largest LEED project in Tennessee. The campus provides employees a smoke-free environment, a 17,000-square-foot fitness center, employee pharmacy and clinic, an outdoor walking path and reflecting pools. Additionally, more than half of the 52-acre site is preserved as undisturbed forest area. As part of its new campus, BCBST restored Boynton Park – the historic Civil War memorial, which now serves as a public park.  Building design reduced energy costs by 20 percent or $265,000 per year.  Through low-flow fixtures, efficient irrigation systems and low-water use plants, approximately 20 million gallons of water are saved annually.  Other innovations include a raised floor system, which lowers energy costs from 30 to 60 percent; high performance and task lighting controls, which can increase employee productivity; and seven percent of the parking spaces are designated for low-emission vehicles.  The company will save approximately $4 million a year in operating costs.

Category:  Energy Leadership

Nissan North America Headquarters – Williamson County: With an investment in excess of $100 million dollars, Nissan North America’s 460,000-square-foot corporate facility in Franklin includes a site design that minimizes energy consumption, maximizes open space, uses high-recycled materials and incorporates on-site renewable resources.  Preserving large areas of open green space, the facility sits on a 50-acre site and has 2.5 acres of improved wetlands.  Located between South Prong Creek and a tributary, the wetlands provide long-term protection and enhance local aquatic ecosystems, as both streams are listed on the state’s impaired waters list, and provide a third tier of storm water protection and exceptionally clear runoff. In addition to tracking and benchmarking their energy performance, Nissan developed a plan to reduce energy intensity across all operations.  Electrical power use is continuously monitored at the Nissan North America facility to ensure they use only what is needed.  By preserving green space, Nissan uses the site to naturally absorb storm water and to reduce the heat “island” effect typically caused by large areas of asphalt.  Other efforts include the reduction of impervious pavement by 70 percent, a “green” roof covers the office tower and daylight harvesting.  Overall, Nissan’s energy efficient strategies include a 33-percent reduction in consumption, saving 1,600 tons of coal per year.   Throughout construction, Nissan collected, separated and recycled 3.78 tons of steel, six tons of cardboard, 14 tons of wood and 325 tons of concrete construction debris.

Category:  Environmental Education and Outreach

City of Knoxville / Rainy Day Brush-Off – Knox County: Created in 2008 by the Water Quality Forum of Knoxville, the Rainy Day Brush-Off artistic rain barrel competition features actual works of art on 55-gallon rain barrels to help raise awareness about water conservation and water pollution.  Engaging the regional visual arts community, the Rainy Day Brush-Off produces a unique collection of barrels, while providing the community with an aesthetically compelling and easily accessible water conservation tool.  Since its inception, the Rainy Day Brush-Off has created 89 unique rain barrels produced by artists, school groups, 4-H clubs, design collectives and businesses.   The painted barrels are displayed throughout Knox County and feature helpful information on the benefits of using a rain barrel and tips on reducing storm water pollution.  Currently there are more than 2,000 functioning rain barrels throughout the Knoxville area.

Category:  Green Schools – K-12

University School of Nashville – Davidson County: Illustrating their growing environmental commitment, The University School of Nashville involves students of all ages in “greening” its campus, studying environmental issues and conducting community environmental outreach.  Beginning in kindergarten with the award-winning Young Naturalists Program, students become grounded in nature and develop an environmental stewardship ethic.  This year, 6th graders studied deforestation and global warming and examined the concept of the “carbon footprint,” making a difference in offsetting their own carbon by planting 178 trees in the community.  In addition, the Middle School photography class used their skills and love of nature to publish a field guide to the trees on the Edgehill campus. The school’s previous field guide for the H.G. Hill property was used as a fundraising tool by the West Meade Conservancy and Friends of Warner Parks to raise $10.4 million for acquisition of the old-growth forest property. This 324 acres will eventually become part of Warner Parks.  The students also researched the annual quantities of styrofoam plates, cups, and cutlery that were costing the school $11,200 and ending up in a Middle Tennessee landfill.  Changing over to non-disposables and budgeting for a bigger, more energy efficient dishwasher – the school was able to reduce their waste.

Category:  Green Schools – Higher Education

Pellissippi State Community College – Knox County: Pellissippi State Community College has engaged in a combination of sustainability initiatives, including new building design, green job education and student participation in recycling. Students, faculty and staff have developed cooperative, mutually beneficial efforts that increased sustainability in the operations of the college, offered new sustainability education programs to the community and trained 40 students – involving students directly in the process of sustainability within the campus environment. Efforts include the expansion of the school’s bicycle storage, the inclusion of shower/changing facilities for individuals riding their bicycles to campus, reserved parking near campus buildings for carpool vehicles, and charging stations in reserved parking spaces for alternative fuel vehicles. Other initiatives included a new building constructed to LEED standards, educational programs in photovoltaics and energy conservation, and campus student projects designed to maintain college-wide recycling efforts.  By expanding recycling from 15 collection containers for aluminum to 70 single-stream collection containers, collections rose to approximately 350 pounds per week in 2009.

Category:  Greenways and Trails

City of Clarksville Greenway – Montgomery County: The city of Clarksville has added a 3.6-mile trail to its current greenways and trails system. This particular addition was constructed on a six-mile abandoned rail bed with an estimated cost of $2.5 million for the project – but due to city leadership, local community support and the help of various city departments, the project only cost the city $330,000.  Materials and labor for the walking path were donated by local businesses and the majority of the land and right-of-way were donated by private citizens – further reducing the cost of the project. The addition of the greenway will help establish a buffer along the Red River and nearby streams, while providing a habitat for diverse plant and animal species.

Category:  Hazardous Waste Reduction

Tri State Distribution, Inc. – White County: Established in 1992 as a prescription container manufacturer, Tri State Distribution, Inc. has nearly 350,000 square feet on 23 acres in Sparta.  With help from a third-party consulting firm, Tri State Distribution assesses its operations every six months for health, safety and environmental issues.  During one of those assessments, it was noted that employees were mixing hazardous waste with non-hazardous. By eliminating the acetone mix with that activity, Tri State Distribution has dropped from a Large Quantity Generator to Small Quantity Generator – going from 1,348 pounds to 230 pounds per month.  This reduction in acetone mix was achieved while growing their operations by 24 percent in 2009. Tri State Distribution also sends its non-hazardous waste off-site from its White House facility for laundering and reuse.  Tri State Distribution recently installed an oil / water separator – a $30,000 investment to minimize their oily water solid waste stream.

Category:  Natural Heritage

Friends of Warner Park / Save Our Ancient Forest – Davidson County: Made possible by the Friends of Warner Parks, the “Save Our Ancient Forest” project includes the acquisition and preservation of a 324-acre natural area with approximately 225 acres of old-growth forest in Metropolitan Nashville / Davidson County.  The Metropolitan Nashville Board of Parks and Recreation approved the acquisition as an addition to the 2,684-acre Warner Parks system.  This project will have a significant positive impact on Nashville’s environmental, educational, recreational and economic goals. Another innovative component of the project is the partnership with area high schools and universities, in addition to the opportunities for a living laboratory in the old-growth forest.  Inventories of the flora and fauna and other research projects will reveal information and help  influence resource management priorities. An initial birding survey of the property identified three bird species of High Conservation Concern to this region. The “Save Our Ancient Forest” project preserves and protects Tennessee’s natural landscape through the acquisition of one of the largest remaining stands of old-growth forest in the United States – ensuring its gentle use and enjoyment today and for future generations.

Category:  Parks and Recreation

A Sustainable Bonnaroo – Coffee County: Bonnaroo is a four-day music and arts festival in Manchester, which attracts 80,000 people each year. In 2009, Bonnaroo addressed product consumption, education and outreach, waste management and energy consumption in a comprehensive plan to reduce waste produced for this recreational event. Thirty-three percent of the waste produced by the festival (by weight) was diverted from the landfill.  This included 81.49 tons of commingled recycling, 19.07 tons of scrap metal, 27.18 tons of cardboard, three tons of cooking oil and 30 tons of compost – totaling nearly 161 tons diverted from the landfill. This waste diversion, combined with education and outreach promoting sustainability, locally sourced products, on-site composting and environmentally friendly purchasing, lead to the highest amount of materials recycled in the history of the festival. New in 2009, Bonnaroo provided re-usable water bottles for attendees to refill with free filtered water from on-site wells. Bonnaroo also retired 900 metric tons of carbon dioxide, accounting for and offsetting all emissions generated from the festival.

Category:  Pollution Prevention

Chattanooga Green Lodging Program – Hamilton County: The Chattanooga Green Lodging program has been recognized as a national model for sustainable tourism planning and is internationally recognized by Green Globe.  An initiative to promote and support Chattanooga’s vision for a sustainable city, the Green Lodging program encourages hotels, bed and breakfasts and other lodging facilities and restaurants to be aware of their impact on the environment and to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint, while enhancing the overall sustainability of their operations. The program provides guidance and resources that will greatly reduce impact by using proven techniques to reduce waste and, in many circumstances, save money. Once certified, properties are encouraged to take an active role, including working with the city’s Chattanooga Green effort to increase awareness with businesses and in the community, reduce waste from operations, promote natural resource conservation and efficiency measures, as well as alternative energy deployment. The Chattanooga Green Lodging program represents a uniquely cooperative effort transcending public and private lines, providing a meaningful but achievable certification program at an affordable cost. The net result of the program can be seen at the business level as companies become more energy efficient and operating costs are reduced.

Category:  Solid Waste Reduction

Knoxville Regional Medication Collection Program – Knox County: A task force including the Knoxville Police Department, the city of Knoxville, city and county Solid Waste, Knox County Health Department, Department of Environment and Conservation, University of Tennessee’s Academy of Student Pharmacists, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Hallsdale-Powell Utility District, Knoxville Utility Board, Volunteer Rescue Squad and Earth Fare was created to develop a solution to medication disposal problems. Since its inception, the program has collected more than 1,000 pounds of medication from over 600 participants at various collection events and through permanent 24-hour medication drop-off boxes located at law enforcement facilities. Also collected were more than 500 pounds of mercury thermometers and 474 pounds of medication packaging.  Some unique characteristics of this program include collection of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and prescription medications, focusing on the environmental concerns of its proper disposal, as well as public safety – helping keep medication out of waters and off the streets. Today, Knox County’s efforts are being mirrored by nine separate entities across the state.

For more information about the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program, please visit http://www.tn.gov/environment/awards/10awds/10winners_1.pdf.

Troops "deploy" for a day of flood clean-up in Montgomery County.

Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell, Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell announced earlier this week that Soldiers assigned to the post would  receive a Day of No Scheduled Activities (DONSA) today to allow them the opportunity to take care of their households which may have been affected by the recent flood and to assist Montgomery County’s hardest his areas with what is a massive clean-up. Today’s Army volunteers have been deployed  to Southern Hills, Willow Bend, and Riverside Drive.

County Mayor Carolyn Bowers, who oversaw the county’s side of this herculean effort, said “I have lived here all of my life and I have never seen it like this, so much water in businesses and homes.” She noted that the Woodstock area, while not impacted by river flooding, nonetheless has serious flooding and drainage issues, and the relay pumps aren’t working.”

Salvation Army volunteer Erica Mead assited by Constance Addison (not shown) bottled water to a volunteer

In surveying the organized chaos of this hometown deployment, Bowers said that the county’s first  deployment of volunteers was a perfect match with the military, “who are already trained for situations like this.”

“We here at Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) share a particularly close bond with the local communities, and if our Soldiers want to spend their personal time assisting our neighbors in this time of need, we encourage them to do so,” said Campbell.

Inside Civic Hall, participants registered and then attended a briefing and received supplies including hand sanitizer, wipe-its, and other material that would be needed on site. Participants, as ordered,  wore civilian clothes, boots, work gloves, eye-protection and reflective belt.  Pete Reed, Director of Bi-County Solid Waste Management was on hand and will be providing disposable hazardous material suits to volunteers.

The Salvation Army was on hand to provide copious amounts of bottled water, though most soldiers were carrying their military issue water bags.

Photos by Kelly Anne LaPlante

“I’ve requested a federal designation as a state of disaster for emergency funding …” — Mayor Johnny Piper

last minute efforts to empty flooding Riverside businesses as the waters reach N. Spring Street. Turner McCullough Jr. Photo

Riverside Drive is underwater, with businesses on the south side of that roadway scrambling to remove as much as they can — furniture, business records — through the back doors on North Spring Street. Sandbagging isn’t going to be enough. The landmark Kelly’s Restaurant, along with Mary’s Music, the Greyhound Bus Terminal, and BFS insurance were foot deep in still rising water at 10:30 a.m.

Kelly's Riverside Drive Restaurant underwater. Photo by Turner McCullough Jr.

At 3:20 a.m. the Clarksville Police Department began systematically shutting down Riverside Drive to vehicular traffic. The Cumberland River water level was continuing to rise and encroach upon the roadway, Two Rivers Mall and Riverfront Park. Along Riverside Drive, the scene was uncommonly silent as the water took possession of the area. The Red River’s rushing sounds was the only evidence of movement as one drove across the Lewis Family Memorial Bridge from New Providence towards the downtown section. Earlier in the day, Business Clarksville reported water rising on the back end of Two Rivers Mall, closing the Waffle House. At 3:20 a.m. water had circled the entire mall complex and was within six to eight feet of approaching Providence Boulevard itself.

Flooding from earlier in the day was then  compounded by the continuing onslaught of water from the dam break in Gallatin. By daylight the damage began to apparent. Much of Riverside Drive is seriously underwater. Kelly’s Diner is flooded with approximately two to three feet of standing water. The former Brigg’s Clothier, BFS Group Insurance, Mary’s Music are also vexed with flooded business operations. New Providence Boulevard access to downtown is closed.

After Business Clarksville posted a 3 a.m. update, photographer Turner McCullough Jr. returned to Riverside Drive to find the water had risen significantly in a matter of two hours and had encroached upon the McDonald’s Restaurant.

Traffic across the city is heavily snarled as one by one, bridges over the Cumberland and  Red Rivers have been closed to traffic. Helicopters flew air surveillance to map the extent of the flooding and information is being constantly updated to the city’s websites. Compound the surge in water is the fact the Cheatham Dam is not holding any water back.

A Salvation Army correspondent on WJZM stated, “The Salvation Army Shelter downtown is flooded but First Baptist Church in Madison Street will be taking our clients until further notice and will server them dinner and breakfast in the morning. We are closed until further notice to clean up the mess.”

Mayor Piper addresses the city. Photo by Turner McCullough Jr.

At a press conference this morning, Mayor Johnny Piper stated, “It is … of utmost concern to let our citizens know about their safety. If you are concerned about your safety, we ask that you leave the affected areas downtown now or stay home. Clarksville is on the lower side of the water and we’re catching the water as it’s released from the dam. I’ve requested a federal designation as a state of disaster for emergency funding …”

Jack Frazier of the Clarksville Building Codes and Civil Street Department said, “We beat the old record by a foot as the Red River crested at 8:30 a.m. this morning.” Please be patient with police officers at flood checkpoints as they have been on duty all night. Clarksville Transit service will begin offering only medical service after noon and close all regular routes.” Blocked bridges are limiting access to the community and “we encourage sightseers not to come down—there will be plenty of time to do this later—we ask that people who are gawking or sightseeing to go home during this critical time and spend the beautiful day elsewhere outside of the warning areas. There will be plenty of time to look at the flood later but for now we ask you to stay clear of the flooded areas.” County Mayor Carolyn Bowers reported this afternoon that Cheatham Dam is releasing 1 inch per hour.

Piper continued, “As for the downtown businesses we’ve asked the courts to close to keep people at home. The city of Clarksville is working with emergency personnel only now. We are short staffed and payments for bills and utilities will have to be delayed and we ask that you be patient with us during the emergency. One of our waste water treatment plants is one foot from the flood plain and the concern is for conservation requirements. We ask that you conserve your water, so that it has less impact on us as a whole.” Should water services be damaged or interrupted,  boiling water or having bottled water on hand.” Walmart stores are either running out of water or are sold out.

“We’ve always had a great relationship with Fort Campbell here in Clarksville and we’ve asked Fort Campbell for assistance: message boards, barricades, cones, and helicopters in case we need them and have asked for boats if any are available. If you need additional help or want to offer help call Deborah Grubbs at (931)-648-5674 at the Community Action Agency,” Piper said.

All bus service across Clarksville has been canceled, including Greyhound Bus Lines and Clarksville Transit Authority, whose terminal is now under water. Greyhound service between Nashville and Memphis has also been disrupted., according to company spokesman Timothy Stokes. Stokes added that there is some service still running from Nashville to other locations.

“We have a history of overcoming disasters such as the January 1999 tornado that struck downtown Clarksville, and we recovered from that disaster. We are a great city and will get through this. It’s important that we document any damage to any homes and businesses so we can declare disaster status to recoup the costs to our community. Please e-mail or call Tommy by going to clarksvillerdc.org, which is the best way to notify the city of any damage to your home,” Piper said.

Officials during the press conference stated that it is possible that at least 5000 could be without power if the Cumberland floods as predicted. Frazier continued, “If you’re concerned about getting home, go now. Travel in the affected areas may become impassable when the rest of water from the Cumberland comes. Call fire rescue if you need help as a lot of fire rescue brought in their boats today. If you are in need of medical assistance, they can come and get you by boat.”

Flood water crosses Riverside to McDonald's. Turner McCUllough Photo.

Mayor Johnny Piper has requested that  the Clarksville-Montgomery county area be declared as a disaster area. People trying to call out on cellular phones from downtown should be aware of call failures from their side due to the large volume of calls in the area, causing calls to keep failing; the same probably holds true for landline phones that are still working. Please keep trying to reach the people you are dialing as you will eventually get through. City Council member Candy Johnson reported that the sewer treatment was shut down, but the freshwater treatment plant is still online and working. The water system is much higher than the river, and is in no danger of being contaminated. Johnson did say that residents are asked to not use the sewer system any more than necessary. The Cumberland River is already at sixty feet, and estimates are even worse than at first thought.

The Cumberland River continues to rise, having reached 59.1 feet at 6 a.m. today, with an expected crest on Tuesday, May 4, at 61.5 feet (flood stage is 46 feet). The flood has already exceed the “hundred-year flood” standard by six inches.  Standing with a view of the flooded behind him, Mayor Johnny Piper today urged all city and county residents to head for home and restrain themselves from heading toward the riverfront for photos or “rubbernecking.”

According to the National Weather Service, the Cumberland will continue to rise, hitting 60.6 feet this afternoon. At 61.5 feet “many areas will be inundated” and  and the approach to the Highway 13 bridge will be cut off. At 63.5 feet, primary and secondary roads along the rivers will be covered by flood waters. “Avoid the river,” warns the NWS.

“We are asking all sightseers to not attempt to view the Cumberland,” Piper said. “We are trying to bring organizations and emergencies services together to deal with this emergency,” adding that the excess traffic is hampering emergency vehicles in responding to emergency calls.

Traffic across the city is heavily snarled as one by one, bridges over the Cumberland and  Red Rivers have been closed to traffic. Helicopters flew air surveillance to map the extent of the flooding and information is being constantly updated to the city’s websites.

The city has been fortunate in having had no reported fatalities or serious injuries. Over 30 homes have been flooded completely, and many more are “islands” surrounded by water. Although the Riverside Drive flooding is catching much of the attention, flooding has hit numerous subdivisions and side roads in the wake of 13 or more inches of rain across the area.

Clarksville-Montgomery County Road Closures:

Major City Roads:

• Riverside & N 2nd St/48/13
• Kraft-8th – Frosty Morn
• Bypass @ Queens Bluff
• Dunbar Cave Rd – Wingate
• Riverside Intersection-N 2nd – Kraft
• Old Russellville Pike before Willow Bend
• Kingsburg/Gatlin — EVACUATION in progress
• Wilma Rudolph/Red Briver Bridge
• Glendale across from the old Lowes to Madison St
• Civitan Bridge on 418 – Not Closed but warning area
• West Fork Creek Bridge – Not Closed but warning area
• River Run Closed
• Shady Bluff Closed
• Riverside to Hwy 48 – 13 Closed or partially closed
• Wilma Rudolph Blvd. –closed starting at Co-op there’s a detour
• 41-A Bypass to Queens Bluff closed
• Dunbar Cave Rd Closed
• Jack Miller Blvd Closed
• Whitfield Rd Closed

County Roads:

• Salem Mayhew – Ferris
• River Road/Keesee – Zinc Plant
• Belmont Little River Bridge – Seven Mile Ferry
• Gratton Box #s 1368-1525
• Hwy 76 Bradbury – N Woodson
• International Box 451
• Rort Royal/Old Clarksville Springfield Road
• Hematite Way Hwy 149 – Palmyra
• Through Springs 3721 -3753
• Antioch Bridge is buckled
• Outlaw 1995 Intersection flooded
• John Taylor 3330 Intersection is completely flooded
• Lylewood @ Burkhart
• Outlaw @ Rawlings
• Antioch/Moody Intersection
• Palmyra/Antioch Intersection
• Jarman Hollow/Palmyra
• Through Springds Rd 3700 Block
• Rocky Ford/Salem Road
• Port Royal at Old Clarksville Rd.

Open Roads for passage out of downtown areas:

• Madison Street – Flooded area in middle – Use caution, traffic is congested.
• Warfield Blvd. (moving slowly but open)
• Mary Jo Dozier Blvd.
• Greenwood Ave.
• Cumberland Dr.
• Cumberland Heights Bridge
• McClure Bridge is open but the waters are dangerously coming close up to it
• Glendale across from the old Lowes to Madison St.

Christine Anne Piesyk, Turner McCullough Jr., Curtis Davis and David W. Shelton contributed to this story.

Photos by Turner McCullough Jr.

Netbooks have been all the rage for their portability, but I’ve held back on them for a gazillion reasons, chief of which is that they’re… well… lame. Itty-bitty keyboards, chintzy screens, and tee-niny processors that are about as useful for business apps as a permanent marker for a dry-erase board. You use them once, and throw the whole thing in the can.

The tablet computer is a quickly-evolving market that’s already seen its share of entries. E-book readers from Amazon and Barnes & Noble are both making waves of their own, but there’s not a lot to offer if you’re wanting to do something other than read a book. Browsing the actual web? As if. Oh, the iPad will have its own iBookstore too.

Enter the iPad. Apple has designed this for just about anyone, and priced it that way as well. The rumors were that it would be in the range of $899 or so. Those rumors couldn’t have been more wrong — Apple announced pricing for the iPad that has its highest price point at $829 for a 64GB 3G model. In fact, the iPad starts at $499 for its 16GB model. This device includes wi-fi access, and is perfect for minor projects and web browsing.

What makes the iPad so great for business is what it does for A/V presentations. When I realized that it would run a Keynote presentation, and even attach a VGA adapter, its purpose for sales and marketing becomes clear. Presenters will be able to go through their presentation, either one-on-one or for larger groups, with plenty of multi-touch dazzle that will give their prospects a presentation with all the flash they can muster… well, without Adobe Flash, that is.

Apple’s resistance to Flash has been a buzz topic of the years since the iPhone was introduced. And quite frankly, we shouldn’t miss it. As a web development company, we cheered when Apple CEO Steve Jobs described Flash as “buggy.” That’s because he’s right. It IS buggy. It’s hard to program, has little to offer except flash-bang graphics, and does practically nothing for search engine optimization. It’s a developer’s nightmare. In fact, most website don’t use it except in limited capacity. Even YouTube will  embrace HTML5 for its platform eventually.

With iPad’s low price, high-flexibility, lightweight profile, and even despite its lack of Flash support, we’ll purchase several for our office. We have a clear use for the tablet computer, and Apple’s entry is just what the doctor ordered. Good business will always use inexpensive technology to help pad the bottom line. Better business will use these items to actually enhance their image.

When such a device is created with that flexibility, low price point, and ease-of-use, it becomes clear that the iPad is already making waves in the business world, and we’re sure to see it pop up nearly everywhere.

Well-done, Apple!

Welcome to BusinessClarksville.com 2.0!

On this brand-new site, you’ll not only have online-exclusive content, but subscribers will also have the option of reading content from our gorgeous print edition. Plus, RSS feeds are available, as well as a more robust interactive framework. with comments and discussions built right into the site.

The site also features plenty of content for all of our areas of focus: Business, Arts, and Heritage. So if you’re in the Warioto region (that’s anywhere near the Cumberland River from Nashville all the way to the Land Between the Lakes), then we want to hear from you! You’ll find features and articles that cover nearly everything that’s business, history, or art-related throughout that entire area.

Finally, the new site features an ongoing calendar for business, arts, and heritage-related events all across the region. So if you live in Clarksville or any of the surrounding areas, be sure to check out to see what’s going on in your area. If you know of an event that isn’t listed, then tell us! We’ll gladly list your business or organization’s event at no charge.

We hope you enjoy the new Business Clarksville site!