Portland, Tennessee Blog

If anyone has lost a dog around the Jernigan Road area, please email me at tnbelle913@yahoo.com.
She is approximately 1 year old, australian shepherd mix. Very sweet, has a green collar. We cannot keep her here, my dogs do NOT like her and I'm afraid she'll get hurt.

Thanks.

Multiple family yard sale at 1135 New Deal Potts Rd near Mt. Pleasant Church Saturday, possibly Friday as well. Home items, ladies and plus size womens clothing, misc items. Come see us! Everything must go!
(In other words, please don't make us box it all up again... LOL!)

Troy - I have a newer model radio shack hand held weather radio and don't have any problem getting weather information, I think they are wonderful the S.A.M.E. technology feature is my favorite, no longer get alerts for counties 200 miles from here, when it goes off I know to pay attention because it is likely right close by!

Why can't we get a closer tower to transmit weather information? I have a couple of weather radios and even if I take them upstairs I barely get a reception in town.

So sorry- my last post was meant for another thread- "Seclusion Rooms in Sumner County Schools"

Big (long) OOPS!

Seclusion should only be used as a LAST resort in instances where a child is so out of control that they pose a serious threat of harm to themselves or others. It is NOT supposed to be used as punishment/discipline and it is NOT "time out"!!!In fact, I would venture to say that if the schools using the seclusion rooms to the extent that has been reported, that the rooms are being used inappropriately. There are also likely to be a number of parents who were not adequately informed of, or who didn't understand the serious ramifications that are associated with such practices.

I would suggest that all parents who have given their consent to subject their child to this practice, to rescind their permission and INSIST on having a BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS conducted by Sumner County's Behavioral Specialist.

Once that is completed, a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) will be developed. If your child already HAS a BIP and it isn't effective, the "team" needs to reconvene and figure out WHY it isn't working and possibly go back to the drawing board, but seclusion rooms should NOT be listed except in the MOST EXTREME CASES and even then, it should not be listed without consultation with a MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL that is INDEPENDENT OF THE SCHOOLS.

I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!!
This is NOT something to play around with. There are DOCUMENTED cases where, even with properly trained professionals using these methods "by the book", children have DIED as a result.

JWMason- What a horrible situation! I saw some footage on News Channel 5 (local news) last night and they were handing down an infant from a roof. My prayers ARE with everyone down there.

Here in Portland, we are FINALLY getting some much needed rain. I just hope that we don't have any severe weather problems. Referring back to the situation in Texas, I would much rather be in our situation than theirs.

I know this is a Portland Blog. But I'm asking for the prayers for some here.

http://www.nbc5i.com/slideshow/weather/13520398/detail.html

Thanks in advance

Hope everyone was blessed with rain today, as I was here at home! Steady, but light for about an hour and a half this a.m. and then the bottom fell out for about 45 min this afternoon!! I swear I saw the grass grow, lol!! =)

Jody- I know that you and all the other vendors have a small fortune invested in inventory and a narrow window of opportunity to move it, so I hope with all my heart that it rains soon so that all you guys can make some extra money and so that it will be a little less risky for your customers to enjoy their purchases.

Jody,

A ban on shooting is the only thing I want to see, and that is usually the only type of ban a town implements. As far as selling, what can be done? You guys are already selling them. That won't be reversed.

Thanks for being open minded, as you always are.

Hot Dog! My hubby BillyBob and me's gonna haves us a big ole time. Thank some banz gonna keep us from havins some fun? Heck naw! If theys a gonna sell it, weez a gonna use it! I ain't got no money to be a spendin on sometin I ain't gonna use. Dat id be downrite silly.

coming from a fireworks salesperson, I hope if a ban is considered, that it's a ban on shooting, and not selling. For several reasons, It could come a flood right before July 4th, it would be too difficult to sell to everyone on the last day. Plus we sell to LOTS of out-of-town folks who come here specifically to buy fireworks, from places where there may not be a ban. But then again, thats biased on my part because I'm in the business. I honestly understand the concerns

The death toll has risen to 7 now, including a 15 year old and a 17 year old.

Mischelle,

I saw that car doing that in the Strawberry Parade, too...and my first thought was ..."why is that being allowed" ?? That had NO place in the Strawberry Parade. A tragedy could have easily happened here, but as in all cases, they wait till someone gets hurt, or killed, to make a ruling. What a tragedy in Selmer.

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2007/06/17/691874.html&cvqh=itn_dragracer

A tragic accident killed 4 people during a parade yesterday in Selmer, TN. Please take a minute to copy and paste this link into your browser so that you can read the entire story.

During the Strawberry Parade, there was a car that was doing "burnouts" and it made me nervous. At the time, my husband thought I was being silly . . . he doesn't think so anymore.

According to what Tim Coker reported Mayor Wilber saying, as of right now, there are no water restrictions. But, if we don't get some rain soon, that COULD change. The situation is being monitored and they are having meetings every Monday.

Are there any water usage restrictions right now? I haven't heard anything and was wondering about this.

Mischelle -- oh, great point !!

Well, with that much money at stake, I venture to say they will allow the fireworks sales with a request to use them, say, in December !! LOL....I can't see a refund being given back.

You mean tied to water levels, meaning they are estimating how much water it may take to put all the fires ??? LOL

I am sure that the City will do what needs to be done. Now I'm just guessing, but the decision is probably tied in some fashion with water levels.

Tim Coker said the Mayor has a meeting each Monday to evaluate the situation, so I would think that any decision would be made following a meeting.

Also, I read in the paper that vendors were paying $1200.00 each for their permits. Will the City refund that money if a ban is imposed? That's $25,000.00 - $30,000.00. Not to mention the sales tax revenue they will lose. How will that effect the budget that the City is trying to pass? That's more than what the City has pledged to the LIBRARY, so I venture to say it will have SOME effect.

No, haven't seen an answer to that either, but surely they ( the Counci, and fire dept.) have had some discussions about it......I suppose they are just holding off ...waiting to see if it's going to rain or not.
Haven't seen our Councilman here in awhile ---
maybe he'll check in soon and tell us he's heard.

I would think if a Burn Ban was issued that if it is still in effect when fireworks go on sale in abundance (and no decent soaking rain has taken place), that a ban on setting off the fireworks would be included. I haven't seen a respsonse to when or what is taken into consideration before a Burn Ban is issued for the area. I was hoping a councilman would chime in to let us know.....

Yes, I saw that on the headline story of the Franklin newspaper tonight as I glanced down at the papers when I paid for my gas at a service station there. I didn't have time to read it, but something about the Easter freeze ruined the crops and then this drought.........

If it doesen't rain....surely there will be a fireworks "ban"....it would just be too dangerous.

LMBO, oh myyyyyyyyyyyyy, ya'll are just tooooooo funny! Must be bored here are we!

On a serious note, I too am in favor of banning fireworks this year as it is just way too dry. I would say if no significant rain arrives within the next week they really need to do something.

Did anyone hear about Sumner county being declared a disaster area for farmers/agriculture, someone said they heard that the other day on the radio.

At what point does the Mayor (if he's the one who even does it) issues a burn ban for Portland? I noticed several commmunities have already done so and no rain in sight so far.

Michelle, have you read the past several posts under these??? LOL LOL

Do you think education is possible ?? LOL LOL

Just kidding, of course....but there is a twinge of sincerity in my comment....

Posting the ordinances is a good idea.....for sure.

DeAnna- you are absolutely right that it all boils down to responsibility, but people have to be educated about their responsibilities before you can expect them to take it.

I still think that posting local ordinances in the tents would be a good start.

Dang and I was thinking Bubba Joe and Flo was my long lost uncle and auntie. ;-)

Not from Portland-

It should be obvious that the whole Bubba Joe Doorag thing is a joke - or maybe where you're from they don't know what that is.

Jody -- thanks for the reply......
You know how bartenders face some sort of discipline or fine for selling to minors I think...well, seems like underage sales of any product that has an age limit, would also face something like that. It was just something I was wondering about.
About those bottle rockets --- kids shooting them AT each other is really dangerous, but you know...it's not just kids that make them dangerous. Once I had a neighbor who used bottle rockets to scare the birds out of his trees and they ended up on my roof ! LOL LOL
They didn't do any harm....but....with all the dry grass and all right now....they could start fires really easily.
Fireworks are fun.....like anything else....people have to practice some common sense and be safe with them...and children need to be supervised. I know those are three tough things to accomplish these days...but....you can't go around banning everything that might cause a problem, you know? Key word is : Responsibility.

Well, I hope it rains and sales are good.

Mr.Mack is who I was a callin Mr.Smarty Pants! accuzin Bubba Joe of drinkin 14 beers when alls he drank is a case and I didnt take to kindly to it cauze Flo gets madder then a hornet when he dranks that much and I didnt wanna here them two out back a arguin again like that time he drunk so much his eye started to twichin and Flo thout he was a winkin at another woman. I spent a week pickin up bicycle pieces outa my yard while theys spent the week makin up all smoochy coochyin. I wuzzent spozed to tell but thats why that there ride of theres is covered in duck tape. Strait up I aint a lyin.

An iffin ya need a tip but keepin yur britches up duck tape'll fix that there problum. I just love duck tape.

And Not From Portland It's a Portland thang, yous woodnt understand.

Deanna, hmm , good question.
I've never heard of a retailer being punished for selling to minors. I sure wouldn't want to find out! :o) SURELY there would be some recourse somehow if that happened. In a way, I wished they would outlaw bottle-rockets completely. It's no secret that the kids have what's known as "bottle-rocket war" where they shoot at each other. But ya hate to punish the folks who enjoy them safely. and DA, I'm kinda confused at the comment "encouraging people to spend way too much money" I guess you're right, they ARE expensive, but I've never twisted their arm to buy. Most folks have a set dollar amount in their mind, and we usually try to satisfy their itch. (don't mean to sound like an advertisement). Firework sales is a very risky business, if we don't sell them we'll be eating them. And the way it's looking now, (dry) we might need to look up some good recipes! :o) Anyway DA, I'm just being funny, no harm taken

now let me set the record strait to "not from portland"
Bubba Jo buys them ther 12 pack CASES cuz he can't fit them bigole 24 pack cases on his bicycle built for "2"
yasee his sweetie "flo" does all the peddlin and when yur goin up hill both ways
with Bubba Jo a poppin them there cans left and rite one needs all the help she can get!
Sooooooooooooo take your big town math and ummmm you know the rest..

BillieJoDooRag, now who is dis mr. smarty pants,
i pulled mine up from my knees to seee da tag, it says im Dickies48,
BubbaJo dont smoke, yall know dat him and flo won the one arm bandit dipper of the yer in 1968,
getyur story strat!

Dear Billie Jo Doorag and Mack,

Thanks for the best laugh I have had in ages. Yeah, I know Bubba Joe Doorag, meet him everyday as I stroll through the streets of Portland. What a great place to live.

It seems that when there is a possibility of making a big noise, driving a fast vehicle, or embarassing decent people by the way you dress, Stupidity comes to the forefront.

Jody, I respect a lot of the things you do, and I know that a man has to make a living, but I hate it when June rolls around, and the striped tents appear on every corner, encouraging people to spend way too much money on something that is so horribly dangerous. People are stupid when it comes to fireworks, especially when it's so dry, and I get scared and annoyed when the glorious Fourth rolls around every year.

At least with all the Bubba Jo Doorags around, the hospitals and firemen won't run out of work!

A case is 24, so that is more than 14....duh. So if he drank a case, then obviously he has drank more than 14. More of that Portland math...

I dont know who you think you are talkin bout Bubba Joe like that, but he ain't never drunk 14 beers. He only drinks a case. An we get a kick watchin them people next door runnin round with hoses sprayin water all over the place just cause a coupla bottlerocket land on the roof. And Mr.Smarty Pants he uses his smokes to light them fireworks cause he blew off his pinky finger on his left hand last time he lit one with a liter. Didn't know as much as ya thougt ya did now did ya?

I was driving through Portland today, and really noticed how brown things are. Yard after yard. Notice the lot on the corner of 52 and 109 right beside McDonald's. Not a green grass to be seen.

We know how in these conditions a discarded cigarette butt can cause a MASSIVE and UNCONTROLLABLE fire. What happens when an errant firework goes into a dry lot of a subdivision that has 100 homes? Is our fire dept. ready, seeing as though it seems very unlikely that our Mayor will ban them? I'd rather avoid the whole scenario altogether.

I am all for big firework shows when they are put on by professionals. I don't have much confidence in Bubba Joe Doorag lighting 25 bottle rockets tied together with his cigarette, while holding his 14th beer in the other hand. Especially also when it is at 11:48 pm on a Tuesday night, which by the way, becomes legal in the City of Portland in the days leading up to the 4th. At least that is what the police told me a couple of years ago when I inquired about it.

I emailed the Tennessean about the Shopping Sense papers that are dumped into my yard every week. I received the following response:

NAS-COECustProg@tennessean.com
615-259-8000

This number or email address should stop the Shopping Sense.

Tennessean Customer Service

Jody- I'll do ya one better - I'll wash my car - it always seems to rain immediately afterwards.

Glad to hear the aged was increased. I would still like to see a local ordinance passed that would cite parents if their children are found using them unsupervised. Fireworks can be GREAT fun and I would not discourage anyone from using them responsibly, but even supervised children can be accidentally hurt. I would just think that unsupervised children would be MORE LIKELY to get hurt and/or get into mischief.

Well, will pray for rain.......for sure...but I have a question about selling fireworks.

Just something I've always wondered.

If an underage person buys fireworks and is injured by them....does the seller have any responsibility to that person or is there any legal "punishment" for it? Like....losing the license to sell them, or anything?

Seems to me....something as potentially dangerous as fireworks shouldn't be sold to minors. Seems they should be accompanied by parents.

I know that would be impossible to enforce...just my thoughts on it.

I'm not anti-fireworks. I just wonder about legal things, sometimes.

Hey y'all,
Sorry for the delayed post, I haven't been on in a while, been busier that a one armed paper hanger :o) Someone mentioned fireworks not being sold to kids, actually new state law went into effect this year, I've gotta read to be sure on the age, but i don't think we're allowed to sell to someone unless they're 16 now. It used to be 10! The thing I'm unsure of though is how we're supposed to verify that someone is 16 or above if they don't have ID. And believe me when I say whether the mayor bans the sell or not, I know first hand that people just don't seem to but fireworks when it's dry. I sell more when it rains LOTS! Please pray for rain!

Hey y'all,

Sorry for the delayed post, I haven't been on in a while, been busier that a one armed paper hanger :o) Someone mentioned fireworks not being sold to kids, actually new state law went into effect this year, I've gotta read to be sure on the age, but i don't think we're allowed to sell to someone unless they're 16 now. It used to be 10! The thing I'm unsure of though is how we're supposed to verify that someone is 16 or above if they don't have ID. And believe me when I say whether the mayor bans the sell or not, I know first hand that people just don't seem to but fireworks when it's dry. I sell more when it rains LOTS! Please pray for rain!

I heard the rumor that the City was GIVEN the building to use for City Hall...so that would make it a very good deal....if that were true.

Is the Business District uptown where the Gazebo is....or is it out where Hills and Fred's are located?

Wonder what's going to go in the big house that used to be Dr. Handal's office there at the railroad tracks in front of City Hall ?
Anyone know?

Business DISTRICT?

I'm not a big fan of the location either but apparently they're getting a good deal on the building and land, the money is to go for the cost of moving the offices to, not just construction.

I agree that city hall and the police and fire depts need more room but I do not agree with where that want to move city hall. They could take the $800,000 and build a nice building closer to the business district.