Portland, Tennessee Blog

You can add another thing, when are they going to control the issue of the flies in the Deli. OMG I was there today for lunch meat and I was disguisted by the flies everywhere, I know where there is food there is flies, but this was rediculious, maybe they are lacking the proper air flow/fans to keep them from landing on everything!! After waiting and watching for the person ahead of me to get their order, I elected to get back in my car and go to hills, they don't seem to have this problem in their deli!

Maybe when you do talk to him...you should refer him to this blog so he can see what people think of his store.

I don't know if dontmakemelaugh emailed corporate headquarters but I did. I told them about the empty shelves and the dirty parking lot. I have also seen people in the store with their dogs getting the pet hair everywhere.
The store manager has been calling the house leaving messages to please call him. Maybe he got a reaming from corporate. I'm going to let him wait a few days before I call him back. I really don't want to hear the lame excuses I am sure he will give.

Food Lion isn't that old....it's just a few years old....it's just not a well-run store, that's for sure.

I wonder if the way they stock the store is based a lot on those MVP cards......do they just buy what seems to sell the most ? Do they track everything with those cards when they are scanned?

As far as the appearance of the store, that goes back to bad management....nothing to do with Wal-Mart.

How Old is this Food Lion? Seems I heard someone say it wasn't that old.

It like stepping back in to the 70's when you walk in there. They really need to update the place it is in horrible condition.

DA, I don't think Wal-Mart has anything to do with Food Lion being the way it is. Food Lion is a big chain and they know what it takes to stay in business. Unstocked shelves and nasty parking lots is the responsibility of the manager.

Hill's doesn't seem to be struggling.

I feel an email to Food Lion Corporate headquarters is in order.

It's pretty obvious that Food Lion is struggling. There are paper signs on the streets around the property, the parking lot is a mess, and the whole place has the appearance of being on its way out. Thanks again, Walmart! Another smaller business simply can't compete.

I'm not a big fan of Food Lion. Every time I go the shelves have not been re-stocked so they do not have what I need. So I end up going to Hill's where I should have gone in the first place. Wish we had a Kroger.

Yuck! Did you bring it to the manager's attention?

DOGS don't belong in the grocery stores. I visited foodlion today and got behind a lady shopping at the meat counter that was carrying in her hands a fuzzy LONG haired 10-15lb DOG.. This should be against health rules, the last thing i want to find on my food is animal hair! She handled several package of meat while shifting the dog to the other hand & leaning over the coolers with this dog! How do they allow this?

What happens if a kid doesn't come to practice? Will they be kicked off the team or something?

You have to understand to some of those football coaches winning is everything and those kids are just numbers. I think winning is a great thing, but the health of the kids should become before anything.

Even if a state title was involved....shouldn't the players health and well-being be the first concern ???

Is a state title worth that much ????

No practices of any kind should be done outside during the high heat...it's simply too dangerous.

Well the football players are still outside practicing. I called the board of education and they said it was up to each school. A lot of schools are doing the right thing like White House. Its not like Portland is going to play for a state title this year. The coaches need to give these players a break. Whats two days going to hurt. IF they dont know it now, I guess they will never get it.
Board of education is 451-5200, PHS 325-9201, football field house is 325-5318.

I don't know about football, but band practice has definitely been cancelled.

Surely to goodness they aren't practicing OUTSIDE this week are they? These temperatures are not to be played around with. Several counties in fact have banned outdoor athletics and band activities until we get out of this heat advisory. They should practice in that new indoor fieldhouse. Is it air-conditioned?

Jason, you're right..........this heat is dangerously high and all precautions should be taken to protect the health of the players.

Something that hasnt been discussed on here is the hot weather outside. I think its crazy that the Portland High School Football coaches wont suspend practice for a few days because of the heat. I guess its going to take someone dying or going to the hospital before these guys do the right thing. I have a lot of respect for Coach Porter in WHite House, I actually believe he cares about his players.

MG,

OMG Thank you so much for bringing this up again....this is exactly how I feel. Every time I drive by that place I can't help but roll my eyee.

There was also a car repair place out that way that was a mess to see as well, I notice that it was shut down and looked like someone else had bought the place. Hopefully who ever bought it will take better care of it. So far not much better.

These are the types of properties I keep talking about when I say the city needs to step in and do something about it.

Doesn't Portland give out the monthly Beautification Awards anymore for homeowners? I don't remember seeing the pictures in the paper.

MG - I agree with your post below, I believe something was posted back many months ago about this same property and if my memory is even half correct, the city has been in litigation with them over this issue for years back and forth thru the courts, they're trying. I think it may just be one of those situations where the owner is going to buck the system forever.

I would just like to make a comment regarding beautification of Portland. I've seen comments in the local papers regarding making particularly the highways in and through Portland more attractive. I've been a resident of Portland for just over 2 years and I'm not from here originally, so I have the observations of an outsider and no "good ol' boy" bonds, nor do I have any bones to pick with any individual here.

If we are talking about improving the impression we give to those passing through, why do I never see any indication of action involving "Today's Tool and Machinery" on South Hwy 109? I assume it is within the city limits based on the positioning of the City of Portland sign. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure all the junk sitting out in plain view of the highway is not "today's" machinery--I don't think it is even from this millenium--so I don't believe it actually serves as advertisement of their services. I'm not suggesting that anyone should force the business to move, only that a well-built fence, perhaps with some landscaping, could certainly improve the view along the highway and make them fit in as "good neighbors."

In my neighborhood, I am aware of several persons who were informed in recent months that they had to cover the disabled or unregistered vehicles in their driveways because of code requirements, so surely there must be some codes that would allow pressure to be applied for improvements at Today's Machinery.

Just some of my thoughts. Maybe someone has some answers that I'm not aware of.

Please excuse this long post, I just received this from a dear friend and thought if there is anyone out there that has had a past few weeks like I have, this hits the spot! When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

I would like to take a moment and wish all the children and young adults in our town a GREAT school year!

Parents make this year the one to become involved, make a difference, be supportive not only of your child but with the schools, administration, teachers, faculty and staff. It takes a community wide effort to accomplish success, I think our future leaders are worth it!