Portland, Tennessee Blog

Our shed tipped over and busted :( But otherwise everything was okay, just so many trash cans tipped so there was quite a bit of trash tossed about.

Did anyone have any damages from the storm last night?

The Stop sign on our rd was broken in half. I was told the Sonic Sign and Fred's sign had some damage.

Hope everyone kept safe.

Starting February 1st, I will be providing a free pick-up service for recyclers who are having the same trouble you are. I started a thread with more details.

Additional options:

Portland Cares - they take USABLE clothes and household items - you can drop off from 9- 4:30 Monday - Friday and 9-1:00 on Saturday . . . .
but don't leave anything after hours. It is illegal and you will be charged with littering if caught.

Freecycle - you can get rid of and even receive usable stuff

Gallatin Resource Authority - you pay them to dispose of your stuff

Volunteer Recycling on Morningside Drive will pay you for your metals.

There may be more options that I don't know about as well. If so, I hope people will post them because I have a feeling I am getting in over my head . . . but onward I go and I will do my best.

Recycling? Does anyone know of any place to recycle? Since they removed the containers at the police department, we have been toting our recyclables down to the recycling center at Myatt Drive near Rivergate every month or so. Unfortunately, last week, we discovered that the recycling receptacles are now inside the gates and you have to go during regular business hours to recycle--which, of course, is not practical for working people. I suspect their quantity of recycling will drop off significantly with that change. We just hate putting so much recyclable material in the garbage. While the rest of the world is trying to become more "green," we seem to be regressing.

My child is in FFWB Daycare for over 3years now and loves it. I think that is the most important thing is to listen to your child, talk with them about what is going on. I know its hard when they are little but if you pay attention to the change in attitude there could be problems. My little one gets upset if they do not get to go to daycare. Thats always a good sign!

Thanks Mack, just wish I could have convinced you to become a UK fan lol.

Daniel. Congrats on the new job. You always did an exceptional job at covering our town. And just for the record, I agreed with pretty much all of your columns. Good luck in your new city. Hopefully they will have more than 3 sit-down restaraunts.

The truth about the whole childcare thing is that there are good people in the business and there are bad. It doesn't matter if if its a stay at home mom or a daycare... I am so scared to leave my children with anyone that I don't know. It eventually has to come down to what you have to do, interview the people or business get each of the names of the people working in the facility or the home of the person you will be taking your child to... and have a background check done. It may cost a little money but its worth it to know who your child will be staying with. You just cant tell these days whether a person is being honest or not.

Hello,
That is terrible :(,Did you press charges against her?? I can not stand people who abuse children, they are helpless and so innocent, I just can not understand it. I suppose everyone has a different experience with all childcare, I would never put mine in daycare, but I have been lucky enough not to have that as my only choice, I am positive there are some good child care providers here in Portland and I hope that you find one Tanya!

Years ago when my 15 year old was 2, I had a at-home sitter to watch him. I came in early one day to pick him up, only to see her hit him with a wooden spoon. Because he wouldn't finish eating his lunch. Suprise suprise! Needless to say, I pulled him out and put him in daycare. I now have 2 other children, my daughter goes to First Freewill Daycare, and the teacher that my then 2 year old had, my daughter now has her. I am absolutely happy with this daycare. I know not everyone has bad experiences with at-home sitters. But, after my experience, I did not want to take another chance.

Tanya,
I completely agree..I have worked in daycare settings and it is just a shame how some of them are run..I have worked for a Portland church run daycare and was SHOCKED to find how those children were treated and how careless all of the workers were, I barely made through a week before I had enough and quit...Oddly enough, this was the same daycare that recently was in trouble for a worker abusing the children..certainly did not come as a shock to me! I find that at home mothers are more loving and personally I have found myself caring for those children just as they were my own because it is more than just a job, it is a opportunity to make a difference in a child's life, and I know that when I take care of someone else's children, they are in a good hands and I have given them the best care possible...okay, I'm done rambling on about childcare..LoL..touchy issue for me :-P

We'll miss you, Daniel......wish you success in your new venture.

Yes Jeff I am leaving to go to a daily newspaper near Louisville. I've enjoyed my time here and wish everyone the best, but it's an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

Thanks for the name and number, sl. I will give his office a call tomorrow.

Kevin Williams is a Christian attorney in Hendersonville. His number is 264-8249. Hope that helps.

Jessica, I'm sure that Jason meant no offense to you, I think he was just trying to suggest what he feels is more regulated. I for one genuinely believe that for the most part, stay at home moms are THE best sitters, because they are the ones that truly understand the moms that have to work.

Does anyone know of any Christian attorneys in Portland or Gallatin? I guess I should count my blessings that it's been years since I needed an attorney for anything (and I was in Illinois the last time I needed one). I'm looking for someone to do some estate planning and would just prefer to work with someone who is a Christian if possible.

I have been at that red light trying to go across & it is really bad. I am glad to see that the Police is helping with traffic at the church because that could be a big problem. But my suggestion is to fix the red light. It used to be fine & all the sudden it stays green only a moment. Some people use that red light to get across the intersection safely but you don't want to wait all day. Please FIX THE RED LIGHT & you wouldn't have to get the Police Dept to take time to do traffic there! Just a suggestion!

The thing about the church witht he police officers. If you are talking about First Baptist Church it is proabaly due to the red light right there by the bank and Subway. If you are coming from the church to go straight or to turn that light only stays green for a second. There is only enough maybe for 2 cars to get through. That is probably the reason it is a problem all the time. ABout the Daycare I recently had to put my son in a daycare. He is going to the First Freewill Baptist. It is on Hwy 52e. He really likes it and I do too. Hope that you find a daycare soon.

Jason,
I have a question about what you said about the daycare issue. I am a stay at home mother and I do occasionally babysit whenever I run across someone who needs a sitter,but either can't afford daycare prices, or would rather have a more home like environment for their child..it came across as the stay at home mothers who provide childcare aren't good enough...or would not take good care of the children...is that what you meant?

I hear that our buddy Daniel Suddeath is leaving the Portland Progressive. Is this true? If so, the journalism in Portland is going to suffer. I don't agree with his columns, but does a fair job of covering Portland issues.

Just wanted to let everyone know about a fun thing coming to Portland! Starting this weekend there will be a new adult mens flag football league starting. If you or anyone else you know might be interested in playing or forming a team, please call Joseph at 325-2335 or (931)220-0561. To form a team you must have a minimum of 8 players and the cost is $150 per team. If you cannot come up with enough players, we have teams that are still looking for more players ($20 per player). Thank you and hope to see you there!

Mg-by the way, the Tennessean got that idea from us, like they get most of their ideas about Portland

I have a little boy at Summit Prep Acadmey in White House. It's located 1 minute off the interstate and is a top notch facility. It is a little pricer than others, but it offers cameras in every room plus a entry sytem which requires every parent to have access cards. Great place, and he has been going there for over a year now. http://www.summitprepacademy.com/index.htm

Regarding main street redevelopment. About 2 weeks ago, I read an article in the Tennesseean regarding rebuilding the train depot along Main Street/N. Russell, but it seems that our local papers are not much focused on this. I have previously posted some of my thoughts about the Main Street redevelopment ideas, but I did not realize they were planning to rebuild this depot. Once again, I want to reiterate--I am not opposed to recognizing our history, but I just cannot justify spending money that would be better used to add needed community services to build a building that will be used so little and will provide little in the way of revenue to the city. In a city that admittedly has had difficulties in the last year finding money to repave streets, how can we even consider this? The economic goal here has to be to draw sustainable businesses that will bring a tax base for years to come and preferably businesses that will bring local jobs, goods and services that we presently leave Portland to obtain. By the way, I note that another business has come and gone (in what? 3 months?) down on McGlothlin. Anyone know the story on that? It used to be that SBDC taught small business owners that they should expect to lose money for most or all of the first year and that their business plan should recognize and accommodate that. It doesn't seem like business plans are developed that way these days.

Lastly, I do want to say THANK YOU for FINALLY repaving North Russell--it's one of the most heavily traveled streets in town! Now if we could just get a sidewalk, to make it safer for all those pedestrians...

Thanks for feedback, and keep it coming. I would give anything to be able to work at home, and have been looking, believe me. Jason, your wife is a lucky lucky woman. Sisofnang, believe me, it is very scary undertaking, I hate having to put her in daycare, and I hope it is just temporary, but I have no choice...... So please, keep me posted, I have until the end of March to figure things out. Jason, thanks also for the recommendation, I will look into TLC.

We used to use TLC in Evergreen until my wife got a job working from home. That Daycare is top notch and always has had a waiting list from day 1. It is located in Evergreen there in Portland. Plus it is a business and not a mom staying at to make extra money. Great place!!

Tanya Read... Daycare is always a scary thing, thank God I have always had the luxury of being able to stay home with my kids. Daycare in Portland, I don't have experience, but I have heard from others that the few they have here are not all that great. Now that has been several years ago, things may have changed. I think it is a shame that you can't trust anyone to care for your child these days. All the horror stories on the news, I'm very fortunate to not have to work, but a lot of single parents and even married couples have to work to make it, and provide for their families, yet they are scared to death to leave their child with someone, it's ridiculous. I'm sure that I wasn't much help, and excuse my ramblings, I just know what you are going through.

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas/feedback/opinions about Childcare in Portland. I need to find Daycare for my 18 month old daughter, and am EXTREMELY nervous about it. If anyone has any suggestions, advice, etc. please let me know. Thanks!

do churches pay city for traffic patrol on sundays?

if not why are 2 police directing traffic in front of biggest church in town when church gets out, they pay no taxes and has 3 streets to exit from just wondering