Portland, Tennessee Blog

FRONT PAGE - Around the Town JULY 2008

Post your thoughts about News worthy articles, events, happenings, questions,
garage sales,and general information regarding our town.

Want to talk about something specific, post it here.
One of the blog authors will start the topic for you!

Happy Posting - Judy

]]> While we welcome and encourage your thoughts and ideas we must ask that you refrain from the use of profanity and/or personal attacks, these are not acceptable and will be deleted by the administrators of this blog.

Sports Forum

What's your favorite sport? Nascar? Football?
Let's talk about it here!

Police, what area's of town need more attention?

As requested by another poster;

What are areas of the town that you think need more police attention?
Whether it be traffic violations, or something else?

Wanda Rogers' Retirement Reception

Wanda Rogers, Advertising Director for The Portland Leader, has announced her retirement after 31 years of service. A reception will be held at the office of The Portland Leader from 12 noon - 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2008. The office is located at 109 S. Broadway. Cookies and punch will be served. Please stop by the office and help make Wanda's retirement reception an event she will cherish forever. In addition, if any of you have memories of Wanda, we invite you to leave them as a comment here for Wanda to read. Thanks!

New Portland Panther / Corey Brewer websites

In a comment for another posting, a commentator left a link for the "Official Home of the Portland Panthers" website, which can be found at http://portlandpantherfootball.com. The website was designed by eVarsity Sports. Looks like a nice site with the sound of the train on the home page. Check it out.
Update: Corey Brewer also has a new website: http://cbrewer22.com

Progress Behind The Scenes

The new hotel going out at I-65 & 52 is a good example of work that has been ongoing by the city of Portland and neighboring Orlinda.
The two have been working on development of the area around the interstate and the restructuring of the planning region on the Robertson County side of 31-W.
Though all of us want quick action, the truth is that many of these plans take years to come together. The city of Portland has desired some development out at the interstate, but we do not have control of the land past 31-W; and Orlinda hasn't had the infrastruture to support major development.
The Mayor along with some others worked to make this new development happen. Portland will be providing the needed infrastucture for this hotel, such as water, gas, and sewer.
We hope this will spur other investment, but it all starts with one company willing to take a chance and locate here.
This is a great opportunity for both cities and hopefully it will lead to development down Hwy 52.
So, as you see this being built, understand that a lot of work went on for a long period before anything was visible.
The officials at Orlinda, our Mayor, and most of all the investor should be given credit for this great opportunity.
Thank you,
Alderman Mike Callis

FRONT PAGE - Around the Town - JUNE 2008

Post your thoughts about News worthy articles, events, happenings, questions,
garage sales,and general information regarding our town.

Want to talk about something specific, post it here.
One of the blog authors will start the topic for you!

Happy Posting - Judy

American Neighbor Convention Contest

The Republican Party has a contest up on YouTube asking people to submit a video profiling an American Neighbor - someone you know who epitomizes selflessness in service to a cause greater than self. The person who gives the winning submission will be invited to the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minnesota this fall. The deadline is June 26.
Does anyone have any suggestions of a person, people or a group in the Portland area who might fit this profile?

Could 2012 be the end of the Internet as we know it??

I found this on another site and found it to be quite interesting.

Bell Canada and TELUS (formerly owned by Verizon) employees officially confirm that by 2012 ISP's all over the globe will reduce Internet access to a TV-like subscription model, only offering access to a small standard amount of commercial sites and require extra fees for every other site you visit. These 'other' sites would then lose all their exposure and eventually shut down, resulting in what could be seen as the end of the Internet.

Link to further details and uTube video below:

http://ipower.ning.com/netneutrality2

Cap and Trade Bill

Has anyone been following the progress of this legislation? I'd like to hear what others think about it. I've already expressed my displeasure with the bill to Senator's Alexander and Corker, and Congressman Bart Gordon. I'll hold my thoughts until I see there is some iinterest in discussing it.

Government for the People?

From some of the discussions I’ve participated in, both here, and on other blogs I’ve noticed a common theme from almost everyone. Regardless of political affiliation, or preference, it seems that very few of us are happy with the way our country is being “managed” by our political leadership. From gas prices to healthcare, mortgage crisis to income taxes, we all seem to be unhappy with something. This confirms my feelings that we have lost our voice, and faith, in government. Instead of being a government “for the people,” it seems to me that it has become a government for the special interests. I’d like to know what others think we can, or should, do make our government more accountable.

]]> One of my biggest complaints is the small amount of time our representatives spend in session. We are facing some of the most daunting issues since the Great Depression, yet Congress and the Senate spend about one third of the year in session. As I asked on another blog, what company in this nation would pay its mid-level managers a six-figure salary (for life), and superb benefits, yet require them to work one third of the year.

When they are in session, we see them working on issues such as steroid use in baseball. This morning on C-Span, Senator Dick Durbin stated, “It’s a good thing that we are not getting paid for piece-work, because we have done so little this week.” One of the highlights of the week included a full reading of the climate bill now in the Senate. He (Senator Durbin) stated that there was no purpose for the reading, “…other than to burn off an entire day in the United States Senate…” Senator Harry Reid once spent nine hours on a,”discourse of the benefits of wooden matches and reading chapters from his book.” Honestly, I’m not making this up! These folks spend one third of the year actually working on legislation, and some of that time is spent on this type of nonsense.

I’d like to hear some of your thoughts on what we can do to light a fire under all our representatives to spend whatever time is required to get this country back on track. I think we need to see a nationwide movement to get laws passed requiring our representatives to work at least half the year on the issues that need to be addressed. I understand they need to make fact-finding trips, and they need to spend time in their districts/states to stay in touch with their constituents, but these trips need to be limited and time spent in “real” work needs to be increased. I think we need to try to limit the access and influence that lobbyists have, and I think we need to have laws in place that prevent our representatives from going to work as lobbyists after leaving office. I have a number of other ideas, but would like to hear from others.

One last note. I try to stay in touch with our representatives, and have included contact links below. I recently sent them all e-mails urging them to help defeat the “Cap and Trade” bill that is supposedly going to help alleviate the climate change “crisis.”

Senator Lamar Alexander
http://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Senator Bob Corker
http://corker.senate.gov/Contact/index.cfm

Congressman Bart Gordon
http://gordon.house.gov/contact/index.shtml

Vacationing Close to Home

With the price of gas these days soaring and Summer vacationing knocking at the door, I thought it might be a good topic to start where everyone can post their favorite places to visit that are close by. This might help others in planning a summer vacation that won't cost a fortune to travel to. More and more people are moving here from other states, I'm sure they would appreciate your input on places to visit in TN or KY as well. If your favorite spots have a web site, perhaps you could include that in the posting.

Happy Posting - Judy

$5.00 a gallon......Will it happen????

How many believe that the gas prices, here in Portland, will reach $5.00 a gallon and how are the higher prices effecting your everyday life.

People with Special Needs - Special Friends Camp

[This entry was posted at the request of Judy Plummer. Charlie]

Special Friends Camp will be held Monday, June 2 through Friday, June 13, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Richland Gym, 301 Portland Blvd. Registration will be held on June 2 beginning at 8:30 a.m. The camp is free and open to all ages with special needs. Daily activities include swimming, crafts, games and entertainment provided by members of the community. For more information, call Nancy Raymond at (931) 676-5543 or Diana Parks at (615) 325-7695.

FRONT PAGE - Around the Town - MAY 2008

Post your thoughts about News worthy articles, events, happenings, questions,
garage sales,and general information regarding our town.

Want to talk about something specific, post it here.
One of the blog authors will start the topic for you!

Happy Posting - Judy