Land mines and golf don’t mix
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Before I get to that news, I’m going to bring you a Business Pulse first. Since this column began, I’ve written about some off-the-wall topics, but I’ve never before dedicated a Business Pulse column. That changes today because this week’s column is dedicated to longtime Southern Standard ad rep Fay Harris, who retired after 26 years Friday.
It’s fitting I dedicate a Business Pulse to Fay because this column would give her such fits. In my younger days, I would often throw caution into the wind and say some things that would irritate local business owners. And some of those business owners had accounts with Fay so she would get an earful about it. She, in turn, passed that earful on to me.
I’m not going to miss those conversations, but I am going to miss Fay. May your retirement be free of advertisers angered by Business Pulse.
As for our trip around the world, our first stop takes us to the hostile territory of Afghanistan, a country left in shambles by war. With so much hardship, you might think there wouldn’t be time for the rich man’s game of golf, but that’s not the case. The city of Kabul has been busy advertising its lone remaining golf course as being free of land mines.
Now that’s a plus. Nothing spoils a great round of golf like stepping on a land mine.
One thing Kabol Golf Club (with a $60 annual membership fee) doesn’t boast is grass. The terrain is dusty desert sand and rocks. There are no bunkers and the water hazard has long since dried out. In recent months, golf enthusiasts have removed a tank and a multiple rocket launcher from the course to make play easier. Anyone playing golf on that course must really love the sport.
Things are just as wacky in Hamburg, Germany where audiences are now finding themselves entertained by a finely tuned vegetable orchestra. Yes folks, these are instruments made of actual vegetables.
The nine-piece orchestra features a flute made from a carrot, a saxophone carved from a cucumber, a violin fashioned from a leek, and a double bass made from a pumpkin.
The six-man, three-woman orchestra touts its instruments as being freshly sliced. The vegetables are converted into instruments only about an hour before a performance because fresher vegetables are said to enhance the sound.
Most people attending the performance have been most impressed with the cucumber saxophone, saying they never dreamed such rich sound could come from a cucumber.
Other patrons have said a strong raw vegetable aroma accompanies the performance.
Three spots still remain in Cumberland Plaza
I would have thought the addition of Lowe’s would have sent businesses scurrying to locate in Cumberland Plaza. While that was the case initially, there are still three vacant stores in the revitalized shopping center.
Leasing agent Brigetta Williams tells me she is “still actively looking for retail tenants” but says she has no new deals to report. I’ve heard all sorts of rumors about the three available spaces, many involving local stores. As it stands now, nothing is finalized.
Someone recently called and asked if Hobby Lobby had plans to locate here and, truth be told, I haven’t called Hobby Lobby officials recently. But when I talked to store officials about a year ago they said they had absolutely no plans to locate here.
They didn’t say maybe. They didn’t say it was a possibility somewhere down the road. They said Hobby Lobby was not interested in McMinnville. With that sort of answer, I didn’t bother to call back.
Accu-Router developing amazing technology
I focus so much on the retail aspect of Warren County business, it’s sometimes easy to overlook the remarkable technology being developed in this county by industry. One of those manufactures is Accu-Router, Inc., which employs 24 people in Mountain View Industrial Park in Morrison.
Many of you who read our Business Monthly are familiar with Accu-Router president Todd Herzog, who contributes a regular column to that publication. Todd is excited about a recently built and completely automated cell Accu-Router designed using a number of new technologies. The new technologies allow for ultra high production with virtually no set-up time.
Since I’m not an engineer, and since Todd is a pretty good writer himself, I thought it would be appropriate for him to discuss this new piece of equipment. Here is what he writes (and I’m glad he did this because it’s way over my head):
“The new Accu-Router cell includes an automated load and unload conveyor system supplied by Pack Manufacturing on Belmont Drive. The cell has a host CNC control which is the very latest from General Electric Fanuc.
The control has embedded Ethernet communications, ultra high-speed servo technology, extensive operator communications, and complete built-in diagnostics. The Accu-Router features an industry unique double holddown system for work holding efficiency and high material yield at industry leading cutting rates.
A high-speed ink jet printer on the machine bridge will print alpha numeric part numbers at very high speed in either the long or cross direction of the machine table. Just one cell operator is required to pick and stack the ink jet printed ‘good’ parts from a sorting conveyor. Offal and scrap is automatically removed from the cell area for disposal. This cell is capable of machining 300 nested panels in an eight-hour shift that are 5-by-10 feet in overall initial size.”
As for what all that means in English, well you will probably have to ask Todd. I can extend my congratulations to Todd and his fine crew at Accu-Router, which is in its 12th year of local operation. Todd says Accu-Router receives outside engineering collaboration from both Tennessee Tech and North Carolina State University.
Westwood store under new ownership
Cindy Thomas used to work at the convenience store in Westwood some 18 years ago. Now that she and her husband, Shane, have bought the store, she says some things are much the same.
“People still remember me from 18 years ago,” said Cindy. “It was some of the same people who came in here back then too. Of course it was a little different back then because you had Powermatic right next door working two shifts. That’s not there now.”
Powermatic may be shut down but Cindy doesn’t have much trouble staying busy. Between making burgers and BBQ and selling one cold drink after another, there’s not much time to relax. “But if I’m not busy, I don’t know what to do with myself,” said Cindy.
Staying busy is an understatement considering the couple also owns the store on Highway 30 heading to Spencer. On most days, Shane is busy operating that store while Cindy works at the store in Westwood.
“That is a downright country store,” Cindy said of the store on Highway 30. “It’s mostly farmers who come in there. You can usually tell what time of day it is by who walks in the door.”
Shane and Cindy have owned the Westwood store since March and have all types of sandwiches and biscuits available. Cindy says they have stopped selling hot plate lunches because sales were so inconsistent. One day there would be a demand for dozens of lunches, followed a day where only a handful sold.
“It was tough because I didn’t know how many to fix,” Cindy said. “You don’t want to run out, but you can’t be throwing a bunch of food away either.”
Cindy says she will maintain regular hours from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. The store is closed on Sunday.
That’s all folks
I believe I might take advantage of a couple vacation days later this week to catch up on a little fun in the sun. But that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in hearing your business news.
Give me a call at 473-2191 or send me an e-mail at standard@blomand.net and I’ll get back with you as soon as possible.