Breakfast in bed requires night in kitchen
Since today is Father’s Day, I’m sure all the dads out there are reading this column while resting comfortably in bed and eating a tall stack of pancakes. OK, so probably not.
My Cupcake does a pretty good job of pampering me, but I’ve never been treated to breakfast in bed. I think the closest I’ll come to that is if I drag a sleeping bag into the kitchen.
The truly great thing about Father’s Day is, what else, the gifts. Dads throughout the country will be opening various boxes today and getting things they want, and don’t want.
This Father’s Day I asked for one thing – the first season of “The Dukes of Hazzard” on DVD. I’m low maintenance when it comes to gift-giving occasions.
Money magazine recently conducted a survey where 509 dads from coast to coast were asked what they least wanted to receive for Father’s Day. Topping the list with 28 percent of the vote was any T-shirt or knick-knack which says “No. 1 dad.” Finishing a close second with 24 percent was any sort of tie.
So what does dad want for Father’s Day? Well Money magazine asked that too. Turns out the overwhelming top answer was a plasma TV. Who says women are the only ones with expensive tastes?
Since it is Father’s Day, and since our local National Guard was just activated last week, I thought I would take a moment to tell you the uplifting, yet bizarre, story of two National Guard soldiers who recently tied the knot during a video conference call.
Thanks to modern-day technology, the couple was able to gaze into each other’s eyes through TV monitors and get married while one was in Colorado and the other was in Iraq. Shadow Evans, 30, said “I do” from her post in Iraq while her husband, Rick Everton, 29, recited his marriage vows in Durango, Colo.
Fellow soldiers found Evans a white blouse and some desert flowers. There’s no word on when they will exchange rings or when Everton can kiss the bride. Modern technology can’t arrange that – at least not for a few more years.
And I’ll end this week’s Father’s Day babbling by talking about the not-so-wholesome topic of Jennifer Lopez. Some of you may not know British bookmakers have established odds on how fast Lopez will get her next divorce.
The bookmakers have offered 3-to-1 odds that Lopez and her new husband Marc Anthony will be divorced by the end of the year. Lopez, 33, has already been through two brief marriages and an on-again, off-again engagement to Ben Affleck. Meanwhile Anthony was divorced from his previous wife for a week before marrying Lopez.
Bookmakers are also offering 10-to-1 odds that Lopez marries more than eight times in her life, beating Elizabeth Taylor. And for those who really like the longshot, there are 14-to-1 odds Lopez and Affleck will be married by the end of 2004.
I’m not a gambler because I like to stick to things I know, such as I’m 100 percent certain I’m about to bring you this week’s Business Pulse.
McMinnville Lawn & Garden now selling Bobcats
For an area flooded with Bobcats, it’s odd there hasn’t been a place to buy new Bobcats in Warren County. McMinnville Lawn & Garden owner Scottie Keel has taken care of that problem as he is now officially a full-service Bobcat dealer.
“The sales will come once word gets around we are a dealer,” said Scottie. “Right now the focus is on service. If you can’t work on something you shouldn’t be selling it.”
Scottie has already hired a technician and plans to hire four or five more employees over time. He also plans to add 3,000 square feet of shop space.
Based on the amount of Bobcats in this area, Bobcat officials have projected Scottie can sell 30 or 40 of the machines a year. They range in price from $18,000 to $40,000.
“I’ve already had people calling for parts just by word of mouth,” said Scottie. “And I really haven’t told anybody about this yet.”
I think this will turn out to be a great move for McMinnville Lawn & Garden and also be an asset for local nurserymen and farmers who won’t have to travel so far for equipment and service.
If you recall, it was about a year ago when Lowe’s announced it was coming to town and I talked to area business people about how the mega-store would affect them. Scottie was one of the few folks who admitted Lowe’s would have an impact on his sales and said he was looking at ways to diversify his business.
“Lowe’s doesn’t sell this,” said Scottie pointing to a new Bobcat which arrived at his store last week. For more information, stop by McMinnville Lawn & Garden on Highway 55. The phone number is 815-5296.
Is new industry on the way?
I like to talk to director of economic development Don Rigsby every couple months to get a report about what’s coming and going with area industry. Don told me Warren County has gotten some interest from two companies who have sent site selectors to town in the last week or so.
Site selectors make initial contact to obtain basic information about a community and determine if a follow-up visit is needed. Usually high-ranking company officials will come during a second visit.
One of the interested parties is a giant food processing company which would bring over 800 jobs to the area. The company has looked at land in Morrison’s industrial park.
“They’ve looked at our unemployment rate of 4.5 percent and a big concern with them is having enough employees here,” said Don. “I told them by the time they get here in another year and a half, that unemployment rate is going to be a lot different.”
Don said the food processing jobs have a fairly high turnover rate and that’s one of the reasons the company needs a large workforce in which to draw employees. He said his gut feeling is the company is leaning toward Nashville or Jackson, but indicated Warren County is on its top 5 list.
A second company which would bring around 150 jobs might be more of a realistic chance. That company is also looking at land in Morrison’s industrial park. That company has supposedly narrowed its search to three cities in West Tennessee, Tullahoma and Warren County.
The thing to remember about these industrial jobs is it takes a looooong time before a final decision is made. And site selectors are just the initial stage. So we shouldn’t expect an announcement next week.
Hardee’s employees say renovation work a hit
In a nine-day whirlwind of construction, Hardee’s has been transformed into a shiny restaurant that looks like new. For the oldest Hardee’s in the Midstate, the building sure doesn’t look its age anymore.
Hardee’s re-opened last week after its brief closing and has been bombarded by customers – and positive feedback.
“They customers love it,” said manager Dick Stepien. “The new kitchen provides for faster, more efficient service and everyone likes that we’ve moved the restrooms inside.”
Dick walked me over to the Hardee’s comment box and to my surprise he pulled out about two dozen comment cards. I say I’m surprised because in all my years of eating at restaurants, I don’t think I’ve ever filled out a comment card.
But apparently Hardee’s customers do this quite regularly. The customers had glowing reviews of the new-and-improved restaurant and its food. (And in case you’re wondering, I did look at the cards to make sure they weren’t all in Dick’s handwriting).
Nana still recovering from car accident
For folks who make it a habit of enjoying the home cooking at Nana’s Kountry Kupboard, you most likely know about the car accident of Judy Coppinger, better known as Nana. Judy is still recovering from a horrific accident on Lucky Road where she hit a tree and had to be life-flighted.
Judy is doing some better, but she’s still a ways from returning to work. She suffered a broken back, a collapsed lung and over 200 stitches in her forehead, among other injuries.
The people at Nana’s are working hard to hold down the proverbial fort, but at the same time they also miss Judy.
“It’s hard when someone is out, especially when that someone is Nana,” said Barbara Jones, an employee of five years. “We’re still open and cooking good food and we appreciate everyone’s business.”
The editors of Business Pulse would like to wish Nana a speedy recovery. Get well soon!
That’s all folks
I’ve had several business questions over the last week such as: Is the Service Transport in Morrison closing? What’s happened to the historic service station in Viola? What’s that new building on Highway 55 by the shop that sells flower baskets?
It appears I have my work cut out for me. The only thing I know for sure is a new Target won’t be locating in Irving College.
As always, feel free to call at 473-2191. Business tips are welcome or we can just chat.