Plagued by tickets? Fake your death
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OK, so maybe I?m embellishing just a bit. But if I want to live in my own little fantasy world, I don?t see the harm.
As for offbeat news that isn?t make believe, I take you to Des Moines, Iowa. I don?t know what it is about Des Moines, but it has to be the Strange News Capital of the World.
It?s also where 36-year-old Kimberly Du concocted an elaborate scheme to fake her own death. She did all this to avoid making an appearance in traffic court to answer to a couple speeding tickets. Authorities say they believe it is the pettiest charge anyone has tried to avoid by faking death.
For news that?s really creepy, let?s make a trip to Thailand where two Guinness World Record holders recently united in marriage. The woman, who held the world record for sleeping in a cage with scorpions, married the man who shares the world record for continuous time spent with centipedes.
My question is hasn?t this couple ever heard of bug spray? For the record, bride Kanchana Ketkaew lived 32 days with 3,400 scorpions while groom Bunthawee Siengwong lived 28 days with 1,000 centipedes. If these folks want animal companionship, why not try a dog?
And I know I have a habit of talking on and on at the beginning of Business Pulse, but I?m so excited about today?s business news I?m going to offer this final tidbit then get right to work.
The story comes from New York state where wealthy white-collar workers have discovered the sport of boxing. These rich CEOs, doctors, attorneys and company presidents apparently like the thought of climbing in the ring ? they just don?t like the idea of getting punched.
That?s why white-collar boxing has evolved to take care of the unpleasant side of boxing such as bruises and black eyes. In some so-called ?boxing? matches, the opponents don?t even hit one another.
Said New York Senator Joseph Bruno, a former boxer and white-collar boxing supporter, ?The sport appears to be very safe.?
New golf course ready to tee off in Warren County
People have been asking me for months and months about the new golf course being constructed at the foot of Harrison Ferry Mountain.
It?s not that I ignored those questions, it?s just never been the right time, or the right place, to provide some answers. But all that changes today as I have some late-breaking information about the nine-hole public golf course that?s scheduled to open at the beginning of June.
Dwight O?Neal and his wife, Hannah, are not only opening a golf course but an upscale community that?s called The Reserve at Collins River. During the first phase of construction, 57 lots will be available ranging from .53 acres to 3.5 acres.
The community promises to be a major residential asset to Warren County, but for now everybody is talking about the golf course. It will feature nine holes when it first opens with plans to hopefully expand to 18 holes in the near future.
?I?m not a golfer,? said Dwight, who was nice enough to drive me around his 450 acres Friday afternoon. ?I?ve played maybe six or eight times in my life. But this is something I?ve thought about doing for probably 15 years.?
Before I go any further, I should stress this is no redneck golf course. It?s being designed by Jerry Lemons, a golf course architect based in Nashville. And it?s being built by nationally renowned golf course experts J.D. Shelton and his son, Harley. J.D. has built golf courses in 37 states, while Harley has built course in 29 states.
?This is what I call a lay-of-the-land golf course,? said J.D., looking over the rolling hills at the foot of the mountain. ?I didn?t have to move much dirt at all. This is a great place for a golf course just the way it is.?
I can?t talk about Dwight?s golf course without mentioning the remarkable similarities to the movie ?Field of Dreams,? you know the film with the famous line, ?If you build it, they will come.?
If you recall in the movie, Kevin Costner leveled his corn field to build a baseball diamond. In our story, Dwight has dug up a portion of his nursery field and turned it into a golf course.
Dwight wanted me to stress he has close to two months before his scheduled opening so there are plenty of loose ends that still need to be tied. He said the course is not yet in the tip-top shape he wants it to be in before everybody sees it.
I?ll have more information around the opening date.
Investment group buys six Main Street buildings
McMinnville native Tobby Donalson, an agent for Saunders Real Estate, represented ADJS Properties of Lakeland, Fla., in purchasing six downtown buildings to renovate and lease. Five of the buildings are on Spring Street beginning with Mary Little?s law office that?s on the corner across from Warren County Furniture. The group bought five buildings along that row and also purchased 212 East Main Street.
“I grew up in McMinnville so I?ve been watching the improvements taking place downtown,? said Tobby. ?Although I haven?t lived there in 16 years, I still have family there and my wife has family there so we make a couple trips a year. I?m excited about what?s happening downtown and I want to be a part of it.?
Tobby said renovation plans are already under way. In fact, he said one of the ADJS partners was in McMinnville on Friday setting up subcontractors to begin work.
?Some of the buildings are appropriate for offices and others are appropriate for retail,? said Tobby. ?We hope to have some of the renovations completed in about three months.?
I think it?s encouraging news six downtown buildings are in store for a facelift. Now that the road looks great, it only makes sense to improve the appearance of the stores too. Otherwise you have dilapidated buildings on a $5 million road.
Jason Woodlee selling new line of tractors
When it comes to tractors, most local folks are familiar with D. Woodlee Tractor sales in Irving College. Dwight Woodlee has closed that business, but his son, Jason, has opened a new one at the same location called CAW Equipment.
Jason?s business offers Kiote tractors (pronounced coyote) which are manufactured in Korea. Jason says the tractors are well made and are available for less than other brands.
?I?ve been in the tractor business all my life,? said Jason, who talked about building his first diesel engine when he was 12. ?And I did some research on this company. These tractors have a four-year drive train warranty. They weigh more and have more features than other tractors. They cost less and I can offer 0 percent financing. It?s a great deal all the way around.?
The final portion of Jason?s first shipment arrived Monday and he currently has about 10 tractors on his lot ranging from 20 to 65 horsepower. He says Kiote is developing 75, 85 and 95 horsepower tractors that should be available soon.
In addition to a quality product, one thing Jason brings to the table is service. He can repair any tractor he sells.
?When you buy a tractor from me, you?re also talking to the man who is going to work on it,? said Jason. ?I?ve been doing this all my life. If you throw a part on the counter, I can pretty much tell you where it came from.?
In addition to his tractors, Jason has all types of accessories including mowers, box blades, fertilizer spreaders, post hole diggers and tillers. ?I have everything under the sun and if I don?t have it, I can get it,? said Jason.
The Woodlees encourage everyone shopping for a tractor to come see them in Irving College. The phone number is 668-8270.
?We?re on the beaten path,? said Dwight. ?We?re in downtown nursery country.?
It?s the end of an era at Smith Brothers Barbershop
After 35 years of cutting hair in a tiny brick building on Beersheba Street, Smith Brothers Barbershop is moving to a white house about 200 yards down the road. Friday was the last day of business at the longtime location, but don?t think anybody was too upset about it.
?I?m ready for something new,? said Billy Smith, who operates the business with his dad, Bill. ?This building has gotten pretty bad.?
Billy has been cutting hair since 1987 and Bill has been at it since 1964. There?s no telling how many heads of hair they?ve cut over the course of their business careers.
?I know I?ve slowed down a lot,? said Bill.
After closing for business Friday, Bill and Billy will spend the weekend moving to their new location. The plan is to open at the new place first thing Monday morning.
Bill and Billy said they thought about changing the business name since it?s not really Smith Brothers anymore. It?s more like Smith Father & Son. But since there is a fee involved with changing the name on the business license, they say they?re willing to keep on trucking with the Smith Brothers name.
As for what will happen to the old Smith Brothers building, Bill says he?s planning to remodel the place. He wants to make it look good because he already has a new tenant lined up.
As for who that new tenant is, you?ll just have to wait to find that out in a future edition of Business Pulse. It spoils the fun if I tell everything I know.
That?s all folks
I?ll talk about the opening of Papa John?s and other business news of considerable interest in next week?s column. Call me at 473-2191 if you have any business news you would like me to report.