Nunley cuts way to Rock, Paper, Scissors title
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The Standard newsroom held its first Rock, Paper Scissors Tournament last week with sports editor Rob Nunley emerging from two grueling days of competition to claim the title by beating Mini Standard editor Margaret Hobbs.
Their best-of-seven series was knotted at 3-3 when Rob threw scissors to capture the championship as the standing-room-only crowd erupted.
Rob, a seasoned Rock, Paper, Scissors competitor, was the heavy favorite to defeat Margaret, a newcomer to the sport. However, she did provide the feel-good story of the tournament by rising from obscurity to win the Newsroom North division.
Margaret immediately raised eyebrows when she rolled to an easy first-round win over savvy veteran Duane Sherrill. Duane claims a leg injury he suffered in a softball game the week before hampered his Rock, Paper, Scissors performance.
Sports reporter Dale Stubblefield had the worst draw of the tournament, having to win three matches just to reach the finals. Dale came close by winning back-to-back matches, but three games in one day was simply too much to overcome. Fatigue set in and Dale lost to Rob one game before the finals.
I had undoubtedly the worst tournament showing, losing to news editor Charlie Johnson in the opening round. It was suggested that maybe I get some more practice, perhaps even scrimmage a few people, before I enter another Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament. I?m simply not ready for such a high level of competition.
There?s a saying that goes, ?You learn something new everyday.? This really isn?t true but when you do learn something new, it?s neat to say.
What I learned last week is Rock, Paper, Scissors is not just a mindless kids game. It?s a mental and physical challenge that requires training and conditioning. Some folks may want to consult their doctor before playing Rock, Paper, Scissors.
As for other things in the news, I would be remiss if I didn?t mention the obvious ? that today is Father?s Day and it?s time to pamper good ol? dad. But the most important thing (and I think I speak for dads throughout the nation), is getting dad a really great gift.
I remember when I was growing up, the must-have Father?s Day gift was a bottle of Old Spice. It?s what I got my dad, it?s what the kid across the street got his dad, it?s what the kid down the block got his dad.
Fortunately times have changed and the gift everyone is giving dad is a new computer. OK, so maybe not, but never underestimate the power of suggestion.
And finally I have to wonder what went wrong at the Elgin, Illinois police department where officers devoted a number of hours to an undercover drug investigation. After monitoring a house for a considerable amount of time, officers finally sent in confidential informant Robert Bridges with $300 to buy 7 grams of cocaine.
After waiting and waiting for Bridges to emerge, officers feared something went terribly wrong. Perhaps Bridges had his cover blown and was in danger.
When officers finally stormed the house they found a highly intoxicated Bridges with no money and 2.8 grams of cocaine. I?m guessing he will be taken off the confidential informant list.
Deal closes on Shoney?s building
The official word is in. The old Shoney?s building has sold to Georgia resident Eun Kim, a Korean lady whose family started with nothing and now owns seven restaurants.
I guess it?s been three or four months since I talked to Kim during one of her trips to McMinnville. She was excited about buying the property and changing gears to a slower pace. She said the fast-paced Atlanta lifestyle was beginning to wear her down.
Kim was eager to tell me about her delicious homestyle recipes and the mouth-watering food she planned to bring to town if the deal went through for her to buy the building. The buffet lines are what got her so interested in the Shoney?s building because the plans are for her to offer an all-you-can-eat menu. I only hope she realizes how much some folks around here can eat.
I?ve heard some local restaurant owners say business is tough enough already without another restaurant coming to town. In an exact opposite stance, I?ve heard other owners say they welcome more restaurants.
Personally, I hope Kim makes a smooth transition into the local restaurant scene. Based on what she paid for the old Shoney?s building ? $540,000 ? she is going to need to sell a lot of meatloaf.
SW Manufacturing not interested Warren County
If you recall, it was about six weeks ago I used portions of a story that was published in the Upper Cumberland Business Journal in this column. The story suggested SW Manufacturing in Smithville was strongly considering an expansion into Warren County.
Well it turns out the story was only partially right. With 700 employees, the Smithville automotive parts manufacturer will be adding jobs in another community. However, it won?t be Warren County.
?I don?t know where that guy got his information,? said Warren County director of economic development Jeff McCormick. ?But the story was completely wrong and I called him and told him that.?
McCormick said SW Manufacturing looked at one local building about six months ago and it didn?t appear to fit the company?s needs. He said there haven?t been discussions since.
SW Manufacturing spokesperson Dawn Jones told me Friday, ?There is an expansion coming but we?re not ready to announce the site.?
Unfortunately, those new jobs don?t appear to be heading this way.
Local couple has business dreams go up in smoke
Here?s a business story I hate to tell. It?s the story of Centertown residents Russell and Demetria Smith, who were working to build their own woodworking business called Russell?s Rockers.
Russell was a 29-year Carrier employee who is doing what he can to earn a living since the factory closed. Much of that revolved around his woodworking business located next to his home.
But on Memorial Day morning at 4 a.m., those dreams were set on fire. The Smiths lost their 42-foot by 50-foot building due to a fire. The financial loss, which is estimated at close to $100,000, also included all the machines inside the building. Since the Smiths did not have insurance, the building is a complete loss.
?My husband was hoping one day to support the family with this,? said Demetria. ?But now we?ve lost everything. We hope to rebuild but right now we?re in the hole big time.?
The Smiths are thankful the fire didn?t cost them their lives. They say the workshop is located just across the driveway from their home and the early morning fire could have easily spread to their house.
Fortunately Lynn Lyle, who delivers newspapers, is the hero of this story. She saw the fire and immediately woke up Russell and Demetria. Centertown Fire Department extinguished the fire before it spread.
The Smiths are left to pick up the pieces and hopefully get the business back on its feet.
?He was selling a few rocking chairs and swings by word of mouth,? said Demetria. ?Things seemed to be getting better before this.?
Anyone who would like to reach the Smiths can do so by calling 939-2420.
Kropff buys downtown consignment shop
Cindy Kropff knows the Warren County economy isn?t wearing a happy smile right now. That?s why when the opportunity arose to buy the Morford Street consignment shop owned by Sandra Lancin, she decided to jump on it.
?I know the economy is pretty low here and with gas prices being so high people need affordable clothing,? said Cindy, whose store is named Second Treasures. ?I have clothing for the entire family, from men?s dress clothes all the way down to the babies. Since it?s summer, I have plenty of shorts. I even have formal dresses and suits.?
In addition to all her clothes, Cindy?s store is flooded with DVDs and VCR tapes. Much of that came from Lancin?s other business interest, Magic Video, and those movies are now available at rock-bottom prices.
One neat thing about Second Treasures is it?s located on Morford Street directly across from Security Federal. With that kind of spot, Cindy is staying open late on Friday nights to take advantage of the Main Street Live crowds.
Cindy also has some unique half-price sales during the week. Tuesday is blue day. Wednesday is pink day. Thursday is purple day, and Friday is flowers and checks day. On those days, all clothing that fits those descriptions is sold at half price.
Second Treasures is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday thru Saturday, with evening hours on Friday nights. The phone number is 473-8422.
Supreme Building Products keeps expanding
Supreme really does want to be your one-stop shop for all your building needs. In an effort to offer everything you need to build a home from the ground up, Supreme has added a new masonry division that includes block, sand and special order brick.
Much of the reason for Supreme?s continued expansion is the constant residential development on Harrison Ferry Mountain. If there is one area of this community that?s absolutely BOOMING, it?s property on the mountain. You can hardly throw a rock up there without hitting an upscale development in the works.
?We don?t like to call it the mountain,? said Supreme vice president of sales Ryan Moore. ?It?s called the majestic Cumberland plateau, and that?s a large reason Supreme has geared up the way we have. Rand McNally has named it one of the top five places to retire in the nation. People want to move to places that are a little more quieter. And there are a lot of big new developments taking place.?
Upscale mountain homes do appear to be a thriving business ? one of the few Warren County projects which can be described as such. Ryan told me a story about a Miami resident who is salivating about the country living in Tennessee.
Ryan said the woman lives just a few blocks from a grocery store, but because of the South Florida traffic it takes her over a half hour to get there. Ryan said the woman can actually get to a grocery store faster from her rural home being built on the mountain.
Ryan says since Supreme began selling block, its foundation-related sales have tripled. That includes selling 100 to 125 tons of sand per week.
The phone number for Supreme is 473-WOOD and the phone number for the new masonry division is 474-SAND.
That?s all folks
In addition to business tips, I could use a few Rock Paper Scissors tips as well. Give me a call with either at 473-2191.