Prom dresses should be for women only
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After all these years, I think I?ve finally discovered the true value of the prom ? the keepsake prom photo. Ten years from now when all these seniors have packed on a few pounds and are approaching 30, they can whip out that prom photo and remind everyone of how they used to look.
Last year?s prom will be remembered as the day every student at the high school received the Pamela Rogers video on their cellphone. Last year also set a precedent in Gary, Ind., where a male student was turned away from the big dance because he was wearing a prom dress.
Kevin Logan, an 18-year-old senior at the time, was told by school officials he couldn?t enter the prom wearing his slinky gown and high heels. Officials cited school policy as the reason Logan was turned away, which really makes we wonder.
I realize school officials are known far and wide for their intelligence, but I seriously doubt there?s a rule anywhere in the student handbook that says, ?Boys are absolutely prohibited from wearing prom dresses.?
Logan was reportedly furious, even after receiving an $85 refund on his prom ticket. I think a better punishment would have been to let him enter the prom where other kids would have likely taken turns beating him up.
Outside of the prom, another major event that?s gearing up around town is Relay for Life. While the actual all-night Relay event won?t take place for another month, there have already been a number of fundraising activities taking place.
My personal favorite took place two weeks ago in Smithville when the 2nd annual Eating for a Cure was held on the DeKalb County Courthouse lawn.
Now that?s one fundraiser that would have my overwhelming support. And the great thing is it has mass appeal. Not everyone is able to get out and walk or wash cars to raise money ? but everyone can stuff their face. If the Standard ever assembles another Relay for Life team, I can promise you Eating for a Cure will come to McMinnville.
As for other odd, strange and curious happenings, I?ve noticed an interesting bit of criminal news coming from Bulls Gap, Tenn., a tiny town located in East Tennessee near the Virginia border.
Earlier this month, according to police reports, David Moser, 28, complained that his Bulls Gap home had been burglarized. OK, so that sounds normal enough until you get to the main items missing, which reportedly included a favorite pair of handcuffs and six packs of cigarettes.
Also in Bulls Gap comes the report of a heavy-set, blond female who tried to walk out of Di?s Diner with a catfish dinner platter. What made matters worse is the woman didn?t want to pay.
When confronted at the door, the woman reportedly took out a few dollars and threw them in the direction of the cash register. When the owner followed her and again confronted her in the parking lot, the woman threw the catfish dinner, squarely hitting restaurant employee Tina Henry.
There?s promising job news to report!!!
Believe it or not, it appears Warren County is finally gaining just a bit of momentum when it comes to recruiting new jobs. How long have we waited to hear that statement?
The announcement came last week that a company called Thermo Flex has signed a lease to occupy a portion of the Carrier property. Over the course of several years, Thermo Flex is projecting it can create 30 to 40 manufacturing jobs. The company is a subsidiary of Poly Flex, which is headquartered in Livonia, Mich.
?We started in 2003 with six employees,? said Thermo Flex official Mark Kirchmer. ?Now we have 30 employees and over the course of three years, we think we can have that many employees at our new facility.?
Using the basic math skills I learned in school, Thermo Flex?s growth rate is phenomenal ? about 62 percent a year. Kirchmer says he sees no reason why the company can?t match that growth here.
Thermo Flex manufactures custom packaging and relies heavily on automotive customers, which is an industry so many of our local industries cater to.
Kirchmer spoke with confidence that the company will begin production on a portion of its products in May. I?m glad to say more jobs are arriving, and they?re arriving very soon.
New company appears headed to A.O. Smith
Speaking of promising job news, it gets better. Word on the street that I?m hearing is a new tenant is all lined up to set up shop in the A.O. Smith building.
From what I understand, A.O. Smith is in the process of evacuating the premises and is expected to be out in June. A company that makes biodiesel fuel from soybeans and cotton seed is said to be ready to move in as soon as A.O. Smith leaves.
I don?t think those involved in the deal are interested in an official announcement at this point, but I?ll keep you updated on the progress of this deal and whether it materializes as expected.
Need a babysitter? Now there?s a service
If your life is anything like mine, there?s a good chance you?re frequently on the go. Whether it?s working late or running kids to ball practice or birthday parties, I stay pretty busy.
For parents who would like to run a few errands without the kids, or enjoy a pleasant Friday night by themselves, there?s a new business especially for you. It?s called Mommies Time Out and it?s operated by Beth Newport and Holly Magness.
The goal is to give parents a temporary break. The business is not a full-time daycare.
?If we can help you out by keeping your kids for a couple hours while you run to the doctor or get your hair done, that?s what we want to do,? said Beth. ?Neither of us want to be full-time babysitters.?
The babysitting service is available seven days a week, day or night. Parents who would like to enjoy dinner and a movie without the kids on a Saturday night can utilize Mommies Time Out.
Beth is a mother of two children, a 4-year-old and a 6-month-old. Holly frequently cares for her niece, Reagan Vanatta. With the two of them working together, they believe they can fulfill the county?s babysitting needs.
The children will be watched at either Beth?s home or Holly?s home. The ladies are available to meet with any prospective customers who want to get to know them better before trusting them with their children. References are also available.
The cost is $5 an hour during the week and $10 an hour on weekends. There is a minimum $10 charge per visit. Snacks or meals will be provided as necessary.
Beth can be reached at 668-8321, and Holly can be reached at 474-5214.
Homemade treats a phone call away
Danice Ellis had a rather unique childhood. When she started to read, the first thing she turned to was cookbooks. Her desire to cook and learn new recipes hasn?t stopped since.
?If I have to go to the doctor, I?ll load up three or four cookbooks and take them with me,? said Danice. ?Some people like to look at magazines. I like to read cookbooks.?
It?s because of her love of cooking Danice has started Sweet Southern Belle Desserts, a business that specializes in made-from-scratch goodies. The treats are not only scrumptious, they?re extremely affordable.
A baker?s dozen of fresh chocolate chip cookies sells for $2. Lemon meringue pies sell for $5, while red velvet cakes with homemade cream cheese icing are only $8.
Standard circulation director Bill Cathcart can certainly vouch for the good taste of Danice?s cookies. When she brought a sampler platter to the office Friday morning, I thought Bill was going to eat the plastic container as well as the cookies. If Danice had brought a cake up here, I have no doubt Cathcart would have swallowed it whole.
?I?ve been cooking ever since I was a little girl,? said Danice, who got her start with a batch of peanut butter cookies when she was 8. ?I use mostly my own recipes. I came up with the recipe for my peach cake in a dream. I dreamed how I could make it, then wrote down the recipe as soon as I woke up.?
From cheesecake to oatmeal cookies made with butterscotch, Sweet Southern Belle Desserts offers a little of everything.
Danice?s story is full of interesting notes. She moved to McMinnville one year and seven months ago after Hurricane Katrina destroyed her Louisiana home. Fortunately, grandfather Hershell Hayes had a place for her to stay.
?My grandfather had an extra house he was just about to put on the market,? said Danice. ?And it was fully furnished too.
?When I first got here, it bothered me that Warren County really doesn?t have a bakery. Bi-Lo and Wal-Mart have bakeries, but they use frozen cakes.?
If you would like to sample some of Danice?s treats before calling in an order, she has a booth at the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. If you?d like to jump right in and place an order, the phone number is 474-4003 or 212-8971.
McMinnville Pallet is ready to serve
After beginning his business in the Viola community, Justin Caten has re-established his roots in Morrison and is on the lookout for pallets. He wants people to know what McMinnville Pallet Company has to offer.
?The more people get to know we?re here, the more they?re beginning to drop off pallets,? said Justin. ?The old pallets come in, we refurbish them and get them in good enough shape to sell again. And because they are refurbished pallets, we can sell them for a lot cheaper than new pallets.?
Pallets are one aspect of business that?s easy to overlook ? that is until you need one. When you need a pallet and don?t have one, that?s when their true value is understood.
If you have old pallets you want to drop off, McMinnville Pallet is located on Maple Street in Morrison. Or, as a matter of convenience, Justin will pick up the pallets for you.
If you have certain specifications you need for a pallet, let Justin know and he can make a pallet to fit your needs. It?s that easy. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call Justin at 409-0869.
That?s all folks
Now that another prom night has come and gone, we can concentrate on what really matters ? Business Pulse. Give me a call with your tips at 473-2191.