Today’s top story, a cellphone number
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No one stopped by to take me to lunch. I didn’t even find a nickel on the sidewalk. As it turned out, 7-7-07 wasn’t a lucky day at all. And there’s a very good chance I won’t be around for 7-7-3007 to find out if that day is any luckier.
As for names in the news, it hasn’t been a lucky week for Al Gore III, son of former Vice President and Oscar winner Al Gore. Gore III was arrested on Wednesday going 100 mph in a hybrid car. Police say he had marijuana and several illegal prescription drugs in his possession.
When I first heard this, my first reaction was, ‘Gee, I never knew a hybrid car could go 100 mph.’
My second thought was, ‘Why would Al Gore’s son have all those drugs in his possession.’ Then I realized it’s probably to alter his state of mind so he doesn’t remember he’s Al Gore’s son.
But here’s proof people will bet on just about anything. Ireland’s top bookmaker, Paddy Power, paid out more than $13,500 on Friday to people who bet Al Gore would be arrested. The problem was the company neglected to specify which Al Gore.
The betting line was on which U.S. celebrity would be arrested next and Al Gore was listed at 14-to-1 odds. As expected, Paris Hilton topped the list at 2-to-1 odds. Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates was at the back of the pack at 50-to-1 odds.
And speaking of Paris Hilton, I can’t wait for the day when she won’t be in the news. But here’s further proof that day is far away indeed.
The Los Angeles Times recently published a full-length feature story, complete with photo, about a young lady who was inadvertently assigned Paris’ old cellphone number. Folks, if that’s news it won’t be long before we start reading stories about the lady who took Paris’ order at McDonald’s.
The story offered incredible insight, including comments from the young lady who said she actually gets calls from people who want to talk to Paris. Oh my gosh!
The woman, a junior at UCLA, says she receives most of the calls between 2 and 4 a.m., and that the callers refuse to believe she is not Paris Hilton. She said one caller asked in disbelief, ‘Why are you doing this’?
That’s enough foolishness for today because I have some real news to report.
Walter A. Wood building is filled
The list of empty buildings filling up around the county is impressive.
As announced in Wednesday’s newspaper, Oster is expanding its operations and moving into the old Aquatech facility. I’ve made mention a couple times about the new biodiesel business with local ownership that can’t wait to finally complete a mountain of paperwork and take ownership of the old A.O. Smith building.
And now (drumroll please) a motorcycle trailer manufacturer is moving its operations to the old Walter A. Wood building on Manchester Highway.
Ironhorse Trailers is the name of the company and it’s owned by Ed and Julie Heard, who are husband and wife. Ironhorse Trailers has been in business five years and Julie told me on Friday they will probably sell around 225 custom-built trailers this year.
The company has 14 employees with plans to expand to 50 employees in three years.
‘We’re going to start immediately making changes to the building to make it suitable for our purposes,’ said Julie. ‘Right now it’s a warehouse environment and we need to make it more of a manufacturing environment. We hope to be moved in by October or November.’
Ironhorse Trailers distributes its product throughout the U.S. and Canada. The trailers are high-end equipment and can be made to match the paint scheme of your vehicle. Models are available for one motorcycle or two, and there are open trailers or completely enclosed models.
‘It’s the ultimate bike accessory,’ said Julie.
The fiberglass trailers are formed through a process called chopping where the fiberglass is sprayed like paint into a mold. After the fiberglass is allowed to cure, the mold is broken away and the chassis and other parts are assembled.
Julie says Ironhorse Trailers owns all its molds but currently outsources the chopping part of production. She said the goal behind moving into a new building is to manufacture the trailers entirely in Warren County.
‘As we do more steps, we’ll add more jobs,’ Julie said. ‘We’re hoping we will be bringing a number of jobs to the area.’
Enclosed trailers come equipped with rear stabilizer jacks, interior lights, a front rolling jack, chrome 14-inch wheels, as well as hooks for helmets, jackets, etc. Open trailers are similarly equipped without the interior lights and helmet hooks.
Ironhorse Trailers will be moving into a 22,600-square-foot facility on 7 acres of land. For more information about the company, people with Internet access can visit www.ironhorsetrailers.com.
Clayton Homes leaving McMinnville
Clayton Homes is in the process of moving mobile homes from its Smithville Highway location, and employee Wayne Moody tells me the company plans to close its local operation by this Friday.
‘We’re moving our inventory to Love Homes in Tullahoma and Clayton Homes in Shelbyville,’ said Wayne. ‘We sold about half the homes that were here and the other half will be scattered around. We don’t normally do this unless the business necessitates it, and it necessitates it here. We’ve opted to go with our stronger markets and that’s in Tullahoma and Shelbyville.’
I don’t know if it’s a sign of a good economy or bad economy to have a mobile home dealer struggling. Either way, I hate to see a local business pack up its bags and leave town.
According to the Register of Deeds office, there has been a mobile home dealer at that location since 1972 when Quality Mobile Homes was there. In 1978, the name changed to Clayton Homes and that business operated for nearly 30 years.
What I find intriguing are the possibilities. After all, that’s 2.9 acres of basically undeveloped real estate smack dab in the middle of The Strip. Clayton Homes is the property owner. And remember, it’s right across from Sonic.
From an entertainment standpoint, I’d love to see a game room, miniature golf course and go-cart track locate there. But considering the seasonal nature of such a business, it would be hard to make the numbers work unless it received overwhelming support in the summer.
Concert to return to Civic Center
It’s been years since there was a big-time concert at McMinnville Civic Center. Dave Smedley, owner of Smed’s Place and Smedley Entertainment & Friends, plans to change that this August.
Dave has scheduled three country music acts to perform at the Civic Center on Aug. 25 for a Honky Tonk Tailgate Party. They are Trent Willmon, Rhett Akins and Wayde Hayes.
‘If this goes over well, we’d like to get it where we can do two or three of these a year,’ said Dave, who used to work in the country music industry in Nashville. ‘It’s been a long time since they’ve had a major concert at the Civic Center so we decided to try and pull it off and see if we can make it work.’
Tickets for all three shows are $20 for general admission and $25 for reserved floor seating. The concerts are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Akins is known for the songs ‘That Ain’t My Truck,’ and ‘Don’t Get Me Started.’ Hayes has the hit songs ‘Don’t Stop,’ and ‘I’m Still Dancing with You.’ Willmon is the host of the CMT show ‘Top Cowboy,’ and sings ‘On Again, Off Again Tonight,’ and ‘Beer Man.’
Just as neat as the concert is a tailgate party which begins at 2 p.m. in Civic Center parking lot.
‘People are always wanting something to do in McMinnville,’ said Dave. ‘If people support this, we’ll do some more.’
I think this is a great ‘ and very affordable ‘ way to bring entertainment to town. The total $20 ticket price is about what you’d pay just for parking and Ticketmaster charges to see a concert in Nashville.
That’s all folks
Business news is starting to pick up. Give me a call with all your tips at 473-2191.