It?s wise to avoid certain hiding places
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That?s enough chit-chat for today because I?ve been on the prowl for offbeat stories and I think I have a pretty respectable offering. It all starts in the cozy town of Moundville, W.Va., and because I?m sensitive to the West Virginia readers in the audience, I?ll refrain from any jokes about the Mountaineer State.
However, I will tell this story about accused purse snatcher Johnny Snodgrass, who deserves the Bonehead Move of the Week for his efforts to elude authorities. When police came looking for Snodgrass at a construction site, he decided to make a mad dash for safety. And he ran all the way to a Port-A-Potty, probably the last place in the world I would want to hole up for a standoff.
Officers surrounded the Port-A-Potty and after a few minutes Snodgrass emerged. Police are not sure if Snodgrass thought the Port-A-Potty was a clever hiding place or if he really had to go to the bathroom.
Halfway across the globe in the country of Pakistan, things went horribly wrong at Dawood Engineering College. That?s where students from rival campus organizations engaged in an all-out brawl. The several-day confrontation was filled with fistfights and even included a brief spat where furniture was sent airborne in catapult fashion.
Curiously enough, the free-for-all began over which group should get credit for putting up posters around campus encouraging students not to fight.
Amid the purse snatching and campus violence, I?d like to end this week?s playful banter with a story of inspiration and hope. It?s the tale of Mickey the dog, who was missing from his family for four years before he was discovered earlier this month some 1,100 miles away.
Thanks to a microchip identification system, a veterinarian in Billings, Mont., was able to locate Mickey?s family in Lee?s Summit, Mo.
The family says Mickey looks a little rough around the edges and doesn?t remember his name, but otherwise seems happy to be back. There was even a homecoming celebration in his honor.
So how did little Mickey, a Boston terrier, travel so far from home? I suppose only Mickey will know that information. I understand his interview with Don Imus has been canceled.
Local Bi-Lo won?t be casualty in restructuring
It?s been a rocky month for grocery giant Bi-Lo, which has closed four stores in the past month, including three in the greater Chattanooga area. That?s not exactly promising news after recently announcing a restructuring plan and naming a new regional vice president.
To further fuel speculation, Bi-Lo?s parent company, Lone Star Funds, announced on Tuesday that the entire Bi-Lo grocery chain is on the market. In all, it?s approximately 230 supermarkets in four states, including our store in McMinnville.
Naturally when I hear this type of news, I think the worst. But Bi-Lo spokeswoman Joyce Smart told me there?s no reason to panic.
?We have no plans to close the McMinnville store,? Smart told me. ?From a customer standpoint, this should be a seamless transition.?
Over the past five years, the rumors have certainly swirled around the Bi-Lo chain. If you recall, it was a year or two ago that Lone Star sold 113 of its Bi-Lo and Bruno stores to Southern Family Market. While I don?t know about the overall health of that deal, I do know the Southern Family Market in Manchester was promptly shut down.
Smart says she doesn?t know when Bi-Lo may be sold or who may eventually buy it.
?It?s sort of like putting a house on the market,? said Smart. ?We don?t have any idea how long it might take.?
The Bi-Lo stores that were recently closed were located in Lookout Valley, Athens, Cleveland and Summerville, Ga.
Unique gift shop opens across from library
If Main Street is looking to attract new and exciting businesses downtown, Britt?s House of Body and Gifts is a good place to start. Owner Leann Redmon just opened her neat, little shop on Tuesday and it?s packed with all sorts of gift ideas from homemade body lotion to John Deere tractor memorabilia.
The store, located across from the library, is an offshoot of Sandy?s Gifts on Main, which is in the process of closing because owner Sandy Elwood is moving to Ohio.
?I really like a lot of Sandy?s stuff and there?s a whole group of people in McMinnville who like it too,? said Leann. ?She?s not closing her store for lack of business. She?s closing it because she?s moving out of state so I think it?s proven it can be successful.?
While Leann has a large amount of Sandy?s inventory, she?s also going her own way and putting her personal stamp on the business. That all starts with a wide selection of homemade candles, body wash and body lotion.
She also carries a wide selection of outdoor flags and wind chimes, picture frames and Mary Engelbreit items that are hard to find.
?One of my main objectives for the store is to provide a place where you can find a gift for anybody ? your brother, your sister, a friend,? said Leann. ?You can get an inexpensive gift here for anybody. It?s not just a woman?s place.?
If you?re looking for an unusual gift, Leann has candle mugs that serve two purposes. You can burn the candle, then wash out the mug and use it for coffee or other drinks.
Britt?s House of Body and Gifts, which was named for Leann?s daughter, Brittni, is open Tuesday thru Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The phone number is 474-BRIT.
Nutrition club is here to help with weight loss
For people who struggle with alcohol or drugs, there are support groups available where they can go to talk to folks in similar situations. However, it?s hard to find such a support group for weight-loss issues.
That?s one of the reasons Mike Boyd and Gayle Yates Miller have opened Body ReDeZine at Plaza Shopping Center. For folks looking to drop a few pounds or reshape their body, the new business is a great place to start.
?Being overweight is an addictive behavior,? said Mike. ?The most successful help programs follow a pattern that people need to talk to other people. It?s one thing to do that over the phone, and it?s another thing to have them come in here and talk about it in person.?
Body ReDeZine provides a relaxing atmosphere where folks can kick back on a sofa or check their e-mail on a laptop. There are also electronic body analysis tests that can be conducted to monitor progress.
The business relies heavily on the Herbal Life products, which are now sold in 66 countries. Mike has been an Herbal Life representative for 26 years and has recently relocated here from Sacramento, Calif.
?In this country, like in so many countries, there is a desperate need for proper nutrition and weight loss,? said Mike.
One of the backbones to the program is a nutritious Herbal Life shake which comes in a variety of flavors. Customers can either buy the supplement and make shakes at home, or stop by the store and have shakes made for them. There?s also energizing tea and fresh pastries available.
Gayle can vouch for the product herself and has the pictures to prove it. Known far and wide for her skill with scissors, Gayle has trimmed down from a size 12 to a size 2-4 and has lost 55 pounds overall. To make the story more impressive, Gayle has maintained that weight loss for two years and she looks great.
?You just have to try the shakes to understand how good they are, and good for you,? said Gayle of the shakes which are high in nutrition and fiber, yet low in calories.
For more information, call Body ReDeZine at 507-5673. The business is located in suite 121 of Plaza Shopping Center and is open six days a week.
Waterfront property developed in Rock Island
I?ve been keeping a close eye on all the upper-class real estate developments popping up in this area, and I?m here to report there are many.
These developments are significant for a number of reasons, chief among them the fact that people who can afford $350,000 to $500,000 homes are flocking to the Upper Cumberland region. Even if it?s only on a part-time basis, these families are bringing money to Warren County and that can only be a positive thing.
Ryan and Reece Moore of Supreme Building Products fame have added another development to the list with their project called Rock Island Bay. Phase I of this development offers 11 waterfront lots with spectacular views and is only minutes from Rock Island State Park.
?Our goal was to do an upscale waterfront development that resonated with our target audience of Nashvillians and baby boomers,? said Ryan. ?Homes will feature lots of outdoor living and open floor plans for spending time with family and friends.?
Plots start in the low $100,000s and Ryan says new homes must have a minimum of 2,000 heated square feet. He anticipates strong interest in phase I and is already making preliminary plans for phase II.
While I certainly don?t want to jump on the bandwagon and proclaim this area a ?retirement community,? I have come to appreciate the philosophy that every little bit helps. It?s for that reason I?m embracing developments like Rock Island Bay that transform low-dollar property into million dollar communities. There is no substitute for jobs, but this does help.
That?s all folks
Since people have been reluctant to phone in business tips, I?m going to try some reverse psychology. Don?t call me this week with your business tips. Whatever you do, don?t call me at 473-2191.