Beware of killers who place personal ads
You’ve got to watch out for those personal ads, you know the ones where “a bright, attractive SWF seeks someone to share long walks on the beach and candlelight conversation.”
Here at the office, we’ve always had a big laugh about those ads, especially a few years back when a Standard employee got extremely serious about this “great” girl he met on the Internet. I won’t embarrass the poor fellow by calling him by name, but I will say while he was busy falling in love with a girl he met in a personal ad (a girl he had never seen), we were busy getting big laughs.
We were all convinced this so-called “attractive and fun 20-something female” was actually a bald, middle-aged and overweight man. The romance sizzled out before the two ever met and I consider that a good thing because you never know what’s on the other end of a personal ad.
The personal ad for a former Florida librarian is the perfect example. The former librarian, William Coday, brags in his online personal ad about his world travels, compassion, and love of poetry and classical music. Sounds like a distinguished gentleman doesn’t he.
However, the ad does not mention Coday was convicted of murdering two girlfriends in 1978 and 1997 – both with hammers. The ad also conveniently forgets to mention Coday is in jail awaiting a jury’s decision whether he gets the death penalty for the latter crime. I’m sure these are details which just happened to slip Coday’s mind when he was writing the ad.
As for other matters of foolishness, I’m going to take a break this week and get straight to work. There is business news out there to report.
Deal finalized to bring Hastings to town
A deal that’s been talked about for months and months has finally been closed. That’s good news for Warren County residents who like books, music and movies – and I’d say you would be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t like at least one of the three.
Hastings will locate a store in McMinnville at one corner of Northgate Shopping Center. The store will be across from Fred’s and behind Ryan’s. There’s currently dozer work being done at the site to get the beginning stages of construction started. The store is scheduled to open around the first of the year.
“It’s going to be nice, an asset to the town,” said property owner Harold Martin, who hammered out the lease agreement.
Hastings is going to spend $550,000 to construct a 16,000-square-foot building. Hastings officials would have preferred a 20,000-square-foot store, but there wasn’t enough room available for a building that size.
Hastings operates 140 stores in 21 states, including five existing stores in Tennessee. Folks who travel out of town to shop may be familiar with Hastings stores in Tullahoma and Murfreesboro.
Hastings is a multi-media entertainment retailer combining the sale of books, music, software, periodicals, new and used DVDs, videos and video games with the rental of videos, DVDs and video games. If it has to do with electronics, chances are you can find it at Hastings.
While the addition of Hastings will give Warren County a unique, new store, I hope it doesn’t take away too much business from established stores such as Wizard’s and Bookland. Hopefully there will be enough business in this town for everybody.
Janie and Burgess Luna take back Pish-La-Ki
When it comes to finding someone to purchase or successfully manage Pish-La-Ki, owners Burgess and Janie Luna haven’t had a bit of luck. Burgess and Janie came in the office this week to tell me they had to get rid of the people who had been running their mountain-top restaurant because those people didn’t know what they were doing. Combine that with the fact they weren’t paying the bills and the Lunas realized it was time for a change.
There’s good news and bad news that comes with the Lunas running Pish-La-Ki again. The good news is with Janie back up there, Pish-La-Ki will actually be a place to go eat again because you know the food and service will be done right. The bad news is Burgess and Janie have two restaurants to manage when you add Pish-La-Ki to Planet Pizza.
“We’re liable to be divorced in six weeks,” joked Burgess.
But the extra work for Burgess and Janie benefits everyone else in the community because when they’re running the amphitheater, decent bands actually come to town. Case in point is Creedence Clearwater Revisted, which is coming for a Labor Day concert at Pish-La-Ki Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. The concert caps a three-day bash over Labor Day weekend which includes a bike show Aug. 31 and a variety of bands and all-day activities Sept. 1.
The big band, however, is CCR. Most of us probably remember CCR for hits such as “Proud Mary,” “Susie Q,” “Down on the Corner,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Born on the Bayou.”
Three-day passes are available by calling 668-2010 or 507-4444, or by stopping by Pish-La-Ki or Planet Pizza.
Elaine Goodman starts own business
Elaine Goodman spent 28 years of her life working for Womack Printing. It’s a job she loved at a place she loved to work, until health problems forced her to leave.
Elaine said there are some sort of fumes at Womack Printing which were conflicting with her emphysema and preventing her from breathing. And when it comes right down to it, breathing is one of those things that’s pretty important. With that in mind, Elaine decided she could no longer continue working at Womack Printing and now has a business of her own called EFG Design.
“It’s something I hated to do because I’m going to miss my customers so bad,” said Elaine about her departure from Womack Printing. “I’ve got over 20 years experience in professional typesetting and can do all kinds off setup and layout work. Anything you can think of – poems, mailing labels, certificates – I can do it.”
Elaine says she can design logos, business cards, business forms, newsletters, invitations, graphs and booklets, just to name a few. She can be reached by phone at 473-7511 or by e-mail at wedg@blomand.net. She will also pick up your order and deliver it back to you.
“Everybody is so busy nowadays,” she said. “You need every little bit of help you can get.”
GoXtreme almost ready to get started
Several folks have asked me about large building on Morrison Road being constructed next to Grace Temple Assembly of God. The 8,000-square-foot building stands 20 feet tall and it stirred interest thanks to a yellow sign by the road which says, “Future home of GoXtreme.”
What exactly is GoXtreme? It’s going to be a big-time recreation center which includes pool tables, ping pong, air hockey and eight TVs hooked up to various video games. There’s going to be food and concerts and a place to shoot basketball.
“We want to send a positive message that Christians can have fun too,” said Brandon Black, who is one of the main people behind the project along with his dad, James Black, and youth minister Jason Kight. “McMinnville needs a good, clean hangout. We didn’t have anything like this when I was in school. We’re trying to give people in this town something else to do.”
The immense project is being financed by Grace Temple Assembly of God but Brandon wanted to emphasize you don’t have to be a church member to come out and have fun at GoXtreme. The facility will be geared toward teens, although age limits have not been set. Black indicated he didn’t want to discourage anyone from enjoying GoXtreme if that’s what they want to do.
An opening date has tentatively been set for Friday night, Aug. 9.
New computer store is on the way
If you have computer needs, then a new business called Jencolie Consulting may be a place you want to check out. Owners Jennifer and William Smith have leased the space next to Gondola which used to be the home of Satellite World. They are currently getting the store ready and Jennifer says they should be open by Aug. 12.
Jennifer is a computer engineer while William is an electrical engineer. They will offer programming, repairs, upgrades, networking and custom-built computers. Jennifer says they can do computer repairs, even to computers struck by lightning.
“Most people unplug their computer from the outlet during a storm, but they don’t unplug it from the modem,” she said. “You would be surprised at the damage that can take place coming through the phone line.”
If you have computer work you need done, you can call Jennifer or William at 273-7244 or at the store at 474-7241. Jencolie is not officially open but Jennifer says she’s ready to start helping customers.
That’s all folks
Whew! Now that was some business report. Keep those tips coming because I’m a firm believer you never can have too much business news. And it’s always better to have too much than to have too little. Give me a call at 473-2191 or send me an e-mail at standard@blomand.net.