Best reason for not voting: The dog ate my ballot
If you’ve ever made an excuse for not voting (“It’s too long a wait” or “My vote won’t make a difference”), there’s a South Dakota man who has got your excuses beat. And, believe it or not, he happens to be a politician.
The man is Bob Sahr and his story goes like this: His wife is pregnant and the due date is right at the Nov. 5 election. Since she might be in the delivery room, and unable to vote Nov. 5, she was sent an absentee ballot. Why the woman didn’t just early vote is beyond me, but maybe they’re not smart enough in South Dakota to do that yet.
Anyway, before Sahr’s wife could retrieve the ballot from the mail, so the story goes, one of their family dogs got to the letter and ate it. If Sahr is in fact issued a replacement ballot, it will likely be the first time in history this modification of the famous “dog ate my homework” excuse has actually worked.
And since we’re on the topic of animals, I thought I would mention the latest attraction at Kansas State University. The new addition, sure to draw people from far and wide, is what is now known as the Kansas State Insect Zoo.
Before I get started, let me interject my personal opinion. Life must be pretty slow out there in Kansas to devote an exhibit to the magnificent mosquito. I often search for new and exciting things to do myself, but examining rare breeds of cockroaches has never popped into my mind.
The folks at Kansas State are proud of their new insect zoo, promoting it with fancy literature and catch phrases. According to university information, the entire family can enjoy “several exotic species of cockroaches that are featured in a walk-through display simulating an underground environment of a tropical rain forest.”
What I want to know is who is writing this brochure information and who is going to pack up the family to see a bunch of bugs? They don’t want me visiting their new zoo because if I see one of their so-called exotic cockroaches, I’m going to step on it. And if one of their rare mosquitoes flies my way, I’m going to grab something and swat it.
Last but not least, to put the finishing touches on my odd, strange and curious animal stories, let me tell you about a Thailand woman who lived in a box with 3,400 scorpions for 32 days. The woman, Kanchana Ketkeaw, now officially holds the world record for longest stay in a room full of scorpions.
Here’s the burning question I get from that story: Why is there a world record for longest stay in a room full of scorpions? If that’s going to be recognized, I want some publicity for longest stay in a room while holding a glass of milk in one hand and a bottle rocket in the other.
The room was 130 square feet and the woman was stung nine times. She says the venom has little effect on her because she has built up an immunity over the years after being stung hundreds of times.
Now for important matters – this week’s Business Pulse.
Thrift store moves down the street
For anyone wanting discount clothing, like blue jeans for under $5, the Senior Center Thrift Store is the place to go. The thrift store just moved to a new location and had its grand opening on South High Street Monday, but it’s almost like a totally new business in my opinion.
I didn’t know much about the thrift store tucked away in its former Blue Building location. It was hidden away, out of sight and out of mind. Now it’s in a somewhat prominent location with an actual storefront and business has really picked up.
“We’ve been so busy, it’s been a shock,” said store manager Mary Helen “Tootie” King. “We can’t keep clothes on the racks they sell so fast. The window is empty because everything I put in the window has sold. And we’re putting out clothes every hour.”
It’s great to see the store doing well because all profits benefit the Senior Center and some very worthwhile programs such as CARES (Caring About Rural Elderly Society), RAPP (Relatives As Parents Program), and Sunny Day Adult Day Care.
CARES is a program to help rural elderly live independently and with dignity by offering grocery shopping, medicine pick up and other delivery services. RAPP works with relatives who are being forced to raise the children of a family member, usually due to unfortunate circumstances.
As for prices at the Senior Center Thrift Store, items start at 10 cents. Most shirts and slacks are priced between $1.99 and $3.99. There is clothing for everyone from infant to old man and there’s much to choose from.
“We’ve gotten eight or 10 bags of clothing already today,” Tootie said Friday afternoon.
Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations are accepted until 2 p.m. each day and any senior who wishes to volunteer to work is urged to do so. The store number to call is 235-0117.
Is a new cookie store coming to the mall?
I’ve heard rumblings there is interest in re-opening the cookie shop in Three Star Mall. Mall officials tell me someone interested in leasing the space has stopped by two or three times to look it over, but no deal has been finalized.
The store would stay a cookie shop but I’m sure there will be a number of different items offered than the previous cookie shop. Of course with any cookie shop, your main item is going to be cookies so that won’t change.
I don’t know the likelihood of the deal going through, but I have my fingers crossed. And since we’re on the subject of the mall, still no word yet on any nibbles for the former Kmart space.
Security Federal adds two new employees
With Ray Talbert and John Duncan off to start their own bank, Security Federal has made moves to replace them. Security Federal CEO Joe Pugh announces the hiring of Eric Golden as the bank’s new chief financial officer and Scott Holmes as a new loan officer.
Golden has 11 years of experience in all areas of bank operations. He is a Warren County native and holds bachelor of science degrees in finance and economics from David Lipscomb. He is also a graduate of the Tennessee School of Banking. Eric and his wife, Nancy, have a 6-year-old daughter, Allie, and a 3-year-old son, Isaac.
Holmes has a solid background in both lending and branch management. He also holds the distinction as the Warren County resident who most closely resembles Titans coach Jeff Fisher.
Scott will work to expand the bank’s retail loan portfolio through customer lending. He is a graduate of MTSU and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management. He is a past president of the Warren County Homebuilders Association, as well as a former chairman of Leadership McMinnville.
Scott and his wife, DeDe, have an 8-year-old son, Garrison, and a 4-year-old daughter, Emmalia.
Donald Hillis moves out to the bypass
Donald Hillis has moved his realty and auction business from Chancery Street out to the Highway 55 Bypass at its intersection with Old Shelbyville Road.
“I like it because a lot of my clients are older and it’s real easy to pull out with red-light access to stop traffic,” said Donald. “We feel like over the next 10 to 15 years this is going to be the next hot spot so we want to be here where the action is.”
Donald is having a nice brick building built and it’s still around two months away from completion. Until that building is up and running, he’s doing business out of a trailer located in front of the new building.
As for the old Hillis Realty location on Chancery Street, Dr. Brad Blankenship has expanded his practice, McMinnnville Family Clinic, and it now completely fills that building. Previously, Blankenship and Hillis Realty shared the space.
That’s all folks
That’s all the business news I could think to print. Give me a call at 473-2191 or send me an e-mail at [email protected] with any business news you want in the paper.
If you’ve got business news you don’t want in the paper, well then don’t give me a call.