For big fun in Tullahoma, just look up
For anyone wanting to see some high-flying aerial maneuvers, you haven’t missed out yet. Festivities at the Tullahoma air show will take place all day today at Tullahoma Regional Airport so you have plenty of time to grab a tall Sundrop, load up the car, and head that way.
Without a doubt, one of the memorable aerial performances is that of wing walker Kyle Franklin, who risks his life to climb onto the wing of a flying biplane. The act requires nerves of steel. It takes guts, and yes, it takes even a little bit of stupidity to climb onto the wing of a flying plane.
That said, you can see why I wanted to give it a try. And shazam, to my surprise, Kyle said I could go right ahead (well, not really but play along with my little Business Pulse game).
I even took along little Benjamin because he just looooves airplanes. I figured he would really like to walk out on the wing. I even captured the historic event on film and have it available for all of you to see (thanks to some handy computer work from our graphics guru Seth Wright).
And in case you’re wondering, I don’t like all this stuff in parenthesis either. I remember the good, ol’ Business Pulse days when I could just carry on and tell a tall tale and everything would be all right. Most folks knew I didn’t have my own Christmas CD for sale and they knew there was never a giant inflatable gorilla on top of the Standard with my face on it.
Since I’m not a fisherman, it was my version of going fishing. You had to figure I was stretching the truth just a bit. Unfortunately, not everyone got the joke and some folks thought I actually duct taped my own baby. Hence the need for parenthesis.
As for weird Business Pulse news that’s not fabricated, this report is just in. KFC, the world’s largest chicken restaurant chain, has announced a plan which it says will guarantee the humane treatment of its birds from hatchery to slaughterhouse.
Whew, that sure lifts a concern off my shoulders. I’d hate to think those birds were being mistreated before they were killed.
And speaking of birds, how about the lawsuit from a West Palm Beach, Fla., woman who is suing the county because she says she was attacked by a 3-foot goose.
The woman, 30-year-old Darlene Griffin, says she was standing near a pond in a public park when the goose suddenly decided to take out its aggressions on her son. Good mother that she is, Darlene jumped in between the two, but the goose bit her foot in the process.
To make it all better, now she wants money. She says the county should have known better than to let a goose run free. The county has countered by saying it had no obligation to warn park patrons about possibly hostile geese.
Locke’s Green Hill Market has great plans ahead
Yesterday was the last day of business for Locke’s Green Hill Market in the store that’s been located on the corner of Green Hill Road and Smithville Highway for the last 50 years. That store will be torn down this Thursday and a bigger and better Locke’s Green Hill Market will be constructed in its place.
“We’ve been wanting a new store for awhile,” said market owner Darrell Locke. “We thought about selling this place and buying another store somewhere else. But the good Lord was looking out for us and we were able to buy some property right next door so we will be expanding this place.”
Locke’s current market is a 30 x 60 building. When finished, the new market will be 60 x 60.
“A lot of people said we shouldn’t tear down this place because it’s such a landmark,” said owner Tina Locke. “We were just going to add on, but with the roof line the way it is, we would have had trouble.”
The building has a good bit of history in the Dibrell community. It was first built in 1953 by Clinton Gribble who owned and operated it as a general store. He sold it to his brother, Howard Gribble, and the store has changed hands several times since then.
After Howard Gribble, it went to Earl and Ephel Green, then to Sam Green, and then to Vernice Dunlap. It was Vernice who sold it to Darrell’s parents, Wayne and Edna Locke, in 1976. They owned the store until selling it to Darrell and Tina in 1990.
Asked what keeps bringing people into his store, Darrell didn’t hesitate. “It’s the food,” he said. “And when we expand, we will have even more. Whatever they want, we’ll have it for them.”
Locke’s is known for its great-tasting breakfast items and I am one to vouch for that. Tina fixed me up with a breakfast fit for a king Thursday morning. If I was giving a brief review of the food, I would say “Ummmmm, good.”
The down side to demolishing the current store instead of adding on is that Locke’s will be closed for business for about three months. They have set Sept. 15 as the day they would like to reopen.
Union Planter donates building
In a show of generosity, Union Planters Bank has donated the building next to its main office to the Main Street McMinnville program. The building will be dedicated to W.S. “Dad” Lively and be used as a photography museum.
“This has been in the back of our mind for awhile,” said Union Planters president Glyna Lee. “They’ve already been using the building for about two years so we know they’re serious about it. This is something that’s going to be a neat place and it’s something we wanted to do.”
It sounds like a great idea to me. I’m thinking if I can give Union Planters a good enough write up, they might donate a building to me. I can at least put that thought out there.
The Lively Museum has been spearheaded individually by Jimmy Haley, Bruce Atnip and Wilma Atnip. They have spent countless hours remodeling the museum building and collecting Lively photo memorabilia.
Main Street officially adopted the Lively Museum as a project in 2001 and mark your calendars because there are currently plans for a Lively Photo Festival in 2004.
Eagle’s Nest hopes to soar in new location
I’m glad to see Don and Lynn Kriegel have found a new location for their business on Chancery Street across from the Century 21 office. They used to be located at the far end of Main Street in what’s generally not considered a shopping district and they say business wasn’t too good at that location.
That’s why I always stress the three main rules of business: location, location, location. Don and Lynn have some really neat stuff in their store, now called The Eagle’s Nest, so I hope it does well.
“We like to have unique pieces,” said Lynn. “And we’ve been doing better here. It’s really a good location. We love the old house. It’s the perfect spot for an antique and used furniture shop.”
Added Don, “The good-quality used furniture seems to be going the best.”
If you want to stop by The Eagle’s Nest, it’s not hard to find. Don and Lynn do a good job of attracting attention by moving some of their items outside and they also have a flashing red light. They have some pretty interesting odds and ends you might want to check out. Their phone number is 507-1313.
That’s all folks
That’s all the business news I could dig up this week. Remember to watch out for geese and be sure to read next week’s column. Why? Well I don’t really know why at this point, but it’s a column you won’t want to miss.
Give me a call at 473-2191 or send me an e-mail at [email protected].