As mayor, I promise an ice cream truck
The big news in McMinnville is there doesn’t appear to be many folks who are eager to challenge Mayor Royce Davenport for his job. The Standard even ran a front-page story in Wednesday’s edition talking about how all the people rumored to be running for mayor have decided not to enter the race.
As you might expect, a growing number of concerned citizens have contacted me about running for mayor (and never mind the fact they are my mother and my wife). Truth be told, it would be fun to run for mayor and demographic surveys show I’m a real hit with women ages 18-36. OK, so in my own mind I’m a hit with women ages 18-36.
The one problem with this whole “Clark for Mayor” campaign is I don’t live in McMinnville city limits. Of course with the way the city is annexing property, I might be a McMinnville resident come election time in November. I wouldn’t have any city services, but that’s never stopped the city from annexing property before now has it.
As your candidate for mayor, I’d have a platform that’s hard to beat. I’d lower taxes, improve education, and fight to make WastAway add an “e” to its name.
As your mayor, I would battle crime, get meth off the streets, and issue even more tickets to sheriff’s deputies parked in front of the courthouse.
I’d let city employees write letters to the editor without fear of losing their jobs. I’d rent out police radar guns to youth league baseball teams to generate extra city revenue. And I wouldn’t pay $70,000 to put a bird bath, I mean a fountain, downtown.
Yes if I were mayor, McMinnville residents would live life under a rainbow. I’d promise a city-run ice cream truck to bring joy to children. I’d open a shelter in my own backyard to adopt homeless pets.
Forget about running for mayor. I should run for pope.
As for somewhat serious matters, I am disappointed former Mayor Norman Rone has decided not to run against Royce. I say that because his candidacy would settle a long-running feud here at the office.
We here at the Standard had taken sides when we heard Norman was going to seek re-election. I maintain the political machine known as Royce Davenport would have beaten Rone to remain mayor. But there are a number of folks who don’t agree with that opinion and think Rone would have won.
Seeing as Davenport isn’t the one who backed out of the race, I think I won that little debate. But since the two won’t go head to head, I guess we’ll never know for sure.
So without any more subliminal messages (Clark for mayor in 2008), I bring you this week’s Business Pulse
Ace now offers discount cards
Most of us have probably heard of Kroger cards or Bi-Lo cards we give to the cashier when it’s time to check out. Now the friendly folks at Ace Hardware have their own card too.
Signing up for the plan is simple (it takes about two minutes) and in return you automatically get $5 off a $25 purchase. The rest of the time you accumulate points when you shop at Ace. And when you spend $250, Ace sends you another $5 gift certificate.
“Every time I need something, I’m here,” said Donald Jennings, a loyal Ace customer. “I wish I would of had this card when I bought my sink and my cabinet. That would have gotten me some points.”
Donald said he signed up for the program as soon as he heard about it, which was about two week ago. Store owner Lindsey McGregor said that’s been a common reaction as folks have been eager to sign up for the program.
“I’d say 90 percent of our customers want a card,” said Lindsey. “It’s a good deal. Nationally, Ace has over 1 million members.”
Another nifty perk is 100 store items are discounted each month. This month, for example, a 25-foot tape measure that’s regularly priced at $9.79 is available for $7.49 – but only to Ace card holders.
I know what you’re thinking and I’ve wondered this dozens of time while shopping at other stores that provide a special discount only to card holders. Why can’t stores offer the cheaper price to everyone? Why do you have to present a special card with a bar code?
It’s because these stores want to analyze everything you buy in secret laboratories. They want to know how many two liters of Pepsi your family drinks in a week. They want to know if you’re buying any suspicious products that would link you to terrorism. In short, they are spying on your every purchase as if you opened the front door and invited them into your home.
So sign up for your Ace card today! I got my card Friday morning when I stopped by the store. All that stuff about secret agents analyzing your every purchase is probably just garbage. And besides, you can save $2.30 on a tape measure.
City’s busiest corner gets another business
The intersection of Smithville Highway and the bypass is McMinnville’s busiest corner in my estimation. But it’s also been a corner which has struggled to hold down a steady business since the Texaco station closed years and years ago.
It’s no fault of property owner Tom Duggin who has tried to land a big-time business for that location. The problem has to do with state and federal agencies which won’t release the property due to environmental issues since it was previously a gas station.
That bit of bad fortune has turned into good news for Barry Tanner, who has now leased the property to sell those popular mini motorcycles and scooters. Barry said he got the idea after owning one of the motorcycles for his own personal use and quickly selling it.
“I saw it on the Internet and bought one,” said Barry. “I was riding it around and it didn’t take long before someone wanted to buy it. So I sold it and this business went from there.”
Now Barry has several types of motorcycles available from the ninja style to choppers with the tall handle bars. They range in price from $350 to $650 for the motorcycles and the scooters start at $199.
“I want to keep the cost down so people can afford them,” said Barry, who also services the motorcycles.
Barry said because of their size, the motorcycles aren’t legal on city streets. He said they will go between 20 and 30 mph depending on how many double cheeseburgers the rider has recently eaten. In other words, heavier riders will go slower.
Friday was the first official day for Barry to set up on the corner and the motorcycles were drawing quick interest. There were several people cruising the lot and asking questions and Barry was confident it wouldn’t take long before the cycles started selling.
Barry said his plans are to rent the corner lot for as long as possible. If the environmental issues are one day resolved and he has to move, he says that’s OK too.
Get the picture – there’s a new photographer in town
Centertown resident Jamie Kay Slatton had been doing most her photography work from a studio in Woodbury. But she wanted to be closer to home – and her six kids – so she now has a studio being constructed next to her house. The studio isn’t complete, but Jamie Kay is already hitting the Warren County area looking for business.
“I’m still pulling a lot of business from Woodbury,” said Jamie Kay, who has been taking professional pictures for six years. “But I’m beginning to get more business from here.”
Much of that has to do with the fact a variety of Jamie Kay’s pictures are on display at Medley’s Diner in Centertown. And despite what you might say about owner Billy Medley, there’s no denying the fact Medley’s Diner has great food and usually stays packed. And although I don’t always like to admit this, Billy is a good guy too.
As for Jamie Kay, she’s switched to all digital photography equipment which is so convenient and it also gives the customers more options.
“With digital, I can take the same picture and print it any way you like it, color, black and white, or antiqued,” said Jamie Kay. “It’s so easy, I usually print it all three ways anyway to give the customers more of a choice.”
One thing Jamie Kay would like to improve his her wedding business. Last year, she did 21 weddings and worked virtually every weekend during the summer. This year, the wedding work has been much slower.
Jamie Kay says high school seniors and small children are her favorite subjects to photograph. She’s available for studio work or on location. Her phone number is 939-4655 or you can reach her by cell phone at (615) 542-1191.
New restaurant is a bit out of the way
If you live in Irving College or Dibrell, Out of the Way Market and Deli really does live up to its name. But if you live in the Jacksboro area, Out of the Way Market is actually rather convenient.
The new market, which just opened Monday, is located on Old Shelbyville Road just before its intersection with Jacksboro Road. It’s been a popular spot for country stores in the past.
This time owners Debra and Jeff Lancaster and Nick Bain have some fresh ideas and some tasty cooking. The most innovative of those ideas is that they are delivering pizza within a five-mile radius of the store. That five-mile radius actually stretches pretty far, all the way down to Whispering Hills subdivision in one direction and to Nashville Highway in another. That means folks who live out in the middle of nowhere on McQuade Circle, for example, can now have pizza delivered to their door. It’s hard to believe.
“We’re trying to hit as many subdivisions and residential areas as we can,” said Debra.
While the pizza delivery aspect has not nearly reached its peak, the business inside the restaurant is already starting to pick up. “We get a few more customers each day,” said Nick. “Some of these farmers around here are coming in two and three times a day.”
Beginning today at 11 a.m., Out of the Way Market will have its first Sunday buffet. Beginning Monday, they will start serving hot plate lunches to accompany their burgers, chicken sandwiches and subs.
For more information, or to call the market to order a pizza, the phone number is 939-4650.
That’s all folks
Give me a call with all your business news and don’t forget I’ll surely be a city resident by 2008. That’s when the “Clark for Mayor” campaign will really gain steam. And, as always, I’ll appreciate your vote.
Oh, and about that business news, give me a call at 473-2191 or send me an e-mail at [email protected].