Business Pulse: Not even chicken costumes are safe
I was watching the Nashville news Friday night when a report came on about the theft of a chicken head. But it’s not what you might think. This was actually a chicken head from a chicken costume being worn by a Chick-Fil-A employee during a restaurant promotion in Franklin.
What makes this story really weird is the fact someone would steal a chicken head in the first place and that the theft took place while the employee was wearing the costume at the restaurant.
According to reports, a white male between 16 and 20 ripped the chicken head off the Chick-Fil-A employee and made a mad dash to his car for a successful getaway. The question I have to ask is what kind of world are we living in when a man can’t walk around in a chicken suit? Have we sunk so low as a society that not even chicken costumes – in use – are safe.
I know I’ll never forget when I was living in Nashville about 10 years ago, I went to great efforts to beautify the outside of my house. I went down to a nearby creek and gathered several large rocks to place around one of my flower gardens.
I thought it looked pretty nice and I was proud of the fact I was able to improve my yard. Then I came home one day and discovered someone stole my rocks.
Folks, let me tell you if there are people out there who will steal rocks, there are people who will steal anything. So, truth be told, this chicken head theft shouldn’t surprise me.
What does occassionally surprise me (although it shouldn’t) is the intelligence of America’s criminals. I just love the report I saw about a Denver bank robber who thought he had the perfect plan.
The man, Merle Hatch, robbed the bank in long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. But underneath that clothing he was wearing a tank top and jogging shorts. He planned to get the money, change clothes, and then make his escape by acting like a jogger.
However, his plan began to unravel when, for reasons unknown, Hatch changed his clothes directly in front of the bank and it was witnessed by all the bank employees. They called police and gave a description of a jogger carrying a bag of money and Hatch was quickly apprehended.
That story just beats out the ill-fated adventure of Florida man Aravis Walker, who thought it would be funny to ride around and toss fireworks at pedestrians. However, you could say Walker’s plan backfired in a horrible way when one of his fireworks blew back into his back-seat window.
That firework ignited the rest of Walker’s fireworks causing his car to explode. In a sad sidenote, he didn’t survive.
This week’s Business Pulse is probably not that explosive, but I hope it fulfills all your excitement needs.
Carrier rumors haven’t cooled off yet
Once again I’m beginning to get a steady flow of questions about Carrier as rumors are apparently flying at the plant.
I had several folks call me Thursday wondering what the big announcement was going to be in Friday’s newspaper. Apparently word made its way around the factory that the Standard was going to have a prime-time Carrier story.
First, let me say when it comes to major industries such as Carrier and Findlay and A.O. Smith, etc., etc., those companies are awful when it comes to talking to the newspaper. Any morsels of information they supply have to be pried from their lips. In other words, they’re not going to call me to chat and share business information.
The big question Carrier workers are asking is, “Did the deal to buy the Carrier building fall through?” The answer to that question is no.
P&R Trading has officially bought the building and the deed is on file at our local register of deeds office. Considering the building only sold for $2 million (that’s pocket change in the industrial world), there’s really no reason to think the deal would fall through in the first place.
As for whether Carrier plans to leave later than first announced, that is a possibility. I keep hammering away with that question and company officials won’t give me an answer. I do know with the lease Carrier now has on the building, they can stay there as long as they want.
Nice tools at wholesale prices
When I heard there was a new business opened in Centertown called Wholesale Tools and More, I got a mental image in my head. I pictured a place with cheap tools selling for rock-bottom prices.
But as Gomer Pyle liked to say, “Surprise, surprise, surprise.” When I made the trip to Wholesale Tools and More, I found high-quality, name-brand tools at reasonable prices.
Owner Ernest Martin is serious when he says his store offers tools and more. He has, among other items, chainsaws, gas grills, lawnmowers, trimmers, window air conditioners, air compressors, tool boxes, welding equipment, garage door owners, work benches, and much more.
“So far, everybody who has stopped in has been fairly well pleased,” said Ernest. “From the way most people react, they are happy at the prices.”
The business is located on Pigeon Hill Road in the building which briefly housed a feed store several years back. Ernest, who does nursery work, bought the building four or five months ago and had been wondering what to do with it. He said a preacher friend gave him the idea of selling tools and it’s an idea he latched onto.
The phone number is 939-2383.
Lea Taylor joins family business
It’s easy to like pharmacists for the simple reason that when we’re sick, they give us the medicine that makes the pain disappear.
Lea Taylor is finding life as a pharmacists isn’t always that peachy after graduating from college and joining her dad, Whit Taylor, at McMinnville Drug Center. Lea graduated from the University of Tennessee in Memphis in May with a doctorate in pharmaceutical medicine. She joined McMinnville Drug Center in July.
“It was my first or second year in college when I thought about how convenient it would be to come back and work for dad,” said Lea. “But I’ve worked here doing one thing or another all the way through high school.”
I remember Lea from her soccer days at Warren County High School back when I used to cover the sports beat. Now that she’s graduated high school, finished college, and landed a job in the “real world” it sure makes me feel old.
Lea says she likes helping customers who she’s seen at church or at ball games or from around the community. But she also says being a pharmacist is no magic pill of happiness.
“The public can be mean,” said Lea. “I got thick skin quick. It’s mainly people upset their insurance won’t pay for something and we have nothing to do with that.”
Black has Smokin’ Gun when it comes to paintball
Around a month ago, I told you about a paintball business that had opened on Rivercliff Drive. The hobby must indeed be gaining popularity because Ryan Black has opened a paintball store called Smokin’ Gun Paintball. It’s located behind Ace Hardware on 101 Mullican Street.
“Go ahead and check the other places and then come see me,” said Ryan. “Because I’ll sell it cheaper.”
In addition to his business, Ryan also operates a paintball field in the Midway community. He says he and his friends have games there every other Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
In addition to being a paintball enthusiast, Ryan also repairs the guns. “It’s kind of like working on a car,” said Ryan when asked if it is difficult to fix paintball guns. “Sometimes there is something very obvious and sometimes it’s very difficult to figure out the problem.”
Ryan wanted to stress his paintball business is Christian owned and operated. He says he will open his store and paintball field by appointment only. He says you can call his cell phone at 224-6285 and he can usually be at either location in about 15 minutes. There is no charge for using the paintball field.
That’s all folks
Anyone wanting to get in touch with Kindermusik instructor Paddi Smith, I listed an incorrect phone number is last week’s column. The correct number is 815-2528.
For anyone wanting to get in touch with me to report business news, the number is 473-2191.