Camp fee is $60 per person for each 3-day camp. For more information about the Longview Tennis Camps, please call instructor, Steve Pelletier at (901)340-1133 or e-mail pelletier17@gmail.com. Register in person at Longview or call (615)302-0971, ext. 10. All fees must be paid in full to secure placement in a camp, and there is a 4-player minimum per class.

Gubernatorial, 4th District Congressional, and 64th District State House candidates will make remarks. There will be a straw poll.

Cost is $5.00 per person. Children 12 and under are free. Reservations are by check. Make check payable to Maury County Republican Party and mail to the party at P. O. Box 1882, Columbia, TN 38402. Call Republican Headquarters at (931) 388-5505 for more information.

In case of rain the event will go forward in a covered facility on the Children’s Home campus.

A native of Columbia, TN, Cody Clark is a 16-year-old, straight A student at Columbia Academy. He has been competing in Cowboy Mounted Shooting events since 2001, when he began his career in the non-shooting Wrangler division. Cody Clark is now youngest Men’s Level 6 competitor and the youngest to hold a world record!

Riding a registered 8-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding named 86 Gin, Cody set a new World Record on CMSA course # 52 at the Stetson Summer Classic, in the historic Lazy E Arena located in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The Stetson Summer Classic is one of the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association’s major events, featuring the toughest cowboys and cowgirls in the nation. Cowboy Mounted Shooting involves mounted competitors engaging balloon targets with single-action revolvers loaded with special blank ammunition at breakneck speed, and Cody has become one of the fastest young champions in the nation. The Colt Eliminator is one of the most exciting and competitive events produced by the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association around the world. In the Eliminator contestants compete in three separate go rounds with only the top contestants in each category returning to the next round, and hopefully to the third and final championship round.

In the first round of the Colt Eliminator, Cody nearly broke the world record on Course # 51, called the Cross Over Rundown, set by in 2008 by Chad Little, who owns more records than any other mounted shooter. Cody ran a 10.763 just missing the previous world record by only .038 of a second, on his way to winning the go-round. In the second round of the Colt Eliminator, Cody broke through and smashed the world record with a blistering fast 17.907! The first time a sub-18-second run had ever been made on the pattern and taking an astonishing .117 seconds off the previous record, also held by Chad Little of Maple Plain, Minnesota.

For more information about the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association or to view video of Cody’s historic ride visit www.cowboymountedshooting.com.

Mikala Curless, born in China in 1997

Proceeds to help local sisters travel to China to work with handicapped children who cannot be adopted

For one night only, on July 17, 2010, SAE Institute Nashville with support of The Old School Theatre, local businesses and artist will be hosting a silent auction and benefit/ variety show to help the Curless sisters to raise travel funds.

Mikala and Gianna Curless, through Sowers International, have been invited to return to the orphanages they were adopted from to work as caregivers for the handicapped children that cannot be placed for adoption.

Sowers International is a non-profit organization that partners with Asian orphanages to provide caregivers. The Curless sisters will provide English lessons, art lessons, sports and recreation, etc. as well as rocking infants, cleaning and laundry.

In addition, while at the orphanage the Curless sisters will present two shows featuring the dance steps they have learned at The Tennessee Dance Arts Conservatory (TDAC).

Your monetary donation at the door will help pay for the Curless sisters airfare. Come out for a grand show, silent auction and a great opportunity to support these sisters at Old School Theatre, located at1220 School Street in Spring Hill.

Gianna Curless., born in China in 2001

Doors open at 6:00 pm with opportunity to view and bid on the silent auction items. Pre show begins at 6:30 and the main event begins at 7:00.

Performances by:
Middle Tennessee Mass Choir Troupe
Carter Hamrick
Herrick
Emily Hrivnak
Jeremy Parsons
Conrad Jones Karate Studio
Rebecca Lamoreau
Mikala and Gianna Curless
David Moore

Emceed by:
Bernard Porter and Molly Smith PCG

With the Support of:
SAE Institute Nashville
Old School Theater
Great Wall Adoption Agency
Conrad Jones Karate Studio
Porter & Gentry (PCG)
Hit man Records
Tennessee Dance Arts
Conservatory

For more information or to donate items for the silent auction please contact Rhonda Arakaki-Langley at 615.244.5848 or r.arakaki@sae.edu

The fifth annual Sales Tax Holiday is scheduled for Friday, August 6 and continuing through Sunday, August 8. The Department of Revenue is reminding Tennessee shoppers that during these three days of savings, you can save almost 10 percent on tax-free clothing, school and art supplies and computer purchases.

“The annual Sales Tax Holiday was designed with Tennessee families in mind,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “The holiday provides much needed savings for all Tennessee shoppers and prepares children for success by making sure they start the first day of school properly equipped with items they need.”

The holiday begins Friday, August 6 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, August 8 at 11:59 p.m. During the designated three-day weekend, consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on select clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less.

“Last year’s tax-free weekend was extremely successful in giving back to Tennesseans, providing nearly $8 million in tax savings to Tennessee families,” said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. “We are hopeful that all Tennessee shoppers will enjoy the immediate relief of the 2010 Sales Tax Holiday.”

Please visit the Sales Tax Holiday Web site at www.tntaxholiday.com to learn more about the items exempt from sales tax. The Tennessee Department of Revenue also assists consumers via e-mail, Salestax.Holiday@TN.gov, and through its toll-free statewide telephone hot line, (800) 342-1003. Staff is available to answer questions Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. (Out-of-state and Nashville-area callers, please dial (615) 253-0600.)

In a continued effort to promote Tennessee’s sales tax holiday, the Department of Revenue has launched a new dedicated facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TNTaxHoliday.

Examples of exempt items include:
· Clothing: Shirts, dresses, pants, coats, gloves and mittens, hats and caps, hosiery, neckties, belts, sneakers, shoes, uniforms whether athletic or non-athletic and scarves
· School Supplies: Binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, pens, pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, rulers and scissors
· Art Supplies: Clay and glazes; acrylic, tempera and oil paints; paintbrushes for artwork; sketch and drawing pads; and watercolors
· Computers: Central processing unit (CPU), along with various other components including monitor, keyboard, mouse, cables to connect components and preloaded software (Note: While the CPU may be purchased separately, other items must be part of a bundled computer package in order to be eligible.) iPad’s are eligible for tax exemption, video games and consoles are not.

When Chapmans Crossing subdivision was approved as a PUD, the approval included a walking path in the subdivision parks. The walking path in the west side park was to include two bridges across Aenon Creek which flows through the park. The bridges would allow for walkers on both sides of the creek. However, for some unknown reason, the park was approved with the walking path on only one side of the park with no bridges. The plan also included a walking path in the northeast section of the subdivision, around playground equipment. No walking path has ever been built in that park. Neither have any of the homes planned to be built north of that playground, been built to this point. The street to access these homes has not been built either. The only evidence of any future plan is a large construction dumpster at the end of the street.

Following the flood of May1 & 2, the crushed rock walking path next to Aenon Creek was washed away, picnic tables and benches were moved from their foundations, some trees were uprooted and debris littered the park. Homeowners worked to restore the park to the pre-flood condition. However, when City Codes inspected the repairs, the failure to comply with the original PUD plan was discovered.

Homeowners are requesting that the current condition of the west side park be accepted and the City not require the two bridges with the walking path on the other side of Aenon Creed. They also requested the east side park not be required to have a walking path since sidewalks are already adjacent to the park. Final resolution of this issue may take some time since the developer, Old South, is believed to be insolvent.

By Charlie Schoenbrodt

Spring Station Middle School would like to welcome all new residents to Spring Hill. New Williamson County residents of the Spring Station area may stop by the school between 9:00-11:00 and 1:00-3:00 to pick up a registration packet.

Spring Station Middle School will open with roughly 700 students, grades 6th – 8th. The new middle school sits off Buckner Lane on Spring Station Drive. Students from Heritage Middle and Page Middle will soon have the privilege of establishing new traditions as a Spring Station Mustang.

Paula Pulliam will serve as the principal of Spring Station. Paula has worked for Williamson County for 17 years. Most recently as the Principal of Heritage Middle School. She brings with her a great deal of experience and a true love for middle school students and their learning. Paula is hard at work making Spring Station a place where students and faculty will feel at home and will take pride in being a “Mustang.” Serving as Assistant Principal will be Timothy Drinkwine. Timothy has worked for Williamson County for 4 years and also brings with him a desire to see students progress as productive learners and citizens.

The staff of Spring Station looks forward to a great inaugural year and working with the community to establish traditions that will become a part of this school for years to come.

For additional information please visit the Spring Station website at www.wcs.edu/sstms or call 472-5080.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue is reminding Tennesseans affected by flooding and other effects of the severe storms in early May of recent legislation enacted by the General Assembly providing Tennessee sales tax relief for qualified individuals who must replace damaged or destroyed items or restore residences. Eligible items include major appliances and residential furniture used in the individual’s primary residence with a purchase price of $3,200 or less per item, and building supplies used for restoration of the individual’s primary residence with a purchase price of $500 or less per item.

Individuals receiving disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a result of the flooding and severe storms that occurred in Tennessee between May 1, 2010 and May 8, 2010, may request a refund of Tennessee sales tax paid on eligible items purchased between May 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2010.

“The Department of Revenue is supportive of this new legislation,” said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. “We are pleased that we can play a small role in responding to the needs of Tennesseans and the damages that occurred due to this tragedy.”

Qualified individuals must submit receipts showing sales taxes paid on eligible items and may file only one claim for refund. The maximum amount of refund available to any one residence is $2,500. The last day to file a claim with the Department of Revenue is Nov. 30, 2010.

Items eligible for refund must be purchased directly by the individual receiving FEMA assistance except when an individual hires a contractor to install an eligible item. The contractor must charge the individual for the items and for the Tennessee sales tax paid on the items.

Any individual submitting a claim for refund will be asked to provide documentation verifying the assistance they received from FEMA. The Natural Disaster Claim for Refund form and detailed information on claiming a refund is available at www.Tn.gov/revenue.

The Department of Revenue may assess a civil penalty up to $25,000 against any person that knowingly files a false or fraudulent claim for refund.

It seems to me that on most people’s 18th birthday they do make plans to register to vote. A smaller number actually do register. It is a simple process. But then the difficult part starts, and even fewer actually go to the polls to cast their vote. All of this is just what I said at the beginning, “the way it seems to me.” The next part is fact. The highest percentage of registered voters to actually vote is in the Presidential election. A smaller percentage vote in State elections. An even smaller percentage vote in local elections. What a sad commentary this is, primarily because a voter has the most influence on the elected candidates in the reverse order.

How many registered voters can pick up their phone and call the President to tell him how they feel about pending legislation? It is quite easy to call an Alderman, Councilman, Commissioner, or even the Mayor. And if several others call one of them, a change in their vote on an issue is more likely. Some might say that they can e-mail the President. But how many of those actually get a response from the President. Maybe an intern might send you a message telling you what the President thinks about your concern. Do you really believe the President even hears about your message? Lobbyist has become a dirty word in some people’s minds, but every American citizen should be a lobbyist. Starting with local officials and moving up to the President, more and more constituents are needed to influence the elected official. Locally, only one may be needed.

I am in the process of reading one of the most significant books in American history, The Federalist Letters. It was written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Hamilton and Madison were members of the Constitutional Convention. Jay was not, but was one of the principal negotiators of the Treaty of Paris and became Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Confederation. He became the first Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court and later the Governor of New York. Hamilton had been a close adviser of George Washington during the Revolutionary War and became the first U. S. Secretary of the Treasury. James Madison was recognized as the “Father” of the Constitution, and became the fourth President of the United States.

The Federalist Letters break down and explained the reasoning of the men who composed our Constitution. They encouraged ratification of the Constitution by the 13 states. Throughout these letters, a common theme is evident, that the people should not be submissive to the government, but rather, the government is to be submissive to the people. They clearly assert that all just powers derive from the consent of the governed. Those who cast votes are, in fact, forming the government that is to serve them. This is true at all levels, Federal, State, County, and Municipal.

During the election of November 2008, almost 80% of the registered voters of Middle Tennessee cast ballots. If history repeats itself, and it usually does, less than 50% will vote in the upcoming election of our new Governor. We will also be electing Congressmen and many County officials. Many have said that the election of November 2010 will be the most important election of our lifetime. I believe that. I was not alive during the Great Depression. We are now living in a time of the greatest economic problems since that Great Depression. We need to insure that our Congressmen reflect our values and bring the national spending under control. Our State has recently survived on the “free Federal stimulus money” that has been ballooning our national debt to unimaginable totals. In 2011, those Federal stimulus funds will cease. Our State, Counties, and local governments will be faced with monumental financial responsibilities.

Unless, we the people, for whom our government is to be responsible, meet each candidate, support the best ones in every way possible, and vote in the next elections (both primary and general) we may wind up with an even worse problem than we have now. Make the time to attend meet and greet gatherings, welcome candidates into your home or subdivision community rooms, watch the debates on TV, talk with neighbors who have met the candidates, try to personally meet and talk with as many candidates as possible, call or e-mail with your questions or concerns to the candidates. Don’t be caught at the polls voting for someone you know nothing about. Please prepare yourself to choose to exercise your right to vote. You owe it to yourself and to the next generation of Americans. We are “One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all,” only if we each do our part.

By Charlie Schoenbrodt

You can listen to Charlie and his guests on radio station WMRB AM, 910 the Duck every Tuesday afternoon from 4 to 5 PM. Anyone interested in being a guest on ‘Spring Hill on the Rise” should contact Charlie. Suggestions and comments are always welcomed.

The City of Spring Hill announce the selection of Don Brite as Chief of Police. Chief Brite has a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Middle Tennessee State University and seventeen years of Law Enforcement Experience. Chief Brite has been employed with the city of Spring Hill since 2007 currently serving in the rank of Lieutenant and recently filling the position of Interim Chief of Police since the resignation of John Smith May 7th.