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STROLLING ALONG THE AVENUE
Upscale retail destination offers full shopping experience
WAITER, I’LL HAVE A SIZZLING STEAK
Explore the plethora of palate-pleasing restaurants
Build It, They’ll Come
Hotel and conference center will open in fall 2008
SPONSORED BY THE RUTHERFORD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE
2008 | IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM | VIDEO VIGNETTESTM
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CONTENTS
FEATURES
ON THE COVER Photo by Brian McCordPublic art, The Avenue Murfreesboro
12 STROLLING ALONG THE AVENUEThe Avenue Murfreesboro is a chic new retail address with an open-air design.
16 IT’S A SQUARE DEALMany businesses along Murfreesboro’s Public Square have been here for decades and continue to thrive.
20 ATTEN-HUT!The Tennessee Army National Guard maintains a strong and important presence in Smyrna and Murfreesboro.
22 UP-AND-COMING CULTUREWhy drive to Nashville? Rutherford County has plenty of cultural offerings.
24 WAITER, I’LL HAVE A SIZZLING STEAKRutherford County restaurants are anything but run-of-the-mill.
51 WHERE THE WILD THINGS AREToddlers fl ock to the Wild Things recreation program at Murfreesboro’s Barfi eld Crescent Park.
55 PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRSThe symphony orchestra in Murfreesboro changes its name and tries a new approach.
2008 EDITION | VOLUME 22TM
OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE
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ACTION! ADVENTURE!
AT IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM
THE MOVIETHE MOVIEImages of Rutherford CountyImages of Rutherford County
STARTS TODAY!
WORLD WIDE WEBSHOWTIMES VALIDMONDAY-SUNDAY 24/7
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT ANY RESEMBLANCE TO PLACES, EVENTS OR QUALITY OF LIFE IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY IS PURELY INTENTIONAL!
““RUTHERFORD COUNTY RUTHERFORD COUNTY LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN
SEEN BEFORE!SEEN BEFORE!””
““IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!””
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DEPARTMENTS
8 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Rutherford County’s culture
28 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Rutherford County
34 Image Gallery
49 Education
53 Health & Wellness
57 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know
RUTHERFORD COUNTY BUSINESS36 Build It, They’ll Come
The Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center is scheduled to open in fall 2008.
38 Biz Briefs
41 Chamber Report
43 Economic Profi le
TM
OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY
31
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SEARCH OUR ARCHIVES Browse past issues of the magazine by year or search for specifi c articles by subject.
INSTANT LINKS Read the entire magazine online using our ActiveMagazine™ technology and link instantly to community businesses and services.
EVEN MORE Read full-length versions of the magazine’s articles; fi nd related stories; or read new content exclusive to the Web. Look for the See More Online reference in this issue.
A GARDENER’S PARADISETennessee is a great place to garden. We have long growing seasons, abundant rainfall and a mild climate in which many different kinds of plants thrive. Find out more at imagesrutherford.com.
BARBECUE: A SIMPLE SOUTHERN PLEASUREOne of the simple pleasures of Southern dining is the down-home barbecue experience. No matter where you go, you’re bound to fi nd barbecue prepared just right.Get a taste of regional cuisine at imagesrutherford.com.
What’s Online More lists, links and tips for newcomers
IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM
VIDEO 1 INSIDE LOOK Join us on a virtual tour of Rutherford County through the lenses of our award-winning photographers at imagesrutherford.com.
VIDEO 2 MAKING MUSICListen to the banjo pickin’ of Rebekah Weiler, the fi rst female to win the Old Time Banjo Contest at the Fiddlers’ Jamboree. Visit imagesrutherford.com.
VIDEO 3 HARVEST DAYSExperience the revelry at the Harvest Days and Fiber Festival at Cannonsburgh Village. Visit imagesrutherford.com.
ABOUT THIS MAGAZINEImages of Rutherford County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Rutherford County tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.
“Find the good – and praise it.”– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder
jnlcom.com
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WEB SITE EXTRA
MOVING PICTURES PLUS
Visit Bumpus
Harley-Davidson
of Murfreesboro
for the largest
selection of new
and pre-owned
motorcycles in
our area.
With a vast
selection of genuine
Harley-Davidson
motor clothes, gifts,
parts and accessories,
Bumpus Harley Davidson
is your one-stop
shopping spot for any
motorcycle enthusiast.
BUMPUSHARLEY-DAVIDSON & BUELL
2250 N.W. Broad St.Murfreesboro, TN 37129
(615) 849-8025www.bumpusharleydavidson.com
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Enrolling Right Along
And the winner is: Middle Tennessee
State University, now the largest
undergraduate university in the state.
The Murfreesboro university had
an enrollment of more than 23,000
students during the 2006-2007
school year. It recently surpassed
the University of Tennessee-Knoxville
as the state’s enrollment leader.
Reasons for high enrollment at MTSU
include its location in the middle of the
state, affordability and programs not
offered in surrounding states. Those
popular programs include recording
industry management, aerospace and
horse science curriculum.
Creating the BalanceEach September,
about 200 women
gather at the
Rutherford County
Women’s
Conference,
organized by the
Business Women’s
Council. The council
is a Rutherford
County Chamber
of Commerce
organization, and
the conference – “Creating the Balance:
Leadership Strategies for Women” –
gives local businesswomen an opportunity
to network, learn, discuss and grow.
The keynote speaker in 2007 was
Cordia Harrington, president and CEO
of the Tennessee Bun Co. Along with
a keynote speaker, the conference
always features several session leaders
who offer education and support tips
to businesswomen on a variety of
business-related topics.
Thanks a MillThe Readyville Mill operated continuously from the
1870s until the early 1980s. Today it’s in need of repair,
and a renovation effort has been launched to save the
once-flourishing building. When it was thriving, the mill
produced corn meal, refined flour, whole wheat flour and
buckwheat flour.
The mill site includes nearly four acres on the east
fork of Stones River. In 2007, the Center for Historic
Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University
prepared and donated a preservation plan for the mill
in its dilapidated state. A Middle Tennessee organization
known as PARQ – Preserve the Area’s Rural Qualities – is
leading a preservation fundraising effort to save the mill.
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Fast Facts The Linebaugh Public Library
System has been recognized for its services to Spanish-speaking patrons. Hispanics now make up 5 percent of Rutherford County’s population, so the library hired three translators in 2006.
For just $50 a year, families can visit the Sam Davis Home and Museum as many times as they want. The Sam Davis Home and the Oaklands Historic House Museum are the only historic residences still open to the public in Rutherford County.
Rutherford County is consistently ranked high on the list of fastest-growing job markets in the United States.
Uncle Dave Macon Days celebrates old-time music and dancing the second weekend of July. The 2008 festival will be the 31st annual.
The county is home to 20 companies that have at least 500 employees each, led by Nissan with 5,700 and Rutherford County government with 4,150.
SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Rutherford County, visit imagesrutherford.com.
Strokes of GeniusNow that’s a big painting.
Local artist Erin Anfinson, an assistant professor of art at Middle
Tennessee State University, was commissioned in 2007 to paint a large
mural that now hangs at The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and
Rutherford County. She painted historic Civil War scenes of significance
that once took place in Rutherford County, and her mural is titled
“The Time That Changed Everything: Murfreesboro’s Civil War Era.”
The painting was completed on stretched canvas that measures
8 feet by 18 feet. Scenes depicted in the mural include the Sam Davis
Home, Oaklands Historic House Museum, Bradley Academy and the
Stones River National Battlefield.
Lovely La VergneDevelopers are taking a good
look these days at La Vergne,
thanks to the city’s continued
residential growth.
The city is in a good location
in northern Rutherford County,
where growth has been steady for
the past five years. To encourage
more commerce, the municipality
lowered its impact fee in 2005 to
give developers a break. The city
has also been overhauling major
intersections at U.S. 41
(Murfreesboro Road), to make
these corner properties more
enticing to developers.
One key interest to commercial
and retail developers in La Vergne
is Lake Forest, the state’s largest
residential development that will
eventually contain as many as
5,000 homes.
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Almanac
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Into the OutdoorsThe great outdoors are pretty great in Rutherford
County, and they’re getting even better. The city
of Murfreesboro is home to the 137-acre Richard
Siegel Soccer Complex and Community Park, which
includes 10 lighted fields, four youth fields, one
lighted championship field with stadium seating,
basketball courts, a cross-country course and three
walking trails. Another outdoor attraction that’s
getting a lot of use these days is the Murfreesboro
Greenway System, which allows residents to walk,
run, bike or inline skate along the Stones River and
Lytle Creek. Smyrna is expanding its parks system
and working on a greenway, and some of the best
fishing tournaments in the state are held at Fate
Sanders Marina on J. Percy Priest Lake. The city
of Eagleville also has a greenway project in the
works, and La Vergne is home to Veterans Memorial
Park – that city’s main outdoor gathering place.
Murfreesboro StarChris Young is a country music star, thanks
to a TV competition that launched him to fame.
In May 2006, the Murfreesboro native competed
in the nationwide “Nashville Star” singing
competition on USA Network – and he won.
Young was awarded a recording contract with RCA
Records, which resulted in his self-titled debut album
in October 2006. His first single was called “Drinking
Me Lonely,” which
quickly climbed
the charts.
Young also
received a new
Chevrolet truck
for winning
the television
competition, along
with an opportunity
to perform on the
legendary Grand
Ole Opry. His
second album
will be released
in the spring.
Making the GradeWith nearly 37,000 students enrolling in 2008,
the Rutherford County school system is the sixth
largest and fastest-growing in the state, and it’s
adding 2,000 new students every year – or the
equivalent of one new school a year.
The system received all A’s and B’s in the latest
Tennessee Report Card on Education, which rates
schools on various effectiveness measures.
“We’re in the top tier – very few districts can boast
these kinds of scores,” says James Evans, spokesman
for Rutherford County
Schools. Evans credits
the federal No Child
Left Behind Act with
giving the curriculum
a new focus to ensure
students test well.
But equally important
is reaching kids
with innovative
programming that
will motivate them to
stay in school and give
them skills they can use
for the rest of their lives.
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Almanac
PHOTO COURTESY OF
RUSS HARRINGTON
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RUTHERFORD
Shelbyville
Journey to the PastThe Sam Davis Home in Smyrna was built along the banks
of Stewarts Creek in 1820. These days, the two-story home and
museum on 160 acres is a real-life reminder of how Southern, upper
middle-class families lived in those days. Samuel Davis was a young
soldier who joined the army before Tennessee had officially
seceded from the Union. Eventually captured and accused of
being a spy and a courier of enemy papers, the 21-year-old soldier
refused to divulge his sources. His last words are said to be,
“I would die a thousand deaths before I would betray a friend,”
and he was hanged on Nov. 27, 1863. Visitors to the Sam Davis
Home can see a documentary video about Davis’ life and take
a guided tour through the nine-room main house, the original
kitchen, smokehouse, overseer’s office and privy. Authentic
Middle Tennessee slave dwellings can also be seen on the site.
Clear Skies Ahead
Interested in aviation? You’re
in good company.
A group in Murfreesboro
belongs to the Experimental
Aircraft Association Chapter
419, which has monthly
meetings at Murfreesboro
Municipal Airport. Many of the
EAA members own personal
aircraft, while other members
are simply aviation enthusiasts.
Another EAA group in
Middle Tennessee is Chapter
162, which has 50 members and
meets each month at John C. Tune
Airport in Nashville. That chapter
also has some long-standing
members who live in
Rutherford County.
Rutherford County | At A GlancePOPULATION (2007 ESTIMATE)Rutherford County: 229,380Murfreesboro: 92,559Smyrna: 32,197La Vergne: 27,373Eagleville: 472
LOCATIONRutherford County is nicknamed the “Heart of Tennessee” because it is in the geographic center of the state, 20 miles southeast of Nashville along the I-24 corridor.
BEGINNINGSThe written history of Rutherford County dates back to 1776 when it was settled during the Revolutionary War. It was formally established as a Tennessee county in 1803.
FOR MORE INFORMATIONRutherford County Chamber of Commerce501 Memorial Blvd.Murfreesboro, TN 37129Phone: (615) 893-6565Fax: (615) 890-7600www.rutherfordchamber.org
SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Rutherford County at imagesrutherford.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.
RutherfordCounty
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UPSCALE RETAIL DESTINATION OFFERS A FULL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Avenue Along
Strolling The
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O ct. 17, 2007, was a red-letter day for Middle Tennessee shoppers, who gave their credit cards a workout at the opening of The Avenue Murfreesboro – the city’s chic new retail address.
“At 4 o’clock on grand-opening day, more than 75 percent of the entire shopping center lot was filled,” says Angie Carter, The Avenue’s general manager. “This is one of Middle Tennessee’s best emerging markets, and we have had strong reaction from the consumers around here. They were looking for this type of shopping experience, and retailers felt that Murfreesboro was ready.”
The Avenue Murfreesboro– a concept of Atlanta-based Cousins Properties – features an open-air, pedestrian-friendly design that attracts sophisticated national retailers and restaurants as well as unique local merchants and eateries. So far, there are eight Avenue developments, most in the Southeast. Cousins partnered with Faison Enterprises, headquartered in North Carolina, on the 810,000-square-foot, $150 million Murfreesboro project.
“We saw the confluence of a number of factors,” says Mike Cohn, Faison’s senior managing director. “We saw a market with great growth, we saw a great site and we saw a market that had a significant number of retail needs that either weren’t being served or were being served in a very unconsolidated way. Thus, we had the opportunity to deliver a large, multipurpose, consolidated project.”
The center is anchored by Belk department store and big-box retailers such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Best Buy. Other well-known tenants of The Avenue Murfreesboro include Hollister, American Eagle, Ann Taylor Loft, Talbot’s, Victoria’s Secret, The Children’s Place, Coldwater Creek, Stride Rite, Yankee Candle, Harry & David, Chico’s and Linens-N-Things. Restaurants along The Avenue Murfreesboro entrances include Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Mimi’s Café,
STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALDPHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD
The Avenue Murfreesboro has opened its doors, with 110 stores projected by completion.
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Longhorn Steakhouse and Chili’s. The development will eventually be home to more than 110 retailers and restaurants.
Holly Sears, Vice President economic development with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, calls The Avenue Murfreesboro “a key component” of Murfreesboro’s Gateway, a large commercial district born in 1998 when the city purchased about 400 acres between Stones River Mall and Thompson Lane. In 2003, Middle Tennessee Medical Center bought 68 of those acres as the future site for a health-care campus. Two years later, Medical Center Parkway opened, stretching from Broad Street near downtown to a new interchange on Interstate 24. The Avenue Murfreesboro is at the interchange, along with the 10-story Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center, scheduled to open in the fall of 2008.
“We are very excited about the synergy that’s going to happen between the two properties,” Carter says. “People at the hotel and conference center will be able to come here and enjoy a dinner and shopping and be able to relax after a conference. We feel that it’s absolutely a win-win for both projects.”
Carter stresses that The Avenue Murfreesboro isn’t just about shopping, however.
“We offer a whole Avenue experience, with a grassy area right outside some of our quick-food options,” she says. “Families love that area.”
The Avenue Murfreesboro also features Camp Avenue children’s park, where students from five high schools are working with a professional artist to create five tile mosaics depicting different Aesop’s fables.
Many retailers these days are looking to align themselves with similar retailers, Carter says, and the result is a collection of like-minded businesses targeting a similar clientele at the region’s newest shopping destination.
“The Avenue is a reaction from retailers looking for a
The Avenue Murfreesboro features an open-air design that has attracted national retailers and local merchants.
shopping center where they could target an affluent market,” Carter says.
They found what they were looking for here.
The Avenue Murfreesboro is a kid-friendly shopping experience, featuring the Camp Avenue children’s park.
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As new and sophisticated retail
options spring up in
Murfreesboro, the city’s
commercial stalwart, Stones River
Mall, is showing off its $52 million
facelift – a transformation from
a traditional mall to an indoor
and outdoor shopping destination
with a lively retail and dining mix.
“We’re just expanding and
keeping up with this amazing
growth in the area,” says Heather
Hasty, mall marketing manager.
“We’re excited about
strengthening the competition
here. We think that strong retailers
are going to keep people coming
to Murfreesboro instead of
traveling to Nashville to visit
some of their favorite stores.”
Dillard’s and J.C. Penney
demolished their Stones River
anchor stores and built new ones
from the ground up. A food court
Renovations, New Stores Add to MixSTONES RIVER MALL AND SMYRNA CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWING RETAIL SURGE
Stones River Mall in Murfreesboro is undergoing a $52 million renovation. The changes have transformed the site from a traditional mall to an indoor and outdoor shopping destination, which adds to the ambiance and convenience.
with wireless Internet connectivity
opened Nov. 1 where the old J.C.
Penney once stood, while The
Shops of Stones River – an
outdoor collection of retailers
and restaurants joined by covered
breezeways – stands on the
footprint of the old Dillard’s.
“It offers our shoppers truly
the best of both worlds,” Hasty
says. “If it’s a beautiful day, they
can stroll among the stores
outside, and if it’s cold or rainy,
they can come inside and enjoy
shopping, the food court and
the soft play area.”
The children’s play area
“represents old-time Tennessee,”
she says, “with an exact, detailed
replica of the Rutherford County
Courthouse with a slide, a tunnel
and playhouse.”
Smyrna is also enjoying a retail
surge, with a new Kohl’s
department store anchoring
a 600,000-square-foot
development by Colonial
Properties. Smyrna’s residential
and commercial growth,
including restaurants and
hotels, has also given rise to a
14-screen movie theater.
– Sharon H. Fitzgerald
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Take a leisurely stroll around Murfreesboro’s Public Square and you’ll see businesses that have been here for dec-
ades – Mullins Jewelers, Ruby’s Dress Shop, Holden Hardware, Shacklett’s Photography – and continue to thrive. What you don’t see are many vacant storefronts.
“I think that what the downtown has to offer is really a location for the local entrepreneur who wants to invest in the community. It’s a coolness factor,” says Holly Sears, Vice President of economic development for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.
Cashing in on downtown’s trendy vibes are restaurateurs and retailers
selling everything from outdoor gear to stationery, hand-painted children’s furniture to antiques, Murfreesboro-themed Christmas ornaments to f loral arrangements. All have found that a location on or near the historic square lends panache and attracts discrim-inating consumers.
“One thing that we are hoping to see
DOWNTOWN MURFREESBORO ATTRACTS UNIQUE BUSINESSES AND
DISCRIMINATING SHOPPERS
Square
STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD
It’s a
Deal
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Downtown Murfreesboro is home to many longtime local businesses.
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SEE MORE ONLINE | For more information, visit imagesrutherford.com and search “downtown Murfreesboro.”
more of is residential living downtown,” says Mary Beth Wilson, who chairs the board of Main Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford County. “If we have more people living downtown, we think it will in turn attract a variety of businesses.”
The nonprofit corporation, founded in 1985 to revitalize and nurture downtown, hired a new executive director Richard Gabel in 2007 and moved into new digs just off the square. The city-owned building at 225 West College St., named The Heritage Center, is shared by Main Street and the Middle
Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation. Daily walking tours of the square originate at the center and highlight the city’s rich history and distinctive architecture.
“The retail growth in Rutherford County right now is phenomenal, and I am very optimistic that this will enhance retail growth in downtown Murfreesboro,” Wilson says. She predicts that many local and regional shoppers – out to enjoy new commercial additions in Murfreesboro such as The Avenue Murfreesboro and The Oaks
Ruby’s Dress Shop is one of many downtown Murfreesboro businesses that continue to thrive. Left: Stately historic homes, such as this one on Main Street, highlight the city’s rich heritage and distinctive architecture.
Shopping Center – will make their way to the square as well.
“I think in 2008 we will see a lot more traffic moving back and forth from all the different areas of the county toward downtown,” she says. “It is a unique atmosphere downtown now, and we think that’s only going to improve.”
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NATIONAL GUARD’S STRONG PRESENCE CONTRIBUTES TO ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY
Atten-Hut!
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T he Tennessee National Guard maintains a strong and impor-tant presence in Smyrna and Murfreesboro, a fact that
many folks – even those in Rutherford County – may not realize.
Since 9-11, the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard have deployed more than 12,000 troops to the Middle East, and several hundred of those hail from here.
“I don’t think a lot of people in Rutherford County even realize that the National Guard has a big presence in Smyrna and Murfreesboro, but it cer tainly does,” says Randy Harris, director of joint public affairs for the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard. “Since 9-11, many of the Rutherford County men and women in the Guard have ended up overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan.”
This strong National Guard presence also adds significantly to the county’s bottom line and to good works throughout the community.
“The Tennessee Army National Guard means a lot to Rutherford County, both in economic impact and being a good neighbor in the community,” Harris says. “We do a lot of business out of Smyrna Airport, so we are a big monetary con-tributor to the city and county.”
As a community-based organization, the Tennessee National Guard is here to support citizens in a number of ways, including emergencies, says Col. Joe Geren of the Regional Training Institute, a training facility for soldiers.
But members of the Guard also help in ways that don’t get a lot of publicity.
“It’s heartwarming when you go out in military uniform and deliver food to needy families around the holidays,” he says. “That’s the stuff you don’t ever hear about, and a lot of that goes on around here. The small,
community armories are a focal point in many towns.”
While most people think of the National Guard as an organization that responds to tornadoes, hurricanes and other federal disturbances, the Middle East war has awakened citizens to how vital the Guard is to national security, Harris says.
This is the most active time for deployments in the history of the National Guard, and young people – including many from this region – are signing up to serve their country.
“The last couple of years have been exceptional for recruiting,” Harris says. For example, recruiting takes place from September to September, and he says the recruitment goal for 2006-2007 was already met in January 2007.
Thousands of young people have signed up in Tennessee over the last two years, and many of them come from Rutherford County.
“The Army National Guard is com-posed of civilians who typically serve their country on a part-time basis,” he says, “and these soldiers come to the aid of their neighbors during times of need.”
Besides the 269th Military Police Company out of Murfreesboro, the Guard has a number of units based at Smyrna Airport.
“The Guard uses the airport to train its helicopter unit, which operates 60 helicopters with 300 National Guard personnel,” he says. “In all, the Tennessee Army National Guard leases part of the airport to maintain a training center, aircraft and numerous different units with more than 1,200 assigned National Guard personnel.”
The Guard’s presence in Smyrna also includes a maintenance support facility and a medical command post for all National Guard personnel.
STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD
A Blackhawk UH-60 at the Tennessee Army National Guard base in Smyrna Above: The Army National Guard’s Combined Support Maintenance Shop in Smyrna repairs military vehicles from across the state.
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FIND A VIBRANT MIX OFTHE ARTS CLOSE TO HOME
Up
CultureComing
-and-
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Nashville’s world-class symphony, visual-art exhib-its and thriving theater scene are just a short drive away, but there’s no need to leave Rutherford County for top-notch cultural offerings.
Along with productions staged at Middle Tennessee State University, the county is home to numerous community theater groups, a first-rate symphony and a growing visual-arts movement.
Music lovers can take their pick: There’s the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra, with classical, pops and youth-education programs, including many musicians who play in Nashville and other orchestras; Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra, which features the best of the area’s young musicians; the Middle Tennessee Choral Society; the Main Street JazzFest in Murfreesboro each spring; Tennesse Valley Winds; and much more.
Theater in Rutherford County is a “best-kept secret” that’s alive and well, says Lee Rennick, a playwright who’s active in the local theater scene and works for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the Middle Tennessee State University theater department, several other groups – including the Center Players, Murfreesboro Little Theatre and Lamplighters Theatre in Smyrna – regularly put on shows.
“There are so many groups in Murfreesboro because each one has a unique creative philosophy,” Rennick says. “At the Center for the Arts you’ll see more traditional plays, more of the ones you know.”
Murfreesboro Little Theatre tends to be a little more avant-garde.
“They pick up some things from Off Broadway – you’ll see some family productions but also a lot of really edgy plays,” Rennick says.
The Center for the Arts features dance and music performances along with plays and art exhibits – and the visual arts scene is gradually gaining more recognition in Rutherford County.
Housed in a historic Italianate building in the heart of downtown Murfreesboro, the Center for the Arts features an array of exhibitions in the gallery and theater. Youth classes offer instruction in visual arts along with music and theater.
Other arts organizations include the Murfreesboro/Rutherford Art League – a nonprofit that promotes artists and art education – and the Stones River Crafts Association, which typically hosts two art fairs each year.
Patricia Myers, president of the Murfreesboro/Rutherford Art League, says the organization has noticed a surge in interest recently, with 35 new members and several new art exhibitions added to its repertoire in 2007.
“In the past year, we have done quite a bit as far as getting our art shown at local banks and at places like the Center for the
Arts,” she says. “We’re trying to be more visible than we have been, and it’s wonderful to see the fine arts being recognized.”
Arts-related community events are also on the rise, with popular activities such as the inaugural Murfreesboro Arts Journey Tour – a two-day tour of private art galleries – held in April 2007, and the Greenway Art Festival, an annual event in which artists display and sell their work along the trail. The greenway event includes trailside music, food vendors and activities for children – an artistic outing for the whole family.
With such a vibrant arts scene, residents can easily enjoy rich cultural offerings without ever straying far from home.
Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra Left: Center for the Arts in downtown Murfreesboro
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD
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R utherford County restaurants are anything but run-of-the-mill. With a smorgasbord of creative, independent restaurants ranging from upscale eateries to down-home meat-and-threes, dining
here is more than a meal – it’s an experience.One of Murfreesboro’s best-loved family restaurants is
Demos’ Steak and Spaghetti House, which started in Murfreesboro in 1989 and has grown to include locations in Nashville, Lebanon and Hendersonville. Owners Jim and Doris Demos started the restaurant after moving from Nashville to Murfreesboro to “semi-retire.”
“We didn’t want to retire to the mountains or the ocean. We fell in love with Murfreesboro – there was something magical about it,” recalls Jim Demos. “Our intention was to semi-retire and have a restaurant we could manage ourselves. Our son Peter and daughter Felicia have since joined us in the business.”
Demos’ Steak and Spaghetti House specializes in several types of steaks, spaghetti dishes with 10 different sauces, seafood, chicken and salads.
“We make everything in-house – our sauces, salad dressings, and we even grind our own hamburger,” Demos says. “Every
STORY BY JESSICA MOZO
OUTSTANDING CUISINE IS A RUTHERFORD COUNTY TRADITION
Foodof
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Filet and black tiger double shrimp is a menu item at Raz’z Bar & Grill in Smyrna. PHOTO BY ANTONY BOSHIER
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steak is hand-cut on the premises and prepared as if it was a small mom-and-pop restaurant. Being family-owned and operated, we can pay attention to the small details that others can’t.”
The Parthenon Steakhouse is another long-standing, family-owned Murfreesboro restaurant. It was started 28 years ago by the Kyrikos family from Greece. Fourteen years ago, the Darsinos family, also from Greece, took over.
“Our specialties are Steak Diane and rack of lamb, and our filets are excellent,” says Kathy Darsinos, who owns the Parthenon Steakhouse with her husband, Angelo. “We also have an array of salads and sandwiches for lunch. The restaurant is casual and laid back, but we do have white tablecloths, a fireplace and big open ceilings.”
Many of the Parthenon Steakhouse’s customers have been dining there for more than a decade.
“When they come in, we know exactly what they want to drink and eat,” Darsinos says. “Several of our servers have also been here for many years.”
New to the Rutherford County dining scene is a pizzeria called TomatoTomäto, owned by sister and brother team Mollie and Mitchell Murphree. The Murphrees also own the upscale Five Senses Restaurant, which opened three years ago and specializes in fresh seafood and locally grown produce.
“We wanted another restaurant that would appeal to the masses, so we decided on a pizza kitchen,” Mollie Murphree says. “We have create-your-own pizzas and six or seven specialty pizzas named after Murfreesboro streets.”
Murphree’s favorites are the Maney Avenue Pizza and the College Street Pizza.
“Maney Avenue has garlic oil sauce with white beans, country ham, smoked cheddar and red onions, and College
The popular desserts at Miller’s Grocery are made from scratch each morning using real butter and organic eggs.
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Street has four different kinds of mushrooms, blue cheese and tomato sauce,” she says. “They’re awesome.”
All the menu items are made from scratch at both the Murphrees’ restaurants, and they use local ingredients whenever they can.
“Farmers from all over the area supply food to us,” Murphree says.
Originally from Paris, Tenn., the siblings chose Murfreesboro for their restaurants after Mitchell attended culinary school in New York.
“My brother started working in Murfreesboro and thought it was a great, growing town,” Murphree says. “It’s a great place for an independent restaurant. It has all the elements to make a restaurant successful.”
Other area restaurants that offer a one-of-a-kind dining experience include Miller’s Grocery in Christiana, The Omni Hut in Smyrna and Raz’z Bar & Grill, also in Smyrna.
Bon appétit!
Tuna is a favorite entree at Five Senses in Murfreesboro. Above: Demos’ in Murfreesboro is one of the region’s best-loved family restaurants.
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Strumming on the Old Banjo REBEKAH WEILER TAKES TOP HONORS AT SMITHVILLE FIDDLERS’ JAMBOREE
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M iddle Tennessee State University senior Rebekah Weiler breaks the
mold when it comes to banjo players. Not only is she one of the few females who play the instrument, she’s also extremely good at it.
In fact, in July 2007, Weiler became the first female ever to win the Old Time Banjo Contest at the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree.
“I had entered the Smithville banjo contest every year since 2002, and I never even placed,” she says. “But after I played [in 2007], I knew I nailed it. The audience went nuts. The [master of
ceremonies] even asked if I had brought my fan club with me.”
A Murfreesboro native, Weiler began playing the banjo when she was 15.
“I got my first banjo when I was a toddler. It was a red Kermit the frog banjo,” she recalls. “Later I got an actual banjo at age 10, and I was fascinated with it, but for awhile it just collected dust. Finally, I decided to learn to play it.”
Weiler credits her interest in the banjo to her family’s long-standing participation in Uncle Dave Macon Days, an old-time music and dance festival held in Murfreesboro every
July for the past 30 years.“My parents have been involved
with it since it started, so I’ve gone to it all my life,” Weiler says. “It’s the backbone for my music. It has influ-enced me so much.”
Between her classes at MTSU, teaching banjo lessons and competing at festivals throughout the year, Weiler performs regularly with Delmar Holland and the Blue Creek Ramblers, an old-time string band made up of three 70-something male musicians and Weiler.
“They first took me on the road when I was 16,” Weiler says. “They needed a banjo player and saw me competing at a festival. Once they convinced my parents they were harmless, I started playing with them. They took me from a shy kid to who I am now.”
Weiler will graduate from MTSU in December 2008 with a history degree. After that, she’s thinking about pursuing musical opportunities or attending graduate school.
“Playing banjo has opened so many doors for me,” she says. “I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next.”
Precocious Pickin’
Watch and listen as Rebekah Weiler shows
off her banjo skills that won the 2007 Old Time Banjo Contest at the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree. Visit imagesrutherford.com.
WEB SITE EXTRA
SEE VIDEO ONLINE
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College senior Rebekah Weiler began playing the banjo when she was 15 and went on the road at 16.
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Half Marathon Sprints Off
A thousand runners registered for the first half marathon in 2007.
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The Tate family of Murfreesboro are passionate about running, so it
makes sense that they were the force behind The Middle Half, Rutherford County’s half marathon that kicked off its first year in 2007.
“My husband, Miles, runs mara -thons, and our daughter, Natalie, does too. We thought this area needed a half marathon in the fall,” says Melinda Tate, president of the board of directors for The Middle Half. “We met with Parks and Recreation in March and found out they had been wanting to do one too, but didn’t have anyone to spearhead it.”
The Tates stepped up to the plate, and in just six months they were able to organize the first marathon, which was held in September. Middle Tennessee State University, the city of Murfreesboro and Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation helped make it a reality.
“When we opened up registration, it sold out in just 30 days. We had 1,000 runners registered,” Tate says. “We were thrilled because it showed there was a need and a want for it in this area.”
The Middle Half covered 13.1 miles, starting and ending at MTSU and winding through some of Murfreesboro’s most scenic areas, including tree-lined Main Street and the Rutherford County Courthouse, Old Lascassas Highway, Maney Avenue and the historic Oaklands Mansion, and MTSU’s fraternity row.
“We had a lot of community support,” Tate says. “Businesses and groups sponsored water stations, Middle Tennessee Medical Center provided medical attention, the fire station set up a hose people could run through and restaurants donated food at the end.”
Runners from 16 different states ran the race, and local charities were invited to use the race as a fundraising opportunity by organizing teams.
“Special Kids had 40 runners and raised $40,000,” Tate says. “The Governor’s Books from Birth program also had a team and raised money.”
For information on the 2008 mara-thon, visit www.themiddlehalf.com.
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Honoring the Pioneer Spirit
Experience what life was like for pioneers in the South with a visit to
Cannonsburgh Village, a reconstructed pioneer settlement and living history museum near downtown Murfreesboro.
Located along South Front Street, Cannonsburgh Village was built in 1975 as a bicentennial project for 1976. The name Cannonsburgh was the original name for Murfreesboro, and the pioneer settlement is home to several buildings and artifacts representing the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.
“There’s the old Cannonsburgh mill, an 1800s schoolhouse, a town hall and a log house we use for wedding receptions,” says Fred Trujillo, program coordinator for Cannonsburgh Village. “There’s also an old caboose, an 1800s farm shed, a loom house where quilts and rugs are made, an old country store, a doctor’s office and a chapel. We hold about 80 weddings in the chapel every year.”
Cannonsburgh Village is open to the public from late April until December, and self-guided tours are free. The site hosts three big events each year, when visitors can see demonstrations from the pioneer era such as blacksmithing and soap making. The events include Pioneer Days in April, Uncle Dave Macon Days in July and the Harvest Days and Fiber Festival in October.
Uncle Dave Macon Days is an old-time music and dance festival that attracts more than 40,000 spectators and has been rated one of the top 20 events in the Southeast by the Atlanta-based Southeast Tourism Society. The Harvest Days and Fiber Festival features square dancing, clogging, live bluegrass music, weaving, sheep shearing, apple-cider making, hayrides and more.
“Cannonsburgh Village plays a big part in bringing tourism to Rutherford
SEE MORE ONLINE | Take a video tour of the Harvest Days and Fiber Festival at Cannonsburgh Village. Visit imagesrutherford.com.
To learn more, visit imagesrutherford.com and search “Uncle Dave Macon Days.”
County, and it’s part of Middle Tennessee’s history that we want to pass down to future generations,” Trujillo says. “We don’t want to lose our past because it’s a reminder of what people went through to get us where we are today.”
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Uncle Dave Macon Days at Cannonsburgh Historic Village
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Murfreesboro residents have a new way to get where they’re going and
save gas thanks to Rover, the city’s new public bus system.
Rover began service to the public in April 2007 and offers six routes in the city of Murfreesboro. Buses run Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For many Murfreesboro residents,
Rover is a dream come true.“There have been a lot of public-
transportation advocates here for a long time,” says Bob Nugent, director of public transportation for the city of Murfreesboro. “When the city reached a population of 50,000 in 2000, it made us eligible for federal dollars for a public transportation system. It became
obvious that it would be easy to provide public transportation when a large amount of it would be paid for.”
The federal government paid for half the cost of the bus system, and Murfreesboro and the state of Tennessee paid for the other half. In the short time it has been running, Rover has received lots of positive feedback.
“We’ve had requests for more service from day one, and we’re addressing those requests,” Nugent says. “The community has been very accepting. We’ve heard so many stories from disabled and elderly people who before couldn’t get around on their own, and now they can.”
Eventually, when Rover gets more regular riders, the city plans to expand the number of routes and possibly offer service on weekends.
“We have MTSU, and if you look at bigger cities like Nashville, you see a lot of university students using public transit,” Nugent says. “And Murfreesboro itself is growing. We’re over 80,000 people now, and there are lots of new restaurants and hotels starting up.”
For information on fares and bus routes, visit murfreesborotn.gov.
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Rover, the new public bus system
A New Way To Get Around Town
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A Sports Destination
I f sports are your passion, you’ve come to the right place. Rutherford County
hosts dozens of athletic tournaments each year, and the list keeps growing.
“March is a huge month – we had about 40 sporting events in March 2007,” says Barbara Wolke, director of group sales for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. “We are the high school sports capital of Tennessee. Almost all the high school champi-onships are held here.”
Thanks to its central location and excellent athletic facilities, Rutherford County has been chosen to host all but three of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s high school sporting championships, including bowling, boys and girls basketball, golf, volleyball, cheerleading and dance, division one and two football, and the Spring Fling, which includes tennis, soccer, baseball, softball and track and field.
“It began with us hosting girls basketball in 1975, and we’ve hosted boys basketball for the past 18 years,” says Mona Herring, vice president of the Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Because of the volunteer spirit in Rutherford County, we’ve been able to attract many more events.”
Middle Tennessee State University and the city of Murfreesboro have been key players in establishing Rutherford County’s reputation as a sports destination.
“The city of Murfreesboro recently made a contribution to MTSU for a new track and field venue with stadium seating, and it’s in the process of redoing the whole baseball complex,” Herring says. “Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation also has beautiful facilities and helps us with tennis, softball and soccer tournaments. There is a new soccer complex that’s the envy of every other county in the state.”
Bowling tournaments and equestrian events are also held in Rutherford
County. Vanderbilt University’s award-winning team bowls at the Smyrna Bowling Center, and the city was chosen to host the NCAA Music City Classic Bowling Tournament in 2007. The tournament brings 16 collegiate
teams from across the country, and it will be held in Smyrna again in 2008.
MTSU’s Miller Coliseum is where equestrian events take place, including the Lone Star Rodeo in March and Road to the Horse in March. – Jessica Mozo
Rutherford County is a major destination for athletic tournaments, including bowling. Above are the Hixson High School Division I Boys Champions.
Y-WAIT … COME VISIT US TODAY!
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RUTHERFORD COUNTY FAMILY YMCA
205 N. Thompson Ln.Murfreesboro, TN 37129 • (615) 895-5995
• Newly Expanded Nursery• Relaxation/Stretching Room• Indoor Pool with Three-Lane Lap Pool & Outdoor Pool with Slide• 2,300 sq. ft. Teen & Family Center• Skate Park – over 20 Ramps• New State-of-the-Art Wellness Equipment• 65 Group Fitness Classes Per Week• Year-Round Swim Lessons• Youth Indoor Soccer & Basketball• SilverSneakers® Fitness Programs & Socials• Cheerleading/Gymnastics/Tumble Tots• Experienced & Certifi ed Personal Trainers on Staff
NORTH RUTHERFORD YMCARonald Reagan Family Center
2001 Motlow College Blvd.Smyrna, TN 37167 • (615) 220-9622
• 80 Free Group Fitness Classes• Free Microfi t Fitness Evaluation & Wellness Orientation• Year-Round Swim Lessons & Youth Swim Team• Youth Exercise Classes• Hangtime Youth Activity Classes• Leaders Club• Free Nursery• Skate Park• Birthday Parties• Restore Ministries
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Historic Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD
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HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER TO OPEN IN FALL 2008
and They Will Come
T he long-awaited Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center is scheduled to open in the fall
of 2008 – and at least one convention is already booked.
The $70 million complex on Medical Center Parkway, just off Interstate 24, will feature a 10-story, 283-suite hotel along with an adjacent 80,000-square-foot conference center that will be able to accommodate 2,000 people.
“Rutherford County hasn’t been able to host a group larger than 250 to 300 people, but soon we will be able to host 2,000,” says Mona Herring, vice president of the Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Most conventions have groups of 500 or more, so we’ve been out of luck. But that will all change beginning in late 2008.”
The first convention that’s booked is the 2009 Society for Military History Conference, which will take place at the center from April 2-5, 2009.
“A group from Middle Tennessee State University will host that particular conference,” Herring says. “Derrick Frisbee, an assistant professor at MTSU, was very excited to be the first one to sign a contract with Embassy Suites. I’m sure that many more conventions will be generated from MTSU, where a lot of the professors are members of other professional organizations that hold national conventions.”
Herring says Embassy Suites will be responsible for booking all conventions, but the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and the Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau are happy to assist in any way.
“We have already provided the people at Embassy Suites with 30 or 40 leads from convention planners who have contacted us in recent times,” Herring says. “So we are kind of the middle man in the process and are glad to pass those leads to Embassy.”
The construction project is being managed by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels Management Co. LLC – a company known for dev-eloping hotel and convention centers in strategic locations.
“Mr. Hammons tends to build prop-erties around colleges and universities because they are big demand-generators,” says Becky Vealey, director of sales and marketing for Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center. “Plus Rutherford County itself is growing so quickly. Big companies
Build It
STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD
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are located here, and Rutherford County is in the middle of Tennessee and close to the capital city of Nashville. It is an ideal location.”
Herring says the hotel/conference center will create 225 jobs and is expected to generate more than $20 million in revenue each year.
“More news in that location along Medical Center Parkway is that the Chamber, CVB, Small Business Development Center, Business Education Partnership, and the Economic Devel-opment offices are all moving into a new $5.6 million building – right across the street from the hotel/conference center,” she says. “Our new welcome center will be very handy for conference and meeting attendees to come into the chamber building for information about the area.”
A 283-suite hotel and adjacent 80,000-square-foot conference center is under construction on Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro. Below: The new facility is expected to generate more than $20 million in revenue each year.
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OLD COMPUTERS, REBORNRecycling paper and plastic is easy,
but what about that old PC that’s been sitting in storage for the last five years?
That’s where Born Again Technologies comes in. The nonprofit corporation, launched in October 2006, is an affiliate of the Free Geek organization in Portland, Ore. Born Again’s idea is simple: Take older computers that people and companies no longer need, and get them into the hands of organizations and individuals that do – and in the process, keep all those components out of local landfills.
“We hope over time to work with other nonprofits and get computer equipment to people like single parents, disabled veterans – people who other-wise wouldn’t have it,” says Shawn Campbell, president of operations. “This equipment’s not new, but if you’re just using the Internet and maybe typing some Word documents, you don’t need the newest computers.”
The company is busy getting the word out about its services in a variety of ways, including having a volunteer teach computer classes at the local library, and working with city and
county officials to become a focal point of community recycling events. This would benefit everyone in the community, from the end user all the way back through local vendors who would refurbish the machines, Campbell says.
“Why throw a computer in the landfill if someone else has a chance to use it?” he asks. “This is about helping the environment and making technology available for everybody.”
PEDDLING RIGHT ALONGHappy customers and an ever-
growing showroom have made the Peddler a one-stop shop for gifts, interior furnishings and more for 34 years.
The Peddler took over some adjoining space at its Georgetown Square location in 2005 and expanded to a 7,700-square-foot showroom. The store now offers a wide variety of bed linens, household furniture, rugs, wrought-iron beds and more. The enlarged area is also home to the store’s interior-design team, so customers can work with a professional right in the store when they’re looking to enhance their home décor.
Even if someone isn’t looking to
overhaul an entire home, the store is still the place to go for unique accessories. The Peddler is an exclusive retailer for Herend China, Christopher Radko, Byers Choice and Vera Bradley. It also offers personalized service for bridal registries, baby gifts, stationery and jewelry – and it still provides free gift wrap.
“This is our third location,” says Mary Ann Richardson, co-owner. “We started it here, and we’ve just kept it here.”
The moves have always led to bigger and better spaces over the years, a trend that will continue as long as people in Rutherford and surrounding counties stay as loyal as they have over the last three decades, she says.
PIGGING OUT IN MURFREESBORO
Folks tend to be very particular about their barbecue. And for more than a decade, many, many people have been very, very particular about the Slick Pig in Murfreesboro.
Maybe it’s the smoked wings, or the ribs, or the chicken. Whatever it is, they keep coming back, and there’s talk of potential franchises down the road.
The Slick Pig’s culinary success story began in 1995, when John Robinson opened the restaurant. Since he was only 21, his parents came in as partners. In addition to the original East Main Street location, there’s now a Slick Pig on Church Street in Murfreesboro, and all three Robinsons are still serving up the sides and visiting with the customers.
“We’re just blessed here,” says Jerry Robinson. “We get to meet good customers all the time, good people, and we’ve made a lot of friends. We probably fellowship just about as much as we serve food.”
Entrepreneurs in Nashville, White House and other Middle Tennessee locations have expressed interest in a Slick Pig of their own, so is a chain in the offing?
“People have come to us about it, but that’ll be new ground,” Robinson says. “I’m all for any small business person who wants to give it a shot – that’s the kind of thing our nation is built on. If they work hard and take care of their customers, then people will come back and they can make it work.”
The nonprofit Born Again Technologies finds new owners for old computers.
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FLEX-IBLE GROWTHRutherford County is in the geo-
graphical center of Tennessee, and it’s also a central point of operations for O-Flex Group, a developer and manufacturer of corrugated tubing.
O-Flex products are used for vehicle-occupant and pedestrian-crash protection. The global company’s Murfreesboro plant opened in 1996, and it has since expanded to a 40,000-square-foot facility that produces head-impact, energy-absorbing, corrugated tube products, Heat Protection Tube products and Pedestrian Impact Protection products for the automotive market. A second plant – which manufactures side-curtain air bag tubular components, seat belt retractors and pretensioners, and HVAC hose applications for the automotive market – came online in 2005, fur-ther enhancing the company’s Middle Tennessee presence.
“It was our intent to have something close to our existing plants for proximity purposes, and for ease of continuing the management between the two locations,” says Ron Ziemba, president. “Getting the
location that we did has definitely worked out to our benefit.”
The company’s decision to continue its growth in Murfreesboro is due in no small part to the employees it has been able to recruit and retain.
“We have an excellent workforce here,” he says.
BANKING ON ITDoing business in the community is a
hallmark of Rutherford County’s residents, so when MidSouth Bank launched its operations in January 2003, its founders thought they had a winning plan.
Five years and six locations later, it seems they were right.
“Our growth has been much better than average market growth, and we’re now the sixth largest bank in our market,” says Lee Moss, chairman and CEO.
Moss attributes the bank’s success to its employees, most of whom have been bankers in the area for a long time.
“Our people are well known by the business decision makers here, and we’ve become the bank of choice for many clients,” he says. MidSouth Bank in Rutherford County
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The bank’s initial success came from the area’s businesses, but as it has built new locations and become more broad-based in its offerings, personal banking has picked up as well. MidSouth has even played the role of preservationist, purchasing as its headquarters the former First United Methodist Church building. Work is now being done to convert the structure to suit the bank’s operations. – Joe Morris
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A Three-Star County Is BornPRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION COMES WITH MONEY-SAVING PERKS, OTHER ADVANTAGES
R utherford County is already saving thousands of dollars, thanks to a much sought-after
Three Star designation from the state in 2007.
It’s the first time Rutherford County has attained Three-Star status – a desig-na tion that makes the county eligible for matching state grants, reduced energy-loan interest rates and other money-saving perks.
Laurel Baes, director of community development for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, spent an entire year gathering all the information needed to submit to the state of Tennessee in the Three-Star process.
“I had to compile detailed county information on education, municipal government, tourism and economic development – and that’s just for starters,” she says. “I had to meet with all the groups of people who are associated with those entities. Then all
the facts, figures and other information had to be put together in a professional manner for the state to review.”
The county wasn’t up for the designation until 2007 because no chamber staffer had the time to gather all the information needed to submit to the state, Baes says. “Our chamber was just overwhelmed with work until I was finally given the assignment for 2007,” she says. “I was happy to do it.”
Baes says that once the state receives all the written information from a com-munity, it takes a few weeks for officials to rule whether or not a community will receive Three-Star status.
“Once a county is certified, a recer-tification process must take place every year – but that particular process won’t be anywhere as daunting as getting initially certified,” she says. “A community really just needs to update the information from the preceding year, which is rather easy to do.”
The advantages for a community are numerous once it becomes Three-Star certified. Designated communities are eligible for several advantages such as matching state grants, zero-percent interest loans for municipal projects, and reduced energy-loan interest rates.
Those benefits have already paid off in a big way for Rutherford County. In 2007, Rutherford County Schools applied for a state loan to get energy-efficient lights installed at all the schools, and the system received that loan at zero-percent interest.
“The school system would have normally been charged a 3 percent interest rate,” Baes says. “The Three-Star designation saved the county thousands and thousands of dollars in energy savings. That is only one of the successes that residents will be hearing about in the future, thanks to Rutherford County earning its three stars.”
– Kevin Litwin
Gov. Phil Bredesen awarded Rutherford County and its municipalities the Three-Star certification from the state in 2007. This designation allows the county to receive special incentives and be more competitive for grant funding.
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TRANSPORTATION
Interstate 24 serves
Rutherford County, linking
it with Nashville and
Chattanooga. I-24 converges
with Interstates 40 and
65 just 15 miles north of
Rutherford County, offering
easy access to major markets.
State Route 840, a limited-
access, four-lane highway
through Rutherford County,
offers access to I-40 East
to Knoxville and I-65 South
to Birmingham, as well as
I-24. The next leg of the
highway will offer access
to I-40 West to Memphis.
Rutherford County has
two airports – Murfreesboro
Municipal Airport and
Smyrna Airport. Nashville
International Airport is just
eight miles north of the
county line.
There is a CSX rail line
(piggyback and container
services available in nearby
Nashville) and truck
freight lines.
TAXES
The state of Tennessee
has no income tax.
Rutherford County citizens
pay a 7% state sales tax,
a 2.75% local sales tax and
a $76.50 wheel tax. For specific
information on city property
taxes, county taxes and
commercial taxes, visit
www.rutherfordcountytn.gov.
INDUSTRIAL PARKS
Rutherford County and its
cities (Eagleville, La Vergne,
Murfreesboro, Smyrna)
do not own any industrial
parks, but there are more than
600 privately owned industrial
buildings located throughout
the county. For available sites
or more information, call
the Rutherford County
Chamber of Commerce
at (615) 869-0345 or visit
rutherfordchamber.org.
HOUSEHOLDS
2007 est., 86,837
2012 projection, 101,280
Change 1990-2000, 54.3%
COMMUTING
Workers who commute to Rutherford County from:
Bedford County, 1,885
Cannon County, 2,322
Coffee County, 1,298
Davidson County, 6,837
Marshall County, 279
Williamson County, 1,506
Wilson County, 1,988
Workers who commute from Rutherford County to:
Bedford County, 560
Cannon County, 306
Coffee County, 571
Davidson County, 25,297
Marshall County, 211
Williamson County, 3,870
Wilson County, 1,568
BUSINESS CLIMATERutherford County and its cities – Eagleville, La Vergne, Murfreesboro
and Smyrna – are among the fastest-growing areas in the state,
with a diversified economy and easy access to the nation’s markets.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
Company Employees
Nissan North America 5,700
Rutherford County Schools 4,072
Middle Tennessee State University 3,000
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. 1,850
Ingram Book Company 1,658
State Farm Insurance Companies 1,550
Middle Tennessee Medical Center 1,300
City of Murfreesboro 1,200
Rutherford County Government 1,172
Alvin C. York V.A. Medical Center 1,150
Asurion 1,137
Verizon Wireless 1,083
Cinram 1,000
Vi-Jon 1,000
General Mills 750
Borders Group 701
Johnson Controls 630
Quality Industries 515
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BUSINESS POINTS
Employment trends indicate
that private employment,
retail trade, services
and wholesale trade will
continue to grow. With
a lower cost for both land and
workforce, white-collar and
transportation, wholesaling
and distribution business
growth will continue with the
expansion of the interstate
system throughout the county.
Industry abounds in
Rutherford County and
represents a Who’s Who
of corporate giants, such
as Nissan North America,
Ingram Book Company,
Whirlpool Corp., Bridgestone/
Firestone Inc., State Farm
Insurance Cos. and Verizon
Wireless, to name just a few.
With an unemployment rate
hovering between 3 percent
and 5 percent – well below
the national average – Middle
Tennessee and Rutherford
County consistently
outperform national
economic indicators.
Rutherford County’s retail
trade base is made up of
more than 350,000 people.
At its center, Murfreesboro
has developed into a retail
destination, attracting
shoppers from a 10-county
region. Retail sales
in the county are more
than $3 billion per year.
Population growth has driven
a boom in residential
construction, with the county
issuing almost as many
building permits as Nashville/
Davidson County over a three-
year period, with one-fourth
the population.
Middle Tennessee State
University in Murfreesboro is
the largest and fastest-growing
university in Tennessee with
more than 23,000
undergraduate students.
Source: www.rutherfordcountytn.gov
EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY
Industry Employees Percent
Agriculture, forestry & fishing 1,042 1.2%
Business & repair service 4,080 4.6%
Communications & other utilities 1,752 2.0%
Construction 6,174 7.0%
Educational services 7,473 8.5%
Entertainment & recreational services 1,159 1.3%
Financial institutions & real estate 5,946 6.8%
Health services 8,071 9.2%
Manufacturing, durable 7,209 8.2%
Manufacturing, nondurable 13,490 15.3%
Mining 315 0.4%
Other professional services 4,363 5.0%
Personal services 2,625 3.0%
Public administration 3,414 3.9%
Retail trade 11,393 12.9%
Transportation 4,996 5.7%
Wholesale trade 4,488 5.1%
DISTANCE TO SELECTED MAJOR CITIES
Cities Mileage
Nashville 30
Bowling Green 95
Chattanooga 100
Knoxville 180
Birmingham 195
Louisville 205
Atlanta 215
Memphis 240
St. Louis 340
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
High school graduates age 25 and older
Rutherford County, 86%
Tennessee, 81%
United States, 84%
Bachelor’s degree or higher27%
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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
16 banks with combined
deposits of $2,705,615,000
Resource Information:
rutherfordchamber.org
rutherfordcounty.org
LABOR MARKET PROFILE
The labor market area consists
of seven adjacent counties:
Bedford, Cannon, Coffee,
Davidson, Marshall, Williamson
and Wilson.
The labor force in this area
totaled 646,226 in 2006. It is
estimated that the population
of the labor market will be
696,558 in 2011, which
represents a change of
7.6 percent from 2006.
The current population
is 49 percent male and
51 percent female. The median
age of the labor market area
is 36, compared to the U.S.
average of 35.
The prime labor force
group – ages 18 through
54 – represents 52 percent
of the labor market
area’s population.
HOUSING
In 2007, the median house
value for Rutherford County
was $144,420, compared
with the Nashville-area
median housing value of
$147,071 and $172,914
for the United States.
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
2007 est., $52,877
2012 projection, $57,183
Change 1990-2000, 49.9%
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RUTHERFORD COUNT Y IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM 45
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“We’re proud to be inRutherford County.”
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After Over 25 Years in Rutherford County, We’re Sure Our People are the
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NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Nashville-Davidson-
Murfreesboro MSA ranks 4th
in U.S. markets for “Economic
Strength” – Policom, July 2007
La Vergne ranks 61st on list of
“America’s Fastest Growing
Suburbs.” – Forbes, July 2007
The Nashville-Davidson-
Murfreesboro MSA ranks
second on the list of “Best
Cities for Relocating Families”
– Worldwide ERC and Primacy
Relocation, May 2007
The Nashville-Davidson-
Murfreesboro MSA ranks
ninth on the list of “Best
Places for Business and
Careers” – Forbes, April 2007
The Nashville-Davidson-
Murfreesboro MSA ranks as
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rutherford CountyChamber of Commerce
501 Memorial Blvd.
P.O. Box 864
Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0864
(615) 893-6565
(800) 716-7560
Fax: (615) 890-7600
www.rutherfordchamber.orginfo@rutherfordchamber.org
18th in the “Best Cities
for Jobs” index – Forbes,
February 2007
The Nashville-Davidson-
Murfreesboro MSA is once
again one of “America’s
50 Hottest Cities.” –
Expansion Management magazine, January 2007
Tennessee ranks fifth for
“Top State Business Climate” – Site Selection magazine,
November 2006
Nashville-Davidson-
Murfreesboro MSA ranks No. 1
in the “Best U.S. Cities for
Relocating Singles.” –
Worldwide ERC & Primacy
Relocation, October 2006
Rutherford County ranks
as 20th fastest-growing
county in U.S. – U.S. Census
Bureau, August 2006
Tennessee ranks No. 1
in “Economic Development
Achievement” for 2006.
– Business Facilities, July 2006
Murfreesboro is No. 84 out
of the 100 “2006 Best Places to
Live” in the nation. – CNNMoney
magazine, July 2006
The state of Tennessee ranks
second on the “Top Ten
Competitive States” list – Site Selection magazine, May 2006
MSA ranks fifth in the U.S.
markets most promising to
retail developers – Shopping Centers Today, May 2006
Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy
Bragg ranks No. 88 of 100 most
powerful people in Tennessee. –
Business Tennessee magazine,
April 2006
Rutherford is the fastest-
growing county in Tennessee
by population moving in. –
U.S Census Bureau, March 2006
MSA is a “Five-Star Knowledge
Worker Metro.” – Expansion Management, March 2006
For two years in a row, MSA
ranks No. 1 in the “America’s
50 Hottest Cities.” – Expansion Management, February 2006
MSA ranks 52nd out of
379 metropolitan areas
in the “Best Performing
Cities” index. – Milken Institute,
February 2006
Smyrna ranks in the Top
10 Best Places to Retire –
U.S. News & World Report, September 2007
RUTHERFORD COUNT Y IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM 47
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E very Monday evening for four weeks each semester, a small group of fifth-grade students and their parents gather in the art room at Smyrna Primary School.
There they share a meal, read a book together and engage in a craft or activity related to the book.
The whimsical atmosphere of the art room provides the perfect setting in which to accomplish the primary goal of the BookLIT program – turning kids on to the joy of reading.
“We built BookLIT [LIT stands for Learning and Investigating Together] as a vehicle for intergenerational communication that incorporates liter acy,” says Dr. Ron Kates, Middle Tennessee State University English professor and project coordinator for MTSU’s Experiential Learning program. “We did not want this to be a remedial program. It’s just about emphasizing the fun of reading – and of parents and children reading together.”
Smyrna Primary’s fifth graders aren’t the only students getting something out of BookLIT, however. The program – which originated in spring 2006 as a collaboration between the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce’s Business Education Partnership Foundation and MTSU’s Experiential Learning department – gives college students the opportunity to work in a local school. Laura Beth Jackson of the Chamber oversees operations. Under her direction, the college students run the program.
“Usually two to four MTSU students lead the actual groups,” Jackson says. “They plan the activities, discussions, games and crafts. We’ve had more than a dozen students
participate, and those who do get college credit for it.”In addition to the credit, participating students have
gained some personal rewards. “I’ve really had a great time working with the kids and
their parents,” says MTSU English major Stephanie Weaver. “The kids come up with things I’d never even thought of, and the parents always bring something new to the table.”
When Weaver brought in modeling clay for one of the activities, she wasn’t sure the parents would take part. “But they got into it just as much as the kids did,” she says.
BookLIT also has brought a unifying focus to parent/child groups with racial diversity and varying levels of education.
“Everyone has a blast,” Jackson says. “It’s been really sweet for those of us running the program to witness the interaction between parents and kids. We’ve seen some great family dynamics.”
Now other programs are being developed using the BookLIT model – evidence that the program is working, Kates says.
But the most important results show up on the student evaluation cards, where the kids say they’ve found out reading is fun.
That’s been our hope,” Jackson says, “That the kids will find learning is a great experience.” – Carol Cowan
Sharing the Joy of ReadingBOOKLIT PROGRAM HELPS SPARK A LOVE OF LITERACY AND LEARNING AS A FAMILY
BookLIT, a literacy program held at Smyrna Primary School, helps families learn to enjoy reading books together.
SEE MORE ONLINE | For more information, visit imagesrutherford.com and search “education.”
RUTHERFORD COUNT Y IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM 49
Education
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New Schools Are in SessionFACILITIES ADD SPACE, TECHNOLOGY
The 2007-2008 school
year kicked off with some
brand-new accommodations
for growing numbers of
students in Rutherford County.
The new La Vergne Lake
Elementary School has
alleviated overcrowding at
La Vergne Primary and Roy
Waldron Elementary. The K-5
school’s capacity ranges from
850 to 1,000 students, and
population hit the 900 mark
on day one, says James Evans,
spokesman for Rutherford
County Schools.
New technology at La Vergne
Lake includes Classroom
Performance System wireless
remotes that promote
interactive teaching and
learning; a media center that
combines a library and a
technology center; computer
labs; and one computer for
every five students, Evans says.
John Pittard Elementary,
built in a growing area of
Murfreesboro, is likely to win
some architectural awards, says
Cheryl Harris, spokeswoman
for Murfreesboro City Schools.
John Pittard’s traditional style
is reminiscent of historic
buildings – “the way you think
an old school should look,”
Harris says.
But its classrooms
feature built-in flat screen
monitors, SMART Board
interactive whiteboards
and wireless Internet.
The K-6 school will
accommodate more than 1,000
students. Construction of the
John Pittard school allowed two
other Murfreesboro city schools
to transition to new uses.
“This has really had a domino
effect,” Harris says. “It’s been
like building three new schools.”
– Carol Cowan
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Education
301 Education.indd 50 2/12/08 4:13:38 PM
W ith topics like Silly Sala-manders, Leapin’ Lizards and Lovely Ladybugs, it’s
no wonder that toddlers f lock to the Wild Things recreation program at Murfreesboro’s Barfield Crescent Park. What’s a little less expected is how much the adults who tag along enjoy and learn about the subjects.
“Moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles bring the kids and stay with them during what we call an outdoor adventure and discovery program for 5-year-olds and younger,” says Deborah Paschall, Barfield Crescent’s program coordinator. “I remember one grandmother who would always come out saying, ‘I am learning so much!’ ”
Barfield Crescent is a showpiece of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. Its 300 acres include an eight-field softball and baseball complex, a disc golf course, pavilions and playgrounds, walking and jogging trails, and a scenic wilderness area with trails under forest canopies, a campground and access to river wading. The Wilderness Station includes classrooms and an outdoor store, and it’s headquarters for the park’s ever-increasing array of educational offerings to boost appreciation of Mother Nature’s handiwork. Wild Things was the first program offered when the park opened in 2000, and Paschall says it’s still going strong.
Located at Murfreesboro’s southern border, Barfield Crescent was made possible in no small measure by the Christy-Houston Foundation, a philan-thropy established with the $50 million proceeds from the 1986 sale of the publicly owned hospital. The tab for the park’s development, including land acquisition, was more than $8.3 million,
Where the Wild Things AreGETTING BACK TO NATURE IS NATURAL AT BARFIELD CRESCENT PARK
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Program Specialist Ann Mather shows children a turkey feather at the Wild Things class at Barfield Crescent Park, which offers many popular programs.
and Christy-Houston grants totaled more than $5.6 million.
“What a wonderful gift the residents of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County received with little cost to them due to the Christy-Houston Foundation,” says Dennis Rainier, the city’s parks and recreation director.
Rainier describes Barfield Crescent as “a collaboration of all things for all people. People like Barfield because it’s truly a family park. There’s something for everyone.”
Wild Things is just one of the park’s programs that has won accolades from the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association. Another is Home School in the Wilderness, an intensive, four-hour education program presented monthly for home-schooled children.
Paschall says the park is “getting on the bandwagon” of a national movement dubbed No Child Left Inside, while also exploring the possibility of opening the campground for school-sanctioned overnight camping trips.
Rainier says his department has been fortunate to enjoy community-wide support.
“People here want to do quality things in their leisure time, and they are avid supporters of our programs and facilities,” he says. “It seems like the general public is willing to step up to the plate. It’s a credit to the citizenry that they’re not willing to accept second-best.”
Barfield Crescent Park is certainly evidence of that.
– Sharon H. Fitzgerald
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Sports & Recreation
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Photo by Amanda Greer
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301 Health.indd 52 2/12/08 4:16:25 PM
F or some residents of Rutherford and Cannon counties, health insurance is an unobtainable dream. But thanks to the Primary Care & Hope Clinic in
Murfreesboro, health care is not.“It’s been interesting watching this evolve,” says Lisa Terry,
the clinic’s CEO. “When I first came here, we were needed, but nothing like we’re needed today. That’s why we just keep growing, because the number of patients who need our services just keeps on growing.”
A nurse practitioner, Terry joined the clinic in 1994, just two years after it was incorporated with the help of a state grant as a not-for-profit provider of quality, affordable health care.
The growing number of patient visits – more than 18,000 in 2007 – means the clinic is scheduled to move to its fourth location in the summer of 2008, and this time the facility is custom-built to meet the clinic’s needs. Thanks to a $3.9 million grant from the charitable Christy-Houston Foundation – established with proceeds from the 1986 sale of the county-owned hospital – the clinic’s new, 23,000-square-foot digs will feature 24 patient rooms and three special-procedure treatment rooms. The facility is under construction in the new Murfreesboro Gateway district on 2.3 acres donated by the city. The clinic is turning to individuals, businesses and charities to sponsor patient rooms, which means providing the funds for furnishings and equipment. Terry says the estimate for outfitting the new clinic’s interior is about $560,000, which includes $145,000 for X-ray capabilities – an in-house luxury the clinic hasn’t enjoyed before.
Two other nonprofit organizations, Community Helpers and Dispensary of Hope, will also move to the new clinic. A service of Middle Tennessee Medical Center, Dispensary of Hope helps the medically underserved obtain prescription medications, and Community Helpers offers emergency financial assistance to low-income families.
The Primary Care & Hope Clinic has physician volunteers and 20 paid staff members, including nurse practitioners
A Ray of HopePRIMARY CARE & HOPE CLINIC OFFERS HEALTH CARE TO THOSE IN NEED
CEO Lisa Terry oversees the not-for-profit Primary Care & Hope Clinic, which moves to a new location in 2008.
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and nurses, medical assistants, office personnel and social workers who meet with new patients to determine their financial circumstances and review their needs. The clinic accepts TennCare, the state’s answer to Medicaid, and uninsured patients are charged on a sliding scale determined by their income. Patients must present proof of residency and their latest tax return.
“The misconception sometimes is that everybody who is uninsured doesn’t work. That’s completely inaccurate,” Terry says. “The majority of our patients do have jobs, but they have jobs that don’t offer insurance – or they may have a condition that makes them uninsurable.”
In 2006, The New York Times Job Market magazine chose Terry as one of four nurses to honor nationwide in its “Tribute to Nurses” program, established in 2002. The recognition “made me really reflect on why I stay in this game,” Terry recalls. “This is a very stressful job and a very difficult patient population to serve.” Then, with tears in her eyes, she adds, “The longer I stay here and the more families I see, the more I can’t leave.” – Sharon H. Fitzgerald
SEE MORE ONLINE | For more information, visit imagesrutherford.com and search “health care.”
RUTHERFORD COUNT Y IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM 53
Health & Wellness
301 Health.indd 53 2/12/08 4:16:32 PM
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301 Arts.indd 54 2/12/08 4:10:19 PM
Playing Musical ChairsSYMPHONY CHANGES NAME AND CONDUCTOR, TRIES UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH
The Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra has named Bowling Green conductor Jeffrey A. Reed as its next director.
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Sound the trumpets. The symphony orchestra in Murfreesboro is now appropriately named the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra.
Originally chartered in 1981 as the Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra chose a new name that more residents would associate with its Murfreesboro home. Symphony board members made the name-change decision following the retirement of Laurence Harvin in early 2007.
“Laurence was the Tennessee Philharmonic’s founder and conductor for 25 years, but with his retirement came a decision by board members to take the symphony in a new direction,” says Darla Jackson, business manager with the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra. “The board thought it was time for a complete new image, so the current name was approved. In addition, a new conductor with a f lair for the unusual was hired.”
That new conductor and music director is Jeffrey A. Reed, who was formerly in charge of the Bowling Green (Ky.) Western Symphony Orchestra for a number of years.
“Jeffrey was able to dramatically grow the Bowling Green orchestra during his recent tenure, at a time when most symphonies are struggling these days,” Jackson says. “Reed takes an unconventional approach to conducting. For example, he often mixes pops with classical music, which most conductors would never do. Because of his innovative
approach, the Murfreesboro board has agreed to see what Jeffrey can do with our orchestra at least through the 2007-2008 season.”
Reed officially began his stint with the Murfreesboro symphony in October 2007 by conducting a concert that featured the music of The Beatles.
“That production turned out to be very successful,” Jackson says. “Everyone affiliated with the orchestra was happy with the outcome.”
In November 2007, Reed directed a show called “Be a Good Sport,” featuring sports music such as The Natural for baseball and the William Tell Overture for archery. In December, he directed a “Yule Be Home for Christmas” concert, followed in January with a “That’s Italian” performance of Italian songs.
The 2007-2008 season wraps up in March 2008 with a production called “Night With Oscar” that features a compilation of award-winning songs from the motion-picture industry.
“All performances of the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra occur at the First United Methodist Church on Thompson Lane, with the church offering plenty of seating along with beautiful, wonderful acoustics,” Jackson says. “It is an exciting time to be a part of this organization. We invite everyone in Rutherford County to come see what we are all about.” – Kevin Litwin
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Arts & Culture
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If you’re looking for a small town feel …
If you want closeness to metropolitan areas …
If you want to live where neighbors can be neighbors …
If you want jobs near your home …
If you want a place you can call home …
Then you want La Vergne!
La Vergne City Hall • 5093 Murfreesboro Rd. • La Vergne, TN 37086(615) 793-6295 • Fax: (615) 793-6025 • www.lavergne.org
LaVergne It’s What You’re Looking For!
In 1982, Nancy Brinker promised her dying sister, Suzy, she’d find a
cure for breast cancer. That promise led to research and treatment
innovations, education and screening.
Join the effort at www.komen.org
or 1.800 I’M AWARE®.
This space provided as a public service. ©2004, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
A sister’s promise couldn’t save Suzy Komen from breast cancer.But one day it might save you.
56 IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM RUTHERFORD COUNT Y
301 Arts.indd 56 2/12/08 4:10:34 PM
COMMUNITY
THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY
MEDICAL FACILITIES
Hospitals include Middle
Tennessee Medical Center and
Murfreesboro Medical Clinic
in Murfreesboro, StoneCrest
Medical Center in Smyrna and
the Alvin C. York V.A. Medical
Center in Murfreesboro.
LIFE IN RUTHERFORD CO.
The population of Rutherford
County was 118,570 in 1990,
and it grew to more than
229,380 in 2007.
The economic impact of MTSU
on Rutherford and Davidson
counties amounts to more
than $350 million each year.
A dozen tourism sites in
Rutherford County are
devoted to the Civil War.
The annual boys and girls
TSSAA State High School
Basketball Tournaments at
MTSU provide a $3 million
economic impact to Rutherford
County every March.
Rutherford County ranks No. 1 in
Tennessee for horse population,
according to the Tennessee
Department of Agriculture.
CLIMATE
Avg. annual temperature, 59.6 F
Avg. monthly high temperature
January 48.9 F, July 90.3 F
Avg. monthly low temperature
January 28.9 F, July 67.1 F
Avg. annual precipitation
50.64"
Avg. annual snowfall, 5.9"
GARDENING
An average annual
temperature of 60 degrees
makes it easy to have a green
thumb in Rutherford County.
Popular trees grown in the
county include ash, holly,
magnolia, pin oak and red
maple, while common shrubs
include crepe myrtle, forsythia,
oak leaf hydrangea and
viburnum. Popular flowers are
begonia, day lily, iris, impatiens
and pansy, and abundant crops
are corn, soybeans and wheat.
Alfalfa and hay are also grown
for livestock.
RECREATION
Recreation opportunities
are abundant in Rutherford
County. For information
about facilities and
programs contact:
Murfreesboro Parks &
Recreation Department
697 Barfield Crescent Road
Murfreesboro, 890-5333
Parks & Recreation
Department Town Centre
100 East Sam Ridley Parkway
Smyrna, 459-9710
La Vergne Parks &
Recreation Department
294 Sand Hill Road
La Vergne, 793-3224
North Rutherford YMCA
2001 Mason Tucker Drive
Smyrna, 220-9622
SportsCom
2310 Memorial Blvd.
Murfreesboro, 895-5040
RUTHERFORD COUNTY
SNAPSHOTHear that noise? It’s Rutherford County continuing to boom.
The county has issued more than 3,000 single- and multifamily
residential building permits every year since 1999.
The area code for Ruther ford County i s 615 . IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM 57
Community Profile
301 Community Profile.indd 57 2/12/08 4:12:10 PM
Patterson Park
Community Center
521 Mercury Blvd.
Murfreesboro, 893-7439
St. Clair Street Senior Center
325 St. Clair St.
Murfreesboro, 848-2550
Smyrna Senior Citizens Center
100 Raikes St.
Smyrna, 459-4839
La Vergne Senior Center
337 Stones River
La Vergne, 793-3048
YMCA
205 N. Thompson Lane
Murfreesboro, 895-5995
ATTRACTIONS
Oaklands Historic House Museum900 N. Maney Ave.
Murfreesboro, 893-0022
Sam Davis Home and Museum1399 Sam Davis Road
Smyrna, 459-2341
Discovery Center atMurfree Spring502 S.E. Broad St.
Murfreesboro, 890-2300
Cannonsburgh Village
312 S. Front St.
Murfreesboro, 890-0355
Bradley Academy
415 S. Academy St.
Murfreesboro, 867-2633
Fortress Rosecrans
Old Fort Park
Murfreesboro, 893-9501
Nissan North America (tours)
983 Nissan Drive
Smyrna, 459-1444
Geographic Center
of Tennessee
Old Lascassas Pike
Murfreesboro, 893-6565
Rutherford County
Courthouse
Public Square
Murfreesboro, 898-7745
Murfreesboro/Rutherford
County Center for the Arts
110 W. College St.
Murfreesboro, 904-2787
Middle Tennessee
State University
1301 E. Main St.,
Murfreesboro, 898-2111
Stones River Greenway Trail
3-mile walking trail
connects Stones River
National Battlefield and
Fortress Rosecrans
Stones River
National Battlefield
3501 Old Nashville Hwy.
Murfreesboro, 893-9501
Tennessee Livestock Center
1720 Greenland Drive
Murfreesboro, 898-5575
Tennessee Miller Coliseum
304-B W. Thompson Lane
Murfreesboro, 494-8961
GOLF COURSES
Indian Hills Golf Course
405 Calumet Trace
Murfreesboro, 895-3642
Old Fort Golf Course
1028 Old Fort Pkwy.
Murfreesboro, 849-2624
Cedar Crest Golf Course
7972 Mona Road
Murfreesboro, 849-7837
58 IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM RUTHERFORD COUNT Y
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301 Community Profile.indd 58 2/12/08 4:12:14 PM
Stones River Country Club
1830 N.W. Broad St.
Murfreesboro, 893-1353
Veterans Administration
Golf Course
3400 Lebanon Road
Murfreesboro, 893-2543
Smyrna Municipal Golf Course
101 Sam Ridley Parkway
Smyrna, 459-2666
Champions Run Golf Course
14262 Mt. Pleasant Road
Rockvale, 274-2301
SCHOOLS
Higher Education
Middle Tennessee State
University, 898-2300
Tennessee Technology Center
898-8010
Motlow State Community
College, 220-7880
Draughons Junior College
217-9347
Public Schools
Rutherford County Schools
Central Office
893-5812
www.rcs.k12.tn.us
Barfield Elementary (K-5)
904-3810
Blackman Elementary
(K-5), 904-3795
Blackman High (9-12)
904-3850
Blackman Middle (6-8)
904-3860
Buchanan (K-8), 893-3651
Cedar Grove (K-5), 904-3777
Central Middle (7-8)
893-8262
Christiana Elementary (K-5)
896-0614
Christiana Middle (6-8)
904-3885
Daniel McKee Alternative
(6-12), 890-2282
David Youree (K-5), 904-6775
Eagleville (K-12), 904-6710
Holloway High (9-12)
890-6004
Homer Pittard
Campus School (K-6)
895-1030
John Coleman (K-5)
459-2613
Kittrell Elementary (K-8)
893-7604
Lascassas (K-8), 893-0758
La Vergne High (9-12)
904-3870
La Vergne Lake Elementary
(K-5), 904-6131
La Vergne Middle School (6-8)
904-3877
La Vergne Primary (K-2)
904-6735
McFadden School of
Excellence (K-8), 893-7251
Oakland High (9-12)
904-3780
Riverdale High (9-12)
890-6450
Rock Springs Elementary
(K-5), 904-3820
Rock Springs Middle
(6-8), 904-3825
Rockvale (K-8), 904-3881
Roy Waldron Jr. High
(4-8), 904-3785
Siegel High (9-12), 904-3800
Siegel Middle (6-8), 904-3830
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301 Community Profile.indd 59 2/12/08 4:12:17 PM
Smyrna Elementary
(K-5), 459-6343
Smyrna High (9-12), 904-3865
Smyrna Middle (6-8)
904-3845
Smyrna Primary (K-5)
904-6720
Smyrna West Alternative (6-12)
904-3856
Stewartsboro (K-5), 904-6705
Stewarts Creek Elementary
(K-5), 904-6750
Stewarts Creek Middle School
(6-8), 904-6700
Thurman Francis Arts
Academy (K-8), 459-4128
Walter Hill Elementary (K-5)
893-8046
Wilson Elementary (K-5)
904-3840
Murfreesboro City Schools
cityschools.net
Bellwood-Bowdoin
Pre-school
895-2123
Black Fox Elementary
(K-6), 893-6395
Bradley Elementary
(K-6), 895-2672
Cason Lane Academy
(K-6), 898-7145
Discovery School at
Reeves-Rogers, 895-4973
Erma Siegel Elementary
(K-6), 904-1002
Hobgood Elementary
(K-6), 895-2744
John Pittard Elementary
396-0240
Mitchell-Neilson
Elementary (3-6)
890-7841
Mitchell-Neilson
Primary (K-2), 895-2904
Northfield Elementary (K-6)
895-7324
Scales Elementary (K-6)
895-5279
UTILITIES
Electric Services
Eagleville
Middle Tennessee
Electric Membership Corp.
893-7570
La Vergne
Nashville Electric Service
736-6900
Middle Tennessee Electric
Membership Corp.
Hwy. 41, 459-5261
Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro Electric
Department, 225 N. Walnut St.
893-5514
Rutherford County
Middle Tennessee
Electric Membership Corp.
Hwy. 41, 893-7570
Smyrna
Middle Tennessee
Electric Membership Corp.
Hwy. 41, 459-5261
Water
La Vergne
Water & Sewer Department
148 International Blvd.
793-7744
Murfreesboro
Water & Sewer Department
300 N.W. Broad St.
890-0862
Relocating?Trust the
experts at
Elite Relocation
to guide you to
your new
destination.
Elite Relocation ServicesA Division of RE/MAX Elite
109 Westpark Dr., Ste. 100Brentwood, TN 37027
Direct: (615) 850-4122 Main: (615) 661-4400 Toll-free: (800) 582-3204 Fax: (615) 296-9710
www.tnprop.com
60 IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM RUTHERFORD COUNT Y
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301 Community Profile.indd 60 2/12/08 4:52:17 PM
Smyrna Utilities
315 S. Lowry St.
355-5740
Consolidated Utility District
709 New Salem Hwy.
Murfreesboro, 893-7275
Natural Gas
Atmos Energy
(countywide)
334 W. Lokey Ave.
Murfreesboro, 888-824-3434
Smyrna Utilities
315 S. Lowry St.
355-5740
Telephone Service
AT&T
(countywide)
5093 Murfreesboro Road
Murfreesboro, 890-2707
116 S. Cannon Ave.
Murfreesboro, 848-2070
TDS Telecom
5265 Murfreesboro Rd.
La Vergne, 793-7741
Refuse
Murfreesboro residents are
provided weekly collection by
the City of Murfreesboro
Solid Waste Department
630 W. Main St., 893-3681.
County residents may use
the dumpsters located
conveniently throughout
the county or subscribe
to private collection.
PUBLIC SERVICES
Administration
Eagleville City Hall
126 S. Main St., 274-6992
La Vergne City Hall
5093 Murfreesboro Rd.
793-6295
Murfreesboro City Hall
111 W. Vine St., 893-5210
Rutherford County Courthouse
1 Public Square
Murfreesboro, 898-7745
Smyrna City Hall
315 S. Lowry St., 459-2553
Tennessee Governor’s Office
State Capitol, Nashville
741-2001
RUTHERFORD COUNTY HOUSEHOLD INCOME (2007 EST.)
Less than $15,000, 10.85%
$15,000 - $24,999, 9.3%
$25,000 - $34,999, 10.79%
$35,000 - $49,999, 16.32%
$50,000 - $74,999, 23.85%
$75,000 - $99,999, 14.09%
$100,000 - $149,999, 11.13%
$150,000 +, 3.68%
10.85%
9.3%
10.79%
16.32%23.85%
14.09%
11.13%
3.68%
The area code for Ruther ford County i s 615 . IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM 61
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Fire Service
Eagleville Fire Department
Main Street, 274-6992
La Vergne Fire Department
169 Stones River Rd.
793-6223
Murfreesboro Fire Department
220 N.W. Broad St.
893-1422
Smyrna Fire Department
315 S. Lowry St.
459-6644
Police Service
Eagleville Police Department
Main Street, 274-6992
La Vergne Police Department
City Hall, 793-7744
Murfreesboro Police
Department,
302 S. Church St.
893-1311
Rutherford County
Sheriff’s Department
940 New Salem Rd.
Murfreesboro, 898-7770
Smyrna Police
Department
City Hall, 459-6644
MEDIA
Newspapers
The Daily News Journal, daily
The Tennessean, daily
Rutherford A.M., twice weekly
Rutherford Reader, weekly
The Murfreesboro Post, weekly
Magazines
The Murfreesboro Magazine,
bimonthly
Rutherford Parent, monthly
Images of Rutherford
County, annual
Rutherford County Economic
Guide, annual
Radio
WGNS Radio 1450 AM
WAPB Radio 810 AM
WMOT Radio 89.5 FM
WFCM Radio 91.7 FM & 710 AM
WBOZ Radio 105 FM
WMTS Radio 88.3 FM
WRLG Radio 94.1 FM
WGNS Radio 100.5 FM
& 101.9 FM
Television
Comcast Cablevision
All Nashville TV and
radio stations
2008 EVENTS
March
1-2
ROAD TO THE HORSE COMPETITION
Tennessee Miller Coliseum
Murfreesboro
(877) 772-5425
1
SEUSS CELEBRATION
Discovery Center at
Murfree Spring
Murfreesboro
890-2300
1-2
2008 ALL NATIONS AMERICAN INDIAN FESTIVALTennessee Livestock Center
Murfreesboro
796-4210
4-8
TSSAA GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTMurphy Center
Murfreesboro
898-2300
11-15
TSSAA BOYS STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTMurphy Center
Murfreesboro
898-2300
15
LA VERGNE EASTER EGG HUNTBicentennial Park, La Vergne
793-7303, ext. 102
22
EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZASam Davis Home, Smyrna
459-2341
April
12-13
THE GREAT TENNESSEE AIR SHOW 2008Smyrna Airport
459-2651
Finding or selling your home is where my heart is.
2245 Keeneland Commercial Blvd.Murfreesboro, TN 37127
Office: (615) 896-4740Fax: (615) 896-8138
E-mail: theathcott@realtracs.comwww.clarkmaples.com
TAMMY HEATHCOTTCell: (615) 202-2415 A Neal Family Business
Since 1939
Mon-Fri: 8-5Thurs: 8-8
406 W. Burton St.(615) 893-8013
Fax: (615) 890-1151
Neals Lighting Center
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12
DINNER AND MOVIE NIGHTSam Davis Home, Smyrna
459-2341
26
32ND ANNUAL CANNONSBURGH PIONEER DAYCannonsburgh Village
Murfreesboro
890-0355
30-May 3
DAYS ON THE FARMSam Davis Home, Smyrna
459-2341
May
3
JAZZFEST 2008Public Square
895-1887
13-14
A DAY OF WASHING, CHURNING ANDLEARNINGOaklands Historic House
Museum, Murfreesboro
893-0022
17
FREE DAY IN MAYNumerous locations
throughout county
893-6565
19-24
TSSAA SPRING FLINGCall for venues.
889-6740
24
HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERYStones River National
Battlefield, Murfreesboro
893-9501
24
REMINISCING IN BLUE AND GRAY TOURSStones River National
Battlefield, Murfreesboro
893-9501
June
7, 21HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERYStones River National
Battlefield, Murfreesboro
893-9501
13-155TH ANNUAL TENNESSEE HERITAGE BBQ FESTIVALSam Davis Home and Museum,
Smyrna
459-2341
21
INTERNATIONAL FOLKFEST 2008Around the courthouse
on the Murfreesboro
Public Square
896-3559
23-28
FRONT PORCH PASTIMES DAY CAMPOaklands Historic
House Museum,
Murfreesboro
893-0022
The area code for Ruther ford County i s 615 . IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM 63
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Source:
Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rutherford CountyChamber of Commerce
501 Memorial Blvd.
P.O. Box 864
Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0864
(615) 893-6565
(800) 716-7560
Fax: (615) 890-7600
rutherfordchamber.orginfo@rutherfordchamber.org
July
5REMINISCING IN BLUE AND GRAY TOURSStones River National
Battlefield, Murfreesboro
893-9501
5, 19HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN LIGHT TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERYStones River National
Battlefield, Murfreesboro
893-9501
11-1331ST ANNUAL UNCLE DAVE MACON DAYS FESTIVALCannonsburgh Village,
Murfreesboro
893-2369
12LA VERGNE ROTARY/DARE CAR SHOWLa Vergne City Hall
459-4145
18-2041ST ANNUAL MURFREESBORO ANTIQUE SHOWMurphy Center, Murfreesboro
893-8524 or 631-0734
19ARTILLERY BATTERY PROGRAMSStones River National
Battlefield, Murfreesboro
893-9501
August
2, 16, 30HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERYStones River National
Battlefield, Murfreesboro
893-9501
30-31FIGHTING FOR HOME AND HEARTHStones River National
Battlefield, Murfreesboro
893-9501
September
5-7PIONEER POWER DAYSNew show grounds on Chapel
Highway
274-6987, 330-2852 or
(931) 294-5973
10A DAY OF WASHING, CHURNING AND LEARNINGOaklands Historic House
Museum, Murfreesboro
893-0022
20OLD TIMER’S DAYVeteran’s Memorial Park,
La Vergne
287-8690
Amsouth/Regions Bank www.amsouth.com
Ascend Federal Credit Unionwww.ascendfcu.org
Black Box Network Services www.blackboxvss.com
Bumpus Harley Davidson www.bumpusharleydavidson.com
City of La Vergne www.lavergne.org
City Tile & Floor Covering LLC www.citytile.net
Clark Maples Realty & Auction Companywww.clarkmaples.com
Community First Bank & Trust www.cfbk.com
Doubletree Hotel Murfreesboro www.doubletreemurfreesboro.com
Exit Realty – Masterson Network www.mastersonnetworkhomes.com
F&M Bank www.myfmbank.com
Farmer Brothers Insurance www.farmerbrothersinsurance.com
General Mills www.generalmills.com
Guaranty Trust www.guarantytrust.com
Keller Williams – Todd Taylor www.tnsoldhome.com
Middle Tennessee Christian School www.mtcscougars.org
Middle Tennessee Medical Center www.mtmc.org
Midsouth Bank www.midsouthbanking.com
Motlow State Community College www.mscc.edu
Murfreesboro Electric Department www.murfreesboroelectric.com
Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & Surgicenter www.mmclinic.com
Murphy’s Orthopedics & Foot Care
Nashville International Airport www.fl ynashville.com
Neals Lighting Center
Ole South Properties Inc. www.olesouth.com
Parktrust Development www.marymontsprings.com
Pictopia Inc.
Re/Max Elite – Michele Niec www.tnprop.com
Reeves-Sain www.reevessain.com
State Farm Insurance www.statefarm.com
Stonecrest Family Physicians www.stonecrestfp.com
Tennessee Technology Center at Murfreesboro www.ttcmurfreesboro.edu
The Avenue Murfreesboro www.theavenuealist.com
The Waterford in Smyrna
Throneberry Properties www.throneberry.com
Town of Smyrna www.townofsmyrna.org
Victoria Place Townhomes www.throneberry.com
Webb School www.webbschool.com
Weichert Realtors – Carroll & Companywww.weichertcarroll
Wilson Bank & Trust www.wilsonbank.com
Wings of Eagles School of Flight www.wingsmqy.com
YMCA Rutherford County www.ymcamidtn.org
Visit Our Advertisers
64 IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM RUTHERFORD COUNT Y
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RUTHERFORD COUNT Y IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM 65
Where the name says it all …
1322 N. Rutherford Blvd. • Murfreesboro, TN • (615) 848-1100w w w . t h r o n e b e r r y . c o m
Spacious• One bedroom, one bath garden apartments
• Two and three bedroom, two-and-a-half bath townhomes
• Ceiling fans
• Washer and dryers included in all units
• Front porch and rear patio
• Walk-in closets
• Built-in microwaves
• Ice maker
• Dishwashers
• Vaulted ceilings in one bedroom
OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY
SENIOR EDITOR REBECCA DENTON
COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS
ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, KIM MADLOM, BILL McMEEKIN, ANITA WADHWANI
STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN, JESSICA MOZO
DIRECTORIES EDITORS AMANDA MORGAN, KRISTY WISE
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SHARON H. FITZGERALD, ELLEN MARGULIES, JOE MORRIS
REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON
ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER TODD POTTER
INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER JOE THOMAS
ONLINE SALES MANAGER MATT SLUTZ
SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, WES ALDRIDGE, TODD BENNETT,
ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, BRIAN MCCORD
CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS
WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS
ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN
PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER
SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MGR. TADARA SMITH
PRODUCTION PROJECT MGRS.
MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
LAURA GALLAGHER, VIKKI WILLIAMS
LEAD DESIGNER KRIS SEXTON
GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER, CANDICE HULSEY, ALISON HUNTER, JANINE MARYLAND, LINDA MOREIRAS,
AMY NELSON, CARL RATLIFF
WEB PROJECT MANAGER ANDY HARTLEY
WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ
WEB PRODUCTION JILL TOWNSEND
COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN CORY MITCHELL
AD TRAFFIC MEGHANN CAREY, SARAH MILLER,PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY
CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN
SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER
SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN
SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER
V.P./SALES HERB HARPER
V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER
V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART
V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS
MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS
MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO
CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY
ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK, DIANA GUZMAN,
MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS
RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP
COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY
DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH
MARKETING DIRECTOR KATHLEEN ERVIN
MARKETING COORDINATOR AMY AKIN
IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE
IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE
CUSTOM SALES COORDINATOR PATTI CORNELIUS
SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER
OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM
Images of Rutherford County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed
through the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.
For advertising information or to direct questionsor comments about the magazine, contact
Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce
501 Memorial Blvd. • Murfreesboro, TN 37129(615) 893-6565 • Fax: (615) 890-7600
www.rutherfordchamber.orgE-mail: info@rutherfordchamber.org
VISIT IMAGES OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM
©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc.,725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,
(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.No portion of this magazine may be reproduced
in whole or in part without written consent.
Member Magazine Publishers of America
Member Custom Publishing Council
Member Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce
Please recycle this magazine
TM
301 C2-C3-C4.indd C3 2/13/08 11:27:17 AM
301 C2-C3-C4.indd C4 2/12/08 4:12:04 PM