Monday, December 15, 2008

Big Factory comes to Clarksville

A multi-billion dollar investment on the Jim Johnson Road, which runs right into Todd County from Tennessee, will be announced today (Monday).

The company, Hemlock Semiconductor, was once looking at Todd County and will build its poly silicon plant on the TVA certified megasite in Clarksville.

Here is the link to the Leaf Chronicle's Web site: www.theleafchronicle.com

What will this mean for Todd County? Well, it is the largest industrial project in Tennessee history. Also, there are rumors that there might be supply factories coming and some of those companies might be coming to Kentucky (i.e.: Todd County).

So, even though the factory didn't come here, how do you think it will affect us?

Friday, December 05, 2008

No Cows, No Service

It seems that news FDA rules are causing Griffin Industries to no longer pick up cows that will be used for dog food.

The theory is that cows could end up accidentally eating dog food (because the feed might be stored in the same place) and get Mad Cow Disease.

That's fine and all, but it could leave Todd County (and most other rural counties) without dead cow pickup. You could be talking about a situation that really stinks! (Pun intended) Also, it could end up being a public safety issue.

Anyway, the county could have all kinds of problems lying around early next year when the law goes into effect...

Posted by Ryan

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Jail comments

So, we've had a couple comments on the jail and the jailer in the mascot thread, so I say let's air it out here so all the posts will be in one place:

Is the jail being ran efficiently?

Or do the woes come from the state cutting the counties throats by releasing about every other prisoner early?

Also, and this is just an observation, do any jailers in this state really run the day-to-day operations. It might of happened here when we had 16 beds, but is that reasonable to expect now?

Discuss away ...

Posted by Ryan

Monday, December 01, 2008

Mascot or no Mascot?

The following was from Ryan Craig's column this past week:

If you were to visit our Web site this week you’ll see history in the making. If you were at the high school Monday night for

“Meet the Rebels” you were a witness to history.

You were the first to see “Rebel: Todd County’s Biggest Fan.”

Rebel is a bullish-looking dog and he’s grey, of course.

Rebel also has red britches and a white shirt with a gigantic “R” on the front.

The administration at Todd County Central High School say he is a fan — a representative of the school’s spirit.

He is a symbol.

He is different.

He can also dance like nobody’s business.

He is a lot of things, but one thing he’s not is a mascot.

“It is not a mascot. It might have been called a mascot, but it is not a mascot,” Todd Central Principal Joe Nell Waters said. “It is Todd County Central High School’s biggest fan. What we want Rebel to do is to show the good, old spirit this high school can have.”

Waters said she wanted something for the students to see as a focal point for school spirit and pride.

The suit was anonymously donated to the school by someone in the community.

The idea actually came from questions asked by the student council about what exactly is the mascot for the school.

That question is as explosive as a box of hand grenades on a hot skillet.

I remember the old mascot — the fat, bugle-playing Confederate soldier who looked like he had a Moon Pie and a RC for breakfast, lunch and supper.

I also remember the dark days after an old high school friend, Michael Westerman, was shot over a Confederate Battle Flag.
It took some time, but the fat bugle player and the flag gave way to new layers of paint and varnish.

The students, most who weren’t born or were small children when Westerman was killed, don’t remember a time when the flag was on the walls and the gym floor.

Say what you want about “Rebel the Fan” dog, but it seems like mascots that don’t exactly go along with the team name (or non-mascots in Rebel’s case) are part of sports lore.

Take, for instance, my favorite mascot of all-time Western Kentucky University’s Big Red.
What is Big Red? Who knows?

He’s 1,000 Elmo’s stitched together. He’s E.A. Diddle’s towel lint come to life. He’s a blood clot.

By the way, what in the world is a Hilltopper anyway?

The Auburn Tigers have an Eagle on the sidelines because of a fight song.

The Tennessee Titans have a Raccoon.

Speaking of Rebels, Ole Miss has a rebel mascot that looks like the Colonel at Christian County High School. UNLV has a Running Rebel mascot that looks like a white-mustached Yosimitee Sam/ Grizzly Adams hybrid who doesn't run.

The point isn’t what the mascot looks like. Instead it’s how it helps focus team spirit. Rebel the Fan Dog seems to be able to do that just fine.

Who knows what will eventually be the school’s mascot or if there ever will be one.

Perhaps the Fan Dog will be as close as we get, but as long as whatever we have makes everyone (and I do mean everyone) feel like they can root just a little harder then it wouldn’t matter if the new focus of spirit was a shaved skunk.

OK, that might matter.

Still, LET’S GO REBELS!

LET’S GO, REBEL THE FAN DOG!