April 2017 Murfreesboro Pulse by The Murfreesboro Pulse

APRIL 2017 / VOL. 12, ISSUE 4 / FREE

BORO ART CRAWL IS BACK Map Inside! PAGE 23

Middle Tennessee’s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News

THAI TOWN A look at Murfreesboro’s ﬁne Southeast Asian restaurants prior to upcoming Thai/Lao Food Fair

IN MUSIC

RECORD STORE DAY / BORO FONDO / NASHVILLE PRAISE SYMPHONY / METH DAD / ROOT ROAD / ROCKETMEN

Contents

WORD FROM THE EDITOR PEOPLE OF MURFREESBORO. HAPPY APRIL!

If you have a fundraiser coming up, a concert, an event, a written piece you’d like to share with the community, a gathering, dance, a networking event, a group Tai Chi, drumming, Frisbee, jogging or darts activity, worship service, an art project or exhibit, new business, militia or food truck, we want to know about it and can help share it with our loyal audience.

20 IN EVERY ISSUE

FEATURES

4 Events

BORO FONDO FESTIVAL Three-day bike and music fest returns to Murfreesboro, April 20–22.

THIS MONTH

7 Sounds

THE ZOMBIES Fifty years after its recording, band performs legendary Odessey and Oracle album at TPAC this month.

Music Mingle, Pioneer Days, Tai Chi Day and more!

LOCAL CONCERTS

Harper and the Bears; Judas East and more! MUSIC NOTES

WELCOME TO THAI TOWN April 29 Thai-Lao Food Fair celebrates Southeast Asian food and culture in Rutherford County.

SAFETY FIRST Local Truck Driver Institute partners with Truckers Against Trafficking initiative.

SPORTS FOR ALL Endure Athletics offers area homeless children life skills via the opportunity to participate in sports.

Record Store Day; Elton John Tribute Band and more! REVIEWS

Meth Dad; Root Road

20 Living GARDENING

Helping your plants to flourish

22 Art BORO ART CRAWL

THEATER

A Murder is Announced; A Streetcar Named Desire

Shangri-La; Veda’s Flowers; Taco John’s, PhatKaps

Sports

Reviews

MTSU SPORTS

MOVIES

Life Kong: Skull Island LIVING ROOM CINEMA

The art of deception—in art

30 News ADVENTURES AT ASHWOOD COVE

Family tests survival skills during bomb scare HIGHER EDUCATION

Tennessee Reconnect makes community college free.

Features works from Bill Barnes, Carol Berning and many other local artists

BUSINESS BUZZ

NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM

The Abyss: Arrest warrants active for ten percent of population

Blue Raiders win another first round NCAA game but fall in second round to Butler. SPORTS TALK

Some inspirational athletes

Opinion THE STOCKARD REPORT

Family files lawsuit against Rutherford Juvenile Detention.

VIEWS OF A CONSERVATIVE

Where is the proof that Russians hacked DNC server? MONEY PULSE

Homebuying tips

VISIT US AT BOROPULSE.COM FOR MORE!

Publisher/ Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo

Art Director: Advertising: Sarah Mayo Don Clark Copy Editor: Leslie Russell-Yost Steve Morley

Contributors: Dylan Skye Aycock, John Connor Coulston, Greg Crittenden, Tanner Dedmon, Mary C. Dunn, Bryce Harmon, Bernard James, Joseph Kathmann, Zach Maxfield, Elizabeth Sawyer, Edwina Shannon, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard, Sam Stockard, Elizabeth Tullos, Norbert Thiemann; Phil Valentine

To carry the PULSE at your business, or to submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 615-796-6248

Copyright © 2017, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Murfreesboro Pulse is a free publication funded by our advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X

Check out the information the Pulse team has put together for you for April in the following pages. There’s all manner of music in this town. Sonic artists create blues, rock, electronic, classical, jazz, metal, roots, punk, country and various combinations of world musics right here in Middle Tennessee. All sorts of food available: tacos, sushi, collard greens, pizza, steaks, tempeh, calzones, salads, macarons, kabobs and of course plenty of curries, pad and pho. I’ve enjoyed researching this month’s piece on Thai and Lao food probably even more than the Pulse’s ice cream roundup a while back. Good, good stuff. Read all about recent movies, the area’s active theater scene, the great network of Murfreesboro charities and ministries and more in this issue. Murfreesboro is certainly growing and looks different as each year goes by. How will it continue to change, and what will you contribute? O’Possum’s shocked its customers and fans with a sudden closure announcement last month. Many considered it one of the unique jewels of the town’s dining scene. The Pulse has said it before: Support Your Independent Restaurants, Murfreesboro. Our country’s military leaders remind me a little of former Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold recently, as they appear in budgetary hearings lamenting the U.S.A.’s “depleted” military, out-of-date technology and lack of funding. Ha! Show some confidence, joint chiefs and Department of Defense officials. You run the most powerful organization in the history of the world. Confidence, I say. The American people don’t want to hear your sales game about how “depleted” the military is and how little funding you have when you actually have the most sophisticated technology in the history of the world and hundreds of billions of dollars to work with every year. The U.S. military has the resources to protect our borders and citizenry. Sure, if we want to occupy every country in the world and join every conflict, we can keep on growing the budget. What is it that we’re trying to do? Likewise, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office has the resources to protect the residents against real crime. Yet the ex-sheriff would go on about how he needed more and more each year, ballooning the department’s budget. Sure, if they want to pull over every driver on the road and search every car and home, they can keep on expanding, but what is it that we’re trying to do with this organization? Anyway . . . rejoice and be glad! Do your best, create something excellent, be motivated by love. We are fine. Peace, BRACKEN MAYO Publisher/Editor in Chief BOROPULSE.COM

* APRIL 2017 * 3

Events COMPILED BY

ANDREA STOCKARD

Send event information to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com

APRIL 6 CELEBRITY WAITERS DINNER Join the 8th Annual Celebrity Waiters Dinner on Thursday, April 6, from 6–9 p.m., at Stones River Country Club (1830 NW Broad St.). This year’s theme is “Opry In the ’Boro – Backstage Pass” with a musical countrywestern theme starting with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Enjoy a silent auction, live auction, entertainment and meet country music artists and hear them perform. Funds benefit The Exchange Club Family Center for The Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (familycentertn.org, 115 Heritage Park Dr.) and other Exchange Club projects. For more information, call (615) 893-2067 or visit nationalexchangeclub.org.

APRIL 7 SHERLOCK-THEMED MURDER MYSTERY EVENT The Discovery Center (502 SE Broad St.) invites guests to use their powers of deduction and skills in forensic science to solve the murder mystery during “Disco Night: Sherlock Holmes” on Friday, April 7, beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at explorethedc.org/disco and include three drink vouchers. Attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Proceeds for the event benefit the Discovery Center. For more information, call (615) 890-2300.

APRIL 7, 15 & 28 MAYDAY BREWERY PRESENTS M-PROV COMEDY NIGHT Mayday Brewery (521 Old Salem Rd.) presents The M-Prov Boro Comedy Night for a night of stand-up, sketch comedy and improv April 7, 15 and 28 from 8:30–9:30 p.m. For more information, visit the Mayday Brewery and Boro Comedy Facebook pages and maydaybrewery.com.

APRIL 7 SOLDIER’S CHILD BANQUET A Soldier’s Child Foundation will hold its Annual Dinner Banquet at Saddle Woods Farm (9522 Franklin Rd.) on Friday, April 7, from 5:45–9 p.m. (dinner at 6:30 p.m.) with entertainment, delicious food by 5 Senses Restaurant, and a live auction with Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey as auctioneer. All proceeds benefit A Soldier’s Child Foundation. For more information, call (615) 220-1600.

APRIL 8 SPECIAL KIDS RACE Runners participate in 15K (7 a.m.), 5K (7:20 a.m.) or 1-mile (8:30 a.m.) runs for Special 4 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

Kids at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic and Surgicenter (1272 Garrison Dr.) on Saturday, April 8. Special Kids is a Christian therapy and nursing center for children with special needs. Register at specialkidsrace.org.

APRIL 8 4-H 4K Join the Rutherford County 4-H 4K Saturday, April 8, at the Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd.). Registration is at 7 a.m. with the race starting at 8:30 a.m. Serving as a fundraiser for the Rutherford County 4-H Endowment Fund, the unique race features a combination road and cross-country course and is the kick-off for the Adventures in Ag Day planned for the Rutherford County Extension office. The day features interactive exhibits showcasing local providers and demonstrations of agricultural tools and techniques. Registration required. For more information, call (615) 898-7710 or visit active.com or rutherford.tennessee.edu.

APRIL 8 OAKLANDS MANSION WETLANDS TOUR Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) invites everyone to join Curator and Master Gardener Connor Moss on Saturday, April 8, from 2–4 p.m. for a tour of the mansion grounds and wetlands area. Admission is $15 per person and all proceeds benefit the maintenance and preservation of the grounds. Reservations are required. For tickets or more information, call (615) 893-0022 or visit oaklandsmansion.org.

APRIL 8 PAWS & PEARLS The 8th Annual Paws & Pearls at Belle Meadows Farm (6241 Browns Mill Rd., Lascassas), held Saturday, April 8, from 6–10 p.m., benefits the Beesley Animal Foundation. The event, hosted by Susan Wilson, includes food and drink from many area establishments, music from Gay and Larry Pinkerton and Avent Lane, along with The Pilots, and a live auction. Admission is $75 per person and $15 for well-behaved leashed canines. RSVP at pawsandpearls2017.eventbrite.com.

APRIL 8 UNDERWATER EGG HUNT The Aquatics division at Patterson Park Community (521 Mercury Blvd.) invites the community to take part in a one-of-a-kind Underwater Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 8. Registration begins at 1 p.m.; the hunt begins for ages 2–5 at 1:30 p.m. and the hunt

APRIL 21

Hometown Heroes Walk for Children The Child Advocacy Center celebrates Child Abuse Prevention Month with the 2nd annual Hometown Heroes Walk for Children. The 2.1-mile walk begins at noon on Friday, April 21, at the Murfreesboro Civic Plaza (111 W. Vine St.), with registration beginning at 11 a.m. and speakers at 11:45 a.m. The Walk concludes at the Child Advocacy Center (1040 Samsonite Blvd.) with a reception following. Registration is free to walk. Walkers can purchase an event T-shirt for $10. The Child Protective Investigative Team responds as a multidisciplinary team to child abuse cases and the Child Advocacy Center aids children and their families with abuse trauma. For more information, contact kristinatroglen@bellsouth.net or (615) 867-9000, or visit cacrutherford.org. begins for ages 6–9 at 1:45 p.m. Admission is free until 3 p.m. For more information, contact (615) 893-7439 or cclemmons@murfreesborotn.gov.

APRIL 9 MTSU EGG HUNT AT PRESIDENT’S HOME Join MTSU sorority members at their annual Easter Egg Hunt on the President’s Lawn (2212 Middle Tennessee Blvd.) Saturday, April 9, from 2–4 p.m. Children ages 12 and under are welcome; all guests are asked to park at the Parking Services building located off Main Street. In addition to the egg hunt, enjoy a variety of games for children as well as an appearance from the Easter Bunny. For more information, call (615) 796-1740.

APRIL 9 2017 FIDO SPRING FLING Fido Spring Fling returns on Sunday, April 9, to Lane Agri-Park (315 John Rice Blvd.) from 2–5 p.m. This family-friendly event features activities for the kids while friendly, leashed pooches sniff out and discover treatfilled eggs hidden throughout the park. Bring your egg basket and enjoy special prize eggs with pet treats and toys, a costume contest, and local pet vendors. Food trucks and adoptable pets will also be onsite. Admission is free to browse the booths. Entry into the egg hunt and costume contest is $15 cash per dog and benefits Beesley Animal Foundation and PAWS of Rutherford County. For more details, visit fidospringfling.com.

APRIL 9 AND 23 SACRED CIRCLE DANCE

“World Dance” or “Sacred Circle Dance with Awareness” combines spiritual dance, world dance and folk dance and part of many traditions and cultures from around the world; it is done in a circle holding hands or in a line. No particular experience is required. Doing circle dance creates a space for awareness, healing, gentle peacefulness and relaxation. Instructor Heather Thompson will lead circle dances April 9 and 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. For the location and more information, contact (931) 686-2520 or ltledeer@bellsouth.net.

APRIL 14 BORO ART CRAWL The Boro Art Crawl features many of Murfreesboro’s local artists and craftsmen throughout businesses in the historic downtown district Friday, April 14, from 6–9 p.m. For more information, visit boroartcrawl.com. This event occurs on the second Friday of every other month.

APRIL 15 CITYWIDE EASTER EGG HUNT Children of all ages can enjoy an egg hunt at Richard Siegel Community Park (515 Cherry Ln.) Saturday, April 15, beginning at 1 p.m. Hunt for eggs and exchange them for prizes. Enjoy carnival-style games and a visit from the Easter Bunny. For more information, contact (615) 907-2251 or athletics@ murfreesborotn.gov. Admission is free.

APRIL 19 TIP THE WAITER Domestic Violence Program & Sexual Assault Services’s Annual “Tip the Waiter”

Luncheon at Embassy Suite Hotel (1200 Conference Center Blvd.) Wednesday, April 19, at noon, aides the victims of domestic and/or sexual assault in the community. For more information, contact bbeckwith@ dvpshelter.org or (615) 896-7377.

APRIL 22

Cripple Creek Cloggers Anniversary Cripple Creek Cloggers celebrate their 50th anniversary Saturday, April 22, at the Kittrell Volunteer Fire Department (8067 John Bragg Hwy., Readyville). Reservations can be made through April 8 by contacting lplee@bellsouth. net or visiting the Official 50th RCSD/CCC Reunion Facebook event page. The cost is $20 per person and $10 for those 12 and under. Uncle Shuffelo and His Haint Hollow Hootenanny are playing and Steve Cates, founder, is calling square dancing. Slick Pig is catering. The dancers are always seeking new participants. They meet weekly in Murfreesboro and there is no charge to participate. For more information, contact appdancer@aol. com, or visit cripplecreekcloggers.org.

APRIL 20 STUDS & DUDS Studs & Duds is a free class at Lane AgriPark (315 John R. Rice Blvd.) April 20 from 6–7 p.m. teaching how to choose trees and shrubs that have the fewest problems. For more information, contact (615) 898-7710 or mmote1@utk.edu.

APRIL 20 MUSIC MINGLE Do you support or participate in music in Murfreesboro? All music producers, promoters, teachers, composers, musicians, conductors, songwriters, music business owners and music fans are welcome to the Music Mingle at the Banquet Room at Bradley Academy Museum (415 S Academy St.) Thursday, April 20, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. The goal of Music Mingle is to encourage communication and collaboration between individuals in the music community, start community discussions about the needs and direction music is taking in the ’Boro. Light snacks are provided. For more information, contact (615) 867-7244 or culturalarts@ murfreesborotn.gov.

APRIL 20 MURFREESBORO SYMPHONY Hear the Murfreesboro Symphony in concert at First United Methodist Church (265 W. Thompson Ln.) Thursday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. The evening offers a concert of familiar tunes from movies, song and dance, and show tunes conducted by Professor Craig Cornish, conductor of the MTSU Band of Blue. For more information, call contact (615) 898-1862 or symphony@ murfreesborosymphony.com.

APRIL 20–22

GIATE AND LEADERSHIP EXPO

Mayday Brewery (521 Old Salem Rd.) hosts a three-night Harry Potter Trivia extravaganza April 20–22 beginning at 7 p.m. each night. Brought to you by the folks at Brainiac Trivia League, this is their version of a TriWizard Tournament. For more information, visit maydaybrewery.com or brainiactrivia.com/2017events.

College and university representatives, operators and local charities and business owners gather for the 3rd Annual faith-based college expo featuring and the Power of One Seminar presented by Ohio Christian University from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, at 1154 Park Ave. It is all free to attend and set up booths. For more information, visit Kingdom Builders on Facebook, or contact kingdombuilders5919@yahoo.com or (615) 995-5724.

APRIL 21

APRIL 22

SENIOR DANCE

THE BASH

Enjoy the music of the Rode West Band at a Senior Dance at the Patterson Park adult gym (521 Mercury Blvd.) Friday, April 21, from 5–8 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door (no taps or cleats allowed on the gym floor). For more information, call (615) 848-2550.

The Center for the Arts’s popular annual Bash swings into action Saturday, April 22, from 6:30–11 p.m. with a live auction, cocktails and catering provided by Alex Belew and dance music by Mosaic Rhythm. The 2017 theme for the Center’s primary fundraiser is “Out of This World.” For more information, visit boroarts.org/the-bash or call (615) 904-2787.

BRAINIAC TRIVIA TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

APRIL 22 KINGDOM BUILDER COLLE-

APRIL 29

Qi Gong and Tai Chi Day Experience the tranquility and peacefulness of Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) at the 2017 World Qi Gong and Tai Chi Day Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m.–noon. Local Tai Chi Chuan/Qi Gong teacher Bret Hawkins leads demonstrations and will guide participants in Tai Chi Chuan, an ancient Chinese discipline that incorporates internal (soft) martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine and meditation. Many studies prove that practicing Tai Chi daily can improve one’s health. Qi Gong is a series of breathing exercises that are similar to Tai Chi, and often done together. This event is free. For more information, contact bretkeithhawkins@att.net.

APRIL 22 PIONEER DAYS Step back in time with cloggers, old-time music, demonstrators, crafters, hayrides, Harriet Tubman played by June LaGreen, blacksmith demonstration, an Art League demonstration and Antique Auto car show at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. For more information, contact (615) 890-0355 or shodges@ murfreesborotn.gov. Admission is free.

APRIL 22 FAMILY CAMPOUT Backpack an easy 1-mile hike to the Barfield Crescent Backcountry Campground (meet at the Wilderness Station at 301 Volunteer Rd.) Saturday, April 22, from 4–6:30 p.m. and spend the night in the park. Participate in various activities like guided night hikes, children’s

activities and games, campfire fun and music, or just relax by the campfire. Dinner and breakfast are included in the registration fee. Tents, ground cloths, sleeping pads and backpacks are available by request. Reservations required. For more information, contact (615) 217-3017 or lhughes@murfreesborotn.gov.

APRIL 22 EARTH DAY ON THE SQUARE Enjoy educational booths, games and giveaways for Earth Day at the Murfreesboro Public Square on Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. For more information, contact cynthia.allen@mtsu.edu.

APRIL 22 SHABBY LANE’S CUPCAKES AND TEA Enjoy Shabby Lane’s Mothers & Daughters Cupcakes & Tea at Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John Rice Blvd.) Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Shop while enjoying free cupcakes and tea or lemonade. Admission is free. For more information, visit shabbylaneshoppingevents.com.

APRIL 23 FREE CLOTHES AND FOOD Free food and clothes are given away at the Oakland Park 7th Day Adventist Church (711 N. Maney Ave.) the 4th Sunday of every month (Sunday, April 23) from 11 a.m–1 p.m. For more information, call (615) 410-7552.

APRIL 29 BACKYARD BBQ FESTIVAL Join the Breakfast Rotary Club in the celebration of the Backyard BBQ Festival on the historic grounds of Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) Saturday, April 29, from 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Eat competition-style BBQ, visit the beer garden, cheer on local high schoolers in the High School Steak Cookoff CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 BOROPULSE.COM

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 and watch BBQ Smokers battle it out in this Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned competition fun for the entire family. Free and open to the public. For more information, visit backyardbbqfest.com or the Backyard BBQ Murfreesboro Facebook page.

APRIL 29 BLACKMAN JROTC CAR SHOW Drive in for the first annual Blackman High School JROTC Car Show on Saturday, April 29, 8 a.m.–noon with awards announced at 2 p.m. Show off your automotive pride and joy regardless of what model or make it is. The first 100 registrants get a goodie bag! For more information, find a Facebook event page for Blackman JROTC Car Show.

APRIL 29 SAVAGE GULF DAY HIKE Head to the Cumberland Plateau for a day of hiking on Saturday, April 29. Meet at the Wilderness Station (301 Volunteer Rd.) for departure at 8 a.m. and return at 5 p.m. Enjoy the warmth of spring with beautiful views and new friends during a hike of moderate skill level of 9.8 miles. Pack a lunch. Hiking time is approximately 5 hours. Ages 13 and up are welcome and cost is $15 per person. For more information, contact

(615) 217-3017 or outdoormurfreesboro@ murfreesborotn.gov.

APRIL 29 PLANT SWAP AND CRAFT FAIR The Annual Plant Swap and Craft Fair at the Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd.) Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m., allows you to bring one plant and take home one other plant (no seeds or seedlings). In addition, purchase crafts, books and other garden-themed items. For more information, call (615) 898-7710.

APRIL 29–30 CHILL WITH A CHINCHILLA, SNUGGLE WITH A SNAKE The Nashville Exotic Pet Expo will take over the Nashville Fairgrounds on April 29 and 30 and will feature pets from geckos to cockatoos to tarantulas. The event, spread over two of the Nashville Fairground buildings, will include vendors, demonstrations, talks and lots of animals. The Middle Tennessee Exotic Pet Club produces the event twice a year, and hopes to continue growing expo attendance as well as area awareness and interest in exotic animals in general. Brendan Reynolds, known around Murfreesboro as Mr. Brendan, Reptile Guy, now

serves as president of the Exotic Pet Club. He wants everyone in the Middle Tennessee area interested in learning more about the animals of the world to come out and “play with a parrot, snuggle with a snake, laugh with a lizard and chill with a chinchilla,” as the expo’s promotional imagery states. “The club puts on the Nashville Exotic Pet Expo twice a year as our fundraiser and we are focused on education on exotic pets,” says Mr. Brendan. “We will have a presentation stage area where some of our guests will be talking about owning exotic pets, giving real life experience!” Saturday, April 29, will feature a VIP opening at 9 a.m. with a $5 admission cost. Admission any other time, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, or from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, will be only $1. For more information visit nashvilleexoticpet.com.

APRIL 30 NATURE JOURNALING CLASS A two-hour Nature Journaling class at the Wilderness Station in Barfield Crescent Park (301 Volunteer Rd.) on Sunday, April 30, from 9–11 a.m., gives the public the opportunity to turn their aspirations of studying nature into a reality. Hike, write and draw, while being instructed to “nature journal” by providing skills in observation, sketching and

the appreciation of nature’s beauty and mystery. An instruction manual is included and supplies provided, or bring your own. Adults only; fee is $15. Reservations are required. For more information, contact (615) 2173017 or rsinger@murfreesborotn.gov.

THROUGHOUT APRIL FUN WITH THE EASTER BUNNY Enjoy breakfast, photos and pet night with the Easter Bunny at Stones River Mall (1720 Old Fort Pkwy.). Capture the magic of the spring season with a professional photo with the Easter Bunny through Saturday, April 15, at the photo set near the Children’s Play Area. Shoppers can schedule a reservation in advance by texting Bunny198 to 39771. Reservations are strongly encouraged but not required. Attend Storytime & Puppet Show at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 7, inside the new Books-A-Million location for a special visit and craft with the Bunny. Fido and Kitty can also have their photos taken with the Bunny during Wags & Whiskers, from 6–8 p.m., Monday, April 3 and 10. Pet nights are sponsored by Doggie’s Day Out, a local, cage-free dog daycare. Shoppers can also donate a bag of dog or cat food for Rutherford County P.A.W.S. to receive a free 5-by-7 print while supplies last. For more information, visit stonesrivermall.com.

ENTERTAINMENT

DJ, BINGO, TRIVIA & KARAOKE NIGHTS  MONDAYS AHART’S PIZZA GARDEN Trivia, 6:30 p.m.

WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

LEVEL III Trivia, 7 p.m.

 FRIDAYS

MELLOW MUSHROOM Trivia, 8 p.m.

LIQUID SMOKE DJ Night, 10 p.m.

NOBODY’S Trivia, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

MT BOTTLE Karaoke, 9 p.m.–3 a.m.

 TUESDAYS

SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Trivia, 8 p.m.

WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

COCONUT BAY Live Trivia, 7:30 p.m.

STATION GRILL Trivia, 7 p.m.

 SATURDAYS

HANDLEBARS Karaoke, 7 p.m.

THE BORO Game Night, 8 p.m.

NACHO’S Trivia, 7 p.m.

 THURSDAYS

NACHOS Trivia, 7 p.m.

BOB’S BBQ Trivia, 7 p.m.

NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

CAMPUS PUB Trivia, 6:15 and 8:15 p.m.

WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

COCONUT BAY Karaoke, 8:00 p.m.

 SUNDAYS

 WEDNESDAYS

HANDLEBARS Karaoke, 7 p.m.

O’POSSUMS Trivia, 8 p.m.

CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Trivia, 8 p.m.

LEVEL III Trivia, 7 p.m. THE BORO Vinyl Spin with KM 9 p.m.

NOBODY'S Bingo, 7 p.m. OLD CHICAGO Trivia, 9 p.m. TGI FRIDAY’S Trivia, 9 p.m.

6 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

HANDLEBARS Karaoke, 7 p.m.

CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

Concerts THURS, 4/6

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

MTSU Wind Ensemble

JAZZMATAZZ

WED, 4/12

Carmen’s Taqueria 206 W. Northfield Blvd. 615-848-9003

MTSU Singers

Fernando Raphael Llana

THURS, 4/13

Drake Freeman

THE BORO

All Star Jam Hosted by Stuart Montez

FRI, 4/7

JAZZMATAZZ

Dj Isaac

MAYDAY BREWERY

Todd London Trio

CJ’s 352 W. Northfield Blvd. 615-546-4164

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Coconut Bay Café 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. 615-494-0504

Simmons Jazz Combo; Wires Jazz Combo MTSU Percussion Ensemble

THE BORO

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

Erin Enderlin, Alex Kline, Kimberly Kelly

THE BORO

Foreign Birds, Alamo Black, AKA Faceless

WALL STREET

Nuclear Bubble Wrap

SAT, 4/8

AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO

The Grindmother, Knuckle Dragger, Bled to Submission, Mortius, Thetan

JAZZMATAZZ

Missy Garnett Band

MAYDAY BREWERY

Andrew Whit

MT BOTTLE

Hillfolk

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Katie Nicholson; MTSU Chamber Orchestra

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

James Slater

TEMPT

Squinto, Boogie T, Warlokk, Cattzly, MilkChalk, Finnthedj

THE BORO

1/2 Watt Astronaut, Daydrive, VOLK

SUN, 4/9

JAZZMATAZZ

Drew Sims

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Chinese Ensemble Concert; Alyssa Baranski

MON, 4/10

JAZZMATAZZ

MTSU Songwriters Jam

FRI, 4/14

JAZZMATAZZ

Deja Nu

MAIN STREET MUSIC

Rubiks Groove

MAYDAY BREWERY

Aaron and Julie-Anne

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Eric Luminais

NOBODY’S

HARPER AND THE BEARS

END OF SEMESTER BASH THURSDAY, 4/20 @ BONHOEFFER'S

Following its return last month, Bonhoeffer’s is gearing up for an end-of-the-semester bash April 20 from 8–10 p.m. The new venue, located in Real Life Community Church at 2022 E. Main St., will welcome local acts Harper and the Bears, Grand Transit and Allison Drive. Follow Bonhoeffer’s on Twitter and Instagram @bonhoeffers to stay up to date on future events, or visit bonhoeffers.weebly.com for more information.

Ragged Company

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

Greylan James, Sam Hatmaker, Maddie Larkin, Kevin Mac

THURS, 4/20

Judas East (Judas Priest Tribute), Mighty Jabronis, The Creeping Cruds

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

THE BORO

SAT, 4/15

AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO

Bereft, Aseethe, Ghost of Mars, Obelisk

MAIN STREET MUSIC

Evership, Arcane Atlas, Ambrose Way

MAYDAY BREWERY

Sugar Lime Blue

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

JAZZMATAZZ

Ivan Fleming

MTSU Women’s Chorale

BONHOEFFER’S

Harper and the Bears, Grand Tranist, Allison Drive

THE BORO

All Star Jam hosted by Stuart Montez

FRI, 4/21 TEMPT

Hucci, KDSML, Beat Bear, DJ Skinny B, Vibe Emissions

Rocketmen (Elton John tribute)

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Accidental Trio, The Jewell Machine’s album release show

MTSU SAUNDERS FINE ARTS, ROOM 117

THE BORO

MON, 4/17

JAZZMATAZZ

Main Street Comotion

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Concert Band

TUES, 4/11

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Carla Gill Band

Green Dragon 714 W. Main St. 615-801-7171

Songwriter Night hosted by Glenn Brown

WED, 4/19

JAZZMATAZZ

Garage Bar 405 N. Front St. 615-934-7464

Dustin Herring

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Stones River Chamber Players

Carpe Artista 101 Front St., Smyrna 615-984-4038

MTSU SAUNDERS FINE ARTS, ROOM 101

Matt Lund

Zone Status

PICK

Ivan Fleming

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

NOBODY’S

PULSE

JAZZMATAZZ

Steel Blossoms

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Autograph Rehearsal Studio 1400 W. College St. 615-686-6121 Bonhoeffer’s 2022 E. Main St. 615-440-3794

JAZZMATAZZ

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

IF YOU GO:

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Ivan Fleming

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

GRAND TRANSIT

JAZZMATAZZ

Karaoke Night

David Brady; MTSU Guitar Ensembles

Shan Zheng

MTSU Clarinet Studio

MAIN STREET MUSIC

Paralandra, Stack, Wheathouse

NOBODY’S

Reckless

THE BORO

The Dirty Delusions, The Schnooks, Katie & the Clydesdales

SAT, 4/22

JAZZMATAZZ

Chris Jordan and the Heat

MAYDAY BREWERY

All the Little Pieces

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Kris Rodgers; MTSU Symphony Orchestra

THE BORO

Duo, Jam Force F!ve, Tomato Face, Apache Jericho

SUN, 4/23

JAZZMATAZZ

Tony Hartman; Drew Sims

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU flute studio; Arunesh Nadgii; Adam Clark; Strings and Friends

THE BORO

Radical Arts presents Comedy Night

FRI, 4/28

JAZZMATAZZ

Sam McCrary

MAYDAY BREWERY

Robyn Taylor

MAIN STREET MUSIC

Jelly Roll, Alexander King

Collin Peterson; Hannah Sims; MTSU Flute Choir

NOBODY’S

MON, 4/24

THE BORO

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Jazz Ensemble II

TUES, 4/25

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Symphonic Band

WED, 4/26 JAZZMATAZZ

Todd London Trio

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Commercial Music Ensemble

THURS, 4/27 JAZZMATAZZ

Ivan Fleming

Escape

Matt Nichols Band

SAT, 4/29

AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO

Jazzmatazz 1824 Old Fort Pkwy. 615-624-6944 Level 3 114 S. Maple St. 615-900-3754 Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 615-217-7822 Main Street Music 527 W. Main St. 615-440-2425 Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 615-479-9722 MT Bottle 3940 Shelbyville Hwy. 615-962-9872 MTSU Wright Music Building 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 615-898-2469 Nacho’s 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd. 615-907-2700 Nobody’s Grille & BBQ 2227 Old Fort Pkwy. 615-962-8019 Patterson Park Community Center 521 Mercury Blvd. (615) 893-7439 Phat Boyz Bar & Grill 4425 Woodbury Pk. 615-546-4526

Absent from the Body, Iraconji, Oblivion Myth, Ire and Uprise

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 114 N. Church St. 629-201-6916

MAIN STREET MUSIC

Rockvale Blues

Shangri-La 1208 S. Lowry St., Smyrna (629) 255-8296

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Tempt 211 W. Main St. 615-225-7757

THE BORO

The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 615-895-4800

JAZZMATAZZ

The Look: 30 Years Later Luke Judkins; Kimberlin Lacy

Paige & The Texas Bargoyles, BOOMSTICK

View the monthly concert schedule at BoroPulse.com/Concerts  Send show listings to Listings@BoroPulse.com

Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 615-867-9090 BOROPULSE.COM

* APRIL 2017 * 7

Sounds

BORO FONDO TIME

Read more about local restaurants at

BoroPulse.com/Category/Food

Murfreesboro has welcomed the food and people of Southeast Asia; Celebrate with some curry or Pad Thai at one of a dozen area Thai restaurants and at April 29 Thai-Lao Food Fair.

Welcome to

THAI TOWN

THE MIGRATION

BY BRACKEN MAYO

he borders between cultures have blurred. People from all over the world now call Murfreesboro home, and for many, there’s no better introduction to another land than by way of the food. Ingredients from across the globe can be found right here in Rutherford County, making possible a melting pot on anyone’s stovetop. The fine Thai and Lao restaurants in the area have introduced many Murfreesboro diners to the delicious and often spicy curries, pad (noodles) and pho (soup) that families in Southeast Asia have enjoyed for generations. Many of these restaurants are small, but all seem to take great pride in the food they serve, and in introducing the people of Tennessee to their respective cultures, if only in a culinary sense. “I’m glad my food makes a lot of people happy,” says Sydney Bounsavath of Thai Pattaya. Whether the customer goes for some Tom Kha or Pad See Ew at Thai Pattaya, some Massaman Curry at Lemongrass on the other side of town, Papaya Salad or Yum Beef at Oriental Express (located on the back side of a Bradyville Pike tire shop/convenience store) or some Pho at International Grocery, just across the street, Murfreesboro is bursting with the mouthwatering flavors of Laos and Thailand. There’s also Pad Thai Cafe and its delicious ginger or jalapeño chicken wings and curries, Taste of Thai, just down South Church Street, with larb and other dishes from that fine corner of the Earth, as well as newcomers SaBaiDee and Yummy Thai. And of course, there are the veterans: The Bangkok on Robert Rose Drive near Stones River Mall and Thai Spice, the most convenient to the MTSU campus. The Thai and Lao influence is now so 14 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

strong in Murfreesboro that Wat Amphawan of America, a Buddhist temple located at 4880 Barfield Crescent Road, will host a Lao/Thai Festival on Saturday, April 29. This event, held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will include traditional Southeast Asian dance, Muay Thai demonstrations, the raffle of a 2017 Nissan Altima—raffle tickets are $50 apiece— and of course, lots and lots of food. The cost to attend the event is $15, and that includes all-you-can-eat Thai and Lao food; kids 10 years old and younger are free.

(Right) Chantho Sourinho with Mo and Noy Thepsouvan; (below) bubble teas from SaBaiDee; (left) Thai Spice spring rolls; (top) noodles from SaBaiDee

How did Murfreesboro become this hotbed of Lao and Thai culture? Chantho Sourinho, born in Laos, came to Murfreesboro in 1972 to attend MTSU. “This is before the Murphy Center,” reminds Sourinho, and certainly before the great influx of Southeast Asian people into our small Southeastern United States town. Today, Sourinho serves as a Rutherford County commissioner and delivers a news report in Lao on Murfreesboro City TV (Channel 3). He estimates that somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 Lao people live in Rutherford County today, and this figure does not include those of Thai descent. While the languages, cuisine and people of Thailand and Laos share many similarities, they are distinct. “Many people fled Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in 1975,” Sourinho said. This was the height of the war and genocide that ravaged that region. “You may have heard of the killing field in Cambodia,” Sourinho continued. The young man would volunteer with refugees coming into Middle Tennessee during the 1970s. “The Catholic Diocese in Nashville saw how much I volunteered and put me on the payroll,” Sourinho says. He worked there for six years prior to beginning a 30year career with Rutherford County Schools as a guidance counselor. “I worked with a lot of parents who spoke very little English,” Sourinho says of his time with the local school system as he sips jasmine tea with his nephew, Noy Thepsouvan, at Thai Spice, the Rutherford Boulevard restaurant that Noy operates with his wife, Mo. So, back to the reason why a few thousand Thai and Lao individuals have chosen to make their home in the Murfreesboro area. “The geography of Tennessee is similar to Thailand and Laos in some ways,” Jack Butcha-

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* APRIL 2017 * 15

(Right, top) Jack and Bubpha Butchareon with Bangkok staff and family; (right, below) many of the area Thai restaurants, including Lamongrass, offer sushi as well; (pictured here) the Poh Teak Hang at Thai Spice

THE THAI & LAO EATERIES OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY The Bangkok Thai Cuisine & Sushi 315 Robert Rose Dr. International Grocery 1622 Bradyville Pk. Lemongrass Sushi & Thai 220 Barfield Crescent Rd. Oriental Express Laos and Thai Cuisine 1619 Bradyville Pk. Pad Thai Cafe 2568 S. Church St. SaBaiDee Cafe 505 Cason Ln. Taste of Thai 1841 S. Church St. Thai Pattaya 810 NW Broad St. Thai Phooket 1890 Almaville Rd., Smyrna Thai Spice 225 N. Rutherford Blvd. Thida Thai 10644 Cedar Grove Rd., Smyrna Yummy Yum Thai Restaurant 3411 Memorial Blvd.

reon, owner of The Bangkok, another staple in the community, tells a guest in his restaurant. “Lots of trees and forests and rivers . . . the people would come to the South; Thai and Lao people aren’t going to stay in Boston, unless they have a good business going—it’s too cold! “There’s big manufacturers here, plenty of jobs; it’s good to raise kids here,” he continues. One of the main reasons remains the large number of churches in the area. Tennessee churches were very welcoming to this wave of refugees, according to the Bangkok owner. “The people from the churches would sponsor the refugees back in the day,” he says. While many Thai and Lao people have settled in Tennessee, Georgia and North Caro-

lina over the past few decades, “the Vietnamese prefer Louisiana, Florida, Texas. Fishing is their expertise. They fish for shrimp, squid,” Butchareon says, noting that the fertile fishing areas of the Gulf of Mexico are more similar to the coast of Vietnam, probably making many of the Vietnamese families feel more at home. Butchareon recalls the days working in the rice fields of a rural area of Thailand as a boy with his father. He says he first learned about America from U.S. military propaganda. “They knew they were going to war with Vietnam; they had to have a base in Thailand,” Butchareon says. “The Corps of Engineers built the first highway in Thailand, the

Friendship Highway.” In addition to building infrastructure in that region in preparation for the war, the U.S. military was building community support as well, touting the greatness of America and enticing village people to support their cause. “The Corps of Engineers had movie propaganda about USA,” says, Butchareon, who recalls how wonderful it was to see motion pictures of any type in those days in Thailand. “We saw the American way of life. We saw tractors on the farm,” he says. “Sometimes they’d show John Wayne movies.” Butchareon made it a goal to come to the U.S. himself, so when his chance to come to the country and attend Atlanta University

presented itself in 1982, he jumped at the opportunity. He obtained a master’s degree, and when his wife’s brother, Sam, got a scholarship at MTSU, Jack and his wife, Bubpha, accompanied him to Murfreesboro. “My wife liked the big city. I had to convince her [to come to Murfreesboro],” Jack says. “I told her there’s an Asian community here and it is a good place to raise kids.” That family arrived in Murfreesboro in 1990. While Jack had a master’s degree in public administration, he initially struggled to provide for his family but found jobs as a janitor, as a forklift operator and a housecleaner while living in a small apartment. One Sunday, at a time when Jack says his

A Tale of Three Curries: (from left) Green from Thai Pattaya; Yellow and Massaman from Taste of Thai.

16 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

family had about $2,900 to their name and his wife was pregnant with their second child, she insisted that they go look at houses for sale. The idea that they could purchase a house at this point in their lives was one Jack found “stupid,” but he loyally accompanied Bubpha to look at a place at 3550 Lehigh Dr. The lady showing the house was one Margaret Bugg, who ended up the following week personally loaning the family the money to purchase a home of their own in Murfreesboro. Jack could not believe it but says he is eternally grateful to Ms. Bugg for giving his family, whom she had just met, an opportunity. “Her generosity touched my heart,” he says. The families became friends over the coming years. “My wife would make her egg rolls and fried rice Sundays after church,” Butchareon says. “After years of paying her back, she said, ‘You cook good, you should open a restaurant.’” Once again, Jack was skeptical about coming up with the money to open a restaurant, but once again, Bugg made it happen. “Bob Murfree owned a building at 113 N. Maple Street [now the site of Jack Brown’s]; Miss Bugg signed a lease for us,” Butchareon says. And thus Thai food came to the Murfreesboro Square.

dishes would generally have a thicker consistency and contain more eggplant and bamboo, but perhaps not as much broccoli, green beans and other greens, as Thai food may. Also, Laos has no coastline, so seafood is more of a Thai flavor, she says. Still, the flavors can mix and mingle; Thailand was the most stable country during the war, Butchareon says, so most refugees from the region would come to Thailand first, prior to heading out to Australia, France, the U.S. or other countries that would have them. So even many of those of Lao, Cambodian or Vietnamese descent would carry some of the Thai influence. Back at Thai Spice on Memorial Boulevard, Noy Thepsouvan tells of his journey from Laos. His family moved to France, where he worked for a chemical company. That job took him to England and eventually to Philadelphia prior to joining his Uncle Chantho and other family in Murfreesboro. “My wife is Thai,” Noy says. “Her uncle ran a restaurant in England—he’s very successful. He came here to train me for six months when we first opened Thai Spice. “I want to give my customers the food I love,” he says as his staff serves a diner a delicious dish known as Poh Teak Hang, containing seafood with vegetables.

THE FOOD

THE SCENE TODAY

When Jack and Bubpha first opened their restaurant, various area establishments served Americanized versions of Chinese food, but the Butchareons wanted to bring authentic Thai flavors to Murfreesboro. “People were more used to soy sauce and sugar than bamboo and hot pepper when we started,” Jack says. “Some people still hesitate to try it because they think it will burn them . . . try the Cashew Chicken, try the Pineapple Chicken, they’re not that hot. “The Massaman Curry is a little sweet, a little sour,” Butchareon continues. The restaurant operators realize many customers don’t want extremely spicy food, but will happily make it “native Thai” upon request. At many of the Thai and Lao restaurants, a server will ask the customer what spice level they’d like, from zero to five. And while it can be debated how spicy a dish should be, whether a recipe is Thai, Lao or American, the most important thing is to “put love into it,” says Bounsavath of Thai Pattaya. “I knew how to cook from what my mom taught me.” Many have become fans of Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, Pad Kra Pow and Curry though her establishment, and the other restaurants in Murfreesboro. Bounsavath, who was born in Laos to a Lao mother and Vietnamese father, says the food served at Thai Pattaya is very similar to what many families in Laos and Thailand eat, though maybe a “little less spicy.” Bounsavath explains some subtle differences between Thai and Lao cooking; Lao

The Thai/Lao food scene in Rutherford County includes much more in 2017 than only Bangkok and Thai Spice. With the recent opening of Yummy Thai restaurant on Memorial Boulevard near the VA, one observer of the local culinary industry counted a dozen Thai and Lao restaurants in the county. There’s a flavor for every palate and a spot in every neighborhood. The influence of the Buddhist way, which emphasizes peace, harmony, generosity and forgiveness, is also spreading, with temples popping up throughout Middle Tennessee. A meditation center, Sourinho points out, has recently opened at 2033 Ghee Road in Murfreesboro. Noy says it is important to him for his four kids to “dance, speak and know our culture.” His daughter danced at a 2016 food fair with a group of local students. The Butchareons now operate a shopping center, known as Thai Corner, that the Bangkok and other Thai-owned businesses call home; Jack also runs a home remodeling and importing businesses. And though the memories, food and culture of Thailand will be with him forever, “This is my hometown,” Butchareon says of Murfreesboro. And thanks to the migration of his family as well as other hard-working families operating restaurants in the area, the Murfreesboro culinary landscape is a little spicier. For more information on the April 29 event at Wat Amphawan, find a Facebook event page for Thai-Lao Food Fair 2017. BOROPULSE.COM

* APRIL 2017 * 17

Living

Truck Driver Institute–Murfreesboro, based in Christiana, just outside of the Murfreesboro city limits, gives students the chance to get behind the wheel of a new career by obtaining their commercial driver’s license (CDL) in just three weeks of intensive training.

TDI trains a diverse groups of people from college graduates to empty nesters and military veterans to doctors all looking for job security and higher pay. A new feature of the TDI program is the school’s partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT). This added training equips the students and faculty of the TDI to recognize and prevent human trafficking while on the road. A nonprofit organization, Truckers Against Trafficking looks to put a stop to human trafficking within the United States. The organization estimates that the number of victims sold into forced labor or commercial sex in the states ranges in the hundreds of thousands, and to combat this, TAT saturates training facilities such as the 12 TDI locations across the country with instructional materials to teach drivers what to look out for while on the job. “In the first week of class, they started showing a video, a 30-minute video about that,” said CDL examiner Ernie Hensley when asked about the instructional materials provided by the TAT program. The TAT program asserts that the trucking industry is one of the best professions to assist in the effort to prevent human traffick-

18 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

Safety First

ing, given the sheer number of employees on the road at any given time, and Hensley strongly concurs. “Let me tell you something, truck drivers have more eyes out there than anyone else on the road,” said Hensley. “They see a lot. They see more than highway patrol or anything, because they’re everywhere.” Hensley says the sheer number of truck drivers on the road is what contributes to the success of the program. “You can only be in one place at a time,” Hensley added. “And your buddy, the trooper, can only be in one place. But between you and him, there may have been 100 trucks go by you guys.” And the program has been successful thus far in its efforts, with approximately 1,400 cases of human trafficking solved or otherwise prevented as a result of calls made from

truckers participating the TAT program. Jennifer Woodfin, the student services coordinator at the TDI–Murfreesboro, says that it’s not always about stopping a crime every time, it’s more about just knowing what to look for while the truckers are on their routes. “They call in—and it’s anonymous—and at that point, law enforcement takes over,” Woodfin said. “There are special units that know what to look for, how to handle these things, how to ask the right questions. They don’t care if you’re wrong. But they want you to at least call so they can go investigate.” Woodfin initiated a system of cooperation with the TAT program after noticing some of the program’s advertisements online. After coordinating with owners of the TDI, she reached out to the program and solidified a partnership that officially kicked off on March 6 of this year in each of

“The TAT program asserts that the trucking industry is one of the best professions to assist in the effort to prevent human trafficking, given the sheer number of employees on the road at any given time.”

Local Truck Driver Institute partners with “Truckers Against Trafﬁcking” initiative. STORY BY TANNER DEDMON the 12 campuses that spanned the country. Upon completing the TAT program, truck drivers are given a card to keep on hand with information about the program and a phone number where they can report suspected incidents of human trafficking. A decal is also placed in the windows of their trucks to ensure that, even if they themselves don’t personally witness a crime, victims can notice the sticker and its emergency contact information to help them seek aid on their own. TDI student Timothy McGee said the program has been eye-opening. “I wouldn’t think that many young girls and women could be held against their will and treated and sold like they are. I will now keep my eyes open out there on the road and report anything that I think could be a situation where someone is being held against their will, or being sold for sex,” he said. “I will do my part to help stop human trafficking. I’m really glad I got to watch the film.” While the TAT program gears its efforts towards the trucking industry, the information provided by the organization can be utilized by any driver looking to assist in preventing human trafficking. To learn more about the program, view informational videos and more, visit truckersagainsttrafﬁcking.org. For more information about the TDI and its CDL training programs and job placement opportunities, visit drivebigtrucks.com or contact the Middle Tennessee location directly at 1-800-848-7364. TDI says it offers ongoing job placement for graduates and boasts a 95-percent placement rate.

BOROPULSE.COM

* APRIL 2017 * 19

Living Farmers’ Market Education Series BY EDWINA SHANNON

Helping Your Plants to Flourish

here was such a warm winter in the Middle Tennessee area this year that spring just may not be as appreciated as it would have been had we had a cold winter. Now the rains are coming, so before you go out to put in the

spring vegetables, be mindful of the moistness of the soil. If you squeeze a handful of soil and it maintains form, the soil is too wet to work. If you proceed and work it anyways, you will accomplish soil sculpture, creating the hard clumps of compacted dirt that do not support

healthy gardens. It takes more than a season to fix the sculpted dirt and get it into useable soil condition again. I speak from experience; heed my plea. Your excitement to work in the garden could set you back. Spring is a beautiful time to be outside. There is not a better way to enjoy the outdoors and be productive than to garden. We are in the time frame to get cool-weather vegetables in. There is a brochure that the UT Extension publishes, SP 291, “Guide to Spring Planted, Cool Season Vegetables.” It is available online in pdf format. One sentence in it has a concept that home gardeners can embrace: home gardeners can tighten up the space between rows, especially if the garden is hand cultivated, but they should follow the recommended space between plants. The recommended rule of thumb is to plant most cool-season vegetable seed at a depth equal to approximately three times the seed diameter. Lettuce needs light to germinate, so lightly broadcast that seed on top of the soil and pat it in. In the aforementioned guide there is an easy-to-understand graph of spring vegetables and when to plant. I especially like the additional hints of tying the cauliflower leaves over the head to blanch it. Another one is to cut the potatoes several days before planting to minimize rot. If you are thinking of planting a fall crop of cool-season vegetables, consider picking up the seed in the spring. Some of the spring varieties can also be fall varieties, and finding seed in August can be a challenge. The quality of your soil is the foundation to your garden. If you ignore the condition of your soil, plants can still grow and produce but it will take more money, time and manufactured nutrients. I think of gardening as a partnership. The plants take their life support from the soil. As stewards of the garden, we help the soil replenish their extracted nutrients.

APRIL 8 SPRING BEE COUNT The Wilderness Station (301 Volunteer Rd.) will host a Spring Bee Count on Saturday, April 8, from 12:30–1:30 p.m. Birds and bees play a key role in our food supply, and you can closely observe the number of bees that visit specific flowers in Barfield Park. The data collected helps the park better understand bees and their habits. This program is a part of the citizen science project Bumble Bee Count. 20 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

The “old way” is to improve the soil condition so the nutrients are naturally created from compost, decaying vegetation and earthworm activity. This is referred to as organic gardening. It takes time. Earthworms are a vital part of organic matter production process. Gardeners do have the potential to create “black gold” year round. Feeding earthworms food scraps (no meat, dairy, bones) and providing a dark, warm environment to live are the basics to the process called vermicomposting. Beautiful, rich soils are created through their efforts. Encouraging earthworms in their natural environment through the organic process of decomposition can be done throughout the season. Whether composting piles or sidedressings of untreated clipped grass, replenishment through decomposition is a benefit to the soil health. Your garden can flourish with the addition of manufactured nutrients as their purpose is to improve fertility which result in more eatables. Utilize soil testing. Any deficiencies can be quickly addressed with a manufactured solution. Soil tests are offered for a minimal fee at the UT Extension office on John R. Rice Blvd. Take several samples from throughout your garden area to get an overall analysis. In my opinion, the two techniques of organic practices with measured manufactured additions do not conflict, but instead complement each other. Work on improving the soil structure and the humus within the soil. At the same time, follow directions carefully for measured manufactured nutrients. More is not necessarily better, as wrongly measured amounts could create burns and kill the plants. Nothing will taste better than your own lovingly cultivated vegetables. Cheers to dirt under your nails and a productive and happy growing season.

For more information, contact (615) 217-3017 or hmullican@murfreesborotn.gov, or visit bumblebeewatch.org.

APRIL 11 PROTECTING POLLINATORS Learn how to protect pollinators at “Promoting and Protecting Pollinators” at the Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd.) Tuesday, April 11, from 6–7 p.m. Register at the Agricultural Extension; contact (615) 898-7710 or mmote1@utk.edu.

APRIL 22 BEAUTIFUL BIRDS Celebrate birds on this day at the Wilderness Station (301 Volunteer Rd.) Saturday, April 22, from 1–4 p.m. Take part in games and activities which highlight adaptations and migration challenges of many bird species (for ages 5–12, but fun for the whole family). For more information, contact (615) 217-3017 or outdoormurfreesboro@ murfreesborotn.gov.

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* APRIL 2017 * 21

Art

April Art Crawl

THE APRIL BORO ART CRAWL WILL take place on Friday, April 14, from 6–9 p.m. in and around the city’s Public Square. Murfreesboro’s Art Committee and the Center for the Arts are co-sponsoring student art contests. Art from students competing in the Murfreesboro City Schools competition will have their art showing during the Crawl in the Murfreesboro City Hall Rotunda. The art from young artists from both the city and county competitions will go on to an all-county competition at MTSU in May. These contests are open to kindergarten through high school students. Meanwhile, the Center for the Arts will feature the work of Carol Berning with an exhibition entitled From Vietnam to 22 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

Tennessee. Her art features photos of her life in Tennessee beside portraits of children based on snapshots her husband took while stationed in Vietnam in 1968 when he was serving during the war. Moxie Art Supply and Gallery is back to full operating hours and continuing to support local artists. During the April Art Crawl Moxie hosts work from the MTSU photo department in its gallery, with Bill Barnes and Frank Baugh also showing in the store. This store not only supplies artists with art-making products, but its staff works hard to support the local art community by stocking special requested items, sponsoring local art contests and events, sharing their knowledge and, most of all, encouraging artists to

Boro Art Crawl features work from Bill Barnes, Suzanne LeBeau and many others, April 14. 

keep developing their skills and evolving. VNTG, Green Dragon, Liquid Smoke, Dreamingincolor, Quinn’s Mercantile,

Sugaree’s, L & L Contractors, Funtiques, Let’s Make Wine, Simply Pure Sweets, The Boutique at Studio C, Trendy Pieces, Bella’s Boutique, The Write Impression, Murfreesboro Art League, Mayday Brewery, Bradley Academy, Earth Experience, The Gavel and Daffodilly Design are some of the other locations featuring new and established regional artists during the event. For more information about the Boro Art Crawl, visit boroartcrawl.com or facebook .com/boroartcrawl. A map of the crawl locations will be available online a few days before the event on these websites or at each participating location on the night of the crawl.

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2017 / EVENT MAP / ART / MUSIC / POETRY / LOCAL GREEN: Curated by Art Crawl organizers with art that is appropriate for all ages

The Earth Experience 816 Old Salem Rd.

Simply Pure Sweets 118 N. Walnut St.

RED: 21+ and may display more mature art

The Green Dragon Public House 714-F W. Main St.

Vntg 118 N. Walnut St.

Murfreesboro Art League 312 S. Front St.

PURPLE: Self-curated galleries

4 2 3

oro Art Crawl

d f

Crawl Aug.xlsx All items

r Wall Street

121 N. Maple St.

The Gavel 109 N. Maple St. Moxie Gallery 302 W. Vine St.

Dreamingincolor 504 N. Maney Ave.

Quinnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mercantile 301 N. Spring St.

u Rotunda City Hall

Center for the Arts 110 W. College St.

Liquid Smoke 2 N. Public Square

o Sugareeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Make Wine 109 E. Main St.

p The Write Impression

Bellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boutique 109 S. Church St.

a FunTiques

Trendy Pieces 111 S. Church St.

The Boutique at StudioC 201 W. Main St., Ste. 206

L&L Contractors 25 S. Public Square

Bradley Academy 415 S. Academy St.

Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Rd.

111 W. Vine St.

Daffodilly 118 W. Vine St. 122 S. Maple St. 120 S. Maple St. 118 S. Maple St.

HISTORIC MURFREESBORO SQUARE 5

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Poetry in the Boro at Center for the Arts

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 ART EXHIBIT

MTSU BFA CANDIDATES DISPLAY WORK AT TODD The Todd Art Gallery at MTSU will host exhibitions this spring of artwork from students pursuing the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Studio Art and Graphic Design. This semester’s exhibitions feature six studio candidates from ceramics, painting, printmaking and sculpture and 22 from graphic design. Spread across the department’s three gallery spaces, the exhibits run April 4–13 and April 18–28. With a concentration in painting, Sabrina Owens, Untitled students expected to participate in the Studio Art exhibition include Kayla Burnett, Alena Mehic, Sabrina Owens and Abigail Tompkins. Rounding out this group are Dona Donaldson and Ciara Richards, with concentrations in printmaking and sculpture, respectively. Interim Art Chair Michael Baggarly, recently offered students some advice: “Be aware of now—this moment. Sometimes we lose more by thinking about what is next rather than being conscious of what we have currently. Art works this way for me.” Graphic Design’s opening reception is set for Monday, April 17, and this exhibit will be on display April 18–28. Participating students include Vanessa Antonio, Anna Benjamin, Oscar Davila, Matthew Eason, Ali Ferger, Andréa Forsythe, Cheyenne Kellers, Kiki Kixmiller, Rachel Krantz, Cuban DeWard Lee, Gage Lozano, Courtney Moore, Brandon O’Rear, Sean Ring, Shelby Rose, Cameron Smart, Annabelle Smoot, Abby Taylor, Bethani Walton, Tiffani Wassell, Jessica Whitehouse and Samantha Wycoff.

 THEATER

A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED AT SPRINGHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY AN ADVERTISEMENT IN THE LOCAL PAPER ANNOUNCES that a murder will take place at Little Paddocks, Miss Blacklock’s Victorian boarding house, this very evening at 6:30. As one might imagine, this announcement creates consternation among the residents of Little Paddocks. Is it a grim joke, or a warning of impending doom? What follows is a classic Agatha Christie puzzle of mixed motives, concealed identities, twists and turns, and a professional game of cat-and-mouse between the determined Inspector Craddock and the delightfully droll Miss Jane Marple. In 1956, during the Golden Age of Television, The Goodyear Television Playhouse broadcast a live teleplay adaptation of A Murder Is Announced starring Gracie Fields, Roger Moore and Jessica Tandy. This spring, Springhouse Theatre Company in Smyrna pays homage to that historic broadcast, by presenting Agatha Christie’s A Murder Is Announced as if it were a live television production. Middle Tennessee theatergoers will have the opportunity to experience what it might have been like to be a member of that live studio audience. Agatha Christie’s A Murder Is Announced is the spring offering of Rutherford Countybased Springhouse Theatre Company. The show runs for three weekends, April 21, 22, 28 and 29 and May 5–7. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays with a special 3:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday, May 7. Springhouse Theatre is located on the campus of Springhouse Worship & Arts Center at 14119 Old Nashville Hwy., Smyrna. Tickets are available at ticketsnashville.com. For more information, call (615) 852-8499 or visit springhousetheatre.com.

MTSU THEATRE TAKES AUDIENCES ALONG ON A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE APRIL 6–9 The cast and crew of MTSU Theatre’s final spring 2017 production don’t mind that some audiences may be unfamiliar with the strangeness of kin that permeates the classic A Streetcar Named Desire, to be presented April 6–9 in Tucker Theatre. “The crazy thing is that college students, they don’t know this play. They didn’t grow up with the movie; it’s famous to their parents but wasn’t to them,” says Murfreesboro sophomore Conner McCabe, who’s taking on the role of Stanley Kowalski, one of American theater’s most iconic and most challenging male characters. “Stanley was a ‘normal husband’ back then,” McCabe continues. Megan Castleberry, a Cleveland, Tenn., junior portrays Stella Kowalski, alongside hothouse magnolia sister Blanche DuBois, played by Knoxville senior Hannah Ewing. Ewing said she’s enjoying the high-speed test created by presenting the classic drama during a first for Tucker Theatre: three major plays in a single semester. “I can push myself in this role to a professional level in an undergraduate setting. This [four-week turnaround] has presented the challenge of putting a show up fast,” Ewing said. Stage manager Justin Dixon, a Lafayette, Tenn., sophomore, said being a part of a classic is “an extreme privilege . . . there’s so much to learn. It’s such a well-known piece of theater that I feel everyone should experience A Streetcar Named Desire at least once in their lives.” For tickets or more information, visit mtsuarts.com. 24 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

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Reviews MOVIE

the vessel with its massive mechanized arm to being a catcher in tee-ball. Throughout the impromptu interception, the camera rotates left, right and upside-down as the crew buzzes through the space station, navigating the ship at practiced paces while devoid of gravity, a disorienting sequence that adds to the bedlam. Their actions seem calm enough in the presence of danger, but an underlying sense of panic reveals that, despite their training, space isn’t their home, and they’re out of their element. While it begins in a hurry, Life soon slows its pace in order to develop the characters’ backgrounds, unfortunately falling into a pretty typical horror movie formula in which the audience is persuaded to become attached to the characters through emotional events before the space pioneers are inevitably picked off. But with a six-member crew confined to

such a small space, each with distinct personalities and backgrounds to learn about—some have newborn children, some have physical disabilities and some simply prefer space to the harsh reality of Earth—there’s just not enough time to make a connection with the characters before the action picks back up. One of the best performances from the crew comes not from one of the top-billed actors but from Ariyon Bakare, playing English scientist Hugh Derry. Performing a biologist perhaps too well, Derry looks to understand as much as possible about the alien organism. His childlike curiosity, meshed with a parental archetype towards the creature, creates one of the more complicated personalities found in the movie. With the alien specimen (an organism dubbed Calvin in accordance with a vote from an elementary school back on Earth) now

aboard the International Space Station, all hell breaks loose when Calvin becomes a bit too smart for his own good. Despite the traits assigned to Calvin to make the threat unique, the movie begins to feel quite familiar. There exist some striking similarities to 1979’s Alien, the movie that spawned many successors imitating the claustrophobic, space-slasher story line. But there are some areas in which Life succeeds on its own. Striking a balance between little green invaders and Xenomorphs is tough when designing aliens, and Calvin’s biology is unique enough to appeal to alien buffs. Flipping and gliding like a starfish made of flubber, Calvin would almost be cute if it weren’t actively hunting the dwindling crew. It’s evident Calvin feels comfortable in the zero-gravity environment the scientists still struggle in. The dialogue in the film dances around portraying Calvin and the humans as not so different from one another, but the effort doesn’t quite connect without establishing more depth to Calvin, and it ends up still being just a typical alien foe. In a time where space films are in high demand, new attempts have to bring something truly out of this world and innovative to the table in order to be successful. Some fail at launch, and some blast off into deep space, but Life finds itself somewhere in between, comfortably orbiting between “not bad” and “good.” — TANNER DEDMON

Neither a true remake nor a direct sequel, Kong: Skull Island is more of a reimagining: what if Apocalypse Now had a giant gorilla in it? The result is not as ludicrous as the pitch. During the U.S.’s withdrawal from Vietnam in ’73, a team of scientists and soldiers are sent to a newly discovered island to conduct a “geological survey.” Hired on as a tracker is ex-British Special Forces James Conrad (Hiddleston). Also aboard is Mason Weaver (Larson), a selfproclaimed “anti-war photographer.”

They round out the crew lead by Lt. Col. Packard (Jackson), a career soldier inwardly relieved to be given one last mission, and William Randa (John Goodman) the government Man who knows the true reason for this perilous expedition. His secret isn’t kept for long. As the unfortunate fodder fly over the gorgeous Skull Island, they almost immediately encounter the gargantuan Kong. This movie reinvents the Kong of previous films by making him a true movie monster. No longer constrained to the anatomy of a real gorilla (albeit a giant one that can climb buildings) a la Peter Jackson’s 2005 remake, the king of Kong: Skull Island is a bipedal beast as tall as a building. The visual effects in this film are fairly astounding. The CGI is used to make impossible creatures come alive, but not to make them do impossible things. Interspersed between—and sometimes during—the action sequences are some artistic and visually arresting shots rare for this kind of popcorn pic, but this bonus is tempered with an over-reliance on jump scares. Though the spectacle alone makes for an exciting adventure, it isn’t enough to carry the

dead weight of so many talented actors in so many uninspired roles. John Goodman seems downright bored, and Samuel L. Jackson, famous for his infectious fury, never exercises it despite being the only character with a personal vendetta against Kong, checking the box for the cliché “man vs. monster: which one’s which?” Hiddleston and Larson are serviceable, though unexceptional, when both have proven they can be quite the opposite. The lesser-knowns play far more interesting characters, though none so much as John C. Reilly. As a WWII pilot marooned on the island for the past 30 years, Reilly is perfectly cast, carrying both the humor and the heart of the film on his deft shoulders. This is director Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ first big-budget film, following an indie success with The Kings of Summer and some episodes of You’re the Worst. On the podcast Doug Loves Movies, Vogt-Roberts recently expressed a love for “interesting failures,” i.e. overly ambitious projects that fail gloriously. Kong: Skull Island almost achieves that rare blend, but falls short for the better. — JAY SPIGHT

LIFE DIRECTED BY Daniel Espinosa STARRING Jake Gyllenhaal,

Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds RATED R

Within the first week of April, scientists behind the Event Horizon Telescope, an Earth-sized array of virtual telescopes pointed spaceward, hope to take a peek into the black hole Sagittarius A*. Capturing an image of this supermassive void will undoubtedly be a significant breakthrough, one that serves to transition the idea of black holes from fantasy to visible reality. But unlike the phenomena scientists are hoping to find and capture in their photos, Life is something that’s certainly been seen before. During a lengthy opening, a multinational, star-studded team (Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds) of scientists scramble to catch an incoming vessel containing soil samples from Mars that the team hopes will contain evidence of life on Mars, a wish that’s fulfilled by the presence of a hibernating organism within the soil. Amid the chaos and comments that they aren’t trained for such situations, Reynolds holds true to his comedic talent, providing relief by comparing catching

KONG: SKULL ISLAND DIRECTED BY

Jordan Vogt-Roberts STARRING Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson RATED PG-13

A CLASSIC 26 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE

BELOW AVERAGE

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

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LIVING ROOM CINEMA

column by NORBERT THIEMANN facebook.com/livingroomcinema

The Art of Deception—in Art Mystique is often purposefully built around artists and their work, and sometimes to the degree of great extremes. The Cult of JT LeRoy (2014) is a documentary directed by Marjorie Sturm. As a teenager, JT LeRoy wrote some very vivid accounts concerning the neglect he suffered in the hands of his mother, their drug abuse, prostitution and homelessness. Inescapably, his books Sarah and The Heart Is Deceitful Above all Things affected nearly everyone who read them. The documentary explores the rest of the story, including the cult following of JT LeRoy. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) is a film ultimately directed by Banksy. An amateur filmmaker sets out to capture a documentary about the world-renowned graffiti artist (Banksy). In a turn of events, the focus is reversed. As Banksy put it himself, “It’s basically the story of how one man set out to film the unfilmable. And failed.” Big Eyes (2014) is directed by Tim Burton. This is a true story about the artist Margaret Keane and her enterprising husband, Walter Keane. Big Eyes refers to her whimsical style of exaggerating the eyes in paintings of children, a feature which was a novelty at the time.

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News A

shwood Cove apartment complex is as population-dense as a medieval city, a fact attested to by the amount of dog turds found on the grassy areas. The variety of dogs living at Ashwood Cove is as great as the varieties of people, and likely greater in number. It’s been said that it takes all kinds to make a world, and I have likely met them in my time as a resident at Ashwood Cove. You might not think this was the beginning of a story about how me and my family almost got blown up by a trash compactor, but it is. The morning started out the way Wednesday mornings usually start for us, and that was the only thing usual about Wednesday for the next five hours. A loud pounding on our door heralded a man with a wild look in his eye who told us we had to leave our apartment immediately because of a bomb. I not-quiteslammed the door in his face. After a check for any police cars out front, my assessment of his probable sanity increased dramatically. I picked the baby up from her crib still swaddled; my husband put pants and shoes on our toddler. Somehow I neglected to pick up the diaper bag. My husband, still in pajamas, never put on shoes. We all had on coats

Adventures at Ashwood Family tests survival skills during bomb scare at apartment complex. BY MARY C. DUNN except the baby. And out the door we went. At first, I as team leader had us skulking around the back of the property on our side of the complex, shying away from any glimpse of yellow police tape, my reasoning being was that if I could see it, then flying debris could come at us from that direction. At one point a woman came out on her patio as we were dithering around between buildings. We passed the time; I told her why we were out there. She said, “Aaah.” I had the crazy desire to

LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE

PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Tennessee Reconnect makes community college free for all state residents.

BY ELIZABETH TULLOS

t the Vanderbilt University 90th Anniversary Convocation in 1963, President John F. Kennedy delivered a powerful address to 33,000 spectators regarding the responsibility of educated citizens to encourage the pursuit of learning. “Of the many special obligations incum30 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

bent upon an educated citizen, I would cite three as outstanding: Your obligation to the pursuit of learning, your obligation to serve the public, your obligation to uphold the law. If the pursuit of learning is not defended by the educated citizen, it will not be defended at all,” President Kennedy said

ask her if we could come inside and sit on her couch. I didn’t. She went back inside. However, as the minutes wore on to an hour, the necessity of getting indoors increased so that our toddler, wearing regular panties, could use the potty. We found our way to the leasing office and its potty, and free chocolate chip cookies abounded. The toddler never got her nap, but she got to mess with tasteful decorations, try to sneak sips of our equally free and abundant coffee, and run around with logoed

during the commencement address. More than 50 years later, the education system in America faces a new set of issues, but Tennessee continues to be a leader in making higher education affordable and accessible to all its residents. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has made education one of his top priorities during his administration with his Drive to 55 program, an initiative to raise the number of Tennesseans with a higher education degree or certificate to 55 percent by 2025. Earlier this year, Gov. Haslam announced a new component of the Drive to 55 program, the Tennessee Reconnect initiative. When the Tennessee General Assembly approved the Tennessee Reconnect program, it made Tennessee the first state in the nation to provide tuition-free access to community college for all adult learners in the state. Passage of the Tennessee Reconnect Act established a last-dollar scholarship for adults not previously covered under the Tennessee Promise to attend community college. This act is an expansion of a previous grant program estimated to entice 900,000 adult Tennesseans with some college credit to complete their degrees. “Tennessee Reconnect is a tremendous investment in the state’s economy,” said Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville), the senate sponsor of the legislation. “It not only gives adults new opportunities for career growth, but also provides employers with the skills and credentials they are seeking

koozies on her hands like mittens. Sure, peeing in your pants and having your mom turn one of your sister’s blankets into impromptu harem pants held together with office supplies was weird, but what isn’t weird when you’re 2? For my husband and myself, of course . . . Later in the day, before or after the bomb squad helicopter had left with its backpack full of mortars (I can’t remember), we went over a game plan for being more prepared. “No more lounging in our pajamas until well after breakfast!” we swore. “Keep the diaper bag fully packed and in the car at all times!” As if our preparations could retroactively help us out, so that my husband wouldn’t spend half a day feeling naked in a public place, so I wouldn’t spend half a day trying to reverseengineer pants and diapers or sitting on tasteful decorations pondering “send” or “discard draft” on an email asking for help from new church friends that might make us sound crazy. I chose “discard draft.” I wanted to wait until we “really needed it,” and the apartment office staff were very kind. We even ended up with diapers from one woman’s personal stash at home. We only met one other family that had been displaced (either because all the rest of our

from the workforce.” When Gov. Haslam first unveiled Drive to 55 in 2014, only 32 percent of Tennesseans had earned a college degree, but nationally, 41 percent of adults held degrees. Drive to 55 kicked off with the Tennessee Promise in 2015, a program designed to cover the costs of community college for graduating seniors in Tennessee but not for adult learners. The Tennessee Reconnect program bridges this gap and offers the same educational opportunities to adults. To be eligible for the Tennessee Reconnect program, you must be a Tennessee resident for at least one year before applying, and must not have already completed an associate or bachelor degree. Applicants must also be considered an independent student, according to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Community colleges in the Middle Tennessee area include Motlow State Community College—its main campus located in Moore County with learning centers in Smyrna, McMinnville and Fayetteville; Nashville State Community College, Gallatin-based Volunteer State Community College and Columbia State Community College, with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lewisburg, Lawrenceburg and Clifton. For more information about the Tennessee Reconnect program or other Drive to 55 initiatives, go to driveto55.org.

neighbors were already out, or possibly had had the presence of mind to grab a set of car keys). They had kids almost the same ages as ours (presumably being watched by others at the moment); they had just moved in yesterday. And then, amidst the din of the contemporary pop cable music channel and a cranky baby in my arms, the other dad says, “Something something he was lucky he didn’t have a gun to his head!” What? What I think he was saying was, “My family’s safety is a top priority, and I will take positive steps to defend it!” But who knows? I had a cranky baby in my arms, Taylor Swift was singing a song about how everything’s changed and, besides all of that, I’m not him. A few minutes later, we were given the “all clear” to go back home. My husband got dressed. I picked up a pizza at the grocery store. We ate. I sat on my husband’s lap and shivered. We went to bed. Later on, I decided that the true hero of the day was the maintenance worker who picked up the backpack with the mortars in it, largely out of a sense of curiosity, from beside the trash compactor and moved it to the maintenance shed and thus, coincidentally, away from the trash compactor and playground. I don’t know the exact effect a trash compactor would have had on a backpack with a live mortar in it (and after the episode was over it was revelaed there were no live mortars involved at all), but my imagination is vivid, and for a few hours it was filled with images of airborne shards of metal. Suddenly, the surplus of dog turds didn’t seem so bothersome.

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News

NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM SERIES BY BRYCE HARMON

PART 9

THE ABYSS LATE ONE AFTERNOON during the fourth week of May, 2016, Danielle, a La Vergne/Smyrna-area woman, was speaking to a clerk at the Circuit Court Clerk’s office in the Rutherford County Judicial Building on the Square when she learned there was a warrant out for her arrest for failing to appear to a court date five years prior. Danielle appeared to go through a momentary episode of shock and disbelief because of the news, eventually falling back on a chair during a tearful stream of frantic questions. Mary, another clerk from the back of the office with an air of seniority, intervened with a cup of comfort/water and clarified Danielle had no encounters with a law enforcement officer during the last five years. After that, Mary told Danielle to wait in the chair for a moment and left the clerk’s office. Within a couple of minutes, Mary returned and told Danielle that the warrant was just deactivated and removed from her record. Once managing to finish the business she had been there to do, Danielle, still shaken, left the clerk’s office wiping her eyes. In the Rutherford County judicial building on the square, a capias, or arrest warrant, for nonappearance is issued by the presiding judge of a defendant’s case once the defendant’s name is called once or twice from the judge’s daily court docket to no response from the defendant. The judge’s decision is then written on the case information and sent through the Circuit Court Clerk’s office, where the appropriate paperwork is applied, then on to The Rutherford County Sheriff ’s Office’s Warrant Division where warrants are noted on the defendant’s record to be seen by law enforcement, officially activating them. Once the warrants are activated, they are kept forever until they are issued, according to the Public Information Officer for the Rutherford County Sheriff ’s Office, Lisa Marchesoni. On Oct. 3, 2013, during the third of eight court dates for a May 2013 DUI/Violation of Implied Consent Law case, a capias was applied to my case information for nonappearance, like Danielle. The Sheriff ’s office received the judge’s decision the following Monday, Oct. 7, as the capias paperwork sent to the Sheriff ’s office is stamped “ReceivedCivil 2013 OCT 7 AM 8:57 RUTHERFORD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE.” Then I received a “ONE TIME OPPOR32 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

TUNITY TO AVOID BEING ARRESTED BY A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY OR OTHER LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL” service letter, dated Oct. 4, 2013, mailed on Monday, Oct. 14, that notified me a warrant for my arrest had been issued. I had 24 hours from the date on the notification (Oct. 4) to turn myself in or they’d come to my work or home and apprehend me. About 170 hours had passed before the mail service notification was in my hand; all the while the warrant had been active. An immediate dead-sprint to the judicial building later, Judge Ben Hall McFarlin and his deputy Judge’s assistant at the time, Jake Flatt, told me to go to the jail. Afterwards, I called the bondsman who posted my bail in May 2013. Bond agent Monte Smith of Chris Highers’ Bail Bonds met me at 940 the following morning, had me in and out of the booking division in 20 minutes, and charged

plaint for Violation of Probation (VOP) were issued and made into arrest warrants. First, for the DUI/Implied Consent case on May 2, 2014, was signed by the second probation officer for that case, Megan Newman, who preceded Alyssa Costa. Costa was the first probation officer for the case that mandated a urinalysis on April 15, 2014, that resulted positive for cannabinoids (the illicit and active ingredient of marijuana) by Alere Toxicology Services, Inc. The other Affidavit of Complaint for VOP for the Driving on Suspended License case was signed by my third probation officer (first for Suspended License case), Tiarra Smith, on August 4, 2014, for failing to report (though she is listed on the payment receipts as my probation officer during June 2014 for the DUI/Implied Consent case). I met Smith for the first time in April 2016 as she managed my VOP cases during supervised probation (report to her in person until all fines, fees, and court costs are paid) with PCC’s replacement, the Rutherford County Department of Probation and Recovery Services, through November 2016. Both Affidavits of Complaint for VOP also listed “failed to pay all court costs, fines,

“It was a dark time . . . on the outside, I was jovially defensive in character, riding a bicycle or walking around town to run errands drunk, increasingly disappointed and paranoid on the inside.” me $1,000, as I then found out the DUI charge and the Violation of Implied Consent charge were not concurrent, or treated as one case, as they had been in court and would be in probation. Smith did not comment on that matter besides allowing me to pay the second $500 bond in installments. Nonappearance is not a separate or new charge added to a defendant’s case(s). There have been four warrants total issued for my arrest while residing in Murfreesboro. To preface two of those warrants, I was placed on probation in 2014 twice at the same time. The DUI/Implied Consent cases had two separate but consecutive case numbers (***647 and ***648), and were considered concurrent in one probationary period. I was also put on probation for an unrelated and separate case for Driving on a Suspended License later in the year. I was juggled between three probation officers, seemingly due to in-house employee issues and because of the separate but simultaneous charges running through PCC, leading up to the end of June 2014, when I ceased to report. For both of the cases, Affidavits of Com-

and probation fees as directed,” as a violating determinate. Those warrants cost $106 each to issue. After the April 2014 urinalysis administered by Alyssa Costa, I was informed by previous probation officer Megan Newman on May 13, 2014, that my DIU/Implied Consent case VOP warrant had been activated on May 2, 2014. I had about a month’s time before Rutherford County law enforcement would arrive at my house or place of business to arrest me. All I had to do then was turn myself in to 940, bond out, get a new court date, and start everything over again with the new VOP charge added to the cases and the warrant would deactivate, Newman stated. I did not do that. By this time, my driving status had been revoked not only by the state of Tennessee, but as a delivery driver at a local Domino’s Pizza where I was employed, removing tips as a form of income, but with the help of a manager and friend there, I became one of several other in-store managers earning minimum wage. While still reporting for the DUI/Implied Consent case after the warrant was activat-

ed, the Driving on Suspended License probationary period began once it was settled in court on June 10, 2014. On that date, I informed the courts and PCC I was already on probation, but I arrived at PCC at 11:45 a.m. sharp on June 20, 2014, nonetheless, for their orientation meeting/first report date for all incoming probationers that month without the mandatory $146 orientation fee ($46 for PCC, $100 for court costs) to not only a full waiting room, but to a packed lobby of about 20 folks being turned away by PCC’s secretary, Kim McCollum, who sternly told everyone in that lobby they were late and to get out of the building, with no further instructions given. McCollum is also the secretary for PCC’s replacement, the Rutherford County Department of Probation and Recovery Services. The next week, on June 24, 2014, I reported as scheduled and paid what I could ($50) to Megan Newman, who told me at that meeting the next time I showed up, she would have me arrested there and taken to jail. I did not go back. Without realizing it then, I stepped out of the PCC building that day and into an abyss of people sought by Rutherford County law enforcement, where I remained until March 24, 2016. It was a dark time, and becoming a part of the abyss, for myself, was a rapidly serious delinquency and a slow, gradual deterioration of character over the course of 19 months, all due to stress, shame and fear that advanced despite being numbed through self-medication. I drank vodka almost every day to cope with such a failure. I stopped working as a manager at Domino’s, eventually burdening a roommate with the bills of an apartment; seldom chipping in on a fraction of the utility bills with money I’d made selling plasma at a local plasma donation clinic. On the outside, I was jovially defensive in character, riding a bicycle or walking around town to run errands drunk, increasingly disappointed and paranoid on the inside. I passed out on the couch next to the front windows of my apartment every night so I could see when the police rolled up, because I wanted to see it coming. Four or five months passed, then another one, and I had found that routine-to-cope had set in at the cost of my right-minded self ’s comparative sanity. I existed as an emotional disaster in such a chaotic uncertainty, mostly keeping to myself, wandering through Rutherford County. At about 8 p.m. on a November night in 2014, I looked out my window to see police cruisers and an undercover police car parked across Lytle Street, in front of my house. CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

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AROUND TOWN ’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ

Shangri-La; Veda’s Flowers; Taco John’s, PhatKaps; O’Possum’s BY BRACKEN MAYO Christa Fly and Timothy Hopkins have transformed the bar space at 1208 S. Lowry St. in Smyrna (the former site of Willie’s Wet Spot). Now known as SHANGRI-LA, the freshly renovated and painted establishment provides a comfortable place to relax and have a drink, and Shangri-La will always be offering a fresh, homemade sangria, according to the business’ social media posts. Shangri-La hosts live bands on its stage on weekends. Additionally, Travis Millwood, owner/operator of Sub Stop, is working with the Shangri-La staff in developing that establishment’s menu; Millwood is reportedly working on a new location of his own, in Nashville. BIG LOTS will move just across the parking lot of its current Broad Street Center location, and will soon take up a portion of the former Kmart building. The site of the Kmart, located at the intersection of Broad and Clark streets, has sat empty

for a year, and discount retailer Big Lots, along with other tenants, will soon move in. Big Lots sells a variety of furniture, toys, home and garden supplies, electronics, food and other items.

In an example of an independent business finding lasting success in Murfreesboro, COCONUT BAY CAFE recently celebrated its 18th anniversary with its annual customer appreciation event. Loyal patrons packed the house on Tuesday, March 28, and enjoyed a variety of free food and drink, karaoke and giveaways. The establishment, near Stones River Mall, offers burgers, wings, pool, darts, sports, trivia, bike nights, karaoke and all sorts of fun.

ZOE’S KITCHEN is now open on Medical

Center Parkway, offering hummus, kabobs, salads, wraps and other Mediterranean-inspired selections for local diners. JONATHAN’S GRILLE will open on April 4,

according to jonathansgrille.com. The Middle Tennessee-based restaurant and sports bar company has current locations in Franklin, Green Hills, Bellevue and Mt. Juliet, with a Hendersonville location on the way. Expect a variety of steaks, fish, burgers, pizza, flatbreads, quesadillas and more on the Jonathan’s menu. A mother/daughters team has purchased the downtown Murfreesboro building at 27 S. Public Square. Pat Patterson, along with daughters Vickie Watts, Rhonda Hingst and Kim Reynolds, aim to open VEDA’S FLOWERS AND GIFTS later in April. Watts, who has had a long career in the floral industry, says the business will offer delivery of flowers for funerals, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and any occasion the customers wish. She looks forward to arranging delphiniums, stock, orchids and other flowers in her new work space. The shop wants to customize its flower deliveries, Hingst noted, saying the shop, named after their grandmother, Veda Francis Conner (1922–88), will offer a “higher line of flower arrangements,” nice baskets to place them in and a selection of home décor and gift items. Learn more about Veda’s at vedasﬂowers.com. The building, located at the corner of Maple Street and South Public Square and built around 1900 according to its owners, formerly housed Gold Star Guidance Center and Will Fraley’s law office. Fraley now practices with Jordan Laxton at Fraley and Laxton, 509 W. College St. VEDA’S FLOWERS AND GIFTS

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TACO JOHN’S has announced plans to open 20 locations in the Nashville and Chattanooga areas over the next four years, including one near the Broad and Church Street intersection, close to the spot where a KFC once sat. The City of Murfreesboro has unveiled plans to “daylight” a portion of Town Creek, which once flowed near this area, but currently flows through underground pipes and culverts. A Checker’s will also be constructed in the area. Taco John’s vice president of franchise development has called Tennessee a “priority area” for the business and said that “there is room for another option” in the market, which currently only has one major taco chain. Taco John’s, headquartered in Wyoming, offers hardshell, softshell and street-style tacos and Potato Oles (seasoned tater tots), that can be dipped in nacho cheese if desired. CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 . . .

PHATKAPS, which runs a store in Antioch selling footwear, hats and clothing, has opened a second location at the corner of Main and Walnut Streets in downtown Murfreesboro, across the street from The Alley and Concert Musical Supply. The bright and roomy space at 224 W. Main St., billed as a “worldwide lifestyle boutique,” is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Sweet products from ARTFUL DOUGHNUTS, a local doughnut shop owned by Scott and Nancy Broden, can now be obtained at the PREMIERE 6 movie theater concession stand. HATTIE JANE’S Creamery, the ice cream and coffee

division of Puckett’s Grocery, is now open for business next door to Puckett’s on Church Street on the Square. A week after St. Patrick’s Day 2017, Murfreesboro’s Irish pub, O’POSSUM’S, announced its closing. While the outcry was intense over the sudden announcement, and while the small pub and brewhouse—which was located

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in the Kroger shopping center on Memorial Boulevard— was often packed to capacity on weekends, management said business was just not enough to support the place. Though the McGuire family, which owned and operated O’Possum’s, will continue to run THE HOOF at 352 W. Northfield Blvd., comments made following O’Possum’s’ closing indicated many local diners preferred its corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash, and fish and chips over the barbecue offerings of The Hoof. Questions continue to swirl (not the least of which involve the extraordinary use of three apostrophes in the possessive case of O’Possum’s in the previous sentence . . .), including where the staff members will find employment.

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Sports BLUE RAIDER SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE

BLUE RAIDER SPORTS BY GREG CRITTENDEN

Upshaw’s career as a Blue Raider ends after loss against Butler in second round.

WILLIAMS

n March of 2016 the MTSU Blue Raiders pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history when they defeated Michigan State, a national champion favorite, in the first round of the NCAA tournament. No one gave Middle Tennessee a chance, not even this writer. Although they entered the 2017 NCAA tournament as underdogs once again, things were much different for the Blue Raiders. As Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl stated after Middle’s 2017 opening round game, they were the lower seed, but it wasn’t really an upset. Everyone expected the Blue Raiders to make some noise again in this year’s tournament, and against Minnesota they were right! Minnesota’s size was the greatest threat the Blue Raiders faced against the Golden Gophers; however, those bigs all stayed in foul trouble throughout the game. Though Minnesota jumped out to a quick 7–0 lead, MT fought back to take its first lead at the 8:57 mark of the first half. They lost that lead just a few seconds later, but gained it back at the 8:29 mark and held on to it through the rest of the game. Reggie Upshaw came up big with 19 points and nine rebounds. Giddy Potts, JaCorey Williams and Brandon Walters each scored in double figures with 15, 13 and 10 respectively. The Blue Raiders got Butler next. Butler, a four-seed, seemed like a favorable match-up for the Blue Raiders. While no one drummed this up as a cakewalk, the thought that Middle would play an opponent similar to themselves— a mid-major that dominated their conference— made Upshaw’s ambitions of playing in the Sweet Sixteen seem very obtainable. Butler had different plans, however. The Bulldogs never trailed the Blue Raiders. Though the box score suggests a mostly even game, one stat stood out among the rest. While the Bulldogs scored 14 points off turnovers, the Blue Raiders were unable to capitalize off a single one of the 10 turnovers they forced. Williams led all scorers with 20 points and also led the night with nine rebounds. Antwain Johnson and Brandon Walters each had 38 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

UPSHAW

surprise performances. Johnson kept the Blue Raiders in the game through most of the second half with a strong performance of 19 points and six assists, and Walters provided an inside presence, making three of his four field goal attempts and hitting all five of his free throws. The nail in the coffin for the Blue Raiders was the Bulldogs’ game plan to eliminate Giddy Potts. Potts hardly had a good look at the basket all night as he failed to score. According to a post on Twitter from Joe Rexrode of the Tennessean, an emotional Potts told Williams and Upshaw after the game “My fault.” Coach Kermit Davis told reporters after the game how bad he felt for Potts and said “he was bawling” in the locker room. The dream 2017 season having come to an end, the focus now turns to next season. However, questions abound. The first order of business is for MTSU Athletic Director Chris Massaro to draw up a new contract for Kermit Davis. Having coached the Blue Raiders during back-to-back seasons in which they’ve won an NCAA Tournament game, Davis has made himself a hot commodity for positions opening up at Power 5 schools. Although he signed an extension after last season, Davis is currently a bit underpaid even for a mid-major coach, so the kind of figures larger programs can offer will have to be enticing. However, Massaro and Davis are reportedly already negotiating another extension with a substantial pay increase. Davis had been rumored to be a candidate to fill the vacancy at Louisiana State, but LSU has instead opted to hire Will Wade from

VCU. Wade’s brother, Geep, served as offensive line coach for the Blue Raiders football team from 2013 to 2015. In spite of rumors, Davis stated in a radio interview recently that he is “not going anywhere,” and that he plans on building the MTSU basketball program into a national power. The other question is who will rise up to fill the void in the lineup that will be left by departing player Reggie Upshaw? Tyrik Dixon, Potts, Ed Simpson and Walters all appear to be locks as starters for the 2017–18 campaign, but uncertainty abounds on who will be the starting power forward. Prior to the beginning of the 2015–16 season, coach Davis said Karl Gamble was possibly the best freshman he’s ever had at MTSU. Gamble certainly has the size for the position at 6Ð 9Ð and 228 pounds, but he hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations that Davis once voiced. Davion Thomas will also be a candidate for the role. The freshman redshirted this season, but he made an impression with some of the Blue Raiders’ upperclassmen. Even JaCorey Williams, one of the most athletic players to play in the Murphy Center, acknowledged being a bit envious of Thomas’ athleticism. The Blue Raiders also hold a commitment from a recruit with an NBA pedigree. Tony Massenburg was an impact player at Maryland from 1985 to 1990, and then went on a 14-year NBA career. According to Rivals and 247Sports, his son, T.J., is the highest rated recruit in the Blue Raiders 2017 class. Rated a three star by both recruiting services, and 162nd overall by 247Sports, T.J. may also

compete right away for the starting power forward spot. If the Blue Raiders hope to make a third straight run to the NCAA Tournament, they will need to find consistent production from someone not named Giddy Potts. Dixon and Walters each showed moments of brilliance this season, but each will need to prove to be more consistent. Simpson, who is the best perimeter defender on the team, also has lacked consistency on offense. Can the Blue Raiders three-peat as Conference USA champions? Can they return to the Big Dance for a third year in a row? Are these last two seasons the start of a nationally recognized program, or a flash in the pan? We’ll have to wait until next season to find out.

Lady Raiders Get to Third Round of WNIT, Had Season End Against Georgia Tech

he MTSU Lady Raiders did not get their name called on Selection Monday; however, it did not signal the end of the 2017 season. The Lady Raiders were able to extend their season into the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), where they met Morehead State in the first round. Holding the higher seed, MT got the honor of playing in front of their home crowd. While the Lady Raiders led the entire way in the 67–58 win, they never were able to gain a comfortable lead. It was the usual suspects who led the way for Middle, as Alex Johnson led all scorers with 26 points and Ty Petty chipped in 22. Johnson also matched her career high of 12 rebounds, earning herself yet another doubledouble on the season. In spite of the victory, coach Rick Insell expressed his disappointment in his team not matching his lofty expectations. “This was not a very good exhibition of basketball by our basketball team,” Insell said. “Our fans deserved better. I am appreciative that we won and we found a way to play another game, but this was not the type of basketball we pride ourselves on at Middle Tennessee. We will get back to work Friday and Saturday and prepare for a good Wake

Forest team in the second round. We will have to play much better against them Sunday.” Insell was much more pleased when that Sunday game rolled around. The game was close throughout until the Lady Raiders went on a 12–0 run in the fourth quarter. Wake Forest closed the gap, but could never regain the lead as MT won 73–66. Petty and Johnson each scored 28 points, and each also had three assists. Accounting for their points and assists, Petty and Johnson contributed on 93 percent of the Lady Raiders points. Petty also led all players in rebounds with nine. Unfortunately, the road ended for the Lady Raiders, and Ty Petty, when they went on the road to play Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets led the whole way—by as much as 25 points—as they held MT to just 35 percent from the field. Petty was the only Lady Raider to score in double figures as she poured in 21 points, dished six assists, and snatched five steals in a full 40 minutes of play. Representing the Lady Raiders has meant as much to Petty as she has meant to Murfreesboro. “I am going to miss it,” Petty said. “Representing this university and program while playing with all of my teammates has been something I will cherish forever. I can’t thank

PETTY

all of my coaches and all of the fans enough for what they have meant to me. Coach Insell has helped me grow so much as a person and a player. I just didn’t want to see it end, so I gave everything I had until the very end.” Petty will forever be remembered for her tenacity and leadership on the court. She finishes her career with 1,453 points, 540 assists, 355 rebounds and 198 steals. Barring any unexpected roster changes, Petty will be the only loss going into the 2017–18 season. However, the impact of

that loss will be huge. Katie Collier seems to be the most likely choice to step into the Petty’s role. Collier, who will be a junior next season, has struggled when given the opportunity to contribute. The rest of the starting lineup will be intact. Johnson’s position is unquestionably secure, but other players may have some push from the player behind them on the depth chart. Rebecca Reuter and Gabby Lyon will likely rotate as they have over the last two seasons. Each player has had moments of dominance and they have nearly split minutes evenly since 2015. Kayla Allison will certainly apply pressure for a starting wing spot. Abbey Sissom will be difficult to supplant, however, considering her defensive contributions. Jess Louro, who missed the WNIT with a broken wrist, showed great development in her sophomore season, but will need to continue that development to stay in the starting lineup. Jordan Majors suffered a season-ending injury after just four games this season. She is expected to be a significant contributor next season. Current freshmen Charity Savage and Shayla Middlebrooks received playing time late in games this season, but stand to make a larger impact next year.

EVENTS APRIL 22 MTSU GOLF SCRAMBLE MTSU presents the “Bounce Back Golf Scramble” at Champions Run Golf Course (14262 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Rockvale) Saturday, April 22, from 1–5 p.m. All proceeds benefit Homes for Our Troops, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization the builds homes for service members who have been severely injured in combat since Sept. 11, 2001. Each home is designed to serve the needs of the injured vet. Cost is $100 per player ($400 per team). For more information, contact bbshfot@gmail.com or visit MTSU Bounce Back Golf Scramble on Facebook.

APRIL 29 LEGACY OF LIGHT GALA Legacy of Light Gala benefiting Middle Tennessee Christian School (100 E. MTCS Rd.) from 7–8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29, features Dallas Cowboys quarterback  Dak Prescott. Reserve seats at mtcscougars. org. Contact (615) 893-0601 or bethhancock@mtcscougars. org for more information. Admission starts at $50.

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SPORTS

TALK

COLUMN BY “Z-TRAIN”

titanman1984@gmail.com

Easter, Inspirational Athletes Through History, and a Transgender Weightlifter THE TRAIN DADDY IS BACK, bringing sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk to you, the loyal readers. All aboard! Last issue we talked about making America skinny again and the importance of physical activity. So don’t eat 200 Peeps in five minutes this Easter! That’s just what professional eater Matt Stonie did. He holds the record for most Peeps eaten in five minutes, 200 of the little nasty marshmallows. Happy Easter to all my readers. Before we get too deep into this remember, Jesus is the reason for the season. My motto is live life by the 5 F’s: Faith, Family, Football, Food and Friends. It’s not all about Peeps and chocolate bunnies, or children beating each other up for hidden eggs. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, proof that God will judge the world in righteousness. Did you know 76 percent of people’s first bite from a chocolate bunny is the ears, 11 percent the feet and 9 percent the butt; the other 4 percent is unknown. Here in America we have rich, we have poor and we have people in between willing to help those in need. People die for lack of water in other countries; that’s unfathomable here. Food isn’t scarce and when tragedy strikes, help comes quickly from all directions. I am not downplaying the problems some Americans actually deal with; I only compared it to many third-world countries. That’s enough said. I have so much respect for people who dedicate their lives to help others, people who ask for nothing and give everything. So next time you hear someone whining about their rights, or liberal snowflakes crying about life being unfair, take a moment and remember you live in America! With all that said, let’s highlight some inspirational athletes throughout time who have inspired people, not just with athletic ability but through their actions and faith. My first athlete defines patriotism. PAT TILLMAN was young, rich and a successful NFL player, cementing himself as a reliable player.

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Pat Tillman

He was destined to play football and keep getting paid big money. Then the Trade Centers came down and Pat felt a responsibility to serve rather than playing football. He turned down a contract worth millions, instead signing a contract with the US Army in 2002. Pat died in Afghanistan two years after joining the military and after all these years is still an inspiration to millions. I am sure some of you are familiar with the film Chariots of Fire; it won an Oscar in 1981 and tells the tale of the next man on my list. The Flying Scotsman, born ERIC LIDDELL, was an Olympic champion, a missionary, a POW and a beacon of hope to many. Eric, a fasterthan-fast sprinter, was quoted as saying, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure.” In the 1924 Olympics he became famous for his unorthodox style of running; he won a gold and bronze medal and was the topic of much discussion after refusing to run his best race, the 100 meter, due to trials being held on Sunday. Liddell later returned to China and his family spread the word of God to many. It was dangerous times with the Japanese army invading China and Eric became a POW. He later died as a prisoner of war five months before the camp was liberated. Many tales of Eric’s selfless acts and good deeds came from other POW’s who survived. I couldn’t begin to tell you his entire story here, so watch the movie! I am going to move on to some more recent athletes, like KURT WARNER, the man who defeated my Tennessee Titans in the Super Bowl. Should I hate Kurt? The man

took glory away from my team. How could you hate a man who was bagging groceries at a grocery store and a few years later is the MVP of the Super Bowl? I have attended a conference where Kurt spoke about his life and faith in God. Read his book; it is full of knowledge that I have applied to my life. Next, a surfer who lost an arm and managed to get back on board! BETHANY HAMILTON at 13 years old was attacked and survived a shark attack, though he ate her arm! Bethany struggled in coping with the loss and returning to the ocean, though she overcame her fears and was quickly back on the board! A movie was made about her life as well. Next up, The Minister of Defense, a Tennessee boy! REGGIE WHITE is the best defensive player to ever play in the NFL, in my humble opinion. Reggie racked up nearly 200 sacks during his 15-year career. He was literally unblockable. Hall of famer Michael Irvin said, “He was a gift from God, and that’s all you need to know about Reggie White.” I have to bring up TIM TEBOW, without a doubt the most-maligned Christian athlete in modern times. The 2007 Heisman winner was a phenomenal college football player with a bumpy NFL career. He was known for his strong faith in God and ridiculed by the media. So many people wished for him to fail,. While the NFL may not have worked out for Tebow, he was and remains an inspiration to Christians around the world. He bent a knee prior to games and prayed, causing a worldwide pandemic of Tebowing. GERTRUDE EDERLE, better

known as Trudy, won three swimming medals in the 1924 Olympics, yet she is best known for swimming the English Channel. With a name like Gertrude you would think she was from Slovakia or somewhere, but no, she is a homegrown proud American. In 1926 only five men had swum the English Channel. She became the first woman to do so and dominated their times, a record of 14 hours and 34 minutes that held until 1950. Nicknamed Queen of the Waves, she died in 2003, living to be nearly 100 years old. She taught deaf children to swim after she retired; she herself had become nearly deaf. She inspired many young women in a time when that was much needed. Next, DANICA PATRICK is truly a woman in a sport full of men. NASCAR had no rules against women competing, but there just weren’t many in the driver’s seat. My dad used to say men were superior drivers to women (don’t freak out feminists, I never agreed). Well, Danica proved to all the haters that women can drive with the boys. In 2008 she became the first woman to win an Indy Car race. Not to mention, she is absolutely beautiful. She even made the list of FHM’s Top 100 Sexiest Women in the world. Don’t feel marginalized, feminists they also have a Top 100 for men, although I stay away from that magazine. I want to end the list of inspirational athletes with one of my favorite athletes of all time. JACKIE ROBINSON, the UCLA and Brooklyn Dodger great, was chosen by the Dodgers to break the color barrier in baseball—reportedly because of Jackie’s faith in God, but I imagine also because he could pound baseballs. Although abused by other players for being black, he didn’t fight back. Jackie is noted for praying to God every night asking for strength, and the rest is history!

cord in the event and bested the runner up by a whopping 42 pounds. That’s a beatdown in weightlifting. Is this fair? Of course it isn’t, with 30-plus years of growing muscle mass before starting the transition. Born a man, competing with women. It’s utterly ridiculous. We all know that men, after going through puberty, have larger frames, more muscle mass, and are on average stronger and faster than women. Laurel will more than likely represent New Zealand in the 2018 Commonwealth games and is on track for the Olympics in 2020. Competitors like Tracey Lambrech, who competed in Rio, actually dropped a weight class to avoid Laurel, and many women kept their words short in fear of being branded a bigot. Some, though, spoke out. Two-time Olympian Deborah Acason stated, “If I was in that category I wouldn’t feel like I was in an equal situation; if it’s not even, why are we doing the sport?” According to IOC, Laurel, who previously competed as a man, is a woman. Under guidelines recommended in 2015, the IOC no longer requires reassignment surgery,

then two years of waiting. Now, a transgender woman need only wait 12 months after starting hormone therapy if testosterone levels are within acceptable limits. Imagine if Usian Bolt woke up feeling like a woman and decided to return for 2020? Maybe we can have an all-transgender basketball team; I don’t even want to imagine the damage they would inflict in sports like boxing and wrestling. Train Daddy, you’re a bigot, that’s so mean! It’s common sense, people. I hope a few examples like this will wake up the IOC and athletic committees around the world. It will be interesting when transgender women in sports become more prevalent and records and medals begin being dominated by trans athletes. You know how you make this fair; start a transgender league, unless you could care less about the integrity of sports history and the record books. This has nothing to do with politics or religion, and everything to do with common sense. Be what you want to be, I don’t care, just don’t match natural-born men with women and expect a fair contest. That’s it. Train’s out the station!

On to one more subject: Recently Laurel Hubbard made history by becoming the first transgender female to win an international weightlifting title for New Zealand. Laurel set a reBOROPULSE.COM

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Sports

Endure Athletics Teaching life skills through sport

BY ELIZABETH SCOTT SAWYER

ood. Shelter. Transportation. Education. Sports. Mentors. Many can easily take these things for granted—at any age. But these things are hard to come by when you find yourself without a permanent home.

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This lack of essentials is reality for many of the 1,140 children in Rutherford County designated as homeless. These kids don’t have their own beds, Wi-Fi or any of the goods and services many of us couldn’t imagine being without.

Joel Bigelow, founder of Endure Athletics, has set out to change that for these kids. This nonprofit organization provides homeless children and youth a fee-free, safe, structured and encouraging environment where they can participate in fitness, athletics, literacy and Christ-centered mentorship. It began a year and a half ago when Joel quit his job of 13 years to start the program with his wife, Jeanie. Their mission was to enrich the lives of homeless children and youth living in Rutherford County. “An inn in Murfreesboro had several kids living there and I wanted to do something to reach out and help the kids,” Joel told the Pulse. It started with a Saturday program consisting of breakfast and sports. Physical activity is good for the kids’ health—it fights depression and anxiety that they’re more prone to because of their situation—and it builds their selfconfidence. “What a perfect way to start a relationship with the kids,” Joel said fondly. Since then, Endure Athletics has become so much more. Each month, 300 meals are served—Saturday breakfasts, to-go lunches and food from the emergency pantry in Joel’s garage. Additionally, Endure Athletics provides one of the most overlooked pieces of homeless children’s lives—the ability to further their education. “We personally believe that changing generational poverty can end at the university,” Joel said. So, every Wednesday, the university is where they go. Each week, groups of kids in this program go to MTSU for study sessions and homework help from volunteer PhD students. Endure just purchased six iPads for the

kids to use. The school systems have different apps they want the kids to use, like Lexia, so in the MTSU classroom they’re able to get on Wi-Fi and complete assignments. MTSU’s PhD students and the Exercise Science club have been a core set of volunteers for Endure. “Showing them what their futures can look like is number one,” Joel said. Seeing these students on campus and the different departments is exciting and a good way to motivate them to continue their education. Just a year and a half into this mission, they have helped many of our community’s youths. Still, bigger plans are in store for the future. Right now, the whole program is run out of this couple’s house. “Our vision is an Endure House that we can run our programs out of,” Joel said. “Something as simple as a couch to relax on and a kitchen to prepare meals and teach them where food comes from.” Endure is only able to serve about 15 kids at a time until the organization gets a permanent location. “Once we get a house in Murfreesboro, we can plant a house in Smyrna, then La Vergne, and we’ll serve more kids,” Joel said. “These kids are an extension of my family and they need good people to be consistent in their lives.” A lot needs to happen for this goal to come to fruition though, which is why Endure is having a T-shirt campaign in April to help raise money for the organization. Shirts are available at facebook.com/endureathleticsfoundation; to learn more about Endure Athletics and how you can help, visit endureathleticsclub.com, email jeannie@ endureathletics.club or call (615) 306-7662.

Continued from page 36 . . . My heart dropped, my pulse raced, my pupils dilated, a “holy shit” was spoken and adrenaline flowed. I army-crawled through the apartment to the living room windows to get a better view and let their presence sink in for about 20 seconds until I shook my head, got up to get a cigarette off of the kitchen table, and walked down to the front porch. One of the police officers standing beside his cruiser was looking over at me while another was in a neighbor’s yard across the street quietly talking with the neighbor for a moment right after he pulled into his driveway. And I sat on the porch, smoking a cigarette in front of them, waiting for them to call my name, come into the yard after I reply, arrest me, and take me to jail for 11 months and 29 days. The police finished talking with the neighbor, then with one another beside their cars, looked at my house for a second, got back in their cars, and drove away. When they were gone, I stepped out into the yard, looked up and noticed there was no street address number on the house in which I reside, and shook my head again in an onslaught of shame, fear, stress and disbelief. At the beginning of 2016, The Rutherford County Sheriff ’s Department reported there were approximately 28,000 outstanding arrest warrants active in the county whose total population is 262,604 people, according to the US Census Board 2016 numbers. If all of those arrest warrants that have accumulated over the years were active for persons currently residing within the county, the number of people wanted by local law enforcement would make up 10.7 percent of the total county population. As of Jan. 31, 2017, there are 30,180 active criminal warrants, according to Lisa Marchesoni, as the percentage of warrants per capita—an abyss full of citizenry wanted by local law enforcement officers—rose to approximately 11.5 percent within the last year. I was one of those people. TO BE CONTINUED . . . BOROPULSE.COM

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Opinion Family Files Suit Against Rutherford County Juvenile Detention; Trump Having Difficulty with Obamacare The

STOCKARD REPORT BY SAM STOCKARD EVERYBODY KNOWS KIDS CAN BE bad. And there’s a big difference between mischief and criminal activity. But there’s also a big difference between sending a child to his room and putting a teenager in solitary confinement, even placing a board over the window to block out the sun as part of the punishment, and a pretrial detainee, no less. That’s what they’ve been doing, though, at the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center, according to court documents, at least until a federal judge ordered the people in charge to stop it. The mother of a 15-year-old filed suit against the detention center and Rutherford

County in 2016, contending her 15-yearold son was wrongfully held in solitary confinement for long periods of time, up to 23 hours straight for allegedly disrupting a classroom where, likely, they were diagramming sentences, dissecting Shakespeare and digesting the Pythagorean theorem. Even though he probably suffers from a mental illness or even mental retardation, he went in the hole for at least five days, locked in a concrete cell for nearly a full day at a time with “nothing but a mattress and a toilet,” according to the attorney handling the case. That ought to teach him to come out saying “yes ma’am” and “yes sir” and “pass the peas please,” in addition to hating everybody who put him in that place. According to the lawsuit, which is now a class action affecting all juveniles at the detention center, they didn’t put him in solitary confinement because he was a danger to himself and others. No, they did it because he

“hollered,” “rapped” and “flashed gang symbols” while disobeying in class. One of the women being sued says he was “acting crazy.” Granted, a lot of people don’t like rap music, and some rappers are one step from gangster, if not full-fledged. Then again, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were musical and lyrical geniuses. Just listen to “The Message.” A child is born with no state of mind Blind to the ways of mankind God is smilin’ on you but he’s frownin’ too Because only God knows what you’ll go through You’ll grow up in the ghetto livin’ second rate And your eyes will sing a song called deep hate The place you play and where you stay Looks like one great alleyway. It’s hard to take a kid out of the ’hood, dress him up in Sunday school clothes and make him a model citizen. But when someone might have a mental illness or be mentally disabled, solitary confinement should be out of the question. Not only is it unconstitutional, it’s probably immoral.

NOT SURPRISING

What’s been happening at juvenile detention is no shock, though, considering how local law enforcement has been rounding up kids and shipping them to jail, treating them like they had a warrant out for their arrest, according to yet another lawsuit over the arrest and handcuffing of children at Hobgood Elementary School a year ago. We’ll teach them a lesson and prepare them for 940. For the uninitiated, that’s the county jail on New Salem Highway, where you can’t buy e-cigarettes anymore because the former sheriff got too greedy but you can get half of a cold sandwich, some pasta and Italian dressing for lunch. The dressing must count as the vegetable. At least that’s what they ate the day I was invited to view their wholesome dietary plan. It’s little wonder the inmates are attacking jailers and each other, as documented in lawsuits and jail reports.

SHERIFF’S SENTENCING IN SEPTEMBER

And speaking of the former sheriff, at least he’s out of solitary confinement in a Kentucky jail and shipped off to a West Tennessee facility where he’s waiting to be sentenced after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges. He called the first stop a “dungeon.” A magistrate ordered Robert Arnold to be held separately from other prisoners late last September when she found he violated his probation after getting into a tussle with his wife and then lying about it to federal officers 44 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

and trying to intimidate his wife and keep her from talking to TBI agents. Arnold has been trying to have his sentencing date moved up to mid-April. But U.S. District Judge Kevin Sharp, who is stepping down April 15 to go into private practice, gave the case to a senior judge from Illinois. Not only is he denying Arnold’s request, he’s moving sentencing to September so he’ll have time to review the matter. At this point, it appears Arnold’s best bet is to appeal to President Trump. Maybe he’ll feel sorry for him. After all, The Donald is an entrepreneur of sorts, even if he is spending billions to construct a wall to keep people out who want to do the work other people are too lazy to do.

OFF THE WALL

And speaking of President Trump, his first major initiative, killing Obamacare, fell by the wayside because of folks such as our Rep. Scott DesJarlais, who has been fighting the Affordable Care Act for years but then helped keep it alive by opposing the replacement plan along with the rest of the congressional Freedom Caucus. This is the definition of irony. Here’s the problem, though, and it’s not going away soon, no matter what program is put in place. A lot of employers don’t want to kick in on health insurance anymore, nor do they want to fund pensions. Pharmaceutical companies, who are keeping us alive at the same time they’re killing us, are making billions of dollars. Insurance companies, who don’t want to cover really sick people, are getting pissed off and dropping out of the marketplace exchange because it’s expensive to cover poor people in bad health. Their bottom lines are taking a hit. Hospitals charge out the wazoo for everything from giving you an aspirin to checking your blood pressure, then they keep you in the emergency room for an entire night before putting you in a hospital room. Everything’s too expensive, including the insurance premiums, and none of our elected leaders are doing one thing to stop it. But while rich folks don’t mind paying for Cadillac coverage so the man can vacation in the Bahamas, most working people can’t afford $300 to $500 a month. Cry me a river, right? This ain’t 1975. Save your money, stop eating junk food, quit smoking and drinking, sew your own clothes and drive beat-up cars. Then, maybe you can pay the medical clinic for all the bills that keep piling up. If nothing else, it’ll make the man happy. Sam Stockard can be reached at sstockard44@gmail.com

Where Is the Proof That Democrats’ Emails Were Hacked by Russians?

feel like I’m living in some parallel universe. The news media, the Democrats, and even some Republicans continue to beat the drum of some sort of collusion between Trump and the Russians. What if I told you that neither the FBI nor any other intelligence agency had ever inspected the DNC servers that were supposedly hacked? That would be front-page news, right? It’s true. FBI Director James Comey confirmed it in testimony in January and again in March before the House Intelligence Committee.

If the FBI didn’t determine the DNC servers were hacked, who did? It was a private firm hired by the DNC itself. This is the proverbial fox guarding the henhouse. Hillary’s people concoct this story that the Russians hacked their servers in order to help Donald Trump. Instead of investigating the allegations themselves, the FBI just took the DNC’s word for it. This is akin VIEWS OF A to a private investigator investigating a murder scene and the police just taking his investigaCOLUMN BY tion at face value. This is the big story in all of PHIL VALENTINE this and few are talking about it. philvalentine.com If the Russians didn’t hack the DNC then who did? Let’s look at the evidence. When we say “hacked the DNC” what does that mean? As far as we know, then-DNC chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s emails were the only ones hacked. Forget John Podesta. His email account was a Google Gmail account. That, by definition, was not on the DNC server. That was an account any 16-year-old amateur hacker could break into. So who had access to Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s emails? There’s only one person aside from Schultz herself who had access to her email and dozens of other Democrats’ email accounts. It’s a guy who’s currently under investigation for accessing Congressional members’ computer networks without their knowledge or permission and stealing data and equipment from Congress: Imran Awan. He and his brothers—Abid and Jamal—managed IT for more than two dozen Democrat members, including the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. They owed money to a shady operator with ties to terrorists. The three men apparently went through little or no security scrutiny to get their jobs. After all, we wouldn’t want to make them feel uncomfortable just because they’re Muslim. Who opened the gates and allowed this Trojan horse inside? Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She’s so politically correct that she wouldn’t dare question three guys who are Muslim and have ties to terrorism. In fact, even though they’re under police investigation for all sorts of crimes against the United States, Imran Awan still works for Debbie Wasserman Schultz! But it gets worse. According to the now-leaked emails from Wikileaks, Imran Awan had access to Schultz’s username and password at the DNC! Hello?! We have leaked emails from Schultz’s account and the one guy who had access to her DNC email is now under investigation for stealing data from Congress. Here’s the amazing thing. The Awan brothers are not under investigation by the FBI. It’s the Capitol Police. I’m not knocking the Capitol Police, but you have guys stealing possibly sensitive data from Congress and the FBI is not called in? Oh, did I tell you Imran Awan had a criminal record and bankruptcy? Not only did Schultz and the Democrats hire him, he didn’t even have to have Secret clearance. He also had major money problems giving him motive to sell secrets for cash. While we continue this wild goose chase for Russkies under every rock, the prime suspect is still sitting in Schultz’s office.

CONSERVATIVE

“If the FBI didn’t determine the DNC servers were hacked, who did? It was a private ﬁrm hired by the DNC itself. This is the proverbial fox guarding the henhouse. . . . Instead of investigating the allegations themselves, the FBI just took the DNC’s word for it.”

Phil Valentine is an author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com. BOROPULSE.COM

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THE MONEY PULSE

BY BERNARD JAMES

Homebuyer Tips

an you believe we are already into April?! This year is moving almost as quickly as homes for sale in this area, and there doesn’t seem to be any sign of the housing market slowing down anytime soon. This is also the time of year when many people—from first-time homebuyers to empty nesters—begin to search for the next place to call home, so the next few months of the Money Pulse will be dedicated to homebuyers and sellers.

Loan officers and real estate agents get lots of calls from folks ready to purchase a home wanting to know where to start. Even existing homeowners may need a little help getting started to buy the next house because things can change so much from the last time they purchased. Let’s go over a few tips that may be able to help.

PLANNING

It is never too soon to begin preparing to buy a new home. It all starts with you deciding that you would like to be a homeowner. From that day forward begin to think and act like someone who wants to buy a home. The best way to do that: Know the path to your goal. What do my credit scores need to be? How much money will I need to have? Is my debt-to-income ratio sufficient for what I want to buy? These are basic questions you can get answered early in the process. If you know you may have some credit challenges, speak to a loan officer sooner rather than later and find out what you need to do to get your credit ready to get approved for a home loan. The mortgage loans have rules and guidelines that are industry specific. If the goal is to own a home, speaking to a professional can give you the information to execute that plan. The same with saving for down payment. It is a good idea to find out the loan programs that you may qualify for when 46 * APRIL 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM

you are ready to buy. This way you know approximately how much money you will need for down payment and the different options you have to come up with that money. Debt to income often seems to go overlooked in the planning process. This portion can get confusing if you are looking at more than one loan option. The debt-to-income ratio on an FHA loan is different than a conventional loan, and Rural Development is a different beast all together. Knowing some of this information early in the process can be helpful in your purchase. There may be some options to help you qualify for more house. Paying down debt, saving more money, even timing your purchase to occur after a pay increase. It is also good to know if there are other factors that may affect your purchasing power: student loan debt, child support, alimony, tax payments. These are items that affect your debt to income, but the loan program you are using determines the impact. Each individual or family situation is different. The only way to truly know the direction you are going is to have some information about the path. If your destination is purchasing your own home, knowing these things now can help you finalize that contract on your dream home! Bernard James is a local mortgage lender with over 20 years experience in real estate and lending. Contact him at bjameshomeloans@hotmail.com or (615) 631-2877.

BOROPULSE.COM

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