May 2016 Murfreesboro Pulse by The Murfreesboro Pulse

MAY 2016 | VOL. 11, ISSUE 5 | FREE

The lifelike portrait works of local artist Kyle Baker Stones River Paranormal Society searches for spirits

JazzFest Thai/Laos Food Fair Healing Field Vintage Baseball

Middle Tennesseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News

World Turtle Day

MTSU players drafted into NFL

Redneck Rumble Hot Air Balloon Festival

Win Tickets!

Tennessee Renaissance Festival PAGE 7

Covington Glen set to host annual May merriment

IN MUSIC

MATCH RECORDS, GHOSTFINGER, RIFF RAFF, NIKKI MICHELLE & THE COSMIC COLLECTIVE, LOUDPVCK & MORE!

Contents

Word from the Editor COMING UP THIS MONTH, Middle Tennessee

MURFREESBORO PULSE | MAY 2016

CAGE THE ELEPHANT MAY 8 • WIN TICKETS!

724

ALL MONTH: TENNESSEE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL WIN TICKETS!

Features

MTSU's Match Records offers students experience running a real-world record label and signing artists.

Stones River Paranormal Society attempts to communicate with the other side at Old South Pittsburgh Hospital.

The life-like portrait work of Murfreesboro artist Kyle Baker.

REAL-WORLD RULES

SEARCHING FOR SPIRITS

KNOWING YOUR SUBJECT

In Every Issue

MUSIC NOTES

Events THIS MONTH

Thai/Laos Food Fair; Tennessee Renaissance Fest; Redneck Rumble; Turtle Day LOCAL CONCERTS

Apache Jericho; Robin Taylor; and more!

Sounds LOCAL ALBUM REVIEWS

The Realside Ardis Redford

Cage the Elephant; Niki Michelle and the Cosmic Collective; Lowell “Banana” Levinger; Ghostfinger Reunion and more!

Availability; Farmers Market Accepts Food Stamps

Biscuit Fest; Strawberry PickingTime; Popular Local Pilsner Beers; Super Salads

MOVIES

LIVE EXCEPTIONALLY . . . WELL!

SPORTS TALK

LIVING ROOM CINEMA

Reviews

GARDENING

French Prisoners

Planning for Water

Live with integrity.

VIEWS OF A CONSERVATIVE

BOOK

Civil War

Work smart to make yourself more valuable than the minimum wage.

MUSIC THROUGH THE YEARS

BUSINESS BUILDER

Opinion

Living

THE STOCKARD REPORT

ing materials that work; Small businesses can use Facebook advertising.

Murfreesboro law enforcement wants to get kids in the system early.

Green Room; Keanu

Food

The Great Community Builder

The Square Dance:

Sports Let's Go Crazy: Titans get some young local talent in the draft.

MTSU SPORTS

Safety Kevin Byard to stay in Middle Tennessee after being selected in the third round of the NFL draft.

How to create market-

Visit us at BoroPulse.com for more!

Publisher/ Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo

Art Director: Sarah Mayo Copy Editor: Steve Morley

Advertising: Jeff Brown Don Clark Leslie Russell Yost

Contributors: Dylan Skye Aycock, Sarah H. Clark, Gloria Christy, John Connor Coulston, Alicia Crittenden, Greg Crittenden, Tanner Dedmon, Jennifer Durand, Joseph Kathmann, Zach Maxfield, Anne Mercer, Robert Ritch, Edwina Shannon, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard, Sam Stockard, Norbert Thiemann, Phil Valentine

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

Copyright © 2016, 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

has Blazefest, JazzFest, a Thai food fest and Renaissance Fest, a Redneck Rumble, bluegrass brunches and square dance rehearsals, strawberry pickin’ and guitar pickin’, baseball and waterfalls. Alright! Get your assignments done so you can get out and do something fun. The live music fans are looking forward to this year’s Bonnaroo, just around the corner. There are not many bands that I am more familiar with than Pearl Jam and the Dead, two of this year’s primary Bonnaroo acts (other than Tool . . . wouldn’t that be nice). And the Sunday afternoon bluegrass tent has become an annual Bonnaroo favorite for the Mayos. Look at the following pages for a chance to win some Renaissance Fest passes, and tickets to the upcoming Cage the Elephant concert. Nice. Look for more ticket giveaways from the Pulse soon. The Murfreesboro Police Department made news last month after showing up at a Murfreesboro elementary school and arresting a group of kids, some as young as 6 years old, for an incident that took place elsewhere. Some say “you do the crime, you do the time;” others raise the point that unless there is a dead body or an extremely violent and strong youngun’ ready to deploy a weapon of mass destruction, placing a 6-yearold in handcuffs is unnecessary and un-American . Some of the kids were charged with “criminal responsibility for the conduct of another,” which, despite what some observers conjectured, was not made up by the officers and is indeed a rarely enforced piece within the volumes and volumes of Tennessee code. The arrested children allegedly committed no violence against another, they simply did not intervene in an incident between two other kids. Rather than take a stand against his department bullying and terrorizing young children, new MPD Chief Karl Durr issued a vague apology that referenced an “internal review” and a look at MPD “policy,” leading many to question whether he is indeed capable of running a police force after just a couple of weeks on the job. Others suggest expanding his policy of “internal review” to all criminal suspects. The police department investigates its own alleged wrongdoing and policy violations, so some theorize others charged with crimes be given the opportunity to investigate their own offense. “You have been charged with a crime,” the officer or judge states. “Would you like to place yourself on probation? No. Oh, very well then, you are free to go.” What do you think?—in some areas an independent panel of private citizens reviews serious accusations of misconduct in local law enforcement. Some Murfreesboro residents say this type of an oversight body is needed and long overdue in our town. It would not be there to attack the police; it would not be there to protect the police. It would exist to take honest, objective looks at some of the area's serious law enforcement matters that may need some thoughtful consideration. Peace, BRACKEN MAYO Publisher/Editor in Chief BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 3

Events COMPILED BY

ANDREA STOCKARD

Send event information to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com

MAY 6 & 7

Main Street Jazz Fest Enjoy a ’Boro tradition Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7, with jazz artists surrounding the historic Rutherford County Courthouse offering a large children’s activity area and multiple local food vendors. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 895-1887 or visit mainstreetjazzfest.net.

MAY 6–7

12th Annual Redneck Rumble Car Show Usually, the first thing that Redneck Rumble promoters Scooter and Doris Williams generally get asked is “what the heck is a Redneck Rumble?” Those in the know are well aware it is the South’s biggest gathering of some of the craziest cars, trucks, motorcycles and, yes, even people, on the planet. The fall Redneck Rumble is heading into its 12th year this year, and the Williamses had so many of their participants and fans ask for a second show that the spring Redneck Rumble—Southern Traditions—was born last year. The newest version of the Rumble returns May 6 and 7 to the Wilson County Fairgrounds. There are always plenty of cool hot rods, rat rods and traditional cars to see at the Lebanon events, and the swap meet rivals any one anywhere for variety; there are generally enough parts available there to build any vehicle you can imagine. The show also offers vendors selling vintage clothing, antiques, collectibles and more. This year’s special guest is Mike Finnegan from the hit Youtube show Roadkill. Roadkill is a gearhead show with over a million followers, and they are always up to something: building crazy races cars, taking insane road trips and just generally having fun. Finnegan will be giving away free Roadkill swag and selling autographed Finnegan’s Speed & Marine shirts and hats. In addition to bringing the ramp truck and his 1955 Chevy drag car, “Blasphemi,” both of which have been featured numerous times on Roadkill, he will be bringing another surprise vehicle from the show. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win a drag slick from “Blasphemi.” Finnegan will be in attendance from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 7. Music is also a big part of the Redneck Rumble, and this year will feature Clue and the Honky Tones, playing an acoustic set Friday night at 7 p.m. Saturday night the band lineup starts at 6 p.m. with Zippy’s Clutch. Ashland City native Ryan Upchurch, best known as Upchurch the Redneck, goes on at 7 p.m. The Graham Anthem Band follows, with Kevin Bowden closing the night. Spectator gates are open 10 a.m.–10 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7. Admission is $15 per person and children under 12 are free. For more information, show vehicle entry or vendor spaces, call (615) 364-1828 or visit bothbarrels.us. 4 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

MAY 6

BORO BEACH PARTY

BLAZEFEST 2016

Tons of white sand will be dumped in the parking lot of Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) on Friday, May 6, with a beach party from 5–10 p.m. Festivities include sand castle contests, limbo, face painting and more. Bring your buckets and beach shovels. For more information, call (615) 890-5333.

Blackman High School (3956 Blaze Dr.) invites you to a rock music festival from 4–11 p.m. Friday, May 6, to benefit its JROTC, featuring 8 live bands, vendors and emcees Woody and Jim from iHeartRadio. Tickets are $20. For more information, call (615) 904-3850.

MAY 6 “T” IT UP FOR KEVIN Come out for a fun day of golfing to benefit the King family at noon on Friday, May 6, at Cedar Crest Golf Course (7972 Mona Rd.). Kevin King, a husband and father of two, suffered injuries in an automobile accident in March. All funds directly benefit the King Family with recovery and living expenses. The $400 entry fee includes: team of four in the 18-hole golf scramble, lunch and opportunities to participate in a long drive contest, closest to the pin contest and a $5 putting green contest. Lunch is served at noon with the shotgun start at 1 p.m. Prize donations and hole sponsors are welcome! For more information, contact csjackson33@yahoo. com, danfrantzconcrete@gmail.com or (615) 642-5152.

MAY 6 SHAKESBEER AT DISCOVERY CENTER Enjoy the 4th Annual Shakesbeer at the Discovery Center (502 SE Broad St.) from 7–10 p.m. Friday, May 6, for a night of fun and revelry featuring local craft brewers serving samples while guests enjoy theatrical performances and outstanding cuisine. For more information, call (615) 890-2300.

MAY 7 KELTON’S PET DAY IN MAY Kelton’s Hardware and Pet (2870 Old Fort Pkwy.) invites you to its annual Pet Day in May from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday, May 7, with family fun, free food, big giveaways and entertainment. For more information, contact (877) 791-7353 or visit keltonsinc.net.

MAY 7 THE DEWDROP JAMBOREE VIII The Dewdrop Jamboree VIII, a familyfriendly evening of local talent, is a true variety show featuring classic country, bluegrass, gospel, rock ’n’ roll, Americana, and blues set for 6 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at the Washington Theater at Patterson Park (521 Mercury Blvd.). Guest artists include Emma Rhea Tenpenny, Brenda Lynn Allen, Scott Sharp, Bobby Howard, Larry Martin, The James Stembridge Family, The Martin Family Circus and more. For more information, call (615) 254-2868.

MAY 7 MARCH FOR BABIES Walk with people who share the desire to improve the health of babies beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 7, at Murfrees-

MAY 14

boro Medical Clinic (1272 Garrison Dr.). The event includes donation turn-ins, free food and fun, family-friendly festival activities, and a two-mile walk kicking off at 10 a.m. For more information, visit marchforbabies.org.

FREE HEART HEALTH EDUCATION DAY The heart health specialists at TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center (300 StoneCrest Blvd., Smyrna) and first responders representing local EMS invite everyone to a day of free heart screenings and valuable health and wellness education from 8 a.m.–11 p.m. where onsite clinicians answer your cardiac questions, offer free risk assessments and provide life-saving education on heart disease. To register, call (615) 342-1919 or visit TriStarHealth.com/HeartHealth.

MAY 7 THAI/LAOS FOOD FAIR Barfield Crescent Park will host a Thai/ Laos Food Fair from 11 a.m.–7 p.m. on Saturday, May 7. Enjoy all the Thai and Lao food you can eat, including tom yum kung, pho, egg rolls, chicken satay, pad Thai, fried rice and more. The event will also include Thai cooking demonstrations, an open stage for musicians and performers and a Muay Thai kickboxing exhibition. For more information, find a Facebook page for the Thai/Laos Food Fair.

MAY 14

MAY 12

Franklin Hot Air Balloon Festival

MENTAL ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUP The second Thursday of every month, join the nonprofit National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) from 7–9 p.m. at Trustpoint Hospital, 1009 N. Thompson Lane. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. For more information, call (615) 896-6812 or visit namitn.org/rutherford0.aspx.

MAY 12 BEYOND THE BELLS LUNCHEON Join Honorary Chairs Bonnie and Debbie Price for the Inaugural Beyond the Bells lunch for The Salvation Army Murfreesboro from noon–1 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at

MAY 14 TN RADIO HALL OF FAME GALA

The Franklin Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held in Franklin’s Westhaven Community from 3–9 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Middle Tennessee Hot Air Balloon Adventures will supply balloons for the event, and give attendees the chance to get up close and personal with the gentle giants. Tethered rides will be offered, and the event also includes live music, food trucks and a KidZone. For more information, call (615) 584-6236 or visit franklinballoonfestival.com. Embassy Suites (1200 Conference Center Blvd.). Learn more about The Salvation Army’s role in Murfreesboro. Admission is free with RSVP and an opportunity to give will be available. For more information, contact JohnR.Mitchell@uss.salvationarmy.org.

MAY 12–14 CRAFTERS’ EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SALE Get rid of items you no longer need or accumulate ones you do at the consignment sale for crafts of all types at Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John R. Rice Blvd.) Thursday and Friday, May 12 and 13, from 9 a.m.–7 p.m. and Saturday, May 14, (halfprice day) from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Tennessee Fisher House. There will also be a donation box so you can drop off items the organization needs. For more information, call (615) 5421669 or visit crafters-exchange.blogspot.com.

where guests can experience life from the visually impaired perspective. Lights are dimmed, and all of the diners have the opportunity to be guided and instructed throughout the evening by blind guests who will also act as their hosts and teachers. Enjoy fun and lively music, entertainment, and special speakers throughout the night alongside food from Christie Q BBQ. For more information, contact (615) 8932582 or diningindark@gmail.com.

Come out to the 2016 Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center (1200 Conference Center Blvd.) from 5–10 p.m. Saturday, May 14, WGNS’ Bart Walker was elected to be included in this year’s “Career” category. To purchase tickets, visit tennesseeradiohalloffame.wildapricot.org or contact tennrhof@gmail.com.

MAY 14 AND 15 MUSIC CITY OPEN PAINTBALL TOURNAMENT Teams travel from Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Illinois to compete in paintball at Sharp Springs Natural Area (1000 Espey Dr., Smyrna) in the Music City Open held May 14 and 15. No admission charged for spectators. For more information, visit msxlevents.com.

MAY 13 2016 NORTH RUTHERFORD YMCA GOLF SCRAMBLE

MAY 10

Stake & Burger

Tueesday, May 10, beginning at 6 p.m. join “Stake & Burger” featuring Coach Steve Spurrier at World Outreach Church (1921 New Salem Hwy.) The event benefits the Boys & Girls Club with food from Toot’s. For more information, contact (615) 890-2582 or michelle.clifford@bgcrc.net, or find a Facebook event page for the 29th Annual Stake & Burger.

Take part in the 2016 North Rutherford YMCA/Smyrna Ready Mix Golf Scramble to benefit the North Rutherford YMCA Summer Day Camp program at Cedar Crest Golf Course (7972 Mona Rd.) from 8 a.m.–noon Friday, May 13. For more information, call (615) 220-9622.

MAY 13 DINING IN THE DARK The Murfreesboro Lions Club invites you to Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, for a new kind of sensory dining, Dining in the Dark,

MAY 15 TENNESSEE VINTAGE BASE BALL GAME Enjoy games that bring the history of baseball to life at the Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation (1399 Sam Davis Rd.) with the Stewart’s Creek Scouts vs. Phoenix of East Nashville at noon on Sunday, May 15. Bring a chair or blanket. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 459-2341 or visit tennesseevintagebaseball.com.

BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 5

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

to support Riddle’s financial hardships during this trying time. For more information, call (615) 971-7346.

MAY 15 RIDE FOR KIDS Come out to Barfield Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) at noon on Sunday, May 15, for the 7th Annual Ride for Kids, a national series of motorcycle charity rides that has helped the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Thanks to the generous support of the motorcycling community, progress is being made in the fight against one of the deadliest forms of childhood cancer. For more information, call (615) 260-5966 or email midtnrideforkids@gmail.com.

JUNE 2–4 SECRET GARDEN PARTY AND TOUR The Discovery Center’s premiere event of the season, Secret Garden Party, includes a brunch at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 2, with Rickman Freeman of Baker Arboretum and floral designer Phillipe Chadwick; a Secret Garden Party Cocktail Stroll at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 3, at the home of Suzanne and Chad Curry; the Secret Garden Party at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 3; and the Secret Garden Tour from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, June 4. For more information, visit explorethedc.org/sgp.

MAY 15 SQUARE DANCE REHEARSAL Before the attempt for the World’s Largest Square Dance at this year’s Uncle Dave Macon Days, there will be a communitywide square dance rehearsal at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the Rutherford County Courthouse Inner Circle. Organizers ask all interested in participating as a either a dancer or volunteer to come. For more information, call (615) 893-2371 or visit uncledavemacondays.com.

MAY 20 3RD FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT AT CANNONSBURGH Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) hosts a fun night of live music and dancing with John Winters from 7–9 p.m. Friday, May 20. For more information, contact shodges@ murfreesborotn.gov or (615) 890-0355.

MAY 21 PARKINSON SUPPORT GROUP Join the Parkinson Support Group the third Saturday of every month from 1:30–3 p.m. at St. Clair Street Senior Center (325 Clair St.) with educational programs and guest speakers for family members and those afflicted with Parkinson’s disease. For more information, call (615) 848-2550.

MAY 21 RED, WHITE & BAYOU The annual Red, White and Bayou at Oaklands Historic House Museum (900 N. Maney Ave.) from 7–10 p.m. Saturday, May 21, benefits the United Way. For tickets or more information, contact (615) 893-7303 (ext. 111) or lisbeth.couser@YourLocalUW.org, or visit yourlocaluw.org/redwhiteandbayou.

MAY 23–27 TSSAA SPRING FLING Murfreesboro hosts state championships in high school track and field, tennis, baseball, 6 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

MAY 21

9th Annual World Turtle Day

Have a blast and get educated at the 9th Annual World Turtle Day at the Wilderness Station in Barfield-Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) from 3–5 p.m. Saturday, May 21, and learn about the challenges faced by turtles in this area and learn how to plant gardens and create water features for turtles. For more information, call (615) 217-3017. boys’ soccer and softball. For more information, call (615) 889-6740 or visit tssaa.org.

MAY 29 FREE CLOTHES AND FOOD Free food and clothes are given away the fourth Sunday of every month from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Oakland Park 7th Day Adventist Church (711 N. Maney Avenue).

MAY 31–JUNE 3 YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP Join Coach Rick Stockstill and the Middle Tennessee football staff for Youth Football Camp at MTSU for rising first-grade through eighth-grade students May 31–June 3 from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Camp includes individual instruction, offensive and defensive funda-

TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS RUTHERFORD COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET

mentals, and ends the week with a Raider Ball Tournament. For more information, contact (615) 494-8735 or visit coachstockstillcamps.com.

Eat healthy and support Tennessee producers selling a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, baked and canned goods, flowers, plants and more at Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd.) from 7 a.m.–noon on Tuesdays and Fridays. For more information, call (615) 898-7710.

JUNE 2

SATURDAYS

HELP HOPE LIVE

BICYCLE TOURS OF STONES RIVER NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD

Party for a purpose to benefit the SouthAtlantic Kidney Transplant Fund by helping Kevin Riddle, a fun-loving music enthusiast in need of a kidney transplant, at Mayday Brewery (521 Old Salem Rd.) from 6–9 p.m. Thursday, June 2. Admission for all-you-can-eat is $15 for adults and $5 for children. There will be a silent auction, and entertainment from Chasin Jaymie, Nathan Belt & the Buckles and Artist Green. Donations can also be made

Join a ranger for a 90-minute bicycle tour of the Stones River National Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.) at 9 a.m. each Saturday. Admission free. For more information, call (615) 893-9501 or visit nps.gov/stri.

MAY 28–30

8th Annual Flags of Remembrance Healing Field Take a walk through this aweinspiring 1,500-flag display in the First Methodist Church Field (265 W. Thompson Ln.) saluting the strength and unity of Americans as it honors all the men and women who have made the supreme sacrifice for our nation’s security and freedom. For more information, call (615) 641-0121 or visit noonexchange.org.

THROUGHOUT MAY

Tennessee Renaissance Festival Nestled in the rolling hillside and virgin forest of Middle Tennessee, the village of Covington Glen echoes with the sounds of Renaissance music and merrymaking. Accented by the Castle Gwynn’s twin towers, the 31st annual Tennessee Renaissance Festival is held the first four full weekends

in May plus Memorial Day. Queen Elizabeth herself rules over gaiety and celebration highlighted each day by the drama of full-armored joust. Also in residence at Covington Glen are artisans, man-powered rides, games of skill, entertainments and culinary treats. SPECIAL WEEKLY PROMOTIONS THIS YEAR INCLUDE: MAY 7–8: Opening Weekend Special Family Discounts (Buy two regular-price adult tickets, and two grandparents and

all children age 12 and under receive free admission) MAY 14–15: Artisan and Crafts Weekend MAY 21–22: Pirate Invasion Weekend

WIN TICKETS!!!



Visit BOROPULSE.COM/RENFEST and enter to win a pair of tickets to this year’s Renaissance Festival

MAY 28–30: Celtic Weekend The festivities also include a free Children’s Art and Activity Area and tours of Castle Gwynn (ground floor only). The Tennessee Renaissance Festival aims to entertain and educate its guests in the rich history and culture of the Renaissance Age, and provide a safe environment, appropriate for all ages. For tickets and more information on this year’s Tennessee Renaissance Festival, visit tnrenfest.com.

BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 7

ENTERTAINMENT

DJ, BINGO, TRIVIA & KARAOKE NIGHTS  MONDAYS AHART’S PIZZA GARDEN Trivia, 6:30 p.m. BUNGANUT PIG Trivia, 7 p.m. LEVEL III Trivia, 7–9 p.m.

 TUESDAYS BOB’S BBQ Trivia, 6–8 p.m.

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

SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Trivia, 8 p.m.

MT BOTTLE Karaoke, 9 p.m.–3 a.m.

STATION GRILL Trivia, 7 p.m.

WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

 THURSDAYS

 SATURDAYS

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

CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m. LA SIESTA (CHURCH ST.) Karaoke, 6 p.m. NACHOS Trivia, 7 p.m. NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m. WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

COCONUT BAY CAFÉ Trivia, 7:30 p.m.

CHAIS MUSIC HALL Ballroom Dancing with a Lesson 7–10 p.m. (first and third Thursday)

NACHOS Trivia, 7 p.m.

COCONUT BAY Karaoke, 8 p.m.

OLD CHICAGO Trivia, 9 p.m.

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

THE BORO Karaoke, 8:30–p.m.–12 a.m.

SPORTS SEASONS Trivia, 7 p.m.

TGI FRIDAY’S Trivia, 9 p.m.

WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

 WEDNESDAYS

8 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

NOBODY’S Trivia, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

 FRIDAYS

CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

CHAIS MUSIC HALL Line Dancing with a Lesson 7–10 p.m.

MELLOW MUSHROOM Trivia, 8 p.m.

LIQUID SMOKE DJ Night, 10 p.m.

 SUNDAYS O’POSSUMS Trivia, 8 p.m. SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Trivia, 8 p.m.



Send entertainment information to

Listings@BoroPulse.com

Concerts MAY 2016

SAT, 5/21

BUNGANUT PIG

PULSE

PICK

Send show listings to Listings@BoroPulse.com View the monthly concert schedule online:

Bird Song Studio 213 West High St., Woodbury 615-772-6432 Bunganut Pig 1602 W. Northfield Blvd. 893-7860 Coconut Bay Café 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. 494-0504 Handlebar 2601 E. Main St. 890-5661 Hippie Hill 8627 Burks Hollow Rd. 796-3697 JoZoara 536 N. Thompson Ln. 962-7175 Level III 114 S. Maple St. 615-900-3754 Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 217-7822 Main St. Music 527 W. Main St. 440-2425 Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 479-9722 MTSU Wright Music Building 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 898-2469

Open Mic Night

2nd & Vine

THE ALLEY

Open Mic Jam Session

THE BORO

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Grace Tipton

THE WHEEL

Happy Hour Hill Band

THURS, 5/5

BUNGANUT PIG

Reilly’s Writers Night

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Graham Anthem Band

NACHO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Ivan LaFever

The Block 123 SE Broad St. 393-9935 The Wheel 534 SE Broad St. 295-2862 Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 867-9090

LOUDPVCK

Tinderbox Circus Sideshow, Apathy Wizards, Ford Theater Reunion

SAT, 5/7 @ TEMPT

Los Angeles duo Kenny Beats and Ryan Marks stop in Murfreesboro’s TEMPT on May 7, and should keep the crowd dancing and the bass pounding. Fresh off an appearance in High Times magazine, LOUDPVCK states that if their music can help members of the audience take their minds of of their troubles for even an hour, they have done their job right. LOUDPVCK is keeping a fairly pvcked schedule so far this year bringing its party music to venues across the country. “While the duo doesn’t consider their sound to be one specific sub-genre, their 808s and heavy bass-rolls offer a very distinct trap beat,” writes one critic. For more, check out loudpvck.com.

TEMPT

Lost Charters, Beat Bear

FRI, 5/6

BLACKMAN HIGH SCHOOL

The Nearly Deads, Junkbox, Mize and the Drive, the Blackman High Rock Band, the New Vision Baptist Church Band, Lacey Caroline, Up From Down

BUNGANUT PIG

My July Band

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Crossroads

HIPPIE HILL

Open Mic Night

MAYDAY BREWERY

Frank Rische

TEMPT

NinTNDisco Video Game Dance Party

SAT, 5/7

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

Robyn Taylor

HANDLEBAR

Patterson Park 521 Mercury Blvd. 893-7439

The Alley 223 W. Main St. 203-3498

Stylust Beats, Freddy Todd, Beat Bear, GuTTa KicK

BUNGANUT PIG

THE ALLEY

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

Mize and the Drive

TEMPT

WED, 5/4

Nacho’s 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd. 907-2700

Phat Boyz 4425 Woodbury Pike 615-546-4526

Southern Comfort

MAYDAY BREWERY HIPPIE HILL

BOROPULSE.COM/CONCERTS

IF YOU GO:

Mesa Project

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Robyn Taylor

BUNGANUT PIG

Rockslide

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Karaoke with Hitman Walker

HIPPIE HILL

Open Mic Night

LEVEL III

Nikki Michelle and the Cosmic Collective

MAYDAY BREWERY

Suthurn Swaggur

PHAT BOYZ

Scott Steele and the Rockin Country Nights Band

TEMPT

LOUDPVCK

THE BORO

Thunderfrog, Four Barrel Funeral

WALL STREET

Horava, Chariot the Moon, ÆLIANA, Omnipresent, Arcane Atlas

SUN, 5/22

BUNGANUT PIG

Robert Eskew

THE BLOCK

Robyn Taylor’s Country & Bluegrass Jam

TUES, 5/24 THE WHEEL

Wayne Barnes

WED, 5/25 PATTERSON PARK

Dewdrop Jamboree

SUN, 5/8

BUNGANUT PIG

FRI, 5/13

BIRD SONG STUDIO

Open Bluegrass Jam

BUNGANUT PIG

Mixtape 80s Band

Nikki Michelle and the Cosmic Collective; Robert Eskew

HIPPIE HILL

Robyn Taylor’s Country & Bluegrass Jam

THE BLOCK

THAI PATTAYA

Nikki Michelle and the Cosmic Collective

TUES, 5/10 THE WHEEL

Wayne Barnes

WED, 5/11

BUNGANUT PIG

Robyn Taylor

HANDLEBAR

Open Mic Jam Session

THE WHEEL

Happy Hour Hill Band

THURS, 5/12

Open Mic Night

MAYDAY BREWERY

BUNGANUT PIG

Sunday Night Soul Sessions

Skeetzo N’ Krysis, The Unsatisfied, Trigger Digit, Neptune the Mystic

THE BORO

TEMPT

Robyn Taylor’s Country & Bluegrass Jam Grandma Lee

DJ Craze, Rate, Dorian, Paul G

TUES, 5/17

Safe Secrets, Rusty Shipp, The Clover Club

Wayne Barnes

THE BORO

SAT, 5/14

BIRD SONG STUDIO

Lowell Levinger

BUNGANUT PIG

THE WHEEL

WED, 5/18

BIRD SONG STUDIO

Writers in the Round featuring Levi Massie, Billy Plant, John Salaway and Robyn Taylor

Phoenix Rising

BUNGANUT PIG

Open Mic Night

HANDLEBAR

Apache Jerico

THE WHEEL

HIPPIE HILL

COCONUT BAY CAFE

PHAT BOYZ

NACHO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

TEMPT

Ivan LaFever

SUN, 5/15 THE BLOCK

MAYDAY BREWERY

Scott Free Band

All Nite Diner, Boom Boom Pow

Uncle Don Clark

BUNGANUT PIG

Reilly’s Writers Night

THE BORO

Zippy’s Clutch Band Backup Planet, Case Study

APACHE JERICHO

SATURDAY, MAY 14 @ MAYDAY BREWERY If you didn’t catch local rock outfit Apache Jericho opening for Nashville favorite The Weeks at TEMPT last month, you can catch the band at Mayday Brewery (521 Old Salem Rd.) on May 14 at 6 p.m. Apache Jericho—Adam Berry, Brandon Morton, Chris Raftery and Brad Zelenak—pulls from a variety of influences ranging from Led Zeppelin and Tennessee’s own Kings of Leon to artists like Garth Brooks. The band, which formed last year, is currently working on its first EP. — DYLAN AYCOCK

Dustin McCreary

Open Mic Jam Session Happy Hour Hill Band

THURS, 5/19

BUNGANUT PIG

Reilly’s Writers Night

BIRD SONG STUDIO

Josh Wanamaker, Tanner Hillis

BUNGANUT PIG

Tony to Tony Cancer Awareness Music Showcase

HANDLEBAR

Open Mic Jam Session

THE WHEEL

Happy Hour Hill Band

THURS, 5/26 BUNGANUT PIG

Reilly’s Writers Night

NACHO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Ivan LaFever

FRI, 5/27

BIRD SONG STUDIO

Spider John & friends

BUNGANUT PIG

Corbitt Clampitt Experience

COCONUT BAY CAFE

DJ TruFX

HIPPIE HILL

Open Mic Night

MAYDAY BREWERY

Mitch Cox

SAT, 5/28

BUNGANUT PIG

Beginner’s Luck

COCONUT BAY CAFE

DJ RDP

HIPPIE HILL

Open Mic Night

NACHO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

MAYDAY BREWERY

FRI, 5/20

PHAT BOYZ

Ivan LaFever

BUNGANUT PIG

Backlit

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Zone Status

HIPPIE HILL

Open Mic Night

MAYDAY BREWERY

Luke Amelang

PHAT BOYZ

Boro Boys

TEMPT

Upchurch the Redneck

Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau Al Green and the Hard Times Band

THE BORO

Killing Grace

SUN, 5/29 THE BLOCK

Robyn Taylor’s Country & Bluegrass Jam

TUES, 5/31 THE WHEEL

Wayne Barnes

BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 9

Sounds

REIGN

Read more about local restaurants at

BoroPulse.com/Category/Food

ast month, the Pulse took a look at all of the doughnut shops in town. While that assignment was incredibly delicious, some on the team felt that, after all of that deep-fried dough and sugary filling, it was time to switch gears to healthier options. While nearly every restaurant in Murfreesboro has a salad of some sort on the menu, here are a few delicious salad choices that stand out from the rest. For strict vegans, there are plenty of creative combinations that include all sorts of fruits and veggies from avocados to blueberries, but even if you like to add turkey, steak or even hot chicken to your salad, the eateries of Murfreesboro offer plenty of ways to dine low-carb if you choose. Behold, some of the superstar salads of Murfreesboro. Enjoy, y’all! >>>

SUPER SALADS STORY BY ALICIA CRITTENDEN AND BRACKEN MAYO

 THE GOAT 2355 Adwell St.

Under the minimalist label “greens,” The Goat serves up some of the most beautiful salad presentations in the land. Taste their Avocado Lime Salad and your life will change for the better. This one combines the sweet scent of grape tomatoes and grilled pineapple (yes, grilled pineapple) salsa with the awesomeness of chipotle ranch dressing and avocado. The generous helping of guacamole and pita slices go great with the taste of spicy blackened chicken, though the meat is optional. The Goat offers a fresh approach to dining with a unique special every day, like $5 tacos or $5 Farmhouse tots, and there you can celebrate any occasion with cocktails like the Elderberry or the Edison made with expertise as you sample some springtime salad goodness. After you try my favorite salad there, the Avocado Lime with blackened chicken, go

back sometime and sample the Goat’s Italian Chop, created with greens, smoked ham, salami, capicola and pepperoni; or choose from salad dressings such as bourbon honey

 WALL STREET 121 N. Maple St.

For the last four years, Wall Street has customized a specialized salad menu twice a year, reflecting the beautiful seasons within our great state of Tennessee, one exemplifying the fall and winter harvest, and another to convey the vibrant colors of spring and summer, according to manager Hanna Reagan. The 2016 spring and summer seasonal menu includes the Strawberry Steak Salad, beautifully decorated with fresh greens, mandarin oranges, strawberries, apples, pistachios, red onion, feta cheese and cooked-to-order grilled sirloin steak. Dressing selections include Fuji apple vinaigrette, honey-lime vinaigrette and raspberry vinaigrette. A meatless option at Wall Street is the eatery’s Greek Salad, exquisitely combining the freshness of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, red onions, and feta cheese crumbles, lightly tossed within a feta vinaigrette dressing. The Blueberry Steak Salad will soon be a regular offering on Wall Street’s staple menu, while the Fiesta Taco Salad offers avocado, black olives, shredded cheddar, red onions, tomatoes, tortilla strips and either grilled or fried chicken.

 MARINA’S ON THE SQUARE

125 N. Maple St. “They have amazing croutons: buttery, crisp garlic heaven. The ranch dressing is unlike any other restaurants’. It’s thick and flavorful,” said Marina’s patron Kristin Walker Carlton. “The salad itself is always fresh and well blended.” She added that her 5-year-old daughter, Eloise, is a big fan of Marina’s ranch dressing. Murfreesboro locals know to go to Marina’s for menu classics like Chicken Marsala, Eggplant Parmesan, Tortellini and Cajun Chicken, all served up with a fabulous garden or caesar salad. For a full green meal, try one Marina’s meatless salad offerings, including anti-pasto, spinach, greek and eggplant salads. 20 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

Keep it low carb and veggie-friendly with these great green offerings.

mustard or red wine vinaigrette, and add grilled or blackened mahi or braised pork to make The Goat’s fresh wedge or spinach salads all the better.

CJ’S RESTAURANT & CATERING 

352 W. Northfield Blvd. Meals at CJ’s Restaurant & Catering begin with a complimentary portion of fresh caprese salad. The colors of the basil, tomato and fresh mozzarella salad represent the Italian flag. The caprese is served drizzled with tasty balsamic dressing and a side of warm Fire Crackers, salty crackers that are perfectly seasoned and baked golden brown. Further explore the establishment’s delicious salad offerings by trying a salad topped with raspberry or blackberry chipotle chicken or steak, or keep the meal meat-free with the heirloom tomato salad.

THE BOULEVARD BAR & GRILLE 

2154 Middle Tennessee Blvd. Located across the street from MTSU’s campus, The Boulevard is rapidly becoming a go-to hang out. A staple salad favorite of mine at the Boulevard is their Taco Salad. Topped with big slices of avocado, a hearty helping of blackened chicken, pico, tomatoes and crisp lettuce, this salad can easily be shareable, or lunch for the next day. Enjoy with a drizzle of spicy ranch and a dollop or two of sour cream and salsa. Their actual namesake salad offering, The Boulevard, is topped with pecans, strawberries, mixed greens and cranberries. Monday is the perfect time to try their Berry Chicken Salad, Honey Crispy Chicken or the Black and Bleu Salad since most of the menu items are half price.

 JIM ’N NICK’S

436 N. Thompson Lane I order like a rebel, so I combined my two favorite Jim ’N Nick’s dishes into one hot salad: the Chopped Southern Salad topped with their Nashville Hot Chicken. According to several Jim ’N Nick’s chefs, I’m the first to create this delicious accomplishment, not yet on their menu. Picture a wonderful, fresh Southern mix of pecans and veggies with scrumptious, hand-cut, very hot chicken draped on top. Heaven! The fresh bacon, crisp vegetables and spicy meat provide the perfect foundation for Jim ’N Nick’s white sauce. Looking for a different salad favorite? Try the Pig in the Garden salad. One longtime Jim ’N Nick’s patron said her go-to pick is the Pig in the Garden topped with smoked chicken or turkey instead of pork.

 CATHAY ASIAN BISTRO

1845 S. Church St. To some, seaweed tossed with cool, fresh cucumber, sesame seeds and soy sauce sounds absolutely wonderful, and sea vegetables are packed with minerals and low in calories. Give it a try, and you may be just as impressed with the suprisingly crisp seaweed salad at Cathay Asian Bistro as anything else on their extensive Japanese, Chinese, sushi and hibachi menu. Their standard house ginger dressing is also quite tasty. Both the seaweed and house salads are available as part of Cathy’s all-you-can-eat special at dinner.

 SAM’S SPORTS BAR

1720 Old Fort Pkwy. Sam’s Sports Bar is the place to be for all things sports, and their food and beverages do not disappoint—sandwiches, ribs, nachos, pizzas, with delicious sides to accompany. One more surprising, less sportsman-like offering on the menu is the Southwest Chicken Salad. This unique salad fuses “southwest” flavors creating the perfect combination of taste and texture. It combines fresh greens (none of that ice berg stuff) with crunchy thin-sliced cabbage and carrots, sliced grilled chicken, sweet Asian peanut sauce, tangy honey-lime vinagrette and crispy tortilla strips. BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 21

Living Farmers’ Market Education Series BY EDWINA SHANNON

PLANNING FOR WATER AVAILABILITY THE CALENDAR SAYS SPRING but the soil is already dry. I have no backup water in the rain barrel. Having an adequate supply of water during the growing season directly affects the quality and quantity of vegetable production. I am a little concerned, as most of my plants will be in need of water in midsummer. Flowering and fruiting plants have greater water needs as do recently fertilized plants. Unless we receive some monsoons, there will be a water shortage this year. So, now, when you water, water deeply, as it will train roots to grow deep into the ground. Test the dryness of the soil. If it’s hard, you need to water. You can also purchase a moisture meter. It is inexpensive, accurate and the more scientific approach to degrees of dryness. Whether it rains or not, it makes sense to conserve water. So I have compiled a list of water saving actions: • Remove weeds • Plant only what you need • Slender-leaved plants use less water • Use diversion drains to redirect water flow • Water the garden in the morning before the temperature rises and the winds pick up and when there is less evaporation. Avoid evening gardening, especially wetting the leaves, as wet leaves in the evening will encourage fungal growth. • Try to use recycled water: > cool any water from cooking, then water the plants with it. It is filled with nutrients so it will be a fertilizer, too > use rainwater by installing a rain barrel or water tank > use the water from water changes from an aquarium • Increase humus in the soil by developing 22 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

a compost system. Both composted material and worm castings hold moisture and nutrients in the soil. Add “seasoned” manure only. • Use mulch. A coarse mulch allows water to penetrate yet prevents soil surface evaporation and helps suppress water-thieving weeds. Thankfully, mulched clay soils have less water needs than bare, sandy soils. Keep wood chip mulch out of the vegetable garden as they do not decompose easily nor add humus value. • Use zone irrigation systems to target water distribution; put the thirstiest plants together. The zone irrigation by a drip system will place water where it is needed. This directed application of water will greatly reduce water consumption. • For newly planted shrubs or trees, build a berm around the base as wide as the canopy; the berm will minimize water runoff, keeping the water near the roots of the plants. The quality of the soil is important in assisting water conservation. Work on developing your composting methods and humus within the soil. Kitchen scraps, non-meat leftovers, cut grass from no-chemical lawns, eggshells and coffee grounds are just a short list for a compost pile. I am going to try a simple, direct water application method this season. I have plastic bottles with ice-picked holes all around the bottom of each one. I am planting bottles within my tomatoes and peppers. Should we end up with a no hose watering ban, I will be able to fill each bottle and the water will drip through the holes to the vegetable roots. If you don’t need to produce lots of vegetables, consider planting vegetables in containers. Containers are not just for flowers. They offer a controlled space for those with little space, little time and some interest in homegrown food.

The Rutherford Farmers Market at the Lane Agri-Park is starting up again this month. Friday, May 13 is opening day. The market is located in the Community Center at 315 John R. Rice Blvd. (furthest in, by the pavilion) The market is a produceronly market, so, you meet the people who are selling what they produce. The hours are from 7 a.m. to noon on both Tuesdays and Fridays. Free educational classes are held each open day at 9 a.m. For those that can’t make the class, many are recorded and posted on the RC Farmers Market YouTube channel.

Farmer’s Market Accepting Food Stamps Each growing season is an opportunity Farmers Market to double down for SNAP Benefits.

JUNE 7

FRE$H SAVINGS, a new food incentive program to encourage the purchase of fruits and vegetables, will launch this spring at the Rutherford County Farmers Market on May 13. When a SNAP customer uses a SNAP benefit card (food stamps) and spends $10, they will receive $10 in free tokens for use for fresh fruits and vegetables. A shopper can actually double their SNAP benefits at the Farmers Market by spending $10 over and over and receiving the Fre$h Savings tokens. “Plus, it puts money back into the local community and the pockets of the vendors at the farmers markets,” said Maria Parham, Fre$h Savings Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for Tennessee. All of the food vendors at the Rutherford County Farmers Market, which is open from 7 a.m.–noon on Tuesdays and Fridays and located at 315 John R. Rice Blvd., will accept SNAP benefits for their produce, Parham said. Additionally, the Nolensville Farmers Market will launch the program on May 21. The AARP Foundation received a $3.3 million grant from the USDA to implement and evaluate a SNAP incentive program with Kroger Stores and farmers markets in Tennessee and Mississippi. The program, which holds the potential to be replicable in communities across the nation, will encourage SNAP recipients to purchase more fruits and vegetables with their benefits by offering matching incentives. The AARP will also offer guided tours at select Kroger locations, including tips for making healthy choices that are smart for your budget. Check aarpfoundation.org/freshsavings for information on where and when tours will be available.

Mitchell Mote, Ext. Agent: How to Use Pesticides Safely Maximizing damage to pests while minimizing risk to you

To learn more about the Fre$h Savings program in Tennessee, contact Maria Parham at mparham@aarp.org.

Market Class Schedule MAY 13 Mark Murphy, CMG: The Uncommon Vegetable Garden Explore the bounty of interesting edibles perfect for the home garden

MAY 17 Alan Windham, UT Plant Pathologist: How to Build a Straw Bale Garden The pros and cons of this alternate to traditional garden beds

MAY 20 Mitchell Mote, Ext. Agent: What’s in the Bag? What’s in the Bottle? Understanding fertilizer and pesticide labels

MAY 24 Richard Lee, CMG: Native Plants Learn how to use native plants to maximize diversity in your landscape

MAY 27 Mitchell Murphree, Five Senses Restaurant: Southern Gourmet Cooking Demo Sample southern gourmet preparations of in season produce as prepared by a local chef

MAY 31 Ann Green, Whole Foods Educator: Seasonal Eating, Sauerkraut Learn the basic principles and beneficial properties of brine pickling at home

JUNE 3 Susan Welchance, RC Beekeeper Association: Problem Solving in the Beeyard Managing swarms, proper nutrition, pollen sources, splitting hives and other issues beekeepers face

BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 23

Living

STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO | PHOTOS BY SCOTT WALKER

Pursuit of the Paranormal Murfreesboro’s Stones River Paranormal Society searches for spirits.

“I LIKE TO USE THE MAGLITE AS a communication device,” said Tammie McLendon, as she prepares a group of people to go into an abandoned hospital late at night to investigate paranormal activity. Her team, the Stones River Paranormal Society, is based in Murfreesboro, but tonight, a cool April evening, they are leading a group through the Old South Pittsburg Hospital— a very active site for spirits, according to McLendon and the others on the team—and the paranormal enthusiast is telling of an adventure in which she believed beings from the other side were communicating with her by turning her flashlight off and on. “Always carry plenty of batteries,” McLendon continued. “Ghosts use that energy (from batteries in electronic devices) when they are trying to manifest; they’ll take energy where they can and drain the batteries.” The team also looks for signs such as drastic deviations in temperature for further evidence of a spiritual presence, she said. This is not the Stones River Paranormal Society’s first look into the Old South Pittsburg Hospital, located about an hour’s drive from Rutherford County. The hospital has become a favorite site for the team’s Ghost Hunting 101 program, where people interested in participating in a paranormal investigation can join the very experienced team on an overnight look into the unexplained. The hospital is a very popular investigation 24 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

location for other ghost-hunting groups as well. The walls of the hallway are adorned by the signatures and artwork of paranormal research groups from all over, and from hundreds of individuals who have ventured into the structure since its closing to see what still lurks within. The Old South Pittsburg Hospital opened as a medical facility in 1959 and functioned until 1998; the third floor continued to operate as a psych ward and detox center until 2001, but since then the facility has not been in operation as a hospital, though a portion of the building did house an antique and bookstore for a time.

“There were rumors there was a doctor here who did a lot of experiments and unnecessary surgeries,” McLendon said, suggesting this may be a cause of some of the uneasiness from another realm. The facility houses many different ghostly beings, she said, including the spirits of young children, the “naughty nurse” (who seems to prefer making contact with males), James (the former maintenance man whose shoes are still in the basement), and Nellie, an elderly patient on the third floor.

Even prior to a hospital occupying the land, the area’s history includes a Cherokee settlement, Civil War battle and a large plantation fire that resulted in numerous deaths. Big John, another Stones River Paranormal team member, explained that the combination of limestone and underground springs below the hospital property acts as a conductor for the paranormal happenings; that combination is a battery of sorts found at many places with high levels of paranormal reports. On a previous occasion when the group investigated the facility, some got to an area where there was an “uneasy feeling,” McLendon said. One lady began experiencing chest pains. “We asked it (the mysterious being) if it was causing it. It said ‘yes,’ and that it had been restrained in the hospital by someone close to her age,” McLendon said. The lady at this investigation ended up having a heart attack, and had to be transported from the abandoned hospital to a real hospital. “She said it was her first investigation, and her last,” McLendon said. But some of the guests at the April 2016 excursion who have previously investigated the hospital said they’d had an experience and came back for more.

One participant said that, during her first investigation, while in the basement, others in the group attempted to communicate with James, the legendary former hospital maintenance man who has been suspected of mischievously tossing bolts at basement visitors from the afterlife. The investigator said she asked where the fire extinguisher was, and then she saw an illuminated face appear directly above the fire extinguisher in a flash of blue flames. Also, in the pharmacy area of the abandoned hospital during that visit,“The K2 went crazy,” McLendon said, adding “I got a message saying ‘I’m dead.’” The K2, a device that measures spikes in the electromagnetic field, has become a popular instrument among paranormal investigators. Another Stones River Paranormal Society team member, Big John, explained another device the group uses to seek evidence of the paranormal—an electronic tool that scans different radio frequencies, which he calls the “ghost box.” This box scans different frequencies, and does sometimes pick up different radio stations. “In areas where there’s a lot of radio, you can’t use these, but at areas where there’s no radio, like at the bottom of Ruby Falls, and it picks up something . . . you know it’s real,” Big John said.

“We’ve had conversations with this [that lasted] an hour.” Big John said that the SRPS is a “factbased group,” that they do not take every bump in the dark as evidence of a ghost, that they first try and explain any strange happenings with natural explanations, and only after trying to debunk their own evidence, will the group claim a piece of video or an event as evidence of paranormal activity. However, he said the group’s members

have experienced some things over the years that they simply could not explain away without acknowledging that they came in contact with a spiritual realm. He also said that the group is a “faithbased team,” that most in the group hold Christian values and that looking for evidence of the paranormal does not conflict with their faith. “A lot of Christian people call us to investigate,” Big John said. “There was a

Christian singer who called us. He said he couldn’t talk to his pastor about it, but they had something in their house bothering their granddaughter.” After the Stones River Paranormal Society investigated the dwelling, they pinpointed the source of the otherworldly torment to be coming from an old doll in the attic. “As soon as we got rid of that, it went away,” Big John said. While the team spends years investigating the mysterious, and gathers hours upon hours of video and audio recording, solid evidence can be difficult to come by. After all of their time and efforts in the hospital and in multiple other locations around Tennessee, their evidence of the paranormal amounts to footage of a plastic bag moving on its own, a vague purple outline of a figure on an infrared image, a fuzzy audio recording of a voice saying “hey” and an odd shadow that moves in an unexplained way. Still, the group’s members remain dedicated to learning more about the other side, to communicate with those who have long since exited the physical world, and to one day capture that definitive proof of a paranormal experience. For more information on the Stones River Paranormal Society and their upcoming events, visit stonesriverparanormal.com.

BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 25

Art

 ARTIST PROFILE

KYLE BAKER HAS BEEN DRAWING PEOPLE’S PORTRAITS SINCE HE WAS 17 YEARS OLD. The first time he painted someone, “I did a drawing of a photo of a guy I pulled off of Photobucket,” he says. “I searched for ‘Bubba,’ then printed out the photo and painted it.” The painting was an assignment for art class, but it sparked a love for capturing people that has kept him drawing and painting ever since. Working with oils, charcoal and graphite, Baker does his portraits from a combination of photos and life. As for his subjects, he says, “I try not to make them pose. But at the same time, you don’t just pull out a camera and point it at somebody.” It’s important to Baker to show his subjects respect and to have their permission for painting or drawing them. The result is that Baker often portrays people he knows. For instance, his skateboard portrait is of a longtime friend and, in his drawing of the two people in the room, the man in the bed is his roommate. The portrait of the girl on the couch he shared with the Pulse is of his fiancée (the two will be married in June). “Obviously I know her really well,” he laughs. But at the same time, when he’s painting from her photo, “I can go and look at her, see what her coloring really is, see that she needs more yellow,” he says. Painting people he’s seen often, in different settings and postures and kinds of light, allows him to more fully and accurately capture them. Another of the paintings Baker shared is of a preacher he calls Johnny. “He sits right outside the library [on campus],” says Baker. “I walked by him every day for almost a year before striking up a conversation,” he says. “That’s part of the job, you know—getting to know people.” His painting of Johnny is done from a photo, but before he put brush to canvas, Baker invited Johnny to his studio for several live portrait sessions. “He did hour-and-a-half sittings with me for four weeks straight,” he explains. Baker did several small drawings and paintings of Johnny during that time. “You start to really get to know their features—like the triangle between his face and his beard, or the shape of his nose.” Only after he’d really gotten to know Johnny did he begin to paint his portrait, back in the setting where he’d first seen him: on the sidewalk outside of the library. To improve his skills, Baker frequently draws from life, as he did with Johnny. He’ll draw with a pen only, or purposely do a sketch in only 20 minutes—and then try a three-hour sitting. He views this as practice for his full portraits from photos and an opportunity to improve his skill at capturing a person in full. It helps him to see the larger shapes and forms of the human body and to get them down on paper or canvas. In addition to working on his art, Baker has been working part-time jobs at the campus library and a nearby restaurant. “The art is full-time,” he says. “That’s how I like to think about it.” Baker isn’t sure about his plans for the future: “It changes almost monthly,” he says. “But I love playing with it. I love what I’m doing right now.” Though he would love to make a living from his artwork, he says, “I don’t want to be forced to do it. I don’t ever want it to feel like a job.” So for now, he’s learning, working hard, and learning his trade. And as for why he does it, he says simply, “I do it to facilitate happiness. It makes me happy, so I do it.”

KNOWING YOUR SUBJECT The portrait work of Kyle Baker STORY BY SARAH H. CLARK

“I do it to facilitate happiness. It makes me happy, so I do it.”

26 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

Clockwise from top: “Johnny the Preacher and his Possessions” “Bored on a Sunday Afternoon” “Bob ’N’ Weave” (self- portrait)

BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 27

28 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

Reviews

MOVIES

easily become overused archetypes. Tiger, with his green hair, raggedy clothing and a reserved attitude, embodies the bad-boy persona, but manages to do so without being off-putting or angsty. A frequenter and defector of the supremacist hot spot, Amber (Imogen Poots) begs a resemblance to the spunk and ferocity of Ramona from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, albeit in a significantly more serious situation. Stewart takes on his untraditional role splendidly as is expected, but he does so in a still-familiar method. As the polite yet brutal leader of the organization, Stewart maintains the composure of a businessman throughout, calculating every variable and paying attention to his bar’s fire codes while juggling his numerous felonies. Regrettably, this demeanor makes Stewart look much like he does in his other calm but stern roles. It would have been interesting to

see Stewart take a more hands-on role in the action as opposed to the cool and collected leader we’re so accustomed to seeing from him. The cinematography of Green Room keeps the action front and center. No punches are pulled when it comes to the violence and gore either; altercations are fast-paced and graphic, and injuries are unapologetically depicted in a way to ensure audiences will want to look away but will keep coming back for more. One of the only elements Green Room misses the mark on is the score. With the bar setting, and considering the group’s entire identity and purpose for straying so far off the beaten path is that they are a band, the action could have been coupled with chaotic tracks to propel the intensity further. It wouldn’t have to appear forced either; the ragtag survivors employed guerrilla tactics to even the odds, and a disorienting song being blasted over the speakers could have proved both functional and entertaining. With the movie’s poster bearing a clear resemblance to The Clash’s London Calling album—substituting a machete for a guitar—it seems strange that there wasn’t more music incorporated. Though tense and gut-wrenching throughout, Green Room’s fluidity makes it effortlessly enjoyable. The cast is likable, the conflict is believable and the execution is dramatic. With A24’s acclaimed The Witch preceding the actionpacked Green Room, and with several more movies lined up for this year, it’ll be exciting to see the creativity and style A24 delivers in upcoming films. — TANNER DEDMON

of the film; the running joke is that these two relative squares must infiltrate the world of gangs and violence by pretending to be drug dealers, and even two mythical, feared assassins. Their on-a-dime code switching is both funny and real, but like their TV show, Keanu scratches the surface issues of having to be a cultural chameleon while choosing to remain, first and foremost, a comedy.

Key and Peele’s familiarity and chemistry carry the film. Whether discussing their love of Liam Neesons (a mispronunciation carried over from their show) or how best to address, or not address, a strip club patron’s facial tattoos, Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key’s comedic camaraderie feels akin to that of Rogen and Franco, of Pegg and Frost. The supporting cast is great as well. Tiffany Haddish as Hi-C is street-tough and cool, while Method Man plays the opposite of the kitten Keanu, a feared and imposing gang leader with the cutesy name of Cheddar. Will Forte plays small-time weed dealer Hulka, whose cornrows and beard fail to make him look as tough as he sees himself. If there are any downsides to Keanu, it’s a slow middle, and though it was written and directed by veterans of their show, it could have used someone with a better sense for filming action sequences. This isn’t to say that the The Matrix and John Woo references weren’t hilarious, I just wish there had been more like them. — JAY SPIGHT

GREEN ROOM DIRECTED BY

Jeremy Saulnier STARRING

Anton Yelchin, Joe Cole, Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner, Imogen Poots, Patrick Stewart RATED R

Putting a creative spin on a “who would win?” story arc by pitting a punk band against white supremacists, director Jeremy Saulnier and A24’s Green Room delivers a tense, hardhitting experience compacted into a refreshing 95-minute package that excels at sticking to a mostly one-location setting. At the film’s opening, a four-piece, vandwelling punk band composed of Pat (Anton Yelchin), Reece (Joe Cole), Sam (Alia Shawkat) and Tiger (Callum Turner), decked out with dyed hair and anarchist tattoos, is seen crashed in a cornfield with an empty gas tank. Not to be stopped mid-tour, the misfit group doubles up on a one-seater bike to siphon gas from a nearby parking lot. It’s a lighthearted take on a mundane issue, but this bleakly humorous opening foreshadows the group’s willingness to do what’s necessary to survive. After being misled to think they have a prominent show lined up by Tad (David W. Thompson), a mohawked student journalist with the best intentions, the group is rerouted to

Tad’s cousin at a rural bar in hopes of putting on a more profitable performance. The gig takes a brutal spiral as the band witnesses a murder in the green room of the white supremacist hangout, and they soon find themselves being held captive until the head skinhead, Darcy (Patrick Stewart), can resolve the situation. From the get-go of the conflict, it’s made clear that no cast member is safe from injury, a refreshingly realistic step away from the stale troupe of leading characters being immune to truly debilitating strife or damage. On the flip side, this decision means that it wouldn’t be wise to become too attached to characters, as they may not live as long as fans would like them to. Despite Stewart being the most notable cast member, Green Room’s ensemble brilliantly displays a range of emotions while still managing to breathe new life into what could have

KEANU DIRECTED BY

Peter Atencio STARRING Starring Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Tiffany Haddish, Method Man RATED R

The latest project by the eponymous stars and creators of Comedy Central’s hilarious Key and Peele is named after a kitten. Rather, Keanu is a movie about a kitten named after surfer-dude action star Keanu Reeves. This mashup of cuteness-meets-mayhem perfectly encapsulates both the kitten and the movie, which combines Key and Peele’s comedic takes on race and cultural limbo with their love of action movies in a film that lovingly plays off the over-the-top genre. Key and Peele play best friends on different paths. Clarence (Key) is an uptight father and husband who only lets his guard down to sing George Michael’s “Faith” in his minivan.

Rell (Peele) is an action-movie-loving stoner who wallows in the extra laziness afforded to him by a recent breakup. When a drug dealer’s adorable kitten finds its way onto Rell’s doorstep, it turns his life around, and when the newly dubbed Keanu is later taken from him, Rell vows to take him back. Clarence and Rell’s quest to retrieve Keanu provides the main fish-out-of-water conceit

A CLASSIC

OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE

BELOW AVERAGE

AVOID AT ALL COSTS BOROPULSE.COM

DEAD

* MAY 2016 * 29

French LIVING ROOM CINEMA Prisoners column by NORBERT THIEMANN

facebook.com/livingroomcinema

There is nothing like relaxing with a wellcrafted French prison movie from eras past.  A Man Escaped (1956) is directed by Robert Bresson. The movie takes place at a German prison camp for Frenchmen during WWII. As the title indicates, a prisoner hatches a plan for his escape to freedom. Bresson keeps it very minimal, while still concentrating on the fine details.

Le Trou  (The Hole, 1960) is directed by Jacques Becker. A prisoner finds himself with new cellmates, and learns of their elaborate plan to escape. The work is both skillful and labor intensive, and every man participates. It’s a fine film worthy of seeking out.  La Grande Illusion (Grand Illusion, 1937) is directed by Jean Renoir. Set at a prison camp in Germany during WWI, La Grand Illusion is an epic and beloved film. A group of French officers are confined together, and try to make the best of their circumstances. It features Jean Gabin and the renowned director/actor Erich Von Stroheim. Un Chant D’Amour  (A Song of Love, 1950) is a silent short film directed by Jean Genet. Two prisoners share intimate moments through their thick cell wall. Solitude is combated with memories, imagination and attempts at sensual contact. Un Chat D’Amour is a beautifully artistic and interpretive film. 30 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

BOOKS

Civil War: Comic Arc Pits Captain America and Co. Against Iron Man’s Group BY JOHN CONNOR COULSTON ONE OF MY FAVORITE VIDEO

games as of late has been LEGO Marvel Superheroes. In a typical LEGO fashion, you have access to just about every major hero and villain in the Marvel universe, with each playing a role in an overarching story. It’s childhood bliss at its fullest when you have Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, The Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Daredevil and more fighting alongside villains from every corner of the universe such as Venom, Doctor Octopus, Magneto and Doctor Doom. Team-ups are just fun, flat out, and it’s fan service at its finest. Luckily, Marvel, DC and their respective film and TV partners have caught on to this strategy with fantastic results. The Avengers paved the way with its teaming of the core four of Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Captain America; Deadpool was joined by X-Men member Colossus in his film outing, and, with somewhat mixed results, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman all teamed up for Dawn of Justice earlier this year. The latest cinematic team-up comes in the form of Captain America: Civil War, which feels more like Avengers 2.5 with its inclusion of Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Ant-Man and more in Cap’s third “solo” outing. I haven’t seen the film yet, but the early reviews say that while these inclusions enact the aforementioned feelings of elation, the real joy of the film is deeper than surface level interactions and action, it’s the substance underneath. This sentiment holds true in the film’s source material,

Mark Millar and Steve McNiven’s 2006 arc Civil War. The plot of Civil War, which is now collected in trade paperback form, revolves around a catastrophe and the government’s reaction to it, just as we’ll see in the film version. A group of amateur superheroes cause a devastating explosion while filming a reality show. Heroes from across the Marvel Universe band together to help America recover, but they soon disagree on where they should go from there. Two sides form: one under Iron Man, who thinks heroes should register with the government, and one under Captain America, who believes things should carry on like nothing happened. Things come to a head when a registration act becomes law, and Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic and Hank Pym lead the charge to round-up any heroes who refuse to register. Cap, alongside heroes like Daredevil, Falcon and Luke Cage, resist the new law and go underground as the Secret Avengers. When I was first reading Civil War, it was easy to get excited about the scope of the cast. On the first spread, you see Iron Man, Cap, The Thing, Luke Cage, Ice Man, Goliath and more aiding first responders to the explosion. In the following pages Wolverine, Cyclops, and SheHulk pop up, and later on, we see Spider-Man, Human Torch, Doctor Strange and others. Later, Thor, Punisher, Black Panther, Namor, Venom all make for nice surprise additions. It’s so easy to get caught up in this aspect of the comic. As a kid, you smash your hero action

figures together and imagine what would happen if they fought. Heroes taking on heroes, especially on this scale, are just as captivating. Millar (Kick-Ass, The Secret Service) pens a strong, streamlined story with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep you hooked. The devastation of the explosion is conveyed through scenes with victims’ families and the sheer body count, a reality that hits especially hard when compared to the mass shootings plaguing the country in recent years. Millar focuses on the theme of safety vs. freedom, a theme the U.S. has debated since Eric Snowden leaked the NSA surveillance programs. On a contained level, we see the emotional struggle played out in these heroes, who are forced to fight some of their longest allies and question their each and every decision as friends and foes during battle. Captain America, arguably the brightest spot in the Marvel Universe, is taken to his lowest point, often feeling more like a battered Dark Knight from Frank Miller’s works. The glee of seeing the characters all on page is balanced with the political and emotional heaviness of these heroes doing battle for what they each think is the greater good. Civil War is a devastating, universealtering epic, and it deserves the praise it’s received since its release. BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 31

Opinion THE SQUARE DANCE The great community builder

TODAY IN AMERICA, we find ourselves largely devoid of the pleasures provided by that great period in our history when American folk dances thrived and were as prevalent across the land as the “Golden Rule.” A square dance is a dance for four couples (eight dancers) arranged in a square, with one couple on each side, facing the middle. A type of square dance was first documented in 17th-century England, but was also quite common in France and throughout Europe. It came to North America with the European settlers, and has since undergone considerable development and transition. The Western American square dance, associated in the 20th century with the romanticized image of the American cowboy, may be the most widely known form worldwide. Nineteen U.S. states, including Tennessee, have designated the “square dance” as their official state dance. Americans have always been music lovers and have

HOG SLOP STRING BAND

loved to dance. Even the attitude of the pilgrims was that “all good people should dance from the angels on down!” For many American settlers, many of whom lived in remote areas with the nearest neighbors literally miles away, the square dance created a sense of community in a playful atmosphere. Most dances were so simple that they could be learned by participants as they danced. It was the War of 1812 with England that ensured the popularity and development of the square dance in America. Most Americans at the time refused to dance English dances, but the French squares were acceptable. At that time, the “caller” was incorporated into the square dance. A fiddler would serve as the leader, telling the dancers what to do next as well as playing the tune for the dancers to follow. Fiddle-tune books became popular for all to learn and play for the square dances. Calls were sung and spoken during the dance. By the 1870s, singing calls were common across America, according to S. Foster Damon’s The History of Square-Dancing. Henry Ford, the man who had done more to change the face of America than any other, wanted to save the American square dance. The founder of the Ford Motor 32 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

Company and his wife, Clara Bryant, loved to dance. In 1923, he purchased the Wayside Inn because of its beautiful ballroom. Shortly after purchasing the Wayside Inn, Mr. Ford found Benjamin Lovett (1876–1952) and his wife, Charlotte L. Cooke. Henry Ford felt Lovett to be the perfect teacher of “old fashion” dances, and in 1924 Benjamin Lovett began teaching classes for Mr. Ford, an arrangement that lasted more than 20 years. Square dancing, along with quadrilles, two-steps, waltzes and other old-fashioned dances, became a part of life for Ford employees and school children across the United States. In his book Good Natured Riot, Charles Wolfe discusses the influence of Henry Ford on old-time music. Ford and Lovett believed square dancing taught social training, courtesy and good citizenship, along with rhythm. They felt it should be a part of every school’s teaching of physical education. Many American children (including myself ) of the 1950s and ’60s can credit (or blame) Mr. Ford for after-lunch square-dance instruction. Ford and Lovett felt that having square dancing in schools would help train children in manners, teamwork, courtesy and social training. Many throughout American history have felt that square dancing was great for balance, rhythm, poise and grace, along with giving selfconfidence, overcoming timidity and fostering apprecia-

Music Across America BY GLORIA CHRISTY

tion of good music, and a way to simply have fun. Somehow once again, we yearn for some of that authenticity—the relatively uncontaminated and unspoiled old-time music of those days. Not only is it filled with fun and frolic, but it is healthy and healing to the soul. New for 2016 Uncle Dave Macon Days, coming up July 7–9, is an attempt to break the Guinness record for the World’s Largest Square Dance. The high-energy, rollicking sounds of the Hog Slop String Band will lead this attempt. On the evening of July 7, at 6 p.m., Marcia Campbell from Grand Ole Opry Dancers and WSM 650 will help kick off the festival with the attempt to take the World’s Largest Square Dance record from Illinois. This event will draw thousands of dancers back to the Square where Uncle Dave Macon Days began nearly 40 years ago. There will be a communitywide square dance rehearsal on Sunday, May 15, at 2 p.m. at the Rutherford County Courthouse Inner Circle. All those interested in participating as a either a dancer or volunteer, please come. For more information, call (615) 893-2371 or visit uncledavemacondays.com.

BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 33

Opinion LAW ENFORCEMENT WANTS TO GET KIDS IN THE SYSTEM EARLY WHEN YOU LIVE IN A POLICE STATE, WHAT ELSE CAN YOU EXPECT? When police think they can pull elementary-age children out of school, arrest and handcuff them, then cart them off to juvenile detention, that’s a sign police think they can do whatever they want and get away with it. Not until First Baptist Church pastor James McCarroll raised questions about the arrests of the kids from Hobgood Elementary School on a Friday afternoon in April did new Police Chief Karl Durr start trying to find out what happened. And though he issued an apology of sorts through another publication and promised to get to the bottom of this, the public got the same old crap it always gets: We’ll study

DUNN

our policies and see where we need to make changes—if anything was done incorrectly. Then he issued this calming proclamation: Following an internal investigation, it could take months for any disciplinary action to be meted out. Surely that will soothe the masses. Apparently, the whole thing started with an incident involving bullying and fighting in which a group of older children encouraged a younger child to repeatedly hit another child. A cellphone video taken up by a teacher and then given to a school officer shows the children walking down a neighborhood street acting like a bunch of young hoodlums. It looks like something from Lord of the Flies. But unlike the 1954 novel by William Golding in which a group of marooned boys turn savage, the children in this case have parents and homes where they should 34 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

The

STOCKARD REPORT BY SAM STOCKARD sstockard44@gmail.com

be able to have some structure. Granted, the neighborhood where the incident took place isn’t exactly Oakleigh. But this type of bullying has been going on forever, and it cuts across all social strata. The problem in this situation is that instead of letting children and parents police the matter, the police themselves decided they know what’s best—arrests, handcuffs, patrol cars and court for about 10 kids ranging from 6 to 11. Chief Durr told another publication one of the children involved was connected to a bigger criminal case, which was the impetus for the investigation. If that’s the case, shouldn’t that youngster be targeted? It’s almost as if he’s saying we needed to teach these kids a lesson, scare the heck out of them, by putting iron on their wrists and indoctrinating them into the justice system. Apparently, the little boy who was doing the hitting wasn’t arrested. Only those who were egging him on were charged with being criminally responsible for the conduct of others. One parent who had three children arrested says one of them wasn’t even at the incident. The father also says he asked the arresting officer at Hobgood Elementary School if he could drive his children to juvenile detention, instead of them being transported in the patrol car while wearing handcuffs. He was turned down. So after weeks of study, an internal investigation and possibly months of more process, we might get some action, at least that’s what Chief Durr has said. Talk about a bunch of bureaucratic bull. It only took a few days for police to arrest a bunch of kids for encouraging a fight. It should take even less time for Durr to make a decision—if he can grow a backbone. But when you live in a community where hundreds of people are locked up for minor crimes and thousands have been trapped in a costly probation system, what else can you expect? This is law and order in Murfreesboro, and if you’re on the poor side of town, get ready to deal with it.

ERASING HISTORY?

One of the things said over and over by those who want to keep Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s name on the MTSU’s Army ROTC building is its removal would “sanitize” or “sterilize” history. Not so fast. Regardless of what you think about Forrest, this is not wiping away history and putting yourself in danger of repeating it. If that were the case and people were absolutely certain Forrest did terrible things, his name never should have been put on the building in 1958 and should have come down years ago. This multifaceted dilemma, which only dates back about 400 years or so, can hardly be solved here in pages of the Pulse. Forrest’s life is one of contradictions. He was a slave owner and trader before the Civil War. He commanded troops who slaughtered a large number of black and white soldiers at Fort Pillow near Memphis where he told the Union’s commanding officers to surrender or receive no quarter. He is largely considered a military genius in that he figured out how to use quick movement and guile to fool Union commanders. He also was one of the first to realize running or riding into the face of gunfire and cannon fire is pretty stupid. But after the war, he also was elected a grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. According to reports by local historian Greg Tucker, though, he ordered the “social club” to disband and quit wearing masks and terrorizing people. He also made amends with black residents in Memphis and encouraged them to become doctors and lawyers and to vote their conscience, a civil rights speech that brought social wrath down upon him. The problem, though, doesn’t lie so much with Forrest or the Confederate flag as it does with groups and individuals who commit atrocities and then wrap themselves in

Confederate symbols, such as the young man who killed nine people in a predominantly black church in South Carolina last summer. Because of these fools, the rest of us are left to pick up the pieces and debate the Civil War, the causes of this horrible conflagration that separated the nation and the remnants of slavery and segregation that continue to haunt the country. It is an argument that never seems to fade away. And in the South, where many people have ancestors who fought and died in a war of brother against brother, it will never completely disappear. But this debate has nothing to do with “sanitizing” or “sterilizing” history. Those words apply to people who say the Holocaust was a lie or slavery was a humane institution because those folks needed work and someone to take care of them, sort of like animals. One more thing to note about this debate about Confederate symbols: Belmont University, my alma mater, changed its mascot to the Bruins from the Rebels in 1995, getting rid of the old Southern gentleman and the Confederate flag used at ball games. Even though its campus has a former plantation mansion as its main administrative building, it no longer connects itself with the Confederacy and or Southern Baptists, a group founded in segregation. More than 21 years later, Belmont is one of the fastestgrowing and most highly regarded private universities in the Southeast.

HOOKED ON JAILCIGS

A year after the FBI and TBI started a corruption investigation into Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold’s administration for e-cigarette sales to jail inmates, our beloved sheriff can’t seem to break the habit. Arnold purportedly suspended JailCigs from the county jail a year ago after the media published several reports about the matter. But he is still listing JailCigs as an investment and

source of income on a 2016 document filed with the Tennessee Ethics Commission. The sheriff has refused to answer questions about whether another company is dealing e-cigarettes at the jail. You might remember JailCigs, which is co-owned by Chief Administrative Deputy Joe Russell and Arnold’s aunt and uncle in Marietta, Ga., was the focal point of a media investigation of Arnold in April 2015, followed by a county ethics complaint and the FBI-TBI probe, which is still dragging on. When the news broke, Arnold told a Channel 4 reporter his listing of JailCigs as an investment and income was an error. He did say his wife was working for JailCigs. What he didn’t say was that his buddy Russell was running JailCigs out of the sheriff ’s office, even trying to market them to Corrections Corporation of America, a huge prison company. So here we are a year later, and regardless of what Arnold said in 2015, or what he forgot he said a year ago, he is reporting he invests in JailCigs and gets paid for it. Of course, he declined to respond to any questions about the filing, including whether he lied last year or simply decided JailCigs were so profitable he couldn’t resist getting into the game. From a technical standpoint, since he said he suspended JailCigs from the jail last April, which is pretty much saying I can’t do business with myself anymore, he can now say he is making money off the company, as long as it’s contracting with other jails. When Arnold took office, he promised to be transparent, open and accountable. Instead, he’s making some of the worst decisions ever made at the sheriff ’s office, all in the name of greed and cronyism, and refusing to talk about it. One of the things that upset local leaders and residents the most about this stuff last year was they felt Arnold was playing them for fools. A year later, it looks like he still is, and they can’t do much to stop him—except wait for the FBI or the 2018 election.

BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 35

Opinion How to Create Marketing Materials That Work BUSINESS BUILDER BY ROBERT RITCH

nce you have established which of your marketing messages is the strongest and you have implemented a lead tracking and management system, you can have a lot of fun creating marketing materials for your business. You can really get creative! Your materials get distributed in the world to send out a particular message about your company and what you sell. They’re ambassadors for your business because they speak to your potential customers when you’re not there. It’s easy to want to match your competition piece by piece, but when you’re trying to stretch your marketing budget, focus on the materials you actually need. Just because

your competition has an eight-page, glossy color brochure doesn’t mean you need one to run a successful business. When one brochure has the ability to eat your entire budget for marketing materials, you have to prioritize what’s essential and what’s just a wish. You need to make sure you’re spending on the items that are going to bring in the most return on investment. Make choices based on how your target audience prefers to receive information. Do they prefer paper newsletters, or electronic ones? CREATE A LIST of your essential marketing materials then, below it, create a list of your “wish” marketing materials. You can use your “wish list” when you have a little extra budget, or are looking to create a “wow” piece. Use the list below as a guideline for creating your need and wish lists.

• Logo • Business Cards • Brochure • Website • Newsletter • Catalog • Advertisements • Flyers • Fridge Magnet • Branded Swag (pens, mousepads, etc.) • Employee Clothing • Cloth Bags • Product Labels • Signage • Email Signature • Blog • Letterhead and Envelopes • Thank You Cards • Notepads • Seasonal Gifts • Company Profile • Internal Templates (Fax Cover, Memo Template, etc.) LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES to improve and strengthen your existing marketing materials. Are you fighting for attention with a powerful headline? You have about four seconds to grab the attention of your reader with your headline. If you do, you have a few more seconds to convince them to read your subhead. If you’re successful in doing that, you have a few more seconds to get them to read further. Make sure your headlines: • Offer to take away pain or give pleasure • Hit your target market’s hot buttons • Bring up emotion • Are bold, dramatic, shocking or unbelievable

36 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

• Answer the questions: What’s in it for the customer? Why should the customer care? Once you have their attention, shake up their confidence in what they’re doing now. Put their fears, concerns, desires and needs in black and white text in front of their eyes. NOW, BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE in your ability to solve your prospects’ problems and meet their needs. Tell them how: • You’re different from and better than the competition • You’re highly qualified • You have documented results • You have a high number of happy customers • You get recognized from others in your field Are you overcoming their objections before they’ve raised them? It makes no difference what business you are in; there will always be objections to buying what you are selling. Most often the biggest objection is the price. You should confront these objections head-on by explaining why it’s worth paying your price. You need to put fears to rest before customers will be ready to buy. Are you providing an element of risk reversal with a strong guarantee? Stand behind what you’re claiming about the quality of your product or service, and offer a guarantee in your marketing materials. Typically, the strength and length of the guarantee indicate the quality of the product in most customer’s eyes, so create a strong one.

Are you showing them what other people have said about your product or service? Use testimonials to speak to your credibility and merit. Let the testimonials show your potential clients how trustworthy you are, and how much benefit others have received from your product or service. Are you giving them an easy way to contact you? Make it easy for customers to be in touch with you, or get more information. Clearly display your phone number and website on everything you produce, and consider including a map of your location. Are you giving them a reason to act now? The last job your marketing piece has to do is motivate your viewer to take action. You need to make them want to call for more information, visit your website, or just come into your store. Invite them to take action on every page. You can: • Offer special “bonus” offers to quick responders • Make a time-sensitive offer • Tell them how rare your product is, or what limited quantity you have • Offer limited-time added value Are you telling them what your product or service will give them? Customers buy benefits, not products or services. Are you telling viewers the story of your product or service? Detailed technical descriptions should be replaced with descriptions of how the customer may enjoy the benefit, and how they might feel. Are you giving them a reason to keep your marketing piece? Give your customers a reason to keep your business card, brochure, newsletter or direct-mail piece, refer to it, and pass it on to others to see. If you are selling hair care products, you can give your readers tips on how to combat split ends, frizz, unruly curls and heat damage. If you sell kitchen products, you can provide recipes that use your cookware or tools. Top 10 lists or tips for product caretaking and longevity are useful. Clear and professional looking materials are absolutely essential. When it comes to the visual presentation of your marketing materials, you need to strike a balance. On one hand, you don’t want to spend all of your budget on design and production. On the other hand, you don’t want to send out materials that don’t look and feel professional. Going back to our discussion on time management, check in with yourself and see if your time is best spent designing your bro-

chures, ads, flyers and direct mail, or if you should hire other resources. (Did you know thePulse designs flyers, brochures, posters, menus, banners, logos and other marketing materials for some of our advertisers? Contact us today for a quote on your marketing project at boropulse.com/contact.) Some closing guidelines on designing your materials: Consistency – Your materials need to be cohesive and look like they come from the same company. Be consistent in your color choices, font, headline styles and logo placement. Simplicity – Keep your materials simple and easy to read. Information Hierarchy – Think about the information that you need your customers to receive, and the information that is less important. Structure your page so that the most important messages jump off the page, and less pertinent details are at the bottom. Color Choice – Colors give a visual message to your readers, and have many meanings including cultural connotations. Choose your business colors carefully, and stick to two or three. White Space – Every piece needs enough white space to give viewers’ eyes a place to rest when taking in information. Don’t crowd your piece with text and copy. Photo Choice – Put some thought into the photo you select, if you choose to include photos in your marketing materials. Details in the photo can unintentionally communicate messages about your business. You will need to constantly be monitoring the success of each piece of marketing material and looking for opportunities to strengthen and improve it. Since you already have your lead tracking and management system in place, this is a matter of sitting down on a regular basis and reviewing the leads each piece generated, and how many turned into sales. If you’re not sure about a new strategy, do a test run to a limited distribution area. Simple, clear marketing materials deliver an easy-to-understand message to your target audience, and results.

Small Businesses Can Use Facebook Advertising CHANCES ARE that your business already has a Facebook page. Chances are that you’re posting on your page regularly. Chances are that you’re also one of the many business owners not using Facebook to your advantage. Business owners have an exceptional marketing tool right at their fingertips and many don’t even know it—Facebook advertising. It’s a common misconception that advertising on Facebook is expensive and will eat through your marketing budget in a flash. In fact, we’ve found that Facebook advertising is one of the most lucrative and effective online marketing tactics for businesses in Murfreesboro and beyond. Facebook allows you to target the exact type of audience you want to attract to your business. Advertisers position their content and brand in front of the right people by selecting targeting criteria. Facebook enables business owners to target everything from income level to geographic location to personal interests. For example, as a marketing agency, we would target business owners (and similar occupational titles) who live within 25 miles of Murfreesboro and area interested in entrepreneurship-related topics. On top of the targeting capabilities, Facebook employs several different types of advertising methods for business owners to experiment with. For instance, one can run a campaign solely dedicated to raising awareness for a new business open-

ing in Murfreesboro or they can run a campaign with the intent of getting users to take a specific action such as a form submission. Here are some of the popular types of ads and what they seek to accomplish: Like Ads – Perfect for generating brand awareness by encouraging users to “like” your page. Great for new businesses looking to build their customer base. In just 16 days, we added 200-plus “likes” on Holmes by Design’s page using this type of ad. Lead Generation Ads – Meant to send qualified and interested leads to a conversion page. When you have a large and engaged customer base, these Facebook ads are great for increasing sales. Offer Claim Ads – Allow you to promote deals or special rates to potential customers. These ads are very effective at making sure interested users are aware of any special promotions you are running. If you’re using Facebook for your Middle Tennessee business without taking advantage of the advertising capabilities, you’ll have difficulty capturing the attention of your local audience—also known as future customers! — ANNE MERCER Anne Mercer is the marketing director for Titan Web Marketing Solutions, a Murfreesboro company providing digital marketing solutions for businesses. Learn more at titanwms.com.

BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 37

Opinion Live Exceptionally. . . Well! BY JENNIFER DURAND

Live With Integrity

What You Do and Say Matters! NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE of a moment, brief encounter or a lifelong relationship that enables you to grow more deeply and richly into the person you were designed to be. All of the people you’ve ever met, spent time with or just observed have made an impression or impact in how you shape your life and how you will touch the lives of others. Two years ago I participated in the local Leadership Rutherford program. To my surprise I was asked to deliver the graduation address. It was a remarkable time to reflect on how the program affected me personally and the 39 other amazing people who wanted to know more about how our community (and beyond) runs and works. To shape the speech I actually used a quote that I first heard over 20 years ago, from a new friend at that time—“I am a part of all whom I’ve met”—and have never heard since. I then reflected on all the personalities and “isms” of the people in our group, along with the characteristics we observed from the folks that we learned from throughout the program. The result was an unrivaled immediate standing ovation, like I had never seen before. What made the biggest impression on me was the fact that they were moved enough to be affected this way. They had identified with things that were shared in that speech. It made me appreciate all the people who made enough of an impression on me to include those things and be able to make others feel it, too! Here are some excerpts from that speech: Sometimes we ride the wave of enthusiasm or excitement for the promise of something remarkable to happen in our lives, the quest to discover something better or even transformational. This is what happens when people talk about Leadership Rutherford. They create this “you just have to experience this to know” kind of buzz. So, we make a decision to ride this wave with the anticipation of feeling this for ourselves. Like anything in life, there is no better way to appreciate or understand something than to live it . . . even for a moment. I now see this is especially true for this program. A favorite quote of mine is “I am a part of all whom I’ve met.” Meaning, from everyone we meet there are little nuggets we take away with us. They become a part of us. Maybe it’s a gesture, a saying, a thought or idea. It connects us. Sometimes the

connection is simple, sometimes profound, sometimes disturbing. It increases our capacity for understanding, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, for calls to action. Throughout our journey we met so many people who provide us an opportunity to be or stay connected through community. Some are quiet, working tirelessly behind the scenes, while others who are more animated work the front lines, delivering the services most of us take for granted. So, what to make or take away from all of this? I am forever changed. I look at things differently. I have a sharper awareness for what is going on around me. Wherever I am, local or in another city or state, when I see a road sign or a detention center, police station, traffic light, ambulance, school, art show, singer/songwriter or small business I think of the people behind all that trying to bring their unique sense to a project, product, service or performance to make our quality of life better. They are people just like us . . . truly. They have jobs, families, hobbies, personal struggles, dreams. They show up, appreciated or not, to make a difference. It is no longer acceptable to sit on the observation deck of life and complain when something isn’t being done the way you think it should be. Be willing to get up and become a part of something. Offer your insight, guidance or perspective. Offer to actively help in your own way. Lastly, what Leadership Rutherford means to me. It provided me exactly what I had hoped. I got a firsthand glimpse into my community; how it works, lives, breathes, survives and, in many cases, how it thrives! It answered many questions I had often only wondered about. It showed me there is still more to learn. I discovered new places, culture, creativity, personality and lots of needs centered around cultivating a better quality of living—and that was just on our bus rides! I’d like to leave you with another favorite quote by Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it! Because what the world needs is people who have come alive!”

“They have jobs, families, hobbies, personal struggles, dreams. They show up, appreciated or not, to make a difference.”

38 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

Jennifer Durand is the owner and operator of The Nurture Nook Day Spa & Gift Shoppe; let her help you find your personal “ahh . . .” factor by visiting nurturenook.com or by calling (615) 896-7110.

Work Smart to Make Yourself More Valuable Than The Minimum Wage

reader responded to my argument against a federal minimum wage hike to $15 per hour with the predictable class warfare vitriol, only this one was a little different. Most proponents of the minimum wage hike deny that it will put some small businesses out of business. He didn’t. In fact, he welcomed a cleansing of the market of businesses he says have made a living on the backs of the minimum-wage workers. But what about his job? What if his business was one of those wiped out? He said he’d find another job making more money with no trouble. Then why hasn’t he done it? The short answer is he’s not worth more than the minimum wage. He may not even be worth that, but we’ll never know since, by law, his employer can’t pay him less. VIEWS OF A That’s not a dig at him. It just happens to be where he is right now. If he could demand more money for column by his labor he would’ve done it by now. What he needs PHIL VALENTINE philvalentine.com to do is take a serious look at his situation and ask himself why. Why can’t he earn more? I have a way of illustrating this that paints an inescapable picture. You have to figuratively imagine how many people are standing in line behind you who can do the job you’re doing. If you can’t see the end of the line, you’re not going to be able to demand much of a wage. Don’t blame your employer. It’s on you. I tell my staff at work and my listeners on the radio, and I’ll tell you: make yourself a valuable employee. I don’t want to hear things like “they don’t pay me enough to do that.” They pay you to do your job. Go above and beyond what’s required of you to do it. Martin Luther King Jr. once said if you’re a street sweeper be the best street sweeper you can be. (In fact, Dr. King said those called to be street sweepers should “sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’”) People are afraid of being chumps. They resent an employer who takes advantage of them. I know from experience that getting in there and doing what needs to be done without grumbling will pay off in spades. In the process you learn how to do things that make you more valuable to the next employer. If you want to get ahead you’ve got to be willing to take some chances. They don’t always pan out, but many do. If that means moving to where the work is, you may have to move. Too many people expect the perfect job within a few miles’ radius of their home. Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. You have to go where the work is. And it’s not about working hard, although that’s a crucial attribute. It’s about working smart. You can be the best street sweeper that you can be, but you’ll never make any money at it, and that’s fine as long as your work is fulfilling and you’re happy. I suspect the gentleman who wrote to me has a few issues. First and foremost is his attitude. He’s not a happy man. He’s obsessed with people who make more than he does, and not in a good way. He hates them. He’s jealous. That’s a bad start at getting ahead in your job. People can smell an attitude a mile away. It also says a lot about a person when they’re more obsessed with people who make more money than they do, rather than those who make less. I want everyone to be successful. If your only raise is when the government mandates it, you’re not.

CONSERVATIVE

In fact, Dr. King said those called to be street sweepers should “sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’ ”

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

* MAY 2016 * 39

Sports

PRINCE

“Let’s Go Crazy,” Titans Get Some Young Talent in the Draft SPORTS

TALK

COLUMN BY ZACH “Z-TRAIN” MAXFIELD

DERRICK HENRY

titanman1984yahoo.com Would you let me be your friend?” Dan sent his thanks for all the positive feedback via Facebook, and stated “If you need an old, washed-up sports guy for anything, please let me know.” Dan take my advice, get a lawyer for all this ridiculous Controversy, sue those punks at WZTV, get paid and ride off in your new Little Red Corvette. Truly you will Party Like it’s 1999 after making right the wrong that was done to you. My best wishes to you, Dan!

HOLTZ ADMIRES TRUMP

So, enough about that. The Nash-

ville Predators have been playing some good hockey—hopefully they don’t have a Breakdown—and Lou Holtz had a spitfest explaining why he supports the Donald for President. La, la, la, hee, hee, hee that’s right, Mr. Holtz is impossible to understand. The eccentric former football player, coach, analyst and one of the most well-known personalities in the world of college football put his hat in the ring. The main reason Holtz said he is supporting Trump is “I’ve played his golf course, I’ve stayed in his hotel—he does nothing but go first class in everything. He wants this country to be first class again as well,” Holtz said. It’s also rumored Lou Holtz stated to Trump, “I don’t care where we go, I don’t care what we do, I don’t care pretty baby, just take me with you.” That’s a little weird . . . I guess Lou Holtz really likes the Donald or just really wants to visit the White House. Anything is better than Obama or Hillary in the White House; Crazy Donald would be an upgrade. In truth, I despise Ted Cruz as well, he truly believes he is the king of conservative values, and he has no neck and looks like a Muppet. Whatever politician gets in the White House, though, will be no better than a Thief in the Temple. It takes some dirty play to get that far.

THE NEW TITANS

My Tennessee Titans just had a very deep draft class getting a lot of Soft and Wet talent but don’t worry, Mr. Dick LeBeau 40 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

JACK CONKLIN

will pound these young defensive players into some hard-hitting talents. I’m excited to see what defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau can do with his new young prospects. The Tennessee Titans made some big moves and will get Better With Time. The Titans couldn’t pass on former Heisman running back Derrick Henry, and the move really surprised me: WOW! With all the capital the Titans have at the running back position, it was a shock to me. Prior to the draft the Titans snatched up the 2014 offensive player of the year power back DeMarco Murray. The Titans have two workhorses and unless there is an Act of God it will be a one-two punch every game this season. I can only imagine with two players as talented as Murray and Henry there will be a lot of Black Sweat as the

CONKLIN COURTESY TITANS ONLINE

THE TRAIN DADDY IS BACK as always, entwining sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk into one Delirious yet elegant sports article. This issue’s destination: Erotic City. All aboard! This world is going crazy. WZTV Fox-17 sports anchor Dan Phillips was fired for having a little fun and showing love to Prince, whom he stated is his favorite artist ever. Hopefully the Murfreesboro Pulse keeps me on because Baby, I’m a Star and this is my Prince tribute. It’s a Sign o’ the Times! Watch the four-minute sports round up that Phillips put together. It’s annoying, yes, but it is also well put together and not in the least insensitive. There were apparently some viewers and management of the station who felt it was a shameful performance worthy of firing Mr. Phillips. I feel for you Dan the Man, Mr. Phillips should ask the upset ignorant viewers and WZTV Fox “If I came back as a Dolphin / Would you listen to me then? /

two compete for the starting job. Titans Head Coach Mularkey even stated “Now we have a very competitive position, maybe one of the most competitive positions.” I was, and remain, hesitant about this pick of Henry, but the truth is the Titans have two strong options for Marcus Mariota to hand the pigskin to. The Titans showed some love to a Murfreesboro product, stating You Got the Look! MTSU’s Kevin Byard is staying in Middle Tennessee after being selected by the Titans in the third round. Byard is a quick little beast! The man plays ball fast and will represent Tennessee just fine. Byard holds the MTSU record for career interceptions (19) and was a standout. It’s a Rock & Roll Love Affair for Byard and Tennessee football, MTSU and now big-boy football in

CONTINUED . . .

Music City. Byard stated, “When I saw ‘615’ I knew it was Nashville,” talking about the moment the Titans called to give him lifechanging news. But let’s not forget the Titans first-round pick: the big boy, offensive tackle Jack Conklin, about to get paid $. First-round players get first-round money! The Titans traded up to land the 6' 6" 325-pound beast, and it was a great move. Rumors have it Jack was so thrilled to be picked by Tennessee he did a little Batdance. Jack will fill in the Titans’ biggest hole at right tackle, will protect Marcus Mariota from further injury and will block for Murray and Henry. Jack begins a new era of protecting and blocking for two young former Heisman winners, exciting times, no Heisman curse in Tennessee. Jinx! To all the other draft picks I didn’t name right here right now, don’t worry, you don’t need me. Tennessee drafted you for your talent, make a name for yourself!

A FUNKY TIME

Let’s wrap this thing up, ladies and gentleman. White rain, black rain, yellow rain, brown rain, mixed rain with a little sleet, green rain, Purple Rain! It makes no difference what color the rain is. Here in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, we are all entwined together as one amazing country, entwined like PretzelBodyLogic. So to all you racebaiting fools out there, shut up and Live 4 Love, play TICTACTOE and Kiss your loved ones. The Predators made me proud in the first round of the playoffs! This paper will hit the stands prior to the results of their second-round matchup with San Jose. Predators: Let’s Go Crazy! I am watching every single game, and rooting always. Faaang Fiiingerrr! That’s it, folks! R.I.P Prince, 1958–2016. Born in Minneapolis and the funkiest pop/rock/R&B artist of my time, the man was a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor and film director who sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He was a genius, and I respect his career. He blended sexual lyrics into funk, dance and rock. To all my loyal readers “Thank you for a funky time / Call me up whenever you want to grind.” Train’s out the station, Choo-choo! BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 41

Sports

BLUE RAIDER SPORTS BY GREG CRITTENDEN

The Tennessee Titans selected safety Kevin Byard (left and below), while Cavellis Luckett (#24) signed with the Baltimore Ravens; Jordan Parker (above right) will attend mini-camp with the Atlanta Falcons.

BYARD TO STAY IN TENNESSEE

MTSU Safety Kevin Byard selected by Tennessee Titans in third round draft.

workouts over the following months. rom the time a player buckles his chinWhen asked by a media member about the strap for the first time before his first prospect of being a Titan back in February, Pop Warner practice, it is his dream to Byard said “I think it’d be a great be drafted into the National experience for me. Just being Football League. A very small there in Middle Tennessee and percentage of people ever get to knowing that’s where a lot of my realize that dream, but for Middle fans are, that would be great.” Tennessee State University safety KB had such a strong feeling of Kevin Byard, that dream came true where he would be drafted that he the night of April 29. even had a Titans cap in the ready Byard had a good feeling of at his home in Georgia where he, where he was going before the his family and friends gathered draft began. Shortly after the NFL BYARD to watch the draft. The moment season ended, the Titans released Byard had dreamed of came when the Titans veteran safety Michael Griffin, creating a made the first pick of the third round. vacancy at the position. The Titans had “It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” interviewed Byard and had him in for several

42 * MAY 2016 * BOROPULSE.COM

Byard told titansonline.com. “As soon as I heard the general manager’s voice, it was just a whirlwind of madness from me. It is a dream come true. Just a few years ago I never thought I would be in this position. I just have to thank the man upstairs.” Byard was once projected to be drafted no higher than the fifth round, but, after an outstanding performance at MTSU’s pro day, KB eased concerns from NFL scouts about his speed. After running the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds, his stock skyrocketed. The transformation Byard made in his physique and athleticism between the Senior Bowl and the draft is a testament to his work ethic and determination, and he isn’t nearly satisfied to just be drafted.

“I am going to go in there and work as hard as anybody coming in. I am going to go in there and make an immediate impact on special teams, and I am going to go in there and try and fight for a starting job, that is my plan.” Byard was the only Blue Raider drafted, but he wasn’t the only one to find his way onto a roster. Linebacker Cavellis Luckett, whose combination of size and speed raised the eyebrows of many NFL scouts, was signed by the Baltimore Ravens, and offensive lineman Jaylen Hunter inked a contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Running back Jordan Parker has accepted an invitation to the Atlanta Falcons mini camp, and offensive lineman Darius Johnson signed with the Detroit Lions.

BOROPULSE.COM

* MAY 2016 * 43