Our People • Our Stories
Three•Eight•Five
Winter• 2020
Serving You Since 1991
Keeping you comfortable through every season! 931-526-5023 315 Transport Dr. Cookeville, TN
2•385•Our People•Our Stories
QUALITY SERVICES
LOCALLY OWNED
ON CALL 24/7
C O O K E V I L L E R E G I O NA L H O M E H E A LT H
Same great
CARE…
great NEW
NAME!
HEALTH CARE Brought HOME
to you
C
ookeville Regional’s interdisciplinary staff has been meeting our region’s comprehensive home health needs
ever since we acquired Highland Rim Home Health more than 30 years ago. That’s why we’re changing our name to Cookeville Regional Home Health, but we continue to offer the same great care you’ve come to expect in the same location, serving patients in the 14-county Upper Cumberland region.
All but the name is the same!
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday (931) 528-5578 or 800-570-5578 2370 Quinland Lake Road
|
Suite 150
|
Cookeville, TN 38506
|
crmchealth.org
Winter•2020• 3
385
Volume 4•Issue 2
Staff
Publisher Jack McNeely jack.mcneely@herald-citizen.com
Editor & Graphic Designer Don Foy don.foy@herald-citizen.com Contributors Lindsay McReynolds Kate Cook Jim Herrin Paige Stanage Ben Wheeler Scott Wilson Ben Craven Ad Composition Jody Webb Becky Watkins David Carvajal
Advertising Roger Wells Shaina McNeely Dusty Smith Stephanie Garrett Business Manager Sandy Malin Circulation & Distribution Keith McCormick Ronda Dodson
385 Magazine is a publication of and distributed quarterly by the Herald-Citizen, a division of Cookeville Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored for retrieval by any means without written consent from the publisher. 385 Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited materials and the publisher accepts no responsibility for the contents or accuracy of claims in any advertisement in any issue. 385 Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or changes in information. The opinions of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine and its publisher. Our mission is to promote the 385 zip code areas of the Upper Cumberland and to showcase their many attributes. We welcome ideas and suggestion for future editions of the magazine. Just send us a brief note via email. © 2020 Herald-Citizen 385 Magazine P.O. Box 2729 Cookeville, TN 38502 931.526.9715 Email: 385Magazine@herald-citizen.com
4 •385•Our People•Our Stories
from the
Publisher
Welcome to our 14th issue of 385 Magazine. After launching this print platform for the 385 zip code areas of Putnam, White, Overton and Jackson counties in October 2016, I am proud that each issue continues to highlight the best of our communities. This issue is no different. Jake Hoot took the Upper Cumberland, the State of Tennessee and America by storm during his run last fall on the 17th season of The Voice, which culminated with him being crowned champion in December. He’s a worthy cover story. Hoot gave back to the community that supported him unconditionally during his rise to stardom with a free community concert Jan. 4, sponsored by the teamwork of Better Cookeville. More than 8,000 fans” attended the event at Tennessee Tech University’s Hooper Eblen Center. And we were there to document the event with photos, many of which are featured in this magazine. Other Hoot-related stories include his relationship with TTU’s Interdisciplinary Studies program and Tech president and first lady Phil and Kari Oldham’s inaugural Wings of Kindness award. Also in this issue, read about the father-son weightlifting team of Tim and Jim Carr. at 67, Jim has all but eliminated his dependency on prescribed medications. And he can push some weight around, too. We also have a story about “bookworm” Phil Schaller, who’s been at the helm of the Putnam County Library in Cookeville for a few years now. And join us in celebrating the achievements of Randall Clemons, who recently retired as President and CEO of Wilson Bank & Trust. Don’t worry, Clemons’ passion for his hometown of Granville in Jackson County still keeps him busy. This quarterly publication would not be possible without the hard work of its staff and the financial support of those businesses that find it worthy of their marketing dollars. Regards,
Jack McNeely, Publisher
“The Voice” winner Jake Hoot performs at a free concert in Cookeville.
on the
Cover
Jack McNeely
Winter•2020• 5
Contents
10 14 18 28
Iron Man
At 67, Jim Carr lifts weights regularly — and bench presses 275 pounds.
25• 36•
Service Randall Clemons saw the need for a community bank, so he started one. 32 years later, he has retired.
IS program prepares students for all types of careers Jake Hoot most prominent graduate of Tech’s Interdisciplinary Studies Program Calendar Events around the area.
6•385•Our People•Our Stories
Dream Come True
Jake Hoot always dreamed of playing the ‘Opry.’ As winner of ‘The Voice,’ he’s going to fulfill that dream.
Book Worm Phil Schaller credits Tolkein with his love for books, which led him to be director of the Putnam County Library System.
38•
Photo Galleries Pictures taken by Herald-Citizen photographers at events in the area.
42•
Why I Love… YMCA CEO Mandy Perhay.
Winter•2020•7
It is your life, your story, leave your Signature on it.
Providing Signature Service 24 hours a day
931-526-6384
crestlawnmemorial.com
WELCOME HOME Cookeville
Jake Hoot
CONGRATULATIONS NS NS
8 •385•Our People•Our Stories
Winter•2020•9
Iron Ma Cookeville weightlifter still presses 275 pounds at age 67 Story by KATE COOK Photos by JACK McNEELY
10•385•Our People•Our Our Stories
Man
Winter•2020•11
B
Baxter’s Jim Carr is one of those men who’s been there, done that, learned a few lessons, and now he’s back for more. He’s 67 years old, but loves telling folks about how he bench presses 275 pounds. That’s a bit less than he could bench in his younger days, but Jim doesn’t mind. “No matter how hard you try, age has a way of taking some strength away from you,” Carr said. “But still I’m fortunate to be able to lift as much as I can.” Carr’s love affair with lifting weights has been an on again, off again thing. It began years ago when he was a student at Delta State University in Mississippi. Carr was a football player, so he lifted and packed on muscle to play the game. At one point, he could bench press
12•385•Our People•Our Stories
400 pounds. “I lifted on and off through my 20s, then quit in my late 20s,” Carr said. “I didn’t lift again ‘til I was 40.” At that point, Carr says he started seriously lifting, trying to lift 400 pounds again. “I had in my mind I was going to get as close to that as I could,” Carr said. “I got to 385 pounds and I quit.” He said his joints, particularly his shoulders and elbows, were protest-
ing the stress of lifting. “So I took a 26-year layoff,” Carr joked. By age 66, Carr said he’d developed type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. As a way to get healthier, he decided to head back to the gym. “I wanted to start with the light weights for the exercise, try to help with my health situation,” he said. Pretty quickly, he discovered that his blood sugar and blood pressure were going down. “I thought ‘hey this is worth doing,’” he said. “I started going (to the gym) three days a week, then I started getting stronger. As old as I am, there’s still a little something there.” Carr’s been working in the gym three days a week for the last year and a half. Knee problems meant knee replacement surgery last fall,
but even that only slowed him down briefly. Carr said he worked out “light” in the month leading up to his surgery. Then after the procedure, he took a month off. “I’m almost back to where I was,” Carr said with a laugh. When he’s not working out, Carr still has plenty to do. On his off days, he works out on the treadmill or rides a stationary bike. But otherwise, he’s working outside. “I hunt, I like to mow, bush hog, do things outdoors,” he said. “I try to keep active.” Part of that activity is the social part of a gym. Carr’s in his own age class at Cookeville Fitness Center. He said watching the younger guys lift brings back good memories. One of those younger guys is Carr’s son, Tim.
“He’s the best training partner I could have,” Tim Carr said, explaining his dad’s drive is an inspiring thing. Jim Carr said he’s proud of his son’s efforts. “I was ahead of him for awhile, but he’s passed me. I guess I’m too good of a coach,” Jim Carr joked. Tim Carr is a 43 and said his dad is his best friend. “He’s a competitive person,” Tim Carr said of his dad. “We have a lot of fun. We live together, he was best man at my wedding. “I’m real blessed to have the relationship with him that I have.” Jim and Tim may be the ones lifting the weight, but they’ve got their whole family supporting them. Jim has been married to his wife Judy for 47 years. He said Judy is in favor of
his lifting. “She was with me when I was young doing it, she encourages me now because she knows it’s good for my health,” Carr said. Jim and Judy had two childen, Tim and his sister, Kim Ewing. Carr said his biggest motivations for keeping healthy are his wife and children. In the earlier days, Carr used to keep his eye on the number of pounds he lifted, but now that’s not the most important thing. “I’m at a different stage now,” he said. “It’s not how much. If I never do a pound over 275, it’s OK, I just want to work out and feel good when I go home.”
•385• Winter•2020•13
No matter where he’s been or what he’s done, Randall Clemons has always been about
SERVICE
Story by
JIM HERRIN Photos by
BEN WHEELER and
JIM HERRIN 14 •385•Our People•Our Stories
W
When Randall Clemons sees a need, he’s likely to take action — just like he did in 1987 when two of the major banks in Wilson County were sold “basically at the same time.” “We felt that there was a need for a local bank,” he said, so he proceeded to help organize one, putting to
use a lifetime of experience in the industry. “I began banking in Carthage in 1971,” he recalled. “I actually got a job at Smith County Bank when I was a freshman in college.” He worked at Smith County Bank throughout his college years.
“By the time I got out of school, there wasn’t anything in the bank I hadn’t done, which greatly enhanced my future because of the experience I’d already had,” he said. “It was before the days of account numbers. It was before the days of computers. We were doing it all by hand. It allowed you to know the mechanics of how a bank works.” Knowledge of those “mechanics” helped guide Clemons in establishing Wilson Bank and Trust. “We set out to raise three and a half million dollars, and we had such response immediately that we ended up raising five million dollars to 1,000 shareholders,” he said. “We sold stock to people that had never owned bank stock before.” More than three decades later, as Clemons retired as CEO and president, Wilson Bank and Trust has grown to 28 locations in nine middle Tennessee counties. “Our goal has been that every community we serve is a better community as a result of Wilson Bank and Trust being there,” Clemons said. Building a better community is also the goal of a secondary job he took on in the 1990s when he purchased a home in Granville, a historic community located along the Cumberland River, near where Jackson, Smith and Putnam counties come together. “Both sides of my family are from Granville. They came there in the early 1800s,” he said. “I was born and raised there, but when I was 14 years old, the Cordell Hull Lake came in and took our farm and so we moved to Carthage.” Thirty years later, Clemons returned to Granville to purchase a small weekend home, and soon had his eye on another piece of real estate. “The only piece of property that was left in our family that the lake didn’t take was my grandmother’s double first cousin’s land,” he said. “I was able to purchase that home, so we started staying there more.” Once again he “saw a need to pre-
serve the community.” “In 1999, the Granville Church of Christ had been closed for about 10 years, so a group of us were able to get the property donated to start a historical museum,” he said. He found that others shared his passion. “A man by the name of Harold Sutton came to our second Heritage Day, and he fell in love with the old store,” Clemons said. “It had been closed for 30 years and was basically falling down. He was able to buy it and restore it.” In 2004, Clemons and his wife purchased the old bank building in Granville that Cookeville’s Gene Jared had restored and turned it into a bed and breakfast with a gift shop. In 2007, Harold Sutton gave the Sutton store to the Granville Museum with two provisions: that it operate as a store Wednesday through Saturday and that it host a Saturday night bluegrass dinner show. “There was a group of ten of us at that time that were volunteers at the museum,” Clemons said. “We were open on Saturdays, basically. So we enlisted 50 other volunteers and opened on April 5, 2008 with a Saturday night bluegrass dinner show on the radio.” The show is now heard around the country and around the world, and those 50 volunteers have grown to more than 200 as Clemons used lessons he picked up from his time helping to run the Wilson County Fair, yet another entity where he saw a need. “I was one of the ones who started the Wilson County Fair in 1979,” he said. “We now have over a thousand volunteers and a 300-member board. My experience with that has helped me to lead the great volunteer base that’s been able to do Granville.” With retirement, he plans to do some traveling and visit more with his family, but will still stay involved with the bank, the fair, his church and, of course, Granville. “I’ll be spending more time there as we go to the next level,” he said. “I’ve got some things I need to do Winter•2020•15
with my antique cars. Plus, I’ve got plenty of mowing to do. Plenty to keep me busy, and that’s the way I want to be.” Keeping busy, it seems, is a part of the success of his many ventures. “Work hard,” he advises. “If you have something you love, give it all you’ve got. Treat people the right way and God will bless it. God has definitely blessed me in the things that I have been involved in. I give Him the honor and the glory.”
•385•
Randall Clemons in his office at Wilson Bank and Trust.
16•385•Our People•Our Stories
Granville aims for ‘next level’ in 2020 Story by Jim Herrin
Now that he’s retired from his dayto-day job as a banker, Randall Clemons hopes to devote even more time to the promotion of Granville. “Everybody’s working together, and it’s an endeavor that we’re fixing to see go to the next level as far as a tourist attraction,” he said. The full-time population of Granville is about 300, but some 35,000 visitors came to the community last year, thanks to the efforts of Clemons and some 210 other volunteers. “We have people from all over middle Tennessee that’ll volunteer,” he said. “We have volunteers that drive as far as Atlanta. People that like the small town atmosphere. It’s kind of a step back in time.” He said the focus for 2020 will be on embracing that brand. “We are branding ourselves as Tennessee’s Mayberry town. We are building a Mayberry-I Love Lucy museum that will open April 18,” he said. “We are very excited about it.”
Granville began to do the Mayberry plays a few years ago “to try to raise money to keep the old store going.” “They’ve been very successful,” he said. “We do those at Valentine’s and at Christmas.” The museum will be in a newly constructed building. “Richard and Linda Cox from Sparta have collected ‘I Love Lucy’ memorabilia for over 30 years, and they have placed their collection in Granville,” Clemons said. “We’re building a museum to put that in, and then we were given an extensive collection of Mayberry (items.) We have our own Mayberry police car now that will be part of that. We’re real excited about the opportunities that’s going to give us.” The annual Scarecrow Festival and the regular Sutton Ole Time Music Hour bluegrass dinner shows will also be continuing. “Our bluegrass show is now heard in every state in the United States,
every country in the world and (is broadcast) to all of our military around the world each week,” he said. A $2.5 million renovation to the marina will add a lodge, restaurant and other amenities. “We started just trying to preserve the historical buildings that were still left. We’ve been able to do that,” Clemons said. “James Kenneth Turner has just taken the Granville Mercantile and turned it into a bed and breakfast. It was our last historical building to be preserved.” Future development may be limited somewhat. “We don’t want to get too big. It is a retirement community,” he said. “But we’re excited about the opportunities that it has to promote tourism for the Upper Cumberland.” For more information, visit www. granvilletn.com.
•385• Winter•2020•17
18 •385•Our People•Our Stories
When Cookeville’s Jake Hoot takes the stage at the ‘The Grand Ole Opry’ February 4, it will be a
Dream
Come True
P
Story by Lindsay McReynolds | Photos by Jack McNeely
People across the country began hearing the name “Jacob Hoot” only a few months ago when singer Kelly Clarkson picked him for her team on NBC’s “The Voice,” but the 31-year-old single dad has been known for his singing ability in the Cookeville community for the past decade. Long before he was crowned the winner of the 17th season of the popular singing show last month, Hoot was singing and playing guitar in numerous spots around Cookeville. The first time he was mentioned in the Herald-Citizen was when he sang the National Anthem at the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference championships for Tennessee Tech’s cross country team, which was dedi-
cated to a freshman member of the team who was killed in an auto accident. Hoot, a six-foot, six-inch son of missionaries and native of Corpus Christi, Texas, was an offensive lineman for the Golden Eagle football team at the time. Since his debut on the national stage, Hoot’s fan group page on Facebook is up to 35,000 members. His journey to the top spot on “The Voice” began simply, singing “bath tunes” for his daughter, Macy, that he recorded and shared when officials from the show asked him to audition. That process began nearly a year ago, and with the turn of only Clarkson’s chair in his audition, Hoot began a months-long journey in Los Angeles, not only surviving through the weekly audience-voted eliminations but thriving as a top streaming
artist week after week. But Hoot, who is as humble as he is tall, said he never once thought he would win. “Every week I’d tell Bekah (Hoot’s girlfriend), ‘This is the last week,’” he recalled. “I just wanted to go out there and sing songs the way people wanted to hear them,” he said. One of those songs was “Desperado” by The Eagles. “Don Henley had to clear me to sing that song, and he’s only cleared it for one other person,” Hoot said. “They’re very, very picky about who sings their songs and covers them.” Hoot said, “His stylist is Kelly Clarkson’s stylist so that may have had some pull.” After Hoot’s performance, Clarkson sent Henley a video. “He said he loved it,” Hoot said. Hoot also shared an unusual
Winter•2020•19
Jake Hoot fans fill the seats at the Hooper Eblen Center.
Thousands of fans wait in line for a Jan. 4 concert. story about his duet with Clarkson of “Wintersong” by Sarah McLachlan. “She (Clarkson) emailed me as soon as I made the top four,”
20•385•Our People•Our Stories
he said. “She said we had to do a Christmas song. ‘Wintersong’ was my first choice.” But neither Clarkson nor Hoot’s vocal coach had heard the song
before. “She (Clarkson) loved it,” he said. “That’s what made it special.” Since the finale of the show, Hoot has continued singing and travel-
Winter•2020•21
Freaky Dave is excited for his friend.
22•385•Our People•Our Stories
Putnam Clerk Wayne Nabors.
TTU President Phil
sident Phil Oldham.
Jake Hoot performs live for more than 8,000 at The Hoop and thousands more online.
Winter•2020•23
ing, while maintaining that he is firmly rooted in Cookeville. He was recently invited to perform on his dream stage — The Grand Ole Opry. “I don’t know where to begin to process everything,” Hoot said. “Honestly, I’m grateful that people wanted to hear my music,” he said. “I want to keep God first and my family, and I want to keep making music.”
Jake, with his girlfriend, Bekah Hurley.
24 •385•Our People•Our Stories
•385•
Tech IS program prepares students for all types of careers TTU — Before Jake Hoot was collecting the trophy of winning season 17 of The Voice, he collected a diploma after earning a degree at Tennessee Tech University. Hoot graduated from Tech in 2013 in interdisciplinary studies, a major that brings together two emphasis areas into an integrated and personalized program of study. “Jake was interested in teaching and learning, and he spoke Spanish so we put together education and Spanish in a major that worked for him,” said Steven Frye, director of the school of interdisciplinary studies. “He flourished in our major and it was fun to watch.” Frye had a front row seat in Hoot’s education, serving as his advisor for three years. “We met every semester to talk about his schooling,” said Frye. “He was very successful in our major.
Steven Frye, the director of Tech’s school of interdisciplinary studies, is pictured with season 17 winner of The Voice, Jake Hoot, who was one of Frye’s students at Tennessee Tech. He was on the Dean’s List every semester except the first one he was with us. He did really well. I think our major worked very well for him because you pick to focus areas and create a major.” A member of the Golden Eagle football team, Hoot’s schedule was very demanding as a student-athlete. Because of his schedule and areas of interest, interdisciplinary studies was a perfect major for him. “I often describe interdisciplinary studies as two minors make a major. It’s a little over simplification, but people choose two areas of focus,” said Frye. “They combine those together to create a personalized major. They do a senior capstone project that draws those areas together. We have seen that this plays to the strengths of the students and it works for a lot of different students and their schedules. The flexibility of
the major really helps students.” The capstone experience offers the opportunity to draw from and integrate the knowledge gained in both areas of the student’s major. “We work with so many types of students,” said Frye. “We work with traditional students who may have had a hard time finding their way and have changed majors. We have students who want to come here because it’s a great school, but we may not offer everything they want. We also have our non-traditional students who need a flexible schedule.” Top careers in interdisciplinary studies include editor; elementary, middle or high school teacher; government lawyer; news analyst; postsecondary teacher and psychiatrist. Now, you can add musician to that list. Since Hoot graduated from Tech, he focused on his musical career. He played gigs around CookevWinter•2020•25
On Jake Hoot:
‘He has worked very hard to get to where he is, and he is as genuine as he seems to be.’
Steven Frye, director TTU school of interdisciplinary studies
ille and the Upper Cumberland, honing his craft and getting a lot of support along the way. He even tried out for American Idol, although he didn’t make it past the audition phase. His big break came on season 17 of The Voice when Kelly Clarkson was the only judge to turn her chair when he auditioned. A few months later, Hoot was hoisting the trophy as The Voice champion. Hoot returned to Tech shortly after his big win and played a free concert at the Hooper Eblen Center where thousands of his fans turned out. “It was fun to watch Jake and see how surprised and excited he was,” said Frye about the turnout for the event. “He really doesn’t expect people to respond to him the way they do. He has worked very hard to get to where he is, and he is as genuine as he seems to be.” Frye says there are currently around 300 students in Tech’s interdisciplinary studies program which graduated the third most students last year behind engineering and education. He says not everyone will be as successful and have as many fans as Hoot, but there are several success stories every semester that come out of interdisciplinary studies. “I had someone ask me, ‘What can you do with a degree in interdisciplinary studies?’ My response was ‘Well, what can’t you do with a degree in interdisciplinary studies?’ The flexibility allows you to do a lot of things.” For more information on interdisciplinary studies, go to: https://www.tntech.edu/majors/interdisciplinary-studies_general.php.
Steven Frye, the director of Tech’s school of interdisciplinary studies, served as Jake Hoot’s advisor for three years.
Apparel • Footwear • Backpacking Climbing • Paddlesports • Rentals Fly Fishing • Guiding 124 E Broad Street, Cookeville, TN
EY FO
RK
CAN
www.outdoorexperienceonline.com
S
C
YCLE
BICYCLES · REPAIR · APPAREL
Bicycle Sales, Rental, Full Service Repair Shop & So Much More! 124 E Broad Street, Cookeville, TN www.caneyforkcycles.com
26•385•Our People•Our Stories
Jake Hoot receives the inaugural Wings of Kindness award from Tennessee Tech president Phil Oldham and first lady Kari Oldham.
Oldhams recognize Hoot for kindness TTU — Life is full of choices, especially on a college campus. Students choose a major, a career, and a future in just a few years. This year, Tech President Phil Oldham and First Lady Kari Oldham will encourage the entire campus community to make one more transforming choice. “Kari has been wanting to do something special to emphasize kindness, and she has been looking for the right opportunity,” said President Oldham. “We recently found the perfect time and way to
L
a Mayberry T o
wn
in ife
begin this initiative. I appreciate her leadership in getting this started.” “Phil and I want to spend this year celebrating and recognizing kindness,” Kari explained. “We talk a lot about how our graduates are smart, tenacious, and hardworking. That’s all true.” “But the measure of a person is more than that. The measure of a university is more than that,” she said. The Oldhams know Tennessee Tech exists today because people cared for others and put their hearts
and souls into building a school against all odds to serve the region. “Our campus still stands committed to extending kindness to students,” President Oldham said. “And we encourage our graduates to invest their talents into work that helps others. “This year, Kari and I want to put a special focus on encouraging conversation and actions that demonstrate kindness. We want to talk about it often and honor those who show selflessness, generosity of time and talents, and meekness of spirit.”
own rry T aybe M e e ess Tenn
T.B Sutton General Store, 1880 Historic Home Tours, Antique Car Museum and Historic Museums,Sutton General Store Southern Cooking at its Best - Wed thru Sat 11am-2pm Grand Opening Of Mayberry and I Love Lucy Museums, Genealogy Festival, Mayberry Cruise In - April 18
Mayberry Outdoor Dinner Theater - May 1 & 2 Cornbread & Moonshine Festival - May 2 Granville Heritage Day, Antique Car & Tractor Show, Uncle Jimmy Thompson Bluegrass Festival - May 23 Sutton Ole Time Music Hour Bluegrass Dinner Show Each Saturday. Reservations required. Shopping at Granville Gifts, Southern Shops & Sutton General Store
Winter•2020•27
The
BookWorm Phil Schaller didn’t start out to be a librarian, but now he runs the Putnam County system Story by BEN WHEELER | Photos by DON FOY and BEN WHEELER The right book can turn anyone into a reader, transporting them into a new world, filled with fantastic possibilities and new ideas that were seemingly unthought of before. For Phil Schaller, it was “The Hobbit.” The beginning of J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Lord of the
28 •385•Our People•Our Stories
Rings” series that sees an unruly band of dwarves, a hobbit and wizard make their way through a world of fantasy and encounter a greedy dragon, a magical ring and a creature with dastardly intentions. “It was the ability to transport yourself into another world whenever you wanted to. It was a time before the internet was really huge and you could do it anywhere,” Schaller said. “For me, it was ‘The Hobbit’ at age 14. I had never read a book that had taken me so far away so pleasantly before. This was the first book that I read on my own and I just couldn’t put it down.” Now, Schaller is the director of the Putnam County Library, having moved up the ranks from Algood Branch Manager to Adult Services Director to his current role. But he hadn’t always planned to work as a librarian. Schaller had wanted get his master’s degree in creative writing after a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Florida,
hoping to emulate his love of books by creating them. It was a chance encounter with a friend that made him decide it was library science that he wanted to pursue a career in. “I was in Florida for about 15 years and stayed in Gainesville for about 15 years. I was 32 when I left. It’s very similar to Cookeville being a college town, and I got really comfortable and sedentary there and I wanted to do something difdif ferent,” Schaller said. “Right before I left, I met somebody that had just got done with library school and it was one of those light bulb moments where I thought, ‘I didn’t know you could go to school for that.” “I went to Georgia where I met my wife. I went to Valdosta State and got my master’s degree in lili brary science.” Schaller said he thought, ‘I’ll get to work with books all day,’ but didn’t realize the level of social work that librarians provide papa trons. “I love reading. I had what I called chronic literary disdis order so thought naturally this was the perfect avenue to go through,” Schaller said. “It wasn’t until I went
through library school that I realized you don’t just read all day. I realized it was part social service. All of it combined just really appealed to me.” Schaller ended up in Cookeville through his wife’s career in pathology, and he ended up as a part-time employee with the Putnam County Library and eventually the Algood Branch Manager for the Putnam County Library system. “I had to quit for a little while because that’s just a part-time gig and needed to make money, and as it turns out, right as I quit is when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma,” Schaller said. “It worked out that I was working at a pathology lab at the time. One thing everybody always told me was, ‘if you’re going to get cancer, this is the one you want to get.’ Not that anybody wants to get cancer, but it’s incredibly treatable.” “You do a hardcore regimen of Chemo and then some radiation, then you’re done. I’ve been clear five years now.” After beating cancer, Schaller went back at the Putnam County Library when an assistant director’s position opened in Cookeville. Eighteen months later, he became the director. “I had some experience and they thought I’d do a good job. The old director resigned and moved, and the board asked me to do the director’s position as an interim to see if I liked it,” Schaller said.
“I didn’t have much experience in administration, but it worked out all right.” Going from assistant director to director was something Schaller hadn’t planned on, as the assistant job was something he described as the reason he went to library school. “I got to do everything a librarian does. I did collection development which was great guiding what your library is going to have. I got to do programming for adults and teens, including the summer reading program which was a lot of fun,” Schaller said. “You get these ideas and get to implement them, so it was exactly what I wanted to do.” “Being a director is a lot different. It’s not so much being a librarian as it is being an administrator. Knowing that you’re still providing that service is why I took it. There’s a bit more decision-making ability but that’s also part of the job that’s terrifying though because if you make the wrong decision then it’s on your head.” Schaller said that the thing that keeps him going through the difficult times are the interactions he has with patrons. “When you realize that you have legitimately made a difference in someone’s life or helped transform their day because of something you have made accessible to them is what makes me keep going.”
•385• A Dedicated and Compassionate Team of Medical Professionals Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation Therapies Medical Social Workers Wound Care Management
CHOSEN BY PATIENTS FOR HHCAHPS HONORS ELITE AWARDS 2016-2019 Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems
337 North Cedar Ave., Suite C, Cookeville | (931) 528-5936 | QualityHomeHealth.com
Winter•2020•29
→ Regenia Henry checks in for a follow-up visit at the Diabetes Center.
THE DIABETES CENTER at Cookeville Regional Merits ADA Recognition
Program Makes a Real Difference for Patients Like Regenia Henry
L
earning to deal with a chronic disease like diabetes can be a whole lot easier — and is often more successful — when you get the right kind of support. Fortunately, that support is available to patients in the Upper Cumberland through The Diabetes Center at Cookeville Regional. In fact, the Diabetes Center recently earned the prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for quality diabetes selfmanagement education and support (DSMES) service. This designation means
30•385•Our People•Our Stories
that the ADA has found that Cookeville Regional offers the type of high-quality education that is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment. That type of education and support is especially important for patients in Tennessee. “Tennessee is number five in the country for the rate of diabetes,” said Cookeville Regional Chief Nursing Officer Scott Lethi, RN. “About 13% of Tennessee’s population has diabetes. Nationally, it’s 8-9%. Thirteen percent doesn’t sound very high, but if you look at 8% versus 13%, we’re 50% higher than the national average.”
Regenia Henry of Cookeville is one patient who was recently helped by the Diabetes Center’s educational program. In January 2018, at nearly 300 lbs., she made a New Year’s resolution to do something about her weight. She started with a small, weekly walk and worked up to three one-mile walks a week. “After I started losing weight and feeling more energy, I was still getting sleepy at work, so I realized there’s probably a sugar problem going on,” said Henry. “The first thing I did was cut out all soft drinks.” Despite her efforts, a workplace health fair in April confirmed that Henry was diabetic with
It’s a great program … I don’t know where else I would have gotten the education. REGENIA HENRY an A1C of 11.9% — much higher than the 6.5-7% that is considered a healthy level — and blood glucose levels ranging as high as 315. Her doctor placed her on a medication for diabetes and enrolled her in the Diabetes Center program. The program offers individual and group classes and utilizes a team approach in developing an individualized plan for each participant. “The ADA outlines seven self-care behaviors — diet, activity, monitoring, taking medication, problem solving, stress management and reducing risks for complications, so our patients set goals related to these behaviors,” said Diabetes Center Director Kim Mayberry, RN. “Every time they come back, we ask them about those goals, and if they’re not meeting them, then we troubleshoot to find out what we can do to meet them.” → Diabetes Center Director Kim Mayberry, RN, left, checks Regenia Henry’s blood pressure on a follow-up visit.
→ Regenia Henry, second from left, with her diabetes support team, from left, dietitian Jenn Smith, center director Kim Mayberry and receptionist Michelle Spivey.
Within three months of starting the program, Henry’s A1C level was down to 5.9%, and she ultimately got it down to 5.2% and lost a total of 69 lbs. She was able to stop taking her diabetes medications and no longer has to check her blood glucose levels daily. “She’s not just down to goal — she’s in the normal range,” said Mayberry. “It’s a great program,” said Henry. “I don’t know where else I would have gotten the education. I don’t think I could have gotten all of that just online. It was given to me in the right order and in a way that helped me incorporate it into my life.” The Diabetes Center program does require a physician referral. Some insurance plans, including Medicare, recognize the benefits of diabetes self-management training and may pay a percentage, excluding copays and deductibles. The Diabetes Center will be glad to check your insurance coverage. For more information about a referral to the Diabetes Center, please call (931) 783-2927 or visit www.crmchealth.org. → Dietitian Jenn Smith discusses food values with Regenia Henry during a recent
The program also puts a great deal of emphasis on teaching the patient how to solve some of the practical problems they may face from day to day.
visit to the Diabetes Center.
“For instance, I’m on a pump and I have supplies, but I’m two or three hours from home or in another state, and I forgot my reservoirs. How can I fix that problem?” said Mayberry. Henry especially enjoyed the group class offered at the center. She learned about all of the different aspects of diabetes management, including two that were especially important for her — managing her stress levels and eating more nutritiously.
To learn more, visit,
crmchealth.org /diabetes-center
“Before starting the class, all I knew was to stop the sugar. I was afraid,” said Henry. “The class has helped me learn to incorporate vegetables and fruits, and I’ve learned how to make my own smoothies and things like that.”
Winter•2020• 31
What is
WH
DIABETES? D
iabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to properly use and store glucose, a form of sugar, so that it builds up in the bloodstream. Over time, high blood sugar can cause damage to nerves and blood vessels and can lead to heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputations.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE DIABETES?
There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body makes little or no insulin, a hormone that helps the body change blood sugar into energy. Individuals with this type of diabetes must take daily insulin injections to survive. This form of diabetes usually develops in children or young adults, though it can occur at any age.
• Increased thirst • Extreme hunger • Frequent urination (especially at night) • Weight loss that cannot be explained • Blurred vision • Frequent infections, especially of the skin, gums or bladder • Skin infections or sores that do not heal • Weakness and tiredness • Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Often, there are no visible signs or symptoms of diabetes. Symptoms can also be so mild that they are hard to notice. Signs to look for include:
THE DIABETES CENTER CAN HELP
In Type 2 diabetes, the body makes large amounts of insulin but does not use it properly. Most people with diabetes have this form of the disease, which typically occurs in people over age 40 who are overweight and have a family history of diabetes.
32•385•Our People•Our Stories
The Diabetes Center at Cookeville Regional offers an education program focused on teaching self-management skills to patients with diabetes and their families. The Diabetes Center is located at 406 N. Whitney Ave. #4 in Cookeville, approximately two blocks from Cookeville Regional Medical Center.
Any with diab for d
• Ha • Be • Ha Hi ba • Ha ba • Ha • Ha • Be • Ha (w • Ha as •A
CAN
You show exer
TRE
The pres poss cont pres on t Ther treat
To l
WHO’S AT RISK FOR DIABETES? Anyone can get diabetes. However, people who have close relatives with the disease are more likely to develop it. The risk of developing diabetes also increases with age. Other factors that increase your risk for diabetes include: • Having higher than normal blood sugar • Being overweight • Having an Alaska Native, American Indian, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian-American, or Pacific Islander family background • Having had gestational diabetes, or giving birth to at least one baby weighing more than 9 pounds • Having high blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg or higher) • Having high cholesterol • Being inactive (exercising fewer than three times a week) • Having polycystic ovary syndrome, also called PCOS (women only) • Having certain conditions associated with insulin resistance, such as acanthosis nigricans • A history of cardiovascular disease
CAN YOU PREVENT DIABETES? You can do a lot to reduce your risk of developing diabetes. Studies show that Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by losing weight, exercising 30 minutes five or more days a week, and eating healthier.
TREATING DIABETES The goal of diabetes management is to keep blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels as close to the normal range as safely possible. In some people, diet and exercise can keep diabetes under control. When diet and exercise aren’t effective, a physician may prescribe diabetes pills or insulin. The treatment prescribed depends on the type and severity of the disease, the person’s age, and lifestyle. There is no known cure for diabetes. Diabetics must continue daily treatments throughout their lifetimes.
To learn more, visit crmchealth.org /diabetes-center
UTION L O S E R R’S NEW YEA
Don’t Quit,
JUST COME! Quit 4 Life Tobacco Cessation Class
Classes are FREE. Learn the tricks, tips and tools to stop smoking, dipping and using e-cigs for life.
A new class starts every Thursday 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Open to the public CRMC Cafeteria Algood Room
For more information, call Randy Todd at 931-261-4305. Sponsored by Cookeville Regional Medical Center
Winter•2020• 33
Leslie
Town Centre
L
Clay County will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2020, and plans are already underway to help make next year the most memorable in the county’s history. Events will be held all year long, with a special emphasis on the county’s founding date in June. Mark your calendars now and come join in the celebration!
Clay County: A Great Place To Retire
dalehollowlake.org
424 Brown St., Celina, TN | 931-243-3338
Upcoming U i Ad Advertising ti i O Opportunities in the Herald-Citizen… Business Owners - don’t miss the opportunity to promote your business in these upcoming special editions. You’ll reach nearly 20,000 readers in the Upper Cumberland with your advertising message in each of these offerings. February • Upper Cumberland Home & Garden Show: This section will provide all the information you’ll need before attending the 2020 Home Show March 6-7 at the Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion. • Class of 2032: A fun section where we print pictures of our local kindergarten classes and ask them what they want to be when they grow up. A keepsake section for sure! March • Hometown Business: Our popular special edition where local businesses can purchase an ad and get a story included about their business. A great way to highlight area merchants and encourage readers to shop local.
To advertise in any of these special editions, contact one of our marketing representatives at (931) 526-9715
34 •385•Our People•Our Stories
Parties Banquets Fundraisers Receptions Book Yours Today!
Congrats Jake Hoot! Season 17 champion of NBC’s “The Voice”
1 W. First Street . Cookeville . 931.372.7200 . LeslieTownCentre.com
Whether a business has been open for one year or a hundred years It’s always good to shop local!
Herald-Citizen
Be Good At Life® Andrea V. Burckhard
LUTCF®, CAP® Registered Representative offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Licensed Insurance Agency.
1300 Neal Street • 931-526-9715
In Business for 118 Years
In Business for 18 Years
Agent, New York Life Insurance Company 320 E. Broad St, 1A • Cookeville, TN Of�ce 931-525-LIFE(5433) • Cell 931-265-1959 www.AndreaBurckhard.com
In Business for 16 Years
FEATURIN W G! O N
Morning Delivery
BY 6AM
Herald-Citizen
Rise Shine SUBSCRIBE! 931-526-9715
Winter•2020• 35
Calendar
To submit major community events for consideration in the next issue, send them to 385Magazine@herald-citizen.com.
February through
March 7
22
Cookeville Pottery Company
Cookeville History Museum exhibit “Memories of the Cookeville Pottery Company.” Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10 a.m to 4 p.m.
Cummins Falls Marathon
Go to cumminsfallsmarathon.com/ for all the details and to register for this Boston Marathon qualifier.
28-Mar. 7
Backstage at CPAC, ‘Church and State.’ Go to cookeville-tn.gov/457/ Backstage-Series for show details, show times and tickets.
21, 22, 28, 29 Father-Daughter Date Night
Cookeville Leisure Services hosts this night of formal dining and dancing for fathers and daughters.
We’ll make sure you’re covered all the way down the line. Or trail. Contact me to make a plan that lets you focus on being good at life. Insure. Prepare. Retire.
36•385•Our People•Our Stories
320 E Broad St. | Suite 1A | Cookeville, TN Office 931-525-LIFE(5433) | Cell 931-265-1959 avburckhard@nyl.com
Andrea V. Burckhard LUTCF®, CAP® Agent, New York Life Insurance Company
Be good at life.
March
6-7
28
UCHBA Home Show At Tennessee Tech’s Hyder-Burks Pavilion, this event showcases home improvements and construction. Hosted by the Upper Cumberland Home Builders Association.
CookeVegas Casino Night A night of games and fun benefitting Cookeville Children’s Museum.
April
4
Celebration of Craft
Tennessee Tech’s Appalachian Center for Craft hosts this day of tours, demonstrations, hands-on workshops for adults, children’s activities, food and music. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
CITIZENS BANK 51 E. Jackson Street | Cookeville, TN | 528.1999 www.citzcar.com
Winter•2020• 37
Veterans Day Parade Putnam County honored its veterans with a parade Nov. 11. Photos by Jack McNeely
First Sgt. Steve Hargis.
Helping families receive peace of mind since 1930. Speck & Livingston Funeral Homes and Cremation | Livingston, TN | SpeckFuneral.com 38 •385•Our People•Our Stories
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter.
The Cookeville High School JROTC color guard.
Jim Greeson rides with Putnam County Clerk Wayne Nabors. Your Pets
Home Home Away From
Our mission is to provide a comfortable, clean, safe environment for your pet so they will enjoy staying with us when they can not stay at home!
3213 Cookeville Highway, Livingston • 931.498.3228 www.creaturecomfortspetretreat.com
visit us at VCAhospitals.com to sign up for a FREE pet health exam!
3207 Cookeville Hwy, Livingston • 931.498.3153
Winter•2020• 39
Christmas Parades All four municipalities in Putnam County celebrated Christmas with parades. Here is a selection of the photos taken by Paige Stanage, Lindsay McReynolds and Ben Wheeler.
Cherry Holmes and Vysa Groe.
Jammie Hunter and Amanda Bilbrey.
412 S. College Street • STE 2 • Smithville, TN 37166
40•385•Our People•Our Stories
Cell/Text: 931-510-7213 | Office: 615-215-7653 Email: MissySelbyRealEstate@gmail.com
Missy Selby Affiliate Broker
Algood Middle School cheerleaders.
Clarkrange High color guard.
Girl Scout Troop 598.
Upperman High FFA students.
Dancing Feet Dance Company.
PUTNAM
1 MERCANTILE BANK ST
200 West Jackson St., Cookeville 931•528•MERC(6372) www.1stmerc.net
Congratulations Jake Hoot! We are so proud of you!
Winter•2020• 41
Why I Love… The YMCA Mandy Perhay, CEO Putnam County Family YMCA Written by Lindsay McReynolds Photo by Jack McNeely
How did you get started working at the Putnam County Family YMCA? The YMCA provides two of the things I love: accounting and most of all, people! After graduating from Tennessee Tech and working in government and public accounting, I quickly realized I was missing something — the feeling of impacting the lives of others. At the Y, I get the best of both worlds. I have been blessed to have worked for the YMCA for almost 13 years. I have had the opportunity to work in most departments ranging from aquatics, wellness and now as the CEO. One of the biggest tips to my staff is to be versatile. Having experience in each department helps me gain a better perspective and understanding of how to run the Y and ultimately reach the needs of the people of the Upper
42•385•Our People•Our Stories
Cumberland communities. I love being a part of an organization that is about not only about wellness, but also about service.
part of our Cancer Recovery Program and individuals have a place to feel at home through Open Doors makes the hard days worth it.
What is the best part of your job? The best part of my job is going to work knowing that what we do positively affects the lives of people in our community, while working with people who are passionate about our Mission and our members. Health is the best investment anyone can make in themselves. It is so inspiring to see firsthand the positive changes in the lives of the people who walk through our doors. I am also blessed to see how our Outreach Programs offer life-saving skills, restoration and hope. Knowing that kids are taught water safety skills through Learn to Swim, survivors find hope and healing as a
What is your vision for the future of the Putnam County Family YMCA? I would love to serve additional communities, to take YMCA programming straight to the door of those in our community who need it most, and expand our current facility for more wellness space, additional group fitness space, an area for functional fitness and an outdoor water play area. As more and more people move to the area, it is important that we continue to ask the community what is needed and how can we work together with others to ensure all our neighbors have the best opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.
Winter•2020• 43