Three • Eight • Five

Our People • Our Stories

Three•Eight•Five

Fall• 2019

2•385•Our People•Our Stories

If only they came with an alarm ...don’t hit snooze on your breast health!

As a woman, you need to do monthly breast self-exams and be aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

AGE

25-40 You also need a breast exam EVERY 1-3 YEARS.

AGE

40+ You need a breast exam & mammogram EVERY YEAR.

Are you at risk for breast cancer?

crmchealth.org/breasthealth

The Only BREAST IMAGING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE in the Upper Cumberland • crmchealth.orgFall•2019• 3

385

Volume 4•Issue 1

Our People • Our Stories PUBLISHER

EDITOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER CONTRIBUTORS

ADVERTISING

AD COMPOSITION

BUSINESS MANAGER CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

Jack McNeely Don Foy Lindsay McReynolds Kate Cook Jim Herrin Paige Stanage Ben Wheeler Scott Wilson Ben Craven

Roger Wells Shaina McNeely Dusty Smith Stephanie Garrett Jody Webb Becky Watkins David Carvajal Sandy Malin Keith McCormick Ronda Dodson

from the

Editor

A

s we begin our fourth year of publication of this magazine, let me say thank you.

Many of you have written notes, called or spoken to me about this publication, and I sincerely appreciate each comment. But I don’t do this by myself. If you’ll look a bit to the left, you’ll see the names of the people who do the hard work it takes to put together a magazine like this. Then, take a look in the mirror. Without you, none of this is possible.

In this edition, we’ll tell the story of a teenage girl who, after years of trying, finally qualified for the National Soap Box Derby. Lindsay McReynolds went to Akron to document the experience.

Another experience Lindsay tells us about in this issue is Terry Burckhard’s recovery from a stroke.

And you may have wondered why there seems to be more cars in the parking lot at the Monterey Senior Center. Paige Stanage tells us about Saundra Gilmore, a retired TWRA employee and the director of the Monterey Senior Center.

As always, thanks for reading.

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. © 2019 Herald-Citizen

Don Foy, Editor

Andrea and Terry Burckhard talk about his stroke and their road to recovery.

on the

Cover

385 Magazine P.O. Box 2729 Cookeville, TN 38502 931.526.9715 Email: 385Magazine@herald-citizen.com

4 •385•Our People•Our Stories

Jack McNeely

www.townandcountryoverheaddoor.com Fall•2019• 5

Contents

8

Soap Box Derby After coming in second four times, Molly Allison finally wins the Cookeville Soap Box Derby and a trip to Akron and the national race.

Rural Reimagined

14

18

Two Worlds

Stroke Recovery For Terry Burckhard, a stroke lasted just a few seconds, but the recovery has taken more than five months, and there’s still work to do.

Monterey Senior Center director recalls ‘The Good Old Days’ and enjoys the convenience of technology.

Photo Galleries

21• Tech’s Grand Challenge gaining momemtum.

Cumberland Quilt Festival 30• Upper Fall Bizapalooza

28• Calendar Events around the area.

I Love…

34• Why Putnam County Fair President John Allen.

6•385•Our People•Our Stories

Fall•2019•7

After placing second four times, Cookeville girl wins in her final chance to get to Akron

ONE MORE TIME

Shane, Molly and Nikki Allison

8 •385•Our People•Our Stories

Shane and Molly Allison work on adjusting the weights in her Soap Box Derby masters car.

Story and Photos by Lindsay McReynolds The morning of July 20, Cookeville Soap Box Derby Champions Molly Allison, Maizy Jolley and Haylee Furton joined nearly 400 racers from across the country and beyond for the start of the 82nd FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio.

“Here are the stars of the show today,” an announcer says as a walking parade of racers led by the Akron Police Department makes its way down the 989.4-foot track.

Cookeville has hosted a race for the past 17 years, but the track in Akron has been there since the 1930s, when the tradition of a race with kit-built cars for kids began.

Molly, Maizy and Haylee earned their way by winning in the masters, super stock and stock divisions, respectively, in the Cookeville race.

The road to Akron was a tough

journey for Molly, who started racing soap box derby a decade ago, following in the footsteps of her older sister, Abby.

She placed second in the Cookeville Soap Box Derby four times — once in 2012 in the stock division, 2014 and 2015 in the super stock and 2018 in the masters.

“A lot of times I wanted to quit,” Molly said. “I’d have rather gotten dead last than to get second again.”

This year, the car she raced to earn a trip to Akron was built by Tennessee Tech engineering students.

“I thought I was done in 2016,” Molly recalled. “They called and said they had a masters car and needed a driver.”

So Molly raced the student-built car in 2018, but the car didn’t have a helmet rail, which meant the helmet covered her eyes.

“Every run down the hill was completely blind,” she said.

That year, on her fifth time down the hill, Molly crashed the Tennessee Tech car and placed second.

Molly’s dad, Shane, Dale Harris and Molly worked on the car this year to get it ready for the race.

“It was something for us to do together,” said Molly, who actually has to lie nearly flat on her back to race inside the masters car.

Shane said, “She has about a half inch to see with her helmet.

“Most people think you get in the car and roll down the hill,” he said.

“That’s not it.

“There’s so many lines you have to run,” he said.

Shane said his older daughter, Abby, went from 42nd to 4th place when she changed her strategy from going down the straight line to Fall•2019•9

Cookeville’s racing expert, Ray Austin, coaches Maizy Jolley in the super stock division at the All America Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, in July. “catching the road.”

“When you go to Akron, it’s totally different. Ninety-five percent of it’s the driver,” Shane said.

Ray Austin has been the anchor of the Cookeville Soap Box Derby, Shane said, even helping kids with their cars and traveling to Akron with the winners.

“We’ve missed one year since 2005,” Austin said. “Our grandkids did it.”

Austin was in Akron once again in July, assisting Cookeville’s super stock champion, Jolley.

“He’s our resident race expert,” Cookeville Soap Box Derby Race Director Anthony Leonard said of Austin.

This year was Jolley’s second trip to Akron. She won the stock division two years ago.

“I lost my first heat, and then I had to go home,” Jolley said of her first race in Akron.

“But she’s back,” her grandfather, Jerry Jolley, said as Maizy rolled toward the Akron starting line.

10•385•Our People•Our Stories

Above, hundreds of families set up tents along side the race track to support their racers. At left, Jessie and Woody from Toy Story watch the races.

Molly adjusts her helmet before her race.

Molly watches the video of her race.

It is your life, your story, leave your Signature on it.

Providing Signature Service 24 hours a day

931-526-6384

crestlawnmemorial.com Fall•2019•11

Cookeville Police Sgt. Mike Herrick bumps fists with Cookeville Soap Box Derby Stock champion Haylee Furton before her race.

‘Twelve years our family has been racing. Now we’ll have to wait for grand babies’ — Nikki Allison Maizy was the second racer from Cookeville to compete July 20, racing in lane 3 in Heat 519. But she lost by .123 seconds, becoming one of 56 eliminated in the first round.

Haylee, the first from Cookeville to race in Akron this time, was one of 90 local stock champions. Her time down the track in her first heat was 29.539 seconds, just .072 seconds behind the winner of that heat.

Those few seconds are hard to watch.

“Just like that, two of our (three) cars are out,” Leonard laments at 10:43 a.m. on race day.

A few minutes later, Allison is at the starting line, facing a similar quick fate, losing by just .072 sec-

12•385•Our People•Our Stories

onds.

All three Cookeville racers were eliminated before 11 a.m., less than two hours after the single-elimination races began.

“I’m more upset that this is my last time than because I lost,” Allison said. “I think I’d be more heartbroken if I raced all day and then didn’t win.”

No one from Cookeville has won the championship at Akron just yet.

The closest, Shane said, was David Eldridge’s fourth place finish in the early 2000s, but he and others are hopeful about the racing opportunities a permanent soap box derby track in Cookeville could bring.

“We learned a lot in Akron,” Shane

said a few days after the race was over. “If we could ever get our track, we could have ramps built into the road (the same as Akron). For any family that wants to get involved, it’s a great event. I’ve really enjoyed the time I had with both girls.”

Molly’s mom, Nikki, had a different reaction in the moments after Molly’s race on a world stage was over.

As she wiped away tears, Nikki, said, “I’ve hated this for years, but now that it’s over, I’m sad.”

Molly said it was hard for her mom to watch her daughters, both Molly and Abby, constantly getting second.

“Every time (there was a race), my mom would say, ‘I’m not going,’”

Cookeville champions and their families pack up to go home after a week in Akron for the All American Soap Box Derby.

Molly said. “She’d see us heartbroken over getting second. Then she’d show up.”

“Twelve years our family has been racing,” Nikki said.

“Now we’ll have to wait for grand babies.”

Indeed, it seems it can take decades of a family committed to racing to produce a winner.

The winner of the local masters division in Akron this year was Kelsey Van Waart of Omaha, Nebraska. This was the first national champion from her family in 65 years of racing, according to the Akron Beacon Journal newspaper. It was Van Waart’s first championship win in Akron, but her third time to make it there.

Although it was the last year for Molly, the car she raced, the first one built by TTU engineering students to make it to Akron, is expected to be displayed at the Hooper Eblen Center at the university, where the Upperman High School graduate is studying pre-dental hygiene this fall.

Maizy and Haylee are already looking forward to racing next year.

“He (Austin) has already purchased a masters car for her to race next year,” said Cookeville Police Sgt. Mike Herrick, who joined Leonard and the racing families on the eight-hour trip to Akron.

Dreams are realized or dashed in a matter of seconds, and the stakes are high.

On race day, the culmination of a week’s worth of racing activities, All American Soap Box Derby President and CEO Mark Gerberich said the kids compete for $6,000 in scholarships per division — a total of $36,000.

“It’s really exciting,” Gerberich said. “It’s almost like a horse race — every 45 seconds, the place goes crazy.”

But the race is about far more than winning.

“I gave them four things at the beginning of the week,” he said. “Number one, have fun. Two, make friends.

Three, learn something, and four, race your best.”

Cedar Hills offers all the amenities of home plus comfort, companionship, convenience and security.

•385• Fall•2019•13

Andrea and Terry Burckhard show their love for the community and for one another.

So Much Love 14 •385•Our People•Our Stories

Cookeville couple tells their story of stroke recovery

T

Story by Lindsay McReynolds | Photos by Jack McNeely The afternoon of Tuesday, May 7, Cookeville resident Terry Burckhard was shopping at Lowe’s in preparation for a high school graduation party for his son, Blake, when the active lifestyle he’d enjoyed for decades quickly changed.

“I remember walking down the aisle,” Terry said. “All of a sudden, I could barely stand. An employee came walking by. He asked if I was okay. I couldn’t answer.”

Until that moment, the only time Terry had been in the

hospital was when he was born, but that May day was the start of an 80-day stay in three different medical facilities to recover from something neither he nor his wife, Andrea, knew much about — a stroke.

“I thought I was in excellent health,” Terry said.

Andrea, who had suffered a heart attack in 2014, said she didn’t have any idea about stroke.

“A stroke is more debilitating,” she said. “It affects your brain — that’s the challenge.”

When Terry arrived at Cookeville Regional Medical Center, one of the nurses in the emergency room, Susan Ashburn, recognized him, Googled Andrea’s name and called her office.

Andrea said she was starting a meeting when her assistant told her she needed to get to the hospital.

She then called the principal of Cookeville High School to get their sons out of school. Their son, Blake, was taking his final exams and an IB test.

Terry was airlifted from CRMC to Vanderbilt, where he spent a week before being transferred to St. Thomas Midtown, where Andrea was allowed to stay.

“I was there probably 75 days,” Andrea said. “The boys stayed some too. It was an important part of his healing.”

Terry underwent months of speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy to regain some of the functions he lost with the stroke.

“When he transferred from Vanderbilt to St. Thomas, he couldn’t move anything on his right side.”

After his time at St. Thomas, Terry spent almost two months at Life Care in Sparta and has been recovering at home since July 30.

He’s still going to physical therapy and occupational therapy three times a week at Life Care in Sparta.

“I remember reaching out to close friends, tennis players,” Andrea said of how she reacted when the stroke happened. “It rocked Cookeville because he was in great shape.”

Both Andrea and Terry have been champions for non-profits like the Cookeville Regional Charitable Foundation, which helps 2,000 families per year.

But hundreds of people turned to help them when the couple needed it the most.

“Modifications to our bathroom, gift cards — lot of things had to happen for him to come home, and a lot of that was donated,” Andrea said.

Terry said, “I can’t stress enough how the community has really stepped out and been supportive and helped us.”

Physical Therapist Meghan Sloggett puts Terry through his paces during a rehab session at Life Care Center in Sparta.

Fall•2019•15

‘I never knew you loved me so much’

— Terry Burckhard

qualified Terry for the long-term care that they’d been paying for.

“You pay a premium and then get $4,500 per month for home health care,” Andrea said. “For most people, it’s $100 to $300 per month, and the premiums don’t go up every year like health insurance.”

Andrea said the ideal time to begin paying for long-term care is in your 40s and 50s. Terry celebrated his 70th birthday Aug. 10.

For the Burckhards, that has assisted with Terry’s care through Home Instead.

“I’ve been promoting long-term care for years, but it’s more the emotional strain,” Andrea said. “Caregiving is hard. Sometimes you don’t know what to do.”

“People don’t realize the financial strain on the family,” Andrea said. “We’re not wealthy.”

Having a plan in place for a spouse that isn’t in a position to make decisions also helps.

“I had the financial power of attorney in place,” she said.

“When it came time to making decisions at Vanderbilt, I

Andrea and Terry walk through their neighborhood almost every night with their black lab, Zoey.

For the first month, only a few close friends knew about Terry.

“I was emotionally distraught,” Andrea said. “I finally put something on Facebook. That’s when it really opened up.”

But in addition to the generous help of friends, Andrea said their previous decision to purchase long-term care insurance was a lifesaver.

“The important thing is the planning,” Andrea said. “We planned as a family for a life-changing health care event, but we never thought it would happen.”

Terry was 59 years old, and Andrea was 46 when the couple decided to get extra insurance for a health care event like the one Terry had.

“Eleven years later, we’ve had to use it,” Andrea said.

Of the six functions of daily living — dressing, bathing, eating, transferring, toileting and continence — not being able to perform at least two of those without assistance

16•385•Our People•Our Stories

Serving the Upper Cumberland for 15 years Preferred CHOICES Provider Accepts most Long Term Insurance policies Our CAREGivers are thoroughly screened, trained, insured and bonded HomeInstead.com/CookevilleTN 708 08 E. 10th 0 h Street S Cookeville, TN 38501 931.526.1127

forward.

“But I think that’s with most things in life,” she said.

“You always hear God never gives you more than you can handle,” she said. “I didn’t know I had this in me.

“He said to me the other day, ‘I never knew you loved me so much,’” Andrea said. “That’s what marriage is all about.”

Terry said he’s most proud of his wife.

“She’s been rock solid,” he said.

“She’s had to keep everything going.”

Right next to “The Bucket List” book on their coffee table inside the living room of their Cookeville home, Andrea said Terry’s stroke and subsequent recovery have made them realize they don’t want to wait to do things together.

“Your 10 years post-retirement are the ‘go go years,’” Andrea said. “Sometimes they don’t come when you think they’re going to come, and they may look different.”

Andrea said they recently took an overnight trip to visit friends in Lexington. And they also make nightly walks together a priority.

“The moral of our story is I’m thankful Terry is here. We take it day by day. I’m also thankful we had planning in place.”

•385•

Apparel • Footwear • Backpacking Climbing • Paddlesports • Rentals Fly Fishing • Guiding 124 E Broad Street, Cookeville, TN www.outdoorexperienceonline.com

EY FO RK

CAN

C

YC E L

S

was able to handle the financial affairs where he was the only one on the account.”

Ninety-five percent of the people who come in my office don’t have that in place,” said Andrea, who’s an agent with New York Life Insurance.

Prior to the stroke, Terry said he didn’t take good care of his blood pressure.

“A lot of people don’t,” Andrea said.

“After I got back, I scheduled doctors’ appointments.

“We check his blood pressure twice a day now. Fifty percent of strokes, they don’t know why, but we think that’s why,” Andrea said.

What’s Andrea most proud of?

“His courage and strength,” she said.

“If I was in his shoes, I don’t know if I could be as graceful and positive. I’ve never seen him angry or depressed or bitter. He’s a joy to be around.”

In the immediate moments following Terry’s stroke, Andrea said medical personnel told them the majority of the recovery is your ability to press

BICYCLES · REPAIR · APPAREL

Bicycle Sales, Rental, Full Service Repair Shop & So Much More!

124 E Broad Street, Cookeville, TN www.caneyforkcycles.com

Fall•2019•17

Two Worlds

Monterey Senior Center director recalls ‘The Good Old Days’ and enjoys the convenience of modern technology Story by Paige Stanage | Photos by Don Foy Saundra Gilmore is thankful she experienced the small-town wonder of Monterey in the ‘50s and ‘60s, but is also grateful for how far technology has come since she was a kid.

“I’m thankful for the technology we have today because we get more work done in a day’s time than we ever have before,” she said. “I grew up in a time before we had com computers and all, like I learned to type with the typewriter.

It took a lot of time to type up a document without mistakes compared to just typing it on a computer screen today.

But anyway, I guess I sort of get the best of both worlds in that aspect. I got to have a childhood without today’s technology, but I’ve also been able to see how far it’s come along.”

Gilmore was born on the Camp Forrest Army base in Tullahoma to Percy Gilmore and Byrnie Ruth Gilmore. Her father, Percy, was in the Army for three years.

“Mom followed him and lived there,” Gilmore said. “He was in the Army for three years. But he beoriginally enlisted in the Air Force in hopes of be coming a pilot.”

Percy discovered he was colorblind on red and green during the color test, so he didn’t fulfill his dream of being a pilot. He spent the rest of his military career in the

18 •385•Our People•Our Stories

restricted intelligence division.

“I have always admired his fatherly guidance,” Gilmore said. “He was a true gentleman with courage like no one I’ve ever known.”

Gilmore’s mother, Byrnie, left school to be with Percy, but finished her schooling later in life.

“She left her junior year for marriage, then later in life returned to school,” said Gilmore. “One of my proudest memories of her was actually watching her walk across the old Monterey High School stage to receive her diploma and DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) award in 1955.”

Shortly after her father was out of the Army, the Gilmores moved back to Monterey.

Saundra grew up hanging out at her grandparent’s cafe, most commonly known as the Saundraline Cafe, or the Gilmore Cafe, which was owned by Logan and Beulah Gilmore Vernon.

Saundraline Cafe “That was the big hangout place,” she said. “It was the place to go for a milkshake, soda, breakfast, lunch and dinner. People would pile in after ballgames, and kids would come in after driving around town and next door at the Dairy Queen.”

The kids would come in and dance the bop, twist or stroll to music like Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Fats, Rydell and much more. All they had to do was put in a coin at the jukebox and make a selection.

“When my grandparents would

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

Fall•2019•19

‘There’s beauty out there, not just in scenery, but in people, too. You just have to be willing to experience it.’ — Saundra Gilmore

Saundra Gilmore, left, shows Senior Center member Marla Sanders one of the paintings at the center. go on vacations or deep sea fishing, I would run the cafe,” said Gilmore.

“And I just loved that. I met a lot of people that way, especially since the cafe was on Highway 70 and was a bus stop back then.”

In addition to the cafe, Percy Gilmore operated a garage and gas station next door.

“My dad had a small garage connected to the restaurant,” she said.

“And those were the days when they would pump your gas for you. If you had a problem with your car, they would open the door to the garage part and have you drive over a pit, and the mechanic would be in the pit.”

A big summertime highlight when Gilmore was growing up was the beautiful Monterey Lake, which

20•385•Our People•Our Stories

was also a hangout spot for kids and teens for many years.

“The place to swim was Monterey Lake,” she said. “It’s a beautiful drive down Highway 70. I would guess a lot of people learned to swim in that lake. My grandparents even talked about the groups who would gather there and swim, or build a small fire near the lake. People would stand around and talk and just have fun.”

As an adult, Gilmore worked for more than 30 years with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency.

Upon retirement, she moved back to her hometown to care for her 93 year old mother. She also took the position as the executive director for the Monterey Senior Center shortly after she moved back.

“It’s really something else to see

the faces on the seniors and to hear them laugh when they’re happy,” she said. “It’s just incredibly rewarding.

You just want to try and give them a quality life while they’re here at the center, and you don’t want them to just sit and stay at home.”

She said she wants the seniors to enjoy themselves, use their minds, socialize with others and make new friends. She also added that she wants that for everybody, no matter the age.

“This life just has so much to offer,” she said. “There’s beauty out there, not just in scenery, but in people, too. You just have to be willing to experience it.”

•385•

R eimagined RURAL Grand Challenge interns interact with the public at Tech’s Preview Day 2019.

Tech’s Grand Challenge picks up steam

Just over six months into the Tennessee Tech Grand Challenge, Rural Reimagined is gaining momentum, already involving more than 400 students in its partnering with rural communities to transform and revitalize these distressed and at-risk areas within the Upper Cumberland and across the state.

“Through the vision of the Grand Challenge, we see every student, faculty and administrator having the opportunity to bring their expertise, talent and collaboration into examining and researching rural issues,” said Michael Aikens, director of Tech’s Center for Rural Innovation and co-chair of the Rural Reimagined Grand Challenge committee.

“Within the next five years, we will ultimately impact surrounding rural areas while positioning Tech as the center for and model of rural engagement across the state and through

the nation.”

Tech announced its Grand Challenge in March, based on a vision of involvement throughout the university to impact rural areas.

In addition to involvement within the university, Tech has partnered with more than 30 local, state and federal entities, including economic developers, health officials and grant agencies.

The classes, research and even co-curricular events such as the Eagle Works Innovation & Entrepreneurship-based events provide students with the opportunity to have a positive impact on the challenge of transforming rural living.

Rural Reimagined-infused classes The implementation of rural challenges into coursework not only provides students with awareness of issues in rural areas, but it also

provides them with opportunities to use their diverse skills in beneficial and impactful ways.

For example, professor Bill Eberle of Tech’s computer science department is implementing Rural Reimagined into four capstone courses through the student-built development of software solutions to solve rural problems, while chemistry professors Ed Lisic and Jeffrey Boles are also implementing it into their FirstYear Experience courses, promoting research projects based entirely on rural issues for the freshmen class.

Research Rural areas face a variety of challenges, and Tech’s goal is to examine and research these issues and find innovative ways to address them. These issues include low-tono access to grocery stores and fresh produce, quality physical and mental Fall•2019•21

health care, broadband internet, and transportation; substance abuse; low inclusion and diversity; lack of nutrition; and lack of childcare, among others.

“The presence of these issues is not to say that rural communities are doing anything wrong,” Aikens said.

“Tech is not trying to change the image of rural. Instead, Tech is working with rural communities to identify the problems that they face and to supply research, ideas and resources to collaboratively solve those problems.”

Innovation & Entrepreneurship The primary goal of the Grand Challenge is to create connections with rural communities, building on current ones and developing new community-based partnerships. Tech’s Center for Rural Innovation continues to provide technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses, chambers of commerce and business associations while incorporating the diverse skill sets of Tech students through internships and paid opportunities.

“One example of this is an evolving project with Jackson County to brand this beautiful area as a tourist destination,” Aikens said.

In addition, Aikens and Andrea Kruszka of Tech’s Eagle Works Innovation & Entrepreneurship have incorporated Rural Reimagined through student-based problem solving into the recent Maker Challenge event, which encouraged students to brainstorm an idea or model to solve a problem in rural areas. After the success of the Maker Challenge, Eagle Works, which is open to all students, will feature a $2,500 Rural Reimagined Award to the student team with the most influential business idea to impact rural areas.

Students Students are also individually taking the initiative to get involved with the Grand Challenge, including incorporating a new student club called Rural Reimagined.

Kinsey Potter, a senior professional communication student from Gainesboro who is an intern with Rural Reimagined, wanted to create a student organization to

GRANVILLE MUSEUM FESTIVAL OF TREES - Nov 8th -Dec 28- Beautifully decorated 1960’s Christmas trees on display Wednesday - Friday.12- 3 PM & Saturday 12- 5 PM CHRISTMAS CHARACTERS ON PARADE Nov 8 thru Dec 31st.

185 Hand Painted Christmas Characters decorate entire town.

Drive thru open day and night.

ANTIQUE TOY & TRAIN SHOW - Nov 8th - Dec 28th. featuring 1960’s Toys and trains of yesteryear in car museum.

CHRISTMAS DINNER THEATRE - THE SUTTON STORE PLAYERS performing “It’s A Wonderful Time in Mayberry” Christmas menu, play and music. Groups welcome, reservations required. 931-653-4151. $25 per person Dec. 5, 6, 12 & 13 at 5:30 & 7:30 PM; Dec. 11 at 1:00 PM.

CHRISTMAS BLUEGRASS SHOWS - Dec. 7, 14, 21 & 28- Sutton Ole Time Music Hour. Special Christmas Music starts at 6 PM; Radio taping at 7 PM. Dinner at 5 & 6:30 PM. Christmas Southern Style Dinner; Reserved Seating. $20.00 per person.

“A 1960’s GRANVILLE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS” Dec 14th Christmas Musicals, Antique Toy Show, Festival of Trees, great food, children rides and Christmas Train, Santa, Children’s shopping for Santa, great shopping, tours of Sutton Honestead It’s A Winderful Life.

SUTTON HOMESTEAD - “It’s A Wonderful Time of the Year” Nov 8 thru Dec 28- Storytelling guided Christmas Tour -A 1960’s and White House Christmas Tour, a themed Christmas tree in every room. Open Wed. - Fri., 12 Noon-3 PM, Saturday 12 Noon-5 PM.

Great Christmas Shopping at Southern Shops of Granville, Granville Gifts, 1880 Sutton General Store, Granville Arts & Culture Center, Quilters Attic. Unique gifts, clothing, jewelry and handmade items.

Group Reservations Available for Christmas Parties or Luncheons. Call 931-653-4151.

2020 Theme: Life in a Small Mayberry Town Opens March 15th

22•385•Our People•Our Stories

get students involved in the challenge.

Future of Rural Reimagined But even though Rural Reimagined is off to a strong start, Tech has even bigger ideas for the future, ranging from more direct involvement from communities to supporting future rural events, such as next year’s Remote Area Medical Clinic.

Tech students and faculty, along with Cookeville Regional Medical Center administrators, are leading the way to provide the annual RAM Clinic, which provides free medical care to rural community members. At last year’s clinic, the value of the medical care given totaled nearly $600,000, with almost 1,000 people being treated.

“These things represent just a small sampling of the Rural Reimagined initiatives,” Aikens said. “We are continuing to work to identify new challenges every day, and we want to call out to the community: If you are a community organization, educator, economic developer, student or member of a distressed or at-risk county, we want to empower you to help make an impact. We want to hear your ideas!”

For more information, visit www.tntech.edu/ grand-challenge or email grandchallenge@tntech.edu.

•385•

Upper Cumberland Decorating Center “Where Quality & Service Still Matter”

“We Speak Pinterest” • Quality Paints • Carpets • Wall Coverings • Floor Coverings • Full Line Blinds • Free Estimates

931-528-1212

512 East Spring Street • Cookeville, TN 38501

In Business for 116 Years

In Business for 50 Years

In Business for 42 Years Be Good At Life® Andrea V. Burckhard

LUTCF®, CAP® Registered Representative offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Licensed Insurance Agency.

In Business for 40 Years

In Business for 17 Years

Grooming • Boarding Daycare • Training

In Business for 15 Years

Agent, New York Life Insurance Company 320 E. Broad St, 1A • Cookeville, TN OfÀce 931-525-LIFE(5433) • Cell 931-265-1959 www.AndreaBurckhard.com

In Business for 16 Years

Great Selections & Best Prices Friendly Staff

Cookeville, TN 931-528-BARK (2275)

1030 N. Washington Ave. Cookeville, TN 38501

Sparta, TN 931-837-PETS (7387)

Follow us on Facebook and BeerMenus.com

In Business for 9 Years

(931) 525•2769

Wines, Liquor & Craft Beer

In Business for 8 Years

Fall•2019•23

24 •385•Our People•Our Stories

Fall•2019•25

26•385•Our People•Our Stories

Fall•2019•27

Calendar

To submit major community events for consideration in the next issue, send them to 385Magazine@herald-citizen.com.

October

Baxter Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Baxter Depot.

26 26 31

Christmas Festivities

Fall-O-Ween — noon-4 p.m. — Livingston Central Park.

Monterey Fall Festival — 6-9 p.m. — Monterey First Baptist Church, Monterey United Methodist Church and Monterey Church of the Nazarene.

November 2

Monterey Dinner Theatre, 6 p.m. at Monterey Community Center. Show is “Mountain Medicine: The Monterey Hospital.”

Putnam County honors its veterans with a Veterans Parade beginning at 11 a.m. on the Courthouse Square.

11 15-16 28

ART Prowl — Friday, noon-8 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., all across Cookeville.

Putnam County YMCA’s annual Turkey Trot 5K begins at 8 a.m. with kids fun run at 7:30 a.m.

December

5-7

Friday, Dec. 6 — 5-8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 7 — 5-8 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 8 — 3-6 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 13 — 5-8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14 — 2-5 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 15 — 3-6 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20 — 5-8 p.m.

TSSAA state high school football championships. Sixteen teams will vie for eight championship trophies.

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

28 •385•Our People•Our Stories

Carriage Rides in Dogwood Park

visit us at VCAhospitals.com to sign up for a FREE pet health exam!

3207 Cookeville Hwy, Livingston • 931.498.3153

Friday, Nov. 8 through Saturday, Dec. 14 Granville Christmas

Friday, Nov. 29, Friday Dec. 6

Christmas in the Country, Livingston Courthouse Square

Sunday, Dec. 1

6 p.m. — Christmas in the Park Tree-Lighting Ceremony and Christmas Celebration Service at Dogwood Park, Cookeville

Friday, Dec. 6

10 a.m. -4 p.m. — Christmas Home and Hearth Market at Monterey Depot 5:30 p.m. — Gainesboro Christmas Parade 6:30 p.m. — Monterey Christmas Parade. After parade, Santa at Monterey Depot 7 p.m. — Baxter Christmas Parade

Saturday, Dec. 7

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Cookeville Depot Christmas Open House

Friday, Dec. 13

6 p.m. — Algood Christmas Parade

Saturday, Dec. 14

10 a.m. — Doyle Christmas Parade 1 p.m. — Livingston Christmas Parade 4 p.m. — Sparta/White County Christmas Parade 6 p.m. — Cookeville Christmas Parade

Fall•2019•29

Upper Cumberland

Quilt Festival This annual quilt show in Algood draws quilters and their works from all over the southeast. It is the primary fundraiser for the Algood Senior Center. Photos by Jim Herrin.

Sharon Clark, Barbara Tolleson and Sandy Kennedy.

Claude Ann Burton and Darlene Wiegand.

Susan Richardson.

Peggy Barrociere.

Helping families receive peace of mind since 1930.

Speck & Livingston Funeral Homes and Cremation | Livingston, TN | SpeckFuneral.com 30•385•Our People•Our Stories

Anne Barrett.

Edna Davis and Karen Davis.

Donna Moss, Mildred Judd, Marie Wilmoth, Fannie Mae Harris, Cathy Ferrell, Virginia Womack and Chris Dwyer.

CITIZENS BANK 51 E. Jackson Street | Cookeville, TN | 528.1999 www.citzcar.com

Fall•2019• 31

Bizapalooza Hundreds of business and community leaders gathered at Leslie Town Centre in late September for a great networking opportunity during the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Fall Bizapalooza. Photos by Jack McNeely

Jake Wilbanks of Fast Pace Urgent Care.

Six-year-old Hailey Mills at the Independence Again booth.

Tyler Greene, Sherri Lee and Rebecca King from American Bank and Trust.

Sue Swearengen, Jared Dunn, Dianne Callahan and Melissa Mitchell.

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.

32•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.

Jessica Richardson of Ascend Credit Union and Don Viar of EpiOn.

Kathy Dunn.

Gina Padgett and Shanna Muncy of Tennessee Tech.

Jay Albrecht, Seven Senses.

Fall•2019• 33

Why I Love…

The Putnam County Fair

John Allen President Putnam County Fair

Written and Photographed by Don Foy

How did you get involved in the fair?

How long are you going to do this?

I have loved the Putnam County Fair since the first time I went in 1955. My family has always been heavily involved in the fair. We would all take our lawn chairs and line up on the north grandstand and watch the Friday and Saturday night walking horse shows. We saw our neighbors and friends — some we only saw at the fair. We would visit with folks, have some great fair food and watch some of the best Tennessee walking horses in the world.

When I retired, I tried to volunteer, but they never called. So I asked my county commissioner to nominate me to serve on the board. He did, and the rest is history.

It’s the hardest job I’ve ever had. I don’t get paid money, but I do get the satisfaction of seeing others learn to love the fair like I do.

I get to work with people who love the fair as much as I do — you have to love it to be on the board. I get to work with young people and help them prepare for the leadership roles they are assuming.

One day I will retire and hand it off to them, but not for a while. Wes Roberson has promised to get me a motor scooter when I get too old to walk around the fairgrounds if I continue to be president. So, I guess I will stay around for awhile as long as I can keep the board focused and organized — that’s what they asked me to do six years ago.

34 •385•Our People•Our Stories

What dreams do you have?

The county is talking about new property, a new Expo Center — bigger and better than ever — with year-round events, shows, sales, horse and livestock events and the Putnam County Fair.

With a new property and plenty of parking the fair can become most anything we can envision. Our board will be challenged to dream big. One day I would love to see our fair be a regional event involving other counties around us. It can be whatever we dream it to be.

The Better Energy for Your Home is the

SWITCH your all-electric home to cleaner,

* *U 1BZT UP .BLF .PUIFS /BUVSF 1SPVE

greener natural gas, conserve energy and reduce your carbon footprint by up to 46%.

All while enjoying: t &OEMFTT IPU XBUFS t 1SFDJTJPO DPPLJOH t 2VJDLFS ESZJOH DMPUIFT t 'BTUFS DP[JFS IFBU

&DOO RU *R WR ZZZ FRRNHYLOOH WQ JRY JDV WR OHDUQ PRUH •

•

tntech.edu/grand-challenge

RURAL REIMAGINED

Accelerating Rural Collaboration & Innovation ,AST SPRING 4ENNESSEE 4ECH LAUNCHED ITS ÂŽRST GRAND CHALLENGE INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON 2URAL 2EIMAGINED WHICH HARNESSES SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION TO TRANSFORM RURAL LIVING

Since then, the university has: • ,AUNCHED CLASSES INCORPORATING 2URAL 2EIMAGINED • -ORE THAN STUDENTS PARTICIPATING • FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS INVOLVED • !LL COLLEGES HAVE AT LEAST ONE PERSON INVOLVED • í COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM LOCAL STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS