CUMBERLAND CITY POST

MOTORCYCLES ‘REV IT UP’ AT CUMBERLAND CITY

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:57:00 +0000

By TERESA SETTLE NORRIS

Tennessee Express News Writer

* For the fifth straight year, motorcycle enthusiasts have brought their souped-up, hot-rodding, Harley-sounding babies to the Cumberland City annual Fourth of July celebration.
* Kay Hudson was in charge of the motorcycle show and judging. Set up in between the tractors and the antique cars, the motorcycle show brings out both avid bikers and wanna-be’s.
* Before the 12:10 p.m. judging, anyone who wanted to could eyeball all of the fine entries and vote for best of show.
* The winner receives a coveted “Best of Show” hand-carved trophy.
* This year there were several bikes to look at before the winners were announced.
* Winning in the 1985 and up category was Ricky Keel and his 2000 Harley-Davidson Fatboy. It had a great Indian “End of the Trail” paint job done by Johnny Watson of Joe Heitz Toyota.
* Keel has had the bike for a couple of years, and when he’s not hauling gas, he enjoys riding it a couple of times a month.
* Keel’s bike also took home the coveted Best of Show trophy, and it was a real treat to have the trophy artist on hand for the presentation.
* Rick Boyd, a Carlisle resident, has been carving out the trophies each year. Crippled from a Navy diving accident, Boyd has no use of his hands, so it takes him about three days to carve out the wooden motorcycle-shaped trophy that’s so prized, but it is obviously a work of love.
* Boyd, who has lived in Stewart County for the past 21 years, also makes plaques, clocks and paper towel holders as a hobby.
* Taking home second place in the 1985 and up category was Ed Bryant’s custom chopper.
* Third place went to Leland Breeden of Erin and his 2000 Harley Heritage Softtail. He’s had it about four years.
* Asked how often he gets to ride (he hangs drywall for a living), he answered, “Every chance I get.”
* In the 1985 and under category, there was only ONE entry… so I guess that’s why Dicky Moon walked away with the win!
* Finally, in the foreign category, Tommy Conger took home a nice trophy as well.
* Just as the crowds to view the parade were down, there also seemed to be less motorcycles this year as well.
* Some speculated that the recent motorcycle fatalities might have kept a few motorcyclists away.
* Fresh on everyone’s mind was the motorcycle accident on July 1 up the street at Sportsman’s Market, where Joey Holmes was killed in a collision of his motorcycle with a car.
* Plus, the mid-June fatality of Erin resident Mike Boggs, who lost control on Hwy. 49 and traveled into the path of an oncoming car, devastated the entire community.
* In Camden this summer, a cyclist hit a deer then was run over by a car. Closer to home recently, TVA worker Sam Mathis suffered severe leg injuries in a motorcycle accident as well.
* Erin resident Matthew Mullins was noticeably NOT riding his Harley this year, even though it won best of show last year.
* “It [the recent rash of motorcycle wrecks and fatalities] might be one reason I’m not riding today,” he said.
* Mullins owns two bikes: the 2007 Screaming Eagle red Dyna that won best of show last year and a 2005 Heritage Springer.
* This year’s motorcycle event may have been smaller, but the motorcycle show shirt was FABULOUS.
* On a black background on the front of the shirt was a beautiful, majestic flying eagle, surrounded by red, white, and blue ribbons and stars.
* It also said “Lighting Up the Cumberland, A Community Celebration,” and “Fifth Annual Motorcycle Show, July 4th, 2008.”
* If you didn’t get one, they cost $15.
* You can write to Cumberland City, P.O. Box 40, Cumberland City, TN 37050, or drop by City Hall during business hours (8 A.M.-4:30 P.M.) to see if they have any extras.
* Kay Hudson said there were several Houston County supporters of this year’s event.
* From Tennessee Ridge, there was Ace Hardware.
* From Erin, there were: Houston County Tire, Traditions Bank, Hankins Tire & Alignment, Clark Brothers Barber Shop, Bell’s, Pit Stop Pizza, and Paul’s Pizza.
* City Café of Cumberland City was the only Stewart County sponsor.
* From Clarksville, there were also several businesses who served as sponsors: M/T Performance, Mid-South Motoplex, Appleton’s Harley-Davidson, Auto Zone, and Queen City M/C Repair.

SMALL TOWN PARADE,BIG TIME FOR EVERBODY

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:25:00 +0000

By TERESA N. SETTLE

Tennessee Express News Writer

* The crowds were down, and the parade was short, but the weather was beautiful for the 2008 Lighting Up the Cumberland Celebration in Cumberland City, Tennessee
The fifth annual event kicked off a little later than the 10 A.M. start time, but everyone easily forgave Mayor Whitey Vaughn, who had to attend to some important city business. It’s easy to forgive one of the biggest supporters for the annual celebration here, residents say.
* Besides, the parade has been delayed many times in the past five years… once to allow all the tractors to get across the river on the Cumberland City ferry.
* Cumberland City Church of Christ Minister Richard Garza gave the invocation after the Mayor’s welcome.
* “We thank you, God, for blessing our community,” Garza prayed. “Continue to bless our country, and bless the Cumberland City community.
* Then Garza asked God specifically to bless the young people of the community. “If it’s your will, please bless the children of Cumberland City with a school of their own,” he said.
* Given the go-ahead, Cumberland City Police Chief Jason Gillespie cranked up the siren on his grey car, tossed green Frisbees, and proceeded to bring the parade down the hill.
* Houses along the parade route were patriotically festooned with flags, red, white, and blue ribbons, flowers, and banners. At 404 Main Street, patriotric music spilled from the beautiful Colonial-style porch of one home, which even featured a red, white, and blue tree decorated inside a nearby gazebo.
* If you were within hearing range of city hall, you enjoyed the familiar voice of emcee George Wallace, who attends the event faithfully each year and also provides the P.A. equipment for the day-long entertainment.
* Following the police chief in the parade was the Stewart County Volunteer Fire Services truck.
* To the delight of children of all ages, next came a number of motorcycles, revving their engines as they passed.

* Even Cumberland City’s own alderman David Dunlap was spotted on his Harley, with his lovely wife Belinda riding happily behind him! (You know what they say… Behind every great man is the woman responsible!)

* Next, Macey Dale Perigo was a vision to behold as she waved to the crowds in her capacity as 2008 Miss Lighting Up the Cumberland.

* Stewart County Mayor Rick Joiner shared the next float with “Granny” (a.k.a. “The Queen of Cumberland City”).

* Granny, affectionately called that by everyone in the Cumberland City neighborhood, is really 92-year-young Mary Sue Douglas. Her cheerful, happy attitude is a welcome sight each year. This year, though, I noticed that Granny wasn’t wearing either the crown she wore the first year or the fancy hat from last year.

* When asked about it, her sassy response, as she lifted her aged hands to her head, was, “I didn’t want to mess up my hair.”

* She was also quick to share that she’d already ridden on a motorcycle earlier in the day to the fire hall (courtesy of her grandson!).

* “I enjoy life,” Granny said, simply. “I just believe in God. That’s all. He’s been good to me. I enjoy having fun and joking.”

* Granny was wearing a pretty floral pant suit, and she laughed when I complimented her on it. That’s because, as she slyly explained, with her painful arthritis, she was wearing maternity pants for comfort.

* Still, age-related problems don’t seem to be slowing down this vivacious lady who fell in love with Cumberland City eight years ago when she moved here.

* “I’m fighting for a hundred, honey,” is her parting shot that pretty much sums it all up.

* Of course, the parade route continued with Parade Master Hunter Baron, followed by Little Miss Lighting Up the Cumberland, Paisley Autumn Epps.

* And then came the tractors…

* Mike Vanzant of Cumberland City drove his 1952 Super C McCormick Farmall and had a few grandchildren around him hitching a ride as well: Gracie and Sha-Ann Vanzant, Riley Pullard, and Cary Travis.

* Other tractors included a variety of McCormick-Farmalls, John Deeres, and even a WD-45 Allis-Chalmers.

* The Cumberland City Church of Christ was easily dubbed the most patriotic float of the day, with a wagon-full of young children waving small flags.

* From start to finish the parade was only 15 minutes long, setting two records: one for the being the shortest in all five years of the event’s history, and the other for being broadcast live all over the world for the first time ever, thanks to Mike Davis’s coverage on the erintennessee.com webpage.

* Stay tuned for more coverage including the motorcycle show winners, the car show, speculation on why there was such a low turn-out, and MUCH MORE!!!

PHOTOS FROM LIGHTING UP THE CUMBERLAND

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:26:00 +0000

LIGHTING UP THE CUMBERLAND

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:04:00 +0000

On July4th a balmy sumer evening in Cumberland city Tn the citizens again proved their event was well named to the delight of thousands of visitors. Photo by Mike Davis

May Day - Do One Thing for Emergency Preparedness

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:54:00 +0000

May Day - Do One Thing for Emergency Preparedness
May 1, 2008

May 1st is Disaster Preparedness Day for improving awareness of
protecting historic documents of all types during disasters like
tornadoes, floods, and other natural disasters.

Be ready to care for your family and your family’s most important
records.

Plan an evacuation route for your family, plan a safe place in the
home, plan for a meeting place, and plan to take a cell phone or
numbers. Be able to “grab and go” when the time comes.

Tennessee State Library and Archives, County Government Archives, and
Council of State Archivists want everyone to remember to be prepared for
the unexpected.

Determine what are your family’s most Essential records and/or
Irreplaceable records.

Essential records are: birth certificates, marriage records, health and
insurance records, banking account records, and mortgage and deed
records.
Irreplaceable records are family documents, letters, diaries,
photographs, and scrapbooks.

Ways to prepare for emergencies.

1. Keep a checklist up to date, of all those essential records and
locations.
2. Take a copy of the checklist any time you have to evacuate your
home.
3. Consider duplicating essential records and store “off-site”
(a bank safety deposit vault or another trusted family home). Think of
where other duplicates might be and name that location on you list:
local government records, State Vital Records, or even doctor’s office
records.
4. Do not forget computer records: Any essential records stored on
home computers should be backed up by paper copy, CD, or jump drive
stored off site.
5. Be ready to evacuate some original records. If necessary create
an easy to carry ready to move container with essential or irreplaceable
records, to pick up as one evacuates.
6. An itemized list of locations for essential and irreplaceable
will help give a priority to possible recovery and salvage of those
items after a disaster.

Read more about this topic:
Rescuing Family Records: A Disaster Planning Guide by David W.
Carmicheal
Or on the following websites:
Tennessee State Library and Archives: http://www.tennessee.gov/tsla/
Council of State Archivists: http://www.statearchivists.org/
Heritage Preservation: http://www.heritagepreservation.org/
American Red Cross Preparedness section: http://www.redcross.org/

WELLS CREEK BASIN ONLINE

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 16:23:00 +0000

WELLS CREEK BASIN ONLINE: "New Factory breaks ground in the Stewart Houston Industrial Park"

RODEO A SUCESS

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 04:37:00 +0000

As the sunset on Cumberland City a lone rider rode the ring in what just a short time before had been a field of dreams as a new chapter in the cities special events took place and has others in the past this was no less a hit according to Houston County Fair board members Kendall Coleman and Shanon Harris who were there to get ideas who told me this event was more geared to include younger members with events like chase the stick bull, The red Neck Woman and put the panties on the bull mostly made mostly of teen age teams, then came the real Bull rides. According to Mayor Vaughn the show is already re-booked for the last Saturday in Sept 2008 so put it on your calendar.

LIGHTS ON

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 23:40:00 +0000

On Tuesday, September 11, 2007 everyone in the USA who
will be driving a motor vehicle is asked to drive with their headlights
on during daylight hours.

Death toll mounts as floods, heat wave batter US - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:06:00 +0000

Death toll mounts as floods, heat wave batter US - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos: "Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama continued to wither under a record-breaking heat wave blamed for the death of at least 25 people."

DAILY QUICK NEWS

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:31:00 +0000

Fire House Jam

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 06:57:00 +0000

Music like the Grand Old Opera of old the Fire House Jam is a mix of entertainer playing because they love it. So come on down any Third Saturday at 4pm they break at 6 for supper so be sure and bring a appetite. I will bring you part of the show each month.

AMERICA THE GREATEST

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:59:00 +0000

From Jeannie Roper comes this story I'm told that there is a huge rock near a gravel pit on Hwy.25 in rural Iowa.For generations, kids have painted slogans, names, and obscenities on this rock, changing its character many times. A few months back, the rock received its latest paint job, and since then it has been left completely undisturbed. It's quite an impressive sight. Its amazing and all we get is graffiti.

CANNON FIRES IN CUMBERLAND CITY

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:31:00 +0000

By TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer
* The loud “boom” was over in a split second, but it echoed along the banks
of the Cumberland River for much longer, as Cumberland City Mayor Whitey
Vaughn proudly declared, “That’s the first cannon shot heard in Cumberland
City since 1865.”
* The time was 10:07 a.m. last Saturday, June 30. It was heard during the
opening ceremonies for the “Lighting Up the Cumberland – 2007.”
* The cannon fire was orchestrated off the banks of the Cumberland River by
the Porters / Baxter Battery, a company of Civil War re-enactors with local
(Tennessee Ridge) ties.
* According to Mayor Vaughn, the story goes that there’s a tree in the
Methodist Church yard that had the top of it blown out during the Civil War.
* He described the tree as 22 feet, 8 inches around. Not only that, but
Cumberland City has more Civil War stories.
* “There’s a gun boat that sunk about in line with Bradley Street,” the
mayor said. “It’s still there. Nobody’s ever dug it up.”
more Photos

TO CONTINUE THE STORY

MOTORCYCLE, CAR ENTHUSIASTS

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:23:00 +0000

LIGHTING UP THE CUMBERLAND 2007, Part Three

By TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer
* The annual Cumberland City Lighting Up the Cumberland just wouldn’t be
complete without the motorcycle show and the car show.
* In its fourth year, the motorcycle show was headed up, as usual, by K.
Hudson. He does a terrific job as chairman of the event, and this year his
wife Mary enjoyed the new location near the W.T. Thomas School because she
could sit in the shade of a tree and get a breeze every now and then.
* “I enjoy riding because you can see so much more [than when you’re in a
car],” Mary said, adding that “even the smells” are better—like that of
fresh mown grass.

TO CONTINUE THE STORY

CUMBERLAND CITY ANOTHER GREAT EVENT

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Davis) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:16:00 +0000

By TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer
* The fifth annual Cumberland City celebration of the Independence Day
holiday was another success story. Even though the event had its setbacks --
threat of rain, daytime heat, and a small parade – the event was enjoyed by
all in attendance, from start to finish.TO CONTINUE THE STORY