Update: 5/12/10

Good Morning MJ:

Just a couple short notes:

We posted another flood update from WEMA Chief John Jewell today on Channel 3. Chief Jewell's message is encouraging anyone with flood related damage, whether they are insured or not, to register with FEMA. You can do that by going to http://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or by calling 1-800-621-3362. A FEMA disaster assistance center is open in the 100 Oaks Mall and one is tentatively scheduled to open at Lebanon's Outlet Mall in the next few days. Thus far, over $2.27m in damages have been reported to governmental facilities here in Wilson County alone, with more than 500 structures affected by the flood.

On a different note, occupancy in the Animal Shelter is running high. We have the widest array of potential pets available since late last year. Please open your heart and home to a cat and dog. We are also in desperate need of active volunteers. While we have a large roll, at the end of the day it's been a handful of dedicated individuals who carry most of the volunteer load at the shelter. Interested? Call Sergeant Keith Youmans at 773-5533.

You will soon be able to monitor the progress of the North Mt. Juliet Road (NMJR) project while driving along the route. Public Works and Parks personnel are busy fabricating a couple oversized "thermometers" that will click off the number of months of the project. Look for them at strategic sites along NMJR next month.

Some new businesses on our horizon include Fire It Up (self pottery store), Sports Clips, Tennessee Cheese Cake Company, Nashville Tire and Battery, Ascend Credit Corporation, Whichwich Sandwiches, Firestone Service Center.

On a final note, I ran across an interesting and timely article in the 5 May edition of The Wall Street Journal I want to share with our Nixle and CM blog readers.

In "Surviving the Age of Humiliation", author Jeff Zaslow concludes that in today's internet age, the spirit of civility, courtesy and simple decorum is too often displaced with the harshness of mean spirited people hiding behind a veil of anonymity. Nameless, faceless bloggers spew drivel with the primary intent of tarnishing, destroying or humiliating others. Most often the brunt of their efforts are people whom they genuinely know little or nothing of.

One of the article's passages is of particular note: "The problem is that too many of us succumb to the anonymity of the web. We're braver when we type. We don't have to look someone in their eyes. It's easier to be vicious . . ." But another source quoted by Zaslow, seems to say it best when he writes: "There have always been people whose aim in life was to cause pain to others." That says a lot for the times we live in, but it's always easier to tear down than to build. Just some thoughts from the CM.

Take care and God bless. Talk with you later.

R. Robertson