Update: August 25, 2011

Good Afternoon MJ:

Wow, check out the progress on North Mt. Juliet Road this week! Work crews are entering one of the more difficult sections of the project, the intersection with the train tracks and West Division, but things are going really well right now. There’s lot of things going on all along the road, so remember, take it easy on the speed and drive with care.

As a reminder, Wilson County Mayor Hutto and County Veteran Affairs Officer J.C. Satterfield hold office hours once a month (the last Wednesday of the month) at MJ’s City Hall, starting at 8:30. You can make an appointment with the Mayor’s assistant at 443-1383 or drop in. The next visit will be this coming Wednesday, 31 August.

The MJ Animal Shelter is running a special for these “dog days” of August. All dogs are $55.00, and that includes all required shots and spaying or neutering. You can check out the animal inventory on-line at the city’s web page (www.cityofmtjuliet.org) Speaking of deals. This Saturday, starting at 8:00 a.m., is MJ’s “World Famous” Flea Market/Yard Sale. This promises to be a good one, because as of this writing we’ve got nearly 40 vendors. There’s still a couple booths left and time to purchase them. Call 758-6522 for details. Vendor or buyer, this Saturday morning (from 8:00 till 1200) the place for your early holiday shopping is right here in MJ at the Charlie Daniels Rec Center.

Movies in the Park: Our next and final film feature of the summer will be Friday, 2 September, at the amphitheater at Charlie Daniels Park. Bring your family and friends out at dusk for an evening under the stars with that “Better than the Average Bear” Yogi, and his trusty sidekick, Boo Boo.

Cook’s United Methodist Church will be selling barbecue and ribs on Saturday, September 3. Pulled pork sells for $7.50/lb. and a slab of ribs (approximately 4 lbs.) sells for $25. Sounds like a mouth watering deal doesn’t it! The meat will be available for pick-up at the church from 12-3 pm on Saturday. Proceeds will be used to support the needy in our community. Orders may be placed by contacting Joyce Gaines at kwgain@yahoo.com. Or call Joyce at 513-4318.

Since 1971, 26 August, has been declared “Women’s Equality Day” in the U.S. The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York. Observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Well done Ladies.

There’s a couple of church affiliated organizations conducting African mission trips in the near future that I’d like to mention as we close out this week’s update. The first EMI, Engineering Ministries International, will be taking on upgrading three hospitals in Freetown, Sierra Leone. EMI partners professional, Christian engineers together for construction or restitution efforts in third world countries. This year, 10 engineers will travel to Freetown to work on the infrastructure of several hospitals in one of the poorest nations on the globe. Spearheading the Nashville-based contingent is Mt. Juliet’s own Mr. Marlin Keel, BS, MS, Vanderbilt University. The team departs in a couple weeks.
Another mission with a sizeable Mt. Juliet team will head for Zimbabwe in early October. Operating under the auspices of the United Methodist Church, the “Project Tariro Awareness Tour” travels to the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, focusing their work on HIV and AIDS prevention and control while also establishing a sewing ministry for residents. At one time nearly a third of Zimbabwe’s population had AIDS or HIV, and even today close to 15% do. The average life span in this nation under 40. As part of their program, the Project Tariro group will be purchasing manual sewing machine ($90.00 each) once they’re in country; taking them to the city of Mutare, where they’ll provide classes and instruction on sewing infant diapers and other essential clothing items.
Want to help? For EMI’s Sierra Leone mission, call Mr. Keel at 758-2560. POC for Project Tariro is Dr. Paul Van Buren, a Mt. Juliet resident, who can be reach at 758-4635. Remember, Tennessee is the Volunteer State. For so very little you can make a huge impact in the lives of those who need so much.

Remember, share this note, and how to sign up on Nixle with your family and friends. Take care, God Bless and talk with you later.

R. Robertson

Update: August 19, 2011

Good Afternoon MJ:

A couple weeks ago you may have read articles in our local papers about some vandalism that took place in MJ’s South Park, off Belinda Parkway. I’m pleased to tell you today that several juveniles have been identified in this matter and are being dealt with appropriately. Special thanks to Detective Joe Riddle for the good work on this one.

Know a professional looking for a job? R&D Fixtures of Mt. Juliet is hiring Cabinet Makers and Metal Fabricators. Applicants need to have at least three years of experience. Send resumes to: Bill Wicks, R&D Fixtures, 490 Industrial Drive Mt. Juliet, Tennessee 37122. No Phone Calls Please. Also, the soon to open Mapco station at the intersection of Lebanon and North Mt. Juliet Roads advises they are hiring. For more info check out their web page.

Paving on Lebanon Road is done . . . it looks super! The TDOT, Region 3 Deputy Director advised today they’ll soon start the appropriate painting and signage to add bike lanes along the route. He also indicates they are on track to have the all lanes of the North Mt. Juliet Road widening project drivable by late this Fall. Every indication is both TDOT and the Contractor are doing very well on this project.

Here’s some business openings Kenny Martin, MJ’s Economic Development Director, advises have just occurred or are in the window:

- Los Compadres is now open for business. They are located on Lebanon Rd., close to the site where the new Lexon Insurance is under construction.
- Pizza Hut Carry out is opening in Providence Commons, close to Publix South.
- Roadhouse Subs, also located in Providence Commons should be opening in the next month.
- Diamond Dance Academy, another new business for Providence Commons is also projected to be up in the next 4 to 6 weeks.
- The new Maristone Assisted Living Complex in now taking residency applications. They are located in the Providence area, near Two Rivers Ford.
- Firestone at The Paddocks should be operational within the next 4 to 6 weeks.
- Murphy Oil, also in The Paddocks, should be moving earth in the near future.
- McDonalds has been approved for a new restaurant in the Providence Commons area.
- A Jonathan’s Grill is coming. This promises to be one of MJ premiere restaurants.
- The Faulkner Center, on Mt. Juliet Road will have a Merle Norman Cosmetics, Elegant Diamond Jewelers as well as an exercise facility and a hair/nail salon hopefully up in time for the holiday’s.

Remember: Shop MJ First.

Captain Marty Heckman of WEMA advises ground sites for all three of the additional WEMA emergency sirens MJ purchased have been approved. They include: across from Brookstone Subdivision; at Mt. Juliet Elementary on West Division; and across from the Providence Marketplace. Marty states he hopes to have the sirens operational by September. Thanks for your help Marty.

Need to get rid of a few of those household “treasures”, or looking for a place to make some great buys? They are both in the same place, at the MJ Annual Community Flea Market, next Saturday, 27 August, at the Charlie Daniels Park, starting at 7 a.m. We’ve already have close to 20 vendors signed up but there’s room for lot’s more. For details or to secure a booth, call the MJ Community Center front desk at 758-6522. See you there.

Finally, federal officials from Oak Ridge National Lab, Community & Regional Resilience Institute briefed about 30 county and city officials, along with transportation, faith-based, utilities, roads, non-profit and business sector leaders this afternoon regarding Mt. Juliet’s selection as a pilot city for the Community Resilience System (CRS). Those in attendance learned what steps the federal government has done since 9/11 to help assist and improve a community’s capabilities and timeliness in recovering from manmade, natural or economic disasters. Mt. Juliet will join 10 cities from across the U.S. testing a community oriented, automated driven assessment system to better prepare for issues such as those recently faced in cities like Joplin, Missouri; Huntsville, Alabama; towns across the Gulf, or in scenarios involving the loss of major employers. You’ll be seeing more about this here and in the media, but for now, congratulations MJ on your inclusion in this process.

That’s all for this week. Take care, God Bless and talk with you later.

R. Robertson