The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 159

1 Hits iiiipgi.iii TOB RU TT I T2R SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1997 ERFORD Stadium funding request Question the candidates Thfi rare for the Rrnvma may 1i T( Rutherford w'" Voices oral Rfiflt alrparfu has nrnuorl tn he r- jr AJI-- 's SttveV. Mi Kinney a fiery one with candidates squabbling about yard signs and political Boys Girls Clubhouse their home football games at MTSU. This cost includes actual payments made to the university for lights, post-game clean up, and security. There's also the cost of two buses to transport the teams to their home games, plus one bus for the band and its equipment Additionally, the Rutherford County Board of Education shares equally in the cost of periodically replacing the artificial turf at MTSU to the tune of $28,000. There are safety issues as well.

MTSU requires that one of its security guards be present at each game, in addition to eight off-duty law enforcement officers hired by the schools. The large stadium makes it difficult for the principals to maintain control. "MTSU is becoming a Division I school with 31,000 seating capacity," Watson said. I 1irn to PAGE 2L, Column 1 "A promise made is a promise kept," board member Gary Patton said, referring to the board's decision to follow through on its 1994 recommendation. New schools in Smyrna and La Vergne and, soon, the Blackman community had multi-purpose athletic facilities included in their plans.

It is only fair to give Riverdale and Oakland students the same opportunities, Schools Superintendent J. Hulon Watson said. "These delays affect children, and we've put it off for 26 years," Watson said. Historically, beginning 60 years ago with Central High School, secondary schools have shared Middle Tennessee State University's stadium facilities. With MTSU moving to Division I status, the arrangement is becoming more difficult to manage.

Using the facilities hasnt come free, either. Watson said that Riverdale and Oakland spend about $50,000 a year to play School board keeps three-year promise Bv DEBBIE McQANAHAN Slate Correspondent MURFREESBORO Riverdale and Oakland high schools, which opened in 1972, have been waiting for a quarter of a century to host home football games. At long last, funding requests for multipurpose stadiums at both schools will be presented to the Rutherford County Commission. In a unanimous decision, the Rutherford County Board of Education on Thursday moved to reaffirm its motion of Jan. 4, 1994 that stadiums for Murfreesboro's existing high schools be included in a funding package to develop a three-school complex in the Blackman community.

loyaities dividing the city's commissioners. Come Nov. 1 1 voters will choose between current Mayor Paul Johns, his opponent Commissioner Robert Mullins and any other candidates who decide to throw their hat into the ring by Saturday, Sept. 27. But there's still time for residents to pepper the candidates with probing questions about their views on how to guide the city of Smyrna into the new millennium.

Tell us what you'd like us to ask the candidates and we'll print their responses, along with their plans for office, in an upcoming edition of Rutherford Today. Fax us at 2C9-C033 or e-mail us at wen reportcrs.net by 5 p.m. Wednesday and lec.ve your question, name, address and telephone number, a vision of hope I have experienced a vision come to life. I recognize the privilege that many others did not. 1 to dh) IP Will 'Il''''''''a Smyrna officer trains at FBI academy Iv BETH WARREN Staff Writer SMYRNA Roommates, dorm rooms, studying and outdoor runs.

What sounds like a semester at Middle Tennessee State University was actually an intensive 11-week training course at the FBI National Academy for Smyrna Assistant Police Chief Kevin Arnold. Arnold was among a handful of Tennessee law enforcement officials attending the program at FBI headquarters in Quantico, Va. He joined others this month from Franklin, Gallatin, Memphis, Pigeon Forge and Elizabethton, in earning a diploma. "It felt a lot like college," Arnold said. "It was hard in some areas, but it's a real good experience." The assistant chief took several classes including a forensics course, which covered such topics as how to recover fingerprints from a crime scene.

Along with term papers and tests, the program requires physical training as well. Jogs on flat surfaces turn into uphill runs as the program progresses with the final test a 10-mile run and obstacle course that includes a crawl under barb wire. "It's one of these deals where they want you to compete with yourself, academically and physically," Arnold said. Another FBI training program graduate, Smyrna Police Chief Mike Beach, earned his diploma about two years ago. Bayer and Swanson died before their companies made aspirin or TV dinners.

French and Lance did not live to see their companies pro: duce mustard or snack crackers. Boeing died before his company made a commercial jet. I am fortunate. I have experienced the birth of the premier youth development organization that is national in scope and rich in tradition. Rutherford County committed it-self as a private-sector support system to provide an after-school place for school-aged young people that is second to none.

Murfreesboro housed the original Clubhouse for four years. A partnership with the City of Murfreesboro to lease space in a community center for the nexf six years' was the second phase in which girls were welcomed into membership. Today, a state-of-the-art facility on nine acres, serving around 200 boys and girls daily, is home base. The new Boys Girls Clubhouse opened Dec. 3, 1996 at 820 Jones Boulevard.

Two months prior to the Murfreesboro opening, Smyrna Branch of the Boys Girls Clubs of Rutherford County opened at 205 Front Street Expansion is imminent as the organization strives to serve the needs of an ever-growing, ever-changing community. This summer, the club also offered service at a summer school site after school. Programs are a strength of the Boys Girls Club movement. Among our programs are supplement education, citizenship and leadership development, cultural enrichment, social recreation, environmental awareness, health and physical education. United Way has been steadfast in its support and provides the largest single source of revenue since the 1986 inception.

We want to be a flagship to personify what a difference United Way can make in our community. Community service is provided ill' raj I p)w. JARED LAZARUS STAFF Smyrna Assistant Police Chief Kevin Arnold earned a diploma from the FBI National Academy Arnold Joined other officers from around the state at the training academy In Quantico, Va. Revenue from mall fills county coffefs 1 Stones River offers many opportunities i.VN St 1 I I 3 VI UT By DEBORAH HIGHLAND Staff Writer MURFREESBORO Shoppers spending their money in and near Stones River Mall are becoming a life force for infrastructure KYLE HALEY WALSH 1 by club members. Horse shows, rodeos, Mainstreet, highway pickups, field days, charity runs, and Uncle Dave Macon Days are all part of membership for the teens and soon-to-be teens.

On June 3, UT Lady Vol Coach Pat Summitt visited the Clubhouse -for our 10th annual Steak Burger dinner at which $102,000 was raised. She encouraged the children to surround themselves with "good people," set goals and dreams, work hard and maintain discipline. "I want to be remembered as: someone who made a difference, especially with young people," she said. The Boys Girls Club provides the opportunity. I have experienced a vision come to life.

Steven V. McKinney is the executive director of the Boys Girls Clubs of: Rutherford County. Rutherford Voices welcomes your columns on topics of interest about Rutherford County. Send your contri- -buttons by fax or mail to the number and address listed below. REX PERRY STAFF Bv BETH WARREN Staff Writer MURFREESBORO As shops expand and large department stores find a home at Murfreesboro's Stones River Mall, Rutherford County residents can look forward to dozens of job opportunities.

JCPenney alone is searching for employees to do everything from move stock, sell merchandise and manage employees in time to open its doors this fall, mall marketing director Donna Walsh said. Tack on an additional 50 or more full-time and part-time jobs up for grabs throughout the mall, she said. Mall anchor Castner Knott, which opened in November, and American Eagle Outfitters, which began construction on a store earlier this month, are hiring. Both will join other mall stores such as Sears and Claire's Boutique in looking for seasonal help to accommodate the masses who flock to the mall for Christmas shopping. "All the mall shops are beefing up staffing for the holidays, their busiest time of the year," Walsh said.

Salaries, which will vary from store to store, range from minimum Carol Bragdon (left) tells Jennifer Roberts about job opportunities at Middle Tennessee Medical Center. Bragdon was recruiting at the Midstate Job Fair. River, along with greater revenue from nearby commercial endeavors, already is helping to pay for more police protection, road improvements, schools and recreational activities the type of improvements needed in a community with a rapidly expanding population base such as Murfreesboro, City Manager Roger Haley said. Financing those big-ticket items in a city budget often can mean increased property taxes. But as more shoppers from neighboring areas cruise through Murfreesboro spending their hard-earned cash, city residents can sit back and reap the rewards of the bulging commercial base.

development in the area. A retail explosion in the area includes a JCPenney store scheduled to open in the mall Nov. 1, announced expansions to some of the smaller mall stores, a Wal-Mart Supercenter down the street from the mall, Pet Smart and a variety of other developments. The mall itself projects a $2.3 million increase in sales tax revenue for the city and county by 2000, mall marketing director Donna Walsh said. Stones River Mall is expecting the customer count to increase from 7 million shoppers last year to 8 112 million this year.

"We're becoming a retail destina- tion," Walsh said. Increased revenue from Stones wage for some entry-level positions on up to managerial positions starting at $6 an hour or more. And with unemployment in Rutherford County at 4.4 and remaining below the state's average of 5.5 for July the latest data available there should be fewer competitors vying for those open jobs. "For those qualified applicants that are searching for positions, there are certainly positions available," Walsh said. To apply for a job Now is the time to apply for seasonal positions at Stones River Mall.

For JCPenney, stop by the store's catalog center at 800 N.W. Broad St in Murfreesboro. For American Eagle Outfitters, stop by the mall office in the north wing near Salon Secrets. For others, stop by the store at the mall, 1720 Old Fort Parkway, in Murfreesboro. I Turn to PAGE 2L, Column 4 2 Local road repairs If you're planning to hit the road this week, take a moment to re Rutherford County briefs 2L Community Calendar 2L News of Record 5-7L Sports 8L Sports Calendar Fund-raising is sweat endeavor For the sixth year in a row, La Vergne Primary School has opted for a healthy approach to fund raising.

Instead of selling candy or selling magazine subscriptions, students and faculty will take part in the Panda Fun Run, a walkjogrun-a-thon, to raise money. Last year students collected about $55,000. On 3L Sundays in The Tennessean News Reporters Wendi C. Thomas, 726-5927 Beth Warren, 664-2144 Sports Reporter Andrew Humbles, 726-8947 Production Editor Rebecca Spivey, 726-5970 Advertising Mary Ella Hazetwood, 726-5916 Write: Rutherford Today, 1100 Broadway, Nashville, Tenn. 37203 Soccer team scores league championship In Its first season in the Nashville Metro Soccer Association open division, Murfreesboro Schirka secured a 3-1 championship win over the Nashville Blues.

Schirka midfielder and manager Craig Stults said the team members' years of experience playing together on area teams helped them take the title. On 8L view our map of road construction projects in Rutherford County. The map, updat ed weekly, gives you the latest on new and ongoing projects. On 4L Dont forget There's more Rutherford news in the local, sports, living and business sections, plus other news from the world, nation and state..