The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 144

Jilt: T3W WILS ON TODAY SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 1998 Only African-American commissioner absent often In past two years, McGowan has missed 15 of 27 meetings Even highway carries a tune near Music City Bv WARREN DUZAK Staff' Writer MOUNT JULIET What does Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, have to do with a highway sign in Wilson County? Everything. Cohen was the sponsor of Senate Bill No. 122, which designates certain segments of Interstate 40 as the Music Highway. Many people appear to be wondering who erected the green-and-white sign just this side of the Davidson County line and why they did it "Interstate 40 from the eastern boundary of Davidson County to the Mississippi River in Shelby County is hereby designated as the 'Music the Senate bill declares.

How difficult could it be to raise a sign? The bill, approved in April of last year, contains Roll-call records indicate that he has not attended a commission meeting since June. "We have been poorly represented, and it bothers the whole area that we are not represented on the County Commission," local resident and community activist Hattie Bryant said. "We are not represented at all," complained Siddie Carter, who joined Bryant at the Market Street Community Center Senior Citizens Center last week. "He wanted to rep- resent the senior citizens center, and Turn to PAGE 2L, Column 5 1996 and 1997. This past year, there were 13 regular and called meetings and McGowan missed seven, records in the County Clerk's office indicate.

In 1996, McGowan also missed more than half of that year's sessions, failing to attend nine of 14 regular or special commission meetings. "That number there I don't agree with," McGowan said of his absences that year. He added that he has been ill a significant portion of 1997, which explained his absences. "I was ill in August and I was out for about five months," he said. Bv WARREN DUZAK and TANYA N.

BALLARD Staff Writers LEBANON Wilson County's African-American community might not be getting the representation it had hoped for on the Wilson County Commission. Over the past two years, George McGowan the commission's only African-American and representative from the 20th District, has missed more than half of the panel's regular and special sessions. Commission roll-call records indicate that McGowan missed 15 of the 27 regular and special meetings in WARREN DUZAK A new sign popped up just inside the Wilson County line. The idea for this sign came from Memphis. "whereas" no fewer than nine times.

"Whereas, since the inception of our statehood "Whereas, The Bluff City of Memphis is undisputedly both the birthplace and cradle of the blues "Whereas, Memphis is also the home of Sun Records "Whereas, Nashville is also a mecca for recording artists In addition to the signs near Memphis and Nashville, signs will be erected between the two cities, according to officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportatioa Art shop casts creative spe Neighbors get council to postpone annexation 'T' i -4, 'j. I 1 1 i I .7 I Mary Youngblood and her com-j panion "Shiva" earty this year when she began remodeling Mojo's Art in Lebanon. Bv TANYA N. BALLARD Ski ff Writer LEBANON Opponents to the proposed annexation of a land parcel along Highway 109 got a reprieve last week when the City Council's vote on the issue was deferred. The area under discussion involves 289 acres, known as the Cherry Farm, which is owned by the Cherry Group, led by Jack Lowery of LoJac Enterprises.

The council meeting at the town hall at Castle Heights was filled Tuesday night leaving standing room only. A group of county residents with properties adjacent to the proposed annexation area showed up to rally to protect their homes. The group, led by George Fleming, opposed the annexation plan after hearing rumors that the land would be used for commercial and industrial development "This is a perfect example of why residents need protection like the tiny town' law," Fleming said, referring to the now-defunct state law that greatly relaxed requirements to form a city. "I didn't put in a $250,000 1 i Ii r- home for them to build an industrial park and have (United Parcel Service) loading trucks in my backyard all night long," he said. The annexation request passed one reading by the City Council in December and requires a public hearing and second vote to take effect.

But none of the adjoining iimiiiniriiiiliiiii Mifiniiiiiiil hiiii-" PHOTOS BY WARREN DUZAK Mojo's Art owners Mary Youngblood and Gary Frisk spend a rainy afternoon working on art projects for themselves and their customers. Bv WARREN DUZAK Staff It'Wir LEBANON If you have an idea for a work of art but only talent enough to use a paint roller, perhaps MoJo's Art is the place for you. The new art store is home and shop for two struggling artists with talent and a willingness to make a dream a reality. "We're open to any suggestions anyone gives" about what customers want painted, said Mary J. Youngblood.

The shop, owned and operated by Youngblood and Gary Frisk, is located at 102 College St and is hard to miss. The front is a throw-back to the 1960s. There is huge eye over the door and large red lips at the bottom of one window. Step back and they are part of a large face partially hidden by the glass and wood. But the shop's purpose is no secret to promote art, artists and to make a reasonable living for Frisk and Youngblood in the process.

Frisk came to Lebanon recently via California, Washington, Arkansas and Nashville. "I chose to come to Nashville, but it was a little too big," Frisk said. Youngblood has been around FOX Jack R. Shinholser and James Holder. MoJo's contains a variety of art supplies and lots of free advice and instruction.

The couple helped found the Fresh Seed Artists Co-op, a group they hope to get going again now that the shop's renovations are complete. The couple admits that the business end of establishing an art career is still a bit of a mystery. Youngblood describes MoJo's Art as the "best-kept secret in Lebanon" "What that means," she smiles, "is I forgot to budget advertising." comes under the couple's title of "Custom Affordable Art" Youngblood uses a photograph of a home or business and reproduces it in 8-by-10 water color. The original then can be reproduced in smaller versions to be used for greeting cards for any occasion. The original water color, which adds in warmth what it may lack in detail, runs about $60.

The cards can then be reproduced at $1.50 each. The shop also is home for the works of local visual artists as well as books by county poets Frisk said they would like to expand MoJo's to provide more room for works in progress and instruction. But that may take some time. The pair understands the difficulty of creating just for yourself when creating for others pays the rent Youngblood, who moved here from Illinois, still works from time to time as a counselor with adolescents at Tennessee Christian Medical Center. Frisk turns his talents to several commercial efforts, including creating company logos.

What is becoming one of the store's most popular products for the past 20 years, taking what jobs were necessary to keep bread in the cupboard and paint on her palette. Both are turning what they love into work, in what Frisk described as "fly or die" "If you wait until you can afford it, you never will," he said. The couple has been working on the store for several months, mostly since Youngblood ceased being a renter and became the owner. The front portion of the building is for the store. The rear serves as small but comfortable living quarters.

Eventually, Youngblood and property owners were made aware of the annexation request Fleming said as he voiced frustration with the shortened time frame the residents had to try and stop the the annexation, "Why weren't the property owners told?" he asked. "I spent the weekend going about talking to neighbors and bringing this to their attentioa Of the 100 or so people I talked to, only one knew about the annexation." At Tuesday night's public hearing, Mayor Don Fox told the angry residents that when the city receives a request for annexation, the request usually only affects the people being annexed. The land owners of adjoining property were not notified because they were not in the proposed annexation area. Fleming spoke to Mayor Don Fox and the Lebanon City Council members on behalf of the residents with property abutting the Cherry farm property. "If it is allowed to go commercial, you'll see an exodus," Fleming said.

"Not only an exodus of people leaving, but an exodus of property values do we want this to become Nashville east?" Councilman Jerry Hunt asked Fleming what would prevent the county from developing the property, and residents yelled out "We would!" But Fox said the issue currently before the board was whether or not to annex the property its land use designation would be dealt with at a later date. The mayor explained that the annexation vote would be deferred pending the city's development of a plan for services such as sewer, water and trash collection for the area. Turn to PAGE 2L, Column 5 Banks open 24 hours daily through Internet access Wilson Bank Trust launched BankHome on INSIDE Jan. 2 and the service al I Chart of on-line ready has about 200 cus services at local banks, on 2L tomers signed up. BankHome is free for the county from Davidson County that are at the age where products like BankHome are very important to them," Clemons said.

Wilson Bank Trust opened in May 1987 and has since captured 30 of the Wilson County's banking business, Thompson said. The bank has eight branches, including one in neighboring Trousdale County. "We are $300 million in size and we started from zero and we are owned by 1,000 local Wilson County shareholders with no one owning any major portions," Clemons said. "We are a true hometown community bank." Bv TANYA N. BALLARD Staff Writer LEBANON Having trouble fitting your schedule around banking hours? Wilson Bank Trust has expanded its banking services to include BankHome, an electronic banking service accessed through the Internet are an independent community bank and we believe in providing every banking service," said Randall Clemons, bank president and chief executive officer.

"We kept seeing that come up as a service that we needed to offer." do every bit of that through this service," said bookkeeper services officer Christy Thompson. "No matter what time of the day it is, this puts it at their fingertips." Banks are finding that home computers are often more accessible and convenient than bank branches and the post office. Last March, First Union National Bank began offering customers the ability to transfer funds and pay bills over the Internet, and NationsBank started offering Internet banking to customers this summer. "We do have a lot of people moving into Wilson Bank Trust customers and there is no software needed, but the customer must have Internet access. Through the on-line service, customers can transfer money, check rates and view bank statements, checks and current transactions.

"Anything that they call us for, they can i ft I 471 I rr.ii HlliI'H'I'V. Wilson County Community Calendar 2L Sports "YaI Sports Calendar Sundays in The Tennessean News Reporters Warren Duzak, 726-5939 Tanya N. Ballard, 726-5927 Sports Reporter Andrew Humbles, 726-8947 Production Editor KathyColvett, 726-5952 Advertising Mary Ella Hazelwood, 726-5916 Appointee pushing for job security Lebanon is looking to offer better protection for city employees. Tom Atchley, the public works commissioner, recently said he would decline a new appointment, citing the need for a more stable job. On Wednesday, Mayor Don Fox and the City Council agreed to reexamine parts of the charter related to appointed positions, and Atchley then took the city position On 3L Carroll-Oakland gets best start in 9 years Carroll-Oakland's boys basketball team has used a variety of starting lineups this season in running its record to 10-3 at Christmas break.

Point guard Jasper Smith, shown here, is the sparkplug of the team, according to Coach Jim Hall. The Eagles are off to their best start in nine years. Kevin Whited, a 6-foot-2 low post, is leading the team In scoring with a 14.5 points-per-game average. Smith and Rodney Shrum are averaging about 10 ppg.On4L Mount Jufset's new home page is virtually done Mount Juliet's City Commission this week may approve the city's new home page on the World Wide Web. Businesses are lining up for on-line advertisements at the city's site.

The $9,000 in revenue already committed will help pay for the consultant's fee and equipment upgrades. On(U I Write: Wilson Today, Dont forget There's more Wilson County news in the Local, Sports, Living and Business sections, plus other news from he world, nation and state. Broadway, Nashville, Term. 37203 Fax: 259-8093 I.