Nov 2015 Murfreesboro Pulse

IN this issue: Group wants MTSU to distance itself from Walking Horse industry

2006–2015: Celebrating 10 Years

Murfreesboro

Wax on the Square Ivan LaFever Nick Carver The Jackillacs

Remembering the Eldorado Club Art Studio Tour

IN MUSIC:

Gordon Kennedy Middle Tennessee’s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News

Ignite Music Festival

November 2015 Vol. 10, Issue 11

FREE For You!

Exposing homelessness Good neighbor Scott Walker gets to know the subjects of his Small Town Big World photo series

Contents

Dear Readers:

Cover Photos Courtesy of Scott Walker

14

35

on the COVER

18

events November Community Events

4 Fall Festival of Magic; Rescue Glow Run; Breakfast

with Santa; Cumberland Trail Hike and more!

Entertainment Calendar 7 Karaoke, Bingo, DJs and Live Trivia 8 November concerts

sounds

Album Reviews 9 The Jackillacs; Nick Carver Returning to Eldorado

0 Raymond Summerour revisits rocking 1960s-era night-

club, recalls the night when Jimi Hendrix stopped by.

Music Notes w Wax on the Square; Gordon Kennedy; Boro Beats;

Dylan goes electric; Ignite Music Festival, Jelly Roll Catch LaFever r Local musician finds weekly residency at Nacho’s.

Clutch Veteran rock band makes Tennessee stop in support of self-released album.

living Search for Bigfoot Continues y The Pulse team remains dedicated to uncovering the

mystery of Sasquatch.

Exposing Homelessness i Scott Walker’s Small Town Big World series explores

stories behind people on the streets.

Life on the Streets p K.O. the Star: Elderly gentleman sells papers for fun.

Gardening s Fall gardening checklist

food

crew

Pulse

Restaurant Review f

Cooking Like Grandma’s: Miller’s Grocery in Christiana

Publisher/Editor in Chief: Contributors: Dylan Skye Aycock, Gloria Christy, Sarah H. Clark, Bracken Mayo

John Connor Coulston, Greg Crittenden, Art Director: Spencer Douglas, Jennifer Durand, Levi Hill, Sarah Lankford Mayo Zach Maxfield, Ceyla Orton, Cameron Parrish, Darcy Payne, Robert Ritch, Advertising Reps: Edwina Shannon, Christy Simmons, Cecilia Don Clark, Jeff Brown Sinkala, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard, Sam Copy Editor: Steve Morley Stockard, Norbert Thiemann, Phil Valentine

news Sore No More h Group says “big lick” Walking Horse tradition is

animal cruelty.

art Art Studio Tour j Rutherford County artists welcome the public into their

home studios Nov. 21–22.

reviews Movies k Beasts of No Nations, Crimson Peak, Sicario Living Room Cinema l Love and Responsibility Video Game ; The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Book z Local author pens The Monster of Hayden’s Ridge.

opinion The Stockard Report x Reform of local probation system is long overdue.

Live Exceptionally . . . Well! v What good is a massage?

Phil Valentine: Views of a Conservative b Some worry about trauma that never materializes.

Business Builder n Make your goals SMART. Music Through the Decades m Back to the Simple Life: the Grand Ole Opry

sports Z-Train , Fantasy football with presidential candidates MTSU Football . After some tough losses Blue Raiders take on

Marshall, Nov. 7; Olivia Jones and the Lady Raiders

tip off a new season this month.

To carry the Pulse at your business, or submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 796-6248

Copyright © 2015, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed

by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Murfreesboro Pulse is a free publication funded by our advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X

Sign up to receive our weekly digital newsletter at BoroPulse.com/Newsletter

It is the month of being grateful and showing thanks for what you have.

Appreciate what is going on now, breathe, be content, be still and know.

Most worries are about the future, a future that may or may not even materialize. Do not have pre-traumatic stress disorder. Do not worry about tomorrow.

Enjoy the people around you and the situation you are in.

If you desire to change your situation, make the steps to do so, in a detailed and deliberate way. Stick to the plan, believe in your goals, and you can make them happen.

Attitude and outlook are everything.

Someone with very few possessions may find a great deal of joy in their simple moment—a sandwich, a blanket, the sun, a conversation. Yet some multimillionaires may live a life filled with “stress” and worry and problems and fear.

I have everything I need, and the people around me are wonderful. There’s always more food than I should eat and more blankets than I need. Much more importantly, I have been blessed with a great family, there is a lot of love and fun and, overall, fine health. Yes, I have goals to improve my health, family, finances and situation. Part of the point of writing those goals down, though, is that I do not have to keep them in my head 24 hours a day; occasionally, in a way it is good to lose sight of those goals for a moment and be grateful.

Cherish your health while you have it. You will not always have it. Take care of yourself!

Spend time with your loved ones; you do not know which day will be your last with a particular friend or family member .

I think Scott Walker of the local Good Neighbor Station would agree that a little kindness goes a long way. Talk with the people around you sometimes, even those different from you. Be a positive force. At least, give someone a person to talk to, someone to listen to their story and concerns.

I am grateful I have someone to talk to, and that I am surrounded by hardworking, creative people. I’m grateful that Murfreesboro is a great spot to be doing business in, a healthy community environment. Let’s make sure it is a good existence for everyone. Our town must be a good place to be—more and more people move into rapidly growing Rutherford County every day. Welcome!

In Murfreesboro, in America, in the world, there is enough wealth and food and shelter and love to go around, but in some individuals’ lives there is a shortage. Please address this where you can.

Speaking of grateful, the Dead and Company will stop through Nashville this month. I guess they don’t want to be Grateful anymore, now joined by John Mayer and Oteil, but I am grateful their music is still being played. The Grateful jams have powered the Pulse for 10 years now.

I am grateful for a recent excursion out to the woods. The search for Bigfoot continues. Enjoy the outdoors before the cold sets in. Murfreesboro author Billy Plant has a little to say about creatures of the woods and enjoying nature.

I hope your harvest was good this year. I am grateful for Happy Harvest, the official vegetable provider of the Murfreesboro Pulse, and for their bounty when the Mayo garden wasn’t so bountiful.

Miller’s Grocery is excellent, but there is nothing like real home cooking, made fresh just for you from good local veggies.

Finally, thanks to Raymond Summerour for taking me out to the Eldorado. The last band to perform there must have rocked so hard the roof caved in.

Peace, Bracken Mayo Editor in Chief boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 3

Events compiled by

Andrea STOCKARD

Send event information to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com

Nov. 6

Nov. 7

Story Time and Puppet Show

Fall Basketball Camp

Bring your little ones to Books-A-Million at Stones River Mall for an exciting story time and puppet show at 10 a.m. on the first Friday of each month. The event is produced

by Linebaugh Library.

Nov. 6–7 Fall Festival of Magic The Fall Festival of Magic returns to the Center for the Arts (110 W. College St.) at 7:02 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7 with the entertaining cast of Kevin Morell, Paula McGarry, Rob Covert, Jeff Mullins, Alan Fisher, Claire and Dr. Gary Flegal. For more information, call (615) 904-2787 or visit boroarts.org.

Fair Havens Baptist Church (1610 Riverview Dr.) offers a fall basketball camp for girls and boys ages 6–12 from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, Nov. 7. For more information or to register, call (615) 896-7309.

Nov. 7 Anglers Raise Funds to Help Solve Local Murder Kayak Anglers for a Cause’s first ever live tournament will take place on Saturday, Nov. 7. All money raised will be donated to increase the reward offered for any information that solves the recent murder of Gregg Hawkins.This will be a CPR (catch/photo/ release) style tournament open to both

Nov. 7–29 Native American Heritage Month Programs Learn about the thousands of years of Native American history at Native American Heritage Month Programs at Stones River National Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.) on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m, with rangers and volunteers presenting 30-minute talks. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 893-9501 or visit nps.gov/stri.

Nov. 7 Last Call 4 Grace Rescue Glow Run The Saturday, Nov. 7, Rescue Run 5K Glow Run will benefit Last Call 4 Grace, a ministry that helps feed over 800 people in Murfreesboro every week and fights human trafficking. The race kicks off at the Gateway Island (1875 W. College St.). Bring glow sticks and wear glow necklaces and bracelets. To register or more information, visit borofunrun. com, or contact lastcall4grace@gmail.com.

Nov. 7 Turkey Tee Off Golf Tournament The 5th annual Turkey Tee Off golf tournament at Cedar Crest Golf Course (7972 Mona Rd.) benefits the Child Advocacy Centers for child abuse victims in Rutherford and Cannon Counties. In the last 15 years, the Child Protective Investigative Team has worked together to investigate and prosecute over 11,000 child abuse cases in Rutherford and Cannon Counties. For more information on the tournament, contact (615) 867-9000 or (615) 563-9915.

Outdoors at (615) 896-4745 or email kayakanglersforacause@gmail.com.

Nov. 10 Attorney Day/Will Day The Burns and Binkley Group at Morgan Stanley (804 N. Thompson Ln.) offer a free “Attorney Day / Will Day” workshop regarding various will, estate planning and other legal issues with the help of attorney Lynn Watson. Clients can schedule one-onone meetings between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

To schedule an appointment, contact (615) 617-6006 or vyvonne.phoutharansy@morganstanley.com. For more information, visit www.morganstanleyfa.com/burnsbinkley.

Nov. 10 bass boat and kayak anglers. All activities will take place at Murfreesboro Outdoors, 2204 NW Broad St. Any public water on Percy Priest Lake or Stones River is eligble for fishing. The format is: black bass, 3 fish limit, 12" minimum. There will also be BBQ lunches for sale and 100% of the proceeds will also be donated to the fund. For more information, or to donate, call Murfreesboro

RLMO Banquet Join RLMO, a residential discipleship center that helps set men and their families free from addiction and other life issues, at Embassy Suites (1200 Conference Center Blvd.) for a night of celebration, entertainment and testimonies from RLMO graduates. Enjoy music by The Katinas and Jme Medina. The silent auction

Nov. 11 Veterans Day Ceremony Help remember our veterans at the La Vergne City Hall (5093 Murfreesboro Rd.) at 11:11 a.m. For more information, contact jwilson@lavergnetn.gov or (615) 793-3224, or visit lavergnetn.gov.

Nov. 12 Cultivate Networking Join Cultivate Coworking (107 W. Lytle St.) from 5–7 p.m. for a fun after-work event with a hearing from Bill Jakes on the new Rutherford County Judicial building.

This event is free for Cultivate Coworking members and $5 per person for guests. For more information, find Cultivate Coworking on Facebook.

Nov. 12–16 Robbery Prevention/ Active Shooter Seminar Attend the Murfreesboro Police Annex Building Training Room (324 S. Church St.) from 6–8 p.m. for robbery prevention tips and what to do in case of a robbery and an active shooter situation. Please RSVP to reserve seats to anorville@murfreesborotn. gov or contact (615) 895-3874.

Elders First Adult Day Services Association

Cookin’ to Build

4 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit rlmo.org/ banquet or call (615) 423-8749.

Nov. 13

Nov. 7 Purchase a hand-decorated bowl you get to keep, plus samples of all of the food, drinks and dessert, and live music by Robert Eskew at Cookin’ to Build, Saturday, Nov. 7, with all proceeds benefiting Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity. The event will be held at the Murfreesboro Public Square from 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Cost is $20. For more information, call (615) 890-5877.

Steven, Arnold and Phillip Smith at Turkey Tee Off 2014.

Nov. 13–17 Annual Fall Harvest Hayride Listen to live music as you toast marshmallows and eat s’mores around the campfire while enjoying an old-fashioned hayride along the Greenway (General Bragg Trailhead, 1540 W. College St.) from 5:30–8:30 p.m. For more information, contact (615) 8932141 or mtate@murfreesborotn.gov. Admission is $2 per person; ages 2 and under and Friends of the Greenway members are free.

In honor of November being National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Mindful Care Adult Day Services of Rutherford County honors loved ones past and present stricken with Alzheimer’s disease at New Vision Baptist Church (1750 N. Thompson Ln.) at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, with a ceremony followed by an open house of the Mindful Care Adult Day Services with light refreshments. Approximately 3,000 people in Rutherford County and 5 million nationwide

suffer from the disease. For more information, visit mindful-care.org.

Nov. 14 Girls Day Out Holiday Shopping Come out to Lancaster Christian Academy (150 Soccer Way, Smyrna) for over 40 vendors featuring a variety of items for sale such as embroidery, clothing and accessories, holiday goods, home decor, purses and bags, gifts, skin care and makeup, food and more at from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14.

Nov. 26

Nov. 14

Borodash

Breakfast and Pajama Party with Santa Pack up your sleigh and bring the whole family for breakfast and a pajama party with Santa at Stones River Mall (1720 Old Fort Pkwy.) from 8–10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, with your favorite PJs, cookie decorating, art activity stations, balloon animals, face painting, and an interactive storytime with Nashville Ballet. Tickets are $5 with proceeds benefiting Beesley Animal Foundation. Each ticket offers the chance to win a $100 JCPenney gift card. For more information, visit stonesrivermall.com or call (615) 896-4486.

Nov. 14 Veterans Day Parade Be a part of the Second Annual Veterans Day Parade Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center (3400 Lebanon Rd.) with the theme of a grateful nation saluting Korean War Veterans. This event is free and open to the public.

Pre-parade entertainment kicks off at 10 a.m. with the parade beginning at 11 a.m. If you or your group would like to participate or volunteer, contact annette.allen@va.gov or (615) 225-3786.

Nov. 14 Crossway Baptist Holiday Fair Enjoy a huge consignment and crafts sale with over 60 vendors featuring one-of-akind jams and jellies, honey, books, jewelry, wooden picture frames, cards, soap, knitted items and more at Crossway Baptist Holiday Fair Murfreesboro Expo Center (1209 Park Ave.) from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. For more information, call (931) 703-3568.

Nov. 14 Fundraiser for Domestic Violence Featuring Troupe: Survivor Troupe: Survivor will host a wine tasting fundraiser event on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Through the Grapevine, 630 Broadmor Blvd., beginning at 5 p.m. The event will also include live music

by Molly & Spencer, the Reclaiming Ourselves art exhibit and a live auction.

Proceeds from the event fund programs that assist domestic violence survivors in transitioning to independent living.

Nov. 19 The Connection, Business Networking at Mayday The Connection: an Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming will be from 5–7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at Mayday Brewery, 521 Old Salem Rd. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, no-obligation event, where they can meet other small-business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy.

Robert Ritch, a successful entrepreneur and business consultant, will lead an open roundtable discussion encouraging participation from those in attendance, asking them to articulate their vision for their business and calling for examples of some of the business challenges and solutions they are experiencing. The evening is open to all area business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. The series will continue the third Thursday of each month. For more information, contact ceo@robertritch.com.

Nov. 20 Coffee with the Veterans Join Operation Adopt a Hero at Cultivate Coworking (107 W. Lytle St.) from 7:30–9 a.m. on the third Friday of each month for Coffee with the Veterans, an informal, social networking event designed to foster friendships between local veterans and their community. For more information, call (615) 893-6565.

Nov. 21 Climb for a Cause to benefit special kids The Ascent Climbing Gym in Murfreesboro partners with Way FM (88.7 and 89.9) and the Tee Shirt Lab for a fun day of climbing,

free food, and free T-shirts for kids on Saturday, Nov. 21, at The Ascent Climbing Gym (831 Park Ave.) with a Family Climb from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., an Adaptive Climb from 12–3 p.m. and College Climb from 6–9 p.m. For more information, visit climbyourrock.com/specialkids.

Nov. 21 Cumberland Trail Join the Tennessee Trails Association for a group hike along the Cumberland Trail’s Pot Point Loop (11.7 mile loop), in the Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area near Chattanooga on Saturday, Nov. 21, enjoying the beautiful Tennessee landscape of Snooper’s Rock, the Natural Bridge, Ransom Hollow, McNabb Gulf and Hemlock Branch back-country campsites.

To register, contact (615) 714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.

Borodash helps raise awareness for charitable purposes with a family-friendly activity serving God with a 4-mile walk/run through historic Murfreesboro beginning at 8 a.m. at MTSU’s Dean Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium each Thanksgiving Day. For more information, visit borodash.org.

Nov. 26–28 2nd Annual Homeless Veterans Awareness Event This Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, members of U.S. Military Vets MC raise awareness to the plight of homelessness among our veteran community as they collect boots, coats, blankets and other clothing items for homeless veterans. Monetary donations are also accepted to expand community services for veterans in Rutherford County at H3O Aquatics (236 Robert Rose Dr.) from 6 p.m. Nov. 26 until 6 p.m. Nov. 28. For more information, find The Rutherford County Veterans Office on Facebook or call (615) 294-8352.

Nov. 27 Old Fort Stone Fort Archaeology Hike Join the Tennessee Trails Association’s annual After Thanksgiving Day Hike (4 miles) at 9 a.m. at the Old Stone Fort Archaeology Park in Manchester, viewing the beautiful Old Stone Fort Trail, River Fork Loop, Backbone, Little Duck Loop and the Old River Channel Trail and more. For more information, contact (615) 714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.

Nov. 30, Dec. 7 & 14 Paws & Claus Bring your furry, four-legged friends to have photos taken with Santa! Paws & Claus sponsored by Doggie’s Day Out, will more events on page 6 

Nov. 30 Chawan Exhibit at Todd Gallery The International Chawan Expo Project arrives at MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery, Monday, November 30, 2015. With an opening reception scheduled 5-7 p.m. that evening the work remains in place through December 8. The Chawan Project was started in 2005 as a non-profit platform for artists that share a passion for Chawan (a tea cup used in traditional eastern tea ceremonies). Whether artists of renowned or everyday labor their draw to using and making Chawan continues to enrich and enliven their artistic passion for the earth-friendly processes incorporated into each piece of their work. All Todd Art Gallery exhibits, lectures, and receptions are free and open to the public. For directions, parking, and other questions contact eric.snyder@mtsu.edu or 615-898-5532.

boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 5

this month Child Advocacy Center's Secret Santa Program The Child Advocacy Center is recruiting “Secret Santas” to help make abused children’s Christmas wishes come true. The Child Advocacy Center is a non-profit agency that works with the Department of Children’s Services, law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute child abuse cases. For more information on how you can get involved and be a Secret Santa to an abused child in Rutherford County, contact Jennifer Gamble at (615) 867-9000, and in Cannon County, contact Amanda Pruitt at (615) 563-9915.

Continued from page 5 

Dec. 4–5

be held from 6–8 p.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 7 & 14, at Santa’s Workshop, located in Center Court. Dogs and cats, only. Pets must be on a leash or crated at all times. Appointments must be made online in advance. Dog and cat food donations will be accepted in conjunction with Fill the Bowl. Bring all donations during Paws & Claus and receive a complimentary 5”x7” photo with Santa. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit stonesrivermall.com/events.

Hollyday Market Place Join the Junior League of Murfreesboro for their annual holiday shopping extravaganza at Tennessee Miller Coliseum (304 B W. Thompson Ln.) Dec. 4 and 5, with special events including Mistletoe and Martinis on Friday evening, and Chick-fil-A Breakfast with Santa and Santa’s Workshop by Faithful Strokes on Saturday. For tickets or more information, visit hollydaymarket place.weebly.com.

Kickin’ Turkey Giveaway to Add a Blessing to Many Murfreesboro Families’ Thanksgiving Murfreesboro rap artist Stunt Tha Boss, who dropped the single “I Can’t Stay” earlier this year, wants to express his gratitude to his supporters. As a way of giving back to the Murfreesboro community, he is organizing the first ever Kickin’ Turkey Giveaway this November.

“Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year, and I always wanted to give back in some type of form or fashion; I figured I’d give people turkeys,” he told the Murfreesboro Pulse. “It would be a good way to engage the community as well as let them know that someone still cares.”

This artist says he recognizes what his supporters have done for him in his time of devotion to his career and artistry, and wanted to take action and show proof that there are still good people in the world.

There will be free turkeys and canned goods given away in mid-November to those 6 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

who are in need of an extra helping hand this Thanksgiving season. Stunt Tha Boss explained he doesn’t care where you’re from or who you are, if you need a turkey to make this year extra-specially blessed, come get one. Turkeys will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“We are not doing this to receive something in return.

It’s Thanksgiving, and the whole purpose for this is to give our thanks,” Stunt said.

He wants to serve as many people as possible, and hopes the Kickin’ Turkey Giveaway will help bring memorable celebrations for years to come.

This event is sponsored by the Loose Ends Barbershop, located at 203 State St., Murfreesboro, and managed by Stunt Tha Boss. The barbershop will be hosting the giveaway event on Sunday, Nov. 15, beginning at 1 p.m. For more information, visit stuntthabossmusic.com.

— CEYLA ORTEN

Entertainment calendar

DJ, Bingo, Trivia & Karaoke nights in murfreesboro

 MONDAYS Bunganut Pig Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

The Pour House DJ, 7–11 p.m.

Ahart’s Pizza Garden Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

 TUESDAYS Old Chicago Live Trivia, 9 p.m.

Coconut Bay Café Live Trivia, 7:30 p.m.

The Pour House DJ, 7–11 p.m.

Nachos Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

Nobody’s Bingo, 7 p.m.

TGI Friday’s Live Trivia, 9 p.m.

 WEDNESDAYS Campus Pub Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

Mellow Mushroom Live Trivia, 8 p.m.

Nobody’s Live Trivia, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Sam’s Sports Grill Live Trivia, 8 p.m.

Woody’s BBQ Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

MT Bottle Karaoke, 9 p.m.–3 a.m.

Whiskey Dix DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

 THURSDAYS

Campus Pub Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

Campus Pub Live Trivia, 8:15 p.m.

Coconut bay Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Nobody’s Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

Sports Seasons Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

The Pour House Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Whiskey Dix DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

Murfreesboro Billiards Club Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Liquid Smoke DJ Night, 10 p.m.

 SATURDAYS

La Siesta (Church St.) Karaoke, 6 p.m.

Nachos Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

Nobody’s Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

Whiskey Dix DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

 SUNDAYS O’Possums Live Trivia, 8 p.m.

The Pour House DJ, 7 p.m.

Sam’s Sports Grill Live Trivia, 8 p.m.

 FRIDAYS Nobody’s Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

Send listings to listings@boropulse.com

Hear what Murfreesboro Sounds Like 

Want your band listed on our QR Classifieds? E-mail murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com

Concerts November 2015

 IF YOU GO: Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy. Woodbury 563-2787

Send show listings to listings@boropulse.com

Thurs, 11/5

Bonhoeffer’s

The Django Riders, Zach Allen Band

Bunganut Pig

Madison Shea Band Auditions

Nacho’s Mexican Restaurant

Ivan LaFever

The Block

Mouth Reader, Roman Polanski’s Baby

The Boro

All-star jam/open mic with Stuart Montez

Fri, 11/6

Bunganut Pig

Douglas Warren Band

Coconut Bay Cafe

DJ RDP

Main Street Music

All-Star House Band with Thane Shearon and Friends

Mayday Brewery

Angela Easley

TEMPT

Minnesota, Illenium

The Block

Sheep Shifter, Secret Policeman’s Ball Trigger Digit

The Boro

Winter Sounds

Sat, 11/7

Bird Song Studio

MTSU Wright Music Building

Autograph Rehearsal Studio 1400 W. College St. 631-2605

Tues, 11/10

Bonhoeffer’s 610 Dill Ln., 907-2890

Mon, 11/9

Opera Scenes concert

Bunganut Pig

Kevin Moore

Bunganut Pig 1602 W. Northfield Blvd.

893-7860

MTSU Singers/ Jazz Faculty

Carmen’s Taqueria 206 W. Northfield Blvd.

848-9003

MTSU Wright Music Building

Bunganut Pig

Peter Moon Band

MTSU Wright Music Building

MTSU Wind Ensemble

The Block

Sounds of Satellites, Everett

The Boro

John Cochran Jazz Night

Bonhoeffer’s

Leander, Nat Durant, Zach

MTSU Wright Music Building

MTSU Women’s Chorale

Nacho’s Mexican Restaurant

Ivan LaFever

The Boro

All-star jam/open mic with Stuart Montez

Fri, 11/13

The Mesa Project

Coconut Bay Cafe

Coconut Bay Cafe

Lost Dawg

Journey Pointe Church

Cameron Ross (Saxophonist)

JoZoara

Todd London Jazz Trio Main Street Music Jonesworld, Black Sky Tribe, Stack

Mayday Brewery

Mayday Malone, Afterlife Parade, Mountains Like Wax

TEMPT

Jelly Roll, Alexander King

The Block

Acorn People, Oh Grandpa, The Shy

Sun, 11/8

Bunganut Pig

Ragged Co Boro Boys

Mayday Brewery

Crawdaddy

The Boro

The Jackillacs

Sat, 11/14

Bunganut Pig

Zone Status

Dillon Park (Woodbury)

Root Road, The Persuaded, CHANGE, Johnny Newman, Embassy, Joshua Jamison, Mistah Cross, Brian Weaver

Main Street Music

Suppression, Skull Jack, Regime, Shallowpoint

Mayday Brewery

Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau

Bunganut Pig

TEMPT

MTSU Wright Music Building

The Boro

Reilly’s Writers Night

Grant Haag; Blair Boothe; MTSU String Studio 1

Hoo Doo Men

Tues., 11/17 @ Bunganut Pig The Hoo Doo Men, Bill Steber and Sammy Baker, will bring their vintage juke joint blues to the Bunganut Pig on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The members of the guitar and drums duo, both well seasoned in the Middle Tennessee independent music scene, celebrate the fuzzy, screamin’ blues of the Mississippi Delta in the style’s early electric heyday.

Thurs, 11/12

Gordon Kennedy, John Salaway

Bunganut Pig

PULSE PICK

Wed, 11/11

Figure

Stagger Moon

The Theatre at Patterson Park

Dewdrop Jamboree

Sun, 11/15

Bunganut Pig

Reilly’s Writers Night

Mayday Brewery

The Block

MTSU Wright Music Building

Andrew Le; Edward McFeders; MTSU Chamber Orchestra Al DeLuca

Mon, 11/16

MTSU Wright Music Building

MTSU Flute Choir; MTSU Guitar Ensembles

Tues, 11/17

Bunganut Pig

Hoo Doo Men

Wed, 11/18

Bunganut Pig

Charleyhorse

MTSU Wright Music Building

MTSU Salsa Band

The Boro

John Cochran Jazz Night

Thurs, 11/19

Bonhoeffer’s

Alex Cunningham, Lo Beggar, KID, The Orchadist

Three Simple Rules

John Cochran; MTSU Chamber Winds

Fri, 11/27

Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 217-7822

Gent & Jawns

Coconut Bay Cafe

Sky Hammers, Mortars

TEMPT

TEMPT

The Boro

Sat, 11/21

Bunganut Pig

11th Hour

Coconut Bay Cafe

DJ RDP

JoZoara

Ernest Newsom

Liquid Smoke

The Monster of Hayden’s Ridge book release show: Billy Plant, The Accidental Trio

Crossroads

Escape

Zone Status Mija

Sat, 11/28

Bunganut Pig

Rockslide

Coconut Bay Cafe

Karaoke with Hitman Walker

Main Street Music

Super T

Mayday Brewery

Main St. Music 527 W. Main St. 440-2425 Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 479-9722 MTSU Wright Music Building 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 898-2469 Nacho’s 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd.

907-2700

Cosmic Shift

The Pour House

Bass Off: Bass Guitar Fest for the Mary Parrish Domestic Violence Foundation

Sun, 11/29

The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 895-4800

Nuclear Bubble Wrap

Mon, 11/30

Mayday Brewery

Main Street Music

MTSU Wright Music Building

Coconut Bay Cafe

Bunganut Pig

Tempt 211 W. Main St. 615-225-7757

The Boro

Marshall Creek

JoZoara 536 N. Thompson Ln. 962-7175

John Cochran Jazz Night

Sun, 11/22

All-star jam/open mic with Stuart Montez

Main Street Music

Journey Point Church 1267 Middle Tennessee Blvd., 896-9272

The Boro

Alex Keiss

Nacho’s Mexican Restaurant

Ivan LaFever

Wed, 11/25

Hippie Hill 8627 Burks Hollow Rd. 796-3697

Level III 114 S. Maple St. 900-3754

The Boro

MTSU Symphonic Band

Duke Ellington’s Jazz Nutcracker

First United Methodist Church 265 W. Thompson Lane

Far Cry with “Good Time” Tommy Davidson

MTSU Saunders Fine Arts 101

MTSU Wright Music Building

Bunganut Pig

8 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

Buck Six, Cottonbox Road, Scotty Morton

MTSU Wright Music Building

Fri, 11/20 View Concert Listings Online:

Main Street Music

Coconut Bay Café 210 Stones River Mall Blvd.

494-0504

Bunganut Pig

Reilly’s Writers Night

MTSU Brass Chamber Recital; MTSU Symphony Orchestra

Mon, 11/23

MTSU Wright Music Building

Red Wine Hangover, Birdcloud Al DeLuca

Bunganut Pig

Reilly’s Writers Night

First United Methodist Church

Handel’s Messiah

MTSU Wright Music Building

MTSU Clarinet Choir; Josh Merbitz

Tues, 12/1

MTSU Wright Music Building

Commercial Music Ensemble

The Green Dragon 714-F W. Main St. 801-7171 The Block 123 SE Broad St (615) 393-9935 The Pour House 2404 Halls Hill Pk. 615-603-7978 Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 867-9090 Willie’s Wet Spot 1208 S. Lowery St., Smyrna 355-0010

album reviews

The Jackillacs

Nick Carver

4

3

Jackillacs

Let Love, Let Live & Let Go

When I popped in the Jackillacs’ eponymous album, it didn’t take much time before I noticed a familiar voice escaping from the speakers.

Although the style is distinctly different than their other musical outfit, Middle Tennessee string band the Glade City Rounders, two of the three members—William See and Josh Smith—proved with this release they can easily swap out a fiddle for an electric guitar without breaking a sweat.

Joining See and Smith is drummer Todd Eberhardt, hailing from Rockvale, Tenn., and together, the three-piece roots rock trio has crafted an exceptionally well-produced eight-song release.

Released in August, Jackillacs is one of the best local albums I’ve seen come through the Pulse office in the past few months. Clocking in just under half an hour, the album grabs your attention from the opening clash on the drums, and it doesn’t let go. See’s electric guitar work, chock-full of prowess and Appalachian charm, complements both his distinctive voice and clever narratives.

The band packs a punch on songs like “The Buzzard” and “Johnny’s Gone,” but just as easily dials it back on contemplative tracks “Vagabond Blues” and “I’m Just a Sailor.” At times, William See, who also wrote and arranged the album, vocally resembles Primus frontman Les Claypool, especially on the catchy opening track, “Cremation of Sam McGhee,” which borrows lines from the Robert W. Service poem of the same name (but, oddly, with different spelling).

As a total package, the Jackillacs live up to their eccentric name. Their musical roots run deep, and they’re not afraid to rock; there’s rarely a dull moment to be heard on Jackillacs.

The band is scheduled to perform at The Boro Bar and Grill on Nov. 13. Visit the band’s Facebook page to stay up to date on future events or to check out their album.

— dylan skye aycock

RATINGS: AVERAGE

A CLASSIC BELOW AVERAGE

4

Nick Carver has spent his career in all aspects of music, from education to business as well as fronting his current project, The Nick Carver Band, an acclaimed cover band that plays functions throughout the Southeast. With his solo debut, Let Love, Let Live & Let Go, Carver steps into the spotlight as a singer/songwriter.

The album is pretty evenly split between upbeat country tracks and tender ballads, with the upbeat songs being the highlights of the release. “Drinkin Thinkin’” is a simple, catchy bar ballad with a touch of boogie-woogie piano and fiddle. “Out in the Country” is a straightforward country-rocker and tribute to down-home life that nods to being raised on “the good book” and having a “backwoods boy composure.”

“Daydreamin’” kicks off the album with calypsoinspired xylophones, giving the track a vibe akin to Kenny Chesney’s beach-country songs such as “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems.”

“Southern Kind of Night” and “Little Piece of America,” fit comfortably alongside these aforementioned tracks. The latter features lyrics reminiscent of small-town-America themes found in John Mellencamp’s catalog.

As for the ballads, there isn’t a bad track among them; however, they may fail to jump out at the listener. This brings up the main flaw of Let Love, Let Live & Let Go; while there are great songs here, Carver doesn’t always give them the delivery they’re worthy of. The material is strong, but at times he doesn’t sound 100 percent comfortable as the messenger. Regardless, the album is an enjoyable listen, and I’d be curious if live renditions of the songs would give the extra push they need in order to stick with the listener.

Carver does show strong songwriting, delivering an album with songs that could easily be cut on Music Row by some of country music’s best.

— john connor coulston

OUTSTANDING AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 9

Sounds Remembering the Eldorado Club Sax player revisits 1960s Murfreesboro music scene where Hendrix once jammed. story BY bracken mayo | photos BY scott walker

A

n abandoned structure sits off of Asbury Road, near Old Nashville Highway in the outskirts of Murfreesboro.

Surrounded by tall weeds, fallen hedgeapples and a small mountain of glass bottles out back, cinder blocks stand strong and tall, but otherwise the interior of the building is demolished and the tar roof caved in.

Probably very few have even noticed the place; even fewer give it much attention or credit. But decades ago, this place was rocking, according to one local musician.

This is the Eldorado Club, closed since the 1970s. For saxophonist Raymond Summerour, though, the venue remains a strong memory.

Summerour recalls the 1960s and ’70s, a period when the club would be packed with music fans every weekend.

His band, the Dukes, was often the source of the swinging sounds at the Eldorado.

The secluded club wasn’t exactly welladvertised from the road; Summerour says you kind of had to know someone who knew someone to find out about it, but for soul and rock music in Murfreesboro in the 1960s, it was the place to be.

Murfreesboro resident Alf McClain owned and operated the club until his death in 1974.

He also served as manager for Summerour’s group, the Dukes, which took its name from the song “Duke of Earl,” the popular early-1960s hit by Gene Chandler.

“We were pretty popular around Middle Tennessee,” Summerour said.

The Dukes would venture to clubs in Nashville, Lebanon, Tullahoma, Winchester and sometimes down to Alabama, but the Eldorado served as a home base for the group.

Summerour recalls one night in particular that still sticks with him after all these years.

In 1964, as the band was playing to “a pretty packed house,” a guy walks in with a white Stratocaster slung across his back.

Summerour said it wasn’t unusual for other musicians to come in during the Dukes’ performances and ask to sit in with the band. It was an open jam of sorts, a community.

And while the band liked to tease its members and suggest mock-threateningly that they may be replaced after other talented musicians would sit in with the Dukes, “we

10 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

never turned anybody down who came in,” according to Summerour.

So, this fellow asked to play with the group, and he “took that Stratocaster and went to work!” Summerour exclaimed.

This gentleman was none other than Jimi Hendrix, one of the most legendary guitarists in all of rockdom.

This was a couple of years after Hendrix’s brief stint in the Army at Ft. Campbell, but well before the Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock, a period when he was traveling to various juke joints in the area trying to make it and crafting his style.

“Horace [the Dukes’ guitarist] was good too, now,” Summerour said, “but he wasn’t Jimi Hendrix.”

But Jimi moved on, and Horace did not lose his gig with the Dukes. Come to find out, Hendrix came to the Eldorado to try and book a gig for himself, but was asking for more money then McClain was willing to provide.

Hendrix was not the only rock star who came through the Eldorado; Ike and Tina Turner performed there, as did Jerry Butler, “The Iceman.”

The property where the club is located is still owned by the Minnow family, who leased the building to McClain back in its heyday.

This was during a time of strict segregation in the South, Summerour, now in his 70s, reminds us.

Some white individuals would go into the predominantly black establishments, Summerour said, “but we couldn’t go in theirs.”

Today, entering the small lobby in the front of the nightclub building, a faded painting shows a guy and a girl, decked out in afros and the fashions of their day, standing by a classic Cadillac coupe that shares its name with the establishment.

The interior is in ruins, but Summerour animatedly points out where the stage was, where the bar was and where the dance floor was, as a flood of memories come back to him: the impact his time at the Eldorado had on him, and other music fans and players in that classic era of American music and culture, was clearly significant.

Saxophonist Raymond Summerour peeks in the building that once housed the Eldorado Club, now surrounded by weeds with roof caved in, but an Eldorado mural remains (below).

boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 11

A Vinyl Affair

MUSIC NOTES

Gordon Kennedy to play Bird Song Studio in Woodbury

Liquid Smoke hosts weekly Wax on the Square. story and photos

BY DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK

Ask any vinyl collector where they found a particular record, and, chances are, they’ll also tell you the story behind it, from the record store where it was purchased on to intricate details like who they were with or how much it cost.

That’s one of the common threads among the hosts and founders of Wax on the Square, a weekly vinyl and DJ series at Liquid Smoke, located at 2 N. Public Square next to The Humidor. Aaron Heffron, Silas Jackson, Mike Heiler, Kenneth Williams and several other DJs met through various musical endeavors and have watched each other’s collection grow. Eventually their passion for the timeless format led to something more.

With thousands of records and 30 to 40 years worth of collecting between them, the members of the group decided to branch out and share their love and appreciation for vinyl with the Murfreesboro community.

“We had thousands of vinyl records just lying around and we thought, ‘You know what, we have all this vinyl, we need to get out and do something with it,’” Aaron said.

In the spring of 2013, Aaron asked Liquid Smoke if they had any openings, and he soon secured a Thursday night spot for the group to spin vinyl.

Two years later, there are now about 13 DJs who spin for the series, and Aaron says that number continues to grow.

For the first two months, the group spun whatever it pleased, but Silas said they quickly switched to primarily groove-based music like funk, soul, reggae, house music and other styles to fit the lounge’s laid-back atmosphere. They cater to the listeners, he said, who are often regulars active in the local music scene.

“It’s not the dubstep or trap music people expect to hear when they go out in Murfreesboro,” Mike said.

“We want the listeners to be able to relax, but also enjoy something they’ve probably never heard before,” Silas added.

Every Thursday around 9 p.m., the DJs trail in to Liquid Smoke carrying boxes of records and turntables. People trickle in, grabbing seats at vintage tables adorned with lava lamps, 12 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

chess boards or other items.

Liquid Smoke is a laid-back venue, and Wax on the Square accommodates the vibe by spinning music that has enough punch to pique your interest, but calm enough for others to still have conversations with friends.

“We’re not necessarily trying to get people to get up and dance; I mean, we’re not against it, but it’s definitely a lounge,” Aaron said.

The group brings out three turntables and several cases of vinyl in an effort to mix it up and try new things, which guarantees the music is fresh and something no one’s ever heard before.

“Don’t get me wrong, it does and can get weird,” Aaron said. “You could hear something like sitar music mixed with house music at any given time.”

The group agrees that vinyl is what makes Wax on the Square stand out, and Silas adds that any other format would change the series’ dynamic.

“We stick to vinyl because we have a lot of it,” he said. “Plus, vinyl always sounds good, too . . . it’s an elegant, timeless format.”

Whether a DJ found a certain record at a “hole in the wall in Alabama,” an antique store or while sifting through a well-known record store, Silas said he always makes the connection between the music and where he finds it.

“One thing I like about collecting is that I know with each record where I was when I got it,” he said. “One of the main reasons we love this format is because an mp3 doesn’t, and will never, have the same kind of connection.”

“Yeah, you could even be driving down the street and spot a yard sale, and that’s where you can find a box of vinyl for sometimes a dollar each,” Aaron added. “Collecting vinyl is an art . . . You’ve got to find the song that may be on a B-side that you didn’t even know existed, one you can’t even find on the Internet.”

To keep up with Wax on the Square, visit facebook.com/waxots or stop into Liquid Smoke on Thursdays starting at 10 p.m.

Three-time Grammy winner Gordon Kennedy will perform at the Bird Song Studio in Woodbury on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Kennedy is a Nashville-based songwriter, guitarist and producer who has worked with a wide variety of artists including Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek, Peter Frampton, George Strait and Martina McBride. His most notable collaboration came in 1997 with Eric Clapton’s “Change the World,” which won the Grammy for “Song of the Year.” The night’s opening act will be multi-instrumentalist and songwriter John Salaway, in support of his album The Song in the Air. For more information on Bird Song Studio and their upcoming events, visit thebirdsongstudio.com.

OH Grandpa

The Block to Host Three-Day Electronic Music Festival  Local venue The Block is set to host the inaugural BoroBeats music festival, a three-day festival full of local electronic, hip-hop and instrumental acts, Nov. 13–15.

45 local acts will be playing the festival’s two stages including Sterfry, Nic West, Comatosik, Oh Grandpa and Out of State. Local visual artists will have their works on display throughout the venue. The Block is located at 123 S.E. Broad St. For more information, visit facebook.com/theblockmurfreesboro.

photo by logan miller

Sounds

Author Elijah Wald to Speak at MTSU about Bob Dylan Going Electric  MTSU’s Center for Popular Music will host celebrated author and historian Elijah Wald on Wednesday, Nov. 18, to speak about Bob Dylan and his renowned electric performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

Wald’s latest book, Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night that Split the Sixties, recounts and explores what really happened when Dylan plugged in his Fender Stratocaster and how the performance changed musical history. Wald will speak in the Student Union’s Parliamentary Room at 4:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Jelly Roll to Perform at TEMPT  Antioch rapper Jelly Roll is set to return to Murfreesboro on Nov. 7 for a set at TEMPT. He’ll be bringing his Hangovers & Hot Chicken Tour to the venue with opening acts Alexander King and Billside. The rapper is best known for his work with fellow Southern rappers Haystak and Lil Wyte, as well as almost being sued by Waffle House earlier this year for using the beloved breakfast restaurant’s logo on his Whiskey, Weed, & Waffle Housemixtape cover art. If you’d like another chance to catch Jelly Roll in Middle Tennessee this winter, you can also attend his coat and blanket donation drive at Nashville’s Exit/In on Nov. 28.

Woodbury’s Inaugural Ignite Music Festival Set for Nov. 14  Festival season is not over just yet. Woodbury’s Dillon Park will host the one-day Ignite Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 14. From 3–9 p.m., more than 10 acts ranging from Christian hard rock to pop will take the stage, with many artists calling the region home.

Murfreesboro’s Christian pop/soul group Root Road, Fayetteville’s hard-rock/metal outfit The Persuaded, Knoxville-based composer Johnny the persuaded Newman and contemporary Christian performer Brian Weaver are among the several bands scheduled to perform.

Other artists on the bill include Change Musik, Embassy, Joshua Jamerson, Brian Weaver and Mistah Cross, with special guests Michael Burt and Wesley and Whitney Alexander also participating.

The event is free, open to the public and family-friendly. Check the festival’s Facebook page, Ignite 2015 Music Festival, for updates. boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 13

photo by james phinney

Sounds

Catch LaFever

Clutch touring in support of new album release: ‘The Mob Goes Wild, Wild, Wild.’

Musical journey continues for Murfreesboro musician.

BY BRACKEN MAYO

story bY john connor coulston

M

TSU alum Ivan LaFever has quickly been gaining a reputation as one of the most entertaining singer/songwriters in Middle Tennessee since releasing his Retro Future EP with his band LaFever last year. You can catch him performing a mix of R&B originals and covers weekly at Nacho’s Mexican Restaurant on South Rutherford Boulevard each Thursday evening.

We chatted with the 25-year-old Cookeville native about his first songs, his time at MTSU, what’s next for LaFever and more:

Murfreesboro Pulse: When did

you first start playing music?

LaFever: I first started playing mandolin

at the age of 5, playing country/bluegrass music. As I grew up I started playing piano at age 8, really getting into R&B, blues, jazz and pop music.

When did you first start writing songs and what were your first songs about?

I first started writing songs with my sister, Erin. At first I would vent to her about my relationships—which honestly, how serious were those when you’re only 13?—and she would go home and basically write a poem and give it to me. I would read the lyrics and play the chords that felt right and accented what she was talking about with my piano, and create a melody line based on the chords I played.

Who are your biggest influences as a musician and as a songwriter?

14 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

My personal influences would have to consist of guys like Jamie Cullum, Bruce Hornsby, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Our band’s collective influences are more along the lines of Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Chaka Khan, Bill Withers and John Mayer.

How did the LaFever band come together?

The band was all connected years before we even thought we would be a band, which what makes our story so cool to tell! [drummer] Ron Bowie used to play with [guitarist] Chad Judd’s parents for years before Chad came along, and I played with Ron in various bands from praise and worship to country bands together from when I was 16 to now. When I was 18, I jammed with Chad, who was only about 14 at the time and thought “Meh” and never even considered him to be a thing until years later when I told Ron, “We really need a sharp guitar player if we are going to make this group happen.” Then Ron tells me about Chad and how he’s a monster at guitar and vocals. I was unsure about having him come in, and Ron said to just let him sit in and jam.

When we got together for the first time and jammed on “Just the Two of Us” by Bill Withers, we got done and I said “So it begins. . . .”

Ever since, we’ve been writing together and playing gigs, as well as making progress.

How did your time at MTSU prepare you for a career in music?

MTSU teaches students the basic guidelines,

but the secret is to take what you learn and go out and do it in whatever capacity you can.

MTSU recommends internships that will give you real experience in the workplace, which is definitely what you want to do when you get to that point in the program. Some students aren’t far enough in the program to do internships quite yet, so a great thing to do is research local bands and artists, find one that you like, and ask them if you can help their band with whatever you’re interested in learning more of. People want to see that you’re passionate about the music business, and some [who offer] internships like seeing that you already have some experience going into the internship.

Most bands are open to the help and would love for you to be part of their team. Then you get that hands-on experience, and get to put into action what you learn in classes at MTSU. What are your plans for the rest of the year and 2016?

We are in the process of working on an album, and getting materials together to— fingers crossed—set up a couple tours next year! We are also looking to gain more team members in merchandise, promotions, social media, photography and video. If you do any of these and want to be a part of LaFever, just shoot an email to lafeverband@gmail.com.

Find LaFever’s music at lafeverband.com, as well as on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

Ivan’s set at Nacho’s, 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd., begins at 6 p.m. every Thursday.

Clutch, the groovy, quirky, hard-rocking quartet, appeared at Marathon Music Works in Nashville on Oct. 6, just days after the release of the band’s new record, Psychic Warfare.

This album marked the third full-length release on the band’s own label, Weathermaker Music, and earlier this year Clutch guitarist Tim Sult said forming the label was “probably the best thing we’ve ever done for our career.”

And in its debut week, Psychic Warfare became the highest-charting album for Clutch to date. But devoted fans have been following the Maryland band since its inception in 1993.

Clutch—Sult on guitar, along with vocalist/guitarist Neil Fallon, bassist Dan Maines and drummer Jean-Paul Gaster— gave the crowd in Nashville an energetic performance of tunes old and new; “The Mob Goes wild, wild wild,” Fallon sang.

The hyped-up lead man used animated hand motions and facial expressions throughout the show to accent his distinct vocal style, somehow simultaneously aggressive and stoner.

The band’s encore changed the mood up a bit, with Fallon breaking out the slide guitar and harmonica (and cowbell) for some dirty rockin’ dance blues.

Also on the bill was Corrosion of Conformity, and that legendary metal band’s fans were well represented as well.

After a long hiatus, Pepper Keenan and C.O.C. are back together, joining Clutch for their fall 2015 tour.

For more on Clutch, visit pro-rock.com; for more on Corrosion of Conformity, visit coc.com; for more shows coming to Marathon Music Works, visit marathonmusicworks.com.

boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 15

Living

(Left) A ferry carries cars across the Green River to Mammoth Cave National Park’s backcountry area, where the Pulse team set up Camp MOAB.

Search for

Bigfoot to be Continued

After Fall 2015 expedition, team remains dedicated to uncovering mystery of Sasquatch. story BY BRACKEN MAYO • photos by angela parrish

T

he Murfreesboro Pulse Expedition Team has completed its first exploration mission: an excursion to Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park with the goal of gaining evidence of Bigfoot.

While no solid evidence was uncovered, team members say they still consider the mission a success.

The team has demonstrated it can quickly set up a functional base camp, exist fairly comfortably in near-freezing temperatures and execute an assigned mission. Plus, it has assembled a roster of sponsors dedicated to exploration and fun.

Team leader Cameron Parrish planned multiple methods to attempt to find evidence of the existence of Bigfoot—or Sasquatch (a word adapted from the language of native people of the Pacific Northwest)—a large, bipedal, hairy apelike creature with large feet.

These methods included placing bait buckets (provided especially for the expedition by Better Days BBQ) containing chicken wings, other meat scraps and even a potato for the big guy, placed in two different areas of the forest.

One of these buckets had a Premiere Home Inspection game camera positioned on it; the other did not. Parrish theorizes that Bigfoot has

16 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

the ability to sense the camera, and wanted one bucket to be placed without a camera.

The rest of his plan included venturing into the woods in the middle of the night, when humans rarely enter the dark forest, to make a little noise and attract attention.

Upon arriving at Mammoth Cave National Park midday on Friday, Oct. 16, the team took a ferry across the Green River to the park’s backcountry area and proceeded to set up Camp MOAB, the group’s home for the weekend.

Parrish selected the area for the excursion due to the high number of reported Bigfoot sightings in and around the park. Sightings tend to be at their highest in locations near a river (he speculates that Bigfoot uses waterways to travel), and in locations with vast areas of forest touched rarely by humans, such as isolated portions of national parks.

The expedition leader soon set out with team quartermaster Joey Odom and cameraman Zook Montague downriver a piece on kayaks to set the first bait bucket. They returned to Camp MOAB and set a second bait bucket not far from camp, this one with a game camera nearby to capture any movement.

As night fell, the team heated up food packed

for them by expedition sponsor Better Days BBQ and enjoyed a hot meal by the fire, along with some much-welcomed provisions from Murfreesboro’s own Mayday Brewery.

Parrish and Jim McPeters then led a discussion on some of the science and mythology related to the Bigfoot species.

McPeters brought up the multiple unexplained disappearances in national parks over the last century, and recommended people check out The Secret Vanishings in America’s National Parks, a book by David Paulides, who spent years researching thousands of unexplained missing-persons cases.

Parrish shared some of his research with the team, and discussed various cases of humans

coming into contact with the Sasquatch. He said the creature can range from 6 to 10 feet tall, and that there may even be sub-species within the Bigfoot community; just like humans, their hair color can vary, ranging from dirty blond to jet black.

Generally, Parrish said, when footprints are found the pattern is one foot directly in front of the other, unlike humans, whose tracks occur at shoulder width.

And when a human observes a Bigfoot retreating into the woods, they generally do not appear to be in much of a hurry to escape, taking long strides with their feet close to the ground, resembling the strides of a cross-country skier. Their slow retreat indicates that the humans are typically more frightened than the Bigfoot.

“Many who have encounters wish that they did not,” Parrish said.

Some individuals who have encountered Bigfoot, Parrish explained, reported a paralyzing fear like nothing they have ever experienced, and one that profoundly changes the rest of their lives “They may be able to communicate in some unknown way similar to dolphins, disabling their prey . . . telepathically, even,” Parrish said of the Bigfoot.

This supernatural, low-frequency means of communication could vibrate an observer’s body to the core.

Additionally, Parrish says, multiple people who have had encounters keep quiet because they don’t want the federal government taking their land.

Why has no one taken a Sasquatch body?

“Some hunters have said they have had them in their sights, but all of a sudden were surrounded by others and didn’t shoot,” Parrish said.

So, with all of this in mind, about midnight, the team loaded up in trucks and drove a couple miles down a gravel road in the park to the White Oak Trailhead, where they then set off on foot.

Parrish spoke very highly of his expedition team, an incredible group of almost superhero proportions.

“Everyone has been invited for a reason,” he told the group. Numerous other interested individuals even offered Parrish handsome sums of money for the opportunity to come along, but he didn’t want anyone along he could not trust, nor did he want too large of a group.

The diverse members of this fine team represented a wide range of specializations and skills, including psychology, weapons and military training, hunting and tracking experience, music and the arts, communication, commercial aviation and navigation, paranormal research and more.

After a brief night hike the team paused, and Parrish tried some tree knocking. Bigfoot researchers often knock on the base of trees, and say sometimes their knocks will be answered

Members of the 2015 Bigfoot Expedition (from left): Kyle Twilley, Bracken Mayo, Nessa Parrish, Joey Odom, Reagan Ammons, Rachel Ammons, Zook Montague, Ben Connor, Angela Parrish, Cameron Parrish, Adam Bullion and Andrew Medina.

by other knocks off in the distance. The Bigfoot possibly associates the sound of axes chopping down trees with humans.

After the knocks echoed against the hills probably a mile away, Parrish’s wife, recording artist Angela Ammons, then sang in an effort to attract attention from the mysterious Sasquatch.

Her powerful vocals filled the night woods with a beautiful, echoing melody.

Though there was no observable response, the team of adventurers had escaped modern life for a weekend at least and found themselves in the middle of the woods in the wee hours of the morn-

ing in the name of science and exploration.

The troupe returned to Camp MOAB for some rest before the sun came up and began warming the world.

Around the fire the next morning, a science and conspiracy symposium of sorts took place; topics of conversation ranged from electromagnetic pulses, UFOs and extraterrestrials, portals and stargates, seismic activity, the sun going out, American pharmaceutical companies’ involvement in the holocaust, oil companies’ desire to control the world and the Large Hadron Collider.

This is a group that wants answers, with

a desire to help unlock mystery and uncover humanity’s next great discovery.

Parrish says he knows looking for Bigfoot in the woods is like trying to find a needle in a haystack and, he notes “that needle might not want to be found.”

Just like playing the lottery, the chances of winning are small, but you certainly can’t win if you don’t play, and you probably won’t encounter Bigfoot if you don’t venture away from urban areas and into the wilderness.

The second night the team ventured back onto the White Oak Trail, and once again experienced

the dark expansiveness of the woods at night.

But again, there were no sightings of, or direct communication with, a Sasquatch.

Some team members, in a last-ditch, hailMary effort to lure the fabled creature from the forest, paid tribute to Bigfoot through song, a bilingual rendition of “La Bamba,” “Sr. Piegrande” (Mr. Bigfoot).

While there were no sightings of the bigfoot, one event worth noting transpired right at sunup on Sunday, Oct. 18. While the team members were in their tents covered with layers of blankets, a powerful howl emanated from the woods. Isolated howls continued from different locations; some, perhaps miles away, others seemed just yards from Camp MOAB. Distinct knocks came in between the howls.

Could they be coming from another camper attempting to scare away wolves? Or something else?

A 70-pound grey wolf was shot in 2013 just outside of Mammoth Cave National Park, so there is a distinct possibility that grey wolves have reached the area in numbers.

Parrish says a future excursion to Mammoth Cave National Park may involve a smaller group of humans, and a more remote site in the woods, even further from trails and campgrounds. Other potential sites for later PulseExpeditions include the Florida Everglades and Nepal.

And in some ways, the team did find Sasquatch: we discovered the wild creature that lives in us all.

Soy Piegrande; Semper Explorandum.

boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 17

Living Small Town story by BRACKEN MAYO

Big World photos by Scott Walker

Scott Walker’s street photography documents stories of homelessness.

Many in Murfreesboro know Scott Walker as the president of WGNS, Rutherford County’s “Good Neighbor Station” (coming to your radio at 1450 AM, and 100.5 FM).

Though on the side Walker is gaining some attention as a photographer, blogger and, to a lot of folks who do not have many others in their life to talk with, a good neighbor.

Chronicled on his blog, smalltownbigworld .com, Walker’s photography project features images and stories of many of our society’s overlooked individuals, and through that medium Walker is able to tell many tales that may otherwise go untold, the majority of them coming from homeless men and women.

I call him Spoon Man because he plays the spoons . . . Spoon Man has lived on the streets for the past 8 years. However, he quit drinking 11 years ago. 11 years was too late because it caused serious neurological problems . . .

I bought Spoon Man a foot-long steak and cheese sub. I watched as he ate a little less than half and then he carefully wrapped the remainder of the sandwich in paper and then placed it in his bag. I asked why he did not eat it all and he said, “I want to give the rest to a friend of mine.” He later told me that his friend is also homeless and that she is likely hungry.

Those who are homeless often give everything they have to others.

Rest in Peace. He was found dead on the morning of Saturday, 9/26/15, Walker wrote in one of the numerous accounts on his site.

Walker says he has always liked photography, and during his time in the Navy, stationed on the USS Kearsarge near Virginia Beach, developed his practice of “street photography.”

“Whenever I got off work each day I would go take pictures in the area,” Walker

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said. “But the cost was so high to develop (the film) I gave it up.”

Years later, after coming back to Middle Tennessee and WGNS, his family’s business, he obtained a digital camera.

“I just went out and started taking photos in Nashville,” Walker said.

He did not necessarily set out with the vision of starting his present photo blog, “I just noticed in almost every picture there was a homeless person somewhere,” he explains.

It was then that he set out to find these people, so often overlooked but generally in need of someone to talk to, and often with an incredible story to tell.

“I’ve met some interesting people,” he says.

And while sometimes the stories can be farfetched, if not altogether crazy, “I usually don’t question their story, I just go along with it.”

Nearly everyone he approaches seems appreciative that someone is paying attention to them and that they have someone to talk with, he says; “Only one or two times has someone gotten mad or threatened me in some way,” Walker said.

Many of the individuals that Walker has photographed have remained in his life well beyond that initial meeting and click of the shutter, and he has many friends and close relationships that have developed from his Small Town Big World work.

It is not uncommon for Walker to take time out of his day to help someone pay their bills, to drop off medicine, water, diapers or food, to join someone in the process of getting into an apartment, assisting others with finding work or filling out a job application.

“It’s about building relationships, maintain-

ing them,” Walker said. “The biggest thing is just trying to help them where they are.”

He says he often sees volunteers get burned out; they want to see immediate results, a feelgood story about someone cleaning up their life and getting off the streets. But often, Walker points out, the issues that plague the homeless community run far deeper than what a single hot meal, blanket, or even a home can solve.

Walker said he has known about the significant homeless population in the area for years, well before he began his blog; in fact, WGNS has organized blanket drives each winter and distributed them for years.

“But I wasn’t aware of how bad the problem of mental illness was in the homeless community,” Walker continued. “The truth is, a large percentage of them couldn’t hold down a job because of schizophrenia [or] bipolar disorder” or other mental issues, often a combination of multiple mental disorders going on in one mind, compounded by years of alcohol or drug abuse and a lack of loving relationships.

“I’ve talked to quite a few kicked out of their family’s house because the family didn’t know what to do with them, and how to handle their mental illness,” Walker said. “There are a lot of Vietnam veterans out there on the

streets, suffering from PTSD. They can’t function in big groups of people.”

Still, one individual at a time, he is attempting to make a positive difference in the lives of our neighbors in the most unfortunate situations, and he keeps up with dozens of the people he has met on the streets, under bridges, and near homeless shelters and food banks.

He gives away a lot, but when someone asks to borrow money for necessities, he expects to be paid back, and he generally is.

“I don’t hassle them about it, but I make sure they pay,” Walker said. “Working to earn that money to repay the loan helps gives them a purpose, and teaches responsibility and financial management.

He says there are many great organizations in Murfreesboro that work with the homeless: Last Call 4 Grace, Journey Home and Greenhouse Ministries as well as others. He points out that Liquidation Outlet gives out numerous tents to those who need them.

Taking his Small Town Big World project to the next level, Walker plans to put out a book in 2016 with the help of Amy Parker, a Murfreesboro resident who recently authored a biography on Jack Hanna and has also written numerous devotionals and prayer-themed books for children, teens and adults.

Until then, there’s a message Walker wants to spread with his project: “Just get out there and talk to strangers . . . even though our mothers told us not to,” he said.

To view his Small Town Big World photo project, visit smalltownbigworld.com.

boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 19

Living

K.O. selling Faith Unity papers on the street corner.

His tales include his love for fishing in the lake near Hendersonville, and packing his family’s possessions in a teardrop trailer to escape California and its earthquakes.

life on the street

story and photos by Darcy payne

K.O. The Star Low-income elderly man sells newspapers for fun.

R

ed lights glaring from hanging posts bring traffic to a halt at the intersection of Myatt Drive and East Old Hickory Boulevard in Madison, Tenn. A man selling Faith Unity newspapers waves and smiles for hours on this corner nearly every day. The elderly man is wearing two sweaters to fend off the chill of this cold fall day. His layered sweaters are neatly accompanied by a cane and United States Marine Corps hat, which complements his white hair.

“I used to have a [VW] Bug too,” the man yells to me from across the street. “Yeah, I loved that car. Fixed it myself when it broke down and it never broke again!”

Luckily, my VW Bug window is rolled down during these several seconds as the stop light so I can hear the story about this man’s classic car.

“I’mma have a book written about me, you know,” says the man, Kimmie, from afar. “I have five publishers try’nna hire me.”

The man’s Faith Unity nametag lists his name as Kimmie, but the man says to call him “K.O.” His eyes are noticeably blue, even from a distance. Statistically, less than 1% of African American individuals living in the United States have blue eyes.

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“Are your eyes naturally blue?” I ask.

“They’re whatever color you want them to be.” says K.O. “They change color, and sometimes they even glow!”

I park at a defunct car dealership next to K.O.’s corner in order to hear his life story.

K.O. smoothly leans against my new-model Bug. I ask if I can take his picture for the paper. He agrees as a smile remains on his face.

He doesn’t even have to pose.

“Do you like having your picture taken?” I inquire.

He nods. “I used to be a star, so it comes naturally.”

K.O. says he recorded songs as a vocalist in Oklahoma City and has even sung live on television. After his singing career, K.O.

founded two Christian Concert Centers in Oklahoma that were very successful, an accomplishment which ultimately brought him to Nashville.

He found a vacant building in Nashville he called “Spurrs,” which was a broadcasting station that had been closed for years. K.O. had the right opportunity to get the building for his center, which is how he ended up in Music City.

K.O. has even ventured to write his own autobiography before the publishers write a book about him. The book is titled My Life and Death Testimonies: Kidnapped. K.O.’s autobiography covers stories about his childhood, near-death experiences, days in Vietnam and more. “[While writing] I’m moved by the events coming alive again in my mind,” says K.O. Along with finishing his autobiography, K.O. sells Faith Unity in his spare time. K.O. is 70 years old and lives off Social Security money, so he uses selling the paper to meet new people in his own backyard . . . literally.

K.O.’s corner where he sells the paper is right behind his small, white cottage in Madison.

Considering he is disabled, this job is perfect for K.O. K.O. was a cadet for the Los Angeles Police Department beginning in the summer of 1965. This job led him to serve in the United States Marine Corps.

“A buddy of mine and I decided we wanted to be U.S. Marines,” says K.O. “We joined

the Los Angeles Police Department together, so we wanted to join the Marines together.”

Unfortunately, K.O. could not pass the eye exam, so he begged a recruiter to help. Eventually, the recruiter saw K.O.’s passion for the job, so he was sent to an optometrist to be coached through an eye exam.

K.O. served faithfully in the Marine Corps for four years beginning at the age of 21 as a “machine gunner.” After the war, K.O. settled down in Los Angeles and married his first wife. His wife later gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Kimmie, named after him.

“He was a fine son,” says K.O., “A bit hard-headed like me, but I loved him.”

During the time of his family’s growth, an earthquake swept through their home and nearly killed K.O.’s wife and child.

Within six months, K.O. and his family were on their way to Oklahoma City. They chose this city for its lack of earthquakes.

K.O. lights up while explaining how he drove a 1956 Jaguar XK140 drophead convertible pulling a 1939 teardrop camper trailer to escape from California.

“Yes,” says K.O. fondly, “I love the classics.”

Now, years later, K.O. is married to a 40-year-old woman and is considering divorce. Mainly because of the age difference, K.O. feels like he is more settled than his wife.

“Hello?” K.O. says, answering his cellphone. “Yeh, I’m out on the corner.”

K.O.’s wife called to see where he is. He assured her another person is interested in writing the story about his life. Upon finishing the short discussion, K.O. hangs up.

He asks if I have to get home, and I comfort him in saying that I have time to talk.

After explaining to K.O. that Hendersonville is my home, he pipes up and says he used to live in an apartment there.

“I loved the lake,” says K.O. happily. “The complex I lived in had a dock where I could fish.”

“Do you like fishing?” I ask.

“Yes. . . ? I say that hesitantly because I haven’t been in so long!” says K.O. So, in the near future, K.O. and I are going fishing together on his old dock as a double date with our significant others. Sometimes, you can make a friend, and possibly save a marriage, by simply rolling down your window.

boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 21

Living

Fall To-Do List  Water

Farmers’ Market Education Series by edwina shannon

Fall Garden Checklist The garden, for the most part, is spent. Another growing season is over but there is still work for the gardener. Much of what you do at this time of year will give you a jumpstart in the spring.

First, remove debris from the garden.

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That ensuing cleanliness is your best defense against insects and disease. If you have any diseased plant remains or weeds going to seed, put them in a separate pile from the dead foliage. The dead foliage can be chopped or run over by a lawn mower, mak-

ing smaller pieces, which can then be added to a compost pile. The diseased plants and seeded weeds have to be trashed or burned.

Continue to remove weeds from the garden, preferably before they go to seed. Fallen leaves, too, can be chopped and added to the garden soil or the compost. Do not pile fallen leaves deeply on the soil. The idea is to have the chopped leaves decompose over winter. If they are piled deeply, that can’t happen.

Leaves, in a thin layer, can be added around the base of perennial plants. That action will help to moderate temperatures of the soil, minimizing freezing and thawing around the roots.

Pick up the stakes and tomato cages and clean them off before storing away. If any need to be replaced, start a list of what you’ll need for next year.

This is also the ideal time to review the condition of your tools. Use steel wool to remove rust. Sharpen the blades. Soak tools in a 10% bleach solution to reduce disease carryover to the next season. Dry with towels. I also put them in the sun and then oil them, or spray them with a metal protector. Store in a dry area.

As wet soils can make it challenging to prepare beds in the spring, do as much preparation as you can in the fall. After removing debris, rake off the soil. Then you may want to mix in chopped leaves, peat moss, straw, sand, compost or aged manure. These can also be added to your coldframe. Get the most from a coldframe by setting it to face south for maximum sun exposure.

You do want to wait until spring to trim back hardy herbs like sage and oregano. The branches and leaves will help to protect the base from freezing. If you do any trimming of bushes now, you may be trimming off the spring’s flowers. Be cognizant of when the bush begins to flower, and try to only trim fall flowering bushes now or accept that they may be flowerless next season.

Many think that soil should not be left bare throughout the winter. Buckwheat and rye hold the topsoil in place and turn into the soil nicely, enriching it as they decompose. You want to turn it over after they flower, as buckwheat especially is a great early nectar source for bees. Ideally, turn it over before it goes to seed. Red clover has nitrogen-fixing properties and breaks down easily in the spring. The other clovers do not behave the same way.

Plan for Spring.

Now, if you have not subscribed to receive some spring catalogs, get yourself on some of the seed catalogs’ mailing lists.

Also, if you are interested in the Garden Basics or Master Gardener certification classes, you need to contact the local extension office at (615) 898-7710. Applications will be due soon for classes that start in January.

Give all of your plants a good drink, especially your trees. Their roots need plenty of moisture to make it through the upcoming months.

 Shop for Bulbs

Order from catalogs or visit garden stores early for best selection.

 Clear Debris from the Base of Roses

Fallen rose foliage can give diseases a safe place to overwinter and create problems in your garden next year.

 Amend Your Soil

Get the ground ready for next year’s beds and your fall bulbs by tilling the soil and adding home-made compost.

 Plant Fall Annuals

Once your summer blooms fade, add color to your garden with fall annuals, such as mums, pansies, and ornamental kale.

Beautify your yard with a fall container.

 Lower the Height on Your Lawn Mower

Grass grows more slowly in fall, but it still needs to be cut to prepare for winter. A lower cutting height helps the soil dry out more quickly in spring.

 Feed the Birds

Don’t forget your feathered friends; their food supply grows scarce in autumn.

 Divide and Cut Back Perennials

While you’re digging them up to divide them, try rearranging plants if they haven’t been working in their current location. Tip: Hold off dividing asters, chrysanthemums, and other fall-blooming perennials.

 Get Bulbs in the Ground

Plant your favorite bulbs now for colorful springtime blooms. Tip: You can usually get away with planting bulbs late, up until the soil freezes solid enough you can’t get a shovel in the ground.

 Bring Container Plants Indoors

Remove dead foliage and break up any hardened soil before hauling your cherished tropical plants indoors for the winter.

Tip: Before bringing plants indoors, spray them, if necessary.



Empty Hoses, Fountains and Drip-Irrigation Systems Ensure any standing water is removed; store items in a dry place.

 Clean up the Vegetable Garden Remove weeds and debris so pests won’t make your garden their winter home.

 Dig Up Annuals

Spent and dead, your summer annuals can now nourish the compost heap. Shrubs, roses, and perennials that might succumb to blasts of cold should be protected with mulch or another protective covering. Place these frost barriers after the first freeze.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

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* November 2015 * 23

Food Cooking Like

Grandma’s story and photos by christy simmons

Head to Miller’s Grocery in Christiana for home-cooked fish, meatloaf, casseroles, cakes and pies.

R

ight outside of Murfreesboro, going down Highway 231 towards Shelbyville, there’s a little town named Christiana. There’s nothing particularly special about the town—it’s full of farm land and residential neighborhoods. But there is one hidden place that everyone who lives in the area should visit at least once . . . maybe twice. Or 45 times. This place is Miller’s Grocery.

Housed in an old building that used to be a small dry goods store, Miller’s Grocery is a little restaurant full of character and charm. The decor is eclectic and rustic, the servers are friendly and there’s live bluegrass or country music on the weekends. The food, though—that’s the real reason to go.

Eating at Miller’s Grocery is like going over to your grandma’s house for Sunday dinner. The food won’t be fancy, but it will be delicious Southern fare: the kind that sticks to your ribs and gives you that comfortable warm feeling that you just can’t get from other types of food. With options like meatloaf, chicken and cornbread dressing, pork loin chops and a whole list of scratch-made side dishes to choose from, there’s bound to be something that will satisfy your appetite.

At my last visit, I got the countryfried steak with broccoli casserole, mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. The steak was delicious, but you just can’t go wrong with a tender steak, breaded and deep fried and topped with gravy. The potatoes are real and not boxed and the mac and cheese was creamy. The broccoli casserole wasn’t the best that day, Mounds Name: Miller’s Grocery but that is not the norm for them. cake Location: 7011 Main St., Usually it’s very good.

Christiana I’ve also had the salmon patties phone: (615) 893-1878 before, which are served with a dill sauce that’s seriously delicious. Anhours: Tues., Wed., Thurs. and Sun.: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; Fri. other side dish that I get a lot from and Sat.: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. there is the corn nuggets: little cost: Salmon patties with two deep fried balls of creamed corn. I sides: $9.95; country-fried steak love them so much! If you’re in the with two sides: $7.95; four vegmood for fried fish, both cornmealetables: $7.25; dessert: $3.95 crusted catfish and beer-battered online: millersgrocery.com cod are on the menu. I’ve had both, and neither dish disappointed, especially when paired with the homemade tartar sauce.

On Sundays, head out to Miller’s for their brunch buffet, full of homemade breakfast treats like scrambled eggs, hash brown casserole, pancakes and other delicacies.

There are two things that I Chicken fried steak; always do when I go there: I always mashed potatoes, mac get the fruit tea to drink and I and cheese and cornbread always save room for dessert. You would be seriously remiss if you didn’t do the same. The fruit tea is equally delicious. Mixing fruit juices with Southern sweet tea makes a concoction that I have grown up loving, and theirs is no exception.

They have a huge counter loaded down with desserts made fresh every day, including several pies, cakes and cobblers. Everything I have ever tried from that dessert counter has been exceptional. This last visit, I tried the Mounds cake: rich, fudgy chocolate cake topped with a layer of creamy coconut and a dark chocolate ganache. I couldn’t finish it, but I was more than happy to take it home to eat later with a glass of milk.

The next time you’re missing your grandma’s home cooking, go give Miller’s Grocery a try. You won’t be disappointed.

The Dish

Salmon patties with homemade tartar sauce, squash fritters and pineapple casserole

Coconut pie

24 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

Beef tips, mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole and corn bread

boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 25

News

Clockwise from top: Gen’s Ice Glimmer free from shoes; traditional Walking Horse shoes and chains; Gen’s Ice Glimmer in his old shoes. Scars are visible on the back of his feet.

sore

no more Group wants to put an end to the “Big Lick,” says soring horses is animal cruelty.

story BY SARAH H. CLARK

“If they were doing the big lick, they had been sored. It was and is that simple.”

So said John Haffner, DVM, at the Sound Horse Conference in Brentwood, Tenn., on March 29, 2014, as reported by walking horse blog Billy Go Boy. The conference materials expand upon Haffner’s statement: “The fact is the big lick can only be accomplished by soring. When one soring technique becomes detectable, another one is developed. The big lick is a learned response to pain and if horses have not been sored, they do not learn it.”

In layman’s terms, what Haffner is saying is that the “big lick”—that is, the exaggerated gait for which the Tennessee Walking Horse is known—cannot happen unless the horses are first “sored,” or treated with painful methods including the application of chemicals to a horse’s hocks combined with chains attached to the horse’s foot and boots wearing eight pounds or more. In yet barer terms, Haffner’s claim is that the big lick cannot be accomplished without animal cruelty.

Haffner has been a veterinarian since 1982, and he has lifelong experience with Tennessee Walking Horses. He is currently an associate professor at MTSU’s Horse Science Center. By most standards, his state-

26 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

ments would qualify as expert testimony.

Nor is Dr. Haffner alone in his conviction that big-lick show horses, as well as the competition and industry that surround them, are indispensably bound up in animal abuse and the illegal practice of soring. Clant Seay, a Mississippi native and longtime attorney who raised Walking Horses for many years, has personally espoused the cause of ending this practice—first in the court of public opinion, and then in our country’s code of laws.

Soring has been illegal since the Horse Protection Act of 1970, and Walking Horses are inspected by USDA officials before they can compete in shows. Many people are under the impression that soring never, or only rarely, happens nowadays. However, according to Seay,

A horse trainer demonstrating the products and tricks used at competitions to conceal scarring caused by soring.

at last year’s Walking Horse Celebration, 35% of the registered horses were disqualified upon inspection. If this is any indication, then soring horses is a practice that’s still alive and well.

When a law outlawing the big lick floundered in 2014, failing to come to a vote despite strong support in both legislative houses, Seay realized that his fight to end soring would be a longer process than he had hoped. He started in his hometown of Jackson, Miss., where the Children’s Hospital had accepted a donation of $50,000 from a big lick horse show. He started a change.org petition in February of 2015 asking the hospital to turn down this money that sprang from the practice of animal cruelty. In six days, the petition amassed over 5,500 signatures, and on March 6, the hospital publicly announced that it would no longer accept money from big lick horse shows.

Seay next turned his sights to Tennessee, the home of the Walking Horse and the biggest hub of the show industry. On April 23, he led a protest in Nashville on West End. On April 24, and again in May, he led protests in Columbia, Tenn.

“It was a different group each time—not people who knew each other,” says Seay.

At one of the protests, an angry trainer drove his truck and trailer towards one of protesters, says Seay. The trainer has now been indicted for assault with a deadly weapon. At another protest, Seay says that he himself was threatened both online and in person. He says he understands why people are upset—though he never sored himself, he sees that this practice has become part of the culture around Walking Horses and a way of life for many people. His goal is to change this culture and perception, without lessening anyone’s enjoyment of a breed of horses for which he has his own deep affection.

Now, Seay has set his sights upon MTSU. His goal is simple: he would like the university to issue a statement publicly severing its ties with the big lick and, consequently, with animal cruelty. The banner that hung at his recent protest on campus states his case succinctly: “MTSU condones unethical treatment of animals by not severing ties with animal cruelty.”

This campaign officially began on July 28, 2015, when Seay received a call from an animal rescue group asking for financial assistance in buying a Tennessee Walking Horse called Gen’s Ice Glimmer from an auction in Cookeville.

Seay responded and purchased the 11-year-old registered Tennessee Walking Horse, who was severely scarred by soring. Nevertheless, this very same horse had been registered at a horse show at MTSU as recently as 2013—despite the fact that it is illegal to bring a scarred horse to any horse show or sale (Glimmer was ultimately disqualified from the event). Seay has insisted that this case be investigated and is bringing further attention to this issue through a video he has posted showing a trainer demonstrating the makeup and tricks that can be used to conceal the scarring caused by soring—even from trained USDA inspectors. He hopes that Glimmer’s example can show the world—and the Walking Horse community—that soring is still practiced, and how cruel it can be.

Because this abused horse had been entered in a show at MTSU, and because university faculty, staff and donors are publicly affiliated with the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, Seay is calling on the university to halt its horse shows and show its support for the ethical treatment of animals instead. On Aug. 14, he started another change.org petition directed to the university’s president, Dr. Sidney McPhee.

Within about two weeks, the petition collected over 9,000 signatures, as well as numerous letters from alumni and others asking MTSU to take a stand against big lick and the practice of soring. On Aug. 28, Seay presented the petition to the president’s office, where it was received by university spokesperson Andrew Oppman, the Vice President of Communications.

Oppman issued a statement that included the following: “MTSU does not condone the illegal or unethical treatment of any animal.

As home to the state’s largest Equine Science program, the university is a strong supporter of our state’s horse industry. We also recognize that the overwhelming majority of people associated with the industry maintain the highest standards of ethical care for their animals.”

“The university says they don’t condone the unethical treatment of any animal—but the big lick is animal cruelty,” says Seay; he adds that while MTSU says the horse show “did not benefit the university,” the funds raised from the show went to fund MTSU student scholarships, paying tuition to MTSU, and therefore did directly benefit the university. Seay is continuing to spread the word via social media and through protests on and off campus.

“We’re not trying to embarrass MTSU,” he says. “We will praise and applaud them if they take a stand.” Seay has no problem with Tennessee Walking Horses as a breed, he says, or with flat-shod horses. “We have a problem with animal cruelty,” he says. “All we’re asking is for a policy statement against it.”

For more information on Seay’s campaign and putting an end to horse soring, visit facebook.com/helpglimmerrecover.

Art

7

4

Creators Welcome Public into their home Studios for Annual Tour

Stops on the 2015 Art Studio Tour include:

1Studio 903

903 Murfree Ave.

2Popcorn Pottery Studio 2031 Nelson Ln.

3Elizabeth Bray Jewelry

BY CEYLA ORTEN

521 E. Main St.

Stones River Craft Association invites fine craft and art lovers to the 23rd annual Art Studio Tour, slated for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21–22.

The tour, established in 1993, will include 10 Rutherford County studio venues this year, each demonstrating iron, pottery, stained glass, woodwork, fine jewelry, home accessories and other methods of production.

“I’ve been a member of the Art Studio for 15 years now,” fine jewelry maker Ramsey Hall told the Murfreesboro Pulse. She spoke highly of the craft organization and says she appreciates the opportunity to get to know other artists in the community.

Hall explains that this tour creates visibility and awareness of the talented professional artists in the Middle Tennessee area.

“We want people to know that artists are making their living,” she said.

The Art Studio Tour is open to everyone and, taking place the weekend before Thanksgiving, it could be an alternative means of holiday shopping, as many of the talented local artists will have work for sale.

Check out the artists in the Murfreesboro area and show your appreciation and support.

9

4

Red Oak Pottery 2925 Spain Hill Rd., Lascassas

5Ramsey Hall Designs

5

2

2430 Kingwood Lane, Rockvale

6Joe Brown Blacksmith 3538 Cripple Creek Rd., Readyville

7Alan Daigre Designs

3

5323 Ferrell Hollow Rd., Readyville

8Turtleware Pottery 4004 Southridge Blvd.

9Everich Farm

8695 Hwy 269 Bell Buckle Rd, Christiana

0

Studio S Pottery 1426 Avon Rd. For more information, visit artstudiotour.org.

0 boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 27

Reviews

Beasts of No Nation 3.5

Directed by

Crimson Peak 4

Tom Hiddleston brings his Loki charm with a touch of vulnerability to keep you guessing his true intentions. And Jessica Chastain is pure malice, but of an empathic sort. Each one is, shall we say, fleshed out.

Guillermo del Toro’s unparalleled production design gives Crimson Peak its true character.

The embellished costumes, the gothic lighting (and more importantly the shadows), and the hyper-rich greens and, yes, crimsons lend the film its palpable atmosphere, one of paranormal mystery and

foreboding. If there is one complaint it is with the ghosts themselves.

Unlike many contemporary horror films, del Toro lets us see his gruesome creations up close and in long-held shots. The viewer’s imagination is often scarier than what’s actually on the screen, so by holding on the ghosts it can either demystify what is so terrifying about them or amplify the dread of their presence as if to say, “no, this is not a dream.” Unfortunately to me, the overuse of CGI wispies emanating from the practical effect ghosts does a little too much of the former.

It’s a niggling quibble on an otherwise excellent film, but one that seems worth mentioning about a director whose visual choices rarely let me down.

— Jay Spight

sequences are shot almost entirely with night-vision and infrared— but rather than working against the film, it makes viewers feel like they’re in the characters’ shoes. In addition, several aerial tracking shots help advance the story by following characters as they weave through the crowded streets of Juárez, Mexico.

Darkness is also used in an unconventional way. Several scenes were shot at night, and they actually look like nighttime,

with no extra lighting. In one scene that shows several people walking down a hill at night, viewers get to see a stunning visual as well as a subtle analogy to the characters themselves descending into amorality. All of this amazing camera work could lead to Deakins bringing home an Oscar in 2016.

Perhaps the most troublesome issue with Sicario is the story isn’t quite as compelling or innovative as it could be. It’s a standard drug bust story, with a few beats of revenge thrown in for good measure. The plot was serviceable, but it lost me at times, because some characters’ motivations aren’t revealed until the end of the film.

Overall, however, the good far outweighs the bad in Sicario. Suspenseful scenes, incredible acting and beautiful cinematography make it a must-see.

— Levi Hill

Directed by

Guillermo del Toro

Starring

Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain Rated R

Guillermo del Toro’s welcome return to horror, Crimson Peak, is a classic haunted house tale in the tradition of gothic romance and the Edgar Allen Poe adaptations of Roger Corman, filtered through the director’s inimitable eye for beauty in the macabre.

The eponymous Crimson Peak refers to the estate of siblings Thomas and Lucille Sharpe (Hiddleston and Chastain, respectively), a dilapidated mansion that sets atop a red clay mine that gets its name from the red clay that seeps up through the snow and even the house. In one of the film’s many unsettling touches, the floors and walls of the manor literally ooze red clay from their cracks.

It is here that Thomas brings his newly betrothed Edith (Mia Wasikowska), an aspiring writer of ghost stories. Having seen

movie ghosts her whole life, Edith quickly begins to see the ghastly dead that haunt Crimson Peak while both Thomas and the cold Lucille assure Edith it is just the creaking of their crumbling castle. What follows is a fairly standard ghost mystery, perhaps the no-frills story is itself an homage to the haunted house films of yore, but the way it is presented and the performances of the three leads elevate it.

With her role in Stoker and now Crimson Peak, Mia Wasikowska shows there is no better actor to play the part of a gothic ingénue.

Sicario 4

Directed by

Dennis Villeneuve Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Daniel Kaluuya Starring

Rated R

Sicario is highlighted by incredible performances and some of the most suspenseful scenes in any film this year. Don’t be surprised if multiple cast members (like Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro or Josh Brolin) are nominated for an Oscar; this film may also lead to a 12th nomination for veteran cinematographer Roger Deakins.

Sicario, which means “hitman” in Spanish, tells the story of Kate Macer, (Blunt) an FBI agent who is recruited by Matt Graver (Brolin) to aid in an escalating drug war at the Mexico-United States border. They are accompanied on RATINGS:

Cary Joji Fukunaga Abraham Attah, Idris Elba, Emmanuel Affadzi, Andrew Adote, Ama K. Abebrese Starring

their mission by the mysterious, menacing Alejandro (Del Toro), whose true allegiances are kept a mystery throughout the film.

During their first mission, Kate realizes these men aren’t playing by the book and that they straddle the border of morality just as much as the one between nations.

Sicario is masterfully suspenseful. Everything in it is geared to have the viewer perched on the edge of their seat throughout the film. A few closed-quarters

A CLASSIC

28 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE

BELOW AVERAGE

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

Rated NR

Beasts of No Nation is a difficult film to process. Based on the 2005 Uzodinma Iweala novel of the same name, the film follows a West African boy named Agu (Abraham Attah) whose life is violently upended by civil war and who is subsequently forced to become a soldier for a terrifying warlord called The Commandant (Idris Elba).

Beasts of No Nation’s success comes from its visuals. Whether it’s a shot of Agu desperately trying to hold on to his mother’s hand as he’s ripped away from her or the world turning purple as Agu feels the effects of drugs in his system, the film creates powerful images that instantly connect the audience to Agu’s emotional state.

The film also boasts dynamic performances from Abraham Attah and Idris Elba. This is Attah’s first acting role but his inexperience is irrelevant; he’s a natural. Attah shows Agu’s transformation from innocent to damned with incredible subtlety and nuance.

Elba is a seasoned actor but has never had a role quite like The Commandant. He’s both protector and predator, and Elba switches between both roles effortlessly. The Commandant is larger than life but Elba makes him a more menacing figure, because he’s all too human. The Commandant never feels more dangerous than when his dominance is undercut by an authority figure and he lashes out in anger.

Beasts of No Nation falters when it becomes too enamored with The Commandant and loses sight of Agu. Another issue with Beasts of No Nation is, admittedly, personal. My parents are immigrants from Zambia, so I’m sensitive to portrayals of Africa in film. Beasts of No Nation is beautifully directed but it’s also yet another mainstream film about war in Africa. It’s not the film’s fault that the media’s representation of Africa is so poor, but it saddens me that so many people’s first exposure to African culture (specifically Ghanaian) will be associated with horrific violence. This would be less affecting if the film was saying something that hasn’t been said before, but it doesn’t.

It’s a beautiful film that tells an empathetic story of a boy transformed by war, but lacks any deeper meaning.

— cecilia sinkala

Living Room Cinema column by Norbert Thiemann

facebook.com/livingroomcinema

Love and Responsibility

D

oing the right thing in service of love can be an ethical conundrum.

Would you lie to avoid inflicting pain, or be hurtful with a brutal truth?

Would you risk everything? Would you die or kill for love?

Amour (2012) is directed by Michael Haneke. Amour might be history’s most poignant film about love and aging.

Haneke should simply be one of your favorite directors. His films are bold and do not shy away from the grim side of life.

Whenever you are in the mood for thought and reflection, please partake.

Locke (2014) is directed by Steven Knight. Tom Hardy (Bronson) is brilliant as Ivan Locke, who is traveling to witness the birth of his child. The film takes place within his vehicle, where he communicates via his car phone with those who need him. Meet a very unlikely and thoroughly engaging film.

Stairway to Heaven, A Matter of Life and Death (1946) is directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. An RAF pilot reaches out to an American radio operator as his plane is going down in the U.K. during WWII. Their brief conversation results in a mutual bond. He cheats death, but for how long? boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 29

Reviews g ame

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 5

The Witcher 3 was the first big game released in 2015 and it is my vote as the best of the year. Today’s gaming market features specific publishers and their yearly releases all over the place, but there is one triple-A title in particular named The Witcher 3 that is a nod to the glory days of gaming. The Witcher 3 has the difficulty of learning a new system, and combines it with beautifully conceived open-world atmospheres that really showcase what the new systems and killer PC hardware can accomplish. Many gamers knew this game was a must-buy before it was released, if only on principle. CD projekt Red (the creators of The Witcher 3) announced they would provide 15-plus additional free DLCs to add to the already robust 100-hour-plus game they worked on. The open-world concept is new to The Witcher series, but was done well above the standard. This latest version of The Witcher pulled the best ideas from its series, including excellent writing, compelling characters and deep exploration of the nuances needed to be the most successful Witcher possible.

Witcher 3 has rock-solid gameplay mechanics, but they are difficult to learn. However, once you learn how to play the game it just feels fluid, deep and well thought out. The Witcher 3 then makes you plan how you are going to approach placing your upgrades; using red, blue or green mutagens can amplify your upgrade’s effectiveness.

Using high-level mutagens with corresponding colors can lead to very powerful bonuses; for example, I set my tree up to give me an extra 100% attack boost.

There is also an extensive crafting system contained in the game, and I highly recommend finding witcher gear scattered throughout the world and upgrading it to the highest level, because it is incredibly powerful.

I’m partial to the Ursine equipment.

The story in Witcher 3 is pretty complex, but not too difficult to follow. Although it carries over from previous games, Witcher 3 does not collapse under its own weight and is easily accessible even to newcomers like myself. Without spoiling too much, players assume the 30 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

role of Geralt of Rivia, who is looking to reunite with Ciri, who for all intents and purposes is like a daughter to Geralt. The story does not tiptoe around anything, and even encompasses infanticide as well as other gruesome scenarios that are quite believable in war—the setting of Witcher 3. Geralt learns that Ciri is being chased by a group called the Wild Hunt (hence the game’s title) which is trying to use her to spark the beginning of the age of frost. Witcher 3 allows you to piece together the story by letting you play as Ciri in flashbacks and see just how much more powerful she is than Geralt.

The Witcher 3 was already jam packed with gameplay, but then CD Projekt red included a New Game+ mode and allowed the player to adjust the difficulty again for the new playthrough. The amount of content and replayability you receive for your money is unbelievable. The Witcher has four types of quests in the game: main story, secondary, witcher contracts and treasure hunts.

Each of these quests require varying amounts of time consumption. The main quests take 10 minutes or more to complete, with some lasting for almost 30 minutes near the end of the game. The secondary quests are usually quick and supplemental to the main story quests and include Gwent Card collection, races and fistfights.

The Witcher contracts involve negotiating wages, investigating clues and reading a bestiary entry to learn the weakness of the creature.

The Witcher 3 wraps all this up nicely with gorgeous scenery and is probably one of the prettiest games I’ve played. It is not common in the current videogame market to get such an expansive game that contains this much content (I currently have 286 hours clocked in and am still playing). My advice for new Witcher players is to play on a lower difficulty until you have mastered the gameplay, then upgrade to master-crafted witcher gear and, finally, play New Game+ on the hardest difficulty level. If you can only own one game this year, I highly recommend The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

—Spencer Douglas

The Monster of Hayden’s Ridge: A Conversation With Local Author Billy Plant III BY DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK Murfreesboro author Billy Plant III isn’t new to self-publishing. In fact, his latest project, The Monster of Hayden’s Ridge, is his third book endeavor in the past few years.

Plant, who published his first book in 2011, holds a master’s degree in biology from Middle Tennessee State University and currently works as a utility forester.

Plant’s other self-published book, Mother Earth & Other Pretty Girls, is a compilation of essays, poems and stories that date back to as far as 2003. Similar to Hayden’s Ridge, many of the stories in Mother Earth & Other Pretty Girls deal with nature, a recurring theme, ironically, in Plant’s repertoire. In addition to the other two titles, Plant authored A Guide to Cedar Glades and Common Appalachian Wildflowers, a guide to Tennessee’s rare cedar glades complete with photographs and detailed descriptions.

The Monster of Hayden’s Ridge, released Oct. 2, takes place in Lytle County, Tenn., where times are hard and jobs are few and far between.

When Henry Davidson’s company is hired to survey Hayden’s Ridge, a future retail complex on a 1,000-acre tract of land, he must learn to work fast. That is, until Davidson spots an ape-like creature within the hills of the ridge. When city officials refuse to acknowledge the creature’s presence, Davidson reaches out to everyone else to help find the creature.

We spoke with Plant about his latest novel, how his education inspired his writing and more: Pulse: Your latest novel, as well as Mother Earth & Other Pretty Girls, include nature themes. How does your degree and interest in biology intersect with your writing?

Plant: Ever since I was young I enjoyed exploring creeks and woods.

The Duck River ran through the neighborhood I where grew up in Columbia, Tennessee, and I went fishing several times a week. When I was not outside, I was in my room either playing guitar or reading.

Through reading I learned to write and though exploring my surroundings I learned to love nature. That’s why I wrote A Guide to Cedar Glades and Common Appalachian Wildflowers. I raised the funds to self-publish it through a Kickstarter campaign

book and was fortunate enough for it to be picked up for distribution by the University of Tennessee Press. It’s sold out now but I think there may be a few copies still available at the Cannon County Arts Center.

Where did the idea for Monster originate?

First off, I wanted to write a book people would read, and a quick Internet search will reveal that Bigfoot has a built-in audience. Also, when I was young I remember Leonard Nimoy’s In Search of . . . episode about

Bigfoot, and I thought it was really cool. This will sound odd, but [the appeal is] not just the subject matter, it’s the era when Bigfoot took hold in the national consciousness, from the late ’50s through the mid-’70s. It’s nostalgic. For me Bigfoot represents the mountains and running water and 1974 film haziness. It’s hard to explain, but Sasquatch represents an entire imaginary world to me, one akin to Jack London novels and Northern Exposure and Dick Proenneke’s documentary Alone In the Wilderness. The Monster of Hayden’s Ridge is about conservation versus development and how those ideas affect the people in the community.

What do you hope readers will take away?

I hope people are entertained by the story. It’s pure escapism aimed at people who like hiking, camping and waterfalls. I also hope they take away new ideas about both sides of the development-versus-conservation issue, and I hope they shed a tear for the plight of the “monster.”

It’s sort of sad and sweet. There’s even romance and an almost-sex scene in the book!

I also noticed you and your wife are in a bluegrass band.

Can you talk about your interest in music as well?

I’ve played guitar since I was 13 years old and have written songs

for nearly as long. When I got out of the Navy I moved to Nashville hoping to make it as a songwriter, but I got bored with the open mic nights, so I sort of quit trying to get my music out there. After moving to Murfreesboro, I started playing out again thanks to the urging of Levi Massie, who I played several shows with. Since 2013, my wife and I have

been part of the five-piece bluegrass/ old-time string band The Accidental Trio. We also wrote and performed the music for the video trailer for The Monster of Hayden’s Ridge.

To read more of the interview with Plant, visit boropulse.com; for more information, all of Plant’s books have Facebook pages.

boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 31

Opinion Reform of Local Probation System Is Long Overdue People familiar with Rutherford County’s judicial system say a federal lawsuit against the county and company handling probation services here is “long overdue.”

If you ask local lawyers their opinions of PCC, none of them use bright and shiny descriptive words, although some say we’ve gotten what we asked for.

One attorney told me his firm instructs people guilty of misdemeanors to do whatever it takes to pay court costs and fees charged

by Providence Community Corrections, even if it means taking out a payday or title loan.

Otherwise, they could find themselves on probation for years and spending thousands of dollars for a minor infraction.

In the wake of the lawsuit filed by Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Equal Justice Under Law, calls and emails have been rolling in telling the same type of story.

The lawsuit’s main contention is that PCC and Rutherford County are running an “extortion scheme” to “extract” money from misdemeanor probationers, primarily poor people, to bolster the county’s budget and fatten the company’s bottom line to improve its stock value.

Heather McCoy, for instance, says she was on probation for four years and spent about $4,000 for simple theft under $50 and driving on a suspended license.

“They used to always badger me, treat me like crap, threaten me and stuff like that about not being able to pay because of the fact I was pregnant,” she says of PCC, which is located on West Main Street just off the Public Square.

A subsidiary of publicly-traded Greenville, S.C.-based Providence Service Corp., PCC collects millions of dollars in fees annually from people put on probation in Rutherford and Cannon counties’ General Sessions and Circuit courts and Smyrna Municipal Court, and sends that money to the local government.

Rutherford County budgeted $1.2 million this year from fines and fees, numbers that don’t quite jibe with the figures the company’s state director released earlier this year.

PCC, which took over probation services for Maximus in 2006, closed 7,191 cases and collected $4.1 million in fines during 2013 for Rutherford County, according to figures provided by Sean Hollis, state director for PCC. And from 2009 through 2013, it closed 32,200 cases and collected $17.1 million for Rutherford County, he reported.

The probation office collected $3.1 million for Smyrna Municipal Court and $850,232 for Cannon County General Sessions and Cir32 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

The

Stockard Report

by Sam Stockard sstockard44@gmail.com

cuit courts during that five-year time frame, according to Hollis.

PCC doesn’t receive a fee from the county for its services. Instead, it charges offenders fees to generate revenue—$45 a month for regular supervision and $35 a month for diversion or retirement sentences—until they meet the court’s conditions, according to Hollis.

Probationers say they’re also charged $20 to $30 for drug tests and sometimes are required to take the test even when the charges against them have nothing to do with drug use. The lawsuit further contends PCC gives false readings on drug tests so it can violate people and require them to stay on probation even longer and continue collecting fees.

But the biggest problem is how it treats poor people, according to the lawsuit.

Cindy Rodriguez, one of seven plaintiffs in the case, is a disabled mother of two who de-

violate you. You’ll spend seven days in jail,” the lawsuit states.

After nearly a year on probation with original court costs at $578, Rodriguez had paid nearly that entire amount to PCC but the company applied only $66 to her court costs, leaving her with debt of $512, the lawsuit states.

PCC issued a warrant for her arrest, and just before turning herself in at the jail, she passed out from a panic attack and broke her arm in three places when she fell.

“PCC, Inc. has instituted debt-collection and revocation practices as a private probation company that would be abhorrent if perpetrated by any public probation officer,” the lawsuit states.

Eliminating Conflict

For several years, rumor has flown that a judge owns PCC. Well, since it’s a publicly-traded company, the stock can be owned by just about anybody. Most people don’t know how their mutual funds are invested.

But the building on West Main Street is owned by Chancellor Howard Wilson and his former law partner Chuck Ward through Middle Tennessee Investments.

“The lawsuit’s main contention is that PCC and Rutherford County are running an ‘extortion scheme' to ‘extract' money from misdemeanor probationers, primarily poor people.” pends on Social Security disability to survive, living in constant pain and taking medication for back and neck surgery.

She also deals with the fear of being put in jail if she fails to pay court and probation costs for a misdemeanor, according to the lawsuit.

Rodriguez, 51, was arrested in 2014 for shoplifting at a grocery store and was told by a district attorney her case would be dismissed and her record kept clean if she complied with probation and paid court debts. If she couldn’t pay, she would be prosecuted.

After being placed on probation for 11 months and 29 days she was forced to sign a list of standard “probation conditions,” including taking drug tests in unsanitary conditions, then threatened to have her probation “violated” for nonpayment, or be jailed.

When she didn’t bring money to one meeting, a PCC supervisor told her, “one more time of this bullshit, and I’m gonna

As chancellor, Wilson handles only civil cases and doesn’t place anyone on probation.

Consequently, he says he holds no judicial conflict of interest in owning the building.

Still, after Wilson’s election, he and Ward say they felt it best to eliminate any potential conflicts between themselves in a court of law. They put the building on the market, but the “for sale” signs remain in the window a year later.

Their whole problem could be solved, at least with public sentiment toward PCC, through this lawsuit. Equal Justice Under Law, the firm leading this lawsuit, was successful in ending a private probation contract with the local government in Montgomery, Ala. The legal battle there dealt with situations in which poor people were being jailed for failing to pay court fines and fees for traffic tickets and other minor violations, and the private probation company was tacking on extra fees when it collected fines.

This sort of policy perpetuates a system in which people pay and pay and pay and wind up owing more after a year or two than they did before they were arrested or charged.

What We’ve Wrought

This whole situation in Murfreesboro stems from two things: first, the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office here had numerous outstanding fines and court costs it wasn’t collecting.

The office simply wasn’t set up to act as a collection agency.

Second, the public doesn’t want to pay the costs of the criminal justice system.

Consequently, the state Legislature and other government entities put the fines and fees on the shoulders of those charged and convicted to raise money.

The result is the judges and district attorneys don’t have anyone else to deal with except PCC, and its goal appears to be keeping people on probation for a lengthy period.

PCC, however, isn’t the only problem.

In Rutherford County, we’ve nearly turned ourselves into a police state where, for instance, thousands of cases of underage alcohol consumption are prosecuted each year, netting the county tens of thousands of dollars in fines and court costs and handing PCC thousands of dollars in fees from scared teenagers and worried parents. If they want to clean up their record after completing a year of unsupervised probation, with good and lawful behavior, of course, they can have their record expunged for a mere $450.

One slipup, though, and they’ll go on supervised probation, which means more fines, court costs and PCC fees.

But while drinking under the age of 21 helps bolster budgets, especially in a college town where beer busts are often considered a rite of passage, people associated with the system say the charge of driving on a suspended license is most likely to trap people in the system for the longest period of time. In fact, General Sessions has a special court time set up to hear those types of cases, and if you sit in court for any length of time, invariably the charge for “driving on suspended” pops up.

When you can’t drive, you either rely on your feet, a bicycle, Rover buses or a friend to take you to work. That turns problematic when you live in Murfreesboro and work in La Vergne or you have trouble getting a decent job because you have a misdemeanor or worse, a felony, on your record. Out of work or underemployed means trouble paying those fines and fees and a life on probation.

No wonder we have so many title and payday loan offices in Murfreesboro and Smyrna.

You’ve gotta get the money somewhere. The only other options are a life of asceticism or an equally challenging option: don’t get caught.

boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 33

Opinion Live Exceptionally. . . Well!

BY JENNIFER DURAND

What Good is a Massage Anyway?

How do you know if you need a massage? How will it benefit you? Where should you go?

Are all massages alike? Do you keep your clothes on or take them off? What can you expect? Whew! That’s a lot to consider if you’ve never had a massage before.

Many people are starting to realize the long-term gain of adding massage to their lifestyle choices. Some reasons include a desire to prevent or minimize stress, and other health-related issues. It’s much easier to prevent ailments than it is to correct them. Thus, it is becoming viewed as less of a luxury and more as a standard of living. Stress does not disappear from our lives.

How we react to it and manage it, however, is within our control and can make all the difference. And, we haven’t even mentioned how touch-deprived most people are.

Appropriate, healthy touch is powerful and nurturing.

What kind of massage is right for you?

There are copious varieties of bodywork available. Most therapists are trained in 5 or 6 styles. Some are: • Swedish – An overall rhythmic, therapeutic relaxation style technique.

• Deep Tissue – Specific muscle work, digging “deeper” within the layers of muscles.

• Firm Pressure – Adding more weight to the technique, resulting in a firmer sensation.

• Hot Stone – Using heated stones (basalt lava stones) and warm oil to massage with, in addition to placement of hot stones on strategic muscle groups to soften and warm the tissue.

• Pre-Natal – Pregnancy massage using specific posturing and technique for comfort and relief.

• Myofascial – Connective tissue release. No oil or lotion.

Moves the “stuck” tissue from the muscles.

• Reflexology – Applied pressure to feet and hands with thumb and finger techniques without lotion or oil.

Check for reviews on establishments, drive by or stop in to observe the environment before scheduling, or get a referral from someone you trust. Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable at all, there’s probably a reason. Ask more questions. No question is silly if you don’t know the answer.

What can you expect?

• You should be asked to complete a health history and list any current body complaints or contraindications for receiving massage. (Refrain from taking muscle 34 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

relaxers, drinking alcohol or other artificial stimulants prior to a massage. This could impair your judgement).

• Guidance from your therapist about what to do next. They’ll review your goals for the session (minimize pain, swelling or tension, relaxation).

• You’ll be encouraged to disrobe to meet your comfort level. Typically this means leaving your underwear on, or taking it off. Only the area being massaged should be uncovered. The rest of your body will remain draped/covered. The therapist will leave the room while you undress. You will get on the table under the covers when you are ready.

• Remember: No one is a mind reader. If you are uncomfortable for any reason you need to express this clearly and plainly to your therapist. You are responsible for your own body. They can read your body/muscles but they cannot read your mind or interpret sounds.

• Therapists are not doctors. They will not diagnose any “condition.” They can tell you what they notice (about tension level, mobility, range of motion, etc.) They are not, however, licensed to give it a “name.”

To get the full benefit of your massage it is good to soak in a tub of warm water and epsom salts prior to resting (after having a massage). This helps to restore muscle tissue more effectively during the repair process of sleep. The physiologically benefits are compounded when you have a massage every 4-6 weeks. Once you go past 6 weeks, it’s like having a massage for the first time. When working out major tension it is important to change the behavior pattern of the muscle tissue. This requires consistent work within a shorter period of time.

The bottom line is if you’d like to feel more alive in your body, massage can be a very effective tool! Get several different massages from several people until you find the right mix. It’s always a good idea to have alternate trusted sources. As always, remember to breathe deeply, with intention. This too supports easing muscle tension, bringing clarity and “finding your ahhh . . . !”

Jennifer Durand is the owner of The Nurture Nook Day Spa & Gift Shoppe; she is a certified QiGong and Breathe Empowerment instructor, and is licensed in massage therapy, body work and somatic integration.

Let her help you find your personal “ahh . . .” factor by visiting nurturenook.com or calling (615) 896-7110.

Some Worry About Trauma That Never Materializes

A

s the big climate confab in Paris approaches, the forces of hysteria are upping their game. Roman Catholic leaders gathered at the Vatican to make a joint appeal. They urged a “complete decarbonisation” of the world’s economy. Ostensibly, that’s to help the poor countries battle the effects of climate change, but, in reality, it’s all about dismantling capitalism. This pope has been no friend to capitalism, and global warming is the perfect guilt trip toward its annihilation.

The great irony is that if the pope really wanted to help the poor countries, he would encourage development. The only way countries develop is through energy. Lots of cheap energy.

Don’t know if you heard about this, but Greenpeace set up this power grid in a little village in India last views of a summer. It was supposed to demonstrate how viable green energy is in the third world. As it turned out, column by solar power was three times the cost of regular energy, phil Valentine philvalentine.com so the village scrapped solar for coal-fired electricity.

President Obama is trying to put coal out of business so there’s no alternative. Much like the liberals did with our light bulbs. Before they outlawed the incandescent light bulb, CFLs accounted for less than 3 percent of the light bulb sales. In order to get us off inexpensive incandescent and onto expensive CFLs, they have to force us by law. It’s unlikely the free market would’ve made CFLs viable anytime soon.

Incidentally, the CFLs in India cost about $10. The incandescent bulbs cost about 15 cents. The solar grid in that little Indian village only supports CFLs. Another reason they opted to go back on the coal-fired grid.

And now we learn there are actually people waking up all distressed about global warming and worrying constantly about the survival of life on earth. Yeah, I know. These folks need to get a life. Probably can’t afford one after paying for that expensive green energy. They’ve actually come up with another psychobabble expression for their malady: Pre-traumatic Stress Disorder. Yes, the other PTSD. This one isn’t based on any horrible experience. It’s based on the imagination of the idiot who suffers from it.

A wise man once said: “Worry is interest paid on trouble before it’s due.” I’ve lived my life by that saying. I never worry about anything I can’t change. And I certainly don’t dream up things to worry about, but that’s exactly what these people have done. They worry about hurricanes that never materialize. We’re now in a 10-year hurricane drought.

We haven’t had a Cat 3 or above hit the United States in 120 months. Hurricane Patricia, billed as “the worst storm in history,” turned out to be much ado about nothing. Minimal damage and no fatalities.

By comparison, Hurricane Camille plowed into Mississippi in 1969, killing 259 and causing more than $9 billion in damage in today’s dollars. Now, that was a storm. But it wasn’t the worst to hit the U.S. The worst was the Labor Day hurricane in 1935. That’s before we were naming them. It killed as many as 600 people. The worst, by damage, was Hurricane Andrew in 1992. It did more than $26 billion in damage. Let’s see: 1935, 1969, 1992. Do you see a pattern? Neither do I. Oh, but these PTSD folks do. They see more hurricanes, more droughts, more rain, more heat, more cold. The simple fact is there’s no more of any of that than there has ever been.

Maybe the pope needs to rethink that birth control thing. The last thing we need is more people exhaling CO2.

conservative

Phil Valentine is an author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com. boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 35

Business Builder

BY ROBERT RITCH

Make Your Goals SMART

N

ow that you understand the importance of committing goals to paper and have identified the areas of your business where you need to set goals, and you practice using autosuggestion and visualization regularly, let’s continue to develop those goals.

There’s no point in setting goals unless they’re SMART. Many people set goals, but too often, goals are too vague, or too broad. “I’m going to be a millionaire,” “I’m going to be the best parent ever,” or “My business is going to make much more money this year.” They’re big, bold abstract statements that are great for dreaming but don’t stand a chance of being achieved in a meaningful or tangible way.

SMART goals, however, are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Bound goals; specific goals that describe details and articulate aims are easier to achieve than vague or broad statements.

Ambiguous, incomplete goals will only assist you in achieving ambiguous, incomplete results. Your goals need to be as detailed as possible so that you will achieve the specific results you are looking for—a specific goal can be easily understood by anyone who reads it.

Ambiguous goals: I should lose weight.

I will work harder this year.

Specific goals: I will lose 10 pounds in the next two months (2.5 pounds per week) by eating more fruits and vegetables and exercising three times per week.

I will increase my sales figures by 20% in the next six months by scripting and practicing my closing strategies.

Measurable goals are the only kind of goals that you can actually technically achieve.

Your goals need to be measurable so you can assess your progress, manage your progress and know when you have achieved your desired outcome. Just use standard measurements like time, numbers, money and distance.

When goals are measurable, they can be broken down into smaller pieces.

Non-measurable I will make more money this year.

I will start running this spring.

Measurable I will increase my profits by 15% this year by increasing my prices (and value I offer) by 5% each 6 months and selling my audio interviews on eBay. I will learn to run 10K this spring by joining a running training group.

Set goals that challenge and stretch you, but be careful to avoid setting goals that are far beyond the reach of your circumstances and skill level. It’s great to think big and dream big, but too many people set goals that are simply beyond their capabilities, and wind up feeling disappointed. Try to strike a balance between challenge and reality.

Unrealistic I will climb Mount Everest this year I will make billions of dollars Achievable I will begin a one-year training program today, and climb to base camp in 9 months from now.

36 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

A million dollars is $2,739.73 per day, and $9,230.77 per week. I will earn 1 million dollars in the next 365 days starting today.

Realistic, relevant goals make sense and can be integrated into your life and overall business strategy.

It’s great to set goals in all areas of your life, but for the most part your goals will collectively achieve a common vision. Goals that are not realistic or relevant don’t have a logical place in your life or vision, and can derail you. Make sure that all of your efforts are working in a focused direction or you may run the risk of going in too many directions, never achieving your vision.

Irrelevant I will become a better Monopoly player, and win 25% more games.

I will become a NASA astronaut.

Realistic I will spend more time with my family this year by staying at home one night each weekend.

I will start my own online business to complement my existing business, and add another stream of income by my birthday.

Time-bound goals give you a frame of reference and keep you motivated. Just as any task without a deadline is easy to push to the back of your desk or down your to-do list, a goal without a time frame will never be achieved.

Loose I will join a gym and start an exercise program.

I will start a new marketing program.

Time-bound I will join a gym by the end of this month and start a regular weekly exercise program.

I will invest $750 on an online product by the end of this month, and start selling it online by the end of August.

Now, set some goals, based on your own vision and values. Set a few in various time frames, some to be achieved this week, some this month, some in 6 months, 12 months, 5 years and 10 years. Once you’ve come up with some goals for your personal and professional life, make sure they are SMART: Can I be more specific with what I wish to accomplish?

Can I measure my results over time, distance, dollars or quantity?

Do I have what I need to reach this outcome?

Is this goal consistent with my values and overall vision for my life?

Have I set a reasonable time frame for this goal?

Put them on paper, and display your goals where you can be reminded of them on a regular basis, and get to work in transforming your vision into reality.

Robert Ritch is a successful entrepreneur and business consultant, and has helped numerous small businesses increase their profits by assisting them in planning the steps they need to take and the order they need to take them. Contact Robert at robertritch@me.com or at robertritch.com.

Murfreesboro’s Music Through the Decades

by GLORIA CHRISTY

Back to the Simple Life: The Birth of the Grand Ole Opry For days, 7-year-old Hank had patiently waited for this moment. Papa had promised to take him to the grist mill for the first time. At last, the day had finally arrived. With the spring wagon heavily loaded with burlap sacks of shelled corn, Papa and Hank began their journey.

A whirling kaleidoscope of color surrounded them—scarlet, yellow, russet and brown. Along the way were gardens and fields which once flourished with summer’s crop. The autumn rains had clothed them with blessings. Their bounty now lay in dry heaps in corners beside the fences. Visible were swaths of golden wheat standing in stately bundles.

The wagon’s wooden boards creaked as Ole Gray pulled the load down the lane and over a stone bridge. The small stream below was choked with thousands of fallen leaves. Tiny leaves continued to tumble down as a crisp, fresh wind continued to blow them onto the water.

This had not been a particularly good year for growing corn.

“Son, I must tell you that this has been a hard year. There simply wasn’t a large amount of corn to harvest! No matter, I want you to know that regardless, we must be grateful. Do you understand that?”

“No, Papa, I really don’t. Why should we be thankful when there isn’t a lot of corn for us?”

“Hank, it’s like this . . . a thankful attitude keeps you happy no matter what happens around you. You can always find something to be thankful for even when life doesn’t turn out like you want. Like right now, I’m grateful for the chance to be with you enjoying God’s beautiful creation.

Startling both, suddenly a wild turkey scampered hastily across the road into a grove of trees where two squirrels scampered playfully over the dry leaves. Watching all this activity motivated Papa to continue, “Have you ever thought? God’s creatures don’t worry. They just know instinctively that God is going to provide. As humans, it is more natural to trust in our own ability rather than God’s and that, son, will only make us unhappy.”

Hank began to understand Papa’s lesson, “I think I get it, Papa. No matter what, God will take care of us, right? We just have to trust.”

As they finally arrived at the grist mill located at the fork of the river, Papa felt he had connected with his son. Soon, with hand-bagged sacks of freshly, ground corn meal, Papa and Hank began their trip back to the farm.

While America was clinging to its rural roots, George D. Hay began providing oldtime folk music programming on Nov. 28, 1925. Noting the favorable response to earlier WSM performances of old-time artists like Dr.

principles of honesty included in the Ten Commandments. The Grand Ole Opry expresses these qualities from these good people.

An early press release containing Hay’s first public statement about old-time music, released on Dec. 27, 1925, touted upcoming performances: Old tunes, like old lovers, are the best, at least judging from the applause which the new Saturday night feature station WSM receives from its listeners in all parts of the country; jazz has not completely turned the tables on such tunes as “Pop Goes the Weasel!” and “Turkey in the Straw.” America may not be swinging its partners at a neighbor’s barn dance but it seems to have the habit of clamping on its ear phones and patting its feet as gaily as it ever did when old-time fiddlers got to the swing.

His attempt to use the Opry to rusticate using the hillbilly image was fully entrenched by the 1930s. As An advertisement featuring the stars of America was struggling to rethe Grand Ole Opry cover from the economic disasin the 1940s. George ter created by the effects of the D. Hay, founder of the Great Depression, most wanted Opry, appears at the to romanticize rural life and go top right; a very young Bill Monroe with the back to the simpler things of Blue Grass Boys; and life. The early Opry shows and Jam Up and Honey, a the hoedown band performers comedy act that would echoed that sentiment. be considered racist in The Grand Ole Opry has today’s culture. become the longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history, dedicated to honoring country music and its history. The Opry showcases a mix of legends and contemporary chart-toppers performing country, bluegrass, Humphrey Bate, Uncle Jimmy Thompson and folk, gospel, and comedic performances.

Uncle Dave Macon, Hay decided to expand his The Grand Ole Opry is considered an Ameriaudience into the rural South. can icon, attracting hundreds of thousands of visWhen he sat Uncle Jimmy Thompson down in front of a WSM microphone there were many itors from around the world and millions of radio and Internet listeners. The Opry’s primary slogan skeptics, including the program’s main sponsor, is “The Show that Made Country Music Famous.” the reluctant National Life and Accident InsurOther slogans include “Home of American Muance Company in Nashville. Although Uncle sic” and “Country’s Most Famous Stage.”

Jimmy’s performance had not been formally In the 1930s, WSM and its sponsor could not promoted or advertised, the switchboards lit keep up with the show’s growing popularity. up and telegrams and letters started pouring The Opry management began hiring profesinto the station, many requesting more of the sionals and expanded the show to four hours. old-time familiar tunes. The reaction to Uncle WSM radio, broadcasting by that time with Jimmy was extensive and dramatic, convincing 50,000 watts, made the program a Saturday the skeptical that this type of programming was night musical tradition in nearly 30 states. In what the audience wanted. The people wanted 1939, the show debuted nationally on NBC Rathe music that they had heard all their lives. It dio. The Opry moved to a permanent home, the was not until late December that Hay decided Ryman Auditorium, in 1943. As it developed in to make this announcement: importance, so did the city of Nashville. NashBecause of this recent revival in the popularity of ville became America’s “country music capital.” familiar tunes, WSM has arranged to have an hour The Grand Ole Opry holds such significance in or two every Saturday night, starting December 26.

Nashville that its name is included on the city/ Hay’s vision echoed a sentiment familiar to county line signs on all major roadways, which most Americans of the day. However, his vision read “Music City | Metropolitan Nashville Dafor the Opry had not been linked to the quest for the simpler side of life or a preserver of American vidson County | Home of the Grand Ole Opry.”

As in the days of the early Opry, we seem folk culture until the rural-based radio show was to travel down well-worn, deeply rutted roads, firmly established as an institution. In his own trudging along, aimlessly wandering and book written in mid-1940, Hay writes: wondering. We have lost the practical benefits WSM discovered something very fundamental of a simplified life while we fixate compulsively when it tapped into the vein of American folk muabout the next move. Somehow, all that confusic which lay smoldering and in small flames for sion dissipates when we become sensitive to the about three hundred years. After all, we try to keep eternal and to our Creator as fresh adventures the Opry homey . . . many of the geniuses some emerge in this complex way of living. from simple folk who adhere to the fundamental boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 37

Sports Fantasy Football with Presidential Candidates

T

Sports talk

team and that shall be he sexy season is me, obviously, since I’m upon us and the Train column by zaCH “Z-TrAIn” MAXFIELD creating the team. RepDaddy is ready to roll titanman1984yahoo.com resenting the great state out the station. All of Tennessee and playing aboard! The holidays are in the division G.O.P South, I have created a great time to appreciate what I call the 5 a team I shall call the Obama Lama’s, the F’s: faith, family, football, food and friends. pride of the South, the spitting Lamas.

Thanksgiving is upon us and the thought Since I am the owner I had to start by hirof my mama’s turkey and broccoli casserole ing a head coach, so I went to Donald Trump. makes me dance a little jig; it’s magically delicious. On to sports. The Tennessee Titans suck—it’s hard to watch. Period. Poor loyal Put me in, Coach Trump!  Titan fans, cry it out!

Donald is very organized Lamar Odom  is and an extremely sucalive! I guess the lesson cessful businessman. here, kiddies, is don’t I believe he will do combine herbal Viagra, the best job keephookers, drugs and Karing the team orgadashians—it nearly killed nized and successthe former L.A. Laker. ful. It is imperative On to more crazy news: that you have a very Chicago Bears defensive end Jeremiah intelligent quarterback; Ratliff  told team staff my man Ben Carson gets the job. he was the devil reincarnated. He threatened to  QuarterBack Carson kill everyone in the buildCarson is without a doubt the most inteling and then threatened ligent of any of the candidates, to kill all their children.

Republican or Democrat.

I guess releasing him The man separated confrom the team was joined twins. Sold! Look the right move. at the IQ difference Giants all-pro pass rusher Jason between Vince Young Pierre Paul  has finally returned to and Peyton Manning, practice after blowing his hand off with enough said. Carson is some fireworks last July. BOOM! I guess we my signal caller. will see if he can still get to receivers Rubio and cruz  the quarterback Quarterback Ben Carson is going to need with that desome talented route runformed claw. ners. I have picked So, let’s get two starting wide to the beef receivers: Ted of this thing, Cruz and Marco “Release the Rubio. Both Kracken”! politicians are Anyone faskinny and young miliar with my enough to still have style of writing top speed. Both over 7 years of brilliant articles, well then, you candidates can understand I’m crazy. Ha! So let’s combine deliver, although football and presidential candidates into one Rubio has a and see what happens. I love the passion and quicker 40-yard wide variety of opinions that talking politics dash. creates, and football, well, football is perfect.

So let’s create a football team, and my draft Tight End: Fiorina  class is the 2016 presidential candidates.

Starting at tight end is Carly Fiorina, she has We have to start with an owner of the a tighter end than Hillary and that’s what I 38 * November 2015 * boropulse.com

need in my tight ends, a very tight end! She is feisty and she despises Hillary more than I do. I believe Carly’s potential could make her the next Gronk.

Kicker, Colonel Sanders 

Colonel Sanders, better known as Bernie, shall be my kicker. The man complains like no other, and what else would you expect from a socalled socialist? Socialism is disgusting. It sounds nice—we all share equally, yippie! I would hate to see the country under a president Bernie.

Free stuff and equal opportunity sounds nice to voters who would rather sit on a couch all day instead of going outside and breaking a sweat. I will let Bernie kick his frustrations through the uprights.

Linebacker Jeb bush 

This team will have to boast a very strong defense, since the average age on my team is nearing 60, just like the Broncos defense is assisting an aging Peyton. The defense shall be led by linebacker Jeb Bush. He seems to always be on the defense these days anyway, his last name being Bush. The left wants him gone and I don’t believe he is going anywhere anytime soon. Even if he does get knocked out of the race, he will be there until the end.

Runningback Chris “The Hog” Christie 

Every football team needs a great running back, a large powerful runner that can get those extra yards. Chris Christie is a hog: he is between fat and big boned and he looks like Tony Soprano. Come on, he is even from New Jersey. R.I.P. Tony! Coach Trump will deploy Christie like Steelers head coach Bill Cowher deployed the Bus, Jerome Bettis.

You don’t have to worry, people, Coach Trump will have Governor Christie turned into muscle after a strenuous training camp.

Referee: Hillary Clinton 

A team is more than just players, we need a

ref and Hillary Clinton gets the BJ role, the back judge is essential to the game. The job of the BJ is to mainly watch the tight end’s movements, I am sure Hillary will want to keep an eye on Carly Fiorina.

Originally we were going to let Hillary be the ball girl, but with the country deeming her untrustworthy, we feared another Deflategate. While on the field, both teams keep all balls from her grasp.

Ball-Boy Obama 

So then who gets the ball-person role? Well, the team is named the Obama Lama’s, so Mr. Obama, our current Commander in Chief gets the honor. We all have seen on live television how bad Obama is at basketball, going 2–22 at the free throw line at a children’s charity event.

Coach Trump didn’t figure Obama could do any good athletically, so Obama gets simple duties; he is a little dimwitted.

So that’s my presidential football team: a very partisan piece and partisan team. Ha! Its not that I despise Democrats and their left-skewing agenda . . . well, I do, actually.

It’s just a carnival show watching it play out.

The Republicans will fight it out between the large cluster of candidates until one stands and the Democrats will keep the steering wheel turned so far left they will either crash or have to come up with a new term for how left-wing policy is defined.

Let’s wrap this thing up! The Titans are a complete mess; they better come up with a plan and some new pieces to fit around Mariota for next season. That’s the kindest words I can give my team right now. Fantasy football is in midseason; hope you’re doing as well as my personal team is. I am standing strong at 8–0. Players like Dalton, Ingram, A-P, Beckham, Keenan Allen, Tyler Eifert and the Broncos’ defense, and also a solid bench, help keep my team undefeated.

Jeb Bush also has a perfect fantasy team we found out, due to the ignorant questions CNBC asked during the recent debate.

So, that’s it—remember the 5 F’s this holiday season: faith, family, football, food and friends. Choo-choo!

Blue Raider Sports

MTSU Lady Raiders Enter Basketball Season with Last Season’s Conference-Leading Scorer, Olivia Jones

BY GREG CRITTENDEN

Blue Raiders Take Some Tough Losses Enter November at 3–5

BY GREG CRITTENDEN Homecoming 2015 took place Saturday, Oct. 3, for MTSU and it was a tight a contest against SEC foe Vanderbilt.

MT held on to a 13–3 lead through most of the fourth quarter. However, the Blue Raider defense faltered late. Vanderbilt QB Johnny McCrary escaped on a 29-yard scramble for a touchdown with six minutes remaining to bring the score to 13-10.

Without an effective run game, MT was unable to run significant time off the clock on the ensuing possession, and were forced to punt. With just a minute and change left, Vandy running back Ralph Webb broke out for 39-yard run to cap off what turned out to be the game-winning drive.

After leading the entire game, MTSU let a win versus an SEC opponent slip through their fingers. The players were crushed.

“That’s two heartbreaks in a row. It’s tough,” stated an emotional Ed Batties, referring to the prior week’s last-second loss to Illinois.

The next week the Blue Raider defense drew a tough test in QB Brandon Doughty of Western Kentucky. Going into halftime of that contest, WKU led 52-14 after producing 484 yards offensively. While the Blue Raiders would outgain and outscore the Hilltoppers in the second half, they eventually fell 58–28.

MTSU then hosted the Florida International Panthers on Saturday, Oct. 17. FIU came to Floyd Stadium on the heels of a 52–12 evisceration of UTEP, and at 3–3, and having been competitive in their three losses.

The Blue Raiders finally got back to their winning ways, besting the Panthers 42-34, and it was good to see some smiling faces after the game once again. Perhaps no player

had a bigger smile than redshirt sophomore cornerback Mike Minter though.

“I’ve not smiled that hard in a minute! It felt good,” said Minter with an ear-to-ear grin.

In the second quarter, Mike pulled down his first career interception, a milestone that Minter could only describe as “sensational.”

Minter wasn’t the only player to post a first-time milestone. True freshman Desmond Anderson finished the day with 144 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries. Much to Coach Stockstill’s delight, his yardage didn’t come on a handful of large gains, but through a consistent day of five- and six-yard carries.

However, it was Kamani Thomas who picked up the large chunks of yardage.

Thomas broke out for touchdown runs of 26 and 15 yards on his way to 51 total yards on just five carries. Redshirt freshman sensation Richie James had yet another outstanding performance. James pulled down six more catches for 104 yards.

“I’d say he’s the best freshman receiver in the nation,” quarterback Brent Stockstill said.

On Oct. 24, traveling to Louisiana Tech, standout receiver Ed Batties pulled in another 2 touchdowns, but the Blue Raiders were unable to fully get things rolling against the Bulldogs. The Blue Raiders had a lot of great individual performances versus LaTech, but turnovers did them in. On top of that, the running game returned to its anemic ways as MTSU rushers combined for only 33 yards on the ground. MTSU has not truly shown excellence on all fronts since the Charlotte game.

In some great individual accomplishments for MTSU this season, Ed Batties has already tied the MTSU school record for most receiving touchdowns in a season, with 11. And star safety Kevin Byard has tied the MT career interceptions record, and is 149 yards from Terrell Buckley’s NCAA record for career interception return yards.

“They’re going to be exciting as always. We’re going to shoot the three, we’re going to press.” That is how MTSU women’s basketball head coach Rick Insell summarized what you can expect from the Lady Raiders in 2015.

After an upset loss to Temple last season in the WNIT quarterfinals, expectations remain high for this season. The Lady Raiders were selected by league coaches as the preseason favorite to win the Conference USA title. So, what have the Lady Raiders done to ensure they don’t fall to the underdog in the post-season this time around?

“We had to get stronger . . . and I think we’ve done that,” Insell said. “Our young ladies don’t look like the same players we had last year. They’re stronger, they’re more defined, they’re running the floor better and rebounding the ball with some authority.”

Coach Insell said he feels that they have five players who will contribute heavily on the low block in fifth-year senior Brea Edwards, fifth-year senior Tianna Porter, sophomore Rebecca Reuter, sophomore Gabby Lyons, and true freshman Alex Johnson. Insell particularly praised Edwards’ improved conditioning and

Lyons’ elite athleticism, and called Johnson one of the top incoming freshman in the country.

Of course, the offense will still run through guard/forward Olivia Jones. After finishing the 2014–15 campaign as the conference’s leading scorer, second in rebounds and third in steals, Jones was selected by coaches as the C-USA preseason player of the year.

The Lady Raiders will tip-off their exhibition schedule Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Murphy Center against Coastal Georgia at 6:30 p.m. The men take the hardcourt Nov. 12 for an exhibition contest against Faulkner University.

MTSU continues its 2015 campaign at home against the Thundering Herd of Marshall on Saturday, Nov. 7. boropulse.com

* November 2015 * 39