Water company bottles from natural spring
Annual extravaganza wins statewide award
‘Meat-and-threes’ attract diners to homey eateries
City Administrator 441-9570 Fire Department 446-0390 Mayor’s Office 441-9508 Municipal Court 446-9249
446-1721
441-9506
SPECIALTIES AND SERVICES
Allergy • Bariatric Surgery • Bone Densitometry • Cardiology • CT • Dermatology • Family Practice
General Surgery • ESI • VNUS Closure • PFT • Nuclear Cardiology Medicine • Echocardiography
Internal Medicine • Internal Medicine/Pediatrics • Neurology Endoscopy • PillCam • Orthopedics
Pathology • Pediatrics • Laser Skin Rejuvenation • Spine Surgery • Urology • X-Ray
Various In-House Ultrasound Tests • In-House Laboratories • Vascular Lab
MAIN CAMPUS
113 Hwy. 70 E. (615) 446-5121
DMA MEDICAL CLINIC-LYLES 5194 Hwy. 100, Lyles (931) 670-1102
DMA PEDIATRIC CLINIC
110 Mathis Dr., Ste. 104 (615) 441-4411
DMA – SOUTH
758 Hwy. 46 S. (615) 446-2708
DMA CHILDREN’S CLINIC 114 Hwy. 70 E. (615) 441-4530
DMA CHURCH STREET MEDICAL 219 Church St. (615) 446-0527
DMA ENDOSCOPY CENTER
704 E. College St. (615) 441-4504
BELLA VITA LASER AND SKIN CARE
758 Hwy. 46 S. (615) 441-4444
DMA SOUTH SPECIALTY
768 Hwy. 46 S. (615) 441-4404
DMA IMAGING
758 Hwy. 46 S. (615) 441-4441
Meat-and-threes are the order of the day in Dickson
The health-care system is one of this community’s most impressive assets. 18
The county offers plenty of green space for enjoying the outdoors.
The Dickson County Fair honors the area’s agricultural heritage.
Father and daughter Henry Buchanan and Kay Welton are carving out successful careers as artists.
The new Higher Education Center makes taking classes more convenient.
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Join us on a virtual tour of Dickson County through the lenses of our award-winning photographers at imagesdickson.com
VIDEO 2 SEEING GREEN
Montgomery Bell State Park is the perfect place for the outdoor enthusiast. Check it out at imagesdickson.com
VIDEO 3 THE CENTER OF IT ALL
Experience the arts in our exclusive video of The Renaissance Center at imagesdickson.com
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EVEN MORE Read full-length versions of the magazine’s articles; find related stories; or read new content exclusive to the Web. Look for the See More Online reference in this issue.
Tennessee is a great place to garden. We have long growing seasons, abundant rainfall and a mild climate in which many different kinds of plants thrive. Find out more at imagesdickson.com
One of the simple pleasures of Southern dining is the down-home barbecue experience. Barbecue in the South almost always means pork, with a few exceptions. Find out more at imagesdickson.com
Images
SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Get a sneak peek of Montgomery Bell State Park in our exclusive video at imagesdickson.com.
Birdies and ducks are par for the course at Montgomery Bell State Park, and so are deer, geese and wild turkeys.
The Frank G. Clement Golf Course, an 18-hole, par 72 course, was built in 1973 and redesigned in 1988. Each spring, the park hosts The Dogwood Classic.
The signature hole is No. 2, a 446-yard par 5. In the past, Golf Digest has rated Montgomery Bell as one of the Top 100 Public Courses To Play in America.
Overnight guests can stay at the 120-room inn overlooking Lake Acorn, enjoy a meal at the inn’s restaurant and hit the links the next day.
Every July, folks come out to see an old-time thrashing –wheat thrashing that is.
The 11th annual Gray Boys’ Old-Time Wheat Thrashing is scheduled for July 11, 2009, at Gray’s Hilltop Farm in Dickson. The event illustrates how certain farming practices were carried out in the early 1900s.
The wheat-thrashing day includes demonstrations of separating grain from straw, making whole-wheat flour and cornmeal by hand and using a mule to bale hay.
The annual event draws about 400 people, and there are concession stands and bands.
All aboard, visitors. The Gov. Frank G. Clement Railroad Hotel Museum has been restored and is opening again to the public.
The former rural Tennessee railroad hotel has been renovated to reflect life in the early 20th century, when Dickson thrived as a train community. The building dates back to 1912, and the rooms now look like they did in the Roaring ’20s.
Interestingly, Gov. Frank Goad Clement was born in Room 5 of the hotel on June 2, 1920. He became the longest serving modern Tennessee governor, from 1953-59 and 1963-67, and, at age 32, was the nation’s youngest.
Youngsters will have a tough time getting bored during the summer if they attend Camp Renaissance.
The day camp is owned and operated by The Renaissance Center and is located on the historic Ruskin Cave property in western Dickson County. Campers experience a variety of activities during a five-day session at both the Ruskin Cave site and The Renaissance Center.
Activities include archery, caving, fishing, swimming, tubing, sports and arts and crafts. The camp is open to boys and girls ages 6-14.
The historic Eastside School building in Burns has never looked so good.
The 3,000-square-foot former schoolhouse that opened in 1917 had fallen into disrepair over the years, but it was entirely restored and reopened in August 2007 as the Eastside Community Center. Many people in Dickson County donated money and materials to the renovation project, and craftspeople were able to fix the building’s original oak floors, wood plank walls and wooden ceilings.
Today, the center can be rented for weddings, graduations, corporate functions and family get-togethers. Any money raised by renting the nonprofit center goes back into the upkeep of the building.
The Dickson Stampede Days Rodeo gallops into town every June at the Dickson County Fairgrounds.
Tennessee’s Imagination Library mails a new hardcover book every month to all Dickson County children from birth to age 5.
The county boasts a total of 16 century farms that have been owned by the same families for at least 100 years.
Dr. Jere Bass is almost busier today than when he was a practicing dentist in Dickson.
Now 10 years retired, Bass keeps active in a variety of community projects that range from the Gardening Partners board of directors to the board of the Bank of Dickson.
He also is a member of the Dickson Tree Management and Beautification Board, which is responsible for overseeing the Dickson Arboretum, and is on the community relations board of NHC HealthCare. Bass also belongs to the Dickson County Historical Society and is an elder at Walnut Street Church of Christ.
GreyStone Golf Club opened in 1998 and was designed by PGA Tour pro Mark McCumber. It has hosted more major state and professional qualifying tournaments than any other Tennessee golf course.
The Dickson County Courthouse in Charlotte is the oldest courthouse still in use in Tennessee.
SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Dickson County, visit imagesdickson.com co Count Cha oldest Ten m abou
Dig this: Officials in Dickson and White Bluff have new places to hang their hats.
The new Dickson City Hall opened in October 2007 on East Walnut Street, and it houses the offices of mayor, city administrator, parks department, planning and zoning, and public works. The facility is actually a renovated building that the Greater Dickson Gas Authority previously occupied.
Meanwhile, a new White Bluff Town Hall also opened in 2007, complete with quarters for the mayor, town officials, the county clerk and the police department.
County
SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Dickson County at imagesdickson.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.
POPULATION (2007 ESTIMATE)
Dickson County: 52,549
Dickson: 19,274
White Bluff: 2,929
Burns: 1,439
Charlotte: 1,651
Vanleer: 454
Slayden: 227
LOCATION
Dickson County is in Middle Tennessee, 30 miles west of Nashville and 30 miles south of Clarksville.
BEGINNINGS
Dickson County was formally established in 1803 and named for Dr. William Dickson, a Nashville physician who served as Tennessee Speaker of the House of Representatives (1799-1801) and then as a U.S. Congressman (1801-1807).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Dickson County Chamber of Commerce 119 Hwy. 70 East Dickson, TN 37055
Phone: (615) 446-2349
Fax: (615) 441-3112 www.dicksoncountychamber.com
MEAT-AND-THREES ARE THE ORDER OF THE DAY IN DICKSON COUNTY
STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN
Thursday is always a busy day at Sisters Restaurant. That’s when customers can order a heaping plate of turkey and dressing at the eatery, located at 207 E. Rickert St.
“Not only do we make turkey and dressing on Thursdays, but we also feature catfish dinner specials on Friday – so I guess we’re about as Southern as a restaurant can get,” says Janet Grimes, who owns Sisters Restaurant with her sister, Emily. “Everything we prepare for our customers is homemade,
including the banana pudding desserts that are just like our grandmother used to make.”
Grimes adds that Sisters is not a large restaurant at all, and customers seem to appreciate its cozy, homespun atmosphere.
“We invite folks to stop in sometime for some fried chicken with turnip greens and corn bread,” she says. “We specialize in a meat-and-three menu, and we can really, really cook. If it’s a Southern dish, we cook it here.”
In fact, there are several restaurants in Dickson County
that feature Southern fare for the lunch and dinner crowds.
At Joann’s Kitchen on Center Avenue, every lunch buffet includes fresh vegetables, meaning that no veggies are ever served from a can.
“That’s right, you won’t find a can opener in the kitchen,” says owner Larry Brown. “The menu here consists of downhome food like fried chicken, barbecue and grits, okra, green beans and other traditional Southern items.
“There are also fresh homemade cakes and pies on the menu every day,” he adds.
Other county hot spots where collard greens and hash brown casserole rule include The Front Porch in downtown Dickson, where the blue-plate specials are actually served on blue plates. The town of Burns is home to a pair of traditional Southern eateries – Buddy’s Restaurant and Donna’s Place.
City Lake Cafe on West Walnut Street in Dickson is another popular meat-and-three restaurant, where customers have their choices of side dishes such as white beans, sweet potatoes
and macaroni and cheese. And at High Point Restaurant on Highway 70 East, the kitchen staff offers a country lunch buffet each day and a dinner buffet on Friday and Saturday nights.
“People have been coming to High Point Restaurant for the past 33 years – we must be doing something right with our menu,” says owner Shirley Fiser. “For example, we make our homemade biscuits from scratch, and the grits and cobbler are always in big supply here.”
The daily lunch buffet at High Point features a garden salad along with a choice of meat, vegetables and dessert. The Friday and Saturday night dinner buffet can include rib eye steaks, sirloin strips, catfish, fried chicken and butterfly shrimp.
“We are an all-you-can-eat restaurant, plus we have hosted private banquets of up to 75 people,” Fiser says. “Every customer leaves High Point Restaurant happy and with a full stomach.”
STORY BY JESSICA MOZO
BY BRIAN McCORD
Dickson County has a lot going for it – a fantastic school system, progressive city and county governments, and reasonable land prices, for starters. But one of the community’s most impressive assets is its excellent health-care system, which includes Horizon Medical Center, the new Sarah Cannon Cancer Center and Dickson Medical Associates.
“One of the things people look for most in a community is the availability of good health care,” says Bill Legier, administrator for Dickson Medical Associates.
ist rator Dickson Med ic al
“And t hat ’ s where we come in ”
Founded in 1941 by three brothers who were all doctors, Dickson Medical Associates is a multispecialt y practice t hat has 10 locations, 35 physicians and six nurse practitioners and physician’s a ssistants. With 15 specialties and more
p t han 200 clinical and su pp ort staff, DMA se rves a mu l t i tude of m ed i ca l needs, rang ing from family practice and pediatrics to cardiology, dermatology a nd orthopedic surger y “We’re alwa y s lookin g to expand
John Harris operates a lithotripsy machine that crushes kidney stones at Horizon Medical Center.
our services,” Legier says. “In 2006, we added our own endoscopy service and CT scanner, which enables us to better meet patients’ needs in a cost-effective manner. Convenience and cost are two principle factors in health care today.”
In March 2008, DMA broke ground on a new 83,000-square-foot facility on Highway 46 near Horizon Medical Center and The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center. The new facility will house physicians’ offices, business operations offices, imaging and lab services, medical equipment, physical therapy and a pharmacy. It is scheduled for completion in spring 2009.
“We have most of our physicians located within our main hospital campus, and they are spread out on four floors in both the east and west pavilions,” Legier says. “Our desire to build a new building was to be less confusing for patients and to offer more convenient parking. We will also be better prepared for the continued growth of Dickson County and better able to recruit more physicians.”
Horizon Medical Center is also preparing for growth in Dickson County. In
April 2008, the hospital got approval from the state to build a new freestanding outpatient surgery center in the Natchez Medical Park. It will be an 80,000-squarefoot, four-floor tower with three operating rooms, one cystosuite and two endosuites. The project is slated to be finished in the next two years.
“We expect to build a whole new med ical center at Natchez Medical Park in the next few years,” says Betty Weaver, marketing director for Horizon Medical Center.
In the meantime, the hospital continues to add and expand services.
“Our weight-loss surgery program has expanded to include lap banding surgery, which is a lot less invasive than gastric bypass,” Weaver says. “We have been doing a lot of that.”
A pediatric sleep studies service was also recently added, as well as a lithotripsy machine that crushes kidney stones while they are still in the body so patients can pass them easier.
In January 2008, The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at Natchez Medical Park celebrated its first anniversary in Dickson
County. It provides a full range of services for preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer, as well as comprehensive rehabilitation services.
“The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center is really great because it’s all right there. Patients don’t have to leave for imaging or other services, so it’s much easier on them,” Weaver says. “After one year, we’re already doing all the same things as the other Sarah Cannon Cancer Centers. We’ve really exceeded our expectations.”
Before The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center opened in Dickson, cancer patients had to trek to big-city hospitals for treatment, where it’s easy to get lost in the system. At the Dickson facility, patients are known by their first names. That kind of hometown service is one of the intangibles that makes Dickson County so inviting.
“You don’t have to go to Nashville for primary or specialty care anymore,” Legier says. “When we see a need for a service we don’t provide, we try to establish it for Dickson and the surrounding communities. That’s very important to us.”
STORY BY LAURA HILL PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD
It’s a beautiful late spring day. And no matter whether you’re in the mood for a long walk, a good read or something a lot more active, Dickson County has a park for you.
“We have seven parks in the city of Dickson, and each one is unique,” says Jeff Lewis, Dickson’s director of parks and recreation. “We go beyond chainlink fences and ball fields. We cater to the youngest grandchild and the oldest grandparent.”
Lewis says that Luther Lake Park, off Highway 70, is the city’s most used park, where visitors enjoy fishing, wildlife viewing, walking and jogging around a 14-acre manmade lake.
“It’s the park to go to if a person wants to go away and get their mind of off things,” he says.
Holland Park is home to Jammin’ in June every Friday night that month, when a variety of singers, from bluegrass and gospel to rock ‘n’ roll, take the outdoor stage. The park’s open-air
pavilion is a popular spot for reunions and weddings, while its benches and soothing fountain make it a perfect place to just relax. The adjacent Gov. Frank G. Clement Railroad Hotel Museum is another attraction for visitors and residents alike.
Lewis is most excited about a new project, the addition of a 27-acre lake to the existing park off Beasley Drive. Lakeview Park is now 40 acres and boasts a new fishing pier. Eventually a walking trail will tie it to Buckner Park.
In downtown Charlotte, what once was a weedy field where people dumped brush was turned into Charlotte Park, a charming community gathering place.
“We wanted to do something to get rid of an eyesore,” says Charlotte Mayor Bill Davis. “Now we have a gazebo, a small walking trail all the way around and tables so people can sit and have lunch. People at the post office use it real often, and you see people sitting there in the evening, especially when it’s warm.”
Field of Dreams Park takes it name from the ball fields that once occupied the site on Highway 70 in White Bluff. It is the creation of scores of volunteers,
who raised more than $150,000 over a year and then built the park themselves in 2003 during a week of long work days.
“Just to see the community turnout that week was the best part,” says Dixie Kerr, one of the project organizers. “More than 100 people came out every day to work on it.”
Two covered pavilions, walking trails, tunnels, a climbing wall, slides, swings and a little tot lot for smaller kids make this a popular spot for families. The park also hosts an annual Halloween party and an Easter egg hunt.
Fun on wheels is the name of the game at Burns’ new skate park, which opened in 2007 and attracts 25 to 35 kids at a time on weekends, says Chris Holland, vice mayor of Burns.
The $60,000 park, built with both private and city money, offers skaters ramps, half pipes and numerous different rails, Holland says. It was a smart solution to a community concern.
“Basically we had kids [skating] on the street, and we wanted to get them off it – to help them, keep them from being hit. We were hoping it would work out the way it has.”
Exercise enthusiasts enjoy the view at Luther Lake Park. Left: Tanner Jordan shows off his skills at Burns’ new skate park. Far Left: Layla Surji and Audrey Lewis play in the tot lot at Field of Dreams Park in White Bluff.
WHITE BLUFF AREA FARM OFFERS A SLICE OF AMERICANA FROM AN EARLIER TIME
History comes to life when Charles Woodard takes guests on a tour around his farm in White Bluff. Woodard knows all about the old-fashioned way of doing things, and he can show you his impressive collection of antique farm paraphernalia. Even the name of the place and the land it sits on have historical significance.
“I named it Cluster Springs Farm, because I found a plat on the books for a 1905 subdivision here named Cluster Springs,” Woodard says.
Even earlier, the site echoed with the sounds of battle during the Civil War. According to Woodard, 1,700 Iowa troops were stationed on the land he now owns. Often, Civil War buffs with metal detectors scan the place for artifacts, and tour groups stop for a look at the battlefield.
Likewise, the buildings on the place are something to see.
Woodard moved a log cabin – circa mid- to late-1800s – from the Reaves’ Farm in Hickman County to Cluster Springs. Upon reconstruction, he added
an old stone fireplace from the Brummit House in Charlotte.
Additionally, Woodard cures and smokes country ham in his own smokehouse. And a life-size replica of an old country grocery store, complete with a vintage gas pump out front, houses Woodard’s collection of country store memorabilia. It also evokes a bit of nostalgia.
“My granddaddy had an old country store,” he explains. “I guess that’s why I like to collect that stuff.”
But that’s not all Woodard collects. Other items of interest include a fully restored Super A Farmall tractor and a black-and-white paint horse and buggy. “He’s been in a few weddings,” Woodard notes.
Cluster Springs is also a working farm. Woodard raises Haflinger horses, brood mares, Boer goats and Dorper Cross sheep for meat.
The beautiful home he designed and built was named Dickson County Soil Conservation District’s 2007 Home of the Year.
Some people say life gets better at 50.
Well, that’s true of Dickson’s longrunning community festival, Old Timers Day. The event turned 50 in 2008, and its golden anniversary gala was bigger and better than ever.
Traditionally held the first Saturday in May, the anniversary edition cranked up two days early on Thursday, May 1, and went on all weekend. And in antic-
ipation of larger crowds, the expanded festivities moved from downtown to the Dickson County Fairgrounds.
Some first-ever events at the 50th Old Timers Day included an antique car show, a demolition derby and a huge concert Friday night, featuring country music group Shenandoah, followed by a fireworks display – the biggest ever in Dickson, says David Baggett, chairman
of the Old Timers Day Committee.
Of course, the traditional favorites took place as well.
“We always have Miss Old Timers Day,” Baggett says. “It’s a beauty pageant for ladies age 60 and older. They dress up in old-fashioned clothes – bonnets and long dresses. And we have the Liar’s Contest, which is a lot of fun. Folks get up and tell outrageous stories.”
A highlight every year, the Old Timers Day Parade was bigger than ever for the anniversary edition and, for the first time, it ended at the fairgrounds instead of downtown.
In addition, the living history exhibits, which have been a staple of Old Timers Day, expanded by about 10 times in 2008, Baggett says. Demonstrations included a Civil War camp and an authentic chuck wagon, complete with cowboys cooking up white beans and corn bread.
In fact, most Old Timers Day activities hark back to the “good old days” – from the greased pig race and the antique tractor pull to the quilting bee. Likewise, many of the crafts vendors peddle wares made by hand using traditional methods.
“We’re honoring our Old Timers,” Baggett says. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Mmmm. It’s hard to beat a slather of sweet, brown, spicy apple butter on a still-steaming biscuit. But you’ve probably never seen a batch of apple butter this big.
At the annual Apple Butter Festival in White Bluff, members of the Crossroads Church of God cook up enough to fill not just one, but two 40-gallon copper kettles. Now that’s a lot of apple butter.
“Last year we used 80 bushels of apples,” says Basil Westcott, who serves as festival coordinator.
He notes that over the years, the church group has perfected its apple butter cooking method.
“We start the peeling two days before [the festival]. That’s with about 12 people doing the peeling,” Westcott explains.
“On the day of the festival, we start cooking at 5 a.m. You use a big paddle on the end of an 8-foot to 10-foot handle to stir it. It has to be that long because you have to be able to stand back while you do it.
“About 3 p.m., we get in an assembly line and start canning,” he continues. “We always sell everything we make. We really can’t make enough of it – it goes like hot cakes!”
Hundreds of community folks come out for the fun – and hopefully a jar of apple butter while it lasts. Attendees can watch demonstrations of butterchurning, woodworking, quilting, black smithing, spinning and shinglesplitting, and they can check out antique cars and tractors.
There are hayrides, horseshoes and plenty of toe-tapping bluegrass music for everyone.
“Of course, we have all kinds of food,” Westcott adds, “and fried apple pies.”
The 2008 Apple Butter Festival takes place Saturday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Crossroads Church of God.
Noah Daniel is the retired superintendent of schools and a retired military officer.
Former superintendent of schools
Noah Daniel has led a life of exemplary service in Dickson County.
A 1959 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Daniel married his college sweetheart Alicia and soon started a family.
“Then I enlisted at Fort Campbell and entered as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 101st Airborne,” Daniel says. “I spent two years there, during which time we had our second child.”
Two more children came along during the early years of Daniel’s career, which began with teaching and coaching at Charlotte High School. In 1967, he became principal.
“In 1972, the county consolidated the high schools – White Bluff, Charlotte and Dickson – into Dickson County High School,” Daniel continues. “I became the assistant principal and athletic director from 1972 to 1979.”
Then in 1984, after a five-year stint with the county board of education, Daniel made Dickson County history as the first elected (versus appointed) superintendent of schools, a position he held until his retirement in 1990.
He remained active in the National Guard and then became even more involved with the military group.
“After 31 years, I went to work full time with the Tennessee Army National Guard as a Troop Command Commander. This was during the first Gulf War,” Daniel explains. “I had 26 units scattered throughout Tennessee, and nine of those were deployed.”
Ultimately, Daniel was promoted to Brigadier General and, after 36 1/ 2 years in the service, he retired – again.
“Then the governor nominated me to be the director of the Selective Service System in Tennessee, a position I held until 2003.
“Then I retired – I really mean it this time!” he adds with a laugh. “Since then, I’ve been playing a lot of golf.”
Kenny Gibbs received a vote of confidence from the Dickson County Chamber of Commerce’s agricultural committee last year: The group named him its 2007 Agricultural Leader of the Year. And he earned it.
In addition to managing his farming operation and working for the Water Authority of Dickson County, Gibbs finds time to get involved in agriculturerelated volunteer organizations.
“I’m on the board of directors of the Livestock Association – that’s an organization that’s done a lot in the community as far as education and such,” Gibbs says. “We help with the youth, and we sponsor a 4-H steer show.”
“Also, I’m a member of the board of the Dickson County Farm Bureau, and they do a lot of good things in the community.”
Gibbs is quick to share the credit.
“I don’t think it’s as much me as it is the people I’m associated with that get things done,” he adds. “They’re really a good bunch of folks. When somebody gets a good idea, people pitch in and get
something accomplished,” he says.
In the nearly 50 years Gibbs has lived there, he has seen Dickson County change a lot. For one thing, between business and residential growth, the amount of available farmland is shrinking.
“But I plan to keep mine,” he says. “I farm about 70 acres. I’m a small livestock producer – beef cattle. I mostly raise heifers for the UT Ultimate Heifer Sale in November.”
The Ultimate Heifer Sale is a University of Tennessee Extension pro-
gram recognized as one of the premier sales in Tennessee. Only the highest quality heifers are accepted, and beef producers agree to a rigorous standard of veterinary care and documentation prior to the sale.
“It’s a real good program for the buyer and the seller,” Gibbs says. “It’s a little more work, but I feel better about putting a heifer out there that’s been taken care of and that the buyer knows has been taken care of.”
– Stories by Carol Cowan
STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD
When Tom and Jane Edwards decided to purchase Jane’s 200year-old family farm in 1996, they did something unusual with their rustic Vanleer property.
A natural spring was on the heavily forested land, so the couple decided to investigate what it would cost to begin a spring water bottling company.
“We wanted to do something different that wouldn’t destroy the trees and the beauty of the place,” Tom Edwards says. “So the next two years were devoted to researching and adhering to all the government regulations, and we finally established StoneClear Springs Premium Spring Water in 1998. Things have been moving forward very well since then.”
The natural spring on the property runs at a constant temperature of 58 degrees Fahrenheit, and the water comes to the surface via an underground limestone cavern located about a quarter-mile from the bottling facility. Edwards says geologists have determined that the spring has been flowing for 1 million
Tennsco steel products, manufactured here in Dickson, Tennessee, are distributed throughout the United States and are known for their quality and durability.
Tennsco’s product line includes shelving, storage cabinets, media storage, lockers, workbenches and card files. With over 600 employees in six plant locations, Tennsco is proud of the role we play in our community.
(615) 446-8000 www.tennsco.com
Money. Smell the Flowers.
Looking for ways to save money on gas and help the environment? The EPA wants to share some smart driving tips that could give you more miles per gallon of gas and reduce air pollution. Tips like making sure your tires are properly inflated and replacing your air filter regularly. And where possible, accelerate and brake slowly. Be aware of your speed ... did you know that for every 5 miles you go over 65 mph, you’re spending about 20 cents more per gallon of gas? If you’re shopping for a new car, choose the cleanest, most efficient vehicle that meets your needs. If we each adopt just one of these tips, we’d get more miles for our money and it would be a little easier to smell the flowers. For more tips and to compare cleaner, more efficient vehicles, visit www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.
years from an aquifer that never stops.
“The source of the water is supposedly an ancient aquifer that originates somewhere near the Arctic ice cap,” he says. “This water is as pure as God intended it to be, even before we actually run it through filters and ozonate it for the bottling process.”
Edwards says that before StoneClear spring water could ever be bottled, the state of Tennessee and federal regulations mandate that such water cannot be exposed to outside air. Therefore, a protection box had to be constructed around the spring in order to keep any outside impurities away from the water.
“As a result, the spring now has 10 inches of solid concrete enclosing it along its entire length on our property, while the bottom of the spring is simply a bed of natural limestone,” he says. “The spring produces about 200,000 gallons a day, so there is very good flow at all times.”
StoneClear has eight full-time employees, and the company ships all over the United States.
“Our water has been chosen among the best-tasting waters in the world at the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition, which is based in West Virginia and considered one of the most prestigious annual contests,” Edwards says. “We have been chosen for awards at Berkeley Springs during each of the past five years, which is quite a proud achievement.”
Not only does StoneClear bottle the spring water under its own label, but it also produces labels for companies and organizations that want to have their own names on water bottles.
“For example, we have a contract with Vanderbilt University to fill bottles with our StoneClear water, then we ship the final product to Vandy, where they distribute and sell it as Vanderbilt University bottled water,” Edwards says. “We do the same thing for Belmont University, The Hermitage Hotel, Bread & Co. restaurants and numerous other clients. In fact, 90 percent of the bottles that leave our Vanleer plant have other companies’ names on them.”
STONECLEAR
SPRINGS PREMIUM
SPRING WATER
200,000
Gallons of water the spring produces daily
58
The constant temperature of the natural spring
1/4 mile
Distance the limestone cavern is from the bottling facility
200
Years the property has been in the Edwards family
Kerry Pruett knew he wanted to go into construction from a young age.
“I just was always interested in putting things together,” he says. Now the construction company he has put together, C.K. Pruett Construction, has made quite a name for itself, with signature projects such as the Creekside Center, the renovation of the Greater Dickson Gas Authority and the new Traditions First Bank.
Pruett, who started working construction jobs during summers in high school, is a Dickson native. And he says Dickson has had a lot to do with the success of his company.
“Dickson has seen a lot of good growth in the last 10 years,” he says. “But I believe we’ll see even more in the next 10 years. Nashville is coming out west now. People have found out about Dickson. It’s a good place to live and raise a family.”
C.K. Pruett Construction does mostly commercial construction in Dickson County and surrounding areas, although they still do some residential work, too.
Looking ahead, Pruett says they have some land development and industrial projects in the works.
Anyone can shop the co-op. That’s what Paul Sullivan wants people to know about the Dickson Farmers Co-op, where he is manager. And the co-op is not just for farmers anymore.
The co-op, which was established in 1946 by a group of farmers who needed a reliable source of goods, is also open to non-members and even non-farmers. The general public is welcome to shop the co-op’s wide variety of goods at the same prices as members. And you might be surprised by what all you’ll find here.
“We’re not just feed, seed and fertilizer anymore,” says Sullivan, who has been with the co-op for 25 years. “We’ve got everything for crop needs, but we’ve also got lawn and garden products, tires and passenger auto supplies, hunting and outdoor supplies, a line of Carhartt clothing, and we’re adding more each month.” The co-op is in the planning
stages of an expansion that will allow them to carry even more products.
But shopping at the co-op is not the same as shopping at a regular commercial establishment because a percentage of all profits goes back to member farmers, which currently number about 1,800. And the knowledgeable staff of 36 employees is a valuable source of advice for customers, whether they have questions about a backyard garden or acres of cropland.
When this spring’s tornadoes tore through Dickson County, a local woman called Dickson Medical Equipment because she had no electricity to run her oxygen tanks. Thirty minutes later, in the middle of the night – and in the middle of the chaos caused by the tornadoes – Dickson Medical Equipment delivered backup tanks to her.
“That’s what we do,” says Jason Shiflet, president and owner of the company. “We’re a local shop specializing in providing the people of Dickson with all their medical equipment needs.”
Providing that level of local service was the reason Shiflet started Dickson Medical Equipment.
“I wanted a community-based company that existed for the community,” he says. “Our company cares about our patients. We’re an extension of the health-care system at home. Patients know we care, and we know they want to be taken care of by a local company.”
The company supplies everything from wheelchairs and hospital beds to orthotics and prosthetics.
Many people may not think of Middle Tennessee as cattle country, but Dickson County actually has just the right conditions for raising cattle. And no one knows this better than Bobby Denton, who has been raising his prize-winning, registered Angus cattle over at Maple Valley Ranch for 36 years.
“Tennessee farmland is rolling hill country. It’s not real flat, so it’s good for cattle,” Denton says. “This is an excellent place to raise cattle. There are good selling opportunities and it’s a good business opportunity.”
His cattle seem to like the area, too. “We’ve had a lot of success in showing our Angus in local, regional and state fairs,” Denton says. “We’ve had a lot of grand champions.”
While the favorable geography of Middle Tennessee is a big factor in keeping the cattle happy and healthy, the special qualities of Angus cattle are also a reason for Denton’s success.
“They sell good, and the cows make good mothers,” he says. “And they have the qualities that make excellent beef.”
If you’re hunting for something different, Spunky Monkey Home Interiors and Gifts is the place to go.
From bridal gifts to home décor, shoppers can find some very unusual pieces in downtown Dickson.
It was hunting of a sort – antique hunting – that led husband and wife Larry and Dianne Fiser to open Spunky Monkey. The couple loves finding unique items, and they decided they wanted to share their finds with other shoppers.
“We like the excitement and adventure of hunting antiques,” Dianne Fiser says. “The find is the most exciting thing.”
The specialty store features a mix of
both antique and new pieces.
“It’s completely different from anything else,” she says. “We try to buy different items. Most of the folks are really surprised when they come into the home décor area.”
Fiser says the shop’s lamps and chandeliers are a big draw, and animal prints seem to be eternally popular.
One of her favorite recent finds is an antique mirrored Murphy bed – a perfect example of what she loves about the business.
“It’s a great adventure,” she says. “We absolutely love it.” – Kimberly Daly
Serving NATURAL GAS to customers in Dickson County and portions of Cheatham, Houston, Stewart and Montgomery counties.
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Free service calls during regular business hours
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(615) 441-2830 • (800) 903-8247 www.gdga.com WE SELL AND SERVICE BOTH NATURAL AND PROPANE APPLIANCES.
CHAMBER-SPONSORED FARMERS MARKET SERVES UP FARM-FRESH PRODUCE
Fresh corn, ripe tomatoes, colorful peppers and juicy cantaloupes are just a few of the produce items sold at the Dickson County Farmers Market.
The market is now in its third year of operation, sponsored by the Agriculture Committee of the Dickson County Chamber of Commerce. Participating vendors are local growers from Dickson County and surrounding counties who sell Tennessee-only products.
“We just offer the freshest produce available – this isn’t a craft market, and it’s not a carnival atmosphere,” says Mike Henry, chairman of the chamber’s agriculture committee. “It is locally grown items, and customers can swing by and get some great food at a very good price.”
The market, located in the parking lot behind the Dickson County Public Library, is open Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from mid-May until Nov. 1.
“The vendors are welcome to peddle their produce from sunup to sundown, and many of them do,” Henry says.
“Most of the market’s customers are people who work and live in Dickson County, but I’ve also met some customers who hail from Nashville. They often purchase produce at the end of their work day and then take the fresh vegetables home for dinner that same night.”
Henry says the market opens in midMay with strawberries and other fruits, and the garden vegetables start appearing at the end of May.
“In large part, the market is primarily fresh corn, tomatoes, turnips, turnip greens, cucumbers, cantaloupes and things of that nature,” he says. “But there are also seasonal items like mums and cornstalks in the fall. Plus, some of the vendors have breads, jams, jellies, cheeses and farm-fresh eggs to sell during various times of the spring and summer months.”
Henry adds that the Dickson County chamber starts promoting the market once several vendors start showing up to sell their goods in late May.
“Some days, there are two vendors in the library parking lot, and other days there are 10 vendors,” he says. “We always have a sign along the roadway in front of the library on Henslee Drive to inform people that vendors are on site.”
The long-range plan of the agriculture committee is to one day purchase a plot of land and then construct a permanent building where the Dickson County Farmers Market can operate.
“For the time being, the parking lot behind the library is a good location for people to drive in, buy fresh produce and then head home,” Henry says. “By the way, the vendors also take advance orders. If a customer wants five quarts of strawberries by next week or 10 dozen ears of corn for a cookout in a few days, the vendors will accommodate them. It is a real nice farmers market and getting better every year.”
– Kevin Litwin
Airports
Dickson County Municipal Airport, (615) 446-5962
Nashville International Airport (615) 275-1675
Highways
Interstate 40 passes through southern Dickson County as it travels from east to west across the state of Tennessee.
U.S. 70 and Highways 46, 47, 48, 49, 96, 100, 235 and 250
Rail
CSX Railroad, (877) ShipCSX
South Central Tennessee Railroad, (931) 729-4227
Sales and office, 5,394
Management, professional and related, 4,746
Production, transportation and material moving, 4,279
Construction and maintenance, 3,225 Service, 2,856
Farming, fishing, and forestry, 164
An eagerness to learn, a willingness to work and a high level of productivity characterize the local labor force.
(Inventory tax) raw materials only
Sales tax
County, 2.75%
State Sales tax, 7%
Income tax, none
Personal, 6% on interest and dividends
No state tax on wages
No inventory tax on finished goods or goods-in-process
No sales tax on qualified industrial machinery and distribution/ warehouse equipment
An excise tax credit
A jobs tax credit
Property taxes
Dickson City rate per $100 valuation, $.90
Dickson County, $2.63
Ratio of Assessment
City residential, 25%
County residential, 25%
City industrial, 40%
County industrial, 40%
City personal (equipment), 30%
County personal (equipment), 30%
Corporate (excise) 6% on net earnings
Franchise tax, $.25 per $100 of capital properties
Unemployment tax, new employers 2.7% of first $7,000
(2005 Annual Average)
Labor Force
Civilian labor force, 23,790
Employment, 22,820
Unemployment, 1,280
Unemployment rate, 4.1%
Available Labor
Estimated available, 1,280
High school graduates (2007) 570
Manufacturing in Area Number of units, 55
Annual average employment 3,636
The olive branch has stood as a symbol of hope and peace for generations, and Dickson’s Olive Branch Assisted Living is no exception.
The county’s largest and newest assisted living center offers residents the safety and convenience of home, minus the worries that often accompany home ownership or living alone.
“This is just a nice place for residents to spend their latter years,” says Martha Bullington, administrator and co-owner of Olive Branch Assisted Living. “Residents don’t feel as though they’re imposing on their children, and children know their parents are being cared for.”
Built in 1995, Olive Branch offers residents 39 private rooms, each equipped with a microwave, refrigerator and private bath.
Assistance is provided for daily living activities, and a 24-hour emergency call system helps keep residents safe day or night. Seniors have peace of mind knowing that a resident assistant is available around the clock, while the center’s registered nurse and licensed practical nurse help monitor medications. And to help make residents’ golden years as stress-free as possible, Olive Branch provides three meals a day in a full-service dining room and personal housekeeping and laundry services.
“Our smaller size allows us to provide more personal care and be more attentive to residents’ needs,” Bullington says.
Though residents are free to come and go as they please, the center offers plenty of reasons to stay and play.
Seniors can read, relax or cultivate new friendships in the landscaped courtyard. Inside, a bustling beauty salon helps clients look and feel their best, while a twice-weekly exercise class keeps attendees young at heart.
Bingo and other games are played weekly, though the recreation room is open daily for the residents to enjoy a game of cards or an evening of television. Residents also are treated to on-site entertainment each week, and worship
services are conducted every Sunday.
For seniors 62 and over with fewer assistance needs, Olive Branch operates six independent living villas built in 2007. The maintenance-free, one- and two-bedroom homes include a full kitchen and washer and dryer, and many feature one- or two-car garages.
Residents also have the option to purchase meals in Olive Branch’s dining room and participate in the center’s
many activities. Bullington says six additional villas are expected to open in 2008 and will be available by purchase, life lease or monthly rental.
Regardless of which option seniors choose, they’re sure to find an affordable, comfortable place to call home.
“We strive to have a clean, safe environment and give residents what they want,” Bullington says.
–
COUNTY’S ANNUAL EXTRAVAGANZA WINS STATEWIDE AWARD
Dickson County certainly knows how to honor its agricultural heritage. In fact, the Dickson County Fair will celebrate its 85th anniversary in 2008.
This local celebration of agriculture, which is staged every September, was named the 2007 Most Improved Fair in Tennessee by the Tennessee Association of Fairs.
“Those folks gave us the award because we have renovated a lot of our buildings in recent years, plus we have added some brand-new facilities on the fairgrounds site,” says Edgar Meek, general manager of the Dickson County Fair. “We also have pavement at the entrance and the carnival is on blacktop, and many of our buildings are heated and cooled. We have worked hard around here to make these fairgrounds a topnotch facility.”
Meek says the fairgrounds also now feature a large dining room connected
to one of the main food booths to accommodate special events.
“We pay close attention to detail in order to have our fair run as smoothly as possible,” he says.
Meek says the fair has always been agriculture-based and will continue to remain so. The spacious Dickson County Fairgrounds feature a show barn for cattle and sheep, goat and poultry barns.
“Our livestock and animal competitions are also handled differently than at most fairs,” he says. “When someone wins first place and gets their blue ribbon, we also present the person with their prize money that same day. Almost all other fairs will mail out checks once their fairs finally close, but that’s not what we are all about.”
One of the seven days at the Dickson County Fair includes an “Agriculture in the Class” field trip for all fourth-graders in the county. It gives young children the opportunity to see farm animals up
close and experience activities such as milking cows and feeding chickens.
“As for overall attendance, our fair draws about 50,000 people mostly from Dickson, Cheatham, Hickman and Humphreys counties,” he says. “The fairgrounds is 50 acres, and the land is level. It is one of the nicest facilities I’ve seen in all my years of being involved with such festivities.”
Besides agricultural events and a carnival, the Dickson County Fair boasts one of the most popular demolition derbies in Tennessee each year. About 12,000 spectators come to see the car wreck competition.
“The 2008 Dickson County Fair will take place Sept. 1-7 and is clean entertainment for the entire family,” Meek says. “The American Legion oversees it, and our motto is God and country. The fair is about as wholesome and American as you can get.”
– Kevin Litwin
FATHER-DAUGHTER DUO CARVE OUT AN INTERESTING ARTISTIC CAREER
Dickson County is natural choice for artisans of all genres, and it’s easy to see why.
Just a short drive from downtown Dickson, sprawling fields and farmlands paint a picture of the scenic Tennessee community in its most innocent state.
It’s where, on any given day, you can find farmer-turnedartist Henry “Hunter” Buchanan. In a modest shop on the century-old farm on which he was born, the octogenarian creates custom wooden bowls along side daughter and artist Kay Welton. With Buchanan knee-deep in sawdust and Welton elbow-deep in clay, the father-daughter duo has
molded an unexpected friendship.
“After Mom died, art was his salvation,” Welton says of her father’s newfound habit. While Buchanan has crafted countless pieces of furniture through the years, the Dickson County
“We come to our crafts from a similar point of view.”
KAY WELTON ARTIST
native now concentrates on the creation of segmented wooden bowls made from wedge-shaped pieces of oak, poplar and other local woods. Through a combination of Buchanan’s generosity and the bowls’ popularity, his unique pieces
have turned up throughout Dickson County and beyond. Many are gifted to friends or nonprofit organizations, while others are featured at Dickson’s Studio 123 and sold at local art shops.
As for Welton, a Dickson County High art teacher with a knack for sculpture and ceramics, she says working in clay is her own version of farming.
“We come to our crafts from a similar point of view,” she says. “It’s a very elemental experience since we’re dealing with earth, air, fire and water.”
In a shop filled with antique farm tools, sawdust, workbenches and kilns, the two set to work.
“We have good discussions about what he’s doing and discuss proportion and form,” Welton says. “He’ll give me advice on a sculpture or piece of pottery
and helps me when I’m firing a load of pots. We just enjoy being together and making stuff, swapping ideas and feeding off each other.”
As one of four daughters born to Hunter and Corrine Deal Buchanan, Welton attended Dickson High School, where she took part in the school’s first art class.
“We had nothing to work with, but I had an ‘ah-ha’ moment in which I thought, ‘Yes, this is what I want to do,’ ” Welton says. After college, she eventually returned to her Dickson alma mater and hasn’t looked back. She hopes her love for the arts will impact a new generation of the city’s students.
“I hope they bring themselves to it and can develop a passion for what they’re doing,” she says.
As for her father’s newfound passion, Welton says she couldn’t be prouder.
“He’s the poster child for staying active,” Welton says. “It’s important for everyone to have something they’re passionate about, something for stress relief, some creative outlet. We’re put on this earth to make it better – to make good stuff.”
– Melanie Hill
When Dickson County’s new Higher Education Center, a partnership between the county, Nashville State Community College and Austin Peay State University, opened in fall 2007, Eileen Crane expected that it might offer three or four courses to the public.
Instead, thanks to the demand for accessible higher education in the community, it offered 10.
“I was thrilled with that response, and we’ve continued to grow since then,” says Crane, who oversees all of Nashville State Community College’s off-site campuses. “And even though, traditionally, enrollment in Tennessee colleges is higher in fall than in spring, we ended up with more enrollment last spring, with 11 classes running. I would like to see it go to 15 this fall.”
The center, located at 222 McLemore St. in Dickson, contains four classrooms that are busy from morning to night. Among the classes offered by both local and full-time main-campus instructors are basic education classes such as
Tennessee history, English composition and elementary algebra. Also available are courses designed to help students get up to speed for those courses – remedial work in reading, writing and learning skills.
“We are really trying to get those students who, for whatever reason, cannot or will not attend college unless the classes are near them,” Crane says. “Either they don’t have the economic ability to drive to classes in Nashville or they’re working a full-time job or have a family and just don’t have the time.”
Beginning in the fall 2008 semester, the center plans to offer dual-enrollment courses for high school students hoping to get a jump on their college coursework – and at much lower prices than on-campus courses.
Students earn credit for their work either through APSU or Nashville Community College. Credits are transferable to any four-year state college and most private colleges in Tennessee.
The idea for the center took root in 2005, when Dickson County Chamber of Commerce President David Hamilton
was discussing “what would bring Dickson up to the next level” with former County Mayor Linda Frazier and TriStar Bank President Ted Williams.
Higher education emerged as a No. 1 priority. With the help of new County Mayor Bob Stone, a higher education committee was formed and approached Nashville State Community College about launching the project.
“The center’s benefits are twofold,” Hamilton says. “First, from an economic development standpoint, it’s another selling point we can use to bring business into our community. And second, it gives our residents a chance to further their education right here. It gives us a little more community pride in what we have to offer.”
Down the road, both Hamilton and Crane hope to see a permanent, dedicated facility that will house a full two-year program in Dickson.
“You’ve got to crawl before you can walk,” Hamilton adds. “Once the word gets out, you’ll see it grow.”
– Laura Hill
Dickson County School System, 446-7571
Elementary Schools
Centennial Elementary School (K-5), 446-0355
Charlotte Elementary School (K-5), 740-5803
Dickson Elementary School (K-5), 740-5837
Oakmont Elementary School (K-5), 446-2435
Stuart-Burns Elementary School (K-5), 446-2791
The Discovery School (K-5) 441-4163
Vanleer Elementary School (K-5), 740-5760
White Bluff Elementary School (K-5), 797-3971
Middle Schools
Charlotte Middle School (6-8) 740-6060
Dickson Middle School (6-8) 446-2273
William James Middle School (6-8), 797-3201
For quiet getaways or activity-filled excursions, Dickson County is the place to be. Locals and visitors enjoy shopping in the historic district on Main Street in Dickson, relaxing at Montgomery Bell State Park or strolling along Charlotte’s tree-lined historic square.
High Schools
Creek Wood High School (9-12), 740-6000
Dickson County High School (9-12), 446-9003
Alternative Schools
New Directions Academy (K-12), 740-6070
Dickson County Adult High School, 446-2114
Higher Education Center 441-6220
Technology Schools
Dickson Technology Center 441-6220
Private
United Christian Academy 446-0322
Adkisson Medical, 740-7322
Covenant Medical Group 441-6140
Dickson Family, Medical Group 446-8527
Dickson Medical Associates, P.C. 446-5121
Horizon Medical Center 446-0446
Ray Medical, 740-7322
The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, 446-0446
White Bluff Family Health Care Center, 797-3646
Dickson County Country Club 446-2879
Frank G. Clement Golf Course 797-2578
GreyStone Golf Club 446-0044
Average annual temperature, 57.6 F
Average January temperature, 37.2 F
Average July temperature, 76.6 F
Annual average precipitation, 54 inches
Mean length of freeze-free period (days), 180-220
Dickson County, 52,549
Cable Comcast, 244-5900
Electricity
Dickson Electric System 446-9051
Gas
Greater Dickson Gas Authority 441-2830
Phone
AT&T (888) 757-6500
Freedom Communications 229-2123
Water/Sewer
Sylvia-Tennessee City-Pond Utility District, 446-8888
Vanleer Water Works, 763-2823
Water Authority of Dickson County, 441-4188
Administrator of Elections
789-6021
County Assessor of Property
789-7015
County Clerk
789-5093
County Mayor
789-7003
Director of Schools 446-7571
Sheriff
789-4130
Trustee, 789-7006
Register of Deeds
789-5123
Road Engineer, 446-2638
UT ExtensionDickson County, 446-2788
Bowl-O-Rena 446-2331
Go bowling!
Broadway Drive-In Theatre 446-2786
This drive-in movie theater runs current releases that everyone can enjoy.
Downtown Dickson 446-4988
Go antique shopping downtown. The strip of shops also includes unique gifts, arts and crafts, jewelry, furniture, hobby supplies, books, historical picture gallery and more.
Drouillard House and Conference Center 789-3874
Built in 1868 and restored in 1997, the beautiful mansion is only open to the public a few days a year.
Miss Mable’s Tea Room 441-6658
Miss Mable’s is a retreat, a nostalgic spot for daydreaming and enjoying the enduring tradition of tea. The shop has a beautiful assortment of gifts and more than 50 blends of tea.
Montgomery Bell State Park (866) 836-6757
Come golf, swim, fish, hike and play. Enjoy the campgrounds, paddleboats, trails, ball fields and game room.
H.R. Lovell Gallery 789-6655
Located on the historic Charlotte square, this is the
home gallery of H.R. Lovell, Tennessee’s artist in residence from 2001-03.
Old Spencer Mill 412-5169
The 1800s double-stone gristmill offers tours, camping, interpreters and demonstrations.
The Renaissance Center 740-5600
A state-of-the-art facility featuring an art gallery, bookstore, dinner theater, laser-light shows, Senior Day and science theater.
Seven Flags 446-7979
Fun for the whole family. Activities include go-cart racing, miniature golf, Lazer Tag, indoor playground, video arcade and snack bar.
Thunder Alley 446-2557
Thunder Alley is fun for the whole family. The facility features cosmic bowling, video games and more.
Vance Smith’s Grand Old Hatchery 797-3204
Music lovers, this is the place for you. A house band and guest performers put on a show for kids of all ages.
May
May 1-3
OLD TIMERS’ DAY FESTIVAL
June
DICKSON COUNTY SPRING FLING
D.C. INVITATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
June 12
RELAY FOR LIFE
June 19-20
STAMPEDE DAYS RODEO
June 25-27
OLD TIME FIDDLERS CONTEST
August
Aug. 30
ANTIQUE AUTO SHOW
September
Sept. 1-7
DICKSON COUNTY FAIR
Sept. 13
CHARLOTTE FESTIVAL
October
Oct. 4-6
APPLE BUTTER FESTIVAL
Oct. 11
MAIN STREET FESTIVAL
Oct. 25
FIELD OF DREAMS TRICK OR TREAT
November
Nov. 1-2
CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY
Nov. 30
DOWNTOWN DICKSON CHRISTMAS PARADE
December
Dec. 5
CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET
Dec. 13
WHITE BLUFF ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS PARADE FOR
Dickson County Chamber of Commerce
119 Hwy. 70 East
Dickson, TN 37055-2080
Toll-free: (877) 718-4967
Phone: (615) 446-2349
Fax: (615) 441-3112
www.dicksoncounty chamber.com
Sources: www.census.gov, www.dicksoncountychamber. com, www.tennesseelife.com/ dickson
Bank of Dickson www.bankofdickson.com
Charles Woodard Real Estate www.charleswoodard.com
City of Charlotte
City of Dickson www.cityofdickson.com
Dickson County Chamber of Commerce www.dicksoncountychamber.com
Dickson Electric System www.dicksonelectric.com
Dickson Medical Associates www.dicksonmd.com
Exit Realty Allstar www.exitallstarsonline.com
First Bank www.firstbankonline.com
First Farmers & Merchants Bank www.fandmbank.com
First Federal Bank www.ffbtn.com
Greater Dickson Gas Authority www.gdga.com
Honeyville Creative LLC www.honeyvillecreative.com
Horizon Medical Center www.horizonmedicalcenter.com
Middle Tennessee Mortgage www.middletennesseemortgage.com
Olive Branch Assisted Living www.olivebranchassist.com
Parker Peery Properties www.ppproperties.com
Tennessee State Parks www.tnstateparks.com
Tennsco www.tennsco.com
Town of White Bluff www.townofwhitebluff.com
TriStar Bank www.tristarbank.com
United Mechanical & Electrical Inc.
Water Authority of Dickson County www.wadc.us
MEDIA MANAGER JAREK SWEKOSKY SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN MCCORD
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, JESSE KNISH
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW
CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS
WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS
ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN
PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER
SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGER TADARA SMITH
PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS
MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS LEAD DESIGNER ALISON HUNTER
GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER, ERICA HINES, JANINE MARYLAND, LINDA MOREIRAS, AMY NELSON, CANDICE SWEET
WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ
WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ
COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN CORY MITCHELL
AD TRAFFIC MARCIA BANASIK, SARAH MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY
CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN
SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER
SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN
SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER
V.P./SALES HERB HARPER
V.P./SALES TODD POTTER
V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER
V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART
V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS
MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO
CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY
ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS
RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY
DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE CUSTOM SALES SUPPORT PATTI CORNELIUS SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP
CUSTOM MAGAZINE MEDIA
Images of Dickson County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Dickson County Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Dickson County Chamber of Commerce 119 Hwy. 70 East • Dickson, TN 37055 Phone: (615) 446-2349 • Fax: (615) 441-3112 E-mail: contactus@dicksoncountychamber.com www.dicksoncountychamber.com
VISIT IMAGES OF DICKSON COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESDICKSON.COM
©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.
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72 Years and Still Going Strong
Dickson College St. Hwy. 46 S. Henslee Dr.
