Images Pulaski-Giles County, TN: 2010

2010 | IMAGESPULASKIGILESCO.COM ®

What’s s e Online Video of historic downtown Pulaski

PULASKI-GILES COUNTY, TENNESSEE

Tribute to the Trail of Tears Sculpture marks historic crossroad

200 YEARS OF PROGRESS Celebration honors history, embraces the future

SPONSORED BY THE GILES COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE PULASKI-GILES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

Turn it on

As Tennessee's oldest municipal electric system, and the

first system in the state to receive power from the Tennessee Valley Authority, PES has a unique and unrivaled history of service.

Giles County with its industry-friendly environment and its beautiful country-side setting, is located near the interstate corridor between Nashville, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama.

PES currently serves nearly 15,000 customers and operates over 1,200 miles of line. We provide service to the City of Pulaski and the communities of Lynnville, Elkton, Minor Hill and Ardmore.

With PES Energize the future is here.

That means ... Lower prices. With far more choices

at fair prices, PES Energize offers “more bang for your buck”. And no contracts to trap customers.

Greater bandwidth. Only a pure fiber network can deliver our amazing Internet speeds.

Surfing in Pulaski has never been faster.

Superior reliability. Fiber performance is not limited by distance or by interference and shared bandwidth. It’s simply the best there is.

Local service and support. PES Energize is owned and operated by Pulaski Electric System. Service fees will stay in Pulaski. PES Energize employees are residents of the community.

When you need help, just pick up the phone or come see us at PES. You’ll always find a friendly face.

What’s On O Online n

2010 EDITION | VOLUME 2 ®

imagespulaskigilesco.com THE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

P U L A S K I - G I LE S CO U NT Y, TE N N E SS E E

PICTURE PERFECT We’ve added even more of our prize-winning photography to the online gallery. To see these photos, click on Photo Gallery.

RELOCATION

CO NTE NT S

Considering a move to this community? We can help. Use our Relocation Tools to discover tips, including how to make your move green, advice about moving pets and help with booking movers.

F E AT U R E S 4 200 YEARS OF PROGRESS Bicentennial celebration honors the past while embracing the future.

FACTS & STATS Go online to learn even more about: • • • • •

Schools Health care Utilities Parks Taxes

New sculpture marks crossroad on American Indians’ historic journey.

D E PA R TM E NT S

Images Pulaski-Giles County is published annually

by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Giles County Chamber of Commerce, the Pulaski-Giles County Economic Development Commission and their 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.

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Giles County Chamber of Commerce 110 N. Second St. • Pulaski, TN 38478 Phone: (931) 363-3789 • Fax: (931) 363-7279 www.gilescountychamber.com Pulaski-Giles County Economic Development Commission 203 S. First St. • Pulaski, TN 38478 Phone: (931) 363-9138 • Fax: (931) 363-9138 www.gilescountyedc.com ©Copyright 2009 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.

Member

2 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Pulaski-Giles County’s culture

12 Portfolio: people, places and events that define Pulaski-Giles County

18 22 24 26 29 30 31 32

Business Feature Biz Briefs Chamber Report Image Gallery Education Sports & Recreation Health & Wellness Arts & Culture

Magazine Publishers of America

Member

Custom Publishing Council

Member Giles County Chamber of Commerce and Pulaski-Giles County Economic Development Commission EDITOR REBECCA DENTON ON THE COVER THE TRAIL WHERE THEY CRIED BRONZE SCULPTURE PHOTO BY J. KYLE KEENER

PULASKI

16 TRIBUTE TO THE TRAIL OF TEARS

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

1

Almanac

Salute to Sam Davis Sam Davis – a Civil War Confederate soldier known as the Boy Hero of the Confederacy – was captured in 1863 by Union soldiers 15 miles south of Pulaski.

When he refused to turn over information to his Union captors, the 21-year-old was hanged in Pulaski.

Four monuments to Davis mark his time in the area.

With so much local history surrounding Davis, Mayor Dan Speer says the City of Pulaski is working to create a more formal connection with Davis’ birthplace, the Sam Davis Home in nearby Smyrna. The connection could encourage more tourists and history buffs to follow Sam Davis’ journey to Pulaski – and enjoy Giles County’s offerings while they’re at it.

Pulaski-Giles County At A Glance POPULATION (2008 ESTIMATE) Pulaski: 7,847 Giles County: 29,184 LOCATION Giles County is in south-central Tennessee, just north of the Tennessee-Alabama state line.

Pulaski is the county seat.

BEGINNINGS Giles County was created in 1809 and formed out of Maury County from its immediate north. Pulaski was established in 1809.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Giles County Chamber of Commerce 110 N. Second St. Pulaski, TN 38478 Phone: (931) 363-3789 Fax: (931) 363-7279 www.gilescountychamber.com Pulaski-Giles County Economic Development Commission 203 S. First St. Pulaski, TN 38478 Phone: (931) 363-9138 Fax: (931) 363-3408 www.gilescountyedc.com

2

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

Lew wisburg w g

Summertown m

Pulaski

Lynnville Ethridge h

31

GI LE S Lawrence Law eburg g

Pulaski 65 207

Elkton Minor Hill TENNESSEE

Ardmore

ALABAMA

What’s Online e Take a tour of Lynnville in our quick video. Visit imagespulaskigilesco.com.

PULASKI

Fast Facts Q Giles County, known as the Wild Turkey Hunting Capital of Tennessee, hosts the annual Governor’s OneShot Turkey Hunt each April.

Horsing Around Hors Spend some s time in Giles County and you’re bound to see horses in almost every field. The region’s rolling hills and scenic make an ideal environment for fox hunters, breeders, views mak trainers – and those who just like to ride for fun. It’s not unusual for folks to t ride horses to each other’s houses, and polo and fox hunting are a popular sports. Equine organizations in the area include a driving association, a dressage association, a nonprofit therapeutic riding center, several trail-riding clubs and numerous therapeut shows and rodeos.

From Trash to Treasure Looking for a bargain?

You’re bound to find it at the Mile Long Yard Sale, held twice a year in Elkton. The nonprofit Elkton Historical Society has promoted the sale for nearly a decade as a way to draw visitors and raise funds for its community projects, including preservation efforts. The sale starts at the junction of Highway 273 and Highway 31 and goes south for a mile to the old iron bridge on the Elk River. It starts at 7 a.m. on the third Saturday in April and October. The Elkton Historical Society also hosts a Christmas Tour of Homes the second Sunday in December. For more information about the Elkton Historical Society’s many projects, visit www.elktonhistory.net.

PULASKI

Q The historic Giles County Courthouse celebrates its 100th birthday in 2009.

Q Giles County and its cities have numerous entries listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including four entire districts.

Q The family-owned Reeves Drug Store in downtown Pulaski has been around for more than 116 years and is still going strong.

Q Offering vocational training specially tailored to local industry, Tennessee Technology Center Pulaski is the area’s workforcetraining engine.

In the Spotlight The Southern Tennessee Area Arts Repertory Theatre in Pulaski brings live entertainment to the region, presenting a different play or musical every six weeks. Auditions are open to the community, and recent productions have included such crowd pleasers as High School Musical 2, 101 Dalmatians Kids, Grease, Tuesdays With Morrie and The Nutcracker. STAAR, a nonprofit community theater organization, performs in the historic opera house building on the square in Pulaski. The group has transformed the basement of the building into a dinner theater with approximately 100 seats, with plans to renovate the rest of the building. STAAR has about 200 members, including young children, teenagers and adults. Visit www.staar-arts.org for more information.

Q The Col. Littleton company, which makes internationally famous heirloom leather goods, knives, jewelry and other items, is located in the tiny town of Lynnville.

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

3

200

Years of Progress

PULASKI AND GILES COUNTY HONOR HISTORY, EMBRACE THE FUTURE

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD

Y

ou know you’ve done something right when you get an encore. That’s what happened when the Bic Bicentennial Committee issued trading cards in early 2009 celebrating the storiedd 20 200-year history of Giles County and Pulas ask Pulaski.

The cards ca c were so popular that the commi ittee issued a second series. committee “Th Thha has been a tremendous “That success We printed 99,000 of those succ success. a they were gone in about cards, and month says local attorney Joe a month,” Fowlkes chairman of the 12-member Fowlkes, Bicenten Bicentennial Committee. c The committee at first distributed

1,000 cards each of 99 historically noteworthy people, places and animals.

In response to demand, 50 more were researched and printed later in the year.

With a picture on one side and a paragraph of information on the other, they became “a medium of exchange” as school children traded them for desserts, Fowlkes says. Parents are also collecting the trendy, wallet-size history lessons.

In 1809, the Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation simultaneously creating both Giles County and Pulaski. The 200 years since have been full of milestones and firsts. For example, Pulaski is believed

The histo historic Giles County Courthouse, located on the town square in Pulaski PHOTOS BY J. KY KYLE KEENER

4

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

PULASKI

PULASKI

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

5

Connecting with Pulaski has never been easier …

imagespulaskigilesco.com 1 2

3

1 4

SIMPLY SEARCH: In a hurry? Find the exact info you need quickly with our enhanced search capabilities.

2

SMOOTHER SURFING: Explore the site and interact with us more easily with our reorganized navigation bar.

3

JUST THE FACTS: Get a quick snapshot of the community with our greatly enriched Facts and Stats section.

5

4 6 7

8

WATCH AND SHARE: Experience first-hand views of the community in our video gallery, then share them with friends.

5

VIRTUAL VIEW: Flip through pages of the digital magazine, an enriched online version of the print publication.

6

MOVING MUSTHAVES: Visit our new Relocation Tools section for many useful tips and information to make your transition go smoothly.

7

MORE EYE CANDY: Check out our enhanced Photo Gallery for more stunning photos of the community.

8 9

OUTSIDERS WELCOME: Read about the best places to play in this community.

9

IN GOOD TASTE: Get the dish on local flavor from favorite restaurants, noted area products and farmers markets in our new Food section.

PULASKI

community in Tennessee to enroll in Destination University, a 12-month, online marketing program that teaches business owners how to attract customers from outside their traditional market. Both Pulaski and Giles County are designated as Small Business Administration HUB Zones, giving local businesses an edge when competing for government contracts.

Also setting Pulaski apart is its

broadband initiative, which Speer calls “a key to the future.” In its third year of operation, PES Energize is a 100 percent fiber-optic network operated

by Pulaski Electric System, offering Internet, phone and video services.

“We’re hanging our hats on developing a world-class workforce with the infrastructure and tools to make it successful,” Speer says.

Now that’s making history.

What’s Online e BRIAN M C CORD

to be the first of many American towns named to honor Count Kazimierz Pulaski, a Polish general who fought in the American Revolution and is considered the father of the American Cavalry. Two routes on the Trail of Tears – the forced exit of American Indians from their lands – passed through Pulaski. Sam Davis, known as the Boy Hero of the Confederacy, was captured and executed by the Union Army in Giles County.

“We consider Pulaski and Giles County as a crossroads in Southern history, where a lot of things have happened that have had an impact nationally,” says Pulaski Mayor Dan Speer. “We have a lot of rich history.”

The bicentennial year kicked off with a New Year’s Eve ball in 2009. In April, Heritage Days featured booths bringing history to life.

Other events included a gala recognizing descendants of early settlers, a high school reunion and Count Pulaski Day. The year culminated with the dedication of Bicentennial Plaza on the south side of the courthouse square. Funded by private donations, a huge map of Giles County will be carved in granite.

Judy Pruett, a member of the Bicentennial Committee, says the yearlong celebration has been the result of thousands of volunteer hours.

“We have a community of some really forward-thinking individuals,” she says. “We know that we must be prepared moving into the next century.”

While embracing its history, Pulaski continues to make progressive strides.

“We are embarking on a more broad definition of economic development that involves the entire community,” says Speer, who is also executive director of the Pulaski-Giles County Economic Development Commission.

Later in 2009, the commission, Martin Methodist College and the Giles County Chamber of Commerce are set to open a business development center focused specifically on entrepreneurs’ needs.

In addition, Giles County is the first

Take a look at Pulaski’s rich historic architecture in our quick video. Visit imagespulaskigilesco.com.

The Sam Davis Museum in Pulaski is part of a four-stop Sam Davis Trail tour.

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

7

Nourishing

8

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

PULASKI

Body&Soul UNIQUE EATERIES SERVE UP HOSPITALITY, HOMEY MEALS

STORY BY JEANNIE NAUJECK PHOTOGRAPHY BY J. KYLE KEENER

G

iles County restaurants put homespun hospitality first on the menu, and the list includes some one-of-a-kind places that just can't be duplicated.

One of the area’s most unique eateries is Common Ground Café & Bakery, a delightfully comfy café serving baked goods, sandwiches, salads, desserts and daily specials such as lasagna, quiche and chicken potpie.

Visitors are greeted warmly, served wholesome food for a fair price and invited to stay and converse as long as they wish.

“The idea was to create a gathering place where people can come in and find common ground, have social time and interact with other people of all races, all ages, rich and poor,” says Daniel Wright, one of the owners. “The most important thing is to be friendly to people and give them hospitality and hope.”

Wright and the other owners of Common Ground are members of the Twelve Tribes Commonwealth of Israel, a religious group that has established a community in Pulaski.

Twelve Tribes members dress simply, live communally under a strict interpretation of the Bible and work together in selfsustaining businesses such as Common Ground. Begun in Chattanooga in 1973, Twelve Tribes communities and Common Ground cafés can now be found as far afield as Europe, Australia and South America.

Common Ground is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and it closes for the weekend at 4 p.m. on

Left: Mincha Chambers, 17, glazes freshly baked sweet rolls with maple syrup at the Common Ground Café & Bakery at the Heritage House near downtown Pulaski.

PULASKI

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

9

Fridays so the member employees can observe the Sabbath.

“We don’t want to get so busy that we don’t have time to be social,” Wright says. “We feel there’s more to life than getting rich.”

Homey goodness of a different sort is at the heart of Johnson's Bluebird Café, a cozy meat-and-three style restaurant on the square in Pulaski, across from city hall and about a block from the courthouse. A specialty here is the mustard-based coleslaw – called Bluebird Slaw –that's served piled on the Bluebird Burger or on the side.

"Our Bluebird Burger is probably our best seller," says Seth Johnson, co-owner of Bluebird Café with his father, Mark.

"Next to burgers, our best seller is our chicken salad sandwich. We make our chicken salad fresh every day, and we sell a ton of it."

Open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday, the Bluebird Café offers a meat-and-three lunch buffet Monday through Friday, featuring comfort food favorites such as fried chicken, meatloaf, Salisbury steak with brown gravy, pinto beans, mashed potatoes and creamed corn. The restaurant is open later on Friday nights and always draws a crowd for its hearty catfish dinners. For those watching their waistlines, the restaurant also serves a variety of fresh salads

Friends Jan Sanders, left, of Elkmont, Ala., and Jami Tomlin of Goodsprings, Ala., enjoy coffee and conversation at the Common Ground Café & Bakery. Bottom right: Master baker Daniel Wright prepares dough for tomato basil bread.

10

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

PULASKI

PULASKI

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM HOBBS

and, during the winter months, homemade soups.

The original Bluebird Café opened in 1936 and served as a popular gathering spot until it closed in the mid-1990s.

The Johnson family's name is well known locally for their work in the grocery business, and the father-son team opened Johnson's Bluebird Café in the same location in 2007 as a tribute to the beloved local hangout. The decor features nostalgic black-and-white photos of the restaurant and Little League baseball teams sponsored by the old Bluebird Café.

Many other notable restaurants can be found in Giles County, with offerings ranging from the nostalgic ice cream counter of Soda Pop Junction in Lynnville to the delectable Hickory House Barbecue and the music lovers’ paradise Kathy’s Tavern in Pulaski.

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

11

Portfolio

12

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

PULASKI

Connected to the Land AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS DIVERSIFY, ATTRACT NEW CROP OF CUSTOMERS

A

griculture has always been a big part of the economy in Giles County, and these days it’s taking on some new forms.

Limoland Farm in Pulaski opens to the public each October for hayrides, mum sales, gourds, a pick-your-ownpumpkin patch and more.

A greenhouse at Limoland is also open in April and May for the sale of flowers and homegrown strawberries, with a pick-your-own-strawberry patch on site. The greenhouse also features a large variety of bedding plants, hanging baskets, perennials, vegetable plants and herbs.

DW Farms in Pulaski is an organic farm owned and run

by Danny Lindsey and Wendy Melvin. The diversified operation practices sustainable farming and takes part in community supported agriculture, or CSA. Members, called shareholders, subscribe to the farm a season at a time, and the farm provides a nutritious box of organically grown vegetables, small fruits and herbs – all in season – to shareholders each week from May through September.

Each basket has eight to 12 items each week. Items grown

include beans, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, blackberries, collard greens, turnips, tomatoes, peppers, peas, sweet corn, squash, strawberries, melons and much more. DW Farms also sells beef, lamb and pork, and its animals – hormoneand antibiotic-free – are raised in the most humane way possible.

Another agritourism venture is the Old Hickory Shooting Preserve & Kennels in Pulaski, which provides full-day guided or non-guided turkey and dove hunts along with float fishing trips.

A popular farmers market takes place every Saturday morning during warm-weather months on the Pulaski public square.

“The market is so informal that it really doesn’t have a name – people just call it farmers market,” says Kevin Rose, agriculture extension director for Giles County. “There aren’t even set hours. Sometimes when farmers arrive at daylight to sell sweet corn or green beans, there are customers already waiting for them. The only stipulation is that everything for sale at the market is grown in Giles County.”

PULASKI

PHOTOS BY J. KYLE KEENER

PHOTOS BY J. KYLE KEENER

Limoland in Pulaski offers a pick-your-own strawberry patch each spring, along with flowers, plants and much more.

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

13

Portfolio

Richard Leigh Lives Here C

ountry music songwriter and singer Richard Leigh is in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, but he chooses to live in Giles County.

The venerable artist says he drives about 1,000 miles a week to Music City and back.

“I’m just about wearing out all my cars, but I love the peaceful drive,” he says. “I lived in Nashville for 20 years, but I always wanted a place with some land. I fell in love with Giles County and

am inspired by the beauty.”

Inspiration seems to come easily to Leigh, whose songs have resulted in more than 50 million sales for country music artists and those from other genres – including Randy Travis, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Perry Como, Tammy Wynette, Anne Murray, Don Williams, B.J. Thomas, Connie Francis and The Dixie Chicks.

One of Leigh’s most famous songs is Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,

which became a No. 1 pop record for Crystal Gayle. In July 2009, country star Billy Dean paid tribute to the songwriter by titling his latest album Billy Dean Sings Richard Leigh.

“Billy was nice enough to record 10 of my songs, and one of the selections – The Greatest Man I Never Knew – has already done quite well on the music charts,” Leigh says. “The video for that single was filmed at my Giles County home.”

Leigh has been in the songwriting business for 35 years and has been nominated seven times for the country music industry’s Song of the Year honors. He has some down-to-earth advice for anyone trying to get into the songwriting business.

“Honestly, when I was first starting out, if knew how tough this business is, I would have done something else,” he says. “But if you are really determined, I would advise writers to play their music as much as possible in Nashville venues.

You never know when that right person will be in attendance some night to hand you their business card.”

Songwriter and singer Richard Leigh

14

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

PULASKI

The Matt Gardner Homestead Museum features a painted quilt panel replica on an outbuilding.

PHOTOS BY J. KYLE KEENER

Honoring the Life of a Former Slave

I

f you’re interested in local history, Elkton is the place to go.

The community of 600 people is home to the Matt Gardner Homestead Museum, a property that dates back to the 19th century. Gardner was a former slave whose homestead has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and he is recognized for his contributions to African-American heritage from 1870 to 1942.

“Matt was my fourth-generation grandfather, and I wanted to open this homestead because a lot of kids today don’t even know what a farm looks like,” says Carla Jones, curator of the Matt Gardner Homestead Museum.

The museum opened in September 2009 on an appointment-only basis.

“We’re just starting out and need to get a volunteer staff trained and in place,” Jones says.

Five structures make up the homestead – a well house, smokehousestore, chicken coop, outhouse and cow barn. The homestead explores Matt Gardner’s transition from slavery through Reconstruction and then into the early 20th century.

“Besides being a farmer, Matt ran a sorghum gin, he was a minister and a modern-day entrepreneur,” Jones says.

“He was a hard worker.”

The homestead is also being promoted as the first stop on what will become a Southern Middle Tennessee Resource Conservation and Development Quilt Trail. Matt Gardner’s wife, Henrietta Jenkins Gardner, was an avid quilter, and a large painted mural replica of one of her quilt squares appears on the side of a building on the property.

Visit www.mattgardnerhome stead.org for more information.

PULASKI

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

15

Portfolio

A Tribute to the Trail of Tears T

he Trail of Tears in the 1830s was the forced relocation of American Indians from their homelands in the Deep South to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma.

Countless Indians suffered from exposure, disease and starvation while journeying to their new destination, and Giles County is paying tribute to their courageous efforts.

The Giles County Trail of Tears Interpretive Center is located on

Stadium Street in a building that once housed the congregation of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The building was also once home to First Baptist Church.

“First Baptist donated the church to the Trail of Tears project, and the entire building – all 400 tons of it – was moved by truck to its present highertraffic location on Stadium Street.

Today the beautiful building has become known as the Giles County

, V > `Ê Ê vÊ*Õ >Ã Since 1986 º ÃÌ ÀÞÊ ÃÊ ÕÀÊLÕÃ iÃÃÊ> `ÊLÕÃ iÃÃÊ ÃÊ ÕÀÊ ÃÌ ÀÞ»

, V > `Ê Ê vviÀÃÊV À« À>Ìi]Ê Ê> `Ê ,*ÊÀ>ÌiÃ]ÊÜ V Ê V Õ`i\ Deluxe full hot breakfast Cable TV/HBO/CNN/MSNBC USA Today newspaper Free local calls Laundry and dry cleaning Health club

Trail of Tears Interpretive Center,” says Dan Speer, mayor of Pulaski and director of the Giles County Economic Development Commission. “So we now have the building but must wait for Congress to allocate additional funding that will allow us to complete the interior of the center. It will be an amazing tribute once the project is finally completed.”

Speer says Giles County was a key strategic point in the Trail of Tears pilgrimage because Pulaski was where two individual paths crossed – the Bells and Benge’s routes. Those were two main routes traveled by Cherokees and Choctaws in their quest to ultimately reach the western United States.

“A life-size statue of a Cherokee family was unveiled outside the center in June 2009, and there is interpretive signage that has been erected to explain the plight of American Indians,” Speer says. “This is all an ongoing effort that will be quite inspirational once it has been completed.”

Officials estimate that the cost of properly outfitting the interior of the interpretative center will be around $1 million.

“The former church is a beautiful example of Gothic architectural design constructed of native limestone, and we want to make sure that the interior of the building is just as incredible as the exterior,” Speer says.

For more information, visit www.trailoftearspulaski.com.

Free wireless Internet Board room Suites with whirlpool Coin operated washer/dryer Restaurant on premises Complimentary beer and snacks

Ê iÊ>Ü>ÞÊvÀ ÊÃ «« }ÊVi ÌiÀ]Ê `ÕÃÌÀ > Ê«>À ]Ê } vÊV ÕÀÃiÊ> `ÊÌ iÊ i>` }ÊÀiÃÌ>ÕÀ> ÌÃ

£äÓäÊ7°Ê i}iÊ-Ì°ÊUÊ*Õ >à ]Ê/ ÊÎn{Çn ­ Σ®ÊÎÈÎ ääääÊUÊÜÜÜ°À V > ` °V Ê

16

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

The Trail Where They Cried, a life-size bronze sculpture by artists Gail Bergeron and Pamela Keller

PULASKI

ood golf shots are rewarded at Hillcrest Country Club in Pulaski.

The private, nine-hole course is considered challenging but fair, which means that golfers can shoot good scores if they keep the ball in the fairways. The course features a medium-length layout at 3,233 yards, and par for the nine holes is 36.

“We host men’s and women’s leagues during the spring and summer months, and some public organized tournaments are also scheduled throughout the year,” says Melissa Harmon, manager of Hillcrest Country Club.

“One such public event is a Land of Milk and Honey Golf Tournament that is hosted by the Giles County Chamber of Commerce.”

That particular tournament occurs on the first Thursday of May and features a four-man scramble format.

The event attracts about 112 golfers, or 28 teams.

“Hillcrest is indeed a private club with about 150 members, but we do open the course to the public every Thursday – which technically makes us a semiprivate golf course,” Harmon says. “We offer a beautiful rural countryside setting just off of Campbellsville Road.”

The country club also has a swimming pool that is open Memorial Day through Labor Day, with full-time lifeguards on staff. Hillcrest also organizes a tennis league during the spring and summer.

“We also feature a full-service restaurant with fine dining on Friday nights, and our banquet room is available for parties and luncheons,” Harmon says. “The Friday night fine dining occurs once a month during the summer and twice a month during the fall. There is also a clubhouse on site with a fully stocked bar and big screen TV. Hillcrest is a nice place to have fun.”

– Stories by Kevin Litwin PULASKI

PHOTOS BY J. KYLE KEENER

Tee Time at Hillcrest G

Hillcrest Country Club, a private, nine-hole course in Pulaski, offers men’s and women’s leagues. Public tournaments are scheduled throughout the year.

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

17

Business

18

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

PULASKI

Inroad to

Innovation PROGRESSIVE VENTURES THRIVE IN SUPPORTIVE BUSINESS CLIMATE

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY J. KYLE KEENER

A

ttracting large industry is part of Giles County’s economic development strategy, but the county also seeks to nurture smaller, entrepreneurial enterprises.

The result: Progressive small businesses are making big strides.

“We’re trying our best to create an environment where an entrepreneur would feel that he or she would have the support to be successful,” says Dan Speer, Pulaski mayor and executive director of the Pulaski-Giles County Economic Development Commission.

Jim Greene, a professional engineer who grew up in Pulaski, won’t argue with that. Greene is chief executive officer of Outpost Solar, founded in his hometown in late 2008. The business is based on an idea hatched during a friendly mealtime conversation.

Greene has developed what he calls modular solar systems that generate power-using solar panels. Today, Greene has a prototype and a patent pending, and he awaits word on his next step from the U.S. military.

Green has a military background, and he envisions the systems powering command outposts – small military units of 20 to 50 soldiers operating independently in war zones.

The outposts currently are powered by generators that need fuel to run. Delivering that fuel costs $70 to $200 per gallon, which adds up to $1 million in five years.

“We’ve figured that the government gets a payback for the investment in our system in less than six months,” Greene says.

What’s more, the solar panels last 20 to 30 years, versus a generator that runs nonstop and lasts about three months.

The systems are housed in rugged containers built to withstand severe temperatures and small-arms fire.

“It was originally designed for military applications, but it has several potential humanitarian applications,” Greene notes, explaining that the systems could provide electricity after natural disasters and could power cell towers, water pumps and medical facilities in Third World countries.

Outpost Solar also has a patent pending on a design for solar panels mounted on tall tubular structures in parking lots. The panels would shade the cars, reduce ground heating

Seth Kirchbaum, chief technology officer at Outpost Solar, displays a portable solar energy generator prototype.

PULASKI

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

19

Pulaski-based Outpost Solar has developed a prototype of a portable solar energy generator that could power military outposts. Right: Lisa Dale of family-owned GEMS checks the quality of circuit boards before shipping.

and feed power to the company that owns them.

“I call it ‘business green,’ because it’s being smart with your money. It makes business sense,” Greene says.

He has been approached to modify his design so that electric cars could plug into the solar structures for a recharge during the day while the owners are at work.

Outpost Solar may soon be a job creator. “Cradle to grave, this will all be done in Pulaski,” Greene says.

Another Pulaski job creator is GEMS, born where so many successful electronic ventures seem to get their start – in the owner’s garage. Glenda Cooper, president, launched General Electronic Manufacturing Services about five years ago, creating medical-device circuit boards for a Huntsville, Ala., company. “It just kept getting bigger and bigger, and too big for my garage,” she says. “That’s when I decided to lease a 20

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

building and go from there. So far it’s worked out wonderfully.”

Cooper’s three daughters, a son-in-law and three other employees now work at GEMS, which has nabbed other hightechnology contracts, including manufacturing control boards for complex LED lighting systems. One of the company’s newest clients is a manufacturer of barbecue grills that burn wood pellets.

GEMS manufacturers those control panels as well.

High technology in Pulaski isn’t just found in the private sector. An $8 million upgrade of the city’s wastewater treatment system in 2008 means sewage is treated using ultraviolet light rather than chlorine.

“The wastewater treatment plant is definitely state of the art,” Speer says. “We’re very proud of it.”

PULASKI

Business

PULASKI

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

21

Business

Biz Briefs BUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE PULASKI AND GILES COUNTY’S ECONOMIC CLIMATE

Scorecard BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

$220,893 Retail sales ($1,000)

$7,492 Retail sales per capita

$16,682 Accommodation and food services sales ($1,000)

2,134 Total number of firms Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

MERRITT-POP POPCORN Biz: Gourmet popcorn company Buzz: Merritt-Pop Popcorn is a family-owned company in Pulaski that makes and sells gourmet popcorn. Merritt-Pop has been selling Tennessee-grown popcorn since 1984. It is sold at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge and is distributed

by Piggly Wiggly food stores throughout the South. The popcorn comes in bulk bags, microwave varieties and a 6-pack gift set. www.merrittpop.com 22

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

BRINDLEY CONSTRUCTION LLC Biz: Full-service construction company Buzz: Brindley Construction provides a wide range of construction services – design-build, pre-construction services, general contracting and construction management. Projects include assisted living, commercial, industrial, institutional, multifamily and residential. The award-winning company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009. www.brindleyconst.com PULASKI

WATERCOLORS Biz: Eclectic, upscale gift shop Buzz: Located on Pulaski’s public square, Watercolors is a gift shop inspired by the sights and sounds of the ocean. The shop is full of items with which to celebrate life’s milestones – engagements, weddings, births and graduations. Gifts include diaper bags and gear, toys, baby clothing, home accessories, dÊcor and much more. www.watercolorsgift.com

VALLEY PACKAGING CORP. Biz: Corrugated packaging supplies Buzz: A subsidiary of Green Bay Packaging, Valley Packaging in Pulaski serves a wide variety of customers in five states. With more than 30 pieces of modern, computerized, specialized equipment and an in-house design department, the company can supply all corrugated packaging needs and non-corrugated packaging supplies. www.gbp.com

SAARGUMMI TENNESSEE Biz: Manufacturer of rubber automotive door and window seals Buzz: SaarGummi Tennessee manufactures rubber automotive door and window seals. Located at 200 Commerce Way in Pulaski, the company is owned by German-based SaarGummi, a global full-service supplier for automotive body seals and moldings. www.saargummi.com

brought to you by

USbbW\U bVS`S

0SQOcaS `SOZZg QO\ PS VOZT bVS Tc\ ÂŹ Go online to Relocation Tools for moving tips, tools and more.

PULASKI

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

23

Business | Chamber Report

Becoming a Destination CHAMBER PROGRAMS SUPPORT BUSINESSES AND ATTRACT VISITORS

A

“Destination University is very good at telling you how to do things simply,” she says. “You learn how to make your business so unique, so special, that people from outside your radius of interest will save their money to come to your store.”

Baker says such principles can be applied to the whole community. With a charm reminiscent of Mayberry, Pulaski has a lot to attract tourists from outside Giles County.

That includes the new Trail of Tears memorial and interpretive center commemorating the Cherokee peoples’ march West. Two of their routes converged in Pulaski, and the center is now being completed to educate visitors about that chapter in America’s history.

It’s an asset the town can build around, says Dan Speer, mayor of Pulaski and executive director of the Giles County Economic Development Commission.

“Americans are taking shorter trips, and we have a lot to offer them,” he says. “Our central location is certainly attractive. If you work on your tourism development, those dollars will come.”

As more visitors discover Pulaski and Giles County, the chamber wants the entire community to roll out the welcome mat. That’s why the public – not just retailers – is invited to attend each monthly Destination University Web-based seminar.

After the program, small groups break out to discuss the principles and brainstorm ways to apply them locally.

“We bought Destination University for Giles County, for our community,” Baker says. “You only have one chance to make a good first impression.”

– Jeannie Naujeck

J. KYLE KEENER

vibrant economy supported by the community may sound like the stuff of days gone by. But at the Taste of Giles County festival, residents and visitors can experience it for themselves.

The summer event draws thousands of folks to the Pulaski town square, where businesses set up booths to raise awareness of the many goods and services produced locally – from homemade pies and quilts to high-tech manufactured products.

The annual celebration is just one way the Giles County Chamber of Commerce helps its 300 members market to potential customers in and around the area.

With Pulaski, the county seat, just an hour or less from both Nashville and Huntsville, Ala., the chamber is helping businesses tap into those larger markets by sponsoring events like the annual festival – new in 2008 – and encouraging participation in Destination University, a program that teaches retailers marketing principles to attract new visitors from outside the immediate market.

“You’re a true destination when people come from three hours away to visit your store,” says Donna Baker, the chamber’s executive director.

According to Destination University, retail stores have seven seconds to capture a customer, so it’s crucial to make a welcoming first impression. And if a business’s front door opens to the left, it’s important to make the right-hand wall attractive and engaging, because it’s the first thing customers will see.

Such principles are fundamental and intuitive, but they may be so obvious that business owners overlook them, Baker says.

Students from the Pulaski Karate Center demonstrate at the Taste of Giles County Festival in Pulaski.

24

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

PULASKI

Business | Economic Profile

PULASKI-GILES COUNTY BUSINESS CLIMATE The county government of Giles County and the city government have an active pro-business attitude. Giles County offers businesses highway accessibility and transportation systems, a strong workforce, low business costs, and advanced information and communication technology.

TAX STRUCTURE TRANSPORTATION

2.5% City Sales and Use Tax

SCTDD Rural Public Transportation 815 S. Main St. Columbia, TN 38402 (931) 381-2040 www.sctddtransit.org Pulaski Abernathy Field (931) 363-6827 www.gilescountyedc.com

ECONOMIC RESOURCES Giles County Chamber of Commerce 110 N. Second St. Pulaski, TN 38478 (931) 363-3789 www.gilescountychamber.com Giles County Economic Development Commission 203 S. First St. Pulaski, TN 38478 (931) 363-9138 www.gilescountyedc.com

2.5%

The County Clerk is the clerk of the County Commission, and the office performs many duties. The office prepares the agenda for the county commission meeting and publishes it for the commissioners and the public.

County Sales Tax

7%

MORE EO ONLINE

State Sales Tax

imagespulaskigilesco.com

5.5% State Sales Tax on Food

9.5%

More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

Total Sales Tax

GOVERNMENT OFFICES County Clerk Giles County Courthouse Annex 222 W. Madison Street Pulaski, TN 38478 (931) 363-1509 www.rackleyhost.com

visit our

advertisers

LIVING GREEN STARTS FROM THE GROUND UP. Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant.

It's easy. That's living healthy and green.

Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon

PULASKI

Brindley Construction www.brindleyconst.com

PES www.pulaskielectric.org

Economic Development Commission www.gilescountyedc.com

Richland Inn www.richlandinn.com

Hillside Hospital www.hillsidehospital.com

Tennessee Technology Center at Pulaski www.ttcpulaski.edu

Martin Methodist College www.martinmethodist.edu

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

25

Image Gallery

Sunrise in Giles County

26

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

PULASKI

PHOTOGRAPHY BY J. KYLE KEENER

What’s Online e Visit imagespulaskigilesco.com to see more award-winning photography highlighting the places and people in Pulaski.

A Victorian painted lady home on Jefferson Street in Pulaski

PULASKI

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

27

Education

Leading the Way PROGRESSIVE NEW PROGRAM FOSTERS ENGINEERING SKILLS

G

iles County’s rural atmosphere may evoke the simple life, but its schools are preparing children for the global economy.

The Giles County Public School system is integrating the national Project Lead the Way curriculum, a program that introduces students to applied math, science and technology and encourages interest in engineering careers.

Giles County High School implemented the initial course, Introduction to Engineering Design, in 2008.

In 2009, it added Principles of Engineering and also expanded the program to Richland High School.

Freshmen and sophomores may take the classes and must be at the Algebra I level to enroll.

So far, kids love it, says Shelia Mittlesteadt, career/technical education specialist for the school system.

“It’s hands-on, and they do a lot of projects,” Mittlesteadt says. “When they get to the upper levels, they’re in teams and can be the boss. It teaches teamwork and problem solving.”

Students learn to develop such gadgets as an automobile starting system triggered by a cell phone, a moisture-sensing system that closes the window when it rains, and a pool pump with an automatic backwash system.

They’ll even take an object – such as a cup – and redesign it.

“It lets them know that everything we have in society, an engineer had to design it,” Mittlesteadt says. “Students enjoy it – they can see that what they’re learning applies to their everyday lives.”

Along with advanced applied studies in math and science, students also learn soft skills – teamwork, leadership, presentation, public speaking, research and development, data collection and PULASKI

analysis, problem solving, time and project management – necessary for success at college and on the job.

Participating students who maintain high grades and pass an assessment test can earn credits and advanced placement at colleges including Duke, Purdue and San Diego State universities, Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Houston and others.

Project Lead the Way began in New York state more than 10 years ago and is now taught in some 3,000 schools in all 50 states – but only at 13 schools in Tennessee.

Mittlesteadt says administrators have been working to get funding for Project Lead the Way since they first

heard of it from educators in Cleveland, Tenn., seven years ago.

“We’re proud to have it, and we believe it’s going to be great for our students,” says Tee Jackson, director of Giles County Public Schools. “The board was very supportive and sought funding grants. We’re doing our part, and the students seem to be very enthusiastic about it.”

The next step is implementing a course called Gateway to Technology in the middle school.

“We want to reach them early so we can pique their interest,” Mittlesteadt says. “If you can do that, you can keep them in school. Students like to do what they’re good at.”

– Jeannie Naujeck

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

29

Sports & Recreation

Take It Outside ABUNDANT RECREATIONAL OPTIONS CONNECT THE COMMUNITY

A

community can really bond around sports, and Pulaski boasts a rich array of recreational facilities that are well used by residents of all ages.

“We serve a huge variety of people,” says Parks Director Bobby Phillips. “The whole community converges here.”

He's talking about Sharewood Park, the city’s main gathering place and the crown jewel of the park system. It’s where folks come to use the city’s recreation center, municipal pool and walking trail, and to enjoy Movies in the Park on summer weekends. Residents bring lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy family entertainment with music, games and dancing.

It’s also where dozens of children ages 6 to 10 years come during the summer for Kids Camp – a chance to swim, learn tennis and chess, and make arts and crafts, all for an affordable fee.

The Pulaski Recreation Center at Sharewood has a gym and meeting rooms for birthdays, family reunions and wedding showers. It also has plenty of space for dance, painting and quilting lessons, aerobics and senior activities such as shuffleboard, rook and dominos.

Pulaski Municipal Pool opens for the summer each year on Memorial Day weekend and offers low-cost swimming and lessons for the whole family, as well as private pool parties.

Its amphitheater is used for graduation exercises, band recitals and concerts, and it’s the staging ground for the annual Monster Triathlon, a swim-bike-run event held in June.

In addition to Sharewood, there are a dozen neighborhood

parks, many offering tennis and basketball courts, sports fields and playground equipment.

The park system offers athletic facilities for tennis, baseball, football and soccer. They are used by the county high schools and even Martin Methodist College, which holds RedHawks tennis and baseball practices and competitions at park facilities.

In summer 2009, Sam Davis Park gained a brand-new football stadium big enough to seat 4,000 people. It will be used by the Giles County High School and other schools, as well as the Pop Warner football league. Sam Davis also boasts a track and workout stations, as well as a baseball field that hosts a Babe Ruth Southeast regional tournament, drawing teams from half a dozen states.

Picnic pavilions, tennis courts, playgrounds and ball fields are available at Magazine Road Park, W. D. Savage Park, Richland Park, Senior Citizens Park, Exchange Park and Old Graveyard Park.

Running and walking trails also are abundant. In addition to the annual triathlon in Pulaski, nearby Elkton hosts an annual six-mile Trail of Tears Volksmarch trail walk as part of the American Volkssport Association.

And of course, horseback riding and fox hunting activities are widely available in horse-loving Giles County.

“There’s a lot to do,” Phillips says. “People here love to be outside, and it’s healthy to stay active throughout your life.”

– Jeannie Naujeck

Summer day campers at the Pulaski Recreation Center enjoy swimming in the Pulaski Municipal Pool.

30

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

PULASKI

Health & Wellness

Picture of Health HILLSIDE HOSPITAL OFFERS STATE-OF-THE-ART IMAGING SERVICES

icture this: the latest medical imaging technology provided by highly skilled professionals in a convenient community setting.

That’s what Hillside Hospital in Pulaski offers its patients.

“The fortunate thing is that we’re bringing Giles County patients back home,” says Sarah Pierce, Hillside’s medical imaging director. With each imaging upgrade at the hospital, fewer patients have to drive to Nashville or Huntsville, Ala., for radiologic services.

Hillside – a 95-bed hospital with a 24-hour, physician-staffed emergency department – is owned by LifePoint Hospitals, headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn. The corporation owns nearly 50 hospitals across the country and specializes in the operation of facilities in smaller communities. In October 2007, Hillside became the first LifePoint hospital to purchase digital mammography equipment.

“We felt like that was the highest standard of care for the patients, and we were fortunate that our corporate office felt the same way,” Pierce says.

Hillside bought a General Electric Senographe DS Full-Field Digital Mammography System, offering faster and more comfortable examinations with less radiation exposure than conventional mammography. The clearer image is proven to detect up to 28 percent more breast cancers in women 50 years old and younger and in cases traditionally more difficult to image. “The first 12 months we had it, we actually doubled the number of breast cancer diagnoses,” Pierce says.

The hospital is averaging 200 studies monthly with the equipment.

Other Hillside medical imaging services include CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging and fourdimensional ultrasound, used predominantly to better analyze fetal development. By allowing doctors to observe internal anatomy moving in real time, 4-D ultrasound helps determine fetal age and detect or rule out any number of issues, such as vascular anomalies and genetic syndromes.

PULASKI

And there’s an added bonus to the 4-D image – a clearer picture of the baby, which sonographers save for parents on a compact disc.

“Our technologists really love this 4-D, so they make some very beautiful pictures,” Pierce says.

The images are included as part of the obstetric ultrasound and presented to the parents by Hillside at no extra charge. The ultrasound equipment is also used for cardiac study.

In addition, cardiac patients benefit from Hillside’s nuclear medicine program. Doctors inject radioactive isotopes and follow their movement for information about heart structure, functioning and blood flow. The

modality is also used to study organs and glands such as the gall bladder, lungs, kidneys and thyroid. Thanks to the nuclear medicine program, cardiac patients don’t have to leave Giles County for a stress test.

Pierce says the hospital is continuing to build its cardiac services. Cardiologists from Nashville and Columbia see patients in Pulaski four days each week, and the hospital is scheduled to launch its cardiac rehabilitation program by the end of 2009.

“Then those patients will spend an hour here, versus spending two hours on the road for an hour’s worth of rehab,” Pierce says.

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald

PHOTOS BY J. KYLE KEENER

P

Hillside Hospital in Pulaski offers top-notch imaging services close to home.

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

31

Arts & Culture

J. KYLE KEENER

The Virginia and Thomas Gault Center for the Fine Arts will be home to 12 new Steinway pianos.

A New Showcase for the Fine Arts MARTIN METHODIST’S HISTORIC OLD GYM TRANSFORMS INTO A VIBRANT AND PRESTIGIOUS CULTURAL CENTER

R

eincarnation. That’s the word Ted Brown, president of Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, uses to describe the renovation of the college’s Old Gym, located on the picturesque campus green. By the fall 2010 semester, the nearly 80-year-old building will be the new Virginia and Thomas Gault Center for the Fine Arts.

“The college cherishes its history. To be able to take a historic building and give it a new life is just a wonderful opportunity in itself,” Brown says.

32

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

“There are just a lot of dynamics with this particular building that make it an especially wonderful project.”

On Oct. 16, 2008, dignitaries broke ground on the $3.2 million renovation, funded by private donations, including the major gift by Thomas Gault in memory of his late wife. The couple both graduated from Martin and met on the campus in 1939. In fact, Gault, the football team’s manager, lived in an office at the gym his second year at the school. Today, the Martin alumnus lives

in a Nashville retirement community, where he met and married his second wife, Ruth, in 1998. The new center’s lobby will be named in her honor.

Once the hub for Martin athletics and the basketball team’s home court, the Old Gym hasn’t been much more than a storage building for more than two decades.

“The building looked like it was vacant. Now it will look vibrant, and that’s just going to make a dramatic change across the campus green,” Brown says.

The new Center for the Fine Arts will also herald a change in the college’s academic programs and its cultural offerings, from theater and music productions to art exhibitions.

The center will boast a 128-seat recital hall, a choir rehearsal room and choral library, a large music classroom, five music practice rooms, an art gallery and studio, a graphics classroom and a sculpture classroom, a glaze laboratory with a kiln, and faculty offices.

The facilities will allow the music and art programs to grow into majors.

Thanks to another generous donation from Harriett and Bill Norrie of Pulaski, the center will be the home of 12 new Steinway pianos, placing Martin on an exclusive list of “All Steinway” campuses.

“To have that level of quality right off the bat is wonderful to attract new faculty and to attract the best students,” Brown says. “It’s a great platform on which to build a program.”

The center’s dedicated art gallery space is already scheduled for its first year. “Roughly every 30 days there will be a change, and some of these exhibits will be striking,” Brown says.

An exhibit of space art from NASA operations in Huntsville, Ala., opened in October 2009, and a shuttle engine will be on exhibit outside the center as a billboard of sorts for the show, Brown says.

You just might say the new Gault Center is out of this world.

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald PULASKI

Ad Index 1 5 B R I N D L E Y CO N S T R U C TI O N 17 ECO N O M I C D E V E LO P M E N T CO M M I S S I O N 1 4 H I L L S I D E H OS P ITA L C 4 M A RTI N M E T H O D I S T CO L L EG E C2 PES 16 RICHLAND INN 2 8 T E N N E S S E E T EC H N O LO GY C E N T E R AT P U L A S K I

Community Profile

PULASKI-GILES COUNTY SNAPSHOT Pulaski is the county seat of Giles County. The community was named for Kazimierz Pulaski, a Polish patriot and U.S. Colonial army officer.

EDUCATION

ARTS AND CULTURE

The Giles County School System has a great tradition of providing academic excellence in a wholesome environment.

The community values education and has a proven record of strong support for public schools.

Pulaski Performing Arts Center 114 N. Second St. Pulaski, TN 38478 (931) 363-7181

CLIMATE Giles County's moderate climate offers mild winters, pleasant springs, long summers and picturesque autumns. Rainfall averages 42.91 inches, and snowfall averages 6.3 inches.

26 F

Southern Tennessee Area Arts Repertory (STAAR) 105 N. First St. Pulaski, TN 38478 (931) 363-8804

HOUSING

$71,700 Average Home Price

17.71% Home Turnover Percentage

MEDICAL SERVICES Pulaski is served by one 95-bed hospital, Hillside Hospital. There are also nearly a dozen general practitioners serving the community.

January Low Temperature

47 F

MORE EO ONLINE

January High Temperature

68 F July Low Temperature

89 F July High Temperature

imagespulaskigilesco.com More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF PULASKI

(931) 424-4014 www.ttcpulaski.edu

Workforce development ... it’s what we do.

Offering over 17 programs.

Campuses located in Giles, Marshall and Lawrence counties.

PULASKI

I M AG E S P U L A S K I G I L E S C O . C O M

33