Standing Stone
Volume 8 Issue 1
Scribe Covering Monterey and Surrounding Communities
FREE Take One
January 7, 2022
Board to seek $6 million line of credit
You’re Snow crazy!
By Rebekah Beeler Scribe publisher
Monterey city board met in regular session following a public hearing and work session on Jan. 3. During the work session attended by Aldermen Amy Martin, Alex Garcia, James “Coonie” Foster, Charles “Pokey” Looper, Nathan Walker and Bill Wiggins, the board discussed and made progress on ordinance amendments that were tabled at the December board meeting. Aldermen Mark Farley and Jim Whitaker were not in attendance for the work session. The regular session meeting was attended by Martin, Gar-
Photo submitted
Morgan Raines is quite snow-ledgable when it comes to casting the perfect snow angel after the first snow of the year on Jan. 3.
See more photos on page 4-5A.
cia, Farley, Foster, Looper, Walker and Wiggins. Whitaker was not present. For Ordinance 21-850, amending the business, peddler and solicitor ordinance to include regulations of mobile food vendors, Monterey board members discussed the changes to permissible operation times, permits, applications, fees, enforcement and the fining structure for noncompliance. Martin requested the changes to the amended ordinance be noted in their packets when it was prepared. Garcia motioned to accept
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MPD Toys for Children drive a success Photo by Rebekah Beeler/Scribe
Monterey Police Department thanks Monterey Hilltop Chorale for their gracious donation to their toy drive, in which officers had a great time attending the Christmas Concert on Monday, Dec. 13, that raised $348 from generous audience members for MPD’s Toys for Children program to benefit Monterey children for Christmas. Pictured are MPD officers Blake Bennett and Andrew Neff with Monterey Hilltop Chorale Director Francis Eldridge at the punch and cookies reception following the concert in the Monterey Methodist Church fellowship hall.
Photo submitted
Monterey Police Department is thrilled about their successful Toys for Children program being sent out to make some Monterey kids very happy for Christmas, with much appreciation for Algood Wal-Mart for their monetary donation to the program and the Algood Police officers who teamed up to help MPD Officer Andrew Neff complete the shopping mission and pick out bikes for the 2021 toy drive. MPD thanks all those who gave and assisted for their overwhelming generosity towards the Monterey community.
INDEX
1 section, 8 pages News.................. 1, 3 Events............... 2, 7 Community..... 4, 5, 8 Opinion.................. 6 Puzzles.................. 7 Paid for by Cameron Sexton for State Representative, Mark Elmore, Treasurer
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Our Town Standing Stone Scribe
January 2021
Sandwich Board Meetings may be suspended, canceled or postponed due to COVID-19. Check before you meet.
Monterey Hilltop Chorale rehearsals begin Jan. 10 The Monterey Hilltop Chorale has resumed rehearsals on Monday nights from 6-7 p.m. at Monterey United Methodist Church. Anyone with a passion for singing may join. The Chorale is always looking for new members! Monterey Hilltop Chorale will be featured in two free concerts this year, a concert to honor our veterans as well as a Christmas concert and seeks the sponsorships to be able to bring these concerts to the community for free. Support the arts in Monterey by supporting the Hilltop Chorale. Sponsors may become a yearly sponsor or choose to sponsor one concert and will be recognized in the concert programs. For more information, email Kathy at kradel1010@gmail.com or Joy at cedesigners@outlook.com. Monterey Board meets on first Mondays The Town of Monterey holds monthly board meetings open to the public every first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Monterey Municiple Building. It is important for residents to see how the city is being managed and to take advantage of the opportunity use their voices. Everyone who has a vested interest in the town, its direction and prospects, as well as the necessity to understand city processes,
programs and issues is encouraged to attend. The town hall meeting will have a sign-in sheet for those who wish to speak and give time for them to bring up important issues for discussion. Monterey VFW meet first Thursdays VFW Post 6277 meeting time has changed. Post meeting will remain on the first Thursday of every month but will now begin at 7 p.m. VFW Post 6277 is located at 101 South Poplar St., Monterey, TN, and is open to all veterans who have served in a war or conflict. Monterey Senior Center plans programs Make plans to check out the Monterey Senior Center. • Exercise– Chair exercises Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. • Bridge– Monday and Thursday at 1 p.m. • Bingo- Thursday at 10 a.m. • Wednesday Socials: 10:30 a.m. 30-attendee maximum for special guest presentations. Make reservations to attend. • Thursday Extras: 10 a.m. BINGO • Friday Art: 10 a.m. If schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Monterey Senior Center will also be closed.The Center is located at 105 N. Elmore, Monterey, TN. Contact the
Standing Stone Scribe
Rebekah Beeler, Publisher Standing Stone Scribe is a monthly Berliner publication covering news and features in Monterey and surrounding communities from Mayland to Rickman, Calfkiller to Crawford. Editorial Policy: Standing Stone Scribe encourages event and news submissions and letters to the editor. Submissions should not be libelous and must bear the author’s name, complete address and telephone number. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted. The Standing Stone Scribe newspaper reserves the right to accept, reject or edit any and all submissions and advertisements intended for publication. Copy deadline: All submissions must be received by the Friday before the first Monday of the month. Standing Stone Scribe publications are set to be printed generally on the Thursday following the first Monday of the month with the exception of Monday holidays in which the Scribe will be printed the following Thursday. The Scribe welcomes electronic submissions at editorstandingstonescribe@gmail.com. Advertising: Get the word out about your business, service or organization, increase traffic, expand your customer base, and communicate directly with the community you serve. Let everyone around know your business by advertisting with Standing Stone Scribe. For more information, specs and price sheet, email editorstandingstonescribe@gmail.com or call 931-265-9489.
Senior Center by calling 839-8053. Membership is free for those 60 and over. Come and see what we are all about. Please stop by the center to see what new adventures have been added. Regular center hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The Cottage Thrift Store open The Cottage thrift store at the Monterey United Methodist Church offers new inventory and new pricing. They ask for everyone to exercise precautions, use gloves and masks and will have some available for their shoppers’ safety. Note: if there is a spike in local COVID-19 cases, The Cottage will remain closed. Suicide prevention resources available The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800273-8255) is one such free resource that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone who is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. SCV active in community The Champ FergusonStanding Stone Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) Post 2014 Help preserve Southern Heritage and join in the Capt. Champ Ferguson-Standing Stone #2014 Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV). For more information, contact Jack Looper at 445-2050 or Rooster Barnes at 510-2211. SSHS/Monterey Hometown Project meets The Standing Stone Historical Society/Monterey Hometown Project will resume meetings in January. and meets at 6:15 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Monterey Lions Club. The Society plans the annual Standing Stone Day celebration, a local holiday
that is observed annually on the second Saturday in October. Monterey Hometown Project meets directly following the Standing Stone Historical Society meeting. Monterey Hometown Project is a group organized under the Standing Stone Historical Society to raise funds to make improvements to the Town of Monterey. Email standingstoneday@ gmail.com. FCE Club meets fourth Monday The Monterey Family and Consumer Education Club meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at the Monterey Senior Center at 6:30 p.m. Civitan Club meets third Tuesdays The Monterey Civitan holds monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Monterey Methodist Church fellowship hall. Anyone interested in joining the Monterey Civitan Club is welcomed and encouraged to come to the meetings. Lions Building for event rental The Monterey Lions Club will be renting out the Club’s building for parties, events and gatherings. The cost is $50 for a 3-hour slot and $100 for an all day event. For those who would like to rent the Monterey Lions Club building for their event, call 931-839-2350. Contact Mike Callahan at 839-2350 for more information. Forms are available at 108 E. Commercial Ave. Join Monterey Disaster Response Team The Monterey Lions Club Disaster Relief is a nonprofit organization meeting the needs of those faced with natural disasters. The team needs donations of water, canned goods and mon-
ey to make trips to and from disaster areas and also welcomes volunteers to help in relief missions. Contact Ken Hall at 239-3318 to help. Check out Monterey Branch Library Monterey Branch Library is now open on Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Stop by and check out our latest reading materials. On your visit, stay connected, stay well-read and stay active in the community. There is something for everyone at Monterey Branch Library, whether it’s for family leisure time or homeschooling resources. Book Sale- Friends of the Monterey Library Book Sale on the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Used book donations are accepted during normal library hours. Story time Wednesdays 11 a.m. Come visit with us at the Monterey Branch Library (MBL) this month and stay connected, stay well-read and stay active in the community. There is something for everyone at Monterey Branch Library, whether it’s for family leisure time or homeschooling resources. 401 E Commercial Ave, Monterey. 839-2103. Titus House wants to help Need clothes? We can help! Titus House, 306 W. Crawford Ave. in Monterey, provides free clothing to anyone in need. Titus House is open the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon, except for October when it will be open the third Saturday. Titus House accepts donations of clean, dry clothing in bags or boxes. These may be dropped off at Titus House. Please put donations underneath the carport at the end of the Titus House driveway. Titus House appreciates your donations! Titus House is an outreach
program of the Monterey Church of Christ. Question regarding Titus House pleas call (931) 252-7676.
Garden Club meets second Tuesdays The Monterey Garden Club meets the second Tuesday of each month. Come and listen to guest speakers watch demonstrations and get tips for successful gar dening. The clubs is activ in the Monterey commu nity and offer scholarship to Monterey High Schoo graduates. They would lov to have you join them. Fo more information, pleas contact Monterey Garden Club President, Jan Stansel at (214) 208-5243 or emai montereytngardenclub@ya hoo.com. They look forward to seeing you there!
Stay active in Monterey this winter Don’t let the winter slow you down and keep you from enjoying Monterey’ beautiful parks and recre ational areas. Residents and visitors alike are invited and encouraged to stay active al through the year, especially in the winter. Meadow Creek Park i located four miles east o Monterey along Hwy. 64 at 19195 Clarkrange Hwy There are hiking and biking trails, scenic views and wa ter features. Bee Rock Park boasts a hik ing trail to the beautiful vist overlooking the Calfkille Valley, located at 1420 Be Rock Rd. in Monterey. Whitaker Park has pavil ions, tables, benches, and wonderful playground and is located at 710 E. Com mercial Ave. The Rail Trail promote connectivity as well as saf and easy passage for pedes trians taking in the Town o Monterey on the linear east west walking trail. Park hours are sunrise to sunset.
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Our Town
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Standing Stone Scribe
Rail trail extensions to bring connectivity
January 2021
National Pie Day is Jan. 23
Jan. 23 is National Pie Day, a time to celebrate the day with pie,” the National Pie Day council states on its website. “... We are encouraging pie lovers everywhere to host pie parties across the country. Whether it be with your friends, family, or co-workers, share some pie on Jan. 23.
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Photo submitted In August, the Town of Monterey opened up a new section of trail. This section not only extended the current rail trail, but also provided safer walking routes for students at Burks Elementary School and Monterey High School. The project added sidewalks in front of Monterey High School and a new boardwalk on Crossville Street leading to Burks. Monterey Culteral Administrator Rafferty Clearly says to expect more trail expansion in 2022, as the Town of Monterey is in the process of applying for a grant that would be used to extend the rail trail to the Standing Stone historical marker on Woodcliff Rd.
Deadline nears for spring turkey quota hunts apps The application period deadline is nearing for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 2022 Spring Turkey Quota Hunts. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 12. Applications can be made online at gooutdoorstennessee.com, or at a TWRA license agent, or TWRA regional office. Hunters have up to 13 choices but will be drawn
for only one. Applicants may not use the same hunt code more than once. There is a total of 13 hunts listed and five youth-only hunts. No person may apply more than once. A computer drawing will be held to determine the successful applications based on the priority drawing system. Youth hunters (ages 6-16 by the date of the hunt) may submit one application
for the regular quota hunt and one application for the youth-only quota hunt. A permit fee will not be charged to Annual Sportsman (Type 004), Lifetime Sportsman (Types 402-405) license holders or seniors with an Annual Senior Sportsman License (Type 167). For all other license holders, the cost is $12 per permit plus any additional fees. The 2022 statewide spring
turkey season is April 2-May 15. The statewide Young Sportsman Hunt is March 26-27. For the counties in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) Unit consisting of Dyer, Lake, Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton counties, and Giles, Lawrence, Lincoln, and Wayne counties in southern Middle Tennessee is April 16-May 15. The Young Sportsman Hunt in those areas is April 9-10.
dedicate three hours per week to this job. On-going training and support are provided. This could be the most challenging and rewarding volunteer opportunity you may ever have. Training is scheduled for
Jan. 19, 20 and 21, at the UCHRA office located at 580 South Jefferson Ave., Suite B in Cookeville, TN. For more information, please call Tracie Long at (931) 432-4210.
Be an ombudsman volunteer Aging Services for the Upper Cumberland, Inc. is looking for people who are empathetic, diplomatic, and skilled communicators to be volunteer Ombudsmen. As a volunteer ombudsman, you will be assigned
to a specific long-term care facility, working to ensure that the resident’s rights are being protected. You will help residents with problems they are unable to resolve alone. Volunteer ombudsmen
the third reading of the ordinance, supported by Martin. Discussing Ordinance 21851, the board made progress toward decisions that would amend an existing ordinance regarding alcoholic beverage sales and consumption at special events. The board considered event deposit amounts and handling, application fees for event coordinators and permit fees for vendors per every 24 hours of the event and events not to exceed 72 hours, with no more than one special event allowing alcohol consumption at a time. Along with acquiring Monterey special event permits, the board also noted event coordinators must provide proof of liability insurance and vendors must provide proper Tennessee licensure and permits for alcohol sales. They also discussed deposits handling through city hall via the cultural administrator and the beer board to handle the appeals process. Garcia motioned to table voting on the first and second reading of the special event ordinance until the policy and guidelines for alcohol at special events for coordinators and vendors could be reflected in the writing, supported by Walker. At the behest of the planning commission and advisories from Monterey Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kevin Peters, the board discussed Ordinance 21-852 amending the previous ordinance regulating residential parking uses in commercial districts. While current occupied single and double family dwellings on the upper levels of businesses in Downtown Monterey’s commercial district are grandfathered in, going forward, the new ordinance will be applicable for new occupants to
insure public parking is avail able for public use by busi ness patrons. Walker motioned to adop the first and second reading of the amended ordinance fo residential parking in com mercial districts, seconded by Garcia. The third reading of Ordi nance 21-853, amending th Town’s charter regarding th process of hiring of a city at torney was also tabled at th Dec. 6 meeting. The amended ordinance calls for the mayo to appoint counsel with th approval of the board. Walker motioned to approv the third reading of the ordi nance, supported by Wiggins The board approved rezon ing about 28,000 square fee on E. New Ave. from residen tial to commercial after Walk er made a motion, seconded by Wiggins. In other business, Walke motioned to accept the bid fo the awnings for the update to the exterior of the Cate Gil Building, but to rebid th work on the OSHA complain steps, seconded by Farley. In speaking with Chris Able with USDA rural develop ment, Monterey city manage Ella Dishman said he recom mended an interim financ line of credit for $6 million for a two-year term to pay fo the new wastewater treatmen facility. “He is recommending tha we get one to how many eve banks we want to call to see i they will even do this interim finance or construction loan, Dishman said. Consulting engineer Nathan iel Green said the estimated interest had already been fig ured and covered in the proj ect costs. Walker made a motion to accept the recommendation with a proviso to approach lo cal banks first, supported by Garcia.
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Mountain Times Standing Stone Scribe
January 2021
Sledding into 2022
Photos submitted
Cole Walker and Cali Cravens take Birb out for a walk in the snow.
Saphryne-Jade Lee and Kayne Bride sled the nearby hills and take full advantage of the beautiful blanket of snow that fell overnight on Jan. 3.
Happy Oaklynn Randolph absolutely loves being a snow baby.
Dezirae Sparks is tickled to pieces at the surprise of how cold the snow is on her hands. Ezerah Lane and Jameson Wegerbauer are covered in snow and smiles, tell tale signs that they had a very successful snow day.
Layla Parker is showered by the glittering snow.
Mountain Times
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January 2021
Posing for a perfect end to a grand snow day are Uriah and Hannah Selby with their precious snowkissed rosy cheeks.
Kinley Raines is gearing up for a snowball fight! Clayton Walker is getting along famously with his new snowman friend. He and his twin brother, Wyatt, enjoyed their very first snow with mom and dad, Kailey and Jeremy Walker.
Little Vayda Hyso is none too pleased about the snow, but it makes for a cute and memorable first snow milestone picture.
Keith Norrod captures a picturesque snow globe scene just outside Monterey along Hanging Limb Hwy.
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••• Perks of living in a small town is everybody knowing your business!
Kaleb and Brennan Zellner are sled ready and snow crazy.
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The inkling... Grace Expectations
It’s time for a New Year. And with that comes resolutions. When I think of resolutions, my mind wanders to all the things I want to do in the New Year. I try to pick something unique, attainable, something that adds something new to me that I might actually finish like a new skill or trying things for the first time. I didn’t complete the two resolutions I made last year, one of which was to hike the Cumberland Trail. I also wanted to start flying lessons and get my pilot’s license. But, resolutions don’t always work out like that. Just because you intend to do it doesn’t mean it’s the right time or circumstances for you to accomplish it. Sometimes there are just other things that need attention first. Sometimes you have a lot of jobs and a lot of kids and you just do what you can when you
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can. Usually “resolutionists” make huge promises to themselves. Some make resolutions that become burdens or chores. Others make their minds up to accomplish a goal. My resolution this year is simple: to give myself a little grace. A close friend of mine said that to me the other day. It resonated with me. She said, “Give yourself a little grace and allow yourself that. If you need two days to just lay in bed and be sad, do it.” Give myself grace – I’d never thought of it before.
I’ve been trying to keep busy, running from my grief and trying to keep it at bay. If I stop, I am afraid I won’t bounce back. I didn’t want to ruin our Christmas or dampen my family’s holiday spirit. But, I’m exhausted. Give myself some grace. That will be my only New Year’s resolution. That being said, I fully intend to do the Cumberland Trail hike. I still want to do that. I’ll put that back on the to-do list for this year. I will also put flying lessons and pilot’s license back on the list as a goal for a little further on down the road when it better suits my time availability. My late brother loved his Harley and loved to ride. After he passed away last month, I had the epiphany to get my motorcycle license. I will add that to the list. I do have good intentions with resolutions, but little follow through. And that’s OK. I don’t need a resolution to try new things, experience more and learn new skills. As my friend said, I just need a little grace.
“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.”
~Meister Eckhart
January 2021
Dave Says Budgeting for car repair costs Dear Dave, I am following your plan, and recently became debtfree, but I have a question. When doing a monthly budget, should I figure in a specific category for car repairs and maintenance, or just use my emergency fund? Ashleigh Dear Ashleigh, Congratulations on becoming debt-free! You know, new cars, old cars and inbetween cars all have one thing in common — they’ll need repairs at some point. Fixing your car is just a basic part of car ownership, and something every car owner should be prepared for. When life happens, to your vehicle or anything else, an emergency fund acts like an airbag. Only instead of keeping your face from hitting the dashboard, it keeps your finances from getting smashed up. When it comes to car repair costs, I advise creating a sinking fund in your budget. A sinking fund is a special place in your budget where you save up money for specific, big ticket items — like car repairs. I know, stuffing money into a sinking fund each month sounds about as enjoyable as
year or so to help pay the bills. My wife loves being a stay-at-home mom with our two preschool kids, buteven she is talking about finding a daycare for the kids so she can go back to work and help out financially. How do you feel about this idea and our situation? Cade Dave Ramsey waiting in line at the DMV. But look at it this way, if you had a car loan like most people, you’d be putting hundreds toward that debt each month. Instead, you’re one of the smart ones who doesn’t have any debt and can easily create a repair fund for your car by setting aside less than the average car payment each month. Even “reliable” cars need repairs and maintenance, and a sinking fund within your budget for this sort of thing means you’re ready to handle virtually any auto issues that pop up. You know you’ll need to pay for repairs and maintenance. It’s a thing with all cars. And when you know something’s coming, that’s not an emergency fund situation. Great question, Ashleigh! — Dave There’s going to be sacrifice involved Dear Dave, I bring home about $2,800 a month, and our mortgage payment is $1,100. We have been forced to take money out of our savings account occasionally over the last
5 ways to cut household costs this year
2022 is here, guys! There’s no better time than the beginning of a new year (after all that crazy Christmas spending) to get serious about saving money. And one simple way to do that is by looking for ways to save around the house. So, here are five practical ways to cut back on household costs. 1. DIY like a boss Okay, so maybe you and your spouse aren’t Chip and Joanna Gaines, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do a few awesome DIY projects and save some cash in the process. You could reupholster your couch, paint your kitchen table, or even make your own wall art instead of buying new decor. YouTube tutorials are your friend here. And while you’re on a DIY roll, look for ways you can do the jobs you might typically pay someone else to do. The savings can re-
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Rachel Cruz ally add up when you do all your yard work, repairs, cleaning, pet grooming, car washing, and other maintenance yourself, as your skill set allows. 2. Pay attention to utilities You can save a lot on utility bills by making a few simple changes. It may sound totally obvious, but we don’t always remember to do things like turn off the
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lights whenever we leave a room, take shorter showers, only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they’re completely full, and use cold water instead of hot whenever possible. You might also be able to save money by fixing leaky pipes, installing dimmer switches and LED lightbulbs, and checking to make sure your home is well insulated. Every little bit helps! 3. Shop around When it comes to any expense for your household— insurance, phone, internet, streaming services, you name it—shopping around can really pay off. Take the time to research all your available options, and don’t be afraid to negotiate with or switch providers if you find a better deal. A small hassle in the short term can save you a lot of money in the long term. Along with that, make sure
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you’re keeping an eye on your subscriptions, and unsubscribe from any plans you don’t use or need. That could include music and movie services, meal kits, fashion and beauty boxes, expensive data plans, pizzaof-the-month club (guilty), and anything that’s not a necessity or that you could get cheaper somewhere else. 4. Plan your meals in advance Meal planning is deciding ahead of time what you’re going to eat and when, and it can seriously help you take fewer grocery store trips, waste less food, and stop eating out so much. Here are some basic mealplanning guidelines: • Set a specific day and time in your schedule to plan. • Look through your kitchen to see what you already have. • Search for sales and coupons.
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• Consult your food line item in your budget. • Find budget-friendly recipes online that make enough servings for leftovers. • Build your grocery list based on all the above. Then, take time to prep your meals before the week starts so that after a busy workday, dinner can be ready in no time. 5. Save on groceries Speaking of grocery lists, there are plenty of ways to save money at the store. Think of your shopping list as a firm boundary for what you won’tbuy (sorry, spontaneous candy bar in the checkout line—you don’t make the cut). Buy generic instead of name brand, and buy in bulk for things you know you’ll need and use. Choose your produce based on what’s in season, because if it’s easier to get, it’s usually cheaper. And of course, it will really help if you find
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Your Good News
Dear Cade, I can’t blame your wife for loving the idea of staying home with your kids when they’re so young. Being a stay-at-home mom is a great thing if you can make the numbers work.Still, I’m sure it’s no picnic trying to live on $1,700 a monthwith two little ones in the mix. Let’s look at it like a math problem with three components — house payment, income and lifestyle. Forty percent of your pay is going toward your home. That’s way too much. Your mortgage payment or rent should never be more than25 percent of your take home pay. I suppose you could look into the possibility of refinancing your home, but that’s not going to solveall your problems. One option would be finding a way to generate some extra income, whether that means a part-time job nights or weekends,or pursuing additional education or certifications to get your income level up at work. Another is to sell the house and find a less expensive alternative, but I’m never a big fan of
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the most affordable grocery stores in your area, too. It’s crazy how much the prices can vary between stores for the exact same items. I wrote an article recently that features the cheapest grocery stores, so be sure to check it out. And get ready to start stacking those savings this year! • • • Rachel Cruze is a two-time #1 national best-selling author, financial expert and host of The Rachel Cruze Show. She has appeared on Good Morning America, TODAY Show and Live! With Kelly & Ryan, among others. Since 2010, Rachel has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches people to avoid debt, save money, budget and how to win with money at any stage in life. Follow Rachel on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube or online at rachelcruze.com.
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Entertainment Standing Stone Scribe
Behind the laughter By Paula Tudor, Scribe columnist If you’re like me, most of you have been on a steady diet of Christmas themed movies and shows the last few months. You might even be trying to figure out how to transition back into regular programming now that the holidays are over and we are just getting that cold, snowy Christmas weather. It’s this time of year that I am so glad we have streaming services that offer big screen movies we can watch at home. I am especially fond of Amazon Prime’s original movies that are, at least thus far, free to watch for subscribers. The latest movie to join the Amazon collection of movies is “Being the Ricardos,” starring Academy Award winners Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz and Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball. The movie sort of plays like an E! True Hollywood Story of Desi and Lucy’s relationship. There are interviews with “I Love Lucy” executives throughout, who are actually actors giving scripted accounts of
things that supposedly happened during a week of filming “I Love Lucy.” In reality, the events described in the movie unfolded over a longer course of time. And, obviously, some of the events never happened at all. Liberties were definitely taken with the true nature of events, but from what I have been able to research, it seems like the movie got more things right than wrong. “Being the Ricardos” is a mesmerizing film. I wasn’t yet born when “I Love Lucy” originally aired so stories about Desi and Lucy’s private lives have never captivated me the same way they might have someone who was watching the show in the 50s. “Being the Ricardos” doesn’t shy away from any of the headline grabbing moments of Desi and Lucy’s relationship and time together on “I Love Lucy.” The basis of what is supposed to be one horrible week of production is the investigation of Lucille Ball being
a communist. It underscores everything from rumors of Desi’s infidelity to the controversy of acknowledging a pregnancy on television. I am thoroughly impressed with the acting in “Being the Ricardos.” Bardem is virtually unrecognizable as he transforms himself into Desi Arnaz. In addition, Nicole Kidman, who is not necessarily the most obvious choice to play Lucille Ball, gives a captivating portrayal of the comedienne, right down to her trademark voice. What I found most fascinating about the film, however, is how small Ball’s world seemed despite her larger than life status. Her marriage and success seemed to all be wrapped up in “I Love Lucy” to the point where fiction and reality were practically indiscernible. The film portrays Ball as being a perfectionist on set as if her marriage, career and very life depended on the success of every joke. I am not sure to what extent this was true of Ball, but for the purposes of a film that
Community Art Project for CRMC
Leadership Putnam is collaborating with Cookeville Regional Charitable Foundation for a winter Upper Cumberland Community Art Contest prioritizing artwork from local children and youth. The Foundation is seeking images of original, colorful artwork to help beautify and brighten rooms and public spaces for patients, staff and visitors in pediatric areas like the Labor and Delivery Department. The Foundation needs only a picture of completed artwork, submitted by email to Foundation@crmchealth. org, before February 28, 2022. Artwork itself may be of any media type including,
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that idea — especially in a family situation — unless there’s absolutely no other way to avoid bankruptcy or foreclosure. I think you and your wife need to sit down, and spend some serious heart-to-heart time talking things over, crunching the numbers and creating a plan. There’s
but not limited to, watercolor, oil paint, pencil, markers etc. There is no need to deliver final artwork, only a high-resolution image of the artwork is necessary to participate. Preference will be given to artwork from 4th grade through 8th gradestudents, but anyone is welcome to submit original artwork for consideration. The Art for Healing Committee will select ten youth participant finalists at the end of February, who will each receive a $50 prize and be recognized for their artwork. For complete project guidelines, visit https://crmchealth.org/foundation. The Foundation reserves
the right to utilize, in perpetuity, any submitted image through this project as art for display or use through stand-alone, groupings, collages, imprints or other components of the Art for Healing Program. Cookeville Regional Medical Center Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization leading the Upper Cumberland in building a healthier community by providing charitable aid for struggling patients, supporting charitable-health community programs, and investing in healthcare improvements at CRMC. Learn more about the Foundation at www. CookevilleRegionalCharity. org or call 931-783-2003.
going to be some sacrifice involved for everyone, and only you two can decide what’s worth it and what isn’t — for you two and your kids. God bless you and your family, Cade. — Dave • • • Dave Ramsey is a seven-time #1 national bestselling author, personal finance expert, and host of
The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.
has the actress’s career and marriage potentially falling apart in the course of a week, it would certainly make sense for her to push for perfection in any aspect of her life she could control. “Being the Ricardos” is a bittersweet film that humanizes Lucille Ball in a way I haven’t seen before. The audience gets to see her vulnerable and strong, sometimes in the same scene. We get a glimpse of how things might have been behind the laughter of “I Love Lucy.” More importantly, the movie shatters the illusion that Ricky and Lucy shared the same kind of marriage as Desi and Lucille. It appears that somewhere along the way, this illusion was shattered for Lucille Ball, too, regardless of what fans may have thought. This is a film I highly recommend watching whether you were an avid “I Love Lucy” fan or have never seen a single episode. “Being the Ricardos” is definitely not a documentary, but it isn’t meant to be. It is, however, a very well-crafted story about an iconic couple and their television show that have earned their places in pop culture history; a fact that anyone can appreciate. “Being the Ricardos” pre-
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January 2021
miered on Amazon Prime Dec. 21, and is free to stream for all subscribers. • • • Paula Tudor graduated cum laude from Tennessee Technological University with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies emphasizing English
and Communication. She is a freelance writer and a distinguished blogger/online correspondent, with more than three thousand followers on twitter. The bulk of her work can be found at paulassoapbox.blogspot.com and at paulatudor.com.
2. Scottish lake 3. Antioxidants-rich berry 4. Popular primo dish in Italian restaurant, pl. 5. Bye, to Edith Piaf 6. Wanderer 7. Garbed 8. *”Moby Dick” author 9. Length times width 10. Call someone, in the olden days 11. Poetic “ever” 13. Apple invention 14. Food contaminant 19. Run off to wed 22. Jean of Dadaism 23. Out of style 24. Find repugnant 25. Burn with coffee, e.g. 26. *Ursula K. Le ____ 27. Jargon 28. It happens at a certain time
and place 29. First novel, e.g. 32. Near in space or time 33. Not a win nor a loss 36. *”Song of Solomon” author 38. *”Chronicles” author and songwriter 40. *NY Times bestselling author Atkins or playing card 41. Gambling venue 44. Smidgins 46. Young swan 48. Eagle’s nest 49. Young salmon 50. *”Miss Lulu Bett” author 51. Highest adult male singing voice 52. Snake’s warning 53. Take as a wife 54. Got A+ 55. Desires or cravings 56. Sticky substance
STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: AMERICAN AUTHORS ACROSS 1. Cause for a duel 5. Nelson Mandela’s org. 8. “____ in the shade” 12. Andean people’s chew 13. “White Wedding” singer 14. Like a haunted mansion 15. South American tuber, pl. 16. Type of cotton fiber 17. Desired forecast? 18. *”The Underground Railroad” author 20. Like West Wing office 21. Not silently 22. “When We Were Kings” subject 23. Hand over (2 words) 26. Barbecued 30. The Jackson 5 1970 hit 31. Repressed 34. “Alice Doesn’t ____ Here Anymore” 35. State of dishonor 37. Three, to Caesar 38. Brightest star in Cygnus 39. Performer’s time to shine 40. “No.1 Ladies Detective ____” book series 42. African migrator 43. *”The Night Watchman” author 45. *”Little Women” author 47. Poor man’s caviar 48. Analyze 50. Canter or gallop 52. *”A Farewell to Arms” author 56. Latin dance 57. Club on the links 58. Kind or courteous 59. Los ____, CA 60. Round feed storage 61. Not odd 62. Colonial times laborer 63. Band performance 64. Theodores, to friends DOWN 1. Flat-bottomed boat
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Life on the Mountain
editorstandingstonescribe@gmail.com
Standing Stone Scribe
Monterey schools announce Teachers of the Year
January 2021
Childress named MHS Teacher of the Year
By Rebekah Beeler
Scribe publisher
Monterey High School human studies teacher Hollie Childress was voted 2021’22 Teacher of the Year by her peers. “I had no idea,” she said. “I cried because it just made me feel so appreciated. I felt super honored and appreciated.” She thought it was really funny that she had been awarded MHS Teacher of the Year once before when her oldest was in kindergarten and now she is being awarded again when her youngest is in kindergarten. Childress grew up in Kingsport, TN, and attended Tennessee Technological University, acquiring her human ecology degree in housing and design. There she met her husband, Kyle Childress, who is from Cookeville and is also a teacher at Monterey High School. She worked in housing in design for about 7 years, but after her first child was born, she was thinking about a career change. “I’d kind of always thought about teaching and I decided
Photo submitted Monterey High School human studies teacher Hollie Childress is presented with flowers and the good news by Principal Sonja Farley that she was voted Teacher of the Year by her peers. that that was kind of a career change that I wanted to make at that time,” she said. She said it just fell into place. Since she already had a degree in human ecology and these were the kinds of class-
es she wanted to teach, she began exploring what steps she needed to take to acquire her teaching certification, working with Dr. Melinda Swafford, Family and Consumer Science professor at TTU who had taught home
economics and development at MHS for many years. “I’d never had a class with her and didn’t know her at all. And we just hit it off. She just sat down with me and went over all the classes I would have to take and how long it would take,” she said. She wasn’t sure yet if she would be able to juggle all the demands of her classes, work and family with a newborn. A few months went by and one day Childress felt an urgency that she needed to contact Swafford immediately. She said that Swafford was so surprised and grateful to hear from her because MHS’s human ecology teacher had been in a terrible accident the day before and they needed someone to be a full-time substitute teacher. Swafford told Childress it would be perfect for her to see if she really liked teaching and could get real-time classroom experience, earn an income and some of her requirements to get her certification could be met by substitute teaching. She took over the human studies classes at MHS with a transitional teaching license and began taking the certification classes and tests she
needed to acquire her teaching license. After two years completing her certification while teaching at MHS, the position became open when the previous teacher recovered and decided to take a position at another school. She applied and was hired to fill it. It was further confirmation that she was exactly where she needed to be as Childress said, “It was one of those, you know, whenever God has a plan for you.” She has been teaching at Monterey High School for 11 years now, teaching many classes to 7th-12th graders under the umbrella of human studies, such as nutrition, child development and career educator classes. She also serves as faculty sponsor for the MHS Family, Career and Community Leadership of America and Student Outreach clubs and runs the Cat Shop at the school in which her students can learn business and management skills. “What I really love about teaching is getting to know my students well,” she said. “I get to build these relationships with them that continue after high school. It’s really
fun to see what their interests are in high school and then what they end up doing with their lives, watching them have kids and just seeing them achieve their goals.” “Being a teacher, there’s just so much that can have an impact on you,” she added. Her favorite memories are all of her students and the fun experiences they get to have together. Teaching such a wide array of skills and development classes to students in every grade at MHS, she said it’s especially neat for her because she gets to have her students for several years. “I call them ‘my kids’ like they’re really mine,” she laughed. Coming from Kingsport, she went to a very large high school and she said she never got to experience what is here in Monterey -- always feeling accepted. “The kids here are incredible,” she added. “The relationship that the teachers and kids have with each other and the relationships I have built with people in the community, not just my students, but their families. It’s just really special.”
Heady voted Burks Teacher of the Year
By Rebekah Beeler
Scribe publisher
Fourth grade teacher Devon Heady was voted Burks Elementary School Teacher of the Year for 2021-’22. “I was completely surprised,” she said. At the time, Burks was having school wide door decorating contest for the holidays and Heady was garnering supportive votes for her class’ door to win the contest. At the school’s winter festival, her name was called and she thought it was because she won the door decorating contest. She laughed so hard when she said, “I was like highfiving and I was like, ‘I won the door!’ And then it was not the door contest. I was surprised; humbled and surprised. “But, I did win the door contest, too, by the way,” she added, jokingly. “They were laughing. They said I was more excited about that.” Raised in Ohio, she comes from a long line of teachers; both of her parents, her brother and sister-in-law are all teachers. Drawing
Photo submitted
Burks Elementary teacher Devon Heady is presented as Teacher of the Year by Principal Heather Tinch and Assistant Principal Diana Cook. from their teaching experiences and helping in her mom’s classroom growing up, Heady had been working with kids her whole life. She had also coached athletics, cheer, dance and gymnastics camps in the summers throughout her high school years, as well as choreo-
graphed shows. She attended the Miami University to major in education for athletic training and physical education. Eventually she changed her focus to elementary education because she had a desire to have her own classroom. “I’ve always had a love for
working with kids,” she said. Then she laughed, “I seem to have more patience with children than adults.” She got her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and her master’s in the art of teaching. She laughed and said that she is certified to teach kindergarten-6th
grade and chose elementary education because she’s only 5 feet, 2 inches tall and she wanted to be sure she was taller than her students. Returning to Ohio, she taught second grade for about 13 years. When her husband, who is a preacher, got a church here, she said, “So, we kind of packed up and it was one of the hardest decisions to make, but we packed up and moved down here. I was blessed enough to get on here in Putnam County.” She has been teaching 4th grade at Burks for about 7 years now. She and her husband have two children, in 4th and 5th grades. “It’s a ministry for me,” she said of her teaching. “It’s a passion. It’s just that a-ha moment. Some kids need love. Some kids need pushed.” She said she gets so excited every summer anticipating getting to know “her new batch of kids” and looking forward to see what they’re like. “I just pray over them and I figure each kid is in my room for a reason,” she said.
“They’re my ministry.” Her favorite part about teaching is watching her kids be successful. “I think that it’s like with lots of teachers, you just get that a-ha moment when the light bulb goes on and they get it,” she said, “or even if a kid is having a bad day and I can do something to help them get their mind off of it or see that they are able to do something that they couldn’t do before and just how they build their confidence.” She said a lot of what she enjoys about teaching, and one of the most important parts of teaching, is building that successful relationship with her students that helps them gain that confidence. “I would definitely say it’s a team effort,” she said. “The people I work with are amazing. We are all doing our best, and doing our jobs to the best of our ability. I thoroughly enjoy teaching here and the people I work with. “If you’re in education, you know you can always learn something and I’m constantly learning from my peers. I’m very thankful for them.”