Images Rutherford County, TN: 2008

STROLLING ALONG THE AVENUE

Upscale retail destination offers full shopping experience

WAITER, I’LL HAVE A SIZZLING STEAK

Explore the plethora of palate-pleasing restaurants

Build It, They’ll Come

Hotel and conference center will open in fall 2008

SPONSORED BY THE RUTHERFORD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE

2008 | IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM | VIDEO VIGNETTESTM

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

ON THE COVER Photo by Brian McCordPublic art, The Avenue Murfreesboro

12 STROLLING ALONG THE AVENUEThe Avenue Murfreesboro is a chic new retail address with an open-air design.

16 IT’S A SQUARE DEALMany businesses along Murfreesboro’s Public Square have been here for decades and continue to thrive.

20 ATTEN-HUT!The Tennessee Army National Guard maintains a strong and important presence in Smyrna and Murfreesboro.

22 UP-AND-COMING CULTUREWhy drive to Nashville? Rutherford County has plenty of cultural offerings.

24 WAITER, I’LL HAVE A SIZZLING STEAKRutherford County restaurants are anything but run-of-the-mill.

51 WHERE THE WILD THINGS AREToddlers fl ock to the Wild Things recreation program at Murfreesboro’s Barfi eld Crescent Park.

55 PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRSThe symphony orchestra in Murfreesboro changes its name and tries a new approach.

2008 EDITION | VOLUME 22TM

OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE

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DEPARTMENTS

8 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Rutherford County’s culture

28 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Rutherford County

34 Image Gallery

49 Education

53 Health & Wellness

57 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know

RUTHERFORD COUNTY BUSINESS36 Build It, They’ll Come

The Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center is scheduled to open in fall 2008.

38 Biz Briefs

41 Chamber Report

43 Economic Profi le

TM

OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY

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SEARCH OUR ARCHIVES Browse past issues of the magazine by year or search for specifi c articles by subject.

INSTANT LINKS Read the entire magazine online using our ActiveMagazine™ technology and link instantly to community businesses and services.

EVEN MORE Read full-length versions of the magazine’s articles; fi nd related stories; or read new content exclusive to the Web. Look for the See More Online reference in this issue.

A GARDENER’S PARADISETennessee is a great place to garden. We have long growing seasons, abundant rainfall and a mild climate in which many different kinds of plants thrive. Find out more at imagesrutherford.com.

BARBECUE: A SIMPLE SOUTHERN PLEASUREOne of the simple pleasures of Southern dining is the down-home barbecue experience. No matter where you go, you’re bound to fi nd barbecue prepared just right.Get a taste of regional cuisine at imagesrutherford.com.

What’s Online More lists, links and tips for newcomers

IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM

VIDEO 1 INSIDE LOOK Join us on a virtual tour of Rutherford County through the lenses of our award-winning photographers at imagesrutherford.com.

VIDEO 2 MAKING MUSICListen to the banjo pickin’ of Rebekah Weiler, the fi rst female to win the Old Time Banjo Contest at the Fiddlers’ Jamboree. Visit imagesrutherford.com.

VIDEO 3 HARVEST DAYSExperience the revelry at the Harvest Days and Fiber Festival at Cannonsburgh Village. Visit imagesrutherford.com.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINEImages of Rutherford County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Rutherford County tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

“Find the good – and praise it.”– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

jnlcom.com

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WEB SITE EXTRA

MOVING PICTURES PLUS

Visit Bumpus

Harley-Davidson

of Murfreesboro

for the largest

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and pre-owned

motorcycles in

our area.

With a vast

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motor clothes, gifts,

parts and accessories,

Bumpus Harley Davidson

is your one-stop

shopping spot for any

motorcycle enthusiast.

BUMPUSHARLEY-DAVIDSON & BUELL

2250 N.W. Broad St.Murfreesboro, TN 37129

(615) 849-8025www.bumpusharleydavidson.com


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Enrolling Right Along

And the winner is: Middle Tennessee

State University, now the largest

undergraduate university in the state.

The Murfreesboro university had

an enrollment of more than 23,000

students during the 2006-2007

school year. It recently surpassed

the University of Tennessee-Knoxville

as the state’s enrollment leader.

Reasons for high enrollment at MTSU

include its location in the middle of the

state, affordability and programs not

offered in surrounding states. Those

popular programs include recording

industry management, aerospace and

horse science curriculum.

Creating the BalanceEach September,

about 200 women

gather at the

Rutherford County

Women’s

Conference,

organized by the

Business Women’s

Council. The council

is a Rutherford

County Chamber

of Commerce

organization, and

the conference – “Creating the Balance:

Leadership Strategies for Women” –

gives local businesswomen an opportunity

to network, learn, discuss and grow.

The keynote speaker in 2007 was

Cordia Harrington, president and CEO

of the Tennessee Bun Co. Along with

a keynote speaker, the conference

always features several session leaders

who offer education and support tips

to businesswomen on a variety of

business-related topics.

Thanks a MillThe Readyville Mill operated continuously from the

1870s until the early 1980s. Today it’s in need of repair,

and a renovation effort has been launched to save the

once-flourishing building. When it was thriving, the mill

produced corn meal, refined flour, whole wheat flour and

buckwheat flour.

The mill site includes nearly four acres on the east

fork of Stones River. In 2007, the Center for Historic

Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University

prepared and donated a preservation plan for the mill

in its dilapidated state. A Middle Tennessee organization

known as PARQ – Preserve the Area’s Rural Qualities – is

leading a preservation fundraising effort to save the mill.

8 IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM RUTHERFORD COUNT Y

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Fast Facts The Linebaugh Public Library

System has been recognized for its services to Spanish-speaking patrons. Hispanics now make up 5 percent of Rutherford County’s population, so the library hired three translators in 2006.

For just $50 a year, families can visit the Sam Davis Home and Museum as many times as they want. The Sam Davis Home and the Oaklands Historic House Museum are the only historic residences still open to the public in Rutherford County.

Rutherford County is consistently ranked high on the list of fastest-growing job markets in the United States.

Uncle Dave Macon Days celebrates old-time music and dancing the second weekend of July. The 2008 festival will be the 31st annual.

The county is home to 20 companies that have at least 500 employees each, led by Nissan with 5,700 and Rutherford County government with 4,150.

SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Rutherford County, visit imagesrutherford.com.

Strokes of GeniusNow that’s a big painting.

Local artist Erin Anfinson, an assistant professor of art at Middle

Tennessee State University, was commissioned in 2007 to paint a large

mural that now hangs at The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and

Rutherford County. She painted historic Civil War scenes of significance

that once took place in Rutherford County, and her mural is titled

“The Time That Changed Everything: Murfreesboro’s Civil War Era.”

The painting was completed on stretched canvas that measures

8 feet by 18 feet. Scenes depicted in the mural include the Sam Davis

Home, Oaklands Historic House Museum, Bradley Academy and the

Stones River National Battlefield.

Lovely La VergneDevelopers are taking a good

look these days at La Vergne,

thanks to the city’s continued

residential growth.

The city is in a good location

in northern Rutherford County,

where growth has been steady for

the past five years. To encourage

more commerce, the municipality

lowered its impact fee in 2005 to

give developers a break. The city

has also been overhauling major

intersections at U.S. 41

(Murfreesboro Road), to make

these corner properties more

enticing to developers.

One key interest to commercial

and retail developers in La Vergne

is Lake Forest, the state’s largest

residential development that will

eventually contain as many as

5,000 homes.


Almanac

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Into the OutdoorsThe great outdoors are pretty great in Rutherford

County, and they’re getting even better. The city

of Murfreesboro is home to the 137-acre Richard

Siegel Soccer Complex and Community Park, which

includes 10 lighted fields, four youth fields, one

lighted championship field with stadium seating,

basketball courts, a cross-country course and three

walking trails. Another outdoor attraction that’s

getting a lot of use these days is the Murfreesboro

Greenway System, which allows residents to walk,

run, bike or inline skate along the Stones River and

Lytle Creek. Smyrna is expanding its parks system

and working on a greenway, and some of the best

fishing tournaments in the state are held at Fate

Sanders Marina on J. Percy Priest Lake. The city

of Eagleville also has a greenway project in the

works, and La Vergne is home to Veterans Memorial

Park – that city’s main outdoor gathering place.

Murfreesboro StarChris Young is a country music star, thanks

to a TV competition that launched him to fame.

In May 2006, the Murfreesboro native competed

in the nationwide “Nashville Star” singing

competition on USA Network – and he won.

Young was awarded a recording contract with RCA

Records, which resulted in his self-titled debut album

in October 2006. His first single was called “Drinking

Me Lonely,” which

quickly climbed

the charts.

Young also

received a new

Chevrolet truck

for winning

the television

competition, along

with an opportunity

to perform on the

legendary Grand

Ole Opry. His

second album

will be released

in the spring.

Making the GradeWith nearly 37,000 students enrolling in 2008,

the Rutherford County school system is the sixth

largest and fastest-growing in the state, and it’s

adding 2,000 new students every year – or the

equivalent of one new school a year.

The system received all A’s and B’s in the latest

Tennessee Report Card on Education, which rates

schools on various effectiveness measures.

“We’re in the top tier – very few districts can boast

these kinds of scores,” says James Evans, spokesman

for Rutherford County

Schools. Evans credits

the federal No Child

Left Behind Act with

giving the curriculum

a new focus to ensure

students test well.

But equally important

is reaching kids

with innovative

programming that

will motivate them to

stay in school and give

them skills they can use

for the rest of their lives.


Almanac

PHOTO COURTESY OF

RUSS HARRINGTON

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Journey to the PastThe Sam Davis Home in Smyrna was built along the banks

of Stewarts Creek in 1820. These days, the two-story home and

museum on 160 acres is a real-life reminder of how Southern, upper

middle-class families lived in those days. Samuel Davis was a young

soldier who joined the army before Tennessee had officially

seceded from the Union. Eventually captured and accused of

being a spy and a courier of enemy papers, the 21-year-old soldier

refused to divulge his sources. His last words are said to be,

“I would die a thousand deaths before I would betray a friend,”

and he was hanged on Nov. 27, 1863. Visitors to the Sam Davis

Home can see a documentary video about Davis’ life and take

a guided tour through the nine-room main house, the original

kitchen, smokehouse, overseer’s office and privy. Authentic

Middle Tennessee slave dwellings can also be seen on the site.

Clear Skies Ahead

Interested in aviation? You’re

in good company.

A group in Murfreesboro

belongs to the Experimental

Aircraft Association Chapter

419, which has monthly

meetings at Murfreesboro

Municipal Airport. Many of the

EAA members own personal

aircraft, while other members

are simply aviation enthusiasts.

Another EAA group in

Middle Tennessee is Chapter

162, which has 50 members and

meets each month at John C. Tune

Airport in Nashville. That chapter

also has some long-standing

members who live in

Rutherford County.

Rutherford County | At A GlancePOPULATION (2007 ESTIMATE)Rutherford County: 229,380Murfreesboro: 92,559Smyrna: 32,197La Vergne: 27,373Eagleville: 472

LOCATIONRutherford County is nicknamed the “Heart of Tennessee” because it is in the geographic center of the state, 20 miles southeast of Nashville along the I-24 corridor.

BEGINNINGSThe written history of Rutherford County dates back to 1776 when it was settled during the Revolutionary War. It was formally established as a Tennessee county in 1803.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONRutherford County Chamber of Commerce501 Memorial Blvd.Murfreesboro, TN 37129Phone: (615) 893-6565Fax: (615) 890-7600www.rutherfordchamber.org

SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Rutherford County at imagesrutherford.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

RutherfordCounty


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UPSCALE RETAIL DESTINATION OFFERS A FULL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Avenue Along

Strolling The


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O ct. 17, 2007, was a red-letter day for Middle Tennessee shoppers, who gave their credit cards a workout at the opening of The Avenue Murfreesboro – the city’s chic new retail address.

“At 4 o’clock on grand-opening day, more than 75 percent of the entire shopping center lot was filled,” says Angie Carter, The Avenue’s general manager. “This is one of Middle Tennessee’s best emerging markets, and we have had strong reaction from the consumers around here. They were looking for this type of shopping experience, and retailers felt that Murfreesboro was ready.”

The Avenue Murfreesboro– a concept of Atlanta-based Cousins Properties – features an open-air, pedestrian-friendly design that attracts sophisticated national retailers and restaurants as well as unique local merchants and eateries. So far, there are eight Avenue developments, most in the Southeast. Cousins partnered with Faison Enterprises, headquartered in North Carolina, on the 810,000-square-foot, $150 million Murfreesboro project.

“We saw the confluence of a number of factors,” says Mike Cohn, Faison’s senior managing director. “We saw a market with great growth, we saw a great site and we saw a market that had a significant number of retail needs that either weren’t being served or were being served in a very unconsolidated way. Thus, we had the opportunity to deliver a large, multipurpose, consolidated project.”

The center is anchored by Belk department store and big-box retailers such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Best Buy. Other well-known tenants of The Avenue Murfreesboro include Hollister, American Eagle, Ann Taylor Loft, Talbot’s, Victoria’s Secret, The Children’s Place, Coldwater Creek, Stride Rite, Yankee Candle, Harry & David, Chico’s and Linens-N-Things. Restaurants along The Avenue Murfreesboro entrances include Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Mimi’s Café,

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALDPHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

The Avenue Murfreesboro has opened its doors, with 110 stores projected by completion.

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Longhorn Steakhouse and Chili’s. The development will eventually be home to more than 110 retailers and restaurants.

Holly Sears, Vice President economic development with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, calls The Avenue Murfreesboro “a key component” of Murfreesboro’s Gateway, a large commercial district born in 1998 when the city purchased about 400 acres between Stones River Mall and Thompson Lane. In 2003, Middle Tennessee Medical Center bought 68 of those acres as the future site for a health-care campus. Two years later, Medical Center Parkway opened, stretching from Broad Street near downtown to a new interchange on Interstate 24. The Avenue Murfreesboro is at the interchange, along with the 10-story Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center, scheduled to open in the fall of 2008.

“We are very excited about the synergy that’s going to happen between the two properties,” Carter says. “People at the hotel and conference center will be able to come here and enjoy a dinner and shopping and be able to relax after a conference. We feel that it’s absolutely a win-win for both projects.”

Carter stresses that The Avenue Murfreesboro isn’t just about shopping, however.

“We offer a whole Avenue experience, with a grassy area right outside some of our quick-food options,” she says. “Families love that area.”

The Avenue Murfreesboro also features Camp Avenue children’s park, where students from five high schools are working with a professional artist to create five tile mosaics depicting different Aesop’s fables.

Many retailers these days are looking to align themselves with similar retailers, Carter says, and the result is a collection of like-minded businesses targeting a similar clientele at the region’s newest shopping destination.

“The Avenue is a reaction from retailers looking for a

The Avenue Murfreesboro features an open-air design that has attracted national retailers and local merchants.

shopping center where they could target an affluent market,” Carter says.

They found what they were looking for here.

The Avenue Murfreesboro is a kid-friendly shopping experience, featuring the Camp Avenue children’s park.



As new and sophisticated retail

options spring up in

Murfreesboro, the city’s

commercial stalwart, Stones River

Mall, is showing off its $52 million

facelift – a transformation from

a traditional mall to an indoor

and outdoor shopping destination

with a lively retail and dining mix.

“We’re just expanding and

keeping up with this amazing

growth in the area,” says Heather

Hasty, mall marketing manager.

“We’re excited about

strengthening the competition

here. We think that strong retailers

are going to keep people coming

to Murfreesboro instead of

traveling to Nashville to visit

some of their favorite stores.”

Dillard’s and J.C. Penney

demolished their Stones River

anchor stores and built new ones

from the ground up. A food court

Renovations, New Stores Add to MixSTONES RIVER MALL AND SMYRNA CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWING RETAIL SURGE

Stones River Mall in Murfreesboro is undergoing a $52 million renovation. The changes have transformed the site from a traditional mall to an indoor and outdoor shopping destination, which adds to the ambiance and convenience.

with wireless Internet connectivity

opened Nov. 1 where the old J.C.

Penney once stood, while The

Shops of Stones River – an

outdoor collection of retailers

and restaurants joined by covered

breezeways – stands on the

footprint of the old Dillard’s.

“It offers our shoppers truly

the best of both worlds,” Hasty

says. “If it’s a beautiful day, they

can stroll among the stores

outside, and if it’s cold or rainy,

they can come inside and enjoy

shopping, the food court and

the soft play area.”

The children’s play area

“represents old-time Tennessee,”

she says, “with an exact, detailed

replica of the Rutherford County

Courthouse with a slide, a tunnel

and playhouse.”

Smyrna is also enjoying a retail

surge, with a new Kohl’s

department store anchoring

a 600,000-square-foot

development by Colonial

Properties. Smyrna’s residential

and commercial growth,

including restaurants and

hotels, has also given rise to a

14-screen movie theater.

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald



Take a leisurely stroll around Murfreesboro’s Public Square and you’ll see businesses that have been here for dec-

ades – Mullins Jewelers, Ruby’s Dress Shop, Holden Hardware, Shacklett’s Photography – and continue to thrive. What you don’t see are many vacant storefronts.

“I think that what the downtown has to offer is really a location for the local entrepreneur who wants to invest in the community. It’s a coolness factor,” says Holly Sears, Vice President of economic development for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.

Cashing in on downtown’s trendy vibes are restaurateurs and retailers

selling everything from outdoor gear to stationery, hand-painted children’s furniture to antiques, Murfreesboro-themed Christmas ornaments to f loral arrangements. All have found that a location on or near the historic square lends panache and attracts discrim-inating consumers.

“One thing that we are hoping to see

DOWNTOWN MURFREESBORO ATTRACTS UNIQUE BUSINESSES AND

DISCRIMINATING SHOPPERS

Square

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

It’s a

Deal


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Downtown Murfreesboro is home to many longtime local businesses.



SEE MORE ONLINE | For more information, visit imagesrutherford.com and search “downtown Murfreesboro.”

more of is residential living downtown,” says Mary Beth Wilson, who chairs the board of Main Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford County. “If we have more people living downtown, we think it will in turn attract a variety of businesses.”

The nonprofit corporation, founded in 1985 to revitalize and nurture downtown, hired a new executive director Richard Gabel in 2007 and moved into new digs just off the square. The city-owned building at 225 West College St., named The Heritage Center, is shared by Main Street and the Middle

Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation. Daily walking tours of the square originate at the center and highlight the city’s rich history and distinctive architecture.

“The retail growth in Rutherford County right now is phenomenal, and I am very optimistic that this will enhance retail growth in downtown Murfreesboro,” Wilson says. She predicts that many local and regional shoppers – out to enjoy new commercial additions in Murfreesboro such as The Avenue Murfreesboro and The Oaks

Ruby’s Dress Shop is one of many downtown Murfreesboro businesses that continue to thrive. Left: Stately historic homes, such as this one on Main Street, highlight the city’s rich heritage and distinctive architecture.

Shopping Center – will make their way to the square as well.

“I think in 2008 we will see a lot more traffic moving back and forth from all the different areas of the county toward downtown,” she says. “It is a unique atmosphere downtown now, and we think that’s only going to improve.”



NATIONAL GUARD’S STRONG PRESENCE CONTRIBUTES TO ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY

Atten-Hut!


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T he Tennessee National Guard maintains a strong and impor-tant presence in Smyrna and Murfreesboro, a fact that

many folks – even those in Rutherford County – may not realize.

Since 9-11, the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard have deployed more than 12,000 troops to the Middle East, and several hundred of those hail from here.

“I don’t think a lot of people in Rutherford County even realize that the National Guard has a big presence in Smyrna and Murfreesboro, but it cer tainly does,” says Randy Harris, director of joint public affairs for the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard. “Since 9-11, many of the Rutherford County men and women in the Guard have ended up overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan.”

This strong National Guard presence also adds significantly to the county’s bottom line and to good works throughout the community.

“The Tennessee Army National Guard means a lot to Rutherford County, both in economic impact and being a good neighbor in the community,” Harris says. “We do a lot of business out of Smyrna Airport, so we are a big monetary con-tributor to the city and county.”

As a community-based organization, the Tennessee National Guard is here to support citizens in a number of ways, including emergencies, says Col. Joe Geren of the Regional Training Institute, a training facility for soldiers.

But members of the Guard also help in ways that don’t get a lot of publicity.

“It’s heartwarming when you go out in military uniform and deliver food to needy families around the holidays,” he says. “That’s the stuff you don’t ever hear about, and a lot of that goes on around here. The small,

community armories are a focal point in many towns.”

While most people think of the National Guard as an organization that responds to tornadoes, hurricanes and other federal disturbances, the Middle East war has awakened citizens to how vital the Guard is to national security, Harris says.

This is the most active time for deployments in the history of the National Guard, and young people – including many from this region – are signing up to serve their country.

“The last couple of years have been exceptional for recruiting,” Harris says. For example, recruiting takes place from September to September, and he says the recruitment goal for 2006-2007 was already met in January 2007.

Thousands of young people have signed up in Tennessee over the last two years, and many of them come from Rutherford County.

“The Army National Guard is com-posed of civilians who typically serve their country on a part-time basis,” he says, “and these soldiers come to the aid of their neighbors during times of need.”

Besides the 269th Military Police Company out of Murfreesboro, the Guard has a number of units based at Smyrna Airport.

“The Guard uses the airport to train its helicopter unit, which operates 60 helicopters with 300 National Guard personnel,” he says. “In all, the Tennessee Army National Guard leases part of the airport to maintain a training center, aircraft and numerous different units with more than 1,200 assigned National Guard personnel.”

The Guard’s presence in Smyrna also includes a maintenance support facility and a medical command post for all National Guard personnel.

STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

A Blackhawk UH-60 at the Tennessee Army National Guard base in Smyrna Above: The Army National Guard’s Combined Support Maintenance Shop in Smyrna repairs military vehicles from across the state.


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FIND A VIBRANT MIX OFTHE ARTS CLOSE TO HOME

Up

CultureComing

-and-


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Nashville’s world-class symphony, visual-art exhib-its and thriving theater scene are just a short drive away, but there’s no need to leave Rutherford County for top-notch cultural offerings.

Along with productions staged at Middle Tennessee State University, the county is home to numerous community theater groups, a first-rate symphony and a growing visual-arts movement.

Music lovers can take their pick: There’s the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra, with classical, pops and youth-education programs, including many musicians who play in Nashville and other orchestras; Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra, which features the best of the area’s young musicians; the Middle Tennessee Choral Society; the Main Street JazzFest in Murfreesboro each spring; Tennesse Valley Winds; and much more.

Theater in Rutherford County is a “best-kept secret” that’s alive and well, says Lee Rennick, a playwright who’s active in the local theater scene and works for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the Middle Tennessee State University theater department, several other groups – including the Center Players, Murfreesboro Little Theatre and Lamplighters Theatre in Smyrna – regularly put on shows.

“There are so many groups in Murfreesboro because each one has a unique creative philosophy,” Rennick says. “At the Center for the Arts you’ll see more traditional plays, more of the ones you know.”

Murfreesboro Little Theatre tends to be a little more avant-garde.

“They pick up some things from Off Broadway – you’ll see some family productions but also a lot of really edgy plays,” Rennick says.

The Center for the Arts features dance and music performances along with plays and art exhibits – and the visual arts scene is gradually gaining more recognition in Rutherford County.

Housed in a historic Italianate building in the heart of downtown Murfreesboro, the Center for the Arts features an array of exhibitions in the gallery and theater. Youth classes offer instruction in visual arts along with music and theater.

Other arts organizations include the Murfreesboro/Rutherford Art League – a nonprofit that promotes artists and art education – and the Stones River Crafts Association, which typically hosts two art fairs each year.

Patricia Myers, president of the Murfreesboro/Rutherford Art League, says the organization has noticed a surge in interest recently, with 35 new members and several new art exhibitions added to its repertoire in 2007.

“In the past year, we have done quite a bit as far as getting our art shown at local banks and at places like the Center for the

Arts,” she says. “We’re trying to be more visible than we have been, and it’s wonderful to see the fine arts being recognized.”

Arts-related community events are also on the rise, with popular activities such as the inaugural Murfreesboro Arts Journey Tour – a two-day tour of private art galleries – held in April 2007, and the Greenway Art Festival, an annual event in which artists display and sell their work along the trail. The greenway event includes trailside music, food vendors and activities for children – an artistic outing for the whole family.

With such a vibrant arts scene, residents can easily enjoy rich cultural offerings without ever straying far from home.

Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra Left: Center for the Arts in downtown Murfreesboro

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD


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R utherford County restaurants are anything but run-of-the-mill. With a smorgasbord of creative, independent restaurants ranging from upscale eateries to down-home meat-and-threes, dining

here is more than a meal – it’s an experience.One of Murfreesboro’s best-loved family restaurants is

Demos’ Steak and Spaghetti House, which started in Murfreesboro in 1989 and has grown to include locations in Nashville, Lebanon and Hendersonville. Owners Jim and Doris Demos started the restaurant after moving from Nashville to Murfreesboro to “semi-retire.”

“We didn’t want to retire to the mountains or the ocean. We fell in love with Murfreesboro – there was something magical about it,” recalls Jim Demos. “Our intention was to semi-retire and have a restaurant we could manage ourselves. Our son Peter and daughter Felicia have since joined us in the business.”

Demos’ Steak and Spaghetti House specializes in several types of steaks, spaghetti dishes with 10 different sauces, seafood, chicken and salads.

“We make everything in-house – our sauces, salad dressings, and we even grind our own hamburger,” Demos says. “Every

STORY BY JESSICA MOZO

OUTSTANDING CUISINE IS A RUTHERFORD COUNTY TRADITION

Foodof

For theLove

Filet and black tiger double shrimp is a menu item at Raz’z Bar & Grill in Smyrna. PHOTO BY ANTONY BOSHIER

RUTHERFORD COUNT Y IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM 25RUTHERFORD COUNT Y IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM 25


steak is hand-cut on the premises and prepared as if it was a small mom-and-pop restaurant. Being family-owned and operated, we can pay attention to the small details that others can’t.”

The Parthenon Steakhouse is another long-standing, family-owned Murfreesboro restaurant. It was started 28 years ago by the Kyrikos family from Greece. Fourteen years ago, the Darsinos family, also from Greece, took over.

“Our specialties are Steak Diane and rack of lamb, and our filets are excellent,” says Kathy Darsinos, who owns the Parthenon Steakhouse with her husband, Angelo. “We also have an array of salads and sandwiches for lunch. The restaurant is casual and laid back, but we do have white tablecloths, a fireplace and big open ceilings.”

Many of the Parthenon Steakhouse’s customers have been dining there for more than a decade.

“When they come in, we know exactly what they want to drink and eat,” Darsinos says. “Several of our servers have also been here for many years.”

New to the Rutherford County dining scene is a pizzeria called TomatoTomäto, owned by sister and brother team Mollie and Mitchell Murphree. The Murphrees also own the upscale Five Senses Restaurant, which opened three years ago and specializes in fresh seafood and locally grown produce.

“We wanted another restaurant that would appeal to the masses, so we decided on a pizza kitchen,” Mollie Murphree says. “We have create-your-own pizzas and six or seven specialty pizzas named after Murfreesboro streets.”

Murphree’s favorites are the Maney Avenue Pizza and the College Street Pizza.

“Maney Avenue has garlic oil sauce with white beans, country ham, smoked cheddar and red onions, and College

The popular desserts at Miller’s Grocery are made from scratch each morning using real butter and organic eggs.

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Street has four different kinds of mushrooms, blue cheese and tomato sauce,” she says. “They’re awesome.”

All the menu items are made from scratch at both the Murphrees’ restaurants, and they use local ingredients whenever they can.

“Farmers from all over the area supply food to us,” Murphree says.

Originally from Paris, Tenn., the siblings chose Murfreesboro for their restaurants after Mitchell attended culinary school in New York.

“My brother started working in Murfreesboro and thought it was a great, growing town,” Murphree says. “It’s a great place for an independent restaurant. It has all the elements to make a restaurant successful.”

Other area restaurants that offer a one-of-a-kind dining experience include Miller’s Grocery in Christiana, The Omni Hut in Smyrna and Raz’z Bar & Grill, also in Smyrna.

Bon appétit!

Tuna is a favorite entree at Five Senses in Murfreesboro. Above: Demos’ in Murfreesboro is one of the region’s best-loved family restaurants.

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Strumming on the Old Banjo REBEKAH WEILER TAKES TOP HONORS AT SMITHVILLE FIDDLERS’ JAMBOREE


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M iddle Tennessee State University senior Rebekah Weiler breaks the

mold when it comes to banjo players. Not only is she one of the few females who play the instrument, she’s also extremely good at it.

In fact, in July 2007, Weiler became the first female ever to win the Old Time Banjo Contest at the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree.

“I had entered the Smithville banjo contest every year since 2002, and I never even placed,” she says. “But after I played [in 2007], I knew I nailed it. The audience went nuts. The [master of

ceremonies] even asked if I had brought my fan club with me.”

A Murfreesboro native, Weiler began playing the banjo when she was 15.

“I got my first banjo when I was a toddler. It was a red Kermit the frog banjo,” she recalls. “Later I got an actual banjo at age 10, and I was fascinated with it, but for awhile it just collected dust. Finally, I decided to learn to play it.”

Weiler credits her interest in the banjo to her family’s long-standing participation in Uncle Dave Macon Days, an old-time music and dance festival held in Murfreesboro every

July for the past 30 years.“My parents have been involved

with it since it started, so I’ve gone to it all my life,” Weiler says. “It’s the backbone for my music. It has influ-enced me so much.”

Between her classes at MTSU, teaching banjo lessons and competing at festivals throughout the year, Weiler performs regularly with Delmar Holland and the Blue Creek Ramblers, an old-time string band made up of three 70-something male musicians and Weiler.

“They first took me on the road when I was 16,” Weiler says. “They needed a banjo player and saw me competing at a festival. Once they convinced my parents they were harmless, I started playing with them. They took me from a shy kid to who I am now.”

Weiler will graduate from MTSU in December 2008 with a history degree. After that, she’s thinking about pursuing musical opportunities or attending graduate school.

“Playing banjo has opened so many doors for me,” she says. “I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next.”

Precocious Pickin’

Watch and listen as Rebekah Weiler shows

off her banjo skills that won the 2007 Old Time Banjo Contest at the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree. Visit imagesrutherford.com.

WEB SITE EXTRA

SEE VIDEO ONLINE

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College senior Rebekah Weiler began playing the banjo when she was 15 and went on the road at 16.



Half Marathon Sprints Off

A thousand runners registered for the first half marathon in 2007.

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The Tate family of Murfreesboro are passionate about running, so it

makes sense that they were the force behind The Middle Half, Rutherford County’s half marathon that kicked off its first year in 2007.

“My husband, Miles, runs mara -thons, and our daughter, Natalie, does too. We thought this area needed a half marathon in the fall,” says Melinda Tate, president of the board of directors for The Middle Half. “We met with Parks and Recreation in March and found out they had been wanting to do one too, but didn’t have anyone to spearhead it.”

The Tates stepped up to the plate, and in just six months they were able to organize the first marathon, which was held in September. Middle Tennessee State University, the city of Murfreesboro and Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation helped make it a reality.

“When we opened up registration, it sold out in just 30 days. We had 1,000 runners registered,” Tate says. “We were thrilled because it showed there was a need and a want for it in this area.”

The Middle Half covered 13.1 miles, starting and ending at MTSU and winding through some of Murfreesboro’s most scenic areas, including tree-lined Main Street and the Rutherford County Courthouse, Old Lascassas Highway, Maney Avenue and the historic Oaklands Mansion, and MTSU’s fraternity row.

“We had a lot of community support,” Tate says. “Businesses and groups sponsored water stations, Middle Tennessee Medical Center provided medical attention, the fire station set up a hose people could run through and restaurants donated food at the end.”

Runners from 16 different states ran the race, and local charities were invited to use the race as a fundraising opportunity by organizing teams.

“Special Kids had 40 runners and raised $40,000,” Tate says. “The Governor’s Books from Birth program also had a team and raised money.”

For information on the 2008 mara-thon, visit www.themiddlehalf.com.


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Honoring the Pioneer Spirit

Experience what life was like for pioneers in the South with a visit to

Cannonsburgh Village, a reconstructed pioneer settlement and living history museum near downtown Murfreesboro.

Located along South Front Street, Cannonsburgh Village was built in 1975 as a bicentennial project for 1976. The name Cannonsburgh was the original name for Murfreesboro, and the pioneer settlement is home to several buildings and artifacts representing the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.

“There’s the old Cannonsburgh mill, an 1800s schoolhouse, a town hall and a log house we use for wedding receptions,” says Fred Trujillo, program coordinator for Cannonsburgh Village. “There’s also an old caboose, an 1800s farm shed, a loom house where quilts and rugs are made, an old country store, a doctor’s office and a chapel. We hold about 80 weddings in the chapel every year.”

Cannonsburgh Village is open to the public from late April until December, and self-guided tours are free. The site hosts three big events each year, when visitors can see demonstrations from the pioneer era such as blacksmithing and soap making. The events include Pioneer Days in April, Uncle Dave Macon Days in July and the Harvest Days and Fiber Festival in October.

Uncle Dave Macon Days is an old-time music and dance festival that attracts more than 40,000 spectators and has been rated one of the top 20 events in the Southeast by the Atlanta-based Southeast Tourism Society. The Harvest Days and Fiber Festival features square dancing, clogging, live bluegrass music, weaving, sheep shearing, apple-cider making, hayrides and more.

“Cannonsburgh Village plays a big part in bringing tourism to Rutherford

SEE MORE ONLINE | Take a video tour of the Harvest Days and Fiber Festival at Cannonsburgh Village. Visit imagesrutherford.com.

To learn more, visit imagesrutherford.com and search “Uncle Dave Macon Days.”

County, and it’s part of Middle Tennessee’s history that we want to pass down to future generations,” Trujillo says. “We don’t want to lose our past because it’s a reminder of what people went through to get us where we are today.”

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Uncle Dave Macon Days at Cannonsburgh Historic Village



Murfreesboro residents have a new way to get where they’re going and

save gas thanks to Rover, the city’s new public bus system.

Rover began service to the public in April 2007 and offers six routes in the city of Murfreesboro. Buses run Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For many Murfreesboro residents,

Rover is a dream come true.“There have been a lot of public-

transportation advocates here for a long time,” says Bob Nugent, director of public transportation for the city of Murfreesboro. “When the city reached a population of 50,000 in 2000, it made us eligible for federal dollars for a public transportation system. It became

obvious that it would be easy to provide public transportation when a large amount of it would be paid for.”

The federal government paid for half the cost of the bus system, and Murfreesboro and the state of Tennessee paid for the other half. In the short time it has been running, Rover has received lots of positive feedback.

“We’ve had requests for more service from day one, and we’re addressing those requests,” Nugent says. “The community has been very accepting. We’ve heard so many stories from disabled and elderly people who before couldn’t get around on their own, and now they can.”

Eventually, when Rover gets more regular riders, the city plans to expand the number of routes and possibly offer service on weekends.

“We have MTSU, and if you look at bigger cities like Nashville, you see a lot of university students using public transit,” Nugent says. “And Murfreesboro itself is growing. We’re over 80,000 people now, and there are lots of new restaurants and hotels starting up.”

For information on fares and bus routes, visit murfreesborotn.gov.

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Rover, the new public bus system

A New Way To Get Around Town


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A Sports Destination

I f sports are your passion, you’ve come to the right place. Rutherford County

hosts dozens of athletic tournaments each year, and the list keeps growing.

“March is a huge month – we had about 40 sporting events in March 2007,” says Barbara Wolke, director of group sales for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. “We are the high school sports capital of Tennessee. Almost all the high school champi-onships are held here.”

Thanks to its central location and excellent athletic facilities, Rutherford County has been chosen to host all but three of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s high school sporting championships, including bowling, boys and girls basketball, golf, volleyball, cheerleading and dance, division one and two football, and the Spring Fling, which includes tennis, soccer, baseball, softball and track and field.

“It began with us hosting girls basketball in 1975, and we’ve hosted boys basketball for the past 18 years,” says Mona Herring, vice president of the Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Because of the volunteer spirit in Rutherford County, we’ve been able to attract many more events.”

Middle Tennessee State University and the city of Murfreesboro have been key players in establishing Rutherford County’s reputation as a sports destination.

“The city of Murfreesboro recently made a contribution to MTSU for a new track and field venue with stadium seating, and it’s in the process of redoing the whole baseball complex,” Herring says. “Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation also has beautiful facilities and helps us with tennis, softball and soccer tournaments. There is a new soccer complex that’s the envy of every other county in the state.”

Bowling tournaments and equestrian events are also held in Rutherford

County. Vanderbilt University’s award-winning team bowls at the Smyrna Bowling Center, and the city was chosen to host the NCAA Music City Classic Bowling Tournament in 2007. The tournament brings 16 collegiate

teams from across the country, and it will be held in Smyrna again in 2008.

MTSU’s Miller Coliseum is where equestrian events take place, including the Lone Star Rodeo in March and Road to the Horse in March. – Jessica Mozo

Rutherford County is a major destination for athletic tournaments, including bowling. Above are the Hixson High School Division I Boys Champions.

Y-WAIT … COME VISIT US TODAY!

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RUTHERFORD COUNTY FAMILY YMCA

205 N. Thompson Ln.Murfreesboro, TN 37129 • (615) 895-5995

• Newly Expanded Nursery• Relaxation/Stretching Room• Indoor Pool with Three-Lane Lap Pool & Outdoor Pool with Slide• 2,300 sq. ft. Teen & Family Center• Skate Park – over 20 Ramps• New State-of-the-Art Wellness Equipment• 65 Group Fitness Classes Per Week• Year-Round Swim Lessons• Youth Indoor Soccer & Basketball• SilverSneakers® Fitness Programs & Socials• Cheerleading/Gymnastics/Tumble Tots• Experienced & Certifi ed Personal Trainers on Staff

NORTH RUTHERFORD YMCARonald Reagan Family Center

2001 Motlow College Blvd.Smyrna, TN 37167 • (615) 220-9622

• 80 Free Group Fitness Classes• Free Microfi t Fitness Evaluation & Wellness Orientation• Year-Round Swim Lessons & Youth Swim Team• Youth Exercise Classes• Hangtime Youth Activity Classes• Leaders Club• Free Nursery• Skate Park• Birthday Parties• Restore Ministries




Image Gallery

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Historic Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro


PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

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HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER TO OPEN IN FALL 2008

and They Will Come

T he long-awaited Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center is scheduled to open in the fall

of 2008 – and at least one convention is already booked.

The $70 million complex on Medical Center Parkway, just off Interstate 24, will feature a 10-story, 283-suite hotel along with an adjacent 80,000-square-foot conference center that will be able to accommodate 2,000 people.

“Rutherford County hasn’t been able to host a group larger than 250 to 300 people, but soon we will be able to host 2,000,” says Mona Herring, vice president of the Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Most conventions have groups of 500 or more, so we’ve been out of luck. But that will all change beginning in late 2008.”

The first convention that’s booked is the 2009 Society for Military History Conference, which will take place at the center from April 2-5, 2009.

“A group from Middle Tennessee State University will host that particular conference,” Herring says. “Derrick Frisbee, an assistant professor at MTSU, was very excited to be the first one to sign a contract with Embassy Suites. I’m sure that many more conventions will be generated from MTSU, where a lot of the professors are members of other professional organizations that hold national conventions.”

Herring says Embassy Suites will be responsible for booking all conventions, but the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and the Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau are happy to assist in any way.

“We have already provided the people at Embassy Suites with 30 or 40 leads from convention planners who have contacted us in recent times,” Herring says. “So we are kind of the middle man in the process and are glad to pass those leads to Embassy.”

The construction project is being managed by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels Management Co. LLC – a company known for dev-eloping hotel and convention centers in strategic locations.

“Mr. Hammons tends to build prop-erties around colleges and universities because they are big demand-generators,” says Becky Vealey, director of sales and marketing for Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center. “Plus Rutherford County itself is growing so quickly. Big companies

Build It

STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD


Business

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are located here, and Rutherford County is in the middle of Tennessee and close to the capital city of Nashville. It is an ideal location.”

Herring says the hotel/conference center will create 225 jobs and is expected to generate more than $20 million in revenue each year.

“More news in that location along Medical Center Parkway is that the Chamber, CVB, Small Business Development Center, Business Education Partnership, and the Economic Devel-opment offices are all moving into a new $5.6 million building – right across the street from the hotel/conference center,” she says. “Our new welcome center will be very handy for conference and meeting attendees to come into the chamber building for information about the area.”

A 283-suite hotel and adjacent 80,000-square-foot conference center is under construction on Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro. Below: The new facility is expected to generate more than $20 million in revenue each year.


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OLD COMPUTERS, REBORNRecycling paper and plastic is easy,

but what about that old PC that’s been sitting in storage for the last five years?

That’s where Born Again Technologies comes in. The nonprofit corporation, launched in October 2006, is an affiliate of the Free Geek organization in Portland, Ore. Born Again’s idea is simple: Take older computers that people and companies no longer need, and get them into the hands of organizations and individuals that do – and in the process, keep all those components out of local landfills.

“We hope over time to work with other nonprofits and get computer equipment to people like single parents, disabled veterans – people who other-wise wouldn’t have it,” says Shawn Campbell, president of operations. “This equipment’s not new, but if you’re just using the Internet and maybe typing some Word documents, you don’t need the newest computers.”

The company is busy getting the word out about its services in a variety of ways, including having a volunteer teach computer classes at the local library, and working with city and

county officials to become a focal point of community recycling events. This would benefit everyone in the community, from the end user all the way back through local vendors who would refurbish the machines, Campbell says.

“Why throw a computer in the landfill if someone else has a chance to use it?” he asks. “This is about helping the environment and making technology available for everybody.”

PEDDLING RIGHT ALONGHappy customers and an ever-

growing showroom have made the Peddler a one-stop shop for gifts, interior furnishings and more for 34 years.

The Peddler took over some adjoining space at its Georgetown Square location in 2005 and expanded to a 7,700-square-foot showroom. The store now offers a wide variety of bed linens, household furniture, rugs, wrought-iron beds and more. The enlarged area is also home to the store’s interior-design team, so customers can work with a professional right in the store when they’re looking to enhance their home décor.

Even if someone isn’t looking to

overhaul an entire home, the store is still the place to go for unique accessories. The Peddler is an exclusive retailer for Herend China, Christopher Radko, Byers Choice and Vera Bradley. It also offers personalized service for bridal registries, baby gifts, stationery and jewelry – and it still provides free gift wrap.

“This is our third location,” says Mary Ann Richardson, co-owner. “We started it here, and we’ve just kept it here.”

The moves have always led to bigger and better spaces over the years, a trend that will continue as long as people in Rutherford and surrounding counties stay as loyal as they have over the last three decades, she says.

PIGGING OUT IN MURFREESBORO

Folks tend to be very particular about their barbecue. And for more than a decade, many, many people have been very, very particular about the Slick Pig in Murfreesboro.

Maybe it’s the smoked wings, or the ribs, or the chicken. Whatever it is, they keep coming back, and there’s talk of potential franchises down the road.

The Slick Pig’s culinary success story began in 1995, when John Robinson opened the restaurant. Since he was only 21, his parents came in as partners. In addition to the original East Main Street location, there’s now a Slick Pig on Church Street in Murfreesboro, and all three Robinsons are still serving up the sides and visiting with the customers.

“We’re just blessed here,” says Jerry Robinson. “We get to meet good customers all the time, good people, and we’ve made a lot of friends. We probably fellowship just about as much as we serve food.”

Entrepreneurs in Nashville, White House and other Middle Tennessee locations have expressed interest in a Slick Pig of their own, so is a chain in the offing?

“People have come to us about it, but that’ll be new ground,” Robinson says. “I’m all for any small business person who wants to give it a shot – that’s the kind of thing our nation is built on. If they work hard and take care of their customers, then people will come back and they can make it work.”

The nonprofit Born Again Technologies finds new owners for old computers.

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Business | Biz Briefs

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FLEX-IBLE GROWTHRutherford County is in the geo-

graphical center of Tennessee, and it’s also a central point of operations for O-Flex Group, a developer and manufacturer of corrugated tubing.

O-Flex products are used for vehicle-occupant and pedestrian-crash protection. The global company’s Murfreesboro plant opened in 1996, and it has since expanded to a 40,000-square-foot facility that produces head-impact, energy-absorbing, corrugated tube products, Heat Protection Tube products and Pedestrian Impact Protection products for the automotive market. A second plant – which manufactures side-curtain air bag tubular components, seat belt retractors and pretensioners, and HVAC hose applications for the automotive market – came online in 2005, fur-ther enhancing the company’s Middle Tennessee presence.

“It was our intent to have something close to our existing plants for proximity purposes, and for ease of continuing the management between the two locations,” says Ron Ziemba, president. “Getting the

location that we did has definitely worked out to our benefit.”

The company’s decision to continue its growth in Murfreesboro is due in no small part to the employees it has been able to recruit and retain.

“We have an excellent workforce here,” he says.

BANKING ON ITDoing business in the community is a

hallmark of Rutherford County’s residents, so when MidSouth Bank launched its operations in January 2003, its founders thought they had a winning plan.

Five years and six locations later, it seems they were right.

“Our growth has been much better than average market growth, and we’re now the sixth largest bank in our market,” says Lee Moss, chairman and CEO.

Moss attributes the bank’s success to its employees, most of whom have been bankers in the area for a long time.

“Our people are well known by the business decision makers here, and we’ve become the bank of choice for many clients,” he says. MidSouth Bank in Rutherford County

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The bank’s initial success came from the area’s businesses, but as it has built new locations and become more broad-based in its offerings, personal banking has picked up as well. MidSouth has even played the role of preservationist, purchasing as its headquarters the former First United Methodist Church building. Work is now being done to convert the structure to suit the bank’s operations. – Joe Morris


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A Three-Star County Is BornPRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION COMES WITH MONEY-SAVING PERKS, OTHER ADVANTAGES

R utherford County is already saving thousands of dollars, thanks to a much sought-after

Three Star designation from the state in 2007.

It’s the first time Rutherford County has attained Three-Star status – a desig-na tion that makes the county eligible for matching state grants, reduced energy-loan interest rates and other money-saving perks.

Laurel Baes, director of community development for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, spent an entire year gathering all the information needed to submit to the state of Tennessee in the Three-Star process.

“I had to compile detailed county information on education, municipal government, tourism and economic development – and that’s just for starters,” she says. “I had to meet with all the groups of people who are associated with those entities. Then all

the facts, figures and other information had to be put together in a professional manner for the state to review.”

The county wasn’t up for the designation until 2007 because no chamber staffer had the time to gather all the information needed to submit to the state, Baes says. “Our chamber was just overwhelmed with work until I was finally given the assignment for 2007,” she says. “I was happy to do it.”

Baes says that once the state receives all the written information from a com-munity, it takes a few weeks for officials to rule whether or not a community will receive Three-Star status.

“Once a county is certified, a recer-tification process must take place every year – but that particular process won’t be anywhere as daunting as getting initially certified,” she says. “A community really just needs to update the information from the preceding year, which is rather easy to do.”

The advantages for a community are numerous once it becomes Three-Star certified. Designated communities are eligible for several advantages such as matching state grants, zero-percent interest loans for municipal projects, and reduced energy-loan interest rates.

Those benefits have already paid off in a big way for Rutherford County. In 2007, Rutherford County Schools applied for a state loan to get energy-efficient lights installed at all the schools, and the system received that loan at zero-percent interest.

“The school system would have normally been charged a 3 percent interest rate,” Baes says. “The Three-Star designation saved the county thousands and thousands of dollars in energy savings. That is only one of the successes that residents will be hearing about in the future, thanks to Rutherford County earning its three stars.”

– Kevin Litwin

Gov. Phil Bredesen awarded Rutherford County and its municipalities the Three-Star certification from the state in 2007. This designation allows the county to receive special incentives and be more competitive for grant funding.


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TRANSPORTATION

Interstate 24 serves

Rutherford County, linking

it with Nashville and

Chattanooga. I-24 converges

with Interstates 40 and

65 just 15 miles north of

Rutherford County, offering

easy access to major markets.

State Route 840, a limited-

access, four-lane highway

through Rutherford County,

offers access to I-40 East

to Knoxville and I-65 South

to Birmingham, as well as

I-24. The next leg of the

highway will offer access

to I-40 West to Memphis.

Rutherford County has

two airports – Murfreesboro

Municipal Airport and

Smyrna Airport. Nashville

International Airport is just

eight miles north of the

county line.

There is a CSX rail line

(piggyback and container

services available in nearby

Nashville) and truck

freight lines.

TAXES

The state of Tennessee

has no income tax.

Rutherford County citizens

pay a 7% state sales tax,

a 2.75% local sales tax and

a $76.50 wheel tax. For specific

information on city property

taxes, county taxes and

commercial taxes, visit

www.rutherfordcountytn.gov.

INDUSTRIAL PARKS

Rutherford County and its

cities (Eagleville, La Vergne,

Murfreesboro, Smyrna)

do not own any industrial

parks, but there are more than

600 privately owned industrial

buildings located throughout

the county. For available sites

or more information, call

the Rutherford County

Chamber of Commerce

at (615) 869-0345 or visit

rutherfordchamber.org.

HOUSEHOLDS

2007 est., 86,837

2012 projection, 101,280

Change 1990-2000, 54.3%

COMMUTING

Workers who commute to Rutherford County from:

Bedford County, 1,885

Cannon County, 2,322

Coffee County, 1,298

Davidson County, 6,837

Marshall County, 279

Williamson County, 1,506

Wilson County, 1,988

Workers who commute from Rutherford County to:

Bedford County, 560

Cannon County, 306

Coffee County, 571

Davidson County, 25,297

Marshall County, 211

Williamson County, 3,870

Wilson County, 1,568

BUSINESS CLIMATERutherford County and its cities – Eagleville, La Vergne, Murfreesboro

and Smyrna – are among the fastest-growing areas in the state,

with a diversified economy and easy access to the nation’s markets.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Company Employees

Nissan North America 5,700

Rutherford County Schools 4,072

Middle Tennessee State University 3,000

Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. 1,850

Ingram Book Company 1,658

State Farm Insurance Companies 1,550

Middle Tennessee Medical Center 1,300

City of Murfreesboro 1,200

Rutherford County Government 1,172

Alvin C. York V.A. Medical Center 1,150

Asurion 1,137

Verizon Wireless 1,083

Cinram 1,000

Vi-Jon 1,000

General Mills 750

Borders Group 701

Johnson Controls 630

Quality Industries 515


Business | Economic Profile

301 Economic Profile.indd 43 2/12/08 4:12:56 PM

BUSINESS POINTS

Employment trends indicate

that private employment,

retail trade, services

and wholesale trade will

continue to grow. With

a lower cost for both land and

workforce, white-collar and

transportation, wholesaling

and distribution business

growth will continue with the

expansion of the interstate

system throughout the county.

Industry abounds in

Rutherford County and

represents a Who’s Who

of corporate giants, such

as Nissan North America,

Ingram Book Company,

Whirlpool Corp., Bridgestone/

Firestone Inc., State Farm

Insurance Cos. and Verizon

Wireless, to name just a few.

With an unemployment rate

hovering between 3 percent

and 5 percent – well below

the national average – Middle

Tennessee and Rutherford

County consistently

outperform national

economic indicators.

Rutherford County’s retail

trade base is made up of

more than 350,000 people.

At its center, Murfreesboro

has developed into a retail

destination, attracting

shoppers from a 10-county

region. Retail sales

in the county are more

than $3 billion per year.

Population growth has driven

a boom in residential

construction, with the county

issuing almost as many

building permits as Nashville/

Davidson County over a three-

year period, with one-fourth

the population.

Middle Tennessee State

University in Murfreesboro is

the largest and fastest-growing

university in Tennessee with

more than 23,000

undergraduate students.

Source: www.rutherfordcountytn.gov

EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY

Industry Employees Percent

Agriculture, forestry & fishing 1,042 1.2%

Business & repair service 4,080 4.6%

Communications & other utilities 1,752 2.0%

Construction 6,174 7.0%

Educational services 7,473 8.5%

Entertainment & recreational services 1,159 1.3%

Financial institutions & real estate 5,946 6.8%

Health services 8,071 9.2%

Manufacturing, durable 7,209 8.2%

Manufacturing, nondurable 13,490 15.3%

Mining 315 0.4%

Other professional services 4,363 5.0%

Personal services 2,625 3.0%

Public administration 3,414 3.9%

Retail trade 11,393 12.9%

Transportation 4,996 5.7%

Wholesale trade 4,488 5.1%

DISTANCE TO SELECTED MAJOR CITIES

Cities Mileage

Nashville 30

Bowling Green 95

Chattanooga 100

Knoxville 180

Birmingham 195

Louisville 205

Atlanta 215

Memphis 240

St. Louis 340

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

High school graduates age 25 and older

Rutherford County, 86%

Tennessee, 81%

United States, 84%

Bachelor’s degree or higher27%




FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

16 banks with combined

deposits of $2,705,615,000

Resource Information:

rutherfordchamber.org

rutherfordcounty.org

LABOR MARKET PROFILE

The labor market area consists

of seven adjacent counties:

Bedford, Cannon, Coffee,

Davidson, Marshall, Williamson

and Wilson.

The labor force in this area

totaled 646,226 in 2006. It is

estimated that the population

of the labor market will be

696,558 in 2011, which

represents a change of

7.6 percent from 2006.

The current population

is 49 percent male and

51 percent female. The median

age of the labor market area

is 36, compared to the U.S.

average of 35.

The prime labor force

group – ages 18 through

54 – represents 52 percent

of the labor market

area’s population.

HOUSING

In 2007, the median house

value for Rutherford County

was $144,420, compared

with the Nashville-area

median housing value of

$147,071 and $172,914

for the United States.

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

2007 est., $52,877

2012 projection, $57,183

Change 1990-2000, 49.9%

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NATIONAL RANKINGS

The Nashville-Davidson-

Murfreesboro MSA ranks 4th

in U.S. markets for “Economic

Strength” – Policom, July 2007

La Vergne ranks 61st on list of

“America’s Fastest Growing

Suburbs.” – Forbes, July 2007


Murfreesboro MSA ranks

second on the list of “Best

Cities for Relocating Families”

– Worldwide ERC and Primacy

Relocation, May 2007


Murfreesboro MSA ranks

ninth on the list of “Best

Places for Business and

Careers” – Forbes, April 2007


Murfreesboro MSA ranks as

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Rutherford CountyChamber of Commerce

501 Memorial Blvd.

P.O. Box 864

Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0864

(615) 893-6565

(800) 716-7560

Fax: (615) 890-7600

[email protected]

18th in the “Best Cities

for Jobs” index – Forbes,

February 2007


Murfreesboro MSA is once

again one of “America’s

50 Hottest Cities.” –

Expansion Management magazine, January 2007

Tennessee ranks fifth for

“Top State Business Climate” – Site Selection magazine,

November 2006

Nashville-Davidson-

Murfreesboro MSA ranks No. 1

in the “Best U.S. Cities for

Relocating Singles.” –

Worldwide ERC & Primacy

Relocation, October 2006

Rutherford County ranks

as 20th fastest-growing

county in U.S. – U.S. Census

Bureau, August 2006

Tennessee ranks No. 1

in “Economic Development

Achievement” for 2006.

– Business Facilities, July 2006

Murfreesboro is No. 84 out

of the 100 “2006 Best Places to

Live” in the nation. – CNNMoney

magazine, July 2006

The state of Tennessee ranks

second on the “Top Ten

Competitive States” list – Site Selection magazine, May 2006

MSA ranks fifth in the U.S.

markets most promising to

retail developers – Shopping Centers Today, May 2006

Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy

Bragg ranks No. 88 of 100 most

powerful people in Tennessee. –

Business Tennessee magazine,

April 2006

Rutherford is the fastest-

growing county in Tennessee

by population moving in. –

U.S Census Bureau, March 2006

MSA is a “Five-Star Knowledge

Worker Metro.” – Expansion Management, March 2006

For two years in a row, MSA

ranks No. 1 in the “America’s

50 Hottest Cities.” – Expansion Management, February 2006

MSA ranks 52nd out of

379 metropolitan areas

in the “Best Performing

Cities” index. – Milken Institute,

February 2006

Smyrna ranks in the Top

10 Best Places to Retire –

U.S. News & World Report, September 2007




E very Monday evening for four weeks each semester, a small group of fifth-grade students and their parents gather in the art room at Smyrna Primary School.

There they share a meal, read a book together and engage in a craft or activity related to the book.

The whimsical atmosphere of the art room provides the perfect setting in which to accomplish the primary goal of the BookLIT program – turning kids on to the joy of reading.

“We built BookLIT [LIT stands for Learning and Investigating Together] as a vehicle for intergenerational communication that incorporates liter acy,” says Dr. Ron Kates, Middle Tennessee State University English professor and project coordinator for MTSU’s Experiential Learning program. “We did not want this to be a remedial program. It’s just about emphasizing the fun of reading – and of parents and children reading together.”

Smyrna Primary’s fifth graders aren’t the only students getting something out of BookLIT, however. The program – which originated in spring 2006 as a collaboration between the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce’s Business Education Partnership Foundation and MTSU’s Experiential Learning department – gives college students the opportunity to work in a local school. Laura Beth Jackson of the Chamber oversees operations. Under her direction, the college students run the program.

“Usually two to four MTSU students lead the actual groups,” Jackson says. “They plan the activities, discussions, games and crafts. We’ve had more than a dozen students

participate, and those who do get college credit for it.”In addition to the credit, participating students have

gained some personal rewards. “I’ve really had a great time working with the kids and

their parents,” says MTSU English major Stephanie Weaver. “The kids come up with things I’d never even thought of, and the parents always bring something new to the table.”

When Weaver brought in modeling clay for one of the activities, she wasn’t sure the parents would take part. “But they got into it just as much as the kids did,” she says.

BookLIT also has brought a unifying focus to parent/child groups with racial diversity and varying levels of education.

“Everyone has a blast,” Jackson says. “It’s been really sweet for those of us running the program to witness the interaction between parents and kids. We’ve seen some great family dynamics.”

Now other programs are being developed using the BookLIT model – evidence that the program is working, Kates says.

But the most important results show up on the student evaluation cards, where the kids say they’ve found out reading is fun.

That’s been our hope,” Jackson says, “That the kids will find learning is a great experience.” – Carol Cowan

Sharing the Joy of ReadingBOOKLIT PROGRAM HELPS SPARK A LOVE OF LITERACY AND LEARNING AS A FAMILY

BookLIT, a literacy program held at Smyrna Primary School, helps families learn to enjoy reading books together.

SEE MORE ONLINE | For more information, visit imagesrutherford.com and search “education.”


Education

301 Education.indd 49 2/12/08 4:13:35 PM

New Schools Are in SessionFACILITIES ADD SPACE, TECHNOLOGY

The 2007-2008 school

year kicked off with some

brand-new accommodations

for growing numbers of

students in Rutherford County.

The new La Vergne Lake

Elementary School has

alleviated overcrowding at

La Vergne Primary and Roy

Waldron Elementary. The K-5

school’s capacity ranges from

850 to 1,000 students, and

population hit the 900 mark

on day one, says James Evans,

spokesman for Rutherford

County Schools.

New technology at La Vergne

Lake includes Classroom

Performance System wireless

remotes that promote

interactive teaching and

learning; a media center that

combines a library and a

technology center; computer

labs; and one computer for

every five students, Evans says.

John Pittard Elementary,

built in a growing area of

Murfreesboro, is likely to win

some architectural awards, says

Cheryl Harris, spokeswoman

for Murfreesboro City Schools.

John Pittard’s traditional style

is reminiscent of historic

buildings – “the way you think

an old school should look,”

Harris says.

But its classrooms

feature built-in flat screen

monitors, SMART Board

interactive whiteboards

and wireless Internet.

The K-6 school will

accommodate more than 1,000

students. Construction of the

John Pittard school allowed two

other Murfreesboro city schools

to transition to new uses.

“This has really had a domino

effect,” Harris says. “It’s been

like building three new schools.”

– Carol Cowan

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Education

301 Education.indd 50 2/12/08 4:13:38 PM

W ith topics like Silly Sala-manders, Leapin’ Lizards and Lovely Ladybugs, it’s

no wonder that toddlers f lock to the Wild Things recreation program at Murfreesboro’s Barfield Crescent Park. What’s a little less expected is how much the adults who tag along enjoy and learn about the subjects.

“Moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles bring the kids and stay with them during what we call an outdoor adventure and discovery program for 5-year-olds and younger,” says Deborah Paschall, Barfield Crescent’s program coordinator. “I remember one grandmother who would always come out saying, ‘I am learning so much!’ ”

Barfield Crescent is a showpiece of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. Its 300 acres include an eight-field softball and baseball complex, a disc golf course, pavilions and playgrounds, walking and jogging trails, and a scenic wilderness area with trails under forest canopies, a campground and access to river wading. The Wilderness Station includes classrooms and an outdoor store, and it’s headquarters for the park’s ever-increasing array of educational offerings to boost appreciation of Mother Nature’s handiwork. Wild Things was the first program offered when the park opened in 2000, and Paschall says it’s still going strong.

Located at Murfreesboro’s southern border, Barfield Crescent was made possible in no small measure by the Christy-Houston Foundation, a philan-thropy established with the $50 million proceeds from the 1986 sale of the publicly owned hospital. The tab for the park’s development, including land acquisition, was more than $8.3 million,

Where the Wild Things AreGETTING BACK TO NATURE IS NATURAL AT BARFIELD CRESCENT PARK

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Program Specialist Ann Mather shows children a turkey feather at the Wild Things class at Barfield Crescent Park, which offers many popular programs.

and Christy-Houston grants totaled more than $5.6 million.

“What a wonderful gift the residents of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County received with little cost to them due to the Christy-Houston Foundation,” says Dennis Rainier, the city’s parks and recreation director.

Rainier describes Barfield Crescent as “a collaboration of all things for all people. People like Barfield because it’s truly a family park. There’s something for everyone.”

Wild Things is just one of the park’s programs that has won accolades from the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association. Another is Home School in the Wilderness, an intensive, four-hour education program presented monthly for home-schooled children.

Paschall says the park is “getting on the bandwagon” of a national movement dubbed No Child Left Inside, while also exploring the possibility of opening the campground for school-sanctioned overnight camping trips.

Rainier says his department has been fortunate to enjoy community-wide support.

“People here want to do quality things in their leisure time, and they are avid supporters of our programs and facilities,” he says. “It seems like the general public is willing to step up to the plate. It’s a credit to the citizenry that they’re not willing to accept second-best.”

Barfield Crescent Park is certainly evidence of that.

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald


Sports & Recreation

301 Sports.indd 51 2/12/08 4:17:24 PM

Photo by Amanda Greer

Charlie Murphyis now located in the K-mart Plaza

between Big Lots & Tuesday Morning

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“Good food and

warm hearts are our specialty.”

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An Emerald Group LLC Property


301 Health.indd 52 2/12/08 4:16:25 PM

F or some residents of Rutherford and Cannon counties, health insurance is an unobtainable dream. But thanks to the Primary Care & Hope Clinic in

Murfreesboro, health care is not.“It’s been interesting watching this evolve,” says Lisa Terry,

the clinic’s CEO. “When I first came here, we were needed, but nothing like we’re needed today. That’s why we just keep growing, because the number of patients who need our services just keeps on growing.”

A nurse practitioner, Terry joined the clinic in 1994, just two years after it was incorporated with the help of a state grant as a not-for-profit provider of quality, affordable health care.

The growing number of patient visits – more than 18,000 in 2007 – means the clinic is scheduled to move to its fourth location in the summer of 2008, and this time the facility is custom-built to meet the clinic’s needs. Thanks to a $3.9 million grant from the charitable Christy-Houston Foundation – established with proceeds from the 1986 sale of the county-owned hospital – the clinic’s new, 23,000-square-foot digs will feature 24 patient rooms and three special-procedure treatment rooms. The facility is under construction in the new Murfreesboro Gateway district on 2.3 acres donated by the city. The clinic is turning to individuals, businesses and charities to sponsor patient rooms, which means providing the funds for furnishings and equipment. Terry says the estimate for outfitting the new clinic’s interior is about $560,000, which includes $145,000 for X-ray capabilities – an in-house luxury the clinic hasn’t enjoyed before.

Two other nonprofit organizations, Community Helpers and Dispensary of Hope, will also move to the new clinic. A service of Middle Tennessee Medical Center, Dispensary of Hope helps the medically underserved obtain prescription medications, and Community Helpers offers emergency financial assistance to low-income families.

The Primary Care & Hope Clinic has physician volunteers and 20 paid staff members, including nurse practitioners

A Ray of HopePRIMARY CARE & HOPE CLINIC OFFERS HEALTH CARE TO THOSE IN NEED

CEO Lisa Terry oversees the not-for-profit Primary Care & Hope Clinic, which moves to a new location in 2008.

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and nurses, medical assistants, office personnel and social workers who meet with new patients to determine their financial circumstances and review their needs. The clinic accepts TennCare, the state’s answer to Medicaid, and uninsured patients are charged on a sliding scale determined by their income. Patients must present proof of residency and their latest tax return.

“The misconception sometimes is that everybody who is uninsured doesn’t work. That’s completely inaccurate,” Terry says. “The majority of our patients do have jobs, but they have jobs that don’t offer insurance – or they may have a condition that makes them uninsurable.”

In 2006, The New York Times Job Market magazine chose Terry as one of four nurses to honor nationwide in its “Tribute to Nurses” program, established in 2002. The recognition “made me really reflect on why I stay in this game,” Terry recalls. “This is a very stressful job and a very difficult patient population to serve.” Then, with tears in her eyes, she adds, “The longer I stay here and the more families I see, the more I can’t leave.” – Sharon H. Fitzgerald

SEE MORE ONLINE | For more information, visit imagesrutherford.com and search “health care.”


Health & Wellness

301 Health.indd 53 2/12/08 4:16:32 PM

Playing Musical ChairsSYMPHONY CHANGES NAME AND CONDUCTOR, TRIES UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH

The Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra has named Bowling Green conductor Jeffrey A. Reed as its next director.

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Sound the trumpets. The symphony orchestra in Murfreesboro is now appropriately named the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra.

Originally chartered in 1981 as the Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra chose a new name that more residents would associate with its Murfreesboro home. Symphony board members made the name-change decision following the retirement of Laurence Harvin in early 2007.

“Laurence was the Tennessee Philharmonic’s founder and conductor for 25 years, but with his retirement came a decision by board members to take the symphony in a new direction,” says Darla Jackson, business manager with the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra. “The board thought it was time for a complete new image, so the current name was approved. In addition, a new conductor with a f lair for the unusual was hired.”

That new conductor and music director is Jeffrey A. Reed, who was formerly in charge of the Bowling Green (Ky.) Western Symphony Orchestra for a number of years.

“Jeffrey was able to dramatically grow the Bowling Green orchestra during his recent tenure, at a time when most symphonies are struggling these days,” Jackson says. “Reed takes an unconventional approach to conducting. For example, he often mixes pops with classical music, which most conductors would never do. Because of his innovative

approach, the Murfreesboro board has agreed to see what Jeffrey can do with our orchestra at least through the 2007-2008 season.”

Reed officially began his stint with the Murfreesboro symphony in October 2007 by conducting a concert that featured the music of The Beatles.

“That production turned out to be very successful,” Jackson says. “Everyone affiliated with the orchestra was happy with the outcome.”

In November 2007, Reed directed a show called “Be a Good Sport,” featuring sports music such as The Natural for baseball and the William Tell Overture for archery. In December, he directed a “Yule Be Home for Christmas” concert, followed in January with a “That’s Italian” performance of Italian songs.

The 2007-2008 season wraps up in March 2008 with a production called “Night With Oscar” that features a compilation of award-winning songs from the motion-picture industry.

“All performances of the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra occur at the First United Methodist Church on Thompson Lane, with the church offering plenty of seating along with beautiful, wonderful acoustics,” Jackson says. “It is an exciting time to be a part of this organization. We invite everyone in Rutherford County to come see what we are all about.” – Kevin Litwin


Arts & Culture

301 Arts.indd 55 2/12/08 4:10:23 PM

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COMMUNITY

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Hospitals include Middle

Tennessee Medical Center and

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic

in Murfreesboro, StoneCrest

Medical Center in Smyrna and

the Alvin C. York V.A. Medical

Center in Murfreesboro.

LIFE IN RUTHERFORD CO.

The population of Rutherford

County was 118,570 in 1990,

and it grew to more than

229,380 in 2007.

The economic impact of MTSU

on Rutherford and Davidson

counties amounts to more

than $350 million each year.

A dozen tourism sites in

Rutherford County are

devoted to the Civil War.

The annual boys and girls

TSSAA State High School

Basketball Tournaments at

MTSU provide a $3 million

economic impact to Rutherford

County every March.

Rutherford County ranks No. 1 in

Tennessee for horse population,

according to the Tennessee

Department of Agriculture.

CLIMATE

Avg. annual temperature, 59.6 F

Avg. monthly high temperature

January 48.9 F, July 90.3 F

Avg. monthly low temperature

January 28.9 F, July 67.1 F

Avg. annual precipitation

50.64"

Avg. annual snowfall, 5.9"

GARDENING

An average annual

temperature of 60 degrees

makes it easy to have a green

thumb in Rutherford County.

Popular trees grown in the

county include ash, holly,

magnolia, pin oak and red

maple, while common shrubs

include crepe myrtle, forsythia,

oak leaf hydrangea and

viburnum. Popular flowers are

begonia, day lily, iris, impatiens

and pansy, and abundant crops

are corn, soybeans and wheat.

Alfalfa and hay are also grown

for livestock.

RECREATION

Recreation opportunities

are abundant in Rutherford

County. For information

about facilities and

programs contact:

Murfreesboro Parks &

Recreation Department

697 Barfield Crescent Road

Murfreesboro, 890-5333

Parks & Recreation

Department Town Centre

100 East Sam Ridley Parkway

Smyrna, 459-9710

La Vergne Parks &

Recreation Department

294 Sand Hill Road

La Vergne, 793-3224

North Rutherford YMCA

2001 Mason Tucker Drive

Smyrna, 220-9622

SportsCom

2310 Memorial Blvd.


RUTHERFORD COUNTY

SNAPSHOTHear that noise? It’s Rutherford County continuing to boom.

The county has issued more than 3,000 single- and multifamily

residential building permits every year since 1999.

The area code for Ruther ford County i s 615 . IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM 57

Community Profile

301 Community Profile.indd 57 2/12/08 4:12:10 PM

Patterson Park

Community Center

521 Mercury Blvd.


St. Clair Street Senior Center

325 St. Clair St.


Smyrna Senior Citizens Center

100 Raikes St.

Smyrna, 459-4839

La Vergne Senior Center

337 Stones River

La Vergne, 793-3048

YMCA

205 N. Thompson Lane


ATTRACTIONS

Oaklands Historic House Museum900 N. Maney Ave.


Sam Davis Home and Museum1399 Sam Davis Road

Smyrna, 459-2341

Discovery Center atMurfree Spring502 S.E. Broad St.


Cannonsburgh Village

312 S. Front St.


Bradley Academy

415 S. Academy St.


Fortress Rosecrans

Old Fort Park


Nissan North America (tours)

983 Nissan Drive

Smyrna, 459-1444

Geographic Center

of Tennessee

Old Lascassas Pike


Rutherford County

Courthouse

Public Square


Murfreesboro/Rutherford

County Center for the Arts

110 W. College St.


Middle Tennessee

State University

1301 E. Main St.,


Stones River Greenway Trail

3-mile walking trail

connects Stones River

National Battlefield and

Fortress Rosecrans

Stones River

National Battlefield

3501 Old Nashville Hwy.


Tennessee Livestock Center

1720 Greenland Drive


Tennessee Miller Coliseum

304-B W. Thompson Lane


GOLF COURSES

Indian Hills Golf Course

405 Calumet Trace


Old Fort Golf Course

1028 Old Fort Pkwy.


Cedar Crest Golf Course

7972 Mona Road



Community Profile


Stones River Country Club

1830 N.W. Broad St.


Veterans Administration

Golf Course

3400 Lebanon Road


Smyrna Municipal Golf Course

101 Sam Ridley Parkway

Smyrna, 459-2666

Champions Run Golf Course

14262 Mt. Pleasant Road

Rockvale, 274-2301

SCHOOLS

Higher Education

Middle Tennessee State

University, 898-2300

Tennessee Technology Center

898-8010

Motlow State Community

College, 220-7880

Draughons Junior College

217-9347

Public Schools

Rutherford County Schools

Central Office

893-5812

www.rcs.k12.tn.us

Barfield Elementary (K-5)

904-3810

Blackman Elementary

(K-5), 904-3795

Blackman High (9-12)

904-3850

Blackman Middle (6-8)

904-3860

Buchanan (K-8), 893-3651

Cedar Grove (K-5), 904-3777

Central Middle (7-8)

893-8262

Christiana Elementary (K-5)

896-0614

Christiana Middle (6-8)

904-3885

Daniel McKee Alternative

(6-12), 890-2282

David Youree (K-5), 904-6775

Eagleville (K-12), 904-6710

Holloway High (9-12)

890-6004

Homer Pittard

Campus School (K-6)

895-1030

John Coleman (K-5)

459-2613

Kittrell Elementary (K-8)

893-7604

Lascassas (K-8), 893-0758

La Vergne High (9-12)

904-3870

La Vergne Lake Elementary

(K-5), 904-6131

La Vergne Middle School (6-8)

904-3877

La Vergne Primary (K-2)

904-6735

McFadden School of

Excellence (K-8), 893-7251

Oakland High (9-12)

904-3780

Riverdale High (9-12)

890-6450

Rock Springs Elementary

(K-5), 904-3820

Rock Springs Middle

(6-8), 904-3825

Rockvale (K-8), 904-3881

Roy Waldron Jr. High

(4-8), 904-3785

Siegel High (9-12), 904-3800

Siegel Middle (6-8), 904-3830



Smyrna Elementary

(K-5), 459-6343

Smyrna High (9-12), 904-3865

Smyrna Middle (6-8)

904-3845

Smyrna Primary (K-5)

904-6720

Smyrna West Alternative (6-12)

904-3856

Stewartsboro (K-5), 904-6705

Stewarts Creek Elementary

(K-5), 904-6750

Stewarts Creek Middle School

(6-8), 904-6700

Thurman Francis Arts

Academy (K-8), 459-4128

Walter Hill Elementary (K-5)

893-8046

Wilson Elementary (K-5)

904-3840

Murfreesboro City Schools

cityschools.net

Bellwood-Bowdoin

Pre-school

895-2123

Black Fox Elementary

(K-6), 893-6395

Bradley Elementary

(K-6), 895-2672

Cason Lane Academy

(K-6), 898-7145

Discovery School at

Reeves-Rogers, 895-4973

Erma Siegel Elementary

(K-6), 904-1002

Hobgood Elementary

(K-6), 895-2744

John Pittard Elementary

396-0240

Mitchell-Neilson

Elementary (3-6)

890-7841

Mitchell-Neilson

Primary (K-2), 895-2904

Northfield Elementary (K-6)

895-7324

Scales Elementary (K-6)

895-5279

UTILITIES

Electric Services

Eagleville

Middle Tennessee

Electric Membership Corp.

893-7570

La Vergne

Nashville Electric Service

736-6900

Middle Tennessee Electric

Membership Corp.

Hwy. 41, 459-5261

Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro Electric

Department, 225 N. Walnut St.

893-5514

Rutherford County

Middle Tennessee


Hwy. 41, 893-7570

Smyrna

Middle Tennessee


Hwy. 41, 459-5261

Water

La Vergne

Water & Sewer Department

148 International Blvd.

793-7744

Murfreesboro

Water & Sewer Department

300 N.W. Broad St.

890-0862

Relocating?Trust the

experts at

Elite Relocation

to guide you to

your new

destination.

Elite Relocation ServicesA Division of RE/MAX Elite

109 Westpark Dr., Ste. 100Brentwood, TN 37027

Direct: (615) 850-4122 Main: (615) 661-4400 Toll-free: (800) 582-3204 Fax: (615) 296-9710

www.tnprop.com


Community Profile


Smyrna Utilities

315 S. Lowry St.

355-5740

Consolidated Utility District

709 New Salem Hwy.


Natural Gas

Atmos Energy

(countywide)

334 W. Lokey Ave.

Murfreesboro, 888-824-3434

Smyrna Utilities

315 S. Lowry St.

355-5740

Telephone Service

AT&T

(countywide)

5093 Murfreesboro Road


116 S. Cannon Ave.


TDS Telecom

5265 Murfreesboro Rd.

La Vergne, 793-7741

Refuse

Murfreesboro residents are

provided weekly collection by

the City of Murfreesboro

Solid Waste Department

630 W. Main St., 893-3681.

County residents may use

the dumpsters located

conveniently throughout

the county or subscribe

to private collection.

PUBLIC SERVICES

Administration

Eagleville City Hall

126 S. Main St., 274-6992

La Vergne City Hall

5093 Murfreesboro Rd.

793-6295

Murfreesboro City Hall

111 W. Vine St., 893-5210

Rutherford County Courthouse

1 Public Square


Smyrna City Hall

315 S. Lowry St., 459-2553

Tennessee Governor’s Office

State Capitol, Nashville

741-2001

RUTHERFORD COUNTY HOUSEHOLD INCOME (2007 EST.)

Less than $15,000, 10.85%

$15,000 - $24,999, 9.3%

$25,000 - $34,999, 10.79%

$35,000 - $49,999, 16.32%

$50,000 - $74,999, 23.85%

$75,000 - $99,999, 14.09%

$100,000 - $149,999, 11.13%

$150,000 +, 3.68%

10.85%

9.3%

10.79%

16.32%23.85%

14.09%

11.13%

3.68%



Fire Service

Eagleville Fire Department

Main Street, 274-6992

La Vergne Fire Department

169 Stones River Rd.

793-6223

Murfreesboro Fire Department

220 N.W. Broad St.

893-1422

Smyrna Fire Department

315 S. Lowry St.

459-6644

Police Service

Eagleville Police Department

Main Street, 274-6992

La Vergne Police Department

City Hall, 793-7744

Murfreesboro Police

Department,

302 S. Church St.

893-1311

Rutherford County

Sheriff’s Department

940 New Salem Rd.


Smyrna Police

Department

City Hall, 459-6644

MEDIA

Newspapers

The Daily News Journal, daily

The Tennessean, daily

Rutherford A.M., twice weekly

Rutherford Reader, weekly

The Murfreesboro Post, weekly

Magazines

The Murfreesboro Magazine,

bimonthly

Rutherford Parent, monthly

Images of Rutherford

County, annual

Rutherford County Economic

Guide, annual

Radio

WGNS Radio 1450 AM

WAPB Radio 810 AM

WMOT Radio 89.5 FM

WFCM Radio 91.7 FM & 710 AM

WBOZ Radio 105 FM

WMTS Radio 88.3 FM

WRLG Radio 94.1 FM

WGNS Radio 100.5 FM

& 101.9 FM

Television

Comcast Cablevision

All Nashville TV and

radio stations

2008 EVENTS

March

1-2

ROAD TO THE HORSE COMPETITION

Tennessee Miller Coliseum

Murfreesboro

(877) 772-5425

1

SEUSS CELEBRATION

Discovery Center at

Murfree Spring

Murfreesboro

890-2300

1-2

2008 ALL NATIONS AMERICAN INDIAN FESTIVALTennessee Livestock Center

Murfreesboro

796-4210

4-8

TSSAA GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTMurphy Center

Murfreesboro

898-2300

11-15

TSSAA BOYS STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTMurphy Center

Murfreesboro

898-2300

15

LA VERGNE EASTER EGG HUNTBicentennial Park, La Vergne

793-7303, ext. 102

22

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZASam Davis Home, Smyrna

459-2341

April

12-13

THE GREAT TENNESSEE AIR SHOW 2008Smyrna Airport

459-2651

Finding or selling your home is where my heart is.

2245 Keeneland Commercial Blvd.Murfreesboro, TN 37127

Office: (615) 896-4740Fax: (615) 896-8138

E-mail: [email protected]

TAMMY HEATHCOTTCell: (615) 202-2415 A Neal Family Business

Since 1939

Mon-Fri: 8-5Thurs: 8-8

406 W. Burton St.(615) 893-8013

Fax: (615) 890-1151

Neals Lighting Center


Community Profile


12

DINNER AND MOVIE NIGHTSam Davis Home, Smyrna

459-2341

26

32ND ANNUAL CANNONSBURGH PIONEER DAYCannonsburgh Village

Murfreesboro

890-0355

30-May 3

DAYS ON THE FARMSam Davis Home, Smyrna

459-2341

May

3

JAZZFEST 2008Public Square

895-1887

13-14

A DAY OF WASHING, CHURNING ANDLEARNINGOaklands Historic House

Museum, Murfreesboro

893-0022

17

FREE DAY IN MAYNumerous locations

throughout county

893-6565

19-24

TSSAA SPRING FLINGCall for venues.

889-6740

24

HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERYStones River National

Battlefield, Murfreesboro

893-9501

24

REMINISCING IN BLUE AND GRAY TOURSStones River National


893-9501

June

7, 21HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERYStones River National


893-9501

13-155TH ANNUAL TENNESSEE HERITAGE BBQ FESTIVALSam Davis Home and Museum,

Smyrna

459-2341

21

INTERNATIONAL FOLKFEST 2008Around the courthouse

on the Murfreesboro

Public Square

896-3559

23-28

FRONT PORCH PASTIMES DAY CAMPOaklands Historic

House Museum,

Murfreesboro

893-0022



Source:

Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Rutherford CountyChamber of Commerce

501 Memorial Blvd.

P.O. Box 864

Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0864

(615) 893-6565

(800) 716-7560

Fax: (615) 890-7600

[email protected]

July

5REMINISCING IN BLUE AND GRAY TOURSStones River National


893-9501

5, 19HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN LIGHT TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERYStones River National


893-9501

11-1331ST ANNUAL UNCLE DAVE MACON DAYS FESTIVALCannonsburgh Village,

Murfreesboro

893-2369

12LA VERGNE ROTARY/DARE CAR SHOWLa Vergne City Hall

459-4145

18-2041ST ANNUAL MURFREESBORO ANTIQUE SHOWMurphy Center, Murfreesboro

893-8524 or 631-0734

19ARTILLERY BATTERY PROGRAMSStones River National


893-9501

August

2, 16, 30HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERYStones River National


893-9501

30-31FIGHTING FOR HOME AND HEARTHStones River National


893-9501

September

5-7PIONEER POWER DAYSNew show grounds on Chapel

Highway

274-6987, 330-2852 or

(931) 294-5973

10A DAY OF WASHING, CHURNING AND LEARNINGOaklands Historic House

Museum, Murfreesboro

893-0022

20OLD TIMER’S DAYVeteran’s Memorial Park,

La Vergne

287-8690

Amsouth/Regions Bank www.amsouth.com

Ascend Federal Credit Unionwww.ascendfcu.org

Black Box Network Services www.blackboxvss.com

Bumpus Harley Davidson www.bumpusharleydavidson.com

City of La Vergne www.lavergne.org

City Tile & Floor Covering LLC www.citytile.net

Clark Maples Realty & Auction Companywww.clarkmaples.com

Community First Bank & Trust www.cfbk.com

Doubletree Hotel Murfreesboro www.doubletreemurfreesboro.com

Exit Realty – Masterson Network www.mastersonnetworkhomes.com

F&M Bank www.myfmbank.com

Farmer Brothers Insurance www.farmerbrothersinsurance.com

General Mills www.generalmills.com

Guaranty Trust www.guarantytrust.com

Keller Williams – Todd Taylor www.tnsoldhome.com

Middle Tennessee Christian School www.mtcscougars.org

Middle Tennessee Medical Center www.mtmc.org

Midsouth Bank www.midsouthbanking.com

Motlow State Community College www.mscc.edu

Murfreesboro Electric Department www.murfreesboroelectric.com

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & Surgicenter www.mmclinic.com

Murphy’s Orthopedics & Foot Care

Nashville International Airport www.fl ynashville.com

Neals Lighting Center

Ole South Properties Inc. www.olesouth.com

Parktrust Development www.marymontsprings.com

Pictopia Inc.

Re/Max Elite – Michele Niec www.tnprop.com

Reeves-Sain www.reevessain.com

State Farm Insurance www.statefarm.com

Stonecrest Family Physicians www.stonecrestfp.com

Tennessee Technology Center at Murfreesboro www.ttcmurfreesboro.edu

The Avenue Murfreesboro www.theavenuealist.com

The Waterford in Smyrna

Throneberry Properties www.throneberry.com

Town of Smyrna www.townofsmyrna.org

Victoria Place Townhomes www.throneberry.com

Webb School www.webbschool.com

Weichert Realtors – Carroll & Companywww.weichertcarroll

Wilson Bank & Trust www.wilsonbank.com

Wings of Eagles School of Flight www.wingsmqy.com

YMCA Rutherford County www.ymcamidtn.org

Visit Our Advertisers


Community Profile



Where the name says it all …

1322 N. Rutherford Blvd. • Murfreesboro, TN • (615) 848-1100w w w . t h r o n e b e r r y . c o m

Spacious• One bedroom, one bath garden apartments

• Two and three bedroom, two-and-a-half bath townhomes

• Ceiling fans

• Washer and dryers included in all units

• Front porch and rear patio

• Walk-in closets

• Built-in microwaves

• Ice maker

• Dishwashers

• Vaulted ceilings in one bedroom

OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY

SENIOR EDITOR REBECCA DENTON

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, KIM MADLOM, BILL McMEEKIN, ANITA WADHWANI

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN, JESSICA MOZO

DIRECTORIES EDITORS AMANDA MORGAN, KRISTY WISE

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SHARON H. FITZGERALD, ELLEN MARGULIES, JOE MORRIS

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER TODD POTTER

INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER JOE THOMAS

ONLINE SALES MANAGER MATT SLUTZ

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, WES ALDRIDGE, TODD BENNETT,

ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, BRIAN MCCORD

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER

SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MGR. TADARA SMITH

PRODUCTION PROJECT MGRS.

MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

LAURA GALLAGHER, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER KRIS SEXTON

GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER, CANDICE HULSEY, ALISON HUNTER, JANINE MARYLAND, LINDA MOREIRAS,

AMY NELSON, CARL RATLIFF

WEB PROJECT MANAGER ANDY HARTLEY

WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ

WEB PRODUCTION JILL TOWNSEND

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN CORY MITCHELL

AD TRAFFIC MEGHANN CAREY, SARAH MILLER,PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN

SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART

V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS

MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS

MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK, DIANA GUZMAN,

MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP

COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

MARKETING DIRECTOR KATHLEEN ERVIN

MARKETING COORDINATOR AMY AKIN

IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

CUSTOM SALES COORDINATOR PATTI CORNELIUS

SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

Images of Rutherford County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed

through the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questionsor comments about the magazine, contact

Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce

501 Memorial Blvd. • Murfreesboro, TN 37129(615) 893-6565 • Fax: (615) 890-7600

www.rutherfordchamber.orgE-mail: [email protected]

VISIT IMAGES OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM

©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc.,725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,

(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.No portion of this magazine may be reproduced

in whole or in part without written consent.

Member Magazine Publishers of America

Member Custom Publishing Council

Member Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce

Please recycle this magazine

TM

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Images Rutherford County, TN: 2008

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