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PORTLANDSUN
AUGUST 11, 2015
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Ronnie McDowell colors Disney’s world
Artist to perform at Wilson County Fair
SEE PAGE 6
Road closure starts this
week
Arrest made in oil dump
Arraignments set for
Beasley and Hall
FULL STORY ON PAGE 3
FULL STORY ON PAGE 5
FULL STORY ON PAGE 8
2
www.theportlandsun.com August 11, 2015
Small-town striper gets big-time break
once that he wanted Riley at the Syracuse
Nationals.
“Whenever he invited me, my mouth
just dropped. I didn’t know what to
think,” Riley said. “Then when I showed
up, I didn’t sleep a lick the night before.
I wasn’t even nervous; it felt like Christmas morning! I even had Christmas carols coming to my mind: “jingle brush,
jingle brush.”
Riley had to raise $300 in order to go
to Syracuse, which he raised on his own
by pinstriping panels and selling them.
Of the 72 artists that attended Arty’s
Party, Riley said that 67 of them were
pinstripers and he was the youngest artist present.
Riley painted about 13 pieces at the
event, which he said sold for anywhere
between $60 and $320. All of the proRiley Graham recently attended the Syracuse Nationceeds earned at Arty’s Party are donated
als where he painted 13 different items that were sold
to the Ronald McDonald House.
to raise money for charity. Photos submitted.
“We earned $68,000 for the Ronald
McDonald House,” said Riley.
By JACQUELYN ANDERSON
Riley enjoyed observing the older
Portland Sun
pinstripers at the event. He liked watching
People say that golden opportunities are their techniques and learning new things
hard to come by, but for thirteen-year-old that could further his own work.
Riley Graham, it was as easy as painting a
“There were projects that would take me
classroom door. When Riley was asked by his two hours to do, and these guys were doing
father’s friend to pinstripe his door, he had them in twenty minutes,” he said.
no idea that it would lead to instant success
Mechele Dillard, for her part, is very
online.
proud of her son and said she was relieved
Pinstriping seems to come naturally to when Riley took a liking to art instead of
Riley. He started in the third grade with cray- working with cars like his father, Jason Graons and a pad of paper.
ham.
“I’d sit in my room and pinstripe on paper. I’d go to car shows and sell them for a
buck a piece,” said Riley of his beginning.
“I’ve been striping with paint and a brush for
about a year and a half.”
Riley explained that he bought jumbo
crayons and whittled them down to the
shape of pinstriping brushes in order to get
a feel for the technique.
“That’s where I got all the design concepts, but I got the line control and brush
control from using a brush,” he said.
The welding teacher at Franklin High
School in Kentucky, a good friend of Riley’s
father, asked Riley to pinstripe his classroom
door.
Riley Graham shows off some of his work.
“He brought his shop door to us over
Christmas break, and I striped it all up,” Ri“I was actually sort of happy because he
ley said. “It got crazy on Facebook when Dad is very artistic, and the car part of it is what
posted it.”
he calls ‘the dirty part of it,’ and he’s getting
The online recognition led to an invita- to do the artistic part of it,” she said. “His
tion for Riley to paint at Arty’s Party, a char- dad has a shop, and he’d rather do the pinity event in Syracuse, NY run by Art Schil- striping than getting dirty and working on
ling. Schilling saw the picture of Riley and the engines.”
the painted door on Facebook and decided at
Mechele said that she thinks it is cool
Wilkinson & Wiseman
Funeral Home
715 South Broadway, Portland
(615)325-4191
[email protected]
OBITUARIES:
(615)325-7900
www.wilkinsonwiseman.com
because it saves her a lot of
laundry. She is proud of her
son’s humility with his work.
“Anytime anyone says
anything to him about it, he
says, ‘I’m just doing what I
like to do,’ and it’s just tearing people all to pieces,” she
said. “When Syracuse News
did the story on him, he’s
just like, ‘I don’t like being
famous.’”
Young as he is, Riley has
already made a name for
himself in the art world and
he promises to be one of the
great, humble artists of our
time.
Portland West and Portland
Gateview named Reward
Schools
From STAFF REPORTS
Portland Sun
Seven Sumner County Schools have been named as Reward Schools by the Tennessee Department of Education.
Bethpage Elementary, Indian Lake Elementary and Merrol Hyde Magnet were
given Reward School status for being in the state’s top 5% of schools for performance,
as measured by overall student achievement levels. In order to be eligible for Reward
School status a school cannot have an achievement gap between its “all” population
and one of its subgroups (black/Native American/Hispanic, economically disadvantaged, English language learners, and special education) that is larger than the state
median or if the achievement gaps of the same subgroups have increased from the
previous years.
Guild Elementary, Lakeside Park Elementary, Portland Gateview Elementary and
Portland West Middle Schools all earned Reward School status for being in the state’s
top 5% for year-over-year progress, as measured by school-wide value-added data.
“This recognition is just one more indicator of the tremendous work that Sumner County educators undertake every day,” said Jennifer Brown, Assistant Director
of Schools for Instruction. “I am so very proud of our teachers, administrators, students, and parents.”
Seven schools recognized in the top 5% of the state for each respective category
is a first for Sumner County. In 2014, five schools were named to the list; in 2013
two schools were recognized, and in 2012 (the first year for the recognition), Sumner
County had three schools on the list. Indian Lake Elementary joins Bethpage Elementary and Merrol Hyde Magnet as repeat Reward Schools, with Bethpage making its
third appearance and Merrol Hyde Magnet making its fourth appearance on the list.
Portland West Middle is the first middle school in Sumner County to make the list.
“One of the things that makes Sumner County Schools so great is its diversity,
and our teachers and principals work extremely hard to make sure that all students
are exceling and growing,” stated Brown. “However, when you have schools that are
growing all of their students at a sharp incline, sometimes those gaps widen, even
though the schools are reaching and growing all of their students. This is what kept
the system from having even more schools named to the list.” Westmoreland Elementary, named as a Focus School in 2014 because it had a gap between the performance
of its special education population and its overall population, was taken off the Focus
list in just one year due to the growth made by its special education subgroup population. No new schools in Sumner County were named a Focus School in 2015.
“It’s gratifying for our students, teachers, parents, schools, and our district to be
acknowledged for the work they do each and every day,” said Del Phillips, Director of
Schools. “To have seven schools in the top 5% of the state in each respective category
is something of which we all can be proud.”
The district as a whole was named as an Achieving District. It met ten out of 11
of its achievement targets, missing graduation rate by .6%. It missed its gap closure
targets for students with disabilities in 3-8 math, 3-8 reading, Algebra I/Algebra II,
and English II/English III, with the majority of gap closure targets missed in high
school subject areas.
August 11, 2015
3
www.theportlandsun.com
Death of young woman ruled accidental
Evidence of foul play not found, police said
By SHERRY MITCHELL
Road closure
starting Aug. 10
From STAFF REPORTS
Portland Sun
Beginning today, the city of Portland will close TGT
Road at approximately 300 feet south of Vanatta Road
for the repair of two culverts. The existing culverts are
failing and causing the road to cave in at this location.
Full closure of this section is expected to be in force
through Monday, August 24, 2015. After August 24,
single lane closure may be required to complete construction, but the contractor shall have traffic control in
place to allow for through-traffic.
The city of Portland requests that all citizens be
mindful of the construction and drive safely as construction progresses.
All construction is scheduled to be completed on or
before Sunday, November 8, 2015.
Should you have questions regarding this project
please contact Portland Public Works at 615-323-1437.
Portland Sun
The death of a 28-yearold woman, found bruised
and brain dead in a Hendersonville home May 19, has
been ruled an accident, police said in a press conference
Monday afternoon.
Sumner EMS was called
to the residence of Lain McCammon, 129 Cherry Hill
Drive, where they found
his girlfriend, Ashley Mason unresponsive. She was
transported to Skyline Medical Center, where she was
pronounced brain dead and
taken off life support the
next day.
Det. Sgt. Jim Vaughn
said results of Mason’s autopsy came back late last
week, where cause of death
was determined to be accidental by the medical examiner’s office.
“It’s been an extensive
investigation and as of last
week, it was determined the
death was a result of an accident,” Vaughn said. “We
researched every possible
angle as to what caused (the
subdural hematoma). We
don’t know what caused it,
but we do know she had fallen several times. Given that
and the lack of evidence, it
was deemed an accident.”
Also at the press conference was Det. Jim Bachman,
who said McCammon’s initial claim that Mason had
fallen May 18 while at the
lake, was corroborated by
multiple witnesses, with oth-
er witnesses also saying they
saw her falling later that evening at the Hendersonville
condominium complex.
“Numerous
witnesses
saw her in different states
at the lake and the condo,”
Bachman said.
Vaughn said toxicology
reports indicate Mason had
no drugs in her system, but
did show a small level of alcohol, adding much of what
she may have drank, could
have dissipated from her
bloodstream by the time the
autopsy was conducted.
Hendersonville police received phone calls the night
of May 18 from at least three
neighbors at the Cherry Hill
Drive condominium, one
saying a partially dressed
woman holding a canoe
paddle was walking around
the parking lot and seemed
to be disoriented. A good Samaritan is reported to have
helped Mason back to the
condo she was staying at.
According to Vaughn,
police were dispatched to
the condo at 129 Cherry
Hill Drive and were asked to
leave.
Vaughn said even if
someone is believed to be
publicly intoxicated, once
they enter their residence,
police cannot legally enter
the home without consent.
Mason is seen on the
Facebook page “Justice for
Ashley and Her Family” with
multiple bruises. According
to the medical examiner,
those were several days old
Hendersonville Police Det. Jim Bachman (l) and Det. Sgt. Jim Vaughn
during a press conference Monday, explaining that the death of Ashley
Mason was ruled accidental. Photo by Sherry Mitchell.
when Mason was brought to
the hospital.
“We have reason to believe that she already had the
bruises on her body prior to
May 18,” Vaughn said.
Bachman said McCammon has been interviewed
multiple times and came in
voluntarily about a month
ago for a sit-down interview.
“His story was consistent
with witnesses’ statements
where she had fallen multiple times between the canoe,
shoreline and the condo,”
Bachman said.
The department is still
completing the final police
report, and then the case will
be wrapped up.
Despite the couple’s troubled history with domestic
violence and what he knows
Mason’s family had hoped
for - a conviction - Vaughn
said after two months of investigations, evidence of any
foul play was just not found.
“The facts just did not
lead us in that direction,”
Vaughn said. “I feel like Hen-
Mother speaks out about accidental
ruling of daughter’s death
Roadside Safety Belt
Checkpoint this week
From STAFF REPORTS
Portland Sun
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting a roadside safety belt checkpoint
during the week of Aug. 9, 2015 on Highway
31E in Sumner County.
Recognizing the danger to unbelted vehicle
occupants, troopers will target those who operate a vehicle while unbelted and take corrective actions for other violations observed.
Law enforcement recognizes that safety
belt checkpoints are highly visible and effective tools of enforcing the safety belt laws of
Tennessee while ensuring the protection of
vehicle occupants.
By SHERRY MITCHELL
Portland Sun
The mother of 29-year-old Ashley Mason, found unresponsive in a
Hendersonville condo May 19 and
later pronounced brain dead, said she
doesn’t agree with this week’s finding that her daughter’s death was accidental and caused by multiple falls
Springfield mother speaks out about daugh- May 18, while possibly intoxicated.
On Aug. 3, Hendersonville police
ter’s death
met with the family and released the
final autopsy findings showing Mason’s death, which was caused by a subdural hematoma or bleeding on the brain, was not the result of foul play and was ruled by the
medical examiner as an accident.
Mother Laura Fiscus Mattson said she became so upset after hearing the news;
she abruptly walked out of the interview.
“I was devastated - there was no way that Ashley looked like she did and it was an
accident,” she said.
Mason was found at the Hendersonville condo of her boyfriend, Gordon Lain
McCammon, who told police she had fallen while at the lake the day before. An am-
See MOTHER SPEAKS OUT...p12
dersonville Police Department did what they were
supposed to do. In situations
like this, when a loved one
dies, our heart goes out to
the family and we hope they
find peace and they understand the Hendersonville
Police Department uncovered all the facts and brought
those facts back to the medical examiner and the district
attorney.”
According to police tapes
released today, EMS contacted HPD the afternoon
of May 19, saying they had
found Mason breathing normal, but not waking up. The
EMS dispatcher said McCammon had told her Mason had been unconscious
since the night before.
public Notices
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Sumner County Chancery Court, 100
Public Square, Room 401, Gallatin, TN
37066
Case Number 83CH1-2015-PR-330
Estate of Josh Randall Dauberman, Deceased
Notice is Hereby Given that on August
5 of 2015, letters testamentary (or of
administration as the case may be) in
respect to the estate of Josh Randall
Dauberman, who died 06/15/2015 were
issued to the undersigned by the Sumner
County Chancery Court of Sumner County, Tennessee.
All persons, resident and non-resident,
having claims, matured or unmatured,
against the estate are required to file the
same with the Clerk of the above-named
Court, on or before the earlier of the dates
prescribed in (1) or (2) otherwise their
claims will be forever barred:
(1) (A) Four (4) months from the date of
the first publication (or posting, as the
case may be) of this notice if the creditor
received an actual copy of this notice to
creditors at least sixty (60) days before
date that is four (4) months from the date
of the first publication (or posting); or
(B) Sixty (60) days from the date the
creditor received an actual copy of the
notice to creditors, if the creditor received
the copy of the notice less than sixty
(60) days prior to the date that is four (4)
months from the date of the first publication (or posting) as described in (1) (A); or
(2) Twelve (12) months from the decedent’s date of death.
All persons indebted to the above Estate
must come forward and make proper
settlement with the undersigned at once.
Chelsea Renee Dauberman
Executor, Administrator, Personal Representative
Patricia A. McDade
Attorney
Darlene D. Daughtry
Clerk & Master/Deputy Clerk
Insertion Dates: August 11 & August 18,
2015
4
www.theportlandsun.com August 11, 2015
PORTLANDSUN O PINION
AUGUST 4, 2015
PORTLAND SUN
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@THEPORTLANDSUN
Pray for healing
for Chattanooga
By Governor Bill Haslam
The hearts, minds and prayers of Tennesseans, and
of the entire nation, have been turned toward Chattanooga this month.
We are sickened and saddened by the senseless tragedy, and we grieve for the families of the five service
members who were killed:
Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan
Sgt. Carson A. Holmquist
Lance Cpl. Squire “Skip” K. Wells
Staff Sgt. David A. Wyatt
Petty Officer Second Class Randall Smith.
We continue to pray for the speedy recovery of
Chattanooga Police Officer Dennis Pedigo, who was injured in the attack.
As Chattanooga and our state move forward, I want to share a couple things.
First, I am incredibly impressed with and grateful for the actions of local, state
and federal law enforcement officers, and I feel very good about the FBI’s commitment to devote resources and follow every possible lead in its investigation. Second, we have to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to ensure the
security of our guardsmen. On July 19 I issued a directive for Adjutant General
Max Haston to review security policies and procedures at National Guard armories,
storefront recruiting facilities and other installations and to take appropriate steps
to ensure the safety of guardsmen, citizens and property. I also instructed Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons to assess the
process for issuing handgun carry permits to trained members of the military and
to look for ways to streamline it. On July 20 the Tennessee National Guard temporarily repositioned its soldiers
in storefront recruiting locations to local National Guard armories, allowing the
review of the storefront facilities and what additional security measures are necessary to improve security at these locations.
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security has streamlined the handgun
permit application process for members of the military and is working with the
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which conducts criminal background checks on
all handgun permit applicants, to help with the process.
We’re continuing our review to determine the very best long-term security measures to protect our military men and women as they continue to serve and protect
us.
Finally, as I told those gathered for a prayer vigil in Chattanooga, my prayer is
that we will follow the words of Jeremiah and seek the prosperity and peace of the
city to which we are called. I know Tennesseans join me in continuing to pray for
healing for all those involved and for the Chattanooga community. We know they
will remain Chattanooga Strong.
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OF TENNESSEE
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in Tennessee
without a Will
“I intend to live forever, or die trying.” ~ Groucho Marx, American comedian and film
and television star (1890-1977)
Most American adults don’t have a basic will. Their reasons include:
“I just haven’t gotten around to it.”
“I don’t need a will because I don’t have much.”
“I’m afraid that once I write a will, I will die.”
“I just don’t want to think about death.”
The reality is that every person will someday pass away. It is also a reality that when a
deceased person – called a decedent – has no will, then Tennessee’s “intestate succession”
laws take over.
Q. Won’t my spouse just inherit everything when I die?
Not automatically. Tennessee law may surprise your loved ones if you die without a
will.
If a decedent has no will and no children, then yes, that person’s surviving spouse inherits the decedent’s estate.
But, if the decedent with no will has one child, then half goes to the child, and the other
half goes to the decedent’s spouse.
If there are two children, then the spouse only gets one-third of the estate. If there are
more than two children, the spouse gets one-third, and the children split the remainder
of the estate through the probate process. If no surviving spouse, the estate goes to the
decedent’s child(ren).
This may work for some families, but it could be a problem for others.
Q. What if a person dies with no will, no spouse, and no children?
In that case, the decedent’s estate goes to his or her parents. If the decedent’s parents
have passed away, then the decedent’s estate goes to his or her siblings in equal shares. If
any sibling has passed away, then that deceased sibling’s share goes to the child(ren) of
the deceased sibling.
NOTE: Making a will usually costs much less than the expense of probating a decedent’s estate without a will.
James B. (Jim) Hawkins is a general practice and public interest law attorney based in Gallatin. This column represents legal information, and is not intended to take the place of legal advice. All cases are different and need individual attention. Consult with a private attorney of
your choice to review the facts and law specific to your case. You can call (615) 452-9200 to
suggest future column topics.
Advertising Policy: To ensure the best response
to your ad, please take time to be sure your ad
is correct in the first issue it appears. If your ad
is incorrect, please call us immediately to have
it corrected. The publisher reserves the right to
edit or reject any advertising copy submitted for
publication and the publisher shall not be liable
for advertisements omitted for any reason. The
advertiser assumes sole liability for all content of
advertisements.
EDITORIAL POLICY: The Portland Sun is dedicated to publishing a cross-section of public opinion and providing a forum for diverse discourse.
We reserve the right to edit for grammar and
punctuation. Length is limited to 200 words.
We appreciate your opinion, and ask that you
include your name, address, and phone number
for verification. Letters to the editor may be sent
by e-mail to [email protected] or send to
The Portland Sun, 450 West Main Street, Suite
101, Gallatin, TN 37066, or Fax (615) 452-4919.
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@theportlandsun
The Portland Sun
August 11, 2015
5
www.theportlandsun.com
Just Add Water - Part 1: Dehydration
By HAL HENDRICKS It is much easier to become dehydrated than you might think, especially during these warm summer
months. Dehydration occurs when
you lose more fluid than you take
in by eating and drinking. The body
needs a certain amount of water and
other fluids to function normally. If you don’t replace lost
fluids, you will become dehydrated. Those most at risk of
becoming dehydrated include infants and children, older
adults, people with chronic illnesses, and people who work
or exercise outside in hot, humid weather.
It is normal for people to lose some water from the body
every day, but certain conditions can cause you to lose too
much water. Illnesses such as vomiting, diarrhea, and high
fever can cause a person to lose a large amount of water in a
short period of time. Medications such as diuretics or “water
pills” and laxatives may cause a person to become dehydrated due to an excessive amount of water loss. Dehydration
can occur through excessive sweating from vigorous exercise
if fluids and electrolytes are not replaced. In addition, hot,
humid weather increases the amount a person sweats and
the amount of fluid that is lost by the body.
The symptoms of dehydration can range from mild to
severe. A person with mild dehydration may not even notice
any symptoms. As dehydration gets worse symptoms may
include thirst, decreased urination or dark urine, dry skin,
lack of tears when crying, and feeling tired or lightheaded.
Severe dehydration is a medical emergency and can cause
extreme thirst, little or no urination, sunken eyes, shriveled,
dry skin, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, fever, delirium and unconsciousness. Infants may a
sunken fontanel-the soft spot on the top of head, dry mouth
or cracked lips, and few or no wet diapers. Dehydration can
lead to serious complications such as heat stroke, swelling
of the brain, seizures, and shock due to low blood volume,
kidney failure, coma and death.
Fortunately dehydration can be treated with fluid replacement. People with mild dehydration can usually treat it
by drinking more fluids, especially water. Sports drinks can
be useful for older children and adults, while young children
and infants need an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte, or breast milk in infants that are nursing. You will know
Portland police make arrest in oil dump
Cleanup listed at $20,000; city hopes to recoup cost
By JOSH NELSON
Portland Sun
Portland police arrested a local man Friday on a charge of
illegally dumping motor oil into a storm drain.
On Thursday, July 30, police received notification from
the Portland Public Works Department about a “large oil
spill” in the area of Grant Court, which is in the Evergreens
subdivision.
“Officers arrived and found that someone had been
dumping used motor oil directly into a storm drain which
ran into an adjacent creek,” police said in a press release.
“The investigation revealed that the spill led back to 202
Grant Ct., where detectives located several oil containers
with used motor oil.”
Police said they made several attempts to speak with
the resident of the aforementioned address, but without
success.
“On August 6 (last Thursday), officers were in route to...
the address once again to locate and speak with the resident
when an officer spotted (the suspect’s) vehicle on College
St.,” Police Chief Richard Smith wrote in the press release.
“Officers stopped the vehicle and took
the suspect into custody. (He) was interviewed by detectives and admitted
to his involvement in the illegal dumping.”
That suspect was identified as Yosvany Garcia, age 32.
Garcia
He was charged with vandalism
over $10,000, driving on a suspended license, and not using
a child restraint device.
Garcia was held in the Sumner County Jail on $2,500
bond, but an officer for the jail said he had made bail early
Friday.
He was scheduled to appear in Sumner County General
Sessions Court on Sep. 9.
The clean-up costs were estimated to be around
$20,000.
Mayor Ken Wilber said last week the city hopes to recover the costs from the offender.
“We’ll try to recoup our costs from it,” he said in an interview last week.
Panthers season tickets on sale
Portland High School football
reserved seats will be sold at
Portland High School, from 11:30
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and August 14 at the Jamboree for $48
per seat. The week of August 17,
all unsold reserved seats will be
open to the public for sale.
Season tickets can also be purchased for the varsity home
games for $30 per ticket, with
a buy 4 get 1 free deal. Season passes for the freshmen/JV
games can also be purchased for
$30 per ticket with the same buy
4 get 1 free deal. Please contact Ginger Lesemann
if you have questions.
the treatment is working when your urine looks pale yellow
or clear, and your baby is having a wet diaper every three to
four hours. More serious dehydration will usually need to be
treated in the hospital.
Prevention is the key! To prevent becoming dehydrated,
it’s important to drink plenty of fluids, especially if you are
sick or have a fever. Eating foods that have a high water content, such as fruits and vegetables, can also be helpful in
preventing dehydration. Be sure to give your baby or young
child an oral rehydration solution as soon as he or she starts
having vomiting or diarrhea. And drink extra fluids when
exercising or when it’s hot and humid outside.
Dehydration is easy to prevent, Just Add Water!
Hal Hendricks is the county director of the Sumner County
Health Department
Preschool
registration
Fountain Head Christian Preschool
tuesdays & thursdays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
email: [email protected]
or call 615-805-3933
online application at: www.fountainheadchurchofchrist.org • click on preschool
HELP WANTED
Growing optometry office in
White House seeks energetic
individual to join our team.
We are looking for a detail oriented,
well-organized individual to assist in
patient care and optical sales.
Previous optical experience and
k nowledge of medical/vision
insurances is preferred.
Email resume to info@drdehaven.
com or fax resume to (615) 672-6783.
With ownership comes
name change...
February 2016,
Portland Funeral Chapel
will become
Gilbert Funeral Home
610 N. Broadway, Portland, TN
Obit line - (615)325-9725 | (615)325-5010
www.portlandfuneralchapel.com
Scanned by CamScanner
“Four Generations of Funeral Home Service”
6
www.theportlandsun.com August 11, 2015
Ronnie McDowell colors Disney’s world
By KEN BECK
Portland Sun
He’s a songwriter and a hit singer, who, when he
wants to, croons just like Elvis, but these days Sumner
County native son Ronnie McDowell gets higher than
Peter Pan when he considers his new partnership with
Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.
The voice behind the 1977 smash hit, “The King Is
Gone,” which has sold six million copies, recently signed
a five-year contract with the Disney Corporation, and
soon, his works will be in Disney art galleries around the
globe.
McDowell, 65, who was born and raised in Portland
and lives in Hendersonville, performs at 6:45 p.m. Monday at Fiddlers Grove Opry during the Wilson County
Fair, a gig he first played 38 years ago.
“When ‘The King Is Gone’ came out, I played the Wilson County Fair. That has become like the place to perform. This will be my first time back since,” said the man
behind such hits as “Older Women,” “You’re Gonna Ruin
My Bad Reputation,” “Watchin’ Girls Go By” and “In a
New York Minute.”
“I’m gonna do like I always do, just entertain the
folks, get ’em to laugh, get ’em to sing, get ’em to dance,
just have a good time. I’ll do a lot of my records, and
we’ll probably do an hour-and-a-half show,’” said the
congenial entertainer about what fair-goers can expect.
He’s come a mighty long way since his debut performance when sang an Elvis tune during a variety show
for his Navy shipmates and had such a bad case of stage
fright that he never took his eyes off the floor.
That Elvis song, however, proved a good omen, as
McDowell about a decade later provided the vocals for
36 songs in Dick Clark’s 1979 “Elvis” TV biopic and followed up in the 1988 TV movie “Elvis and Me” at the
request of Priscilla Presley.
But before the music career, McDowell made a big
impression as an artist at the age of 6. His Portland
Elementary School first-grade teacher Paula Reddick
gushed over his painting of a big, red fire engine.
“I found out I could draw. I’ve been drawing and
painting ever since,” he said. “The one of Elvis looking
in the mirror (‘Reflection of a King’) when he is a little
boy seeing his reflection looking back at himself in the
old house he was born in has been the most successful
thing I have ever done. And the second is George Jones
getting a DUI on his lawn mower (‘Last Chance’).”
Today, because his daughter Athena pestered him to
paint Walt Disney, he’s about to launch a series of colorful paintings of Walt and Mickey Mouse as they begin
their rise to fame in Hollywood.
McDowell’s youngest son Tyler suggested that he
paint Disney in1923, just before the cartoonist boards
the California Limited at Kansas City’s Union Station.
McDowell obeyed, and Athena mailed a photograph of
the image to Disney Fine Arts.
“They called up within a week and gave me a five-year
contract. So I’m on my 22nd painting now,” grins the
singing artist.
“I just did one of Dolly (Parton) and Elvis on a picnic
in Sevierville, and Dolly is singing ‘I Will Always Love
You’ to Elvis. That’s been a big seller, too. I gave her the
original, and when I took the cover off, she jumped back
and said, ‘Damn, I wish I looked that good!’
“When I gave George Jones a painting of him getting
a DUI on his lawnmower, by the way, George called me
and asked me to do that painting, and the moment he
asked me I saw the whole thing. These paintings come
to me like a song. When I took the cover off, he stared at
that painting for 30 minutes.
“So I have fun doing all these paintings, but my first
love is songwriting. My second love is singing and entertaining and making records, and third is painting.
He describes his style as photo realism.
“Norman Rockwell is my hero. There’s a fellow in
Sumner County, David Wright, and he’s one of my
photo-heroes, too. But I love Norman Rockwell so much.
He captured the essence of America, and everything he
painted looks like you could step into that painting.
“I love it more than anything when people look at
my paintings and they go, ‘Well, that looks like a photograph.’ I strive for that, and when I paint somebody’s
face, I don’t care whether it’s Dolly or Elvis or George, I
want it to look so real like they could speak to you, and
that’s my goal. That’s what I do.”
McDowell takes great delight in his work, often
painting real people in the background or to the side in
his Disney artwork. His second Walt and Mickey painting, “The Arrival,” shows the pair in Hollywood, and
McDowell has planted himself in the drawing (a la what
Alfred Hitchcock did in his films). His first painting of
the cartoonist and his mouse has 23 “hidden” images of
Mickey’s mug scattered across the landscape.
While his Disney art has yet to be released, McDowell
sells prints of his other artwork at his shows and from
his website.
In the meantime, the singer says he “still loves performing. I love entertaining people. I’ve got a hectic
schedule coming up, but during the week I paint, I write
songs and I record, and on the weekends I go out and
perform.”
McDowell was born and raised in Portland, the seventh child of 11. His mother Georgia Williams was
13 when she wed Howard McDowell, an entrepreneur
who hauled fruit from North Carolina and Florida and
peddled it from a little clapboard store on the corner
across from the Portland train depot.
His father, a master carpenter and contractor, later
built more than 3,000 homes in Portland and the Franklin, Kentucky, area. He also opened two Dixie Discount
stores, one on 31 West and the other on Highway 109.
A teenage McDowell taught himself to play the guitar, and after graduating from Portland High School in
1968, he joined the Navy where he wound up becoming
a barber on his ship while stationed near Saigon during the Vietnam War. He also formed a band and played
weekends in the officers’ and enlisted men’s clubs.
After his naval career, McDowell became a sign painter and songwriter while playing clubs with a band do-
ing five shows a night, six nights a week. When he saw
his first song recorded by Gene Shenandoah, it was a
dream come true, but it got even better when “Opry”
star Roy Drusky cut his tune “Deep in the Heart of Dixie” in 1976. Soon he had songs recorded by such country stars as The Wilburn Brothers, Billy Walker, Jean
Shepard and Porter Wagoner.
His career game-changer came on Aug. 16, 1977,
when 42-year-old Elvis Presley died at his Graceland
home. McDowell was driving through Nashville when at
2:22 that afternoon he heard a deejay on the radio say,
“It’s official. Elvis has passed away.”
Before he got to Rivergate the tunesmith in McDowell had composed a tribute to Elvis, titled “The King Is
Gone.” He wrote down the words and kept the tune in
his head.
At 4 the next morning he drove to Memphis. He recollects, “I was going to see Elvis one way or the other. I
never laid eyes on him. I stood in line from 8:30 till 5…
It went for miles, and I got within about 20 feet of the
gate, and they shut it and I didn’t get in.’
He hopped back in his car and burned the asphalt
back to Nashville where he ran into a friend, Lee Morgan, who suggested they do a tribute to Elvis.
“I thought he meant wear a jumpsuit and jet black
sideburns, and I told him, ‘I don’t want no part of that.’
He said, ‘Naw, man, listen to this song I’ve written.’ So
after I listened to his, I said, ‘Listen to what I wrote,’ and
we just put my talking part on the front and his singing
part and combined them together, and the next night
we went in the studio and recorded it.”
Fortuitously, one of the musicians suggested that
McDowell sing the song with an attitude similar to “Are
You Lonesome Tonight,” and Morgan told him to sing it
like Elvis.
“Had it not been for his suggestion I don’t think it
would have affected people. Because everybody thought
it was Elvis singing about himself,” noted McDowell in
retrospect.
The next day, with eight acetate recordings of the
song, he popped into several Music City radio stations,
and the deejays gave the record a spin. The reaction from
listeners was instantaneous, as each deejay told McDowell that he had a smash on his hands.
“And that was it. That thing exploded,” said McDow-
August 11, 2015
7
www.theportlandsun.com
Singer-songwriter-artist performs at Wilson County Fair
ell of his six-million-selling single.
But his good fortune had only just begun. After befriending Miss Teenage America Jessica James, aka
Kathy Twitty, daughter of Conway Twitty, on a concert tour, he told he how much he would love to meet
her father. She invited him to stop by her dad’s office in
Hendersonville.
“I walked in, and Conway stood up and said, ‘How
would you like to open up my show?’ I said, ‘Twist my
arm,’ and for the next six or seven years I did, and Conway became like my second dad and definitely my mentor,” said McDowell.
“He finally talked me into moving down to Hendersonville. He said, ‘Son, you need to be closer to your
work.’ So I moved down here in ’88, and I ain’t never
left. I love it here. I got kinfolks up in Portland I go up
and visit constantly.”
Another plum from his Elvis tribute tune came in the
form of an invitation from Dick Clark to perform the
hit on “American Bandstand.” A month later McDowell
recorded his debut album and, as a favor to Mae Axton,
recorded her song, “Heartbreak Hotel,” which was Elvis’
first big hit.
Two year down the road, when Dick Clark began
plans to produce an Elvis TV movie, he told one of his
partners, Jim Ritz, “We need a voice for this Kirk Russell movie we’re doing.” Ritz responded, “The only voice
you need is Ronnie McDowell. Listen to this version of
‘Heartbreak Hotel.’”
Clark said, “Get him.”
A couple of years later, Elvis’ ex-wife Priscilla Presley decided to produce a TV movie based on her best-
Portland is famous for its strawberries and annual strawberry festival as well as native son, entertainer Ronnie McDowell. The country singer
and artist has completed 15 historic paintings of his hometown. Artwork submitted
selling memoir, “Elvis and Me.” They needed a singer to
provide the voice. Once Priscilla heard McDowell’s voice,
she told people, “We don’t want nobody but Ronnie.”
“When I met Priscilla, she said, ‘Do you have any idea
what you’ve done for Elvis Presley?’ I said, ‘Priscilla, do
you have any idea what Elvis Presley’s done for Ronnie
McDowell?’”
“I’m the only man standing on this planet who got
to be Elvis’s voice, and I never wore a jump suit,” smiled
the happy singer-songwriter, who, with his brush and
brains, continues to paint a wonderful world of color.
Writer Ken Beck may be contacted at [email protected].
Hear Ronnie McDowell
Ronnie McDowell looks over “The Journey Begins,” his painting of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse as the budding cartoonist begins his journey
from Kansas to Hollywood. The hit singer-songwriter, who performs Monday night at the Wilson County Fair, recently signed a five-year contract with the Disney Corporation. This painting, the first in a series, includes 23 “hidden” images of the world’s most famous mouse.
Photo by Ken Beck
Ronnie McDowell (“The King
Is Gone,” “Older Women,”
“You’re Gonna Ruin My
Bad Reputation”) performs
at 6:45 p.m. Monday,
Aug. 17, at Fiddlers Grove
Opry during the Wilson
County Fair. The fair runs
Aug. 14-22 and opens at 5
p.m. Monday-Friday, at
10 a.m. Saturday and at
noon Sunday. Admission
is $8 for ages 13 and older,
$6 for ages 6-12 and is free
for those 5 and younger.
For more info, go online to
wilsoncountyfair.net. For
more about McDowell, go to
ronniemcdowell.com
8
www.theportlandsun.com August 11, 2015
City gives preliminary approval to rezone land near new interstate exchange
Council seeks more restrictions on future development
By JOSH NELSON
Portland Sun
The Portland City Council gave preliminary approval last
week to an ordinance rezoning about 50 acres of land near
where the new I-65 exit would be located.
Council members, however, asked that further zoning restrictions be placed on the land before final approval.
The land at issue is located at 5971 Hwy31-W, which is in
Robertson County.
“That area is going to be critical,” Mayor Ken Wilber said
in an interview last week. “It’s kind of a one-time shot around
that interstate exchange.”
Councilman Jody McDowell said at last week’s council
meeting, “It’s going to be one of our gateways to the city.”
One of the landowners, Jimmy Cummings, said he understands the importance of the land.
“I think we all believe it will be a great gateway to this community, and that’s what we want,” he said.
The ordinance before the council would change the zoning from the classification of residential low density to general
commercial services.
However, several members of the council would like to put
a planned unit development (PUD) overlay on top of the pro-
posed zoning.
Wilber explained the difference in an interview last week.
“That pretty much lays out what you want to go there and
gives (the city) a lot more control over it,” he said. “For example, (the city) could say we want this part to be motels, restaurants, service stations, and the other side be retail. It gives
you a little bit more control where you have it planned out
before you start developing. To do any changes, it would have
to come back to the council for two readings.
“It’s almost like a contract in a way in that it says what exactly is going to be going there. You don’t name the specific
brand of businesses, but just the type and the designs of the
buildings,” he said. “It really helps you have a nicer development than if you just do a general rezoning.”
“Everything in the development would be spelled out,”
said Councilman Luther Bratton at the council meeting last
week. “There’s no surprises.”
Cummings said he had much of the same concerns as
the council.
“My residence is in the front of this property, so we don’t
want certain things there,” he said.
Bratton said the proposal is similar to a situation in White
House about 20 years ago in which a “large truck stop was
going in and the community was
completely opposed to it.”
“(The zoning) was approved,
and they didn’t think White
House would grow out in that
area and there ended up being a
school being built close to there,”
he said. “I’m not opposed to the
zoning or the project, but it’s
something to keep in mind when
you know there is going to be a lot
of activity there. Portland might
make a lot of revenue, but that Jody McDowell
may not be what we want there.”
Councilwoman Beverly Watson said of the proposed PUD,
“That’s going to protect the property owners, as well.
“You can get a lot more control, and the higher quality
(development) you have coming in is just going to benefit the
property owners, too.”
The measure passed unanimously with the understanding
the PUD could be added before final approval by the council.
Wilber described it as a “good faith” vote by the council.
Beasley, Hall both indicted on homicide charges
Each to be arraigned Aug. 21
Hall
Beasley
By JOSH NELSON
Portland Sun
In separate cases, two women accused of killing
Portland area teenagers after being struck by a vehicle
were indicted by a Sumner County grand jury last week.
“Their cases were presented and they were given
true bills,” said District Attorney General Ray Whitley.
“They will (both) be arraigned on the 21st.”
Whitley was referring to Laura Beasley and Amanda
Hall.
Beasley is charged with one count of vehicular homicide with driver intoxication for the death of Nicholas Townsend, who was scheduled to graduate from
Portland High School the next day, two counts vehicular assault for two other people in the vehicle who were
injured, and a violation of the implied consent law in
connection with the incident in May.
The arresting officer testified in a preliminary hearing in Sumner County General Sessions Court last
month Beasley was drunk at the time of the incident.
THP Sergeant Adam Grinder said Beasley admitted
to having consumed alcohol that night.
“She told me she had consumed one beer,” he testified. “Later, she told me she had consumed two
24-ounce beers.”
Grinder said Beasley failed field sobriety tests and
that she refused to submit to a blood test, so he got a
search warrant requiring her to have one done.
“I took her to Sumner Regional Medical Center – to
the emergency department,” Grinder said, adding that
the blood was later tested at a TBI laboratory for blood
alcohol concentration (BAC). “I believe it was a .119, if
I’m not mistaken.”
A person is considered legally drunk in Tennessee
when the BAC is .08 or higher.
Grinder was asked by Assistant District Attorney
General Sidney Preston if Beasley had an explanation
for the crash.
“That night, she didn’t offer much explanation of
what happened in the crash – she said she really didn’t
remember,” he said. “She did tell me that she was lost...
and looked down at the GPS.”
Preston later asked Grinder about Beasley’s demeanor that night.
“She showed little or no emotion,” Grinder said.
“The only time she became upset – when I advised her
she was going to jail, she was upset for a moment. It
appeared to me she was more upset because she wasn’t
allowed to have a cigarette. She began to cry and cried
for a cigarette...before she went to jail.”
“Did she make any inquiries into the injuries of the
others?” Preston asked.
“No, sir,” Grinder responded.
Preston then asked about Beasley’s demeanor once
taken to jail.
“She was laughing with some other inmates...in the
holding facility there at the jail,” Grinder said.
“Can you explain the nature of the conversation
with her during that time?” Preston asked.
“The only conversation I had (with her) at the jail
was I received word through our dispatch that...Mr.
Townsend was not expected to survive the crash,”
Grinder said. “I went into the holding facility and told
her that. Her demeanor changed for about 30 seconds.
(Then) she was laughing again.”
Beasley was held in the Sumner County Jail on
$200,000 bond and faces at least 8-12 years in prison.
Hall, meanwhile, is accused of being responsible for
an incident on June 16 on Dobbins Pike which took the
life of Brianna Lowe, age 14, in which Hall allegedly
struck Lowe with her vehicle.
Unlike Beasley, Hall did not have a preliminary
hearing in Sumner County General Sessions Court.
Online records only say Hall was charged with a
“bound over charge,” but she was initially charged with
reckless homicide, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and driving on a revoked license.
Hall was being held in the Sumner County Jail on
$125,000 bond and faces at least seven years in prison.
Arraignments are often brief proceedings in which
the judge formally reads the charges against the defendant and the defendant is asked to enter a plea – which
is normally “not guilty.”
After arraignment, the judge allows time for the
two sides to exchange information and engage in talks
for a plea agreement.
If no agreement can be reached, a trial date is set.
THEPORTLANDSUN.COM
August 11, 2015
9
www.theportlandsun.com
- Sarah Strong -
Sumner County woman won’t let cancer knock her down
Sarah Gillum shows off her new post-chemo
hairstyle.
By SHERRY MITCHELL
Portland Sun
It was a fight she hoped she had conquered, but six weeks ago, 37-year-old Sarah
Hennessy Gillum of Hendersonville, was
told her cancer had returned.
First diagnosed with breast cancer in
January of 2013, Sarah had a double mastectomy and later had reconstructive surgery. The cancer has now spread into her
lymph nodes, sub pectoral muscles and liver.
Now, seven weeks into a 12-week treat-
ment program, she is more determined than
ever to kick cancer right out of her life.
“Heck yeah I’m determined to beat it,”
Sarah said.
Others in her situation might have a
hard time handling things, but Sarah, who
has always had a bubbly personality, said she
won’t let her latest diagnosis get her down,
or rob her of happiness.
“I’m just not a bummy person, I guess,”
she said. “I have a 4-year-old and I have fun
with my family. We moved in with my mom
and dad and I’m enjoying the heck out of it.
Friday night, we had a marshmallow roast
and the kids started dancing. My parents
are early birds, so we still have our privacy.”
A hair stylist three days a week at Z Cisco
Salon and Spa in Goodlettsville, when her
hair started falling out this time from the
chemo treatments, the spunky red head let
coworkers give her unique, partially shaved
hairstyle.
“I figured I would have some fun with it,”
Sarah said.
Her only complaint is that she is getting
“tired and worn out” faster, she said.
“Before, I was only taking (treatments)
every three weeks, so I had two weeks to
rest,” she said. “Now, it’s every week so it’s
definitely a lot harder.”
Sumner County joins state’s
Retire Tennessee program
Will be aligned with 15 established communities
From STAFF REPORTS
Gallatin News
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Kevin Triplett announced the addition of four counties, including Sumner County, to Retire Tennessee,
the state’s retiree recruitment marketing program, bringing the total number of active
Retire Tennessee counties to 19.
“It’s great to officially add four new counties to this important state program,”
Triplett said. “Tennessee has much to offer people making retirement decisions based
on quality of life and cost-of-living. Our state has the lowest cost-of-living in the Southeast and second lowest in the nation, no state income tax and low property tax. Add to
that, the state’s breathtaking scenic beauty and unparalleled hospitality, and it’s only
natural Tennessee would rank high among the population relocating after retirement.”
The four counties join Cumberland, Franklin, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson,
Loudon, Maury, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Robertson, Sullivan, Warren and White counties
as Retire Tennessee counties. Now in its ninth year, Retire Tennessee inspired more
than 10,000 inquiries from potential retirees last year. Tennessee is one of only four
states with retiree recruitment as a formal program and continues to gain momentum
as a potential retirement destination for more than 78 million baby boomers.
Sumner County Executive Anthony Holt stated, “We are excited and pleased to join
the outstanding Retire Tennessee program. The intentional recruitment of retiree’s into
our Sumner County cities will bolster the local economy but just as importantly retiree’s
offer a richness and depth of life experiences which help make great communities.”
For more information on the Retire Tennessee program, please visit www.retiretennessee.org.
Ten mile bike ride on Aug. 22
From STAFF REPORTS
Portland Sun
The public is invited to join Mayor
Ken Wilber and the Portland Ridgeriders for our first Portland Group Leisure
Bicycle Ride, approximately 10 miles at a
slow pace, on August 22, 2015 at 9 a.m.
Meet at the gazebo parking lot be-
hind My Time Café. Instructions will be
given before the ride.
Provide your own bicycle and helmet. Make plans to stay after the ride
to discuss future plans at My Time Café.
For further information please contact George Torre, [email protected] or
Mayor Wilber.
In addition to her weekly treatments,
Sarah is also on a high alkaline diet.
“My husband is a big researcher and he
read a lot about high alkaline and they have
proven that people have healed themselves
- that cancer can’t survive in an alkaline
state,” she said. “It’s pretty much all vegetables, sunflower seeds and almonds, grapefruit and pomegranates.”
At 34 and with no family history of
breast cancer, Sarah was an unlikely candidate for her first diagnosis. Now she wants
others to realize the importance of self-exams and regular mammograms.
“Most of the people around me are taking it more seriously now, but I still hear
some say they don’t even do self- exams,”
she said.
Sarah’s mother, Nancy Hennessy said
she thinks the medical community has been
too lax when it comes to stressing the importance of regular mammograms.
“They don’t even recommend having a
mammogram until you are 40 and some insurance companies won’t (cover it) but every
two years,” Hennessy said. “Sarah just wants
people to make sure - she wouldn’t have had
one either (at 34), but after she had the baby
she felt something. She was breast feeding
and they initially thought her milk ducts
were infected, until she had a mammogram.”
Coworkers at Z Cisco have helped with
several fundraising efforts, including a recent bake sale and t-shirts made up in her
honor.
“The money has helped her pay booth
rental and living expenses,” Hennessy said.
“She has insurance and right now they
are accepting her co-pay, but the doctors
told her the first round of chemo would
be $5,000 and week and the second round
would be $10,000 a week.”
A Facebook page called “Sarah Strong”
was started by her sister in 2013 and keeps
friends and family up to date on Sarah’s
progress, as well as any fundraising events.
“Most of our family lives in Indiana - her
younger sister started it so they would know
what was going on with Sarah,” Hennessy
said.
It hasn’t been the best of times for the
family, but it’s the way Sarah herself is handling things, that keeps things moving forward.
“This time it has been worse - she’s had
mouth sores, and her scalp was burning and
her hair is coming out again, but she never
complains,” Hennessy said.
To see more of Sarah’s story, visit her
Facebook page at “Sarah Strong.”
10
www.theportlandsun.com August 11, 2015
Free foreclosure mitigation program winding down
County residents still can get free loan modification and foreclosure prevention assistance
From STAFF REPORTS
Portland Sun
This past June, Tennessee received its allocation of
what is anticipated to be the U.S. Congress’s last round of
funding for the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program, which is expected wind down in Tennessee
at the end of 2015.
Affordable Housing Resources, Inc., a nonprofit serving 40 counties in Middle Tennessee, including Sumner
County, is urging residents who are struggling to pay
their mortgage to seek help while the program is available.
“Through the housing crisis and the recession, the
National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program
has been instrumental across the mid-state for thousands of homeowners who were at risk of losing their
home,” said Eddie Latimer, CEO of Affordable Housing
Resources. “Our organization alone has helped more than
2,120 families negotiate with their mortgage servicer to
stay in their homes.”
Through the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program, Affordable Housing Resources works
with homeowners—at no cost to them—to defer overdue
payments and restructure monthly mortgage payments
to better align with their income. Temporary payment relief can last for as long as a year to give the homeowner
time to get on their feet, all the way up to a permanently
modified mortgage which lasts until the mortgage is paid
in full.
“The economy is improving but many are not yet feeling those effects and need assistance. If you or someone
you know is struggling with their mortgage payments,
I strongly encourage them to seek programs that could
help, while they are still supported by Congress,” added
Latimer.
Information on the assistance provided by Affordable
Housing Resources can be found at www.ahrhousing.
org or by calling (615) 251-0025.
Live, Love, Latch! event Aug. 15
From STAFF REPORTS
Portland Sun
Live, Love, Latch! is a National Breastfeeding Month (August 1-31) celebration presented by La Leche League USA
and hosted by LLL Groups throughout the country. This is the second year for this annual event.
Live Love Latch! is an event to celebrate breastfeeding and to highlight breastfeeding support. Everyone is invited
to attend and sign the declaration of support. You do not need to be breastfeeding to be included. Family, friends,
doctors, lactation consultants, midwives, businesses, legislators and anyone else who supports breastfeeding in our
community are welcome.
The key goal of Live, Love, Latch! is to raise awareness of how a supportive community can help nursing dyads
breastfeed successfully. The secondary goal is to break the previous year’s record for breastfeeding supporters attending. Last year’s national record was 9,028. In the spirit of the Surgeon General’s call to action to support breastfeeding, this celebration provides an opportunity to educate everyone about how they can be supportive to breastfeeding
families and how this natural way of parenting effects the community as a whole.
The Sumner County Live, Love, Latch! will take place on August 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Municipal Park in
Gallatin. This is a potluck brunch & family fun day. Beverages and paper products will be provided. Please bring a dish
to share. There will be door prizes, gift bags, a silent auction and bubbles, chalk and coloring for the kids. There will also
be baby wearing, cloth diapering and yoga demonstrations, a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and professional photography. Last year’s attendance was 109 in Sumner County and the goal is to break that record.
Find out more at fb.com/LLLofPortland or by calling 615-323-7158 (Michelle) or 615-681-0922 (Jessica).
Sumner County Good Neighbor Mission
presents third annual gala
From STAFF REPORTS
Portland Sun
The Sumner County Good Neighbor Mission (GNM) will present its
third annual gala on Saturday, August 15 at 6 p.m. The event will be held at
St. John Vianney Church located at 501 N. Water Avenue. Tickets are $50
person and include dinner and entertainment. Tickets can be obtained by
calling GNM at 615-452-7337.
“The annual gala is our major fundraising effort and we are so excited
about this year’s theme, ‘There’s No Place Like Home.’ Our goal is to raise
enough funds to purchase a home in Portland to establish GNM’s presence
there,” said Stephanie Meadows, Executive Director.
Good Neighbor Mission is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and was
established in 1983 to assist the working poor families of Sumner County
that find themselves without housing. GNM promotes independence, selfsufficiency and long-term permanent solutions to reduce and ultimately
end homelessness in this community. Good Neighbor operates two shelter
locations in Gallatin, providing shelter for families with children until they are able to obtain decent, affordable housing
of their own. GNM partners with local businesses and agencies to provide training in financial management and other
wraparound services to help families identify and change behavioral patterns that lead to the housing crisis.
“For over 30 years, the doors of Good Neighbor have been open to Sumner County residents. We continue to serve
persons from all over Sumner County and look forward to establishing our presence in Portland,” said Rev. Umiko D.
Jones Sr., board president.
For tickets or for additional information call 615-452-7337.
OBITUARIES
Mrs. Lena Ann Runyon,
age 76 of Cottontown, TN,
passed away Monday, Aug. 3,
2015 at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, TN. Mrs. Runyon was born Sept. 21, 1938
in Nashville, TN., and was a
member of Clearview Church
of Christ. She was a long time
employee of Lawn Light factory in Portland. Mrs. Runyon
is survived by her son, Eddie Runyon of Nashville, TN;
daughter, Kim Randle of Old Hickory, TN; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Runyon
was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer “Al” Runyon; brother, Bernie Jones; sister, Mae Ella Walker.
Funeral services were held Aug. 6, at Portland Funeral
Chapel with burial following in the Halltown Cemetery.
Online condolences can now be made at www.portlandfuneralchapel.com
Ethel Magdalene Parker, age 91 of Portland, wife of
Ray Shelby Parker passed away
Aug. 5, 2015 at Hendersonville
Medical Center. She was born
in Sumner County on Oct. 27,
1923 to the late J.W. and Beulah
Hodges. She was a homemaker
and longtime member of Fountain Head Church of Christ.
In addition to her parents she
was preceded in death by her infant son, Joe David;
and infant great-grandson, Colt Allen McCoy. Ethel is
survived by her husband, Ray Parker; eight children,
Sharon (Donald) Jenkins, James (Kay) Parker, Shirley
(James) Shockley, Brenda (Bill) Pruett, John (Sharon)
Parker, Donna (Jimmy) Harris, Jerry (Lisa) Parker, Jeff
(Jennifer) Parker; brother, Paul (Pat) Hodges; 22 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren. Funeral service was
Aug. 8, at Fountain Head Church of Christ with James
Parker and James Shockley officiating. Burial was in
Corinth Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jimmy Parker, Rich
Shockley, Jason Shockley, Shawn Parker, Trevor Harris,
Kurt Triplet, and David Parker. Honorary bearers will
be Charlie Groves, Billy Joe Ragland, James Shockley,
Danny Thompson, Eddie Perdue, and remaining grandsons, granddaughters, great-grandsons, and greatgranddaughters.
Pamella Joy Deerman, age
52 of Portland, passed away
Tuesday, August 4, 2015. Funeral Service was Friday, August 7 at 2 p.m. from the chapel
of Alexander Funeral Home.
Interment followed in Bushs
Chapel Cemetery with Billy
Joe Ray Neill, Mark Dickerson,
Jeffrey Campbell, T. J. Harper,
Derris Brown and Brandon Hill
serving as pallbearers. Visitation was Thursday, August
6 from 2-8 p.m. and Friday, August 7 from 12:00 noon
until time of service. Pamella was born November 4,
1962 in Sumner County, TN, daughter of the late Ernest Raymond Campbell and Bobbie Sue Brown Campbell. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death
by brothers, Gary Campbell and Ernie Campbell. She
is survived by boyfriend, Mark Dickerson of Portland;
son, Billy Joe Ray Neill of Hartsville; daughter, Kayla
Joy Hill (Brandon Vaughn) of Portland; brother, Jeffrey Lee Campbell of Gallatin; grandson, Parker Alan
Hill. Pamella worked as a case processor for D.H.S. and
previously for Sumner County Community Corrections
Department. Online condolences may be submitted at
alexanderfh.info Alexander Funeral Home is in charge
of arrangements.
August 11, 2015
11
www.theportlandsun.com
Sumner County Property Transfers July 2-8, 2015
Bethpage
Darrel Tongate to Laura Towe, 1430 Butler Mill
Hollow Road, Bethpage,
$267,000.
Clyde and Bonnie Roberts
to James Summers and Kristina Likens, 131 East Harris
Road, Bethpage, $185,000.
Cottontown
Thomas and Catherine
Crowe to Donnie and Cathleen Atchison, 3 Kyle Court,
Cottontown, $342,000.
Ben the Builder LLC to
Steve and Dawn Scholl, 202
Cassandra Drive, Cottontown, $385,000.
Daniel Hurst to Benjamin
and Brandi Cherry, 3160 Hwy
25 W, Cottontown, $137,000.
Craig and Blake Freeman
to Gerald and Diane Jones,
West Hester Road, Cottontown, $84,900.
Curtis Werner to Nicholas
Perdue, 2763 Highway 25,
Cottontown, $300,000.
Donny and Beverly Whittaker to Sariah Hopkins,
3585 Hwy 76, Cottontown,
$415,000.
Clifton and Alice Pond to
David and Kristin Douglas,
380 Martin Lane, Cottontown, $227,500.
Gallatin
Bernice Hall to Louallen
Builders Inc, 436 Fannis Circle, Gallatin, $85,000.
Pinnacle
Development
Co Inc to James and Becky
Campbell, 1083 Tarpan
Drive, Gallatin, $284,973.
Amy Corbin to Stephen
Tucker, 250 Walbrook Dr.
Gallatin, $179,900
Ballou Construction Co to
Vernon and Angela Johnson,
1048 Five Coves Trace, Gallatin, $369,950.
Ole South Properties Inc
to Caleb and Mariah Hughes,
1080 East Sagewood Drive,
Gallatin, $233,577.
Ole South Properties Inc
to Chelsea Bladon, 1053 East
Sagewood Drive, Gallatin,
$237,000.
Halcomb Homes LLC to
William and Jennifer Carroll,
1010 Five Coves Trace, Gallatin, $385,500.
Jonathan and Olivia Kidd
to Steven Meredith Yates,
263 Osprey Drive, Gallatin,
$225,000.
Christopher and Zeriphia Hartman to Katy Cox,
331 Blade Street, Gallatin,
$109,500.
Goodall Inc Builders to
Jackie and Effie Stanhope,
2108 Albatross Way, Gallatin,
$259,540.
Randall and Barbara
Jones to James and Debra
Escue169 Longspur Drive,
Gallatin. $220,020.
Randall and Barbara Jones
to Clifton and Alice Pond,
348 Osprey Drive, Gallatin,
$200,600.
Jeffrey and Sheri Hodge
to Jonathan Barksdale, 450
Rocky Top Street, Gallatin.
$214,000.
Meritage Homes of Tennessee Inc to Daniel and Leeann Bristol, 1154 McCrory
Circle Gallatin, $380,095.
Bruce Burdine to Malcolm
and J’rema Montgomery,
1414 Wentworth Dr, Gallatin, $295,000.
Timothy and Frances
Parker to Felix Aulozzi,
913 Harris Drive, Gallatin,
$225,000.
Henry and Alzenia Walls
to Andrew and Kristina Lorenz, 349 Remington Avenue,
Gallatin, $244,900.
Gary and Christina Kemp
to Eric and Diana Stephenson, 447 Quarry Rd, Gallatin,
$224,050.
Richard and Margaret
Story to Rickie Walden, 458
Bay Point Drive, Gallatin,
$275,000.
U S Bank National Assn
to Chelsea Reed, 402 Rodney
Street, Gallatin, $102,500.
Memory Ryan to Riley and
Megan Clark, 135 Richland
Court, Gallatin, $170,000.
Brian Harris Homes LLC
to Bud and Stacey Cooper,
1118 McCrory Circle, Gallatin, $410,000.
Fred and Janet Kammerer
to William and Pamela Inglesby, 1091 Savannah Ave, Gallatin, $184,000.
Habitat For Humanity
of Sumner County to Miles
and Mary Nickelson, 185
South Maple Street, Gallatin,
$125,000.
Sylvia Vest to Harland and
Rikki Harris, 1020 N. Sugartree Lane, Gallatin, $329,000.
Brent Branson to Heather
Maxwell, 425 Paisley Way,
Gallatin, $189,900.
Stanley and Sylvia Kizer to
Little Knot LLC, 1275 Windsor Drive, Gallatin, $300,000.
Alma Singlemann to William Witt, 1071 Katherine
Street, Gallatin, $86,900.
William and Karen Johnson to Philip Dattilo, 1236
Stanfield Court, Gallatin,
$236,000.
Creekside Homes LLC to
Christopher and Marjorie
Rippy, 2141 Gorden Xing,
Gallatin, $419,900.
Goodlettsville
Richard Guthrie to Mandalynne Pearce, 115 Cartwright Parkway, Goodlettsville, $140,000.
Joshua and Crystal Stew-
art to Mark and Anna Cooper,
3005 Creekview Lane, Goodlettsville, $159,900.
Samuel and Mildred
Brown to Ryan and Christie Boomershine, 804 Loretta Drive, Goodlettsville,
$170,000.
Hendersonville
Gregory and Courtney
McGee to Lisa Gann, 106
Applewood Court, Hendersonville, $329,950.
Southeastern
Building
Corp to Barbara Wagner,
1042 Tower Hill Lane, Hendersonville, $344,900.
Southeastern
Building
Corp to Robert and Melba
Abney, 162A Annapolis
Bend Circle, Hendersonville,
$216,535.
Meritage Homes of Tennessee Inc to Michael and
Shannon Price, 136 Ambassador Private Circle, Hendersonville, $198,960.
Meritage Homes of Tennessee Inc to Stan and Debra
Jackson, 132 Ambassador
Private Circle, Hendersonville, $198,320.
Centex Homes to Bret and
Tiffany Wyatt, 10888 Abberley Circle, Hendersonville,
$305,460.
Avenue Bank to King
Griffith Holdings LLC, 165
Ervin Street, Hendersonville,
$65,000.
Centex Homes to Manuel
and Jennifer Roman, 1041
Merrick Road, Hendersonville, $371,930.
James and Debra Williams to Janet McFall, 105
Sorrel Court, Hendersonville,
$288,950.
William and Kelly Degnan
to Jerry and Anita Wilson,
113 Lake Vista Drive, Hendersonville, $310.000.
James and Debra Escue
to Jeffrey Zona and Michelle
Gallaway, 213 Lakeside
Park Drive, Hendersonville,
$247,000.
Federal National Mortgage Assn to Timothy Koly,
139 Dana Drive, Hendersonville, $175,000.
Demeka Carlton to Karl
Holmes, 140 Alred Circle,
Hendersonville, $174,900.
William and Michelle
Jeffery to Jason and Hilary Church, 167 Ervin Street,
Hendersonville, $445,900.
Wayne Thompson to
Angela Carroll, 104 Cedar
Sprigs Tail. Hendersonville,
$209,000.
J. Wayne Hardy Trustee to
Casey Raybourne, 1073 Avery Trace Circle, Hendersonville, $102,500.
Helen Faye Shepherd Special Needs Trust to Stephen
McCormick, 110 Cherokee Road, Hendersonville,
$229,900.
Meritage Homes of Tennessee Inc to Jason Baker,
133 Ambassador Private
Circle,
Hendersonville,
$200,810.
Southeastern
Building
Corp to Kenneth and Barbara
Grissom, 162B Annapolis
Bend Circle, Hendersonville,
$222,201.
Southeastern
Building
Corp to Anthony Holt, 145
Annapolis Bend Circle, Hendersonville, $208,715.
John and Dorothy Redman to Glenn Sparks, 483
Walton Ferry Rd, Hendersonville, $189,900.
Kelly Hamilton and Kelly
Lind to Michael and Megan
Jamison, 124 Southern Trace,
Hendersonville, $157,000.
David and Jennifer Brooks
to Jens and Misty Sorensen,
135 Chesapeake Harbor Blvd,
Hendersonville, $270,000.
Lifestyle Home Builders
Inc to Wilson Zaya, 95 Plumlee Drive #9, Hendersonville,
$157,900.
John Flynn to Jarrett
Worden and Kimberly Dyer,
126 Fiedcrest Circle, Hendersonville, $299,500.
James
and
Candice
Wilkins to Latosha Phillips,
123 Coldwater Drive, Hendersonville, $189,000.
Marc White to Dandrea
Tomlin, 110 Chambliss Court,
Hendersonville, $242,200.
Ronald and Nancy Brannom to Kelly and Kelly Hamilton, 2012 Drakes Hill Court,
Hendersonville, $269,900.
Daniel and Joan Strong to
Jason and Tammy Ellis, 111
Hattie Court, Hendersonville,
$447,500.
Lynne Sutton and Lynne
Beattie to Steven and Tamara Jones,306 North Birchwood Drive, Hendersonville,
$182,000.
Jeff and Beth Mead to
Loyd and Sydney Whisenant,
104 Wayne Court, Hendersonville, $198,000.
Faustin and Diane Weber to Cristian and Rebecca
Sandu, 107 Shadownhaven
Way N., Hendersonville,
$313,500.
Brian and Tina Slaughter to Michael and Amanda
Kimberly, 215 Crooked
Creek Lane, Hendersonville,
$334,900.
Bruce and Anita Rainey
to Shad and Stephanie Smith
1014 Parsons Private Way,
Hendersonville, $85,900.
Lawrence Brindise and
Claudia Salazar to Joel and
Katie St. Francis, 268 Lake
Terrace Drive, Hendersonville, $640,000.
Harlan Construction Co
Inc to John and Laura Cuthill,
114 Alderwood Lane, Hendersonville,$376,950.
Keith and Cheri Lamb
to Clem Pater, 117 Crestview Drive, Hendersonville,
$167,000.
Kerry Stanfill to William
and Kelly Degnan, 200 Cobbler Circle, Hendersonville,
$253,000.
Southeastern
Building
Corp to Micky and Tammi
Dobson, 100 Pilot Knob Lane,
Hendersonville, $329,900.
Cheryl Walker to Dana
Petway, 250 Sanders Ferry
Road, #29, Hendersonville.
$97,000.
Katherine
Thompson
and Katherine Eddington
to Melanie Davis, 404 Deer
Point Circle, Hendersonville,
$125,000.
Lorrie Hudson to Ronald
and Wallane Moltzan, 115
Ballentrae Dr, Hendersonville, $402,000.
Clark and Rachelle Johnson to Aaron and Melissa
Hawkins, 104 Kensington Ct,
Hendersonville, $305,750.
U S Bank National Assn
TR to David Hohlfeld, 108
Bluewater Drive, Hendersonville, $115,000.
Peter and Irene Erickson
to Mane Maravic, 101 Ashford Court, Hendersonville,
$255,000.
William Daniels to Kurtis and Denise Wheat, 124
Georgetown Drive, Hendersonville, $158,900.
Ronald Fortney to Jonathan Breanna Cavezza, 105
Sumner Meadows Lane, Hendersonville, $204,900.
Thurman and Barbara
Smith to Roderick and Tammy Hawkins, 102 Forest
View Drive, Hendersonville,
$134,000.
Nathan and Raina Bogan
to Larry and Kimberly Sisco,
102 Chatsworth Court, Hendersonville, $220,000.
Marlene Collins to Thomas and Melissa Wells, 100
Gates Drive, Hendersonville,
$226,500.
Wayne Perrigon to Peggy
Branham, 110 Hickory Way,
Hendersonville, $120,000.
Nathalie Bowser to Jeffrey
and Jeffin Bush, 125 Fountain Brooke Dr, Hendersonville, $372,500.
Nathan and Cara to Edwin
and Julie Caban, 129 Cherry
Hill Drive, Apt 3A, Hendersonville, $100,000.
Portland
Paula Key to Harold and
Jessica Willmore, 317 Key-
town Rd, Portland, $174,000.
Thomas Settle and Sarah
Moore to Brandon and Kayla
Hill. 117 Bella Crest Way,
Portland, $189,900.
Stephen Coats to Aaron
and Hollands and Holly Flatt,
346 Parker Rd, Portland,
$89,900.
Roger and Jessica Williams to Richard Malkin and
Rita Shehadi, 549 White
Road, Portland, $132,000.
Anderson Arthur Fred
Estate to Christopher and
Sheena Neal, 414 Penny Morris Road, Portland, $140,000.
Wayne and Jennifer Carlson to REHAB LLC, 1003
E Evelyn Court, Portland,
$69,000.
Douglas Collins to Gary
Collins, 224 Riggs Avenue,
Portland, $200,000.
Kathleen Mulligan and
Linda Belcher to Joshua and
Brittany Gray, 103A Central
Ave, Portland, $71,000.
Grant and Deann McGregor and Franklin and
Marcella Gunter to Bobby and
Sarah Baldwin, 101 Charles
Way, Portland, $125,000.
Dustin and Jennifer Winland to Troy Green, 1936
Highway 259, Portland,
$128,500.
Joseph and Jessica Brew
to Dewayne and Stephanie
Eutsey, 209 Hunter Street,
Portland, $124,250.
Richard Reid to Billy and
Melissa Moore, 547 White
Road, Portland, $138,000.
Westmoreland
Jeffrey and Amber Regan
to Sammie and Barbara Stafford, 3927 New Hwy 52 E,
Westmoreland, $129,900.
White House
Clarence and Dorothy
Helmich to Clinton and Andrea Goodrum, 407 Portland Road, White House
$135,000.
Michael and Lisa Singleton to Phillip and Tonya Brittain, 301 Patana Drive, White
House, $221,900.
Kristopher and Brittany
Perry to James Mixon and
Emily Slate, 1296 Winding
Way, White House, $135,900.
Herbert Lord and Ryan
and Nicole Witherington, 307
Artesa Drive, White House,
$235,000.
Larry and Ashley Hoover
to Jeff and Sherri Hodge, 413
Brinkley Lane, White House,
$214,000.
Dennis Holland to Mio
and Brittany Christian, 218
Fischer Drive, White House,
$147,000.
12
MOTHER SPEAKS OUT...continued from p3
bulance was not called until late the next afternoon, at which point, Mason was brain dead from
her injuries. McCammon told first responders that Mason had been unresponsive since early the
evening before.
“This all happened over a 14 to 18-hour period and they can’t charge him with not letting her
get medical help?” Mattson asked.
She said she believes if her daughter had received medical care on Monday, she might still be
alive.
“The (surgeon) said if they would have gotten in there 12 hours sooner they would have been
able to save her life - he told me that,” Mattson said.
Family and friends have held multiple rallies both in Hendersonville and in Robertson County, where Mason grew up and Mattson currently lives. Another rally is planned for Aug. 15 at the
state capital. Mattson said she wants state legislators to hear her daughter’s story.
A Facebook page called Justice for Ashley and her Family has also garnered both local and
national attention.
Mattson said she plans to seek out an attorney to file a wrongful death suit against McCammon, and also said she plans to look into filing a lawsuit against the HPD, despite the lack of
evidence to show foul play.
She also said she won’t be able to rest until someone is held responsible for her daughter’s
death.
“If I get justice, that will be my peace,” Mattson said.
www.theportlandsun.com August 11, 2015
Local veteran Jim Bachman on the mend
Alice Bachman released from hospital
Jim and Akice Bachman. Photo
submitted.
By SHERRY MITCHELL
Portland Sun
According to Bridget
Brown, daughter of Jim and
Alice Bachman, the couple
left Chattanooga last week
and Jim is recuperating in a
Springfield rehab facility.
He was badly injured in
a motorcycle accident while
coming home from an honor ride to Chattanooga to
honor five fallen soldiers.
A Vietnam veteran, he had
spearheaded the state-wide
ride.
Several days later, Alice,
who serves on the Sumner
County School Board, was
hospitalized for low potassium levels for two days at the
same Chattanooga hospital.
Currently, her levels are
good. With her daughter’s
help, she was able to go to
Jim’s room last week and
spend time with him before
his surgery on Thursday.
Brown said the surgery
took around four hours and
went well. Despite the fact
that once the doctors got
in, they found the breaks
in his ribs worse that they
had originally thought, they
were able to successfully do
the plating procedure on
both the back and front ribs
“I was told that he was
very lucky that he survived
his injury,” Brown said.
In the meantime, Brown
said everyone’s continued
prayers and support are very
much appreciated.
“This will be a long road
to recovery,” she said.
A friend has set up a
Go Fund Me account for
the couple to help defray
medical costs and living
expenses while in Chattanooga. Anyone who would
like to contribute can go
to http://www.gofundme.
com/2t4md5mja8.
Portland grad receives scholarships to attend UT Martin
the Joe T. Davis Award, the Parker State FFA
From STAFF REPORTS
Portland Sun
2015 Portland High School graduate Stephen Andrew McNeil has been awarded scholarships for the 2015-16 academic year to attend the University of Tennessee at Martin.
McNeil, son of Brenda McNeil and the late
Steve McNeil, will be a freshman. He received
Scholarship and the Leaders-in-Residence
Award.
Additional information on scholarships
and other types of financial assistance is available by contacting the UT Martin Office of
Student Financial Assistance, 205 Administration Building, UT Martin, Martin, Tenn.,
38238, or by calling (731) 881-7040.