images dickson county 2009-10

I’d Rather Be FarmingAgricultural roots run deep

SMOKIN’ GOOD BARBECUE

Restaurants go whole hog

SLICE OF AMERICANARoots-music festival

takes center stageVideo of

Montgomery Bell State Park

What’s Online

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SPONSORED BY THE DICKSON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2009-10 | IMAGESDICKSON.COM

DICKSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

®®®®

www.imagesdickson.com


Offering Small Town Values and Outstanding Opportunities

Building Inspector/Enforcement Officer 441-9505Cemetery 446-0147City Administrator 441-9570Fire Department 446-0390Mayor’s Office 441-9508Municipal Court 446-9249Parks & Recreation 446-1721Police 446-8041(Emergency 911)Police Department 441-9590Public Works 441-9506Recorder 441-9508Business Licenses/Tax Collector 441-9503Senior Citizens Ctr. 446-9350Treasurer 441-9504Maintenance Dept. 441-9526

CITY DEPARTMENTS Don L. Weiss Jr., Mayor

Council Members: Mike Legg, Vice MayorRichard Arnold James MonsueR. Scott EnglandDwight E. HaynesBob RialMarvin CorlewJimmy Jennings

Tom H. Waychoff, City Administrator Jerry V. Smith, City AttorneyJ. Reese Holley, City Judge

www.cityofdickson.com


2009-10 EDITION | VOLUME 9


®

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

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE ON THE COVER Daniels’ family dairy farm Photo by Antony Boshier

DEPARTMENTS

4 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Dickson County’s culture

16 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Dickson County

32 Photo Essay

38 Sports & Recreation

41 Education

43 Health & Wellness

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

DICKSON COUNTY BUSINESS 22 A Recipe for Success

Odom’s Tennessee Pride sausage has been a breakfast-table staple for 66 years and counting.

26 Biz Briefs

29 Chamber Report

31 Economic Profi le

CONTENTS

FEATURES

8 I’D RATHER BE FARMINGAgriculture remains a major part of the county’s lifestyle and charm.

12 SMOKIN’ GOOD BARBECUERestaurants go whole hog with ribs, sandwiches and homey side dishes.

19 A SLICE OF AMERICANAPopular roots-music festival takes center stage each fall at Montgomery Bell State Park.

45 NOW THAT’S ‘DINNERTAINMENT’Renaissance Center’s Gaslight Theatre presents a meal and a show.

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DICKSON COUNT Y IMAGESDICKSON.COM 1

www.tristarhealth.com


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What’s Online Onnnlnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

imagesdickson.comTHE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

PHOTOS

FACTS & STATS

RELOCATION

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

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINEImages gives readers a taste of what makes Dickson County tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

Go online to learn

even more about:

Schools•

Health care•

Utilities•

Parks•

Taxes•

Considering a move to this

community? We can help. Use our

Relocation Tools to discover tips,

including how to make your move

green, advice about moving pets

and help with booking movers.

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

Barbecue is quintessential Southern fare, and Dickson County has plenty of places to fi nd it. Get a taste of local fl avor in our food section.

LOCAL FLAVOR

Hear Tennessee’s former Artist in Residence H.R. Lovell talk about his work, and visit his gallery on the square in Charlotte. Watch this and other quick videos in the Interactive section.

A LOOK AT H.R. LOVELL’S ART

SENIOR EDITOR REBECCA DENTON

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES,

SUSAN CHAPPELL, JESSY YANCEY

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER JESSICA MOZO

DATA MANAGER CHANDRA BRADSHAW

INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER CLAY PERRY

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER CINDY HALL

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN McCORD

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS,

TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER,

IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER

PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT MANAGER ANNE WHITLOW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS

MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,

KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER ALISON HUNTER

GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, JESSICA MANNER,

JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER

WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN SMITH

WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR ANDY HARTLEY

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA

WEB PROJECT MANAGER YAMEL RUIZ

WEB DESIGN CARL SCHULZ

WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN

AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR,

PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

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

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

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./SALES TODD POTTER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS

V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM NEWSOM

MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS BILL McMEEKIN

MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN,

MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

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

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

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

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

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Dickson County Chamber of Commerce

119 Hwy. 70 E. • Dickson, TN 37055Phone: (615) 446-2349 • Fax: (615) 441-3112

www.dicksoncountychamber.com

VISIT IMAGES DICKSON COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESDICKSON.COM

©Copyright 2009 Journal Communications Inc.,725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,

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

in whole or in part without written consent.

Member Magazine Publishers of America

Member Custom Publishing Council

Member Dickson County Chamber of Commerce




Something To Celebrate

Each season brings some kind

of celebration to Dickson County.

The newest addition to the

area’s roster of festivals is the

Middle Tennessee Sheep, Wool

and Fiber Festival, sponsored

by Three Creeks Farm in

Charlotte. The May festival,

held at the Dickson County

Fairgrounds, features sheep,

alpacas and llamas, along with

spinning demonstrations,

classes and more.

Also in May is the Old Timers

Day festival, a popular four-day

event. June brings the

weekend-long Promise Land

Festival just outside Charlotte.

Fall festivals include the Apple

Butter Festival in White Bluff

and the Americana Folk Festival

at Montgomery Bell State Park.

Moving the Past Into the FutureWith more than 22

historic buildings, the

Charlotte Courthouse

Square Historic District

has been a designated

National Historic Site

since 1977. Nearly all of

the historic properties on

the town square in the

county seat have been

restored to their original

appearance and adapted

for modern uses. Among

them are the recently

renovated Collier House –

a popular spot for special

events – and the

Hickerson Hotel, which is

more than 150 years old.

The venerable building is

home to four businesses.

All Aboard!After many years of planning, the newly renovated Hotel Halbrook

in downtown Dickson opened in June 2009 as the Clement Railroad

Hotel Museum. The 1913 building’s exhibits explore the heritage of

railroading, the Civil War, the stories of men and women who settled

Dickson County, and the early years, campaigns, and

accomplishments of Gov. Frank G. Clement, who was born in the hotel

in 1920. The museum also will host traveling exhibits from other

museums and heritage institutions.

Visit www.clementrailroadmuseum.org for more information.

4 IMAGESDICKSON.COM DICKSON COUNT Y

Almanac

A Fair To Remember

Each September, about 50,000 people – mostly from Dickson County and surrounding counties – head to the 50-acre fairgrounds to enjoy the Dickson County Fair. Along with agricultural events, vendors and a carnival, the 86-year-old fair puts on one of the most popular demolition derbies in Tennessee each year. About 12,000 spectators come just to see the

car wreck competition.

Look Around DowntownNo visit to Dickson is complete without a tour of the historic

downtown area.

Main Street is lined with independently owned businesses,

and Civil War soldiers built the railroad that fronts the Historic

Hotel Halbrook – now the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum.

Also downtown is the War Memorial Building, one of only

two Depression-era War Memorial Buildings in the state.

Music lovers gather at the Grand Old Hatchery downtown

every Saturday night for Vance Smith’s Grand Old Hatchery

Music Show, which begins at 7 p.m.

Way Above ParTop-notch golfing is easily found at

three local courses.

GreyStone Golf Club’s 18-hole course,

opened in 1998, was designed by PGA

Tour pro Mark McCumber. It has been

pegged as one of Middle Tennessee’s

finest daily-fee golf courses.

The Montgomery Bell State Park Golf

Course, an 18-hole, par 71 course in Burns,

was built in 1973 and redesigned in 1988.

Dickson Country Club is a private club

featuring an 18-hole golf course with a

driving range, practice putting green and

a practice pitching green.


Explore its landscapes, cultural offerings, food and fun.

See its downtowns, neighborhoods, parks and attractions.

Experience the history, hot spots and local happenings.

Now Showing in Our Video Gallery

Sit back and enjoy a preview of Dickson County amenities.

Dickson County is rated L for Livability

imagesdickson.com


Fast Facts The Stampede

Days Rodeo in Dickson takes place each June and features seven sanctioned events.

Dickson County’s new Higher Education Center at the Renaissance Center in Dickson offers college-credit courses.

Dickson is home to the family-owned and family-operated Broadway Drive-In theater.

The Renaissance Center offers a year-round calendar of musical performances, plays, exhibits and classes.

Dickson is home to 19 Century Farms – farms that have been family-owned and –operated for at least 100 years.

Burns

Charlotte

Slayden

Vanleer

White Bluff

Dickson

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POPULATION 2007Dickson County: 52,529

Dickson: 19,274

White Bluff: 2,929

Charlotte: 1,651

Burns: 1,439

Vanleer: 454

Slayden: 227

LOCATIONDickson County is in Middle Tennessee,

30 miles west of Nashville and 30

miles south of Clarksville.

BEGINNINGSDickson County was formally

established in 1803 and named for

Dr. William Dickson, a Nashville

physician who served as Tennessee

Speaker of the House of

Representatives (1799-1801) and then

as a U.S. Congressman (1801-1807).

FOR MORE INFORMATIONDickson County

Chamber of Commerce

119 Highway 70 E.

Dickson, TN 37055

Phone: (615) 446-2349

Fax: (615) 441-3112

www.dicksoncountychamber.com

Dickson County At A Glance

What’s Online eTake a virtual tour of Dickson County, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesdickson.com.

Dickson County

Wedding, Anyone?The historic Old Spencer Mill in Burns is a

popular spot for weddings and other special

events. The 1800s gristmill uses original

equipment powered by a 20-foot-tall

waterwheel, and it also includes a general

store, post office, a tee-pee, cabins and live

peacocks. The site offers living-history tours

by appointment.

Renovations on the general store and post

office were completed in spring 2009. But the

scenic, creekside mill isn’t just for show. It

produces fresh gristmill products, including

cornmeal and white corn grits. Visit

www.oldspencermill.com for more information.


Almanac


T ake a drive through the rolling hills of Dickson County, and you’re sure to see plenty of cattle grazing and crops popping up from fertile soil. It’s obvious from the peaceful scenery that agriculture

remains a deep-rooted tradition here – despite the county’s close proximity to Nashville.

“Our No. 1 commodity is beef cattle, and tobacco is No. 2,” says Brad Greenfield, a Dickson County agricultural extension agent. “We’ve got around 1,285 total farms, including 25,000 head of cattle and about 500 acres of tobacco. And we’re starting to see fruits and vegetables become a big commodity here, too. There’s a growing trend of organic producers and many others trying to maintain that type of production.”

The Dickson County Farmers Market has gained momentum in recent years, thanks to a bevy of customers who appreciate locally grown produce such as fresh-picked corn, colorful peppers, juicy tomatoes and sweet strawberries.

“Over the last couple years, the market has grown from seven or eight vendors to more than 15,” Greenfield says. “The customer support has been great. Vendors rarely leave without selling out of their products. People are realizing it doesn’t

AGRICULTURAL ROOTS RUN DEEP IN DICKSON COUNTY

I’d Rather Be

STORY BY JESSICA MOZO

Farming

Right: Dairy farmer Johnny Daniel


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make sense to buy a head of lettuce from California when you can stop by the market and pick up one grown in Burns.”

While buying local is a trend that’s just beginning to click with consumers across the nation, it’s something farmers have been promoting for ages. Dairy farmer Johnny Daniel operates his family’s Century Farm in Dickson County and sells milk to Dean Foods, owner of the Nashville-based Purity Dairies and Athens, Tenn.-based Mayfield Dairy.

“We milk around 160 cows two times a day, and we raise all our own feed,” Daniel says. “My first ancestor bought this farm land in 1861, and my dad, Lewis Daniel, started the Grade-A dairy.”

Daniel’s farm is one of only two Grade-A dairies in Dickson County, which means the farm is inspected regularly by the health department, and milk samples are checked regularly for things like bacteria and antibiotics. Daniel enjoys farming in Dickson County because of its climate and rural heritage.

“We don’t have extreme temperatures like other places, and we’re not encroached by urbanization,” he says.

Daniel’s son Benji, 33, is already following in his father’s footsteps. He lives on the farm in his grandfather’s old house and makes a lot of the decisions for the dairy.

Tobacco farmer Randy Simpkins is also carrying on a family tradition of farming in Dickson County. Along with his wife, Dee, and daughters, Jennifer, 23, and Jamie, 20, Simpkins raises beef cattle and 24 acres of tobacco, which he sells to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.’s Conwood division for use as a snuff – or dip – tobacco.

“Both my parents and grandparents farmed this land, and now I’m moving it on to my daughters,” Simpkins says. “This farm is the old home place of my grandmother, and it’s been in my family close to 100 years.”

Simpkins typically orders greenhouse-grown tobacco plants in January and February and transplants them to the fields in May and June. After a 90- to 120-day growing season, the tobacco crop is put into barns to dry and cure.

“The curing process gives the tobacco a distinct f lavor and changes its color from green to brown,” Simpkins explains.

The tobacco cures for about 30 days before being sent to a factory to be weighed.

“We have a 60,000-pound contract, and that’s how we get paid,” Simpkins says. “Tobacco farmers work all year and get one check at the end of the year.”

Simpkins admits tobacco farming is a high-risk job – he’s lost two barns to fires in his lifetime, and bad weather can cut a year’s tobacco yield by devastating numbers. But all things considered, he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“Dickson County’s rolling land is great for tobacco, and there are a lot of tobacco farms in this area that have been handed down through generations,” he says. “I was raised here – it’s my home place. I guess that’s why I like it so much, because I’m home.”

Tobacco farmer Randy Simkins Left: About 160 cows are milked twice a day at Johnny Daniels’ dairy farm near Charlotte. One of two Grade-A dairies in the county, the farm has been in Daniels’ family for more than 100 years.

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“Both my parents and

grandparents farmed this

land, and now I’m moving

it on to my daughters.”


BARBECUE RESTAURANTS GO WHOLE HOG

Fine Sw


STORY BY CAROL COWANPHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTONY BOSHIER

T ender, juicy barbecue is quintessential Southern fare, and Dickson County has plenty of places to find it. Local barbecue joints serve up smoky pork and beef ribs, chicken, turkey and pulled pork and

beef sandwiches with traditional side dishes such as coleslaw, beans, greens and cornbread. Down-home desserts like banana pudding and fruit cobblers top off the meal.

The well-known Whitt’s Barbecue franchise that origi-nated in Athens, Ala., has grown to include stores throughout northern Alabama, Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky.

Thanks to Ricky Jennette, Dickson has had its own Whitt’s Barbecue since 2005. Jennette owns the Dickson store, as well as the Whitt’s Barbecue restaurants in nearby Ashland City and Waverly.

Jennette’s restaurants draw a steady stream of hungry customers – for good reason.

“I can’t reveal any secrets, but we cook our own barbecue right here at the restaurant. We just do it the Whitt’s way,” Jennette says. That includes a full day of cooking over a

ine

Pulled pork barbecue, baked beans and coleslaw from Whitt’s Barbecue in Dickson


glowing, hickory-wood fire. “We take pride in our quality and in our work,” he adds.

Whitt’s signature sauce comes in hot or mild varieties. Menu selections include St. Louis-style ribs and smoked chicken, as well as pulled meats – pork, beef and all-white-meat turkey. The pulled pork is customers’ hands-down favorite. “Ninety-five percent of what we sell is pulled pork,” Jennette says. “We also offer catering services.”

Specializing in ribs that are to-die-for, Carl’s Perfect Pig in White Bluff is a local favorite, but its fame extends from New

York to Hollywood. The 20-year-old, no-frills establishment has been written up in Vanity Fair and the Wall Street Journal and featured on Emeril Live! on the Food Network.

“We got lucky in the beginning,” owner Carl Teitloff says of the restaurant’s renown. “We had a really good product. We got tied in with some music people, and word got out. One thing just led to another.”

But how does he get that famous flavor? “I cook it the way I like it,” Teitloff says. “There’s really no hidden secret – just hard work and consistency. Consistency is what we strive for.”


Clockwise left to right: Ribs on the grill at Carl’s Perfect Pig in White Bluff; customers enjoying lunch at Carl’s Perfect Pig; hickory-smoked barbecue with chips at Bart’s Bar-B-Que & Catfish Cooker in Dickson

Over on Walnut Street in Dickson, Fossie’s has been a mainstay since 1956. This quaint establishment is still cooking up the tasty barbecue it’s known for and baking delicious, homemade fruit pies.

Bart’s Bar-B-Que & Catfish Cooker, also in Dickson, serves juicy, hickory-smoked meat that’s been cooked on site in an open-pit barbecue. The fried catfish also earns rave reviews, as does the assortment of desserts,

including peach cobbler and banana pudding. Bart’s décor recalls the 1950s and ’60s and

features a collection of Andy Griffith, Betty Boop and Elvis Presley memorabilia.

Another option on the Dickson County barbecue circuit is Hog Heaven Family Restaurant & Steakhouse in White Bluff. This favorite spot serves barbecue as well as steaks, turnip greens, cornbread, sweet tea and other homey dishes.

Whitt’s Barbecue590 Highway 46 S.Dickson, TN 37055Open Mon. through Sat., 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Carl’s Perfect Pig4991 Highway 70White Bluff, TN 37187Open Wed., Thurs. and Sat., 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fri., 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sun., 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Closed Mon. and Tues.

Fossie’s Bar-B-Q603 W. Walnut St.Dickson, TN 37055(615) 446-8674 (Call for hours of operation)

Bart’s Bar-B-Que and Catfi sh Cooker1836 Highway 46 S.Dickson, TN 37055Open Mon. through Thurs., 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Hog Heaven Family Restaurant & Steakhouse4142 Highway 70White Bluff, TN 37187Open Mon. through Sat., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where To Go


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Portfolio

It’s Quite a Caffeine SceneCOFFEE SHOPS IN DICKSON SERVE A RANGE OF SPECIALTY DRINKS AND MORE

Ever have an ice-spresso? How about a monkey mocha?Dickson is now home to a few comfortable coffee

shops that seem to serve new specialty items every week. These shops offer relaxing retreats where customers can

stop in to relax or work on their Blackberry or laptop while sipping a f lavored concoction. But a wide variety of hot and cold coffees and teas can also be quickly prepared to go.

A favorite caffeine destination in Dickson is House-Blend Gourmet Coffeehouse and Eclectic Gifts, which has been open since February 2002 on North Main Street. Some of its most popular drinks in the warm-weather months are ice-spressos – blended cold coffees in a variety of f lavors such as caramel, white caramel and mocha.

House-Blend also serves fruit smoothies and an assortment of teas, including Oregon chai, a spicy blend of honey and tea mixed with milk and topped with whipped cream. The cozy shop serves tasty sandwiches with names such as The Parisian, The Mediterranean, The Chesapeake and The Mighty Mississippi – pulled white chicken meat topped with barbecue sauce and served warm on country wheat bread. Visit www.houseblendonline.com for more details.

The Liquid Bean Pourhouse on Henslee Drive is another popular stop in town, serving a variety of hot and cold coffees in a laid-back setting.

And just down the road, at 105 Mathis Drive in Dickson, is the ever-popular Dunkin’ Donuts, which offers a full range of specialty coffees – iced or hot – along with donuts and other tasty treats.

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Specialty coffee at House-Blend Gourmet Coffeehouse and Gifts on North Main Street in downtown Dickson


A DIFFERENT KIND OF REAL ESTATE COMPANY

Actively participating in a growing Dickson County!

215 Church Street Dickson, TN 37055

Call (615) 446-1884 today!www.ppproperties.com

Left to Right: Janet Lewis, Melinda Wright, Carrie Parker Peery,

Missy Chandler, Debbie Jared, Peggy Horne, Deidre Helmey

And the winner is: The Leslie D. Larkins family farm, which dates

back to the early days when Tennessee became a state.

The Dickson County Chamber of Commerce announced in November 2008 that the long-standing Larkins family farm in Dickson had won the chamber’s 2008 Agricultural Leader of the Year Award. The recognition goes to an individual, family or business that exemplifies the tradition of farm-ing excellence in Dickson County.

The Dickson County Chamber chooses a worthy recipient that portrays not only top agricultural standards, but one that also gives back to the commu-nity. As a result, the Larkins farm was feted in November 2008 at the banquet that was attended by nearly 400 people.

One of the interesting aspects of the Larkins property is that it is classified as a Century Farm, which means that it has been family-owned and -operated for at least 100 years. Dickson County is home to 19 Century Farms.

The Larkins property was founded in 1787 by John Larkins of North Carolina, and the farm originally spanned 1,000 acres. John Larkins was a Revolutionary War veteran and the first treasurer of Dickson County, which was founded in 1803.

The Larkins estate originally raised corn, hay, wheat and cattle, and those four commodities continue to be culti-vated in 2009. This Century Farm is in its fifth generation of ownership. L.D. Larkins Jr. now owns the 215-acre site while his son, Kevin, manages the day-to-day operations.

The Larkins property is a busy and productive 21st-century farm these days, but family members say they also take the time to appreciate and preserve their history and the rural landscape.

Honoring the Larkins Family Farm

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L.D. Larkins, owner of the Larkins family farm in Dickson County


Portfolio

www.ppproperties.com

NHC Rehabilitation, Dickson is a locally operated Rehabilitation Center dedicated to improving the quality of life of the patients and residents they serve. Our services are provided by compassionate caregivers who incorporate a holistic approach to total patient care. Our staff includes professional nursing, in-house therapy staff, medical directors, a full-time nurse practitioner, social workers, a registered dietitian and recreational staff. Psychological services, respiratory care, wound care and pain management services are also available.

NHC Rehabilitation, Dickson is the only health care campus in Dickson County to offer a complete continuum of care for its residents and patients. NHC is able to provide skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, assisted living services, intermediate care services, respite care and hospice services. NHC Rehabilitation, Dickson distinguishes itself by providing patients and residents with a level of care and service that enables them to maintain their independence and good health, while aging with grace and dignity.

NHC REHABILITATION DICKSON “Helping People Live Life Again”

More than 30 bands and singer-songwriters perform at the festival.

A Slice of Americana

Folks who enjoys down-home, roots-type music should mark their

calendars for a fall trip to Dickson County. The annual Americana Folk Festival takes center stage at Montgomery Bell State Park every October, with 4,000 spectators in attendance for the event that has been occurring since 2004. The crowd numbers would actually be much higher, but since the event works so well with the beloved state park, organizers have chosen to keep the crowd low and remain in the park.

One of the main goals for the one-day festival is to re-create a sense of the old-time, back-porch picking party, even though thousands of fans are listening. The event has hosted per-formers such as Patty Griffin, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jars of Clay, The Avett Brothers, Mindy Smith, The Alison Brown Quartet, and more than 100 other acts over the past four years.

With more than 30 bands and singer-songwriters performing through out the event on three different stages, the day is filled with concerts, folk art, hikes, bike rides and other outdoor events. In keeping with the festival’s “better living and listening” mission, conces sions focus on locally grown, diverse food offerings, including kettle corn, barbecue, soups, baked goods and samplings of organic food. A custom, organic brew of Yazoo beer is made and sold especially for the festival. Future plans include incorporating a farmers market. Also on the scene are folk artisans and craftsmen displaying their work.

The Americana Folk Festival is not 0festival, but a celebration where diverse artists and fans gather to freely express their love for roots music.

For more information, visit the Americana Folk Festival’s Web site at www.americanafolkfest.com.

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www.nhcdickson.com

Staircase in the Drouillard House Retreat and Conference Center

Now That’s a Beautiful Mansion

If you’re looking for an impressive place to hold a meeting or a corporate retreat,

consider heading over to Cumberland Furnace.

The tiny Dickson County community is home to the long-standing Drouillard House Retreat and Conference Center, which features a Victorian-style mansion and four modern cabins that have a total of 12 bedrooms. The spacious prop-erty on Old Highway 48 North is an ideal setting for workshops, training sessions, company seminars or organiza-tional retreats.

The tranquil setting and comfortable accommodations are inviting for groups of up to 43 people for overnight stays; the facility can accommodate up to 50 guests for meetings and seminars. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are prepared each day in the historic mansion, and every meal is served buffet-style on the porch, if the weather permits.

The house sits peacefully in the midst of an abundance of oak and fir trees, and the property’s amenities include shuttered windows, a widow’s walk and a spacious wrap-around porch. The mansion has five guest rooms, each of which is furnished in an authentic Victorian design.

Drouillard House has been a mainstay in Cumberland Furnace for nearly two centuries, but the refurbished mansion has only been in operation as a guest retreat and conference center since 1997. During that time, thousands of visitors have stayed overnight, and nearly 100 special corporate retreats, day meetings and company seminars have been booked in the luxurious house.

Drouillard House also caters one-day events. For guest fees, meal costs and more information about booking special events, visit the Web site at www.drouillardhouse.com.

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Portfolio

www.taylorsince1909.com

CONVENIENT

GREATER DICKSON GAS AUTHORITY

Your Hometown Energy Source

SAFE – RELIABLE – ECONOMICAL

WE SELL AND SERVICE BOTH NATURAL AND PROPANE APPLIANCES.

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MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE ENERGY

Take note: Students who graduate from Tennessee Technology Center

at Dickson often work in careers that start at $30,000 a year, and they can advance to positions where the sky is basically the limit.

The education center is one of the top providers of technical workforce development in Tennessee, and it is a valuable resource for residents, local companies and industries. Additional campus locations are in Franklin, Waverly and Clarksville.

TTC’s mission is to train students for careers that are in demand in today’s economy, and its goal is to supply high-quality training that will qualify students for employment or advancement in jobs.

TTC works with individual compa-nies to implement customized training that will enhance employee efficiency and productivity. The programs are designed so that companies can ulti-mately have lower training and recruiting costs, lower employee turnover and increased profits.

TTC also offers training programs at

times that are convenient for companies. The staff at TTC does all the program work, including course planning, regis-tration, evaluation, selecting competent instructors, recordkeeping and all of the training.

Individual student pro grams at Tennessee Technology Center at Dickson include the fields of practical nursing, auto technology, dental assisting, heat-ing and cooling repair, and heavy equipment/diesel mechanics. Other programs include business systems

technology, computer information technology, surgical technology, cos-metology and machine tool technology.

Evening classes are available in computers, auto CAD, skilled trades, languages and the medical industry. Some of the courses are offered online, and TTC tries to provide its training in ways that are economically feasible and easily accessible to all students.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.ttcdickson.edu.

– Stories by Kevin Litwin

Technology Center Meets Demand


www.gdga.com

A Recipe for Success


Business

ODOM’S TENNESSEE PRIDE SAUSAGE REMAINS A BREAKFAST FAVORITE

O dom’s Tennessee Pride Real Country Sausage has been a staple with Southern cooks in the Dickson and Nashville area since the family-owned company was founded in 1943.

“The Odoms come from a long line of meatheads,” company president Larry Odom says with a laugh. “We go back a number of generations of butchers. My grandfather, Douglas Odom Sr., was a meat cutter, and his brother and dad were meat cutters. He had a burning desire to make sausage, and he liked experimenting with different seasonings.”

When Douglas Odom Sr. finally settled on the perfect blend of f lavors for his country sausage recipe, he made it available to the public by starting Odom’s Tennessee Pride Real Country Sausage. Today, the company is headquartered in Madison and runs manufacturing plants in Dickson and Little Rock, Ark.

“My grandfather started with a stall at the Nashville Farmers Market, where he made products and cut meat,”

STORY BY JESSICA MOZOPHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTONY BOSHIER

The Odom’s Tennessee Pride facility in Dickson is one of the most automated meat plants in the industry.


Workers assemble sausage biscuits at Odom’s Tennessee Pride facility in Dickson. The company’s precooked products are made at the Dickson plant, which employs about 350 people. Odom’s Tennessee Pride was founded in 1943.


Business

Odom says. “Then in the mid-1950s, the Tennessee Pride logo was born. That’s when we started the radio jingle and the whole nine yards.”

Anyone who lives in or around the Greater Nashville area has heard Odom’s catchy bluegrass jingle advertising “real country sausage, best you ever tried,” whether between acts at the legendary Grand Ole Opry or on television commercials. It encourages listeners to “take home a pound or two of Tennessee Pride,” and they do – by the thousands.

“We make one-pound and two-pound packages of chub sausage, links and patties, and pre-cooked products like sausage gravy, sausage balls and sausage biscuits and croissants,” Odom says.

The precooked products are all made at the Dickson plant, which employs 350 people and is one of the most automated meat plants in the industry.

“The sausage and biscuits are still put together by hand, but all the products are robotically picked off the line, and wrapped and packaged automatically – everything there is high-tech,” Odom says.

The Little Rock plant is about the same size as the Dickson facility and houses all the company’s raw processes and the slaughter facility. Odom’s Tennessee Pride employs about 780 people in all, and about 75 percent of the company’s business is retail – a fact that’s helped them thrive even in the midst of a nationwide economic recession.

“To a certain degree, we’ve been immune to the recession time, because people are choosing to buy food at the grocery and eat at home more,” Odom says. “We do feel the effects of it, but fortunately, ours is a basic food product.”

Odom’s also makes raw and precooked products for food service distributors, which make up the other 25 percent of the business.

Odom continues to lead the longstanding sausage company into the future with the help of his daughter, a merchandiser, and sister, a food sales analyst. His father, Douglas Odom Jr., and uncle, Richard Odom, are both retired from the business but remain active on its board of directors.

“I enjoy the fact that there’s never a dull moment in the meat business, from the economic issues of the day to the ins and outs of the raw materials market,” Odom says. “We have some good competitors, but if you compare us to other sausages, the main difference is the unique flavor and service we provide to our customers. Our quality control process is pretty tightly buttoned up, so you get consistently great f lavor and quality from us. After all, we have the Tennessee Pride name to protect.”

What’s Online

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Take a tour of Odom’s Tennessee Pride facility in Dickson in our quick video. Visit imagesdickson.com.



BUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE DICKSON

COUNTY’S ECONOMIC CLIMATE

Biz Briefs

DICKSON COMPOUNDING PHARMACYBiz: Compounding pharmacyBuzz: Using special tools, including a precise capsule machine, Dickson Compounding Pharmacy can make doses or dosage forms of commercial drug products to fit each patient’s particular need. The pharmacy is located inside Dickson Apothecary.(615) 446-5585

ScorecardBUSINESS AT

A GLANCE

$484,179Retail sales ($1,000)

$10,924Retail sales

per capita

$44,479Accommodations

and food service

sales ($1,000)

3,916Total number

of firms

Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts


Business

WHITE BLUFF BUILDING SUPPLYBiz: Building-supply storeBuzz: At White Bluff Building Supply, customers can find just about anything for their home under one roof. From lawnmowers and plants to paint and building supplies, this locally owned store has it all – including a friendly, knowledgeable staff.www.whitebluffbldgsupply.com

UNITED MECHANICAL & ELECTRICALBiz: Commercial and industrial mechanical contractorBuzz: This commercial and industrial mechanical contractor provides air conditioning and electrical services. Technicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Owned by David Baggett, the Dickson company is licensed, bonded and insured.(615) 446-9369

TENNESSEE ATTACHMENT CO.Biz: Industrial sewing-machine parts manufacturerBuzz: Tennessee Attachment Co. in White Bluff rebuilds and manufactures parts for industrial sewing machines. The company also makes labor-saving devices for the stitching industry. The company was incorporated in Dickson County in July 1977. www.tennatchco.com

TENNESSEE BUN CO.Biz: Full-service, high-speed bakeryBuzz: Located in Dickson, Tennessee Bun Co.’s high-speed bun line manufactures more than 1,000 buns per minute and is capable of producing round buns, hoagies, cluster buns and double-decker buns. TBC celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2007.www.buncompany.com

We’d be stretching the truth if we tried to tell you we weren’t pleased to have been named the best bank in Dickson. It’s always nice to be appreciated – especially by people you genuinely care about.

And since opening back in 1954, caring about our neighbors in Dickson has been the whole idea. It’s why we work so hard to make sure you can enjoy the same up-to-date banking options available in the world’s major financial centers. It’s also why we take the extra time to greet customers by name.

If by chance you don’t yet bank with us, please stop by and let us show you why Bank of Dickson is still the bank in Dickson.


www.bankofdickson.com

Making HistoryOne Year at a TimeThroughout the years, the spirit and pride of Dickson County have been captured in Images magazine. In print and online, Images reaches newcomers, new businesses and existing residents annually with stories about living and working in Dickson County. We’re proud to be a part of preserving the history of one of the nation’s most livable communities as it continues to evolve.

READ ARTICLES FROM PAST ISSUES OF THE MAGAZINE ONLINE AT imagesdickson.com UNDER RELATED ARTICLES

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10


Connected to the LandAGRI-TOURISM OPTIONS INCLUDE A FARMERS MARKET, FARM VISITS AND EVENTS

A gri-tourism in Dickson County is growing, no pun intended.

As people become more interested in visiting farms and expe-riencing farm life, farmers in Dickson County are taking advantage of all the attention.

“There are so many people in our current society who have never been on a farm, which is why schools often book trips to local farms,” says Mike Henry, Dickson County Farm Bureau insurance agent and chairman of the agriculture committee for the Dickson County Chamber of Commerce. “Kids see things there that amaze them. In addition, there are a lot of requests from senior citizens groups who want to see farms and perhaps bring back fond memories of when they were growing up.”

With that rising interest in farm visits comes a bolstered interest in the agri-tourism industry. One popular annual agritourism event that occurs each July is the Dickson County Farm Tour, which features a number of buses transporting 200 people to several farms in the community.

“The tour shows people new practices in agriculture as well as new commercial products, proving that farming is still alive and viable in our county,” Henry says. “The event is limited to 200 people, and we always have a waiting list for the one-day tour.”

Henry adds that agri-tourism in Dickson County ranges from pumpkin patches and corn mazes to Christmas tree farms. The Dickson County Farm Bureau even schedules an Ag Day each spring.

“All fourth-graders are invited out to Dickson County Fairgrounds for an Ag Day to see and touch animals, and to learn about agriculture at a variety of 10-minute information stations,” he says. “Private places like Three Creeks Farm in Charlotte also offer farm visits and classroom settings for students to further learn about agriculture.”

Henry says another popular agri-tourism endeavor is the Dickson County Farmers Market, which runs from May to November behind the Dickson County

Public Library. The farmers market has a new Web site, www.dicksonfarmersmarket.com, that helps promote the growing effort.

“Agri-tourism is being promoted more and more these days because the list of

agricultural attractions is expand ing for the public to see,” he says. “With chang-ing times, agri-tourism has become an added source of income and interest in the overall farming economy.”

– Kevin Litwin

Beth Collier picks flowers at Three Creeks Farm. She and her husband, Steve Shafer, offer sheep-shearing, blacksmithing and spinning demonstrations.

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Business | Chamber Report

Connecting with Dickson County has never been easier …

imagesdickson.com

1 SIMPLY SEARCH: In a hurry? Find the exact

info you need quickly with our enhanced search capabilities.

2 SMOOTHER SURFING: Explore the site and

interact with us more easily with our reorganized navigation bar.

3 JUST THE FACTS: Get a quick snapshot

of the community with our greatly enriched Facts and Stats section.

4 WATCH AND SHARE: Experience fi rst-hand

views of the community in our video gallery, then share them with friends.

5 VIRTUAL VIEW: Flip through pages

of the digital magazine, an enriched online version of the print publication.

6 MOVING MUST-HAVES: Visit our new

Relocation Tools section for many useful tips and information to make your transition go smoothly.

7 MORE EYE CANDY: Check out our

enhanced Photo Gallery for more stunning photos of the community.

8 OUTSIDERS WELCOME: Read about the

best places to play in this community.

9 IN GOOD TASTE: Get the dish on local fl avor

from favorite restaurants, noted area products and farmers markets in our new Food section.

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DICKSON COUNTY

TRANSPORTATION

Dickson Municipal Airport2370 Sylvia Rd.

Dickson, TN 37055

(615) 446-5962

City of Dickson600 E. Walnut St.

Dickson, TN 37055

(615) 441-9570


Dickson County GovernmentP.O. Box 267

Charlotte, TN 37036

(615) 789-7003

www.tennesseeanytime.org/

local/dickson.html

Charlotte City Hall22 Court Square

Charlotte, TN 37036-4935

(615) 789-4184

INDUSTRIAL SITES

www.dicksoncountychamber.

com/property

Nashville International Airport(615) 275-1675

www.nashintl.com

(about 50 miles from Dickson)

TAXES

2.75%City Sales and Use Tax

2.75%County Sales Tax

7%State Sales Tax

9.75%Total Sales Tax

ECONOMIC RESOURCES

Dickson County Chamber of Commerce119 Highway 70 E.

Dickson, TN 37055

(615) 446-2349

www.dicksoncounty

chamber.com

Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development312 Rosa Parks Ave., 11th Floor

Nashville, TN 37243

(615) 741-1888

www.tennessee.gov/ecd

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

City Tax Collector600 E. Walnut St.

Dickson, TN 37055

(615) 441-9503

MORE ONLINE

imagesdickson.com

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

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MAJOR INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURERS/

DISTRIBUTION

Company

Tennsco Corp. 500

Tennessee Odom’s Pride Sausage 400

Quebecor World 300

Interstate Packaging 210

Masonite International Corp. 200

Ebbtide Corp. 150

Nemak Tennessee 150

Porcelain Industries 150

Shiloh Industries Inc. 150

Bridgestone APM 140

Nashville Wire Products Inc. 140

Martin-Brower Co. LLC 125

Sumiden Wire Products Corp. 105

Middle Tennessee Lumber Co. 100

BUSINESS CLIMATEThe services and manufacturing sectors are some of the largest

private-sector employers in Dickson County. The region’s labor

force is characterized by an eagerness to learn, a willingness to

work and a high level of productivity. An excellent rural road

system and a moderate climate allow employers to draw labor

from a wider geographic area.


Business | Economic Profile


RevisitingA drive through the rolling hills of central Dickson

County leads to historic downtown Charlotte, home of the state’s oldest operating courthouse,

built in 1833. With more than 16 historic buildings, the Charlotte Courthouse Square Historic District has been a designated National Register District since 1977.

The oldest house still standing in Charlotte is the Voorhies-James Hous-e, built in 1806. But most buildings on the square were built in the 1840s and 1850s, after a tornado swept through and nearly destroyed the town in 1830.

The Collier House – a stately historic building that’s been around since 1830 – is enjoying new life as a banquet hall. A few years ago‚ the city spent close to $200‚000 renovating the charming old home. The 1‚600-square-foot house has become a popular spot for wedding receptions‚ reunions‚ baby showers‚ bridal showers‚ dinners and birthday parties.

Artist H.R. Lovell – a former Tennessee artist-in-residence – has a gallery on the square in the old Mallory and Leech General Merchandise Store, built around 1860.

The Hickerson Hotel, a former hotel on the stagecoach route to Clarksville before 1876, now houses four businesses.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church was built by slaves in 1855 and includes an upstairs slave gallery. Other historic buildings downtown include the Christopher Columbus Collier Home, the Collier-Cook House, the Old Jailer’s House and a dozen more.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTONY BOSHIER

CHARLOTTE’S COURTHOUSE SQUARE PRESERVES THE PAST

HistoryWorth


Photo Essay

What’s Online

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Hear artist H.R. Lovell discuss his work and his downtown Charlotte gallery in our quick video. Visit imagesdickson.com.


Photo Essay



Photo Essay

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Get a glimpse of Montgomery Bell State Park in our quick video. Visit imagesdickson.com.


Sports & Recreation


Montgomery Bell State Park’s 3,700 acres of rolling hills and scenic backdrops offer a wealth of ways to enjoy the outdoors.

“I may be biased, but I think this is the best of Tennessee’s state parks,” says Pat Wright, park manager at Montgomery Bell State Park. “You can enjoy all kinds of recreational activities in a quiet, serene setting, and there’s lots of wildlife like deer, turkey and squirrels. The park is safe and friendly – a hidden jewel. It invites people to escape from the hustle and bustle and enjoy our good nature.”

And they do. Roughly one million people f lock to the park each year to camp, hike, mountain bike, fish, swim, golf, boat, picnic and simply relax.

“Camping is a big draw, and so are our 12 miles of hiking trails,” Wright says. “All of them are fairly easy walking, but there are some hills.”

The park’s 20 miles of mountain biking trails are another draw and range in difficulty from easy to expert.

“They’re really popular and getting bigger every year,” Wright says. Water enthusiasts are in seventh heaven at Montgomery Bell,

thanks to the park’s three lakes, all of which are open for fishing. Bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish are common catches.

The scenic Lake Acorn also offers swimming and has a sand beach for relaxation. Visitors can even rent paddleboats, canoes and flat-bottom boats from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

“In spring and summer, we also have free ranger programs that focus on environmental education,” Wright says.

Program topics may include the iron ore history of the park, birds of prey, aquatic ecosystems, amphibians and reptiles, nature games, recycling, fossils and mammals of Tennessee, and wild-flower nature walks.

“We always have a great turnout for our spring Wildflower Weekend in April,” Wright says. “Our rangers lead walks and identify spring-blooming plants and flowers.”

With so much to do and see, one day isn’t enough to explore Montgomery Bell State Park. But that’s no problem, thanks to the park’s 130-room inn and conference center, which invites guests to book a room and stay awhile. Dining is also conveniently located on site. A full-service restaurant adjacent to the inn offers impressive views of Lake Acorn.

“The restaurant serves home-style buffets every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and one of its specialties is catfish,” Wright says. “We get a lot of people who come out from Dickson every day just to eat lunch here. – Jessica Mozo

Into the Great OutdoorsMONTGOMERY BELL OFFERS A SERENE ESCAPE

The park’s inn and conference center overlooks Lake Acorn.


1916-1920 Charlotte Courthouse

Working for the Prosperity of Dickson County

to Make Our County a Better Place

to Live, Work and Play

ELECTED OFFICIALSRobert L. Stone

County Mayor

Glynda Pendergrass Trustee

Gail Wren Assessor of Property

Phil Simons County Clerk

Jackie Farthing Register-of-Deeds

Pam Myatt Circuit Court Clerk

Tom Wall Sheriff

Jasper McEwen Road Superintendent

COUNTY COMMISSIONERSRandy Simpkins

District #1

John W. Gunn District #2

Gary Suggs District #3

Regina H. Fowler District #4

James “Cotton” Dawson District #5

Benny Spencer District #6

Virginia Gray District #7

Horace G. Perkins III District #8

Tony Adams District #9

Buford Reed District #10

Gaither C. Bagsby District #11

David McMillen District #12

H H H H H HH H H H H

HHargis Heating & Air

Serving Dickson and Surrounding Counties

Dennis Hargis 1010 Jordan Circle White Bluff, TN 37187394-6475 or 797-9352

24-Hour Emergency Service Available

Tennsco steel products,

manufactured here in Dickson,

Tennessee, are distributed

throughout the United States

and are known for their quality

and durability.

Tennsco’s product line includes

shelving, storage cabinets,

media storage, lockers,

workbenches and card files.

With over 600 employees in

six plant locations, Tennsco is

proud of the role we play in

our community.

(615) 446-8000 www.tennsco.com


www.tennsco.com

A new school of thought in Dickson County says that all high school students should

be on the same academic path – whether they plan to attend college or jump right into the workforce.

The Dickson County Schools system has become part of the Tennessee Diploma Project, an initiative by the state to raise the academic bar for all students. Beginning with the freshman class entering high school in August 2009, all students will need 22 credits upon graduation – instead of the previous 20 – with that first “22-credit class” gradu-ating in 2013.

“So from this point forward, all students will be required to earn an additional credit in math, a half-credit in physical education, and a half-credit in a course called personal finance,” says Devin Sisco, director of secondary education for Dickson County Schools.

The Tennessee Diploma Project is a move by the state to get schools more in line with National Assessment of Educational Progress standards. NAEP assesses student academic progress in all states.

“All students will be on the same educational path and level, whether they are immediately going into the workforce or attending college,” Sisco says. “One of the Tennessee Diploma Project goals was to have high school students take four years of math classes, and this will now be achieved.”

In addition, Dickson County students must also have an initial career focus by the beginning of their sophomore year. At that point, they must choose from one of four broad areas of elective study in which they will ultimately earn three

of their credits toward graduation.Those four areas of elective study

are STEM, which is science, technology, engineering and mathematics; human-ities, which involves language arts, foreign languages and social studies; fine arts, which encompasses choral and instru-mental music, visual arts and performing arts; and career technical education.

“Students must pull three total credits from one of those curriculums,” Sisco says. “And the Tennessee Diploma Project will ultimately have an effect on middle schools, too, because we need to be moving those young students toward

greater academic capability – especially in the key areas of math, science and language arts.”

Sisco adds that the Dickson County Schools system is also moving away from a block schedule to a more tradi-tional seven-period school day.

“We are implementing these several changes for the good of all students, so they will be better trained for the work-force or college following graduation,” he says. “It all makes for an especially interesting and exciting time here at Dickson County Schools.”

– Kevin Litwin

Raising the Academic BarDIPLOMA PROJECT CHANGES WILL HELP PREPARE ALL STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE


Education

We Welcome Your Entire Family As Our Special Guests

615-446-4644

Gaylan W. Brown D.D.S. Benjamin Cannon D.D.S.

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CEREC Crowns (elminates the need for temporary crowns)

Smile “Makeovers” for over 30 Years

102 Hwy. 70 E.

Go online to Relocation Tools for moving tips, tools and more.

brought to you by

Dickson Apothecary

Susan Shepard, DPh

Martha Shepard, DPh

David Shepard, PharmD

Marty Gentry, PharmD

Stephanie Wright, PharmD

Randy Amrhein, DPh

Karen George, PharmD Michael Wright, DPh

Goodlark Pharmacy127 Crestview Park Dr.

Improving Dickson County’s Health Care With Dedicated Pharmacy Practice.


www.easthillsdentalcenter.com

www.livability.com

Horizon Medical Center cele-brated its 50th anniversary in 2008 – and now it’s making

room for new technology and a new generation of medicine. The medical center is establishing a brand-new campus on 66 acres along Highway 46, near Interstate 40.

Known as Natchez Medical Park, the campus already houses one building that includes a Sarah Cannon Cancer Center on one side and a Natchez

Imaging facility on the other.“Our old hospital building continues

to serve the community well, but the eventual goal is to keep expanding Natchez Medical Park and move everything there by around the year 2012,” says John Marshall, CEO of Horizon Medical Center and Natchez Medical Park.

Marshall says the next expansion to Natchez Medical Park is scheduled to begin in late 2009.

“We will be breaking ground on a new ambulatory surgery center for outpa-tients and will construct some medical offices as part of that phase,” he says. “Then a couple years later, the final stage of construction will be implemented to build an inpatient tower. Once the tower is constructed, all equipment and services from Horizon Medical Center will be moved to Natchez Medical Park.”

While all of these plans unfold, Horizon Medical Center continues to be a leader in medical innovation and treatment for the five counties it serves. For example, one of the surgeons at HMC is trained to perform an innovative balloon sinuplasty procedure, whereby the surgeon relieves a patient’s sinus passages by running angioplasty tubes through the gums instead of the nose.

“We also have a surgeon who does a procedure on the lower back called an axial lift, to separate vertebrae that have been compressing together,” says Betty Weaver, director of marketing for Horizon Medical Center and Natchez Medical Park. “Horizon Medical Center certainly has high-skilled surgeons on staff.”

Dickson County has other top-notch medical facilities available to the public, including Dickson Medical Associates, which opened a new, 83,000-square-foot facility along Highway 46 in spring 2009. The multi-specialty practice provides the latest in medical technology, with an emphasis on convenience and satisfaction for the patient.

“We have a beautiful, scenic quality of life here in Dickson County, so medical facilities are able to recruit top doctors and physicians who don’t want to live in big metropolitan cities,” Betty Weaver says. “This whole region west of Nashville is growing, and so is the quality of medical care that residents here are receiving.”

– Kevin Litwin

Looking Ahead to the Next 50 YearsMEDICAL FACILITIES ADD NEW DIGS IN DICKSON

Dickson Medical Associates’ new facility on Highway 46 in Dickson

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Health & Wellness

Experience the Alexander difference!

2211 Hwy. 46 S. Dickson, TN 37055

(615) 446-5141

www.alexanderchevroletdickson.com

WWW.CHARLESWOODARD.COM

30th Anniversary


www.alexanderchevroletdickson.com

www.charleswoodard.com

www.tnstateparks.com

There’s no need for Dickson County residents to drive to Nashville to enjoy a professional dinner theater experience.

The Renaissance Center’s Gaslight Dinner Theatre offers “dinnertainment” five times a year, and the experience includes a professional comedy or musical accompanied by a satisfying buffet.

“Many people don’t know Dickson has a din-ner theater,” says Pacer Harp, managing director of The Gaslight Dinner Theatre and Faraday Science Theatre at The Renaissance Center. “It makes for a wonderful evening. You can make it a date for two with private conversation, or you can make it a party of 10 and catch up with old friends. Church groups come in groups as large as 40 sometimes.”

Now in its ninth year, The Gaslight Dinner Theatre is produced in a space originally designed as a science theatre where students on field trips could see interactive and educational science shows.

“After one year of the space being used for its original purpose, we tested the room in another way,” Harp says. “We presented a country music and western-style revue in a dinner theater setting. We wrote the show ourselves, purchased costumes from Opryland’s ‘Country Music USA’ show and had it catered. It was very well received, so we decided to produce a dinner theater year-round.”

With only 80 seats, The Gaslight Dinner Theatre is an intimate atmosphere where there’s not a bad seat in the house. Crowd favorites from

past years include Honky Tonk Angels, Nunsense, Run for Your Wife, Smoke on the Mountain and A Tuna Christmas.

The buffet always includes a salad bar, a selection of meats and vegetables, hot rolls, and cakes and pies.

Evening dinner performances take place on Fridays and Saturdays, and senior lunch matinees are offered Tuesday through Friday for patrons ages 55 and older. Tickets are $35 for dinner shows and $25 for lunch matinees.

“These shows are entirely professional talent and staff,” Harp says. “Dinner theater is an event of sorts, and you can decide the occasion. Cele-brating a birthday or anniversary is common.”

Another way to experience theater at The Renaissance Center is attending one of four annual productions offered by the Renaissance Players Community Theatre. The Renaissance Players have more than 400 local members and present popular musicals and plays cast through open auditions.

The center also provides drama classes each semester for students ages 8 to 14.

“They learn stage directions, script reading and improv, and they usually end with a performance at the end of the semester,” Harp says. “Many students go on to audition for our community theater shows and perform year after year.”

For more information, visit the Web site at www.rcenter.org. – Jessica Mozo

Now That’s ‘Dinnertainment’GASLIGHT DINNER THEATRE PRESENTS A MEAL AND A SHOW

What’s Online

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Check out the Renaissance Center in our quick video. Take a virtual tour at imagesdickson.com.

Gaslight Dinner Theatre’s recent productions include the musical A Chorus Line.


Arts & Culture


visit ouradvertisersAlexander Chevrolet www.alexanderchevroletdickson.com

Bank of Dickson www.bankofdickson.com

Charles Woodard & Associates Inc. www.charleswoodard.com

City of Dickson www.cityofdickson.com

Dickson Apothecary

Dickson County www.dicksoncounty.net

Dickson County Chamber of Commerce www.dicksoncountychamber.com

Dickson County Schools www.dicksoncountyschools.org

Dickson Electric System www.dicksonelectric.com

East Hills Dental Center www.easthillsdentalcenter.com

Greater Dickson Gas Authority www.gdga.com

Hargis Heating & Air

Horizon Medical Center www.horizonmedicalcenter.com

NHC Healthcare www.nhcdickson.com

Parker Peery Properties www.ppproperties.com

Results Physiotherapy www.resultsphysiotherapy.com

Taylor Funeral Homes www.taylorsince1909.com

Tennessee State Parks www.tnstateparks.tn.us

Tennessee Technology Center www.hcdickson.edu

Tennsco www.tennsco.com

TriStar Bank www.tristarbank.com


THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

SNAPSHOTDickson County is located in the north central portion of

Tennessee, and it’s a part of the eight-county Nashville

Metropolitan Statistical Area. Charlotte is the centrally located

county seat, although the city of Dickson is the county’s largest.

DICKSON COUNTY

CLIMATE OVERVIEW

Generally, Tennessee has a

temperate climate, with warm

summers and mild winters.

However, the state’s varied

topography leads to a wide

range of climatic conditions.

26 FJanuary Low Temperature

45 FJanuary High Temperature

67 FJuly Low Temperature

87 FJuly High Temperature

MEDICAL SERVICES OVERVIEW

Horizon Medical Center

serves Dickson, Hickman,

Houston, Humphreys, Stewart

and Montgomery counties.

Located 45 miles west of

Nashville, the 158-bed

community hospital offers

medical/surgical care,

obstetrics, gynecology, critical

care and skilled nursing

services, as well as 24-hour

emergency services, MRI, CT,

cardiac catheterization,

outpatient services and more.

The medical center is building

a new outpatient surgery

center and inpatient tower at

Natchez Medical Park, along

Highway 46 near Interstate 40.

Dickson Medical Associates

opened a new, 83,000-

square-foot facility along

Highway 46 in spring 2009.

The multi-specialty practice

provides the latest in

medical technology, with

an emphasis on patient

convenience and satisfaction.

REAL ESTATE

$124,199Average Home Price

15.84%Home Turnover Percentage

ARTS AND CULTURE

Muzart

24 Court Square

Charlotte, TN 37055

(615) 789-6655

MORE ONLINE

imagesdickson.com

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

E O OOOOOOOO


Community Profile


www.resultsphysiotherapy.com

Charles Woodard’s life-size replica of an old country grocery store, complete with a vintage gas pump out front, houses his collection of

country store memorabilia. The store – along with Woodard’s collection of antique farm paraphernalia – can be found on his working farm, Cluster Springs Farm, in White Bluff.

BR

IAN

MCC

OR

D


Photo Finish

Ad Index 44 ALEXANDER CHEVROLET

27 BANK OF DICKSON

44 CHARLES WOODARD

& ASSOCIATES INC .

C2 CITY OF DICKSON

42 DICKSON APOTHECARY

40 DICKSON COUNTY

46 DICKSON COUNTY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

C3 DICKSON COUNTY SCHOOLS

46 DICKSON ELECTRIC SYSTEM

42 EAST HILLS

DENTAL CENTER

21 GREATER DICKSON GAS AUTHORITY

40 HARGIS HEATING & AIR

2 HORIZON MEDICAL CENTER

19 NHC HEALTHCARE

18 PARKER PEERY PROPERTIES

47 RESULTS PHYSIOTHERAPY

20 TAYLOR FUNERAL HOMES

44 TENNESSEE STATE PARKS

C3 TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGY CENTER

40 TENNSCO

C4 TRISTAR BANK

W W W. D I C K S O N C O U N T Y S C H O O L S . O R GThis ad sponsored by:

Cornerstone Animal Hospital A-1 Signs Middle Tennessee Mortgage Inc. United Mechanical and Electrical

T h e R o a d t o S u c c e s sO N E C H I L D A T A T I M E

DICKSON COUNTY SCHOOLS


www.dicksoncountyschools.org

www.dickson.tec.tn.us

615-446-7100www.tristarbank.com

Member FDIC

Far from Wall Street … Close to YOU

650 Hwy. 46 S.

719 E. College St.

Inside Kroger 3416 Hwy. 48 N., Charlotte

www.tristarbank.com

images dickson county 2009-10

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