Santa Claus Is Coming To Town In Hickman County on a Train

Santa Claus arrives in Centerville, Tennessee on December 17 at 10:00 on the Grinder's Switch Express. There will be drawings for toy trains and other goodies. Come on out to Hickman County and have a good time.

East Hickman County Christmas Parade 2011

The 21st annual East Hickman Christmas Parade in Lyles, Tennessee is Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. The theme for this year's event is "Giving From The Heart." Prior to the parade, participants are asked to line up at East Elementary School where the parade will begin and it will end at the Highway 7/46/100 intersection.  The participants will continue to the East Hickman County High School for unloading.

For more information contact Dwight Sullivan at (615) 418-2995 or Sharon Sullivan at (931) 996-9384. As in years past, the Keg Kounty Kowboys and the East Hickman Community Club.

Plenty To Do This Weekend In Hickman County

It is here. Perhaps one of the biggest weekends all year in Hickman County, Tennessee. October 1, 2011 is the date for three major events: The Banana Pudding Festival, The Civitan Car Show, and the Quilt Show. All of them are in Centerville within just a few miles from each other.

The quilt show will be held at the First Baptist Church located at 123 Church Street in Centerville. It will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  For more information, check out the website http://www.hickmanco.org/component/content/article/186-hickman-co-quilt-show .

The Centerville In The Fall Car Show will be held at the Justice Center in Centerville within walking distance from the Quilt show. You can find out more information on their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=155602921125692 .

The Banana Pudding Festival will be held at the Grinder's Switch Ag Pavilion in Centerville. It is a couple of miles away, but there will be shuttles between the car show and it. Last year it was estimated that over 3,000 people attended. It is located in Grinder's Switch, an area of Centerville, best known as the home of Minnie Pearl who made the town famous in her comedy routine on the Grand Ole Opry. For rules about the cook-off and more information, visit their website http://bananapuddingfest.org/ .

Last year, I attended all three festivities and had a great time. I expect that I will again this Saturday.

Hickman County Tennessee Fair

The Hickman County, Tennessee Fair opens Tuesday, August 23, 2011. According to the Hickman County Times, David Dansby, the chairman of the fair board said "a bigger and better fair" is what they want. This year will have a wild animal show which will include kangaroos, legless lizards, and a hedgehog.

Wrestling will also be on the schedule on Tuesday night. There will be christian music on Wednesday and a talent show on Friday night.

There will be plenty of rides for the family and concessions.

Come on out to the Hickman County Ag Pavilion in Centerville and have a good time.

You can read more about the fair in the August 22 edition of the Hickman County Times or check out the page on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hickman-County-Fair/244088858956209?sk=wall .

Come Support The Hickman County Bulldogs!

Come meet the players and Coach Rewis! The Hickman County Bulldog Quarterback Club is hosting a spaghetti supper on August 18, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $6.00 per person and can be purchased at the door. The supper is being held in the Hickman County High School cafeteria in Centerville, Tennessee and will help the quarterback club provide meals for the Bulldog football players prior to the games. Come on out and show your support the Bulldogs.

David Dansby Chosen 2011 Citizen Of The Year In Hickman County

David Dansby, a Centerville, TN resident, was chosen as the Hickman County 2011 Citizen of the Year. The award was presented to Mr. Dansby by the Hickman County Chamber of Commerce during it's annual meeting on July 19.

According to the July 25 issue of the Hickman County Times, the Chamber of Commerce gives the award to "a person or group that has rendered outstanding service to the community during the previous 12 months."

Having known David for many years, I can attest to the fact that he is concerned about the community in which he lives. He is one that works for the betterment of the community - not just complain that something needs to be done. He does it.

I congratulate him on the award. He deserves it.

Get Ready, Get Set, Go To School!

Hickman County Tennessee Schools will start back on Friday, August 5, 2011. This will be a full day of school. Usually, there is a 1/2 day at first so students can get lists of everything that they need to purchase - but not this year. They begin right out of the gate.

Also, there will be other changes to the school calender. Instead of having a full week off for fall break, students will be out the full week for Thanksgiving. And instead of getting out for a full week for spring break, schools will only be out for two days. According to the Hickman County School Board, this will allow more instruction time before the standardized TCAP tests that the students must take each year. I will publish more details later. To see the entire school calendar, visit the Hickman County Schools website.

Banana Pudding Festival in Hickman County, Tennessee

Mark you calenders! The Banana Pudding Festival in Hickman County in Middle Tennessee will be held October 1, 2011 at the Ag Pavilion in Grinder's Switch. Last year's event drew around 3,000 visitors to the festival. The event coincided with the Car Show and the Quilt Show. I heard plenty of people say that there were probably more people in Centerville that day than any other day ever.

I hope this event gets bigger and bigger.

School's Out For The Summer!

I know two boys that are happy today. Yesterday was the last day of the school year. They have plans to do nothing this summer but swim and play video games. However, they will be surprised. I have other plans for them; cleaning out the basement and mowing the lawn. Next year they both will go to Hickman County High School in Centerville, Tennessee. It is hard to believe that they are already that old.

The youngest kid, Zack, made the Hickman County Basketball team this year. He had tried out for the Middle School team for two years but didn't make it. But he practiced (and grew) and said that he was going to make the high school team and he did. Both kids will be playing football this year. I guess we will be busy all year.

Deja Vu All Over Again In Hickman County?

Last May 1, Hickman County received about 18 inches of rainfall and last night and today, we received as much as 8 inches in spots according to one Nashville TV station. I was beginning to wonder if it was going to be the same as last year. However, it finally quit raining.

School was out today because several roads in the Hickman County area were flooded and downed trees blocked roadways. It was the same in several counties in Middle Tennessee. If any of you have been keeping up with the Centerville and Hickman County area, you know that last year was a major disaster with the Duck River overflowing its banks and flooding several homes and creeks leaving their banks and destroying roadways. Many roads are not back to normal yet.

I'm glad history did not repeat itself this time.

Hickman County, TN Has A New Football Coach

The Hickman County Bulldog football team in Centerville has a new coach. According to Mike Smithson, the former professional baseball player and now the Bulldogs Athletic Director, Tommy Rewis has been named to the position.

Rewis has been the Ravenwood assistant the past two seasons. His resume includes playing running back at Samford, head coach at Fairview and Heritage in Tennessee and Robert Toombs Academy and Tift Area in Georgia.

Smithson said that there had been about 45 applicants for the position and they took their time to hire a new head coach. He said that he believed that this was an important position that was left vacant when former Bulldog head coach Nick Patterson resigned last month.

Hickman County has a winning tradition, having made it to the playoffs in 2007 and 2008, but only won a couple of games last season.

Tennessee Titans Donate $10,000

"We just went and did it," says John Blackburn, according to NewsChannel5.com. The Titans donated $10,000 to the Hickman County Recovery Committee of which Mr. Blackburn is a part. Mr. Blackburn acknowledged that it took many volunteers to help during the flood. You can read the entire article here at the News Channel 5 website. Hickman County and Centerville, TN suffered a major flood during May, 2010.

Fish Camp After The Flood

Fish Camp Restaurant in Centerville, TN is reopening today. Eight months after the "Great Flood of 2010," Fish Camp is ready for business. The photo that is attached is from the Fish Camp Page on Facebook. Maybe they won't mind that I "stole" the picture to put on here. I hope for the owners the best in the future.

If you are ever in Centerville in Hickman County, Tennessee, and are in the mood for fish, stop by at Fish Camp. I am sure that they will appreciate it.

Ready For School To Start Back

Just a quick post from Hickman County, Tennessee to reclaim my sanity. In case you didn't know it, Hickman County Schools have been out this week because of the snow fall. The main roads have been cleared since the first day of snow, but many of the back roads are a sheet of ice.

If you have children, you will understand why I am ready for school to start back. First of all, I have to feed them; usually, I just tell them to find something to eat. Then I have to be referee when they are arguing - which is a lot. Anyway, I am sure most parents in Centerville, Lyles, Bon Aqua, Pinewood, and all the other surrounding communities in Tennessee are ready for this snow to melt.

Happy New Year From Hickman County!

It is hard for me to believe that this year is over. My dad always said that as you get older, time flies. Well, I guess he was right again. It amazes me that it has already been ten years since we were all worried about the millennium bug. But we survived that, and many more things during this first decade of the 21st century. I am sure that all the media outlets will be giving their top ten lists of the best and worst of this year and this decade.

Just let me say that I hope the new year brings you everything that you could want and need.

From the Taylor house in Centerville in Hickman County, Tennessee to yours, Happy New Year!

Santa Claus is Coming on A Boogie, Woogie, Choo Choo Train!

Santa has decided to visit Centerville in Hickman County by train. He will arrive at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 10. This has been an annual event for several years and the children of all ages have a good time. Come out and enjoy the fun.

Centerville Chosen to Participate in Program

Centerville, in Hickman County, along with 11 other communities has been selected to participate in a revitalization program according to the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, Matt Kisber. You can read the announcement here.

https://news.tennesseeanytime.org/node/6440

Although this may be a good program, the focus of revitalization should be an increase in jobs. Jobs in Hickman County needs to be revitalized. There are several vacant buildings that would make good locations for new industry. And, there are plenty of unemployed persons that would love to have a job here. I realize that Tennessee has been hit hard during this recession, but our organizations that are in charge of recruitment of industry need to go out and recruit.

East Hickman Christmas Parade In 2010

"It's the most wonderful time of the year." The East Hickman County Christmas Parade is scheduled on December 12 and will begin at East Hickman Elementary School in Lyles, Tennessee and end at East Hickman High School on Highway 7. The Grand Marshals will be the "Friends of Buford McCord Park."

For more information or to take part in the parade, contact Dwight Sullivan at (615) 418-2995 or Sharon Sullivan at (931) 996-9384.

Twas The Night Before Christmas Parade In Centerville

The 2010 Christmas Parade in Centerville, TN in Hickman County will be held on Saturday, December 4 at 6:00 p.m. The route will be the same as in years past beginning and ending at the Centerville Church Of Christ just off the square.

The theme of the parade will be "twas the night before." For more information or to register to be in the parade contact Rob Mitchell at (931) 729-5491 or email him at ramitchell6639@yahoo.com .

Store Closing In Centerville

Once again the news is not good for the citizens of Hickman County. Donna's Cee Bee store in Centerville is closing its doors on November 7, 2010. After about 60 years in business, and changing hands a few times during that time, the grocery store will be missed by the local people who sometimes walk to it.

A casualty of rising rent and unable to negotiate another lease, the present owners believe that it is better to close now than to wait any longer.

If anyone out there would like to build another store that is definitely needed, I can help you find a good location. Just let me know. I would not recommend that location, but, I think that the opportunity to make lots of money is there. According to one study I saw, there is an $18,000,000 opportunity in the Lyles, Bon Aqua area alone.