By Marjorie Lloyd

But there is much local excitement for this Election Day, which is so much different from the one two days after the floods of May.
Of the six school board seats up for election, Districts 1,3,5,7,and 9 are contested. David Brown of Westmoreland has the only odd-numbered district with no opposition.
Don Long, the current chair of the board and representing District 3, is opposed by a write-in candidate.
This is arguably one of the more important aspects of the election because the tenor of the board could be changed significantly if Long is defeated.
Long, who led the board to its first Board of Distinction designation by the TSBA, has a history of being an on-site board member who has generated several new approaches to board policies and the direction of school building construction programs.
District 1 has three new, distinctly different candidates competing for the chair now held by Mike Fussell, whose vision has been occasionally controversial, but whose sincerity has never been questioned.
Rob Wheeler, a lawyer from Goodlettsville who specializes in public school law, has vacated the District 5 position. His choice not to run for re-election will leave a measured and often provocative voice absent from proceedings. Two candidates are vying for his chair.
Ben Harris has chosen to seek re-election to the County Commission, so the District 7 position is being contested among three candidates, also of widely varying positions. Harris has not been one to dominate the discussions of the board, but his decisions on voting have always been indicative of the wishes of his constituency and strongly supported. Three men are running for his position, and the winner will likely determine the voting power of the board.
Will Duncan, the District 9 incumbent, has served the board for 22 years and is a beloved member of the community. He brings a thoughtful, gentle breeze with him to calm the turbulent waters of disagreement. He has a newcomer for opposition who is also rooted in strong religious faith..
In addition to the school board members, the party primaries are turning into a Republican feeding frenzy in Bart Gordon’s Congressional district and the governor’s race.
 I don’t know of anyone who is not displeased at the direction that some candidates are taking in attacking their own party members. The Democrats are remaining relatively unscathed in the process, for once, because most of the attention has been given to the vicious name-calling, accusatory statements and just plain brawling with the Republicans.
However, the history of our nation gives evidence of all sorts of shenanigans during elections. At least, we no longer allow guns at voting precincts.
I would like to request that all who continue to seek public office in November focus on why they should be elected, not how incompetent their opponents are.
Give me a reason to choose you in November, not this unpleasant queasiness about the conduct of our candidates.

By Marjorie Lloyd

County Executive Anthony Holt spoke with employees of Sumner Regional Medical Center after the County Commission meeting on Monday was adjourned.
About a dozen approached him with questions, since they were not allowed to speak during the public hearing part of the meeting. According to Chair Merrol Hyde, the county’s rules state that no one may address an issue not on the agenda, and he cautioned the SRMC people they were welcome to stay but could not speak.
“Everybody needs to be calm right now,” said Holt. “I’m being honest. For this thing to work, everybody ‘s got to walk out in a win-win  situation, and I think we’re going to do that, “ he told the small group.
He also explained that the county and LifePoint have reached an agreement that puts the sale closer to reality. Holt also restated his position that the bondholders need to recognize the county’s interest in the property, based on the reversionary clause in the original agreement with Sumner Regional Health Systems.
“I’m very positive about it,” said Holt.
“I feel very positive that we’re seeing some movement on both sides. I can assure you right now, the county is willing to negotiate.
“I feel it’s in the best of everybody involved to settle this thing; the alternative is not going to be as advantageous as this particular situation. But, as they say, the devil is in the details.”
What occurred during those few minutes was democracy in action in its truest form.
The citizens who elected Holt to his position were seeking information on an issue that directly affects their lives and also will potentially affect the county’s budget, since SRMC spokespeople are estimating $1.5M in annual tax revenues.
Those individuals talking to Holt were respectful and actually listened to his responses.
Holt was listening to their questions and respectful of their concerns.
Respect.
We see less and less of it in today’s political arena, whatever level.
I would like to hear and read less name-calling and hate mongering.
But then American politics might not be recognizable without them. Unfortunately.

By Marjorie Lloyd

Every day has its own beauty, but on some occasions it is difficult to maintain that attitude.

Today, I received a phone call that broke my heart and made me again wonder about the capriciousness of fate and injustice in the world and how to confront it without losing faith.

Sheriff Bob Barker has been diagnosed with cancer and is in the process of planning care and lifestyle changes. He has already implemented one important response to the situation-he has changed his diet to exclude red meat and focus on green vegetables and fruit with some chicken and fish.

There was no detectible difference in his attitude today; he had the same easy-going bass voice that is indicative of command and leadership of others, and he even had a chuckle in the conversation.

But I was brought to tears as he read his prepared statement, having been bombarded with requests for information from others.

When I first came to Sumner County, I was told that he was ”the cleanest man in government” in the area. And I believe that.

This is the man I have seen countless times in difficult, life-threatening situations–on Hartsville Pike, outlined by the cloud of red fire that filled the sky from the gas pumping station immediately after the tornados tore the post office and homes of Castalian Springs into shreds and killed people in February 2008; I have listened to him speaking to government groups about the details of his responsibilities and the needs of his department and the inmates of the county jail in a calm, professional manner.

He is one of those quiet, competent men that go about each day with respect for all and themselves are such reliable, ethical people the rest of us should strive to emulate them.

He and Connie have a large family, and they set an example of community service and participation in the lives of the people in Sumner County in positive, creative ways.

Their love for each other is delightful to observe, and they make a beautiful couple.

There is a feeling of security when the man heading up the largest law enforcement department within the county has the character of Bob Barker. We can all face each morning as protected and as safe as we possibly could be with this man and his people on watch. How fortunate Sumner County is.

I, and many others, attended the Excellence in Aging Award banquet when Sheriff Barker was honored last year. And he was painfully embarrassed at the attention.

All who admire and respect Sheriff Barker support him and his family, and we will keep them close in our prayers and thoughts with the knowledge that this is just another opportunity for him to demonstrate his fine character and leadership.

The following is Sheriff Barker’s official statement to the public.

By Marjorie Lloyd

Congratulations to Faces of Hope and the City of Gallatin, particularly the Parks Department and the Gallatin Fire Department, for their outstanding celebration on Saturday at the Gallatin Civic Center.
Children scampered from the Kids Zone to the foam bubbles area and squealed as the fountain form the engine tower descended. Even some adults joined in and came away with soaked clothes and laughs.
People of all ages enjoyed the bands, the food and just plain, old-fashioned visiting. I spoke with Evelyn and Wesley Burysek, who were quietly absorbing the sights, as they have for many years.
After the solemnity of 2009’s Fourth of July, this year’s weekend was a reminder of our hope and faith in the ability of our nation to recuperate from a devastating recession and another oil spill, this time in the beautiful Caribbean, and to rejoice in our pride for the soldiers serving in war zones and to  remember our sorrow for those dying.
For one day, we could celebrate our nation and its fervent belief in the future, as well as all that is good fun about putting on our comfortable summer cottons and participating in community events.

By Marjorie Lloyd

An interesting aspect of life in Sumner County has quietly asserted itself into the forefront of administrative attention.
It is rather perplexing that this has happened and is reminiscent of the humor of some of William Faulkner’s characters.
Chief John Tisdale has been receiving complaints–not about speeders breaking the 70 mph limit on Bypass 386 or busting through yellow lights on the ‘un-camera-ed’ stoplights throughout the city–but the proliferation of golf carts near Nashville Pike’s fast-food and retail establishments.
It appears that certain residents, or the teenaged children of adult residents, who own golf carts have adopted them as the preferred casual means of travel from home to popular public places near the Publix Shopping Center.
Nothing specifically has been mentioned that indicates the drivers of these –dare we be so bold to say–vehicles are encroaching upon the highway; however, who in his or her normal consideration of choices of entertainment would ever grab at this?
Are these folks already victims of summer’s ennui?
According to local law enforcement, the only proper time that a golf cart may scoot onto a public road is when crossing the street to get to the other side. (Presumably like the mythic chicken.)
“It is illegal and dangerous,” says a spokesperson for the Gallatin Police Department. Both state law and city ordinance prohibit this.
“They are not sturdy enough to protect the occupants if they got in a crash with a motor vehicle.” Not to mention an 18-wheeler.
“You can operate them to cross the road at a 90° angle; they can cross the road but not go down the road.”
Any vehicle (that word again) such as a golf cart, four-wheeler, sand buggy, dune buggy or a snowmobile falls into this category.
So, if on one of these 100+ degree days, when the interior of your car is smothering your ability to breathe and the image of the carefree rumbling of a golf cart, or in the wildest of dreams, a snowmobile,  with gentle winds blowing through your hair crosses your mind, forego the temptation.
Or at least only drive 90' angles across country roads,  not major ones, please.