"Faye"
att.net> wrote in message
news:b4536ba0-a6d3-4159-ab4f-86a63eb16479@27g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 11, 7:43 am, "Kent Finnell" bellsouth.net>
wrote:> Within the past 7 days, News Channel 5 has reported that
> two
> Madison businesses have been robbed at gun point. The
> Walgreens and the Subway, both of which I infrequently
> visit, were held up according to both News Channel 5 and
> The
> Tennessean. The Subway robbery was a bust since the
> employees had already locked the evenings receipts in the
> safe. The Walgreens's Photo cash register yielded an
> undisclosed amount of money. A Hollywood Video on Gallatin
> Rd. was also held up, but I'm not sure if it was the
> Inglewood or Madison store.
>
> Apparently the blue light special crime buster cameras saw
> nothing of note and certainly didn't deter the criminals.
If I may divert the dialogue from personality and gubs to
the larger
issue here, Madison was a really nice middle class community
where
people were proud to live (home to a number of country music
*stars*)and rear children in a safe environment. It is now
Dodge City
KF> Not quite that bad, Faye, but close enough for
government work.
and that is really sad. From my earliest days it was my
stomping
ground and one of the places to which parents could know
their
young'n's were heading and feel as confident that they would
be safe
as parents can feel about any place. It became the
destination for
*picking up things,* Kroger, K-mart, the bank, restaurants,
and my
beloved Hancocks--broke my heart when it recently finally
gave up and
moved after close to half century in the location--who was
brave
enough to go there any more? (Now I have to drive to
Clarksville or
Bowling Green to shop at Hancocks. Will the last one out of
Davidson
County please turn out the lights?)
KF> Actually Davidson Co. is growing, not at the rate of
Williamson or Wilson, but growing.
Kent, it is sad that this formerly leave it to Beaver
community has
become so dangerous in the extreme. My parents shopped at
the Madison
Kroger until Daddy couldn't drive them anymore which,
looking at the
glass half full, was a blessing as the timing coinsided with
the rapid
and frightening deterioration of the community. Likewise I
have made
Rivergate Mall off limits to Mother. It reminds me of the
way I feel
walking through Kingston, Jamaica. Very third world.
KF> Thinking about the Caravel Shoe incident where the just
barely teen killed a clerk there?
It's hard enough to access keys and the like from *special*
pockets on
my purse much less the effort it would take to lay hands on
a gun in
an emergency situation. But you can bet your sweet beehind
that if I
lived where Kent lives and had to frequent the business
establishments
in the area, I'd be packin' too.
KF> There are some very stylish (and outrageously expensive)
handbags designed for ladies who pack.
There is a BAD problem with out of control crime and
violence in the
Madison area. BAD BAD.
KF> Shortly after my car was stolen last Oct. and I wrote my
award-winning (LOL, I don't believe it either) letter to The
Tennessean, I was contacted by the Madison Chamber of
Commerce to attend a community meeting about the situation.
Unfortunately it was held the same night that the school
board public hearing about redistricting was held. So, at
the meeting there was 1 cop, 2 reps from the Madison
Chamber, 2 interested citizens, and myself.
I found out that the management of Madison Square had
offered Metro the old Baskins Robbins location rent free
with suitable mods (handicap accessible and a holding cell)
for a small substation. Metro PD's only "permanent"
visablity has been at the Madison Library with a marked car
there during the library's open hours (closed on weekends,
Mondays, holidays, and nights).
Metro's offical line? We cannot afford the man hours or
spare the marked car.
Madison ... Metro's red headed step child. Like Rodney
Dangerfield, we don't get no respect.
--
Security, like liberty, has to be won and re-won many times
...
Linus from Charles Schulz's Peanuts 1958
From the Music City USA
Kent Finnell
