>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
>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?)
>
>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.
>
>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.
>
>There is a BAD problem with out of control crime and violence in the
>Madison area. BAD BAD.
>
>Faye