July 1, 2009 In-house editorial / Underbilling a fiasco that begs negotiation It's difficult to tell the City of Mt. Juliet to eat $71,000, but perhaps this is the best case scenario to handle the big mess-up we report on our front page regarding asking local businesses for back charges on their sewer bills. 1 opinion posted

Mt. Juliet man charged in death of his wife Breaking News July 2, 2009 – A Mt. Juliet man has been charged with first-degree murder after his wife was found dead in their home on June 30. By HILARY TRENDA

County Court may consider former MJES property bid July 20 The fate of the county owned former Mt. Juliet Elementary School site may be decided at the July 20 county commission meeting, said County Mayor Robert Dedman. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor - 1 opinion posted

Local businesses shocked by hefty back sewer charges; mistake originates at WWUD Owners of 12 local businesses – and one well-known Mt. Juliet non-profit – are reeling with news their water bills and their corresponding city-issued sewer charges will skyrocket up to 250 percent because of an error by the local utility that under-billed them over an extended amount of time. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor

Elam said at this time, no plans to run for county mayor; 'I never say never' she added On Tuesday Mt. Juliet Mayor Linda Elam said she has no current plans to run for Wilson County Mayor in the August 2010 election. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor - 1 opinion posted

Gwin will be interim city judge with Grauberger's resignation A search will begin for a new Mt. Juliet city judge due to Judge Stephen Grauberger's weekend resignation from the post he filled last December. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor

Unification...music style; M.I.L.K. will support school music cross county It's a high-school choral director's dream to have a centralized "music" library to cull through in preparation for one of the several performances planned each academic year. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor

LAURIE EVERETT • Mt. Juliet News / Precision Motorsports owner Ron Yearwood, right, accepts a plaque denoting his elevation to the class of a Pro Yamaha Dealer by Yamaha District Sales Manager Chuck Lemaster. Precision Motorsports receives distinction as Pro Yamaha Dealer Precision Motor Sports, located behind Adam's Lane Plaza in South Mt. Juliet, has received the premier distinction as a Pro Yamaha Dealer. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor

July 2, 2009 Police Blotter The Mount Juliet Police Department makes two arrests based on Grand Jury Indictments.

June 24 In-house Editorial 2-parts/ Orchid International Mt. Juliet is resilient - We need to keep tabs on progress of lifting overlay Orchid International Mt. Juliet is resilient  It  happened quietly, under the radar and without self-trumpeting, but something really big happened in Mt. Juliet recently. We need to keep tabs on progress of lifting overlay We were discouraged to learn of the snag related to the lifting of the Town Center Overlay.

LAURIE EVERETT • Mt. Juliet News / Orchid International Mt. Juliet Gen. Manager Bill Jones (left) examines a door hinge similar to the ones the facility will be making with their new $9 million GM contract. Dir. of Prog. Royce Slaven is also pictured. Orchid International Mt. Juliet lands $9 million General Motors contract;Deal will rejuvinate the metal stampings facility hit hard by economy A Mt. Juliet-based, world-class supplier of automotive metal stampings hit hard this past year by the faltering economy has landed a $9 million contract with General Motors, in a deal that may also be instrumental in GM's recovery out of bankruptcy. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor

Beavers leaves senate to run for county mayor State Sen. Mae Beavers announced Monday she will run for Wilson County Mayor. J.R. LIND / Staff writer - 1 opinion posted

Commission may have broken law to fill squire seat The county commission's vote to seat a new squire may have violated the law. J.R. LIND / Staff writer

June 10, 2009 In-house editorial/2 parts - Mold, brown recluses symptoms of bigger issue/Gwaltney's colors were never gray We never were thrilled about the city's purchase of the less than stellar former building that was once a dentist office to help ease overcrowding. We know some pretty big bucks went into the aging structure that doesn't appear to be very large. In this business, a person's true colors eventually shine through in the course of developing working relationships with those we interview. Sometimes those colors are vibrant and clear, but unfortunately, most emerge mixed with shades of gray. 1 opinion posted

On-line only/ More money needed to get wheels rolling at Skate Park It's going to take more cash to skateboard in Mt. Juliet at Charlie Daniels Park. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor

City commission passes $11.5 million budget; City employees' pay raises capped at 1 percent, partially merit based Mt. Juliet City Commissioners approved 3-2 the largest fiscal budget in the history of Mt. Juliet, but not without a bit more whittling that knocked out initial outlay for fireworks and capping city employees' pay raises at 1 percent and making some of that increase merit based. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor

Editor's blog / Sometimes it just takes an image I was eager to hear about the stock market, if any news from Mt. Juliet beat me on the newscast and the latest on the Metro school’s director search. So when I glanced at my flickering mini-television stuck on a shelf in my bedroom – while searching for my daughter’s sweatshirt at the bottom of my closet and trying to figure out how a Velcro curler works without getting stuck – I was taken aback. L. Everett - 2 opinions posted

Former city planner makes ambiguous appeal to city commissioners While Public Works Director Marlin Keel continues to cull through the 27 applications for the city planner position, the former planner made a quick, ambiguous appeal to city commissioners Monday night. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor - 3 opinions posted

Realtors' day of reckoning in city court goes their way; Judge determines city did not give notice for citations Local realtors' day of reckoning in city court regarding numerous citations connected to placing signs in the right-of-way went their way last week. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor

Process to lift Town Center Overlay hits snag at Planning Commission Progress on lifting the Town Center Overlay, but allowing it as an option for developers, has been tabled for the moment with a bit of confusion at the Planning Commission on how to proceed. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor

Photo courtesy of Darlene Johnson / Darlene Johnson (middle) organized the Pink Ladies group in honor of her sister, Charlene (right). Sister Marlene is also pictured. Shades of Pink Charlene Lawrence admits at the lowest point she asked, "Why me, God?" LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor

May 21, 2009 Editor's blog / A box worth lugging I lugged it into my office, put it in the corner and couldn’t really concentrate because I kept glancing at it.

6-3 In-house editorial / Commissions need to back-up decision to nix Overlay The Town Center Overlay is on its way to the grave. The committee tasked to "reevaluate" the overlay's intent nixed it at committee level last week. Thank goodness. 5 opinions posted

Committee votes to nix Town Center Overlay/But will allow it as option for developers; vote on to Planning Commission The city mandated Town Center Overlay is most likely dead, but prospective developers will be able to use it as an option. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor - 17 opinions posted

Part 1 of 4 Fire Alarm: Clearing the smoke on MJ fire protection/Evolution of fire service in MJ Next week: How do comprarable cities provide fire service to citizens and another Firefighter Focus Mt. Juliet's swelling population caused by unprecedented retail and residential growth has fanned the flames of debate regarding whom should provide the city's fire protection. In the past 36 years, since the city was incorporated in 1972, Mt. Juliet leaders have juggled to accommodate a swelling population brought about by this growth. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor - 2 opinions posted

Part 2 of 4 Fire Alarm: Clearing the smoke on MJ fire protection/ Ever wonder how comparable cities provide fire protection? How Mt. Juliet receives fire service is a volatile issue in Wilson County. In addition to controversy over whom should provide fire protection to Mt. Juliet citizens, the question of how it should be funded is a bone of contention as well. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor - 2 opinions posted

GEORGE PAGE • Mt. Juliet News / WEMA Director John Jewell works with the new Mt. Juliet volunteer firefighters at one of multiple meetings orchestrated by Mt. Juliet resident and firefighter Shawn Donovan. Part 3 of 4/Fire Alarm: Clearing smoke on MJ fire protection/At the scene: The real deal on fire protection,Volunteer Fire Force born out of necessity Lt. David Cross has been a firefighter and emergency medical technician for 32 years. He’s been fighting fires in Wilson County for 20 of those years. He’s seen it all. When he started at Station 3 in Mt. Juliet two decades ago, there were four WEMA personnel working at the station. “We were short handed then and we are short handed today, still with four people, with the only difference is that we have three other stations west of Highway 109 that would respond to us if needed,” Cross said. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor - 1 opinion posted

DALLUS WHITFIELD • A WEMA firefighter continues to fight the flames at a house fire on Belinda Parkway in Mt. Julet. Last in the series/Fire Alarm: Clearing the smoke on fire protection/What now? An analysis of - and officials weigh in - on fire protection December 31, 2008 - Two days ago there was a kitchen fire in an upscale home on Noel Drive in Mt. Juliet off Saundersville Ferry Road near the city limits. The homeowner later reported she left the residence, was concerned she may have left the oven on and went back. She arrived back home to face flames in her kitchen. (The probable cause of the fire was later determined to be from a candle left lit and not the oven.) She called 911 and tried to put the fire out with a garden hose while she waited for help to arrive. LAURIE EVERETT / Managing Editor - 1 opinion posted

December 17 In-house editorial / Now is time to reevaluate need for city property tax for fire protection This week we present the second installment of our investigative series titled Fire Alarm: Clearing the smoke on MJ fire protection. Five peer cities, similar in size and population to Mt. Juliet were contacted and their city officials interviewed about how they provide fire service to their citizens. Four of the five provide their own fire service and the fifth contracts with a private company to provide this service. 2 opinions posted

LAURIE EVERETT • Mt. Juliet News / WEMA firefighter Jamie Luffman takes a breather after fighting a massive two residence fire for about five hours in Mt. Juliet off Saundersville Ferry Road. FIREFIGHTER FOCUS: In their own words My name is Jamie Luffman and I am a 44 year old husband, father, son, brother, friend, and Sunday school teacher. I am also a firefighter and an emergency medical technician. I have lived in Mt. Juliet all of my life and truly enjoy raising my family here and providing life safety services for my friends and neighbors.

SUMBMITTED • WEMA paramedic/firefighter Brent Dyer and son Nate. Firefighter Focus: In their own words My name is Brent Dyer, I am a Paramedic/Firefighter in Wilson County. I began serving Wilson County in June of 2000. Over the past eight years, I have lived in Wilson County for five of them. My wife is a nurse. Fourteen months ago, we were blessed with our son.

SPORTS

The Tennessee Longhorns Longhorns win Western Kentucky Invitational Champsionship The Tennessee Longhorns captured the 16U Division title during the June 5 weekend in Murray, Ky Submitted

GEORGE PAGE • Mt. Juliet News / Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry, left, spends some time with former Sounds pitcher Keith Brown at the Tennessee Sports Medicine surgery center grand opening last week. Gaylord Perry attends grand opening of Tennessee Sports Medicine's surgical center 2 Parts Gaylord Perry's probably been asked the question thousands of times. How often did he actually throw the spitball? J.R. LIND / Staff writer and Sports Editor George Page

Investigations

Part 1: School bullying not a ‘rite of passage’ to be endured “Sue” spent more time in the bathroom at school than in class. Almost overnight the friends she had since kindergarten had turned on her. They excluded her, talked behind her back, made up rumors and called her names. By LAURIE EVERETT - 3 opinions posted

Part 2: ‘Never confuse meekness with weakness' Bill Bond said the murderous episode took only 12 seconds. Three young lives snuffed, five others injured in a brief blip of time at Heath High School in Paducah, Ky., where Bond was principal. By LAURIE EVERETT

Part 3: Bullying in school can lead to life behind bars Lebanon resident James Keeley wore a bright orange jumpsuit when he shuffled into the office of Wilson County Sheriff Terry Ashe. He stuck out his hand for a shake then settled uncomfortably in a chair. A warden stood discreetly in the corner of the room. By LAURIE EVERETT

Part 4: Cyber bullying emerges as deadly new rage All of the West Wilson Middle School students (who wished to remain anonymous) interviewed by the Mt. Juliet News said the newest rage of bullying is cyber bullying. By LAURIE EVERETT

Obituaries

July 2, 2009 Obituaries Daniel K. O'Mealy, Richard Allen "Ricky" Cooper, Roy Eugene Garrett, Donald Eugene 'Donnie' Lowe, Mary Neal Brady, James Henry Spurling, Betty June Keeler Kemp