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In The News's |
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Helping Hands, Happy Homes |
The Adult Leadership Bedford Class of
2004 helped Habitat for Humanity build a house for James Smith and
family.
Just about every Saturday, the Adult Leadership Bedford Class of 2004
faithfully showed up at the Habitat for Humanity location on Woodbury
Street. There was no task too big or too small for class members. The
13-week time commitment was huge, but so was the payoff - the knowledge
that a family would have a safe, warm home built, in part, by the class
of 2004.
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Only bad weather kept the class of 11 community leaders from showing up to work each Saturday. The class worked in conjunction with Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity, the local affiliate for the international, nonprofit Christian housing organization that has built more than 150,000 simple, affordable homes in partnership with those in need since 1976.
The volunteers and homeowners build the
houses together under trained supervision, and then the homeowners
families purchase the homes.
Homeowners families are
chosen according to need, ability to repay the no-interest mortgage and
their willingness to work with Habitat volunteers. The Woodbury Street
home, which was finished in July 2004, belongs to James Smith and his
family.
"We contacted Bedford Builds and told the organization we wanted to
participate," says Phillip Calahan,
president of Leadership Bedford 2004. "They needed all types of work.
They can show you how to do certain things, and you're able to work with
skilled people."
Calahan says the work is done from the foundation up, and the group participated in tasks such as building floor joists, roofing, deck building, painting and carpentry. "I had a few carpentry skills, so that helped," he says.
Homeowners and their families have to commit to 350 hours of labor either with their own home or with other Habitat-built homes.
Leadership Bedford, a Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce program, was formed in 1992 based on similar programs in other communities. Class members are sponsored by their employers.
"It's a great way to meet other leaders in the community and understand what goes on here," says Calahan, who works at First Community Bank. Class members spend time learning about various aspects of the community during days devoted to manufacturing, social services, education, and local governments.
Then each class selects a project.
The Class of 2003 joined with the city of Shelbyville to build Butterfly Point trailhead for the city's Riverwalk Greenway. Other class projects have included the Bedford Amphitheater, a Youth Leadership program, and the construction of Celebration Station playground.
- Story by Nancy Humphrey
- Photo by Wes Aldridge
Article from:
Images of Bedford County, TN
2003-2004 edition
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Gordan Addresses Immigration Woes |
Friday, January 14, 2005
JOHN I. CARNEY
U.S.
Rep. Bart Gordon told the Leadership Bedford class and employees of
Bedford County Medical Center that the key to solving illegal
immigration is not just choosing the right policies but funding and
enforcing them properly.
Gordon spoke at the BCMC auditorium Wednesday during the Leadership
Bedford class's health care educational day. BCMC chief financial
officer Jim Bishop, noting the impact that illegal immigrants have on
the hospital's bottom line, asked Gordon about the issue during the
question-and-answer portion of Gordon's presentation. Bishop said the
hospital is plagued by illegal's using multiple identities, and
--because of patient confidentiality -- it can't report such activity. There seems to be no way to
control that," said Bishop.
Gordan noted that the last major emphasis on solving the problem of
illegal immigrants was put more burden on employers to identify
illegal workers. But that program wasn't funded well or
supported and so it hasn't worked well. He said the federal
government needs to take a more active role.
"At the same time, we've got to put the funds behind it to enforce what needs to be done," said Gordon, a Democrat from Murfreesboro who represents the Sixth Congressional District. Gordon is the longest-serving member of Tennessee's Congressional delegation.
Newspaper article from:
Shelbyville Times-Gazette
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Airport will receive landscaping |
Friday,
March 10, 2006
By Brian Mosely
Shelbyville's airport will be looking nicer soon, thanks to the efforts
of the Leadership Bedford Class of 2006.
The Shelbyville City Council approved a project Thursday to
landscape a portion of the airport grounds. Each side of the driveway
entrance will be landscaped, perennials are to be planted in the corner
of the back fence, two picnic tables for people to sit and watch the
planes take off and trash receptacles are to be installed.
The Airport has already given its unanimous approval. The project would coast $5,000.
The council also adopted new storm water regulations. A public hearing
was held before last week's study session to offer the chance for the
public to be heard, but no one spoke.
The city passed an ordinance in December of 2004 providing for
storm water management, and the regulations established the legal
framework for complying with state permits.
Other storm water business was approved to correct drainage problems in Green Lane. The project is likely to be funded in next year's budget and could run in the range of $27,000 to $35,000, with a developer to pay $10,000.
A motion was approved to accept proposals for bank services for the city. As it is now, Shelbyville uses three different institutions for handling money and City Manager Ed Craig stated last week that having all the accounts in one bank would make things easier and could also earn the city more interest.
The public works department was authorized to pave a
cul-de-sac at the end of Nelson Street as a donation for Habitat for
Humanity.
The council also approved a resolution to authorize the city treasurer to turn over delinquent property taxes for 2004 to the city attorney for collection. A list of property was approved to be declared surplus and put up for sale on Gov.deals.com
In other business:
*Approved on second reading was an ordinance to rezone 2.3 acres at 1220 West Jackson St. from R-3 to R-4 and an ordinance to rezone property of Haynes Brothers Lumber Company from R-3 to C-2.
*Also approved on second reading was an ordinance to rezone the rear portion of Parcel 38 located at 1300 North Main Street at the corner of Butler Street from R-2 to C-2 as requested by Ritch.
*A resolution was approved for a plan of services for 18 acres for Calvary Baptist Church at 589 Jennings Lane.
Council Wallace Cartwright was appointed to the Skills Development Board and Bartola Pina appointed by the council to replace James Cates on the Beer Board, who recently tendered his resignation.
Newspaper article from:
Shelbyville Times-Gazette
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Leadership in Bloom |
Chamber ~ sponsored organization
landscapes the Shelbyville Airport
Visitors to the Shelbyville Municipal Airport will soon notice some aesthetic improvements - pillars connected by an attractive fence, landscaping with mature holly trees and perennials, two picnic tables and neat waste receptacles. The improvements are compliments of the Leadership Bedford Class of 2006.
"We wanted something nice to do for Bedford county, and a facelift at the airport was our project," says Pat Finney, clerk and master for the Chancery Court and a member of the 2006 leadership class. "We wanted the project to be something we were really proud of - a lasting memorial to our class."
Financing the costly endeavor wasn't an obstacle thanks to the generosity of the community. There will be a permanent plaque inside the airport listing the sponsors - those at the bronze level who gave $50 or less, all the way up to the platinum sponsors, who gave $500 or more in donations or services.
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Sponsored by the Shelbyville Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, the Leadership Bedford Class of 2006 landscaped the Shelbyville Municipal Airport. |
"We even had one $1,000 donor," Finney says. "We have been blessed by this community. They have really supported us."
Leadership Bedford was conceived in 1992 and graduated its first class in 1994. The program, which offers community leaders and business leaders insight into the governmental, civic and economic sectors of the county, was inspired by the State of Tennessee's Governor's Three Star program, designed as a road map to assist local communities in their effort to achieve excellence in community and economic development.
Projects, which must be approved by the Leadership Bedford board of directors, have included building a Habitat for Humanity house, the development of a telecommunications center, construction of Celebration Station playground at HV Griffin Park, the Greenway Overlook, the formation of the Bedford Beginnings youth leadership class, and the revitalization of Never Rest Park.
Valerie McConnell, coordinator of member services for the Shelbyville Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, was a member of a Leadership Bedford class and say that she got so much out of the experience, she would gladly do it again.
"I was born and raised here and had worked at the chamber for two years when I was asked," she says. "Initially, I wondered what I would get out of it, but I'm so glade I did it."
Both the adult and youth leadership classes begin with a bonding retreat and then meet every second Wednesday of the month for nine months of the year. They visit different city and county departments and services, including the police department, the mayor's office, the hospital and nursing home, and attend a state government day in Nashville.
"For me, that was the very best day," McConnell says. "We sat in on a legislative session and toured the capital. We met the governor. The whole process helps make us better citizens. It helps us in our jobs, and in my job, has helped me know exactly who send people to when they ask for help."
-Nancy Humphrey
Magazine article from: 2006-2007
Images of Bedford County, TN
