The News-Examiner from Gallatin, Tennessee • Page M1

The News Examiner NEWS 4IVI KIDS FOLLOW PARENTS1 EXAMPLE IN VOTING SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2008 GALLATIN, TENNESSEE SERVING SUMNER COUNTY SINCE 1840 United chambers make retail push Lynne Seagraves stands beside her self-constructed indoor tree that serves as a sanctuary for her five pet birds, eric millersumner a.m. 'Miracle of people' helps improve woman's home By Cheryl Tatum FOR SUMNER A.M. Visibility is key to bringing new business into Sumner County during the current challenging economic times. Economic recruiters faced with the job of promoting their cities as good places for new retail outlets say presenting a united front is one of the best ways to bring attention to both this county and its individual municipalities. "In slow times it is even more important to do seed planting," said Tom Tucker, Goodlettsville's economic and community development officer.

Tucker adds recruiters must keep the brand in front of people's faces so when they are ready to move forward, the seeds have already been planted. The brand to be promoted is Sumner County, and Tucker, along with his counterparts from Sumner County's other cities and chambers of commerce, recently planted those seeds at the Southeastern Conference of the International Council of Shopping Centers in Atlanta on Oct. 6 and 7. Under the banner of Forward Sumner, the countywide economic council, recruiters from the cities and chambers attended the event as part of a united delegation with the mission of putting all the cities in Sumner County on the maps of site selectors attending the conference. United Sumner delegation According to Tucker, presenting a unified Sumner County to those at the conference allowed them to showcase the strengths of all the cities.

"We were able to present Sumner County to the state of Tennessee and the rest of the Southeast. Each city could show off its strengths," Tucker said. But, he added as each city and Chamber representative promoted their own strengths, they were also able to show site selectors that if their strengths did not match the need, another city in the county was a possibility. Showing Sumner County as united yet diverse is a strength many retailers are continually seeking, Tucker said. Amanda Runnels with the Hen-dersonville Chamber added that the trip also created a bond between those representing each city and chamber, one that will prove beneficial in the future.

"We were all working toward the same goal," she said. "It went so well, I think everyone is excited about the next time we can work together again." Tucker said team building was an important byproduct of the trip. "It was an important learning experience for everyone," he said. According to Paige Brown EXPO, 3M By Eric Miller SUMNER A. M.

When considering the source of the hospitality in her life, Lynne Seagraves believes it flows from God. Seagraves, who suffers from a wide range of health issues and is a on fixed income, received a $4,000 grant to improve her home and make it more accessible as part of the Tennessee Disability Housing Assistance Program. After leaving behind a difficult past of alcohol abuse on some of the more troubled of Nashville's streets, spending much of her time along Dickerson Road and being a self-described "barfly," Seagraves said she found God after hitting rock bottom, offering herself to the Lord and allowing to him to use her up for his divine purpose. "It's been happening to me ever since he touched me in the jailhouse," Seagraves said. Determined to stay sober and continue upon her new path, she bought an old trailer on a plot of land between Portland and Gallatin for $6,000 and a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Unfortunately, as her spiritual health flourished, her physical health and living conditions declined. She has had cancer and two heart attacks and struggles with multiple sclerosis, sleep apnea, diabetes and hypertension. To further complicate matters, she lives on $571 per month and is unable to effect repairs to the 30-year-old double-wide trailer in which she lives. After decades of use, the double-wide trailer has deteriorated significantly. The floors half of which have been repaired so far bounce like a trampoline with unseen holes beneath carpet and linoleum.

Severe water damage can be seen in several places on the ceilings. The plumbing in the bathroom hasn't worked properly for a year and a half, forcing Seagraves to wash from a bucket. Rather than accepting a new trailer to replace her old one, Seagraves asked volunteers to help her restore her old trailer and build an addition to it. The grant was provided through United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee. "The program's goals are simple: To maintain and allow individuals with disabilities to stay in their homes as long as possible," said John Pickett, director of home access for UCP.

With the grant comes a requirement to match 50 percent of the amount provided, which was readily handled by Seagraves' church. Members of her church have sprung into action to assist in fixing up her home, not only matching the grant in materials and manpower, but far exceeding it. "We took a rather modest budget and turned it into a full-fledged project," said Jim Kasper of Northeast Church in Henderson-ville. Members of her church have donated many hours and materials to fix up her home, from plumbers to framers and more. Lowe's in Gallatin also assisted the project, offering materials at cost and providing two employees to help serve as project managers for the project, Kasper said.

With everyone's help and the grant money, they will finally be able to make all of the floors sturdy once more. "When they pulled that rug up, I said, 'My God, I am walking on Seagraves said. A significant portion of the funds is being used to expand her bathroom and make it wheelchair accessible. It will feature a low-sitting tub for easy access as well as a wheelchair accessible shower, which is important because she was confined to a wheelchair for a year and a half before and will likely wind up in one as a result of her illnesses. Ultimately, the bathroom expansion is the culmination of her two-year dream for what she called her "Hollywood bathroom" She tore out a sales sheet depicting the type of bathroom she wanted two years ago, keeping it with her and planning to "prayer-alyze, visualize and materialize" to make it happen.

Now that it is, she is overcome with emotion, even shedding tears when she sees the work being done. "This is going to make such a difference in my living quality," Seagraves said. "I like being a simple person. This is more than I will ever need." The work on her home is roughly halfway completed and Seagraves describes it all as a miracle, but more so because of the good things coming her way. "It's not about the miracle," Seagraves said.

"It's about these people being the miracle." Bluegrass stars reunite at fall festival spent more than 60 years performing at music festivals worldwide. New upgrades championship buck dancer Thomas "Magic" Maupin, The Straight Arrow Boys and others. Radio personality Harv Mason will be the weekend's entertainment guide. Offering under the trees Crafts of all kinds will be offered for sale. Children can paint pumpkins or get pumpkins painted on their faces under candles inside mason jars hanging from the trees that look "so cheerful like fireflies," McReynolds' wife, Joy, said.

In addition to the hotdogs, chili-dogs, barbecue, hot chocolate and apple cider available at the McReynolds' little whistle stop cafe, guests can also try the fried apple, cherry and peach pies and roasted ears of corn special ven- BLUEGRASS, 4M Accommodations likely to attract larger crowd By Dessislava Yankova SUMNER A. M. A new pavilion, more bands, crafts and fun could attract at least 300 enthusiasts to the Fall Pick Inn Bluegrass Festival next weekend, hosts said. The legendary Jesse McReynolds the Virginia Boys will once again reunite at the second annual Halloween-themed fiesta featuring several Nashville bands, country arts and crafts, down-home cooking and more. "Now I want to let people come see me and see our place," said McReynolds, who's He's made the necessary accommodations.

Construction is now complete on a pavilion with tent side doors that can hold up to 700 people. Last year's performers played off a little stage under the trees, but this fall a 600-square-foot wooded stage inside the pavilion can accommodate about 50 musicians in sunshine or rain, McReynolds said. This year, the Virginia Boys have invited new and old players and singers, including Luke McKnight Thunder Road, Buddy Griffin Friends, Daniel Rothwell with special guest The legendary Jesse McReynolds the Virginia Boys will reunite at the second annual Fall Pick Inn Bluegrass Festival next weekend. McReynolds, second from left, joined the Great Ole Opry in 1964. SUBMITTED PHOTO 233,000 people in Sumner County read our newspapers and use our websites every week.

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