Brainerd Living

We vote on February 5th! (Actually, I think early voting has already begun)

Friendship Community Church:

Posted by Sara at 11:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 10, 2008

Let me educate you...

[Sorry for my umpteenth recycling rant - I just can't help myself]

This is for those of you who live in Brainerd and, like myself, have never seen the first cent of the city's $100,000 recycling education program.

Recycling pick up in our area is on Wednesday of the SECOND FULL week of the month.

I guess I'm just really slow, but my learning curve on this once a month pick-up has been pretty sad. (I educated myself by calling 311 yet again)

Because this month began on a Tuesday, my recycling won't be picked up until NEXT Wednesday. Too bad. Now I have to go and drag in five bags of wet stuff so I can drag eight bags out next Wednesday.

I'm almost to the point of just throwing it all in the trash can.

This mother of five just doesn't have time to schedule in recycling pickup. It is WAY TOO much of a frustration. I don't need piles and piles of recycling cluttering up my life.

If a small part of me didn't want to do what is "right" and if I thought there would be room for it all in my once a week garbage pickup I'd just can the whole thing.

(And I'm lucky if I can fit a shower into my day - there is no way I can drag it all to a pick up center unless I ask each of my kids to hold a bag on their lap while we take a special little outing on our way to the library or something.)

Posted by Sara at 08:42 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

December 11, 2007

Speeding Cameras Coming To A Neighborhood Near You

It looks like Brainerd is going to get it's own set of traffic cameras. Does the city Council have any say in this? Do we as citizens get an opportunity to support or oppose it?

Article on the Chattanoogan.com: City To Install Speed Cameras At 7 Intersections

Mr. Van Winkle said the aim is "to make the streets safer" rather than revenue collection.

He said signs will be posted in the vicinity of the cameras. He said, "We are not out to surprise anybody. We want to persuade them to change their habits."

"Mr. Van Winkle said there will be two cameras at North Moore and Brainerd - one for eastbound traffic and another for southbound traffic."

He said the speeding cameras have been a success. The city has speed cameras at the Hixson Pike S Curves as well as some mobile cameras that are moved from location to location.

I must admit, I really didn't get too up in arms about the other cameras. They didn't affect me directly, I rarely drive in the area where they have been installed. Now, they are putting them up in an area I drive through any time I go somewhere. It is an intersection I CAN NOT avoid.

I am someone who tries to drive carefully and within the speed limit, but my mind does get sidetracked sometimes and I might not always pay attention to my speed.

I hate to think that I'm going to feel like someone is just waiting to catch me in a mistake and punish me for it. I don't mind people slowing down, but I don't like the idea of the cameras.

Posted by Sara at 06:47 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

November 06, 2007

Who is representing me in District 6?

I'd like to contact my city council representative and see if the new pooper scooper laws apply to cats as well as dogs.

We have mounds of cat poop in our yard left by our neighbor's uninvited cats and we are the ones who have to clean it up.

The problem is, I don't currently have a city council representative.

Posted by Sara at 10:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 22, 2007

Bank Robbery Part II

The same guy robbed another bank.

They think his name is Jack Breneman. The name even sounds familiar.

Maybe I do know him somehow?

That would be too weird.

Posted by Sara at 02:53 PM | TrackBack

August 21, 2007

Bank Robbery

There was a bank robbery on Brainerd Road today. And I was driving right by there at the exact time it was happening!

Crazy!

Here is the story: http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_111883.asp
and here are some pictures: http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_111897.asp.

He looks almost familiar. Maybe I've seen him in Wal-Mart or somewhere.

Posted by Sara at 03:04 PM | TrackBack

March 27, 2007

Another Letter To The Editor

Another Brainerd resident weighed in on the "gang problems" in Chattanooga. The following letter was posted on the Chattanoogan.com.

Volunteer To Help Solve Gang Problem

posted March 26, 2007

In response to the many letters regarding the gang problem in Chattanooga:

I will not make judgments as to whether some comments are racist. What I will say, is that as a single mom of a 14-year-old son and a teacher of adolescent boys, I’ve seen that becoming a man is a difficult, complex and painful process. I also know that young men tend to express emotional pain and anger in physical ways.

I teach many boys who have fathers in their homes, who attend church and who have strong relationships with coaches and male teachers. These boys make mistakes, get in trouble and do stupid stuff. Some of them learn from their mistakes; some do not.

I was at the Riverpark on Saturday afternoon and saw one of the fights. The group had been there for several hours for a party. For most of the afternoon they were playing in the field, listening to music and behaving like teenagers. The kids who were fighting were just that: kids. They were boys. I did not observe any grown men in their group and I have no idea if these boys have dads in their homes or coaches who work with them.

But I do know that there are a lot of kids out there who do not have dads at home or any good male role models in their lives. There are many boys who need more grown people mentoring them, more positive role models influencing them and more opportunities to choose the right path. I hope some of the men and retired persons, who are writing to complain about the gangs in Chattanooga, will consider becoming a Big Brother, volunteering at after school programs, or starting a mentoring program at their churches. If everyone who wrote a letter would mentor one kid, just think of the difference we could make.

Candy Corneliussen
corncandy@att.net

One kid at a time may seem like small thing and my not seem like it would be very effective, but if each of these kids had some one involved in their lives who was a possitive influence it would make a big difference.

Some of them have parents, or family members who are doing their very best, but are at the end of their rope. I'm sure they would covet any help they were offered.

There are so many children in our city who need people to step in and help them change the direction their lives are headed in.

You might want to check out Chattanooga's Big Brother Big Sister organization.

Posted by Sara at 12:02 PM | TrackBack

March 26, 2007

Fighting at the Brainerd WalMart?

Talk Radio news is reporting that the fighting at the Riverpark this weekend may have moved to the Brainerd WalMart.

They said their were 30-40 people fighting in the parking lot. I think they said there may have been an arrest and an injury to a patron of the store.

I'd be interested to know if anyone was a witness to this. Were you there? Did you see anything?

-------------------------

I saw about 4-5 police cars swarming my sister's neighborhood last night. I wonder what/who they were looking for.

Posted by Sara at 09:09 AM | TrackBack

March 23, 2007

Some Random Thoughts On The Recent Trouble In Our City

All this talk about groups of kids getting in trouble around the city has me troubled.

Just a bunch of random thoughts:

-They are causing trouble because they are on Spring Break and have nothing else to do.

At least when kids are out for the summer it is a long enough period of time for some of them to get jobs and stay busy.

I've always been slightly insulated from these kinds of things, but when a gun fired several shots just yards from my sister's house earlier this week (during the afternoon) it got a little too close to home. Not only were my neice and nephew in their backyard playing, but they only live a couple of blocks away and my kids play there on a consistent basis too.

I'll be ready for school to start back next week - hopefully before any more kids get themselves in trouble or worse.

Posted by Sara at 11:04 AM | TrackBack

March 21, 2007

Letter To The Editor

Another fellow Brainerd resident is asking for more police action in our area:

From the Chattanoogan.com Opinion section

We Admit We Have A Gang Problem, Now What?

posted: March 21, 2007

I've got to say that I am happy that we have taken a step in the right direction by admitting we have a gang problem in Chattanooga; however, I am frustrated by the lack of response from the mayor's office, the sheriff's department, but especially the Chattanooga police department. It was refreshing to hear Sheriff Long recognize the problem recently, but honestly, his department isn't usually responsible for patrolling the problem areas in town.

I live in the Brainerd area with my family. For those of us that live in this part of town, we realize that we have a diverse and interesting mix of people. For those of us that are relatively peaceful, it is disheartening to see the area run over by "gangsta thug" teenagers from Brainerd High School (if they attend school at all). As I was driving home this evening, I noticed the word "Bloods" spray painted in red on a side street off of North Moore Road. As I drive down my street every day, I see apathetic hoodlums standing in the street, wearing very bright colors that are notoriously associated with gangs. Obviously they are either a part of a gang or don't mind being associated with one.

I get frightened at the thought of my stay-at-home wife being at home with our six-month-old son with these people on our own streets. I shouldn't have to feel this way about my own neighborhood.

So what do we do now? Do we just admit there is a problem in Chattanooga and do nothing? Do we spend our time talking about community education and lifting these poor, pitiful thugs out of their lifestyle? My suggestion is that our local police departments and courts get down to some good old fashioned skull thumping by doing some legitimately decent patrols and by cracking down on sentencing on these people when they eventually end up in the court system. Community education is nice, but ultimately we've got to provide some serious consequences for this kind of behavior.

On a final note, I would like to say that the problem specific to the Brainerd area would probably ease up a little bit if the Chattanooga Police department patrols would spend a little less time in the Salvation Army parking lot talking to each other, and a little less time stuffing their faces at Krispy Kreme and start doing some serious patrols on our side streets in the Brainerd Area.

Folks, slowly but surely Chattanooga is becoming a scarier place to live in than I ever would have imagined.

M Lyons
beevco@juno.com

Posted by Sara at 02:45 PM | TrackBack

Concerts at Walmart?

Can't believe I missed the Danielle Peck concert at Walmart.

I know there is a bunch of fiddlers that play on Saturday morning at the Soddy-Daisy Hardees (or is it McDonalds) but Walmart?

Posted by Greg at 08:18 AM | TrackBack

March 07, 2007

Visit our new Krystal

Although the sign said 'closed for remodel', what they really meant was we are tearing down this old store and building a one of a kind new and improved Krystal. Pretty cool for Brainerd Road. Nothing like a late night Krystal.

From the Krystal Website:
THE KRYSTAL COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW DINE-IN, DRIVE-IN AND DRIVE-THRU KRYSTAL RESTAURANT TO OPEN ON BRAINERD ROAD
One-of-a-Kind Location to Serve Up Full Line of New Menu Items and Feature Full-Service Drive-In that Pays Homage to Krystal Drive-Ins of the 1950s While Giving a Fresh, Modern Edge to an American Classic

Posted by Greg at 09:46 AM | TrackBack

January 10, 2007

False Alarm

Okay, so I guess I let my pessimistic self come out.

I just assumed that when our recycling wasn't picked up by the end of the "work day" it wasn't going to be picked up.

They came by and got it at about 6:30.

It's been a long day for the public works people on the recycling truck.

Posted by Sara at 06:43 PM | TrackBack

Recycling 2007: Attempt No. 1 - FAILED

We put out our paper, plastic, cardboard, aluminum and steel for recycling pick-up today.

Not only didn't it get picked up, but it multiplied. Apparently a freindly neighbor dropped some off beside ours this morning.

Now I don't know if I should leave it sitting outside and for how long - Or do I drag it back in (plus the three extra bags now sitting by my driveway) and wait for another MONTH.?!?

I was pretty certain that today was our day. According to what I read on the Pulse blog it was. According to the lady I spoke with at 311 it was.

What happened? Are we supposed to sign up again?

I didn't see anyone else put stuff out. No one on any street I drove down in Brainerd had recycling sitting out.

Did any of you get your recycling picked up today?

HELP.

Posted by Sara at 05:30 PM | TrackBack

January 09, 2007

Recycling: Attempt No. 1

Okay, so I haven't called 311 to clear up when we are supposed to recycle, but according to the guys over at The Pulse we are in Area No. 2 and TOMORROW??? is our day for recycling.

I never did figure out what week brush pickup came by. I actually spoke to one of the people who was clearing out a big pile of junk adjacent to our property one day and he told me brush was supposed to pick up in our area the first week of each month - I believed him, but now I guess he was mistaken.

We have quite a pile of recyclables in our garage and laundry room and I thought we had missed pick up for this month. I hope tomorrow is our day, I'd like to get rid of them.

Well, my dear husband will collect them all and put them out by the road first thing in the morning on his way out. I guess we will wait and see if tomorrow is really our day.

Posted by Sara at 04:09 PM | TrackBack

December 01, 2006

Happenings on Brainerd Road

Brainerd road is going through some changes.

Blockbuster closed a few weeks ago.

Starbucks is opening across the street next to the Schlotskys deli that has opened and closed twice.

For the late night snackers.... hopefully the new Krystal will be done soon.

Wish I was signed up for payperpost.

Posted by Greg at 10:31 AM | TrackBack

November 02, 2006

Brainerd Meeting

Wish I could go to Littlefield's meeting in Brainerd but I have other things to do.

Posted by Greg at 09:32 AM | TrackBack

October 03, 2006

We will need a new can.

We'll have to call the city tomorrow to get a new can for garbage. We will need two now. Chattanooga City Council approved the once a month recycling plan.

We will have a hard time getting to the "centers" with five kids and two jobs.

Our city council is just brilliant.

Posted by Greg at 06:42 PM | TrackBack

We will need a new can.

We'll have to call the city tomorrow to get a new can for garbage. We will need two now. Chattanooga City Council approved the once a month recycling plan.

We will have a hard time getting to the "centers" with five kids and two jobs.

Our city council is just brilliant.

Posted by Greg at 06:42 PM | TrackBack

January 01, 2006

Brainerd Losing More Long Time Retailers

My husband attempted to use a gift card he was given sometime last year. It was for Lanham's Bible Bookstore. When he drove into Brainerd Village he was surprised to see the store closed.

According to an article in the Chattanoogan.com they are relocating to East Brainerd Road. Apparently the manager had some problems with the out of town management and decided to move.

They are not the only retailer leaving Brainerd Village. Southern Art and Framing recently left too.

These are the kind of businesses I like to see in Brainerd. When these kind of retail stores move out, more check cashing, pawn shop-type businesses move in. Unfortunately the "out of town" management at Brainerd Village doesn't really have a personal interest in Brainerd or they might work harder to keep some of their long-term, more established tenants.

(I was just reminded that Brainerd Village lost Sports Authority not too long ago too - I don't think they moved, I think they went out of business)

Posted by Sara at 09:57 PM | TrackBack

August 16, 2005

Roundabouts - slow down traffic?

Apparently while widening Igou Gap Road they are planning to put in what they call "roundabouts" to slow down the traffic.

I'd like to know what kind of research has been done to prove these things actually slow down the traffic. It theory it sounds good but I don't think it works in reality.

Those of us who live in Brainerd and use Old Mission Road as a bypass for Brainerd Road are familiar with these things. You can see a diagram of one in this article from the Chattanoogan.

I happen to live on Old Mission and can attest to the fact that they don't do a very good job slowing down traffic. As a matter of fact, my neighbor claims people just feel like they are race car drivers and try to see just how fast they can keep going while they manuver around them.

Personally I think they cause people to speed up in between them to make up for time lost while going around them.

We live between two of them and the cars go pretty fast by our house. I'd hate to see how fast people were driving on Old Mission before the roundabouts "slowed them down"!

Posted by Sara at 08:10 PM | TrackBack

August 02, 2005

Missing 12 Year Old

According to News Channel 12 here a 12 year old boy has been reported missing. He was last seen when he was dropped off Thursday at the Brainerd Rec Center on North Moore Road, near Brainerd High School.

The mother didn't call the police until Monday night.

His name is Clarence David Roberts and he goes by "Toon-Toon". He is four-foot-eleven inches tall, and weighs about 80 pounds.

Anyone who may know something about him is asked to call the police.

Posted by Sara at 10:12 PM | TrackBack

July 09, 2005

Peaceful in the morning

I spent a good 30 minutes out on my front porch this morning watching our two littlest play in the yard. It was very peaceful. I am not an early riser but if I was I would spend more time on my front porch.

Posted by Greg at 07:20 PM | TrackBack

Peaceful in the morning

I spent a good 30 minutes out on my front porch this morning watching our two littlest play in the yard. It was very peaceful. I am not an early riser but if I was I would spend more time on my front porch.

Posted by Greg at 07:20 PM | TrackBack

July 07, 2005

Brainerd's Top 5 Eye Sores

As I drove from one place to another this week, I made some mental notes of eyesores along Brainerd Road.

1. The old Suntrust Bank on the corner of Brainerd and E. Brainerd.
And to think I used to drive up and get money out of that machine that is boarded up. I believe it is the one that I could never quite reach and had to open my door to actually use it.

2. Popeyes next to Christophers that is now for sale.
Recently closed, no one to mow

3. Favorite Mart on the corner of Brianerd Road and Belvoir.
It needs a makeover. The wallpaper store got one. Come on guys buy some new sheet metal and some paint.

4. The old Target that is now a flea market.
Just not what it used to be. I have been there once but I perfer thrift shops.

5. The old Pizza Hut next to the old post office.
I think it has been several different things through the years. How can a Pizza Hut not make it on Brainerd Road?

There are others but these stood out to me.

Posted by Greg at 11:42 PM | TrackBack

July 06, 2005

Brainerd will be "Okay"

Or so Mayor Littlefield says.

According to Littlefield, Brainerd's lack of employment and transportation issues are a problem. He claims that Brainerd has a lot to be proud of and then mentions the levy and the areas first "greenway".

Well if that is the positive he lists for Brainerd then why is he proposing to take care of transportation problems by giving the area a better connection to the interstate? Doesn't that mean that he is planning to give the new Wal Mart an exit ramp from the interstate? Where would that be? Through our neighborhoods? Through more of the greenway?

I'm not sure but is he also suggesting building another "large job facility" like the one at Enterprise South here in Brainerd? I hope not.

The city already went against strong opposition from the Brainerd residents when then Mayor Bob Corker sold the land to Wal Mart destroying part of the greenway. Then councilman Littlefield was in support of the Wal Mart. Will they again ignore Brainerd residents and try to keep it and the surrounding businesses alive and happy by destroying more of the area building on ramps for the interstate?

Continue reading "Brainerd will be "Okay""

Posted by Sara at 09:52 PM | TrackBack

Here We Go

We are very new to the world of blogging but excited about being part of it. We still haven't decided what our title will be or the direction this blog will take but we decided to go ahead and jump in with both feet. What better way to learn right?

We may try to take part in discussions about local issues or we may just decide to use this blog to share news about our ever growing family.

We are proud parents of four beautiful children and expecting another in November. We are very interested in local issues but have never actively participated in trying to affect change in our city.

We do have a heart for the people of our city and have been active with outreach ministries through our Church.

We have been active readers of Chattablogs for a while now and look forward to joining this blogging community.

Posted by Sara at 09:47 PM | TrackBack