| ‘Strolling’ event could benefit ‘Future’ plans | | Posted: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 10:11 pm
| | By TIM BRADY Special to The Messenger Aug. 4, 2011, marked the first “Strolling in the City” event and at day’s end, Main Street-Union City executive director Phyllis Rauchle was smiling and already planning next year’s event, as were merchants, entertainers, shoppers and browsers. Also smiling were members of the Obion County Future Committee as ballots outlining northwest Tennessee and especially Obion County’s growth were filled out. The forms provide a gauge of what folks would like to see in our neighborhoods. The top choice was a nice shopping mall, (like the ones in Paducah, Ky., or Jackson) in or around Union City. Second place went to a large music event, probably outdoors, similar to Bonnaroo, with lots of different types of music. Third place went to a big push for promoting local tourism, emphasizing attractions like Reelfoot Lake and the soon-to-be Discovery Park of America. Emphasis now turns to deciding what the first steps are toward these goals. Many of the OCF Committee would like to see tangible results quickly on the top three topics, especially since committee co-founder Bo Pate is currently serving in the National Guard, which will be deployed to Kuwait. “We’d like to point to a project or two when Bo gets back and say, ‘We got things up and running for you while you were away serving our country,’” is the prevailing opinion. Every age participated in the informal balloting. An energetic silver-haired lady bustled up to the OCFC booth and declared, “I’ve got lots of opinions!” Participants in the survey were eager to have their views recorded. Others not only filled out their ballots, but wrote comments on the back. In some cases, folks who were unable to attend the Strolling in the City event completed their forms clipped from The Messenger and enclosed letters to further illustrate their visions of the future. Tremendous local support made the survey a success. “The Obion County Future Committee wishes to give hearty thanks to The Messenger for printing and collecting ballots, to Joe Ward and First Citizens National Bank for providing the sidewalk space for the OCFC booth and Mike Hagan and Reelfoot Bank for providing the shade canopy,” a committee spokesman said. Circulating ballots by walking through the crowd, OCFC members included this year’s Pride of Obion County honoree Judy Barker, Scott Bowman, Tim Brady, Andrew Henderson and Terri Jenkins-Brady. Published in The Messenger 9.13.11 | | | | |
