Police seek armed man who robbed fast-food place

Arby's worker was taking out trash when holdup began A robber struck at a South Nashville fast-food restaurant as an employee was outside taking the trash. No one was injured. The restaurant was not open for business at the time. Around 11:35 p.m. Thursday, an employee at the Arby's at 1212 Murfreesboro Pike went outside to empty the trash and she was approached by a man with a black revolver, Metro police Capt. Randy Hickerson said. The man demanded money. They went inside the restaurant and the employee gave him money. The robber fled on foot. The suspect is described as a black man, 18-24 years old, 5 feet 9 inches, skinny, and was wearing a black hat and sunglasses, blue shirt and jeans. He had a black revolver. No shots were fired and no one was injured, Hickerson said. There was another employee at work, but her location during the incident was not reported. The restaurant is near Briley Parkway. — LEIGH RAY Writer for Tennessean

3 candidates quit race for Metro school board

Incumbent Thompson cites career needs By JAIME SARRIO • Staff Writer (tennessean) • April 11, 2008 A veteran incumbent and two other candidates dropped out of the Metro Nashville school board race Thursday. Board member George Thompson, who represents District 1, would have faced Sharon Gentry, a health-care executive and wife of former Vice Mayor Howard Gentry, and other opponents. District 9 candidates Sonny Farmer and former Metro Councilman John Summers also withdrew Thursday. Thompson, initially elected in 1996, cited "personal and professional reasons" for pulling out of the Aug. 7 election. He represents the Bordeaux and North Nashville area. "We're in a new environment, and personally I see the load of the board members getting heavier," he said. "I feel I am up to the challenge, but it's become more and more time, and I need to focus on my law practice." The election comes at a pivotal time for the 75,000-student school district. The new board will have to pick a new director of schools, and the district is in poor standing and faces sanctions under the federal No Child Left Behind education law. Open mind praised Longtime educator and Nashville School of the Arts Principal Bob Wilson knew Thompson as a board member and a parent. Thompson's daughter was an accomplished dancer at NSA. Wilson said the representative was always approachable and willing to listen, and he hopes future leaders approach the job with an open mind and a willingness to try new things. "I'd like to see someone who comes in with ideas that are not too traditional, because a lot of the traditional stuff isn't working," Wilson said. Barry Barlow and William D. Mason Jr. also are running in Thompson's district. Summers said he decided not to run in District 9 because he did not want to take time away from his wife and 5-year-old child.

Sounds cover all the bases to ready ballpark for opener

Aged stadium needed major upgrade to be playable By RACHEL STULTS • Staff Writer (TENNESSEAN) • April 11, 2008 The paint was still drying in the stands. And the sound of hammers and saws echoed through the ballpark Thursday as workers scrambled to get ready for the Sounds' home opener against the Iowa Cubs. Groundskeepers put the finishing touches on the pitcher's mound in preparation for tonight's game. And in the stands, a painter methodically stenciled row numbers on the concrete. It's show time for the aging Greer Stadium. The Nashville Sounds have spent more than $1 million during the off-season upgrading the stadium. Those fixes — a new clubhouse for players, better lights in the field, improvements to restrooms, walkways and seats — will keep it going for another three to five years. By then, the Sounds will need to make major renovations, build a new ballpark or consider moving out of Nashville. "If we had not spent the money we did over the last year it's safe to say baseball would not be played," said Sounds General Manager Glenn Yaeger. "We continue to express our need for a new ballpark, and how important that is for the future of baseball here in Nashville. We're hopeful we can identify a solution," The 31-year-old stadium was not meant to last beyond 30 years, Yaeger said. It seats 10,000 fans, typically draws 400,000 fans per season and is one of the oldest Triple A stadiums in the nation. "It was built as a Double A facility in 1977, and facility standards back then were much different," he said. "It was built on the cheap, and never would have been a facility that would have been approved today." This year marks the beginning of the Sounds' 11th season as a member of the Pacific Coast League and its fourth year as a Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Nashville bucks trend Branch B. Rickey, league president, said Nashville's continued use of Greer Stadium bucks the national trend of building new minor-league stadiums. "There really has been a renaissance in minor-league facilities over the past 15 years," Rickey said. "Many municipalities have recognized (building new stadiums) is an opportunity to help local fans have access to outdoor recreation, access to live professional sports during the spring and summer." Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling said that while city leaders are glad to see the upgrades, a deal to build a new one must be struck under the right conditions, in which the burden is not on taxpayers. "You can't neglect what you have," Riebeling said. "These were necessary improvements, and realistically speaking, we're more than a couple of years away from a (new) stadium under the best of scenarios, even if you started today." The Sounds have campaigned for more than five years to build a baseball stadium south of Broadway, on the west bank of the Cumberland River. A deal for the riverfront ballpark fell through last year, leaving fans wondering about the future of baseball in Nashville. But there are no immediate plans for relocating the stadium, and league officials say they must focus on working with what they have. Rickey said investing the money for improvements wasn't the best option, but one that was needed. "In order to be fair with home team players, visiting team players and with the umpires, something had to be done," he said. Clubhouse was too small Most of the upgrade dollars have gone toward building a new $750,000 clubhouse after Sounds management learned their facility was "unacceptable" by league standards. The old clubhouse, located under the stands, was too small for the players and in constant need of maintenance, especially when it rained and the roof leaked. The stadium's new 48,000-square-foot clubhouse is located behind the outfield and will be used by the home team, visitors and umpires. That clubhouse is still under construction and is expected to be ready by the April 28 home game. In the meantime, the Sounds will use the player facilities at LP Field while visiting teams will continue to use the clubhouse at Greer Stadium. Meanwhile, there are some improvements for the fans as well. Aged walkways and broken seats have been replaced. Lights in the infield and outfield have been upgraded. The scoreboard is fully functioning, and the restrooms have been improved with new fixtures and partitions. But there's still a lot more to be done. "It's a constant uphill battle," said Joe Hart, assistant general manager of operations. "We've been going at it hard since the first of January, but every time you walk through you see something else that needs to get fixed. We've got a things-to-do list about five pages long. But we're trying to be proactive."

SAVE THE DATE!

National Night Out Against Crime will be the evening of August 5, 2008. We want to encourage Nashville's neighborhood organizations and associations to consider hosting an event in your community. Please save this date on your calendar and feel free to begin discussing plans with your neighbors. Also, the Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods and the Neighborhood Resource Center will be hosting an informational meeting during May to help neighborhood leaders learn more about coordinating your Night Out Against Crime event. More information coming soon! If you have any questions, feel free to email Brady Banks at the Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods at brady.banks@nashville.gov.

Ambulance could not find address - Luckily the patient was not having a heart attack

Two weeks ago an ambulance was needed by a resident of Nashboro Greens. The ambulance driver could not find the street address they were looking for. About two years ago, this area ran into the same problem because the street was known as Long Hunter Court. There were to many Long Hunter, so the address for the area was changed to Nashboro Greens. Luckily The situation was not serious and this was not a life or death case. If is was I am not sure what the consequences would have been. The next day Vivian Wilhoite was made aware of the situation and jumped into acction to get the problem solved. Please see the emails that were sent to resolve the problem: From: Wilhoite, Vivian (Council Member) Sent: Mon 4/7/2008 5:13 AM To: Griffith, Terry (ECC) Subject: RE: FROM VIVIAN WILHOITE FW: Ambulance Issue I do not believe that I have heard from Fire. Could you please contact the person that you copied or possibly forward to Chief Steve Halford. I really would appreciate it. Thank you. Gratefully, Vivian Vivian Wilhoite Metro Council, District 29 Visit www.vivian-29.blogspot.com for up-to-date information in and around District 29. Committed to keeping you informed! 589-2003/vivianwilhoite@comcast.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Griffith, Terry (ECC) Sent: Tue 4/1/2008 9:43 AM To: Wilhoite, Vivian (Council Member) Subject: RE: FROM VIVIAN WILHOITE FW: Ambulance Issue have you heard from Fire department? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Wilhoite, Vivian (Council Member) Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 12:36 AM To: Griffith, Terry (ECC) Cc: McWright, Rickey (ECC); Sanschargrin, Bruce (ECC); Meador, Steve (NFD-ADM) Subject: RE: FROM VIVIAN WILHOITE FW: Ambulance Issue Thank you so much for your response. But I must wonder, why did the ambulance have diffuculty in finding the address? Gratefully, Vivian Wilhoite Metro Councilmember, District 29 589-2003 www.vivian-29.blogspot.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Griffith, Terry (ECC) Sent: Thu 3/27/2008 9:19 AM To: Wilhoite, Vivian (Council Member) Cc: McWright, Rickey (ECC); Sanschargrin, Bruce (ECC); Meador, Steve (NFD-ADM) Subject: RE: FROM VIVIAN WILHOITE FW: Ambulance Issue Ms. Wilhoite, thank you so much for bringing this issue to our attention. My staff informed me that your constituent's address was in our computer mapping system correctly. However, we found that some other residents in same area were not listed correctly so we fixed their addresses in our system. Please contact me if you need any more help from ECC. I am copying Chief Meador on this email so he can help you from the Fire Department's perspective. He can explain the types of maps available in Metro's ambulances. Terry Alison Griffith Interim Director Emergency Communications Center Nashville TN Work: 615 401-6322 Cell: 615 947-8178 Fax: 615 401-6380 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------From: Abel, Suzanne (Council Office) Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 8:11 AM To: Griffith, Terry (ECC) Cc: Wilhoite, Vivian (Council Member) Subject: FW: FROM VIVIAN WILHOITE FW: Ambulance Issue March 26, 2008 Per the request of Councilmember Vivian Wilhoite, I am forwarding you this email. Please respond per her request. She can be reached by email and by telephone at 589-2003. Thank you, Suzanne -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Wilhoite, Vivian (Council Member) Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:49 PM To: Abel, Suzanne (Council Office) Subject: FROM VIVIAN WILHOITE FW: Ambulance Issue Suzanne: Please forward this message to the Department Head of E-911 to address and contact me. Thanks, Vivian Wichita Metro Councilmember, District 29 589-2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Fran Oroson [mailto:nashborogreens@yahoo.com] Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 7:37 AM To: TSim681157@aol.com Cc: Jim Curley Subject: Re: Ambulance Issue This is something Metro should have done. I will try to find out what department is responsible for this and see that they take care of it. When the renaming of the street came up, it was voted on and the majority ruled. I am sorry you had difficulty and I sincerely hope your emergency was taken off. TSim681157@aol.com wrote: Hello all, I had to call an ambulance last night and the driver got lost because..."Nashboro Greens" wasn't on his Metro map. Why did we change our address then? I had to have a friend flag them down as they went up and down Longhunter Court. Not good. When will this be taken care of? Taryn Simpson 100 Nashboro Greens or 400 Longhunter Court to the rest of the world. Taryn Simpson, Writer Tel: (615) 414-3217 Fax: (866) 605-3461 Email:TSim681157@aol.com Web: www.Taryn-Simpson.blogspot.com

Hi District 29 Neighbors:

Here is an event that you can show support for fellow neighbors across Davidson County. I just love sightseeing don't you? See you at the tour. Vivian ! Press Release March 26, 2008, Nashville, Tennessee. The 12South Neighborhood Association is pleased to announce its fifth annual 12South Neighborhood Tour. The Tour will take place Saturday, April 19, 2008 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $8.00 and available for purchase from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Summer Classics parking lot located at 2600 12th Avenue South. The 12South Neighborhood is a diverse community featuring historic homes, a vibrant merchant district, and the historic Sunnyside Mansion at Sevier Park. The tour features nine homes and two gardens in the 12South Neighborhood whose combination of historicarchitectural features and modern designs mirror the neighborhood’s equally vibrant pastand present. Proceeds from the tour will benefit neighborhood improvements and beautification projects. In addition, the 12South Neighborhood Association is pleased to offer free tickets to members of the United States Armed Forces and the Metro Police and Fire Departments and their spouses who please present official military, police or fire department ID at the point of sale. To celebrate the Tour, many merchants on 12th Avenue South and Belmont Boulevard will be offering special discounts and incentives to Tour guests who present their tour tickets. Tour guests are encouraged to sample the 12South Neighborhood’s many fine eateries during the Tour. For more Tour information, please visit www.12south.org, email info@12south.org or call294-7103.

SAVE THE DATE, PLEASE!

It's time to mark your calendars for the Alliance of District 29 Great American Clean-Up, May 24, 2008! Make plans to clean up and clean out your home and eyesores in your neighborhood. More details coming soon.

Una Park improvements continue; residents discuss other uses

By SUZANNE NORMAND BLACKWOOD • Staff Writer • April 8, 2008 UNA — In a heated meeting about the future of Una Park, residents discussed the facility's past and present and the progress that's been made there since Metro acquired it a year-and-a-half ago. Formerly the Una Recreation Center, the property was donated to the city in 2006 by the board that oversaw the park previously. The board decided to donate the park after the cost of keeping it up became too high. Anticipating the donation, Metro Councilwoman Vivian Wilhoite acquired $1.15 million in funding to go toward improvements at the park. A presentation of the Una Park Master Plan was given during the meeting to inform residents about what has been done and what remains to be done to improve the park. Weather permitting, the park is scheduled for completion this fall. Among the proposed improvements are upgrades to the park's athletic fields. The park will have two football fields; one 11- and 12-year-old baseball field; one Pee Wee T-Ball field; and two multipurpose fields. A children's playground has also been added, and plans are to have picnic pavilions, parking spaces, a walking trail and a skate park. New fencing, lighting and portable restrooms will also be added. Future plans include permanent restrooms. Appearance helps feeling of safety Topics discussed at the meeting ranged from graffiti to sanitary conditions to future uses of the park. "We're looking at some graffiti-proof paint," said Marcus Hardison, project manager with Metro Parks. Resident Richard Curran asked whether the park would be able to attract the baseball community with all the changes that have taken place in recent years. Although baseball has been a significant part of the park's past, the park is primarily used for football at the present. In response to Curran's question, resident Deanna Rupa said that, previously, a major concern was that the park had become run down, making it appear unsafe. "You feel like that's an indication of how safe or unsafe it is," she said, adding appearance is important. Now that Metro has made some improvements and cleaned it up, the baseball community might be inclined to return, she said. "Now that it is more beautiful, I wouldn't mind going there and planting flowers," she added. "My kids love it now. They feel like it's a safe place to be." Rupa, who lives in the Priest Lake area, said she feels as if it has brought "Percy Warner Park" to their neck of the woods. Residents make other suggestions Area resident Regina Morrow said she was concerned about the age gap between Pee Wee T-Ball and 11- and 12-year-old baseball. She said many parents like to stay at a single location the entire time their children are involved in youth baseball. Hardison said it is an unfortunate situation, but space there prevents having baseball fields to serve all age groups. He said this is also the case at some other Metro parks. Steve Burris said he was disturbed to see signs saying that no cycling was allowed. He feels the park is too heavily focused on football. Curran agreed, asking why ideas brought up a couple of years ago — such as an amphitheater, horseshoes and basketball and volleyball courts — have not been incorporated into the plan. He said he wonders whether the community's interests are truly being represented in the plan. Curran also asked whether giving football precedence was a condition of donating the land. Wilhoite, who was there to help lead the meeting, said the board agreed to donate the property with the condition that the Una Bears youth football teams continue to have access to the park's fields. She said the city is trying its best to work out a plan that pleases everyone. "It's good for us to move forward," she said.

Family crisis launches woman into service

Hermitage entrepreneur takes her role helping Oasis Center personally By ANDY HUMBLES • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • April 9, 2008 The passion Genma Stringer Holmes has for the Oasis Center is very personal. The Hermitage woman was recognized recently as Non-Profit Board Member of the Year for 2006-07 by the Southeastern Network of Youth and Family Services. The network represents more than 80 nonprofit organizations that serve youths and family. Holmes was also picked to travel to South Carolina in June to receive an award from Footman Brewer Foundation for her work with Oasis Center. The Oasis Center provides crisis intervention and leadership opportunities for youths. "What I admire so much is Genma used a life-altering experience for her family and then turned around to help us so we could offer the same kind of support her family received,'' said Oasis Center CEO and president Hal Cato. "A lot of times we help young people in times of major crisis and they move on, which is what we want them to do. Genma not only moved on, but has continued to say thank you for years." Holmes, 41, became involved with the Oasis Center about three years ago after her daughter, Alexis, ran away from home for a couple of weeks at age 13. Oasis helped Alexis, now 16, and the entire family get through that period and be better for it, according to Holmes. Three years later Genma's zeal has only increased. Last year, she signed more than 3,000 letters for the Oasis Center's Gathering Fund, which she led with Alexis. Genma is heading the Gathering Fund again this year and has already handwritten more than 500 personal notes. She has met with people from area churches, including the Family of God at Woodmont Hills, which the family attends. Family strives to set example Genma was familiar with Oasis Center before her family needed it. "I knew about Oasis and that was the best place to help her,'' Genma said of Alexis. "But they aren't just for youths in crisis. The Oasis Center helps youths to thrive. We experienced a crisis moment. But I'm all about prevention now.'' Genma has been married to Roger Holmes, 43, for about 22 years. They have three children, ages 22, 17 and 16. The couple have their own business, Holmes Pest Control, based in Hermitage. Often, Genma attends and speaks at different business conferences and conventions and isn't shy about dropping the Oasis Center name. "As a black person … we need to show African-American kids that owning your business and to expose them to the educational opportunities is within reach,'' Genma said. "My husband is the rock. Kids need to see the family as a unit.'' After Alexis ran away, she was found baby-sitting in another part of Nashville about two weeks later. It's not a time Alexis cares to talk about, but, because of the impact the Oasis Center had on her, she has stayed as involved as her mom. Alexis is also a successful entrepreneur, starting a business called Alexis' Famous Pies. She learned to bake when she took a culinary class her godfather taught at McGavock High School shortly after running away. In her business, Alexis has baked pies and made cakes for special events such as weddings and the Steeplechase. And for three years in November and December, Alexis has led an effort to bake pies for the Oasis Center. Help comes from other young people in the program as Alexis teaches, as well. Alexis sold about 2,500 pies and made more than $25,000 in each of the past two years, Genma said. "The Oasis Center helped teach me responsibility and character and how to communicate with my family,'' Alexis said.

Maxwell Elementary fifth-graders run their own businesses

Students get lessons in retail, from product selection and marketing, to leasing and sales By SUZANNE NORMAND BLACKWOOD (Tennessean)• Staff Writer • April 9, 2008 BLUE HOLE ROAD — After a stint at entrepreneurship, Maxwell Elementary School fifth-grader Taylor Neely said she would probably not want to go out on her own again. Taylor's classmate, Pamela Hunt, said she would try it again, but only if she had a good team to help her. Taylor and Pamela recently got a taste of what it is like to be an entrepreneur during a special fifth-grade economics unit called Mini Society. The unit allows teachers to set up an environment in which students can open businesses and sell products they manufactured or purchased through other sources. The students learned about what is involved in getting a permit, leasing space and marketing their own products. They then had the opportunity to sell their products during Market Day, which took place inside a portable converted into "Maxwell Mall." Permits were issued through the school and had to be displayed at places of business. If the students lost their permits, their businesses were shut down. The students could choose between leasing table space or desk space. The rent for table space was higher and, in general, varied according to location. The students were first shown outdoor spaces for lease, with the assumption that it would be an outdoor mall. But they were also shown indoor spaces in case weather prevented the mall from being outdoors, as was the case on Market Day. One group provided its own table to cut down on the cost of rent, said social studies teacher Nicole Janz, who led the unit with teacher Heather Woodroof. The students also did advertisements in the fourth-grade hallway, where they had to pay for advertising space, she said. Janz said the students studied concepts such as product and consumer and economic risk. Because their products were being sold mostly to fourth-graders, they had to learn how to market their products for fourth-graders. They also had think about what would appeal to boys and what would appeal to girls. Two kids carried teacher supplies, Janz said, adding teachers also made up their clientele. A few students even marketed their products in Spanish as a way of reaching their Spanish-speaking customers, she added. Among the products the students had for sale were bookmarks, jewelry and purses. A few decorated jewelry boxes and sold their own artwork, Janz said. The currency used was the school's own, called "Maxwell money." "It's actually kind of cool. We had a lot of people coming to buy our stuff," said Pamela, who shared a booth with Taylor and two other students. She said they sold picture frames and offered a free photo for each customer who purchased a frame. They also had pencil pouches and wallets. "The Army pencil pouches are gone," she said. Pamela said they also sold baseball cards. "Nobody is really buying those, but that's OK. We sold a lot of stuff," she said. She said they dropped some of the prices so they could move the merchandise quicker, and they had to do a lot of talking to get shoppers interested. "We offered all of the teachers discounts, but some offered full price," Taylor said. But even after the discounts, some still wanted a break, she added. Taylor said she learned that running her own business is "a lot of work." Making their own products probably involved the most time and effort, she said. Also, said Pamela, "We had to pay for everything." That's another challenge of running your own business, she said. Janz said the students could purchase supplies through the school or from their parents to help set up their businesses. Some, she said, bartered with the parents by offering to do chores at home in exchange for supplies. "It brought everyone together," said Janz, adding the parents really got involved. She said the students took the projects very seriously, even working during their spring breaks to get their businesses ready. "It was an amazing learning experience," she said.

Predators' lease proposal questioned

'Seems like a blank check,' Metro councilman saysBy MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer Tennessean) • April 9, 2008 A handful of Metro Council members asked tough questions about proposed arena lease changes for the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, a week before their final vote on the deal. Council members asked how they could sell multimillion-dollar annual subsidies of the pro hockey team to middle-class and poor constituents; why the cap on arena operating losses that the city would pay is set at the 2006 level, which is more than $2 million higher than this year's projections; and whether other cities are on the hook for such losses when a sports franchise also serves as the facility manager. (A 2003 audit by KPMG LLC said Metro's arrangement is unusual.) "It just seems like a blank check," Councilman Phil Claiborne of Donelson said after the council's Budget and Finance Committee met with city attorneys and finance officials. The Predators' new, mostly local owners say they need a new, more generous deal at the Sommet Center — which the team's sister company operates for the city — to have a chance of succeeding financially and keeping the team here. The proposal negotiated by Mayor Karl Dean's administration would increase payments and incentives to the Predators while also protecting the city's investment more effectively, supporters say. At-large Councilman Charlie Tygard said Nashville is "considerably different" than it was before major-league sports teams arrived in the late 1990s."I don't want to go back to those previous days, quite frankly," Tygard said. The full council is expected to vote on the lease when it meets next Tuesday.

Crime Report: Two men sought in string of heists

Nashville Metro police have identified and are searching for two men suspected in a series of robberies.Marcus Welby Goodman, 37, is suspected of robbing a Kroger at 3955 Nolensville Pike and CVS pharmacies at 303 E. Thompson Lane and 2500 Lebanon Pike, all on April 4, police said. Police also are searching for a man who robbed a Walgreens at 5555 Edmondson Pike on April 3 and a CVS Pharmacy at 735 Harding Place on Tuesday. Police have identified the suspect as Steven Dewight Starks. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the men is asked to call 862-7763 or 74-CRIME. — NANCY DEVILLE (Tennessean)

Parolee charged in robbery attempt at drive-in restaurant

By KATE HOWARD • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • April 9, 2008 A parolee with a history of robbery convictions was ar rested early Tuesday on charges he and an accomplice assaulted employees of a Sonic restaurant in Antioch with a pipe during a robbery attempt. Lawrence Trent Taylor, 43, of Sugar Mill Drive was caught hiding in a Dumpster after a search by helicopter and police dogs following the incident. A second suspect has not been caught. According to police, Taylor and another person ordered a Sonic employee into a Dumpster about 12:35 a.m. outside the 1331 Bell Road restaurant and punched an employee who was checking the restrooms. A third worker in the restaurant was hit with a metal pipe but managed to put his as sailant into a headlock and push him toward the door. The employee retrieved a pistol from his car and fired shots at the man, police said. Police positioned themselves outside the restaurant and a police dog tracked the suspect to a nearby strip mall. He was found using infrared heat detection and was startled out of the Dumpster by a SWAT team. Taylor was arrested and probably will by charged with a parole violation. Two employees were treated for head injuries.

Metro police to continue search for mall suspect

Metro police are searching for a man suspected of stealing items from the Bass Pro Shop in Opry Mills Mall Tuesday night.The robber was chased by store security before jumping in the nearby river headed east.He was described as a white male, bald, 6'2" and around 220 pounds. He was seen wearing a pair of tan shorts, a white shirt and a green hoodie, Capt. David Imhof said.— NANCY DEVILLE (tennessean) Overnight Update Police plan to continue the search for the suspect on Wednesday. The search for him Tuesday night involved the use of a police helicopter with a heat-indicating device. The helicopter made several sweeps along part of the Cumberland River but found no indication of heat, Imhof said.The Nashville Fire Department put in two boats and searched the shoreline but found nothing. The Office of Emergency Management decided against using a diver because the river is high and rough and contains too much debris, according to Imhof.Police will review surveillance video from the mall and also try to identify the man through his vehicle.— LEIGH RAY (Tennessean)

Emissions-testing firm frustrates Metro

Company is slow to deliver on services promised last year By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • April 8, 2008 The company that took over Metro Nashville's vehicle emissions-testing work last year, with great fanfare about its customer-friendly plans, has tested some city officials' patience by failing to add several features after nine months on the job. SysTech International has been slow to put in additional testing lanes, though a new one opened in Hermitage on Monday and others are under construction. The Murray, Utah-based company also still needs to introduce vans for mobile testing and cameras that can help document wait times. "It's safe to say we're ready to see this thing finalized and the plan take shape like it should have taken when the contract was signed," said Bill Hance, chairman of the Metro Health Board, which plans to discuss the issue at its monthly meeting today. "There are people on the board who are getting very impatient — me, for one," Hance added. SysTech's president said he understands the frustrations and that the company is getting close to completing the changes it promised when it signed a five-year contract with Metro. SysTech gets to keep $5.50 from every $9 emissions test, with Metro pocketing the other $3.50; the previous contractor, Envirotest, received $8.20 from each test, which cost $10 at the time, and gave the remaining $1.80 to the city. "We feel we can address their concerns," said Lothar Geilen, president and co-owner of SysTech. "We take them very seriously, I can tell you that. We have to work with the board for a long period of time, so if they're not satisfied with our performance, that affects us for the long term." About 600,000 vehicles are tested each year in Metro. Envirotest still runs the emissions testing program in Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties under a contract with the state. Geilen said several issues, including weather and challenges of adding onto existing buildings, slowed the company down after it took over July 1. SysTech initially planned to build six facilities, and still owns four Nashville properties it's not using, but ultimately decided to move into and expand Envirotest's stations. The company opened a third testing lane at the Stoner Bend Drive station in Hermitage on Monday, adding two new inspection positions. Drivers who were there about 12:30 p.m. said their experience was smooth. "I was surprised, because I've got three vehicles, and normally I sit way back here," retiree George Rylander said at the point where the station's exit and entrance intersect. "I couldn't believe I went right through. And (the testing fee) went down a dollar, too." New lanes to openSysTech also plans to open new lanes at the Westbelt Drive and Dickerson Road stations by the end of the month, Geilen said. Fred Huggins, director of the vehicle inspection program for the Metro Health Department, said it would have been "logistically impossible" for SysTech to have everything in place by July 1. But nine months later, he said, Metro Health is ready to see everything it signed up for.