The La Vergne High School Athletic Department is seeking sponsorships for football, baseball, softball and basketball.

Cost is $300 with $200 going to the athletic deparment for each sport sponsored.

This "Banner Program" allows athletes from a variety of sports to sell the 5 x 3 banners, which will have the same basic layout on each of them. Banners will be produced exclusively by LHS. Each banner will include the name of the bsuiness a tag line or address and a specific LHS sport. Depending on the sport chosen, the banners will be jung at the football, baseball or softball fields or the gymnasium.

Each sponsor will receive a framed certificate to display at his or her business. Sponsors will be recognized at the "sponsored sport." Limited copy to be read is expected from each business.

For more information, contact Mike Slinker (father of an LHS athlete) at 738-8883.

The dispute between the City and the group of citizens wanting to disband the city’s charter has come to a fever pitch. The City, obviously, wants things to stay as they are, but the dissenting group is determined to gather enough votes to force a re-election of the board.

The new board – made up of five newly elected individuals – would then choose the new mayor of the city.

It seems that this fight, still in its infancy, is quickly getting out of hand. City leaders have reached out to leaders of the group but the group doesn’t want to meet. They say it will be futile.

But how can they know unless they actually sit down and discuss a resolution?

The water rates went up 40%; sewer went up 60%. If you had a $50 bill prior to the increase, then now it would be $75. That, coupled with a 100% property tax increase, has people fuming and the list continues to grow.

That is the basis of this fight. People are mad and they want the current administration out. There have been good and bad mayors in the past. Some have terrified the employees and citizens and some have maintained status quo. Either way, none was ever forced out prior to the next election.

There has to be a way to get along. There has to be a way for both sides to come to some consensus, not to dig their heels in the sand.  Without communication, both sides are going to lose. The Board of Mayor and Alderman will lose support of a good number of the population (5,200 people are required to sign the petition in order for a re-election to take place). The people will lose the trust of the public.

Neither can be good for the welfare of the city. We all want La Vergne to grow and to prosper. Maybe the tax and sewer increases were a bit too much. Blame that on the state, which threatened to come in and take over the billing system with the city. It could have been much worse.

The tax increase was definitely too high. However, if prior administrations had initiated an increase, then this wouldn’t have been such a shock and difficulty for the residents.

There are a lot of administrations to blame in this situation and it starts back in 1972, when the city was incorporated. Residents tried three times to incorporate the city, and finally, in February, 1972, they succeeded by a less than stellar margin. There’s no one in particular that will receive the blame, but there’s been wrong all along.

The people have protested in the past on blogs, in person and by petition. But never, in our recollection, to this extreme.

A sit down is necessary and it’s necessary now. What started out as a basic right to protest what the group thought was wrong, has gotten out of control. Eliminating the city can only cause harm to everyone. Taxes will go up and we’ll lose our local services.

Now’s the time to resolve this issue before it gets any further along. If for nothing else, then for the employees and services that we’ll lose.

The dispute between the City and the group of citizens wanting to disband the city’s charter has come to a fever pitch. The City, obviously, wants things to stay as they are, but the dissenting group is determined to gather enough votes to force a re-election of the board.

The new board – made up of five newly elected individuals – would then choose the new mayor of the city.

It seems that this fight, still in its infancy, is quickly getting out of hand. City leaders have reached out to leaders of the group but the group doesn’t want to meet. They say it will be futile.

But how can they know unless they actually sit down and discuss a resolution?

The water rates went up 40%; sewer went up 60%. If you had a $50 bill prior to the increase, then now it would be $75. That, coupled with a 100% property tax increase, has people fuming and the list continues to grow.

That is the basis of this fight. People are mad and they want the current administration out. There have been good and bad mayors in the past. Some have terrified the employees and citizens and some have maintained status quo. Either way, none was ever forced out prior to the next election.

There has to be a way to get along. There has to be a way for both sides to come to some consensus, not to dig their heels in the sand. Without communication, both sides are going to lose. The Board of Mayor and Alderman will lose support of a good number of the population (5,200 people are required to sign the petition in order for a re-election to take place). The people will lose the trust of the public.

Neither can be good for the welfare of the city. We all want La Vergne to grow and to prosper. Maybe the tax and sewer increases were a bit too much. Blame that on the state, which threatened to come in and take over the billing system with the city. It could have been much worse.

The tax increase was definitely too high. However, if prior administrations had initiated an increase, then this wouldn’t have been such a shock and difficulty for the residents.

There are a lot of administrations to blame in this situation and it starts back in 1972, when the city was incorporated. Residents tried three times to incorporate the city, and finally, in February, 1972, they succeeded by a less than stellar margin. There’s no one in particular that will receive the blame, but there’s been wrong all along.

The people have protested in the past on blogs, in person and by petition. But never, in our recollection, to this extreme.

A sit down is necessary and it’s necessary now. What started out as a basic right to protest what the group thought was wrong, has gotten out of control. Eliminating the city can only cause harm to everyone. Taxes will go up and we’ll lose our local services.

Now’s the time to resolve this issue before it gets any further along. If for nothing else, then for the employees and services that we’ll lose.

Nearly 800 people from in and around La Vergne gathered at Veteran’s Memorial Park to celebrate the city’s Independence Day event on July 4. Free food, live music, drinks and a 10-minute fireworks show were enjoyed by the young and old alike. The Patriotic Picnic in the Park was a first for the community of 32,000.

“I think it’s a good turnout, I think the weather has turned off very comfortable, there’s a good breeze blowing and I think it helps draw the citizens and the community together to see what the city is about,” said La Vergne resident Cecil Painter. “This helps promote the goodness of the community.”

La Vergne Youth Baseball and Softball Commissioner Mike Cantense agreed.

“I think this is great,” he said. “It’s finally something that people don’t have to leave the city for. They don’t have to go to Smyrna or Nashville. I think it’s great to be here with the citizens and enjoy this in our own city.”

From face painting, to snow cone sales to inflatables, kids kept their parents busy while they enjoyed the activities of the evening.

Kathy Tyson, La Vergne’s Public Relations Director said that the city hosted the event “because we think that it is a good plan to keep people in our own city for fireworks. This way they don’t have to leave town to go see fireworks,” she said, noting that the outcome was “fantastic. We’ve had a great outcome here tonight.”

Alderman Sherry Green said she “stood and dished food for almost two hours and they’re still lined up. I think it’s a good idea to do something like this in the future. We should do more community things. Of course this was almost free. The food was donated and the fireworks were moved from Old Timers’ Day over to tonight. So it didn’t cost enough to worry about. It’s wonderful and they’re still lined up to the end.”

Kickboxing will be canceled on Saturday, June 12th and Monday, June 14th.  Classes will resume on Saturday, June 19th.

YES!! IT’S ALMOST HERE!  THROW ON YOUR FAVORITE HAWAIIAN SHIRT OR MOOMOO, GRAB YOUR LAWN CHAIRS AND BRING THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY-WIDE “LA VERGNE LUAU!”

WHAT MAKES THIS EVENT SO EXCITING TO MIDDLE TENNESSEANS IS EVERYTHING IS FREE OF CHARGE.  THERE IS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT WITH THE BAND TWELVESOUTH (myspace.com/twelvesouth) AMONG OTHER  LOCAL MUSICIANS, FESTIVE FOODS, PRIZES, ACTIVITIES AND RIDES TO PLEASE ALL AGES.  PARKING IS CONVENIENT WITH PLENTY OF ROOM FOR EVERYONE.  UPON ARRIVAL YOU’LL RECEIVE AN ALOHA LEI FROM OUR HOSTS TO SET THE MOOD.

MARK THE CALENDAR FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2010 FROM 3-7 PM AND TREAT YOURSELF AND/OR THE FAMILY TO EXPERIENCE A TASTE OF PARADISE AS “HAWAII COMES TO TENNESSEE!!”

GRACE CHURCH IS LOCATED AT #108 STONES RIVER ROAD ON THE CORNER OF OLD NASHVILLE HWY AND STONES RIVER ROAD.  JUST FOLLOW THE SIGNS TO THE LUAU AND FUN!

SPONSORED ANNUALLY BY GRACE CHURCH WORSHIP & COMMUNITY CENTER OF LA VERGNE, FRIENDS OF GRACE AND LOCAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY.

MAHALO NUI! ALOHA

SEE YOU THERE!!!!!

Old Timers’ Day, which began in 1973, is gearing up to be the biggest and best festival ever. 2010 marks the 37th year for the festival, making it the oldest on-going festival in Rutherford County and perhaps one of the oldest in Middle Tennessee.

This year's event is slated for Sept. 18 at La Vergne's Veteran's Memorial Park, 115 Floyd Mayfield Drive. From the La Vergne Rescue Squad’s Country Ham breakfast to the Parade and from the music to the closing fireworks, the day will be filled with activities for the entire family.

The artist line-up for Old Timers' Day 2010 has recently been announced:

Twelve South will kick off the day's festivities at 11 a.m. They will be followed by Kristina Craig (11:40 a.m.), Adeline (12:20 p.m.), Brother Boom (1:15 p.m.), Mason Douglas (2 p.m.) and Scott Smith (2:45 p.m.). T. Graham Brown, the day's headliner, will perform at 4 p.m.

Be sure to check out The Library's Children's Area to enjoy entertainment, storytelling, inflatables, face painting, duck pond, make-a-craft and much more. The senior citizens will offer traditional favorites in their tent such as delicious food and baked goods along with unique crafts.

This is, obviously, an outdoor event. It will take place rain or shine.

Many area groups -- including the Library, Senior Center, Police Athletic League, and area church and school groups -- use Old Timers' Day as a major fund-raiser for their organization.

This is the perfect day for those groups to raise funds through food or craft sales, silent auctions and other fund-raising events.

The organizers are still looking for vendors as well as sponsors for the city's largest event. Vendors should sign-up on-line at www.lavergne.org.

For more information, call 793-3224.

Old Timers' Day 2010 is sponsored by the City of La Vergne, Bridgestone/Firestone, Dr. Arvind Patel DDS, First Tennessee Bank, Ingram Book, Middle Tennessee Tourism, Rutherford County Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Tennessee Tourism and US Tae Kwan Do.

Support your local organizations' fund-raising efforts by attending Old Timers' Day 2010.

Keep checking back with HobNobLaVergne.com to find the most recent news you want to know. If you have a story or event you want us to check out email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Information pulled from LaVergne.org.

Just because La Vergne celebrated its 38th anniversary in the year 2010 doesn’t mean it’s a new town.

The history of the City goes back to the 1700’s when the ancestors of some of La Vergne’s current residents settled in the area to begin their new life. The man the city was named after, Francois Leonard Gregorie de Roulhac de lavergne, eventually moved to Tennessee from France. He lived on the land, often turning his cattle onto what he reportedly termed as "la vergne". Many historians have translated that to mean "the green" -- as in green pasture -- and say that’s how the town got its name.

Others however, say that the town was named La Vergne because of Roulhac’s family name. However the name came to be, the United States Post Office officially gave the city its name the same day that Roulhac died in 1852.

In late 1862, as a result of a Civil War battle, most of La Vergne was burned. During the war, both the Union and the Confederacy held the City at one time or another.

La Vergne was first incorporated Feb. 28, 1860 but the incorporation was rescinded in 1881; since the Civil War -- no city officials had been elected and there weren’t enough adults to let the town organize a Board of Mayor and Alderman and town constitution.

From 1881 to 1958, La Vergne was a small farming community with a population of under 1,000 people. What turned La Vergne around and headed in its present direction was a number of things including a public water system, the Men’s Club and a genuine effort by community members to speak as a group.

The City was re-incorporated in 1972 and Vester Waldron was chosen as the first mayor of the City. Others who have served as the town’s mayor include: A.C. Puckett, Jack Moore, Shirley Winfree, Mike Webb, Sherry Green and Ronnie Erwin.

In 1990, the U.S. Census showed that the city had 7,499 people living within the limits. In 1994, the number had grown to 11,088. A special election in 1998, showed 16,001 people in the City. With the results of the 2000 Census, 18,687 people were counted in the city. That’s 149% growth in the 1990s. A special census in 2003, showed 21,265 people in town. Another special census in 2006 showed 25,278 people in town. By the 2008 special census, there were 26,427 people in town.

With the population growth, and the good fortune of being in the right location for business, La Vergne has become THE place for business and industry to locate during the past few years. Ingram, Bridgestone and other national and international companies currently call La Vergne home.

La Vergne is centrally located in the country, being a day's drive from approximately 75 percent of the population in the U.S. Interstate 24 runs through the city and Interstates 65, 40 and state road 840 are within 10 miles from the city limits. That, plus the city’s proximity to major urban areas, makes it the place that residents and businesses want to call home.

Roy Waldron School of La Vergne has been nationally recognized through the Pepsi Refresh Project and awarded $25,000 to help fund a new playground. The school, which educates approximately 700 students, held their awards ceremony on Tuesday where Dr. Pewitt, Principal of Roy Waldron, accepted the oversized check from a Pepsi representative.

“We are very pleased that Roy Waldron was able to receive this award,” beamed Mayor Erwin. “I want to personally thank everyone in La Vergne, Rutherford County and Middle Tennessee for their vote.”

Second grade teacher Dr. Margret Guitard first submitted the playground idea to the web based grant program that awards up to 32 grants every month based on the number of online votes each idea receives. Every month, the top 10 ideas in each grant amount category receives a check from Pepsi. Roy Waldron School came in 8th place in the month of April for the $25,000 grant category. The school also received a $10,000 Richard Segal Grant and collected $5,000 through fund raising, allowing them to reach their total goal.

The need for additional playground equipment came with the addition of second grade to the 3rd -5th grade school. “We need a playground that is more available to younger students,” explained Pewitt. “This grant helps us reach our goal three to five years sooner than anticipated.”

The new playground will include the addition of multiple swings, slides, a rock climbing event and even a snake see-saw that 20 children can ride at once.

School officials hope to get the okay to begin construction from board members at their meeting scheduled for June 3rd. They intend for the playground to be completed by August 9th, the first full day of the new school year.

Pepsi Company is awarding over $20 million to fund refreshing ideas that move the world forward instead of adding to their advertising budget. They are focusing on six areas to better communities including health, arts and culture, planet, food and shelter, neighborhood and education. For more information visit refresheverything.com.

Moncrief Williams is the Territory Development Manager for Office Depot – Business Services and is the Diplomat of the Month.  

“I have really enjoyed getting to know Moncrief this year.  He always looks for an opportunity to educate his customers about Office Depot and their services,” said Kelli Beam, Director of Membership. “Moncrief is a great listener and enjoys being part of our Diplomat Team.”

Williams is originally from Gaston, South Carolina but calls Murfreesboro home with his two boys, Hunter and Preston.  He also is a member of Crossway Baptist, where he is the praise band guitar player, and he also volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America.  Moncrief can be contacted at 615-983-0461 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .