Last Train To Clarksville

Stop the Quarry off Exit 1

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:34:00 -0400

Update: On April 22, 2010, A representative from The Rogers Group admitted to an Oakland Hills resident that called on behalf of the stopthequarry movement the plot outlined in the satellite photo IS one of the two sites they are considering in the Todd County!

I was called from a neighbor a couple of days ago about a problem that might be arising that will affect all the homes off Exit 1 around the Trenton/Tylertown Roads. She went to Kentucky yesterday to get a plat of where this Quarry will be built. It is shocking how close it is to our subdivisions on the North side of Interstate 24!

Below I have placed a copy of the plat, so you can see if it will affect your area. We understand that this is being built right inside the KY line but they will be using Trenton and Tylertown Road to get to the Hemlock. Not to mention the blasted that will shake all of our homes!

Taken from the new site about this development, I have been given permission to quote what has been brought to the surface.

What we know:

The Rogers Group based in Nashville, TN has shown an interest in developing a rock quarry in the Todd County area. They are to be the company interested in the tract of land in question (below). The Rogers Group hopes to acquire this quarry location in order to supply the Hemlock plant with the quarried limestone. (Tylertown Road would be the most direct route of delivery.)

Apparently, core samples have been taken and some surveying has been done in preparation for the development of a quarry. However, on a positive note, no mining permit has been applied for with the state of Kentucky.

Kentucky does not have zoning restrictions – meaning there is no barrier between development and the state. No planning commission, no re-zoning red tape. Companies applying for a mining permit in the state of Kentucky DO have to submit a public notice to the most heavily circulated newspaper within a 50-mile radius of the intended mining site. This is, of course, the Kentucky New Era based in Hopkinsville, would be the appropriate publication.

We need to show The Rogers Group they aren’t just going up against a small group of Tennessee homeowners and a handful of Kentucky farmers; they are going against a united front of more than 7 large Clarksville neighborhoods consisting of more than a thousand Tennessee homeowners willing to support those bordering their intended quarry!

We need to contact them RELENTLESSLY voicing our opposition to their potential quarry before it legally becomes our newest neighbor!

We need the support of Clarksville neighbors not affected to stand in the gap for the homeowners who can’t be here due to be deployed. Will you help us take a stand?

Channel 4 News came to Clarksville and did a piece on this developing story.

Facts:

The Rogers Group out of Nashville is planning to start quarrying limestone to supply the Hemlock plant.

The land that is the subject is owned by Paul Cooper

Core samples and surveying have been done on the property

No new deeds have been filed in Todd County

No mining permit has been applied for in the state of Kentucky

The Rogers Group will have to notify the public via the New Kentucky Era for 30 days as part of the permit process

No notification has appeared in the paper as of yet

No zoning restrictions in Kentucky – NO planning commission

The Rogers Group has been trying to access limestone in Todd County for a few years now without much success

The Rogers Group moved a projected quarry site in Huntsville, AL due to public fallout

Woodstock residents and Kentucky farmers are not happy

Tylertown/Oakland Hills residents are just now finding out

Tennessee officials have no power in Kentucky, it’s up to our residents to make a change

The possible location of the quarry – Woodstock farms (right next to Woodstock subdivision)

The land consists of 500 +/- acres and crosses HWY 108

Rumor and Speculations:

Property has been sold to The Rogers Group

To view updated information about this developing story please visit STOP the Quarry!

If you know a resident that is deployed, stand in the gap for them! Please forward this to everyone you know to help us stop something that could hurt our economy and to educate others on what is going on right outside our back doors!

Stop the Quarry off Exit 1

How to Write Better Facebook Status Updates... and get people to read them!

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:38:16 -0500

Great information! Thea

Via Kathy Schowe (The Lori Bowers Group):

Ok, so you have joined Facebook and added your friends, family, clients, and classmates. Maybe you even have established a business page and created links for your Fans to find you... Now, what can you do to get people to read your updates and better yet, RESPOND and ENGAGE? HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU WRITE BETTER FACEBOOK STATUS UPDATES by ENGAGING YOUR READERS!

How To Write Better Status Updates on Facebook on Howcast

Kathy Schowe 760.333.8886 livethedesertlife.com schoweproperties@msn.com

The Lori Bowers Group La Quinta, California

Best Places to Raise Your Kids

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:31:21 -0500

Best Place to Raise Your Kids: Tennessee

Clarksville

Nearest city: Nashville
Population: 118,209
Median family income: $53,795
Runners-up: Hendersonville, Johnson City

Affordable, safe, and family-friendly

It’s time for BusinessWeek’s annual ranking of the best places to raise your kids.

As we did last year, we teamed up with OnBoard Informatics, a New York-based provider of real estate analysis, to select one town and two runners-up for each of the 50 states. The selections were limited to towns that have at least 45,000 residents and a median income of between $40,000 and $125,000. Vermont was given a pass on the population restrictions because none of its cities would otherwise have made the cut.

We used the same criteria to rank the towns, but we shifted the weights slightly to come up with what we consider better results. The data we used included school performance, number of schools, household expenditures, crime rates, air quality, job growth, family income, museums, parks, theaters, other amenities, and diversity.

Affordability, safety*, and school test scores were given the greatest weight.

Some communities made the list again this year, including Warner Robins, a military town in Georgia, and the Charlotte suburb of Rock Hill, S.C. But most of the towns we chose are new to the list. The Chicago suburb of Tinley Park, Ill., which won the nation’s overall best ranking this year, is just an hour south of last year’s winner, Mount Prospect, Ill.

Last year, readers reacted strongly to our list. Read this year’s picks. Let the online discussion begin.

*For all slides, relative safety was measured by the “total crime risk,” an index of the combined risks of rape, murder, assault, robbery, burglary, larceny, and vehicle theft. Crime scores were based on demographic and geographic analyses of crime over seven years. School performance was based on state reading and math test scores and came from Great Schools. Zoo data came from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and museum, theater, park, and recreation information came from InfoUSA. Air quality information came from the Environmental Protection Agency, household expenditures and diversity data were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, and job growth data came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source: OnBoard Informatics

Courtesy By Prashant Gopal

Best Places to Raise Your Kids | Clarksville, TN

Tax Credit for Homebuyers

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:12:39 -0500

A Great Deal in Real Estate is Now Better

Note: This is intended to provide an overview only – for specific information or individual concerns, please contact your lawyer, accountant and/or financial advisor. Information courtesy of http://www.realtor.organd ://www.whitehouse.gov and Coldwell Banker.

The federal income tax credit for homebuyers has been extended and expanded to now include homeowners who wish to “move on” after 5 years of living in their current property, as well as first-time homebuyers.

First-time homebuyers, or those who have not owned in the last three years, can receive up to an $8,000 tax credit
Homeowners who have lived in a current home consecutively for 5 of the past 8 years can receive up to a $6,500 tax credit
There may be no future extensions, so all qualified homebuyers are urged to act and have a written, binding contract by April 30, 2010 (close by June 30, 2010)
Income limits are now $125,000 for singles, $225,000 for married couples with a $20,000 phase-out of the credit for both.

According to The National Association of Realtors News Release, dated 11/5/09, an estimated $22 billion has already been added to the general economy resulting from the bill and approximately 2 million people will utilize the tax credit in 2009.

The following chart provides more information:

Feature	For First-Time Homebuyers	For Current Qualifying Homeowners
Amount of Credit	$8,000 ($4,000) married filing separate)	$6,500 ($3,250 married filing separate)
Eligibility	May not have had an interest in a principal residence for 3 years prior to purchase	Must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years
Termination of Credit	Purchases after April 30, 2010	Purchases after April 30, 2010
Binding Contract Rule	So long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010 the purchaser will have until June 30, 2010 to close	So long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010 the purchaser will have until June 30, 2010 to close
Income Limits	$125,000 – Single $225,000 – Married Additional $20,000 Phase Out	$125,000 – Single $225,000 – Married Additional $20,000 Phase Out
Limitation on Cost of Home Purchased	$800,000	$800,000
Purchase Made by a Dependent	Ineligible	Ineligible
Additional Requirements	Purchaser must attach documentation of purchase to tax return	Purchaser must attach documentation of purchase to tax return

Tax Credit for Homebuyers

Market Update 2010 | Clarksville, TN

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:09:50 -0500

Happy New Year! It is time for a Market Update. Any time that you come to this part of our blog and would like to see an update, please call, text, email or app us and I will get it off to you within 24 hours!

For the year 2008, closed residential sales:

October – 247 homes
November – 212 homes
December – 234 homes

For the year 2009, closed residential sales:

October – 340 homes
November – 277 homes
December – 233 homes

Right now we have 1564 homes on the market for sale. Inventory is down from 1917 in May of 2009. Some of our Military are getting ready to PCS and we have the months of June and July, which are some of our bigger months for sales, coming. Now is the time to start getting your home prepared for those Spring moves! If you would like to know how your subdivision or area is doing, please contact me and I would be happy to share the market with you.

Market Update 2010 | Clarksville, TN

Find us on iTunes and download to your iPhone or iPod Touch FREE. Search Clarksville and pick Last Train To Clarksville!

Recap 2009 and looking toward 2010

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:54:08 -0500

It’s almost that time of the year, the last day! I cannot believe how fast the year came and went. Can you? In the spirit of doing what is best for our business…we are always looking to improve for us and for those we service, we have joined the office of Coldwell Banker Conroy, Marable and Holleman at the St. B branch. It is across the street from Mulligan’s and in the same strip as Lasaters Coffee shop. Behind us is the new location of Anchor Mortgage with Amanda Dusenberry as the CEO! (Love working with her and watching the best rates come in for my clients.)

When making the journey with Avalar, we were approached by Tony Romero and were promised so much but then things happened and he left after a month of our move to the company. We adapted and did the best we could for our Team Agnew by staying put and working hard to overcome any setbacks with his leaving. 2009 was the best year for Team Agnew because of how we do business and our marketing. We were told by so many agents who thought us moving to Avalar was the worse thing for our business because it wasn’t a well known Real Estate company like Keller Williams, Crye-Leike, ReMax, Prudential among many but it turned out to be the biggest year we have ever had in Real Estate in a slow market. It proved to us that it really isn’t the name of the company but how the agent markets his/her business and treats their clients. Over $5 million in sales, Art and I are ranked, combined in Clarksville’s sea of Realtors, number 46 out of 700+. That is a big accomplishment for us in a 4.7 year career.

2009 was the first year the March of Dimes event, Best of Clarksville, had the category of Real Estate Agent. I was thrilled that so many of you voted for me and placed me in the top 5 of Clarksville! I didn’t make number 1 but I was honored to be among the other top 4 and share my business with so many of the community.

In the coming year, 2010, I plan on revising our business mold in the areas that needed work from this year and making it better. I have already started with putting our Team Agnew on iTunes. We are available to be downloaded, FREE, onto your iPhone or iPod Touch! We plan on making it much easier and enjoyable for our Sellers who list with us and for our Buyers who are relocating. We don’t want to share too much here in this venue but if you are a Seller or Buyer interested in interviewing us for our services, please email or you can text, call or app us! (To find us on the iPhone, search “Clarksville” you will see, Last Train To Clarksville logo and our app is named “Clarksville”.)

In January you will find us in Real Estate Digest magazine everywhere in Clarksville. This magazine is a free publication of all homes that are advertised by Realtors that decide to use Real Estate Digest. If you would like to search homes now that are on an up to date site, please go to our website or search to the left of this blog.

We, Art and I, as Team Agnew, would like to wish you a safe and Happy New Year. To all of our Clients, thank you for allowing us to serve you in your Real Estate investments. Be looking for a package around the first week of January to help you with your taxes!

You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to name a few. I also would be remiss not to mention Diaries of a Fruitcake!

Recap 2009 and looking toward 2010!

Broker Express or Xpress?

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:27:40 -0500

Has anyone heard of the broker express? It allows you to view your MLS through charts and to see how the realtors in your area are doing? I can't seem to find it.

Clarksville iPhone and iPod Touch Application

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:38:12 -0500

We are so excited to introduce our iPhone AND iPod Touch application that can be downloaded on iTunes! You can go to your iTunes store and search Clarksville. This application is named Clarksville underneath and inside is our logo Last Train To Clarksville! When downloaded to your iPhone or iPod Touch, the app will be “Clarksville”.

It is a FREE application and will allow you to email me or call me at the tap of a button, if you are using the iPhone. No need to dial numbers or searching through your contacts. If you are out searching Clarksville or surrounding areas and find a home that you would like more information on, click on your iPhone app and tap “Call Thea Agnew” and I will help you with any information you are looking for.

If you have the iPod Touch then the call feature will not be there, since you can’t call anyone. At the touch of your finger, also those with the iPhone, you can view our blog, search the multiple listing service, try different mortgage scenarios and (if on iPhone) be able to call Anchor Mortgage’s Amanda Dusenberry for more loan advice!

We are honored to be the FIRST Realtor’s in Clarksville to bring the Real Estate of Clarksville to you in the form of an Application from iTunes! Call, text, email or app to reach us today for your Real Estate needs!

Realtors helping Realtors

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:54:18 -0500

Every once in a while we find ourselves crossing the path of the dream that we had as a child. If anyone watches "Gary Unmarried" he is living a life of working as a Painter and a damn good one. But his dream was to always be a radio sports guy. When he had the opportunity arise to do it, he realized he wouldn't be able to if he wanted to support his family but his ex-wife saw his sacrifice all the past years to provide a good home and pay and said, "Go for it, we will make it work here."

Like many of you, I didn't grow up thinking that I wanted to be a Realtor. I thought that was on the same level as a lawyer or doctor. Never did I think I would be helping clients sell or buy their homes. But here I am with a really wonderful job for almost 5 years and meeting such wonderful Realtors along the way. Now I have an opportunity to live my dream, singing. I have had the opportunity before but I chose to stay home and raise my family and wait until they were older to possibly reach for the stars again. Waiting made me older and miss cut off ages like, American Idol.

My time has come now. I have been in Alexandria, VA for the past week rehearsing with choreography and vocal training with a production called Operation Rising Star. This production was made by some of the producers of American Idol for the military. It was known as Military Idol but they changed the name about 3 years ago. I am already getting contacts from people in Germany who saw me audition on their tv to get them ready for this show. I was picked out of 35 installations to be in the top 12 to compete. I am representing Ft. Campbell, KY.

As a fellow Realtor, I know that Active Rain has a lot of members and there is no other Realtor in this competition. Can you take the time on Sunday the 15th of this month to get online and go to www.oprisingstar.com and click on VOTE? Put in your vote for me to help move me to the top 6. Help your fellow Realtor?

I will be singing the song, "Just a Dream" by Carrie Underwood to honor the fallen soldiers and their family members. My time has come now and 50% is up to the public. Will you help me?

It's Never Too Late

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:20:27 -0500

November 8^th is coming around the corner very quickly. That is the day I fly out to Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. I feel, as I'm all snug in my chair, the urge to write everyone to let you know that I sincerely need your help to be successful in this journey of mine.

Here I sit, a Military Spouse and mother to three teenagers. Many can relate. Anyone who is a military spouse knows that when it comes to dreams, the military comes first unless your dream fits the Military life style. Many of you dream to be a teacher, a nurse, a Realtor, a banker, a pharmacist, etc… and with those dreams you can be a teacher where ever your spouse is stationed, you can be a nurse, a Realtor, a banker,a pharmacist. But there is one dream that has been hard for me to reach. There was a time that I was close to making it but in order to make it, I would have had to leave my family. It would have been a hardship on my husband and our three small children. A husband who is in an elite unit that needed him. Children who love their mommy and could have had emotional scars from me having to go away. Me, it would have been hard to be separated from my husband and children and knowing that someone else was raising them while my husband was at work. I made the right choice to put my singing on the back burner, to be the wife and support my husband needed and to be the mommy that our children deserved and what I was committed to by having them. In doing so, I found ways to still sing, even though my dream was out of reach.

I was in a local band called Def, Dumb and Blonde (I was the blonde) and we sang all over Enterprise and Ft. Rucker, Alabama. I mostly harmonized with the two guys on either side of me. I did a few country songs but all together, it was a learning experience for me to help shape my performing in front of people. As I look back, I laugh. A friend of mine who has been there since I started putting my dream into action, which was when my children were in school, said that I would just stand there and tap my leg with my hand or my tambourine. I didn’t move, I didn’t know how to entertain. I’m sure there is video out there showing what a fright I was.

I did a gig with a Major in the Army who played the guitar and would sing for Christmas functions for the Military Spouses club in Germany. I was very active in P.W.O.C. (Protestant Women of the Chapel) and would sing for them during our worship time.

Every three months a group would get in a van and travel umpteen hours from Clarksville to Parris Island, S.C. where I helped lead worship for our Marines while they went through basic training. Knowing that more than one of the thousands there might not be alive this time next year was pulling at my heart. We would get letters from the parents of these soldiers telling us how much it meant to their boy or girl that we came and did that for them. That is when I realized that I wanted to sing for our military. I told my husband to let the unit know I would love to sing the National Anthem any time they needed someone. I didn’t accept any payment; I just wanted to touch people with my voice. To sing the National Anthem was the height of my singing. To be known as the “Anthem Girl” was such a high honor for me.

When I heard about Operation Rising Star it was a year ago, 2008. A Night Stalker in my husband’s unit was going for his dream and the unit put it out to go and support him in the competition. I went as many nights as he was up there until he couldn’t go anymore. At this time I was in a competition my friends told me to try out for, the Beaver Idol. I never thought about trying out for any competition. While he was doing Operation Rising Star, I was doing Beaver Idol for the local country radio station here. The first time ever that I heard myself on radio, I had my children around me and we danced. “Listen to Momma on the radio!” What a dream come true. After not making the Beaver Idol title, I thought, what else can I do? Here I am getting older by the minute and Nashville is more than likely out due to my age. Then it started sinking in after every time I would sing the “National Anthem” someone would come up and ask me, when I was going to try out for American Idol? Why don’t you try out for Nashville Star? So, I started getting online and looking for competitions. Nashville Star is no longer doing their thing, at least this year. American Idol? I am over the age limit. Then Operation Rising Star popped up. Why not try out? It's Military Idol!

So, I went down to the Sportsman Lodge and took my number, eleven. I didn’t get all dressed up. I wanted the judges to hear my voice and not let my clothes or hair or jewelry be louder. I sang “Strawberry Wine”. Half way through, one of the judges stopped me and asked if there was another song I was on the fence with singing? As a matter of fact there was but I chose strawberry wine. I told them I was thinking about another song, “I Just Call You Mine” by Martina McBride. They said, “Let’s hear it”. When I got to the high notes of the chorus, they all threw their hands in the air like they were on a roller coaster ride and started yelling, “That is what we were looking for.” “Why didn’t you do that as your first song?” So I made the top 12 of the local competition.

Wow. I was in a competition where I would have to choose my song for the theme and stand in front of everyone and sing. I was going for it. Giving it my all because let’s face it, the clock is ticking away and it’s almost midnight. I had the support of my husband, my children (which my girls helped me with my song selections) and my friends. My husband’s unit came out to support also. I performed my heart out. Enjoying it, it became very, very addictive. I wanted more!

I got through every week. I wouldn’t have made it to first place if it wasn’t for the votes of my fans! It was so stressful knowing that if I didn’t have enough people there to vote, I was out. I walked away representing Ft. Campbell to audition for the Army World Wide Competition. We did my audition dvd and we had to send in the final song I sang in the competition for the judges to vote on. There were 12 judges who looked at all 35 installations winners and narrowed it down to 12 singers. I found out October 21^st, my 20^th year wedding anniversary, that I was one of the 12! My husband woke me up and told me to get dress and follow him. I thought he was getting ready to give me a wedding anniversary gift. He told me to sit down and brought the computer over and wham..there I was, in the top 12! Such a wonderful man. He had been checking all morning while I was sleeping! He was just as nervous and excited as I was but then, I was the one still sleeping. :)

Then it was time to let the fans and public know that in order for me to move to the top, I would need the support of my Military Installation and my hometown, Clarksville to vote for me. I’ve given my life and support to our Military and I know that I am not known by many, just another Military Spouse but I am a Military Spouse that needs your help in votes. You can do this in the comfort of your own home. Just like American Idol.

As I said at the beginning, I leave for Virginia on the 8^th of this month. I am putting all my fans email address’ in a file so that when I am done singing, I will email you from my phone and let you know that you have a two hour window to vote for me from where ever you are.

Please send me your email if you would like to be on the list. The more fans I have voting, the closer I am to my dream. I will do a “test” on the 7^th, so if you don’t get it, you know to check your junk file.

What is the prize for this competition? An all expense paid trip to Los Angeles, CA to record a demo in DMI Firehouse recording studios and so many more possibilities…. Help me make it, join my fan club list, free, today.

Operation Rising Star 2009

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:48 -0400

It was announced today, October 21st, who the top 12 semi-finalists for the Army Wide competition, Operation Rising Star, were.

I am thrilled that I was chosen to be one of the top 12! Last year we had a Night Stalker in the competition and this year we have a Lady Night Stalker! Me!

The competition will be taking place on November 14-20th in Ft. Belvoir, VA. It will be on the Pentagon Channel if you are living on base. If not, I will be getting more information on where you can watch the show. It will be just like American Idol, where the viewing audience can call in to vote for their favorite performer. I believe you will be able to vote online also.

This is the 2nd year in a row that Ft. Campbell, KY has had a contestant be in the top 12. Last year our very own, Fatima McElveen, made it to 2nd place in the final competition. I hope to do Ft. Campbell proud this year too! One of the important roles of this competition is the fans and their calling in or getting online to vote. So, more information will be coming your way on how you can do this.

You can view my performances on my YouTube channel and see how I did for the 8 weeks during the competition at Ft. Campbell. Thank you all who voted to get me where I am now!

Top 12 Semi-Finalists for Operation Rising Star 2009

Clarksville, TN is Number 4 Best City to Launch a Business

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:31:53 -0400

Great information I wanted to share with my readers also. Thank you!

Via Janie Masterson Realtor GRI CLHMS Trusted Real Estate Resource (The Vaughn Team.com Real Estate):

According to the latest reports from CNNMoney, Clarksville, TN is the number 4th best city to start a new business.

With a population of 261,220 and 4,126 small businesses, Clarksville is a great place to work and to raise a family. Market values for Clarksville, TN for homes has increased steadily 6+ % over the last two years.

"A few decades ago, Clarksville could have still been classified as a small town: it's grown out of the agricultural and tobacco trade, and the presence of nearby Fort Campbell meant that when soldiers were deployed to conflicts, they and their families emptied out of the city. But over the years, the city has nurtured its own hub of commerce, helped along by the presence of Austin Peay State University and spillover growth from Nashville, located 50 miles away. Military personnel now look to settle in Clarksville and develop their own businesses when they retire.

In December, Hemlock Semiconductor announced an initial investment of $1.2 billion to build in Clarksville a new manufacturing facility for the production of a key raw material for solar cells and semiconductor devices. The site is expected to employ up to 800 people, as well as 1,000 construction workers over the next several years, and local business leaders say it will provide an opportunity for the small business community to service the growing green energy sector. The city's so buzzy right now, in fact, that what publishers say is Clarksville's first business magazine began printing in September." -Tina Peng

http://tinyurl.com/ygqwqw3

Janie Masterson, Realtor, GRI, CLHMS

2106 Trenton Rd, Clarksville TN

Direct 931 801-3348

Email: janie@janiemasterson.com

My Newest Blog~

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:45:48 -0400

Hot on the web with it's "soft launch" is my new site, Diaries of a Fruitcake ~ In a Half Baked World! This site is going to be a site full of stories, advice and posts for the woman. Men, you can definitely send in your stories of the woman in your life that makes you think "Fruitcake".

Welcome to My Half Baked World!

They make you laugh. They make you think, "OMG!!". They make you wonder, "How in the world have they been so successful?" They are happy within and keep making life entertaining, especially when you hear their stories. You might wonder what their secret to living free is.

Welcome to the world of this fruitcake!

Yes, I can be a little nutty sometimes but never put on a shelf! I am a wife, mother and woman on a mission.

Early in the spring of this year, I was talking with my Momma one day and told her that I felt a pull to write a book. (I'm always trying something new.) I told her about how people would look down their noses, talk behind my back, telling others that I just didn't know what I wanted in life because I dabble in almost everything. Sure, it hurt when it came back to me, I don't see anything wrong with it and then I realized there are a lot of us out there that are labeled fruitcake, so why not embrace it and make it something positive?!

We came up with the title "Diaries of a Fruitcake ~ In a Half Baked World". I decided to embark on the journey of a blog and found an amazing team, Moxie Design Studios.

Why the name "fruitcake"? Well, it is a name that people freely label others with, for one, when they don't understand the "fruitcake's" actions. They judge what you do against their standards and if it doesn't fit, then guess what? You are now placed in another category. So, the standards of a fruitcake go against the normalcy of half the population and what they consider to be normal.

Does that mean the fruitcake isn't normal? No, it means that we are our own and march to the beat of a different drum. We like the attention that our choices give us. Sometimes we might realize we went just a little too far. We might even be labeled, "Drama Queen". Are we the drama queens? I would have to say, yes. But once again, there is nothing wrong about that.

If you think about it for a second, coming from the world of baking, these cakes are unpredictable, are they not? You don't know when you bite into it if it is going to be moist or stale. Some fruitcakes get passed around every year and then put on a shelf until the next year. Do you get passed? You just might. Do you feel like you are put on a shelf and unseen? That time could be now. Ta-da, it's the emotional side of being different and labeled a certain way, even though you are intelligent and offer so much to the world and those around you. Then there are Fruitcakes that aren't passed around but are gifts and delicious, never to put away because they were given a chance.

Do you want a chance? Here it is. You will see that most "fruitcakes" are very intelligent and successful. Some are just not given a chance and play the role because they know that is what people expect. It's time to be true to yourself and embrace who you really are. Not allowing to be frowned upon by the Half Bakers out there.

The Half Baked World

What is the "half baked world"? It is a world for those who say "Don't confuse me with the facts. My mind is made up." In this world you will find many different concoctions to the recipes of life.

Living in this half baked world it might seem as if we are encased by fear. When we stunt our lives by this fear, we don't live life to its fullest. We don't say what is on our mind, for fear of what others will think. We look at the fruitcakes out there that say it and we wish we could be that free. There is a process to becoming a fruitcake like there is in making one!

Fruitcakes love choices. They love to have excitement in their life. They understand that life is only a one time shot and you can't live it being unhappy in a job, marriage, or family, among other things. If life becomes boring in a certain area, you will add your own ingredient to get the rise you want. A lot of people will call it "drama" or being irresponsible or hot air. I call it a life line to sanity. Though, some would say insanity.

For those of you that currently are labeled you might find that you are being told you need to be on anti-depressants because you aren't what others consider normal. They might think you are depressed, hence your "crazy" actions. If you are told this over and over, you begin to look down at yourself as a freak. Your light will become dim and people will begin to wonder what happened to the fun, crazy, full of life person you have always been? It is time to let your flame rise and not let others snuff it out. The fruit inside of you is very colorful. Don't settle for the half baked syndrome and live in a gray world.

These are diaries of the fruitcake's life that will hold surprises and you won't know whether it is something to laugh or cry about! Will you be surprised or disappointed? Will you be able to read a diary entry and have advice that helped you get through part of the baking process? By all means, register and share. Will my experiences be there to help you? You be the judge of what the diaries can do for you....

In closing, this blog will bring a positive movement to encourage those who are only half-baked to live life to its fullest. Learn and be encouraged by the diaries of how to break out of the "half baked syndrome" and live life, free as a fruitcake!

Congratulations!

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:42:07 -0400

Congratulations to our Seller and Buyers!

Seller: Ms. Barnett

Buyers: Mrs. Nugent and Ms. Barnett!

Ms. Barnett,

Thank you for allowing us to list your home. We hope that you were satisfied with our service. This goes to show that when it comes to selling a home, when we talk about how to make it marketable, it comes down to the timing of the buyer who is meant for your home. Thank you for allowing us to list it and sell it within 15 days!

Mrs. Nugent,

Thank you for calling on us to help you with the needs of finding a home. When one is in another country it can seem nerve racking and scary at the same time but we hope this experience was a pleasant one and we look forward to meeting you when you come to Ft. Campbell!

Ms. Barnett,

Thank you again for using our services and allowing us to represent you in the purchase of your home. Sometimes in life we find that we need more room in our daily living and we know that your home will be just what you need for your growing family.

Many blessings to our clients with days full of happiness in your new homes!

Team Agnew

Art & Thea Agnew

If you would like to interview us to list your home or to represent you in the purchase of a home, please contact us today.

March of Dimes, Best of Clarksville Nominee for Real Estate Agent ~ Vote ~ Thea Agnew, October 8th at the Saturn Dealership in Clarksville off of Wilma Rudolph Blvd. between 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Stop by my booth! Looking forward to meeting you all.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Coming to Middle Tennessee

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:54:35 -0400

Duncan & Duncan Construction and Singletary Construction are partnering to join ABC's Extreme Makover: Home Edition for an upcoming build in the Middle Tennessee area later this month.

The two Clarksville construction companies were chosen by the popular ABC television program to oversee and implement the intense one-week building of a new home that will change the lives of a deserving Middle Tennessee family.

Five Middle Tennessee area families are being considered for the makeover, but only one will be chosen on the Morning of October 17 for Ty Pennington's life-changing "door knock."

The construction companies of Duncan & Duncan, led by Don R. Duncan, of Clarksville, and Singletary Construction, owned by Bert Singletary, were selected because of their track record in construction and their willingness to dedicate personal effort to help others. Both companies focus on quality construction and special details to make their construction projects unique.

With this 106-hour construction project, the new home will be truly unique as all products and labor must be donated by businesses and individuals in the area. Hundreds of volunteers will be needed for the project from October 17 through October 24.

As with all homes in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, special details will be incorporated into the design of the home to meet particular needs of the selected family.

The companies are requesting volunteers from the area to provide time, support and resource to contribute to the success of this life-changing project. If you are intersted in offering your support or volunteering your time please visit our get involved page or click here. To view article, click here.

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Basement Home Soon To Be Vacant!

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:11:20 -0400

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Agent Open House

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:30:44 -0400

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Lady Night Stalker Wins Ft. Campbell Operation Rising Star!

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:10:42 -0400

What an exciting night!

September 25, 2009 marked the end of the competition for the final 5 contestants. Some arriving early to have hot water, lemon and honey to help the vocals and some arranging tables to accomidate the crowd they hoped would show to give their support.

I wondered how eliminations would be handled and didn't have too much confidence in winning, I must admit. I was worried about the votes from my competitors. I knew that, this being the end, all contestants would try their best to have as many fans there as they could get. I sent out a few emails to let others in the community, my family and friends know that it would be starting at 6 p.m. We had enough posters, stars with my name on them and flags for our fans to wave when it was my timeto sing and when it was time for the Spirit Award contest to happen.

We were told to always arrive, during the past eight weeks, around 5 pm so that we could do a sound check before everyone else arrived. I was able to do my sound check, picture above, and then go mingle with friends and wonder, with others, who would be eliminated. I knew there was a chance for me to be eliminated since we all had talent. There was no telling how it was going to go.

As everyone sat waiting for the night to start, OPR played our performances in the weeks gone by. So, those that couldn't come out and wondered what we sang or how we did, could see in short clips on the monitors through out the Sportsman Lodge in the competition area just how well we did.

The night began around 6:00 p.m. and it started with all competitors going on stage. The first to be asked to go and have a seat was Wanda Jordan-Barnett. Next was Angela Madison, leaving me, 1st Lt Cindy Kubick-Perez and Sgt. Victor Cole. I was standing there wondering who was going to be able to sit down. I was standing with two great performers with awesome ranges and styles, so I knew there was a very good chance that I was gone. Then as our MC, Melissa Schaffner, looked at each of us in the eye around 3 or 4 times, she looked at me and said to go sit down I was in the finals.

There was a short intermission before the start of the top three performers . When it was time, I was called up first. I remember thinking, "Oh gosh, I didn't get to go outside and warm up the vocals and practice." That is what I was planning on doing but as they played back the week before performance all I could think then was, "what is the first line of my song!" I got it and was called up front to introduce my song. Melissa asked me if I wanted to say anything before I sang and I thanked all my fans, family and friends for coming out and supporting me and that I really appreciated them. Then I wanted to let everyone know that I was singing the song that I chose for the Military Spouses that have lost their loved one and it was my way of honoring them (Not in those exact words). The song I sang, "Just a Dream" by Carrie Underwood. Last year at the CMA's our very own Lady Night Stalker Leslie Ponder made her introduction of this song by talking about how music heals and she thanks God for that power. How she wished everyone could have known her husband Tre Ponder who died in 2005 in Afghanistan. To love and be loved by this man of hers brought tears to everyone's eyes. She said that love is more than 'Just a Dream'. When I heard this, I knew this was the song I was meant to sing.

After the last note on the song was played, I received great comments from the judges and one that stuck out as odd to me, by two judges, was the comment of being glad that my voice cracked. I was feeling the emotions of the words and music and kind of lost my note. Usually I am my worse critic but I didn't let this bother me at all.

Then it was time for Angela to sing. She had a slide show of 9/11 and sang "Hero" by Mariah Carey. It was beautiful and strong, as always, and she received great comments also. (The picture to below shows my husband closing his eyes feeling the song and me watching the slide show. Amanda Dusenberry, in blue and on the right of my blog, is my favorite lender and a great friend who came out and supported me also, with her family.) Very moving song.

Next was Wanda. She did a wonderful job with singing the female version of "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood. Dressed to the hilt, as she always is, thanks to the talents of Beverly Slocum, who by the way needs to start a clothing line, Wanda did a wonderful job also. Then there was an intermission with the talents of the judges!

Each judge got up and sang a karaoke song and the contestants were able to sit in the judges seats and give their opinion of the song and vocals and perfomance. It was so much fun and we were thoroughly entertained! Then it was time for Cindy and Victor to sing their songs that they prepared.

Victor started us off with a beautiful rendition of our National Anthem. An awesome job. So much talent in that man. Then Cindy sang, "Sleeping with the Telephone" by Reba and her vocals were flawless. She has such great talent! I thought for sure she would be in the top three.

After their performances it was time to announce the third place winner of $100 dollars in Operation Rising Star....drum roll....(My heart was beating out of my chest)....Wanda Jordan-Barnett. Next was the second

place winner of $150 dollars in Operation Rising Star...drum roll...(I can't breathe)....(My name will be called...Thea...Thea...Thea)....Angela Madison. Both hands on my face looking like the boy on "Home Alone" (without the scream) the next thing I know I am being jumped and I felt like I just won Ms. America. (You know how win the winner is announced and all the beauty constestants run and hug on her?) I couldn't believe it. I have never won with my singing in anything! Then they announced the first place winner of $500 dollars and a recording session with Cindy Bell Studios and a chance to compete in the Army Wide Competition at Fort Belvior....drum roll....Thea Agnew.

I enjoyed every bit of this competition and it must have been stressful because I started breaking out at week one, like never before! ;) My husband then came on the stage and handed my a dozen roses and got the crowd ahhhhhh'ing.

I have to thank my daughter, Erikka, for helping me with the choice of songs I did. For putting up with me asking her to listen, "one more time", to make sure I was doing it right. My daughter and son, Debbie and Nick, for texting me before performances, wishing they could be there and to just be myself. Their confidence in me touched me beyond compare.

Lastly and not least, my husband, Art. Always there to ground me and get me to think about what I was doing here. To remember to have fun. To listen to the words. To be myself and just look at him if I was nervous. My rock and a man with a GREAT heart. Without him I wouldn't be where I am today.

To Art: Baby, I know this was a little stressful seeing me up there and worrying about what the judges would say and hoping it wouldn't crush me. Thank you for being beside me as I go for this dream and giving me the words I needed to hear before each performance You helped me grow beyond what you could ever imagine. I want you there beside me, always. I love you!

Thank you to the team at MWR Ft. Campbell. It was a very professional event and I didn't run into any problems with songs or anything. Always there to answer questions and get back with me on time. Thank you for having fun with me when you picked on me that one time when we all thought I was finished, gone, out of the competition! Thank you to the bartender who always came up to me and asked if I wanted hot water with lemon. To the camera crew who were very nice and complementary. I look forward to many more events and going all the way to the top with Operation Rising Star!

Lady Night Stalkers Don't Quit! LNSDQ

Lady Night Stalker Wins Ft. Campbell Operation Rising Star!

We All Have Dreams

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:46:23 -0400

This competition started off with a two day accapella audition. Twelve contestants were chosen to compete in the 8 week Operation Rising Star. The themes were Billboard 100, I sung “Wanted” by Jessie James and got some great advice from the judges that I worked on with my performance and made it to the next week.

That theme was Birth Year. Very hard for me to choose a song I knew since I was born in 1970! I sung “If I Was Your Woman” by Gladys Night and the Pips. I knew it from Alicia Keys remake. I tried hard to get her version with the upbeat tempo but couldn’t find it. It wasn’t the favorite song choice of some judges but it was enough to push me to the next week.

That theme was Michael Jackson and I sung “The Way You Make Me Feel”. I went out there having fun and hoped that the audience would enjoy remembering the days when that song came out. One audience member said it was “Michael Jackson meeting country” and it worked.

I made it through to week 4 with the theme song from a movie soundtrack. I sung Faith Hill’s song “There You’ll Be”. I had a chest cold that week but I got through to the next week.

The theme was country! My genre. Still getting over my cold I sung “Broken Wing” by Martina McBride and got my only standing ovation from the judges! It was a great feeling.

That pushed me to the next round with the theme of R&B and everyone was wondering how I would do. I sung “No One” by Alicia Keys and I believe people were shocked because “no one” was talking and as I looked at the audience some mouths were open and some people were just staring. It was kind of nerve racking but I was able to put my country twang on it without realizing it and make it work also.

I made it to the next round with the theme of Musical. With this theme I was going to do Olivia Newton-John’s song “Magic” from the broadway “Xanadu” because I knew it and was comfortable with her style. BUT I wasn’t sold on it. I found the song “I Dreamed a Dream” on youtube by Susan Boyles. NEVER thought I could sing a song like that, never tried. The song was from the musical Les Miserables. Just memorizing it from Wednesday, I was VERY nervous. I didn’t want to mess it up. I wasn’t in my comfort zone at all. But the words of the song sold me and I knew I had to do it. To try a hard song like this and not something familiar on semi-finals night was almost crazy but I have dreamed a dream for a long time and I knew I had to be different with this performance, something the judges and audience haven’t seen before.

The last sentence in this song says, “Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.” I chose to, morally, put my dream of singing professionally on hold to support my husband in one of the most challenging roles ever, a Military Spouse and have our three children and raise them to the age that when it was time I could go after my dream and they would enjoy the ride with me. Now that I have done this, the professionals in the music industry aren’t looking for someone of my age. So I have tried out for Operation Rising Star because their is no age limit. Susan Boyles is 47 and she did it with America’s Got Talent. Why can’t I? The only way I can’t is if I don’t have the public behind me.

Please if you can come out to the finals on Friday night, September 25th at 6 p.m. and hear us all and vote for who you think should move on to be the winner of this competition, it would cost you gas and your time but it would be priceless to me to have you there.

We all have dreams. Mine is to sing. Help me make my dream come true.

We All Have Dreams

Basement Home | Lowered Price!

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:26:03 -0400

This beautiful home is located on a well maintained lot and has an above ground pool.

From $157,500 this home has been lowered to the price of $152, 500.

If you are interested in viewing please contact your Realtor today or if you aren't working with a Realtor, contact us!

Remember, if there is anything you don't like, suggest the solution in your offer. It never hurts to ask!

Basement Home | Lowered Price!

Thea Agnew | Best Of Clarksville Real Estate Agent Nominee

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:22:54 -0400

We are in another year for the Best of Clarksville! 2009 is showing a solid growth in our community with new business' and professional career minded people. It is an exciting time for the 9th fastest growing city in the U.S.!

October 2009 will mark the annual fundraiser for Best of Clarksville. This yearly event is all about fundraising for the March of Dimes and allowing the public to vote for those that have worked hard and continue to add success to our city. Congratulations to our nominees this year.

The event will be on Thursday, October 8th between 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. At the end of the evening there will be fireworks, provided by Allen's Fireworks, at 7 p.m. and the winner from each category will be announced at 7:30 p.m.

Location: Saturn of Clarksville on 1760 Wilma Rudolph Blvd.

Voting is from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

A silent auction will begin at 5 p.m.

To learn more about the March of Dimes, please click here.

I have to go ahead and give a congratulations to our Real Estate company, Avalar, for making one of the top five Real Estate Companies in this category. Also, I am very excited and honored to be beside 4 other agents in the Real Estate Agent category. You can learn more about me here and I hope you will come out and vote for Thea Agnew as your Real Estate Agent for Best of Clarksville. It really is a great opportunity to get to speak to business' and see what they have to offer. Starbucks should be there with tasters and different restaurants with their pizza's, etc... You can watch dance teams and be entertained. It really is a fun time.

Hope to see you out there

Welcome to Clarksville 3G Network!!

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:36:23 -0400

What to my wondering eyes appeared as I looked at the bars on my phone? 3G

I cannot believe it is finally up and running. BUT I am very, very thankful. It has been a pain in the rear having to work and constantly get dropped calls, hardly 2 bars, more like 1 bar constantly. Having to call clients back and apologize I missed their call because my phone was searching for 3G and not connected to a network, so the phone didn't ring.

Maybe now all the craziness and stress our phones have been giving us will be minimized and our networking will be a lot better and productive!

Welcome to Clarksville, finally, 3G!!!

Operation Rising Star

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:28:06 -0400

Operation Rising Star tryouts have been completed and the top 12 contestants have been selected. Last Wednesday and Thursday the tryouts were being held at the Sportsman Lodge and they asked for all contestants to come back on Friday, yesterday, to see if they were chosen to move on.

I was one of the contestants that tried out on Wednesday, number 11, and was chosen to move forward in the Operation Rising Star competition. What is this competition? Well it is like a Military American Idol. All Military (Active, Retired, Dependents, Reserves, National Guard over 18 are encouraged to come out and audition.) They had a room set aside and when your number was called, you walked in, were handed a microphone and told to say your name and what you were singing to 3 judges sitting at a table and a video camera behind them. It could be very intimidating to some and yes, I was nervous. I always am when I stand before anyone and sing.

The song I auditioned with was Strawberry Wine by Deanna Carter and half way through the second verse I messed up my words but they said it was good, that I sang more than I should, then asked if that was the song I was practicing or was I on the fence with another song. I told them I was thinking of another one also. They asked for me to sing it. So, I sang I Just Call You Mine by Martina McBride. When I got to the chorus and hit that high note, they all threw up their hands and said "Yes, that is what we are looking for!".

With this competition, it is 8 weeks long with themes for each week. At the end of the 8 weeks they will have their winner who will move on to the Army-wide finals. There will be 12 there and from what I have seen watching last year, they break it down to 6 the next day, then the next will be the winner. The winner will receive an all expensive paid trip for 2 to Los Angeles, CA to record a 3 song demo in a professional recording studio valued at approximately $18,000. The judges will be different for the Army-wide and I believe you will be able to call in to vote, not sure yet.

BUT first I need to get support from all of you to help move me to the finals. The way this competition works is 50% of the votes from the audience and 50% of the vote from the judges is what moves you forward to the next week. So, if I am performing and only 3 people show up to vote, I will more than likely not move on. There will be other competitors that will have family and friends and their unit there to support them. Last year there was a Soldier from our Unit, 160th SOAR, out of Washington that made it to the finals. He had support and talent. It cost $0.00 to get in and if you order anything to drink (soft drinks) and eat, you get more voting cards to write the singer you think should move on.

This year our themes and dates will be as followed:

August 7 - Billboard Top 100 (I made it through this round)
August 12 - Birth Year (I made it through this round)
August 21 - Michael Jackson (Will find out the 28th if I moved on)
August 28 - Song from a movie soundtrack (Singing Faith Hill's "There You'll Be" from Pearl Harbor)
Sept. 4 - Country
Sept. 9 - Rhythm & Blues (R&B)
Sept. 18- Musicals
Sept. 25 - Patriotic

Each Friday the competition starts at 6 pm. The following week at 6 pm they will tell us who is not moving on and those who do will sing the song they prepared for. It will continue like this until the end.

The Prizes:

1st Place: $500 and a chance to advance to the Army-wide finals
2nd Place: $250
3rd Place: $100

The unit that supports the most votes during the whole competition will win a cash prize that will go to their FRG.

Hope to see you out there!

Directions to Sportsman Lodge

My Singing

Operation Rising Star

New Home For Sale Off Exit 1 & 4!

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:17:58 -0400

We would like to introduce our new listing:

3896 Gaine Drive in Oakland Hills Subdivision. This subdivision is located inside Tylertown Subdivision off of Tylertown Rd.

This home is beautiful with hardwood flooring, tile and carpet. If the future buyers of this home do not like the carpet, which looks great (my opinion), then the Sellers are offering a $2000 carpet allowance to let you pick out the carpet you would like to have! This home is 1850 sq ft and is located on a corner lot. 3 bedroom, 2 bath and a bonus above the 2 car garage. Landscaping is beautiful and the lot is level and a nice size.

You can view the virtual tour on the website for this home. We have uploaded many photos.

If you would like to view this home and do not have a Realtor you are working with, please give us a call at 931-206-2156 or 931-249-2165. You can also email or text us.

New Home For Sale Off Exit 1 & 4!

Congratulations to our Buyers!

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:15:35 -0400

Team Agnew would like to congratulate our Buyers who have succesfully teamed up with us and found their dream home or having it built! We would also like to thank Crabbe Construction, LLC for their care and determination to make sure our buyers are happy with the finished product of their home!

Buyers:

Mr. Furr

Mr. & Mrs. Vaughan

Mr. & Mrs. Walker

Ms. Fan

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your home buying experience and we hope you will let everyone know that we one of the best teams in Clarksville Real Estate.

Much blessings for the happiness your home will bring you.

Art & Thea

If you are a future home buyer and would like to interview us to see if we would make a successful team together, please give us a call at 931-206-2156 or 931-249-2165. You can also email us or text. (We are with AT&T Mobile.)

Congratulations To Our Buyers