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Is professional ethics an endangered species? That was the focus of my keynote address at the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling conference last month in Hershey, Pa.

The speech was focused more specifically on the ethics of the college admission counseling profession. Is ethics an endangered species now that the National Association for College Admission Counseling no longer polices its ethical standards following a consent decree with the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice?

That question raises a more fundamental one: Does college admission counseling qualify as a profession?

Those of us who work in college admissions and college counseling have historically thought of ourselves as a profession. That suggests a higher calling than mere fealty to our employers, serving not only institutional interest but also the public interest. Is that still the case given the increasing commercialization of college admission/enrollment management?

The concept of professional ethical standards is embedded in the definition of professions. In his Pulitzer Prizewinning history of the American medical profession, Paul Starr identified three defining characteristics of professions:

How does college admission measure up to Starrs definition?

Of the three tenets of professionalism, the claim to technical, specialized knowledge is the weakest for college admission. Despite numerous attempts to institutionalize credentialing for college admission officers and school counselors, there is not a clear path for entry into the admission field, and we are still fighting the school counseling establishment to acknowledge that courses in college counseling should be a required part of graduate programs.

Once in the field, training and professional development are haphazard. The practice of college admission and college counseling remains more art than science, and its never been rocket science. Thats not necessarily a bad thing.

That might also be changing. Both college admission and college counseling require far more knowledge and skill than when I started my career.

Is college admission oriented toward service rather than profit? Thats a harder question to answer, and it might not be an either-or question. There is no question that higher education is an industry, with the admissions office functioning as the sales/marketing division. Admissions offices help colleges and universities achieve institutional goals ranging from revenue to diversity to mix of students.

I hope we are more than that. Saying that we are a profession means that we have a higher calling, that we serve not only our institutions but society at large. We help students make life-changing decisions about their futures, and that is noble work. We are educators rather than salespersons, colleagues rather than competitors.

The value of being a profession became clear over the past couple of years as COVID-19 forced us to retreat into our homes and offices. College admission and college counseling can be lonely jobs. No one on your campus or in your building knows exactly what you do, but they all think they do. More than anyone else at my school, I have a network of colleagues on both sides of the desk that extends not just locally but nationally. I can reach out to those colleagues with a question or to vent and they will understand.

I worry that may be endangered. Are we one profession with two sides of the desk or are college admission and college counseling becoming two different professions? I hope that Angel Prez and the National Association for College Admission Counseling will give attention to that issue.

The third tenet of Starrs definition of professions is being self-regulating, with standards of practice and a code of ethics. For decades NACACs foundation was its commitment to and enforcement of ethical standards for college admission. In fact, one of the reasons NACAC was founded 85 years ago was to ensure that admissions officers were not compensated on a per-head basis.

But what happens when a professional organization cant enforce ethical standards? In 2016 NACAC appointed a steering committee to take a fresh look at its Statement of Principles of Good Practice (SPGP), first adopted in 1960. The SPGP was a set of rules rather than a statement of principles, amended annually (sometimes on the fly) in response to colleges pushing the envelope on recruiting practices.

I was a member of the steering committee, and I consider its work an example of NACAC at its bestthoughtful, deliberative, with lots of input from the membership. The result was a new document, the Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (CEPP). The CEPP was passed unanimously by both the NACAC Assembly and the membership. Anyone who has spent any time in NACAC knows that is rare, maybe even unprecedented.

Not long after the CEPP was passed, NACAC was the target of an inquiry, and later an investigation, from the antitrust division of the Department of Justice. The DOJ alleged that NACACs ethical rules prohibiting incentives for early decision and prohibiting poaching of students already enrolled at another institution unfairly restricted colleges from recruiting.

I would argue that the issue was not as much those prohibitions as the fact that NACAC was policing and enforcing its ethical standards. One of the first issues discussed by the steering committee was enforcement, and the consensus of the group, propelled by several members who had chaired NACACs Admission Practices Committee, was that mandatory ethical rules enforced by the organization were important. At the time NACAC was one of the few professional organizations enforcing ethical rules.

In retrospect it is clear that NACAC and the DOJ were operating from different assumptions and interpretations. NACAC saw its ethical code as protecting students from coercion and manipulation, while the DOJ saw NACAC as hurting students by limiting institutions recruiting practices, which in turn would result in students paying less for college. The DOJ seemed to see NACAC as a cartel controlling college admissions rather than a voluntary membership organization. NACACs enforcement of its ethical code rarely if ever resulted in penalties to institutions, as most inquiries were resolved amiably.

Nevertheless, the DOJ investigation shook NACAC to its core. The NACAC leadership determined that fighting DOJ could jeopardize the organizations existence, and they entered into a consent decree. There is now a successor document to the CEPP, the Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admission. It does not differ dramatically from the CEPP but has made the various tenets best practices, removing any reference to monitoring or compliance.

So is professional ethics an endangered species post-DOJ and postOperation Varsity Blues? I would argue that a commitment to ethics is more important than ever before.

Changing from mandatory to best practices doesnt have to change the way we conduct ourselves. Best practices are just that, and whether or not the rules are policed, the ethical principles underlying them are still compelling, calling us to act honorably and truthfully in our professional work. Just because something is permissible doesnt make it a good idea.

Ethics comes from the Greek word ethos, meaning distinguishing character or guiding principles. Ethics is about ideals and is normative or prescriptive, asking, How should we act?

So what are the ideals guiding the college admission/counseling profession?

That last one has been imperiled by the revelations coming out of the Operation Varsity Blues scandal. Even though no admission officers were implicated, the colleges involved looked less like victims than unindicted co-conspirators. Varsity Blues reinforced the idea that the college admissions process rewards the already privileged. Are we OK with that?

The good news is that a majority of those in our profession are committed to acting ethically and professionally. But we cant take the health of our profession for granted. Ethical common ground is more like a beach than a rock. All it takes is one major storm to do permanent damage.

We need to be ethical conservationists, and we need to voluntarily keep our house in order. Failure to do so may further erode public trust in what we do. In my speech in Hershey I quoted a famous Pennsylvanian, perhaps the most famous Pennsylvanian. In discussions preceding the Declaration of Independence, he said, We must all hang together, or most assuredly, we will all hang separately.

Words for our profession to live by.

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Admissions needs professional ethics more than ever (opinion) - Inside Higher Ed

Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider said his band has no interest in reuniting, despite lucrative offers to do so.

The singer made his declaration during a question and answer with fans on Twitter.

Asked about potentially releasing new music, the Twisted Sistervocalist was direct. Never say never, but I don't see me recording anymore, Snider said, noting that hes more focused on other projects, such as movies, books, tv, radio, etc.

When one fan challenged Sniders claim -- and likened it to bands who conduct farewell tours, only to reunite later -- the singer doubled down on his statement.

Actually it's these never ending farewell tours, fake farewells and we changed our minds after the farewell that keep me honest, Snider explained. I hate all that fake farewell bullshit. Bands should stay forever if they want to...just don't sell us a B.S. farewell tour!

Twisted Sister retired in 2016, Snider continued, and while we talk to each other regularly, none of us has even mentioned reuniting. And believe me, we are getting lucrative offers.

Sniders new remarks follow similar statements indicating hes largely done with music. In May, the rocker told fans that he was likely done with touring and playing shows, and was instead turning his attention towards new endeavors. To that end, Snider recently announced an upcoming graphic novel with Z2 Comics titled Hes Not Gonna Take It. The story will chronicle Sniders lifelong defense of free speech, including his role in the Parents Music Resource Center senate hearing of 1985.

UCR takes a chronological look at the 100 best rock albums of the '80s.

Go here to read the rest:

Dee Snider: Twisted Sister Rejects 'Lucrative Offers' to Reunite - Ultimate Classic Rock

Deaf Havana have spoken to NME about their sixth album The Present Is A Foreign Land and why the record is a new beginning for the band.

After the Norfolk five-piece released their electro-pop album Rituals in 2018, things started falling apart for the band. A distinct step away from the indie rock of 2017s All These Countless Nights, vocalist James Veck-Gilodi described that album as a slow death for Deaf Havana.

I learnt so much writing that album but that excitement quickly became cynicism, the singers brother and guitarist Matty told NME. We had been so focused on pop hooks, the soul wasnt there. Touring felt empty and by the time the band had finished that run of shows at the end of 2019, they were all confident that Deaf Havana was over.

Towards the end, there was nothing positive about the band, James explained. A meeting in January 2020 confirmed it, with a farewell tour arranged to clear their remaining debts.

Then COVID happened, and Deaf Havana had a chance to rethink their priorities. When it looked like touring might be possible, talk of those farewell shows began again. They realised selling tickets might be easier if there was a new song to go with it and, fortunately, Matty had spent lockdown treating writing like a nine-to-five job. After not speaking for a year, Matty and James went into the studio to record 19 Dreams, while producer Mike Horner suggested an acoustic song to go with it.

The next day, James came into the studio with the bands latest single Nevermind and, a few weeks later, they had an entire album. I wrote Nevermind in 10 minutes, he told NME. Its like it was just waiting to pour out of me. Like most of his material on The Present Is A Foreign Land, it was written about a particularly terrible six-month stint where his entire life collapsed. I was depressed, I was alone, I didnt know what I was doing, he said. Unsurprisingly, the lyrics are pretty miserable, but theres a bit of hope in there.

Our entire ethos used to be, lets just have a laugh and a pint, Matty explained. On tour, theres no real support for your mental health and when youre always in a different city, surrounded by people you dont know, you craft a comfortable little hole of six pints every day. That becomes the norm.

But then it starts bleeding into your home life until it gets too much and it all falls apart, added James. For me, misery breeds creativity, so I had a lot to write about.

He continued: Nevermind is pretty heavy really if I think about what Im actually singing about. I still dont really think Ive fully comprehended what that song means to me. It helped me come to terms with that period of my life. Hopefully, that song can help people get through a tough time or make them feel like theyre not on their own.

The Present Is A Foreign Land, which arrives next week (July 15), is a 50/50 collaboration between Matty and James, with the other members of the band leaving during lockdown due to other commitments. Despite the upheaval, the guitarist described making this album as the most fun Ive ever had. We were working for 14 hours a day, having these creative conversations, he said. Its super liberating, being able to take these thoughts, fears or worries that you have in your head and turn them into something digestible.

Deaf Havana have a long-standing history of changing sound on every record. Theyve tackled post-hardcore (Meet Me Halfway, At Least), folk (Old Souls), indie-rock (All These Countless Nights) and electro-pop (Rituals). The Present Is A Foreign Land sounds like a greatest hits, pulling influence from all those different eras.

We didnt know if we were ever going to release this album, said James. So we didnt really care. We were just writing music for the sake of writing it, which is probably why it sounds like a mixture of everything. We were just writing the songs we wanted to hear.

Deaf Havana CREDIT: Press

The singer continued: I need to get back to that again. Now stuff is getting more serious again, Im starting to freak out and going back to treating this band like a job, which has always been my downfall.

Deaf Havanas Instagram bio proudly reads New Beginnings and James explained a fresh start was a necessity. Otherwise, were just running in circles and making the same mistakes again. Even though I can get in my own head about things, I am optimistic and excited about where this goes next.

My ambitions are very much always the same. I just want to grow Deaf Havana more, appeal to more people and be able to keep doing it.

James was surprised their comeback has been met with as much warmth as it has. I thought people would have forgotten about who we were, he said. Were all guilty of it. I wouldnt have blamed anyone for moving on, because its an obvious thing to do.

So why, after 15 years, a constantly changing sound and an unwavering sense of self-destruction, do people still care about Deaf Havana? No matter the level of bullshit thats been going on in our lives, all of our songs even the ones Im most embarrassed about and would never show anyone have an honest message to them, which anyone can connect with, explained James. I think thats whats keeping people interested.

Back in a good place with the band, the duo have already started writing music for the next album. Nothing is radically different, its just more refined and better, said Matty.

With The Present Is A Foreign Land, theres a confidence to Deaf Havana that theyve never really had before. The main issue has always been that I dont really know who I am and Ive always wanted to be a million different things at the same time, which explains all the very different albums, James said. Ive never known what we are. But now Im comfortable with that, so Im happy to just write and whatever comes out comes out.

See more here:

Deaf Havana: I've never known what we are, but now I'm comfortable with that - NME

Harry Nilsson's long-awaited breakthrough with the gold-selling Top 5 smash Nilsson Schmilsson had his record label hoping for a sequel. Based on the title, it seemed like he'd delivered one on July 10, 1972.

But this was Harry Nilsson. Instead, the guest-packed Son of Schmilsson arrived as an eccentric oddity, something that might only have been possible in the free-form decade in which it was made.

"My approach would have been to just pick up where Nilsson Schmilsson left off," producer Richard Perry said in the liner notes for a Son of Schmilsson reissue. "Typically brilliant Nilsson vocals, songs that maintained our artistic integrity but at the same time had great commercial value. If Nilsson Schmilsson was our Revolver, [let's] make Son of Schmilsson our Sgt. Pepper."

Only Nilsson felt like he was in a trap of his devising. "By repeating the formula, you can correct it, make it better and get rid of all the chaff," he allowed back then. "But on the other hand, you run the risk of grinding the formula into the ground by repeating it and letting it become just a formula. It's scary."

Ultimately, there was no danger of that happening on Son of Schmilsson. Even its most approachable song, "You're Breakin' My Heart," was commercially dead on arrival, despite a backing group that included George Harrison, Klaus Voormann, Peter Frampton and Nicky Hopkins. There was some question at RCA about whether to even include the track after Nilsson took a stunning lyrical turn: "You're breakin' my heart, you're tearin' it apart so, fuck you."

"He sat down and very nicely starts playing this song, and everyone's paying attention and then he gets to 'So, fuck you," Frampton said in theliner notes to the reissue. "I mean, we were just not expecting that! It was a big shocker."

Listen to Nilsson's 'You're Breakin' My Heart'

This wasn't creative license on Nilsson's part, as he was going through a divorce. In keeping, a sense of sad displacement tends to permeate Son of Schmilsson, even as Nilsson tumbles into the bottom of a liquor bottle. He rages at his isolation on the opening "Take 54" ("I sang my balls off for you, baby ... but when I woke up I was alone"), then becomesuntethered from gravity on the No. 23 hit "Spaceman."

"I don't quite understand to this day why [the divorce] hit him so hard, but he maybe interpreted it as some failure in him," Perry said in 2013's Nilsson: The Life of a Singer-Songwriter. "It was to begin what was a downward spiral for the rest of his life. He would show up to the studio with a half bottle of cognac. The first half had already been consumed that afternoon."

"Remember (Christmas)" leans predictably toward the maudlin, as Nilsson laments that "love is only in a dream." "Joy" is, of course, about anything but. "Turn On Your Radio" better balances his pain and desolation, but subsequent titles like "I'd Rather Be Dead" and "Ambush" are more in keeping with the general narrative tone here. An impish cover of the El Dorados' "At My Front Door," with its blithe undertones of infidelity, completes the picture.

"The guy was able to paint a picture of despair or melancholy and he did it very well, economically," Nilsson collaborator Van Dyke Parks later told Pop Matters. "He could do all of that in a song. I think that it was an amazing combination, to be able to deliver sentimentality and a sense of irony." The principal element that keeps Son of Schmilsson from stepping off the ledge is its fizzy musical schizophrenia.

Listen to Nilsson's 'The Most Beautiful World in the World'

"Take 54" emerges as a kind of shag-carpeted funk, while "Remember (Christmas)" is simply angelic and "Joy" delightfully cornpone. "I'd Rather Be Dead" concludes with a raucous singalong featuring retirement-home residents. (One of them had a squeaky wooden leg, requiring a new take.) "The Most Beautiful World in the World" ends things with a mind-blowing amalgamation of every great and every incredibly indulgent impulse Harry Nilsson ever had.

And that may be the fairest assessment of Son of Schmilsson: It finds an artist in the wild, fully free with all of the pluses and minuses that entails.

"There was a great deal of subtlety in his work," Parks argued. "And I think that that wasn't lost on the casual observer then. But I think that it's also part of the structure that keeps it upright and available and enjoyable today. It took some courage to get that kind of authorship and character in a song form that wasn't an easy thing to merchandise at the time."

In between, there's copious burping, weird studio chatter and B-movie sound effects. It's that kind of record. So, Nilsson was able to sneak up to No. 12 on the Billboard chart, but undoubtedly only because of early sales to new fans of his preceding, far more mainstream LP.

Something was unfortunately lost along the way: Son of Schmilsson didn't end up as Nilsson and Perry's Sgt. Pepper. Despite a spoken-word assurance at the end of "The Most Beautiful World in the World" ("Goodbye, Harry"; "See you next album, Richard"), this instead was their Let It Be.

Nilsson continued further down an uncommercial path with 1973's A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night, a standards album produced by Beatles associate Derek Taylor. Perry never worked with Nilsson again.

From AC/DC to ZZ Top, from 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' to 'London Calling,' they're all here.

Go here to see the original:

How Harry Nilsson Steered Toward the Ditch on 'Son of Schmilsson' - Ultimate Classic Rock

In Loving Memory: Obituaries July 4-10, 2022

ROBERTSON COUNTYTENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News)

*Refresh this page for updates and newly listed obituaries for this week.

Obituary for Ruth Elliott White

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 12:00 PM in the Oakhurst Chapel of Robertson County Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Lee Cemetery in Coopertown. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 until 8 PM and Wednesday from 11 AM until the hour of service.

Mrs. White was born October 10, 1932 in Springfield to the late Jerome and Mattie Lee White, Sr. She was a member of North Springfield Baptist Church and formerly a longtime member of Flewellyn Baptist Church. She was a graduate of Coopertown High School class of 1950 and then spent her life as a homemaker, caring for her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Richard Buddy White; brothers, Jerome, Jr., Odell, Ferrell, and Jimmy Elliott; and sisters, Helen Elliott, Ann Biggers, Frances Dowlen, Bessie Petty, and Edna Farmer.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Cherie White of Springfield; daughter and son-in-law, Lex and Rick Highsmith of Springfield; granddaughter, Bethany White; step-grandchildren, Stephen Highsmith and Stephanie (David) Evans; and step-great grandchildren, Lawson Highsmith, Emma Evans, and Jackson Evans.

The family request, if so desired, for memorial contributions to be made to the Alzheimers Association. All donations can be sent c/o Robertson County Funeral Home.

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Robertson County Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. 2201 Memorial Blvd Springfield, TN 37172

Obituary for Dena Ann Stewart Christian

Graveside services will be conducted Monday July 11th at 10:00 a.m. in the Elmwood Cemetery in Springfield with Pastor Lan Stapleton officiating. There will be no visitation prior to the graveside service.

Mrs. Christian was born August 3, 1956, in Tullahoma to the late David L. and Marjorie West Stewart. She was a graduate of Springfield High School Class of 1974 and then graduated in 1978 from MTSU with a degree in Journalism. Mrs. Christian was retired from The Leaf Chronicle in Clarksville and was of the Baptist faith. She loved movies and her cats.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband: George Christian. Mrs. Christian is survived by her 3 cats and by several cousins.

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Robertson County Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. 2201 Memorial Blvd Springfield, TN 37172

Obituary for Brian Keith Jackson

His remains are to be cremated and a private service will be held at a later date.

Keith was born December 12, 1971, in Springfield. He was a devoted father and loved his family and his fiance, Michelle. He loved nature, especially birds and going fishing. He also enjoyed watching baseball and football and his favorite team was the Buffalo Bills. A favorite hobby of his was collecting and looking for arrowheads with his brother Chris. Keith is preceded in death by his grandparents: James and Clara Heatherly and James and Geraldine Robertson and by his nephew: Justin McGhee.

Keith is survived by his sons, Keith Tyler Jackson of Springfield, James Dean Ellis II of Adairville, KY, and Brian Christopher Logan Jackson of Adairville, KY; daughter, Shelby Ciara Bunch of Auburn, KY; father, James (Judy) Jackson of Springfield; mother, Eva Jackson Brigman of Springfield; fiance, Michelle Reedy of Springfield; brother, Chris (Angela) Jackson of Adairville, KY; sisters, Kelley (Shaun) McGhee of Springfield and Kim (Rob) Smith of Greenbrier; step-brother, Douglas Lee Allen of Greensburg, IN; and step-sister, Penny Kay (Michael) Brooksher of Russellville, KY, and by several nephews and nieces who love him very much.

The family asks that donations be made to the Justin Lee McGhee Scholarship Fund at F&M Bank.

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Robertson County Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. 2201 Memorial Blvd Springfield, TN 37172

Obituary for Frances Carr

A graveside service will be conducted at Joelton Hills Memory Gardens at 1:00PM on Monday, July 11th, with Bro. Randy Riggs officiating. Burial will follow with family and friends serving as pallbearers.

There will be no visitation prior to the graveside service.

Frances was born on July 28, 1962 in Nashville, Tennessee. She was a homemaker who enjoyed being with her grandchildren. Frances was a Christian and spent a lot of time in prayer.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Eleanor Turney; sons, Christopher & Adam Hooper; and brother, William Reed.

She is survived by her husband, Kevin Carr; daughter, Kortney Carr; sons, Brandon Hooper and Justin Hooper; brother, Danny Reed; sister, Debbie Reed Gaymon; and grandchildren, Logan Hooper, Kiedis Hooper, Griffin Imer, and Wesley Imer.

Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Pleasant View is in charge of these arrangements. 6316 Highway 41A, Pleasant View, Tennessee 37146

Obituary for Richard Ricky Bibb

Arrangements are incomplete at this time

Obituary for Larry Vernon

Funeral services will be conducted at Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Pleasant View at 1:00PM on Sunday, July 10th, with Bro. Randy Riggs officiating. Burial will follow in EverRest of Cheatham with family and friends serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, July 9th from 3:00PM until 5:00PM and again on Sunday from 11:00AM until the hour of service at 1:00PM.

Mr. Vernon was born on August 29, 1947 in Danbury, North Carolina to the late Dewey Lee & Alice Irene Hooker Vernon. He was the owner of Pleasant View Floor Covering. He was a veteran of the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, and served in the Vietnam War. Mr. Vernon attended Good Springs Free Will Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers, Donny, Danny Ray, Ralph, Raeford, and Roger Vernon; sisters, Ozlma Shelton, Ola Belle Throckmorton, and Mary Vernon; and infant siblings, Reubin Lee Vernon & Cynthia Vernon.

Survivors include his wife, Cordelia Ann Vernon; son, Tracy Hartley (Kim Gregory); sisters, Faye McQuiston and Judy Vernon; and granddaughter, Shyanne Hartley.

Tribute Photos

Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Pleasant View is in charge of these arrangements. 6316 Highway 41A, Pleasant View, Tennessee 37146

Obituary for Margaret Ruth Chowning

She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Charles Richards. She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Robert W. Chowning; sons, Tim (Pam) Chowning and Terry (Melonie) Chowning, all of White House, TN; 4 grandchildren, Spencer (Abigayle) Chowning, Clayton Chowning, Mason Chowning and Makayla Chowning.

A graveside service and interment was held Friday, July 8, 2022 at 10am in White House Memorial Gardens with family serving as pallbearers,.and with Johnny Farmer and Pastor Joshua Culver officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association 120 2nd Avenue N Nashville, TN 37201 or to the Susan G. Komen Foundation 4009 Hillsboro Pike, Suite #205C Nashville, TN 37215.

Arrangements entrusted to Austin & Bell Funeral Home 533 Highway 76 White House, TN 37188

Obituary for Anita Marie Wiseman

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Fred Wiseman; son, William Joseph BJ Shea. She is survived by daughters, Cristina (Barry) Shea, Nashville, TN and Stephanie (Larry) West, Hendersonville, TN; sister, Linda (Daniel) Raymond, Nashville, TN; 6 grandchildren.

Funeral service was held Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 7pm in the chapel of Austin & Bell Funeral Home in White House. Interment followed on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 11am in Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery with family and friends serving as pallbearers. Visitation was Wednesday, July 6, 2022 4-7pm at the funeral home.

Tribute Photos

Arrangements entrusted to Austin & Bell Funeral Home 533 Highway 76 White House, TN 37188

Obituary for Margaret Clinard Hale

Services were conducted Friday, July 8, 2022, at Greenbrier First Baptist Church with Pastor John Briggs officiating. Visitation was at Greenbrier First Baptist Church in Greenbrier on Thursday evening from 5 to 8 pm and Friday from 12 to 2 pm. The funeral service began at 2:00 pm Friday, with interment immediately following at Memorial Gardens in Springfield. Jim Hale, Ryan Hale, Steven Dorrell, Brandon Frank, John Wentz and Clay Jones served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Walter Ray Clinard, Aaron Shelton and Terry Elmore.

Mrs. Hale was born October 26, 1930, to the late Lloyd Clinard and the late Bethel Clinard (Ramsey). In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Hale, Sr.; daughter, Malinda Margaret Coulter; son, Charles E. Hale, Jr.; brother, James Robert Clinard; stepmother, Wilmoth Clinard; and grandsons, James M. Hale, Jr. and Randall Lee Wentz, Jr. She is survived by her children, Gwen (Randy) Wentz of Greenbrier, James (Donna) Hale, Sr. of Chesterfield, Va. and her brother, Walter Ray Clinard of Adairville, Ky. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 15 nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Hale was a member of Greenbrier First Baptist Church in Greenbrier. While a member of her church, she served her Lord as a member of the choir, numerous committees and devoting herself serving as a Deacons wife for many years. She owned and operated The Petal Peddler, a florist shop in the town of Greenbrier, for many years. She was also proud of her work with Cub Scouts and the Brownies while raising her children.

Thanks to the following caregivers for their love and care during the final years of her life- Amanda Jones, Rylee Frank, Terry Elmore, Taylor Jones, Amy Frank, Caris Healthcare, NHC Homecare and Ashley Hale. A special thanks to her devoted granddaughter, Amanda, for her daily love and attention over the last five years.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Heart Association or First Baptist Church in Greenbrier.

Tribute Video

Robertson County Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. 2201 Memorial Blvd Springfield, TN 37172

Link:

In Loving Memory: Obituaries Of The Week of July 10, 2022 - Smokey Barn News

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 04: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks to pass during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is know to put on a show in practice that's just as, if not better, than what fans see on Sunday.

And at Wednesday's minicamp practice, the four-time Pro Bowler was seen slinging another one of his no-look dimes to a member of Kansas City's staff.

Mahomes look-away pass started to receive some viral reaction from fans on Twitter.

"Football needs to come back asap," replied a member of Chiefs Kingdom.

"Is anyone else eye-banging the QB?" asked a Chiefs fan account.

"Tyreek crazy," laughed another user.

"Oooooooh that no look pass game already looking tightttttttt AF," tweeted another KC fan.

"The fact that this is a drill for him is so badass."

Patrick Mahomes may not have invented the no-look pass in football but he's certainly mastered it.

Looking forward to seeing the former MVP sling the rock all around the yard come fall.

View original post here:

Look: Video Of Patrick Mahomes Practice Throw Going Viral - The Spun

NEW HAVEN Its not every coffee shop in America that has a resident rescue mutt from Puerto Rico named Captain Peanut, customers art on the walls, activities almost every night of the week almost all of them programmed by patrons and a tiny stage thats pretty much there for the taking if you want to perform.

But Gather, the still-pretty-new coffee shop that opened late last year at 952 State St. in the East Rock section, isnt trying to be every coffee shop in America.

It may even be the antidote to all those other coffee shops right down to its semi-regular drag shows, Dungeon & Dragons nights, comfy chairs, crafts nights and the Iranian art films it sometimes shows on Cinema Night aka Wednesday.

Its all about community.

When talking about Gather, its hard to separate it from its heart and soul, owner Sultan Thahir even if some of Thahirs most loyal patrons say that Peanut, often found sleeping on her little rug just to the left of the door, is the star of the show.

When talking to Thahir, however, its often also hard to separate Gather from its patrons, a vast number of whom seem to come and go all afternoon and live either upstairs or, like Thahir, across the street.

I wanted to have the shortest commute possible, Thahir said in dry tones. It may or may not have been a joke.

How did Thahir, a Miami-, Massachusetts- and Rhode Island-raised former professor of film at a college in New Hampshire, end up in New Haven working from early morning until late night at a community-centered coffee shop right across the street from his apartment?

Love, he explained.

But while that (love) didnt work out, things seem to be working out just fine at Gather, the hip, eclectic, queer-friendly joint where there was a biweekly Drag From The Dumpster show the night Thahir was speaking.

Everythings free, Thahir said. If a band wants to make money, its up to them how to do that, whether that be a tip jar, a Venmo or Paypal pitch or selling tickets via EventBrite or some other means.

Im just providing the venue and the space, Thahir said. However anyone wants to use it is up to them.

Thahirs goal when he left his last job was to open a nonprofit arts venue; Gather sort of accomplishes a similar goal in a more fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants way.

Want to play chess or Jenga or Trivial Pursuit or Scrabble or any other game you can think of? Chances are theyre on a shelf somewhere in the place.

Want to hang out and drink tea? Gather has about 35 varieties stored in glass jars on a rack, not including chai, dirty chai, hunny lemon ginger and ceremonial grade matcha.

Coffee? You name it, with oat milk, almond milk, whole or skim.

Hungry? You can get hummus, a grilled cheese and a variety of other flatbread sandwiches.

Thahir recently announced that Gather is going entirely vegetarian and vegan but he appears to draw the line at grilled cheese, which remains on the menu using the real stuff.

He currently has an application pending for a liquor license, which might help support Gathers other activities. The citys Board of Zoning Appeals recently gave its blessing to the plan, Thahir said.

One thing about Gather is that while it may sometimes get quiet, youre never really alone.

Sitting quietly on a comfy chair as Thahir spoke was Ryland Galasso of North Haven, the customer, friend and entrepreneur who organizes the drag shows including one that night. He does it once a month. The day sometimes changes. Last time, performers including one from New York and three from Massachusetts, he said.

I enjoy it and people come out and they enjoy it, Galasso said. They tip the performers really well. Im just so glad that Sultan gives the people the stage.

At some point, Melanie Devorak organizer of both Dungeons & Dragons nights and crafts nights wanders in, sits down and starts working on her laptop.

She just moved upstairs, although shes been coming to Gather for a while now. In fact, she met her new roommates there playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Gather is a real good way to meet the community, she said.

On this particular day, I came for the Wi-Fi, said Devorak, chief technology officer of a small tech startup in Trumbull. She actually met Thahir on Reddit before Gather ever opened, she said.

He was looking for someone to run D & D nights, she said.

The thing she likes about Gather is that literally whatever people want to do, they can do.

A little later, Eddie Daniels, who runs trivia games at Gather, wanders in. He also lives across the street. Daniels began running trivia games on Zoom during the height of the pandemic, but moved them to Gather a few months ago.

I feel like the more you hang out here the more likely you are to do something in the way of programming, Daniels said.

Awhile back, one customer even organized a Sea Chanties Night. So far, that was a one-off activity.

Jamie Maldonado, who also lives upstairs and is one of Devoraks roommates was a regular at Gather for four months. Now, Maldonado, who prefers they/them pronouns, works there theyre Thahirs only employee, coming in at 7 a.m. some mornings so Thahir doesnt have to.

I really love to get to meet people from the community, Maldonado said. Theres people moving into East Rock all the time and were one of their first stops. Its really cool being the welcome ... for so many kinds of people.

As is the case with many things at Gather, Maldonados employment began as a joke. I wasnt really happy with my other job at a liquor store and I said, If youre going to hire someone, you should hire me.

So Thahir did.

When people ask Maldonado about Gather, I say its a coffee shop by day and a community space all the time, they said.

Ive got friends I never would have met had I not been hanging out in this coffee shop, Maldonado said.

Sammi Bechard, who was hanging out drinking a strawberry-banana smoothie, agreed.

I like it because it builds community, Bechard said. This place is super-cool. Its like my favorite place. ... Its really like a nice, chill environment.

Excerpt from:

At Gather, New Haven's new coffee shop in the East Rock section, it's 'all about community' - New Haven Register

Henry Burris and Nik Lewis are now officially honoured members of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Members of the classes of 2020 and 2021, respectively, Burris and Lewis were inducted on Friday night and share yet another link in their football journeys.

Teammates for seven seasons, Burris and Lewis were core members of a Calgary Stampeders renaissance and won the 96th Grey Cup together in 2008, along with then head coach and fellow 2020 inductee John Hufnagel. Nearly half of Lewiss CFL record 1,051 career receptions were thrown by Burris and, more than a decade after their time as teammates came to an end, the bond between the two remains.

Its such an honour to (have) seen Henry grow from 2005 when he got (to Calgary) to who he became to win the Grey Cup, Lewis told me when I chatted with him last week. Hes always the best quarterback Ive ever played with, he had tremendous arm strength, he could run the football. You always need your dance partners and for me, I was so fortunate to be around Henryfor so long.

RELATED Recap: Riders top Elks in Week 2 finale Recap: Argos outlast Als in season opener Recap: Stamps storm back to win OT thrillerRecap: Bombers clamp down on REDBLACKS in road win

[1 of 71] (Chris Tanouye/CFL.ca)

Lewis and Burris sustained three disappointing playoff exits together before finally getting over with their Grey Cup win in 2008. It was Burriss first title as a starter and the first championship period for Lewis. While theyd both go on to win again later in their careers, 2008 really set the trajectory for a pair of Hall of Fame careers.

Hes a guy who people said couldnt do this, couldnt do that, but all he did was just make plays, Burris reflected when talking about Lewis. Day in and day out, he was a consummate professional, he brought that attitude of never say die, he was always ready to kick peoples butts each and every day. He went out there with the mentality that he was going to run through people

When you have a guy who plays like that, who brings that type of standard, that type of mindset, you only want to put the ball in hands. I knew anytime I threw the ball in his direction, he was going to catch it or nobody was going to catch it.

Defensive backs all respected him, all defenders respected him, coaches respected him because they knew he was a guy you could not play around. They knew when they saw Calgary on the schedule82 was going to make sure the guy covering him was going to have a very bad day. Trust me, when you know theyre afraid of a guy like that, you feed him the rock and feed him the rock all the time and thats exactly what I made sure I did.

Congratulations to Burris, Lewis, Hufnagel, Clyde Brock, Freddie Childress, Greg Vavra, Will Johnson, Mike Walker, Orlondo Steinauer, Don Wilson, Marv Levy, Doug Mitchell, and the late Larry Uteck. Combined, those are your two classes of 2020 and 2021 and it was awesome to finally see them all get their day.

Silver linings

Edmonton and Ottawa are both 0-2 to start the season, but theres reason to be optimistic in both cities.

The Elks fought hard in Saturdays 26-16 loss to Saskatchewan and, against a quality opponent, took massive steps forward from their season opener. Kenny Lawler has lived up to the big-ticket hype in his first two games, while Edmontons defence made life difficult on the Riders for a good chunk of Saturday night. New head coach Chris Jones knows what hes doing, and that was a positive performance week over week.

The REDBLACKS, on the other hand, could be feeling a little empty with nothing to show for two good efforts against the two-time Grey Cup champs. But despite a pair of losses to Winnipeg, Paul LaPolices team looks solid. Free agent additions Jeremiah Masoli, Jaelon Acklin, and Darvin Adams have all been strong, while Ottawas defence held an explosive offence under 20 points twice in a row.

For both the REDBLACKS and Elks, I see more building blocks than things to be discouraged by.

Quick hits

Speaking of the Bombers, you know theyre not satisfied with the way things have gone despite their 2-0 record, which is a scary proposition for the rest of the league. It feels like Winnipeg is a high-end sports car working its way to peak performance but can still flex with the flick of the accelerator. Kind of like those last two fourth quarters.

We all know how much discussion there was about Saskatchewan not stretching the field last season. Through two games of 2022, though, that conversation seems to be on hold. Weve seen Cody Fajardo take deep shots in Riders wins over Hamilton and Edmonton, including a nice 41-yard hookup with Shaq Evans on Saturday. Its a positive development in what has already been a very nice start to the season.

How much fun was that overtime thriller between the Stamps and Tiger-Cats? I give Calgary a lot of credit, because it would have been really easy to pack it in down 24-3 at halftime. Led by great individual performances from the likes of Rene Paredes, Titus Wall, and backup running back Peyton Logan, the Stamps figured it out and made big plays in the fourth quarter to move to 2-0.

And finally, as weird as it was to see Andrew Harris and Brandon Banks wearing Argos double blue on Thursday, it was equally as cool to see them perform the way they did. Banks reeled in Torontos only receiving touchdown and did so in vintage form, while Harris, in typical fashion, went over 100 yards of total offence.

Continued here:

Steinberg's MMQB: Connections in CFHOF classes of 2020, 2021 - CFL.ca

The right team needed a hero, and Andre Burakovsky provided the heroics in overtime.

The Avalanche took Game 1 of The Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 at Ball Arena following Burakovskys overtime tally. Colorado led 2-0 and 3-1 before the Bolts fought back to even the score. But from that point forward, the Avs shut things down, and were able to come away with a victory.

The right team won the game, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. So give them credit for pulling it out.

Listen to The Right Team Won on Spreaker.Tampa Bay was held to just eight shots in the final 28 minutes of the game as the Avs outshot the Bolts 37-22.

Weve got better in us, Cooper said. I dont think by a country mile did we give them our best game and we still had a chance to pull it out. But to beat a talented like that, weve got a better game in us.

The evening started with the Avalanche feeding off an energetic crowd one thats waited 21 years for a moment like this. Colorado scored twice before the 10-minute mark as Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin beat superstar goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Even after Nick Paul got one back for the Bolts, the Avs struck again before the break thanks to Artturi Lehkonens tipped shot on the lengthy 5-on-3 power play.

Our fans have been great through the playoffs and tonight it was exceptional, Avs defenseman Bowen Byram said. Really fun to play in front of all of our fans.

The Avs had a power-play opportunity to close out the third period, one that carried over into overtime. They were unable to score on the remaining 36 seconds, but sent out its new-look second line to try to end the game. Center J.T. Compher shot the puck, but it was blocked by the defender before finding its way to Nichushkin.

Already with a goal in the game, Nichushkin flexed his playmaking abilities, sending a pass to Burakovsky freezing the goalie in his crease and allowing Burakovsky to shoot it into a nearly open net.

Huge X factor, hes been doing that for us for a couple years now, Avs coach Jared Bednar said. He had some real good scoring chances for himself, and obviously a big play at the end to set up Burky.

The Avalanche had a successful night on the special teams as a whole. Aside from their power-play goal, they held Tampa Bay to just three power-play opportunities and killed off all six minutes on the penalty kill.

Perhaps the most important player on the kill, goaltender Darcy Kuemper was paramount in keeping Tampa Bay from capitalizing on its first opportunity. The Bolts had the first man advantage when the game was still scoreless and Kuemper needed to make some stellar saves to keep them from getting the first goal.

Hes been our rock all of playoffs on the PK, Byram said. He made a couple huge saves, which we need sometimes. Our goalie has got to be our best penalty killer. He came up huge.

His performance wasnt perfect. But it was a good start for a guy that missed most of the Western Conference final with an injury.

The last week of practice he was doing a bunch of work to get back after the Edmonton series, Bednar said. Darcy is a guy we leaned on heavily all year long. Its why we relied on him to do this job. I thought he was pretty good tonight.

Listen to The Right Team Won on Spreaker.

Read more:

Burakovsky is the hero: Avalanche strike first in Stanley Cup Final to take 1-0 series lead over Tampa Bay - Mile High Sports

Passed away peacefully in Brampton, ON on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at the age of 71.Survived by her loving husband John for 44 years. Devoted mom to Dawn (Stephen Benson) and to Clay. Big sister to Dan Coston (Pam) and to Stan Coston (May). Dear daughter in law to Betty Rockall (predeceased Wally). Predeceased by her parents Don and Shirley Coston. She will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by her nephews, nieces, cousins, step grandchildren, extended family and friends.The family wishes to thank all the PSWs, nurses, doctors and staff who cared for Marilyn with care and compassion. At Marilyn's request, there will be no funeral or memorial service. The family will notify loved ones in the future when a celebration of life is scheduled. A Poem For MarilynWhen I come to the end of the dayAnd the sun has set for meI want no rites in the gloom-filled roomWhy cry for a soul set free?Miss me a little, but not too longand not with your head bowed low.Remember the love we once shared-Miss me, but let me go.For this is a journey we all must takeAnd each must go alone.It's all a part of the plan,A step on the road to Home.When you are lonely and sick at heartGo to the friends we know and bury your sorrowsIn doing good deeds-Miss me, but let me go.

Read the rest here:

Marilyn Rockall Obituary - Brampton, ON