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By Brad Durham
WHAT IS MATCH
Recently, the McMinnville Action To Create Housing (MATCH) hosted the documentary film Beyond The Bridge at the Park Theater on January 22, 2026. I founded MATCH and invited people to join the Board to assist the poorest of the poor in McMinnville—our homeless neighbors. My vision for MATCH is to operate as a 100% volunteer effort focusing on three areas: advocacy, managing resources, and developing programs.
OUR FIRST ACTION
Our first action as a nonprofit was to advocate publicly for permanent supportive housing for the unhoused in our county by presenting the film Beyond The Bridge and hosting a Town Hall Meeting afterward. What is permanent supportive housing? It is an evidence-based solution to homelessness that quickly places a homeless person or family into an apartment, usually owned by a private landlord. Two key components are the supportive services that follow the individual into permanent housing and a rental subsidy that helps address the issue of housing affordability.
The Town Hall Meeting featured City Mayor Ryle Chastain, County Executive Terry Bell, UCDD/UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley, Regional President of Ascension Saint Thomas Neal Kelley, and Sheila Fann, the Executive Director of HOME. I served as the moderator in my role as president of MATCH. Ninety percent of the questions came from the audience of 250 people.
ROUNDTABLE
The clear message from the Town Hall Meeting was that the mayor, county executive, executive director of UCDD/UCHRA, and the regional president of Ascension were all interested in sitting at a roundtable to develop and implement a public policy for creating permanent supportive housing. MATCH successfully advocated for permanent supportive housing in a forum that was free and open to everyone in McMinnville.
Town Hall Meeting after Beyond The Bridge. Panel and Moderator.
SPONSORS – SUPPORTERS
Our presenting sponsor, Ascension Saint Thomas River Park, donated $10,000 to help us create awareness and foster community involvement. Other sponsors included Ben Loman Connect, Security Federal Savings Bank, Youngblood and Associates, The Local, St. Matthews Episcopal Church, First United Methodist Church, the Southern Standard, and over 100 private citizens. Roland Advertising provided free billboard promotion for the event.
TWO OTHER POINTS OF FOCUS
MATCH has two other major focuses: resource management and program development. These are issues we wish to discuss at the roundtable with elected officials, regional and local service providers, business leaders, and private citizens. We have met individually and as a group with our police chief, the sheriff, the District Attorney, public defenders, and judges to discuss collaboration in addressing the disproportionate burden our unhoused neighbors create in these areas. There is a term often used to describe the pattern that the homeless follow—from hospitals to law enforcement, to courts, and then to jail—known as “frequent fliers” or “frequent users.”
Tent in Downtown McMinnville during the past two years…
Scene from Beyond The Bridge – Houston police outreach worker to the homeless.
CONSERVE PUBLIC RESOURCES
MATCH aims to conserve limited public resources by leading our homeless frequent users from this cycle by helping them transform into permanent supportive housing. To achieve this, we need to manage funding resources at the local, regional, state, and federal levels to develop full-time staff who can assist the homeless in navigating their way to permanent supportive housing.
Various levels of funding to support permanent supportive housing.
REPLICATE THE DOCUMENTARY FILM
If we had presented a great science fiction film like Star Wars by George Lucas and said we wanted to replicate the Rebel Base and Storm Troopers in McMinnville, you would think we were crazy! Yet, we showed a documentary film presenting an evidence-based positive solution to homelessness at the Park Theater and expressed our desire to replicate it in McMinnville.
BEDFORD FALLS VS POTTERSVILLE
Let me use another film analogy: Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life, which many of us enjoy watching each Christmas. I am asking everyone throughout McMinnville and Warren County: Do you want McMinnville to be a Pottersville or a Bedford Falls?
CALL TO ACTION
There is something each of us can do to support the poorest of the poor in our community. You can become a positive advocate for permanent supportive housing, contribute your skills, resources, and compassion to help.
Watch this video and contact MATCH if you want to be part of the solution to homelessness in McMinnville by helping develop permanent supportive housing for our homeless neighbors.
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I am releasing the complete interviews over the next few weeks. Please subscribe at the bottom to keep up with the posting of the interviews. – Brad Durham
Terry Bell, Warren County Executive
Interview by Brad Durham
Why are you in McMinnville?
I actually live in the north end of the county. I live about two miles from the state park. I am a Rock Island man. I’ve lived out there all my life. Came home from the hospital out there in the Midway Community. I served on the County Commission for 16 years. I just want to see Warren County do good. So that’s the reason I ran for this office, and I just hope that I can make everyone’s life better.
Do you see a difference in McMinnville and Warren County? Why or why not?
There is a little bit of difference because the county has more country people and they live outside the city limits and they don’t want as much control from the government as people who live in the city do. And that’s why I think there’s a little bit of difference there. Most people who move out to the country are pretty independent and they kind of want to do what they want to do — versus the people in the city want to control more. Of course, they have a right to be that way because when you have close neighbors, it affects you more than when your neighbors are a mile down the road.
If you were mayor of McMinnville and had a magic wand, what three things would you change?
The mall would be one of the things I would change immediately.
I would have found some way to wind up with an indoor pool at the Civic Center when that project was done instead of…I’m not saying what they did was wrong, I’m just saying I would have made sure that was in the project.
Our lights need to be synchronized. When you hit one light, you pretty much hit them all when you travel at a normal rate of speed. That’s just not done. If you come through our town in a truck, you’ll catch one or two lights and that’s it. Then you’re stopped at all the others. For everybody who is just trying to pass through here, all those lights on the by-pass should be synchronized.
So that’s probably the three things I would love to see happen.
What do you think unites us?
We have a good community that showed up when we had the fire on the mountain. There was a world of people in McMinnville who called me and said if you have to evacuate people, we want to donate our church for staging areas — if they have to be evacuated. In the long run, I think everybody’s got the same goal. They want it to be a better place to live, and a better place to raise their children and for them to be able to work here.
It was really amazing, the outpouring. We had restaurants in McMinnville, and out in the county too because Gary (Prater) is in the city of Morrison. People brought pizza and barbeque, and we called and said we really don’t need more food up here. We appreciate the offer, but we actually had food left over. It was just amazing — the turn-out and the volunteerism that we had going on.
What do you think divides us?
More or less, what I think what divides us is our actual government. Actually, having the city government and the county government because most people don’t understand the difference between the city controlling this and the county controlling that…the tax thing divides us too.
If you live in the city you don’t want to pay county taxes too…so that’s a division that we’ve got.
Do you agree with the quality of education and the direction of the Warren Co. schools?
I do to the extent that they are having to follow what comes out of the federal (government) and actually the state has put in this third-grade deal…and that bothers me. But that’s not something I can blame our local school system with because they receive money from them, and that’s the mandates that they are forced to have. I think that’s an unfair thing. If a kid has a problem testing or if they just have a bad day, they are going to be held back and made to do all this…It is going to be a burden on our public school system to try to take them to the summer and get them passed on to the next grade before the next school year. That’s the main problem I got with the school system right now.
Does everything you need exist in McMinnville?
I really wish we had more restaurants because you can go anywhere on a Sunday afternoon and nearly all of them are full. And on our retail side, I wish we could get some of the big retailers here because competition is good for everybody, and that usually makes for lower prices.
Is McMinnville doing enough for the people who are economically disadvantaged?
UCHRA has really been (active) and that’s a plug-in with this mall (proposal). They are looking into expanding a lot, and they’ve got a new program called Empower. They’re trying to help, and they’ve got a big grant. They want to come in here and try to help families, and try to get them to move from a lower-paying job up to a higher-paying job. They also try to help them with things like child care, and they try to mentor these people. So, I think, on the horizon, we’ve got some help for these people.
The interviews are being posted in alphabetical order. The next interview is with Dr. Bryan Chastain.
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Got nothing against the big town
Man, I’m still hayseed enough to say, “Look who’s in the big town”
But my bed is in a small town
Oh, and that’s good enough for me.
I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small town
Probably die in a small town
Oh, and that’s probably where they’ll bury me
SLIDE SHOW OF THREE IMAGES FROM THE TOP OF THE BLUE BUILDING – APRIL 2023
By Brad Durham
Interviewing twelve people about McMinnville has reminded me of how research is vital to knowing the facts. Being neutral on an issue or topic until you have fact-based evidence can be challenging. I tried to create a blank page in my mind before I conducted the interviews. Political division and caring for each other were the two dominant themes imprinted on my mind after conducting and posting the interviews.
TWO DOMINANT THEMES – POLITICAL DIVISION & CARING FOR EACH OTHER
These two themes may appear to be diametrically opposed to each other. Are we more inclined to care less about someone if they are in a different political party? Let’s hope not! Mac McWhirter stated, “There is a wealth of people in Warren County reaching down and giving a hand up to help people here.”
Although I believe both themes can be true — we are divided politically and people care about each other, I also believe the political division has the potential to decrease good will and harmony. We are seeing how national politics are becoming more adversarial in D.C., and we recently saw how politics can create division in the state legislature with the Tennessee Three.
STACEY HARVEY QUOTE ABOUT BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT
Last fall, Stacey Harvey told me in an interview what he has experienced being in politics as an Alderman in McMinnville:
You’re supposed to be a public servant. There’s a lot of stuff going on right now and I’m a lightning rod. I don’t set out to be. I don’t set out to issue criticism. I don’t set out to be a flamethrower. What I do set out for is I want people to tell the truth. I want people to own their actions. Their great deeds and their mistakes. Because everybody is human. But there are some people around here who will admit to no wrongdoing whatsoever. They just won’t. They just won’t. Somebody points out somebody telling a lie, you know, then they attack the person pointing out the lie. They don’t address the lie — even when it’s in print.
I honestly believe, and you can print this if you want, that the local political class here counts on people not remembering what was said. I believe that they think everybody has a short attention span. I believe that folks are smarter than that.
I agree with Stacey Harvey — he is a lightning rod. I am not saying that I agree with everything he says. Who agrees with another person 100% of the time? My interview with Mr. Harvey encouraged me to ask myself questions. How do we think and speak to our elected officials, and to each other? How do we know if what the other person is saying is accurate, fact-based?
SEEKING UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION — POSITIVE FACT-BASED SOLUTIONS
Lamar Alexander (left) and the late Chancellor Alexander Heard (right)
Lamar Alexander, former Governor (1979-1987), U.S. Senator (2003 – 20021), U.S. Education Secretary (1991-1993) and President of the University of Tennessee (1988-1991), recently wrote an article on how to deal with controversial issues in the WALL STREET JOURNAL. He centered the article on Vanderbilt University’s new chancellor, Daniel Diermeier’s recommitment to “principled neutrality.” Principled neutrality is the practice of the university refraining from taking positions on controversial issues that don’t directly relate to the function of the university.
Lamar Alexander quotes Chancellor Alexander Heard, who was chancellor when Lamar Alexander was a student at Vanderbilt, to document the history of Vanderbilt’s position on principled neutrality. Heard said, “A university’s obligation is not to protect students from ideas, but rather expose them to ideas, to help make them capable of handling and, hopefully, having ideas.” Chancellor Heard’s statement was a response to reactions on the left and right to having speakers on campus such as Allen Ginsberg, Stokely Carmichael and Strom Thurmond.
Vanderbilt has implemented a program to continue its legacy of principled-neutrality — the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and Democracy. Former Republican Governor Bill Haslam and historian Jon Meacham help lead the project with faculty member Samar Ali. The project promotes research and discussion on evidence-based solutions to mediate differences. You can read Lamar Alexander’s article by clicking here: WSJ article.
The twelve people I interviewed about McMinnville had facts that were often coupled with personal experience. Their answers to questions were informed by more than just their opinions. How do we find agreement and solutions when our experiences and facts are different?
If we can talk and discuss the facts, and not shout at an individual for having a different point of view, we have a chance to create a solution. If we don’t communicate with each other, we are left with different points of views which will potentially divide us.
HAVING DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEWS AND COOPERATING
There is a commonly told story about a car accident that illustrates how we can legitimately have different points of view about the same issue. What facts will four people share when they are standing on four different corners of an intersection when a car accident occurs?
Each witness will explain what he/she saw. Inevitably, each person’s description of the accident will vary because each person saw the accident from a different point of view. Hopefully, as each person tells his/her version of the accident, everyone’s individual fact-based evidence (testimony) will help tell the collective story. One person’s version of events does not necessarily eliminate another person’s facts.
INVESTING IN EACH OTHER CAN ELIMINATE DIVISION
It is my hope that political division is not a dominant theme in our future. I want everyone to have the freedom to be who they want to be in McMinnville. After completing this series of interviews, I am motivated to be more invested in caring about people in our small town, and doing more research before forming an opinion.
In the near future, I will post the complete interviews.
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Sixth in a Series…
By Brad Durham
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.
President John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961
Interviewing people about McMinnville made me wonder what I am doing for my hometown — not what my hometown is doing for me. The overriding impression of the interviews was that we live in a “giving town.” There are many volunteer groups, civic agencies, and random acts of kindness in McMinnville. Although we may not always feel it, McMinnville is more united than divided. Wanting what is best for each other is the tie that binds us.
Obviously, all the responses of the interviewees are not posted in these articles. Yet, I assure you that everyone mentioned in some shape or form about how people give money and volunteer their time to help others.
The genuine compassion and mutual concern people have for each other may be obscured by political rhetoric, various interests, social and physical distance, different places of worship, jobs, and all the other details of our collective daily lives. But a beating, caring heart is the central theme of McMinnville.
At the end of the interviews, Teddy Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech is placed as a reminder to not allow criticism to become an automatic response to our local government and leaders.
The following are answers from the 12 interviewees to this week’s question.
What do you think unites us in McMinnville?
We’ve got a good community. That showed up when we had the fire on the mountain. There was a world of people in McMinnville who called me and said if you have to evacuate people, we want to donate our church for staging areas if they have to be evacuated. In the long run I think everybody’s got the same goal. They want it to be a better place to live, and a better place to raise their children and for them to be able to work here.
Terry Bell, Warren County Executive
Probably our small-town values like family and friends. And faith, and I guess that could divide us and unite us. There are a lot of faith-based folks in this town. I think that has potential to unite us more than divide us.
Dr. Bryan Chastain, Doctor in private practice.
You know, from my experience seeing business growth downtown gets a lot of people excited and wanting to push for more. That was what I saw when I was at the Chamber.
Mandy Eller, Executive Director Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic; former Executive Director of the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce.
I think the fact that everybody knows everybody for the most part…
Everybody here is pretty generous. I know that when we post things on our social media page at work that we need, people drop them off. People are very generous here.
Judith Gomez, Forensic Interviewer at Children’s Advocacy Center.
It is a collective people. Schools and education, because that is a common denominator. I think we’ve done an excellent job in the last few years investing in education.
We have a great vocational education department out at the high school, and then Motlow is expanding that Robotics Center and all those things make us appealing as the job market goes. We’ve got the resources to train, and hopefully that’s going to continue.
Jimmy Haley, Former County Executive, former City Mayor, and retired educator.
Anger and love. There’s a fine line between love and hate.
Stacey Harvey, CEO of Warrior Precast, City Alderman.
Success is one (thing). If you have success, people rally behind that. I you have a cause that you are trying to get, like the Civic Center. If you have something that people can see and get behind, that helps. Again, I’ll go back. You’ve got the Civic Center project…you’ve got the Armory being built right now. Motlow is going to put a big building right behind the Robotics Center. You have the Bridgestone project going on, and you’ve got another one pending. That’s a lot of activity for a relatively small area. That will get people feeling good about Warren County.
Todd Herzog, Founder and former president of Accu-Router, Board member of of the Business Roundtable Action Committee.
I think that southern charm. You go to Walmart and you speak to people going up and down the aisles. It has changed a lot since we have started streaming our services. If you go to the gas station, the furniture store, you see people and speak to them. In other cities, you don’t have that type of interaction. That friendly hometown feeling. We are not Mayberry, but we are not that far off.
Tony Lawrence, Minister Church of Christ at Bybee Branch.
I think just a pride of being a part of McMinnville. I think the history sets us apart from other similar-sized rural cities. The school of photography, the Lively School. That was amazing that it was here. William Faulkner, prolific people like Tomas Savage that Savage Gulf is named after.
We have a ton of civic organizations that people get involved in. To me, if you want to do something, if you raise your hand, you are going to be on three to four organizations. You can be as involved as you want to be. The availability of those things allows for the community to get together and work on things like Hark in the Park.
Justin Tanner, Co-owner of Capital Real Estate and Property Management.
There are two factors that I see that are really uniting. There is a fervent sense of heritage and patriotism learned and practiced from generation to generation.
Volunteerism and community activism are strong assets here. There is a strong, mission-oriented volunteer base in Warren County and there are organizations that provide assistance as a part of their mission. There are a wealth of people in Warren County reaching down and giving a hand up to help people here. It is very quiet, very unseen. Meals on Wheels, Good Neighbors, The Hope Center, Habitat, Food Bank, Exchange Clubs, Lions, Rotary to name a few. There is a multitude of people working quietly, out of view, that are doing something every single day for those in the most need. You have that happening in other communities, but I see it happening a lot more here and I think we live in a very generous community.
Mac McWhirter, Retired after 23 years at Rhodes College as Comptroller and Associate Vice President of Administrative Services, former Finance Director for City of Memphis, former Chief Administrative Officer of Shelby County.
The idea of a person having a hard time, struggling, homeless, whatever; we don’t like to see ourselves in that light. We want to be at the point where we do not have to be in that situation. We want a roof over our heads, food on the table and that we can pay our bills.
Wayne Wolford, Founder, Curator of the Warren County Black History Museum, retired military.
Small town. I think we all realize that we all live in a wonderful community and that we are a small town. There are people who need help. I think when someone is in need, the community joins together. I think that makes us unique. 33 years ago, I did not understand all the fundraisers, all the events that were going on. I got acclimated to it pretty fast. People were coming in (the restaurant) asking for donations. I was asking why are we doing all of this, but this is a community that brings real meaning to the term “Tennessee Volunteer.” I know that I have volunteered that everything there is, and I have seen people doing that. I think that is what unites us.
Lisa Zavogiannis, Co-owner of Gondola Restaurant, Assistant District Attorney Bedford County, former District Attorney Warren – Van Buren Counties.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
Theodor Roosevelt, Paris speech, April 23, 1910. Commonly referred to as the “Man in the Arena” speech.
Next week’s article is My Final Thoughts by Brad Durham.
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Fifth in a series….
McMinnville High School – Central High School – 1950 
Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary – May 2023 By Brad Durham
Education means a lot of things to people in McMinnville. People are questioning and debating what is transpiring in our schools on local, state and national levels. The responses of the twelve interviewees are more varied on this topic than any other topic they were asked.
McMinnville’s schools are actually funded by the county, state and federal governments. The City of McMinnville had agreed to fund the schools with part of their local sales tax revenue when the County took over the schools in the late 1960s, but several years ago the City sued the County government to abrogate that agreement. Collectively, the lawsuit cost the City and County approximately $800,000 to $1,000,000 in legal fees.
The City and County settled the lawsuit, and the City is in the process of recovering all of the local sales tax that was going to the County. According to McMinnville City Mayor Ryle Chastain, “The amount increases yearly and will peak at around 2M per year, and will continue to be paid to the City indefinitely.”
You can see the County’s school budget by clicking here. The school system receives approximately another $11.5 million in federal funds that you can view here: federal budget. After funding for school meals is factored in, the total Warren County School Budget is approximately $75 million.
Education is a hot topic on several levels; therefore, I asked Dr. Grant Swallows, the Director of Schools, for a response to the interviews. Swallows’ response is at the end of the interviews. One part of his response mentions that $5,000,000 has been added to Warren County’s school budget by the school board to increase teacher and employee compensation. Another part of his response clarifies how bathrooms are designated for students.
The response of the twelve interviewees to this question:
Do you agree with the direction and quality of education the Warren County public school system offers for our children? Why or why not?
I do. We are always trying to build better programs and recruiting good teachers, and having the buy-in of the community is essential — they have to see results. For a long time, it was like they really didn’t want to invest in children. But, to me, you invest in children or you invest in jails.
Jimmy Haley
Letting gender identification in to our area — where at the middle school a middle school child that says he identifies with a female can enter the female elementary bathroom with girls. I didn’t know that was happening till last week. I was told by a county commissioner that it is happening. The words were, not that it was quoted to me, but quoted to me by a county commissioner that it was told to him by the director of schools that when the county gives him $11 million a year in funding, he’ll listen to the county. That he’s going to listen to the federal mandates, and that’s what the feds told him to do.
That’s terrible. That’s absolutely terrible. It has no place in our area. So post-COVID, I think the school board sucks. I think that the policies of the school board suck. I think the tone and the tenor that the Warren County schools are going in sucks. I think that we need an elected school superintendent, not an appointed school superintendent. I think every school board meeting should be open and completely transparent. They should be able to take addresses by the general populace in a timely and regimented manner. It is my understanding, I’ve not attended one, but I understand that during COVID they would not let people attend, even wearing a mask or not, but they televise the meetings. So, I believe that we have a huge problem in our school system.
Stacey Harvey
I don’t have any children, but from my experience when I was in the school system, I think we have a very good public school system.
Judith Gomez
I think there is room for improvement, a lot of improvement.
Well, this is personal experience, I have sent three kids to school here. Two of them went to private school because they needed a smaller classroom.
I don’t think there is much care focused on helping kids with disabilities. The average smart child can get through school. The average smart child gets the awards for most improved. What about the child with a disability who learns to read but was never supposed to? Attention is not on those children. I think those children are left behind. If I was in charge, I would be putting a lot of emphasis on that. They really need to look at that child’s particular disability and help that child grow and expand just like any other child.
With my kids, it took the extra effort that I put into it. I know that a lot of parents don’t have the ability to do that, but I was fortunate.
My child was not supposed to read or learn the alphabet, and he’s in college.
Lisa Zavogiannis
I’m biased because I am heavily involved in one aspect of that. The growth of the CTE program at the high school is phenomenal, particularly if you go back 20 years. It used to be a shop program, and it is totally different from that today. We have $5-$8 million in equipment in the CTE wing. We have a huge megatronics program there, and a huge robotics program there. We have one million dollars’ worth of equipment — all new in the machine shop technology program.
Todd Herzog
I agree with the direction and the quality. My wife works in the school system. There are a lot of challenges that people who don’t work in the school system have no clue about. It is really easy to say that teacher didn’t do this or that when they have 15 other challenges going on that day that no one has any clue about.
We have great teachers, and I think they do the best they can. I think the administration from Bobby Cox to the present administration — they have done great things.
Justin Tanner
I guess my answer to that is that I would like to see it improve. I would like to see the powers-to-be, whoever that is, try to improve the quality…whether that is paying teachers more or bringing in better teachers…I would like to see it improve.
I don’t know if it is true or not, but I am told that we are not paying teachers very well.
Dr. Bryan Chastain
I know a lot of folks do homeschooling. That is their prerogative. But as far as me being old school, knowing what it is like going to school…meeting people, having friends, being in the band, being at the point where I can interact with people. Growing up like that I almost feel like that gives you more freedom.
Wayne Wolford
I do, and I feel for the school system and the teachers especially. I was glad to hear that Hillsdale lost its contract and that it was not coming in because that was going to be a very threatening prospect for public education. I think the teachers are doing everything they can, and the school system is doing everything they can. I’ve been very happy with my sons’ (who are in the school system) experience. I think it’s great.
Mandy Eller
The high school is, in size alone, very difficult to manage. I have heard many say that it was better when we had two high schools. That may be a moot point, however, because a second high school would cost well over $150 million, perhaps more. Adding to this, do our teachers have time to mentor with all the other burdens we now place upon them. I think teachers are doing all they can under the circumstances. The teachers I have met I are dedicated and committed to providing good instruction, but I don’t know if they have time to do that. Teaching is more challenging now than ever with all the hats teachers must wear, in addition to the worries of security.
Mac McWhirter
Sort of hard for me to answer that now. My kids have been out of school for a long time. My youngest has been out of school for 22 years. Both of my sons have been out and working for years.
We have a lot of public school teachers in our congregation. All the ones I know are very good folks, dedicated. And we have administrators here. I know their character. I think they are good folks. Our kids have gone off from here and done well.
Tony Lawrence
I do to the extent that they are having to follow what comes out of the federal (government) and actually the state has put in this third-grade deal…and that bothers me. But that’s not something I can blame our local school system with because they receive money from them, and that’s the mandates that they are forced to have. I think that’s an unfair thing. If a kid has a problem testing or if they just have a bad day, they are going to be held back. It is going to be a burden on our public school system to try to take them to the summer and get them passed on to the next grade. That’s the main problem I’ve got with the school system right now.
Terry Bell
Dr. GRANT SWALLOWS, Direct of Warren County Schools, response:
Thanks for the opportunity to add my thoughts. They are as follows:
First, I want to thank these individuals for adding their open and honest feedback about our schools in Warren County. We appreciate any support that our community can give our very hard-working employees and most of all our students. I agree with many of the people that said our school system faces lots of challenges in meeting the needs of every one of our 6,250 students. Any organization that size would have difficulties but that doesn’t discount the very dedicated individuals that come to work every day and take care of kids. We provide a positive atmosphere, opportunities for learning, extra-curricular activities, food, and oftentimes clothing when needed. We cannot do that alone. It takes the full community. If we don’t have its support then we cannot accomplish the task. It is an investment in Warren County’s future because we are currently educating the next generation of people that will be interviewed for stories such as this one. We simply cannot afford to fail.
As to some of the specific concerns, we are constantly seeking ways to improve. Some alluded to improving the quality of our education and that has long been the goal. One person mentioned the success of our CTE program that has been recognized statewide as a leader in offering students access and skills training for their life after high school. Also, it was mentioned that Warren County is behind in what we pay our teachers and that’s true. We are fortunate this year to receive additional state allocations that will help us combat that problem. The schoolboard just approved a proposed budget that has more than five million dollars appropriated to improve employee salaries. We believe this decision shows an appreciation to our employees as well as the fact that it puts us in a place to recruit and retain employees in the future.
Our work with students with disabilities was mentioned and that is always a challenge. However, I would counter that just this week we received documentation from the Tennessee Department of Education that says our Special Education Department is rated at the top of their scale in terms of meeting expectations. Regardless, meeting every student’s needs is the most important thing we can do. Those challenges vary and are often not something that can be done by the school alone. It takes a partnership between the school and the family and that is something we work really hard to try and accomplish. As far as the comment about students entering into bathroom facilities with students from another gender, that is against state law and is against policy in Warren County Schools. Federal law requires that schools make accommodations in a situation such as was mentioned to provide an alternate restroom that would have individual access such as in a nurse’s office or faculty restroom.
In terms of our school board, I very much appreciate the dedicated individuals that serve on our school board. I see every day their commitment to the students and employees of Warren County Schools. They are a fine group of public servants and are charting a course for continued success in our school system. School board meetings returned to open meetings after the COVID restrictions ended and have been open to the public for the last 2 years. Regular meetings take place on the fourth Monday of every month at 5 pm. The agendas are advertised on our website and the public is welcome, as well as encouraged, to attend. Finally, our school system does have a burden of complying with several federal and statewide mandates as it pertains to education. Many times laws are made that have good intentions. While I will always agree with raising expectations, sometimes those laws are not what’s best for kids. At the end of the day, our job is to provide a first-class experience for students where they feel loved and appreciated while we do the important work of teaching them skills necessary for them to lead a productive and fulfilling life. The mandates of the law often get in the way of that goal but that will not stop us from trying to fulfill that mission. I am thankful to live and work in a community that values education and wants to see our students succeed!
Grant Swallows
Director of Schools
Warren County
Next week’s article will be posted on May 16, and the topic is “What Unites Us in McMinnville.”
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Fourth in a Series…
McMinnville, April 2023 If you were the mayor of McMinnville and had a magic wand, what three things would you change?
By Brad Durham
The answers reflect potential solutions to things that our interviewees would like to change in McMinnville. Each person I interviewed gave thoughtful responses. The changes suggested below are generally ideas that can change the quality of life in McMinnville.
Hypothetically assuming that one could make changes as a mayor raised another question. How much change can a mayor of a town actually make? Assuming there are no limits on what the cost would be and what could be changed, what would you change in McMinnville?
The following are comments from the people I interviewed…
Another thing that concerns me is sidewalks. They recently put one on the right side of the street into town from here. But there are a lot of apartments out here, and a lot of foot traffic. Prior to putting the sidewalks in, people walked on the edge of the street, and late at night, if you weren’t careful…I just think there needs to be some infrastructure concerns.
Tony Lawrence
The first thing I would promote is creation of more greenways, walking trails and bike paths. That would lead to more ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Dr. Wally Bigbee has done a wonderful job of doing just this but there is still much to do to continue what he’s started.
Promoting small business development is important, in businesses locally owned with a workforce of 10-25 people. Those businesses are not going to disappear as quickly as some large manufacturing businesses who have no reason not to pull uproots at some point and we lose 300 jobs at one time.
Mac McWhirter
I would like to see more culture. The places I have been in the military, has helped me see how things can work together in the culture.
Wayne Wolford
I would add more law enforcement, and that comes from my background.
Lisa Zavogiannis
I would like to see trying two-way streets downtown and see how that works. It may give some businesses more exposure than they have right now.
Justin Tanner
Change? I don’t necessarily use the word change. I would invest in infrastructure, housing, and economic development. I think those are all three keys to future growth, prosperity and for more sustainability for local government to provide the services that people expect. To me, that’s what government is…to provide services.
Jimmy Haley
It would be nice to have more businesses for shopping like it used to be at the Mall.
Judith Gomez
I continue to believe that the city ought to have an industrial recruiting program. There is nothing to stop them. For example, the city of Sparta leased all kinds of land on 111 for industrial recruiting. There is nothing to stop them from doing that.
Todd Herzog
We need more housing, and that’s a huge issue if we want to grow. People say we need more jobs, better jobs, but they have to live somewhere and the schools would have to expand as well. We need more housing, affordable housing.
Mandy Eller
I would put more walking trails and bicycle lanes. I would make it more walking friendly. For instance, if you were walking from here to the mall, you would be putting your life at risk, and people are doing that every day.
Dr. Bryan Chastain
Well, number one, I don’t want to be mayor of McMinnville. I don’t envy that position at all.
If I waved my magic wand I could come up with clearly defined list of expectations for every segment of our population, and I would enforce those laws and expectations and develop accountability. There is a lack of accountability that we have in our entire world and it affects us negatively here in our own home.
…I think that this area needs a lot more transparency in government as far as taxation and spending. I hope that I am doing my part in trying to bring that out. Instead of being made out to be a pariah in bringing things out in local government, if you question the priorities in spending in the local government, I would wish that we would have the expectation that government officials are questioned and that they expect to be questioned.
Stacey Harvey
I would in some way wind up with an indoor pool at the Civic Center…I’m not saying what they did was wrong. I’m just saying I would have made sure that was in the project.
Terry Bell
The idea of making changes may cause some curiosity about the City of McMinnville’s budget. Nolan Ming, the City Administrator, recently stated that the city’s projected budget for this fiscal year is $26,116,841, and he expects it to come in under budget. The budget does not include a cash balance of $6,091, 466. The City’s entire budget can be seen online here.
One final thought on the idea of making changes. The cost of an indoor pool was $2 million a few years ago. What would it cost to do it now?
Next week’s article on May 9, will focus on public education in McMinnville.
Terry Bell Dr. Bryan Chastain Mandy Eller Judith Gomez Jimmy Haley Stacey Harvey Todd Herzog Tony Lawrence 
Justin Tanner Mac McWhirter Wayne Wolford Lisa Zavogiannis -
Third in a Series…
Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future.
Walt Disney
Downtown McMinnville, April 2023 What do you think when you reflect on McMinnville’s future?
By Brad Durham
The comments from the twelve people I interviewed regarding McMinnville’s future were very positive. It is reassuring to know that a cross-section of McMinnvillians are thinking optimistically about our future.
Perhaps the centerpiece of McMinnville is downtown, the town itself. The court square in downtown is looking as good as it has looked in my lifetime (66 years). There may not be as many businesses and people downtown as there were many years ago, yet the physical appearance has improved dramatically in the past few decades. Without question, businesses and people are coming back to downtown McMinnville.
The questions of economic growth, education, housing and leadership in local government are all wrapped up in how people view the future. Although we may disagree on some of these things, I believe, in general, the people in McMinnville are glad to be here and see a positive future for our town.
The following are comments from the twelve interviewees about McMinnville’s future.
It is still a good place to raise a family. The town is comprised of so many good folks. I do express some concern about the leadership of our city. I do wish that we had some good, solid leaders with the insight that this is where we want to go in five years, ten years. I just wish we had some leaders with a little more foresight.
Tony Lawrence
There is going to be great improvement here. The cost of housing and the weather are all prime things right now. This is the place where the cost of living is reasonable.
Wayne Wolford
If you had asked me that 10-15 years ago, it looked bleak. But I am very hopeful now, overwhelmingly positive.
You drive through Main Street on any given day, and there is life now.
Dr. Bryan Chastain
I think positive. I know that Murfreesboro and surrounding towns are growing, so I think we are in a good spot. We are in the middle of everything. We’re close to Nashville, Chattanooga and Murfreesboro.
Judith Gomez
I definitely think positively. I see a lot of changes here with the influx of people from different areas. This is going to become one of the up-and-coming areas of Middle Tennessee to move to.
Lisa Zavogiannis
I think it has more potential than it has ever had. We can’t turn this into California. We’re just not going to let it happen. I’ll fight it till the day I die. Warren County. Warren County. I want people to come in here, and want to be Warren Countians and McMinnvillians.
Stacey Harvey
I see it as very positive. I see a lot of young people getting involved, investing in businesses, running for offices, so I think that’s a sign for long-term growth.
Mandy Eller
I’m an optimist. I always think that the best is yet to come. We have had ups and downs. With good leadership and good planning, being more proactive rather than reacting to situations. That is how you expect something good to happen down the road.
Jimmy Haley
We could do so much better, and I think we will because we’ve gone to training levels that most people would love to have, and it’s here. Our CT program at the high school is phenomenal. I think it is the best in the state. Obviously, the robotics center is a major win. Megatronics is a big win. There is a lot going on here.
Todd Herzog
I think it is very positive. I think that progress has continued. I think we are a kind of jewel, a diamond in the rough. I think a lot of people feel that way when they come here.
Justin Tanner
I’m encouraged by the leadership in the County Commission and the Board of Aldermen. I have found them approachable and to be good listeners at their meetings. There has been good financial management from the finance committees and the chief administration officials. I feel they are aware of the challenges facing a community with growth potential.
Mac McWhirter
Next week’s article on May 2 focuses on what people would change in McMinnville.
Terry Bell Dr. Bryan Chastain Mandy Eller Judith Gomez Jimmy Haley Stacey Harvey Todd Herzog Tony Lawrence Justin Tanner Mac McWhirter Wayne Wolford Lisa Zavogiannis -
Second in a Series…
What do you think divides us in McMinnville?
By Brad Durham
Dr. Smoot delivered me at the Clinic in downtown McMinnville in 1956. As a child of the fifties, I remember when Chancery Street was a beautiful tree-lined, two-lane street. I remember people saying they were “yellow-dog” democrats, and they were proud of being that. Today, most of the people in McMinnville are republicans. I was in the fourth grade when schools were racially integrated in McMinnnville. Our community is still trying to resolve divisions over various issues including race, taxes, politics, education and the beautification of the city.
Our former presidents such as George Washington and Andrew Jackson owned slaves. Then as now, America has been divided on political and spiritual issues. For example, Christians were divided over slavery, and both sides used scripture to defend their points of view. Similar to our early history, McMinnville’s citizens in 2023 have different views spiritually, culturally, and politically. Our political landscape is very divided, and both sides often use Christian teaching and scripture as references for their points of view.
As we truly listen to each other, hopefully, we see more commonality than division. McMinnville is stronger when it is united; weaker when it is divided.
The following are comments from the twelve people I interviewed.
I wish people would be respectful of other people and their opinions. I believe that we’re divided by…in this country…unfortunately from 2012 to 2020, we were divided by race — by the United States government within the United States government.
Stacey Harvey
More or less, what I think divides us is our actual government. Actually, having the city government and the county government because most people don’t understand the difference between the city controlling this…(and the county controlling that). The tax thing divides us too.
Terry Bell
I guess different mindsets. Political views especially now.
Judith Gomez
I think there is the same type of dichotomy there is in the country. I think there are democrats and republicans, liberals and conservatives.
And I think the haves and have-nots divides us. We have people here who are struggling financially, and there a lot of people who are doing well. There is probably some trouble there as well.
Tony Lawrence
There are some people who want to hang onto how things were 50 years ago and maybe wish things were the same as they were then. I am sure there is a valuable reason they feel that way. There are other people who would like to see more progress.
Justin Tanner
Politics, right? It’s dividing the whole country, and I think it’s ridiculous that in national politics and the division we see there — we are seeing at the local level. That’s crazy.
Mandy Eller
I think we get caught up in issues like politics and parties that really don’t serve us well. And in our day-to-day lives don’t really matter, but for some reason we get really caught up in it. We get very concerned about who is doing what in Washington, and probably we should be more concerned about what is going on right around us.
Dr. Bryan Chastain
I think the fear of change. I think it has been fueled a bit by the political climate of our country, and I think that politics has instead of uniting people, has divided people. It’s become….if you are for that, then I’m against it. They draw the line and there is nobody willing to meet and compromise in the middle, and that’s what has made democracy so great for so long.
Jimmy Haley
That’s a tough one. When I first came here, I didn’t understand the way this works. We’ve historically been hard-core Bible Belt. We are about as traditional Bible Belt as you can get, and I think that is a divisive issue.
Todd Herzog
Not making sure that the citizenry is properly informed of decisions affecting their community. Not having the opportunity to participate in town hall or meetings or give input on development decisions. We have seen that happen recently on a couple of occasions and it breeds mistrust.
There seems to be a desire at this point, which you could see in the last election, to push party politics into McMinnville that will lead, in my opinion, to divisiveness and impede good debate on key issues. Warren County has been known for its people being independent thinkers and I would hate to see political gridlock become an impediment here.
Mac McWhirter
Politics. If you are a R or a D, it is almost like we do not associate with you. Regarding the restaurant, I have been told that you are a democrat, so I am not eating with you. I am human. I am a person. I am here to take care of you. I don’t care what your politics are, but too many people do. It has gotten worse over the past 6-8 years. It has literally become very divisive for this community.
Lisa Zavogiannis
Politics. Religion. We all have discriminations. When I say that, I mean so and so’s house is better than mine. Their car is better than mine. They have more money than I have. We all discriminate like that. That is all of us.
Wayne Wolford
Apparently, there is vast agreement in McMinnville that politics divides us. Politics may not be the only divisive factor in our midst, but it is probably at the top of the list. As Jimmy Haley indicated, we are not meeting in the middle to compromise as we once did.
It is my hope that we will find more common ground. If we can agree to disagree, we can agree to work on respecting our differences and working together for the greater good of McMinnville. Perhaps there is an “Abraham Lincoln” in our future who can help lead McMinnville to resolve its political divisiveness.
Next week’s article on April 25 will focus on the question, what do you think when you reflect on McMinnville’s future?
For more in-depth look at America’s history during Abraham Lincoln’s life and how he dealt with divisive politics, please read Pulitzer Prize winner Jon Meacham’s book And There was Light Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle.
Terry Bell Dr. Bryan Chastain Mandy Eller Judith Gomez Jimmy Haley Stacey Harvey Todd Herzog Tony Lawrence 
Justin Tanner Mac McWhirter Wayne Wolford Lisa Zavogiannis -
First in a Series…
The Twelve Interviewees
Terry Bell Dr. Bryan Chastain Mandy Eller 
Judith Gomez Jimmy Haley Stacey Harvey Todd Herzog Tony Lawrence Justin Tanner Mac McWhirter Wayne Wolford Lisa Zavogiannis Why Are you in McMinnville?
By Brad Durham
Several months ago, I started interviewing twelve people in McMinnville. My intent was to interview a cross-section of people that would provide different points of view. Not everyone I interviewed is from McMinnville originally, but they all presently consider McMinnville or Warren County their home. Although McMinnville is a small town, many of the national interests and dynamics are represented here. I hope you enjoy learning who the twelve interviewees are and why they are in McMinnville.
The following are their words and stories…
I am a Rock Island man. I’ve lived out there all my life. Came home from the hospital out there in the Midway Community. I served on the County Commission for 16 years. I just want to see Warren County do good. So that’s the reason I ran for this office (County Executive), and I just hope that I can make everyone’s life better.
Terry Bell, County Executive, Farmer.
I’m in McMinnville because of two doctors. Wally Bigbee and Thurman Pedigo took a chance on a young kid 34-35 years ago. They recruited me out of Texas, and I was bound for Arkansas, where I was born and raised. They came to Texas and got me. At first, I said no, I don’t know anything about Tennessee. They said that they would fly my wife and I up there for a weekend, and to just come up and see us. We did, and thank goodness we drove through Woodbury and instead of Mt. Leo. They put us up at the Americana, and we came anyway!
DR. BRYAN CHASTAIN, Doctor in private practice.
Well, I was born and raised in Warren County. You know, I ended up marrying a nurseryman. My dad was a nurseryman and whenever I left home at 18, I said that I am never going to set foot in another nursery. And I ended up marrying a nurseryman. (Laughs.) So, I was around the nursery industry for 37 years anyway. I ended up staying here, you know.
MANDY ELLER, Executive Director of Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic; former Executive Director of the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce.
My parents wanted to live in a place that was more peaceful. My brothers were about to graduate from high school. They did not want my brothers to graduate in California and go down the wrong path.
JUDITH GOMEZ, Forensic Interviewer at Children’s Advocacy Center.
Well, my roots run very deep. My family were founding members of the community 200-plus years ago, so they’ve lived here and flourished here. Some have moved on to other states and places, but I felt that my calling was to remain here in McMinnville and help change lives one day at a time.
JIMMY HALEY, Former County Executive, former City Mayor, retired educator.
I was born here. We moved away when I was in the eighth grade to Kissimmee, Florida and then to Fort Worth, Texas. That’s not where I wanted to raise a family. I was raised out in Faulkner Springs and I always said [that] this is where I wanted to raise my family. So, I struck out on my own with my own business when I moved back here in 1992. I’m still here 30 years later, and I’m not going away.
STACEY HARVEY, President, Warrior Precast LLC, City Alderman.
I have a very simple answer for that: I came here to work at Powermatic. I came here for a job. I was in Buffalo, New York and Powermatic was looking for someone to head up their sales and marketing department and I applied for the job. I came and spent 16 years in that role.
TODD HERZOG, Founder and former president of Accu-Router, Board Member of the Business Roundtable Action Committee.
An opportunity to work with the Church of Christ at Bybee Branch. When I learned of the opening, Glenn Ramsey moved to Cookeville. Glen Ramsey was the minister before me. He and I both were teaching at Tennessee Bible College at that time. He told me about the opportunity here, and I contacted the church here. I came and tried it out, and they decided they wanted me. That was 38 years ago.
TONY LAWRENCE, Minister Church of Christ at Bybee Branch.
I grew up here and went away to college at UT-K. Did not think I would move back here. My wife is from here, and around the time we started a family in Murfreesboro I was looking to change to mortgage lending from real estate because it is a little bit slower paced.
Hey, this is a good place to live, and we moved back. I took a position as a mortgage lender at Security Federal and stayed there for three and a half years.
I have always had pride in being where I was from. My dad was a football coach, and I have always had that Pioneer spirit. It is a great place to live. It is a beautiful place too. We’re surrounded by beauty, and not everybody has that. All those things together made it work for us.
JUSTIN TANNER, Co-owner of Capital Real Estate and Property Management.
Three reasons: the natural beauty and outdoor opportunities, the friendliness of the people, and family history.
Both sides of my family have deep roots here. My ancestors settled here in the Rock Island area in the early 1800s.
We bought a farm in the early 1990’s and built wonderful friendships, learning a lot from folks that a city boy doesn’t usually get exposed to. Retired and moved here in 2013 and haven’t regretted a moment of it.
MAC McWHIRTER, Retired from Rhodes College as Comptroller and Associate Vice President of Administrative Services, former Finance Director for City of Memphis, former Chief Administrative Officer of Shelby County.
My grandparents moved back here. I am the only child. My mother let me come here every other year, and I fell in love with this place. I was born in Illinois; we moved to St. Louis when I was six years old. When I was 10, my grandmother moved here. When I was in St. Louis, I could not get out and do the things that I could do here. I could run in the countryside…had freedom here.
My first three years of high school were in St. Louis, and then I moved here for my fourth year. Graduated from Central High School in 1966. Came here one year after integration.
Moved back here permanently in 1995 when I got out of the military.
WAYNE WOLFORD, Founder, Director, Curator of the Warren County Black History Museum. Retired military.
My husband and I came here 33 years ago and opened up a small restaurant. We were looking for a place to open a restaurant, and we came here. We had a small child who was 18 months old. We didn’t know anybody.
LISA ZAVOGIANNIS, Co-owner of Gondola Restaurant, Assistant District Attorney Bedford County, former District Attorney Warren – Van Buren Counties.
Next week’s article on April 18 will focus on the question, what do you think divides us in McMinnville?
BD Newsletter
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An Introspection of McMinnville by McMinnvillians
By Brad Durham
If you are reading this, it is almost certain that you are a McMinnville resident. You probably call this place your home. Most likely, you were born here, and your parents were born here. Or, you moved here either recently or a long time ago. We are individuals but similar in many ways. I interviewed twelve people in McMinnville to create an introspection of McMinnville, a deeper understanding of who we are in this small town.
Putting all labels and distinctions aside, my focus was to learn more about what unites and divides us, what people value about education and the things that people would change. There is the obvious existential question of why are you here, and then the questions become more about the quality of life you want for yourself and everyone in McMinnville.
McMinnville is where we are. McMinnville is also part of who we are. Some people say that America is a nation built on a dream, a dream that is still being defined and realized. McMinnville is part of that American dream. Our Declaration of Independence states:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The interviews are an introspection to determine how McMinnville is doing in the pursuit of these ideals — through the eyes of people in McMinnville. The interviews also offer a sense of discovery. McMinnville can learn more about itself by learning what different people think about McMinnville.
The best place to start is an introduction to the twelve people I interviewed and their explanations of why they are here. In future publications, the interviews will dive more deeply into the quality of life and philosophical questions about what McMinnville is and what people want McMinnville to be.
It is my hope that the publication of these interviews can lead to a town meeting in the near future, which can turn these interviews into an interactive conversation and positive thinking. McMinnville is a place where people can affirm each other and work together to keep McMinnville moving forward in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness for all of its residents.
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FIRST IN THE SERIES OF ARTICLES:
Introduction of Interviewees.
The interviewees stating why they are in McMinnville.
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Catching up with Warren County’s Mr. Football after his outstanding sophomore year on Vanderbilt University’s football team.
BD NEWSLETTER: What was the major highlight of your sophomore season?
CJ #13: Definitely that Missouri play. I was gifted by God and the people behind me to get to that point in my life to make that play. It was week six, and on Monday we were doing a walk through. My coach came over to me and said, “When we blitz up the middle, the running back is going to come over and try to cut off your legs. You are going to have to get over him.” I said, “Coach, I can’t do that!” He (the running back) got me once in the game, and the second time I jumped over him.
CJ Taylor jumping over the Missouri player and knocking the ball loose from the quarterback. CJ then recovers the fumble and scores a touchdown. BD NEWSLETTER: How did the Anchor Collective at Vanderbilt contact you about the NIL deal, and how much did you have to think about it? Are there only three Vanderbilt football players with the collective deals right now?
CJ #13: I didn’t have to think about anything. It happened after the season. I don’t know how they go about it. To my knowledge, there are only three players.
BD NEWSLETTER: You have been at Vanderbilt University for a year and half. What is the best thing about being there?
CJ #13: I guess living out my childhood dream. I have a picture on my phone screen that I can swipe to. It is a picture of me when I was little and wearing pads with my dad. I look at it every once in a while when I am struggling getting to practice, because it gets hard. When I look at that picture, it helps push me. The biggest thing about being at Vanderbilt is that I get to live out my dream.
BD NEWSLETTER: What is that dream?
CJ #13: To play in the NFL.
BD NEWSLETTER: You got banged up this past season. You had a high ankle sprain against UT and you had surgery to repair an injury on your thumb. When will you be 100% again and ready for conditioning in the offseason?
CJ #13: Hopefully I will be ready by mid-January.
BD NEWSLETTER: What are you looking forward to doing on the Christmas break in your hometown of McMinnville?
CJ #13: I cannot train at the moment. Before the surgery, my plan was to come home for a week and a half, and then go train somewhere. Right now I am just hanging out with my friends, mom and girlfriend. Soaking up all my time here before I get back to business. I go back to Vanderbilt on January 7.
BD Newsletter Final Thoughts: The NIL money is making the opportunity for CJ Taylor to play college football better. He has the opportunity now to go buy a pair of shoes if he needs them. He can make a car payment. Take his mom out to eat. He doesn’t have to worry about asking his mom for money. The NIL money is helping CJ to learn how to handle his money and focus on his education and football.
CJ made one prediction for next season that is worth remembering. He predicts that the Commodores will win at least seven football games next year.
We are thrilled that CJ is having success at Vanderbilt University and we wish him all the best in 2023!
BD Newsletter 
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