WE THE PEOPLE

clipped from www.clarksvilleonline.com Do you have what it takes to become a citizen? By Bill Larson | July 4, 2007 When immigrants want to become Americans, they must take a civics test as part of their naturalization interview before a Citizenship and Immigration Services (INS) officer. The questions are usually selected from a list of 100 sample questions that prospective citizens can look at ahead of the interview (though the examiner is not limited to those questions). Some are easy, some are not. We have picked some of the more difficult ones. NOTES: The INS plans to revise its list of questions in 2008 (a pilot program is using these new questions at selected INS s

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MOTORCYCLE, CAR ENTHUSIASTS
BRAVE HEAT TO FIND’07 WINNERS

LIGHTING UP THE CUMBERLAND 2007, Part Three


By TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer
* The annual Cumberland City Lighting Up the Cumberland just wouldn’t be
complete without the motorcycle show and the car show.
* In its fourth year, the motorcycle show was headed up, as usual, by K.
Hudson. He does a terrific job as chairman of the event, and this year his
wife Mary enjoyed the new location near the W.T. Thomas School because she
could sit in the shade of a tree and get a breeze every now and then.
* “I enjoy riding because you can see so much more [than when you’re in a
car],” Mary said, adding that “even the smells” are better—like that of
fresh mown grass.
* The owners of 19 spiffed-up bikes hung around talking motorcycle-talk as
the three judges—Brenda Bryant, Richard Garza, and Ron Daly—took their time
looking over every square inch of the American- and foreign-made hogs.
* Artie Tanner, Houston County’s resident walker, was proud of his ’06
Softtail Deluxe, all chromed out. His grandson Ty Tuberville rode it in the
parade prior to the motorcycle show.
* Tanner said this was the second Harley he’s ever owned, the first being
bought back in the 50’s!
* It was a 1949 74-Harley Panhead with a “suicide shifter.”
* There was also a most-unusual looking three-wheeler entered this year. It
was a 1971 Cushman Truckster with a beautifully restored wood bed.
* Brandon L. Hutchinson, the owner, lives in the Elk Harbor area of
Cumberland City.
* His business, called C-City Customs, is all about Cushman repair,
restoration, and painting.
* Of the ’71 Truckster, Brandon said, “It was in bad shape,” and it took
about a year to restore.
* For anyone interested, C-City Customs has a website: www.ccitycustoms.com.
* After the judges conferred, here’s how it all panned out:
* Best Foreign-Made motorcycle went to Brett Parker;
* In the American division, from 1983 and prior:
* First place went to Jack Jordan of Erin;
* Second place went to Brandon Hutchinson of Cumberland City; and
* Third place went to Tom Sawyer.
* In the American-made 1984 to present:
* First place went to Matthew Mullins of Erin;
* Second place went to Matt Hylemon; and
* Third place went to Rick Keel.
* The coveted “Best of Show” trophy, handmade as usual by Rick Boyd, was
taken home this year by Matthew Mullins.
* Mullins, who is 69, had a beautiful red-and-black 2007 Harley-Davidson
Dinah Screaming Eagle bike. He bought it last November from Appleton’s in
Clarksville.
* Sporting 110 cubic inches, Mullins swears this is his last bike. Retired
from Magnum, he rides two or three times a week.
* He and his wife Patsy, who works for Houston County Board of Education,
reside in Erin.
* Meanwhile, over at the car show, car-enthusiasts rallied to see who would
take home the best of show there. Newt Wallace always does a great job
organizing the cars.
* He said the 19 participants this year would each get to go home with a
plaque, since they had one for the top 25 entrants.
* Newt was also excited about the new location near the W.T. Thomas school.
“I think it’s a lot better,” he said, “not on that hot asphalt.”
* This year’s judges were Ray Elliott and Gary Beckner.
* Best of Show ended up going to Doug Howard; and Best Interior went to Rick
Cook of Stewart.
* Every year there are also three other awards given out as picks from the
Cumberland City Mayor, Police Department, and Fire Department.
* The mayor’s award went this year to Junior and Betty Miller of Dover. The
mayor had obviously struggled before making that choice. “I’m torn,” he
said, describing the struggle after looking at so many beautifully restored
antique and sports cars.
* The Millers had a red-and-white 1955 Ford Crown Victoria.
* Cumberland City’s Chief-of-Police Jason Gillespie handed over his award to
Ernie Hambley, who had a beautiful 1959 Cadillac Series 62.
* The fire department’s award went to Ray James, who had just finished
restoring a 1965 red convertible Ford Mustang with a white top.
* After the car show judging, some attendees took the opportunity to find
somewhere cool to rest and rejuvenate, while others went back to the
downtown area for the various local entertainers, booths, or food.

* Stay tuned for more coverage of “Lighting Up the Cumberland - 2007” with
the following stories brought to you by erintennessee.com:
MORE PHOTOS Read more!

CANNON FIRES IN CUMBERLAND CITY
FOR FIRST TIME IN 140 YEARS

By TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer
* The loud “boom” was over in a split second, but it echoed along the banks
of the Cumberland River for much longer, as Cumberland City Mayor Whitey
Vaughn proudly declared, “That’s the first cannon shot heard in Cumberland
City since 1865.”
* The time was 10:07 a.m. last Saturday, June 30. It was heard during the
opening ceremonies for the “Lighting Up the Cumberland – 2007.”
* The cannon fire was orchestrated off the banks of the Cumberland River by
the Porters / Baxter Battery, a company of Civil War re-enactors with local
(Tennessee Ridge) ties.
* According to Mayor Vaughn, the story goes that there’s a tree in the
Methodist Church yard that had the top of it blown out during the Civil War.
* He described the tree as 22 feet, 8 inches around. Not only that, but
Cumberland City has more Civil War stories.
* “There’s a gun boat that sunk about in line with Bradley Street,” the
mayor said. “It’s still there. Nobody’s ever dug it up.”
* Tennessee Ridge resident Jimmy Steppee said his battery set up camp on
Friday night on the banks of the Cumberland, and they brought along a cannon
to be fired at various times throughout the day.
* The morning firing was timed to go off during the opening ceremonies,
Steppee said.
* Prior to the cannon fire, Richard Garza, the minister of Cumberland City
Church of Christ, opened the event with a prayer of invocation, and Don
Williams sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
* After the cannon fire, Stewart County Mayor Rick Joiner welcomed everyone.
* “On behalf of Stewart County, we want to thank Cumberland City for putting
on this special event,” Mayor Joiner said, adding that Cumberland City
officials work very hard leading up to that day.
* “They sell a lot of schnitzel and catfish to make this happen,” he said.
* Next, the mini-parade made its way down Main Street, complete with
children riding bicycles, scooters, or battery-powered kiddie cars,
including a mini John Deere gator. Parents also pulled their young toddlers
in decorated wagons.
* The Cumberland City Police Chief Jason Gillespie led off the regular
parade, which seemed smaller this year than several years past. Of course,
last year’s parade seemed exceptionally long because it was a political
year, and lots of politicians came bearing gifts then.
* This year if it weren’t for local fire trucks, motorcycles, and tractors,
there wouldn’t have been much to look at.
* The American Red Cross Disaster Services, serving Fort Campbell,
Montgomery, Stewart and Houston Counties, participated in the parade,
followed by a float carrying the Lighting Up the Cumberland Royalty.
* Various motorcycle riders participated, including Erin’s own Ray Elliott.
Seeing him on a bike pretty much let everyone know that the Houston County
Rec Club’s large locomotive float would not be seen this year.
* Old and sporty cars participated, including Mustangs and Chevys, before
the parade of tractors made its way downtown.
* There were McCormick Farmalls and lots of John Deeres.
* Cumberland City Church of Christ had a wagon full of members waving
patriotic flags, and a couple of Confederate couples walked down the hill as
well.
* Cumberland City’s own mail carrier brought up the rear of the parade.

* Stay tuned for more coverage of “Lighting Up the Cumberland - 2007” with
the following stories brought to you by erintennessee.com:
MORE PHOTOS

Part One: Another Great Event
Part Two: Opening Ceremony, Cannon-fire & Parade
Part Three: Motorcycle & Car Shows
Part Four: Vendors
Part Five: Civil War Re-enactors & FireworksMORE PHOTOS Read more!

CUMBERLAND CITY HOLDS
ANOTHER GREAT EVENT
By TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer
* The fifth annual Cumberland City celebration of the Independence Day
holiday was another success story. Even though the event had its setbacks --
threat of rain, daytime heat, and a small parade – the event was enjoyed by
all in attendance, from start to finish. The opening ceremonies began at 10 a.m., with Cumberland City Mayor Whitey
Vaughn welcoming those in attendance who lined up as usual along Main
Street, but vendors had been arriving and setting up since the crack of
dawn.
* A mini-parade, the regular parade, a civil war re-enactment camp,
amusement park & games, arts, crafts, and vendors, along with musical
entertainment throughout the day, made the day fly by as everyone looked
forward to the big fireworks display off the banks of the Cumberland River.
* At noon there was the fourth annual motorcycle show judging, followed by
the car show at 1 p.m.
* Many people found it a good time to go home to cool off, but by late
afternoon, Cumberland City was bustling again with people browsing the
booths and eating.
* Shortly after 9 p.m., Pyro Shows presented the fireworks display, which,
by the sound of the crowd, was even better than last year.

* Stay tuned for more coverage of “Lighting Up the Cumberland - 2007” with
the following stories brought to you by erintennessee.com:

Part Two: Opening Ceremony, Cannon-fire & Parade
Part Three: Motorcycle & Car Shows
Part Four: Vendors
Part Five: Civil War Re-enactors & FireworksMORE PHOTOS

Read more!