By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — Bryshawn Jemison celebrated his 22nd birthday Aug. 30 with his family, and again on Sept. 1 at the Cheesecake Factory with friends. Meanwhile, Bryshawn, son of Consuela Olden who manages clinical trials with nurses and doctors at Sarah Canon Research Center, is completing his first year living at Nashville IDD Housing Group’s Friendship House in the Chestnut Hills area. “October is his one year anniversary,” Olden says. Bryshawn completed two-years of training at Vanderbilt University. His Next Steps certificate helped him get a job paying $9.50 an hour at Walgreen’s. Now, he’s paid $11.25…
Author: Clint Confehr
Clint Confehr
Clint Confehr — an American journalist since 1972 — first wrote for The Tennessee Tribune in 1999. His news writing and photography in South Central Tennessee and the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area began in the summer of 1980. Clint's covered news in several Southern states at newspapers, radio stations and one TV station. Married since 1982, he's a grandfather and is semi-retired from daily news work.
By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — Jesse James Boyce, “one of the baddest bass players,” a versatile musician, producer, beloved husband, father, minister, businessman and civil rights advocate, was laid to rest Sunday. He was 69. Born Jan. 26, 1948 in North Carolina, Boyce died Aug. 17 surrounded by close relatives at home on Jessie Drive. Capping heights of success, Boyce returned in October to Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church as minister of music and worship. Richard Wayne (Little Richard) Penniman was one of several speakers at Gordon Memorial during Sunday’s celebration of life for a man with a servant’s…
By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — Violence in Charlottesville last weekend is rejected by Tennessee leaders, a few of them criticizing neo-Nazis and klansmen, most refraining from naming hate groups. National reactions to violence, deaths and overt hate displayed Aug. 12 in Charlottesville, Va. were prevalent. #Charlottesville needs no explanation. America confronted another shadow of its original sin of slavery. After two days of pressure, President Trump said “racism is evil” and violence from it is criminal. “The K.K.K., neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups … are repugnant,” he said after Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the violent acts…
By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — Bishop Joseph Walker, pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, is holding another worship service for people who can’t attend on Sunday because of work or Titans’ home games. There are more reasons for another worship service including standing-room-only at some services, said Walker, announcing Saturday worship services start 5-6:15 p.m., Aug. 12, at 1112 Jefferson St. “We have a lot of NFL players in our church,” Bishop Walker said, “so this will be good for them. It will keep them actively engaged and provide a place to worship before they play on Sunday.” Virtual…
Something surprising about a White County General Sessions Court judge’s order permitting reduced jail time for convicts who submit to vasectomies or long-term female contraception is that it’s still acceptable to some Americans. That sterilization is wrong was announced by a newly-appointed administrator of the insane asylum at Lynchburg, Va. in 1979. Then, as a radio newsman, I quoted Lynchburg residents explaining “welfare queens” wouldn’t have more children “on the dole” after sterilization in the asylum where they were put because they went crazy when their children were taken into state care. The mothers were “cured” in the asylum so…
By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee’s Bureau of Investigation sees more victims than sex workers, the bureau director said before Sen. Thelma Harper’s community meeting as she asked why prostitution is escalating. TBI Director Mark Gwyn and Special Agent Thomas Farmer told nearly 70 people at Shrader Lane Church of Christ last week about illegal drugs and how the TBI and Department of Correction impact Harper’s constituents. “We want to know what’s causing prostitution … it’s escalation,” Harper told the Tribune. “We want to look at … what can we change … It’s been around for a long…
By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — Parents of 1,000 students may check off backpacks and basic supplies from their back-to-school shopping list Saturday after attending Love’s Healthy Start Festival in Hadley Park. It’s the fifth annual back to school festival organized by state Rep. Harold M. Love Jr., who remembers that he was fortunate to have parents providing what he needed when he was a Metro public school student. Now, pastor of Lee Chapel AME Church, Love is helping his community. From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday near Hadley Park’s band shelter, 1,000 students may receive book bags, books, 12 pencils,…
By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — Groundbreaking for a bigger Dismas House — most residents are formerly incarcerated — is leading to construction subcontractor jobs that could start next fall. “We’re working though codes, finalizing architectural designs and will send out bids for subcontractors over the next 60-90 days,” Dismas House CEO Gerald Brown told the Tribune last Friday. R.C. Mathews Contractors is the general contractor for the $8.5 million, four-story building set for completion late next year. With 42 single- and double-occupancy apartments, including 72 beds at 2424 Charlotte Ave., Dismas House will still provide transitional housing and services…
By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — The first class of Emerge Tennessee — it trains women to be Democratic candidates for elected office — graduated Saturday at Fisk University. Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan spoke at the graduation in Jubilee Hall. McMillan was the first woman elected majority leader of Tennessee’s House. Emerge Tennessee is affiliated with Emerge America, a group Hillary Clinton supports through Onward Together. McMillan spoke Friday with the Tribune; attended Emerge Tennessee’s kickoff last fall; and first ran for office in 1994. “There was no program like this,” she said. “I sure wish there had been because…
By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — A day in the life of Eva Evans, pet doctor, might start by mowing the lawn in front of her City Pets Animal Care clinic on Jefferson Street. A couple of years ago, Dr. Evans’ days led to an after-hours emergency clinic and critical care for pets in Nashville. Her first day of spring this year included Carmen Fournier and check-ups for Fournier’s Chihuahuas, Izzi and Evie. Dr. Evans has three dogs. Roxy and Mazie are Boston Terriors. Sofie is a Pekingese, a foster dog that was to be euthanized because of heart worms,…