(The following column by Mayor Jo Ann Graves appeared in The Gallatin Newspaper April 20, 2010)
When our nation was being formed there were many factions that represented diverse groups desiring a voice in the way our country would be run. As a young country, representatives from each group would attend meetings and return to each group and/or community with news of decisions and events. Folks depended on word of mouth to keep up with current happenings.
Then there was the advent of the telegraph, the radio, and the telephone. Information began to flow in all directions. When televisions came into our homes we not only heard the news but we could see the events unfolding.
Today we communicate electronically. There is YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and a myriad of others. Communication is now 24/7.
At the heart of all this communication is a person’s need to not only know but to also be heard and to have input.
When I first moved into City Hall in 2007, my office wasn’t wired for a computer. The only way to directly communicate with the Mayor was to either call or come to City Hall. For people who worked, particularly out of town, that was an obstacle to communication. Today, thanks to the addition of a computer, citizens communicate with me electronically, when it is convenient for them. Emails are sent late at night or early in the morning asking for information or help in solving an issue. Appointments are set up not just by phone, but over the internet. Messages are sent on Blackberry’s and the reply is to the Blackberry. However, phone calls and personal visits still take place. (click here to read the entire column.)
| Current Events/News |
 If you have an idea or concern you would like to share with Mayor Graves, please drop by for Mayor's Night In, an opportunity for you to stop by after regular business hours to talk to the Mayor on Monday, July 26, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Mayor's Office, 132 W. Main Street.
(Tennessee Department of Health, June 21, 2010) - Hot, humid weather is a hallmark of summertime in Tennessee. While activities of daily life often mean exposing ourselves to extreme heat, the Department of Health offers simple tips that can help reduce your risk of seasonal illness during the hot summer months. Temperatures that soar into the 90s and beyond raise the risk for heat-related illness. Heat-related illnesses include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash. Signs of heat-related illness include dizziness, heavy sweating, muscle cramps, rapid heartbeat, nausea, headaches and cold/clammy skin. Click here to see “Simple Steps Prevent Heat Related Illness”. |
The Gallatin Farmers Market has new hours. The Farmers Market will be open Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am-6pm and Saturdays from 7am-2pm. For more information on the market, or to rent booth space, please contact Greater Gallatin at 452-5692.
