Beacon Center of Tennessee Applauds Mt. Juliet Board of Commissioners for Amending Food Truck Permit Fee

Food Truck

The Beacon Center of Tennessee released a statement on Tuesday celebrating the Mt. Juliet Board of Commissioners for passing an ordinance setting a uniform rate for both in-city and out-of-city food trucks to operate within city limits.

“We are absolutely thrilled that our lawsuit prompted the City of Mt. Juliet to repeal its unconstitutional $100/day permitting fee for food truck operators located outside of Mt. Juliet,” Beacon Director of Legal Affairs Wen Fa said in a statement. “That exorbitant fee essentially shut out our clients— food truck owners who have served many satisfied Mt. Juliet residents in the past— from Mt. Juliet. We’re delighted for both our clients and for the residents of Mt. Juliet that the food trucks are now able to return.”

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Food Trucks Challenge Mt. Juliet $100/Day Permit Fee While Locals Charged $100/Year

Food truck operators from outside of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, filed a lawsuit Monday that challenges the city’s $100 per permit fee, while local trucks pay $100 a year.

The Beacon Center of Tennessee filed a federal civil rights lawsuit for two food truck operators, saying the ordinance violates the operators’ right to earn a living and their right to equality before the law.

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Mt. Juliet Church Pastor Says Vandalism Likely Happened Because Roger Stone Will Speak There

Mt. Juliet’s Global Vision Bible Church was vandalized, possibly because Roger Stone is to speak on Sunday, Aug. 30, WSMV said.

Pastor Greg Locke on Sunday posted photos of the damage, available here. The church shared his post on its Facebook page, available here.

One graffiti tag read, “Locke & Stone will burn in h***.” Another tag read, “Fascists beware.”

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American Idol Winner and Germantown Resident, Taylor Hicks Gives First Hand Account on Tornado That Swept Through Nashville Last Night

During an extended hour on Tuesday’s The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – Leahy reported on the tornado that struck Nashville last night killing several people with more expected to be reported. American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, who lives in the area, gave a special eyewitness report to our sister station.

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Mt Juliet Passes Ordinance Restricting Operation of Abortion Clinics Within Most of the City

The opening of a controversial new women’s health clinic in Mt. Juliet, which offers abortion services, resulted in a special Sunday night meeting of the City Commission and a new zoning restriction that will block the clinic from operating at its current location. The Carafem clinic opened on Friday and community outrage was swift. Carafem is a nonprofit women’s health organization not affiliated with or connected to Planned Parenthood. It has other clinics located in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, according to the company. The action to amend the existing Mt. Juliet zoning ordinance-land development code concerning “professional ambulatory surgical treatment centers” passed by unanimous vote after strong opposition from the public, local pastors, and other community leaders demanding immediate action by the City (see map, right). Global Vision Bible Church Pastor Greg Locke and Tennessee Pastors Network President Dale Walker were among Tennessee pastors leading the fight against the clinic being allowed to offer abortions in Mt. Juliet. Debate over the ordinance drew a capacity crowd inside with dozens outside the meeting who were unable to get inside the Commission meeting. “This is a tremendous victory for the local community and for those of us committed to protecting unborn life,”…

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Mt. Juliet Youth Missionaries Stranded in Haiti Amidst Fuel Protests

A Mt. Juliet-based ministry reports that two youth missionary teams, including one from Tennessee, are safe despite violent protests in the Caribbean nation. My LIFE Speaks said Sunday on Facebook that the teams are staying on the organization’s compound in Neply, Haiti. The missionaries are from The Glade Church in Mt. Juliet and Woodland Community Church in Bradenton, Florida. The protests over fuel prices, along with road blocks, blocked the teams from the airport, FoxNews said. Major protests erupted in Haiti on Friday as the government announced a sharp increase in gasoline prices. But the hike was suspended Saturday after violence broke out in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the northern city of Cap-Haitien. At least three people were killed in the protests, including two protesters who were fatally shot as demonstrators clashed with police, The Associated Press reported. It was unclear who shot the two men. The Washington Post reported church members from several other states are stranded as well. Chapin United Methodist Church in South Carolina posted online that its mission team is safe but stranded. A North Carolina doctor and his son were part of another medical mission group that’s unable to leave. The U.S. Embassy in the…

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It’s Official: Mae Beavers Announces Campaign for Governor

Tennessee Star

  MT. JULIET, Tennessee–State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) formally announced she is running for the Republican nomination for Governor of Tennessee at a rally in Charlie Daniels Park in Mt. Juliet Saturday afternoon. You can read the full text of her announcement here: “Thank you for joining me today. What a great crowd! “No elected official ever serves well without the support of family. I want you to meet them. “When I first ran for public office in 1990, I brought a clear and precise set of values and principles to the Wilson County Commission. “As a State Representative and now State Senator, I have carried these values and principles with me every step of the way. “Today, it is time to take those conservative values and principles, The Sanctity of Life, Small and Efficient State Government, Limited and Constitutional National Government, Transparency and Accountability in our elected officials, Low Taxes, Commitment to the 2nd Amendment, Respect for individual liberty and, most importantly, reliance upon our Creator God. “It is time to take those values and principles, to the next level! “And so, it is an honor to stand before you today and announce that I am a candidate to…

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Mt. Juliet Says No to Illegal Immigration

As controversy heats up over sanctuary cities across the U.S., many Mt. Juliet residents are backing the city’s promise that Mt. Juliet will never be one. Frustrated by burdens illegal immigrants place on police and public services and grieved over the loss of a couple killed by an illegal immigrant drunk driver, many people have had enough. In late November, the city commission unanimously approved a proclamation saying it won’t shield illegal immigrants from enforcement of federal immigration laws. Around 300 cities across the U.S. are regarded as sanctuary cities. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry has signaled that she wants Nashville to be welcoming toward all. However, Nashville is not officially a sanctuary city, having not stated an intent to refuse to comply with federal immigration officials. Immigration activists quickly denounced the move by Mt. Juliet commissioners. On its Facebook page, the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) called the resolution “unacceptable and irresponsible” and urged its supporters to encourage commissioners to rescind it. The resolution, according to TIRRC, will have a “chilling effect on immigrant families trying to build their lives, start their businesses, and raise their families.” Supporters of the resolution, however, see it as an effort to ensure…

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