DISCOVERApril 2021 - Volume 1 - Issue 5 West Tennessee Spotlighting SHELBY COUNTY Getting to Know FAME Recording Artist CHRISTINA EASTERDAY Leaders Mobile App: Your credit union in the palm of your hand. LEADERSCU.COM Our mobile app is the most robust solution for managing your finances anytime, anywhere. In our mobile app you may: • Deposit checks • Check your FICO® Score • Find nearest branches • View e-statements & fee-free ATMs • Pay at merchants using Apple Pay®, • Pay bills Google Pay® or Samsung® Pay • Transfer funds between accounts • View transaction history • Access Money Management • Utilize digital receipts Not a member? Apply today at LeadersCU.com. Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. April 2021 Page 3 DISCOVERWest Tennessee CONTENTS 4 GETTING TO KNOW: MEMPHIS RECORDING ARTIST CHRISTINA EASTERDAY 6 KAYAKERS TURN LOVE OF WATER INTO THRIVING BUSINESS 8 GREEN LIGHT! 2021 RACING SEASON KICKS OFF AT Leaders Mobile App: MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY Your credit union in 10 ARLINGTON BOASTS the palm of your hand. BEAUTIFUL PARKS WITH SOUTHERN CHARM 14 MEMPHIS IS WORTH THE STAY 16 A ‘PERFECT DAY’ IN COLLIERVILLE 18 GOD HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN - GRADUATING OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL, A SHELBY COUNTY MAN FOUGHT HARD TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY 24 ANDREW JACKSON MARATHON - SEEKING VOLUNTEERS 26 200 JACKSON MADISON CO. BICENTENNIAL 30 FORD PICKUPS- 1980-2014 LEADERSCU.COM 33 LIFELINE 35 COTTONWOOD HARVEST GRILL DISCOVERWest Tennessee 36 14TH ANNUAL CRUZ’N FOR A KID’S CURE CAR SHOW Our mobile app is the most robust solution for managing your 39 SAVANNAH FARMER’S MARKET finances anytime, anywhere. In our mobile app you may: PO Box 888, Huntingdon, TN 38344 41 DISCOVERY PARK OF AMERICA 45 HISTORIC DOWNTOWN UNION CITY • Deposit checks • Check your FICO® Score 731.415.6489 [email protected] 49 MCCALEB MAKES SEC UMPIRING DEBUT • Find nearest branches • View e-statements 54 PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDING - HENRY COUNTY & fee-free ATMs • Pay at merchants using Apple Pay®, Editor: Jonathan Moody Creative Director: Christy Slaman • Pay bills Google Pay® or Samsung® Pay Copy Editor: Angela Jones • Transfer funds between accounts • View transaction history • Access Money Management • Utilize digital receipts ON THE COVER - Not a member? Apply today at LeadersCU.com. FAME Recording Artist Christina Easterday. Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Page 4 April 2021 DISCOVERWest Tennessee “ There is a key to living a wonderful life and I know I have found it.” Christina Easterday before her recording session at Fame studios. Getting to Know: Memphis Recording Artist Christina Easterday lisaADKINS completed her first song at age 6. She plays beats and recording her vocals and guitar. DWT Contributor the piano, violin, clarinet, and cajon, but the Her first two singles, Snowflakes acoustic guitar is her favorite instrument. and Moving To Move On, were recorded Indie singer and songwriter, Christina She performed in multiple talent shows and at Forty-One Fifteen in East Nashville and Easterday is an eclectic blend of pop, led the worship music for her church youth mixed by engineer Dewey Boyd Jr. (Front Of rock and R&B. Her sweet, yet sultry tone, group from 2005-2009. House for Ricky Skaggs). She has co-written coupled with lush harmonies, resonates At age 17, she completed Barbizon with Grammy Award winner, Bobby E. Boyd tasteful vibes unique to her. She is on a Modeling and Acting School, won 1st Place (Bless The Broken Road), Two-time SESAC mission and she is breath of fresh air to those for Barbizon’s Model Magic Magazine and Songwriter Of The Year winner, Arlos Smith who meet her. attended the IMTA National Competition (Mayberry), and Grammy Award nominee, At age 3, she took an interest in piano in New York City. She studied broadcasting Earl Bud Lee (Friends In Low Places). and was enrolled in dance lessons in ballet, and music at Liberty University and led She received an honorable mention for tap, clogging, jazz and hip hop. Her first worship on her dormitory hall. In her spare her song, The Perfect Time, at the 25th writings included poems and riddles. She time, she created her own demos by mixing Annual San Diego Songwriter’s Guild April 2021 Page 5 DISCOVERWest Tennessee songwriting competition. She performed on the boardwalk in the famous beachside community of Ocean Beach, known for its laid back, artistic vibes. In 2019 she played at West Street Market, was interviewed and played live on Carson City’s 95.1 KNVC and the Roots, Rednecks and Radicals podcast. Her music made the final round of Reno Nevada’s Best Of 2019 for ‘Best Local Songwriter’ and was featured in the March 2019 edition of Red Hawk Living Magazine. Currently based in Memphis, Tenn., she was nominated for ‘Pop Vocalist Of The Year’ for the 2020 Josie Music Awards and ‘Songwriting Achievement’ for her unreleased work, Soul Baby. She released Soul Baby in December of 2020 and has since recorded a new version to be released on her EP. January 2021 brought the release of Artist, a chill and vibey single that almost has an Imogen Heap feel and makes the statement that we “haven’t seen nothing yet.” On the same day as it’s release, Christina collaborated with FAME Recording Studios and Publishing Co., in Muscle Shoals, Ala., home of the “Muscle Shoals Sound” known to artists such as Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Candi Staton, Wilson Pickett, Laying down vocals inside the sound booth. Mac Davis and many others. She worked alongside musicians Dewey (Spooner) Lindon Oldham, Will McFarlane, Kelvin my own path and introduce my music as recording session at FAME with Christina Holly, Justin Holder and Andy Dixon. She works of art unique to me. If anyone wants and his experience meeting her: “It was a was interviewed live on MY 101.5 FM with to know me, listen to my music. I’ve been delight being in headphones with Christina. Hunter Jackson. In The Morning and Soul really encouraged by the positive engagement She nailed the vocals as the tracks went Baby was added to the station’s song rotation. and fan base that I have received. When down and it was a pleasure to hang out with After recording at FAME for a second I get a message or note from someone I her in general. It was a couple of very musical time, plans to release her first EP in the have impacted, I make an effort to connect days. I felt like we were getting to know her. Spring were mentioned. personally and let them know I hear them, It was obvious she had come through some Christina shared: “I am absolutely honored they are important and loved. My ultimate very dark times. Her vulnerability in her to work alongside such legendary musicians mission is inspired from the times in my life lyrics made us like her.” in such a legendary studio. My forthcoming that I have felt extreme pain and heartache. "Christina was a treat to play piano and EP will include three new songs and a new I have been in places I would have never organ with, at Fame Studio, in Muscle version of Soul Baby, telling one of the most imagined. Sometimes, we don’t realize how Shoals, Alabama recently. She is steeped important stories of my life so far.” just one decision can lead us to devastation in the Rhythm and Blues mode, with She went on to explain a little of why she and then leave us wondering if there is a authenticity in her presentation of words and is a songwriter and her mission behind the way out. I’m here to tell you that there is music. May she forever reign in her writing, music: “I have always loved to write. I love and we are not defined by mistakes we have singing and playing." A quote by Spooner to journal and process my life, get it down made. Despite it all, I have come to a place Oldham on paper and out of my head. I grew up in a of joy and hope that has surpassed all my You can find Christina online at: musical family and always loved to sing and understanding. I want to shine a light on the www.ChristinaEasterday.com play instruments. Incorporating all of these path of perseverance and encourage people in Facebook: @christinaeasterdaymusic aspects, I have found that songwriting is overcoming circumstances such as addiction, Instagram: @christina.easterday what I am most passionate about creatively. mental illness and abuse. There is a message Twitter: @ckeasterday Every song I write is from my personal in my songs and I will continue to do what I journey through life. While I value and can to open up and share my story. There is Listen on SoundCloud, YouTube and all appreciate other artist’s work, I do not feel a key to living a wonderful life and I know I top streaming platforms, including Spotify the same joy from covering songs, like I do have found it.” and Apple Music. from producing my own. My goal is to pave Will McFarlane had this to say about his Blues City kayakers shown moments after launching on the Wolf River at the beginning of the “Introduction to the Urban Wolf River” tour. Kayakers Turn Love of River into Thriving Business pamelaMirabella The two men found another guide and DWT Contributor fellow kayak enthusiast in Mike Dawkins. Dawkins has lived his entire life around the In 2019, while kayaking, avid outdoorsmen, Wolf River and been a volunteer river guide for Ande Demetriou and Paul Frye decided to Wolf River Conservancy for over 20 years.