Cat Café Coming to Murfreesboro

By Brooke Routh

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

         MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Two local Murfreesboro residents will open up their own cat with coffee café called Catfeine this summer to help adoptable rescue cats find forever homes while serving tasty beverages simultaneously.

          Curtis and Taura Byrd were watching an episode of Shark Tank in 2015 when the idea of a cat café first popped into their minds.  Since then, they have been working hard to bring the coffee and cat café to Murfreesboro.    
         Unfortunately, they have not released the address for Catfeine yet, but they have hinted that it will be located in downtown Murfreesboro. At first, The Byrds were considering opening Catfeine, the coffee and cat café, in Nashville, but ultimately decided on Murfreesboro because they live there and because the city has plenty of cat lovers. After Catfeine’s Facebook page was created in summer of 2017, the demand for a cat café in Murfreesboro skyrocketed.

Curtis and Taura Byrd

           The Byrds have been working closely with the Rutherford County Health Department to ensure that everything in the café will be up to code. There will not be any cat hair in the coffee. The area where coffee is prepared will be separated from the cat lounge.  There also will be a separate area for the litter boxes so that the cats have their own private area away from customers.  
          “The cats will have a separate ‘no humans allowed’ area where they can get away if they need a break," said Curtis Byrd. 
          “Only their caregiver will be allowed to enter," Taura Byrd added. "One of the very reasons we want to have a cat lounge adoption environment is due to the countless number of times we've had to complain at a local big box pet store about the condition of the cages the cats are in, It is terrible. Cats should not have to lie in their own filth. This turns prospective adopters away because it gives the perception that cats are dirty. We promise to keep a super clean and healthy environment for both the cats and the humans!”

          The Byrds plan to have a cat lounge where customers can sip coffee while petting the cats. There will be an hourly rate for access to the lounge to help underwrite the cost to take care of the cats, and maintain the café. They plan to offer monthly memberships to customers who plan to visit often. There will be student discount options as well. Catfeine will be a place to relax before or after classes or even to study for finals, even if the temptation to pet the cats is strong.

           Some potential customers expressed disappointment when it was revealed that there will be an hourly rate to access the cat lounge. “While we would love to provide this as a free experience, we simply cannot afford to. Said Curtis Byrd. “Caring for the cats can be quite expensive.  We're providing care, food, shelter, toys and tons of litter, just to name the basics.  The cover charge will help ensure The Byrds are able to provide cats with the care they need and a roof over their heads. 
          “We will do everything we can to keep the cost to a minimum,” Curtis Byrd continued. “Spots will be limited each hour, so reservations will be highly encouraged to ensure cat lovers get their kitty fix.”

         Food will not be prepared onsite, but Catfeine will have baked goods prepackaged from a local bakery. Olive Branch Bakery, a local bakery in Murfreesboro, will be providing Catfeine with bakery goods. The bakery specializes in macaroons and other cat shaped pastries.

          The Byrds said that Murfreesboro needs a cat café and there is no better time than 2018. People love coffee and cats, so why not combine the two while helping cats in need of homes. 
          To learn more about Catfeine, visit http://www.catfeine.net.

Be Beautiful the Natural Way

By Shanice Green

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

SMYRNA--Do you suffer from sudden breakouts, load of acne, or annoying black spots from applying makeup? It is highly important to take care of your face if you use makeup daily and even more important to make sure you are using the right products that are perfect for your skin.

Continuing to use toxic ingredients from makeup on your face will eventually harm you and will cause health problems. Using all-natural based makeup products will not only keep your face healthy and beautiful, but it will allow your face to stay young and glow.

Cheap makeup brands are affordable, but some of the drug store brands will break your sensitive skin out.

“It’s important to read the label and look for products that work best for your skin type,” according to a recent story in the publication Medical Daily. Dr. Lindsey Bordone, a dermatologist, also mentioned that even if a popular “natural” makeup has aloe or other natural ingredients, that doesn’t mean it is best for you. The skin on your face is valuable and deserves products that will keep your face hydrated and healthy.

To learn more, visit https://www.medicaldaily.com/skin-clearing-makeup-organic-makeup-healthy-skin-387932.

For example, brands like Tarte Cosmetics are made of all-natural products that are extremely healthy for your face. These ingredients include acai berries, which come from a species of palm trees in Europe.

Another antioxidant brand is Physicians Formula that was especially made for women with sensitive skin. Physician’s Formula uses non-toxic ingredients and is hypoallergenic.

Popular makeup brands tend to lead you on like they are all-natural or that they are good for your skin, but sometimes that is not the case.

            For instance, the Vitamin C in fruits is good for your skin, and this is why makeup brands usually take this for an advantage. Fruits like blueberries, kiwi, pineapple, papaya and strawberries are parts of Vitamin C that help with blemishes and allow your face to feel and look radiant. Brands that use Vitamin C in their products are more likely using it to appeal to you.

Vitamin C

            Everyone will eventually age, but using all-natural makeup products will prolong the wrinkles.

“Wrinkles and age spots are the inevitable result of time, but skin aging may be sped up by overexposure to the sun and tanning beds…treat your skin kindly an optimize your nutrition by eating antioxidant-rich fruit,” said BBC’s Good Food magazine.  

Women should monitor what they eat, how they sleep, or what they do that could harm your skin. Taking care of yourself, including your face, is very important to maintain a healthy, everyday life.

For more information, visit https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/eat-your-way-fabulous-skin.

            In fact, using organic and non-toxic makeup products are best to use for women with health problems and sensitive skin. These all-natural makeup products soothe and heal your skin for the better. Putting harmful and toxic chemicals on your face will put you at health risk and make your face lose its natural beauty.

            As the result, acne is the biggest threat to using makeup. Makeup acne has its own special name called acne cosmetica. Acne cosmetic is tiny, red bumps that appear on your face that block your pores.

“Acne cosmetica occurs when oils from your makeup collect in and clog your pores, so thick liquid or cream products are more often culprits than are lighter products like powders,” according to an article in the Health section of How Stuff Works.

Be careful when you apply makeup on, and remember not to use too much and create a cake-like look. This blocks your pores and creates negative reactions.         

To learn more, visit https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/skin-and-makeup/makeup-affect-your-skin.htm.

            In my own experience, applying makeup was an everyday thing that I loved to do. The issue I had with my face was my sensitive, oily skin. I needed makeup products that would keep my face from sweating the makeup off and also keep it from breaking out. I even had to spend extra dollars on better makeup brands to keep my face healthy.

All-natural make up and skincare

Regrettably, I was spending hundreds of dollars on makeup to make my face look good. To prevent me from spending more money than I was getting in, I had to talk with a makeup specialist at Ulta Beauty. She surprisingly told me that I did not have to spend as much as I was to keep my face healthy. The specialist said for me to try drug store brands with antioxidant ingredients and she was right. As soon as I started buying antioxidant makeup, my face was clear, hydrated and healthy.

            Listen ladies, if you cannot afford expensive makeup, then do not buy it! You do not need it to make your face look good and clear. Speaking from someone who knows where you’re coming from, you just need all-natural makeup made from all-natural ingredients. Use the safe route when it comes to your face, because your face has the most precious skin.

The skin on your face is the hardest part of your body to keep clear. This is why it is highly important to watch what you apply to your face. Even try sustaining from applying fragrance-free products to your face, because they can cause negative skin reactions. Your face may not look like its suffering now, but underneath your pores, it causes a problematic long-term effect.

            It is at most importance to apply all-natural makeup products to your skin to hold on to your youth, beauty and health. Wearing makeup daily is normal and perfectly fine. As long as you maintain a healthy routine by cleaning your face and using suitable products for your skin, your face will thank you. You do not have to wear makeup to be beautiful, but if you are a makeup lover, using the healthiest makeup products will benefit the future you.

For more detailed information on healthy makeup brands check out, visit www.thegoodtrade.com/features/18-natural-organic-makeup-brands-your-face-will-love-you-for.

For more face care tips, visit https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/patients-visitors/blog/is-your-makeup-safe-5-skin-healthy-makeup-tips.

New Seasonal Ice Rink Opens as Part of Winterfest

By Maria Mansour

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Hearthstone Group has added a winter touch to the holiday season by opening an ice skating rink as part of Winterfest at Fountains at Gateway, 1500 Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro.

            Winterfest Ice Skating, the first ice skating rink in Rutherford County, will operate at various hours through Jan. 3, 2018. Marlene Holland, a spokesperson for Hearthstone, said the company chose Murfreesboro for the attraction because it wanted to contribute to the community.

Photo By Maria Mansour

Admission for ice skating is $15 for adults, $12 for children age 4-12, and free for kids age 3 and under. Skate rentals are included in the admission price. Individuals can also bring their own skates. Trainer frames are available for kids who are learning to skate.

"We are truly delighted to introduce Winterfest at Fountains and bring outdoor ice skating to Murfreesboro," said Scott Graby, president of Hearthstone Properties.

Fountains at Gateway is a 31-acre development that includes office buildings, event space, and stores and restaurants. There are plans to add apartments and a hotel.

The Fountains ice rink is located near Saint Thomas Hospital in Rutherford County. Other Winterfest activities include pictures with Santa, and special events such as Movies on Ice and live concerts. The grounds are adorned with holiday decorations such as sparkling lights and Christmas trees.

Photo By Maria Mansour

Hours of operation and a schedule of activities for Winterfest at Fountains at Gateway are published at www.FountainsWinterfest.com.

The skating rink is equipped with a chiller that keeps the ice between 10 and 15 degrees. This prevents the ice from melting on warm weather days. Visitors can even enjoy ice skating on rainy days if they do not mind getting wet.

Fountains at Gateway is the first walkable, urban-style community in Rutherford County that is designed to fills people’s professional and lifestyle needs with residential apartments and commercial offices up to 470,000 feet. The interior design for the project was created to make individuals feel welcome to stay at home and enjoy engaging in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

 At Fountains at Gateway, families can visit the Soda Bar café’ for ice cream or hot beverages, including coffee and hot chocolate. Children enjoy new flavors of ice cream while playing on the splash pad, an outdoor play area with fountains, nozzles, sprinklers and other structures that spray water.

Photo By Maria Mansour

“We provide ice skating, hot chocolate, movie nights, a Ball Brothers concert, and a tacky sweater night as event activities,” Holland said.

Fountains at Gateway also has an Anytime Fitness that is open 24 hours. It has a well-trained staff, and the gym offers private bathrooms with showers.

Homegrown Marketplace is a boutique and gift shop that sells different styles of décor and furniture for the home, gifts, handmade items, and local foods like spices, honey and sauces.

Also, e. Allen is a new luxury store that sells specially designed shoes, boots and handmade jewelry for women.

The Kitchen Fresh is a restaurant that serves fresh organic food that’s made from scratch and available for dine-in or take-out.

Nothing Bundt Cakes is a bakery that’s located at the main entrance of Fountains at Gateway. The bakery makes a variety of cake flavors and sizes. It makes cakes only from pure, fine and fresh ingredients.

        Fountains at Gateway has hired 15 workers for Winterfest. It has been a challenge staffing, organizing, and setting up the event.

Photo By Maria Mansour

        “We have different sponsors to support different events,” Holland added.

Hearthstone Group, which organized Winterfest, is accepting donations to help underwrite event-related costs.

Graby announced that two retail businesses are about to open in the Fountains at Gateway community. The Social Chair Bar will serve luxury signature dishes.

Winterfest, which is designed for annual events, is expected to host Winterfest again next year. Other activities planned for 2018 include private events, church and youth events, holiday parties, and school spirit nights.

Fountains at Gateway Opens Outdoor Skating Rink for Winterfest

By Matthew Northrup

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Fountains at Gateway opened Murfreesboro’s first outdoor skating rink at 1500 Medical Center Parkway on Nov. 19, giving children of all ages a place to have fun during

The new winter attraction is part of “Winterfest,” an annual festival featuring themed skate the winter months.nights, movie nights on the rink, Christmas caroling, and pictures with Santa. Lights and holiday decorations accent the central plaza of the office park. 

Photo by Matthew Northrup   

             “Our vision was to create an activity hub for evenings and weekends,” said Sherri Dasilva, event coordinator of Winterfest. “During the summer, we’ll have movies under the stars and concerts on the green. During the winter months, we wanted a family friendly activity that people could come out and enjoy together. Ice skating seemed to be the right thing to include.”

 Winterfest will continue through Jan. 5. Regular operating hours through Dec. 21 are 4-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, and 1-8 p.m. on Sunday. Holiday hours from Dec. 22-Jan. 5 are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, and 1-9 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for children age 4-12, and free for children age 4 and under.

Photo by Matthew Northrup

Dasilva added that Winterfest will even have themed skate nights to celebrate the Predators. Individuals who wear hockey gear on those nights will receive $2 off to skate.

Fountain Gateway will have 10 movie nights on ice during December. They will include Disney’s “Frozen” on Dec. 9, National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation” on Dec. 12, Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Dec. 12, “Polar Express” on Dec. 21, “Elf” on Dec. 24, and “It’s a Wonderful Life on Dec. 28. A live concert featuring The Ball Brothers will occur at 4 p.m. on Dec. 2.

Photo by Matthew Northrup

 Individuals can receive more information about Winterfest activities on the festival’s Facebook page at www.fountainswinterfest.com.

With Fountains at Gateway being known for hosting events and activities, adding the ice skating rink could be a draw for surrounding businesses such as Board and Brush Creative Studios, and the new Soda Bar serving ice cream and unbaked cookie dough.

 The city of Murfreesboro approved the office park’s plan to create Winterfest attractions and activities, including the skating ring, without outside corporate sponsors.

“Everything developed very quickly,” said Dasilva. “We do have corporate sponsors for movies on ice and a concert we’ll be hosting on Dec. 2.”

Woodbury Hosts 26th Annual Cannon County Christmas

By Elise Floyd

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

WOODBURY, Tenn. – The “Old Fashioned Cannon County Christmas Festival” resounded as an immediate success with numerous Christmas joys located around the square of Woodbury beginning at 5 p.m. on Nov. 17.

As the sounds of jingling bells grew louder, the throng of visitors cheered as a jovial white-bearded Saint Nick came dashing into the square on a mule-drawn buggy. As the festive cart came to a stop on the front lawn of the Cannon County Courthouse, Santa heartily greeted and waved to children crowded around the North Pole gazebo. Known throughout the Middle Tennessee area for hosting one of the most seasonal and traditional small town Christmas celebrations, this year’s yuletide festivity left their visitors with smiles on their faces and shopping bags on their arms. 

Photo By Elise Floyd

        Santa was not the only main attraction of the evening, however. Surrounding the Square was a live nativity scene, beautifully lighted buildings, and endless amounts of punch and cookies inside every surrounding shop.

“It’s the highlight of the season,” said Hannah Gribble, a volunteer for the Cannon County Dance Studio. “This is my first time participating, but so far it’s been so fun to see so many people show up.”

An estimated 200 to 400 people attended the festival around the Square on Friday evening.

Upon visiting Cannon County, guests would find themselves walking under canopies of twinkling lights and Christmas merriment spilling out from the doors of shops like Lynn’s Pickett Fence, Lelands Consignment, and even Regions Bank.

Every shop was elaborately decorated, inside and out, distributing punch, hot cider, and a wide assortment of freshly baked goods one could purchase upon their visit.

Shop owner Bek Parton from Bek’s Boutiques and Custom Designs explained that the shops on the Square had been willingly participating in this annual Christmas event for many years.

“No one from the courthouse needed to come knocking on our doors,” she said. “It was just something that we’ve always done and everyone loves doing for the community.”

Photo By Elise Floyd

Not only was this Christmas on the Square a hit for visitors, but it also served as the grand opening for Bek’s Boutiques. The store features items such as fashionable children’s and women’s clothing.

 “We just opened last Sunday, and today we have already been super busy and really successful so far,” Parton continued.

In hopes of spreading yuletide cheer, to provide yet another outlet for Christmas gift-shopping, and to pay a visit to Santa Claus, locals encourage visitors to experience the festival for themselves next year for the 27^th celebration. Middle Tennesseans can visit at other times or events to explore the town’s creative shops and restaurants.

Cannon County lies directly in the middle of all four Motlow campuses, located on U.S. Highway 70 South, 19 miles south of Murfreesboro. Individuals who are passing through can stop by to see for themselves what this little town of Woodbury can offer to them for Christmas.

Other Middle Tennessee towns offer holiday events through New Year’s Day. They include,

·         “Opryland Christmas Lights” free admission at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville from Nov. 1 to Jan. 1, open from 4 p.m. until midnight.

·         “Chad’s Winter Wonderland” from Nov. 23 until Jan. 1 is located in Lebanon. Its admission prices are $15 per vehicle.

·         “The Nashville Ballet Presents the Nutcracker” at the Andrew Jackson Hall at TPAC from Dec. 2 till Dec. 23, with ticket prices ranging from $35 to $97.

·         “Murfreesboro Christmas Parade” will take place on at 2 p.m. Dec. 10.

·         “Downtown Nashville Christmas Parade” begins on at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 2.

For more information about Woodbury, visit www.cannontn.com.

"Boro Art Crawl" Bridges Local Artists and Small Businesses to the Public

By Kevin Wurm

Motlow Buzz Reporter

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn.— “Boro Art crawl” drew hundreds of art lovers to downtown Murfreesboro and beyond on April 8, providing outlets for local artists to show their work, exposing the locals to new art and mediums, and getting local businesses involved.

            Although Murfreesboro is home to the largest undergrad university in the State of Tennessee, the “art scene” is nonexistent and a few pioneers in Murfreesboro changed this. Two art gallery owners and Middle Tennessee State University affiliates took this into their own hands. These Murfreesboro art pioneers later created a committee that formed the “Boro Art Crawl”.

 This event showcases local artists’ work in local art galleries and small businesses around the city. Galleries that are participating are Tone-Two Art Gallery and Moxie Art Gallery. A few of the local businesses that participate in the crawl are Liquid Smoke, Mayday Brewery, Top of the Block Salon, and Cultivate Co-Working.

            “Cultivate Co-Working is a small business located in downtown Murfreesboro where work-from-home business owners and entrepreneurs can come and rent office space to work out of,” said Gretchen Bilbro. “Also we have a local Murfreesboro magazine renting space here as well.”

She also noted that this is a great way for small businesses to get exposure and an even better way to get people in their doors.

            Beth Moore of Gallatin, Tennessee, was an artist showing her mixed-media pieces at Cultivate Co-Working. Not only is she an artist, but Moore is also a kindergarten through fifth grade art teacher. One might ask, “What is mixed media, and what does it look like?”

            “Mixed-media is art with more than one media,” Moore explained.

One of Moore’s pieces was titled “Sting”. After just a few moments of looking at “Sting”, one could easily see why it was titled that. There was a honeycomb and waxed paper with a poem written on it, encased in an old wooden frame --a gorgeous piece that would complement any wall. Moore would later sell this piece, and she went home with more cash than she came in with.

            Two-Tone Art Gallery featured local pop artist and fashion designer Liz Kelly Zook. Zook displayed a wide variety of painted pop-art pieces. There were paintings of the nude female body, and there were pieces with a Neil Degrasse, Bill Nye, and Barak Obama selfie. Zook is a stay-at-home Mom and full-time artist who makes a living selling her work.

            “I have been doing Art pretty much all my life,” Zook responded when asked how long she has been painting. “Things got serious when my husband told me I should stay at home to take care of our child and take on my art full-time.”

Zook also sold several pieces and made new networking opportunities.

                        The “Boro Art Crawl” is a bi-monthly event that takes place on the first Friday of every month. The next crawl will be a two-night event in June. The first night’s will occur from 6-9 p.m. on June 9, and the second night’s event will occur from 6-9 p.m. on June 10. With this being estimated as the largest “Boro Art Crawl” to date, there will be several new locations participating in the city.

                        More information about the event can be found at www.BoroArtCrawl.com or the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/BoroArtCrawl.

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PAWS Holds Weekly Pet Adoption Fair

By Deah Williams

Motlow Buzz Reporter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Pet Adoption and Welfare Services of Rutherford County hosted a pet adoption fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 15 at PetSmart in Smyrna, Tennessee, where many animals found a new home.

On Saturday, PAWS sent a trailer to PetSmart for its pet adoption event. The trailer was attached to one of its vehicles, providing air conditioning or heat, electricity and water. The trailer did so even without the vehicle running. This made it easy for pet owners to adopt pets straight from the trailer.

The trailer held four to eight dogs at a time depending on the size of the animals. If the dogs got along, attendants were able to put two to a kennel, making more room for more dogs to get adopted.

“In the past, we would try to go to the Murfreesboro and Smyrna PetSmarts every weekend, but it was difficult as our staff stays very busy,” said Lindsay Frierson, the public relations media specialist at PAWS of Rutherford County. 

The PAWS staff decided that it was best to send animal specialists out every third Saturday to the Smyrna location, and every fourth Saturday to Murfreesboro, to improve their pet adoption efforts.

“It is definitely a major help to the organization in finding homes for these animals,” said Frierson.

Adopting animals from PAWS has no worries behind it.  The animals come spayed or neutered and tested for heartworms and illnesses. The adoption fee varies between each animal, but will not exceed $80. Anyone who is interested in adopting for approval, should allow themselves 30 minutes to an hour to fill out paperwork.

Volunteers get to walk and play with all of the animals.
(Photo by Deah Williams)

Dozens of people visited the trailer in an effort to find new pets. Although not every animal was adopted, a few found new homes. The animal specialists shared stories about the animals and explained their personalities to help better their chances of getting adopted.

Lara, a pit-bull mix, shares her love.
(Photo by Deah Williams)

For more information on the PAWS adoption fairs, visit their Facebook page at PAWS of Rutherford County at www.facebook.com/rutherfordcountypaws. The website lists upcoming events and pet adoption fairs. 

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Pug Festival Draws Canine Lovers to Murfreesboro

     

    By Kalila Loukili

 Motlow Buzz Reporter

               

  MURFREESBORO, Tenn.— The annual “Pug Festival” at the Greenway in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, drew hundreds of people on April 9 for activities including a photo booth, a raffle, costume contest, and a contest for the curliest tail.

A pug is the cutest canine of all, so it makes sense to have a festival dedicated to it. It was the first Pug Festival of many planned for the future. The event, which was free to attend, was hosted by Murfreesboro Pug Lovers, a group that has existed long before the festival.

 “This event was created to help raise awareness within the community about pug fostering and adoption,” said Kimberly Windell, a member of the Pug Lovers group. “But people from out of state started to mention they were coming and booked hotels, so we were happy to hear that it was going to be bigger than we had planned,” said Windell.

 A station manned by the Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue Foundation featured four pugs the group was giving up for adoption or fostering.

 “We have already had two of our pugs adopted, and the turnout is amazing but next year I want it to be bigger and better,” said Windell.

Guests from out of town signed a clipboard that allowed visitors to see who traveled the farthest. The guests who traveled the farthest live in Indiana. They brought along one of the four pugs they own. Their pug named Harley was dressed in a pink jacket with a Harley Davidson Patch.

                Individuals expressed delight as they watched wrinkled faced pugs dressed up in cute costumes. Costumes included cowboys, mermaids, sharks, a geisha, a taco, and many more. The festival featured costume and curliest tail contests.

A pug in costume (photo from Mid-Tennessee Pug Festival Facebook page)

The costume contest was won by two pugs named George and Luna, who were dressed as the couple from the musical “Grease”. The curliest tail contest was won by a pug named Maybel. There was also a photo booth where the pugs and pug owners could snap a photo and have a beautiful memory of their day at the first annual “Pug Festival”. Hearts melted as some of the visitors held or took home new canine companions.

For more information about the Pug Festival, visit www.pugfestival.com.

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Relay For Life Surges Through Middle Tennessee State University

By Danial Grant Elam

Motlow Buzz Reporter

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Relay For Life, an event that raises money for the American Cancer Society, was held at the Middle Tennessee State University campus early April 17.

            Relay For Life helps people and families cope with the disease that is cancer. The global event has spread all over in efforts to reach millions upon millions of people and families who have been affected by cancer. The Murfreesboro event featured 23 teams with 263 participants who raised $15,000.

Locally made Relay For Life sign.

            Relay For life is an event that brings communities together in hopes of raising money that goes towards the American Cancer Society. Each year, more than 3 million volunteers and supporters across the country help the American Cancer Society work to achieve this life-saving mission. Each year volunteer’s come together and make a team to see just how much money can be raised. "This event is something that is very personal to me," said Courtney McCracken, a senior at MTSU and an assistant to the coordinator of the event. “I had a great-grandfather and grandfather who both died from cancer." 

             Relay for Life occurred from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday at the Recreation Center on campus.  The event was open to the general public.

             When asked why she kept with this event after she left home, Courtney said, “Because this is something that is very close to my heart and is something I want to continue to help grow”.

One of many great facts in the gym.

            The event is more than putting teams together to help raise money. It is an opportunity to help people cope with cancer. Even though one might not be directly affected by cancer, that doesn't mean cancer hasn't had an impact on someone. Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world.

            “This event is huge because it helps people who have been affected by cancer directly and indirectly, and with the help of all these great volunteers, I think this event will continue to grow throughout the area," said McCracken, when she was asked why she thinks the event is so important and if it will continue to be a success at MTSU.

            To learn more about the Relay for Life, visit www.RelayForLife.com.  To learn more about the American Cancer Society's efforts to change lives, visit www.Cancer.org.

MTSU Football Preparing For 2014 Season

By Nick Fisch

Motlow Buzz Reporter

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s football team held its "Blue and White Spring Game" at 12:50 p.m. on April 19, 2014 at the Dean A. Hayes Stadium located on 1568 Greenland Drive.

            The Blue Team, which was the offense, beat the White Team, which was the defense, 27-0. The final score had the Blue Team winning the game, but the White team actually dominated the whole game. The White Team managed to rack up a total of seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and three interceptions.

            Redshirt freshman cornerback Shon Akins, who is number 37, was a serious presence on the field by forcing two interceptions, and redshirt senior cornerback Chris Sharpe, who is number 27, had one interception as well as one forced fumble. Redshirt junior defensive end Alexandro Antoine, who is number 17, and redshirt senior linebacker Leighton Gasque, who is number 40, had two sacks each.

            The Blue Team still managed to score some points on the ball hawking defense of the MTSU Blue Raiders. In the first quarter, the Blue Team started off with a three-point lead when redshirt sophomore kicker Cody Clark, who is number 89, made a 29-yard field goal.

             In the second quarter, redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Grammar, who is number two, connected with redshirt sophomore wide receiver Terry Pettis, who is number 84, for a 49-yard touchdown. The extra point from Cody Clark was good, making the score 10-0 at the half, with the Blue team leading.

            Redshirt freshman fullback Jordan Willis, who is number 43, scored the first points of the second half with a 1-yard touchdown run. The extra point by sophomore kicker Canon Rooker, who is number 15, was good. The third quarter touchdown led up to Canon Rooker kicking a 24-yard field goal.

             In the fourth quarter, redshirt sophomore running back Chukwadi Echetebu, who is number 30, ran 8 yards straight to the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point by Cody Clark was good, making that the last points of the 2014 "Blue and White Spring Game."

            The MTSU defense, who gave up 26.2 points and was ranked 60th in all of Division I football for points allowed in 2013, looked very good in the spring. They created many turnovers, managed to get in the back field, gang tackled, created big hits, and most of all played as a team.

            The MTSU offense did not look all that great, which is ironic because their offense ranked 69th in all of Division I football for total points, 31st in total rushing yards, and 85th in total passing yards in 2013. The reason the offense could have been struggling was due to the fact their 2013 captain quarterback, Logan Kilgore, graduated.

             Battling for the starting quarterback position are freshman Brent Stockstill, who is number 12; redshirt freshman A.J. Erdely; who is number 11; redshirt junior Nolan Genovese; who is number 7; and redshirt sophomore Austin Grammer, who is number 2.

            Unfortunately, all four quarterbacks struggled throughout the spring game, which really caused the offense to play out of sync. There is still a lot of time for all four to get better before the 2014 season kickoff, including summer conditioning, practice and fall practice.

            The MTSU running game was one bright spot for the offense of the Blue Raiders. The MTSU rushing attack gained a total of 242 yards and two touchdowns during the spring game. Number 35 Tony Rowland, who is a redshirt freshman, rushed for 114 yards on 23 carries. Number 43 Jordan Willis, who is a redshirt freshman, and number 30 Chukwadi Echetebu, who is a redshirt sophomore, each had one touchdown to lead the Blue Raiders rushing attack.

            Senior wide receiver Marcus Henry, who is number 19, was the leading wide receiver for the MTSU Blue Raiders in 2013, grabbing 38 catches for 549 yards and three touchdowns. Henry formally played for Northwest Mississippi Community College in Courtland, Miss., making him one of the 15 junior college transfers on the MTSU roster.

            “Community College is harder than people think, and they have a lot of good athletes," Henry said. "Community College helps a lot of D-1 athletes to improve on their grades. It really had me prepared a lot for MTSU.”

             Henry is coming into the 2014 season with the mindset of just winning and high expectations for the team, as well as himself.

            “We want to win the conference championship and to go undefeated,” Henry said. “Every time I catch the ball, I am trying to score.”

            Henry has a lot of reasons to have high expectations. MTSU Blue Raiders football finished the 2013 season with a record of 8-4, making it to the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, where they fell to Navy, 24-6. MTSU football still had a successful 2013 season considering the fact that was the first season MTSU had to play in Conference USA since it made the switch from the Sun Belt Conference.

            MTSU starts the 2014 season at home on Aug. 30 against Savannah State. MTSU's first conference game of the 2014 season will be home against Southern Mississippi.

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