After months of trying to get a Nashville dumpster company to pick up the trash, a Charlotte Pike business owner was at his wit’s end.
Dennis Salisbury said the dumpster had been on the side of his Diving-Ski shop for months. Trash was overflowing and spilling onto the parking lot.
Salisbury complained to Metro Public Works. They told him they couldn’t help because the dumpster was on private property.
The business man complained to Metro Health. They told him the same thing, and explained that he could be cited for the mess.
“They said, unfortunately, the overflow dumpster is our responsibility. If trash goes on the ground, we could be cited for it.”
Salisbury said that when he could get the dumpster officials on the phone, they lied to him about coming to pick up the receptacle.
“We call repeatedly. He says they missed us, and they’ll be out this afternoon, and they never come, month after month. We called and they say they would be out the day we called or next day. Week after week, no show. Then no answer on the phone. I faxed them.”
Andy called the dumpster company and surprisingly someone answers.
He told the man on the other end that Mr. Salisbury wants this dumpster out of there now. The man says he’ll get right on it. Andy hung up and told this to Salisbury, who says that is a typical response.
By the time we got back to News 2, there was a message on my phone from an elated Mr. Salisbury. He said the company was at the shop picking up the dumpster.
What Salisbury couldn’t get done in 3 months, That Is Messed Up accomplished in less than one hour.
The Federal Americans with Disabilities Act states that it is against the law to discriminate against a person based on disability. Under the same law, if that person uses a service animal, then a place of public accommodation - like a motel - cannot refuse service.
So when a Clarksville motel allegedly refused to allow a blind man to check in because of the man’s Seeing Eye dog, the man was upset.
His name is Michael Turner. He has been blind since a motorcycle accident in 1999.
The 37 year old now travels with his certified guide dog, Amberz.
“He guides me around and keeps me safe and secure,” Turner said.
According to a Clarksville police report, on August 10th, 2009, Turner stopped at the Microtel Inns-Suites in Clarksville with his wife and 3 year old son..
“I called in advance and said I am blind coming in with my Seeing Eye dog, and the woman says there are no dogs. I said I’m in the parking lot, I’ll be in in a moment to speak with you.”
Even though Amberz is obviously a service animal, Turner said motel management refused to rent him a room.
“I explained calmly and softly it is against the law to do this you are violating my civil rights. This is a Seeing Eye dog, I am blind.”
Turner says the clerk called police. He waited and explained his position to law officers.
“Were you obnoxious?” Andy asked.
“No sir.”
“What happened when the cops came?”
“I wanted an incident report. I felt my rights were violated. Not only my federal rights, but also my rights as a Tennessee citizen,” Turner said.“I felt like Betsy Smith, in the 1950’s trying to sit in the front seat of a bus, and told to go in the back!!”
“So you told the clerk the law?” Andy asked.
“Yes. I explained, calmly and softly, it is against the law for you to do this. You are violating my civil rights. This is a Seeing Eye dog. I am blind, I let her know I am blind and I need this animal to travel with, and it is against the law for you to refuse me, entry into the hotel. She became facetious and obnoxious. She said the owner said, no matter what kind of dog it was, no dogs are not allowed. I repeated the law again.”
Turner says the police filled out a police incident report, and he went to the court and swore out a warrant against the motel clerk the next day.
“Did this bother you?” Andy asked.
“Yes, very much. I never felt the impact of my blindness for ten years. I am persevering and going to college, and now I question my blindness: am I not equal to everyone else?”
That’s Messed Up went to the motel and asked to speak with the owner. While waiting at the front desk, Andy saw a sign that clearly indicates no pets are allowed.
Nick Patel, the General Manager, is listed in the Clarksville Police report.
Andy explained Turner’s story to him, “A man I interviewed, Michael Turner, is blind. He claims he was refused service here, and you wouldn’t let him stay here with his seeing eye dog, which is a service animal. Now there is a court case, so he asked me to get your side of the story. He feels you did him wrong.”
“You have to talk to the owner,” Patel said.
“Well go get him,” Andy responded.
After a few minutes, Nick Patel returned and stated that the owner has no comment.
A day later That’s Messed Up called the motel and again asked the owner to respond to the story. We did not get a call back.
“This is not right. This is America. No matter your disability, your creed, your ethnic race you cannot discriminate and this needs to stop,” Turner told us.
According to the Montgomery County D.A.’s office, the case from this past summer is still in the court system and is scheduled to be presented to the Grand Jury in March.
The charge is “guide dogs to be admitted.” If found guilty, it’s a class C misdemeanor.
Mr. Turner tells Messed Up he just filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
When notified of the law suit, Kenton Dickerson with the Independent Living Center of Middle Tennessee responded,
“The Americans with Disabilities Act recognizes that service animals such as Seeing Eye dogs are not pets. They are highly trained animals that enable their owners to be independent. Because of this, the law says that public accommodations such as restaurants, hotels, etc. cannot ban them.”
With the upcoming layoffs of state workers.Who was the genious that decided
to put a mile marker placker ever two tenths of a mile.(8.2,8.4 8.6)
Now if that isnt a waste of highway money.Idont know what is.
NOW THAT MESSED UP
William Allen
William,
We checked with TDOT and the markers help emergency vehicles to quickly locate wrecks and people in distress. They are numerous, but they also serve a purpose.
Thanks for Writing,
Messed Up Staff
Just a note to let you know that perseverance does pay off. Had my final court date today. The dog owner has paid all my out of pocket expenses through the criminal court in restitution. He has also provided certification of vaccination status on the dog, which is still alive and kicking. It’s been a long road, but staying the course was definitely worth it.
If you see those dogs continuing to run loose on Posey Hill road, PLEASE call animal control to report them. I hope this owner has learned his lesson.
On another note, there is a workgroup meeting on Tuesday evening, Feb 9, at the county courthouse in the county commission conference room 2. The purpose of this group is to write a proposal for implementing a system to quarantine dogs that bite. This resolution will be going before the full commission, but I’m not sure when. Will know more after Tuesday. The meeting is at 5:30 if you are interested in attending. I am going to be making a statement during the comment phase. This is a first step toward overhauling the county animal control program.
We are going to get this fixed!!! Good things are happening - we just need to hang in there and stay strong!
A Montgomery family has lived at the same Cunninham address for almost a quarter century.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, important bank information started getting lost.
According to Kristie Sullivan, the envelopes had her correct name and address, but for some reason, the post office was covering her correct address with a yellow sticker, then forwarding the mail onto Fort Campbell.
The Sullivan family complained to the postal carrier, to their local postal representatives, and to the bank sending the correspondence.
Everyone said they would fix the problem, but the family tells Messed Up, the problem continued.
Kristie Sullivan says it began roughly a year ago, after a Fort Campbell family that had been staying with them, moved onto the post, and had their mail forwarded there.
The family’s last name is Williams. Mr. Sullivan’s first name is William.
Could something so innocuous be the cause of the mix up?
It turns out the answer is yes.
Beth Barnett at the Nashville Post office tells me, it was a perfect storm of mis-information.
Barnett says the problem starts with the banking institution and the way they are addressing their labels.
Barnett called the data on the envelopes “noisy”.
She says the high speed scanners used by the P.O. scan 35,000 pieces of mail an hour. Because of the way the information was placed on the mailing labels, and the way it is read at the post office, Barnett says, for lack of a better term, the scanners were confused. Add to that, Mr. Sullivan’s first name is the same as the last name of the Williams family, and you have a recipe for lost mail.
Barnett says if Mr. Sullivan’s first name was Bob, this would never have happened.
All the same; Barnett says the problem is fixed, and the post office is working with the banking institution to correct the noise in their mailing labels.
“We have tried everything. The bank even called. One statement went back to them as undeliverable and unknown address,” Mrs. Sullivan says holding multiple envelopes addressed to her, but containing forwarding stickers as well.
Sullivan says nobody could fix the problem for almost a year. Messed Up makes a single call and the post office says the matter is cleared up.
Dear Andy,
I have 2 rental properties in Davidson County which are single family
condominiums in Brentwood Villa. They happened to be located next door to
each other. Just because of that, neighboring units, the tax assessors
office now classifies one of them as COMMERCIAL and doubled my property
tax. They expect me to pay over $4000 for a 1600 sq ft one car garage condo
that only appraises in the $170’s! I am well aware of the massive corruption
in our federal government but at a state and county level?? IT IS REPULSIVE.
I have contacted the mayor’s assistant (the Mayor wouldn’t talk to me), the
city councilman and the tax assessor’s office who all basically say “Too
bad.” THAT IS MESSED UP! Please help me as I am a Realtor who’s career has
been taken away from me with no bailout bank help on my mortgages and now
Nashville, my hometown, is screwing me.
Jill~ Thank you!!!!
Its been a cold start to the new year, but January has been a hot month in the Messed Up department. It is the end of the month, which means it is time for another edition of the Messed Up Mail Bag.
We have your comments, concerns, and updates!
RECYCLING:
We brought you a story about college student who was told he couldn’t recycle in Williamson County because his parents live in Davidson County.
Many of you had reacted like Roxanne who wrote,
“I thought the whole point of recycling was to save the planet. I didn’t realize that saving the planet is dependent on where you pay taxes and who buys what bins.”
Roxanne’s sentiment was shared by 71 percent of viewers, who voted that out of county residents should be allowed to recycle in Williamson.
POT HOLES:
That Is Messed Up also brought you a story about pot holes that can’t be fixed when it is freezing.
One New Jersey native told us that Tennessee roads are superb.
Another viewer, “lissabug,” writes:
“I agree totally with the lady from New Jersey. I have travelled on other state’s roads and TN seems to have the best interstates of any of them.”
LANE KIFFIN:
A story that generated lots of Messed Up emotion was the sudden departure of Lane Kiffin.
Chrisnd writes:
“I am ecstatic to see Lane Kiffin leave UT!!! Why would he want to stay with a “university” that has more arrests than Snoop Dogg and is currently under investigation.”
Cole20 Writes:
“what the heck is wrong with you kiffin? all of tennessee hates you now. yu are the dumbest coach tennessee ever had.”
CEMETERY:
We also delivered a story about the Nashville National Cemetery on Gallatin Road.
When this woman questioned why it is taking eight months to fix this cemetery wall by her grandparents grave, Messed Up got involved.
Since a car caused the destruction here, some of you asked us why the motorist’s insurance doesn’t pay for the repairs?
Regional Director Paul Martin tells us it is not that simple. Apparently, the insurance money doesn’t go to the cemetery, it goes into a general fund before it is distributed.
The Director tells family members to hang in there. There could be a wall repair plan developed in a few days.
I recently moved from Smyrna to Lascassas. I took care of changing all the the things needed when making such a move. And when the time came to make an annual docotr’s appointment I changed doctor’s to one closer to my new home. The new dr. (a pediatrician)saw my child even though i hadn’t brought my their records. The new Dr.had me fill out a medical transcript request and said they’d send to my “old” dr. and take care of getting the records for me. At my next appt. with the new dr. they said the “old” dr. wouldn’t release the records. SO I called the “old” dr. and was told that they charge $20 for release of records. WHAT?!?! They’re MY records and why does the office visit payment not cover recording keeping? I moved, didn’t change dr. for any other reason than relocation but I’m being charged for it. I was told by the “old” dr. it was standard among most offices today. I called over a dozen other medical offices and not even ONE charges for dr.
to dr. transfer of records. Some do charge to give copies to the patient but not a new dr. After many failed attempts on the phone I sent them a letter stating my disappointment on my childs records being held hostage and now my child can not see the new “dr” without his records. After my letter stating I could not and would not pay for my own records being sent to a new dr. They send me a BILL for the amount!! What choice do I have but pay the bill or face the consequences of a blemish on my credit for undpaid medical charge. I am so upset and feel it is CRAZY to be charged for my own records!! I”ve paid every office copay, every test ordered, every prescription given and have been faithful to that Dr. alone until we moved and now they won’t give my new dr. my child’s records.
My name is Amber Simms
Since toyota has froze sales on numerous vehicles i feel that i am in danger just driving down the road if toyota camry is the number one selling car in the us what if that camry hits me i feel that the gv should ban all toyota cars and trucks in this recall from being on the road to try and make it safe from the rest of the people on the roads.
Signed a concerned person
Rick sisk.
FSC cigarrettes are not fire safe! When they go out on you and you relight
them, they catch on fire; also the stuff put in the paper to make them fire
safe is terrible for inhaling… Bring back regular cigarrettes before
something tragic happens! Noone is just gonna quit smoking that easy, times
are messed up and very stressful!
by
Salisbury complained to Metro Public Works. They told him they couldn’t help because the dumpster was on private property.
Here’s a nice Messed Up Update to 
On another note, there is a workgroup meeting on Tuesday evening, Feb 9, at the county courthouse in the county commission conference room 2. The purpose of this group is to write a proposal for implementing a system to quarantine dogs that bite. This resolution will be going before the full commission, but I’m not sure when. Will know more after Tuesday. The meeting is at 5:30 if you are interested in attending. I am going to be making a statement during the comment phase. This is a first step toward overhauling the county animal control program.
