Archive for July, 2008

July 1st, 2008

Thank You

For the work you do and for coming to TA

By Tom O'Brien

It’s great that truckers get recognized during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (Aug. 24-30 this year). After all, the rest of the country should understand what TA has known for decades — the American truck driver deserves our thanks and respect. We see you on the job every day just like us, so I hope you feel you’re among friends when you visit a TA. And what are friends for, if not to entertain you, feed you and make you comfortable? As far as entertainment go…

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July 1st, 2008

Sparkling Personalities

The Greenwood TA emphasizes friendliness and cleanliness

“We love our truck drivers!” says Ruth Lyrse, assistant general manager of the Greenwood TA. Sitting in the top northwestern corner of Louisiana, just five miles from the Texas border, this new addition to the TA family has been serving drivers for more than 25 years. “We have all the facilities to help them,” she continues, “clean showers, a game room, a barber shop, truck wash and our restaurant, so we have plenty of regulars. We know them and they know us!&…

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July 1st, 2008

Trophy Life

News about award-winning drivers and their trucks

Winner announced Donald Turkelson, of Battle Creek, Mich., was named the winner of Arrow Truck Sales’ Back on the Road 2008 Contest at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. The contest was designed to benefit a deserving owner-operator in need of a truck and job due to unfortunate circumstances. Turkelson was shot in his left leg as he was protecting his truck from a hijacker. “Donald has an amazing story to tell and a great spirit,” said Carl Heikel, pr…

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July 1st, 2008

Flippin’ Over Carl

After each victory Carl Edwards does a backflip off of his car, adding to his reputation as one of NASCAR's more unique individuals

By Larry Woody

The first time Carl Edwards executed his trademark victory backflip it was pure exuberance; now it has become a regular expectation. “When I won my first race [in the NASCAR truck series in 2003] I was excited and the adrenaline was pumping and I did a backflip on the spur of the moment,” explains Edwards. “The fans and the media liked it, so the next time I won I did it again. And again. And gradually I realized I’d started something that I couldn’t stop. Ev…

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July 1st, 2008

Bloodstains and Bullet Holes

The historic Carter House and antebellum Carnton Plantation bear Civil War battle scars as vivid as when they were made 143 years ago

By Larry Woody

The town of Franklin, 20 miles south of Nashville, is a tranquil community with elm-shaded streets, neat homes and quaint little shops on the town square. But look closer and you discover dark reminders of one of the bloodiest days in American history. Three blocks from downtown, the historic Carter House and several of its out-buildings remain pock-marked by hundreds of bullet holes, and a couple of miles down the road at Carnton Plantation the wooden floors remain stained dark by the bl…

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