T'was four nights before
Ricky Watson retired,

The Brentwood Police Chief
so widely admired....

Police Chief Ricky Watson awaits Spc. Andrew Wilson's arrival on Dec. 20, 2011. The hero's welcome Watson orchestrated was one of the most amazing events in the city's history.

Watson goes out a winner; trades gun for golf clubs

By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
Ricky Watson has served as Brentwood's Chief of Police since 2000, when he became  only the second person to hold the title in the city's 42-year history. The 25-year veteran of the Brentwood Police Department leaves quite a legacy behind as he prepares to retire at the end of the month. Today we're honored to post a profile of Watson; a compilation of remarks collected from community leaders and members in his honor, and a story on the promotions that are taking place within the department.

Hughes	Walsh

Brentwood Home Page news reports
With the retirement of Brentwood Police Chief Ricky Watson, several promotions will take place in the department effective Monday. Already announced have been the promotions of Assistant Police Chief Jeff Hughes to chief of police, and Capt. Tommy Walsh to assistant chief.

Roger Horner

Municipal League seminar set at library long before debate over early voting site

By CAROL STUART
Brentwood Home Page
Ironically, the Tennessee Municipal League’s attorneys association is among the groups scheduled to meet at the Brentwood Library during the time the Williamson County Election Commission wanted the space for early voting in February. 

By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
The city’s police department is about to get seven new 2012 Dodge Chargers and one unmarked patrol car after winning approval from the Brentwood City Commission. The commission also voted unanimously to limit applications for any of the city’s volunteer boards to one person per household.

Mild forecast continues through week
Upated 9 p.m. Monday
Brentwood Home Page news reports
The Brentwood Fire & Rescue Department responded to an unusual call early Monday morning. A Waller Road family didn't have a cat in a tree that needed rescuing, but they did have a trampoline in need of assistance.

Anne Dunn

Updated and corrected at 5 p.m. Monday to clarify planning commissioners dual membership on other city volunteer boards.

Commission to consider limiting applications
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
At the end of tonight’s Brentwood City Commission meeting, each member will vote for their top three choices from a field of eight applicants to serve on the city’s Historic Commission. If an earlier item on the agenda passes, none of those eight had better be sleeping under the same roof as a member of another city board or commission.

Election Commission chairman Bob Brown outlines options and locations of early voting sites at the commission's Tuesday morning meeting. Election Administrator Anne Beard looks on.

Action puts decision in judge's hand; no hearing Thursday
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
There will be no early voting in Brentwood next month in the weeks leading up to the March 6 Presidential Preference Primary. Instead, votes can be cast at a to-be-determined Nolensville location or Berry’s Chapel Church of Christ in Franklin.

Friends of the Brentwood Library's Quartly Book Sales fill both meeting rooms.

Friends' winter book sale starts next week
Brentwood Home Page staff reports
The Williamson County Election Commission has filed a lawsuit in order to be able to use the library as an early voting site next month for the Presidential Preference Primary. The city has said it can’t be a polling place because it’s already booked. A quick look at the library's calendar backs that up.

Board makes quick work of consent, regular agendas
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
An otherwise short and routine Brentwood City Commission meeting Monday night was marked with both action and reaction to a lawsuit filed Friday against the commission and City Manager Mike Walker by the Williamson County Election Commission.

Issue: Who controls use of Brentwood Library as polling place
Updated at 6 p.m. Monday
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
A Williamson County judge will ultimately decide if the city-owned Brentwood Library must be made available for use as an early voting venue by the Williamson County Election Commission, which administrates all local, county, state and federal elections held in the county. The Jan. 19 hearing is the result of a lawsuit filed late Friday afternoon against Mayor Paul Webb, City Manager Mike Walker and the Brentwood City Commission by the State of Tennessee for the Williamson County Election Commission.

The following is a copy of a statement the City of Brentwood released Jan. 9 in response to a lawsuit filed Friday, Jan. 6, at 4:06 p.m. by the Williamson County Election Commissiont:

"A lawsuit has been filed by the Williamson County Election Commission, naming the Mayor, the City Manager and the Board of Commissioners of the City of Brentwood as defendants.  The lawsuit seeks a court order to compel the City of Brentwood to allow early voting for upcoming state and national elections at the Brentwood Library.

Williamson County Schools has proposed a $1.8 million update to Scales Elementary School in its current-year capitol improvements plan.

Committees balk at amount; projects include Scales update
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
The “big game” may be scheduled for the Superdome in New Orleans tonight but another interesting showdown may play out in the Williamson County Commission auditorium in Franklin. The commission will vote on Williamson County Schools’ annual 2011-12 Board of Education Capital Outlay Needs request for up to $26,515,448.

Brentwood Home Page news reports
Beginning Friday, new bus fares will go into effect for Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) bus passengers, which include commuters on the 91X Franklin/Brentwood Express.

Brentwood citizens organization changes its mission, marketing to help with 80-acre Smith option 
By CAROL STUART
Brentwood Home Page
The Citizens for Brentwood Green Space will start off 2012 with planning steps for its new resolution and identity, a goal of raising $300,000 over the next five years to help the city purchase another 80 acres for the new 322-acre Marcella Vivrette Smith Park. While specifics aren’t ironed out, one idea  includes a fundraising event and/or project with the Brentwood Photography Group. Another could be a Walk in the Park.

Commisioner Joe Sweeney with Mayor Betsy Crossley, left, and commissioners Paul Webb and Joe Reagan following his announcement that he would retire from public office.

By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
A young soldier’s homecoming closed out the year not only as Brentwood Home Page’s best-read story of the year but as the city’s Story of the Year. New residents as well as those who have lived here for decades commented they had never seen or been a part of anything like the Dec. 20 hero’s welcome for Spc. 4 Andrew Wilson.

On Tuesday, the City of Brentwood came together in a very special way to welcome wounded U.S. soldier Andrew Wilson home. Click Read More for links to our team coverage. Above, Teddy, Andrew's 8-year-old Wheaten terrier, stands guard in the family's front yard as photographed by Peg Fredi just after Andrew returned to his Bonbrook home.

The new Blink charging stations are open 24 hours a day.

By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
Charge! Nope, that’s not a call to use your credit cards though a lot of that type of action is taking place this holiday season. But if you have an electric car, you can charge away at two sites in the city  and, at least for the moment, you can charge your car for free.