Not Gossip - The Cooker's Closed

One of my very favorite quotes is very prophetic in being in tune with this story, and I'd like to share it with you.

"Gossip is just news running ahead of itself in a red satin dress. -Liz Smith"

On April 18, a prelude to "RR&RT" in our local newspaper condoned gossip as an evil. To a certain degree, I have to agree with the editor. I also do not understand why so many people feel compelled to spread information when they have no idea whether or not it's true. But on the other hand ... the truth usually starts somewhere.

As much as I hate rags like “The National Enquirer” or “The Star” tabloids, sometimes a kernel of truth happens to shine through. It's not done so in a very classy or reputable manner, but it's the truth.

In the April 18 edition of Rants & Raves, our local editor was lamenting the fact that he was given "the business" about not doing a story on the closing of the Country Cooker. After research and calling their manager, it was revealed that Clancy's headquarters, who actually owns the Country Cooker, assured him that there were no plans to close the restaurant.

One month later, in May, the rumors swirled yet again that the Cooker would be closing its doors, and still it prevailed…until yesterday.

According to a news release that came rather hurriedly from Clancy's Inc., the restaurant ceased operation Monday at 2 p.m. The general manager claimed that the decision to close was done without his knowledge or input. The story also stated that no future plans or uses for the site were known, but we have a pretty good idea of what may happen under its inevitable new ownership ... can anyone say temporary parking lot?

It's sad that yet another Rushville eatery has fallen, but it's also sad that so much is done to dispel rumors regarding the closing of these eateries (remember the Flatrock Grill gossip firestorm?), yet in the end, closure is exactly what happens anyway. No wonder people form their own opinions and regard them as the "Gospel truth."

I also find it sad that in the face of the closure of some of these restaurants, and the opening of a few new ones, and the prolonged survival of those that have been around for awhile, OUR Chamber has an advertisement on their sign for a Shelbyville eatery. Sad, but true. I understand that these businesses pay for that usage, but when YOUR town that YOU'RE supposed to be promoting is struggling, I think I'd be doing whatever I could to get the word out about my own community. That's just me though, and the Chamber is a business.

In the end, gossip will prevail. Show me someone who never gossips and I'll show you someone who isn't interested in people. A rumor without a leg to stand on will get around some other way, and trying to squash one is like trying to un-ring a bell.

“There are a lot of terrible lies going on in the world, and the worst of it is that half of them are true.” - Winston Churchill

Show me some investigative reporting, and I will show you where the rumors may start to cease.
 
And the questions continue:
 
1. Has an offer been made?
2. Will this be a parking lot for future construction projects?
3. Did the clinic just score points with a new world recognized hand doctor?
4. Can you use stimulus money to acquire land?
5. Is it an irony that this was announced on the same day those responsible to publish a planning editorial?

Comments

[seer sucker]

Sad to see the Cooker go. But the rumors in April were more than just rumors. It is also sad that the owners handled it the way they did. Sounded pretty bad for those involved.

I always thought the Chamber was supposed to support local businesses. Even if they had members from outside the community, the emphasis should be on Rush County. But we see their true stripes. As a local restaurant closes, they advertise one out of County. I hope other local businesses see this and demand change or drop their memberships.

[seer sucker]

Heywood, Pretty ignorant answer. My point is not that they do, but should they? In a community with many businesses struggling does it make sense for an organization that is supposed to be about supporting and promoting local businesses, be advertising for a business outside the community? That is the question we all should be asking ourselves. Who is the Chamber really supporting?

[well]

If we are going to allow out of county businesses be members of our chamber than they have the right to use the signage like any other member. I believe other counties open up their membership to our of towners which I believe is the way it should be. regarding the country cooker I feel sorry for all the people that still have gift cards they didn't use up because they were reassured it was staying open.

[seer sucker]

Somehow it seems wrong that OUR chamber advertises for businesses outside of the County. A place where the County gains no property tax, no income taxes, really no benefits at all. So is the Blue River Bowl in Shelbyville becomes a member, you see no issue with advertising even though it would hurt OUR bowling alley? I guess as long as the Chamber gets money, it does not care where it comes from or who it hurts. By the way, we used to have a restaurant better than Fiddlers. Would you still have advertised Fiddlers if it were still open? What did you do to support the Flatrock? Or was there not enough money coming from it into the Chamber?

[Rushville's Radar Rescuer]

Look at the bright side people of Rushville.

If you continue to be so overly patient as you have been TOO many years with the leaders of this great community and NEVER make a stand. We will finally become a suburb of Greensburg, Shelbyville, Connerville, or New Castle. They continue to grow and thrive and we just get more and more delapidated. I can't wait to see who gets here first. I just wish they would hurry up and do it so we have places to shop, eat, and things to do......... HURRY NEIGHBORS take us, take all of us.... We surrender......

ONCE again we prove how STUPID we can be...... Sad.... VERY sad.....

[Rushville's Radar Rescuer]

Boy it sure is nice to get on this site to read peoples thoughts and I have to see names as STUPID as "Sucker" and "BLOW ME" bickering at each other. Though you both sound semi intelligent, you should have a little more pride in yourselves. These are the types of people that help drive this wonderful community into the crapper. You must be our Chamber members undercover....