Boys ranch to hold open house

Friday, October 23, 2009
By Sadie Fowler

A new 200-acre ranch for boys in need of a safe place to live will be unveiled to the public Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Arrowhead Ranch, 239 Cortner Mill Road in Normandy near Cortner Mill restaurant, will take in boys from surrounding counties in Middle Tennessee who have gone through hardships, such as losing their parents.

The grand opening and open house will be a fun and informative opportunity to learn more about the ranch and how it works. Since executive director Jeff Sweeney is from Memphis, he had no trouble lining up a great Memphis barbecue caterer for the event.

Jeff and his father, Preston Sweeney, have dreamed about opening a place like this for years. They purchased a rundown dairy farm about a year ago and have quickly torn it down and built the ranch.

The facility will have six homes, all with house parents, each housing up to six boys ages 10-17.

The goal of the ranch is to provide residents a stable, structured and normal family life.

For more information contact Andi Burgess at (931) 857-4000 or e-mail arrowheadranchtn@gmail.com.

Upcoming in the T-G

Look for an in-depth feature story on Arrowhead in Sunday's Times-Gazette.

Comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on t-g.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

Great job, Jeff and Preston.

I wish you much success with this project. Bedford Co is lucky to benefit from your generosity.

-- Posted by gottago on Fri, Oct 23, 2009, at 12:50 PM

This is good to see. I hope it garners the support of the community. There are so many kids out there who need the PROPER love and support that they can't really find at home. Good job! God bless!

-- Posted by picmoma on Fri, Oct 23, 2009, at 1:19 PM

your kindness and positive approach will make an impact on their lives that is immeasurable. i was

a student at TPS and coming from someone whose" been there done that" that was the turning point in my life. God bless

-- Posted by keepn it real on Fri, Oct 23, 2009, at 1:38 PM

What a blessing to have an opportunity to help young men change direction and get their lives off to a good start. Everyone who can should support this very timely and worthy project.

-- Posted by Tattoos & Scars on Fri, Oct 23, 2009, at 5:29 PM