bradford info? (Jackson, Martin, Milan: employment, school, colleges)

[heyjude]

I am currently seeking info about Bradford, Tennessee... If you have any info about jobs or auto repair in the area, could you please pass that along to me.
We are currently considering moving into the area, but can't find any info on this time.
Any help would be greatly appreciated...thank you..Jude

[dave_ernurse]

Bradford is an interesting town with a much changed image. I have had close ties to the town. I have worked as an er-nurse in a town close to Bradford and have known some outstanding people from that area.
However, on the way “to market” many things have changed in this quaint little West TN town. As many small towns have felt the unemployment trap so has Bradford. There are no viable factories and except for the school or a few stores; employment is zilch. Many of the young people have left the area in search of jobs. Real growth is minimal if not zero. The school is behind the times in building facilities but the education in this small school is priceless. Lot of caring and several students have went on to top notch colleges. About the only way you could get a teaching job there is to have grown up in Bradford. The town of Bradford truly defines the word, “patronage”.
The town has been ravaged by a series of tornadoes but I hope you don’t make judgments on where you live as to rare occurrences of nature. The town is close to UT @ Martin and is an excellent school. I received my degrees from there. Especially welcome to the non-traditional students. Bradford suffers from the abuses of the small town power mill. It makes the headlines of the Milan Mirror and Jackson Sun occasionally with “alleged” acts of corruption by different individuals. They finally, after going through several problems in power, have an outstanding police chief that has really turned the reputation of law enforcement around in the area.
Things that have cost the city of Bradford problems that will continue in a pattern of demise. Several years back the “officials to be”, decided the best thing was to run the bypass around their small town and the results was their town only shrunk smaller and the great basketball heritage the town had was to only shrink into history. They implied that the “coach” wasn’t the real reason for winning. After 25+/- years he left. Certainly he wasn’t the only reason but he was a real motivator. He now coaches for Gibson County and they are at the playoffs every year now.
So! Would I move to Bradford? Love to visit and love the people but I didn’t grow up there and hence no real future for me. I love rural tn but not a closed society. However Realty is very reasonable in that location.

[dave_ernurse]

try Milan or Greenfield; both are excellent living areas and progressive. they have suffered from hard times but have rebounded due to excellent leadership.