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A great community newspaper serving South Knoxville and the surrounding area
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(865) 922-4136
NEWS (865) 661-8777
[email protected] Clark | Betsy Pickle
ADVERTISING SALES(865) 342-6084
[email protected] Amy Lutheran
Patty Fecco | Beverly Holland
CIRCULATION(865) 342-6200
To page 3
VOL. 2 NO. 1 July 29, 2013www.ShopperNewsNow.com | www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNowVOL. 4 NO. 23 June 8, 2016www.ShopperNewsNow.com | www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow
SOUTH KNOX
BUZZ
By Betty BeanTwo weeks ago, Amber Roun-
tree, who served on a task force that studied disparities in aca-demic performances among Knox County students, told her school board colleagues there’s some-thing badly wrong with the state’s funding formula for education.
“You need to be talking to your state legislators about the fact that the BEP (Basic Education Plan) is broken, and our kids are not get-ting what they need,” said Roun-tree, who said that working on the task force taught her that most student disparities are caused by poverty, regardless of ethnicity or disability.
“We all have to come together as a community. We have to all reach out to come up with a solu-tion.”
When asked to elaborate, Roun-tree said Knox County Schools’ greatest need is for additional so-
Rountree Brooks
Rountree calls state funding formula ‘broken’
cial workers and guidance coun-selors. She said these positions have never been adequately fund-ed by the BEP, which was created by the Education Improvement Act of 1992 to settle a lawsuit fi led by a group of small school systems that challenged the way the state distributed money between urban and rural school districts.
The BEP was updated in 2007 (becoming BEP 2.0), but leaders of the state’s larger school systems complain that the state has sim-ply shifted the burden for paying
for education to urban districts like Knox County. Periodically, lawmakers consider bills requir-ing the state to fully fund the BEP, but those measures invariably get punted to a summer study com-mittee black hole.
Rountree said many of the “en-hancements” included in the BEP 2.0 reforms have never been fully funded – guidance counselors and social workers among them.
“Whatever money (Gov. Bill) Haslam put forth this past year hasn’t enhanced that area.”
She said Moreland Heights El-ementary School shares a social worker with Pleasant Ridge El-ementary.
“That’s one person trying to meet the needs of 800-plus stu-dents,” she said. “I don’t think there’s a perfect solution, but the way we’re doing it now is obviously not working. We’re at the bottom of the barrel with educational
funding, and I’m not sure how anyone in the state can rah-rah the virtues of the BEP.”
Rountree said she feels “a lack of connection with representa-tives at the state level – like when Bill Dunn was trying to push his voucher bill through, saying he had a letter from the school board, when in reality it was a letter from (board chair) Doug Harris. The majority of the board did not support Dunn’s bill. And the con-versations I’ve had with Harry (Brooks), I’m not sure he thinks the BEP needs to be fi xed.”
Brooks, who chairs the House Education Administration and Planning Committee and served on a task force convened by Gov. Bill Haslam to work on fi nding more money for education, said that state government has worked hard
To page 3
Tinkerers, knitters, bakers, carvers, illustrators, programmers, cultivators and all kinds of makers will display and demonstrate their creations at Pellissippi State Com-munity College’s second annual MakerPalooza 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat-urday, June 18, in the Megalab of PSCC’s Strawberry Plains Campus. The event is free and open to all.
“Makerpalooza celebrates
STEAM – science, technology, en-gineering, art and math – educa-tion and the National Day of Mak-ing,” said Sarah Graham, a planner of the event and a completion coach of the Southeastern Education and Economic Leadership Consortium grant at Pellissippi State.
“We’re excited to host a variety of makers this year from farmers to welders to knitters and every-
thing in between,” she added. The inaugural Makerpalooza last year was well-attended and featured a variety of technical and craft cre-ations and their makers.
Seth Giles, advanced manufac-turing master lab technician in the Megalab and co-planner of Mak-erpalooza, said, “Makerpalooza creates an environment that re-wards accomplishment – after
all, who doesn’t want to show off their creations? – and also shares information with other makers on how to achieve a task or complete a project, as well as on how a cre-ator arrived at his or her solution.”
Makerpalooza 2.0 is sponsored by Pellissippi State’s Engineering and Media Technologies depart-ment. Info: pstcc.edu/emt/maker-palooza
‘MakerPalooza’ set for PSCC Megalab
By Betsy PickleImagine a library that needed
more books, so it offered writing classes to the public. Or a furni-ture store that wanted a bigger inventory, so it provided tools and instruction to would-be wood-
workers.That’s the kind of farmers mar-
ket you fi nd in Seymour each Sat-urday morning, 8 to noon.
The Seymour Farmers Market launched its 2016 season last Sat-urday with a spectrum of early
crops – lettuce, peppers, onions, herbs and tomatoes – as well as eggs, honey, jams and jellies, lo-cally raised beef, plants/bulbs and crafts. Every vendor welcomed guests warmly and seemed happy to chat for a while. There was no
Heather Howell watches Margie Richard-son try a sample of her Plum Perfection jam at the Seymour Farmers Market. Howell’s jam and jelly creations also include Strawberry Shortcake, Pineapple Jalapeno, Sweet Garlickin’ Goodness, Hot Love Apple, Raspberry Mocha, Spicy Scuppernong and Apple Stack Cake. Photos by Betsy Pickle
pp
Seymourmarket’s appeal
such thing as a hard sell.Market manager Margie Rich-
ardson started the market in 2000 with a core group of seven. Sey-mour First Baptist Church, 11621 Chapman Highway, has allowed
pp pp
Community feel is
Gill vs. Staples???Betty Bean profi les Demo-
cratic nominee Evelyn Gill from District 1, only to learn that Rick Staples, the man Gill beat 1704-1507 in the primary, might jump into the race as a write-in candidate.
The Republican nominee is Michael Covington. It could get crowded in District 1.
➤ Read Betty Bean on page 5
Baker Creek trails open for riding
No ribbon was cut when city offi cials opened 7.1 miles of new trails in South Knoxville last week.
Instead, politicians and key players were handed screw guns and asked to put in the last few screws to the bridge, which connects the new trails in Baker Creek Preserve (for-merly referred to as the Wood Property) to the rest of the Urban Wilderness.
“The Urban Wilderness is a phenomenal asset thanks to all the partners who are here today,” said Mayor Madeline Rogero. “Let’s keep working on the Urban Wilderness and the South Knoxville Waterfront.”
➤ Read Betsy Pickle on page 3
Nicholas Gibbs open house
The Nicholas Gibbs Histori-cal Society will host an open house 11 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at the original log home of Nicholas Gibbs, 7633 E. Emory Road. There will be food, mu-sic and an opportunity to learn local history. Bring a fold-ing chair and a potluck dish. Everyone is invited. In case of rain, the meeting will be moved to Clapps Chapel UMC, located just past the homesite. Info: Joe Longmire, 687-0314.
Youth groups earn funds for camp
The teens of Mount Olive Baptist Church, in coopera-tion with those at nearby Stock Creek Baptist, Providence Baptist and Eden Chapel, have big summer plans.
Their goal is to raise the about $250 per teen needed for their combined youth groups, about 80 kids in all, to attend a fabulous fi ve-day Wilder-ness Camp at Awinata Valley Christian Retreat Center in Marietta, S.C., June 20-24.
Learn how the kids are rais-
ing the needed funds.
➤ Read Kelly Norrell on page 7
2 • JUNE 8, 2016 • Shopper news
health & lifestyles
Joshua and Kelsey Reese
married a couple of months
after his thyroid cancer surgery at Fort
Sanders Regional Medical Center.
0094-0096
Regional Excellence.With more than 250 physicians on the active staff
at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, we provide
the community with the most comprehensive
specialty and primary care available.
Considering his optionsResearch leads school psychologist to choose Fort Sanders Regional for thyroid cancer surgeryAs a school psychologist for Anderson County Schools,
Joshua Reese, 31, evaluates children who may need extra services in school. But Reese put those research skills to work for himself nearly a year ago when he was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer.
“My endocrinologist gave me several surgeons’ names and I did research on them, looking at their credentials and reading about thyroid cancer,” said Reese. He chose Dr. Troy F. Kimsey, a surgical oncologist on the medical staff of Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.
“I felt really comfortable with Dr. Kimsey. I contem-plated and prayed over it, and I felt like it was a good fi t,” he said.
The process began in July 2015, when Reese felt a lump on the left side of his neck. “You could see it protruding; it was palpable. At fi rst I thought it was some lymph node thing, but it grew,” said Reese. His primary care doctor ordered an ultrasound and a CT scan to get images of the mass that was in his lymph nodes.
“He sent me to an ear, nose and throat doctor, and I had the mass removed at the end of August. We did not believe it was cancerous at the time,” said Reese. “He thought it was a cyst. But I got the results back in Sep-tember, and found out it was thyroid cancer.
“I saw Dr. Kimsey on a Thursday and he said, ‘Let’s get this thing out.’ He was very confi dent, and I felt like he was the right one to do the surgery,” said Reese.
Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid cancer, although it is three times more common in women than men.
“It has a very good prognosis, certainly a 90-plus per-cent cure,” said Kimsey. “We measure thyroid cancer in 30-year survival rates instead of fi ve years, and if a person is less than 45 years old, it’s typically a lower stage of can-cer and a better prognosis. There are other more aggres-sive types of thyroid cancer, but they’re very uncommon.”
In October, Dr. Kimsey completely removed Reese’s thyroid gland, along with the rest of the lymph nodes on the left side of his neck. Kimsey also transplanted one of Reese’s parathyroid glands into the thyroid area. These rice-sized glands control the level of calcium in the body.
“I was in the hospital three nights,” Reese said. “Going in, I was expecting at least one night in the hospital, but my calcium had diffi culty balancing out so I had to take a lot of calcium,” Reese said.
“I received excellent care at Fort Sanders,” said Reese. “Everyone encouraged me. They rally around you – it was a very positive experience. I had not been in the hospital since I was 5 years old, so it was all really a new experi-ence to me. It was defi nitely great care.”
About a month after surgery, Reese followed up with a thyroid ablation performed by his endocrinologist. The thyroid gland absorbs nearly all iodine in the body. For
a thyroid ablation, the patient eats a low-iodine diet for a few weeks, and then ingests a radioactive iodine pill or liquid. The radiation goes straight to the remaining thyroid cells, while having little effect on the rest of the body. Perhaps the trickiest part is that the patient must stay away from other people for a few days so as not to expose them to radia-tion.
“I went to Fort Sanders and took a nuclear iodine pill, and then I had to be by myself for three days, in isola-tion,” said Reese. He went straight to a lake house owned by the parents of his fi ancée (now his wife, Kelsey Reese).
“So I had a nice weekend by myself, for 72 hours of isolation. Really there were no major side effects,” Reese said. “I just hung out at the lake and watched TV. They had stocked the house with food for me. There was some anxiousness of not knowing the results of my up-coming scan, so that was the biggest part.”
Fortunately, by the fi rst week of December the scan results were back and it was good news. “I got cleared the fi rst week of December, and got married the third week of December,” said Reese. “It was a wild ride for a few months.”
Today Reese takes daily thy-roid replacement hormones, but is back to working with students at school. At fi rst they were curious about the scar on his neck.
“I said I was attacked by pirates,’ ” he joked. “No, I told them what happened, and they were very understanding. I feel like it helps relate to some students.
“I ran the Covenant Health Half Marathon a few weeks ago,” Reese added. “Married life is good. I have to take thyroid medication and keep an eye on it, but I’m doing well.
“It was just an incredible experience with Dr. Kimsey. He’s a faithful man – he prayed with me before surgery, which was an awesome experience. Seeing his confi dence made me feel really good about what I was getting into. Overall, it was a good experience. I overwhelmingly felt cared for at Fort Sanders.”
Surgical oncologist Troy Kimsey, MD, of Fort Sanders Regional, has a
special understand-ing of Joshua Re-ese’s case. That’s because, like Reese, Kimsey is a thyroid cancer survivor. “I underwent a total thyroidectomy in December, 2012,” Kimsey says.
“The overall prognosis for dif-ferentiated thyroid cancer is excellent,”
Kimsey says, “so my challenge has been not to take the diagnosis too lightly, but
also to be grateful it was not a diagnosis with a much worse prognosis.”
Kimsey underwent periodic follow up ultrasounds and labs with no evidence of cancer.
“I take too much for granted,” Kim-sey says. “It helps me make the most of today when I realize how easily it can be taken away.”
If it seems like more people are hav-ing thyroid surgery these days, it’s not your imagination. “Thyroid cancer oc-curs about three times more often in women than men,” Kimsey says. More than 47,000 cases of thyroid cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women this year and more than 15,000 cases in men. “The incidence of thyroid can-
cer has increased in recent years due to the increased detection of nodules with more utilized and higher quality thyroid ultrasounds,” Kimsey explains. “How-ever, the death rate from thyroid can-cer has remained relatively stable over many years.”
“Most thyroid cancers develop in pa-tients with no known risk factors. Nev-ertheless, some people are at a greater risk than others. Anyone exposed to ion-izing radiation, especially in childhood, is at risk of developing thyroid cancer. In addition, anyone who develops a thyroid nodule before the age of 20 has a higher risk of having thyroid cancer. There are also genetic syndromes that lead to an increased incidence of thyroid cancers,
so family history plays a signifi cant role.There are several types of thyroid
cancer, but the vast majority are differ-entiated thyroid cancers, which means they carry cells that are similar to those found in a healthy thyroid. The differ-entiated cancers are comprised of pap-illary thyroid cancer and follicular thy-roid cancer, and they have a very good prognosis.
Other types of thyroid cancer include medullary thyroid cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer and thyroid lymphoma. If detected early, the majority of thyroid cancers can be treated successfully.
To learn more, search “thyroid can-cer” at www.fsregional.com, or call 865-541-1111.
Troy Kimsey, MD
Surgeon and survivorUnderstanding thyroid cancer
SOUTH KNOX Shopper news • JUNE 8, 2016 • 3 community
Betsy Pickle
Rountree From page 1
to get additional funding to local education agencies.
“In Tennessee, we have moved money away from other entities into educa-tion,” Brooks said. “That’s the priority of this governor.”
The Cost Differential Factor (CDF) between ur-ban and rural counties was one of the ways the task force routed additional funds for urban districts, Brooks said.
“We considered the cost of doing business in the community – what does a $40,000 salary buy in Knox County vs. in Hancock County?” It costs more to live in Knox County.”
Brooks said it is up to the local education agen-cies (LEAs) to decide how to allocate the funds they receive.
Numbers provided by the school system indicate that the bulk of Knox County’s increased funding is com-ing from enhancements mandated by the new law, particularly in salaries and medical insurance. There will be a $9.4 million in-crease for instructional funding and a $754,000 in-crease for technology.
The news isn’t totally rosy for KCS, whose fi nance de-partment has asked the state to review an $860,000 fund-
ing cut because of a change in the way “at-risk” students are defi ned. The numbers will be fi nalized in July.
Knox County fi nance di-rector Chris Caldwell said the state provided an addi-tional $12 million to Knox County this year, bringing the state’s local contribution to nearly $195 million.
“A chunk of that would be because of the revised for-mula,” Caldwell said, cau-tioning that Knox County still kicks in more revenue to the state than it gets back.
“We’re always going to be a donor county. Sure, we’d love to get more, but the BEP enhancement is defi nitely a step in the right direction.”
Seymour market’s appeal From page 1
the group to use its parking lot since that fi rst year.
Richardson says the farmers market grew out of a survey in the late 1990s that asked what was impor-tant to Seymour residents.
“The response, over and over, was they wanted Sey-mour to remain rural,” she says. “They wanted fresh lo-cal food and to keep agricul-ture a part of our community.
“It changes the nature of a community when you don’t have access to locally grown food. A lot of people didn’t want to lose that, even though Seymour was becom-ing a suburb of Knoxville.”
As local farmers were aging and retiring, fewer people were growing veg-etables.
“When it looked like we needed more vendors, we started having gardening classes,” says Richardson. “We’ve had three years of a free gardening class January through March, using space at the Seymour Library.”
Ag Extension agents and Sevier County master gar-deners have come to help.
“We’ve had really fun classes on gardening,” she says. “Some of our vendors came out of the classes.”
The Seymour market has
The latest twist in South Knoxville’s Urban Wilder-ness lured a lot of people out into the woods, but they were much closer to city life than it appeared.
Big day in the SoKno woods
Gary Bopp, Joe Winter and Corey
Korpela ride across the just-opened
pedestrian/cyclist bridge over East
Red Bud Road. Photo by Betsy Pickle
Neighbor Hattie Jo Johnson, 2
and a half, is ready to ride at
Baker Creek Preserve.
continues to put Knoxville on the map and bolster the city’s reputation.
“South Knoxville has ex-perienced more unity, more notoriety and more good de-velopment than it has in de-cades. That’s a lot more than any old parkway extension could do for a community, don’t you agree?” she said to laughter and cheers of ap-proval.
(Rogero promoted the Urban Wilderness over the
James White Parkway ex-tension, which would have paved a wide swath through the UW.)
“The Urban Wilderness is a phenomenal asset thanks to all the partners who are here today,” said Rogero. “Let’s keep working on the Urban Wilderness and the South Knoxville Waterfront.”
Evans gave special thanks to landowners Diane Reynolds and Jason Ste-phens, who allowed Baker Creek trails to be put on their land. “We now have 12 private landowner ease-ments that allow our 50 miles of (UW) trail.”
Baker Creek Preserve has fi ve multi-use, two-way trails suitable for anyone and three designated moun-tain-bike downhill trails for experienced mountain bikers. The June 1 ceremo-ny opened the East Ridge Trails. The offi cial opening
of the West Ridge Trails and the Devil’s Racetrack will be Friday, June 17, with a day of bike demos by local bike shops on June 18.
Devil’s Racetrack is a dou-ble-black-diamond competi-tion-style downhill moun-tain-biking course that was funded by a $100,000 Bell Helmets grant won last year by the Appalachian Moun-tain Bike Club in a nation-wide competition.
The rest of Baker Creek Preserve was funded by a $200,000 recreational trail grant from the state.
also helped with a commu-nity garden at the library.
Community is the em-phasis of the market, even beyond the value of provid-ing fresh, locally grown food at prices competitive with grocery stores. Richardson and her husband, John, cooked hot dogs and beans for everyone last Fourth of July. (Richardson is quick to point out that Bush’s pro-vided the beans.)
She also helped set up a memorial service for a vet-eran who assisted an elderly vendor at the market and on his farm.
The market features weekly programs, with many of them targeted to kids. On June 18, young-sters can decorate cookies for Father’s Day with baker Rennie Baisden and make Father’s Day cards with art-ist Melanie Fetterolf.
On July 16, there will be a tomato-tasting contest. On Aug. 20, World Honey Bee Day, longtime beekeeper Frank Vandergriff will have a honey bee demo. Other educational programs will cover food preparation, nu-trition and health. Friends of the Seymour Library will have book sales, and at the end of the season, Oct. 8, there will be Christmas crafts.
The farmers market is in the process of applying for a 501(c)3 designation.
“We’re not out to make money; we’re just trying to cover costs,” says Richard-son. “We ask the vendors for a contribution to help cover banners, scales, those kinds of things. It’s $25 for the whole season.”
Info: Seymour Farmers Market, TN on Facebook or www.seymourfarmersmarket.org
Baker Creek Preserve and one of its signature assets, the pedestrian/cyclist bridge over East Red Bud Road, were offi cially opened last Wednesday. People attend-ing the ceremony traipsed or rode bicycles through serene woods to get to the south end of the bridge, but the road was only a few yards away.
For a change, no ribbon was cut. Instead, politicians and key players were hand-ed screw guns and asked to put in the last few screws to the bridge, which connects the 7.1 miles of new trails in Baker Creek Preserve (formerly referred to as the Wood Property) to the rest of the Urban Wilderness.
Carol Evans, executive director of Legacy Parks Foundation, introduced the day’s speakers, who car-ried through a theme of how trails build community.
Bob Richards, Tennessee Greenways Trail coordina-tor, based in Nashville, said, “There’s nothing like this anywhere else in the state of Tennessee” and congratu-lated the backers of the UW and Baker Creek Preserve.
Knoxville Mayor Mad-eline Rogero talked about how the Urban Wilderness
■ Colonial Village Neighbor-hood Association. Info: Terry
Caruthers, 579-5702,
■ Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Firearms Association meets 6 p.m.
each fi rst Tuesday, Gondolier
Italian Restaurant, Chapman
Highway, 7644 Mountain
Grove Drive. The public is
invited. Info: Liston Matthews,
316-6486.
■ Knoxville Tri-County Lions Club meets 7 p.m.
each second and fourth
Monday, Connie’s Kitchen,
10231 Chapman Highway,
Seymour. Info: facebook.com/
TriCountyLions/info.
■ Lake Forest Neighborhood Association. Info: Molly
Gilbert, 209-1820 or molly
COMMUNITY NOTES
4 • JUNE 8, 2016 • Shopper news
Marvin West
Now that Joshua Dobbs is back from his airplane analysis internship, we can resume the discussion of dual-threat quarterbacks.
Those who can compre-hend the awesome NFL numbers achieved by Peyton Manning can score debate points on the advantages of a pro-style quarterback.
In theory, the pro stands tall in the pocket, protected by great blocking boulders. He looks to see if receivers went where he told them to go. He identifi es the desig-nated one or the alternate most likely to succeed and delivers a dart.
This formula sounds good and often prevails, game after game, season af-ter season, for half a lifetime in Peyton’s case.
When coupled with great defense, it may win Super Bowls and lead to many lu-
Dual-threat quarterbacks change the game
crative endorsements of piz-zas and Buicks.
The dual-threat quar-terback changes the game, adds dimensions, the possi-bility of premeditated runs, guaranteed scrambles when the pocket collapses and blockers and rushers are falling over each other.
Immediate relocation improves the temporary chances of remaining up-right and may transform nothing into something. Crowds cheer.
There are potential com-plications. If the dual-threat quarterback is to throw, it is
often on the run. In theory, a moving thrower will miss a moving target more often than a pro-style quarter-back might.
There is another problem. Belligerent NFL lineback-ers, pugnacious corners and mean-spirited safeties will occasionally catch the pesky dual-threat quarterback as he zigs and zags. Their goal, at a minimum, is to discour-age him, thus reducing the yards they have to sprint and the sweat to be blotted from their brows.
Down deep, they would like to disable him, punish him for being such a brat. Sometimes, in their exu-berance, they send him to the hospital. Think RG3, formerly of the Washington Redskins.
College football is differ-ent. The pro-style quarter-back is less certain to domi-
nate. Flaws often pop up in the protection plan. What the dual-threat quarter-back adds to the game keeps defensive coordinators up late at night. Think Johnny Football – before he totally ran astray.
Remember Dewey War-ren? He was a classic pro-style quarterback. He stood his ground, defi ed the rush and completed a pleas-ing number of meaningful passes. He became a legend based on how long it took to successfully complete a one-yard run.
Remember Condredge Holloway? He was a terrifi c dual-threat quarterback. Ben Byrd dubbed him “The Artful Dodger.” Even when defenses hemmed him up, they could never be sure Condredge was offi cially hemmed up.
Condredge was more
than an escape artist. He was an effi cient passer. He set a school record for low interceptions-per-attempts. Only 12 of his 407 were picked off.
Jimmy Streater came along a little later. John Majors called him one of the best athletes he ever coached.
In a dramatic victory over Notre Dame, Jimmy displayed versatility with a 48-yard pass completion, a 51-yard scamper and a fi ve-yard touchdown on an op-tion keeper.
Heath Shuler was hard-nosed. He liked to run into and over opponents. Some-times he pulled the ball down and sped away when he might have been better off staying where he was.
Tee Martin once com-pleted 23 consecutive passes. He threw for 32
Te n ne s s e e touchdowns. He ran for 17. Tee, dual threat, was best known for guiding a national champion-ship sea-son.
Peyton is in the Vol re-cord book with 11,201 pass-ing yards and 89 touch-downs. Except for one stunning naked reverse, Peyton runs were usually desperation moves to save his life.
Dobbs can run well and throw some and think deep-ly.
That creates numerous exciting possibilities. Get-ting hurt would not be the best one. Marvin West invites reader reaction. His address is [email protected]
Ever been to Turkey Creek during the holiday season? Long traffi c queues, scarce parking slots, crowd-ed store aisles, slow check-outs. Kinda makes a root canal look attractive ... at least to us guys. Too much of a good thing.
Meanwhile, buyers in the east end of the county are left to wonder where are all those farsighted entrepre-neurs with pockets full of discretionary dollars wait-ing for a suitable outlet. No wonder the likes of Amazon are prospering.
It has been suggested that we need to plan an eastside economic summit. What’s that? It’s a gather-ing of the several business and professional organiza-tions and area neighbor-hood groups to help defi ne
NickDella Volpe
Let’s plan for an eastside economic summit
what is needed and would do well here. A catalogue of what the area has to offer. Finally, a joint meeting with businesses and developers to hone a game plan.
There are active BPAs in the north, east, East Towne and Fountain City areas. Also, a dozen or so estab-lished neighborhood groups that are the very bedrock of stability. It’s time to join forces and brainstorm our future, and to educate the greater business commu-nity to look beyond the
pre-conceived perceptions that are sometimes less-than-kind and mostly un-fair, and see what is truly an untapped and desirable market. The truth is there are great communities and great people who live out here. Despite the errant ac-tions of a few – of course, we have those – and the out-of -proportion news reporting sensationalism that unfairly tar its image, the sun has al-ways risen in the east. Time for a second look. We have a lot to offer.
Among our strengths are great neighborhoods with great people! And good roads. We are surrounded by rural towns and counties to the north and east that consider Knoxville their commercial center. They shop and dine here. It’s time
we focus on and advertise those eastside assets and opportunities to the sleep-ing business world.
Good things are already happening.
The Magnolia corridor is about to get a $4.7 mil-lion infrastructure facelift by the city. The Botanical Garden and Arboretum is expanding its already amaz-ing presence, as is the heav-ily-visited tourist attrac-tion called Zoo Knoxville, as well as the many events and shows at Chillhowee Park and the newly-restored Fountain City Lake.
The East Towne business district has a number of fi ne businesses with a regional draw and improving inter-state access. Look at the ex-pansions of Sam’s Club and Walmart, or the constant
foot traffi c at Hom e Depot, Lowe’s and Target.
Did I mention the boom-ing commercial tenants at Forks-of-the-River indus-trial park? Or the planned development at Midway Road and EastBridge?
As for residential neigh-borhoods, Fountain City is a bedrock community, as are Holston Hills, North Hills, Park Ridge and Park City, Alice Bell, Fourth and Gill, and Old North Knoxville to name a few. In older areas, historic homes have been coming back to life through the vision, investment and sweat equity poured in by young families moving back into the city. And, if you didn’t notice, northeast Knox County has been one of the fastest growing hous-ing markets for subdivision
development according tothe 2010 census.
So what’s not to like? Theopportunity is here. Readyto be tapped.
How to begin? With helpfrom the city, the Chamberand meeting facilitators,the BPAs and neighborhoodgroups should meet to refi netheir thoughts, wants andneeds in order to preparefor a fall economic summitor a gathering by any othername that will synthesizethe collective thoughts ofthe greater community intoa cohesive report. Businessleaders, entrepreneurs andplanners will be invited toshare their thoughts withthe group and help reach aconsensus vision and road-map for the future. Thinkpositive. The sky is the lim-it. So let’s get cracking!
Josh Dobbs
Shopper news • JUNE 8, 2016 • 5 government
Betty Bean
VictorAshe
= Neighborhood Engagement
= City Staff Work
Appendix F — Flow Chart / Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program
B Kick-Off Meeting Neighbors explain
traffic issues. Staff explains Traffic
Safety Program.
Further Study
Indicated?
E Evaluation Meeting
Neighbors detail traffic problems.
F Speed Data Collection & Evaluation
Data from hoses, collisions, KPD.
Qualifies for Engineering
on Point Scale
System?
A Neighborhood
Application Neighborhood
applies for Traffic Safety Study.
H Traffic Calming Feasibilty Study
More in-depth study and analysis.
J Concept Plan
Meeting City presents
plan for deploying
devices &/or route
modifications. Neighbors
provide feedback.
Threshold Met for
Enforcement &/or Further
Study?
yes
yes
yes
Priority Ranking Project Ranks High
or Low?
high
Project will be ranked again in next round.
C Alternate Solutions Staff may suggest
solutions outside the Traffic Safety Program.
D Neighborhood Petition
Impact area defined. Neighborhood gathers
signatures.
no
no
K Detailed Design
City prepares bid-ready detailed design of the
project.
ENFORCEMENT
ENGINEERING
L Bidding &
Construction Projects are bundled for lowest cost.
M Post-Construction
Evaluation
no
More than 50%
approve?
no
EDUCATION
G Speed Data Status
Meeting City shares data results
& analysis with the neighborhood.
yes yes
I Traffic Calming Status Meeting
City shares data results & analysis with the
neighborhood.
low
Tim Wright
School’s out for Evelyn Gill, so she’s taking off her special education teacher hat and getting into cam-paign mode. She’s excited.
“The fi rst district is the heartbeat of the city,” she said. “And I don’t think most people really realize that.”
Gill, a Mississippi native who has lived in Knoxville since 1994, has an impres-sive resume that includes a master’s degree from Rut-gers and extensive experi-ence in business, educ ation and volunteer work. She and her husband, Michael, a well-known music pro-moter and employee of the Knoxville Museum of Art, live in East Knoxville, in the heart of the district, which includes the precincts in Ft. Sanders, downtown, Parkridge and all the neigh-borhoods between Spring Hill and Lonsdale. The in-cumbent commissioner, Sam McKenzie – one of just two Democrats now serv-ing on that body, and the last two elected Democrats in Knox County – is leaving offi ce this year.
Gill has run twice before – in 1997, she came in last in the fi eld of primary can-didates for this same seat after the Black Wednesday debacle. In 2012, she ran a losing campaign against prohibitive favorite Becky Duncan Massey for the District 6 state Senate seat.
For the fi rst time in over 70 years, AAA in East Tennessee will be headed by someone not named Wright. Tim Wright, 69, retires on June 30, after 36 years leading AAA. He followed his father, Luke Wright, who started in 1940, left to serve in the Army Air Corps in World
War II, and returned in 1945 as general manager.
This year marked the 60th anniversary of the safety patrol trip
to Washington for fi fth graders. Recent years have seen some 1,900 students, 240 chaperones, 46 police offi cers, 12 medical folks and 43 motor coaches be part of the weekend trek from Knoxville to Wash-ington, D.C. Wright went on the second trip in 1957 and every one since 1976, including this year’s trip.
Wright is proud of those 60 years and AAA’s spon-sorship. During his tenure, 10 AAA offi ces across the state were opened. The headquarters on Fifth Av-enue in Knoxville was given a major renovation. AAA started an active advocacy program for issues at the state and federal levels, and grew it to the point that lawmakers listened.
Wright is proud to have assembled a team of over 50 who run AAA daily. He says technology and consolidation have been the largest changes, with AAA going from 600 clubs to 20 nationwide.
He recalls being in Bel-gium when the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center occurred. He took a train to London, got to JFK airport in New York and four days later got to Knoxville.
He met his wife of 46 years, Patsy, on a blind date in Chattanooga. In retirement, he plans to spend time with their three daughters and eight grandchildren, who live in Nashville and Roswell, Ga.
■ Marshall Stair wor-ried aloud at a City Council workshop about the loss of revenue from repeal of the state’s Hall income tax, which could cost Knoxville $7 million a year or more by 2022. It is a signifi cant hit on the city treasury. For the town of Farragut, it is much larger in terms of its percentage hit. The fi nal impact will come six years away when the repeal is set to become complete.
However, the Stair
Tim Wright retires from AAA
comment, along with his letter to the editor of the News Sentinel, revealed a concern which the mayor and no other council mem-ber has evidenced publicly prior to the bill becoming law. Council never adopted a resolution expressing opposition. Their concern is being voiced after the fact. The mayor did not raise the issue during her public breakfast with law-makers. She had raised it in private one-on-one meet-ings without effect.
It should cause the council to re-examine its lobbying contract with Tony Thompson (whom this writer hired some 20 years ago) to determine if they are getting the best work, or the council should at least increase its activity in Nashville. The council also needs written reports if they exist from Thompson on what is happening in the Legislature, as the mayor’s offi ce does not brief the council on legislative devel-opments with regularity.
Basically, council leaves it to the mayor to handle relations in Nashville. Council is not invited to the mayor’s annual legislative meeting, although it is now a public meeting due to ef-forts of Reps. Eddie Smith and Martin Daniel. Also, it does not help when the mayor openly campaigns against incumbent lawmak-ers and then expects them to work with her. She would be better off staying out of the local campaigns.
■ Knox County is in a better strategic position as Mayor Burchett has extensive legislative experi-ence and knows lawmakers across the state personally. That is not true for the city, with the exception of for-mer Vice Mayor Nick Pavlis, who works in Nashville and has strong legislative ties.
■ Freedom House celebrates 75 years of activ-ity this year as it works to highlight restrictions and bans on freedom of the press. Started in 1941, it has showcased censorship through the world. A major-ity of people on this planet live in countries without free media including China, Russia and Cuba. A founda-tion of a free and demo-cratic society is freedom to express one’s views, especially the media.
Evelyn Gill with her iconic Rosie the Riveter poster
Gill ramps up campaign in District 1
This summer, as the Demo-cratic nominee, she’s no longer the underdog, and she’s planning to stick with the Rosie the Riveter theme that she rode to victory in the primary.
On the surface, it looks like an easy road. No Re-publican has been elected to serve the fi rst district in modern times. In March, Gill’s general election op-ponent, Michael Coving-ton, got 927 votes running unopposed in the Republi-can primary. He has been campaigning for at least a year (although some of his appearances, like march-ing in parades in Farragut and Karns, have been head scratchers). Most notably, he’s been holding public meetings around the dis-trict.
Meanwhile, in the Demo-cratic primary, Gill defeated Rick Staples, whom many considered the favorite, by a 1704-1507 margin, which would appear to give her an insurmountable edge in the Aug. 4 general election
But there are some pos-sible clouds on the horizon, mainly the possibility of Staples mounting a write-in campaign. Staples said he
didn’t start the talk, but he isn’t discouraging the social media rumbles urging his supporters to write him in.
“I will have to pray,” he said. “This thing took me off guard. It took off and I found out about it on the back end. Evidently a large number of people were frus-trated with how this thing went down, and a number of people took it on themselves to do it on their own. I’m go-ing to think that over and get some good advice.”
“How this thing went down” is a reference to the voting patterns that emerged in the primary, with Gill, who has been an active supporter of Bernie Sanders, rolling up large margins in the majority-dominated wards where
Sanders prevailed – down-town, Ft. Sanders and Parkridge – while Staples won the traditional African-American neighborhoods that went for Clinton. Voter turnout was higher in the Sanders wards.
Staples doesn’t have much time to make up his mind. Election coordinator Cliff Rodgers said write-in candidates have until noon, June 15, to fi le a one-page declaration of intent to run. Rodgers said it would be good if Staples made up his mind sooner than later.
“We hope if anybody’s go-ing to do a write in, they’ll do it few days before the deadline because I have to come up with a master list of all possible misspellings, so the votes will count.”
Safety fi rst!
By Sandra ClarkGuess it depends upon
which side of the road you live.
Knox County Clerk Fos-ter Arnett has closed the longtime county satellite offi ce at Halls Center and reopened it across Hwy. 33 in the old Walmart space, now undergoing roadwork on two sides.
In a front page story by Jake Mabe (Halls edition), Arnett says he made the move for safety concerns, citing dampness and mold in the basement of the space at Halls Center.
Arnett previously moved the Knoxville Center mall offi ce and another at Cedar
County Clerk Foster Arnett
has moved the satellite of-
fi ce from Halls Center, at left.
This view from Halls Cen-
ter shows construction
on Hwy. 33. Accessing
the new offi ce requires a
left turn onto Norris Free-
way, ahead on left.
CorrectionThe chart at right, which
ran larger in last week’s paper,
was NOT drawn by Don Par-
nell. The chart, which shows
the path to obtaining neigh-
borhood traffi c calming, was
taken from the city’s website.
Parnell called at 7 a.m.
Wednesday to deny author-
ship; he called again at noon
to request a correction and
apology. And he asked the
money question: How could a
mistake like this happen?
Newspaper errors almost
always occur when the report-
er writes more than we know.
Parnell says he is retired
and hasn’t worked for a pub-
lic entity since the 1980s. The
friend who sent the chart
mentioned Don’s name in the
email, and I assumed Parnell
had drawn it.
I’m sorry for any damage to
Parnell’s reputation as a result
of this error. – S. Clark
Bluff. He’s also sued Knox County because of alleged mold in his offi ces at the City County Building.
As one senior offi cehold-er put it, “Ah, mold. It just follows Foster wherever he goes.” Perhaps it will follow him home. His term ends in 2018.
6 • JUNE 8, 2016 • SOUTH KNOX Shopper news
SENIOR NOTES ■ South Knox Senior
Center
6729 Martel Lane573-5843knoxcounty.org/seniorsMonday-Friday7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Off erings include:
dulcimer and guitar lessons;
arts and crafts classes;
dance classes; exercise
programs; Tai Chi; card
games; Joymakers practice;
free swim 7:30 a.m.-3:30
p.m. Monday-Friday. Senior
Meals program noon each
Wednesday and Friday.
Register for: Center’s
“Shin-Dig,” 9 a.m.-noon
Thursday, June 9; entertain-
ment by South Knox Opry
and the Mill Creek Mule Skin-
ner Band; bring covered dish.
Veterans Services offi ce visit,
9-10 a.m. Thursday, June 16;
registration: 215-5646.
■ South Knox
Community Center
522 Old Maryville Pike573-3575Monday-Friday
Off erings include a vari-
ety of senior programs.
■ John T. O’Connor
Senior Center
611 Winona St.523-1135knoxseniors.org/oconnor.htmlMonday-Friday8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Off erings include: Card
games, billiards, senior
fi tness, computer classes,
bingo, blood pressure
checks 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Monday-Friday.
Register for: AAA Driver
Safety Program, 8:30 a.m.-
4:30 p.m. Thursday, June
9; info/registration: Kate
Fleming, 862-9254. Veterans
Services Offi ce visit, 10 a.m.
Monday, June 13; RSVP:
215-5645. Lunch and Learn:
Clear Captions representa-
tive; RSVP by Thursday, June
9. Fourth of July celebration,
11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 30;
cost, $1 for barbecue lunch;
reservations required.
By Sara BarrettSeniors from all over
Knox County mingled and munched during the fi rst Beyond Bingo held at Sher-rill Hills in West Knoxville.
Sponsored by the Shop-per News, Beyond Bingo featured a slew of vendors and speakers discussing everything seniors want to know about.
Fitness Together, Ten-nessee Orthopaedic Clinic,
Random Acts of Flowers and Placing Animals with Seniors (PAWS) were just a few of the booths available on “Main Street” at Sherrill Hills.
A bevy of gifts were of-fered to fi ll Shopper News tote bags, and door prizes were awarded to a lucky few who completed their Bingo cards by collecting stickers from each vendor.
A fabulous lunch of crois-
sant sandwiches, fresh fruit and delectable cookies was served by Sherrill Hills, and most attendees walked away with armfuls of good-ies including water bottles, note pads and coffee mugs.
Feedback from Beyond Bingo goers was positive, with requests for more speakers at the next event.
Maybe the next event should be called Bigger Be-yond Bingo.
Dee Ruediger straightens her shot to win a free Morgan Stan-
ley hat. She made the shot; she’s golfed since she was 14.
Click Funeral Home funeral director Ina Roberts talks to Bea and Tom Davis about
burial options. Tom won a gift card to Chop House awarded as a door prize.
Lois Emmons and Inez Ratcliff make their way to each vendor
to collect stickers for their Bingo cards. Photos by Sara Barrett
Knox PAWS coordinator Julia
Jackson brought PAWS mem-
ber B.J. to meet new friends.
SOUTH KNOX Shopper news • JUNE 8, 2016 • 7 faith
cross currentsLynn [email protected]
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner…. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with fl esh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and fl esh of my fl esh. (Genesis 2:18, 21-23a NRSV)
I am reading a book about the War of the Roses in medieval England, and am about to embark on an-other one. Those were perilous times for everyone in the country: men were subject to conscription by their lords, women were largely subject to their husbands, and children were subject to their parents, but also to diseases and early death.
We tend to think of that period as one of chivalry and honor, a glamorous, romantic period. It was, in some ways, depending on one’s status.
However, as I read, I found myself considering the lack of toothbrushes and toothpaste, antibiotics, and Kleenex, for heaven’s sake! (It spurred me to plan a “goodie box” to send to someone, anyone – near or far – who doesn’t have such amenities.)
I also considered the way we take such things for granted, ignoring the needs of others. I thought about how we categorize people, based solely on where they live, how much money they have (or don’t have) – with-out giving a thought to what they might need.
The truth is, sometimes the best gift we can give someone is recognizing them as a fellow human being, who has feelings, aspirations and dreams!
We need each other
VBS NOTES ■ Mount Olive Baptist Church, 2500 Maryville Pike, 6-8:30
p.m. July 10-14. Ages 3 years old through fi fth grade. Theme:
“Submerged.” Info/registration: mobcknox.com.
■ Woodlawn Christian Church, 4339 Woodlawn Pike, 6-8
p.m. June 19-24. Ages 3 years old through completion of fi fth
grade. Theme: “Cave Quest.” Info/registration: woodlawn-
christianchurch.org.
By Kelly NorrellDalton Cox, 15, could have
done anything on a recent Friday night. But the South-Doyle High School junior was at Mount Olive Baptist Church on Maryville Pike, playing touch football with elementary school boys.
Nora Kirk, 16, was on the playground, playing with kids on the slide and push-ing them on the swings.
Luke Fall, 17, and Aus-tin Kidd, 14, helped in the kitchen and then joined games with preschoolers.
“People here are good people. They’re not just fo-cused on themselves, but
Youth group members Dalton Cox, Austin Kidd, Connor Kirk, Blake Knott, Cara
Courtney, Emily Mirts and Nora Kirk care for (front) Andy May, Grant Bush,
Nathan Mirts, Landon Walker, Taylor Wilson, Brilee Terry and Leslie Wilson.
Playground buddies are Luke Fall (standing, at right), teens
Thomas Bush and Austin Kidd, and younger boys Eli Walker
and Bryce Terry.
Teens earn camp funds with community service
Nora Kirk pushes Leslie
Wilson at Mount Olive
Baptist Parents’ Night
Out fundraiser for teens
to attend camp. Photos by Kelly Norrell
fun group activities and Bi-ble studies.
But that’s not all. When they return, the kids will spend another week – June 27-July 1 – in community service. In a project called Student Ministry Service Week, the teens of the four churches will trim hedges, mow grass, perform outdoor painting programs, and weed whack overgrown areas for people who need help. They will also provide a back yard Bible school for a South Knoxville daycare center.
Mitchell said the church-es got the idea at a recent youth retreat. “All the youth pastors of the small church-es started talking about how cool it would be to have camp together,” he said. “We pushed it on to include
Service Week because faith without works is dead. You have to go out in the com-munity and share what God is doing through you.”
The kids at all the churches are running with the fundraising. Mount Ol-ive Baptist has a car wash slated soon. The teens of other churches are hosting events like a Sunday lunch, a rummage sale and a spa-ghetti dinner.
Parents like Mount Ol-ive’s Kendra Kirk, mom of Connor, 18, and Nora, 16, are thrilled.
“We are trying to instill in kids the value of serving others. Kids grow up with people serving them.
“This is very good for teenagers, to be in charge of projects and serving others.”
Info: [email protected] or 865-577-5559.
they are focused on other people,” said Austin, who is a newcomer to the church.
“Every summer we do service. That’s what the Bi-ble says to do,” said Luke, a longtime participant in the Mount Olive Baptist youth group.
The occasion was a Par-ents’ Night Out, when the youth group of about 20 teens babysat youngsters while the moms and dads enjoyed a date night. While the teens minded the kids, interim youth pastor Sam Mitchell prepared dinner – kid-friendly chicken nug-gets, chips, cookies and soft drinks.
On this occasion, there was an extra incentive. In exchange for the babysit-ting, parents made dona-tions to the youth group.
The funds will go to a good purpose. The teens of Mount Olive Baptist Church, in cooperation with those at nearby Stock Creek Baptist, Providence Baptist and Eden Chapel, have big summer plans.
Their goal is to raise the about $250 per teen needed for their combined youth groups, about 80 kids in all, to attend a fabulous fi ve-day Wilderness Camp at Awinata Valley Christian Retreat Center in Marietta, S.C., June 20-24. There will be swimming in the lake, a water slide, a ropes course,
8 • JUNE 8, 2016 • SOUTH KNOX Shopper news
Story So Far: As the special soccer team continues to loose, the school community refuses to accept defeat. More and more pressure to win is applied.
The game against Pennington Prep was interesting. Crisp, bright weather. It almost made me want to be there. Sure enough, there was a bunch of people who came to watch. Some parents. Ms. Appleton brought our whole class. Mr. Sullivan was there. So was Mr. Tillman. I think he was wearing new beads for the occasion.
After we pretended to get ready, Mr. Lester got us over by a corner and gave us a talk.
“Gentlemen, Pennington isn’t such a great team. They’ve won a few and lost a few. More like you guys.”
“We didn’t win any,” Porter reminded
him.Mr. Lester looked toward the sidelines.
“Today you will,” he said.“How do you know?” asked Barish.“I feel it.”“Where?” Dorman wondered.“And what about tomorrow?” Lifsom
wanted to know.“Gentlemen,” said Mr. Lester, “we can
turn the season around if you really desire it. Why not win for those nice people who have come to cheer?”
“Let them do it for themselves,” said Saltz.
“Now,” concluded Mr. Lester, “come out fi ghting and keep on fi ghting.” He made a pathetic fi st.
Right from the start, we tried. Really. We got together in a circle, touched hands and
started to roar, except just when we began, Eliscue sneezed. So instead of screaming “Fight!” what came out was “Fi . . .” Sneeze! “God bless you.” “God bless you.” “Thanks.”
Not what I’d call a mean team.
As for the game, well . . . there were one or two things. The big moment was when we scored a goal. Really. It was the only score (for our side) so far that season.
I’d like to tell you that Porter brought it smart-ly down the right line, snapped a crisp line shot to Lifsom, who brilliantly passed cross-fi eld to Hays, who smashed it by the helpless, confused goalie . . . except it didn’t happen that way.
As much as I saw it, the goal came about when Lifsom was trying to get the ball out of our territory. That time he actually got his foot on it. The ball even started to go in the right direction. A major improvement.
Then one of their guys intercepted, drop-ping the ball along his body. He began run-ning it back. Our side moved into our auto-matic full retreat.
Somehow, their guy tripped. The ball got away. Dorman realized that the ball was free. He got it moving deep into their turf. I could see how excited he was by the notion that he was actually on the move with not much between him and their goal except their goalie, because of what he did.
What he did was stop and watch.Fenwick came up and — not wanting to
waste a shot because we didn’t get too many — stole the ball from Dorman (who might have fallen asleep for all he moved) and gave a boot. In fact, Fenwick only topped the ball. The ball squirted forward. As for Fenwick, he had kicked so hard and up, he fell down.
What happened next? Their goalie cracked up, laughed so much that he let that little dribbler of a ball keep coming. Meanwhile, Radosh came up from the left and gave the ball a thump, again, right at their goalkeeper.
Their goalie punched it right back. The ball bonked Hays on the head and bounced into their goal.
Mind, I did not say Hays headed the ball in. I said the ball hit him on the head and bounced back. Into the goal. In fact, Hays was so dizzy from the shot that he was ac-tually walking around in circles for a few minutes.
It fi gured: we fi nally score a goal and the guy who scored it never knew what hap-pened.
From the reaction of the people on the sidelines — our people — you would have thought we had just won the Super Bowl and World Series. They went wild.
Actually, I was much more interested in the way Hays was wobbling, like a crazy duck. That was interesting.
As for the other high point, it involved me. It wasn’t so complicated, but since it was me, I had the best view, sort of.
It came about because during the third period my shoe became untied. Normally, I’d wait for a lull in the action to retie it. However, there never were lulls, so as time
went on I was sure my shoe was going to fall off. I had to do something. I bent over to tie it. The shoelace broke. That meant more work. And concentration.
Next moment there was this terrible thud against my back-side. It sent me headfi rst into the net one way, and the ball another way, also into the net.
Buddy Saltz helped me un-tangle myself from the net. “It’s probably not a bad idea to face the fi eld,” he sug-gested.
“Do you want to play goal?” I snapped.
“Not tall enough,” he reminded me.Final score: 18–1.In the locker room, there were some
guys from our other teams. Of course, they had to know what happened to us. We told them.
At fi rst, there were the usual jokes, and then this guy, Roberts, who was captain of the eighth-grade fi rst-string team, stood on a bench and yelled for quiet.
“Look here,” he said, looking right at us. As usual, we were bunched together for self-protection. “The joke’s over,” shouted Rob-erts. “When are you jerks going to get your act together? You’re making us look stupid!”
Fortunately, Mr. Lester came in just then. There might have been a riot. Anyway, Mr. Lester shooed us over into a corner to give us some kindly pointers. Not that anyone listened. It had gotten too frustrating.
Then Mr. Tillman burst in. “Listen up, you guys,” he said to us. We gave him our attention. He would have taken it anyway. There was an angry glint in his eyes that suggested trouble.
“I think I’ve learned my lesson,” he said. “I admit it. I tried to sweet-talk you guys into feeling better about yourselves. That was wrong. What you need to be told is how rotten you looked out there today. I’ve never seen worse. Not around this school. And you need to hear something else. I’ve checked. In the entire history of South Orange River Middle School sports, no team, I repeat, no team, has ever lost all its games.” He paused for effect. “Do you guys want to go down in history as the worst team? Do you?”
There was absolute, stunned silence.“Do you?” He insisted on an answer.“Odds are that we can,” said Fenwick.Mr. Tillman turned savagely. “That’s
a defeatist attitude, Fenwick. Can it!” He stalked out.
Mr. Lester looked embarrassed. “I know you try,” he said softly. “I appreciate that. I just think it would be good to win one game. We play Parkville next. Last game. You should know something. Parkville hasn’t won a game all season either.”
With those words of encouragement, he left us.
“My gosh,” said Barish, “another team as bad as us.”
“Awesome,” said Dorman.“We’ll be playing for ‘Worst in the Uni-
verse,’” said Radosh.There was almost, not quite, a thrill of
excitement.(To be continued.)
Text copyright © 2012 Avi. Illustrations copyright © 2012 Timothy Bush. Reprinted by permission of Breakfast Serials, Inc., www.breakfastserials.com. No part of this publication may be reproduced, displayed, used or distributed without the express written permission of the copyright holder.
CHAPTER TEN: Are we the worst team ever?
“a breakfast serials story”S.O.R. Losers Written by Avi and Illustrated by Timothy Bush
Pellissippi State studentsplace fi rst in math competition
Pellissippi State Community College placed fi rst in this year’s statewide Student Mathemat-
ics League competition. The event has two rounds with fi ve winners each, and those stu-
dents’ scores constituted the college’s fi nal standings. Among the 11 top fi nishers are Joey
Allston, Michaela Shoff ner; (back) Trent Walker, Brendan Sweet and Michael Bryant. Photo submitted
SUMMER CAMPSAdditional listings and information at
ShopperNewsNow.com.
Week of June 12 ■ All American Camp, 9-11:30 a.m. Monday-
Thursday, June 13-16, Angela Floyd Schools,
10845 Kingston Pike. Ages 6 and up. Cost: $125.
Info/registration: angelafl oydschools.com.
■ Concord Park golf camp, 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday-
Thursday, June 14-16, Concord Park, 10909 S.
Northshore Drive. Ages 9-17. Cost: $100. Info/
registration: 966-9103.
■ Guest Artist Intensives Session 1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Monday-Friday, June 13-17, Studio Arts for Danc-
ers, 1234 Rocky Hill Road. Cost: $250. Info/regis-
tration: StudioArtsForDancers.net or 539-2475.
■ Jurassic Kids Camp, 9-11 a.m. June 14-15,
McClung Museum, 1327 Circle Park Drive. Ages
2-3 with caregiver. Cost: $25, caregiver free/$20
members. Info/registration: mcclungmuseum.
utk.edu or 974-2144.
■ Justice League camp at Ijams, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Monday-Friday, June 13-17, Ijams Nature Center,
2915 Island Home Ave. Ages 5-8. Cost: $225
members/$250 nonmembers. Info/registration:
Lauren, 577-4717, ext. 135.
■ Mini-Intensive for Young Dancers, 9 a.m.-2
p.m. Monday-Friday, June 13-17, Studio Arts for
Dancers, 1234 Rocky Hill Road. Ages 10-14. Cost:
$200. Ballet experience necessary. Info/registra-
tion: StudioArtsForDancers.net or 539-2475.
■ Phillip Fulmer Hall of Fame Camp, 9 a.m.-4
p.m. Thursday-Saturday, June 16-18, Rocky
Top Sports World, 1870 Sports World Blvd.,
Gatlinburg. Ages 7-17. Cost: full camp, $225;
partial camp, $90 per day. Info/registration:
RockyTopSportsWorld.com or 325-0044.
■ Princess Camp, 9-11:30 a.m. Monday-Thursday,
June 13-16, Angela Floyd Schools, 6732 Jubilee
Center Way. Ages 2-5. Cost: $125. Info/registra-
tion: angelafl oydschools.com.
■ TN Adventures camp at Ijams Nature Center,
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, June 13-17,
2915 Island Home Ave. Ages 9-14. Cost: $225
members/$250 nonmembers. Info/registration:
Lauren, 577-4717, ext. 135.
Week of June 19 ■ Concord Park golf camp, 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday-
Thursday, June 21-23, Concord Park, 10909 S.
Northshore Drive. Ages 9-17. Cost: $100. Info/
registration: 966-9103.
■ Cooking up Science, 1-4 p.m. Monday-Friday,
June 20-24, The Muse Knoxville, 516 N. Beaman
St. Ages 7-8. Cost: $85/$75 members. Info/
registration: themuseknoxville.org/content/
summer-camps-2016 or 594-1494.
■ Dig It! Fun with Fossils, 1-4 p.m. Monday-Friday,
June 20-24, McClung Museum, 1327 Circle Park
Drive. For ages 9-11 (rising fourth, fi fth and sixth
graders). Cost: $110/$99 members. Info/registra-
tion: mcclungmuseum.utk.edu or 974-2144.
■ Explorer camp at Ijams, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-
Friday, June 20-24, Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island
Home Ave. Ages 9-14. Cost: $245 members/$270
nonmembers; includes a full day off -site trip. Info/
registration: Lauren, 577-4717, ext. 135.
■ Guest Artist Intensives Session 2, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Studio Arts for Dancers, 1234 Rocky Hill Road.
Monday-Friday, June 20-24. Cost: $250. Info/reg-
istration: StudioArtsForDancers.net or 539-2475.
■ Junior Golf Summer Camp, Tuesday-Thursday,
June 21-23, Ruggles Ferry Golf Club, 8530 N.
Ruggles Ferry Pike. Ages 5-10. Cost: $140. Info/
registration: davidreedgolf.com or 258-4972.
■ Little Masters Camp, 9-11 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday,
June 21-23, McClung Museum, 1327 Circle Park
Drive. Ages 4-5. Cost: $35/$30 members. Info/reg-
istration: mcclungmuseum.utk.edu or 974-2144.
■ Mega Sports Camp, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday-
Friday, June 20-24, Central Baptist Bearden,
6300 Deane Hill Drive. Ages: rising fi rst through
rising sixth graders. Cost: $25. Info/registration:
cbcbearden.org or 588-0586.
■ PBS Friends Camp, 9-11:30 a.m. Monday-Thurs-
day, June 20-23, Angela Floyd Schools, 6732
Jubilee Center Way. Ages 2-5. Cost: $125. Info/
registration: angelafl oydschools.com.
SOUTH KNOX Shopper news • JUNE 8, 2016 • 9
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8Magician Michael Messing, 2 p.m., Farragut
Branch Library, 417 N. Campbell Station Road. Info: 777-1750.
Quidditch Match!, 3-4 p.m., Lawson McGhee Library, 500 W. Church Ave. For preschool and school-age children. Info: 215-8750.
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY, JUNE 8-9AARP Driver Safety class, noon-4 p.m., Fort
Sanders’ Senior Center of Sevier County, 1220 W. Main St., Sevierville. Info/registration: Diane Lewis, 982-1887.
THURSDAY, JUNE 9AAA Driver Improvement Course, 5:30-9:30
p.m., AAA Maryville offi ce, 715 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway. Four-hour course helps reduce points for traffi c offenders and teaches how to reduce risk while driving. Cost: $30 members/$35 nonmembers. Must preregister. Info/registration: Kate, 862-9254, or Stephanie, 862-9252.
AAA’s Roadwise: Safe Driving for Mature Operators, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., O’Connor Senior Center, 611 Winona St. Eight-hour course approved by the state of Tennessee for insurance premium discounts for eligible drivers. Info/registration: Kate, 862-9254, or Stephanie, 862-9252.
Book signing and reading with Danny Bernstein: “Forests, Alligators, Battlefi elds: My Journey Through the National Parks of the South,” 6 p.m., Union Avenue Books, 517 Union Ave. Info: unionavebooks.com.
“Killer Tomatoes vs Tomato Killers,” 3:15-4:30 p.m., Humana Guidance Center, 4438 Western Ave. Presented by Master Gardeners Joe Pardue and Marcia Griswold. Free and open to the public. Info: 329-8892.
Pizza Ha’s, 8-9:30 p.m., Pizza Hoss, 7215 Clinton Highway. Free stand-up comedy show featuring local comedian Sean Simoneau.
Shakespeare for Kids, 10 a.m., Sequoyah Branch Library, 1140 Southgate Road. Presented by the Tennessee Stage Company; featuring “The Merry
Wives of Windsor” and “King Lear.” Info: 525-1541.Variety Thursday: featuring Josh Cantrell, 7-9
p.m., Bill Lyons Pavilion, Market Square. Free music performances each Thursday. Bring chairs or blankets to sit on. Info: Knoxvilletn.gov/concerts.
THURSDAY-FRIDAY, JUNE 9-10“iPad/iPhone Basics for Seniors” class, 10
a.m.-noon, Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive. Presented by Social Media 4 Seniors. Cost: $45. Registration/payment deadline: June 9. Info/registration: townoffarragut.org/register; in person at the Town Hall; 218-3375.
FRIDAY, JUNE 10Book signing and reading with Nick Penniman:
“Nation on the Take: How Big Money Corrupts Our Democracy and What We Can Do About It,” 6 p.m., Union Avenue Books, 517 Union Ave. Info: unionavebooks.com.
La Inedita (from Peru) & Paul Edelman, 10 p.m. Preservation Pub, 28 Market Square. Info: scruffycity.com.
Storytelling LIVE!! presented by Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association, 7-9 p.m., Vienna Coffee House, 212 College St., Maryville. Donations accepted. Storytellers: Jim Eastin, Sheri Liles, Ruthie McIntyre, Janice Brooks-Headrick, Rick Elliott. Info: Sheri Liles, 680-8453, [email protected] or smokymountaintellers.org.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 10-11The McKameys’ annual Hometown Singing,
Second Baptist Church in Clinton. Friday: 7:30 p.m. special guest The Inspirations from Bryson City, N.C.; Saturday, 6 p.m. special guest The Primitive Quartet from Candler, N.C. Reserved seating, $16; general admission, $13. Info/tickets: 457-3678.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, JUNE 10-12Summer Fiction Writing Retreat, Firefl y
Farms, 195 Tobby Hollow Lane. Open to writers of all backgrounds. Cost: $200. Includes: one-on-one and group instruction, writing supplies, food, drinks, transportation to and from the airport, and all on-site amenities. Info/weekend pass: sundresspublications.com/safta/programs.htm.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, JUNE 10-26“Charlie & the Chocolate Factory,”
Knoxville Children’s Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Ave. Performances: 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 1
and 5 p.m. Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Info/tickets: 208-3677; knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com; [email protected].
SATURDAY, JUNE 11Bark in the Park, 3-8 p.m., World’s Fair Park
Festival Lawn. Fundraiser for the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley. $5 donation at the gate includes: Kid’s Korner, Grayson Subaru Misting Tent, pet contests and more. Info: humanesocietytennessee.com/bark-in-the-park/.
Big Kahuna Wing Festival, noon-8 p.m., World’s Fair Park, 525 Henley St. Featuring: wing-eating competition, wing-cooking competition, live music, silent auction, and kids’ corner and entertainment. Advance tickets: $10, available at BKWFestival.com, Big Kahuna Wings Bar & Grill or any participating Food City. At-door tickets. $15; children under 8 free. Info: BKWFestival.com.
Free Fishing Day, 8 a.m.-noon, The Cove at Concord Park, 11808 S. Northshore Dr. Fishing equipment provided; door prize drawings for kids; free hot dogs and snacks. Info: Joe Durnin, 755-4997.
Front Page Follies, 6 p.m., Knoxville Convention Center. Includes: silent auction, dinner, live auction, musical revue. Tickets: $125/ table of 10, $1,000. Proceeds fund journalism scholarships at UT and Pellissippi State community College. Tickets: FrontPageFoundation.org. Info: Melanie Staten, 776-8227.
“Killer Tomatoes vs Tomato Killers,” 1:30-2:30 p.m., Bearden Branch Library, 100 Golfclub Road. Presented by Master Gardeners Joe Pardue and Marcia Griswold. Free and open to the public. Info: 588-8813 or knoxlib.org.
Kitten and cat adoption fair, noon-6 p.m., West Town PetSmart adoption center, 214 Morrell Road. Sponsored by Feral Feline Friends of East Tennessee. Info: www.feralfelinefriends.org.
Mid South Navy Nurse Association meeting, 9:30 a.m. Homewood Suites conference room, Turkey Creek. All nurses who served in the Corps are invited. Info: 938-1996.
Nief-norf Summer Music Festival: Wild Energy and Pleaides, 5 p.m., Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave. Lawn chairs and blankets are recommended. A $10 donation is suggested; proceeds benefi t nief-norf and Ijams Nature Center. Info: 577-4717.
Oak Ridge Community Orchestra open rehearsal at the Secret City Festival, 10 a.m.-noon, northeast corner of the Civic Center, adjacent to the Oak Ridge Community Arts booth. Info: Cyndi Jeffers, [email protected].
Saturday Stories and Songs: Emagene Reagen, 11 a.m., Cedar Bluff Branch Library, 9045 Cross Park Drive. Info: 470-7033.
Saturday Stories and Songs: Jodie Manross and Laith Keilany, 11 a.m., Lawson McGhee Library, 500 W. Church Ave. Info: 215-8750.
Send items to [email protected]
ShoppernewseVents
kids
Cole Carr
This camp is for the horses ... and kidsTopline Equestrian, lo-
cated at 14501 South North-shore Drive, welcomed a gaggle of elementary school campers during its All about Ponies camp May 23.
Sara Barrett
Campers age 5 and older learned all about grooming equines, saddling up and riding into the ring. No ex-perience was necessary to participate, with campers grouped together based on skill level.
Camp operator Jenni-fer Cole Carr has directed
equestr ian s u m m e r camps since 2003, and at Topline for the last three years.
There are riding and non-mount-ed activities
for all campers, and Cole Carr says participants learn about safety around horses, horse care, anatomy, colors and marking, equine diet and riding equipment.
“Horses are amazing,
kind creatures and are fan-tastic for children,” say Cole Carr.
“They teach balance, in-dependence, critical think-ing, confi dence and com-passion. Many children will never have the opportunity to own a horse or even par-ticipate in a year-round lesson schedule that gives them the opportunities to gain all these skills.
“We began hosting camps so that they could grow familiar with horses in a safe and fun environ-ment and yield all the ben-efi ts possible in a short time frame. Some of these camp-ers go on to participate in our lesson program and ride year-round, and many of them just come back year after year for camp to have a great time and grow their skills.”
After using a curry brush, applying fl y spray and cleaning hooves for their four-legged partners, campers applied sunscreen, donned helmets and headed to the fi eld.
Campers played games under the shade trees out-side the riding area while waiting for their turn in the saddle.
Additional camps will be held June 13-17 and July 6-8. Info: www.toplineeq.com.
Conta Cawdill and her horse are led by Bailey Lones. Photos byS. Barrett
Ashley Hudson helps camper Malia Mullins clean the hoof of
a horse.
Campers Emmett O’Meara, Malia Mullins and Emma Kate Prib-
an wait their turn to ride.
Bailey Lones lets Tex
the horse sniff her
bracelet while camp-
ers Kinley Shoemake,
Abby Arritt and
Eli Smith watch in
amazement.
Early bird sale for Fair ticketsConcert and discounted admission
tickets for the 97th annual Tennes-see Valley Fair are on sale for a limited time. Guests can save an average of 20 percent by purchasing tickets early.
Specials include: Adult admission, $8 (regularly $10); child admission, $6 (reg-ularly $7); family fun pack, $28 (regular-ly $39), includes two adult admissions, two child admissions and a parking pass; fair fun pack, $32 (regularly $47), in-
cludes four adult admissions and a park-ing pass.
Other specials include: a 3-day pass, $20 (regularly $30); all-you-can-ride wristbands, $14 (regularly $22), for opening day, Sept. 9, only; wristbands, $16 (regularly $20), Monday-Thursday; or $21 (regularly $25), weekend special.
Buy a reserved seat to any headline concert at Homer Hamilton Theatre be-fore Sept. 8, and receive a fair admission for $5. Info: tnvalleyfair.or g or 865-215-1482
10 • JUNE 8, 2016 • Shopper news businessthe rotary guy
Last week The Rotary Guy told you about the Rota-ry Club of Knoxville honoring its two 2016 Teachers of
the Year. This week we’ll tell you about a hard-working and talented student who will join the University of Tennes-see’s Pride of the Southland Marching Band in the fall – Kaleb Emmert.
Kaleb recently graduated from West High School and a few days ago the Rotary Club of Bearden hon-ored him with its Bob Ely-Art Pickle $2,500 scholarship. Ely and Pickle were both District 6780 Governors
and members of Bearden Rotary.Janice Mitchell, chair of the club’s Youth Services/
Development Committee, tells us the selection criteria is simple. “A student, male or female, who represents need and aptitude and is a good student academically.”
Janet says she was “blown away” by Kaleb’s accom-plishments. “He will be majoring in music education and wants to be a band director,” she said. “His major instrument is the clarinet and a whole list of others. In person, he is about 6-5 and a natty dresser. His band director at West High School (Jeremy Lumpkin) was his mentor and inspiration and Kaleb gives high praise to his mother (Amy Zarychta) for giving him great character traits.”
“My mom is my role model … she puts everything she has into whatever she’s doing and I try to do the same,” he said.
Kaleb also plays the cello, double bass, marimba and vibraphone. His goal is to become a high school band director and then move into the same job at the university level.
“I got interested in music in the seventh grade and taught myself to play the double bass, and I also taught myself to read music that year,” he says. “I’m good at memorizing and I learned to read music in about two weeks.” His mom says he’s also into writing music now.
He says he enjoys volunteer work and volunteer s at Ijams Nature Center and at UT as well.
Bearden Rotary presents Ely-Pickle scholarship
BIZ NOTES ■ N. Jean Wilson, FNP, has
joined Summit Medical Group at Farragut as a family nurse practitioner. Wilson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a master’s degree in nursing in 1981 and earned her MBA from Meredith College in Raleigh in 1988. A longtime family nurse practitioner, she and her husband, Gene, have lived in the Farragut community for 29 years. Info: 865-966-3940.
■ Aram Demirjian has been hired as music director for the Knox-ville Symphony Orchestra after a year-long search and vetting process. Demirjian (Duh-MER-jun) was most recently associate conductor of the Kansas City Symphony. He has done extensive guest conducting and previously served on the faculty of the New England Conservatory Preparatory School.
■ Elizabeth Hall, Registered Dietitian with Food City, received one of six Supermarket Dietitian of the Year awards at the recent convention of Produce for Better Health Foundation in Scotts-dale, Arizona. Candidates were selected from hundreds of nomi-nations. The award recognizes achievement in promoting fruits
and vegetables through store programming and signage, social media and more.
■ Lori Hamilton received a Retail Champion award, at the recent Produce for Better Health Foundation convention in Scottsdale. Hamilton, Food City’s director of healthy initiatives, accepted the award on behalf of the company. “We strive to promote fresh, fro-zen and canned fruits and vegetables,” she said, “as all are great sources to incorporate into our diet.”
BIZ NOTES ■ North Knoxville Business & Professional Association meeting,
8 a.m. Friday, June 10, The Gathering Place in the Regas Build-ing, 318 N. Gay St. Networking and breakfast, 7:45 a.m. Program: Compassion Coalition.
Kaleb Emmert By Sherry Witt
Activity in the local real estate market continued its upward trend last month, as 1,212 prop-erties were trans-ferred in Knox Coun-ty during the period ending on Tuesday, May 31. That fi gure represented an in-crease of nearly 200 sales over last May’s
total, and surpassed this April’s ac-tivity by 99.
The aggregate value of property transferred also continued to rise,
climbing to $268 million in May after an April total of $242 million. It was the largest May output since 2007, and bested May 2016 by about $50 million.
Mortgage lending remained steady in May as around $344 million was borrowed against real estate in Knox County, compared to approximately $347 million during April. Last spring lending levels were rather high, with $372 million borrowed through mort-gages and refi nancing.
There were two particularly large commercial transfers recorded in Knox County in May. One was the sale of multiple parcels in the development known as The Marketplace, located on
Kingston Pike. The total sale price list-ed for this transaction was $7,394,625. The other involved multiple lots in The Village at Hardin Valley, which were sold for $7.3 million. The largest mort-gage recorded in May was a loan in the amount of $20,612,500, fi nancing the Woodlands West residential complex off Walker Springs Rd.
As we near the halfway point of 2016, this year continues to be ahead of the 2015 pace in virtually every re-cording category. Property sales are outrunning 2015 activity by around $130 million, and mortgage lending is about $30 million above last year’s levels.
Lending holds steady as real estate sales rise
Sherry Witt
News from Offi ce of Register of Deeds
By Carol Z. ShaneKnox County resident
Chris Boler, newly-ap-pointed president of CUSO – ORNL Federal Credit Union’s Service Organi-zation, also known as CU Community LLC – believes that in this increasingly technology-driven age, “it’s real important to make a personal connection.”
Boler began his career with ORNL in 2010 as a mortgage and loan process-
ing agent. His enthu-siasm has earned him promotions to mortgage sales man-ager, as-sistant vice p r e s i d e n t of sales and
service, and vice president of sales and service. “We are a not-for-profi t fi nancial cooperative, locally owned
and operated by our mem-bers,” he says, and it’s clear that he believes wholeheart-edly in the credit union model.
Boler received his bach-elor’s degree in business management from Carson-Newman University, and his MBA at UT Martin. He is currently fi nishing up his third year of South-east Regional Credit Union Management School at the University of Georgia in
Athens, and will graduate this month.
In March of 2016 he was named president of the ORNL Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO.) It’s a people-oriented facet of ORNL that suits him well. Boler will be responsible for growing and enriching part-nerships with other credit unions, and enhancing available member services throughout the 32-branch system of ORNL FCU.
Chris Boler: providing the personal touch for ORNL FCU
Chris Boler
Jean Wilson Lori HamiltonElizabeth HallDemirjian
