SOUTH KNOX VOL. 2 NO. 35 1
IN THIS ISSUE
Dogwoods are coming South
The 2015 Dogwood Luncheon will be held at Ijams Nature Center on Wednesday, April 8. This bit of good news comes courtesy of Lisa Duncan, executive director of the Dogwood Arts Festival. With Chapman Highway as the featured Dogwood Trail for 2015, this makes the honor – and responsibility – for South Knox a double one where Dogwood days are concerned.
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September July 29, 3, 2013 2014
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TSD projects …
Read Betsy Pickle on page 3
Meet Lisa Light Lisa Light has taught in four school districts in two states, but she has already discovered what’s special about Gap Creek Elementary School.
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The new principal of South Knoxville Elementary School says she didn’t know much about the community or the school previously. What has surprised her has been “just how passionate people are about the South Knoxville community and the school and the pride for both,” she says. “It’s really inspiring. “People from here don’t say, ‘I’m from Knoxville.’ They say, ‘I’m from South Knoxville.’ And I love that.” Meet the new principal on page 6
Angelic Ministries Angelic Ministries served more than 5,000 families in crisis last year, and now founder Betsy Frazier and her dedicated staff of volunteers are planning a fundraiser.
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Read Nancy Whittaker on page 7
Mike Lowe back in the news When Tommy Schumpert ran for county executive in 1994, Mike Lowe made his move. He ran for trustee as a reformer and promised to depoliticize the office, institute an anti-nepotism policy and end the practice of dunning employees for campaign contributions.
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By Betsy Pickle
Meet the new principal on page 6
Meet Tanna Nicely
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keep education, safety in mind
Read Betty Bean on page 4
7049 Maynardville Pike 37918 (865) 922-4136 NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark | Betsy Pickle ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Shannon Carey Jim Brannon | Tony Cranmore Patty Fecco | Wendy O’Dell
Anyone who’s driven past the Tennessee School for the Deaf lately knows that changes are happening on campus. But the bulldozers, graders and other machines hard at work – even on weekends – give only a hint of the exciting transformation underway. Phase one includes what passersby see: a new road around the perimeter of the property that will divert traffic away from the center of the campus. It’s a move to increase safety, says Alan Mealka, superintendent of the school. “That leaves the middle carfree and pedestrian-friendly,” Mealka says. Completion of the perimeter road is expected around the beginning of October. Changes that haven’t been visible are improvements to bring facilities up to fire code and ADA requirements, as well as new floors for the gymnasium and
Alan Mealka and Elaine Anderson stand in front of an under-construction section of perimeter road heading toward Island Home Avenue on the Tennessee School for the Deaf campus. Photo by Betsy Pickle
swimming pool and new amenities for the residential cottages that missed out on the last round of renovations. Still to come are infrastructure renovations such as electric, water and sewage to prepare for phase two: a new high school building. The new building was envisioned 25 years ago as part of a master plan. Money has only now become available for the upgrades to the state-run boarding school, which serves children from age 3 to 22. About 100 of the 200 students are in high school. Having a new high school building on the site currently occupied by Poore Hall will make a huge difference, Mealka says. “Right now the high school is spread out over several different buildings, so we’ve got kids going all over the place, and it’s just not a good academic environment,” he says. “What we really want to do is put our high school with
the academic and the CTE in one building, and our campus library in that building also. “The four or five buildings that are housing high school students are (from the) 1950s. If nothing else, the technology has changed tremendously.” Poore and the other existing high school buildings will be demolished, Mealka says. There are also plans for a new central dining hall. Many on campus have been involved in envisioning the new facilities. “They engaged a person at Gallaudet University in Washington who knows deaf space, and he came down and worked with our faculty and our students,” says Elaine Alexander, director of instruction and point person on the revamp. “The architects took our recommendations and combined them into four different possibilities and then reduced it down to two, and then the two
were combined, using the ideas from the kids and from the staff. “It’s still very preliminary, but their ideas were taken into consideration. Our fifth-graders will be the first ninth-grade class in the new building if it goes on schedule. We definitely wanted them involved in what they would like their high school to look like.” Mealka and Alexander expect a lot from the changes. “We hope to have the most up-todate technology available for our students at that time, things that have not been invented yet – that’s what the teachers want,” says Alexander. The tech revolution has improved life for TSD students. “All the technology has been a tremendous benefit for our kids and the deaf community at large,” says Mealka. “Everything we’re doing is to increase the educational opportunity for our students.”
The destruction of Coach Roach By Betty Bean
On election night in Grainger County, supporters of longtime state Rep. Dennis “Coach” Roach got together to await the 35th House District Republican Primary returns. Their candidate fought hard to overcome a tsunami of negative advertising financed by as much as $500,000 from out-of-state special-interest groups blasting Roach for “ghost voting” (the common and fairly innocuous practice of seat-mates pushing the voting button for neighbors who have stepped out to use the restroom or take a smoke). The ads painted it as dangerous and lazy, but Roach’s supporters were cautiously optimistic that Roach, a popular teacher and basketball coach who had served since 1994, would survive. “We thought Jerry was going to get his showing, but it turned out we got our showing,” said Grainger County Commissioner James Acuff. When the final tally was in, Roach lost by nearly 1,000 votes
Coach Roach
Jerry Sexton
to opponent Jerry Sexton, a preacher turned furniture manufacturer whose Facebook page describes him as “More pro-life than your pastor, more for the Second Amendment than Davy Crockett, and more for traditional marriage than Adam and Eve.” The real issue that got the attention of 501(c)(4) groups like the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity and the Tennessee Federation for Children wasn’t ghost voting at all. “It all came down to my vote on the vouchers,” said Roach, whose district includes Grainger and parts of Union and Claiborne counties.
Roach was particularly disappointed in his Union County showing, where he lost 670-320. “We thought we might do a little better than that after saving them $497,000 (by pushing to keep the K12 Inc. Virtual Academy open against the wishes of Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman). We helped (Union County) save that revenue, and they ran a thank-you in the News Sentinel. “But I guess what we did didn’t impress them enough to overcome those ads. They were good ads but just about 99 percent false.” Roach cast the fateful vote on March 5 in the House Finance Ways & Means subcommittee (aka “the Black Hole”) opposing a school voucher bill that would have directed taxpayer money to private schools. “I could have very easily voted for them and saved myself this trouble, but I’ve been in education all my life, and it’s not a real good time to be taking money out of public education,” Roach said. “I’ve run 10 times before but spent
more money in this race than in all my other contests combined. “We raised about $57,000, and we spent it. The TEA did a mailer or two that didn’t cost me, spent about $7,500 or so, but you compare that to $400,000-something … And they did radio, too. We came back and did what we could, but you spend what you’ve got and no more.” Final contribution tallies won’t be disclosed until October. Several of Roach’s colleagues chipped in campaign contributions in an attempt to fend off the onslaught, including Rep. Ryan Haynes, who says he’d like to dam the flow of outside money. “Coach is exactly right. The voucher bill is what got him, and there’s way too much money in politics. I’ve never had a constituent come up to me and tell me they wish they could get more money in my hand. The public is right to be concerned about this, and I think it’s incumbent on voters to start saying, ‘Hey, where’s this coming from?’ ”
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2 • SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 • Shopper news
health & lifestyles
Helping drivers get back in control On the road again, Goin’ places that I’ve never been, Seein’ things that I may never see again, And I can’t wait to get on the road again. – Willie Nelson
Nicole White, occupational therapist and driving rehabilitation therapist at Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, is excited the Adaptive Driving Program is back. “We can determine whether folks are still safe to drive or whether it’s time to hang up the keys,� White said.
ond evaluation is completed on the road in one of the program’s vehicles. “We offer two vehicles, a sedan and minivan, that can be adapted depending on the person’s disability and what they need to be a safe driver,� said White. Gas and brake pedals can be operated by the use of adaptive hand controls if the patient is unable to use their legs, for example. Turn signals, windshield wipers and the emergency brake can all have
extenders or switches installed to make them easier to reach. Wide-angle mirrors can be attached to assist patients with limited neck movement. Once she modiďŹ es the vehicle to suit the client, White takes him or her out on the road. “We start out in the parking lot to introduce the client to the equipment. Then we move onto residential roads, going under 25 miles per hour, then the patient can progress to moderate and
Senior driving stats According to a survey done earlier this year by â– One-third have taken driver improvement AAA, the American Occupational Therapy Asso- courses. ciation and AARP, here are some interesting facts â– 52 percent drive seven days a week. about drivers 65 and older. â– Drivers in their mid-to-late 80s have apâ– Nine out of 10 older drivers buckle up when proximately half the crash rate of teenagers. behind the wheel.
heavy travelled roads, and ďŹ nally they move onto the highways, if appropriate.â€? White is right there with them, with her own set of gas and brake pedals on her side of the car in case there’s a problem. “If things get hairy I can take control of the car,â€? White said with a laugh. At the end of the program, each client receives a prescription of
Keep track with a MED MINDER card
Is it safe for me to hit the road? The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) focuses on how occupational therapists can perform professional assessments to determine whether seniors can safely drive, and help find assistive technologies to make driving possible. AOTA’s “aim is to promote an understanding of the importance of mobility and transportation, and to ensure that older adults remain active in the community – shopping, working or volunteering – with the conďŹ dence that transportation will not be the barrier to strand them at home.â€?
Here are some reasons to consider having a professional driving assessment done: ■If you’re feeling less exible, not seeing as well or your reexes have slowed. ■If you have a medical condition like arthritis, peripheral neuropathy or early stage dementia. ■If your vision has worsened. ■If others say you’re not driving safely. ■If it’s been a long time since you have driven because of a medical reason. ■If you’ve moved and are not familiar with your surroundings.
The Fort Sanders “Med Minder� card helps you keep a list of your current medications, dosages and drug allergies in one convenient place. Having this information with you can help medical professionals provide the best treatment for you in the event of an emergency. Call 865-673-FORT (3678) for a free Fort Sanders Med Minder card today!
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Americans love their cars, and for most adults, driving is essential to freedom and independence. At the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, the Adaptive Driving Program has returned to help older adults and others with disabilities receive the training and support they need to drive safely. “We assess each patient regarding their vision, cognition, physical movement and road knowledge,� said Nicole White, an occupational therapist and driving rehabilitation therapist who runs the program. “And we can determine whether folks are still safe to drive or whether it’s time to hang up the keys and look at alternative transportation options.� Some clients are referred to the Adaptive Driving Program for agerelated illnesses like early dementia or arthritis, while others are relearning to drive after amputations or spinal cord injuries. Depending on each client’s needs, White tailors a program individually. First, she performs a number of clinical assessments inside the clinic to determine range of motion and strength in the client’s arms and legs, peripheral vision and depth perception, and information processing and decision making skills. If White determines the client has the ability to drive, the sec-
equipment to buy for his or her own car to drive safely. “Once we ďŹ nd out what type of equipment is going to work well for the patient, we provide them with a list of mobility equipment dealers in the area who can install the prescribed equipment for the patient,â€? said White. “We go with the client to ensure the equipment is installed and ďŹ ts the client appropriately. Then we make sure the client feels comfortable with their newly adapted vehicle.â€? “We can do anything that’s considered ‘low-tech,’ â€? she added. “Hand controls, left foot accelerator and pedal extenders, that kind of thing. If a person requires hightech equipment (i.e. joystick driving controls, electronic voice scans and touch pad screens) to drive, we can refer them to other driving programs that have the expertise to assist the clientâ€? Many of the center’s clients are older adults whose families are not certain they’re still safe on the road. “For the older driver, we can do education sessions while they are in the program about how to compensate for any deficits they may have and a review of the rules of the road. Everyone develops a few bad habits, like a rolling stop at a stop sign, so we can review things like that,â€? said White. The Adaptive Driving Program is open to anyone with a referral from a physician and it is a selfpay program. “Some people may only need one to two training sessions after the evaluations; others may need more as each client is different,â€? said White. For more information about the Adaptive Driving Program and the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, visit www.patneal.org or call 865-541-1446.
SOUTH KNOX Shopper news • SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 • 3
Ready for dogwoods? The 2015 Dogwood Lun- Film Festival, Sept. 11-14 at cheon will be held at Ijams Downtown West, and BazilNature Center on Wednes- lion Blooms on Dec. 6. day, April 8. ■ Election primer
Betsy Pickle
This bit of good news comes courtesy of Lisa Duncan, executive director of the Dogwood Arts Festival. With Chapman Highway as the featured Dogwood Trail for 2015, this makes the honor – and responsibility – for South Knox a double one where Dogwood days are concerned. The invitation-only luncheon kicks off the opening of the Dogwood Trails, Open Gardens & Camera Sites and Walking Trails. Chapman Highway is one of seven trails, which take turns being the featured trail. Chapman lost its turn in the rotation while the Henley Bridge was closed, so this is our opportunity to reintroduce ourselves to the thousands who drive the trails to enjoy the displays of dogwoods and other blooming beauties. The Chapman Highway Dogwood Trail runs through the Lake Forest and Colonial Village neighborhoods, and the neighborhood associations of each are busy working on ways to enhance their community’s aesthetics. Also involved in featuring the beauty of South Knox are the South Knoxville Alliance and the South Knoxville Neighborhood & Business Coalition. All are asking everyone in South Knoxville to show pride in our area and start preparing now to display our best face to visitors from around the county and the region. Check out the Facebook pages of the groups to see how you can get involved. Upcoming events for the Dogwood Arts Festival include the Knoxville
The South Knox Republican Club got a tutorial on the workings of the Knox County Election Commission at its August meeting. After Steve Phillips brought greetings and thanks from Eddie Smith, who earned the GOP nod to run against Gloria Johnson for the state House, Chris Davis, assistant administrator of the Election Commission, took the floor. One of Davis’ main points was that the commission staff is busy working throughout the year, even when there aren’t “big” elections. Workers are constantly updating and confirming voter registrations and making sure that, come Election Day, there won’t be any confusion over who may vote. They also have to oversee “500 voting machines in 85 precincts in 72 locations,” 50 of which are schools. And they have to train the up to 650 poll workers who are recruited for each election. While the next election is Tuesday, Nov. 4, Davis pointed out that early voting in Knox County begins Oct. 15 – just six weeks away. The staff also responds to inquiries about individual voting records. The records don’t reveal how a person voted but indicate which elections were voted in and the party chosen for a primary. Davis noted that a certain former mayor who’s now a columnist frequently makes such requests. (Ashe, party of one.) Davis explained that the five election commissioners are appointed by the political parties, and the dominant party in the state legislature gets to have the majority. Historically, Democrats have had control, but that “flipped” in 2009. Davis, who described himself as a Republican, identified the three Republican commissioners but
Disc Exchange will be one of the stops for the South Knoxville Alliance’s Saturday South K-Town Races. didn’t bother to name the two Democrats. No one at the meeting seemed disturbed by that. ■
Changing of the guard
The August meeting of the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club was short and sweet. Reports on the status of various trails were generally satisfactory. President Brian Hann and Vice President Matthew Kellogg gave summaries of the sessions they attended at the International Mountain Bicycling Association Summit in Steamboat Springs, Colo. The two had returned to Knoxville just a couple of hours before the AMBC meeting and understandably looked a bit jetlagged. Hann said they did get some riding in, and the trails situation made him appreciate the support AMBC has here for expanding trails. Hann then turned over not just the meeting but also the leadership of the club to his co-worker and neighbor, Kellogg. There wasn’t much ceremony, but there was plenty of applause in approval of both men from the members gathered at Central Flats & Taps. While Kellogg confirmed Hann’s quip that he had gone to the “real workshops” at the summit, he praised Hann for making the AMBC a respected player in the community. Hann has led the AMBC for five years.
Crime watch alert Knoxville City Council member Mark Campen passed along a scary story about a one-woman crime wave in North Knoxville. Seems the woman Mark Campen stopped at a house on Fieldwood, told
the resident she had run out of gas and asked for money. Wisely, the homeowner offered instead to have someone bring her gasoline. At this point, the woman asked to use the bathroom. Again, the homeowner refused. She watched the woman walk to a neighbor’s house where a 90-year-old man was sitting on the porch. The stranger walked past
him into his house. While she visited his bathroom, he took out his wallet to give her money for gasoline. Before neighbors could intervene, the woman had cleaned out all the medicines in his bathroom cabinet and taken about $80 from his wallet. She got away. Neighbors told police she was wearing shorts and a tank top and had messy, blondish hair.
Chris Davis of the Knox County Election Commission staff talks to the South Knoxville Republican Club.
■
Saturday South coming soon
The South Knoxville Alliance’s eagerly anticipated Saturday South will be here before you know it – Sept. 13, to be specific. While the base of activities will be at Ijams Nature Center, the fun will be spread throughout SoKno. The K-Town Races – inspired by “The Amazing Race” – will feature
Matthew Kellogg receives the official Appalachian Mountain Bike Club bell from outgoing president Brian Hann. Photos by Betsy Pickle
activities at vendors. The idea is to visit each vendor, participate in the activity and receive a stamp that you can enter into a drawing at Ijams. Vendors participating include Borderland, Disc Exchange, the Henley Apartments, Round-up
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■ Beason family reunion, noon Saturday, Sept. 6, Big Ridge State Park rec hall. Food served 1 p.m. ■ Carter High School Class of ’57, 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, Aubrey’s on Strawberry Plains Pike. Info/RSVP: Sue Boyer, 933-3077, or Peggy Wilson, 933-2608. ■ Central High Class of ’74, Sept. 12-13. Friday: tailgate 6 p.m. in the CHS parking lot; bring a picnic and lawn chair. Football game 7:30. Saturday: reunion party 6 p.m. at Calhoun’s on the River. Cost: $40 per person. Info: 584-9469 or knoxcentralclassof74@gmail. com. ■ Halls High Class of ’64 will meet 11 a.m. each second Tuesday, Sept. 9, and Oct. 14, at Shoney’s on Emory Road to socialize and eat lunch. Info: James Kuykendall. ■ Halls High Classes of ’76’80, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept.
27, Red Gate Farm, 2353 Maynardville Highway. Admission: $10 ($15 couples). Food vendors will be onsite, but classmates are asked to bring their own drinks and lawn chairs. The Kincaid Band will perform. Info/RSVP: 214-7020 or hallshsreunion@gmail.com.
HEALTH NOTES ■ “The Alexander Technique: An Introduction,” 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 4, Bearden Branch Library, 100 Golf Club Road. Free but preregistration requested. Info/to preregister: Lilly Sutton, 387-7600 or www.AlexanderTechniqueKnoxville.com. ■ Abundant Life, a Free Weight Management Program incorporating diet, exercise and group support, 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, North Knoxville Seventh-Day Adventist Church fellowship hall, 6530 Fountain City Road. Limited space. Info/ to register: 314-8204 or www. KnoxvilleInstep.com.
■ Asa’s EB awareness 5K walk/run, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, Victor Ashe Park. Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a devastating rare skin disease for which there is no cure or treatment. All proceeds will go to the DEBRA organization for EB awareness and research. To register: http://debra.kintera. org/2014knoxville5k.
FAITH NOTES ■ Seymour UMC, 107 Simmons Road in Seymour, hosts LOOVE (Living Out Our Vows Everyday) marriage enrichment classes along with DivorceCare, DC4K (DivorceCare for Kids), Single and Parenting, and GriefShare support groups. Classes meet 6-8 p.m. each Wednesday. New participants are welcome at any time. Info: 573-9711 or email kimleake81@gmail.com.
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government
4 • SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 • Shopper news
Johnson and Smith is best race left
In a little more than 60 days, we will know if Democrat Gloria Johnson or Republican Eddie Smith will serve in the state House of Representatives from Knox County for two years. It is the Four of 11 county com- only genuinely contested race missioners are moving on: in Knox County on Nov. 4. Tony Norman, R. Larry Smith, Mike Hammond and Ed Shouse. And four of nine Victor school board members are Ashe no more: Thomas Deakins, Indya Kincannon, Kim Severance and Pam Trainor. What’s ahead? How about Dave Wright Both parties are anxious getting elected to chair the to win. Johnson’s local DemKnox County Commission, ocratic Party suffered a meltjoined by Mike McMillan down Aug. 7, losing every as school board chair? Cou- countywide office. They want pled with Law Director Bud to avoid another humiliation. Armstrong and Property As- Smith narrowly defeated his sessor Phil Ballard, the 8th GOP primary opponent in an District would assert more upset over Jason Emert. political power than ever Johnson is a smart, enbefore. This would bode well ergetic and determined offor a Gibbs Middle School ficeholder. She has a unique and not so well for attempts ability to reach the media. to rezone farmland for in- While she is badly outnumdustrial use at Midway. bered in Nashville (71 GOP ■ Jim McIntyre cannot to 28 Democrats) she has repair the damage he’s done made up for that by using her to morale in Knox County office to publicize her views Schools. He’s the wrong guy far beyond her district. in the top job, and the school She has effectively battled system will lurch along until Common Core and the Knox he’s gone – hopefully soon. County school system. Local
Goodbye and good luck The Knox County Courthouse has several new faces at the big desks this week. (And one with no desk at all. Word is that no one told Chancellor Clarence “Eddie” Pridemore to bring his own furniture.)
Sandra Clark
So long, Randy Nichols. You were a good DA, even if you wouldn’t go after Ragsdale. So long, judges Workman, Leibowitz, Fansler, Wimberly and Swann. Here’s hoping you enjoy retirement and don’t have to make a decision for weeks. Interim Trustee Craig Leuthold and veteran Criminal Court clerk Joy McCroskey have been replaced.
schoolteachers love her. State Democrats consider her a rising star. Several Republican state legislators loathe her. She has made a name for herself. She is an educator and has taken an unpaid leave of absence from the school system to campaign this fall. Smith also opposes Common Core. Smith, a former music leader at Sevier Heights Baptist Church, is a hard worker. He is personable and down to earth. His wife, the former Lanna Keck, is known to many Knoxvillians as Miss Tennessee 1997. They are the parents of two children. He is a conservative blue-collar Republican. The state GOP has assigned Zach Huff to help full time in his campaign, which the party funds. Huff worked in Bill Ailor’s successful campaign for Circuit Court judge in August. District 13 must be rated a toss-up. Democratic Judges Daryl Fansler and Harold Wimberly carried the district by comfortable margins while losing countywide to Republicans considered by many to be less qualified. In the contest for Criminal Court judge where both nomi-
Mike Lowe and the courthouse culture state attorney general who opined that term limits didn’t apply to so-called constitutional officers like Mike, the courthouse crowd went about their business, never suspecting that the term limits vote was a UXB that would blow up on them 12 years later. Meanwhile, Mike was Betty sporting a better toupee Bean and a Lincoln Navigator. He built an upscale house and sold his old one to his chief deputy, Fred Sisk. He startponying up to buy him laved talking about running for ish gifts and hoping to get county mayor in 2010. His through the day without bepayroll grew as he larded ing noticed. it with retired school adMike excelled at making ministrators and straightBob Broome mad. He was up political operatives who perpetually in the doghouse rarely appeared in the ofand at one time was suspendfice. Tongues began to wag ed and sent home for two about his lavish lifestyle and months. I got to know him employees being squeezed when I did a series of stories for campaign contributions. about the deplorable workOne former employee ing conditions in the trustsaid he was slow to pitch ee’s office. He was friendly, in money for Lowe’s benefit helpful, open and extremely golf tournament one year knowledgeable, particularly and was instructed to cash about that ultimate patronin his accrued overtime: age institution known as the “They called and said delinquent tax attorney – the Mike said to pay me my overjuiciest plum in the trustee’s time. They wrote me a check office and a shocking waste of and I went over and cashed taxpayer money. it at the credit union and Maybe it was a stretch to brought him back $1,000 call him Cool Hand Luke, cash. It was just part of the but I know firsthand he was Term limits deal. He had three fundraisa standup guy. A whistleThe same year Mike was ers a year, and everybody blower, even. elected, a referendum on was expected to contribute Broome retired in 1990 term limits made it to the – it didn’t matter if you were and was succeeded by a single mother with a house Tommy Schumpert, whose ballot and passed over- full of kids to support. They whelmingly. Lulled by a affable, reasonable manage-
(Editor’s Note: With last week’s conviction for felony theft of former Trustee Mike Lowe’s so-called phantom employee Delbert Morgan, and the upcoming trial of Lowe himself, we are reprising this article by Betty Bean published in Shopper-News March 3, 2009.) Mike Lowe didn’t start life as a courthouse fat cat. He went to work in the trustee’s office when he was 17, straight out of high school. When I met him in the mid-’80s, he was a friendly, good-natured guy who’d earned a college degree while holding down a fulltime job. His older brother, Tommy, was the county clerk but got turned out of office in 1986, swamped in a sea of scandal. Word around the courthouse was that Mike was nothing like his brother. He was humble and funny and got along with almost everybody. He cracked jokes about his bad toupee and made friends where he needed them. B u t L o w e ’ s boss, Bob Broome, was not a friend. Trustee for about a milMike Lowe lion years, Broome was a legendary courthouse tyrant whose employees lived in a state of voluntary servitude – working in his campaigns,
ment style made the office staff’s lives considerably easier. When Schumpert ran for county executive in 1994, Mike made his move. He ran as a reformer and promised to depoliticize the office, institute an antinepotism policy and end the practice of dunning employees for campaign contributions. His campaign ran like a machine, in part because of the able assistance of a smart young lawyer named Steve Roth, whom everybody figured was going to become the delinquent tax attorney. Roth worked diligently for Mike, organizing campaign events and phone banks. After the election, a lot of people were shocked when the tax job went instead to attorney Albert Harb. Mike broke the bad news to Roth over dinner, right after Roth presented him with a handsome clock engraved with the words, “hard work pays off.” Mike kept the clock and kicked Roth to the curb. Harb has gone on to make millions doing a job that could be done in-house at far less expense to the citizens of Knox County.
nees were viewed as qualified, Democrat Leland Price won the district by 12 votes over Republican Scott Green, who won countywide by a substantial margin. Johnson denies she is liberal, saying, “What are the liberal bills I have introduced?” MetroPulse has reported that Johnson is under consideration to be Democratic Party chair or executive director next year. When asked by this writer if she might do this she responded, “I have not had time to think about it.” Presumably that means she is focused on winning re-election. However, that answer also fails to answer the question of whether she would or would not seek the position in January. She could legally do both jobs.
■ County Commissioner Ed Brantley made news even before he took office yesterday by being listed by the Democratic Gordon Ball for U.S. Senate campaign as a supporter in one of their news releases. Local Republicans were aghast that Brantley would openly endorse a Democrat, and the phones were busy. However, when this writer contacted Brantley last week, he said it was untrue. “No one has talked to me about being on the list (of Ball supporters).” However, Brantley is not a fan of Lamar Alexander either as he said he was “not supporting either one (candidate) at this point.” Still unclear whether Brantley will back the GOP ticket including Alexander or not. He did say he favored a new chair for County Commission (Brad Anders is current chair as of Aug. 29) and felt the position, which is chosen by the full commission, should be rotated from time to time. ■ Beau Fancher of Knoxville has been made East Tennessee field rep for the Alexander for Senate campaign.
kept running tabs. If you didn’t, his henchmen would make it so uncomfortable on you that you’d have no choice but to quit.” The whole term-limits adventure has been a slowmoving fiasco for Lowe, who, with lawyer Harb and other officeholders, made repeated attempts to flout the will of the people and hang on to the public pap. The courthouse crowd tried legislative solutions and lawsuits and swapping jobs with their seconds-in-command. They sued to overturn the county charter, which got their appointed replacements kicked out and put Mike temporarily back in command. Last year (2008) he ran for
property assessor and lost, and recently is said to have been interested in the job of elections administrator. But headlines in the past week – “TBI probing payroll practices in the trustee’s office”– are unlikely to vault him back into power. He’s lawyered up and hunkered down while his remaining supporters grump that Sisk has thrown Mike under the bus. There’s a saying from Greek antiquity, “The wheels of justice grind slow, but they grind exceeding fine.” The wheels started moving the year Mike Lowe was elected to public office, but now somebody else is blowing the whistle.
Gloria Johnson Eddie Smith
Democratic leaders speak at Karns Richard Dawson and Mark Harmon speak at the Democratic Party District 6 meeting at the Karns branch library Aug. 26. Dawson and Harmon were recently elected to the Democratic Party’s State Executive Committee for Senate districts 5 and 7. Photo by Frank Schingle
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Shopper news • SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 • 5
Board of Trustees for the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center are Gail Jarvis, chair Terry Hen- At a board meeting following the ribbon-cutting are Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin, Richard L. Bean, superindent; and Kay McClain, assistant superintendent. ley and Chris Coffey. Photos by S. Clark
Juvenile Justice Center expands h ’ cheap, h b h these aren’t but they help ensure young people in the juvenile justice system will leave with a chance to become productive adults. “When a family has a child going through the system, it’s difficult for everyone. This expansion allows families to have one central location for everything from
i i i visitation, court or some other program.” Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero called it a “happy day” for Judge Irwin and Bean, superintendent of the service center. “This $4 million project added 9,925 square feet to the Richard L. Bean Service Center. There are four
Cry me a river Commissioner Amy Broyles’ outrage at County Commission’s Aug. 25 meeting brought her to the verge of tears and just a hair’s breadth from joining a distinguished lineup of blubbering politicians. Broyles was unhappy over her fellow commissioners’ rejection of her candidate for the vacant 2nd District school board seat. Indya Kincannon held the seat before resigning to
Larry Van Guilder
travel with her husband to Slovenia. By the way, Marx Brothers fans surely noticed that Slovenia sounds as if it
should be nestled between Freedonia and Sylvania and governed by Rufus T. Firefly. Kincannon’s departure gave her the perfect excuse to channel Groucho and belt out “Hello, I Must Be Going” at her last board meeting, but she passed and likely will never enjoy such a golden opportunity again. And while we’re digressing, may as well note Commissioner Sam McKenzie’s reference to “puppet mas-
Fledermaus in trouble Back in mid-August, I was heading into the house just at dusk when I was stopped by a sight I hadn’t seen all summer. There, zipping back and forth with their amazingly agile fluttering flight, were two bats!
Dr. Bob Collier
They were very busy at what bats do, scooping up mosquitoes, moths and gnats from the darkening sky. Bats, of course, are the only mammals that can fly. And they don’t just flap along somewhere; they are speedy, dodgy masters of the air, able to turn on a dime and leave you nine cents change. And with each feint and turn, there’s a good chance that one more pesky insect has been eliminated. There are a thousand or so species around the globe, most of them living in the tropics, where they find a good, steady supply of food year-round. We have some 16 kinds in Tennessee. The majority of them eat mostly insects, but there are also species of bats, larger ones, that eat mostly fruit. A few species have adapted to eating fish. And then there are the vampire bats, which, as everyone knows, like a snack of blood now and then. Bats have some sciencefiction-like features that have a lot to do with our fascination with them. Their amazing bat wings consist of thin membranes of skin stretched across their greatly elongated forearms and fingers, plus more membrane between their hind limbs that help navigate their erratic flight. And seeing in the dark? While the big fruit-eating bats do see well in the dark, our small insect-eating ones do a thing called echolocation. Just like a submarine listening to the pings from its sonar, the bats put out a constant stream of nois-
es of such high frequency that human ears can’t hear them. The bats’ ears are so sensitive that they must automatically close with each sound, so their own noise won’t deafen them. Then they open to hear the sounds bounce back – from rocks, trees, power lines – and prey. They automatically compensate for the speed and direction of a flying mosquito, calculate its exact location and unerringly nab it at high speed, in the dark. Remarkable, indeed. Vampire bats have given bats a bit of a bad reputation. Zipping low over people’s heads in the dark and living upside down in caves probably hasn’t helped either. And bats occasionally carry rabies and a couple of other bad diseases (never pick one up!), but overall, they are of immense benefit to us all. A bat consumes half its body weight in insects every night – around 3,000 bugs per bat! That adds up to a lot of mosquitoes – a group of 1,000 bats can eat four tons of insects a year. It is estimated that bats save our agriculture folks up to $50 million a year in insect-control services. But our bats are dying off by the millions. A fungus causes a disease in bats, called white-nose syndrome and nearly always fatal. Since so many bats live together in very close quarters in a single cave, sometimes in the thousands, and since many of our bats migrate widely, the disease spreads quickly from one bat to innumerable others and is carried far and wide. White-nose syndrome has so far killed over 7 million North American bats. If most or all of our bats were to die off, think of the tons and tons of insects that had been eaten nightly, but then left up there in the sky to reproduce at their regular enormous rate. A lot of serious scientific work is underway to study the fungus and how it works and is spread. In Europe where it is from, the bats survive, but they have been living with it for eons. In the meantime, if you are so lucky as to see a bat or two around, note
them well and remember what you saw. It may be a long time till you see another one.
a playroom for kids, and each courtroom now has a large-screen TV so hearings can be conducted via Skype. “This saves on transportation costs (for offenders held in adult facilities),” said Kenner, a former reporter who now works in the clerk’s office. The smaller courtrooms are used by magistrates, appointed by Irwin, who hear cases at his direction. The ex-
pansion includes modular offices for the magistrates. Security is tight at the facility, where juvenile offenders from the region are housed. We peeked into Irwin’s main courtroom. Sure enough, a box of stuffed animals sits on his desk, ready to comfort frightened kids. The court handles custody and child-support issues as well as criminal and status offenses.
ters” in the same meeting at which Broyles melted down. Science-fiction aficionados will recall Robert Heinlein’s tale of “puppet master” slugs who invaded Earth and by stealth and guile attached themselves to the backs of their clueless victims. The aliens’ aim was nothing less than world domination, something like the Koch brothers’ agenda, but with considerably less cash and more panache. In fairness to McKenzie, a video review of past commission meetings does reveal suspicious bulges on the shoulders of some commissioners, but in at least one instance the lump turned out to be nothing more sinister than an oversized Bluetooth earpiece receiver amplifier … tuned to a puppet master. Yes, those were the days. If her commission mates
continue to foil Broyles’ best-laid plans, she could unleash a saline fountain of umbrage, but she’d still trail serial leakers like John Boehner by hundreds of buckets. Boehner didn’t earn the sobriquet “Weeper of the House” for his sunny disposition. He’s left a trail of tears on the floor of the House, at party conventions, in school rooms, even, most famously, during a “60 Minutes” interview a few years ago. About the only time former Speaker Boehner has managed to plug the waterworks was during the debate over raising the federal debt ceiling in 2011. Not a glimmer of moisture clouded his eyes at the specter of the U.S. defaulting on its debt and triggering a global depression. So, while “Boys Don’t Cry” was a provocative
movie, as a description of male political sangfroid the title doesn’t hold water. Think back to those thrilling days of yesteryear when real men wore polyester leisure suits – the ’70s. In 1972, Edmund Muskie was a strong candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination when he seemed to lose his composure in New Hampshire while defending his wife against attacks in the Manchester Union-Leader. Muskie claimed that what the press reported as tears were actually melting snowflakes. Tears or snow, his presidential hopes were washed away. If only Muskie could have stemmed the tide until he was elected. Clinton, both Bushes and Obama all shed a few in the Oval Office. So, take heart, Amy, and no stump speeches during a snowstorm.
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By Sandra d Clark l k R ichard Bean and Judge Tim Irwin hosted a huge crowd at the dedication last week of an expansion of the Juvenile Court facilities on Division Street. The $3.925 million project was funded by Knox County. Mayor Tim Burchett said, “Improvements like
new courtrooms, and all the child support services are located here now.” Circuit Court Judge Dale Workman was master of ceremonies. Other hosts were Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones, Juvenile Court Clerk Cathy Shanks and County Commission chair Brad Anders. Randy Kenner gave this writer a quick tour. The project includes mediation facilities and expanded waiting areas including
kids Rematch at Karns Rivals primed for super-heated installment Powell hung on with a goal-line stand as time expired last season, Karns leaving Scarbro Stadium on the business end of a stinging, 19-13 defeat. The rematch is at Karns on Friday. So, as the fates would have it, is the Powell coach. After a year at the Panther helm, Tobi Kilgore left to take the head coaching job at Karns following last season. The challenge of injecting some consistency in the Beaver program was part of the draw, Kilgore said. A chance for professional advancement in terms of education sealed the deal. It all left new Powell coach John Allen, the fourth man to head the Panthers in four seasons, with a lot on his plate. Basically, this one is swimming in subplots. Last season: Karns (19), Powell (5-5) Last meeting: Powell 19, Karns 13 The offenses: Allen brings the wing-T with him to Powell, and, in junior Connor Sepsi, he’s got the quarterback to run it. He’ll use backs Cody Reed and Dominique Moore to help him control the ball. The Panthers have a receiver/linebacker, 6-foot6 junior Darel Middleton, whom Tennessee is keeping an eye on. Kilgore likes the spread offense with lots of receivers. At 5-9, junior quarterback Greg Tye is a throwon-the-move passer, one who threw for better than 1,600 yards last season. The playmakers are running back Will Smith and wide out Joe Faulkenberry. The defenses: With the Beavers’ 3-4, linebacker-
Stefan Cooper fueled defense and the Panthers in the wing-T, this one could be a classic. That’s a lot of guys running into each other when Karns goes on defense. Faulkenberry is the key for the Beavers. The Panthers, who deploy in a 3-5 under Allen, use more linebackers than the Beavers to slow opponents. The spread offense working against that many mobile defenders makes for some fast, fast, really fast play. The Breakdown: Middleton is as big a linebacker as you’ll see at any level. How will Karns account for him? Does Powell blitz with him? Do the Panthers use him in coverage? How does Karns defend Middleton if Powell throws? The spread vs. the wing-T represents a classic battle in offensive philosophy. Powell will want to hold on to the ball; Karns will want to get it and go. The Tye that binds – and decides – this one could very well be the Beaver quarterback. A slick signal caller in the spread can inflict a lot of damage. Devin Harper, a 6-4 junior, gives Tye a big receiving target of his own. Why this one intrigues: This one has to have the fan bases for both schools fired up. Karns remembers how close it was last year. The Panthers remember, too. Then their coach left. Don’t need a lot more than that.
Upcoming Friday Austin-East at Fulton Bearden at Heritage Carter vs. Pigeon Forge Central at Campbell County Farragut vs. Lenoir City Grace Academy at Tellico Plains Gibbs at Anderson County Halls: Open Hardin Valley Academy at William Blount Karns vs. Powell Knoxville Catholic at CAK Knoxville Webb: Open South-Doyle vs. Jefferson County West vs. Maryville
6 • SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 • SOUTH KNOX Shopper news
Gap Creek’s new principal
focuses on growth By Betsy Pickle Lisa Light has taught in four school districts in two states, but she has already discovered what’s special about Gap Creek Elementary School. “I’m very excited about the individualized attention we can give every child here, and every family,” says Light, Gap Creek’s new principal. “That’s the piece that’s really appealing to me here.” Relationships are the key to growing good students, she says, and Gap Creek’s teachers have formed them. “This is such a talented group of teachers, and they really do know the kids and the families and what the kids’ needs are,” says Light. “They are committed to each child as an individual.” An Anderson County native, Light came to Gap Creek after two years as principal at Willow Brook Elementary in Oak Ridge, which followed her first stint as principal, at Lonsdale. She started her teaching career in Dalton, Ga., and then taught and served as a consultant in Nashville before becoming a special-education consultant for Knox County Schools in 1998. She earned her bachelor of science in education from the University of Tennessee, her master’s from Middle Tennessee State University, her Master’s + 30 at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, and her Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from UT. “I’ve had a great career – lots of diversity,” says Light. She’s happy about her appointment to Gap Creek. “This is not a school that
Betsy Pickle
is broken or in dire need,” she says. “Our achievement is very high, so we are working on student growth. Our goal here is that every student grows as much as they possibly can. We’re really diving deeper into data this year – student by student, skill by skill.” One skill at which the students have already proven themselves is reading. At a recent morning assembly, Light recognized achievements during the summer reading program. “The goal was to read a combined 5,000 minutes, and the actual minutes read was 40,804,” she says. Sixteen students read more than five hours, 15 more than 10 hours, 13 more than 20 hours, 11 more than 25 hours and 10 more than 30 hours.
Teaching assistant Sarah Doty and principal Lisa Light are new faculty members at Gap Creek Elementary School. The top reader, Sarah “They just threw out a Christy, read 146 hours – challenge, and these kids 8,805 minutes. took it,” says Light.
Nicely buys into SKES pride Tanna Nicely grew up in East Knox County, but she had a South Knoxville connection before she was born: Her dad borrowed her name from a neighbor of her aunts in South Knoxville. Her connection has been confirmed with her new appointment as principal of South Knoxville Elementary School. Nicely says she didn’t know much about the community or the school previously. What has surprised her has been “just how passionate people are about the South Knoxville community and the school and the pride for both,” she says. “It’s really inspiring. “People from here don’t say, ‘I’m from Knoxville.’ They say, ‘I’m from South Knoxville.’ And I love that.” A graduate of Carter High School and the University of Tennessee, Nicely has a bachelor’s, a master’s
Trooper returns to town Trooper Taylor, one of the most colorful (and some might say controversial) coaches in college football, returns to Neyland Stadium Saturday as cornerback counselor for the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Red Wolves? For generations, that team was called Indians. Political correctness caused the change. Blaise Taylor, 5-9, 170-pound freshman defensive back, son of the coach and lovely Evi, will also arrive as a Red Wolf. I remember him as a 10-year-old playing for the Knoxville Fire. The Taylors were in town for four years. They left af-
Top readers in Gap Creek’s summer reading program are, front: Amber Varner, Kiersten Abshire, Ashleigh Morgan, Mikayla Ellison; middle: Kylie Key, Alex Hembree, Patrick Culleton, Janelle Rodriquez, Sarah Christy; back: Matthew Greene, Grace Clemmer, Chloe Kirk, Zack Ellison. Photos by
recruiting and sideline exuberance, marked by a waving towel and cap worn backward so as not to inMarvin terfere with chest bumps. West Indeed, Taylor has a flair for the dramatic. Years ago I liked him. I think I still do. Trooper proter the 2007 season when fesses to believe the hand of Phillip Fulmer hired Dave God guides him to the right Clawson as new offensive place at the right time. coordinator of the VolunIn 2009, that was Auteers. Trooper wanted that burn. Soon and very soon job, and when he didn’t get the school reported NCAA it, he moved on – to Okla- violations related to somehoma State as I recall. thing called the Big Cat reClawson failed, but in- cruiting weekend. The New siders understood Fulmer’s York Times said Trooper logic. In a whisper, they Taylor was quarantined for said Trooper stood out in several months.
and an education specialist degree, and she’s working on a doctorate from East Tennessee State University. She taught in Virginia for two years before joining Knox County Schools in 1991 as a teacher at Powell Elementary. She also taught at Sunnyview Primary before serving as a systemwide math curriculum fa-
cilitator for eight years. She started in administration in 2008, first serving four years as an assistant principal at Dogwood Elementary and then two years as assistant principal at Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Technology Academy. Nicely is impressed with the SKES teachers, describing them as “hard working” and “committed to the school.” She’s also impressed with the students, especially the fifth-graders, who have formed a Student Council. “I’m amazed at the ideas they’ve already come up with,” she says. “They are going to work us to death. They want to go to school board meetings. I said, ‘OK, we will pick a school board meeting this fall, and we will all attend together.’ … They have all kinds of ideas for Mayor Rogero.
“After the first semester we’re going to invite third and fourth grade also, to grow them.” South Knoxville Elementary is in the early stages of becoming a community school. “We are still having some initial planning because we think it’s really important to get the foundation built before we go full-fledge,” says Nicely. The Boys & Girls Club will be the afterschool provider, and partnerships are being formed with local businesses. Nicely would like to see “a high-quality tutoring program for our kids, enrichment activities that involve the arts” and “adult learning opportunities for the parents.” She would also like to have partnerships with Ijams Nature Center and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Next was the Cam Newton saga. Cam’s dad, the Rev. Cecil, and a financial representative supposedly passed the collection plate and offered the quarterback to the highest contributor. Several schools were on the fringe of this transaction. Cam, who had no idea what was going on, chose Auburn. The NCAA shook its fist but couldn’t find the jail key. Nobody said Trooper did it. In the spring of 2010, Auburn reported a few missteps linked to the Tiger Prowl and stretch limos and Hummers. Trooper may have been docked for suspicion of creative recruiting. Auburn had a little problem with grade changes and a cash offer to a player to skip the NFL draft. Out in the real world, people with no true facts thought
of Trooper and said where there is smoke, there is often a hot torch. It was obviously unfair to blame everything on Trooper just because he was there. We do believe he was investigated for resounding recruiting success in Thibodaux, La. Meanwhile, Auburn won a national championship and Trooper got a big ring. Players loved him. His pay went up to $475,000. During a team visit to the White House, he chest-bumped Barack Obama. I am not making this up. A strange story popped up in Memphis. Auburn signed Jovon Robinson, but the NCAA ruled him ineligible because of falsified grades. Again, some of the fallout found Trooper but nothing happened. Paid investiga-
tors fell short of proof. Summation: Recruiter of the year, often envied, sometimes accused, never convicted. Eventually, Trooper’s boss, Gene Chizik, was fired for not winning enough national championships. Auburn asked Trooper to stick around, to hold the recruiting class together during the search for a new coach. Interesting, very interesting. Gus Malzahn did not retain Trooper Taylor, but Auburn paid him for 2013 and six months of this year. He coached last season at Auburn High, where Blaise played. Sources say father and son were not a package deal at Arkansas State, just a bold hire and nifty recruiting.
Tanna Nicely
– Betsy Pickle
Marvin West invites reader reaction. His address is westwest6@netzero.com.
business
Shopper news • SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 • 7
Catching up with Angelic Ministries I stopped by Angelic Ministries to check on current needs and just to say hello to friends I have made there. I was excited to learn about their upcoming fundraiser. For anyone not familiar with this ministry, last year over 5,000 families in crisis were helped. Betsy Frazier, founder, and her dedicated staff of volunteers help families who have been referred by other agencies or churches. Angelic Ministries’ goal is to provide furniture, household items, clothing, hygiene products and food for immediate needs. They work with families to help them become independent and find employment. Pastor Tony Earl is in the process of planning a fall fundraiser. This year’s event
Nancy Whittaker
will be held from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 6 at the UT Conference Center. The UT Culinary Department will prepare a delicious meal and ministry leaders will provide information to guests about the ministry. There will be a graduation for men who have completed programs associated with the ministry. The needs of Angelic Ministries continue to grow. The most urgently needed items at this time are: ■ Plates
■ Measuring Spoons ■ Manual Can Openers ■ Bath Towels ■ Wash Cloths ■ Sheets and Pillow Cases ■ Pillows ■ Non Perishable Food ■ Hygiene Items Angelic Ministries is located at the corner of N. Central and Oklahoma. Items can be dropped off Monday through Thursday from 8-4 at the Oklahoma entrance. Items can also be left in the drop box. For large item pick-up or Tony Earl, pastor of Angelic tickets for the fundraiser, Ministries, has been busy call 523-8884. planning a fall fundraiser.
Self-interest should direct U.S. policy By Sandra Clark Former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Margaret Scobey has no secret solution to the turmoil in the Middle East, but she sure knows a lot about it and offered a provocative talk to the North Knox Rotary last week. Looking at recent history, Scobey first discussed the Cold War period when events were viewed as us (USA) versus them (USSR). She said the 1990s were relatively tranquil with the United States seen as the world’s leader. Then came 9/11 and the U.S. invasion of Iraq. We said Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. He didn’t. We destabilized a country without a clear plan for putting it back together. Recently we’ve had a shooting war between Israel and Hamas, the United Arab Emirates conducting independent air strikes on Libya, a civil war in Syria, and unrest across the region. “And nobody is asking the United States” for permission, Scobey said. “(The Obama) Administration came in with hope but had not done its homework.” Then she smiled. “The United States did not cause all the problems in the Middle East. Those people are quite capable of …” Our country’s foreign policy should be keyed to our self-interests: defense of our homeland and our ability to conduct commerce overseas, she said. The Rotarians pelted her with questions. Eli Driver said, “Every time we get involved in other countries, we screw up.” Perhaps, said Scobey, but look at our achievement in World War II. Is the Middle East a place for democracy? “Your definition of freedom and jus-
Ambassador Margaret Scobey
Grand opening at Wayward Arts
News from The Knoxville Area Urban League
Urban League steers clients to right path By Phyllis Nichols Turner wants to be selfs u f f ic ient , and the K nox v ille Area Urban League has stepped up to help ensure her success, no Nichols matter how big or small the need. “Every time I’ve walked through the Urban League’s doors for help, they’ve provided a sense of direction,” Turner said. Recently, Turner encountered a situation where she wasn’t sure where to turn for help to keep her home. While between jobs, she had fallen behind on mortgage payments. Then, Turner remembered the local Urban League offers housing and community development services. “I didn’t have family members or friends to ask for help,” Turner said. “The Urban League was my only alternative. After providing them with the information needed, they provided a loan and removed the stressful situation. I’m so glad the Urban League was there for me.” The Knoxville Area Urban League believes every adult in America should have access to the financial security that comes from
The public is invited to attend the grand opening of Wayward Arts from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at Knoxville Center mall. The ribbon-cutting will be at 10, complete with speechtice is different than theirs,” es and fanfare! Dominique and Jacob Lacey invite you to join them for coffee, cake and prizes. Wayward Arts is located upshe countered. What about women? stairs across from The Rush. Photo by Nancy Whittaker “The role of women varies enormously based on socioeconomic status. Poverty is not good for women. Families with money find ways to take care of the women.” Did you feel safe? “Yes.” Long-term prospects for the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS)? “They appear to Greg Greer has joined want to establish a transnational Islamic state … ISIS Knox Area Rescue Minisis taking advantage of insta- tries as vice president-programs. bility, but I don’t see them In this with a seat in the UN.” role, he will Scobey was posted to provide Egypt from 2008 to July strategic 2011 and was previously le ader sh ip ambassador to Syria. She and operawas deputy commandant of tional overthe Industrial College of the sight of the Armed Forces in Washingdaily work ton, D.C., when she retired. Greg Greer of the minAlong the way, she was political counselor in Bagh- istry, help set ministry tone dad, deputy chief of mission and assist in planning for at the U.S. Embassy in both the future. KARM’s ministry inRiyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Sanaa, Yemen. She held ear- cludes the overnight shellier assignments in Jerusa- ters for men, women and lem, Kuwait, Pakistan and women with children, residential recovery programs, Peru. A Memphis native, Sc- The Bridge transitional obey holds degrees in his- housing, LaunchPoint, job tory from UT and pursued training initiatives and vardoctoral studies before join- ious community outreach ing the Foreign Service. She efforts. Burt Rosen, president now lives in Knoxville. and CEO, said, “We have paOver 50 tiently and prayerfully waitRides Fantastic ed for God to bring a person with the unique gifts, skills Arts & Crafts and heart to fill this vital ministry role at KARM. ... Nightly Concerts We are thrilled to have Greg Jay Smelser has joined Knox County as deputy director on the team.” Livestock Shows of recreation. He attended the Halls BusiGreer comes to KARM ness and Professional Association with Di- from Providence Church in Yummy Fair Food rector Doug Bataille in August. West Knoxville, where he Smelser worked for the town of Far- has served as the executive ragut for five years. Bataille said he will pastor since 2008 and pasPlus work with youth and adult sports for Knox tor of administration for the County. Requirements for the position in- four years prior to that. Nightly cluded a bachelor’s degree in recreation Before entering the minFireworks or a related field, supplemented by five istry in 2003, he served as Sponsored by the Tennessee Lottery years of experience. The posted salary was regional business manager Jay Smelser $51,177.09. for Roche Diagnostic Corporation and national sales Tickets manager and director of patient care marketing for (865)215-1482 Helen Ross McNabb The Helen Ross McNabb DeRoyal Industries. Foundation has added four Foundation supports the Greer holds an MBA from Info Line new members: work of the Helen Ross Lincoln Memorial Univer( 8 6 5) 215-1470 ■ Betsey Bush, commu- McNabb Center. The foun- sity and expects to receive a dation’s staff and 30-mem- master’s in Christian Leadnity volunteer ■ Richard Montgomery, ber volunteer board actively ership from Dallas Theologstate of Tennessee raise, hold and invest funds ical Seminary in 2015. He Visit us online ■ Don Rogers, retired, on behalf of the center, a and wife Deena have three tnvalleyfair.org Rogers Petroleum not-for-profit provider of children and have lived in ■ Mitch Steenrod, Pilot behavioral health services Knoxville since 1996. Flying J Inc. in East Tennessee.
Jay Smelser joins Knox County Parks and Rec
McNabb Foundation adds four
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owning a home. The organization provides homeownership counselors who are trained to create customized plans for each client. Someone like Turner, who was able to keep her home, now can focus on employment and achieving complete self-sufficiency. Now that Turner is in good standing on her mortgage, she is taking computer classes and job training at the Urban League. The classes have increased her confidence in her ability to accomplish her goal of working in an office. “The computer classes are great because they start you from the beginning,” she said. “The teachers didn’t assume I knew anything. They started with the basics and have helped me grow.” Turner hopes others in the community who need help will reach out to the Urban League for assistance. “No matter what you need, whether it’s help with payments or you’re looking for a job, they take you stepby-step through the things you need to accomplish to reach your goal,” she said. “They’re honest about your shortcomings and show you how to overcome them. It’s a great organization and the services they provide are excellent.” Info: 865-524-5511. Phyllis Nichols is president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League.
Greg Greer joins KARM
Senior Day
Tuesday, Sept. 9 Seniors 65 and over receive
Free Admission
Special events, entertainment, contests and more just for seniors! Pepsi Community Tent 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
-INCLUDINGComedy Show with Emma Roid Marvelous Mutts Show A Canine Spectacular Barney Fife Show g Sammy Sawyer urin feat Tommy Spencer Live in Concert
8 • SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 • SOUTH KNOX Shopper news
Shopper Ve n t s enews
tember featured artists: painter Victoria Simmons and jeweler Sissy Caldwell, 5:30-9 p.m., Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St. Info: 525-5265, www.artmarketgallery. net or facebook.com/Art.Market.Gallery.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPT. 5-6 Children’s consignment sale, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday/8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Bookwalter UMC, 4218 Central Avenue Pike. Info: bookwalter-umc.org or 689-3349.
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THROUGH SATURDAY, SEPT. 5 Daily giveaway of 2 tickets to any performance at Clarence Brown Theatre. To enter: “like” the Clarence Brown Theatre Facebook page. Grand prize winner of 2 season subscriptions chosen Sept. 6.
THROUGH WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10 Accepting nominations for the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance 2014 Preservation Awards. Awards to be presented Thursday Nov. 6. Info/ nomination form: http://knoxheritage.org/etpa/easttennessee-preservation-awards/.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 4 Cruise Night, 6-9 p.m., 6215 Riverview Crossing Drive in front of old Food Lion at Asheville Highway. All makes, models, years and clubs welcome. No charge. Door prizes. Vintage Fashion Show and Sale to benefit Goodwill Industries-Knoxville Inc., 6 p.m., Downtown Knoxville Hilton. Tickets: $40 each or $375 for a table of 10; must be ordered in advance. For tickets: 588-8567. AAA Driver Improvement Course, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Knoxville AAA office, 100 W. 5th Ave. Cost: members, $30; nonmembers, $35. Preregistration required. Info/to register: Kate, 862-9254, or Stephanie, 862-9252. Free movie and popcorn, 11:15 a.m., Humana Guidance Center, 640 Plaza, 4438 Western Ave. Movie: “Now You See Me” with Morgan Freeman and Isla Fisher. Info: 329-8892, TTY: 711. Knoxville Writers’ Guild meeting, 7 p.m., Laurel Theater, corner of Laurel Avenue and 16th Street. Speaker: David Madden discussing his most recent book-length publication, a collection of stories titled “The Last Bizarre Tale.” Info: www. knoxvillewritersguild.org.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 5
SATURDAY, SEPT. 6 Cades Cove tour with Bill Landry, 9 a.m., departing from the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend. Tickets: $50 per person; includes light snacks and a cold beverage. Reservations required: 448-8838. AAA Driver Improvement Course, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Maryville AAA Office, 715 W Lamar Alexander Parkway. Cost: members, $40; nonmembers, $50. Preregistration required. Info/to register: Kate, 862-9254, or Stephanie, 862-9252. Birthday Bash, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tea & Treasures, 4104 W Martin Mill Pike. Celebrating 7 years in South Knoxville. Refreshments, music and door prizes. Saturday Stories and Songs: Brianna Hanson, 11 a.m., Cedar Bluff Branch Library, 9045 Cross Park Drive. Info: 470-7033.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 7
TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9-10 Concert Sound Engineering workshop, 6:308:30 p.m., Laurel Theater, 16th and Laurel Ave. Presented by Dr. Lou Gross, Volunteer Sound Engineer for the Laurel Theater. Info/to register: 522-5851.
TUESDAYS, SEPT. 9-30 Yoga classes, 9-10 a.m., Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive. Cost: $40. Registration/payment deadline: Monday, Sept. 8. Info/to register: 966-7057. Pilates classes, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive. Cost: $40. Registration/payment deadline: Monday, Sept. 8. Info/to register: 966-7057.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10
Vegetarian Society of East Tennessee meeting, 6 p.m., Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike. Class: making wild rice salad with Matthew Blondell. A potluck supper follows. Cost: $4/ person. Info: 546-5643 or bobgrimac@gmail.com.
East Tennessee English – A Brown Bag Lecture with Paul Reed, noon, East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay St. Info: 215-8801.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 11
MONDAY, SEPT. 8 All Over the Page: “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown, 6:30 p.m., Lawson McGhee Library, 500 W. Church Ave. Info: 215-8750.
MONDAY-TUESDAY, SEPT. 8-9 AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Tellico Village Property Owners Association, 145 Awohli Drive, Loudon. Info/to register: Carolyn Rambo, 584-9964. AARP Driver Safety class, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Seymour First Baptist Church, 11621 Chapman Highway, Seymour. Info/to register: Carolyn Rambo, 584-9964.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 9
Opening reception for Art Market Gallery Sep-
is 7.2 miles in length, total elevation gain of 1,600 feet and is moderately difficult. All registration donations benefit the Smokies Trails Forever program. Info/to register: AnnaLee@friendsofthesmokies.org or 828452-0720. Knoxville Civil War Roundtable meeting, 7 p.m., Buddy’s Banquet Hall, 5806 Kingston Pike. Speaker: Dr. Earl J. Hess, local historian. Topic: “Petersburg, Battle of the Crater.” Dinner: $15 members; $17 nonmembers; lecture only: $3. RSVP by noon Monday, Sept. 8: 671-9001. Library Online, 5:30 p.m., East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay St. Info/to register: 215-8700.
Classic Hike of the Smokies: Forney Ridge. Hike
Cruise Night, 6-9 p.m., 6215 Riverview Crossing Drive in front of old Food Lion at Asheville Highway. All makes, models, years and clubs welcome. No charge. Door prizes. Traditional Appalachian Dance, 8 p.m., Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave. Hosted by the Knoxville Square Dance. Live old-time music by the Hellgrammites. Admission: $7. Info: 522-5851 or info@ jubileearts.org.
THURSDAYS, SEPT, 11, 18, 25, OCT, 2 ACT-UP: Adult Acting and Theatre Classes, 6-8 p.m., Broadway Academy of Performing Arts, 706 N. Broadway St. Ages 16 and up. Fee: $35 or $15 for individual class. Covers acting basics, movement/stage combat and auditioning techniques. Info: 546-4280 or carolyn@tennesseestage.com.
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