Benchmarks 2020 | Section E | Community

SECTION E

COMMUNITY

BENCHMARKS EDITION March 28, 2020

Page 2

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

SUN PHOTO BY LISA WARREN

Capitol Theatre officials and volunteers lined up for a photo in front of the venue’s newly renovated facade in May 2019.

Arts And Music Scene Grew Amid Changes

BY LORELEI GOFF LIFESTYLES EDITOR The local arts and music scene showed signs of further growth in 2019, even as one venue lost its outdoor concerts.

“I’ve let go of Dogwood Park,” said John Brown, a local musician and promoter, who spearheaded the endeavor. “We didn’t do it at all last year and have no plans to do it this year. “ Brown said there are many reasons for the decision to drop the event, including that few area businesses sponsored concerts. Changes to the surrounding properties that reduced accessibility and parking also played a part.

“We had parking on one side of the treeline and now there are storage buildings so you can’t get in there,” Brown said. “They built a chain link fence around the whole school playground. To get a truck in with equipment I have to go through two gates with locks. Logistically, it just got to be a nightmare.”

Even as that venue passed from the scene, another small venue began to offer music and other events. The Appalachian Auditorium opened at St. James in September 2019, after renovations to the building were completed.

Converted from the former St. James school auditorium, Appalachian Auditorium is located at 3220 St. James Road across the street from St. James Lutheran Church.

The auditorium is above the community center dining room – formerly the school cafeteria – and is now clearly marked with a new

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

In this photo, taken during the original production of “Bright Star” by the Greeneville Theatre Guild, the cast sings “Whoa Mama.” The show broke attendance records for 2019.

sign. Past and future events scheduled at the auditorium include concerts, movies and lectures.

THEATER A robust year of performances punctuated by progress and a few notable changes marked the local theater scene in 2019.

The Greeneville Theatre Guild saw record attendance.

“We broke our attendance record twice in 2019,” said Paige Mengel, the guild’s business coordinator. “Steel

Magnolias was the first show in March. Bright Star was our summer musical and we broke the record we set with Steel Magnolias twice with Brightstar in June.”

Progress continued on the guild’s Theatre Depot, an intimate and flexible performance space currently undergoing renovation. The most recent improvements include updated electrical service to the building and new breaker boxes inside the building, a new HVAC unit and insulation installed and paint applied to the ceiling

in the theater portion of the building Fundraising efforts for the project continue with $185,000 of the $500,000 goal raised so far.

“We are continuing our fundraising efforts,” said Mengel. “The sooner we can raise more funds, the sooner we can get in there and have the public in.”

A Main Street: Greeneville facade grant will be used to renovate the theater’s facade this year.

The Capitol Theatre, which currently serves as the

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Greeneville Theatre Guild’s stage, besides its offerings of concerts, comedy and movies, completed its facade renovation in May 2019.

“A lot of work went into it and we are really excited about the finished product,” said General Manager Ashley Duvall. “It really refreshed the Capitol and brought it back to its roots a little bit. It turned out really well.”

Duvall herself is a 2019 update to the Capitol, stepping into the position in January.

A year into the job, she sees a bright future for the theater.

“I’ve had a great experience, for sure,” Duvall said.

“The Capitol is a very special place and I really enjoy being a part of its growth and leading it into this next year. I’m definitely looking forward to the future here at the Capitol and all of the great things that we have coming up.

We have a great summer of events planned with concerts and kids’ events.”

The Theatre at Tusculum and the Tusculum Arts Outreach program’s robust SEE ARTS ON PAGE 3

Benchmarks E Story Index Arts And Music Scene Grew Amid Changes .......................................................... 2 Another Banner Year For Local Football Teams .................................................. 4 Niswonger Foundation Recaptures Stateliness Of Downtown Home .................. 5 Construction Continues On Housing For Pregnant Single Women...................... 7 Reds, Appalachian League Fighting For Their Lives ........................................... 10 Greeneville Boys, North Greene Girls Advance To Basketball State Tournaments .14 Local Wrestlers, Track Athletes Capture State Titles ..........................................16 Thrift Store Owner Still Aiding Veterans, Others ................................................18 Isaiah 117 House Opens Its Doors To Children ................................................... 19 Plans For Next Veterans Memorial Park Monument In The Works ....................21

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Page 3

ARTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

and varied calendar of performances contributed to a strong year in the local performing arts.

The Tusculum Band held performances in May and December. The Tusculum Community Chorus also held performances in April and December, including a performance of Handel’s “Messiah,” on the Tusculum campus. The chorus also performed five concerts in Europe.

Theatre-at-Tusculum held seven performances of “Matilda the Musical” in the fall, as well as seven performances of “Little Shop of Horrors” in March.

Tusculum held the “5 X 10 Plays,” written by students, during the Old Oak Festival.

The “5x10s” are a collection of five, 10-minute plays written by Tusculum College students and produced as part of the Acts, Arts, Academia Performance and Lecture Series.

Blue Plate Special, a popular East Tennessee comedy improv troupe, performed at Tusculum in September and the university hosted Central Ballet Theatre’s production of “Ruth + Boaz: A Love Story” in January.

The Arts Outreach Program of Tusculum University experienced the last year of direction under Artist in Residence Marilyn duBrisk in 2019. duBrisk made the public announcement of her impending retirement in January, drawing many expressions of gratitude and praise for her lifetime of contributions to the arts world and the community.

In her Feb. 4 column, “A Look Around,” Greeneville Theatre Guild Business Coordinator Paige Mengel said it’s impossible to calculate the impact duBrisk’s legacy has had and will continue to have in the community.

“Bravo to Marilyn, who has represented Tusculum and the arts with grace and honor and has developed a marvelous program we are excited to continue,” said Wayne Thomas, dean of the College of Civic and Liberal Arts. “People of all ages in our region have benefited from her passion for the arts and her outstanding work to grow our program.” duBrisk brought to life to about 70 productions during her nearly 30 years at Tusculum University, according to the release.

A press release earlier this year said that duBrisk will take her final bow and exit the stage into retirement sometime this semester, handing off the leadership of the program she helped build to Thomas. He will receive help from Brian Ricker, assistant director of Tusculum Arts Outreach, and other members of the team, until a successor to duBrisk is named.

ART The year saw the completion of a major outdoor work of art in the train mural on Depot street in July. Part of the Windows to the Past project, which has placed a number of murals through-

SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF

Part of the Windows to the Past project, which has placed a number of murals throughout the downtown area, the railroad mural on Depot Street was completed in July of 2019.

SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF

Progress continued on the Theatre Guild’s Theatre Depot, an intimate and flexible performance space in the Theatre Guild building on Depot Street that underwent additional renovations in 2019. The most recent improvements include updated electrical service to the building and new breaker boxes inside the building, a new HVAC unit and insulation installed and paint applied to the ceiling in the theatre portion of the building

out the downtown area, the mural depicts a pivotal moment in the history and economic development of Greeneville and Greene County.

“When the train came to Greeneville, that’s when all the hotels went up,” said Andy Daniels, who has been instrumental in the Windows to the Past project. “It was the Union Hotel, The Brumley Hotel, and The Smith House. We had to have places for people to stay because the train brought so many people to Greeneville.”

The occasion was marked by a celebration attended by thousands of people from as far away as Knoxville that included speeches at the depot and stretched from the depot to Oak Grove Cemetery, according to Daniels.

“People brought food and celebrated and celebrated and celebrated,” Daniels said.

Artist Joe Kilday painted the mural with assistance from artist Sam Lane. The law office of Laughlin, Nunally, Hood and Crum, located

in the building the mural adorns, provided the space and prepped the wall for the project.

George Wurtzel brought another art form to downtown Greeneville in 2019 and is breathing new life into the building that once housed Dixie Cleaners, a longtime family owned business that closed in December 2013.

The Michigan-born woodworker, who has been blind since birth and lives by the mantra “Your sight has nothing to do with the vision,” completed the storefront of the Ginko Gallery of Greeneville in time for the 2019 Iris Festival.

In addition to the storefront, the completed renovation will include a workshop area, a gallery and living space.

Wurtzel, who has been teaching woodworking for the last 10 years, makes stand-up desks, lamps and lighting, custom furniture, handcrafted decor and does architectural millwork and restoration.

Another new endeavor in

the arts scene appeared in 2019 with the establishment of The Greeneville Makers Group, a small organization with a big vision for the local arts community.

Peter Higgins, a former candidate for Greeneville alderman in 2018, is a founding member of the group’s board. He describes their plan as a poor man’s Arrowmont School.

“We’re Greene County Makers. We are artisans and craftsmen and potters and just everything,” Higgins said.

The group, which Higgens describes as a hodge-podge group of makers, hopes to include a myriad of opportunities for artists, artisans, musicians, technology geeks and students, with hopes

to also serve as a business incubator.

A community kiln, tools, classroom space, a woodshop, studio space available to lease, galleries for art events, computer coding and website construction classes, a robotics workshop and a recording studio are just a few of the ideas under consideration. The group would also consider providing gallery space to the Arts Council to use as a second gallery.

“The sky’s the limit,” Higgins said, adding, “The concept behind it is community growth. There’s a lot of support. A lot of people think this is really great idea.”

The group has been looking for a building to house the endeavor, something that has been easier said than

done, according to Higgins.

“What we’re trying to do is grandiose in scale and we need a lot of space to do that,” he said. “It’s kind of funny because you can’t throw a rock in this town without hitting an empty building, but they’re hard to obtain.”

When asked about the potential for the many new ventures to build the arts community within Greeneville and Greene County popping up across the area, Amy Saxonmeyer noted the possible positive impact on the local economy and the enthusiasm from within the community.

“There’s something brewing here and there are efforts being made,” Saxonmeyer said. “It’s happening.”

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Page 4

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Another Banner Year For Local Football Teams

BY SAM BUNDY SPORTS EDITOR The Greeneville Greene Devils football team didn’t go unbeaten and win a state championship for the third straight season this past fall, but it was a banner season on local gridirons nonetheless.

With a roster that included Division I signees Will Albright (Tennessee), Chris Everhart (Marshall) and Ty Youngblood (Furman), Greeneville went 10-3, its seventh straight season of double digit wins.

The Greene Devils lost their season opener 19-17 at Class 5A power Powell and lost twice at eventual Class 4A state champion Elizabethton, 24-21 during the regular season and 24-13 in the state quarterfinals.

“These guys just have to take what we have done all year and learn from it,” first-year Greeneville coach Dan Hammonds said following the season-ending loss. “You take lessons from wins, and you learn lessons in losses. The biggest thing is I hope they take that work ethic from football and continue it into life as dads and husbands and members of our community.”

Youngblood was named a Mr. Football finalist. He was also named all-state along with Everhart, kicker CeJ Jones, defensive lineman Leyton Mitchel and defensive back A.J. Stewart.

“I feel blessed to be nominated and to be a finalist,” Youngblood said at the Mr. Football awards ceremony at Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans, in Nashville in December. “It’s a community thing and I wouldn’t be here without the community and my teammates and my coaches.

“The best players in the state are here and to be among this group is a special thing. I know I gave it my all on the field and didn’t leave a doubt that I gave it my best.”

As the Devils’ unquestionable team leader and enforcer at middle linebacker, Youngblood seemed to be in on every play this past season. He by far led the Greene Devils with 83 tackles, including a team-best 19 for loss, and also had a team-best 49 assists.

Youngblood did all that while often being double-teamed.

“Missing Ty next season is such an understatement.

He’s just been so valued and a guy you tried not to take for granted,” Hammonds said. “He’s done everything he’s been asked to do on the field, off the field, in the classroom and leadership in the community. … He was somebody everybody looked to when times got tough, and he pulled through time after time.”

Albright, who is going

SUN PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

Greeneville linebacker Ty Youngblood (47) was named The Greeneville Sun’s defensive player of the year for the 2019 football season.

SUN PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

South Greene quarterback Levi Myers was named The Greeneville Sun’s offensive player of the year for the 2019 football season.

SUN PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

Chuckey-Doak’s Ben Murphy (left) was named The Greeneville Sun’s coach of the year for the 2019 football season.

to Tennessee as a long snapper, played in the high school All-American Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 4.

The game was televised by NBC. “I’m so thankful for everyone who came out to support me today, and to share this moment with me,” Albright said when presented with his All-American Game jersey at Greeneville High in October. “The people here are the ones who made this possible. This is not just a celebration of me, but of all of the hard work these people have put into me.”

Albright is the first Greeneville player ever to play in the All-American Bowl.

“This is a huge honor for him. This is a testament to the hard work he has put in,” Hammonds said at the jersey ceremony. “It’s also an honor for this football program, and shows the hard work put in by a lot of

players and coaches.

“It’s an honor for this school and this community.

This football program has had a lot of wins, a lot of accolades and a lot of championships, but this is the first time this has happened here.”

South Greene put together its first 10-win season since 1995, going 10-2.

The Rebels spent most of the season ranked in the Associated Press statewide poll. They won the county championship, defeated Rockwood 20-7 in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs and had their season come to an end with a loss to Meigs County, 39-7, for the third straight year.

“This was a great season for this senior group,” said South Greene coach Scotty Verran. “These seniors won 18 games in two years, and they are a special group of kids.”

In his final game in a South Greene jersey, senior

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quarterback Levi Myers ran for 94 yards and passed for 99.

For the season, Myers completed 22 of 43 passes for 293 yards and five touchdowns while being intercepted twice. He also rushed for 1,122 yards and 16 TDs on 143 carries while fumbling just once.

Myers was named AllState by the Tennessee Football Coaches Association. He was also named The Greeneville Sun’s offensive player of the year as well as the Region 1-2A offensive player of the year.

“Levi was a four-year starter at quarterback. As he’s grown and matured in the position, so has South Greene football grown,” Verran said. “He’s a competitor with the heart of a lion. Doesn’t matter what he does, even if it’s playing checkers, he wants to win.

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Chuckey-Doak went 6-5 overall in 2019, but went 5-0 in Region 1-3A to earn its first region title since sharing the championship with Happy Valley in 1992.

The Black Knights clinched the outright region championship this past season with an 8-6 win at West Greene.

“It was a tremendous moment for the kids and the program,” Murphy said.

“We stressed that it was a chance to make history. I was part of the ‘92 team that tied for the region championship as an assistant coach. I told the kids they could be the second team to win the region, but the first team to outright win it.

“It’s something the seniors really wanted. We had a couple kids whose dads played on the ‘92 team. West Greene played us extremely tough, but our boys never wavered. I was probably more shaky than they were.”

program.”

In February, Myers signed to play at Carson-Newman University and will most likely play defensive back there.

“This feels great. I’ve worked for this for a long time, and it feels great that it’s finally happening,” Myers said at his signing.

“I felt like I had something to prove. A lot of kids have watched me play here at South Greene and have cheered me on. South Greene is not a big school and not many players here have had this chance. I wanted to show them that it can be done. No matter where you are, if you put in the time and work anything is possible. I just want to thank God for this opportunity.”

Chuckey-Doak’s Ben Murphy was named The Sun’s coach of the year after leading the Black Knights to their first outright region championship.

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Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

Page 5

Niswonger Foundation Recaptures Stateliness Of Downtown Home

BY EUGENIA ESTES STAFF WRITER The Niswonger Foundation settled into its new home early in 2020 following 18 months of renovations recapturing the stateliness of what was once one of Greeneville’s most distinctive downtown houses.

Reconstruction of the front porch, walkway construction and landscaping were the exterior indications of the work that began in 2018 at 223 N. Main St. and just a fraction of the efforts to recover some of its original appearance while creating a functional office environment for the Niswonger Foundation.

Staff began to use offices in the renovated building in the latter part of 2019, “but it was not until around Christmas that it began to feel like we were home,” said Nancy Dishner, president and CEO of the Niswonger Foundation.

“We hosted an event in December … and it just felt like we were home.”

However, not all the work is completed for the new home of the foundation, founded in 2001 by Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott Niswonger to support education through a variety of programs that provide additional resources for students and training for teachers.

A few more minor additions are to be made to the interior, Dishner said, and a carriage house is to be constructed at the rear of the house.

Landscaped gardens are to be planted once the weather warms behind the house, as well. An employee parking area is also to be paved at the back of the property.

“We look forward to welcoming the community to see the offices,” she said.

“We plan to have an open

house later in the year after the gardens and carriage house are completed.”

One of the primary benefits to the office on North Main is the additional space that it provides for programs on site in its new learning center and Joyful Literacy Land, Dishner said.

EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS “Greenwood” was the name given to the home by its original occupants, Oscar Byrd Lovette and his wife Mabel. Lovette served as a U.S. representative for the 1st Congressional District and had been earlier elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives.

A lawyer by profession, he also served as a district attorney.

The house was built in 1930 while Lovette and his wife were on their honeymoon, a year-long tour around Europe, Dishner said. The house plans were drawn by Allen Dryden, Sr., an architect from Kingsport who also designed the Crescent School building, and the home reflected the bride’s taste in interior design.

After the death of both Lovettes, the house was purchased at auction by the Elks Club. It served as the club’s headquarters for many years before it then became the office of the Greeneville Orthopaedic Clinic and significant changes were made to the interior.

With those changes, many of the original architectural features were removed or altered. Fortunately, Dryden’s original architectural drawings for the house were saved by his son, Dishner said, and Greeneville architect John Fisher was able to use them as a resource as he drew SEE NISWONGER ON PAGE 7

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN/COURTESY OF THE NISWONGER FOUNDATION

The Niswonger Foundation settled into its new offices at the beginning of the year at 223 N. Main St., following about 18 months of renovation.

SUN FILE PHOTO

One of the rooms that needed the most reconstruction due to its prior conversion for medical uses was the original sunroom in the house. It now serves as a board room for the Niswonger Foundation.

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The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

A public service message from Ballad Health

Dear Neighbor: Ballad Health stands firm in our commitment to do everything we can to protect our communities. While not everything is known about the spread of COVID-19, we will work to get you sourced answers that have been checked for accuracy. If you have questions about COVID-19, please refer to balladhealth.org or call 833.822.5523.

Slowing the spread of this virus will take all of us doing our part and please remember:

No matter what, Ballad Health will be here for you.

What Ballad Health has done and is doing to prepare:

Established a call center for individuals to contact if they are experiencing mild symptoms and wish to speak to a healthcare professional.

833.822.5523

Activated its Corporate Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response efforts across the system and diverse geographic service area.

This occurred days before President Trump asked hospitals to do so.

Implemented visitation restrictions For up-to-date information on visitation restrictions, please visit our website.

Creating multiple access points for testing that we can refer you to, based on CDC guidelines.

Providing paid sick leave to our team members who become exposed and require isolation for 14 days.

Limiting travel for our team members to slow the spread of COVID-19 locally.

Acquiring additional equipment to meet the projected demands of the system.

What you can be doing What you can be doing to prepare: to prepare: Call Ballad Health Nurse Connect at 833.822.5523 if you are experiencing mild symptoms and wish to speak to a healthcare professional.

The phone line is active 24/7 and the service is free.

Visit balladhealth.org/ COVID19 to learn more about Ballad Health’s response.

Learn more about the COVID-19 situation by visiting the Tennessee Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Health websites.

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.

Practice social distancing by avoiding groups larger than 10 people and avoiding close contact with people who are sick, sneezing or coughing.

Cough or sneeze into a tissue or flexed elbow, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Stay home when you are sick.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects people frequently touch.

If you are having a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest emergency room.

Be assured, Ballad Health is here for you.

Please call 833.822.5523 to be screened if you are concerned you may be ill with COVID-19. This Ballad Health Nurse Connect line is active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Visit balladhealth.org and follow us on social media to keep up-to-date on Ballad Health’s response.

Visit the websites of the Tennessee Department of Health, the Virginia Department of Health and the CDC to learn more about the COVID-19 situation.

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

Page 7

SUN PHOTO BY NELSON MORAIS

The Honeysuckle Studios Apartments for unwed mothers are being renovated in the brick building to the right. On the left is the Hope Center, a crisis pregnancy center overseeing renovation of the apartments.

Construction Continues On Housing For Pregnant Single Women

BY NELSON MORAIS SUN CONTRIBUTOR SUN FILE PHOTO

The main stairwell inside the Niswonger Foundation’s new offices was one of the elements that had to be rebuilt. The original architectural drawings for the home helped guide the process of reconstructing elements inside the structure.

NISWONGER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

plans for the renovations.

Dishner commended both Fisher and the BurWil Construction Co. for their hard work and their attention to every detail involved in the renovation.

Visitors to the Niswonger Foundation see one of the major architectural elements that had to be reconstructed as they enter the the front door. The stairwell leading to the upper floors was removed when it became a medical office and has been rebuilt as it appears in the original architectural drawings.

The reception area was the house’s dining room, and its parlor is now offices for four of the foundation’s employees. While meeting the need for office space, an effort was made to retain the openness of the parlor, Dishner said, with the use of glass to frame the offices.

One of the rooms that needed the most work was in what is now the foundation’s board room. Originally, the space was a sunroom in the Lovettes’ home, and was converted into an X-ray diagnostic area for the orthopedic clinic.

With lead placed in the walls for that medical use, that material had to be completely removed as well as the floor where the wiring for the equipment had been installed. From that bare beginning, an inviting meeting space has been created full of light from the windows and with walls covered with handsome wooden millwork.

NEW PROGRAM SPACE A learning center on the main floor and an attic space devoted to supporting childhood literacy have been created through the renovation and will be used to help further the foundation’s mission to support education in this region.

“We have been able to create a learning center for adults,” Dishner said. “It has been a dream of mine to be able to create a perfect space for educators to collaborate and work together.”

The learning center will accommodate 50 comfortably and features technology resources and areas where small groups can have individual discussions or work.

Dishner said the center was created with teacher professional development and training in mind.

The center will host the foundation’s meetings with the directors from the school districts it serves, for example, and the Niswonger Scholars Institute, she said.

The Niswonger Scholars program was one of the first for the foundation and provides both scholarships and leadership training

for its participants.

In addition, the center will be open to school systems and other nonprofits to use for their events.

The other new space for the foundation in its new home is the “Joyful Literacy Land” in the home’s attic. “When we considered what to do with the attic space, we wanted to create an ideal place for children to learn,” Dishner said.

The attic space features warm and bright colors and comfortable spaces for children to read. Bookshelves around the room are filled with children’s books but also with teacher resources about nurturing literacy development in their students.

While the office spaces below are warm and inviting, the walls along the stairs leading to the attic featuring paintings of popular children’s book characters indicate there is something a little different upstairs.

All the decorations are designed to create a place that will inspire children to read. The artwork leading to the attic and inspiring quotes about the importance of reading with depictions of book characters or bright colors are the work of artist Jennifer Golden of Kingsport.

“If there is a student who is struggling with reading, we want this to be a place they will be inspired to keep trying,” she said.

The Joyful Literacy Land is still an emerging space, she said, and the Foundation is working with groups such as Scholastic Books to enable every child who visits to take home a book.

In addition, the Niswonger Foundation is also working with the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation, which supports the Imagination Library effort to provide books to preschool students, on establishing a similar program for students in grades K-3, she said.

In the nooks, Golden painted quotes on the ceilings so children could see them as they glance up from their books. The artist sketched the flowing script freehand, Dishner said, and had to paint while on her knees to add her art to some of the nooks.

In addition to visits from children, the foundation hopes teachers visit frequently to use the resources.

The name of the space and those resources reflect the contribution of Dr. Flora Joy to the space. Joy, who is now retired from East Tennessee State University, is a nationally known and respected literacy specialist who started the school’s storytelling degree program.

“We want to develop a place where new teachers can learn more about teaching reading and experienced teachers can come for resources to enhance their classroom instruction,” she said.

Construction and renovation of apartments for pregnant single women crossed a major threshold recently with work begun on the addition of communal living spaces for the future female residents.

Construction of an addition to the Honeysuckle Studios apartments began in early March, and by mid-March was 30 percent completed, according to project manager Rick Crum.

Overall, renovation of a building housing the apartments at 312 Tusculum Blvd. is not expected to be completed before August, he said.

Extensive renovation of the building,

which is located next to the Hope Center, a crisis pregnancy center, began in August 2018.

When completed, four small studio apartments with kitchenettes, bathrooms, and closet spaces will house the individual mothers and their babies. A fifth apartment will be utilized as a staff apartment, Crum said.

The entire project, when completed, is expected to cost approximately $1 million, he stated.

Sharon Hodgens, director of the Hope Center, which offers young mothers and fathers free parenting classes, spiritual guidance, and baby products, said the SEE HOUSING ON PAGE 8

SUN PHOTO BY NELSON MORAIS

Casey Poore works on soffit on the Honeysuckle Studios apartments being renovated for unwed mothers under auspices of the Hope Center.

Page 8

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Devils, Lady Devils Capture Soccer State Titles

BY TATE RUSSELL ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Both Greeneville soccer programs had a lot to celebrate over the past year.

The boys celebrated a third consecutive state championship in May, and in November the Lady Devils claimed their third state championship in five years.

“It’s one of those things that’s hard to put into perspective,” Greeneville coach Jerry Graham said after winning his most recent boys state championship. “It’s phenomenal when you can reach one state championship, just play in it, be a part of it. It’s another thing to win one.

“To win two in a row was an astounding accomplishment. Then to come back this year and win the third one … I mean, it’s just

HOUSING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

Christ-centered organization still needs to raise $100,000 to cover projected costs. A fundraiser lunch for the Honeysuckle Studios apartments is slated for April 28 at First Baptist Church.

The Hope Center will oversee management of the new apartments, and the education of the young mothers.

She said recently that both adult and adolescent girls will qualify to be housed in the apartments.

The addition going up is 1,785 square feet, and when completed is expected to include a communal dining room, snack area, living room, pantry, and kitchen for the residents.

It extends out from behind the two-story building housing the individual apartments.

The Hope Center is owned and operated by Free Will Baptist Family Ministries, but raises its own funds and is a separate LLC, Hodgens said.

Whenever possible, volunteer labor has been utilized for the construction and renovation in order to contain costs, Crum said.

On March 17, he said 95 percent of the work on the sprinkler system in the apartment building was completed, 50 percent of the plumbing was done, 40 percent of the HVAC,

monumental for our guys and for our program. It’s hard to stay on top. You have a target on your back.

Every team you face, you get their best.”

The Devils went 19-5-3 on the season. They defeated Elizabethton 4-0 in the District 1-2A championship game. Greeneville then had to battle Sevier County into overtime to secure a 2-1 win in the Region 1-2A championship game.

All the scoring in the region championship game took place in overtime with John Stewart heading in the deciding goal in the 97th minute on a pass from CeJ Jones. J.P. Vital scored on a penalty kick in the 92nd minute to tie things 1-1.

“Gosh, what a fantastic

SUN FILE PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

Greeneville soccer players CeJ Jones (left), Carlos Romero, John Stewart (10) and Will Grant Taylor (right) hoist the Class 2A state championship trophy on May 24 after defeating Sevier County 2-1.

SEE SOCCER ON PAGE 9

and 25 percent of electrical work.

Hodgens said that as of January, they had received five referrals for women that meet the criteria for the new program utilizing the apartments. She said more referrals will be taken closer to completion of the project.

She said the apartments will be for pregnant, single women “in need of a safe family environment to be able to take care of themselves and their babies, and receive teaching and encouragement to become independent.

“We’re excited, and praise God for (the imminent) completion of the addition,” Hodgens stated.

Hodgens said when construction of the addition began March 2, she, Administrator Lisa Shipley, and volunteers sang “God is so Good.”

Shipley said the future mothers housed in the apartments will learn about faith and how to connect with God, and receive training on a wide spectrum of topics, including family, community, education and career planning, prenatal and parenting skills, cooking and nutrition, finances, house management, health, and wellness.

Shipley stated, “We’re looking at addressing the whole person, from spiritual to mental, physical, and health.”

Volunteers and pro-

SUN PHOTO BY NELSON MORAIS

Lisa Shipley, administrator of the Hope Center, stands in the doorway of a new communal space addition to the Honeysuckle Studios apartments under construction in for single mothers.

fessionals have already reached out to assist with the upcoming program, including a teacher of the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University course.

Shipley said pastors, pastors’ wives, and other members of the community have expressed an interest in doing Christian devotions with the mothers.

Crum, the project manager, said in mid-March that construction and renovation in the project “is

moving along a lot quicker than it was.”

He also said “we always need volunteers” who will

do construction work, especially those with flooring, drywall, and painting expertise.

He said volunteer tradesmen and laborers can call him at (423) 470-2341.

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GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

Page 9

SOCCER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

game to be a part of,� Graham said after the region win. “We didn’t want to expend this much energy, and I’m sure they didn’t either with a game on Saturday, but we survived tonight. They played with a new energy in overtime, an energy I wish we played with in the first 80 minutes.

It took their goal to wake us up, but I think it says a lot for our kids to step up and get the goals to win.�

Greeneville then had to wait through a long rain delay in the state sectionals and come back the next day to beat South-Doyle 5-1.

Vital recorded a hat trick in the game and became the Devils’ all-time leading scorer, finishing with 120 goals.

Greeneville then started the state tournament with an 8-0 win over Lexington.

In the semifinals, it beat Fairview 2-0 which set up another meeting with Sevier County in the state finals.

The championship game was again a tight battle, but the Devils got two goals from Vital to secure another 2-1 win over the Smoky Bears.

After the season, J.P. Vital, Devin Vital and Maalchi Ashley were named to the TSWA’s All-State team.

The Chuckey-Doak boys also made a deep postseason run. The Black Knights beat University High 3-2 to win the District 1-A championship. Their season ended at Sweetwater in the state sectionals when they dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker.

Brendan Shipley was selected to the Class A All-State team.

During the girls’ season,

SUN FILE PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

The Greeneville girls soccer team hoists its Class 2A state championship trophy after defeating Nolensville 2-1 on Nov. 9.

Greeneville battled through a challenging regular season before dominating the postseason on the way to the Class 2A state championship.

The Lady Devils won the District 1-2A championship 9-0 over Sullivan Central and then topped Seymour 5-0 in the Region 1-2A finals.

In the state sectionals, the Lady Devils defeated Gibbs 8-0 with Sydney Finchum and Delana DeBusk each

recording hat tricks.

The Lady Devils then had to wait an extra week to play in the state tournament after flooding rains passed through the mid state.

In the first round of the state tournament, Greeneville captured an 11-2 win over Chester County.

DeBusk and Finchum again earned hat tricks.

In the semifinals, while playing through swamplike conditions, Greeneville claimed a 2-0 win over Mur-

freesboro Central Magnet.

Macy Vermillion earned the breakthrough goal on a penalty kick and DeBusk cleaned up a spill for the second goal.

In the state championship game, which was moved to Page High School in Frankiln, Greeneville beat Nolensville 2-1. Emily Graham assisted on a pair of Sydney Finchum goals, while the Lady Devils back line of Ivey Runion, Emily Shaw, Kenly Wilhoit and

Olivia Norris turned in one of its best performances of the year. “This is the most amazing feeling,� senior Emily Graham said of winning the state championship. “We have worked so hard for this, and to go out as a senior with a state championship feels great. We had to play in some tough conditions on Thursday.

We had to go to a smaller field today, and play on turf which we are not used to,

but we wanted it more. We wanted this so bad.�

Wilhoit, Vermillion and DeBusk all were named to the TSWA’s Class 2A AllState team.

The Chuckey-Doak girls were able to beat University High 3-1 to claim the District 1-A championship.

The Lady Knights then fell to Cosby 9-3 in the Region 1-A semifinals.

Defender Marci Merrill was named All-State by the TSWA.

Meet Your County Officials proud to serve our communities!

Included is a brief description of the services we provide to you, and the communities we serve.

As your County Officials, our doors are always open.

We encourage everyone to contact us whenever we can answer a question or be of service.

Circuit Court Clerk

Chris Shepard

The Circuit Court Clerk serves as a clerk for the Circuit, Criminal, General Sessions, & Juvenile Courts. The Circuit Court Clerk also serves as the jury Coordinator & ADA coordinator.

101 South Main Street, Suite 302, Greeneville, TN in the Greene County Courthouse Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-4:30 PM

(423) 798-1760

County Clerk

Lori Bryant

• Motor Vehicle Registration available at the kiosk in WKH &RXQW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂżFH • Offering Vehicle Registration Mobile Service at the locations of Mosheim, 7XVFXOXP %DLOH\WRQ 7RZQ +DOOV DQG &DPS &UHHN 5XULWDQ 0HPRULDO 3DUN 3DYLOLRQ ‡ 0RWRU 9HKLFOH /LFHQVLQJ ‡ %XVLQHVV 7D[ +HOS 'HVN IRU HOHFWURQLF ÂżOLQJ WKURXJK 7KH 'HSDUWPHQW RI 5HYHQXH ‡ 3ULQWV WLWOHV IRU WKH 6WDWH RI 7HQQHVVHH 'HSDUWPHQW RI 5HYHQXH ‡ ,VVXHV PDUULDJH OLFHQVHV • Issues on-premises and off-premises permits to sell beverages in unincorporated DUHDV RI WKH FRXQW\ ‡ &ROOHFWV RFFXSDQF\ WD[ ‡ ,VVXHV %XVLQHVV 7D[ OLFHQVHV ‡ 0LQXWHV IRU &RXQW\ &RPPLVVLRQ PHHWLQJV ‡ 2QOLQH 6HUYLFHV • Partnering with the Department of Safety Drivers License Services with a new service available in renewing Drivers License & also issuing duplicate Drivers /LFHQVH WR WKH *UHHQH &RXQW\ FLWL]HQV • “New Serviceâ€? through the County Clerk partnering with the Department of Safety, which is the Handgun Permit Renewals and the new REAL ID in which a Gold Star can be placed RQ \RXU 'ULYHUÂśV /LFHQVH IRU ERDUGLQJ DQ DLUSODQH RU HQWHULQJ D )HGHUDO %XLOGLQJV

Contact me at

798-1708 or 798-1775

“Thank You For Allowing Me To Serve The Citizens of Greene County�

Assessor of Property

Chuck Jeffers

Our obligation in the Greene County Assessor’s OfďŹ ce is to be fair and unbiased to all citizens of Greene County. We strive to maintain our efďŹ ciency and constantly improve our level of professionalism so that we may better serve you.

Our ofďŹ ce staff are proďŹ cient, knowledgeable, experienced, and friendly professionals ready to assist you. Any time you have a question about an assessment or any other issue pertaining to county property, please give us a call. Or, you are always welcome to come by and pay us a visit in Suite 222 of the Courthouse Annex between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Contact me at 423-798-1738 204 North Cutler Street, Suite 222 Greeneville, TN 37745

Greene County Trustee

Nathan R. Holt

The trustee serves as the county’s banker and treasurer. The three major functions of the WUXVWHHœV RI¿FH DUH (1) Collecting the county’s property taxes; (2) Accounting for and disbursing county funds; and (3) Investing temporarily idle county funds.

7KH WUXVWHHÂśV RIÂżFH WDNHV SULGH LQ SURYLGLQJ *UHHQH County citizens with professional, courteous, customerIRFXVHG VHUYLFH LQ DQ HIÂżFLHQW PDQQHU ,I ZH FDQ EH RI service to you, please come see us or give us a call at 423-798-1705.

Remember, we work for you!

County Mayor

Kevin Morrison The County Mayor is the Chief Executive and Chief Financial 2I¿FHU RI WKH &RXQW\ 7KH &RXQW\ 0D\RU SULPDULO\ VHUYHV LQ D UROH RI OHDGHUVKLS LQÀXHQFH DQG H[HFXWLYH IXQFWLRQ IRU WKH HQWLUH &RXQW\ DQG GLUHFWO\ PDQDJHV VHYHUDO &RXQW\ GHSDUWPHQWV 7KH &RXQW\ 0D\RU OHDGV GLUHFWV DQG RU LQÀXHQFHV ‡ /RFDO (FRQRPLF 'HYHORSPHQW ‡ &RXQW\ %XGJHW )LQDQFLDO 0DQDJHPHQW ‡ 2YHUDOO *RYHUQPHQWDO 9LVLRQ 'LUHFWLRQ DQG )XQFWLRQ ‡ 'HSDUWPHQWDO 0DQDJHPHQW 3ROLF\ DQG /HDGHUVKLS ,W LV WKH KRQRU DQG SULYLOHJH RI P\ OLIH WR VHUYH \RX , ZLOO HQVXUH WKDW ZH \RXU ORFDO JRYHUQPHQW ZRUN KDUG HYHU\ GD\ WR EH UHVSRQVLYH LQ RXU GXW\ WR \RX DQG UHVSRQVLEO\ DQG MXGLFLRXVO\ XVH RXU WD[ GROODUV WR PDNH *UHHQH &RXQW\ WKH EHVW SODFH WR OLYH ZRUN DQG SOD\

204 N. Cutler Street, Suite 206, Greeneville, TN

(423) 798-1766

Sheriff

Wesley Holt I am honored to serve as your Greene County Sheriff. The PHQ DQG ZRPHQ RI WKH *UHHQH &RXQW\ 6KHULIIÂśV 2IÂżFH DUH FRPPLWWHG WR WKH SURWHFWLRQ RI OLIH DQG SURSHUW\ DPRQJ WKH FLWL]HQV RI WKH FRXQW\ DQG DUH FRPPLWWHG WR SURYLGLQJ ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW FRUUHFWLRQV DQG FULPLQDO MXVWLFH VHUYLFHV WKURXJK D SDUWQHUVKLS ZLWK WKH FRPPXQLW\ WKDW EXLOGV WUXVW UHGXFHV FULPH FUHDWHV D VDIH HQYLURQPHQW DQG HQKDQFHV WKH TXDOLW\ RI OLIH , ZHOFRPH \RXU FRPPHQWV RU TXHVWLRQV DQG KDYH DQ RSHQ GRRU SROLF\

You may contact me at 423-798-1800 or email: wholt@greenetnso.org

Road Superintendent

Kevin Swatsell

It is my honor to serve the people of Greene County. Our department is working hard to meet infrastructure needs by focusing on hard work and intentional budgeting. The safety and advancement of the highway system in Greene County is our top priority. Thanks again for the opportunity to serve.

Contact me at 423.798.1745

Page 10

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Reds, Appalachian League Fighting For Their Lives

BY SAM BUNDY SPORTS EDITOR This past season was another challenging one on the field for the Greeneville Reds, who posted a 26-41 record and finished last in the Appalachian League’s West Division standings for the second straight year.

The offseason has brought about a bigger concern, though. The Reds and the other nine teams that make up the rookie league have been thrown a curve by a Major League Baseball proposal that would shut down the league following the 2020 season.

Major League Baseball’s proposal was made during ongoing negotiations with Minor League Baseball on a new working agreement.

The Professional Baseball Agreement between the two expires at the end of the 2020 season.

Chris Allen, president of Boyd Sports Management which operates the Greeneville Reds, Johnson City Cardinals and Elizabethton Twins of the Appy League as well as the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A Southern League, learned about MLB’s proposal at the Appy League meetings in Bristol on Oct. 3.

“How serious this is?

No one really knows,” Allen said at the time. “But certainly it’s alarming to myself as well as everyone in the Appalachian League and really everyone in minor league baseball,” Allen said. “… No one is safe at this point, so we don’t know. At the end of the day, I really don’t know. I don’t have a seat at (the negotiating) table.”

According to a Baseball America story, Major

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN BY TRACY PAINTER

Greeneville Reds’ Allan Cerda (left) crushes a home run in a 10-0 win over the Johnson City Cardinals during the 2019 seaSEE REDS ON PAGE 11 son at Pioneer Park. Cerda went 4-for-5 with two homers and seven RBI.

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GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

Page 11

REDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

League Baseball wants improvements to minor league stadiums, wants to take control of how minor league teams are affiliated with major league teams as well as the geography of leagues, and wants Minor League Baseball to share in increased pay for minor league players.

In order to reach those goals, according to the Baseball America story, Major League Baseball has proposed to reduce affiliated teams across the country from 160 to 120. The Appy League, the rookie Pioneer League and the short season New York-Penn League would be eliminated, while the short season Northwest League would move to full season play.

Under the proposal, according to the Baseball America story, Major League Baseball would help teams from the Appy League, the Pioneer League and the New York-Penn League form an independent-like “Dream League” that would be filled with non-drafted players hoping to sign free agent contracts with major league teams.

Teams that go from affiliated baseball in which major league teams pay salaries SUN PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

SEE REDS ON PAGE 12

Greeneville Reds’ shortstop Blake Trahan (15) prepares to apply a tag to Bristol’s Francisco Acuna this past season.

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Page 12

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

SUN PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

Greeneville Reds’ second baseman Ivan Johnson makes a diving catch against the Bristol Pirates in 2019.

REDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

of players, coaches and training staff to the Dream League would incur an increase in operating costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover player and baseball staff salaries.

Teams that wouldn’t be able to take on that kind of expense would be left to form summer collegiate wood bat teams or disband.

“Look how long the Appalachian League has been around.

I can’t imagine the Cardinals not having a team in Johnson City. I can’t imagine there not being a team in Greeneville or in Elizabethton,” Allen said. “Some of these communities have had teams for a hundred years. It’s unbelievable to me. So we’ll just have to wait and see how things go and hope for the best.

“We’ll do what we can in the process. If and when we’re asked

by Minor League Baseball to help out in the process, whatever they ask us to do to better our chances, we’re going to step up and do it.”

Should Major League Baseball’s proposal come to fruition after the 2020 season, Appy League stadiums in Johnson City, Elizabethton and Pulaski, Virginia, that have undergone multi-million dollar upgrades the past few years might be without professional baseball for which those funds were allocated.

The fate might be the same for Pioneer Park, which opened in 2004 on the campus of Tusculum University at a cost of $5 million to house the school’s baseball team as well as an Appy League team.

Prior to the Reds playing at Pioneer Park starting with the 2018 season, the stadium was home to the Astros from 2004-2017.

The Reds are an integral part of the local cultural fabric, receiving strong fan support and benefiting the City of Tusculum through sales tax revenues that help pay for city services. Businesses in Tusculum and Greeneville also benefit from the team’s presence.

In 2019, the Reds were third in the Appy League in attendance, drawing 43,617 fans in 33 home games for an average of 1,322 per game.

In 2018, the Reds were also third in the league, drawing 48,021 fans in 31 home games for an average of 1,549 per game.

The Reds are slated to open the 2020 season at Elizabethton on June 22. They are scheduled to play their home opener on June 25 against Johnson City.

“I am very concerned about MLB’s proposal,” Tusculum Mayor Alan Corley said in November. “The loss of the Reds would certainly be a blow to our entire community. Baseball provides a family friendly, relatively inexpensive way to spend an evening enjoying a game and friends in a safe environment. It also provides baseball exposure to youngsters interested in the game and encourages their future participation in sports and other physical activity.”

U.S. Rep. Phil Roe echoed Corley’s sentiments. Roe, a Republican from Johnson City whose 1st District of Tennessee includes four of the Appalachian League’s 10 teams, joined 106 Congressional colleagues who wrote to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on Nov. 19 opposing the plan.

“Greeneville puts on a great

show for kids. It’s inexpensive and you can go to a ballgame cheaper than you can go to a movie,” Roe said. “You can take your family out and have good, clean fun. “(Baseball) has a real place here and certainly the community takes pride in it. We’re going to do everything we can, and there’s 107 of us (in Congress) who signed the letter to Major League Baseball, and hopefully it will do some good. We’re leaning into it hard.”

LOCAL ACTION On Feb. 25, the city of Tusculum joined other municipalities in expressing disapproval of Major League Baseball’s plan.

The resolution supports efforts of the Mayors Task Force To Save Minor League Baseball.

Also in February, the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen passed a similar resolution.

Corley, also a Tusculum University trustee, told the Board of Mayor and Commissioners that the college is also behind the effort to save the Reds.

Corley said the City of Tuscu-

lum, Town of Greeneville and Tusculum University jointly signed a proclamation protesting the major league plan.

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT The Reds will be under new management on the field and off this summer. The Cincinnati Reds have named Derrin Ebert field manager, while Boyd Sports has named Kat Deal general manager.

Greeneville’s coaching staff will also include pitching coach Chris Booker, hitting coach Luis Terrero, bench coach Reggie Williams, trainer Wade Hebrink and strength and conditioning coach Joel Canacoo.

Ebert is entering his ninth season in the Reds’ organization and his first as a manager. In 2019, he was slated to be Greeneville’s pitching coach and assistant to the minor league pitching coordinator, but he was transferred to rookie Billings (Montana) after Billings manager left for personal issues and Booker was sent from Billings to Greeneville as pitching SEE REDS ON PAGE 13

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GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

Page 13

REDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

coach.

In 2018, Ebert was on the Reds’ major league coaching staff and was the pitching coach for the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League.

Ebert spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons as pitching coach for the rookie Arizona League Reds, 2014 and 2015 as pitching coach at Billings, and 2016 and 2017 as pitching coach at Class A Dayton (Ohio).

A native of Anaheim, Calif., Ebert was an 18thround draft pick out of Hesperia High School in Hesperia, Calif., by the Atlanta Braves in 1994.

The left-handed pitcher made five major league relief appearances for the Braves in 1999 at age 22.

He was 0-1 with a save and a 5.63 earned run average.

In eight innings, he gave up nine hits, walked five and struck out four.

Ebert pitched 11 seasons in the minor leagues for the Braves, Royals, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Brewers and Red Sox. After retiring from baseball in 2005, Ebert earned an associates of arts degree from Estrella Mountain College in 2008 and a bachelor’s degree in secondary education (history) from Arizona State University in 2009.

Ebert lives in Litchfield Park, Ariz., with wife, Lacey, and children Kinzy, Brody and Cody.

Deal, a Florida native, spent the previous two seasons as the assistant general manager for the Johnson City Cardinals.

Prior to working for Boyd Sports, Deal worked with the Bluefield Orioles in West Virginia and as director of corporate sales and marketing at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. “Few people can say they get to achieve their dream and I’m fortunately now to be one of those people,” Deal said. “Like many in this sport, my dream has always been to be a general manager one day, and that

SUN PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

Greeneville’s Garrett Wolforth (25) slides into third base ahead of a throw to Bluefield third baseman Joseph Reyes during the 2019 season.

day is here. I’ve dedicated my professional career to this industry and to be able to be at the helm of such a great team and play a part in this organization is an honor and privilege.

“The town of Greeneville is beautiful with incredible people and I’m excited to get involved in the community and surrounding area.

I look forward to continuing strong corporate partnerships, season ticket holder relationships, loyal fan base, and helping the community.”

While attending Bluefield College, Deal obtained a bachelor’s degree in

sports management with a double minor in strength and conditioning and drug education. She also was a member of the volleyball team.

APPY HALL Scott Niswonger, who is credited as one of the main individuals responsible for bringing minor league baseball to Greeneville, and Randy Boyd, who owns Boyd Sports, were elected to the Appalachian League Hall of Fame in October.

Niswonger and Boyd are among 13 new members

elected to the hall. The 11 others include Appalachian League President Emeritus Lee Landers, longtime Elizabethton Twins manager Ray Smith. Boyce Cox, Chauncey DeVault, Bobby Floyd, David Hagan, Bill Halstead, Jim Holland, Andruw Jones, George McGonagle and Miles Wolff.

Niswonger contributed $9.5 million to Tusculum University athletic facilities in 2004 to attract professional baseball. Niswonger, co-founder of Landair Services and founder of Forward Air Corporation, is also the Chairman of the Niswonger Performing Arts

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Lynn Hope Towing LLC is a Greeneville Sun People’s Choice winner in the Best Business category, and provides service for the Greeneville area city, county and state law enforcement agencies as well as many local automotive dealerships, body shops, garages and private accounts.

Center in Greeneville and established the Niswonger Educational Foundation in 2001 to create opportunities for individual and regional growth through educational programs, scholarships, and other charitable activities.

Niswonger is a member of the President’s Executive Council at Purdue University and also the Deans Council for Purdue as well as a Chairman of Purdue Aviation. He also serves on various boards throughout the region at the collegiate level.

Boyd helped ensure continued operations of

the Johnson City Cardinals when Boyd Sports assumed management of the team in 2016 and gave roughly $400,000 in investments to the Cardinals’ baseball facilities, including an artificial turf infield, party deck pavilion, locker room upgrades, online ticketing system and concessions renovations.

Boyd is the founder and chairman of Radio Systems Corp., a Knoxville-based business, and was appointed interim president of the University of Tennessee in September 2018.

Reporter Ken Little contributed to this report.

“We Doze But Never Close”

2020 People’s CHOICE Awards

Page 14

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Greeneville Boys, North Greene Girls Advance To Basketball State Tournaments

BY TATE RUSSELL ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Two local basketball teams were able to make deep runs in the postseason this year and advance to the state tournament.

The North Greene girls made it to the Class A state tournament and the Greeneville boys earned a spot in the Class 2A state tournament.

The Lady Huskies’ season ended in the state quarterfinals with a 68-40 loss to No. 1 ranked Greenfield.

The Lady Yellowjackets lineup included Lady Vol signee Tess Darby and Miss Basketball winner Chloe Moore-McNeil.

North Greene advanced to the fifth state tournament in program history after a 69-45 win over Wartburg in the state sectionals. In the win, sophomore center Brooklyn Anderson put in 26 points while Haleigh Bernard dropped in 18, including four 3-pointers.

“This is something I’ve SUN FILE PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 15

North Greene senior Corie Harkleroad (25) celebrates with teammates after beating Wartburg in the Class A state sectionals.

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GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

Page 15

BASKETBALL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

dreamed about since I was a kid and it feels so amazing,” North Greene junior guard Breezy Savage said after defeating Wartburg. “My sister played and she went to state once. Since then I’ve always dreamed about getting there. I’ve dreamed about getting to cut down the nets tonight.

Now that it has happened I can’t describe it. This is such a surreal feeling.”

The Lady Huskies won the District 1-A championship and Region 1-A championship with a pair of nail-bitting wins over Cloudland.

In the district championship game, the Lady Huskies topped Cloudland 45-42.

Savage led the way with 15 points, while Shelby Davenport had 14 and Anderson scored 13.

In the region championship, North Greene won 45-41 with Bernard and Anderson both scoring 13 points. Bernard was named the Region 1-A tournament MVP. The Lady Huskies completed the season with a 29-8 record.

The Greeneville boys advanced to the state tournament for the first time since 2014 and the sixth time overall by defeating Fulton in a 97-84 shootout in the Class 2A state sectionals.

Fulton had played in 18 of the past 29 state tournaments and was led by Class 2A Mr. Basketball finalist Edward Lacy. But in the state sectional win, it was Greeneville’s Reid Satterfield who shined.

The Greeneville sophomore was 8-of-12 from behind the arc and scored 42 points in the win.

“I wasn’t even thinking out there. I was just out there playing,” Satterfield said after his 42-point performance. “Once the first three went down I was just waiting on the next one. The guys were setting great screens, and Connor (DeBusk) and Kobi (Gillespie) did a great job of getting me the ball. It feels amazing to be going to state. I feel great right now.”

The Greene Devils were the District 2-2A and Region 1-2A champions.

In the district championship game, Greeneville overwhelmed Grainger with its defense and earned a 76-46 win.

JaKobi Gillespie scored 15 points and was named tournament MVP, while senior Jaydon Manuel put in 17 points.

In the Region 2-2A finals, the Greene Devils pulled away from Sullivan South late to earn an 87-70 win.

The Devils outscored the Rebels 22-11 in the fourth quarter, led by 13 points from Satterfield. Satterfield finished with 30

SUN FILE PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

Greeneville’s Reid Satterfield (5) puts up a shot against Fulton in the Class 2A state sectionals.

points and was named the region tournament MVP. Austin Loven contributed 17 points, and Gillespie added 14.

The Devils are set to play East Nashville in the opening round of the Class 2A state tournament, but that tournament has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If possible, the TSSAA would like to start the tournament in May. The Greene Devils have a 26-6 record going into the state tournament.

The South Greene boys and girls both advanced to the region tournament, but were eliminated in the region semifinals.

The Rebels upset Elizabethton in the first round of the region tournament 4847. Sully Fox hit the game winner with 36 seconds left and finished the night with 15 points. Clint Lamb put in 14 points.

South Greene was eliminated by Greeneville 71-47 in the region semifinals to

finish with a 24-10 record.

The Lady Rebels beat Johnson County 63-59 in the region quarterfinals. Haley Kells led the way with 21 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with less than a minute left to play.

Kiley Collins scored 12, Addison Williams 11 and Jayden Merriweather 10 in the balanced effort.

In the region semifinals, the Lady Rebels lost to Elizabethton 61-51 to finish with a 24-8 record.

The North Greene boys advanced to the Region 1-A tournament, but fell to Jellico 75-72 in the quarterfinals.

The Huskies made it a two-point game six times in the fourth quarter, but could never get over the hump and take the lead.

Turner Bailey led North Greene with 19 points in the loss while Cayden Foulks put in 15. The Huskies finished the season with a 21-12 record.

SUN FILE PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

North Greene’s Brooklyn Anderson (50) puts up a shot between two Greenfield defenders during the Class A state tournament.

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Page 16

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Local Wrestlers, Track Athletes Capture State Titles

BY TATE RUSSELL ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR From wrestling to volleyball, 2019 was another banner year for sports in Greeneville and Greene County.

WRESTLING The Greeneville wrestling team had one of its best seasons in program history this year.

Three Greene Devils claimed individual state championships in February, the most Greeneville has ever had in one season.

Sophomore Kodiak Cannedy became a twotime state champion when he claimed the 145-pound state title. Sophomore LeAndre Dabney won the 113-pound championship and freshman Hunter Mason won the 126-pound state title.

“This is a great night.

We came in with three young wrestlers and you hope for the best. Then we actually got the best and that is an amazing feeling,” Greeneville coach Randy Shelton said after the state tournament.

“We’ve had 41 years of Greeneville wrestling and this is the first time we have had three state champs. Three state champs is rare for any program, and it’s a real neat feeling for these kids to be a part of that. I think

that shows how special this group is.”

Three more Greeneville wrestlers earned state medals. Hunter Johnson (132) placed third, Kameron Hensley (220) fourth and Isaac Haynie (170) sixth.

As a team, Greeneville advanced to the state dual tournament for the eighth straight year.

TRACK AND FIELD Two local track and field athletes earned state championships in May. West Greene’s Colton Fulk took home the Small School boys pole vault championship and Chuckey-Doak’s Brendan Taylor won the Small School boys 1,600 meters.

Fulk won with a school record vault of 12 feet. Taylor ran his race in a time of 4:28.61.

A handful of other athletes had strong finishes to their season as well. In the girls high jump, Haley Kells cleared 5 feet, 2 inches and finished in third place while Abbey King placed fifth.

In the girls pole vault, Christiana Ricker came in fifth place and Chelsea Stokely placed seventh.

The West Greene boys 4x200 relay team of Tristan Biddy, Chase Jennings, Tommy Johnson and Justin Southerland took an eighth-place medal at the state meet.

SUN FILE PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

SEE PREP ON PAGE 17

Greeneville wrestler LeAndre Dabney celebrates after winning the 113-pound Class A/2A state championship in February.

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GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

PREP

opened with a win over Halls, but then fell to eventual state champion Summertown before falling to Harpeth 3-2.

Outside hitter Mercedes Collins and setter Sydney Gentry earned TSWA AllState accolades after the season.

The Greeneville volleyball team finished runner-up to Seymour in the District 2-2A tournament, falling 3-1 in the championship match.

The Lady Devils’ season ended with a 3-0 loss to Sullivan South in the Region 1-2A semifinals.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

Greeneville freshman Jaden Stevenson was the only local athlete to medal in the Large School state meet. With a leap of 21 feet, 11.25 inches, Stevenson placed seventh in the long jump. The Devils lost in the consolation semifinals to Hixson 39-35.

BOWLING The Greeneville boys bowling team advanced to the state tournament for the second consecutive year this season after defeating Dobyns-Bennett 18-9 in the Region 1 tournament championship match. In the sectionals, the Devils beat Pigeon Forge 20-7. Greeneville fell to Hardin County 21-6 in the opening round of the state tournament.

In the region championship, Greeneville’s David Painter was one roll away from tossing a 300, finishing with a 299.

In the individual state tournament, Chuckey-Doak’s Lane Bolton finished fourth overall.

GOLF

BASEBALL The Greeneville baseball team came up one game short of advancing to the state tournament to defend its 2018 Class 2A state championship.

The Greene Devils beat Elizabethton 8-6 to win the Region 1-2A championship and beat Claiborne 8-5 to win the District 2-2A championship.

In the state sectionals against Pigeon Forge, the Devils offense stranded 12 runners on base and fell to the Tigers 5-2. The Devils finished the season with a 30-7 record.

Greeneville first baseman Braden Span was named to the Max Preps Medium School All-American Team after the season.

North Greene was the only other local team to advance to the region tournament. The Huskies put together a 23-12 record with a team that did not have a senior, but fell 2-0 to Greenback in the region semifinals.

The Huskies were runner-up to University High in the District 1-A tournament, falling 9-5 in the championship game.

SUN FILE PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

West Greene’s Colton Fulk clears the bar on his way to winning the Small School pole vault state championship in May.

The North Greene boys golf team had a big year, winning the District 2 and Region 1 championship to advance to the Small School state tournament.

The Huskies finished third at the state tournament, led by freshman Aidan Collier who shot an even par 144 at the state tournament to finish second overall as an individual.

In the region championship, Collier edged South Greene’s Hunter Hartman by one stroke to claim the individual region title.

Hartman also advanced to the state tournament and finished 22nd as an individual.

South Greene’s Chloe Kinser and West Greene’s Mackenzie Evans advanced to the girls state tournament. Evans placed 29th and Kinser placed 38th as individuals.

The Greeneville boys golf team won the District 2 Large School tournament, and finished second in the Region 1 tournament.

TENNIS

SOFTBALL The Greeneville softball team fought through the losers bracket to top Grainger twice in one day to win the District 2-2A championship.

After falling to the Lady Grizzlies 11-9 earlier in the tournament, Greeneville came back to earn 10-4 and 10-0 wins on championship night.

Katie Cronin went 4-for-4 with four RBI in game one and then put up three more RBI in game two to lead the Lady Devils.

Greeneville’s season ended in the Region 1-2A semifinals with an 8-4 loss to Sullivan East.

No other local teams advanced to the region tournament.

Greeneville’s Alana Collins and Kelci Cantrell earned TSWA Class 2A All-State

Page 17

SUN FILE PHOTO BY TATE RUSSELL

South Greene’s Landon Brown (left) and Turner Reaves compete at the state tennis tournament in May.

recognition.

VOLLEYBALL The South Greene volleyball team advanced to the state tournament for the 11th consecutive year after a 25-9, 25-10, 25-14 win over Meigs County in the state

sectionals.

The Lady Rebels beat Gatlinburg-Pittman 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 25-17 to claim their 10th region championship in 11 years. They also beat Sullivan North 2624, 25-19, 25-14 to win the District 1-A tournament.

At the state tournament, South Greene

The South Greene tennis duo of Landon Brown and Turner Reaves made Greene County history in May by becoming the first tennis athletes from any of the county schools to win a match at the state tournament.

“We started playing together sophomore year, and to make it to state twice has been pretty awesome,” Reaves said.

“It’s been a good run for us, and I’m sure we’ll be playing together a lot in the future. It’s a friendship that will last forever.”

The boys doubles pair beat Brady Cunningham and Luke Jakes of Cannon County 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the state semifinals before falling to Zach Otley and Gabriel Williams of Signal Mountain 6-2, 6-0.

South Greene’s Jaelyn Casteel made the Girls Small School singles tournament for the second time and fell to Ashley McBride of Summertown 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

The South Greene boys tennis team won the Region 1 championship, but fell to L&N STEM Academy one match short of the state tournament.

The Greeneville girls tennis team won the District 2 Large School championship for the second consecutive season.

Greenville’s doubles pairs of Sydney Finchum and Macy Kennedy, and Ty DeBusk and Gavin Emmett captured district girls and boys doubles championships.

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Page 18

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Ruthie Buchanan, owner of Ruthie’s Thrift Shop, presented a check for $500 to the Greene County Honor Guard in December. Buchanan is fifth from the right. Next to her is volunteer Carole Rainey.

Thrift Store Owner Still Aiding Veterans, Others

BY NELSON MORAIS SUN CONTRIBUTOR Thrift store owner Ruthie Buchanan, whose husband was a Vietnam veteran, has a passion for helping veterans.

She puts her money where her mouth is.

Buchanan is the owner of Ruthie’s Thrift Shop on Tusculum Boulevard, located next to Gosnells Stereo and Music, near Food City.

Each month, after making sure she has earned enough to pay her store’s rent, utilities, insurance, and other required store-related expenses, she donates all the store’s proceeds to veterans causes, especially the Greene County Honor Guard.

“If we didn’t have to pay rent, we’d give them (the Honor Guard or other groups that support veterans) $1,500 more a month,” she says.

Buchanan does not receive a salary or any of the store’s profits, and she has a loyal group of volunteers who help run the store, also without compensation.

She says of veterans, “They just don’t get the help and recognition they deserve, nor do their children.”

Buchanan said her husband, Sam, died in 2008 due to complications from exposure to Agent Orange.

She said she had to wait eight years to get a widow’s pension, and after receiving it, began to help veterans.

“That’s what it’s all about,” she says of the store, which is a registered

SUN PHOTO BY NELSON MORAIS

Ruthie Buchanan, right, owner of Ruthie’s Thrift Shop, and volunteer Carole Rainey stand inside the shop.

nonprofit.

In December, Buchanan wrote a check for $500 to the Honor Guard, and another $500 check to the Greene County Veterans Association, Inc., for the Veterans Memorial Park.

“We try to give $150 a month (at least) if we can,” she says.

Charles McLain, Greene County veterans service officer and commander of the

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have an active Honor Guard in their community.

In addition, the Greene County Honor Guard helps with school and church events where veterans are honored, the annual Fourth of July parade in Greeneville, Ruritan Clubs, and other community centers.

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Honor Guard, said Buchanan “has helped out quite a bit. She brings in donations for the Honor Guard and American Legion Post 64, and hands out clothes to veterans. She’s been very supportive of the veterans community.”

McLain said the Honor Guard helps out at military funerals in Greene County, and in some surrounding counties that no longer

the American flag.

“There are 13 folds, and a meaning attached to each fold,” McLain stated.

McLain said Buchan’s donations have helped the Honor Guard members with the cleaning of their uniforms, the purchase of a new bus in 2019, fuel costs, insurance, and other expenses associated with an annual operating budget of $12,000.

Bill Adams is the coordinator for the Greene County Honor Guard.

Ruthie’s Thrift Shop moved to its current location, which has 4,500 square feet, a year ago, after being in a smaller location for a year prior to that, Buchanan said.

The thrift store began with one yard sale, and grew as people donated clothes and other items to her.

“I’m just very grateful for everyone who’s supported us,” she said. All items in the store have been donatSEE STORE ON PAGE 21

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GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

Page 19

SUN FILE PHOTO BY EUGENIA ESTES

Isaiah 117 House founder Ronda Paulson cuts the ribbon for the organization’s Greene County location in November.

Isaiah 117 House Opens Its Doors To Children

BY EUGENIA ESTES STAFF WRITER In late November, a little more than a year after a group met at a local restaurant to learn more about the Isaiah 117 House, the organization’s Greene County location opened its doors to begin serving children.

Around 150 people gathered the morning of Nov. 25 at the house to celebrate its completion and the community effort that made it possible during a brief program that concluded with a ribbon cutting to ceremonially open the local facility.

The new house is the first site to be new construction rather than a remodel of an existing home for the organization.

The Isaiah 117 House provides a comfortable,

safe place for children to stay while awaiting placement into foster care after being removed by the Department of Children’s Services from an unsafe or unhealthy home situation.

The organization’s name refers to a part of the Bible verse, Isaiah 1:17 “to defend the cause of the fatherless.”

“For some Greene County children, this house is going to change the message on what is the darkest day of their lives,” General Sessions Judge Ken Bailey said in November. “The love that they will receive in this house may be the most they have experienced in their lives.”

The Isaiah 117 House is not only going to have a positive effect on the children it serves, Bailey said, it had already begun affecting other parts of the system.

“Since the beginning of this project, I have had several people tell me that they have decided to become foster parents after learning about the Isaiah 117 House and the need,” he said.

The combined efforts of numerous people to make the new house a reality also amazed Bailey.

“I have never seen anything like this that has brought the community together more than this house,” he said. “There are so many stories of people getting involved. It is just phenomenal.”

Bailey recalled that 13 months prior to the opening, Isaiah 117 House founder Ronda Paulson met with him one day at lunch along with one of the organization’s board SEE HOUSE ON PAGE 20

SUN FILE PHOTO BY EUGENIA ESTES

Isaiah 117 House founder Ronda Paulson, left, and General Sessions Court Judge Ken Bailey, right, speak about the beginnings of the local effort to build one of the organization’s locations in Greene County. A ribbon cutting for the house on West Main Street was held in November. At the back are Jeff Idell of Idell Construction and Jason Seaton of Seaton Contractors.

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The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

HOUSE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

members and explained the services it provides to children. Paulson began the organization in Carter County after she and her husband became foster parents and saw a need for a comfortable, safe place for children to await placement rather than sitting in an office.

“At the end of that meeting, I told Rhonda that we need one of these houses in Greene County,” he said. “We have a need here.”

Realizing the size of the project, Bailey than arranged an organizational meeting of “people that do” with Paulson in November 2018 at the former Stan’s Bar-B-Q. Several of those at the meeting asked about getting Isaiah 117 House T-shirts with “Greene County 2019” on the back, Bailey said. In early 2019, $70,000 was raised during the kickoff of the campaign for the house, he continued, and he began to think that a house in 2019 was a possibility.

Then Jancie Painter donated the land for the house, the judge said, and the three local construction companies came together to coordinate the construction.

Paulson said she had some reservations at the beginning about whether a house in Greene County could be opened in 2019 when there was no land or funds yet for opening a location.

However, the outpouring of support and assistance from the community was enormous, she said.

“On a day like today, ‘thank you’ does not feel sufficient enough,” Paulson said at the opening of the Greeneville Isaiah 117 House. “It is overwhelming. To me, this is

SUN FILE PHOTO BY EUGENIA ESTES

Jackie Behymer, Beverly Yates and Virginia “Pinky” Bird, from left, members of the Greene County Quilters Association, display a few of the more than 40 quilts members made and donated to the Isaiah 117 House. Also making quilts were Diane Hensley and Patty Burnhom.

the church, and I think this is what the church is supposed to be. Different people came together, saw a need and filled that need. This is what it means to be Jesus’ hands and feet. This is what it looks like.”

Bailey and Paulson commended the three contractors who worked together to coordinate the construction of the house.

Idell Construction, Lynn Pitt Construction and Seaton Contracting worked together on the project.

Jeff Idell of Idell Construction spoke on behalf of the three contractors, saying all were blessed to have been a part of the project.

He thanked the subcontractors who worked on the project and local sup-

pliers, who either donated materials or provided them at a discount, and the numerous individuals and groups who made donations.

Gwyn Southerland, the program coordinator for the local house, said it had been a blessing for her to be part of the organization and experience the generosity of the community.

And she had a request of the community.

“I would ask that when you pass by the house or visit to please say a prayer for those children who come through our doors,” she said.

Kim Gass, chairwoman of the board for the local Isaiah 117 House, described the house as “holy ground” and said

the community’s outpouring shows the love that people are to have for one another.

And those contributions continue, Southerland said. One example was a presentation of more than 40 quilts by the Greene County Quilters Association following the cere-

mony.

After the ceremony, the house was open for tours along with refreshments provided by the Greene County Farm Bureau Women.

The house features separate bedrooms for boys and girls, a spacious kitchen, a living room and

a small seating area, all brightly decorated and inviting. A storage area, which holds dozens of different supplies, toys and books all neatly organized, also brought many compliments from those touring the house.

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Following the November ribbon cutting for the Isaiah 117 House, the house was open for tours, bringing compliments from the visitors, including for the well-stocked and neatly organized storage area for supplies, books, clothes and toys for children.

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GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

Page 21

Plans For Next Veterans Memorial Park Monument In The Works

BY SARAH R. GREGORY

Planning and fundraising was underway in late 2019 for another monument recognizing local service members at Veterans Memorial Park.

Veterans Memorial Park Committee officials plan to fill another stone with 225 local veterans’ names, which they hope to place and unveil for Memorial Day in May 2020.

The park is at 805 Forest Street near downtown Greeneville.

The latest monument, Stone “D,” was unveiled ahead of the community’s Veterans Day service in November. It was the fourth placed around the park’s flagpole, alongside stones A, B and C, each of which also recognize 225 local veterans by name.

In the five years since the park’s transformation began, goals of placing new monuments in time to coincide with the community’s Memorial Day and Veterans Day services each year have been met.

After an outpouring of support when committee members expressed concern about meeting the Veterans Day 2019 goal, organizers got a running start on plans for the stone they hope to unveil at the Memorial Day service, seeking names and financial support.

“We are still taking names for the next stone.

It’s an ongoing process, and we hope to get another up by Memorial Day in May,” Veterans Memorial Park Committee Chairman Grady Barefield said in November.

A veteran and active member of American Legion Post No. 64, including a six-year stint as its commander, Barefield is especially touched by what he

STORE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

ed. “Whether they bring in stuff, or buy something, we have really great people.

Sometimes, people come in just to talk.”

Buchanan, who was born and raised in Greeneville, said her grandfather was a World War I veteran.

She has two sons: Casey, who graduated from Tusculum University and lives in Greeneville; and Josh, who works for the Defense Department in Knoxville.

Following her husband’s death and the receiving of benefits for a surviving spouse, Buchanan said her son gave her $1,000 and said, “Mom, you need to do something to get out of the house.”

From there, inventory for a thrift store slowly built up.

Buchanan helps the community out in other ways, as well.

For example, she says she gives all toys that come into her store to Toys for Tots or Gifts for Kids.

She keeps school supplies that come in and donates them to teachers in the area.

In addition, “we try to keep our prices low to help others,” she says.

Buchanan helps the down and out who come

SUN FILE PHOTO BY SARAH R. GREGORY

Stones bearing names of Greeneville and Greene County service members are placed alongside other monuments at Veterans Memorial Park on Forest Street honoring American veterans killed and missing in action and prisoners of war.

called an “overwhelming” response from the community when his concerns that a new monument by Veterans Day might not be possible were made known in the fall.

“I just really want to thank the community for their support. It’s been overwhelming, that they’ve got behind this project and supported it the way they have. I’m beyond thankful

for that,” Barefield said. “I just truly, truly appreciate it. It’s a wonderful project to honor all those veterans in Greene County that we have.”

The committee’s unofficial counts indicate more than 5,000 veterans call Greeneville and Greene County home, and ongoing efforts at the park aim to honor them all — whether they are natives of the com-

to her store, including the homeless.

Carole Rainey, one of her volunteer assistants, said a 75-year-old man with holes in his sweatpants came into the store recently, saying he was cold and asking if he could get some clothes on credit in advance of him receiving his monthly disability check from the government.

Rainey said she told him, “Let’s see if we can get a pair of pants to fit you,” and he ended up walking out with two pairs of pants, a belt, and a jacket with a hood., all at no charge, she says.

“We try to help everybody that we can,” said Buchanan.

Others who volunteer their time for the thrift store include Yvonne Waddle, Buchan’s sister-in-law, whose father and brothers are veterans.

Hart Covington of the Honor Guard has helped out, and Barbara Collins is a volunteer there, as well.

The store owner says, “It takes everything to get the bills paid, and to get the money to where it needs to go.”

Buchanan says being a nonprofit has its limitations.

Any profits she donates can only go to other nonprofit organizations, rather

than to individuals.

She said, if she could, she would donate funds to help needy students pay for field trips they cannot afford, school clothes, or even for shoes for someone going to a band concert who cannot afford them, to cite a few examples. When she helped a veteran with $100 for his delinquent mortgage, she paid for it out of her own pocket, separate from the store.

Another drawback is that “it costs money to have a nonprofit status. We had to pay an attorney for direction.”

She said she even had to pay $100 for a checking account – “I think, to show we weren’t terrorists.”

The store helps grandparents raising children, and single parents, as well.

“We try to save money and ask for hangers from Burke’s and Belk’s, who have helped us out.

“We’ve never asked for money,” Buchanan said of the store. “If we didn’t have enough racks, somehow it’s worked out.”

Buchanan is humble about what she does to help veterans and others.

“We’re just a small seed,” she said. “I hope one day a veterans organization will come in and take over, and maybe do more than we’ve been doing.”

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munity or have adopted it as their home.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED The committee is urging the public to complete applications for monument inscriptions, available at The Greeneville Sun’s offices, 121 W. Summer St., Greeneville’s local U.S. Postal Service branch, and various banks and businesses, and provide proof

of service.

There is a $50 inscription fee per name, but the fee does not fully cover the cost of the stone, engraving and placement.

“It’s not even a fraction of it,” Barefield said when plans for the third phase were finalized. The committee opted to continue fundraising efforts to defray the cost of construction. “They wanted to keep

it at a cost people in Greene County can afford, but the fees will not even cover all of the stones.”

Criteria for inclusion on Veterans Memorial Park monuments are: veterans living or deceased in active duty or Reserve Component, with proof of honorable discharge, such as a DD SEE MEMORIAL ON PAGE 22

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The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

GreenevilleSun.com

Saturday, March 28, 2020

MEMORIAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

Form 214, Honorable Discharge Order or similar document, a photograph of a headstone at a military cemetery or a photograph of a military foot marker issued by the Veterans Administration, veterans with a connection to Greene County by birth or veterans who have been or are currently Greene County residents, and a $50 inscription fee to have the veteran’s name engraved in gray granite, with the cost waived for those who were prisoners of war or missing in action.

DONATIONS, FUNDRAISING Additional contributions for the site’s development are being sought.

Tax-deductible donations to assist in continued development at the park can be sent to Greene County Veterans Association, earmarked for Veterans Memorial Park, at P.O. Box 804, Greeneville, TN 37744.

For more information about fundraising efforts or including a veteran’s name on planned future monuments, call 639-3775 or email maxbare4ut@embarqmail.com.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP The Veterans Memorial Park Committee seeks other support for the park — monetary and otherwise.

The Greene County Veterans Association, which is open to all veterans and meets on the second Monday monthly, 6 p.m., at the American Legion post, 101 Longview Drive, is welcoming new members and is active in support and upkeep of the park.

The Veterans Memorial Park Committee, which is open to all volunteers, veteran or civilian, meets the second Thursday monthly, 6 p.m. at the American Legion post. It, too, is welcoming new members who want to support

SUN FILE PHOTO BY EUGENIA ESTES SUN FILE PHOTO BY SARAH R. GREGORY

Veterans Memorial Park contains a painted replica of the Iwo Jima battle image that inspired the Washington, D.C., U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, recalling “uncommon SEE MEMORIAL ON PAGE 23 valor” as a “common virtue.”

Employees of Reece Monument Co. lower the newest monument to its base in November at Veterans Memorial Park.

The stone contains 225 names of veterans with Greene County ties who have served in the U.S. armed forces. The Veterans Memorial Park Committee plans to continue adding to the site.

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At the 2015 Veterans Day service, the site’s centerpiece, the “Memorial Stone,” was unveiled. It bears engravings of a full-color American flag, the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag, emblems of all branches of the U.S. armed forces and a brass eagle over its inscription.

A symbolic seat at the center of the round platform is dedicated to POW and MIA soldiers, intended to remain forever vacant and awaiting their return.

In 2016, the Memorial Day service featured the revealing of “War Stones” around the circular monument’s edge. Those memorialize local soldiers killed in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Stones A, B C and D are situated around the flagpole between the monument dedicated to servicemen killed, missing in action and prisoners of war and the lower picnic pavilion, where a patriotic mural has been added. Additional stones bearing service members’ names are planned for that area.

Contemplative benches honoring Gold Star Mothers and individual service members have been placed nearby as the result of donations.

A replica of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, depicting a World War II flag raising at Mount Suribachi’s Iwo Jima, has also been added to the site.

MEMORIAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

development and upkeep of the park.

Committee members often visit the park to monitor its monuments, help rake after mowing, pick up litter and more. They have also coordinated work and clean-up days ahead of public services at the site.

Greeneville Parks and Recreation Department has mowed the site, and volunteers — including committee members, church groups, civic clubs and others — have pitched in to keep the park in showcase condition.

Meanwhile, a variety of businesses, clubs and individuals throughout the community have conducted fundraisers or donated to the park’s development.

All those forms of support are appreciated and continue to be needed, Barefield said.

DEVELOPING IN PHASES Plans for the now-underway third phase of development have been in the works since the beginning stages of the park’s conversion. It was formally dedicated as Veterans Memorial Park on May 31, 2014 — Memorial Day. The conversion has revived the Forest Street site, a once-popular community park that saw declining use when its pool closed with the

The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition

Page 23

SUN FILE PHOTO BY SARAH R. GREGORY

The “Memorial Stone” centerpiece at Veterans Memorial Park is flanked on the right by stones surrounding the flagpole that list Greeneville and Greene County veterans by name.

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