UNION COUNTY www.ShopperNewsNow.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
Coffee Break
Carol Pratt met husband Ronnie, who was born and raised in Union County, at the softball field. “There was a women’s softball league that played at the now Horace Maynard Middle School,” said Pratt. “I was with Brenda Lay and she told me, ‘you don’t want to go out with him.’ But I did, and I like to think I changed him.” Learn more about the county’s consummate volunteer. Read Coffee Break on page 2
Tourism dollars The Union County Chamber of Commerce spent the first portion of the August meeting talking about the funds received from tourism and how long it might take to get those from the county coffers.
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Read Cindy Taylor on page 3
Some openers bigger than others As big openers go, this is size XXL for Derek Dooley, Tyler Bray, the new running attack and the new defense. Opening games are not all the same. Who and where are factors. Value fluctuates. Robert R. Neyland had a 19-2 record in openers. Only four were on the road. He lost one at Georgia Tech. Mississippi State was a surprise winner on Shields-Watkins Field.
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VOL. 7 NO. 34
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POSTAL CUSTOMER
August 25, 2012
Bluegrass at Big Ridge By Cindy Taylor The occasional ring of a hammer on anvil blended well with bluegrass music as folks arrived for the 31st annual Bluegrass Festival at Big Ridge State Park. Smells of campfires, grills and food set the stage for an evening of family fun. The weather was friendlier than last year and vehicles began pouring in before 5 p.m. Chairs were lined up in front of the stage and beyond by those not wanting to miss a single minute of the music. Big Ridge Park ranger Sarah Nicley welcomed the crowd of more than 3,800. “I want to point out that the musicians who play for us are playing absolutely for free,” said Nicley. “Big Ridge State Park is 75 years old this year, and we are celebrating with music – and for the first time we have invited crafters and artists.” The Pleasant Valley Boys opened the show followed by Ethan Ferguson, Tennessee Brushfire, Gospel Strings, Whitewater and The Inmans. Boy Scout Troop 506 was there and artists and vendors, both local and from as far away as Cookeville, brought their wares to demonstrate and sell. Handmade works for sale included paintings by artists Betty Bullen and Wendy Leedy (Bullen revealed the Heritage Festival print for 2012), jewelry and prayer cloths by Linda Nichols, and hammered metal by Fritz Voss and Kelvin Ryder.
Ma and Pa Kettle (John and Laurie Kennedy) stir up fresh kettle corn over 600 degree heat.
Big Ridge Family Community Education Club (FCE) has provided a meal and dessert for sale for the past 31 years as a fundraiser for the club, and Malone’s Chuck Wagon was there for the first time. Visitors could indulge in treats such as Cruze homemade ice cream and fresh popped kettle corn. The stone entry building,
which at one time housed the original park office, was open to the public. Union County historian Bonnie Peters had historical info and photos on display. The organizers of this year’s festival brought home the feel of an oldtime gathering of friends and family mixed with the lifeblood of Union County – fantastic bluegrass music.
Read Marvin West on page 5
Insurance woes Teachers are concerned about possible increases in their contribution for health insurance, and the school board has punted the issue back to Dr. Jimmy Carter. All he has to find is an extra $100,000 or so.
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Norris Dam State Park ranger Lauren Baghetti demonstrates corn husk doll making. Photos by C. Taylor Pleasant Valley Boys were first to the stage. Band members are Tim Buckner, Mark Derringer, Roy Derringer, Burl Wynn and Harvey Rines.
Read Sandra Clark on page 4
Index More photos on A-3 Coffee Break Community Government/Politics Marvin West Lynn Hutton Kids Faith Calendar
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Real money for virtual school Trustee Buckner questions program By Betty Bean
4509 Doris Circle 37918 (865) 922-4136 news@ShopperNewsNow.com ads@ShopperNewsNow.com GENERAL MANAGER Shannon Carey shannon@ShopperNewsNow.com EDITOR Sandra Clark sclark426@aol.com UNION COUNTY REPORTER Cindy Taylor brentcindyt@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES Brandi Davis davisb@ShopperNewsNow.com Shopper-News is a member of KNS Media Group, published weekly at 4509 Doris Circle, Knoxville, TN, and distributed to 11,000 homes in Union County.
Last year, Tennessee taxpayers sent $7 million to Union County for the Tennessee Virtual Academy. The education for some 1,000 students in grades K-8 may be virtual, but those dollars are real. And this year the enrollment could double. The Virtual Academy is owned by K12 Inc., a company founded by former U.S. Education Secretary William Bennett and former junkbond king Michael Milken. Who thinks this is a good idea? Not professional educators. In a March 2012 article in “Education Week,” two University of Wisconsin School of Education professors were scathingly critical of the Tennessee law which they said
was lifted nearly verbatim from the Virtual Public Schools Act written by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). A K12 Inc. lobbyist helped write the model bill, the article reported. Not state Rep. Mike Stewart, who told Nashville News Channel 5 the chief executive officer of K12 made $2.4 million in 2010. “Every new student they sign up is essentially pure profit for them with a few ancillary costs,” Stewart said. Not even state Rep. Bill Dunn, who home-schooled his kids and voted for the law. Dunn said K12 may be overcompensated since the funding mechanism was designed for brick and mortar schools that are inherently more expensive to operate than cyber schools. Dunn said he and Stewart have similar concerns and may join next year to introduce legislation to remedy the funding formula.
Perhaps not Rep. Ryan Haynes, who also voted for the law. Haynes wanted to give students a way to access course work unavailable to them in their local schools. “That is the impression that a majority of lawmakers were under, and that was how that bill was sold to the General Assembly,” he said. Certainly not Union County Trustee Gina Buckner, who had to explain why the county’s fund balance dropped from $11.4 million at the end of June to $5.9 million at the end of July. Buckner said she paid an invoice from K12. “The commissioners wanted to know what happened,” Buckner said later. “They knew about the virtual academy but I don’t think they realized how much money was coming through, and then you realize that it’s going to a for-profit in Virginia and that some of them
are felons and bank frauds, I’m jumping up and down.” Commissioner Wayne Roach asked, “If it is such a good deal, why didn’t a bigger school system jump on it?” Brenda Jessee said, “When I spend this kind of money, I want to know where it’s going.” Melissa Carter said her husband, interim schools director Dr. Jimmy Carter, was in Nashville, but he “didn’t know (the invoices) would be done that way.” She said he would be meeting with K12 officials soon. The 4-year, no-bid contract was initiated by Director of Schools Wayne Goforth and approved by the Union County Board of Education. Union County is paid a four percent fee, roughly a quarter million dollars for the past year. Law Director K. David Myers said the BOE has the authority to approve such a contract. Next week we will talk to officials of K12, the Tennessee Virtual Academy and state Rep. Harry Brooks, R-Knox, the law’s primary sponsor.
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