A-10 • APRIL 14, 2014 • BEARDEN Shopper news
NEWS FROM BRIGHTSTAR
Recognizing the risks of senior citizen financial fraud
GameTruck Greater Knoxville franchise owner Jeff Maples shows the setup for the mobile video game theater. Maples co-owns the franchise with his wife, Theresa. Photos by Bonny C. Millard
In the modern world of increasing technology, the risk of nancial identity theft is higher than ever before. Sadly, senior citizens are often the most common targets for this crime. It is important to recognize how this can occur and how it can be prevented. 1. Prevent scammers before they start. Many scams are of an intentionally confusing nature so that they can target the elderly. Phone calls or e-mails requesting personal information, including bank information, social security numbers, and the like, can be dangerous. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it most often is. You have no obligation to give any information over the telephone or on the computer. Do not hesitate and do not feel bad about hanging up the phone or deleting an e-mail. If you are unsure, ask someone you know and trust. 2. React quickly if you feel you may be a victim of fraud. Understand that you are your rst line of defense; therefore, you will be much more likely to nd
fraudulent charges than a credit card company, bank, or other nancial institution. Keep close tabs on your monetary transactions, and note anything that is out of the ordinary. Make sure to have the phone numbers of banks or credit card companies on-hand so that they can be called at the rst sign of fraud. In today’s society, this responsibility is similar to keeping your wallet in your pocket, or hanging onto your pocketbook.
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For these reasons, his service to his country, state and county, I respectfully ask all my friends living in Knox County to vote for, support and elect Billy Stokes as Judge, Div. 1, Knox County Circuit Court. - Retired Four Star General, Carl Stiner
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Game Truck party business is
Born and raised in Knoxville, attended Beaumont Elem. & Rule Jr-Sr. High, raised his own family here 30+ years of litigation experience before the courts Peer rated AV Lawyer by Martindale-Hubble (Rated: Preeminent) Tennessee Supreme Court Listed R. 31 Mediator Veteran (Active Duty 1979-1982), Honorably Discharged as CPT, Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC), U.S. Army Former Juvenile Counselor, Knoxville Police Department (KPD) Worked a full time job while paying his way through law school at the University of Tennessee Member of American Legion, Post 2; American Legion Riders; Master’s Lodge #244, F&AM; Knoxville Scottish Rite; The National Rifle Association (NRA); and The Federalist Society Member of the American, Tennessee and Knoxville Bar Associations Member of the Hamilton Burnett Inn of the American Inns of Court Former member of Governor Don Sundquist’s Cabinet, initially appointed Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Employment Security. Promoted to Governor Sundquist’s Senior Staff as Special Assistant to the Governor Former Knox County Republican Party Chairman Mayor’s appointee to the City of Knoxville Civil Service Merit System Board for ten years Appointed to a City-County Government Efficiency Committee by the Knox County Mayor Appointed to the Board of the Knoxville/Knox County Public Building Authority and was elected Chairman of that body in 2010. Appointed to the Knox County Charter Review Committee by Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett. Co-author of Unemployment Compensation, Survey and Update, Labor Law Journal, 47 (9) at 602-612, September 1996; Bad Faith: General Application in the Insurer-Insured Relationship, Lorman Education Services, 2007; and various letters and guest columns published in magazines and newspapers, including three articles published in The Congressional Record. Served as the Governor’s appointee to the Juvenile Justice Reform Commission Served on the Board of the Knoxville-Knox County Community Services Agency, appointed by Governor Phil Bredesen Serves on the Boards of the Museum of Appalachia and Golden Gloves Charities, Inc. Volunteered as an attorney for indigent clients through the KBA Pro Bono project Active in the Knoxville community and served on several nonprofit boards Billy and his wife Bay are both very active in Second Presbyterian Church
Vote Early: April 16- May 1 Republican Primary: May 6 Paid for by Committee to Elect Billy Stokes for 1st Circuit Court Judge- Treasurer- Howard Vogel & Kimberly Wood
bench along the opposite wall can seat between 16-20 people. The truck has windows that can be opened up in good weather, but it is fully heated and air conditioned, which makes it available year round. The games are up-to-date and offer something for everyone including sports, car chases, dancing and guitar playing. Games run from individual plays to competitions between up to four players. If the children are young, Maples gives parents an opportunity to look through the selections first to remove the more mature games that might not be age appropriate. Maples and his wife and co-owner, Theresa, started booking parties last November. Buying the franchise was originally his wife’s idea, he said. While in Atlanta, they saw one of the trucks, and his wife and her son were instantly interested. Although not familiar with the company, Theresa Maples knew that it involved video games because of the trailer’s painted panels. Maples said his wife started trying to book the business for her son’s birthday. Later, his wife approached him about buying a franchise, and after con-
sidering the possibilities for a few days, he said yes. Both he and his wife still work outside jobs, but they are available to book a party almost anytime – except Sunday mornings. Maples said he’s the operations part of the team while his wife handles most of the marketing. The minimum party time is one and a half hours, but parties usually run about two hours. Maples stays in the trailer, supervising and answering questions, during the party. GameTruck Greater Knoxville is also available for educational programs for schools, for church youth programs and for corporate gatherings for team building activities or summer picnics. Maples said he didn’t know what to expect when they started back in November, even after going through training with the company, but he knew the opportunity was there. “It’s beginning to grow and getting the word out has been the most important thing,” he said. GameTruck Greater Knoxville will be at the Smokies Baseball Stadium on Tuesday, April 15. For more information: www.gametruckparty.com.
UPCOMING AT THE FARRAGUT WEST KNOX CHAMBER ■ Ribbon Cutting: Planet Beach: A Contemporary Spa, Tuesday, April 15, 11 a.m., 11657 Parkside Drive. ■ Networking: Reserve at Bluebird Hill, Thursday, April 17, 8 to 9:30 a.m., 1411 Midway Road, Lenoir City. ■ Networking: Oasis Day Spa, Thursday, April 24, 5 to 6:30 p.m., 10420 Kingston Pike,
www.BillyStokesforJudge.com
on a roll
By Bonny C. Millard A new concept in birthday parties has arrived in Knoxville, and the party rolls on – rain or shine. Knoxville residents might have seen GameTruck Greater Knoxville and its colorful 28-foot trailer around town as it travels to party destinations. This is not the typical birthday party with clowns and balloons. It is a mobile video game theater. GameTruck Greater K nox v ille franchise owner Jeff Maples said they book parties in K nox v ille and the surrounding counties. Jeff Maples The participants “don’t have to go anywhere,” he said. “We just bring it to them.” Additionally, the mobile facility provides a safe environment for birthday parties, particularly for younger children, he said. The VIP, or birthday child, receives a prize pack with goodies and T-shirt at end. Maples recently demonstrated the truck’s unique features and capabilities. With five widescreens, GameTruck offers more than 100 video games and activities for partygoers. A
Knoxville. ■ Ribbon Cutting: Prime Medical Training, Wednesday, April 30, 11 a.m., 11020 Kingston Pike. ■ Networking: Michael Brady Inc., Thursday, May 1, 8 to 9:30 a.m., 299 N. Weisgarber Road. ■ Breakfast Speaker Series
with Mike Hammond, Tuesday, May 6, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Rothchild Catering, Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tickets: $30 for members, $40 for nonmembers, and $275 for tables of 10. ■ Networking : The Eye Group, Thursday, May 8, 8 to 9:30 a.m., 11124 Kingston Pike.
News From The Register Of Deeds
Healthy property sales, sluggish lending By Sherry Witt Even as mortgage lending continued its slow pace, the local real estate markets fared quite well in March. For the month endSherry Witt ing March 31, there were 812 property transfers recorded in Knox County, compared to just 551 during February. The totals also topped last March’s figure by more than 100. The first quarter of 2014 produced almost identical data to 2013 in terms of total property sales. The aggregate value of land sold in March was just
under $148 million, besting February’s total by nearly $60 million, and also outpacing the March 2013 figure of $137 million. For the first quarter of 2014 approximately $432.7 million worth of property has sold in Knox County, some $50 million ahead of the 2013 pace. Despite encouraging numbers on the real estate side, mortgage lending markets continued to perform somewhat sluggishly. For the month, around $212 million was loaned against real estate in Knox County. While that was some $50 million more than the February total, it was well behind last March’s figure of $287 million, leading to speculation that refinancing
may have reached a saturation point. So far in 2014, about $636 million has been loaned in mortgage transactions in Knox County, compared to $1.03 billion during the first quarter of 2013. The largest real estate sale of the month was for a property on Clinch Avenue in the Fort Sanders community. The parcel sold to Pinecrest 1505 Clinch LLC for $3.4 million. The most notable mortgage recording was a loan for $23,085,000 financing several Captain D’s properties in the area. With the beauty of an East Tennessee spring upon us, I would like to wish everyone a very happy, safe and joyous Easter. Sherry Witt is Knox County Register of Deeds