VOL. 53 NO. 43
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NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Bids in on Harbison’s project Bids are in for the TDOT project to improve traffic flow at the intersection of Emory Road and Tazewell Pike, and the price is over $5 million. Mark Nagi, TDOT spokesperson, said it normally takes two to four weeks to review bids and let a contract. “This is the four-way stop that is being improved and signalized,” he wrote in an email. “This project was in the Oct. 17 letting, and here are the apparent low bids. Over the next couple of weeks bids will be reviewed and a contract awarded. A schedule will be known following the preconstruction meeting, which normally takes place 2-4 weeks after the contract is awarded.” The apparent low bidder was Charles Blalock & Sons Inc. at $5,196,569.50, followed by Highways Inc. at $5,814,344.40 and APAC-Atlantic Inc. at $7.7 million. – S. Clark
Burchett sets area meetings Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett will host 10 constituent meetings during October and November to give citizens the opportunity to speak individually with him about issues that are important to them. These meetings are open to the public. In North Knox County, he will be at the Corryton Senior Center from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3; Halls Senior Center, 4-5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14; and Fountain City Library, 11 to noon, Monday, Nov. 17.
IN THIS ISSUE Marching bands Members of the South-Doyle marching band perform their halftime show during the Knox County Schools band exhibition, hosted by Central High.
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Ruth White’s pictures on page A-8
Hope renewed In the first game of this new season, Joshua Dobbs made a remarkable difference. His quickness reduced the pressure on the offensive line. His speed generated yardage. His ability to throw on the run created problems for cornerbacks.
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Read Marvin West on page B-3
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PTO brings black and gold By Cindy Taylor Brickey-McCloud Elementary School staff and parents were greeted by a festive theme of black and gold when they arrived for an elegant evening out at Beaver Brook Country Club. The PTO-sponsored event was the first fundraiser of its kind for the school, but the group hopes to make it a yearly happening. The inaugural gala featured live music by Crab Apple Lane, dinner, dancing and a silent auction. “We have a lot of parents who tell us they are tired of selling things and would rather just write a check to the school,” said PTO fundraising chair Amanda Wright. “The gala gives
Shenanigan friends Shanna Cole and PTO fund-raising chair Amanda Wright. Photos by Cindy Taylor them an opportunity to do that while affording them a night out when they can dress up and be an adult.” Items such as gift baskets, jewelry, art, chocolate
and even vacation trips valued at $10K were available for bidding. Donations for the silent auction went so well that the PTO held some items over. These
Brickey-McCloud PTO co-president Keli Hopkins and husband Brad on the dance floor at the Black and Gold Gala. will be set up at the school during school hours. through Oct. 31. Those Who says being a PTO who wish to participate in member isn’t fun? this silent auction can view the items and place bids More pictures A-3
Knox mall inches closer to interstate signs By Sandra Clark The Tennessee Department of Transportation has responded favorably to the city’s request to allow additional signage along I-640 near the Knoxville Center mall to make interstate motorists aware of the businesses nearby. City Council member Nick Della Volpe has championed the signs and is generally happy with TDOT’s response. He just wonders why it will take up to nine months to implement the changes. Della Volpe said Sam’s Club at East Towne is ready to rent logo space now. The store invested $8 million
for a major upgrade last fall. Della Volpe said Sam’s qualifies for the logo signs because it sells prepared food and gasoline onsite. Knoxville City Council unanimously passed a resolution Sept. 16 requesting TDOT to permit logo signs around Exit 8 near Knoxville Center. TDOT currently limits the use of logo signs to only the first exits in and out of those municipalities with populations greater than 100,000. Commissioner John Schroer says TDOT initiated a process to re-promulgate the rules that govern this program. The rules will be final Oct. 29, 2014.
“Once the rules are final, and provided no changes occur which would impact this aspect of the program, you may consider the city of Knoxville as approved for the use of logo signs,” he wrote. “All exits inside the city will have to be reviewed case by case basis to determine if there is adequate room to place new logo signs. We would anticipate that process to begin once the new logo contract is in place on July 1, 2015.” The council resolution said logo signs are necessary to provide the traveling public with directional information needed to
identify available services, “especially at exits where the nature of the road elevations and surrounding vegetation prevent reasonable visual evidence that such commercial services and business can be obtained.” Della Volpe cites 100 independent businesses near Exit 8 providing some 2,000 jobs. He says businesses are obscured by artificial earthen berms originally built to accommodate crossover bridges.
Harvest Park Community Center. Justin Sterling, president, invites all business owners and managers in the East Towne corridor to attend. Adam Palmer, president of Saw Works Brewing Company, will discuss why his company chose to set up operations in Knoxville and the importance of having community support. Mall-o-ween: Knoxville Center will celebrate Halloween with the annual Mall-o-ween, starting at 5 Friday, Oct. 31. Kids ETBA to meet on Nov. 5 p.m. can trick-or-treat at retailThe East Town Business ers throughout the mall. Alliance will meet at 8 a.m. Info: www.knoxville Wednesday, Nov. 5, at New center.com/.
School chant: ‘Change is hard’ South Knox rep wants fewer tests in K-2 By Betty Bean In the recent past, when teachers or parents asked for relief from Knox County Schools’ test-happy corporate reform regime, Superintendent James McIntyre and the 8-to-1 school board majority that had his back would tell them to suck it up and get with the program.
Analysis “Change is hard,” they’d say to tearful mothers telling of their children’s mounting test anxiety. “Change is hard,” they’d tell teachers saddled with evaluations based on subjects they never taught.
We haven’t heard much of that since that since August elections and Indya Kincannon’s departure whittled McIntyre’s majority down to a 4-5 minority, and depending on the outcome of the Nov. 4 race to replace Kincannon, the former majority would probably be well advised to start practicing a new mantra. New board member Amber Rountree has one: “Go big or go home.” Rountree has requested a called meeting to vote on abolishing SAT-10, an exam for kindergarten through second grade that many educators feel is inappropriate. SAT-10 is not state-mandated, and board chair Mike McMillan is expected to honor her request. Rountree wants a vote before the tests are ordered. Board member Karen Carson is expected to oppose Rountree’s
efforts. Carson said at last week’s mind- and buttnumbing five-hour workshop that it’s the school board’s job to hire a superintendent and set goals. It’s the superintendent’s Rountree job to decide what tests will be administered. But Rountree disagrees. She quit her job as a school librarian to serve on the school board. Her South Knox constituents elected her, and she’s not been shy about saying how she feels about McIntyre’s heavy-handed administration. Rountree, Patti Bounds and Terry Hill have served notice that they intend to own future school board meetings. It’s unlikely that McIntyre’s lengthy, orchestrated
presentations will recur. County Commissioner Charles Busler said last week that commissioners would never allow Mayor Tim Burchett, or any mayor, to sit at their table and control their meetings. In fact, Burchett often stays in his office, monitoring commission meetings and making himself available if needed. Change is hard. And we should expect change for the Knox County Board of Education, starting this week with Amber Rountree’s effort to discontinue high-stakes testing for kids who have not yet learned to read. Are we really that data-driven? And to what goal? Will Rountree win the vote? Maybe yes, maybe no. But the message is clear: Go big or go home. Yes, change is hard.
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