GOVERNMENT/POLITICS A4 | OUR COLUMNISTS A6-7 | HEALTH & LIFESTYLES SECTION B | BUSINESS SECTION C
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VOL. 5, NO. 27
karns / hardin valley
JULY 4, 2011
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Visions of the road Happy Fourth of July! NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
New jobs Adam Parker is moving from Gibbs Elementary School where he has been principal since 2004 Parker to become principal at A.L. Lotts Elementary School. He joined Knox County Schools in 1995 as a teacher at Powell Elementary and has also been principal at Corryton Elementary and assistant principal at Beaumont Magnet Honors Academy. Susan Turner, a principal since 1999, will become elementary supervisor. Most recently at A.L. Lotts, Turner she also was principal at BrickeyMcCloud, Rocky Hill and Ball Camp Elementary schools. She joined KCS in 1980 and taught at Rocky Hill and Cedar Bluff Middle School. Parker holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from UT. Turner holds a bachelor’s in elementary education from ETSU and a master’s in administration and supervision from UT.
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Five Lions Clubs raise money for teen’s specialized glasses By Valorie Fister Until last week, West Knox 15-year-old Cody Kennedy wasn’t exactly sure how he was going to drive once he reached the legal driving age of 16. His dilemma wasn’t the same as that of other teenagers. It had nothing to do with buying a car or saving for insurance. And both of his parents were all for their son joining the ranks of other teens training and testing to obtain a driver’s license. Kennedy couldn’t see. “I guess I’d ride a bike or be walking,” he said, “or I’d be taking the bus.” Kennedy has an eye condition called ocular albinism. That’s a genetic condition that mostly affects vision. Symptoms include extreme light sensitivity, impaired sharpness and overall vision loss. The most common form of this disorder affects one in 60,000 males. Kennedy has learned to live with his vision difficulties since he was
KARM director of events Danita Lea and Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing president Penny Behling take a quick break during the dragon boat races. The Rick Cox Construction Dawn Treaders team (boat 2) pulls ahead of Team SoNo (boat 1) in the finals of the dragon boat race. Teams recently competed at The Cove at Concord Park to benefit Knox Area Rescue Ministries. Photo submitted
Dragon Boats raise money for homeless By Natalie Lester Although the number of teams participating in the dragon boat races at Concord Park decreased this year, there was an increase in funds raised for Knox Area Rescue Ministries. The recent event produced $126,000 for the organization. “It takes $179 to feed 100 people at KARM,” race organizer and Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing president Penny Behling said. “That was the goal we set for each participant,
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By Betty Bean When the Tennessee General Assembly wound up its 2011 business, a group of students and administrators at the University of Tennessee went out and painted The Rock with a special message: “Thank You, Jamie.” They were saluting Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Jamie Woodson, whose deSenate Speaker Pro Tempore parture from the state SenJamie Woodson Photo by B. Bean ate to become the president
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and each person who raised that much received an event T-shirt.” Teams find numerous ways to raise money including requesting donations, sponsoring car washes and hosting bake sales. Green Mountain Coffee’s team brought in the most money from a single team with its $10,000 contribution. “The money adds up quickly, and people who donate know exactly what their money is going toward,” Behling said.
In the water, the team from Rick Cox Construction in Roane County defeated the other 47 teams, and Behling steered the group to victory. She coached the team in the week leading up to the race. On race day, the team won an auction for Behling to be on its boat. “It was no surprise they were in the finals, because they are always very competitive and usually make it to the last race,” she said. “They really wanted to win it this year. It
was such a close race, so winning was even more of an adrenaline rush.” Despite the competition, Behling said it wasn’t about winning or losing, but making a difference in the community. “It feels so good to be able to give back,” Behling said. “On race day, people genuinely cheer each other on and it is fantastic to see how much they care about the community and each other.”
Woodson earns ‘thanks’ for good work
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“We’re proud that he’s going to get to drive,” said Kennedy’s mother, Michelle Calnan. Lions Club member David Crawford said the five Lions clubs that contributed to this donation include those from Karns, Knox North, West Knoxville, Inskip and Farragut. Lions clubs are well-known for their motto “We serve.” They are also widely known for efforts to prevent blindness and contribute to each of the communities in which they are found. Lions Club programs include sight conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations and more. Dr. Bruce Gilliland of the Low Vision Center in Knoxville educates Cody Kennedy on Michelle Calnan said her family the proper use of his new glasses. Five local Lion’s Clubs pooled their funds to pay didn’t know until just two weeks for the glasses. Photo by V. Fister ago that the local Lions clubs were going to completely cover the exa baby. At school, he reads large- collected from five local Lions Clubs, pense of Kennedy’s glasses. print books and has trouble seeing Cody now has his new glasses and is In addition to working more than on bright sunny days. learning how to use them to drive. two jobs, the family also worked to His eye condition also prevented “They’ve been a godsend, truly,” find funds to purchase the glasses. him from passing driver’s vision Kennedy’s stepfather, Jeremy Cal- They decided to write a two-page tests. He needed a $1,700 special- nan, said of the Lions clubs. “That letter to the Lions clubs. Their pleas ized set of glasses that his family one tool is going to allow him to for help were heard. “I thought ‘We’re way far away but simply couldn’t afford. drive, almost as if he didn’t have the But thanks to a $1,700 donation eye condition.” To page A-3
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and CEO of SCORE – the State Collaborative on Reforming Education – means that Knox County is losing its most influential legislator and UT its most powerful ally. Prior to being named to the No. 2 position in the Senate, Woodson, who holds degrees in political science and law from UT, chaired the Senate’s education committee and developed a reputation as state govern-
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ment’s leader in education policy. She says it is that passion that compelled her to give up her Senate seat to head the foundation created by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Woodson likely made a strong impression on Frist in 2009 when she was on the Race to the Top team that made Tennessee the first state in the nation to win the coveted $500 million federal education grant.
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“I have worked with Sen. Frist for many years and have been inspired by his dedication. It is such an honor to be a part of this group, which is at the forefront of education reform. I will have the opportunity to move from policy work into implementation. At the end of the day, it’s all about making sure students in Tennessee are prepared for success in the global marketplace.”
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