Karns/Hardin Valley Shopper-News 010616

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A-4 • JANUARY 6, 2016 • Shopper news

Outlook depends on NFL lure The knockout of Northwestern boosted expectations two more notches and reminded us that Jalen Hurd has the heart of a champion. One co-star of the Hardees coffee club says the future of Tennessee football is so bright, he’s going to start selling sunglasses. Another said the outlook is favorable enough that he can put away the crutch, “Just wait until next year.� This is next year. This is the year the Volunteers do more than talk about defeating Florida, winning the East and competing for the Southeastern Conference championship. This is the time to do it.

Marvin West

Butch Jones, four-million-dollar-man, has done the brick-by-brick thing, created the culture, recruited superior talent and nurtured it through the growing stage. The coach is a splendid motivator. The players, constantly focused, have learned a lot. Butch and his staff are wiser in the ways of the big league. Experience is said to be priceless.

Tennessee now has an almost finished product. Butch said a few days ago that it actually takes six or seven years to build a winning program in the SEC. That is coach talk, just in case of a calamity. The third year should have been at least one victory better than it was. This fourth year should be outstanding. How outstanding will depend in part on the lure of the National Football League. If the pro prospects eligible to leave early – Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Cam Sutton and Alvin Kamara – dive in, three other future stars must move up on the depth chart. Jones has surely

planned for this eventuality. It appears SEC coaches may even be using “early out� as a recruiting tool. Come to our place and we’ll get you ready for a big payday after three years instead of four. With or without the three big names, the Tennessee schedule is no picnic. It never is. The red meat is packed from the last Saturday in September to the third Saturday in October. Florida and Alabama come to Neyland Stadium. The Vols go to Georgia and Texas A&M. Playing in the SEC means one tough test after another. If you find that intimidating, you do not believe the lofty evaluations of the past

three recruiting classes. The Vols have been among national leaders at gathering talent. It appears sales is Butch Jones’ strength. It is now time for the Vols to be among the national leaders in results. Top 15 in August, until they have demonstrated strength, top 10 in December when they are in a big bowl. Hurd is good enough at what he does. The defensive line has tremendous potential. Praise be to the departing Kyler Kerbyson but the offensive line should continue to improve. Joshua Dobbs must refine downfield passing accuracy. Practice does not make perfect but it helps.

There is a need for depth at linebacker. The secondary, even with Sutton, is cause for moderate concern. Safeties are gone. New safeties are moving up. The big jump has to come from receivers. They are the under-achievers of recent seasons. Blame them or coaching or pass protection or Dobbs. Special teams? Wow! Net results are not accidental. This is another Butch Jones strength. This is not a national championship prediction. This is an acknowledgment that good times have returned to Tennessee. Marvin West invites reader reaction. His address is westwest6@netzero.com

Primary primer for March 2016 January’s the time for deciding what excess clutter needs to be pitched, and I’m not talking about the antimacassar Aunt Zelda gave you for Christmas. I’m talking about Knox County’s March 1 primary elections. (If you don’t know what an antimacassar is, look it up. If you don’t know who’s running for which office, read on.) Normally held in May, the local primaries have been moved to March 1 to match the Presidential Primaries in other Southern states (the SEC primary). How will an outpouring of voters for Donald Trump or Ted Cruz impact local races? Onward Christian Soldiers: The advantage may go to school board candidates Grant Standefer (executive director of Compassion Coalition) and Susan Horn (Jason Zachary’s

Wendy Smith

ally and children’s minister at Christ Covenant Church). Jim McIntyre won’t be the issue. He guaranteed that by agreeing Monday to step down in July. Elections matter. McIntyre acknowledged that the majority of school board members come September will prefer a different direction and a new leader. Coupling the non-partisan school board races with the Presidential Primary, which will turn out a huge Republican vote in Knox County, causes a trickledown effect which will enhance the majority of con-

servative, even pro-charter, school board members. New broom sweeps clean: Incumbent County Commissioner Jeff Ownby might be swept away by stiff competition from wellknown Republicans and Webb School grads Hugh Nystrom and Janet Testerman. The District 4 race will be the hardest fought and most expensive. And one more thing: It’s ridiculous to make March 1 winners, like unopposed school board candidate Tony Norman, wait until Sept. 1 to take office. Other school board candidates who capture 50 percent plus one on March 1 are effectively elected. They at least should be included in the search for a new schools superintendent. Here are the matchups: School board (non-partisan) – District 2: Jennifer

Owen vs. Grant Sandefer; District 3: Tony Norman, unopposed; District 5: Buddy Pelot, Susan Horn, Lori Boudreaux; District 8: Mike McMillan, unopposed. County commission (partisan; general election in August) – District 1: Michael Covington (R), Evelyn Gill (D), Rick Staples (D), Tyrone LaMar Fine (I). District 2: Michele Carringer (R), John Fugate (R), Laura Kildare (D). District 4: Jeff Ownby (R), Janet Testerman (R), Hugh Nystrom (R), Marleen Kay Davis (D). District 5: John Schoonmaker (R), Sheri Ridgeway (D). District 6: Brad Anders (R), John Ashley (R), Donna Lucas (D). District 8: Dave Wright (R), Donald Wiser (I). District 9: Carson Dailey (R), James Hamilton (D),

Ownby

Nystrom

Tom Pierce (I). Pierce’s interesting political agenda, advertised on Facebook, says that those who practice Islam, Judaism or other “foreign religions� will “simply have to get over it.� Property assessor: Andrew Graybeal, Jim

Testerman

Davis

Weaver and John Whitehead, all Republicans. Law director: Bud Armstrong and Nathan Rowell, both Republicans. Several races will be decided by the primary, so don’t skip it. The General Election is Aug. 4.

GOSSIP AND LIES â– Tony Norman is scarier than you think. Just the threat of him joining the school board eight months out is enough to send Jim McIntyre packing. â– The political climate is just fine. School board elections

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are the voters’ way of setting public school policy. ■What do folks want? A superintendent appointed by a board that’s appointed by the superintendent?

– S. Clark

CONTINUING EDUCATION January-March

Business and Community Services is your one-stop provider of training, offering an array of solutions that will enhance your performance—regardless of your industry—and generate real results. Training can be custom designed for your needs and can be delivered at any of our campuses or in your plant or business. Many more classes are available. For a complete list of courses and schedules, visit www.pstcc.edu/bcs. Registration can be completed online for your convenience or call 865.539.7167. To be placed on the mailing list, please submit your request online at www.pstcc.edu/bcs/mailing_list.

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• ServSafe Food Safety • How to Thrive Financially in Retirement • Savvy Social Security Planning • Tennessee Estate Planning (Wills & Trusts) • Sketching/Drawing • Basket Making • Working With Yarn • Ballroom Dance • Handgun Carry Permit Certification • Women’s Self-Defense • Armed & Unarmed Security Guard Certification • Fitness Classes • Proactive Approach to Senior Care • State-Mandated Parenting & Divorce Classes • Genealogy Classes • Spanish

• State-Certified Motorcycle Classes • Learn to Play the Dulcimer • Digital Photography • Fly-Fishing • Traditional Mixed Martial Arts • Tennis

STRAWBERRY PLAINS CAMPUS • Guitar for the Beginner • Quick-Pickin’ Mandolin • Dueling Banjos for the Beginner • Social Security Planning: What Baby Boomers Need to Know

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