VOL. 9 NO. 17
www.ShopperNewsNow.com |
Let’s go, Beavers!
BUZZ Wade Smith passes
Wade Smith of Karns, a co-owner of Wayne L. Smith and Associates Engineers, died April 21 at age 93. He Wade Smith was a longtime member of Grace Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, choir member and Sunday school teacher. He operated a dairy farm in Karns for many years and was voted Farmer of The Year. The TVA Test Demonstration Farm Program brought visitors from Vietnam and other countries to observe his farm. He served as president of Farm Bureau and was a 50year member of Beaver Ridge Masonic Lodge. He was preceded in death by his brother, Wayne L. Smith. Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Theda Mae Smith, daughters Wilma (Charles) Teague, Mary (Robert) Carey and Angela (Steve) Fann.
Carnival time
Knox North Lions Club’s second annual carnival is this week at the old Ingles location, 7144 Clinton Highway. Admission and parking are free, and ride tickets are $1. Food and beverages will be sold. A $20 armband will guarantee unlimited rides per day. Days and times are: Wednesday and Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday, 5-11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1-11 p.m. Rick Long is project chair.
If Gibbs Middle is built, what’s next?
Sandra Clark talks about the dilemma created by building a middle school for 800 kids in remote Gibbs. “We’ve got spaces without kids on the east side and kids without spaces on the west side.”
➤
Opinion column on page A-5
SHOPPER ONLINE ShopperNewsNow.com
Read Betty Bean’s tribute to Ellen Turner, co-founder of The Love Kitchen: cover story at ShopperNewsNow.com
Rising Karns High School freshmen Hailey Davis, Natalie Miller and Hayley Sponcia demonstrate a toe touch jump at a Karns Middle School cheer clinic. More pictures on page 3. Photos by Nancy Anderson
Creating the Hero Awards
By Sara Barrett
When Brandon Pollock decides to do something, he thinks big. Really big. “To give people an idea of what to expect from the Hero Awards, I say they’re similar to the Oscars and the Grammys,” the Hardin Valley Academy senior said about a marketing class project he created to honor his grandfather. When his grandfather, Gary Hobart Ferrell, began struggling with health issues, Brandon decided “to take the assignment and make it something worthwhile.” Although his granddad had decades of service in the military, his positive outlook and attitude toward others while sick is what inspired Brandon the most. “He was always the one making everyone else feel at ease. No matter where he was – hospital rooms, waiting rooms, therapy centers …” said Brandon. The plan was to accept nominations from community members of folks who have inspired them in some way; those who have turned a negative situation into something positive. A handful of people would be chosen from the nominees, and they would be honored at an award ceremony. In the beginning, Brandon met with a group of about 15 CEOs from local nonprofit agencies to get as much advice as possible. He also sought guidance from his teacher, Tim Lee, and school principal Sallee Reynolds, who agreed to have the ceremony in the school auditorium. Members of the HVA Student Government Association also helped. Volunteers went door-to-door asking for Hero nominations and received several donations of goods and services in the process.
NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sherri Gardner Howell | Nancy Anderson ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Patty Fecco | Tony Cranmore Alice Devall | Shannon Carey
The Hero Awards event committee includes Summer Swail, Brianna Weber, Lexi Creed, event founder Brandon Pollock, Bri Carter, Morgan Simpson and Lilly McCampbell. They’re standing in front of letters at the event that took Brandon about three months to make from paper mache, paint and glitter. Photo submitted
“From the nominees, we chose Heroes of different race, age and area of town to represent the entire Knoxville community,” he said. When Brandon called to explain his plan, he was surprised when his granddad became upset. “He said a true hero doesn’t want to be recognized as such. “I kind of developed my ideas more in that 60-second phone call than at any other time,” he said with a laugh. His grandfather died last June before he could see the plan come to fruition, but Brandon has a feeling he would be pleased.
“The Hero Awards are bigger than us, bigger than this article, bigger than the ceremony,” he said. “This vision is larger than HVA, Hardin Valley or West Knoxville. Maybe someone who sat in the audience was inspired and now they want to do something,” he said of the impact he hopes the Hero Awards will make on the community. The first Hero Awards ceremony was held April 10, with a VIP reception for the award recipients and their families, live music and swag bags. Short
videos were shown above the stage in which community members were interviewed about the impact the Heroes had made in their lives. Pollock hopes to make this an annual event. He will attend college this fall at Berea but plans to bring the Hero Awards with him. “This is a project much needed in every city,” he said. When told that he will go on to do big things in life, he simply says, “There are big things to be done.” Follow the Hero Awards on Twitter, @heroawards.
Sidewalks to connect Middlebrook and Cedar Bluff By Wendy Smith
10512 Lexington Dr., Ste. 500 37932 (865) 218-WEST (9378)
April 29, 2015
www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow
Knox County Commission approved a $108,930 contract with McKinnon Construction Co. to connect sidewalks on Middlebrook Pike and Cedar Bluff Road at Monday’s meeting. The county built the Cedar Bluff sidewalk and stopped it at Bob Gray Road, and the state built Middlebrook in stages, says Jim Snowden of Knox County Engi-
neering and Public Works. Somehow, the sidewalks never got connected. The problem was brought to the county’s attention by Cedar Bluff apartment residents. The project will add 1,200 to 1,300 feet of sidewalk, which will be six feet wide where possible. A crosswalk and pedestrian signalization will be added at the intersection of the two roads.
Let your money grow! 13 Month CD
Snowden says the project will enhance pedestrian connectivity. Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-May and should be completed by the beginning of the school year. Next up for Knox County Commission is the budget, with Mayor Tim Burchett expected to make his recommendations on Monday, May 11. Five commissioners met in
Always FREE Checking
0.70% APY
Halls last week for a community meeting hosted by at-large commissioners Ed Brantley and Bob Thomas. Commissioner Dave Wright predicted a budget skirmish, saying, “I don’t think it will fall into place this time.” The school board is requesting new middle schools for Hardin Valley and Gibbs, as well as a $441.5 million operating budget.
ADDICTED TO
PAIN PILLS?
TIRED OF DAILY DOSING? OUR DOCTORS WILL HELP! OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENTS
865-882-9900 EHCMedical.com
west knoxville glass 5209 Kingston Pike • 588.0486 www.westknoxvilleglass.com
Bearden (865) 474-6363 419 Erin Dr. • Knoxville, TN 37919 Member FDIC – Limited time offer – Annual Percentage Yield accurate as of 4/27/15. Offer applies only to new money - $1,000 minimum balance to open and earn advertised APY. Penalty for early withdrawal – Fees may reduce earnings – Financial institutions, brokers, and public funds not eligible for this offer.