6 • NOVEMBER 2, 2016 • NORTH/EAST Shopper news
Reality has arrived
The crash you heard the other day, the one with breaking glass and breaking hearts, was reality settling in at Tennessee. It was almost certainly the end of championship fairy tales, all that tall talk about sweeping the SEC East, big trip to Atlanta and maybe upsetting Alabama in the rematch. Total optimists thought that might launch Tennessee into the national playoff. Sure thing. We now know the Vols are not a championship team. They never were but for a while, they lived on borrowed time. They are error-prone. The offensive line is not good enough. En-
nation for lack of discipline, for blocks in the back on kick returns, for the regression of Joshua Dobbs, for Marvin loss of containment on opWest posing sweeps, for inexcusable blunders. The coach says net results are unacceptable. There thusiasm has been damaged were warning signs. The Vols are fortunate to by frustration. Some stratebe 5-3 and almost bowl eligy is suspect. gible. Do you remember how One fan called the entire they beat Appalachian State? operation a hoax. Smoke It was borderline incredible and mirrors. to watch middle-leaguers Injuries have obviously win in the trenches. taken a toll. Injuries are forThe ending was lost and ever part of the game but found. In overtime on a very there must be a reason for the unsettling opening evening unusual number at Tennes- at Neyland Stadium, Dobbs see. Analysis is under way. fumbled while trying to fly There is no simple expla- into the end zone.
Legalize ballot selfies Singer and celebrity Justin Timberlake fell into controversy last month when he returned home to Shelby County to vote in the presidential election. Timberlake took a selfie in front of a voting machine and posted it to social media. Some folks were not amused. Why? A ballot selfie is likely illegal in Tennessee. A selfie is a picture taken of oneself with a camera or smartphone. A ballot selfie is a picture in front of the voting machine or (in states with paper ballots) a picture of a marked or unmarked ballot. Under Tennessee law, voters are not allowed to take photos or video while in the polling place. Voters are allowed to use electronic devices only for informational purposes to assist during voting. It’s doubtful
Scott Frith
that a selfie would fall under this narrow exception. At least 20 states allow ballot selfies. But banning them is misguided and probably unconstitutional. Some argue that ballot selfies are political speech and laws restricting them violate a voter’s First Amendment rights. Lawyers around the country are challenging restrictions on this basis. In fact, there are at least three cases pending in federal courts on this issue. (If you’re interested in the legal arguments, check
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WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2 International Folk Dance Class, 7:30-10 p.m., Claxton Community Center, 1150 Edgemoor Road, Clinton. Info: Paul Taylor, 898-5724; oakridgefolkdancers.org; on Facebook. “Legal Advice Clinic for Veterans” hosted by the Knoxville Bar Association, noon-2 p.m., Knox County Public Defender’s office, 1101 Liberty St. Free clinic. Legal issues consultations include: landlord/ tenant, bankruptcy, criminal defense, consumer protection, contract disputes, estate planning, child support, personal injury and general legal issues. Info: 522-6522.
THURSDAY, NOV. 3 Computer Workshop: Introducing the Computer (Windows 7), 10:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Halls Branch Library, 4518 E. Emory Road. Info/registration: 9222552.
FRIDAY, NOV. 4 Livestock Production on Small Acreage, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. UT Extension Eastern Region Office, 1801 Downtown West Blvd. Lunch included. Info/registration: 215-2340.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOV. 4-5 Rummage and craft sale, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Loveland Baptist Church. 1320 Spring Hill Road. Proceeds go to missions. Individual sales. Table rental: Phillip, 368-8016.
SATURDAY, NOV. 5 Church bazaar, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church. 7535 Maynardville Highway. Crafts, country store, baked goods, white elephant and Rada Knives. Serving breakfast and lunch. Info: 922-1412. “Holiday Market and Craft Fair,” 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Messiah Lutheran Church fellowship hall, 6900
out the Federalist Society’s podcast, “Ballot Selfies are free speech.” Michigan attorney Stephen R. Klein leads the discussion. You can find it online.) Historically, photography has been banned in the polling place to prevent vote buying and voter intimidation. For example, someone pays another to go vote. They bring out a picture of their ballot to prove whom they voted for. It’s illegal. Yet, this concern doesn’t apply in Knox County. One feature of our voting machines is that it is impossible to take a picture of a voted ballot. The ballot is not cast on the machine until there is a waving American flag on the screen. At any point before you see the flag, you can go back and change your vote. Therefore, it’s impossible to take a selfie in front of a voted
Several people dived for the football. For at least two seconds, the entire season hung in the balance. Officials dug around in the pile. Jalen Hurd had the prize. Touchdown! If a Mountaineer had found it, the game would have been lost and months of monumental dreams would have become a nightmare. Many breathed a proverbial sigh of relief. The Battle of Bristol was a form of football suicide. Virginia Tech gained more yards but lost by three touchdowns. Penalties and turnovers were deadly. Vol Nation smiled as if we had all done something. There was nothing smiley about the Ohio game. Lowlight was Jalen ReevesMaybin suffering another shoulder injury – while cov-
ering a kick. Butch Jones explained that the youngsters weren’t ready for such serious business as special teams. The coach conceded his team was sloppy. He didn’t try to explain the high-wire act, five fumbles but none lost. Living dangerously and winning ugly still added up to 3-0. In the fine print, the Vols were 101st in the country in total offense, 109th in passing and below the middle of the pack on rushing defense. Something was wrong. On the last Saturday in September, Tennessee stopped 11 years of losing to Florida. Hooray. That the Vols trailed 21-0 before they joined the fight didn’t seem to matter. The remarkable victory
ballot on a voting machine in Knox County. Others say that photography in the polling place creates problems. It can. Yet, as we’ve seen nationally with police shootings, oftentimes smartphones are the best tool we have to record misbehavior. If an election official or voter raises concerns, video from a smartphone could be critical evidence to
expose it. Justin Timberlake told late-night host Jimmy Fallon that he took a ballot selfie to inspire people to vote. In this era dominated by social media, Timberlake probably did more to encourage young people to vote than either candidate for president. If we’re serious about the youth vote, we shouldn’t be
over Georgia may become the highlight of Jones’ coaching career. The Bulldogs had the game won but Dobbs, at the last second, threw the ball as far as he could and Jauan Jennings caught it. Miracles do happen. The bubble broke at Texas A&M. Tennessee selfdestructed. Seven was the magic number. The Vols barely had a healthy quorum against Alabama and were overwhelmed. Open date was supposed to be the cure-all. It wasn’t. Summation: Some teams, Kentucky and maybe even Vanderbilt, are improving. It is that time of year. Other teams, ________ for example, are not. Your choice to fill in the blank. Marvin West invites reader reaction. His address is westwest6@netzero.com.
threatening an online celebration of their vote. Whatever you think of the socalled “selfie generation,” our laws must encourage young people to vote. It’s time for the Legislature to change the law. Ballot selfies may be silly, but they’re political speech worth protecting. Scott Frith is a local attorney. You can visit his website at pleadthefrith.com
GOSSIP AND LIES ■ Buddy Burkhardt, who chairs the Knox County Republican Party, basically announced his candidacy for Knox County mayor Sunday on Tennessee This Week.
his side. But why didn’t somebody tell Brooks to button the bottom button on his shirt? ■ Distracting!
■ Tim Burchett hit the snooze button and candidates are crawling out of the cupboards to take his job – it’s his for another two years, fellows.
■ The guy who looked like a mayor was on the show’s pundits panel. Scott Frith, once-a-month Shopper columnist, wore a black power suit with all buttons buttoned and every hair in place.
■ Cameron Brooks, the county’s Democratic Party chair, was convivial with Burkhardt. No one threw punches and each did well, representing
■ Cortney Piper sat even taller between Frith and panelist George Korda. Larry Van Guilder used to joke when he did guest appearances that Piper,
Kingston Pike. Guest artisans, local crafters, baked goodies, a silent auction and Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade items. Lunch will be available. Portion of proceeds to benefit Disability Resource Center of Knoxville. Info: Cristall Mount, 300-7490. Kitten and cat adoption fair, noon-6 p.m., West Town PetSmart adoption center, 214 Morrell Road. Sponsored by Feral Feline Friends of East Tennessee. Info: feralfelinefriends.org. Listening Hearts, A Gathering for Bereaved Moms, meeting, 3 p.m., Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 4110 Central Avenue Pike. Info: 679-1351 or listeningheartsmoms@gmail.com. Project DYI, Fountain City UMC, 212 Hotel Road. Offers attendees choice of two or three classes, lunch and a fashion show. Classes offered include “Christmas Décor,” “Holiday Foods” and “Reclaim Restore and Repurpose.” Cost: $25. Registration: fountaincityumc.org or the church office. Info: Marie Perelman, mperelman@ comcast.net; Carol Sewell, caroljosewell@comcast.net. Saturday Stories and Songs: Dancing Spider Yoga, 11 a.m., Fountain City Branch Library, 5300 Stanton Road. For ages 3-9. Info: 689-2681. Terry Collins Family Singers from Sneedville will be preforming 7 p.m., Hill Top Baptist Church in Halls. Everyone invited.
SUNDAY NOV. 6 Annual “Shindig,” a celebration of the Thorn Grove Community, 1-4 p.m., Thorn Grove Christian Church’s 728 S. Carter School Road in Strawberry Plains. Featuring: live music, bounce house, petting zoo, chili cook off, bake sale, vendors and more. Info: 6607259 or hjsickles@aol.com. “Knoxville’s ‘Merry-Go-Round,’ Ciderville and the East Tennessee Country Music Scene,” 2:30-4:30 p.m., East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay St. A lecture and book signing by Ruth B. White; musical performance by David West and the Cider Mountain Boys. Free and open to the public. Info: 215-8824 or EastTNHistory.org.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9
a former UT athlete, towered over all the guys. ■ The Trump bus came to North Knoxville, but only U.S. Rep. Jimmy Duncan got off. Guess the junior Trumps were back in New York, trying to salvage their brand. ■ James Calloway, my nephew, jokes that if Trump wins he might shut down the United Nations and build condos. ■ With my entire family seemingly for Trump, you’ve gotta laugh with them or cry. – S. Clark
Hiring event, 10 a.m.-noon, Knoxville Area Urban League, 1514 E. Fifth Ave. Support Solutions will be taking application and interviewing for support professionals, family providers and related positions. Crowne Plaza Hotel for desk clerks, attendants, housekeeping, foodservice and maintenance. Bring resume. Info: Jackie or Bill, 524-5511. Knoxville Christian Women’s Connection (KCWC) brunch and fall festival, 9:15 a.m., Bearden Banquet Hall, 5806 Kingston Pike. Speaker: Barbara McGrege; topic: “Making Peace With My Past. Complimentary child care by reservation only. The fall festival, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; includes vendor fair and silent auction. Brunch and fair, $12, fair only, $3. Info/reservation: 3158182 or knoxvillechristianwomen@gmail.com. Living with Diabetes: Putting the Pieces Together, 2-4:30 p.m., Fountain City Branch Library, 5300 Stanton Road. Info: 689-2681.
THURSDAY-SUNDAY, NOV. 10-13 Zoo Knoxville Dollar Days. General zoo admission tickets for ages 4 and up are $1 each and parking is free with the donation of a non-perishable food item or pet food. Tickets must be purchased in advance online. Info/tickets: zooknoxville.org.
FRIDAY, NOV. 11 “Glass Tile Jewelry” workshop, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Basement Community Art Studio, 105 W. Jackson Ave. Instructor: Marianne Gansley. Cost: $25; includes all supplies. Registration required by Nov. 8. Info/registration: 333-5262 or thebasementartstudio@gmail.com.
SATURDAY, NOV. 12 Painting workshop, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Marble Springs State Historic Site, 1220 W. Governor John Sevier Highway. Instructor: Kristi Bailey. Cost: $35. Bring lunch. Info/registration: 573-5508 or info@marblesprings.net. Saturday Stories and Songs: Georgi Schmitt, 11 a.m., Fountain City Branch Library, 5300 Stanton Road. Info: 689-2681.
International Folk Dance Class, 7:30-10 p.m., Claxton Community Center, 1150 Edgemoor Road, Clinton. Info: Paul Taylor, 898-5724; oakridgefolkdancers. org; on Facebook.
TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, NOV. 15 AND 17
THURSDAY, NOV. 10
Free Microsoft Excel 2013 class, 8 a.m.-noon, Knoxville Area Urban League, 1514 E. 5th Ave. Taught by Pellissippi State instructors. Registration required. Info/registration: Bill or Jackie, 524-5511.
Fishing and Outdoor Swap Meet, 7 p.m., St. Francis Episcopal Church, 158 W. Norris Road, Norris. Hosted by the Clinch River Chapter, Trout Unlimited. Buy or sell fishing, camping or other outdoor gear (no guns). Admission is free; the chapter requests donations of 10 percent of cash sales to support its outdoor education programs for children, adults and disabled veterans. Info: Dennis Baxter, dsbaxter1@live.com or 494-6337.
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY, NOV. 16-17 AARP Driver Safety class, noon-4 p.m., O’Connor Senior Center, 611 Winona St. Info/registration: Carolyn Rambo, 382-5822.