GOVERNMENT/POLITICS A4 | OUR COLUMNISTS A6-7 | YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS A9-10 | BUSINESS A11
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powell
VOL. 50, NO. 42
OCTOBER 17, 2011
INSIDE www.ShopperNewsNow.com
Oh, baloney! Jim Golden sports a Cas shirt with a Padgett badge as Howard Phillips throws one of his famous lunches for mayoral candidate Mark Padgett. See page A-5
Taking the hits Greg Householder highlights those hard workin’ Powell High football linebackers. See the story on Page 10
Critical couponing Local blogger and mom Gabrielle Blake says using coupons is more important now than ever before. She tells Jake why on page 3
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4509 Doris Circle 37918 (865) 922-4136 news@ShopperNewsNow.com ads@ShopperNewsNow.com EDITOR Larry Van Guilder lvgknox@mindspring.com ADVERTISING SALES Debbie Moss mossd@ShopperNewsNow.com Shopper-News is a member of KNS Media Group, published weekly at 4509 Doris Circle, Knoxville, TN, and distributed to 8,314 homes in Powell.
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Down on the farm By Greg Householder A few years ago, Robert and Carrie Giles of Clinton visited a corn maze. After the visit, it became a dream for the both of them to one day have their own, but they lacked the right land. Last year, they went in with friends whose family owned the perfect spot at 1331 W. Beaver Creek Drive in Powell, the former John Rogers Farm. Rogers was the father of Beverly Rogers Monroe – a friend of the Gileses. The Life Down on the Farm Corn Maze was born. Last year’s maze had one corn box (a large area of corn kernels like a sandbox that kids play in), a five-acre corn maze, pony rides, a pumpkin patch, hay rides, inflatables and a critter corner. New this year is a jump pillow – a large air-filled pillow that kids and adults can jump on – in place of the inflatables. Owners added two corn boxes, miniature horse and mule-pulled buggy rides for the kids, a rubber duck race, a cow-milking station sans cow with a wooden cutout with simulated udders instead and numerous animals including a sow with her piglets. “We always farmed and wanted for kids to see what it is like on the farm,” says Robert Giles. “This is just our way of giving back to the kids.” No one will be afraid at the Life Down on the Farm maze because there are no haunted or horror themes. “We tried that for one day last year – it didn’t work,” says Giles. The Gileses and friends are partnering with MERLE-FM to present this year’s maze. And it’s a lot of work. “The hardest thing about doing this is timing everything to happen at the right time,” says Giles. He mentioned the sow with her piglets this year – he actually has two sows and when breeding them earlier this year he tried to time it. One of the sows took the
Above, Macy Hagwood visits with a new friend at the Life Down on the Farm Corn Maze in Powell. Photos submitted
Gracie and Ethan Giles lead the train at the Corn Maze.
breeding a bit early and her piglets are now too large to play with the kids, where the other took it later and the piglets are the perfect size now. Robert also plants his corn for the corn maze later than most farmers so it is still green when the maze is opened. The maze has been open since Sept. 29 and will run through Halloween night (Oct. 31). The maze is open – weather permitting – from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 1-6 p.m. on Sundays. General admission is $11 (kids 2 and under are free) and the pumpkin patch admission is $8 which includes a pumpkin. Both general admission and the pumpkin patch is $15. A season pass is available $25 but does not include a pumpkin. Kids 12 and under may dress up and trick or treat from 5-9 p.m. on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29. Info: 229-MAZE (6293) or visit www.LifeDownOnTheFarm.com.
Marley Mullins and Brianna and Zachery White pose in costume at the Life Down on the Farm Corn Maze in Powell.
Little conflict on redistricting composed of commissioners and school board members, had to By Larry Van Guilder meet basic criteria: So far, the redistricting neces■ Ensure new boundaries sitated by the 2010 U.S. census could hold up to a legal chalhas drawn little attention from the lenge. public. That could change today at ■ Keep at least one high school the conclusion of County Commisin each district sion’s work session when a public ■ Minimize the population hearing on the plans is scheduled shift. to begin in the Main Assembly ■ Keep communities together room of the City County Building. if possible. First reading to approve a Plans designated as 2A and 4A redistricting plan (or plans) is scheduled for commission’s regu- were endorsed by the committee. lar monthly meeting on Oct. 24. The school board favors plan 3A. Commission has the final say on Plan 2A shifts the fewest number the plans and could recommend of residents among districts, a separate plans for the school little more than 32,000. board and legislative districts. For 7th District Commissioner All the plans considered by R. Larry Smith, the issue for his the redistricting committee, constituents is a simple one: “I
Public hearing today
believe the people of Halls and Powell have more in common than those of Halls and Fountain City,” he said. Smith said he favors the plan which adds Powell to his district and believes that today’s public hearing will sharpen the issue. Plans 1A, 3A and 4A move Powell from the 6th Commission district to the 7th. Shannondale would move from the 7th District to the 2nd District under plan 4A. Second District Commissioner Amy Broyles said “about 80 percent” of the redistricting committee members favored plan 2A with 4A the second choice. “One moves more into Fountain City and one more into Norwood,” she added, saying she would be content with either.
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Connor Road bridge project returns A project that first came to County Commission’s attention in 2007 is finally set to get underway. The onelane bridge on Connor Road over Bull Run Creek will be replaced at a cost of about $750,000. The state will provide 80 percent of the funding and Knox County will foot the remainder. Jim Snowden of Knox County Engineering and Public Works said the project has been in the system for more than two years. “We are just now seeing right of way acquisition,” Snowden said. “By this time next year the bridge will probably be complete.” The contract with the Tennessee Department of Transportation calls for Knox County to complete work by Dec. 31, 2012. – Larry Van Guilder
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