POSTAL CUSTOMER
VOL. 9 NO. 17
www.ShopperNewsNow.com |
April 26, 2014
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‘Fresh on Friday’
IN THIS ISSUE
Farmers Market starts May 2 in downtown Maynardville
Big Ridge Easter Bunny has a laugh by the redbud tree. Perhaps he’s excited about our coverage of area egg hunts – all on page 8 inside.
Ride for Carley
By Libby Morgan
Motorists along Highway 33 Saturday afternoon were greeted with a motorcycle motorcade over a mile long when a group of friends decided to help out a sick little girl and her family. Carley’s doctors allowed her to leave the hospital to greet the riders after the ride at Li’l Joe’s in Maynardville, and to spend the next day, Easter Sunday, at home with her family.
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Read Libby Morgan on page 3
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Kindergarten registration Kindergarten registration will be held at all Union County elementary schools 3:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 1. Requirements for entering kindergarten: ■ Students must be 5 before Aug. 15, 2014 ■ Bring a birth certificate (official state copy) ■ Proof of physical (must be within a year and completed by the first day of school) ■ Shot record (shots must be up to date before the 1st day of school) ■ Social Security card ■ Proof of residence Register at the school where there is bus service. Transfers will be honored if there is space after school starts. Call the school of choice to get on a waiting list if you wish to transfer.
Transportation discussion
Dale and Debbie Corum are surrounded with color in one of their greenhouses at Tater Valley Nursery. Debbie says they’ll bring flower and vegetable plants to sell at the Union County Farmers Market next Friday – if they haven’t sold out by then. Photo by Libby Morgan
Collins, Toppins discuss role of school board By Sandra Clark
When school board candidate Johnny Collins said it’s time for the three T’s: teachers, textbooks and technology, candidate Marilyn Toppins retorted: “Why not? We’ve about worn out the three R’s.” Debate is much too strong to describe the candidate forum at the Union County Lions Club last Monday. And more candidates missed the meeting than attended. Here’s the lineup for the Aug. 7 election: District 3 – Calvin Chesney and Johnny Collins. Incumbent Billy Sexton is not seeking re-election. District 5 – Danny Wayne Collins and Jennifer Mills. Collins is the incumbent. District 7 – Marilyn Toppins
and Gerald Smith. Smith is the incumbent. No women currently serve on the 5-member board. Its primary r e s p on sibi l it ie s are to appoint a director of schools and to adopt the annual budget. Johnny Collins, a full-time employee of the SherCollins iff’s Office, said he’s interested in schools because his wife is a secretary at the high school and their son is in 3rd grade at Paulette. He worked as a school resource officer before returning to patrol. Marilyn Toppins has vast expe-
rience from teacher to principal to interim director of schools. On the school board, she said she would “ask the questions.” While there’s a lot the school board cannot do, Toppins said there is no excuse for Union County to be ranked “in the bottom seven percent in the state.” She said she does not oppose the Common Core State Standards or a national assessment, but she doesn’t support incessant testing. Collins said Union County Public Schools “has made great strides,” but more must be done. “We need to lay aside our personal differences. Our children’s education can’t be derailed because I can’t get along with Beulah, he pointed to Beulah Moore, retired
clerk and master. “School board members must be transparent and must have courage to stand by their convictions. “We must communicate without coming off as a bully. “I am nobody’s yes man,” he promised. “We have to respect the opinions of those Toppins around us and accept the will of the majority.” Lions Club president Ronnie Mincey suggested inviting the candidates for sheriff to the next meeting. The club voted to sell Italian Ice at upcoming festivals as a fundraiser.
Big Ridge map wins state GIS competition B By Libb Libby M Morgan
A public meeting to discuss a new transportation option for Union County is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, at Adult Day Services, 1545 Maynardville Highway. The program will include Union, Knox, Anderson, Blount and Loudon counties.
7049 Maynardville Pike 37918 (865) 922-4136 NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark Libby Morgan | Bonnie Peters ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Shannon Carey Jim Brannon | Tony Cranmore Brandi Davis | Patty Fecco
Months and months of work by the 4-H-ers has earned the Union County GIS team a first place win in state competition of the Tennessee 4-H GPS and GIS Program. The group not only generated an accurate map of Bobby Fulcher Big Ridge State Park with geographic information system software by walking every step with satellite-tracked equipment, but they created a full-color, color-coded, keyed map with trail mileage and descriptions that looks as if it was done by National Geographic. Park rangers James Brannon and Bobby Fulcher of Cumber- It’s finished and it’s beautiful! 4-H-ers Dakota Sherritze, Nathanael Kadron, Jeremiah Kadron, Martin Dickey, Clay Foust and Joshua Sherritze show off their Big Ridge trails map and first place certificate in the Tennessee GPS and To page 3 GIS program contest.
CARING MEDICAL CENTER 149 Durham Drive Maynardville, TN 37807
992-2221 Now accepting NEW patients!
Union County’s farmers market kicks off the season on May 2 with a new day, place and time. The market’s board of directors made a bold move from Saturday mornings in front of the high school to Friday afternoons in downtown Maynardville by Union County Arts, a half-block north of the courthouse. “We’ll have live music on the grounds, and the art center will stay open during the farmers market. This is a great idea to energize downtown,” says Susan Boone, UC Arts director. Market organizer Beth Bergeron says, “With the late cold spells, it’s early in the growing season. We’ll see lots of plants, greens and onions, though, and several crafters have signed up. The Country Store should have a good selection of fresh produce from other areas. We’ll have some food vendors, too.” Debbie Corum of Tater Valley Nursery, mirrored comments made in earshot of this writer by several growers and potential customers: “We’re too busy on Saturday mornings to come to the farmers market. Friday afternoons are much more do-able.”
No appointments necessary Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5pm Saturday by appointment
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