Bearden Shopper-News 030415

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VOL. 9 NO. 9

www.ShopperNewsNow.com |

The snow daze

IN THIS ISSUE In the sunshine Does the Sunshine Law go too far? Not far enough? Does it give too much power to mayors and political operatives? Attorney Scott Frith lays out the pros and cons of the law here in Shopper-News.

March 4, 2015

www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow

is finally over

Read his story on page A-4

Boy wonder Dev Patel, star of 2008’s “Slumdog Millionaire” stars in two feature films.

The Nolan family – Allie, Sam, Kathy and Dewayne – try out a novel sled at Blue Grass Elementary School. Katie Roberts, who attends Blue Grass with Allie, hitches a ride.

See Betsy Pickle on page A-8

NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ

Mayor plans meetings Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett will host constituent meetings in March to invite comment from citizens. These meetings are open to the public. Area times and locations are: ■ Monday, March 9, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Cedar Bluff Library, 9045 Cross Park Drive. ■ Thursday, March 12, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Bearden Library, 100 Golf Club Road. ■ Monday, March 16, 9-10 a.m., Strang Senior Center, 109 Lovell Heights Road. ■ Thursday, March 19, 11 a.m. to noon, Karns Library, 7516 Oak Ridge Highway. For more times and locations, visit www.knoxcounty. org.

By Wendy Smith The snow has melted and the kids have returned to the classroom, but the memory of the

From butterflies to beautification City’s best neighbors get shoutouts

‘Standardized’ The public is invited to a free screening of the movie “Standardized: Lies, Money & Civil Rights: How Testing Is Ruining Public Education” from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Bearden Public Library, 100 Golf Club Road. A panel discussion will follow.

West High celebration West High School is presenting an “Evening of Gratitude” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5. The event will start at 6:30 with dessert, coffee and music. Tate Cantrell of the West High School Foundation said the purpose is to “create awareness for the great happenings at West High School, thank the donors for their support and show the technology of the new lecture hall,” which is patterned after the lecture hall at UT’s Haslam Business School. Students will contact West High graduate Owen Littman (Class of 1996) who now teaches in Japan. Students in both schools will interact.

10512 Lexington Dr., Ste. 500 37932 (865) 218-WEST (9378) NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sherri Gardner Howell Wendy Smith | Anne Hart ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Patty Fecco | Tony Cranmore Sara Whittle

Good Neighbor of the Year award

By Bill Dockery The accomplishments of the nominees for Knoxville’s highest award for neighborliness are many and varied. One started a neighborhood watch. Another knits socks for her elderly neighbors. A third created a neighborhood garden for monarch butterflies. A fourth makes her neighbors feel like they live in Mayberry. In all, 14 people have been recognized by their neighbors for their good works. All will be honored at Knoxville’s Neighborhood Conference on Saturday, March 7, and one will be selected for the Diana

Conn Good Neighbor of the Year award, given annually by the city’s Office of Neighborhoods. “These are the people who have become known for their leadership and their service to their neighborhoods all over the city,” said David Massey, Knoxville neighborhood coordinator. “They make many contributions, but most make their marks in community beautification and/ or attention to the wellbeing of the people living near them.”

The 2015 Neighborhood Conference will be held at the Knoxville Convention Center and will feature 32 workshops, including five for young people, 82 information booths and three breakout sessions. Door prizes will be awarded at the end of the day. “Early-bird registration ended March 3,” Massey said. “Everyone is welcome to come right up through Saturday, but we may not have a box lunch ready for them.” The KAT bus system is offering free rides to the conference, and the Smart Trips program is available for those interested in carpooling, he said. Mayor Madeline Rogero will recognize the honorees at a noon luncheon and

will name the recipient of the Good Neighbor of the Year award. The nominees are: ■ Kirk Anderson, “the mayor of Timbercrest,” is known for pulling people together for social events, tending to neighborhood signage and landscaping, and keeping up with elderly neighbors. ■ Tanisha Fitzgerald Baker, a Project GRAD administrator at AustinEast High School, is credited with giving her Pleasant Knoll neighborhood a “Mayberry feeling” of belonging and safety for local children. Her villageofknox.com website promotes positive events in East Knoxville. ■ Beth Booker is known for her work on

beautification projects, the Old North Knox home tour and the creation of Old North Park. ■ George Conner, a leader in the Adell Ray Park homeowners association, is known as the go-to guy for neighborhood problems of all sorts in Northwest Knoxville off Merchant Drive. ■ Sylvia Cook, who lives in the Residences at Eastport and has started a neighborhood watch in the Eastport/Dr. Lee Williams/Five Points neighborhood, has also has been instrumental in providing training in computers, fire safety and social security matters for the neighborhood. To page A-3

Rotary barbecue cook-off headed to World’s Fair Park By Anne Hart Not since the 1980s has Knoxville seen an event like the one set for the World’s Fair Park in late May. If you’re a lover of barbecue, you might want to start dieting right now because QueFest, the 2015 Tennessee State Barbecue Championship, is going to be an opportunity to nibble your way to pork paradise. On May 29 and 30, the heavenly aroma of barbecue will waft over the park as it did when the events called “Riverfest” dotted the site for a few years after the fair closed, when local groups competed for the best barbecue in town.

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Those events will look like beginner stuff when the Rotary Club of Bearden hosts some 50 or so contestants from all over the country at the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)-sanctioned QueFest, which will feature two days of intense competition for the best barbecue in four categories, live music and lots of other entertainment for the entire family. The cooking competition for KCBS honors is fierce and like no other. It is closely monitored and

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judged by professionals. No amateurs here: The winners’ purse totals more than $10,000. The big rigs and fancy motor homes hauling all manner of grilling equipment will start arriving at the park’s South Lawn early on Friday, May 29. By 5 p.m., when the event opens to the public, the cooking will be underway, along with entertainment for the evening. Legendary concert promoter Stephen Gudis of Nashville is lining up top-flight entertainers and

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bands to perform Friday until 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors will be able to wander the site and talk with contestants about their “secret recipes” and special techniques. And there will be plenty of Ted Hotz good food. Event chair Ted Hotz says vendors will include local favorite Dead End BBQ, whose owner, George Ew-

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