VOL. 8 NO. 23
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IN THIS ISSUE
Veterans bring WWII to life
FUN
June 11, 2014
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Exciting activities Special Section
in Bearden classroom
Find out where the wild things are and much more in this month’s “myFUN.”
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See the special section inside
Third-row seat to history It’s a big deal for East Tennessee each year when the Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute brings a couple thousand of American’s brightest and most idealistic young people for a weeklong training session before they go out to manage Freedom Schools across the country.
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Read Sandra Clark on page A-9
Booster shot for John Bruhin Patience, please. John Bruhin is facing a long walk, and it may take an extra minute. He is on his way back into the spotlight for one big night this summer. On July 24, he will be inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame. Bruhin, 49, has been “training” for a while. He is 70 pounds down from 420 and trying to get closer to playing weight. He has one new knee and needs another but can get along with a trusty cane.
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Read Marvin West on page A-5
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
The city of Knoxville will continue its celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with two events on June 19, the date celebrated nationwide as Juneteenth in recognition of the end of the Civil War and C.T. Vivian the abolition of slavery. The Rev. C.T. Vivian, a veteran of the civil-rights movement and a friend of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., will lead a “Mass Meeting” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at Payne Avenue Baptist Church, 2714 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
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ther. William Daugherty didn’t like to talk about his negative World War II experiences, but about the fun times, like playing poker with German POWs. When his By Wendy Smith Leon Daugherty’s love of his- father passed away in 2001, Leon tory began at an early age, and it Daugherty regretted that he had was partially inspired by his fa- never videotaped his dad’s stories. Brakebill as an 18-year-old U.S. Army soldier. Before enlisting, he’d only left Tennessee once. Photos submitted
That inspired him to assign a project to his U.S. history students at Bearden High School. He asked them to interview a WWII veteran. Students were given a list of questions, and they got extra credit for videotaping the interview. They were also asked to write a report about how the assignment shaped
their understanding of the war. When he retired in May, Daugherty had a collection of 120 taped interviews. Some students enjoyed the interviews so much that they invited their subjects to speak to the class. To page A-3
Development debate heats up in West Knox By Wendy Smith
Civil rights leader to visit
news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sherri Gardner Howell Wendy Smith | Anne Hart
World War II veteran Charles Brakebill with Leon Daugherty, who retired from teaching history at Bearden High School last month. For over a decade, Daugherty assigned students to interview WWII vets, and some, like Brakebill, told their stories in the classroom.
West Knox County homeowners continue to be concerned about the recent uptick in development, especially multi-family projects that will come before the KnoxvilleKnox County Metropolitan Planning Commission on Thursday. “We are not anti-development,” said Council of West Knox County Homeowners president Margot Kline at last week’s meeting. “We are for development that is good for everybody.”
Properties at Ebenezer Road and Highbridge Drive, at Westland Drive and Coile Lane and at Northshore Drive and Thunderhead Road are currently on the agenda for the 1:30 p.m. meeting at the City-County Building’s main assembly room. “It seems like, to me, that development is getting approved that, in the past, might not have gotten approval at all, or had more restrictions,” Kline said. Those opposed to the West-
land Cove development are already moving in the direction of a lawsuit, and a public and wellfinanced battle over the proposed development of condominiums behind the historic Christenberry home seems to be moving in the same direction. Knox County residents opposed to the proposed 246-unit apartment complex at Northshore Town Center, located in the city, feel they have ample grounds for a lawsuit. They plan to use Pellis-
sippi Parkway’s Scenic Highway designation as ammunition. Kline says she has been fielding calls and emails expressing dismay over the perception that MPC is “rubber-stamping” all development projects. County residents have also complained about the hiring of Dave Hill as the MPC’s deputy director and comprehensive planning manager. The position was never To page A-3
South-Doyle program is last Ag Ed standing By Betty Bean The Agricultural Education program at South-Doyle High School is the last remaining such program in Knox County following the elimination of the program at North Knox Vocational Center on the campus of Halls High School. Teacher Mike Blankenship, who began teaching at Doyle High School in 1978, was told his position was eliminated because of low enrollment, even though students say school counselors advised them not to sign up because the program was being cut. North Knox also lost its Child Development program. Don Lawson, supervisor of Career Technical Education (CTE), said there had been four such programs in Knox County but those at Farragut High and Byington-Sol-
James Dunn, a senior at Gibbs High School and president of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter, recited a partial list of the honors the club won under Blankenship’s guidance. “We will no longer be able to compete in career development events,” he said. “We as a class and a chapter are very disappointed. This closure will take away many opportunities.” James Dunn and Ryan Cox, wearing What Dunn didn’t say that purple FFA gear, prepare to address night is that one of the lost opporthe school board. Photo by S. Clark tunities could be his chance to go to college. “I was hoping to try to get a way have been shuttered. Classes scholarship through the FFA, but include wildlife management and there cannot be an FFA if there’s forestry as well as horticulture no Ag class,” he said later. Dunn and greenhouse management. lives on a family farm and wants Several students and their fam- to major in agriculture at UT. ilies attended last week’s school Ryan Cox, also a rising senior, board meeting and two spoke. has invested three years in a vo-
cational track he won’t be able to complete. Afterwards, board members and Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre spoke to him. Cox said their attempts at consolation were too little, too late. “They told us that we did well and that our speeches were good, but honestly, that doesn’t mean anything to me,” said Cox. “Individually, I think they all want to help us, but together they all felt that it was too far gone. The decision has been made and it will stand.” Blankenship is packing 25 years of records and memories while dealing with a family health crisis – his son was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and his condition remains precarious. Although he has been interviewed for a new position, Blankenship has no guarantee of a job this fall.
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