VOL. 7 NO. 46
IN THIS ISSUE
Holiday Special Section Holiday cheer and more!
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See the special section inside
On the road
One day in 2007, Don Bosch had a revelation. A former collegiate athlete who arrived in Knoxville from St. Louis, Mo., in 1981 to attend UT on a swimming scholarship, he’d taken a 25-year break from competitive sports, finished law school, launched a successful career as a lawyer, started his own firm and been involved in some of the highest-profile criminal cases in the region. He had also packed more than 100 pounds onto his 6-foot-3 swimmer’s frame.
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Read Betty Bean on page A-6
Miracle Maker
Nearly a semester into Knox County School’s 1:1 technology pilot program, Corryton Elementary seems to be off to a running start. “We take what we used to do with pencil and paper and find interesting ways for them to engage with it with technology. Every day we’re trying something new,” says teacher Sherrie Dudley.
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Read the story on page A-9
Welcome to Alice’s Garden
Ijams Nature Center just can’t escape its past – and that’s a good thing. But it also keeps looking forward, and that’s a great thing. Ijams officially opened Alice’s Greenhouse, a working and teaching space just up the hill from the main building, with several of Alice Yoe Ijams’ descendants in attendance: George Kern, Martha Kern, Stuart Ijams Cassell, Alexis Niceley and Josephine Ijams Niceley.
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Read Betsy Pickle on page A-7
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November 18, 2013
Lights, sound, action: Experts allow young stars to shine By Wendy Smith To be successful in the sound industry is to be ignored. After all, no one notices the sound during a performance unless there’s a problem. That’s why Knox County schools theater patrons have most likely never heard of Gene Wooten. He has been in charge of sound for Bearden High School productions since his family moved to Knoxville in 2002. His daughter, Katie, enrolled at Bearden as a sophomore and jumped into the school’s chorus and drama departments. When chorus teacher Mary Sexton asked students if they knew anyone with sound experience, Katie sheepishly raised her hand and admitted that her father had served as the head of sound for the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Wooten was immediately enlisted, and he has directed sound for Bearden productions ever since. He’s also shared his talents at Farragut, West, Central and Carter high schools. He worked with Webb School of Knoxville for the first time on its recent production of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” Professional management of sound allows students to relax and focus on acting, he says. The shows are technically challenging. Bearden’s recent production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” required 32 students to wear microphones. Each had to be turned on and off at just the right time, and the abundance of microphones increased the likelihood of feedback. The only local show he’s worked on that was more complicated was the Word Player’s production of “Ragtime” last year. Among all the aspects that go into performances, theater sound
is the most challenging, says Wooten. Wooten says he owes Sexton and drama teacher Leann Dickson a debt of gratitude because the department was so meaningful in the lives of Katie and her younger brother, Matt. Katie Wooten Raby now teaches at Hardin Valley Academy. Another fi xture in Knox County schools theater productions is Adam Baranowski, who first helped Dickson with lighting in 1996. His company, Lykrotech, provides a range of services, from lighting to set design, depending on what each school needs. Knox County schools tend to get students, and their families, involved, he says. He loves working with the kids. “It’s a lot of fun, teaching them something new,” says Baranowski. “For some kids, it’s the first time to sit behind a computerized light board. They start out overwhelmed, then you see the light go on in their heads. They take off, and they can do it.” Wooten and Baranowski work within the budget of each theater department. The relationship allows both professionals to keep their equipment current, and keeps
the schools from having to invest in expensive sound and light equipment. It also lets directors like Dickson focus on the show. “Without them, there would be no BHS musical,” she says. “Now, both are used by about every school in this town and many community and professional theaters. Both are always taking us to the next level in terms of light and
Gene Wooten (right) shows Amanda Granger how to put a microphone on Ashley Slimp for “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Wooten, who was head of sound for the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, has provided audio for local schools and theater groups since 2003. Second picture on A-3. Photos by Wendy Smith
sound, and always go above and beyond to give us the best quality show possible.”
McIntyre at Bearden High on Thursday
along with two additional sessions for teachers only held last Superintendent Dr. Jim Mc- sion from the six Insight Sessions week. The input will be considIntyre will visit Bearden High held across Knox County this fall. ered in developing the school School at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. McIntyre will outline com- district’s next 5-year plan. Info: knoxschools2020.org. 21, for a final public feedback ses- mon themes from those sessions,
Huber development hops first hurdle About the proposed density, By Sandra Clark John Huber didn’t need to hire Donaldson said, “We can do better John King when he had Mark (than has been done). We can save the slopes and the trees on those Donaldson. slopes, yet still accommodate the number of people we know will be here in the next 40 years. “We expect 300,000 new peoThe executive director of the Metropolitan Planning Commis- ple to move here by 2040 with 2/3 sion joyously argued the merits of of them in Knox County. If we conHuber’s plan to build upwards of tinue the trend that we’ve seen for 300 apartments and a 75-boat ma- the last four decades, we will fill rina off Emory Church Road near up Knox County from edge to edge with ½-acre lots. And. Do. We. Pellissippi Parkway. Huber presented his case quite Want. That?” The MPC’s answer was reeloquently, attorney John King plugged in the legal niceties (im- soundingly no. Commissioners portant when Wayne Kline and the approved the staff recommendaopponents go to court), but Don- tion on a voice vote with only Mialdson capped the debate like this: chael Kane heard dissenting. And “We’ve spent 2-1/2 years (Plan now the debate moves to Knox East Tennessee) listening to resi- County Commission. Literally hundreds of nearby dents of a 5-county region who have told us to increase housing residents attended a community along our transportation corri- meeting to oppose the developdors. They have asked for alter- ment. Many of them came to MPC natives to suburban housing; for last Thursday and stood when land use to connect homes to job Wayne Kline challenged MPC staff’s density calculations. Kline centers.”
Analysis
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said the undevelopable land on slopes, underwater or within the flood plain should not be used for the calculations. He said the 100-acre Melgaard family farm should have no more than 127 apartments, 172 max, and called the staff’s calculation “whimsy.” Commissioner Wes Stowers was perplexed: “I’ve had four years of calculus and I can’t see (the disparity between 127 and 335). Donaldson was quick to explain: He said Kline used the county’s general zoning plan which is advisory only. He also disagreed with Kline’s definition of developable land, saying if the ridgetop were leveled, the entire tract could be developed. But since Huber is proposing to preserve 17 acres (and use another 10 acres as a buffer), he’s entitled to bonus density mentioned in the county’s ridgetop plan which was never actually codified. Donaldson said Huber also got extra density because of the land’s
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proximity to the interstate. When Commissioner Laura Cole suggested a compromise on density, she was argued down by Commissioner Art Clancy who said, “Vote it up or vote it down, but if we don’t go with the staff recommendation we’re asking for trouble.” After the land was rezoned Planned Residential, next up was the plan. King argued it was not premature because it aided in rezoning to see the proposed land use. “A marina is an inappropriate use of this land, and we object to the 312 apartments,” said Kline. “This marina won’t sell gas or food,” said King. “It’s just a place to launch fishing boats.” The vote came quickly and affirmatively. Staff recommendation was adopted without change. It was a great day at MPC for John Huber. It was disappointing for the neighbors of Westland Cove. The marina still must be approved by TVA.