Farragut Shopper-News 070815

Page 1

VOL. 9 NO. 27

www.ShopperNewsNow.com

July 8, 2015

www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow pp

Parade marches on

BUZZ Olsen is GIS tech The town of Farragut has hired Cathy Olsen as its GIS (Geographic Information System)/IT (Information Technology) analyst. A native of Auckland, New Zealand, Olsen holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, and a master’s degree in geography from the University of Tennessee. Prior to joining the Farragut staff, she held an internship with the city of Oak Ridge Public Works Department assisting with its stormwater and GIS programs and an internship with Blount County government, working with its GIS program.

Elizabeth Detrana, 9, excitedly waves the U.S. flag during festivities at Farragut’s 28th annual Independence Day Parade. Photo by Nancy Anderson

Dover is Farragut soccer coach James “Ray” Dover has been named the new head boys soccer coach at Farragut High School. Dover, whose coaching credentials include three years as assistant head coach at Knoxville Catholic High School and head coach of the Catholic JV team, played soccer at FHS in the late 1990s. He was a member of the 82 Select club soccer team, one of East Tennessee’s first Division 1 state championship programs. Dover graduated from FHS in 2000 and the University of Tennessee in 2004. He also works in the health insurance industry.

Rain or shine, all the annual Independence Day Parade the weather. and the crowds showed up to enjoy advertisements said – and the stayed focused on the goal of a In a nod to good karma, the the festivities. For more, see organizers of Farragut’s 28th great community event, whatever rain drizzled but didn’t deluge, page A3.

Proposed development … could be step toward downtown for Farragut By Wendy Smith Several Farragut residents opposed to apartments on Smith Road told town leaders they weren’t opposed to multi-family housing in general − just at that location. Some said such development should be closer to the town’s yet-to-materialize downtown. Developer Craig Allen hopes

Jury Fest ahead for craft guild The Foothills Craft Guild is accepting new member applications from fine craft artisans for its second Jury Fest to be held Wednesday, Aug. 12, with take-in days Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 10-11.

Red Gate Rodeo The annual Red Gate Festival and Rodeo will be held Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, in Maynardville. Carnival starts at 5 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday. Rodeo starts at 8 p.m. each day. Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for kids 4-10 years old, and free for kids age 3 and under. Info: www.redgaterodeo. com or 992-3303.

10512 Lexington Dr., Ste. 500 37932 (865) 218-WEST (9378) NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sherri Gardner Howell ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Patty Fecco | Tony Cranmore Alice Devall | Beverly Holland

Craig Allen hopes to build a mixed-use town center on a 16-acre parcel adjacent to the town’s new outdoor classroom. Photo by Wendy Smith

To page A-3

The day after: What did teachers gain? the four anti-McIntyre faction members – two of whom, Terry Hill of District 6 and Mike McMillan of District 8, are being rewarded with constituent-pleasing new middle schools. When District 5 board member Karen Carson signaled her intention to vote yes by proposing an amendment making sure that Burchett didn’t hog the credit for the pay raise, any suspense surrounding the vote was removed. Under the terms of the compromise, McIntyre agreed to trim $1 million from his original budget request and apply it to teacher raises. Burchett agreed to make a onetime payment to Knox CounIt really wasn’t a nail biter. The political reality is there ty Schools of $3 million to fund was little chance that the MOU APEX (strategic compensation) would fail, given that board mem- bonuses promised to teachers who ber Doug Harris, a member of the earned them. This leaves open the pro-McIntyre faction, had initi- question of how such bonuses will ated the negotiating process and be funded in the future. was locked into a yes vote, as were The agreement to sell the An-

By Betty Bean

Knox County school board members were faced with a stark choice last week: Approve a memorandum of understanding between Mayor Tim Burchett and Superintendent James McIntyre that leaves teachers with half the pay raise they’d been led to expect, or be stuck with Burchett’s original budget offer, which would leave the school system with a $6.5 million shortfall and mean no raise at all.

Analysis

SALES • SERVICE • MAINTENANCE

drew Johnson Building was accepted with no comment, and little reference was made to a paragraph in the agreement that bars additional new school construction until 2021, except for a couple of board members who are hoping for new schools in their districts noting that the agreement is “nonbinding.” Board members Tracie Sanger, Lynne Fugate and Gloria Deathridge made strong cases for turning down the deal, and Sanger was eloquent when she spoke of “havenot” schools – like Inskip Elementary School – whose actual needs “will be superseded by projected needs. We need to address current needs before we address projected needs,” she said. Several dozen red-shirted teachers who had rallied in support of nonrenewed colleagues before the board meeting stuck around to watch the vote. Most

had little to say about the MOU. When asked how teachers felt about getting only half of the 4 percent raise that McIntyre – and Gov. Bill Haslam – semi-promised them this year, one teacher activist said teachers are accustomed to getting shafted. “Once again we’re feeling like an afterthought, but we’re thinking, ‘Something’s better than nothing.’ You can say raises are a priority, and we’ve got to take care of them, but meanwhile teachers are being chased out; veteran teachers are being replaced by young teachers. It’s cheaper that way. And McIntyre keeps creating administrative positions for people like Clifford Davis and Russ Oaks. And the $65 million for new schools? Teachers don’t think much about that.” The teacher tapped Burchett as the big winner in the compromise. “He’s got McIntyre on a short leash.”

SUMMER SALE Preserve those old reels, slides & vhs tapes today!

$10 Off Family Business Serving You for Over 20 Years 5715 Old Tazewell Pike • 687-2520

Cantrell’s Cares Financing available through TVA E-Score program* *Restrictions May Apply

Bring your VHS, slides, film and more into the digital age.

a purchase of $50 or more!

Coupon must be presented at time order is dropped off. Discount will not be applied to previous orders or orders that are being processed.

SN070815 Expires 7/21/15

Audio & Video Conversion

686-5756

www.DigitizeItNow.com 12752 Kingston Pike, Ste 103, Knoxville (Renaissance Farragut Complex)


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.