VOL. 11 NO. 6
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Right answers help team take top spot
FIRST WORDS
Gas tax makes no ‘cents’
By Suzanne Foree Neal
A team of Farragut Middle School seventh- and eighth-graders is preparing to bring home the biggest championship of all as 2017 National Science Bowl champs. They already have the East Tennessee Regional under their belts and are ready for the main round April 27-May 1 in Washington, D.C., where they will represent Tennessee. The U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl for middle and high school students is a nationwide academic competition testing students’ knowledge of science and math. The team of Alice Tang, Rena Liu, Aiden Cantu, Alex Tan an Owen Cianciolo is studying hard to prepare. Where science is concerned, many come by their expertise because their parents work in scientific fields in Oak Ridge. Alice, Rena, Alex and Owen share thoughts about science; Aiden was unavailable. “Science is probably the one subject area that humans can expand on the most,” says Rena. “The competition inspires future scientists.” She likes the camaraderie of being a team member. “We’re all under the same pressure and that builds trust and friendship,” says the seventh-grader, who hopes to keep competing in bowls. Alice says she loves science because it inspires her. “I like to explore and my parents encouraged me to get into science.” Hers are both in scientific fields.
By Scott Frith Gov. Bill Haslam has announced a wide-ranging tax proposal that would add 7 cents per gallon on gasoline and 12 cents per gallon on diesel fuel. As part of the governor’s plan, the sales tax on groceries would be lowered by one-half a perScott Frith cent (a 50-cent decrease on a $100 grocery bill) and the Hall income tax decreased. Most would agree that Tennessee’s bridges need work. Although our state ranks near the top of states in highway quality, we lie near the bottom in bridge health. In fact, one study by TRIP, a transportation research and lobbying firm, found that 19 percent of Tennessee’s bridges are “structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.” Supporters of the gas tax increase say that new revenue is needed to repair bridges and fund a backlog of state road projects. Also, they argue it’s only fair that drivers (who use the roads) pay for road improvements. That’s the problem. A gas tax isn’t fair at all. Gas taxes are among the most regressive forms of taxation. Whether you’re a millionaire, a senior on a fixed income, or a family barely getting by every month, a gas tax increase will cost you more money. If you’re rich (or comfortably middle class), you probably won’t notice any increase. However, if your family is worried about the cash for your next fill-up at the gas station, any tax increase hits hard in the pocketbook. Tax increases are always politically problematic, but a gas tax increase is even more treacherous. Has the Haslam administration not considered the optics of a billionaire governor (who happens to own a fuel center empire) increasing taxes on the poorest Tennesseans to pay for better roads? Even worse, Haslam’s plan decreases the Hall income tax, a tax on interest from bonds and dividends from stocks, which would inevitably benefit rich Tennesseans. The campaign attack ads against these folks write themselves. Of course, it’s important to remember that Gov. Haslam’s
The Farragut Middle School Science Bowl team of Alice Tang, Rena Liu, Aiden Cantu, Alex Tan and Owen Cianciolo will represent Tennessee in April at the 2017 National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C. Photo submitted Team captain Owen, an eighthgrader, brings experience since he was on the team last year. “I definitely had the responsibility of carrying the team but it wasn’t a problem,” he says. “All the members did really well.” There’s a lot of study involved, and he prepared by having his father drill him on
study questions provided by the bowl. “It’s just so interesting how everything revolves around science and it’s always fun to learn.” It was “peer pressure” that got Alex interested in the competition. “All my friends did it and it was better to stay after school and do that than have to ride the bus
■■ BUILDING PERMITS UP: The town of Farragut issued 1,049 building permits in 2016, the highest number since it was founded. In comparison, the town issued 810 building permits in 2015 and 764 in 2014. Permits are issued for commercial and residential construction as well as remodeling, gas/mechanical/plumbing, swimming pool and deck projects. The 2016 projects have an estimated construction value of $69,811,470. ■■ FOOD TRUCKS DISCUSSED: A committee will meet 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, in the Farragut Town Hall board room to discuss
By Sandra Clark Madeline Rogero’s degree in urban and regional planning is very handy as she starts her sixth year as Knoxville’s mayor. When she spoke at North Knox Rotary the other day, she listed several plans. Parks and greenways? Plan. Public safety? Plan. South Knoxville? Plan. She’s the perfect extender of former Mayor Bill Haslam’s plans; but, of course, as director of community development for Haslam, she helped write them. “We started at the core and are moving out,” she says. Credit Haslam with the revitalization of downtown Knoxville. Rogero is re-creating the major corridors to benefit businesses and neighborhoods around them: Chapman Highway, Magnolia Avenue, North Broadway and Cumberland Avenue.
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food trucks and mobile vending options in the town of Farragut ■■ TOURING THEATRE: The Farragut Museum Committee and Farragut Arts Council will host a performance by Bright Star Touring Theatre in honor of Black History Month, 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, Farragut Town Hall. “Freedom Songs: The Music of Black History” will feature work songs and hymns of the Underground Railroad and the blues of Beale Street. The performance is free and is suitable for grade 3 through adult. A reception and museum tours will be held at 1 p.m.
The theme for this year’s Black History Month celebration is “Creative Knowledge through Drama and Art.” Info: townoffarragut.org/ museum or 966-7057. ■■ COMMUNITY GRANTS: The town of Farragut is accepting applications for community grants for fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018). Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, March 31. Information including eligibility requirements can be found at www.townoffarragut.org/grants. Info: jhatmaker@ townofffarrgut.org. ■■ FINE ARTS SHOW: The Farragut
“We leverage public funds to draw private development,” she says. “I have three more years – 1,060 days or so – to maximize accomplishments. “We’ve got a plan for connecting greenways; we’ve developed the Urban Wilderness and the outstanding Lakeshore Park.” Not mentioned but important, Rogero hired engineers to fix the problems at Fountain City Lake. She joked that Knoxville has so many breweries that we might be called “the ale trail,” and she was back in Fountain City last week to announce a $6.4 million federal grant to improve traffic flow. She spoke at a windy bus stop. The plan, she said, is to install smart, interconnected traffic control signals on Broadway, Chapman Highway and Kingston Pike. The system will analyze where cars are backing up and make sec-
Arts Council is sponsoring a juried Open Fine Arts Show on display Feb. 15-18, at Farragut Town Hall. Winners will be announced at the artists reception, 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. The public is invited to attend the show 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Info: townoffarragut.org/ openartshow or 218-3372. ■■ MIDDLE SCHOOL ART: The town of Farragut and Farragut Arts Council will sponsor the 2017 Farragut Middle School Juried Art Show at
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Mayor Madeline To page A-4 Rogero visits Fountain City to announce a $6.4 million federal grant to help alleviate traffic congestion on North Broadway, Chapman Highway and Kingston Pike. Photo by Ruth White
ond-by-second adjustments in the timing of the signals to optimize traffic flow. “The latest upgrades ($2 million for Broadway alone) represent a combined $8.4 million investment in this corridor, and we’re excited to be installing cutting-edge
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home,” he says with a big smile. He’s most interested in pursuing the science of technology in the mobile world – smartphones, artificial intelligence, laptops and wearable technology. “Both my parents do something at Oak
Town of Farragut sees flurry of activities
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technology to help resolve decades of frustration with gridlock on Broadway,” Rogero said. “Everyone’s commute will improve, and less time sitting in traffic means reduced emissions of pollutants.” And that’s a plan we all can applaud.