VOL. 53 NO. 1
IN THIS ISSUE E
Great friends ds
Ruth White launches her new job as Halls/Fountain City community reporter this week ek with a heart-warming story of two friends. She writes: It’s always nice to have a friend, but to have one that is there to save your life is even more special. William Allen and Charles Widner have been friends for about four years. Both have had some health issues and they keep an eye out for one another. Allen has no family in the area and Widner is like a brother to him.
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Read Ruth’s Wrap on A-3
The Doc is in Carol Zinavage scored an interview with band leader and trumpeter Doc Severinsen at his home in Blount County. She writes: The paint crew that’s working upstairs doesn’t know who he is. “He’s the nice guy who hired us to paint,” they say with grins and shrugs. They agree to Google him when they get home. Anyone who grew up watching The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson instantly recognizes the iconic bandleader.
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Find Carol’s Corner on A-7
On tearing down Gibbs Hall Marvin West goes way back with UT’s Gibbs Hall. He writes: Down goes Gibbs Hall, well, soon. The old athletic dorm and Stokely Center will be mere memories as Tennessee clears the way for progress – parking garage, new dorm and three practice fields for football.
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Read Marvin’s tale on A-5
First Tennessee to mark 150 years First Tennessee Bank’s promise is to be the best at serving our customers, one opportunity at a time. The bank was founded in 1864 when Abraham Lincoln was president, and employees have been practicing that promise ever since – even if it wasn’t written down. No financial institution could endure for a century and a half without dedicated employees earning the trust of generations of customers.
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Read Pam Fansler on A-10
7049 Maynardville Pike 37918 (865) 922-4136 NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark | Jake Mabe ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Shannon Carey Jim Brannon | Tony Cranmore Brandi Davis | Patty Fecco
Back in 1964, Bob Johnson and his uncle T.R. Harrington Jr. opened the Johnson-Harrington Insurance Agency in Halls. Five years later, Johnson bought T.R.’s interest in the business and changed the name to Bob Johnson Insurance. On the first day of 2014, the
company celebrated its 50th birthday in the community. Bob Johnson Insurance was the first insurance agency to open in Halls and has provided the community with insurance for home, auto, service in a fast, courteous manner recreation vehicles and life from and with the values on which Ruth its location at 7121 Afton Drive. the business was built. The agency will host an open The team takes pride in providing
As a regional entertainment center By Sandra Clark Close your eyes for a second and imagine the Regal Pinnacle at Turkey Creek on the old Walmart site in Halls. See those lights beckoning folks from North and East Knox and even outlying counties. Come to Halls and play! See the family restaurants on outparcels at the region’s entertainment epicenter. See the area landscaped with coffee shops and retail establishments. Think Franklin Square. Envision Clayton Park finished with a walking trail to Halls Elementary School and the new enter-
tainment complex. Take a trail under the highway to the library, senior center and Halls Community Park. How to make it happen? Revitalization requires investment – both money and time – and political leadership. But first it takes vision. To steal a phrase: If not us, who? If not now, when? This lead-in will cause Bob Crye to blush. Because this writer’s conclusion is that Crye should be a consensus choice for county commissioner from District 7. With R. Larry Smith term-limited, we’re going to have a new commissioner. Might as well be the guy with demonstrated leadership skills – a leader at Beaver Dam Baptist Church, president of the Halls
house in the spring and looks forward to seeing current, former and possible new clients at the event. Info: 922-3111.
also says he wishes he had come to politics earlier. The 7th District has been spoiled by commissioners like Smith and Mary Lou Horner, who seemed to make the job full time. It doesn’t have to be. Properly functioning, the commission should ser ve as board of directors to the executive, now Mayor Tim Burchett. With the qualifying deadline about a month away, we must get serious about this job. We should act as if our community’s Bob Crye future depends on who is elected. Because it does. And with that off my Republican Club, a Tim Burchett-appointed com- chest, here’s our interview missioner on the Hallsdale with Crye: Powell Utility District who has held the line on rates, Revitalization is key Crye has three priorities and the 2014 president of the Halls Business and Pro- as he takes the presidency of the Halls BPA. fessional Association. Crye says no. The re■ Increased memtired engineer says he’s bership, particularly had a full-time job and from the retail merchants. doesn’t want another. He ■ Halls revitaliza-
Imagine Halls
tion. “We need to figure out what to do and how to fund it,” he says. Some have suggested that Halls form a quasi-government group such as Knoxville’s Central Business Improvement District. Crye has investigated and doesn’t think Halls residents would selfimpose an annual fee, even one as low as $10. ■ Boost attendance at the new Halls Breakfast Club. “These networking events work well in West Knoxville, and our first one went very well,” he said. The next event is at First Century Bank on Emory Road. At HPUD, Crye sees a second year with no rate increase. “We will hold the line one more time unless something drastic happens.” Crye has been trying to reach the leasing agent for the old Walmart. “It’s the biggest eyesore we’ve got,” he says of the empty building.
Rogero tackles homelessness, trees See http://www.cityofknoxville. org/development/homelessnessplandraft2014.pdf. Comments will be accepted for 45 days. According to the city’s press release, the draft is the work product of a mayoral-appointed roundtable that included the executive leadership of agencies, ministries and organizations that provide services, shelter and housing for the homeless. “Homelessness is a complicated issue, and effective responses require collaboration among many different partners,” Rogero said. “This plan is not a solution to any And last week Rogero rolled out single problem. It is a framework a draft plan to address homeless- that we will use to coordinate efness. She’s posted the plan online forts to address both short-term and is calling for public input. and long-term challenges for peo-
By Sandra Clark
Is Shopper-News at war with Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero? Absolutely not, despite what you might read occasionally on Page 4. Rogero has tackled tough issues such as the city’s underfunded pension liability. She has not called for a grape or lettuce boycott or done any other dreadful thing her campaign opponents implied when they whispered “She scares me to death.”
Analysis
ple experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.” Thankfully, Rogero is not talking about a 10-year plan to end homelessness. That idea raised and then dashed hopes with unpleasant opposition from various neighborhoods where new housing might be developed. The best we can do is mitigate the factors such as foreclosure that push people into the streets. We should move along the ablebodied residents of public housing to open up resources for shortterm housing for the newly homeless. Public housing should not be permanent and even generational. And any plan must consider the homeowners and businesses in the areas most impacted by the
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homeless. It must involve groups such as Compassion Coalition, which works to connect church members with people in need. The whole community must work short-term while looking long-term. Is Madeline Rogero our very best leader to tackle this complex problem? Absolutely. Can you name one better suited? The city will conduct a public input session 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Cansler Family YMCA, 616 Jessamine Street. A city council workshop on the proposed plan will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, in the main assembly room of the City County Building. To page 3
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Members of Bob Johnson Insurance team celebrated the company’s 50th birthday. The agency was founded Jan. 1, 1964. Pictured are staff members Rhoda Whaley, Bettie Sweeten, Lee Ann Hodges, Janet Henschen; (second row) Dave Rosser, Norm Wheeler, Jason Sluss, Mark Durfee; (back) Ben Johnson, Tyler Ladd, David Jenkins and Doug Johnson. Photo submitted
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