VOL. 53 NO. 13 NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Water rate increase for Northeast Knox
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March 31, 2014
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Medieval combat at Halls
Northeast Knox Utility District has increased its minimum water bill from $13.05 to $13.55, effective March 1. The vote by commissioners was Feb. 10. The increase was necessary, officials say, because of inflation on materials used. The district does not anticipate borrowing any money this year. It does not operate a wastewater system. – S. Clark
IN THIS ISSUE Three eye trustee’s office
Three Republicans – Barry Hawkins, Craig Leuthold and Ed Shouse – are running for Knox County Trustee this year. Jake Mabe talked with all three and files his report.
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OneLife Church will move to Powell
Nestled beside The Amber Restaurant in Halls is a church making a big impact on the community. OneLife Church began as the vision of Rodney Arnold. It held its first service in July 2009 and began meeting at Powell High School in September. When the church outgrew that location, they moved to the Jubilee Center in 2011. The congregation is in the process of moving to its newest location, the former Food City building in Powell.
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See Ruth White’s story on A-7
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■ Sandra Clark interviewed Jared Effler, the 14-year prosecutor who was fired for requesting time off. Of course, he is running against his boss for district attorney general. Union County edition. ■ Stefan Cooper talked with Phil Garner, and veteran sportswriter Marvin West added some memories of the baseball legend. Bearden edition. ■ Farragut Mayor Ralph McGill is cruising toward reelection without an opponent just days before the qualifying deadline. Farragut edition. ■ Sherri Gardner Howell caught up with a fashion show at Cherokee Country Club to benefit Ramsey House. Farragut edition.
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
Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) re-enact combat for students at Halls Middle School. Pictured are Hruse MacIntosh (Jason Little) and Captain Tristram Jager von Bonn (Travis Bond) in battle. Learn more about SCA at www.ThorsMountain.org. Photo by Ruth White
SCA members make the Middle Ages come to life Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) visited Halls Middle School last week and re-enacted life from the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods through arts and sciences. The event reinforced classroom learned and allowed students to see how life was long ago. Long before technology, games were played for social interaction. One favorite game was Blind Man’s Bluff, where blindfolded individuals tried to locate one person through sounds. Said one SCA member, “There was no physical contact between the opposite sexes during this time. It wasn’t permitted. This game was a form of flirting.” Members of the organization dressed in period costumes and demonstrated forms of combat, explaining to students the rules of the game. To end the session, the learning game “Sit down you’re dead” was played. Court baroness Eleanor of Ashley explained how medicine wasn’t readily available and many died at very young ages. Groups of students were identified and were told to sit down because they were dead for various medical reasons.
Eleanor of Ashley (Karla Hood) watches a combat game during a demonstration at Halls Middle School. At left, Osric the Brewer (Halls resident Zac Carey) challenges an opponent in a demonstration for students.
Bennett, Busler seek 7th District commission seat By Jake Mabe Bo Bennett and Charles Busler are the Republican candidates seeking the 7th District County Commission seat currently held by R. Larry Smith, who is term limited. Bennett is director of operations for a regional software company and previously ran for Knox County mayor. He names three priorities for the district: Building a new Adrian Burnett Elementary, building a senior center for the Powell and Heiskell communities and improving communication about both county and state road projects in the district. “And, overall, it is the
job of a c ou nt y commissioner to not only r epr e s ent one’s const it uenc y, but bring informaBo Bennett tion to them about issues countywide. That’s something I think we fail at sometimes.” He says if elected he will hold a monthly town hall-type meeting for constituents. He also says he wants to make sure the county stays fiscally responsible by continuing to build up the county’s so-called “rainy day fund.”
Bennett says that the Heiskell community has raised more than $100,000 toward a senior center and stresses again that building a new Adrian Burnett Elementary is a top priority. “There’s a difference in investing money wisely and throwing it away. I don’t consider investing money in our children or our seniors a waste.” Bennett and his wife, Jilene, have a son, Blaze, who was born Jan. 15. “I am directly invested in what happens during the next 20 years in Knox County because of our child and his future.” Charles Busler has lived in the 7th District for 41
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the center of the community.” Busler says that having a solid school system is essential to attracting quality jobs to the community. “We chose to live in this community,” Busler said. “I have two daughters and five grandchildren. I want to serve this community.” District 7 lies outside the city limits and includes voting precincts of Halls, Powell, Brickey, Copper Ridge and Heiskell. Early voting starts April 16 for the May 6 primary election. Bennett’s campaign treasurer is John H. Van Dyke; Busler’s is former Sharon Baptist pastor, Dr. James E. Robertson.
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years. He is retired from a 43year career at Sears Contract Service. He and wife MarCharlie Busler garet were married for almost 44 years when she died in June 2013. His goals include enhancing the quality of neighborhood schools, improving the efficiency of county government to best serve constituents in the district, and building a collaborative relationship between County Commission and the school board. “The school should be
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