VOL. 53 NO. 24 NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Farm leaders support local Ag program Local and state farm leaders have written to support the discontinued Agricultural Education program for Halls and Gibbs high schools and the accompanying loss of the FFA chapter, which opened competitions and scholarship opportunities for students. Charles Hord, executive director of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association, and Doug Dawkins, a Halls resident who is vice president of TCA for 11 counties, say the decision to end the Halls and Gibbs FFA chapter hurts students. Mike Blankenship’s program at North Knox Vocational Center “has been highly successful over the years and is recognized as one of the outstanding programs in the state,” they wrote to Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre. “While we certainly understand that budgets are tight and tough decision sometimes have to be made,” they wrote, “we encourage you to look at other options and consider reinstating the FFA program.” The email was sent to school board members Kim Severance, Mike McMillan and Lynne Fugate. – S. Clark
IN THIS ISSUE
Basketball: a summer sport
Donnie Tyndall generated so much excitement with his remarkable recruiting roundup, a spur-of-the-moment thing, that basketball is suddenly a summer sport. People who didn’t know there was a Rocky Top League are now asking about rosters and schedules. Youngsters wonder if there has ever been anything like this outburst of enthusiasm.
➤
Read Marvin West on page A-5
Alexander, Corker differ on bills Tennessee’s Republican senators split on two important votes last week, leaving little doubt which is currently running for reelection. Sen. Lamar Alexander voted for a bill to allow veterans to avoid VA hospitals under certain conditions, while Sen. Bob Corker said it would add $35 billion to the deficit.
➤
Read Sandra Clark on page A-11
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
www.ShopperNewsNow.com |
June 18, 2014
www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow
Meet the Apple Butter Brothers
WATE-TV news anchor Gene Patterson interviews Joe McDonald, one of the Apple Butter Brothers of the Union County Masonic Bodies at the J.C. Baker Lodge in Maynardville. Shopper-News interns went along to observe Patterson in action (and eat apple butter). The segment, sponsored by Food City, will air this Friday. Photo by Ruth White
By Sandra Clark Lies, awesome apple butter and more lies highlighted a visit to the J.C. Baker Lodge when WATETV news anchor Gene Patterson dropped by to video some authentic country cooking. ShopperNews interns came along to watch a real television production. Patterson made everyone feel at ease, and Joe McDonald fired up the oven with some “homemade” biscuits from Food City. Making apple butter is a four-hour process, Don Bridges explained. Luckily, members of the Apple Butter Brothers had arrived early, and the pot was bubbling to the perfect consistency.
The interns got plastic spoonfuls of the mixture, straight from the kettle. “Is this hot?” asked one. Yikes! The Maynardville Masons started making apple butter about eight years ago. “We came up with the idea after we discovered a little chapter with about 20 members that had more money than any other chapter. They raised it making apple butter,” said Bridges. “First we laughed, then we cried, then we got to work,” somebody else chimed in. It’s hot work for sure. The apple butter must be constantly stirred to prevent scorching. The men take turns pushing the wooden
paddle. McDonald said that, too, is an art: “You don’t want it to go glop-glop-glop, and you don’t want to glop ... glop. You’ve got to stir it just right. “We sit around and talk,” he added. “There’s a lot more going on than apple butter. There’s a lot of fellowship.” The Masons sell their product at regional festivals. A pint retails for $7 ($5 to fellow Masons). The J.C. Baker Lodge supports local Boy Scouts, sending two to camp each summer, but its major project is to provide shoes to those in need. During the school year, the men open the fellowship hall on the first and third Saturdays
to distribute shoes to anyone who shows up – 600 pairs last year. Jim Chadwell explains: “We don’t ask where they’re from or how much they make. We just ask for their shoe size.” The Shopper-News interns saw a news professional in action as Patterson and his camera operator taped the Masons. Then the Masons served biscuits and apple butter for all. Great fun! The segment will air on WATE on Friday, June 20, Patterson said. It’s part of a series on locally produced food sponsored by Food City. Tune in to see some mighty fine fellows having fun as they benefit the community.
and messages on Facebook every day. Every day is a gift.” Plans for the car and motoring family and friends who have cycle show instepped up and assisted with evclude trophies, erything, including getting me door prizes, a to doctor appointments, cooking bake sale and dinner or helping with housework. hot dogs and “I am very thankful to everydrinks. Entry one for everything, especially the fee is $25. Info: prayers. I have received many Johnny Raley, cards, both from individuals and Cooper Cox 865-556-1820. from local churches. I get texts
Car show benefit June 28 By Libby Morgan Thunder Road Classics will hold a benefit car show for cancer patient Mary Cooper Cox on Saturday, June 28, in the Union County courthouse parking lot. Cox is undergoing treatments that leave her unable to do simple tasks, and she says, “I have had to learn to accept help from
others, which has been and still is very hard for me because I’ve always been so independent and have never asked for help before. I have always been one of the ‘helpers’ instead of being on the receiving end. “This has been completely lifechanging and humbling. I am very fortunate and blessed to have lov-
Burchett gears up consolidated government push By Betty Bean Supporters of combining city and county governments tried and failed to get it done in 1959, 1978 and 1983 before launching a high-dollar, go-forbroke 1996 attempt that ended as the most embarrassing Tim Burchett failure of all. Tommy Schumpert, then county mayor and a unification supporter, predicted it would be 15 or 20 years before anybody tried it again, if ever. And he figured it might take some kind of crisis to
trigger such an attempt. Eighteen years later, after multiple county scandals – from a series of term limits and sunshinelaw violations that led to “Black Wednesday,” to the indictments of two consecutive elected trustees – a new unification movement is emerging, this time from a different direction than the usual business elites who have been met with suspicion by county residents. Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett sees benefits from unification and seems determined to avoid the failures of the past. The popular Republican is running unopposed for reelection and appears ready to make unified
government the “big idea” of his second term. He’s been dropping public hints and engaging in oneon-one discussions about it for months. “Just don’t call it metro,” he said, drawing a distinction between his plan and Metro Nashville, which combined its city and county governments in 1963. It’s governed by a 40-member metro council. The top cop is appointed, and the elected sheriff is a glorified jailor. Burchett wants to blunt the opposition of city employees, who fought the 1996 referendum. He calls the Knoxville Fire Department “one of the best in the coun-
try.” He strongly supports keeping the elected sheriff as the combined government’s “top cop.” But his biggest talking point is saving money. He cites duplication in parks and recreation, human resources, tax collection and other departments. He doesn’t foresee wholesale firings and thinks city and county staffs could be combined and trimmed through attrition and retirements. He works well with Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, and her chief policy officer, Bill Lyons, said Rogero will gladly talk about unification.
2704 Mineral Springs Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917 Ph. (865) 687-4537
What are you WEIGHTING for? Senior discount for ages
60+
Quality rehabilitation & fitness in a friendly and non-competitive environment
P.C.C.A. Compounding Specialist Kenton Page, DPh • Since 1976 Including Veterinary Compounding Offering ff g vitamins, herbs, homeopathic p supplements pp
Tennova.com
859-7900
To page A-3
5034 N. Broadway, Suite 220 688-7025 Across from Mynatt’s Funeral Home in Fountain City
• Physical Therapy • Aquatic Physical Therapy • Functional Capacity Evaluations • Jump Start Health & Fitness Program • Occupational & Industrial Services • Vocational Services • Work Conditioning www.associatedtherapeutics.com