VOL. 56 NO. 9
www.ShopperNewsNow.com |
FIRST WORDS
Avon Rollins: words of wisdom By Reneé Kesler
The Beck Cultural Exchange Center, “the place where African American history & culture are preserved,” bid its final farewell to Avon William Rollins Sr., former executive director of Beck, on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. Renee Kesler Mr. Rollins was at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement and was always willing to share words of wisdom. While I was privileged to have the opportunity to engage in numerous in-depth inspirational conversations with Mr. Rollins over the years, perhaps the crowning moment for me came exactly Rollins Sr. five months prior to his death. On Thursday, July 7, 2016, at Beck, I had the privilege of moderating a conversation with eight extraordinarily wise and insightful people: Dessa E. Blair, Robert J. Booker, Luther W. Bradley, Ether R. Jackson, Theotis Robinson Jr., t h e Rev. W. Eugene Thomas, Lawrence B. Washington and Avon W. Rollins Sr. The documentary “East Tennessee Voices: Eighth of August Celebration of Emancipation,” was produced in partnership with East Tennessee PBS and the East Tennessee History Center. The documentary highlighted the significance of the 8th of August in Tennessee history. It was Aug. 8, 1863, that Military Gov. Andrew Johnson freed his own slaves in Greeneville. Further, in keeping with Emancipation Day or the Day of Freedom, in Knoxville, Chilhowee Park was open to African Americans only one day a year, Aug. 8, and this continued until 1948. As you might imagine, during the filming there were amusing bloopers. If you could have been a fly on the wall you would have witnessed heartwarming laughter and real entertainment. At one point the filming had to stop because we could not halt chuckling at a gesture made by one of the eight. To page A-3
NEWS News@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark – 865-661-8777 Sarah Frazier – 865-342-6622 ADVERTISING SALES Ads@ShopperNewsNow.com 865-342-6084 Amy Lutheran | Patty Fecco Beverly Holland | Mary Williamson CIRCULATION 844-900-7097 knoxvillenewssentinel@gannett.com
March 1, 2017
www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow
Gibbs, Halls wrestlers win state
Gibbs duo first state wrestling champs in school history By Ruth White
Gibbs High School wrestlers Hunter “HT” Fortner and Cailey Griffin made history at the TSSAA state wrestling championships by bringing home the school’s first individual wrestling titles. Halls High School wrestler Colton McMahan added to Halls’ championship roster by bringing home yet another wrestling title for the Red Devils. Championships were held at the Williamson County AgEXPO Park in Franklin, Tenn., Feb. 16-18. Fortner won the Class 3A state championship in the 182-pound weight class. Griffin, the first female wrestler in school history, won in her 148-pound weight class. Gibbs High wrestling coach Tim Pittman said he couldn’t be happier. “HT is a hard-working kid. He’s the quarterback on the football team, he’s smart, diverse, and very athletic and strong. His previous two losses (in a 51-2 season) were to Georgia kids. He was ranked No. 1 all season. He dominated and looked good all through state.” Fortner, one of the team’s captains, said he felt good after opening the season at the Falcon Frenzy tournament in Henderson, N.C., at which he was named Most Valuable Wrestler. He got interested in wrestling after falling in love with football first, but says he took to it with relish. “It definitely complements foot-
HT Fortner
Cailey Griffin
Colton McMahan
ball. I first got into it in the offseason to not be sitting on the couch, and wanted to get just as good at that as at football.” He’d also briefly played baseball. At state, he stayed poised. “You have long breaks if you keep on winning. So all day, I didn’t have (scouting) film to watch, so I just kept my mind on (opponent Christian Salter from Siegel High in Murfreesboro) and how he defended.” He beat Salter in a 7-0 decision for the title. A graduating senior, Fortner wants to play collegiate football and is looking to attend the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky., major in physical exercise and become an athletic trainer. Griffin, the first female wrestler in school history, is also this year’s valedictorian.
“She comes from a soccer background,” Pittman said, “but she got interesting in wrestling. At first, she had no other girls to wrestle with, so we put her with the guys and she’d battle every day. She placed fourth at state last year. From then on, we started putting together a plan for her to win state. Then she had another girl, Kim Garcia, to wrestle with.” Griffin comes from a family of wrestlers. She says she’s always looking for challenges. “I’m a competitive person,” Griffin said. “After placing fourth last year, I never have been one to be happy about losing. I decided to do whatever it took to win. And I had Kim, who I could relate to, and she helped me.” Garcia placed fourth at state for the Eagles this year. Griffin had lost to Lindsey Morrison of Northwest High School
(Clarksville) at state last year. “Had I won, I’d have moved on to the finals. But, when it mattered, I came out on top.” Griffin beat Morrison in a 3-2 decision for the title. “(Morrison) is very strong and aggressive. Her favorite thing is to surprise you with a blast double. So, Coach Pittman and I trained to see that coming, and use (her strengths) to our advantage.” Griffin would love to attend MIT or Vanderbilt and study mathematics or pre-med, two subjects she shares in common with her mother, Kellie. But she says she has a variety of interests, including marine biology and space exploration. She’s also looking at the University of Dallas and will perhaps play soccer. To page A-3
Wright heads sheriff’s north precinct By Sandra Clark Lt. Jim Wright has been appointed to head the north precinct of the Knox County sheriff’s office. He fills a job left vacant since the retirement of the late Captain Joe Brooks several years ago. What’s not changed is the presence of Cathy Norris, who has worked in the local precinct since it opened. The north precinct serves Powell, Halls and Gibbs. It is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and is located with the trustee’s and county clerk’s office in Crossroads Centre, home of Ingles and Rural King.
Wright grew up in Halls, scams, etc. “It’s a place to come to talk with attending Halls elementary a real person without having to drive downand middle schools and Cen- town and pay parking.” tral High School. He also Wright will work with community leadtook classes at Roane State ers on events such as parades and festivals. Community College and UT. He’s planning to clean up a homeless camp in “My goal is to get this Halls this week. north precinct up to the stanWright has served in almost every aspect dards of our west precinct,” of police work since joining the sheriff’s ofhe said. “We’re here for peo- fice in May 1991 – jail, traffic unit, general asJim Wright ple.” Residents can report signment detective (property crimes), family non-emergency complaints at the precinct crisis unit for child abuse and domestic vioand can get copies of accident reports. Mate- lence, and the juvenile crimes unit. “I’ve done rials are available on domestic abuse, various it all except homicide,” he said.
Assessor’s office is set for reappraisals By Sandra Clark The real estate market has perked up, just in time for state-mandated reappraisals. Property Assessor John Whitehead says the overall result must be revenue-neutral (the commission can’t use reappraisals to sneak in a tax increase) but that doesn’t mean an individual’s property value, thus real estate taxes, won’t rise or fall. The county commission is obligated to adjust the tax rate after Whitehead certifies the reappraisals on May 20. Whitehead outlined the appeals schedule for the Powell Republican Club, meeting Feb. 16 at Shoney’s. Reappraisals will be completed in March. Notices will go out the first week in April, and Whitehead’s staff will hear informal appeals during April. “You can text, email or phone. We may get 1,000 calls per day,” he said.
Whitehead will open three sites for the informal appeals – Fountain City and Cedar Bluff branch libraries and his office in the City County Building. The month of May is “cleanup,” with notices sent again to property owners whose appraisals were changed. “On May 20, we certify our tax roll to the county Board of Equalization. Then you can appeal to Whitehead them.” Taxpayers still unhappy can appeal to the state Board of Equalization, which will conduct hearings in Knoxville. A fourth appeal can go to the state Appeals Commission in Nashville. The final step is the full state Board of Equalization. “It’s like the U.S. Supreme Court,” Whitehead said. “Nine out of 10 cases
Open House March 6.
If not now, when? Enjoy the benefits of good health, added strength and extra energy. For more information, call 859-7900 or visit TennovaFitness.com.
they won’t hear; they’ll just affirm the Appeals Commission.” After this chain of appeals, taxpayers can file a lawsuit in Chancery Court in Knox or Davidson County. In response to questions, Whitehead said Knox County has some 190,000 parcels. He said it’s toughest to appraise farm land because there are so few comparables. Whitehead has worked in the assessor’s office for 38 years, joining the staff of the late Edward Hill after returning from Vietnam. He sat out eight years while Phil Ballard served two terms, and returned to office in 2016 after a narrow Republican Primary victory over Ballard’s chief deputy, Jim Weaver. “I’m having a good time,” he said. “We’ve got a great group with everybody pitching in and doing a good job.” Info: knoxcounty.org/property or 865-215-2360.
P.C.C.A. Compounding Specialist Kenton Page, DPh • Since 1976 Including Veterinary Compounding Offering ff g vitamins, herbs, homeopathic p supplements pp
5034 N. Broadway, Suite 220 688-7025
Located off Emory Road in Powell
Across from Mynatt’s Funeral Home in Fountain City KN-1467371
Enrollment specials all day. For more information, call 859-7900 or visit TennovaFitness.com. Located off Emory Road in Powell