VOL. 52 NO. 33
IN THIS ISSUE
Miracle Maker
The chief academic officer for Knox County Schools, Dr. Elizabeth Alves, says parents and students should embrace the new Common Core state standards.
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www.ShopperNewsNow.com |
August 19, 2013
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Work continues on
Clayton Park
See S. Clark’s story on A-9
The Archie you may not know If all you know of Archie Campbell is Kornfield Kounty and cornpone “Hee Haw” humor, you need to know, to coin a phrase, the rest of the story. Don’t get me wrong. Ol’ Arch was the heart and soul of “Hee Haw.” But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
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Topsoil now stored in a portion of Clayton Park will be removed later for the natural amphitheater. Photo by Ruth White
See Jake Mabe’s story on A-5
By Jake Mabe
Alumni help Halls High football Alumni of Halls High have pooled their money, connections and talent to give the Halls High football team a spiffy new equipment trailer. “This is a big weight off of us – to not have to schedule various volunteers to move our equipment to away games,” says assistant coach Tony Tampas.
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See Libby Morgan’s story on B-2
Community building in Inskip The Inskip neighborhood is renewing its sense of community. Bookended by Inskip Pool and Park and Inskip Rec Center, both more than 50 years old, the Inskip in between has more kids (and adults) per acre than just about anywhere in Knoxville.
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See page A-7
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Arthur to speak to Halls B&P Knox County Watershed Coordinator Roy Arthur will speak at the Halls Business and Professional Association membership meeting at noon Tuesday, Aug. 20, at Beaver Brook Country Club. Arthur will talk about the proposed Beaver Creek Blueway and what it could mean for Halls. All are welcome. Buffet lunch is $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
Work is continuing at the Clayton Park site on Norris Freeway in Halls. Several readers called the Shopper-News office saying that workers were filling dirt into the “bowl,” which in the original design was to be a natural amphitheater. We contacted county spokes-
person Michael Grider, who sent us these responses from parks and recreation director Doug Bataille. “We are storing some topsoil in the park that will be moved back later during finish grading. That is probably what (folks are) seeing in the bowl,” Bataille wrote. “We have an unusual amount of topsoil on the site and we need more fill for the road and parking
but we are hoping to find it on the site. We will dig a hole, take out fill and put topsoil back in.” Bataille says he has no set time for completion, but hopes to have the park finished by the end of next year. “We have variables that are hard to predict, including the weather. We have had a very wet year and it’s not getting better.
“We are also stretching our grant and county funds by using a combination of Knox County forces, including parks and public works, and contracted services. The county forces also have to do all the maintenance on the parks system and roads, so schedules are hard to tie down.” Stay tuned ...
Bridge dilemma a comedy of errors? Not exactly Note:: TDOT’s problems with the Henley Bridge are mirrored in Union County, where the state has been trying for years now to finish the bridge over Norris Lake on Hwy. 33. Veteran reporter Marvin West asks, “What went wrong?”
By Marvin West We could call the Highway 33 bridge dilemma “a comedy of errors” but William Shakespeare wouldn’t like that. His early play was a farce loaded with slapstick. The bridge saga is sad. Years and years and years ago, Tennessee Department of Transportation engineers determined the ancient bridge over Norris Lake had fallen into disrepair, was weak in places and needed to be replaced. It was built in 1936. Periodic inspections produced the occasional scare story, followed by repairs. Paint covered rust and made everybody feel better. The bridge did not collapse, even when 18-wheelers squeezed past each other, but the locals who regularly drove that route did grow restless. Some with children riding school buses to and from Maynardville mentioned frequent use of nerve medicine until the kids were again safe at home. A bartender at Bubba’s Brews Sports Pub and Grill said replacing the bridge was at least 10 years
Piers for the new bridge alongside the old one
overdue. As is often the case, money was a problem. There were times when funds were supposedly available in the state budget but more pressing needs or areas with greater political clout emerged. Good old Veterans Memorial Bridge remained much as it was.
Approval The big breakthrough came in 2009. The price of steel dropped by half and the feds came up with an economic stimulus package. Then-state Sen. Mike Faulk announced that TDOT had approved replacement. “This was a priority of mine in the state Senate from day one,” he
Photo by Cindy Taylor
said. ”The current bridge is in terrible shape and is very dangerous due to the angle of the approaches.” Chad Faulkner, then-state representative for the region, said amen. “Senator Faulk and I have been in constant contact with Department of Transportation in support of this bridge project. We are extremely pleased that it has been approved. This replacement is critical to the safety of local citizens who cross the bridge, especially in the winter months when there is snow and ice.” Need for replacement was reinforced in 2010 with these findings: Superstructure condition rating: Serious. Substructure condition:
Poor. Appraisal: Structurally deficient. Strict load limits were imposed. Heavy haulers faced a 70-mile detour. Mountain States Contractors, somehow aligned with Britton Bridge, won the contract with a bid of $22.4 million. The new bridge was to be finished by the summer of 2012. That didn’t happen.
Delay Mountain States workers built about one-third of the project but discovered precarious conditions in the bedrock in deep water. They needed to blast out places to pour
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