VOL. 52 NO. 47
IN THIS ISSUE
Miracle Maker
If you look up “educator role model” in the dictionary, you’ll find Julie Pepperman’s picture. She tutors before school and by appointment after school. She’s a lead teacher and evaluates her colleagues. She’s on the state science leadership team.
➤
www.ShopperNewsNow.com |
www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow
November 25, 2013
Work continues on Clayton Park
See Betsy Pickle’s story on A-9
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Halls Christmas Banquet is Dec. 6 The Halls Business and Professional Association will hold its annual Christmas banquet 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Beaver Brook Country Club. WBIR-TV news anchor John Becker John Becker will be the keynote speaker. Becker will reflect on the holiday season, highlight his award-winning “Service and Sacrifice” series about East Tennessee veterans and discuss his love of pets. The Halls Man and Woman of the Year will be announced and a silent auction will be held. Info/tickets: Sue Walker, 925-9200.
FC Lions to hold bike drive The Fountain City Lions Club is holding its annual Christmas bicycle drive in partnership with Mission of Hope to benefit the children of Appalachia. A $50 donation will purchase one bike. An additional $20 will buy a helmet. The bicycle drive is held each year in memory of Michael Williams. Make checks payable to Fountain City Lions Club (note Bicycle Fund on your check) and mail to P.O. Box 5276, Knoxville, TN 37928. Donations are tax deductible. Info: Gib Galyon, 4144630.
Halls Toy Drive underway The Halls Welfare Ministries Toy Drive is underway. Collection boxes are located at the Halls Commercial Bank and the Halls Senior Center. Toys can also be dropped off at Cross Roads Presbyterian Church 8:30 to noon Tuesdays through Fridays. Children can be sponsored by calling coordinator Jeanie Sager at 922-3137. Applications to receive toys will be available at Cross Roads Presbyterian Church in the box on the wall by the steps. No applications will be taken after Dec. 1.
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
TITAN A SELF-STORAGE
Work continues on Clayton Park in Halls. Knox County Parks and Recreation senior director Doug Bataille said last week that workers have been busy grading the road into the park. “When the weather cooperates and it dries out in there, we’ll set the footers on the shelter and the restrooms,” Bataille said, adding that the road will not be paved until the end of construction, “because we don’t want to damage it, hauling big trucks in there.” Photo by Jake Mabe
The new math Higgins looking to change more than basketball fortunes at Central By Stefan Cooper Down 11 early in the second quarter, Central High School coach Jon Higgins puts the Bobcats in a full-court press. It’s a numbers thing for Higgins. The Bobcats need points. To get points, you need shots. To get shots, you need the ball. To get the ball, Central had to force Halls to speed up. Numbers, numbers, numbers. “I just really enjoy math,” Higgins said. “I always have. “Basketball is the same way: Can you analyze what’s happening on the floor? Can you see a play on the floor and adjust accordingly?” The tactic works. At the half, Central has closed within four. The season’s first win isn’t to be, Central High School basketball though. coach Jon Higgins watches from the Halls goes on a run to open sideline during a recent game. Photo the second half and Central loses by Ruth White
contact. The Red Devils pull well clear for an easy win. There’s still more teaching to be done, a role Higgins, who doubles as a math teacher at Central, relishes. “It’s a challenge to get kids excited about math and the importance of math,” he said. That, along with the chance to impact young lives beyond the basketball court, is why the former UT shooting guard chose to enter coaching at the high school level and not college. It’s why one of his first moves as Bobcat coach was to institute a controversial policy in which players must maintain a C average in the classroom to play. Get a D, and you don’t even practice. It’s something Higgins says he took from “one of the most influential people in my life,” his high school coach, former Shaker Heights (Ohio) icon Bob Wonson. “We were taught, at a very early age, that not only do you go to college, but you succeed.” The first member of his family to attend college, Higgins set himself the goal of finishing his degree at Tennessee early. His course loads
were extreme, including four upper level math classes his senior year. Eventually, it caught up with him. With the Vols pushing hard to qualify for a third NCAA tournament in four years his senior season in 2003, Higgins was declared academically ineligible just prior to the Southeastern Conference tournament. “It was one of the first times I faced some adversity. I felt like I let my team down, and I feel that way even now.” A knee injury that wiped out most of his senior year at Shaker Heights had hurt. “This was more personal. I was responsible, me and me alone.” Higgins, at Shaker Heights and at Tennessee, had always demonstrated the discipline it took to be a coach. Missing the end of his final season with the Vols added the other two essential elements: perseverance and patience. “When I became ineligible I was down, but I knew it wouldn’t To page A-3
Tax breaks yield big downtown payoff By Betty Bean In addition to airing plans and aspirations for future downtown redevelopment to a packed auditorium at last week’s 2013 Downtown Summit, city officials presented numbers documenting an arc of success spanning the last 10 years and three city administrations. Annual local sales tax collections in the Central Business Improvement District have increased by 43 percent since 2003, allowing the city to apply an additional $20.6 million toward retirement of convention center debt. Projects receiving Tax Incre-
Lowest prices in town.
938-2080
Climate and non-climate controlled units, indoor and outdoor, RV storage, 24/7 access, month to month rentals, fenced, lighted and security, convenient to Halls and Powell.
NOW OPEN! Norris Freeway location
ment Financing (TIFs) have inSales Tax Recapture (in Millions) creased in value by $98 million, Recapture Amount based on appraised value. Projects receiving PILOT (pay$4.3 ments in lieu of taxes) agreements $4.2 $20.6 In 6 years, an additional $3.8 million$3.8 have increased by $40 million, has gone toward retiring also based on appraised value. Convention Center debt. $3.1 “It was built evolutionarily,” said city planning and policy chief Bill Lyons, who talked about moving from conflict to col$1.4 laboration and stressed the importance of preserving historic structures. “Not once did we really have 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 to put on the brakes and say let’s get a new strategy,” he said. “It was organic growth – lots of little In 6 years, an additional $20.6 million has gone toward retiring the Convention Center debt. plans, not That One Big Thing.”
Family Homes
INC.
Building Dreams
1(: +20(6 *$5$*(6 68152206
Stay strong, live long. Free fitness consultation.
We take care of all your financing with NO $$ Down! Interest Free for One Year
Insured, licensed & bonded - Locally owned & operated 865-947-3600 Come look at our models & talk with our design consultants: 423-520-6531 6558 Clinton Hwy Knoxville, TN 37912 Member BBB since 2000
Tennova.com
859-7900