GOVERNMENT/POLITICS A4 | OUR COLUMNISTS A6-7 | YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS A15-17 | HEALTH & LIFESTYLES SECTION B | BUSINESS SECTION C
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karns / hardin valley
VOL. 50, NO. 13
MARCH 28, 2011
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A star in the making HVA student Gloria Wu claims prize for documentary film in national C-SPAN contest See page A-17
FEATURED F CO COLUMNIST MARVIN WEST
Cheating hurts (worse if you get caught) Marvin West ponders cheating in the NCAA, past and present See page A-7
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Garden club holds spring plant sale Get set for spring! The Karns-Hardin Valley Garden Club will hold its annual spring plant sale on April 9, from 9 a.m-2 p.m. in the parking lot of Beaver Ridged United Methodist Church. Joe Rector has the details on page A-3
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Construction should be finished on both Lovell Road projects by the end of June. Photo by Joe Rector
Road construction end in sight By Joe Rector
M
uch to the relief of residents and motorists, Lovell Road construction should be completed by the end of June. The ongoing work has been on two projects. The first is the widening of Lovell Road, work at the Schaeffer Road intersection and associated work on Pellissippi Parkway. The second project runs from Pellissippi Parkway to Gilbert Drive and includes widening the road on the two-mile stretch. The Schaeffer Road project costs $2.7 million dollars, and the longer second project is coming in at $9.2 million. Both are under TDOT jurisdiction and are part of the pay-
as-you-go program. Included are two lanes of traffic each way with an additional turning lane. Sidewalks are also being constructed along the roads. As many as 82 tracts were affected in some way during the work, but TDOT Region One Assistant Director Amanda Snowden said that the projects have run smoothly. “TDOT has not had any major problems on this project, and our contractors are maintaining an aggressive schedule to meet the completion dates,” she said. The section west of Pellissippi Parkway to Schaeffer Road is scheduled for completion by May 31, and the larger project to Gilbert Drive is
news@ShopperNewsNow.com ads@ShopperNewsNow.com EDITOR Larry Van Guilder lvgknox@mindspring.com ADVERTISING SALES Paige Davis davisp@ShopperNewsNow.com Darlene Hacker hackerd@ShopperNewsNow.com Debbie Moss mossd@ShopperNewsNow.com Shopper-News is a member of KNS Media Group, published weekly at 10512 Lexington Drive, Suite 500, Knoxville, TN, and distributed to 33,237 homes in Farragut, Karns and Hardin Valley.
Road would continue to Middlebrook Pike. A short stretch east of Schaeffer has been widened, and trees have been cut. Snowden said that, as of now, a part of the route will remain unchanged as funds have not been allocated for the work. When it and the new Schaad Road are completed, motorists will have a four-lane highway that travels from I-75 North to I-40 West. For now, motorists, residents and businesses along the affected area can count down the days until the orange barrel slalom course is removed, along with the headaches and delays.
Say it ain’t so, Joe By Larry Van Guilder Law Director Joe Jarret’s legal opinion backing a resolution to bring the budgets of the fee offices and assorted clerks under the purview of County Commission has officeholders Joy McCroskey and Sherry Witt bracing for a fight that began at last week’s County Commission workshop. It continues at today’s regular commission meeting.
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slated for a June 30 finish date. Each day, 15,585 vehicles travel Lovell Road. Drive-time traffic is often a nail biting, frustrating experience. The widening of the road and the additional lane should relieve at least some of the backup. Another bonus of the roadwork is the realigning of Yarnell and Bob Gray roads. Motorists for years have found turning left onto Lovell Road from those roads a dangerous, time-consuming adventure. The two roads now meet to form one intersection on Lovell, and a traffic light will allow drivers to make safe turns. Some residents of the area questioned if the construction on Lovell
Jarret says state law allows County Commission to appropriate funds for salaries and other “authorized expenses” for the fee offices provided that the officeholders turn over to the general fund all fees collected each month. The collective response of McCroskey, and Witt: “Say it ain’t so, Joe.” Commissioners Richard Briggs, Mike Hammond and Sam McKenzie are sponsoring the resolution with the enthusiastic backing of Mayor Tim Burchett, who says it’s all about “transparency.” Those familiar with the history of the trustee’s office under Mike Lowe or with Mike Padgett’s career as County Clerk wince when they hear “transparency” mentioned in con-
ed Nominatf o e on ’s “East TN! ” Best
nection with a fee office. Phantom employees, dubious staff “bonuses” and nepotism fueled those political machines. The imposition of term limits was a step in the right direction, Sherry Witt Cathy Quist Joy McCroskey but the old courthouse view that holding office is a right, not a privilege, lingers. “You’re talking about diminishing the powCathy Quist, Clerk of the Knox County Ju- ers of officeholders,” Witt said. venile Court, the Civil Division of General Witt’s comment expresses the fear that BurSessions Court and the Circuit Courts, is an chett – or his successor – might attempt to attorney, but it was Criminal Court Clerk Mcmicromanage the fee offices. But Dean Rice, Croskey who brandished the legal saber at Burchett’s chief of staff, points out that, if apMonday’s workshop. proved, the resolution would not take effect “How are you going to represent all of us if until FY 2012-2013, allowing ample time for we oppose this?” she asked Jarret in a preview all parties to agree on the ground rules. of lawsuits to come. The offices affected by the resolution are She erroneously added that the idea had clerks and masters of the chancery courts; “been defeated in a referendum.” The 2008 county clerk and clerks of probate, criminal, Charter amendment McCroskey referenced circuit and special courts; register of deeds; would have granted the mayor authority to ap- trustee; and general sessions and juvenile point certain offices. court clerks. McCroskey, who said a mouthful at the Trustee John Duncan and County Clerk workshop, including the complaint that the Foster Arnett have signaled their support. Last resolution would “put my employees under a Friday, Quist formally aligned with Duncan budget,” said she would have “plenty more” to and Arnett, stating in a press release that she say at the regular commission meeting. supports “full transparency and accountabilSpeaking at the Halls Republican Club on ity and a funding process that is unified across Monday evening, Register of Deeds Sherry all of county government.” Witt said her office is already “totally transCommission is scheduled to vote on the resparent. olution today.
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