VOL. 10 NO. 52
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December 28, 2016
Grace Baptist celebrates centennial By Nancy Anderson
Goodbye 2016!
Give 2016 the old heave-ho at New Year’s Eve on Market Square, beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31. The family-friendly celebration to usher in 2017 includes music, midnight fireworks, a ball drop, an “Auld Lang Syne” sing-along and a new lighted “2017” sign. This year’s celebration is presented by Lloyd’s Electric Service Inc. “This is the night when Market Square feels most like Times Square,” says Judith Foltz, the city’s director of special events. The Temper Evans Band of Harriman will perform covers from 10:30-11:45 p.m. A slideshow of memorable events from 2016 will screen above the Market Square stage. The countdown begins at 11:55 p.m., followed by the ball drop and fireworks at midnight. The Holidays on Ice skating rink will be open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 1-9 p.m. on New Year’s Day. Restaurants on Market Square, including those participating in the Peppermint Trail, will be open and offering specials; call ahead for dinner reservations. No mobile food or alcohol sales will take place on the square.
Take a hike
Tennessee state parks are offering ranger-led hikes Sunday, Jan. 1. Local hikes include: Norris Dam State Park, midnight-2 a.m., meet at the Tea Room, located on the east side of Norris Dam; Big Ridge State Park, 1-3 p.m., meet at the stone building at the park entrance; Tellico Blockhouse (part of Fort Loudoun State Historic Area), 1-3 p.m., meet at the Blockhouse. Info/reservations: tnstateparks.com
Get smart(er)
Learn basic computer skills at no charge 8:30 a.m.-noon Tuesday and Thursday, Jan. 17 and 19, at the Knoxville Area Urban League, 1514 E. Fifth Ave. Learn Windows basics, files management, tools, programs, documents, email, internet and more. Small class, personal attention, certificate from Pellissippi State upon completion. Space is limited and registration is required. Call Bill or Jackie, 524-5511.
When Grace Baptist Church opened in 1916, only eight percent of American homes had a telephone, World War I was raging in Europe, and the Boston Red Sox won the World Series over the Brooklyn Dodgers four games to one. One hundred years later, more than 1,000 people gathered at the church to celebrate its centennial birthday on Dec. 18, with a special service featuring U.S. Rep. Jimmy Duncan, Mayor Tim Burchett, state Rep. Roger Kane and former lead pastor Dr. Ron Stewart. Burchett declared Dec. 18 as “Grace Baptist Church Day.” Duncan presented a letter of appreciation saying, “We are fortunate the church was built because the preachers preach the gospel. If every preacher would just preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, most of our problems would be solved.” Kane said the state of Tennessee is thankful for the work the church has done in the community since its inception, saying, “The Speaker of the House is appreciative of all the work Grace has done, and a flag is flying over the Capitol today in honor of Grace Baptist Church.” Stewart gave special thanks to Sue Reagan, who was in attendance, for having joined the church in 1941, saying, “I especially appreciate her because she’s always ready with a hug. That’s 75 years of hugs.” He addressed the congregation, explaining how the church began when 22 people met at Karns school in 1916 to share the vision of building a church. “I wish I could have been there to share the excitement with the
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22 men and women who gathered at Karns School in a small ‘town’ with a population of 5,005 people just 10 miles from downtown Knoxville and gave birth to a vision. God’s vision.” Seventeen pastors have led the church, each with a role to play in making it the megachurch that it is today; but none more so than Stewart. Stewart served the longest at 28 years. He said it’s not unusual for a church to die as it ages, but Grace Baptist Church has managed to grow, now with 5,000 members and considerable resources. “As it approaches its 100-year anniversary, Grace has become a megachurch with all kinds of opportunities to reach people in so many different ways.
“Today is our greatest opportunity because God has given us so many resources that we can do whatever it is that he asks us to do. Any door that he opens up we can go through it. Any obstacle in our path we can overcome it.” Stewart finished his sermon by encouraging the congregation to look forward to a new era when a new pastor takes over the pulpit.
“I hope you all understand that the most important and the most exciting time is yet to come. God is opening our hearts for a new pastor who is going to come in here, soon I hope, with new ideas and a new vision and new gifts that this church needs right now to continue to grow and continue making a positive impact on the community.”
Leaders to debate future of business organization Karns residents and area businesses will meet to discuss the future of the group now known at NWKBPA _ the Northwest-Karns Business and Professional Association. The meeting is noon Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Karns Community Center.
State Rep. Roger Kane said membership has declined and the group has not fielded a full team of officers. Yet the organization has important responsibilities in terms of landscaping, the Karns Community Fair and the Christmas parade.
‘East Tennessee PBS Scholars’ Bowl 2017’ gets new hosts By Carol Z. Shane
Ernie Roberts is excited about the “East Tennessee PBS Scholars’ Bowl 2017.” A longtime Old North Knox resident and current director of educational services for East Tennessee PBS, Roberts is well known; he’s semi-retired Ernie Roberts a high school math teacher and host of “TN Learn: Mathline,” music director at two churches, annual Front Page Follies funnyman, high school football announcer and tireless volunteer for many worthy causes. This year Roberts has chosen WNOX’s Frank Murphy and
Merle FM’s Jack Ryan to co-host the Bowl. “They both bring great skill sets to engage students, and they have the ability to make some good drama,” said Roberts. “And they dress well.” The series has been led by a single host, but with the fast-paced filming and high-energy levels of competition, Roberts felt that two hosts would be a better fit. Murphy and Ryan agree. “After just two or three games I’m physically and mentally exhausted!” said Ryan. “And I didn’t have to buy as many ties,” cracks Murphy. Anyone who observes the way these three get along in such a joshing, lighthearted way will certainly want to tune in when the first episode airs on Monday. They’ll bring the same quick-
ness to the games, which consist of rapid-fire questions in 38 academic categories for each four-person team. This year, the 53 teams come from 22 counties in East Tennessee and one in Southeast Kentucky. The series was shot over a month, four to six shows a day. There are 52 episodes, with the last three episodes being rerun at the end. For the hosts, it was a blast. “I have secretly harbored the desire to be a game show host since I was a child,” said Murphy, who admits he would set up bells on a table and force his sisters to answer trivia questions. “I’m the complete opposite,” said Ryan. “I was never a scholar.
So the only way I was ever going to be a part of the Scholars’ Bowl was to host it! To me, it’s exciting. We had some very close games – very few blowouts. Some went into overtime. Another one ended right at the buzzer.” Both say they’re looking forward to “how many complaint calls Ernie will get because of the way we mispronounced words.” Roberts laughs and takes it all in stride. “These kids answer a lot of questions. It’s like ‘Jeopardy!’ It’s educational and it’s entertaining.” Now in its 33rd year, the “East Tennessee PBS Scholars’ Bowl 2017” begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, and continues weekly at the same time through Friday, March 17, on ETPBS.
Eddie Mannis: 2016 Person of the Year By Betty Bean
(865) 218-WEST (9378)
Former lead pastor Dr. Ron Stewart Grace Christian Academy Head of School Rob Hammond with Knox County addresses the congregation. Photos by Mayor Tim Burchett, who proclaimed Dec. 18 as Grace Baptist Church day. Nancy Anderson
The day after wildfires ravaged Sevier County, Eddie Mannis, president and CEO of Prestige Cleaners, Prestige Tuxedo and the Downtown Grind Coffee House, interrupted his cheery holiday Facebook announcements to post this message: “Sending prayers to our neighbors located in and around Gatlinburg. We are ready to help however needed. I have guest rooms and plenty of space and happy to do whatever I can.” Later that day, he translated
words into action, listing supplies being collected at Prestige Cleaners or Prestige Tuxedo locations to be delivered by another of Mannis’ businesses, FRSTeam Eddie Mannis by Prestige Cleaners (Fabric Restoration Service Team). Soon he was swamped with donations. He took the following Saturday morning “off” to serve as grand marshal of the Fountain City Op-
timist Christmas Parade (and to participate with his employees in the Knoxville Christmas Parade the night before), but was soon back at the relief work, posting photos of the fabric restoration team serving lunch to adjustors and contractors at the centralized disaster relief location in Pigeon Forge. Later that day, he announced that Prestige Cleaners will donate $5 from any gift certificates sold in December to Pi Beta Phi Elementary School in Gatlinburg, which lost two students, Chloe
and Lily Reed, who died along with their mother, Constance, when they were unable to escape the flames that took their Chalet Village home. Many other Pi Phi students have been left homeless. “The school where the two little girls went still had 95 families who were homeless,” Mannis said. “The gift card sales came about because I want to help the school directly and I don’t know what resources they have. My concern is there are a lot of people in the serTo page A-3
from the staff of the