North/East Shopper-News 050514

NORTH / EAST VOL. 2 NO. 18

IN THIS ISSUE

A-E to start new program Benny Perry, A-E’s ebullient, perpetual motion machine of a principal, is itching to tell the world about the gains his school has made. He’s proud of the whole school, but can barely contain his excitement about the new audio production department, which will come fully on-line in August.

He anticipates it will be an outstanding complement to the existing performing arts magnet programs – dance, theater arts, band, West African drums, West African dance and visual arts.

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May 5, 2014

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Daniel Brown:

By Betty Bean One night not long ago, Daniel Brown was driving through the bleak 3900 block of Martin Luther King Avenue and saw a light inside one of the vacant buildings.

He suppressed an urge to stop and check out what was going on (the 6th District City Council representative and former mayor is very polite), and drove on.

He’s been thinking (and talking) about revitalizing Burlington for years. His parents moved there in the ’60s, and he remembers how it used to be. He’d like to get something started there in his remaining three years in office.

“I’m concerned about trying to revive (Burlington),” he said. “I’ve talked to the mayor and her staff, but the fact that those empty buildings are privately owned makes things very dicey.”

He says he’s preparing to contact the owners but isn’t sure he can accomplish much.

“I can’t tell them to do anything, but I’d like to have a meeting to see what they’re planning. Are they planning on selling it? Are they planning on developing it? Or are they just planning on letting it rot away?

It’s going to take a joint effort.”

Brown appreciates the city’s Magnolia Corridor redevelopment efforts but questions the strategy of working eastward from the urban core and fears that it will take many years to get out to Burlington.

City Redevelopment Director Bob Whetsel said it might not take as long as Brown fears. His department plans to work on two additional “hubs” at the Cherry Street intersection and at Chilhowee Park

Burlington advocate

Read Betty Bean on page 6

Searching for a basketball coach Critics managed to find fault with Dave Hart’s search for a new Tennessee basketball coach. I thought it was orderly enough. Seek-and-find took only one week. OK, I did flinch when the Louisiana Tech guy turned us down.

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Read Marvin West on page 5

Rabies clinics Rabies vaccination clinics will be held 2-4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10. Cost: $10 per animal. Hosted by the Knox County Health Department and the Knoxville Veterinarian Medical Association at: Carter Middle School, Christenberry Elementary School, Gibbs Elementary School, Norwood Elementary School, Ritta Elementary School, Shannondale Elementary School.

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See calendar on page 8

Misty’s Pet Depot Misty Lifford dreamed of opening her own business and started doing research in January 2013.

Fourteen months later her dream came true. Her degree and retail management experience are a perfect fit for Misty’s Pet Depot.

Misty’s dad, Bill Lifford, was a supervisor with Sea Ray boats for 40 years and had been retired for five when Misty says she “dragged him out of retirement” to become co-owner of their new business.

Their priority was to find the perfect location in northeast Knoxville. Located in Harvest Park Shopping Center at 5451 Washington Pike (just up from Target), Misty and Bill wanted to create an atmosphere of fun for their customers.

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Read Nancy Whittaker on page 7

7049 Maynardville Pike 37918 (865) 922-4136 NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark | Betsy Pickle ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Shannon Carey Jim Brannon | Tony Cranmore Brandi Davis | Patty Fecco

Daniel Brown plans to contact Burlington property owners about cleaning up the neighborhood.

Photo by Betty Bean

Who Owns Burlington?

(Based on information from the Knox County Register of Deeds) Address 3920 Asheville Highway 4004 Holston Drive 3931 Holston Drive 3925 Holston Drive 3919 Holston Drive 3917 Holston Drive 3827 Holston Drive 3825 Holston Drive 3911 Rutledge Pike 3825 E Magnolia Av 3805 E Magnolia Av 3816 Holston Drive 3848 Holston Drive 112 Lakeside St 104 Lakeside St 3942 Martin Luther King Jr Av

Owner David M. Burgess MPI Business Solutions Inc. Robert B. Bennett City of Knoxville Firehall Tennessee Valley Lodge #1152 Brian Hartman Patricia R. Riggins Robert Monday Bryan M. Neal Thomas L. Gaddis Jr. Petree Enterprises Ralph E. Harwell Eastside Shopping Center LLC Cruchers Memorial Youth Enrichment William Earl Lee Dennis A. Bridges

Address 3930 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3923 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3922 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3918 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3917 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3916 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3911 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3910 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3907 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3900 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3920 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3822 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3814 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3805 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3800 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3700 Martin Luther King Jr Av 3616 Martin Luther King Jr Av

To page 3 Owner Terri Cade Hill Party Time Package Store Bella Safro Ernest R. Barnes Philip E. Atchley Jr. Sylvia Ward Witt James E. Cobb Andrei Allen TYM Partnership MPI Business Solutions Inc Josh Jordan, TYM Enterprises Kathleen R. Thompson Cecil R. Essie Sheb Phillips Greater Warner Tabernacle Frank E. Hodge Phillip Moser

New taxes or no: Both draw applause

By Sandra Clark Knoxville’s mayor wants a 34cent property-tax hike and promises dynamic projects (along with an ordinance-mandated 2.5 percent wage increase for city employees and a charter-mandated 3 percent increase for pensions). The people at her budget address applauded.

Analysis Knox County’s mayor wants no property-tax increase (the last one was at the beginning of Tommy Schumpert’s second term, 15 years ago), promises fewer new programs and no wholesale raises for county employees including teachers and deputies. The people at his budget address applauded.

Who are these people, and why are they clapping?

Mayor Madeline Rogero must believe she’s got five votes on City Council for her budget or she would have proposed something less. Vice Mayor Nick Pavlis seems

solidly at her side.

Mayor Tim Burchett is closely aligned with Knox County Commission, a body unlikely to pass a tax hike even if he proposed it. Luckily, the county’s tax base has grown in the recession so that Burchett has Rogero been able to fund increases of $49 million to Knox County Schools during his term, even without a tax increase.

But that has come at the expense of the Sheriff’s Office, where the bottom 90 percent are underpaid.

It shortchanges Parks & Recreation, where each year Doug Bataille tries to do more and more with less and less. And the school board says it’s not enough.

Both legislative bodies will conduct hearings and vote in May. Rogero’s budget calls for great things including public restrooms on Market Square. That alone

earned her a standing ovation.

She said, “Everywhere I go I hear that we are on the right track.

There is an excitement and a buzz for the good things happening in Knoxville.

We need to stay on track. We need to keep the moBurchett mentum building.

We need to continue to invest in building a great city.”

Rogero’s $200.5 million general fund budget includes increases for sidewalks and crosswalks, $1.2 million for public infrastructure improvements downtown, $300,000 for continued improvements in the Magnolia Warehouse District, $500,000 to remediate blighted and chronic problem properties, $500,000 for historic-preservation projects, $1 million for greenway corridors and improvements to Lakeshore Park, Fountain City Lake and Ijams Nature Center. Whew!

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Burchett’s $31.2 million capital budget has new projects as well: ■ $5 million for Ball Camp Drive phase two ■ $2.5 million for safety improvements at various intersections ■ $750,000 for expansion and upgrades to Carter Convenience Center ■ $300,000 for the development of Plumb Creek Park ■ Funding for 30 new KCSO vehicles and technology/security upgrades Burchett promises fiscal responsibility and a tight fist. Rogero promises leadership for city services “that people have come to expect and demand.”

Both mayors got applause because both connect with the people they serve. Both are likable and approachable. Both work hard.

Both are middle-of-the road, with Burchett leaning rightward while Rogero lists to the left. We’ve got the government we deserve.

Let’s hear a round of applause.

Mother’s Day is May 11!

Happy Mother’s Day!

2 • MAY 5, 2014 • Shopper news

health & lifestyles

Finding the ‘road to success’ for Tellico Plains woman Menopause can be a relatively easy transition for some women, but for others, it can be filled with extremely uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep disruption or severe fatigue.

Lynnette Balser of Tellico Plains, 55, had been having mild symptoms for about five years, when she had a complete hysterectomy in 2008.

The surgery put Balser into full menopause, and the surgeon sent her home with an estrogen patch. “That helped the hot flashes, but nothing else,” said Balser.

Balser consulted Dr. G. Walton Smith at Fort Sanders Women’s Specialists about “bioidentical” hormone therapies. These are hormones that, once in the body, are the same molecular composition as the hormones the body would create itself.

“I was very impressed Dr. Smith took the time to listen,” said Balser. “He didn’t just tell me what to do, and he seemed to be really up on the research as well.

“Before seeing him, I had gone to several doctors after my hysterectomy, and they either didn’t believe in bioidentical hormones or were unable to prescribe them adequately.”

Smith talked at length with Balser about the

Balser decided to try a pellet form of estradiol and testosterone. During a painless office procedure, Smith implanted several tiny pellets, about the size of a grain of rice, under the skin near the hip.

Balser liked the idea of not having to remember to take pills or apply creams daily.

She will have the pellets replaced every three to four months, and they will supply a steady stream of hormones to her body.

“I like the way Dr. Smith treats each person as an individual,” said Balser. “He didn’t already have his mind made up as to what we should do. He even talked with my husband, because he’s very involved and interested. He takes the time with you and develops a program that’s suitable to the individual.”

It has been nearly two months since Balser began bioidentical hormone therapy.

“I’m feeling a lot better,” she said. “We’re not all the way there yet, but for the first time Lynnette Balser, pictured with her husband, Gary, found help with her menopause through Fort I’m really encouraged. My hot flashes are gone, and my other symptoms are improved by Sanders Women’s Specialists. about 25 to 50 percent. My blood tests showed options that would be best for her, from which lets inserted under the skin. that my hormone levels are improving as well. medications she might consider, to various de“He said, ‘These are your options, you tell “I’m encouraged,” she said. “We’re on the livery systems, such as patches, creams or pel- me what works best for you,’ ” said Balser. road to success.”

BHRT – Is it right for you?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can be a more complete option for treating many of the varied symptoms related to menopause. However, they are not completely without risk or controversy.

“Bioidentical doesn’t have a standard medical definition,” explained Dr. G. Walton Smith, a gynecologist with Fort Sanders Women’s Specialists and Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.

Dr. G. Walton “Some people Smith say it’s the same as ‘natural,’ because the hormones are derived from plants. I don’t use that definition because the chemicals have been manipulated by a pharmacist. My definition of bioidentical hormones are those medications which, in the body, are chemically identical to what the body normally

makes,” he said.

The Women’s Health Initiative, a major study in 2002, found that two popular hormone drugs, Premarin and Provera, were found to increase the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and blood clots.

One large-scale French study, the E3N study, found that topical estradiol and true progesterone do not carry the same risks; however, this was not a placebo controlled study.

“We know we can be safer as far as blood clots and strokes are concerned with bioidentical hormones, and maybe for breast cancer as well,” said Smith.

Bioidentical hormones are often administered through patches, creams and pellets (which are implanted under the skin), rather than in pill form, so they do not pass through the liver first before going to the rest of the body.

But finding the right mix of bioidentical hormones can take time. “It can take six to nine months to find the right dose for a woman,” Smith

said. Also, some types of bioidentical hormones are covered by insurance but others are not. “We discuss typical costs associated with the different options so patients can consider economic impact as they make their decisions” “Ultimately, it comes down to a quality of life issue, and that’s a personal choice,” said Smith. “There’s a lot of weighing of the pros and cons because HRT is always optional.”

“Nothing replaces a healthy lifestyle, eating correctly, exercising routinely and taking care of yourself,” said Smith.

Some women are able to manage this natural transition without hormones or medications and typically many of the symptoms will resolve on their own within two to five years.

“But, every woman should know there are options that can help if their symptoms start affecting their quality of life.”

Smith added, “It’s important to sit down and really have a good conversation with your physician or

nurse practitioner about all of the symptoms that you feel may be related to menopause. They can help you as you consider the potential benefits and any potential negatives

Moms of all ages need to get their annual mammograms

In honor of Mother’s Day, Thompson Comprehensive Breast Center encourages you to take the time to potentially save your life.

Thirty minutes is all it takes to ensure you’re there to take care of them.

Upcoming ‘Covenant Presents’ highlights hip fracture care region’s elite physicians of many different specialties. The program connects medical professionals with local seniors to present health and lifestyle topics of interest to the group. It costs $5 to attend, is open to the public and lunch is provided.

On Wednesday, May 28, Dr. Paul Yau, orthopedic surgeon at the Hip Fracture Center at Fort

Sanders Regional, will talk about hip fractures. The Hip Fracture Center incorporates “best practice” guidelines and has a team of experts to get patients back on their feet.

For more information about “Covenant Presents,” or about the programs and services of Covenant Health, call 865-541-4500.

A physician referral is not required for your annual screening mammogram. Call (865) 541-1450 to schedule your mammogram today!

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Once a month, a group of senior adults gathers at the Frank R. Strang Senior Center in West Knoxville to learn information about a variety of health and lifestyle topics called “Covenant Presents.”

Covenant Health includes 10 hospitals, employs thousands of medical professionals, and is affiliated with more than 1,300 of the

to BHRT or HRT.” For more information about the services offered by Fort Sanders Women’s Specialists, call 865-541-1122.

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Thank you.

NORTH/EAST Shopper news • MAY 5, 2014 • 3

Daniel Brown From page 1

Vestival returns

when work on the block around Pellissippi State is done and façade grants are available to Burlington property owners who are current on their property taxes.

“We anticipate that we will work along those three hubs rather than in a linear way,” Whetsel said. The recommendation is that we try to reopen the ‘front door’ to the zoo in Chilhowee Park, and we have opportunities to continue to promote the regional attractions of the area and build around

By Betsy Pickle them. Burlington, being the When you put a festival in Vesformer heartbeat of that tal, it just makes sense to call it Vescommunity, should benefit tival. But after that, anything goes. from this.”

“This year, we’re having opera He also recalled the Burfor the first time,” says Trudy Molington advocacy of realnaco, Vestival founder and board estate investor Julia Tucker member of the Candoro Arts and some 30 years ago.

Heritage Center, which hosts “Julia used to say that we the event at the Candoro Marble better start working on Burbuilding, 4450 Candora Ave. lington, or we were going to Opera, music that would sound lose it,” he said. more at home at the Grand Ole Tucker, a Holston Hills Opry and many genres in between resident who once owned will be presented on the three six properties on Magnolia stages at Vestival, which runs Avenue, confirmed Whetfrom 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, sel’s recollection.

May 10. Admission is free, but a “Bob’s right. I did say $5 donation is suggested. that,” Tucker said. She reIn addition to the Marble City members when Burlington Opera, performers will include Tim was a thriving business disLee 3, RB Morris, Cereus Bright, trict with two drugstores, a the Carpetbag Theatre, Jamie dentist, two grocery stores, Cook, Four Leaf Peat, Jon Whita doctor’s office, Farmer’s lock Trio, Cornbred Blues Band, Hardware, McCarty’s Futhe Jank, Pamela Klicka Jazz neral Home and even a and the Knoxville Ramblers. clothing store.

Vendors throughout the “It had the best hardware grounds will offer arts, store in town and Pass’s crafts, food and beverages (clothing store), where you in a family-friendly atmocould get really nice clothes. sphere.

It was just a great place to be.

There will be children’s You didn’t have to go to town. activities as well as special It was absolutely safe, and performances targeted to chilpeople from Holston Hills dren. supported it. I once owned The day will kick off with the six properties on Magnolia traditional Mother’s Day brunch.

Quilter Opal McCartney Avenue, and people kept tellis the featured artist. ing me it was going to come back, going to come back. I finally got tired of waiting and sold them all,” she said.

“Can it come back? I don’t “Magnolia Avenue is very expensive. know. But I hope so.” the flattest place there is in “And we believe BurlingWhetsel said there’s rea- Knoxville, there’s lots of good ton is an important part of son to hope. housing stock and it’s not our community.”

Acclaimed local band Tim Lee 3 will make its Vestival debut on Saturday.

Photo by Bill Foster

with a vengeance

‘Mapping out’ health The South Woodlawn Neighborhood Association has had some exciting times lately, but members were revved up last week about the latest venture.

Betsy Pickle

Ben Epperson of the Knox County Health Department is mapping neighborhoods to point out attributes that can help residents be healthier. He met with SWNA members last Monday at the Roundup Restaurant to get started on a map of South Knoxville.

Participants talked about parks and walkability – or the lack thereof. They also discussed access to fresh food and noted that there are also some problems in this area.

The asset side was pretty high, however, with the track at Sam Duff field, the upcoming trail at the Wood

Knox County parks director Doug Bataille spoke to the group about the Trail Volunteer program, created by the county, the city of Knoxville and the town of Farragut. Volunteers are being sought to help others on trails and greenways in Knox County. They should be friendly, knowledgeable and approachable, but no special skills are required.

There is a fee for a na■ AMBC and tional background check, but otherwise there are no volunteering costs, and volunteers will The latest Appalachian receive a nifty T-shirt and Mountain Bike Club meetwindbreaker. For more info, ing was a lovefest – presivisit www.knoxcounty.org/ dent Brian Hann compliparks. mented individuals and the group on their volunteer ef- ■ Ijams beer garden forts at the Knoxville MaraLove nature and love thon and AMBC workdays beer?

Ijams Nature Center as well as other events. has opened a beer garden at Hann left himself out of Mead’s Quarry to help you the equation, but as reported earlier in this column, he enjoy both.

The beer garden is open was honored recently at a Tuesdays, Thursdays and bike summit in Alabama for his volunteering, and mem- Saturdays. A select number bers applauded him at the of beers are available.

Seating, good views and meeting at Barley’s.

The May workday will be games such as corn hole will announced on the group’s offer hikers and bicyclists a spot to relax and refresh.

Facebook page. family property and the outdoor classroom at SouthDoyle Middle School. Members also named Woodlawn Christian Church and Woodlawn Cemetery as supportive resources of the community.

Epperson will take the ideas back to the drawing board to work on maps that eventually will be available in public form.

Dragonfly Aerial Arts returns to Vestival this year. Photos submitted

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government Budget hearings: What’s at stake?

Mayor Madeline Rogero has proposed an ambitious $200.5 million operating budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. It is roughly $17 million more than last year’s budget and about $14.5 million more than the city’s expected revenue.

If approved, the new budget will require a tax increase of about 34 cents per $100 of assessed valuation of your real property, and on both real and personal property for a business.

What does this mean to the taxpayer? How will it affect the city’s competitive position as it vies to attract future residential and commercial development?

Budget Snapshot: Salaries and benefits dominate basic services costs. Police, fire and public service form the core of the basic service budget and account for $119.7 million in costs (employing 1,135 of the city’s 1,600 workers), with lesser amounts for engineering, parks and recreation, fleet, administration, etc.

Debt service accounts for $24.5 million, based on the city’s $190.8 million in long-term debt (including some $31.4 million in new debt the mayor hopes to issue this year).

The city’s website has details.

The biggest budget drivers include increased pension costs ($7.4 million, raising the total to $23.4 million), employee raises ($2.5 million), higher health-care costs ($700,000), plus $5 million in capital expenditures.

In addition, the mayor has included several million dollars of discretionary spending for community grants ($1.25 million) and other initiatives, like encouraging the arts ($500,000) and establishing a historic preservation fund ($500,000).

The two biggest community grants (there are 60 separate grants) are $250,000 for the proposed Botanical Garden’s Urban Ag Center and $250,000 for the Boys and Girls Club expansion.

Under the charter, the new fiscal budget must be in place by mid-June. It will be vetted by the City Council at public hearings on May 21 and put to a vote at the May 27 meeting.

Consequences: You are being asked to pay more in property taxes for these additional “investments.”

Taxes are a function of a two-variable equation – tax rate x assessed prop-

4 • MAY 5, 2014 • Shopper news

What makes JMac run?

The second-most commonly cited reason for preferring appointed school superintendents over the elected kind is the contention that elected superintendents are forced to waste half their time campaigning (the first reason is being able to attract a better selection of candidates).

Nick Della Volpe Betty Bean erty value. For residential property the assessment is 25 percent of the appraised value. For commercial, it’s 40 percent.

Reappraisals are done every four years and, because they are required by law to be tax-neutral, have resulted in lowering the tax rate.

So it’s not really about the tax rate “failing to keep up with inflation.” That rate must drop as appraisals grow.

City taxes paid have actually gone up 34 percent (from $79.8 million in 2004 to $106.5 million in 2013).

The administration explains it’s only an increase of $85 for a modest $100,000 home. Small, of course, is a relative term – what if you are already struggling on a fi xed income?

The 40 percent assessment on business property would, on a $500,000 commercial building, raise the property tax by $680 (to $5,480) before adding the tax on equipment.

City residents also pay county taxes.

Indirect Consequences: The future growth of our city, and its revenue stream, are at stake. Growing the pie (tax base) is better than slicing it thinner and thinner.

As city taxes rise, families faced with paying more than double the taxes of someone who lives a few miles away in the county might opt to relocate.

For small business, dual taxes can significantly impact the bottom line.

Are we inadvertently incentivizing businesses to move from, or not locate in, the city? Will Knox, Blount or Anderson counties seem more attractive?

If revenues dip in the uncertain future, will we be tempted to return to the tax well – the very thing that eventually crippled several cities around the countr y?

The moral: Look before you leap!

De-politicizing education isn’t the primary argument for appointed supes, but it’s a pretty good one.

But does it really hold up under scrutiny?

If you’ve been trying to keep up with the community forums, elegant evenings, hard-hat days, ribbon-cuttings, gladsome announcements, unveilings and public chowing-downs of Superintendent James McIntyre this election season, you’re probably worn plumb out.

And you’re also probably inclined to answer the above-posed question with a big, fat no. Don’t kid yourself. McIntyre’s running hard – maybe to keep his job via the re-election of his school board allies, or maybe simply in the primary of public opinion.

Yep, he’s running. But really, what else can he do?

Here’s just a small sampling of where he’s been lately (honestly, the guy gets around so much it’s hard to remember everywhere he’s been): On March 31, he presided over a media “hard-hat” day out at the new Career Magnet Academy at Pellissippi State in Strawberry Plains.

His incredibly efficient public information chief Melissa Ogden appended a note to the announcement saying her boss would be available for interviews about the 2014-2015 budget after the media tour, thus allowing him to get more bang for his media buck (and also afford him a chance to doff the silly hard hat).

On April 8, he hosted a

community forum at Christenberry Elementary School (this is getting to be a popular destination – Mayor Madeline Rogero gave a budget address at the adjacent Jim McIntyre Christenberry ball park a couple of weeks later and announced her intention to ask City Council to raise property taxes to fund city services). McIntyre’s forum was broadcast live, so a large audience likely saw his pitch for more money for schools.

Smart money says Rogero gets hers (which means that McIntyre probably wishes he could swap mayors).

On April 10, he attended Knox County Council PTA’s Evening of Elegance at The Foundry and posed for some old-fashioned gripand-grins with some of his favorite volunteers, principals and teachers (and also a couple of candidate faves).

Foundry food’s pretty good,

so this probably wasn’t much of a chore.

On April 15, he celebrated Dine Out for Education Day by having breakfast at Shoney’s with beleaguered school board members Pam Trainor and Lynne Fugate (both of whom voted to extend McIntyre’s contract and drew spirited opposition for their trouble). At lunchtime he was on the East side chowing down on Chandler’s famous fried chicken with incumbent Gloria Deathridge (whose support of McIntyre has earned her a couple of opponents). His dinner companion/destination went unrecorded.

On April 22, Fugate, Deathridge and Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones joined him to celebrate the facelift at Chilhowee Intermediate School.

Non-McIntyre-supporting board member Mike McMillan was also present. One of the high points of the event was the students’ performance of the school song, which celebrated their safe environment for learning and achieving.

Budget includes ‘fig-leaf’ savings

Mayor Rogero’s 34-cent property-tax increase is not necessary except to fund the inflated city pension plan that Rogero refuses to address. In fact, Rogero has also strongly opposed any attempt to reduce city operating expenses such as the Della Volpe effort to remove the mandatory 2.5 percent annual pay raise for employees without regard to merit, performance or current economic conditions.

Council members Wallace and Grieve backed him.

This tax hike was first predicted in this column six weeks ago.

The city pension’s automatic 3 percent increase is even more costly to taxpayers, despite efforts to keep it hidden. City retirees including this writer receive an automatic annual 3 percent increase in our pension (more than those who are currently working) without regard to inflation or lack of inflation, ability to fund it or any other rational standard.

Rogero, who personally will benefit from this provision, also opposes its modification for current employees. Rogero will gain annual increases of more than $900 a year for the rest of her life on her city pension (based on $130,000 annual salary) when she retires on or after age 62 or in 2019.

Her deputy, Bill Lyons, will do much better by getElection is Tuesday ting an annual jump of at The primary election is least $1,400 annually comTuesday, May 6, for various pounded when he retires (he local positions including is already over 62), based on school board. Polls are open annual salary of $165,000. from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

He also gets a $5,820 an-

Victor Ashe

nual car allowance.

Rogero urged repeal for this provision for future employees, but the cost savings of that move will only hit in 18 to 20 years. She was warned about this by council members Grieve and Stair, but she ignored them. Now the chickens are coming home to roost at the cost of 34 cents, or a 14 percent increase. The pension increase should be tied to inflation, not to a mandatory annual hike. Rogero opposes letting the voters vote on it.

Her budget includes only fig-leaf savings. For example, the cap of a $2,500 pay raise for the 18 employees making over $100,000 a year will save the city $8,110, while the tax hike will generate $14.5 million.

The $8,110 savings was wiped out by the cost of the budget luncheon at $8,300.

It is truly laughable (if not insulting) that she would cite this as a significant savings while she spends $200,000 for a salary survey that a secretary could have compiled at no cost.

Council members Brown, Stair and Grieve opposed it.

Della Volpe has received widespread applause among city taxpayers (and boos from city employees) for his

effort to educate voters on mandated annual spending costs that benefit a few while costing everyone. No private-sector firm would do this, nor does the county, state or federal government.

This tax hike is only a down payment. There will be more tax hikes after the mayor’s re-election in 2015 to pay off the spiraling pension costs unless council insists on giving city voters a vote through a charter amendment. Knoxville should follow Chattanooga’s lead in curbing current pension costs.

■ Things got heated last Tuesday after City Council adjourned and the TV cameras were turned off.

Vice Mayor Pavlis told Della Volpe in front of numerous witnesses his opposition to the budget and tax hike was “irresponsible.” Della Volpe, who said a year ago he nominated Pavlis to be vice mayor, claimed Pavlis was “red faced and shouting at me.” Della Volpe described Pavlis to this writer as “the mayor’s attack dog.”

The mayor may need to initiate a charm offensive to calm these troubled councilmanic waters. Last Friday, Della Volpe had shoulder surgery, but it is uncertain whether he will get flowers from the mayor.

■ Folks wanting to support the arts in Fountain City should purchase the $40 ticket to a great luncheon on Saturday, May 10, at the home and gardens of Bill and Ginger Baxter.

The gardens are spectacu-

Things grow better at the Fountain City estate of Bill and Ginger Baxter. This photo shows the maple that grew from a sprig handed out as part of then-Mayor Victor Ashe’s 1992 budget message.

lar. Tickets benefit and are available from the Fountain City Arts Center at 213 Hotel Road, Knoxville, TN 37918; 357-2787.

■ The almost instant firing of Frank Phillips by Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones for choking a UT student on April 26 shows what an upcoming election can do. In the old days, Philips might have continued on the payroll for a long time while investigations were ongoing.

The photo by John Messner was conclusive, and the election tomorrow speeded up the decision. Phillips had prior issues but was retained on staff.

Symptoms of Four Major Sleep Disorders Everyone loves a good night’s rest. The next day seems to go better and your attitude is more positive. The problem is, there are many obstacles to obtaining a peaceful rest at night. Are you afraid that you may have a sleep disorder? There are plenty out there! Join Dewey McWhirter, M.D., board-certified sleep specialist, as he discusses symptoms of four of the most common conditions that keep us from being well-rested.

Friday, May 23 Noon Turkey Creek Medical Center Johnson Conference Center

Dewey McWhirter, M.D.

Space is limited. Lunch provided. Complimentary valet parking.

Call 1-855-TENNOVA (836-6682) or go online at Tennova.com by May 22 to register.

Member of the medical staff

Shopper news • MAY 5, 2014 • 5

Searching for basketball coaches Critics managed to find fault with Dave Hart’s search for a new Tennessee basketball coach. I thought it was orderly enough. Seekand-find took only one week. OK, I did flinch when the Louisiana Tech guy turned us down.

If Hart wanted a famous name, he fell short. He did not come back with Butch Jones’ friend, Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat. He didn’t even get Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall, heavily hyped for his 34-0 season.

But I am not disappointed with Donnie Tyndall.

He wanted the job and didn’t whine about roster problems.

If you fretted about this Marvin transition, you should have West been here 16 years ago.

Douglas Adair Dickey, Hall of Fame football coach and very interesting athletic diI imagined the athletic rector, faced what seemed director knew where he was a minor task of replacing going. The possibility of Kevin O’Neill.

Dickey was not accomneeding a replacement must have entered his mind in plished fishing in the basJanuary or February. ketball pool. He invested

Hickory chickens

Springtime here in our part of the world moves each year from south to north and lower to higher elevations in a fairly predictable fashion. And as it moves along it produces a series of events, some exciting, some beautiful and some, well, interesting.

Today’s subjects are beautiful and exciting mostly in the eyes of their beholders; interesting, definitely.

Hickory chickens are not a Southern female vocal group, nor are they a recipe for barbecued legs and wings. Hickory chickens is a mostly upper East Tennessee-southeastern Kentucky name for a neat group of organisms more properly known as morels.

Also known as dry land fish, merkels, molly moochers and 100 other names, they are mushrooms.

Dr. Bob Collier

Now before you give a small snort of disdain, allow me to point out that a half-ounce package of dried morels is going for about 12 bucks at your local supermarket, which figures out to be about $384 a pound!

Somebody must think they’re pretty good. Indeed they are delicious, and the good news is that if you know how, you can forage around and find some for yourself – free.

Fungi in general and mushrooms in particular are an important part of na-

$10,000 of hard-earned UT money in good ol’ Florida buddy Bill Carr to serve as idea man. Carr was a big help.

He provided phone numbers.

Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson, Clemson coach Rick Barnes and Wake Forest coach Dave Odom received early calls but said no thanks.

Bill Self, then of Oral Roberts, had Larry Brown’s recommendation, but nothing happened. Dave Bliss popped on and off the radar screen.

Iowa State’s Tim Floyd pondered and procrastinated and eventually complicated the search with an untimely phone call. Ricardo Patton of Colorado and Steve Robinson of Tulsa listened politely. They did not receive formal job offers but did benefit from consideration. They

subsequently signed contract extensions with pay raises.

Dickey realigned his sights. How about Delaware coach Mike Brey? Nope.

Steve Alford of Southwest Missouri State was highly regarded, but Dickey thought he needed more experience.

Murray State coach Mark Gottfried emerged as a potential solution. He had won consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championships.

For some reason that escapes me, he did not fit.

Late in the second week of searching, or early in the third, Dickey announced that a new coach should be in place within a month.

Fans moaned.

On the assumption that Doug needed help but wouldn’t admit it, a sports-

ture. Out there in the woods, they go about their business unseen, in the form of zillions of microscopic rootlets known as mycelia. They grow into and digest all sorts of organic material, like leaf litter and dying and dead trees, turning them back into good rich soil.

When it’s time to reproduce, this out-of-sight network of rootlets makes a fruit that appears aboveground, often seemingly overnight, which we recognize as a mushroom.

We’ve all seen shelf fungi on tree trunks, fairy rings of white mushrooms in a yard, all sorts of shapes and colors of ’shrooms beside a path or in the woods.

The mushroom is similar to an apple on a tree; it is the fruit of the plant.

But instead of seeds, it produces microscopic spores, so small that they can float away on air currents to – it is hoped – start a new batch of mycelia somewhere else.

The morels first appear around the middle of March here in East Tennessee and work their way north as spring progresses.

Identifying morels is not difficult. With just a moderate amount of care, morels are, as mushrooms go, pretty unmistakable. They are usually 2 to 4 inches tall, with a short white stem and a conical-shaped cap covered with sharp ridges and pits. They are completely hollow.

As with all foraged wild edibles, caution must be used to rule out look-alikes, some of which can cause serious illness and even death.

Consult a good field guide or go out with an experienced person.

But what good is a morel, after all? Well, they’re a rare delicacy with a hard-to-describe luscious flavor.

Once picked, they can be eaten fresh or dried for later use. Just string them up for a few days in a cool, dry place, or give them a few

writer compiled a list of possibilities – P.J. Carlesimo of the Portland Trail Blazers, Mack McCarthy of UTChattanooga, Phil Martelli of St. Joseph’s, Jim O’Brien of Boston College, Pete Gillen of Providence, Fran Fraschilla of St. John’s, Ralph Willard of Pitt and Bill Herrion of Drexel.

Dickey may not have known where Drexel was.

The Dragons don’t play football.

I was surprised when Illinois State coach Kevin Stallings turned down Tennessee.

He and his wife, Lisa, twice visited Knoxville to check out the situation. He was concerned about filling the arena, but that was explained away. The hunt seemed almost over. Dickey and athlet-

hours in a food dehydrator.

Once dry, they will keep in a sealed glass jar for years.

Reconstitute the dried morels by a brief soaking in water, making them as good as new; some cooks think they’re even better that way.

Many folks like their morels just rolled in flour or cornmeal and fried in butter. Even better to many people is to simmer them up in some butter, add some heavy cream and a dash of cooking sherry, and use that

ic department assistant Billy Henry, a former basketball coach who could speak the language, flew to Normal, Ill., for a final heart to heart.

Soon thereafter Stallings had a change of heart. There was a mishap. Dickey received a call from Tim Floyd while at the Stallings home.

I will not attempt to explain how Tennessee ended up with Jerry Green. He may have been a desperation pick.

He was 72-70 at Oregon, seventh in the Pac-10 amid rumors that he would be fired.

Dickey and another assistant, Mitch Barnhart, went to the Final Four where coaches of all shapes and sizes were clustered. They came home with Green. He did very well in competition but not so hot in public relations.

The Green era did not end well. It was almost as frustrating as the search.

Marvin West invites reader reaction. His address is westwest6@netzero.com.

as a wondrous sauce for a nice beef tenderloin (pardon my salivating).

Morels are another of nature’s remarkable curiosities. Check them out in your field guide and cookbook, but don’t expect any morel hunters to tell where their secret places are – that’s closely held information.

And for the less adventurous – you don’t have to go tromping around the damp, cold, spring woods to find morels. You can just grab $12 and head for the supermarket. Bon appetit!

explore our urban Wilderness

Shop-Play-Live South The South Knoxville Alliance invites you to join us at

Vestival: South Knoxville’s Art & Heritage Festival Saturday, Satur day, May 10, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Candoro Arts & Heritage Center at the historic Candoro Marble Company site Suggested $5 per person donation at the gate.

All donations go to the Candoro Arts & Heritage Center. For the first time ever, attendees may now ‘park and ride’ a free shuttle from the Disc Exchange parking lot (on Chapman Hwy.) or the former Big Lots parking lot (on Moody Ave.).

Courtesy of the South Knoxville Alliance.

About the Alliance: We have joined as active business and civic leaders to strengthen the area by promoting our many assets to fellow Knoxvillians, visitors and guests. Located just across the Tennessee River from downtown, K-Town South is one of Knoxville’s most unique districts – flush with various and sundry boutiques, a plethora of locally owned and operated eateries, and home of Ijams Nature Center and Knoxville’s nationally acclaimed Urban Wilderness.

Come explore.

For more information on The South Knoxville Alliance or to get involved visit us online at www.ktownsouth.org.

Advance Metal Fabrication Allen Sign Company Averra Media Basement Records Bayou Bay Seafood House Borderland Tees Candoro Arts & Heritage City of Knoxville Business Support Comic Exchange Disc Exchange Dogwood Animal Hospital Dragonfly Aerial Emery's 5 & 10 Everything Mushrooms Executive Inn God's Place Treasures H & R Block Happy Yap Doggie Day Camp Ijams Island Home Monument IT'S A R-R-RUFF LIFE King Tut's Egyptian Grill

LaborExchange Las Fuentes Mexican Restaurant Marble City Glassworks McLemore Florist Myrtle's Mess One Touch Auto Repair Pease Furniture & Appliance Co Riversong Dance Studio Round Up Restaurant Sharon Davis Shoney's Southland Spirits & Wine Stanley's Greenhouses Tea & Treasures Tennessee State Bank The Mattress Place The Summit Companies Village Bakery Wee Care Shoppe Ye Olde Steak House Yesteryears Vintage

kids â–

McNeal receives Carden Music Scholarship

The United Methodist Men of Christ United Methodist Church awarded the Stephen R. Carden Music Scholarship to Gibbs High senior Christian McNeal McNeal.

The scholarship is awarded to a deserving and talented senior from either Halls or Gibbs and helps the student pursue college studies in vocal or instrumental music. â–

Kennard heads to Carson-Newman

Shoney’s of Knoxville is a locally owned and operated franchise.

Gibbs High senior Ben Kennard signed to play golf at CarsonNewman next year.

Kennard played competitive baseball when he was younger but Kennard thanks to his dad, he picked up a golf club six years ago. “Ben is a solid player with a great game,� said coach Alex Walker. “He is a hard worker and will be successful at the next level.�

While at Carson-Newman, Kennard plans to study physics and eventually wants to become a mechanical engineer. Attending the signing were his parents, Paul and Melinda Kennard, grandparents Arlin Corum and Sue Kennard and a very special aunt and uncle, Pat and Roger Witt.

â–

6 • MAY 5, 2014 • NORTH/EAST Shopper news

Students Nathaniel Smith and J’ohn Merchant work with audio production teacher Charles Smith. Photo by

DeLapp signs with Louisville

Betty Bean

Gibbs High senior Kelsey DeLapp signed to compete in pole vaulting for the University of Louisville next year.

DeLapp is a former basketball player and DeLapp softball player but, thanks to fate, has picked up the pole and hasn’t looked back.

Fate for DeLapp was meeting 2004 Olympic pole-vault champion Tim Mack while working out.

The rest is history. She and Mack were introduced, and she immediately started learning to pole vault.

Mack has coached DeLapp for 2.5 years. She is currently ranked No. 1 in the state for the vault and is six inches away from an all-time state record, a goal she hopes to reach this season. She was runner-up in the state the past two years and second in the country for the 2013 Junior Olympics.

Coach Mack credits DeLapp’s success to her great work ethic. “She is a tough competitor and easy to coach.

Kelsey is strong, fast and flexible, and those are all good attributes to a successful vaulter.�

Mack said that he can count on one hand the number of times she has missed a practice in over two years.

Attending the signing were her parents, Terry and Kristy DeLapp, her aunt/ coach Kandy Holt, coach Steve Prince and Mack.

A-E to roll out county’s first audio-production program

By Betty Bean Four-question pop quiz: Name a Knox County high school that will soon have a fully equipped audioproduction program with two recording studios and plans to have a dual enrollment program with Pellissippi State for upper-class students.

Name a Knox County high school whose seniors have racked up $2 million worth of scholarships.

Name a Knox County high school that is consistently excelling in student academic growth, as measured by state value-added tests, last year scoring a 5 (two standard deviations above projections on a 1-5 scale).

Name a high school whose forensics team won a state championship in one event and had second and third-place finishes in two others its very first year.

Give yourself a 100 if you answered Austin-East High School.

Benny Perry, A-E’s ebullient, perpetual-motion machine of a principal, is

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itching to tell the world about the gains his school has made. He’s proud of the whole school but can barely contain his excitement about the new audioproduction department, which will come fully online in August. He anticipates that it will be an outstanding complement to the existing performing-arts magnet programs – dance, theater arts, band, West African drums, West African dance and visual arts. “If you want to be a star, if you think you’re a little singer or performer, we can make your music good enough to sell. We can make the music sound right. In fact, if you want to sing, dance or act, this is the place you want to be. We’ve got a lot of good stuff going on here. And it’s not the stuff you think is happening. It’s good stuff.�

Perry credits assistant principal Chris Caruthers with coming up with the concept for the new program at a national magnet school conference in Tulsa, Okla.

“He came back and started talking to us about it. We started talking to other folks, and it sounded good to them. It will involve having two recording studios that people can use.

Any school in the county can make arrangements to come over and sing, and we’ll make a recording for them. We’ll have the capacity to produce those CDs at a fast pace.�

The course has already begun under the leadership of teacher Charles Lewis but will expand into a fullfledged program capable of serving 120 students in August after the new software and other equipment is installed. “What we hope is, by a student’s senior year, they can have certifications in the software plus college experience. We’re working with Pellissippi State on a dual enrollment. “We’re pretty excited about that. Pellisippi is, too,� Caruthers said.

The hope is that the new program will encourage families who live in the

A-E zone but have opted to send their children to other schools to rediscover Austin-East. “We’re a magnet school, so we are interested in any kid in Knox County who’d like to start working on a career in sound engineering, and possibly being ready to go out and start working in that field with the support of A-E and Pellissippi State. But the main purpose is to try and encourage some of our zone kids to stay at home,� Perry said. “African-American students who stay here for four years tend to perform better on assessments than those who leave, as a whole.� “What we find is this – a community school should know that community’s students’ needs and should have those students on their heart. And we do,� Caruthers said. “We’re not disparaging any other school, but we have proved that we can meet the needs of our students better than any other school,� Perry said.

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REUNIONS

Sunday, May 11

Regal to offer $1 movies

DINNER BUFFET BEGINS AT 12:00 NOON

■Central High School’s class of 1959 will hold its 55th reunion Friday and Saturday, Aug. 22-23, at Beaver Brook Country Club.

Info: Judy Edenfield Hodge, 531-4837 or judychs59@mindspring.com or Harold Knott, 947-3486 or haroldknot@frontier. com. ■Central High School’s class of 1989 will reunite June 14.

Tickets are $40. Info: Felecia (Robbins) Turner, feleciaturner@ hotmail.com or Mark Allen, 4davolz@comcast.net.

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Regal Entertainment Group will host kids at $1 movies this summer. The program will be available at 350 Regal theaters across the country.

The nine-week film festival will be at 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, start

date based on local school schedules.

Each week two films will be shown. Titles include: “Hotel Transylvania,� “Smurfs 2,� “Despicable Me 2,� “Lego,� and “Free Birds.�

A full schedule is available at www.REGmovies.com/.

Elect

Craig

Leuthold TRUSTEE

LEADING WITH INTEGRITY

RESULTS COUNT s #OLLECTED OVER -ILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE ABOVE THE PREVIOUS 4AX YEAR s !UDITS CONDUCTED SINCE HIS APPOINTMENT IN *ULY OF LAST YEAR #OMPLIANCE IN EACH AUDIT • Improved employee morale • Reduced payroll by reorganizing office

EXPERIENCE • Elected to 2 terms Knox County Commission for West Knox District and served as Vice-Chairman • Uniquely qualified to serve having experience in both the property assessors office and the trustee’s office

PERSONAL • Member Concord United Methodist Church

NO SALES TAX ON PLANTS!

DIRECTIONS: Take I-40 James White Parkway exit. Right on Sevier Ave at end of bridge. 1 mile left on Davenport, 1 mile Stanley’s on right.

• Graduated from UT with degree in Finance with Honors.

Republican Primary: May 6, 2014 Early Voting: April 16 - May 1, 2014

865-694-8671 • www.craigleuthold.com • craigleuthold@aol.com Paid for by the Committee to Elect Craig Leuthold, Trustee. Ruth Ann Milsaps, Treasurer

business

Shopper news • MAY 5, 2014 • 7 riety of nutritional supplies, accessories, clothes, toys, carriers – and the inventory is not just for dogs and cats.

Although Mist y’s Pet Depot does not have animals for sale, it has several fun in-store environments set up so that customers can see the ideal setting for everything from fish and birds to bunnies and hedgehogs.

There is even an aisle for all of your supplies for backyard birds.

Misty and Bill promote adoption from local shelters. They also work with rescue groups to promote adoption or to become “foster parents” for many breeds of dogs.

To learn when the rescue groups are on-site at Misty’s Pet Depot, check the webMisty Lifford with her dad, Bill, and one of her pets, Sammy, who proudly displays his UT collar. site at www.mistyspetdePhoto by Nancy Whittaker pot.com or on Facebook.

Store hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday noon-5 p.m.

The official grand opening was Saturday, May 3.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with the on-site groomer, ment” to become co-owner call 523-9763.

It is always interesting to of their new business. find out the background of Be sure and meet the She says it is an honor to owners while you are there. people who have the desire open a store with her dad. and courage to open their You won’t be disappointed.

Nancy Their main priority was own business. to find the perfect location ■ ETABPA meets Misty Lifford is a Knox- Whittaker in northeast Knoxville. At ville native who graduated Wednesday the shop in Harvest Park from Fulton High School.

The East Towne Area Shopping Center at 5451 She earned a degree from the University of Tennes- her dream came true. Her Washington Pike (just up Business and Professional see in animal science with a degree and retail-manage- from Target), Misty and Bill Association will meet at 8 focus on nutrition. She was ment experience are a per- wanted to create an atmo- a.m. Wednesday, May 7, at in retail management for 20 fect fit for Misty’s Pet Depot. sphere of fun for their cus- New Harvest Park Commuyears.

Misty’s dad, Bill Lif- tomers, who are encouraged nity Center.

State Sen. Becky Massey Misty dreamed of open- ford, was a supervisor with to bring in their pets.

Plan a visit to Misty’s Pet will speak. Come learn ing her own business and Sea Ray boats for 40 years started doing research in and had been retired for Depot soon and allow plenty what is going on in the East Towne Corridor and meet January 2013. five when Misty says she of time.

You won’t believe the va- some of your neighbors.

Fourteen months later “dragged him out of retire-

Daughter-father team opens pet store

John Majors shares football, family memories

By Bonny C. Millard Storied University of Tennessee former football head coach and player Johnny Majors credits his father with teaching him the fundamentals of playing the game, which led to his success on the field.

Majors spoke recently to the Rotary Club of Farragut about his time both as a player and coach. He also reminisced about his father, Shirley Inman Majors, and his brother, Joe. Former UT linebacker Keith DeLong, who went on to play for the San Francisco 49ers, was there to listen to his former coach.

DeLong played in the midto-late 1980s, and the pair have been friends since that time.

Majors, head football coach at UT from 1977 to 1992, also served as head coach at the University of Pittsburgh and Iowa State

University during his lengthy career. His list of accolades include 1985 SEC Coach of the Year, a 1976 national championship at Pitt where he was twice named National Coach of the Year and Big 8 Coach of the Year.

While a player at UT in the 1950s, Majors was named All-SEC football tailback, SEC Player of the Year and 1956 Heisman Trophy runner up.

Majors talked about his early years of growing up in Lynchburg, where his father started coaching football at the county high school in 1944. While Majors was in high school, his father was hired to start the football program at Huntland High School. Majors said he and his brothers had to earn their spots on the team, and their father expected them to do their best.

Majors said he always played football with pride

News from Pellissippi State - Magnolia

Haslam to speak at PSCC commencement Gov. Bill Haslam is the keynote speaker at Pellissippi State Community College’s Spring Commencement ceremony Saturday, May 10.

Spring Commencement begins at 7 p.m. at the University of Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena.

More than 500 students will walk across the stage.

“It’s a great honor to have Gov. Haslam attend and speak at our Commencement ceremony,” said Pellissippi State President L. Anthony Wise.

“Gov. Haslam has made higher education opportunities in Tennessee a priority and has special interest in the unique and muchneeded opportunities available at community colleges like Pellissippi State. We look forward to his message to our students, many of whom are looking toward achieving their next measure of success as they enter the workforce.”

“I look forward to having an opportunity to personally congratulate the graduates on their significant achievement and to encourage them to be part of a bigger story that is happening in our state,” Haslam said.

“We’ve set a goal to be the No. 1 state in the Southeast for high-quality jobs, and these graduates are key to making that goal a reality.

We need their brainpower, their energy and their commitment to make Tennessee a healthy, thriving state.”

Bill Haslam Haslam was elected governor in 2010, after serving two terms as mayor of Knoxville. He has championed and promoted higher education in Tennessee through his “Drive to 55” campaign.

The campaign strives to bring the percentage of Tennesseans with college degrees or certifications to 55 percent by the year 2025.

A signature piece of Drive to 55 is the Tennessee Promise scholarship. The scholarship aims to give all high school graduates in the state the opportunity to attend a community college or Tennessee College of Applied Technology free of tuition and fees. As part of the Tennessee Promise, students agree to being provided with a mentor to guide them and help ensure their success.

For more information about Pellissippi State and its many programs and services: www.pstcc.edu or 694-6400.

Rocky Top BBQ gets ready for cook-off

Former University of Tennessee head football coach Johnny Majors shares family and football memories with the Rotary Club of Farragut. Photo by Bonny C. Millard and enthusiasm and an attitude of never giving up. His father taught Majors “how to play the game right.”

As a coach, Majors again took lessons from his father and incorporated those into his own coaching style.

Majors said he always remained committed to his players and preached “character above all else.” The more character his players possessed, the better they played, he said.

“Character is what we’re

made of; reputation is what people think we are,” he said, adding that he liked to recruit character.

Majors opened his talk with memories of his family, especially his brother Joe. Majors, the oldest child of five boys and one girl, said Joe, the second oldest, was born on Christmas Day in 1936. Joe Majors died seven years ago, and Majors told the group he still misses his best friend for life and “greatest Christmas gift.”

Rocky Top Hummin’ & Strummin’ BBQ Cook-Off, sponsored by West Knox Rotary, is roaring back.

This year’s event, with teams from across the country competing for $10,000, will be held on the campus of the Episcopal School of

Knoxville, just off Lovell Road. Dates are Friday and Saturday, May 30-31.

Live bands include Dishwater Blonde, Subtle Clutch, Second Opinion and Roger Wade & Sparkle Motion.

Info: www.rockytopbbq. com.

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A servant’s heart “I am proud to be a native of Knoxville. I love this community and can think of no greater honor than to serve the people of Knox County as their judge.”

I would greatly appreciate your vote in the Republican Primary on May 6.

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8 • MAY 5, 2014 • NORTH/EAST Shopper news

Shopper Ve n t s enews

Send items to news@ShopperNewsNow.com

THURSDAYS THROUGH MAY 22 Diabetes Management Series, 6:30 p.m., Knox County Health Department auditorium, 140 Dameron Ave. Free five-part series; open to the public. To register: 215-5170.

THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 8 Registration open for AMSE Science Explorer Camp for rising 5th, 6th and 7th graders. Two sessions: June 9-13, June 16-20. Info/to register: http://amse. org/visitors/summer-camps/.

MONDAY, MAY 5 Schoolyard Garden Monday, 5 p.m., Paulette Elementary School. Topic: container planting for beauty, vegetables and herbs. Everyone welcome.

TUESDAY, MAY 6 Neighborhood Watch meeting: Big Ridge 4th District, 7 p.m., Big Ridge Elementary School.

UT Hospice Adult Grief Support Group meeting, 5-6:30 p.m., UT Hospice office, 2270 Sutherland Ave. A light supper is served. Info/reservation: Brenda Fletcher, 544-6277.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7 Free health clinic provided by the St. Mary’s Legacy Mobile Medical Clinic, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Northside Community Center, located behind Washburn School in Grainger County.

Spring Concert by the Singing Seniors Choir from O’Connor Senior Center, 10:30 a.m., Powell UMC, 323 W. Emory Road. Free and open to the public.

THURSDAY, MAY 8 Union County High School band spring con-

cert, 7 p.m., Union County High School auditorium.

Annual plant sale, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Appalachian Arts Craft Center, 2716 Andersonville Highway 61 in Norris. Sale will continue for two weeks. Wildflowers, bushes, ferns, herbs and other plants. Baked goods also available. Info: 494-9854 or www.appalachianarts.net.

Living Well with Diabetes, 2-4 p.m., Halls Branch Library, 4518 E. Emory Road. Deadline to register: Tuesday, May 6. Info: 922-2552.

First Lutheran Church senior group 55 Alive meeting, noon, in the meeting room in the church, 1297 N. Broadway. Guest speaker: Laura Halm, news reporter from WATE-TV Channel 6, will speak on “My Life as a Journalist.” Cost: $7, includes lunch. The public is invited; reservations are requested: 524-0344 before noon.

“Bloom Where You Are Planted” luncheon, 10:45 a.m., Buddy’s Bearden Banquet Hall, 5806 Kingston Pike. Hosted by the Knoxville Christian Women’s Connection. Special program featuring Lisa Stanley from Stanley Green House. Guest speaker: Judith Barth from Dayton, Tenn. Cost: $12 inclusive.

Child care by reservation only. Info/reservations: 3158182 or knoxvillechristianwomen@gmail.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 9 Union County Farm Day, 9:30 a.m.-lunch, Paulette Elementary School baseball field.

Gala Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Union County Senior Citizens Center, Main St. in Maynardville. Music, food, fun.

All senior citizens welcome.

Church Fish fry, 5:30-8 p.m., Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 4110 Central Ave. Pike. Live band. All you can eat fish, fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, dessert: $10, 12 and up; $5, kids. Info: 687-6622.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 9-10 Deadline to donate items to Shannondale Presbyterian Church’s “Upscale Yard Sale,” noon-4 p.m., at the church, 4600 Tazewell Pike. Sale will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Saturday, May 16-17. Proceeds go toward the bell tower renovations. Pick up for heavy items is available by calling 456-6923.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 9-11 Decoration at Glenwood Cemetery, located on Central Ave. Pike in Powell. Families are encouraged to decorate the graves of their loved ones.

SATURDAY, MAY 10 Thunder Road Gospel Jubilee, 6 p.m., WMRD 94.5 FM, 1388 Main St., Maynardville. All pickers and singers welcome.

Arts and craft bazaar, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Fairview Baptist Church fellowship hall, 7424 Fairview Road, Corryton. Admission: $1. Concessions and more than 15 vendors on site. Proceeds to benefit a missionary internship in Guatemala.

Rabies vaccination clinics, 2-4:30 p.m. Cost: $10 per animal. Hosted by the Knox County Health Department and the Knoxville Veterinarian Medical Association at the following schools: Brickey-McCloud Elementary School, Carter Middle School, Christenberry Elementary School, Copper Ridge Elementary School, Gibbs Elementary School, Norwood Elementary School, Ritta Elementary School, Shannondale Elementary School.

Songwriting workshops followed by a songwriter-in-the-round style performance, featuring Mary Gauthier, Jim Lauderdale, Scott Miller, Matt Wertz and Drew Ramsey, Historic Ramsey House, 2614 Thorngrove Pike. Info/to sign up: http://www.ramseyhouse. org/wp-content/uploads/song-writers-flier.pdf or call 865-546-0745.

Annual Youth Car Show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Christ UMC, 7535 Maynardville Highway. Cars, trucks, tractors; no trailered cars. All proceeds go to Youth summer mission trip to Charlotte N.C. Info/to register: www.christumcknox.com; Eric Casteel, 423-5062269.

SUNDAY, MAY 11 Mother’s Day Wildflower Walk, 2 p.m., CCC stone building in Big Ridge State Park, Info: 206-9459 or derek.wilson@tn.gov.

New Sunday evening worship service, 5 p.m., St. James Episcopal Church, 1101 N. Broadway. Weather-permitting, Holy Eucharist will be celebrated on the lawn. No experience required. Noisy children and pets are welcome. Bring a picnic dinner if you like. Info: 5235687 or www.stjamesknox.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 13 Bluegrass and BBQ, 5:30-8 p.m., Halls Elementary School. Music, games, inflatables, basket auction, Buddy’s BBQ and hot dogs.

“Tofu Tasting” dinner, final session of Healthy Choices plant-based free cooking class, 6 p.m., North Knoxville Seventh-day Adventist Church fellowship hall, 6530 Fountain City Road. Info/to pre-register by May 9: 314-8204 or www.KnoxvilleInstep.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 15 Living Well with Diabetes, 2-4 p.m., Halls Branch Library, 4518 E. Emory Road. Deadline to register: Tuesday, May 13. Info: 922-2552.

A New Vision for Knox County Fourth Circuit Court, Family Law

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ELECTION DAY Tuesday, May 6 All polling locations open 8:00am-8:00pm

NORTH/EAST Shopper news • MAY 5, 2014 • 9

History buffs will enjoy this map of Burlington as it existed in 1935. Thanks to Richie Beeler, Nick McBride and Sherry Witt of the Register of Deeds office for their help with our research for this story.

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