North/East Shopper-News 082714 by Shopper-News

NORTH / EAST VOL. 2 NO. 34 NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ

Attention teachers: State Rep. Gloria Johnson wants to make sure teachers of subjects that don’t have TCAP tests know about the Sept. 1 deadline to comply with a new state law that could affect the way they are evaluated. In the past, 15 percent of their evaluation scores have been based on school-wide or county-wide “literacy” or “numeracy” scores (i.e., reading or math scores of students they never taught). Johnson posted this announcement: “Is everyone aware that teachers who teach untested subjects now have the ability to choose whatever relevant method they want for their 15 percent as of 7/1/2014? “You can make up your own measure as long as it is relevant! It has to be approved by superintendent and if there is a disagreement it will go to state BOE.” State Rep. Harry Brooks sponsored the new law.

Jamie Rowe campaign kickoff Second District school board candidate Jamie Rowe will have a campaign kickoff 5-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Fountain City Lions Club building in Fountain City Park. Andy LeGrand will play the guitar, and light refreshments will be served. School board races are nonpartisan, and Rowe says she won’t take money from political parties or special-interest groups. The election to replace Indya Kincannon will be held Nov. 4. Knox County Commission was set to appoint an interim board member Aug. 25.

IN THIS ISSUE New A-E stadium Austin-East Magnet Academy’s football team kicked off the season last Friday with many firsts that brought out Superintendent James McIntyre along with other elected officials. The night started with a ribbon-cutting ceremony highlighting the new grandstands, press boxes and concourse areas for George “Dusty” Lennon stadium. The planned upgrades turned into replacements after construction crews assessed the condition of the old structure. The new grandstands increased the seating capacity to 3,500, up from 2,100.

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Read Patricia Williams on page 3

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August 27, 2014

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Kesler plans next level for

Beck Center By Patricia Williams

“I can sleep nights and go on,” says Robert “Bob” Booker, reacting to the recent appointment of Renee Kesler as director of Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Ave. “(Kesler) is capable and has the vision and skills to take (Beck) to another level,” said Booker, a local historian who founded Beck Center and has been serving as interim director since health issues forced Avon Rollins to leave the position. “I take it as a privilege and an honor to do this work and be a part of something so great as Beck (Center),” said Kesler. Kesler is a licensed ordained minister at Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Brooks Road. She has served on Beck’s board of directors, has chaired the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission, has worked for Regions Bank and was Knoxville’s community development director under former Mayor Bill Haslam. “Beck needs to be on the map nationally,” said Kesler. Her agenda includes: incorporating technology and social media for increased exposure to the vast historical records of Knoxville African-Americans that are housed at Beck Center; educating and inspiring younger generations about their heritage; and being more engaging with regularly scheduled events and activities. To schedule group tours, visit www.beckcenter.net or call 524-8461. The Beck Center needs support. Volunteer opportunities abound, from archiving and maintaining displays to yeararound groundskeeping. If you have heirlooms, memorabilia or information you would like preserved through time for others to enjoy, consider donating it to Beck Center. Like her predecessors, Booker and Rollins, Kesler vows to take good care of it.

Robert Booker, founder and interim director of Beck Cultural Exchange Center, assists Renee Kesler, the newly appointed director. Photo by Patricia Williams

City program breathes new life into blighted homes Jean Ann Washam became emotionally attached to a distinctive home on Washington Avenue that she and her husband, Shannon, were refurbishing as a “labor of love” project. They wanted to sell to someone who shared their dedication. New owner Sally Harwell says that the moment she saw the home, she felt an immediate pull. She, her husband, Jonathan, and their children have moved into the two-story house in northeast Knoxville, and it feels like home. This match made in heaven was made possible by the city of Knoxville’s Blighted Properties Redevelopment Program. The BPRP provides short-term development and construction financing through subsidized loans for the purpose of redeveloping and renovating unoccupied residential dwelling units for sale, rent or owner occupation. The Washington Avenue prop-

Restored home on Washington Avenue erty is a George Barber-designed house, distinctive because of the glazed blocks used for the exte-

rior. The house was empty and condemned until the Washams discovered it.

“The city was incredibly supportive throughout the entire renovation process,” Jean Ann Washam says. “Shannon and I wanted to bring the home back to its former glory. The city’s support in realizing the value of older homes and its willingness to invest in this program speaks volumes.” Loans must be repaid upon completion of the development, when the property is sold, or when the owner obtains permanent financing. As loans are repaid, money is made available to fund additional BPRP applications. Applicants will be notified by mail or email when loan funds are anticipated to become available. The Washams received a city loan for $170,521 for the purchase and renovation of the home. Some of the loan was forgiven, as the program allows for lead-based paint remediation. To page 3

Mama makes three: Rountree attends orientation By Betty Bean Superintendent James McIntyre is off to a rocky start with one of his new school board members. Ninth District school board representativeelect Amber Rountree will be sworn in Sept. 2. She is due to have a baby Sept. 6, and stayed on her job as an elementary school librarian through the end of last school year. She has taken “sick time” as medical leave this summer to preserve her health insurance and will resign Sept. 1. Her Knox County Schools coverage will remain in force until Sept. 30. Rountree was elected to the school board on a “no rubber stamp” campaign promise and was one of the most vocal of the teachers who spoke out last year against McIntyre’s policies. Her maternity-leave status became an issue after she participated in a tour McIntyre conducted at Dogwood Elementary School Aug. 11. Her former opponent, incumbent Pam Trainor, also attended the tour.

On Aug. 13, McIntyre sent Rountree an email informing her that he had “fielded a few questions … about your status, which I answered tactfully. I’m starting to become a bit concerned that some people may perceive it as inappropriate for you to be accompanying me on school visits while you are a paid school librarian out on medical leave. “Sorry to broach a potenRountree tially sensitive subject, but I just wanted to make sure you know that such questions are being asked.” On Aug. 18, McIntyre sent another email informing her that she would not be allowed to attend an Aug. 21 orientation session for incoming board members “given the fact you are out on maternity leave due to physical disability.” He said he’d set up a separate session for her after Sept. 2.

Later that day, Rountree sent McIntyre a return email telling him she’d checked with David Buuck, the chief deputy law director, who assured her that there was no legal reason to bar her from attending the orientation session with fellow board members-elect Terry Hill and Patti Lou Bounds. McIntyre responded the next day: “I certainly appreciate the opinion of the deputy law director, but I’m not willing to accept the risk, nor any potential appearance of impropriety.” Rountree again asked the law director’s office for guidance. Buuck replied quickly: “Amber, I am astounded at the disrespectful response of Jim McIntyre to a member of the BOE which body is his employer.” Buuck shot off an email to McIntyre: “I can find no reason that she should be denied the right to attend the orientation meeting To page 3

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Farragut woman finds help close to home After years of lower back and leg pain, Imogene Ford of Farragut began to rethink her attitude about surgery. “I wanted to avoid surgery because I’ve had some bad experiences,” she said. But the pain in her back and legs was not getting better with medication, and in fact it grew worse as the years went on. “The pain was persistent,” Ford said. “I wore a (pain medication) patch, and I had taken hydrocodone. But it had gotten so it was difﬁcult to walk, and I was just in constant pain.” So she began to think about surgery. Three different friends of hers recommended she see Dr. William Reid, a neurosurgeon at the Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. “I am just so glad my friends recommended I go see him,” she said. Ford ﬁrst saw Dr. Reid in May 2014, and he diagnosed her problem as spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal column. It’s caused typically by the bones in the spine developing arthritis, bone spurs and spinal instability that narrow the passage through the middle of the spine. This, in turn, puts pressure on the spinal cord or the nerves extending out from it to the rest of the body. Dr. Reid recommended a procedure called minimally invasive

Dr. William Reid performs a procedure at the Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.

lumbar fusion and laminectomy. “He told me it was a little risky and it was serious,” she said. “I would like to have avoided it, but I didn’t really have a choice if I wanted to walk.” During a laminectomy, the back portion (called the lamina) of one or more vertebrae is removed, re-

lieving the pressure on the nearby nerves. Often the remaining vertebrae must be stabilized by fusing them together with special implants to provide stability. While this is a major surgery, at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center it can be done with minimally invasive techniques. This

Imogene Ford

Back and Leg Pain Neck and Arm Pain

Local hospital welcomes new neurosurgeon correct back, arm and leg pain,” said Dr. Brown. “We use minimally invasive techniques, making smaller incisions leading to a quicker recovery and shorter hospital stay.” Many of these procedures are done as out-patients. Part of Dr. Brown’s decision to practice medicine in Knoxville is that he knew Dr. Joel Norman from the Kentucky Neuroscience Institute. “We were in residency together, so much of our training was similar. It’s now easy for us to provide crossover care of our patients,” said Dr. Brown. “I also like Knoxville beDr. Barrett Brown cause there are so many outdoor activities here, like the spinal stenosis. lakes and hiking.” In addition The Center for Minimally to those hobbies, Dr. Brown Invasive Spine Surgery focuses enjoys SCUBA diving and aviaon the treatment of spinal dis- tion. orders using cutting edge technologies, including 3-D image For more information about guidance for precise placement the physicians at the Center for of spinal implants. Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery “Most of our surgeries on at Fort Sanders Regional, the spine are being done to call 865-541-2835.

NEW RELIEF Fort Sanders Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Back pain, leg pain, neck pain, arm pain… the root of the problem is often a pinched spinal nerve. The good news is that now Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center’s physicians use state-of-the-art minimally invasive techniques to perform spine surgery. Compared with traditional open surgery, minimally invasive surgeries offer patients many advantages, including a smaller incision, less postoperative pain, faster recovery and improved outcome. Non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy and medication should always be tried ﬁrst. If those don’t help, surgery may be the best option.

Fort Sanders Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Not every one is a candidate for minimally invasive approach to spine surgery. To learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery, please call 541-2835 or visit fsregional.com/ minimallyinvasive.

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Dr. Barrett Brown, a neurosurgeon, has recently joined the Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and the practice of Tennessee Brain and Spine. Originally from Elkton, Ky., Dr. Brown attended the University of Kentucky School of Medicine in Lexington, where he completed a residency in neurosurgery. “Growing up, my parents had a small cattle farm,” Dr. Brown said. “We raised a few head of cattle and had a horse, so at first I wanted to be a veterinarian. But in college I shadowed physicians in a hospital, watched surgeries and became very interested in medicine instead.” Dr. Brown is joining Dr. William S. Reid and Dr. Joel E. Norman at Tennessee Brain and Spine. Their practice treats patients with a wide range of brain and spine disorders including brain tumors, epilepsy, stroke, herniated discs and

often means smaller incisions and less trauma to the surrounding tissue so that recovery times are quicker and complications are fewer for the patient. Ford had surgery July 3, 2014. She spent a total of three days at Fort Sanders. Even though it was a holiday weekend, she said the staff was very attentive. “I had a very good experience at Fort Sanders,” she said. “I had the very best of care around the clock, for a day and a half, in intensive care. The care was exceptional. “I just felt that they are top notch in their job, very professional, and you never had to ring for anybody. The RN checked me every four hours, and the LPN and CNA looked in on me so frequently. I cannot complain at all.” And best of all, Ford said the surgery has relieved her pain. “I have not had any back pain at all since surgery,” said Ford. “When I ﬁrst got home for a couple of nights, I had pain in my legs, but I have never had pain in my back. “Dr. Reid advised me to begin simple exercises, and I have found a sit-down, mild yoga class at the YMCA,” she said. Ford said she would recommend Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and Dr. Reid to anyone facing a back surgery. “This has changed my attitude about hospitals altogether!” she said, “And for all I’m concerned, I think Dr. Reid hung the moon.”

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NORTH/EAST Shopper news • AUGUST 27, 2014 • 3

Fresh start for Dusty Lennon Stadium Austin-East Magnet Academy’s football team kicked off the season last Friday with many firsts that brought out Superintendent James McIntyre along with other elected officials. The night started with a ribbon-cutting ceremony highlighting the new grandstands, press boxes and concourse areas for George “Dusty” Lennon stadium. The planned upgrades turned into replacements after construction crews assessed the condition of the old structure. The new grandstands increased the seating capacity to 3,500, up from 2,100. Major renovations were made to the concession stand, locker rooms and restrooms. “We are excited over the new home for the Roadrunners, and we’re looking forward to a great season and a great future,” said Dr. McIntyre. The night held even greater news as it was announced that Austin-East will become a 1-to-1 computer school when iPads are distributed beginning Tuesday, Aug. 26. Parents must accompany their student for pickup. “The community has waited a while for its turn, and now their patience is paying off,” said school board member Glo-

Patricia Williams

ria Deathridge, recently reelected to represent District Dedicating the new A-E football stadium are: state Rep. Joe Armstrong, school board members Pam Trainor and Gloria Death1. ridge, Superintendent James McIntyre, Commissioner Sam McKenzie, state Sen. Becky Massey and A-E principal Benny Perry. Austin-East principal Benny Perry was burstated from the 12-month “My grandmother at- ■ Green Ties ing with excitement over apprentice program: Leroy all the good news. He an- tended Austin High School More seeds of change Thompson, Chi’ La Parnounced that the school has in 1919; my parents, my worked its way off the state children and I attended this were planted into good ton, Kyron Harvey, Naeem ground as Socially Equal Higgs, Jabari Jamison, watch list and is no longer school,” said Anderson. Also new to the Road- Energy Efficient Devel- Bryan Moreno and Jeffrey ranked among the state’s lowest-performing schools. runnners is head football opment hosted the Green Cheser. These grads have “Academics go before ev- coach Jeff Phillips, a mem- Tie Event at Remedy Cof- accomplished many goals, erything else,” said Perry. ber of the Austin-East 2001 fee House, 125 W. Jackson from obtaining their GED to getting an apartment to “I take pride in this school, Class 3A championship Ave. SEEED provides inner- getting a job to getting into and I am proud to be the football team. The Roadprincipal. We will continue runners forced five turn- city youth and young adults college. Artist Lola Rios Swimmer, aka overs in losing to Grace (ages 16-28) with life skills, SEEED is accepting ap- “Wind in Her Hair,” draws art to raise the bar.” green-jobs training and plications for its 12-week on feathers. Her intricate creNo one was prouder than Christian 14-0. pro- ations were on display at the State Sen. Becky Massey, community-service oppor- pre-apprenticeship Sam Anderson, former Board of Education member state Rep. Joe Armstrong tunities that could lead to gram through Aug. 31. The Spirit of Nations American Inand former director of Parks and Knox County Commis- future “green jobs” for par- office is at 1617 Dandridge dian Powwow & Heritage FesAve. Info: www.seedknox. tival at Chilhowee Park. Info: and Recreation for the city sioner Sam McKenzie were ticipants. Seven students gradu- org or 936-2326. of Knoxville. Although among those attending. www.lolarios.com. the stadium is named for George “Dusty” Lennon, the field is now the “Samuel P. Anderson Field” where Anderson once coached. His voice cracked as he shared the bond that his family has with Austin and Austin-East high schools.

Blighted homes After the sale of the home, $155,000 was repaid to the BPRP. Becky Wade, the city’s community development director, says the BPRP can be a great help in polishing architectural gems that have fallen into disrepair. “The city is proud to be able to assist in the redevelopment of older homes, preserving the character of older neighborhoods, getting properties back on the tax roll and eliminating blight.” According to the Washams’ research, the Washington Avenue home was originally a single-family dwelling, converted to an apartment, and returned to a single-family dwelling. “Restoring this home was definitely a labor of love,” Jean Ann Washam says. “We love historic homes. In fact, all of the homes we’ve restored have been 100 years or older. The entire process is rewarding – discovering the character of

From page 1 the homes and transforming them into something beautiful and learning their history. “This is definitely the largest home Shannon and I have worked on. It was overwhelming at times, but we are so pleased with the final effort. The plumbing, electrical and kitchen were updated, but overall we kept to the integrity and history of the home.” Jonathan and Sally Harwell are from Boston and said that the style of the house immediately made them feel at home. It reminded them of homes where they grew up. “This house has stood the test of time and is a survivor; it’s a perfect blend of the Old South with a bit of the Northeast mixed in,” Sally Harwell says. “Our family loves living in the house and this neighborhood – a diverse place that we can embrace and call home.” Info: 215-2120.

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Mama makes three on account of her pregnancy and have so advised her.” McIntyre responded: “Unfortunately, I believe you have significantly mischaracterized my correspondence with Ms. Rountree.” The next day, Buuck escorted Rountree across Gay Street to the Andrew Johnson Building, where she at-

Drive a Ford for funds Marlond Mason, a sales consultant at Lance Cunningham Ford, 4101 Clinton Highway, was able to make money for his community organization and his paycheck during the recent Lonsdale Homecoming. The dealership sent a selection of Ford’s newest products to be test-driven during the homecoming to raise funds for Center City Youth Sports Program, an organization Mason has been a part of for many years. For each person who took a test drive, Lance Cunningham made a donation through Ford Foundation’s Drive 4 UR Community program.

From page 1

tended the orientation. McIntyre tweeted a picture of the three new board members. There were smiles all around. The Shopper-News obtained the emails last Friday after submitting a public information request to the law director’s office.

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government Political this and that Mark Donaldson will continue for several more months as MPC director despite resigning. Now it can be told that MPC would not have voted to terminate him at this time. However, he met with Mayor Rogero without Mayor Burchett prior to his resignation, and she explained carefully to him that both mayors felt it was time for him to depart and he no longer had their backing. He got the message and did the smart thing in resigning. It avoids an acrimonious departure. For those wondering what happens to Dave Hill at MPC, no one is saying. Rogero had fired Hill when she became mayor. Presumably, he will depart with Donaldson, but it is

Victor Ashe

not confirmed. MPC’s executive committee continues to meet without compliance with the state’s open-meetings law as it seldom posts meeting notices on its website. ■ School Superintendent McIntyre must have been having a terrible day when he told County Mayor Tim Burchett to mind his own business. Burchett had inquired about a school employee getting two years’ paid leave. McIntyre should

4 • AUGUST 27, 2014 • Shopper news remember he answers to the public, which pays him, and Burchett is the newly reelected mayor who speaks for the entire county. He asked a valid question to which McIntyre and the school board have not given a satisfactory answer. It is hard to justify two whole years of paid leave and no one seeming to know why. McIntyre ought to go to time-out and return with a new understanding of transparency for taxpayers. A News Sentinel editorial has weighed in on it. ■ People are upset over the election of Clarence Pridemore as Chancellor. He ran as a Republican and won in a GOP sweep. He certainly appears poorly qualified to this writer. Bill Ailor was considered less qualified as well, but when compared to Pridemore, Ailor is seen as Oliver Wendell Holmes. Trying to assign blame as to why Pridemore could be

elected over Daryl Fansler, who was so widely admired, is hard as many are responsible, in my view. However, this writer feels the media (including himself) failed to do their job in educating the public about him. The major exception was Betty Bean, who writes for the Shopper and did point out salient issues, but not enough voters listened. The TV and print media largely ignored Pridemore and assumed he could not win. Only since the election have his bankruptcies been fully publicized. Pridemore hid from the media, and the media let him get away with it. The local Democratic Party never issued news releases or held news conferences. Where were the investigative reporters from TV and major print media on this one? They had the resources to expose this with front-page stories. Where was the Knoxville

Bar Association? Why did the bar fail to tell voters about Pridemore with public news conferences? Why was no poll on judges taken by the bar as the state bar did for the state Supreme Court? Everyone has egg on their faces on this one. Where were the Democratics airing the shortcomings of this GOP candidate? One has to admit that Chancellor-elect Pridemore is not totally inept as he employed an incredibly brilliant political strategy to win this office by staying so far under the radar that no one noticed him until he won. Whether he came up with this plan or someone c oached him is unknown, but it surely worked. However, Pridemore takes office in four days and will earn more than $165,000 a year plus health insurance, which is more money than he has seen in three years combined. He resides at 1613 Coro-

nada Lane off Ebeneezer Road in the Bluegrass area of West Knox County. He has been a registered voter since 2000. Mike Moyers and John Weaver, who are able fellow Chancellors, likely will see their workloads increase. Hopefully, the media and columnists will learn from this and no longer assume candidate X cannot win. One wonders if the media will examine the record and campaigns of Cheri Siler and Richard Briggs running for state senate, Gloria Johnson and Eddie Smith running for state representative, or Lamar Alexander and Gordon Ball running for U.S. Senate. The candidacies of Democrats Terry Adams and Gordon Ball for U.S. Senate were basically ignored by local media even though both are local residents. Adams won Knox County. Victor Ashe is a former mayor of Knoxville who served as U.S. Ambassador to Poland.

Elected v appointed school chief: almost persuaded I have always accepted the premise that appointed school superintendents are better than elected ones, mostly because I buy the arguments that the appointment process enlarges the talent pool and eliminates the time-suck campaigning. However. The same-but-different sagas of James McIntyre and his predecessor, Charles Q. Lindsey (don’t forget to call them doctor), have almost persuaded me otherwise. Lindsey came to do battle; won a few, lost a bunch, had some personal foibles that eventually did him in. McIntyre is a micromanager whose overreliance on standardized tests and allegiance to corporate education reform have made him the most unpopular public official in Knox County. He is said to be a very smart

Betty Bean man, something his ill-considered decision to publicly snipe at Mayor Tim Burchett, arguably the most popular local elected official, doesn’t reflect. Considering these issues sent me lurching down memory lane to revisit the first elected official I ever thought I knew – mostly because the name Mildred E. Doyle was stamped on my report card just below the line where my first-grade teacher at Fountain City Elementary School, Mrs. Bass, wrote, “Betty talks a little too much.” Doyle held the job for 30 years (1946-76) and is generally credited with drag-

ging KCS into the modern era. Her resume includes chairing and founding the Alternative Center for Learning, serving on the Maryville College Board of Directors, as president of the Tennessee Education Association and chairing Tennessee’s Superintendent Study Council and the state Commission of Children’s Services. She was a member of the NEA Finance Commission, the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth and the State Textbook Commission and was inducted into the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 and the East Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame in 1988 and named Colonel Aide de Camp Governor’s Staff by Lamar Alexander in 1984. The consensus is that she ended her political career

with a defeat only because she stayed one term too long. Knox County’s last elected superintendent, Allen Morgan, resigned unexpectedly to join Clayton Homes. He served from 1992 to 1996, whereupon he became Knox County’s first appointed superintendent. He retired after another two years with a list of accomplishments that is too long to recount on this page. Here are some highlights: He was one of 30 superintendents in the Southeast to be a part of the Center for Leadership in School Reform. He was regional cochair of Tennessee’s Schoolto-Career program. He was a 22-year administrator, including 13 years as principal of Powell High School, which, under his tenure was named a finalist in the National Schools Recogni-

tion program and the first Knox County school named “BEST” by the Greater Knoxville Chamber of Commerce. He co-chaired the Danforth Committee, which researched the University of Tennessee’s methodology for training school administrators, and was an elected representative to the Metropolitan Association of School Superintendents. The year before Morgan retired, he fought off a whole herd of fat cats who tried to force him to hand Maynard Elementary School over to Chris Whittle’s privatization scheme. He prevailed against some of the most powerful interests in Knoxville. Could the present superintendent do the same (or even want to)? Not a chance. I’m not quite persuaded that elected superintendents are better than the

Showdown at the K-12 corral High noon. The dusty street outside the courthouse is as still as a tomb.

Larry Van Guilder

The stillness is broken as two men emerge from the courthouse and stride purposefully into the street. Sheriff Tim “Shoot from the Hip” Burchett and “Big Mac” McIntyre, pistols holstered and ready, walk in opposite directions for 10

paces and turn. “OK, this is it, Big Mac. This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.” “Yeah? Well, if you’d keep your nose out of my business at the K-12 ranch, I wouldn’t be fi xing to give you a dirt nap, sheriff.” “Your business? You know darn well this county helped you build the K-12. This is taxpayer business, Big Mac, and they’ve had enough of your wasteful ways. Now, draw!” Big Mac began fumbling with his holster. “What are you doing?” the exasperated sheriff asked. “I said draw!” “I ... I don’t feel comfortable here. Come over to the

corral and you’ll have your showdown, sheriff.” “Whatever. Let’s get this over with.” Oddly enough, the K-12 Corral was just across the street from the courthouse. “No more delays, Big Mac. Now – what the heck? You’ve ambushed me,” the sheriff said, eyeing nine gunslingers who sprang out of hiding to Big Mac’s side. “Just my little posse, sheriff. They’re going to evaluate my performance after my six-shooter puts a permanent K-12 brand right between your peepers.” “I’ll evaluate it now. It’s lousy.” “I find that remark appalling, sheriff.”

“I don’t care. I’ll take you all on. Slap leather!” Before Big Mac could clear his gun from the holster, a rowdy gang of supporters appeared behind the sheriff. “What do you know? It’s my buddies from the BarKCEA spread,” the sheriff said. “Guess we’re even now!” “Hey, some of those people work for me! Traitors. I’ll get you when this is over,” Big Mac vowed. As Burchett’s hand inched toward his gun, Big Mac hesitated. “I need my sidekick here before we start,” he said. “Your sidekick?” “Yes, I had to send her

Tim Burchett

Jim McIntyre

home.” “Why did you send your sidekick home? What did she do?” “Nothing. Maybe. I don’t know. But I’m still paying her, so it’s all right.” “You’re paying your sidekick you sent home for doing nothing? See what I mean by wasteful?” “You’re saying that out of ignorance, sheriff!” “That’s it! Draw, Big Mac.” The sheriff’s pistol flew

Who do You RACE for?

appointed kind, but I must reluctantly agree with an astute friend’s observation: “Elected officials tend to treat other elected officials as peers. They tend to treat appointed officials as staff.” McIntyre owes his job to an elected school board that must go hat in hand to County Commission for funding because it has no taxing authority. I’m not sure how this system was supposed to work in theory, but in practice, it just flat doesn’t. Maybe giving the school board the power to levy taxes would change the dynamic. Maybe it wouldn’t. Or maybe going back to electing a superintendent would set in motion a natural-selection process that would produce someone with the chops to raise money and/or hell, as needed. I’m halfway there.

from his holster aimed squarely at Big Mac’s belly button. But, being a fair man, he stopped before squeezing the trigger as he watched Big Mac struggle unsuccessfully to pull out his own gun. “Now what?” the frustrated sheriff asked. Red-faced, Big Mac replied: “It’s the doggone Common Core. I have to conceptualize all the steps involved in pulling the gun from the holster. I know engineers who can’t do it.” “Common Core? As my Daddy would say, here’s something from the Marine Corps!” With that, the sheriff blazed away with his custom 10-shooter and Big Mac and his posse bit the dust. Moral: Never take Common Core to a gunfight with the Marine Corps.

S un AV til E $ Se 5 pt .2

Every girl deserves a lifetime!

10-18-14

NORTH/EAST Shopper news • AUGUST 27, 2014 • 5

Party affiliation all that matters in local races affiliation matters on the bench, but Knox County voters apparently do believe party affiliation matters. Few voters have ever appeared in court before Chancellor Fansler or Judge Wimberly, but nearly every voter has some opinion on the difference between a Democrat and a Republican. In fact, for many voters, party affiliation is the only qualification that matters. In today’s hyper-partisan political climate, Republican voters in a Republican county are going to vote for a Republican judge. For many, if a judge chooses to be in the same party as

Barack Obama, then he doesn’t have the good judgment to be a judge in Knox County. As a result of this election, expect calls by Democrats (and some Republicans) for non-partisan judicial races. Of course, Democrats favored partisan judicial races when Democrats could win elections. Now that Democrats can’t win elections with party affiliation listed on the ballot, we must “remove politics from the courtroom.” There’s an old saying that “You can’t win an election if you don’t run.” For local Democrats, the new mantra

has become, “You can’t win if you have a Republican opponent.” There are no longer any countywide elected Democrats in Knox County. A couple of other thoughts on the election: State Democrats have taken comfort in the fact that the Democratic-appointed state Supreme Court members were retained, despite Lt. Gov. Ramsey’s efforts to oust the three remaining Bredesen appointees. It is more likely that the only reason these Supreme Court justices survived is that the state ballots do not list party affiliation beside each justice’s name. The Republican primary

in the 13th legislative district has been decided with Eddie Smith set to take on first-term, incumbent Rep. Gloria Johnson this November. Local Democrats have thus far been confident of Johnson’s re-election chances. To the contrary, expect Eddie Smith to easily defeat Johnson. To use language from the financial sector, November 2014 will be “peak Republican” in Tennessee. If a Republican was ever going to win a seat in Tennessee, it will be in this political climate this November.

Concord Park’s big foot sightings

decline and the formation of the posse resulted in the creature’s complete disappearance. After that, “big foot” was never seen again. The truth about big foot was finally solved when an ape costume was discovered in a hiding place at the Concord swimming pool. The managing proprietor, Joe Kimsey, son of Knoxville Chief of Police Joe Kimsey Sr., originally obtained the costume to frighten Red Moore and never intended it to go any further than a onetime prank on Red. But when the story began to spread, Joe saw another opportunity to draw people to the park and hopefully increase swimmers at the pool. Joe was always looking for ways to promote the pool, and he immediately recognized that “big foot” could play a major part in his promotion schemes. Joe even allowed for interviews with the press where he claimed to have seen the creature. But when hunting parties were formed, Joe recognized

that he could possibly get shot and that trigger-happy hunters might also shoot someone else. So, big foot disappeared just as quickly as it appeared on that warm summer evening when Red Moore first spotted it on his way home. I don’t remember if the truth ever became public knowledge, or whether the lack of sightings just eventually caused a lack of interest among the public. I do know that gradually the park began to draw lovers back to their old parking spots, but I suspect there was never the feeling of security that existed before big foot. There are just a handful of people left who still remember the “big foot” scare. During summer months, I often worked on weekends at Lakeland Service Center on Concord Road where sportsmen always stopped to fill their outboard fuel tanks and stock their coolers with beer. Almost everyone who came in was interested in big foot, and I was available to provide the latest infor-

mation on sightings. “Have you actually seen the creature?” people would ask. I always answered: “No, but I have friends who have seen it, and they described it as about eight foot tall and said it ran like a man. There would be no way someone could outrun the creature,” I told them. The sightings were very timely since they occurred during a time when stories of big foot sightings spread throughout the nation. I am not sure about the credibility of these sightings, but they created curiosity even among the most skeptical. And our area had a big foot that rivaled even the most credible sightings. Today, when I drive around the park loop and pass those spots where sightings occurred, I chuckle to myself when I recall pointing out those spots to newcomers to the community. But I usually got the same question from them that many of the locals also asked during the scare. “Are you kidding me?”

Democrats, and many well-heeled Republicans, are appalled that voters failed to re-elect two local Democratic judges this month. Chancellor Daryl Fansler had served Knox County for 16 years. Circuit Court Judge Harold Wimberly had been on the bench for 27 years. Both were well regarded by local attorneys and praised by Democrats and Republicans alike for their work. The voters didn’t care and fired both of them on a party-line vote. The outrage from local attorneys and politicos has been as virulent as it has been predictable.

For teenagers growing up in Concord, the park and its environs created a virtual fairyland playground for most of us. It included an Olympic-size public swimming pool and a marina that provided summer employment.

Malcolm Shell

And for those of us old enough to drive, it provided nooks and crannies that became preferred secluded parking spots for lovers. And since the park had its own security patrol, it was also a safe place to park. But in the mid-1950s, it also served as the habitat for an awesome-looking creature that could only be described as “big foot.” The first sighting was by

Scott Frith

“The voters are just stupid,” some say. Others argue that their Republican replacements are unqualified for the job. Many of the local political elite are just plain baffled that the voters would turn out longtenured judges with good reputations for Republican attorneys. Many lawyers and political folks don’t think party

a Concord boat dock employee named “Red” Moore. After that, only the brave ventured into the area to park after dark. Now since Red was known for his tall tales, his sighting was at first considered just another Red Moore tale. But when he was walking home one evening just after sundown, the creature ran across the road just about 20 yards from him. Red shined his flashlight on the creature, and when it stopped and looked at him he ran back into the boat dock hollering: “ape, ape, ape.” When the other boat dock employees saw the pure horror on Red’s face, they began to wonder if there could be a kernel of truth in his story. Red was not the only one who encountered the creature. Cars driving around the park loop often sighted the creature in their headlights running across the

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road in front of them. The sightings started to draw increased attention when people with more credibility than Red began reporting sightings. And finally, when park officers reported seeing the creature, big foot’s existence was firmly established. The sightings were reported in local newspapers, and soon people from other areas began to drive through the park hoping to catch sight of the mysterious “big foot.” And for a community where people seldom locked their doors at night, citizens not only began to lock their doors but also loaded their shotguns and kept them handy. Finally, some of Concord’s citizens decided to form a hunting party to scour the park looking in every possible hiding place. And as news of the “posse” grew, other began to join in the search. Surprisingly, public sightings began to

THURSDAY, AUG. 28 Cruise Night, 6-9 p.m., 6215 Riverview Crossing Drive in front of old Food Lion at Asheville Highway. All makes, models, years and clubs welcome. No charge. Door prizes. Halls Book Discussion Group, 1-2 p.m., Halls Branch Library, 4518 E. Emory Road. Book selection: “The All Girls Filling Station” by Fannie Flagg. Info: 922-2552. Free movie and popcorn, 11:15 a.m., Humana Guidance Center, 640 Plaza, 4438 Western Ave. Movie: “Jack Reacher” with Tom Cruise. Info: 329-8892, TTY: 711.

THROUGH SATURDAY, AUG. 30

FRIDAY, AUG. 29

Accepting applications for driver’s training course, Walters State Community College. 30-hour class follows the AAA curriculum and runs Saturday, Aug. 30, through Monday, Nov. 17. Cost: $450. Info: Dr. Nicole Cardwell-Hampton, 423-585-6756 or Nicole.Cardwell-Hampton@ws.edu.

Farm Fresh Fridays: Union County Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m., downtown Maynardville. Info: 992-8038. Softball at Big Ridge State Park, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Big Ridge State Park, 1015 Big Ridge Park Road. Fun, family orientated softball games. Info: 992-5523. Applebee’s Kickoff for a Cause tailgate party, 3 p.m.-1 a.m., Applebee’s, 2912 Knoxville Center Drive. Proceeds to benefit My Son Shines Fund to build new playground at Carter Park. Live band, bounce houses, dunk tank, raffle prizes, specialty cocktails, food and fun. Rivalry Friday Tailgate Party, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Humana Guidance Center, 640 Plaza, 4438 Western Ave. Alcoa vs. Maryville football game televised live on big screen, 7:30. Info: 329-8892, TTY: 711.

THROUGH MONDAY, SEPT 1 Seeking crafters to purchase table at Dante Church of God annual fall sale, to be held Sept. 20. Table: $25. Info/ application: lenacoker@yahoo.com.

THROUGH FRIDAY, SEPT. 5 Seeking vendors for Craft Fair and Community Yard Sale to be held Saturday, Sept. 13, North Side Y, 7609 Maynardville Pike. Space: $20; tables: $5 each. Info/to register: 922-9622.

THROUGH SATURDAY, SEPT. 20 Deadline for vendor registration, “Son” Fest, to be held 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, New Hope Baptist Church, 7602 Bud Hawkins Road. Booth rental: $25. Info; Tammy Lamb, 604-7634.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27 Computer Workshops: Internet and Email Basics, 2 p.m., Burlington Branch Library, 4614 Asheville Highway. Requires “Introducing the Computer” or equivalent skills. Info/to register: 525-5431. Networking Today North Knoxville meeting, 9 a.m., Imagination Forest, 7613 Blueberry Road. Meets each Wednesday. Info: Brian Williams, Brian_ DWilliams@mac.com. Free music lessons by Eric Holcomb, 3-5 p.m., UC Arts on Main Street in Maynardville. Donation to gallery encouraged. Continues each Wednesday.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUG. 29-30 Open auditions for Museum of Appalachia Porch Pickers music program, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Museum’s Gift Shop, 2819 Andersonville Highway, Clinton. Acoustic instruments only; prepare to perform up to three songs. Info: 494-7680 or www.museumofappalachia.org.

SATURDAY, AUG. 30 Charity Carnival for Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Building Fund, 3-8 p.m., on the church property across from the high school. Theme basket auction, 6 p.m. All welcome. Thunder Road Gospel Jubilee, 7 p.m., 1388 Main St. All gospel singers welcome. Info: Joe, 201-5748. Yoga, 9-10:15 a.m., Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center, 1936 Liberty Hill Road, Washburn. Bring yoga/ Pilates mat, towel, water. No fee; donations accepted. Info: Mitzi Wood-Von Mizener, 497-3603 or www. narrowridge.org. Boomsday, Bluegrass and Barbecue celebration, 6 p.m., Mabry-Hazen House, 1711 Dandridge Ave. Dinner, 7:30. Tickets: $60 per adult; children under 12 are free. Info/advance tickets: www.mabryhazen.com or 522-8661. Local Authors Reading Round-Up, 2:30-5 p.m.,

Scott Frith is a local attorney. You can contact him at scott@pleadthefrith.com

Powell Branch Library, 330 West Emory Road. David Hunter, Beverly Connor and Charles Connor will discuss their works. Book signing to follow. Info: 947-6210. “Pitch In And Pitch A Tent For The Homeless” benefit, 7 p.m., Mount Harmony Baptist Church, 819 Raccoon Valley Road. Featuring Spoken For Praise Team. Love offerings may be sent to: P.O. Box 478, Heiskell, TN 37754. Info: Michael Parsley: 257-8419.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 2 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, SEPT. 3 Networking Today North Knoxville meeting, 9 a.m., Imagination Forest, 7613 Blueberry Road. Meets each Wednesday. Info: Brian Williams, Brian_ DWilliams@mac.com. Free music lessons by Eric Holcomb, 3-5 p.m., UC Arts on Main Street in Maynardville. Donation to gallery encouraged. Continues each Wednesday.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 4 Cruise Night, 6-9 p.m., 6215 Riverview Crossing Drive in front of old Food Lion at Asheville Highway. All makes, models, years and clubs welcome. No charge. Door prizes. Pajama-rama Storytime, 6:30 p.m., Powell Branch Library, 330 West Emory Road. Info: 947-6210. Vintage Fashion Show and Sale to benefit Goodwill Industries-Knoxville Inc., 6 p.m., Downtown Knoxville Hilton. Tickets: $40 each or $375 for a table of 10; must be ordered in advance. For tickets: 588-8567. Bee Friends beekeeping group meeting, 6:30 p.m., Walters State University Auditorium on Tazewell Campus. Speaker: Stephanie Tarwater, president of Blount Co Beekeepers Assoc. Topic: preparing hives for winter. Info: 617-9013. Free movie and popcorn, 11:15 a.m., Humana Guidance Center, 640 Plaza, 4438 Western Ave. Movie: “Now You See Me” with Morgan Freeman and Isla Fisher. Info: 329-8892, TTY: 711. AAA Driver Improvement Course, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Knoxville AAA office, 100 W. 5th Ave. Cost: members, $30; nonmembers, $35. Preregistration required. Info/to register: Kate, 862-9254, or Stephanie, 862-9252.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 5 Farm Fresh Fridays: Union County Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m., downtown Maynardville. Info: 992-8038.

kids

6 • AUGUST 27, 2014 • NORTH/EAST Shopper news

Dominique Williams and Kentel Williams lead the team on to the field. The Falcons defeated Powell High School 83-3.

Bob Black was honored by the city of Knoxville for 50 years of coaching prior to Fulton’s first football game. Black was a 1960 graduate of Fulton and played in the 1960 city/county All Star game. He went on to Carson Newman College where he was an All-American football player. He returned to Fulton as football coach in 1969 and was later named athletic director. Photos

Welcome to the

Falcons’ nest

by R. White

Boston Seymour carries water for the team.

Fulton cheerleaders Asia White and Elicia Faulkner look at photos taken by yearbook staff member Simmone Smith prior to kick off.

Carter High quarterback Jonathan Freeman watches as his team’s defense battles on the field. Photos by R. White

Carter majorettes Tori Keirsey, Madison Inman, Taylor BodinHenderson and Ashlee Carney wait in the stands until the band’s halftime show.

Carter Hornet pride By Ruth White

Carter cheerleaders Alyssa Dutton and Makyla Chollman, along with the CHS cheer squad, lead the student body in “Go Hornets” from the sidelines.

There is someone about being at a football stadium in East Tennessee on Friday (and sometimes Thursday) night. The air feels electric as the team, band, parents and fans file in to grab the best seats. Many are there to watch what they hope will be a great game of football, but

others come to meet up with friends, watch a family member in the band or on the sidelines cheering for their team. Shopper-News photographers will be out at games this fall and plan to capture the essence of what brings people to the field week after week, in the sweltering heat or the freezing cold.

Let the homecoming campaigning begin! Cruze Farm set up a booth at the game to support homecoming candidate Lily Sorah, who is running for the baseball team. Pictured are CHS baseball player Nick Bain, Emily Spruiell, Brooklyn Summers, CHS baseball player Blake Dutton, Sorah and Christen Spruiell.

Carter High principal Ryan Siebe, Carter Elementary principal Shay Siler and Carter Middle principal Dr. Chad Smith were given the ALS ice bucket challenge and they stepped up at halftime of last week’s game. Carter cheerleaders Makyla Chollman and Hunter Chollman did the honors of dousing Siebe with a bucket of ice water. The principals joined to raise awareness and money for ALS as 3 schools: 1 Carter.

business

Shopper news • AUGUST 27, 2014 • 7

Moon manages more than money By Betty Bean He grew up in George Wallace’s Alabama and had a picture of Richard Nixon’s Oval Ofﬁce on the back of his bedroom door. His grandmother dated Wallace’s predecessor governor, Big Jim Folsom, whom Moon describes as “not quite a benevolent dictator, but as honest as you could be as an executive politician in the South in the 1950s.” He remembers crying the day Nixon resigned. He didn’t grow up wealthy, and learned the value of a dollar chopping cotton. By his senior year at Hazel Green High School, he knew he was going to leave. At 6-5 and 260 pounds, he was a highly recruited football player and valedictorian of the HGHS Class of 1981. He could have played on anybody’s team, but wanted to come to Tennessee. There was just one obstacle in the way: He dreaded saying no to Bear Bryant. His uncle Byrd Williams had played on two national championship teams at Alabama, and it was assumed that Moon, whose parents lived on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa when he was born, would opt to join the Crimson Tide. When he was 10 years old, he got Bryant to autograph a book, and told him, “I’m going to play for you one day.” So when his Uncle told him he couldn’t go to Tennessee until he informed Coach Bryant of his intentions face-to-face, he wasn’t surprised. But that doesn’t mean it was easy. “I was so nervous I teared up,” he said. “The week of Thanksgiving 1980, which was the week of the Alabama/Auburn game, Coach Bryant was at practice, and

David Moon in his office at Riverview Tower. I spent most of practice with him. We had dinner afterward, and he said, ‘Byrd tells me you haven’t made a decision.’ “I said, ‘Coach, I’m going to go to Tennessee.’” Bryant took the news with his typical aplomb, but later that day, Bryant’s defensive coordinator, Knoxville native Ken Donahue told Moon he’d never beat Alabama at Tennessee. “We went 3-1 against Alabama when I was there. When Coach Majors hired (Donahue) in ’85, I reminded him of that,” Moon said. Moon came to Knoxville in the summer of 1981 to play football for Johnny Majors and has called it home ever since. He played on Phillip Fulmer’s offensive line and was named the senior male athlete with the highest grade point average in 1984. He says he won his wife, Sien (pronounced Shawn), in a card game. “Her brother was a waiter at Gibbs Hall, and brought her to Antonio’s, on the Strip, where a bunch of us were playing cards. We were all interested in making her

Photo by Betty Bean

acquaintance, so we cut the cards. I cheated and got first shot,” he said. His intention when he arrived at UT was to sign with the NFL after graduation, move to New York and eventually become a rich money manager. But two ACL tears made him rearrange his dreams, get an MBA and an early start on the career he’d wanted since his uncle gave him a book written by Warren Buffet’s college professor when he was a kid. Today, Moon Capital Management, which manages money for individuals, corporations and nonprofits, occupies a comfortable suite in Riverview Tower. The firm’s president’s office has a tall desk that holds a bank of computer screens and a floor-to-ceiling glass window that frames a spectacular view of the spot where the Holston and French Broad meet to form the Tennessee River and the rolling hills beyond. He can see a bit of his farm on the bank of the Holston. It takes him nine minutes to get to work by car, or 15 by pontoon boat. “We go out and meet with

the management of companies. I sit around and read stock annual reports all day,” Moon said. “We have someone who does ﬁnancial planning and an ex-manager of a local UBS ofﬁce who works with clients. I have another guy I feed raw meat and won’t let him out of the room – just pay him to think. “Here’s what makes us different: every stock we buy for our clients, we buy for ourselves, and not just a little bit. Every bit of my liquid net worth is invested in the same stock portfolio as our clients own. And I sleep with my most important client – we manage my wife’s IRA.” Moon has written for many publications and has a regular column on the business page of the daily paper. His most recent project, “Thoughts are Things,” is a self-published book of inspirational daily devotionals for children that began as short messages he’d leave for his twins, Wheeler and Bethany, now 14, who were still in bed when he left for work in the mornings. After collecting a couple of years’ worth of aphorisms, he decided to compile them into a book with a thought for every day of the year. Edited by Bill Rukeyser and illustrated with line drawings by a pair of Albanian sisters, Bora and Jona Shehu. The book’s success has shocked him, although he’s not sure exactly how many he has sold. He was even more shocked to learn that his book has been named Best Juvenile Inspirational Book 2014 by Independent Publishers. “I thought it was good. Ruykeyser said it was good, and it’s been received in ways and places I never anticipated. It’s really cool, sophomoric as that sounds.”

New at the mall H2 Cellular Justin Hartley moved from Roanoke, Va., to Knoxville to attend UT. It didn’t take long for him to become a true Vol. After graduation, he decided to make Knoxville his permanent home. Hartley has been in the wireless industry since 2008, and he knew he wanted to eventually own his own business. After Justin Hartley m e e t i n g with Justin Sterling, leasing agent at Knoxville Center mall, Hartley says the mall was “by far the best place” for his new venture. He lives only ﬁve minutes away and wants to serve people in his own community. With an extensive knowledge of the wireless industry, he has seen many changes over the years but says pre-paid services have recently started booming. With the many advantages of pre-paid service, Hartley says “more and more people are going this route.” Hartley is excited to offer plans and services to everyone. With numerous choices for each provider, there is a plan to suit everyone’s needs. No credit checks, no contracts, and no early termination fees are just a few of the beneﬁts. Some phones which were activated by another carrier can even be switched. H2 Cellular offers a variety of models and phone styles. You can also bring

Nancy Whittaker

your phone in if you just want to sell it. Hartley says he is the only store of this type servicing the area in and around Knoxville Center mall. H2 Cellular handles Page Plus, Net 10 and Simple Mobile, carriers he says operate off of the “big guys’ towers.” This enables these pre-paid carriers to offer similar service as the major providers. Hartley decided on the name H2 Cellular, using a combination of his last name and his grandfather’s ﬁrst name. He and his grandfather were very close and Hartley wanted to honor his memory. H2 Cellular is located on the upper level of the mall across from Claire’s. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6. ETABPA to meet Sept. 3 The East Towne Area Business and Professional Association will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at New Harvest Park Community Center at 8 a.m. State Farm Insurance agent Mike Davis will speak on risk management and how to grow a business. New president Justin Sterling encourages everyone associated with businesses along the I640 corridor to attend. Come early and have breakfast while networking.

NEWS FROM PREMIER SURGICAL

Premier Surgical Adds Five Surgeons Premier Surgical Associates has added three general surgeons, a surgical oncologist, and a vascular surgeon to four of the group’s Knoxville hospital locations. Marcus A. Barber, M.D., of Premier at Tennova North Knoxville and Physicians Regional, is a vascular and endovascular surgeon. A graduate of Wichita State University, Dr. Barber earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where he also completed his general surgery residency. He completed a vascular surgery fellowMarcus A. ship at Baylor University Barber, MD, Medical Center.

Vascular Surgery

Also joining Premier’s Tennova North Knoxville and Physicians Regional Medical Centers location is general surgeon Jessica Louise Vinsant, M.D. She is the fourth generation of the Vinsant family to serve as a physician in East Tennessee. Vinsant grew up in Knoxville, before graduating from Syracuse University. She earned her MBA from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and Jessica L. her medical degree from Vinsant, MD, Wright State’s Boonshoft General Surgery School of Medicine. Vinsant completed her general surgery residency at East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine. Joel Fontaine “Trey” Bradley III, M.D., of Premier at Fort Sanders Regional, is a general surgeon who is experienced in abdominal wall reconstruction, and complex hernia repair. Bradley, a graduate of the University of Memphis, earned his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of South Carolina, Palmetto Health Richland and both research and clinical minimally invasive surgery fellowships at Carolinas Joel F. “Trey” HealthCare System. Bradley, III, MD,

General Surgery

Another addition to

the Fort Sanders Regional Premier Surgical location is surgical oncologist Troy Franklin Kimsey, M.D., FACS. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Kimsey earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and also completed his residency there. Kimsey completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at the Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center in New York. Prior to joining Premier Surgical, Kimsey spent six years Troy F. Kimsey, practicing broad-based MD, FACS, Surgical Oncology general surgical oncology and helping in the development of a community-based regional cancer center in Southwest Georgia. Kristopher Burton Williams, M.D., has joined Premier Surgical as a general surgeon in the group’s Parkwest Medical Center office. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Williams earned his master’s degree from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University and his medical degree from East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine. He completed his internship and genKristopher B. eral surgery residency Williams, MD, at Union Memorial General Surgery Hospital in Baltimore, M.D., and his fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. Williams has special experience in abdominal wall reconstruction and complex hernia repair. “We are pleased to have these five outstanding surgeons join our group,” says Kevin Burris, CEO of Premier Surgical Associates. "Their experience and expertise will be a great benefit to our patients in East Tennessee."

For more information about the surgical treatment of skin cancer, visit premiersurgical.com.

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