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January 11, 2017

FIRST WORDS

Do you know your roots?

Kizzy said, “My pappy real name Kunta Kinte. He a African.”

“You don’t say!” Miss Malizy appeared taken aback.

“I’se heared my greatReneé Kesler gran’daddy was one dem Africans, too.”

This dialogue between a young slave girl and a slave matriarch was taken from an excerpt of the book “ Roots, The Saga Of An American Family” by Pulitzer Prize w inner Alex Haley. Kizzy demonstrates the grit of a young slave girl determined to be defined not by her current enslaved situation, but rather by her strong ancestral heritage.

What’s more, Kizzy’s staunch affirmation of her heritage aroused and inspired an elder to recall the stories told of that same proud lineage.

Do you know your roots?

Discovering our roots is about uncovering the stories of hidden treasures buried in our history while also unearthing layers of one’s self.

Zack F. Taylor Jr. has researched and written five volumes of “African American Family Genealogy for Jefferson County, Tennessee,” and it is an extensive work. His dedication to uncovering the black families of Jefferson County is extraordinary. Additionally, Robert A. McGinnis has researched and compiled many books, including “Gone and All but Forgotten, The AfricanAmerican Cemeteries of Knox County, Tennessee.”

Neither my friend Zack nor Robert resembles the people they have researched. Yet, when I asked them why they choose to do this work, both reply among other things, “It’s important.”

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Display windows created by the Knox County Farm Bureau Women’s Group will raise awareness on agriculture in the area.

Cheering for farmers: Exhibit at Knoxville Center mall The Knox County Farm Bureau Women’s Group is bringing awareness of agriculture to Knoxville Center Mall through window displays near the main entrance.

Pictured are Kim Holden, Pam Stoutt, Vella Underwood and Mildred Thompson inside one of the display windows. “Agriculture affects everyone,” said Stoutt, “and we are serving as advocates.”

Photos by Ruth White

Kevin Perry joins city as outreach manager Mayor Madeline Rogero has hired Knoxnections in the community ville native Kevin Perry as community outand a deep passion for this reach manager in the Community Relations work,” Rogero said in a cityDepartment. issued press release. “His experiences mentoring and Perry graduated from Austin-East High School and earned a master’s degree in bibministering to young men and lical studies and theology from Minnesota families will benefit our city.”

Graduate School of Theology. In 2001, he and Perry has served in the his wife, Natalia, founded Word of Life MinU.S. Air Force and on advisoistries, and he has served as a chaplain for Kevin Perry ry boards of the Boys & Girls the Knoxville Police Department since 2010.

Club, Knox County Health “Kevin comes to the job with strong con- Department and the FBI’s Tennessee State

Advisory Committee for Civil Rights.

Under the supervision of Community Relations senior director Dr. Avice Reid, Perry will co-manage the Mayor’s Save Our Sons (SOS) initiative and implement the threeyear Tennessee Community Crime Reduction Program (TCCRP) grant with Tatia Harris. Harris joined the department as TCCRP grant manager and Title VI coordinator in October 2016, after three years as public affairs specialist in the Communications Department.

Knoxville to state: Get us some money and leave us alone

By Betty Bean Mostly, what legislators heard at their annual breakfast with city officials is that Knoxville wants the state to help pay for a new treatment facility and otherwise stay out of city business.

Yes, they’d like the state to help foot the bill for a behavioral health urgent care center (formerly called the safety center). The sheriff and the police chief and the attorney general and the city and county mayors all want this facility, which they say will take the pressure off the Knox County Jail by removing mentally ill inmates and substance abusers from the jail population and placing them in a short-term treatment facility.

But Mayor Madeline Rogero politely informed the local lawmakers that what she wants most from Nashville is for the state to

stay out of the city’s business.

She doesn’t want any “deannexation” laws, and said the city of Knoxville has not attempted any involuntary annexations for more than a decade.

“The prospect of allowing deannexation for properties that have been part of the city and receiving city services and investment for more than a decade raises complicated legal and financial questions that would likely take years to resolve” is how a handout summarizing the city’s legislative wish list put it.

City officials would also like for the state not to attempt to regulate short-term rentals (like Airbnb), and refrain from interfering with the city’s ability to jumpstart redevelopment projects by using tax abatement tools like TIFs and PILOTs.

The majority of the lawmakers present pledged their support for the behavioral health urgent care facility, led by Sen. Becky Massey, who outlined a three-pronged plan to get it done, with her preferred option being for the governor to include it in his budget from the get-go. Plans B and C would be a “backup” bill she and Rep. Eddie Smith are sponsoring and, as a last resort, a budget amendment.

The general sentiment was that chances are good that the state will support the facility, which is also strongly supported by county Mayor Tim Burchett this session.

Rep. Bill Dunn said he’d like to hear more specifics.

There was little pushback from the lawmakers until Rogero brought up diversity.

“We consider diversity a strength,” she said, citing the diffi-

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culties North Carolina ran into after its Legislature passed a so-called bathroom bill. She said North Carolina’s losses were other localities’ gains, including Knoxville’s.

“We got an event because of that … Please keep Tennessee opening and welcoming,” she said.

This plea struck a nerve with Dunn, who said the North Carolina legislators were forced to act to counteract an ordinance passed by the city of Charlotte. He said he believes in “the diversity of the individual,” and cautioned against telling people how to run their businesses. Rep. Martin Daniel told Rogero that he hears complaints about the city disregarding property rights and being “ultraregulatory.”

“If you want us to keep our To page 3

A-2 JAnuAry11, 11,2017 2017• •NPorth owell ShoPPer -newS news 2 • J•anuary /East Shopper

health & lifestyles

Room with a view

Fort Sanders Regional tech gets new perspective after aneurysm When interventional radiologist Keith Woodward, MD, repairs an aneurysm, Adam Hill stands beside the surgeon and hands him the instruments.

But on a recent November afternoon, the 33-year-old manager of interventional radiological technicians at Fort Sanders Regional’s Comprehensive Stroke Center was in a different position. He was Dr. Woodward’s patient.

An aneurysm in an artery in his brain had ruptured several hours earlier, causing a subarachnoid hemorrhage and giving Hill a 13day hospital stay with a close-up view of Fort Sanders Regional’s heralded stroke care.

“Everybody kept coming into my room saying, ‘Adam, was treating patients not good enough for you – you wanted to see the other side of it, too?’” he said with a laugh. “But the more people said it, I realized that this is going to help me to relate to my patients more because I know what they’re going through. I know what pain they’re in and I know what they’re going to be facing. It’s not an easy row to hoe.”

The night it happened Hill was “on call for strokes,” but when a call came around 3 a.m., the young father of two was battling what he described as “the worst headache I’ve ever had.” Although he recognized that as a symptom of an aneurysm, he thought he was “just being paranoid” and brushed the possibility aside. After all, headaches and nausea were not uncommon for him.

Still, this one was bad enough that he had to beg off on the call, sending in his backup while he waited to see if the pain would ease. “When it started, it came on really fast, really strong,” said Hill, who also had the risk factors of hypertension and genetics. “I felt like my head was going to blow off my shoulders. It was awful.”

Hours passed; the pain didn’t.

When he saw that his balance was also “off,” Hill’s suspicions of a cerebral hemorrhage grew. Those suspicions were shared by emergency room physician Douglas Campbell, MD, after Hill and his wife, Melissa, arrived at the Fort Sanders Regional Emergency entrance around 11:15 a.m.

Dr. Campbell quickly ordered a computed tomography angiogram (CTA), telling Hill, “If that comes back negative, we’ll do an LP (lumbar puncture or ‘spinal tap’) and go from there.”

He knew that if it was an aneurysm, Dr. Woodward would likely be treating him. “I work with Dr. Woodward and I’ve seen him do some unbelievable stuff,” Hill said. “He’s helped patients who had no hope and he would bring them back. I knew what that man was capable of. He’s a good man, a good friend and a good doctor.

steel wool. Blood cells are caught and clot on this mesh, sealing off the aneurysm from the artery circulation.

Just two months after his brain an“Dr. (Scott) Wegryn (a radioloeurysm, Adam Hill is back at work gist colleague of Dr. Woodward) helping to repair hemorrhages like was watching the procedure and the one he experienced. he said it was one of the best procedures he ever saw Dr. Woodward do,” said Hill. “He said it went smoothly – it was so perfect; Keith Woodward, MD, specializes there were no hiccups. He said in the prevention and treatment of Dr. Woodward got right up there, stroke, including brain aneurysms, at pulled it off, closed me up and sent Fort Sanders Regional. me off to the Neuro Intensive Care Unit.”

A post-procedure checkup by occupational and physical therapists determined that Hill had not only survived his aneurysm rupture (50 percent of patients do not) but did so with no disabilities or deficits. Still, because younger patients are more susceptible to vasospasms, a dangerous after-effect of a rupture, he remained hospitalized at Fort Sanders Regional for 13 days as they kept close watch on him.

“The care I received was beyond excellent,” he said. “It was the best care I’ve had in my life. It was amazing. I was treated like a king.” the aorta, up through the neck and As Hill recovered in the hospiinto the site of the aneurysm. The tal, he began to see his ordeal in a I trust him.” and ensuring the syringes used in guide wire is then removed and a new light. “I got to see the whole Just minutes after the scan con- the procedure do not contain air contrast dye injected via the cath- perspective of the patient, and eter to give clear radiographic im- that’s the best part,” he said. “We firmed a 4mm aneurysm on Hill’s bubbles.” only get to see the patient for the brain, Dr. Woodward was face to But if Dr. Woodward was shak- ages of the artery and aneurysm.

A microcatheter is then slipped procedure, but we never see them face with his assistant-turned- en, it didn’t show as he performed patient. “I was shocked,” said Dr. an embolization using a technique into the larger catheter and used in the units, and once they leave …

Woodward, who has performed known as endovascular coiling. to carry spring-shaped platinum there are a lot of things they have about 1,000 aneurysm repairs in The procedure accesses the femo- coils about twice the thickness of to go through to get out the door.

13 years of practice. “Normally, ral artery through a tiny incision a human hair into the aneurysm. A lot of things have to line up just Adam would be assisting me, in the groin. The radiologist uses a The coils are then “packed” into right. I got to see that part of the prepping and handing me the coils wire to guide the catheter through the sac, forming a mesh similar to picture.”

What are the symptoms of a cerebral aneurysm?

The presence of a cerebral aneurysm may not be known until it ruptures. Most cerebral aneurysms have no symptoms and are small in size (less than 10 millimeters, or less than four-tenths of an inch, in diameter). Smaller aneurysms may have a lower risk of rupture.

The symptoms of an unruptured cerebral aneurysm include the following: ■ Headaches (rare, if unruptured) ■ Eye pain ■ Vision changes ■ Diminished eye movement The first evidence of a cerebral aneurysm is most often a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), due to rupture of the aneurysm.

This may cause symptoms such as: ■ Rapid onset of “worst headache of my life”

■ Stiff neck ■ Nausea and vomiting ■ Changes in mental status, such as drowsiness ■ Pain in specific areas, such as the eyes ■ Dilated pupils ■ Loss of consciousness ■ High blood pressure ■ Loss of balance or coordination ■ Sensitivity to light ■ Back or leg pain ■ Problems with certain functions of the eyes, nose, tongue, and/ or ears that are controlled by one or more of the 12 cranial nerves The symptoms of a cerebral aneurysm may resemble other problems or medical conditions. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

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North/East Shopper news • January 11, 2017 • 3

Jeanine Wilkinson brings strings to Old North Knoxville “Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly” goes the song, and along with that, “musicians gotta make music.” That’s certainly the case for cellist Jeanine Wilkinson.

The North Knoxville resident is excited about the upcoming concert of Inner Voices String Quartet, which she co-founded, at Geo Hair Lab. “I love supporting local businesses, and this place is so hip for a classical music concert,” she says. “The funny part is that Geo doesn’t have an extra space; we’re just rearranging the salon chairs and bringing in additional seating for guests.

Totally nontraditional!”

One could say the same about Wilkinson. Originally from Oregon and a cellist for 23 years, she teaches 43 private students, plays regularly in four symphony orchestras and runs “A Touch of Classical,” which provides music for weddings.

She’s also director of operations for the University of Tennessee cello workshop.

“I am fortunate to make my living freelancing in every musical capacity. I love my job because I am always doing something different.”

She and her husband, Matt, also a cellist, have been together 14 years and married for eight. They met at the University of Oregon, and when they were

Carol Z. Shane

both offered assistantships for graduate study at UT, moved to Knoxville in 2005.

They’ve never looked back.

Wilkinson had been thinking “for several years” about getting together with friends to play music in informal settings.

“Chamber music is what we string players live for. It’s such a unique instrumentation that permits each player to be a soloist and at the same time be part of an ensemble.”

She found three likeminded pals – violinists Rachel Loseke and Ruth Bacon Edewards and violist Christy Graffeo, who is also her partner in the wedding business. The four presented their first concert at The Hive on Central Avenue in November 2015.

“Classical music can often come off as inaccessible or stuffy; however, this group strives to highlight how extraordinary and timeless it can be.”

This time, along with individual movements from the popular Ravel and Debussy string quartets,

Jeanine Wilkinson, Rachel Loseke, Christy Graffeo and Ruth Bacon Edewards are Inner Voices String Quartet. They’ll be presenting a program of classical pieces in a very nontraditional setting this Friday. Photo by Frank Graffeo they’ll be performing the entire String Quartet in B Minor by Samuel Barber.

The piece’s brooding second movement is well-known to anyone who has seen the movie “Platoon.”

Wilkinson is enthusiastic about contributing to her community’s cultural fab-

ric. “Matt and I purchased a cute Craftsman bungalow in historic Old North Knoxville four years ago,” she says. “We love this neighborhood and are really excited with the direction that it is trending in.”

The Wilkinsons are expecting their first baby in

Knoxville to state

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Alex Haley’s American classic, “Roots,” a story that sparked an extraordinary dialogue about slavery and ignited a new interest in genealogy. As we celebrate this 40-year milestone, perhaps we will also take the opportunity to reignite the search for our roots. Like many others, the untold stories of my ancestors remain hidden and are awaiting discovery. We need to know our roots because as Haley so eloquently surmised, “In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage … Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning no

hands off, only do that which is minimally necessary.”

Rogero said her administration has streamlined a lot of processes in order to make the city business-friendly.

Police Chief David Rausch, who gave the final presentation, stayed with the “handsoff” theme, asking the legislators not to decriminalize marijuana and not to interfere with civil asset forfeiture laws.

Veteran lawmaker Harry Brooks huddles with rookie Rick Staples at meeting with city officials. Photo by Betty Bean

■■ Chilhowee Park Neighborhood Association meets 6:30 p.m. each last Tuesday, Administration Building, Knoxville Zoo. Info: Paul Ruff, 696-6584.

■■ Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association meets 7 p.m. each third Tuesday, Larry Cox Senior Center, 3109 Ocoee Trail. Info: edgewoodpark.us.

■■ Excelsior Lodge No. 342 meets 7:30 p.m. each Thursday, 10103 Thorn Grove Pike. Info: Bill Emmert, 933-6032 or w.emmert@att.net.

■■ Family Community Education-Carter Club meets 10:30 a.m. each second Thursday, Carter Senior Center, 9036 Asheville Highway. Info: Anne Winstead, 933-5821.

matter what our attainments in life.”

This new year and this new day mark the perfect time to discover your roots.

Beck – “The Place Where African American History Is Preserved” – is a great place to start. The Beck Genealogical Society is the genealogical and family history research community of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center. The group meets monthly, providing information and support on family history research.

You are invited to come and discover your roots.

Renee Kesler is executive director of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center.

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■■ Belle Morris Community Action Group meets 7 p.m. each second Monday, City View Baptist Church, 2311 Fine Ave. Info: bellemorris.com or Rick Wilen, 524-5008.

From page 1

Got the "1040" Flu? Call the Tax Doctor

Christmas tree recycling available After the New Year, Knox County residents can bring their unwanted, live Christmas trees to participating Knox County Convenience Centers for free disposal.

Trees may be dropped off throughout the month of January and must be cleaned of all ornaments, lights, wire, string and other decor before bringing them to a center.

Participating centers are: Dutchtown Convenience Center, 10618 Dutchtown Road; Halls Convenience Center, 3608 Neal Drive; John Sevier Convenience Center, 1950 W. Gov. John Sevier Highway; Karns Convenience Center, 6930 Karns Crossing Lane; Powell Convenience Center, 7311 Morton View Lane; and Tazewell Pike Convenience Center, 7201 Tazewell Pike.

Info: knoxcounty.org/solid_waste/ christmas_treecycling.php.

Inner Voices String Quartet will present “Barber at the Hair Salon” at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, at Geo Hair Lab, 300 W. Fifth Avenue. Small bites, desserts and drinks will be offered afterward. Info: facebook. com/innervoices stringquartet.

Discovering your roots

From page 1

COMMUNITY NOTES

February. “At first I was nervous to program a concert while being eight months pregnant, but I think we planned it just in time,” she says. “I feel great and intend to work as long as I can. The only real challenge is fitting behind the instrument as my belly grows!”

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4 • January 11, 2017 • North/East Shopper news

Holston Middle School students selected to attend space camp include: (front) Hayden Perry, Anna Butler, Emily Johnson, Jordan Moyers, Donovan Willets, Andy Cruze; (back) Haleigh Thomas, Leah McMurray, Jessica Sanders, Sydney Allen, Morgan Grooms, Louise Kapaya, Skyelin Gibson, Sidney Vass and Zane Benziger. Not pictured is Zach Bullard. Photo by Ruth White

Holston students head to space camp

What’s in a name? West High area

By Kip Oswald One of the great things about having so much family living in our house is that we have friends from all over the city. When Kinzy and I began researching the history Kip of schools in Knoxville, our friends kept asking us to find the history of their schools, too. Lately Talisha’s friends from West High School have really been bugging us to find out about their schools, so this week’s story will focus on their history, and there was some really interesting information to be found.

For instance, West High School was one of four high schools built when Knoxville High School closed in 1951.

I have already written about South-Doyle and Austin-East, which were two more of the four. West High School is in the Bearden area – named for Marcus Bearden, who was a mayor of Knoxville and a Tennessee legislator – and was built where the first McGhee Tyson Airport was located on Sutherland Avenue.

Bearden Elementary and Bearden Middle are two of the schools whose students go to West High. There are some other elementary schools near West High School who have really odd names with cool stories, too.

Pond Gap Elementary is named for the Pond Gap community – after a natural pond that was the only water used for cattle and farmers back in the old days.

Sequoyah Elementary is in the middle of Sequoyah Hills, a community named after Cherokee Indian Chief Sequoyah.

Lonsdale and Maynard are two other elementary schools whose students end up at West High School. Both have interesting stories tied to them. Lonsdale is named after the neighborhood where the school is. The area was part of a large farm owned by a man named William Ragsdale. Lonsdale is a combination of William’s mother’s name “Lonas” and the last part of his name “dale.”

Maynard Elementary School was started in 1897 in an area called Mechanicsville, named because of the number of mechanics who moved into and lived in the area at the time.

If you have comments, send them to oswaldsworldtn@gmail.com.

By Ruth White Over 70 Holston Middle School students set out on a mission to possibly secure a spot at space camp in the spring. Students had to compete in a series of challenges to earn the right to attend camp.

Challenge one required the students to create a video or essay that described why they thought they should be selected for the camp.

Challenge two was a STEM project that required students to create a Lunar Lander from specific products.

When the lander was dropped from one foot in the air, it shouldn’t break or the astronaut on top should not fall off. For the final challenge, the 37 finalists were required to research a space-specific topic that was presented at the school’s science symposium.

Guests at the symposium were able to

vote for their three favorite projects, and seventh-grade class members also voted.

The top 16 students were selected and recognized during an assembly at the school. Space camp will be held in Alabama in February, and the trip is made possible from a grant by Harrison Construction, Stower’s Caterpillar, Pavement Restoration, Unified A-V and Mark Thomas.

Holston girls soccer crowned district champs

Holston Middle School girls soccer team was recently recognized for being named 2016 district champs. Pictured at the celebration are: (kneeling) Riley Scraggs, Lydia Adkins; (front) Allie Gore, McKenzie Braden, Emilia Daugherty, Macy Leadbetter, Camryn Wyrick, Chloe Cottrill, Brooke Hutchinson; (middle) coach Tim McMahan, Bennett Beeler, Carolina Pittman, Avery Ward, Arwen Roach, Skyler Vogt, Kierra Hamilton; (back) Sierra Goins, Reece Brown, Grace Watkins and Brieanna Kirk. Photo by Ruth White ■■ Nichols wins

space patch design contest

Dossie Nichols was surprised when her principal, Windy Clayton, her parents and art teacher entered her fourth-grade classroom at Beaumont Magnet Academy. She was a little shocked and at first thought she was in trouble.

Little did Dossie know, but her art design was selected to be launched into space in late January. Knox County elementary schools took part in a design competition, the Mission 9 Patch Design contest.

From the 98 student designs, a group of 600 high school students narrowed the competition down to the top eight patches, which were posted on the Knox County Schools website for community voting.

Dossie received a framed print of her patch and will receive the patch after the launch into space.

Beaumont Magnet Academy art teacher Cheryl Burchett congratulates fourth-grade student Dossie Nichols for her winning space patch design. Photo by Ruth White

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SCHOOL NOTES ■■ Fulton High School will host FAFSA Frenzy for students and parents, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 12, in the library. This is an opportunity to receive guidance and ask questions regarding the financial aid application.

A framed print of Dossie’s patch submission was presented to her as a keepsake.

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December caps off strong 2016

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The final month of 2016 brought a nice ending to a very good year for local real estate and lending markets. In December, 1,020 property transfers were recorded in Knox County. Although that was just short of the number of sales registered last December, it was slightly more than the November total.

Sherry Witt About $244 million worth of land was transferred last month, compared to just under $287 million in December 2015. The total value of properties sold, however, increased nearly 13 percent between 2015 and 2016.

Mortgage lending in December was ahead of the November pace, but below levels of a year ago. Last month, approximately $352 million was loaned against real estate in Knox County, compared to $346 million

in November. Lower rates produced nearly $433 million in mortgages and refinancing in December 2015.

The largest real estate transfer in December involved the sale of multiple selfstorage facilities in the area, which were sold to Self-Storage Portfolio II for a total price of just over $17.5 million. A Deed of Trust in the amount of $18,975,000 financing the transfer was also the largest mortgage loan of the month.

All in all, 2016 outperformed 2015 in virtually every statistical category. The total value of property sold for the year was just over $3.05 billion. By comparison, 2015 produced about $2.71 billion in real estate sales. Mortgage lending in Knox County saw about a $350 million increase during 2016 as well, to the tune of nearly $4.35 billion.

On behalf of all of us at the Register of Deeds office, we hope you have a very happy and prosperous New Year!

North/East Shopper news • January 11, 2017 • 5

A pygarg?

These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, the hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.

(Deuteronomy 14:4-5 KJV) When I wander around the more obscure pages of the King James Bible, I run into words I never saw before!

My love of words (and my fascination with words that are completely new to me) sometimes keep me holding a Bible in one hand and a dictionary in the other.

For example, a pygarg?

A what?

My New Revised Standard Version of the Bible translates pygarg as ibex.

And my dictionary (Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate) says that an ibex is a “wild goat living chiefly in high mountain areas of the Old World and having large recurved horns transversely ridged in front.”

Clears it right up, doesn’t it?

And besides that, who knew that a chamois was not just a very soft piece of leather that one uses to polish a car? I guess if I had thought about it, it

Cross Currents

Lynn Pitts might have occurred to me that chamois equals leather, and leather equals animal, but somehow I didn’t think that far.

This kind of information (which is not terribly useful, I admit) is just fun to know. I mean, think of playing Scrabble and being able to put pygarg on the board. You are bound to be challenged, but you will be right and your opponents will be bumfuzzled. The dictionary will be involved, I feel sure!

This leads me to wonder how any of our words came into being, but if we re-read Genesis, we will discover that we can blame it all on Adam. He is the guy God deputized to name the creatures!

Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church welcomes distinguished speaker for MLK Day

By Carol Z. Shane The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission offers a series of events honoring the civil rights leader.

“Our theme is ‘Honoring the Dream by Standing for Justice and Equality,’ which derives from the famous quote by Dr. King: ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’” says Clarence Vaughn, executive director of the Police Advisory and Review Committee and chair of the event.

Of special note are an interfaith prayer service; a Leadership Awards Luncheon featuring keynote speaker Donald Casimere, founding member of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement; the YWCA Race Against Racism; and the Night with the Arts Tribute concert, featuring the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra and the MLK Holiday Choir.

Monday, Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Day begins with the annual MLK Parade. Beginning at Tabernacle Baptist Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Av-

enue, the route terminates at Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church in Burlington, where a memorial tribute service featuring the Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, pastor of New York City’s Abyssinian Baptist Church (ABC), one of the largest churches in Harlem, will take place.

“I can’t think of a person more fitting to deliver the address,” says Dr. Maxine Davis, assistant vice chancellor for student life at UT and co-chair for the event. “Reverend Dr. Butts has been an activist for justice and civil rights in addition to being an esteemed educator.”

Born in Connecticut, Butts graduated from Flushing High School, where he was president of the senior class.

He earned his bachelor’s at Morehouse College in Atlanta, his master’s of divinity from NYC’s Union Theological Seminary and his doctorate of ministry from Drew University in Madison, N.J. Hired by ABC as an office assistant while still in graduate school, he worked his way up to head pastor

and in 1989 established the Abyssinian Development Corporation, a nonprofit community-based housing and commercial development organization which has renovated property for a homeless shelter, a senior apartment complex and moderate income housing. He hosts a weekly radio show, is president of the Council of Churches of New York and vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the United Way. In 1999, he was appointed president of the State University of New York, College at Old Westbury. He was also instrumental in establishing the Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change, and is the visionary behind the Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School, which opened in September 2005.

Butts also serves as chairman of the National Affiliate Development Initiative of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. Vaughn says simply, “Reverend Dr. Calvin Butts is a human rights icon.”

The memorial tribute

Dr. Calvin O. Butts, pastor of Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church and president of the State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, will speak at Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Photo submitted

service, which will also posthumously honor the life of local civil rights activist Avon W. Rollins Sr., directly follows the parade at 11:45 a.m., Monday, Jan. 16 at Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church, 3800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. For a full list of MLK memorial activities, visit mlkknoxville.com.

Knoxville High’s influential principal “A firm, steady, stable and human person.” When W.E. Evans was honored at his retirement in 1955, those were the words his former students chose to describe their principal.

ball championship again in 1942, 1943 and 1944. And the Trojans won the state basketball championship in 1939, 1941 and 1951.

Evans’ progressive ideas on education and character building surely equaled or surpassed other principals of his time. He turned out graduates who went on to attend Harvard, Yale and MIT and to become leaders themselves in various fields.

Many prominent Knoxvillians and executives

Jim Tumblin

the McClung Historical Collection, Knoxville Journal Archive

■■Have an ideal.

Community spirit was a hallmark of Evans’ leadership. In his long career he never resorted to corporal punishment, but rather used the “heart-to-heart conference method” with his students, and he extended the method to their parents when necessary.

His handling of an impending problem in the 1930s is typical of his keen understanding of youth.

The Theta Kappa Omega fraternity was organized at the school. Evans knew secret organizations did not belong in high schools. Instead of using threats and anger, he organized groups of other kinds – debating teams and Hi-Y, home economics, art, photography, hiking, future teachers and other clubs. These met the diverse interests of his pupils, and the secret fraternity died a natural death after dwindling in membership for two years.

One of his science teachers observed, “He met and resolved disciplinary and other problems before they got too far along. He gave students so much of good to do that they had little time to think of doing wrong.”

The Knoxville High School Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion was the pride of the school. Founded after World War I, the unit was frequently inspected and received high ratings. There was keen competition for officer positions in the four companies and the band each year. These ROTCtrained officers and men

made a considerable contribution in many theaters during World War II. For example, all four of Evans’ sons made their contribution to the war effort as all of them were pilots or crew members in the Air Force.

High school changed dramatically during his years as principal. It changed from strictly academic schools to become comprehensive and specialized.

At Knoxville High School, a three-piece orchestra expanded to over 70 pieces, small choral groups grew to huge concert organizations and competition between schools grew from debating teams only to football, basketball, track and other sports.

The Knoxville High Trojans football team claimed the state championship in 1930 and the national championship in 1932. Always a power, the “Blue and White” set a record by capturing the state foot-

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ard E. Evans, John A. Evans and Tom H. Evans. Dr. John H. McKinnon officiated at his services at First Presbyterian Church preceding his interment at Highland Memorial Cemetery.

In touching the lives of more than 16,000 students who attended the school during his years of service, William E. Evans made a contribution to his community and the nation matched by very few – well done, good and faithful servant.

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Shown with his wife, Helen Stewart Evans, near the time of his retirement, Principal William E. Evans served Knoxville High School from 1918 to 1951. His character-building influence helped more than 16,000 KHS graduates to achieve successful careers and dedicated community service. Photograph courtesy of

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Having served one of Knoxville’s longest careers in public education, Evans retired in 1955 at the compulsory retirement age of 70. He served 33 years as principal of Knoxville High School, and after that school closed, moved to East High as principal for four more years.

William E. Evans was born in Ashland, Ohio, on April 4, 1885, the son of the Rev. Amos and Lillie “Ernst” Evans. When asked where he grew up, he once said, “All over Ohio, since my father was a Methodist minister.” He attended Ohio State University, graduated from Oberlin College (Oberlin, Ohio) and received postgraduate education at the University of Chicago and the University of Tennessee.

He soon became a teacher and coach at Woodstock (Ill.) High School before coming to Knoxville.

Beginning in 1913, only three years after the school was born, he taught chemistry and mathematics for five years and then became principal of Knoxville High School in 1918. The school enrolled 646 (grades 8-10) when it opened in the fall of 1910. There were 800 students when he became principal and 2,300 in 1950-51 when the school board decided it was too large and created smaller regional high schools at Fulton, East, West and South.

Only four other principals had preceded Evans at KHS: W.J. Barton (19101912), H.M. Woods (1913), Samuel Hixson (1914-1916) and E.E. Patton (1916-1918).

Evans’ students regarded him as both an inspiration and a role model. Evans gave this earnest advice to each incoming freshman class: ■■Study at home, ■■Be attentive in class, ■■Be honest,

throughout the country were positively influenced under his tutelage.

Until a week before his death, Evans was in apparent good health. He suffered a heart attack and entered Fort Sanders Presbyterian Hospital on Saturday, Nov. 30, 1957, and passed away of a second attack late Tuesday night, Dec. 3, 1957.

He was survived by his wife, Helen Stewart Evans, and four sons, Col. William Stewart Evans, Col. Rich-

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last words

6 • January 11, 2017 • North/East Shopper news

Adjustable aspect of recruiting

How to achieve ‘red to the roots’

Looking ahead instead of behind …

The dead period in college football recruiting is ending. It was in place to protect coaches of bowl Like a football team that Nick Pavlis, Nick Della Vol- teams from being overtakgoes for a touchdown in the pe and George Wallace are en by coaches with time on not ideologues. While they waning minutes of a 50-12 their hands. game, rumbles have begun would probably be comfortThe turn of the calendar that the state’s legislaable wearing the label of means Tennessee can retive GOP supermajority is fiscal conservative, none of sume pursuit of young tallooking to take over the last them is cut from the same ent supposedly better than cloth as the county’s most frontiers left for them to what it has in the bank. conquer – city governments outspoken right-wingers.

Butch Jones and associPavlis, who has served and school boards. ates assembled a strange four four-year stints on the preliminary list of threecouncil, refused to knuckle star commitments while under to NRA activists who looking all around for more Betty flooded the audience to pro- famous names. This is the Bean test the city’s opposition to controversial shotgun ap“guns in parks” legislation. proach to recruiting, based Della Volpe is a strong on bountiful travel budgets How? By making those neighborhood advocate.

– go here and there and look elections partisan. And that Wallace, who has inherat everybody, extend scholwould be a mistake. (Let’s ited wealth and runs a pros- arship offers to 300 possisave the school boards disperous real estate business, bilities and hope to hit a top cussion for another day.) has surprised his skeptics 25 as permitted by NCAA The state’s four largest with his moderate views restrictions. cities (Nashville, Memphis, and willingness to listen.

Each time the collection Knoxville and Chattanooga) Brenda Palmer, Daniel appears complete, a better all have Democratic mayors Brown, Duane Grieve and possibility suddenly develand generally vote that way Finbarr Saunders are all ops an interest in Tennesin national elections.

Democrats, although (and see. To create space, one Naturally, this cannot be I’m going out on a limb of the early commitments tolerated by a GOP estabhere) they probably weren’t mysteriously goes away. lishment that controls the among the crowd that was Hard to tell if 18-year-olds governor’s office, walkout feeling the Bern last fall. read tea leaves precisely majorities in both houses of They’re business-friend- or coaches suggest looking the General Assembly, both ly, mindful of neighborhood U.S. Senate seats, seven interests and moderate in of nine Congressional disapproach. tricts and county commisMarshall Stair, the son of sions from Pickett to Polk a prominent West Knoxville counties. family, fits the profile of a But pulling off such a Republican. He hasn’t said Former GOP state chair coup could be harder to do much about party affiliaRyan Haynes will become than to talk about if Knoxtion, but did confirm (to head of the Wine and Spirville – probably the most this reporter) that he is a its Wholesalers and will Republican of Big Four citDemocrat. Stair is also a fis- not be a candidate for loies – is any example. cal conservative who looks cal office in Knox County Knoxville Mayor Madout for neighborhoods. anytime soon or ever if this eline Rogero is a lifelong Mark Campen likes bebecomes his career path.

Democrat who enjoys ing independent.

As such he will replace the strong support from her “We’re just trying to fabled Col. Tom Hensley of nine-member city council, make Knoxville better. To Jackson, known for years whose members are elected make it more partisan like among legislators as “the on a non-partisan basis. the county is, it will just Golden Goose.” Hensley In her first run for office, create factions.” also worked closely with the she handily beat all comers Wallace, who was presMiss Tennessee pageant in in the primary, including ent at the city’s breakfast Jackson. a well-known Republican meeting for the Knox Hensley had been a fixformer officeholder and a County legislative delegature in the Legislature for Democrat who was suption, noted some tension over 50 years. Whether this ported by Republicans in among conservative turns out to be a 30-year job the runoff. legislators when Rogero for Haynes or not remains This year’s Knoxville asked them to stay out of to be seen, but compensacity council elections may Knoxville diversity issues. tion (while not public) is prove to be a better testing He said he wishes that were very comfortable and is in ground for GOP ambitions. not the case. the six-digit range. Haynes But it’s probably not going “There’s trepidation on a served as state representato be easy, and even if some lot of these issues, but we’re tive from Farragut for five Republicans get elected, in the trenches here, and years and will maintain a they are unlikely to be the our issues are not partisan.” residence in both Knoxville red meat, Trump-supportIf the Legislature tries and Nashville. He has a law ing kind. to make city elections pardegree.

Take the sitting council, tisan, expect vigorous local ■■ The big news in for example: Republicans opposition.

Knoxville’s legal community is that prominent, highly regarded attorney L. Caesar Stair III, 72, father of City Council member MarAndrea Kline, an Elder Abuse Unit prosecutor with shall Stair, has retired as a the Knox County District Attorney’s Office, will speak partner of Bernstein Stair to the Halls Republican Club at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. and McAdams law firm 16, at the Boys & Girls Club of Halls/Powell, 1819 Dry and is now of counsel. This Gap Pike. Come early for refreshments. means his law practice has Since its inception in October 2014, the DA’s Elder been sharply curtailed and Abuse Unit has reviewed over 1,600 cases with nearly he no longer is a partner in 900 referrals made during last year alone. It is the first the firm. unit of its kind in the state of Tennessee.

Stair’s retirement folThe club will elect 2017 officers. lows well-respected atto-

Marvin West

around for more favorable playing opportunities.

Prep players, relatives, girlfriends and high school coaches are often befuddled or offended by the shuffle.

They have told all their friends about the scholarship at Tennessee. Even worse than the embarrassment, they are sometimes left to learn of changing plans through osmosis.

One father said coaches never said anything. They simply stopped calling his son. He took that as a clue.

Recruiting travels a twoway street. Future stars, apparently dedicated and all locked in, may succumb to rival lures and simply walk away, leaving terrible voids and fever blisters. Recruiting is a cruel and often heartless sport. Promises don’t count until signed in blood and legally notarized – or the young man enrolls in school.

Securing that December commitment from Trey Smith, best offensive lineman in the state and maybe America, did not eliminate all alarm among experienced recruiting followers.

It appears there are holes in the fence that Butch built around his turf.

Clemson is causing consternation. Texas A&M has invaded. Alabama is a constant threat. LSU and Oklahoma think they have one each of ours. Others are circling like hawks, looking for a free lunch.

In times past, Tennessee recruiters went elsewhere due to the perceived shortage of talent in our state. Now the shoe is on the other foot.

In some cases, there are disagreements about how good is a certain prep player and how much does it matter which college he chooses. There is no disagreement about wide receiver Tee Higgins of Oak Ridge. The Vols know he is good. Clemson has him. There are whispers about academic shortages.

The Tigers haven’t noticed.

Amari Rodgers of Knoxville Catholic, son of exVol Tee Martin, never has shown deep interest in Ten-

nessee. Clemson wins again.

Clemson success is relevant. Are there secret recruiting weapons? Dan Brooks is no secret. He is associate head coach. He was a key man with Phillip Fulmer for 15 years. Marion Hobby is a sharp Tiger who played at Tennessee. Both know which interstate exits to take and a lot of people who live nearby.

John Chavis, once a gritty Volunteer, longtime defensive coach for Fulmer, crosses state lines while wearing a Texas A&M shirt. He signed two from Tennessee last winter that UT didn’t make much fuss about. He is back, trying to take someone Tennessee wants.

Maybe you’ve read and fretted about de-commitments. They make headlines but should be evaluated carefully. Ten who said they would be Volunteers have since said so long and are going elsewhere. Sometimes that means better prospects have appeared.

If more emerge, others will clear out. It is the law of the recruiting jungle.

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

Ex-GOP chair joins private sector

Halls GOP sets program on elder abuse

Victor Ashe

ney Bernard Bernstein, who retired several years ago from the same firm, located in West Knoxville’s Bearden on Agnes Street.

Stair will maintain an office there.

His specialty has been divorces, and virtually every affluent individual (and some not so affluent) in Knoxville who had marital issues sought him out to be their attorney or, in the alternative, hoped the other spouse did not retain his services. He was that good.

His older son, Caesar Stair IV, continues working at the firm.

He was superb in maintaining confidentiality with well-known clients who were often a who’s who in Knoxville and often getting positive results for his clients. His civic leadership over the years in the arts has been outstanding and tireless, heading up both the Knoxville Museum of Art and Knoxville Opera at different times. He has been an advocate along with his wife, Dorothy, of historic preservation.

Their home, Hilltop Farm, on Lyons View

Pike celebrated its 100th birthday and has one of the most spectacular views in Knoxville of both the Tennessee River and the mountains. The home was originally acquired by his parents. It has been the site of major fundraising events for charities in Knoxville.

Govs. Ned McWherter, Lamar Alexander and Bill Haslam have all been guests there, as well as George W. Bush before he became president.

Stair was a strong advocate and proponent in the early 1990s of the creation of Lakeshore Park. He was a major player, along with Tom McAdams, in placing it on the city agenda. He even went to Nashville to lobby then-Gov. McWherter on the project.

He is a 1962 graduate of the Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Conn., and a 1966 graduate of Yale University. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam as an officer.

■■ Beth Harwell was re-elected House speaker last week after a closer than anticipated vote among Republicans of 40 to 30 over Loudon County’s popular state Rep. Jimmy Matlock.

It will be interesting to see how she appoints members to committees and whether she attempts to punish those who opposed her.

With a secret ballot, it is not possible for her to know the

identity of all who opposed her or pledged their support to both candidates.

However, the smartest move she might make is to announce all 74 GOP members are on the same team and she would not sideline any member who opposed her in committee appointments. That would shock her rivals who expect retribution and go a long way toward healing the divisions which exist.

It would help her if she seeks another term as speaker in 2018 or runs for governor that year.

■■ Mayor Madeline Rogero a week ago on Jan. 4 opened her annual legislative breakfast to the public. Last year she tried to close it, got criticized and learned from the criticism by not repeating it this year.

She deserves a compliment for transparency on this, in contrast to UT President Joe DiPietro, who misled the media as to the purpose of his legislative breakfast as he closed the meeting to the public.

Rogero included the whole city council and several city directors, such as David Brace. Rogero often learns from her errors and does not repeat them.

■■ U.S. Rep. Jimmy Duncan made the front page of the Jan. 4 issue of USA Today when he was sworn into office for his 15th term.

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