GOVERNMENT/POLITICS A4 | OUR COLUMNISTS A6-7 | BUSINESS A12-13
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powell
VOL. 50, NO. 13
MARCH 28, 2011
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Miles to go On fire Powell High School graduate Sarah Jett will dance the role of the Firebird and Maiden in upcoming productions in Oak Ridge. See page A-3 for details
Burchett battles back See Sandra Clark’s story on page A-4
F FEATURED CO COLUMNIST MARVIN WEST
Cheating hurts (worse if you get caught) Marvin West ponders cheating in the NCAA, past and present See page A-7
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TITAN A SELF-STORAGE
Powell senior adopts, maintains greenway By Natalie Lester Miles Ferguson looks like your average high school student. He works hard in school, plays the trombone in the Powell High marching band and serves in the Beta Club. Yet, there is one thing that makes him different. He is also responsible for the maintenance and appearance of a Knox County Park. That’s right. Last year, as a junior, Miles Ferguson created his own nonprofit organization and adopted the Powell Greenway. Ferguson makes it sound simple. “I was just looking for something for community service,” he said. “My dad mentioned that the greenway was up for adoption, and I thought it sounded like a good idea.” Ellen Blasius, Knox County Parks and Recreation program and marketing coordinator, is not as humble about Ferguson’s efforts. “We have a lot of students involved in the Adopt-A-Park program,” she said. “But none of them have the same initiative as Miles. No one else in high school is creating an organization only for the purpose of caring for a park and seeing the project through with his enthusiasm.” Ferguson created his Miles to Go organization in January 2010. The
As he heads off to college, Ferguson worries about what will happen to the park. “I’m looking for someone to pass the project on to,” he said. name came from a famous line in Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” a poem that was a favorite of Miles’ deceased grandfather. “The woods are lovely, dark and deep,” Frost wrote. “But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.” Ferguson hopes to graduate at the top of his class in May. As he heads off to college, he worries about what will happen to the park. “I’m looking for someone to pass the project on to,” he said. “Most of the people I talk to, though, find it beneath them to clean up trash.” He has a few prospects in mind,but is not completely certain where the responsibility will fall. Regardless, he hopes to attend Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville this fall. “I want to major in chemical engineering,” he said. “It is a broad field with lots of applications in business, marketing and pharmaceuticals.”
Over the last year, Powell High School senior Miles Ferguson’s organization, Miles to Go, has taken care of the Powell Greenway. Photo by N. Lester When students move away to guson departs from Powell, there college, families and friends are al- is stretch of land that will also feel ways affected. However, when Fer- his absence.
Dry Gap project nears completion that “good progress” is being made on the Dry Gap Pike construction project, which is slated to be finished at the first of April. Dry Gap Pike has reopened to through traffic. By Jake Mabe Snowden said that the traffic light, which Knox County deputy director of engineering will be placed at the redesigned intersection of and public works Jim Snowden said last week Dry Gap Pike, Fountain City Road and Dante
Red light will be installed at intersection
Road, is about 80 percent complete. “We still lack a few minor issues such as pull boxes, tether wires, etc., as well as KUB setting a transformer to gain power,” Snowden said. “These issues should be resolved in two to three weeks and the signal can be operational soon afterward.”
Say it ain’t so, Joe By Larry Van Guilder Law Director Joe Jarret’s legal opinion backing a resolution to bring the budgets of the fee offices and assorted clerks under the purview of County Commission has officeholders Joy McCroskey and Sherry Witt bracing for a fight that began at last week’s County Commission workshop. It continues at today’s regular commission meeting.
Analysis Jarret says state law allows County Commission to appropriate funds for salaries and other “authorized expenses” for the fee offices provided that the officeholders turn over to the general fund all fees collected each month. The collective response of McCroskey, and Witt: “Say it ain’t so, Joe.” Commissioners Richard Briggs, Mike Hammond and Sam McKenzie are sponsoring the resolution with the enthusiastic backing of Mayor Tim Burchett, who says it’s all about “transparency.” Those familiar with the history of the trustee’s office under Mike Lowe or with Mike Padgett’s career as County Clerk wince when they hear “transparency” mentioned in con-
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nection with a fee office. Phantom employees, dubious staff “bonuses” and nepotism fueled those political machines. The imposition of term limits was a step in the right direction, Sherry Witt Cathy Quist Joy McCroskey but the old courthouse view that holding office is a right, not a privilege, lingers. “You’re talking about diminishing the powCathy Quist, Clerk of the Knox County Ju- ers of officeholders,” Witt said. venile Court, the Civil Division of General Witt’s comment expresses the fear that BurSessions Court and the Circuit Courts, is an chett – or his successor – might attempt to attorney, but it was Criminal Court Clerk Mcmicromanage the fee offices. But Dean Rice, Croskey who brandished the legal saber at Burchett’s chief of staff, points out that, if apMonday’s workshop. proved, the resolution would not take effect “How are you going to represent all of us if until FY 2012-2013, allowing ample time for we oppose this?” she asked Jarret in a preview all parties to agree on the ground rules. of lawsuits to come. The offices affected by the resolution are She erroneously added that the idea had clerks and masters of the chancery courts; “been defeated in a referendum.” The 2008 county clerk and clerks of probate, criminal, Charter amendment McCroskey referenced circuit and special courts; register of deeds; would have granted the mayor authority to ap- trustee; and general sessions and juvenile point certain offices. court clerks. McCroskey, who said a mouthful at the Trustee John Duncan and County Clerk workshop, including the complaint that the Foster Arnett have signaled their support. Last resolution would “put my employees under a Friday, Quist formally aligned with Duncan budget,” said she would have “plenty more” to and Arnett, stating in a press release that she say at the regular commission meeting. supports “full transparency and accountabilSpeaking at the Halls Republican Club on ity and a funding process that is unified across Monday evening, Register of Deeds Sherry all of county government.” Witt said her office is already “totally transCommission is scheduled to vote on the resparent. olution today.
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