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Living to tell the tale Cut Vallie Collins off in traffic? She isn’t going to get upset. If the dog chews on her new shoes, no big deal. She’ll just buy another pair. Collins, to use the cliché, doesn’t sweat the small stuff. She’s stared death in the face and lived to tell the tale.
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See Jake Mabe’s story on page A-3
Hazardous to your health? Choosing to be an assistant football coach is something like going to the races. You might win big or lose big. The trip may be very exciting, even an unforgettable adventure, but don’t bet the house on the wrong horse. Assistant coaching is a better job than mixing mortar and lugging cinder blocks. It is more challenging than loading trucks. Salaries are very good but there are problems and risks.
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See Marvin West’s story on A-6
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
State of the Schools address is Thursday Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre will deliver the second annual State of the Schools Address at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at Powell High School, 2136 West Emory Road. School board chair Karen Carson, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, and Randy Boyd, founder and CEO of Radio Systems, will also share their perspectives on public education in our community. The event is open to the public. The address will be broadcast live on Comcast Cable Channel 10, AT&T UVerse Channel 99, and WKCSRadio 91.1 FM and streamed live at www.knoxschools.org.
4509 Doris Circle 37918 (865) 922-4136 NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark | Theresa Edwards ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Shannon Carey | Patty Fecco Jim Brannon | Tony Cranmore Shopper-News is a member of KNS Media Group, published weekly at and distributed to 8,185 homes in Powell.
By Sandra Clark Remember the Totes of Love sponsored by the seniors who meet monthly at the Heiskell Community Center? At last week’s meeting, leader Janice White announced that the group’s goal was met with 155 totes distributed to needy kids who attend Copper Ridge and Powell elementary schools, Powell Middle and Powell High. White works through the school system’s social worker for those schools to identify kids to help. “We made Christmas happier for 155 youngsters with our gifts
of personal hygiene items and school supplies,” she said. Through discussions with the social worker, White learned of another family in desperate need. Seems the custodial parent went to jail, leaving the grandparents scrambling to find clothes and food while making Christmas for the kids. A volunteer stepped up to buy needed clothes, including shoes and underwear, along with gifts. And a new organization was born. The Children’s Benevolent Fund was created to accept and disburse donations for kids in need throughout the year. White
said those who can help should call her at 938-4237 or email creativedesign@frontiernet.net. Those who need help should contact school social worker Sherry Brumstedder. White also announced a new name – Heiskell Community Organization – for the combined boards of the Heiskell Volunteer Fire Department and the Heiskell Community Center. “We’ve combined our boards as of Jan. 1,” she said. “The expanded board has new ideas and will work together toward finding land and raising money to build a larger community center for all ages.”
Janice White
File photo
Scholarships matter Byy JJacki B acki ki K Kirk irk k The Powell Alumni Association is in full swing for our annual dinner on April 6 at The Jubilee Banquet Facility. We expect a wonderful crowd of PHS Alumni and guests and will honor the 1963 graduating class as “The Golden Grads.” Visiting, reminiscing, door prizes and entertainment will be the order of the evening – plus good food! And as always, raising money for scholarships will be celebrated. The Alumni Association continues to respond to newer technologies in an effort to appeal to our many graduates, who use into social media, etc. We still maintain a post office box (P. O. Box 111, Powell, TN 37849) to receive donations and mail – and will soon have a website where grads and interested parties can learn more about the association.
board directors Our b Our oard d off d irecttors recently recentl tly gathered at Half Time Pizza to plan the evening and give appreciation to Premier Transportation and Energy Control Consultants for their contributions toward our participation in the recent Christmas parade, helping to increase public awareness for the association. Michael Watson: The Powell High scholarship winner highlighted this month is Michael Watson, who graduated in 1989. He is the son of J. B. and Sue Black Watson and used the PHS scholarship to attend Pellissipi State, transferring to the engineering department at UT for a bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering. He followed that with an MBA from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, and he currently works at FedEx Services as a senior strategic project analyst.
Michael Watson as a 1989 PHS graduate He states, “I would advise anyone to pursue some kind of education after high school. It is difficult to know what you want to do for the rest of your life when you are 17 or 18 years old. Find something you like and explore careers in that field.” Additional scholarship winners
Michael Watson today will be highlighted in future articles. Submit your information to Jacquelyn865@gmail.com.
The Hillcrest-Carter connection By Sandra Clark Knox County Commission may vote this month to sell property that is home to 500 individuals and employs 500 more. The residents range from indigent seniors to the disabled. The Other Paper let Mayor Tim Burchett get away with saying that while he may take political heat for selling the Hillcrest properties for half ($5.275 million against $11.3 million) of appraised value, he’s doing it for the seniors.
Analysis We submit that he’s doing it to pay for Carter Elementary School. And that’s a steep price to pay. Knox County needs another $6 million to fulfill its contract for the Carter school. The contract calls for the transaction to conclude between June 1 and July 15, 2013. A quick $5.275 million from the Hillcrest Healthcare Communities could solve the Carter problem, but would leave a myriad of unanswered questions. For instance: ■ What happens to the residents and staff if the new owner decides to build condos?
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■ What happens if the new owner defaults on a loan, having used the property as collateral? Hillcrest management has hired Moxley Carmichael public relations and attorney Arthur Seymour Jr. to make its case. They’re spinning at full speed. Meanwhile, the commission chair, Tony Norman, has placed another item on the JanuTim Burchett ary agenda. Cosponsored by Burchett, it would require money acquired from the sale of county assets to go toward debt retirement. While specific properties are not named, it begs the question of how the $6 million Carter deficiency would be covered if this resolution passes. Finance director Chris Caldwell says the proposed Hillcrest sale is not about Carter. There are other properties available for sale to close the gap, he said, and “the folks from Hillcrest approached us.” The Tazewell Pike property that includes Beverly Park and par-3 golf course will be retained by the coun-
Paying for Carter Under its agreement with Carter School developer Partners Development, the county will swap $13,879, 334 for a key to the finished building by July 15, 2013. Mayor Tim Burchett boldly promised to raise the money by selling unneeded county assets. To date, almost $10 million has been collected toward the project:
ty, Caldwell said. Cynthia Moxley, CEO of Moxley Carmichael, said 70 percent of Hillcrest’s residents are supported by TennCare. Repairs are needed. Hillcrest cannot borrow for upgrades without using the property for collateral, she said. In setting the sales price, Knox County considered the $2.3 million already spent for improvements by Hillcrest and the estimated $1.6 million needed to tear down the old tuberculosis hospital (not used for patients) and an old water tower. Seymour said nonprofit corporations such as Hillcrest Healthcare operate under more restrictive laws than for-profit corporations. For instance, a nonprofit must notify the state attorney general prior to selling or leasing its assets or merging with another entity. The AG can intervene if the nonprofit’s assets are being misapplied or wasted, or it is no longer able to carry out its purpose. He suggested that Knox County could be liable for clean-up of hazardous waste sites or if “it knows or should have discovered the existence of some dangerous condition.” Mike Ragsdale tried to sell Hillcrest facilities a few years back, but
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■ $892,550 – JP Morgan settlement ■ $2,010,000 – Solway mulch facility and adjacent park ■ $943,818 – City of Knoxville payoff of Animal Center ■ $2,500,000 – Knox County Schools Capital Plan contribution ■ $3,419,250 – E-911 payment for building
The clock is ticking on the remaining $4 million (plus $2 million for furnishings).
was rebuffed by commissioners concerned that the sale price was too low or worried about the future of residents and staff. It’s a different day with a new mayor, but those concerns remain.
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Helping the kids
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January 14, 2013
E. Em or
To enjoy teaching kindergarten, you have to not mind being touched, or needed, or occasionally being called “Mommy.” It’s not for everyone, says Angie Johns, but it’s definitely for her.
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VOL. 52 NO. 2
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