POWELL/NORWOOD VOL. 53 NO. 23
IN THIS ISSUE
FUN Exciting activities Special Section Find out where the wild things are and much more in this month’s “myFUN.”
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See the special section inside
Third-row seat to history It’s a big deal for East Tennessee each year when the Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute brings a couple thousand of American’s brightest and most idealistic young people for a weeklong training session before they go out to manage Freedom Schools across the country.
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Read Sandra Clark on page A-10
Booster shot for John Bruhin Patience, please. John Bruhin is facing a long walk, and it may take an extra minute. He is on his way back into the spotlight for one big night this summer. On July 24, he will be inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame. Bruhin, 49, has been “training” for a while. He is 70 pounds down from 420 and trying to get closer to playing weight. He has one new knee and needs another but can get along with a trusty cane.
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Read Marvin West on page A-5
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Powell soccer camp is coming Powell High soccer team will conduct a soccer camp from 6 to 8 p.m. June 16, 17 and 19 at Powell Middle School. The cost is $50, and the camp is open to ages kindergarten through 5th grade. Register by contacting head coach Mark Smith at mark. smith2@knoxschools.org or 423-736-1021 or assistant coach Chris Thorson at chris. thorson@knoxschools.org or 865-414-7926.
Civil rights leader to visit Knoxville The city of Knoxville will host the Rev. C.T. Vivian, a veteran of the civil-rights movement, in a “Mass Meeting” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at Payne Avenue Baptist Church, 2714 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
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June 11, 2014
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Seeking teams for tee time By Cindy Taylor Avid golfer Liz Jett hopes to form a new women’s golf league at Knoxville Municipal Golf Course. Jett says she chose KMGC because she believes that the people in Knox County should support their public parks and golf courses. “I hope to get at least 40 women interested in joining a new league at this course,” said Jett. “It’s much more fun to play golf with a group or teams of women than just two at a time.” The 30-year-old public course on Schaad Road is a bit off the beaten path but boasts scenic views of rolling green hills surrounded by lush woods. “Our greens are in fantastic shape,” said general manager Justin Smedley. “We stay busy hosting a lot of community events, fundraisers and church outings.” The clubhouse offers a snack bar, cart rental, a banquet room and a golf shop. Greens fees are competitive at $30 per person on weekdays with a discount for seniors. The course has package deals and specials available as well. Assistant Willie Bennett can often be seen behind the counter in the golf shop. “My main objective is to make sure everyone who comes here has a good time,” said Bennett.
Knoxville Municipal Golf Course general manager Justin Smedley watches as Liz Jett tees off. Knoxville Municipal Golf Course is at 3925 Schaad Road. The course is open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. seven days a week. Info: www.golfknox.com or 691-7143.
Jett hopes to encourage women to dust off their golf clubs and join her in forming the women’s league. Plans are to play at least nine holes per game. Beginners are welcome.
Photo by Cindy Taylor
“I just hope that I have a good response,” said Jett. “It would be good for the women to come out and play for the exercise and fellowship.”
PBPA gains county support for cleanup By Cindy Taylor Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett is 100 percent behind community plans to clean up and beautify Powell and says he will start with public property. On Monday, Jim Snowden of the Engineering Department and Michael Grider of Public Affairs met with committee members from the Powell Business and Professional Association to discuss upgrades at Powell Station Park (also known as the splash park). Designs by Cliff Brooks of Carol R. Johnson Architects call for consistent white fencing on Emory Road at the park with lush landscaping at the entrance.
The PBPA committee will seek donations to purchase plants and materials. Knox County will provide labor. PBPA president Sage Kohler said to “get it done or don’t start until after the July 4 festivities planned for the park.” The Lions Club sponsors a morning parade on July 4 and the PBPA plans free hot dogs and fi xings along with kids’ games and business booths at the Powell Station Park following the parade. Next up will be improvements to the intersection of Brickyard Road and Emory and a plan for the surplus land on Emory Road near Gill Road where the new road
branches southward over the railroad tracks. Burchett also pledged Knox County’s support to comply with state requirements to complete landscaping on four sides of the Emory Road-Interstate 75 interchange. That grant was written by Lillian Williams and approved by TDOT prior to Burchett taking office. The PBPA has reserved $12,000 as a community match, and Kim Severance is heading the committee to get interstate improvements completed. She met Monday with Grider and Snowden to tour the site.
Shopper publisher Sandra Clark is heading the PBPA committee to clean up and enhance Emory Road in the heart of Powell. Committee members are Severance, Roy Arthur, Laura Bailey and Gary Cunningham. Shopper-News has donated $2,500 toward plans, and Carol R. Johnson Architects has donated a similar amount. With plans in hand, the committee will seek volunteers and business support for specific projects. Volunteers can contact Clark at 661-8777. The PBPA meets at noon each second Tuesday at Jubilee Banquet Facility on Callahan Road.
South-Doyle program is last Ag Ed standing By Betty Bean The Agricultural Education program at South-Doyle High School is the last remaining such program in Knox County following the elimination of the program at North Knox Vocational Center on the campus of Halls High School. Teacher Mike Blankenship, who began teaching at Doyle High School in 1978, was told his position was eliminated because of low enrollment, even though students say school counselors advised them not to sign up because the program was being cut. North Knox also lost its Child Development program. Don Lawson, supervisor of Career Technical Education (CTE), said there had been four such programs in Knox County but those at Farragut High and Byington-Sol-
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James Dunn, a senior at Gibbs High School and president of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter, recited a partial list of the honors the club won under Blankenship’s guidance. “We will no longer be able to compete in career development events,” he said. “We as a class and a chapter are very disappointed. This closure will take away many opportunities.” James Dunn and Ryan Cox, wearing What Dunn didn’t say that purple gear, prepare to address the night is that one of the lost opporschool board. Photo by S. Clark tunities could be his chance to go to college. “I was hoping to try to get a way have been shuttered. Classes scholarship through the FFA, but include wildlife management and there cannot be an FFA if there’s forestry as well as horticulture no Ag class,” he said later. Dunn lives on a family farm and wants and greenhouse management. Several students and their fam- to major in agriculture at UT. Ryan Cox, also a rising senior, ilies attended last week’s school has invested three years in a voboard meeting and two spoke.
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cational track he won’t be able to complete. Afterwards, board members and Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre spoke to him. Cox said their attempts at consolation were too little, too late. “They told us that we did well and that our speeches were good, but honestly, that doesn’t mean anything to me,” said Cox. “Individually, I think they all want to help us, but together they all felt that it was too far gone. The decision has been made and it will stand.” Blankenship is packing 25 years of records and memories while dealing with a family health crisis – his son was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and his condition remains precarious. Although he has been interviewed for a new position, Blankenship has no guarantee of a job this fall.