Powell/Norwood Shopper-News 082714

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POWELL/NORWOOD VOL. 53 NO. 34

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NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ

Sports inside Check out pages 10-11 to find regular columnist Marvin West, new columnist Stefan Cooper and pictures from Friday’s game.

Teacher info 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.

Tennova gets OK for cardiac cath lab By Sandra Clark Tennova’s north medical center is expanding. Administrator Rob Followell said a certificate of need has been approved to enable construction of a cardiac cath lab. Designed by Barber McMurry, the new center will be constructed on the ground floor of Building C (main hospital) and will include offices and a diagnostic space. Construction and equipment will cost about $4.3 million, Followell said. “We’ve been talking about this for three years.” He expects construction to start in September. The lab will feature the latest diagnostic equipment, and physicians will be able to treat abnormalities found in the heart or ar- Dr. David Harrison and Tennova North administrator Rob Followell discuss teries. plans for hospital expansion. Photo by S. Clark

By Cindy Taylor

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.

Showdown at the K-12 corral It’s high noon and Jim McIntyre faces Tim Burchett on the dusty street. “Not room in this town for both of us,” says Burchett. But McIntyre can’t draw. “It’s the doggone Common Core,” he says. “I have to conceptualize all the steps involved in pulling the gun from the holster. I know engineers who can’t do it.”

Read Larry Van Guilder on A-4

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Restaurant owners Cindy and Bart Elkins in the renovated kitchen at The Front Porch Photos by Cindy Taylor

Get excited! Get very excited! Bart and Cindy Elkins purchased their dream home in Powell a few months ago and are willing to share it with the community! The visionary entrepreneur minister (Bart), the self-appointed Internet queen of the south (Cindy), an executive chef and a resident crafter, will soon be open for business. At 104-yearsold the former Gill home, now owned by the Elkinses, is an icon in Powell and one of the oldest structures in the area. The community will be invited to visit the converted Front Porch Restaurant and Primitive Shop located in The Elkins family at the Front the home. Porch Restaurant: Anna Grace, “We want our cus10, Sunny Day, 8, Cindy and Bart. tomers to feel that they are being ministered to,” said Cindy. “This is part

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

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of what we feel we are called to do in our lives. We want you to feel that you have to come back and you have to bring other people.” Maintaining the integrity of the house was primary. Much of the original woodwork, flooring, doors, hardware and fi xtures are being used or repurposed thanks to careful renovations by the previous owner and by the Elkinses. The couple and their two daughters moved to the area last year from West Virginia. “We fell in love with this area years ago and are digging our roots as deep as we possibly can in Powell,” said Bart. “Our initial idea was to start a primitive shop. We found this property and our idea blossomed. This house just screamed what it should be used for.” Cinnamon Kennedy, who owns Sweet Café in Clinton, is the executive chef for The Front Porch. “We will have a southern gourmet menu that is upscale without being stuffy,” said Kennedy. “Southern style with a kick. We want to feed people plus give them a wonderful experience.” Future plans include bistro lighting outdoors with heating and a shed conversion for additional dining. Vintage To page A-3

Mama makes three: Rountree attends orientation

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When we caught up with him, Followell was meeting with a new Tennova physician, David Harrison, D.P.M., who is opening a practice, Tennova Foot and Ankle, in Clinton and at the Dannaher Road facility. He will perform surgery at the North Knox hospital. Dr. Harrison was genuinely excited about the growth prospects at Tennova, saying he and his partner feel it’s the best place to grow their practice. Tennova has spent $211 million on service and facility improvement, according to the company’s website. Followell said Select Medical Corporation will be relocating from the former St. Mary’s Medical Center to the new hospital off Emory Road.

‘Southern cooking with a kick’

Jamie Rowe campaign kickoff

IN THIS ISSUE

August 27, 2014

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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 potentially 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 Rountree 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 an email reply 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:

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“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 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 attended 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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