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Powell student tapped for UT research team
Powell High School student Brandon Wilbanks will join a UT team to present research results to the International Genetically Engineered Machine competiWilbanks tion (iGEM). Dr. Cong Trinh, associate professor of chemical engineering, advises the team. The conference is in Pittsburg next month. Wilbanks is part of UT’s Pre-Collegiate Research Scholars Program. iGEM bills itself as the world’s premier undergraduate synthetic biology competition. Student teams are each given a kit of biological parts at the beginning of the summer. Teams use these parts along with new parts of their own design to build biological systems, and then operate them within living cells.
IN THIS ISSUE
Coffee Break
Everyone in Powell knows Greta Stooksbury, the face of Powell High School. An administrative secretary, Greta started working at PHS in 1988. Stooksbury She has lived in Powell since 1979. Greta and husband Wayne are both graduates of Powell High School, and their sons, Scott and Mark, are also Powell High graduates. Their grandchildren are Jonah, Clay, Dylan and Katelyn. Pour yourself a hot cup of Joe and visit with Greta Stooksbury.
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See Coffee Break on A-2
Index Coffee Break A2 Jake Mabe A3 Government/Politics A4 Marvin West/Lynn Hutton A5 Jake Mabe’s feature A6 Faith A7 Kids A8 Business A12 Calendar A13
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VOL. 51 NO. 39 NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
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September 24, 2012
Burchett: ‘Bank the surplus’ GOP members support Rural/Metro By Sandra Clark Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, speaking in Powell last Thursday, said commissioners should not rush to spend the surplus from the last fiscal year. Knox County ended the year with some $24 million in tax collections over budgeted expenditures. Of that, $14 million went to Knox County Schools based on the formula for dividing sales taxes. The school board chose to spend its money for one-time projects including construction at Shannondale Elementary ($4 million), Pond Gap ($7 million) and Farragut High ($1.7 million). But county commissioners, in their workshop last Monday, discussed a myriad of ideas for spending some $3 million – including raises for county employees (Mike Brown), restoration of the commissioners’ discretionary fund
(Sam McKenzie), a half million dollars for senior transportation projects (Amy Broyles) and a new senior center in Karns (Brad Anders). Each item is a recurring cost. Burchett, at the Powell Republican Club at Shoney’s, said, “We will not grow government,” on his watch. He advocated putting all of the surplus into the county’s rainy day fund. Responding to questions, he said the county misjudged the revenue in three ways: fewer claims on health insurance (the county is self-insured); the sheriff’s office was able to pay for its fuel (rather than requesting a supplemental appropriation); and the Hall Income Tax (which generated $2.8 million rather than the expected $1.5 million).
Burchett said it’s better to miss revenue projections by being low rather than high. He said he will not support an employee wage increase because “this is one-time money.” Asked about construction at Powell schools, Burchett said, “we’re getting around to it.” He said the school system accounts for 62 percent of the county’s budget over which he has no control. In other business, former club president Lillian Williams strongly endorsed Rural/Metro for renewal of its ambulance contract, calling the company “great corporate citizens.” Burchett said the bid is out and he can’t comment. Burchett said “good things are going on in Knox County.”
He claimed credit for “defeating an effort to raise your taxes,” and said his administration would continue to provide efficient services. He bragged on his efforts to build a new Carter Elementary School “and paying cash for it.” Knox County has the third lowest unemployment in the state at 6.7 percent, he said. Road projects are underway at Outlets Drive in Farragut, Andersonville Pike at Emory Road in Halls and Dutchtown Road in the Cedar Bluff area. He’s been able to pave 27 miles of road each of two years, compared with only 7 miles of roads paved three years ago. “And we’re paying down our debt.” Burchett’s goal is to reduce debt by $20 million per year for five years. Burchett likes individual initatives such as his “cash mobs” which included Powell business Thress Nursery and his “lunch with the mayor” at independent restaurants.
Corn maze honors Knox home By Sandra Clark Each year the corn maze at Oakes Farm in Corryton honors a local charity or nonprofit organization, and this year is no exception. The Restoration House of East Tennessee, operated by Daniel and Mandy Watson, benefited from the television show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” and the folks at Oakes are saying, “Thanks!” This year’s corn maze includes The Restoration House’s logo and a silhouette of the home. “We are thrilled to be included in the 2012 Oakes Farm corn maze,” said Daniel Watson, executive director of The Restoration House. “We certainly join the Oakes family in thanking Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for the incredible work they have done throughout the years. “As their program often states, they change the lives of many people
The Restoration House of East Tennessee is honored at the 2012 corn maze at Oakes Farm, now open for the season. Photo by Oakes Farm
and they certainly did that for us. “The ‘door knock’ that changed our lives has impacted not only our immediate family, but also the families journeying through our program who live in the two cottages there. We are
New businesses to Norris Freeway By Jake Mabe Several new businesses and a few old favorites are coming to a 50,000 square-foot retail store in North Fork Station shopping center off Norris Freeway, which includes Walmart. In addition to Burke’s Outlet, which we told you about on Aug. 27, Rue21, Hibbett Sports, U.S. Cellular, Sports Clips and El Metate Mexican restaurant (from the same group that runs El Camino restaurants) are coming to the
shopping center, Pepper Bobo, an affiliate broker with Holrob Commercial Real Estate, confirmed Friday. “Several of these are brand new to the Halls area,” she said. Building permits have also been issued to Sally Beauty Supply, Cato Fashions, Shoe Show and Game Stop. Bobo says construction is nearly done and most outlets plan to open around Thanksgiving in time for the Christmas shopping season.
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forever thankful for Extreme Makeover’s generosity and for the Oakes family for putting a fun spotlight on the show’s immense work.” The maze opened for the season last weekend, and Sunday,
Irwin says kids need life plan The man who played pro football for 13 years says being judge of the Juvenile Court is “the best job I ever had.” Judge Tim Irwin said Knox County has great teachers and great schools. “If you can get your kids to school, we can teach them.” But on Tuesday, Irwin was at Central High School, along with District Attorney Randy Nichols, talking with “649 families with truant kids” – those Tim Irwin
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Oct. 28, is being highlighted as Restoration House Day, where a portion of the proceeds will benefit The Restoration House. For prices and hours for the 2012 Corn Maze at Oakes Farm, visit oakesfarm.com.
Mill Branch office park (Across from Tractor Supply) Sun - Sat 11am - 8pm • 922-2227
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with 10 or more unexcused absences. Irwin said he wants to understand why kids do not go to school. “If kids have a diploma, a driver’s license and a life plan, then they have a chance.”
Halls GOP cake auction The Halls Republican Club will hold its annual cake auction from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at Beaver Brook Country Club. Food and drinks will be served. Info: Sandy Merryman, 250-1603. - S. Clark
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