Powell/Norwood Shopper-News 122816

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VOL. 55 NO. 52

www.ShopperNewsNow.com |

December 28, 2016

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The brothers Bayless:

BUZZ

John and Mike are community service in action By David Hunter

Goodbye 2016!

Give 2016 the old heave-ho at New Year’s Eve on Market Square, beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31. The family-friendly celebration to usher in 2017 includes music, midnight fireworks, a ball drop, an “Auld Lang Syne” sing-along and a new lighted “2017” sign. This year’s celebration is presented by Lloyd’s Electric Service Inc. “This is the night when Market Square feels most like Times Square,” says Judith Foltz, the city’s director of special events. The Temper Evans Band of Harriman will perform covers from 10:30-11:45 p.m. A slideshow of memorable events from 2016 will screen above the Market Square stage. The countdown begins at 11:55 p.m., followed by the ball drop and fireworks at midnight. The Holidays on Ice skating rink will be open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 1-9 p.m. on New Year’s Day. Restaurants on Market Square, including those participating in the Peppermint Trail, will be open and offering specials; call ahead for dinner reservations. No mobile food or alcohol sales will take place on the square.

Take a hike

Tennessee state parks are offering ranger-led hikes Sunday, Jan. 1. Local hikes include: Norris Dam State Park, midnight-2 a.m., meet at the Tea Room, located on the east side of Norris Dam; Big Ridge State Park, 1-3 p.m., meet at the stone building at the park entrance; Tellico Blockhouse (part of Fort Loudoun State Historic Area), 1-3 p.m., meet at the Blockhouse. Info/reservations: tnstateparks.com

Get smart(er)

Learn basic computer skills at no charge 8:30 a.m.-noon Tuesday and Thursday, Jan. 17 and 19, at the Knoxville Area Urban League, 1514 E. Fifth Ave. Learn Windows basics, files management, tools, programs, documents, email, internet and more. Small class, personal attention, certificate from Pellissippi State upon completion. Space is limited and registration is required. Call Bill or Jackie, 524-5511.

Ever notice that certain people seem to be involved in almost everything that goes on in a community? With brothers John and Mike Bayless, Powell has community service times two. The brothers are involved in everything from the Powell High Alumni Association to the annual Powell Lions Club Christmas Parade. Both are active members of the Powell Business and Professional Association, where John is finishing his second year as president. Both brothers graduated from Powell High School. John is a 1977 graduate who played baseball, basketball and football for the Panthers. His senior year, he gave up football to play percussion in the marching band. Slightly older brother Mike, a 1975 graduate of PHS, also played baseball and basketball for the Panthers, but opted for band rather than football because of the conflict with the playing season. He was a drummer. John is a manager for Frontier Communications locally. Not all of his 39 years with Frontier have been here in Powell, though. Seventeen of those years were in other Tennessee cities, but he came home as soon as he was able to do so and quickly became involved in community affairs. Premier Transportation, which provides group charter bus service, is Mike’s place of employment. Through his company and the Powell High Alumni Associa-

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By Carol Z. Shane Ernie Roberts is excited about the “East Tennessee PBS Scholars’ Bowl 2017.” A longtime Old North Knox resident and current director of educational services for East Tennessee PBS, Roberts is well known; he’s semi-retired Ernie Roberts a high school math teacher and host of “TN Learn: Mathline,” music director at two churches, annual Front Page Follies funnyman, high school football announcer and tireless volunteer for many worthy causes. This year Roberts has chosen WNOX’s Frank Murphy and

Laura Bailey. They expressed a keen interest in Bailey’s work on the renewal of old buildings into new space for fresh businesses that maintain the character of Powell as it was not so long ago. “Justin Bailey is an honest, Christian man,” John Bayless said. “He’s doing a lot to restore the community as a place we can all be proud of. He has brought new life to the old Groner store building and has purchased the adjoining garage.”

Indeed, while some are calling Bailey’s project a renewal or enhancement, I have been calling it the “Powell Renaissance” since I first visited photographer Sarah McAffry’s studio in the old Groner Building at 1717 Depot Drive. John Bayless tipped us on some hard news. Soon after Christmas break, there will be a new digital sign for Powell High School. The brick monument base will To page A-3

Merle FM’s Jack Ryan to co-host the Bowl. “They both bring great skill sets to engage students, and they have the ability to make some good drama,” said Roberts. “And they dress well.” The series has been led by a single host, but with the fast-paced filming and high-energy levels of competition, Roberts felt that two hosts would be a better fit. Murphy and Ryan agree. “After just two or three games I’m physically and mentally exhausted!” said Ryan. “And I didn’t have to buy as many ties,” cracks Murphy. Anyone who observes the way these three get along in such a joshing, lighthearted way will certainly want to tune in when the first episode airs on Monday. They’ll bring the same quick-

ness to the games, which consist of rapid-fire questions in 38 academic categories for each four-person team. This year, the 53 teams come from 22 counties in East Tennessee and one in Southeast Kentucky. The series was shot over a month, four to six shows a day. There are 52 episodes, with the last three episodes being rerun at the end. For the hosts, it was a blast. “I have secretly harbored the desire to be a game show host since I was a child,” said Murphy, who admits he would set up bells on a table and force his sisters to answer trivia questions. “I’m the complete opposite,” said Ryan. “I was never a scholar.

So the only way I was ever going to be a part of the Scholars’ Bowl was to host it! To me, it’s exciting. We had some very close games – very few blowouts. Some went into overtime. Another one ended right at the buzzer.” Both say they’re looking forward to “how many complaint calls Ernie will get because of the way we mispronounced words.” Roberts laughs and takes it all in stride. “These kids answer a lot of questions. It’s like ‘Jeopardy!’ It’s educational and it’s entertaining.” Now in its 33rd year, the “East Tennessee PBS Scholars’ Bowl 2017” begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, and continues weekly at the same time through Friday, March 17, on ETPBS.

Eddie Mannis: 2016 Person of the Year The day after wildfires ravaged Sevier County, Eddie Mannis, president and CEO of Prestige Cleaners, Prestige Tuxedo and the Downtown Grind Coffee House, interrupted his cheery holiday Facebook announcements to post this message: “Sending prayers to our neighbors located in and around Gatlinburg. We are ready to help however needed. I have guest rooms and plenty of space and happy to do whatever I can.” Later that day, he translated

Training for life. Small group weight management – register now! For more information, call 859-7900 or visit TennovaFitness.com. Located off Emory Road in Powell

tion, he arranges a bus for the annual Powell and Knoxville Christmas parades. “We deck it out with Christmas lights for the parades and you can see it coming from a good distance. Whatever provides a sense of community pride is good for all of us,” Mike said. The Bayless brothers have been keeping a close eye on the renewal efforts being spearheaded by Justin Bailey, a fourth generation Realtor and the son of Larry and

‘East Tennessee PBS Scholars’ Bowl 2017’ gets new hosts

By Betty Bean

(865) 922-4136

John Bayless and Mike Bayless (right) flank then-Food City manager Terri Gilbert during the first Travis Wegener Memorial Car Show in 2015. The brothers handled food sales to raise money. File photo by S. Clark

words into action, listing supplies being collected at Prestige Cleaners or Prestige Tuxedo locations to be delivered by another of Mannis’ businesses, FRSTeam Eddie Mannis by Prestige Cleaners (Fabric Restoration Service Team). Soon he was swamped with donations. He took the following Saturday morning “off” to serve as grand marshal of the Fountain City Op-

timist Christmas Parade (and to participate with his employees in the Knoxville Christmas Parade the night before), but was soon back at the relief work, posting photos of the fabric restoration team serving lunch to adjustors and contractors at the centralized disaster relief location in Pigeon Forge. Later that day, he announced that Prestige Cleaners will donate $5 from any gift certificates sold in December to Pi Beta Phi Elementary School in Gatlinburg, which lost two students, Chloe

and Lily Reed, who died along with their mother, Constance, when they were unable to escape the flames that took their Chalet Village home. Many other Pi Phi students have been left homeless. “The school where the two little girls went still had 95 families who were homeless,” Mannis said. “The gift card sales came about because I want to help the school directly and I don’t know what resources they have. My concern is there are a lot of people in the service indusTo page A-3

New Year, new you. $25 enrollment this month.

For more information, call 859-7900 or visit TennovaFitness.com. Located off Emory Road in Powell


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