Shopper-News 012014

VOL. 2 NO. 3

www.ShopperNewsNow.com |

IN THIS ISSUE

➤

Read Betsy Pickle on page 3

Stokes: From ‘pops’ to judge His grandchildren may call him Pops, but Billy Stokes hopes you’ll soon call him Judge.

Stokes is running for the Division I Circuit Court judge seat being vacated by Dale Workman. His opponents to date are lawyers Bill Ailor, Kristi Davis and Ray Hal Jenkins.

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Read Jake Mabe on page 4

More on Mike Mike Stratton came uninvited from Tellico Plains to the University of Tennessee and stayed to become a first-team end in a two-way era, offense and defense. He learned a lot.

“I learned to be friends with the tailbacks. We didn’t throw many forward passes but when we did, it was the tailback doing the throwing.”

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Read Marvin West on page 5

Where the Jobs Are The IBEW union is actively recruiting women and minorities as a new training facility has opened on Central Avenue Pike off I-75.

Graduates of the program will have earned 45 hours of credit with Pellissippi State Community College, which takes them most of the way toward an associate’s degree.

This week Shopper-News launches a new feature: Where the Jobs Are.

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Read Betty Bean on page 7

Spanish program at S-D Middle Principal Beth Blevins will tell you that South-Doyle Middle School stands out in numerous areas. But among the top items she lists is the fact that South-Doyle is one of only two middle schools in the system that has a Spanish program.

Betsy Pickle talks to the teacher and kids.

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Read Betsy Pickle on page 6

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January 20, 2014

Snuggle time

Pavlis retools his website

First District City Council member Nick Pavlis doesn’t intend to spend his second term on cruise control. He says he is not only committed to advocating for South Knoxville and Fort Sanders, he’s also committed to keeping his constituents in the loop.

www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow

Mount Olive grant brings books, pjs to students

By Betsy Pickle Snuggling up with a good book while wearing cozy pajamas is a memory many people have from childhood. Mount Olive Elementary School early literacy coach Jennie Scott wanted to be sure the 251 students at her school have that same experience, so she wrote a grant, and her wish came true – partly thanks to Twitter.

“I had just started using Twitter,” says Scott, “and I saw a tweet about a school in New York that had donated pajamas to the community.”

It was the first time Scott had heard of the Pajama Program, a nonprofit that provides new, warm pajamas and new books to children in need. She went online, found the group’s website and got in touch with the Tennessee chapter president, Kathy Burns of Arlington, a community near Memphis.

“She reached out to me almost a year ago, and we have been working together ever since to coordinate this donation,” says Burns, who organized the donation of about 300 pairs of pajamas and 300 books to Mount Olive. “(During) the application process, which was approved by our New York headquarters, I was struck by Jennie’s commitment to literacy. She recognized the importance of parent/guardian support of literacy.”

Scott learned that lesson in her own home.

“Last year was my first year here as a literacy coach, and it was the first year my own children were wanting to read and learning to read and loving to read,” says Scott, who has a 3-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. “It was very eye-opening to me, the important role a parent plays in their child’s education.

Literacy coach Jennie Scott shows her excitement over the donation of pajamas and books to Mount Olive Elementary. Photo submitted “Research shows that children who read often not only do better in school, but they stay in school longer, which is our goal – we want them to graduate high school.

We want our children to read 20 minutes a night every night.”

Over winter break, Scott drove to Chattanooga with her mother, Bearden Elementary principal Susan Dunlap, to pick up the donations that started in Memphis. She began sorting the boxes of pajamas (the majority supplied by Carter’s) and books (from Scholastic) right after

Christmas with the help of math coach Tammy Roberts.

“She’s the one who’s really good at counting,” says Scott.

The surplus pajamas and books will go to a Knox County literacy program.

Last week, Scott sent a letter to parents to tell them about the Pajama Program’s donation and to ask for each child’s size. She and principal Paula Brown decided to distribute the pajamas and books the week of Feb. 24, when the school celebrates Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

“One of the things we have in

the letter is, ‘You are your child’s first teacher. We feel that it’s important for both school and home to be partners in your child’s education,’ ” says Scott.

“Jennie’s mission matched the Pajama Program’s mission perfectly,” says Burns. “We are proud to support Mount Olive Elementary and as a result (help) the surrounding community support kids and literacy.”

“I feel like this has been special,” says Scott. “People all over the state have donated to this in some way.”

Passion, promise and praise

By Carol Zinavage

The atmosphere at Baptist Tabernacle Church in Knoxville was noisy and convivial on a recent Monday night as the MLK Celebration Choir rehearsed for their Jan. 19 concert at the Bijou Theatre commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Convivial, but marked with great seriousness and focused intent.

“We’ve got a lot of stuff to get through tonight,” said Dr. Aaron Staple, Knoxville College’s director of choral music and leader/ pianist for the MLK choir, “so let’s get started with ‘Praise.’” He asked his son-in-law, Xzavian Wrushen, to lead the group in the spirited anthem. Wrushen conducted the group from his toes up, giving strong cues and commanding the singers with passion and precision.

Later, speaking of the great civil rights leader, Wrushen said, “Dr. King understood the concept of perfect love. Love transcends race.

It transcends gender, sexual orientation, religion – love doesn’t fit in

that carry his philosophy and the message he proclaimed, and songs I recall him hearing and liking.”

In addition to his Knoxville College post, Dr. Staple has been directing choirs at Baptist Tabernacle since 1963 and is retired from the Knox County school system where he was an elementary school teacher.

Folks who are lucky enough to attend one of his events know how much heart he throws into every performance. He specializes in collaborating with his soloists to showcase their individual talents.

With Dr. Staple providing the piXzavian Wrushen leads the women in a spirited anthem: Diane Johnson, ano accompaniment, singers can Sylvia Brown, Eloise Webb, Wilma Brabson, Dorothy Parks, Staffene Ocan, express their feelings of the moment. He’s always with them, givVivian Dial, Krishana Forbes and Dawn Davis. ing them room to soar.

His daughter Audrey Wrushen a box.” Several choir members con- violent measures, has been his is following in his footsteps. She led curred with softly spoken “amens.” greatest impact on my life.” Staple the choir in a rousing new anthem, “Martin Luther King was the attended the funeral of the slain “We Sing the Praises to Our King.”

“To me, Dr. King was an exvoice of peace for the 20th Cen- leader in Atlanta in 1968 and took tury,” said Dr. Staple. “Stand- note of the music played there. It’s ample of how to be a soldier for ing strong for what he believed influenced his musical decisions Christ,” she said. “He was no reagainst all odds, and using non- ever since. “I try to choose songs To page 3

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2 • JANUARY 20, 2014 • Shopper news

health & lifestyles

Nightmare reality Morristown teacher awakens to rare kind of stroke It was between 1 and 2 a.m. on July 18 – when Amy Guinn of Morristown awakened to a nightmarish reality.

Thrashing about in the bed so wildly that it awakened her husband, Terry, the 42-year-old mother of two was in the grips of a stroke caused by the inexplicable tearing of her carotid artery.

There had been no warning, no symptoms, nothing to point to a stroke that would rob her of her speech and paralyze her left side. An ambulance rushed Guinn to Lakeway Hospital, where she underwent several tests. She was diagnosed with spontaneous carotid artery dissection, a rare condition that normally affects women 30 to 40 years of age. Aside from her gender and age, she had none of the other risk factors.

It didn’t take long for medical professionals at the hospital to know they needed to send Guinn to the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center for specialized care. Recognized by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for its ability to care for stroke patients, Fort Sanders is a referral center for complex stroke cases. It is also home to the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, which is nationally known as one of the top rehabilitation facilities in the nation.

The Fort Sanders staff immediately began evaluating the extent of Guinn’s stroke,

asking such questions as “Where are you?” and “How many kids do you have?”

“I held up three fingers, but I meant that I only had two,” Guinn said. “I knew what my mind was saying, but I couldn’t get it to go along with my mouth.”

That’s no surprise to Dr. Keith Woodward, the neuro-interventional radiologist who examined Guinn at Fort Sanders Regional that morning. “She’s lucky to be alive,” Woodward said as he pointed to a monitor where a black-and-white image showed a tangle of arteries resembling a road map. “The carotid artery had a tear of about 10 centimeters (roughly 6 inches), and had caused a clot that was preventing blood from getting to this whole side of her brain.”

According to Woodward, the clot-busting drug tPA (tissue plasmogenic activator) could not be administered in her case.

Based upon the external exam, she was sent straight to the neuro-interventional lab for removal of the clots.

“I distinctly remember Dr. Woodward saying we can do three things: One, you can get worse. Two, you could have surgery and have a chance to get better or three, we can Amy Guinn of Morristown said she felt blessed that there was a stroke center so close to home.

NOT do the surgery and this is what you have,” said Guinn. “So, I said, ‘No! no! Do the surgery!’ ” The surgery, Woodward said, involved using a tube-like catheter that acts as a suction device. While the surgery successfully removed all the clots, the road to recovery remained.

Looking forward to starting a new job as a teacher’s assistant just two weeks before the stroke, Guinn suddenly found that she couldn’t do simple math or read, and writing was next to impossible as her writing hand – the now paralyzed left hand – remained fixed in a half clench.

After six days in the ICU, she was able to raise her foot half an inch. After two days in a step-down unit, she was sent to Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center.

“I was up and walking in no time,” Guinn said. “I was really happy with the care … I felt blessed that we had a stroke center so close.”

Today, almost four months after her stroke, Guinn has made remarkable strides.

The biggest obstacle facing her is writing.

After 42 years of being a lefty, she’s now learning to write with her right hand.

Guinn, however, remains optimistic.

“I believe in positive thinking.” she says.

“I have many people praying for me. We live in a small community, and the show of love that’s been made is just awesome.”

Recognize the signs of a stroke FAST! The early symptoms of stroke are often overlooked or ignored. If you suspect that you or a loved one is having a stroke, think FAST:

Fort Sanders Regional is ‘Stroke Ready’ When you have a stroke, the care you receive immediately after it happens is critical. Fort Sanders Regional, along with its sister facilities within Covenant Health, have been deemed “Stroke Ready” by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program. This means these hospitals are qualified to give patients the best initial care at the onset of a stroke. The hospitals of Covenant Health are working together to provide state-of-theart emergency treatments and the most advanced stroke care in the region.

Also, Fort Sanders Regional is a comprehensive Stroke Center, and for patients recovering from the effects of stroke, the nationally renowned Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center offers a full spectrum of rehabilitation services.

To learn more about stroke prevention, risks and treatment through Fort Sanders Regional, visit fsregional.com, or call 865-673-FORT.

F – FACE: Look at your face. Is one side sagging?

A – ARMS: Hold out your arms. Is one arm lower than the other or harder to hold in place?

S – SPEECH: Is your speech slurred or garbled?

T – TIME: Time is critical when trying to minimize the effects of stroke.

Call 911 and get to a hospital as quickly as possible. And be sure your hospital is a stroke-ready, Comprehensive Stroke Center, like Fort Sanders Regional.

Stroke Belt keeps Fort Sanders Regional doctor busy Ask Dr. Keith Woodward what life is like in the Stroke Belt, and he’ll give you a one-word answer: “Busy!”

It’s no wonder – in 2012, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center’s Comprehensive Stroke Center treated 455 patients for stroke. In 2013, it averaged 35 to 40 strokes per month.

Woodward’s department treats about 100 of those patients per year.

“Those are very high numbers,” Woodward said. “We are in the buckle of the Stroke Belt, and stroke volumes are high here. Of course, this is much higher than all other facilities due to Fort Sanders’ comprehensive stroke center certification and the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center being here.”

Too, the risk factors for stroke – high blood pressure, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and the Southern diet of “fried everything” – are all higher here.

When Woodward came to Knoxville, no one could perform procedures inside the arteries of the brain.

He was particularly concerned when a local high school football player collapsed with a stroke and had to be sent to Asheville, N.C., because that was where the closest doctor was that could treat those disorders.

“I decided to go back and complete additional training to perform these procedures in the brain,” Woodward said. When he returned in 2005, patients no longer needed to travel to get the best stroke care.

Now at Fort Sanders Regional for a decade, he is currently chair of its Acute Stroke Team and Medical Director of the Neurovascular Research Center of East Tennessee. Woodward is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology and has the Certificate of Added Qualification in Interventional Radiology.

Strokes are now the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States.

Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. Disruption in blood flow is caused when either a blood clot blocks one of the vital blood vessels in the brain (ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into surrounding tissues (hemorrhagic stroke). Ischemic strokes account for 87 percent of all strokes.

In many cases, Woodward treats those patients with a procedure known as mechanical embolectomy.

“We place a needle in the artery in the groin and advance a catheter, using X-rays as a guide, until the cath-

Dr. Keith Woodward says advances in stroke treatment have drastically reduced the time it takes to remove clots, often minimizing damage to the brain. eter reaches the neck,” Woodward says. “Then, we advance a smaller catheter into the brain to the clot. A pump is then attached, and the clot is sucked out of the artery.”

The procedure has come a long way over the years.

“The tools are so much better – six-hour procedures to remove clots have been reduced to now commonly less than 30 minutes,” Woodward says, adding speed is vitally important when treating strokes. That is because the longer the clot remains, the longer the brain is without blood and oxygen.

As a result, the cells in the affected area begin to die, affecting whatever functions that area controlled.

“More often than not, stroke damage is permanent,” says Woodward.

“However, it almost always improves over the first six months after a stroke.

Rehab is the key during that period to help the brain recover.”

Busy though they may be, Woodward says his days are not without their rewards. One of those, he said, is when “I can see a person unable to walk or talk, and 24 hours later, they can go home from the hospital.”

COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CENTER:

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Shopper news • JANUARY 20, 2014 • 3

Pavlis hopes for traffic – on website First District City Council member Nick Pavlis doesn’t intend to spend his second term on cruise control. He says he is not only committed to advocating for South Knoxville and Fort Sanders, he’s also committed to keeping his constituents in the loop.

City Council member Nick Pavlis tours Fort Sanders. Photo

Betsy Pickle

submitted

Pavlis has revamped his website, www.nickpavlis.com, to be more userfriendly and interactive, and he’s determined to keep it updated with news pertinent to the district.

“I’ve highlighted and condensed it into the real meat of the story, if you will,” says Pavlis, who is also vice mayor. “Some weeks it may be pretty juicy – like

last week was fairly decent with the greenway (Council approved funding for a leg of greenway from the J.E. ‘Buck’ Karnes Bridge to Marine Park) and (an update on) road paving, and some weeks it may be a yawn. You can’t control that.

“There’s so much going on in my district, and people are so busy, I just thought it would be really good to hand-deliver it to them.”

All of the writing on the

site is his own – no ghostwriters for Pavlis.

“You can tell,” he says.

“English wasn’t my strongest suit. You’ll be able to tell it’s in my own words, and you’ll have to excuse the punctuation or lack thereof.”

Pavlis, director of government and media relations for Charter Communications, traveled to Nashville last week for the opening of the General Assembly.

He says he will update the site and his blog throughout the week.

He’ll continue to send his “News From Nick” email once a week and meet quarterly with constituents at informal coffee events, his “favorite thing to do.”

“I will … keep my website fresh because if I don’t then I’ll get slack. I like to do it when it’s fresh in my mind so I don’t forget anything.

“At the end of the day, it’s about keeping people in my district informed.”

Passion, promise and praise specter of persons; he saw everyone the same, which is the way God sees us. He always walked in his purpose.”

Yolanda Flowers, who was raised in Birmingham, Ala., agreed. “Although I did not know Dr. King, to me he meant freedom and civil rights.”

Bass Harold Bassett Xzavian Wrushen conducts, chimed in from across the sings and plays the piano. room. “I have a somewhat Photos by Carol Zinavage different perspective,” he said. “I was raised in the county. I didn’t know

I was ‘integrated’ until I heard of Dr. King’s assassination. I didn’t know anything about black history, about what our people had been through. I didn’t know about freedom until I learned about Dr. King.”

Soprano Earnestine Branner quickly agreed.

“Dr. King raised my awareness of civil rights. The greatest gifts he gave us are peace, perseverance and faith.”

“To me, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. epitomizes

South Knoxville Alliance members Janice Tocher, Debra Bradshaw and Antoinette Fritz discuss plans for an event called Second Saturday. Photo by Betsy Pickle Details are still being worked out, but we can reThe South Knoxville Alport that SKA members are liance is always looking for coming up with creative ways to bring folks from ideas to draw people to busiother parts of town to South nesses and other landmarks Knoxville. April will see the in South Knox. Stay tuned launch of a new initiative to this space for updates. tentatively called Second Saturday.

■ Date for Vestival A committee met last Candoro Arts & Heritage Monday at Round Up Restaurant. About 10 represen- Center has set a date for tatives of SoKno businesses Vestival 2014. It will be Satdiscussed aspects of the urday, May 10, at Candoro April launch and the ongo- Marble, 4455 Candoro Ave. Vestival celebrates the arts ing program. The emphasis will be on exposure and and history of South Knoxhaving fun, for visitors and ville, showcasing bands on South Knoxvillians alike. three stages, children’s ac■

Drawing a crowd

tivities, other entertainment and fresh, local food. Vendors offer items such as fine crafts and art.

Attendance typically ranges from 1,100 to 1,300.

The event is free, but a $5 donation is encouraged.

Proceeds go to the care and restoration of the Candoro Marble building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and grounds.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for both the Maryville Pike and Carriage House stages. For info, contact candoromarble@ yahoo.com.

From page 1 our past, our present and our future,” said Dr. Eloise Webb. “We’re still clinging to his words and hoping we’ll have a better tomorrow.”

Lawrence Washington, a bass who’s been with the choir for many years, nodded. “He’s one of my heroes,” he said quietly.

Pat Benn wrapped it all up succinctly. “Passion, promise and praise. That’s it. That’s what Dr. King represented.”

Dr. Aaron Staple at the piano

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On March rch 29 29, 1968, 1968 Martin Luther King, King Jr. Jr went to Memphis to support a union. And not just any union; a labor union that was fighting for the rights of employees. The negotiations were not going well. The union told King and he gladly accepted their invitation to come and lend his support to the union's cause.

King supported the labor union and ultimately died supporting them.

So the next time you are wondering why we should care about what happens to labor unions, just remember why Martin Luther King, Jr. went to Memphis.

government Opening TVA’s closed doors While TVA seldom reports or even hints at what is happening at closed board committee meetings, there has been lots of speculation since Mike McWherter broke tradition and voted no on the extension of Bill Sansom’s term as chair. It sent shock waves throughout the organization. This kind of public dissent just does not happen. Here is what I have learned from several sources.

Victor Ashe

The recommendation to extend Sansom came from the compensation committee chaired by Barbara Haskew, 73, whose term expires in May. However, the committee had also received a request that director Joe Ritch, 63, be named chair. Ritch is from Huntsville, Ala. Since Sansom wanted to continue as chair until his term expires in May, Ritch opted not to challenge him. However, Ritch will likely be the next chair.

While the board has had a vice chair in the past (last held by Sansom in 2011) it has not been filled for two years. No reason was given for leaving it vacant.

Recently, the board determined the chair of the audit committee would be chair if the real chair could not attend the meeting, but no discussion occurred on what happens to the empty vice chair position.

It’s a safe bet Sansom will not name Mike McWherter. And it’s a safe bet that Sansom and Haskew will not be reappointed by President Obama. ■Another question being discussed privately by board members is whether all board members can attend any committee meeting including those they are not members of.

Legal counsel Ralph Rodgers has opined that if five board members attend a committee meeting it could become a board meeting.

The finance committee (the most important committee) has four members and does not allow other board members to attend. Rodgers even discourages five directors being on a TVA plane at the same time as it might suggest a meeting.

This means the nonmembers never hear what

was discussed or what was rejected. They are kept in the dark. This is one of many reasons the committees should meet in public and let ratepayers know what is happening. It’s surprising that environmental groups like Sierra Club have not taken on the issue of closed committee meetings. ■Ralph Rodgers was paid $1.9 million a year as chief general counsel for TVA in 2013. However, this is a reduction in income for Rodgers as he made $2.5 million in 2012, according to the statement TVA filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If you think this is fiction, check out the SEC filing for TVA. Only seven years ago, in 2007, Rodgers was making just $180,000 a year so his increase is 10 times in seven years. Then TVA general counsel Maureen Dunn (now married to former TVA director Neil McBride) made $330,000 in 2007 ... much less than $1.9 million.

Not many attorneys in Tennessee make that much in a single year. TVA could easily find well qualified attorneys to accept Rodgers’ position for less than half that amount if he refused to pare back his excessive salary from ratepayers.

Now that this is becoming public, one wonders how long the board will remain silent. It is stunning that a quasi-governmental lawyer at TVA makes 10 times what a federal district judge makes and this quantum leap occurred in seven years. TVA Is also notorious for sending convoys of attorneys to legal proceedings.

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Duncan, when asked, said these salaries were “ridiculously excessive.� Duncan is the only member of the Tennessee congressional delegation who has spoken out for years against excessive TVA salaries. ■Gary Sousa made $140,200 a year as UT band director. He continues to make this amount, although his band duties were suspended and he has no duties at present. The investigation is still ongoing.

However, if the outcome of the inquiry results in Sousa being moved back to the faculty, his salary will be $105,050. ■The 25 percent reduction is standard UT practice for persons moved from administrative to faculty positions, according to Margie Nichols of the UT chancellor’s staff. The head of the music school would assign him new duties.

4 • JANUARY 20, 2014 • Shopper news

Paul Kelley’s influence continues Says charter school founder Diggs It’s times like these when Steve Diggs misses Paul Kelley.

Betty Bean Not that he doesn’t feel the loss of his longtime mentor most every day, since Kelley died a year ago – but now Diggs, as executive director of the Emerald Youth Foundation, has gone public with a plan to plunge into the charter school business, and he wishes he could have the benefit of Kelley’s sage advice. “He was my second father, and I wish I could sit down in his living room and

talk all this over with him.�

Kelley was a career educator, longtime president of the Oakwood-Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association, multi-term school board member and lifelong champion of inner-city children.

In 2010, the Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy, a non-traditional high school in the Knoxville Center mall, was named for him.

Kelley and his wife, Norma, were members of Emerald Avenue United Methodist Church when Diggs, fresh out of Maryville College, was hired as a youth minister back in 1988. Diggs took to the job with vigor and vision, and Kelley’s encouragement and advice became invaluable as the EYF became an inner city-wide youth ministry, eventually serving 1,400 children.

Today, Diggs and his family live two doors down from the Kelleys’ family home, and he still sees Norma frequently. He believes Paul Kelley would approve

of Emerald Charter Schools and the plan to enter the contentious and highly political field of education.

The first thing Diggs wants to make clear is that he is a public school guy.

His children attend Christenberry Elementary School and Fulton High School, and Diggs is active on both campuses.

He is distressed by the low scores that Knoxville’s urban students have been getting in math and language arts, and says he wants to do something to help children become college-ready by the time they finish high school. “I am a public school advocate,� he said. “In fact, we are going to increase our offerings to public schools and we think the public charter school option will be another strategy to accelerate the path to achievement.�

The second thing he would like to make clear is that the first Emerald Charter School will not involve a

takeover of any existing Knox County school, although he will consider any space that might be offered.

The first Steve Diggs Emerald Charter School will serve kindergarteners and firstgraders only, and the student body will consist of 75 to 100 inner city first and second graders.

Diggs says he has not chosen a location, but anticipates that it will be near Fulton High School, perhaps on property soon to be abandoned by Physicians Regional Medical Center (the hospital that Diggs’ neighbors still call St. Mary’s). “We think we’re going to need about 20,000 square feet,� he said. “We’ll see what’s going to be available.�

He believes Paul Kelley would approve.

‘Pops’ hopes to be called ‘Judge’ His grandchildren may call him Pops, but Billy Stokes hopes you’ll soon call him Judge.

Jake Mabe

Stokes is running for the Division I Circuit Court judge seat being vacated by Dale Workman. His opponents to date are lawyers Bill Ailor, Kristi Davis and Ray Hal Jenkins.

Like Jenkins, Stokes is a former Knox County Republican Party chair. He’s safe, familiar.

His mentor, Richard Bean, stood quietly in the corner, as everybody stopped by to say hello. Duane Grieve and Gail Jarvis were chatting in another corner. Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero dropped by, as did former county GOP chair Chad Tindell.

Stokes’ wife, Bay, a former educator, was saying howdy to everybody. It felt homey, familiar.

Billy is a Knoxville native. At least two of his classmates at Beaumont Elementary School and Rule High showed up to support him. Billy remembered playing football against the Dink Adams-coached Halls High football team, and says he figured out a way to deal with Dink’s offensive tandem of Elmo Brock and Bruce Blakely.

Raised in Lonsdale, Stokes first attended

Bailey Hickerson, 3, runs up to chat with Bay and Billy “Pops�

Stokes after Billy addresses the crowd at his campaign kickoff at Calhoun’s on the River. Photo by Jake Mabe

Maryville College to play football. A shoulder injury ended dreams of gridiron glory, so he transferred to UT. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and was soon hired as juvenile counselor for the Knoxville Police Department.

When that job was eliminated, Stokes attended UT law school and worked full-time as a shift supervisor at the East Tennessee Regional Juvenile Center,

now named for Bean. After receiving his J.D., he joined the U.S. Army, serving as a captain in the Judge Advo-

cate General’s Corps.

He is a founding partner of Stokes & Fansler, worked for Gov. Don Sundquist and boasts a bunch of other stuff you can read at his website. “I’ve been doing this for a long time,� Billy said, “but the most important thing is that I practice law, step in and resolve conflicts. I’ve tried cases for a long time, both for plaintiffs and defendants, and I’ve won some and I’ve lost some.�

He says that he has the experience, education and temperament to do the job well. “Just keep the talk on the street and we’ll move forward and win this thing on May 6,� he said to his supporters.

Granddaughter Bailey, 3, either liked what she heard or wanted to talk to Bay and Pops, ’cause she got to them before supporters could.

Surrounded by friends and family, Billy Stokes looked comfortable. He felt like a winner. Billy’s is the familiar face in the race, but sometimes voters like fresh faces.

I don’t know what’s going to happen on Election Day, but I do know this. Familiar doesn’t need a road map or a question mark. “Pull Up A Chair� with Jake Mabe at jakemabe.blogspot.com

Waggoner fundraiser set for Jan. 31 Wright’s Cafeteria, 5403 N. Middlebrook Pike, will be the setting for a Friday, Jan. 31, fundraiser for Bobby Waggoner, candidate for Knox County Sheriff in the May 6 Republican Primary. The spaghetti supper will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and will be available at the door or by calling 978-1042.

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More Mike Stratton Mike Stratton came uninvited from Tellico Plains to the University of Tennessee and stayed to become a first-team end in a two-way era, offense and defense. He learned a lot. “I learned to be friends with the tailbacks. We didn’t throw many forward passes but when we did, it was the tailback doing the throwing.�

That strategy led to nine receptions as a senior in 1961 and Mike’s lone experience with a professional scout. “Gil Brandt (Dallas Cowboys) came to see Glenn Glass and I got to meet him.

Glenn asked about me as a prospect and Mr. Brandt said oh yes, he would check on me.�

Brandt, ahead of the world in technical aspects of

Marvin West

talent searches, didn’t know there was a Mike Stratton.

Buster Ramsey was the first coach of the Buffalo Bills. He had Maryville roots and had played at Knoxville High School. One of his East Tennessee connections told him that Stratton had good hands, good speed, good size and genuine potential on defense. He was added to the draft list – in pencil.

Ramsey got fired while trying to make something out of nothing and Lou Sa-

The language of the soul But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

(Psalm 13: 5-6 NRSV) Anything worth thinking about is worth singing about.

(Bob Dylan) Which is why we have songs of praise, songs of love, songs of sorrow. (“And Bob Dylan Too,� Mary Oliver) I was never particularly a Bob Dylan fan. He wrote some great music, but as a singer, in my opinion, he left much to be desired.

However, Dylan was absolutely on target when he said, “Anything worth thinking about is worth singing about.�

Take, for example, the children’s song “Ring Around the Rosy,� which is actually a song about the Black Death. Or, those Kilkenny Cats, who fought until “instead of two cats, there wasn’t any.�

On the far other end of the spectrum is my all-time favorite, hands-down winner as the best single piece of music ever written, J. S. Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.�

I have made music as long as I can remember.

One of my earliest memories was sitting at the piano playing the keys with no particular song in mind, which was not, please note, making music. But I was fascinated with the sounds, and I wanted to make music.

I was amazed, one day in the first grade, when a sophisticated second grader came to my classroom to inform my teacher that I was to go to another room for my piano lesson. Piano lesson?!? I knew nothing about a piano lesson! He led me to the correct room, where I had a lesson, received my first music book, and was, quite simply, a goner.

I was never a great pianist, just a competent one.

I was a good singer, never a great one. I have made my living mostly through church music, entertained my mind with folk music and ballads, fed my soul through singing with the Knoxville Choral Society, and kept babies happy with

Cross Currents

ban became the new coach in Buffalo. “The American Football League drafted early and it wasn’t a very big deal,� recalled Stratton. “I stopped at Sam and Andy’s on the strip one evening and somebody told me I had been drafted.�

The next morning, the pay phone on the second floor in the stadium dormitory was ringing its bell off.

As usually happened, the nearest Volunteer woke up enough to answer. “Hey Stratton, this one’s for you.�

It was Lou Saban. “He said I had been drafted by the Bills in the 13th round. He asked if I could come out to the airport for a meeting. I was on crutches

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its own. Almost everybody said it decided the championship game. Some said it became the cornerstone of Buffalo’s development as a franchise. “I never wanted to be known as a one-hit wonder,� said Stratton. “But when people asked about that tackle, I always accepted responsibility and smiled.�

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coach. The coach had come to the school to pick up the tailback.

Stratton played 12 seasons of professional football, 156 games as an outside linebacker. He intercepted 21 passes. Six times he was in the Pro Bowl. He has an honored place on the Bills’ wall of fame. He was elected to the Buffalo all-time team, chosen after 50 years. He is a legend in western New York.

Stratton had one of the historic hits in all of football. In the 1964 AFL championship game against San Diego, the great Keith Lincoln was about to catch a pass. Mike, a full-grown 6-3 and 240, and the ball arrived in about the same instant. Fans said “ooooh.�

Lincoln did not get up.

He had a rib problem.

The “Hit heard around the world� took on a life of

Lynn Pitts

lots of lullabies.

Most of the Scripture and poetry I have memorized is in my head because I sang it. I can sing the lyrics of many songs I learned in the ’60s (who can explain that, except to say that a younger brain is a more trustworthy repository than an older one?).

I turn to music when I am sad. The day my father died, when I was 10, I sat down at the piano and played my sorrow. Someone suggested to Mother that maybe that was not appropriate – music in a house of bereavement – but she had the wisdom, even in the midst of her own shock, to say “No. Let her play; that’s how she is expressing her grief.�

I was pleased beyond all reason when I learned that the universe sings as well. There are, I am told

by Those Who Know, vibrations humming out there, echoes of the Big Bang (which I understand as God’s voice saying, “Let there be light!�). That sound created the universe and began the “music of the spheres,� as the poets call it.

One of my music professors made a statement that I shall never forget: “Music is the only art form that is ephemeral. It is here and gone; performed and dies away; exists only in its moment and ceases to be.�

Except in the human heart.

from an ankle injury in the Vanderbilt game, but I borrowed John Bill Hudson’s car and drove out to the airport. “Coach Saban was pleasant but businesslike. He offered me $9,000 for the 1962 season and $1,000 bonus if I would sign right then. “Glenn Glass had given me some tips about negotiations. I decided to try one. If the Bills would raise the offer to $10,000 and give me the other $1,000 as a cash advance, I said I would sign.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Coach Saban said OK.�

Stratton wondered if he had sold himself short.

A little later, back on campus, there was Lou Saban and Glenn Glass on a joy ride, seeing the sights from a big convertible, talking about real money.

Stratton had hobbled to the airport to meet the

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6 • JANUARY 20, 2014 • Shopper news

Spellers go the rounds at Mooreland Heights

By Betsy Pickle Talk about your nail-biters.

The top spellers from Mooreland Heights Elementary School’s third- through fifth-grade classes were already under pressure. The eight nervous students were performing not only in front of their classmates but also for “celebrity” judges Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett and school board member Pam Trainor and members of the media.

But after several rounds of dealing with words such as “detective,” “merge” and “permission,” the young spellers had not one, but two showdowns at the Jan. 10 competition.

In the first, fifth-grader Brittany Grooms doggedly kept spelling until she clenched victory with “bombard.”

The real battle royale was between the next three finalists, who duked it out for several more rounds to determine an alternate for the county bee. Just as one

Grooms

Claxton

student seemed certain to capture the title, a second, fate-deciding word would trip them up.

At a couple of points, the crowd in the gym gasped in unison. No ballgame could have held their attention so thoroughly.

Third-grader Jordan Claxton finally emerged victorious with “affluent.”

Afterward, Burchett confessed to his own spelling Waterloo.

“The word ‘dialect’ haunts me to this day because that was the one that got me in Ms. Cole’s sixthgrade class at West Hills,” said Burchett.

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Allie Brown waits on Mckenzie Edwards and Caleb Wood as all three practice their Spanish in a “restaurant.” Photo submitted

Middle school Spanish program: It’s all about communication

By Betsy Pickle Principal Beth Blevins will tell you that SouthDoyle Middle School stands out in numerous areas. But among the top items she lists is the fact that SouthDoyle is one of only two middle schools in the system that has a Spanish program.

Thanks to Spanish teacher Mary Nolen, it’s one that sticks with the students. When she arrived at SDMS for the 2012-13 school year, Nolen wanted to make sure her kids didn’t have the same experience she did.

She remembers “going to Mexico after having a semester of Spanish and being literally unable to commu-

nicate. I found it so disappointing.”

And even though her test scores and accolades marked her as a top student, Nolen knew she couldn’t survive in the real Spanishspeaking world.

As an honors student at the University of Georgia, she decided to do a thesis through the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities on why foreign-language classes in American schools were so ineffective.

“I went in and did some research about what are we doing wrong and what should we be doing in language,” says Nolen, who earned bachelor’s degrees in foreign-language education and in Spanish.

After college, Nolen taught ESL to Spanishspeaking adults in Atlanta.

When she came to SouthDoyle, she was able to put

her research to use. The most important concept: speaking Spanish almost exclusively in the classroom.

“With my Spanish 1 students, we spend 80 to 100 percent of the time in Spanish,” she says. “There’s a penalty if you don’t speak Spanish.”

The second part of the equation is using Spanish in real-world applications.

After they’ve studied vocabulary and conjugations concerning food, for example, they’ll set up a restaurant or supermarket in the classroom and have conversations.

Nolen teaches two different tracks. Spanish I is for students who score proficient or advanced on their English and Language Arts TCAP test. The class can earn them high-school credit.

The other track is for any

student and can be taken more than once. It’s a nineweek, 30-minute-a-day exploratory Spanish class where they learn basic vocabulary and find out what it’s like to take a foreign language.

“At the end of the course they’ll be able to introduce themselves and have a basic conversation,” says Nolen.

She says Spanish I draws 40 to 50 students, and the exploratory classes enroll 180 and up.

While there’s plenty of data to show the benefits of taking foreign languages, especially for children up to age 12, most school systems don’t make those classes a priority. Nolen is grateful to have found a supportive principal in Blevins, and she believes the kids are benefiting.

“They’re just soaking it up. They’re great students.”

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Shopper news • JANUARY 20, 2014 • 7

Apprentice electricians earn while they learn

By Betty Bean There’s a door immediately to the right of the entrance of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ shiny new $2.5 million training facility (excluding land cost) at 6107 Central Avenue Pike. The room on the other side of the door makes a statement.

The first door to the right in the IBEW Local 760 Training Center leads to the building’s electrical service and telecommunications hub, housed in a spacious room with stainless steel panel covers, fully-finished walls and floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the space with natural sunlight.

“We are making a statement because we do excellent work,” said Michael Marlowe, an IBEW business development and community relations specialist who also serves as a fifth year instructor in the apprenticeship program housed in the IBEW 760 Training Center.

“Normally, when you get to an electrical closet, they don’t even paint the walls.

This is our dream of an electrical closet,” Marlowe said.

Straight ahead is program administrator Cindy Sanderfur’s desk. Around the corner in the administrative suite is the office of training director A.J. Pearson, who has come home to East Tennessee after retiring from the National Joint

News from Pellissippi State - Magnolia Campus

Mike Marlowe stands in the electrical closet of the new IBEW training center. Photo by Ruth White

Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC).

He served as director of the NJATC for 18 years. Down a shiny hallway are five separate classrooms and a computer lab where 85 apprentices take evening classes.

Annual tuition of $600, which covers books, lab fees and materials, covers only a fraction of the cost. The IBEW kicks in the rest – around $2,500 per year.

Apprentices become union members and pay dues of $37.50 per month.

The IBEW places them in day jobs where they receive on-the-job training and earn half the starting wage of a journeyman electrician – about $11.50 per hour.

They also receive health insurance and are enrolled in three retirement plans

– two traditional pension plans plus a defined contribution plan– the costs of which are not deducted from their pay.

They finish the program as journeyman wiremen with a minimum of 900 hours of classroom instruction and 8,000 hours of onthe-job assignments.

“Every one of our benefits is in addition to the onthe-check wage. And once they enter the program, we find them jobs through our hiring hall service and our electrical contractor partnerships,” Marlowe said.

“It’s our solution to the problem of how do you get a good job with no experience, and how do you get experience without a job.”

Despite the limiting language in job descriptions,

there are two women enrolled in Marlowe’s fifth year class, and several more in the apprenticeship program.

The union is actively recruiting more, Marlowe said.

“Women and minorities are traditionally underrepresented in the construction industry, but we are working to change that.”

Graduates of the program will have earned 45 hours of credit with Pellissippi State Community College, which takes them most of the way toward an associate’s degree. If graduates choose to continue their education past that point, an affiliated Electrical Construction Management program is available at Middle Tennessee State University.

Info: ibew760.org or 5248638.

Participants from Pellissippi State Community College at last year’s MLK Parade.

PSCC staff revisit parade

By Heather Beck The 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade is Monday, Jan. 20, and every year since 2008 Pellissippi State Community College has participated with a contingent of its faculty, staff and students.

“That first year, there were 13 people who turned out in freezing temperatures to represent Pellissippi State at the parade,” said Gwendolyn Miller, who now heads the college’s MLK Day Parade Committee.

Clarkes partner at John Bailey Company

News from Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC)

Brandon Clarke has joined his father, John Clarke, as partner in John Bailey Company, one of Knox County’s oldest insurance agencies, founded in 1946. Both are graduates of the University of Mississippi, and Brandon graduated from Farragut High School.

Community Action Committee case managers Eric Johnson of Guy B. Love Towers, Rene Eastern of Northgate Terrace, Yolanda Grant of Isabella Towers and Scott Bennett of Cagle Terrace.

The case for case managers

By Alvin Nance With financial support from the city of Knoxville and Covenant Health, we recently renewed a wonder f ul partnership with the Community Nance Action Committee (CAC) to provide fulltime case managers at each of our four high-rise buildings: Isabella Towers, Cagle Terrace, Northgate Terrace and Guy B. Love Towers.

We began this partnership in 2008 to prevent homelessness and help residents succeed in their housing, and because of the program’s proven success, I am excited to be able to continue and expand this program.

Since 2008, nearly 459 residents have received case management services.

None of our residents participating in case management have been evicted to the streets, but instead have maintained stable housing at KCDC or been assisted by the case workers in finding alternate housing situations.

“The program’s benefit is seen in the lives of the residents who now have knowledgeable and caring case managers to help them live independently and avoid the pitfalls of life that can lead to homelessness,” said CAC executive director Barbara Kelly.

“Prevention is the best homeless program because it is compassionate, cheaper than other approaches and more likely to be successful than any other intervention.”

The case managers assist residents with budget training, housekeeping, transportation, physical and mental health ailments and mediation issues with neighbors. They will even assist with finding housing with other programs better equipped to serve their particular needs. KCDC high-rises serve primarily an elderly and disabled population, so access to these services is crucial to our residents being able to enjoy a full, healthy life.

The ultimate goal is to find the best place for the resident to thrive. And according to our property managers, case managers make this happen!

“Having case managers is a dealmaker,” said Steve Ellis, senior asset manager for Love Towers. “The CAC case managers allow us to be proactive in addressing needs as they arise before they become major problems. They help us develop our community to its potential.”

Thanks to KCDC, the CAC, the city of Knoxville and Covenant Health, our residents will continue to able to receive the individualized attention they need to succeed at our properties.

Alvin Nance is executive director of KCDC.

Brandon Clarke and John Clarke have partnered to keep the traditions of John Bailey Company going strong.

Nancy Whittaker Brandon Clarke is cofounder of the Young Professionals of Knoxville and co-chaired the 2011 Dogwoods Arts Festival. He was recognized as a young leader by The Knoxville Business Journal’s 40 under 40 and was instrumental in developing a website to show what makes Knoxville great. Check this out at www.knoxify.com.

Originally downtown, John Bailey Company has been at 1011 N. Broadway for the past seven years. There are 12 employees including Brandon’s wife, Lauren, who is the bookkeeper. Her other full time job is taking care of their daughters, a 5-year-old and 16 month old twins. John’s daughter, a graduate of UT, resides in Nashville.

John Bailey Company writes business in 28 states, with 60 percent commercial, but agents also handle personal lines, life and health. Info: www.johnbaileyco.com or 524-0785.

■

Ready to dance?

If you are ready for a great time, come on out to Cheyenne’s Dance Hall.

Every Friday and Saturday night you will find both line and couples dancing.

The Cheyenne’s Dance Hall Band starts playing at 8 p.m.

Located at 202 Williams Road in Seymour, it won’t be long before you’ll want to be one of the “regulars.”

Admission is only $6. Doors open around 6:30. Come early and have dinner. Info: 983-1298 or 724-7762.

Tickets are $35 and proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House. Make Mark your calendar now reservations by calling 637for Friday, Feb. 7, from 5:30 7475 or email sbeverly@ p.m. to 7:30 p.m. as Stan- knoxrmhc.org. You may ley’s Greenhouse will host also pay at the door. a “Beat the Winter Blues Guests will receive a 10 Wine and Cheese Party.” percent discount on any A magical evening of purchase made that evening wine, cheese, music and from Stanley’s Greenhouse, beautiful blooming flowers located at 3029 Davenport will help melt away any sign Road in South Knoxville of the winter blues.

■

Ronald McDonald House fundraiser

“It was 14 degrees, but the crowd was excited, and once we began walking, we warmed to the cold weather.

We carried the Pellissippi State banner, held up signs, and passed out commemorative posters and school memorabilia as we mingled with the crowd. We sang ‘We Shall Overcome.’ And this has become the standard for each parade since.”

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is always on the third Monday of January, near the date of King’s birthday, Jan. 15. King was born in 1929 and was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968, at age 39.

Since 2008, the number of Pellissippi State faculty, staff and students who participate in the parade has tripled.

“To me, the parade serves as a reminder that there is still work to be done and children to be taught,” said Yolanda Roebuck, who originally spearheaded the college’s participation in the event.

“We cannot rest on the laurels of our predecessors.

It has been worth every step of the way, some years in the snow and freezing temperatures, to be able to answer a child’s question about Dr. King or listen to an elderly person share his experience of what Knoxville was like before the Civil Rights Movement.”

This year the event begins at 10 a.m. downtown.

The route runs from Tabernacle Baptist Church on Martin Luther King Avenue to the Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church in the Burlington community.

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