South Knox Shopper-News 052015

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SOUTH KNOX VOL. 32 NO. 20 1

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Diving into summer at

BUZZ

Chapman Pool

Climb-it change Starting Friday, Knoxville’s climbing enthusiasts will have a home of their own. Ijams Crag is the newest thing to love about Ijams Nature Center. The outdoor climbing area has 10 climbing routes so far, with another 20 due to open soon. They range from easy to “what was I thinking?” Benjy Darnell, Kelly Brown, Robert Blackwell, Sam Adams and Charlie VanAnda, with help from others, have been working for months to prepare the site. Rivers Sports Outfitters, Patagonia, Lowe’s and the city of Knoxville have been the primary supporters. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Attendees are advised to arrive at 4; it’s a half-mile hike on rocky terrain to get to the site. Parking is limited, and carpooling is encouraged. To get to the site using the Ijams entrance on Aberdeen Lane, from Island Home Avenue take Gilbert Lane (opposite Island Home Baptist Church) to Belvedere Avenue. Turn right onto Aberdeen and continue right at the fork.

TGIF “Think Greenway, It’s Friday” is the rallying cry of the Vestal Community Organization. The VCO is racing the clock to complete the Mary Vestal Park Greenway Extension before their city challenge grant ends on May 29. Volunteers are asked to meet along the greenway by Goose Creek 3-6 p.m. Friday, May 22, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday (TGIS?), May 23, to help clear vegetation. Everyone should sign in at the site so that their work hours will count toward the match grant. Bring gloves and, if possible, tools.

The vote goes on There’s still time to vote for the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club’s Downtown Downhill trail at the Wood Property in the Bell Built Trail Building Grant Contest. AMBC’s Urban Wilderness Gravity Trail is one of three semifinalists competing for the East Coast top spot in the contest. Voting runs through Sunday (May 24), and national voting to choose between East Coast, Central Region and West Coast winners starts May 27. The overall winner gets $100,000 toward building a “rad” black diamond bike trail. Go to www.bellhelmets. com/bell-built to vote.

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Chapman Pool has one of the few high diving boards in the area. Photo submitted

By Betsy Pickle Local politicians and chamber of commerce types are forever referring to one South Knoxville site or another as a “hidden gem.” They aren’t lying, probably, but if you’re really after a hidden SoKno gem that will provide hours of healthy fun and respite from the summer heat, you need to discover Chapman Pool, 608 E. Gov. John Sevier Highway.

Chapman Pool opens for its 52nd season of serving South Knoxville and Seymour on Saturday, May 23. Memorial Day weekend is the traditional launch of pool season, and that’s true at Chapman. For Mandy Irvin, it’s a family tradition. “Opening Day is always a pivotal time for my family as all of the behind-the-scenes labor between my dad, myself and other volun-

teers is used to benefit the members,” says Irvin, the 2015 season pool manager. Irvin’s grandmother was a founding member of Chapman Pool, and her father was pool manager for many years. Irvin, who is lifetime wellness/physical education teacher and volleyball coach at South-Doyle High School, has been following in her dad’s wake as pool manager for several years.

“In my 29 years, I have never spent a summer away from Chapman Pool,” says Irvin. “Most of my favorite summertime memories revolve around the pool, from begging my mom to take me – along with my sisters – to the pool every day rain or shine; my 10th birthday party with an Olympic theme in 1996; watching my PawPaw win To page 3

SOUP dinner benefits food co-op By Betsy Pickle

The second version of Knoxville SOUP scored extra funding for a new local food co-op. Held at Ijams Nature Center, the combination dinner/microgrant initiative, presented by the South Knoxville Alliance, drew its first proposal from outside of South Knoxville this time. Organizers are trying to encourage individuals and groups from throughout the city that need funding for creative communityimprovement projects to take advantage of the program. The SoKno Food Co-op, 6710 Willa Essie of the SoKno Food Co-op receives the Knoxville SOUP Chapman Highway, won the grant grant money from master of ceremonies Alan Williams. from Saturday night’s donations Willa Essie, director of the co- tendees mentioned that they had for dinner – a total of $305 from around 60 attendees. Alan Wil- op, presented her project at the visited the co-op since its openliams of WVLT served as master first Knoxville SOUP in March but ing in April, and seeing it in action did not win the grant. Many at- likely aided the popularity of Esof ceremonies.

sie’s proposal. Alliance House Community of Knoxville, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to fighting poverty, health issues, illiteracy, inequity and inequality in at-risk communities – particularly in the 37912, 37914, 37915 and 37917 ZIP code areas – was the first non-South Knox contender for a SOUP grant. The evening’s third proposal was from South Knoxville Elementary School, which was seeking funds to create a reading nook. Attendees listened to the proposals, then dined on soup, sandwiches, salad, fruit and desserts before casting their votes. Knoxville SOUP plans to hold the dinners bimonthly until they gain the momentum to go monthly. They are also looking for a permanent meeting space. Info: knoxvillesoup.com.

Teachers’ raise in play with reduced schools budget By Betty Bean Back in February, Gov. Bill Haslam gave teachers a reason to hope when he included nearly $100 million in his budget to give them a 4 percent raise. Superintendent James McIntyre made it clear it was past time to do it. Sales-tax revenue numbers were holding their own, and over on the county general government side, the notoriously penurious Mayor Tim Burchett was poised to recommend a 3 percent employee raise. But now, the possibility looms that teachers could be the only Knox County employees who won’t get a pay raise, and there have been fears that the annual merit pay (APEX) bonuses could be in jeopardy as well. While Knox County Schools personnel were awaiting Mc-

Intyre’s recommendation on how to deal with a budget shortfall, County Commission chair Brad Anders and school board chair Mike McMillan were working out the details to convene a joint commission/school board meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 South Gay St. Both said everything will be on the table for discussion – including raising taxes. “I’ve not had any discussions with Dr. McIntyre regarding cutting the teachers’ pay raise (from the 3 percent McIntyre has recommended),” McMillan said. “The question becomes how much are you going to cut?” Though noncommittal, McMillan said he expects discussion of some kind of tax increase to come up at the joint meeting. Anders

was blunt: “We haven’t had a property tax increase since 1999. I know it’s not popular among Republicans, but I’d like to talk about it. It’s going to get to the point that we have to,” he said. “And it’s not just for schools for me – I don’t think the schools are as efficient as they could be. But there are great infrastructure needs across the county. “We’re on a 100-year rotation on paving roads, for example. We’ve got 2,000 miles of roads in the county, and we’re paving less than 20 miles a year, most years. The Rescue Squad, whom we depend on, is in financial trouble. Do we let them fall? “In my district, we’ve got two parks – Harrell Road and Plumb Creek – sitting, purchased and designed, but not done. We’ve got a

subdivision in Karns, the road is coming apart from the curb. We should be doing more sidewalks around schools.” But for now, the county’s finance director, Chris Caldwell, said the problem is simple arithmetic. Burchett’s budget appropriates $14 million more than last year to Knox County Schools, based on growth in sales and property tax revenues. But the state funding formula covers only 44 percent of KCS teachers, leaving the county to make up the gap – a gap that’s exacerbated by last year’s decision by the school board to spend $4 million from its fund balance. Caldwell also said automatic step raises are not built into county general employees’ pay scales (unlike teachers), making it difficult to draw an apples-to-apples comparison.

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