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VOL. 42 NO. 52 1
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July 28, 29, 2013 December 2016
Surprise gifts aid fire victims
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.
Kristen Ellis unwraps gifts with Joe Engle, president of LHP Management, that she will put to use in her family’s new apartment. Photo by Ruth White
By Kelly Norrell “The crockpot is definitely our favorite cooking utensil. But also the toaster. We’ve never even owned a toaster,” Kristen Ellis said recently, as she restocked her kitchen. Ellis’s household was one of 14 that lost everything Nov. 21 when fire swept through their building at Stonewall II apartments, 5022 Chapman Highway. A total of 23 people lost everything. But in recent days, LHP Capital, owner of the apartment complex and several others around Knoxville, has showered displaced families with
new items after employees raised more than $6,500 to restock their new apartments. In a festive event Dec. 19, Joe Engle, president of LHP Management, helped distribute the gifts at Stonewall I apartments on Sevier Avenue, where many of the displaced residents now live. Swathed in red Christmas wrap, the gifts included towel sets, shower curtain with liner, a blanket, a baking set, food-storage container, mixing bowls and measuring cups, potholders and dish cloths. Each family also received a $150 Kroger gift card.
Representatives of five families came to the office to collect the gifts and express thanks. “We are getting pretty settled in the apartment and it is starting to feel like home. I really want to thank God for blessing us with so many things,” Ellis said, as she pulled out more items like a vegetable peeler, collapsible measuring cups, and stackable mixing bowls. LHP delivered gift sets to the other residents, who now live at 1100 Studios on Lula Powell Drive and Stonewall II’s other buildings. Three displaced families have opted to move elsewhere, said Amy
Styles, LHP marketing and public relations director. Ellis and residents like Lynda Bowers also expressed thanks to Valley Grove Baptist Church, which gave new dishes, silverware and cookware to each household. “We are so thankful for the tremendous outpouring of love and support from LHP and the community. We will use every bit of it,” said Bowers. “I used to dread doing dishes. But I was washing dishes last night, and I thought, ‘This is the most To page 3
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.
‘East Tennessee PBS Scholars’ Bowl 2017’ gets new hosts 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
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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.
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
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
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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 By Betty Bean
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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-
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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 3