UNION COUNTY www.ShopperNewsNow.com
|
www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Local candidates interviewed
The Union County school board interviewed two local candidates for director of schools, Randy Arnwine and Dr. Jimmy Carter, on Tuesday and will interview three applicants from out of town beginning Monday, March 18, at 6 p.m. at the high school. The meetings are open. Five finalists were among 12 applicants for the job which will be open upon the contract expiration of Wayne Goforth in June.
IN THIS ISSUE Gizmos and gadgets at library Chantay Collins can’t start her new class soon enough to satisfy Sandra Clark who says her house is packed with things she cannot work. For instance, there’s that great deal on a stove. ... See column on page 4
Butch Jones looks for a quarterback Butch Jones is a confident coach. He is convinced his way will work. He says his system is infallible if players buy in. I say the market is open. Step right up. Butch would have us believe he is flexible and adaptive to available talent. You won’t hear another word about those who departed early for the NFL. Well, you may hear congratulations if they are drafted high.
➤
By Cindy Taylor According to Elizabeth Davidson, legend has it that President Abraham Lincoln referred to Harriet Beecher Stowe as “the little lady who wrote the book that started a great war” in reference to the Civil War. Students from Union County schools heard Davidson at live performances March 7-8 at Horace Maynard Middle School. The presentation centered on the life and legacy of Stowe, author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Davidson, a 30-year veteran actor and graduate of Indiana University School of Music, began portraying Stowe in 2007 after working more than a decade to research and perfect the play. “Performing a play about Stowe was suggested by a friend and started out as a way to make money,” said Davidson. “Stowe was a diminutive white woman who had many characteristics in common with me. Her middle name was Elizabeth and her husband’s name was Calvin, same as mine.” Davidson said that Stowe had complete support from her husband to pursue her writing, unusual in the 19th
See her report on page 2
Patriot Pride Qualified students at Union County High School can earn college credits through dual enrollment with Walters State Community College. Donna Campbell (math) and Sherrie Collins (English) teach the courses. A history class is available, Collins said, but did not enroll enough students this semester.
NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark | Libby Morgan Bonnie Peters | Cindy Taylor ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Shannon Carey | Brandi Davis Shopper-News is a member of KNS Media Group, published weekly at 7049 Maynardville Pike, Knoxville, and distributed by mail to 11,000 homes in Union County.
Elizabeth Davidson in character during the play. Photo by Cindy Taylor
Water coming By Sandra Clark Union County Commission has approved an agreement with Luttrell-Blaine-Corryton Utility District to extend water into the Tater Valley area, said Mayor Mike Williams. “They’re already working in the area, and we’re just helping to extend the service on the upper end of Tater Valley.” Union County will pay $30,000 to LBC upon completion of the work, Williams said. The residents
must pay connection fees. Mike Viles and a contingent of property owners had attended several commission meetings seeking support. Also last week, Mike Williams the commission gave a nod to Hallsdale Powell Utility District’s proposal to extend water lines in the Big Ridge
area off Highway 61 for a county payment of $20,000. “No one had concerns, but to keep with the proper procedure, the Hallsdale proposal must go before the Budget and Finance Committee in April and then back to the commission for a vote,” Williams said. Commissioner Dawn Flatford has lobbied her colleagues for this project, including bringing a jar of muddy water to a meeting to show the lack of quality in the area’s well water.
Residents attended the March 11 commission meeting in support of both projects. In other action, the commissioners voted to pay expense money to constables even though their budget line is exhausted. “We’ll continue to pay them until the end of the fiscal year (June), and then set up a budget for them,” said Williams. The commission joined several other counties in passing a resolution affirming the constitutional right to bear arms, and commission declared a Cancer Awareness Month. Road Superintendent David Cox has purchased and is already using a “new-to-him” road grader, Williams said. “He was out in Sharps Chapel (Monday) ditching the roads.”
Music and art and baseball, ‘Oh my!’ By Cindy Taylor
Learn more on page 4
7049 Maynardville Pike 37918 (865) 922-4136
century. Davidson’s narrative encompasses letters between Stowe and others, quotes from the book and descriptions of how Stowe’s life affected her writing of the book. “Stowe believed that you didn’t have to use violence to change things, and that is why she wrote this book,” said Davidson. During her performance Davidson portrays many characters from Stowe’s life and from the book – upwards of 29. Prepping for a performance of this caliber would be difficult at best. “I don’t think of this as prepping for characters. I prep for the piece,” said Davidson. “The main prep is vocalization since there are so many characters.” Davidson performed both vocally and physically – throwing herself down onto the stage at one point when portraying a slave. Not an easy move for a 62-year-old with a history of leukemia, but Davidson pulled it off dramatically. Teachers brought Davidson to Union County through a Teaching American History Grant administered by the East Tennessee Historical Center. “‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ reTo page A-3
Commission OK’s expansions in Tater Valley, Big Ridge
Forty people with interest in seeing Maynardville gain an attractive and active downtown expressed their opinions at city hall last week. Libby Morgan was there.
➤
March 16, 2013
Davidson brings history to life
Read Marvin West on page 5
Visioning the city
➤
twitter.com/shoppernewsnow
A great community newspaper
VOL. 8 NO. 11
➤
|
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Jason Earley has been accepted to Belmont University and received a scholarship there to major in songwriting. Approximately 30 people per year are accepted into that program. Multi-talented doesn’t even begin to describe the Union County High School 2013 salutatorian. Earley drew national attention with his music more than three years ago. His art has garnered multiple awards and his athletic abilities have helped keep the Patriots at the top of their game in baseball for four years.
Like This
SPOT? CALL ME! BRANDI 705-6416 davisb@shoppernewsnow.com
His bio reads like a Who’s Who in America, not just Union County. And yet Earley remains shy when it comes to singing his own praises. “My favorite thing I do is song-writing,” said Earley. “My stepdad thought it would be cool for me to write my own song so he helped me do that when I was 7 years old.” This spurred an early love for music and art and started Earley on his chosen career path. He has artwork on display at the Union County Arts Center, but his love of music and
song writing trumps all else as his favorite pastime. His focus is in performing arts and he has two professionally produced CDs currently on the market. All songs on both CDs are written and performed by Earley who plays guitar. A highlight of his life was performing with the Christian group Third Day in 2012. Earley recently starred in an online commercial for Lifeway Christian Stores. He has received notification that his song To page A-3
A & B Bookkeeping & Tax Service Full Bookkeeping Services Payroll Services QuickBooks Consulting Income Tax Return Services Electronic Filing Refund Transfer Checks
Authorized Provider vider idder er Tax Preparation Fees Starting at $25
Union Center in Maynardville 2945 Maynardville Hwy., Suite 7
992-2010 Tonya Atkins, EA, Owner. 20 Years Experience
Jason Earley holds some of his favorite pieces of art including a hand carved stamp. Photo by Cindy Taylor
Davis Charolais Mike or Brad Davis 423-626-0313 or 423-489-9302 davischarolais@gmail.com