UNION COUNTY www.ShopperNewsNow.com
|
The 33 Bridge project was in the Oct. 26 bid letting with an anticipated start date of January 2013, according to TDOT community relations officer Mark Nagi. There have been no changes to weight limits or size of trucks allowed to use the bridge, he said. A state trooper continues to monitor the site six days a week, five hours at a time, to check weight limits and prevent violators from crossing if necessary. Nagi said Phase 2 of the SR 33 widening project from Temple Acres to Union County Line is budgeted in FY-12. Earliest let date is February 2013. Proposed Phase 3 of the SR 33 widening project, Knox County Line to south of SR 144, is budgeted in FY-13. – Cindy Taylor
|
twitter.com/shoppernewsnow
A great community newspaper
VOL. 7 NO. 43
33 Bridge bid let
www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow
POSTAL CUSTOMER
October 27, 2012
Making ’lasses
IN THIS ISSUE
Coffee Break
Somebody forgot to send Chantay Collins the memo on proper attire and demeanor for librarians. Meet your favorite Halloween character at this week’s Coffee Break.
➤
Meet Chantay Collins on page 2
Dark in the Park Dark in the Park drew a record crowd of more than 400 to Wilson Park for food, candy and a few frights. Ghosts, goblins and ghouls, along with a few princesses, pirates and pixies, roamed the grounds in search of treats and granting tricks.
➤
See pictures on page 10
Moving on Cuonzo and I and several players and possibly you anticipate solid improvement in Tennessee basketball this winter. Those who do national polls and predictions are not convinced. The Volunteers exceeded expectations last season. They caught on to Cuonzo Martin’s way of life in time to win 19. They went 7-1 in February by being mentally tough enough to prevail at Gainesville, Columbia and Baton Rouge. They did not finish well.
➤
See Marvin West on page 9
4509 Doris Circle 37918 (865) 922-4136 NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark | Cindy Taylor ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Shannon Carey | Brandi Davis Shopper-News is a member of KNS Media Group, published weekly at 4509 Doris Circle, Knoxville, and distributed by mail to 11,000 homes in Union County.
Belgian Draft horse Suede takes his turn at the pole. Brothers Alex, James and Christian Gavette help Polly Gray feed the cane. Earl Bull’s nephew Tom Hutchinson keeps Suede moving. Photos by C. Taylor
By Cindy Taylor “Watch your head!” and “duck!” may not be the first phrases you think of in the molasses-making process, but according to Earl Bull it may be the most important. “When that pole comes around you’d better be prepared,” said Bull. “It already got me a few times.” “Stops hurting after about the 10th one though,” joked Tom Hutchinson. Earl and Aurora Bull hosted a steady stream of onlookers including family and friends from Ohio, Michigan and Florida who helped
and observed what the Bulls hope to make an annual event. Earl is familiar with the process of molasses-making from his youth, but he built what he needed to make the sticky sweetener on his farm just this summer. Grandson Jed, 6, helped build the furnace. The workers cut and stripped the cane, fed it through the mill and cooked the juice. The process took four days, and the first run yielded 42 quarts. Not a moneymaking endeavor if you count the labor, but it certainly looked like fun for those who observed. The cooking took place in a log
Earl Bull and Frank Manning pour the green juice into the pans to prepare for cooking over the furnace. building that was on its way to the of moving the logs, he loaded them woodpile when Bull spotted it. himself and brought them to his Told he could have it for the price farm to reassemble.
Health insurance costs rise School employees at odds By Sandra Clark A simmering disagreement among teachers boiled over at the most recent school board meeting as staff debated benefits for single employees and those with families. Nicole Hickle Shoffner, who teaches at Paulette Elementary School, said as a 10-year teacher with two degrees Shoffner she brings home “barely $2,000 per month” after paying a $643 premium for family health insurance. She urged the school board to increase its support for family benefits. Director of Schools Wayne Goforth agreed: “I’m making a bold state-
Director of Schools Wayne Goforth and school board chair David Coppock talk with county commissioner Joyce Meltabarger before the school board meeting. Photos by S. Clark ment. I agree with Nicole. at our money to see if it can We need to help these be better spent.” young families. Let’s look Shoffner’s dream was
Abundant Health & Wellness Jennifer Savage & Emily Harless
“to come back to Union County to teach.” Now she’s not sure she can stay, without taking a part-time job. Goforth said a beginning teacher makes $32,000, and a teacher buying insurance for a spouse and two children will pay in excess of $7,200 for the annual premium. The system pays the full benefit for individual certified employees, although non-certified personnel are not eligible for insurance at all, according to Joyce Meltabarger, a county commissioner who also works as a teacher’s aide. “I’m not talking for myself,” she said after the meeting. “I’m on Medicare.” Carolyn Murr, who teaches at Maynardville Elementary School and chairs the Union County Education Association, said a committee had reviewed the premium increase, polled the teachers and presented its findings
to the school board. “We brought back our results to the board and your decision was based on those results.” Recently elected board member Marty Gibbs said, “This is the first time I’ve seen this.” He said the board was faced with a $100,000 increase for health insurance. Marilyn Toppins said the school board was notified in March of an impending 9.2 percent increase. That was confirmed in June and reconfirmed in July as final BEP (state funding) estimates were refined. “The board only voted to pay $12 (for certified personnel),” said Dr. Ronnie Mincey. “The board never voted on (how to cover) the 9 percent.” The upshot was a new committee consisting of Goforth, Gibbs and board member Brad Griffey to review the insurance.
100% ANTIFREEZE $7.99/gallon
Family Nurse Practitioners
865.922.7777 7020 Maynardville Pike Knoxville, TN *Must present coupon.
Order online at www.papajohns.com use promo code BOGO2911 Exp. 12/15/12
• Health care delivered in a compassionate & caring manner to patients of all ages • Medicare & most insurance plans accepted Monday thru Friday 8-5; Saturday 8-12
2945 Maynardville Hwy • Suite 3 • 745-1258 Next to Union Discount Pharmacy
Discount tobacco and grocery 992-0785
• 1784 Maynardville Hwy.