POSTAL CUSTOMER
VOL. 9 NO. 47 NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Pecans have arrived!
The Union County Lions Club is selling pecans to raise funds to help provide eye care services for Union County citizens. Pecans are currently available at the Union County Trustee’s Office in the courthouse, First Century Bank and Commercial Bank (Maynardville branch). Cost is $10 per pound for halves and $12 per pound for 12-ounce packages of dark chocolate covered pecans.
Nicley resigns as sheriff ’s deputy Union County Commissioner Dennis Nicley has resigned from the Sheriff’s Office where he was a deputy sheriff. Sheriff Billy Breeding confirmed Nicley’s resignation on Nov. 17, but deDennis Nicley clined to comment further. Shopper-News was unable to reach Nicley. Nicley is credited with a traffic stop in Luttrell in December 2011 that resulted in the recovery of some $80,000 worth of stolen ATVs.
IN THIS ISSUE Fletcher is parade candy man If you and the children are going to the Christmas parades in Luttrell and/or Maynardville, tell them to be on the lookout for Ted Fletcher. He’ll be the good guy in the old Chevy pickup truck, fireengine red, restored with tender, loving care to look as good as it is. The boys in the back will be Landon and Cameron. Give ’em a shout. They’ll have treats to share.
➤
Read Marvin West on page 2
‘Under the Tree’ Five hundred needy children in Union County are registered for Union County Children’s Charities’ “Under the Tree” program, and wish list ornaments are still hanging on trees awaiting angels.
➤
Read Libby Morgan on page 3
‘Shop Local’ Find dozens of stores with special deals for Christmas in the Chamber-sponsored “Shop Local” promotion.
➤
See list on page 8
7049 Maynardville Pike 37918 (865) 922-4136 NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark Libby Morgan | Bonnie Peters ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Shannon Carey Jim Brannon | Tony Cranmore Patty Fecco | Wendy O’Dell
www.ShopperNewsNow.com |
November 26, 2014
www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow
Nease shatters 50-year scoring record By Libby Morgan Back in 1964, Horace Maynard High School basketball player Lynn Bowman broke his older brother Ray’s single-game scoring record. Ray himself had broken the record twice in his high school years in the late ′50s, once with 47 points and again with 49. Lynn, team captain and senior at the time, scored an even 50 points against Friendsville six years later. Lynn’s plaque has stood unmatched in the trophy case for the last 50 years. Lynn says, “It’s an honor to have the record that long.” Last week, Brady Nease was on fire at the Patriots’ on-court contest with the Knox Ambassadors, scoring 51 points in the game. This feat more than qualified him as Patriot Athlete of the Week, if not the half-century. Lynn says, “Brady is a great ball player with great talent. These players nowadays are more talented, plus they get more training. It’s a faster game, more up-tempo, than when we played. “We had a fairly good team,” he continues, “We scored more than 100 points in a couple of games. But we didn’t play like these guys, and their competition is welltrained and talented, too.” Nease says, “After my dad congratulated me that night, he told me what I had already said – my score would have only been 42 back in the old days before the
Brady Nease beside the trophy case that has held Lynn Bowman’s scoring plaque since 1964. three-point rule. I’ll be sure to tell that to Lynn when I see him.” Bowman, a resident of Tazewell, will attend an upcoming home game to pass the torch to Nease. Nease says his little brother Barron, 13, is playing very well on the court.
“I hope he beats me one day. He’s telling me he’s going to. I think he’s going to be taller than me,” says the 6-4 Nease. Their sister, Brooklyn, channels her athleticism as a member of the cheerleading squad. Their parents are Kelvin and Joy Nease. The basketball Patriots started
the season with a 55-37 win over Central, a score of 93-63 in the record-breaking game, and they beat Gibbs in a close one at 63-61. “It’s early in the season, but Brady’s got a good game point average so far at 36 points,” says To page 3
Big changes for Hwy 61 in Luttrell By Libby Morgan TDOT brought a big presentation to the Luttrell Community Center, and a big crowd showed up to learn about plans to make Highway 61 safer through their city. TDOT official Steve Allen says, “Several years ago, (Mayor Johnny) Merritt and a few other folks came to Nashville and met with us about this road. The mayor left an impression on the commissioner (John Schroer), who said Merritt was very genuine. At the end of the meeting, the commissioner turned to me and said, ‘Steve, I want you to go up there and see what you can do to help them.’ “I’ve been personally involved with this project since then, and I TDOT official Steve Allen points to one of several drawings showing plans to straighten curves on Highway 61 in Luttrell. plan to see it through to fruition.
“These plans are not carved in stone, and we want your input before we decide on any of it. “We have these meetings in big cities, and we often don’t see this many people as we have here tonight.” A court reporter was on hand to get attendees’ comments on record. “This road has been looked at for a long time. We started back in 1994 by looking at 10.1 miles from Hwy 33 in Maynardville over to Blaine. The recommendations called for 12-foot lanes with 10foot shoulders. “The whole project is at $54 million in today’s dollars. It’s a To page 2
School board wants to extend TN Virtual Academy By Sandra Clark The Union County Board of Education voted unanimously Nov. 20 to extend the Tennessee Virtual Academy contract with K12 Inc. subject to possible changes in state law. State Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman had threatened to close the innovative program that brings about $400,000 into the Union County school system’s budget annually. But Huffman announced his resignation earlier this month, and Gov. Bill Haslam has not named a replacement. School board attorney Mary Ann Stackhouse advised the board to proceed cautiously. The contract between K12 Inc. and Union
County Public Schools renews automatically unless the board gives 180-days’ notice of its intent to non-renew. Stackhouse said the authorizing act will “sunset” on June 30, 2016, unless the Legislature extends it. She said a notice to nonrenew is the safest course. “We want to renew,” said board member Marty Gibbs, “and we want K12 to understand that is our intent.” Gibbs’s motion authorized Director of Schools Jimmy Carter and Stackhouse to draft a letter to K12 expressing the board’s desire to continue the Tennessee Virtual Academy, subject to action by the Legislature.
■ Also on Thursday, the board adopted a la carte prices for adult lunches in the schools including a $4 per plate charge for holiday meals. But the vote was not without objection. “We’re going backwards for faculty and staff,” said Carolyn Murr, president of the Union County Education Association. “These are federal guidelines,” said Carter. “A school lunch program is for students. “(Adults) have the right to do whatever you choose (either eat the lunches or not).” Carter said school lunches are nutritious and fairly priced, even at the higher rate for adults. Murr saw the increase as an-
other nibble at the employees’ standard of living: “We need a raise. It’s been too long.” ■ Carter appointed Ronnie Mincey and Roxanne Patterson to the “special question committee,” required by the Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act (PECCA). The board ratified teacher representatives: Carolyn Murr, Sarah D. Maness, Cheryl Roark, Shane Rose and John Fugate. The committee will conduct a confidential poll of all eligible professional employees to determine if 15 percent or more want to be represented by the UCEA in collaborative conferencing.
Trinity Funeral Home treats you like family because we really care.
Treating
NARCOTIC ADDICTION with
®
SUBOXONE
865-882-9900 expresshealthcare.webs.com
Pre-planning has never been easier! We offer monthly payments of 3, 5 & 10 years. No one is turned down regardless of health issues.
Lock today’s prices in! Compassion, Kindness, Professionalism ... from our family to yours.
Trinity Funeral Home, LLC
228 Main Street, P.O. Box 8, Maynardville, Tennessee 37807 2 Ph: 992-5002 Fax: 992-9007 www.trinityfuneralhome.net