POSTAL CUSTOMER
VOL. 9 NO. 51
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December 24, 2014
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Warm clothes The Horace Maynard FFA Chapter of Union County High School will distribute winter clothing collected for its Warm for the Winter campaign. The event will be 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 27, in the high school commons. Anyone in need is welcome.
Jeri Lett drives her 1952 Farmall Cub tractor in the Union County Christmas Parade. More pictures on page 2. Photo by Libby Morgan
Chamber banquet The annual Union County Chamber banquet will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Rutherford Memorial United Methodist Church, Corryton. Tickets are $40 with table sponsorships at both a gold and silver level. Info: Union County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 848, Maynardville, TN 378070848 or 865-992-2811.
Last call, pecans Pecans are available from the Union County Lions Club at the Union County Trustee’s Office in the Courthouse, Commercial Bank (Maynardville Branch), First Century Bank, First State Bank and the Union County Board of Education. One pound packages of pecan halves and pieces or 12 ounce packages of dark chocolate covered pecans are $10 per package. All funds raised go toward providing eye care services for Union County citizens.
IN THIS ISSUE Marvin West Money trumps tradition. How else can you explain changing the name of the historic Gator Bowl to TaxSlayer Bowl? The online tax prep people started paying the price in 2011. Naming rights were finalized this year.
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See story on page 5
Ronnie Mincey Sometimes it seems the indignities life visits upon us will never end. The humiliation of my high school physical education class followed me on at least two separate occasions outside the locker room and gymnasium.
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See story on page 4
Bonnie Peters Built in 1834, the Scott Brock home, later known as the Oscar Walters home, was located next to what we know as the Cecil Butcher home on Walker’s Ford Road.
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See story on page 4
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
Christmas parade 3 miles long By Libby Morgan The Union County Christmas parade spread out a bit along the way, but as the first float coming back down Main Street neared the startup location at the high school, the last horses on the 3.2-mile route were in sight. Prior to start, the school parking lot was chock-full of cars, tractors and floats, the road in front of the school had a long line of Claiborne Hauling dump trucks, the back road was full
of floats and the Wilson Park lot held about 60 horses, some with riders and several pulling wagons and carts. “We’ve got one of the biggest parades I’ve ever seen,” said Santa, as he dashed around the lots giving out dozens of trophies before the parade commenced at about 2:30. Organized each year by the Union County Rescue Squad, the members of the volunteer organization flawlessly executed its plan to pull off the biggest event of the season.
School board explores energy savings By Sandra Clark It was a short school board meeting Dec. 18 as board members gathered in the high school library. Gerald Smith missed the meeting. Joe Bond, representing Johnson Controls, presented a plan for upgrading energy systems at various schools at no cost to the school district. The board voted to ask County Commission to commit to a non-refundable $30,000 toward Joe Bond the program. “This will be budget-neutral,” said Bond, “with no construction overruns, no cost overruns and no change orders. It (will be) a guaranteed price.” Bond said the Union County Public Schools pays about $925,000 per year for utilities. With new equipment and items such as motion sensors to turn lights on and off depending on movement, he predicted annual savings of $230,000. “Every building and all your gyms would get new lighting,” said Bond. He estimated a $3.45 million project with most construction to be done in summer 2015. County Commission would determine the funding, usually done by issuing bonds. Johnson Controls guarantees the energy savings will offset the repayment of the bonds or loan.
After an 18-month hiatus, TVA will resume offering rebates to non-profits and governments for energy upgrades, Bond said. “Tonight, if you commit to go forward, the $30,000 will go into the project. We will come back with bids on equipment. … We’re estimating spending about $65,000 on engineering.” Bond said Johnson Controls is a $42 billion company ranked 67th in the U.S. Fortune 500. His proposal follows a similar offer by Nancy McBee representing Trane. ■ Ann Dyer, finance director, said the state auditor wants the school district’s fund balance to equal one month’s expenses. That means an increase from about $1.4 million to $1.7 million. Director of Schools Jimmy Carter said the system cannot do this in one year. He recommending a plan to beef up the fund balance over four years, and the board will consider it in January. ■ The board named its representatives to the Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act (PECCA) which will meet to discuss working conditions and pay with representatives from the Union County Education Association. The boards reps are: principals Lisa Carter, Sonja Saylor, Linda Harrell and Melanie Maples; supervisors Ronnie Mincey and Roger Flatford; board member Gerald Smith; along with Roxanne Patterson and Jamie Bowman.
Jacob “I’m an elf!” Warner, his pony Chocolate Ice Cream and his mom Julie Warner, set the standard for cuteness for the Union County parade.
Grandmother’s Flower Garden Edith Kitts (at center), host of the Hubbs Grove FCE Christmas party, shows a “Grandmother’s Flower Garden” quilt she recently finished from old and new pieces as club members Connie Buckner and Zettie Booker admire the work.
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