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VOL. 2 NO. 1 July 29, 2013www.ShopperNewsNow.com www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNowVOL. 4 NO. 26 June 29, 2016www.ShopperNewsNow.com www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow

SOUTH KNOX

BUZZ

By Betsy PickleEvery U.S. citizen knows that

July Fourth is the day the original American colonists declared inde-pendence from England, but that meaning tends to get lost amidst barbecues, fun at the lake and fi reworks.

Liberty will be front and center, however, on Monday at Marble Springs State Historic Site, 1220 W. Gov. John Sevier Highway. Events throughout the day will revisit aspects of 18th-century life, leading up to a “Let Freedom Ring” ceremony at 2 p.m., when local participants will join people across the country in ringing a bell for each of the 13 original colonies.

“John Sevier, who resided on the property and was the fi rst governor of Tennessee, played a vital role in the independence of the United States, having been a Revolutionary War hero, fi ghting at the Battle of King’s Mountain, which many historians consider a pivotal turning point in the war for independence,” says Anna Chappelle, executive director of Marble Springs. “Those ties are naturally going to be there, that he fought for our liberty and for our freedom.”

A June 26, 1963, resolution by the U.S. Congress established the commemoration of the bell-ring-ing that took place at 2 p.m. July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia to announce

Terry Sisk, now president of the Gen. Henry Knox Chapter of the Tennessee Society, Sons of the Revolution, instructs

a young attendee as she takes part in the July 4, 2014, bell-ringing ceremony at Marble Springs State Historic Site. Photo submitted

pp

Celebrating Independenceat Marble Springs

Proposals sought for Knoxville SOUP event

Proposals are being sought to compete for funding for the next SOUP dinner, to be held 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 7, at the South Knoxville Community Center, 522 Maryville Pike.

Knoxville SOUP is a dinner and micro-funding event designed to raise money for creative projects that are proposed, voted on and enacted by members of the community.

Application deadline to submit a project proposal or be a featured artist is June 29. Info/application: KnoxvilleSOUP.org.

By Betsy PickleThe ground has already been

broken – stripped bare over the past several weeks and shorn of decades’ worth of trees and other greenery – but an offi cial ceremony marked the launch of the fi rst phase in a $446 million, multiyear Alcoa Highway improvement project.

Tennessee Transportation Com-missioner John Schroer headlined a groundbreaking event held ad-jacent to Alcoa Highway in a front corner of Sevier Heights Baptist Church’s parking lot. As vehicles whizzed by mere yards away – few of them seeming to adhere to the

new 40-mph speed limit – Schroer and local elected offi cials cheered the start of the project.

The fi rst section, the 1.4-mile stretch from Maloney Road to Woodson Drive, will be widened from two to three lanes in each direction with “collector” (access) roads on each side so that there will be no at-grade streets directly entering Alcoa Highway.

The $70.9 million project is ex-pected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2019. It will include three bridges connecting the collector roads and roundabouts at East Maloney Road, West Maloney Road and

Montlake Drive.Schroer described Alcoa High-

way as an “important” but “dan-gerous” road.

“From 2013 to 2015, we’ve had 899 crashes on Alcoa Highway over an 11-mile stretch,” he said. “We’ve had eight fatalities on that same stretch; 45 serious injuries.

“The amount of volume that’s on this road is interstate-like.”

Following Schroer, state Sen. Doug Overbey, who represents Blount and Sevier counties, said, “I’ve always been told for years and years and years that Alcoa Highway is the most heavily trav-

New principal

at S-D MiddleAndrew Brown is the new

principal at South-Doyle Middle School, replacing Taiwo “Tye” Sutton.

Brown joined Knox County Schools in 1999 as a science teacher at Central High School. In 2004, he began teaching science at a high school in Bristol, Tenn., and in 2006, he became an elementary school principal there – a position he now holds.

Brown has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Carson-Newman and a master’s in education administration from Lincoln Memorial University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate at Carson-Newman University.

Sutton will become assistant principal at Northwest Middle School. In an email to parents, he wrote, “It is my hope that you will continue to create a learning environment that is student-centered and will keep your focus on high-level instruction.

“Continue to encourage our wonderful students to demon-strate leadership every day.”

This administrative change was interim superintendent Buzz Thomas’ fi rst.

Alcoa Highway project launch gets offi cial blessingeled non-interstate highway in the state, and I think that … makes the case for these signifi cant highway improvements.”

State Sen. Becky Massey of Knox County said the project had personal meaning for her because a family friend, Nancy Kerr, was killed while trying to enter Alcoa Highway from Maloney Road.

“It’s going to … make a dif-ference in people’s lives,” said Massey.

State Rep. Eddie Smith, whose

the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“You don’t really see something like this every day,” says Chappelle.

The General Henry Knox Chap-ter of the Tennessee Society, Sons of the Revolution and the newly formed John Sevier Chapter of

the Overmountain Victory Trail Association will present the day’s programming. There will also be guided tours of Marble Springs.

Weigel’s on Chapman

City Council member Nick Pavlis reports that Weigel’s is building a new $2 million-plus convenience store/gas station on the former site of Mr. Zip, 3925 Chapman Highway, at the intersection of Chapman and Moody Avenue.

Construction is expected to begin within the next two weeks and will take about fi ve months, depending on the weather.

By Sandra ClarkImagine the shock of Patti

Bound when a chain link fence ap-peared around part of the campus of Brickey-McCloud Elementary School, a short distance from her home. “Why should I know any-thing,” she said when asked. “I’m only on the Board of Education.”

Bounds was surprised to learn that new fencing is coming for Powell Middle School, also in her district. She said fencing has nev-er been discussed during her two years on the board.

Gus Paidousis, security chief for Knox County Schools, said seven campuses will be fenced this summer. “We continue to put fencing in place to improve ac-cess control.” The fencing started in the fall of 2013 following a dis-trictwide security assessment. It’s funded through the KCS’s secu-rity budget which also funds video monitors and cameras.

Fences popping up like mushrooms

Gus Paidousis

There is a school resource offi cer (SRO) at each campus and often a Sheriff’s deputy or city po-lice offi cer as well.

Paidousis said fencing was a priority of one-third of principals

surveyed. “We started with our elementary schools where por-table classrooms and playgrounds were wide open. We’ve fenced 20 schools – two middle schools and the rest elementary.”

On tap for this summer are Whittle Springs and Powell mid-dle schools, along with Brick-ey-McCloud, Ritta, West Hills, Beaumont and Halls elementary schools. All projects are differ-ent, he said, and costs range from $20,000 to $100,000 per school.

In addition to the cost, the fenc-

es are playing havoc with plans to build sidewalks and greenways so kids can walk or bike to school.

At Sarah Moore Greene Mag-net Academy, a six-foot fence was erected on one side of a greenway even though a four-foot fence was already in place on the other side – making this the best protected greenway in town.

Russ Oaks, chief operating offi -cer for KCS, said the new fence does not obstruct the greenway while the older fence is around a playground. Incoming principal Amy Brace has asked that the shorter fence be re-moved.

At Karns Elementary, security fencing blocked entrance to the campus for kids walking across a community-sponsored bridge over Oak Ridge Highway. Paidousis said that problem was fi xed last year by relocating a gate.

The fences are secure during the school day and will be left

open for community use at other times, he said.

Are we overdoing this?“My general philosophy is the

more fencing the better,” said Paidousis, but “we have enough people in the loop to keep us even.”

In addition to the school prin-cipal, the team includes someone from the central offi ce, generally Oaks, and Dennis Archer of the maintenance department. Ar-cher’s job is to ensure access for mowing and maintenance and to fi re hydrants.

“Generally, the feedback from parents has been very positive,” said Paidousis. He prefers chain link fencing with a black vinyl coating. He keeps fencing away from the front of buildings, when possible, and sometimes uses decorative fencing, like at New Hopewell in South Knox.

To page 3

2 • JUNE 29, 2016 • Shopper news

health & lifestyles

For more than 50 years, members of the Fort Sanders Regional Volunteer Auxiliary have helped support the mission of Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.

Want to know more about volunteering at Fort Sanders Regional? Call (865) 541-1249 or go to fsregional.com.

TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS - THANK YOU!

0094

-009

4

Dream MachineFSRMC’s bigger, faster MRI opens doors 24/7

Wider, shorter, faster, sharper, roomier.

It’s not the latest “dream ma-chine” on your auto dealer’s show-room fl oor – it’s the new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine on the lobby level of Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.

Installed last March, the Siemens Magnetom Aera 1.5T TrueForm Magnet’s larger opening, ultra-short design and increased weight limit now makes non-invasive diagnos-tic imaging of soft tissue, bone and muscle possible for a wide range of patients who may have been oth-erwise excluded. The new unit can accommodate pediatric, obese, critically ill, and kyphotic patients as well as those with respiratory prob-lems, pain and mobility issues.

“We have been able to perform MRI exams on many patients that would not have been able to com-plete their exam on an older MRI scanner,” said Ben Redmond, lead MRI technologist at FSRMC. “The design of the head/neck, fl ex wrap, torso and integrated spine coils give us the ability to scan patients in more comfortable positions. Overall scan times are faster, and the design allows for more fl exibility, helping us meet the imaging needs of our entire patient population.”

In many cases, MRI may reveal different or additional information

Fort Sander’s newest MRI has

a larger opening, ultra-short

design and increased weight

limit to enhance each patient’s

imaging experience.

The Magnetom Aera MRI creates

clear, high quality images like this

one of a patient’s brain.

FSRMC: Better pictures, better treatmentThere’s more to Fort Sanders

Regional Medical Center’s radiology and imaging service than meets the eye. That’s because advanced imag-ing technology enables physicians to see deep inside the body, provid-ing clear, sharp images that result in more accurate diagnoses and a bet-ter course of treatment.

X-RAYOf course, the most common im-

aging used is the X-ray which has been around since 1896 when anat-omist Albert von Köliker x-rayed his own hand. Today, basic X-ray tech-nology is a key element in the identi-fi cation, diagnosis and treatment of many types of medical conditions. Those include:

■ Mammograms ■ Digestive problems ■ Arthritis ■ Blocked blood vessels ■ Bone cancer ■ Lung conditions ■ Enlarged heart ■ Fractures ■ Infections ■ Osteoporosis ■ Swallowed items

MRI SCANSMagnetic resonance imaging,

which uses radiofrequency waves and a strong magnetic fi eld, is

the most sensitive exam for many problems because its amazingly clear, detailed images provides doctors with views of organs, soft tissue, joints and bones, tumors, and swelling. It is helpful in iden-tifying cancer, heart and vascular disease, stroke, joint and mus-culoskeletal problems, pinched nerves and multiple sclerosis and encephalitis.

Because there’s no radiation ex-posure to the patient, MRI has be-come a popular diagnostic tool and has replaced several invasive modes of examination, therby reducing the discomfort and the risk of complica-tions for many patients.

Together, the 3-Tesla MRI unit in the Thompson Cancer Survival Center and the new Magnetom Aera MRI on the lobby level, aver-age 160 MRI exams per week and anticipates performing 8,400 MRI exams by year’s end as it provides outpatient, inpatient and emergen-cy diagnostic exams.

COMPUTATED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) SCANS

Sometimes called Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) scans, these scans combine the power of X-rays and computers. Doctors can

see a patient’s internal anatomy without surgery.

These scans reveal bone and soft tissues, including organs, muscles and tumors. CT greatly helps doc-tors with diagnosis, surgery and treatment. For example, in radia-tion therapy, determining the cor-rect dose for a patient depends on knowing the precise density, size and location of a tumor.

At Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, our Lightspeed® 64-slice VCT scanner is an ex-ample of the latest technology. It captures a precise image of the brain instantaneously, the heart in just fi ve heartbeats, the full body in 10 seconds, and can scan for stroke symptoms in less than a second. It can detect any of the three most dangerous causes of chest pain with a one fast scan instead of hours of tests. The Lightspeed® 64-slice VCT scan-ner provides faster scans with lower-dose radiation resulting in quicker diagnosis and treatment for patients.

ULTRASOUNDAt Fort Sanders Regional Medi-

cal Center, doctors rely on ultra-sound for images of the heart, abdo-men, kidneys and other parts of the body. Images are obtained through

the use of high frequency sound waves.

New ultrasound units provide the latest in imaging capabilities. Doctors can see pictures of internal organs as they function and also can assess blood fl ow.

For instance, Vivid 7, the ultra-sound for heart patients, can per-form stress echo tests. Doctors rely on these to detect and diagnose con-ditions such as heart failure.

The benefi ts of ultrasound include no radiation exposure, comprehensive and reliable exam data, fast tests and improved pa-tient comfort.

NUCLEAR MEDICINEFort Sanders Regional Medical

Center’s diagnostic imaging also includes nuclear medicine for heart, cancer and fracture scans.

This tool often spots abnormali-ties early in a disease’s progression. It also provides a way to gather in-formation that otherwise would be unavailable or require surgery or more expensive diagnostic tests.

Nuclear medicine specialists use safe, painless techniques to get body images and treat disease. Patients ingest small amounts of radioactive materials (radiophar-maceuticals). Special cameras can pick up the images and send

pictures to computers.In treatment, the radiopharma-

ceuticals go directly to the organ being healed. This allows for great precision.

Nuclear medicine is used to: ■ Analyze kidney function ■ Provide images of blood fl ow

and heart functioning ■ Scan lungs for respiratory and

blood-fl ow problems ■ Identify gallbladder blockages ■ Evaluate bones for fractures,

infection, arthritis or tumors ■ Determine the presence or

spread of cancer ■ Identify bleeding in the bowel ■ Locate infections ■ Measure thyroid for overactive

or underactive functioning.Regardless of which your doctor

orders, FSRMC’s Picture Archival & Communication System (PACS) can electronically capture, store and transmit high-quality MRI, CT, X-ray and ultrasound pictures im-mediately by computer. That means doctors can readily view any image the patient has had taken at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and other locations in the Covenant Health system.

For more information on imag-ing services at Fort Sanders Re-gional Medical Center, please call 865-541-1111.

about structures in the body than what is seen with an X-ray, ultra-sound or computed tomography (CT) scan. MRI may also reveal fi nd-ings that cannot be detected with other imaging methods.

“MRI imaging also has a higher level of sensitivity in evaluating neu-ral elements of the spine,” said Dr. Samuel Feaster, a neuroradiologist with Vista Radiology PC who also says diffusion MRI can be more sen-

sitive than a CT scan for detecting acute ischemic stroke.

Claustrophobic patients unable to tolerate the tight confi nes of the longer cylindrical tubes of older ma-chines have more “wiggle room” (70 centimeters vs. 60 cm) and less need for sedation. The shorter design also allows many exams – lumbar spine, pelvis and lower extremity MRI – to be performed with the patient’s head outside of the opening.

“The magnet has a bore size that is both larger in diameter and short-er in length, creating a more relaxed environment that helps to reduce anxiety, therefore decreasing the need for sedation,” said Redmond. “The design of the new magnet al-lows patients to wear headphones for almost all procedures, giving them the option to listen to sooth-ing music during their exam if they choose.”

“Images are much sharper with improved detail because patients aren’t breathing heavy or moving due to anxiety,” he added. “We con-sistently receive positive physician comments and feedback about the excellent image quality of exams performed on the Magnetom Aera.”

The new unit also features user-

friendly software which not onlycuts exam time by 50 percent, butalso cuts preparation time andutilizes technology on abdominalMRIs to deliver robust, free-breath-ing, contrast-enhanced exams forpatients unable to hold their breath.That means fewer repeated scans.

Most importantly, however, isthat the high-resolution images givephysicians more accurate results,leading to more accurate diagnosisand treatment.

Not surprisingly, the unit’s speedand fl exibility, coupled with theincreased weight limit for obesepatients from 350 to 550 pounds,sparked an increase in referrals toFSRMC as well as a dramatic reduc-tion in cancellations or rescheduledappointments.

This led FSRMC to offer contrastMRIs 24 hours a day, seven days aweek. “We began offering MRI 24/7to better accommodate the needs ofphysicians and their patients await-ing discharge,” said Redmond. “Wewanted to help decrease the pa-tient’s length of stay and to providearound-the-clock MRI imaging ca-pabilities for stroke and other emer-gent patient needs.”

MRI scanning is available for in-house patients and those broughtthrough the Emergency Depart-ment around the clock. For moreinformation call 865-541-1111.

SOUTH KNOX Shopper news • JUNE 29, 2016 • 3 community

Betsy Pickle

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Alcoa Highway From page 1

Digging into ceremonial sand for the groundbreaking of the Maloney Road-Woodson Drive phase of the Alcoa Highway wid-

ening project are Jeff Welch of the Transportation Planning Organization; Jim Hagerman, engineering director for the city of

Knoxville; state Rep. Eddie Smith; Bob Griffi tts, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Jimmy Duncan; state Transportation commissioner John

Schroer; state Sen. Doug Overbey; state Sen. Becky Massey; County Commission chair Dave Wright; and Knox County Mayor Tim

Burchett. Photo by Betsy Pickle

district includes South Knoxville, said he believes the road project will be good for business.

“One of the reports we have in Nashville is, every $400 million that we spend in road projects equates to about a billion (dollars) in economic activity,” he said. “So you’ve just got to do the math and you can see what the economic generation will be for our community.”

Schroer said the econom-ic benefi ts are a plus, but the main goal he and Gov. Bill Haslam have in mind is safety. He hopes to be able to keep the project on track

fi nancially.“Because we are a pay-

as-you-go state at the mo-ment, and we have funding the way it is, it’s going to be diffi cult to continue and get this done in a fast period of time,” said Schroer. “We hope as we move … forward in this next year or two, in partnership with our rep-resentatives and the gov-ernor, that we can address sustainable funding so that projects like this can be done and we don’t have to use the word ‘decades,’ we can use the word ‘years.’

“We know that we’ll save lives.”

Once upon a time, the devil went down to Georgia, looking for a soul to steal. But these days he’s hanging out in the Urban Wilder-ness, getting rad and rid-ing the Devil’s Racetrack Downhill Trail on the Baker Creek Preserve.

The double-black-dia-mond downhill mountain-bike trail offi cially opened on June 17 in the presence of several local offi cials, some key visitors and strong rep-resentation from the local mountain-biking commu-nity.

The Appalachian Moun-tain Bike Club last year won a nationwide online contest held by Bell Helmets to get a $100,000 Bell Built trail for the Urban Wilderness. The professionally designed course – about .8 of a mile of

By Betsy PickleKeep Knoxville Beautiful

is making good on its word.KKB pledged to focus

on SoKno, starting early in the year and continuing through June 30, 2017. The mostly volunteer organiza-tion turned out on a typical-ly hot SoKno summer Sat-urday to spruce up Goose Creek in and around Mary Vestal Park.

TNAchieves students could get community-ser-vice credits for pitching in, but the 15 people who took part ranged from teens to senior adults. Some were from SoKno, but most were from other parts of town.

They picked up trash on the park’s grounds and cleared debris from the creek. The two most popu-lar items deposited by litter-

bugs appeared to be plastic drink bottles and old tires. (Note to offenders: Were you raised in a barn?!)

Jess Welch, a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, answered ques-tions from the middle of the creek, where she said she and work partner Alan Huels had found a shirt, lots of bottles and a tire. Other volunteers found a number of tires.

KKB executive direc-tor Patience Melnick was pleased with the June 18 turnout, which she said was what she expected for a sum-mer weekend. She said they’d done a cleanup on May 23, so the creek wasn’t as polluted as it might have been.

Melnick said KKB would do several more cleanups of Goose Creek in the next 12 months.

Members of the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club pose at the bottom of the Devil’s Racetrack: James Sweet, Missy Petty, Tina

Rosling, Caroline Cooley, Jim Kimble, Logan Mulally, Ellen Kellogg, Neko Mulally, Sean Leader, Ben Clinger, Ryan O’Conner, An-

drea Ludwig and Emily Parker. Photo by Betsy Pickle

Devil’s Racetrack opening is icing forBaker Creek Preserve

Volunteers Jess Welch and Alan Huels clean trash out of Goose

Creek next to the greenway at Mary Vestal Park. Photo by Betsy Pickle

Keeping Goose Creek beautiful

pure adrenaline – is for ex-pert riders only and is expect-ed to draw serious mountain-biking enthusiasts and major race events to Knoxville.

But the ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by an all-day celebration on June 18, welcomed users to the entire West Ridge of the Baker Creek Preserve. Two multi-use trails – Best Medicine and Pappy’s Way – also were opened.

Carol Evans, executive director of Legacy Parks

Foundation, had presided over the opening of the East Ridge just two weeks earlier. Those trails include Red Bud Crest, Cruze Valley Run Downhill, Barn Burner Downhill, Floyd Fox and Sycamore Loop. The Baker Creek Trailhead off Taylor Road accesses the Baker Creek Preserve trails.

Most of the trails are open to hikers, runners and cyclists, and Sycamore Loop is a level beginner trail suitable for even the youngest riders and walk-ing families.

Evans and Knoxville May-or Madeline Rogero praised the efforts of the AMBC and their supporters for win-ning the contest and talked about what the Baker Creek Preserve trails mean for the community. City Council

fi rst district representative Nick Pavlis remarked on the massive outpouring of sup-port for AMBC and told lis-teners there were two songs to keep in mind: “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now.”

Other speakers included Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett; AMBC president Matthew Kellogg; Jessica Klodnicki, Bell Helmets executive vice president and general manager; and Heather Cooper, senior di-rector of marketing for the International Mountain Bi-cycling Association.

IMBA provided the AMBC with a design grant that opened the door to the Devil’s Racetrack. A state recreational trails grant of $200,000 helped fund the Baker Creek trails.

Other upgradesKnox County Schools has

several construction proj-ects underway this summer, some funded through the capital budget and others through the maintenance department.

KCS will build two mid-dle schools (Gibbs and Har-din Valley), and both are under design.

Work at Pond Gap El-ementary is going well, ac-cording to Russ Oaks. “We’re ahead of expectations” for the project, which is visible from I-40 westbound. He ex-pects to have students in the new wing as early as winter. Then the existing school will be updated and retrofi tted to accommodate its increased enrollment.

Inskip Elementary

Fences popping up From page 1 School’s $6.5 million up-grade will start upon selection of an architect. Doug Dill-ingham, su-pervisor of facilities, is overseeing

these projects.Other updates were pro-

vided by Jim French, super-visor of maintenance:

■ Karns and Central high schools, new switch gears for elevators

■ South-Doyle Middle School, interior paint and new lockers (to be installed during fall break)

■ Powell High, added in-sulation for auxiliary gym

■ Inskip and New Hopewell, asbestos abate-ment in fl oors

■ West View and Foun-tain City, cafeteria upgrades

■ Austin-East and West,

replacement air condition-ers for gym

■ Bearden, Carter, Far-ragut and Halls High, new air conditioners for gym. (This will leave just “5-6 high schools and 3-4 middle schools” w ithout gym A/C, said French.

■ Fountain City Elemen-tary, new gym fl oor

■ Bearden High School, auditorium upgrades – new seats, painting, fl oor cover-ing and lighting

■ West Haven, additionof loop road to improve traf-fi c stacking

■ Karns Elementary, morepavement for roads and park-ing on campus, with traffi c fl ow redesigned to “mitigate but not fi x the congestion”

■ Shannondale, pavingparking lot, moving a gate and pouring a sidewalk.

French expects all proj-ects to be completed before school starts.

– S. Clark

Jim French

4 • JUNE 29, 2016 • Shopper news

VictorAshe

Betty Bean

Scott Frith

government

Marvin West

If the football Volunteers live up to lofty expectations, history says three will be honored as all-Americans. Because of exceptional wis-dom and insight, you are in-vited to pick ’em.

Will it be Jalen Hurd, star running back? His fi eld is crowded.

Cam Sutton is a good-enough corner to persuade opponents to go the other way.

Do you choose Jalen Reeves-Maybin, run-and-hit linebacker?

How about quarterback Joshua Dobbs, epitome of the student-athlete?

You could certainly pick Derek Barnett, destroyer at defensive end.

Kick returner Evan Ber-ry could do it again. Cen-ter Coleman Thomas has a

All-Americans to be

chance. And punter Trevor Daniel. Maybe somebody else pops out of the crowd. Write-ins are welcome.

Please accept light-weight guidance. The best player on the team might be a youngster, but youth is handicapped in the bid for post-season honors un-less accompanied by spec-tacular statistics. Previous build-up, name recognition, is often decisive.

Team success is relevant. Traditional winners have an advantage. Keep in mind

that half of the offi cial selec-tors don’t know as much as you do, but they look at line-ups and conclude somebody must be good if Alabama, Ohio State, Florida State and Clemson prevail season after season.

After you have fi nished our all-America exercise, tell me who projects as the most valuable Volunteer. Is anybody indispensable?

Five or six quarterbacks will go ahead of Dobbs in the next NFL roll call, but Joshua makes the Vols go. He is an exceptional leader (smarts, personality, guardian of the football). He is a genuine dual threat (671 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, 2,291 pass-ing and 15 TDs). He is not a bombs-away aerialist. He may or may not be the win-ning edge. He had two scor-

ing passes in the four losses last season.

Hurd, 6-4, 241 and 23 miles an hour on a tread-mill, is not your ordinary big running back. Butch Jones has declared him a Heis-man candidate. Linebackers concede that Jalen causes headaches. Safeties say he is faster than he appears.

Hurd was fourth in SEC rushing last season with 1,288 yards along with 12 touchdowns. He is a will-ing blocker and better than average receiver. He is within range (892) of Tennessee’s career rush-ing record but there is only one football and Alvin Ka-mara and Dobbs will have it a fair share.

Sutton is good, very good. He has been the Vols’ best corner for three years. Cer-tain sportswriters tell him he is great. SEC coaches and

pro scouts are less comfort-ing. Coaches selected half a hundred 2015 all-SEC stars and did not mention Cam-eron. NFL provided mixed reviews. That is why he is here instead of there.

Sutton led America with 18.7 yards per punt return. His 467 are a school career record.

Reeves-Maybin, natural leader, is critical to the UT defense. He led with 105 tackles, 14 for losses. He fi g-ures to fi nd more in the Bob Shoop blitz package. Cross your fi ngers on whether the repaired shoulder is 100 percent strong.

Barnett is an intimidat-ing pass rusher and strong enough at 6-3 and 257 to hold his own against running at-tacks. He tied for fourth in the SEC with 10 sacks and has 20 in his career. That is in the general direction of

Reggie White, school record-holder with 32.

Evan Berry was the na-tion’s top kickoff returner in 2015 (38.3 average, three TDs, 804 yards, fourth-most in school history). Foes paid great compliments. They kicked away from him.

Evan received more rec-ognition than all other Vols combined: First-team all-America by Walter Camp, Sporting News and Sports Illustrated; second-team by Football Writers of Amer-ica, CBS and Fox. He was SEC special teams player of the year.

Berry didn’t play all that much on defense but he may play more. Last we saw, he was running toward the ocean with a Northwestern pass he pilfered in the bowl game.Marvin West awaits your input. His ad-

dress is westwest6@netzero.com

Ice cream in Rocky Hill Four Knox County commissioners braved the heat for a night

out at Bruster’s Ice Cream in Rocky Hill. Bob Thomas, Ed Brant-

ley, John Schoonmaker and Dave Wright came to meet with

residents. In the background are Thomas’ sister and mother,

Barbara and Nelle Thomas. Nelle Thomas, observing her birth-

day week, said she was eating dinner: an ice cream sundae

with “everything.” Photo by S. Clark

Most folks around here don’t like the government.

Of course, many of them have a government job in Oak Ridge or at TVA. They drive every day on a road built by the government, stop at a red light installed by the government, and go to sleep in a home paid for with a government-backed loan. On Saturdays each fall, they spend their af-ternoons cheering for the government-run University of Tennessee football team.

But they just don’t like the government.

Our politicians under-stand this, and that’s why most local Republicans oppose any kind of tax in-crease.

It’s nonsense.You can be opposed to big

government in Washington and Nashville, yet want local government to provide more services closer to home. You can be a bona fi de conserva-tive and not panic every time

Parks and Recreation Director Joe Walsh will re-tire by April 2018, as he has joined the city’s drop plan. Walsh was hired by former Parks Director Sam Anderson and has been in this department 25 years plus 5 years in the city fi nance department. Walsh indicated he would stay through December 2017, but had not decided on whether to continue the fi nal four months.

Possible Rogero replace-ments to Walsh include the new deputy parks direc-tor, Aaron Browning, and greenways co-coordinator Lori Goerlich.

Goerlich has not gotten a sign erected on Alcoa Highway or Neyland Drive pointing the way to the Knox-Blount greenway from Buck Karnes Bridge to Marine Park. This green-way opened eight months ago with a mayoral event, but remains a secret.

Signs should not be dif-fi cult to create and install. The good news is that Council member Nick Pavlis is on it and Team Rogero may fi nally get it done.

Since Walsh is staying to the end of 2017, the suc-cessor may not be chosen by Rogero if she is tapped to take a position in a possi-ble Clinton Administration. This writer is confi dent that if Clinton becomes Presi-dent, Rogero, a Clinton delegate, will have a place in her administration.

Natalie Stair, wife of Council member Marshall Stair, plans to open a busi-ness called Nest Knoxville, to be located in the Empo-rium on Gay Street. Nest Knoxville will sell furniture and home decor. She hopes to have it open in early July.

Stair, 32, would be the second spouse of a current council member to operate a business downtown. The other is Emily Campen, wife of Council member Mark Campen, who oper-ates the Flower Pot.

■ UT Chancellor Jimmy Cheek, as pre-dicted several times in this column, has announced his retirement effective when his successor is picked. That could take up to a year. Cheek can look back on many accomplish-ments in new construction on campus and criticism over allowing the Lady Vols name change to go forward.

What happens now? UT President DiPietro names a search committee to recom-mend replacements. It may last into next year. DiPietro makes the choice, subject to UT board approval, from the names submitted to him by his committee.

The searches to replace Susan Martin as provost and Margie Nichols as vice chancellor are suspended until the new chancellor is

By Wendy SmithCity Council will discuss

the Knoxville-Knox Coun-ty Metropolitan Planning Council’s (MPC) recom-mendations regarding Al-ternative Financial Service establishments at a work-shop at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30.

In February, City Council requested that MPC make a recommendation regarding zoning regulations for such institutions, which include check-cashing outlets, mon-ey transmitters, car title lenders, payday loan stores,

pawnshops and rent-to-own stores.

South Knox council mem-ber Nick Pavlis was one of fi ve council members who re-quested the recommendation.

On Chapman Highway, there’s an area with 15 such businesses within a mile, he says. Customers go to one for a loan, and when they can’t pay, they go to the next one. It’s a vicious cycle.

“It’s destructive to people and doesn’t send a good message. It’s not just in my district. They’re on every corner.”

He expects that such businesses will soon face federal regulations.

The public is always wel-come at council workshops, and discussions will include the concerns of the business community.

“We’re open. We’ll lis-ten.”

The proposed zoning changes implement rec-ommendations made in a 2015 MPC report titled “Re-search of Alternative Finan-cial Services and Evaluation of Related Zoning Options.”

Proposed changes in-

clude space requirementsof 1,000 feet of separationbetween like businesses and1,000 feet of separation be-tween AFS establishmentsand residential property.

The 2015 document re-ported 81 AFS establish-ments in Knoxville, 16 inKnox County, and two inFarragut. Existing business-es would be grandfathered.

A vote on the proposedzoning changes was post-poned at the June 21 CityCouncil meeting. It’s ex-pected to be on the July 5agenda.

Joe Walsh to retire

on board, which means an-other year with an interim provost and vice chancellor.

Look for athletic director Dave Hart to depart after the fall football season. His tenure has been contro-versial with the Lady Vols name change and large fi nancial settlements for gender-based lawsuits. The Title IX lawsuit now pend-ing in Nashville has cost $200,000 in legal fees.

The talk is already stir-ring on who replaces Cheek. While there is a search committee, will it be a truly open search or be tilted to-wards a favored candidate? Brian Noland, president of East Tennessee State University since January 2012, is widely mentioned. He previously headed up the West Virginia Higher Education system and prior to that worked for the Ten-nessee Higher Education Commission.

For UT historians, he was the runner up to DiPietro to be UT president when the board in October 2010 voted 11-10 for DiPi-etro over Noland. Then-Gov. Phil Bredesen, a board member, voted for Nolan. The search was very open.

If Noland is chosen, then the new ETSU board must pick a new president for ETSU. Lt Gov. Ron Ramsey has said he is not an appli-cant for the ETSU position.

■ Former Gov. Winfi eld Dunn turns 89 on Friday, July 1. He is the 24th oldest living for-mer Governor. The oldest is David Buckson of Delaware at 95. State Rep. Bill Dunn, who was born in the Pana-ma Canal Zone (as was Sen. John McCain), turns 55 on Sunday, July 3, and Sen. Lamar Alexander turns 76 the same day.

■ The three UT trust-ees from Knoxville (Raja Jubran, Charles Anderson and Sharon Pryse) invited Knox legislators and spous-es to the summer trustee dinner at Cherokee Country Club last week as part of an effort to make friends. Relationships have been strained over the Lady Vols, the UT diversity offi ce and gender-related lawsuits. While this was primarily a social occasion, it was a fi rst and is a positive devel-opment.

■ Attending the din-ner were state Sens. Richard Briggs and Becky Massey along with state Reps. Eddie Smith, Bill Dunn and Roger Kane. Mayor Tim Burchett, a former state legislator, also attended.

Candor needed on taxes

someone suggests a mod-est property tax increase in Knox County.

Don’t get me wrong. No one supports a tax increase for higher salaries for po-litical cronies, but a mod-est property tax increase in Knox County could already have built a Safety Center to better house the men-tally ill. (Our politicians say they support a Safety Center, but no one wants to pay for it.) Road improve-ments could be funded. We could pay good teachers more and keep them from moving elsewhere. More greenways could be built between neighborhoods, which would increase prop-erty values for homeown-

ers and the quality of life of residents.

Instead, we have politi-cians in county government who so refl exively oppose any tax increase that you can’t decide whether they are mimicking Cas Walker or Fox News.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, you don’t have to look further than the city of Knoxville to see another way forward.

City taxpayers have sup-ported property tax increas-es without a public outcry because they are satisfi ed with their government. Visit downtown Knoxville on a Saturday morning and walk in Market Square. The transformation of that en-tire area is nothing short of remarkable and has been enabled by consistent sup-port across multiple may-oral administrations.

(Don’t call Mayor Rogero a tax-and-spend liberal. The city’s plan to outsource the

Coliseum and Chilhowee Park alone is expected to save $500,000 in salaries.)

A comparable level of in-vestment by county govern-ment would reap untold divi-dends in Halls, Powell and Karns. At current tax levels, county residents won’t get any of that. Instead, folks should just expect more of the same.

Leadership is taking what you inherit and mov-ing forward in a way that refl ects your values. Object-ing to any tax increase at the county level isn’t conserva-tive at all. It’s regressive and harms our future.

We have some important elections coming up. Sup-port candidates running for offi ce who are honest with you about funding county government and who pres-ent a vision for the future that’s more than just prom-ising they won’t raise taxes.

It will take leadership (and more money) to move Knox County forward.Scott Frith is a local attorney. You can

visit his website at pleadthefrith.com

City Council to discuss alternative fi nancial services

As a politically active Democrat, Janice Spoon says she’s participated in plenty of events at the Ben Atchley State Veterans’ Home, located in Knox County’s 6th District, where she lives, including purely social occasions and candi-date meet and greets.

So it shocked her when nursing home offi cials said County Commission candi-date Donna Lucas couldn’t come to the facility to meet the residents.

“We’ve had events at the veterans’ home before: St. Patrick’s Day parties, Flag Day parties, all kinds of parties, including events when we brought in candi-dates to meet the residents, which we were told we could do as long as the candidate was there. We have a real appreciation for everybody out there. But now all of a sudden things are differ-ent.”

Spoon says she has been informed, after working her way up the chain of com-mand for this state-run fa-cility, that the nursing home has an incumbents-only policy.

“I don’t know where to go, what to do,” Spoon said. “I think it is very unfair and

Incumbents only: State facility bars challengers

unethical to allow incum-bents to have events there, but nobody else. And it’s not just because I’m a Democrat that I’m saying this. I don’t get it. I really don’t.”

Leanne Lewis, marketing and public affairs manager with Tennessee State Vet-erans’ Homes, confi rmed Spoon’s account of what she’d been told.

“We are a state facility, and events held in these fa-cilities cannot be for politi-cal gain.”

The ban does not apply to incumbents, she said.

“If they are already in offi ce, they have a right to come in there. Mayor (Tim) Burchett, for example, is al-ready in offi ce, so he’s des-ignated an offi cial dignitary and he can walk in there any time. If it’s somebody running for offi ce, by code or by law we are not allowed to do that because it shows favoritism.”

When asked if this rule also applies to Lucas’ op-ponent, incumbent 6th Dis-

trict commissioner Brad Anders, Lewis said yes.

“We are a state facility. If they are already in offi ce, they have a right to come in there, and we cannot show favoritism.”

When asked if allowing all candidates equal access to the veterans’ home could solve the perception of fa-voritism, Lewis said great care must be taken when dealing with state property and taxpayer money.

“It’s the same thing as if I was in jail as an inmate. The state would not be depriv-ing me of having freedom of

choice. We need to comply with state rules. This is per-ceived as giving monetary gifts for political gain.

“At the end of the day, if you take this to the commis-sioner (Many-Bears Grind-er, head of the Tennessee Department of Veterans’ Affairs), she will tell you the same thing.”

Cas Walker updateJosh Hodge, co-editor

of the UT History Depart-ment’s Cas Walker proj-ect, can be reached at jhodge24@vols.utk.edu or 205-960-9115.

Shopper news • JUNE 29, 2016 • 5

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6 • JUNE 29, 2016 • SOUTH KNOX Shopper news

SENIOR NOTES ■ All senior centers will

be closed Monday,

July 4.

■ South Knox Senior Center6729 Martel Lane573-5843knoxcounty.org/seniorsMonday-Friday7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Offerings include:

dulcimer and guitar

lessons; arts and crafts

classes; dance classes;

exercise programs; Tai Chi;

card games; Joymakers

practice; free swim 7:30

a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Fri-

day. Senior Meals program

noon each Wednesday

and Friday. The pool will

be closed July 11-15 for

cleaning.

Register for: iPhone/

iPad class, 1-3 p.m. Thurs-

day-Friday, July 14-15.

■ South Knox Community Center522 Old Maryville Pike573-3575Monday-FridayHours vary

Off erings include a vari-

ety of senior programs.

■ John T. O’Connor Senior Center611 Winona St.523-1135knoxseniors.org/oconnor.htmlMonday-Friday8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Off erings include: Card

games, billiards, senior

fi tness, computer classes,

bingo, blood pressure

checks 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Monday-Friday.

Register for: Fourth of

July celebration, 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, June 30; cost, $1

for barbecue lunch; reserva-

tions required.

■ Knox County Senior ServicesCity County Building400 Main St., Suite 615215-4044 Monday-Friday8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29Craft: Spirit Shakers, 2 p.m., Farragut Branch

Library, 417 N. Campbell Station Road. For ages 3 and up. Info: 777-1750.

Free Introduction to Self Defense for Women class, 6 p.m., CrossFit ex libro, 5438 Hilton Industrial Way. Info/registration: 454-8359 or exlibroselfdefense.com.

Magician Michael Messing, 3 p.m., Lawson McGhee Library, 500 W. Church Ave. Info: 215-8750.

“Pinterest/Instagram/Twitter for Seniors” class, 10 a.m.-noon, Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive. Presented by Social Media 4 Seniors. Cost: $30. Registration/payment deadline: June 29. Info/registration: townoffarragut.org/register; in person at the Town Hall; 218-3375.

Spanish Food and Wine Pairing workshop, 6 p.m., Glass Bazaar, 6470 Kingston Pike. Instructor: Terri Geiser. Cost: $48. Info/registration: 584-9072.

THURSDAY, JUNE 30Variety Thursday: featuring Blue Line Blues (A

Band of KPD Offi cers), 7-9 p.m., Bill Lyons Pavilion, Market Square. Free music performances each Thursday. Bring chairs or blankets to sit on. Info: Knoxvilletn.gov/concerts.

FRIDAY, JULY 1First Friday and Nostalgic Nights Outdoor

Market, 6-9 p.m., Nostalgia on McCalla, 1401 McCalla Ave. Includes: local art, vintage items, handmade wares for sale, Mr. Piggy’s BBQ, outdoor market. Booth space available: Jeje, 368-6921. Info: 622-3252.

Opening reception for Art Market Gallery’s July featured artists exhibit, 5:30 p.m., Art Market Gallery, 422 South Gay St. Featured artists: Sandra Abraham and Elaine Fronczak. Exhibit on display through July 31. Info; 525-5265; artmarketgallery.net; on Facebook.

SATURDAY, JULY 2Book signings, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., American

Commissary, 1209 Broadway East, Lenoir City. Authors include: Dick Cross, Dr. Nancy McEntee, Joan McIntee, Marilyn Smith Neilans, Cheryl Peyton, Adele

Roberts and Dr. Eva Mull Wike. Free watermelon will be available and attendees can sign up for a door prize.

SUNDAY, JULY 3Pilot Fireball Moonlite Classic 5K and Little

Firecracker Mile, 9 p.m., UT Vet School with the route running along Neyland Drive. Hosted by the Knoxville Track Club. Info/registration: ktc.org/RaceFireball.html; or Bo Saulsbury, bosaulsbury@gmail.com.

The Vegetarian Society of East Tennessee meeting, 6 p.m., Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike. Sylvia Smith will demonstrate the Green Goddess Smoothie and other green dishes. Cost: $4, plus a vegetarian potluck item for the potluck supper which follows the demonstration. Info: bobgrimac@gmail.com or call 546-5643.

MONDAY, JULY 4Fourth of July Celebration on Mabry’s Hill,

Mabry-Hazen House, Kingston Pike. Tours of the historic home, 6 p.m.; dinner, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $60 adults, children under 12 accompanied by ticket holder, free. Includes dinner and live music. Info/tickets: mabryhazen.com or 522-8661.

Independence Day parade, 9:30 a.m. Begins on Kingston Pike at Lendon Welch Way (Farragut High School entrance) and continue to Boring Road, just east of Farragut Towne Square Shopping Center (old Ingles store site). Info: 966-7057 or townoffarragut.org/parade.

THURSDAY, JULY 7Free Introduction to Self Defense for Women

class, 6 p.m., CrossFit ex libro, 5438 Hilton Industrial Way. Info/registration: 454-8359 or exlibroselfdefense.com.

“Using Your Smartphone/Tablet Camera for Seniors” class, 6-8 p.m., Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive. Presented by Social Media 4 Seniors. Cost: $30. Registration/payment deadline: Friday, July 1. Info/registration: townoffarragut.org/register; in person at Town Hall; 218-3375.

THURSDAY-FRIDAY, JULY 7-8“iPad/iPhone Basics for Seniors” class, 10

a.m.-noon, Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive. Presented by Social Media 4 Seniors. Cost: $45. Registration/payment deadline: Wednesday, July 6. Info/registration: townoffarragut.org/register; in person at Town Hall; 218-3375.

FRIDAY, JULY 8“It’s Concert Time in Townsend”: Early Morning

String Dusters, 7 p.m., Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, Highway 73, Townsend. Presented by Boyd’s Jig

and Reel. Bring lawn chairs. Tickets: $8; kids under 5 and GSMHC members, free. Tickets available at the door. Info: 448-0044 or gsmheritagecenter.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 9“Are Your Shrubs Hiding Your House?,” 1:30

p.m., Bearden Branch Library, 100 Golfclub Road. Presented by Master Gardener John Payne. Free and open to the public. Info: 588-8813 or knoxlib.org.

Second Saturday Concert at The Cove: The Hit Men, 6-8 p.m., The Cove at Concord Park, 11808 S. Northshore Dr. Free concert; bring blankets or lawn chairs. Presented by Knox County Parks & Recreation. Info: Jennifer Linginfelter, 215-4579; or Michael Grider, 215-4750.

Vintage baseball, noon and 2:30 p.m., Historic Ramsey House, 2614 Thorn Grove Pike. Games and parking free; concessions available. Bring lawn chair or blanket for seating. Info: ramseyhouse.org.

SUNDAY, JULY 10“Bring a Friend” Music Series featuring local

bluegrass band The Jar Tipper, 3 p.m., First Farragut UMC, 12733 Kingston Pike. Special guest: Sammy Sawyer, Barney Fife impersonator and Christian speaker. Admission free. Refreshments available. Info: 966-8430.

Sing Out Knoxville meeting, 7-9 p.m., Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike. Folk singing circle open to everyone. Info: bobgrimac@gmail.com or 546-5643.

MONDAY, JULY 11“How to Use Facebook for Seniors” class, 10

a.m.-noon, Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive. Presented by Social Media 4 Seniors. Cost: $30. Registration/payment deadline: Friday, July 8. Info/registration: townoffarragut.org/register; in person at Town Hall; 218-3375.

TUESDAY, JULY 12“Mapping Your Way Through the Caregiver

Journey” class, 5:30 p.m., Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive. Free presentation by Rebekah Wilson with Choices in Senior Care. Registration deadline: Monday, July 11. Info/registration: townoffarragut.org/register; in person at Town Hall; 218-3375.

TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, JULY 12-13“Advanced iPad/iPhone Basics for Seniors”

class, 1-3 p.m., Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive. Presented by Social Media 4 Seniors. Cost: $45. Registration/payment deadline: Monday, July 11. Info/registration: townoffarragut.org/register; in person at Town Hall; 218-3375.

Send items to news@ShopperNewsNow.com

ShoppernewseVents

By Sara BarrettForget rose-colored

glasses. Yellow is the way to go.

Stacy Fortney with Eschenbach Optik of Amer-ica stopped by the East Ten-nessee Technology Access Center last week to help people with poor vision sample assistive devices that could potentially im-prove their quality of life.

The three factors that can improve vision, according to Fortney, are magnifi ca-tion, lighting and contrast.

Fortney showed the au-dience a number of tinted lenses and had volunteers read from a chart with and without using them. The difference was immediately clear in both the audience members’ reading and in their confi dence level.

“Many people even have that ‘aha’ moment when they see their grandchild’s face for the fi rst time,” says Fortney of the simple change to a yellow lens which helps improve con-trast in foreground and background vision.

Cleva Marrow attended the discussion at ETTAC be-cause the injections she re-

ceives for macular degener-ation no longer work as well as she’d like. She was forced to give up driving in 2014.

“Reading has always been a pleasure for me, but now it is a chore,” says Mar-row, 93.

Fortney pulled out a technical-looking light and held it near Marrow’s eyes to brighten a chart she had asked her to read. The light combined with yellow-fi l-tered lenses improved Mar-row’s reading substantially.

“Absorptive fi lters will be common within 10 years for people of all ages,” says Fortney. “It will help with the retina damage we’re causing by looking at our cell phones and playing vid-eo games.”

Fortney stressed several times that with its products, Eschenbach Optik strives to improve clients’ psychologi-cal wellbeing while also im-proving their vision. When someone is actively doing what they enjoy – reading, painting, etc. – their qual-ity of life will naturally im-prove, too.

ETTAC helps people with disabilities of all ages throughout East Tennessee.

Eschenbach representative Stacy Fortney holds a light to help

improve Ron Daves’ vision while he reads.

Eschenbach’s Stacy Fortney

discusses lenses with colored

fi lters.Cleva Marrow reads a chart wearing glasses with yellow lenses Photos by S. Barrett

Clarity for poor visionIt does not sell products

or earn commission from its vendors who demonstrate products. Info: Paula Jones, 219-0130.

Windsor Gardens re-cently hosted its fourth annual family picnic, welcoming more than 170 guests.

Staff and residents invited family mem-bers to Windsor Gar-dens’ “backyard” to cel-ebrate the importance of gathering with fam-ily and friends.

Windsor Gardens’ kitchen staff prepared a cookout complete with hamburgers, pulled pork, watermelon and homemade ice cream.

Guests of all ages were treated to live mu-sic, a dunking booth, corn hole, backyard golf, a photo booth, raf-fl e drawings and a tem-porary tattoo station.

“Windsor Gardens’

Members of the Folden family entertain at Windsor Gardens’

fourth annual family picnic. Photo submitted

Picnic creates family fun

family picnic is our way to cherish our residents by ap-preciating the importance of family and friends.

“It is our goal to create an

atmosphere that allows res-idents to feel as if they are at home and among family,” said life enrichment direc-tor Tara Wallace.

SOUTH KNOX Shopper news • JUNE 29, 2016 • 7 faith

FAITH NOTES ■ Listening Hearts, A Gather-

ing of Bereaved Moms, will

meet 3 p.m. Saturday, July

2, Christus Victor Lutheran

Church, 4110 Central Avenue

Pike. All grieving moms

are invited. Info: listening-

heartsmoms@gmail.com or

679-1351.

VBS NOTES ■ Mount Olive Baptist

Church, 2500

Maryville Pike, 6-8:30

p.m. July 10-14. Ages:

3 years old through

fi fth grade. Theme:

“Submerged.”

Info/registration:

mobcknox.com.

cross currentsLynn Pitts, lpitts48@yahoo.com

“Or what woman having 10 silver coins, if she loses one, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she fi nds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’”

(Luke 15:8-9 NRSV)

Every woman on the planet can identify with the woman in Jesus’ parable. We have all lost an earring, a recipe or a favorite book.

I recently took off a favorite bracelet that Lewis had given me, and put it in a safe place.

Famous last words, right?This happened at Lake Junaluska, at Annual Con-

ference, and I had lots of other things on my mind. Later, when I started looking for it, I was fearful that somehow or other I had dropped it at the lake, and although the kind people there put it on their “lost items” list, along with my contact information, I didn’t hold much hope.

I continued searching, looking over and over in the same places, expecting different results. (A foolish tactic, I know, but at least I was doing something.)

Then one morning I decided to go through the pockets in my shirts. Eureka! There it was, patiently awaiting its recovery. It is on my wrist now, as I write.

In addition to learning a lesson in hope and pa-tience, I learned something about Jesus.

It hadn’t occurred to me to think about this young rabbi using this particular illustration to make a point with his listeners.

I realized that Jesus knew quite well how women’s hearts and minds work. I wonder if his mother ever lost something in their Nazareth home, and her young son watched (or helped) her search for it!

The woman who lost a coin

By Kelly NorrellHillcrest United Method-

ist Church was about to bust at the seams recently. Its new Emerald Youth Foun-dation JustLead program hosted a Friday night lock-in, and 20 neighborhood kids showed up.

“We were a little over-whelmed,” admitted youth leader Tracy Garrison. “We’re getting a lot of new faces. A lot of them haven’t been a part of anything like this before.”

The event was a roaring success. To Pastor Richard Richter, things are right on track.

“To be a positive infl u-ence in the neighborhood, we believe the way to start is with the kids. Our job is to be God’s hands and feet.”

Echoing that are church members like Kris Dozier, who arrived on a recent Wednesday night with six pizzas, JustLead director Alec Ross, who leads games and Bible lessons, girls’ small group leader Vicky Martin, and boys’ small group leader Philip Wright.

This South Haven church, formed in the early 1950s by the merger of two

Maryville College names spring graduates, honorees and dean’s list

Maryville College has announced graduates, stu-dents named to the dean’s list and students receiving academic awards for the spring semester.

South area graduates in-clude: Jacqueline Fowler, Melanie Mullins and Eliza-beth Smith.

Students named to the dean’s list include: Isabella Crockett, Jason Farmer, Jacqueline Fowler, Jessica McMahan, Melanie Mull-

ins, Ryan Rumler, Elizabeth Smith and Katie Stephens.

Erika Hipsky received the Ruth Lloyd Kramer Memorial Award. Hipsky, a 2013 graduate of Heritage High School, is the daugh-ter of Michelle Oglesby of Maryville.

Melanie Mullins received the Glenn Hewitt Award in Ethics for outstanding work in Ethics 490: Philosophical and Theological Founda-tions of Ethical Thought.

JustLead director Alec Ross (orange shirt) leads a balloon-tossing game with kids and volunteers. Photos by Kelly Norrell

Alec Ross leads a Bible lesson at a Wednesday evening JustLead event at Hillcrest UMC.

MILESTONE

Hillcrest UMC, Emerald Youth launch vibrant JustLead group

congregations, is trans-forming the neighborhood. Spurred on by the designa-tion of Dogwood Elementa-ry as a Community School, and by constant evidence of the needs of nearby children and teens, its members have wrestled with the best ways of ministering to youth.

“This is an underserved neighborhood. Children need things to do outside of school. I think a lot of kids are looking for a positive in-fl uence,” Richter said. He de-scribed two young boys who had lost their father. “Their mom was struggling. I’d see them alone. They would liter-ally be on their own out walk-ing at midnight.”

One day, Richter walked into the front door of Em-erald Youth Foundation, a nonprofi t, faith-based ministry located on North

Central St. Formed in 1991, Emerald Youth now serves more than 2,000 urban Knoxville youth through programs in faith, academic help and sports. Richter an-nounced to Kent Stanger, JustLead network director, and Kevin DuBose, Chris-tian community develop-ment director, “I really think you should be work-ing in South Knoxville.”

“Funny you should men-tion it,” DuBose said. He and Stanger explained that EYF was looking for a neighborhood ministry site in South Knoxville.

In early spring of 2016, the church began the fi rst South Knoxville JustLead program with about four kids.

Church volunteers began hosting a Wednesday eve-ning supper with activities and Sunday morning church school. The dedicated vol-unteers staffed it, cooked meals, led Sunday school and Wednesday night small groups, played games with kids – and slept on hard fl oors during lock-ins.

Today Hillcrest JustLead has about 15 kids from el-ementary age through high school. Kids are invited us-ing strategies such as “Pops in the Park,” a cooler of pop-sicles and invitation cards that church members give out in nearby parks on sum-mer evenings.

The church gets help from EYF: leadership train-ing, staff and volunteer background checks and cur-riculum.

Kids also can attend EYF camps and network fun days.

“Hillcrest United Meth-odist is already doing great work, and we feel that JustLead will only add to what they are doing,” Du-Bose said.

Info: 1615 Price Ave, humcknox.com or 865-577-0737.

8 • JUNE 29, 2016 • SOUTH KNOX Shopper news

Canon

kids

an ordinary day. I looked outside and saw the sun was shining. I thought, “Good.” For the fi rst time I wanted a game to hap-pen.

I got to breakfast a little early, actually feel-ing happy.

“ To d a y ’s the day,” Dad announced.

“Right.”“ T o d a y

you’ll re-ally win,” chipped in my ma.

“ C o u l d be.”

My father leaned across the table and gave me a friendly tap. “Winning the last game is what matters. Go out with your head high, Ed.”

“And my backside up if I lose?” I wanted to know.

“Ed,” said my ma, “don’t be so hard on yourself. Your father and I are coming to watch.”

“Suit yourselves,” I said, and beat it to the bus.

As soon as I got to class, Saltz and I col-lected the T-shirts. “What are you going to do with them?” the others kept asking.

“You picked me as captain, didn’t you?”“Mr. Lester did.”When we got all the shirts, Saltz and I

sneaked into the Art Room and did what needed to be done. Putting them into a bag so no one would see, we went back to class.

“Just about over,” I said.“I’m almost sorry,” confessed Saltz.“Me too,” I said. “And I can’t fi gure out

why.”“Maybe the team that loses together re-

ally stays together.”“Right. Not one fathead in the whole

team. Do you think we should have gotten a farewell present for Mr. Lester?”

“Like what?”“A defl ated soccer ball.”It was hard getting through the day. I

couldn’t count the people who wished me luck. If I lived to be a hundred, I’d never run out of it. It was obvious they considered me the unluckiest guy in the whole world. I kept wishing I could have banked it for something important. Trouble was, it was just for sports.

But the day got done.Down in the locker room, as we got

ready, I passed out the T-shirts.

Barish held his up. It was the regular shirt with “S.O.R.” on the back. But under

it Saltz and I had added some iron-on letters. Now they all read:

S.O.R.LOSERSB a r i s h ’ s

r e a c t i o n was just to stare. That was my only nervous mo-ment. Then he cracked up, laughing like crazy. The rest, once they saw it, joined in. When Mr. Lester came down, he brought Mr.

Tillman. We all stood up and turned our backs to them.

“Oh, my goodness,” moaned Mr. Lester.“That’s sick,” said Mr. Tillman. “Sick!”

His happy beads shook angrily.“It’s honest,” I said.“It’s defeatist,” yelled Tillman.“Mr. Tillman,” I asked, “is that true,

about your trying out for pro football?”He started to say something, then

stopped, his mouth open. “Yeah. I tried to make it with the pros, but couldn’t.”

“So you lost too, right?”“Yeah,” chimed in Radosh, “everyone

loses sometime.”“Listen here, you guys,” said Mr. Till-

man, “it’s no fun being rejected.”“Can’t it be okay to lose sometimes?” I

said, “You did. Lots of people do. You’re still alive. We don’t dislike you because of that.”

“We got other reasons,” I heard a voice say. I think it was Saltz.

Mr. Tillman started to say something, but turned and fl ed.

Mr. Lester tried to give us a few fi nal pointers, like don’t touch the ball with our hands, only use feet, things that we didn’t always remember to do.

“Well,” he said fi nally, “I’ve enjoyed this.”“You did?” said Porter, surprised.“Well, not much,” he admitted. “I never

coached anything before. To tell the truth, I don’t know anything about soccer.”

“Now you tell us,” said Eliscue. But he was kidding. We sort of knew that.

Just as we started out onto the fi eld, Saltz whispered to me, “What if we win?”

“With our luck, we will,” I said.We went out to the fi eld. Last game. Ta-

da!(To be continued.)

Text copyright © 2012 Avi. Illustrations copyright © 2012 Timothy Bush. Reprinted by permission of Breakfast Serials, Inc., www.breakfastserials.com. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, displayed, used or distributed without the express written permission of the copyright holder.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: We send the world a message

“a breakfast serials story”S.O.R. Losers Written by Avi and Illustrated by Timothy Bush

Story So Far: With the Soccer Season down to the last game, and all previous games lost, Captain Ed Sitrow thinks up a

plan. When I woke the next morning, I have to

admit, I was excited. It wasn’t going to be

Early bird sale for Fair ticketsConcert and discounted admission

tickets for the 97th annual Tennessee Valley Fair are on sale for a limited time. Guests can save an average of 20 percent by purchasing tickets early.

Specials include: Adult admission, $8 (regularly $10); child admission,

$6 (regularly $7); family fun pack, $28 (regularly $39), includes two adult ad-missions, two child admissions and a parking pass; fair fun pack, $32 (regu-larly $47), includes four adult admis-sions and a parking pass.

Other specials include: a 3-day pass, $20 (regularly $30); all-you-can-ride wristbands, $14 (regularly

$22), for opening day, Sept. 9, only; wristbands, $16 (regularly $20), Monday-Thursday; or $21 (regularly $25), weekend special.

Buy a reserved seat to any head-line concert at Homer Hamilton The-atre before Sept. 8 and receive a fair admission for $5. Info: tnvalleyfair.org or 215-1482.

Free dental sealant clinics in JulyThe Knox County Health

Department will offer a free dental sealant clinic each Tuesday and Thurs-day in July at the InterFaith Health Clinic, 315 Gill Ave. KCHD will provide the den-tal sealants to individuals between the ages of 6 and

21 years old. Individuals do not have to be an InterFaith patient to receive these ser-vices, nor will they become an established InterFaith patient after receiving seal-ants. Appointments are re-quired. Info/appointments: 865-215-5157.

KSO off ers string camp for kids

Kieran Maben, Stephanie Cho and Autumn Larmee take a break from performing during the

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s annual Summer String Camp at Hardin Valley Academy. Photosby S. Barrett

Sara Barrett

More than 200 student musicians from 10 area counties and just about ev-ery grade level gathered at Hardin Valley Academy last week for the Knoxville Sym-phony Orchestra’s annual Summer String Camp.

Students age 6-18 per-formed in small groups based on their instruments and skill levels before as-sembling on the auditorium stage as part of a larger or-chestra.

This is West Valley Mid-dle School student Alex

Canon’s fi rst year at KSO camp, and he says he was pleas-antly sur-prised.

“I liked m e e t i n g new people, and I was

surprised by the smaller classes,” says Alex. He plays

the viola and doesn’t like it when people confuse it with the violin.

This year’s theme, “That’s Entertainment,” opened the way for students to learn

basic acting skills and cos-tume design while sharpen-ing their musical ability by studying the work of com-poser John Williams.

This is the 22nd year for

KSO Summer String Camp, and a record 224 students participated. Of those, 73 attended for the fi rst time. Info: knoxvillesymphony.com

SUMMER CAMPSAdditional listings and

information at Shopper-NewsNow.com.

Week of July 3 ■ Concord Park golf camp,

9-11 a.m. Tuesday-Wednes-

day, July 5-6, Concord Park,

10909 S. Northshore Drive.

Ages 6-8. Cost: $50. Info/regis-

tration: 966-9103.

■ Intensive for Intermediate and Advanced dancers, 10

a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, Wednes-

days and Fridays, July 5-22,

Studio Arts for Dancers, 1234

Rocky Hill Road. For rising

Level V-VI. Includes: ballet

technique, pointe/variations,

modern, jazz, improvisation,

composition, musical theatre.

Cost: $300. Info/registration:

StudioArtsForDancers.net or

539-2475.

■ Intensive for the Seri-ous Dancer, 9-11:45 a.m.

Mondays, Wednesdays and

Fridays, July 5-22, Studio Arts

for Dancers, 1234 Rocky Hill

Road. For rising Level II-IV.

Includes: ballet, modern,

improvisation, jazz, stretch

for dancers, musical theatre.

Cost: $200. Info/registration:

StudioArtsForDancers.net or

539-2475.

■ Joy in Motion: session 1,

9-10:30 a.m. ages 4-5 and

10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ages

6-8, Tuesday and Thursday,

July 5 and 7, Studio Arts for

Dancers, 1234 Rocky Hill

Road. Cost: $35. Info/registra-

tion: StudioArtsForDancers.

net or 539-2475.

Week of July 10 ■ Archaeokids: Exploring An-

cient Art & Archaeology, 1-4

p.m. July 11-15, McClung Mu-

seum, 1327 Circle Park Drive.

For ages 9-11 (rising fourth,

fi fth and sixth graders). Cost:

$110/$99 members. Info/reg-

istration: mcclungmuseum.

utk.edu or 974-2144.

■ Cartoon Camp, 9-11:30 a.m.

Monday-Thursday, July 11-14,

Angela Floyd Schools, 6732

Jubilee Center Way. Ages 2-5.

Cost: $125. Info/registration:

angelafl oydschools.com.

■ Concord Park golf camp, 9

a.m.-noon Tuesday-Thursday,

July 12-14, Concord Park,

10909 S. Northshore Drive.

Ages 9-17. Cost: $100. Info/

registration: 966-9103.

■ Ice Princess Camp, 9-11:30

a.m. Monday-Thursday, July

11-14, Angela Floyd Schools,

10845 Kingston Pike. Ages 6

and up. Cost: $125. Info/reg-

istration: angelafl oydschools.

com or 675-9894.

Shopper news • JUNE 29, 2016 • 9 business

Wendy Smith

There were two primary themes at the recent U.S.-China Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Summit in Beijing, says Knoxville May-or Madeline Rogero. The fi rst was that the two super powers will have to work to-gether to affect change. The second was that change will start with cities.

Forty Chinese mayors and 20 U.S. mayors attend-ed, including Rogero, who was accompanied by Erin Gill, director of the city’s Offi ce of Sustainability. The U.S. and China are the world’s two largest econo-mies and are the two larg-est contributors to carbon emissions.

Aggressive goals have been set by both countries to reduce emissions, but each is in a different place, Rogero says. The U.S. is al-ready actively cutting emis-sions, while China’s goals call for emissions to peak before reduction can begin. Some cities plan to peak sooner than the national commitment.

At the summit, Rogero made a presentation about Knoxville’s green efforts with DuBuque, Iowa, May-or Roy D. Buol. She talked about how important it is for cities to measure green-

Summit emphasizes green infl uence of cities

Mayor Madeline Rogero and Erin Gill brief the press about their

recent trip to Beijing. Photo by Wendy Smith

house gases, and said cities need to lead by example by reducing energy consump-tion. Knoxville is already seeing savings from effi -ciency upgrades to munici-pal buildings.

She also talked about the importance of partnering with the community, as the city did with TVA for Knox-ville Extreme Energy Make-over, and Knoxville’s em-phasis on green engineering practices.

Rogero was impressed by the number of bike facilities in Beijing until she realized that the number of cyclists is decreasing.

“What looked good was actually worse.”

While China has tradi-tionally relied on bicycles for transportation, it now faces increasing automobile ownership. Driving is re-stricted through practices like license tag lotteries.

In recent decades, the Chinese government has fo-cused on economic growth.

Now it must address how those efforts have affected the environment, she says. The country has recently begun converting to cleaner manufacturing processes.

One of her take-aways from the summit is that people are people.

“Once you get to know people on a personal level, you see that you share the same hopes and dreams.”

She was particularly de-lighted to get to know a bee-keeper during her stay at a lodge just outside of Beijing.

Gill said she struck by the amount of exercise equip-ment in public parks. It was similar to equipment lo-cated next to greenways in

Knoxville, she said.“I loved seeing so many

people being active.”There’s no doubt that city

leadership can infl uence cit-izens to make decisions that positively affect our envi-ronment. But it takes mon-ey, as well as leadership, to provide the infrastructure for citizens to reduce their personal use of fossil fuels. If energy savings could be converted into more bicycle and pedestrian facilities, Knoxville could truly set an example for the rest of the world.

Knoxville has been “put on the map” by the green efforts of Gill and her staff, Rogero said.

Surgeon General visits UTU.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy (far right) leads a panel discussion on the opioid

abuse epidemic for approximately 350 health care providers at UT Medical Center. Joining

Murthy on the panel are (from left): Dr. John E. Blake III, president of the Tennessee Pain

Society; Dr. Mitchell L. Mutter, medical director of special projects for the Tennessee De-

partment of Health; and Maegan Martin, executive director, Tennessee Board of Medical

Examiners.

Gerdau golf winnersMatt Woodward, Todd Wake-

fi eld, Allen Osborne and Don

Kidd comprised the fi rst-place

team at steel recycler Gerdau’s

annual benefi t golf tournament

at Ruggles Ferry Golf Club. The

tournament raised $2,000 for

amyloidosis research at the UT

Graduate School of Medicine.

The rare and devastating disease

took the life of former Gerdau

Knoxville vice president and

general manager Arlan Piepho at

age 63.

By Wendy SmithThe Public Protection

Class (PPC) for the portion of Knox County within the Rural/Metro service area has changed from fi ve to three, which will result in an approximate 35 percent reduction in insurance pre-miums, according to Rural/Metro Fire Chief Jerry Har-nish. The change is effective Aug. 1.

He explained the change to the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen last week.

The PPC is the numeri-cal rating assigned to each community by the Insur-ance Services Offi ce (ISO), which prepares and devel-ops information that the insurance industry uses to set rates. The ISO evaluates emergency communications systems and dispatching, the fi re department and the public water supply.

The city of Knoxville is installing 1,000 new parking meters, raising rates for downtown parking and increasing enforcement, effective July 1.

The goal is to create more turnover of parking spaces in high-demand areas.

■ New meters will be installed downtown, including Gay Street.

■ The meters will be in effect Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Gay Street and around Market Square, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. elsewhere.

■ Long-term meter rates will be 30 cents an hour, with a 10-hour limit.

■ City-owned garages will continue to be free

on weekends and after 6p.m. on weekdays, andwill charge $1 an houron weekdays. Monthlyparking rates at city-ownedgarages will increase by $5a month.

■ Monthly parking forweekday commuters at theCivic Coliseum garage willdecrease to $15 a monthwith new trolley routesproviding free service fromthe Coliseum garage every 7to 8 minutes on weekdays.The garage is a 5-minutewalk from Gay Street.

The 1,022 solar-poweredparking meters will acceptcredit cards or change, andwill include sensors thatwill enable city engineers totrack actual usage of streetparking spaces.

Madison Wright has joined The Pointe at Lifespring as the sales and marketing assistant. Located in Northeast Knoxville, the new assisted living and memory care community is ex-pected to be ready for occupancy in No-vember 2016.

Wright graduated from Carson New-man University with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations. She lives and worships in Corryton and enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with friends and family.

The Pointe at Lifespring leasing offi ce is off-site at 3016 S. Mall Road, and is open Monday through Friday 9-5 and on weekends by appointment.

Info: 865-687-5353

Wright

New rules for downtown parking

Madison Wright joins

The Pointe at Lifespring

Lower premiums for Rural/Metro customers

Parkwest gets

NICHE designationParkwest Medical Center

has received designation as a NICHE h o s p i t a l . The Nurses I m p r o v -ing Care for Healthsys-tem Elders designation indicates a

hospital’s commitment to elder care.

“The NICHE designa-tion shows our dedication to providing patient-cen-tered care for older adult patients,” says Lynn Cagle, BSN, MBA, CENP, vice president and chief nursing offi cer at Parkwest.

“Through our participa-tion in the NICHE program we are able to offer evidence-based, interdisciplinary approaches that promote better outcomes, positive ex-periences and improved care

for older adults. This leads togreater satisfaction rates forpatients, their families andstaff.”

“Parkwest Medical Cen-ter shows a tremendouscommitment to meet themost critical challenge ofour times – quality care ofolder adults,” says HollyBrown, MSN, GNP-BC,NICHE program director.

NICHE is an interna-tional program designed tohelp health care organiza-tions improve the care ofolder adults. Based at NYUCollege of Nursing, NICHEconsists of over 680 health-care organizations in theU.S., Canada, Bermuda,Singapore and Australia.

Three other CovenantHealth facilities also carrythe NICHE designation:Fort Sanders Regional, FortLoudoun and LeConte Med-ical Centers. Info: TreatedWell.com or 865-374-PARK.

Lynn Cagle

PPC ratings range from one, which is the best, to 10, which means unprotected. Only about eight percent of communities surveyed by ISO have a PPC of three or better.

A sample annual premi-

um for a 25-year-old house with a $200,000 value and a PPC of fi ve is $1,136. With a PPC of three, the annual premium drops to $774.

Knox County had a PPC of nine in 1978. In 1995, it dropped to four. It went

up to fi ve in 2012 when all water districts began being graded together.

The new Choto fi re sta-tion affected the rating because it added fi re en-gines and reduced response times, said Harnish.

10 • JUNE 29, 2016 • Shopper news