PAGE APB The Knoxville Focus April 23, 2018 April 23, 2018 www.knoxfocus.com PAGE A1 FREE Take One! April 23, 2018 Celebrate Earth Day Cruisin’ for Tom Spangler Saturday at EarthFest Rain or shine, the 19th annual EarthFest will be held on Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, 2743 Wimpole Ave. This year’s theme is Make Your Mark featuring the local “makers community” and, as always, it’s a free, zero- waste event for the whole family. During the event, attend- ees can learn about sus- tainable living while enjoy- ing environmental exhibits and attractions, an interac- tive education expedition, keynote speakers, and a youth area with free activi- ties for kids of all ages. EarthFest is excited to Candidate for Sheriff Tom Spangler had the wedding of his daughter to attend two Saturdays ago but it didn’t curb the enthusiasm of his support- celebrate Earth Day at the ers. They created a “Cruise” down Kingston Pike from Northshore to Farragut showing their support for Spangler. Left: Tiffaney Lawson, Sheila same venue as last year, Palmer and Tricia Roberts put the finishing touches on a VW Camper. Top right: Jim and Tanya Smith decorate their Corvette preparing for the the Knoxville Botanical Gar- “Cruise for Spangler” down Kingston Pike. Right center: The group is ready to go cruisin’. Bottom right: The VW Camper led the way during a re- dens, which offers plenty of sent “Cruise for Spangler” down Kingston Pike. Photos by Mike Steely. green space, views of the mountains and access to public transportation. Onsite events and activi- ties include: Old Supreme Court Hotel taking shape • Keynote Speakers whose topics include Micro- By Mike Steely opposite the Knoxville Convention plastics, Bats, Energy, and [email protected] Center. Deputy Mayor Bill Lyons Plants Developer Rick Dover and his spoke to the council’s special • Exhibits hosted by partner, Charles Carlyle of Boston work session about the project local environmentally- Development, shared their ten- last Thursday. friendly businesses, orga- tative plans for the redevelop- Lyons detailed the building’s nizations and non-profits, ment of Knoxville’s former State history beginning in 2005 when many with live demonstra- Supreme Court building with city the state agreed to work with the tions council members Thursday after- city for the municipality to acquire For a detailed list of noon. the building. He said two previ- activities, sponsors, park- Empty for years the com- ous proposals fell through for PHOTO BY MIKE STEELY. ing info, scavenger hunt plex takes up a block of down- development before the city final- prizes and more visit www. town between Henley, Cumber- ly acquired it in 2015. Last year Councilman Finbarr Saunders, Deputy Mayor Bill Lyons and Devel- knox-earthfest.org. land, Locust and Church Streets, oper Rick Dover chat during the preview plans for the former Tennessee Continued on page 4 Supreme Court Building during a special City Council Thursday. Twin Creek Road neighbors Summit Hill bus stop, Fort want the road open By Mike Steely put the historic rural church at the Dickerson and [email protected] “end of a dead end road” and in jeop- Plans to close Twin Creek Road in ardy of vandalism. He also pointed to South Knoxville may be changing fol- emergency services, like ambulanc- mayor portraits lowing the pleas by local residents. es, being able to quickly access the By Mike Steely The narrow road cuts between Martin homes there. [email protected] 2016. A stop was prom- Mill Road and Governor John Sevier “It’s an old wagon road, one of ised at the bottom of the Highway but is the site of a massive the oldest in Knox County,” Harris Handicapped and elder- hill below the apartment illegal trash dump. said, adding, “We just want the dump ly residents of Summit Hill complex and, finally, it The Knox County Commission, cleaned up.” Towers may actually be looks like the project is prompted by 9th District Commis- Juanita Bright told the commission- getting something prom- happening. It includes a sioner Carson Dailey, has been talk- ers that the neighbors there were sur- ised two years ago. The new sidewalk as well as a ing about the dump and the road. prised when the matter came up and Knoxville City Council is sheltered stop. Tonight the matter comes up again. included a permanent closure of Twin PHOTO BY MIKE STEELY being asked Tuesday to The council may also Dailey, in last week’s work session, at Creek Road. Rev. Jerry Harris pleads with the authorize $213,828 in a discuss a gift from Aslan first moved to close the road perma- “People in the area depend on the Knox County Commissioners to clean contract with Design and Foundation to contrib- nently and then changed his motion road,” she said. up the Twin Creek Road but then Construction Services, ute matching funds of to discuss it without a recommen- “You don’t live out there, we do. We open the road for local use. Inc. to build the Summit $330,000 toward con- dation. want it back open,” she said. Hill Transit Stop Project. struction of Augusta Rev. Jerry Harris, pastor of Harris Until the dump is cleaned up a the route. The Towers residents Avenue entrance to Fort Chapel Baptist Church, asked the temporary barrier has been placed Commissioner Evelyn Gill noted had been accustomed Dickerson Park. The his- commissioners to only close the road on the road just above the church. that 19 residents have signed a to trolley service every toric Civil War fort, just off long enough to clean up the hillside If closed the county would install an petition to reopen the road after the 15 minutes but that was Chapman Highway, could dump. He said that if closed it would earthen wall and stop maintaining Continued on page 3 cut to once an hour in Continue on page 2 Focus reporter Pete Gawda has written a book about people, politics and life in the small town of EAST TENNESSEE Okeechobee, Florida, where he worked BINOCULAR VISION CENTER for the local newspaper. The author tells “the rest of the story” and gives his M.W. Rhyne, Jr., OD opinion on many memorable events he reported on and photographed for the VISION DEVELOPMENT • VISION REHABILITATION • VISION THERAPY Okeechobee News. The book costs $15 and information 9051 Executive Park Dr. Phone: 865-437-3166 about purchasing it can be obtained Suite 401 Fax: 865-851-9328 by emailing [email protected] or Knoxville, TN 37923 ETBVC.com calling (865)776-3413. www.associatedtherapeutics.com PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus April 23, 2018 EXPERIENCE YOU NEED. RESULTS YOU WANT. TOM SPANGLER tomspanglerforsheriff.com PAID FOR BY TOM SPANGLER FOR SHERIFF, DEBRA POWERS TREASURER County chicken ordinance Summit Hill bus stop, may be plucked from City Fort Dickerson and mayor By Mike Steely is growing in popularity portraits [email protected] and might be addressed Cont. from page 1 an in lieu tax payment permits are on the con- “For some reason in a first draft of an ordi- agreement and a large sent calendar including we’ve been getting calls nance in June or July. also receive an improved tract of vacant land on six Walmart stores, nine about raising chickens “I had a lot of fun with parking lot in a contract Kermit Drive near the Food City locations, and in the county. Some are this,” Van de Vate told the with Design and Construc- Clinton Highway Shop- two Sam’s Clubs. complaints and some group during the chair- tion Services. That project ping Center may get final The One Year Plan pre- are asking about raising man’s briefing prior to the is estimated at $1.7 mil- approval to rezone from sented by the Planning them,” said Sarah Fansler, commission’s work ses- lion. SC-1 (Shopping Center) to Commission may get final county community out- sion meeting, adding, “It’s In Knox County you may The portraits of past C-4. Graham Corporation approval and Commis- reach deputy director. time to take this on.” soon be allowed to raise mayors of the city may may build a hotel on the sioner and Beer Board Fansler told The Focus In the interim, Deputy chickens in some residen- get restoration in an lot that backs onto Mer- Chairman George Wallace that there’s no current Law Director Daniel Sand- tial areas but may be lim- agreement with Consul- chant Drive. might want to discuss one ordinance although chick- ers is wrestling with ited to the number of hens, tant Andrew Hurst. The A lot on Hinton Avenue section of the City Code ens are mentioned in chickens and may be no roosters, and may be for- three-year agreement is southwest of North Cen- relative to beer permits. the Agricultural Zoned plucking from the exist- bidden to sell eggs. for $38,000. The portraits tral Street may be rezoned areas along with live- ing Knoxville City Ordi- are on the 5th floor of the from I-1 (Restricted Man- stock. Unlike the City nance for guidance. a 10-foot setback from City-County Building over- ufacturing) to O-1 (Office RONNIE ELECT of Knoxville, which per- A proposed ordinance another property, and looking the river. and medical) in a request mits a small number of would include things like not allowing chickens to The gas and electric from EM Jellinek. ROCHELLE chickens to be kept in setback requirements, the be raised by duplexes systems of KUB may get Several local beer KNOXNOX COUNTY some residential areas, prohibition of roosters, or multi-family homes.