PAGE APB The Knoxville Focus February 15, 2021 February 15, 2021 www.knoxfocus.com ONLINE AUCTIONPAGE A1 February 19, 2021 The Knoxville See photos at The Knoxville fountaincityauction.com Fountain City Auction (865)474-9931 OCUS FREETake One! www.knoxfocus.com F February 15, 2021 Phone: 865-686-9970 | PO Box 18377, Knoxville, TN 37928 | Located at 4109 Central Avenue Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37912 BE SAFE . WASH YOUR HANDS . WEAR A MASK . SOCIALLY DISTANCE COVID-19 2019 Knox County Total Confirmed % COVID-19 Cases/ Total COVID-19 % COVID-19 Deaths/ Weekly Total Population1 COVID-19 Cases2 Total Population Deaths2 Total Population 470,313 38,719 8.2% 514 .11% Focus SOURCES 1. U.S. Census Bureau 2. Knox County Health Department data from 2/13/2021. Masking policy 470,313 38,719 8.2% 514 0.11% The Andrew Johnson Building debated at school agreement is in a fog again as the board meeting Knox County By Ken Lay Commission Despite the item being a late is being asked The Knox County Schools mask- addition to the agenda, the public to delay the ing policy was again at the fore- showed up and spoke at the meet- final sale for front Wednesday night as an item ing at the Andrew Johnson Build- 30 to 60 days. was added to the agenda after last ing. The mayor’s week’s work session meeting. Many accused the board and office is The item was added by board the district of practicing discrimi- asking for the chairperson Susan Horn after a nation, citing that athletes are able postponement number of e-mails sent to her by to participate in their respective until a third parents of performing arts stu- activities without wearing masks. party can dents, who are upset that those The current policy for perform- review the sale students must wear masks while ing arts students requires them and the tax in class or performing. The par- to practice social distance proto- breaks in the ents are also disappointed that cols and wear masks during activi- revised deal. performances have been limited ties both in the classroom and on Photo by Mike this school year. Continue on page 4 Steely. $1.5 million for sheriff’s Delay in AJ Building sale requested By Mike Steely video courtroom on agenda Senior Writer review, is who we use to review all the financial By Mike Steely county money, according to the [email protected] documents and make a recommendation on the Senior Writer [email protected] sheriff, by eliminating the trans- PILOT terms and amount,” he replied. portation and holding of prison- Another delay in finalizing the sale of the “The process is still ongoing, so we are asking When the Knox County Com- ers to the City-County building for Andrew Johnson Building is being requested from for a deferral in the development agreement until mission meets Tuesday the pro- hearings and trials. The judges the Knox County Commission. The delay request we get the report back,” he said Thursday. posal from Sheriff Tim Spangler would hear cases via virtual trials has been added to the commission’s work ses- “They had conversations with Mr. (Phillip) for a $1.5 million metal court- and not need to travel to the jail sion agenda for Tuesday. Normally the commis- Welker this week, but we haven’t seen the report room will be up for consideration. for the events. Spangler said all sion meets on the third Monday of each month yet, and we didn’t want to give it to commission The sheriff has said that the of the judges approve the idea. but that day is a national holiday, Presidents Day. at the last minute,” Caldwell said. Welker is the facility, to be built at the Rogers Vendors would apparently Finance Director Chris Caldwell responded to Nashville developer. E. Wilson Detention Facility on bid on the construction and the Knoxville Focus questions about the addition to The Focus also asked several Knox County Maloneyville Road, would be a sheriff’s office would complete the agenda, including whether or not the $6 mil- Commissioners about the addition to the agenda pre-engineered 5000-square the interior. The agenda item lion agreement is being revised or if the sale of and Chairman Larsen Jay replied, “My under- foot building with six video court- includes the language: “Knox the historic building is in jeopardy. standing is the third-party (MuniCap) review of the rooms and six holding areas. “It’s nothing like that, just a timing issue with PILOT terms, payment, agreement, etc. is not yet The facility would save the Continued on page 6 the third party review. MuniCap, third party Continue on page 2 Call if you can, text if you cannot COVID-19 cases down Knox County 911 announced Friday that “Text to 911” – a texting option for those who need it in Knox County in case of an emergency – is now available in our By Mike Steely community. Senior Writer March 4. Texting 911 should only be used in emergency [email protected] Two teachers took part in the situations when placing a call is not possible. For board’s public forum Wednes- example, when a caller is deaf, hard of hearing, The number of COVID-19 day, urging the board to con- speech impaired, or when speaking out loud would cases locally and statewide tinue to regulate local COVID- put the caller in danger. seems to be easing up although 19 precautions. Although the If there is an emergency and you are unable to the number of deaths local- school system falls under state call, remember these steps: ly remain high. This welcome and not local rules, the teachers • Do not text and drive trend may see Tennessee’s gov- pleaded the public mask man- • Text in simple language, without using PHOTO BY MIKE STEELY. ernor ease up on regulations. date remain in effect because it abbreviations The question before the Knox helps inside classrooms. • Be prepared to answer questions and Tennessee Senator Becky Duncan Massey and state County Board of Health now is Health Director Dr. Martha follow instructions from the 911 operator Representative Eddie Mannis spoke at Friday’s how to adjust should the gover- Buchanan, in her report to the “Our team is excited to offer “Text to 911” ser- E911 press conference, both in support of an effort nor change the state plans on Board, noted that while the vices to our community,” said Brad Anders, execu- to make 911 texting available statewide. The texting February 27. The board’s next number of cases and hospital- tive director of Knox 911. “We are proud that we to 911 will help deaf people and anyone else espe- meeting is on February 24 and izations seem to be lower, the can better keep our community safe and provide cially in times like abductions, domestic violence, Attorney David Sanders is look- number of COVID-19 deaths is more options for them to contact emergency ser- or school shootings. ing into what may happen to averaging five per day. She said vices when they need help.” the board’s powers if the state testing is showing 26 cases per Molly Anderson, a Family Engagement Specialist contact 911 in case of an emergency,” she said. eases up on regulations. 100,000 population and a new with ARC of Tennessee, agreed. “texting 911 can save lives.” In the meantime, the Board case rate of those tested was “For the deaf and hard of hearing communities, Officials stress that voice calls are still the best of Health has extended the 13.4% over the last week. The people with speech disabilities, and people in med- and fastest way to contact 911 operators. They mandatory mask mandate, board is hoping for a 10% posi- ical situations who cannot verbally communicate, also want to remind folks that abusing or pranking social gathering limits, and 11 tive result rate or less. texting 911 will be a helpful alternative way to 911 is against the law and very dangerous p.m. restaurant and bar until Continue on page 6 120 B Lynnwood Dr. Knoxville, Tn. 37918 Thinking of Buying or Selling? Contact Deborah Hill-Hobby, Affiliate Broker 865/207-5587 Mobile 865/770-4030 Office PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus February 15, 2021 Today’s liberals oppose free speech From a distance been used to try to make Many have said that if Tucker Carlson’s program, Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Many people have said Publisher’s Positions even moderately conserva- you truly believe in free agreed saying that Demo- Cruz, graduates of Yale and for years that there is less tive people appear to be on speech, you have to allow crats believe “that if you Harvard Law Schools, be free speech on college and the far right and thus guilty even speech that you hate disagree with their ortho- disbarred simply for ques- university campuses than of McCarthyism. or speech with which you doxies and their consen- tioning the presidential in any other part of society. Today there is a very dan- strongly disagree. sus, you are a threat and election. Sen. McCarthy had gerous reverse McCarthy- Glenn Greenwald, a lib- a danger.” Sen. Hawley even had almost no real power. Much ism going on against con- eral investigative journal- He added that they are a book contract cancelled of what he said about com- servatives. ist, said recently that Dem- trying to “silence everyone by one of the largest book munism was true, but many This past weekend NPR ocrats today “believe that that disagrees with them, publishers, and 1,000 who of his specific charges By John J.