July 24, 2017 www.knoxfocus.com Now offering onlinePAGE A1 auction services Fountain City Auction for all of your auction needs (865)604-3468 fountaincityauction.com FREE Take One! July 24, 2017 Remembering Jake Butcher By Ray Hill [email protected] for governor, as well as a but slightly reserved as if our emails and conversa- There were a plethora of close race for renomina- banker. the writer was not entire- tions and I was startled at serious Democratic candi- tion in 1970. Former con- For those wanting an My own experience with ly sure of precisely what the details Jake noticed in dates that year, all vying for gressman and U. S. sena- opportunity to bask in the Jake Butcher came not with sort of response he might a particular column, nor the nomination. Ray Blan- tor Ross Bass was making limelight, it would be well to campaigns, finance or pol- receive. I replied in kind was his interest confined ton, a former congressman a quixotic bid for the guber- remember the glare burns itics. Jake and I became and soon enough another to Tennessee; he had a who had been the nominee natorial nomination, as was far more frequently than it friends due to my column arrived from Jake. Emails serious interest in people, for the U. S. Senate against Stan Snodgrass, who had shines. That thought was in the Knoxville Focus. led to conversations and places and history. Howard Baker in 1972, was lost to John Jay Hooker in rekindled yet again in my The first time I received an Jake and I had planned Reflecting upon his pass- running, as was Hudley 1970. Tom Wiseman, a mind with the passing of email lauding a particular to have lunch when he ing, I have yet to see any Crockett, a former news- former state legislator and Jake Butcher. Media across column signed ‘Jake Butch- was in Knoxville next, but reminders just how very man and one-time press Tennessee’s State Trea- Tennessee have recount- er’, I thought someone was something came up on his close he came to winning secretary to Governor surer, was a candidate ed Butcher’s public career; playing a practical joke. part and we promised to the Democratic guberna- Buford Ellington, who had along with several others. his time as twice candidate That first email was polite, reschedule. We kept up torial nomination in 1974. run Senator Albert Gore a Cont. on page 3 Lonsdale youth Civil rights leaders center, paintball, honored by overpass signs and sports tourism By Pete Gawda By Mike Steely [email protected] Three Knoxville champions of the civil rights movement The Emerald Youth Center’s hopes to build a $9 were honored Saturday by million facility in Lonsdale came one step closer to having interstate overpasses a reality recently when the Knox County Commis- named for them. Harold Mid- sion agreed to give the city a portion of the Sam dlebrook, Theotis Robinson E. Hill School Property. and Diane Jordan were hon- The commission voted unanimously to pass a ored at the official overpass “no recommendation” of the gift, located at 1725 naming ceremony held at Delaware Avenue, on to today’s regular meeting the Beck Cultural Exchange with some stipulations. The donated empty lot Center by members of the from the Board of Education, coupled with the Tennessee Black Caucus of city’s promise of $ 1 million, means plans for the State Legislators. community center can move ahead. Rev. Renee Kessler, in her “Thank you for all you do,” Commissioner Brad welcoming remarks, said she Anders told Steve Diggs, who briefly addressed was grateful for history being the commission’s work session. Knoxville Public unveiled that day. She said PHOTO BY PETE GAWDA. Works Director David Brace said, “This is a com- that Knoxville has scores of Civil rights leader Harold Middlebrook, right, was honored Saturday by having a munity with real needs for youth” in speaking of the best people who do the interstate underpass named for him. On the left is State Representative Rick Staples who Lonsdale. best things. “You are always introduced the honorees at the naming ceremony. “Our initiative is to bring about transformation of welcome at the Beck,” she youth andit’s unlike any project I’ve been involved told the around 75 guests 1994 to 2007 and was the Jordan said she was never the I-275 overpass on Hill with,” Diggs told the commissioners. including elected officials, first female African Ameri- nervous but that this was a Avenue. Chairman Dave Wright said the resolution allows Tennessee Democratic Party can to serve in that position. nervous occasion. She noted Staples said Middlebrook the law department to back out of the agreement officials and candidates for Staples that noted that when that she successfully ran in “is” a civil rights activist, until the contract is signed and explained that the city council. he decided to run for office four elections and thanked meaning that the retired property would not be transferred until both the State Representative Rick Jordan asked him if he had the people for Knoxville for pastor is still active in the city and county mayor sign it. Staples introduced each ever served tea. She told him that. “My phone rang off the struggle. He said Middle- The transfer of land has a 15 year life for use honoree. He said that Diane that an elected official has to hook and I enjoyed it,” she brook did more to teach him and, if the project isn’t completed or changes Jordan served on the Knox serve and work their way to said of her time in office. personal responsibility than hands, the city will pay the county a percent of the County Commission from the front. Her sign is located at Continued on page 4 Continued on page 3 Pleasant Ridge mural gives a glimpse of the past By Pete Gawda present house. It also depicts Artist Gale Pleasant Ridge Elementa- the house of his grandfather, Wil- Hinton, who ry School has a unique window liam Harrison Nickle, which once painted the to the past thanks to artist Gale stood on Sullivan Road. In addi- mural in the Hinton. She recently covered the tion the mural pictures the famous background, walls of the school’s hallway with airplane service station turned stands beside murals. The most striking and barber shop on Clinton Highway. Louis Nickle, 87, probably the most personal is Of the five siblings in Nickle’s a life-long friend dedicated to the Nickle family. family, four are still living, includ- whose boyhood While the Knoxville native did ing his 96-year-old sister, who and present homes not go to school at Pleasant Ridge, once lived in a house built on the are pictured in the as a child she went to church with site of their grandfather’s house. mural. The mural the Nickle family at Virginia Avenue The mural also shows the Nick- graces a wall in Methodist Church and played with le’s pond and barn and the tree the hallway of the Nickle children, all of whom in which the children played. Pleasant Valley attended Pleasant Ridge. The strik- Hinton pointed out herself in the Elementary ing mural contains the boyhood School. Photo by home of Louis Nickle, 87, and his Continued on page 2 Pete Gawda. 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Compa- our growth and our ability to Whitehead said the compa- and have your hand- County, the county is in good nies or individuals can appeal do things.” He also said the nies representing the Big gun carry permit. shape with about $3 million first to the county and then county is losing money on Box stores “put on a pretty Not that long ahead of last year in the Gen- to the state with the state some sales over the inter- good case” before the state ago the laws were eral Fund and the schools are having the final decision. net. equalization board. He cited changed in Tennes- $1.3 million ahead in funding. Caldwell said that a deci- Trustee Ed Shouse spoke Lowes, Sears, Target and Wal- see to allow gun He reported to the Finance sion by the state often reduc- following Caldwell and point- greens as typical of the types owners more freedom Committee last week and es the appraisals and the ed to several businesses in of companies that seek state By Jedidiah to carry their guns at noted that the collection of county must then refund the Knox County that got a cut in appeals. McKeehan parks and in bars.