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VIEW FROM THE HILL BEHIND THE WHEEL We have met Leader of the the enemy ... pickup pack With Democrats all but an Free! Increased hauling capacity, endangered species, state more re nement and better gas Please GOP turns on itself. mileage give the F-150 a lift. P3 P24 take one. Alfredartist-17 / shutterstock.com July 24 – 30, 2015 Vol. 41 | Issue 30 KNOXVILLE EDITION www.TNLedger.com/Knoxville The power of information. LedgerDAVIDSON • WILLIAMSON • SUMNER • CHEATHAM • RUTHERFORD WILSON ROBERTSON • MAURY • DICKSON • MONTGOMERY • KNOX • ANDERSON •BLOUNT •SEVIER | FORMERLY WESTVIEW SINCE 1978 Sparring partners drop the gloves Harrison, Lee Smith forge new partnership with youth football camp Story by Dave Link begins on page 2 Submitted NFL players and Knoxville natives Harrison Smith, left, and Lee Smith pose with Isaiah Harvey, 9, of Louisville, Tennessee, a participant in their free Smith & Smith Catholic Football Camp at Catholic High. Harrison Smith played for Catholic High School, while Lee Smith played for Powell. Community Calendar ............................6 More inside: Crossword.................................................6 Find Public Notices Career Corner ..........................................3 Newsmakers ..........................................11 inside & online: Guerrilla Marketing ...............................5 Public Notices ........................7-10, 15–22 www.TNLedger.com News Briefs ..............................................4 Behind the Wheel .................................24 Page 2 www.TNLedger.com/Knoxville JULY 24 – 30, 2015 Same home, di erent paths to NFL players for a few days,” says Lee. Dave Link By “We just want to give back to these kids, and as long as they keep showing up and enjoy themselves, You probably we’ll keep won’t fi nd NFL doing it.” Among players Lee Smith the other players and Harrison Smith at the sparring any more. camp Turns out their were Carter offseason boxing High “workouts’’ often School graduate got out of hand. Garrett Reynolds, who is starting his seventh season in the league and his rst with the St. Louis Rams, and linebacker Chris White of the New England Patriots. Here’s a glimpse at where the two e two Knoxville natives are friends, Smiths and Reynolds are headed in their and they’d box at the Petrone Training NFL careers, and a look back at their Centre, a small gym in the Karns area, pasts, growing up in East Tennessee. run by Charlie Petrone. Lee Smith’s journey West It was at Petrone’s gym where they It wasn’t always the smoothest of roads came up with the idea to conduct a youth for Lee Smith, but he’s a di erent man football camp, Smith & Smith Catholic today than when he was a free-spirited Football Camp, at Catholic High, youngster at Powell High School, where Harrison’s alma mater. he graduated in 2006. e camp was held in July, and at some He’s a dedicated family man now – point along the way, the Smiths decided married to his high school sweetheart, to put their boxing days behind them. Alisha – and they’re ready for a big move “We’ve gotten away from that since and change of scenery in Oakland (3-13 beating each other up every day,” last year). Harrison says. “You don’t get much farther away from It was hardly an even ght, anyway. Knoxville, Tennessee, than Bu alo and Harrison Smith is a 6-foot-2, Oakland,” Lee says. “It’s something that AP Photo/Gary Wiepert 214-pound free safety preparing for because of this job and this opportunity Buffalo Bills tight end Lee Smith, a former Powell High player, reacts after scoring on a 2-yard his fourth season with the Minnesota we have, we get to enjoy such di erent touchdown pass during a 2012 games against the St. Louis Rams. Smith initially signed with the Vikings. areas, such cool places that we probably University of Tennessee but transferred to Marshall after being dismissed by the Vols. Lee Smith, a Powell High School would have never traveled to otherwise, is Alisha got married, and Alisha soon graduate, is a 6-foot-6, 265-pound tight great. became pregnant with the rst of their end readying for his rst season with the “ e team in Oakland is great. We’ve four children. Oakland Raiders after spending his rst got a great group of guys and a great “We’ve been married almost nine years four years in the NFL with the Bu alo During football season, group of coaches, and I’m very excited now,” Lee explains. Bills. about being a Raider.” “She was there all along the way, from we’ll be in Oakland, and Needless to say, Lee has quite the reach Free agency was good to Lee, used donating plasma in college to pay the bills “ advantage when they strapped on the once the season’s over, primarily as a blocking tight end during to coming to the platform we’ve been able boxing gloves. eir matches often got his years in Bu alo. He signed a three- to get to at this point, so we’ve had a long, we come back home.” heated. year contract for more than $9 million wonderful journey together and it’s been “We’re really supposed to work on Knoxvillian Lee Smith with the Raiders in early March. great. She’s the best.” things, work on throwing punches, and Lee credits his wife for a successful Lee made himself into an NFL prospect in four years at Bu alo, catching 20 passes kind of work with each other, but by the journey in football. while at Marshall. for 144 yards and three touchdowns. end, we’re just trying to ght every time,” A standout football and basketball As a freshman, he played a signi cant “My four years in Bu alo were great, Harrison explains. player at Powell, Lee signed with the role at tight end and on special teams. He and obviously free agency came around,” “I almost think every time, someone University of Tennessee in 2006 and started seven games and played in 12 as he adds. “Me and my wife decided had something bleeding, or both of us enrolled that summer, but never played a a sophomore. As a junior in 2009, Smith Oakland was the best place for us and the did. It was always a battle, and it was fun, down for the Vols. earned All-Conference USA honorable best opportunity and the best t, so we’re but I think we’re going to leave that in the He was arrested in August of 2006 for mention honors, and had his best year excited. old days.” DUI and dismissed from the team by as a senior when he caught 38 passes for “It’s a blessing and it’s humbling, and ey struck up a friendship three years former UT coach Phillip Fulmer. 358 yards and three touchdowns as a tight we’re just so thankful to be able to keep ago while working out at Petrone’s gym, Lee had several options. Auburn, end. living this dream and do it as a family, where many high-pro le athletes train in Virginia Tech and Louisville were It was his dominant blocking that and we’re excited about going out to the relative obscurity. possibilities, but he chose to sign with attracted the NFL. West Coast.” Lee says attending a youth football Marshall, where his former Powell New England drafted Lee in the fth e Lee Smiths have two boys and two camp was a chance he didn’t have when teammate, the late Zane Bruhin, was round (159th overall) of the 2011 draft, girls: Brody, 7; Amanda, 5; Brock, 3; and he was young. playing. Bruhin committed suicide in but released him on Sept. 3, 2011. e Addison, 2. “When we were growing up, there January of 2008. Bills claimed him the next day. ey still call Knoxville home and own wasn’t an opportunity to come out and While sitting out the 2006 season Lee played in 56 games with 34 starts FOOTBALL >> PAGE 12 hang out with a bunch of NFL football under NCAA transfer rules, Lee and JULY 24 – 30, 2015 www.TNLedger.com/Knoxville Page 3 One-party rule Job interruption? State Republicans begin to attack each other Some disruption Republicans are posted comments on Facebook calling is what you need sitting in Tennessee’s for Haslam’s impeachment after the high Being out of work in today’s political catbird seat, court’s ruling in favor of gay marriages economy can be daunting. Even as but that doesn’t keep overturned Tennessee law. things continue to improve, nding a them from ying o in ough Haslam pointed out job can be tough. di erent directions. Tennesseans overwhelmingly voted in In addition to the small number of View Elected political 2006 for a constitutional amendment on new positions created each day, the from the Career Hill leaders of the same marriage as an act between a man and Corner entire hiring process takes longer – stripe found themselves woman, he and the state attorney general By SAM By ANGELA despite when you nd the perfect job. STOCKARD at odds this year over called on county clerk’s o ces to issue COPELAND Many of us tie our entire identity the Bible as a state marriage licenses in accordance with the to our job, our title and the perceived Ledger book, Common Core education standards federal court ruling. value that we bring each day when we punch the clock. and Insure Tennessee, Republican Gov. Womick, a Rockvale Republican I’m guilty of this too. When a job loss occurs, some part of Bill Haslam’s plan to catch 280,000 from Rutherford County, contends The power of one’s personal identity is stripped away.

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