PAGE APB The Knoxville Focus February 24, 2020 February 24, 2020 The Kwww.knoxfocus.comnoxvil lele PAGE A1 PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT JOHN R. WHITEHEAD OCUS FREETake One! www.knoxfocus.com F February 24, 2020 Phone: 865-686-9970 | PO Box 18377, Knoxville, TN 37928 | Located at 4109 Central Avenue Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37912 Tommy Smith selected for District 1 council seat By Mike Steely to Smith and community floor as he took the oath of and Hayes getting three. Senior Writer [email protected] activist David Hayes. office to become the new The final vote gave Smith Tommy Smith Both men appeared with member of the council. seven votes with Amelia speaks to the Knoxville City It took almost six hours a following and all the appli- Smith said during the Parker abstaining. Earlier but Knoxville City Coun- cants spoke and answered interview that he refers Council as he the Hayes support came cil selected a new council a series of questions from to the homeless as the applies to re- member for South Knox- the council. Also applying “houseless” and pro- from Councilwomen Gwen place District 1 ville in a special meeting were Janice Tocher, Rebec- claimed his support of the McKenzie, Seema Singh Councilwoman last Thursday. ca Parr, Anne Wallace, Ben Urban Wilderness, Chap- and Parker. Stephanie Welch. Tommy Smith, the vice Reams and Kenny Lee man Highway improve- Each applicant had three He and David president of marketing Bradley. All candidates ments, and the South minutes to speak and two Hayes were cho- strategy at Ackermann PR, were well informed and Waterfront. He also said supporters of each spoke sen as finalists and Smith edged was chosen from seven answered questions with he has served on the city’s on their behalf. The coun- applicants to replace Dis- reasonable remarks. Business Advisory Board out Hayes in a cil then questioned each trict 1’s representative Smith is the former chief and said he’s interested in 5-3 vote then, in Stephanie Welch, who left marketing officer of ORNL supporting more affordable applicant before going a final vote, got 7 council for a position with Credit Union. He and his housing. through a half-dozen votes of 8 votes. Photo the city. The choice, after wife, Jamie, have three chil- The selection came down to narrow the field to Smith by Mike Steely. several votes, came down dren. She joined him on the to Smith getting five votes and Hayes. Will Knox County form its own planning commission? By Mike Steely Senior Writer [email protected] It is an idea that has floated around for several years. Some Knox County officials and developers are upset by Knoxville- Knoxville Planning and want out. PHOTO BY KEN LAY. The recent action of Farragut to reject Emerald Youth Foundation CEO Steve Diggs, Director of East and South Knox Ministry Kaylin Chesney and Overcoming Believ- Mayor Glenn Jacobs’ Growth Plan means ers Church Pastor Daryl Arnold celebrate the opening of the foundation’s Calling and Career Center in East Knoxville. that the mayor may have to reconvene the joint members—Knox County, Knox- ville and Farragut—to rework the area-wide plan. Jacobs’ proposed plan increases Emerald Youth Foundation celebrates density and opens all of the county’s open land to subdivisions. Farragut is upset with losing the adjoin- ing green spaces to development and opening of East Knox Career Center believe it will add to the traffic in the town. The rejection, which requires approval of all the parties, stopped the plan for the By Ken Lay South Knoxville,” Chesney said. “This Chesney also noted the facility, which moment. The weather may have been cold, damp center will serve students and scholars is modeled like a community college set- The rejection by Farragut was men- and snowy late Thursday afternoon but in high school on up to the second year ting, will also have guest presentations tioned by Commissioner Brad Anders that didn’t stop the Emerald Youth Foun- in college. from professionals, including engineers Tuesday night as he suggested the com- dation from celebrating the opening of “Students can drop in to get help with and those in the medical field. mission take steps to withdraw from the another facility. their homework.” Daryl Arnold, pastor of Overcoming planning commission and form its own The foundation invited high school The center is also partnered with John- Believers Church, is excited to be part- organization. students, parents and other community son University in East Knox County and nering with the Emerald Youth Foundation He said the county needs to “keep members from throughout Knoxville to will provide tutoring in math, science, on this endeavor. other government influence” out of county celebrate the opening of a second career Spanish and other subjects. Chesney said The foundation will have its own area plans. and calling center, which is located in East that the center is seeking volunteer teach- in the church, which is adjacent to the “We’re being forced by an old statute. Knoxville. ers and tutors to assist the community. Change Center, a recreation center. We’re compressed and it’s bad planning,” It is the second such facility to be oper- “We have a student from Johnson Uni- “It’s all about collaboration and we’re Anders said. ated by Emerald Youth and it’s located versity who comes in and helps with the happy to collaborate with Emerald Youth,” “We could have good cluster develop- at Overcoming Believers Church at 211 tutoring,” Chesney said. “We’re looking Arnold said. “We went to the Lord and we ment. Sometimes we have to think of our- Harriet Tubman St. This facility will serve for some teachers and other volunteers told Him if He would give us the building selves,” he added. students in East and South Knoxville. The to come in and help us.” that we would give it back to the com- Commissioner Evelyn Gill said she rep- foundation also operates a similar facility In addition to tutoring and homework munity. resents a district that is mostly in the city in Mechanicsville. support and assistance, the new center “It’s next to our Change Center, a safe and it shouldn’t be excluded in county- The center will be open from 3:30-7 will provide financial aid workshops as place for our kids to go to roller skate and wide plans. p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays and from well as ACT preparation. play games,” Arnold said. “We had origi- Randy Smith agreed with fellow Com- 3:30-6:30 on Tuesdays. “We have structured hours and we nally intended to use the building as a missioner Anders. The East Knoxville facility is run in col- certainly invite students to come by and workout facility and a dance studio. But “There is a time when we take control laboration with Overcoming Believers stay,” Chesney said. “A student can come we decided that it was better to serve our of our own destiny,” he said, adding that Church and will provide a multitude of by if they need Wi-Fi, or if they just need young people for education. We’re happy if nothing is done now, “We’re headed for services to high school and college stu- to type a paper. to collaborate with Emerald because another 30 years of sprawl.” dents according to Kaylin Chesney, the “We’ll have financial aid workshops and Emerald is creating a legacy.” Commissioner John Schoonmaker foundation’s area director. ACT prep. We’ll also have workshops on As part as the grand opening, guests chimed in saying that the Knox County “We’re excited to be there to serve the time management and we’ll assist with were treated to food and drinks as well funding of the planning commission runs young people in the areas of East and college applications.” as entertainment and games. Continued on page 2 REDUCED Beautiful Glencree S/D. 4BR, Public Auto Auctions 2.5BA, 3-car garage, large Saturdays, Feb. 29 and March 7 at 9a.m. lot with beautiful deck and Bid live or online! Everyone is welcome to come out and HUGE AUCTION partially fenced backyard. All preview the items Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. new SS appliances in kitchen. Only $25 to sell your car. Call Justin at (865)806-7407. FRIDAY, Feb 28 at 6PM $309,900 MLS #1103862 4900 Shannon Run Dr. Over 400 lots! 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The “shared mobility vehi- selves.