PAGE APB The Knoxville Focus November 12, 2018 November 12, 2018 www.knoxfocus.com PAGE A1 Now offering online auction services Fountain City Auction for all of your auction needs (865)604-3468 fountaincityauction.com FREE Take One! November 12, 2018 Commission may hire attorney in pension board case By Mike Steely [email protected] county in the pension board and Mayor Glenn and no one is in place to Charles Busler has placed in violation of the Knox board suit. Jacobs indicates that represent the county. an item on the agenda to County Charter, as the law Knox County Commission Judge John Weaver will the county will reimburse If Judge Weaver approves discuss these retirement director has contended. If Chairman Hugh Nystrom hold a hearing November the retired deputies up the “settlement” will the calculations within the so the pension board might told The Focus Friday 28 to consider whether to $5,000 each for their pension board continue sheriff’s department need to file an appeal or that he is introducing a or not the county will cost of an attorney, not to adding unused vacation retirement plan. come back with another discussion in Monday’s pay attorney fees for the exceed $50,000 total. days to a retiring deputy’s There’s a possibility that “settlement” that would Work Session Agenda to retirees mentioned in the The problem is that, pension in violation of the Judge Weaver could hand need to go through the consider hiring an outside lawsuit. The “settlement” currently, the law director 2007 referendum and the down an opinion that the mayor and commission attorney to represent the approved by the pension has been cut from the case charter? Commissioner proposed settlement is again. School board HALLS MIDDLE HOLDS PURPLE-OUT examines a variety of items By Anne Primm The November 7, 2018 school board meeting began on time with all nine rep- resentatives present. After the moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance, Chairwoman Terry Hill called the meet- ing to order and announced that sever- al of the board members had attended the Tennessee School Board Associa- tion Conference in Nashville and that a summary of their observations will be presented at the December 5, 2018 school board meeting. Next, Chairwom- an Hill asked for a motion to approve the evening’s agenda. Third District representative Tony Norman made that motion and it was seconded by Vice Chair Susan Horn. Superintendent Bob Thomas report- ed to the board and related that Janice Cook, principal of the Paul L Kelley Vol- unteer Academy, will receive an award PHOTO BY KEN LAY. from the Simon Youth Foundation. Halls Middle School principal Jessica Strickland and athletic director J.D. Overton present Richard Lee’s family with a banner Thomas also proclaimed November 15, honoring the longtime coach and educator. The banner honoring Lee, who passed away in July due to complications from 2018 as Principal for a Day day where pancreatic cancer, will now hang in the school’s gym. Knoxville leaders can act as principals for a day in local schools. This event will also be followed by lunch at the Sarah Simpson Center. The superintendent’s last remarks were about Thanksgiving Halls Middle School celebrates Holidays being November 21-23. Seventh District representative Patti Bounds presented the next item on life of fallen coach and educator the agenda about active transporta- tion and street connectivity. Dr. Jeremy By Ken Lay with pancreatic cancer. He coached last Warriors and Lady Warriors. Auerbach and Ellen Zavisca aided in season while undergoing chemotherapy. During a ceremony honoring Lee, Halls the presentation. The thrust of the pre- Halls Middle School honored one of its He maintained his enthusiasm for the athletic director J.D. Overton announced sentation was to point out how improv- own last week. The school paid tribute to game and his team despite his illness. that Halls Middle would donate all pro- ing street connectivity can increase longtime teacher and coach Richard Lee During a long career as a teacher and ceeds from the basketball games on student ability to walk to school. The between games of a basketball double coach at Halls, Lee also coached volley- Monday, November 5 to pancreatic benefits are many: cost savings for header against Whittle Springs. ball, golf and track and field. cancer research. Knox County Schools, better health for Lee, who coached the Lady Demons November is pancreatic cancer Overton also noted that proceeds basketball team the last few seasons, awareness month and the school had a from every first November home game, Continued on page 3 passed away in July after a valiant battle purple out during the games against the Continued on page 3 Council remembers synagogue shooting victims By Mike Steely [email protected] the members of Tree of Life department to be more shooter training” and sug- Volkert, Inc. to manage handle all of the project, Synagogue and to the City present at the Jewish Com- gested the city create a planning, design, bidding “from soup to nuts,” which The regular meeting of of Pittsburgh. munity Center and at the “compact against hate.” and construction of a new may or may not include the Knoxville City Coun- Rayman asked for 11 synagogues. He said the He also asked the media Public Safety complex. The the former St. Mary’s Hos- cil paused for a moment seconds of silence to honor organization will feed police and billboard operators to $1.44 million contract saw pital just off North Broad- Tuesday and heard from the victims recently mur- who stop by and asked for display promotions against some questioning prior to way. The city is looking into Chip Rayman, president dered by a bigot who invad- more police drive-bys and hate and mentioned the unanimous approval with purchasing and renovating of the Knoxville Jewish ed their house of worship mentioned the five times similar threats against David Brace, Knoxville’s that large complex to house Alliance. Rayman spoke and began firing. Nazi symbols and hate black churches, mosques chief operating officer and the police and fire depart- briefly prior to the coun- “Knoxville is a welcoming speech have been left at and the Unitarian Church. deputy to the mayor reply- ments and likely even more cil passing a resolution to and tolerant city,” he said. the synagogues this year. In other news, city coun- ing. express its condolences to He then asked the police He also asked for “active cil voted to approve hiring Brace said the firm will Continue on page 2 This Week: Swaggerty Sausage 1 lb rolls, hot or mild ................. $1.59/roll* Price includes $399 dock fee. Plus tax, tag and title. WAC. Dealer retains all rebates. Restrictions may apply. See Dealer for details. Prices good through next week. 2026 N Charles G Seviers Blvd . Clinton, TN hicken it 865.457.0704 525-4750 2518 N. Central St. at Morellia www.rayvarnerford.com Store Hours: Mon-Sat 8:30-6 (*While supplies last) PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus November 12, 2018 Is the fact that your City wooing Smokies back to town spouse is the one who By Mike Steely [email protected] “It’s a downtown stimulus,” she likely not permit two minor league said of professional sports teams teams to be located so close to one cheated matter in Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero that are located within cities, another, speculation is that Knox- rarely makes news with the “May- adding, “It would be a great addi- ville might see the Smokies return divorces? or’s Report” she gives at the begin- tion.” instead of a new baseball team. I have many them I am cer- ning of each city council meeting, Rogero said that Deputy Mayors “Many people have asked us to people come to tainly happy to but Tuesday’s meeting was the Bill Lyons and David Brace have bring the Smokies back to Knoxville. me and tell me take their money exception. been working on the idea since I moved here back in the 1980 and that they want to do just that. Rogero announced that the city is August. Tennessee Smokies owner back then it was the Knoxville Blue a divorce and However, when looking for a way to bring “pro ball” and former candidate for governor that their spouse you finally get back inside the city. For many years Randy Boyd has purchased addi- Jays. My kids and I enjoyed going is the one who to court and tell a professional baseball team used tional property in the Old City near to the games there,” Rogero said. cheated on them. the judge how the former Bill Myers Stadium as seven acres that he already owns. “We’d like to have them back to Most people terrible the other their home field. The team became He had mentioned locating a ball their roots, in the heart of our city,” believe that that By Jedidiah person is, it will the Tennessee Smokies and then team in Knoxville back in 2014 and she said, adding, “We don’t have McKeehan anything to report yet, but we will fact entitles them attorneyknoxville@ be you and your moved to Kodak just off the Gatlin- currently leases the Kodak stadium. to some great gmail.com attorney sitting burg-Sevierville exit on I-40. As league regulations would keep you posted.” relief of some there, and the kind. Unfortu- other person and nately, that’s not the case. their attorney sitting there Knoxville honors Only in very specific (and they already know cases does the fact that what they did), and the servicemen, women in one spouse cheated matter judge, who hears these sto- in divorces.