PAGE APB The Knoxville Focus July 19, 2021 July 19, 2021 www.knoxfocus.com ONLINE AUCTIONPAGE A1 July 23, 2021 The Knoxville See photos at The Knoxville fountaincityauction.com Fountain City Auction (865)474-9931 OCUS FREETake One! www.knoxfocus.com F July 19, 2021 Phone: 865-686-9970 | PO Box 18377, Knoxville, TN 37928 | Located at 4109 Central Avenue Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37912 Bud Armstrong to Run for Chancellor By Focus Staff on things other than the law.” Commission before being elect- lawyers for not farming out as Richard “Bud” Armstrong has Armstrong pointed out the ed law director, defeating incum- much of the county’s lawsuits for announced he will be a candi- importance of fairness in court- bent Joe Jarret in the GOP pri- lucrative fees. Despite the fierce date in next year’s Republican rooms. “Our legal system isn’t mary. Armstrong overcame big opposition, it availed them noth- primary for Chancellor, Part II. perfect nor are human beings, odds in that race. Armstrong is ing, as Bud Armstrong did what Armstrong released a state- but Lady Justice is blindfold- used to being the underdog in he has always done - - - took his ment stressing the importance ed for a reason. Justice should elections. Even when he sought campaign directly to the people. of competent and impartial always be rendered without a second four-year term as law Armstrong won a well-deserved jurists on the bench. “It has favor, with impartiality, and in director in 2016, Armstrong reputation for being direct and become more important than accordance with the law. faced determined opposition honest. Bud Armstrong also ever in our country to have “I believe judges need to follow from the daily newspaper who benefitted from a wide acquain- judges who truly follow the law,” the law as set by the state leg- stoutly supported his primary tanceship among local folks Armstrong said in his announce- islatures, not interpret the law opponent. Lobbyists and country and a host of personal friends. ment. “Unfortunately, in our as they think it should be,” Arm- club Republicans provided Arm- Genial, kind, and good-hearted, country today, there has been a strong said. strong’s opposition with a hefty Bud Armstrong has always had tendency to drift away from the Bud Armstrong served as a campaign war chest. Armstrong an “open door” policy, which law and render opinions based member of the Knox County had earned the enmity of some Continued on page 2 Richard “Bud” Armstrong Changes in Merit City hosts block party near System site for new stadium By Ken Lay rules Overcast skies and a mild threat of rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of Knoxville area sports fans late debated Saturday morning as the City of Knoxville hosted a stadium block By Mike Steely Senior Writer party near the site of where the [email protected] future home of Minor League Base- ball’s Tennessee Smokies will soon “That’s the elephant in stand. the room,” Commissioner City and county leaders such as Terry Hill said Thursday in Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon a Chairman’s Briefing on and Knox County Commissioners updating the Knox County Larsen Jay and John Schoonmak- Sherriff’s Office Merit er dropped by and mingled with System rules and proce- citizens, members of the Knox- dures. The county com- ville Area Urban League, employ- mission has been wrestling ees from KCDC and Barber-McMur- with changes put forth by ry Architects, the firm overseeing PHOTO BY KEN LAY. Chairman Larsen Jay and the building of the new stadium, Kenneth Oglesby, owner of Big O Barbecue, and the Appalachian League mascots at City of Knoxville’s sta- Law Director David Buuck. which will be home to the Smok- dium block party Saturday. Hill was talking about ies, Knoxville’s professional soccer the change involving what franchise, which will begin play in constitutes a justifiable the spring of 2022, and other con- from Sevierville is about more A transportation company locat- autonomous shuttle.” grievance filed by by certi- certs and festivals. than baseball. As part of the build- ed in Knoxville’s Hardin Valley Com- Barber-McMurry’s Faris Eid said fied employees of the Knox The venue is set to open in 2024. ing project, Austin Homes, a public munity, Local Motors, was pres- he hopes the project will revitalize County Sheriff’s Office. On Saturday, classic hits from the housing project in Knoxville will be ent to exhibit its Olli shuttle. That a portion of the Old City and other Buuck has told the Merit 1970s and 1980s were pumped in renovated. company has shuttles in Califor- parts of the city. System Council in the past through a public address system. A Knoxville City Deputy Chief of nia, Saudi Arabia, France and other “We are pleased to be involved they have no authority to pair of local food trucks were there Community and Economic Devel- countries around the world. It does with this project,” Eid said. “We hold hearings on certain to provide refreshments. One of opment R.J. Justice said the stadi- not, however, have a contract in hope that it provides re-vitaliza- complaints. Hill said depu- Tennessee’s baseball mascots was um project would boost the city’s Knoxville or any other city in Ten- tion to this portion of the city and ties have been calling her on hand as well as mascots from economy. nessee. to points north and east of here. saying the proposed ordi- the Appalachian League, an official “It’s about jobs. It’s about trans- “We know there are going to be “When they built James White nance doesn’t give them summer college league of Major portation and it’s about housing. issues with parking,” said David Parkway, it separated East Knox- the “the same protection League Baseball. The Urban League will work with is Fish of Local Motors. “We’re ville from downtown and we’re as before.” But the project that would bring in construction and help us employ out here today to show the city hoping that this project will revital- “Nothing in this takes the Smokies back to Knoxville diverse construction workers.” what we can provide with our 3D ize those areas as well.” away protection for employ- ees,” Buuck replied. Merit Council Executive Director Paula Taylor said School board approves security MOA with city police she wished sheriff’s office By Ken Lay Watson proposed a substitute motion because “we don’t need of the county schools to re-evalu- employees would express motion that would have kept the to micro-manage the superin- ate the previous MOA in an effort their feelings about the Knox County Schools has a new agreement intact, but would re- tendent,” she said. “We’ve dis- to obtain a new one. protection of the current memorandum of agreement with examine the contract after 12 cussed this for the last six meet- In late-May, Watson proposed rules. She questioned the the Knoxville Police Department. months and allow community ings and we’ve had public forum hiring an outside facilitator to changes, putting all the The board approved the new input over that time period. at those meetings for the last work to get community input on complaints filed and won- agreement Wednesday night at The board members present three months. school security. After much dis- dered if some employees its regular session meeting at the split on that motion with a 4-4 “I’ve encouraged board mem- cussion and debate, that was would be eligible to file a City-County Building. vote. bers to host town halls. People voted down after a letter from grievance under the pro- The MOA, which was pro- “We’ve said that we wanted can make phone calls, they can Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs posal. She gave an exam- posed at the board’s work ses- input from the community, but send emails and they can sign up opposed that measure. ple of “lateral transfers” sion on June 30, was approved we haven’t given the community to speak at public forum.” Superintendent Bob Thomas within the department, like by a 6-0 vote. Board members the opportunity to have a voice,” Last week’s vote brings at least later met with KPD Chief Eve moving a deputy to a cor- Daniel Watson and Evetty Satter- Watson said. a temporary end to a saga that Thomas and Kincannon and rection officer. She asked fied passed and Co-chair Virginia Board chairperson Susan Horn began when Knoxville Mayor Indya together, they drafted the Continued on page 4 Babb was absent. said she voted against Watson’s Kincannon pulled KPD officers out Continue on page 6 NOW HIRING The Knoxville Focus is seeking dynamic sales people with drive and a positive attitude. We offer lucrative commissions, flexible hours and a rewarding career in a fun atmosphere. E-mail your resume to [email protected], 4110 Central Avenue Pike Knoxville, TN 37912 Subject: Focus sales team 865-687-6622 www.cvlcknox.org PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus July 19, 2021 A senseless war to Afghanistan to research Brennan, a former Army our troops home. War I, there was one officer a certain area, district, or From a distance his work of historical fiction, captain who flew combat Columnist Pat Buchanan for every 30 U.S. soldiers. province, but when you knit- ‘Caravans,’ it was 1955 and missions there, lost one of wrote in his column of July President Eisenhower ted it altogether, victory just Publisher’s Positions there were barely any roads his closest friends, Bryan 8 that the original mission once said we had too many was not achievable.