PAGE APB The Knoxville Focus November 9, 2020 November 9, 2020 www.knoxfocus.com Online AuctionPAGE A1 Friday, November 13 The Knoxville See photos at The Knoxville fountaincityauction.com Fountain City Auction (865)474-9931 OCUS FREETake One! www.knoxfocus.com F November 9, 2020 Phone: 865-686-9970 | PO Box 18377, Knoxville, TN 37928 | Located at 4109 Central Avenue Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37912 COVID-19 BE SAFE . WASH YOUR HANDS . WEAR A MASK . SOCIALLY DISTANCE 2019 Knox County Total Confirmed % COVID-19 Cases/ Total COVID-19 % COVID-19 Deaths/ Weekly Total Population1 COVID-19 Cases2 Total Population Deaths2 Total Population 470,313 13,978 3.0% 115 .0002% Focus SOURCES 1. U.S. Census Bureau 2. Knox County Health Department data from 11/07/2020. Eddie Mannis ‘ready to go to work’ in state house By Ken Lay 13978 3.0% 115 his acceptance speech Tuesday but during the August primary, it was Eddie Mannis has had very little night at the Republican watch party obvious that Mannis didn’t have the time off recently and his hard work at the Crowne Plaza in Downtown full support of his political party. paid off Tuesday night. Mannis is Knoxville. “This is the second When Mannis defeated Gina Oster headed to Nashville to represent campaign that I’ve been involved in over the summer, Knox County District 18 in the Tennessee House over the last year-and-a-half and I Republican Party Chairman Randy of Representatives. can tell you that it’s been hard. I’ve Pace labeled Mannis “a Democrat.” Mannis defeated Democrat been working 60 hours a week at my Fast forward a few months and Virginia Couch and his victory day job and we had about a three- Pace and Mannis embraced on the culminates a stint of more than a month break (between) campaigns. stage before Mannis addressed the year on the campaign trail. “The unfortunate thing about crowd full of cheering well-wishers. Mannis, a Knoxville business politics and political races is that He won the seat previously occupied man, entered the house race after a you have a first-place finisher and a by Martin Daniel. failed attempt to become city mayor. second-place finisher and I’ve now “I’m just glad that the voters Three months after losing that race finished in both first and second spoke and we’ll do anything we can,” PHOTO BY KEN LAY. to Democrat Indya Kincannon, he place. This feels a lot better. I Mannis said. “It’s been challenging Republican Eddie Mannis makes his victory speech af- set his sights on the state house. congratulate Virginia Couch on at times. It’s been discouraging at ter winning the District 18 Seat in the Tennessee House of “I’ve always wanted to help my running a great race.” times and it’s been exciting at times. Representatives Tuesday night at the Crowne Plaza. community,” Mannis said during Political campaigns are never easy Continued on page 3 Veterans Day Parade cancelled but other events planned By Mike Steely events in the nation. Senior Writer [email protected] The American Legion Post 2, which organizes Wednesday is Veter- the annual event, notes ans Day but, this year in that the parade has only Knoxville, there will be no been cancelled two other parade. The social distanc- times during World War II. ing required during the One local television sta- COVID-19 pandemic could tion, WBIR Channel 10, is not be followed and the planning to air last year’s local sponsors of the hugely parade. popular parade have can- The ringing of church celled the event. bells, eleven times at 11 Annually thousands of a.m., is being requested. people gather along Gay American Legion Post 2 PHOTOS BY MIKE STEELY. Street as various veteran invites all local veterans to Two rezoning notification signs mark the front of the former East Towne Mall. The abandoned mall property is be- groups, individuals, and join with their motorcycles ing bought with plans for an e-commerce distribution center and the idea passed first reading at the Knoxville City supporters march down the or other vehicles for a Veter- Council meeting Tuesday evening. street. The streets will be ans Day Ride/Drive through empty this year. Knoxville’s East Tennessee State Vet- Veteran Day Parade is usu- erans Cemetery. E-commerce facility at East Towne ally one of the largest such Continue on page 6 approved on first vote By Mike Steely Some students Senior Writer [email protected] The proposal to turn former East struggle in Virtual Towne Mall into an e-commerce dis- tribution center received unanimous approval from the Knoxville City Learning Program Council Tuesday evening. Council- By Ken Lay woman Lauren Rider and Vice Chair assigned were Fs, so that Gwen McKenzie moved for approval Knox County Schools number actually widened. after hearing from the developer, the recently announced that “But the teachers in our Knoxville Chamber and others. it would continue to offer virtual program are doing Community activists Kevin Murphy Abandoned for years and a neighborhood eyesore, the former motel proper- both virtual and in-per- a great job. Virtual learn- and Ronnie Collins were praised for ty along Asheville Highway will come down and be replaced with affordable son learning for the spring ing favors those students their efforts to include neighbor- apartments if plans pass a second reading next week at the Knoxville City semester, which begins who have a strong support hoods in discussions about the proj- Council meeting. Jan. 5. system at home and those ect. But the first nine-week who are disciplined and Doug Lawyer of the Chamber said cooperation with nearby residents to consulted and the new single-build- quarterly grading period motivated.” the Hillwood Enterprises LP develop- become one and not two buildings, ing design is less intrusive on the recently ended and KCS Thomas said that he ment, dubbed “Project Malibu,” will rework parking for tractor trailers, apartment complex above the aban- Superintendent Bob looked at the grades and be a $30 to $40 million investment, include Knoxville bus service, and doned mall. He said the plans for Thomas looked at the made his observations, but and employ 370 high-paid employ- rework the main entrance. the 219,000-square foot structure grades assigned to virtual they results were not scien- ees and 370 contract employees. Ben Mullins, representing Hill- would include a buffer, and will students and 21.5 percent tifically analyzed. The design has been revamped in wood, said the community is being Continue on page 4 of the grades assigned “I looked at the grades were Fs. but this was in no way sci- “We looked at the grades entific,” he said. Thank You to Our assigned at the 4.5-week Students and parents mark and 9.4 percent of had the option to change Active Military and Veterans. the grades assigned were their learning model but Fs,” Thomas said during that window was closed his report at the school at the Nov. 6 deadline. But board’s work session as of Wednesday, Thomas Stk# C6763 meeting Wednesday night said that 3,700 students at the Andrew Johnson had chosen to switch from 2026 N Charles G Seviers Blvd . Clinton, TN Building. “At the end of the the virtual learning model 865.457.0704 nine-week grading period, to the in-person model 865.548.1968 [email protected] www.rayvarnerford.com 21.5 percent of the grades Continue on page 4 PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus November 9, 2020 Loyalty to My Party president thinks of you the to Nashville the next day, me were golfer John Daley, If you cross him, he fights They would never have From a distance most.” I hoped I was not going to Kid Rock, who I heard of back hard. been in office in the first This was a shock to me. drive over, get a positive but know nothing about, But I never had a reason place if the Republican Then he said the presi- test, and just have to turn and Mrs. Vince McMahon, to cross him. The president Party had not given them dent got only 30 tickets to around and drive back. the wrestling promoter and has said and done some their nominations. the debate and 15 were I was put in a group with Chairwoman of the Presi- things that even his stron- I think they owe some reserved for his family and Lee Greenwood and his wife dent’s Political Action Com- gest supporters wish he loyalty to the Party that close family friends. who told me they had never mittee. had not said or done. was good to them. It is all But he said the president been tested either, so we I know that millions hate But his policies are ones right to fight in a primary, wanted to invite me to be all sweated it out those few the president, but he and that over 90% of Republi- but in the general election, By John J. Duncan Jr. his guest at the debate with minutes until we got good Joe Biden have both been cans and probably half of if they cannot support the [email protected] one of the other 15 tickets. results. very nice to me. Independents agree with nominee of their Party, they I told him I was shocked, I Lee Greenwood had come But I have never voted and support. should keep their mouths The day before the was thrilled, and I was very to the Duncan Family Barbe- for a Democrat for presi- Some Republicans did shut.