February 27, 2017 www.knoxfocus.com Now offering onlinePAGE A1 auction services Fountain City Auction for all of your auction needs (865)604-3468 fountaincityauction.com FREE Take One! February 27, 2017 Residents oppose proposed location of Safety Center By Ken Lay violent offenders, is people. I just don’t want night’s proceedings. who need our help.” facility like this [in a resi- City and county lead- planned for 3343 Dewine this here.” Helen Ross McNabb Knox County Commis- dential neighborhood]. We ers and the Helen Ross Road off Western Avenue. Other residents said Chief Executive Officer sioner Bob Thomas was had it at Lakeshore and McNabb Center held a Some residents not only that they felt “rail-roaded” Jerry Vagnier listened to present at the meeting and that was in Rocky Hill.” community meeting to dis- aired their objections to by their leaders and by the residents and attempt- said that he felt that the While city and county cuss the proposed loca- the location but were also Helen Ross McNabb Center, ed to re-assure them that residents’ concerns could leaders favor the pro- tion of a Behavior Health upset about the meeting’s which will run the proposed the new facility would not be resolved. posed location, residents Urgent Care Center and format. facility if it is built. Others house violent criminals. “I think, for most people, remained opposed to some of the neighborhood “This whole meeting is said that Thursday night’s “These are not violent they’ve heard bits and it. “They’ve intentionally residents are unhappy with a farce as far as I’m con- meeting wasn’t what they felons,” he said. “They will pieces of things and separated people so that the proposed location. cerned,” said neighborhood were promised. not be allowed to just roam they’ve heard rumors and nobody can voice their They voiced their con- resident Susan Acevedo. “I “We were promised around the neighborhood. with their busy lives, that’s concerns or get answers,” cerns at a meeting last think they’re trying to fid- a public forum where “We will have securi- what they hear. Connie Hughes said. Thursday at Cumberland dle-faddle with us. They’re we could voice our con- ty and people to care for “I think once the truth Resident Katie Helms Baptist Church. trying to pull the wool over cerns,” said resident Jerry these people 24/7. These gets out, people’s attitude isn’t so sure that all will be The facility, which will our eyes. Baker, who started a peti- are our neighbors, friends will change. This is not the non-violent offenders. be intended to treat non- “I’m all for helping tion objecting to Thursday and members of our family first time that we’ve had a Cont. on page 3 Northwest BPA Why is there more litter along county roads? By Mike Steely [email protected] What do jail inmates have to do with the increasing amount of litter on county roads? The connection was explained earlier this month by Drew Thur- man, Contract Compliance Man- ager with the County Engineering and Public Works Department. He said that until last year picking up trash for three days was part of a sentence for a driving while intoxi- cated conviction. Thurman spoke recently at the monthly meeting of the Northwest Business and Pro- fessional Association in Karns. Thurman said people shouldn’t Teachers of the Year (L-R) Heather Palmer, Mary Sue Pruitt and Karen Latus are pictured with Board of Education Vice blame the county for not picking up Chair/District 9 Representative Amber Rountree trash given the declining number of laborers available because a change in state law took away the prisoners from litter collection. Knox County Schools Celebrates He basically said that there is not more people littering but fewer people picking it up. “Roadside litter is getting worse Teachers of the Year, Tenure Recipients and worse every day,” he said. He said that people either litter inten- Knox County Schools honored nearly the following three Knox County Teach- Schools, she was with Loudon County tionally or things blow out from 200 teachers during its 2017-2018 er of the Year recipients were selected Schools and other public high schools cars or trucks. Thurman said that Teacher of the Year celebration at the using the Tennessee Department of Edu- in Michigan. the county doesn’t pick up litter Holiday Inn Downtown on Tuesday, Feb. cation guidelines: On Tuesday, March 21, at the Sarah on routes declared as state high- 21. The event was sponsored by Kroger • Heather Palmer from Dogwood Ele- Simpson Professional Development ways and that includes not only and Partners in Education. mentary: Ms. Palmer has been with Knox Center, Knox County Schools will honor Oak Ridge Highway through Karns The Teacher of the Year celebration is County Schools since 2009 and prior to even more employees—150 educators but routes like Chapman Highway, held each year to recognize outstanding that served as a substitute teacher for who have earned tenure effective this Maynardville Pike, Andrew Johnson educators from Knox County Schools. five years. As a librarian, she sees stu- school year. This number represents 50 Highway and Rutledge Pike. To be considered, a candidate must be dents in all grade levels. more than last year. The event, resched- Because DWI offenders are no a full-time, certified PreK-12 teacher • Mary Sue Pruitt from Farragut uled from last month, will include dinner longer required to pick up trash who has taught five or more years and Middle School: Ms. Pruitt has been with and special guest speaker WATE 6 On the county has dropped from a spends the majority of the day instruct- Knox County Schools for 13 years. She Your Side Anchor Lori Tucker. standard crew of 15 to about two ing students. Candidates must also has served as a middle school assistant Academic tenure is a professional people performing the service. show dedication to teaching and pos- principal and a teacher. Her tenure in status granted to employees after serv- “We are competing with other sess a variety of positive personal attri- education, though, goes back to 1988. ing five school years and receiving per- agencies to get volunteers,” he butes. School-level recipients are nomi- • Karen Latus from Bearden High formance evaluations “above expecta- said, asking that people contact nated by their colleagues for this annual School: Ms. Latus has served Knox tions” or “significantly above expecta- their state representatives and award and the number of recipients per County Schools for eight years as a track tions” with regard to effectiveness of senators to change the law and school is determined by the number of and field coach/cross country coach, teaching based on the evaluation guide- include trash pickup as part of a faculty at the school. a Spanish teacher and a health center line set forth by the Tennessee Board of conviction. From the group of school-level winners, clinician. Prior to joining Knox County Education. Continued on page 2 2013 HONDA CIVIC Over 20 to Choose From $12,890 STK#P035505A ALL RUSTY WALLACE HONDA POWER & 8659384222 I75CALLAHAN, N.KNOX AUTOMATIC www.rustywallacehonda.com PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus February 27, 2017 How Is Child Support Calculated? What is child living in different the parent with less income with the children than the obligation that has to be for it and you will be able to support? Child households. If generally needs the mone- other parent, typically they paid until a child turns 18 download it, plug in num- support is money a child’s parents tary help of the other parent will be the parent receiv- or graduates from high bers, and see what kind paid from one are married or live in paying for child expenses. ing child support, but not school, whichever is later. of amounts might be owed parent of a child together, there is Child support is designed always, particularly if they If a parent gets behind in given various different sce- to the other no need for child to equalize the parties’ make a great deal more their payment of child sup- narios. parent of a child. support because incomes. money than the other port, that obligation could Jedidiah McKeehan is This money is the child is in one In practice, if the parties parent. continue on for years and an attorney practicing in supposed to be By Jedidiah household all of have equal number of visita- Other items that are con- even decades and could Knox County and surround- McKeehan used to care for attorneyknoxville@ time and has the tion days with their children, sidered in the calculating of result in the parent owing ing counties. He works in and help raise gmail.com benefit of both but one parent makes much child support are whether the child support going to many areas, including crim- the child. parents’ contribu- more than the other parent, one parent is paying the chil- jail if they refuse to pay what inal, personal injury, land- It goes without saying, tions to necessary expenses they will be expected to pay dren’s health insurance pre- they owe. lord-tenant, probate, and child support only comes and costs that are incurred child support even though mium or childcare expense The Tennessee Child estate planning. Visit attor- in to play when the par- in the raising of a child. their days of visitation are related to the children. Support Calculator is avail- ney-knoxville.com for more ents of a child are divorced When parents are living the exact same.