December 17, 2012 www.knoxfocus.com PAGE A1 INSIDE B Business C Sports D Health & Home MONDAY December 17, 2012 FREE- Take One! FOCUS Weekly Poll* Focus launches 24/7 Do you support By Focus Staff or oppose the overwhelmed with requests extension of Could you use some for additional, quality local James White ‘good’ news? We thought news. We answered that so. request with 24/7, your Parkway from With that in mind, source for breaking local Moody Ave, where The Focus is pleased to news. it currently ends, announce the launch of 24/7 is a blog compo- The Focus is committed edition- which hits news- you through www.knoxfo- to John Sevier 24/7, our latest contribu- nent of KnoxFocus.com. to variety, so in addition stands every Monday. cus.com and KnoxFocus Highway? tion to the Knoxville media Through 24/7, Focus read- to daily news briefs, mem- We would like to person- 24/7. market. With the addition ers will now be able to enjoy bers of our diverse staff ally thank you for allow- To visit 24/7 click on the of Farragut to our cover- community focused, local will offer personal perspec- ing us to be your preferred logo (pictured above) on the SUPPORT 69.29% age area, on top of the news 24 hours per day, 7 tive, political commentary, source for local news over top right of our homepage. OPPPOSE 30.71% entirety of Knox County days per week instead of and investigative reporting the last 10 years and look and Seymour, we were having to wait for a week. not found in our printed forward to further serving Survey conducted December 11, 2012. * Focus Weekly Polls are conducted by an independent, professional polling company. Support still strong for Tennessee 4-H teams with Operation Christmas Child James White Parkway Extension for 2012, 2013 By Focus Staff Kids love helping other project. However, those who sup- “Do you support or oppose the support the extension. kids. That’s a given at all After almost a month of oppo- port the project have become extension of James White Park- Safety is the predominant con- times of year, but especial- nents coming from seemingly increasingly vocal following way from Moody Avenue, where cern of those in favor the pro- ly at Christmas. That’s cer- every direction possible, support TDOT’s recent public hearing in it currently ends, to John Sevier posed extension. While the elect- tainly the case with Ten- for the proposed James White South Knoxville. Highway?” The week after the ed officials who oppose the proj- nessee 4-H’ers this holiday Parkway Extension remains Despite overwhelming opposi- TDOT public meeting, the polling ect have all expressed an ada- season – and that will carry strong. To date Knox County tion to the project from various company re-ran the same poll. mant desire to see safety improve- over into 2013. Mayor Tim Burchett, City of Knox- political leaders and civic organi- The December 11 poll indicat- ments made to Chapman High- Tennessee 4-H is ville Mayor Madeline Rogero, Vice zations, two Focus polls indicate ed that 69.29% of 9th District way, many South Knox residents announcing a partnership Mayor Nick Pavlis, the Urban Wil- support for the project remains voters support the project. While want to know where, how, and with Operation Christmas derness Arts & Trade District, strong among area residents. a decrease from the November when they expect to see these Child, an international Ijams Nature Center, the Appa- Focus Publisher Steve Hunley poll results, which indicated that improvements made. organization that collects lachian Mountain Bike Club, the hired a professional polling com- 83.63% supported the exten- South Knox resident David toys as well as toiletries Knoxville News Sentinel, Legacy pany to query 9th District reg- sion, the most recent poll dem- Howard, who resides on Moody for needy children around Parks, and a host of others, have istered voters on the issue on onstrates that an overwhelming the world. The items are all expressed opposition to the November 15 with the question majority of 9th district voters still Continue on page 2 packed in shoe boxes and distributed during the holi- day season and throughout the year. Operation Christ- Brad Walker Orchestra: A Christmas Spectacular mas Child has distribut- ed more than 100 million boxes since 1993. Tennessee 4-H’ers in several counties have been collecting shoe boxes for this season, but are also making plans for an even bolder goal for 2013. Youth around Tennessee will col- lect a separate item each month, and then bring all those items together for huge “packing parties” next fall. 4-H’ers will collect toothbrushes and tooth- paste, soaps, other toilet- ries, candy and small toys. If you send a box through Operation Christmas Child, you can follow its route online, and see what child receives the gift and where they live. “4-H’ers pledge their PHOTO BY DAN ANDREWS. heads, hearts, hands and The Brad Walker Orchestra and Valerie Duke were well received at a show at The Orangery last Thursday. health to their clubs, com- munities, and their coun- By Tasha Mahurin try, but also to our world. [email protected] the style of Glenn Miller, musicians who have and many more. Spectacular and provided The ‘world’ part is what we but plays tunes of all played with bands and art- Depending on the event the perfect backdrop for focus on here. We are really The melodic sound of the major big band lead- ists such as Glenn Miller, the Brad Walker Orchestra the vocal styling of Valer- taking that to heart,” says the Brad Walker Orches- ers, such as Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny may suggest a solo piano, ie Duke. Justin Crowe with Tennes- tra and Valerie Duke fil- Tommy Dorsey, Les Elgart, Goodman, Harry James, a trio, a small combo, or Now the house band at see 4-H and University of tered through The Orange- Benny Goodman, and Les Elgart, Ray Charles, N. the full orchestra. A five Cherokee Country Club, Tennessee Extension. “This ry last week. A Knoxville Harry James. Riddle, Frank Sinatra, Law- member combo took the Walker commented on the partnership with Operation favorite, The Brad Walker The Orchestra con- rence Welk, Con Hunley, stage for a packed house at rising popularity of swing Christmas Child allows our Orchestra plays mostly in sists of 15 professional Ray Price, Jim Ed Brown, the Orangery’s Christmas Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 We fix, buy, and sell old or antique clocks! PAGE A2 The Knoxville FOCUS December 17, 2012 Support still strong for FOCUS Christmas wishes for the coming year James White Parkway Extension Weekly Poll Cont. from page 1 Howard went on to write: in South Knoxville. Smeltzer for over 30 years an advo- Do you support or oppose the “Mayor Rogero, who I argues that the business- cate for the completion of Ave., spoke to the Knox- voted for during her elec- es might, in fact, notice JWP,” South Knoxville resi- extension of James White Parkway ville City Council at a recent tion, voiced her opposition an increase in revenue if dent Sylvia Woods told The from Moody Avenue, where it meeting and in an emailed to the project without the the parkway were extend- Focus, adding that she has statement in which he euphoric man on the moon ed and traffic subsequent- been involved in the proj- currently ends, to John Sevier expresses his disgust at rhetoric, but again, no plan, ly lessened on Chapman ect since before the 1982 Highway? the actions of Mayor Rogero no solution.” Hwy. World’s Fair. and Vice Mayor Pavlis. South Knoxville resident “People would probably For additional project Support 69.29% “Vice Mayor Pavlis gave a and business owner Bobby shop in South Knoxville information, one can visit rousing speech to the faith- Smeltzer, 55, also supports more often if they didn’t the TDOT website at www. ful, even pointing out that the proposed extension. feel as though they were tdot.state.tn.us/sr71/ or Oppose 30.71% we can put a man on the “I’m not against parks, taking their lives into their contact Mr. Dwight Arm- moon so we should be able but I wish our leaders were hands every time they went strong, TDOT Project to fix Chapman Highway,” as passionate about our to turn off of the road,” he Management Division, at By Age Support Object Total said Howard, regarding the safety as they are about the added. [email protected] 18-29 75.00% 25.00% 4 Vice Mayor’s speech during Urban Wilderness,” Smelt- Additionally, one long- or (865)594-2409. 30-49 58.62% 41.38% 58 the TDOT meeting. “This zer told The Focus. time South Knox resident TDOT is expected to make was a great style without Those against the exten- is particularly passion- a decision on the matter 50-65 70.66% 29.34% 167 substance sound bite, but sion have also expressed ate about the proposed early next year. The Focus 65+ 70.61% 29.39% 279 there was no plan offered concern that an extended extension citing over three will continue to follow the Total 69.29% (352) 30.71% (156) 508 to solve the deadly prob- parkway would dramatical- decades of commitment to story as it develops. lems our citizens face daily ly affect the already strug- the project. By Precinct on Chapman Highway.” gling business community “I am and have been 25 64.29% 35.71% 56 26 62.71% 37.29% 59 Brad Walker Tennessee 4-H teams with Operation Christmas Child 27 72.34% 27.66% 47 Orchestra: 29 66.67% 33.33% 48 Cont.