March 25, 2013 www.knoxfocus.com PAGE A1 Visit www.knoxfocus.com to access Your source for local breaking news March 25, 2013 FREE- Take One! FOCUS ETTAC Celebrates 25 Years Weekly Poll* By Tasha Mahurin [email protected] In 1988, a group of par- In your opinion, ents, adults with disabili- ties, business people and should the service providers in the Superintendent community who believed in the power of technolo- of Schools in gy to aid people with dis- abilities joined together to Knox County form The East Tennessee be elected by Technology Access Center (ETTAC). Last week, ETTAC the people or celebrated its 25th year of service with an open house appointed by held at its South Knoxville the School office. Since its inception, ETTAC Board? has transformed into a regional nonprofit agency that helps people with dis- ELECTED abilities, throughout 24 counties, gain knowledge 66.47% about and access to assis- tive technology devices. PHOTO BY DAN ANDREWS. APPOINTED The devices help people ETTAC representatives and the Mayors cut the ceremonial ribbon to open ETTAC’s open house last week. The office is with disabilities gain educa- located at 116 Childress Street in South Knoxville. 33.53% tion and employment skills, perform activities of daily Survey conducted living, and lead more inde- One of their notable who cannot play with typi- a life they might not have County Mayor Burchett, Match 21, 2013. pendent, productive lives. causes is Toy Tech, an cal toys. had without this center,” several state legislators, * Focus Weekly Polls are conducted Additionally, ETTAC’s assis- annual holiday party held “EETAC has been an longtime volunteer and and ETTAC board members by an independent, professional tive technology equipment for children with disabilities important place in the WVLT reporter, Whitney and clients were present to polling company. is used for assessment and and their friends. Donated community for years. They Kent, told The Focus. cut the ribbon. training, and some devices toys are adapted by volun- have helped so many City of Knoxville Mayor “I’m honored to be a part are available for loan. teers and given to children people with disabilities live Madeline Rogero, Knox Continue on page 2 Karns High students get a glimpse of frontier life get a glimpse frontier of students High Karns Life-saving device Roughing it Roughing now available at all county senior centers P HOTO BY KNOX COUNTY BY KNOX HOTO All Knox County Senior and Tara Stirone (all pictured Centers now have life- above) were also present. saving automated external An AED is a computerized defibrillators on-site, thanks device designed to recognize to a generous donation a cardiac arrest victim’s from Covenant Health. heart rhythm and provide Last Wednesday, Covenant an electric shock to get that By Tasha Mahurin “This particular lesson is called Frontier Foods,” donated an AED unit to the rhythm back to normal. The Sisk related while standing in the middle of his make- Carter Senior Center, the devices are easy to use Despite the frigid temperatures, Karns High School shift camp, set up to resemble life on the early Ameri- final center to receive a and provide lights, text and Social Studies teacher Gordon Sisk spent Wednesday can frontier. “I have all this cast-iron cook wear that device. Knox County Mayor voice prompts to instruct evening through Friday afternoon camped out with his we were able to secure with grants from the Junior Tim Burchett was joined by the rescuer in proper usage daughter in the school’s outdoor classroom. League of Knoxville,” he said, adding that through Knox County Commissioner of the defibrillator. The outdoor classroom at Karns High School was the grants they were also able to purchase wooden Dave Wright and Senior “While we hope there’s completed in 2011 with assistance from Lowe’s bowls and spoons. Director of Community never a need to use this Home Improvement. Karns’ teachers and students Sisk wanted to teach his students about life on the Outreach Hemal Tailor to device, it is reassuring along with 25 volunteers from Lowes worked together frontier in a hands-on way. They learned to prepare accept the donated unit to know there are now to complete the innovative classroom located in the venison stew, beans, and cornbread in dutch-ovens from Covenant Health accessible AEDs at every school’s arboretum. The classroom has been used over an open fire in a manner consistent with life on Representative Stan Boling. senior center,” said Mayor consistently since, and not just for science class. the frontier. Some students even brought in fish and Carter Senior Center staff Burchett. Sisk, in fact, teaches U.S. History. one group prepared bacon-wrapped duck. members Rebecca Quarles We fix, buy, and sell old or antique clocks! PAGE A2 The Knoxville FOCUS March 25, 2013 Mary as Mommy FOCUS A few weeks ago I wrote a descriptive account of in her heart that do need to be cru- about winter depression Calvary. He explained cified with Christ. What justice am Weekly Poll and hoped to remind every- that Jesus’s mother was I doing her if I don’t allow that suf- one of the words of Albert there to see His suffering fering to take place, if I don’t trust In your opinion, should the Camus: “In the midst of and asked the children, God to redeem any suffering she may winter, I discovered there “How do you think your endure? Though I may not recognize Superintendent of Schools in Knox was, within me, an invin- mom would feel if she saw Mary as my Catholic brothers and County be elected by the people or cible summer.” Though I you nailed up on a cross?” sisters do, I may still look to her as may huddle up in the dark Beth said that the adults in the scripture’s foremost example of appointed by the and cold with whatever the the congregation became a mother. After all, Mary was chosen world may offer to comfort By Sarah Baker a little uncomfortable and to be the mother of God. She was a School Board? bakers@knoxfocus. me, the hopeful season com then a little girl, about mother willing to trust God and allow ELECTED within me is rooted in my five years old, became her child to suffer. 66.47% faith in Christ. Though I incensed. “MY mommy Every day, as a teacher, I see the often hang on to Him by a fingernail, would get ME down!” she declared. effects of what happens to the spir- I never let go and He never lets go According to Beth, the congrega- its and attitudes of children who are APPOINTED of me. Season after season of cold- tion chuckled and then teared up. not allowed to suffer. Robert Heinlein 33.53% ness, of disappointment, of grief, He What mother would be able to bear said, “Don’t handicap your children By Age Elected Appointed Total has proven to me that His love never seeing her child nailed to a cross? by making their lives easy.” Many of 18-29 50.00% 50.00% 4 changes, that He will lift me out of Beth says that she still thinks about us today are not even willing to let our 30-49 73.91% 26.09% 69 any pit even if I leapt into that pit with that moment every Good Friday. Last children be uncomfortable, let alone my own two feet. night, I lay in bed thinking about the allow them to suffer. While Mary’s 50-65 69.36% 30.64% 173 This Easter comes to us at the foot faith of Mary and the reaction of the son went to the cross with the sins of 65+ 62.79% 37.21% 258 of a dreary winter. Who knew a great- little girl at Beth’s church. I thought the world, too many of us are unwill- Total 66.47% (335) 33.53% (169) 504 er season of grief than Mary when about my daughter and my hopes ing to let our children suffer the con- she saw her son nailed to a cross? for her life. I thought about my stu- sequences of their own sins. How By District My long distance friend, Beth Mas- dents at school and their parents. I then are they too become more like 1 72.41% 27.59% 29 ters, told me a great story about a think perhaps we could all learn from Christ? This Easter season I pray that 2 58.18% 41.82% 55 child’s reaction to Mary’s position. Mary’s example. God will clean my heart and make me During the children’s message at Though it is extremely difficult for more like Mary and more importantly, 3 56.00% 44.00% 50 her church one Easter, the pastor, me to see my daughter suffer, I know more like Him. 4 48.48% 51.52% 66 in a child appropriate manner, gave that, like all of us, she has places 5 66.07% 33.93% 56 6 67.24% 32.76% 58 7 79.71% 20.29% 69 8 76.06% 23.94% 71 9 74.00% 26.00% 50 Total 66.47% (335) 33.53% (169) 504 Running on empty By Gender For some- shows seem the Let’s see how these talk- being produced. The Unknown 68.42% 31.58% 19 one who’s sup- same: political ing heads function in the most irritating excuse Female 63.26% 36.74% 264 posed to be parties play rou- everyday world again.