Daniel Pagan (courtesy of Knox County Sheriff’s Department) 

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com

A man was charged with the murder of a woman in West Knoxville Jan. 27, according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Department.

Daniel Pagan, 19, was charged with the second-degree murder of 20-year-old Dashawnta Murphy, during an alleged drug deal gone wrong.

According to the Sheriff’s Department report, a witness, identified as 18-year-old Chelsea Garrett, told officers that shortly after 11 p.m., Murphy planned to meet Pagan at the dead end of Cedar Park Lane in Knox County to purchase Roxycodone, a Schedule II narcotic.  

Garrett said that she was then going to park a short distance away and wait for Murphy to return. She added that she and Murphy had come up with a plan to steal  Pagan’s drugs and not return with the money. Garrett stated that after dropping Murphy off, she and another female, who was a passenger in Garrett’s car, waited for approximately 30 minutes.  

When Murphy did not return, she drove around the area looking for her. Garrett then drove the other female’s home, and returned to the area to look for Murphy on foot. She was found dead on the ground near an apartment building.

Officers believe Murphy was stabbed, and an autopsy is being conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

Pagan was arrested at his home on East Emory and was taken into custody without incident. He was also charged with possession of schedule II drugs for resale, and is being held at the Knox County Detention Facility on $800,000 bond.

From Knoxville Journal staff reports

News@theknoxvillejournal.com

Two robberies occurred within the same West Knoxville vicinity Jan. 28 and 29, according to Knoxville Police Department reports.

At approximately 9:05 p.m. Jan. 28, officers responded to an armed robbery at the Video Movie Capital located at 9119E Executive Park Drive. Two suspects entered the store, armed with a handgun and a knife, and demanded money. 

The suspects got away with an undetermined amount of cash, and left in what might have been a white Crown Victoria.

The first suspect was described as a black male, 6’1” with a thin build, and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood up and a black bandana covering his face. The second suspect was described as either a Hispanic or light-skinned black male, 5’5”-5’6” with a stocky build. He was wearing jeans and a gray sweatshirt. 

The Jan. 29 robbery occurred at approximately 7:17 p.m., as officers responded to the parking lot of the Target at 8040 Ray Mears Blvd., where a store patron was the robbery victim.

The victim told officers he was robbed by a black male suspect with a handgun. The suspect was in the company of two white females, one of which was driving a dark green Ford Explorer. The victim was not injured.

At approximately 10:56 p.m., a Ford Explorer was stopped on Western Avenue, and three suspects matching the descriptions from the robbery were taken into custody for questioning. 

This story will be updated with the suspects’ names as soon as they are available.  

Edward Harris (courtesy of Knox County Sheriff’s Dept.) 

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com

The suspect in a disturbance at an East Knoxville apartment complex was shot by Knoxville police officers during a scuffle on Jan. 28.

According to KPD public information officer Darrell DeBusk, at approximately 3:55 p.m., officers responded to the disturbance call at the Morningside Gardens Apartments at 1800 Linden Ave.

Witnesses said the suspect, identified as 58-year-old Edward Harris, was threatening other people in the area during the day, and was showing signs that he was carrying a weapon. Harris was a resident at the apartment.

As officers arrived on the scene, they found Harris in a nearby parking lot. They spoke to Harris, who immediately took off running as officers followed in pursuit. They chased Harris until he fell near the apartment office building, and dropped a handgun as he fell.

Harris grabbed the gun, rolled over and pointed it at the first officer. The second officer fired his weapon, striking Harris and protecting his partner. 

Harris was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he was released Jan. 31 and taken to the Knox County Detention Facility. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, each with a $10,000 bond.

Blood lay at the front door of the mission at 418 N. Broadway St, where a homeless man was found by Knoxville police officers unresponsive. Police are investigating the incident. (Photo by John Messner/QuikPixOnline.com)

From Knoxville Journal staff reports

News@theknoxvillejournal.com

A homeless man was found bleeding and injured at the mission near the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries at 418 N. Broadway St. Jan. 28, according to a Knoxville Police Department report.

Sgt. Scott Coffey of KPD’s Central Business District reported that at approximately 10:10 p.m., officers responded to an unresponsive male, identified as 53-year-old James Patrick Moore, in a seated position at the mission’s front door.

A large amount of blood was found at Moore’s feet, along with a blood trail that was traced back to St John’s Lutheran Church at 544 N. Broadway St..  

An officer observed an employee from the Mission sitting with Moore, attempting to talk to him. The Knoxville Fire Department arrived, and rescue workers removed the right pant leg of Moore’s blue jeans then placed a sterile pad taped onto his lower outer right leg.  

No other injuries were found on Moore as he was being examined. 

The KPD Crime lab responded and processed the scene, as if it were a crime, but there was no evidence that one had occurred. Officers said Moore could not communicate what had happened. 

He was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, and was reported to have been stabilized, conscious, and made the comment, “My leg is bleeding from an old wound.” 

The investigation is continuing. 

From Knoxville Journal staff reports

News@theknoxvillejournal.com

Knoxville police are looking for a suspect in the armed robbery of the Fusion Tanning Salon at 5475 Washington Pike Jan. 30.

According to Sgt. Andrew Boatman of KPD’s East C Squad, officers responded to a report of the robbery at approximately 8:15 p.m. Two employees reported that the suspect entered the salon and came behind the counter while brandishing a large knife. 

The suspect then threatened the employees with the knife while demanding the money. The employees complied, and the suspect took the cash and escaped to the back of the salon. No suspect vehicle was seen. 

The suspect was described as a white male, between 40-45 years old, 6’2”, approximately 150 to 180 pounds, and was wearing a red plaid hat, red plaid pajama pants, dirty orange puffy ski jacket, aviator style sunglasses and black ski gloves.

Those with information are asked to contact the KPD Crime Information Line at (865) 215-7212.

Knoxville Journal Interview With Marilyn Roddy

January 28, 2011
Martha Rose Woodward

Sunspherebook@aol.com

Question #1: Why are you running for mayor?

I believe I have the skills this job demands, the vision for what we can become and the leadership to make it happen. I know we can make Knoxville the best city in America to locate and expand a business. We can make Knoxville the city with the best neighborhoods in America. And we can have the best small downtown in America.

Question #2: What are three main issues you believe are important for the next mayor’s focus?

Efficient management of limited resources.
Retaining and hiring the very best talent to work for the City.
Governing with openness, transparency and accountability.

It’s important that city government reflect the priorities of the community and the diversity of the community. Knoxville city government will reflect the vibrant diversity of this great city. City government will also continue its focus on contracting for services with small businesses, with minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses. Our diversity makes us a better city.

Question #3: What is your stance on taxes?

During my time on City Council I have insisted that City government invest taxpayer dollars in ways that maximized our return. We have prioritized investments that create future savings, we have built up our fund balance and we have lived within our means during lean times. Knoxville now has the lowest property tax rate in 40 years. The City’s ability to forgo a tax increase will depend to a great extent on our national economic recovery. We will do everything we can to hold the line on a tax increase.

Question #4: What is your stance on the Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness?

I believe that the nine tenants of the Ten Year Plan are the best blueprint for addressing Chronic Homelessness in Knoxville. Remember, we are trying to address the Chronically Homeless, the 10-15% of the overall homeless population that is consuming 50% of our public assistance resources. We know that the ways we have addressed homelessness in the past, while compassionate and well-intentioned, have not effected long term change and have not been a wise investment of our limited resources. In the first five years of the plan’s implementation, we have made progress in many areas, including coordination of services, prevention of homelessness and better data collection. We have two supportive housing facilities, one that has opened and one under construction. I believe we need to get both facilities open and develop a track record of success before funding another supportive housing facility.

Question #5: What makes you a better choice for mayor?

I am a proven leader with the passion, the leadership skills and the vision to move this city forward. I have hands-on experience with our City government and how it works.

Question #6: What will you do about unemployment?

Nothing is more important than making sure everyone in Knoxville has the opportunity to work and earn a living. As Mayor, I would turn to people with private sector success and create a Jobs Cabinet. We have many successful companies here, and we need to look to them for ideas. The Jobs Cabinet will determine how to help existing businesses thrive and expand and attract new businesses as well. I will work with people who know first hand what it takes: businesses that have been here a long time and have been successful; businesses that arrived recently, who can explain why they picked Knoxville; large businesses, small businesses, minority and women-owned businesses, businesses from all parts of our town. There’s incredible knowledge and ability in our city and we need to harness it. We will do everything we can to leverage our assets to retain and attract great jobs. Our message will be that City Government is doing everything it can to improve opportunities for great jobs and a great future.

Political Beat

US Tax Dollars Down the Rabbit Hole

By D. Lindley Young

DYoung206@msn.com

In 1932, while Franklin D. Roosevelt was running for President, he gave a speech where he spoke of “The Forgotten Man.” After he became President he also spoke in a speech of “The Forgotten Man.” There is currently out in bookstores and on Amazon a book called “The Forgotten Man” by Amity Shlaes.

In Amity Shlaes’ book he explains what Roosevelt was talking about. It was explained how politicians A and B pound their chests about the good of the people and spend a lot of money on different things so they can get re-elected and be popular with the electorate. Shlaes explained that the politicians A and B have forgotten about C, the taxpayer who pays for their political shenanigans.

I’ll build this bridge, vote for me. I’ll build this hospital, vote for me. I’ll build a road, better education, cure cancer, create more wars, fight for peace, do anything that spends the taxpayers money so I can get re-elected.

We are in a world where politicians are constantly campaigning, especially presidential politicians, year round and many of that campaigning involves promises of spending the taxpayer’s money - that money of the forgotten man.

In the past few years we had a $787 billion bailout which went primarily to the big banks. Somewhere our government came up with money to buy into or bail out GM and other automobile manufacturers. Our dear leaders came up with a multi-billion dollar stimulus package. It is like the money grows on trees without limit. We either borrow it or print it.

Now we are preparing to spend $600 billion through the Federal Reserve to supposedly stimulate the economy. It like some kind of trick show at a carnival. We have been through every hocus-pocus trick in the world to stuff the taxpayers’ money down the rabbit hole with hope beyond hope for that miracle cure..

Once taxpayers’ hard earned money goes down the rabbit hole - like in Alice in Wonderland - it seems to disappear, no one can account for it and as far as most of us can see there are no results – no real jobs to speak of and a better economy is promised, but, the only thing that is for sure is we get a lot of speeches.

What can we believe? We just learned that the promise of “shovel ready” jobs was nothing more than flim-flam designed to sell the snake oil. Even Obama, who repeatedly used the words to sell his goods, admits that the words “shovel ready” has no meaning and did not exist.

After the taxpayers’ money is thrown down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland we end up in Oz on the yellow brick road with Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

However, in this new land of Oz, that yellow brick road is paved with taxpayers’ dollars and there does not appear to be an end in sight. We are led, as American taxpayers, down that yellow brick road in this search of for some kind of magical solution that may never occur.

In the end we find out that the big front by the Wizard of Oz is just a cover for a little tiny man who could not make any of Dorothy’s dreams come true. One cannot help but compare the front that the Wizard of Oz put on to that front that Barack Obama has created. There is a parallel, just like in the Wizard of Oz, we the people will in the end be disappointed that what we saw as great and powerful was nothing more than a little teeny man, a façade, a fake.

In this story, Dorothy will never get back to Kansas with the help of the Wizard of Oz and America will not be led to the promised land by Obama. Although we are optimistic and hopeful we need real leadership – not rhetoric and dazzling showmanship. We need leadership we can believe in so that we can be the great nation that lies in our destiny.

Terry Frank

January 28, 2011

leeandterryfrank@mac.com

If I hear the word civility one more time, I’ll puke. The media gatekeepers and the political elite they represent must surely have a playbook, and right now they’re running the Miss Manners option.

For the gentle reader who may not keep up, allow me to translate political speak for you. Whether it’s in the halls of Congress, the news desk at NBC, or in your state Capitol in Nashville, civility finds its closest synonym in the sedative Rohypnol known on the street as a roofie, meaning off to sleep dear citizen while the politicians have their way with you.

While we the hard-working American people are scolded about rhetoric and told to use our inside voices, the real barbarians wear silk and whisper in effete tones as they pillage your life, liberty, and property with all the skill of Somali pirates. They pat each other in the back in televised displays of buddy-buddy seating arrangements and harmonize in the musical repetitions of non-partisan clichés. The eyes behind their smart spectacles surely reflect their pride, as God Himself has nothing on their own perceived political ability to architect your daily life.

Allow me to warn you today and for always. Calls for civility are one of the many smokescreens to the continuance of misdeeds—-a virtual cloud for cronyism. Such lectures regarding your behavior or speech are not truly intended to raise the level of discourse or provide more forums or roundtables or columns or even new voices for a furthering or expansion of political debate. Nay, those calls for a more civilized body politic are rooted in the political elites self-serving desire to carry on its politics business-as-usual, fully uninterrupted.

Demands for hushed voices and pinkies-up on your teacup are the tools to shadow the merits of our representative republic. There can be no political accountability if the voices of the people are never heard, or if those voices are misrepresented by handpicked pundits. We can’t have representation that works if we are cowed into believing we are too uncivilized—-if we are demoralized into believing we are too ignorant—to participate in our own government. If we hear no other voices, we are led to believe we are alone.

A little honesty is order. It’s not the tone or the rhetoric the political class doesn’t like, it’s an American public awakened that is not appreciated. Whether it’s President Obama and Nancy Pelosi, or even Senator Lamar Alexander and our newly elected Tennessee Speaker Beth Harwell and her call for an end to “bickering”, the message they send is loud and clear: “trust us, there’s nothing to see here; now move on along.”

Don’t fall for it. Stay active. Be loud. Continue to engage. The politicians rules of engagement have led us to where we are today with nearly 50% of your income going to state, local and federal government. Their calls for an end to stalemate means the political raiders continue their march to destroy the great American middle class—-a middle class that has been the envy and the very backbone of the world.

A lot of change is happening and happening quickly. Government is growing quicker than your retirement fund. Their debt balloons faster than your children grow. Their arrogance swells as your dollar shrinks and our culture crumbles.

Ignore their calls to calm down. Get busy. When you’re excited about your team, you cheer. When a life is endangered, you shout. Your passion on the political playing field should be no less subdued. Fight on, friends. Fight on.

Terry Frank is a blogger and former radio host, wife, Mom and small business owner.

The Knoxville Journal Newspaper is pleased to announce a new staff member  joining the KJN’s writing team— Terry Frank. Frank is best known as the former radio talk show hostess on radio 850 as well as a frequent guest on local, political television programs.

Terry graduated from Anderson County High School, attended two years at the University of the South at Sewanee, and then graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a bachelor of arts in Political Science and minor in Philosophy. She met Lee Frank while in college; the couple has been married 20 years.

The Franks have three sons-Atticus-19, Davis-18, and Avery-9. Atticus is attending the University of the South at Sewanee where he is the recipient of Sewanee’s Presidential Scholarship and plays football on the offensive line.  Davis is a Senior at Grace Christian Academy and winner of Tennessee’s Mr. Football Award.  He hasn’t yet decided on a college. Avery is a 5th grader at St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge and plays basketball.

Terry Frank writes a column for the Courier News in Anderson County. She appears weekly on Community TV at Comcast Channel 12 in Anderson, Roane, and parts of Morgan County on the “Let’s Talk Frank Show” which airs Monday’s from 7:00-8:30 pm. She also has a web site terryfrank.net/ on which she writes about the political news of the week.

Terry and her husband, Lee, hosted a radio edition of the Let’s Talk Frank Show which was heard  Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm on the 50,000 watt Horne Radio Network in Knoxville beginning March 12, 2007 and continuing until 2009 when the station was purchased and the programs moved to Maryville, TN.  Previously, Terry was a hostess on “Knoxville’s Tennessee Confidential Show, ” a radio program that was heard on 1180 AM.

Terry has been active in helping elect Republican candidates as well as the Republican Party. She has helped campaign for many candidates at the local, state, and national level from the time she was in high school. Terry served as George W. Bush Chairman in 2000 for Anderson County, as vice-chair of the Anderson County Young Republicans, as Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice-Chair of the Anderson County Republican Party, and three terms as Chairman of the Anderson County Republican Party.

Terry was also active in the Tennessee Conservative Union and her hard work on behalf of conservative issues and low taxes earned her the 2002 Ronald Reagan Award from the Tennessee Conservative Union. In 2004 she served as a co-host on the Tennessee Conservative Union’s Broadcast arm, The Voice, during its first year on the Horne Radio Network.

Terry is available for speaking engagements for meetings or events. Please send an e mail to arrange for Terry to speak at your event. leeandterryfrank@mac.com

We look forward to publishing Terry’s unique perspective on current political events each week.

Martha Rose Woodward

January 28, 2011

Sunspherebook@aol.com 

 I see plenty of evidence that things are worse.  The price of a gallon of gasoline has crept up to $3.00 and more. How is that better? The unemployment rate continues to be at an all time high.  It went to 9.4% in December due to seasonal workers being hired to help with the Christmas rush in November. It went back up to 9.6% for January. Many say there are places in the USA where the real unemployment numbers are more like 15%. Most economists agree the unemployment rate for those without a high school education and for youth is much higher than 9.6%. The  last two years in the housing industry were the worst  since 1920. Fewer new houses were built and fewer houses were sold in 2009 and 2010 than any years since records have been kept. Houses that were sold went for lower prices which is a good thing for buyers, but with unemployment being at an all time high, buyers are harder to find. Those people who want to sell a house can expect to see sale prices dip to all time lows. Those families caught in the situations of needing to sell a house in one city in order to move to another place to take a new job seem to be in the midst of a bad good news—bad news joke. Good news—this would be a great time to buy a house. Bad news— the Obama administration has placed a new set of rules on banks making it more difficult for people to get loans. The price of food is up and headed higher. Many crops froze due to cold temperatures while flood waters destroyed other crops in various areas across the world. These circumstances caused a shorter supply, but demand stayed the same or went higher. One of the results of short supply vs. high demand is inflation; a game nobody wins. Utility bills are as high or higher than what people are paying for rent or mortgages. When monthly bills arrive with totals of $400, $600, $800, upwards to $1,000, customers are shocked. Many wonder, “How long can we keep paying these outrageously high bills?”  Jobs—no improvement; gallon of gasoline—$3.00 and headed upwards; housing market—worst in over 90 years; food prices—higher and headed up; utility bills—-as high or higher than rent.  What are you going to believe? Obama or your own eyes.    

From Knoxville Journal staff reports

News@theknoxvillejournal.com

A Rockwood man pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in the U.S. District Court in Knoxville Jan. 25.

Aubrey Dean Cole, 78, faces a term of six and a half to eight years in prison, along with criminal forfeiture, a potential fine and the obligation to pay restitution and a statutory assessment.

On June 15 of last year, a two-count indictment, which included the mentioned charge, was returned against Cole by a federal grand jury.

Sentencing is set for May 11.

Larissa Caudill (courtesy of Knox County Sheriff’s Dept.) 

From Knoxville Journal staff reports

News@theknoxvillejournal.com

A woman who robbed the Walgreens at 9200 Middlebrook Pike Jan. 27 was immediately apprehended by Knox County Sheriff’s officers, according to a report.

Larissa Caudill, 29, was taken into custody after she robbed the pharmacy at approximately 1:53 a.m. She entered the store and gave the clerk a note saying she had a gun, and demanded narcotics. 

The clerk complied with Caudill’s demands, and she left the store with no employees or customers harmed. A sheriff’s officer was near the store during the robbery, and had a description of Caudill and her vehicle after a 911 call was dispatched.

Caudill drove past an officer on Old Cedar Bluff Road, who initiated a traffic stop and took her into custody without incident. The drugs and the threatening note were recovered in the vehicle.

Caudill is being held in the Knox County Detention Facility on $7,500 bond. She does not have a criminal history in Knox County, but told officers that she is homeless and robbed the pharmacy because of a drug addiction. 

“Inside Edition” host Deborah Norville has had a lifelong passion for knitting, and has her own line of yarn. (Photo courtesy of Rogers & Cowan, New York)  

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com

When Deborah Norville was nine years old, she would watch her mother and grandmother knit or crochet many items. 

Although at that time she was too young to learn how to do it herself, she finally did, and her skills have paid off as an adult.

Norville, 52, is a household name as an Emmy-award winning television personality, seen by millions of viewers on the news magazine “Inside Edition.” 

However, she is now trying to show the whole world a different side of her. She has launched the Deborah Norville Yarn Collection, through the Concord, N.C.-based Premier Yarns, an international manufacturer and distributor of high-quality yarns for knitting and crochet. 

Her collection features several different kinds of yarn and accessories, which has gained quite a following among knitting enthusiasts. Locally, JoAnn’s Fabric and Craft Store on North Peters Road currently carries her products. 

When Norville is not busy hosting “Inside Edition,” or making appearances across the country, in her spare time, she can be found making her latest creation. She has even taught her young daughter the art of knitting, and she even made a sweater with little assistance. 

Fresh off a trip to her home state of Georgia, she took the time for a phone interview with The Knoxville Journal, taking a break from her busy world of news reporting to talk about her lifelong passion. 

The Knoxville Journal: What are some of your favorite things to make?

Deborah Norville: I really don’t have one — I don’t like to make things for myself. I like to sew and knit for other people. One thing that’s cool about knitting or crochet, it’s very uplifting and makes us smarter and more confident. What I’ve realized with knitting is when you make something for somebody else, you’re sitting there thinking about that person the whole time you’re working. This past Christmas, I made an afghan for my son, who’s a sophomore in college. He was like, ‘Oh, Mom!’  I told him, years from now, when you’ve moved on, and in the future Mom’s not around, you’ll be wrapping up in it, your wife will be wrapping up in it, and maybe your kids will be wrapping up in it. They should know that I was thinking of them too, when I was making it. 

TKJ: With your extremely busy schedule, how much time to do you actually have to dedicate to knitting?

DN: That’s the great thing about knitting or crocheting — it’s very portable. I was just in Atlanta and Columbus, Ga. — and they’re more than an hour away, and there was a guy who was driving me — I sat in the car and worked on it, and I got a lot  done. I was making some baby booties for a friend of mine at “Good Morning America” who just had his first baby boy. It was such a rush for me, because my family was in the textile business. Growing up in Dalton, Ga., I’ve always felt kind of like I was disloyal, and when we started working on this project, I was like, you know what, you’re staying true to your roots, and that’s a good thing. 

TKJ: How hard is it to do in general? You mentioned making things for your kids. How much have you taught your daughter?

DN: A lot! I’ve got pictures of me and my daughter on the sofa knitting, and I’ve got videos on my website, dnorville.com. Casting on is the hardest part of knitting, and it’s never been easy for me to do it the way the guidebooks tell you to do it. It’s very slow for me to do it that way. I figured out a way to do it, where you hold the needle between your legs, and then take the length of your arm and put a slip knot on it, and you hold both ends of the yarn on either side of the slipknot, and you do this loopy thing, and it goes on. You should give it a try, it’s not hard. The video will walk you through the process. Knitting is two stitches, done in a variety of different ways.  

Everyone starts with a scarf or a long piece or whatever, and call it a day, just to get a hang of doing the knitting. You’re not going to make a sweater the first time you step out. You don’t have to make sweaters to be a good knitter.

TKJ: How have your peers reacted to what you do? Have any of them bought stuff from you?

DN: (laughs) You know what’s funny? Last week, somebody said, ‘Deb, you need to do another knitting thing!’ I took over the conference room, brought a bunch of (yarn) balls and gave everybody sets of needles. We’ve got knitters here at “Inside Edition,” and I’ve definitely taught other people how to do it. You sit around, and none of us on this show really have a lot of time, but there were a couple of girls who really got into it and made hats, scarves, mittens and all kinds of cool stuff. One guy here, whose mother is a knitter, likes to get her yarn and he comes to me and says her favorite color is this, what should I get her, and we go through it. I always have a lot of samples here in the office. But it’s not like I’m selling yarn out of the back of my car. 

TKJ: Besides doing it for your kids, what’s the best thing about knitting and having the yarn line?

DN: I come from a entrepreneurial family, and you know me from the work that I’ve done for someone else. This is an opportunity for me in a very small way, but I would like to think that it would grow into something a lot bigger. I’m putting my stamp on something which I’m very passionate about. If you see me on TV talking about it, or talking with the girls in the office and we’re doing our knitting thing, you realize I’m the real deal, and not just put my name on it like it seems some celebrities do. This is an opportunity to tap into that entrepreneurial site that I have never had a chance to fulfill. I’ve already got nine different types of yarn. Let me ask you — what are the two things you hate about sweaters?

TKJ: Sometimes they’re hot and they can itch.

DN: Exactly, sometimes they do itch, but do you ever notice that sometimes your favorite sweater will get those little balls sticking out, and your sweater looks ratty when you do that. We did what was called the European friction test with some competitors. We took our yarn and knitted it up into samples. In comparison, theirs looks like the dog had eaten it and spit it out.

Deborah Norville Everyday is a revolutionary yarn that you won’t find anywhere else but at Jo-Ann’s and at Hobby Lobby. The really cool thing in Knoxville at the JoAnn’s store is that they have the entire Deborah Norville collection. I have to come to Knoxville to see it all in place. I never have seen it, except on the website. They have the whole shebang, which I’m really jazzed about. They have all 36 colors at the store. That’s the next thing for me — taking the yarns that our customers have really loved, and doing more fun, cool things with them. People love it, and they send me e-mails and tell me about how much fun they’ve had with it. They send me pictures, and I feel like a grandmother when they send them to me. I’m so proud that they love the yarn enough to make these very thrifty things.

TKJ: What more can I say? You really do sound passionate. 

DN: You know, in a million years, I would have never imagined that I would have the opportunity to do something like this. I got an e-mail, out of the blue, from these people in North Carolina that said, ‘We’re a small yarn company, and we’d like to talk to you about doing a yarn line. We understand you enjoy doing knitting and crocheting.’ I thought it was just spam, but I would have never gotten that e-mail if I hadn’t listened to my own heart, which told me to be true to what I’m passionate about, and don’t hide things that are important to you. This has been a part of my life since I can remember, and the message I want to send is I would love it if you would try this yarn. That would be so cool and I think you would enjoy it. It’s wonderfully relaxing and good way to connect with people. 

James Rush Mack III

Jerry Lauell Pittman

KeeKee Quinnta Logan

Tyrone Lavell Fitz (photos courtesy of Knox County Sheriff’s Dept.) 

From Knoxville Journal staff reports

News@theknoxvillejournal.com

Two search warrants served by members of the Knoxville Police Department’s Repeat Offenders Squad Jan. 25 resulted in several arrests.

According to KPD public information officer, Darrell DeBusk, the following suspects were arrested:

• Jerry Lauell Pittman, 32, of 1605 Lombard Place, charged with a violation of drug free school zone and possession of drug paraphernalia. Seized from the home were two grams of crack cocaine, assorted drug paraphernalia, a Colt .357 handgun and a 1998 Ford Explorer.

• James Rush Mack III, 44, of 1613 Lombard Place, charged with a violation of drug-free school zone, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, Schedule VI simple possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. Seized from the home were13.3 grams of powder cocaine, two grams of marijuana, three unknown pills, a Cerke 38 handgun and a 2002 Cadillac Escalade.

• KeeKee Quinnta Logan, 25, charged with outstanding warrants for vandalism and criminal trespassing. 

• Tyrone Lavell Fitz, 31, charged with outstanding warrants for two counts of aggravated robbery. In one of the counts, he was arrested for the Jan. 18 incident involving a wheelchair bound male traveling on Hall of Fame Drive, where he robbed the victim at gunpoint, taking medication, $10 and a cell phone. 

The arrests were made during a sting operation by the Repeat Offenders Squad.

All the suspects are being held in the Knox County Detention Facility. 

Interim mayor Daniel Brown, looking over some paperwork at his desk with a view of the Gay Street Bridge in the background, is Knoxville’s first African-American mayor. (Photo by J.J. Kindred) 

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com

In his third week as the interim mayor of Knoxville, there are some things Daniel Brown still hasn’t done.

“Down the hall there are our law offices,” Brown said as he was giving a tour of his sixth floor office suite in the City-County Building. “I haven’t even been down there at all.”

He gave a tour of his very spacious office, the one that former mayor and now governor Bill Haslam occupied for eight years. It had a circular table, a lounge area with a sofa and coffee table, a private bathroom with a shower, a spacious closet, and a giant conference room, among other features.

To top it off, there was an impressive view of the river with the Gay Street Bridge and Volunteer Landing, as well as mountains in the distant background. 

“Isn’t the view great?” Brown said. “You don’t see any traffic on that bridge now, but wait until the end of the day, and it will be full.”

As the first African-American mayor Knoxville has ever had, Brown has made history. There have been black candidates for mayor during the last century, but none of them have come even close.

Some would expect him to downplay the race issue, but being the city’s first black mayor is a role that Brown has embraced, and is extremely proud of. 

The 6th District city councilman, who was elected in 2009, was appointed by his fellow council members and sworn in Jan. 10 to finish Haslam’s mayoral term. 

He discussed that topic, among many others, as he took time out of his schedule to sit down with The Knoxville Journal Jan. 25 for an interview.

The Knoxville Journal: Did you ever picture yourself in this position?

Mayor Daniel Brown: (laughs) I’m asked that quite often. I guess my answer would probably be no. Once I got into the council race and realized that the mayor was running for governor, if he was elected, the council would have to name someone. I knew that I would offer my name. It was not beyond the realm of possibility, but prior to that, no.

TKJ: You have a very diverse background, being retired from the U.S. Postal Service, serving in the military during the Vietnam War…how do you think your experience has helped you transition into this job, although it’s on an interim basis?

MDB: Well, it’s prepared me in terms of dealing with people. Throughout my life, I have dealt with people from various backgrounds, and people of different levels, and I try to treat people as people and respect them. I think that’s good training, just giving respect to people you come in contact with, and I think people appreciate that. I know I would appreciate it, and you have a level of mutual respect that would help anyone, whether it be in government or in any area of life. 

TKJ: Have you even thought about the fact that you’re Knoxville’s first African-American mayor? How much of an impact do you think it’s had?

MDB: Well, I can’t help but think about it because I’m asked about it every day! (laughs) Everywhere I go, I’m introduced as the first black mayor. I think you can’t judge the impact now, but it will be judged in the future, and the effect it will have on some young African-American children. It doesn’t have to be African-American children — it can be someone from any race or ethnic background who can look and say that here’s a man who became mayor, and even if it’s interim, then maybe I can be mayor. I can be an example, not only to young people, but to seniors. All the time, seniors have a lot to offer. They have experience and a wealth of knowledge, so people may look at me, and I can be an example for people to offer themselves for public service in various ways. 

TKJ: What has your relationship with Bill Haslam been like? What kind of advice did he offer you?

MDB: I did not know him personally until I ran for council and won. I got to know him a little bit then. I have thought very highly of Bill Haslam — he’s a down-to-earth person. That’s the one thing that strikes you about him once you meet him and talk with him. He’s a wealthy man, from a prominent family. When I came to the (mayor’s) office when I was first elected by the council, he left a little note to whoever (the mayor) was going to be. Two things he said — surround yourself with good people, and don’t take yourself too seriously. I think those were two key points. I think that’s good advice, and in fact, that’s one reason I asked everybody to stay in place. He surrounded himself with good people who were already here. If you take yourself too seriously, it becomes too stressful and you won’t be able to do your job. I’m gonna follow his advice, and I like humor anyway. It helps you look at things from the proper perspective. 

TKJ: With the budget season coming up, what will be some of your priorities?

MDB: I hope not to see any kind of tax increase, and hopefully we will able to provide the kind of services that people expect without that, especially in these economic times. For homeowners, it’s especially hard, with property taxes. I’m sure there will be various requests from departments, as well as council people. We have a good financial team in place, and we will all work together to come up with a good budget. We have a budget retreat coming up, and we will begin the process for that.

TKJ: How much have you looked into issues such as the Ten-Year Plan (to End Chronic Homelessness)?

MDB: The Ten-Year Plan is in its fifth year, and as you know, it’s a very controversial issue. I’m going to go to as many meetings as I can. The Ten-Year Plan is trying to talk to the public more to explain the issues. Most cities in America face the same thing, but we have to do something because if we don’t, the cost to the city will be more if we don’t try to do something in terms of people going to emergency rooms, and jails, and we can get some permanent and supportive housing, which is only part of it. Hopefully it can be tweaked where it can serve not only the homeless population, but the whole city, and become self-supporting, which is the long-term goal.

TKJ: Did you feel the mayoral appointment process was fair?

MDB: I think it was. Seeing that we were having a city election this year anyway, I think it would have been unfair to the pocketbooks of the people if we had two elections this year. I think the city charter has already provided for this, and all of us on the council are elected by the people anyway. So none of us are appointed, except for our newly-appointed council members. I think the process we used was very open, very fair and very honest. I haven’t heard any complaints from anyone who watched it on TV or watched it on the news. I think anyone on the council could serve well in this position, but it just happened to be me.

TKJ: How are you going to continue Haslam’s vision of a more vibrant downtown?

MDB: That’s a good question. We already have a very vibrant downtown under the leadership of others. We could encourage better parking — we already open the garages for free on weekends and after 6 p.m., so that encourages people to come downtown. Maybe we can find ways to provide more parking than we already have. We can also be supportive to small businesses that want to open downtown, and the city could be of assistance in some way. Downtown is alive and well, and I want to keep that going. I don’t have brilliant ideas on it, but if we can keep doing what we’re doing, we can support that. 

TKJ: Even though you have expressed that you have no interest in pursuing the mayor’s job full-time, do you think you will have a change of heart this year and get into the race?

MDB: You know, when all of us offered our name for interim mayor, we all agreed that we would not attempt to run. There is probably no legal binder on that, but I have pretty much given my word on that, so I don’t anticipate running, although you never say never. That’s what most politicians say. (laughs)

TKJ: Lastly, how do you want the citizens of Knoxville to view you?

MDB: You mean now or in the future?

TKJ: Both.

MDB: I want them to feel confident that the city is in good hands. I want them to feel like we’re having a smooth transition and a stable government. This is a far cry, but in many nations when you have a changeover, there’s a lot of upheaval, but we don’t have that here. I’m thankful for that. In the future, my election is going to be a symbol because I am the first African-American in office. When its all said and done, historians will look back at this and say he was a good mayor during his time in office. I could do a project between now and the end of my term that would be lasting, and something that would benefit the people. If I can benefit them, then I would be happy with that. 

Margaret Gaiter, who serves on the Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission of Greater Knoxville, reads a resolution honoring interim mayor Daniel Brown during the Knoxville City Council meeting Jan. 25. (Photo by J.J. Kindred) 

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com

In what was an unusually short meeting Jan. 25, the Knoxville City Council approved many items on its agenda, including two ongoing greenway projects within the city. 

The council approved an agreement with Atlanta-based MACTEC Engineering and Consulting to provide inspection services for the construction of the first phase of the Knox Blount Greenway.

The first phase follows the Tennessee River from the Buck Karnes Bridge on Alcoa Highway to Knox County’s Marine Park. The city submitted a request for proposals for CEI (construction engineering inspection) services in April of last year. 

The total project cost for the first phase is $1,451,975, with 80 percent provided from the state and 20 percent from the city and Knox County. 

MACTEC submitted a services proposal not to exceed $349,000.

Councilman Nick Della Volpe said he spoke to city public works director Steve King about the project, and while he thought MACTEC had the capability to do the project, he was concerned that the money could be used for training city staff on greenway construction. 

“We are going to be doing greenways for next 20 years,” Della Volpe said. “If we had that kind of money to do in-house development of staffing for greenways, we could save money for the long haul.

“I don’t question that (King’s) staff is busy or picked a good engineer to do the work,” Della Volpe continued, “but my question to him is with those kind of dollars, you could have your own Cracker Jack greenway team that would go from the next one to the next one, and build a level of expertise that would enable you to be more efficient and cost efficient in doing this in the future.”

King responded by saying that the city is required by the CEI process to fulfill a project funded by the federal government. 

“It is a very detailed process that we don’t have enough staff to be able to do,” King said. “If this was a greenway that was 100 percent funded by city dollars, we would be able to do it. We have the expertise, what we don’t have is the personnel to keep all the records and the files. Its really a unbelievable process that we’re required to do.”

The council also approved an agreement with TDOT for a grant to build a 10-foot wide greenway along First Creek, near Fulton High School and ending at Edgewood Park, with the city paying $151,200, or 20 percent of the cost. The total estimated grant was $756,000. 

“We are committed to building greenways throughout Knoxville, but it’s a slow, expensive process,” said Joe Walsh, the city’s parks and recreation director. “We’re fortunate to have this grant to build this one section. Ultimately, our goal is to have the greenway from the river all the way to Fountain City Park, which is several miles of greenway, and to do that, we have to do it in small bits and pieces.”

The application was submitted to TDOT back in October.

“We were very pleased to get a quick turnaround,” Walsh said. “Normally the authorization and approval takes a year or longer, but we had it in 60 days. We are excited to work with Mr. King and the engineering department.” 

Meanwhile, the meeting marked the debut of newly-appointed councilman Charles Thomas. Also, interim mayor Daniel Brown, presiding over his third meeting, was honored in a resolution read by Margaret Gaiter, who serves on the Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission of Greater Knoxville, and Robert Booker, a local columnist and former executive director of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, who ran for mayor himself in 1971. 

“I never thought I would see the day where I would see a black person serve as mayor of this city, even on an interim basis,” Booker said. “There have been black candidates for mayor of this city for 139 years. and none has come close to winning. Most of those we have known personally because they ran during the past 44 years. 

“I was asked to give my opinion as to who would be the first black mayor of Knoxville, and my answer was he or she ain’t born yet,” Booker continued. “I cannot praise you city council members enough for your courage and fair consideration. It goes a long way to setting the tone for how our city should operate and all facets of society.”

A shooting took place near the area of 1200 W. Scott Ave. Jan. 24. The victim, identified as 48-year-old Michael Roddenberry, was taken to the UT Medical Center for treatment. An investigation is continuing. (Photo by John Messner/QuikPixOnline.com)

From Knoxville Journal staff reports

News@theknoxvillejournal.com

A Knoxville man was shot during an incident near the area of 1200 W. Scott Ave. Jan. 24, according to a Knoxville Police Department report.

According to public information officer Darrell DeBusk, the incident was reported at approximately 9:25 p.m., when gunshots were heard in the area. As officers arrived on the scene, dispatchers received a second call stating that a victim was suffering a gunshot wound, and was on Virginia Avenue near Elm Street. 

Officers responding to the second call located the victim, identified as 48-year-old Michael Roddenberry, and were able to confirm the incident occurred near the 1200 block of West Scott Avenue.  

Roddenberry was conscious and talking to officers before he was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment.

Officers said Roddenberry was offering vague information regarding the incident and the suspect. The investigation is continuing. 

Students in Knox County Schools should expect to see healthier food choices incorporated into their respective cafeterias over the next few months. (Photo by J.J. Kindred) 

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com

In his five months as executive director of school nutrition for Knox County Schools, Jon Dickl has been as active in the school system as he hopes students will be, as far as making healthy food choices.

Dickl approached the Knox County School Board during its Jan. 12 meeting and informed them of a plan to incorporate healthier food options in the cafeterias of all the 80-plus schools in the system.

“I feel like I have a two-fold approach of responsibility in becoming a school nutrition director in Knox County,” Dickl said during a interview in his office Jan. 20. “The first part of that is to try to feed as many as students as I possibly can. That there is the greatest commission for my position.

“The second aspect is to find the opportunities to feed the kids as many healthy, exciting items that I can,” Dickl continued. “Although we have a nutrition educator here in Knox County, we are one of the few districts in the state that has one, tying nutrition to education and also, nutritional education follows suit. That’s something I’m constantly in search of — new ideas, healthier approaches, and ways in which we can educate the kids in the classroom and support education as well.”

For starters, three kinds of fresh fruit are being offered every day, and within a five-day week, Dickl hopes school cafeterias will have five kinds of fresh fruit offered within that week. 

A mini chef salad is now also being offered every day, as well as different kinds of side salads, such as Caesar, garden and the Spring Mix. Vegetable nibbles, such as carrots, celery and broccoli are also being offered. 

“We hope to see more fresh vegetables as well,” Dickl said. “In the past, we would have used many frozen and canned vegetables. We are trying to get away from canned vegetables and mostly use frozen and fresh vegetables, like fresh broccoli and fresh cauliflower. We are focusing on dark, leafy greens within the salads that we’re offering. We’re still in the process of transitioning into this, and we’re still having some challenges in the change.”

Dickl said he is also incorporating unique dessert items to offer at least once a week, such as a mini ice cream sandwich with only 90 calories, a frozen fruit treat, and he is also introducing “Smart Cookies,” low-fat vanilla-flavored cookies that feature pictures of American presidents, and different states and capitals, and American history cookies are also being produced. 

“It creates some excitement about the meals,” Dickl said. “We are offering whole grain cookies, and the whole grain option every day.”

A new regulation, coming from the reauthorization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program, said one out of every two items offered should be whole grain.

“We’re already ahead of the regulation that is being phased in,” Dickl said. “On a given day, a student may get a sandwich on a whole grain bun or on whole grain bread. Even on the day they get the mini chef salad where no bread is being offered, we’re offering Goldfish crackers, which is a whole grain cracker. “Sometimes it’s very subtle, but it’s also very obvious that we’re offering a whole grain cracker,” Dickl continued. “The pizza that we’re offering is a whole grain pizza crust, which is low fat, so we’re just trying to focus on that.”

Dickl said one of the most exciting items being offered is a crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwich. One is also offered using soy peanut butter.

In the past, Dickl said, due to some concerns about peanut allergies, it was only offered in certain schools. 

“We’ve now gone district wide with it,” he said. “(The crustless soy peanut butter and jelly sandwich) actually tastes pretty good. Since our numbers were small, I went with a product completely labeled soy. I really found this product to be amazingly close to peanut butter, and you will be surprised when you try it.” 

Due to an ever increasing population, Dickl is also incorporating gluten-free menus between now and the end of the school year. 

He explained that food services are operated financially independent from the school system. U.S. Food Services in Alcoa and International Wholesale Company out of Cookeville are the main food distributors that are used. 

“We budgeted $600,000 for fresh produce for this year,” Dickl said. “I committed another $150,000 to fresh produce, so that would be about a 25 percent increase in the fresh produce items available.” 

Dickl described the feedback from students and parents as “a mixed bag.”

“For the most part, I think I’ve gotten probably 80 percent positive response,” he said. “The only real issue that has come up has been the peanut butter. I’ve gone to the principals of each school site, and if there is a concern, they would convert over to soy butter.  We have our due diligence to have health experts on school sites. I have had five to six phone calls about it, and I address them and try to put the parents at ease and let them know about the interests of students.”

Students have reacted to the already incorporated and forthcoming changes positively, Dickl said. 

“I had one school call me and tell me how excited the kids were about the changes that we’ve done,” he said. “With one school, we dipped our toe in the water as far as the chef’s salad. One school said that out of 600 kids, they sold about 350 salads that day. 

“I think one of things we’re able to do is to expose more children to fruits and vegetables that they were never exposed to in the past,” Dickl continued. “We had one fresh fruit and vegetable school last year — we have five this year. One student in a school asked, ‘Why are you serving us pickles?’ It was sliced kiwi. They had never seen sliced kiwi before. It’s just an opportunity to expose them to new items, and we’re getting a great response so far.”

Dickl said school cafeteria employees and school nutritionists have been very supportive, and praised his team in initiating the programs.

“It’s like our mission statement, ‘pursuing excellence in student nutrition, one bite at a time,’” Dickl said. “That’s just the motto we live by. We are constantly challenging our folks to live outside the box. We will never rest on what we’re doing, and we still have a long way to go.”

From Knoxville Journal staff reports

News@theknoxvillejournal.com

A worker at the Henley Street Bridge construction site was killed Jan. 25 while working, according to a Knoxville Police Department report.

John Womac, 33, of Athens, was working near a trackhoe and suffered unknown injuries. He was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment of his injures, but was later pronounced dead just after  9:30 a.m.

KPD and Knoxville Fire Department officers responded to the report of Womac’s accident, at approximately 8:26 a.m. 

The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health (TOSHA) Division of the Department of Labor and Workforce is investigating the incident. 

Meanwhile, TDOT Commissioner John Schroer issued the following statement:

“I am extremely saddened by the loss of Mr. John Womac, an employee of Britton Bridge, LLC. On behalf of myself and everyone at the Tennessee Department of Transportation, I extend sincere condolences to Mr. Womac’s family, fellow workers and friends.”

Robert McKee (courtesy of Knox County Sheriff’s Dept.) 

From Knoxville Journal staff reports

News@theknoxvillejournal.com 

A Knoxville man was arrested for stealing television sets from the EZ Rentals store at 3929 Western Ave. Jan. 24, according to a Knoxville Police Department report.

Public information officer Darrell DeBusk said that at approximately 9:17 p.m., two witnesses observed the suspect, identified as 50-year-old Robert McKee, smash the front door of the EZ Rentals and watched him remove three television sets from the store, hiding them near the building. 

McKee heard the sirens of responding officers, then ran across the street. Officers were able to locate him and take him into custody without incident. 

McKee was charged with burglary, theft and possession of burglary tools. He is being held in the Knox County Detention Facility on $32,500 bond.

He was reported to have had eight prior burglary convictions.