By DAVE FORD

D.Ford@theknoxvillejournal.com

While conscious of the fact a fellow columnist decided to discuss the same subject matter this week in our publication, I’ll do my best to offer a different take on the now infamous statements Scottie Pippen spewed over national radio airwaves on May 27.

It’s well known by now the Hall of Famer and owner of six NBA championship rings, mainly due to the immortal play of a guy named Michael Jordan, said Miami Heat forward LeBron James could be the greatest basketball player of all time — even greater than Jordan.

Upon reading Pippen’s statement that day I couldn’t speak for at least five minutes. In fact, I remember just shaking my head in total disbelief. Then I said out loud, ‘He said what? How could he say something like that?’

Even now as I write this I still can’t fathom what would make him even have the guts to whisper such a thing alone in the dark with no one actually having a chance to hear him.

Pippen quickly tried to backtrack and “explain” what he really meant, but come on, the damage had been done. There have been those in NBA circles who have said for years that the No. 2 man during Chicago’s magical title runs in the 1990s always wanted to be numero uno. 

Now, after saying what he did, it has never sounded more true. But even still, after all he and Jordan went through together, grinding through epic playoff battles against Detroit and New York to build one of the most dominant dynasties in league history, how did the initial thought travel down to his mouth and out for all to hear?

It was shocking enough that Pippen said James could be the best ever, but for him to further say that Jordan was merely the best scorer ever and not the most complete player, especially defensively, officially put him as a member in crazy town.

And that still wasn’t the worst of it.

He went on to say that Jordan didn’t get the rest of the team involved consistently like James. Again, what was Pippen thinking when he said that? 

Early in his career, having already proven he could lead the league year after year in scoring and knowing he needed help if he was ever going to hoist at least one Larry O’Brien trophy, Jordan made a concerted effort to get every member of the Bulls, especially Pippen involved on the offensive end.

The result was the first of six NBA titles in 1991. Jordan spread the wealth to Pippen, Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright and John Paxson, and Chicago put a thorough beating on the Magic Johnson-led Los Angeles Lakers.

Has James done that? In his first appearance in the NBA Finals in 2007, he and the Cleveland Cavaliers were easily swept by San Antonio … that never happened to a Jordan-led squad.

You know, for whatever reason, every generation places the “best ever” title on one athlete from each sport. As the generations progress and manifest new ones, the greatness of the same athlete who was once put on a pedestal starts to fade and soon gets pushed aside by a new breed of player.

Jordan was so good, that even while he was still playing there were those out there looking to call some up-and-coming kid “the next Jordan.” Is anyone out there saying some kid could be “the next LeBron James?” 

No. He doesn’t have the “it” factor that Jordan brought to the game. MJ transcended basketball like no one had done before him and no one has been able to do since he hung ‘em up for good in 2003.

How did Pippen forget so quickly how good he had it as Jordan’s righthand man? MJ never ran from a challenge. He stood up for his teammates in the heat of competition. He stared down the bully on the block. When the lights were at their brightest, he was brighter. 

What Pippen said, I’ll never be able to wrap my head around it. 

Knoxville mayoral candidate Ivan Harmon, right, talks with George Mellon, left, a Knoxville resident and Korean War veteran. Harmon honored and talked with veterans at his campaign headquarters in West Knoxville for Memorial Day May 30. (Photo by J.J. Kindred) 

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com

Ivan Harmon took time away from his busy Knoxville mayoral campaign May 30 to honor veterans at his headquarters on Memorial Day.

Even though Harmon had his left foot elevated on a chair while talking to his constituents because of an ongoing health issue, he didn’t let that take away the joy of another reason to celebrate the holiday.

“It is also my birthday,” said Harmon, who turned 63. “Memorial Day means that a lot of veterans fought for our freedom overseas. Especially those who gave their lives, we need to celebrate and appreciate that as much as we can, especially to those who lost loved ones.”

Harmon, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, said being in the service brought back lukewarm memories.

“I think it brings mainly bad memories because of what World War II meant to our country as far as Pearl Harbor being attacked,” he said. “I watched a movie last night — Pearl Harbor ironically — and a lot of our young men and women lost their lives there and in other parts of the world. They ended up going to Germany and other parts of Europe to fight and protect our country here, so we would have a place to raise our kids and have freedom. It was a bad time, but our country was strong enough to handle it.”

Allen Clemons, a Knoxville resident who served in U.S. Navy for eight years, described Memorial Day as “a nice day to take time to remember those who sacrificed their lives in serving our country. I went into the Navy during the Vietnam War, and I’m glad that we have a sense of pride and patriotism for service people in this country.

“I remember the camaraderie I had with my shipmates and guys that I served with in other locations, as well as on the ship,” Clemons continued. “As in the book and the movie, ‘We Were Soldiers,’ we were young ones. At any rate, I did a lot of growing up. I was a country boy from Alabama before I went into the service. I got to meet a lot of people from a lot of different places. As Americans, we are all pretty much alike.”

Meanwhile, Harmon had nothing but positive things to say about his continuing campaign.  

“It’s going real good, and every day it’s getting a little better,” he said. “I’m starting to get back to the door-to-door process and I have six fundraisers scheduled. I’m just geared up for a big run, and I want to serve the people as their mayor and make sure they have an opportunity to work with me on their issues in their communities.”

From Knoxville Journal staff reports

News@theknoxvillejournal.com 

Two people were seriously injured during a one-vehicle crash May 31 at I-640 near the Broadway exit, according to the Knoxville Police Department.

The incident took place at approximately 7 a.m., according to KPD public information officer Darrell DeBusk.

The driver, identified as 45-year-old Charlie King, and his passenger, 35-year-old Dewey King, were injured when their 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier went off the interstate and ended up lying on its top on the Norfolk Southern train tracks nearby.

A train had to be stopped to avoid a collision with the vehicle, while Knoxville Fire Department officers worked for approximately 45 minutes to remove Charlie King.  Both individuals were transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. 

DeBusk said that according to the preliminary investigation, the vehicle went off the roadway and into the median, then dropped underneath the bridge striking a concrete retaining wall before going airborne on the railroad tracks.

No cause was given as to why the vehicle left the roadway.

 Sunspherebook@aol.com

Thrift Shopping and Sewing can turn Trash to Treasure

by Martha Rose Woodward

 With economic times what they are, each person faces the question, “How can I make what money I have stretch to meet my needs as well as provide for some of the fun things in life?”
One way that I have used for many years in order to make dollars stretch is thrift shopping. I could go on and on about the amazing buys I have found over the years at local thrift stores. I happen to live in the same neighborhood as the Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store on Central Avenue and the Goodwill on Broadway, so those are the stores I shop at most frequently. I also love the American Council for the Blind Store on Clinton Highway and all the KARM Stores, along with the other Goodwill Stores.  

All thrift stores have regular sales on top of their already low prices. KARM gives 10% off to senior citizens most days and they have a coupon in the Knox County Schools Coupon Book for 15% off most items. American Council for the Blind gives 10% off to senior citizens on Mondays and some other days throughout the year while also have daily sales. The Goodwill Stores have daily sales and host the 50% off sales every month on the last Friday and Saturday of the month. Habitat for Humanity runs 35% off clothing frequently and they have a customer appreciation sale every summer, along with other random sales like the one in which they let customers roll dice for a discount. Habitat also often has a “bag sale” in which clothing is $3 a bag for all you can get in a bag and still tie the top shut. They also have a coupon in the school coupon book for 15% off of any item. It is a good idea to save these coupons for big purchases of $50 or more.

  Most recently I was able to share the idea of thrift shopping with a colleague who happened to be caught in one city while needing a suit, shirt and necktie to wear to a social event. He did not want to have to drive an hour home and an hour back to Knoxville in order to get his clothes and was pondering whether or not to purchase everything he needed. I happened to hear him talking about his dilemma and suggested he go thrift shopping at the nearest shop which happened to be a Goodwill Store. At first he was taken aback just a little, asking himself how he felt about wearing used clothing. I suggested that most clothing he bought had been tried on before he bought it, making most clothing used clothing.  “It will be my guess that you can buy a perfectly good white shirt, a suit coat and necktie for less than $10,” I suggested as he did have a pair of black pants in his luggage.
Time and effort were more of a problem for him than the money, and he did not need any new, expensive clothes. He decided to check out the Goodwill Store before spending several hundred dollars at a regular store. Within about 30 minutes, he phoned to tell me that he had found a fantastic coat that looked like leather, a new shirt, and an stylish, plaid necktie—-all for less than $7. He was ecstatic and marveled at why he had not been thrift shopping before. He went on to attend the social event and looked great. He said several women commented on how nice he looked in his trendy outfit.

 I suppose the best deal I ever got at a thrift store was a $1,000 Jacuzzi bathtub for $150. I also purchased a head board for my bed that looks very French and expensive. I have found photos of beds like it in magazines with prices in the thousands. My cost—$65. I kid you not, everyone who comes to my house comments on the beautiful bed.  

Most recently, I ran across a deal at Habitat for Humanity that has absorbed much of my time this last week. Someone had donated four boxes of fabric remnants—the kind of cloth used to cover chairs and couches. The store had priced the 17x 17 inch fabric squares at 25 cents per piece. I knew these swatches were perfect for making sturdy bags, but I had to think about the purchase for a few days. The next time I was in the store I noticed that the remnants did not seem to be selling very quickly, so I asked the man in charge of pricing how much he would take for all four boxes. He eagerly replied, “$20,” and I quickly saw that this was a savings of more than 50% off so I said, “Yes!” With plans of going to the East Tennessee Plant Swap on May 28, I knew I was going to need to take something to swap. Since I had taken bags once before, I knew other swappers would be glad to trade plants for them. It took me about a week, working in my free time, but I made 40 bags; each bag requiring three to four fabric swatches. I was pleased to discover there were other larger pieces of fabric in those boxes that I used as lining for the bags; a surprise that equaled more savings. All in all, the purses cost me less than 60 cents each and I know they will provide years of enjoyment for those who receive them. Plus, there is the whole “going green” “reduce, reuse, recycle” idea, and, in the near future, all stores will no longer provide free plastic bags. Customers will have to bring our own bags or buy them.
 
Thrift shopping is the fastest growing area of the American economy. It is a fun and worthwhile hobby.     Caption: Four boxes of fabric remnants became 40 shopping bags. Photos by M. Woodward 

Sunspherebook@aol.com

Laura Riester, originally from Unterengsringen, Switzerland, and a graduate of the University of Cambridge and Oberlin College, worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a researcher in the field of materials sciences and mechanical properties for many years before her semi-retirement to her lovely home in the Claxton, TN area. Through her work, Laura became interested in photography and found herself visiting area gardens in order to snap photos of the flowers. This hobby led her to plant a few flowers in her own yard in order to photograph and she soon found her gardens increased more and more. Along the way she became more and more interested in growing flowers and is currently the member of several flower and garden clubs including The East Tennessee Plant Swap, the East Tennessee Iris Society, and the Day Lily Society. She is also involved each year with Bloomsday where she sells irises in order to benefit the University of Tennessee Gardens. She also classifies herself as an “iris hybridizer”—-a person who works with irises in order to create new specimens.

A visit to Laura’s house is like going through an instructional program at a museum. As she walks you through her gardens, she speaks to each flower as if it were a person. “Hello, Beverly Sills,” she says to a light orange-colored, frilly iris. “This one is named after the opera singer,” she says with a big smile.

Laura lectures about each flower, lovingly touching them, telling the origin, the scientific name, the nickname and other important facts about each. She treats the flowers as if they are family members as each seems to perk up as she walks by. She has, literally, hundreds of blooms in her massive gardens with irises with names like “Oxmour Hills,” “Hoptoit,” and “Chief John Jolly“—an award winning plant hybridized by Tom Parkhill, an iris grower Laura says is awesome. . The colors are unreal. There are white ones, purple ones, orange, brown, yellow, golden, pink, deep brown, and much more. Some of the purple ones have yellow centers, while some of the yellow ones have purple centers. Some of the blossoms are huge while others are small and dainty.

“These are all the result of hybridizing,” she explains. “Hybridizing is the process of taking part of two flowers and creating a new one, but it is very detailed and complicated.”

Laura says she raises flowers for the “pure joy” and she enjoys sharing the beauty and her knowledge as friends and neighbors often stop by for a view. There is always something new to see as blooms come and go. She says that once the cycle of iris blooming and dying down for the season runs its course, the cycle for the blooms of the lilies begins. She has many other varieties of flowers as well, but her main interests are the iris and lilies.

Growing flowers is not Laura’s only hobby. She is also a member of D.A.R.T. —Disaster Assistance Response Team—a group that seeks to care for animals that are affected by serious weather or other situations such as fires or accidents. Laura and some of her neighbor’s children also walk their neighborhood streets and pick up trash. She says she got so angry at looking at garbage people had thrown from their cars that, instead of complaining, she decided to do something positive. She says the children are learning to care for the environment and their household pets, as well as the people, get some, much needed, exercise.

Talk of the Town May 27

By Martha Rose Woodward

Sunspherebook@aol.com

No matter where I go, I can not get away from economics. I hear horror tales from just about every person I encounter.

Let’s look at some facts. Whether or not you are a supporter of Obama or not, here’s what’s going on in the lives of regular people:

At Obama’s Inauguration, the price at the pump for gas was $1.83. It has more than DOUBLED since and now some say it could even TRIPLE to $5 or $6 a gallon!

More than 100,000,000, that’s one hundred million motorists report that the high price of gasoline has changed their daily lifestyles. People are reporting they can not afford to drive to work and back. 21% of Americans report that higher prices for gasoline cause drastic changes in their lives each day.

Local fast food managers are telling me that they often have to drive to the homes of workers in order to get them to work and that providing rides to work for staff members has become a regular part of their jobs.

Fast food managers also told me this week that they are often asked by staff members if they can have cash advances on their paychecks because the extra money they need for gasoline causes them to be short in other areas of their budgets. Sadly, most fast food companies do not provide cash advances. Fast food managers tell me it falls on them to loan cash to workers so they can buy gasoline.

In the city of Knoxville, we were told by Councilman Volpe at the most recent meeting that every time the price of gas goes up by ONE CENT per gallon, the cost to the city is $19,000. The city is having to set aside over $3.5 million dollars this year just to pay for the extra price of gas due to Obama’s policies.

The official U.S. unemployment rate has jumped back up to 9%. The rate of unemployment during Bush’s last term hovered around 6%, and the Democrats complained. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment spikes to a whopping 15.9% when one counts Americans who’ve grown so discouraged they’ve given up even looking for work or those who’ve settled for part-time work.

We were told last week that 20% of American men do not go to work each day. This is a frightening statistic. How can a nation sustain itself with one in five of the able-bodied men not working?

According to Zillow, home prices have plummeted “at their fastest rate since the Lehman collapse.” People who are losing their home are called “zombie homeowners” because they’re financially walking dead.

An all-time record 16.3 million families are upside-down on their home loans—meaning they owe more than their homes are worth. Also, over one million families have lost their homes since Obama took office.

I heard from a local state representative this last week that he has been told by those who counsel people concerning foreclosures of their homes that they are telling people who get into financial trouble to just stay in their homes and stop making payments. There are so many homes that have been foreclosed on that there are not enough workers to investigate the homes being lost. Some mortgage companies are simply giving up on trying to take back homes that have been foreclosed on and can’t afford to pay the staff to manage the efforts to take back the empty houses.

Just this last week AOL reported that Wal-Mart’s CEO says its customers are “running out of money” with purchases “dropping off by the end of the month even more than last year.” Clearly, consumers have charged their credit cards to the max and have also run out of cash for spending.

In a recent poll by Newsmax.com, 81% of those taking the poll said they would vote against Obama in the next election.

by Martha Rose Woodward

Sunspherebook@aol.com

Ivan Harmon’s campaign for mayor of Knoxville has gotten into full swing as he has been making the rounds and setting his support system into place.

Ben Farmer, the same person who managed the successful campaign of Jeff Ownby for 4th District County Commissioner, has been enlisted to run Harmon’s campaign. Farmer is well-known for his activity in the Knox County Young Republican Federation, where he serves as the webmaster and in leadership positions. Farmer classifies himself as “very conservative.”

Harmon most recently opened his campaign headquarters at 640 Plaza on Western Avenue in the same strip mall as the Kroger’s. Brooke Stegeman, an intern from the University of Tennessee, is the volunteer coordinator for the Harmon campaign and is keeping office hours at the headquarters on most days from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The contact phone number for the headquarters is 865 307-2929. Harmon can also be found on Facebook.

Harmon says campaign signs are ready and available to anyone who wants one. “Call the headquarters or stop by and get the signs you need,” he said.

Harmon has been keeping a busy schedule attending as many public events as possible: The Pancake Supper at the O‘Conner Center; Lonsdale Days; Cinco de Mayo ,The Dogwoods Arts Festival, the Rossini Festival, Sterchi Elementary School’s Family Fun Night; and more. He also toured all around the city spotting the damage from the recent storms.

Harmon says he has been fortunate that he has volunteers who attend events for him if he cannot be there. Ann Demoes, a long-time friend and co-worker, has been of great help to his campaign.

Harmon’s next big effort will begin Saturday, May 28 in the early a.m. when he and his volunteers plan to go door-to-door in the West Hills area. Harmon has already knocked on many doors, but will make more of an effort after Saturday. He is asking for any volunteer who wants to join the event to please notify Brooke Stegeman at the phone number for the headquarters, 865 307-2929 or e mail

.

Harmon said he enjoyed the Candidate Forum held on Thursday, May 26. He enjoyed having the opportunity to speak about his plans for running the city of Knoxville. He appreciates his opponents and has been pleased with the newest candidate to announce, Bo Bennett. Harmon said he likes Bo, but finds him to be rather young for such a complicated position as mayor.

Harmon said, “While I respect the accomplishments of my opponents in this mayoral race, I feel I am unquestionably the most qualified, the most experienced and simply, the best candidate for Mayor. I hope I have your support!”

Ivan Harmon is the only Republican left in the race since Marilyn Roddy dropped out to seek the office of state senator. Harmon has stated that if he is elected as city mayor, he has no plans to raise taxes. Candidates Mark Padgett and Madeline Rogero are well-known Democrats who, generally, are in favor of raising taxes instead of cutting spending. Bennett, an independent, would be less likely than the liberal Democrats to raise taxes. It should be noted that the city election is non-partisan. However, voters have historically vote down party lines. The Primary Election will be held on September 27, 2011.

Senator Steve Southerland, a legislator who caresTennessee Senate from Morristown representing the 1st district, which encompasses Cocky County, Greene County, Hamblen County, and Unicoi County. He was elected to the 103rd, 104th, and 105^th General Assemblies beginning in 2002. He was born in 1955, is married and has one child. He is a Republican who attended Walter State Community College and became a mortgage banker.

by Martha Rose Woodward

Sunspherebook@aol.com

Steve Southerland is a member of the

Southerland is Vice-Chair of the Senate Commerce, Labor and Agriculture Committee. He serves as a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, and is chairman of the Senate Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee. He also serves on the Senate Ethics Committee, and the Joint Fiscal Review Committee. He is currently the Republican Caucus Chaplain, and he has been appointed to the Financial Services Standing Committee of the National Conference on State Legislatures.

sen.steve.southerland@capitol.tn.gov In April when, according to the National Weather Service, at least one tornado touched down in Camp Creek, Sen. Southerland immediately left Nashville and drove to Greene County. He said he was devastated by the results of an EF2 tornado that struck with winds up to 115 miles per hour. Citizens who spoke with Sen. Southerland were pleased at his quick response to their circumstances.

“This is like Steve,” said one victim, commenting on Sen. Southerland’s visit. “He cares.”

Sen. Southerland is a conservative whose voting record supports small business owners. When local citizens recently traveled to Nashville to lobby about a bill before the senate, Sen. Southerland made time in his busy schedule to speak to them , even though they were not technically from his district. Sen. Southerland’s record of support for citizens is of note.

State Sen. Jamie Woodson discusses the bill she co-sponsored in the state legislature increasing the penalty for strangulation as part of domestic violence during a press conference held at the Family Justice Center in East Knoxville May 26. (Photo by J.J. Kindred) 

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com 

Several state legislators and local officials were on hand at the Family Justice Center May 26 to celebrate the announcement of a bill that passed in the state legislature increasing the penalty for strangulation as part of domestic violence.

The legislation passed last weekend in a unanimous vote of 29-0 by the State Senate and 83-0 in the State House of Representatives.

The bill will now go to Gov. Bill Haslam to sign, and the legislation will become official in July. 

Sponsored by Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Jamie Woodson and Rep. Ryan Haynes, the wording in the bill defines strangulation as “attempting or intending to cause bodily injury to another person to the definition of aggravated assault,” as well as “intentionally impeding normal breathing or circulation of the blood by applying pressure to the throat or neck or by blocking the nose and mouth of another person.”

According to the Community Coalition on Family Violence, prior to the new legislation, strangulation was often treated as a less severe form of assault. 

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, Knox County Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones, Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch, Knox County Attorney General Randy Nichols, Amy Dilworth, executive director of the Family Justice Center, and many victims and advocates were in attendance to witness the announcement. 

“Thank you very much to the Family Justice Center for giving Sen. Woodson and I the opportunity to work on this piece of legislation,” Haynes said. “All too often, in Nashville, there are pieces of legislation that would be a victory for victims, but unfortunately we don’t pass them due to funding. This year it’s a different story because of the people we have up there. 

“This was a team effort with everyone in Knox County,” Haynes continued. “It is a victory for victims and gives law enforcement the tools they need to go after people who perpetrate these kind of crimes.”

“It’s been a pleasure working with Ryan on this piece of legislation,” Woodson said. “We’ve worked on many pieces over the years, but this one was particularly special because of the communities that are intersected by the passage to the coalition. We just appreciate your work, patience, diligence and tenacity on this piece of legislation. 

“It’s been a long haul and want to personally thank Mayor Burchett,” Woodson continued. “In the Senate, he made it easy for me and it passed in all the committees, and I was able to invoke his name in the process.” 

Russ Jensen, co-chairman of the Community Coalition on Family Violence, described the passage of the legislation as “very exciting news. We’ve been working on this for six and a half years. Domestic violence affects our entire community and this year, there have been 19,000 calls to 911 regarding some form of domestic violence. Tennessee ranks fifth in the nation for women killed by men. Today is a good day. 

“Violence escalates mental, emotional, verbal, pushing, hitting, strangling and other forms using weapons,” Jensen continued. “Studies show half the victims of domestic violence homicide experience strangulations sometime prior to a fatal incident. Members of the coalition have worked many, many years on a piece of legislation that I am please to announce passed this weekend. There are a lot of people to thank.”

Woodson told The Knoxville Journal afterwards that legislators worked long hours in order to get the bill passed. 

“Committees were working early in the morning to late in the evening,” she said.  “We really wanted to make sure we gave our best efforts for victims all across the state of Tennessee. 

“In the coalition, they have been so great to work with and making sure that legislators had the forensics information they needed to make sound decisions,” Woodson continued. “Not everybody knows the significance, but we had experts ready to explain it and it was a community effort. From our legislators to our law enforcement officers to all the folks who fought for victims in the community. It was unanimous through the process, so that was something that was quite unique.”

One domestic violence victim, whose identity could not be revealed because her abuser is still on the streets, said the legislation should be an encouragement for all victims to move forward.

“I just want to share with the women today that knowing this bill has passed, that there’s so many opportunities as a victim not knowing the programs and the severity of being able to be out independently on your own,” the woman said. “A lot of women are scared of that, not being able to leave their abuser and not being able to go out with their children and be able to do it. I have five kids and I do it every day, thanks to the assistance you can get and learning all about it. 

“I want to speak out to all the women that strangulation is not right. It’s like putting a gun to your head and shooting it. That’s death,” she added. 

Approximately 49 students from the Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy inside the Knoxville Centre Mall were honored as the school’s first graduating class during a ceremony held inside the mall May 20. (Photo by J.J. Kindred) 

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com

In November of last year, the Knoxville Center Mall was home to the brand Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy, a high school for academically-challenged students. 

Now it is the home of a school with its very first graduating class, as a ceremony was held May 20 to honor the school’s first students to receive diplomas. 

Knox County Schools superintendent Jim McIntyre welcomed the graduating class of 49 students and helped present them with their diplomas, and Michael Durnil, president and CEO of the Simon Youth Foundation, served as the keynote speaker. 

Named after Kelley, a former teacher, assistant superintendent and school board president, the academy is an Education Resource Center (ERC) operating under a partnership between the Simon Youth Foundation and Knox County Schools, with funding also provided by the Great Schools Partnership and the Cornerstone Foundation. 

The Simon Youth Foundation is under the Simon Property Group, which operates Knoxville Center Mall and many others around the country. 

The academy is the 87th school in the Knox County school system, and geared toward students who have issues and challenges in a traditional high school setting. Students can recover credits and conduct their education at their own pace. 

“There are 49 young men and women that really needed some place that would embrace them where they could finish their high school education, and I’m really proud of them. They did a great job,” said Tracy Poulsen, principal of the academy. “Some of them really needed as much as 11 to 12 credits for graduation in September. They worked very hard and got their high school diploma, which is the main goal and many of them are going on to two- or four-year college experiences. They’re going to be successful because they had a little taste of that success. They can go on and further their education and do whatever they want to do in life.”

Erin Vaden, who formerly attended Bearden High School, said she was grateful for everything the academy had done for her.

“I’m happy to be done. I think it’s a wonderful feeling,” Vaden said. “Everybody keeps calling it a second chance. I have a lot of medical problems, and I was having hard time. My grandmother passed away before I switched out of Bearden,  and I had a lot of anxiety and a lot of pressure other than academics going on. There were a lot of distractions, which is why I liked small classes and the attention I got from teachers.”

Vaden plans to attend Pellissippi State Community College for two years for her core classes, then plans to transfer to the University of Tennessee and consider a major in art.  

“Being an art teacher would be a lot of fun,” Vaden said. “I would like to work with primary colors and shapes, and they are important for kindergarten and first-grade and working with small children. 

“Everybody thought I would give up and not be at school,” Vaden continued. “It’s hard to explain how much anxiety I had walking into Bearden, and walking into the academy was a wonderful feeling. Everyone knows you by name and they care a lot more than they think you do. They took time to get to know every one of us. It’s important to me because losing my grandmother was the hardest thing to do. The teachers set aside their time and say everything is going to be okay. Ms. Poulsen is absolutely amazing.”

Poulsen said her first year as principal of the school was challenging, but rewarding at the same time.

“There were a lot of long days, but I really feel as we get to the end of this school year, this is were I’m supposed to be,” she said. “It’s hard to imagine being anywhere else. I’ve learned a lot and getting to know students personally has meant a lot to me, and helping them to realize they can graduate and go on to college. A lot of them didn’t think that could happen.”

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com

360clean, a specialized janitorial services firm based out of Charleston, S.C., is planning to expand into Knoxville.  

Using its JaniMed cleaning system and processes. the company services all types of facilities including medical, banks, schools,  industrial facilities, churches, day care facilities and health clubs.

The JaniMed system consists of specialized training, hospital grade disinfectants, state of the art equipment including micro-fiber technology, Hepa Vacuums with four levels of filtration and a focus on touch surfaces. 

Other locations include Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans, Greenville, S.C., Mobile, Ala., Madison, Wis., Asheville, N.C., Spartanburg, S.C., Columbia, S.C., Pensacola, Fla., and Augusta, Ga. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the down economy many companies looking for cost reductions have outsourced their building cleaning and maintenance responsibilities which is why the cleaning services industry is expected create the most new jobs.

Officials said not only will the increase in outsourcing in this industry create more new jobs, but the development of 360clean in Knoxville will have a strong economic impact as well.  

According to statistics from the International Franchise Association, the average franchise unit provides approximately 10 direct jobs and nine indirect jobs, creating $933,998 of direct economic output and $1,494,396 million in indirect economic output.

Knoxville will have at least five new locations. 

Barry Bodiford, founder and CEO of 360clean, said the company expands through franchising, and goes into new cities and find area developers.

“We like Knoxville because where we find lots of success is in the area where medical communities are strong and continue to grow,” Bodiford said. “We view Knoxville as one of those areas. We have a specialized approach to clean medical offices, and it goes hand in hand with marketing as well.

“We mainly clean doctor’s offices, and we don’t get into many hospitals per se,” Bodiford continued. We have a branded process called JaniMed, a special way of cleaning medical offices and it costs a lot more. We’ve gone on in a germophobic world with hand sanitizers and everything, and that plays into the message we preach. We are more than cleaning offices and taking out trash — we have more of a hygienic approach.”

Bodiford said he is also looking to expand 360clean into other cities such as Chattanooga, Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C., and further expansion nationwide into cities such as Denver.

“We went into Mobile, Ala., and opened up that area, and within a year we created 30 jobs, some full-time and some part-time, and created more business as well,” Bodiford said. “We grew 300 percent in 2010 and provided some people opportunities and started their own businesses. We do hope to make this a nationwide thing, and have that by 2012 and have a footprint that touches each date.”

For more information, go online to www.360clean.com.

Knox County school students got to celebrate the end of their school year by cooling off in Inskip Pool as part of ‘May Mania,’ sponsored by the city of Knoxville’s Parks and Recreation Department. The event encouraged healthy living among children. (Photo by J.J. Kindred) 

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com

Some Knox County students ended their school year in grand style on a hot day, as hundreds of them gathered at Inskip Pool and Park May 25 for the second annual “May Mania.”

The event is held as a grand finale to the city Parks and Recreation’s After School Program. During the school year, the recreation staff has worked with approximately 900 registered students between ages of six and 12 years to help promote and encourage healthy living, and realize its fun and benefits. 

“Play Safe. Eat Right. Stay Active” was the theme of this year’s event, and encourages kids to carry out what they have learned during the school year into the summer.

Local fitness expert Missy Kane was on hand to conduct fitness games with the children before they jumped into the pool. 

Other activities included a slip and slide, a bike rodeo, disc golf orientation and others. Vendors related to healthy living were also on site with games for the kids.

Knoxville Mayor Daniel Brown made an appearance at the event, and encouraged the students to be cautious during their summer vacation.

“Anyone happy to be out of school?” Brown shouted to the huge crowd of children, who enthusiastically responded, “Yeah!” 

“I hope you all have a fun, good, healthy, safe summer. Now go out and have some fun!” he added. 

Kristin Manuel, recreation superintendent for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, said in the event’s second year, it is basically a kickoff event for students who participate in the city’s after school and summer programs. 

“We do this in comparison with our ‘July Jamboree’ which is our end of the summer  celebration,” Manuel said. “The difference between this event and that one is we are ending up our healthy program we do throughout the school year and provide healthy snacks. 

“This is the first time we’ve done (‘May Mania’) at one of our pools,” Manuel continued. “We have multiple healthy vendors like the Health Department caterers, and we have our tennis instructor and aquatics staff and a bunch of health and safety awareness groups to provide healthy choices for kids for the summer.” 

Beginning June 3, the city Parks and Recreation Department will offer its Summer Playground Program to children six to 12 years of age) in recreation centers citywide. The camp is held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, with two sessions  $15 each. To register children, parents should call (865) 215-1414.

By J.J. KINDRED

J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com

A construction worker at the Henley Street Bridge project was killed May 24. 

According to Knoxville Police Department public information officer Darrell DeBusk,  the incident happened at approximately 2:39 p.m., where KPD and Knoxville Fire Department officers were notified of an injured person.

The victim, identified as 50-year-old Solin Estrada Jimenez of Chattanooga, appeared to have been struck by a concrete rock that was jarred loose from a support beam while working on a barge. He was wearing a safety helmet. 

The barge was located below the bridge structure on the Tennessee River.

Jimenez was employed by Britton Bridge Company. 

The accident comes just four months after another construction worker, John Womac, 33, of Athens, was killed while working at the site.

Womac, also a foreman for Britton Bridge, LLC, was struck in the head by a track hoe boom on Jan. 25, shortly after the project began.

Britton Bridge has been working on the bridge demolition. An update from the state Department of Transportation May 20 said efforts were concentrated on the span above the eastbound side of Neyland Drive.

Jimenez was transported to the Forensic Center for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.  

Meanwhile, TDOT announced that is immediately suspending all current bridge construction projects by Britton Bridge and related companies until an independent review of their safety procedures is conducted.  

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of the Britton Bridge employee Solin Estrada Jimenez.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow workers,” said Commissioner John Schroer in a statement. ”We want to conduct a thorough assessment of all safety measures in place on these projects to ensure the welfare of the other employees.”

TDOT officials said they will be temporarily disqualifying Britton Bridge and related companies from bidding on future construction projects until a more comprehensive review of their safety procedures can be conducted.