A NEW Knox County High School Proposal is Announced

This morning at 10 a.m. Knox County School Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre was joined by School Board Chair Indya Kincannon, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam to announce a proposed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) High School. The high school would be housed at the L&N Station in downtown Knoxville. If the Knox County School Board approves the proposal along with Knoxville City Council's approval. Then Knox County Schools would enter into a 20 year lease on the space at the L&N Station for $225,000.00 per year and the City of Knoxville will invest $200,000.00 per year toward that rent payment. Here is the link to read the proposal.

Brian's Blog asked what the future of Austin East High School is. Dr. McInytyre cited the increase of the Reading, Math and Graduation rates at the inner city school and feels that the turn around of the school is on track.

Dr. Jim McIntyre announced the proposal for a STEM high school to be housed at the historic L&N station.

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam discusses the City of Knoxville's commitment to the STEM high school proposed in downtown Knoxville.

School Board Chair Indya Kincannon discusses the proposal that the School Board will consider next week.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett offering the county's support for the NEW STEM high school. Burchett discussed how his father was on the City of Knoxville School Board and how his Dad always discussed the need for education.

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam answering questions from reporter Lola Alapo.

Happy Birthday Drew

Twenty years ago today, I became a Dad for the first time. It is hard to imagine how the time has flown by.

Happy Birthday, Drew!

Knox County Trustee Salaries in 2010 -vs- 2009

The Knox County Fee Offices are required to file a salary suit in Chancery Court to allow their employees to be compensated. This year on September 1, 2010 the Trustee's office is the only office where the incumbent was replaced with a new Trustee. So, we have examined the salary suits. In 2009, Trustee Fred Sisk filed a salary suit for 27 positions with a salary requirement of $1,239,663.68; the salary suit was amended in August 2009 where the salaries were reduced -$13,400.04 to a salary requirement of $1, 226,263.64 Originally, there were 9 employees with an auto allowance, in August the auto allowance was reduced to 7 employees receiving the auto allowance. In 2010, the average salary in the Sisk administration was $45,417.17

In 2010, Trustee Sisk filed a salary suit for 39 employees for a salary requirement of $1,749,285.80 Again 9 auto allowance with an annual expense to the Knox County taxpayers to $48,600.00 In 2010 the average salary in the Sisk administration was $44,853.48

So, what about the recent salary suit of 2010 by new Trustee John Duncan it reveals 40 positions with a salary requirement of $1,855,904.80 with 9 employees receiving an auto allowance of $4,050 a year to an annual commitment by the taxpayers for $48,600.00 The average salary in the Duncan adminstration is $46,397.62

There is a possible ethical violation with the latest Trustee salary suit. You see the Trustee employee Chadwick B. Tindell signed the salary suit as the Attorney for the Trustee. So, he was petitioning for his own salary of $106,905.00 and his $4,050.00 auto allowance per year. In the past the contracted Attorney for the Trustee petitioned the court, but he did not have his entire salary, auto allowance and benefits on the line. So, to a citizen that is not a licensed Attorney it appears as a conflict and most of the time perception is reality.

Our review has been just a quick cursory review. We will dig into further details and may update this post.

Walt Wojnar Finds a TN Solution to a National/International Crisis

Walt Wojnar, the one person that originally coined the phrase "Black Wednesday" for the County Commission appointments on January 31, 2007 has found a Tennessee solution to a National/International crisis.

Wojnar announced today that in solving the immigration problem of illegals crossing the border from Mexico to the United States that on Wednesday November 3, 2010 all the green posts holding the Bill Haslam for Governor signs should be collected and transported to the Mexican/USA border and build the fence with all the green fence posts. There are enough to build the fence.

With such thinking outside the box, we can expect that Wojnar will be in Washington advising the new Republican majority.

John Duncan Spends $56,599.26 in Taxpayer Dollars on a p-card

Mayor Burchett in a great move yesterday began a database search on all p-card expenditures on the Knox County website. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that between 9/13/2010 to 9/21/2010 John Duncan had spent $56,599.26 utilizing a p-card. So, I called a reliable source in Knox County Government to discover that yes, John Duncan Director of Pharmacy of the Knox County Health Department made these purchases. Not the recently installed Trustee.

Cronyism in the Courthouse, This is a Test

Word spreading through the courthouse is that the position of Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation has created tread marks on the 6th floor carpet going to the Mayor's Office. Both a current employee of the General Sessions Court Clerk's office, Bill Deatherage and a current Parks and Rec employee Chuck James are supposedly vying for this position. This will be Mayor Burchett's first test of a new direction or same ole cronyism. A hire of either of these individuals is a cronyism call. I am believing until proven otherwise that Mayor Burchett stays headed in a new direction.

Billy Haslam Was For It Before He Was Against It, He Was Against It Before He Was For It

as detailed here by the News Sentinel. It will be a long four years.

TN GOP Chairman Finally Sees It MY Way

Chris Devaney the TN GOP Chairman put out a letter and email this weekend saying what I have been saying since August 5, 2010. Julia Hurley is running for TN House of Representatives District 32 to create jobs and encourage business development in the area, cut wasteful government spending, improve education in Tennessee, keep taxes low in Tennessee, fight liberal Washington (which are the buddies of the 18 year liberal incumbent) and protect Tennessee values. Julia is pro-life, pro-family, pro-business and will always protect our Second Amendment. Vote Early, Vote Hurley, Vote Julia Hurley for House in District 32.

*This photo was taken while I was traveling with the Zach Wamp campaign during the summer.

The Admiral Nation Mourns

Thursday evening (here) we lost Assistant Farragut High School Football Coach Ryan Shoup and an exemplary professional business educator.

Coach Shoup, We Loved You! Rest In Peace My Friend. We Will NEVER Forget the legacy that you built into the young men that are Admirals yesterday, today and forever. *The photo was taken from the Farragut High School academics page.

Keep Prayer at Soddy Daisy High School

Here is a column from the Chattanooga Times Free Press detailing a student led initiative to keep prayer at Soddy Daisy High School

Bruce Pearl's Contract Voided

According to the Commercial Appeal, here.

TN GOP is Drunk On It's Own Perceived Power

This story from today's Tennessean details why the TN GOP has a perception of being outta control. The Republican nominee has asked do not send out negative mailers and the TN GOP send out two. Then the TN GOP lies and says that they haven't talked to the candidate about it. So is the candidate lying or the TN GOP. There are some Republican nominees that would welcome negative mailers in their race and the TN GOP are doing nothing for them.

Jim Bryson Attracted More Knox County Voters in 2006 than Bill Haslam in 2010

Knox County election officials are telling the Knoxville News Sentinel (here) that early voting is trailing 2006. So, that means that Jim Bryson the 2006 Republican nominee attracted more voters than Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam is in 2010. It could also be the lackluster leadership in the Knox County Republican Party this year -vs- 2006.

Mayor Burchett is RIGHT about the Ten Year Plan

This from Mayor Burchett about the future of the Ten Year Plan. Sources close to the Ten Year Plan also indicate that in addition to the alcohol plan, that Methadone treatment will be permissive in the housing as well.

Vines Stripped Of Coverage Not The Whole Story

The discussion of Georgiana Vines being stripped of her coverage of State Representative Stacey Campfield's State Senate campaign has been discussed among the community for at least a week. News Sentinel Editor Jack McElroy came out today on his blog (here) and put his spin to it. However, sources within the Big Metal Shed on the Hill say that McElroy is not being "upfront" about the issue on his "Upfront Page Blog" It seems that Vines did not come out about her "friend" being a supporter of Randy Walker, but that it was disclosed to her employer and that she was asked about it. The timing was interesting as she was working on a story that was expected to go to print, but she was abruptly stripped of her duties. The story she was working on then appeared on a Nashville blog and then on the local liberal blog with connections to new Scripps columnist Pam Strickland. Other Scripps employee Sandra Clark has signed a qualifying petition and donated to a candidate and then wrote negative nonfactual stories this summer. Did McElroy or Birmingham do anything to Clark? Of course not according to sources within the Big Metal Shed partly because Clark is McElroy's sons supervisor.

Jack's Tale Doesn't Measure Up

News Sentinel Editor Jack McElroy is trying to defend (here) the timing of the Haslam failed business story. His explanation doesn't measure up. During the 19 months of the Republican primary there lots of discussion on blogs from West TN, Middle TN and East TN about Saks Direct and the non Pilot business activity of the Knoxville Mayor. Let us not forget that Pilot procures 50,000 or more News Sentinels every Friday and gives them away for FREE and has done so for the past 7 years.

Brian's Blog Has Made It

Brian's Blog has made it, Moderately Marvelous has written about me. Link here. For those of you in Ritta and East Corryton, doppelganger is "a ghostly double of another living person that haunts it's living counterpart."

Lloyd Daugherty Endorsement of Lincoln Davis

In yesterdays Knoxville News Sentinel letters to the editor (here) Lloyd Daugherty has endorsed the Pelosi voting, Lincoln Davis. Sources close to the Daugherty's TN Conservative Unions (TCU) annual Reagan Day Dinner fundraiser have informed Brian's Blog that Lincoln Davis has always purchased a table at the TCU annual fundraiser from the time he was a State Senator and every year since he has been the Fourth District Congressman.

Ivan Harmon IS The City Mayor

When you glance through the Shopper tomorrow check out the announcement about Ivan Harmon's kickoff and fundraiser for Knoxville Mayor to be held this Thursday October 21, 2010 at the Knoxville Expo Center off of Clinton Highway. The first four words in the announcement is "Knoxville Mayor Ivan Harmon". Evidently, the election has been held and according to the Shopper led by Scripps employee Sandra Clark, Ivan Harmon was elected. So, instead of a kickoff, let's just turn this thing into a celebration party.

Also, while you are at it look at the announcement next to the Harmon announcement. Scripps employee Sandra Clark is telling you to tune into WNOX-FM 103 in order to hear the Seventh District State Senate candidates debate from 9-10 a.m. Well, tell me what you hear when you do what the Shopper tells you to do. For Brian's Blog readers, if you wanna hear Representative Campfield tune to WNOX FM 100.3, evidently an extra 0 and . was to difficult for Scripps employee Sandra Clark. The real facts have always escaped Clark, at some point Scripps management should cut the embarrassment that is Sandra Clark and just let her go.

Why Has the News-Sentinel Sat On This Story for 22 Months

Today the Knoxville News-Sentinel published this story about Bill Haslam's less than stellar business experience. Why publish it now? For the past 22 months they sat quietly by and allowed the lie to be believed that he was a successful businessman.

Why Does TN GOP Play The Obama Card in State Races?

In state legislative races the TN GOP are playing the Obama/Pelosi bait card. They started this early on in the state representative race in Hamblen County, Larry Mullins and Don Miller are running for a seat that has been vacated. TN GOP spent GOP dollars on a billboard with Larry Mullins and President Obama picture opposite each other, and created a website. Recently, they have mailed out a card in the Eddie Yoakley and Jeremy Faison race in Cocke County for State Representative. Again painting Yoakley as tied to President Obama. What does President Obama have to do with State Representatives in Tennessee? Now, if they use Speaker Pelosi against Lincoln Davis or any Democrat running for the U.S. Congress that is a valid issue. Because it will be the next Congress that will select the next Speaker of the House. To use President Obama against any and all Democrats running for Congress or Senate that is fine as well. But it has NO place in state legislative races. In my many years of political involvement, I have come to realize that too often political campaigns do not focus on the real issues but instead use bait tactics that have no real effect on the job at hand.

For those of you that are shocked by this post, you can file this as my "Lee Atwater" moment.

RIP Mrs. Cleaver

Here the Knoxville News Sentinel is reporting that Barbara Billingsley, Beaver Cleaver's mom has passed away.

Hatfield Financial Disclosure Irregularities Persist

Here is the latest financial disclosure for Ted Hatfield, the Republican State Executive Committeeman. It has been reported that the campaign ads that ran in the Fountain City Focus had not been timely filed per the TCA statute that governs financial reporting. In the filing this week it only shows one ad as having been provided by a Black Wednesday appointed County Commissioner. The filing disclosure says "AD in Knox Focus" Ad being singular, as in only one ad. Interesting to note that Hatfield's wife has been rewarded with a job promotion in the City County Building since her husband's election. Cronyism is alive and well. We will be reporting on the cronyism once all positions are filled and all the moving around is complete.

Stephen Fincher The Real Deal

For those of us that are not looking forward to January 2011, when Zach Wamp the only enthusiastic member of the TN delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives departs office. The good news is that if Stephen Fincher is elected, then he will become the enthusiastic Conservative member of the delegation.

It is Time To Reject Lincoln Davis!

It is not right and the citizens of TN Fourth Congressional District needs to reject these attacks and send Lincoln Davis home.

What Is TN Right To Life Thinking or Are They?

So, sources tell us that TN Right to Life has given Liberal Dennis Ferguson a 100 for his pro life voting record. What they don't tell you is that Liberal Ferguson has only been voting pro-life since the Republicans gained control of the legislature. What they don't tell you is that Liberal Ferguson in all his years always voted the Jimmy Naifeh line, which would have included voting for funding Planned Parenthood to the tune of $1.0 million a year.

What better candidate to support the pro-life movement but Conservative Julia Hurley. Hurley as a young women faced an unplanned pregnancy and she chose life. Today she is a single mother to her 13 year old daughter.

It appears that the TN Right to Life is picking candidates they think may win so that their record is better in the win column than in the loss column. So, the choice is easy, NOT Liberal Ferguson but instead VOTE Conservative Julia Hurley. Vote Early, Vote Hurley!

Congressman Zach Wamp Honored By Oak Ridge City Council

Third District Congressman Zach Wamp arrives at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building, a local Boy Scout troop working on their civic merit badge were in attendance. Congressman Wamp spent some time with time before the meeting.

Congressman Wamp makes his way into the Municipal Building. Right before the 7:00 p.m. meeting start all electricity went out in Oak Ridge. The only power in the courtroom where City Council meets was the emergency lighting. No public address system.

Congressman Wamp was asked to deliver the prayer prior to the start of the City Council Meeting.

Here Congressmnan Wamp speaks to the honor that the City Council bestowed on him, He said that if the City would like to honor him for them to keep on keeping on. Congressman Wamp also remarked that the comment was made that he would not leave Congress until they turned the lights off and evidently that was true. Everyone laughed in reaction to the lights were out in Oak Ridge.

Here Mayor Beehan and Mayor Pro Tem Ms. Miller present the key to the City of Oak Ridge. Congressman Wamp also received a pottery bowl.

I should receive a copy of the Resolution honoring Congressman Wamp's 16 year service tomorrow. I will post the verbage of the Resolution in it's entirity.

This Side of Politics is Nasty

Moderately Marvelous in this post examines a campaign ad and gives us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Why is it that most individuals in politics are not truthful? The good ones don't stay around, the lying and the politics of personal destruction are too much to tolerate.

Rural Metro SUCKS!

Last night at the Farragut / Bearden football game during the third quarter defensive player Robby Leonard went down with a terrible injury. Now, the trainers were there and began an IV on the field. However, there was NO Rural Metro ambulance on site. The Knoxville/Knox County Volunteer Rescue Squad was nearby and came on the field. Leonard was ultimately loaded onto a backboard from the rescue squad's truck and then transported off the field on a Farragut gator type cart. Once off the field the injured player and personnel were still forced to wait another 10 minutes for the Rural Metro ambulance to show up to transport Leonard to a hospital. So, he was on the ground for 15-20 minutes and another 10 minutes. So, Rural Metro's response was nearly 30 minutes to get to Farragut High School.

The Knox County Commission awards the ambulance contract every few years for Knox County. As Knox County homeowners that are not served by a Volunteer fire department, we are obligated to contract with Rural Metro for fire protection. In the Knox County contract there are mandatory response times, which Rural Metro clearly violated last night. Sources close to Knox County's EMS department have informed me that it is understood that Rural Metro has been in non compliance with response times for some time.

Rural Metro hires a local (popular to government bureaucrats) PR firm and also has a former Knox County Commissioner on their payroll as a Government Relations employee, code word for Lobbyist and deal maker. This is an unacceptable practice.

This is a photo taken from the stands as the VOLUNTEER Rescue squad performs the duties that the Knox County contracted Rural Metro were unable to perform last night.

I would encourage anyone that can to make financial contributions to the Knoxville/Knox County Volunteer Rescue Squad by visiting their website, here.

Bill Shory, The Award Winning Hypocrite News Director

Bill Shory ranted and raved at Bud Ford because Lane Kiffin had ground rules for his press conference when he announced he was outta here. Shory was right then, he even received a journalism award for his position in that situation. All media should have had equal access to be broadcast in what ever way they use.

However, all media that requested media credentials for tonights Gubernatorial debate in Knoxville received a similar "Lane Kiffin" type instructions. So just call Bill Shory, "Bill Lane Kiffin" Shory now.

Here is the email that was received yesterday from Amy Blakely, the Assitant Director, Media and Internal Relations at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

You or one of your staff members are on our list for media credentials for tomorrow night's gubernatorial debate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

As you know, the debate begins at 8 p.m. in the Cox Auditorium in the Alumni Memorial Building. Doors open at 7 p.m. Free parking is available across Phillip Fulmer Way in Staff Lot 9.

Please sign in and pick up your media lanyard at the media table in the foyer of the Alumni Memorial Building.

Only WBIR and the News Sentinel, two of the debate sponsors, will be allowed to shoot videos and still photos in the auditorium. Photos will be available from the News Sentinel by calling Jigsha Desai on the photo desk at 865-342-6358. There will be standard audio and video feed provided on site (BNC for video, XLR for audio). For more information about video, call Randy Stephens at WBIR, 865-

After the debate, both candidates will be available for interviews in the media room, Room 158.

There will be reserved seating for media in the front, center section of the auditorium.

Other than the designated pool photographers and videographers, all other media representatives will be asked to leave their photo and video equipment outside the auditorium, either in their vehicles or in the media room.

Call or email me if you have questions.

On debate, you can reach me via my cell phone, 865-

Thanks!

Amy Blakely

*Note: where it appears to be a cellphone, we have taken the liberty to not publish that number here.

Hubert Smith Makes An Excellent Point, Is McWherter Being Set Up?

Knoxville Media Personality and Talk Show Host Hubert Smith makes an excellent point and hopefully this issue will be debated before Thursday's debate. Hubert sent the following to many individuals in Knoxville media yesterday.

This coming Thursday there is a debate scheduled between Mike McWherter and Bill Haslam, here. Two of the panelists are Tom Humphreys, representing the News-Sentinel, and radio personality Hallerin Hill. Who is Hill representing? This morning I listened to Hill's radio program, "Inside Politics" with Dennis Francis and George Korda.

They were discussing the Tennessee gubernatorial race and Hill mentioned the Thursday event and that he would be a panelist. At 09:38, he said this about the race. "This race is all done but the shouting."

There's nothing wrong with that UNLESS you're going to be a panelist featuring the gubernatorial candidates. There's nothing wrong with that UNLESS Pilot Corp. is a primary sponsor of your television broadcast on WBIR-TV 10.

This is the problem with politics in Knox County and East Tennessee. It's inbred to the CORE and this is a prime example.

Is there any living, breathing, clear thinkingperson (regardless of Party affiliation) who believes that after making such a statement and being sponsored by Pilot Corp., that Hallerin Hill will be an objective panelist?

Hubert Smith can be found on Facebook, here.

Can You Hear Me Now?

This story from the Tennessean details how Verizon is refunding $90 million dollars to its customers.

$40k Is a Bit Excessive

The Tennessean has the story here that Titans defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil received a $40,000 fine for flippin the bird in reaction to a call. That's a bit excessive, don't ya think?

Opry Mills Ain't Gonna Be The Same

According to this story in the Tennessean, Opry Mills retailers are finding other locations to put their stores. So, Opry Mills ain't gonna be the same.

Lincoln Davis The Hypocrite Congressman

Greg Johnson details here the two faces of Congressman from TN's Fourth Congressional District. I am no fan of Davis and have confronted him at a Duncan BBQ, just ask Voluntarily Conservative. He witnessed how outta sorts Davis got when confronted by me.

What Is Frank Leuthold Thinking?

This letter to the editor in today's Knoxville News Sentinel from former County Commissioner Frank Leuthold in support of former Knox County Library Director Larry Frank. This is the same Larry Frank that reduced the hours of operation of the branch libraries but did not reduce the hours of the employees. Meaning that the citizens were locked out. The same Larry Frank that advocated that the federal government "give" Knox County a building for the downtown library. The same Larry Frank that has built, operated and maintained more library branches per capita than any other library system in the country. Frank's actions were that of a liberal that believed more taxpayer dollars were the answer, not adequate service based on sound business principles. It could be that Leuthold was thinking with hurt feelings, that neither Mayor bothered to ask him for his opinion. It could be they already knew his view.