Shenika Was Just Sneaking Money

Here from today's Commercial Appeal a bank teller named Shenika Taylor is accused of taking more than $30,000 from the bank where she was employed. It was not her salary that she was taking either. Which begs to question, was Shenika just sneaking money?

Knox County Trustee is Into Phone Soliciting?

In a humorous line found in this blog post from Mike Donila's blog Screams From The Porch He refers to Chadwick B. Tindell as a phone solicitor. Should Knox County really be getting into the modern day solicitation of the world's oldest profession? And from a lawyer at that?

County Commission Meets Tomorrow?

My buddy Walt Wojnar text messaged me thinking that County Commission is meeting tomorrow. Because there has been a lot of talk about Black Friday.

I Remember The Fairview Apples from the Fair

This from today's News Sentinel brought back memories. Fairview United Methodist sells candied apples at the Tennessee Valley Fair. While I would love one or two, I likely am not gonna spend $9 to get into the fair to buy one apple for $1. Fairview should offer sales separate from the fair as well. So, if anyone is going to the fair this year and wants to be kind and feed your best local blogger, yes I would take a candied apple or two.

Friday Funny: Nicknames for Commissioners

It was suggested today on the voice (AM 1040 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon) that all County Commissioners needed a nickname. Several Commissioners have nicknames that have been given to them for many years, some earned them through campaigns. Here are the ones that we understand already exist.

Commissioner Greg Lambert = "Lumpy"

Commissioner Scott Moore = "Scooby"

Commissioner Thomas Strickland = "Tank"

Commissioner R. Larry Smith = "Rascal"

Commissioner Paul Pinkston = "Grumpy"
Commissioner Robert Rountree = "Milo"

Here are some suggestions for all the others, feel free to email or post in comments, other possibilities.

Commissioner Sam McKenzie = "Bionic" based on working in Oak Ridge.

Commissioner Mark Campen = "Jr." based on his youth.
Commissioner Mark Harmon = "Frumpy" As close to Lumpy as we could get. Here is a definition. "A person regarded as colorless and primly sedate."

Commissioner Tony Norman = "Dopey" primarily based on some of his comments.
Commissioner Ivan Harmon = "Bugsy" a reference to his connection to a pest control company.

Commissioner Elaine Davis = "Rapunzel" based on the fairy tale of the lady with all the hair.
Commissioner William Daniels = "Bucky" he just kind of looks like a Bucky, and will probably buck the system from time to time.

Commissioner Craig Leuthold = "Stiffy" based on his stiff demeanor at commission meetings and everywhere else he goes.
Commissioner Mike Hammond = "TOV - The Other Voice" A reference to his job as PA announcer and a slight reference to his talk radio competition.
Commissioner Dr. Richard Briggs = "doc" because of his life's work.

Commissioner Phil Ballard = "dr.phil" based on his radio commercial, where he said "No, like Dr. Phil.".
Commissioner Dave Wright = "Wiry" based on his career with the telephone company, Bell South/At&T.

Commissioner Victoria DeFreese - "Class Mom" A reference to her experience as a home school mom and her level of 'class'. This classroom will be tough one, but she is good for the job.

WVLT Loses Their and Our #1

UPDATE: It is Official Kelli Parker just signed off. WVLT had a great video of the memories and then Kelli thanked us for inviting her in our homes. No Kelli it was our honor to have you as our guest, cause none of the others in Knoxville are like family like you were, By the way, Alan, Rick and Scott you all are still invited, in addition to whoever replaces Kelli. WVLT is like family.

Original Monday November 26, 2007 10:40 p.m. It was a matter of time, but was made official tonight at 5:30 p.m. when WVLT and Kelli Parker announced that she is leaving the airwaves. Her last on camera will be this Wednesday.

As the President of the Kelli Parker fan club. Brian Hornback said. "The fan club will still exist, it will just become the Kelli Parker re-run watchers club. Similar to the Andy Griffith Show clubs." Hornback said. "I anticipate having to secure any and all former newscast where Kelli Parker was the anchor, co-anchor, reporter or contributor."

In all seriousness, Kelli has a young family and her commitment to being an integral part of the life of her family is to be commended. Her contribution to Knoxville and East Tennessee for the past six years has not gone unnoticed. Best of Luck, Kelli. You did good.

I am sure that all the BIG brainpower at my favorite Knoxville television news station will place someone beside Alan Williams that will keep Channel 8 as the top Knoxville news station. The question is what color tie will Alan have to wear?

I Thought That I missed The Knox County Election.

My email inbox has been running over today. I received an email that announced "Ballard grabs upset win" I thought oh, wow, I missed the Knox County election. Then I read the rest of the headline, "Ballard grabs upset win in mayoral race" I then realized that it was my weekly email update from the Indiana Republican Party and it detailed Republican Greg Ballard's upset victory over a two term Democrat incumbent Mayor. Here is the story detailing “the biggest upset in Indiana political history” I was relieved that I had not missed my first election since November 1984.

Are There Two Of Me?

I stumbled across this. I am still in Knoxville, TN and to the liberals out there that do not like me, guess what there are a few extra.

A New Karns Singing Duo Making Their Way To Nashville?

Sources indicate that former Commissioner and current Knox County Bailiff Mark Cawood and his wife Commissioner Sharon Cawood have been spending some time out at the Karaoke Cafe, preparing for their new gig. Now, that she has resigned from the Court Clerk's office (effective yesterday) it appears that they will be embarking on a singing career.

Their first song is a re-make of an old country song. Their version is entitled "Heaven Is Just a Send Away."

"Heaven's just a send away, oohhh"
"heaven's just a send away"

"I need more postage again today,"
" there's more I need to send..."

" I hear the postman coming now"
" I need enough postage to mail a cow"

" Heaven help me, Lord I pray"
" There's more I need to send..."

Someone Overheard Sharon Cawood Say.

I like paper and envelopes.

When I send Mark to the store, he must have a list and it looks good to have the list on the Commission letterhead. As Mark leaves the store he drops the list so that people see that a Cawood is still on the Commission. After all in Karns it's a Cawood family tradition.

I had to order so much stationary in four months, because with all the stationary that Mark has left over, I kept losing mine.

I like to write thank you letters. Mark, Thank You for giving me your old job at the Commission.

You Think

they want any public input?

UPDATE: Volunteer TV WVLT Channel 8 (Cable Channel 5) is reporting there will be one public input meeting.

This Explains A Great Deal

Thanks to The Peoples Cube and Hillbilly White Trash.

Could This Have Been Caused By The Construction Of The Hardin Valley High School?

Breaking News this evening from KnoxNews. Pellissippi Parkway is closed southbound with the exception of the shoulder as long as that holds up. Read the Breaking News, here.

The question is: Did this occur due to the construction of Hardin Valley High School? What is the proposed bus route? and is it safe?

Check Out this Week's Metro Pulse, Online and Print

The second week of their new and improved website. It looks good, Metro Pulse. But in addition this week is the Republican issue. Yes, believe it or not a Republican issue.

It has an in depth article about Fred Dalton Thompson, our next President.

However, Leslie Wylie has an "interview" with the three best Republicans in Knox County. The attractive and good looking Chair of the Knox County Young Republicans Stephanie Hundley, the intelligent 1st Vice Chair of the Knox County Republican Party Corey Johns and then there is me.

Stephanie, Corey and I are trying to get our schedules together to do some Metro Pulse signings. I just don't know if we can get it done or not with our busy schedules. However, I would venture to say that all three are likely to be at this Saturday's Lincoln Day Dinner. More on that later.

Have fun and enjoy. I had fun coming up with my answers. Hopefully, no one will be offended except for the Democrats. They can be offended, that is O.K.

Leslie did a great job, she and the Metro Pulse have moved up in the Brian's Blog media rankings.

Knox County Schools Reach Agreement With Knox County On The Future Of Hardin Valley High School

In a surprising move today. Knox County Schools and Knox County General Government have reached agreement on the eve of the last Community Forum on the Countywide Comprehensive High School Rezoning.

Knox County Schools effective immediately has abandoned construction of a new Hardin Valley High School on the Hardin Valley site. Effective tomorrow, Construction will begin on the New downtown Knox County Jail and Justice building at the Hardin Valley site.

MPC in reviewing their growth projections has determined that it is appropriate for the New Downtown Jail to be located in Hardin Valley based on the MPC growth projections and the MPC growth planning process.

Disclosure: This post was created in the spirit of The Onion.

Today's News Noon Update

Thanks to a regular reader of Brian's Blog for pointing this out. This is the noon update on the KnoxNews website. It is 2:52 in length and announces the public meeting on red light cameras that will be held tonight in Farragut. For those of you following the High School rezoning issue, this could be funny.

A Funny Thing Happened at the School Board Workshop Wednesday

I was on the front row near the public speakers podium and a lady that I had met before came up to talk with Russ Oaks and she and I started talking. I had met her before, but she asked if I would be posting. I said that I would later tonight. I just do not live blog. I mentioned how Randy had live blogged the Commission appointments.

I told her that I do not post on, but that I do read KnoxViews, that I had removed myself some time ago. She said "Are you #9" I laughed and told her who I believe 9 to be. I said that I believed him to be a pretty good guy, that he has been critical of me. But I have respect for people that are fair and fairly professional in their criticism even of me.

Unlike the tabloid girls that attack me and others with no facts and no reason and with no professionalism.

IN THE YEAR OF 2008

Brian's Blog does not normally post the various story emails that we receive. However, this one was to priceless not to pass on to the Brian's Blog readers.

One sunny day in 2008, an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench.

He spoke to the Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Hillary Clinton."

The Marine replied, "Sir, Mrs. Clinton is not President and doesn't reside here." The old man said, "Okay," and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President Hillary Clinton".

The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mrs. Clinton is not President and doesn't reside here." The man thanked him and again walked away . . .

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same Marine, saying "I would like to go in and meet with President Hillary Clinton."

The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mrs. Clinton. I've told you already several times that Mrs. Clinton is not the President and doesn't reside here. Don't you understand?"

The old man answered, "Oh, I understand you just fine. I just like hearing your answer.”

The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow, Sir!."

Greg "Lumpy" Lambert will be the Biggest Loser

If you thought there would not be a Republican -vs- Liberal Democrat Loser contest for the off season. (2007) You were just wishful thinking.

Knox County Commissioner Greg "Lumpy" Lambert is facing his district mate "Liberal Democrat" in a weight loss challenge. Here is betting that in the end the Republican will beat the Liberal Democrat.

When they weighed in Greg was at 286 while his taller Liberal Democrat opponent was 303. After some days of work the weighed in Greg was at 280 (-6) while the Liberal Democrat weighed in at 290 (-13)

While the Liberal Democrat is using a starvation diet. Greg is using a more conservative deliberate approach that will prevail for him at the end of the contest and will prove to be a life changing approach to a healthy lifestyle.

It is just like Liberal Democrats, they want the fast quick fix while Conservatives approach a sustained long term solution.

Go Greg Go.