News

Carl Preston Stinnett grew up in Blount County. “It’s changed a great deal since I was a young fellow here. I sometimes long for the old, old times,” he says. “When I was young, downtown on Saturday, you couldn’t walk, there were so many people.”
Stinnett worked at a service station where all the buses that took people to work at Alcoa traded. This helped him get acquainted with people from all over the county.
The Korean War vet said he has mixed feelings about how much the county is growing. He remembers a simpler time. “I realize that it’s got to grow, but I’m still sort of like the old days. I like going down to the Capitol Theater on Saturday night and watching the western movies.”
Here is Carl Preston Stinnett. Full story »

If you were looking for an art gallery in downtown Maryville at the beginning of the holiday season last year, you had one choice: Heath Claiborne Gallery at the Capitol Theatre.
In the past 90 days three new art galleries have opened in downtown Maryville, swelling the number of galleries dedicated to exhibiting, selling and promoting the arts to five.
When downtown dreamers formulate what they would like to see downtown Maryville become known for, the lists are always varied. Antiques, fine restaurants, jazz and blues.
Nine times out of 10, however, the list includes “arts.” Full story »

The City of Maryville Foothills Fall Festival recently won a 2008 Savvy Award which was announced at this year’s City-County County Communications and Marketing Association’s (3CMA) National Conference held in October. The competitors consist of counties and municipalities nationwide. Full story »

Solid waste collection in the city of Alcoa will be adjusted during Thanksgiving week.
Households normally scheduled for pick up on Thursday, Nov. 27 will receive their service on Friday, Nov. 28. Full story »

The bounty paid for turning a junk car over to Keep Blount Beautiful is $35 per vehicle.
Charlene DeSha, Keep Blount Beautiful Coordinator, is implementing the award-winning program that was originally created by Allison Teeters while she was the executive director at Keep Sevier Beautiful. Teeters is currently the executive director at Keep Knoxville Beautiful. “The Vehicle Recycling Program was so successful in Sevier County I thought it was a natural choice for Blount County.” DeSha says. Full story »

The Fraternal Order of Police Bud Allison Memorial Lodge #9 in Maryville is seeking applications and donations for its annual Shop With a Cop Program, which will conclude Dec. 13 at Shop With a Cop’s corporate sponsor, Alcoa Wal-Mart. On this day, area law enforcement officers take the youngsters shopping. Full story »

Fire personnel from throughout the area converged on a burning house just off Sevierville Road Friday afternoon, but joint operation was merely a training exercise.
Fire department personnel used the house that stood on the former DeLozier family farm as a training tool. They practiced a number of simulated emergencies. Maryville, Alcoa and Blount County fire departments were represented, as were Seymour and Friendsville Volunteer Fire Departments. Full story »

More than 150 students gathered Tuesday to protest the firing of a Maryville College administrator.
At noon on Tuesday, students at Maryville College gathered at the outdoor classroom to express their thoughts about Ned Willard, former vice president of enrollment at Maryville College. Students became aware Willard no longer being employed at the college this weekend.
Robbie Champion, a political science major, said that Willard being gone would hinder transparency on campus. Champion said Willard was very approachable and that current students will feel a sense of change not having Willard as part of the college community. Full story »

Joyce Greene is covered in green. As a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Blount County, Joyce is helping the club with their holiday-themed fund raiser. The general operations manager at The Royal Oaks Event Facility is selling wreaths and other greenery for the club.
Joyce first saw the work of the Boys and Girls Club while serving on the allocations committee for United Way. “When we visited the facility, I was blown away by how well the operation worked, and the services they offered the community. At that point I offer to be on the board and have been on there ever since.
“The wreaths are gorgeous,” says Joyce, “and they smell great. Everyone needs at least one in their home.”
To purchase a wreath, call Joyce at the Royal Oaks Events facility at 865-681-3492 or the Boys and Girls Clubs of Blount County at 865-982-3830.
Here is Joyce Greene: Full story »

If the first three weeks of retirement are any indication, retired Maryville Fire Chief Ed Mitchell is going to like this new phase in his life.
Mitchell said his wife, Kim, was also happy he didn’t have to take his two-way radio with him when he retired. That meant neither of them has to listen to it at night as they try to sleep. Full story »

When one of the organizers of the groundbreaking for the new research and development park named Pellissippi Place surveyed the site a week before the official groundbreaking ceremony, there was green grass and little dust.
A week later, the site was dusty and flat and looked even more beautiful to the more than 100 people gathered to celebrate what they hope will be an economic plus to two cities and two counties -- and all who live near them. Full story »

In the debate on animal control, there are two sides to the argument. The two animal shelters currently being planned for Blount County reflect the opposing philosophies.
One is a no-kill, limited-access facility while the other is a kill, all-access facility.
Nothing tugs at heart strings like animals who have been abandoned and/or hurt. But conversations with the general public in Blount County usually draws a big question mark as to what exactly is going on in the county in regard to controlling and caring for unwanted, abused and stray animals.
Do we have a “pound?” What happens now when an animal is picked up? What is the difference in these two groups and why can’t everyone just get along?
The questions are good ones, although the answers aren’t so easy. Full story »

The East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association will hold the dedication of the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial at 11 a.m. Nov. 15 at World’s Fair Park in Knoxville.
The $2.5 million memorial, located at the northern end of Knoxville’s World’s Fair Park, includes 26 granite monuments, each nine feet high, three feet wide and one foot deep with 175 names inscribed on them; and a plaza entrance with a 50-foot flag pole and a 27-foot high bell tower. Full story »

The Tennessee Foreign Language Teaching Association will honor Maryville High School French teacher Betsy Marcum as the 2008 Teacher of the Year at their annual conference in Nashville.
Marcum began her teaching career in Tennessee in the Knox County Schools as a substitute teacher. She became a French teacher at South-Doyle High School in 1986 and moved to Maryville High School in 2001. Full story »

Blount County Commissioners will consider buying the Ceramaspeed property on McAuthur Road during the commission meeting Thursday night.
Bill Dunlap, Highway Superintendent, answered questions for almost an hour during the Nov. 6 commission workshop.
The commissioners had two resolutions before them. One was to authorize purchase of the $2.7 million structure and the second for a current appraisal to be done. At issue is the prospect of losing $750,000 already spent on preparing leased land beside the new Alcoa City Services building on North Wright Road. Full story »