~ from Bike Walk Knoxville Bike Walk Knoxville, a local nonprofit organization working to make the Knoxville region a better place to bike and walk for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, is thrilled to announce an upcoming Walk with Elected Officials on Thursday, April 18, 2024. The walk will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. at the Third Creek Greenway Park on Sutherland Avenue (with parking available across the street at Vreeland Engineers, Inc.). Bike Walk Knoxville’s tours with elected officials are a great opportunity to learn about how funding and policy impact infrastructure for ..read more

‘One of the stormiest chapters in SEC basketball lore’ By Tom Mattingly A game at Vanderbilt helped define the 1968-69 basketball season and the ever-growing legend of University of Tennessee head coach Ray Mears. The 1968-69 Vols finished 21-7 overall and 13-5 (SEC), with an appearance in the NIT. It featured yeoman-like work from Bill Justus, Billy Hann, Bobby Croft, Jimmy England, and Don Johnson. Longtime fans will remember that freshmen were not eligible for varsity play until the 1972-73 season, so there were games played earlier in the evening between each school’s rookies, just to whet ..read more

The Better Parts of School By Joe Rector I am lucky to have grown up when I did. A member of the Baby Boomer generation, I spent my youth worry-free. The most important things involved having fun and just being a boy in the country community of Ball Camp. Even school, where education never got in the way of having a good time, wasn’t so bad. The old Ball Camp School was the best school. The building had those big windows along one wall. Most of the year, they stayed open, either just a tad or wide open. The rooms were stifling hot when we entered them on the Tuesday after Labor Day, the offici ..read more

And the Lord God formed a man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and he became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 By Dr. Jim Ferguson It finally looks like winter is done, March Madness is over, the eclipse hoopla has subsided and the world continues to turn as time metaphorically marches on. The eclipse was a big nothing burger in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was overcast last Monday with drizzle, and we were only going to have 80% occlusion of the sun in our area. I don’t understand why everyone was so hyped because we experienced a “real” 100% eclipse of the ..read more

Happy Tax Day By Dr. Harold A. Black blackh@knoxfocus.com haroldblackphd.com   I have long advocated for no mandatory withholding. Withholding should be optional. If people opted to pay all their federal income taxes on April 15 there would be a lot more pressure on our national politicians to reduce spending. Federal spending is out of control. It doesn’t really matter what party is in power, federal spending continues to grow. Once spending increased during economic downturns and decreased during periods of prosperity. No longer. Spending is completely independent of the nation’s econom ..read more

RAM’s FREE 2-day Clinic set for This Weekend Free dental, vision and medical services coming to Harriman, Tenn.  Remote Area Medical – RAM® – a major nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics delivering free, quality dental, vision and medical care to those in need – will hold a free, two-day clinic on April 20-21. RAM will be set up at Roane State Community College’s Main Campus, located at 276 Patton Lane, Harriman, TN 37748, for two days only. This clinic is in collaboration with Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. All RAM services are free, and no ID is required. Free dental, vision and medi ..read more

  Knoxvillian Elizabeth Herndon breaks four-year streak as runner-up to finish first in women’s half marathon at 20th Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon More than 6,100 participants crossed the finish line of the 2024 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon in World’s Fair Park during the April 6-7 race weekend, which included the final mile of the Covenant Kids Run, 5K, two- and four-person relays, half- and full marathon.   One of the runners, Elizabeth Herndon of Knoxville was the first woman to complete the half marathon, winning the race after four years of finishing second. At 1:27 ..read more

ORDER OF PUBLICATION   IN THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT FOR THE STATE OF TENNESSEE CHANCERY DIVISION AT CLINTON, TENNESSEE Case No.  24CH5841   Jaiden Mason Whereabouts Unknown Last Known Address: Unknown   Ralph & Stephanie McMahan Petitioners v. Jaiden Mason Respondent   NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION It appears from the pleadings filed in this cause that Jaiden Mason whereabouts are unknown.  In compliance with the provisions of T.C.A. 21-1-204 and the Order of Publication of this court entered March 26, 2024, service of process will be made by publicatio ..read more

Karns Fire Department explains rising costs By Joe Rector Businesses and homeowners in the Karns Fire Department coverage area were surprised this year by the increase in the cost of a yearly subscription. An approximate 14% increase was added, and subscribers wanted to know why rate hikes seem to be a yearly thing. The Karns Fire Department board chairman and counsel Jimmy Carter and Fire Chief Daron Long gave answers in an interview to questions from people in the Karns, Ball Camp, Hardin Valley and Solway communities. The department serves a population of approximately 52,000, which include ..read more

Publisher’s Positions By Steve Hunley Kennedy Grills Mayorkas Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana last week faced Home Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.  Kennedy said to Mayorkas’ face what most everybody has known; that the Biden administration has left the border open and invited illegal immigration into this country to help Democrats politically. “Isn’t in fact, Mr. Secretary, that the number of illegal immigrants you and the president allow into our country counts for congressional district reapportionment?” Kennedy asked. Mayorkas said he didn’t understand the question but stated ..read more