By Steve Williams Jack Sompayrac can look back on his prep career with plenty of fond memories. Knoxville Catholic’s Class 5A state championship in football highlighted his senior year and being named the Most Valuable Offensive Player in the 45-28 win over Beech was a bonus for Sompayrac, the quarterback of the Fighting Irish. The […]
By Ken Lay A successful season ended in a league championship for the Gresham Middle School baseball varsity baseball team recently. The Gladiators culminated their 2018 campaign by winning the league championship at Karns Sportspark last month. Gresham, which finished the season with a 14-2 record, was the top seed in the league’s postseason […]
Checking in on the Behavioral Urgent Care Center By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com The Knoxville Focus recently asked Jerry Vagnier, president and CEO of Helen Ross McNabb Center, how things are going at the Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center. The facility, located just off Western Avenue at 5203 Ball Camp Pike, opened in March following a […]
By Steve Hunley “The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who read them, in as much as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.” – Thomas Jefferson Using that quote may not be wise being in the […]
By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com It may have rained most of Memorial Day but that didn’t deter the ceremonies at Honor Fountain City Day. Although some politicians and vendors cleared out by the time the 3 p.m. program got underway, many residents stayed and watched the patriotic program and presentation of honors to citizens who […]
By Ray Hill The transformation of turning Tennessee from a solidly Democratic state to a two-party state belongs to the candidacies of three men: Howard Baker, Bill Brock and Winfield Dunn. Perhaps Bill Brock is less well remembered than either Howard Baker or Winfield Dunn because he never returned to Tennessee to live after establishing […]
By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com What can you say about a 60-year-old family restaurant? How about its great food, great service and a great history of family owners has helped this special place survive and thrive through the decades. Owner Jimmy Brinias told The Focus that the Original Louis’ Restaurant and Drive-In is surviving the Broadway […]
PHOTO BY STEVE WILLIAMS Halls' defense displays some gang-tackling during a goal-line stand against Stone Memorial during a May 23 scrimmage to end its spring practice.
By Steve Williams Christian Academy of Knoxville’s football team had to be early birds during spring practice. “Due to so many multi-sport spring athletes, we practiced from 6:30 to 8 a.m. during spring ball,” reported Coach Travis Mozingo recently. “What impressed me most was the enthusiasm and grit that the team displayed every morning. (Coaches […]
City budget passes but with some questions By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com Mayor Madeline Rogero’s proposed city budget passed on final reading Tuesday as well as a three percent employee pay raise and funding for the various city departments. The passing of the proposal did not go without questions from citizens and Councilwoman Seema Singh Perez […]
By Steve Hunley The Disparities in Educational Outcomes Committee met recently at Fulton High School. Much of this has to do with implementing restorative justice in the drive to decriminalize certain behaviors. The policy originated with the Obama administration’s pressure on school districts to revise discipline policies to reduce the number of suspensions for […]