By Ray Hill Dr. John R. Neal was an American original; an educator, lawyer, state legislator, and perennial candidate for public office. Neal could have been the blueprint for the absentminded professor. Dr. Neal is frequently remembered for his many eccentricities, which included paying virtually no attention to his personal appearance, bathing infrequently, if at […]
By Steve Williams Allie Koepfer excelled in volleyball throughout her high school career at Concord Christian. She didn’t waste any time either. As an eighth grader in the fall of 2012 Koepfer helped lead Concord Christian School to the TSSAA Class A state volleyball tournament – the school’s first state tourney berth in any sport. […]
By Ken Lay For 28 summers Mike Hutchens has opened Catholic High School’s gym to young basketball players. Hutchens, the school’s longtime boys basketball coach, and his players make a habit of spreading the game that they love to those who may become the next generation of Irish boys basketball players at the Catholic Boys […]
Vintage Knoxville teams carry on ‘base ball’ legacy By Pete Gawda People in Knoxville have the privilege of seeing how the national pastime of base ball (original spelling) was played back in the 1860s when it was much more of a gentleman’s game. The field behind the Historic Ramsey House serves as the home field […]
By Steve Hunley Since Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States, the news coverage has been relentlessly biased. If you doubt that, a new study from Harvard University should answer that question definitively. The study, conducted by Professor Thomas E. Patterson of Harvard’s Kennedy School and the Schorenstein Center on Media, Politics and […]
By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com There’s a big surprise awaiting you inside the large brick building at 1401 McCalla Avenue. Partners Dana Traylor, Esmeralda Carmichael and Jeana Vaughn have created what may be the best selection of antique and vintage items in the region. The Red Brick Market has more than 28 vendors, each with their […]
By Ray Hill Jake Lindsey epitomized much about how Americans saw themselves when he joined the army in February of 1940. Lindsay, a resident of the tiny hamlet of Lucedale, Mississippi, joined the armed forces well before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The nineteen year-old Mississippian would go on to become one of World War […]
By Steve Williams MURFREESBORO – Her team had played so well and hit the ball so hard in beating Powell 6-2 in the winners’ bracket finals Thursday, the hardest thing Gibbs High softball head coach Carol Mitchell had to do was get breakfast plans worked out for the following morning. “The funny part about that […]
By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com There are no veterans left alive from the War to End All Wars. This year is the 100th anniversary of World War I and there are few reminders of that struggle locally except for one figure that stands in front of the Old Knoxville High School. The former city school is […]
Thirty-one candidates seek five council seats By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com Noon Thursday was the deadline for qualifying and all candidates vying for the five Knoxville City Council seats now have until noon on May 25 to withdraw. Early voting starts August 9 and the Primary Election is August 29. Thirteen people have qualified as candidates […]