We noticed Friday that the Dead End BBQ location in Maryville was finished and there appeared to be training or something going on there. We called to ask and were told they are opening this Tuesday, December 3rd.

Early voting has started for the Maryville sales tax referendum.

The referendum proposes to increase Maryville sales tax by 0.50%, the sales tax rate would increase from 9.25% to 9.75% (local sales tax rate of 2.25% would increase to 2.75%). On a $10 purchase the sales tax would increase by 5 cents. On a $100 purchase the sales tax would increase by 50 cents.

It is estimated the sales tax increase would generate about $2.5 million per year, half would go to City of Maryville schools and half would go in the city's general fund.

Early voting runs:
November 20, 2013 through December 5, 2013, except for November 28th and 29th, Thanksgiving holiday.

Early voting hours are:
Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM.
Saturday, 8 Am to 11 AM.

You can early vote at the Blount County Courthouse.

The City of Alcoa is using eminent domain to purchase a lot in the St. Ives neighborhood. The lot will be used to connect the St. Ives neighborhood with the new St. Thomas neighborhood. According to the State of Tennessee Real Assessment Data website, the current owners of the lot are the developers.

We spoke with city representatives about this issue five years ago. The St. Ives developers are planning approx. 70 new homes with a single outlet. The new St. Thomas neighborhood is planned for approx. 40 new homes with a single outlet. We suggested to the city representative that the neighborhoods should connect to provide alternate outlets for both neighborhoods. According to the city representative we spoke with five years ago, this was not a possibility. They said the developers did not want to connect the neighborhoods, thus the city had no option. What changed?

Additional dates have been scheduled at the Blount County Library for those wanting more information or help with enrollment in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace exchange plans.

Tennessee Health Care Campaign volunteers will be at the Blount County library to assist.

Saturday, Nov 16, 2013 (10 AM to 2 PM)

Saturday, Nov 23, 2013 (10 AM to 2 PM)
Sunday, Nov 24, 2013 (1 to 5 PM)

Tuesday, Nov 26, 2013 (4:30 to 8:30 PM)

To complete enrollment you will have to have payroll and/or federal tax filing forms and information on your current health insurance plan, if applicable.

Residents who need health care coverage will be able to find answers to their questions about the Affordable Health Care Act and other assistance this weekend at the Blount County Library.

Tennessee Health Care Campaign volunteers will be at the local library.

Friday, Nov. 8, 2013 (12-4 PM)
Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 (10 AM to 2 PM)
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013 (1-5 PM)

To complete enrollment you will have to have payroll and/or federal tax filing forms and information on your current health insurance plan, if applicable.

The City of Alcoa has hired retired Huntersville, NC, chief of police Philip Potter to be the chief of police for the City of Alcoa.

Chief Potter originally worked at the Piqua, Ohio, Police Department for about 30 years, the last 11 as police chief. He then took a position as the police chief in Huntersville, NC, where he stayed for nine years then retired. Potter "led the City of Alcoa assessment team last summer which culminated in the city’s successful re-accreditation."

Welcome, Chief Potter.

Click for bigger and a couple more pocketcam/cellphone photos...

We made a quick stop by the new Calhoun's in Maryville, which just opened this afternoon. It was a soft opening without much (any?) publicity, but it was already getting crowded by around 3:30.

They've done a great job with the remodel of the former Ruby Tuesday and later Marlin and Ray's site. It's right next door to Smoky Mountain Brewery, another Copper Cellar Group property in the previous Pizzeria Uno site.

The outdoor deck/patio is really nice. There's a full bar (in addition to the even bigger, snazzier one inside), a fireplace, a covered portion, big screen TVs everywhere showing sports channels, and a decent sound system playing country and blues favorites. It's close to the Alcoa Highway/129 bypass, but the music and ambient noise drown out the traffic. Bonus, they have a permit to allow dogs. (See above photo of Gracie, the very first dog on deck.)

As for the food, it's Calhoun's. I'm guessing everyone reading this has been to a Calhoun's somewhere. They have pretty much the same menu of decent casual dining fare. Prices might be a little higher than what the Maryville/Blount Co. crowd is used to, but portions are generous and they have some great happy hour drink specials. The service was outstanding.

I'm guessing it will be a hit in Blount Co., and we're happy to have another casual dining venue, especially one that allows dogs on the patio.

Once again, the Foothills Fall Festival organizers have been successful in providing a weekend of entertainment. Congrats to all!

Blount County Schools has an $8.6 million budget shortfall. It costs $17,000 a day for Blount county to run the buses. To save money, bus service won't be provided four days this school year. That means parents will have to find another way to get their kids to class.

Mayor Ed Mitchell is requesting the federal government let Blount County open and maintain the park roads during the [U.S. government] shutdown.

Blount County needs to get their act together. They can't provide the services needed to educate children. They need to stick to stick to their knitting. If they can't provide necessary services now, they don't need to be offering to provide non-essential services.

Scammers are already trying to trick people who are in need of health insurance through the now active Afordable Care Act Market Exchange.

Check it out.

Government officials will not call you to ask for any personal information such as bank account numbers or Social Security numbers. If someone does, report them to the State Attorney General's Consumer Affairs Division at 800-342-8385 (toll free in Tennessee) or 615-741-4737.

To apply for insurance in the marketplace, go to healthcare.gov or call 800-318-2596. Anyone needing assistance understanding their options and selecting the right plan can contact a trained and certified navigator. In Blount and surrounding counties*, you can contact the Knoxville Area Project Access Navigator Program at 865-531-2766. The federally funded Navigator program services are provided free of charge.

Be careful out there.

*According to KAPA, the counties covered by the Knoxville area Navigator program include Knox, Blount, Sevier, Anderson, Roane, Loudoun, Grangier, Cumberland, Jefferson, Union and Montroe counties.

Anti-Obama protesters tried to hold a protest on the Alcoa pedestrian bridge over Alcoa Highway, according to the MDT (subscription required). City of Alcoa police asked the protesters to move. City officials were concerned with driver distraction on Alcoa Highway and that someone might drop a sign or banner off the bridge. The protesters moved to the City of Alcoa municipal building, as suggested by the police, although, they were not happy with having to move.

Sunday, September 8, 2013
1:30PM - 3 PM

Where:
Alcoa Duck Pond, Springbrook Park
Near Alcoa Elementary, Middle, and High Schools

Blount County Parks and Recreation is holding a tiny tots triathlon, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, at 1:30 PM.

The triathlon is for tiny tots between the ages of 3 and 6. Preschoolers will run, bike, and get “wet” as they make their way to the finish line where everyone receives a medal!
This event is recreational, not competitive, and encourages young kids to get out and get active! Bring a bicycle or tricycle (with helmet) and wear tennis shoes and comfortable athletic clothing that can get wet at the end! A family member must assist their child as they make their way through the events.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2013

Plan now to join us at CAPPE-FEST,
a mini music festival at The Betsy House in Rockford, TN
Sunday, September 15

Performance schedule:

1pm - gates open
2pm - Daniel Kimbro (link...)
2:45pm - Greg Horne (link...)
3:30pm - Jay Clark & The Tennessee Tree Beavers (link...)
4:30pm - Jeff Barbra & Sarah Pirkle
5:30pm - The Lonetones (link...)
6:30pm - Jimmy Davis (link...)

Reservations are requested and can be made by emailing jayclarkmusic@comcast.net
Directions and other details will be sent after reservations are made.
This is an outdoor concert!
Food/supper & non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
Bring your own adult beverages, chairs, blankets, etc.

Tickets are $20, children under 16 tickets are $10.
(In case of rain, the show will be moved inside "The Betsy House". The first 55 people that show up and pay are guaranteed a seat in "The Betsy House".)

All proceeds go to CAPPE: Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension, Inc.
For more information please visit (link...) or (link...)

-end-

I've been noticing the lovely mini-gardens showing up at the corners of Hall Road and several side streets in the Hall Community. When I finally saw someone tending to one of the mini-gardens, I decided to ask the person how they came about.

Ms. Mary Scott was very gracious to take some time to tell me about the mini-gardens. She told me she had seen mention in the local newspaper of a Lowe's Community Improvement Grant available. She and her friend and neighbor, Jackie Hill, got together, both residents of the Hall Community in Alcoa, TN, to apply for the Lowe's Community Improvement Grant. As a result, they were awarded a $5,000 grant from Lowe's to beautify the community.

These two ladies, 72 and 67 years old, then took it upon themselves with the approval of the City of Alcoa, to create these mini-gardens along Hall Road in their community. As they dug up the ground, put down landscape fabric for weed control, shoveled garden rocks, installed very large planters with beautiful plants and flowers, other residents of the community as well as local workers volunteered to help. They continue to tend the mini-gardens, watering and trimming. As the community watched the development, more volunteers joined in asking for mini-gardens near their street corners.

Kudos to Ms. Scott, Ms. Hill, and the rest for adding these beautiful mini-gardens to the community for all to enjoy.

The City of Alcoa is a walkable community with parks. We agree that "ALCOA Inc.’s impact over the community over the last 100 years has been amazing" as was said by Alcoa Assistant City Manager Bill Hammon at a Blount County Chamber of COmmerce meeting Friday.

However, we couldn't disagree more as to Mr. Hammon's plan to build a Turkey Creek-type retail complex as Phase I in the ALCOA West Plant site." The Turkey Creek development in West Knoxville is nothing like the City of Alcoa. It is not at all walkable. There is a sort of, kind of park/walking trail, but not easily found. Where is the mixed use?

Development at the ALCOA West Plant should be more like the Northshore Town Center development, which has condos/townhomes, a park, sidewalks with trees, along with retail. What came first at Northshore Town Center? Not a Turkey Creek development.

We surely wish there was someone involved in the ALCOA West Plant development with a vision like the wonderful vision had by ALCOA Inc. nearly 100 years ago.