Vestival offers family fun By Pete Gawda South Knoxville’s heritage and the benefits offered by that area were showcased in the 17th Annual Vestival, held Saturday in the South Knoxville neighborhood of Vestal. This year’s theme was “Live, Work, Play, South of the...

Focus’ Mike Steely receives award from ET Historical Society By Steve Williams Cherel Henderson may have summed it up best. “I think he just has a natural love for history,” said the executive director of the East Tennessee Historical Society after presenting Mike...

Communities work together in Sevier fire recovery By Ken Lay PIGEON FORGE --- Sevier County was devastated by Gatlinburg wildfires in November, 2016 but Gatlinburg and the surrounding communities couldn’t be kept down long. The long recovery has begun and on Thursday...

Halls marks milestone for outdoor classroom By Ken Lay   The air smelled of barbecue and the Halls High School band’s saxophone ensemble played a few classic jazz tunes while the community’s schools celebrated a milestone anniversary for the Halls High School...

Pawn shop rejected by council   By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com The city’s new Alternative Financial Services policy got its first test Tuesday when Capso Properties requested the city council overturn a denial for a pawn shop at 3515 North Broadway. The...

Ribbon cutting opens Dogwood Arts By Ken Lay The City of Knoxville and Dogwood Arts kicked off dogwood season Friday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Griffey Gentry Funeral Home. In 2017, the featured trail is Historic Fountain City, a trail formed in 1957....

County Commission questions Care Center location By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com Former Knox County Commissioner Mike Brown sat up front during the commission’s work session last week and listened to the many, many questions coming from the elected officials...

Historic Speedway Circle home taken by city By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com A two-story old house on Speedway Circle in East Knoxville and the lot next to the home have been approved for condemnation or purchase by the Knoxville City Council. The properties, at...

Urgent Care Center gets quick approval By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com What was thought to be the most disputed item before the planning commission Thursday, the approval of the Helen Ross McNabb Behavior Health Urgent Care Center, passed with little debate....

Board of Education Approves Two Superintendent Candidates By Pete Gawda With little discussion at their meeting on Wednesday evening the Knox County Board of Education readily approved Knox County Assistant Superintendent Bob Thomas and current Hamblen County...