The Knoxville Focus has been interviewing East Tennessee residents who are involved with their neighborhoods, organizations, or the county or city government. You may know them in their capacity as leaders but you probably don’t know their back stories, their...

  By Steve Williams The closing of Knox County schools last week for “sick days” caused high school basketball games to be rescheduled or cancelled and also halted practice time. From an athletics standpoint, none of those things were good, particularly with...

  By Rose King Mary Grubb Hickman celebrated her 92nd birthday at a surprise gathering on Saturday, January 26. Thinking she was going for an intimate birthday dinner with long-time friends, state Representative Dave Wright and wife, Pat,  Mary brought her famous...

  By Focus Staff Residents have been complaining about high water and sewer rates from the Hallsdale-Powell Utility District for years. Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs hosted a public meeting to address the district’s water and sewage system Thursday evening at...

By Steve Williams Ayden Greene warmed up just in time. Powell Middle School’s left handed shooting guard went ice cold for almost two periods, but fired in a 3-pointer to end a serious Cleveland run late in the third and the Panthers held off the Blue Raiders 42-35 in...

  By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com Walter Maples turned 90 years old this month. If you ask him what ninety years gets you, Walter will tell you. “I’ve had an abundant life, the blessing of God not with money but with things we had a need of,” he said as he...