Stories In This Week’s Focus: | The Knoxville Focus

Alvin Frye gave 93 years to family, community

by design | Jul 30, 2017 | Stories In This Week's Focus:

By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com The city lost an icon, a leader and beloved senior citizen July 22 when Fountain City’s Alvin Glenn Frye passed away at 93. Alvin Frye was a Navy veteran of both WWI and the Korean War. He was an active member of the Fountain City...

Two teachers behind Frankie Housley honors

by design | Jul 30, 2017 | Stories In This Week's Focus:

By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com The efforts of two teachers and their students led to recognizing a Knoxville hero recently with the dedication of the Mary Francis (Frankie) Housley Bridge just below Gresham Middle School in Fountain City. The Holbrook Drive...

When Two Congressmen Collide, III

by Ray Hill | Jul 30, 2017 | Columnist, Hill, Stories In This Week's Focus:

By Ray Hill Tennessee Congressman Ewin L. Davis, a veteran of fourteen years, had lost his seat to freshman legislator J. Ridley Mitchell in the 1932 Democratic primary. Mitchell’s district had been dismembered by the Tennessee General Assembly causing Mitchell to...

PHS band working on ‘Galactic Fever’ anniversary tribute

by design | Jul 30, 2017 | Stories In This Week's Focus:

By Steve Williams When Powell High’s football team had its first official day of practice in pads on July 17, the school’s marching band began its two weeks of camp. Like the football team, the Powell band’s season debut will be at Halls on Aug. 18. “We actually start...

Halls introduces new hoops coaches to community

by design | Jul 30, 2017 | Stories In This Week's Focus:

By Ken Lay Jonathan Smith and Tom Poisal made their first public appearances as Halls High School basketball coaches recently. Both were introduced to fans, players, parents and to the community on Monday, July 24 at a meet and greet at the school. Both replace Randy...

The Knoxville Focus for July 24, 2017

by Ray Hill | Jul 23, 2017 | Archived Editions, Archives, Hill, Stories In This Week's Focus:

Remembering Jake Butcher By Ray Hill rayhill865@gmail.com For those wanting an opportunity to bask in the limelight, it would be well to remember the glare burns far more frequently than it shines. That thought was rekindled yet again in my mind with the passing of...

Unequal Educational Opportunities

by Steve Hunley | Jul 23, 2017 | Columnist, Hunley, Stories In This Week's Focus:

By Steve Hunley The Knox County Board of Education recently extended the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Ordinarily, the board would deserve commendation for such a thing; however, in this instance, they have created an unequal educational opportunity. By...

Pleasant Ridge mural gives a glimpse of the past

by design | Jul 23, 2017 | Stories In This Week's Focus:

By Pete Gawda Pleasant Ridge Elementary School has a unique window to the past thanks to artist Gale Hinton. She recently covered the walls of the school’s hallway with murals. The most striking and probably the most personal is dedicated to the Nickle family. While...

When Two Congressmen Collide, II

by Ray Hill | Jul 23, 2017 | Columnist, Hill, Stories In This Week's Focus:

By Ray Hill When the Tennessee General Assembly reduced the number of Tennessee’s congressional seats from ten to nine, Congressman J. Ridley Mitchell had been displaced. Mitchell’s home county of Cumberland had been placed in the heavily Republican Second District,...

Lonsdale youth center, paintball, and sports tourism

by design | Jul 23, 2017 | Stories In This Week's Focus:

By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com The Emerald Youth Center’s hopes to build a $9 million facility in Lonsdale came one step closer to a reality recently when the Knox County Commission agreed to give the city a portion of the Sam E. Hill School Property. The...