Back in 1791, our Territorial Governor, William Blount, decided to name our fair city Knoxville, in honor of General Henry Knox. Why he didn’t name it after founder, James White, is still a mystery to me. Of course “Whiteville” probably wouldn’t be very P.C. in these modern times, but how about “Jamesville”? Regardless, Knoxville it was named and Knoxville it remains.
So who was this Henry Knox feller you ask? Well, let me tell you about him…
Henry Knox was born in Boston on July 25, 1750. When he was 9-years old, his father died. He quit school when he was 12-years old and started working as a clerk in a bookstore. Shortly afterwards, he opened his own bookstore and named it the London Book Store. He educated himself by reading the books that he sold. The ones that drew his attention the most were military books. He became obsessed with everything that had to do with the military and artillery information. At 18-years old he joined a military company and was present during the Boston Massacre. At 24-years old he fell in love and married 18-year old Lucy Fluker.
Knox became well known for his military prowess and soon caught the attention of General George Washington. He was commissioned as a Colonel and appointed as commander of the Continental Regiment of Artillery. Washington and Knox became very good friends and were inseparable. Knox was responsible for the famous icy crossing of the Delaware River by Washington’s army. Soon after that event, Knox was promoted to the rank of Major General and eventually became the Secretary of War.
In 1795, Knox retired from military and government service and moved to his mansion, Montpelier, in Thomaston, Maine. There he spent his last 11 years on earth farming, ship building, and brick making. Then at the young age of 56, Knox met with his untimely death. He was visiting with a friend in a nearby city. Knox, weighing in at roughly 300-lbs, loved to eat. His friend treated him to a big chicken supper. While eagerly gobbling up his tasty chicken, Knox accidentally swallowed a bone. The bone traveled down his throat and became lodged in his digestive track, puncturing his intestine. This set up a dangerous infection called, Peritonitis, which spread through his body attacking his organs and entering into the blood stream. Knox died on October 25, 1806, just 3-days after swallowing the bone.
According to Wikipedia, a lot more than just Knoxville was named after Henry Knox: Two separate American forts, Fort Knox (Kentucky), and Fort Knox (Maine) were named after him. Knox Hall at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, home of the Field Artillery Center and Field Artillery School, is also named after him. A Knox County has been named for him in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas. Knoxville, Tennessee, is also named for him.
So there you have it kids. A little Knoxville history lesson for ya. Oh and don’t forget to chew your food, it could kill you!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Knoxville Namesake's Chicken Choking Demise
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Wogan On Sports Bluegrass!
You see Jim Wogan on WATE-6 News, reporting on sporting events. You would think that I would ask him about his love of sports or what life is like in the 6-News room, but nope. You see, I recently discovered something about Mr. Wogan that I never knew. While on TV, he's always calm, cool, and laid back. What you can't see from the confines of your living room couch is that beneath his perfectly pressed sport's blazer beats the heart of a bluegrass fanatic trying to get out! I've done online interviews with several local news celebrities but I've got to admit that this has been the most fun thus far. Enjoy!
While I was visiting with Knoxville bluegrass guy, Jerry Butler, he brought up the fact that you were not only a sports nut but also a big bluegrass fan. I noticed from your bio on WATE’s website, that you were born in PA, brought up in NY, and went to college in Arizona, how does a guy from that kind of background come to love bluegrass music?
JWogan: Let me start by saying Jerry Butler is a great guy. I emailed him one night after the NASCAR race at Richmond and it turns out he was also watching. He's a great musician-- and a true sports fan. Jerry's the guy I really want to be. Unfortunately, I have no talent for creating music. As for my epiphany with bluegrass, it all begins with WDVX. It's an East Tennessee treasure. I discovered them nearly nine years ago and consider myself a loyal listener. They, more than anything, helped expand my knowledge of various types of traditional music-- bluegrass included. Also, there was always country music on the radio in our house when I was growing up. My Dad was a Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash fan, and my Mom liked guys like Eddie Arnold. As a teenager (even in NY) I got hooked on southern rock. I LOVED the Marshall Tucker Band and Charlie Daniels. Still do! While going to college in Arizona, I started to appreciate what is now considered classic country. I saw Mel Tillis perform at the Arizona State Fair, and to this day I really love artists like Buck Owens, and Merle Haggard. How did I get from there to bluegrass? I don't know. Like I said, I blame it all on WDVX.
KTB: Within bluegrass music there are a few variations of style: Traditional, Progressive, and Gospel, among others. Which style would you say is more up your alley?
JWogan: Definitely traditional. Ricky Skaggs does a version of Carter Stanley's On A Lonesome Night that I really like. More than anyone, Skaggs has helped me connect with the music of Bill Monroe other great, early, bluegrass artists.
KTB: If I raided your music collection, what would I find?
JWogan: I'm like most people. There's some variety. As for bluegrass, I'm a HUGE Del McCoury fan. I've also got some Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Pine Mountain Railroad, Gibson Brothers, Wild Blue Yonder, Wildfire, Mountain Heart, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Robinella. Now it gets interesting. Jimmy Buffett, Jack Johnson, Robert Earl Keen, James McMurtry, Neil Young, Los Lobos, (oh no) early Ted Nugent, Sinatra, and Dean Martin. It really depends on my mood-- and where I want my head to be. Right now, I'm exploring some Latin stuff. There's a Spanish band called Amparanoia that has a great sound.
KTB: If you were stranded on a desert island with only a CD player and one CD of your choice, what would it be?
JWogan: Man, you're tough. What about CD changer? Ok, you make the rules. Thank goodness for iTunes. I'd compile a CD to include McCoury's version of 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, Skaggs doing Uncle Pen, Buffett's A Pirate Looks At Forty, and other selected cuts from all of the above artists. In fact, I've already got that CD made, because I've often said someday I WILL find that island to get stranded on.KTB: I know you stay pretty busy reporting on sporting events, but do you ever get the chance to go to any bluegrass or other musical events, and if so, what was the last one you attended?
JWogan: I really need to attend more bluegrass festivals. My wife and I have visited events in Townsend and we saw Mountain Heart play at the Lily Barn a few years ago. We've also seen Ricky Skaggs headline a show at Smokies Park with Pine Mountain Railroad. We've seen Del McCoury twice-- once at a festival in Sevierville. What amazes me about the festivals is the folks who show up to play informally around the campsites. It is a remarkable thing to be part of-- even as a bystander. It's the ultimate grass roots music experience.
KTB: If you were organizing the ultimate bluegrass band, whom would you pick (past or present) to fill all of the positions?
JWogan: Wow. I'm definitely more qualified to name the ultimate, all-time, UT football team. And I'd still be afraid to do it. Let's just say Gene Patterson won't make this list. I've heard him sing.
KTB: I read on your bio that you are learning to play guitar, how is that going for you? Do you play any other type of instrument and if so, which one(s)?
JWogan: My guitar playing needs some serious work. Actually, a good friend of mine, Ray Rose, helps and gives me encouragement. I started learning on an old guitar my wife had as a teenager. I bought my current guitar at Ciderville Music. I'm self-taught. I need to challenge myself more-- although it's amazing how many songs you can play in C-G-D, with an occasional F. Some artists have made millions off those chords-- and I mean that in a nice way. I took trumpet lessons when I was a kid, but I quit. One of my lifelong regrets.
KTB: If someone had never heard of bluegrass music before, what band would you recommend to him or her to listen to?
JWogan: Hard to say. I know what I like almost as soon as I hear it. I'd really recommend all of the bluegrass bands I mentioned above. I enjoy them all. For some reason, Del McCoury really resonates with me. I also recommend you see bluegrass in person. It is some of the most intricate music on Earth! So many moving parts! You gain a real appreciation for the musicians when you see it happen live. After that, it's easier to visualize and appreciate when listening to a CD or the radio.
KTB: Besides our mutual friend, Jerry Butler, have you rubbed elbows with any other celebrity musicians?
JWogan: I talk with Bill McBee of Pine Mountain Railroad. He's been very good to me-- and has extended an invitation to join them for a road trip on their bus. I've told my wife if this TV thing doesn't work out, I can always become a bluegrass roadie. Bill has been super. I've talked with Jimbo Whaley, and still receive emails about his new releases.
KTB: Finally, not to sound sadistic, but if you knew your time on earth was coming to an end, what song would you want played while folks were standing around your pine box?JWogan: I guess Amazing Grace would be the proper answer. But gotta be something by Buffett. ''.. some of it's magic, some of it's tragic, but I had a good life anyway." (He Went To Paris, Jimmy Buffett). Hopefully we won't need that for a while.
KTB: I know that was just a bunch of silly questions and doesn’t have a single thing to do with your WATE-6 sport's career but I think it will be interesting for Knox trivia readers and news fans alike. Again, I appreciate your willingness to play along. Have a good one and we’ll be seeing you on the news (or maybe a bluegrass event!)
Monday, May 12, 2008
It's a dadgum government conspiracy
The government stimulated me this past Friday and then snuck into my house while I was at church yesterday and sabotaged my Kenmore oven. I know it was them, it had to be. Who else would be low down enough to get you all excited about some extra cash flow and then rip it right back out of your hand?
electronic oven control (EOC). I pulled the module out, disassembled it and yep, sure enough, that was the source of my problems. A quick Google search lands me at RepairClinic.com where I was able to find the part in stock and have it shipped overnight. At $129.00 plus 27.89 shipping, it wasn't cheap brother, but it beats $500.00 to replace a 3-year old oven. A road to share with my fellow Knoxvillians
It's called the Roman road:
You're not here by accident. Jesus loves you, and He wants you to have a personal relationship with Him. There is just one thing that separates you from God. That one thing is sin.
People tend to divide themselves into groups - good people and bad people. But God says that every person that has ever lived is a sinner, and any sin separates us from God. That includes you and me.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 -KJV
According to man's rules, people should be punished or rewarded according to how good they are, and it might be hard for you to understand how Jesus could love you when other people don't seem to. But I have great news for you! Jesus DOES love you! More than you can ever imagine! And there's nothing you can do to make him stop!
Are you thinking that you should make things right in your life before you come to Jesus? Many people feel that way, but that's not what God says!
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 -KJV
For you to come to God you have to get rid of your sin problem. But God says that you can't make yourself right with God by being a better person. God wants to save you JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU!
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" Titus 3:5 -KJV
It's God's grace that allows you to come to Him - not your efforts to "clean up your life" or work your way to Heaven. You can't earn it. It's a free gift.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 -KJV
For you to come to God, your sin must be paid for. God's gift to you is His son, Jesus, who paid the debt for you.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 -KJV
Jesus paid the price for your sin and mine by giving His life on Calvary's cross. God brought Jesus back from the dead and paved the way for you to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus.
All that's left for you to do is to accept the gift that Jesus is holding out for you right now.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10 -KJV
God says that if you believe in His son, Jesus, you can live forever with Him in glory.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 -KJV
Are you ready to accept the gift of eternal life that Jesus is offering you right now? If it is your sincere desire to ask Jesus to come into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, then talk to God from your heart:
Here's a Suggested Prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to purchase a place in Heaven for me. Jesus, come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life."
______________
Additional resources:
Southern Baptist Convention
Tennessee Baptist Convention
Knox County Baptist Association
Midland Baptist Association
Listen to Sermons from Highland Baptist Knoxville
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day!
Happy Mother's day to all the moms out there. I hope you have a wonderful day. The NASCAR race was on last night so your son/husband has no excuse for sitting in front of the TV today. I thank the good Lord for the Godly mother and wife that I have. I can't imagine life without either of them.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Spring has sprung in Corryton
Ah, spring, I just love this time of year. The wife always puts flowers out in the yard and I go around tidying things up. The kids run through the green grass and pick dandelions. It's funny, we didn't plan it, but it has been exactly one year minus one day ago, that we planted flowers in the yard and I blogged about it. Below are a few pics I snapped while out in the front yard today.
btw... Corryton is pronounced: Cora-tun, not Corrington, or Car-ing-tun, or Car-ee-tun or Carton.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Bark, Bam, Thud, Squirrel zero, Tug one
Dust off your 20-gauge, and dig out your game bag, cause Spring squirrel season opens this Saturday! When I was a young man growing up here in Knox Co., I always looked forward to squirrel season. It was a time that I could go out into the woods, find a nice big Hickory tree to sit underneath, and wait for the fun to begin. I perfected my squirrel call and could bark, chatter, and squeal with the best of them. I used to love hearing the first squirrel bark of the day. I would peer around the woods, squinting through the sunlit branches until I spotted my prey. Then gingerly I would lift my shotgun, take perfect aim, pull back the hammer, squeeze the trigger, and BAM! Down the squirrel would fall with a loud THUD on the ground. I would always bag my limit when I went hunting. Of course being from a family of meager income, we often dined on squirrel; squirrel stew, dumplings, rice, etc... I remember dad hanging the the victims by their tails from the backyard clothesline in preparation for skinning. I would save their tails afterwards and tie them to my bicycle handlebars. I sure miss those days, however, I don't particularly miss eating squirrel!
Tennessee’s spring squirrel season will open 30 minutes before sunrise on Saturday, May 10, 2008. This year, the season will run through June 8, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Picking on the local TV news
Not really "picking" on them, just a little commentary from yours truly concerning the local TV news. Love em or hate em, they are all that we have got. There are 3 Knoxville news stations and if you want to watch local television news, you are going to have to watch one of them. Not only do we watch them on our television sets, we also click onto their websites, or at least I do...and often.
WBIR:
WVLT:
nothing against their news anchors or reporters, I think they are all excellent. Gene, Lori, Kristin, and Tearsa are top notch. In fact, I am surprised that a big market hasn't already snatched Tearsa Smith up. She is coming upon her 6th year at WATE. She is a star in her own right. I also enjoy many of WATE's new reporters, Shelby Baker and Ann Keil to name a couple. I guess it's WATE's whole in your face way of doing the news that chaps my hide. It reminds me of reading the front page of the Inquirer or Star while standing in line at the grocery store. No matter what kind of purty picture you put on the cover, I ain't buying it. Heads up, it will be here before you know it!
Just a friendly reminder. Mother's day is this coming Sunday, May 11th. Please don't forget about mom. Guys, that means the mother of your children too! ;)
Monday, May 5, 2008
Truth in advertising?
Toasty Crackers "rich 'n creamy peanut butter." I'm sorry Lance, but this borders on false advertising. I know times are tough right now and the cost of peanut butter has shot through the roof but good Lord, this is ridiculous! How about we just man-up and change the packaging to Toasty Crackers and peanut butter?
Crackers...Bon Appétit!Well hello, Iris!
A lovely bunch of ladies reside across the street from my house. They go by the name of Iris. They flaunt their stuff right out in the open for all the honest world to see. Unashamedly dancing about in the breeze, tempting and taunting, begging to be picked. Some get a little shady during the evening hours and try to hide their faces. But, rest assured, in short time they will be back strutting in the sunlight, teasing, and beckoning for attention.
The beautiful display of Iris's are on the roadside 
in front of my house. They are indeed lovely to look at, especially with the old gray barn looming in the background. House Mountain also makes a nice backdrop.
The Iris also just happens to be the Tennessee State Flower. Just one look at these splendid specimens answers the question as to why. To learn more facts and information about Tennessee, visit my website, Tennessee Trivia the Official Website.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Craig Edwards the New Music City Fox
If you have been missing Craig Edwards and wondering where he landed after leaving WVLT in Knoxville, well, wonder no more. He is now the new morning Meteorologist at WZTV Fox 17 in Nashville, TN. Read his new bio below:
Craig Edwards Morning News Meteorologist If Fox 17 Morning Meteorologist Craig Edwards looks familiar, you may have seen him on the Neyland Stadium jumbo-tron forecasting the weather for University of Tennessee football fans. Craig has made a long, roundtrip back to Nashville television and he's glad to be back in Music City. He knows the mid-state well.
He's a graduate from Middle Tennessee State University after attending David Lipscomb University and doing post-graduate work at Western Kentucky University.
Craig's career in television has been evenly split between Tennessee and Kentucky. From the Tri-cities to Chattanooga to Louisville, Knoxville and back to Nashville, Craig has been forecasting the weather for almost 30 years. He's experienced in forecasting severe weather and he's covered severe weather all across Tennessee and Kentucky. Craig is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the maintains the National Weather Association Seal of Approval. Craig and his wife, Liz, have three children among them, including one grandbaby! If you'd like to say hello to Craig, email him at cedwards@fox17.com.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
On the road with Carolina Road
What a beautiful day for a Bluegrass festival! Waking up to cloudless blue skies and warm weather just started things off right. I arrived at Jerry Butler’s place at the appointed 9:00 hour to board the Carolina Road tour bus. It would just be Jerry, myself, and fiddle player, Josh Goforth, making the trip to Chattanooga for the 18th Annual Boxcar Pinion Memorial Bluegrass Festival. The rest of the band would meet us there. We climbed aboard the 45-foot Prevost custom coach, and settled in for the ride.
The trip to Chattanooga went extremely smooth. Traffic was light and we only stopped one time and that was for breakfast. Jerry somehow managed to squeeze the bus into a very small and crowded parking lot at Bojangles, which left me both nervous and impressed. If you’ve ever tried to force 50-lbs of potatoes into a 25-lb sack, then you can imagine what was involved to pull this off. I enjoyed the trip, listening to Jerry and Josh talk about the ins and outs of living life on the road as Bluegrass musicians. Anyone that thinks these guys just live a life of fun and luxury is badly misinformed. There is a lot of time, hard work, and sacrifice involved in their kind of lifestyle; the fun stuff is just one of the few perks. I got to hear things about industry insiders that the average fan never gets to hear. I promised not to “tattle blog,” so you’re not going to read any dirt here. I did learn that the guys have a deep respect for the band’s owner, Lorraine Jordan, and I appreciated their devotion to her. I believe that is one thing that makes their band so successful.
Carolina Road had never played the Boxcar Pinion Festival before, so they didn’t know what to expect. We arrived at the Raccoon Mountain Campground about an hour and half before the band was scheduled to perform. The band’s new bass player, Gary Creed, and his girlfriend, Cindy, were already there and greeted us warmly. First on the list of things to do was unloading the product table and setting up the tent. The only issues here were battling some very windy conditions and making sure that everything was securely tied down. Mandolin player and band owner, Lorraine Jordan, and banjo picker, Ben Greene, arrived soon after we had finished setting up the table. They had flown in to Nashville and drove a rental to the event.
Probably my very favorite part of the whole trip was getting to sit in on the practice session before their stage performance. Fiddler, Josh Goforth, appeared to be the band’s music coordinator as he 
would call out songs, parts, and riffs for them to practice. Bassist, Gary Creed, being the newest band member, paid close attention to each part making certain that he had everything perfect. Of course Gary is professional and no stranger to bluegrass as he played several years for Randy Waller & the Country Gentlemen, as well as several other big name bands. Banjo player, Ben Greene, effortlessly plucked out his part on his 5-string, as Jerry Butler and Lorraine Jordan both joined in solidifying the band’s awesome sound. I could have left the festival at that point and been happy, as I was thoroughly entertained.
The first band on stage was Peanut Faircloth & Bluebird Special. Peanut Faircloth is well known throughout bluegrass and has been entertaining audiences for many years. He told lots of old stories and jokes, keeping the audience laughing. He was also the festival’s Emcee throughout the whole day and kept things running very smoothly and on time. Carolina Road was on next and they took to the stage and took over. If there was anyone in the audience that had never heard of the band, they left there that day as a huge fan. While all groups that performed did a fine job, Carolina Road was without a doubt the hot band of the day. They are not just a group of folks that went out and bought 
themselves some bluegrass instruments and decided to try and play, no sir, these people are talented professionals and in it for life. The only performance that I heard yesterday that was any better than their first set on stage, was their performance on the second set. From my front row seat in the grass just 10-feet from the stage, I felt like I was in Bluegrass Heaven. Speaking of Heaven, in my opinion Carolina Road’s gospel numbers are their best. Judging from the audience’s reaction, I was not alone in my thinking. Loud whooping, hollering, whistling, and clapping could be heard ringing from the hillside after each song was played. Fans will be delighted to know that Carolina Road has just finished an all-new Gospel CD and should be released within the next few weeks. I can’t wait to get my hands on that!
After the band’s performance, eager folks wanting to buy Carolina Road merchandise swamped their product table. Even though they had just performed a solid hour of hard-hitting bluegrass in very hot conditions, I watched as they warmly greeted each person, signed numerous autographs, and posed for pictures. Try finding that kind of hospitality in other genres of music. I’m positive that Carolina Road added many new folks to their long list of fans.
Like the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. I could have stayed on for many more hours but the time came that we had to pack things up and head back to Knoxville. It was a day that I’ll never forget and I deeply appreciate Jerry and the rest of the band for allowing me to tag along. I hope I wasn’t too much of a pest!
Below is the complete lineup of bands that performed yesterday:
Peanut Fairchild & Bluebird Special
Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road
The Mueller’s, a family group from Maine. They traveled over 1200 miles to perform at the festival.
Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen
Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press. Bobby is of course one of the famous Osborne Bros.
Bent Creek Bluegrass Band
Friday, May 2, 2008
Too pooped to post
I'm back from Chattanooga, where I was attending, Boxcar Pinion Memorial Bluegrass Festival, as a guest of Carolina Road. I am way too pooped to blog tonight. I took a bunch of good pictures and have lots of wonderful bluegrass news to report on. I'll post something tomorrow (if I can get out of bed). G'night.
No rest for the weary
Here I sit at 1:45 am with the computer in my lap, watching Snakes On A Plane on TV, and drinking coffee. Both of my eyes are twitching from lack of sleep and from staring at a computer screen for 24 hours a day. I was up till almost 3:00 last night watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I should be in bed right now. I took a vacation day from work tomorrow because I have big plans.
If you read my post a couple of weeks ago about the evening I spent with Bluegrass guy, Jerry Butler, then you will recall that I mentioned his offer to let me take a bus trip with the band sometime. Well, that time is tomorrow (err, today I mean)! I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. The band, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, is going to be performing at the Boxcar Pinion Memorial Bluegrass Festival tomorrow in Chattanooga. The bus is pulling out of Knoxville at 9:00 in the morning, which is less than 8-hours from now, and I'll be on board with the band!
Of course I plan on blogging about the entire trip and writing a review on the different groups that perform. Expect lots of pictures taken with my cheapo Kodak Easyshare too!
So, I'll sign off for now. I've got a few blogs to catch up on and some emails to take care of. I'll write more later on.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Bill Dunn gets er done...almost
State Representative, Bill Dunn, of Knoxville's 16th district, made history today. If you haven't watched the YouTube video yet, watch it.
Pandalirium broke out this morning in the Tennessee House of Representatives. After Dem. Majority Leader, Gory Odom, made a motion to bring up a vote on Senate joint resolution to allow Gov. Phil Bredesen to speak, Rep. Bill Dunn made a motion to amend Odom's motion that the House also take up the controversial abortion bill SJR 127.
SJR127 is a Senate Joint Resolution which would allow a statewide public vote on the question of abortion and tax payer funding in Tennessee. It passed the state senate in January by a vote of 24-9. Now, it must pass by a simple majority in the state House. You can read the bill HERE.
No sooner than Dunn made the motion, a clearly agitated, Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh, ruled him out of order. Dunn did not back down and challenged Naifeh's ruling. After much grumbling, Naifeh stepped down to allow members to vote on the challenge. Every single member of the Republican caucus, and five Democratic members, voted in Dunn's favor, thereby overruling Naifeh. This marked the first time that a Speaker of the House in Tennessee had lost a procedural vote on the full House floor. Ultimately, though, the eight Democrats and 43 Republicans who wanted to be able to debate and vote on the amendment were short of the two-thirds needed to get the amendment to the floor.
This is Bill Dunn at his finest. Although he is not my Representative here in the 19th district, he is one of the good guys. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of hosting Mr. Dunn and his wife at my church. They came and spoke about Pro-Life issues and the importance of teaching our young people the facts about abortion. Mr. Dunn clearly represents and reflects the beliefs of the majority of folks in the Knoxville area. I appreciate men like Mr. Dunn, who are willing to stand up for the sanctity of life and fight for what is morally right.
Read what a couple of other right thinking Knoxville area bloggers are saying about Dunn's bold stand:
The World According to Oatney
VOLuntarily Conservative
Uh, dad, it looks kind of creepy to me...
I don’t remember when Sharp’s Grocery finally shut the doors but it was a sad day in our neighborhood when it did. Now when you drive by the old dilapidated building, you would never know that it used to be a bustling little store where families like mine would spend most of their paycheck. It used to have "Sharp's Grocery" painted in red letters across the store front. Now it has been vandalized with graffiti spray painted on the outside. There also used to be the obligatory Coke sign hanging outside, a couple of gas pumps in the front, and a huge Gulf Oil sign standing in the corner of the parking lot. All of those are gone now and replaced with weeds and scraggly bushes. When I took these pictures I wanted so badly to clean the place up, slap a coat of paint on the walls and restore the sign overhead. Just so I could relive a moment of my childhood. My youngest daughter was with me when I snapped the pictures and she thought it looked "kind of creepy." Oh, if she only knew how it used to be. I suppose one day the old store will be torn down and probably replaced with apartments, condos, or a subdivision. I hope I'm not alive to see that day...this is an excerpt from a post that wrote on Tug's Life, you can read the entire post HERE.
Knoxville Celebs Born In the Month of May
Christina Hendricks, David Keith, and Dustin Colquitt are three Knoxville celebrities that were born in the month of May. Check out some other famous Tennesseans celebrating birthdays this month.
Rita Coolidge- Born May 1st, 1944 in Nashville, TN. Jazzy rock singer best known for her huge hit "Higher and Higher." Was married to Kris Kristofferson for 7 years.
Christina Hendricks- Born in Knoxville, TN on May 3rd, 1978. Actress that has starred in numerous television programs including, "Firefly," "Without A Trace," and "Cold Case."
Dustin Colquitt- Born May 6, 1982 in Knoxville, TN. Third round NFL draft pick by Kansas City Cheifs, plays in the Punter's position.
David Keith- Born in Knoxville, TN on May 8th, 1954. Actor, won a golden globe for his role in the 1982 film "An Officer and a Gentlemen." Keith recently finished filming two major motion pictures that are slated to be released soon, Boys of Summerville, and Clown Hunt. Can also be seen on the sidelines of many UT sporting events.
Doug Atkins- Born May 8, 1930, in Humboldt, TN. All-America tackle at University of Tennessee. Browns No. 1 draft pick, 1953. Ring-leader of powerful Bears defensive units for 12 years. Exceptionally strong, agile, earned legendary acclaim as devastating pass rusher. Often leap-frogged blockers to get at passer. Scrimmage-line regular for then-record 17 years, 205 games. All-NFL four years. Played in eight Pro Bowls.
Eddie Arnold- Born May 15, 1918 in Henderson, TN. Country singer known for his smooth sounding love songs. Nicknamed the Tennessee Plowboy. Is in the number 2 position for number of individual hits on the country charts with 145 charted songs.
Ginnifer Goodwin- Born May 22, 1978 in Memphis, TN. Beautiful actress known for her performances in several movies including "Walk the Line," "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton," "Mona Lisa Smile," and "Porn 'n Chicken."
Dixie Carter- Born May 25th, 1939 in McLemoresville, TN. Sultry southern actress best known for her role as "Julia Sugarbaker" on the hit television series "Designing Women." Married to actor Hal Holbrook.
Lindsey Nelson- Born in Campbellsville, TN on May 25, 1919, Died June 10, 1995. Nationally famous sportscaster. Began Vol Network, announced 25 Cotton Bowl games for CBS; longtime voice of Notre Dame football on the nationally distributed Notre Dame playback; first voice of NY Mets. Won prestigious Frick awards from Baseball Hall of Fame. University of Tennessee baseball stadium is named for him.
Sondra Locke- Born May 28, 1947 in Shelbyville, TN. Actress best known for her co-starring roles in six different Clint Eastwood films, Any Which Way You Can, Bronco Billy, Every Which Way But Loose, The Gauntlet, The Outlaw Josey Wales, and Sudden Impact.
Johnny Majors- Born May 31, 1935 in Lynchburg, TN. Head coach of the University of Tennessee for 16 years. Was runner up for the 1956 Heisman Trophy. Inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
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For the largest list of famous Tennesseans on the entire web, visit the Famous Tennesseans page on my main website, Tennessee Trivia the Official Website.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Saying Goodbye to an old friend
Charlie Bowman gave me my very first haircut. I was 2-years old and had a head full of long curly red hair. My mother took me to get it cut. Poor old Charlie didn’t know what he was getting into when I walked through the door. I don’t remember any of this but my mother tells me that I was madder than a hornet. Apparently I was opposed to getting a haircut and did everything in my power to put a stop to it. According to mom I led everyone in a chase around the barbershop. I was yelling and screaming like a wild Indian while several adults ran after me. I was finally caught and was physically restrained in the barber chair for the entire haircut. Charlie was at his wits end by the time it was all over and probably wishing that he’d called in sick that day. Mom says that we went to the laundry mat afterwards and I refused to come in the building or talk to anyone. I just sat outside with a mad look on my face and my arms crossed in anger... this is an excerpt of a post that I wrote over on Tug's Life. If you are interested, you can click on over and read all of it.