Knoxville City Council last week supported Mayor Indya Kincannon’s range of proposals for investing in neighborhood amenities, ongoing Tennessee River cleanups, and home weatherization and accessibility upgrades.

Suttree Landing Park playground

City Council authorized Mayor Kincannon’s administration to execute an agreement with Playworld Preferred for up to $128,626 to replace the 10-year-old lovingly worn surface of Suttree Landing Park’s playground.

The new red, blue and beige rubber surfacing will be as colorful and inviting as the original.

New roof for the L.T. Ross Building

Council authorized amending the contract with Henley Roofing Co. for a 20-year new roof for the community gathering space.

The new contract, totaling almost $842,000, was increased to cover additional repairs to the parapet wall and roof decking.

A cleaner Tennessee River

Council opted to continue a long-standing $60,000 annual contract with Ijams Nature Center to remove trash, debris and harmful materials from the Tennessee River.

Ijams’ daily monitoring of the mouths of First, Second and Third creeks and corresponding trash and debris pickups total about 1,500 hours of labor a year, while Ijams’ River Rescue coordinates hundreds of volunteers who remove an average of 9 tons of debris and hundreds of tires from the river.

Home weatherization

City Council OKed the administration’s proposal to pay SEEED $25,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to weatherize about 20 homes serving low-income families.

Accessible Homes, Stable Futures

Another $144,000 in CDBG funds will support the non-profit Family Investment Foundation, a part of Knoxville’s Community Development Corp., and the Accessible Homes, Stable Futures program.

The money goes toward accessibility modifications to KCDC apartments – wheelchair ramps and roll-in showers, as examples.

The Halls Republican Club will meet Tuesday, Aug 11, 2026, at the Boys and Girls Club, 1819 Dry Gap Pike, 37918, just off East Emory Rd. As usual, there will be a Meet-and-Greet at 6:05 p.m. with snacks and fellowship, followed by the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Thanks for supporting Knox County and our Country. We are experiencing an increase in interest and attendance. Invite your friends & neighbors and encourage them to participate in their government.

We always need people to help set out chairs, etc. We could really use more door prizes from individuals/businesses. It’s ok to advertise your business!

Our featured speaker will be state Representative Dave Wright of the Tennessee House, District 19.

Adam Thompson, Knox County Commissioner, District 8, which covers parts of Halls & Corryton, will also update us on the current County Commission and its hopes and plans for the future of Knox County.

We hope to hear from some of Thursday’s election winners as well.

Special note: Condolences to Michele Carringer and Family due to the recent death of her mother, Irene McCrary, a lifelong Republican and a very special person.

Make plans to attend this meeting. You don’t really need to be a member to attend, but we would love to have you join. And if you haven’t done so, now is the time to renew your membership— only $ 5.00 for Veterans, $10 per person and $15 for a couple. Hope to see you there.

His wife relayed the sad news online.

Brown, in his later years, had some health problems but appeared at meetings to speak on various issues, especially about South Knox County.

Known for his leadership, wisdom and humor, Brown will be missed by the entire region.

Arrangements are being made for final services. RIP, Commissioner Brown.

Visit Marble Springs State Historic Site on Friday, August 21, at 6:30 PM for the first lecture in the Historic House Museums of Knoxville’s America 250 Lecture Series. This free public program commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States by exploring the people and events that shaped our nation’s early history.

Guests are invited to arrive early to enjoy free Andy’s Frozen Custard before the lecture begins. Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Award-winning historian Dr. Jim Piecuch will present “The Lost State of Franklin,” a look at the ambitious attempt to establish a new state in what is now East Tennessee following the American Revolution. The lecture will examine the people, motivations, and conflicts surrounding the movement, including the influential role of frontier leader John Sevier and the individuals who believed Franklin should become America’s 14th state.

Jim Piecuch earned B.A. and M.A. degrees at the University of New Hampshire and a Ph.D. in history from the College of William & Mary in Virginia. He is a former professor of history and the author of several books including South Carolina Provincials: Loyalists in British Service during the American Revolution; Seven Myths of the American Revolution; Three Peoples, One King: Loyalists, Indians, and Slaves in the Revolutionary South; biographies of Revolutionary officers John Eager Howard and Henry Lee, and Cavalry in the American Revolution. He has also published numerous articles and book chapters on colonial and Revolutionary history and worked as an editor on several historical encyclopedias. In 2025 he was awarded the Order of the Palmetto for his contributions to the study of South Carolina’s history.

This project was supported in part by the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial.

Marble Springs State Historic Site is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Historical Commission.

KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on James White Parkway (State Route 158) and I-40 in Knox County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a significant impact on traffic.

Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 7, James White Parkway will be closed to southbound traffic as bridge repairs are performed. Motorists can bypass the work zone by using Alcoa Highway (US 129/SR 115) or Hall of Fame Drive. This closure will be in place until 6 a.m. on Monday, August 10.

The following ramps will be closed during these James White Parkway bridge repair activities:

• Baxter Avenue to I-275 South
• I-275 South to I-40 East
• Henley Street to I-40 East
• I-40 East to James White Parkway south (Exit 388A)
• I-40 West to James White Parkway south (Exit 388A)

This is the first of four consecutive weekends of James White Parkway closures. Closures for southbound traffic will take place August 7-10, and August 14-17, and closures for northbound traffic will occur August 21-24 and August 28-31.

Single-lane closures are also possible on weeknights throughout this bridge repair project. This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Should any of this work require rescheduling, it will not take place during a Tennessee football home game weekend.

Motorists are advised to use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

By Mike Steely

Yes, normally general elections are on a Tuesday, but this year the Knox County General Election is on Thursday, August 6. Unlike early voting, which ended August 1, voters must vote on Thursday at their assigned precinct location.

“Early voting has gone very well; in fact, turnout was up over 20% from the same election eight years ago,” Chris Davis, Administrator of Elections, said, adding, “I anticipate a brisk election day and am hoping for good weather and no strong storms or power outages.”

Tennessee is not a state that requires political party registration, so voters may choose either the Republican or Democratic ballot for the state or federal primary.

From the Knox County Election Commission:

Absentee Ballot Information and Important Reminders Before Voters Head to the Polls

NOTE: This election is on a Thursday. As Knox Countians head to the polls on Thursday, the Election Commission wants to issue a few reminders.

 PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A PRIMARY ELECTION, BUT ALL VOTERS WILL GET TO VOTE A COUNTY GENERAL BALLOT.

 VOTERS WHO VOTE AT A SCHOOL: If you vote at a Knox County school on Election Day, please note that many schools will be having in-service for their teachers, and parking may be a challenge during school hours. Make plans accordingly and consider voting after normal school hours so you do not have parking issues.

ABSENTEE BY MAIL BALLOTS

For voters who have received their ballot by mail, but fear that they won’t be able to mail the ballot in before the close of polls on Thursday, the voter can take their ballot to either:

Downtown Post Office’s front counter

501 West Main Street

Knoxville, 37902

or

Weisgarber Road Post Office’s front counter

1237 Weisgarber Road

Knoxville, 37950

By 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 6, 2026 and have the ballot hand-stamped with postage at the front counter.

The Election Commission will proceed to pick up any ballots that are received by the USPS at both locations in the late afternoon.

TIMES FOR VOTING AND PHOTO IDENTIFICATION

POLLS ARE OPEN ON THURSDAY FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM. Any voter in line by 8 p.m. gets to vote.

A photo ID issued by the State of Tennessee (such as a driver’s license) or the Federal Government (such as a passport) is required to vote, unless an exemption applies. Election workers are trained to ask for your photo identification prior to issuing a ballot. Driver licenses from other states are not acceptable forms of ID for voting in Tennessee.

NEW POLLING PLACES

This is the second election IN 2026 with new polling places for some voters. For voters in five (5) precincts across Knox County, their polling place has changed from 2024:

• PRECINCT 61E – FAITHWAY BAPTIST CHURCH, 4402 Crippen Road, Knoxville, 37918

(These voters previously voted at Halls High School through 2024)

PLEASE NOTE: Voters in Precincts 60 and 61W WILL REMAIN at Halls High School.

• PRECINCT 63 – KARNS HIGH SCHOOL, 2710 Byington Solway Road, Knoxville, 37931

(These voters previously voted at Karns Elementary School through 2024)

PLEASE NOTE: Voters in Precinct 63N WILL REMAIN at Karns Elementary School.

• PRECINCT 66SE – KOREAN CHURCH OF KNOXVILLE, 108 Farlow Drive, Knoxville, 37934

(These voters previously voted at Farragut High School through 2024)

PLEASE NOTE: Voters in Precinct 66SW WILL REMAIN at Farragut High School.

• PRECINCT 68 – ELECTION COMMISSION – DOWNTOWN WEST, 1645 Downtown West Blvd., Unit 40, 37919 (These voters previously voted at Cedar Bluff Middle School through 2024)

PLEASE NOTE: Voters in Precinct 67 WILL REMAIN at Cedar Bluff Middle School.

• PRECINCT 77 is no longer a Precinct. It has merged with Precinct 78 and its voters will vote at MARBLEDALE BAPTIST CHURCH, 5935 Thorn Grove Pike, 37924.

PLEASE NOTE: This replaces Asbury United Methodist Church, which is no longer a polling place.

These new locations for 2026:

• PRECINCT 61E – FAITHWAY BAPTIST CHURCH, 4402 Crippen Road, Knoxville, 37918
• PRECINCT 63 – KARNS HIGH SCHOOL, 2710 Byington Solway Road, Knoxville, 37931
• PRECINCT 66SE – KOREAN CHURCH OF KNOXVILLE, 108 Farlow Drive, Knoxville, 37934
• PRECINCT 68 – ELECTION COMMISSION – DOWNTOWN WEST, 1645 Downtown West Blvd., Unit 40, 37919
• PRECINCT 78 (Merged with Precinct 77) – MARBLEDALE BAPTIST CHURCH, 5935 Thorn Grove Pike, 37924

will be open on Election Day, Thursday, August 6, 2026. Voters must vote at their assigned precinct on Election Day.

WHERE DO I VOTE?

On Election Day, voters must vote at their assigned precinct. For voters that are unsure where they vote, they can visit www.knoxvotes.org and click on the “Where Do I Vote?” box on the front page and enter their residential address. The website will match the voter’s address with the correct polling place.

A list of all Election Day polling places can be found here: https://knoxcounty.org/election/pdfs/polling_locations.pdf

For more information on elections in Knox County, visit www.knoxvotes.org

Many parents assume that if they share custody of their child equally—meaning each parent has the child half of the time—then no one will owe child support. That sounds logical, right? If both parents have the child the same amount of time, then both are doing their fair share.

But in Tennessee, a 50/50 parenting plan does not automatically eliminate child support obligations. That might come as a surprise, and it often does to parents going through custody cases.

In Tennessee, parenting time is typically laid out in a Permanent Parenting Plan. This plan sets the schedule and assigns “days” to each parent, which the court refers to as “days of residential parenting time”—not hours. So, if the child sleeps overnight at a parent’s house, that usually counts as a day. A 50/50 split generally means each parent has the child for 182.5 days out of the year.

Child support in Tennessee is not determined by parenting time alone. The state uses a formula-based system called the Income Shares Model, which considers the gross monthly income of both parents, the number of overnight days each parent has, the cost of health insurance premiums and work-related childcare, and whether either parent is supporting other children.

Even in a 50/50 arrangement, if one parent earns significantly more than the other, the higher-earning parent may still owe child support to the other parent. This is because Tennessee law assumes that children are entitled to benefit from the financial resources of both parents—not just the time spent with them.

Let’s say Parent A makes $90,000 a year and Parent B makes $35,000. Even with an exactly equal parenting schedule, the child’s standard of living would be very different between households if support were not adjusted. In that situation, Parent A may still be ordered to pay child support to Parent B to balance out the financial support the child receives.

If both parents make roughly the same income and the parenting time is truly 50/50, then child support may be minimal or even zero. But this is the exception, not the rule. And remember: even a small income difference can lead to a support obligation.

Do not assume that equal parenting time means zero child support. In Tennessee, child support is based on more than just time—it is about income, expenses, and ensuring the child’s needs are met in both homes. If you are considering a 50/50 parenting plan or think your current child support amount is unfair based on how much time you have with your child, speak with an attorney. A legal review of your situation using the state’s child support worksheet can help determine what is fair and lawful.

Jedidiah McKeehan is an attorney practicing in Knox County and surrounding counties. He works in many areas, including family law, criminal, and personal injury. Visit attorney-knoxville.com for more information about this legal issue and other legal issues.

One positive aspect about being retired and older is that a person has plenty of time to think about all sorts of things. Just the other day, I thought of Milton Nelson, the choir director in high school. He’s still alive and kicking, so I gave him a call. For an hour we caught up after 50-plus years.

Lately, I’ve also been thinking about the good things in my life over the years. Sitting on a mower at 5:30 a.m. on a golf course lends itself to that kind of reflection. What my mind has tried to figure out is what is the happiest moment of my life. So many things came to mind, and all of them appeared in my thoughts with the same vividness of the time they occurred. Anyone who wants to stop reading at this point can do so because the list might be a bit boring.

One Christmas, Jim and I received bikes from Santa Claus. They were used, but Daddy had them cleaned up and painted. That Christmas was a wet one, so Jim and I mastered riding our bikes in tight circles around the basement.

A birthday when we were maybe in eighth grade was special. Our gifts were new baseball gloves, and we spent hundreds of hours throwing baseball in the yard and using the gloves in summer games.

High school was filled with happy moments. Band trips, choir trips, and football games all made life good. Of course, the music of the mid-60’s and early 70’s still brings smiles.  During those years, Karns had a good sports program, and that made cheering for our basketball team and snarling at the other schools’ fans more fun.

I’d be less than honest if I failed to admit that girlfriends made times happy during high school. I never understood why Carolyn Forsythe went out with me, but I sure understand her breaking up with me after I’d managed to tangle her long, straight hair with a piece of gum during a slow dance at a sock hop. Neither did I ever figure out why Anda Inman went with me for a few months during my junior year. I know she could do much better, and she did, but the fun we had was something that still is a good memory.

Two of the happiest moments of my life came when Lacey and Dallas were born. I wasn’t a particularly good dad, but no man ever loved his children more than I did. Listening to Lacey play the French horn and watching Dallas play baseball filled my “happy cup” to overflowing. Lacey’s wedding was a perfect event on a perfect day. Dallas’ moving back to Knoxville after fifteen years was a joyful surprise. Grandson Madden’s arrival just added to the good times of life, and learning that the boy will attend UTK and be closer to us almost makes not smiling impossible.

Yes, when I think of my life and the happy moments that have occurred, I know that I am one lucky person. I owe the people who have touched my life and brought joy my warmest thanks. With that said, I know the happiest moment of my life, the one point in time when my entire life changed.

I took Amy out after the minister at the church we both attended goaded me into calling her. I’d had only two dates in college. Earlier girlfriends had made me gun-shy, and I sure didn’t want to be dumped again. To my surprise, Amy accepted my date request. We attended a night football game at Tennessee Tech, and then I don’t remember where we went.

I took Amy home and walked her to the door. Unsure what to do, I panicked. Then I leaned in to kiss this gorgeous person, and she leaned toward me. The happiest moment in my life happened with that kiss. I know it sounds ridiculous, but immediately I knew that Amy was the “one.”  Love-at-first-kiss floored me. That happened in 1973. For some reason only God and Amy know, she’s still here, my best friend, my love, and my wife.

Sometime before long, take a bit of time to discover what the happiest moment of your life has been. It might change over the years, or like me, it might be one moment from another century. As those times come up, they will put a smile on your face, and you will realize that this life really is one filled with happiness.

One of my favorite stories has been told for generations. A renowned professional orator was once invited to perform before a distinguished audience. His voice was powerful, his articulation flawless, and his delivery captivating. At the request of someone from the audience, he was asked to recite the Twenty-Third Psalm. With remarkable skill, he began: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want…” Every pause was perfectly timed. Every inflection stirred emotion. By the time he reached the final line, the audience sat mesmerized and stood to an ovation that thundered through the room. The orator smiled graciously and then noticed an elderly country pastor sitting quietly near the front. Turning toward him, he said, “Would you honor us by reciting the same psalm?” The humble pastor stood. His voice was neither polished nor commanding. He stumbled over a word or two, paused longer than expected, and lacked every bit of the orator’s eloquence. Yet when he finished, something remarkable happened. There was no applause. Instead, tears streamed down faces throughout the room. A hush settled over the audience before people slowly stood in quiet reverence. The professional orator leaned over to the pastor and said, “I know the difference. I know the Psalm, but you know the Shepherd.”

Whether that story happened exactly as it has been passed down through the years is impossible to verify, but the lesson could not be more biblical. There is a world of difference between knowing the words of Scripture and knowing the Author. Many people can quote Psalm 23. They can finish the verses from memory. They know where to pause and where to emphasize the familiar phrases. They know the promises of green pastures, the settling of still waters, and the blessing of overflowing cups. Yet tragically, some know the Psalm without ever truly knowing the Shepherd who inspired it.

David did not write Psalm 23 as poetry collected from a textbook. He wrote it from experience. He had walked through the valleys. He had spent lonely nights under open skies. He had faced lions, bears, giants, betrayal, and even personal failure. Through every season, one truth remained constant: “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Notice that little word my. The beauty of Psalm 23 is not merely that God is “A” Shepherd. It is that He becomes “MY” Shepherd through a personal relationship. Christianity has never been about admiring Jesus from a distance or simply agreeing with biblical truths. It has always been about personally knowing Him.

Jesus Himself declared, “I am the good shepherd … and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14). Notice the intimacy of those words. He knows us, and we know Him. This is a reciprocal relationship. The Christian life is not sustained by religious routine alone. Church attendance is important. Bible knowledge matters. Worship is essential. But these spiritual disciplines were never meant to substitute for personally walking daily with Christ.

A person may know every verse of Psalm 23 and still miss the Shepherd who lovingly leads beside still waters, restores weary souls, and faithfully walks through life’s darkest valleys.

The greatest confidence a believer possesses is not merely that difficult days will never come, but that the Shepherd never leaves when they do. Perhaps the better question isn’t, “Can you quote Psalm 23?” Instead, ask yourself, “Do I know the Shepherd?” Because when the Shepherd is yours, His peace becomes yours. His guidance becomes yours. His protection becomes yours. His presence becomes yours. And one day, His house will become yours forever. May we never be satisfied with simply knowing the Psalm. May we pursue a vibrant, personal relationship with the Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep and still lovingly leads them every single day.