SW Day: May the Fourth be with You

So, everyone who reads this blog should know by now that I occasionally drop a few Star Wars references. Sometimes a lot of them. Well, today – May 4 – is Star Wars Day, the unofficial holiday created by the fans to celebrate the franchise.

And in that spirit, I’m gonna have a little fun. Think of this as one of those “switched at birth” segments.

Don’t take this too seriously. I didn’t. Heh.

Let’s start it off. We all know that the City County Building is really the Death Star. So, here ya go:

 And who runs – sort of – at least one side of the City County Building? Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett does.

Of course, Chewie has a partner. So, I guess that means the Man with the Badge is really Han Solo.

Or is Craig Leuthold really Han Solo?

Wait, wait, wait! Maybe Craig is really JJ in disguise? Heh.

OK, maybe that one didn’t work. Let’s find a better comparison. What about the Emperor and Burchett’s chief of staff?

“Goooooood.” All that’s missing now is a white cat to stroke.

Actually, I liked this one so much, I did two of ‘em.

Course this saga needs a hero. And who does Burchett call to crunch numbers? Well, none other than the Casual One, Chris Caldwell. Give that man a lightsaber, folks!

‘Course you can’t have Star Wars without Princess Leia. And, yes, I’m trying to score points.

And since, we’ve got Leia, we’ve got to have Leia’s mom. Here’ss Jennifer Linginfelter as Padme (which, now that I think about it, means she’s Rogero’s mom. I probably should have thought this through a little better.)

Anyhoo, moving along.  Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond might not be 900 years old, but I betcha he’s got a few Jedi mind tricks up his sleeve.

Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include Lando in this little shindig. Cause he’s got the ‘stache!

How about another one?

 And, if you got a ‘stache, then you have to include a beard. Obi-Wan Kenobi fits that bill.

Now in Star Wars, Han Solo had a penchant for calling C3-PO the “professor.” Not sure it’s apropos to Superintendent Jim McIntyre since he’s had about a week’s worth of classroom experience, but, hey, Superintendent C-3PO has a nice ring to it.

Anyhoo, the tall golden robot, er, android, can’t go anywhere without his counterpart, the good R2-D2. So, without further ado:

OK, OK, that’s not very fair. Michael Grider doesn’t really hang much with McIntyre. He’s more of a Burchett guy. ‘Cause, you know, he does work for him. And since Burchett is actually Chewbacca, that would mean that mini-Burchett would be more like Wicket, the scout warrior, Ewok.

Heh.

Finally, we get to the Sandman, lurking around raising cane. Heh.

I’m out. And May the Fourth be with you (I can’t believe I actually said that.)

Mayor Burchett to go creek wading

Ah, I yearn for the days when county communications manager-of-two Michael “Big Sexy” Grider did NOT flood my email inbox with “friendly reminders' tied to whatever the heck Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett is doing.

Heh.

Now? Well now, Jennifer “da Kid” Lightning-something-or-other sends them.

Rambling a bit here.

Anyhoo, tomorrow the mayor will wade into Beaver Creek as part of a "fish assessment activity" during a “Families in the Creek” event.

No, really. That's what the email said, although it spins it as “an educational opportunity for families to explore a local creek and learn about water quality issues.”

I figure that, really, the mayor just got himself a waterproof metal detector and he wants to try it out.

The event, also hosted by the county's stormwater management and par and rec departments in conjunction with the Beaver Creek Task Force, is set for 10 a.m. at the Halls Grenway behind Food City, 7114 Maynardville Pike.

Local leaders turn out for bocce ball

County Mayor Burchett

As noted, Knox County Mayor Tim “one day I'm gonna catch you, Bigfoot” Burchett and a number of other elected officials participated in an in inaugural game of bocce ball (whatever that is) this morning at Strickland Park off Asheville Highway.

It's apparently the first public bocce ball (whatever that is) court in Knox County, and is officially opening just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend.

The event also included CEMEX representatives who adopted the park and members of the community.

Michael “Big Sexy” Grider's assistant, Jennifer “Lightning” Linginfelter, took some pics and sent them my way, so I figured I'd share.

Knoxville Councilman and former Mayor Dan Brown

Knox County Commissioner Ed Shouse

Knoxville Councilman Nick Della Volpe

Former county Commissioner Tank Strickland

Family 'creek' event set for May 18

The county and the Beaver Creek Task Force will host "Families in the Creek," some kind of educational thing for folks to explore a local creek or something, according to Michael "Big Sexy" Grider's new staffer, Jennifer "da Kid" Linginfelter.

The event doesn't take place until May 18, so I'm betting that Mrs. Linginfelter will flood my email inbox with such reminders. Anyhoo, it runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Halls Greenway. County Mayor Tim "Bigfoot" Burchett plans to attend.

The shindig is free, but limited to the first 40 people who register. Children must be age 7 or older to hang out. Equipment, waders and lunch will be provided.

You can read the whole spin thing right smack here.