Commission approves River Sports lease renewal for the Cove

River Sports Outfitters will  keep its location at the Cove in Concord Park.

Knox County leaders approved a 10-year lease renewal for the business during Monday evening's commission meeting.

Some community members spoke against the renewal because of trash and building conditions. They also claimed taxpayer money is being used to pay for repairs to the facility.

River Sports Outfitters owner Ed McCalister told the commission that's not the case and that he's followed the rules.

The commission signed off on the proposal in a 10-1 vote with only Commissioner John Schoonmaker dissenting.

"The Cove at Concord Park is our premiere park in Knox County. We want everybody to come there and use it,"  Schoonmaker said. "But if there's questions regarding the…a vendor that's providing services to our citizens, I think that's important."

The park will post a sign at the Cove to let people know how they can share feedback on the lease and the location.

5th District commish, BOE candidates featured on WBIR 'Inside Tennessee'

On Sunday, we had the 5th District candidates running for Knox County Commission (John Schooner, incumbent and Republican, and Sheri Ridgeway, Democrat) and the non-partisan school board (Susan Horn and Buddy Pelot) featured on Inside Tennessee.

You can find the links to the discussions right HERE.

Next Sunday, we'll feature a special hour-long show and include more commission races.

Bridge dedicated in veteran's memory

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, Commissioner John Schoonmaker and others will formally dedicate the one-lane bridge on Coward Mill Road over Beaver Creek in memory of the late Donald Caldwell.

The event will take place today at 1 p.m. at Ben Atchley State Veterans’ Home Parking Lot
9910 Coward Mill Road.

Caldwell was active in the Karns and Hardin Valley area, and worked to preserve the bridge that is now being dedicated in his memory. Members of his family will also be in attendance.

For the safety of participants and attendees, the bridge dedication program will be held on Ben Atchley State Veterans’ Home property located near the bridge. Members of his family will also be in attendance.

 

In the late 1980s, Caldwell and others organized an effort to preserve the historic bridge, one of only five in the state, and it remains in use today. He also helped pioneer the effort to plant daffodils and redbud trees along Pellissippi Parkway.

 

In addition to serving his community, Caldwell was an Air Force veteran who served in the Korean War, prior to moving to Knoxville to work for the Knoxville Utilities Board.

He passed away in May 2014 at the age of 84.

Schoonmaker to serve on commission

John Schoonmaker

The Knox County Commission on Monday picked John Schoonmaker, a sales representative and former vice chair of the local board of zoning appeals, to serve as the board's 5^th District representative.

Schoonmaker, 60, replaces Richard Briggs, who stepped down last fall after winning the 7^th District state Senate seat. He will hold the commission seat until the term expires at the end of August 2016.

The 5^th District consists of the southwest corner of Knox County and includes Farragut and Concord.

The commission unanimously picked Schoonmaker from a pool of seven candidates who interviewed during a specially called public meeting Monday at the City County Building.

For the rest of the story, click RIGHT SMACK HERE.