I’ve been writing for sport and name recognition since sixth grade or so. You might think I’d improve with time, but I was just as good then as now. Sarah Simpson (for whom the teachers learning center was named) was my English teacher two of three years at Halls High School. She found no humor or irony in my critiques of the Latin/geometry teacher or the pompous school administration. Red slashes bloodied my offerings. And I kept writing.
continued...
I applied three times to work at the old Knoxville Journal:
- Guy Lincoln Smith Jr., legendary editor, said he needed someone older than 16. “But I got here as soon as I could drive!”
- Dick Evans, interim after Smith died, said the paper already had a woman. “We have to hire reporters we can send to hotels at night to interview visiting dignitaries,” was the gist of his rejection.
- Bill Childress, young new editor, hired me on the spot after throwing a pile of press releases my way that I quickly typed into crisp summaries written like every other story in the Journal. And why not? I had been practicing since sixth grade.
Doug Price (Journal photographer who went on to found Knoxville Printers, Bargain Mart and HP Videos) and I bought the Shopper in 1971. I sold it to E.W. Scripps in 2005. Fired by Gannett in 2017, I started KnoxTNToday.com. And I sold it to Susan Espiritu in mid-2024. I’m under contract to compile obituary links and community news for KTT, but Susan doesn’t want political opinions. Since that’s sort of what I do, I emailed Bubba. And for the grand ol’ sum of $zero$, I’m in.
This is no time to be silent. Think I’ll keep writing.
Topics:
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Discussing:
- Earthquake!!! (1 reply)
- U.S. attorney general credits Trump with saving your life (1 reply)
- The crazy administration (3 replies)
- ‘CBS will purr like a Fox’ (3 replies)
- Nick McBride challenges Justin Biggs (2 replies)
- Top 10 Knoxville intersections with the highest number of collision calls in 2024 (1 reply)
- Hear Mark Carney’s message to Trump after stunning election win (1 reply)
- Repair work begins on Gay Street Bridge to restore pedestrian access (1 reply)
- New images could change cancer diagnostics, but ICE detained the Harvard scientist who analyzes them (1 reply)
- A 50501 day of protest, Saturday, April 19, 2025 (3 replies)
- Downtown Knoxville parking requires smartphone and credit? (4 replies)
- Wonder what Kane thinks? (3 replies)
TN Progressive
- A friend sent this: From Captain McElwee's Tall Tales of Roane County (RoaneViews)
- The Meidas Touch (RoaneViews)
- Massive Security Breach Analysis (RoaneViews)
- What Trae Said! (RoaneViews)
- (Whitescreek Journal)
- Lee's Fried Chicken in Alcoa closed (BlountViews)
- Alcoa, Hall Rd. Corridor Study meeting, July 30, 2024 (BlountViews)
- My choices in the August election (Left Wing Cracker)
- July 4, 2024 - aka The Twilight Zone (Joe Powell)
- Chef steals food to serve at restaurant? (BlountViews)
- Blount County, TDOT make road deal for gun mfg ignoring town of Louisville,TN, (BlountViews)
- Winter at the Big Rocks (Whitescreek Journal)
TN Politics
- Report: Under proposed higher FEMA threshold, recovery would cost TN $468M more from 2008-2024 (TN Lookout)
- Anti-hemp measure deprives Tennesseans with chronic pain of relief (TN Lookout)
- U.S. House Republican plan would force states to pay for a portion of SNAP benefits (TN Lookout)
- States are telling sheriffs whether they can — or can’t — work with ICE (TN Lookout)
- Amid protests and Democratic pushback, U.S. House GOP launches work on Medicaid cuts (TN Lookout)
- Defense claims Casada, Cothren broke no laws (TN Lookout)
Knox TN Today
- Meet the Author at the Children’s Festival of Reading (Knox TN Today)
- Crapper Hattie goes to Dream Night at the Zoo (Knox TN Today)
- HEADLINES 5/14: Penn State closures to mayoral candidate (Knox TN Today)
- Thank God for Ivan (Knox TN Today)
- Bearden soccer erupts offensively in District 4-AAA championship win over HVA (Knox TN Today)
- GCA singers win Gold Superior Ratings (Knox TN Today)
- Tennessee Theatre ‘Marquee Awards’ celebrate high school musical theater (Knox TN Today)
- South-Doyle HOSA students win PSA contest (Knox TN Today)
- Realtor provides miracle for Holston teacher (Knox TN Today)
- Pellissippi hosts child sexual abuse prevention training (Knox TN Today)
- FHS gets two new head coaches (Knox TN Today)
- Spring sports in the final acts of the season (Knox TN Today)
Local TV News
- Water main break causes lane closure on Clinton Highway (WATE)
- Student-built plane takes flight in Greeneville (WATE)
- Overturned tractor trailer on I-40 near Strawberry Plains (WATE)
- Knoxville City Council approves violence reduction contract with California-based group (WATE)
- Woman facing attempted murder charge after shooting in Crossville (WATE)
- Father of accuser in case of teacher charged with rape speaks out on victim advocacy (WATE)
- KPD: West High School teacher indicted on multiple aggravated statutory rape charges (WBIR)
- Knox Co. Mayor announces project to build 'tiny home village' for homeless veterans (WBIR)
- 'Sweet, brave girl' | Surviving dog from suspected animal cruelty case in Knoxville finds her forever home (WBIR)
- Blount County students receive grants, scholarships to pursue careers in construction (WBIR)
- Victim's widow, bar patron sue The Pint House after deadly 2024 shooting (WBIR)
- Dolly Parton's water park vision flowed into reality with 'Splash Country' (WBIR)
News Sentinel
State News
- Janis Wilson Strunk Obituary - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Nancy Davis Foster Obituary - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- IT security director put on leave after talking to Chattanooga council - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Restaurant Scene: Chef sought for new Chattanooga Theatre Centre build-out - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
Wire Reports
- Republicans Raise Concerns Over Trump’s Plane Gift as He Heads to Qatar - WSJ (US News)
- Video podcasts are having a moment at media upfronts - CNBC (Business)
- Andrew Witty, UnitedHealth Group C.E.O., Steps Down - The New York Times (Business)
- House tax writers advance GOP bill after marathon, contentious hearing - Politico (US News)
- Futures: S&P 500 Turns Positive; What To Do Now - Investor's Business Daily (Business)
- Rivian and VW's new $22,500 car proves cheap EVs don't have to be low-tech, the Tesla rival's software boss says - Business Insider (Business)
- Nvidia and AMD partner with Humain to develop AI data centres - Yahoo Finance (Business)
- Here's what Wall Street's biggest bull is saying now. - MarketWatch (Business)
- Dramatic details emerge after climber survives 400-foot fall that killed 3 friends in Washington state - CBS News (US News)
- Cyril Ramaphosa says Afrikaners 'running away' from South Africa to US are 'cowards' - BBC (US News)
- What we know about the Menendez brothers’ resentencing and what happens next - CNN (US News)
- U.S. egg prices fall for the first time in months but remain near record highs - NPR (Business)
- Floods force evacuation of elementary schools in northwestern Maryland - The Washington Post (US News)
- Sony Pictures Sees Operating Income Spike While Music Notches Gains and Gaming Dips - Variety (Business)
- Federal grand jury indicts Wisconsin judge in immigration case, allowing charges to continue - Chicago Tribune (US News)
Local Media
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Great!
Welcome and I'm glad you're here.
Welcome! Make good trouble!
Welcome! Make good trouble!
Thanks
(in reply to R. Neal)
for the welcome. We'll test your tolerance for a mountain Republican.
Great news. Thanks!
I've been here ever since the South Knox Rodeo days with Ms. and Mr. Bubba. I found Knoxviews to be a great place to get into things like downtown, Market Square, tax increment financing, South Waterfront, permanent supporting house and all the topics that folks (surprise surprise) were skeptical about, maybe wanted more info, or maybe just to say something was a dumb idea. Remember #9. It was quite a journey.
For a number of reasons, I've moved from the KnoxViews playing field to tbe bleachers. I've always followed you,Sandra, whether at the Shopper, KTT, etc. I have learned a lot from you, and from Betty,over the years turned to decades and appreciate your keeping the flame of discourse lit.
Welcome
Looking forward to your contributions.