Community Cher

You've probably heard by now that Cher has signed to be executive producer of a movie project for NBC-TV concerning Ann Walzer, an Oak Ridge toxicologist who blamed her serious illnesses on toxic emissions there. Award-winning screenwriter Bruce Harmon spent several days in Knoxville and Oak Ridge last week interviewing those involved—including representatives of the Department of Energy, which we assume is less than enthusiastic about the prospect of prime-time fame. Casting for the movie (tentatively titled Oak Ridge) has yet to be announced, but it will probably be shot later this year. Though based on fact, the movie will likely invent some composite characters to represent real people and compress the time frame somewhat. Cher herself is reportedly open to the option of playing a character in the movie, tentatively scheduled for NBC's 1998-99 season. Some are already comparing the project to Cher's 1984 movie, Silkwood. Cher's said to be attracted to the TV treatment for its shorter production schedule.

Monkey Business

Hey, it turns out there are people with guts in state government. You just have to peel back a few layers to find them. Just ask the 100 or so science teachers who attended a seminar at "Darwin Day" last week (organized by UT biology profs). After several speakers spent hours telling the audience all the reasons they should teach evolution in public schools—and all the reasons it's illegal to teach "creation science"—a visibly nervous Linda Jordan took the floor. Jordan, a secondary science consultant for the famously waffly state Department of Education, acknowledged she was "a representative of the state that tried the Scopes case and periodically questions the results of that case." She continued, "I am without a doubt on thin ice by just being here tonight. But please make note of the fact that I am here." The teachers responded with enthusiastic applause. After noting the state still has no official position on teaching evolution after all these years, Jordan walked the teachers through a very pro-evolution position statement from the National Science Teachers Association. The paper listed six authors from across the country, including a certain Linda Jordan of Franklin, Tenn. Noting that it didn't identify her as a Dept. of Education employee, Jordan said, "I'll let that speak for itself."

Secret Weapon?

Kirsten Quist has been going to a lot of Republican functions lately, so she knows to bring along her own entertainment. Take last Monday night, for example. The Halls Republican Club was probably not the place the 11-year-old Bearden Middle Schooler would have chosen to while away an evening, so she sat there playing solitaire and Wheel of Fortune on her Game-Com while her mother, Cathy Quist, talked about why she should be elected Circuit Court (and General Sessions and Juvenile) Clerk. (Kirsten's been spotted at other stuff reading books and working crossword puzzles).

Quist's opponent, incumbent Lillian Bean, was there, too, surrounded by employees so loyal that they give up their free time to put on yellow Bean T-shirts and show up at the Museum of Appalachia to dish out soup beans or at meetings like this to ensure Big Lil standing ovations.

Kirsten was noodling away on the Game-Com when the Clerk's employees rose to applaud their boss. When her mom concluded her spiel, Kirsten jumped to her feet and clapped like crazy. A couple of people joined her.

"When they give us the evil eye, I just give it right back to them," Kirsten said.

"You gotta love that little kid," said one normally crusty old GOP operative.

Talkin' Tall

New early morning talker Mike Wilkerson is a keeper. NewsTalk 99, or whatever WIVK-AM is calling itself these days, gave the former strictly-sports guy Wilkerson the early slot last month, and he's made it sparkle. Early-on, to celebrate the Martin Luther King holiday, he put together an impressive MLK tribute, and he gets kudos not only for knowing lots of stuff, but for not pretending to know everything.