MoxScene

Catch the New-Sentinel''s new "Weekend!" section column, "Strolling?" Its anonymous author, an old hand at dishing Knoxville dirt, appears to be drawing a direct bead on this humble page (Ear is terrified). Her biggest problem is half the N-S staff fears she'll never lay a glove on anyone on that list of bashful fatcats she calls clients, while the other half fears she'll never write about anything but. Welcome back to the Wonderful World of Gossip according to PR maven Cynthia Moxley.

SignScene

Since we didn't hear back from her, Susan Brown's reason for approving a controversial billboard near the previously billboard-free Pellissippi Parkway interchange five days after she resigned from her city job remains a mystery. Brown left her former job as head of the city's Department of Development April 10, according to civil service records. On April 15, she put in an encore appearance at her old office and approved a permit for an off-premise sign long sought by billboard moguls Gary Douglas and Robert Bedwell. City Council and the Board of Zoning Appeals had ruled against the sign men on multiple prior occasions. Brown is now the general manager of Rural/Metro.

EatScene

Count on the food being to die for at Frank Gardner's new, reconstituted Manhattan's where there's a marquee-quality kitchen staff ready to roll. There's John Fletcher, formerly of Lucille's and the U.S. Embassy in Prague; Rick Idol and his son, James Marshall, from the Chef Bistro & Bakery; and Kelly Henderson of the late, great Sunspot. They'll be open for lunch Monday-Saturday; dinner Thursday-Saturday.

Driving Mr. Tommy Scene

Some African-American leaders (thus far too shy to be quoted by name) say they are really ticked by the role county government's highest-ranking minority employee played in the Farragut Fourth of July parade. County Exec Tommy Schumpert rode along the parade route perched on the back of a spiffy green convertible. In the driver's seat (literally, not figuratively) was his administrative assistant, Jess Debro, an African American who has performed this task at other parades, including the Lonsdale Homecoming.

WhineScene

The TV talking heads were in full cry over the local GOP's alleged failure to show up at Gov. Don Sundquist's pure precious "surprise" announcement that he's going to run again. Ain't it awful, they said, speculating that it was tit for tat because El Don snubbed the winners on the party ticket after the primary election and only called up his old pal Lillian Bean. Or maybe it's because they hate poor Bill Baxter so.

Here's what some of the higher profile Republicans have to say:

Trustee Mike Lowe was in San Francisco at a national trustees' meeting—planned long in advance. He says his invitation was delivered via a call from Bill Stokes, who called "four or five days" before the event.

Criminal Court Clerk Martha Phillips says she received a postcard invitation the day before the event. It had been mailed with the wrong zip code, but she couldn't have come anyway, since the American Business Women's Association meets the first Wednesday. She is program chair and was scheduled to introduce the speaker, David Hunter, who was there at her invitation. She says she was also not at Sundquist's December fundraiser. She wasn't invited.

Sheriff Tim Hutchison was in Phoenix receiving his National Sheriff of the Year award and didn't return until late Wednesday night. This event had been scheduled for months.

Register of Deeds Steve Hall says he was moving into a new house that day; again a pre-planned activity.

Schools Supe Allen Morgan and various school board members had to be at their Wednesday night meeting for the election of an interim superintendent. Usual time, usual place.

More than one official polled said Sundquist's surprise could have used better advance work.