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Out of the Woodwork

A resolution brought to County Commission by a woman introduced as "the little lady from Dayton, Tenn." has spawned an interesting backlash for county Law Director Richard Beeler, who warned the commissioners that the document was constitutionally suspect.

June Griffin has traveled up and down East Tennessee presenting her resolution, which "...petitions the God of Heaven to preserve the peace which he has so graciously extended to us by our ancient acknowledgment of the Ten Commandments and beg his continued protection and alleviation of ills which come to those who forget him and his Law." She told the commission that she also attempted to intervene in a 1997 case challenging state sodomy laws, as "...the sole representative of God and the Bible in the sodomy case," and she warned that failure to pass her resolution would mean that "God's wrath is at the door."

Her resolution passed in spite of Beeler's warnings, and the aftermath has been a trickle of strange calls that started coming into his office almost immediately after the vote was taken. In addition to the usual church and state arguments, there was the survivalist who ticked down a list of firearms he owned, asking Beeler if he was familiar with "the penetrating power" of a bullet, and a copy of a publication called "The Truth at Last," the banner headline of which is "Secret Kosher Tax Boosts Food Prices."

Closed But Not Shuttered

You may have noticed a sign on the door of Patrick Sullivan's Pub saying "Closed for Remodeling." The restaurant/pub has been shut down for two weeks, but owner Kristopher Kendrick says it's just temporary. He's also looking for someone new to manage it.

"We have closed Sullivan's to fluff and duff," he says. "It's time. I did that property 11 years ago."

The establishment will essentially have the same decor as it does now, but will be getting a new paint job, new carpeting, and new windows. Kendrick says he's confident he'll have a new manager soon, and the restaurant will be open in a couple of weeks.

Harold McKinney had managed the pub, along with two other Old City cornerstones: Lucille's, the jazz club and restaurant located just next door to Sullivan's, and the beleaguered Underground, which had its beer permit suspended following charges of rampant alcohol sales to minors. "I've had my fingers in more pies than I need to. I just couldn't give it much attention as I'd like to," McKinney says of Sullivan's.

McKinney will continue to operate Lucille's and the Underground, which he is hopeful will get its beer permit back when it goes before the city Beer Board tonight (Thursday).

Strangely enough, the club is still allowed to sell hard liquor, which is permitted by the state, not the city.

Friends in High Places

The last time New York Gov. George Pataki was here, he was guest of honor in a swank Knoxville fund raiser for Victor Ashe, where he posed with various dignitaries under an elegant crystal chandelier. Not long after the affair was over, the massive chandelier crashed to the floor, so Pataki could rightly make the claim that he risked life and limb helping out an old college chum. News that Pataki is toying with the notion of a Y2K presidential race could leave Ashe with some tough GOP primary choices, since front-runner George W. Bush is likewise a former schoolmate. And then there's Lamar! whom Ashe has traditionally supported, and whose faltering campaign could surely use a little help from his friends.

Showtime

Chamique Holdsclaw was inundated with requests from at least 60 agents before she chose Lon Babby, who has represented supermodel Claudia Schiffer, and has Grant Hill, Tim Duncan, and Nikki McCray on his current roster. Her personal manager, Jack McCue, told New York media that her future won't be confined to sports. She already has a role in a film, the intriguingly titled Boilfish (featuring former Miami Vice co-star Philip Michael Thomas) and has read for a part in an upcoming Spike Lee movie. Kellie Jolly has auditioned for this film, as well. Chamique was slated to do some promotional appearances for the WNBA, but those are on hold until the league's labor difficulties are solved. She is expected to be first pick in the WNBA draft April 27, and has been selected to try out for the Olympic squad, as well.

With This Ring

It's an intriguing little ad in the Daily Beacon, UT's student paper. "Collector in need, will pay cash!!!!! Wanted: Fiesta Bowl jerseys and $2,000 for championship rings. Cash paid overnight," followed by some phone numbers in the Athens, Ga. area code. We called out of curiosity and got a fella who says he's just a collector trying to boost his personal memorabilia stash. A UT Athletic Department spokeswoman says players have been warned about selling their jerseys—a no-no—but will be free to do whatever they want with their rings when they get them (which won't be until after the Orange and White game). But, she adds of the collector, "I doubt very seriously if he'll get much response."

Seating Available Soon

While fans of the late Terrace Theatre may not have had their prayers answered, the former arthouse movie theater is nevertheless reopening next month as the Cinema Grill. Shuttered since last fall after management decided it wasn't making enough money to stay open, the Terrace will now return to its tables-and-chairs Tap House roots, but with a more complete menu of bar-style food (quesadillas, pizza, wings, etc.). Homberg Place landlord Robyn Askew, chief manager of Laird Development, says the theater will feature first-run movies in their final weeks of release and second-run movies—and that she's put in a request to the new management for artistic fare. The reopening highlights several other big moves at Homberg. First, two new restaurants from Diane and John Calella have opened—Di Jon's and NYPD, which is a New York-style deli with pizza. And second, Tuscany is moving in May to the former space of the ill-fated Rhapsody, while By the Tracks Bistro will take the Tuscany spot in June.