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Signs of Change
Sheriff Tim Hutchison has historically not been that popular over in the 37919 zip code, and has generally turned his nose up at and gotten on the nerves of what Cas Walker used to call the "Silk Stocking Crowd." But, boys, the times are a'-changin'. Hutchison is a bona fide, reception-attending, list-signing-up-on supporter of mayoral candidate Bill Haslam. Thiswould not have been considered possible a few years back when Hutchison was credited (or blamed) for the ouster of Bill Haslam's father, Jim Haslam as chairman of the Public Building Authority. Could be that Hutchison has found a lot in common with Haslam; or maybe it has more to do with Haslam's opponent, former County Commissioner Madeline Rogero, who used to give Hutchison major headaches when he appeared before the body that controlled the purse strings of county government.
Looking for Signs
Who the heck is Betsy Child?
This was the question on the minds of members of Tennessee's environmental community after Gov. Phil Bredesen named her to his cabinet. As commissioner of Environment and Conservation, Child will be charged with oversight of such tough issues as cleanup of radioactive Oak Ridge sites, management of the state's underfunded parks, and cleanup of south Knox County water systems contaminated by illegal dumping of Coster Shop debris.
"We had never heard of her," says one Nashville lobbyist who specializes in environmental issues. "She is a total unknown in the environmental community, and all we know is what people at TVA and in Knoxville are telling us. We are worried."
Child, who worked for Mayor Victor Ashe on his waterfront initiatives, left the Ashe administration for a position at TVA shortly after a project she headed up that would have replaced homes and businesses on the south side of the Tennessee River with a large marina (known affectionately in these pages as "Six Flags Over Vestal") died under a barrage of community opposition. The tree huggers got their first glimpse of the new commissioner at the swearing-in ceremony, held outdoors in the bitter cold. The aforementioned lobbyist opted to stay home and catch a glimpse of Child on TV.
"I was looking for clues as to what to expect, and when I got a good look at her, my heart just sunk," the lobbyist says. "She was wearing a fur coat."
Might it have been faux, we asked?
"Whatever," says the lobbyist. "It sure sends some ominous signals."
Another Sign
Downtown workers who cruised by the Coliseum on the way to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial March Monday probably snickered when they noticed the flashing marquee announcing the hockey team's next game. The Knoxville Ice Bars will play in Orlando this week.
We're Everywhere!
We don't spend a lot of money marketing ourselves, which is why we are grateful to Knoxville's daily newspaper for giving us free publicity. Back on Jan. 8, the News-Sentinel featured a photograph of Betty Broyles, an employee of Mancino's Pizza & Grinders, trying to clean hard-to-reach parts of the restaurant. We couldn't help but notice that Broyles had a copy of Metro Pulse in her right hand. Then, on Jan. 21, the News-Sentinel ran a profile of Yee-Haw Industries. The story featured a photograph of the business taken from the street, and shown in the photo was Metro Pulse managing editor Scott McNutt, looking as pensive as ever.
January 23, 2003 * Vol. 13, No. 4
© 2003 Metro Pulse
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