Metro Pulse/Ear to the Ground

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Room at the Center

Maybe it was the season, because there seemed to be a momentary truce in the ongoing war between the downtown hotels and the Knoxville Convention Center during Thanksgiving week.

The pause for peace occurred when the Knoxville Muslim community found itself without a place for its Eid al-Fitr celebration, which marks the end of Ramadan—a period of fasting and prayer. Noman Zahier, who serves as the group's spokesperson, explains the situation thusly: "The next day after the month of Ramadan, the day after the night when we see the new moon, begins the new month. We have this celebration—it is a very happy occasion. We give gifts to children and it is roughly like our Christmas, only we don't call it Christmas, of course."

The moon was sighted that Monday, and the group thought they were set at the Marriott for the following morning until they were notified that there were "space challenges." Bill Jordan of the Marriott called the convention center, which was in the midst of the annual Fantasy of Trees. Knoxville Convention Center assistant operations director Sue Eaton says the KCC staff got the call at 7 p.m. Monday, just 12 hours before Eid al-Fitr was to take place.

"We were able to move some things around to accommodate a large prayer service for an estimated 1,500 people. The Marriott was able to get staffed up to get the word out, and our GM and our directors pretty much ran the event. We were able to accommodate their sound system and directed them to parking. They all came in smiling. We're hoping we'll see more of that group."

Zahier concurs. "The Marriott worked very hard, and the convention center worked very hard. We were all really stressed out, but Sue did everything she could do to make us comfortable. She set everything up according to what I had told her—she even put advertising on the big screens around the building to route the traffic. Everybody was really happy, and a lot of people were asking that we should have it here on a regular basis."

Room at the Barnes Party

Republican big dog Jack Barnes held his annual Christmas luncheon this week without the presence of a governor, but Sen. Lamar Alexander filled the bigwig slot, and local politicos turned out in droves to chow down on holiday fare catered by L.B. Steele.

State Rep. Jamie Hagood worked the door, and Billy Stokes, her rival for the GOP nomination for the State Senate seat being vacated by Ben Atchley, worked the room. City Council members past (Jean Teague), present (Rob Frost and Steve Hall), and future (Joe Bailey, Chris Woodhull and Marilyn Roddy) gripped and grinned, and County Commissioners Mark Cawood, Howard "Nookie" Pinkston, Mary Lou Horner and Diane Jordan came by. Mayor-elect Bill Haslam made the scene, and so did District Attorney General Randy Nichols and his aid John Gill, as did assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Cook. Dozens of lawdogs turned out, including Sheriffs Tim Hutchison and Jim Berrong (Blount County), Police Chief Tony Crisp of Maryville and officers from every department in the area. There was a contingent of fledgling firefighters, along with a horde of the old guard. The world of professional wrestling was represented by Terry Landell and Ron Wright. Special guests included a contingent of Fulton Falcon football players and coaches, who were celebrating their brand-new state championship.

Not in attendance was Mayor Victor Ashe, who three years ago suspended Barnes for 30 days without pay for cussing on the job.

Barnes, a 25-year city employee and longtime deputy director of city fleet services, had been off on sick leave for about 10 weeks and is now taking vacation time. He will be back on the job Dec. 20, which is also the day Ashe leaves office.

Down the Chimney

The U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Tennessee's senior Sen. Bill Frist was scheduled to join a group of youth volunteers in New York Saturday, Dec. 6, to help load more than 60,000 shoebox gifts onto a plane bound for children in the Sudan as part of Operation Christmas Child, the world's largest children's Christmas project. It's billed as having provided more than 25 million gifts to children in more than 100 countries in the developing world since 1993.

The senator, who has participated regularly, said the project helps to bring hope and happiness through the spirit of giving so that millions of children know that the world cares about them and their future. "Gestures of kindness and caring do make a difference in their lives," said Frist, adding, "I'm privileged to be part of such a noble program, and I encourage others to embrace the power of giving this Christmas."

The Saturday plane loading was canceled at the last minute. The reason: snow in New York. What would Santa say?