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Seven Days

Wednesday, Jan. 7
SMG Corp., the Philadelphia company that manages the Knoxville Convention Center, says it is moving the center's general manager, Bill Overfelt, to a similar position in Fresno, Calif. We knew there were problems with the convention center here, but we didn't know they were that bad.

Thursday, Jan. 8
Police officers in Chattanooga have an incentive plan that allows them extra time off or cush assignments for accumulating points by making arrests or issuing traffic citations, the Associated Press reports. But it's not a "quota" system, according to a police supervisor, who says no officers will be punished for not participating. No, certainly not; it's not a quota demand, and there should be no increase in traffic tickets either, just because of the potential bounty on violators.

Friday, Jan. 9
News Sentinel headline in package on W's visit: 'Bush to unveil plan to go to Mars.' The concept is viewed wistfully by Democrats... and not a few Republicans.

Saturday, Jan. 10
The playoff path of the Tennessee Titans is frozen and impassable in Foxboro, Mass., as the New England Patriots defeat the Titans 17-14 in near-zero weather there. Are we still looking for reasons that New Englanders want to retire in Tennessee?

Sunday, Jan. 11
For the second straight week, Peyton Manning plays better football than he ever did when becoming the idol of tens of thousands of UT fans. Of course, it shows that becoming the recipient of millions of Indy Colts' dollars can be a powerful incentive.

Monday, Jan. 12
NS columnist David Hunter reveals to the public his fear of being attacked by a shark. Gee, David, up there in Powell? You'd have a new book contract in a Miami Beach second.

Tuesday, Jan. 13
The story breaks that Knoxville's Tina Wesson, the original sweetheart of reality TV, has pitted her Survival skills against a pool of others among the show's survivors in an "All-Star" program to air right after the Feb. 1 Super Bowl. If it turns out that she has won again, here goes another incredible year of Wesson-mania in these parts, and Phil Fulmer will likely be studying her technique.

Knoxville Found

(Click photo for larger image)

What is this? Every week in "Knoxville Found," we'll print the photo of a local curiosity. If you're the first person to correctly identify this oddity, you'll win a special prize plucked from the desk of the editor (keep in mind that the editor hasn't cleaned his desk in five years). E-mail your guesses, or send 'em to "Knoxville Found" c/o Metro Pulse, 505 Market St., Suite 300, Knoxville, TN 37902.

Last Week's Photo:
We thought that he had reformed. When we last heard from the Grinch his heart had grown three sizes and he was carving the roast beast for Cindy Lou and the rest of the Whos. Well, it seems he has been backsliding into old habits. He can currently be seen slumped on the sidewalk just off Chapman Highway on Martin Mill Pike smoking a blunt and sippin' on a forty. Jamie Marion was first to identify the Grinch's relocation from Mount Crumpit to South Knoxville. She also points out that the mural was painted by a member of the "Life After Death" crew and that the likely artist is "Masa." Jamie's keen eye wins her a pair of tickets to see the Knoxville Ice Bears hockey team in action.

Meet Your City
A calendar of upcoming public meetings you should attend

POLICE ADVISORY AND REVIEW COMMITTEE
Thursday, Jan. 15
6 p.m.
New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
1933 Texas Ave.
A review of citizen complaints against the Knoxville Police Department.

KNOX COUNTY SCHOOLS EDUCATION SUMMIT
Friday, Jan. 16
7:30 a.m.
Knoxville Convention Center
701 Henley St.
Open meeting to seek input on desired outcomes for Knox County School and explore ways those outcomes can be achieved.

KNOXVILLE CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, Jan. 20
7 p.m.
City County Bldg.
Main Assembly Room
400 Main St.
Regular meeting.

KNOXVILLE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
Thursday, Jan. 22
3 p.m.
City County Bldg.
Main Assembly Room
400 Main St.
Regular meeting.

WKGN Changes its Tune
Venerable A.M. station seeks adult appeal

The A.M. radio station known to many as "The Rhythm of the City" is changing its beat to provide better service to listeners, especially those from the African-American community. WKGN AM-1340, owned by Triple S Enterprises, Inc., has tweaked its musical programming over the last year to appeal to listeners in the coveted 25-54 year old demographic.

WKGN has gone from playing mainly contemporary rap, hip hop and R&B to more of what they are calling "The Adult Mix," which includes more traditional R&B, classic soul, and "old school" funk from the 80's. There is still a healthy sampling of new R&B artists, but the rap and hip hop components have been scaled back. According to WKGN Program Director Wayne Swann (formerly at WSMJ "Smooth Jazz" and WKGN before that), several things contributed to the musical change-of-direction.

While the arrival of two new FM hip hop/R&B stations in Knoxville was surely a factor, Swann pointed to other circumstances as well. "Sure, the FM stations signing on were part of the reason, but the fact that there was a major void in the Knoxville market for adult listenership, especially in the African-American community, it was a logical decision for us to make the switch.," Swann said. "We are not giving up on hip hop at all. We are just incorporating more types of music to go after the 25-54 year old listeners."

WKGN's on-air menu now offers quality local programming, as well as nationally recognized syndicated shows. From the national morning drive feature "The Tom Joyner Morning Show," to the local mid-day show "Back in the Day Buffet"(80's R&B and funk), to the old school dance mixes featured on the "Afternoon Traffic Jam" and the syndicated "The Touch" at night, WKGN programs a variety of music previously unavailable in this market. And since many of the songs on the varied playlists were cross-format hits in their day, the format's appeal is not limited to the African-American community.

The station also has a local music show called "Homegrown," airing Saturday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday mornings include blues music, and Sundays are filled with local religious programming and church services.

The popularity of the station was evident last fall when Joyner brought his morning show to Knoxville for one of his "Sky Shows," broadcasting live from the Coliseum, and featuring a live performance by 80s' funkmeisters CON FUNK SHUN. Swann said the event was so successful that it may become an annual event. More than 1,000 listeners arrived in the wee hours of the morning to a large pre-show party in the parking garage, and the vibe supplied by the crowd was "inspiring," according to Swann.

But musical programming is not the only change at WKGN. T. Blackmon hosts the community call-in show "K-Town Connection" from 5:05 to 6 p.m. daily, and the show has found success by providing a public forum for community-oriented topics and features, especially those of relevance to the African-American community.

"We felt a need to discuss issues pertaining to the community, a vital community forum, and so far the response for 'K-Town Connection' has been amazing," Swann added.

"Connection" topics have included a debate before the '03 mayoral election, the recent Five Points press conference, and interviews with the likes of U.S, Sen. Lamar Alexander, Congressman John J. Duncan Jr., and state Rep. Joe Armstrong. The show is also pushing voter registration, and Swann looks toward adding more community features in the coming year. "The stars of the show are the local callers and listeners," he says.

In an era when AM stations fight to make money in an FM-dominated market, the type of niche programming currently offered by WKGN could serve as a model for other stations in similar markets. Look for more good things from "The Adult Mix" in the new year.

—Benny Smith

A Family with Ice in Their Veins
Knox rink is run by a passle of pros

Nestled off of Watt Road, deep in the heart of West Knoxville lies the six-million-dollar Icearium. A state-of-the-art ice rink in East Tennessee may seem like an oxymoron, but this facility has local ties by way of an established skating family.

In years past, Disney on Ice was headquartered in Knoxville, and many of the performers involved in the traveling show settled here. Mary Lu Shipstad, a one-time soloist and performance director for the show, has been living in Knoxville for 12 years. Four years ago her father, Eddie Shipstad Jr., moved here with the intention of retiring, but was drafted into operating the then-prospective rink. Shipstad Jr. is the assistant general manager of the Icearium and served as coach of the U.S. Men's Curling Team in 1983. The team won the national curling championship and went on to finish fifth in the world championships. In addition, Eddie's father, Eddie Shipstad Sr., is credited with creating the Ice Follies.

The Ice Follies is recognized nationally as the first professional traveling ice show. Started in 1935 with eight skaters, the troupe performed at large arenas, including Madison Square Garden and Boston Garden. Eventually, the show evolved into what is now Disney on Ice.

Icearium general manager and Eddie Jr.'s son Bill Shipstad was also a member of the 1983 U.S. Men's Curling Team and has been involved in the operation of skating rinks throughout the country. "I decided to come along about two years ago, about a year before the facility opened," he says. "I was in Sun Valley, Idaho for four years. Sun Valley is basically a ski town just like Aspen or Vail, with a lot of tourists. We had the largest outdoor ice rink in North America. It was a full size 200 by 500 [-foot] rink that was open year-round, and it was a challenge to keep the ice conditions where they needed to be. I heard about [the Icearium] from my father, and it sounded like a good fit. We really enjoy the Knoxville area. The cost of living is a whole lot better than it was in Sun Valley." Bill Shipstad was also part of the technical crew with Disney on Ice when he met his wife, Kristen. "We've all been involved in skating one way or the other," he says.

In the past, the father-son team has managed rinks in areas that already had a lot of interest in skating and winter sports. However, the Icearium has proven difficult. With his experience in the industry, Bill believes that it is because other cities have well-supported professional hockey teams, and ice sports are already established. "It's been a challenge for us to come in and really build business, because it's not something that people think of first when they think about recreational activities," he says.

However, business has been gradually increasing as word of the Icearium spreads. There are tentative plans to expand the building in early 2005. "Early next year, we would decide whether or not to build the second ice sheet. Everything has been sized here to put the second sheet in. The space is an open field next to the building. If things go well this year, we will definitely build a second rink."

—Clint Casey