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Hate crime or just crime
Concord churches targeted in recent vandalism spree
Heather Beck - Thu, Jan 26, 2012
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| The Rev. Stephen Steele, pastor at Concord AME Zion Church, center, waits as Helen Trent locks up the church and church member Lee Varner looks on. The church is one of three Concord churches vandalized in recent weeks. - Heather Beck/farragutpress |
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Members of three churches in Old Concord say they won’t be intimidated by recent bouts of vandalism.
“We just consider it just a temporary setback. Because we’re not going anywhere,” said Huey Moulden, of Concord Original Church of God.
Vandals have broken nearly every window in Concord AME Zion Church since the beginning of January. They’ve targeted Concord Original Church of God, just down the street off Loop Road, three times since December.
Last week, the vandals also broke out 10 windows in the sanctuary of the Church of God and four windows at Concord Presbyterian Church on the other side of the historic village.
“Some people think it’s random, but personally I don’t. I do think the churches are being targeted. It’s not a randomness; it seems to be very calculated,” said AME Zion pastor the Rev. Stephen Steele.
“We are experiencing very calculated moves of seemingly just trying to be a nuisance,” he added.
“They’re trying to send a message, saying it with their actions,” Steele’s wife, the Rev. Elaine Steele, said.
All three churches have filed police reports with Knox County Sheriff’s Office. They also have requested increased KCSO patrols in the area. Late last week, the FBI joined the investigation.
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McGill to propose ‘shelving’ historic lighting plans
Heather Beck - Thu, Jan 26, 2012
A number of Farragut residents spoke in opposition to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s proposed historic lighting project along Campbell Station Road during the Board’s meeting Thursday, Jan. 12.
“I’d recommend you gather up the papers and shred them and not think about this for another 30 years,” said Bob Hill, a Belleaire resident and former Farragut planning commissioner.
“I personally have not spoken to a single person who lived in Farragut who was not opposed to this idea. It has no friends,” he added.
Mayor Ralph McGill addressed the residents before each spoke during Citizen’s Forum.
“Before we ask you to speak, let me tell you that first of all, we’re not voting on anything tonight. But I’m going to propose we consider shelving the project at our next meeting,” he said.
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Teachers weigh in on evaluations
Alan Sloan - Thu, Jan 26, 2012
Some Farragut-area teachers and administrators perhaps could use a “stress rubric” while trying to fulfill the “educator rubric,” the central outline of Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model intended to better stimulate, and sustain, K-12 student learning statewide.
However, with yearly evaluations of every Tennessee public school teacher tied in to implementing the rubric, “It has made me more aware of what I’m teaching because I have to talk about that more, which in turn makes [students] more aware of what they’re learning,” said Katie Gagley, first-grade teacher at Farragut Primary School.
“The biggest difference between this year and last [school] year is the kids are now more aware of what we’re learning and why we’re learning it and what we’re going to do with it.”
Implementation of a rubric system deemed as extremely detailed began this school year, while every teacher statewide is observed by administrators or specially trained “lead” teachers assessing classroom planning, instruction and environment.
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Farragut resident’s mettle tested on upcoming ‘Jeopardy’ show
Heather Beck - Thu, Jan 26, 2012
One Farragut college senior saw the dream of a lifetime fulfilled when he appeared on College Jeopardy, set to air in early February.
Greer Mackebee, a 2008 Webb graduate and Farragut resident, competed in the fourth of five quarterfinals on College Jeopardy, which begins airing Feb. 1 on WBIR TV.
“It’s kind of always been this far-off dream to one day be on Jeopardy, but it wasn’t something I had really actively pursued before. But I saw the advertisement for the online test and thought it looked like fun,” Greer said.
Greer said he and his parents, Bill Jr. and Betty, “always watched” Jeopardy during his growing-up years.
“The Jeopardy audition process starts with an online test. The college test is every January: you log on and take a pretty rapid-fire test. If you meet a certain threshold on the test, you are randomly selected for an in-person audition,” Greer said.
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ACT, SAT tests prep online
- Thu, Jan 26, 2012
Winter test dates for ACT and SAT are fast approaching.
Tennessee Electronic Library has the tools needed to succeed.
TEL is an online library funded by the Tennessee General Assembly and the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. Secretary of State Tre Hargett said, “The free resources available through TEL show students what to expect and how to prepare for the academic challenges ahead.”
The next SAT test will be offered Jan. 29, while the next ACT test will be Feb. 11.
To use the test prep resources, go to www.tntel.info and click on Test Prep to create a free personal account with the user name and password.
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