Shopper News blog: Trade in the pine-tree car freshener for a cactus car candle

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HALLS

Trade in the pine-tree car freshener for a cactus car candle

Ali James, Shopper News

Candle making has quickly transformed from a hobby into a small business for Kaylee Phillips, creator of Kaylee-Made Candles.

“I was looking for a hobby that I could keep up with during my first semester at Pellissippi,” she said. “I went to a candle supply shop, bought a starter kid and went home to make my first batch.”

When those first candles turned out exactly the way she wanted them to, Phillips had a friend take professional product photos last fall and created an Instagram page @kayleemadecandles. Since then Phillips has continued to grow sales and her number of followers.

“I make posts throughout the day, talking about my new scents and products,” she said. "People can contact me via direct message and I either meet up with my customers or drop their order off in their mailbox.”

Phillips graduated from Halls High School in May 2019 and is a longtime employee of Bel-Air Grill. She continued to work their curbside pickup when the restaurant temporarily closed its dining room.

“COVID-19 closed down my supply shop for a month or so, it was hard to stay motivated with my candle business,” she said. “But it gave me time to work on giveaways and new ideas for new products.”

To start, Phillips focused on traditional candles in jars and wax-melts. “Then around Christmas time I introduced ‘car candles’ in the same scents as my candles,” she said. “People seem to love them. I can make just about any shape to hang in your car. The biggest selling ones are my pineapple, cactus and flamingo-shaped car fresheners. My most popular scent is ‘Volcano’ – a fruity, summery scent.”

Phillips was thrilled to sell over 250 candles during her first holiday season in business. “I had a lot of big orders for the car candles because they are easy to buy in bulk and a fun gift to give," she said. “Then as we got into the spring months, people started buying these more as gifts for themselves.”

For Mother’s Day, bundles including an eight-ounce candle and car freshener have been another hot seller.

Kaylee-Made Candles feature a wood wick, instead of a traditional cotton wick. “People like how they crackle when they burn,” she said. “I tried lots of different waxes, and personally I think the soy wax holds the scent longer, but the wood wick is the key thing that makes them last longer, usually over 100 hours.”

Whenever Phillips breaks out all of her candle making supplies, she says she floods her kitchen with wax, wicks, and scents. “I never make one or two at a time, I try to make 30-40 candles at once,” she said. “I probably make the same amount of car candles at the same time, too. I hand pour each candle one at a time to make sure they come out perfectly.”

POWELL

With room to go wild, Chez Lily copes with the quiet for now

Al Lesar, Shopper News

Almost six years later, Teresa Carnes still gets a belly laugh while recalling one of the most unusual events she has hosted.

It was Halloween, 2014, when Carnes, who owns and operates Chez Lily Events on Old Clinton Pike in Powell, opened her facility to a large group of adults who “had some great costumes.”

The party went long into the night. On one of her drop-ins to make sure all was going well, she realized this was a group of “swingers.”

“There was food everywhere,” Carnes said. “The place was packed. They had a photo booth, but I didn’t want to see any of the pictures. I saw the props in a pop-up tent and I realized what was going on.”

Carnes said it was the wee hours of the morning before she was able to get the party to break up.

Though it might not have seemed to have been special at the time, the Halloween blowout ranks right up there with the New Orleans wedding at Chez Lily.

“People from New Orleans know how to have fun,” Carnes said.

The budget-friendly facility that can handle 100 guests has gone dark through the social-distancing orders of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Carnes isn’t sure what’s next.

Tough competition

Weddings and graduation parties are the primary events held at Chez Lily. Since the shelter in place orders were issued in March, Carnes has had inquiries cease and her only scheduled wedding for August canceled.

A graduation party set for May is still on.

“We normally get inquiries from people off our website all the time,” Carnes said. “Once the lockdown happened in March, it all stopped. Not a word.

“It’s all paid for, so I’m not panicking. I’m just concerned that we don’t have anything scheduled.”

Carnes’ house is on the seven-acre plot that includes the event facility. The building isn’t heated, so not much happens from November until March. Now is when things normally crank up.

“Event locations have exploded (around Knoxville),” Carnes said. “There’s competition everywhere. Everyone has to be having problems right now. Who knows how it will turn out?”

Budget friendly

Besides the easy access, plenty of available parking, and seven acres to entertain young children, the beauty of Carnes’ gardens and the rustic facility are drawing cards for Chez Lily.

So are the prices.

Weddings and receptions are $1,600. That includes a ceremony on the lawn and a setup for the reception. Food and decorations are not included, but could be.

A graduation will cost $650. Those can turn into interesting events.

“We had a graduate who just loved the movie ‘The Godfather,’” Carnes said. “All the guys showed up with black suits and skinny ties. All the girls had red cocktail dresses. It was so much fun.

“I just love getting to know all the people and being a part of a big celebration. That’s what I miss the most during these times.

“I’m not sure what to expect this summer.”

For more information call 865-947-0410 or visit Chez Lily Facebook page.

HALLS/FOUNTAIN CITY

Teen adds vintage-inspired tees to her collection

Ali James, Shopper News

Tanna Hensley had a jam-packed school schedule filled with dual enrollment classes and her passion for playing softball. But there was little time left over to commit to a part-time job.

“I hadn’t been able to get a real job, so I started printing T-shirts in the summer of 2018 to make some money,” said Hensley. “I already had the stuff to make T-shirts, so I decided to use my Mom’s Cricket machine to create a Harry Styles shirt for my boyfriend’s sister.”

Hensley launched Ktown Designs, a T-shirt and decal printing business. Her first client was a friend’s Great Dane breeding company. “That was one of my first big projects and that’s where my business really took off,” she said. “I still do T-shirts for them.”

Hensley would often work on orders after softball practice or games until midnight on weeknights and on weekends.

Last week, Hensley wrapped up her Pellissippi dual enrollment classes and is all set to graduate from Halls High School, before she heads to the University of Tennessee in the fall to major in history and perhaps minor in business.

With so much more free time on her hands, Hensley decided a month ago to design a range of vintage-inspired T-shirt designs. “I feel like I made them more for myself,” she said. “I made 12 designs and they are available on my Instagram or website at my-site-104667.square.site."

A design inspired by a Rolling Stones album cover has been really popular, according to Hensley. The T-shirts range in size from small to XXXL, and Hensley said her soft feel T-shirts are ideal for printing on, run true to size and are not too clingy when it comes to fit.

Ktown Designs customers also gravitate toward the designs printed on the Comfort Colors basic T-shirts. “You can order a size down and it will still be oversized; they ordered those because they do stretch out,” she said.

In addition to traditional screen and vinyl prints, Hensley uses a sublimation technique. “I press it onto the shirt and it’s more dyed into the shirt; you can’t feel it like some people feel a vinyl or screen print,” she said. “The only downside is that it can only be applied to light colored shirts.”

As Ktown Designs has expanded, Hensley has invested in a heat press and plenty of vinyl to print her designs. “I need a new computer; hopefully that will be a graduation gift,” she said. “I just decided to see how it goes and it turned out bigger than I expected.”

Hensley has enjoyed collaborating with a few businesses in Nashville and Kentucky. “In the past month I had the owner of Johnny & June (instagram.com/shopjohnnyandjune_) ask me to put her logo with a vintage background on her shirts and they’re up for sale on her website,” she said.

Another Nashville-based label, Game Day Dye, bleaches designs on team shirts and approached Hensley to collaborate for a giveaway. “I printed the Tennessee design on her bleached shirts and people wanted more of them,” said Hensley.

A friend in Kentucky asked Hensley to print shirts and logos for his Go Big Blue Country podcast.

And Ktown Designs does not create just statement T-shirts. “I can do vinyl decals for your car, on cups and even key chains,” she said.

“I love doing my own thing, but it would be super cool to collaborate with a local business,” said Hensley.

NORTH/EAST

The Birdhouse welcomes a caring outreach to the streets

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News

Among those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare workers and first responders are rightfully recognized. But there are others, too, reaching out and meeting the needs of an often-forgotten population — the homeless, or, as First Aid Collective Knox says, “the houseless.”

An autonomous first-aid/wound care collective crew based in Knoxville, First Aid Collective’s main mission is harm reduction — meeting members of the street population where they are, reducing the harms of alcohol and drug use through reducing risk, and providing peer and community support. They work directly with Choice Health Network’s Syringe Service Program and its participating members to address a variety of medical and everyday needs within a community that is often marginalized.

They are out on the streets with the people they serve, distributing supplies, building hand washing stations, dealing with sometimes very grim situations — every week.

One volunteer who is certified as a wilderness first aid medic has been involved with caring for those without a permanent home for a decade, working also with East Tennessee Harm Reduction, which deals solely with medical and addiction issues among the street population. The two organizations work closely together.

Volunteers go out with a truck full and deliver food, tents and supplies as well as rapid medical response. The collective also keeps a close eye on individual daily lives, and a visit to its Instagram page brings up a variety of posts: “Chloe needs support!” “Supplies needed – men’s and women’s sneakers.” “Community Peanut Butter Jelly Time – A Daily Sandwich Making Party.” Some posts request help for specific individuals struggling to stay off the streets.

With the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, First Aid Collective found itself needing to transition from a small, mobile base of operations to a larger, more permanent one — fast.

They had been just doing distribution off a tiny table downtown once in a while, but with COVID their online request system has been flooded so they needed a place for storage.

Enter The Birdhouse Community Center — the Fourth & Gill neighborhood jewel, built in 1891 as a single-family home, and serving as a neighborhood gathering place in various incarnations for 50 years.“With the lockdown and not being able to rent the space, we decided that it should be utilized in some way,” says Chris Strain, the Center’s acting coordinator. When First Aid Collective reached out, The Birdhouse was there. “Seemed like a no-brainer for us,” says Strain.

Now they’ve got the space they need and are more easily able to address the needs of the population they serve. They also built a small clinic where folks can come get treatment if needed.

Collective members reiterate that the people they serve are not “homeless.” They do have homes. They do feel very connected to the spaces they occupy. They develop community with one another and they have their families that they’ve created.

Visit/donate at instagram.com/firstaidcollectiveknox; facebook.com/firstaidcollectiveknox; gofundme.com/knoxville-mutual-aid-funds; on Venmo, Cashapp and PayPal @firstaidcollectknox.

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FARRAGUT

Goodwill stores reopen, need donations and workers

Margie Hagen, Shopper News

All across the country, retail stores like Goodwill Industries-Knoxville closed their doors in mid-March to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Goodwill reopened its 29 area stores on May 6 and now they need your help. Household items and all types of clothing and shoes are in short supply.

Whether donating or shopping, new procedures are in effect for employee and customer safety. According to Marketing and Special Events Coordinator Cindy Dodson, “Now when donations come in, employees have a system to track and 'quarantine' everything for three days before anything goes out.

“Both front and back of the house employees are wearing masks,” Dodson added. “While it’s not mandatory, shoppers are encouraged to wear them, too. The stores will operate at 50 percent capacity and maintain a 6-foot distancing policy.” If you want to shop online, go to gwiktn.org and scroll down. New hours for all stores are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. through 5:30 p.m., and you can drop off donations during those hours.

In 2021, Goodwill Industries-Knoxville will celebrate 50 years in our area. During that time they have developed multiple programs to serve the community. Career counseling, job placement and supported employment in fields like IT technology, certified nurse assistant and customer service are offered at no cost to qualifying participants. Find information at gwiktn.org.

Students take hands-on classes, and some have expanded studies with clinical hours. Most programs award certificates upon completion and feed job pipelines connected to employers. Programs are open to all ages including those who have been out of the workforce for some time and need help to craft a resume, refresh skills or learn new ones.

“We are teaching programs that are relevant in today’s world,” Dodson said.

“Goodwill Industries is the largest nonprofit workforce development agency in the United States. We partner with over 100 companies in East Tennessee to provide jobs. Around 4,100 of our people found work last year.”

That’s what you support when you shop at and donate to Goodwill. According to the 2019 annual report, 88 cents of every dollar went to the programs, and the average program participation satisfaction rating was over 90 percent.

If you need a job right away, consider working at Goodwill. The hiring process is prompt, with compensation varying depending on the position. “Most of our employees have returned, but we currently have a lot of positions open,” Dodson said. Management and other types of jobs can be viewed and applied for at gwiktn.org/employment or by calling 865-588-8567.

“We’re not just a store, we change lives,” Dodson said, adding, “Goodwill is like a diamond in the rough, and sometimes people don’t know the true sparkle that lies behind such a gem.”

POWELL

Powell family starts internet radio station

Al Lesar, Shopper News

Dan Merrill was a guy who had thoughts, but he didn’t have an outlet.

Then he came up with the idea of an internet radio station.

“I like the idea of having a platform,” said Merrill, who moved his family to Powell five years ago. “When I’m in the studio, that’s all that’s going on at that moment. It’s just me, my microphone, and my co-host. To me, it’s stress relieving.”

Two years ago, Dan, his wife, Tia Crowder-Merrill, and their son Austin launched Wicked Curiosity, an internet radio station that has been picking up steam and is becoming more popular.

“It was three or four years ago when a friend and I had a show that dealt with movies,” Dan said. “We’d do the research on the movie and the actors so that we would be able to have a good conversation about it.”

When the two split, Dan and his family found their own outlet. Now, they’re hosting five shows a week from a studio in their home. Besides the radio content, they’ve also added website posts and blogs and are working toward having live stream video.

The lineup

Several weeks ago, Tia and Austin, a senior at Powell High School, hosted a show talking with seniors about the feelings they have during this unusual time brought on by COVID-19.

She thought it was very well received.

“There was a lot of frustration, sadness and irritation,” Tia said. “The seniors feel like they’re in limbo. There’s nobody they can get mad at, they just feel that they have no control.”

That show was one of Tia’s “Falling From Grace” specials, which go along with a blog she writes each week dealing with life issues. That runs each Tuesday at 6 p.m., and lasts two hours.

Sundays and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. are Behind the Screen shows. Sundays focus on one movie each week, and Wednesdays delve into Hollywood happenings in general. Thursdays at 4 p.m. is Opinion Battlefield, dealing with current political issues, and Fridays at 6 p.m. is Note By Note, which examines local music and new national trends.

“We want to have a station that’s open to the geeks and weirdos,” Tia said. “We’re just now starting to push this out to the community through social media. So far we’ve had a good reception.”

Lessons learned

With two years of experience so far, some lessons have been learned.

“It’s been very time consuming,” said Tia. “Any free time we spend working with it.”

“We’ve made a big effort to get good sound from our equipment,” Dan said. “We’ve added computers and microphones. We work at the equipment and the content to always make it better.”

Dan and Tia have dreams for their hobby. The next stage would be moving the studio out of their house and into a structure that will allow for more equipment as well as a soundproof atmosphere.

“Our whole family (six kids ages 9-21) is involved in this, which is great,” Tia said.

“We’ve become a lot closer to Austin (who is a co-owner of the station and a technician) and the rest of our family,” Dan said. “We’re able to do so many things together and let them have an active role.

“We’ve learned about patience and organization. A lot goes into something like this.”

Ways to listen to the content are the website blogtalkradio/wickedcuriosity, the Wicked Curiosity Facebook page or www.wickedcuriosity.wixsite.com/wcmedia.

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KNOXVILLE

Asian Culture Center hosts virtual Year of the Mouse 5K

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News

Last year around this time, the Asian Culture Center of Tennessee and its founder, Kumi Alderman, were gearing up for their first-ever 5K race in the Year of the Pig to raise funds for the popular annual Knox Asian Fest. Held in August, it’s one of the city’s best parties.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and it’s now the Year of the Mouse, so the race was planned to be styled as such. Of course, because of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s not happening. Well, not live and in 3D, anyway.

Instead, the center is hosting the Knoxville Asian Festival Year of the Mouse 5K & 1 Mile Virtual Run. And everyone can participate, on their own time. Just run your own race anywhere, anytime from now 'til Aug. 1, 2020. Costumes, smiles and lots of pictures are encouraged!

The money you’ll raise will go to support a different entity each month. In March, $1,300 was donated to the Knoxville Service Industry Relief Fund. In April, health care workers at Fort Sanders Regional, Tennova Health Care in Farragut and Dynamic Physical Therapy in Maryville received goggles they’d requested. They came directly from Taiwan via ACCT’s liaison there, Jill Song.

May’s donations will go to the ACCT/Asian Culture Festival, which is a 503(c)(3) nonprofit and, like all struggling nonprofits right now, needs an operating budget.

The board has not yet decided where June’s funds will go, but Alderman says, “everything is changing all the time. The funds will stay local and go to where the needs are most crucial.”

You’ll get benefits, too. “Running/walking makes you healthier,” says Alderman. “Getting in 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to brisk activity can help your immune system keep viruses at bay.”

You’ll receive a T-shirt and medal if you sign up before July 19. The race is officially “happening” on Aug. 1.

Alderman says, “In this uncertain moment, I have every confidence in our community’s ability to pull together with kindness, care and concern for the common good. You will remember when you see this medal, it is a medal showing that you helped others in this hard time. Thank you so much for your support.”

The virtual race is sponsored by Randy Boyd and The Boyd Family. For more info, and to register, visit runsignup.com/Race/TN/Knoxville/KnoxAsianFest.

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BEARDEN

Sequoyah Teacher of Year puts the 'joy' in movement

John Shearer, Shopper News

Becca Russell of Sequoyah Elementary uses her mind as much as her students use their arms and legs when she comes up with her various lesson plans.

Her Twitter account (@BeccaRussell3) is full of videos of such class activities as bowling or playing golf in the gym with plastic equipment, and Star Wars-themed activities for balance and other skill development. And she even has a Christmas- and holiday-themed activity of picking up plastic reindeer “droppings” with a disc “pooper scooper.”

“It’s an endless supply of ideas,” she said with a laugh over the phone recently. “I have more ideas and lessons I want to teach now than ever.”

A veteran of nearly three decades of teaching, Russell earlier this year was named Teacher of the Year for Sequoyah Elementary by the Knox County Schools. According to her principal, Alisha Hinton, it was an honor well deserved.

“She is an exceptional teacher, recognized by both her colleagues and parents,” said Hinton. “She has 29 years of teaching experience yet learns, plans, and implements the most unique PE lessons and strategies. She has connected with other PE educators through Twitter and really become a colleague to other educators across the nation.”

As Russell recently talked about the enjoyment she has found in her career, she also spoke of one regret – having to miss because of the coronavirus pandemic the special physical activity events coordinated by her at the end of this school year. That includes the field day of various lighthearted races, a fun day of such “station” activities as tire rolling and the hurdle run, and the countywide elementary track meet, although the team was able to be selected before classes were suspended.

“The end of the year is like my big time of the year,” she said with some obvious disappointment.

But she is definitely glad she chose physical education as a career. Although she ran track and cross country at Central High School and enjoyed always being active a lot as a youngster before going on to the University of Tennessee, it was actually by sitting still that she seriously pondered her career path.

Her mother, Barbara Russell, was a longtime fourth-grade teacher at Sterchi Elementary, and she used to observe the elder Russell a lot.

“Part of what influenced me to go into education was watching her and watching her plan lessons and gather materials,” she said.

The younger Russell began her own career at Inskip Elementary and then taught at Blue Grass Elementary for 11 years before coming to Sequoyah nine years ago.

She said part of the reward of teaching is watching the youngsters develop from kindergarten to the fifth grade, and from basic activities with fewer people to more complex games.

“I like seeing their growth and development and the outcome of their hard work, and being able to apply the skills in a more complex activity,” she said.

Besides some of the previously mentioned exercises, she also has a roller-skating program, and she invites instructors from the First Tee of Greater Knoxville to come and provide golf instruction. She also has started teaching using a video screen, and even gets out and helps the youngsters while the video is playing.

“You’ve got to meet the kids where they are,” she said of today’s video-focused youngsters.

Even while school has been stopped, she has been watching videos through a professional learning network to see how youngsters are learning physical education by social distancing in places like Southeast Asia, where schools have reopened.

Overall, teaching physical education has been a fun and rewarding career, she added.

“I hope my PE program allows students to experience the joy of movement in as many different kinds and ways as they can, and in a safe and respectful environment,” she said.

She added that she is also looking forward to continue coming up with ideas to help her youngsters continue moving and is not pondering retirement anytime soon.

“I don’t feel it’s time yet,” she said.

FOUNTAIN CITY

Honor Fountain City Day canceled; Man and Woman of the Year announced

Shopper News

The long-standing Memorial Day community celebration, Honor Fountain City Day in the Park, has been canceled due to the coronavirus. The announcement was made by Fountain City Town Hall Inc., which hosts the event.

"We regret having to cancel the event," said Kelly Ellenburg, Fountain City Town Hall's chair. "Although we cannot honor our fallen heroes as a community this year, each of us will remember their sacrifice. We look forward to Memorial Day 2021 and the resumption of Honor Fountain City Day in the Park."

Although the community will not gather in the historic park this Memorial Day for the award presentation this year, the recipients of the 2020 Fountain City Man and Woman of the Year award were announced. "We want to continue to recognize individuals who demonstrate outstanding service to our community. And, they are also invited to participate in the awards ceremony at the gazebo in the park on Memorial Day 2021," said Ellenburg.

The Fountain City Man and Woman of the Year are Mark Campen and Courtney Shea. As it turns out, the two have a lot in common. Both enjoy nature. Both are interested in the environment. Both are volunteers and public servants. Fountain City is honored to have them in the community.

Campen, a Knoxville native, moved to Fountain City in 2005. He and his wife, Emily, have two children, Parson and Phoebe. Mark graduated from UT with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. He joined the staff of the TN Izaak Walton League in 2001 and became executive director in 2011. In 2016, Mark began a private company, the Conservation Cooperative, which focuses on natural resource conservation and education, water quality and other related environmental issues.

Mark has always made time to volunteer. He was a member of the Board of Fountain City Town Hall and served as chair. He served on the Knoxville-Knox County Task Force on Ridge, Slope and Hillside Protection. The three-year project produced a plan, adopted in 2011, to guide development while protecting steep slopes. In 2008, Mark was appointed to serve as an Interim Knox County Commissioner, District 2.

Mark was elected to City Council, District 5, in 2011 and 2015. Before he left office in 2019, council put into law the hillside and slope protections advocated by the task force years earlier. Mark's knowledge and commitment to the environment were demonstrated throughout his work on City Council. Many citizens across our city are grateful for his leadership.

"I am grateful to the people of Fountain City and the City Council 5th District for the opportunity to serve you," said Campen. "Fountain City Town Hall and the Lions Club welcomed and supported me and I look forward to helping the community however I can in the future."

Shea was born in New Jersey. She earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Connecticut. In 1979, she moved to Knoxville, where she worked as an attorney with the United States Department of the Interior until retiring in 2015. She and her husband, Durant Thompson, live in Fountain City.

Courtney is a dedicated volunteer who generously shares her time and expertise. She began volunteering with the Central High School Foundation in 2001, and continues as a volunteer even though their children have long since graduated. She currently serves as treasurer of the foundation. Consistent with her professional experience and interest in the environment, Courtney works on climate change issues through Tennessee Interfaith Power and Light, education issues with Justice Knox and is vice chair of the board of Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center (in Grainger County). Recently, she joined with neighbors to protect our area from additional flooding.

She is a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, where she looks forward to singing with the choir when restrictions are lifted and particularly loves volunteering when Good Shepherd hosts Family Promise. “My husband and I love living in Fountain City," Shea said. "I also love volunteering in a place where folks with diverse points of view find a way to work together to address the changing needs of our community."

HALLS/FOUNTAIN CITY

Drive-by 'commencement' salutes Central Class of 2020

Bobcat spirit shone at a drive-by celebration for the Class of 2020 at Central High School on Friday evening. Knox County Schools announced Saturday that Central's in-person graduation will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 13, where students will be allowed to walk across the stage in front of up to four guests. But with caps and gowns already rented, Friday's sendoff gave the grads one more chance to revel in their achievement and this milestone in their lives.

FARRAGUT

Resolution on 5G hammered out

Margie Hagen, Shopper News

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen spent considerable time during the virtual meeting May 14 discussing and tweaking a resolution requesting that the Federal Communications Commission and the State of Tennessee take steps to temporarily halt the installation of 5G wireless towers in the rights-of-way until further health studies are performed.

As anyone who has been following the 5G debate knows, the Tennessee General Assembly adopted legislation in 2018 that was binding on local governments like Farragut. The legislation was intended to provide for “rapid deployment of the 5G wireless connectivity” in order to “ensure the United States wins the global race to 5G,” according to FCC documents.

Per a BOMA request on April 23, Town Attorney Tom Hale drafted a resolution and presented it to the board. The basis of it is that the possible negative health effects have not been updated since 1996.

In 2013, the FCC started a formal inquiry of its radio frequency emissions standards, and in 2019 they halted the inquiry, stating that it found no scientific basis to “reevaluate the existing RF (radio frequency) exposure limits” in spite of substantial studies to the contrary.

According to the Town’s resolution, the FCC’s 2019 conclusion was not based on independent study and the FCC has failed to re-evaluate the health effects of its current standards in light of the potential risks posed by 5G.

Will the resolution be successful? Right now, it’s the only avenue for the Town. Alderman Louise Povlin said, “The only way to effect change is through our state representatives.” Call Rep. Jason Zachary’s office at 615-741-2264 and Sen. Richard Briggs’ office at 615-741-1766 with comments and for email and office addresses.

Another resolution was approved, and this one is good news; the Town applied for a Governor’s Local Government Support Grant and is likely to receive it. Town Administrator David Smoak said, “The first step is requesting the grant.” If approved by the state, it would add $536,000 to the Virtue Road construction project, and requests for bids would start to be put out.

Smoak also noted that town meetings will continue to be held virtually until at least June 30. Now that Farragut is fully in phase one of reopening, he said, “We are looking at how to move on to phase two,” adding, “We hope to get our fields (in parks) open soon.”

Mayor Ron Williams said, “The staff is here to answer questions even though the building (Town Hall) is closed.” Permitting, inspections and other business are being handled by the appropriate departments every day.

As always, much more was discussed. Catch live broadcasts on Charter channel 193 and TDS channel 3 on meeting nights, or watch later on the YouTube Farragut site.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community