Kids Central Pediatrics expands reach with new clinic in West Knoxville
Blue Pen Writers' Conference set for February 2024
Life Matters
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Conflict in marriage less harmful for kids when dad keeps it constructive
Conflict is unavoidable in all marriages. When it erupts in families with children, stressed or angry parents may take their pain out on the kids, projecting their anger or withdrawing emotionally or physically. In the worst cases, children’s socioemotional development can suffer. But the way parents, especially fathers, deal with marital conflict can make a difference to kids
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Where I'm Writing From: Mom's Knee Surgery
I’m writing from my office, real late on Monday night. I just got done reading to my mom on the phone. When I’m working on a new book, I read to her every night, but we’ve had to miss a few calls lately. Mom had a total-knee-replacement surgery a few weeks back, her second in the last ten years. I was in college when all of Mom’s miles finally caught up to her the first time. Mom ran the Boston Marathon once. She also competed in more triathlons than I can count.
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Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Capt. Arthur J. Jackson
By Katie Lange, DoD
Marine Corps Capt. Arthur Junior Jackson was a young man in World War II when he singlehandedly blazed a path of destruction through Japanese strongholds on the small island of Peleliu in the Pacific. His calmness under pressure and relentless fighting spirit were a major reason the Allies were able to overtake the island, and they earned him the Medal of Honor.
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The armor might be too heavy for your child
By Elizabeth Pemberton Castleberry
Who doesn’t love an underdog triumphing over a seemingly invincible foe? That’s why the story of David and Goliath is so beloved. But reading the story again recently, I was confronted with an uncomfortable parenting truth. We know that David defeats Goliath with a small rock launched from a slingshot, but there is a detail in the story I hadn’t thought about before.
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Maryville seniors spread love to local preschoolers with handmade blankets
MARYVILLE, TN - Residents at Clover Hill Senior Living in Maryville, TN, look forward to a special day each year. It’s the day that they get to present their handmade blankets to the children at Stepping Stones Preschool. |
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Green Magnet’s new outdoor space reflects STEAM classroom learning
KNOXVILLE - During the pandemic, Green Magnet Academy Principal Jessica Holman expressed a need she saw for her school: a revitalized outdoor space that would match and support the high-quality STEAM education happening inside the classroom. |
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Sevierville seniors honored with performance by Augusta Youth Chorale Ensemble
SEVIERVILLE, TN - Seniors at Dominion Senior Living of Sevierville were treated to a special visit and performance by some talented young singers this summer. |
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Cleveland students visit local seniors and brighten their day
CLEVELAND, TN - Young volunteers from a Student Life Camp recently stopped by to pay Avail Senior Living in Cleveland residents a visit. Along with spending time with the residents, the students went to work cleaning up wheelchairs and even making snow cones–a nice treat on a hot day. |
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Adventures in STEM: 3 research centers at UT host camp for local middle schoolers
KNOXVILLE - During the summer, The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS), the Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment (ISSE), the Center for Ultra-Wide-Area Resilient Electric Energy Transmission Networks (CURENT), and the University of Tennessee (UT) collaborated to host “Adventures in STEM”. |
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UT Gardens hosts 2023 Art in the Gardens Exhibit
KNOXVILLE - Come see some fanciful foxes while strolling through a beautiful garden. The University of Tennessee announces the opening of Fanciful Foxes: A Garden Art Exhibit, its 2023 Art in the Gardens display. The event and the exhibit are free and open to the public. |
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Achievements
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Knox County students recognized at National History Day
NASHVILLE, TN – At the 2023 National History Day competition, Knox County students Jelena Armsworth, Timothy Cho and Matthew Wang earned recognition for their junior group and individual documentaries.
Fifty-four Tennessee middle and high school students earned the right to compete in the 2023 National History Day competition after competing in the statewide Tennessee History Day competition. |
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Smith County farmer Kyle Owen named Tennessee Farmer of the Year

Using native plants in your yard to attract birds & pollinators
KNOXVILLE -- Wild Ones is hosting an upcoming educational event: "Using Native Plants in Your Yard to Attract Birds & Pollinators." The nonprofit organization is dedicated to promoting environmentally sound landscaping practices that restore and establish native plant communities. |
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Life Events
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UT student travels to Thailand to work with elephants
This summer, Emma Rosen, 19, of Franklin TN, spent two weeks in Thailand helping animals, discovering Thai culture, and learning hands-on what it’s like to be a veterinarian. Traveling with study-abroad organization Loop Abroad, Emma was selected as part of a small team that volunteered giving care at a dog shelter and spent a week working directly with rescued elephants at an elephant sanctuary. |
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100 Things to Do in Knoxville Before You Die released
KNOXVILLE -- Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Knoxville maintains a small-town feel despite being Tennessee’s third largest city. And with some of the best views, brews, and venues in the Maker City, you’ll want to make the most of your stay. 100 Things to Do in Knoxville Before You Die offers visitors and locals alike a diverse checklist of adventures and insider knowledge to construct the perfect itinerary.
In this book, you’ll learn what to do and where to go from local tourism expert Kristen Combs sharing years of her favorite activities that will wow the whole family. Longtime residents and first-time visitors will equally enjoy this guide to Knoxville, a nature-loving-adventure-seeking-artsy-kinda-town.
The book includes topics such as:
• The Tennessee River is formed just east of downtown Knoxville from the French Broad and Holston Rivers meeting. Several places reference this from Three Rivers Market to Three Rivers Rambler. There’s all kinds of ways to explore these beautiful waterways, from a driving tour to cruising to up-close-and-personal paddling.
• Knoxville might be the only place in the world where you can enjoy a handcrafted beer in a handcrafted glass and watch the whole process from beginning to end. Find this unique experience at Pretentious Craft Co. More beer is easy to find, and just as easy to find the right brew for you along Knoxville’s Ale Trail by starting at Knox Brew Hub.
• The skyline of Knoxville would be incomplete without the iconic Sunsphere. Built for the 1982 World’s Fair, this structure has surprising siblings in Seattle’s Space Needle and Paris’s Eiffel Tower, which were also built for World’s Fairs (1962 and 1889, respectively). A visit to the 4th Floor Observation Deck allows a 360-degree view of it all, from the bustling downtown to the beautiful Smoky Mountains.
You may order the book here. |

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More Books about Knoxville

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The Marble City, the Scruffy City or the Maker City, whatever you call it, Knoxville, TN has become a culinary destination. You’ll never have to wonder what restaurant to try next in Knoxville. |
Life Truths & Helps |
Local author details the untold past of Tennessee
Troubled Times in Tennessee, by James B. Jones, is a detailed look at various lost or hidden aspects of Tennessee history. Historians of the Volunteer State’s past have overlooked the stories in these chapters while paying more attention to political, biographical, economic, and war-time history.
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Richard Dew, MD: When Sorrow Comes
The death of a loved one usually triggers a grief crisis and often a spiritual crisis in a person. How does one face those crises and the devastation that can accompany them? What does one need to know about grief? What role does God play in grief? How can one help others who are grieving?
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12 Step programs freed me from addiction
By Paul Emile
Like all human beings, I’ve experienced my share of pain, and suffered considerably. I was born into a violent, alcoholic home. When the clock struck six, and my father wasn’t home yet, I knew there was going to be hell to pay that night. |