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What is a BLOG?

A blog is a web log.  For KKB it is a diary of the activity of our organization.

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

I've talked with officials from Knox County Schools about how to proceed on the tree vandalism.  KKB is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in damaging these trees.  At this point, South Doyle Middle principal Gina Swann is taking the lead.  Stay tuned for more developments as they happen!

- posted by KKB staff @ 4:50 PM

Monday, November 29, 2004

Today, Melissa Knowles (our great intern) and Tom Salter visited Dr. Lewis' 7th grade reading class at Northwest Middle School.  Dr. Lewis' students will be taking the lead on Northwest's Litter Free Schools Program this year.  They have some great plans including talking about the program on the in-school television network.  They will also be doing some litter cleanups and plan to promote the mixed paper recycling program.

- posted by KKB staff @ 3:36 PM

Crime Report - If you've been keeping up with this blog, you know we just finished a huuuuuuge tree planting project at South Doyle Middle School.  It was a cooperative effort with USDA Forest Service, the State of Tennessee Department of Agriculture Forestry Division, the South Knox Beautification Committee, Knox County, KKB and lots of volunteers.  Anyway, on the weekend of 12/13-14, three trees were pulled from the ground and dragged up the school steps and placed near the main entrance doors.  Some other vandalism occurred as well.  The incident was reported to police.  I've heard of a lot of kinds of vandalism, but pulling up newly planted trees (without actually stealing them) is pretty weird.  Monte Stanley volunteered to replant the trees.  We'll have to wait to see if they make it.

The reason I'm bringing this to your attention is that a little while ago I got a call from Bob Santore that 7 more trees were damaged over Thanksgiving weekend.  Now I'm mad.

- posted by KKB staff @ 4:50 PM

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

The KKB Youth Advisory Board hit a home run today.  One of the members created a stencil of the Don't Throw Down on K-TOWN slogan and the group made t-shirts.  The logo can be put on ANY shirt with spray paint or special shirt dye/paint.  Can anybody say "Guerilla Marketing" or "Tipping Point"?  This could really catch on.  Thanks to the members of the Youth Advisory Board.  Here are some of the designs:







The group discussed having t-shirt creation events at some of the high schools and at a booth at Earthfest 2005.

- posted by KKB staff @ 8:30 PM

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Today, a number of her friends threw a surprise birthday party for Mary Lou Horner.  Word on the street is that she did not know about the party, but Mary Lou pretty much knows everything that's going on so who knows?  Happy Birthday Mary Lou.  





- posted by KKB staff @ 10:30 PM

Monday, November 15, 2004

This morning Tom Salter, our executive director, spoke to about 25 law enforcement officers, judges and other community leaders at a litter ordinance workshop in Sevier County about KKB's experience with the litter officers in Knoxville and Knox County.  Tom was invited by Keep Sevier Beautiful executive director Allison Teeters to address the group.  As many of you know, Allison is a former employee of Keep Knoxville Beautiful and she has done very well in Sevier County.  Since becoming their executive director about 18 months ago they have won 3 national awards from Keep America Beautiful.

- posted by KKB staff @ 10:30 AM

Planting continued at South Doyle Middle School - this time with a lot of help from the Knox County Sheriff's Office.  Here are three inmate supervisors and Bob Santore.  Out of respect for their privacy, inmates cannot be pictured, but at least ten helped today and dug many of the holes by hand because the ground remained too soft for the auger.



- posted by KKB staff @ 3:45 PM

Saturday, November 13, 2004

This is planting day at South Doyle Middle School.  We have a nice group of volunteers helping on the project today.  They include: [names will be added soon].  South Knox County Commissioners Paul Pinkston and Larry Clark offered their help.  About 40 of the 116 trees were planted today.  Planting will continue on Monday.  We worked from 8:00 am to about 2:00 pm.  We started with a planting lesson from Sam Adams.  Sam is in management with Cortese Tree Experts, is a certified arborist and is currently the president of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council.  When Sam finished, the volunteers started planting the trees.  Tom Simpson, area forester, for the State Department of Agriculture was on the site for about 2 hours inspecting, and approving of the work being done.











Rob Roy of HeartofKnoxville.com came by and shot a lot of nice pictures of this project.  Click on the logo below to see more South Doyle Tree Planting pictures:



- posted by KKB staff @ 3:30 PM

Friday, November 12, 2004

This is a big day for South Doyle Middle School.  The trees for the Urban Forestry Grant planting are being delivered today and a crew from Knox County Engineering is coming with a piece of heavy equipment and a 36" auger to dig the holes.  Knox County is also donating a truckload of mulch.  Planting is tomorrow!  The project is made possible by an Urban Forestry Grant from the State of Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry and the USDA Forest Service.  The project would not have been possible without the dedication of South Knoxville neighborhood activist Bob Santore, winner of the 2004 New Sentinel Environmental Achievement Award.

Heavy rain last night and this morning prevented all the holes from being dug when the auger got stuck.  Shipment of the trees was also delayed.  The goal to plant all the trees tomorrow may be in jeopardy.







- posted by KKB staff @ 11:30 AM

Thursday, November 4, 2004

KKB, City of Knoxville Recycling and B97.5 radio did a campaign sign cleanup promotion called the Election Collection.  In spite of VERY heavy rain, approximately 200 signs were turned in at Lakeshore Park.  The News Sentinel ran a story with a nice picture of Cortney and a mention for Keep Knoxville Beautiful.  J. Miles Cary, News Sentinel assistant picture editor provided this picture.


photo by J. Miles Cary, Knoxville News Sentinel

- posted by KKB staff @ 10:30 AM

Wednesday, November 3, 2004

KKB's Cortney Piper and UT Recycling Coordinator and KKB Board Member Sara Surak met with representatives of the Panhellenic Council to encourage sorority involvement in the Cans For Cash America Recycles Day Promotion.
   
- posted by KKB staff @ 6:15 PM

Monday, November 1, 2004

Keep America Beautiful notified KKB that we won the First Place Award for Innovation in Litter Prevention for the Greek Challenge.  This is the fourth national award KKB has received in this award cycle.

- posted by KKB staff @ 10:00 AM