In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Knoxville Weather - Clear with a High of 56

🗓️ Make a Christmas Gift for your Dog at a Crafting Event on Saturday - Snuffle Mat Night at Zoom Room!

👮🏾‍♂️ Knoxville-Area Pill Mills Run by Italian Nationals Lead to Major Convictions and Sentencing

📰 Tennessee Faces Rapid Loss of Farmland Amid Growing Development Trend

🐕‍🦺 Pets: Training and Holiday Tips of the Day

📅 Upcoming December Events, including Christmas Parades

💡 We Want to Spotlight Your Business!
 

New Event(s) Added:

• Crafting Event - Make Your Own Christmas Snuffle Mat for your Dog: Love to Craft? Want to get your dog a special holiday gift? Join us on Saturday, December 16th from 4pm - 6pm! Cost: $20/person. Holiday music, munchies, and hot chocolate included! This is a people-only event. Sign up here. Click ‘Schedule’ at the top, then the sign up button for this class.
  

  

Angel Tree Program Brings Joy to Hundreds in East Tennessee

This year, the Angel Tree Donations organized by the Salvation Army significantly impacted numerous families and children, ensuring they had gifts to open on Christmas morning. The area commander of Salvation Army Knoxville, Cameron Henderson, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming community support, which was instrumental in collecting donations. These contributions were aimed at ensuring children enjoy a splendid Christmas and assisting families in providing for their children.

Annually, the Angel Tree program aids hundreds of thousands of families across the United States. In East Tennessee, the efforts of volunteers and donors ensured that all 787 'angels' had presents waiting for them. Henderson highlighted the joy and brightness these gifts brought to families in various counties, including Knox, Sevier, Cocke, Blount, Anderson, and Campbell.

Tennessee Faces Rapid Loss of Farmland Amid Growing Development Trend

Tennessee is experiencing a rapid loss of farmland, ranking among the highest in the United States for this trend. A recent report highlights the alarming rate at which the state is losing its agricultural land, with tens of thousands of acres being converted each year. This change is largely attributed to the state's increasing population.

The shift from agricultural land to residential developments is a growing trend in Tennessee. According to the University of Tennessee's annual economic report presented to the governor, the state lost approximately 1.1 million acres of farmland from 1997 to 2017, averaging about 55,000 acres per year. Post-2017, this rate has increased, with approximately 86,000 acres of farmland being lost annually.

Knoxville-Area Pill Mills Run by Italian Nationals Lead to Major Convictions and Sentencing

Two individuals from Italy were recently found guilty for their involvement in illegal prescription drug distribution through clinics in East Tennessee and Florida. Both Luca Sartini and Luigi “Jimmy” Palma received 10-year federal prison sentences, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in a criminal enterprise known as Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) conspiracy.

In Knoxville, three nurse practitioners were also sentenced to 30 to 42 months in prison for prescribing excessive opioids from these clinics. These clinics, operating under the name Urgent Care & Surgery Center Enterprise (UCSC), have been linked to nearly 700 patient deaths, either directly or indirectly, due to the narcotics they prescribed.

Investigations revealed that these clinics distributed 11 million tablets of potent drugs like oxycodone, oxymorphone, and morphine, earning over $21 million, with a street value estimated at $360 million. Sartini and Palma were extradited from Italy in 2020 to face these charges.

Pet Training Tip of the Day

Tip: Use meal time as training time.

Today’s Pet Training Tip of the Day is brought to you by Sharon Short of Zoom Room Knoxville-Hardin Valley.

Christmas Season with Pets Tip of the Day

Tip: On Christmas or whenever opening presents, once the presents start being opened, be sure to keep cords, strings, ribbons, and Styrofoam packing materials out of reach of pets as they can cause an obstruction if eaten.

Today’s Christmas Season with Pets Tip of the Day is brought to you by Carol Logue of KT Walking Paws.

Upcoming December Events

Have an event to add? Let us know! [email protected] 

Friday, 12/15:

• "Holiday Dance Party!" with The Streamliners Swing Orchestra: 6:30 pm - 9 pm at The Concourse, 4328 N. Broadway. Cost: $20 at the Door. More Info

Saturday, 12/16:

• Christmas Holiday Market: 9am - 3pm in Halls, Black Oak Plaza. This is free to attend, outdoor event.

• Crafting Event - Make Your Own Christmas Snuffle Mat for your Dog: Love to Craft? Want to get your dog a special holiday gift? Join us on Saturday, December 16th from 4pm - 6pm! Cost: $20/person. Holiday music, munchies, and hot chocolate included! This is a people-only event. Sign up here. Click ‘Schedule’ at the top, then the sign up button for this class.

• Yoga for Martial Arts: 9 am - 10 am at Warrior Heart USA, 297 Oak Ridge Turnpike Suite 400 in Oak Ridge. Cost: $20 drop-in or included in membership. More Info

Monday, 12/18:

• Christmas Party at the Strike & Spare Fountain Lanes: December 18th, 5pm - 8:30pm. This party is for anyone that needs assitance during the holiday for their children (ages 0-12 will receive a gift & ages 13-16 are also invited). They will provide bowling, food & snacks. Santa Claus will be there for photo opportunities and visits. NO gifts will be given before 8pm. MUST be present to receive gift. Limited Lanes are available, call to sign up (Ricky Spiva - (865) 283-2394 or Fountain Lanes - (865) 687-4611)

• The Grand Victoria Christmas Open House: December 18th, 3pm - 8pm, 6325 Tazewell Pike. Come check out the newest venue in Knoxville, enjoying a Christmas open house and local vendors with gifts and crafts. More Info

Thursday, 12/21:

• Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas Tour: December 21st, Second Presbyterian Church, 2829 Kingston Pike, 4pm and 7pm. Cost: Varies. More Info

Multi-Date Events:

• 37th Annual Clayton Holiday Concert: December 15th, 7:30pm; December 16th, 3pm & 7:30pm; December 17th, 3pm at the Civic Auditorium. More Info

• The Best Thing About Christmas at the Bijou Theatre: December 19th & 20th, See the Christmas Spirit…Nashville Style, Doors open at 6pm, Show begins at 7pm, More Info/Get Tickets 

• Downtown Peppermint Trail: Now through 1/7/2024. More Info

• Holiday Open House at Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique: December 16th and 17th from 9am - 5pm, 9700 Kingston Pike. Holiday food, drink, retail sales and more! Get your holiday shopping wrapped up with our free gift wrapping 🎁 & enjoy some Spa treats and door prizes at the same time! More Info

• Ice Skating in Market Square: An open-air ice rink, Now through 1/2/2024. More Info

• Santa & the Grinch: Have your photo made with Santa & the Grinch every Sunday until Christmas, 2pm - 5pm at Painting with Friends Studio, 4301 East Emory Road 1st come 1st serve. Cost: $3.00/person. More Info 

Expanding Small Business Saturday into Small Business December

As the holiday season approaches, we have a unique opportunity to transform the success of Small Business Saturday into a broader, more impactful initiative: Small Business December. This initiative is more than just a campaign; it’s a community-driven movement to support our local economy and the small businesses that are its backbone. Small businesses give our community its unique character, create jobs, and invigorate our local economy. By choosing to shop locally throughout December, we not only find unique gifts for our loved ones but also contribute to the prosperity and resilience of our neighborhood.

Our collective efforts can make a significant difference. We encourage each of you to be ambassadors for this cause. Share your local shopping experiences on social media, recommend your favorite small businesses to friends and family, and consider buying your holiday gifts from local artisans and shopkeepers. Local businesses often offer beautifully crafted, unique items that make thoughtful and memorable gifts. Remember, every purchase you make at a small business is an investment in our community’s future.

Let’s come together to make Small Business December a new tradition that supports and celebrates the heart of our community - our local businesses. It’s more than just shopping; it’s about building a stronger, more connected community. Your support can help turn a challenging year into a brighter season for our small business owners. Let’s show them how much they mean to us and make this December a month of local love and community spirit.

We Want To Spotlight Your Business!

Would you like us to spotlight your local business in front of thousands of Knoxville area residents in an upcoming issue of Knoxville Insider?

We ❤️ Local Businesses!

We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you're a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! "Knoxville Insider" is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our town. Let's collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special. Send us a message to [email protected] and let's celebrate the spirit of Knoxville together! Not a business owner, but love a local business? Tell us all about it at the email address above!