In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Knoxville Weather - Partly Cloudy with a High of 50

📰 New Non-Stop Flights Out of Knoxville

🗳️ Candidate Spotlight: Brian Walker for County Commission, District 5

📣 M&D Creations Halls: Crafting Personalized Treasures

📰 Give Blood, Get Cozy: Special Hoodie Gift with Your Donation This Week

🗓️ Event Showcase: Valentine’s Day Picnic and Movie Date…& Bring Your Dog!

📅 Upcoming Events 

🗓️ Know of Some Local Events not Listed? Send us the Details!

📣 We Want to Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

✅ Advertising Opportunities
 

New Non-Stop Flights Out of Knoxville

There are four new non-stop flights coming out of Knoxville, one being from a new airline flying out of McGhee Tyson airport!

• New Haven, CT (HVN) via Avelo

• St. Louis, MO (BLV) via Allegiant

• Jacksonville, FL (JAX) via Allegiant

• South Bend, IN (SBN) via Allegiant

Give Blood, Get Cozy: Special Hoodie Gift with Your Donation This Week

Medic Regional Blood Center is excited to announce a special thank you for those who donate blood this week. Every donor will be gifted a MEDIC Hoodie from Monday to Friday - February 12th-16th, available while supplies last. To book your blood donation appointment, please visit medicblood.org. Your contribution can save lives, and we're grateful for your support.

Candidate Spotlights

Early voting starts tomorrow! Check out our candidate spotlight section to get to know our candidates. We will be featuring one candidate per spotlight.

Brian Walker for County Commission, District 5

Brian Walker steps forward as a compelling candidate for District 5 County Commissioner, bringing a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to preserving the integrity and freedoms of Knox County. His decision to relocate his family to Knox County marks the foundation of his dedication to the community - a place he believes in protecting for its traditional values and beliefs.

With a diverse background in entrepreneurship and over 23 years of self-employment, Walker's journey spans various industries, including insurance, real estate, property management, and martial arts instruction. His educational achievements, including a Masters in Business Administration, coupled with his extensive professional experience, equip him with a broad perspective on effective governance. Having witnessed the detrimental effects of poor government policies across the country, Walker is motivated to prevent similar outcomes in Knox County.

Walker's campaign focuses on critical areas such as enhancing community safety, particularly within schools, improving infrastructure to accommodate growth, and ensuring the protection of constitutional freedoms. His approach to governance emphasizes the importance of supporting first responders, strategic planning for road improvements, and safeguarding personal freedoms against unnecessary government intrusion.

A strong advocate for local businesses, Walker aims to reduce governmental overreach, offering support through collaborations with the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations Although the scope of commissioners does not extend directly into school operations, Walker advocates for increased parental involvement and transparency in educational matters.

Transparency, communication, and accountability form the cornerstone of Walker's governance philosophy. He values community input and pledges to make decisions that reflect the community's best interests. Recognizing the importance of collaborative efforts among commissioners, Walker believes in uniting diverse viewpoints to achieve positive outcomes for Knox County.

Addressing specific concerns, Walker acknowledges the challenges posed by rapid population growth in District 5. He is committed to prudent budget management and a comprehensive review of transportation and infrastructure needs to ensure the district's development is both thoughtful and sustainable.

Looking ahead, Walker envisions a District 5 that manages growth sensibly while maintaining a high quality of life for its residents. He measures success by the community's happiness and freedom, achievable through careful planning and action.

Walker's unique blend of business acumen and commitment to community values makes him a standout candidate for District 5 County Commissioner. Residents seeking a leader with a fresh perspective and a proven track record of overcoming challenges in the business world will find a promising option in Brian Walker. For more information or to support his campaign, visit www.votebrianwalker.com or contact him at (865) 776-8928.

In Brian Walker, Knox County has a candidate dedicated to fostering a prosperous, safe, and free community, ensuring that District 5 remains a place where traditional values are cherished and protected.

M&D Creations Halls: Crafting Personalized Treasures

Today's business spotlight shines on M&D Creations Halls, a family-owned custom gift shop that specializes in turning your creative ideas into tangible treasures. Located at 6828 Maynardville Pike, this unique store has been serving the community for nearly three years with a wide array of customized products.

Founded by Nancy Skaar, a Minnesota native with a lifelong passion for crafting, M&D Creations Halls is the culmination of a dream that took root in St. Paul, MN, and blossomed in Knoxville, TN. Nancy, along with her three daughters and mother, started by showcasing their creations in various consignment stores before opening their own storefront in 2021. M&D, which stands for "mom and daughters," represents not just a business, but a family's journey of creativity and determination. 

M&D Creations Halls sets itself apart with its extensive range of services, including embroidery, direct-to-film, sublimation, laser engraving, vinyl, buttons, stickers, puzzles, window clings, freeze-dried candy, home decor, aromatherapy, earrings, and much more. They pride themselves on their commitment to quality and attention to detail, offering a sample or preview to customers before production and requiring no minimum order. 

The store's involvement in the community extends beyond its business operations. As proud sponsors of local schools, dance studios, and the tennis team, M&D Creations Halls supports the growth of young talent in the area. Their active participation in the Halls Crossroads Women's League and HBA highlights their commitment to community-building initiatives. 

Looking to the future, M&D Creations Halls has exciting plans for expansion. In January 2025, they aim to move to a larger space within the same mall, which will allow them to bring in more crafters and vendors, broadening their selection and supporting local artisans. Additionally, they plan to create a dedicated room for classes and community events, fostering a space for learning, creativity, and collaboration. 

For anyone interested in custom gifts, or to learn more about their community initiatives, you can contact Nancy Skaar at [email protected], call the store at (865) 925-3006 or her cell at (612) 801-9686. Visit their website at www.mdcreationshalls.com for more information. 

Join us in celebrating M&D Creations Halls, a business that not only brings creativity to life but also enriches our community with its commitment to crafting and collaboration.

Valentine’s Day Picnic and Movie Date…& Bring Your Dog!

Love is in the air at Zoom Room! Bring your dog and a blanket for a picnic-style movie date. Watch Lady and the Tramp and fill a West Paw Toppl with fixings of your choosing for $25 - or fill your own Toppl from home for only $5! Register online, or call (865) 378-7200.

Advertise with us

Are you a brand new or established business looking to become known in our Knoxville Insider community? We are looking for locally-owned business that would like to become a Knoxville Insider sponsor! Sponsorships can include:

• Hero or section banners

• Logo

• Video

• Print

• Spotlight Directory

• and more…

Reach out to us at [email protected].

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

February Events

Looking for events happening this week?

Community:

Stay Home and Read a Book Ball: On Saturday, February 17th, have a ball reading at home and help raise funds for the Children’s Festival of Reading by donating what you would have spent on a night out, More Info

Used Book Sale: Knox County Public Library, South Knox on February 24th from 10am - 5pm. More Info

Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture (with Carolyn Finney): on Thursday, February 29th, at 7pm at the East Tennessee History Center, More Info

Gardening:

ABC's of Pruning - Ask Before Cutting: Join Knox County Master Gardener Marsha Lehman on Friday, February 16th from 10:30am - 11:30am at UT Extension - Eastern Region Office, 1801 Downtown West Blvd for a discussion of the ABC's of pruning, event is free; no reservation required. More Info

Music:

"Friday Night Live!" presents Soulful Sounds Revue: featuring Lee Wills with special guests Larry Blair & Marki Lukyniuk on Friday, Feburary 16th at 6:30pm, More Info

Hillbilly Jedi with guest Union County Opry Band: at 150 Main Street on Saturday, February 17th, Maynardville, Tickets start at $15 More Info

The Ladies of Soul Tribute, Vol II: on Friday, February 23rd at The Concourse, More Info

Seasonal:

Valentine’s Afternoon Tea with Live Music: Experience a romantic afternoon tea at the Spice and Tea Exchange of Knoxville at 4pm on February 18th, Cost: $55/person. More Info

Business Networking:

Incredible Business Networking (IBN), Farragut: on Tuesday, February 13th, 11:30am - 1pm at Jet’s Pizza, More Info

Incredible Business Networking (IBN), Cedar Bluff: on Wednesday, February 14th, 11:30am - 1pm at Gondolier’s, More Info

Incredible Business Networking (IBN), Knoxville: on Wednesday, February 15th, 11:30am - 1pm at Pero’s Bar and Grill, More Info

Expansion Connection Mondays: Business networking on Mondays, 9am at The Burgers restaurant in Powell, February 19th, 26th.

We Want To Spotlight Local Businesses!

Would you like us to spotlight your local business in front of thousands of Knoxville area residents in an upcoming issue of Knoxville Insider? Apply Here. Not a business owner, but love a local business? Tell us all about it - send us an email at [email protected]!