The week moved quickly, but some stories deserve more than one day in the spotlight. Saturday Catch-Up brings together six KnoxTNToday stories you may have missed or may want to read again. Pour another cup of coffee and choose the stories that interest you.
California to East Tennessee: KFD’s Trevor Doyle, wife find their home
Trevor Doyle grew up in Las Vegas, played college baseball in California, and then traveled 2,500 miles to begin a new life in East Tennessee. Now a senior firefighter with the Knoxville Fire Department, he serves at historic Station 5 in Mechanicsville. Doyle and his wife, Alexa, say Knoxville has become the home where they plan to raise their family.
Read the Our Town Hero profile
Knoxville: the last stand of the Great Circus Bim Bom
In 1990, a Soviet circus arrived in Knoxville as part of a goodwill tour, but sparse promotion, poor attendance, and financial trouble left its performers stranded in the United States. Beth Kinnane revisits the unusual story of the Great Circus Bim Bom and the churches, entertainers and ordinary people who helped its performers find a way home.
Read the Knoxville history story
Pellissippi student-athlete balances baseball and fatherhood
Pellissippi State baseball player MaKai Derry balances classes and practices with raising his young son, Koa. The former Grace Christian Academy player is studying accounting, hopes to continue baseball at a four-year college and wants his son to see that challenges do not have to keep anyone from pursuing a dream.
Mama Said: When the going gets tough, the tough get going
When an expected teaching position disappeared after Susan Espiritu announced her pregnancy, the future no longer looked like the one she had planned. She worked for Welcome Wagon, sold cemetery lots, delivered telephone books and gathered census information until she returned to teaching the following year. The experience became a lasting lesson about doing the next job that needs to be done.
Close to Home, Far from Ordinary: Fall fun doesn’t have to break the budget
The Townsend Fall Heritage Festival will fill Sept. 25-26 with bluegrass, mountain music, clogging, square dancing, Appalachian demonstrations and children’s games. Admission is free, making the nationally recognized festival an affordable way to enjoy an East Tennessee fall day. Parking is $10 and benefits the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department.
Plan an affordable fall outing
Power of the Purse packs the house for Mobile Meals
A sellout crowd gathered Sept. 17 to shop donated purses, jewelry and silent-auction items while supporting Mobile Meals. The program delivers food, social connection and safety checks to older adults who want to remain in their homes. One display showed the impact clearly: A $20 purse can help feed a senior for a week.
See how every purse had a purpose
Come back Sunday for Faith Along the Way, a quieter, faith-centered read for the weekend.
Follow KnoxTNToday on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Get all KnoxTNToday articles in one place with our free newsletter. Comments may be sent to news@knoxtntoday.com
