Knox County officials and U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett will be on the front lawn of Gibbs High School at Tazewell Pike for a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 8, announcing the county’s application for a grant to build a pedestrian bridge to connect the campuses of Gibbs High and Elementary schools.
This is a long-time goal of the Gibbs High School Foundation. Earlier story here.
Burchett will be joined by Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Commission Chair Richie Beeler. Both Beeler and Burchett live in the Gibbs community.
When constructed, the bridge will be named for the late Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss. Gibbs High School’s JROTC will present the colors and the school’s choir will sing the National Anthem.
Members of the public are invited to attend this event, but to meet the requirements of the grant application, a drop-by meeting for public comment will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, in the high school auditorium.
With this sort of celebration for a grant application, we can only imagine the joy if the grant is approved. We can see another gathering when the surveyor lays out the specs for the bridge and perhaps a third when the footers are poured.
Seriously, though. This is a safety concern on the heavily traveled Tazewell Pike. Way to go, Gibbs High Foundation. What’s next?
Sandra Clark is editor/CEO of Knox TN Today.