The Knoxville News-Sentinel from Knoxville, Tennessee • 13

Deaths Happenings Money The Knoxville News-Sentinel Wednesday January 29 1986 Channel would give Knoxville clearer PBS 4 by JAY DISKEY News-Sentinel statf writer M9m CaryNMM-SwiUnal RuralMetro firefighters battle flames from house fire on Washington Pike Curtis said East Tennessee Public Communications and WB1R Television Channel 10 are negotiating a contract so the public television company can have antenna space on Channel tower on Ridge in north Knoxville Call letters for Channel 15 have not been established If the FCC approves the application for Channel 15 construction permits would be issued and East Tennessee Public Communications would have two years to build the station Channel 2 will continue to transmit from Sneedviile Federal regulations would not permit East Tennessee Public Communications Corp from moving Channel 2 into Knoxville Curtis said The station in Sneedviile is permitted to transmit on a set frequency If moved to Knoxville the frequency would interfere with similar signals from Atlanta and Nashville stations Curtis said "The FCC is not requiring to keep the station (Channel 2) in Sneedviile but we move it much closer to the Knoxville metropolitan area without violating certain rules about the separation of If built Channel 15 will have more local programming than now available on Channel 2 Curtis said "There will be duplication of some services but we avoid he said "The station is needed I think Knoxville may be one of the biggest cities in the country without its own locally based public television The two stations also will share many tond-raising activities including annual membership drives in March and August Knoxville may have its own public television signal within two years if the Federal Communications Commission approves an application for Channel 15 a new noncommercial station Approval of the application would bring clear reception of Public Broadcast Service programming to Knoxville said A1 Curtis general manager of WSJK-TV Channel 2 Earlier this month East Tennessee Public Communications Corp owner of Channel 2 applied for per-lission to construct Channel IS The FCC may take three to 12 months to review the application Curtis said Channel 15 would operate as a sister station to Channel 2 It would share Channel 2s studio facilities in the University of Communications Building and have much of the same programming Curtis said Presently city residents need outdoor antennas satellite dishes or cable television service to receive Channel 2 programming The station's transmitter is about 55 miles northeast of Knoxville on Short Mountain near Sneedviile "This will be a trig gain" Curtis said "We do not now have a city-grade signal for Channel Channel 15's signal would allow Knoxville residents to receive public television without outdoor antennas or cable service "Poor reception for city residents has been a big Curtis said "Many of the people who are in need of educational programming may not be able to afford the equipment to receive Channel Boy leads 4 brothers from blaze 3 House fire started from stovepipe by ROBERT NORMS News-Sentinel staff writer i Independent group sets up health probe of Y-12 complaints His singed hair was the only visible sign of the near disaster 11 -year-old Charles Gray had Just avoided Minutes before he had helped his tour younger brothers escape from their burning East Knox County home at 8521 Washington Pike i The boys were alone when the fire started Their parents Charles and Verdi Gray were at Park West Hospital where the elder Charles was being treated for an injury he suffered when he stepped mi a rusty nail "The stovepipe fell down and caught the floor on fire first" the 1 1 -year-old Charles said describing the fire to RuralMetro firefighters "In about two minutes the whole room was ton of The house was destroyed Charles said when the fire started he and two brothers were sitting at the kitchen table and his two youngest brothers were asleep on a couch in an adjoining room Charles said he and his brother Timmy 7 half carried and half dragged the youngest boys Jeremiah 4 and David 2 out of the house while the flames spread Michael 6 escaped on his own When his brothers were safely outdoors Charles still in the house tried to find the family dog When he turned again fire blocked Charles from the outside door by FRANK MUNCER News-Seminal staff writer Mttes CaryNews-Sanftnal ttalf Becky Longmire Gibbs schoolteacher and wife of the owner of House Mountain Market holds David Gray 2 while his brother Jeremiah 4 sleeps on the checkout counter worried about their dog a chow chow named Gyde Clyde was found by RuralMetro firefighters in the basement and taken to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Hospital for treatment The dog was very bright and alert today said Dr Christine Jenkins It is receiving treatment for pulmonary endima which is fluid in its lungs resulting from inhaling the smoke and soot Jenkins said The dog also suffered a minor bum on its nose when RuralMetro firefighters arrived at 9:14 pm The firefighters poured water on the flames as young Charles explained what had happened Jeremiah and David had gone to nearby House Mountain Market for shelter Jeremiah went to sleep on the checkout counter and Becky Longmire the wife of one of the market's owners held David in her arms Timmy and Michael stood and listened to Charles tell his story They were close to tears and "As I was coming out the flames got bigger" he said "I had to jump the That was when Charles singed his hair The family had lived in the Washington Pike residence a month It was not the first time the Grays have escaped from fire A year ago a fire from a neighboring trailer spread to their mobile home in La Follette and destroyed it Flames were visible from the roof of the Washington Pike house Moratorium may hasten billboard erection been in contact with Tom Jelinek chief of DOE's Health Protection Branch in Oak Ridge "There didn't seem to be any problem getting access to the Wilcox said been most Range said "Basically we are in agreement barring any security constraints that yes they come down and look into this matter We will cooperate with Wilcox said he currently is studying a series of products used by welding inspectors to determine the chemical constituents and what potential health problems could be related to their use The products include cleaners and dyes used to cheek for cracks in welds He said the products manufactured by Magnaflux Corp in Chicago are widely used in industry apparently with few complaints "I've been in plants where been used but never been a Wilcox said He said some of the substances are known irritants and "you have to be careful of It it is unusual for NIOSH created to oversee worker health in private industry to inspect government facilities but it is not unprecedented In recent years inspectors have checked on complaints at two DOE facilities in Ohio Wilcox said "As time goes on if become something of a policy to give us he said One problem with an outside inspection at Y-12 is the heavily classified nature of work at the plant Arrangements have not been completed for the NIOSH visit but it's possible access in the plant could be limited for security reasons a DOE spokesman said Wilcox said NIOSH had some personnel with necessary for inspections at classified government facilities OAK RIDGE A physician from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health will be in Oak Ridge "within a few to begin investigating complaints about chemical exposures among welding inspectors at the Y-12 plant Dr Tom Wilcox a staff physician at the NIOSH offices in Cincinnati said his initial visit would include interviews with workers to learn what health effects they are suffering and what chemicals seem to bother them the most NIOSH officials then will evaluate work practices at the plant to see how the chemicals are being used which could involve "environmental to determine what exposures workers are receiving Wilcox said Martin Marietta Energy Systems which operates Y-12 for the US Department of Energy has done some testing on chemical exposures and those records likely will be supplied to NIOSH DOE spokesman Wayne Range said A number of welding inspectors at Y-12 where nuclear warhead parts are made from uranium have complained of respiratory illnesses they believe are connected to substances used in their work The NIOSH involvement was requested by the Atomic Trades and Labor Council which represents thousands of blue-collar workers in Oak Ridge Sam Fife the council's health and safety representative said union officials wanted an independent review because they have not been satisfied with past responses by DOE and Martin Marietta DOE has cleared the way for the inspection even though NIOSH does not have jurisdiction at government plants Wilcox said he had by ROGER HARRIS News-Sentinel staff writer spection fees Shouse1 fee structure would exempt signs owned by non-profit organizations and lessen the cost on most small businesses Rankin said he supports stronger sign controls and hopes council members will pass a tough sign-control ordinance In other action the council: Approved on first reading an ordinance creating a City Tree Board responsible for management of trees inside the city The ordinance provides for a municipal arborist who would work with the board in establishing tree management policies The ordinance is designed to conserve trees and sets limits on the number of trees a property owner can cut down Repealed an ordinance prohibiting tattooing inside the city McNeil said a tattooist organization wants to hold a convention in Knoxville but practice its trade without repeal of the ban Changed the date of Ms next meeting from Fetx 11 to Feb 12 to avoid a conflict wiUi the Knox County Republican Party1 annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Feb 1L Lamar's general manager Gary Douglas had opposed a one-year moratorium the council considered last summer Stivers said the earlier moratorium proposal was illegal while the current moratorium is legaL Vice Mayor Hoyle McNeil proposed the 90-day moratorium He said it will give the council and a citizen committee which has labored for eight months to fashion stronger sign controls enough time to finish the work The sign committee which the council appointed has proposed three ordinances to reduce the maximum size of billboards limit the distance between them and establish an inspection fee schedule The Metropolitan Planning Commission is reviewing the committee proposals Councilman Ed Shouse who is working on his own sign-control plan said he hopes to combine his proposals with those before the MPC "1 support the moratorium I'm satisfied that everything is on track and I can get with the sign committee" Shouse said The primary difference between Shouse proposals and that of the sign committee is in In the next three months Knoxville residents may see hundreds of new billboards sprouting up along city streets The City Council passed a 90-day moratorium on issuance of new billboard permits Tuesday but the action may prompt sign companies to use permits already issued faster than they had planned Robert Rankin of Eastern Outdoor Advertising who spoke against the moratorium at the council meeting said the potential income loss his company faces leaves him no choice but to proceed quickly on billboards for which he has permits Eastern has about 15 unused permits but Lamar Outdoor Avertising the city's largest billboard company has more than lOflL The moratorium ordinance which takes effect immediately says an unused permits will expire in 90 days unless signs are erected Lamar heartily supports the moratorium attorney Robert Stivers told the council members Senate panel votes to alter Knoxville council elections by TOM HUMPHREY News Senlxel Nashvrtie bureau where Koella makes his home and where mixed drinks are not legally sold Under Senate rules any bill affecting only one county must have the support of all senators from that county Koclia who opposes the bill on grounds it allows liquor in a county that has chosen to ban argued the measure appLes as a practical matter only to the Knoxville airport That he said gives him a veto right as a representative cf a portion of Knox County On the final vote all three Republican members of the committee voted against Owen's bill along with Democratic Sens Robert Rochelle of Lebanon and Lowed Thomas of Jackson Knoxville is Koella told the committee On the final committee vote the bill passed 5-4 with Democratic Sens Jim Lews of South Pittsburg and Avon Williams of Nashville joining Koella and two other Republicans Sens Bob Burleson of Roan Mountain and James Elkins of CLnton in the yes column The same panel rejected bill to legalize liquor sales at the airport and the airport Hilton HotrL Five voted against the bill four in favor Since a majority voted it down it is dead for the year under committee rules narking the fifth stra ght year similar legation has died in committee An exchange occurred between Owen and Koella over whether the b3 was strictly local or of statewide impact The McGhee Tyson Airport is Blount County politics here" said councilwoman Jean Teague Councilman MJton Roberts predicted Koefia'k effort will just like similar bills introduced in previous years Councilman Casey Jones said election system ensures that aS council members are accountable to all voters Council members Ed Shouse and Jack Sharp also oppose any change mandated by state government Repi Charles Drew R-Knoxvi! failed last year to revise the Knoxv: City Council election process through similar legislation Drew once finished first in a (Lstnct council race but lost in the citywide general election Koella had served as Senate sponsor of Drew's bil they're durg now in D-Mempkis that requires all members of a city council or county commission be elected by district instead of at large Originally Davis bill would have applied only to Shelby County where some members of the Memphis City Council and the County Commission are elected at large and others by district vote Knoxville council members oppose ary charge in the way they are elected In Knoxville six of the mne council members are nominated at the district level with the two top finisher facing a vote by the entire city the general election Three other council members are elected at large Home Ru we should decide how we want to vote and elect our people The Legislature's got enough to take care of down there much less dLb dabble in cty NASHVILLE A Senate committee has approved legislation that would alter the way Knoxvil'ians elect City Council members but killed once again a bill to allow Lquor-by-the-dnnk sales at McGhee Tyson Airport and the hotel nearby Sen Car! Koella R-Maryville played the leading role in both votes Tuesday by the State and Local Government Committee The liquor vote followed a spirited debate with Sen B3 Owen D-Knoxville but the council bdl passed with limited discussion Koella who represents a portion of aouthwest Knox County successful attached an amendment bnrrrg Knoxv-L'ie wghm the scope of a toll by Sen Ld Davis Other legislative stories page B3.