Community Notes:

Labron Lazenby has long been recognized as one of Knoxville’s foremost blues entertainers. He gained fame as the host of the Sassy Ann’s Blues Jam at the height of its popularity and as the guitarist and vocalist for two of Knoxville’s legendary bands, The Boogeymen and Sara Jordan and The Leftovers. Lazenby has rejoined forces with two former members of The Boogeymen and The Leftovers, bassist Andy Lewis and drummer Danny Ledford, to create a blues power trio that is fast rising back to the top of the Knoxville blues scene. Saxophonist Bob Knapp will join them for this evening’s performance, paring together two of our area’s wildest musicians on guitar and saxophone for what promises to be a truly memorable
show. The father and son duo, Grupo Lavolta, will perform during the intermission.

Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for ages 6-18 and over 60. GSMHC members and children under 6 are admitted free. Cushions or blankets are recommended for comfort in the concrete outdoor amphitheater. The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is located on State Route 73, near the Townsend entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For more information, call 865-448-0044 or visit www.gsmheritagecenter.org.

The Sunset Music Series is presented by Bank East and sponsored by The Daily Times.

Heart of Knoxville Career Center at Pellissippi State hosts Alcoa job fair
Representatives of Alcoa Tennessee Operations will visit the Heart of Knoxville Career and Resource Center at Pellissippi State Technical Community College, July 18, to recruit prospective employees.

The representatives will be at the Magnolia Avenue Campus, 1610 E. Magnolia Ave., 10 a.m.-2 p.m., seeking to fill various production and electrician positions at the Alcoa plant in Blount County.

For additional information, contact Bryan T. May of the Heart of Knoxville Career and Resource Center at 865-329-3166 or btmay@pstcc.edu.

Smoky Mountain Classic kicks off this weekend
The field has been set for the 39th annual Smoky Mountain Classic softball tournament sponsored by the Maryville-Alcoa-Blount County Parks and Recreation, Blount Today, Louisville Slugger and Elite. Considered to be America’s Premiere Softball Tournament, the Classic will feature the top men’s slow pitch softball teams in the country. Thirty teams representing 15 states will make up this year’s tournament, which will be held July 13, 14, and 15. Included in the field of 30 are 13 of the top 15 ranked teams in the country.

Games will begin at 5 p.m. Friday afternoon at Sandy Springs, Everett, and Springbrook Parks and Maryville College.
Admission for the tournament is $5 Friday, $6 Saturday and $5 Sunday. There will also be a Homerun Derby Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at Sandy Springs Park involving several local players and some of the top hitters in the country.

The Blount County area will be well represented with Carpet Headquarters/Quaker Steak & Lube and Valley
Excavating/3N2.

For a complete look at the 2007 Smoky Mountain Classic, see the special section in today’s Blount Today.

Debuty family plans ‘thank you’ benefit concert
One Home, Many Hands, the organization established to rebuild the Debuty home, is, at the family’s request, presenting a benefit concert to say "thank you" to the many friends, family and community heroes who have helped the Debuty family after the devastating fire that claimed the lives of four of their children and their home.

The benefit concert will be held at the Maryville Greenbelt Amphitheater at 7 p.m., Friday, July 20, including family friendly
performances by Jericho Road www.JerichoRoadMusic.com) and Disney’s Rising Star - Cali (www.MusicbyCali.com).
Admission is free, however there is a suggested donation of 1 new smoke detector.

The Blount County and Friendsville Volunteer Fire Departments distributed a record number, over 800 smoke detectors in our area this spring and spent hours in the cold and rain to collect funds to help the Debuty family. As a thank you, all proceeds and smoke detectors will be given to the Blount County and Friendsville Volunteer Fire Departments.