Knox County Government

In addition to its Smart Start classes (first Wednesday of the month), Knox County Health Department (KCHD) will begin a series of four monthly parenting workshops called Parent Power beginning Wednesday, June 23 and continuing through Sept. 15. All Parent Power classes will be held at 3:15 p.m. in the Community Room at 140 Dameron Avenue. The workshops are free, but anyone interested in attending should call 215-5170 to reserve a space.

Get your splash on as Knox County Public Library jump starts its summer reading clubs with the Children’s Festival of Reading from on May 22nd in World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville. Now in its 6th year, the Festival has become a favorite way to start the summer.

Bike rides on community greenways and mountain bike trails, hikes in community parks and river paddles from both west Knox County and downtown locations are all part of the upcoming GetOut! series.

How healthy are Knox County residents? What are our strengths and what concerns us? As a community, what can we do to move toward improving health and quality of life in Knox County? To help formulate answers to those questions, Knox County Health Department (KCHD) presented data from two recent community assessments this week.

Knox County's new Recycle Champions program has recognized its charter group of champions. This group consists of businesses in the community that are leaders in recycling and waste-reduction efforts. Bush Brothers & Company, Earth Fare, Sustainable Future, Thermocopy and Three Rivers Market were all recognized as platinum Champions, the highest level of achievement.

Women are often the caregivers for their spouses, children, and parents, and neglect their own health. But research shows when women take even the simplest steps to improve their health, the health of their family improves. That’s why National Women’s Health Week is observed immediately following Mother’s Day each year.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced that the Knox-Area Medication Collection Program has received a Governor's Environmental Stewardship Award for its role in keeping medication out of local waters and landfills, and for making the community a safer place by collecting expired and unwanted prescriptions.

Posted: 2-10-2010 - Imagination Library is celebrating five sweet years of free books for Knox County children. And what's a celebration without a cake? Knox County Public Library is pleased to announce the inaugural Great Cake Bake on March 13, 2010 to be held in the L&N Train Station on World's Fair Park from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Posted: 2-9-2010 - A "Tennessee Yard Done Right" is beautiful, earth-friendly and saves money. Through the Home Landscape Workshop, Tennessee Yards and Neighborhoods (TYN) helps homeowners create attractive and healthy yards by working with Tennessee’s environment rather than against it.

Posted: 2-3-2010 - Healthy You 101 is coming to UT's University Center on Saturday, March 6th and features The Biggest Loser contestant David Griffin. The program, which has been designed with teens in mind, will be a fun-filled day with workshop activities, information, giveaways and door prizes. Registration is required and space is limited to the first 200 participants.

Posted: 1-25-2010 - Popular lunch and learn program partners with Baker Center on H2Oh! water series. The Brown Bag, Green Book series sponsored by the Knox County Public Library and the City of Knoxville presents its next program on Tuesday, February 2, at 12 p.m. in the East Tennessee History Center Auditorium, 601 South Gay Street, as a part of H2Oh!, a series of events about water, in partnership with the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy.

Posted: 1-22-2010 - If the snow and ice kept you way from our last "Plug Into Your Community" electronic recycling event, there is another one tomorrow, January 23rd from 9 AM to 3 PM at Chilhowee Park. You can drop off old computers, scanners, laptops, printers, calculators, cell phones and other items.

Posted: 1-12-2010 - Knox County Health Department announced today a $360,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The grant will support improved opportunities for physical activity and access to affordable, healthy foods for children and families in Knox County. Based on a rigorous selection process that drew more than 500 proposals from across the country, Knox County is one of 41 sites selected for the RWJF Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities initiative.

Posted: 1-7-2010 - This Saturday, January 9th, Knox County is partnering with the City of Knoxville, Optimist Club of West Knoxville and the Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad for the first of two “Plug Into Your Community” electronic-waste recycling events.