We always hear from politicians that education is our number one goal. Of course it is just talk but it sounds good. Do you ever wonder if someone will have a breakthrough that will change everything we see in our world?

Maybe this is such a breakthrough.

If the full potential of this invention is realized it could be as important as the steam engine, the assembly line, or the computer.

You might say that is all well and good but what inventions have come from our community? When you drive down Pellissippi Parkway you can barley see the offices of CTI. They were innovators with medical imaging devices. Weston M. Fulton, was called Knoxville's "Thomas Edison", he invented the metal bellows used in thermostatic devices and held over 125 patents for his inventions. Fulton High School was named after him. Inventor George Dempster invented the “Dempster Dumpster”. Lee Martin’s company invented the Ipix camera. Countless inventions and patents have come from the Oak Ridge National Labs and the University of Tennessee.

On August 28th at 2:00 PM in the City County Building the Knox County Commission will vote on both the funding for the Hardin Valley High School and the Midway Industrial Park. Two different issues that are interlinked in that Knox County has run out of money and must decide on what priorities must receive funding.

When you see what education can provide is there any question that education is the best investment our community can make? In a great irony our Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, who has a Doctorate in Education, has brought our community to a cross roads. Should Knox County Commission vote for an industrial park that is certain to fail, or should it vote to build a needed school to educate the children of our community?