Steven Goodpaster of Powell is my friend. A harder working, more positive person cannot be found. He’s a past president of the Broadacres Neighbors and Enhance Powell where he helped launch and named the annual Beaver Creek Flotilla.
After 16-plus years in one private-sector job, Steven took a job October 2024 with the federal government, and now he is unemployed.
“Everything lined up for me to become a GS-13-level appraiser with the Large Business & International Division of the Internal Revenue Service – a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury,” he said. “I know that my unexpected release from the service had nothing to do with my performance, and that my efforts and achievements were the complete opposite of any failure.”
And he is stretching to help his former co-workers – a professional engineer, a CPA and a business valuer, to start.
Steven said “while relatively brief,” his tenure was impactful. “Our team identified adjustments in the tens of millions, to nearly one billion dollars, leading to material fraud-related savings for the government.”
“No man is a failure who has friends,” Steven quoted from It’s a Wonderful Life. This man will make a stellar asset for some company.
Con Hunley to perform in Maynardville
Con Hunley
Con Hunley will perform at the Union County Opry with special guest Justin Terry at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Union County High School, 150 Main St. in Maynardville, Tennessee. The event is co-sponsored by the Union County Chamber. Tickets here. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Clear Springs seniors do Mardi Gras
Clear Springs Baptist Church’s Widows & Widowers Ministry enjoyed a Mardi Gras Party with homemade gumbo, fish & chips with hush puppies, and a Mardi Gras King Cake.
Spring Craft Fair at Marble Springs
The annual Spring Craft Fair at Marble Springs State Historic Site will be Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1220 Gov. John Sevier Hwy. in South Knoxville. This event is the perfect mix of history, art and springtime fun. Admission is free, and everyone is welcomed. Info: 865-573-5508.
- Handmade goods from East Tennessee artisans
- Scenic arboretum with trees and flowers in bloom
- Crafts: Make an herb sachet or paint a rock for the herb garden
Want to be a vendor? Apply here. Space is limited. Info at www.marblesprings.net or 865-573-5508.
Any organization would be lucky to have Steven on board. His skills coupled with his creativity, energy and ability to engage others have certainly benefited our community and Knox County. It is a tragedy that he and so many highly qualified and, in some cases, long term valuable employees are being thrown out of public service. Unfortunately, I fear we will all come to suffer for the votes cast by the majority of Tennesseans in November.
Sounds like big business and international business can go back to cooking the books on property appraisals. Seems like we are encouraging fraud, waste and abuse rather than fighting it.
Most of the people in our government being villainized and treated like dirt by greedy oligarchs are good people just like Mr. Goodpaster.
What you are getting now — and the deep recession and future pandemics and terrorist attacks that will inevitably follow these reckless and dangerous decisions — are precisely what you voted for, Tennessee.
You don’t get to complain now until the next election. Hopefully you take your heads out of your propaganda bubbles and pay attention next time rather than treating voting like a childish team sport.
Steven is one of the good ones. I love his positive spirit. If you’re hiring – call him – you’ll have a great employee! I’m sorry our government is applying management by chainsaw.
Thanks, Wayne. I endorse Steven for any job, on any day. — Sandra
Wow! Timing is everything. So glad he seems to have a positive attitude.