SPOTLIGHT ON OUR ASSOCIATES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. POPULOUS DESIGNS OLYMPIC VENUES
Two Knoxville architects with impressive resumes are part of the team who designed facilities at the Olympic games. Charles Smith and Dave Forkner joined Populous architec-
ture firm six years ago formerly known as HOK Smith Fork- ner. Populous is a Kansas City based company that won the bid to build the iconic main stadium and many other facilities for the games. "The London office started this process 10 years ago with
the bidding process and we got involved about four years ago," said Smith. Using their 30 years of experience in eques- trian facilities, Smith and Forkner were assigned to draw up the designs for the venue in Greenwich Park that sits directly in front of the Queen's House. "You can imagine we had to be very sensitive to how that house played into the overall lay- out," he said. The facility holds 26,000 spectators who go to watch equestrian and pentathlon events. Because the field is in the Queen's back yard, Smith and
Forkner's work will disappear after the events. However, the reusable structure will likely make an appearance at future Olympics. It's a feature that these designers are proud of, because
Belle City Amusements—On The Road at the Iowa State Fair Visit with Larry The Cable Guy after a day of filming his reality
show for the history channel’s ―Only In America‖ which is sched- uled to air in January or February of 2013.
Left to Right: Amber Swedgon; Zackary Panacek; Jerry and Tabitha Sears; ; Mary John Panacek; Jeff Blanton; ―Larry‖ Nick Viscomi; Charles Panacek; Debbie Viscomi; Jill and Mike McCormack
even though this is the third time their work has appeared at the Olympics, they don't take it for granted. "When you think of the millions of people and billions that see it on TV, you've been apart of that. It's a very important part of our lives," Smith said.
KACHUNGA MAKES NATIONAL NEWS Any time a performer steps inside the cage with an animal,
they know anything can happen. Alligator trainer Daniel Beck was attempt- ing to show an Ohio county fair audience Thursday how quickly gators react once they detect some- thing inside their open jaws when the gator clamped down on his arm. ―This is live take. This is real alligators, it’s no second
chances,‖ said Beck. Beck was able to pull his arm away the first time but was unsuccessful when he tried a second time during the demonstration. ―My arm was just a little bit too high and it ended up in the wrong place,‖ Beck said. Bert Lucas, producer of ―The Kachunga and the Alligator
Show,‖ rushed in to keep the gator from flipping over into what’s called a death roll. ―It’s just like putting your hand in a vice and cranking it down as tight as you can get it and
then doing six more cranks. It’s that much pressure,‖ Lucas said. To save his partner’s arm, Lucas pried the gator’s locked jaw apart. After 20 seconds, the gator finally lets go. ―There’s no nerve
damage, there was no muscle damage. Everything’s working, I just got a few stitches,‖ Beck said. The alligator show has been performing this act for close to three decades without any serious injuries. The Kachunga organization emphasizes that at no time were
Belle City’s Miss Mary with Larry The Cable Guy at the Iowa State Fair
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any patrons in danger. Kachunga and the Alligator is educational, funny and safe to
view. the alligators are treated with respect and care and are not harmed in any manner.
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