The King

Valley Tribune
4th edition
6/8/2020

Managing Editor: Bennett Taylor

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 • State House Representative Erick Allen serves district 40, which covers Smyrna and Vinings.
• Rep. Allen spent an hour with me on May 22nd, and here are some of the highlights from our
conversation.
• Background:
My interview with •
•
He was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, even attending college there at Belmont University.
His childhood was fun. His mother was a teacher and his father was a pastor, and he has two siblings.

Rep. Erick Allen! •

•
He played baseball, basketball and bowling as a kid, and even played a year of basketball on his college team at Belmont.
When he was in high school, his bowling team won the bowling tournament for his state - his high score is 286!
• In addition to being State Rep, he is an independent consultant focused on workforce performance and development.
• The first political position he ran for was the one he is in now. He lost his first two races before winning
in 2018. Each term lasts for two years, so he is currently running for re-election in 2020.
• His favorite part of being State Representative is "having conversations like this" and being able to help
so many people when they call and ask about certain things. 2
More questions and answers!
• He said, "it's not about the laws you write, it's about the people you serve."
• The biggest local issue he is currently focused on is the Sterigenics plant.
• Rep. Allen said it's difficult to "turn off" being representative, but he tries as
best he can for family and while on vacation.
• He feels that one of the positive outcomes of the Corona virus is humanity.
People are being nice to each other, like the Support Smyrna program.
• His favorite sport to play is golf, and favorites to watch are baseball and golf.
• Some of his favorite hobbies are reading, playing with his daughter (they try
to go out once a week and have daddy daughter dates), and watching sports
on TV.
• He doesn't know if he will have any political goals beyond being a State Rep.
He enjoys the position he is in, and never imagined he would be in it, so he
hasn't thought beyond it.
• He and Mayor Norton are good friends, they talk a lot, and they agree on a lot
of things. He said he feels Mayor Norton has done a good job with the Covid-
19 response! 3
Watch Out - Snakes!

I've heard that there are some snakes

near the pool living in the rocks.
Don't worry, they are not venomous.
But it's just that time of year when
snakes appear. Perfect temperature
with the summer weather rolling in.
So, watch out for snakes! I think it
might be some sort of rat snake. If
you know, tell me at
bennett.c.taylor10@gmail.com!

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 Warm Weather Jokes!

• What season is the best time to go on a trampoline? Springtime!

• What do you call a rabbit with fleas? Bugs Bunny!
• Name a bow that can't be tied. A rainbow!
• What flowers grow on faces? Tulips (two-lips)
• Why was the bee mad? You'd be mad too if someone stole your honey
and nectar
• What goes up when rain goes down? Umbrellas!
• How excited was the gardener about Spring? So excited he wet his
plants!
• What kind of tree fits in your hand? A palm tree!
• How do we know the ocean is friendly? It waves.

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Traveling!
If you are looking to take a vacation at the
beach, I recommend Ponce Inlet, FL! It has
great, uncrowded beaches, and is a quiet
town down the beach from Daytona Beach
Shores.
Did you know that Ponce Inlet lighthouse is
the tallest lighthouse in Florida? Yes, it is!
You can go parasailing, rest on the beach (of
course), you can climb the lighthouse, there
is a Marine Science Center that is open, and I
was buried in the sand! I also went on a boat
tour with the lighthouse in the background
looking for dolphins and manatees.
It is close enough to see rocket launches from
the beach, but the skies were too cloudy to
see the Space X launch. I had a great time on
the beach with my brothers and cousins!
But you don't have to do what I was doing.
You make your own decisions. But if you are
looking for a vacation, I highly recommend
Ponce Inlet!
 Interviews!
I am looking for more interviews! If you want to
be interviewed, or have a recommendation for
one, please let me know. I am also looking for
any recommendations on sections or stuff you
want me to put in my newspaper.
Thank you and I am pretty much free because it
is summer break, so you can find me at my
friends' houses, my house, or the pool. Because
of your recommendations and feedback, I have
really enjoyed working on my newspaper.
Thank you for reading edition 4 of the King
Valley Tribune! P.S. I am always open to anyone
that wants to join my team. Let me know if you
do!

Bennett.c.taylor10@gmail.com
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