McMinn Life Spring 2019

Spring 2019

Life

MEMPHIS IN MAY

AND LOTS OF SPRING FESTIVALS

BICENTENNIAL MCMINN COUNTY

NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM

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McMINN LIFE SPRING 2019

MICHELIN • BRIDGESTONE • PRIMEWELL • FIRESTONE & MORE

Find a Lower Price and We’ll Match It.

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years of Service, Dependability, Smooth Rides and Our Price Match Guarantee! At the time of purchase, if you find a current lower advertised price on the identical, in-stock tire from a local retail competitor’s store, we will match the competitor’s pre-tax price.

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Volume 2, 2015

A magazine for the people of Farragut, West Knoxville & surrounding communities.

Seasonal Culinary Inspirations Truffle Ricotta Cheese Recipe With Chef Deron Little

KIPPY BROWN Behind The Scenes With

Seattle Seahawks Coach Kippy Brown And His Amazing Life Story

THE MUSCADINE FESTIVAL &

HOT AIR 20 BALLOONS

Tsali Notch Vineyard The Largest Muscadine Vineyard In The State Is Also The Prettiest!

DR. HAROLD BLACK

One Of The First African-Americans To Attend The University Of Georgia

Farragut_Summer_2015.indd 1

8/25/15 10:27 AM

T E N N E S S E E

HUNTING & TRAPPING GUIDE

EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2015 - JULY 31, 2016

» New White-Tailed Deer Buck Bag Limit: see page 25 » Hunter/Landowner Permission Card: see page 67 » New Hunter Education Field Day Exemption: see page 12

www.tnwildlife.org Follow us on:

Includes 2016 Spring Turkey Season

MARKETING • MEDIA • WEB DESIGN • TELEVISION

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McMINN LIFE SPRING 2019

Community Health Services

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YEARS OF BRANDING EXPERIENCE

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YEARS OF IN-HOUSE TELEVISION PRODUCTION

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CUSTOM MAGAZINES A YEAR

250

LOCAL AND NATIONAL ADDY AWARDS

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NATIONAL BROADCAST TELLY AWARDS

W W W . B I N G H A M G R O U P . C O M • TEL: 865.523.5999 • 11921 KINGSTON PIKE • KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37934

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The Lord Is My Shepherd Billie Walker, bottle feeds and nurses these little ones back to health as a ministry. Crystal Stargel captures beautiful photography of these gentile lambs.

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JUDY LAVOIE

SPRING WILDFLOWER PILGRIMAGE

Artist of theYear

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Contents features

On A Hallowed Hill In Tennessee

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McMINN LIFE SPRING 2019

A Letter From City Manager

Jim Gray The Joy of Life Parade

Seth Sumner

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The National Civil Rights Museum

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Brittany andBrett

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departments

Smoky Mountain Lights

6 From The Publisher 9 Bicentennial Event Calendar

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12 Congradulations McMinn Central

31 Looking Back

Place of Good Abode

36 East Tennessee Foundation

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Harrah’s Hope Lodge & Dr. Matthew Wilson

38 Spring Festivals

National Cornbread Festival Niota Model Railroad Show Spring Craft Plaza Townsend Old Timers Day

40 We Love It! Bucket List

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Happy Birthday McMinn County

Calhoun

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PUBLISHER

The Bingham Group

From The Publisher

President Lisa Atkins Bingham

It’s spring...and summer, fall and winter. Just kidding, but also somewhat true with our unique East Tennessee weather. As the temperatures begin to settle in a true spring, we can all get prepared for all of the incredible springtime activities and festivals.

It is an honor to begin another year of sharing the stories of amazing people and places that make Tennessee the best place to live. Happy birthday McMinn County! We have the bicentennial event calendar in this magazine and will feature other events in our summer and fall magazines.

This is the year to experience Memphis in May, an international festival that happens annually. The timing of a city bicentennial has Memphis blooming with activities of celebration. Check out all of the events for getting the most out of this special time in Memphis. In this issue, you will also learn about Harrah’s Hope Lodge and the Hamilton Eye Institute, both located in Memphis.

Dr. Wilson at the Hamilton Eye Institute was my doctor when I needed cancer surgery, I am so thankful for him. We have really developed an appreciation for Memphis’ activities and the medical specialist there.

Check out the amazing Jim Gray, his incredible artistic talent is truly a gift from the heavens, timeless images captured on canvas.

Life

Graphic Designers Becky Brooks Brett Hawkins Contributing Writers CeCe Owens Kaitlin Edquist Lon Shoopman Seth Sumner Scott Schröeder Cover Photo Crystal Stargel Contributing Photographers Brett Hawkins JOPHOTO Kathleen Adkins Lawrence Hsia Lon Shoopman Noble Guyon Ziggy Mack

Lunch in Elvis’ Booth at the Arcade Restaurant in Memphis.

It is also special to feature the wedding of the Bingham Group’s very own, Brett Hawkins who married his sweetheart, Brittany in March.

Check out McMinnLife.com or follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest happenings in our area.

Advertising Sales Mignonne Alman Tel: 865.523.5999 mignonne@binghamgroup.com Subscription or Editorial Inquiries

Tel: 865.523.5999 www.mcminnlife.com

The Bingham Group, Inc. 11921 Kingston Pike, Suite 201 Knoxville, Tennessee 37934 www.binghamgroup.com www.mcminnlife.com

Lisa Bingham President The Bingham Group Publisher of Monroe, McMinn & Farragut Life Magazines

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The Lord Is My Shepherd One of the most beautiful and well known passages in God’s Word is the 23rd Psalm written by King David as a young shepherd boy about His loving Shepherd The Lord God. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even when I walk in the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staf -they comfort me. You set a table before me in the presence of my adversaries; You anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. May only goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever and ever.

The psalm brings comfort, provides hope and offers the peaceful outlook required to walk through the sometimes difficult stages of our lives. It is also the foundation for which Billie Karen Walker bases her life. She finds motivation in these words.

“Yes, it’s great therapy and my peace and walk with God,” she said, “being a shepherd to these precious lambs and sheep.”

From a child, Billie Karen had always been drawn to how God used and inspired writings using the analogy of the sheep for His children. She always wanted to get a hands on experience as a good shepherd to be like Jesus and know these beloved animals.

It started in a simple way with the acreage behind the home she shares with her husband, Paul. The back room of the home, overlooking this additional land, is a place for Bible study and visual enjoyment of the outdoors by Billie Karen, “It seemed so empty - it needed animals”, she reflected.

As she thought about what kind of animal, she remembered the Sheep farm of friends, Bryan and Mia Sage Beason, they passed daily coming home. She gave them a call asking if

possible to come by to pet and love on one of the gentle creatures. It was a touch that reminded her of that childhood calling.

Billie Karen also visited another shepherd, Kristen Svensen, of Foggy Knob Farm, who spent many hours sharing knowledge about the lambs and sheep. Discovering that the bottle fed ones required extra love and care, she reflected on that acreage behind her home and how beautiful their presence would be in the green pastures. “May I care for these lambs and other sheep on my land”, she asked Brian and Mia Sage Beason. With resounding approval and support to get started from them, Bille Karen Walker the Shepherd was born.

She was instantly in love with the lambs and sheep, sharing her vision with her family and close friends. A vision supported daily by husband, Paul; daughter, Halie Anna Duncan and her husband, Nathan; father, Bill Grady; friends, Leslie, Macy and Meadow and her amazing neighbors.

It is the perfect home, just the sight of them grazing and playing about in the field brings

peace. It is exactly as the words the song of David says: The Lord is my Shepherd. Billie Karen is able to bring them to her green pastures, lovingly care for them for the pleasure and goodness that is experienced by all who encounter these gentle lambs and sheep.

Granting opportunities for photography, visiting churches and allowing some 4H students to visit has created a ministry for showing the love of God to all creatures.

“Jesus sees us as His sheep and lambs. We need love and gentle guidance, He is our Shepherd, caring for our needs, showing us ways to give to others and to be used for a greater purpose.” said Billie Karen, “I just love the opportunity to love, and show support to other people and the sheep, I am truly blessed to have this chance and share these sheep and lambs with others. I have been so surprised that from children to the oldest of my friends have never had the opportunity to hold and love a lamb.

Many have said they were excited to hold a lamb - that’s the way Jesus sees all of us. As Isaiah 40:11 says: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart...” Thank you Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God!”

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Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association

Happy Birthday McMinn County

By Scott Schröeder

Birthdays happen every year. Usually we look forward to them and eagerly await a day to celebrate ourselves or someone we care for. Certain birthday celebrations carry special weight, the day you become 10! You have two digits to describe how old you are, small detail but still meaningful. 13 in some cultures means you’re adult enough to be held to a higher standard for your actions. Debatable on the value of that one but at least there’s still cake. A 16th birthday can have special privileges added - driving yourself to a friends house is now possible. At 18 and you’re an adult in every legal way and you have the ability to do almost anything you want, the world is a challenge waiting for you to seize upon. Turning 21 has meaning for some while others celebrate 29 - for the third time. Hitting the mid-century 5-0 mark can cause you to think a bit more about your past and what you have accomplished.

Somewhere in your 60’s you look forward to celebrate retirement and if you are fortunate enough to have three digits to describe your age, people you don’t even know will celebrate with you. Well, maybe you do know

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them you just can’t remember...at least there’s still cake.

McMinn County is turning 200 this year and we have much to celebrate. Not just having lasted as a defined land location somewhere in eastern Tennessee but as a place who’s influence has affected much more than is contained in the lines drawn on a map. Take some time to celebrate and reflect on the triumphs birthed from here that have affected quite literally the world.

The county is named after Joseph McMinn who served in the revolutionary war and as the 4th governor of Tennessee. No small tasks to begin with.

The actions from this community continued to take shape and form ideas that stretched beyond the county line.

Many positive actions and some not so glowing

events fill in our past. The Native American removal left a significant mark in our history we still try to understand to this day. After a civil war and rebuilding a nation this area was known as a hotbed for volunteers in both global wars. Every single person was valuable in those fights. The letters to those troops fueled their spirits amid conflict but it was just one letter from home in this county that changed someone’s mind and allowed women the right to vote in this country. A battle in the streets here changed how those votes were handled and the resolutions formed from that skirmish still influences voting standards throughout the United States to this day. Civil rights changes did play out here but this area is not known for the violent clashes so many other location had.

Instead we are not know for them - which I think speaks better of us.

People who lived through some of these pivotal moments in McMinn’s history still walk our streets today, and if you haven’t talked to them you should. Their understanding and perspective will help guide you through the next pivotal moments McMinn residents and this region will face. In the meantime celebrate this counties 200th birthday and celebrate what we have done as a community!

And, you should even take some time to reflect on those missteps in our path from 1819 that led us to where we are today. Whatever day today happens to be when you’re reading this there is probably a bicentennial celebration somewhere in McMinn county getting ready to happen or happening.

You should go out and enjoy it.

And there will most likely be cake.

Wesleyan is providing training, coworking space, and resources to our creative-, technical-, and entrepreneurial-minded citizens. The Main Street Athens and Downtown Business Association merger joins the strength of the small business private sector with the tools of the State’s Economic Development Office into a nationally accredited program. The opening of the Colloms Campus Center and the upcoming University Square on College Street are new spaces indoors and outdoors that our university is using to invite the public to share.

Civic Saturday celebrations are new quarterly come-togethers where citizens join in sharing their thoughts and dreams about our republic and our community.

Bicentennial Event Calendar: April 25

Starr Mountian Lecture Series Where: Gem Theatre

April 27 Supper with the Spirits Where: Calhoun

May 4 Moo Fest Where: Athens

June 29 Englewood Celebrites

A Letter From City Manager

Where: Englewood

C. SETH SUMNER

July 4

What a wet and wild winter! The signs of spring have arrived and are a welcome site.

As I walk and ride throughout the “Friendly City,” I am thrilled to see the results of the fall leaves fertilizing the growth of the now visible daffodils, tulips, and forsythia. The warmth of the sun after the cold, damp winter also helps to elevate my spirit. In November, I toiled in the soil with my children, planting 128 bulbs that are now flowering and sharing love with all who pass our home.

Fourth of July Where: Etowah/Athens

July 12 Rivertown Where: Calhoun

September 14 Fried Green Tomato Festival Where: Niota

September 14 Cow Pea Festival Where: Calhoun

October 5-6 Arts and Crafts Where: Etowah

October 12 Pumkintown Where: Athens

With the signs of life and of God’s promise for renewal shining all around us today, I have also been enthusiastically encouraged by the signs exhibited in fellow Athenians.

During a period of time when fewer people are involved with community processes than ever before, our community is stepping up to the plate in big ways. The Athens Thrives partnership has sparked discussions and actions to improve our downtown with murals, cultural districting, a new pocket park, and a vision for a higher quality of life. The LITE House at Tennessee

Dr. Brene Brown, a Texas storyteller, wrote, “I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.

Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”

All of this activity – wonderful, wonderful activity! These together are the catalyst for joining with our neighbors for fun and the opportunity, on occasion, to have brave discussions about the major challenges our community faces. Of the utmost importance is to set the appropriate frame for discourse. We are not acting with or against wicked people, but instead we are working together to solve wicked problems. If we remove the inherent human fallacy of simplistically calling another person wicked, we are able to look at the issues at face value and evolve from adversarial to collaborative discourse.

Like the bulbs planted in the cool soil several months ago that are now boldly in bloom, the time is ripe for Athenians to take advantage of our rights and duties in civil society to actively engage in creating a greater, more beautiful community. Be courageous. Together, we will move Athens forward.

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Brittany & Brett

It was love at first sight or at least it was love when they finally met! Brett Hawkins and Brittany Wheeler had lived less than a mile from each other for five years before meeting while working together briefly in the last few months of college. It may of taken time to actually be introduced, but they have made up for every minute of it since that moment.

Officially becoming a couple on March 8, 2018 while visiting Asheville, NC, getting engaged on December 26, 2018 atop Anakeesta in Gatlinburg and married on March 9, 2019 in the bride’s hometown and place they first met, Johnson City.

Brett followed the traditional rites of passage by asking his soon to be bride’s family blessing on the union. The engagement ring is perfected and centered by a diamond from the wedding ring of the bride’s grandmother. The wedding planning was seamless and fully designed by the bride, Brittany and her mother. A beautiful day with family and friends, each detail carefully aligned with their personalities, joining the families of Wes and Kim Wheeler with Tony and Elaine Hawkins. A day of love, union and beauty in an unmatched setting of elegance.

Taking place at The Gallery, the gorgeous chandeliers and large fireplace are focal points of this exceptional venue, along with hardwood floors, exposed brick and windows overlooking downtown Johnson City with spectacular sunset views. Candles and rose pedals filled the space, a special touch of the couple for the enjoyment of all and captured in timeless photography by JOPHOTO. Followed by a fun-filled honeymoon to Disney World and Clearwater, Florida, the couple now resides in Knoxville. Congratulations Brett and Brittany.

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Congratulations

MCMINN CENTRAL

By CeCe Ownes

The McMinn Central Farm-To-School program was highlighted in the March 2019 issue of the Tennessee Cattle Business magazine.

Thanks to a new program, students in McMinn County schools received a special holiday beef lunch proudly produced by its own animal science students. Annette Bryant, McMinn Central High School agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, began raising animals with her classes on the school’s 10acre farm with the goal of providing show animals for her students. Five years later, they are also providing nutritious beef and pork to school lunches.

At the lunch-and-learn events, FFA & 4-H students and local cattle producers were in attendance at all 9 county schools to talk with students about beef and answer their questions. Prior to the

lunches, FFA & 4-H student attended a three-hour beef course taught by Mrs. Bryant, with educational materials provided by the Tennessee Beef Industry Council, to prepare them for answering questions. The lunch events were a success, serving beef roast with potatoes and carrots to approximately 4,000 students across the county.

Farm to school is taking root across the state of Tennessee, where there are close to 340 school gardens, over 60% of school districts participating in farm to school, and about 20% of the state’s high school agriculture programs growing fresh produce that’s served in school cafeterias.

1911 S CONGRESS PARKWAY ATHENS TENNESSEE • 423-745-2630

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Calhoun 1939

CALHOUN

By CeCe Owens

The Calhoun area was settled by John Walker (c. 1770-1834), a part-Cherokee grandson of Nancy Ward and a prominent figure in the formation of McMinn County.

Walker operated a ferry along the Hiwassee River and helped contract the Cherokee Turnpike Company in 1806, which maintained the road between Knoxville and Georgia. In 1819, Walker helped negotiate the Calhoun Treaty, in which the Cherokee ceded the remaining lands between the Little Tennessee River and the Hiwassee River, including what is now McMinn County. McMinn County was organized at Walker’s house that same year.

The oldest town in McMinn is also its newest city with a name equally founded in history.

Calhoun was named after John John Caldwell Calhoun (1782 - 1850) Caldwell Calhoun (c. 1782 1850), an American statesman who served as the seventh vice president of the United States.

The county is named after Joseph McMinn, governor of Tennessee from 1815 to 1821, who spent the last years of his life in Calhoun, and is buried in the Shiloh Presbyterian Cemetery.

In 1954, the pulp and paper giant Joseph McMinn (1758 - 1824) Bowater (now Resolute Forest

Products) established a plant in Calhoun that soon grew to become one of the largest newsprint mills in North America. The mill, which dominates the western half of Calhoun, produces 750,000 metric tons of newsprint and specialty paper per year.

Trails of Tears. During the 1828 Cherokee Removal, several thousand North Carolina Cherokees were forcibly removed from their lands. This route led through Calhoun, down present day Main Street, to the ferry crossing at the Hiwassee River.

In December of 1973, the segment of Interstate 75 near Calhoun, Tennessee, was opened to traffic. Following this date, multiple vehicle accidents occurred due to visibility problems experienced in foggy conditions. The culmination of these events occurred on December 11, 1990 when dense fog contributed to a series of chain-reaction collisions involving 99 vehicles with 42 injuries and 12 fatalities. In 1993, a fog detection and warning system was implemented along the Interstate section. This system includes a three-mile fog detection area spanning north and south of the Hiwassee River and an eightmile warning zone on each approach to the fog prone area. In 2006, a project was initiated to upgrade the original system to current technology. Driver safety issues due to visibility problems have improved significantly since the system has been in place, with only one fog-contributed accident being recorded in 2001.

Calhoun is a city deeply grounded in the history of America with notable markers and places of great historical value throughout the area. Situated along the banks of the Hiwassee River, which

The main street of Calhoun has recently been designated by the National Historic Trails Service as an “Original Route” of the

flows from the Appalachian Mountains and empties into the Chickamauga Lake impoundment of the Tennessee River. Visit Discover Calhoun to learn more and check out McMinn Life Summer Issue featuring the River Town Festival.

Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage

Artist of the Year Judy Lavoie APRIL 23-27, 2019

By CeCe Ownes

Award-winning Artist, Judy Lavoie thought 2018 was “her year” as an artist, but 2019 started out with being selected as the 2019 Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Artist of the Year! The designation was made by the renowned Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in conjunction with the 69th annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “This combines two of my greatest passions, painting and spring wildflowers, making it a wonderful personal milestone,” remarked Judy, “I am so elated!”

The honor stems from the selection of wildflower painting, “Bloodroot,” as the featured image for this year’s Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, which will take place April 23-27, 2019. The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is an annual five-day event in Great Smoky Mountains National Park offering professionally guided programs which explore the region’s rich wildflowers, wildlife, ecology, culture, and natural history through walks, motorcades, photographic tours, art classes, and indoor seminars.

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See “Bloodroot” at the Spring Wildflower Pilrimage and Wolpert Gallery at the Arrowmont School.

“Happy Harvey”

“I painted more in 2018 than in many previous years, experimenting with new methods and materials,” explained Judy, “ I am humbled to be the recipient of honors such as this.”

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN ASSOCIATION’S

69th ANNUAL WILDFLOWER PILGRIMAGE

Judy Lavoie’s “Bloodroot” painting appears on the event t-shirts, mugs, and other Pilgrimage promotional items. In addition, it is featured in a solo exhibition of Judy Lavoie paintings at the Wolpert Gallery at the Arrowmont School running through April 26, 2019, with a reception at the gallery during the Pilgrimage week, on Wednesday, April 24th, from 5 - 7pm.

Judy is grateful for the opportunity to indulge in her passion for painting. She loves capturing everyday subjects such as beloved pets, wildflowers, rural scenes, fishing boats, and landscapes, as well as depicting the exotic, such as frolicking dolphins and African wildlife. Judy paints in a highly realistic manner with a unique sensitivity to detail. Her work is exhibited in private collections throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Judy’s long list of awards attests to the quality of her work. She won "Best of Show" in the 2018 Tennessee Watercolor Society Exhibition and has been included in each of their juried shows since 2008. Judy is also a signature member and multiple award-winner of the Jacksonville (FL) Watercolor Society and the Florida Watercolor Society.

Judy's fine art is now being featured in an extensive solo exhibition during April, May and June at the Community Activity Center in Rarity Bay, Vonore TN. Hours are Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm, and the public is welcome.

Visit www.judy-lavoie-art.com to view the online gallery featuring original paintings and limited edition fine art prints along with her Art Blog, a must read for all.

APRIL 24 - 27, 2019 The Wildflower Pilgrimage, which dates back to 1951, offers over 150 programs including an array of instructional walks and guided hiking tours tailored to meet individual walking skill and ability, along with demonstrations and guest lecturers.

These tours showcase the abundant varieties of wildflowers, plants, ferns, mosses, trees and shrubs, as well as birds, reptiles and amphibians, all native to the Great Smoky Mountains.

www.wildflowerpilgrimage.org

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Jim Gray The Artist’s Memories

By Kaitlin Edquist of the Indiana Daily Student

I

n space, they are together, ageless. Their image travels on a probe launched four decades ago, now sailing beyond gravity and time. Should it encounter life beyond the stars, a snapshot of their lives will tell part of the human story.

On Earth, it was Valentine’s Day, 2019. Jim looked at Fran through his thin-rimmed glasses. He took one hand off his walker and reached for her, and she helped him settle into his seat. They sat hand in hand, Fran’s nails polished a pale pink. A medical alert necklace dangled from her neck.

Jim and Fran Gray have been married 65 years. In January, they’d moved into an assisted living center in Bloomington, surrounded by dementia patients like them.

In the living area, Billie Holiday was singing about all the old familiar places, and Jim sang softly along. “I’ll be seeing you…”

In the distance, three large paintings covered one wall. They show a parade bustling down the street – balloons and confetti, dancers and trumpets. Overhead, two spacecrafts streak across the sky. Jim started painting them when he turned 80 and dementia began to creep into his mind. They weren’t his best work, but that wasn’t the point. Jim was a nationally renowned artist whose landscapes and seascapes continue to hang on the walls of homes and galleries around the world. But when his hands lost their dexterity and his memory started to slip, he painted a series of three canvases called the “Joy of Life Parade.” His earlier paintings were for others. These paintings were for himself.

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Photos by Noble Guyon & The Indiana Daily Student

Top: Fran reaching over the chair checking on Jim, “Joy of Life Parade” and the sculpture of barefoot Dolly Parton, it now stands outside the Sevier County Courthouse.

Every character, from the two men balancing on unicycles to the fisherman casting his rod off the back of a pickup truck, is a person he knew. He painted them — all the old familiar faces — because he was afraid he might soon forget.

There’s a long-legged woman in a yellow, skintight leotard and matching yellow heels. The red on her lips complements the red feathers in her grand, bejeweled headpiece. That’s Fran. The center of the painting and of his life.

Now Jim is 86 and Fran is 85. In the assisted living center, Elvis is singing “Love Me Tender.” “Way to go!” Jim tells Elvis.

“Shush,” Fran says.

Jim met Fran when he went with two Air Force buddies to visit her hometown in Illinois one night. Fran and two other young women pulled up in their car, and his friends talked to the ladies in the front seat. But Jim wanted an introduction to the third girl, sitting in the back. The streetlight lit up her face, and Jim stepped back to take in her beauty. His Frannie.

“I just sort of fell in love with her first time I saw her,” Jim said.

Fran has been an anchor for Jim ever since. They married and had three children.

Art fueled their family.

Their daughter Laurie, who eventually became an artist herself, remembers playing a game when they traveled. On her website, she describes how they took turns pointing to something out the car window — a beautiful sky, for instance — and describing what brushes and colors they would use to paint it.

Alizarin Crimson? Prussian Blue? Laurie says the game taught her how to see quickly and retain what she saw in her head.

When Jim asked Fran’s opinion on his art, she’d answer honestly. When he wanted more opportunities for people to see his art, Fran suggested moving to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where they would later open the Jim Gray Gallery. When he decided he needed to step back and focus on the creative side of his artwork, she took over running the gallery.

They were playful and pranked each other.

They taught their kids never go to bed upset, and they showed them what it means to love another person.

When Jim’s dementia started setting in, Fran became his primary caregiver.

Now in the assisted living center, she continues to hold his hand. She loves being surrounded by his art. It’s in her bedroom, the living area, the hallways. “They’re all my favorites,” she said.

In the parade painting, a policewoman is smiling, a badge on her sleeve and paintbrushes in her holster. That’s Miss Clyde Kennedy, Jim’s high school art teacher. Jim is the boy on the tricycle in the aviator helmet and goggles. One of his earliest memories came when he was 4 and felt the wind brush his face as he raced over a bridge. He felt like he was flying. Beside his younger self, Jim painted his childhood neighbor, Mr. Galyean.

Like most kids, Jim has loved drawing since he was old enough to hold a crayon. But he didn’t know he could make art for a living until he was 11 and Mr. Galyean gifted him with art books, brushes and other supplies, giving him the push he needed.

Jim painted for art shows and sold thousands of paintings and prints worldwide. He even carved a larger-than-life sculpture of a barefoot, smiling Dolly Parton that still stands outside the courthouse in her Tennessee hometown.

As clocks tick and Earth continues its rotation around the sun, art captures a moment in time. Jim believes it also captures joy.

“The pure joy of creating something that ‘you’ want to make, just for that pure purpose alone, sets it aside from all the other made things, and it is ‘art,’” he wrote a few years ago. In the corner of the “Joy of Life Parade,” the two space probes race through the dark sky.

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Jim and Fran are pictured Nov. 1, 1953, on their wedding day. Jim and Fran married for over 65 years.

In 1967, a man named Jim Amos showed up at Jim and Fran’s Gatlinburg home, camera in hand. He was a photographer for National Geographic working on a story about artists and craftsmen in the Great Smoky Mountains and happened upon the Jim Gray Gallery.

It was a chance encounter between two explorers. Amos took a photo of Jim sitting at his easel painting a landscape. In the forefront, Fran tends a fire in their big red fireplace, with Mama Cat lying on her lap.

A moment of their life frozen in film.

A few years later, NASA began plans for the Voyager I and II, two space probes created to explore the outer reaches of the solar system. Astronomer Carl Sagan was assigned the task of recording the sights and sounds of Earth onto golden records that would travel with the Voyagers into space. The thought was that if extraterrestrial life ever captured one of the Voyagers, the records offered at least a chance to communicate with them, to tell the human story.

Each record contained 115 images, natural sounds and music selections representing the planet and its capabilities.

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Jane Goodall and her chimps. The Great Wall of China. Compositions by Mozart and Bach. A time capsule for the universe.

In a stroke of what Jim called “pure luck,” Sagan also included the photo of Jim and Fran. It represents man and woman and domesticated animals. The red fireplace shows Earth’s oxygen-based atmosphere.

And Jim painting in the background shows man’s creative drive. The Voyagers launched in 1977 and remain in space today, on a journey without end.

Jim has long suspected Alzheimer’s might be in his future. His father Jerry had suffered from the same disease. One day, a few years before Jerry died, the two were walking down the road when Jim’s father turned to him. “What’s your name?” he asked. “It’s Jim.” “Well, I have a son named Jim,” his father said.

Jim Gray spent much of his life trying to capture the fleeting shadows cast by trees as the sun moved over the Great Smoky Mountains. He knew time would not stop for him, but he hoped his art would outlast him.

“He has literally recorded his memories outside the confines of his brain,” his son Chris, 59, wrote in an email. “Long after Jim is gone, his memories will remain on walls all around the world.”

It’s hard to tell how much of the “Joy of Life Parade” Jim remembers now. Some days his memory is stronger than others. Some days he, like his father, can’t remember the names of his own kids. Now when he paints, volunteers set newspapers underneath his canvas, and his art isn’t precise. But he still paints with the same concentration, and the colors are just as lush.

Valentine’s Day was ending, and Fran was getting tired. She wanted to go to bed, but she didn’t know what to do about Jim. She spoke softly, telling him she was leaving.

He couldn’t hear her over the sound of “Fiddler on the Roof” playing from the television. “I’m going up to bed,” she said, a little louder this time. “Huh? Where are you going?” “Up to bed.” “I don’t know what to do,” he said. “You don’t know what?” she asked. Now she couldn’t hear over the movie. “I don’t know what to do,” he repeated. “I’d rather go to bed.”

But he made no move. It was like his body was waiting for instruction from his brain, but his brain wasn’t answering. They wanted so badly to understand each other. Fran leaned toward him, holding his hand. Jim’s other hand held her face as he tried to pull himself as close as he could to hear her.

It was no use. Finally Fran stood up and started making her way out of the room.

A moment passed, and Jim said, “Where

October Gold

Perdido Key, Florida. A few years later they would move to Nashville, Indiana, in 2016 to be near their youngest son, Matt.

did Frannie go?” As if that was a signal, a nurse came in and told Jim he was going to follow Fran and head to bed. They shuffled along, Jim with his walker, Fran with her cane. They came to the elevator. The elevator would take Fran to her bedroom on the second floor while Jim continued to his first-floor room. This was the spot where, every night, they said goodbye.

Fran stopped walking. Jim kept going. Then stopped. “Fran?” He had forgotten. He thought Fran was going to bed with him, as she had for 65 years. “Fran?” The nurse assured him she would come down and say goodnight in a bit. It was the only way to get him to go to his room. “Fran?”

Jim took one hand off his walker and reached for her. Fran paused between the open elevator door and his outstretched arm. Go ahead, the nurse told her. I’ve got him — you go ahead.

A drawing of Fran 20 years ago, hangs on the wall of Jim’s bedroom. In it, she squats in the garden of their Tennessee home. She’s planting flowers, trowel in hand. When Jim thinks of his Frannie, his son believes, this is how he remembers her. Neither have aged past this point in Jim’s mind. He still sees himself as a younger painter sometimes. And as the dementia tightens its grip, he has a hard time reconciling the Fran he sees sitting next to him and the Fran in that drawing.

As they each drift to sleep in their separate rooms, somewhere the Voyagers charge through space. They have been in space for 41 years, while on Earth Jim and Fran raised three kids, moved 11 times and sold thousands of Jim’s pieces.

Scientists say that in interstellar space, free from the destructive forces of gravity and the atmosphere, either Voyager could last for billions of years. One day, they say, the probes could be the only remaining evidence of life on Earth. Some nights, Jim and Fran’s son Chris will step outside of his rural home in Maine and look up at the night sky. The clear nights there show the vastness that surrounds us all – the stars that have blinked down on us since mankind first looked up. He’ll think about his parents’ photo up there, past the man-made satellites and aircrafts, past the planets and asteroids. A moment preserved forever. He’ll think about how his father’s life has been devoted to capturing moments like this through art.

On Earth, the years hurtle forward, and Jim and Fran’s memories retreat. And Chris imagines Voyager I spinning through space, where his parents are youthful and creative and together for what might as well be an eternity. He likes to look into the dark sky and wonder, “How far is it now?”

Majestic Mountains

Early Autumn

Old Mill

It is 13.4 billion miles away, and moving fast.

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Your care is our focus.

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423.745.6575 1031 West Madison Avenue, Athens

Smoky Mountain Lights

By Cece Owens

he Lampyridae are a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged soft-bodied beetles, commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous use of bioluminescence during twilight to attract mates or prey.

Did you know that Tennessee is one of the only places in the world that is home to a rare type of firefly? They light up together, completely in sync with each other.

Synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are one of at least 19 species of fireflies that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

They are the only species in America whose individuals can synchronize their flashing light patterns. Once fireflies reach the age for which they can fly around and light up, they only live for about 21 days. That means the phenomenon that happens in Tennessee is only viewable for about three weeks per year.

The largest population of these synchronous fireflies in the Western Hemisphere is right here, close to home at Elkmont Campground. Every year, in late May and early June, the Elkmont fireflies (sometimes also referenced to as Sugarlands Visitor Center fireflies) light up the sky. Located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Elkmont Campground is the

largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At an elevation of 2,150 feet, the area enjoys a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers.

recent years that the famous fireflies are showing up in surrounding locations, so as the time approaches stay in touch with your local media outlets or the internet to learn about other locations.

For the last few years the National Park Service has used a lottery system to allow only 1,800 cars to park at the Sugarlands Visitor Center during the 8-day event (225 per day). The lottery works like this: You apply on their page during the three-day application period, choosing two possible dates that you would like to attend. About a week later you will receive notice whether your application was accepted or not. If you were accepted you will pay a $20 reservation fee. On the day you are scheduled for, you will show your ID and your parking pass at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Then you will board a trolley for Elkmont Campground.

Most of us have memories of running around outside on summer nights to watch and catch the fireflies lighting up around us. The synchronous fireflies event is a memory of a lifetime. If you want to experienced it make plans this year to light up your life.

If you are not fortunate enough to score parking passes for the main event at Elkmont, don’t be discouraged. Consider visiting within three days either side of the event when passes are not required. The synchronous fireflies can also be found at the backend of Cades Cove (near the Abrams Falls trailhead) or at Cataloochee Valley. It also appears in

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On A Hallowed Hill In Tennessee Story and Photos by Lon Shoopman

Many people across Tennessee, and beyond, recognize the first line of the University of Tennessee Alma Mater.

The Hill, as it is commonly known, is enshrined in the hearts and memories of thousands of Tennesseans. Few people, however, are familiar with the rich history surrounding this iconic landmark. Ten amazing facts about, The Hill, should enrich your understanding of the Hallowed Hill, and the University of Tennessee.

1. Thank Thomas Jefferson for The Hill Present day Knoxville began as a Fort, established by James White in 1786. When President George Washington appointed William Blount, Governor of the Southwest Territory, Blount came to White’s Fort and named it the Territorial Capital. White sold much of the land he owned and from it, Knoxville was formed with 64 lots.

About the same time, Samuel Carrick, a young Presbyterian minister came to the fledgling settlement, intent on establishing a college and a Presbyterian church. The college came first. It was established in 1794 and was named Blount College, in honor of Governor William Blount. The college was located at the corner of Clinch and Gay,

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where The Tennessee Theater now stands. It was the twenty fourth permanent institution of higher education in the United States and the first that was not church related.

From the outset, Blount College teetered on insolvency. It attracted few students and only conferred one degree in a 13 year period.

In 1807 the name was changed to East Tennessee College, thinking that might help attract more students. It did not.

Jefferson opposed the idea but offered advice which would shape the future of the institution. He counseled the trustees to purchase land outside the city, which would provide sufficient space to erect several buildings around a grassy square, and thus form an academic village. The trustees could not focus on land. They were concerned with survival. The lack of finances forced the closing of the college for the ensuing 11 years.

August 17, 1809, proved to be a fateful day.

Samuel Carrick, the President of the school, and it’s only instructor, suddenly died. The Trustees developed a lottery scheme to keep the school open. They wrote to Thomas Jefferson seeking his support for their lottery.

2. Barbara Hill In 1820, East Tennessee College reopened.

Remembering Jefferson’s advice, plans were made to relocate outside the city limits. In 1826 the trustees purchased “Barbara Hill,” for the new campus. The

“Barbara Hill” was named in honor of the daughter of Governor William Blount. The 40 acre parcel of land was purchased for $600. It was located between the river and the Western Road. The views from atop The Hill were breathtaking in every direction.

The site soon began to be referred to by locals as “College Hill.” In 1828, the first building was erected. When construction began, the workers dug into a cemetery that no one remembered existing on The Hill.

The first structure was built of stone and brick, with an observatory and belfry. The ten room building would become known as Old College. It would be the landmark by which the university would be identified for the next 91 years.

3. Fort Byington In 1861 cannons thundered at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, marking the beginning of the Civil War. Within six months, the Confederate army took possession of Knoxville and The Hill. In time the Confederate forces abandoned Knoxville to be a part of a major battle shaping up around Chattanooga. When the Confederates left, Major General Ambrose Burnside led Union forces into the city. He immediately began

to build fortresses all around Knoxville.

The Hill was designated as Fort Byington.

Having won a major victory at Chattanooga, the Confederate army turned its attention back to Knoxville. General James Longstreet laid siege to the city, November 23, 1863 and lobbed cannon fire at Fort Byington and other Union fortifications. Six days later he launched an ill-fated infantry attack on Fort Sanders. The Union forces had dug deep trenches around Fort Sanders. The Confederates failed to realize how deep the trenches were. Once in, they could not get out. The Battle of Knoxville lasted 20 minutes. Eight hundred and thirteen Confederate soldiers lay dead in the trenches. The Union army lost only thirteen men. Longstreet withdrew to join Lee’s Army in Virginia. Knoxville remained firmly in Union hands. In time, the war ended.

4. 100 Elm Trees The Civil War left The Hill in shambles.

Every tree on the campus had been cut for firewood. Deep trenches had been carved into The Hill. Longstreet’s cannons had taken their toll. Buildings had been heavily damaged. The Hill was left desolate and all but destroyed.

When the war began, Thomas Humes was rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Knoxville. He was a staunch Union supporter. When the war concluded Humes was named President of East Tennessee University, and given the daunting task of rebuilding the University and its campus. Because he was a known Union supporter, he was looked on with favor

when he requested government funds to repair the damage left in the wake of the war. Subsequently, a United State Senate committee noted that East Tennessee University was deserving of funds to repair the campus since it was the “only education institution of known loyalty in any of the seceding States.” A bill was passed providing $18,500 to help repair the war damage.

At the same time, Yale University donated 100 elm trees to the University to be planted on The Hill as part of the reconstruction.

Those trees remained until the 1950’s when they were destroyed by Dutch elm disease.

5. Orange and White With war now passed, the fortunes of East Tennessee University turned. In 1879 the institution was designated as The University of Tennessee. Ten years later, students directed their attention to the task of selecting school colors. In those days, UT was a military school. Male students wore uniforms that were blue and white. At the same time, the baseball team was clad in red and black. Charles Moore, president of the Athletic Association, looked at The Hill and saw daisies growing profusely. He reasoned that the school colors should be derived from The Hill and the flowers that grew there. Moore decided that for the upcoming field day, he would dress in orange and white, the color of the daisies on The Hill. Soon, more and more students wore orange and white to athletic events. A vote was taken in 1892 to officially select school colors for the University of Tennessee.

The students chose orange and white by a narrow margin.

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6. Ayres Hall In 1904, Dr. Brown Ayres became President of the University of Tennessee. He assumed leadership of an institution that was deeply in debt. The buildings were antiquated and overcrowded. Heretofore State funding had been virtually non-existent. It was vital that change, if the University was to thrive. Around 1917 he approached the State Legislature with the idea of erecting a great academic hall on The Hill.

Uncharacteristically, the State appropriated the needed funds. In May, 1918 a Chicago firm of architects were employed to design the building. When it was announced that Old College would need to be demolished for construction to proceed on the new structure, an uproar ensued. The trustees were bombarded with angry letters from alumni. Finally, the trustees agreed to attempt to move Old College if the Alumni Association would raise the needed $15,000.

In truth the 91`year old, 10 room building was no longer needed. Neither did it possess any architectural beauty. Only $2,000 of the $15,000 needed to move the building was contributed and Old College was taken down. Blanche Bingham, a sophomore from Bell Buckle, Tennessee laid the first brick in the new structure, November 26, 1919. The building was completed, and dedicated June 6, 1921. The new academic hall cost $690,500 which is a little over eight million dollars in today’s currency. Dr. Brown Ayers, who had conceived the new building and guided it into being died before the building was completed. President Harcourt Morgan, who succeeded Ayres as President, recommended the building be named to honor Ayres. The

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Board of Trustees agreed and the new building which crowned The Hill became Ayres Hall.

7. Ayres or Ayers?

One interesting bit of trivia related to The Hill surrounds the plaque attached to the Cumberland Street entrance. Chicago Ornamental Iron Works was commissioned to design a plaque for the new building.

It was to contain a raised likeness of Old College and of Dr. Ayers. Also listed were several names connected to the construction of the new edifice. Several changes were made in the original design submitted by the Chicago firm, but at last President Morgan approved the final design.

However, when the plaque was delivered, Dr. Brown Ayres name was spelled “Ayers.”

It is unknown why the University did not insist the error be corrected, but the plaque was attached to the building entrance and has remained there for 98 years. The name of the man in whose honor the building was named is misspelled.

8. Play Ball While the preservation efforts for Old College were in full swing, a competing fund raising effort began. Several influential people in Knoxville felt the University needed an athletic field. Col. W.S. Shields was President of Knoxville’s City Bank. As well, he was a member of the University Board of Trustees and also a member of the Building Committee for Ayres Hall. While the Alumni Association was trying to raise funds to preserve Old College, Shields led in a campaign to create an athletic field. The goal for the athletic field was $35,000. The money was raised in one week. Shields contributed $23,000. When Old College was demolished, 15,000 cubic yards of dirt was graded from the top of The Hill to make way for Ayres Hall.

This dirt was moved to the proposed site of the new athletic field. In April, 1921, faculty, staff, and students spread the dirt from atop The Hill to create Shields-Watkins field.

The field was named to honor the principle benefactor and his wife. The field is now surrounded by Neyland Stadium, the fifth largest college stadium in the Nation.

9. The Checkerboard Robert Neyland became Tennessee’s football coach in 1926. Shields-Watkins field was 5 years old. Bleachers had been installed on the west side of the field that could seat 3,200.

Neyland immediately noticed something.

There is a checkerboard design in the tower of Ayres Hall. In those days, the tower was clearly visible from the football field. When his team had the ball, headed toward the north end zone, Neyland would encourage them to “Run to the checkerboard!” He also urged

them to “Charge the checkerboard!” Doug Dickey became the coach of the Volunteer team in 1964 and decided that the design in Ayres Hall would become the design in the Neyland Stadium end zones. Now, when the team is headed in either direction, they can, “Run to the checkerboard!” The checkerboard design is also visible at the end lines of the basketball court in Thompson Bowling Arena. The design has also been incorporated into the exterior of the new Student Union Building.

10. The Clocks Old College was demolished after 91 years of use. In 2008, Ayers Hall had been in use for 87 years. No thought was given to its removal, but it was in desperate need to repair and updating. In that year a twenty-three million dollar renovation project began. It was completed in 2011.

The renovation maintained the building’s grand architectural design and added one noticeable feature to the exterior of the building. The original design envisioned

clocks in the tower of Ayres Hall. They were not installed due to a lack of funds. Now, almost one hundred years later, the clocks are in place. Their addition enhances the beauty of Ayers Hall.

It is hoped this brief glimpse into the always fascinating history of the University of Tennessee, will deepen your appreciation for the University, and the Hallowed Hill on which it stands where “The stately walls of Old U.T. rise glorious to the sight.”

2018 Board of Directors Standing left to right: Jonathan Pierce, Margaret Bohannon, Alfreda Tilley, Nancy Strasser, Sandra Guthrie, Wade Shultz. Sitting left to right: Mike Gentry, Jerry Flatt, Tom Strasser, Walter Barham, Board President Rush Guthrie.

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salute during the month-long event. On May 25, Celebrate Memphis will honor the past and celebrate the future with the music, food and art that make this part of Tennessee unique.

Each May Memphis brings the world to Memphis to experience one of the largest festivals in North America. They have something for everyone - from lectures and exhibits, to movie screenings and our core events. Attendees come from all 50 states and several foreign countries during the month of May to our city, one that’s rich in history and experience. This year the focus of the 2019 Memphis in May International Festival will be Memphis and Shelby County. This s a break from the tradition of honoring international countries. This year they celebrate Memphis’ bicentennial and the start of a new century for the city and county.

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Memphis in May is the official festival of the City of Memphis, the recipient of 206 prestigious Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival and Events Association, and has been named to Travel +Leisure’s International List of Festivals Worth Traveling For. The Beale Street Music Festival was named one of the World’s Top Festivals

by Fest300.

Memphis in May hosts the city’s largest events like the Beale Street Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.

Celebrate Memphis has been added to the Festival lineup, promising to be spectacular

Memphis in May salutes Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee, celebrating 200 years and a new century of soul! wwwmemphisinmay.org

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

ARCADE RESTAURANT

This is Memphis!

World Champion Barbecue Contest

901Fest Airshow. Photo by Lawrence Hsia

Great American River Run. Photo by Ziggy Mack

Situated on the corner of South Main Street and G.E. Patterson is The Arcade Restaurant, a legend since 1919. Speros Zepatos immigrated from Greece to Memphis, founding the restaurant in a small, one story, wood framed building and cooking on pot belly stoves. The 1920’s style architecture seen today was the result of Speros tearing down that wood frame in 1925 and building The Arcade Building, complete with retail stores.

It was the 2nd generation of Zepatos that took the Arcade to the next level in the 1950’s, adapting the fifties style experienced by today’s patrons. With Memphis coming alive in the mid 1960’s, the location became the busiest intersection in the city, so much that policeman were needed 24 hours a day to direct traffic. That excitement changed as businesses left the downtown following the decline of railroad transportation and the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., buildings were boarded up as residents headed to the outlining areas of the Memphis. The quiet did not last too long with the arrival of the most famous Memphis resident, ELVIS, who fell in love with The Arcade Restaurant, even was a regular patron for breakfast and lunch. Today, you can indulge yourself by sitting in the honorary “Elvis booth” as you fill the tummy with his favorite sandwich, a peanut butter and banana masterpiece. The King of Rock and Roll boosted the business turning The Arcade into a tourist destination.

Throughout the decades, The Arcade Restaurant survived it all, becoming a historical landmark. It’s a trip back in time, something that attracted Hollywood movie studios as scenes from Mystery Train, Great Balls of Fire, The Client, The Firm, Walk the Line and too many others to name, were filmed in the restaurant.

The family has given great care to preserve the old-time charm while presenting favorable menu options from the classic breakfast to “The Memphis Thang”, a smoked turkey sandwich complimented by tasty creole mustard to “Memphis Fire”, a homemade pizza with spicy marinara.

Every menu item, every bite delights and the atmosphere makes everything taste better.

There is a lot of history between the walls, stories from every booth, amazing food from the kitchen and traditions continue today by the 3rd generation of Zepatos. Right outside the front door is the national historic marker which honors the family who committed to the City of Memphis, continuing to positively impact the South Main Historic District. On the Bicentennial of Memphis is only fitting to wish Happy 100th Birthday to The Arcade Restaurant, the oldest restaurant and famous Memphis landmark.

The Arcade Restaurant is located at 540 S. Main Street in Memphis, Tennessee.

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By CeCe Owens Photos from the National Civil Rights Museum

History is often set aside as not applicable today, an issue that has plagued the Civil Rights Movement since inception. The National Civil Rights Museum offers visitors a fully immersed experience through multi-sensory and multimedia innovations combined with historical artifacts. The interactive approach allows all aspects of the historical and current Civil Rights Movement to be interpreted and applied to current times.

Located in Memphis, The National Civil Rights Museum is one of the nation’s premier heritage and cultural museums.

With a mission to share the lessons from the American Civil Rights Movement, the museum continues to shape equality and freedom globally.

Established in 1991, the museum is located at the former Lorraine Motel. Purchased

by Walter Bailey in 1945 and renamed after his wife Loree, the two-story concrete block motel structure was one of only a few hotels for which African-American travelers could enjoy accommodations during the segregated eras. Guests enjoyed its upscale atmosphere, home-cooked meals, affordable prices and clean environment. Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding were among the many who stayed at the Lorraine during the 1950s and 1960s.

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The view at dusk of the balcony at Room 306 where Dr. King was slain. A wreath marks where he last stood.

King’s last hours: Room 306 and 307

Join the Movement interactive table. For Jobs and Freedom: The March on Washington. On August 28, 1963, in the nation’s capital, 250,000 people from many races, religions, and backgrounds marched together in orderly protest.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stayed at the Lorraine Motel many times, especially during the Memphis sanitation workers strike of 1968.

A strike that grew into an important event of the Civil Rights Movement, attracting the attention of the NAACP, the national news media, and Martin Luther King Jr. He first visited the Memphis strike on March 18th, speaking to an audience of thousands at the Mason Temple. On April 3rd, King returned to Memphis and the Mason Temple delivering the “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” address.

In a prophetic finale to his speech, King revealed that he was not afraid to die: “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life— longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will...

And so I’m happy tonight; I’m not worried about anything; I’m not fearing any man.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord ” On Thursday, April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., stepped out onto the balcony of his Lorraine Motel room #306 to attend dinner at a local minister’s home. At 6:01 p.m., he was struck in the face by a single .30-06 bullet fired from a Remington Model 760 rifle. The 39 year old civil rights champion and nobel peace laureate was forever silenced. On April 8th, King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, and the couple’s four small children led a crowd estimated at forty thousand in a silent march through

the streets of Memphis to honor the fallen leader and support the cause of the city’s sanitation workers.

The National Civil Rights Museum is a complex of museums and historic buildings, most of which are directly associated with the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On October 21, 2016, the museum was honored by becoming a Smithsonian Affiliate museum.

The National Civil Rights Museum and Lorraine Hotel is a place of history and symbolism for all. Step aboard a vintage bus and hear the Rosa Parks altercation in Montgomery, Alabama or crouch into the hull of a 1700s slave ship to imagine the horrid conditions they endured. The museum collection offers 260 artifacts, more than 40 new films, oral histories, interactive media and external listening posts that guide visitors through five centuries of history. It may be built with bricks and mortar, but the message delivered is enough to change the world, one visitor at a time.

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Tens of thousands of people embarked on the museum campus during the MLK50 Day of Remembrance on April 4, 2018, the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s death.

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Looking Back Memphis

PLACE OF GOOD ABODE THE HISTORY OF MEMPHIS

By CeCe Ownes

Native Americans were drawn to the bluffs overlooking the river of what is known as Memphis, building their settlements on the Fourth Chickasaw Bluff which protected them from flooding by the mighty river that also provided easy transportation.

It was Hernando DeSoto that arrived in 1541 with his army to explore the lower half of the river, setting up camp near the site of Memphis, claiming the land for Spain. That land would change ownership many times over the next 200 years, claimed by France, England and Spain, before the United States of America got involved.

Fourth Chickasaw Bluff at Memphis

Memphis Belle, the first B-17 bomber.

In 1796, Tennessee became the 16th state admitted to the Union, and the Chickasaw Indians sold the land to the U.S. government more than 20 years later. It was during that time that future president Andrew Jackson, John Overton and James Winchester decided to join the government to incorporate the town. They further named the place Memphis, a “place of good abode.”

Memphis became the largest inland cotton market in the world, but the city’s location and its reliance on slave labor would prove to be a volatile mix in the near future.

The Battle of Memphis, a 90-minute fight resulted in the Confederate flag flying over the city being replaced with a United States flag. The Union Army would establish the area as a hospital post which proved beneficial, helping the city rebound after the war.

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First Battle of Memphis

Memphis Jefferson Street

Robert Church Sr. (left) a entrepreneur, businessman and landowner

Memphis 1906. "A Mississippi River landing." The sidewheeler Belle of the Bends taking on cargo alongside the sternwheeler Belle of Calhoun.

Memphis Cotton Boat.

During the yellow fever epidemic of 1873 it all changed as people passed in catastrophic numbers. The epidemic returned years later to nearly wipe out the entire population.

Those who were healthy enough to travel, fled the city. Memphis was bankrupt and forced to surrender its charter. Around 1879 when Memphis was just a state taxing district, a wealthy businessman named Robert

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Memphis cotton exchange.

Church, Sr. began buying up land, primarily on Beale Street. He built Church Park which is still named in his honor on Beale Street.

Time passed and the city welcomed the 20th Century, hoping to leave the negatives of previous century behind. It had been plagued with disease, crime and poverty. Anything you needed that might be illegal continued to

First Piggly Wiggly, 1916 Memphis, TN.

be available, mostly on Beale Street. But it was also the home to many music clubs that enticed cotton field workers to enjoy good times on the weekends. It would be their “chantings” that would become “blues,” a priceless American musical art form.

Another interesting invention that came out of Memphis was the modern supermarket.

Sun Records, Memphis TN

1950 Beale Street Memphis TN

Elvis Presley’s “That’s Alright Mama” first released in Memphis.

Local businessman Clarence Saunders opened the first self service grocery store, Piggly Wiggly.

It was a huge success, with stores opening across the county, making him a millionaire. He spent the money by building a 22-room, pink marble mansion which along with his company and money would be forfeited when he lost it all. The City of Memphis is the current owner.

The mansion dubbed the “Pink Palace” is a museum, planetarium and theater.

Memphis Belle’s victories appeared regularly.

As one of the first airplanes to complete its overseas missions and the star of a War Department documentary, the Memphis Belle and its crew were selected for a stateside tour.

The second stop, after Washington, D.C., was Memphis, where the young couple would be reunited. The love story ended shortly after the war, but not the love for the Memphis Belle. It remains on display today in Memphis.

Then like the bang of the yellow fever, the Depression surged into town. Just like the rest of the country there was no avoiding the disastrous effects of the time. The cotton market and industrious companies of the city would bring relief as America entered World War II. The gift was appreciated and reciprocated as Memphis would inspire the most famous aircraft of the war- Memphis Belle, the first B-17 bomber.

Fame would be completely redefined in the 1950s. A young man from the Memphis housing projects starting hanging out on Beale Street, standing in the doorways of the clubs to listen and learn, and taking those lessons and talent to Sam Phillips’ Sun Studio, located a few miles east of Beale Street, to record “That’s All Right Mama”. It was history in the making and the start of what would bring international attention to Memphis, Tennessee. Ladies and Gentleman, Elvis Presley entered the building. The King of Rock and Roll would pass in 1977 at his Whitehaven neighborhood home, Graceland. In 1982, the grounds and home were opened to visitors.

Graceland is one of the most popular tourist

In the last months of 1942, American morale needed a boost and the editor of a Memphis paper learned that one of the airplanes doing battle in Europe was named for a local woman, Margaret Polk, by her pilot sweetheart, Robert Morgan. From then on news about the

destinations in the world, welcoming more that 600,000 visitors each year.

Beale Street surged as a tourist destination in the 1990s assisted greatly by the international festival, Memphis in May, a month long celebration that brings countless visitors to enjoy the worldfamous Beale Street Music Festival, World Championship Barbeque Contest and a host of events honoring an international location. This year, in celebration of the Bicentennial, Memphis is honoring all things Memphis.

The addition of professional sporting franchises gained more attention for the city. In 2000, the Memphis Redbirds, an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and the Memphis Grizzlies an NBA team, came to town.

It’s a city with an incredible past, a story that is timeless and richly impacted American History.

From the discovery by early Native Americans followed by an influx of European explorers, from the Civil War to the centerstage of Civil Rights, from historical music flowing from Beale Street to innovation in medicine, Memphis is A Place of Good Abode.

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Harrah’s Hope Lodge

By CeCe Ownes

The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge program provides lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers. It’s a nurturing community that helps patients access the care they need in a homelike environment. Guest share meals, join in evening activities or relax in their own private room.

Established in 1970, the Charleston, SC Hope Lodge was the first facility in the country for cancer patients and caregivers. The concept came from Margot Freudenberg, a actively involved volunteer until she was 105, the longest-serving American Cancer Society volunteer.

Sitting room at Harrah’s Hope Lodge

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She saw a similar facility while traveling through Australia and New Zealand with President Eisenhower’s People to People Ambassador Program. Today, Hope Lodge are available throughout the United States and Puerto Rico serving patients and caregivers from all over the world.

The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Memphis, which opened in 2010, offers lodging centrally located to area treatment centers. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center donated the land for the three-story facility. Aptly named Harrah’s Hope Lodge as the Caesars Foundation, owners of Harrah’s Entertainment, gifted $2,000,000 as part of their pre-opening capital campaign. Harrah’s founding partnership has continued with annual gifts and sparked a powerful connection with the local Tunica casino employees volunteering more than 500 hours annually.

When choosing where to receive cancer treatment, a patient usually decides to stay close to home, however, that is not always possible. Specialized treatment can be far from home and in the situations where

travel is necessary, many encounter the inability to afford those expenses. It can be a barrier for receiving the best possible care in their cancer fight, Memphis is home to many cancer specialist not found anywhere else in Tennessee. Prior to the opening in 2010, patients reported avoiding treatment, traveling extensive miles back and forth from home or sleeping in cars while parked at the treatment centers. Those barriers are broken down by the Harrah’s Hope Lodge with a staff committed to providing a nurturing environment for guests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The first floor of Harrah’s Hope Lodge features communal dining, kitchens, library and recreational areas, while the second and third floors have a total of 40 suites for cancer patients and a guest/caregiver.

Located at 718 Union Ave. directly east of Sun Studio providing about 70 patients with a comfortable, welcoming home-away-fromhome. But most importantly, Harrah’s Hope Lodge provides camaraderie. Friendships are formed as patients and caregivers take comfort in the knowledge that they’re not alone in their fight against cancer.

Dr. Matthew Wilson Hamilton Eye Institute

By CeCe Ownes

In July 2007, a UT Hamilton Eye Institute patient brought the project of raising funds for an American Cancer Society Harrah’s Hope Lodge to the attention of Matthew Wilson, MD, FACS, UTHSC faculty and St. Jude Chair a of Pediatric Oncology. The project had already received major gifts from Harrah’s Entertainment, the UT Health Science Center, but more funds were still needed.

Harrah’s Hope Lodge features communal dining, kitchens and volunteers prepared meals which includes a monthly prepared treat by the Harrah's Casino Chefs.

Partnering with Terrapin Racing Triathlon Team in Memphis, Dr. Wilson raised funds and increased awareness about the project through the Janus Charity Challenge external link as part of the 2008 Ironman Lake Placid event. Dr. Wilson also canvassed the community, securing additional gifts of funding. Subsequently, Dr. Wilson was awarded the ACHHE Distinguished Service Award, and the fitness room at the Hope Lodge facility was named for Terrapin Racing in honor of Dr. Wilson.

Dr. Matthew Wilson, MD, is an Ophthalmology specialist in Memphis, Tennessee. With an unmatched passion for teaching the next generation of physicians and healing all ages, Dr. Wilson is a profile in the best of medicine. Daily it is the care of his patients, guidance for students & fellows, and perseverance in research that make him more than just a doctor, he is a miracle-worker.

Comfortable accommodations a Harrah’s Hope Lodge.

The UT Hamilton Eye Institute (UTHEI) is the department of ophthalmology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee. It serves several key purposes, including clinical care, education, research, and international outreach. It also influences public policy related to eye care.

Support from volunteers and local organizations is critical to the American Cancer Society’s mission of providing free lodging to cancer patients andtheir caregivers.

Visit www.cancer.org to learn more about how to get involved or donate.

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EAST TENNESSEE FOUNDATION’S

FIRST PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP SERIES EVENT

I

n April 2018, East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) granted local research nonprofit, Three 3, the opportunity to convene a workshop for community leaders and subject matter experts connected to the opioid epidemic in East Tennessee. The goal of the workshop was triple-aimed. The workshop served to better understand contributing factors of the epidemic and to identify opportunities for further cross-sector collaborations at the community level. The second aim was to produce a conceptual diagram that displays a future community network operating from within and on the periphery of the existing opioid epidemic. Understanding the system of interactions at the community level provides a pathway to the third and long-term objective: to identify collaborative interventions that achieve meaningful

TACKLED THE SUBJECT OF OPIOID ADDICTION AND HOW CHARITABLE EFFORTS MAY HAVE AN IMPACT outcomes for those both directly and indirectly affected by the opioid crisis and inform ETF fundholders.

With the grant, Three 3 was able to conduct a wide review of research articles, media reports and testimonials. Taken together with the inputs from thought leaders at the workshop, Three 3 produced a network diagram that maps various connections between agencies and key players within critical sectors within or adjacent to local communities.

As a result, on October 16, 2018, ETF hosted their first PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP SERIES held exclusively for fundholders entitled Breaking the Cycle of Opioid Addiction. The main objectives of the briefing were to:

• Inform community leaders and philanthropists on the benefit of applying a ‘systems approach’ to better understand and solve complex social problems.

• Identify and characterize existing collaborative programs or efforts related to substance misuse prevention and recovery in the East Tennessee region.

• Explore new interventions (i.e., additional programs or solutions) to strengthen the system.

Dr. Mark McGrail, Director of Addiction Medicine at Cherokee Health Systems, kicked off the day with background on the progressive disease of addiction, which he defines as “a chronic disease with biological, psychological, social, and spiritual manifestations.” Dr. McGrail stated that the path to addiction often involves losing meaningful relationships with friends and family. This path tends to involve feelings of guilt, shame, and self-hatred which further contribute to the cycle of substance misuse.

Because of the complex nature of the disease, a person who becomes addicted will likely require long-term ‘wrap-around’ care to reduce the obstacles leading to recovery – further underscoring the benefit of a network or systems approach for addressing the epidemic at the community level with external support.

A panel moderated by Brandon Hollingsworth, News Director at WUOT,

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“East Tennessee Foundation is taking an active role in the effort to tackle the opioid crisis in our community. My colleagues and I at Three 3 are honored to have had the opportunity to collaborate with ETF and others across the region that are addressing this devastating epidemic our communities are burdened with.”

WHOLESALE PETROLEUM MARKETERS

...fueling our region since 1988...

-Bruce Tonn, President, Three 3 featured Dr. Robert Pack of East TN State University, Dr. Carole Myers of UT, Knoxville, and Charlene Hipsher and Phillip Martin representing a nonprofit in the Ninth Judicial District called Align9.

Panel members shared their challenges and successes spearheading community level collaborative efforts to counteract this epidemic. In addition to her teaching and research roles at UT, Dr. Myers produces Health Connections, a weekly podcast featuring health care topics often related to the opioid epidemic.

She emphasized that the health-care system accounts for roughly 20% of good health outcomes, but that economic policy, housing, transportation, and other community level factors influence the rest. Dr. Pack heads the ETSU Center for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment, which conducts research, trains health professionals, and provides evidence-based clinical care. The center also convenes stakeholders monthly to discuss current efforts and identify opportunities for collaboration. Hipsher and Martin with Align9 have “reached across the aisle” to align local resources to support an individual’s recovery efforts.

These resources include support, financial planning/life skills, law enforcement, and the justice system. Martin emphasized

Celebrating Over 30 Years

that all these resources are critical, but overcoming stigma and productively channeling volunteers’ passion remain top priorities. Dr. Meyers’ and Dr. Pack’s efforts focus on scalable and sustainable solutions, including capacity-building within communities. Dr. Pack closed the panel by noting that preventative measures, such as life skills and parenting training, produce positive outcomes as well. He pointed to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Communities That Care model, a risk and protective factor approach to substance misuse prevention, as a resource.

Lastly, the attendees participated in a facilitated discussion to identify opportunities to support community level efforts related to prevention and recovery. Participants identified increased understanding and destigmatization of addiction as critical factors, as both upstream (prevention) and downstream (recovery) efforts. Creating a hub and spoke system of referrals that includes law enforcement (e.g. drug courts) and improved wraparound services were also priorities. From these discussions, participants generated potential next steps that ETF could take in fostering solutions to the opioid epidemic in East Tennessee.

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The Barn At Faith Farms is a unique event venue located in East Tennessee.

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We do weddings, graduation celebrations, holiday parties, reunions, charity fundraisers and more!

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S p r in g

LS A V I T S E F

22nd Annual

NATIONAL CORNBREAD

FESTIVAL

By CeCe Owens

On April 27th and 28th of 2019, over 27,000 festival-goers from throughout the southeast gather in South Pittsburg to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the 23rd Annual National Cornbread Festival. Located 30 miles west of Chattanooga, TN, this quaint southern town hosts a celebration of cornbread, often considered the cornerstone of southern cuisine.

In 1996, the National Cornbread Festival started to promote civic engagement and help local businesses. Lodge, local maker of world-class cast iron cookware seemed the perfect fit for a food-oriented festival. The community created a non-profit organization with volunteers, businesses and organizations joining in to produce the first annual festival in 1997.

Now over 350+ community volunteers of all ages put on this wonderful festival every year.

Over 15+ committees drive the planning and execution of this fun-filled weekend. All proceeds are distributed into the community through donations and other improvement projects. To date they have built and supported athletic facilities, supported boy scouts, schools and day cars, donated to theaters, churches and libraries, restored historical buildings and much more.

The festival is packed with great family fun including a Kid’s Corner with games, face painting, and inflatables. There are

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games, carnival rides, and booths hosting cornbread, handmade crafts, honey, fudge and rock candies that line the streets of historic South Pittsburg, live entertainment throughout the festival with tours of the historic homes and the Lodge® Cast Iron Foundry as well.

Major events during the festival include the National Lodge® Cast Iron Cornbread Cookoff, Cornbread 5K race, Classic Car Cruise-in and Cornbread Eating Contests. The best part is strolling down Cornbread Alley to taste amazing variations of this staple of southern cuisine.

Feeling creative...give it try! Take this basic three ingredient cornbread recipe and add you own special touch like cheese, bacon, peppers, oranges, or add them all. Bake your amazing original cornbread to your family’s delight!

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD RECIPE Ingredients: • 1 Cup White Self-Rising Cornmeal • 1 Egg • 1 Cup - Enough buttermilk to make thin batter Directions: • Bake for 20 minutes or until nicely browned.

With a full tummy and creative success, you are ready to head out to South Pittsburg for the National Cornbread Festival! It’s a yummy weekend of fun for all ages!

Townsend Spring Festival & Old Timers Day May 3-4 Each Spring and Fall Townsend celebrates its rich Appalachia history through music, crafts and foods. This free event includes two days of Bluegrass music, handmade crafts and food.

Bring your lawn chair and enjoy all of the Spring Festivities for the entire family at the Townsend Visitor’s Center.

Parking is $10 per day or $15 for a twoday pass. Proceeds benefit the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department. Parking passes may be purchased at the Townsend Visitor Center (7906 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Townsend), the Maryville Welcome Center (201 S. Washington St., Maryville) or at the parking gate on event days. www.smokymountains.org/what-to-see/spring

New Midland Plaza Spring Craft Fair May 10-11 Up-cycled & recycled creative art, photography, candles, soaps, jewelry, paintings, hand-sewn items, sculptures, quilts, glassware, knitted novelties, crocheting, woodworking, & much more are showcased at one of the largest and most enjoyed craft fairs in the region.

Enjoy unique and yummy food offerings from multiple food trucks, & local participants like the fire & police departments.

It's two days of family friendly fun! www.newmidlandcraftfair.com/

June 1-2

Come Celebrate Our Historical Railroad Heritage Niota Model Railroad Show May 4-5 Niota, Tennessee is home to the oldest railroad depot, built in 1854. Originally named Mouse Creek Station, it is the oldest standing depot in the State of Tennessee and one of the oldest in America.

During the Civil War it was used by both the Confederate and Union soldiers as a place of safety and rest. Today, the depot is owned by the City of Niota and used by city departments.

The 57th Annual Lenoir City Arts & Crafts Festival will be held in beautiful Lenoir City Park on June 1st and 2nd, and it promises to be better than ever! The quality of the event and superb reputation of the 240 crafters have made this one of the area's most popular events. Items range from ceramics and glassware to metal work and jewelry, to baskets and much more! A wide array of fast food and home baked delicacies will be available throughout the festival. Your taste buds will delight in old favorites and new flavors. And plenty of cold beverages to satisfy a summer thirst!

This May 4th - 5th, the depot will host the 2nd annual Niota Model Railroad Show, a free to the public event showcasing train model exhibitors and vendors from around Tennessee and beyond. Last year’s inaugural event featured around 400 businesses from cities including Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Crossville, Knoxville, and Maryville.

The event will be held at the Niota Depot and the Memorial Building- Saturday, May 4th 2019 9am-5pm and Sunday, May 5th 2019 10am-4pm. tennesseeoverhill.com/niota-depot/

lenoircityartsandcrafts.com/

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WE LOVE IT!

www.facebook.com/bucketlist

Go straight to the videos. What’s on your spring bucket list?

Antelope Valley, California Poppy Reserve, The Garden of Europe, Amsterdam, Magical nights in Bali, Puncak Musika Manik or Lauerbrunnen, Switzerland.

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REGIONAL PARK SPLASH PAD

OPENING

Soon!

www.CityofAthensTN.com

Enjoy The Experience of

Shop

E towah

Dine

Etowah Area Chamber of Commerce

Play 727 Tennessee Ave. Etowah, TN 37331 (423) 263 - 2228 info@etowahcoc.org

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GOOD TIMES ALL THE TIME GOOD TIMES ALL THE TIME

There’s one way we can guarantee to have an all-time summer There’s one way we can guarantee to have an all-time summer and that’s on a MasterCraft. From the unbelievably heavy and that’s on a MasterCraft. From the unbelievably heavy h i t t i n g X S t a r t o t h e u l t r a a ff o r d a b l e N X T 2 0 , t h e r e ’ s a m o d e l f o r h i t t i n g X S t a r t o t h e u l t r a a ff o r d a b l e N X T 2 0 , t h e r e ’ s a m o d e l f o r every family and more than enough stoke to go around. The best every family and more than enough stoke to go around. The best o n otnh et hw t eart eur n ul on cl ok csk st hteh eb ebsets ts us m mm e er r e ev veer r, , eevveerryy ssuu m eaw um mm me e rr ..

G e tG oe n wo a t bo on ab roda rndo n wt am t amsat setrecrrcarfat f. tc.oc m om

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