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“On the cross we see the great holiness of God’s love, that the light of his pure love will destroy the darkness of sin and evil. On the cross we see the intensity and strength of his love, that it is not an insipid thing at all, but majestically strong as it faces death, battles evil and gives life.”

Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity

With spring rapidly approaching, the weather warming, the trees and flowers returning to life, we would like to welcome you to the latest issue of our magazine. Gayle Fisher, Master Gardener, returns, as always, with an article to help you take advantage of this wonderful season and make your yard beautiful.

Additionally, we are delighted to share the story of the 10th anniversary of State Representative Lowell Russell’s miraculous survival of his car crash and the heartbreaking loss of his friend Frankie Watson.

Try tasty Ingles recipes, discover fun local events, and meet local people and hear their stories! We’re glad you’re here.

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State Representative Lowell Russell

A TRUE SERVANT LEADER, TEN YEARS FROM THE ACCIDENT, RUSSELL WINS HIS THIRD TERM

In 2019, Lowell Russell was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, succeeding Jimmy Matlock. He represents District 21 which includes parts of Loudon County and Monroe County. Russell is a Republican and the chair of the Civil Justice Subcommittee. From 1998 until 2012, he worked for the Tennessee Highway Patrol until miraculously surviving a near-fatal car crash. He was reelected to the Tennessee House this November.

Recently, he gave a speech for the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce where he highlighted some incredible statistics about our State, saying, “we’re the lowest debt state in the nation, the lowest tax state in the nation. We’ve got a balanced $52 billion budget.” He continued, “After I go around telling people how great the State is doing, I want to say I did that… but that’s not true. It’s the people who came before me.” He listed examples like Senator Swann, Speaker Sexton and Lt. Governor McNally. Representative Russell may be too humble to give himself credit, but we certainly think he’s helped make Tennessee a better place.

He also discussed the State Government’s many accomplishments in the past few years including setting aside $500 million for school safety, expanding broadband and telehealth, supporting volunteer fire departments, hiring 100 new State Troopers last year, providing new voting machines with a voter-verified audit trail, passing the Rural Brownfields Investment Act to clean up former industrial sites, and passing the Truth in Sentencing bill to make sure violent offenders serve full sentences—all while cutting taxes by over $300 million. He also discussed some upcoming legislation by which the Tennessee government seeks to improve education and transportation in the State.

Why did you decide to run?

Simply to make a difference. I have always enjoyed serving the public. I began a career in law enforcement in 1995 with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. In 1998, I went to work with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. After I was hit by a tractor trailer while sitting in my patrol car, I was unable to return to being a state trooper due the injuries that I sustained.

What are some things that Tennessee can improve on, and what have you actively done to improve these?

Every day when I get to the office I ask myself 2 questions. First, how can I be better than I was yesterday? Second, how can Tennessee be better tomorrow than

it is today? Luckily, Tennessee is in really good shape. We are one of only seven states in the entire nation with positive economic growth over 2021. Tennessee is #1 in advanced industry job growth, and we have the lowest state debt per capita in the country, all while maintaining a AAA bond rating and no personal income tax on wages, salaries, or retirement income. With that said, we need to expand broadband internet, we have a big problem with fentanyl that is killing many Tennesseans, the Basic Education Program (BEP) formula which funds schools needs some adjustments, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) needs to work on fixing our roads. These are just a few topics, and I am sure there are more that we will need to address as a legislature. We are working together in the legislature to increase funding for each of these projects.

What action or decision that you have made as a Representative are you most proud of?

I’m not sure if there is just one action or decision. I am proud of the opportunity to work with the people of the 21st District on the many issues that are important to them.

Which issues are most important to you?

My platform, when I ran for office in 2018, was public safety, the economy, and small government. I have learned that there are many issues beyond those that are important. Any time a constituent has an issue, I consider that as an important task that I need to work on. Specific issues that I am working to address with Governor Lee are broadband expansion, road improvements, and local governments receiving the $100M divided up across the state as we did last year in the budget.

What qualities make you a good candidate?

I previously mentioned my platform which is important as a candidate. I suppose that I am defined as “a hard worker,” which makes me an even better candidate. I try my best to attend any events that I am invited to in the district and be as accessible as possible. I have been very blessed with a good legislative assistant, T. J. Sutton. She is from the district, and I couldn’t do what I do without her and my campaign manager, Paul Grady.

How have your Christian beliefs impacted your political positions?

I am a born again Christian and member of First Baptist Church in Madisonville. I guarantee that I’m not the best Christian, but I try to do the best I can. As far as my Christian beliefs impacting my political positions, I try to keep it simple and do unto others as I would want them to do unto me.

Have you ever changed a long-held opinion on an issue?

I represent a mostly conservative district, so being a lifelong Republican, my opinions and positions on most bills align with the district. I do my best to vote on the bills as the district recommends. I keep a spreadsheet of recommendations when constituents contact my office. Just before a vote I get the totals for and against a bill, then I vote how they add up. To keep it as fair as possible, I only add recommendations from the district.

Trial by Fire: The True Story of Tennessee State Trooper Sgt.

Lowell Russell

When recounting the events of March 13, 2012, one can be nothing less than amazed; not at what happened to me in those early morning hours and the days that followed but at the power and glory of God that was to be revealed. The scene of the accident looked like something out of a war zone. I was, by all human accounts, supposed to die—not just one way, but many ways. Let me tell you the story.

It was roughly 0250 hours, and I had just finished a traffic stop on I-40 in Knoxville. It was a cool, late winter morning as I sat on the shoulder of the interstate alone, having already released the driver from the stop. I was making notes on the citation for court when the accident occurred. Pretty much everything that happened to me from that moment through the next several days was relayed to me secondhand.

While working on the citation with my emergency lights still activated, a flatbed semi-truck veered out of its lane, striking the back of my cruiser. The impact threw my car several hundred feet forward and into a tailspin, eventually ending up against the inside barrier wall on the opposite side of the west-bound lanes. It was later discovered that the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel of his rig.

Almost immediately, my car burst into flames, and here is where you begin to see the providential hand of the Lord intervening. Chief David Rausch of the Knoxville Police Department later said this about the event: “As we say time and again— divine intervention. It’s a game of seconds. If neither the officers or the paramedics had been in the area, we would have had a much more tragic situation.”

Within seconds of the impact, an ambulance from McMinn County (approximately an hour from Knoxville) was returning to Athens, Tennessee, after transporting a patient to a Knoxville-area hospital. As the ambulance crested a rise in the road, the driver, Paramedic Freddie Leslie, and his partner, Kristi Graham, spotted my cruiser as it was still spinning toward the inside wall! They came to a stop on scene almost at the same time the cruiser was coming to a halt.

The impact had knocked me nearly a football field in length from where I had been sitting. The truck driver brought his truck to a stop as quickly as possible; even then it took over 1,000 feet to accomplish the task. He also came running to my aid as the paramedics arrived. It was as if God was saying, “I’ve got you covered from all angles, son. Now, watch this!” A Knoxville Police Department

(KPD) K-9 Officer, Andrew Keith, had been en route to assist another officer on a vehicle search when he came upon the wreck, also within seconds. He was on scene moments after the others and was able to call for additional assistance from the Knoxville Fire Department (KFD), KPD, THP, and Rural Metro Ambulance Services.

Freddie and the truck driver both tugged at my door and it popped open. While exhausting two fire extinguishers and starting on a third to keep the flames back, they worked frantically to free me, but my seatbelt had pulled tight from the impact. Dennis Stevens, a painter who had been working at the nearby Sam’s Club, was just leaving work and stopped to help. He “just so happened” to have a box cutter on him that he used to begin cutting me free. He and Officer Keith, using his own knife, worked together to cut me loose from the seatbelt just as the flames started spreading. Running out of time, with one last-ditch effort, Freddie pulled me by my left leg, loosing me from the car. Officer Keith, Freddie, and the others pulled me from the vehicle and began CPR just seconds before my seat was fully engulfed in flames.

Shortly after, KPD Officer Steve Taylor arrived to assist. He had seen me earlier, while I was on my traffic stop, and was able to quickly return to the scene of the wreck when the radio call for help went out. His lone act may have made the difference in my survival. As Freddie and Kristi were performing CPR on me while awaiting Rural Metro for transport, the ammunition in what was left of my trunk began to explode. Officer Taylor jumped into the ambulance and drove it between us and the burning cruiser so as to shield the paramedics and myself.

So many people quickly fell into place in such an extraordinary fashion. KPD Officer

Fred Kimber could be heard on the radio coordinating traffic control along with the other officers. KFD quickly arrived to extinguish the flames. Rural Metro brought me safely to the emergency room where the Lord worked miracles in the days to come through the doctors and nurses at the University of Tennessee Hospital. He worked through my various therapists, not to mention the thousands of prayers from all around the world. Even after being delivered from my burning cruiser, I was not out of danger. I would remain on life support for fourteen days before being stable enough to have my first of two neck and spinal surgeries.

Before we proceed, let’s look at how I should have died:

1. Impact—The impact was so severe that it crushed a Ford Crown Victoria to about half its normal size. It was estimated that the semi was traveling at approximately sixty-nine miles per hour at the point of impact. The whiplash alone from the impact should have destroyed my organs and spinal column.

2. Fire—I should have been consumed in the fire. Period.

3. Ammunition—Hundreds of rounds of live ammunition that were in the trunk were igniting in the fire and exploding.

4. Fractured Skull and Broken Neck/Back— My skull fractured at the base of my neck. This type of fracture can lead to the spine puncturing the brain and ending life as we know it. I survived this injury. My neck and back suffered multiple fractures.

5. Infection—Due to the massive trauma my body endured, I had to receive large quantities of antibiotics to stay alive. One infection was cleaned up only for another

to try and take its place. There was a fear of pneumonia at one point, although, thankfully, it never took hold.

6. Smoke Inhalation—I had damage to my lungs from the black smoke emitted from my cruiser while trapped inside the inferno.

Although I don’t really remember anything from the crash itself, I do have several memories from the previous twenty-four hours. Less than 48 hours before I was to work the last shift I would ever have in a patrol car, I had been interviewed by Dylan Belcher, a student at Sequoyah High School, for a term paper he was doing on law enforcement. Ironically, I had told him that law enforcement officers were more likely to be killed in a car crash than by any other means.

I remember preparing for work that day, an overtime assignment bringing me in early. I had been reflecting on Frankie’s time as a police officer as I walked into my room and looked at my gear. As I was standing there looking at the brass, the badge, the patch, and the uniform that I had worked hard for and tried my best to honor, an uncanny thought popped into my head: “I wonder how many officers killed in the line of duty knew within themselves that day would be their last time putting on the uniform.”

The last memory I have prior to going on sum was that I had decided I wanted to visit Frankie’s grave. I was missing him a little extra, and maybe you could call me melancholy, but it was just one of several oddities from the day. After paying my respects, I met with my friend, Alcoa Police Officer, Dustin “Cookie” Cook. We had a good time chatting for about 15 minutes before I left to go on patrol. I remember meeting with Cookie, but I can’t recall the conversation.

Dylan’s interview, Frankie’s grave, my own thoughts…coincidence? Some may say, yes. I believe somewhere deep down in my heart the Lord was preparing me for what was coming. In Isaiah 55:8 the Bible says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” I don’t know exactly what the Lord wanted to accomplish through the memories He allowed me to retain from that day. However, the thought I have is that the Lord knew what I needed for my strength while lying in the hospital bed. These memories provided mental and emotional strength for me during my recovery.

One thing I do know is that while the days following were very hard to accept, I found the words of Christ first given to the Apostle Paul in his time of affliction rang more and more true each passing day. II Corinthians 12:9 says, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” If I was to glory in my infirmities, the Lord gave me much to glory in!

I didn’t understand everything I was going through as I was going through it, but the Lord showed me bits and pieces of His will along the way. The previously stated passage was a great starting point. It showed me how I would be able to react to it all. There are several key elements at play in this verse and the one after. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I

am weak, then am I strong.” “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Wow! What a loaded statement! God’s grace was, and always will be, present in my trials. It’s often been said that grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. I know that there is nothing special about me, and God doesn’t owe me anything, but in His goodness, He promised me, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Even while I was at death’s door, God was with me. Psalm 23:4 states, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” That support would give me extra strength to push ahead for one more day.

“My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Notice, this is His strength, not mine. When we are at our weakest moments, God is at His strongest. We are forced to place full reliance on Him and not ourselves. It’s something that can’t be fully explained; rather it has to be experienced. When you are at the end of your abilities, strength, hope, etc... that’s when God can step in and flex His muscles. It’s the very nature of God to show His creation how great He is. Read Psalm 86:5: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” God is good and “standing at the ready,” waiting to show Himself to each and every one of us. What a blessing! His strength is how I would make it.

The how I should react was the tougher pill to swallow. It’s not easy to smile when going through a fiery trial. Nonetheless, the passage says, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities [the how], that the power of Christ may rest upon me [the why].” If I can joyfully accept the hard times that have come

my way, I am promised a special vantage point from which I can watch the power of Christ work in my life! It, too, is something that cannot be fully explained; rather, it has to be experienced. I will admit, prior to March 13, 2012, I wouldn’t have asked for any of this. Since then, however, I have had the pleasure of seeing the Lord work in me and through me in ways I would have never imagined.

My book was entitled Trial by Fire for a reason. I was pulled from a burning car just mere seconds before it was fully engulfed, receiving some burns in the process. My trial the Lord chose for me was both a literal and spiritual fire. In helping me endure the sometimes painful process (physical, mental, and emotional), the Lord began showing me truths in His word, and it seemed as though they came when I needed them most. Not only did He promise that He would see me through it (Hebrews 13:5), He also declared in I Corinthians 10:13, “...but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

The Bible has a lot to say about fiery trials. For now, the Lord wanted me to look at my understanding of why it happened. It is in our human nature to ask why when going through a hardship. God understands this about us and anticipates such fears and uncertainties. I Peter 4:12-13 helped me accept my fate and settle the why in my heart and mind more than any other passage of Scripture: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

There is so much at work in this passage! First, he calls me His beloved. One thing this job has taught me is that there isn’t much love in this world and it is definitely lacking for those who stand in the thin blue line. But HE loves me and that’s all that matters. He also gives some hefty advice. God says twice in the passage that fiery trials aren’t by chance. As the old saying goes, “Did it ever occur to you that nothing occurs to God?” God allowed me to almost be killed and go through a painful rehab process for a reason. It wasn’t by accident that the accident happened—it was by divine providence. It was time to sit back and watch the glory of the Lord be revealed as He gave me joy in my troubles!

This brought me to the next stage in God revealing His will to me. Perhaps the greatest, yet simplest why was answered when I read Philippians 1:12: “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.” Had I not gone through this, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to share the Gospel of the Lord like I have today. My ultimate goals for you, the reader, are to understand your eternal options and fully comprehend what it means to be saved. The Lord saw fit to let me experience what I underwent as a means to share His good news with all who would read this book. His ways are not our ways for sure, but they are better!

Speaking of fiery trials, the Lord does say a lot about the refiner’s fire. The refiner’s fire works to burn away impurities in order to produce a purer product. Isaiah 48:10 says, “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” It’s a holy thing to read this

passage and realize that God picked me out, that He did the refining and that He was there with me (notice it says He chose me in the furnace of affliction).

Affliction is never pleasant. Yet in the hands of the perfect Master, it works a perfect work, better than one could ever imagine. It kind of reminds me again that “His ways are not our ways”! For a good Bible study on the nature of God as a purifier of men, study Zechariah 13:9 and Malachi 3:2-3.

Perhaps the greatest blessing of all was seeing what He promised would be the end result of enduring the fiery trial. Job 23:10 and 14 deliver this message: “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold… For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.” I am promised to become a better person when I come through the fire than before entering if (that’s a big if!) I submit my will to Him.

Possibly the most beautiful thing the Lord showed me from His word is the truth and reality about His unfailing presence with me in my trial. Just as He was in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel, the Lord was with me and orchestrated EVERYTHING that happened in my rescue. Not only did He have the paramedics immediately on scene, the KPD officers shortly to follow, Mr. Stevens with his box cutter to cut my seatbelt, and the truck driver to assist, but take a moment and look at the photo—did you notice my driver’s door standing wide open? The impact of the semi crushed the entire cruiser in an accordion effect. No other door would open.

For all intents and purposes, my door shouldn’t have been able to be opened. If my door had jammed up like all the other doors I would not be here today. All the concerned citizens, police, fire and EMT personnel wouldn’t have been able to save my life. That door opening was THE key. God showed me this in Revelation 3:7-8: “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he [Jesus] that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”

Humanly speaking, two men opened the door of my cruiser that morning, but it was only possible because GOD allowed that door to open! Personally, the true depth of this passage has not sunk in, and I don’t think during this lifetime I will ever attain the knowledge to discern just how powerful it really is! It was as if God said to me, “I know you, Lowell, you are one of mine. I know your works, your desire to aid your fellow man. You have been faithful to me and have not denied me. Right now, you have no strength. Behold, I set before you an open door that no man can open or shut. Here, now, for you my son, are some of my servants, and they will help you.”

God Provided An Open Door… That To This Day Will Not Shut!

Lowell Russell’s Book, Chapter on Frankie, the Marine

Life often takes unexpected turns: sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad. It’s like canoeing on a winding river—you don’t know what’s around the bend until you get there. Such was the case in the unique relationship I built with Franklin “Frankie” Namon Watson. I first met him in 2002 when he was just a young, scrappy, twelve-year-old boy, and I was privileged to watch him grow up to be an exceptional young man. Little did I know just how much of an impact he would later have in my life.

Frankie lived in Sweetwater. Between 2002 and 2004, I would only see him occasionally, either around town or when he was at his grandparent’s house. He always seemed like a decent kid and was pleasant to be around. During the summer of 2004, I had set up a fireworks stand in Madisonville in anticipation of the 4th of July. Frankie stopped by and while we were chatting, he asked if I could take him to his football practices on the days his dad couldn’t. I told him as long as his folks didn’t mind, I’d be happy to drive him. When the football team began having two practices a day, Frankie would spend the night. Dad and I lived in a large house with a spare bedroom where Frankie would stay, and we’d take him to practice in the morning. Just like that, Frankie was becoming a special part of our lives.

Soon, a familial-like relationship began to blossom. Frankie was like a little brother to me and grew to be an integral part of the family. I saw in Frankie a young man with a world of potential, and I had the opportunity to be an influence in his life. I wasn’t going to waste that opportunity. Hardly any time passed before he was traveling with us on family vacations and special outings. I told him I would take him anywhere he wanted to go for his senior trip and he chose Hawaii. It was one of the best trips we ever took.

One of my favorite memories of Frankie was Christmas 2005. I purchased a paintball gun for him, and you would have thought a brand-new Ferrari was parked out front! Frankie invited his buddy, Michael, to spend the night. Later that afternoon I went downstairs to do some laundry and noticed they weren’t in his room. When I went back upstairs, I asked Dad if he knew where they were. He just chuckled and said I should try looking out the window. Standing out in the freezing cold were two teenage boys, shirtless, taking turns shooting each other with the paintball gun! When I asked them what possessed them to do this, in all his teenage wisdom Frankie advised me that they just wanted to see how big a welt it would leave! While having a hard time regaining my composure from having laughed myself into tears, I put an end to the shenanigans and sent the boys back inside. Yes, even the best of kids are still just that—kids!

Frankie was a young man full of life; he didn’t waste a moment. At times, that made him a little mischievousness like one time when I’d been in Nashville for a few days and was coming back into town for the weekend. I told Frankie as soon as I got in, I would need to take a quick shower and change before we could leave to go out for dinner. Later, as

I was putting on my deodorant, the phone rang. While talking on the phone I went to Frankie’s room to see if he was ready. About the time I hit his room, my armpits started to tingle, then burn! I didn’t know why, but Frankie was laughing at me. By the time I hung up the phone my armpits felt as if they had pepper spray on them! In desperation I asked him what was going on, and in between his bursts of laughter he told me he had put Icy Hot on my deodorant! We had a good laugh about it (obviously he more than me).

I accidentally got my revenge a few years later. Frankie joined the Marines and while in boot camp he had developed a bad rash on his legs. He sent a letter back requesting help with the matter. Having been single my whole life and not having any children of my own, I wasn’t sure what to do, but my

wonderful sister-in-law, Crystal, recommended I buy some extra strength Desitin to send him. I bought the product and mailed it to him with a note taped to the product that said something like: “Rub a generous portion of cream on the infected areas and apply as frequently as necessary.” At the time I didn’t realize all incoming mail was inspected prior to being given to the respective designee. It took him a while to live down that “care package.”

Ever since he was a little child, Frankie had expressed interest in being a police officer and/or Marine. He graduated from high school in May of 2008 and immediately started into his law enforcement career as a corrections officer at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. In 2009, he went to the Cleveland State Police Academy and was hired to the Madisonville Police Department that December. In 2010, he enlisted in the Marines and was sent to Parris Island for boot camp. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. Frankie was a combat engineer and had earned the rank of Lance Corporal (LCp1). His long-term ambition was to become a Tennessee State Trooper after he returned from deployment.

This is where the next bend in the river revealed violent rapids. On Saturday, September 24, 2011, Frankie was killed by an enemy sniper while on foot patrol in a field outside his forward operating base. He was only twenty-one years old. By this point in our nine-year relationship, Frankie felt close enough to my family that he had listed me, in addition to his parents, as next of kin to be notified in case of death or injury.

I was in the shower that morning when the Marines first came to give me the death notification. They didn’t know I was a

trooper and, having seen my cruiser in the driveway, they thought I had already been notified by THP. Unaware they had come to the house, I continued getting ready and drove up into Knoxville. About the time I arrived at the truck scales, I received a radio call informing me I needed to go back home. When I arrived back at the house, the Marine detail was already there.

Sitting on my couch in my living room, I felt a world of emotions go through me as they notified me of Frankie’s death. Immediately word spread and people started coming from all over to offer condolences. My brother was one of the most welcomed faces to see. After having lost my mother, father, and now Frankie, Cory remained my only immediate living relative, and these moments have served to draw us closer than ever. I thank God for my brother.

You never know how the Lord plans to work. Out of this horrific event, many lasting friendships have blossomed. This was the first time I met my partner in this book, Chaplain Grady. I remember him coming by that day, but I was in such a fog that it didn’t really hit me until I saw him again at the funeral, just exactly who he was. Over the next few months, we would exchange several texts and phone calls and become friends, eventually crossing paths on the job from time to time.

A wise old preacher once said, “Don’t make a decision when your decision maker is broken.” In times of duress, it is wise to find someone you can look to for help. During this tumultuous event, that someone for me was United States Air Force Captain James Brantley. Captain Brantley had been a friend to us for many years, and a mentor to

Frankie. He had been stationed at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma when he received the news of Frankie’s death. Captain Brantley put his work on hold to fly straight to Dover Air Force Base in order to be there for the family, and guide us through the challenging time that lay ahead. When the time came to bring Frankie home from Dover, Captain Brantley headed up the military escort. Thank God for men of sacrifice—men like Frankie and Captain Brantley.

Frankie’s homecoming, funeral and graveside services were nothing short of breathtaking. Vehicles and thousands of people lined the shoulders of Highway 411 and saluted him as his escort arrived in town. His funeral service was packed to overflowing in the 800-plus seat auditorium of the First Baptist Church in Madisonville, with several dignitaries in attendance. There were over 2,000 people that watched the service via the internet. They had to place the service on a special out-of-state server with another one as backup. Frankie was given full honors, which he had so deservedly earned. In April 2013, Highway 411 in Madisonville was dedicated in memory of Frankie and renamed the “Franklin ‘Frankie’ Watson Memorial Highway.”

Frankie was a devoted Christian. While he was overseas, he had personal, daily devotions using his Bible along with a devotional book his friends had given him. An impressive demonstration pointing to his character was a verse he posted on his Facebook page before leaving for Afghanistan. Fittingly, this same verse was also inscribed as part of the epitaph on his tombstone. Joshua 1:9: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

An equally impressive passage of Scripture that speaks to this topic is Hebrews 11:4: ‘“... he being dead yet speaketh.” When Frankie died, I vowed I wouldn’t let his memory die with him. I founded a memorial scholarship fund in Frankie’s honor. Today there are several young folks who have been given the opportunity to attend college because of his sacrifice. In addition to the fund, I travel as often as I am able to speak to veterans groups, law enforcement academics, and similar functions to honor the life and sacrifice of Frankie.

I have no doubt that you, the reader, have by now observed the recurring theme of how God uses things in your past to prepare you for the future. Just as God used me in Frankie’s life, He used Frankie in mine. My parents’ unexpected deaths worked to prepare me for Frankie’s unexpected death and also to motivate me to what I do today. He also used Frankie’s death in addition to my parents’ deaths, to prepare me for my day. He allowed me to walk through the valley of the shadow of death three times to prepare me for walking through my own valley. As we were taught in law enforcement: “Preparation is the key to survival. When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past.” After Frankie’s funeral, the waters of the river seemed to calm. The rapids would return 5 1/2 short months later as the river entered my valley. Preparation time was over. My valley of decision had arrived.

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THESE RECIPES ARE BROUGHT TO YOU BY INGLES, STARTED IN 1963 BY ROBERT P. INGLE AND COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

FARM TO TABLE

n order to bring the freshest produce available to his customers Elmer Ingle used to visit local farmers in the early mornings, picking up only the best. Today, the store and the people look a little different but the produce doesn’t… everywhere you look the Ingles produce department has the freshest and the tastiest produce available, from local farmers just like Elmer and from around the world. Making sure you have the less traveled – best selection. We have an excellent variety of organic selections and a fresh produce prep area where we can core a pineapple, cut watermelon or put together the perfect combination of fresh vegetables for you, all with knowledgeable and friendly associates ready to help. Next time you visit your neighborhood Ingles, take a little more time to notice how much the tradition of the highest standards still remains with every fruit and vegetable.

INGLES….EXPECT MORE FROM YOUR LOCAL STORE

VEGETABLE PIZZA

by Jasmin Queen

Make this delicious cold pizza a few days in advance and keep it in the refrigerator!

Serves: 12

Ingredients

2 (8 oz.) cans crescent dough sheets or crescent roll dough

2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened

2⁄3 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp. fresh dill, chopped

1/2 cup grape tomatoes, sliced

1 cup broccoli, chopped

1 cup cauliflower, chopped

1 cup orange bell pepper, sliced

1/2 cup black olives, sliced

1/2 cup green onions, sliced

1 cup shredded cheddar

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 12x18 pan with nonstick spray. Unroll crescent dough sheet and press dough into bottom of pan, sealing all seams. Bake 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven and cool. In a small bowl, blend cream cheese, mayonnaise, and dill. Spread mixture evenly over crust. Top the crust evenly with vegetables, olives, and cheese. Cut into squares and refrigerate until ready to serve.

www.ingles-markets.com/recipes/vegetable-pizza

SWEET AND SPICY CROCKPOT PORK

by Clark and Suzy Neal with Unicoi Preserves

Ingredients

1 large onion, peeled and cut into wedges

7 lb. pork butt, fat cap scored salt and pepper

3 tbsp. chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped

2 tbsp. Laura Lynn brown sugar

2 (12 oz.) cans Laura Lynn Dr. Lynn soda

Directions

Place onion in the bottom of a crockpot. Generously salt and pepper all sides of the pork butt, then place pork on top of onion in crockpot. Add chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and brown sugar, then pour over both cans of Dr. Lynn soda. Cook on high for 1 hour, then reduce to low, and cook until meat is tender and easily shreds, approximately 6 hours. Cooking time depends on the size of the roast and your crockpot. Remove meat to sheet pan, shred, and discard fat. Skim fat off cooking liquid, then return shredded meat to crockpot cooking liquid, serve warm. Alternatively, when meat is done, refrigerate meat and cooking liquid, then remove hardened fat once cold. Reheat on stove top and serve.

No crockpot, no problem! You can cook this roast in the oven at 300°F in a large, tightly covered Dutch oven, 6 hours or until meat easily shreds with two forks. This pork recipe is really versatile. Try filling grilled tortillas with leftover pork, cabbage, tomatoes, and cilantro for a delicious second meal.

www.ingles-markets.com/recipes/sweet-and-spicy-crockpot-pork

GRILLED CHICAGO STYLE HOT DOG

by Smokin’ Joe Lasher

Ingredients

1 all beef hot dog

1 poppy seed hot dog bun

1 tbsp. prepared yellow mustard

1 tbsp. sweet green pickle relish

1 tbsp. onion, chopped

2 tomato wedges

1 dill pickle spear

2 pepperoncini

1 dash celery salt

Directions

Prepare a clean grill for direct cooking over medium heat. Cook hot dog over direct heat, turning regularly, until desired doneness. During last 30 seconds, toast bun, cut side down, over direct heat. Place hot dog on bun with two tomato wedges on one side and dill pickle spear on other side. Add mustard, two pepperoncini, chopped onion, pickle relish and a generous dash of celery salt and serve warm.

www.ingles-markets.com/recipes/

SHEET PAN JAMAICAN JERK TOFU

by Scott Culpepper

Ingredients

Spicy Jalapeño

Infused Margarita

Ingredients

4 large cloves of garlic, minced

2 tsp. fresh ginger, minced

1 1/2 large sweet potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 large sweet apples, cored and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 medium red onion, cut into small wedges

2 medium green bell peppers, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

2 (16 oz.) containers firm tofu

4 tbsp. olive oil

2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

3 tbsp. Jamaican jerk seasoning (dry rub), divided

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. In a bowl, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp. jerk seasoning, garlic, and ginger. Drain tofu and cut into 1/2 inch strips. Sprinkle the remaining jerk seasoning over the tofu strips.

Combine vegetables and apples together in a large mixing bowl.

Pour marinade over the mixture and mix to coat. Pour mixture onto a large baking sheet and place tofu on top, mostly in the center of the dish. Bake on the center rack for 40 minutes or until sweet potatoes are cooked through, stirring vegetables half way through. Serve. Fill tortillas with leftovers for a second meal!

www.ingles-markets.com/recipes/sheet-pan-jamaican-jerk-tofu

1⁄3 cup ice, or as needed

3 oz. jalapeño-infused tequila

2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice

1 oz. triple sec

1 oz. simple syrup chile lime salt

1 lime wedge

2 jalapeño slices mint, for garnishing

Directions

1. Place chile salt on a plate. Run the lime wedge around the edge of the glass and dip into the chile lime salt.

2. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice. Add tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and simple syrup. Cover and shake until mixed and chilled. Strain margarita into glass.

www.ingles-markets.com

A SPICY TWIST ON A REFRESHINGLY DELICIOUS CLASSIC!

GRILLED TUNA WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA

By Scott Culpepper

This salsa is great with almost any grilled fish. It also makes a great salsa for chips. Also, it’s great either at room temperature or chilled.

Ingredients

4 6-8 oz. tuna steaks

2 cups fresh pineapple, diced

1 cup red pepper, diced 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

3 tbsp. jalapeño pepper, finely chopped, stemmed and seeded

1 clove garlic, minced

1 lime, juiced salt, to taste

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, except tuna steaks, mix thoroughly and season with salt to taste. Set aside or chill in the refrigerator. Season tuna.

www.ingles-markets.com/recipes/grilled-tuna-with-pineapple-salsa

DILLED RED POTATOES & PEAS

By Kelli Smith & Erin Barnett The Southern Table

Ingredients

1 cup grapefruit sections

1 cup vanilla yogurt

1 tsp. grated lime zest

1 tbsp. honey fresh mint leaves additional honey, for drizzling on top

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix yogurt, lime zest, and honey. Alternate layers of yogurt and grapefruit into a glass. Drizzle with honey and top with mint. Switch up the fruit for a totally different treat!

Jessica White

Jessica, a Monroe County local, is excited to be back in the area and serving the community as a dental hygienist at Johnson Family Dental. At a very young age she knew she wanted to work in the dental field. She attended Carson-Newman University and received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Chemistry. Jessica met her husband, Luke, while attending the university. She then went on to East Tennessee State University where she got a Bachelor’s of Science in Dental Hygiene. After graduating hygiene school, Jessica got married and moved to Florida with her husband, while he attended chiropractic school. Jessica’s husband will be graduating in December and the two are now settled down in Vonore. They have a Yorkie named Sadie. Jessica spends her time hanging out by the lake, working out, and remodeling her house. She is looking forward to seeing familiar faces and new faces in the office. Jessica is passionate about oral hygiene and is excited to serve her community.

Meet

Dr. Austin Johnson

Dr. Whitney Johnson

The Bearded Iris

STATE FLOWER

TENNESSEE

I The Bearded Iris

have been hesitant to write about the Bearded Iris (Iris). Years ago, I went to a symposium that featured a lady from the Iris Society who knew everything there was to know about Irises. She had hosted the National Iris Plant Society convention at her home in Atlanta where she proudly displayed her beautiful flowers. She had each plant tagged, labeled and had a backup diagram listing again each variety with its Latin name just in case a label got mixed up. After listening for three hours I knew that I was a total novice to the Iris community, but My lack of knowledge did not stop me from successfully growing this hardy regal plant.

This is the Tennessee State flower, and I have grown irises since my arrival to the Volunteer state. All irises bear flowers with six petals of which three point up or out (called standards) and three point down (called falls). All Bearded Irises have fuzzy beards at the top of each fall. Tall Bearded Irises have 4 to 8 inch wide blooms atop plants that are about two feet tall. These are the most popular and most colorful irises and are a common sight each spring.

There are more than 300 cultivars from which to choose and more are being introduced each year. Flowers come in colors from white (one of my favorites), pale

Tennessee State Flower.

yellow, peach, pink, raspberry, bronze-red, lilac, purple, violet-blue, brown and redblack. I have one named ‘hello darkness,’ that has a purple-black flower with a purple beard; it is rich and velvety.

Bearded Irises like full sun and average to rich soil, which is well drained. They have thick fleshy rhizomes and are drought tolerant once established. Bearded Irises need dividing after three to four years, so don’t go out and buy plants if you have any friends or relatives that are growing irises. They will be glad to share with you. Divide them anytime after they finish blooming until August. Irises go dormant during the hot dry summer.

plants looks ragged near the base where the caterpillar first begins chewing. In late summer clean up any brown foliage. In the spring spray the lower half of the plants with an approved insecticide to kill the emerging larvae.

Lift the entire clump from the ground, then break or cut apart the rhizomes. You should discard old rhizomes from the center sections. Make sure each piece is equipped with roots and leaf blades. This is my favorite part: plant them shallow with the top edge of the rhizome protruding out of the ground and the fan of leaves trimmed to about four inches. Replanting is so easy. If you have several different cultivars, you can write the selection name or color on the leaf blade with a felt-tip pen.

A problem that you have to watch for is iris borers. They make small pinholes in the rhizome. Borers enter the foliage and then work their way in and out of the rhizome. Watch for leaves turning yellow, dripping sap and dying plants. Leaves of infected

I have given irises to most of my friends, and I still need to divide. After having this plant for 40 years and dividing every five (I always wait too long). I have given away, thrown away, replanted and even shared them with the goats. This is definitely a plant that thrives with little care.

Hosta

Perfect For A Shade Garden.

My first Hostas were left behind plants. When we moved to the farm, I discovered them protruding from the ground around an old milk barn. I had never grown hosta and neither had my mother so this was a new plant for me. I carefully moved them to a more prominent location. The same plants are still thriving.

Hostas (Hosta) are among the top plants for a shade garden. They are a long-lived, easy to grow, perennial. These lush mounds of foliage can be as small as 2 inches or more than 3 feet high. Hosta comes in a diverse range of color and patterns. Leaf color can be chartreuse, blue-gray, blue-green, green and variegated plants have touches of white, cream and yellow. Leaves can be heart-shaped, nearly round or lance shaped. There are hundreds of plants from which to choose, and breeders add new ones each year. If you are just getting started with hosta, the old tried and true are the easiest for beginners. I have a common green and a few “Royal Standards”. When you get leftovers, they are not usually the gardeners’ prize possession.

Hostas will tolerate a large range of soil conditions but grow best in medium to full shade in evenly moist soil that is rich in organic matter. Shade is a necessity here in Tennessee where the summers are long and hot. They are clumping in form and will keep their colors best when planted in a cool shady spot that receives good light but no direct sun. Flowers are of little importance; foliage shape and color are the reasons to grow this plant.

They can be moved in the garden at anytime of the year when the ground can be worked. Before planting, dig the soil deep and amend with compost. Spring is the perfect time to move them. Like houseplants, brown edges on the leaves are a sign of lack of water.

When planting give your Hostas room to grow. A good rule is space plants as far apart as their height at maturity. Hostas are divided into large, medium and small just like tee shirts. You can decide which size best suits your garden.

These leafy plants emerge late in spring and make a great companion planting in beds with hardy spring bulbs. They require little care to look their best. Division is not necessary; they don’t die out in the center and rarely become crowded. Mulching in the spring will keep down weeds and keep the soil moist and cool. Keep mulch away from the stalk to minimize problems with rotting. If slugs are a problem, it’s best not to mulch at all. You can cut the leaves after the first hard frost.

Other shade loving plants in our area are ferns, bleeding heart and hellebores. Jacob’s ladder and Virginia bluebells are also natural companions. Hostas are most striking when planted in large drifts. They also work well as ground covers and edging. They can be grown successfully in containers.

Voles, chipmunks and rodents love the fleshy crowns and roots of Hostas. I have put several in containers, trying to keep voles at bay. Slugs still climbed up the pots and munched on my leaves. Now we have had an extremely cold December, and plants in pots always freeze harder than those in the ground. I hope the roots did not totally freeze, or I will be back to my original left behind plants.

Gayle Fisher MASTER GARDENER

UNPRECEDENTED DURABILITY

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Paints, Hardware, Plants & More... Served With A Smile.

Growing your own garden should be simple, accessible, and attainable. With over a century of experience growing fresh, quality plants, we want to be your go-to partner in successfully growing delicious, fresh food, right at home.

pring is arriving quickly with Deborah and Danny McFalls, owners of Everhart Lumber Company, adding different furniture pieces and new home décor items to the store. Two new walnut bars and matching stools have been added of which one is featured here. The walnut bar above has a new tree base design. Two free standing cedar wine holders are now in the showroom of which one has a clear matt finish and the other one is stained as shown here. We have back in stock, the wine bottle table with the wine bottles storage below the top of the table. A good inventory of side tables is being kept in stock now from different wood species.

We have been working with two new pottery companies to increase our American-made pottery inventory. We are also adding more throw pillows, kitchen enamelware, and items made from Jack Daniel’s barrels.

As always, we offer fireplace mantles and ready-made and custom-made furniture from wood with character to make dining, coffee, and sofa tables and other types of furniture. We continue to offer wood slabs for customers to make their own furniture.

Walnut Side Table

Building Supply Needs

American Made Pottery

Charcuterie Tray

We provide specialized wood building products including mantels, wooden kitchen island tops, and stair treads from different wood species. For the interior walls, we offer reclaimed barnwood paneling. We also make custom-made barnwood style doors.

CHARLES LEE

In January of 1943, my dad, Charles Lee— a 19-year-old farm boy—joined the Army Air Corps. The oldest of eight children, his family lived in Tellico Plains at the edge of the Cherokee National Forest.

He was trained to be a waist gunner and a flight engineer on a B-17 Bomber. From their base camp in Southern England, my dad and the rest of his crew began flying missions over Germany on their B-17 Bomber which they nicknamed the Smokey Stover, Jr. The men had to fly 25 missions before they could return home, but the average number of flights flown before getting shot down was five.

On May 12, 1944, in preparation for D-Day, the Army Air Corps launched one of the biggest air campaigns of the war for the purpose of bombing the German’s fuel

production facilities. There were 935 B-17s flying in the air from London on this date. Of the twenty-six planes in my dad’s squadron, only twelve returned. This was his sixth bombing mission and would be his last.

As he manned his waist gun, standing in front of a waist high opening in the plane in subzero weather, he saw a vapor trail at “two o’clock,” which was an indication of enemy aircraft. Soon after, he noticed the vapor trail at “one o’clock” and then nothing. This meant that the enemy fighter plane was banking and coming at them. The B-17’s companion fighter planes had been lured into a dogfight with other German fighter planes, leaving it with no protection.

As the German plane attacked, the Smokey Stover was hit and started going down. During the attack, my dad was shot and suffered wounds to his head, shoulder, back, and wrist. With the help of a fellow airman, he was able to bail out of the plane.

As he parachuted down, he saw a German fighter plane bank, turn, and come toward him as he spiraled to the ground. The plane came close enough for him to see the white scarf around the German pilot’s neck. They made eye contact, and the German pilot raised his hand in a respectful salute and then flew off with the rest of the German aircraft.

Soon after hitting the ground, he was captured by members of the German home guard. He was loaded onto a truck and taken to a jail in a small town outside of Frankfurt, Germany, where he was held in solitary confinement for 10 days, receiving no medical care for his serious injuries.

After this, my dad and the rest of his crew were put on a train and taken to a newlyopened prison camp in Poland called Stalag Luft 4.

His family was notified of his capture in late May of 1944.

Nearly 10,000 prisoners would eventually be held at Stalag 4. They were punished if they did not obey the rules. One day a prisoner jumped out of a window instead of going out the door for roll call and was shot and killed.

Food was mostly a soupy mixture of rotten cabbage and bread made from sawdust. Red Cross packages often were not delivered. The barracks were made for sixteen but usually contained twenty-five men, and there was very little heat. Most slept on the bare floor or on wood shavings, and here, in the dark, lonely hours of the night, they would wonder if they would ever see their families again.

My dad was never given anything to wear other than the bloodstained clothes he had on when he was captured. Due to his

Charles Lee’s official Army Air Corps photo

Taken in 1945 when Officers of Army Air Corps went to Tellico Plains to present Emma Lee with the Air Medal. Seated left to right Emma Lee, Clement Lee holding Katherine Plenge; standing left to right Louise Lee, J.D. Lee, and Jane Lee

untreated injuries and a subsequent battle with Hepatitis, he became very sick and only survived due to the persistence of his fellow prisoners helping him get up and walk each day.

The worst part of his incarceration was a ride with 60 other men in a cattle car. When the Russian Army was advancing toward this part of Poland overtaking the Germans, the Germans were forced to move all 10,000 prisoners to Stalag Luft 1 which was a camp in Barth, Germany, on the Baltic Coast. Those who were too sick to march the entire distance were loaded onto cattle cars.

It was very cold, and they had no coats. There was no food or water except for some watery cabbage soup and more of the bread made from sawdust. It was so cramped in the small boxcar that nearly everyone had to stand all day and all night. Most suffered from dysentery and other illnesses. They were not allowed out of the box car for ten long days.

Meanwhile back in Tellico Plains, representatives of the Army Air Corps presented Dad’s mother with the Air Medal at a somber ceremony at the family home. At this time, three of the four sons were away serving in the military.

On April 30, 1945, the German guards returned my dad’s personal possessions in a simple manila envelope, in the same condition as they were in when he was captured. That night the Germans fled the camp.

My dad was liberated on May 13, 1945— one year and one day after his capture. Due to his poor treatment, my six-foot three-inch father weighed only eighty-six pounds. He and the other prisoners of war were flown out on B-17 Bombers to Camp Lucky Strike in Le Havre, France. After this, he was hospitalized in Florida for a period of time before finally returning home to Tellico Plains.

My dad went on to start a business, get married and help raise a family. He ran a trucking company and a real estate business, and he served for twelve years as a county commissioner for Monroe County. He died on February 27, 2009 at the age of eighty-six. Countless prisoners of war endured similar hardships as my father, and many returned with physical problems or emotional and mental scarring that stayed with them the rest of their lives. Yet these brave men were still able to raise families, work hard, and be productive members of their communities. They never gave up or gave in.

Brothers during WWII -- Ernest Lee, Navy (left), Charles Lee, Army Air Corps (center), Norman Lee, Coast Guard (right)

Flight Crew, 1942, Charles Lee is in the upper back row, standing far right

Charles Lee during training in 1942 before being deployed overseas

So, what were the common bonds that helped prisoners of war like my father survive and endure?

They were determined to be reunited with their families.

They had an enormous love for their country and their families.

During the war, they had seen so much death and violence that after that experience, each day was a gift.

Each day was a great day.

Each day had to be lived to the fullest.

They were forgiving; they did not hold grudges or harbor resentment.

They were optimists.

They were grateful to be alive.

They did not complain or whine.

They did not waste food.

They did not eat cabbage. They instilled in their children respect for their country and a desire to serve.

At an early age, these men had seen the worst.

They were true American heroes.

My father’s story has a great lesson for all of us. As we face adversity at a much, much lesser scale, we need to remember that each day is a gift. We should face each day with optimism and hope and a determination to succeed. And we must never forget the sacrifices that all of our veterans have made for our freedom and liberty.

Charles Lee and daughter Sharon after fishing trip in New Smyrna around 1960.

Charles Lee 2nd from left

Charles Lee holding son Charlie Lee with daughter Charla Sherbakoff next to him and daughter Sharon Lee standing.

This article is adapted and edited from a speech given by Justice Sharon Lee of the Tennessee Supreme Court to the Oak Ridge League of Women Voters. Justice Lee recounts her father’s experience as a prisoner of war in World War II.

In Miami at a military hospital after the war; Charles Lee kneeling bottom right

Charles Lee's identification card from the POW Camp when he was first captured, Stalag Luft 4.

A local papers reports Charles Lee as missing in action

An unofficial telegram notifying the family that Charles Lee was a POW.

MASON FURNITURE & APPLIANCES

We sell a broad range of items and supplies for interior improvement to meet all your needs. We’ve been established for over 6 decades because of our commitment to customer service and skill in matching the right product to the right customer. With us, you will always receive free delivery, setup and haul-away services, and products at unbeatable prices.

The Restoration Artist

One mark of good artists is the ability to make you care about something in which you had no prior interest, drawing you in with their passion for their work. This was how I felt as Cheryl Willhoit showed me her hand-painted furniture on display in her store Sweet & Sassy in Madisonville. I knew nothing about furniture, and during our interview, Cheryl had to clarify the names of different types of furniture—vanities, buffet servers, bombe chests, all practically a foreign language to me—to make sure I got the terminology correct in the article. But an artist like Cheryl doesn’t rely on prior knowledge of or interest in her subject; rather, she creates that interest, delighting to share her fervent passion, smiling broadly.

For her business, she searches out old pieces of furniture—something you would walk past in a store without a second glance—then restores and paints them, transforming them into something eye-catching and beautiful.

“This is my happy place,” Cheryl said. “To me, sitting down with that piece right there, figuring out what color it wants to be... Furniture kind of tells me how it wants to look. It’s like an outfit with jewelry.”

She continued, saying, “When you first start painting something, it’s just paint; it’s ugly. But once you start adding all the little details and the embellishments and gold foil or silver foil... You just hear that piece singing; it’s happy again.”

To create a beautiful piece, Cheryl first has to find the right canvas—that is, the right piece of furniture to paint. Her search begins in thrift stores or on websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace where perhaps one in a hundred catch her eye. Usually, she and her husband have to pick it up themselves. Sometimes that means renting a U-Haul, and sometimes that means driving as far as Montgomery, Alabama and back with half a desk sticking out from the bed of their truck.

Cheryl had been painting furniture before opening Sweet & Sassy. She would sell it to an antique store, but when the pandemic hit, that store closed. This was a problem as she had a huge investment in paint—and wasn’t particularly excited to tell her husband how huge an investment—so on March 1st of 2021, she convinced him to open a store selling her furniture. Despite opening in the middle of the pandemic, Sweet & Sassy was a huge success, and within five months, they had to expand to a larger store.

Cheryl encourages people to buy restored furniture pieces instead of new ones. Not only is this often cheaper, but old furniture is usually made from real wood whereas new pieces are often not. Occasionally however older pieces require some modifications for safety. For example, Cheryl showed me a cedar chest she was working on that was originally airtight and locked automatically when closed. This means that a child could get trapped inside and be unable to escape. To prevent this, Cheryl always pops the lock out of pieces like this.

“Cedar chests, if you ever pick one up at a yard sale, pop the lock out, especially if it’s a Lane cedar chest,” she recommended. “You can call Lane and they will send you a new lock.”

The dresser below was bought by a couple from Phoenix, Arizona. The man saw this piece and was immediately enraptured. His wife asked Cheryl if she’d take a lower price for it, but before Cheryl could answer, the man responded, “No she will not. That is art.” The couple bought it and rented a U-Haul to take it back to Phoenix. A few months later, the man called Cheryl and asked if she wanted to paint a China cabinet. She said sure and two or three weeks later, he brought her the most beautiful China cabinet she’d ever seen. Cheryl asked what color he wanted it, but he wouldn’t give instructions—she’d done well on the other piece, and he wanted to leave the virtuoso to her work.

While visiting her shop, Cheryl showed me her storage space two doors down. Inside, two dozen furniture pieces lay partially disassembled in various stages of completion. The creative chaos reminded me of my own writing process where I usually start several pieces and work on them simultaneously.

CHERYL WILLHOIT’S HAND PAINTED FURNITURE AND BEAUTIFUL GIFT SHOP

This storage space is where Cheryl keeps furniture that people have already bought but not been able to take yet, often because they’re about to move into a new home. She also stores custom pieces customers have commissioned. But this isn’t where she does her work—that honor is reserved for her “She Shed” back home.

I asked Cheryl if she had something she considered her masterpiece, and she showed me these before and after photos of the light blue secritary display cabinet. Her husband had to drive all the way to Atlanta to get it. If you want to buy it, it’s unfortunately too late. All her hand-painted pieces are one-of-a-kind, so once they’ve been bought, they’re gone.

If you get the opportunity to visit Sweet & Sassy, there’s one additional feature that stands out— a display in the back corner designed to look like the porch and front door of an old wooden cabin.

Specifically, it’s Cheryl’s grandmother’s cabin, where she and her siblings spent many hours as children when their parents were at work. The door even opens with a nostalgic squeak, and every time Cheryl hears it, she remembers her grandmother—sweet and tender but firm—calling out, “Don’t slam that door!”

Photo By Trent Scott

A Beautiful Farragut Garden

In June of 2022, Mary and Michael Bates’s beautiful home garden was selected by the Dogwood Arts Festival as a featured garden. It’s the first thing you see pulling into their subdivision, a tall brick house encircled by beds of shrubs, flowers and greenery dotted by bright and vivid colors. These circular beds are placed regularly amid the grass lawn. One particular patch of flowers catches my eye—splotches of purple, not spread in a bloom but twisting up like thin whisps of smoke.

Started in 1993, the owners have had 30 years to prefect the garden—and their work shows. A path through the flower beds leads under a metal arch entangled with vines and into the back yard which looks more like a public park. A stone statue in one flower bed depicts a young child playing a flute. To the side, a separate wooden arch marks the beginning of a stone path straight out of a fairytale.

The bright day grows dim as I step into the shade of the trees. There are dozens and they stretch up a hundred feet, enveloping the entire back yard in a twilight canopy. You could almost forget that there is a subdivision and other houses beyond the encircling green, and indeed, the other homes are hidden, and it looks like you have found the entrance to a forest that stretches for miles. It envelops you; the outside world is gone.

Mary’s answers to commonly asked questions about the garden:

When did you start gardening?

Being an East Tennessee native, I grew up on a working farm and have always loved gardening and growing plants. Our garden was established with many perennials and East Tennessee pass-along plants and wildflowers from my mothers and grandmothers garden before we fell in love with roses.

What do you consider a perfect garden?

I like for a garden to look like it just grows naturally and no work ever has to be done which we all know is not the case. I also like to have something in bloom all the time. It gives me a reason to be outside to see what is new.

I notice you have a lot of shade. How do you grow roses?

My Grandmother taught me to watch how the sun passes over the garden and to plant the roses in spots with the most sun. Most of my roses are planted in the sunny front and side gardens. I also often say if you grow roses in shady conditions you can expect to work twice as hard for half the blooms. Roses will grow with just a few hours of sun if you amend the soil but don’t plant under the canopy of a tree unless you are growing ramblers which like to grow into the tree.

You mix other plants with roses. Do you recommend mixed planting?

Be careful with mixing roses with companion plantings. Most plantings are too aggressive for the roses. I think it is better to get your roses growing really well before even thinking about adding other plants to the bed. My roses are planted in 3 ft V-shaped deep holes with rock in the bottom 10 inches for drainage. Many of the plantings that slip into my rose beds are dropped by the birds but if the roses are happy, they will grow.

You use leaves to mulch. Why do you do that and do you chop them up?

We have LOTS of leaves in the fall so I just use them to mulch and define the beds. Sometimes the leaves are a foot deep in the beds in the fall but by the next August the earthworms have turned them into rich soil. We just blow them into the beds, distribute them evenly throughout the bed but do not chop them. The perennials, woodland wildflowers and bulbs will grow up through the leaves in the spring. We usually don’t use leaves in the rose beds.

Your soil looks so rich. What do you do for your roses?

Our soil is yellow, sticky clay so all the beds have to be amended. The leaves take care of all the beds except for the roses. Each year we winterize the roses with shredded pine bark heaped around the roses and in February we add a very thick layer of aged horse manure.

Your roses are not in raised beds. Why do you plant your roses in flat beds? Primarily because it is easier to form a bed flat on the ground. We have found by planting the roses in the ground they can withstand the summer heat and the winter cold better as the deep holes keep them insulated. Our roses are all planted in very deep holes and the bed itself is slightly

elevated by adding pine bark and aged horse manure so we just edge the beds with a weed eater. Our inspiration comes from the gardens of New Zealand as this is a common practice there.

How old is your garden?

This garden was established in 1993 and has grown slowly over the years. Many of the plants have naturalized into drifts which bloom at different times of the year

What are your favorite plants?

My favorite is always what is in bloom. I love how the garden changes over the course of the year. From the early spring woodland plants, each season brings something new. Hydrangeas and roses are among my favorites. The roses are the powerhouses of the garden as they have such a long bloom

time. My roses bloom from April until late November so that is a long time.

You have a lot of plants. How did you ever plant so many?

Many of our plants naturalize by seed or underground runners so they form drifts on their own. We started small and amended our soil. I tried to always read the conditions that plants need to grow well.

To See This Year’s Dogwood Arts Featured Gardens Go To:

www.dogwoodarts.com/ featuredgardens

Mary Bates, is an American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian and Horticulture Judge For The Tennessee Rose Society

SPRINT EVENTS

Monroe County will be showing off three new murals in the near future. If you are interested in sponsoring a one-of-a-kind work of art, please contact Monroe Area Council for the Arts at 423-442-3210.

14th ANNUAL MACA SPRING OPEN

Saturday, April 1st The Links at Kahite

Celebrate the arrival of Spring at the Monroe Area Council for the Arts 14th Annual Spring Open Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 9:30 a.m. at The Links at Kahite. The format is a four-person, 18-hole scramble. All golfers participate in the Hole-in-One Challenge for a chance to win a brand-new Ford vehicle courtesy of Jacky Jones Ford. Handicaps will be assigned to all players who do not have one based on

their best average playing score. Prizes totaling $900 will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winning teams. Prizes will also be awarded for the longest drive, men and women & closest to the pin, men and women. You are also entered in the Putting Contest for prizes.

The entry fee of $110 includes: Cart and greens fee, complimentary beverage cart, fresh continental breakfast, range balls, prizes, and our signature lunch with desserts. Complimentary Breakfast starts at 8 a.m.

Thank you for being a part of this tournament. We couldn’t think of a better way to bring people together to support the arts and help the children of our community. The money raised will fund our Arts in Education programs for youth of all ages.

MACA PLEIN AIR

April 12th through 14th

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 105 College Street Madisonville, TN 37354

Artist Check-In

Saturday, April 15 12pm - 2 pm

Artists’ Reception

Saturday, April 15, 6pm - 2pm

Cora Veal Senior Center

Voting for People’s Choice Is During the Wet Paint Sale/Exhibit and Announced on the MACA website.

the little FrenchRabbitryCottage

he house of identical twins Michelle and Danielle is an interesting place. To begin with, it has quite a few pets, and not just dogs and cats, although they have several of those as well, but also two mini pigs who wag their tails like dogs and four tropical birds, including a Cockatoo who likes to dance to the theme song of Barney the Purple Dinosaur. In the past they’ve owned even stranger pets including sugar gliders, ferrets, and even two pet foxes who would lick their owners’ faces for kisses.

But the main attraction is the dozens of rabbits they have bred over the last nine years as part of their business, the Little French Cottage Rabbitry. It’s this that has brought me to their house for an interview, and rarely has my job been so fluffy. Michelle

leads me out a door of her house into a rabbit village—seventeen candy-colored hutches that look like Victorian-themed doll houses, clustered together like a town square under a shade of a tarped roof.

“Each [rabbit] has a big cage so they can go up and down and socialize,” Michelle explains in her Michigan accent. “We put toys in there. We try to make it exciting for them. Enriching.”

She introduces me to her furry friends. “This is Camelot,” she says motioning to a black and white bunny with big, blue eyes. “That’s Juliet; she’s real pretty. And then—look how pretty his eyes are—that’s Romeo.”

She takes out some for me to hold, including a tiny rabbit with wild fur who sits quietly in my arms as I pet her. Michelle explains that this one isn’t for sale—she’s too cute.

Back inside, I sit with Michelle opposite her leopard print couch. To her right, a green parrot eyes me with suspicion—he doesn’t

like men, Michelle later explains. To my left, inside a small alcove, a stuffed fox with bunny ears sits in a miniature rocking chair, and on the shelf above, a plaque reads, “The best things in life are furry.”

Michelle lives here with her sister Danielle—a world-traveler who has been to all seven continents—and Michelle’s teenage kids, Paris and Pierce, all of whom are out of the house at the moment. I ask her how she became a rabbit breeder.

It all started when they met their friend’s blue-eyed rescue rabbit Sapphire in 2014 and were amazed at how friendly she was, acting “like a dog or a cat,” and letting people pet her, Michelle explains. She was a “calm, sweet rabbit that cheered people up.” Their friend was looking for a new home for Sapphire, and the twins were more than happy to oblige. Michelle’s kids, who were young at the time, also loved their new pet. And after seeing Sapphire, all their friends wanted a rabbit like her, but before the twins could provide, they had to find Sapphire a mate.

One day Michelle and Dannielle’s mom was in Stein Mart and overheard a worker talking about owning blue-eyed bunny. She told this to the twins who thought this could be the perfect mate for Sapphire. Her mom hadn’t caught the woman’s name, so Michelle, summoning her courage and fighting the urge to blush, walked into Stein Mart and loudly asked, “Is there a lady here that owns a white rabbit with blue eyes?”

Naturally, the lady wasn’t there that day, and Michelle had to come back tomorrow to meet her and ask if she could borrow her rabbit to breed. At first, the lady was hesitant to hand over her beloved pet, but eventually she agreed to let Michelle borrow him for a week. This is how Sapphire first met her mate, Buddy Bunn Bunn, and soon they had their first litter.

From that pair—one a rescue rabbit and the other found randomly in the owner’s yard— came the twins’ signature line of beautiful blue-eyed rabbits with black fur around their eyes like eyeliner. These rabbits are popular enough that people have come from all over the country to buy them. Michelle emphasized how personable rabbits can be, hopping right up to their owners. As an example, she told me about giving a bunny to her daughter’s modeling agent; that bunny wakes its owner every morning by hopping on her bed and kissing her cheek.

Michelle emphasized that Sapphire is a pet, not a source of income, and they’d only let her breed twice per year. They hold new baby rabbits from as soon as they’re an hour old to make sure they’re socialized.

Rabbit breeding is more of a hobby than a job and both twins work as physical therapists. They’ve considered stopping, but people keep wanting bunnies, and the joy in the kids’ eyes keeps them going.

Island Beneath the Waters

There’s something magical about the past. We know that any romantic “simpler era” is as much a product of our nostalgia as it is historical fact. Yet something calls out to us from the ruins of ancient cities, artifacts of old eras, or, more recently, the grainy, slightly-damaged film of old cameras and the muted hues of old photographs.

I sit with Chad Chester and watch his three-minute silent home film from 1974. The setting is Carson Island also known as Calloway Island—a 250-acre, diamond-shaped slice of class one farmland in Monroe County. In an old photo, you can see the Little Tennessee River split to encircle the small island.

Chad’s shaky, handheld footage shows a truck hauling tons of lime. Chad and his family load it onto their home-built ferry and let the current slowly pull them towards Carson Island where they will spread the lime over the soil to raise its pH and make it more suitable for crops.

To Chad, this island is a special place. In 1974, it was owned by the TVA who planned to build Tellico Dam which would flood the island and a lot of other land—but the dam was still years away at this point. It was excellent farmland, which drew the attention of Chad and his family. They

decided to rent the island from the TVA in 1974, farming it for however long it took to complete the dam. They hoped that it would be enough time for them to make a profit. It would turn out to be a wise investment.

Chad; his father, Fredric; and his cousins, Eric and Joe, ended up farming the land for four years from 1974 to 1979, when the dam was completed. They primarily grew corn that they used to feed their livestock, but they also grew soybeans, wheat, and hay. Chad said it was the best land he had ever farmed.

One of the biggest challenges was building the massive 55-foot by 18-foot by 3-foot steel ferry to haul farm equipment and supplies across the frigid river. Thankfully, they didn’t have to start from scratch, but were able to enlarge the frame of an older ferry and add a steel bottom and a steel top. For practical reasons, they had to build most of it upside down. When they were done with the bottom, they had to spend all day flipping the tremendous hunk of metal which required great planning and care.

Chad’s most cherished memory of the place was in March of 1976 when he called his girlfriend, Margaret, and asked her if she wanted to ride the ferry to Carson Island. The current was good, and they soon arrived at the island, where Chad led Margaret to a large pecan tree along the riverbank. There, under the light of the full moon, he took her hand and asked her to marry him—the answer was yes!

In 1979, the island was flooded; it has become part of the riverbed. For a long time, Chad didn’t think that there were any aerial images of the island in existence. That is until one day when he and his wife were having some new flooring put down in their home.

One of the workers said, “I know you. I know your mom and dad, and I know the story about the ferry.”

“Really?” Chad asked.

“Yeah, your dad told me all about it. I know where there’s an aerial photo of the island.”

Chad’s eyes widened in surprise. He asked about the photo and learned it was hanging in a restaurant in Madisonville, so Chad stopped by, and sure enough—there it was. The photographer’s email was in the corner, and Chad reached out to him to get a copy of the image. He learned that the photographer, knowing the land was about to be flooded, had taken many pictures of the Tellico Project. He had stored all the negatives, but when he pulled them out, they had all been damaged. All except one— the picture of Carson Island. Chad bought three large prints of the image, one for himself and one for each of his sons.

Carson Island was the backdrop for many happy memories. Maybe we all have places like that—an old church, a childhood home that has since been torn down—places that hold a special magic for us, a magic all the more potent if it is somewhere to which we can never return.

Something calls out to us from the ruins of ancient cities, artifacts of bygone eras, and the muted hues of old photographs. They call to us not just because of their beauty but because they represent that which is irretrievably beyond our reach— the past. Places like Carson Island show us the power of the past and of nostalgia, joyous yet knife-like, painful, happy, and beautiful—a longing for a place that no longer exists. Watch

ART SHOW

Acclaimed Art Show Returns To Tellico Village

The annual Art Show of the Art Guild of Tellico Village takes place on April 28, 29 and 30, 2023. Presented at the Community Church at Tellico Village in Loudon TN, this acclaimed display showcases more than 250 pieces of art, highlighting the exceptional and varied talents of Art Guild members.

“This professional-level exhibit has long been a favorite community event of the spring season, welcoming art enthusiasts from near and far,” says show leadership team member Laura Hersh. “With over twenty years of presenting an annual Art Show, the Art Guild is proud of this opportunity to showcase the extensive talents of its members.”

The Art Show offers a wide variety of subjects, styles and media, in both 2- and 3- dimensional works. Watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel, inks, graphite, colored pencil, scratchboard, photography, gourds, wood carving, jewelry, ceramics, fiber art, sculpture, weavings, fused glass, stained glass, collage and mixed media will be featured. Much of the artwork will be for sale.

Throughout the 3-day Art Show guests are invited to watch and learn from “Artists at Work.” Over a dozen member artists will demonstrate various media while sharing their inspirations, techniques, tips, materials and more. The public is also invited to vote for Peoples’ Choice Awards, to be announced at the end of the show.

Visitors will be treated to live music each day of the show. Food trucks will be on site each day of the show.

The 2023 Art Show takes place April 28-30, with hours on Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-5, and Sunday 10-4. The public is invited to the Opening Reception on Friday, April 28, from 4:00-6:00, when many exhibiting artists will be on site to meet and greet visitors.

The Community Church at Tellico Village is located at 130 Chota Ctr, Loudon, TN. Art Show attendance is FREE to the public and all are welcome.

For more information visit tellicoartguild.com.

A New Bill Will Return a Tennessee Historical Site to the Cherokee

In November of 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act. This act would return 76 acres of land in Monroe County to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a federally recognized tribe. Yet even though the bill passed the House with a vote of 407 to 16, receiving wide support from both parties, it has faced resistance in the Senate.

The land in question was controlled by the Overhill Cherokee for centuries until they were forced off of it in the 1800s. Today there are multiple recognized Cherokee tribes including the Eastern Band in North Carolina. Their official website states, “Cherokee is a sovereign nation, meaning it has its own laws, elections, government, institutions, and the like. Though it certainly has relationships with the United States federal government and the North Carolina state government that are vitally important, students and the general population may be interested to know that the Cherokees are self-governed and autonomous.” The nation comprises around 57,000 acres and has about 14,000 members.

The 76 acres addressed in the bill is currently held by the TVA. It contains the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum which honors the man who invented the Cherokee writing system in 1821 and the sites of two important Cherokee towns—Chota and Tanasi, from which we get the name Tennessee. At different points in the 1700s, both towns served as the capital of the Cherokee Nation. Chief Oconastota, an important Cherokee leader in the 1700s, is also buried on the property. The land is already being run and maintained by the Eastern Band, but the TVA still owns it. The new act will put the land into a trust, protecting the Eastern Band’s rights to it.

The bill, introduced by Representative Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, is the latest of three attempts to pass this legislation, all three of which have been blocked in the Senate by Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, according to Gene Branson, a member of the Eastern Band and chair of the board with the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum. Branson is unsure why Senator Burr has not supported the bill, but he speculates that it could be due to Burr’s support for another group of Native Americans who have had some disagreements with the Cherokee.

Similarly, in an interview with WATE,

Representative Fleischmann said, “The problem, candidly, is one Senator in the United States Senate from North Carolina who refuses to allow this to come up for a vote.” Senator Burr retired in 2022, so perhaps the bill now has a better chance of being passed.

Representative Fleischmann described the act as, “…righting a terrible wrong when [the Cherokees’] land was forcibly taken from them by the federal government… The Cherokee People have a long, rich history on these lands, and it is the place where Cherokees have honored the birth and life of Sequoyah, one of the most influential and important Native Americans in history. I am humbled and thankful to play a part in ensuring the story of the Eastern Band is preserved and taught to future generations.”

Principal Chief Richard Sneed of the Eastern Band wrote, “Monroe County contains land that is culturally and historically important to the Cherokee people. While this bill faces a long legislative path ahead, I could not be prouder of the efforts to preserve and protect this important memorial for generations to come.”

When testifying before the Senate Committee

on Indian Affairs, Principal Chief Sneed also said, “These properties commemorate and interpret historic people like Sequoyah; towns such as the historic Cherokee capital, Chota; and the culture of the Cherokee during the period from the early 1700s to 1840 and are also associated with and interpret the Trail of Tears.”

Charlie Rhodarmer, manager and director of the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, explained that the TVA had promised to give this land to the Cherokee years ago, but this promise fell through the cracks and was forgotten for a long time. Rhodarmer also said that the TVA has “been very supportive and helped us with a number of projects.” He strongly supports this bill.

Rhodarmer also discussed how archeologists had found Cherokee remains at the Chota and Tanasi sites. They gave these to the Eastern Band who buried them in a sacred mound near the museum. Presently, the remains are buried on what is technically TVA ground, but if the bill passes, the land will return to the Eastern Band, and the remains will once again be in Cherokee soil, which would be culturally significant. Gene Branson said, “It’s just very, very important to the Cherokees including myself. It’s something that should be done, it was promised to be done… and it’s the right thing to do.”

Since 1857, Tennessee Wesleyan University has been providing quality Christian education to students in Athens, Tennessee. They boast an 11:1 student to faculty ratio and an 87% job placement rate within 6 months of graduation. For students who don’t want to stray far from home, TWU is a great option for a local education.

Tennessee Wesleyan’s New President

On July 1, Tennessee Wesleyan University hired a new president—Dr. Tyler Forrest who was previously the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration for UT Chattanooga. Dr. Forrest is an Athens native, and he graduated from McMinn County High School. He has big shoes to fill, following

previous president Dr. Harley Knowles, but Dr. Forrest is up for the challenge.

He described the past several months at TWU as “one of the greatest experiences of [his] professional life.” He explained that TWU touches a lot of areas beyond just Athens and McMinn County—from Polk, Bradley, and Hamilton Counties in the South; Monroe County in the East; Meigs County in the West; to Loudon, Knox, and Blount Counties in the North.

Dr. Forrest said, “We really do touch the region, which is one of the most exciting things for me because I’ve always been a proponent of rural America and pushing rural growth.” Dr. Forrest has a wife, Emily, and two children, Caroline and Benjamin, and he’s glad to be living and working in his hometown.

“I’ve always been an Athens guy,” he said. “The Athens community is a great place to be—there’s a lot going on here, it’s a wonderful place to raise a family, it has a terrific school system, and I do think having Tennessee Wesleyan University right in the middle of it is probably one of the biggest pluses that we have… What we can do for the local economy and the region is something we really do focus on every day.”

Tennessee Wesleyan’s Nursing Department

Tennessee Wesleyan University has many wonderful programs including their nursing department. They also have a nursing campus in West Knoxville. TWU is in the process of rolling out an expedited program starting next fall which will give students the option of earning their degree in just three years instead of four. Nursing is a difficult job, but with shortages across the country, they’re needed now more than ever. The university is also proud of its dental hygine degree program.

Tennessee Wesleyan’s Dental Hygiene Program

If you love sports, you’ll be excited to know that TWU has 20 sports teams! The Bulldogs are competitive too, garnering multiple conference and national championships in men’s and women’s sports. In fact, two baseball players signed major league contracts in 2022 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Several sports are included in the top ten national rankings including Softball, Baseball, and Men’s and Women’s Tennis. In March, 2023, Paige Manney won the NAIA National Championship in the Triple Jump and earned All-American honors in other track events.

New Executive Graduate Program

TWU also plans to launch new graduate programs in the near future— a Master of Science in Education, a Master of Science in Project Management, and a Master of Science in Sports Leadership.

Upcoming Events

Preview Day

March 28, 2023

Accepted Student Open House

April 26, 2023

TWBulldogs.com

TWU’s Dental Hygiene program is designed to give students an entry-level bachelor of science in dental hygiene. The Class of 2021 boasted a 100% pass rate on the clinical and written board exams. Dr. Forrest described it as, “one of our most successful programs.” www.tnwesleyan.edu

HAPPENINGS

MARCH THROUGH APRIL

ART IN PUBLIC SPACES

Until June 23

The Art in Public Places Sculpture Program is an annually rotating, outdoor sculpture exhibition on display in prominent locations throughout Knoxville, Oak Ridge, and Alcoa.

The Art in Public Places sculpture program has installed over 280 works of art and gained national recognition as a platform for exhibiting world-class sculptors. This year’s ambitious collection of sculptures created by artists from across the country was curated by renowned glass artist, Tommie Rush.

Krutch Park (Downtown Knoxville)

ORNL Federal Credit Union (Northshore Branch)

ORNL Federal Credit Union (Oak Ridge Branch)

Emory Place, Zoo Knoxville, UT Gardens

Mcghee Tyson Airport, The Muse

CHALK WALK

April 1st

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Downtown Knoxville, Market Square

https://www.dogwoodarts.com/chalkwalk

Thousands of art lovers head downtown each year to experience this live art competition in Market Square. Chalk Walk features over 300 artists and collaborative teams working on-site from 8am-5pm to complete their artwork. Cash prizes and ribbons are awarded to select artists who have created imaginative and inspiring artworks in their age division.

DOGWOOD OPEN TRAILS

April 1st through 30th

Downtown Knoxville

Knoxville’s iconic Dogwood Trails date back to 1955 and today cover more than 90 miles in 13 neighborhoods throughout the city. Take a drive, a walk, or a bike ride and enjoy the scenic natural beauty of our region!

History: In 1947, New York newspaper reporter John Gunther came into town, checked out the area, then returned to New York and wrote “Knoxville is the ugliest city I ever saw in America, with the possible exception of some mill towns in New England. Its main street is called Gay Street; this seemed to me to be a misnomer.” Thus, in 1955, members of the Knoxville Garden Club, led by Betsey Creekmore, Martha Ashe and Betsy Goodson, along with a group of concerned citizens with a vision began a civic beautification project—the Dogwood Trails.

BIG EARS FESTIVAL

March 30th through April 2nd Downtown Knoxville

Nestled in Knoxville’s intimate and historic downtown, festival goers are offered nearly 200 performances during the festival—at restored historic theaters, soaring churches, refurbished warehouse spaces, museums, galleries, and clubs—with pop-up events and performances, exhibitions, films, literary readings, workshops, markets and talks taking place in cafes, bars, hotels, restaurants, in alleyways and other nooks and crannies of the city. The festival experience is full of surprises.

A festival pass offers access to all publicly announced performances—enabling festival goers to not only see familiar artists that they know and love, but also to explore the music of artists with whom they are not already familiar.

SWEETWATER’S LADIES NIGHT OUT FLAMINGLING

Historic Downtown Sweetwater

April 13

5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“It is a ticketed event that includes dinner, private shopping, demonstrations, live entertainment, floral arrangements, make-up tutorial, jewelry and more! Tickets can be purchased city hall for $30.

RIPLEY’S AUTISM FAMILY DAY

April 29th

7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Advocates for Autism (AFA) and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies present their annual Autism Family Day!

SMOKY MOUNTAIN DOG SHOW

April 14th through April 16th

12 to 1 p.m.

2405 Decatur Pike, Athens, TN 37303, USA

SPRING CRAFT FESTIVAL

PIGEON FORGE ROD RUN

April 13th through 15th

LeConte Event Center, Pigeon Forge

Join the many automotive enthusiasts and come on out to the Pigeon Forge Rod Run, the area’s largest automotive event. The spring event features top 25 awards, ultimate 5 awards, a huge swap meet with hundreds of showcars and car corral, and a big cash giveaway.

www.pigeonforgerodruns.com/car-show/ spring-rod-run/

The Great Smoky Mountain Dog Club’s purpose is to educate the public about dog breeds, host dog sporting events, and invite fanciers to east Tennessee for various competitions. We welcome all who support the standards and contribute to the success of the GSMDC and the United Kennel Club: breeders, fanciers, and handlers who wish to exhibit purebred dogs in the spirit of Good Sportsmanship.

http://smokymtndogclub.org/

April 21st through 29th

Open Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mountain Mile

Visitors to Pigeon Forge have the opportunity to see and purchase handmade items from some of the area’s most talented artists and crafters. Stop by the Pigeon Forge Rotary Club Craft Fair located at Mountain Mile on Teaster Lane. Minimal entree fee and parking is free.

https://www.mypigeonforge.com/event/ rotary-club-spring-craft-fair

Photo: Eli Johnson Photography

MARKET SQUARE FARMERS MARKET

Every Wednesday, May 3rd through November 15th 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Every Saturday, May 6th through November 18th 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Market Square Farmers’ Market is an open-air farmers’ market managed by Nourish Knoxville and held every Wednesday and Saturday, May through mid-November on Market Square in downtown Knoxville.

Everything at the Market Square Farmers’ Market is grown, raised, and/or made by our vendors within a 150-mile radius of Knoxville, Tennessee. Kids—a free kids activity on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

Saturday, May 6th Downtown Tellico Plains

This event gathers fishermen, river sports enthusiasts, and families to Tellico Plains for fun, education, food, entertainment and outfitter services while increasing the public’s knowledge of the trout industry in our region. Included will be local fishing guides, conservation information, lodging services, home decor, craft vendors, activities, gifts, and more.

Festival favorites include the fly tying and casting demonstrations, talks about trout fishing techniques and stream-health conservation efforts and strategies.

https://www.visitmonroetn.com/ tellico-trout-festival

SMOKY MOUNTAIN SCOTTISH FESTIVAL

May 20th through 21st

Townsend Visitor Center, 7906 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Townsend, TN

Originally founded in 1981 as the Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games, the Games are one of the oldest Scottish Festivals in the country. In 2022, we have moved the event to a larger venue just down road in Townsend.

The event features vendors and local and national performers. The property at the visitor center provides a scenic destination for the festival with views of the nearby mountains and is just minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cades Cove. The 30-plus acres at the center includes adjacent parking.

Festival attendees will be treated to vibrant cultural and educational presentations, while Scotch tasting seminars will feature a bit of history and humor, and the Border Collie demonstrations will showcase their herding abilities.

Competitions include the hammer throw or caber toss, a medley of bands including bagpipes and drummers, and clan challenges like the kilted mile run or the battle axe competition.

FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK

May 5th, First Friday of Each Month

Downtown Knoxville

On the first Friday of each month, the streets of Downtown Knoxville come alive for one of our favorite events! A casual evening of connecting with friends and family—and experiencing art in all forms.

Explore galleries, studios, and artist collectives; roam through shops hosting open houses and local artist exhibits; enjoy performance art and live music in the streets and a variety of venues; drop in restaurants along the way and treat yourself to drinks and great food.

WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL

May 20th, 5:30 pm

Chilhowee Park

Water Lantern Festival is filled with fun, happiness, hope, and great memories that you’ll cherish for a lifetime. This is a family friendly event that can be shared by everyone. Friends, families, neighbors, and lots of people that you haven’t met can come together to create a peaceful, memorable experience. www.waterlanternfestival.com/knoxville.php

TELLICO TROUT FESTIVAL

May 5-6, 2023

Historic Downtown Sweetwater, Tennessee

Come enjoy a day of good food, good music, and decorations to celebrate Spring. There will be live music, vendors, artisans, crafts, and a full BBQ competition.

www.bloomsbluegrassbbq.com

BREAKING BENJAMIN CONCERT

May 23rd

Thomson Bowling Arena

Breaking Benjamin with special guests BUSH and Another Day Dawns will play at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Tickets go on-sale Friday, February 17 at 10:00 am. All tickets will be sold online via Ticketmaster.

LENIOR CITY ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL

June 3rd through 4th

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lenoir City Park, 6707 City Park Dr, Lenoir City, Tennessee

Their Artists and Crafts people come from the southeast and beyond, bringing you the very best of their unique wares. Many fine artists working in various media including oils, water color, acrylics, pastels, charcoal, and pen and ink… happily demonstrate their technique to interested visitors. Our craftspeople specialize in the traditional crafts as well as those which have developed more recent appeal: woodworking and carving, stitchery, pottery, stained glass, leather-work, and fiber arts where common materials are skillfully transformed into objects of great beauty and distinction.

https://lenoircityartsandcrafts.com

MCFA FIRST ANNUAL BARK IN THE PARK

June 3rd

Kefauver Park, Madisonville

MAY GARRISON WEEKEND AT FORT LOUDOUN

May 6th to May 7th

Fort Loudoun State Historic Area

Learn about life at Fort Loudoun during the French & Indian War and witness the Fort brought back to life. See soldiers and Cherokee going about their day, training, firing cannons, working about the fort, and demonstrating the folkways of the time. There will be blacksmiths working the forge, the surgeon giving talks in the infirmary, and soldiers living in the barracks. Bring the family to learn about life on the frontier and how the British and Cherokee worked together against the French.

https://fortloudoun.com/reenactments/

BLOOMIN’ BBQ FESTIVAL

May 19th through 20th

Downtown Sevierville

Live music. Delicious food. Awesome fun. Whether you’re enjoying toe-tapping tunes, devouring the nation’s best BBQ or simply enjoying the sights and sounds of one of the southeast’s top festivals, Bloomin’ BBQ is a weekend of fun for the whole family. Each year, Sevierville’s Bloomin’ BBQ Festival plays host to the biggest and brightest bluegrass stars.

www.pigeonforge.com/event/ bloomin-bbq-bluegrass/

Saturday, June 3th

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Downtown Athens, TN

This event includes entertainment on three stages, 200 food and craft vendors, local shopping, and Mayfield Dairy contests.

http://friendlycityfestivals.com/moofest/

HOME OF THE Cherohala Skyway

SPRING EVENTS

March 26

Waucheesi Bike Race - Tellico Plains

March 30 - April 2

MARCH MOTO MADNESS - Tellico

April 1

Sequoyah Birthplace Museum

Dr. Lin Stepp Book Signing - Vonore

April 1

Easter at Riverbend Farms - Tellico

April 3

Food Truck Night - Madisonville

April 8

Tsali Spring Market - Madisonville

April 13

Ladies Night Out Flamingling - Sweetwater

April 15

CASA Monroe 5K - Madisonville

April 15 -16

Fort Loudoun State Park

Garrison Weekend - Vonore

April 22

Monroe’s Got Talent - Madisonville

April 22

Ramp Festival - Tellico Plains

April 27-29

Carnival at the park - Madisonville

May 1

Food Truck Night - Madisonville

May 4

Derby Day for United Way - Madisonville

May 5-6

Blooms, Bluegrass & BBQ Festival - Sweetwater

May 6

Tellico Trout Festival - Tellico Plains

May 6-7

Fort Loudoun State Park

Garrison Weekend - Vonore

May 25

Farmer’s Market - Madisonville

WELCOME CENTERS CHEROHALA SKYWAY VISITOR CENTER

Welcome!

SWEETWATER DEPOT COKER CREEK VISITORS CENTER

visitmonroetn.com/funevents

Majestic mountains, picturesque roadways and stately forests…these are just some of the offerings you will find in the land of quiet beauty that is Monroe County. Monroe County boasts Tennessee’s only National Forest, Cherokee National Forest; the Cherohala Skyway, one of America’s Byways; and fantastic attractions like the Lost Sea, Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, Fort Loudoun State Historic Park and Tsali Notch Vineyard. With a variety of fun for all ages and friendly faces aplenty, Monroe County is your perfect family vacation destination.

Welcome To TELLICO PLAINS

The gateway to the Cherohala Skyway and the Cherokee National Forest. Here in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, a simpler way of life prevails. Enjoy the bakery and the other shops in town that sell fine arts, crafts and furnishings. There are plenty of restaurants and places to stay. www.tellico-plains.com

Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center

The Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center in Tellico Plains is a “must stop” before starting up the Skyway. Come by between 9am and 5pm daily for free maps of the Skyway and Cherokee National Forest, Skyway driving conditions and local area souvenirs and gifts. Picnic tables and spotless restrooms are also available, with friendly staff waiting to welcome you with important Skyway and area information!

225 Cherohala Skyway, 423.253.8010

www.cherohala.org

A local historian and collector since boyhood, Charles also served as mayor of Tellico Plains for 31 years. Showcased in two museum buildings are his magnificent collections of historical local pictures and documents, antique telephones, guns, Native American artifacts, coin and currency collections, a moonshine still, a 1922 Model T Ford telephone repair truck and so much more. Cherohala Skyway Festival - October 23, 2021

Open Daily: 10am–5pm, Admission: Free 229 Cherohala Skyway, 423-253-8000, charleshallmuseum@hotmail.com www.charleshallmuseum.com

You will also find local handcrafted items and souvenirs in their gift shops!

Find your perfect property with Sharron Jenkins, an experienced Realtor® for over 30 years.

Jenkins Realty

Sharron@JenkinsRealty.com

www.JenkinsRealty.com

5588 Hwy. 360, Tellico Plains, TN 37385 (423) 253-3526

Come discover the most beautifully biodiverse area in America. We’ll help you find your place on the planet in the East Tennessee mountains with creeks and meadows and a chain of lakes leading to the rivers flowing down to the gulf.

We offer log cabins in the forest and farms in the valleys. And if you want to sell, we can find the very best buyers for you!

Charles Hall Museum and Heritage Center

MONROE COUNTY, TENNESSEE

Bookshelf

The Bookshelf is a quaint little bookshop in the Historic District just off the Town Square. Celebrating 15 years as Monroe County’s only full-service bookstore, they offer new local history books and gently used books in all categories. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff also offers free out-of-print book searches.

Everhart Lumber Company, LLC

our social distancing while in public to try to seems like the perfect time to work on vacation COVID-19.

Skyway Realty Land and Homes

your plans.

Hours: Thursday–Saturday: 10am-4pm 108 Scott Street, 423.253.3183 www.tellicobookshelf.com

Find us on Facebook

Everhart Lumber Company specializes in high quality specialty timber and furniture products. Everhart’s is a wood specialty and furniture store in Tellico Plains, Tennessee that offers Ready-Made and Custom-Made Furniture from unique character woods such as black walnut, figured maple, flaming box elder, eastern red cedar, teak, and other wood types. We also offer mantles, wooden counter tops for kitchen islands and paneling made from reclaimed barwood and reclaimed wood previously used to harvest mushrooms

have it all – mountains, rivers, lakes, attractions, already locked in, let us help

911 Veterans Memorial Drive

Open Tuesday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Saturday - 9:00 am - 2:00 pm 423.253.2323

Skyway Realty’s associates create home and land dreams for buyers and sellers. For buyers, we hone in on and help you select the places you are most likely interested in buying. Sellers have new dreams we help them find as we sell their current properties. We love being helpers in one of the most important decisions of your lives. We make the real estate experience enjoyable from the first call to the close and enjoy win-win transactions with everyone at the table talking to each other as friends…that’s what we all like about Tellico Plains, it’s warm, friendly, peaceful and successful. Call today 423.253.7100. Email us at info1@tellico-tn. com. We are ready to go. Stop in and see us at our office on the Skyway..where the bears are

411 Cherohala Skyway, 423.253.7100

Tellico Vacation Rentals

Savor the serenity of your own cabin in the mountains! Choose from one to five bedrooms thats sleeps from two to ten guests. Select a cabin with a hot tub on the deck, a cozy stone fireplace or a pool table in the game room. Our cabins are ideal for a romantic getaway, a wedding or honeymoon, a family vacation or reunion. With your own kitchen, multiple bedrooms, comfortable living areas and outdoor decks, you’ll find cabin rentals to be a fabulous value for extended vacations for several couples or extended families. Our cabins are private and comfortable, each totally unique. A change in altitude creates a change in attitude!

check out the replica stop in front of the quick selfie. Additional can be found in the Madisonville, Vonore, and their own unique spin

206 Cherohala Skyway, 866.253.2254

tvr@tellicovacationrentals.com

www.everhart-lumber.com

are looking for even more adventure, the Lost Sea also offers wild cave tours and overnight wild cave tours.

www.tellico-tn.com

Tellico Mountain Realty

Helping you make our hometown your hometown. Stop by and see one of our seasoned agents with expertise in our historic and scenic area.

418 Cherohala Skyway, 423.253.6145 email: info@easttennnrealty.com

www.tellicomountainrealty.com

History Monroe County has an abundance of history in our area. History enthusiasts can enjoy the Civil War Trail, Fort Loudoun State Historic Park, Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, Tanasi Memorial, Vonore Heritage Museum, Monroe

When planning a vacation spot, it

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