Cumberland Gap Ranger receives prestigious national award

Posted 12.02.2009 in News, slider

CUMBERLAND GAP, Tenn. — Sunlight breaks through the morning fog revealing traces of the misty forest. In the distance birds are singing, as a squirrel bounds from the ground and, in an instant, scrambles up the nearest tree. The scene is set. Through the trees a shadowy figure bounds toward the camera, “Wow! Welcome to [...]

Homecoming at Museum of Appalachia is a fall tradition for many

Posted 10.08.2009 in Visitor Info, slider

NORRIS – A small get-together three decades ago has grown into a fall tradition that now attracts thousands of visitors.
The 30th annual Tennessee Fall Homecoming on the grounds of the Museum of Appalachia is expected to draw as many as 50,000 people during its four-day run.
Virtually nonstop bluegrass, Gospel and folk music on five stages [...]

Southern Nationals stretch run goes through East Tennessee

Posted 07.24.2009 in News, slider

After seven exciting races, the O’Reilly Southern Nationals Series is ready for the final three events on the 10-race mini-series which ends in East Tennessee.
During the first seven events, there have been five different winners including Vic Hill (Wythe Raceway), Jonathan Davenport (Carolina Speedway), Casey Roberts (Hartwell/Swainsboro & Screven Speedways), Tony Knowles (Fort Payne Speedway) [...]

Rarity Mountain sees prices drop

Posted 07.23.2009 in News, slider

When David and Sharon Gordon bought a lot in the Rarity Mountain residential community in 2006, they paid $445,000 for the Jellico, Tenn., property.
But after a recent auction, that same lot changed hands for only $5,500, a massive discount and a striking example of the difficulties facing some of East Tennessee’s high-end residential developments.
The Rarity [...]

National Coal facing foreclosure

Posted 07.21.2009 in News, slider

National Coal of Alabama, a wholly owned subsidiary of Knoxville-based National Coal Corp., is facing foreclosure on its outstanding capital stock after defaulting on a $60 million credit agreement with various lenders, the parent company announced Monday.
None of the creditors, which include TCW Asset Management Co. and other lenders, have a lien or encumbrance on [...]

Ausmus took long way back

Posted 07.21.2009 in News, slider

When folks from back in Tennessee phoned Aaron Ausmus in Los Angeles, they’d wonder why he had a hair-dryer going. Didn’t he still shave his head?
It wasn’t a hair-dryer. It was a 747.
“We lived in a little one-bedroom apartment in El Segundo, right by the (LAX) airport,’’ Ausmus said. “When planes were taking off the [...]

Teens Share Love of God With Poor Community

Posted 07.17.2009 in slider

Saturday, July 11, 2009, ten missionaries from the Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Palmyra returned from a week long mission trip to New Tazewell, Tennessee. For the fifth year in a row, a team was sent to a center in Harrogate, Tennessee to be assigned to an Appalachian community.
While many people complain about the work [...]

Ky. man arrested for robbing bank in Jellico

Posted 07.15.2009 in News

JELLICO (WATE) — A Kentucky man was arrested Tuesday night, six hours after he’s accused of robbing the First Volunteer Bank in Jellico, Tennessee.
The suspect is Billy Joe Blankenship, 31, of Williamsburg, Kentucky.
Investigators believe Blankenship went in the bank at 189 5th Street around 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, showed a semi-automatic pistol, gave a teller a bag and told her to fill it.
He also told the teller not to [...]

Anderson County Fair begins this week

Posted 07.14.2009 in Visitor Info

A tradition in rural America, county fairs are starting their summertime runs, and one of Tennessee’s oldest and most revered is now under way.
The Anderson County Fair is 120 years old and is one of the six oldest such celebrations in the state, says Steve R. Queener, fair association president.
READ MORE at KnoxNews.com

‘The Full Monty’ puts sizzle in your summer

Posted 07.08.2009 in Features, Visitor Info, slider

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — A grin and bare-it-all musical comedy, “The Full Monty” tells the story of six out of work steel workers desperate to make enough money to keep their heads above water. After observing how enthusiastic women are for a touring Chippendales-like show, they decide to do a one-night only strip act at [...]