Beginning in mid-January culverts will be replaced on Sina Branch Road where it crosses Sawmill Branch in the Ocoee Ranger District in Polk County, TN.
From the whitewater rapids of the Ocoee River to the rich railroad history in Chattanooga, Southeast Tennessee is rich with outdoor excursions and history spanning the Cherokee Nation, Civil War and beyond. All of these features are captured in the new self-guided driving tour brochure, Tanasi: Rapids to Railroads Trail.
16:39
14
November
2007
Views: 2176
Print
E-mail
Polk County, located in the extreme southeast corner of Tennessee adjacent to Georgia and North Carolina, has long been an undiscovered treasure.
Polk County, located in the extreme southeast corner of Tennessee adjacent to Georgia and North Carolina, has long been an undiscovered treasure. For that reason, it has remained relatively unspoiled and is the perfect spot for those who want to enjoy nature without distraction from the commercialism that marks many other areas touted for their natural beauty. With the Olympic competition on the Ocoee River in 1996, the county has been “discovered,” and there is increasing development, but the beauty of the area remains.
Instead of amusement parks offering man-made excitement, Polk County offers the natural excitement of the Ocoee River, one of the best and most popular whitewater rafting rivers in the country. Or, as an alternative, there is rafting, canoeing or floating in a tube down the less-intimidating Hiwassee. Polk County also offers the solitude of Wilderness areas where vehicles are not allowed and campgrounds in or near the Cherokee National Forest, with its swimming and hiking areas designated for family activities. The Consauga River also offers unique opportunities for recreation, including underwater wildlife watching.
Polk County has three beautiful rivers and a multitude of streams with fish (native and stocked) for the taking. During the various hunting seasons, there are deer, wild boar, turkey, squirrel, rabbit and other game.
The scenery in Polk County is about as diverse as anywhere in the nation. The Cherokee National Forest is replete with the wildlife, streams, and breathtaking vistas available only in the mountains. The natural beauty is a balm to those who have had enough of the stress and bustle of city life. Recognizing the beauty of a drive through the Cherokee, the U.S. Forest Service designated a portion of U.S. 64 and FS Road 77 as its first Scenic Byway in the nation.
In the Copper Basin area, the natural beauty was devastated by copper ore roasting practices in the late 1800s but a half-century of reforestation efforts have made a big dent in the barren red hills which once overwhelmed the landscape. There are still hauntingly beautiful reminders of man's potential for destruction of the environment.
In between, there are small towns, general stores, bed & breakfasts, and Mom & Pop restaurants that are thriving in a community where "old-fashioned values" are not old fashioned.
Polk County also offers the rich heritage of this area of the country. The Ducktown Basin Museum has an excellent presentation on the colorful history of copper mining in the Basin. The Benton area is home to historic Fort Marr, which was part of a stockade to confine Cherokees during the Trail of Tears. Nearby is the gravesite of the Cherokee heroine Nancy Ward. Reliance provides a look at a mountain community unchanged for nearly a century. For those interested in the local history of everyday people, there are company houses in the Copper Basin and historic farms throughout the area. Nearby counties have additional small museums and historic sites that share the heritage of the Tennessee Overhill region, named for the Cherokee tribes that lived here, overhill from the lower Cherokee settlements.
TVA facilities in the county are an interesting story in themselves. In addition to lakes and dams, there is the historic Ocoee River Flume. This technological marvel, first built in the side of a mountain in the early 1900s, transports the Ocoee's water for power generation when the river is not being used for whitewater rafting. The Sugarloaf Mountain Park, located just downstream of Ocoee Dam #1, has exhibits on the power system as well as picnic tables and water access.
Businesses in Polk County are primarily family owned and operated, which means you will receive more personal attention for your shopping needs and home-made food for your meals. Whatever you need, you can find it in a friendly atmosphere.
Whether you enter Polk County from North Carolina, Georgia, or another Tennessee county, don't be in a hurry to get through. Take some time to travel throughout the county and enjoy the countryside and the local flavor. Stop at a local restaurant or deli to get your picnic lunch and make a day of it. You'll probably find it will take more than a day to enjoy all the beauty and activity available.
Take winding, scenic Hwy. 64, locally known as the River Road, from one side of the county to the other and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the mountains, the adventurous spirit of the whitewater rafters, the marvel of the flume line and other TVA facilities, and the beautiful Ocoee Whitewater Center. (Please keep in mind that this road is also a thoroughfare for local people and truckers who appreciate it when you pull over to enjoy the scenery rather than poke along on the highway.)
Polk County is also a good location for homes, businesses and industry. The people are friendly and industrious and there is an ample labor pool. There are two industrial parks, one on each side of the county, as well as land suitable for development. County government officials and business leaders are eager to provide assistance.
Polk County, Tennessee ... a hidden treasure that is fast becoming an international treasure.
Don't let the superhighways take you away before you have the chance to experience it.
There’s not much local support for the governor’s idea of dropping the salary scale for teachers, but some educators see possible value in providing salary flexibility for school districts.
The governor’s proposal to increase class sizes in the elementary schools, and to base the state’s payments on those maximums, could mean a significant loss of revenue for teaching positions in Polk County.
At the Jan. 19 meeting, commissioners were told that the Library Board would like to move the library from the lower level of the Courthouse to the building soon to be vacated by the Benton Family Health Care Center.
Teachers across the state, still reeling from last year’s loss of negotiating rights and a complicated evaluation system, now face a loss of a guaranteed salary schedule based on longevity and education.
The Library Board will be asking the County Commission for approval to move the library from the Courthouse to what is currently home to the Benton Family Health Care Center.
Video surveillance has been installed at the county’s convenience centers to identify people leaving garbage outside the fence at the convenience centers or throwing it over the fence when the centers are closed.
The collision happened around 6:45 a.m. Dec. 28 when a westbound truck carrying around 20 tons of calcine lost control coming around a curve on Hwy. 64 and flipped on its side.
Board members spent a majority of the meeting listening to a laundry list of ranging from mold issues to the proper wording on “no smoking” signs on the outside bleachers.
The IBMA Leadership Bluegrass, now in its 13th year, is an intensive three-day program that brings together the most progressive leaders to collaboratively challenge issues facing the professional music industry.
Lee University’s Encore Program, which offers people age 60 and over the opportunity to take university courses, has a new line up of specially-designed mini-courses for the spring.
Horse Trainer and owner of Double S. Stables, Randy Speegle of Benton took second place in the Legends division at the Mustang Challenge in Murphreesboro on October 21st – 23rd.
While some students may be nervous about how the upcoming exams could affect their college options, the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) has the tools they need to succeed.
Principal Mrs. Patricia Smith proudly announces the Copper Basin Elementary 1st and 2nd honor students. Students must have a 93 or higher average in all classes for the 1st honor roll.
Mrs. Deborah Swafford of Old Fort, was chosen by Northwest Elementary Faculty in Murray Co, Georgia to be Teacher of the Year for the 2011-2012 School year.
On Oct. 7, with the help of Vice Principal Turner, who kept her out of class for a few minutes to get it set-up, The Senior English 12 Class threw a Surprise party for Mrs. Ellen Carr.
Virginia Deloris Brown Trantham, affectionately known to family, friends and coworkers as “Sally”, age 77, of Copperhill, TN passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2012.
I just wanted to say a big “Thank You” to Cheryl Maxwell, Mayor Stephens, Linda Caldwell, and others who planned and carried out a very successful 2nd Annual Heritage Days festival in Benton.
There is an old saying, which many credit to Native Americans as advising, “You can’t really understand someone else, unless you live their life or walk in their shoes (so to speak).
Photo from 1910 provided by Bill Lillard shows the family of Calvin Higdon, who built the Higdon Hotel in Reliance. Calvin (1836-1919) and Amanda Linderman Higdon (1845-1926) were married in 1860.
From Polk County News, 9/13/34
Famous Monroe County Hotel Is Now No More
People from All Over South Visited the “Saratoga of the South” in the Good Old Days.
On the first and third Tuesdays of every month, starting on February 21, there will be an open acoustic jam in Legacy Hall at the First United Methodist Church of Copperhill.
Ocoee Regional Beekeepers are asking that anybody interested please come to their February meeting on Feb 21, 2012 at 6:30 at the Benton Municipal Building
The Museum Center at 5ive Points will host a presentation on Learning to Care and Maintain Your Featherweight Sewing Machine by Stan Pegram on Saturday, February 11 from 10:00 - noon.
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum is offering a Cherokee language class in Vonore, TN on the following Mondays, January 9, 16, 23, 30, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
“It was like seeing a freight train coming down the tracks 90 miles an hour and trying to stop it by stepping in front of it”, Coach Danny Rogers said.
The Copper Basin Medical Center’s District Board honored Dr. William E. Lee last week. Dr. Lee, 85, has spent a lifetime in service, not only to the community but to the world through his medical mission trips.
EPA is proposing actions to improve the water quality of the Ocoee from Copperhill to Dam No. 3, at Dam No. 3, and at the upper reach of Parksville Dam.
The Ocoee River Outfitters Association will conduct a stream cleanup with the help of approximately 130 volunteers on Friday, May 27, 2011 starting at 9:00 am.
Beginning in mid-January culverts will be replaced on Sina Branch Road where it crosses Sawmill Branch in the Ocoee Ranger District in Polk County, TN.
Drawdown is underway at Apalachia Lake, according to David Bowling with River Operations at TVA. He said the lake will drop 18-20 feet for routine maintenance work.
Trout stocking will be reduced about 20% in the coming fiscal year and could be reduced 85% after that, according to Frank Fiss, Assistant Chief of Fisheries at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
TVA has created a smartphone app for those wanting to check on reservoir elevations, water release schedules and more. The information has been available online, but the new app will allow access by cell phone.
Unseasonably high temperatures -- in the 90s -- are sending folks to the water. The Ocoee Whitewater Center is a popular place when the river isn't flowing, and the Hiwassee and Ocoee are popular when it is.
People come from near and far to experience a variety of outdoor recreation activities including camping, picnicking, hiking, bike riding, water play, fishing and much more.
VEC was recently notified by a neighboring utility that they have been receiving complaints from customers who have been visited by scam artists posing as energy evaluators.
The Tennessee Historical Commission is now accepting nominations for its Certificate of Merit Awards to honor individuals or groups that have worked to preserve Tennessee’s cultural heritage during 2011.
The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine offers personalized support for Tennessee residents who want to quit smoking by connecting them with trained quit coaches to guide them through the quitting process.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Consumer Affairs division is urging consumers to be wary of emails that request participation in a survey and that promise a gift card in return.
While many job placement firms may be legitimate and helpful, others may misrepresent their services, promote outdated or fictitious job offerings and charge high fees in advance for services that may not lead to a job.
The annual campaign has enrolled tens of thousands of children in the low-cost health insurance plan, which provides coverage for everything from physician visits to hospitalization to dental and vision care.
The Tennessee Department of State has launched a campaign to educate citizens about the new photo identification requirement that will go into effect for elections held in the state after Jan. 1, 2012.
All of the legislation approved this year, during the first session of the 107th General Assembly, is now available online at the Office of Secretary of State web site.
Applications for the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP) are available online at www.e-rebates.org/teearp or by phone at 1-877-741-4304 on a first-come, first-served basis.
Individuals who have received LIHEAP assistance since July 2010 must wait until October 1 for the new program year to begin before they can re-apply for benefits.
“Kids Fishing Day” event in Cherokee National Forest’s Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger District is scheduled for May 21, 2011 at McCamy Lake. Anglers 15 years and under are invited to try their luck.
Ducktown resident Jack Suites and his partner Bitt Ledford of Murphy, N.C. took home the $700 second place prize at the Tri-County Community College Foundation Fishing for Scholarships Bass tournament on April 2.
More than four months after a spotted bass weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces was caught on the Ocoee River in Polk County, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has confirmed the fish as a new state record
Related Articles
Print
E-mail
