Scott Jones and daughter Abby recently enjoyed a backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail, starting at the Hwy. 68 and making their way down to the lower section
Due to an early morning rockslide in Blount County, part of U.S. 129/State Route 115, known as “The Dragon,” is closed at the site of a rockslide, which occurred approximately nine miles north of the Tennessee-North Carolina state line.
Shake off those winter doldrums by joining the Fort Loudoun State Historic Area for the 2012 Winter Lecture Series.
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2011
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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.
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.
Released
by the Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways program last week with Tennessee
Tourism Commission Susan Whitaker, the brochure guides tourists through
communities brimming with iconic attractions and outdoor adventure from
Chattanooga to Cleveland, Benton to Decatur, and coming full circle from where
the trail first begins.
The
Tanasi Trail features a number of Polk County businesses and attractions.
Starting first in Benton with the Newspaper Bookshop, the brochure recommends
that travelers stop and get a cup of gourmet coffee while admiring local arts
and crafts. It also highlights the Benton Arts and Heritage Days (Festival) in
October, as well as the Polk County Fair and the Polk County Ramp Tramp
(Festivals.) It also highlights the Chilhowee Farmers’ Market (Farms) and
Lottie’s Diner and Kathy’s Cownty Kitchen (Food). Next, the trail travels along
Highway 64 in the Ocoee region and highlights the Ocoee Dam Deli, a favorite eatery
for locals and other scenic sites along the Ocoee Scenic Byway.
“This
is a great brochure that reaches all across Polk County,” said County Executive
Hoyt Firestone. “It’s not only an opportunity for visitors to see the beauty of
this region, but also an economic driver for our communities.”
Led
by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Southeast Tennessee
Tourism Association, the Tanasi Trail team worked with city and county
officials in Bradley, Hamilton, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe and Polk
counties. The Tanasi, with the tagline, “Rapids to Railroads Trail,” is the
latest road tool for travelers to southeast Tennessee. The trail leads
travelers to historic sites, preserved homes and museums among other
attractions.
The
trail officially begins at the Chattanooga Visitors Center where guests can
pick up brochures, maps and coupons before heading out to discover Tennessee’s
back roads. However, visitors can choose to begin their journey at any site
along the path. Once on the trail, guests can explore rails, trails and roads,
including early Native American footpaths.
“Polk
Countyis unique in that this
brochure offers all of these experiences,” says Cindy Milligan, Southeast
Tennessee Tourism Association’s Executive Director. “Not only do you have
significant Native American sites, like the Nancy Ward gravesite, but also
railroad excursions and an abundance of outdoor activities.”
Some
of the most picturesque panoramas are on the Tanasi, including Blue Ridge
Mountains and five of the state’s most scenic rivers: Ocoee, Hiwassee, Tellico,
Tennessee and Little Tennessee.
The
trail urges visitors to take in the 125 cultural gems along the Tanasi Trail.
Visit Chattanooga’s top attraction, the Tennessee Aquarium, and explore three
living forests and see creatures such as catfish, penguins and sharks; ride
vintage passenger trains along the Hiwassee Scenic River at the Hiwassee River
Rail Adventures in Etowah, or drive along the Cherohala National Scenic Byway.
Opportunities
for outdoor adventure await trailblazers at every turn. The trail features four
of Tennessee’s award-winning state parks, including Booker T. Washington State
Park, Fort Loudoun State Historic Park and Red Clay State Historic Park as well
as the Cherokee National Forest and Chickamauga/Chattanooga National Military
Park. Camping, kayaking and family fun are available at multiple sites
throughout this mecca for outdoor recreation.
Every
stop along the way helps shape the story of the land and the people who have
called it home for centuries. The trail includes the stories of early European
settlers, Civil War soldiers and copper miners. Trail travelers can visit
exhibits and memorial sites along the Tanasi that commemorate the history and
culture of the Cherokee people and hear the story of the Trail of Tears.
Polk County Planners approved multiple plats during the April meeting and discussed permitting staff approval on plats that meet all necessary qualifications.
A handicapped-complaint building for concessions and restrooms will be built at the Benton ball fields following action by the county commission April 19.
The governor’s recently released three-year transportation program does not include any Polk County projects, although current projects are continuing.
Questions have been raised about the cost of a precinct rental and the decision to put the sample ballot in the Fannin County, GA newspaper rather than the Polk County newspaper.
Diane Wilson said she was more upset by the response of Election Administrator Steve Gaddis when she reported the incident than she was by the incident itself.
A Special Master’s Hearing was held last Wednesday to take an accounting of the Home Owners Association for Ocoee Mountain Club in preparation for an upcoming trial.
Paul Hunter has asked the U.S. District Court to award him at least $169,920 in “front pay” following last month’s verdict that his firing from Copperhill was due to age discrimination.
If 20 or 30 people had turned up for opening night, we would have breathed a big sigh of relief and considered the evening a success.
The final head count was 82 people, from three states
Talley recommended to the congressional delegation new statewide incentives for solar energy development, cellulosic ethanol production, biomass gasification and waste to energy.
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.
Walking the Line, a series of drawings inspired by 16 years of attendance at the John C. Campbell Folk School’s Friday Night Concert series, is now on display at the Folk School’s History Center.
On May 19th at 5pm there will be a Walk-A-Thon to raise awareness for Domestic Violence. The event will be held at the Park by the Greenway on Raider Drive in Cleveland.
The Overhill Shutterbugs, a regional photography club, present their 2nd Annual Photography Exhibit through June 1, 2012 at the Etowah Arts Commission,
“The Journey of the Lost Boys of Sudan” will be held on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the George R. Johnson Cultural Heritage Center Theater on CSCC’s campus.
Cleveland State Community College and Chattanooga State Community College will be co-hosting information sessions about the Veterinary Technology Program at Chattanooga State.
Miss Misty Brooke Hill and Mr. Mason Ray Cross, both of Cleveland, exchanged marriage vows on Saturday, January 14th at the Kingdom Hall of Jehova’s Witnesses in Cleveland.
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.
Scott Jones and daughter Abby recently enjoyed a backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail, starting at the Hwy. 68 and making their way down to the lower section
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.
Fall trips on the Hiwassee River Rail Adventure are quickly selling out. On Oct. 22, the train traveling along the Old Line took 210 passengers to Copperhill for a two-hour layover. (Photo by Robert J. Duncan Sr.)
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.
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.
“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.
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