GOD PROVIDES This Sunday at McCaysville Church of God on Blue Ridge Hwy, Pastor Steve Lamb will being teaching a six week series on “God Provides” this will include a DVD movie to highlight the miracles of God’s provisions. Service times are Sunday teaching at 10 am, worship 11 am and 6 pm, Tuesday pray time at 6-7 pm, Wednesday Christian training at 7 pm. For more information call 706 492-4660.

Safe Haven Animal Rescue will be holding a garage sale as part of the 411 yard sale in October to raise much needed funds for animal care.  They are seeking donations of items to sell.  If you would like to donate items please call 299 3640 to make arrangements for pick up.

SAFE HAVEN ANIMAL RESCUE will be holding their public board meeting Thursday August 23 6:30 Polk County Chamber of commerce in Benton. All are  welcome.  If you are an animal lover we need you to consider volunteering for the animals of Polk County. For more information please call 299 3640.

THE FIRST FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH of Hayesville will be having their annual Homecoming Sun. Aug. 26th beginning after their morning services followed by The Primitive Quartet during the 6 pm services.  Everyone is invited to bring a covered dish, and enjoy great fellowship, great food and great singing.  Pastor Chris Rumfelt invites everybody to attend.

BLOOD DRIVE Monday, August 27th, from 11am-6pm at the Polk County Baptist Association. Free t-shirts, snacks, and drinks for donors! You must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Your donation can save up to 3 lives! A 2012 Kymco Agility 125 Scooter will be given away on September 4th to 1 winner.

OATH OF OFFICE CEREMONY for elected office holders will be August 28th, Tuesday, at 7pm. It will be at the Polk County Courthouse in the large courtroom.

FIBER AND CLAY The work of fiber artist Carole Hall and of potter Denise DerGarbedian will be featured in the front window of the Valley River Arts Guild Gallery for the month of September. The Gallery is located at 33 Valley River  Ave. in downtown Murphy. You can view more of both artists’ work in the Gallery. You can contact Denise at  ddergara@gmail.com and my cell 727-439-0067 and Carole at carlu58@wildblue.net or 828-837-1967.

RIVER CLEAN UP September 1, 2012 Hiwassee/Ocoee River State Park will be hosting a B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Boat) River Float Clean Up Day. What better way to end the summer than by helping keep our river clean. Join us at the Park Office at 1:00pm. You must supply your own boat. Several Vehicles will be driven up river where we will put in.

 GARDNER/SPURLING REUNION The family and descendants of Edgar and Rebecca (Spurling) Gardner invite everyone to the annual Gardner/Spurling Family Reunion on Sept. 2, 2012 from 12:00 until 4:00 pm at the Conasauga Valley Fire Hall (Rural Vale) on Hwy 315 (Reliance Rd.), near Tellico Plains, TN.  For more information, contact Danny at 423-442-5707 or Wanda at 423-496-5472. Edgar’s parents were James B. and Nancy E. Williams Gardner.  Rebecca’s parents were Andrew E.J. and Martha Hamby Spurling. Everyone is invited to come and share the covered dish meal.  We hope to see everyone for wonderful time of fellowship and food.

DEMOCRAT WOMEN will meet September 4th, Tuesday, at 6:30pm in the Community Center in Ducktown.

GIRLS SCOUTS CENTENNIAL The Ocoee River Maze is helping Girl Scouts celebrate the Centennial year with a GS themed corn maze and 3 week celebration. Ribbon cutting ceremony & festivities will be on Sat. Sept. 22. 11:00am-6:00pm. There will be lots of family fun activities such as games, contests, petting zoo, corn cannon & bonfire! Scouts will be able to take part in badge work & learn/sing songs around the fire. Cost is $7.00 per person includes all.  Bring your own hot dogs to roast or they will have hot dog & smores packets are available for purchase at very reasonable prices. Also available is a you pick-pumpkin patch (affordable), concession stand and clean rest rooms. Special Event patches & t-shirts will be available for purchase. If you can’t join us on the Ribbon cutting day- the River Maze is offering two extra days, 09/29 & 10/6 as Girl Scout days!!  The Ocoee River Maze is located at US Highway 64, Benton, Tennessee 37307

WATER COLOR ARTIST Local watercolor artist Penny Johnson will be featured at McNabb Properties, 75 Tennessee St., downtown Murphy now through August 3. Penny is an award winning painter and collected throughout the USA and Europe. She specializes in smoky mountain landscapes including the mountains, rivers, lakes as well as pet portraits and other figurative works. You can see Penny painting live at this location during the August 3 First Friday Art Walk. Many of her original works and prints will be displayed. See more works at www.BrushstrokesByPenny.com.

COUNTY FAIR will be held on September 10th-15th. Call 338-8648 to reserve a booth now!

All things WOOD.  The work of Marty Stover will be featured in the front window of the Valley River Arts Guild Gallery for the month of June. Marty enjoys the challenge of designing and making unique pieces of furniture and household accessories.   The gallery is located at 33 Valley River Ave. in downtown Murphy. You can view more of the artists work in the gallery. You can contact Marty with questions at revots@hughes.net or 828-494-9311.

CALL TO ALL ARTISTS Be a part of the Murphy Art Walk, First Fridays, May through November, 5:00 – 8:00 pm in downtown Murphy, NC. (May 4, June 1, July 6, Aug. 3, Sept. 7, Oct. 5, Nov. 2) Join our Artist Registry to be used by 21 downtown businesses participating in Art Walk. They are looking for 2D, 3D, and Performance artists to feature at their places of businesses on these dates. Join by visiting www.ValleyRiverArts.com , or contact Alex Peers at flutie1999@yahoo.com or (404) 372-9610 with your name, email, phone, website, and a short description of your art. This is event is sponsored by the Valley River Arts Guild.

COPPER BASIN HIGH SCHOOL REUNION Class of 1977, 35 Year Reunion, to be held Saturday, June 30th from 6-9 pm. RSVP to Sonya Russell-Edwards by May 30th. snyhwkns@yahoo.com or leave a message at 954-575-9737.

PCHS 20 YEAR REUNION Class of 1992, August 25, 2012 at the Savannah Oaks Winery in Delano. Questions? Email pchs20th@yahoo.com . Find us on Facebook at PCHS 20th Class Reunion.

SAFE HAVEN Animal Rescue is in need of people who have fenced in yards to foster dogs.  We provide all food and veterinary care including spaying and neutering. Our existing foster families are overwhelmed with the number of dogs in our possession.  We work hard to find forever homes by advertising on Petfinder and Pooches on the Move. Last year we found great homes for 80 dogs.  Please call the SHARP line 299 3640.

EAST AND WEST POLK LIBRARY HOURS East Polk-Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri. 1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Sat 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. West Polk-Mon., Wed., & Fri. 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1-4:30 p.m.

LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE available through SETHRA by calling (423) 338-2335 or (423) 496-2644.

REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS

-County Commission will be 3RD Thursday at 7 p.m., alternating between the Benton Courthouse and Ducktown Senior Center.

-School Board, 2nd Monday, 7 p.m. at the various schools.

-Benton Town Commission lst Monday, 5 p.m. at Benton Town Hall.

-Copperhill City Council 3rd Monday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

-Polk County Planning Commission, 3rd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. alternating between the Ducktown Courthouse and Benton Courthouse.

-Ducktown City Commission 1st Thursday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

-Ocoee Ruritan Club, 1st Thursday, 7 p.m. at the Fire & Rescue Hall in Ocoee on Hwy. 411.