TOWNSEND — The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is pleased to announce that it has acquired the hunting rifle and accoutrements of “Black Bill” Walker, founder of Walker Valley and subject of many Smoky Mountain legends. The rifle, given the moniker “Ol’ Death” by Walker himself, has be…
EDGEFIELD, S.C.—With many states across the country experiencing a decline in wild turkey populations, the National Wild Turkey Federation and state agencies are deeply invested in better understanding what is happening to America’s favorite game bird.
NASHVILLE — Tennessee’s 2023 statewide spring turkey season is set to open Saturday, April 15. The statewide opening date is two weeks later than in previous years. The Young Sportsman Hunt was April 8-9.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Friends of the Smokies, an official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened registration for the 13th Annual “Classic Hikes of the Smokies,” a fundraiser and hiking series offered on the second Tuesdays of the month, March thru December.
WEARS VALLEY — Covenant Community Church of Wears Valley joined forces with the staff and children at Wears Valley Ranch to read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation in less than one week. This is the fifth consecutive year the relay has been held at the Chapel at Wears Valley Ranch.
TOWNSEND — Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont has been awarded $250,000 from Tennessee Valley Authority’s Connected Communities Pilot Program to support the development of Tremont’s second campus.
Everyone has a favorite mammal, and we have many in Tennessee. Join the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s virtual program with naturalist Don Hazel on Thursday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m. EST as we learn about the amazing mammals in our state, from chipmunks, otters, and armadillos to bears, …
TOWNSEND — Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont invites the public to explore nature by participating in a 2023 program, which opened for registration last week. Tremont Institute hosts a range of outdoor programs designed for all ages to live and learn in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency stocked catfish into two east Tennessee urban lakes as part of its Community Fishing Program. TWRA works with several local government municipalities to create fishing opportunities in communities and urban areas.
KODAK — Friends of the Smokies, an official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, brought 20 nationally acclaimed artists to the park to paint “en plein air,” which is the practice of painting landscapes outdoors, for the inaugural Plein Air in the Smokies, Sept. 26-Oct. 2.
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be celebrating 2021 National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday, Sept. 24. On this special day and 50th anniversary of its establishment, the rich tradition of fishing, hunting, and target shooting will be observed recognizing the con…
NASHVILLE — Tennessee residents are allowed to hunt without a license on Saturday, Aug. 27, which coincides with the opening day of squirrel season.
NASHVILLE — The application period for the 2022-23 Tier 1 duck blinds is open and will close July 20. Announcement of the successful applicants will be made Aug. 6.
KNOXVILLE — The East Tennessee Historical Society’s annual Awards of Excellence were presented at the organization’s Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, June 7, at the Museum of East Tennessee History in Knoxville.
These are interesting times we live in today. Early in the pandemic, not only were we in lockdown but we also dealt with shortages at the grocery store. The toilet paper aisle was virtually bare, as was the cleaning supply section, and hand sanitizer was nonexistent. Meat was scarce, resulti…
GATLINBURG — The first episode of “Sepia Tones: Exploring Black Appalachian Music” is now available on Great Smoky Mountains Association’s podcast “Smoky Mountain Air.”
NATIONAL PARK — Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in partnership with the University of Tennessee Extension Institute of Agriculture and Great Smoky Mountains Association, invites visitors to experience the Storybook Trail of the Smokies, an initiative dedicated to promoting literacy in nature.
SEYMOUR — The All-East/State Competitions have always been an area where the Seymour High School Choirs have particularly been able to shine.
SEVIERVILLE — Walters State Community College will host a virtual performance of Didge Evolution at 4 p.m. on March 18.
Members of Spencer Clack Chapter, NSDAR welcomed six high school seniors from schools in Sevier County to be recognized as DAR Good Citizens on Monday, March 8, 2021.
In 1952 Lloyd Tarwater went to work for the Sevier County Board of Education. He was the instruction supervisor for Sevier County schools, and the Chapter 1 supervisor for a total of 34 years. When he started there were 74 schools in the county, and 44 of them were one-room schools. In those…
NATIONAL PARK — Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that a paving project will begin this week on Newfound Gap Road along an 8-mile section of the roadway from Chimneys Picnic Area to Newfound Gap.
Since 1795, a lot of businesses have come and gone in Sevierville’s commercial district. It is not unusual to hear older residents refer to the location of businesses by mentioning what business used to occupy the space where a current business is located. While such descriptions can be conf…
Pleasant Layfette “Fate” Atchley was a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. His records obtained by his great-grandson Dr. Dwight Wade Jr. from the National Archives and Records Service in Washington D.C. confirm he enrolled in the Union Army at Knoxville, Nov. 5, 1862. Atchley wa…
NATIONAL PARK — Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers are recruiting volunteers to adopt a monitoring plot in areas throughout the park.
Driving his cherished 1946 Willys Jeep, Joe Dockery traveled on rough dirt roads, traversed through dark hollows, clambered up steep mountains and forded swift streams while electioneering for the office of Sevier County trustee in 1946.
Born March 30, 1901, Buford Alvin Townsend was a son of Reverend Wilson E. Townsend and Margaret M. Dixon. His father died at age 30 when Buford was five months old, leaving his 25-year-old mother to raise him and his two older brothers. They resided on a farm in the East Fork community and …
SEVIERVILLE — Carson-Newman University’s Winter Commencement ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, in the Sevierville Convention Center.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The question has been asked for many years. For the 4-H members involved in the 4-H Chick Chain project it may be irrelevant, because there are plenty of chickens and potential for lots of eggs.
