Community - dpa photos

Transcription

A Place Called Home
Community
What's Inside
C2 – Mayfield farm to be conserved
C6 – Historical Society publishes new book
Sugar Shack serves home cooking in Niota
Funeral home employs three generations
Dustin Lewis earns UT Turf Club honors
C8 – Gem Players entertain community
C4 – Lewis Talmadge volunteers in community
C5 – Tennessee Technology Center offers
second career
Optimist Club is "Friend of Youth"
C10 – Decatur has two new fire halls
C11 – National MooFest is May 31
C13 – Collin Thompson is busy Meigs teen
C14 – Good Faith Clinic serves community
McMinn Tomorrow builds future leaders
C15 – Etowah Senior Center a busy place
Olympic dreams inspired local gymnast
C16 – Project gives Etowah facelift
A Special Supplement To
The Daily Post-Athenian
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Page C2 – The Daily Post-Athenian, "A Place Called Home," Thursday, February 28, 2008
http://www.dailypostathenian.com
Preserving the past
Mayfield family, The Land Trust for Tennessee working to conserve farm
Photo by Anthony Dake
Special to The DPA
The original Mayfield Dairy farm,
from which sprang the family’s
renowned dairy products business, will
be conserved as Southeast Tennessee
farmland forever after the Mayfield
family signed a voluntary conservation
agreement with The Land Trust for
Tennessee.
Nearly 700 acres of rolling farmland
and forests, with pine and hardwoods
dotting the landscape along State Route
307 and intersected by the Oostanaula
Creek, will remain as it has been
since the Mayfield family first came to
McMinn County in 1820 when Jesse
Mayfield settled near here to farm.
Protecting the Mayfield farm and
continuing its legacy marks the first
conservation project for the statewide
nonprofit land conservation organization
in McMinn County, said Jean C. Nelson,
president and executive director of The
Land Trust.
“We are indebted to Scottie Mayfield
and the rest of his family for their efforts
to protect McMinn County’s historic and
scenic landscapes. The Mayfield family
is well known, not only in Athens and
McMinn County, but across the state of
Tennessee, and the family’s support of
The Land Trust is so very helpful to us
as we tell our story of land conservation
throughout Tennessee,” said Nelson.
The Mayfield farm is designated as a
Tennessee Century Farm, a designation
by the state Department of Agriculture
that recognizes a farm that has been in
a family continuously for at least 100
years and continues to produce farm
income from the land.
“This land has been in our family for
four generations and protecting it, both
for the family and for the enjoyment and
education of the surrounding community was essential,” said Scottie Mayfield.
The Mayfield dairy legacy stretches
back to 1912 when Thomas B. (T.B.)
Mayfield and his son, T.B. Mayfield, Jr.
established Live Oak Farms, bought
45 Jersey cows and began selling milk
to local residents. In 1922, a new milk
plant brought pasteurized milk to
McMinn County, and, in 1923, T.B. Jr.,
bought a 10-gallon ice-cream freezer
and began calling the business Mayfield
Creamery.
The Mayfield family has
worked with The Land Trust
of Tennessee to conserve
nearly 700 acres in Athens,
including this portion on
Highway 307.
“The Land Trust is an organization
of substance, and I was impressed by
the work they have done in Chattanooga
and felt they have the longevity needed
to manage this land for years to come,”
said Mayfield.
Nelson said the area around Greater
Chattanooga will continue to be a focus
for The Land Trust’s conservation
efforts.
“We work with neighborhoods and
communities to make sure that good
growth and good conservation of special
lands go hand in hand,” Nelson said.
“We are here to help landowners in
the region make their own personal
statements about conserving the land
throughout southeastern Tennessee.”
Today, the
company has more
than 2,000 employees and distributes
its products into
nine states across
the region.
Tricia King,
southeast regional
project manager for The Land
Trust based in
Chattanooga,
Mayfield
worked with the
Mayfield family
to secure the conservation agreement.
She said Scottie Mayfield sought out
The Land Trust after hearing about the
organization’s work from land owners in
Chattanooga.
“The greater Chattanooga area is
growing so rapidly, and we are increasingly at risk of losing the unique landscapes of this region,” King said. “The
Mayfield family has ensured that the
Athens community, as well as visitors to
the dairy and farm, will forever benefit
Nelson
from the preserved history and scenic
beauty of the Mayfield Farm. Now is a
critical time for the Land Trust to work
with landowners who wish to conserve
what is special to them and to all of us
who love the land in Tennessee.”
Most of the conserved 690-plus acres
will remain a mixture of crops, as well
as hardwood and pine trees. Mayfield’s
son, Michael, plans to start a heritage
and agricultural tourism business in
2008, focusing on ornamental horticulture and education. About 100 acres will
About Voluntary Conservation
Agreement
A conservation easement is a volbe set aside for fruit untary agreement between a property
owner and a nonprofit land trust where
trees, a farmers
the land owner places permanent
market and a tour
to remind the com- restrictions on the use of the property.
These restrictions are legally binding on
munity of its rich
the current landowner and any subseagrarian history
quent owner of the land. Under a conand tie it into the
servation easement, the landowner still
tour of the nearby
owns the property and can use it, sell it,
dairy facility.
or leave it to heirs, but the restrictions of
In 2007, The
the easement stay with the land forever.
Land Trust
launched an outAbout The Land Trust
reach and educafor Tennessee
King
tion program in
The Land Trust for Tennessee is a
the eight-county
not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable orgaarea in and around Hamilton County to nization, founded in 1999. Its mission
work with landowners in protecting the is to preserve the unique character of
region’s natural landscapes. Initiating
Tennessee’s natural and historic landthis outreach was a matching grant
scapes for future generations and, to
received from the Benwood Foundation, date, has protected nearly 30,000 acres
with additional community support,
of land. The Land Trust works with willincluding the Lyndhurst and Tucker
ing landowners to find ways to preserve
Foundations, to provide educational ser- forever the historic, scenic and natural
vices and assist landowners in executing values of their land. The Land Trust
voluntary conservation agreements that has offices in Nashville, Monteagle and
place permanent restrictions on the
Chattanooga. More information is availdevelopment and/or use of the property. able at http://www.landtrusttn.org
Homestyle cooking, atmosphere ‘Grassroot’ work
leads to honors
at Sugar Shack in Niota
ANTHONY DAKE
Staff Writer
NIOTA – The Sugar Shack
restaurant in Niota has been
serving the community good,
home cooking for nearly three
decades. Although ownership has changed hands several times the current owner
believes she has restored the
Sugar Shack to its former glory.
Originally owned and operated by Evelyn Duckett in the
early 1970s the Sugar Shack
was a community pillar serving good food and good times to
all those who ate there. Once
Duckett hung up her apron,
the restaurant was sold several
times before ending up in the
hands of current owner Debbie
Atkins in 2000. Atkins was formerly an employee of the Sugar
Shack under the ownership of
Duckett, so she really knows
the tricks of the trade.
“The biggest thing we did
different after I bought the
store was offer that good home
cooking once again,” said
Atkins. “Another thing we are
now doing is promoting healthy
eating by using healthier cooking oil and baking more products. We are still using some of
the old recipes, too, though.”
Atkins’ philosophy for running her restaurant is keeping
the prices affordable and the
food good.
“We may not be the richest
people around but we would
rather provide good food for the
community,” she said.
working Monday through
Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 2
p.m. and on Thursday and
Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
We close earlier on those days
because we found we weren’t
doing a lot of business and we
wanted to do what we could to
keep prices low.”
The Sugar Shack offers a
classic restaurant atmosphere
where people meet and discuss
happenings in town.
“Back in the old days they
had what was called a ‘round
table’ where people would meet
up and talk about what was
going on, and we still have that
going on today,” Atkins said.
“That really shows what kind
of environment we have here.”
Atkins also commented that
several of those working in
factories and other business in
Niota make trips to the Sugar
Shack several times a week to
enjoy the homestyle cooking.
One of those who stops in is
T&H Auto owner Tim Hutton.
“We eat over here all the
time,” said Hutton. “All the
gang from over at T&H do. We
like the great home cooking
and the service with a smile.
Photo by Anthony Dake A place like this is what keeps
the community going.”
Sugar Shack employee Katrena Webb scoops out corn
Besides serving food the
during the lunch hour at the Sugar Shack restaurant in
Sugar Shack gives the Niota
Niota.
Lions Club a place to meet each
month.
According to Atkins, the big- keeps its prices low is the flexFor more information, call
gest sellers are the hot roast
ible hours.
568-2521.
beef open-face sandwich and
“We recently cut our hours
•
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to help keep our prices low,”
E-mail: anthony.dake@dailyAnother way the restaurant Atkins said. “We are now
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He led the University of Tennessee Turf Club for three years
and helped the organization become formally recognized at the
university.
He interned at Medinah Country
Club where he handled daily course
maintenance and course set-up for
the 2006 PGA Championship, and
he earned scholarships for academic
excellence as he pursued a bachelor’s
degree in plant sciences with a concentration in turfgrass management.
He achieved a perfect 4.0 in courses
in his major.
For these and other accomplishments, UT student and McMinn
Central High School graduate
Lewis
Dustin F. Lewis has been named an
American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Outstanding
Undergraduate Horticulture Student.
Lewis was selected for the honor from among more than
30 undergraduate horticulture students in UT’s College of
Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
See HONORS Page C4
The Daily Post-Athenian, "A Place Called Home," Thursday, February 28, 2008 – Page C3
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Helping others is a top priority for Lewis Talmadge
GREG MOSES
Staff Writer
To put it simply, Lewis
Talmadge is a man on the move.
Born in Berkeley, Calif.,
Talmadge moved to Athens in
1960 while serving as a chief
warrant officer in the intelligence branch of the U.S. Army.
After retiring from military service in 1976, Talmadge worked
in the real estate and insurance industries in Athens, and
he managed a local Jiffy 7-11
Market for 13 years.
While he is now retired,
Talmadge’s working life is far
from over.
At 76, Talmadge is active in
various capacities across not
only the city but also the region.
Among his many activities, he
is most proud of his volunteer
work.
“I love to volunteer,” said
Talmadge. “I love to help folks
and I love to talk with them.”
Meals-on-Wheels is a program Talmadge has volunteered
with for quite some time.
Talmadge and his wife, Vivian,
have been longtime volunteers
with local Meals-on-Wheels programs, beginning in Athens.
“My church, St. Mary’s, was
doing Meals-on-Wheels a while
back,” said Talmadge. “My wife
and I started doing it in Athens.
Then, about 10 or 12 years ago,
we saw an ad in the paper for
people to do Meals-on-Wheels in
Etowah.”
The Talmadges do their
Meals-on-Wheels route every
Wednesday, which normally
takes about an hour.
“We used to do two routes, but
now we just do one,” Talmadge
added.
Although federal and state
funds help pay most of the cost
Photo by Greg Moses
Lewis Talmadge,
right, and wife Vivian
Talmadge offer a meal
and conversation to
Etowah resident Sue
Prater. Prater is one
of many Etowah area
seniors the Talmadges
have come to know
since first volunteering for the Meals-onWheels program in
Etowah more than a
decade ago.
of food in the program, the volunteers have to furnish their
own gasoline. With gasoline
hovering just over $3 per gallon,
the price of fuel for the weekly
meal delivery route is a burden,
Talmadge said.
“The gas is very expensive,
but the folks we deliver to can’t
get out,” he said. “They’re virtually homebound for one reason
or another.”
Aside from delivering nutritious meals to various Etowaharea seniors, Talmadge said
visiting with those people is the
most important thing he does.
“A lot of times, these people
don’t have any hope,” said
Talmadge. “They get hope
through fellowship, and we
spend time with them because
they need fellowship just as
much as the food we deliver to
them.”
The Etowah Meals-on-Wheels
program is coordinated by the
Etowah Senior Center, another
entity with which Talmadge is
heavily involved. And, he says,
there’s a lot going on at the center to keep him busy.
Talmadge said the center is
currently working on a cookbook.
However, the recipes have more
to them than just a dash of this
and a pinch of that.
“Each recipe comes with a
story behind it,” said Talmadge.
Several of the recipes the
Talmadges shared in the book
are from when they were first
married.
“They tell stories of us together,” said Talmadge, who added
that he and Vivian have been
married for 25 years.
Talmadge said anyone can
submit a recipe and a story
for the cookbook by calling the
Etowah Senior Center at 2631209. The cookbooks are intended as a fundraiser for the center.
“The price hasn’t been set
yet,” said Talmadge. “Hopefully,
everything will be ready to go so
we can start selling them this
summer.”
Talmadge said he believes
the recipe collection will sell, not
only among local residents but
also with tourists traveling along
Highway 411 and those visiting
various attractions and businesses in Etowah.
“Many people may not know
the cooks,” said Talmadge. “But,
they’ll be able to identify with
the stories.”
Stories are another of
Talmadge’s passions.
He has been a writer of short
prose for many years. Aside
from writing a regular Etowahthemed short story for The
DPA’s “Etowah Page,” Talmadge
has also published numerous
stories in other media. Works
by Talmadge have appeared on
various Internet sites and in The
East Tennessee Episcopalian,
a newspaper published by
the Episcopal Diocese of East
Tennessee.
Several of Talmadge’s stories
will also be featured in a forthcoming anthology to be published by the Cookeville Writer’s
Group, of which Talmadge is a
member.
In 2000, Talmadge’s story,
“What’s a Miracle, Granddad?,”
was published in “Chicken Soup
for the Preteen Soul.”
“My story appears on page
333,” he pointed out. “That’s sort
of become a lucky number for
me.”
Talmadge said many of the
preteens across the globe who
Honors
Continued from Page C2
The son of Kim and Doug
Lewis, of Riceville, he is now a
master’s student at UT working
toward a degree in plant sciences
with a concentration in turgrass
and weed science. He recently
placed second in a graduate
poster contest at the American
Society of Agronomy for a paper
co-written with UT faculty members J. Scott McElroy and John
C. Sorochan, and research assistant Greg Breeden on methods
to make herbicide applications
on zoysiagrass fairways more
safe.
As part of his master’s studies, Lewis is researching bermudagrass control strategies
in zoysiagrass turf. He is the
first UT student in 18 years to
receive a US Golf Association
competitive grant to underwrite
the research.
“I was very lucky to get one
and to be studying with it,” he
said.
Lewis is considering doctoral
study or a career as a U.S. Golf
Association agronomist.
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read his story “Chicken Soup”
send him e-mail inquiries about
the craft of writing.
“I tell them, ‘Write what you
know,’” said Talmadge. “You have
to know your subject matter
in order to write about it. Like
trees. I know nothing about
trees, so I won’t write about
them.”
Aside from writing, Talmadge
is no stranger to the stage.
“Actually, Vivian is the thespian,” said Talmadge. “I go along
to drive the car.”
The Talmadges both helped
to form the Gem Players and
served for a number of years on
the Gem Theater Board.
“My wife was in plays, and we
did concessions,” said Talmadge.
“We were going to Etowah two or
three times a week when a play
was running.”
The Talmadges still have
an active interest in the dramatic arts. The duo is currently in charge of auditions
for “Oklahoma!” at Cleveland
Middle School.
When he’s not occupied with
the prior list of engagements,
Talmadge also serves as a member of various organizations in
Athens, including the Knights of
Columbus and the Athens Board
of Zoning Appeals. The latter,
according to Talmadge, is “an
interesting way to learn what is
going on in town.”
After spending most of his
time helping to serve his fellow
man, Talmadge said he enjoys
playing a relaxing game of
bridge at St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church in Athens.
“I’m not very good at it,” said
Talmadge. “But the women put
up with me.”
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Second career led Jackie Knight to Tennessee Technology Center
JEREMY BELK
Staff Writer
Surrounded by students
at the Tennessee Technology
Center at Athens, Jackie Knight
has found a second career he
loves.
Knight, a Calhoun native,
began instructing the industrial electricity program at the
Technology Center in August
2006 after retiring from Bowater
after 30 years as an electrical
instrument technician.
At age 53, Knight said he
was about the age of most of his
students when he started his
career at Bowater. He said in
retirement he got tired of sitting
around doing nothing and he
admitted he felt guilty about it
as well. One day, his wife came
home with an advertisement for
the instructor’s job. He applied
for it and was hired.
Knight said he had to hit the
books himself to refamiliarize
himself on some of the theories
behind wiring and electricity
but he added it came back fairly
easily.
“Working in an academic
setting is a whole new world,”
he said. “I had to brush up on
Photo by Jeremy Belk
Tennessee Technology
Center Industrial
Electricity instructor
Jackie Knight
demonstrates an
electrical circuit device
used by students in the
class workshop.
things I had gotten rusty on.”
Knight said his new career as
an instructor is mentally challenging and occasionally he gets
a question from a student that
stumps him. When he does get a
question he can’t answer, he tells
the students he doesn’t know but
he will find out.
The industrial electricity program has a 78 percent
completion rate for the 15-month
course, he said.
Knight added the system
of learning at the Technology
Center is “well-conceived.” While
the program is set up to take 15
months, it is all dependent on
the speed of the student.
The course consists not only
of theory and training, but also
hands-on knowledge because
students can build the devices
they could see in an industrial
setting at the center.
For some students, Knight
said, it could take more than 15
months but for others it could
take less. He said he has a student who is near completion of
the 15-month course after six
months of classes.
Students are in class six
hours a day. According to the
Tennessee Technology Center
Student Handbook the course
length is 1,728 clock hours, but
that time may
vary among students.
Knight said
the class goes
beyond theory
and practice of
industrial electricity. They often
talk about the
industry but will
talk about life
and other topics,
as well.
“This is a
‘people business’
and different
than working
on machines,”
Knight said.
He said
students often
come in with no
knowledge on the
subject and leave
the course fairly comfortable
with what is expected of them
in the industry. The program is
more than formulas, he added,
Riddle & Wallace
but teaches students to think for
themselves while giving them
the knowledge they’ll need in
order to think for themselves in
their career.
Knight is a lifelong resident
of McMinn County. When he
was hired at Bowater as a young
man, he was following in his
father’s footsteps. His father
began working at the paper mill
when it was first built. Knight
added he enjoyed working at
Bowater also, and now enjoys
his new career at the Technology
Center.
Past 50, and in an “afterretirement career,” Knight
said he hopes to keep instructing students as long as he
remains healthy and while the
Technology Center keeps him.
“I hope to do this until my
normal retirement age,” Knight
said. “As long as my health holds
up I’d like to keep doing this.”
•
E-mail: jeremy.belk@daily
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McMinn County Historical Society & Archives
Latest local history book lists World War II draftees
GREG MOSES
Staff Writer
All people have a part in making history.
Some people make history by helping preserve it.
This has been the charge of the McMinn County
Historical Society since it was chartered in 1959.
After nearly 50 years of hard work, Historical
Society President Joe Guy feels the group is still
going strong.
“We have a great group of people to work with
in the Historical Society,” said Guy. “Everyone is
very active in their projects and programs.”
One active project participant is Athens resident Mike Jaquish. He has done various projects
for the Historical Society over the years and
recently completed a book documenting all of the
men in McMinn County who were drafted into
military service in 1943, at the height of World
War II. Jaquish first began the project when former Historical Society president Rex Moses handed him a photocopy of a list of draftees. The list
was in the form of a newspaper piece published in
The Daily Post-Athenian on Sept. 28, 1943.
Jaquish said one of the first things he noted
about the article was that the names of the men
were not in alphabetical order.
“As men were drafted, they were simply put on
the list,” said Jaquish.
Aside from being out of order, the names were
also presented in a very fine print.
“I had to get a magnifying glass, the type was
so small,” said Jaquish. “The lettering had also
begun to deteriorate in spots.”
Jaquish decided to check an original copy of the
Sept. 28, 1943, edition of The Daily Post-Athenian.
After viewing the original, he made a very significant discovery.
“I found there was a chunk of three or four
inches missing from the photocopy,” Jaquish said.
After getting a photograph of the original in its
entirety from DPA Photographer Anthony Dake,
Jaquish found the list contained around 1,500
names. It also contained several interesting uses of
the English language.
“There were several instances where it
appeared a name was misspelled, such as putting
an ‘e’ on the end of ‘Floyd’ to make ‘Floyde,’” said
Jaquish. ”
“There were instances where the same name
would appear twice, and in many cases the name
was very unique,” he added. “Verdie William
Allman, for instance, appears twice on the list.”
After performing some housekeeping on the
list and putting the names in alphabetical order,
Jaquish added a list of misspellings and a disclaimer that names appearing more than once
could possibly be two different people.
Since commencing the project, Jaquish said
many people have asked him if it includes volunteers. Jaquish’s response: “No.”
The list also did not include women who served
in World War II through WACS (Women’s Army
Corps, a unit of the U.S. Army), WAVES (Women
Photo by Greg Moses
Mike Jaquish points out a name on a list of local World War II draftees to McMinn County
Historical Society Vice President Patsy Duckworth. Documenting the list of draftees is
just one of many projects being conducted by the Historical Society.
Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, a U.S.
County Courthouse. It is one of many books availNavy reserve unit), and SPARS (Semper Paratus
able on McMinn County history.
Always Ready, a Coast Guard unit whose name is
“Many of the Historical Society’s members have
derived from the Latin and English translations of written books about local history,” said Historical
the Coast Guard motto).
Society Vice President Patsy Duckworth.
Jaquish feels that, when it comes to documentDuckworth said there were about 20 different
ing the service of local war veterans, the Historical books, as well as 15 volumes of death records from
Society’s work is just beginning. Having a list of
local funeral homes.
veterans from various wars is a good way to find
Aside from the books that are for sale, the
relatives and friends. Although it does not give
Historical Society also keeps a wide assortment
any information or stories about the men, Jaquish of local family genealogies and family histories,
said those can be supplied by the
which they encourage all local
readers.
residents to submit.
In 2008, the Historical
“One name that stuck out
“People come from across the
to me on the list was Edward
Society is planning to
U.S. looking for their family hisZimmerman,” said Jaquish. “I
place signs throughout
tory,” said Duckworth.
worked for him after school at
She said most people who
McMin County to mark
the Gem Theater. He had operutilize
the genealogy and death
ated radios for B-29 bombers,
significant locations.
records
usually learn just as
and we used to talk to each other
much about themselves as their
at the theater in Morse Code.”
family history.
“I can see many stories like this being gener“One gentleman found out through our funeral
ated from this list,” Jaquish added.
home
records that his name was spelled wrong,”
The list also allows for yet another way to
said Duckworth. “He has always spelled his name
remember the sacrifice of those who served.
“We now have a source where the memory can Parsons, but he found out that his ancestors did
not include an ‘s’ at the end of their name.”
survive,” said Jaquish.
Duckworth said the Historical Society is still
Copies of “World War II Draftees from McMinn
collecting and publishing local historic records and
County: 1943” are now available at the Historical
Society office in the basement of the McMinn
research. Included in this will be a future pictorial
history of McMinn County.
“We’ve taken over 200 pictures of historical
homes and properties across the county,” said
Duckworth. “We’re hoping to publish the photographs in a book later this year.”
Another new book project involving historic
sites throughout the county is also in the works.
However, it comes as part of a different program.
“We’re starting a historic sign project to mark
historic sites across the county,” Guy said.
“Anyone can submit any place in the county,”
said Guy, adding that applications can be picked
up in the Historical Society office. “It can be a
building or the site of a building, a home or a home
site, a business site, burial site or an event site.”
Guy said the Historical Society will review all
applications and any sites they find to have historic merit to them will be considered for a sign.
“We will work with the property owners on putting up the signs,” said Guy.
Each sign will be an 18-inch square that will
read: Official McMinn County Historic Site. At the
bottom of each sign will be a reference number.
Guy said the numbers will refer visitors to a particular section of a book which will be published in
conjunction with the sign project.
“The books are planned to give more information about the sites and have photos,” said Guy.
“We would like to use the signs and the book as a
way of developing a driving tour of the county.”
Guy said the book will continue to grow
through the years as more sites are approved.
He said the Historical Society will constantly be
reviewing applications for sites, and as approval
and funding provide, more signs will be furnished.
“Currently, we have allocated funds to mark
10 sites in 2008,” Guy said. “So far, though, we’ve
already identified 60 sites across the county which
could qualify.”
The sign project will be a joint effort between
the Historical Society, property owners and the
McMinn County Highway Department, which will
place the signs. Guy said the Historical Society
will furnish and maintain the signs.
“We’re very excited about this project,” said
Guy. “We’re going to try it and see how it works.”
The Historical Society is constantly envisioning
and implementing new ideas for historic preservation. Their meetings are held on the first Sunday
of each month from at 2 p.m. in the Blue Room
of the Courthouse. No meetings are usually held
from June through September. Meetings are open
to the public, and anyone who wants to join the
group is welcome to attend.
“The Historical Society can never have too
many members and volunteers,” said Duckworth.
The Historical Society’s office and archives
room is also open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to
1 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Fridays, and 12:30 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays yearround.
•
Marquis Dotson III upholds
family tradition
ANDY BRUSSEAU
Staff Writer
Marquis Dotson III has
known from a very young age
that he wanted to go into the
family business. Both his father
and grandfather make their
living as funeral directors, and
in Marquis’ opinion, becoming a
funeral director was academic.
Involved in the family business since the age of seven,
he has been “in the game” for
around 20 years. At 26, he has
been officially licensed for about
a year, earning his certification
from John A. Gupton College of
Mortuary Science in Nashville.
Prior to that, he was a 1999
graduate of Cleveland High
School and a 2004 graduate
of Virginia State University
in Petersburg, Va., where he
earned his bachelor’s degree in
vocal performance.
In addition to his father and
grandfather, Marquis’ mother,
Alma, is a licensed funeral
director, and his first cousin,
Yashan, is currently apprenticing and working toward being a
funeral director as well.
Marquis Dotson Sr. was born
in McMinn County. While growing up and working on the family farm in the late 1930s and
early ’40s, the area’s population
began to grow rapidly.
Marquis Sr. felt compelled to
begin a funeral home business
to serve African-American families, so he enrolled at GuptonJones College in Nashville and
served his apprenticeship at
Reed Mortuary in Knoxville. He
worked as full-time manager
of Jarnigan and Sons Funeral
Home in Knoxville until moving back to McMinn County in
1948. He then decided to open
M.D. Dotson & Sons Funeral
Home in Athens, which is celebrating its 60th year of business this year.
See DOTSON, Page C8
Photo special to The DPA
Marquis Dotson III (middle) is the third generation of his
family to become a licensed funeral director, along with
his grandfather, Marquis Sr. (left), and his father, Marquis
Jr.
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Athens
The Gem Players
Etowah theatre company puts
locals’ names in bright lights
ESTHER BAUMGARDNER
Staff Writer
ETOWAH — Curtains hang
in place on stage, the marquee
blinks outside telling of the evening’s show, and guests bustle in
anticipating what’s to come, but
it’s a whole different perspective
behind the scenes at the historic
Gem Theatre.
The Gem Players, the troupe
of thespians who participate
in the productions through the
Gem Theatre, consist of many
volunteers young and old.
Recently, three of the younger
members sat down for an interview to give their perspective of
being an actor at the Gem.
“My mother would say it’s so I
can keep my dramatics on stage
and not at home,” said 15-yearold Zachary Armes when asked
why he was an actor. “I really
like acting.”
“When you act, you learn
more about yourself and can
challenge yourself,” answered 16year-old Mary Moates.
She explained acting caused
her to become like the character
she portrayed on stage, which
not only challenged her but
taught her about herself and her
senses.
“The thing about acting is
how you express yourself,” she
said. “You use your entire body.
To make things so real you have
to use all of your senses.
“It’s a great way to use your
creativity, you become more
confident in your body and disciplined,” said Moates. “It’s good
for you. It’s a stretch, but you
learn about yourself.”
The young actors have to
learn about the character they
portray, as well.
“Acting isn’t just going up
there and saying your lines and
then getting off,” said Armes.
“You have to be in character and
know your character inside-out.”
Kolton Thompson, 16, said
the characters are never the
same. He said characters change
from the cold read to opening
night and are different again by
closing night.
Thompson went on to explain
people’s personalities are often
different than the characters
they portray.
“I don’t talk nearly as slowly
or artistically or grammatically
as on stage,” said Thompson.
“You get to the point where half
the things you say someone else
wrote.”
“Every time you’re in a play,
you gain the experience, but you
Photos by Esther Baumgardner
The Gem Players are full of old and young alike. Some of
the members sit on stage before rehearsing. From left are
Mary Moates, Zachary Armes and Kolton Thompson.
also take a bit of the character
with you each time,” added
Moates.
Moates has been in “The
Homecoming” at the Gem
Theatre but has also performed
in numerous productions in
Athens including “Greater Tuna”
and “The Hobbit.” Thompson
has been in five productions at
the Gem Theatre including “The
Homecoming,” “A Christmas
Story,” “The King and I,” and
“Miracle on 34th Street.” Armes
has been in three productions at
the Gem Theatre. They include
“Spoon River Anthology,” “The
Homecoming,” and the most
recent production, “Death of a
Doornail.” All three young actors
are sophomores at McMinn
Central High School.
From her experience, Moates
said it takes a long time for play
productions to run their full
course. She estimated it took a
good eight weeks from the time
actors first get their scripts until
the final production.
Thompson, who portrayed
the lead character in “The
Homecoming,” said he spent at
least 10 hours a week practicing
at the theater not to mention the
time he spent memorizing lines
at home.
Armes said the more complex
a character is, the more time an
actor spends memorizing lines
and figuring out their character
development.
During all of those hours
practicing, the young actors said
they have met many people
and made lasting friendships.
Moates said she enjoys meeting
the people through the play performances. She explained actors
and stagehands form a bond by
working together in order to put
on a show.
“There’s the excitement of
doing a show and everyone doing
it together,” she said.
“You’re counting on them,”
said LaMone Rose, director of
the Gem Players. “As an actor,
you have to put all your trust in
the other participants. With that
comes an internal connection.”
Moates said on occasion
someone forgets or messes up a
line or a costume or set pieces
falls. She said during those
sticky situations, the actors on
stage are left to do what feels
right at the time and not necessarily what’s on the script.
“All actors are equally crazy,”
said Armes jokingly. “That’s why
we bond together. We love acting.
It’s fun to do.”
“Acting is teamwork,” said
Rose. “You get to the end of the
show together.”
While sitting in the green
room at the Gem Theater, it’s
obvious the actors have their
own language. They speak to
each other using quotes from
past performances and laugh at
inside jokes that stem from experiences behind the curtain.
“They have a lot of experi-
is a testament to his craft.
“I’m good at it,” he says of
his chosen profession. “I want to
‘wow’ the families we serve and
my greatest satisfaction is knowing I gave the family what they
were looking for and the closure
they need in a difficult time.”
Marquis Dotson III is proud
to uphold the tradition of his
family’s honorable profession
and because of the career path
he has chosen, the family business will continue for a long time
to come.
M.D. Dotson & Sons Funeral
Home of Athens is located at 502
Congress Parkway and can be
reached by calling 745-1473 or
by visiting their Web site, www.
mddotsonandsons.com
•
ences and stories from being
together,” said Rose.
“You can act with somebody
and see them a year later and
still relate,” said Moates.
“I’ve met the best friends of
my entire life in theater,” said
Thompson. “You go through the
best and worst of times with
your theatrical friends. You
always go through rainbows and
storms.”
“You get to know them
because you’re going to another
world,” said Moates. “Like a
journey.”
Although, the young actors
also enjoy meeting the audience
members after a performance.
Armes said his favorite part of
the entire process was the end
when he was able to meet the
audience and hear their opinion
of the show.
“I receive the fruits of my
labor,” he said.
Thompson said he enjoyed
meeting audience members and
hearing their compliments at the
end of the show, as well.
“I like the attention and the
reaction from the audience,” he
said. “I like people to laugh when
I’m funny and to cry when I’m
depressing. I like people to look
at me. I like the attention.”
“It’s a character flaw,” he
joked.
Although these young thespians are active at the Gem,
there’s always room for additional talent.
“I’ve noticed a lot of people
have creative epitasis inside
them and they either squelch it
or put it to something illegal,”
said Armes.
He said if creative people
would volunteer for community
theatre, they could put their
“creative epitasis” to something
constructive.
“You’re in control of what you
do and what the audience sees,”
added Moates. “It’s power.”
Rose said those interested in
getting involved with the Gem
Players could simply come to the
auditions. She said there were
many areas for volunteers to get
involved including set design,
costume design, scene design,
stage managing and sound technicians.
“And we always need volunteers for the lobby,” she said. “It’s
a way to meet and greet people.”
For more information, contact
the Gem Players at 263-3270 or
visit their Web site at www.gemplayers.com
•
E-mail: esther.baumgardner@
dailypostathenian.com
Photo by Greg Moses
Optimist Club President Diane Frank and Membership
Chairman Carey Hicks look over the club's 2007
scrapbook, which documents many of the club's interesting programs and memories from the past year.
Optimist Club of
Athens is a
'Friend of Youth'
GREG MOSES
Staff Writer
Their name says it all:
they’re Optimists.
After nearly 50 years of
service to the community, the
Optimist Club of Athens is still
going strong—and growing, as
well. The club was chartered
in July 1960 with 41 members.
That number has grown since
then to 73 current members.
“Optimism is like a virus,”
said club President Diane
Frank. “It’s contagious.”
This month, the Optimist
Club was recognized by
Optimist International as an
Honor Club, which Frank said
is a designation only a small
number of Optimist Clubs
across the world have.
“It’s really a great privilege
for us to be named an Honor
Club,” said Frank.
The Optimist Club is dedicated to promoting the lives
of children. Internationally,
Optimist’s slogan is “Friend of
Youth,” while in Athens, the
local slogan asks, “And how are
the children?”
“We really believe that if
you help give children a positive experience in life, they will
succeed,” said Frank.
To help carry out its mission, the Optimist Club fills its
year with various programs
aimed at enhancing the lives
of local youth. The club is probably best known to the public
for its three annual fundraisers: the McMinn County Junior
Miss Program, the Mop and
Broom Sale and the Soup
Supper.
“These are all programs the
community looks forward to,”
said Carey Hicks, the Optimist
Club’s membership chairman.
Initiated in 1963 and held
annually in June at Athens
Junior High School, the Junior
Miss program is unique to
the Athens club. It showcases the talents and gifts of
20 high school junior girls from
McMinn County. Many area
businesses, organizations and
individuals make contributions
to the program, and all proceeds go toward scholarships
that are awarded to first, second and third place winners.
Other Optimist Club
scholarships, as well as its
service projects, are funded
through the club’s annual
Mop and Broom Sale each
April. Longtime Optimist Jim
Thompson said the annual
door-to-door sale of mops and
brooms has “helped make
See OPTIMIST, Page C9
Dotson
Both of Marquis III’s parents
– Marquis Jr. and Alma Dotson
– are funeral directors and have
owned and operated the family
business for the last 30 years.
Marquis Jr. received his training to become a licensed funeral
director and embalmer at John
A. Gupton College, as his son
did. He is also a graduate of
Knoxville College.
Alma Dotson is a graduate
of Old Dominion University in
Virginia and the University of
Tennessee at Knoxville.
In addition to the Athens
site, the Dotson family has
another funeral home located in
Cleveland.
Marquis III works in both
locations and says he is back and
forth between them constantly.
He is very confident in his abilities and says he has never had a
complaint from a family he has
provided his services to and that
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Optimist
Athens the ‘clean city’ as well as
‘The Friendly City.’”
The annual Soup Supper is a
relatively new program for the
Optimist Club. Each year, the
club sells soup on the night of
the Athens Christmas Parade.
“Everybody goes to the
parade,” said Frank. “Soon the
community will be begin to
associate the Soup Supper with
the parade.”
Another fundraiser the club
has been involved with for many
years is the Friendly Fellow
Club newspaper sale, which
generates money to pay for the
Friendly Fellow Club Christmas
Food Basket Program. However,
the proceeds from the sale do
not benefit the Optimist Club.
“We sell the papers on
the Saturday and Sunday in
December before the food baskets are packed,” said Frank.
“All of the proceeds go to benefit
that program.”
Although the baskets benefit
those in need of all ages, Frank
said the Optimist Club’s mission
of reaching out to children is
still met through the program.
“There’s really no telling how
many children we’ve helped
with the Friendly Fellow Club
food basket drive,” said Frank.
“This past year, over 750 baskets were given away to needy
families, and we’re very proud to
have been a part of that.”
When not busy raising
funds for service projects, the
Optimists are busy conducting
them.
“We have 20 total service
projects throughout the year,”
said Frank. “Of those, 11 are
directly related to schools and
the other nine also involve children, as well.”
Aside from scholarships
given during the Junior Miss
program, the Optimists provide other scholarships to
area high school students
throughout the year as part of
their youth outreach work. The
Tom Montgomery Memorial
Scholarship and the George R.
Price Award were both named
in honor of former Optimist
Club members who were very
active up until the time of their
deaths. Optimists work with
high school guidance counselors
in selecting winners of the former, while Optimists themselves
nominate candidates for the
latter.
“Our club members select
the winner of the George R.
Price Award based on how that
person exemplifies what George
Price exemplified,” said Frank.
The club also sponsors essay
and oratorical competitions each
year, which are open to students
in all area elementary and
high schools. Winners of those
competitions are also eligible for
scholarship money.
“Overall, we give several
thousand dollars in scholarships
each year,” said Frank.
Optimists also participate
each July in the local Soap Box
Derby. The club owns a car and
sponsors a local child each year
in the competition.
“Optimists also make up a
great deal of the cheering section and pit crew,” said Hicks.
“When that happens it's really
just a great morning to be a
part of the community.”
In March, Optimists promote
Respect for Law Week in local
elementary schools. In conjunction with the Athens Police
Department and the McMinn
County Sheriff’s Department,
the Optimist Club sponsors
programs that week in all thirdgrade classrooms across the
county.
A reading day for pre-kindergarten children is the Optimist
Club’s newest school program.
“We found we weren’t reaching out to the pre-K children,
so we started a pre-K reading
program this year, going to the
Athens Four Star Academy on
a Friday afternoon in January,”
said Frank.
The theme of the reading day
was a fiesta, and the books read
to the students were bilingual.
“Just to see the kids’ faces
light up made it all worthwhile,”
said Frank.
Aside from school programs,
Optimists also sponsor nonschool activities such as the
annual Halloween Costume
Contest and children’s games
and face painting at the
Pumpkintown Festival.
Each November, the Optimist
Club honors local youngsters
through Youth Appreciation
Week. During this time, a
boy and girl are selected from
each public and private school
in McMinn County and are
awarded various honors at an
Optimist Club breakfast.
Frank said some of the current Optimists were recognized
when they were children.
“Now, they’re giving back as
part of the club,” Frank added.
The club also leads programs
geared toward recognizing area
educators.
“We stress our motto,
‘Friends of Youth,’ and teachers
are ‘friends of youth’ just as the
Optimists are,” said Frank.
Hicks pointed out, “Teachers
have a job they sometimes don’t
get recognition for, and so we
like to honor them each year for
the work they do with our area
children.”
Teachers in all area schools,
including Athens City schools,
McMinn County schools,
Got Paper?
Tennessee Wesleyan College
and the Tennessee Technology
Center at Athens, find themselves the recipients of apples
each October during the
Optimist Club’s annual “Apples
for Educators” program.
In May, Optimist hosts
Teacher Appreciation Week. An
annual banquet is held each
year to recognize outstanding
educators at all area public
and private schools. At the
banquet, each teacher honored
receives a golden apple. Also
awarded during the banquet is
the Achievement in Education
Award, which has been presented by the Optimist Club since
1987 to a community leader
who has made significant con-
tributions to education.
If their own projects, of which
this list is only the tip of the
iceberg, aren’t enough to keep
them busy, the Athens Optimist
Club is now helping a neighbor
to do the same thing.
“Cleveland is wanting to
start an Optimist Club,” said
Frank. “We’re meeting with
them on a weekly basis now to
get them started.”
When not busy with outreach
projects, banquets and helping
to organize a new club for a
neighboring city, the Optimists
simply spend time with one
another at their weekly meetings on Thursday mornings at 7
a.m. in the Glenn Lowe Dining
Room at Tennessee Wesleyan
College. Hicks said each meeting is like a weekly family
reunion.
“The bond we all have
makes it a family situation,”
said Hicks. “We care about each
other and we are all honored
to be Optimist Club members
together.”
Although the club is like a
family, both Hicks and Frank
say in this extended family, new
siblings are always welcome.
“We’re always looking for
civic-minded individuals who
would be interested in joining,”
said Frank. “The more we have,
the more we can do.”
Anyone interested in learning more about the Optimist
Club can contact Hicks at
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745-2095 or Frank at 7452863. They can also attend a
Thursday morning club meeting.
“Everyone who is a member
of the club has joined because of
what the club does, but they all
have different reasons, whether
it’s someone in the family was
a member or something the
Optimists had done for that
particular person,” said Frank.
“Ideally, we’d like for people
to read this and see what love
and compassion we have for
one another, and hopefully we’ll
hear more people say, ‘And let
me tell you why I joined….’”
•
E-mail: greg.moses@daily
postathenian.com
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Addition of two fire halls improves Decatur’s coverage
ESTHER BAUMGARDNER
Staff Writer
DECATUR — Progress has
taken hold at the volunteer fire
department in Decatur.
The small town now has
two fire halls to store all of the
firefighting equipment, improve
response time and lower the
Insurance Service Organization
(ISO) rating.
The mayor and aldermen
decided at the 2007 January
Board of Aldermen meeting to
officially renovate a portion of
the public works garage into a
fire station. Decatur Chief Eddie
Jewell explained the portion of
the garage was already in use
by the fire department to store
equipment prior to the renovations.
“For the last two years, our
department has been storing
equipment here,” said Jewell.
“We just didn’t hang a sign on
the door.”
Since then, a new wall has
been built to separate the
work bays of Decatur Public
Works and the Decatur Fire
Department. The entire building
has been painted, new windows
and doors have been installed,
and new awnings hang over the
doorways, not to mention a new
sign. The town spent $40,000 on
the project.
Inside the building, what was
once a storage closet, now is a
space for volunteers to meet for
their monthly meetings. A new
floor, heat and air, a kitchenette
and a storage room are all available for the force to use.
Jewell said the city was short
of money to complete all of the
renovations, so the volunteer
firemen and women pitched in
for the computer, refrigerator,
microwave, heat and air condi-
Photos by Esther
Baumgardner
Decatur now has
improved firefighting
capabilities to protect residents there.
tioning, furniture and shelves.
“We wanted to finish the
room, but we did not have
enough money so we chipped in
a little of our own money,” said
Jewell.
He said volunteers take half
of the money they receive from
fighting fires, going on calls and
attending meetings and place it
into a fund that normally pays
for food or T-shirts. This time,
it went to furnishing their new
hall.
“We keep the money there to
do things with,” said Jewell.
Next door in the bays, three
vehicles are stored including one
pumper, one rescue vehicle and
one support vehicle.
He said it's better for a fire
department to not store all of its
resources in one location.
“This gives us another station,” said Jewell. “When your
resources are not all in one place
it’s better.”
He said some equipment was
stored outside before they had
access to this location. With the
The Decatur Fire Department housed equipment in the
Decatur Public Works building, but there was no distinction between where equipment was stored.
After the renovations, the Decatur Fire Department has
its own side of the building and an additional fire department which helps on response time. The entire building
received a face lift during the renovation.
renovated hall, all of the fire
equipment can be stored indoors
where sunlight, heat and freezing temperatures are less likely
to damage the tanks.
Even though the two fire
departments are within a mile
of each other, Jewell said this
station would improve response
and 29 seconds.
But the biggest notice for the
town may be a lower ISO rating
for fire protection.
“That’s the single biggest
thing,” said Jewell. “Anytime you
open up a new station, it’s better
for the fire department and your
ISO stands to improve.”
time.
“Anyone coming from the
north end of town can be at this
station quicker,” said Jewell. “It
has helped in response time.”
The volunteer fire department consists of about 25 volunteers. Jewell said the average
response time is five minutes
Athens Gymnastics owner inspired by
childhood Olympics memories
Angel Boutique
153 Sherwood Ave.
Calhoun, TN
AUTUMN HUGHES
(across from Calhoun Elementary School)
Community Life Editor
In 1984, Jennifer Powell Vedder sat
enthralled as she watched gymnast Mary
Lou Retton win Olympic gold for the United
States.
It was then the kindergartner fell in love
with the sport.
“I wanted to be Mary Lou Retton,” Vedder
said. “I have five sisters and three of us competed in gymnastics.”
She competed in South Carolina and
starting coaching there.
“I competed until I was a freshman in
high school,” she said
However, Vedder was never nationally
ranked.
“I just competed
for fun,” she said.
Jennifer
Vedder has been
Powell Vedder teaching for approxiopened Athens mately 12 years,
since she was 14. She
Gymnastics
earned her degree
in 2004.
in sports management from North
She teaches
Greenville University
recreational
in South Carolina.
and competi- After graduating, she
tive classes.
came to Athens seeking a job.
“I wanted to find a gym that needed somebody to run it from the ground up,” Vedder
said.
She came here to work in an established
gym, but eventually had the opportunity to
open her own facility – Athens Gymnastics
Training Center – in August 2004. Vedder
said was a dream to open her own gym.
“I think it was God’s plan for us to do it,”
she said.
Vedder’s husband, Chris, a teacher at
Meigs Middle School, has been supportive of
her decision to start her own business.
“It’s a challenge to be head coach and
owner,” she said. “I have to balance things
out.”
Vedder has been growing her business
slowly and currently has about 150 students.
“Hopefully, the Olympics will help boost
enrollment,” she said.
Athens Gymnastics offers both a recreational program and a competitive one.
“Most of my students are recreational,”
she said.
Classes are available for all ages. The
sessions for the youngest – the Parent & Pal
classes – focus on motor development.
“We start them as soon as they’re walking,” Vedder said.
For many of the students it is their first
experience in a classroom setting.
The preschool program takes place downstairs, where Vedder uses bubbles as an
icebreaker “to get them away from Mom and
comfortable with the teachers,” she said.
There are no aerial moves for the youngest students.
“Safety is our top priority,” Vedder said.
“We definitely start building their foundation
The town was last rated in
2003, when they improved their
rating from a Class 7 to a Class
5. An improved ISO rating would
mean homeowners would possibly pay less for their insurance
premiums.
•
Photos by
Autumn Hughes
Jennifer Powell
Vedder helps
Landon Turner,
2-1/2, negotiate a miniature
somersault
bar at Athens
Gymnastics.
Landon's older
sister, Caelyn,
is a member of
the competitive
team that won
several awards
at a contest
at Clemson
University.
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at this age.”
Promotion from the kiddie class
to tumbling is mainly based on
age. However, a student who shows
“exceptional ability will move up more
quickly,” Vedder said.
The “big kids’ gym” is upstairs.
“My oldest students are tumblers,”
she said. “They come in to learn cheerleading skills.”
Vedder said students in recreational classes usually attend once a week,
while competitive program students
spend several days a week at the gym.
There are 10 levels of competition
and she has approximately 16 on the
competitive team and some in a training group.
“They practice up to 20 hours
a week,” she said. “We go all over
Tennessee, Georgia and South
Carolina to compete.
“We’re a young team and very
small compared to some of the teams A student at Athens Gymnastics Training
Center practices her routine on the balwe compete against,” she said.
ance beam.
However, the team recently took
third at the Tiger Paw Invitational
like baseball,” she said.
at Clemson University. Vedder said
Vedder said she is fortunate that her
students ages five to 15 are on the competistudents
have supportive parents who undertive team.
stand
the
time the youngsters must invest
“I had several champions in their age
in gymnastics. She added it is an expensive
groups,” she said.
sport, which can be prohibitive.
Athens Gymnastics does not field a boys’
“It takes some dedication to want to do it,”
competitive team, but Vedder has male stushe said.
dents.
See GYMNASTICS, Page C13
“It helps them with their other activities,
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National MooFest
Local dairy festival has big plans to draw national crowd
GREG MOSES
Staff Writer
The inaugural National MooFest is “mooving”
into downtown Athens this summer. A celebration of the dairy industry, MooFest will be a
kickoff to June Dairy Month, taking place on
Saturday, May 31, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The festival will feature an “udderly” fascinating array of contests and events, each with
its own unique dairy theme.
The major competition will be the “Crankin’
Contest.” Entrants will submit recipes for homemade ice cream prior to MooFest. At the festival,
judges will taste samples of each recipe. The
winning recipe will be considered for production
as a new Mayfield ice cream flavor.
A dairy-themed
recipe collection will
also be available
for purchase during MooFest. The
MooFest Cookbook,
which will be available during the festival, will showcase
a variety of recipes
featuring dairy products. These recipes
will also be solicited
Forgety
from the public before
MooFest.
Any recipes featuring dairy products will be
accepted for the MooFest Cookbook. However,
the cookbook will emphasize recipes featuring buttermilk, as Athens’ own Mayfield Dairy
Farms is one of world’s foremost producers of
buttermilk.
A “Milkshake Shake” will be a “cool” way to
beat the summer heat. With a milkshake mixer
and their own sense of rhythm, participants will
“moove” to the music in the streets of Downtown
Athens and make a milkshake in the process.
Contestants in the “Stacking Contest” will
test their ice cream scooping skills by seeing
who can stack the most ice cream scoops onto a
cone.
Familiar events such as “Cow Patty Bingo”
and a milking contest will also be featured
“mooments” at MooFest.
In “Cow Patty Bingo,” wagers will be taken to
see which square a cow will “moove onto,” so to
speak.
The milking contest will feature local
“moovers” and shakers, as well as local dairy
farmers, to see who is the best milker.
An “Ice Cream Sundae” contest will be held
between the baseball and softball teams of
McMinn Central and McMinn County high
schools to see which teams can create the most
chocolate sundaes in a specific time period.
Keep McMinn Beautiful will sponsor a
“Recycled Milk Jug Art
ings, many based on its
Contest.” In this contest,
agrarian background,”
sculptures and other
said Forgety. “That’s
artwork utilizing
Athens, Tennessee,
recycled milk jugs
and McMinn
will be judged
County, and
and awarded
MooFest is
prizes.
just a way
MooFest
to showcase
planners are
to the entire
still milking
nation this
their brains
very special
for other event
place.”
ideas. One idea
Forgety
that has been
said the dairy
thrown around
industry has
is a “Cow Patty
played a major
Toss.” The event
role in the area’s
would not use real
past, present and
cow patties but Moon
future, and he hopes
Pies instead.
the event will increase
MooFest will also feature
the public’s awareness
“moosic.”
of the industry, through both
Jimbo Whaley and Greenbrier, an award-win- exhibits and demonstrations on dairy practices
ning bluegrass band from Sevierville, will be
and a wide assortment of entertainment.
performing. Just Us, a local bluegrass group, will
He added that MooFest would also benefit
also perform.
the community it will showcase.
No festival would be complete without a
“cownival.”
An 18-ride carnival will take place in the
pasture downtown. The carnival will begin
on Tuesday, May 27, and run through the
“MooFestivities” on May 31.
Aside from activities, those who attend
MooFest will also find enjoyment in the wide
array of booths that will be set up. Exhibits on
the history and practices of the dairy industry
will be featured alongside a variety of different
arts and crafts.
MooFest is
The National
being patterned
MooFest is
after regional festivals such as the
scheduled for
National Cornbread
Saturday, May 31,
Festival in South
in Downtown
Pittsburgh, the
Athens
Dayton Strawberry
Festival, the Tomato
Festival in Grainger
County, and the Okra Strut in Irmo, S.C.
MooFest steering committee members are working with officials from each of these festivals in
molding the Athens event.
With advertising targeting audiences across
the United States, MooFest planners hope to
make the festival an annual event attended by
folks nationwide.
Although MooFest has a national focus, steering committee chief executive officer Dr. John
Forgety said it’s really a community event.
“MooFest, at its heart, is about the very
special place we live with a great deal of bless-
“We want to return any and all profits
from MooFest back to the community, through
charitable means such as the United Way,
Coordinated Charities, etc.,” said Forgety. “And
we want to involve all aspects of the community
in the effort, from church groups, civic clubs and
schools, to just local individuals.”
If you would like to help with MooFest,
become a vendor, or just want to know more
information about MooFest as it is being
planned, visit the MooFest Web site at www.
nationalmoofest.com
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McMinn and Meigs Counties Churches
APOSTOLIC
BAPTIST
BAPTIST
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BAPTIST
CHURCH OF GOD
LUTHERAN
METHODIST
HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL
PEOPLE; E.T. & Maxine Lee, Pastors; 17 Congress Pkwy., Athens
(next to Hair Tenders)
Sunday: 11 a.m.; Wed. 7 p.m.
Info 568-2533 or 744-7829
ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH;
Rev. Bob Thomas, Pastor; 218
Canal Drive, Athens
Sunday: Morning, 10 a.m.; Evening,
6:30 p.m.; Wed., Prayer Meeting,
6:30 p.m.
FIRST BAPTIST ATHENS; 305
Ingleside Avenue; "Speaking the
truth in love"; Dr. Glenn H. Gregg,
Interim Pastor
Join us this week!
Sundays: 9:30, 10:45, 6:00
Wed.: Eat @ 5; Programs @ 6
www.fbcathens.com
423-745-5441
NEW ZION BAPTIST CHURCH;
Michael Coleman, Pastor
Sunday: S.S., 10 a.m.; Worship,
11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
WEST END BAPTIST CHURCH;
Jim Price, Pastor; Clark St.,
Athens
Sunday: S.S., 9:45 a.m.; Worship,
10:45 a.m. & 7 p.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
FIRST CHURCH OF GOD; Roy
Chism, Pastor; 210 Fisher Street,
Athens
Sunday: Worship, 10:30 a.m.
& 6 p.m.
ATHENS LUTHERAN CHURCH
(LCMS); Rev. Clifford Herd, Pastor; 710 Forrest Ave. @ Ingleside,
Athens
Sun.: Praise Worship, 8 a.m.; S.S.,
9:15; Traditional Worship, 10:30
a.m.; Wed. Praise Hr., 7 p.m.
MT. CARMEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; Hugh Bryan, Pastor; Lamontville Road, Decatur
Sunday Worship, 11 a.m;. S.S.,
10 a.m.
MT. OLIVET UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH; Hugh Bryan, Pastor;
Cottonport Road, Decatur
Sunday Worship, 9 a.m., S.S.,
10 a.m.
OAK GROVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; Doug Brown, Pastor; Old Pinhook Ferry Road
S.S., 10 a.m.; Wor., 11 a.m.
TEN MILE UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH; Doug Brown, Pastor;
Old Time Mile Road
Worship, 9:45 a.m.; S.S., 11 a.m.
ASSEMBLIES
OF GOD
ABUNDANT BLESSINGS ASSEMBLY OF GOD; 2613 Cardinal
Street, Athens
www.abundantblessingsag.org
Sunday: S.S., 9:45 a.m. Worship:
10:45 a.m.; Wed. Bible Study,
6:30 p.m.; Angel Food Ministries
-649-0350
BETHEL SPRINGS BAPTIST
CHURCH; Winston Torbett, Pastor; Rt. 1, Calhoun
11 a.m. & 6:45 p.m.; T.U. 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
BETHSADIA BAPTIST CHURCH;
Joe K. Miller, Pastor; Decatur
Sunday: S.S., 10 a.m.; Worship, 11
a.m. & 7 p.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.
BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH; David Pritchett, Pastor; Ct. Rd.
357, Niota
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
BRITTSVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH;
Kenneth Purdie, Pastor; Lower
River Road just off Hwy. 58,
Decatur
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
2 Park Street
1612 S. Congress Parkway
Hwy. 411 N., Etowah
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BROOKHILL BAPTIST CHURCH;
Rev. Josh Duncan; 14th Street,
Etowah, 263-9487
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Auditorium Bible
Class, 5:30 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
CALHOUN FIRST BAPTIST
CHURCH; Barry A. Purser, Pastor; Church St., Calhoun
10:50 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Church Training, 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH;
Keith Wilcox, Pastor; Riceville
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH; Dusty Caldwell, Pastor;
Decatur
a.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
CAMBRIA BAPTIST CHURCH;
Rev. Eddie Rowland, Pastor; Off
Highway 411 South of Etowah
a.m.; & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
CANE CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH;
Bro. Chris Taylor, Pastor; Hwy.
411, Etowah
10:45 a.m.; & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH;
Rev. Mike Bernard, Pastor; 13
Nash S.W., Athens
Sunday: S.S., 9:45 a.m.; Worship, 11
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Training, 5 p.m.
CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH;
Carlos Peterson, Pastor; 14
Congress Pkwy., Athens, 423745-8185
(Worship Service every Sunday at
10:30 a.m.)
CLAY HILL BAPTIST CHURCH;
Craig Wilcox, Pastor; Route 1,
Riceville
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed, 7:30 p.m. 5th
Sunday Night - No Services.
CLEARSPRINGS BAPTIST
CHURCH; James Dink Harris,
Pastor; Riceville-Decatur Road
11 a.m. & 6 p.m.; T.U., 5 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
C L E A R W AT E R B A P T I S T
CHURCH; Wayne Bryant, Pastor;
964 Co. Rd. 180, Athens
Sunday: Morning: Worship: 8 a.m.,
9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.; S.S., 9:30 a.m.
& 11 a.m.; Evening: Disc. Training,
5:30 p.m. Wed., 7 p.m.
COG HILL BAPTIST CHURCH;
Rev. Joe Hatcher, Pastor; R.F.D.
#1, Etowah
11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; T.U., 6:30 p.m.
Wed., 7 p.m.
CONASAUGA BAPTIST CHURCH;
Ronnie Best, Pastor; 467 Co. Rd.
475, Etowah
10:50 a.m. &, 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
1804 Decatur Pike
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CONCORD MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH; Neal Pillion Jr.,
Pastor; Rt. 1, Ten Mile (C.R. 510
off Hwy. 68 in Meigs Co)
a.m. & 7 p.m.; Disc. Training, 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
CORNERSTONE BAPTIST; Ken
Thornton, Pastor; Etowah, 2632795
Sunday: 11 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.;
Thursday, 7 p.m.
COTTONPORT BAPTIST
CHURCH; Larry Johnson, Pastor,
Cottonport Road, Decatur
10:45 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Church Training, 6:30 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
COVENANT BAPTIST CHURCH;
Randy Boggess, Pastor; Highway
30 between Etowah & Athens
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
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810 E. Madison Ave.
Hwy. 11, Niota • 568-2101
913 Congress Parkway
Suite 200, Athens
423-745-9789
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263-5300
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH; Bro.
Oran Creasman, Interim Pastor;
Main St., Decatur
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; T.U., 5 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
www.firstbaptistdecatur.com
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH; Rev.
Russ Maples, Pastor; P.O. Box
185, 13 Church St., Englewood
11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Church Training,
6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
Shaun M. King, Pastor; Etowah
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 6 p.m.
Mike Farmer, Pastor; P.O. Box
503, Niota
10:45 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
FIRST BAPTIST CHARLESTON;
Rev. William T. Spencer, II, Pastor; P.O. Box 463, 338 Market St.,
Charleston, 336-2356
www.charlestonfirstbaptist.com
10:45 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed.: Prayer
& Bible Study, 6:30 p.m.; TeamKID
(during school year) 6:30 p.m.
FIVE POINT BAPTIST CHURCH;
Stan Cantrell, Pastor; Hwy. 30
West, Decatur
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed, 7 p.m.
FREEDOM BAPTIST CHURCH; M.
Roy Hogan, Pastor; 2207 Velma
Road, Athens
10:45 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed.,
7 p.m.
GOOD HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH;
Bill Pearman, Pastor; Route 3,
Armstrong Ferry Road, Decatur
11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; T.U., 6:30 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
GOODSPRINGS BAPTIST
CHURCH; Steve Huff, Pastor;
Etowah
11 a.m.; & 6:50 p.m.; Discipleship
Training, 6 p.m. Wed., 7 p.m.
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH; Don
B. Harris, Pastor; Washington
Ave., Etowah
Sunday: S.S., 10-11 a.m.; Worship,
11 a.m.-12 & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
GREATER DELIVERANCE FULL
GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH; Minister Eric D. Espey, Interim Pastor;
104 N. White Street, Athens
Sunday: Worship, 11 a.m.; Wed.
Bible Study, 7 p.m.; Thur. Women's
Ministry, 7 p.m.
GREATER MT. PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH; Kenneth Franklin
Scaife, Minister; 414 Chester
St., Athens
11 a.m.; Wed., Bible Study/Prayer
Meeting, 6:30 p.m.; Young People's
Hour, 6:30 p.m.; Thurs., Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.; Sat., Men's Choir
Rehearsal, 4 p.m.
GREGORY'S CHAPEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH; Calloway Nichols, Pastor; Ct. Rd.
325; Hwy. 11 S, Niota
11 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
HILLTOP BAPTIST CHURCH; Fred
Russell, Pastor; U.S. 11 Bypass,
Riceville
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
HOLY TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH;
Dillard Sneed, Pastor; 119 9th
Street, Etowah; 263-0028
Sunday Celebration: 11 a.m.; Bible
Study, 4 p.m.
IDLEWILD BAPTIST CHURCH;
Route 1, Athens
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Church Training,
6:20 p.m.; Wed., 6:30 p.m.
KNOXVILLE AVENUE BAPTIST
CHURCH; Henry Jones, Pastor;
1314 Knoxville Avenue
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 6:30 p.m.
LAKESIDE BAPTIST CHAPEL;
Rev. Jodie Mosier, Pastor; Route
1, River Road, Ten Mile
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
LAKEVIEW
BAPTIST
CHURCH;Allen Young, Pastor;
183 County Road 126, just west
of I-75 off Hwy. 30, Athens
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
DIXON AVENUE BAPTIST
CHURCH; Alan Watson, Pastor;
P.O. Box 513, Englewood
a.m. & 7 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
LAMONTVILLE BAPTIST
CHURCH; Michael Williams,
Pastor; Calhoun
11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Church Training,
6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
DOUBLE SPRINGS BAPTIST
CHURCH; Randy Harmon, Pastor;
111 C.R. 776, Athens
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Disc. Training, 5 p.m.;
Wed., 6:30 p.m.
LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH;
1034 Co. Rd. 48, 3.5 miles West of
Interestate I-75, Exit 36, Calhoun,
263-7967
11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Training Union, 6
p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
E A S T AT H E N S B A P T I S T
CHURCH; Rev. Pete Mullins,
Pastor; 301 Central Avenue;
423-745-1394
eastathensbaptistchurch.org
10:45 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Church Training, 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
MANILLA CHAPEL BAPTIST
CHURCH; Douglas Coleman, Pastor; Manilla Road, Englewood
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
E A S TA N A L L E E B A P T I S T
CHURCH; Mickey L. Basham,
Pastor; Cedar Springs Road,
Riceville
Sunday: S.S., 9:30 a.m.; Worship, 10:30 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Disc.
Training, 6:15 p.m. Wed., 7 p.m.
EAST NIOTA BAPTIST CHURCH;
Bill Sikes, Pastor
10:45 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Disc. Training,
6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
EAST VIEW BAPTIST CHURCH;
Robert Sneed, Pastor; Old Athens-Etowah Road in Etowah
11 a.m. & 6 p.m.; T.U., 5 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
ETOWAH CALVARY BAPTIST
CHURCH; Pastor, Jeff Blanchette;
Rt. 1, Box 151, East Etowah
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
EVERLASTING LIFE BAPTIST;
Dewey Feezell, Pastor; 311
South Amhurst, (Located in the
old Church of God Building, 411
South), Englewood
10:45 a.m.; Evening, 6 p.m.; Wed.
Bible Study, 6 p.m.
FAIRVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH;
Jack Scallions, Pastor; Fairview
Road, Athens
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH; Casey
Hawkins, Pastor; New Englewood
Road, Athens
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 6:30 p.m.
FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH; Mike
Couch, Pastor; Hwy. 58 N.,
Decatur
Sunday: S.S, 10 a.m.; Worship, 11
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
FAITH BAPTIST TABERNACLE;
Bro. Jeff Evans, Pastor; 251 Co.
Rd. 128, Athens
10:45 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
MARSHALL HILL BAPTIST
CHURCH; Rev. Joe Davis, Pastor; Shoemaker Road, Niota
10:45 a.m. & 7 p.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
McMAHAN CALVARY BAPTIST
CHURCH; Randall Bates, Pastor;
589 Co. Rd. 172, Athens
10:45 a.m.; Evening Worship Summer, 6:30 p.m.; Evening Worship
Winter, 5:30 p.m.
MORNINGVIEW BAPTIST
CHURCH; Jimmy Garrett, Pastor; Hwy. 58, Decatur
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed., 6:30 p.m.
MT. CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH;
Hwy. 68 E., Madisonville (Just past
Midway Market)
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 6:30 p.m.
M T. H A R M O N Y B A P T I S T
CHURCH; Rev. Brad Watson,
Pastor; Old Madisonville Road,
Niota
10:30 a.m. & 7 p.m.
M T. H A R M O N Y B A P T I S T
CHURCH; Rev. Garry King, Pastor; Rt. 2, Riceville
10:45 a.m. & 7:15 p.m.; T.U., 6:30
p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
MT. PISGAH BAPTIST CHURCH;
Gerald Perry, Pastor; 1803 County
Road 250, Niota
a.m. & 7 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
MT. VERD BAPTIST CHURCH;
Donnie Dalton, Pastor; Mt. Verd
Road, Athens
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
NEW BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH;
Victor King, Pastor; 260 Co. Rd.
790, Etowah
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
NEW HOPEWELL BAPTIST
CHURCH; Athens
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
NORTH ATHENS BAPTIST
CHURCH; Bob Kerr, Pastor; 402
Tellico Avenue
10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; T.U., 5 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
NORTH ENGLEWOOD BAPTIST
CHURCH; Kenneth Waldrop,
Pastor; Englewood
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
NORTH ETOWAH BAPTIST
CHURCH; Dr. Gerald Atkins,
Pastor; 231 Pa. Avenue, Etowah
11 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Church Training, 5 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.; Choir
Rehearsal, 8 p.m.
OAK GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH;
Derek McCosh, Pastor; County
Road 100, Athens
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; T.U., 5:30 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
OAK GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH;
Rt. 2, Niota
a.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
OAK GROVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH; Elder Donnie
Hickman, Pastor; Rt. 2, P.O. Box
446, Niota
Sunday: S.S.: 9:45 a.m.; Worship, 11
a.m.; Wed. Bible Study, 7 p.m.
OLD FASHION BAPTIST CHURCH;
Jimmy Elliott, Pastor; Niota
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
OLD POND HILL BAPTIST
CHURCH; Wendell Puett, Pastor;
Mt. Verd C.R. 250, Athens
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 6 p.m.
OLD SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH;
Randy Montgomery, Pastor; Hwy.
163, Bowater Road, Delano
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH;
Rev. Scott Dawson, Pastor; 1701
Velma Road, Athens
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; T.U., 5:45 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
PEAKLAND MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH; Decatur
a.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
PISGAH BAPTIST CHURCH; Rev.
Herman Jordon, Pastor; Center
Point Road, Decatur
a.m. & 6:45 p.m.; T.U., 6:00 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
PLEASANT HILL BAPTIST
CHURCH; Robert Ivey, Pastor;
1923 Pleasant Hill Rd., Ten Mile
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 6 p.m.
WEST VIEW BAPTIST CHURCH;
Don Bradford, Pastor; Old Hwy.
11, Athens
10:50 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
WILDWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH;
Rev. Bill Vest, Pastor; Hwy. 39,
Englewood
Sunday: Early Service, 8:30 a.m.;
S.S., 9:35 a.m.; Worship, 10:45
a.m. & 6 p.m.;Wed., 5:50-7:45
p.m. Awana; 6:15 p.m. Prayer &
Bible Study.
WOODLAND ACRES BAPTIST
CHURCH; Clifton Coleman, Pastor; County Road 22, Calhoun
11 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m. "A
Church Alive...Is Worth The Drive"
ZION HILL BAPTIST CHURCH;
269 County Road 516, Englewood
Sunday: S.S., 10 a.m.; Worship, 11a.
m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
CATHOLIC
SAINTMARYCATHOLICCHURCH;
Father James Vick, Pastor; 1291
E. Madison Ave., Athens
Mass Schedule: Sun. 10 a.m.;
Hispanic Mass: 1 p.m.; Sat. 5 p.m.;
Vigil Tues. & Thurs. 9 a.m.; Wed. 6
p.m.; Confessions 4:15 p.m. to 4:45
p.m.; Religious Education at 1291 E,
Madison Ave., Athens Sun. 11:25
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for grades Pre-K
to 6th & on Wed. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. for
Grades 7th to 12th.
CHARISMATIC
CHURCH OF THE REDEEMED;
Hampton Inn (3rd floor meeting
room); Robert Patrick, Pastor
Sunday: 6 p.m.
CHRISTIAN
ATHENS CHRISTIAN CHURCH;
Darrin Long, Minister; Vance
Hughes, Associate Minister; 802
Matlock Road, Athens
a.m. & 7 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN
CHURCH; Highway 411 North,
Etowah
10:45 a.m. & 7 p.m.
ENGLEWOOD CHRISTIAN
CHURCH; Daniel R. Underwood,
Pastor; Englewood
a.m. & 7 p.m.; Wed. Bible Study,
Adult, 7 p.m.
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH;
Kevin Madison, Minister; 7th &
Ohio, Etowah
Sunday: Friendly S.S. Class,
10 a.m.; Worship, 11 a.m.; Wed.,
Bible Study, 6 p.m.
FIRST CHURCH OF GOD; Will
Hughes, Pastor; Englewood
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
McMINN COUNTY CHURCH OF
GOD; Floyd Duncan, Pastor; Old
Etowah Road, Athens
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
SEWEE CHURCH OF GOD
(Hdqrts., Anderson, Ind.); Rev.
Linda Parton, Pastor; Off Clearwater Rd.
10:45 a.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
THE CHURCH OF GOD; Hilda
Sutton, Pastor; 206 East Madison (1 block from courthouse);
423-473-0287
Sunday: 2 p.m. Everyone Welcome.
WATTS BAR CHURCH OF GOD;
Reverend Kenneth R. Goins; Hwy.
68, Decatur
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
WOODWARD AVENUE CHURCH
OF GOD; Clifford Waters, Senior
Pastor; 507 Woodward Avenue,
Athens
Sunday: 8:30 &10:30 a.m.; S.S.,
9:45 a.m.; Evening, 6 p.m.; Wed.,
7 p.m.
CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER
DAY SAINTS
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER DAY SAINTS; Robert D.
Warren, President; 508 Cedar
Springs Road, Athens
Sunday: S.S., 9:50-10:45 a.m.;
Priesthood & Relief Society, 9-9:45
a.m.; Sacrament Meeting, 10:50
a.m.-12 noon.
CHURCH OF
JESUS CHRIST
ANTIOCH CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST; Mitchell Wright, Pastor;
Keith Pryor, Church Evangelist;
1036 Hwy. 39 E., Englewood;
746-0378, 507-9001
Sunday: 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wednesday: 7 p.m.
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST;
Clifford Barnes, Pastor; Hammer
Hill Road, Athens
Sunday: 11 a.m.; Thursday, 7 p.m.;
Youth Night: Monday, 7 p.m.
FAITH CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST; South Jackson, Athens
Wed., 7 p.m.; Sat., 7 p.m.; Sun.,
10 a.m.
ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH
-ELCA; William McDonald, Pastor; 4826 Sweetwater-Vonore Rd.,
Vonore; 746-5283
Worship, 11 a.m.; Holy Communion
2nd, 4th, 5th, and Festivals
MENNONITE
WELLSPRING MENNONITE
CHURCH; Verlon Miller, Pastor;
265 County Road 608, Athens;
263-3989
Sun.: Praise & Worship, 10 a.m.
METHODIST
TRINITY UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH; Joseph T. Miller, Pastor; 100 College St., NE, Athens
10:45 a.m.
ALLEN MEMORIAL UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH; Jeffery
Wayne Wright, Pastor; 800 Decatur Pike, Athens
a.m. & 7 p.m.
WESLEY MEMORIAL UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH; Rev. J.
Todd Kingrea, Pastor; 923 Ohio
Ave., Etowah
11 a.m.
ATHENS PARISH
TRANQUILITY CHURCH; Rev.
Bruce Vincent; State Road 305.
Worship, 9:30 a.m.; S.S., 11 a.m.
UNION CHAPEL CHURCH; Rev.
Bruce Vincent; County Road 130.
S.S., 10 a.m.; Worship, 11 a.m.
WESLEYANNA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; Joe Crockett,
Pastor; Corner of C.R. 607 &
609, Etowah
Sunday: Worship, 9:30 a.m.; S.S.,
10:45 a.m.; Sun. Bible Study,
5:30 p.m.
BURKETT CHAPEL UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH; Wendell
Billingsley, Pastor; Armstrong
Ferry Rd., Decatur
a.m.; Bible Study Thursday, 6:30
p.m. at SunBridge Healthcare in
Decatur. 334-9275
CALHOUN UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH; Kenneth Bailey, Pastor;
Bowater Road, Calhoun
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.
CANE CHAPEL AME ZION
11 a.m.; Friday, 6 p.m., Bible
Study, 6:30
CARLOCK UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH; Ben Roberson, Pastor;
Carlock Road off Hwy. 411
Sunday: Worship, 9 a.m.; S.S., 9:45
a.m.; Bible Study, 7 p.m.
CEDAR SPRINGS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; Charles D. Ensminger, Pastor; Cedar Springs
Road #700, Athens
10:45 a.m.; Sunday 6:30 p.m. service held at Niota United Methodist
Church in Niota; Wed., 6:30 p.m.
COOKE MEMORIAL UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH; William
McDonald, Pastor; 111 Walter
Street, Athens
Sunday: Worship-2nd & 4th Sun.-3
p.m.; Holy Communion-2nd Sun.
CHURCH OF CHRIST
FULL GOSPEL CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST; John Harris, Pastor;
900 Knoxville Ave., Athens
Worship Sat. & Sun., 7 p.m.
CONCORD UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH; Archer I. Coppedge,
Pastor; Hwy. 30, Decatur
11 a.m.
POND HILL BAPTIST CHURCH;
Randy Maddox, Pastor; Off Mt.
Verd Road, Athens
11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
ATHENS CHURCH OF CHRIST;
1016 North Avenue; Tim Gunnells, Minister
10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
LIBERTY CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST; Jason Kennedy, Minister; Highway 30, Athens
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
COX CHAPEL AME ZION; Rev.
Hobert W. Bradson II, Pastor; 1012
Knight Rd. 746-0904
a.m.; Wed. Bible Study, 6:30 p.m.
P O P E AV E N U E B A P T I S T
CHURCH; Van Elkins, Pastor;
301 Pope Ave., Athens
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 6 p.m.
BIG SPRING CHURCH OF CHRIST;
Paul Stidham, Minister; Rt. 3, Box
233, Jct. Hwy. 58 & Lamontville
Rd., Decatur
Sunday: Bible Study, 10 a.m.; Worship, 11 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed.,
6:30 p.m.
UNITED CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST; Virgil Gibson, Pastor;
725 Leveck St., Athens
Sunday: 6 p.m.; Wed., 6 p.m.
DECATUR UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH; Archer I. Coppedge,
Pastor; Vernon St.
a.m.; UMYF 5 p.m.
RICEVILLE FIRST BAPTIST
CHURCH; Michael Roach, Pastor;
Church Street, Riceville
10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Children's
Discipleship Training, 5 p.m.; Wed.
Bible Study & Children's Choirs,
7 p.m.; Missions Night, 4th Wed.,
7 p.m.
ROCKVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH;
Scott Standridge, Pastor; County
Road 279
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
ROCKY MOUNT BAPTIST
CHURCH; Jerry Plaster, Pastor;
Rocky Mt. Road
a.m. & 7 p.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.; Midweek
Prayer Service, 7 p.m.
ROGERS CREEK BAPTIST
CHURCH; Howard White, Pastor; 510 CR 180, Athens
10:45 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed.,
6:30 p.m.
SANFORD BAPTIST CHURCH;
Kevin Teague, Pastor; Hillsview
Road, Riceville
10:45 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH; Stan
Hammonds, Pastor; Rt. 1, Box
1102; Decatur
11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
SHORT CREEK BAPTIST
CHURCH; Rev. Bill Walker;
County Road 50, Athens
11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
SOUTH LIBERTY BAPTIST
CHURCH; Rev. Greg Watson,
Pastor; Rt. 1, Riceville;
www.southlibertybaptistchurch.com
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
S TA R B E T H E L B A P T I S T
CHURCH; Rev. James Parris;
East Etowah
11 a.m.; Wed., 6 p.m.
STEPHENSVILLE BAPTIST
CHURCH; Rev. James Morgan,
Pastor; Mecca Pike, Englewood
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
SUNRISE BAPTIST CHURCH;
Englewood
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
TEN MILE BAPTIST CHURCH;
Jamie Lones, Pastor
a.m. & 6:45 p.m.; T.U., 6 p.m.
UNION GROVE BAPTIST
CHURCH; Rev. Keith Whited, Pastor; Union Grove Road, Niota
a.m. & 7:15 p.m.; T.U., 6:30 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
UNION GROVE BAPTIST
CHURCH; Jimmy Lewis, Pastor; Rt. 2, Box 48, Highway 30,
Decatur
10:45 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed.,
6:30 p.m.
UNION HILL BAPTIST CHURCH;
Dallas Nance, Pastor; Union Hill
Road, Athens
Sunday: Bible Class 10 a.m.;
Worship, 10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
UNION McMINN BAPTIST
CHURCH; Rev. Doug Alexander,
Pastor; Niota exit off I-75
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed., 6:30 p.m.
VA L L E Y R O A D B A P T I S T
CHURCH; David Coffman, Pastor; Rt. 3, Athens
a.m. & 5 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
VALLEY VIEW BAPTIST CHURCH;
Hoyt Melton, Pastor; Old AthensNiota Road
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
WALNUT GROVE BAPTIST
CHURCH; Mike Rymer, Pastor;
No Pone Valley Road, Decatur
a.m.; Church T.U., 5 p.m.; Worship,
6 p.m.; Wed. 7 p.m.
CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST;
Bill Deem, Minister; 1062 Hwy. 39
East, Englewood
Sunday: Bible Study, 10 a.m.;
Worship, 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed.,
7 p.m.
ENGLEWOOD CHURCH OF
CHRIST; Minisiter - East TN
School of Preaching
Sunday: Bible Study, 10 a.m.; Worship, 11 a.m. & 5 p.m.; Tues. Ladies
Class, 10 a.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
ETOWAH CHURCH OF CHRIST;
Aaron Pope, Minister; 500 Athens
Pike, Etowah
Sunday: Bible Study, 9:30 a.m.;
Worship, 10:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
GATEWAY CHURCH OF CHRIST;
Bill Corn, Minister; Corner of Hwy.
411 S. & Co. Rd. 801, Etowah
Sunday: Bible Study, 9:30 a.m.;
Worship, 10:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.,
Wed., 7 p.m.
LIBERTY HILL CHURCH OF
CHRIST; Mike Williams, Minister;
Rt. 1, Englewood
Sunday: Bible Study 9:30 a.m.;
Worship, 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
MEIGS COUNTY CHURCH OF
CHRIST; Orville Tinsley, MInister;
Hwy. 58 S., Cedar Valley
11 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Mon.-Wed.,
6:30 p.m.
RICEVILLE CHURCH OF CHRIST;
Donnie Cable, Minister; Hwy. 11
S. & C.R. 142, Riceville
Sunday: Bible Study, 10 a.m.; Wor.,
11 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
SOUTH LIBERTY CHURCH OF
CHRIST; Zeke Williams, Minister;
Worship 11 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
SPRING CREEK CHURCH OF
CHRIST; Rt. 2, Riceville-Decatur
Road, Riceville; 507-9782
Worship, 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed.,
7:30 p.m.
STARR MOUNTAIN CHURCH OF
CHRIST; Pat Wilson, Minister;
3207 Hwy. 39 E., Englewood
Sunday: S.S., 9:30 a.m.; Worship
10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
CHURCH OF GOD
BOYD MEMORIAL CHURCH
OF GOD; Rev. Raymond Clore,
Pastor
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed. Prayer
& Bible Study, 6:30 p.m.; Children's
Church, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in
Fellowship Hall. Singing 3rd Sat.
night each month-7 p.m.
CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY; Rev. Kenneth Nope; Cardin
Street, Etowah
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Thur., 7 p.m.
CITY PARK CHAPEL CHURCH
OF GOD OF PROPHECY; Curt
Aukerman, Pastor; 714 Matlock
St., Athens
Sunday: 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.
COTTONPORT CHURCH OF GOD
IN MEIGS COUNTY; Rev. Kern
Eschette, Pastor; Decatur
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
DECATUR CHURCH OF GOD;
Frank Wright, Pastor; Hwy. 58,
Decatur
a.m. & 7 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
EAST ETOWAH FIRST CHURCH
OF GOD, Doyle Lloyd, Pastor;
Etowah
Sunday: S.S., 10 a.m.; Wor. 11 a.m.
& 6 p.m.; Wed., 6 p.m.
ENGLEWOOD CHURCH OF GOD;
Rev. Scott Cardin, Pastor; P.O.
Box 1049, Englewood
www.englewoodcog.org
10:45 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed. Bible
Study/Youth Night, 7 p.m. Nursery
provided.
ETOWAH CHURCH OF GOD;
James Williams, Pastor; Richardson Street at Hwy. 30, Etowah
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
EPISCOPAL
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH;
Priest - Rev. Hendree Harrison; 123 South Jackson Street,
Athens
Sun. Holy Communions, 8 a.m. &
10:30 a.m.; S.S. Sept.-May 9 a.m.;
Prayer, Mon.-Sat. 8:30 a.m.; Wed.
Holy Comm. w/Healing, 12 noon
FULL GOSPEL
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN CENTER;
Phillip W. Gordon, Minister; 2911
S. Congress Pkwy., Athens
Sun.: 10 a.m., 6 p.m.; Wed.,
7 p.m.
VICTORY OUTREACH FULL
GOSPEL CHURCH, Kevin Harris,
Pastor; Highway 411, Etowah,
263-2359
Sunday: 11 a.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
HOLINESS
GOODSPRINGS HOLINESS
HOUSE OF PRAYER; John &
Louise Williams, Pastors. From
411 in Etowah, turn 4th red light
(8th St.). Go 2-3/4 miles. Church
on left.
Services: Tue., 7 p.m.; Fri., 7 p.m.;
Sat., 7 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.
NEW TESTAMENT HOLINESS
CHURCH; Congress Parkway
Wed., 7:30 p.m.; Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat.,
7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.
HOUSE OF PRAYER
JESUS WAY HOUSE OF PRAYER;
Jim Miller, Pastor; Hwy. 411 N.,
Etowah
Wed., Fri., Sat. & Sun., 7:30 p.m.
MIRACLE DELIVERANCE TABERNACLE; John & Anthony Wynn,
Pastors; Clay Hill Community, Rt.
1, Box 169-B, Riceville
Sun., 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Tues., 7:30
p.m. www.oasisministries; Bus
Ministry, call 507-0877 or 746-0099
for pickup - Athens area only. TV
Broadcast - WB53-Ch. 5, 8:30 a.m.
Wed. Morning.
VICTORY HOUSE OF PRAYER
(Apostolic Faith); Mitchell James,
Pastor; 810 Cleveland Ave.,
Athens
Sunday: S.S., 10 a.m.; Wor., 11
a.m.& 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
INDEPENDENT
CHRISTIAN FREEDOM WORSHIP
CENTER; Samuel Midenda, Pastor; 109 Cherry Street, Athens
Sunday: 10:30 a.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.;
Prayer Services Fri., 7 p.m.
INDEPENDENT BAPTIST
FIRST BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH;
Paul M. Taylor, Pastor; 1819 Old
Niota Road, Athens
10:50 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH; Mark
Latham, Pastor; Piney Grove
Rd., Athens
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN
COMMUNITY CHURCH
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF ATHENS; Robert
Patrick, Pastor; 102 Park Street,
Athens
Sunday: 10:30 a.m.
JEHOVAH'S WITNESS
KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH'S
WITNESSES; Bruce Rekittke,
Presiding Overseer; 2816 Route
11 South, Athens; 745-6137
Sun.: Public Talk, 1 p.m.; Watchtower Study, 1:35 p.m.; Tues.
Congregation Book Study, 7:30 p.m.;
Thur., Theocratic Ministry School,
7:30 p.m.; Service Mtg., 8:20 p.m.;
Spanish meeting Sun. 10 a.m.
KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH'S
WITNESSES; David Hampton,
Presiding Overseer; 110 Decatur
Circle, Decatur
Sun.: Public Talk, 10 a.m.; Watchtower Study, 10:55 a.m.; Tue.,
Congregation Book Study, 7:30
p.m.; Thur., Theocratic Ministry
School, 7:30 p.m.; Service Mtg.,
8:25 p.m.
ENGLEWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; David Graybeal,
Pastor; Englewood;
www.englewoodumc.om
Sunday: S.S., 9:30 a.m.; Worship, 10:45 a.m. & 7 p.m.; UMYF,
6 p.m.;
HARWELL CHAPEL AME ZION
CHURCH; Rev. James Hardin Jr.,
Pastor; East Etowah
a.m., 2nd & 4th Sun.; Tues. Prayer
& Bible Study, 5 p.m.
JONES CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; Bob Hamilton,
Pastor; Turn off Piney Grove Rd.
or Bowater Rd. at C.R.. 775
a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
KEITH MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; Michael Hubble,
Sr. Pastor; Jason Gattis, Associate Pastor; 600 West Madison
Avenue, Athens
8:30 a.m. & 10:35 a.m.-"The
Gathering" - Contemporary Worship Service
LANE'S CHAPEL AME ZION
CHURCH; Roxianne Sherles,
Pastor; 904 C.R. 264, Niota
a.m. & 3 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
NAZARENE
BEULAH CHAPEL CHURCH OF
THE NAZARENE; Rev. Jon Amspaugh, Pastor; 6 miles west on
Highway 68 at Sweetwater
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed. Bible
Study, 7 p.m.
FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE; David Reynold, Pastor;
1908 West Madison Avenue,
Athens
Sunday: S.S., 9:45 a.m.; Preaching,
11 a.m. &, 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
NOAHIDE
EMMANUEL BNAI NOAH CONGREGATION; 1905 Congress
Pkwy., Athens
Sunday: Morning Bible, 9 a.m. & 10
a.m.; Teacher: J. David Davis; Wed.
Torah Study, 7:30 p.m.
NONDENOMINATIONAL
ASCENSION LIFE FELLOWSHIP;
Darrell Simbeck, Senior Pastor;
205 E. Madison Ave., Athens. 8295102. [email protected]
Sunday: 10:30 a.m.
School of Ministry: Wed. 7 p.m.
ATHENS FREE SAINTS TRUE HOLINESS CHURCH; Charles Hicks,
Pastor; Slack Road, Athens
10:45 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Wed.,
6:30 p.m.
ATHENS REVIVAL CENTER;
Charles Tudor, Pastor; 900 Knoxville Ave., 1 block away from
YMCA
Services: Wed., Fri., Sat.,Sun.,
7 p.m.
BEACON LIGHT CHURCH; Sam
Buckner, Pastor; 455 Murray's
Chapel Road, Sweetwater
Sunday: 7 p.m.; Tuesday, 7 p.m.
CHRISTIAN COVENANT OF
MCMINN CO.; Steve Ward, Pastor; Covenantal community
with emphasis on apostolicity;
263-7026 or 336-5800
Sunday: 10 a.m.
www.christiancovenant.com
CHURCH OF ATHENS, Larry
Hamilton, Pastor; 114 North White
St., Athens
Sat., 10:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
CHURCH ON THE ROCK; Leon
Devine, Pastor; 1420 Hwy. 411
N., Etowah
Sunday: Sunday School, 10 a.m.;
Worship, 10:45 a.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
GREATER DELIVERANCE MINISTRIES; Rev. Angela Arnwine,
Pastor; Elder Alvin Arnwine,
Co-Pastor; 2329 Clearwater Road,
Athens; Van Pick-Up - 745-7575
Sunday: S.S., 10 a.m.; Praise &
Worship, 11 a.m.; Worship, 4 p.m.
on 1st & 3rd Sundays Only; Wed.
Bible Study, 7 p.m.
MT. OLIVE AME ZION CHURCH;
Rev. Joe W. Moore, Ohio Ave.,
Etowah
Sunday, S.S., 10 a.m.; Worship,
11 a.m.
JOY HARVEST CHURCH; Ronnie
Watson, Pastor; McMinn County
Road 461/Monroe County Road
847; 423-442-9893-Bus Ministry
Sunday: 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed.
Bible Study 7 p.m.
RICEVILLE UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH; Rev. Rebecca Reed,
Pastor; Highway 11
11 a.m.
UPPER ROOM MISSION; Margaret Simmons, Pastor; 610 Tenn.
Ave., Etowah
Sunday: 7 p.m.; Wed. 7 p.m.
VOICES OF BELIEVERS CHURCH;
Wayne Morris, Pastor; 895 Benton
Pike, Cleveland
11 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.;
Fri., 7 p.m.
VOICE OF DELIVERANCE
CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST;
Larry Saunders, Pastor; 108 N.
White St., Athens; 649-0209
Sunday: 11 a.m.; Mon., 7:30 p.m.,
Wed., 7:30 p.m.
WORLD HARVEST OUTREACH
MINISTRIES; Rev. Wayne M. Williams, Executive Diretor; P.O. Box
583, Athens, TN 37371-0583;
(423) 745-9556
wayne_williams123@comcast.
net
PENTECOSTAL
CALVARY TABERNACLE OF
GOD; Michael D. Smith, Pastor;
Congress Parkway, Athens
a.m.; Evening, 6 p.m.; Wed. Bible
Study, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday Youth
Service, 7:30 p.m.
CALVARY UNITED PENTE- COSTAL CHURCH; Kenneth L. Hutton,
Pastor; Located at Hiwassee
Village, Hwy. 411 N., Etowah;
423-263-5953
Sunday: 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.
PENTECOSTALS OF DECATUR;
Charles Russell, Pastor; 382
Jones St., Decatur (Old Hennessee Apparel Bldg.)
Sunday: 3 p.m.; Thursday Bible
Study, 7:30 p.m. Call for Home
Bible Study - 423-802-4617 or
423-344-6580
PRESBYTERIAN
FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH IN THE USA: Pastor
Gloria Mencer, 321 N. Jackson,
Athens
Sunday School: 10:00 a.m.; Morning
Worship: 11:00 a.m.
FREEDMAN CHAPEL CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH;
Rev. Archie Smart, Pastor; 415
Cleveland Ave.
a.m.; Wed. Prayer Service & Bible
Study, 7 p.m.
WILSON STATION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH; Rev. Craig
Fairall, Pastor; Rt. 1, Englewood;
745-4921
Sunday: Church School, 10 a.m.;
Worship, 11 a.m.; Sunday Bible
Study, 6 p.m.
PRESBYTERIAN U.S.A.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH;
Rev. Bob Lucas Jr., Pastor; 581
Hillcrest Circle, Etowah
11 a.m.
www.firstpresbyterianetowah.com
MARS HILL PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH; Rev. Leslie Rust, Pastor; 205 N. Jackson St., Athens
Church School: 9:45 a.m.; Worship
10:45 a.m.; Youth Choir, 5:15 p.m.;
Children's Choir, 6 p.m.; Youth, 6
p.m.; Wed. Adult Choir, 7 p.m.
SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST
DECATUR SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH; Wayne Coulter, Pastor; Highway 58 South
Saturday: Sabbath School, 10 a.m.;
Worship, 11 a.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
HARVEST TIME CHURCH; Steve
Simpson, Pastor; 111 Co. Rd. 571,
Englewood; 744-0300
Sunday: 10 a.m., 6 p.m.
PLEASANT HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; Rev. Dr. Tom
Blackshear, Pastor; No Pone
Valley Road, Decatur
11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
423-334-3432 Web Site:
www.pleasanthillumc.homestead.com
TRUTH TABERNACLE CHURCH;
Bro. Lee Sharpe, Pastor; C.R.
135, Riceville
Sunday: 10:30 a.m.; Tue., 7:30 p.m.;
Sat., 7:30 p.m.
GOD'S STOREHOUSE OF BLESSINGS; Van Sliger, Pastor; Hwy.
11, Riceville
www.godsstorehouseofblessings.com
Sunday: S.S., 10 a.m.; Praise & Worship, 11 a.m.; Wed., 6:30 p.m.
MARS HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; David Graybeal,
Pastor; At Intersection of Co.
Rd. 508 & 461
9:30 a.m.; Bible Study, 6 p.m.; Choir
Pra., 7 p.m.; Wed. Youth, 6 p.m.;
Wed. Wor., 7 p.m.
PLEASANT GROVE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH; Joe
Crockett, Pastor; County Road
490, Etowah
10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Bible Study
Tues., 7 p.m.
THE CHURCH OF GOD SANCTIFIED; 413 Chester Street; Athens,
746-9052
Sunday: 11:30 a.m. & 7 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
ATHENS SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST; Ron Wooten, Pastor; 230
New Englewood Rd.
Bible Study, Sat., 10 a.m.; Worship,
11:30 a.m.; Prayer Wed., 7 p.m.
G R E AT E R F E L L O W S H I P
CHURCH; Edgar King Jr., Pastor;
670 Inman St., Cleveland
11:30 a.m.; Evening, 4:30 p.m.;
Wednesday Bible Study, 6:30 p.m.
PINEY GROVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; Rev. Rebecca Reed,
Pastor; C.R. 750, Athens
10:30 a.m.; Bible Study Sun.,
6 p.m.
THE CHURCH OF ETOWAH; Jerry
Manders, Pastor; 2676 Hwy. 411
N., Englewood; 423-263-6649
Sunday: 6 p.m.
GOD'S CHAPEL; Thomas Mullins,
Pastor; County Road 406, Athens;
745-7110
11:15 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
LUMINARY UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH; Jay Ferguson, Pastor;
3401 River Road, Ten Mile
8 a.m.; Contemporary 9:30 a.m.
& 11 a.m.
NIOTA UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH; Rev. Charles Ensminger, Pastor
10:45 a.m. &, 6:30 p.m.; Wed., 6:30
p.m. service held at Cedar Springs
United Methodist Church
NONDENOMINATIONAL
HILLTOP GOSPEL TABERNACLE;
Rev. Herb Whitner
Sunday: 7 p.m.; Thursday, 7 p.m.
SYNAGOGUE
B'Nai Yahshua Synagogue of
Etowah, Tennessee
423-263-1844
www.byse.org
Email: [email protected]
Sabbath/Saturday, 1 p.m.
VINEYARD
VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OF ATHENS; Brent
Manor, Pastor; 812 Ingleside
Ave., Athens
Worship Gathering:
Sunday 11 a.m.
www.vineyardathens.org
506-7007
Etowah Health
Care Center
409 Grady Road
Etowah, TN 37331
263-1138
MERCY WORSHIP CENTER;
Danny Roberson, Pastor; 414
Lynman St. (2 blocks behind
Arby's), Athens
Sunday: Worship, 10:30 a.m.; Wed.
Prayer, 6:30 p.m.
MT. CUMBERLAND CHURCH;
Alvin Ellis
Sunday: 10 a.m.& 6 p.m.; Thur.,
7 p.m.
NEW BEGINNINGS COMMUNITY
CHURCH; Stacey Wheaton, Pastor; Main St., Decatur
a.m. & 6 p.m.; Tue., 7 p.m.
NEW COMMUNITY WORSHIP
CENTER; Alfred Johnson, Pastor;
226 Co. Rd. 725, Riceville
Sunday: 11 a.m.; Thursday: 6:30
p.m.
NEW HORIZONS COMMUNITY
CHURCH; Joe Mullins, Pastor;
5102 Hwy. 11 South, Calhoun
(next to Hardee's)
Sunday: 10:30 a.m.
NEW MILLINIUM HARVEST
CHURCH; Douglas Watts Pastor; 14 Congress Pkwy., Athens;
746-5000
Sunday: 11 a.m.; Wed.: 7 p.m.
ST. MARKS AME ZION CHURCH;
Rev. Herman L. Pointdexter, Pastor; Corner of Knoxville Ave. &
Jackson St., Athens
11 a.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
NEWNESS OF LIFE CHRISTIAN
CENTER; Rev. Michael Cates,
Pastor; Cindy, Co-Pastor; 250
County Road 378, Athens
Sunday: 10:30 a.m.; Youth Ministry
Sun., 4 p.m.; Wed., 6 p.m.; Corporate Prayer Fri., 6:30 p.m.
JACKSON STREET, ATHENS
11 a.m.; Wed., 6:30 p.m.
OUTREACH FOR CALVARY;
Fred Rue, Pastor; 900 Knoxville
Ave., Athens
Friday: 7 p.m. Everyone welcome.
SAINT PAUL'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; Ben Roberson, Pastor; 8th at Georgia, Etowah
a.m.; Wed. 6:30 p.m. - Bible Study,
Kids Club, UMYF; Choir Rehearsal,
7:30 p.m.
OVERCOMING FAITH CHRISTIAN
CENTER; Rev. Harold McCowan,
Pastor; 14 Carter Road, Athens
Sunday: S.S., 9 a.m.; Worship, 9:45
a.m.; Wed. Inter. Prayer, 5:30 p.m.;
Wed., 6:30 p.m.
SPRING CREEK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; Kenneth Bailey,
Pastor; Spring Creek Road
10:30 a.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
RESTORATION CHURCH; Johnny
Hope, Pastor; Hwy. 39, Athens;
www.restorationchurchathenstn.org
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.;
Wed., 7 p.m.
GOODFIELD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH; Hugh Bryan, Pastor; Goodfield Road, Decatur
Sunday Worship, 10 a.m.; S.S.
11 a.m.
RIVER WORSHIP CENTER; Pat
McCulley, Pastor; 1120 S. Tenn.
Ave., Etowah. Everyone Welcome.
Sunday: 10 a.m.; Wed., 7 p.m.
Kiwanis Club
Athens, TN
Automotive
Paint Supplies
Steve Moses &
Employees
2011 Railroad Ave.
745-9297
HOME FURNISHINGS
CENTERS
109 W. Madison Ave.
Athens
745-2437
SNAPPER
Athens Lawn & Garden
"We Service What We Sell"
1310 Railroad Ave.
Ronnie Lingerfelt, Owner
745-9296
Worship At
The Church
Of Your
Choice!
A&J
Body Shop
115 Co. Rd. 662
Athens, TN
745-2800
Teen is newest member of Decatur-Meigs County Chamber of Commerce
Collin Thompson stays
busy with his community
involvement. The 14-yearold has already started on
his high ambitions.
It’s a philosophy Thompson
He said being involved with
can carry with him into the
the League enabled him to interLeague of Extraordinary Teens. act and make connections now
“This is the best civic club
while he is still in his youth that
anyone can be in,” Thompson
may help him later in his career.
said.
“Not only is this a great way
The League recruits teenfor
kids to receive books, but
ly and think clearly, with such
agers to recruit children in the
the
teens are making contacts
knowledge and skill as I can
Imagination Library through
and
life long connections,” said
secure, and in the ability of pro- the Governor’s Books
Thompson.
gressive agriculturists to serve
From Birth program.
“They may
our own and the public interest
Thompson said being
“I’ve always had
need this
in producing and marketing the in the League has
an interest in
person again
product of our toil” and “I believe taught him leaderin less dependence on begging
when they
government.”
ship and responsibiland more power in bargaining;
graduate colity as well as good
Collin Thompson
in the life abundant and enough social skills.
lege.”
honest wealth to help make it so
He explained each
None of
– for others as well as myself; in teen had to sign 10
these activities
less need for charity and more of children for the program and
are in vain. Thompson is hopeit when needed; in being happy
raise $135, to cover the cost of
ful to attend Vanderbilt for his
myself and playing square with including those children in their bachelor’s degree in political scithose whose happiness depends county’s Imagination Library for
ence followed by Harvard Law
upon me.”
one full year.
School to obtain a law degree
Thompson said he wasn’t
“They’ve done an extraorin medical mal-practice. When
thrilled at first when his teacher, dinary job in helping children
asked why he is so involved, his
Brandon Cobble, required the
before they come to school
response is simply:
students to memorize the verses. already knowing how to read,”
“It makes me a well rounded
“Now I understand why,”
he said. “And it helps parents on
person,” said Thompson.
said Thompson. “It’s a really
low income to receive books for
•
important philosophy of life not
their child. It can make it a lot
only to FFA students but to all
easier for (children) in the early
students.”
stages of school.”
ESTHER BAUMGARDNER
Staff Writer
DECATUR — Collin
Thompson could be classified as
a believer in the future through
efficient work and leadership.
The 14-year-old freshman
at Meigs County High School
has been earnestly working on
his future through his commitments now with his involvement as a junior member of the
Decatur-Meigs County Chamber
of Commerce, Future Farmers
of America and the League of
Extraordinary Teens. The young
man is also involved in his
church, Short Creek Baptist, a
member of the Meigs County
High School Beta Club and regularly attends the Meigs County
Commission meetings.
Thompson, the son of Arnold
Thompson and Lisa Knight, is
involved in all of these for the
purpose of bettering himself in
service to his community now
and in the future.
He said he joined the
Chamber of Commerce as a
junior member two years ago to
become familiar with the business and industrial world.
“To see how to recruit
industry so I can be at a head
start when I graduate college,”
Thompson said.
He’s already witnessed one
company move into the area
through efforts of the Chamber
of Commerce. Thompson
explained the Chamber was a
vital part in bringing Marine
Industries to Decatur and the
industrial board would continue to bring industry to the
Shoreline County.
“It’s been fun to help bring
industry into Meigs County,”
Thompson said.
He said since joining, he’s
come to the realization of how
“vital” industry is in the job force
and how important competition
is to the job market.
“When living in a small,
rural city, we rely on industry
to employ our citizens,” he said.
“Recruiting industry is important to keep Meigs County growing and flowing.”
On the other end, Thompson
is also involved in the government process through association. He attends the monthly
workshop and meeting of the
County Commision.
“I’ve always had an interest
in government,” he said.
He explained he encouraged
his mother, Knight, to run for a
seat on the Commission because
he said he believed she had the
ability to make some needed
changes.
“She said she would run if I
would do a lot of the (campaign)
work,” he said.
Thompson talked of his interest in government, especially on
the local level.
“It’s interesting to me to see
what goes on in the county,” said
Thompson. “To know what happens and how it is run.”
His involvement in FFA has
helped with first-hand experience. He currently acts as the
president of the opening and
closing ceremony team.
“It’s a play of how a proper
meeting should be conducted,”
explained Thompson.
His team placed first in the
district and second in the region.
He will compete at state toward
the end of March.
Thompson presides as the
chair of the FFA parliamentary
procedure team, the only freshman chair in the region.
“We had a great team,” he
said.
He said they would arrive at
the school at 6:30 a.m. to practice and leave the school at 5:30
p.m. getting in another hour of
practice. He said the parliamentary procedure team placed first
in district and fifth in region.
He said FFA has taught him
to be a leader and be responsible
“even if that means coming to
school at 6:30 and staying until
5:30 to have a perfect routine.”
Through FFA, Thompson
said he’s been able to meet different people in different places.
He’s traveled to Murfreesboro,
Knoxville and Polk County for
competitions where he’s met
other FFA members from across
the state.
“I’ve made life-long friends
in school and across the state
through FFA,” he said.
Thompson also placed first in
the creed competition. In this, he
recited lines such as “I believe in
leadership from ourselves and
respect from others. I believe in
my own ability to work efficient-
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While teaching gymnastics
requires intense concentration
for both student and teacher,
Vedder has installed bleachers where parents can sit and
observe practices.
“We want them to see and
hear what we’re doing,” she said.
All recreation classes are $125
for a 10-week session.
“It’s very comparable with
dance or anything else,” Vedder
said.
The price of competitive
classes is based on the number of
hours the student is in the gym.
The next recreational gymnastics session begins Tuesday,
March 4.
“But we take students yearround,” Vedder said.
Four teachers work for Vedder,
and some have been her students. In addition to year-round
classes, Vedder offers a summer
gymnastics camp for ages five
and older.
“We have classes all summer
during the work day,” she said.
Vedder also teaches a gymnastics class for Tennessee
Wesleyan College.
“I teach that every spring,”
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102 North White St.
Athens, TN
745-9100
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•
E-mail: autumn.hughes@
Murray H. Willis, AAMS
10 North White St.
Athens, TN
745-8832
Bob Watts, AAMS
231 Ohio Ave.
Etowah, TN
263-0455
MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING
From dream to reality
Good Faith Clinic $100,000 closer to permanent home
Riddle & Wallace and Athens
tunity to meet people we would
Regional Medical Center.
otherwise not meet and if the
“They don’t make it a burden opportunity presents itself, we’re
on the patient,” added Carey.
able to share Christ’s love with
The Good Faith Clinic, a notSarah Hollifield is one of the
them.”
for-profit organization that prolocal residents who visits the
Every other Thursday, people
vides health care to uninsured
clinic for care.
line up outside the doors leadresidents of McMinn and Meigs
“This place saved my life,”
ing to the church’s sanctuary to
County, is progressing toward a
said Hollifield. “I had no insurwait for care. Although Christ
new home with a generous donaance and I have high blood pres- Community Church’s sanctution of $100,000 from United
sure and diabetes. Insurance
ary provided a shelter for three
Way of McMinn and Meigs
is expensive and a lot of places
years, the Board of Directors for
Counties.
don’t offer insurance. Private
the Good Faith Clinic were still
With the donation, the
insurance is unaffordable.”
looking for a permanent home.
clinic will have its own facility
She said she was unable
United Way helped complete
with examination rooms that
to see a doctor to treat her
that search by giving $100,000
offer more privacy next door to
symptoms because of her lack
toward a new facility.
its current location at Christ
of insurance until she came for
Now with the new building,
Community Church. Although
check-ups at the Good Faith
the church can still minister to
the church took the clinic in, its
Clinic.
people’s souls at the same time
facility does not offer much pri“I feel respected when I come the doctors care for their bodies.
vacy with the waiting room takhere,” said Hollifield. “It’s not a
“Jesus indicated He came to
ing place in the church’s sanctuhandout.”
meet all the needs of people,”
ary and only curtains providing
“They care about you,”
said Peterson. “Whenever He
privacy for patients during their
Photos by Esther Baumgardner
said Emily
touched the
visit with the doctors and staff.
The United Way of McMinn & Meigs County recently gave $100,000 toward a new
McCormack,
lives of people,
About 60 patients are seen
facility for the Good Faith Clinic. Standing at the place of the new site are Eric
another
He began with
each week when the clinic is
The purpose of the
Newberry, with United Way, Shelby Billingsley with the Good Faith Clinic, Dr. Carlos
patient with
the physical
open which is normally every
Good Faith Clinic is to
the Good Faith
needs and
other Thursday. However, Oscar Peterson with Christ Community Church, Chris Trew with United Way, Stephanie
Linkous with United Way, Jeff Cunningham with Good Faith Clinic, Margie Brusseau
meet the primary
Clinic. “You’re
met whatever
Carey, a volunteer with the
with Good Faith Clinic, Oscar Carey with Good Faith Clinic, McMinn County Mayor
not a number
those needs
clinic, said the new building
health care needs of
John Gentry, Lisa Harrison with Good Faith Clinic, Cindy Runyan with United Way,
here and they
were.”
would allow the Clinic to not
the uninsured through
Jeff McDaniel with United Way, Dr. David Byrd with Good Faith Clinic and Shelia
don’t rush you
Peterson
only increase the number of
physician office visits,
Woods with Good Faith Clinic.
in and out.
said Jesus
patients they’re able to see, but
They listen to
demonstrated
also increase the number of days
consultation, diagnostic
you and they
what His folthe clinic is open.
efforts, necessary
really care.”
lowers were
Margie Brusseau, chairwommedical testing,
“They’re
to do.
an of the board of directors for
and medication.
a godsend to
“This prothe clinic, said the mission of the
the people of
vides us to be
Good Faith Clinic is to improve
Athens,” said
able to touch
health care for those who canMcCormack.
the lives of people as well,” he
not afford health insurance.
The Clinic has been in exissaid.
She explained the Clinic is able
tence since 1995 when it was
“We’ll be able to continue our
to provide such care through
File Photo
founded by Drs. David and
mission,” Brusseau said.
volunteers including physicians
by Jeremy
Jenny Byrd.
The open house of the new
and pharmaceutical technicians,
Belk
Brusseau said the clinic
facility for the clinic is scheduled
along with donated medical
has had several homes, includfor March 11 from 5 to 7 p.m.
equipment and medicines.
Patients
ing the Department of Health,
“We’ll dedicate the building
“We’re here for those folks
have been
Tennessee Wesleyan College and at that time to Dr. David Byrd,”
who can’t afford health insurgoing to
now Christ Community Church
said Brusseau.
ance from layoffs to the working
the Good
for the past three years.
Others who have helped
poor,” said Carey.
Faith
“They’ve embraced us and
make the clinic successful will
He said some patients who do
Clinic
gave us a home when we left
also be recognized during the
have jobs, but do not have health
since its
TWC,” she said.
ceremony.
insurance, do donate money to
beginning
“Our church’s philosophy
For more information on
the clinic for services offered.
in 1995.
is meeting needs and sharing
patient care or to volunteer at
Past patients also give of their
Christ,” said Christ Community the Good Faith Clinic, call 744time and volunteer as a way to
Church Pastor Dr. Carlos
3349.
pay back for the services they
Peterson. “We’re using this as an
•
received.
opportunity to introduce them
Carey said patients primarily
to faith in Christ. It’s an oppordailypostathenian.com
come in with cold or flu symptoms and the doctors will treat
them and sometimes prescribe
antibiotics. Narcotics are not
given out or prescribed at the
clinic.
If the patient requires lab
the Good Faith Clinic.
pharmacy in Athens, provide
Regional Medical Center.
tests or blood work, they are
“They provide services at cost
discounted services to uninsured
Brusseau added Riddle
given a voucher for Athens
Offer Good on Regular Selection of Frames.
patients with prescriptions from to the clinic,” Brusseau said of
& Wallace Drug Company, a
ESTHER BAUMGARDNER
Staff Writer
Buy 1 Get 1 Free
See store for details.
Not valid with insurance or other specials.
16 years of looking to tomorrow
GLASSES MADE IN OFFICE
Most Ready the Same Day
GREG MOSES
Staff Writer
This month marks the beginning of the 16th consecutive year
for McMinn Tomorrow.
An offshoot of the Athens
Area Chamber of Commerce’s
Leadership McMinn program,
which is a course for local
community leaders, McMinn
Tomorrow is an introduction
to government, industry and
the community for the county’s
future leaders.
“This is a great opportunity for the young people of our
county,” said Chamber President
and CEO Rob Preston. “It’s an
eye-opening experience because
young people don’t generally get
to see government and industry
working firsthand.”
Each year, 20 students from
McMinn County and McMinn
Central high schools – five
juniors and five seniors from
each – are selected to go through
the program.
Originally, the guidance counselors from the schools would
make the selection. However,
now it’s done a little differently.
“We’ve started having interested students fill out an application from their school guidance
office,” said Preston. “People from
Tennessee Wesleyan College, the
Tennessee Technology Center
and Cleveland State Community
College review the applications
and narrow the list down to 20.”
As part of the application
process, students list their biographical information, extracurricular activities and community
involvement. They also must
write and submit an essay.
“The essay asks them to identify an issue the student’s generation will face 10 years from
now,” said McMinn Tomorrow
Program Coordinator Kay
Simmons. “Then, in the essay,
You can share buy one get one free
with a friend or family member.
Dr. Sherrie E.
Holman, O.D.
Optometrist
1450 Decatur Pike, Athens
(In Belk Plaza behind Subway)
744-3938 (EYEU)
Photo by Greg Moses
McMinn Tomorrow's 2007 graduates are among the program's 300 alumni, which
include leaders in both the local and the global community.
the students have to answer how
they would address that issue as
a community leader.”
Simmons said of the essays
she’s read since beginning to
require them, she’s found them
all to be well-written and interesting.
“From the essays I can easily
say I think we have some good
leaders coming up through the
ranks,” said Simmons.
Since the program’s inception in 1992, the program’s 20
students have experienced a sixweek curriculum covering a wide
variety of subjects, including not
only government and industry
but also education, community
involvement, criminal justice
and area history.
After an introductory session, the students devote four
Thursdays to different topics.
One day is devoted to the various types of industry the county
has to offer.
This year, Simmons said the
students will receive an interesting mix of businesses during the
industry day.
“We’re planning to visit
Mayfield, Denso, Dynasty Spas
and then Blan Dougherty’s
dairy farm,” said Simmons. “It’s
really going to be a fascinating contrast. With Denso, you
have robotics. Then you go to a
dairy farm. And then you go to
Dynasty, which is different from
both of those.”
Students will also spend a
day learning about the history
of the area, which will include
a visit to the L&N Depot in
Etowah, a discussion with
Tennessee Overhill Executive
Director Linda Caldwell, and a
viewing of the Battle of Athens
documentary.
An introduction to the local
healthcare industry will give
students an opportunity to tour
Woods Memorial Hospital in
Etowah, where they can get a
behind the scenes look at various
medical professions and practices.
A day devoted to government
allows students to see how both
municipal and county governments operate on a day-to-day
basis. This year’s session will
include visits to the Athens
Municipal Building and the
McMinn County Courthouse
where students can interact with
city and county officials.
Preston said an introduction
to state government is possibly
in the program’s future.
“Rep. Mike Bell has offered to
show us around the state capitol
and introduce the class to state
government, so we may start
including a trip to Nashville in
the program at some point.”
A sampling of local education
will take McMinn Tomorrow
class members out of their high
school classrooms and into those
of Tennessee Wesleyan College
and the Tennessee Technology
Center to get a taste for what
educational opportunities lie
beyond high school graduation.
The McMinn Tomorrow students also have an opportunity
See YEARS, Page C15
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P.O. Box 927
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Etowah, Tennessee 37331
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Etowah Senior Center
is a busy place
JEREMY BELK
Staff Writer
The Etowah Senior Center
offers something for everyone.
Located on 435 Cooper Street
in Etowah, the small building is
bustling with activity throughout the day.
The Senior Center offers
those 50 and older a place to congregate and socialize and “stay
young” as many of the seniors
who frequent the spot agreed
upon.
To enter the center, one would
think by sound alone to be walking into a school cafeteria with
the roar of people talking and
laughter filling the air.
Senior Center Administrator
Yola Arrington said the center
is open throughout the week
from 9 a.m. until around 3 p.m.
with meals being served at 11:30
a.m. each weekday. She said the
meals cost $1.50 for people over
60.
“The center is a place to get
together and socialize.” Arrington
said. “It’s a good place to come to
stay active and young.”
Arrington said the Senior
Center offers a wide variety
of activities throughout the
week and throughout the year.
It offers a venue for seniors to
play games such as bingo or
work with other seniors putting
together a puzzle while chatting.
However, the Senior Center is
more than just fun and games.
Arrington said speakers from
Senior Center Administrator
Yola Arrington said the
center is open throughout
the week from 9 a.m. until
around 3 p.m. with meals
being served at 11:30 a.m.
each weekday.
She said the meals cost
$1.50 for people over 60.
the community give the seniors
information about health,
healthcare and other topics that
can affect their lives. The center
also offers health and wellness
classes such as senior aerobics
one day a week.
Activities Director Lauri
White said organizers try to find
something for everyone at the
Center. For example,throughout
the year the seniors will hold
indoor yard sales and bake sales
at the center to raise money.
The center also offers classes
so seniors can learn Spanish
and computer skills. White said
Wednesday is a day of music at
the center and musicians often
come in to play regular gigs and
impromptu “jam sessions.”
“We try to give everyone
something they enjoy doing and
we are always open to new suggestions,” White said.
Arrington said the Senior
Center is currently working on a
few literary projects, including a
cookbook. The theme of the cookbook is “memories to recipes”
where seniors share their favorite recipes and share a story
about why the recipe has special
meaning to them.
“We have a lot of talent here,”
Arrington said.
Etowah Senior Center
Chairwoman Jeannie Ruthem
said they are also working on
a collection of short stories.
She said the book will include
stories of multiple genres and
organizers hope to have it done
by November and on sale in time
for Christmas. She added the
book is being and illustrated by
members of the Senior Center.
members will also get an opportunity to see how the local justice system works. A visit to the
McMinn County Justice Center
and a meeting with Kevin Hoppe
and Ike, the drug dog, from the
Tennessee Highway Patrol are
planned for this year’s class.
After the sessions conclude,
a graduation ceremony is held
each year at Springbrook Golf
and Country Club.
“At the program’s graduation every year, we let everyone
tell about their experiences in
McMinn Tomorrow and what
they got out of it,” said Preston.
“It’s a great experience in itself
just to hear their answers.”
The program currently has
300 alumni, 150 from both
Central and McMinn County
high schools. Among that list are
lawyers, engineers, educators,
religious leaders, businesspeople,
broadcasters and journalists,
writers, project managers with
international consulting firms,
entertainers, medical professionals. Some are even still students,
both in college and even high
school.
Two of those former students
are Central graduate Travis
Manning and McMinn alumnus
Shane Sewell.
Manning, a 2007 graduate
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The Etowah Senior Center is a place for seniors to congregate with their peers and
to keep active, which is important for a healthy lifestyle. Ann Phillips, Curtis Aly, and
Billie Key sit and chat after a game of Bingo.
Ruthem said they make the
of the world.
ber are $20 to take part in
use of the small Senior Center
She said the goals of the
all the activities the center
building as best as they can.
Senior Center is to offer educa- has to offer.
The fundraisers they are
tion and entertainment, while
Ruthem and Arrington
working on will go toward the
promoting health and wellsaid the center is growing
center’s move into the proposed ness to the senior community.
and as the Baby Boomer
Etowah Wellness Center.
To help spread the word, the
generation gets older they
Ruthem said along with the center publishes a monthly
expect more members to
books, crafts, and other activinewsletter that details the next join.
ties that go on at the center
month’s activities.
To contact the Etowah
they also try to help the comRuthem said the only
Senior Center call 263-1209
munity. As part of one project,
requirement to become a mem- for more information.
the Senior Center has been
ber of the Senior Center is you
•
E-mail: jeremy.belk@
sending Care packages to local
have to be 50 years of age. She
troops in Iraq and other parts
said annual dues to be a mem-
Historical & Beauty “T he City of Niota”
Years
to receive scholarships to those
institutions by being members of
the program.
“We’re offering scholarships to
any student in the program who
wants to attend Cleveland State
Community College, TWC or the
Technology Center,” said Preston.
Earlier participants in the
program were offered scholarships by TWC. The funds for the
new scholarships were raised by
the Chamber during last year’s
dinner with Steve Spurrier.
“We’re planning to do an
event like that each year, such
as the one this year with Bruce
Pearl,” said Preston. “Aside from
contributions to United Way
and the Friendly Fellow Club
food basket drive, we use funds
from the dinner to maintain the
scholarship program for McMinn
Tomorrow.”
Preston said there were
$8,000 in funds for the scholarship program this year.
Students will also have an
opportunity to view the processes of the local media. Aside
from visits to The DPA and
WYXI radio, McMinn Tomorrow
coordinators hope to get McMinn
Tomorrow alumnus Beth Haynes
of Knoxville’s WBIR-TV to speak
with the students.
McMinn Tomorrow class
Photo by Jeremy Belk
Jeff Wolfenden, R. Ph.
Jerry Trotter, R. Ph.
Jerry Trotter, R.Ph.
0/"OXs7-ADISON!VENUEs!THENS
MADISONAVENUEPHARMACY RXRElLLNETs0IN
0HONEs&AX
of Virginia Tech with a degree
in Industrial and Systems
Engineering (ISE), is currently
finishing a master’s in the field
at VT.
Although he doesn’t believe
McMinn Tomorrow gave him
a definitive answer as to what
he wanted to do with his life,
Manning does feel that it gave
him the impetus for deciding.
Manning, who went through
the program as a junior in 2002,
See YEARS, Page C16
Niota Depot was built in 1854. The Niota Depot is the oldest standing railroad depot in Tennessee. Now used as offices for the City of Niota, the depot is open for tours during business
hours. While inside, look for the gun slots used during the Civil War. Located on Main Street in
downtown Niota, Tennessee. The population of Niota is 871.
Etowah Streetscape Project brings new look to city’s core
JEREMY BELK
Staff Writer
ETOWAH – As construction
crews inch their way down the
Tennessee Avenue downtown
business district in Etowah
they are changing the face of
the town. Improvements to the
sidewalks and street lights along
the main street are part of the
Etowah Streetscape Project,
which city officials and business
leaders hope will be the beginning of a citywide beautification
effort.
The Etowah Streetscape
Project began in January to
remodel the sidewalks along
Tennessee Avenue from Fifth
Street to Tenth Street in the
city’s main business district.
According to plans for the project, the sidewalks will have a
“village style” look to them with
more aesthetically pleasing
street lights as well. Hopes are
that once the project is complete
business owners in that area will
update and remodel their store
fronts to be more appealing.
Highway 411 becomes
Tennessee Avenue through
Etowah. The highway resumes
at the intersection of Tennessee
Avenue and Highway 30, at the
Bi-Lo grocery store.
Etowah Chamber of
Commerce Executive Director
Durant Tullock said officials
expect that the project may
make Etowah a place that
people want to return to after
visiting some of the other area
attractions. He said since the
Hiwassee River Rail Excursions
Years
said at the time he was interested in pursuing engineering.
“At that point I was very
interested in civil engineering,
which is the section of engineering that deals with construction
and structural analysis,” said
Manning.
After touring J. M. Huber and
Johns Manville, Manning said he
began to develop an interest in
industrial processes.
“The processes that were
used by each factory, as well as
the intricacies of the machines
that were used within those
processes, really piqued my interest,” said Manning. “Both of these
are things that concern ISE
engineers on a daily basis. Had I
known a great deal about ISE at
the time, I would have made the
connection right away. I’m not
sure if after touring those facilities a light bulb came on immediately with the idea of ISE, but
I do think the tours made me
begin to focus on a discipline that
would deal with complex manufacturing processes or complex
machinery.”
The complex machinery
Manning plans to deal with
after graduation from VT this
summer is that of the defense
industry. Manning will be working as a junior cost analyst for
a Washington, D.C. defense contractor, Technomics.
“I chose the defense industry
because of the highly technical
nature of the business, the everchanging social and political
environment across the globe, the
use of the newest technological
advances, the feeling that there
is a need for what you are doing
and the fact that your work has
a direct impact on the safety of
millions of people.”
In McMinn Tomorrow,
Manning said the ability to
view how governments, businesses and industries worked
in the county are still things he
thinks about to this day and will
continue to be in his mind as he
works to help ensure the safety
of millions, including those living within his native McMinn
County.
“The program was really a
great benefit to me, and I am
most appreciative for the opportunity I had as a class member,”
said Manning.
Shane Sewell said he is also
grateful for the experiences he
had while involved in McMinn
Tomorrow.
Sewell, an Athens native and
McMinn graduate, went through
McMinn Tomorrow in 1994.
Like Manning, Sewell didn’t
know exactly what he wanted to
do with his life. However, it did
help him decide where he wanted
to spend his life.
“I grew up in Athens,
and except for going away to
the outskirts of town on Highway
30. The first phase of the center
should be completed within the
next year.
Etowah became a town just
over 100 years ago when the
L&N Railroad was looking for
somewhere to build a rail station in the area. The town was
designed on a grid system with
The Etowah Streetscape projthe majority of the original city
ect is designed to improve the
laid out much like a checker
downtown infrastructure and
board with the focal point of the
appearance. The project is
town being the L&N Depot. The
pulling elements from Etowah's
depot served as a train station
past (shown above) and presthrough a large portion of the
ent (at right) to create a new
20th Century and now serves
look for the future (below).
as a museum for the town and
its rail history, as well as the
site for the Etowah Chamber of
Commerce office. The depot still
serves as a focal point of the city
and the site for city festivities
and other activities 100 years
after the creation of the town.
While the Depot is no longer
a train station, it serves as a
starting point for the rail excursions organized by the Tennessee
Valley Rail Museum and the
began the city has seen an
said.
community pride. Hyatt said he
and maintain their properties.
Tennessee Overhill Heritage
increase in traffic from train and
Etowah City Manager
would like to eventually take
Hyatt said he would like to
Association, which is based out
nature enthusiasts but there is
Andy Hyatt said he hopes the
the Streetscape project along
see a “downtown square” area
of the depot. Since the excura need to make the city more
Streetscape project will add “curb the entire length of Tennessee
somewhere in the city – other
sions began, many have visited
appealing.
appeal” to the city to pull in more Avenue then start on the adjathan the L&N Depot – that
Etowah seeking to ride on the
“We want the downtown to
people to shop, eat, and hopefully cent roads. Ohio Avenue, one
could be used. He said when he
historic passenger trains through
have a village-type shopping dis- spend the night in town.
block west Tennessee Avenue, is
was interviewing for the city
the Hiwassee River Gorge and
trict look,” Tullock said.
“The Streetscape project will
also filled with shops and busimanager’s position he told the
along the “Hiwassee Loop.”
He added that Etowah offers
be over in the upcoming months,” nesses, as well as Etowah City
Etowah City Commissioners he
Etowah is also the home
a unique variety of shops for
Hyatt said. “The efforts for the
Hall and the Carnegie Public
would like to work to increase
travellers to go through that can- town as a whole won’t stop in
Library.
the appeal of the city. Tullock and of several antique shops and
not be found elsewhere, and that April, though.”
Tullock is hopeful as the
Hyatt said the process to change discount stores that also have
drawn shoppers from miles away
Etowah has a quaint feel that is
Tullock and Hyatt both said
downtown and main street areas the look of the city could take
to find unique gifts.
appealing.
the project is just the beginning
of Etowah are remodeled that
from three to five years.
•
“Etowah doesn’t have many
of a long-term citywide effort to
the look will be imitated and spill
Hyatt said the effort coincides
E-mail: jeremy.belk@dailypchain stores but offers a variety
make Etowah more “down home” out into the residential areas of
with the addition of a new comostathenian.com
of mom-and-pop shops,” Tullock
and appealing while boosting
town as homeowners remodel
munity and wellness center on
Tennessee Tech for five years,
I’ve always lived here,” said
Sewell. “Even if you’ve grown
up here, although you drive by
places and see people everyday,
when you get to go inside these
places, whether it’s Mayfield’s
or the McMinn Living Heritage
Museum, and see how they work,
it’s just a tremendous, eye-opening experience.”
Sewell said being involved
with the McMinn Tomorrow program showed him what opportunities were available within the
community.
“The program opens you
up to the community, to what
really goes on within it and
what opportunities are available
here, both professionally and
civically,” said Sewell. “Many
of the program’s students may
have thought before that they
had to go away to get the job
they wanted. McMinn Tomorrow
shows them that those jobs are
available right here. If the program were not in place, I’m sure
many of those who went through
it would not have known that a
particular field was here.”
Sewell is currently vice presi-
dent of Commercial Lending at
Athens Federal Community
Bank. While working in this
capacity, Sewell was invited
to be a member of Leadership
McMinn.
“In Leadership McMinn, I got
to revisit many of the places I
saw in McMinn Tomorrow,” said
Sewell. “I saw how things have
changed since I was in McMinn
Tomorrow, but the experience
also reinforced my appreciation
for the community.”
The latter, Sewell said is the
most important asset of McMinn
Tomorrow.
“McMinn Tomorrow lets you
see just how great a community
this is that we live in, and it
gives you a greater appreciation
for it,” Sewell said.
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