Benchmarks 2024 | Section E | Community

Work Continues On Theatre Depot

Among the major milestones during the past year was a 20-year anniversary for a local ballet school and company.

The Central Ballet Theatre of Greeneville is known for its highquality, family friendly productions that feature not only its young ballet students, but also some of the field’s top-notch talent.

It’s origins began on Sept. 18, 2002, when Lori Ann Sparks opened the Central Ballet School. From there, the school grew and on Jan. 4, 2004, Sparks launched the Central Ballet Theatre.

“It was my dream to create a ballet performance company that would present uplifting ballet performances without compromising on the quality of the production,” Sparks said.

In its initial years, the ballet school operated out of the former Haberstick Auditorium, which was located in space adjoining the Roby Fitzgerald Adult Center on College Street in Greeneville. In the spring of 2004 — at about the same time that the ballet company was preparing for its debut production — the Haberstick Auditorium was suddenly closed by the fire marshal’s office due to numerous fire code violations. This sudden closure forced Sparks and other officials with the ballet school to scramble and secure another rehearsal location.

In April 2004, Central Ballet presented its first production, entitled “Coppelia,” at Tusculum College’s Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center auditorium. Later that year, the ballet school officials secured a new and permanent home at 120 W. Summer St. in downtown Greeneville, where it remains today.

Spark said much has changed for the CBT since its first show in 2004. In January of this year, Central Ballet performed its 21st full-length production, titled “Rapunzel: A Tangled Tale.” The show featured a cast of 125, including three professional dancers.

To date, CBT has 14 ballets in its repertoire, four of which were world premiers: “Esther,” “Snow Queen,” “Prince Caspian,” and “The 12 Dancing Princesses.” These four shows had never been performed in a ballet setting before they were brought to the stage here in Greeneville, Sparks noted.

LYRICS ON THE LAWN

Main Street: Greeneville celebrated the 10th year of its popular Lyrics on the Lawn summer music series in 2023.

The outdoor concerts are held each Thursday evening in July on the lawn of the historic Dickson-Williams Mansion in downtown Greeneville. Shows are normally held 7-9 p.m., and admission is free.

Last year’s milestone anniversary lineup of shows was kicked off July 6 by Latin-American singer Florencia Rusiñol and her band, Florencia & The Feeling. The show was opened by Greeneville’s own Madison Metcalf and Mylee Doty.

The series continued on July 13 with country yodeler Vaden Landers, along with special guest Ten Penny Drive. The planned July 20 concert with Moon Vs. Venus and Wyldeheart had to be canceled due to the threat of severe weather. The Lyrics on the Lawn 10th anniversary concluded July 27 with performances by The Color 7 and The Whiskey Sticks.

This year, Main Street: Greeneville officials have planned a special event to tie into its summer music series. On March 23, Main Street will host its first-ever Music Mashup Battle of the Bands competition. The event will kick off at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre, 104 S. Main St., in downtown Greeneville.

The competition will determine not only which area band can officially call itself the best in the region, but it will also determine the lineup for the July 11 Lyrics on the Lawn concert. The first place winner will receive a monetary award of $500, along with a trophy. The first runner-up will receive $250. For more information about this year’s Lyrics on the Lawn music series or other Main Street: Greeneville activities, contact Jann Mirkov via email at director@ mainstreetgreeneville.org or by phone at 423-639-7102.

ARTS IN THE PARK

The Town of Greeneville debuted a new event for Dogwood Park in 2023 called Arts in the Park. The newly revamped city park, adjacent to Tusculum View Elementary School, hosted a series of three events showcasing arts in the local community.

In years past, Dogwood Park was home to its own summer concert series. Monthly shows were held on Sunday afternoons from spring to early fall.

The music series ended, however, prior to the start of the COVID pandemic when the event’s organizers stepped down, according to Christina Potts, Town of Greeneville media and marketing specialist.

“Last year, City Council Member Ginny Kidwell approached me about her interest in starting the concerts again,” Potts said. “Around the same time, Robert Luna, a local photographer who started Greeneville Supports the Arts, was introduced to me by Mayor Cal Doty. Robert wanted to unite the various arts groups in Greeneville and also had interest in Dogwood Park as a venue.

“Along with local musician and sound technician, John Brown, and Greeneville Assistant City Manager Cathy Osborne, we began planning a fall concert series. Our goals were to offer free and diverse arts events to the community” she said.

Thanks to a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission, a series of three events was funded last year at Dogwood Park, which features the Ginny Kidwell

Amphitheater, named for the City Council member.

In addition to the amphitheater, the park features a scenic pond with footbridge newly reconstructed by the Greeneville Parks & Recreation Department.

“The refurbished park is a beautiful place to experience arts and relax in nature. The Arts in the Park series was successful in planning, coordination, and execution. However, we did not reach as many people as we had hoped. Audience numbers were lower than Dogwood concerts of the past. We had one date with drizzly rain and we were competing with many other Saturday events,” Potts said.

Pott said that plans are in the works to continue the Arts in the Park series again in 2024. Although no details have been announced, she said, “It looks like we are going to have a music event late April or early May and a theatre event in September.”

THEATER DEPOT

Work continues to steadily progress on a new theater venue for downtown Greeneville.

For the past eight years, the Greeneville Theatre Guild has been involved in a renovation project on a building at 250 W. Depot St., in downtown Greeneville. Called the Theatre Depot, the site serves as a home for the Greeneville Theatre Guild, which currently uses the

BY AMY ROSE Staff Writer

The Greene County Fair was named a State Champion during the 102nd Tennessee Association of Fairs (TAF) Convention in Murfreesboro.

The award is the result of hard-working volunteers and community support, according to Rhonda Humbert, the Fair Board’s first vice president.

“This is a huge honor for Greene County, for us to be recognized at the state level,” said Humbert, who also serves as second vice president of TAF. “A lot of hard work and capital improvements to our fairgrounds helped us win this award, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our community and our volunteers.”

Humbert and her husband, Jim, attended the Fairs Merit Awards banquet with several members of the fair’s board of directors including: Rick Clark, president; Nancy and Cam Philbeck, treasurer; board members Jake Ottinger and Lanny Love and Love’s wife, Betty; 2023 Fairest of the Fair Hailee Fletcher and her parents, Lee and Erica Fletcher; and Junior Fair Board members Kindra Alcantara, Reese Ottinger, Molly Parker and Brayden Seaton. They were among approximately 850 people who attended the awards banquet during the annual convention, according to a press release from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

The department and the Tennessee Association of Fairs recognized the top county, regional, and state agricultural fairs for the 2023 season, highlighting their excellence in sharing agricultural knowledge with fairgoers.

Forty-nine fairs received the Award of Merit based on agriculture, education, community participation, programs, and appearance. The Dyer County Fair received the highest honor when it was named the Champion of Champions Fair for 2023. The Champion of Champions is selected from the three 2022 division winners, the press release said.

Greene County is the Champion of division AAA, which is based on

county population, with AAA being the counties with the largest populations.

The Greene County Fair is now qualified for the Champion of Champions Fair award for 2024, Humbert noted.

The statewide Fair Showcase offered prize money and awards in 40 categories including best fair catalog, website, educational displays, promotional videos, posters, scrapbooks, creative ideas, and freestanding and table-top exhibits.

Greene County received first place for premier tabloid and third place for scrapbook.

In its 25th year, the Fair Showcase competition drew 539 entries from 44 fairs, the press release said.

During the 2023 season, Tennessee’s county, regional and state fairs attracted nearly 3 million visitors,

who enjoyed more than 218,000 exhibits. The events featured more than 75,000 entries spanning livestock, farm crops, competitions, and various exhibitions, according to the press release.

The 73rd annual Greene County fair attracted nearly 30,000 visitors over the sixnight event from July 24 to July 29, 2023. Official attendance from fair representatives totaled 29,312.

The 74th annual fair is scheduled for July 22-27.

For more information on the Greene County Fair, visit www.greenecountyfair.com .

For more information on fairs statewide visit www.tn.gov/agriculture/farms/fairs.html or www.tnfairs.com .

JUNIOR FAIR BOARD BRINGS NEW LIFE TO COMMUNITY EVENT

BY AMY ROSE Staff Writer

The energetic creativity of a hardworking group of young volunteers brought new life to the 2023 Greene County Fair.

They are known as the Junior Fair Board, 11 local teens who created an extremely popular mullet contest, a personalized selfie station, and other ideas that helped draw big crowds and generated social media traffic for the 73rd annual community event.

The teens’ “new perspective” was embraced by members of the fair’s board of directors, who have been willing to provide funding for several new ideas, according to Jake Ottinger, a fair board member and leader of the junior board.

New activities created by the Junior Fair Board included:

A selfie station complete with ring light and backdrop adorned with a lighted sign that says “Greene County Fair,” where fairgoers can perserve special memories;

The mullet contest on Monday night offering prizes in both youth and adult categories for the best haircut of short hair on top and long locks in the back; The Burger Battle on Tuesday night in which teams competed to grill the best hamburger; A hay bale decorating contest resulting in a weeklong display of creatively

decorated round bales with online voting to determine the winner; and A barn dance with line dancing called by junior board member Mylee Doty that was so popular it was added for a second night.

Zoey Potter, a student at North Greene High School, said the Junior Fair Board adopted the Andrew Johnson Bank Pavilion as a hub for its

t PROGRAMS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2E

productions. Future plans call for an intimate, 100-plus seat venue to be established in the building to not only host GTG performances, but to also serve as a site for educational workshops, on-site rehearsals and theatrical set construction. The GTG currently rents space at the Capitol Theatre to stage its productions. Thanks to grant funding and other donations, the GTG has been able to transform the exterior of the Theatre Depot building. “Most of the changes have been to the outside,” says Paige Mengel, who serves as the GTG executive director and co-owns the Theatre Depot building with her husband, Frank. “Thanks to the ‘I Dig Greeneville’ grant through Main Street: Greeneville, some exterior brick repair has been done, and the entire building has been painted,” Mengel said. On the inside, light fixtures have been switched to LED, plus there have been electrical and plumbing issues addressed, she noted. Additionally, a set of stairs has also been relocated inside the structure. The GTG is still in the midst of raising funds for the Theatre Depot project. The IRS recognizes the Greeneville Theatre Guild as a 501(c)(3) organization. All financial contributions to the organization are tax-deductible. Donations may be sent to the Greeneville Theatre Guild, P.O. Box 2002, Greeneville, TN 37744 or made online at the group’s website.

activities.

The mullet contest was “hugemongous,” she said, reportedly the largest fair activity under that pavilion in years.

of

High School; Walker Weems of North

High School; and

Foulks of West Greene High School.

In addtion to Jake Ottinger, the Junior Fair Board is led by Carla Seaton, also a member of the fair’s board of directors.

In addition to Potter, the 2023 Junior Fair Board included Ottinger’s daughter, Reese Ottinger, and Delaney Roberts, Brayden Seaton, Molly Parker, and Kindra Alcantara, all of South Greene High School; Brantley Campbell of Chuckey-Doak High School; Eli Hammonds and Mylee

Doty

Greeneville

Greene

Cheyenne

Jake Ottinger takes a selfie at a meeting of the Greene County Junior Fair Board. Clockwise from Ottinger are members Molly Parker, Walker Weems, Cheyenne Foulks, Mylee Doty, and Zoey Potter,

BY LISA WARREN Lifestyles Editor

A Greene County teenager put the State of Tennessee in a positive national spotlight this past year at the Miss America’s Teen scholarship competition.

Anna Grace Parlapiano was among the top 11 finalists in the competition held Jan. 13, 2024, in Orlando, Florida. Her journey to the crown includes notable titles such as Miss Greene County’s Outstanding Teen 2022, Miss Nashville’s Teen 2023, and the prestigious Miss Tennessee’s Teen 2023, secured in June of 2023

The winner of the 2024 Miss America’s Teen competition was Miss North Carolina’s Teen Hanley House.

In the 2023 Miss Tennessee’s Teen competition held in Memphis, Parlapiano bested 13 other contestants, including two other contestants from Greene County: Jaida Jones and Mylee Doty, who finished 4th runnerup in the competition.

It was the second time that Parlapiano had participated in the Miss Tennessee’s Teen scholarship pageant, which is a preliminary event for the Miss America’s Teen competition.

During the 2022 Miss Tennessee’s Teen competition, Parlapiano was named as the first runner-up. She served as Miss Greene County’s Outstanding Teen last year.

In order to return to the state teen competition in 2023, Parlapiano had to win another local title because the contestants cannot compete again in preliminary pageants that they have already won.

“I couldn’t be the Miss Greene County Teen again, and I wasn’t sure if Jonesborough or Johnson City was going to have a teen competition. So I competed in Nashville in November and won,” she told The Greeneville

Sun after winning the Miss Tennessee’s Teen title.

At the Miss America’s Teen competition, Parlapiano’s journey through the preliminary nights showcased her excellence across various categories, including private interview, on-stage question, Health and Fitness, Performance Talent/HerStory, and Evening Gown. Notably, her passion for community service, reflected in her Community Service Initiative “Giving a Voice To our Disabled Veterans,” resonated throughout the competition, officials said in a news release.

For the talent portion of the competition, Parlapiano performed a lyrical dance to a melody of taps and “So God Made a Soldier.” Those familiar

with the Miss Tennessee Organization recognized the familiar voice that read “So God Made A Soldier,” during Parlapiano’s performance, Miss Tennessee’s CEO and Board Chairman, Joe Albright. “I am so proud of what Anna Grace has accomplished in just the first six months of her reign,” Albright said following Parlapiano’s participation in the national competition. “As a disabled veteran, I am beyond grateful for the tremendous strides she has made in creating awareness among veterans and supporting state and regional veterans services providers in helping veterans secure the benefits they deserve.

“The entire Board of the Miss Ten-

nessee Scholarship Organization is so proud and honored to have Anna Grace as our Miss Tennessee’s Teen,” Albright added. “We can’t wait to support her in her plans for the remainder of her reign. We are thrilled with her accomplishments to date, including her semi-final finish in the Miss America’s Teen Competition, and are equally thrilled that she will continue to compete, but next for the Miss Tennessee and Miss America titles.”

Parlapiano is the daughter of John and Sandy Parlapiano, of Greeneville. A 2023 graduate of West Greene High School, she currently attends East Tennessee State University, where she is a member of the university’s dance team.

IN GREENEVILLE

small tasks are still being completed by Summers & Taylor personnel as they put the finishing touches on the sprawling project.

The biggest change was the reopening of Depot Street to vehicular and pedestrian traffic late in the year after about two years of work, which included paving, grading and new sidewalks and gutters.

main block of the remodeled section of West Depot Street between Main and Irish streets saw improvements made throughout the year.

A concrete base was poured in January 2023 in the section, then lamp posts were put in their place in May 2023.

Grading work was completed between Irish and Cutler streets in March 2023 and paving began on that section in May 2023.

Between Main Street and Irish Street, street pavers were set in place on West Depot Street in June 2023. The pavers, laid in a herringbone pattern, make up sections of the street on either side of the “tabletop” festival section of the roadway.

A special opening event for that section of West Depot Street was held on Aug. 12.

A street clock donated by the Greeneville Rotary Club was unveiled on West Depot Street during the celebration event. The clock, mounted on a post in the sidewalk near the middle of the block of West Depot Street between Irish and Main streets, is meant as a gift to the community from the Greeneville Rotary Club and to mark the club’s 100 years of service to the local community.

Curb and guttering were also installed on sections of East Depot Street in July 2023.

Work crews worked their way up toward Main Street from East Depot Street and West Depot Street in September 2023, with the Main Street intersection closing for construction in October 2023.

The intersection, which was the last major piece of the project, was closed for about five weeks. It reopened in November 2023.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Dec. 1, 2023 to celebrate the opening of the revitalized Main and Depot streets.

Some small cleanups and other

Local business owners are already enjoying the benefits of the completed project. “We’ve been here almost nine years. We’re excited to have not only the street open, but to have more businesses come (downtown),” Katie Presley said.

The parking lot was constructed through an agreement with the Town of Greeneville, Greeneville Federal Bank and The Development Group Inc.

Presley is the owner of Brolin & Bailey Co. at 120 W. Depot St. Presley said she “pretty much” doubled the size of the store with an add-on space that opened to the public in November. The store sells women’s and baby clothes, accessories and gift shop items, Presley stated.

Michelle Cutshaw, owner of Tipton’s Cafe at 127 W. Depot St., had an awning installed in the front of the longstanding landmark cafe in February. A street-side patio area was finished in October, she said.

In February she said business “is doing way better” now that Depot Street has reopened.

The Addington Agency, a real estate company, opened a satellite office at 107 N. Main St. on Jan. 1, 2024. The owner of the new office, Regie Jones, said he has been in business in this area for 23 years.

Coal Miner’s Daughter, a pet boutique located at 105 N. Main St., opened in September of last year. It is a chain of eight stores that are located in three states: North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, an employee told The Greeneville Sun.

A new parking lot also opened in downtown Greeneville in 2023.

The Crowfoot Alley parking lot was completed and opened in August 2023.

Through the agreement, the town purchased the property from The Development Group for $300,000. Greeneville Federal Bank then paid the town $300,000 with both entities getting parking rights in the exchange that kept costs down for the town in obtaining the property for the lot.

Through the arrangement, an 82-stall parking lot was constructed. Currently, all of those spots are leased. As a part of the arrangement, Greeneville Federal Bank has

a 99-year lease to 30 parking spaces, and The Development Group

spaces.

A separate agreement with SNM Investments saw seven spaces traded to the entity in exchange for a 10-footwide strip of property that connects the new parking lot to Depot Street. A pedestrian walkway will be built on the strip of land.

“That strip is very important for the development of downtown Greeneville and that area of Depot Street,” Teague said in August 2023.

Currently, with all the spots in the new parking lot leased, the lot is policed by the Parking Authority.

As denoted by signage placed at the entrances of the lot, parking in the area is for leased parkers only until 5 p.m. on weekdays. The lot is open to the public and free on weekday evenings after 5 p.m. and all day on

BY SPENCER MORRELL AND NELSON MORAIS Staff Writers

YMCA Enters Capital Campaign For 3 EXPANSION PROJECTS

AMY ROSE Staff Writer

The YMCA of Greene County entered a $650,000 capital campaign in 2023 for three projects to serve members and the community.

The campaign will fund new pickleball courts, family locker rooms, and expansion of the Terry Bellamy Soccer Park, according to Mike Hollowell, executive director.

The largest portion of the capital campaign is $320,000 for expansion of the soccer park.

The Y has purchased 2.1 acres of a former lumber mill property for parking and other uses for youth sports. Hollowell said the Y plans to gather community leaders involved in youth sports to determine the best use of this property for the community.

The soccer park was built in 1980 and named for retired Y executive director Terry Bellamy. It features three playing fields, a walking track, playground, pavilion and concession stand.

In 2007, the Y completed a 22,000-square-foot expansion project, purchased additional parking and completed renovations to the original facility.

The new locker room space will allow parents of the opposite gender help their young children dress to use the swimming pool, Hollowell said. He gave an example of a dad with his 4-year-old daughter.

Another example is a special needs adult with an opposite gender caretaker, a number of whom use the Y, he said.

The locker room project will total 1,250 square feet at a cost of $250,000, he said.

It includes three private changing

rooms and three private locker rooms, each with a shower, sink, and toilet, he said.

Included in the interior work is an allpurpose room of 410 square feet, which Hollowell said will be convenient for swim parties at the Y’s indoor pool.

The room will be located adjacent to the locker rooms and pool, much closer than the existing party room.

The Y averages three parties a weekend, he said.

The new room will feature a refrigerator, sink and microwave.

In addition to pool parties, the Y can use the new room for staff meetings and board meetings and other activities, Hollowell said.

Interior work is being done by Trademark of Virginia, a company that also renovated the Bristol YMCA, Hollowell said.

Three new pickleball courts will be added to existing courts near Church Street.

Cost of the pickleball project is $65,000.

The growing sport combines elements of tennis, ping-pong and badminton for all ages.

The project includes fencing, asphalt, painting of the play area and installation of nets.

The fundraising goal is to collect all of the $650,000 by the end of 2026. Multiple options are available for donations: writing one check, making annual or quarterly donations, or adding to the monthly auto draft of membership fees. Any individual, business, or foundation interested in making a donation can contact Hollowell at 423-639-6107 or mikeh@greenecounty-ymca.org .

BY SPENCER MORRELL Staff Writer

Greeneville played host to numerous U.S. Navy sailors, including USS Greeneville sailors, in 2023 during TriCities Navy Week, which was held the first week of April.

It was the first such event held in East Tennessee, according to Naval officials.

More than 60 sailors were in East Tennessee for the week-long event, which featured in-person demonstrations, performances, and engagements throughout the region that included senior Navy leaders with ties to the Tri-Cities and the surrounding area, USS Greeneville (SSN 772) sailors, sailors serving on USS Tennessee (SSBN 734), an Ohioclass ballistic missile submarine, and performances by the U.S. Navy Band Northeast.

During a stop in Greeneville during Navy Week, visiting USS Greeneville sailors attended the unveiling ceremony for a new mural of the USS Greeneville. The mural is the latest addition to the mural trail in downtown Greeneville. The mural depicts the USS Greeneville submarine along with two badges proclaiming the vessel’s motto “Volunteers Defending Frontiers.” It is 9 feet tall and 40 feet wide and is located in the parking lot at the Greene County Partnership.

The SSN 772, also known as the USS Greeneville and named after Greeneville thanks to a local community effort in the late 1980s, has operated as part of the U.S. Navy’s fleet for 33 years. It is a Los Angeles class, nuclear-powered attack submarine.

The USS Greeneville mural is the 13th mural located in the downtown area and the eighth completed by local artist Joe Kilday.

In attendance for the mural unveiling and christening ceremony were four sailors from the USS Greeneville, including her then-commander, Commander Robert Lane.

Lane said it seemed like fate for him to command the submarine as his first day in boot camp in 1992 was also the day that the keel was laid for the USS Greeneville.

Lane took command of the submarine in September 2020.

“I have never had the support from a community on any other boat that I have been on that I have had on USS Greeneville,” Lane said at the ceremony. “I can’t say enough about the support you all give us.”

The three sailors joining Lane agreed that they appreciated the community’s support.

The three USS Greeneville sailors joining Lane at the event included Senior Chief of Boat Dan Dumitrache, Lt. (junior grade) Collin Barlow and Petty Officer Second Class Zachery Finley.

The sailors also made a stop at Andrew Johnson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1990, Greene County’s local VFW Post in Greeneville, for an open house. The event provided an opportunity for community members to talk with sailors who currently crew the submarine named for the town.

“It’s really our honor to host these guys and give them an opportunity to speak with members of the community and for the kids to be able to see them and ask them questions,” VFW Post 1990 Senior Vice-Commander Larry Henderson said at the event. A sizable contingent of Pack 93 found themselves enthralled by the visiting submariners at the event.

“It’s great to have the scouts here to meet them,” Henderson said.

The sailors sat at a table that included a model of the USS Greeneville and other photos and graphics of the submarine, and the Cub Scouts surrounded the table for the better part of an hour, quizzing the sailors about the sub and leaning across the table to get a closer look at the model.

The sailors enjoyed the eager questioning from the Cub Scouts.

“They asked all kinds of good questions. They covered it all. They asked how deep, how fast, what weapons and how big they explode,” Dumitrache said. “It was a lot of fun.”

One scout could be heard asking Barlow how the sailors breathe underwater in the submarine, and Barlow explained the process of electrolysis that the sub uses to break

apart water molecules to get oxygen.

“We separate the hydrogen out and get it out of there so we can breath the oxygen,” Barlow said.

Finley also enjoyed his time with the scouts.

“They really did ask great questions. It’s awesome to see their excitement,” Finley said.

The busy sailors also attended the dedication ceremony for the new Greeneville Fire Station 2 during their visit.

U.S. Navy crew members also visited Greeneville High School during their April 2023 stop-over. At GHS, the Navy team focused on activities related to STEAM education, which stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

According to GHS Assistant Principal Daisy Shepard, students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of presentations including: the Navy’s role in meteorology, the Maritime Security Squadron, the Navy Brass Quintet, and presentations about the USS Constitution historic ship and the USS Greeneville submarine.

Maritime Security Squadron members from harbor security services of the Navy met with GHS students. They spoke to students about their duties and the levels of escalation in deterring ships that got too close to the ships they were escorting. They discussed the use of encryption in communications they use; chemical, biological, and radiation systems; and equipment they use to protect themselves. They allowed students to wear their basic kit, which weighs a minimum of 55 pounds, use night vision goggles, and try out their radios.

The Navy Brass Quintet provided key learning opportunities for students within the instrumental band program at GHS, and performed music from a variety of genres for the band.

Another stop in Greeneville included Lane, the then-USS Greeneville commanding officer, speaking to the Greeneville Noon Rotary Club.

Lane told those gathered at the meeting that the USS Greeneville’s service is far from over, even nearly 30 years after its launch.

The submarine could sail about another 20 years, according to Lane.

Lane told the club that the submarine was in dry dock at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, undergoing an “extended overhaul period, or EOP.”

The overhaul is meant to ensure the sub’s longevity, according to Lane.

“They are taking all the weapons off and putting on all new weapons. We are getting new software and firmware that allows us to do our job even better than we already have,” Lane said at the meeting.

Lane said the ship’s hull would be cleaned and refreshed.

“The process refurbishes us and allows us to get a little bit faster with a nice, clean hull,” Lane said. The USS Greeneville was scheduled to get back in the water around June of 2023 and was to run tests and checks

before going out to sea in January 2024 for further “sea trials.”

Once those sea trials were completed the submarine was scheduled to make its way through the Panama Canal to its new home port in San Diego, California.

Lane said the USS Greeneville would operate out of San Diego for a couple years before returning to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 2029 for refueling.

“We will be one of the few submarines to get refueled on the nuclear side,” Lane said in April 2023. “So the Greeneville will be around quite a number of years, even from now.”

Lane said the submarine will be able to be in service for “10 to 15 years” after it is refueled. “Then it will really be down to the longevity of the hull and how long it can withstand the pressures of the deep,” Lane said.

Lane said the reason the USS Greeneville is getting refueled while similar submarines have been scheduled for decommissioning is due to the Greeneville’s relative age and special modifications.

“It is one of the later boats, and it has special warm water modifications that they wanted to keep,” he said.

While the USS Greeneville will continue to patrol the seas, Lane’s time as her commander came to an end. In June 2023, Lane turned over command of the

in a

“This new facility will not only allow us to serve our current membership more efficiently, but allow us to expand services to children from throughout the community that we are not able to serve at this time due to space limitations,” said Daniel Johnson, cocampaign chairman and Boys & Girls Club board member.

It will include the following new spaces: a gymnasium with two middleschool sized courts and 12 drop-down goals; classroom and activity areas for Career Technical Education (CTE) and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs; a large cafeteria with a teaching kitchen, a teen room, a performing arts room and stage for special events, and more.

A Learning Center will replace the current space that doubles as an arts and crafts room and homework area.

An Arts & Crafts Room will provide a place for kids to express their creativity through model building, jewelry making, school projects, special monthly projects, holiday projects and more.

A Technology Center will include 40 computer stations, compared to 24 stations in the current computer lab, with high speed internet and other advancing technology.

A TV room will feature a big screen, and a game room will be filled with new fun games.

A Health & Life Skills Room will serve as a specialized area to teach basic life skills not always learned at home or school: laundry, sewing, cooking, cleaning and personal hygiene.

The stage area will provide space for ballet, music, drama, public speakers, awards ceremonies, and communitywide events.

Club Executive Director Scott Bullington said, “What we do at the Boys & Girls Club is about so much more than just watching children. It truly is about leveling the playing field, so every child has an equal opportunity to have a great future. It is about partnering with the community and looking at every aspect of a child’s life and development and not just during

BY SPENCER MORRELL Staff Writer

The first customers in the Town of Greeneville were able to connect to the Greeneville Energy Authority’s new broadband network in 2023.

Construction began on the new highspeed fiber-optic broadband network in April 2023.

The network will service all GEA customers within the city limits.

The initial network will cover 7,281 active residential customers and 2,010 active commercial and industrial customers. The Energy Authority board approved the project in 2021.

The network in the Town of Greeneville will serve as the base of the utility’s broadband network that will gradually expand out into Greene County. Grant funding has been received to help expand the network into portions of western Greene County.

Crews worked to construct 95 miles of aerial broadband fiber and 28 miles of underground broadband fiber within the town, with fall being targeted for network completion.

While construction on the network continued throughout 2023, the first beta testers were able to connect to the new network.

In October 2023, GEA connected its first customer to its broadband network. Phil Bradley, GEA director of broadband and IT, previously called the first customer a “friendly customer” or a “tester.”

Bradley said in October 2023 it was GEA’s intent to have 50 testers or “friendly customers” using the network before launching to the general public. Greeneville Energy Authority also launched a network map and sign-up page on its website as a part of the network’s rollout.

Aerial cable construction for the network was completed by the conclusion of 2023, and over 70 customers serving as “testers” were using the network. Underground conduit and cable installation was continued into 2024. By February 2024, there were 141 active customers on GEA’s network operating as beta testers, and over 700 customers had already signed up to receive the service.

The construction of underground conduit and cable continued into 2024, and GEA is targeting April to complete underground installation of the network. The utility plans to start construction in April on the network in western portions of Greene County.

The local power utility also officially transitioned to being known as the

t NAVY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9E

The ceremony was presided over by Capt. Daniel Reiss, commander of Submarine Squadron

Two, the parent command of all PNSY units. Tella spoke during the ceremony, praising his predecessor and the crew, expressing his anticipation and excitement to get the boat back out to sea during his tenure.

Among the sixteen residents representing Greeneville who attended the ceremony were USS Greeneville Inc.

President Dale Long and Greeneville Mayor Cal Doty.

Long noted that those in attendance wanted to not only welcome Tella to the USS Greeneville but also thank Lane for his service on the submarine.

Greeneville Energy Authority after being known as Greeneville Light & Power System since 1945.

The transition took place in late March 2023.

Greeneville Light & Power System had technically been the Greeneville Energy Authority since 2019.

“In cooperation with the Town of Greeneville, the Greeneville Light and Power System was restructured as a ‘Power Authority’ on July 1, 2019. As part of that process, one of the requirements of the State of Tennessee was that our name had to be changed to include the word ‘Authority.’ With that, the Greeneville Energy Authority was born,” Bowlin said in March 2023. “While we have continued to do business as the Greeneville Light & Power System, our legal name has been the Greeneville Energy Authority since that time.”

Becoming an Energy Authority gave the energy company more political separation and independence from the Town of Greeneville. Bowlin said in March 2023 that some other towns had sold their utilities before and dollars given to sold utilities flow out of the community.

Being more independent as an Energy Authority somewhat shields the power utility from being sold.

Bowlin said that GEA would still provide the same reliable service it had for decades with the added service of broadband.

“We were there to say thank you and there to give a welcome,” Long said in June 2023. “Everyone enjoyed and appreciated the former Commander Robert Lane for all his work during the past three years, and we are excited to welcome aboard Chad Tella and his family to the USS Greeneville.”

It was Long’s third time attending a change of command ceremony for the USS Greeneville.

It was Doty’s first time attending a change of command ceremony for the submarine, and he said that he felt “fortunate.”

Doty was happy to see Greeneville well represented at the ceremony, and he said that the Navy personnel at the event “were impressed with our support of the boat and very complimentary.”

Doty said the USS Greeneville is something in which locals can take pride. “Bing the only small town with a submarine named after us is something to be proud of.

We should all be proud of the USS Greeneville and its sailors,” Doty said. “I’m happy to see the local community supporting the boat and know that they will be happy to continue to do so in the years to come.”

WORLD PROBLEMS SOLVED AT REVIVED COUNTRY STORES

Those days are back. Smart phones may have replaced some of those cedar sticks, but the love of the old country store has returned in Greene County.

Among the latest to be revived is Pettit’s Market in the McDonald community. In December 2022, Cotton’s Country Store reopened in the St. James community. And, of course, there’s Rheatown Store in Chuckey that was near closure when new owners purchased it in late 2022.

Built in 1949 by RC Bible, Pettit’s has been a staple of the McDonald community for 74 years.

Now it offers a true general store feel with an emphasis on its deli.

“If you are looking for a true general store feel with great food, we have the place for you,” said Caleb Julian, one of the owners.

The menu includes breakfast, sandwiches, pizza, salad, and country cooking.

“The Little Store with a Big Welcome” is the slogan for Pettit’s Market, where a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held June 3 by the Greene County Partnership.

The store sells snacks, drinks, and other convenience store items, but perhaps the most important offering is the opportunity to slow down and spend time with others in this fast-pace world.

The deli also is a highlight at Cotton’s, family owned since 1947 and previously known as Cotton Neas Grocery.

Cotton’s is located at 5990 Cedar Creek Road in southern Greene County.

It was one of those small country stores scattered across Greene County, where farmers and hunters would gather to swap stories and solve the world’s problems. Many of those stores have been vacant for years and are falling into disrepair.

Cotton’s granddaughter, Connie (Luttrell) Wendling, and her husband, Ralph Wendling, have remodeled the one in St. James.

Connie shared the history of the store’s ownership, beginning with her grandparents Cotton and Henrietta Neas.

“It very quickly became a gathering

place and landmark within our community,” she said. “To this day, folks still talk about Henrietta’s bologna sandwiches.”

After her grandparents’ passing, she said, her uncle, Terry “Mopey” Neas sold sporting goods, and the store remained an important gathering spot.

After Mopey’s sudden passing in 2008, the store remained closed until the Wendlings moved here from Massachusetts in June 2021.

The goal for reopening was to honor “the history and legacy of my family and community while bringing in new ideas, including our own farm fresh eggs and USDA registered Black Angus grass fed and finished beef (free-range whole chickens to come), and traditionCONTINUED

and Marianne Castle were

past the store every day, and when

came up for sale, they thought about buying it. “The community found out about our plan, and they wanted the store and deli reopened, so we decided to take a leap of faith and open the store back up to the community,” he said. Rheatown Store & Deli serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

“We want to give back to our community the old Rheatown Store as it was many years ago,” Allen said.

Pettit’s is located at 6515 McDonald Road in western Greene County, so you can find one of these landmarks in three separate areas of this spacious

county. Julian said owners of Pettit’s “wanted to invest in the community that means so much to us by opening a store that our community members (and outsiders) enjoy coming to.”

“It has been so rewarding to see the

community enjoying Pettit’s,” Julian said. “We truly want every person that steps into the store to feel welcome.”

Cotton’s has a slogan that says “World Problems Solved Here.”

Maybe that is the allure of these old country stores. They give us a place

to talk about our problems and apply common sense solutions while we spend time with our neighbors.

You can find pages for all of these stores on Facebook: “Pettit’s Market,” “Cotton’s Country Store” and “Rheatown Country Store & Deli.”

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

The revived Pettit’s Market

The Greeneville Municipal Airport came under new management in 2023, and the Airport Authority board was expanded as well.

In June 2023, the Greeneville City Council moved to expand the Airport Authority board from five members to seven members, adding members Catherine Bacon and Justin Jeffers. Also on the board are Paul McAfee, Wes Hope, Sherry Hensley, Jimmy Collins and W.T. Daniels.

time and two part-time employees. These newer employees have excellent skill sets, are highly qualified and are great at customer service,” Alley said.

She noted that grant funding was received in 2023 to help with the upkeep of the airport.

“We have a grant that will help us to purchase some needed maintenance equipment for the airport like a new mower and a side by side for ground maintenance,” Alley said.

In July 2023, Angela Alley was hired to fill the airport manager position after the board moved to make a change in the position in January 2023, removing former manager Steven Neesen. Since filling the position of airport manager, Alley said in an email that she had been working to build relationships with airport users.

“I have spent time getting to know airport users and hosted a meet and greet in October (2023) which was wellattended,” Alley said. She also attended a conference in March to network with other airport managers.

“I just returned from a Tennessee Aviation Association Conference where I gained much information and met other airport managers in Tennessee who will be good sources of information,” Alley said.

According to Alley, there were some personnel changes at the airport in 2023, but positions have been filled as needed.

“I have had some challenges in staff turnover and have hired one full-

She also noted that the airport was close to being financially selfsustaining in its operation. The airport turned a profit for the first time in 2022.

“I am currently working on the budget for next fiscal year and the airport is very close to being self-sustaining and not needing financial assistance from the Town of Greeneville,” Alley said.

Activity also increased in 2023, with more planes flying in and out of the local airport.

“Activity is up compared to the previous year for the end of last year and February and March so far this year,” Alley said.

Alley said she is continuing efforts to bring more traffic into the airport as she leads it into the future.

She said food trucks will be out at the airport on May 11 and June 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as a part of ongoing efforts to promote increased activity and more air traffic at the facility.

“We will offer fuel discounts for that day and the public is welcome to come visit us and get some food as well,” Alley said.

SUN FILE PHOTO

An event was held at the Greeneville Municipal Airport in October 2023 for airport users to meet Angela Alley, the airport’s new manager.

SUN PHOTO BY SPENCER MORRELL Angela Alley was officially named the new manager of the Greeneville Municipal Airport in July 2023.

COUNTY’S VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE VITAL SERVICES

Members of Greene County’s 15 volunteer fire departments offer a lifeline to the public in the event of an emergency. Supporting them is important to remember as warmer weather returns and many local volunteer departments host fundraisers.

Ryan Holt, chief of the Greene County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments and Caney Branch Volunteer Fire Department, said the backing of communities that depend on volunteer departments is vital to provide services to the public.

“Fire equipment has increased in price just like everything else has and safety of our emergency responders is a top priority to help our community and surrounding communities. Without the proper equipment, it limits the capability of safety to our firefighters that are volunteering their time,” Holt said.

David Weems, chief of the South Greene Volunteer Fire Department, said community support “is vital to the continued operation of our department.”

“The primary funding for our department comes from an annual ‘door-todoor’ fund drive. Firefighters visit each resident in our response area asking for donations. This allows our community to be able to meet the firefighters and ask any questions they may have

about our department. We also use it as an opportunity to recruit new members,” Weems said.

Volunteers “are becoming increasingly more difficult to find,” he said.

“If you ask any employer, most will tell you they are struggling to find

employees to work for a decent wage. Contrast this fact with volunteer fire departments asking individuals to donate their time and efforts without pay to an activity that is, at times, very dangerous,” Weems said.

He said that the volunteer fire service continues to evolve, “and more demands are constantly being placed on us, including the types of calls to which we respond, as well as the level of training required to respond to the calls.”

“We need the continued financial support of our community, but more importantly, we need people who are willing to step up and donate their time and efforts to a vital public service,” Weems said.

In more rural communities in Greene County, backing from the public is especially important.

“It’s huge for the community to come out here and support us,” said Matthew Greenlee, chief of the McDonald Volunteer Fire Department.

Fire departments like McDonald regularly sponsor breakfasts and dinner fundraisers, along with “road blocks”

and other events to help pay for equipment, fuel and other expenses.

“The community support is real good,” Greenlee said. McDonald Volunteer Fire Department members run about 75 calls a year in the fire department district and in support of neighboring departments.

The Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department answered about 300 calls in 2023 in its coverage district and on mutual aid calls in surrounding areas, Tusculum fire Chief Marty Shelton said.

“The support from the community is vital to ours and all the volunteer fire departments’ survival in terms of operations. With all labor free from the members, all donations go to support the departments in terms of fuel, utilities, repairs, et cetera,” Shelton said.

He said the Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department is fortunate that the City of Tusculum provides a portion of funding for the fire department, but added “allocations from local government and an occasional grant cannot sustain the day-to-day operations it takes to keep the doors open on the stations.”

“The cost just to have annual inspections and the apparatus serviced can easily exceed $1,000 each. It gets expensive to keep a fleet up and going when you consider increasing costs for tires, fuel, repairs, etc. Annual testing to meet industry standards covers ladders, pumps, SCBAs, firefighter’s masks, DOT inspections, hoses, and more,” Shelton said.

“We hope that the citizens realize responders are doing a job that usually costs the time and out-of-pocket (expenses) of the responders to respond to an incident that has a high probability someone could get injured or killed,” he said. “When a staffed all-career department compiles an annual budget, the normal range for those paid personnel to be assigned to the apparatus absorbs approximately 90% of that department’s annual budget. The remaining 10% is where the budget for operations for the fleet, apparatus, loose equipment, et cetera, goes to.”

For all-volunteer fire departments like Tus-

culum, Shelton said that “all the money goes towards the department to improve the equipment and maintain the equipment.”

“No one is paid and no money goes anywhere but the department itself. Large grants that provide apparatus of capital equipment purchases will be rare and complex to obtain. The equipment gets used in some of the most harsh environments and comes with a shelf life of 10 years on almost everything used in the fire service,” he said. “If (equipment) lasts for the active members to be in good shape, it still is non-compliant afterwards and is a liability to continue its use.”

Shelton said that after fire departments have replaced and updated most of the equipment in routine use, “It is a cycle to start over again due to that wearing out and shelf-life restrictions that is the standard for all fire departments.” Training and responding to calls at all hours of the day and night are time-consuming, but Greene County’s volunteer firefighters are dedicated to helping their fellow citizens, Shelton said.

The cost of operations continues to rise, “but the heart of a volunteer that would respond to a stranger’s call for help in all kinds of situations and leave their warm bed, family events, take time off work, spend hours attending trainings, and make sure the equipment is always ready to respond while receiving no pay and barely (receive) a thank you, is priceless,” Shelton said. The the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office recently recognized volunteer firefighters for their service during Volunteer Firefighters Week in March.

“Tennessee’s volunteer fire departments are the embodiment of the Volunteer State’s ethos as they willingly put their lives on the line for their communities for little or no compensation or recognition in order to protect the lives and properties of their neighbors,” TDCI Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Carter Lawrence said in a news release. Shelton offered examples of capital equipment costs and associated expenses that volunteer

fire departments must raise funds for to remain in operation. He said “multiples” of each item listed are necessary for a fire department to be operational:

• one complete set of personal protective equipment, or PPE, for a single firefighter is $5,000.

• one self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA, is $10,000.

• one spare air cylinder with a 15-year shelf life is $1,300.

• one thermal imaging camera, or TIC, is $7,000.

• one battery-operated fan to remove smoke from a home is $5,200.

• one battery-operated rescue tool, known as the Jaws of Life, is $13,000. one portable radio compatible with volunteer fire department frequencies is $2,000.

• one new fire engine with a threeyear build time is $500,000.

• one nozzle for smaller fire hoses is $800. one pager to be carried by each firefighter to be alerted about a call is $500.

9-1-1 call taker providing additional information that can be used to facilitate the proper response to the proper location. At a time when seconds count, Smart911 provides details that could impact response the second an emergency call is placed, which could be the difference between life and death.”

Heather Sipe, director of the Greene County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security, explained at a 911 board meeting in October that, for example, in the case of a house fire, dispatchers will be able to inform emergency responders called out how many people or pets live at the residence and other pertinent details for firefighters and others that have previously been entered into the system by the resident(s) at that house.

Residents in Greene County can provide as much, or as little, personal information as they wish.

Supplying information to Smart911 allows first responders answering an emergency call access to medical conditions, such as epilepsy, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, the use of oxygen tanks, et cetera.

According to Smart911.com, there is always the risk of unplanned accidents or events, whether in a vehicle or in the home.

“Even the most basic details such as the address association with a mobile phone can be available to 911 and response teams to send help fast,” it states.

For those with pets or other animals, the Smart911 Safety Profile can alert police to their presence when entering a home, and fire crews can be aware of the exact number of people and pets that need to be evacuated from a home.

Service animal owners can alert first responders if the animal needs to be transported with the owner.

When anyone in a household dials 911 from a phone associated with their

Safety Profile, their profile is quickly displayed to the 911 call taker, providing additional information that can be used to facilitate the proper response to the proper location.

RAVE ALERTS PROGRAM

Rave alerts are a different type of notification program.

Said Bird, “We use Rave alerts when requested by emergency responder department heads, including law enforcement, EMS, EMA, etc.”

Once those department heads are on the scene of an emergency, they can request an alert, Bird explained.

Alerts can be sent out in the case when HazMat is on the scene, dangerous wind conditions, flooding, tornados and excessive cold and heat, he said.

“Part of the Rave system is receiving information from the city and county school systems,” Bird stated.

911 dispatchers can send out an alert to residents countywide, or to a specific area within the county, Bird said.

“We will alert citizens if (there’s) a dangerous situation,” he stated.

For example, Rave alerts were sent out in November 2023 to warn residents living in proximity to the wildland fire dubbed the Tweed Fire by the U.S. Forest Service to be ready to evacuate if necessary, Bird said.

The fire consumed more than 540 acres on Meadow Creek Mountain, which separates the communities of Houston Valley and St. James.

It burned on the Greene County side of the mountain in the area of Tweed Springs Road and on the mountainside in Cocke County near Houston Valley Road.

“Fortunately,” recalled Bird, evacuations were not needed and the Tweed Fire was contained.

Customers who sign up for Rave alerts can choose to be notified either by text, phone call or email, or by any combination of those three methods if they want,

conflict over human sexuality.

A total of 34 local churches disaffiliated in a special called session of the Holston Annual Conference in April 2023, and two others have disaffiliated since then.

At the April session, voting members of the conference spanning from Southwest Virginia, through East Tennessee, and into Northern Georgia, gathered at Central UMC in Knoxville and ratified the disaffiliation of 264 churches, representing 21% of membership. Holston Conference reported that 945 members and guests attended the called session.

The somber event represented a time of moving forward in Holston Conference during years of conflict in the United Methodist Church. The conflict relates to human sexuality, specifically rules against ordination of practicing homosexuals and the officiating of same-sex weddings.

“We acknowledge that our inability to continue on the journey together in the same denomination is a sign of human brokenness,” said the Rev. Dr. Debra Wallace-Padgett, Holston bishop, as she addressed the called session. “We recognize that all of us share some responsibility for arriving at this moment of separation. We grieve our failure to love each other as Christ loves us, to hold onto each other as God holds onto us, to

show the same level of patience to one other that our Savior shows us.”

The vote reduced Holston Conference from 842 to 578 congregations, effective May 29, 2023.

Most of the disaffiliating churches across the conference are smaller in number and “traditionalist” in belief, meaning they do not want to see the rules regarding human sexuality changed.

Some of the disaffiliated churches joined another Methodist expression, and some became independent Methodist churches.

During the time of conflict, new Methodist groups formed, including the Global Methodist Church and the Wesleyan Covenant Association, for example. Holston Conference Chancellor Mike Eastridge recalled in 2019 when the General Conference of the United Methodist Church met in a special session to try and resolve, “the tenacious, divisive conflict over human sexuality and the role of ordained clergy and their ability to carry out some of the orders of the church.”

The 2019 session in St. Louis, Missouri, resulted in additions to the United Methodist Book of Discipline that strengthened traditionalist rules.

The Traditional Plan was adopted by a 438-384 vote in St. Louis, which showed the amount of division among the membership.

The 2019 session also granted boards of trustees of every Annual Conference the authority to set terms and conditions of disaffiliation, Eastridge explained.

One of the terms required disaffiliating churches to pay their portion of the unfunded pension liability, to help cover pensions of their former clergy. Holston Conference decided to add a 90-day discernment period as a requirement, which had to be completed between Oct. 1, 2022 and March 6, 2023, to meet the deadline for the April session.

The disaffiliated churches also were required to pay their regular apportionments to the conference for one year prior to disaffiliation and one year following, until May 29, 2024, Eastridge said.

The process, he said, began with a written statement from the church to the district superintendent.

The district superintendent then initiated the discernment period.

If the church still wanted to disaffiliate after that period, the district superintendent scheduled a Church Conference, and a two-thirds vote of all process-

ing members of that conference was required for passage.

Deeds were executed, and the disaffiliated churches were allowed full control of their properties, Eastridge said.

Greene County is split geographically by two districts within the Holston Conference. The 34 initial disaffiliating churches included 18 in the Three Rivers District (formerly Johnson City), and 16 in the Mountain View District (formerly Morristown).

For more information on Holston Conference, visit www.holston.org .

The topic of human sexuality in the United Methodist Church as a whole is not over and likely will be addressed in the 2024 United Methodist General Conference to be held April 23-May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

According to www.UMC.org, delegates from Africa, Europe, Asia and the U.S. will attend the 11-day gathering, which is expected to attract about 5,500-7,500 people.

County’s weather can be wild and unpredictable.

year 2023 is a prime example. It’s always wise to be prepared for severe weather or a weather-related emergency, said Heather Sipe, director of the Greene County Office of Emergency Management.

Wildfires caused by drought conditions, torrential rain, bitter cold and tornado warnings all occurred during the span of the year.

In November 2023, the wildland fire dubbed the Tweed Fire by the U.S. Forest Service consumed more than 540 acres on Meadow Creek

Mountain, which separates the communities of Houston Valley and St. James.

The fire, which started on the morning of Nov. 8, 2023, was investigated as human-caused. It burned on the Greene County side of the mountain in the area of Tweed Springs Road and on the mountainside in Cocke County near Houston Valley Road.

Personnel who contained the Meadow Creek Mountain fire included forest service “Hotshot” crews from Cherokee National Forest and California. Other outdoor fires sparked by outside burning in November prompted

responses from Greene County volunteer fire departments, including an allegedly illegal burn on West School Street in Mosheim that spread out of control and consumed 2 acres before it was extinguished. The fire prompted the temporary evacuation of two nearby schools.

Prolonged dry conditions at the time of the mountain fire resulted in the forest service instituting forestwide fire restrictions prohibiting fires or campfires outside of developed recreation areas.

No structures were reported destroyed by the wildland fire, but flames did get close to some homes near the mountain. Other wildfires

burned other sections in Cherokee National Forest.

The fire danger eventually diminished as precipitation moved into the region and high winds abated.

In May and June 2023, wildfires that scorched millions of acres in Canada created a smoky haze that drifted south, eventually passing through East Tennessee and affecting air quality.

There were no confirmed tornadoes reported in 2023 in Greene County, but sections of the county experienced three tornado warnings.

There have been 11 confirmed tornadoes in Greene County between 1950 and 2024, including the devastating tornado outbreak in In April 2011. Five tornadoes touched down

in one night in several Greene County communities, causing seven fatalities, multiple injuries, and millions of dollars in property damage.

Greene County also experiences its share of thunderstorms in spring and summertime.

Severe thunderstorms are capable

of producing hail, wind gusts over 58 mph, dangerous lightning and even tornadoes, according to emergency management officials.

As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week in March, the Tennessee

Emergency Management Agency and the weather service reminded Tennesseans “to make severe weather planning and preparedness a priority.”

“Severe weather and flooding can occur any time in Tennessee, even though they are most common during the spring months of March, April, and May,” TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan said in a news release.

“Tennesseans should take this time to familiarize themselves with their emergency plan and know what to do during severe weather events,” Sheehan added.

Sipe recently said the Greene County Emergency Management Office and other agencies promote preparedness and planning in advance throughout

the year. “As March marks the start of climatological spring, the fight between cold and warm air ramps up. Local emergency management personnel continue to help strengthen community resilience when it comes to severe weather and potential disasters by promoting preparedness and awareness, even after Severe Weather Awareness Week is completed,” Sipe said.

For more information on any of the topics covered during Severe Weather Awareness Week, visit: https://www. ready.gov.

A sign up link for the free Greene County emergency alert system SMART911 can be found at https:// www.smart911.com/.