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NOTE

from the

EDITOR

WELCOME! Several months ago, a couple of friends and I had a vision for Marion County. After months of brainstorming, a lot of late nights and countless hours of work, you are currently holding the product of that vision in your hands. We are immensely proud of this publication, and we hope that it continues to grow and flourish in the months to come.

The goal is to provide our community with a countywide snapshot of some of the incredible people, businesses, recreational spots, eateries and events that are right here in our little spot on the map, often unbeknownst to many.

There are so many exciting things going on in our community, yet we do not have a centralized, go-to spot for people to peruse to learn more about their hometowns. We hope Marion Lifestyle will help to not only provide that much-needed information source, but also to help bridge some of the gaps that exist within our county borders.

There are multiple facets within our community geared towards promoting area growth in terms of tourism, business, recreation, the arts and entertainment. As a result, our county is on the cusp of significant growth, and we want to help make that happen.

I am incredibly excited to be able to bring you this very first issue of Marion Lifestyle Magazine, and I look forward to your feedback. Positive comments, criticism, ideas for future issues, advice and/or things you’d like to see – all responses are welcome. I want to build a product that rivals Chattanooga community publications, and with your help, I think we can do that.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all my friends and family, as well as countless community members across the county, for their steadfast support during this venture. I am eternally grateful.

Most of all I want to thank my friends, Dale Woodfin and Trevor Shattuck. Without them, this publication would not exist. The layout and design of this magazine stems from Dale’s expertise, and the supporting advertising exists solely due to the efforts of Trevor. You both amaze me.

I hope you enjoy our inaugural winter edition of Marion Lifestyle Magazine. Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Contributors PO Box 612 South Pittsburg, TN 37380 423-973-4386 ads@marionlifestyle.com www.marionlifestyle.com

Editor/Writer Kathie Tierney

Photography Noted in publication

Distribution 423-973-4386

Designer Dale Woodfin

Advertising Trevor Shattuck

Publisher Southeast Publications

Contents Winter 2018-2019 | VOL. 1 | NO. 1

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Make-A-Wish

SPHS Golf Team

Following a terrifying diagnosis, the Make-A-Wish Foundation

Young talent and a new team overcomes the odds to ink a

grants a local boy’s wishes.

historic season.

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40

Bob Sherrill

Dr. John Morris

After 60 years of announcing for the South Pittsburg Pirates

Your Life Light - Battling and overcoming life’s obstacles and

football team, Bob Sherrill is still going strong.

stressors.

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44

Recipes

Dragging Canoe

Gil Burton from Jasper shares some of his favorite winter

Established in April 2018, Marion County’s newest coffee shop

family recipes

serves up beverages and tasty treats.

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Blue Monarch

Efforts to Battle Litter

Breaking the cycle of abuse - helping women and children

Countywide intiative speared by the chamber and several

across the country.

local businesses to combat litter problem.

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Lodge

Community Fridge

Established in 1896, Lodge is the oldest family-owned

Featuring your photos from around the county - submit to

cookware company in the United States.

#Marionlifestyle to be featurerd in future issues.

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Jasper Highlands (Center Spread p28, Article p30)

Business Directory

Growing mountain top resort community benefitting Marion

Support your local business by using the Marion Lifestyle

County in numerous ways.

business directory.

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Make A Wish Honoring a local boy’s miracle STORY BY Kathie Tierney

M

ake-A-Wish gained its roots back in the spring of 1980, when a U.S. Customs Agent by the name of Tommy Austin shared a stor y of a young, sevenyear-old boy, named Chris, who was battling leukemia, with his fellow officers. Eager to grant the dying boy’s wish to “catch bad guys”, the men approached their superiors for assistance, which sparked the creation of the largest wishgranting organization nationwide.

With just days to live, young Chris’ dreams came true as he was fitted with his own police officer’s uniform and named Arizona’s only honorar y Department of Public Safety Officer.

Following his death, little Chris received the funeral of a fallen officer. The Make-A-Wish Foundation was born.

Today, on average, a wish is granted ever y 34 minutes across the United States, fueled by the efforts of tens of thousands of volunteers, donors and supporters.

“Chris was only seven-years, 269-days old when he died, but he taught me about being a man.

Even though he was only a boy. I can tell you that because of meeting Chris, I am an entirely different man,” said Austin, Make-A-Wish® cofounder and retired U.S. Customs agent.

Grant Shattuck Earlier this year, a wish was granted for a 12-year-old Marion County boy by the name of Grant Shattuck. Suddenly diagnosed with a terrifying brain tumor late in 2016 after suffering from periods of loss of consciousness, Grant’s world came crashing down.

“On December 15, 2016, our worst fear was realized when the

results of the MRI indicated there was a brain tumor in Grant’s left temporal lobe,” said Trevor Shattuck, Grant’s father.

After a series of never-ending doctor appointments and second opinions, all while the seizures increased in frequency, it was determined that surger y was the best course of treatment for Grant’s tumor. Despite the doctor’s warnings of the risks of the surger y due the location of the tumor and the presence of a cyst in the cavity above the tumor, the Shattucks saw no other option.

Ever y day, Grant lived in fear of when the next seizure would strike. After a series of high-dose medications that proved largely ineffective, despite his fears, Grant firmly said, “I want it out.”

Jack, Grant’s identical twin brother, shared fears of his own. Not only was he terrified for his brother, but, as he said, ““I was scared I was going to get one [a tumor] too.”

stands now, Grant has recovered beautifully.

“Grant has not had a seizure since the tumor and cyst were removed. The latest MRI shows no further evidence of the tumor or cyst,” said Linsay.

During Grant’s ordeal, one of his physicians contacted Make-A-Wish on behalf of his young patient.

“After Grant’s surger y, we were contacted out of the blue, by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of East Tennessee. The call confused us, as we assumed Make A Wish was for terminally ill children, but we soon learned that the foundation also grants wishes to children with lifethreatening conditions,” said Linsay.

East Tennessee Branch The East Tennessee branch of the foundation opened back in 1988, which ser ves children throughout 36 counties surrounding Chattanooga, Knoxville, and the Tri-cities.

Surger y was scheduled for Januar y 27, 2017, and by this time, much of the Sequatchie Valley community had rallied around Grant and his family. A Facebook page, #Teamgrant had been created for people to follow Grant’s progress, which the family updated regularly.

“Our mission at Make-A-Wish is to ser ve ever y eligible child with a critical illness to give them a life-changing wish that will bring them hope, strength, and joy,” said Devin Schiesser, Wish Manager at Make-A-Wish East Tennessee.

A year and a half later, Grant’s mother Linsay said that Grant still worries and lives in daily fear that his tumor will return. However, as it

Annually, between 50-70 wishes of all types are granted locally. Typically wishes are granted from the following categories- “wish to go, wish MARION

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to meet, wish to be, wish to have, and wish to give.”

“My role at Make-A-Wish East Tennessee is Wish Manager, and I am responsible for coordinating the wishes and ensuring that the wish a child has selected comes to life exactly as they pictured it,” said Schiesser. “ The best part of my job is seeing the smiles on our kids’ faces when they receive their one true wish,” said Schiesser. “The rest of their worries float away, and they can simply focus on being happy and receiving the strength and hope that they need to carr y on throughout their medical journey.”

“

Smiles were shared, happy tears were shed, and a wish came true. ” In order to qualify for a wish, a child must be between the ages of 2 ½ and 18, and be determined medically eligible by their treating physician. Referrals can be made by a parent, social worker, physician, or even the child themselves.

Make-A-Wish East Tennessee is responsible for raising its’ own funds to grant the wishes throughout their territor y, so it is important to know that by donating to them, the funds go directly to granting the wishes of local children.

Grant’s wish was to receive Xbox One which was provided by GameStop. Unaware that his wish was coming true, Grant’s face lit up with joy when the Shattuck family brought him to GameStop. The store was decorated in Grant’s honor,

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Donations can be made to Make-A-Wish at www.etn.wish.org or checks can be made payable to Make-A-Wish East Tennessee and sent to 6005 Century Oaks Drive, Suite 500, Chattanooga TN 37416

and staff acted as Grant’s personal shoppers, ensuring his wishes were met. As an added element of additional surprise, Grant received his own television for his room so he could enjoy his gaming wish whenever he wanted.

“Grant and his family were some of the most humble and caring people I’ve ever met. You could just feel how close and supportive they all were of each other that day, and each of them was gr inning from ear-to- ear to see their Grant receiving his wish. Smiles were shared, happy tears were shed, and a wish came true,” said Shiesser.

Make-A-Wish The Make-A-Wish Foundation of East Tennessee relies on the support of the community to make the children’s wishes come to life. Donations can be made on their website at www.etn.wish.org, or checks can be made payable to Make-A-Wish East Tennessee and sent to 6005 Centur y Oaks Drive, Suite 500, Chattanooga TN 37416. The organization is also always eager to accept volunteer applications which can be found on their website.

Another way to help is to become a Wish Warrior, where individuals pledge to collect $30 from 30 people to benefit the organization.

“After experiencing the good the Make-A-Wish foundation does, Linsay and I are honored to become Wish Warriors for fundraising,” said Trevor. “Having a child that has received the joy from a granted wish led Linsay and I to pledge to do what little we can to help all eligible children experience a wish.”

Referencing Grant’s personal wish, Schiesser closed with, “I love ever y wish that I grant, but there are always some that you form a special bond with, and Grant and his family was one of those bonds. Grant is such a sweet and brave young child, and hearing of all of his battles he’s faced and conquered was extremely inspiring.”

After the Shattuck wish was granted, Schiesser handed Grant a gift card, explaining that she wanted him to be able to buy some new games down the road for his new Xbox system.

Without missing a beat, Grant turned to his brother Jack, hugged him and said, “This is for you so that you can get an Xbox too.”

The Shattuck Family MARION

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THE VOICE 60 years and counting for Pirates’ announcer Bob Sherrill STORY BY Kathie Tierney

F

or decades, football fans across the valley have grown accustomed to the voice of Bob Sherrill who has been the South Pittsburg Pirates’ Public Address System Announcer since 1958.

Early YearS A 1952 South Pittsburg High School (SPHS) graduate, Sherrill was born in Hixson, Tenn., and moved to South Pittsburg at the age of three. Following graduation, Sherrill attended college and served in the United States Army from 1954-1956.

“They [the Army] told me I was good at I did, and I wanted to apply that to something else. That sort of drove me to want to do it,” said Sherrill.

A year after marrying his wife Patsy with whom he attended SPHS, Sherrill stepped up to the microphone for his Pirates announcing debut at the young age of 25.

“

I guess they like the way I do it. ” When questioned if he was nervous about his big moment, Sherrill responded, “No, I was just excited to have the opportunity to do it.”

Laughing, Sherrill continued, “You gotta have a little ham in you, and I’m guilty.”

A lifetime Pirate, Sherrill lives just a block away from the home his family moved to when he was three years old. “We certainly didn’t go very far,” he said.

Recalling his childhood in South Pittsburg, he fondly remembers the sidewalks on which he rode his tricycle up and down the street when he was a boy.

Sherrill’s first stint at the microphone was during his time overseas when he was stationed in Germany.

“But Patsy won’t let me ride my tricycle anymore,” Sherrill chuckled.

“My job in the army was in communications. I had to pick up the microphone and give directions, talking to people all over the world,” said Sherrill.

“I was told ‘you southerners don’t articulate’, so I started articulating.”

Sherrill lost his father Edgar in 1952 following a terrible car accident on Highway 41 on the way to Chattanooga. Sherrill’s mother, Anne, was also in the car, and she suffered multiple fractures to her face, legs and throughout her body, necessitating a lengthy hospital stay.

In 1958, Sherrill’s good friend, Bob Henderson, who was the head coach of the SPHS football team, ncouraged Sherrill to announce for the games.

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“She was pretty tough,” said Sherrill.

Anne lived to be an incredible 103 years old until she passed away in 2013.

ReCOGnitiOn About ten years ago, Sherrill considered stepping down from announcing, feeling that it was time for someone else to take the position.

“I had the notion that it was time for somebody younger to take over, said Sherrill.”

However, his wife Patsy wouldn’t let him. “No, they like the way you do it,” she said.

Apparently, Patsy was correct because around that same time, Sherrill was surprised and honored when school officials got together and named the press box after him.

“They put my name out there, so I got to stay, but I never even made a tackle or caught a pass,” Sherrill laughed.

Not only has Sherrill earned the respect locally from every Pirate that has ever stepped on the field, but he has also earned it from all the coaches and parents. That respect has even extended across the field where over the years, many visiting teams’ representatives have expressed their appreciation and gratitude for Sherrill’s work.

“

I always try to give a special welcome to the visiting team. ” “Of course, I am biased towards the home team, but I try to be fair and show a little class with it.

For instance, I always try to give a special welcome to the visiting team, and they always seem to be appreciative of that,” said Sherrill.

“The Voice” Bob Sherrill MARION

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Sherrill has racked up an impressive attendance record over the past 60 years. Way back at the beginning of the 1986 season, Sherrill was forced to miss three consecutive Pirates football games due to an illness. John Hewgley stepped in to fill the void in Sherrill’s absence.

Amazingly, since that time over 32 years ago, Sherrill has not missed another game.

TOday To this day, Sherrill continues to announce with as much enthusiasm and dedication as he did back in 1958. Decades ago, Sherrill explained, there was a lot of downtime when announcing football games, but those days are a thing of the past. Much has

changed, and he now has many more responsibilities than he ever did before.

“Money is flowing into the program, and those people of course expect recognition for it,” he said.

“I have to do a commercial for each one [sponsor], each quarter, and that adds up to 16 commercials during the game.”

In addition to his advertising duties, Sherrill is obligated to abide by TSSAA requirements and make announcements prior to the game pertaining to good sportsmanship, fair play, etc. All of that must be accomplished while also ensuring to read the starting line-ups and coaches for both teams.

“You also want to be sure and give the kids on the field credit when its due as in who made the tackle, who caught the pass, and so on. There’s no letup at all, except at halftime. It’s definitely more demanding than it used to be,” Sherrill said.

The extra work hasn’t deterred Sherrill in the least, however, and he still loves every minute of his football announcing duties.

“

“The older I get, the more appreciation I have for the coaches who devote their lives to working with these young people. ”

Bob and Patsy Sherrill on their wedding day.

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“I just love it,” he said. “The older I get, the more appreciation I have for the coaches who devote their lives to working with these young people, and especially for the players. The game has changed so much over the years. It’s faster, the kids are big-

ger and stronger, and it’s more demanding.”

Sherrill continued, “I have enormous respect for those kids who pay the price and make the sacrifice on both sides of the ball.”

PerSOnal Life On February 6, 1963, Bob and Patsy welcomed their five-month-old adopted daughter, Angie, into their home. Surrounded by family and friends, the Sherrills’ lives changed forever.

“My dad was the first person to come and see her,” Patsy remembered fondly.

The Sherrills have also been blessed with two

grown grandchildren, Erica Leigh Smith and Daniel “Gray” Smith.

“My love for our grandchildren flourishes. The older I get, the more I love them,” said Sherrill.

Sharing his grandfather’s love for football and sports, Gray is currently pursuing a degree in Sports Management. On Friday nights, Gray sits next to his grandfather in the press box, and acts as Sherrill’s spotter.

“He points to the name of the player that made the tackle, and I read it. That really helps me,” said Sherrill. “He’s my spotter and my buddy.”

When asked about his future plans, Sherrill just smiled.

“Only the good Lord knows. I am going to keep on going until I can’t go any more. That’s about the size of it.”

Photograph

by Dale Woodfin from the Fiery Gizzard trail.

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RECIPES Delectable dishes from

Gilly’s Kitchen

Crawfish Etouffee ¾ cup butter 1 cup water 1 large onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced ¼ cup flour 2 Tbsp tomato sauce 6 green onions 1 ½ Tbsp Cajun seasoning 1 pound of cooked crawfish tails Melt butter in large saucepan.

Add onion and garlic, saute until onion is transparent. (Medium to medium/high heat)

Recipes BY Gil Burton

G

il Burton of Jasper shares some of his favorite winter dishes with you and your family.

Stir in flour and cook to golden and consistent roux.

Stir in tomato sauce and water.

Add crawfish and bring to a simmer.

Add green onions, salt & pepper (to taste) and Cajun seasoning.

Simmer 5-10 minutes over medium heat.

Serve over rice.

To submit your recipes to be featured in future issues, contact us via our Facebook page Marion Lifestyle Magazine or via email: kathie@MarionLifestyle.com kathie@MarionLifestyle.com.

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Grandmother’s Milk Pie 4 Cups Milk 1 tsp nutmeg 1-1½ cups sugar ½ stick margarine

Heat all together in saucepan.

Make pastry for cobbler OR use 2 storebought pie crusts.

Line inside of dish with pastry.

Pour liquid into lined dish.

Cover dish carefully with 2nd pie crust and press around the edges of dish.

Bake @ 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until crust is brown.

Serve & enjoy!

Fireman’s Rolls

2 cups self-rising flour ¼ cup mayonnaise 1 cup milk 1-2 Tablespoons of sugar

Chicken Pot Pie

4 chicken breasts, boiled I can Veg-All, drained I can Cream of Chicken Soup ½ small container of sour cream Dash of Onion Powder 2 boiled eggs 1 small can of mushrooms (optional) Cut up chicken. Mix all ingredients, adding a little water or chicken broth.

Pour into two deep-dish pie crusts.

Bake 30-40 minutes at 450 degrees.

Yummy!

Mix all ingredients well. Spoon into greased muffin tins and bake at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes. Butter immediately.

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Susan Binkley, Blue Monarch founder and president.

BLUE MONARCH

Mission to restore hope and break the cycle

STORY BY Kathie Tierney

If you have not heard of Blue Monarch, chances are that is a very good thing. That would mean that you, or a loved one, have not required the services they provide. Since first opening its doors in 2003, Blue Monarch has served over 750 women and children who sought recovery from abuse and addictions. Tucked away on a peaceful, 50-acre beautiful farm in Coffee County, the organization began by only serving the six nearby counties, including Marion County.

B

ecause of great demand, Blue Monarch extended their services to the entire state of Tennessee, and by 2014, they were taking families from across the country.

“It became ridiculous to disqualify a family because they were living in the wrong WalMart parking lot,” said Susan Binkley, Blue Monarch founder and president. “And it’s apparent how unique we are because the very day we made this change, we began receiving calls from coast to coast.”

THE DIFFERENCE Although there are many organizations that serve the same population, Blue Monarch - a one-to-two year, Christ-centered, residential recovery program, has set itself apart in a number of ways. While addiction recovery is one spoke in a very large wheel of issues to address, Blue Monarch focuses a great deal on the mother/child relationship.

More often than not, the women who come to Blue Monarch have been incarcerated and lost custody of their children. The chances are also great that the mother comes from a home where addic-

tion is part of the family culture.

“Sadly, many of our women were taught to use drugs between the ages of 11 and 13, and oftentimes, by a parent or grandparent in the same home,” said Binkley.

“It’s no wonder that so many turned to drugs as a way to numb themselves. Why not, if everyone in the home is doing it?”

Naturally, it is difficult to be a healthy parent when good parenting has never been observed or learned. This generational cycle of abuse and addiction is at the very core of what Blue Monarch strives to change.

“It struck me one day that we needed to do more to help women learn to parent their children,” said Binkley. “They can earn their GED, get a job, and learn all kinds of life skills, but if they leave here and still don’t know how to parent their children sober for the first time, the pressures of single parMARION

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enting could potentially become the greatest trigger for relapse.”

It was because of this concern that Blue Monarch developed a very rich Parenting Sober Program. Each mother is offered handson coaching for her individual parenting challenges, which are drastically different for each family.

Through on-site individual and family counseling, the family is given the opportunity to heal and recover together. In fact, through this intensive parenting instruction and support, over 250 children have been reunited with their mothers since the organization began fifteen years ago.

SUPPORT CONTINUES This powerful process does not end when the mother regains custody, however. In many cases, that is when it becomes even more challenging. The child may have lots of anger and resentment toward the mother and this takes time to heal. In many cases, the parent and child roles may have been reversed, and it takes a great deal of patience for the mother to gain the respect of her child as a parent, 20 MARION

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and for the child to give up that independence to a parent he has not trusted in the past.

“We find that many of the children we serve don’t know how to play. They have perhaps lived with abuse or neglect, exposure to drugs or violence, and at the very least, they have been missing a sense of security. They have been solving grownup problems their whole lives and sometimes show up worried about food and shelter,” said Binkley. “We believe we have a valuable opportunity to completely change that child’s perception of a healthy home in the one-to-two years we have them. But first, we want to give them their childhood back. We do that by helping the mother become a healthy mom.”

The Proverbs 22:6 Children’s Program provides robust and in-

dividualized support, which is designed to help the child heal, and ultimately decrease the chances that they will continue the cycle of abuse and addiction. (Train a

Tasty Way to Support Blue Monarch Blue Monarch prepares women for the workplace through an on-site business that manufactures Out of the Blue Granola.

This tasty granola is all-natural and made with local wildflower honey.

Inside every 3 oz. or 12 oz. bag is a photograph of one of the women who baked the granola, with her special story of recovery on the back.

Ashley Casort, baker and marketing specialist said, “I am a 27-year-old mother of two amazing children who are the light of my world. I’ve had a roller coaster life with my addiction to meth. I lost everything and almost lost my life. God had a plan for me and brought me out of the dark pit of devastation I was drowning in. I feel so blessed for the opportunity to work with Out of the Blue Granola and for Blue Monarch saving my life.”

Out of the Blue Granola is sold at Whole Foods, Kroger stores, and specialty markets across the state. It can also be purchased online at: http://www. outofthebluegranola.com/shop.

Blue Monarch can have on a family tree. She lived her entire life in poverty, surrounded by drugs, alcohol, and crime.

When Marie arrived at Blue Monarch with her two boys, they had no bond with one another. Her youngest child was born addicted to drugs and suffered developmentally. Her oldest boy felt nothing but disdain for his mother, which resulted in severe anger.

child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Prov. 22:6) Susan Binkley proudly stated, “We are finding that our children’s program is doing exactly what we wanted. Children who lived with us as toddlers are now coming back to visit as teenagers. They tell us that they want their children and grandchildren to live like they did at Blue Monarch. They have very fond memories of their time here and we pray they will repeat it one day.”

“

We are finding that our children’s program is doing exactly what we wanted.”

Marie Harmon’s story is a great example of the powerful impact

After two years at Blue Monarch, however, Marie and her boys have a healthy, loving relationship. Marie is gainfully employed and received a recent promotion. Her youngest boy is healthy and thriving, and her oldest is at the top of his class in school. “If not for Blue Monarch, it is likely my boys would eventually repeat the horrible, destructive cycles in my family,” Marie says. “I am so thankful God brought me to Blue Monarch. It truly saved our lives.”

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information about Blue Monarch or to find ways that you can help, visit www. bluemonarch.org or call (931) 924-8900.

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Advertise in our county’s premier publication.

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STORY BY Kathie Tierney 24 MARION

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from the manufacturing line with minor blemishes or imperfections. Largely unnoticeable to most, Lodge’s strict production standards prohibit such blemished merchandise from being shipped out.

The oldest family-owned cookware company in the United States.

L

Once a piece of cookware is complete, a blemish or imperfection can only be remedied by re-melting the cast iron piece and starting the process over again. However, that process is very expensive and time-consuming. To help find a more cost-effective alternative, a ‘factory seconds’ retail store was opened in 1994 in South Pittsburg to allow people to purchase the blemished, but fully-functional cookware for a reduced price.

odge Manufacturing Company has been in the foundry business since 1896, fine-tuning and perfecting the art of producing of cast-iron cookware over the years.

Beginning as a small retail location and filled with pallets of grey, unseasoned cast iron products, the store went through several remodels through the years.

During a visit to Chattanooga in the late 1870s, Pennsylvania native and Lodge founder Henry Lodge, who was lured to the south due to the area’s rumored industrial development, stumbled upon the town of South Pittsburg during a long walk.

In 2002, Lodge began to season its cast iron prior to selling, a process that had been previously left to the consumer to handle. During production, vegetable oil is sprayed on both sides of the cast iron products which are then baked in high-temperature, industrial ovens.

A short time later, Lodge moved to South Pittsburg where he obtained employment in the coal and iron industry. In 1896, Lodge started the Blacklock Foundry, named for a friend of his, which flourished until the building burned down 11 years later. Refusing to be deterred, Lodge rebuilt the foundry under its current Lodge Manufacturing name.

The resulting shiny black, ready-to-use, seasoned cookware helped revitalize the company as castiron cooking became a staple in the world of food preparation. This newfound love of cast iron was fueled by popular cooking television shows and celebrity chefs who swore by cast-iron cookware for its superior heat retention, nonstick finish and durability,

From the beginning, Lodge was insistent upon high-quality standards in the cookware produced by his company, and largely for that reason, Lodge Manufacturing products continue to be in high demand today, well over a century later.

Just a handful of years later, Lodge introduced its popular, colorful enamel product line. With such product advancements, the retail store surged in popularity, and it quickly outgrew its location. In 2016, the company’s store moved to a larger location in South Pittsburg where the mildly blemished or imperfect products are still sold, along with a large inventory of ‘perfect’ cast iron and many new cookware products.

Since 1896, Lodge Manufacturing has remained in the hands of generations of Lodge’s family and today, it is the oldest family-owned cookware company in the United States.

Cookware production

The technique of manufacturing the perfect piece of Lodge Cast Iron cookware is a complex, detailed and involved process. As a result, oftentimes products emerge

Additional retail Lodge stores are located in the surrounding areas of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Commerce, Georgia.

Expansions

Lodge’s renewed success and surge in sales left the MARION

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company in the unique position of being unable to keep up with consumer demand. In early 2015, the original foundry was expanded, which led to an increase in production capacity by almost 50%.

Amazingly, Lodge management soon realized the recent foundry expansion was not sufficient as cast-iron popularity soared across the country, and extended on an international level.

In June 2016, not yet two years since their last foundry expansion, Lodge held a double-groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new 127,000 squarefoot foundry as well as a massive, state-of-the-art, 212,000-square foot distribution center.

During the ceremony, CEO and great-grandson of Henry Lodge, Bob Kellermann, said, “Obviously, we are committed to Tennessee manufacturing and made in the USA. This expansion underscores what we say in the marketplace – ‘Lodge, 120 years and still cooking.’”

with its loyalty to its small-town roots.

Very supportive of its community, Lodge is one of the largest sponsors of the National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg which brings tens of thousands of visitors to the town annually. Approaching its 22nd year, the festival has brought an economic boost to an area that was suffering following the construction of the bypass interstate.

“The downtown area was dying,” said Mark Kelly, Lodge public relations and advertising manager. “The [National Cornbread] festival was a way to reinvigorate the city.”

For more information about the annual festival, visit www.nationalcornbread.com.

Lodge is an avid supporter of both local education at all levels, and of schools across the country.

“We really try to support culinary schools throughout

In the summer of 2017, the distribution warehouse, the largest building in Marion County, opened its doors. The warehouse boasts one of the flattest concrete floors in the country which allows the use of wire-guided lift trucks to store and access merchandise stacked on racks in the 50-foot high structure.

On Nov. 20, 2017, the new foundry celebrated its “first pour” as cast iron production officially began. The addition of the new foundry is projected to increase the company’s production capacity by 75%.

Giving back

While maintaining a fast-growing company that has thrived not only locally and nationally, but also on an international level, Lodge has always remained steadfast 26 MARION

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the country which not only acts as natural feeder system, but also brings light to the culinary arts which are so predominant in our culture now,” said Kelly.

Lodge sponsors the Southern Foodway Alliance (SFA) which, “studies, and explores the diverse food cultures of the changing American South”, according to their

website, www.southernfoodways.org. Through its podcast and printed journal entitled ‘Gravy’, the SFA “showcases a South that is constantly evolving…adopting new traditions, and lovingly maintaining old ones. It uses food as a means to dig into lesser-known corners of the region, complicate stereotypes, document new dynamics, and give voice to the unsung folk who grow, cook, and serve our daily meals.”

Lodge is also a long-time sponsor of the local Boy Scout troop, youth sports, children’s charities, community projects and a multitude of other area needs.

To celebrate its 120th anniversary in the summer of 2016, Lodge introduced 120 commemorative 12-inch custom skillets, and auctioned them off online. The goal was to raise $15,000 for local charities, but the company was surprised by its customer support and the bidding well exceeded all expectations. One of the anniversary skillets sold for an astonishing $1,896.

By the end of the auctions, over $25,000 had been raised, which was evenly distributed to three local charities – the Marion County Community Ministries (the food bank), Marion County Good Neighbors (to help those in need cover the costs of utilities) and the Marion County Children’s Fund (which provides clothes, school supplies, etc. to needy children).

In 2016, following the devastating fires in and around Gatlinburg, Tenn., Lodge manufactured thousands of commemorative Great Smoky Mountain skillets and donated the proceeds from each sale, netting an amount exceeding $75,000.

Recycling

Perhaps one of the biggest company accomplishments has been Lodge’s dedication to recycling. Not only is the company a supporter of local community recycling endeavors, but their ‘green’ industrial efforts are quite impressive: • Sand is reused in the cast-iron making operation, which can withstand the intense heat of the foundry process. According to Kelly, the used sand is eventually recycled where the company has donated it for use in local ponds and landfills, saving the county and municipalities hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses.

• Lodge collects cracked and broken skillets, melts the cast iron, and uses it to create new cookware.

• Annually, Lodge recycles hundreds of pounds of cardboard, loose paper, steel shot, motor oil, mixed metal, lead acid batteries, plastic bottles, aluminum cans and light bulbs.

• As part of the ENERGY STAR® challenge, a global call-to-action for industrial sites to reduce their energy, Lodge reduced their energy consumption by 20%.

• In 1994, Lodge received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Hazardous Waste Reduction.

• Over 120 trees have been planted on Lodge property to help improve local air quality and beautification.

Providing employment to over 400 people, a figure that has doubled over the past ten years, Lodge is flourishing despite producing products that are virtually indestructible family heirlooms, and handed down through the generations.

Informational tours are offered of the foundry just once a year, demonstrating the technology that has withstood 120 years and counting. The tours take place during the National Cornbread Festival each spring.

For more information about tours or the Lodge company, visit www. lodgemfg.com.

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Dreams with a view

JASPER HIGHL STORY BY Kathie Tierney

Acquired in 2008 by Chattanooga developer John “Thunder” Thornton, the 9,000-acre Jasper Highlands mountain top community has quickly become one of the largest residential developments in this area.

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n the beginning stages, the recession undermined the development of Jasper Highlands, as it did to countless other properties. Roads were constructed, and access was created to the mountain from Kimball, largely intensifying the mountain’s residential appeal.

The first plot was recorded on June 5, 2012, and over the years, locals have watched the Jasper Highlands community quietly grow and prosper. Hundreds of plots of land have been purchased, homes have been constructed, and a steady stream of 30 MARION

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new residents have moved in to the area.

Today, over 600 lots have been sold up on Jasper Highlands, with 750 that have been platted. Currently, 163 people live on the mountain, and 100 homes have either been constructed or are currently under construction. Of those 163, twenty-four states and four countries are represented.

the area in terms of boosting and strengthening the local economy.

From an area that in 2018 yielded $27,000 in property taxes for the county, that figure now amounts to a figure in excess of $700,000.

If current forecasts are accurate, that number could exceed a million dollars of taxpayer monies flooding into Marion County annually by the end of 2019.

LOCAL BENEFITS

Education

From its beginning stages, the promise of what Jasper Highlands could bring to Marion County has been a tremendous bonus to

With a desire to show his support for local education and following the completion of the Jasper Highlands Volunteer Fire Department,

HLANDS Thornton and his people contacted the local schools asking their students to come up with names of the three new fire trucks.

Three cash prizes totaling $22,500 were awarded to the schools of the winnng entries in the trucknaming contest.

Fitness Center/ Restaurant “Formal plans have yet to be publicized, but we have broken ground on what will be a fitness center and a restaurant, both of which should be completed by the summer of 2019. It will be right before the gate, and open to the public,” said Dane Bradshaw, president of Thunder Enterprises.

As it stands now, the plan is to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner

a mountain top gem benefitting Marion County

at the new restaurant.

“Our plan is to have something a little more upscale than what Marion County currently has,” said Bradshaw.

Chamber of Commerce Through a sponsorship for the First Annual Chamber of Commerce Golf tournament, Jasper Highlands played an integral role in giving back to the local community, as well as offering the beautiful Pat’s Summitt in which to host the 2019 Chamber Banguet.

Jasper Highlands Fire Department Following a vehicle fire and discovering the urgent need for fire protection services on the mountain, Jasper Highlands staff soon

realized the need for a fire department on the mountain. In less than a year, the Jasper Highlands Volunteer Fire Department went from nothing at all, to a 14-member crew with one of the lowest ISO ratings in the area.

“

Marion County benefits from the homeowners in Jasper Highlands. ” Boosting local economy

“One of the points that John (Thornton) has always made is that the customers we are bringing in aren’t a burden on any county

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services,” said Bradshaw.

Instead, new residents are largely empty-nesters who do not have young children that require schooling and thus, are not putting a burden on the school system.

Additionally, the Jasper Highlands residents were and are attracted to the area knowing that a mid-sized city is available to them should they need it, but their daily shopping, eating and consumer dollars are spent right here in the county.

GIG service After they discovered that mountain residents were going to be without an internet service provider, Bradshaw said, “We couldn’t wait on the legislation to be passed, we just formed our own.”

Thornton attempted to obtain internet services from Charter and AT&T, but was unable to secure fair pricing. Following that, Thornton created his own internet service provider.

provides jobs for local Marion County residents. From 4-5 employees back in 2012, Jasper Highlands now employs about 50 people. About half of those people are from Marion County.

Gigabit speed internet at Jasper Highlands is provided by Hi Tech Data, LLC. The intention at the time of the development of the internet service provider was to bring internet to the community as a whole, but that was not able to occur.

Beautification

Using the fiber optic system that the North Alabama Electric Coop created to help set up a Google data site at the shuttered Widows Creek coal plant, Thornton was able to offer high-speed, gigabit-per-second Internet service for all home sites in Jasper Highlands.

Future Development

“Welcome to ‘Gig Mountain,’” Thornton told enthusiastic supporters about his internet service.

“With the band of clouds around Jasper Mountain today, we literally are now a digital island in the sky.”

Military Discounts In support of the military, police and firefighters, Jasper Highlands offered 10% off their property purchases.

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The former purple ‘Eye Ear Optical’ building is now fully-renovated and beautiful addition to Kimball.

The property was purchased in late 2014, and it now serves as the main office for Jasper Highlands.

“The perception [of the development] was initially skeptical about the potential success of such a community because so many others had failed. Now, while we are not complete and we are not done developing, with the swimming pool, fire department and other amenities, I think we are here to stay,” said Bradshaw.

With hopes that their success thus far helps to encourage further property development down the road, Bradshaw said, “I am hopeful this helps bring more development to Marion County, so people don’t look at great, developable land and think there is not a way anything could work here,” said Bradshaw.

For more information, visit Jasper Highland’s website at www.JasperHighlands.com, or visit them on Facebook at Jasper Highlands. The office is located at 104 Battlecreek Road, Kimball, TN 37380 and their phone number is (888) 777 – 5758.

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SPHS GOLF TEAM

Historic season extraordinary golfers and great friends STORY BY Kathie Tierney

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t the beginning of this school year, with just one returning player, the future of the South Pittsburg High School (SPHS) golf team was uncertain. Yet just a few months later, the newly-formed team found themselves making history.

Prior to 2018, it had been many years since the SPHS golf team had won a tournament. On August 9, after a home match against Bledsoe, the SPHS team celebrated their first season win, led by Head Coach Hunter Giles. It had been several years since an SPHS team had won a match, and for Casey Tierney (Junior), who has been on the team since the 8th grade, it was a first.

“Coming into this season, the golf team had been through its trials. We experienced many struggles in the 2017 season, especially in the win column, being 36 MARION

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that it was empty. However, our lone returner to the 2018 season, Casey Tierney, had a very productive sophomore season that definitely carried over into this year,” said Giles.

“After appearing in the 2017 District and Region tournaments, Casey built on that over the offseason and became a cornerstone for our very successful 2018 season,” Giles continued.

THE ROSTER The SPHS team roster consisted of Trae Tucker (Senior), Casey Tierney (Junior), Austin Jackson and Ethan Blevins (Freshmen) and Colby Elwood (8th grade). Amazingly, a couple of the boys had played very little golf prior to joining the team, yet with a lot of hard work, they flourished.

“We were able to bring in some fresh young faces,

Austin Jackson, Ethan Blevins, and Colby Elwood, who contributed largely to our success. We were also able to bring in Trae Tucker, a senior, who not only contributed to our achievements on the course, but brought the boys together socially and kept things fun for us all. The personalities on our team definitely made it easy to show up every day and coach this season,” said Giles.

At the end of the regular season, the SPHS golf team had an impressive 6-3 record. Heading into Districts as a team was an exciting venture for the boys, and they came away with an incredible second place accomplishment, losing only to Signal Mountain. That victory led them directly to Regionals, marking a historical achievement for the SPHS golf team.

“I definitely did not have a team Region Tournament appearance in our forecast for this season, but the hard work and passion that was exhibited in the early weeks of practice made our success less surprising,” said Giles.

Individually, Tierney managed to come in with the lowest District score of all the participating teams, except for first place Signal Mountain. (Grundy, Bledsoe, Chattanooga Arts & Sciences and Marion County).

“I could not have achieved the success that I did this season without an incredible team beside me, and a great coach leading the way,” said Tierney.

TEAM More research needs to be done, but as far as anyone can recall, it has been decades since the SPHS Golf Team advanced to Regionals. Over the years, many individual players, including Tierney, have played at the District and Regional level, but not as a team.

“I really loved this season of golf because we went all the way to Regionals as a team,” said Blevins.

Elwood shared Blevins’ sentiment by saying, “I had a great time this season, and I really look forward to

next year.”

Although the team did not advance to State this year, the boys gave it their all. Freshman Jackson who had never competed at that level before, managed to come in with the lowest score on the team and missed State individually by just a few strokes.

“I have been playing golf for about seven years now. I really enjoy it because my grandfather got me into it, and it’s been a lot of fun ever since,” said Jackson.

At the end of the season, Giles talked about the team as a whole, and looked towards next year.

“Even though the accolades have definitely boosted the morale and confidence of the boys, the returners (all but Trae Tucker) know that they have not met their team and individual goals. The lack of experience these golfers had, prior to this season, worked against them at times, especially when dealing with the technicalities and mental aspects of a tough sport,” said Giles.

Next year will be Tierney’s fifth and final season as an SPHS golfer, and he eagerly awaits the chance to continue to build upon this year’s successes.

“

I’m very proud of the team” “I am very proud of the team for all that we accomplished together this year. Everyone worked very hard and competed to their highest ability. I could not be happier with how the season went for us, and I can’t wait to come back and do it again next year!”

Former SPHS Golf Coach and current SPHS Principal Tim Bible chimed in with, “I am very proud of what the team has accomplished throughout this historic season. Coach Giles led the team incredibly well, and I look forward to their continued success next year.”

Looking towards the offseason, the boys plan on continuing to practice together at their home course of Sweeten’s Cove and participating in area tournaments and competitions when they can.

“It is going to be an exciting offseason for these guys, as they are planning on playing in some spring and summer amateur golf leagues. This will give them some great experience, and they will be able to learn more and more about the game,” said Giles.

Sadly, the team will play without current Senior Trae Tucker next year, who was an integral part of the camaraderie between the boys.

Ethan Blevins

Colby Elwood

“

It’s going to be an exciting offseason. ” “I thought we had a good season to have not had a steady golf team for a while. I had some excellent teammates. Not only are they extraordinary golfers, but they are also great friends. I didn’t have that great of a season, but I still made some great memories with them and with Coach Giles that I will never forget,” said Tucker.

Austin Jackson

Casey Tierney

In closing, Giles had a message for any potential future SPHS golfers.

“I am very proud of my guys, and I encourage any and all young players to see this team’s success and be moved to join this fun and competitive culture we are beginning to grow here at South Pittsburg High School,” said Giles.

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YOUR

LIFE LIGHT

TYPES OF STRESS The three types of stress that manifest themselves within our bodies are: * Physical stress (poor posture, prolonged sitting, car wreck, falling down stairs, etc.) * Chemical stressors (processed/fast food, toxic drugs (and yes they are all toxic!) alcohol, smoking, etc.) * Emotional stress (bad day at work, poor/unhealthy relationships, death of a loved one, etc.)

All these stresses develop physical deficits within your body and will lead you down a path of bodily dysfunction and if left unchecked will result in disease leading to symptoms.

LACK OF LIFE/LIGHT

STORY BY Dr. John Morris

T

here are many different types of light in this world. Most of you are familiar with visible light (colors in a rainbow). The light you see is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

There are other forms of the electromagnetic spectrum that are not visible to the human eye such as radio waves, x-rays, microwaves, infrared, and ultraviolet to name a few. There is spiritual light as well. Jesus, for example, says He is the light of the world and whomever follows Him will not walk in darkness.

LIFE FORCE I would like to introduce to you another light, an innate light that emanates from within each of us: your life force! Most of you have some idea of what I’m talking about. Just like a reduction of energy will reduce electromagnetic radiation and just like sin brings about spiritual darkness; subluxation reduces the expression of the life force within us.

There are life-dampening effects of subluxation. By definition, subluxation means less light or less life. What causes a subluxation? All stress results in subluxation.

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This lack of life/light is cumulative and self-perpetuating, and we magnify this destructive cycle by taking drugs to alleviate the symptoms which are typically end game of a condition or disease. An example of this would be if you take a rubber band and wrap it tightly around your finger. The healthy finger will begin to deteriorate, turn color, and increase in pain. If you massage the finger, what happens? You get a very little, temporary improvement, yet the problem resumes. Take drugs for the finger pain, what happens? You may temporarily dampen the pain, opening the door to a lifetime of drug usage to quell the pain. But have you addressed the root cause of the problem or just the symptoms? It will continue until it is time for the doctor to cut it off. Ridiculous thought, right? Not until you remove the stressor (the rubber band) can your body can begin to heal and become pain-free.

We must break this downward spiral into a dark abyss.

Over time, this life-sucking cycle is equivalent to a dimmer on a light that is slowly extinguished. Fortunately, there are options to illuminate your life force once again.

The most logical choice is chiropractic. A well- trained chiropractor can awaken the life force within you, release the physical manifestations of stress allowing the life force to flow more freely, and help you live the D.R.E.A.M..

D= Diet. Focus on healthy, non-inflammatory foods to eat every day. A trained chiropractor will delight in coaching you in this direction.

R= Rest. When you sleep, this is the time to repair and rebuild your body. I discourage sleeping with a full stomach since the energy goes into digestion instead of repairing. Don’t sleep on your stomach. Invest in a quality mattress that you will spend approximately a third of your life on. Typically a chiropractor can offer good advice in choosing the right mattress for you.

E= Exercise. This causes the bodily fluids and tissues to be worked and stress release is usually the natural byproduct. Chiropractors can usually offer good advice to help you get the most out of a workout.

A= Adjustment. This is the vehicle that chiropractors use to maximize the life expression within you, releasing your body’s God given potential while reducing/eliminating the life draining effects of stress. Chiroprac-tors desire to crank up the dimmer and see you express life at a whole different level!

M= Mental/Spiritual well being. By removing the life draining distractions of stress and steering you towards a focus of life and health, chiroprac-tors delight in watching your energy, radiance, and exuberance for life skyrocket!

resort. These people are symptom-driven and hope to reverse this cycle to various points depending on what the patient is committed to achieving and the amount of life force left inside the patient that they desire to express.

Don’t wait for the symptoms to arise to decide to seek life improvement.

I encourage you to experience what happens when you decide to express your life to its fullest potential. You still have light inside you while you are alive and you can bring it up to the brightness of your choosing.

About the author: Dr. John Morris has been serving the Chattanooga community for 21 years. He has a Fellowship with the Inter-national Chiropractic Pediatric Association and a Board Certification in Spinal Extremities and Sports Injuries. Dr. Morris graduated with Honors from the Life University school of Chiropractic and is considered an expert in Human Health, specialty care for pregnant mothers, their children, and most all injuries related to extremities and sports injuries. Dr. Morris now lives in Marion County with his son. Dr. Morris can be reached at both the Kimball and Chattanooga offices by calling 423893-0303 or email morrisfamilychiro@gmail.com.

Most people venture into a chiropractor’s office as a last

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MARION COUNTY’S newest coffee shop

STORY BY Kathie Tierney

Established on April 20, 2018, Dragging Canoe Coffee Traders is the vision of owners Kevin Hudson and Robert Bateh. Nestled in the former Tower Community Bank drive-thru structure, coffees for every palate are readily available. With over 50 years of combined industry experience, Hudson and Bateh saw a need in the quaint town of South Pittsburg, and they seized the opportunity.

J

oining a growing trend within the community, Dragging Canoe Coffee Traders is helping to attract hospitality, arts, music and tourism to the area. With hopes of expanding their brand, Hudson and Bateh strive to bring the best quality ingredients and provide economic growth.

When starting their busi44 MARION

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ness, Hudson and Bateh took great care when coming up with their trademark name. Derived from the local Native American Indian Chief to the Nickajack area during the late 1700’s, Dragging Canoe was the head of the Chickamauga tribe that was formed after he broke away from the Cherokees. Angry with treaties that were designed to take away their land, Dragging Canoe and his tribe opposed the invad-

ing British.

The Dragging Canoe Coffee Traders company name was chosen as an ode to its historical relevance of when Native American Indians were forced from their land.

In order to be a warrior, a requirement was to carry your canoe. Being a man of small stature, “Dragging Canoe” did just that, and dragged his vessel behind him.

Kevin Hudson Born and raised in Kimball, coowner of Dragging Canoe Coffee Traders, Hudson received his Associates Degree from Florida

State College located in Jacksonville, Florida.

Prior to opening Dragging Canoe Coffee Traders, Hudson served as the Vice-President of the Northeast Florida Astronomical Society and taught optical design and telescope making at Florida State College.

Hudson also worked for Apple Computers for five years as a trainer.

Hudson was also very involved with Permaculture farming where he utilized natural farming techniques and installed edible forests for women rescued from sex trafficking at Rethreaded in Jacksonville, Florida.

Having returned to his birthplace, Hudson strives to help his community grow and prosper.

“Dragging Canoe Coffee Traders’ focus is to bring economical growth to the community

through business development.

In collaboration with local restaurants and businesses such as Marion Lifestyle, we hope to pioneer and achieve an entire new draw to the area,” said Hudson.

Hudson and Bateh have already hosted several events including a car show, a movie night and a pep rally, and plans are underway for more occasions for community engagement in the near future.

Hudson closed with, “We really appreciate the community involvement with the movie event and others, and this really shows a desire for these types of events in the area.”

Robert John Bateh Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Bateh is a first generation American of Palestinian heritage.

From an early age, Bateh’s heritage instilled a love for food and cooking in him which was facilitated by growing up in the grocery store, sandwich shop and deli businesses.

During his studies in community college, Bateh expanded into the Hospitality realm and decided his calling was to pursue a Culinary Degree and become a chef.

“During the past fourteen years through the yachting industry, I have been able to experience international travel, cuisines, ingredients and cultures. In addition, with the onset of the information age, fad diets and supplements, my knowledge of true “healthy” foods and eating habits has expanded in great lengths,” said Bateh.

Bateh’s other interests outside of food and coffee include collecting percussion instruments traditional to the countries he has visited. He also spent a lot

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of time SCUBA diving, and he enjoys gardening.

“I feel that it is rewarding to “know” exactly what you are eating,” said Bateh.

Using his knowledge of food

and the culinary arts, Bateh has helped to introduce food items to the Dragging Canoe Coffee Traders menu.

bacon and sausaege options on bagels or a croissant, and an array of baked goods such as muffins and pastries.

Starting with breakfast, a selection of breakfast sandwiches are available that includes ham,

For lunch, sandwiches include chicken salad, tuna or a BLT on various bread options, kettle chips and a soup of the day.

With the addition of food items to their extensive beverage menu, Dragging Canoe has become a quick stop for hungry locals.

With drive-thru, walk-up and

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outdoor seating options, Dragging Canoe and accommodate every situation. They also offer catering services for special events.

Down the road Hudson and Bateh hope to further expand their business in and around South Pittsburg, in terms of menu and location.

No definitive plans have been made to date, but locals should keep an eye out for future growth.

Located at 409 Elm Street in South Pittsburg, Dragging Canoe Coffee Traders is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. They are closed on Sundays.

For more information, visit the Dragging Canoe Coffee Traders Facebook page or via their Instagram.

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EFFORTS TO BATTLE LITTER STORY BY Kathie Tierney

A couple of years ago, after learning of local business Colonial Chemical’s efforts to reduce litter in our community, the Marion County Chamber of Commerce created an anti-litter committee geared towards spearheading a countywide initiative.

E

arly last year, then Chamber President Jamie Lawson approached the County Commission seeking support for the chamber initiative, “If you ask anybody if they’re against littering, 100 out of 100 people would probably say yes, but, if you look out on the side of the road, that doesn’t always appear to be the case.”

The commission agreed, and they passed a supporting resolution in favor of the chamber’s anti-litter efforts in 2017.

Marion County Mayor David Jackson said during that 2017 meeting, “Litter is detrimental to recruiting new industry and businesses to our county, and the Chamber has taken a big step forward to try to come up with plans and ideas to curb our litter problem,” he said. “We appreciate them making this effort. It’s a major problem throughout our county.”

Jackson continued by saying he wanted to encourage people to do their part in helping solve the litter problem.

“We want to encourage, churches, civic groups, residents, whoever, to help with this problem,” he said. “If you see it going on, let the authorities know.”

At the commission meeting, Lawson said of the Chamber, “We thought, ‘What can we do to help with this effort’, because it does affect businesses that are here and visitors to 48 MARION

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Countywide initiative

our county. It affects people wanting to come in and start a business here.”

The Chamber began campaigns to bring awareness to the litter issue using billboards, newspaper advertisements and working with local municipalities. They also introduced several grants spearheaded towards businesses and entities that joined the Chamber’s litter prevention initiative. Grant

The Marion County Chamber of Commerce and its members encourage other local businesses and volunteers to adopt a local roadway in an effort to help keep the county clean.

There is no fee required to participate in the program. TDOT provides volunteers with all the necessary supplies and safety materials and filled trash bags are removed from roadsides by TDOT crews.

For more information, visit www.tn.gov.

For more information about ongoing anti-litter campaigns or to add your support, contact the Marion County Chamber office at (423) 942-5103.

recipients received $400 to assist with various litter prevention projects.

The chamber appreciates the support of community partners like the grant recipients and so many others who have joined the chamber’s litter prevention campaign, “Help Keep Marion County Beautiful. Love the Land. Lose the Litter.” This is a cause in which everyone can play a part.

Several years ago, after hearing about the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program, management at Colonial Chemical in New Hope volunteered to adopt a two-mile stretch of Highway 156 near their plant in New Hope. Since that time, Colonial hosts quarterly trash pick-up days to maintain their commitment to the project.

From the company’s inception, Colonial has remained competitive in the market of natural product development and environmentally-friendly chemical usage. Protection of the environment is very important to Colonial’s management and staff, and their manufacturing processes adhere to a series of strict environment protecting guidelines.

Adopting a highway simply furthered their commitment to the environment.

Melissa Kertesz, Director of Emergency Services, put it this way, “Not only is Parkridge West committed to the care of human life, but also of the environment we live in.”

Equally concerned with the protection of the environment as their Colonial neighbors, Lodge Manufacturing recently joined the Adopt-A-Highway program when they adopted the section of Highway 72 from the overpass to the state line that runs alongside their property. Their first trash pick-up day was on September 15, 2018. With fourteen volunteers, including retired CEO and great-grandson of Henry Lodge, Bob Kellermann, three full trucks of trash and one full truck of tires were collected alongside Highway 72.

Since the states’ Adopt-A-Highway program’s inception in 1989, volunteers across the state have collected over 12 million pounds of litter from Tennessee’s roadsides.

According to www.tn.gov, “Tennessee’s Adopt-A-Highway Program provides an opportunity for individuals and groups concerned about the environment to take an active role in preserving and protecting our state’s natural beauty.”

Following in Colonial’s footsteps, Lawson helped to get his place of employment, Parkridge West Hospital signed up to maintain the stretch of Highway 28 in Jasper near the hospital.

On September 19, 2017, the Parkridge West cleanup crew did their first quarterly trash pick-up along Highway 28 towards the Town of Jasper exit.

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Welcomes You!

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e’re so glad you are here in beautiful Marion County. Citizens Tri-County Bank is here for all your financial needs. We’ve got all the conveniences such as Online Banking, Remote Deposit Anywhere, Online Banking with Enhanced Bill Pay and our beautiful Card-at-Once personalized debit cards, but we also have the one-onone customer service that you deserve. Come by today and see why we’re

The Only Community Bank You’ll Ever Need!

CITIZENS

TRI-COUNTY BANK

Jasper Office 4765 Main Street Jasper, TN 37347 (423) 942-1990

South Pittsburg Office 402 North Cedar Ave. South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 837-8645

Whitwell Office 14087 Hwy. 28 Whitwell, TN 37397 (423) 658-5880

www.citizenstricounty.com • 24 Hr. Banker 517-8888

The only community bank you’ll ever need.

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COMMUNITY FRIDGE Submit your photos to us at

#Marionlifestyle, or via Facebook or Instagram at Marion Lifestyle Magazine, and see them on the fridge in an upcoming issue!

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BUSINESS DIRECTORY First Volunteer Bank

(423) 668-4515 -Tele Banking www.firstvolunteer.com 105 Betsy Pack Drive Jasper, TN 37347 (423) 668-4504 - Phone 131 South Cedar Ave South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 668-4505 - Phone

Tower Community Bank

SVEC

4564 Main Street Jasper, TN 37347 (423) 942-5151

American Legion Hall

www.towercommunitybank. com

3315 Cedar Avenue South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 837-2150 13165 Highway 28 Whitwell, TN 37397 (423) 658-3000

CAPS Roofing

13108 Highway 28 Whitwell, TN 37397 (423) 668-4506 | Phone

South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 834-6424 Facebook: Caps Roofing

Citizens Tri-County Bank

Dragging Canoe Coffee Traders

24hr Banker: (423) 517-8888 www.ctcbonline.com 4765 Main St Jasper, TN 37347 Office: (423) 942-1990 Fax: (423) 942-1980 402 N Cedar Ave South Pittsburg, TN 37380 Office: (423) 837-8645 Fax: (423) 837-1461 14087 Hwy 28 PO Box 939 Whitwell, TN 37397 Office: (423) 658-5880 Fax: (423) 658-5592

409 Elm Avenue South Pittisburg, TN 37380 (423) 939-9372 Draggingcanoecoffeetraders@ gmail.com Facebook: Dragging Canoe Coffee Traders

512 South Cedar Avenue South Pittsburg, TN 37380 Outages: (888) 421-7832 Office: (423) 837-8605

300 Elm Avenue South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 837-5012 Facebook: American Legion Post 62, South Pittsburg

Lodge Manufacturing

204 East 5th Street South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 837-7181 www.lodgemfg.com

Sue Bob’s Diner

2573 Highway 283 Powells Crossroads, TN 37397 (423) 658-8575 www.Suebobs.com

Big Daddy’s

124 US-72 South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 837-7810 www.bigdaddysoutdoor.com

Bowman Athletics

Sewanee Inn

US Stove

Rogers Funeral Home

221 Turner Street Jasper, TN 37347 (423) 605-5277 Facebook: Bowman Athletics

South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 837-2100 www.usstove.com

1235 University Avenue Sewanee, TN 37375 (931) 598-368 www.sewanee-inn.com

400 Laurel Avenue South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 837-7176 21 East 5th Street Jasper, TN 37347

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(423) 942-2682 rogersfuneralhome@hotmail. com www.rogersfuneralhome.com

Window World

3769 Powers Court Chattanooga, TN 37416 (423) 296-0866 www. windowworldchattanooga.com

Heart Realty

1292 Main Street Kimball, TN 37347 (423) 837-5478 www.heartrealty.net

Misty Thomas Thirty-One

Independent Senior Executive Director (423) 240-1064 www.MistyThomas.com Mistythomas14@yahoo.com

Dan’s Handyman Services Serving Marion County One call does it all - free estimates (423) 503-4724 www.danshandymanpro.com

South Pittsburg Rotary Club

P.O. Box 512 South Pittsburg, TN 37380 Facebook: South Pittsburg Rotary Club

National Cornbread Festival

P.O. Box 247 South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 837-0022 www.nationalcornbread.com

Get your message out.

Advertise in our county’s premier publication.

423-973-4386 MARION

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We hope you inaugural enjoyed our edition of Marion

Lifestyle Magazine!

Our next “Spring” issue will be available in February 2019, and the current plan is to print four seasonal issues per year.

To read this magazine digitally, or for more features, articles, recipes, and even a puzzle or two, visit our website at www.marionlifestyle.com. Although the magazine is quarterly, the website will not be. New entries will often be made to the website between issues, especially to help promote or highlight timely items that couldn’t make it to print.

You can also find us on Facebook at Marion Lifestyle Magazine where we will post often and share community events, features and local happenings.

Help keep us informed by sending us your events and we will in turn help to promote them. Our goal is to build a countywide calendar on our website consisting of events and things-to-do across Marion County, and surrounding areas.

We want to hear from you! Send us your feedback about this, and future issues. What would you like to see? What did you like/dislike? What features or elements would you like to have us include in future issues? Send your thoughts to Kathie@ Marionlifestyle.

com, via our Facebook, Twitter @marionlifestyle, or to P.O. Box 612, South Pittsburg, TN 37380.

Don’t forget to find us on Instagram at MarionLifestyleMagazine, and tag your special photos with #Marionlifestyle to see them on our community fridge on the website, and/or in upcoming issues of the magazine.

A big THANK YOU to all of our advertisers and sponsors for helping to make this magazine happen!

We could not have done it without you. We are excited for this new venture, and we hope to continue to grow, helping to keep Marion County informed about all of the incredible people, businesses, places and events in our beautiful corner of the country.

Kathie, Dale and Trevor Here is a hint of what you can expect to see in our second edition, scheduled to come out in February, 2019:

• Paperclips Project - 20 Years of Miracles • Whitwell High School Fishing • South Pittsburg City Cemetery - a history • Maggie May Clothing - historical creations • U.S. Stove - 150 Year Celebration

“

What would you like to see? Let us know! ”

www.marionlifestyle.com 56 MARION

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....and more!

The Bankers you deserve.

Our team can pave the way for all of your financial needs.

Robert Kelly Jasper Market Leader

Joyce Burkhalter South Pittsburg Market Leader

Brice Burkhalter Whitwell Market Leader

Community banking focused on you.

Jasper Branch 105 Betsy Pack Drive Jasper, TN 37347 (423) 668-4504

20132018 2 01 5

South Pittsburg 131 South Cedar Avenue South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 668-4505

(866) 668-4700 firstvolunteer.com Member FDIC

Whitwell 13108 Highway 28 Whitwell, TN 37397 (423) 668-4506

When Quality and Value Matter Most...

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