Roan Mountain Magazine
June 2026
Roan Mountain Magazine
Volume 2, Issue 10
June 2026
STAFF
EDITOR
Amy Thurman
amy@roanmountainmagazine.com
STAFF WRITERS
Ericka Hughes
Nicole Barnett
GUN TALK WITH JON
Captain Jon Strydom
COMMUNITY SERVICE COLUMN
Shellie McKinney (Citizen’s Club)
Tom Niziol (Recreation Foundation) CeCe Studer (Roan Mountain State Park)
THE GRACE PLACE
Reverend Hunter Greene hillbillytheology@gmail.com
SHORT STORY AUTHOR
Diana Tolley
THE LAST WORD & SPORTS
Noah Blair
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
Faith Lynn
Lilly Forbes
STAFF ARTISTS
Kelly McCollum
Mara Jade Shell
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Colleen Gainey
ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Jay Rich (423) 817-3037
jay@roanmountainmagazine.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Daniel Wagner
RMSP Ranger Philip Hylen
Beth Fields - Recipe BearWise.org
Copyright © 2026
All content herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission. Roan Mountain Magazine is published monthly by Roan Mountain Creative, LLC, and can be found at multiple locations throughout the Roan Mountain area, free to readers. For print subscriptions, please contact us for info. (423) 440-9012
Read the Digital Version at: RoanMountainMagazine.com
Visit us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/RMM_Facebook
Roan Mountain Magazine is printed by the Elizabethton Star
ARTICLES & FEATURES
Editor's Letter
Gun Talk with Jon
Taste of the Roan - Gingerbread Apple Stack Cake
People of the Mountains - A Poem
News from the Roan
Grandparents Essay Contest
Vintage Roan - Early Photos
Marketing 101
Know Your Place Part II - Tennessee Facts
Fireflies!
Summer Music Series
Music Spotlight - Dan Herrell
Black Bears in June
Business Spotlight - NCCU
The Grace Place
Good Intentions - A Short Story
Fun and Games!
Coloring Page
Festival Promotions
Lessons in Life & Landscaping
The Last Word
ABOUT THE COVER:
Black bears are active now! To learn more check out the article starting on page 32.
Cover Photo by Daniel Wagner
NOTE: We apologize for the being so late to get the magazine out. There is currently a paper shortage and it's impacting our printer's ability to keep paper in stock. Thank you for your patience!
Around this time of year, between Memorial Day and Independence Day, I always find myself thinking about what it took to gain our independence from Britain, build a nation, and what it’s taken since then to maintain it. Namely, all those who’ve served in our armed forces, from the early days of trouncing King George’s Redcoats, down through the generations to those who are serving now, all around the world. And those who left their homelands, crossed oceans, and settled here to carve out lives for themselves and their families.
We, as Americans, come from tough stock and long lines of rebels, fighters, farmers, and those seeking religious freedom. All seeking better lives.
Leaving everything familiar wasn’t easy. The voyages here weren’t easy. Coping with hunger, disease, injuries, and harsh weather, wasn’t easy. Figuring out the growing seasons, building homes, protecting themselves, and preserving food wasn’t easy. And rejecting the rule of a distant king, establishing a system of law, a government, and our independence as a nation, wasn’t easy.
One line of my family, the Clements side, goes back before the Revolution. My 6th great grandfather was born in Virginia in 1725. I’m not sure of his parentage yet. His son, Roger Thompson Clements, my 5th great grandfather, was born in James River, Virginia, in 1762, and the family moved to Rowan County, N.C. when Roger was ten. At 18, he enlisted and fought in multiple battles in the American Revolution.
From Congressional Records:
Roger Thompson Clements, born January 01, 1762, Augusta County, Virginia, died July 31, 1835, Mount Sterling, Kentucky.
Roger Clements assisted in establishing American Independence, while acting in the capacity of a private soldier. In the spring of 1780 he was enlisted from North Carolina and served for three months as a private soldier under Captain Davidson and Colonel William Davidson. Following his initial enlistment, he served another three months under Captain Hart and Colonel Brisby. Another month immediately following his last enlistment was spent as a private soldier under Captain James Hogan and Colonel Charles McDowell. In June of 1781 he enlisted for two months under Captain Robert Patterson and Colonel Brisby. He was at McKee’s Station in 1781. He also enlisted in the fall 1782 for two months as a private soldier under Captain John Constant and under Colonel G.R. Clark.
Roger Clements engaged in the battles at Ransom Mills and Blue Licks. His brother, “Big John” was killed at the battle of Blue Licks, Kentucky.
One record I found even claimed that his wife, Hannah Hathaway Clark, “contributed to the cause for Independence”, but I haven’t found records confirming
or clarifying.
Roger was later awarded 1,500 acres of land in Kentucky for his service. That area, in the foothills of the Appalachians, is still known as Clements Bottom. My dad’s side was the opposite end of the spectrum. My seventh great grandfather, Samuel Clark, emigrated to the American Colonies (Pennsylvania) with his father and sister in 1721. They were Quakers and came here from Ireland to escape religious persecution from the English. Later, Samuel’s grandson and my fifth great grandfather, Gabriel Clark, left the church to marry outside the Quaker faith. He also joined a Pennsylvania militia during the American Revolution. Military service and farming were predominant down through the generations on both sides of my family (along with a number of preachers), as is most likely the case for many of the families here in Roan Mountain.
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday on July 4, let’s all take a few moments to think about and be grateful for those who came before us: those rebels, fighters, farmers, and those who wanted to worship God freely, who built this nation with their bare hands, whose grit and determination runs in our own blood. God bless America.
Happy Father's Day, to my son, my brothers, friends, and all the other dads out there!
Amy Campbell Clark Editor amy@roanmountainmagazine.com
Everyone who’s met me and knows my backstory, knows that I had a long career as a sea captain before semi-retiring and returning to my very first profession, as a gunsmith. Almost everyone around here grew up around firearms and hunting and I hear a lot of folks talking about or comparing their most unusual hunts. Here's my entry for the "Unusual Hunt" category.
In 2012, I was working for a very big, high-end diving company, running one of their boats out of St. Maarten in the Caribbean. She was a 115-foot, fully equipped, liveaboard dive ship with all our own compressors (we mostly used nitrox). One Saturday afternoon, we loaded up groceries, fuel, and about 18 guests, then departed for Saba after dinner aboard.
Without reciting the entire itinerary, we ended up off the Island of St Kitts by early Thursday morning for five more dives, including a night dive – my favorite! Due to the laws protecting reefs, we couldn’t just drop anchor anywhere and because there are always local fishermen all along the coast, we used "hidden moorings." This was usually a 160-foot poly rope firmly attached at one end to an old wreck 40 feet down and the other end held in place with a 15-pound dive belt. This ensured it wasn’t "occupied" when I arrive each Thursday.
GPS guided me directly over the mooring and I blipped the horn, then my divemaster jumped in, all prepped. Sometimes I’d let the first mate run the boat in so I could retrieve the mooring and get some alone time in my favorite place.
This particular day it was my turn. Being the first on the bottom is always magical; the fish aren't spooked by dozens of tourists splashing around yet. I retrieved the mooring, handed it up to the crew, then sank down to the reef 40 feet below. I had almost an hour of air and was in no rush. I always carry a pole spear for lionfish, which are very good eating and a very bad invasive species. The spearhead can be unscrewed for a 'powerhead’ for sharks – this carries a .44 magnum cartridge, specially waterproofed with a coat of varnish.
About 20 minutes into my dive, I came across four large fishhooks suspended off the sand, lines leading up to a small skiff. There was always an old local fisherman asleep in his rowboat near our mooring, handlines drooping over the side. I avoided those and a dozen feet further I peered into a deep cave under an
GUN TALK WITH JON
Unusual Hunt Story
By Captain Jon Strydom (aka African Jon)
Reminder: My phone number has changed. The new number is (423) 957-1149
overhang of coral. One of the biggest Goliath grouper I'd ever seen was looking back at me! (Afterwards, it weighed in at 580 pounds!)
Call me crazy, but I had an idea! I fitted the powerhead and snuck my arm through a narrow gap beside the grouper. One hard shove just ahead of his gills and CRACK! (A .44 mag underwater does evil things to your ears.) Sand, debris, chunks of rock and vegetation blew all around me as he spasmed. A minute later the slight current cleared the area, and I dragged the grouper over to the dangling fish hooks. Careful not to hook myself, I lifted the largest hook and stuck it through the fish's top lip, then jerked the line like I was ringing a church bell. I backed away and watched as it was pulled ever so slowly to the surface. Food for a month for that family!
Some weeks later, same place, same me in the water. I swam over to the old guy and knocked on his hull. "Caught anything good lately?' I asked.
He looked at me awhile, then in his very Island way said, "Yessir, a couple week ago I had a nice grandpa grouper. Too big to pull into d' boat. Took me an hour to row dat giant to d' beach, den my sons came to help. But funny 'ting – I never saw a fish ever commit suicide before he take my bait! He shot hisself outta pure despair at getting caught! We had a fine cookout for de whole block of people!"
I miss the ocean. Be safe out there.
Goliath grouper can reach up to 800 pounds and 8 feet long!
from NOAA Fisheries
Image
Gingerbread Apple Stack Cake
Recipe from Oweda Davis
Submitted by her daughter, Beth Fields
TASTE of the ROAN
We're all getting plenty of excersize with outdoor activities now that summer has finally arrived, so we're burning enough calories to indulge in this tasty dessert! Thank you Beth for sharing your mama's recipe!
INGREDIENTS
½ cup soft shortening
2 tbsp sugar
1 egg
1 cup dark molasses
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
Cooked apples
Apple butter
DIRECTIONS
■ Preheat oven to 325°.
PLEASE share your family recipes with us! And if you have a photo of the prepared dish, send that along too!
amy@roanmountainmagazine.com
■ Mix first three ingredients thoroughly, then blend in next two ingredients.
■ Sift dry ingredients together then stir in and beat until smooth.
■ Pour a very thin layer into well-greased and floured baking pans.
■ Bake 15-20 minutes, then check with a toothpick. If not done, cook a little longer, watching it closely.
■ When cake layers have cooled, arrange the bottom layer on a plate, top with apple butter and apple slices. Repeat until done.
People Of The Mountains
By Ericka Hughes
As the sun rises It shines on all the land
Above and below
Where the pine trees grow It shows the glistening of dew, Each day is new.
Men will rise At that same time
And the roosters will crow
And the birds Will sing their songs On the land
That which is their home
Up high in the mountains
Near the peaks and the heavens
This is all that is real to them
Late mornings Will blow smells
Of coffee brewing, biscuits in the oven, Exhaust ,
Wood stoves , with locust burning out. As the smells travel through the air, You'll hear sounds From here to there...
The banging of a hammer, The turning of an engine, Tractors , Cold starts, Whistles and yells ....the day has begun And work needs to be done By the hands of these people My people
The people of the mountains
Whether you visit Roan Mountain State Park to explore the trails or just take in the scenery, you'll find plenty of fun activities for the whole family. Below is a sample of what is happening in the park this summer.
Concert Series
Are you ready to be entertained? Our annual Friday Night Music in the Park Concerts have begun! Grab a chair or a blanket and come out and listen to some local talent! All concerts are free to attend, but cash tips for the musicians are always welcome.
Miller Farmstead Tours
Before Roan Mountain State Park was established, the lands that now comprise the park were populated by communities of subsistence farmers. The Dave and Louisa Miller family moved to Ripshin Mountain in 1870, where three generations of Millers lived for over 90 years. The farmhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it reflects the lifestyle of rural subsistence farmers in Appalachia in the early 20th century. Join park staff for a guided tour of the Miller farmhouse and learn more about the history of Roan Mountain and the people who have called it home for generations. Tours are approximately 45 minutes long and are available Tuesday - Sunday from May 30th until Labor Day, at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm. Weekend tours will be offered in October. The cost is $10 per adult (13 years and older), $8 per senior (62 years or older), $4 per child (12 years old or younger). If you haven’t taken the tour before, you are missing out on a wonderful experience! Registration is required for all tours.
Rhododendron Festival
Roan Mountain State Park is excited to once again be a part of the annual Rhododendron Festival, which celebrates the world's largest natural rhododendron gardens that bloom atop the mountain. The festival is
NEWS FROM THE ROAN
By CeCe Studer Roan Mountain State Park
scheduled for June 20-21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days. Stop by our booth to say hi and browse a selection of local items made exclusively for our park. While you are at the festival, be sure to take time to hike one of our scenic trails and stop by our gift shop or camp store for unique souvenirs.
Junior Ranger Camp
Did you know that June is Junior Ranger Camp month in the State of Tennessee? The Junior Ranger Program invites children ages 8 to 12 to explore the environment through immersive, hands-on activities. Led by dedicated naturalists and professional staff, these summer sessions foster a lasting connection to nature. For those attending a Junior Ranger Camp, registration is required. Roan Mountain State Park’s Junior Ranger Camp will take place June 22-26, 2026. Campers will join Roan Mountain Rangers for a week of adventure outdoors while learning what it takes to be a ranger. Topics will include safety, plants, animals, bugs, astronomy, environmental stewardship, history and more. At the end of the week, each participant will be sworn in as an official Junior Ranger for Tennessee State Parks! Sign up for a Junior Ranger camp via the park’s event page, or grab the free, self-paced activity booklet at any Tennessee State Park. Once completed, kids get sworn in, take the pledge, and earn their badge, with programs available at every park.
Check out our website at https://tnstateparks.com/ roanmountain for further information on these and other happenings at the park.
Left: Miller Farmstead. Above: Junior Rangers. Photo provided by Roan Mountain State Park
Essay Contest
Honoring Grandparents
After reading Brayden Townsend’s tribute to his grandparents (published in the September 2025 issue), we decided to host an essay contest focused on grandparents. Entries will be read by magazine staff and the best essay in each age group will be published in the September 2026 issue, in honor of National Grandparents Month. Depending on how many entries we receive and if space allows, we’ll try to publish all essays on the magazine’s website. Additional prizes may be awarded (to be announced).
We will have multiple age categories:
• 8 – 10
• 11 – 13
• 14 – 16
• 17 and up.
This isn’t just for kids, adults are welcome to enter too!
The focus of your essay should be related to your grandparents. It could be about an important lesson, skill, or way of thinking they've taught you, how they live their lives, the role they play in your family, or the community, ways they’ve impacted your life, or any other way you'd care to pay tribute to them. It can be about any grandparent, or all, even those who are no longer with us. Otherwise, what you write is up to you.
Contest Rules:
• No entry fee required.
• All entries must be received by July 31.
• Only one entry per person.
• Your age at the time you send it in is the category you will be placed in.
• You must have written it yourself. No AI submissions will be accepted.
• If you are under the age of 18, parent or guardian permission is required.
• Do your best with spelling, grammar, punctuation, and usage, but consideration will be given to age and no one will be disqualified – it’s important, but your story is of most importance. It’s acceptable to have a parent, teacher or friend read it and recommend minor edits to spelling, punctuation and grammar, but professional editing is not allowed.
• Essays should be about real people, not fictional characters. Grandparents can be referred to however you address them, such as Papaw, Mamaw, Granny, etc.
• You can write about grandparents, great grandparents, or step-grands.
• You may include a photo of your grandparent or you with the grandparent(s), but it is not required and will
not influence judging. Printed photos will be returned.
• Clean language only.
• The essay can be written in essay style (first person) or told as a story. The writing style is up to you.
• Length will depend on age group. Ages 8 – 10 can be any length. Ages 11 – 13 must be at least 400 words, but can be longer. Ages 14 and up must be at least 600 words, but no more than 2,000.
• Essay must have the author’s name, age, and the names of the grandparents the essay is about at the top of the page, and each essay must have a title. If the author is under 18, the name and phone number of a parent must also be included. Over 18, please include your phone number. We will not share your contact information, but may need to contact you for clarification or to notify winners.
Entries can be submitted in the following ways:
• Typed into a word document and attached to an email or typed into the body of an email and sent to amy@roanmountainmagazine.com.
• Handwritten, scanned, and emailed as an attachment.
• Handwritten and mailed to the address below.
• Or message us on Facebook and we’ll meet you to pick up your entry if you live locally.
Please reach out to Amy if you have any questions. We look forward to reading your entries!
If mailing submissions, send to: Roan Mountain Magazine PO Box 132 Roan Mountain, TN 37687
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Vintage Roan
Contact amy@roanmountainmagazine.com to submit your photos or arrange to have them scanned.
Above (Submitted by Floyd Odom): The little girls are sisters, Gail (left) and Brenda Caraway (right), my wife and the mother of my children. The adults, left to right, are their great grandmother Cora Caraway, grandmother Viola Shell, and mother Armida.
Below (Submitted by Lavana McCoury Casterlin): Left to right, Stokes Freeman, his son Clyde, my mother Mabel McCoury, Roy Freeman, Ethel Freeman Stout, and Jim Freeman.
Jay ’s Got Jokes!
Did you know that French fries aren’t from France? They come out of grease!
Why did the cowboy adopt a weiner dog? Because he wanted to get a long little doggie!
Why should you knock on the fridge door before opening it?
Because there might be a salad dressing!
Did you hear about the woman who couldn’t stop collecting magazines? She had a lot of issues!
Why do bakers work so hard? Because they need the dough!
Marketing 101: Small Business Tips
I have been studying, teaching and actively working in marketing for over thirty years and continue to monitor the latest trends, research and industry standards. While that doesn’t make me an expert, I’ve learned a lot along the way, and knowledge isn’t worth much if you don’t apply it and share it with others.
In many cases, effective marketing can make or break a small business. It’s not the only factor, but it is an often neglected, misunderstood, or improperly implemented factor. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune. It doesn’t have to eat up every minute of your day. You don’t have to become an expert. But it does make sense to learn some marketing basics, if only to avoid making common mistakes or missing beneficial opportunities.
To help our local small businesses, we'll be running this as an extended series.
By Amy Campbell Clark
Marketing, at its core, is the message you send to customers and potential customers to inform them about your business. That message goes out with everything you do, from your customer service to how you advertise, your logo to your uniforms, how you answer the phone to your email signature, your invoices to your workspace, how you interact with vendors to the relationships you build with other businesses, and everything in between. Think about that for a minute – every single interaction, impression, and activity, is sending a message to potential customers.
The trick is to hone that message to be consistent, informative, useful, and most importantly, of interest to your market.
This month we’ll go over some basics, then in upcoming issues we’ll go more in depth with various marketing tactics, dos and don’ts, and more.
Let’s get started with the basics.
Your email signature: This is a “free” way to help establish your brand and provide information. It should be short but useful, either in your logo colors or plain black, in a standard size and a standard font. It should contain your name, title, phone number, email address, street or mailing address, web address if you have a website, and can link to your business Facebook page if that page is active. And it should include a small version of your logo formatted for digital use (small meaning it doesn't extend across the entire page and isn't multiple megabites in size). Your signature should always be included in replies and forwards (this setting is available in most all email platforms, to include Gmail).
Answering your phone: Short, direct and friendly is best. We’re all busy and don’t have the time or patience to listen to lengthy greetings – we’re calling because we have a specific question. “Hello, Roan Mountain Magazine!” You can thank them for calling, tell them about sales, and so forth later in the call.
But the most important word in that first sentence is "friendly." Your tone sets the stage for the entire conversation.
It's also important that your voicemail is working for you as well. Again, no lengthy message, but short, professional, and friendly in tone. And be absolutely certain you're returning calls promptly!
Branding: We’ll go into this more in a future article, but for now, the key take-aways with branding are consistency and appeal. Everything from your business cards to invoices, website and social media, print ads and flyers, should have a similar tone, style, feel, and colors. You can mix it up on occasion for holidays, special occasions and such, but the point of branding is that your customers and potential customers recognize your business at a glance.
A word on colors: The colors you choose for your logo are highly important. This decision shouldn’t be made based on your personal favorite colors or what’s trendy right now. Countless studies have been done on the impact colors have on us, and there are other factors, such as how easily the colors can be reproduced, how it will look in print versus online, versus on shirts and other marketing apparel, how vibrant it is and if it will stand out, and if it will stand the test of time or in two years look dated.
Tracking: Asking every new customer how they heard about you is critical to managing your marketing plan. This helps you understand where your customers are coming from - print ads, social media, web searches, word of mouth, etc. This doesn't automatically mean any one method of marketing is better than the others, and we'll go into that in a future article too. But having that understanding is important, so if you aren't already, be sure to ask!
While these tactics may seem like common sense, they're often overlooked, especially with new businesses starting out and/or those who've never run a business before.
In upcoming issues we’ll go into more depth on these and other basic and complex marketing activities. If you have specific questions, feel free to reach out to me! amy@roanmountainmagazine.com
Know
Your Place!
In honor of 230 years of statehood, we're continuing this month with more fun and interesting facts about Tennessee. If anyone would like to put together similar information about Carter County, and specifically Roan Mountain, get in touch and we'll feature it in an upcoming issue.
Tennesseepostcard,circa1945
The Basics
State Capital: Nashville
Number of Counties: 95
Population: 7,227,750 (estimated July 1, 2025 by the U.S. Census Bureau)
State Motto: Agriculture and Commerce
State Nickname: The Volunteer State (Due to the high numbers of volunteers from Tennessee in the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War.)
Shared Borders: Tennessee shares a border with eight other states (tied only with Missouri). Can you name them? Demonym: Tennesseans (how people from here are referred to)
Tennessee is home to the world's largest salt and pepper shaker collection! The Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg has over 20,000 sets!
Tennessee's tallest building is the AT&T building in Nashville, at 333 Commerce Street. It's also known as "the Batman Building" due to its twin spires.
The City of Kingston was once the captial of Tennessee. But only for one day, September 21, 1807, before a vote designated Knoxville the capital!
The Mississippi River is not the Tennessee state line in all spots. The course of the river has changed since the state line was established. In fact, the Supreme Court has heard nine cases related to the controversy!
Triva
History
Early Explorer: Hernando de Soto
This Spanish explorer is credited with being the first European explorer to reach the area now known as Tennessee, in 1540. He was also the first to document the Mississippi River, in 1541.
Presidents in Residence:
Three former U.S. Presidents have made their homes in Tennessee: Andrew Jackson (#7), James Polk (#11), and Andrew Johnson (#17). (Pictured Left to Right)
State Flags: Top left was proposed in 1861, but Tennessee seceded from the Union. Above was our flag from 1897 to 1905, when the current flag (left) was adopted.
Statehood: June 1, 1796
On this date, Tennessee became the 16th state in the Union.
The War Years:
Tennessee seceded from the Union in 1861, near the start of the Civil War. However, it was the first state to rejoin the Union, in 1866. During the war, 38 battles were fought in Tennessee, more than any other state except Virginia (120).
Top Secret Facility:
During WWII, Oak Ridge was home to the top secret "Atomic City" where materials used in the atomic bomb were developed. Some Roan Mountain folks even worked there.
Native American Tribes: Cherokee and Chickasaw
Map of Tennessee printed in 1796.
The Battle of Shiloh, April 6 - 7, 1862, fought in Hardin County. Painting of the battle by Thure de Thulstrup
Landscape
Size Matters
Tennessee is approximately 42,146 square miles. 2.2% of that square mileage is water, or 926 square miles. The state is approximately 491 miles end to end and 115 bottom to top.
Highs and Lows
The highest point in Tennessee, at 6,643 feet, is Clingman's Dome, in the Great Smoky Mountains. (Roan Mountain Bald is close, at 6,286 feet!)
The lowest point is 178 feet above sea level, in the Mississippi River Valley, near the Mississippi border.
Below the Surface
Tennessee is home to the tallest underground waterfall in the U.S. Ruby falls, 145 feet from top to bottom, is under Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga.
The Lost Sea, in Craighead Caverns, near Sweetwater, is the largest underground lake in the US.
Tennessee has more than 9,200 caves and caverns, more than any other state!
Most Visited:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park in the U.S.
Dark green is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The dark line running through it near the middle is the N.C. state line. Cherokee lands are pink.
Music
Tennesseans love our music!
Bristol
Recognized by Congress as the Birthplace of Country Music, it's known for the historic Bristol Sessions of 1927, some of the earliest recorded country music.
Elvis Presley
In addition to Graceland, purchased by Elvis in 1957 and now an iconic tourism destination, he also recorded his first hit in Tennessee at Sun Studio in Memphis: That's All Right
Nashville
In addition being to the country music capital, as well as the birthplace of and home to countless country stars, Nashville is also home to the longest running live radio program, the Grand Ole Opry, which first aired in 1925.
Songs About Tennessee
Our musicians love to sing about Tennessee too! Here are just a few songs about our great state (artists are not listed as many have been performed by multiple acts):
Rocky Top
Back to Tennessee
My Tennesseee Mountain Home
Tennessee (at least four songs)
Tennessee Blues
Tennessee Flat-Top Box
Tennessee Homesick Blues
Tennessee Line
Tennessee Me
Tennessee Orange
Tennessee River
Tennessee River Run
Tennessee Rose
Tennessee Stud
Tennessee Time
Tennessee Waltz
Tennessee Whiskey
Under a Tennessee Moon
Food & Drink
The Goo Goo Cluster, the first combination candy bar, was created in Nashville, in 1912.
Cotton Candy was invented (by a dentist) in Nashville, in 1897.
The Moon Pie was invented in Chattanooga, in 1917. Nashville Hot Chicken was invented in Nashville, in the 1930s.
Mountain Dew was invented in Knoxville, in 1940, as a mixer for whiskey; the recipe we know today was updated in Johnson City in 1958.
Milk is Tennessee’s official state beverage.
The first self-serve grocery store, Piggly Wiggly, was founded in Memphis in 1916.
Tennessee Folks
Our state has been the birthplace of many famous Americans. How many of these names do you recognize? If you don't know, do a little research!
(Note: This is not a complete list!)
Gregg Allman, born 1947, Nashville
Chet Atkins, born 1924, Luttrell
Pat Boone, born 1934, Nashville
Archie Campbell, born 1914, Bulls Gap
Kenny Chesney, born 1968, Knoxville
Henry Cho, born 1962, Knoxville
Aretha Franklin, born 1942, Memphis
Morgan Freeman, born 1937, Memphis
Booker T. Jones, born 1944, Memphis
Dustin Lynch, born 1985, Tullahoma
Carl Perkins, born 1932, Tiptonville
Sarah Childress Polk, born 1803, Murfreesboro
Dinah Shore, born 1916, Winchester
Tina Turner, born 1939, Brownsville
Kitty Wells, born 1919, Nashville
Six U.S. Supreme Court Justices were born in Tennessee
John Catron, Nashville Served 1837-1865
Howell E. Jackson, Paris Served 1893-1895
Horace Lurton, Newport Served 1910-1914
James Clark McReynolds, Elkton Served 1914-1941
Edward T. Sanford, Knoxville Served 1923-1930
Abe Fortas, Memphis Served 1965-1969
NASCAR
Although Wilkes County, N.C., is considered the "home" of the sport, at least six NASCAR drivers were born on this side of the state line:
Bobby Hamilton, Nashville
Sterling Marlin, Columbia
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Memphis
Josh Berry, Hendersonville
Trevor Bayne, Knoxville
Dawson Sutton, Lebanon
And although Darrell Waltrip was actually born in Kentucky, he’s claimed as a Tennessee native.
Jonathan Browning Born 1805 Sumter County
Davy Crockett Born 1786 Limestone
Jasper N. “Jack” Daniel Born 1846 Lynchburg
Tennessee Ernie Ford Born 1919 Bristol
Dolly Parton Born 1946 Pittman Center
Minnie Pearl Born 1912 Centerville
Fireflies of the Mountains
By Park Ranger Philip Hylen Roan Mountain State Park
Summer evenings in the mountains of Appalachia have always held some of my fondest childhood memories. The cooler night air and dark cover of the forest bring out a lightshow that rivals any Christmas display in the form of small bioluminescent beetles we call by many names – fireflies, lightning bugs, glow beetles, lantern bugs, and the list goes on. As a kid growing up in Northeast Tennessee, I remember catching lightning bugs on my hand and would always brag to the other kids when I caught one of the “rare ones that blinks differently.” Young me would have been amazed to know that Tennessee is home to at least 30 different known species, likely with many more to be discovered. Of those 30+ different types of fireflies, most of them prefer the climates and mountain forests of Appalachia making Northeast Tennessee and Western North Carolina a hotspot for firefly diversity.
We often think that to experience these amazing firefly displays we must go to a lottery or guided tour such as those offered by Great Smoky Mountain National Park or Rocky Fork State Park. While these tours are fantastic ways to learn about the many species of fireflies you are seeing, residents of the Southern Appalachian Mountains have the advantage of being able to step into a dark forest or a field by the edge of a forest to see these fireflies near home. Some of the most sought-after species for their brilliant displays are within four genera of firefly beetles. The Carolina
Synchronous, Blue Ghost, Flash Bulb, Big Dipper, and many other members of the Photinus or Photuris genus grace our dark forests and yards throughout the higher and cooler elevations of Roan Mountain. The Blue Ghosts and Synchronous Fireflies are often seen in the low leaf litter of the forest floors with light trains that foster a sense of wonder. The small Blue Ghosts have a faded blue-green coloration of light that stays lit up to 60 seconds as they slowly hover above the ground. The Synchronous Fireflies flash six times across two seconds before going dark for another six seconds and do so as if they are being conducted by a music director. Flashbulb Fireflies hover in the canopies of the forest edge emitting singular bright flashes similar to the flash cameras of the 1960s. Each species has its own “light language” that can be learned by those who watch closely. A great resource book for any firefly enthusiast wishing to learn more about these incredible insects is Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs, by Lynn Frierson Faust.
Anyone who has experienced these enchanting firefly displays often asks the same question: “how can I protect them?” Ultimately, we want to share these amazing experiences with our friends, family, and the next generation. The largest growing threat to fireflies are the overuse of artificial light. Excess light after dark disrupts the beautiful theater of dark needed for these beetles to communicate with and locate mates. These disruptions lead to failure for communities of firefly
The common Eastern firefly, Photinus pyralis is mostly what we see in our yards locally.
Photo by Katja Schultz via Wikimedia Commons
beetles to successfully lay eggs and continue the population. Other threats to these beetles include the wide use of insecticides on lawns and in agriculture, the burning of leaf little on the edges of lawns, and the continuing development and parcelization of woodlands into communities for people and businesses.
A few simple acts we as homeowners can take to protect these beetles are to minimize the use of artificial lighting around our homes and keep the surrounding fields and woods dark. Homeowners might consider the designation of some wilderness areas where leaves are left unraked or unburned to protect the emerging beetles during the warmer season. We can also use methods of deterring insects from our gardens and lawns through means other than insecticides that could potentially harm firefly beetles. Most importantly, taking friends and family into the dark outdoors to experience these shows will help to spread the importance of protecting these amazing insects.
Likely a female, perched on a blade of grass.
How You Can Help
*Turn off unnecessary outdoor lights
*Use natural (non-chemical) methods for controlling pests and weeds
*Leave leaf litter in place near edges of woods and natural areas to allow habitat for emerging larvae
*Share your love of fireflies with others to raise awareness
Synchronous fireflies at Rocky Fork State park. Photo by Cory Franklin, Rocky Fork State Park
Photo by Cory Franklin, Rocky Fork State Park
Music th Parks
Erik Anderson Park
June 13
Music: Seagan
Billy Crawford
Food trucks:
Lakeo Steakhouse of Japan
Mountain Smoke Barbeque SMASHED Craft Burgers
July 18
Music: My New Favorites
Preston Benfield
Food Trucks:
Lakeo Steakhouse of Japan
Mountain Smoke Barbeque SMASHED Craft Burgers
BeBa's Meatballs
August 22
Music: J.P. Mathes
Carson Peters and Iron Mountain
Food Trucks:
Lakeo Steakhouse of Japan
Mountain Smoke Barbeque SMASHED Craft Burgers
BeBa's Meatballs
Festival begins at 2 p.m.
Roan Mtn. State Park
May
22 Marshall Ballew
Opening act begins at 3 p.m.
Main act begins at 5 p.m.
For updates and additional information, visit Roan Mountain Recreation Foundation on Facebook.
29 The Corklickers
June
5 Bandwagon Fallacy
12 Jim & Cheri Miller
26 The PF Flyers
July 3 Stemwinder
10 Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs
17 Noah McKinney
31 Tom & the Roan Mountain Gals
August
7 The Roan Crows
14 The Acoustic Corner
21 Matthew Tonner
28 Amber Taylor
September
4 Jenny & the Weazels
All concerts begin at 7 p.m. For additional information visit tnstateparks.com/park/roan-mountain and click on "upcoming events"
FOR BOTH VENUES
Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Events may be canceled due to inclement weather - check Facebook for cancellation notices.
The musicians welcome tips!
Pub and Hostel
Great Food
Friday Night Karaoke
Music Circle Saturdays 3 - 5
Book Club - Last Thursday of Month
Open Tues - Sun Visit us on Facebook for events and hours 9367 Hwy 19E 423-732-0450
Youthful
Music Spotlight: Dan Herrell
By Amy Campbell Clark
We’ve all been given gifts – those special talents or skills that fill our hearts and steer our lives. Some find their talent later in life and some find it early. Dan Herrell was lucky in realizing his early – he started singing gospel music with his family and learning to play guitar at the age of six, and over 40 years later, music continues to be the driving force in his life.
He still plays some gospel and rock on roll when the occasion calls for it, but his first love is country music. And he has the voice for it. Regardless of what song he plays, whether it’s classic Merle or Waylon, or newer tunes from Eric Church or Toby Keith, you can hear the heart he puts into every verse. Their lyrics and his voice call up your memories and maybe even the urge to twostep around the floor.
His heaviest influences in the music he plays and listens to, as well as the songs he writes, are George Jones, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash, to name a few. Outlaw country, classic country, those masters who shaped and built what country music is today. Big shoes to fill, but Dan fills them well.
He lists some of his favorite songs, those that have him reaching to turn up the volume as Set ‘Em Up, Joe by Vern Gosden, Troubadour by George Straight, I Don’t Need this Rocking Chair by George Jones, and Stay Here and Drink by Merle Haggard. And when you see Dan sitting on a bar stool on stage, with his scuffed boots and acoustic-electric Fender guitar with a rhinestone cross on the pick guard, you know he feels and sings from the heart.
Like many musicians, it’s not just about the genre, but music in general that stirs him. One of his favorite bands outside country is Rush and of their songs, Tom Sawyer, is his favorite. On stage, Dan plays anything and everything, from classic Bob Seger to Train, as well as his own songs, taking requests and reading the crowd for cues.
Over the years, he’s played with different musicians, in different venues, and done some touring. He’s played
the Grand Majestic Theater in Pigeon Forge, and played Dollywood, but Dan’s favorite venues are fairs and festivals, and of course, old honkey tonks. These days, he’s mostly taking bookings in NE Tennessee and western North Carolina and hopes to be part of the line-up for next year’s Rhododendron Festival and summer music series in both parks.
When asked what he most enjoys about playing music for people, Dan said, “I love that my music helps people unwind, relax, and enjoy themselves, and seeing that enjoyment on their faces. And it always amazes me when someone comes up to me after a set and tells me I helped them, or made their week better. It blows my mind!”
In addition to his solo gigs, Dan is the lead guitarist and vocalist for Dan Herrell and INK. The band also includes Greg Rivers on bass, Tony Rominger on saxophone, EWI and harmonica, and Dan’s brother, Jason Herrell, on drums. Jason is awaiting neck surgery, so drumming until he returns is Brian King. Each band member brings an extensive musical background to the group and they always keep the crowd entertained. They played at Mountain Harbour for Halloween last fall and put on a great show!
The band is booked at Mountain Harbour June 13 and you don’t want to miss them. For additional information on upcoming venues for the band and Dan’s solo gigs, follow his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DanHerrellMusic.
You can also catch Dan, solo, every Wednesday night from 6 – 8 at Mountain Harbour. Be sure to chat with him between sets – he’s down to earth, friendly, and loves meeting folks and talking about music!
Photo provided by Dan Herrell
Black Bears in June
We share our beautiful mountain community with black bears. Understanding the habits of this omnivorous apex predator are key to a healthy and happy co-existence. We're glad to share this article from BearWise.org, as well as the checklists on the next pages. Look for future articles on our furry neighbors in coming issues.
By BearWise.org, Reprinted with Permission
Photos by Daniel Wagner
June at a Glance: Yearlings leave mom and search for food, shelter and a place of their own. Adult males travel far and wide looking for mates. Nursing moms venture farther from home base searching for food. Cubs keep growing and developing. Spring lessons can be life-changing.
Yearlings Move Out
Bears that were born last spring and denned up with mom this past winter are now 18-month-old yearlings. If all goes well, they’ll be the size of a medium-sized dog by the end of June, although their fur coats can make them look larger. Yearling females are often allowed to move in next door to their mom. Yearling males are strongly encouraged to move out and go find a new territory of their own, so most young bears wandering far from home are males.
Spring
Lessons Can Be Life-Changing
Yearling bears may look big and furry, but they are all trying to figure out how to live without their mom’s help. They are often lonely and lack the fully developed survival skills of an adult bear. Also hungry and inquisitive, they will instinctively check out anything that seems as if it might be a source of food.
Like human teenagers, yearlings are at a very impressionable stage of life. If they quickly discover that human places should be avoided, they will learn to support themselves as wild bears. If they find the backyard pickings are easy, they start down a road that is often a dead end. No matter how cute they look and how hungry they are, never feed or approach them. The best thing you can do to help yearling bears grow up wild is to make sure there’s nothing around your home to attract them. (See our Be BearWise at Home Checklist on pages 33-34.)
Adult Bears Look for Mates
Female bears that are now empty-nesters, as well
This very young (and rain-soaked) cub could be playing, learning to climb, or taking shelter in a "sanctuary tree" while mom forages.
as mature females that didn’t give birth last winter, will soon be ready to mate. Female bears seldom leave their home ranges; for the good of the gene pool, they let the males come find them. A female bear may mate with several different males, and it’s not uncommon for litter-mates to all have different fathers.
Black bears can be different colors
If you see two cubs together of different colors, chances are they have the same mom but different fathers. Black bears can be many colors, including just about every shade of brown.
Ranges, not Territories
Black bears are typically not territorial; their home ranges often overlap. A home range needs to be large enough to provide food, water, shelter and mates. The size of a home range varies greatly, but a male bear’s home range can be up to 300 square miles, typically five or six times larger than a female’s living in the same general area. Several females may live within the home range of an adult male and yearling bears of both sexes often hang out with each other.
Cub Nursery School Continues
Moms are still nursing, but cubs are learning how to supplement their diets with more natural bear foods. Cubs take after their moms in several ways: they are super-smart, have a keen sense of smell, learn quickly, have good memories and are very adaptable. So, if mom teaches them to avoid people-places and forage
for natural foods, they learn to live wild. But if mom shows them how to raid the garbage or bat down bird feeders or sends them in through the pet door to see what’s in the kitchen, the lessons learned can put their lives in danger.
Where’s the Bear Food?
Natural spring and early summer foods like tender leaves and grasses and developing plants are not as calorie-dense and nutritious as the nuts and fruits that ripen later in the year, so all bears travel further looking for food. Mother bears usually have between one and three hungry, demanding mouths to feed. Moms start traveling further looking for food, and cubs are left home alone for longer stretches of time, usually near the den or underneath a handy “sanctuary tree” they can climb in a few seconds.
What’s on the June Menu?
Black bears are omnivores; they will eat pretty much anything with calories. The bulk of their spring and early summer diet is what people think of as a salad topped with whatever protein might be available –insects, carrion (dead animals), fish, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Nursing mothers need more calories to stay healthy enough to keep producing milk for the cubs and may actually lose weight until more calorie-dense foods become available later in the year and cubs start eating more on their own.
Above: Mature males commonly weigh between 130 and 250 pounds, while mature females can be a little smaller, weighing between 125 and 150 pounds, though both can be significantly larger.
Below: "Hiding" in the tall grass.
Business Spotlight: NCCU
By Nicole Barnett
Chartered in 1952 as Elizabethton Teachers Credit Union to serve educators who worked and lived in the area, the not-for-profit cooperative eventually became what is known today as Northeast Community Credit Union. NCCU operates four branches and serves members in Carter, Unicoi, Washington, Johnson and Sullivan Counties. The citizens who live and work here are blessed with not only great financial services, but are also treated with the respect they rightfully deserve, especially at the local Roan Mountain branch, at 8301 Highway 19E.
Member Care Is The Mission
Amanda Blair has been with NCCU for twelve years, and has served in her current role as Chief Member Service Officer since June of last year. As a lifelong resident of Roan Mountain, Amanda understands what people in the community desire from a banking organization. Her work ethic and passion for what she does shines as bright as her smile when she greets you. The same can be said for all of the employees at the Roan Mountain branch of NCCU.
To determine if a prospective employee will be the right fit for the local branch Amanda says there are important questions to be asked. “The culture we try to teach goes beyond ‘Can you count cash?’ We want to know what’s important to you. Does it align with our values and what’s important to us?” Each and every member of the Roan Mountain team fits the bill.
Bonnie Widner, a graduate of Cloudland High School and an ETSU alumni, has been with the Roan Mountain branch since October 2025. For her, being able to work closer to home and serve the local community was a huge draw to the job. Formerly working as a CNA for five years, Bonnie knows what it means to put others’ needs first.
“I think that we are very good to our members. We try to treat everyone with empathy and kindness, and go out of our way to help them, no matter what the circumstances are. I think people appreciate that.” Being able to form connections with the Roan Mountain community has only reinforced Bonnie’s commitment to provide excellent service to her friends and neighbors.
Dalton Cook is the newest face at the credit union, joining the team as a member service representative in March of this year. Dalton is also a CHS graduate and alumni of both Northeast State and ETSU, where
his academic achievements placed him on the Dean’s List. For Dalton, the desire to serve his community and previous banking experience led him to seek employment with the Roan Mountain branch. Always happy to help members with their needs, Dalton says, “I think what draws people to bank with us is that we are member-owned and we genuinely care about our members.”
Member Service Specialist Sara Vance began her career with NCCU four years ago and loves her job. Sara believes getting to know members on a personal level makes banking with the credit union an enjoyable experience for not only members, but for her and her fellow staff as well. “I’ve always worked with the public. What sets us apart here from other places is how we deal with our members on a daily basis. On top of that, there are services available that really help people unable to physically come the credit union. Our online services are amazing! You can apply for an account, apply for a loan or credit card and so much more. I’m glad we can provide those opportunities, but what I enjoy most is being able to interact with people face to face.”
Though not a native to this area, Cheryl Phillips is grateful to have been grafted into East Tennessee and is firmly rooted in the community. Born in Ohio and having spent most of her life in Florida, Cheryl moved to the area in 2007. She currently lives in Butler, but making the trip to Roan Mountain is worth it for her. “I enjoy meeting new people and would love to get out into the community more. I’m hoping we can get involved in a lot more events this year in Roan Mountain.” Cheryl is already involved in many outreach projects, including Families Free, an amazing organization that aims to heal families and guide them on the road to recovery and beyond.
Person Vs. Risk
Unfortunately, when it comes to financial institutions, your credit score often dictates what kind of services and benefits are available to you. Not so with Northeast Community Credit Union. “You might have a very low credit score,” says Mrs. Blair, “but we might be able to help, because your situation doesn’t define you as a person. You’re not just a number on a piece of paper.” Everyone’s circumstances are different and we want to set our members up to succeed.
When asked about the most rewarding part of her job, Blair replied, “Being able to help someone who
can’t get help anywhere else.”
Everyone knows that life seems to have a way of turning easy pitches into wicked curveballs, and clear skies into raging thunderstorms. The service members at Roan Mountain NCCU will do everything possible to help ease the burden. “Someone might come in owing fees and the credit union employees will take the time to find out if some of the burden can be lessened and some of the fees reversed. Opportunities – second chances – so many times in banking, you don’t get that,” Blair explains.
Community Outreach
“We don’t want to just bank with people. We want to be part of what’s happening,” says Blair. “The National Credit Union motto is ‘People Helping People’, and that’s what we pride ourselves in: being regular people helping regular people.”
Blair and the member service team believe that the best way to serve Roan Mountain is to be involved. “Anyone can donate money, but we at NCCU know that being out there is the most important thing. We believe in sweat equity. We don’t just want to be available from 8:30 - 4:30. Our webpage shows all the organizations we support and we hope to expand that list even further.”
Roan Mountain NCCU staff members participate in schools by providing services and, more importantly, their time. Magazine subscriptions are provided to the schools to promote literacy. Staff members participate in Cloudland Elementary’s Career Day each year, and provide lunch for faculty and staff during the annual Highlander Hike at Roan Mountain State Park. All five public high schools in Carter County now have a student branch of NCCU. Bryson Brown is charged with overseeing the operations and functionality and is present at Cloudland on Monday mornings. The student branches serve to teach fiscal responsibility to teenagers and establish good banking habits, preparing them for a prosperous life as adults.
One significant example of the care NCCU member service reps show for the community is the lengths to which they went to make themselves available during the devastation of flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Blair recalls how after the waters had receded to allow travel, credit union members were relieved to find Northeast open and that they could access their money. This was no small feat as communication and computer systems were down for a substantial period of time. There was no way to check balances. Every transaction was performed in good faith. NCCU came through for the community and members were honorable. Nothing was lost.
Big Changes
Change is difficult for most people, but employees are optimistic that the big changes currently happening at the Roan Mountain branch will be appreciated by all. Not only is the building getting a facelift, the interior is getting a makeover from top
to bottom. Cheryl Phillips says, “I’ve seen the plans. I think it’s going to be beautiful.” The rest of the employees agree.
What started out as needed repairs to the building evolved into a repair and renovation project. After completing the new Operations & Community Center building and renovations to the main office in Elizabethton last fall, as well as the newly rebuilt branch at 19E that re-opened in March (due to the flooding from Hurricane Helene), NCCU management decided to invest in updating the two remaining branches with the Roan Mountain branch first on the list to address the repairs needed.
The updates to the branch will increase the functionality, provide efficiencies, and improve technology for the members and staff. The credit union will also maintain consistency of its branding and décor across the organization as well.
Amanda wants to reassure everyone that business will continue as usual and the projected completion date and grand “re-opening” celebration are slated for early fall. Although some of the updates are significant, they serve a greater purpose beyond aesthetic appreciation. “We don’t have a police presence a lot of the time in Roan Mountain,” she explains, “so having this area well-lit is very important.
The drive-thru will be updated to video monitors rather than using a window, just like the main office and 19E branch. The drive-thru will occupy the two outer lanes, while the ATM will be moved to the first lane, against the building. This will provide more efficiency and security for everyone; staff will no longer have to transport cash outside to refill the ATM, it can be done from inside. The ATM will also be less prone to theft attempts and other schemes when attached to the building, making it safer for our members and branch as a whole.
The teller line inside the branch will be moved away from the entrance and updated with more technology to serve the members better, and a new accounts office will provide members with more privacy. The décor will remain a mountain home feel with stone work mixed in with refreshed woodwork through the lobby, to include a welcoming stone fireplace where members may wait comfortably to be served. The Roan Mountain branch is a vital part for our community and these changes will allow our community to continue receiving access to great products and services for years to come, right at home.
Overall, the citizens of Roan Mountain are blessed to have a secure financial institution that is staffed by people who care for people. More information can be found on their webpage, but all are also welcome to come in for some small-town hospitality. www.bemycu.org/
GRACE PLACE THE
By Reverend Hunter Greene
In the beginning, God created humans. People. Persons. And God said that they – that we – were good. In the midst of all God had created, we humans shone brightly as the crown jewel of all creatures, places, and things God had made. We were different from the rest of creation, yet we belonged not only to God but to these other creatures through the vast connectedness of Creation’s web. We knew what we were because of our place in creation, and we knew who we were because of our place in God’s garden.
As we all know, it didn’t take very long for these people to forget what they were and who they were, and consequently, the harmonious relations they once enjoyed amongst God’s good creation were distorted by a discontentment with the way things were. But as the story goes, what started as a bite of forbidden fruit quickly became a snowballing catastrophe of jealousy, murder, exile, wickedness, floods, greed, and vanity. Quite the “fall” from grace if you ask me.
All this depravity culminates into the construction site that we know as the “Tower of Babel.” Genesis 11:4 reads, “Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.’” At first glance, we might think this is just another subdivision developer moving into a town to make a quick profit, but we learn that the people are engaging in this project because they were of “one language and one speech.”
On an engineering level, the people here have rightly discovered that building anything of substance requires a common language, whether that be a spoken language, a mathematical language, or a mechanical language. But on a spiritual level – or we might say on a human level – the people have wrongly assumed that the meaning of life could be boiled down to the consolidation of power, more efficient production, and heightened stakes in the pursuit of glory. In other
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability … in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”
words, life would be worthwhile if only we could “make a name for ourselves.”
With this context in mind, the discord that we find in the story of Babel is not the scattering of the people and their languages. Rather, the discord exemplified in this story, in my opinion, can be found in the people’s active rejection and distortion of God’s plan for people. While the multiplicity of languages may have pulled the plug on Babel’s progress, it restored order, harmony, and unity for those creatures made in the image of God.
To our modern ears, the thought that unity could be achieved through diversity and that harmony could be achieved through differentiation is quite the paradox – a paradox that confounds are tendencies to reduce everyone down to their red or blue voting record, their class status as rich or poor, and their worthiness as a saint or a sinner according to our definitions of morality. Yet the “Tower of Babel” story is our reminder that God has always intended for us to be free from uniformity and homogeny as well as free to express our God-given beauty and gifts in ways that only we can. In a word, the distortion of Babel – more specifically, the sin of Babel – was their insatiable appetite to remake the rest of the world in their own image, their own language, and their own power.
However, the nature of God is such that He not only personally involved Himself in the healing of Babel but that He also becomes flesh in the person of Jesus and universal in the sending of the Spirit to rectify, once and for all, our fall from Eden’s bliss. Yet, this time around God does not scatter the people and our language. On the contrary, he sends and spreads the language of Heaven: Love.
The message of Pentecost is not that the world can now access and hear the Gospel. They could likely already do that through the "universal" languages of their day, namely Greek, Latin, Hebrew, or Aramaic. The message of Pentecost is that the Gospel is so
personal and so intimate that God desires that it be shared with us in the particularities of our time and place. Those in the vicinity of Pentecost's power were transformed by the shock of having God’s love personified into the language, culture, and experiences of the people and places they call home.
In this way, sharing the good news of Jesus is not just about what we say and do but how we say and do it. If we think we can “share” Jesus with the world as if it were another monolithic Tower of Babel to be built in our name, we have strayed far from the power of Pentecost. But if we take seriously our call as the Body of Christ to go forth and incarnate God’s love into our communities in words they understand and actions they recognize, then perhaps the world just might find the language of Heaven just as compelling as the crowd at Pentecost did.
Theologian Stanley Hauerwas writes, “For what God did at Pentecost he continues to do; God renews and sustains the presence of the church so that the world might know there is an alternative to Babel. We really do have an alternative to Babel, an alternative to confusion, an alternative to fear of one another, and finally to war. We don’t just have an alternative story, but insofar as we are the church, we are the alternative. We are God’s new language.”
If we seek the world’s salvation from its selfdestruction, then God’s desire for unity and harmony and love must be communicated through the lives that we live. In days where it seems as if the world has lost its mind and people are losing their humanity in droves, it is our vocation to remember that, in the beginning, God created people and said they were good. While others may be stuck in the grinding gears of Babel’s business-as-usual operation, may we live as God’s tongues of fire, bringing each other back to the garden where we know what we are and whose we are.
Prayer Requests
Send your prayer requests to Hunter!
Photo by Faith Lynn
Please send all general inquiries, church information, upcoming church events, and special prayer requests to Hunter at hillbillytheology@gmail.com.
Check out Hunter's Hillbilly Theology site: hillbillytheology.com/ (Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hillbillytheology )
Church News
Magill Memorial Church Annual Summer Program Tuesdays, through July 28
Families and kids can receive a hot, nutritious meal and free books, as well as a food bag to take home each week. More details can be found on the church Facebook page.
Good Intentions
A Short Story by Diana Tolley
The hot June sun hadn’t quite reached its midday peak yet, but Sadie Boswell wiped her brow with her neckerchief. The older woman had started her day early in the garden, fightin’ back the weeds that tried to weasel their way in among her bean rows. She hacked at the bindweed like she was choppin’ at a snake’s head.
Everybody knew Ms. Sadie Boswell was a hard worker. Being nearly the oldest widow woman up Hoggum Holler, folks were used to settin’ store by the fruits of her labor. “Y’all ain’t never tasted pickled corn the likes of Miz Boswell’s,” they’d say. She’d always taken pride in sharing with her neighbors, especially them that was lacking. The good Lord had always provided for her needs, way beyond anything she could ever deserve, so it was fittin’ that she divide with others.
Sadie felt the sweat bead up again and run down her nose. Just as she decided that enough was enough and reached for her sweat-rag again, someone hollered. Raising her hand to shield her eyes, she saw the preacher walking up the dirt road toward her house.
“Lord, if it’s all the same to you, please let that preacher-man pass on by here,” Sadie muttered under her breach. Giving him a slight wave, she went back to hoeing away, busy as the bees hummin’ close by.
“Good day, Miz Boswell!” Preacher Davis hollered. Without lookin’, she threw her hand up again and kept at it. “Please just keep goin’, Preacher. Just sail on by and go tend to your flock. I don’t need none of that gabby stuff today. I got work to do. Please, Lord!” Before she could mutter the next prayer under her breath, she heard the sound of shoes on rocks. She raised up and looked skyward. “I know there’s gonna be some repentin’ later on,” Sadie murmured, before pasting a smile on her face. She turned and leaned on her hoe.
Thaddeus Davis had been recently appointed as the traveling Baptist minister in the area. His wife had died a couple of years before and he’d been more than happy to accept the calling. Preaching to the folks in the mountains of East Tennessee sounded just like what he needed for a new beginning. He liked it well enough, loved the preachin’, but a body could get mighty lonesome. Widow Boswell was a right comely
woman, hard workin’ and had good church attendance. He’d first laid eyes on her one Sunday at the old church down the road. She seemed to have a good rapport with the congregation and all her neighbors spoke highly of her.
Her being widowed for many years now, she might just be waitin’ for Jesus to send someone her way, Preacher Davis thought. He was hopin’ it’d be him. Lord knew he had been giving it his best shot anyhow. However, the Widow Boswell didn’t seem to take to his charm and gentlemanly ways, so on this particular day, he’d been thinkin’ he was gonna have to up his game a bit.
Sadie smiled as he approached, waiting for him to speak. “Right warm day, today, Miz Boswell,” he began, noticing the sweat on her face and unruly wisps of hair blowin’ in the breeze. “You seem to have been out here a good bit.”
Sadie slowly tilted her head sideways at his comment. “Good day, Preacher Davis. Is that your way of sayin’ I look a mess, or that I look like I’ve accomplished some good gardening?” She quipped back as she noticed a blush crawl up the man’s neck.
“Well, truth be told, a little bit of both,” he returned with a big smile.
“Uh huh,” she said, taking hold of her hoe with both hands and waiting.
Thaddeus removed his wide brimmed black hat and looked up at the sky, nonchalantly. “Might I bother you from your labors, for just a minute, for a cool drink and a short visit?” he asked. Sadie had seen that smile before. Not to mention that look on his face that said he had no idea what “a short visit” meant. Dropping one hand from the hoe, she pulled her sweat-rag from her pocket and wiped at her face again.
“I reckon I can do that. But just for a few minutes, Preacher. I know you have a lot of people up that holler that’ll be tickled to death to see you. I wouldn’t dream of keepin’ you from them.” Preacher Davis just chuckled and followed her to the porch. “You go a-head and take a sit down while I fetch us some cold water from the spring box.”
Thaddeus watched her go, nodding his head. She was a generous soul, just the right kind of woman to make a man proud. He hoped that he could eventually make her see what a good match they’d make. Why, he’d heard she was the best cook in these parts, and that she wasn’t squeamish a-tall when it came to cleanin’ fish or skinnin’ a squirrel. He sure did like a woman who knew how to make squirrel gravy.
Sadie mumbled to herself as she grabbed the metal pitcher from a shelf and filled it container with the good, cold water, then grabbed two glasses from the cupboard and headed back out on the porch. Preacher Davis sat rocking in the wooden glider and fanning himself with his big hat. “Much obliged,” he said as she poured and handed him a glass. “It’s shore turnin’ out to be a mighty warm day.”
Sadie looked at the seat next to him then picked up her glass and drank deeply, choosing to lean against the porch post instead of sitting. She shifted her weight at the nagging little ache in her back. She would have loved to sit down but she wasn’t gonna do that. Not with an unmarried man. Didn’t matter if he was a Bible thumper, or a moonshiner, folks talked and some even got the wrong idea about such goin’-ons.
“Ms. Boswell, you can come on over here and set a spell. I’m peaceable and I don’t reckon I smell all that bad,” the Preacher said jokingly. She grinned back at him and said, “Oh, no, certainly not. But I probably do. I been workin’ in the garden all day. Speakin’ of which, I better get back …” Straightening, she made to call an end to the conversation. Preacher Davis, sensing his opportunity was slipping away, jumped up quickly to stop her. He moved so fast, his pant leg got caught on one of the rockers and it threw him forward. He tried to reduce the damage, except the glass didn’t exactly go the direction he’d tried for. Instead, it hit Sadie square in the chest, splashing the almost full glass of icy water in her face. As she gasped from the cold shock of it, the preacher stumbled and barreled into her. Down off the porch they fell, rolling head over heels in the dirt.
“Oh! Miz Boswell! I am so, so sorry! Are you alright? Here, let me help you up!” Thaddeus reached out with his left hand but his jacket fell off the crook of his arm and hit her in the face, completely covering her head. “Oh heavens! I’m so sorry!” he hollered. She just laid there, making no attempt to remove it, her arms crossed, and her entire body shaking. He dropped to his knees with his hands folded in prayer.
Just about then a neighbor walking down the road saw the Widow Boswell laying with a black jacket over her face and the preacher kneeling beside her, seemingly in deep, mournful prayer.
“Lord, Jesus have mercy on us all! Sadie Boswell is dead! Oh no!” the woman screamed. She grabbed her apron tail, covered her face, and began to wail and cry. Loudly. All the preacher could do was kneel there with his mouth wide open, shaking his head no. The neighbor’s squalling brought a couple of men running out of the field across the road and someone on down the road began hollerin’ as well. “No, No, No!” Thaddeus managed to yell with his muddy hands held up high. “She’s not dead! She’s not dead!”
That seemed to stop the men, but the neighbor lady kept cryin’ into her apron at the top of her lungs. The two men looked at each other and one of them moved to pat the shoulder of the distraught woman. Suddenly, he pointed a shaky finger toward the “body.”
The whole time, Sadie had been shaking with laughter so hard she couldn’t do a thing but hold her sides. When she heard all the hoopin’ and hollerin’, she shot up into a sitting position, jerked the jacket from her face and head, hair standing up like a rooster’s tail. Lord only knew there’d be something to talk about in church the next Sunday. She reached up for the
outstretched hand of the Preacher.
Rising she turned to the folks standing there. “Cassie! I ain’t dead, you ninny goat! I fell –”
But before she could finish, the woman looked up and screamed. “She’s alive! It’s a miracle! Preacher Davis raised her from the DEAD!” People started shoutin’ and praisin’ the Lord, a couple even fell to their knees. Sadie shook her head at Thaddeus as he stared in utter shock at what was happenin’ around them. “Well don’t just stand there like you got the lock jaw! Do something!” she yelled, elbowing him in the side.
Thadeus hurried to the fence. “Now, folks, listen up!There’s been a misunderstanding. Widow Boswell is just fine. She wasn’t dead a’tall. We took a tumble off the porch and the situation just got misconstrued. There’s no miracles here today, folks. Everyone just go on about our business.”
Although some looked a might skeptical, the gathered friends and neighbors began to dissipate. Except Cassie, who looked like she didn’t know whether to cry some more or get mad. “You sure you’re okay, Sadie?” she called. All Sadie could manage was to shake her head and wave them away.
“Miz Boswell, I sure am sorry. It wasn’t my intention to cause such a disturbin’ mess,” Thaddeus began.
“Preacher,” Sadie said, with her hands on her hips, covered in dirt and mud. “It’s more like stirrin’ up a hornet’s nest, cause by Sunday, I’ll be buried and resurrected a dozen different ways. And I know what your intentions was! Let me set you straight, right now. I ain’t lookin’ for no man. The Lord gave me one good husband and I’m mighty grateful but I don’t want another one. So you can set your sights on some other woman who will share your intentions, entirely. Good day, Preacher.”
Sadie Boswell huffed her way into the house, slammin’ the screen door behind her. The Preacher sniffed loudly, then picked up his jacket and hat. He dusted himself off, jerked his hat down over his eyes and hurried on, wounded pride and all.
Peeping out her front window, Sadie watched him go. The hilarity of the situation hit her and she rocked her head back and tears of laughter rolled down her dusty cheeks. It’d been a mighty long while since she’d witnessed anything that ridiculous. That preacher would have a hard time living it down!
Wiping her eyes, she chuckled all the way into the kitchen to make herself a special supper of fried chicken. It wasn't every day a body got to see a flirtin’ Preacher raise the dead, alarm an entire community and then high tail it down the road like a scalded dog. “No sirree,” she said out loud. “Ya just didn’t run into that kinda thing everyday.” Laughing out loud again, Sadie shook her head. There was gonna have to be some repentin’ come bedtime.
Fun & Games
(For kids of ALL ages!)
How many words can you make from this wish for dads?
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!
June Word Search
America
Black Bears
D Day
Dad
Davy Crocket
Fathers Day
Fireflies
Garden
Green Corn Moon
Honeysuckle
Independence
Intentions
Lightning Bugs
Moon Pie
Moonstone
Mountain Dew
Pearl
Pentacost
Revolutionary War
Rose Solstice
Strawberry Moon Summer Tennessee
Vacation
Volunteer State
Help Dad find his fishing pole!
Enjoy our "Coloring Page" (opposite), created by staff artist Kelly McCollum.
There’s a certain kind of tiredness that only shows up in June. Not the kind that sleep fixes. I’m talking about the kind that settles deep into your bones after weeks of heat, long hours, equipment problems, bills stacking up, and grass growing faster than a crew can keep ahead of it.
The kind where your body wakes up sore before your feet even touch the floor. The kind where you sit in the truck for an extra minute before turning the key because you already know what the day’s going to demand from you.
June has a way of wearing people down slowly.
Spring still carries a little excitement with it. Folks are glad winter’s over, customers are calling, everything’s green again. There’s energy in it. But by June, the romance has burned off and what’s left is work in its purest form. Heat. Sweat. Repetition.
The mower decks clog, weed eaters refuse to cooperate, storms throw schedules apart. You finish one property and three more already need attention again. The phone keeps ringing while your body keeps asking for a break you can’t afford to take.
And a lot of people get worn down right there.
You can see it in crews every summer. Somebody gets quieter, somebody starts dragging their feet, tempers shorten, small inconveniences suddenly feel personal. Even the strongest workers start running on fumes when the heat stretches day after day without mercy.
The truth is, getting worn down doesn’t usually come from one hard day. It comes from too many hard days in a row without enough recovery in between.
Landscaping teaches you something most people don’t understand anymore: exhaustion can become normal if you let it. A person can get so used to running empty that they stop noticing how worn down they really are. They just keep moving because stopping feels irresponsible. That mindset will carry you for a while, but eventually even good equipment overheats.
That’s something the land teaches too. Machines need cooling periods, soil needs rest, fields need rotation. Push anything constantly without maintenance, and eventually something breaks under pressure. People aren’t exempt from that just because bills need paid.
That doesn’t mean every rough patch is from being worn down and some days you simply have to work tired. That’s life. Responsibility doesn’t disappear because you’re exhausted; there’s honor in pushing through difficult seasons when you need to.
But there’s also wisdom in recognizing when you’ve been carrying too much for too long.
June heat has a way of exposing what winter hid. Weak batteries die quicker, thin grass burns out, cracks show up in dry ground that looked solid a month
LESSONS IN LIFE & LANDSCAPING June Heat
By Ericka Hughes
earlier. The pressure reveals what’s been neglected beneath the surface. The same thing happens to people.
A lot of folks walking around angry aren’t angry at all. They’re just depleted. A lot of people snapping at their families, losing patience, or feeling emotionally numb aren’t bad people. They’re overheated mentally, physically, spiritually—trying to operate past their limits because the world keeps rewarding productivity more than stability. And somewhere along the line, many working people stopped believing they were allowed to rest without guilt.
That’s dangerous.
Because being worn down doesn’t always announce itself loudly. Sometimes it arrives quietly. You stop laughing as much. Stop noticing sunsets. Stop caring about things you used to enjoy. Everything starts feeling like one long task list with no finish line at the end of it.
I think that’s why small things matter more in June. Cold water in the shade, five quiet minutes before the next property, the sound of evening after the equipment finally shuts off, a decent meal after a brutal day, dog laying in the yard while the heat finally breaks. Little reminders that life still exists outside survival mode. People weren’t built to run wide open forever.
And maybe strength isn’t always measured by how much pain somebody can ignore. Maybe sometimes strength looks like recognizing your limits before your spirit gets worn down past repair.
June will test a person. But surviving summer isn’t just about enduring heat. It’s about learning when to push, when to pace yourself, and how to keep your fire from burning so hot that it consumes the very thing that kept you going to begin with.
THE LAST WORD Leaving the Tower
By Noah Blair
We, as Christians, don’t always do what we should, we don’t say what we should, we simply make a lot of mistakes. I’m comforted by knowing that we have forgiveness available to us through Jesus.
One of those mistakes, however, is when we do the opposite of what we tell nonbelievers to do. We stand in our makeshift, poorly constructed ivory towers and scream out the window to the masses about the power of the Gospel and how it can change every aspect of our lives. We rejoice about the freedom that knowing Jesus as our savior has granted us, we tell everyone about the peace we have, and how joy flows from our hearts.
Then we do the wildest thing: we walk away from our window, sit down on the floor, and our souls weep. Not weeping for the reasons one would think. Our hearts don’t break because we see so many lost and broken people in need of a savior, we don’t yearn for God to make himself real to our communities, we weep because it all gets too heavy in that moment. The weight of our own guilt, shame, and regret pushes us down into ourselves, where all that’s left is the voice in our head that tells us we are broken and beyond repair.
We don’t dare admit this, for fear of what everyone else might think. We grimace at the horror of someone seeing through our façade of religion and duct-taped belief. We think that we have to be the only ones who are going
through this; that we are all alone.
The Bible talks about Elijah, in 1 Kings 19, telling God that he was the only believer left in the land while on the run from Ahab and Jezebel. We find Elijah completely in despair without any hope in his situation. In that same chapter, the Lord will show Elijah that he is, in fact, wrong, and that there are 7,000 believers in Israel.
The thing about 1 Kings 19 is that, without any context, one would believe that this must have been a hard time for Elijah, leading up to his collapse of faith in that cave. What if I told you that just one chapter before, in 1 Kings 18, Elijah sees the very might and power God possesses when he defeated, in grand fashion, the false prophets of Baal?
Why bring this up? It reminds me of us modern Christians. We have seen God work in mighty ways, yet still find ourselves alone in those tall, creaky towers just as broken as those around us.
I would like to offer a better way to live our lives. My favorite verse in the Bible is John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” We are the “they” referenced in that verse. What does this have to do with me in my despair, you may ask. It has everything to do with you, your life, your choices, etc. Jesus came to offer a life that is abundant, abundant in joy, hope, peace, and love. The issue is we have to accept that truth, and by accepting it, I mean submit to it.
We can’t have the reins to the cart anymore if we want to live abundantly. We can’t have half of Jesus and live the joy-filled life we’ve been offered without all of Jesus.
Christians let him have control, trust that he will guide us exactly where we’re supposed to be, and obey. It’s really that simple. We wonder why the lost aren’t drawn to our cries of faith. When you don’t have it yourself, they see that. Fill your life up with Jesus, tell everyone around you to do the same, and sit back and enjoy the ride.
P. S. Go ahead and tear down the towers, too; you’re not a princess in a Disney movie, and get after it!
Jesus loves you.
