Roan Mountain Magazine September 2026 by RoanMountainMagazine

Roan Mountain

Magazine

September 2026

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Roan Mountain

Magazine

Volume 3, Issue 1 September 2026 STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amy Thurman (Campbell Clark) amy@roanmountainmagazine.com STAFF WRITERS Nicole Barnett Blake Dugger Ericka Hughes Noah McKinney 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 Daniel Wagner 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 PROOFREADERS Brenda Shell Hoss Karen Kyte

ARTICLES & FEATURES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

7 Editor's Letter 9 Gun Talk with Jon 11 Taste of the Roan - Spaghetti for Canning 13 Vintage Roan - Early Photos 15 Highlander Highlights 17 Citizens Club Update 19 Call for Your Stories 21 Echoes of September 1780 - Shelving Rock 25 Best of the Roan Contest 29 Business Spotlight - Appalachain Motorsports 31 Fall Color Guide 33 Essay Submissions: Grandparents 38 The Grace Place 40 Apple Butter and Naturalists Rally 41 What Black Bears are doing in September 42 Fun and Games! 43 Coloring Page - Dolly Parton 44 Fall-O-Dendron Promotion 45 September - A Poem 46 The Last Word

CONTRIBUTORS BearWise.org Terry Jarrett Joseph Knaack 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

www.roanmountainmagazine.com

ABOUT THE COVER: A spicebush swallowtail gathering nectar. A "just because" image, just because it's pretty! Cover Photo by Daniel Wagner

Roan Mountain Magazine

Johnson’s Lawn Care

Loc

ally

Own

ed!

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EDITOR'S

ow time flies. Two years ago this month we published the first issue of Roan Mountain Magazine. Can you believe it’s been two years? It sure doesn’t seem like it. But look how well it’s done in those two years! There are several key elements to this. There’s our great team of talented staff writers, columnists, contributors, photographers, and artists who bring their creativity and passion to the table and fill these pages every month. Please take a look at the masthead on page five for that long list of talent. It takes courage to put those creations on paper and send them out into the world for everyone to see, not to mention the energy and time it takes. And yet, each month, these pages are packed full with their efforts. Without them, there would be no magazine. There’s our loyal and supportive advertisers who we partner with to promote their businesses, and in return, their ads allow us to pay the bills, print each issue and provide it to the community at no charge. Many of these local businesses don’t need to advertise – we all know they’re here! They do so to help us keep this magazine going. Without them, there would be no magazine. There are all the distribution locations, from Elizabethton to Banner Elk. Businesses that make space on their counters, with no benefit to themselves, and allow us to make the print issue available to you. Without them, we’d have no way to get the magazine into your hands each month. There are the “behind the scenes” folks. Our proofreaders, Brenda Hoss and Karen Kyte, both new to the team, who check for errors and suggest changes to make each issue the best it can be. Jay Rich, who sells ads to keep us solvent and delivers the magazines to our distributors each month. Colleen Gainey, who keeps our Facebook page active and puts out the calls for pictures, recipes, staff, and more. Scottie and Delaney Scalf of the Elizabethton Star who print the magazine each month and work hard to get us good paper and quality printing. And, also new to the team, Kevin, with K & A Innovations (thank you, Kim Barnett, for that introduction), who is currently working to create a full-scale website for us. This will allow us to provide more articles, information and resources to our community. Each of these “behind the scenes” people are essential to production. And then there’s you. Yes, you, reading these words right now. Our readers. Whether you pick it up at a business near you, read it online, or have it delivered to your home (we have a subscriber as far away as New Jersey now!), you are also an essential element to this. In fact, you’re the reason everything I’ve listed above takes place at all. Without you, there would be no point to any of it, at all. www.roanmountainmagazine.com

NOTE Essential Elements All of these elements, all of YOU, combine to create a wonderful circle of energy, creativity, passion, support, and continuity. And that circle winds through and around this amazing community we all love so much. And you know what? That’s pretty miraculous. Especially in this digitally driven world. I wrote for half a dozen publications before I started my own in 2008, and this is the third publication I've launched. None of them could even touch this! Roan Mountain Magazine is by far the most successful, the most purposeful, and the most enjoyable publication I’ve ever been associated with, and that’s entirely due to all of you. So when I say thank you, each of you, for your roll in this circle, know that I mean it with my whole heart. See you 'round the Roan!

Amy Campbell Clark Editor amy@roanmountainmagazine.com

Roan Mountain Magazine

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Roan Mountain Magazine

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TASTE of the ROAN Spaghetti Sauce for Canning Submitted by Brenda Shell Hoss Since it's getting to the end of the harvest, I'm overrun with tomatoes. This is how my family used excess tomatoes, peppers and onions. One run makes 8 or 9 quarts. INGREDIENTS

½ bushel ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped 3 lb. onions, chopped ½ cup salad oil 1 hot pepper, chopped 2 sweet peppers, chopped 9 small cans tomato paste or 5 cans tomato soup ¼ cup salt 1½ cup sugar 1 tbsp. basil leaves 1 tbsp. oregano 1 tbsp. onion salt

PLEASE share your family recipes with us! And if you have a photo of the prepared dish, send that along too! amy@roanmountainmagazine.com

DIRECTIONS ■ Cook for 2 hours on medium heat, stirring often. Pour into hot jars and seal. (Somewhere in this timeframe, if you want chunk-free sauce, you can run the sauce through a food mill. Reheat the sauce and then put in jars and seal. I prefer the slightly chunky sauce.) ■ To serve, cook one pound ground beef, removing fat, add spaghetti sauce and heat to preferred temperature. In the meantime, prepare your favorite spaghetti noodles per package instructions. Pour sauce over noodles and enjoy.

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Vintage Roan

Please contact amy@roanmountainmagazine.com to submit your photos or arrange to have them scanned.

Above, taken sometime in the 1940s. The little girl is Wanda Gail Greer, with her parents Francis Barnett Greer and David Crocket Greer. Wanda is the mother of Ramona, Terry Jarrett's wife. Below, an image of Roan Mountain dated 1888. Both photos were shared by Terry Jarrett.

www.roanmountainmagazine.com

Roan Mountain Magazine

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HIGHLANDER

HIGHLIGHTS

By Cloudland High School Yearbook Staff

he dynamic energy of this new school year is officially back at Cloudland High School! The home of the Highlanders is gearing up for an unforgettable kickoff featuring some new faces among our faculty and staff. This annual transition brings both cherished Highlander traditions and exciting additions that promise to make this academic season a standout year for students, families, and neighbors alike. Meet Our New Faculty & Staff Members We are thrilled to introduce three outstanding individuals who join our Highlander family this semester, each bringing unique expertise, energy, and commitment to our campus community: • Eli Preswood – New Middle School Science: Bringing a passion for discovery and hands-on learning, Mr. Preswood will guide our middle schoolers through interactive labs, experimental learning models, and foundational STEM concepts. • Hunter Smith – New Middle School Social Studies: Dedicated to making history come alive, Mr. Smith joins our team with creative lesson plans focusing on critical thinking, historical perspectives, and active civic engagement. • TJ Hicks – New Student Support Aide: Stepping into a new student support position, Mr Hicks is focused on expanding academic assistance within technology to ensure every Highlander thrives. A big Highlander "Welcome" to all!

www.roanmountainmagazine.com

Community Tailgate Lineup – September 18 Mark your calendars for Friday, September 18, as our back campus parking lot transforms into the ultimate central hub of school spirit and neighborhood celebration. Bring your favorite gear and your Highlander pride! Spirit Stations, Club Booths, Activities and More: Hosted by clubs, churches, businesses, and community, these booths feature fun activities, Highlander gear, give aways, and so much more to get you fully equipped for the game.

Roan Mountain Magazine

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Fall-O-Dendron Festival

October is one of the most beautiful times of year in Roan Mountain, and with it comes beautiful scenery, cool, crisp autumn air, and fun community activities. One of those community activities is the annual Roan Mountain Fall-O-Dendron Festival hosted by the Roan Mountain Citizens Club. The festival is set to be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in Roan Mountain State Park. The Roan Mountain FallO-Dendron Festival features handmade arts and crafts, live music, delicious festival food, and also showcases the area's natural beauty. Admission to the festival is free, making it an accessible outing for families and travelers looking to experience a great fall day activity. While there is no cost to attend, organizers note that donations for parking are welcomed and will directly benefit the Cloudland High School Lady Highlander Softball team. Highlights of the festival include live music ranging from traditional Appalachian sounds to contemporary performances, handmade arts and crafts including things like soaps and candles, baked goods, wood working, jewelry, and much more – there is something for everyone. In addition to shopping and entertainment, the festival will feature multiple food vendors offering a delicious variety of options for attendees throughout the day. The festival is held during a beautiful time in Roan Mountain when many of the fall leaves are at peak color for viewing and enjoying. This makes for a breathtaking backdrop for the event but also provides a great afternoon for guests to check out some of Roan Mountains nearby trails and overlooks. While at the festival, visitors are encouraged to visit the Roan Mountain Citizens Club booth to not only check out the official festival t-shirts, hats, and cookbooks, but to also learn about ways to get involved in or support the Roan Mountain community. With free admission, a full schedule of entertainment, and a strong emphasis on local craftsmanship, the Roan Mountain Fall-O-Dendron Festival continues to stand out as a highlight of the fall season. Residents and visitors can expect a memorable weekend in Roan Mountain.

For questions about the Fall-O-Dendron Festival or about the Roan Mountain Citizens Club please contact roanmountaincitizensclub@gmail.com or visit www.roanmountian.com for more information.

www.roanmountainmagazine.com

NEWS FROM THE

CITIZENS CLUB By Shellie McKinney Roan Mountain Citizens Club

Photo L to R: Rep. Timothy Hill, Rep. Renea Jones, Roan Mountain Citizens Club President Brian Tipton, Sen. Rusty Crowe, Roan Mountain State Park Manager Monica Johnson, and Roan Mountain Citizens Club Board Member Tom Niziol.

State Recognition

We are pleased to announce that the Roan Mountain Rhododendron and Fall-O-Dendron Festivals have been recognized as Tennessee’s Official Rhododendron Festivals—a tremendous honor celebrating our rich Appalachian heritage, community, and the breathtaking beauty of Roan Mountain. This recognition belongs to every volunteer, artisan, musician, vendor, sponsor, and visitor who has helped make these festivals a treasured Tennessee tradition for nearly 80 years. Special thanks to those who helped make this special designation possible, including Senator Rusty Crowe, Representative Renea Jones, and Representative Timothy Hill. Here’s to preserving Roan Mountain’s legacy for generations to come!

Roan Mountain Magazine

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Call for Your Spooky Stories

early everyone, at some point, experiences something unusual that can’t easily be explained by science. Maybe you’ve gotten a visit from a recently deceased relative, or a message from an ancestor. Maybe you’ve seen something in the shadows that couldn’t possibly have been there, or something unknown tried to communicate with you. Maybe you’ve been in an accident that should have been fatal but were helped by unseen forces and suspected a guardian angel. Maybe you’ve had a premonition that warned of danger and kept you or a loved one safe. Maybe your Mamaw could heal a wound with prayer or whisper a burn away. Maybe your Papaw knew to get all the livestock out of the barn minutes before it was struck by lightning. In our modern world, such stories might seem fanciful to some, but there’s still much in our big ol’ world that science can’t yet explain. And we all know that God moves in mysterious ways. In addition, with the high percentages of Irish and Scottish heritage in this community, gifts of second sight or even just a little bit of Celtic magic are to be expected. It’s in our blood. Whatever the case, whatever your experience, we want to share it. These stories are part of our community’s culture, and often part of our daily lives, impacting us in countless ways. Ashlee McCoury will be gathering your stories this month and compiling them into a feature for the October issue. Please reach out to her and share your story, or write it yourself and send it to us. You can remain anonymous if you choose and we promise to keep your identity hidden.

How to Get in Touch Message Ashlee McCoury on Facebook Email her at ashleemc.writes@gmail.com Message us through the magazine's Facebook page Call the magazine to arrange a meeting: 440-9012

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WE KEEP ROAN MOUNTAIN RUNNING.

Echoes of September 1780:

When History Marched Through Yellow Mountain Gap

By Joseph Knaack

f you’ve ever stood near Shelving Rock on a crisp late-September evening, you know there’s a specific kind of quiet that settles over Roan Mountain. The mountain air turns sharp, the leaves along the ridges begin their subtle shift to gold, and the mist hangs heavy in the hollows. It’s easy to look out at the landscape and feel like time has stood still. Yet 246 years ago, that quiet was broken by the thunder of hundreds of horses, the heavy clatter of iron kettles, the creak of leather saddles, and the resolute chatter of men preparing for a march that would alter the course of American history. The Muster at Sycamore Shoals On September 26, 1780, the Overmountain Men arrived in what we now know as Roan Mountain. They were not a formal army in any traditional sense. They wore no matching Continental uniforms and carried no standard-issue government gear. Instead, they were frontier settlement men including hunters, farmers, blacksmiths, and homesteaders hailing from the remote Watauga, Nolichucky, and Holston river valleys. They carried long, heavy-barreled Deckhard www.roanmountainmagazine.com

The rock overhang on Highway 143, about a mile south of 19E, came to be known as Shelving Rock. It has filled in over time, but the history remains. What those ancient layers of rock have witnessed! Photo provided by Joseph Knaack

rifles capable of remarkable accuracy, wore fringed leather and linsey-woolsey hunting shirts, and rode rugged mountain horses thoroughly accustomed to navigating treacherous, rocky terrain. These men had gathered two days earlier at Sycamore Shoals, summoned by an existential threat that struck at the very heart of their freedom. Major Patrick Ferguson, a brilliant and aggressive Scottish officer commanding British Loyalist forces in the backcountry, had sent a clear and arrogant warning to the trans-mountain settlements. He declared that if they did not immediately cease their armed opposition to the British Crown, he would march his army right over the mountains, hang their leaders, and lay waste to their entire country with fire and sword. To the British, these frontier settlements were isolated rebels out of reach of conventional warfare. But the mountain men understood a fundamental truth of the frontier: waiting to be cornered was a fatal mistake. Instead of waiting to be destroyed, they chose to take the fight directly to the enemy.

Continued on page 23

Roan Mountain Magazine

www.roanmountainmagazine.com

The Ascent to Shelving Rock By the time the sprawling column reached the base of the mountains near Roan Mountain, it numbered around one thousand determined men. They were led by a cadre of legendary frontier colonels including William Campbell, John Sevier, Isaac Shelby, and Charles McDowell. The journey thus far had already been grueling, but the most punishing climb of the expedition lay directly ahead: crossing the high country through Yellow Mountain Gap. As daylight faded on September 26, the exhausted men made camp along the rushing waters of the Doe River, taking shelter beneath the massive natural rock ledge known today as Shelving Rock. Nature itself seemed to conspire against them. Autumn rains had begun to fall in sheets, threatening to soak their black powder and render their long rifles utterly useless. In an age long before waterproof gear, synthetic fabrics, or modern tarps, wet powder meant defeat, captivity, or even death. Recognizing the immediate danger, the men carefully stacked their rifles and powder horns deep beneath the dry, protective overhang of Shelving Rock. They tended to their weary horses, built campfires where the cliff face offered vital protection from the biting wind, and prepared mentally for the brutal ascent waiting for them at daybreak. In the Shadow of the Mountain Imagine spending that evening in the deep, towering shadow of the mountain. These were men who lived on the raw edge of the wilderness, entirely accustomed to hard physical labor and prolonged isolation. Yet, as they sat around those crackling campfires in Roan Mountain, the heavy weight of their undertaking must have been palpable. Crossing the jagged Blue Ridge in late September was no small feat even under normal, peaceful circumstances. Doing so with a thousand men, horses, and baggage trains to hunt down a well-trained, heavily armed British military force was an act of extraordinary, daring courage. Supplies were severely rationed, boots were wearing thin, and every man knew that if Ferguson's forces caught them dispersed in the high passes, the consequences would be catastrophic for their families back home. The Climb Through Yellow Mountain Gap At the first gray light of dawn on September 27, the column broke camp and began the arduous, lungburning climb up toward Yellow Mountain Gap. The trail was nothing more than a narrow game path that was steep, treacherous, and choked with slick boulders, exposed tree roots, and dense, tangled rhododendron thickets that fought back at every step. To compound their misery, winter was already arriving early at the higher elevations. Snow was actively flying as they gained altitude, reaching ankle-deep drifts by the time the vanguard crested the gap at over 4,600 feet. At the top of the high mountain pass, in a wide alpine meadow swept by frigid gales, the officers www.roanmountainmagazine.com

halted the column. To ensure that every single man was accounted for, medically fit, and ready for the impending clash, they ordered a formal roll call. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the biting cold mountain wind, surrounded by swirling flurries of early autumn snow, the men raised their long rifles and fired a celebratory volley into the air. It was a defiant signal echoing across the peaks, acting as a declaration that the high mountains had not stopped them, and that Major Ferguson's arrogant threat was about to be answered in full. The Turn of the Tide From the heights of Yellow Mountain Gap, the Overmountain Men pressed down the eastern slopes and into the foothills of North Carolina. Just ten days after leaving the safety of Roan Mountain, they successfully cornered Major Ferguson and his entire elite Loyalist force atop the rugged plateau of Kings Mountain. What followed was a ferocious, thirtyminute battle on October 7, 1780. The mountain men completely surrounded the Loyalist position, utilizing their lifelong frontier skills by working their way up the rocky, wooded slopes using trees and boulders for cover just as they had practiced hunting in the backcountry. Major Ferguson was killed in the opening moments of the engagement, his entire force was either killed or captured, and the British strategic campaign in the Southern backcountry was dealt a fatal, irreversible blow. Thomas Jefferson would later look back on the engagement, calling the decisive victory at Kings Mountain the turn of the tide of the success of the American Revolution. Echoes in Modern Valleys Today, it is all too easy to drive past Shelving Rock or hike casually along the modern Appalachian Trail near Yellow Mountain Gap without realizing the immense historical weight of the ground beneath our boots. The old dirt tracks through Roan Mountain are paved now, and the raw, untamed wilderness has softened into protected state parks and quiet residential communities. Yet every September, when the high-elevation air turns sharp and cold and the first leaves begin to drop from the canopy, the true spirit of 1780 returns to our valley. The story of the Overmountain Men is not merely a dry chapter locked away in a national textbook, but rather a deeply rooted local heritage written directly into our soil, our ancient cliffs, and our high mountain gaps. They rested under our rocks, drank from our cold mountain streams, and climbed our ridgelines to secure a fragile freedom we still enjoy today. As autumn approaches once again in Roan Mountain, take a moment to look up toward the high gaps. The Overmountain Men marched straight through our backyards, and they changed the course of the world on their way over the ridge.

Roan Mountain Magazine

2nd Annual

Best

of the

Roan

Contest Winners!

TALKATIVE RICHARD SHELL

Most Talkative Resident While Mr. Shell won this category by a wide margin, there were a few honorable mentions, too: Derrick Guinn Sunni Buchanan Amanda Blair

Our Best of the Roan Contest is a fun way to recognize what's unique and special about our community! We were unable to source photos in time for the print issue but we will run winner photos with the results on our website, as we did last year. Also look for winner spotlights on our Facebook page in the coming weeks! Comments about our community by various participants are interspersed throughout. Thank you to all who participated and congratulations to all the winners and runners-up!

"It's more than just a pretty place, it's home!"

Quietest Resident On the opposite end of the conversation spectrum is Mr. Vance, and runner up: Carissa Guinn

QUIETEST ROY VANCE

"Knowing most of the people who live here. Small town feel. No large businesses or chains. Small school atmosphere."

JOKES DALLAS BIRCHFIELD 24

Roan Mountain Magazine

Best Joke Teller We have quite a few funny folks here! Runners up included: Garrett Birchfield Jay Rich TV Barnett

STORYTELLER KEN SHELL

Best Storyteller It takes talent to hold attention when telling a story and Ken Shell was the clear winner. Honorable mentions included: Floyd Odom Jon Buck

www.roanmountainmagazine.com

Best Beard Brach takes it for the 2nd year in a row! Runners Up: Larry Jarrett Derrick Guinn

BEST BEARD BRACH JARRETT

Resident Coffee Guzzler We hope the winners of this 5-way tie save some for the rest of us! Jeff Hughes Derrick Hughes Tylor Ballard Ken Shell Judy Shell

COFFEE IT'S A TIE!

"Love being in this beautiful mountain community. Everyone has been so welcoming, helpful and kind."

BEST PIE

Best Homemade Pie Mary Parker's pies take the cake! We have a couple honorable mentions, too: Marty Church Shirley Street

MARY PARKER

JON BUCK www.roanmountainmagazine.com

HUNTER LANCE JARRETT

"Everything!"

FISHERMAN

Best Hunter/Trapper Lance won this category by a wide margin, but the following also made a good showing: Kim Barnett Michael Whitecloud Braden Lacy Jace Buck

Best Fisherman I think we all knew Jon would take this one! But also worthy of mention: Derrick Guinn Lance Jarrett Jace Buck

"Freedom.

Community. Vibes."

HISTORY FLOYD ODOM DERRICK GUINN

Most Knowledgeable History Buff We have a tie! You both should be sharing this local history knowledge with the magazine. Hint hint!

Roan Mountain Magazine

MAILBOX

Nicest Mailbox Aside from a couple oneoffs, the votes were split evenly between these two ladies!

LEANN HEATON JEANETTE CAMPBELL

SERMON JUSTIN HODGES

Longest Sunday Sermon Pastor Hodges of Morgan Branch apparently isn't one to short-change God's Word! Honorable mentions included: Noah Blair Rick Birchfield Chris Wilson

"Having a place to call home, where I know if I needed a home-cooked

meal, good preaching, a Friday night football game, a ride to town, or a friend, I could call on so many people who care about each other."

Best Customer Service What a great vote of thanks from customers of Northeast Community Credit Union! Runners up included: Plumbers Hardware Highlander BBQ

SERVICE NCCU

INTERIOR

Nicest Business Interior A new category this year, and Highlander took the lead! Honorable mentions: NCCU Mountain Harbour

HIGHLANDER

BBQ

"It's home. I was born here but have traveled from coast to coast. Nothing feels better than coming back to Roan Mountain."

EXTERIOR MOUNTAIN HARBOUR 26

Roan Mountain Magazine

Nicest Business Exterior Their pretty setting earned Mountain Harbour Bed & Breakfast the top spot! Honorable mentions included: NCCU Roan Mountain Pharmacy Carter County Bank Puerto Escondido

BEER THE STATION

Coldest Beer in Town This was a close race with The Station at 19E coming out ahead, followed closely by: The Kitchen at Mountain Harbour

www.roanmountainmagazine.com

CHEESEBURGER

SNACK WAGON

Best Local Cheeseburger This new category was also a close race with the following also getting substantial votes: H&H Whiteway Grill The Kitchen at Mountain Harbour

MECHANIC

Best Local Mechanic We intended this category to be for specific individual mechanics, but votes decided on Roan Mountain Tire Express!

TIRE EXPRESS

"The friendly community and the mountains!"

COMMUNITY PEOPLE BEAUTY

What We Love Most The responses to this question about our community were a tie between the people who live here and the natural beauty surrounding us!

Category Suggestions for Next Year There were a number of good suggestions - thank you! We have selected the following to consider: Most Likely to Survive the Apocalypse Tallest Resident Best Volunteer (who always steps up to take on tasks) Coolest Car (Classic) Coolest Car (Modern)

Responses Not Included A few categories didn't receive enough responses to be included, or had incomplete information. These responses were left out: Longest Marriage Oldest Living Resident Most grandkids To those who did provide a response to these categories, we appreciate your participation.

Congratulations Winners!

Friendliest (loves everyone) Biggest Drama King/Queen Best Singing Voice Most Artistic/Talented Always Working www.roanmountainmagazine.com

Roan Mountain Magazine

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Business Spotlight: Southern Appalachian Motorsports By Noah McKinney

omething as simple as genuine, straight forward kindness goes a long way. Kerry Buchanan, owner of Southern Appalachian Motorsports, has relied on that philosophy since he opened the shop in 2011. Born and raised right here in Roan Mountain, he understands the importance of community and caring about your neighbor. That, above anything else, is what drives the work that he and the crew do. “I’d rather be kind and nice than anything else. Over being right, rich, you name it,” Buchanan said over the clanking of wrenches and the roaring of air compressors. It’s clear that Buchanan doesn’t treat customers that come in like a number or just the next man in line. He truly cares about the job at hand and ensures that anyone getting repairs or upgrades done to their ATVs or UTVs are treated to a smile and undivided attention in conversation; whether that be about the work to be done or anything else. Some might call it exceptional customer service, but what does it really boil down to? Unrelenting kindness. The type that has made him adopt the mantra of free hugs around the shop. It doesn’t cost a dime to put your arm around your fellow man at Southern Appalachian Motorsports, whether you’re a customer or a writer learning about a local business that has served the town for 15 years. “Initially, it was tagged as ‘Free Hug Friday’, but we’ve since made it an everyday ordeal. The offer never expires, and we’ll make sure it's honored, even if we’re hard at work!” Buchanan said. Make no mistake though: the emphasis on kindness does not compromise any professionalism or the vast hands-on knowledge that Kerry and his crew possess. They diagnose issues, promptly get started on the job, and make sure it is done the absolute right way without beating around the bush or charging inflated rates. Reviews of their work indicate that many in the area consider them to be their go-to when repairs or maintenance are needed, which is exactly how www.roanmountainmagazine.com

they’ve been able to make a name for themselves in our community. Kerry and I discussed the fact that while it is a small town, the area is growing and has changed from when he was a child. “It has become more of a melting pot from thirty or forty years ago”, Kerry said. “When I was a kid, the people you saw were the ones born here. But it’s nice to see new faces appreciating what we have to offer with our mountains and hospitality.” Part of embracing the change is to keep innovation at the forefront of his mind, with advances in the offroad vehicle industry being inevitable. Technology will certainly play a role in this as the years come and go, but it’s something that he doesn’t shy away from. “Always looking for the next thing, always trying to learn more”, Kerry said. Located at 8252 US-19E next to the Cloudland Market, their hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Their services include repair and maintenance of off-road vehicles (Kawasaki, Honda, Polaris, and more), oil changes, motor rebuilds, and installing aftermarket accessories. Give them a call at (423) 7724000. If you have an off-road needing maintenance or upgrades done, visit Southern Appalachian Motorsports. Not just because their experience and knowledge are top notch, but you’ll also be treated to top notch customer service and yes, a free hug. And as you might expect, I was given that free hug as we wrapped up our conversation. Roan Mountain Magazine

y’ s a J G ot

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Why did the calendar factory worker get fired?

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Why don’t comedians tell jokes about labor day?

Because the jokes don’t work!

What type of vehicle should you use for a hayride? What do farmers wear when it gets cold?

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Fall Color Coming Soon!

all is a favorite time of year for many in our community. Cooler days, crisp nights, our favorite fall treats, and of course, the vibrant splashes of color as leaves change with the season. The higher elevations are the first to see those changes. If you have a view of higher peaks, you’ve likely noticed that the colors turn first at the tops and smoothly shift downward in the weeks that follow. Unlike the rest of the country, in the Southern Appalachians, elevation plays as much or more of a role in the leaf color timeline as other factors. Here, we should start seeing fall color at the top of the Roan and Carver’s Gap in the next couple weeks, peaking sometime in the first two weeks of October. The village will follow a week or two after the Roan, then a week or two later, the lower elevations, such as around Watauga Lake. Why do leaves change colors? Most of the year, deciduous trees have green leaves, due to chlorophyll, a green pigment that allows trees to absorb sunlight, which is then converted into energy for the tree. As the days get shorter in fall, the tree absorbs less sunlight and the chlorophyll begins to break down, revealing carotenoids, which result in yellow and orange leaves. Red and purple leaves are caused by a chemical change that produces anthocyanins from trapped sugars. Weather plays a role, too. Cooler temperatures increase the potential for color, which is part of the reason more southerly regions don’t get as much vibrance, and why higher elevations, which are naturally cooler, change first. Early frosts can speed up color change, while warmer temperatures can delay it, but often only by a few days. Moisture is a factor as well. Moderate to heavy rainfall early in the season, followed by lots of sunny days (like we’ve had here this year), often result in the brightest and most vibrant color changes. Drought conditions can result in leaves turning brown and dropping more quickly, and a rainy fall or strong storms can reduce vibrance or cause leaves to fall early, such as when Helene hit in 2024 and there were fewer leaves left afterwards. All in all, we are likely in for a lovely leaf viewing season in the next few weeks! Enjoy and be sure to share your photos with us! www.roanmountainmagazine.com

Above: Higher elevations with snow while lower elevations are still showing glorious color (fall 2025). Photo by Faith Lynn Below: The start of color change on Railroad Grade (fall 2025). Photo by Amy Campbell Clark

Roan Mountain Magazine

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In Honor of Grandparents National Grandparents Day is celebrated every year on September 13. To honor the special bonds we have with these beloved family members, we hosted an essay contest earlier this year. We received the following essays. All were too special to decide on "winners." They are ordered alphabetically by the author's last name. Some entries had to be shortened due to space constrictions, and for that we sincerely apologize. Honoring Amos and Lovie Watson By Edwin Decker, age 87

grew up in Knoxville, but my home away from home was with my grandparents, Amos and Lovie Watson, who lived here in Roan Mountain on Hampton Creek across from the Presbyterian stone church. My mother was Frances Watson and her siblings were Bill, Ruth, Mary Grace, and Ella Mae. From the time I was around six years old, my parents used to bring me to Roan Mountain to spend the summers with my grandparents. I was the oldest grandson and I named them Big Mom and Big Dad, and that name has followed them through all the generations of grandchildren over the years. My first summer, after about a week, I wrote my parents a letter saying, “Please come get me!” My grandfather found the letter and it never was sent. My grandfather told me on the first day that this is a working farm and, “everyone who lives and stays here and eats my food is going to do their part.” I felt that was too harsh for a city boy like me, particularly after an incident when I asked Big Dad if I could do something and he said “No.” I replied, “But, Big Dad…” He looked at me with fire in his eyes and hung me by the straps of my little bib overalls on a large nail on the side of the barn. I kicked, screamed and hollered until he came back around to where I hung and let me down. He said, “Don’t you ever sass me again, understand?” I went crying to Big Mom and she asked me what was wrong. I asked her, “What does sassing mean?” She said, ”When an elder tells you something, you don’t talk back. That’s disrespectful.” From that day forward, I knew what respect meant. Big Dad was a hardworking mountain man, a World War I veteran. He was a sniper just as I was when I was in the Army. They had no electricity, no telephone, no indoor plumbing up until the late 40s or early 50s. They were 100% self-sufficient as most people in this area were, and the only things I ever knew of www.roanmountainmagazine.com

them purchasing were coffee and salt. They had no need for cash; they bartered. Big Mom and Big Dad both had their own accounts at the hardware store in Roan Mountain. My grandmother would take extra eggs and butter to the store and they would put the purchase amount agreed on in a ledger book. Big Dad would bring extra corn or molasses and do the same. If Big Mom needed a new skillet or Big Dad wanted a new rifle, they would just deduct that from what the store ledger said they had in their account. That was bartering. My first year, after a few weeks, I began to settle in and be a part of everyday life. Big Dad was a hard worker, but he also played hard too. He was always pulling tricks on people and doing mischievous things. One instance I remember is when a lady named Ms. Nichols, a missionary, lived in an apartment that adjoined the church. Some afternoons she would sit on the front porch visiting with Big Mom. Big Dad couldn’t stand her. One day Big Dad said, “Eddie, we’re gonna fix that woman tonight.” After dark I went with him across the creek. He took a cotton string and tied it through a hole in the gutter on her house. We got back in the woods and he stretched that string very tight and started rubbing a piece of rosin across it back and forth like you would rosin a fiddle string. It began to make a noise that sounded like a wailing banshee. In just a few moments Ms. Nichols had lit her lantern and came outside looking to see where the noise was coming from. We kept quiet and she eventually went back inside and her light went out. Big Dad waited 10 or 15 minutes and stroked the string again. Then he made it sound like someone was up on the roof trying to saw through. Ms. Nichols came back outside with her lantern, looked all around and didn’t see anything, went back inside and Big Dad and I snuck away and went home to bed. A few days later Ms. Nichols was sitting on the porch again talking with Big Mom. Big Dad said, “Eddie, we’re gonna get her agin’ tonight.” While Ms. Nichols was sitting on the porch with Big Mom, Big Dad went out in the chicken lot and grabbed up a rooster. He put it in a sack and we slipped around to the back of Ms. Nichols’ apartment. He went inside and put the rooster with his legs tied, under the covers of her bed. We waited in the woods that night to see what would happen. We saw Ms. Nichols’ lantern moving in the house, then the lantern went out. In just a few seconds we heard Ms. Nichols hollerin’, the lantern came back on, and the rooster came flying out the front door. Big Dad got her again and was happy with his prank. When Big Mom finally got electricity, her son Bill bought her an electric stove. She tried it and said, “I can’t cook on that thing. I’ll just keep my wood stove Roan Mountain Magazine

and cast iron skillets.” Over the years Big Mom used the oven compartment to store newspapers and other articles. My Aunt Ruth bought Big Mom a vacuum cleaner but no one ever saw her use it. My uncle, Dale Perry, was using his vacuum cleaner one Saturday morning and it wouldn’t work. So my Aunt Ruth said, “Go up there and borrow Mama’s. She don’t use it anyway.” When Uncle Dale returned home, he discovered that Big Mom’s vacuum wouldn’t pick up anything. He thought the bag must be full and went to empty it only to discover that it was full of cash. People in those days were afraid to put their money in banks. When I was about eight years old, Big Dad bought me an Angora nanny goat. He made a harness for the goat and built me a wagon and told me I could ride it all over the farm. The first day she would only go a little ways, then she’d stop and I couldn’t get her to move. I told Big Dad and he said, “I’ll fix that.” He took a corn cob and stuck it on the end of a long stick and soaked the cob in kerosene. He said, “Now when she stops, just touch her under the tail with that corncob and she’ll go.” And boy would she go! One day we went all the way up to the top of the ridge and the goat was panting, out of breath, and turned around and looked at me. All I had to do was show her the stick with the corncob and she would go again. I didn’t even have to touch her. John L. Whitehead, the mailman, was Big Dad’s groundhog hunting partner. He nicknamed me The Goat Man of Roan Mountain because every time he delivered the mail he’d see me riding around in my wagon being pulled by the goat. I wouldn’t take anything for those years with Big Mom and Big Dad on Hampton Creek. They had as much influence, maybe more than my parents, on my life. They taught me to always be respectful, have a good work ethic, and that a simple life can be very rewarding. Big Mom taught me a lot about nature and she knew all the healing herbs. Big Dad taught me how to hunt and fish, even catching fish with your hands in the creek. He taught me how to shoot and we often had shooting matches on Sunday after church. Big Dad had a range cut through the woods from one ridge to another, several hundred yards. When I would go and visit him when I was in the service on the Army Rifle and Pistol team, he’d say “Eddie, let’s go to the range and have a match.” I would shoot 10 shots with a .243 and you could cover them with a nickel, but I never outshot Big Dad. At 75 years old you could cover his 10 shots with a dime. Big Dad built me my first muzzleloader rifle from scratch and made every piece and part in his blacksmith shop. I still have it today. From what I learned from him, I eventually became the Captain of the United States Long Range Muzzleloading Team. When I decided to retire, I knew Roan Mountain was the place I wanted to be. It puts me closer to all my fond memories of my grandparents. 34

Roan Mountain Magazine

Honoring Ida Margaret Davis and John Coatsworth Holland By Robin Edwards, age 71

y granny, Ida Margaret Davis, married my papa, John Coatsworth Holland, somewhere in Alabama in the very early 1900’s. Their parents came down through North Carolina, then Georgia and finally Alabama. Papa fought in World War I. He was supposed to be Calvary, but of course, they all ended up in the trenches. Papa was blessed in that while he was gassed by the Germans, he survived until he was 71. Oh, my granny was so happy when he finally came home, bringing her gifts from Spain and France. They married shortly after he returned. I have some of the postcards he sent her. The wedding almost didn’t take place because the week of the wedding, the church had a picnic, and Papa drank a little before the meeting. He then mounted his horse and, with guns blazing and giving that good old rebel yell, he rode through the picnic grounds! The preacher intervened for him with Granny, saying, “Maggie, now Johnnie is a good boy. He’s just come back from war and has to burn off his high spirits.” They married and were the most devoted couple I have known. Papa didn’t drink after that. Granny and Papa had two children, both girls, one my mother. By the time Mama was six, they had moved to Mississippi, where they raised their children and helped a lot with us grandchildren. Papa became disabled in his late 50’s due to the mustard gas, but always conserved energy for me and brother. We lived down the street from them and I could walk to their house whenever I wanted. Their door was always open to us and other neighborhood kids. Granny was always baking, often drying apples on an old screen door in her back yard to put in fried pies. Papa did “projects” with us. Once he built me, from scrap wood, a real little store front and I set up a lemonade stand in their front yard. Granny furnished the lemonade and Papa helped me serve and sell! Everyone respected my grandparents. They were of the day when a handshake was a man’s pledge. Neither of them broke their pledge. They didn’t judge anyone, but showered them with Christian love. Once in high school I told them about a girl getting pregnant and “having to get married.” They told me in their day, a lot of times, the boy involved ran off and didn’t marry the girl. Papa said, “Your friend didn’t have to get married. She had some choices. Her life will be hard. Be a good friend to her.” Oh, to have one more day with my Granny and Papa and be wrapped up in their love.

www.roanmountainmagazine.com

Honoring Richard and Donna Winters By Ericka Hughes, age 37

f someone asked me who my heroes are, I wouldn't have to think about it. My answer has always been my grandparents, Richard and Donna Winters. I was their first grandchild, and from the very beginning, they have been two of the most influential people in my life. They have taught me more through the way they have lived than words ever could. Some of my happiest memories are at their farm. I can still picture myself running through the tobacco fields as a little girl, playing outside until the sun went down, and riding on my Papaw's old Ford tractor. Those are the kinds of memories that stay with you forever. They remind me of where I come from and of the people who made my childhood so special. My Papaw has always been the hardest-working man I have ever known. There has never been a job too difficult or a responsibility too great for him to take on. Even when he hasn't felt his best, he has continued to work because that is simply who he is. He believes that if something is worth doing, it's worth doing right. Watching him care for his cattle has always fascinated me. It isn't just part of his day. It is a responsibility he takes seriously because those animals depend on him. Over the years, I have watched him work with patience, knowledge, and dedication, and I have always admired the pride he takes in doing things the right way. Papaw is also the person everyone calls when they need help. Whether it's family, a friend, or a neighbor, he never hesitates to lend a hand. He is one of the smartest people I know, and somehow he always knows how to fix a problem. More than that, he has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I've ever met. He genuinely wants the people around him to succeed, and he leads by example every single day. His laugh is contagious, his advice is priceless, and the respect people have for him has been earned through a lifetime of honesty, hard work, and kindness. One of the many things I'll always treasure is that he bought me my first car when I was sixteen years old. It wasn't just a gift. It was another example of the quiet, generous way he has always taken care of the people he loves. My Mammaw is just as remarkable. She has always worked just as hard as my Papaw, and her strength is something I have admired my entire life. She has endured hardships that would have made many people bitter, but instead they made her stronger. She has a determination that never seems to fade. As a child, weekends at my grandparents' house were something I looked forward to all week. There was nowhere else I would rather be. Mammaw had a way of making every weekend feel special. She loved www.roanmountainmagazine.com

spoiling her grandchildren, but what I remember most isn't what she gave us. It's how she made us feel. We always knew we were loved. She is one of the most beautiful women I know, inside and out. Even today, she dresses with elegance and takes pride in her appearance, not because she is concerned with impressing anyone, but because she believes in carrying herself with dignity. She has always shown me that beauty isn't about vanity. It's about selfrespect, grace, and the way you treat other people. She has loved me in ways that were gentle and comforting, and she has loved me with honesty and tough guidance when I needed it most. Looking back, I realize that every lesson she taught me came from a place of love. I wouldn't be the person I am without her. The older I get, the more I understand what a gift my grandparents truly are. They don't just love their family. They love their friends just as fiercely, and they have spent their lives helping anyone who needed them. They are the kind of people others depend on because they know they will show up. They don't look for recognition, and they never expect anything in return. They simply believe that's what you do. There is a grit about them that can't be explained unless you've known people like them. Roan Mountain is in their bones. It has shaped who they are. The strength to keep going when life is hard, the determination to do what's right even when it's difficult, the willingness to work from daylight until dark, and the loyalty they have to the people they love all come from those mountain roots. They have passed that grit on to me, and it is one of the greatest gifts they could have ever given me. I am proud beyond words to be their granddaughter, and if I leave this world with even a fraction of the character they have, I will consider my life well lived.

Honoring John Walter Fly By Jennifer Loos, age 52

eing in charge of a coalmine was probably not an easy job for my Grampa Fly, but he had a steady authority about him that let everyone know he was the boss. One cheek filled with Redman chewing tobacco (the china closet with the drawer where it was stored now sits in our house and still has a faint scent of tobacco), he spent long hours in the mines and took care of all the miners and often their families as well. Even while he was sick with lung cancer, he was concerned for his miners, and he worked until he literally could not stand up anymore. He left us too soon in early 1985 with great stories to share about his hard work and his humorous pranks. He had a mischievous sense of humor and always smiled like he was up to something. Roan Mountain Magazine

It’s said that God loves a cheerful giver, and my Grampa was definitely that. He loved taking his grandkids for ice cream or trips to the candy store and was always willing to share his generous heart. He’d line up all eight or so of us with the oldest bringing up the back of the line and let us know we’d all better be perfect angels or we would not be getting a bag of candy. Our love and respect for him and sugar being a strong motivator, ensured that we all donned our halos and did as instructed. To an outsider, he must have looked like a proud drake leading his little ducklings. There were only a few occasions when I got to spend time with my Grampa, but the stories I heard about him made him sound like an absolute legend, and sometimes it’s the people we spend the least amount of time with who leave the greatest impression on us. One of the stories I only recently heard (and is now my favorite) was about The Pit. Most houses in Welch, West Virginia are built on steep hillsides, and at some point, my Grampa decided that he wanted a garage at the bottom of the hill down from the house. So, one day, he and his youngest son placed some dynamite into the dense rock at the base of the hill to create his new garage. The way I heard the story told, the blast broke windows across the street and down the hill, took off a roof, and bits of rock were found as far as City Hall. It also left a hole in the hillside that was not so much a ‘garage,’ but more a ‘pit’ which it was affectionately called from then on. Anyway, it was large enough to fit the car. So, mission accomplished? After the explosion, and after making sure everyone was ok, he ran up the stairs to the house and calmly said to my Granny, “Call the mayor. Tell him I’ll pay for everything.” Many decades later, after the Fly family had long since moved on, a mudslide took the house (and the one above it) sailing down the hill. The house may be gone, but the pit remains. It is now maintained and guarded by a resident groundhog). Of course anything involving dynamite is likely a risky endeavor, but Johnny Fly’s fearless and innovative approach was something that he employed in every aspect of life, and whatever he decided to do, he put his whole heart into it. His self-sufficiency and sense of unlimited possibilities helped shape his five children’s attitudes about life, and they all forged their futures with that same daring spirit. And happily, it also rubbed off on his grandchildren.

Honoring Rose Bowling By Jordon Moore, age 33

ucked away in a little place between Stoney Creek and Shady Valley, a little girl named Rose sat on a hill. She didn’t have any toys to play with, so she spent her time admiring the purple wildflowers. The smell filled 36

Roan Mountain Magazine

the air, and oh, how she loved that fragrance. She would take breaks from enjoying the company of her wildflower friends to join her nine brothers and sisters in a game of hide and seek or tag. Her mother walked every day to the bottom of the mountain to catch a bus to Elizabethton, where she worked at Elizabethton bus station as a cook to provide for her 10 children. There was never a lack of chores to be done while her mother was away, and she knew she had better get them done before her mother returned. Although her mother couldn’t be around a lot, when she was home, she made sure that each child was diligent in their duties, and respectful. Above anything else, however, love was the staple in her home. Everyone loved one another and took care of each other. As the years passed, Rose carried one thing from childhood into every season of her life: music. Her whole family would play together every time they would get the chance. At one point they even took the show on the road, singing and playing for churches all over the country. In those early days when they were just starting out, however, they would have to be creative and build instruments from whatever they could find. Rose’s sister, Mary, played a bass made from two sticks, a wash tub, and a string. Her brothers would play guitars, and mandolins while her mother played the spoons, or washboard depending on what song they were playing. Rose sang and harmonized beautifully with the rest of them. When her brother Dean got older, he was diagnosed with dementia and he told Rose that his greatest fear was forgetting how to play, because it was such a great part of his life. In later years, he didn’t know Rose by looking at her anymore. They were in a parking lot eating ice cream, and after he interrogated her to make sure she was his sister, there was a short moment of silence. Rose had some recordings that she had collected over the years of the family playing music together and decided to play them through her vehicle’s radio via Bluetooth. Dean leaned in closer and said, “that sounds like the way I play”. Rose told him that they were playing his music on the radio, and he became ecstatic. He never forgot how to play, even up to the very end of his life. To Rose and her family, Music wasn’t just part of the world; it was what made it worth living in. As the years passed by like a runaway freight train, Rose found herself saying goodbye to many of her loved ones including her mother and several of her siblings. She felt like God had put her into a unique position where she could experience their last moments in a way that left nothing open for debate. She had given them a strong sense of comfort and peace. She also received peace through their own final words. They spoke of love and memories; they spoke of the good times and said the things that they never seemed to be able to say until those moments. She had a hard time composing herself when her sister Mary was given the news that her life was coming to an end, www.roanmountainmagazine.com

but Mary looked at her and said, “It’s okay Rose, don’t cry, I’ll see you on the other side”. Their absence left an emptiness that music, memories, and faith could soften, but never erase. She lived on. In fact, nothing could slow her down. She raised three children; two sons and a daughter all alone. She found herself playing the role that she had watched her own mother play throughout her entire life. She broke through the glass ceiling into a male dominated field as a fiberoptic technician despite them trying everything to keep her out. As a first hurdle, she had to attend school where she was pushed to her limits. She battled crippling test anxiety that threatened to end her career before it even began. When she scored the second highest grade in her class, the company allowed her to come to work, but no one took her seriously. She had to prove herself in everything she did. She made sure to work twice as hard as anyone else because she didn’t want to give them the ability to fix any mistakes. She didn’t regret that her children were experiencing life without a proactive father figure, but she did wish that she could have attended more of their games, plays, and things of that nature. The important thing was that her children never went hungry. They had a warm bed every night because Rose knew how to adapt, endure, and survive. Her mother had prepared her well and now she was instilling those same values into her own children. After she retired from 33 years of service to the company, they begged her to return because no one knew how to do her job. She took joy in that situation but never returned. As she sat on the hill in the field of purple wildflowers, looking up at the clouds, she would never have dreamed of all the things that she would accomplish in her life. How could she have known about all the children and grandchildren whose lives would be so empty without her? Who would have been able to tell her that her grandson would come to her one day and ask for her life story? One thing is for certain, the fact that the little girl managed to survive for all these years, sharing respect, perseverance, music, and love. Well, it makes me grateful to have received a Rose from heaven.

Honoring Andrew and Frances Hare, and Will and Tennie Riddle By Marsha Rhodes, age 65

would like to share some reflections on the individuals who have had the greatest impact on my life. While I have been fortunate to have many role models among my parents, family members, and friends, my grandparents held a truly special place in my development. Growing up, I lived within a few miles of both sets of www.roanmountainmagazine.com

grandparents. This proximity allowed me to visit them multiple times a week, a privilege I deeply appreciate. Although they were not wealthy by societal standards, they were exceptionally rich in spirit. Upon entering their homes, they immediately offered food, with biscuits or cornbread always prepared. I can still clearly recall Papaw Hare asking, “Frances, do you have something for them to eat?” or Papaw Riddle offering chewing gum. There were always fresh eggs and vegetables grown on the farm. Visiting Mamaw Riddle often involved assisting with farm tasks on the front porch, such as breaking beans or shucking corn, which always felt engaging rather than chore-like. Mamaw Hare also frequently shared handmade items, such as dolls, braided rugs, or quilts, ensuring visitors never left empty-handed. Furthermore, Mamaw Hare served as the pianist at the local church for over forty years. When I expressed an interest in learning to play the piano at eleven years old, she gave me her own piano, which remains the greatest gift I have ever received. Music has always been an important part of my family’s heritage. Mamaw Hare’s father was a singing leader, and Papaw Riddle loved to sing, traveling with a youth choir most Saturday nights until he was ninety years old. In the summertime my idea of vacation was packing my suitcase and going to Mamaw Hare’s to spend the week. I would beg her to wake me up early so I could go to the barn with her the next morning. Papaw would sleep in the spare bedroom so I could sleep with Mamaw. We would spend the day in the garden or making crafts. Mamaw would make me dresses for school and Papaw always gave me pennies for my new loafers. Our lives were focused around church and fellowship. Sundays consisted of attending church, lunch at one of the grandparents’ homes and then visiting the other grandparents. Both of my Mamaws were wonderful cooks. One thing for sure, you never went away hungry! Both sets of grandparents lived a meager life style but always had enough to share with others. They loved God and honored him with the first fruits of their labor. They instilled Godly values in their families. I just became a Mamaw to two beautiful grandchildren. I pray that I can be an example to them like my grandparents were to me. I’ve always said if I can be loved by my grandchildren the way I loved my grandparents I would have successfully fulfilled my life. One day all the fingerprints will be gone, the toys in the floor, and only the memories will remain.

Roan Mountain Magazine

THE

GRACE

PLACE

By Reverend Hunter Greene

remember the day I thought I could walk on water. My junior cadet basketball team had just finished our season, and a few parents took our team to a timeshare for a weekend celebration. This timeshare had everything a five year old could ever want: swimming, fishing, ping pong, board games, s'mores, pedal boats, and basketball courts. I remember being overwhelmed by the excitement of the fun that awaited us that weekend. I was practically bouncing off the walls. This excitement came to a head on our first visit to the indoor pool, just a couple hours after our arrival at the condo. I was feeling rather empowered to take my fun into my own hands. Once our chaperones escorted us to the pool, I found my way to the dressing room. I changed into my swimming trunks and began rehearsing in my mind the cannonball form that would impress all my friends. I had all I needed. Without mentioning a word to anyone else, I quickly departed the locker room and made a beeline right for the pool. I picked up steam and leaped right into the eight-feet section of the pool – down in the “deep end” where the big kids swam. All was right in the world until I realized that I didn’t know how to swim. There are few instances in life where fear is as intense as when we are thrust into, or perhaps even voluntarily submitted to, a dicey situation where we are woefully ill-equipped to manage the dangers or uncertainties that await us. I, of course, had been in water before. What I didn’t realize was that “swimming” was a much different experience when you have floaties and a life jacket as opposed to when you do not. The only thing I knew to do next was to beg for help. My arms flailed as I struggled to keep my head above water. In between gargled breaths, I cried out, “Help me! Help me!” After what felt like an eternity, my team’s assistant coach finally heard my cries from the 38

Roan Mountain Magazine

Monthly Bible Verse: MATTHEW 14:28-33 28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

locker room and immediately jumped in to save me. I’m still not a very good swimmer, but after all these years, I carry the lesson of that day with me: some pools of water demand access to powers beyond ourselves if we are to tread into their depths. I imagine Peter had a similar revelation when his feet began to sink beneath the surface of the sea. “Lord, if it is you…” feels like the language of testing and validation. It’s the daring language of temptation that convinces one out of a boat, as it were, where they belong. Peter doesn’t seem as interested in the identity of the “ghost” as much as he is his access to a realityaltering power. In this sense, Peter’s doubt precedes his brush up with a violent wind, and he proves himself to be one of “little faith” before he even stepped out of the boat. Peter’s struggle with faith insufficient to walk on water does not seem to be about the quantity of his faith, as if our trust in God could be measured in a cup or with currency of some sort. Rather, what if Peter’s struggle is about the quality of his faith? What if his struggle began in the self-aggrandizing values he imposes on Christ in asking him to prove his identity through what Peter could do? To make it plain, Peter’s conditional statement, his “if-then” bargain with God, offers some evidence that Peter’s primary associations of Jesus are with the wrong sorts of things – supernatural power, command of the natural world, authority beyond limits. Peter, perhaps, gets caught up in his own desire for proximity to power and selfsufficiency. Therein lies the real power of Kyrie, sōson me, “Lord, save me.” This cry for help is not only a plea for self-preservation and survival, but it is also an invitation to community and interdependence. It is the declaration that Peter stands in need of another. www.roanmountainmagazine.com

It is the realization that Peter, that we, cannot do this life alone. “Lord, save me” is a confession that life is a gift – one that it is not ours to possess, manipulate, or dictate. Life belongs to the Giver of Life, and it is he who brings life through his death. The other disciples in the boat respond to this stormy scene with a confession of their own, “Truly you are the Son of God” (14:33). The only other place that phrase is mentioned in Matthew is by the centurion at the foot of the cross (27:54). What the centurion witnessed, and what Peter would come to learn, is that Jesus’ divinity is most intensely and most clearly expressed on the cross. It is his submission to a crucifix, not his dominion over the sea, that truly reveals himself as the Son of God. However, the stormy sea and the cross find their connection in the purpose of Jesus' life and ministry: to save those who are in need of saving. As Paul writes in Romans 10:12-13, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” Jesus, in freely giving his body and blood for the world, has invited us to drop our notions that salvation belongs to those who deserve their saving or who can afford their saving. Lest we forget the hubris of needing to meet Jesus on the water, may we remember that salvation is not about exercising dominion over our circumstances or even remaining unscathed by them. Salvation belongs to those who call on the name of the Lord and recognize him as the crucified God who accompanies us into the stormy waters of fear and suffering. Our recognition of who we are and our confession of who he is gifts us the faith to see even arm-flailing desperation and sinking efforts as sacraments – as sites where God touches our pain and doubt with nail-pierced hands. “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

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 Send your church news to Hunter: hillbillytheology@gmail.com

Prayer Requests Glenn Klugel — On the heart recipient list Kelly W. — For a negative biopsy Send your prayer requests to Hunter!

Photo by Faith Lynn

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Roan Mountain Magazine

Fall Naturalists Rally September 18 - 20

at Roan Mountain State Park Hosted by Friends of Roan Mountain

Guest Speakers Field Trips Workshops • Prices range from $5 - $15 Friends of Roan Mountain Members and kids 18 and younger free (must be accompanied by an adult) • Must pre-register for meals by September 15 ($6 - $13)

For more information and to register, visit: www.friendsofroanmtn.org/

Topics & Activities include: Birds • Moths • Wildflowers Mushrooms • Spiders Salamanders • Stream Ecology Flint Knapping • Gardening Geology • Nature Journaling Butterflies • Wildlife Tracking & More!

Black Bears in September By BearWise.org, Reprinted with Permission Photo by Daniel Wagner

ears enter hyperphagia in September and may look for food up to 20 hours a day. Berries, nuts and acorns are important fall bear foods. Bears can gain two to three pounds a day. Even bears that don’t hibernate eat as if they will. Moms-to-be look for a good birthing den and nursery. Eating Goes Into Hyperdrive In the cooler days of September, most bears are very focused on finding as much food and gaining as much weight as possible. When the eating is good, a bear can put on two to three pounds a day. By hibernation time many bears will have added about four inches of fat and gained between 20% and 50% of their summer body weight. The quest for calories keeps bears active and foraging up to 20 hours a day. This annual feeding frenzy, called hyperphagia, is driven by bears’ ticking biological clocks counting down to hibernation, when most bears in colder climates retire for the winter and live off the fat they’re working so hard now to accumulate. Bears also need much more water now, up to two to three gallons a day, in order to process all those calories and eliminate nitrogenous waste. Even bears that don’t hibernate chow down. Bears are biologically driven to gain weight in the fall even if they live in warmer climates where many bears don’t really hibernate, just take it easier and nap a lot. Bears that rely on dependable year-round human food sources often don’t hibernate either. But they still eat as if they’re going to. Fruits and Nuts Berries and other soft mast crops are an important bear food into late fall if they’re available. In September, blackberries, black cherries, serviceberries, dogwood berries, wild plums, highbush cranberries, nannyberries, black gum fruit and mountain ash are all favored bear foods. Bear scat with mountain ash berries is easy to see because the berries are bright orange. Apples, both wild and domestic, peak in many parts of the country in late summer and early fall and are another favorite bear food. September also brings a bonanza of nuts (hard mast), including acorns, beechnuts, chestnuts and www.roanmountainmagazine.com

chinquapins, black walnuts, butternuts, hickory nuts, pecans and pine nuts. There are more than 60 species of oak trees in North America, and every one of them produces edible acorns. Fun Fact: Oak trees produce more nuts than all other nut trees combined, both wild and cultivated. No wonder bears hang out in oak forests in the fall. Nesting Bears Bears begin climbing into trees in early September and make themselves comfortable so they can sit and eat. They also “nest” in bur oak trees and eat acorns all day. Bears hate to leave any food behind and will sometimes break branches in their quest for both calories and the perfect perch. These “bear nests” are easy to spot from the ground. About-to-Be Moms Binge Eat and Den-Hunt “Almost pregnant” female bears that mated in early summer can gain up to 50% of their weight if the eating is good; the more weight they gain, the better the chances their cubs will thrive. These soon-to-be moms industriously search for the perfect birthing den that will also provide a safe sanctuary in spring and early summer when newborn cubs stick close to home. That’s why they often choose den sites near large “sanctuary trees” that give cubs a place to rest in the shade when mom is out foraging and scoot up if there is danger. In some areas mothers-to-be pick sites near a body of water or a wetland where early spring foods like skunk cabbage grow. Curious Cubs Cubs are now independent enough to wander a distance from mom to nose around, play, feed or just check things out, but they stay close enough so they can quickly retreat if they sense danger or feel threatened. Are You Heading into the Woods? Remember that bears are moving about many hours a day, so pay attention to your surroundings, and be a good loser if a bear beats you to your berry patch. Roan Mountain Magazine

Fun & Games (For kids of ALL ages!)

Help the squirrel find the acorn!

How many words can you make?

GRANDPARENTS

A tribute to Dolly, created by staff artist Kelly McCollum.

September Word Search Anniversary Appalachian Apple Butter Aster Constitution Dolly Parton Equinox Foliage Football Grandparents Harvest Moon Highlanders History

Jokes Katydid Kindness Labor Day Libra Morning Glory Patriot Day Pegasus Sapphire September Shelving Rock Spaghetti Virgo

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Roan Mountain Magazine

September

A Poem by Ericka Hughes

September means something different. It's new pencils, cool mornings, and the strange feeling that something is beginning. September feels like standing in a doorway. Summer is behind me. Fall somewhere ahead. It's strange how time does that. One year you're young enough to believe September will always come back looking the same. Then one day you're standing beneath the same mountains, and somehow You are not the same person. The roads are familiar. The sky is familiar. But the life you carried through yesterday doesn't quite fit anymore.

Maybe that's what September is. Not an ending. Not a beginning. Just the quiet space between what was and what comes next. A place where we can look back without living there, and look forward without knowing the way. The trees understand it. They change slowly enough that you hardly notice. Until one morning you look up and realize the whole mountain has become something you've never seen before. Maybe it's a thousand quiet changes, until one day we look at ourselves and realize September doesn't feel like yesterday because neither do we.

THE LAST

WORD

“Children are the living messages to a time we will not see.” — John W. Whitehead By Noah Blair

f you’re anything like me, when you read that quote, you probably muttered, “No pressure,” under your breath at the weight of it. The importance of nurturing and guiding your children—not only to become valued members of society, but also to impact the world they will someday live in without you— is a humbling thought. I'd love to tell you I have a parenting plan that will guarantee your child’s future success in every path of life, but I don’t. What I do have is a five-year-old daughter, and she's taught me more about parenting, life, and how to be a better human than anything other than the Bible ever has. In honor of her turning five, I want to share five things my fiveyear-old has taught me. One: Growth causes tears—some good, some sad. When you're expecting a child, you get advice, warnings, and tips from most everyone you meet. One thing many people forget to mention is the roller coaster of emotions you go through with every milestone your child reaches. You're so full of joy and pride when your baby rolls over for the first time, but that emotion is quickly mixed with sadness when you realize they're getting bigger. When you hear “dada” or “mama” for the first time, your heart melts; but when it changes to “Daddy” or “Mommy,” you realize you'll never be “dada” in quite the same way again, and your heart aches a little. My daughter called cantaloupe “loapie lope” for the first two years of her life, until one day she corrected me when I asked if she wanted some “loapie lope”. “No, Daddy, it’s called cantaloupe.” Those are the moments when you realize that, for them to grow, things will change—and that’s not always easy on your heart. This also applies to your spiritual walk with the Lord. Two: Kids spell love “T-I-M-E”. This one took me some time to learn. Any young man worth his salt will be motivated to give his family the best life he can and to provide financially. Unfortunately, I allowed what I could buy my kids to overshadow how much time I spent with them. We’ve all seen a kid open a present that comes in a large box, only to play with the box more than the gift inside. 46

Roan Mountain Magazine

Kids care far less about the stuff than we do, but they care far more about the time we spend with them than adults often realize. If you want your child to know how much you love them, sit down on the floor with them and tell them rather than working overtime just to buy the latest gadget. Plastic doesn’t tell your kids their worth—you do. I’m thankful my Heavenly Father always has time for me too. Three: Grace isn’t exclusive to adults. As parents, we want to raise our children in a way that prepares them for life, instills morals, and produces responsible, mature adults. We should strive for all those things and show them the importance of having a personal relationship with our Savior. Where we don’t always do our best is in offering our children the same grace that has been offered to us through Jesus. We ask God to forgive our impatience, rudeness, and poor attitudes, but we're often slow to give grace to our children when they're guilty of acting like us. After all, where do you think they learned that behavior? God’s grace doesn’t have height requirements; we aren’t riding roller coasters here. We are pointing our kids to Christ, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than by emulating Him for our kids to see. Four: If you want people to respond to your message, make it worth listening to. How do you do this? It really comes down to just a few things. First, your tone sets the mode in which someone receives your words. You should be a safe place for your child; if your tone says otherwise, don’t be surprised when your kids aren’t receptive. Second, your willingness to listen impacts your ability to lead. If you don’t listen to those you expect to listen to you, you’re a fool. God listens to all of us far more than we listen to Him, and one thing I know is this: His message is worth listening to. Five: The little things give life its flavor. The Bible calls Christians to be the “salt of the earth.” Salt has many purposes, but seasoning is one of its most recognizable. We're called to season this world and point people to Christ, and my little girl understands how. Everyone thinks bigger is better, but not my Brynlee Grace. She likes and pays attention to the little things, like always sitting on the same side of the couch, following the bedtime routine, or having latenight conversations filled with laughter—medicine for a tired soul. Learning to notice the little things will impact how you see the world, the way you treat others, and the way you keep your priorities in check. If you want to impact people for the kingdom, learn to notice the little things and watch how much more receptive people become. I could fill pages with everything my kids have taught me, but I’ll stop at five. Children are such a gift from God, and I’m so thankful for my babies. Brynlee Grace, Daddy is proud of you, and being your daddy is one of the greatest honors I have ever been blessed with. I love you dearly, and happy 5th birthday! Love, Dad www.roanmountainmagazine.com

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