April Scribe 2023

Scr Standing Stone

The pen is mighty

be

Photo submitted

Members of Standing Stone Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6277 are proud to present Patriot’s Pen Program awards at Wilson Elementary School. Pictured are VFW Post 6277 members Bill Radel and Jim Wolfgram with third place winner Callie Cooper and first place winner Natalie Phillips, and VFW Post 6277 members Jason Yung, Jim McCracken and Bobby Floyd.

VFW recognizes Patriot’s Pen Program awardees

certificate and a monetary prize for their submissions. This year’s essay theme was “My Pledge to Veterans.”

“The kids did a great job with their essays,” said Post Commander Jim Wolfgram.

The first place winner was Natalie Phillips and third place was Callie Cooper. The second place winner’s name and photo were not permitted for release.

Standing Stone VFW Post 6277 awarded $100 to the first place winner, $75 to

Monterey minutes:

Board approves agreement with county for Calfkiller waterline

the second place winner and $50 to the third place winner.

Additionally, Phillips was also awarded an additional $150 for her essay submission, winning at the VFW district level.

Her essay has been for-

warded to the state level.

The VFW received about a dozen entries at the post level, and members thanked all the students for participating in the essay contest.

VFW Patriot’s Pen Program patriotic essay competition is a nationwide

VFW-sponsored youth essay competition which gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. Prizes are awarded at the post, district, state and national levels.

By Rebekah Beeler Scribe publisher

Monterey board voted to approve the agreement with Putnam County for the water line extension project to the Calfkiller community at the April 3 meeting.

Alderman Alex Garcia, Ward 1, asked for consulting engineer Nathanial Green to address the board with a summarization of the agreement that was presented to the board as a resolution with Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter.

Green reiterated the updated agreement. The county would be responsible for paying Monterey $480,000 per year for 10 years for depreciation and, potentially, another five if the average customer’s bill increases is over 3% without it. Language was added to

the agreement that the county would pay up to $1,000 per month for additional minimal bills prescribed in the resolution until there were 40 connections on the new water line.

away one customer from that 40 customer amount,” Green said. “I think that the county may have difficulty passing something along that says • See MEETING • Continued on 3 INDEX 1 section, 12 pages Community...... 1, 3, 5 Events.......... 2, 5, 10 Opinion.................. 4 Puzzles................. 11 Sports.................... 8

By Rebekah Beeler Scribe publisher

The 2023 Veterans of Foreign Wars Patriot Pen Program award recipients were recognized at a ceremony at Wilson Elementary School on March 28. The winners were presented with a

Our Town

Sandwich Board

Hope in Monterey Easter Festival set for April 8

Hope in Christ Church is hosting the Hope in Monterey Easter Festival on Saturday, April 8, at Whtiaker Park following the Town’s annual egg hunt at 10 a.m. The festival will include a parade, music and festivities. The parade will line up at 9:45 a.m. with a 10:45 a.m. start. The egg hunt will begin at 10 a.m. and the festivities will begin at 11:30 a.m.

Hanging Limb Horse Ring to hold egg hunt

The Hanging Limb Horse Ring will have a community Easter event at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 8. There will be an egg hunt, festivities and the Easter Bunny will be in attendance.

Little Red Orchard to host Earth Day Festival Earth Day is coming up soon on Saturday, April 22. Come celebrate our planet with us at The Little Red Orchard, LLC, 3254 Rickman Rd. There will be food trucks, cornhole tournament, helicopter rides, loaded teas, Fortnite bus, shopping, free kid’s zone, free entry. Festival begins at noon.

Join Monterey Lion’s Club Disaster Response Team

The Disaster Response Team is a non-profit organization meeting the needs of those faced with natural disasters and also assists

with searches for Amber and Silver alerts. The team needs donations of water, canned goods and money to make trips to and from disaster areas and also welcomes volunteers to help in relief missions. Contact team leader and Lions Club Presidnet Ken Hall at 239-3318 to become a team volunteer.

Garden Club meets second Tuesdays

The Monterey Garden Club meets the second Tuesday of each month. This month, the club looks forward to welcoming Don Hazel, president of Tennessee Blue Bird Society to speak at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Monterey United Methodist Church fellowship hall. The Garden Club invites members and guests to come and listen to guest speakers, watch demonstrations and get tips for successful gardening every month. The club is active in the Monterey community and offer scholarships to Monterey High School graduates. For more information, please contact Monterey Garden Club President, Jan Stansell at (214) 208-5243 or email montereytngardenclub@ yahoo.com. They look forward to seeing you there!

Monterey Board meets on first Mondays

The Town of Monterey holds monthly board meetings open to the public every first Monday

Standing Stone Scribe

Rebekah Beeler, Publisher

Standing Stone Scribe is a monthly publication covering news and features in Monterey and surrounding communities from Mayland to Rickman, Calfkiller to Crawford.

Editorial Policy: Standing Stone Scribe encourages event and news submissions and letters to the editor. Submissions should not be libelous and must bear the author’s name, complete address and telephone number. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted. Standing Stone Scribe newspaper reserves the right to accept, reject or edit any and all submissions and advertisements intended for publication.

Copy deadline: All submissions must be received by the first Monday of the month. Standing Stone Scribe publications are set to be printed generally on the Thursday following the first Monday of the month, with the exception of Monday holidays in which the Scribe will be printed the following Thursday.

The Scribe welcomes electronic submissions at editorstandingstonescribe@gmail.com.

Advertising: Get the word out about your business, service or organization, increase traffic, expand your customer base, and communicate directly with the community you serve. Let Standing Stone Scribe tell everyone your business by advertisting in Monterey’s ONLY newspaper. For more information, specs and price sheet, email editorstandingstonescribe@gmail. com or text 931-265-9489.

of the month at 7 p.m. at the Monterey Municiple Building. It is important for residents to see how the city is being managed and to take advantage of the opportunity use their voices. Everyone who has a vested interest in the town, its direction and prospects, as well as the necessity to understand city processes, programs and issues is encouraged to attend. Each board meeting begins with public comment. Sign up prior to the meeting with Cultural Administrator Rafferty Cleary to address the board.

Monterey Lions to hold pistol drawing

Monterey Lions Club is holding a pistol drawing. Tickets are $20 each, available from any active Monterey Lions Club member. There is a 54ticket limit. The drawing is to be held Saturday, April 15.

For more information call Mike at 839-2350.

Stay active at Monterey Senior Center

Monterey Senior Center is located at 105 N. Elmore, Monterey, TN. Contact the Senior Center by calling 839-8053. Membership is free for those 60 and over. Come and see what we are all about. Please stop by the center to see what new adventures have been added. Regular center hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday. If schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Monterey Senior Center will also be closed.

VFW meets first Thursdays Standing Stone Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6277 is looking to bolster its membership. Membership is at a critical level. According to Post 6277 Commander Jim Wolfgram, the roster lists

55 members, but only about half a dozen are active. Post meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. VFW Post 6277 is located at 45 S. Poplar St., Monterey, TN, and is open to all veterans who have served in a war or conflict. For more information, email Wolfgram at jwolf2521@hotmail.com.

Hanging Limb Horse Ring meets first Thursdays

Become a sponsor of the Hanging Limb Horse Ring. Banner spaces are available for the year to hang on the Hanging Limb Horse Ring fence and can be renewed yearly. Banner prices range from $90-$175. Sponsors must provide original artwork designs in PDF format. Should sponsors need artwork made, the cost is $25/per hour. Please make checks payable to Hanging Limb Horse Ring.

Hanging Limb Community Center group meets on the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at Mountain Volunteer Fire and Rescue, 204 Floyd Padgett Ln. in Crawford. For more information or to learn how to volunteer, contact President Jesse Bowman at 931319-1227.

FCE Club meets fourth Monday

The Monterey Family and Consumer Education Club meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at the Monterey Senior Center at 6:30 p.m.

Check out Monterey Branch Library

Friends of the Monterey Library Book Sale is set for the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Used book donations are accepted during normal library hours. Lunch and Learn Series is offered on Thursdays at noon. Order and pre-pay for your lunch or feel free to bring your

own lunch!

A monthly quilting class is held on the third Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m. Bring your quilting project, learn from experienced quilters and enjoy the company. Download the Libby app and use your library card number to download ebooks, audiobooks and magazines to use at home. Using personal computer? Go to https://reads. overdrive.com/. Please come and support the library and join Friends of the Monterey Library

The library is located at 401 E. Commercial Ave, Monterey. 839-2103.

Monterey Pet Food Bank holds distributions, takes donations

Monterey Pet Food Bank is now handing out dog and cat food on Tuesdays from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at The Monterey Food Bank at 400 W. Crawford Ave. in Monterey, TN. Cat and dog food donations can be dropped off at Monterey Farmer’s Co-Op located at 202 S. Holly St. during regular business hours. For more information, contact Donna Herbert by emailing dherb9@gmail.com.

Suicide prevention resources available

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800273-8255) is one such free resource that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone who is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Titus House wants to help

Need clothes? We can help!

Titus House, 306 W. Crawford Ave. in Monterey, provides free clothing to anyone in need. Titus House is open the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon, except for October when it will be open the third Saturday. Titus House accepts donations of clean,

dry clothing in bags or boxes. These may be dropped off at Titus House. Please put donations underneath the carport at the end of the Titus House driveway. Titus House appreciates your donations! Titus House is an outreach program of the Monterey Church of Christ. Questions regarding Titus House please call (931) 252-7676.

The Cottage Thrift Store open

The Cottage thrift store at the Monterey United Methodist Church offers new inventory and new pricing. They ask for everyone to exercise precautions, use gloves and masks and will have some available for their shoppers’ safety. Note: if there is a spike in local COVID-19 cases, The Cottage will remain closed.

Monterey Hilltop Chorale holds rehearsals Monterey Hilltop Chorale, an all volunteer choir under the direction of Francis Eldridge meets at Monterey United Methodist Church at 6 p.m. on Mondays. New members are always welcome. The Chorale performs free concerts for the community and supports local causes with love offerings collected at the door. They are also seeking sponsorships to help with the cost of sheet music, supplies and professional pianist. Sponsorships are yearly and sponsor logos will be featured on the concert programs. For more information about becoming a sponsor, contact Kathy at kradel1010@gmail.com or Joy at cedesigners@outlook.com.

Our Town

UT Extension

Have you ever paused to consider how much food is wasted in your household?

The amount may surprise you. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that more than one-third of the food available in the United States is never eaten. At the same time, more than 13 million households in the U.S. were uncertain of having, or unable to access, enough food for all household members in 2021. This year, University of Tennessee Extension is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and

•

Continued

that.”

Porter said the county is setting aside the nearly half million dollars in a separate fund for Monterey to use toward the depreciation on the proposed Calfkiller waterline project, the county is funding about a half a million towards waterline improvement to expand water service along Hwy. 70 and had given almost $600,000 of the county’s American Rescue Plan Funds to help with Monterey’s new sewer plant project.

“I don’t think that’s going to be an issue once we get the line in. I think there will be the customers,” Porter said. He asked the board to reconsider the amount of minimum additional bills to be reduced from 40 to 25, saying it would be a “better sell” to the Putnam County Commission.

“Work with us on that so we can move this project along,” he said.

Alderman Amy Martin, Ward 1, said she thought the agreement needed to go back

others to encourage Tennesseans to be better stewards of their food resources.

During the week of April 10-16, the TDEC Office of

Sustainable Practices is hosting Tennessee’s second annual Food Waste Awareness Week. This event will take place across the state with

both virtual and in-person opportunities to participate. This free event is available to everyone, and the goals are to increase awareness about is-

sues surrounding food waste and inspire Tennesseans to take action.

Kristen Johnson, UT Extension Family and Consumer Science assistant professor and nutrition specialist said, “Preventing food waste is an important issue for everyone. In fact, the amount of food wasted each year in the

the county had already put the engineering services out for bid on the Calfkiller waterline project and accepted Green’s bid.

Porter said, “We’re ready to start working on the project, and I appreciate your opinion. I would hope that you would pass this tonight and we could, hopefully, go ahead and move forward with this.

The goal of this is to just try get ahead of a lot of the other water projects that are going to be bid; all these water projects across the state.”

The revision to the agreement resolution will have the county pay up to $675 per month for the duration of 10 years until 25 customers are online.

United States could provide enough calories to feed over 150 million people. Preventing food waste benefits our environment, helps feed the world’s growing population sustainably, and helps households better manage their food resources. The average household of four in the United States spends about $1,500 each year on food they never use. We want to help people make the most of their resources. There are steps we can all take, like meal planning, using leftovers, and composting, that can help us manage our resources, save money, and reduce food waste.”

• See FOOD • Continued on 5

In other committee reports, Alderman Bill Wiggins, Ward 4, said the finance committee would have a budget to consider for the next fiscal year at the May board meeting. Alderman James “Coonie” Foster, Ward 3, reported that the street committee had chosen the five worst streets in the city limits to begin paving repairs. Those streets are Ford St., Romines, Minnie, Speck and Crossville St. “You just got to be patient,” Foster said. “We will get to it.”

to the water/sewer committee and suggested water/sewer committee chairman Alderman Jim Whitaker, Ward 2, set a committee meeting to consider a revision to the agreement before bringing it back to a vote with the

board.

“I don’t feel comfortable voting on this tonight,” Martin said.

Green said that his testimony wouldn’t change, and while he didn’t like that agreement revision, ultimately he was

looking to what the waterline extension project could mean for the future.

Porter requested the board approve the final agreement revision so he could present it to the county commission on April 17. He also said that

Whitaker motioned to approve the revised resolution, supported by Garcia. All present voted yes, including Martin’s hesitant “yes” vote she said was based on Whitaker’s recommendation as water/sewer chairman to accept the revision.

Porter will present the agreement to the Putnam County Commission on April 17 for approval.

The city can expect the specs report in the next three weeks for the waterline extension project to the city limits along Hwy. 70 toward Crossville.

The board also voted to join Tennessee 811 at $1,000 annually, to form database of underground utilities and access the local notification service to locate and mark them for excavation work.

Consulting engineer Nathaniel Green and Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter discuss changes to the agreement for the proposed Calfkiller waterline extension project with Monterey aldermen.

Photo by Angela Mulligan from Unsplash Tennessee’s Second Annual Food Waste Awareness Week encourages all Tennesseans to explore ways in which they can help end food waste in Tennessee. Visitgetfoodsmarttn.com for more information.

Tennessee Food Waste Awareness Week is April 10-16

Encourages Tennesseans to Rethink Food Habits

Spring Cleaning: Don’t Toss That ‘Junk,’ It May Be Valuable!

(StatePoint) It’s time to hit the garage, basement, attic and closets for that age-old task of spring cleaning! Before hauling unwanted possessions to the curb, you may be surprised to learn they might be valuable -- especially if you have sports cards and memorabilia gathering dust.

With prices of sports cards rising in recent years, take time to determine if yours are valuable and how to best sell them.

“Older sports cards and memorabilia aren’t just highly collectible; they can be worth lots of money. Recent sales of scarce vintage cards have topped anywhere from thousands of dollars to tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands. And really rare cards can go higher,” says Al Crisafulli, Auction Director at Love of the Game Auctions, an internet sports auction house that helps families identify and sell valuable items.

Crisafulli has assisted people in selling such keepsakes as a grandparent’s autograph collection and an uncle’s childhood baseball cards, for tens of thousands of dollars. In one life-changing event, he helped a family determine that a baseball bat that spent decades protecting their home was used by Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig -- and Love of the Game Auctions sold it for almost half a million dollars. Today, that bat could bring more than a million dollars.

The key is understanding what makes old sports collectibles valuable. To help, Crisafulli is sharing some tips:

Older is Usually Pricier Cards from the 1960s and earlier are collectible, and those from before the 1940s can be worth a lot of money, especially those depicting stars. Do you have cards of Hall of Famers, such as Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner or Ty Cobb? Even non-stars from the early days of a sport can be worth big bucks, especially if the cards have no creases and retain sharp corners and original gloss.

If you have very old cards from the 1880s through the 1930s, look for tobacco, gum and candy brands, such as Old Judge, Piedmont, Sweet Caporal, Goudey or American Caramel.

If you want to sell sports items for the most money, consider a specialty auction, such as Love of the Game, which has the expertise to properly research sports ephemera and maintains bidder lists of collectors specializing in

Dave Says

Pay Off My Home or Buy a Rental?

Dear Dave, I’m going to sell a rental cabin I own, and the sale should bring me about $388,000. Should I take the proceeds from the sale and use it to pay off my home and other debt or use the money to buy another, similar rental property where I could collect about $1,500 per month in rent? Right now, I owe $200,000 on my home, and I have just under $50,000 in miscellaneous debt.

preferably of at least 20%, so you can avoid having to pay private mortgage insurance—before buying a home.

sports. More information is available at loveofthegameauctions.com.

Postcards and Photographs

We all have keepsakes of vacation destinations, but most aren’t valuable. However, photographs and postcards depicting sports stars and ballparks can be significant. Look for early “real photo” postcards from the 1900s through the 1940s, which are photographs printed on postcard backs.

As with sports cards, star power matters, so preserve those Babe Ruths as opposed to images of your great grandma’s baby cousin once-removed. And when it comes to photos, look for old markings on the back, such as photographer, publication and date stamps.

Memorabilia

Set aside old advertising posters depicting sports stars and food, tobacco or sporting goods brands. Ads from magazines aren’t valuable, but those used as store displays and for other marketing purposes can be pricey. Tin signs from the 1960 and earlier can be highly prized, but reproductions aren’t.

Your family’s sporting goods, such as balls, gloves and bats, can be valuable. Pre-1950s uniforms and catcher’s masks, helmets and other equipment are highly collected, especially when endorsed by star players. Top condition brings the highest prices, but even used equipment can be valuable.

“The golden rule is the older the sports card or item, the more valuable it usually is. Pre1975 pieces start to get interesting and are worth researching,” says Crisafulli. Don’t just clean out your “junk” this spring, examine it closely to potentialy maximize its value.

Capitol Hill Week

Addressing the shortage of special education teachers and cutting taxes

March 10, 2023 - The Education Committee this week passed a bill I am sponsoring to increase the number of special education teachers in Tennessee amid an ongoing shortage. There are over 1,200 teacher vacancies in school districts across the state, and most of them are in special education.

The Tennessee Special Educator Scholarship Act would provide scholarships to college juniors and seniors who work as an educational assistant to a special education teacher at a Tennessee public school. The scholarship amount is $750 per semester, and those who

receive it must agree to work as a special education teacher at a Tennessee public school for at least three years following graduation. There are currently about 9,300 special education paraprofessionals in Tennessee and an estimated 500 of them would be eligible for the scholarship program outlined in the bill. Bailey said the idea for the bill came from his son, who volunteered his time to help special needs students when he was in high school because his school didn’t have enough special education teachers.

Major legislation to cut taxes advances

The Tennessee Works Tax Reform Act of 2023 is advancing in the Senate and cleared the Senate Revenue Subcommittee with a

positive recommendation on Tuesday. This legislation, proposes a number of changes to Tennessee’s tax code to lower the tax burden on businesses, boost Tennessee’s economic competitiveness, promote entrepreneurship and small business formation, and provide targeted relief to families. This is one of Governor Bill Lee’s top legislative initiatives for 2023.

The tax cuts would provide significant tax relief to small businesses by lowering the burden of the franchise and excise tax as well as the business tax rate. Under the proposal, over 23,000 small businesses in Tennessee will have their excise tax liability reduced to zero by exempting the first $50,000 in income from the state’s excise tax. It also exempts

Valerie

Dear Valerie,

Let me start by asking you a question. If your home were paid for and you didn’t have a mortgage at all, would you take out a loan against your home to buy a rental property? Let me give you a hint. The answer should be a big, fat no.

The shortest distance between where you are right now and a high-quality financial life—including wealth building—is getting your home and other debt paid off. Then, use the cash flow that’s freed up, and the increased peace of mind, to rapidly pile up a bunch of money and buy another rental property.

There’s nothing wrong with owning rental properties and other kinds of real estate, Valerie. I love real estate, and today, I have several rental properties of my own. The difference is I bought all of mine with cash. I didn’t go into debt for them. I learned my lesson about debt the hard way over 30 years ago, and I don’t want you to take a chance on suffering through all that crap too.

Use the money from the

up to $500,000 of business property from franchise tax liability. The tax cuts would exempt 140,000 Tennessee businesses from the business tax by raising the threshold for business tax exemptions from $10,000 to $100,000 of gross receipts. In addition, it reduces the highest business tax rate from 0.3% to 0.1%.

The proposal will also help Tennessee lead the nation in economic competitiveness, while prioritizing Tennessee businesses. It incentivizes businesses to hire Tennesseans and headquarter in Tennessee by changing the way the excise tax is calculated to favor businesses with a higher percentage of their properties and jobs located in Tennessee than in other states. It also ensures state tax deductions for research

Dave Ramsey

sale of the cabin to pay off your home and other debt, and to make sure you’ve got a solid emergency fund of 3–6 months of expenses set aside. After that, if you want to start saving aggressively for another rental, go for it. Just make sure it’s a smart buy when the time comes and that you pay for it in cash!

— Dave

Don’t Buy A Home When You’re Broke And In Debt

Dear Dave, I’m thinking more seriously about buying a home in the next year or so. It seems like the housing market has cooled off a bit, so I am also planning to get a secured credit card to help me rebuild my credit score in the meantime. I make $60,000 a year, and I have about $15,000 in debt and $3,100 in savings. Is this a good idea and a good start toward getting my credit back on track and taking control of my finances?

Martin

Dear Martin, In a word, no. I want you to become debt-free before you buy a home. I also want you to have an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses set aside, and have a down payment—

and development (R&D) expenses – which help companies grow, innovate and produce superior products and services. This move comes after the federal government ended yearly R&D tax exemptions for businesses. The measure also removes unfair taxes on certain manufacturing facilities with unsold inventory. Finally, the proposal will deliver for working families by creating a three-month sales tax holiday on food during August, September and October 2023. It also seeks to incentivize businesses to provide paid family leave to employees by establishing a state paid family leave franchise and excise tax credit on wages paid for a two-year pilot period.

Strengthening election in-

Let me tell you a couple of things. Number one, your income is your most powerful wealth building tool. If you don’t have any payments, you have the ability to build wealth and be generous. When you have debt, all you do is send money out the door to make payments. So, being in debt is a guaranteed way to stay broke. That means getting a secured credit card is not a good idea, either.

Also, did you know you can get a home mortgage with no credit score through a process called manual underwriting? All you have to do is make sure you have a good, long history of paying other things, like your utilities and rent, on time. Most mortgage lenders who do manual underwriting would also require that you have all your debts paid off completely and the accounts closed for at least six months.

Buying a house when you’re in debt and broke is a really bad idea, Martin. It’s the fastest way I know to turn something that should be a blessing into a financial and emotional curse. Just be patient, get out of debt and save up. Getting control of your finances is the smartest thing you can do before buying a home!

— Dave

Tips for a First-Time Home Buyer Dear Dave,

• See DEBT• Continued on 10

tegrity

In the Senate, we approved legislation to strengthen election integrity in Tennessee by putting protections in place to prevent abuse of “fail-safe balloting.” Under this process, if the address on a voter’s ID does not match his/her current address, then that voter casts a fail-safe ballot and signs an affidavit stating that he/ she does live at the address where the vote is being cast. Senate Bill 854 would allow a candidate to request a list of all the voters who changed their address at the polling place to vote in the election along with copies of the fail-safe affidavits. This bill also states that in the event of a recount, the state election commission must verify the addresses of all fail-safe ballots.

From Senator Paul Bailey

Photo by liquidlibrary /Getty Images Plus

Town

Sandwich Board

SSHS/Monterey

Hometown Project meets

Resuming in February, the Standing Stone Historical Society/Monterey Hometown Project meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Monterey Lions Club. The Society forwards and protects the Native American history of the monument and community, plans the annual Standing Stone Day celebration, sponsors the annual Miss Standing Stone Beauty Pageant to benefit a Monterey High School program, hosts the Standing Stone Essay and Art Contest and publishes an annual magazine featuring stories about the Standing Stone Monument, the community and its people. Standing Stone Day is a local holiday that is observed annually on the second Saturday in October.

Monterey Hometown Project (not affiliated with the Monterey Hometown Project Committee created by the city board) meets directly following the Stand-

ing Stone Historical Society meeting. Monterey Hometown Project is a group organized under the Standing Stone Historical Society to raise funds to make improvements to the Town of Monterey. Email standingstoneday@gmail. com. Like their Facebook page at Standing Stone Day, Monterey, Tn.

UCDD Offers Relative Caregiver, Housing Assistance

Are you raising a relative child or need housing assistance? For more information on assistance and support, please contact Melissa Allison at the Upper Cumberland Development District toll-free at 1-877275-8233. A support group meeting will be held for relatives that are caring for relative children during this month. Please contact Melissa Allison at 931-4764127, if you are interested in attending this meeting.

Free ABCs of Medicare classes offered

Are you eligible for Medicare and curious about your plan options? Upper Cumberland State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is conducting a series of free ABCs of Medicare classes this month on April 11 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Upper Cumberland Development District at 1104 England Dr. in Cookeville, TN, and April 24 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Millard Oakley Library located at 107 E Main St. in Livingston, TN. Each class will consist of training on Parts A, B, C and D, as well as Medigap policies and ways to prevent Medicare fraud. Registration for both classes is required.

SHIP is a federally funded program administered through the Area Agency on Aging & Disability (AAAD). Please call SHIP at 931-432-4150, visit the Upper Cumberland SHIP Facebook Page at facebook.com/UCSHIP, or

email ship@ucdd.org to register or learn more.

State Health Insurance Assistance Program and Senior Medicare Patrol are administered locally by the Upper Cumberland Development District and cover all 14 Upper Cumberland counties. SHIP/SMP representatives provide free and unbiased Medicare counseling for any questions, abuse, or concerns; they will also screen Medicare beneficiaries for low-income assistance programs. Got Medicare? Got Questions? Call SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 or 931432-4150. AAAD, a division of the Upper Cumberland Development District, connects older adults and adults with disabilities in the 14county Upper Cumberland region with services and resources to improve their quality of life. Find the AAAD on the web at www. ucdd.org and at facebook. com/UCDDconnect.

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The week-long event will have daily themes and various opportunities to get involved, including a statewide food drive that lasts from April 3-21. More than 40 county Extension offices across the state, with staff from both University of Tennessee and Tennessee State University, will host food drives to ensure their neighbors are fed and food is kept out of landfills. To conclude the week, breweries and bakeries have partnered in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville to host events featuring a limitedrelease specialty craft beer made from repurposing unsold bread.

These family-friendly gatherings are available to anyone.

For more information on how to participate in Tennessee Food Waste Awareness Week, find a donation center or locate an event near you, visit getfoodsmarttn. com and follow TDEC and UTIA/FCS Extension on social media. To find nutrition classes through UT Extension and resources to help you reduce food waste and plan meals, visit utextension. tennessee.edu. Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. utia.tennessee.edu.

THP to conduct sobriety roadside safety checkpoint

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting Sobriety Roadside Safety Checkpoints starting on May 1-6, on US Highway 70E at Schaffer’s Rock Yard.

Impaired driving is a serious crime that kills more than 16,000 people and injures 305,000 others every year in the United States. Troopers will evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. Troopers will target those who operate a vehicle while impaired and take corrective actions for other violations observed while ensuring the protection of all motorists.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol recognizes that sobriety checkpoints are highly visible and effective tools in the battle against impaired driving.

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Three couples, a two-bedroom apartment and one hilarious show, “Things My Mother

and Jason Ross will have you laughing to tears.

‘Things My Mother Taught Me’ funny, memorable

By Rebekah Beeler Scribe Publisher

Your children – you feed, celebrate, advise, clothe, love, and, hopefully, teach them how to stand on their own two feet and not make the same mistakes you did. Even when they’re adults, you make a point to be there – whether they ask for it or not! Humorous and incredibly relatable, Cumberland County Playhouse’s fun production of “Things My Mother Taught

Me” by Katherine DiSavino opened on March 17.

The play is a romantic and generational physical comedy directed by Brenda Sparks.

her

Ross) who insert themselves into the couple’s first big adventure. With three couples squeezed into a small two-bedroom apartment, it’s one hilarious show.

“I just want to make people laugh and cry for the same ticket price,” Sparks said.

CCP company member Weslie Webster draws on her lovely relationship with her beautiful mother and then does the opposite for the role of Olivia’s mother, Karen Keegan.

“It’s a sitcom with heart,” Weslie said. “It’s funny and touching and moving. It makes you think about things your parents taught you that you carry with you today.”

The Websters lived in Graham, NC, where Julie taught 8th-grade English, reading, history and spelling. Julie was also a pianist and mother to her two beautiful daughters, Weslie and Erica. Weslie said she grew up singing harmonies with her mom.

She was Valedictorian of her graduating class from Graham High School in 1987. In 1988, she won the title of Miss Burlington and moved on to compete in the Miss North Carolina Pageant, where one of the judges was the assistant dean at Cincinnati Conservatory. He encouraged her to audition to attend. She did and was accepted, earning a bachelor’s in musical theater.

She was invited to the White House to sing for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. Just out of college, in 1993,

• See TAUGHT•

Continued on 7

“Especially the comedy, it has to be grounded; it has to be true,” Sparks said. “Those laughs have to be earned.” Olivia (DeAnna Helgeson) and Gabe (Riley Wesson) are beginning their new life as a young couple, moving halfway across the country to their new apartment managed by Max (Daniel Black) in Chicago, IL.

But, nothing goes right on moving day.

Cue the helicopter parents (Lauren Marshall and Britt Hancock) and the overbearing ones (Weslie Webster and Jason

“Me and Mama used to sing a lot of ‘Delta Dawn,’” Weslie said, smiling at the memory.

Weslie was also in the church and middle school choirs. The middle school choir director had also been a student of her mother’s, and Weslie began performing in the school productions he directed.

Photo submitted Cumberland County Playhouse resident company member and education director Weslie Webster remembers what

mother, Julie Webster (above) taught her.

Photos by Rebekah Beeler

Taught Me” stars Lauren Marshall, Britt Hancock, DeAnna Helgeson, Weslie Webster

Mountain Times 7

The image of her mother, Weslie Webster plays mother Karen Keegan in “Things My Mother Taught Me,” now playing at Cumberland County Playhouse.

Way to go, Captain Obvious! Below, Olivia (DeAnna Helgeson), Gabe (Riley Wesson) and Gabe’s helicopter mom Lydia (Lauren Marshall) give Wyatt (Britt Hancock) a stare down after he states the obvious: the brand new chair is stuck in the doorway of the new apartment.

•TAUGHT

Continued

Webster came to Crossville and worked two seasons at CCP before moving to New York. She was a cast member of “Carousel” on the national Broadway tour in 1996, traveling all over the country.

“There’s more magic there with musical theater because you get to express yourself in so many different ways,” Weslie said. “And because I grew up singing with my mom, I’ve always been very musical. So the magic of musical theater is just something I could never get out of my blood.”

She came back to Crossville and began a musical theater class at CCP, where she taught on Saturday mornings as an extension of the educational program’s dance classes. That was the birth of the musical theater program at CCP.

“My joy has always been working through musical theater and acting with the kids,” she said.

When she suffered vocal damage, she went back home and acquired her massage therapy degree.

But, the gravity of the stage was beckoning her.

“Everybody tries to leave,” Webster said, “and then they realize how good it is here, and everybody comes back.”

Returning to CCP, she resumed performing as a resident company member. In 2008, she became educational director and continued to build the musical theater program, adding acting to the curriculum.

“My mom being a teacher, I feel like I have teaching in my blood,” Weslie said. “One of the biggest pulls for me was that I could work with kids on a more individualized basis than, say, the school system allows. I like to encourage their creativity, and it’s hard in a standard classroom.”

The CCP Triple Threat educational program was developed and incorporated singing, dancing and acting.

“I think it’s important to include them all,” she said.

In 2012, she bought a house and officially made Crossville her home. Weslie said her parents were supportive and came to see all her shows at CCP. Her dad would even stay weeks to watch her perform and wrote a special toast that the company now recites in his honor before most show openings.

“I come from a very supportive village,” she said. “When my mom passed, she wanted to make sure that all of her extensive costume jewelry selection was donated here. We call it ‘Julie’s Jewels.’ So, she’s represented in almost every show.”

“Julie’s Jewels and the Webster Toast,” she continued, “living legacies at Cumberland County Playhouse.”

Appearing in well over 100 shows at CCP, Weslie said, “I’ve

been very lucky with the roles. I’ve crossed quite a few off my bucket list because of working here. You just get to do such a wide variety of stuff being part of this resident company, things you never knew you could do.”

No doubt, Weslie remembers what her mother taught her. “She made the best chocolate chip cookies and vegetable soup. She always called me ‘Shoog,’ and she always looked for four-leaf clovers,” Weslie said.

But, more than that, having such an excellent example, Weslie gracefully embodies the role of the Playhouse matriarch – the gentle, caring and supportive mother figure – not just on the Playhouse stage but to all the children participating in the CCP Triple Threat education program she directs.

“I just think that’s what I was born to be. I think I was born to be part of the village that helps people bring their kids up,” she said. “It’s so rewarding to me because teaching is in my blood. I just never needed my own [kids] because I have so many of other people’s. It just gives me more of the time to be able to dedicate to the village. It’s just what I find fulfilling.”

She hopes to be an extra role model for the children.

“We are not an island unto ourselves. It does take a community to make an impression upon a child, a whole village. It takes a village to raise them,” she said. “I’m extremely proud of being part of that village, and I feel very lucky to be part of such a big village. It’s such a great opportunity here where the arts are so important, and you can be creative with the kids and help them be better community members later, direct them in paths that empower them to contribute to society, but also be really compassionate people.

“It’s just not easy to put yourself out there on the line,” she continued, “and if you can encourage these kids to take those chances, they’ll be better off later. They won’t be so fearful of life itself.” Then she shared a few gems she learned

from her mother.

“She certainly gave me the love of music and the love of working with kids,” she said. “She also taught me that if you bake chocolate chip cookies, if they’re calling for snow, it will make it snow. And grocery stores have the best bathrooms if you’re traveling.”

“Things My Mother Taught Me” is rated PG and will run through April 30 on the Adventure Theater stage. Purchase tickets online at ccplayhouse.com or by calling the box office at 931-484-5000.

Standing Stone Scribe April 2023

Did my face say that out loud? These are the faces of Olivia and Gabe when they find out both sets of in-laws are on their way to encroach on their big moving day.

Mackie wins inaugural coon hunt

Congratulations! Wade Mackie and Ruger win the inau gural Talmage Phillips Coon Hunt hosted by the Hanging Limb Horse Ring service organization on Feb. 11. The hunt was held in memory of Talmage Phillips, who was an avid hunter and is credited for having the first horse shows in Hanging Limb in the 60s. The hunt was a fundraiser for Hanging Limb Horse Ring. Twelve teams entered, hunt ing at various locations. All the hunters said they enjoyed the competition and look forward to more hunts when the season starts again.

Search hopes to rescue

Dale Hollow suffers boating fatality

Tennessee 2023 spring turkey hunting season opens April 15

Tennessee’s turkey hunters will find several changes in store for the 2023 spring season. The changes were made by the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission to benefit the state’s wild turkey population.

The spring turkey season will open Saturday, April 15, two weeks later than in previous years. The Young Sportsman Hunt is April 8-9, statewide. The bag limit has also been reduced from three birds to two birds, and only one bird can be a juvenile or jake. After hearing growing reports of decreasing turkey populations, the Commission voted to delay the statewide turkey season to improve reproduction and nesting success.

New turkey regulations will be in effect on select Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and hunters are reminded to check each WMA they hunt in the 2022-23 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide. One change that affects all WMAs is that fanning or reaping turkeys are now prohibited.

“I expect it to be a good season because we had really high recruitment in 2021 which means there should be a lot of 2-year-old birds in the woods,” said Roger Shields, TWRA Wild Turkey Program Coordinator. “For those people not having the opportunity to hunt in recent years, this could be a good year to get back in the woods.”

This will be the fourth spring turkey season to “Tag Before You Drag” where hunters tag their big game animal in

the field prior to moving. Hunters are able to use the TWRA on the Go app to simply E-tag and report their harvest in the field in one easy step, with or without cell phone service, prior to moving.

If you do not have a phone, attach one of the temporary transportations tags that are printed at the bottom of your license this year, and you have until midnight on the same day of the harvest (or before leaving the state) to check in your harvest online at GoOutdoor sTennessee.com or at one of several manned check stations. Temporary transportation tags can also be obtained by logging in at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com.

A combination hunting and fishing license, plus a supple mental big game license, or a sportsman license is required.

To purchase a license online, go to GoOutdoorsTenness see.com.

More information on the 2023 spring turkey season can be found in the 2022-23 Tennessee Hunting & Trapping Guide. The guide is online at www.tnwildlife.org and available at TWRA offices and license agents.

Hunting hours are 30 minutes prior to legal sunrise until legal sunset. Legal hunting equipment includes shotguns using ammunition loaded with No. 4 shot or smaller, long bows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows.

Firearms and archery equipment may have sighting de vices, except those devices utilizing an artificial light ca pable of locating wildlife.

Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency and other first responders recovered the body of a missing kayaker on Dale Hollow Lake. Benjamin Thomen was reported missing at around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 1.

He was observed by an angler near Goat Island around 2:30 p.m.

The 31-year-old male Overton County resident was camping with three others at a camp site on one of the islands. He was last seen by those in his party when he left to paddle to the Willow Grove Marina for supplies. Thomen did not return to the camp site, causing those in his party to inquire at the marina.

TWRA, along with Clay County EMA, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency responded for the search operation. Teams conducted a perimeter search and used thermal imaging into the night of April 1, with the search suspended due to safety concerns. Search operations resumed at 7 a.m. on April 2 with teams assigned to the shoreline and banks covering a large area. Side-scanning sonar along with a remote operated vehicle were utilized as well as the THP helicopter.

At approximately 9 a.m., Thomen’s kayak was found.

Thomen’s body was located using the ROV in 13 feet of water, near Big Goat Island and was recovered just before 5 p.m., and was transported for medical examination.

Thomen was not wearing a life jacket.

This is the sixth boating fatality this year. The incident remains under investigation.

Photos submitted

At left, Wade Mackie is pictured with his hound, Ruger, and with his first place award and Ruger’s new collar, above, for the win.

Tennessee Wildlife Resource officers use technology to search for missing kayaker.

CCP reveals long-hidden secrets with ‘And Then There Were None’

The New York Times said “The whole thing is utterly impossible and utterly fascinating. It is the most baffling mystery Agatha Christie has ever written.”

Beginning April 14, Cumberland County Playhouse presents Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, b ased on the bestselling novel in the world, this production will be directed by René Pulliam, who directed 2021’s The 39 Steps

Ten strangers are summoned to a remote island. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they’re unwilling to reveal and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. As the weather turns and the group is cut off from the mainland, the bloodbath begins and one by one they are brutally murdered in accordance with the lines of a sinister nursery rhyme. One of Christie’s most suspenseful tales and a masterpiece of dramatic construction, its growing sense of dread and unfaltering ten-sion will keep you guessing to the very end.

The cast, in order of appearance, features James Scott ( Buddy ) as Rogers, Caitlin Schaub ( Murder on the Orient Express ) as Mrs. Rogers, Jacob Alexander ( Buddy ) as Fred Narracott, DeAnna Helgeson ( Things My Mother Taught Me ) as Vera Claythorne, Britt Hancock ( Sylvia ) as Philip Lombard, Riley Wesson ( Cinderella ) as Anthony Marston, Daniel Black ( Johnny and the Devil’s Box ) as William Blore, Bill Macchio ( Escape to Margaritaville ) as General Mackenzie, Patty Payne ( On Golden Pond ) as Emily Brent, Jason Ross ( Leading Ladies ) as Sir Lawrence Wargrave, and Michael Evanichko ( On Golden Pond ) as Dr. Armstrong.

And Then There Were None plays on the Mainstage through May 30, is rated PG, and is co-sponsored by Hospice of Cumberland County, John & Christine Stinson, and Mark Richie & Arlene Albert, and Family Walk-In Clinic. Tickets can be purchased online at ccplayhouse.com or by calling the Playhouse Box Office at (931) 484-5000.All CCP productions are made possible through sponsor support, with additional support provided by the Tennessee Arts Commission, The National Endowment for the Arts, Playhouse media sponsor The Crossville Chronicle, and Playhouse Season Partners Plateau Pediatrics, Tim and Susan Tewalt, Ken and Grace Patton, Bob and Jaye Emrick, Dr. Edward and Karen Thornblade, and BLB Construction LLC. This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP5534 awarded to the State of Tennessee by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Kids Korner Bentley Bear is Bragging

Bentley Bear lives in the Enchanted Woods of Tennessee, where the trees grow tall and the leaves are a lush vibrant green.

The forest is a magical place.

Along with Bentley are his friends David Deer, Rusty Raccoon, Steven Squirrel and his very best friend, Freddy Fox. They love to run and play and have fun. One day the friends meet to go bowling at Forest Friends Bowling Alley. The friends love doing things together and can’t wait to get started. All the friends are jumping around and talking loudly and so fast that Tiffany Turtle, who is in charge of the bowling alley, could not get their names written down on the score sheet.

“Please settle down or we will not be able to bowl,” says Tiffany Turtle.

The friends really want to start bowling so they all sit down and finish putting on their shoes to get

By Amy Swafford

their acorn bowling balls ready.

Tiffany Turtle finishes getting the score sheet ready. David Deer goes first followed by Bentley Bear, Steven Squirrel, Rusty Racoon and finally Freddy Fox.

The friends are laughing, talking and having fun when Bentley Bear starts worrying more about his score than having fun. He keeps asking Tiffany Turtle if he was winning. He is ahead of Tiffany Turtle and brags. Soon David Deer, Steven Squirrel, Rusty Raccoon, and Freddy Fox quit talking and laughing and having fun.

They are tired of Bentley Bear’s bragging and constantly asking if he is winning.

Bentley Bear notices his friends’ behavior and asked them what is wrong.

David Deer speaks first.

“It’s not fun when all you do is brag about being

ahead.”

Rusty Raccoon says, “You should cheer for your friends no matter how anyone is doing.”

Steven Squirrel says, “It’s more fun when we support each other and be kind to each other.”

Tiffany Turtle says, “You can be happy for yourself if you are winning, but you need to also cheer for support your friends, and not brag or constantly worry who is ahead. It’s more fun when we all support each other.”

Bentley Bear realizes his friends are right and apologizes. The friends spend the rest of the time supporting and cheering for each other and having fun together.

And if you are wondering who ends up winning the bowling game, Freddy Fox does. Bentley Bear couldn’t have been happier for his best friend.

Hereabouts

CPR and AED access expanding for school system

Putnam County School System received five new AED’s thanks to generous supporters of Carmen’s Fund, which provides free American Heart CPR, First Aid and AED classes for dozens of schools and nonprofits throughout the Upper Cumberland. The program currently collaborates with four county school systems, including Putnam County, to provide free certification classes for all teachers and staff.

AED’s were purchased thanks to donations to Cookeville Regional Charitable Foundation, which operates Carmen’s Fund in collaboration with community partners.

“These AED’s will make our schools even safer for students, staff and visitors in Putnam County, by increasing the number of locations where we can access an AED during an emergency. We are thankful for the gift,” stated Janet Frank, PCSS Nurse Coordinator.

Carmen’s Fund welcomes two new instructors, Joe

Holloway and Sam LeFave. Holloway has a vision for expanding training classes to include volunteers, parents and students associated with high school and middle school sports teams. He encourages the community to support this expansion by donating to Carmen’s Fund.

“We have been reaching out to coaches about emergency response supplies they would like to have on-hand. If funding is secured, we hope to provide teams completing training with FREE first aid kits and eventually expand to other counties. This will make it

Hanging Limb Horse Ring Earth Day Park Clean Up and BBQ April 22

The Hanging Limb Horse Ring is hosting an Earth Day celebration event with a Park Clean Up and BBQ on Saturday, April 22, at 10 a.m. It is a great opportunity for community service for students needing volunteer hours. They will be spreading mulch around the playground and general clean up. A nice barbecue lunch will be provided for participants volunteering their time. Bring a shovel and gloves. For more information or to volunteer, call Marge at 931-644-4295 or message the Hanging Limb Horse Ring group on Facebook.

Commodity Distribution set for April 20

safer during practice on-the field, when EMS is usually not on-site,” Holloway commented.

To learn more about Carmen’s Fund please visit https://cookevilleregionalcharity.org.

The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency will hold a commodities distribution for Putnam County on Thursday, April 20, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Hope Church. Sign-up will be available at the distribution site.

The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, religion, or disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities.

This project is funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee.

TSLA Lunchtime Speaker Series explores folklife and archaeological discoveries in state parks

The Tennessee State Library & Archives is excited to welcome the final speaker for the Legacy of Tennessee State Parks Lunchtime Speaker Series with Archaeologist Aaron Deter-Wolf on April 14, from noon to 1 p.m.

“I encourage anyone interested in Tennessee history or culture to join us on their lunch break for Legacy of Tennessee State Parks Lunchtime Speaker Series,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “We are fortunate to have leading experts on Tennessee folklife and archaeological discoveries in Tennessee’s state parks as our guest speakers.”

During the lecture, Deter-Wolf will discuss managing and preserving ancient Native American sites on state-owned lands and archaeological discoveries in Tennessee’s state parks. To make a reservation to attend in person, visit bit.ly/TSLASS4.

Deter-Wolf has worked as an archaeologist with the Tennessee Division of Archaeology in Nashville since 2017. He has authored professional journal articles and contributed to scholarly volumes on archaeology, includ-

• DEBT •

Continued from 4

ing the books Baking, Bourbon, and Black Drink: Foodways Archaeology in the American Southeast and Ancient Ink: The Archaeology of Tattooing. His most recent book, Mastodons to Mississippians: Adventures in Nashville’s Deep Past, was honored with the Tennessee Library Association’s 2022 Ten-

I’m 20 years old, and I’m planning to buy a home in the next year. Besides having a 20% down payment, what other tips do you have for a first-time home buyer? Also, is there anything I need to guard against when it comes to buying a house?

Jacob

Dear Jacob,

I’m glad you’re planning on making a down payment of at least 20%. That’s a smart move, because it’ll help you avoid the added expense of private mortgage insurance (PMI). Also, remember to get a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage loan, one where your payments are no more than 25% of your monthly take-home pay.

Now, the next pieces of advice are for you, Jacob, and

nessee History Book Award.

“The Library & Archives is excited to host the final two speakers in the series next month,” said Jamie Ritter, Tennessee State Librarian and Archivist. “Guests are bound to discover something new about our state’s folklife culture and archeological past.”

anyone else who’s planning to buy real estate. Always get title insurance. Always! If you’re buying a piece of property that’s not a traditional subdivision-type lot, have a survey done. This isn’t as much of a worry with a standard subdivision lot, something that’s pre-platted and has changed hands three or four times. But you don’t want to buy a piece of land under the impression that it’s 3 acres and then find out the hard way it’s only 2.25 acres. Get a home inspection too. Unless you happen to be an electrician, contractor or something like that, you’re probably not an expert on things relating to home construction.

This last piece of advice may sound funny, but don’t buy a house with a great, low price if it looks ugly from the street. I did that with the very first house I bought, and it’s a bad idea. No matter what you think, when it comes to houses, you can’t fix ugly. You can change out carpet, and you can put up new shutters or gutters and stuff like that. Those

After each presentation, in-person attendees are invited to view the Library & Archives’ Legacy of Tennessee State Parks exhibit, which is open now until May 13, in the Lobby.

This Lunchtime Speaker Series event will be in person and livestreamed on the Library & Archives’ Facebook page. In-person attendees are welcome to bring their lunch. The events are free to the public.

The Library & Archives is located at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way North on Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Parking is available for guests in the Library & Archives garage on Jackson Street/Junior Gilliam Way. For the latest information about the Lunchtime Speaker Series, follow the Library & Archives social media channels, Facebook: Tennessee State Library & Archives and Instagram: @ tnlibarchives.

To learn more about the Library & Archives or schedule a research visit, call 615-7412764, emailask@tsla.libanswers.com or visit sos.tn.gov/tsla/plan-your-visit.

things aren’t a ton of work. But there’s a reason you can get a screaming deal on an ugly house—it’s ugly. And the guy you sell it to down the road is going to get a great deal on the house. Why? Because it’s just an ugly house.

If you’re not careful, you can get a little too excited on your first home purchase. So stay smart, look at everything involved, and don’t let a case of house fever push you into a big, expensive mistake!

—

Dave

Dave Ramsey is an eight-time national bestselling author, personal finance expert and host of The Ramsey Show. He has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people take control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for the company Ramsey Solutions.

Photo submitted

Collaborative partners of area CPR and AED education include Carmen’s Fund, Mended Hearts, START, PEP, PCSS, PCEMA and CRMC Foundation. Pictured are Ben Danner, Sarah Birdwell, Janet Frank, Dee Prince, John Bell and Joe Holloway.

Norfolk CBP officers revoke stadium pass of Rocky Top fans

Fans of the Tennessee Volunteers might not be in the mood to sing their famed victory song, “Rocky Top,” after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 101 scale models of Neyland Stadium in Norfolk on Monday.

CBP officers initially inspected the stadium models, replicas of the University of Tennessee’s football stadium, on Feb. 20 after it arrived from China. The replica stadiums, measuring 32 inches by 32 inches and 12 inches high, were destined to an address in Arlington, TX. Officers suspected that the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) mark on the electrical plug may have been used without authorization and detained the models to verify trademark authenticity.

The electrical plug powers lights within the stadium models and can pose a safety risk.

Counterfeiters generally manufacture products using substandard parts. Affixing the UL trademark falsely implies that the stadium models’ electrical wiring has been certified to meet quality and safety standards for electrical equipment and wiring. That false assurance could be harmful to consumers who are used to trusting the Underwriters Laboratory safety certification program.

CBP officers submitted

join the Scribe Good News Movement

documentation and photographs on March 7 to CBP’s trade experts at the Machinery Centers of Excellence and Expertise. On March 21, CBP’s trade experts verified that the UL mark was not authentic and constituted a counterfeit mark.

CBP officers at the Area Port of Norfolk – Newport News completed the seizure on March 27. The counterfeit consumer goods were valued at $252,500 manufacturer’s suggested retail price, had they been authentic.

No one has been criminally charged. An investigation continues.

“Imagine a Volunteers fan proudly displaying his or her lighted replica stadium model only to wake up to the sound of the smoke detectors. This is a real danger posed by counterfeited electrical products” said Mark Laria, CBP’s Area Port Director for the Area Port of Norfolk-Newport News. “These stadium models are an odd thing to counterfeit, but this seizure proves that unscrupulous manufacturers and vendors will try to illegally profit on any commodity despite the potential threat it may pose to consumers.”

CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement

program. U.S. trademark and copyright owners can register with CBP to have their intellectual property protected at the border through the through the e-Recordation program (https://iprr.cbp.gov/s/).

The international trade in counterfeit consumer goods is illegal. It steals revenues from trademark holders, steals tax revenues from the government, funds transnational criminal organizations, and the unregulated products potentially threaten the health and safety of American consumers. Counterfeit consumer goods may also be sourced or manufactured in facilities that employ forced labor.

During fiscal year 2022, CBP officers and Homeland Security Investigations special agents seized nearly 21,000 shipments containing goods that violated IPR, which equates to nearly 25 million counterfeit goods. The total estimated MSRP of the seized goods, had they been genuine, was over $2.98 billion or an average of over $8 million every day.

Additionally, HSI special agents arrested 255 individuals in 2022, obtained 192 indictments and received 95 convictions related to intellectual property crimes. To learn more at HSI’s role in combating counterfeiting, visit the

Wildfire Community Preparedness

Day May 6

The National Fire Protection Association and State Farm announce that Wildfire Community Preparedness Day will be held on Saturday, May 6. The national campaign, which began in 2014, provides an opportunity for groups and individuals who live in wildfire-prone areas to come together on a single day to complete projects that can help make their homes and communities safer from wildfire. This year, the campaign is focused on what residents can do to help their home survive a wildfire.

Years of scientific research support the prescription of removing fuel sources from the area around the home –known as the “home ignition zone” – and is a key component to making a home safe from embers and radiant heat from wildfires. Simple, low-cost home improvement projects such as

clearing dead leaves, debris, and pine needles from roofs and gutters, keeping lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches, removing anything stored underneath decks or porches that could burn, and other similar actions are being actively supported by NFPA and State Farm on Preparedness Day and can be easily undertaken by the majority of homeowners.

“The threat of wildfire is becoming increasingly prevalent and dangerous, posting greater risks to people and property than ever before,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy.

“In preparation for a future with more wildfire activity, homeowners need to understand their role and take action in reducing wildfire risk. We encourage people to use and share NFPA’s wildfire safety resources

National IPR Coordination Center.

To report suspected counterfeits, visit CBP’s online e-Allegations portal or call 1-800-BE-ALERT. More information about counterfeit goods is available on CBP’s Truth Behind Counterfeits website and StopFakes.gov.

CBP’s border security mission is led at our nation’s Ports of Entry by CBP officers and agriculture specialists from the Office of Field Operations.

CBP screens international travelers and cargo and searches for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, invasive weeds and pests, and other illicit products that could potentially harm the American public, U.S. businesses, and our nation’s safety and economic vitality.

Learn more at www.CBP. gov.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

THEME: ANATOMY 101

ACROSS

1. Emir, alt. sp.

6. Comic book cry

9. *One of 27 in hand

13. Dhaka, formerly

14. Half man, half goat

15. Pressure ulcers, e.g.

16. Type of wrap

17. Old fashioned “before”

18. Do like ivy

19. *Smooth, skeletal or cardiac

21. *”Gray’s ____”

23. Gardener’s tool

24. Detected by olfactory system

25. Acronym-named sandwich

28. Sore throat voice

30. Retires from military service

with others in their community to not only make a difference in safety on Preparedness Day, but all through the year as well.”

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, some 71.8 million properties in the U.S. are at some level of risk from wildfire. This number is predicted to grow by 11 percent over the next 30 years. In the past five years wildfires have destroyed nearly 63,000 structures, the majority of which were homes. This number is poised to grow as increased wildfire activity encounters the substantial number of homes and communities located in wildfire-prone areas.

For more information about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, project ideas, and free resources to download and share, including a Preparedness Day toolkit, please visitwildfireprepday.org.

35. Steak option

37. Place at angle

39. Double, in French

40. *Certain apple’s namesake

41. Fork pokers

43. Heavy metal’s Quiet ____

44. *Pelvis bone

46. *Hardened keratin plate

47. Wedding promise?

48. Mandela

50. *Part of eye, not flower

52. Tokyo, formerly

53. Alpine transport

55. Cuckoo

57. *Vein to “go for”

61. *Cell body, axon and dendrite

64. Use the other side of pencil

65. Caviar alternative

67. Mafia’s top dogs

69. “The best laid schemes o’

mice an’ men gang aft ____”

want

6. Musketeer’s sword

7. *Smallest bones location

8. Work the dough

9. Diamond in a cutting tool

10. “Wonderfilled” cookie

11. a.k.a. Indian Lilac

12. Grammy of sports

15. Like a Haunted Mansion visitor?

20. Minimum

22. Endorsement

24. Alfresco

25. *It contains cerebellum and parietal lobe

26. Big Dipper shape

27. Hiker’s path

29. *Largest organ

31. Fogginess

32. Speak one’s mind

33. *AB+ or B-

34. Vigorous fight

36. Outback birds

38. Dam-like structure

42. Snail trail

45. Like certain Crüe

49. Giannis’ league

51. Cup holder

54. Orderly arrangement

56. Popular movie genre

57. J in B. J.

King

58. Serve as motive

59. Em’s and Dorothy’s last name

60. CPO, in auto industry

61. Glowing gas

62. Iridescent gem 63. Byproduct of wool combing 66. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem

68. Canny

By Rebekah Beeler Scribe publisher

Wally Trevathan began been rock climbing as a teen. Four years ago, he returned to the beloved sport as a hobby.

“It’s not fair for me to say that climbing saved my life — but it’s also not unfair,” he said. “I finally got my life on track where I could pursue a hobby – rock climbing. I was lucky enough to form a climbing club.”

The Chossy Trio Renegades climbing club, which started

Life on the Mountain

...it’s the climb

as three friends, now bolsters a roster of 70 members, representing three continents and multiple states.

Chossy means “rock not suitable to climb,” and the group’s name began as a joke in the kitchen of one of the founding members.

“The name is a joke,” he said. “The name is funny if you’re a climber.”

When the group is deciding on a potential climb destination, Trevathan said they take three specific criteria into consideration: the travel distance to the climb, the difficulty of the climb and the difficulty of the approach.

In February, The Chossy Trio Renegades climbed the face of Bee Rock.

“Bee Rock is one of the more inviting lookouts I’ve

seen in my climbing career,” he said, “and you don’t need to be a climber to enjoy it.”

For The Chossy Trio Renegades, a Bee Rock climb had the right answers to all three criteria.

“First, I grew up within a few miles of Bee Rock.

It’s close,” said Trevathan.

“Second, last I heard from a guidebook writer, Bee Rock has the hardest climb in the Upper Cumberland, bordering on professional. Third, and most importantly, the approach is about 100 feet, with almost no elevation change. Almost anyone could make that approach.”

“Bee Rock is awesome,” he continued. “I’ve climbed all over the Southeast, and Bee Rock has the most spectacular view. That makes Bee Rock special.”

While the multi-pitch rock face of Bee Rock has been bolted, there are no bolted anchors and maintains the title of hardest climb in Upper Cumberland. Trevathan said climbers would have to “top rope” from a tree or rock.

“You have to have some modicum of skill to climb

there,” he said. “The climbs are super stout.”

The approximately 10-acre Bee Rock property was gifted to the Town of Monterey by the Bobby Walker family.

Since 2019, the Town began to develop Bee Rock Park. Monterey boasts two worthy rock climbing destinations at Bee Rock off Monterey

exit 300, and Monterey Crag at Meadow Creek Park on Clarkrange Hwy. 62.

“Even if you don’t want to climb, Bee Rock is a worthy stop in the Upper Cumberland,” he concluded. “And if you are a sport climber, Monterey Crag is just a few miles away.”

Photos by Timothy Prince

Pictured are Wally Trevathan and Oliver Maddox, above, of The Chossy Trio Renegades climbing club after Trevathan serves as belayer for Maddox’s ascent up the face of Bee Rock. Below, Trevathan ties to a tree, referred to as “top roping,” to anchor the climbers’ ropes.

Climbing club gets roped in to Bee Rock