McMinn Life - Spring 2015

SPRING 2015

Ben Finch Photography

Captures Beth Haynes’ Fairytale Wedding At The Tennessee Theatre

Governor Bill Haslam

Brings A Message Of Challenge And Hope In His Second Inauguration

Liberty and Justice For All Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Lee, Leads with Honor

The Tsali Notch Vineyard is the perfect place to host your wedding or special event. Enjoy sweeping views of the Cherokee National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains. Create memories to last a lifetime! Call or visit us today to make a reservation for your special event.

Come partake in Sweetwater’s National Muscadine Festival! Featuring Tsali Notch’s local grown Muscadine grapes, the festival is perfect for all ages. Try our locally made jellies, butters, and chowchow relishes. Don’t forget to also try our signature wines in our tasting room! This year we are featuring our new Rosé wine, called French Broad.

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Joe Guy

HISTORIAN “A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR”

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Contents features

Liberty And Justice For All

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Beulah Land

Home Of Joe And Laujean Bryan

Monroe County Native, Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Lee, Leads With Honor

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Governor Bill Haslam

Brings A Message Of Challenge And Hope In His Second Inauguration

28 The Turner Cabin In Spring Creek Valley

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Orchids

With Gayle Fisher

12 “Excuse Me, Miss!”

Mark And Rachel Jessup Get Married

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Cue The Wedding Bells

Ben Finch Photography Captures A Fairytale Wedding At The Tennessee Theatre

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Etowah, Tennessee

A Community on the Right Track

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departments 4

Letter From The Editor Chris Hari

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The Bingham Group

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Happenings

Takes Home 33 Addy Awards!

Schedule of Events

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Ladies Lunch

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Bookout’s Tire & Lube

A Real Family Business & An Etowah Icon For Over 40 Years

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McMinn Life PUBLISHER

The Bingham Group President Lisa Atkins Bingham Local Editor Chris Hari Graphic Designers Sloan Burton Joni DiPatri Dustin Hayes Sharyl King Victoria Wine

Letter from the Editor

The other day, I was talking with a friend whose grown daughter had spotted a McMinn Life magazine during a visit home. “MOM, we have our own magazine?!!”

Indeed we do, and a good one at that.

As residents of McMinn County, we share a bond in that we all live in one of the most beautiful places in America, with rivers, streams and mountains for our pleasure and friendly folks that care for one another for our peace of mind.

Through McMinn Life, we are now connected in a way we never have been before. People from all over the county can visit unique or historic homes, and go inside and meet the residents, then turn the pages and read about things to do this spring or how to grow orchids. Many McMinn Life issues carry the stories of historian and author, Joe Guy, that are entertaining, true and happened right in our own back yard.

McMinn Life is about the people, places, history, heritage and events of McMinn County–nothing more, nothing less. It is a communication connection that is one of a kind. I am privileged and proud to be a part of this resource as the new community editor. Pat Chester will be a hard act to follow, and I ask that you help me keep this magazine as successful as it was under Pat’s leadership. Please call me with ideas you have or stories that need to be told.

My phone number is (423) 435-1650, or you can send me an email at chari@binghamgroup.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Contributing Writers Nancy Dalton Gayle Fisher Chris Hari Caroline Hoadley Chris Ingram Phil Roulier Emily Walls Cover Photo Scott Knox Contributing Photographers AgCentral Robert Burleson Sloan Burton Ben Gibson Ben Finch Bruce Hari Scott Knox Tammy Lee JoPhoto Durant Tullock Julie Walker Emily Walls Copy Editor Jennifer Porterfield Web Melissa Hitt Advertising Sales Mignonne Alman Tel: 865.523.5999 mignonne@binghamgroup.com Chris Hari Tel: 423.435.1650 chari@binghamgroup.com Subscription or Editorial Inquiries Tel: 865.523.5999 Fax: 865.523.0999 www.mcminnlifemagazine.com The Bingham Group, Inc. 11921 Kingston Pike, Suite 201 Knoxville, Tennessee 37934 www.binghamgroup.com www.mcminnlifemagazine.com

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McMINN LIFE SPRING 2015

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Cue the

Wedding Bells!

Ben Finch Photography Captures a Fairytale Wedding at the Tennessee Theatre

T

he birds are singing sweet melodies, vibrant flowers are blooming and the coolness of winter is fading into the welcomed warmth of spring. For most of us, these familiar sights and sounds mean spring is finally here, but for photographers, it means it is time to cue the wedding bells. Wedding season has officially begun.

McMinn County native, Ben Finch, is an expert professional photographer who captures all of the heartfelt emotions that surround the most important day of a person’s life. Over the years, Finch has covered many weddings, but there are some that seem to stand apart from the rest. One

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Written By Emily Walls Photography By Ben Finch

of Finch’s most breathtaking weddings was actually shot indoors at the Tennessee Theatre. WBIR Channel 10 news anchor and McMinn County native, Beth Haynes, was married to Seth Grossman at the beautifully renovated theater.

Ben Finch says, “It was a beautiful wedding.

Bill Schneider played the great Wurlitzer, and Russell Biven announced them to the congregation and did a scripture reading.”

Every shot from the wedding captured the stunning beauty of the day. From the wedding preparations to the ceremony and reception, every intricate detail was represented throughout the photography.

Finch was also able to scope out a perfectly lit alley across from the Tennessee Theatre for a few outdoor shots.

As a photographer, Finch takes great inspiration from the JFK era. His personal style reflects timeless, classic and nostalgic beauty. “Twenty-five years down the road, I want my photos to be as relevant then as they are now. I try to focus on things that inspire me most.” Viewers truly feel as if they have stepped into a real life fairytale with every detail perfectly in place. The Haynes wedding was truly a spectacle to behold of special, magical moments captured in time.

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Eldest daughter Ella smiles as Beth and Seth say their I do’s and share their first kiss as a married couple.

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ORCHIDS Written By Gayle Fisher Photography By Scott Knox

I

n the past five years, I have become an orchid expert. Not an expert at growing, potting or getting them to bloom. Only in buying them. The price of orchids has dropped so much that even a person of modest means who loves flowers can now have them placed inside her home.

When the blooms die, I take the plant to the orchid graveyard in the basement.

Sometimes they surprise me and will bloom again, in about 6 to 8 weeks. Other times the blades dry up, turn yellow and fall to the floor. In the summer, I force nonblooming outside and give them a squirt with the garden hose when I water my planters. Amazingly, some of these will perk up and rebloom.

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They are not as pretty as the ones in the store because by this time they have insect damage on the leaves. I’ve heard it’s always good to give orchids a shock; when they come to live with me, they can expect nothing but shock and awe.

I love how an orchid grows the floating petals on a gracefully tall, slender stalk. This leads to an exquisite flower composed of three inner petals and a cupped petal distinct from the rest. Labellum, inflorescence and sepal–the names sound as exotic as the plant. Orchidaceae is arguably one of the most stunning and elegant of flowering plants known to man.

One hundred and twenty million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth,

a magnificent flowering plant came into being—the orchid. Evolution led to the demise of many plants and animals, but the orchid flourished, thriving on every continent save Antarctica. Orchids have adapted to live in all kinds of environments: mountains, bogs, grasslands and rainforests.

At least 35,000 orchid species now populate the planet, and there is always the possibility that an unknown species still awaits discovery.

Orchids attract pollinators for reproduction by several ingenious methods: scent, mimicry and stealth. Orchids with sweet scents usually attract bees; those with a rancid smell lure flies. The orchid can also draw pollinators through visual mimicry, imitating insects including bees and butterflies with the patterns on its petals. We always have

hummingbirds come to our sunroom window and look in at the beautiful, delicious-looking orchids.

For centuries, the orchid has been a symbol of love, luxury and beauty. To the early Greeks, the orchid represented virility, and the Chinese called it “the plant of the king’s fragrance.” During the Middle Ages, the orchid was considered an aphrodisiac and was used in love potions. Serious orchid collecting began in the 18th century, but because of their rarity at the time, only a few botanists and wealthy amateurs could enjoy them. A single orchid reportedly sold for the equivalent of thousands of dollars. Today we can buy them for about $16.00 at our local grocery or big box store.

Avoid over watering, which leads to the demise of many more orchids than under watering. Constant wetness will cause the roots to rot, which leaves the plant without a means for taking up nourishment. This then causes the leaves to droop and will eventually kill the plant. “Evenly moist,” while the most commonly given advice on watering, is the hardest to explain. Because most plants are grown in plastic containers, a good diagnosis is the weight of the plant: heavy, does not need watering; light, does

require watering. With a little practice, you can easily tell the amount of moisture remaining in the container by the weight of the plant in your hand.

Some people like to place their pots on “humidity trays” or in trays or saucers of gravel or pebbles and water. The pot is placed on the pebbles above the water line.

This helps to ensure that the base of the pot is not immersed in water. It increases humidity for the plant and provides some air circulation under the pot. Currently my home humidity is about 36, which is way too dry for me or anything growing. If you are not a serious orchid grower, then you can follow my lead. All orchids will take the ice cube watering, three cubes once a week.

I usually do this on a Sunday. Three ice cubes gives them enough water without the dread of overwatering.

When shopping for a new plant, look at the proportion in relation to the container.

It should have roots in the media, and the blades should be clean and unblemished, turgid and medium green color and free of visible pests.

Petals should be lustrous and held well above the foliage on a strong, well-supported spike.

They should be unblemished and free of fungal spotting, and most important have some

buds yet to open (never, ever accept a plant with flowers open to the tip of the spike, as it is impossible to judge flower life after all flowers have opened).

If you have had trouble with orchids in the past, it was probably due to bud drop. This again could be under or over watering. Be careful of temperature extremes and rapid temperature changes (heating vents or air conditioning blowing directly on the plants, so pay attention to location). I also never buy an orchid when the weather is extremely cold. Just getting it out of the store, into the car and then back into the house could be too many temperature changes.

If you need to change the growing location–like you walk to the basement and you find one of the lost orchid boys trying to rebloom–please, by all means, carry this heroic guy back upstairs where you can enjoy it. But just to be sure, wait until the flowers open first.

For more information on orchids, please check with the American Orchid Society. They will give you tips and advice on successfully growing orchids in your home. But if you just enjoy the beauty, I give you permission to buy a new one every two months.

Gayle Fisher

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CHANGING THE WAY YOU SEE THE OUTDOORS HOLIDAY/WINTER 2015 McMINN LIFE

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& ark M

Rachel Jes su p

“Excuse Me, Miss!”

Ja n

u ar y 3, 2 0 1 5

“Excuse me, miss.” Rachel turned, startled, at the man’s voice. “Your father will meet you in the hallway,” he said, bowing slightly before disappearing.

Nodding to the empty room, Rachel smoothed her dress for the twelfth time. She took another glance in the wide mirror before heading for the door, pausing before the threshold.

She thought of the boy who used to visit the Wagon Works Grille at Silver Dollar City, where she worked through the summer over three years before.

“Excuse me, miss!” he would call out, seating himself at the same table every afternoon.

“Excuse me, the ice machine is out of ice!” he said with a smile.

He would often find any excuse to talk to her, usually by bringing up anything in the restaurant that required her attention.

“Well would you like to help me fill it back up?” she playfully responded. Small moments like these quickly became the highlights of their day.

“Well, you see,” he would say, smiling back, “I don’t have a very good memory. I was hoping you could help me out.”

That was the summer of 2011, when Rachel joined the Navigators in Branson, Missouri.

Written By Caroline Hoadley Photography By JoPhoto

For her last summer in college, Rachel had planned to work at an elementary camp out west, but so had several other students. The camp was fully staffed by March and could not offer a position until the following year. Rachel made plans to stay in Tennessee for the summer, but that soon changed after she drove her friend Callie to Nashville to meet visiting family.

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Callie’s cousins soon asked about Rachel’s summer plans and introduced her to the idea of joining the Navigators. The Navigators are an international ministry dedicated to helping people “know Christ and make Him known,” with an emphasis on discipleship. Each year, they hold “Summer Training Programs,” where students can gather regionally from different college campuses and learn how to grow in discipleship, evangelism, and studying the Bible.

It was during college that Rachel really grew in her faith, so the idea of maturing in these disciplines seemed like an exciting opportunity.

When she arrived in Missouri, Rachel was introduced to the team of three other girls that she would spend the summer living with while she learned from the Navigators and worked at Silver Dollar City. As the program began, there was one boy in particular that she took notice of. He would come in for lunch each day, getting her attention with “Excuse me, Miss.”

While the other servers teased her about her frequent visitor, she quite enjoyed her visits from this boy named Mark, who was another student in the Summer Training Program.

during his summer in Missouri. Each day that Rachel worked, she would hear him say, “Excuse me, miss, what are your specials today?” They would talk about their host families, the most recent classes and how much Mark enjoyed the food.

Eventually, the summer came to a close, and Mark returned to Texas A&M to complete his degree. Rachel said goodbye to her friends at the program, heading back to Cleveland to begin her senior year of college at Lee. After graduation, she received an offer to join the Navigators’ staff and happily accepted, excited to begin pouring into the ministry that brought her closer to Christ.

It had been two years since the two had connected, but in April of 2013, Rachel received an email from Mark, and was stunned. She opened it to read: “Excuse me, Miss!” as Mark playfully re-introduced himself as the boy from the program, in case she had forgotten. But she hadn’t.

Mark had originally applied for a legal internship, since he was going to Law School after he would graduate from Texas A&M, butit seemed there was another plan at work: Mark had become a Christian some months before, so his best friend urged him to attend the Summer Training Program with the Navigators in Missouri.

Mark asked Rachel for her number and asked if he could call her. She gave him the information he needed and told him that that would be fine. One week later, he called, wanting to catch up and hear about her ministry with the Navigators. They continued to talk over the phone in the following weeks, updating each other on all that had happened in the two years since their summer in Missouri.

Mark continued to visit the Wagon Works Grill during his summer in Branson. Each day that Rachel worked, she would hear him say, “Excuse me, miss…” to announce his arrival.

They would talk about the program’s activities, what they were learning, and Mark would compliment her on the delicious food, which is why he claimed he kept coming back!

Mark continued to visit the Silver Dollar Cafe

As the semester progressed, Rachel got a visit from their friend Miguel, another student from the Summer Training Program. Miguel delivered a bouquet of beautiful flowers to Rachel, with a letter that began, “Excuse me, Miss.” Mark, who lived three hours away, had coordinated with Miguel to bring Rachel the letter he had written, asking her on their first date. A week later, on May 3rd, Mark drove

from Houston to Austin, where Rachel was living, to take her hiking in Marble Falls. After hiking for a few hours, the two ate the picnic he packed while they watched the sunset.

After the picnic, Mark turned to Rachel and told her why he had asked her on a date after so long. He shared all the stories that he had heard about her work in the ministry, how he heard that she was known for her devotion to God, so he wanted to see if she would be interested in getting to know one another further, even though it had been so long since their summer together.

Rachel listened to Mark with excitement and was amazed at how God had been working to bring them both together again after the two years apart. She told him that she would, in fact, be interested, and the two continued to chat, trying to hide their enthusiasm.

Hiking back down in the cool twilight, Mark and Rachel continued to talk about their love for God, and reminisced over memories from Silver Dollar City.

Their first date lasted eight hours with a long hike, a tour of a fire station, and after driving around looking for ice-cream, they ended at up at Sonic before Mark went to drop Rachel off. It had been such a wonderful day, and at the end of the night, Mark and Rachel agreed to continue praying about what their relationship should look like moving forward.

Mark went back to Houston to finish his first year of Law School, while Rachel finished up her first year on staff with the ministry. She went back to Tennessee for a few weeks, before her seven week mission trip to India with the Navigators. With a 10 hour time difference between the two, their relationship began long-distance, to say the least!

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Upon her return from India, they continued dated long-distance for the next year until he moved to Austin in August of 2014. That next month, Mark took Rachel back to the place where they had their first date, and sitting in the exact same spot as the sun set, he asked her to marry him.

And now, January 3rd, Rachel stood in the doorway of the great hall, touching the silver ring on her left hand. She thought of the boy from the Wagon Works Grill and the man that she talked with while in Marble Falls. She thought of her years with the Navigators and how God used the time they spent together and apart to deepen their love for each other.

Taking a deep breath, Rachel stepped through the doorway and reached out for her father, giving his right arm an excited squeeze. The double doors opened, they entered the room, and were surrounded by friends, family and flowers. And up with her soon-to-be husband stood his trusted friend Miguel, beaming.

The day passed in a blur of embraces and pictures, music and laughter. Mark and Rachel

were wed at the Black Bear Cove Resort in the Cherokee National Forest. Their reception included food and Contra Dancing led by a “caller” who directed the couples into patterns and rows until the sun went down.

The bridesmaids were dressed in shades of cream and gray while carrying bouquets of white and pale pink roses, and the groomsmen looked handsome in their matching ensemble. The flowers were gifted and beautifully arranged by Teresa Hanes, while her husband, David Hanes, built the magnificent arbor where Mark and Rachel said their vows. Mrs. Hanes also decorated the entire venue for their ceremony and reception, which she made truly spectacular.

Mark and Rachel currently reside in Austin, Texas, where Rachel works as a full-time nanny.

Mark is completing his last year of law school and has been accepted into the Navy JAG Corps.

The newlyweds are excited to begin this new chapter of their journey together, thankful for the Navigators and for the influence the ministry had over their lives. Mark still compliments Rachel on the food and gets her attention by saying, “Excuse me, miss.”

Penni Miller, Mother of the Bride, is the daughter of Garland and Mildred Wattenbarger and is a Monroe County native. Charles Miller is the Father of the Bride. He is also from Monroe County.

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Mark Rachel Jessup

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Rachel and Mark share their first kiss beneath the arbor built by David Hanes. He and his wife, Teresa, also provided all of the beautiful flowers and decorations for the ceremony and reception.

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Etowah, Tennessee – A Community on the Right Track Written By Chris Ingram Photography By Durant Tullock

According to the dictionary, “community” is defined as: noun, a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. Is there a better way to describe Etowah? We are a community in this true sense, as there is more that binds us together than there is that divides us. Also, Etowah is a true melting pot, with many vibrant citizens and property owners who, though they may have been raised elsewhere, now call Etowah their home, their community.

Etowah, one of Southeast Tennessee’s rare and precious gems, is now poised to take its place of prominence as an economic and cultural leader in the region. Achievement of this goal requires strong leadership in the city’s government, the faithful support of the city’s commissioners and the engagement of our 24

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business and property owners. Thankfully, we have this support and much more.

Through the vision and dedicated effort of a few passionate leaders, citizens and business owners, a new day is arriving in the great City of Etowah.

Etowah is a railroad town, so we must ask you to forgive a few related metaphors in the course of these writings. Perhaps we will start here: Etowah has laid down its own tracks, leading directly to a period of renewal, prosperity and the future that we envision for ourselves. Understand that there is much more work to be done, and we seek the participation of those willing and capable of doing that work. Understand also that a lot has already happened. The results may not be tangible yet, but the efforts of a small group of passionate citizens are having an impact. This

group, Etowah’s Strategic Action Team, has been working hard to provide the fuel that will power Etowah along its new tracks.

As we move forward, full steam ahead, this team and the volunteers who support it are revitalizing Etowah and envisioning a future that puts aside past derailments and sets our town on the fast track to prosperity. Among the Team’s strategies was to be selected for the Tennessee Downtowns program.

Becoming a Tennessee Downtowns community is a leap forward. A steering committee of eight motivated members has been meeting regularly for several months now. These members have attended training sessions and are currently creating a work plan that sets the trajectory of growth in Etowah’s downtown area. If you are unaware:

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the Tennessee Downtowns program is administered by the Tennessee Main Street Program and the National Main Street Center and is comprised of communities and neighborhoods working to revitalize their local traditional business districts by utilizing assets they often already have – from historic, cultural and architectural resources to local enterprises and community pride. It is a comprehensive strategy that addresses the variety of issues and problems that challenge traditional commercial districts.

The Downtowns approach to revitalization comprises a four-point strategy. The points are: Organization – building partnerships among the groups that have a stake in downtown. Promotion – creating a positive image of downtown that renews community pride and tells our Main Street story to the

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surrounding region. Design – beautifying Main Street and getting all of the buildings and infrastructure into top physical shape.

Design also works to preserve local character and promote a charming environment that welcomes visitors and citizens. Economic Restructuring – strengthening the existing businesses on Main Street while diversifying our economic base with new entrepreneurship and businesses.

Utilizing the Four Points Approach, grant funds provided by the Tennessee Downtowns program, the blood, sweat and tears of volunteers and the generosity of the community, Etowah is embarking on a new path of prosperity.

Have you seen the signs already? Hopefully, you have noticed the brand-new “Welcome to

Etowah” signs posted at the city limits along Highway 30 and Highway 411. These three new signs are only the beginning. Soon, there will be signs with advertising opportunities for local businesses, as well as kiosks in the downtown area featuring maps and historical information. In the near future, we intend to add brick structures to the signs and landscaping to really make them stand out.

Further evidence can be seen, or no longer seen, in the improvements that are happening in Etowah’s residential neighborhoods.

Houses that were beyond saving have been demolished. New houses are being built.

Other houses are being renovated, and this is a joy for the community because of the quaint, Craftsman-style character of these early 20th-century homes. Soon, all of our neighborhoods will be clean, charming and

alive with the character that makes small town America great.

Keep an eye out for new businesses, as well.

The City government recently voted to retain the services of a company that focuses entirely on recruiting retail businesses on behalf of municipal governments. This company, Retail Strategies, has already begun working for us and will be representing Etowah at the International Council of Shopping Centers 2015 global conference in Las Vegas, NV.

rise once again, and Etowah is partnering with K.M.B. to beautify our town with organized litter clean-ups and new educational campaigns designed to teach children and adults about the vital importance of “green thinking”. All citizens must take ownership of the environment and help protect it for future generations. The Etowah Planning Commission has jumped on board, as well, by considering new zoning regulations that will require new development to be more conscientious and sustainable.

Etowah is also happy to report a new focus on conservation and environmental stewardship.

Keep McMinn Beautiful, a Keep America Beautiful affiliate, is an organization on the

Community: Etowah defined. We are proud of our town. We embrace our heritage, our diversity, our natural and man-made assets, and we are working hard to make Etowah

great. We look forward to the future, and we are confident that our growth will be handled intelligently and prosperously. Etowah is on the right track, chugging along, appointed with all of the necessary bells and whistles and set to pull in the station on time and ready to make the grade.

PS – I mentioned something about volunteers: blood, sweat, tears and all that.

Volunteers are the heart of any revitalization, and Downtown Etowah needs your help. If you, Dear Reader, love Etowah and feel called to serve, please contact Etowah City Hall at (423)263-2202, or send an email to: commdev@cityofetowahtn.com to join the effort. Etowah needs you.

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Governor Bill Haslam Brings A Message Of Challenge And Hope In His Second Inauguration Written & Photographed By Emily Walls

On January 17, 2015, anticipation filled the air as citizens of Tennessee waited on a cool, sunny day to hear the inaugural address from our 49th Governor of the state of Tennessee. The majestic capitol building towered in the distance, offering a symbol of steadfast resolve that the Governor would bring to Tennesseans on this beautiful, yet windy winter day.

Earlier in the morning, a prayer service was held for the Governor at the Ryman Auditorium, setting a tone of reverence and respect that reflected on the goodness of God and the seriousness of the position the

Governor will once again embark upon for the next four years.

The service began with a prayer to “shift our eyes and hearts to the Giver of all good gifts.” The choir led participants into a time of worship when they sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness”. The Governor himself was honored when Scott Sauls, Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, said, “Your character is bigger than your abilities, and your humility is bigger than your platform.” He went on to say Governor Haslam “puts Jesus, family, friends and the common good in front of his own ambition.”

The Governor himself chose all of the scripture readings for the service, and Pastor Sauls spoke directly to the Governor about Hebrews 11 and the Heroes of Faith, saying, ”We are all part of a bigger story. We are called here for a time.” In summary, we don’t always see the results of our working, but “we don’t know what God is up to – remember the cross.”

Singers Ricky Skaggs, Jars of Clay, Nicole C. Mullen and Amy Grant all sang and brought attendees to a time of prayer and personal reflection. The seriousness, reverence and Biblically focused nature of the service brought guests to a time of both personal reflection and heartfelt prayer for the leaders of our state.

Left to right:Ricky Staggs, Nicole C. Mullin, Amy Grant and Jim Haslam II.

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The prayer service led up to the Inauguration, which was held outside at the Legislative Plaza in front of the Tennessee Capitol.

While citizens anticipated his speech, Trace Adkins led “The Star-Spangled Banner”.

Approximately one thousand attendees united in one voice under the flag of our nation to hear the inaugural address of Governor Haslam.

After being sworn in by the Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, Sharon Lee, the confident and optimistic Haslam focused on three main topics in his inaugural speech: creating a more effective and efficient state government, better education opportunities for Tennessee residents and creating quality, high paying jobs within the state. He recognized the progress we have made within the state, saying, “We have the lowest debt per person of any of the 50 states. Our tax rates remain among the lowest in the country.

Tennessee has now gone longer without a significant tax increase than in any time in modern history.”

In regards to education, he confidently boasted that Tennessee is “now the fastest improving state in the country. Our high school graduation rates have increased

from 76 percent to 88 percent over the past decade.” He continued, “We are the first state ever to promise high school graduates the chance to attend community college or technical school free of tuition and fees.”

This statement came just over a week after President Barack Obama visited Pellissippi State College and endorsed the Tennessee Promise program backed by Governor Haslam, as President Obama hopes to provide tuition-free community college across the nation.

Regarding jobs, Haslam stated, “On the job front, we have added 210,000 net new private sector jobs since January 2011. For the last two years in a row, Tennessee has been named the ‘State of the Year’ for economic development. No state has ever won that award in back-to-back years.”

With all of these accomplishments, Haslam was quick to say we will not coast to the finish line the next four years. He called all to participate in the well-being of our state when he said, “It's about all of us. The Governor, legislators, state employees, teachers, parents, community leaders, business executives, health care professionals, faith leaders and citizens of all kinds saying: ‘We are on the

right path, but we can do better, and we must do better."

He continued to stress that education is key to address the many challenges our state faces in the future.

“It will mean more jobs for more Tennesseans, less reliance on federal and state services, higher incomes, healthier citizens, and the list goes on.”

He finalized his speech with a challenge and a note of optimism when he said, “We can do this together, and to reach our full potential, we have to do it together.” He concludes, “Four years from now, someone else will be standing here, and I will be sitting up here watching and cheering. On that day, like this day, I will know that Tennessee's best days are ahead of us.”

As Governor Haslam concluded his speech, citizens were encouraged and challenged to create a better state, one with greater educational opportunities, which will in turn create a future hope for our generation and the generations to come in the great state of Tennessee.

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Liberty and Justice For All Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Lee Leads with Honor Written By Emily Walls

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alking into the Tennessee Supreme Court in Knoxville, you can’t help but be in awe of the white stately columns that greet you at the entrance. They symbolize the admiration and respect we have for those who preside over the courts of our great state. One of these influential leaders is Madisonville native, Sharon Gail Lee, who serves as the current Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Justice Lee grew up in Madisonville, where she watched her mother, Judy B. Lee, serve as Clerk and Master in Monroe County Chancery and Probate courts. She would often walk from school to the courthouse and sit in the back to listen to the proceedings. Her father, Charles J. Lee, was a World War II veteran and served on the county commission.

Justice Lee didn’t grow up dreaming of being a lawyer.

It wasn’t until she attended the University of Tennessee, where she majored in accounting, that she knew she wanted to pursue a career in the law.

Lee attended the University of Tennessee for law school, and she loved it. While in school, she worked for her uncle J.D. Lee, a nationally known attorney who had an office in her hometown of Madisonville. He gave her the opportunity to work while she was going through law school, taking on research projects and learning the practice as she was getting her education. This not only helped her bring in a little extra money, but it also helped prepare her to be a lawyer.

After graduation, she continued to work for her uncle a little over a year and then opened her own practice in her hometown. She loved the idea of being her own boss, and she wanted to stay in Madisonville where she felt she could

really work one-on-one with people. She says, “Having a small town practice was very rewarding. I loved working with people, and it was so gratifying to see the results of my work.

I wouldn’t change anything about it.”

She practiced law in Madisonville from 1978 to 2004 where, over the span of these years, she served as a county attorney for Monroe County, Madisonville city judge and a city attorney for Vonore and Madisonville. She then served on the Court of Appeals from 2004 to 2008. While Justice Lee enjoyed her job as an attorney, having the ability to look at both sides of a case, as well as ensure the Tennessee courts were fair and impartial, was appealing.

She also liked the idea of being able to make the final decision.

In October 2008, former Governor Phil Bredesen appointed Lee as a Justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court. In August 2014, Justice Sharon Lee won a contested statewide election to serve an 8-year term. In September, she was elected Chief Justice.

Sharon Lee with uncle J.D. Lee, a Madisonville native and nationally known attorney.

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Chief Justice Sharon Lee’s example of leadership and her ambitious pursuit of positive change have begun to produce results. Recently, Chief Justice Lee’s idea for a Tennessee Business Court came to fruition. The justices have now implemented a new standard for business cases in Tennessee’s Court System. This system allows business cases to be solved more efficiently, with a customized process developed solely for business disputes.

Chief Justice Lee’s motives for this new method of business court in Tennessee were simple. “We have a need for a consistent and predicate legal process for businesses. A solid business court would be a relevant tool for the attraction and retention of all manner of business in Tennessee.”

Despite an opposition campaign led by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, Tennesseans recently voted to retain all three of their incumbent Supreme Court Justices, including Sharon Lee. Ramsey himself was quoted as saying, “For the first time in decades, we had a real election for the Supreme Court. Our Supreme Court justices traveled the state of Tennessee this summer meeting Tennesseans and learning things about our state that you can’t find in any law book.

Because of that, more Tennesseans than ever know the names of our Supreme Court justices and are aware they have a role in deciding who sits on the high court.”

Chief Justice Sharon Lee swears in Governor Bill Haslam.

Charles Slatery, Chief Justice Sharon Lee, Attorney General Herbert Slatery, Governor Bill Haslam and David Bowen. Taken after Chief Justice Lee and Governor Haslam swore in Attorney General Slatery.

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A Day in the Life of a Chief Supreme Court Justice Enormous respect and honor accompany the position of a state Supreme Court Justice, even more so, the Chief Supreme Court Justice, but what exactly does this role entail? According to Justice Lee, the primary role is to “uphold the constitution and make the best decisions under the law.” As Chief Justice, she sits in the center of the bench. She leads the questioning and controls the proceedings.

While that is her role in the courtroom, her job is different every day. Her responsibilities vary from getting ready for court and reading briefs to hearing cases, preparing for conferences, writing opinions, as well as attending a variety of other events. She spends a great deal of time speaking to schools, non-profit organizations and charities all across the state. She recently swore in Governor Bill Haslam at his inauguration, which was a special moment, as just months before he swore her in as Chief Supreme Court Justice. As Chief Justice, she has an added layer of administrative responsibility.

Justice Lee states that she wants to create “an aggressive path for doing things better in the courts.” One of her current priorities is making the courts become more efficient by implementing electronic filing. This allows attorneys the ability to process their cases in the most efficient way possible. She has declared that “Tennessee

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is Open for Business” by establishing the State’s first Business Court to handle complex commercial disputes more efficiently. Justice Lee states that overall, she hopes to make the court “more accessible, transparent and efficient as possible for the citizens of Tennessee.” She is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their financial means, has representation in court. She recently spoke at a White House Forum and a U.S. Senate Briefing on ways Tennessee has successfully increased access to the justice system.

think it is very important to have women in positions of authority. It is also important to be that role model to young women, and for them to see other women in that position.”

Justice Lee has certainly carved a path for other young women who may desire the same career. She states, “As a woman, I never used my gender as a crutch. I knew I had to work harder, and when I do well, it makes other women more easily accepted. Once you reach the top, you can pull others up with you through mentoring and encouraging those who have the same passion.”

Paving the Way Through Inspiration

Justice Lee takes a great deal of pride when young girls tell her, “I want to be a judge one day.” Many parents have related to her that she has been an inspiration to their daughters.

She makes it a point to speak at schools, youth groups and the American Legion Boys State as well as the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State. It is important for her to be that role model for other children and young adults.

Justice Lee spoke of her proudest moments, and there were two that came to the forefront. In 2004, she was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. “I think it is very important to have women in positions of authority.” She also stated winning the retention election in August of last year after campaigning across the state was a moment she will never forget.

When asked about whether she ever pictured herself as the Chief Supreme Court Justice of Tennessee, she replied, “I always dreamed big, but I never pictured myself as the Chief Supreme Court Justice. Sometimes you just have to see things to actually believe them. I

Chief Supreme Court Justice Sharon Gail Lee is an inspiration to us all. She is proof that when you work hard, serve others and lead with confidence, you can achieve the heights beyond your greatest dreams. As she steps into the courtroom day in and day out as an honorable and respectable judge, she makes it her goal to ensure all Tennessee citizens receive liberty and justice for all under the protection of our enduring constitution.

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Robert moved to the current location on Highway 30 in 2004.

Bookout’s Tire & Lube

A Real Family Business & An Etowah Icon for Over 40 Years Written By Nancy Dalton

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obert Bookout said, “The only thing I ever wanted to do since I was a little boy, growing up in Etowah, was to open my own tire and lube shop. I can’t believe it has been 40 years now.”

While Robert was attending McMinn Central High School, he was in the DECA program (Distributive Education Club of America). His teacher, Larry Borden, had the students write as essay on their goal for the future. Robert wrote that he wanted to open his own service station. He was working at one after school at the time. Years later, that essay was used as an example for other students to work toward their goals and dreams in life.

Robert’s family & friends thought he was losing his mind when, at age 19, he quit his new promising job at Bowater to follow his dream and open his own business. He talked to his dad (Jim Bookout) about the service station in Etowah on 9th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. His father advised him to talk with Frank Hicks, who had previously

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ran the business for about 40 years. There were concerns about that location being in a residential area and making a go of it.

Mr. Hicks’s advice was, “As long as you are honest and work hard, it will work for you.”

He felt like Robert could make a go of it. A couple of weeks later, Robert, with the help of his brother, Tommy, opened the service station in October 1974. This was the same station Robert went to as a young boy to get a snack and a Coke. He would talk to customers waiting for their cars to be repaired.

and work ethics. At any time you walk into the service station, you will be saying “Hi” to whichever family member is working there at that time.

Robert stayed at the 9th Street location for 17 years, then took over the Texaco gas station on Tennessee Avenue in 1991. He moved to the current location on Hwy 30 in 2004, where Bookout’s Tire & Lube has grown and diversified into a used car dealership and also a climate-controlled storage company.

Robert’s daughter, Courtney Bookout Marlar, remembers, “Dad always had a list of things to do if we were ever caught up. This included things such as washing and waxing the pumps, Coke machine and washing the outside of the building. My dad taught me a lot about business and personal finance, and also about building relationships with people. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to grow up working and learning by his side. My son is now on dad’s work list.”

If you even talk to a relative of Robert’s, you will know right away that at one time or another, they worked at Bookout’s Tire & Lube. The Bookouts have strong family values

Robert’s wife, Libby, reflects, “I have been so blessed to have been able to watch our business grow. I know that its success is because of Robert’s character, determination and his love for family and keeping them part of the business. Every generation started out working for Robert.”

Robert’s niece, Susan Bookout White, remembers, “Working for my uncle taught me to take pride in the little things, that no matter what the job is, it all contributes to

making the business run, and every person’s job is important. The biggest thing working for Robert and being around the Tire & Lube taught me (and is still teaching me) is that, if you work hard enough to accomplish your dreams, you can make it happen.”

Dr. Paul Bookout, a project manager at NASA, added, “Working for Uncle Robert during my high school years and early college taught me many life lessons. From work ethics to dating, I remember many enlightening after work talks. He taught me about customer service and how important it is to do your best with whatever you undertake. Thank you, Uncle Robert.”

Robert Bookout and his daughter, Courtney.

Angela Curtis Taylor shares her memories: “My first job was working for Uncle Robert back in 1984. I have had the pleasure of working with a lot of great people over the years, including several family members. Both

my children have worked there. We have plenty of fun stories of the Tire & Lube when we all get together. I am grateful and blessed to be an employee at Bookout’s, and I’m excited about our future business opportunities as we continue to service the Etowah area for many years to come.” In 2011, Robert received the DPA’s Best of the Best award.

While neighborhood service stations and neighborhood businesses aren’t near as common as they once were, with big chains taking over, Robert shares his secret of success: “Basically, if you’re honest and provide good service, you can make it work. I feel there is still a necessity for neighborhood businesses as opposed to a big chain, because people want to know that their needs are going to be taken care of, especially people who know you and trust you.”

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The Turner Cabin in Spring Creek Valley Written By Chris Hari Photography By Bruce Hari

Cades Cove, the most visited attraction in the Smoky Mountains, takes visitors back to times gone by. The old homesteads inspire visions of what it must have been like to live as our forefathers lived before the amenities that we take for granted, like electricity and running water.

The cabin Hubert and Dora Kinzalow Turner call home tells the story of how our ancestors lived in much greater detail than the beautiful but barren cabins in Cades Cove. The artifacts of daily living displayed in the cabin are handmade tools used by Dora’s grandparents and parents when the Kinzalow land they farmed consisted of much of Upper Spring Creek Valley in the countryside outside Riceville.

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Dora grew up in a small cabin about a quarter of a mile down the road from where she now lives, the middle child of nine children. She wonders now how her parents did all the work that was required every day to survive. Clothes were carried down to the Kinzalow Spring and washed in a large pot using a washboard and an “agitator” that looks like a toilet plunger with a long handle.

All water for family needs was carried up to the house from the spring in water buckets by every family member. There were no lights and no refrigerator, so the only meat eaten was pork, which was cured, not refrigerated. Heating and cooking were done on a wood cook stove. Baths were taken in the creek.

In cold weather, water heated in the cook stove’s reservoir was dipped into a wash tub behind the stove, and the family took turns bathing in the warm water.

Fields were plowed by mules, and the planting of seeds was done by Dora’s father with a tree root that he carved that resembles a cane handle without the cane. Farmers were allotted an exact amount of cotton and tobacco they could grow, and that is where the Kinzalow family made money for the things they couldn’t supply for themselves.

The fireplace is the back-up heat source for the cabin. It is also a source of enjoyment.

As fate would have it, Dora married Hubert Turner, a city slicker from Chattanooga. It wasn’t long before country coursed through his veins like the waters of Spring Creek after a heavy rain. When the one-room cabin built circa 1900 and located a quarter of a mile down the road from the Kinzalow homestead became available in the 1970s, Hubert and Dora jumped on the opportunity. At the time, they resided in Chattanooga and came each weekend to work on restoring and adding on to the cabin. When Hubert retired in 1985, they came to stay and finished remodeling. The cabin now has two bathrooms, two bedrooms and a glassed-in porch where Hubert and Dora love to spend their time watching wildlife, lots of flowers and plants and their horses in the creek-defined pasture. Their home is the place where family and friends come to visit for reunions, parties and just visiting.

In fact, Sundays are set aside for family, and nothing gets in the way of that!

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Beulah Land Written By Chris Hari Photography By Bruce Hari

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cMinn County has a wealth of fascinating history and is blessed with an abundance of historic structures that have survived the march of time. All have their stories to tell, but even in the midst of all this history, the story of Beulah Land is a standout.

Joe Bryan, a native of Calhoun, has been a history buff since his college days at Tennessee Wesleyan College. He discovered the mansion that is now his home in the late 1970s. It was located on Walker Valley Road near where the high school is now and stood in the middle of a large family farm.

The vacant house had previously been occupied by at least five different families since its construction in approximately 1840.

The owner of the huge farm was willing to sell the structure to Joe in 1979 but not any land to go with it. For most buyers, that would

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have been the end of the story. It would be no small undertaking to dismantle the mansion and move the nearly 4,000-squarefoot structure five miles down the road to a ridge above Calhoun that Joe purchased from his great-aunt, Beulah. The massive structure would then have to be painstakingly reassembled. Joe was undeterred by the enormity of work involved and purchased his future home.

The house was built prior to the Civil War using the “timber frame� method of construction popular at the time. The timber frame system of building skeletal framework consists of using large wooden posts (vertical), beams (horizontal), braces (diagonal), all locked into place with wooden pegs. It was no small task to dismantle and move, but with the help of two hired men, that is exactly what he did. Every piece in

All of the original trim in Beulah Land is “egg and dart”, a common motif in classical architecture since the Renaissance. The egg represents the beginning of life, and the dart or arrow signifies death.

Says Luajean, “You are supposed to remember every time you see it that God will be with you from beginning to end.”

the building was numbered and described; interior pieces were stored in old barns, and exterior pieces were stored at Beulah Land. Unfortunately, some of the original wood flooring, hardwood and mantels were stolen from storage. It took ten years to reconstruct the old mansion, during which time Joe married Luajean. They moved into the home in an unfinished state in 1991.

A few stories about the move are really remarkable. The mansion was built around a beautiful curving staircase. To remove it, workers used a chainsaw to carve around it from above and below. They then placed the intact staircase on a heavy equipment transfer trailer to carry it to Beulah Land.

The unusual cargo theoretically should have made it underneath the bridge in Calhoun. However, layers of asphalt had been added to the road over the years,

and the clearance sign had never been changed. So the stairway, strapped to the transfer trailer, backtracked down country roads and finally reached the hills of Beulah Land.

The family selling the home wanted the large stained glass window to remain in the family. Though Joe offered to purchase it several times, the answer was always “no”... until it was stolen.

Everyone searched the house and property to no avail. Joe returned for one last look.

In walking toward the cow pasture, he nearly stumbled on an object covered

over with leaves…thieves had hidden it to return for it later! When Joe called to relay the good news to the family, they finally told him the window could be his. Joe called his mother to bring the truck immediately before anyone could change their mind. As she helped to load the precious window on the truck, Joe told her, “Whatever you do, don’t drop it.” About that time, a piece of fallen roofing tin cut deeply into her leg as she gingerly backed up carrying the window. She kept going and kept hanging on. She never did drop the window. The gash required a dozen stitches.

Beulah Land is now a beautifully restored piece of McMinn County heritage. It is also a warm and inviting family home beloved by the Bryans, their children and grandchildren. It undoubtedly holds many more stories in the years to come.

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The Bingham Group Brings Home 33 Addy Awards!

Written By Phil Roulier Photography By Robert Burleson

The Bingham Group has been in the creative industry for the last 25 years. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, The Bingham Group is a full-service marketing and communications firm. In addition to agency clients, we also publish magazines and books. Most notably, the award-winning Monroe Life and McMinn Life magazines have been incredibly successful ventures for the past eight years. We set out to produce the highest quality lifestyle magazines in the area.

We are also humbled and grateful for the ability to give back to our community

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through our work. This year’s Hiawassee Balloon Festival helped raise funds to provide financial aid to foster students wanting to attend college. This project was met with incredible success, and everyone had a blast! We have also shot and directed a short video about the evils of human trafficking in order to educate the public and help raise awareness for the Mekong Club.

In February 2015, the American Advertising Federation of Knoxville hosted the 50th annual ADDY Awards. Each year, the federation hosts the ADDY Awards

to display creative talent and reward companies with winning work. We are incredibly pleased and immensely proud to announce that The Bingham Group took home an astounding 33 Addy Awards at this year’s competition!

The Bingham Group would like to extend a big thank you to all of our subscribers, advertisers and clients. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to create awardwinning work and to give back to our community and bring about maximum creative potential!

DIRECT MARKETING

CEDAR SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CINEMATOGRAPHY AND PUBLIC SERVICE TV WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA

METH EXPLOSION P.S.A. FOR TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY

METH DESTROYS FOR TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY AND WEARS VALLEY RANCH

OUTDOOR BILLBOARD

CELEBRATION OF H.O.P.E BALLOON FESTIVAL Photo By Mason Boring

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TELEVISION ADDY AWARDS

KNOXVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, O.P. JENKINS FURNITURE, MEKONG CLUB HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

ONLINE PUBLICATIONS

TWRA 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS EBLAST, TWRA BANG FOR YOUR BUCK EBLAST AND O.P. JENKINS HAPPY NEW YEAR EBLAST

PUBLICATION DESIGN - COVER

MONROE LIFE MAGAZINES SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL COVERS AND MCMINN LIFE MAGAZINE SPRING COVER

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ADVERTISING INDUSTRY SELF PROMOTION THE BINGHAM GROUP DEMO REEL

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Co-op merger benefits local farmers Written By Chris Hari Photography By AgCentral and Julie Walker

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weetwater Valley and the surrounding areas are home to a large number of cattle and dairy farmers in a state where agriculture is a key business. Since the 1940s, several farm-supply co-ops were organized throughout the valley. Farms, each their own small business, knew they could lower their individual input costs and gain cost efficiencies by working together to purchase farm supplies from larger distributors, as well as provide agronomic services to all farms.

The concept works well. Farmers become members of their co-op, and at the end of each year, any profits made by the co-op business are shared with the member-owners.

The co-op provides a place for farmers to sell their grain, which is then blended into customized feed and purchased by local farmers. The co-op is a “niche” business, providing anything related to farming (dairy,

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beef, horses, chickens), whether it be feed, fertilizer, implements or services to keep barns clean and comfortable. Animal welfare is a priority of AgCentral.

AgCentral Farmers Co-op provides over 200 jobs and is the result of a merger between Valley Farmers Co-op with 1,200 members, and Foothills Farmers Co-op with 1,900 members. The locally-owned business has resulted in nine retail locations in Decatur, Loudon, Harriman, Greenback, Madisonville, Tellico, Sweetwater, Maryville and Athens. The Athens location, a familiar sight at 920 N. Congress Parkway, is the headquarters store.

AgCentral also includes the Farm Service Center, a feed blending station and agronomy service center in Athens on East Avenue, and a Fertilizer Center on

411 near Maryville. The majority of the co-op’s business volume is conducted out of these locations. The reliability of AgCentral makes it a destination sought out by farmers in several states, with core operations centered from Knoxville to Chattanooga. The scope of AgCentral is easier to grasp when the ‘customers’ are thought of as ‘acres’ of farmland and ‘barns’ housing livestock.

Business decisions guiding AgCentral are made by a combination of competent managers working in concert with a Board of Directors. The Board is composed of successful farm owners, who are also members of the co-op. Board members are elected by the membership.

“It made good sense to work together,” says Howard Hornsby, president of the

Howard Hornsby and his dog Muffin.

new board. “A year ago, Valley Farmers Co-op was right at the point of receiving volume discounts from the Tennessee Farmers Co-op.

The merger enables us to have the volume to receive great discounts and maximize efficiency in serving our members.”

Hornsby has been a farmer all his life, as were his grandfather and his father, Jimmy, age 89, who still works with him. He has three employees who live on the 500-acre dairy and beef farm. His mother, Anne, keeps the company books. Twice a day, he milks his cows, and twice a day, he feeds them. Much of his farm income goes to the co-op for customized feed and supplies for his cows. The cows feed on a blend of Bermuda grass and corn silage he grows on the farm and grain ground at the co-op feed mill and blended there especially for the needs of his cows.

Hornsby is the epitome of the kind of man the co-op serves. He loves what he does and is proud of co-op leadership and what they have accomplished. “I have been on the Board of Directors off and on for 25 years.

John Walker, current CEO of AgCentral, and many of the board members have known each other since we were kids. I think that has contributed to the great working relationship we have.”

keep growing and meeting that challenge.

Livestock and dairy producers have always been a driving force in our business. As for our dairy sector, we know that a happy, comfortable dairy cow gives more milk. We help farmers do whatever it takes to keep their cows happy, from cow mattresses to temperature in the barn, to being available 24/7 to fix equipment. The same holds true for beef cattle, hogs, sheep and horse owners with items specific to each species.”

CEO, John Walker, says, “The primary mission of AgCentral is to provide reasonably priced supplies and dependable services to our farmers, thus contributing to local farmland preservation and local food security. We complement that goal by providing rural lifestyle and part-time farming customers with goods important to them. We’re proud of our success in those roles, and we’re eager to

All AgCentral stores are open to the public for rural lifestyle and gift purchases – they are not a members-only resource. The large, inviting facility on Congress Parkway also offers clothing, companion animal items, has a lawn and garden center and is home to Ace Hardware and Tire-Pro franchises. It is a community resource for most everybody. More info can be found at the website: www.agcentral.coop.

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L

adies unch

Written & Photographed By Chris Hari

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very spring, ladies throughout McMinn County enjoy a luncheon just for them to honor and memorialize victims of cancer and their families/caregivers.

The tables are set by individual groups using themes and often incorporating photos of loved ones who have had the disease. The creativity is amazing! The luncheon is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and most of the groups are teams that are participating in the relay.

The event started small with only 100 women and 14 tables. Now, 13 years later, under the leadership of Ladies’ Day Out Chair, Yvonne Raper, the crowd has grown to 350 women and 48 tables. The luncheon is now held at the Woodward Avenue Church of God auditorium, one of the few places in the county that can accommodate that many people, and is now a catered event.

Entertainment this year was provided by the Scenic City Chorus, part of the Sweet Adelines International Association of female harmony singers. The proceeds from the luncheon are divided among the Relay for Life teams participating in the event.

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Bryan Thomas, Chairman of Relay for Life of McMinn County, with some of his team members.

Starr Regional Medical Breast Center staff/team.

The 2015 Relay for Life

Friday, May 8th at Market Square Park starting at 5:00 p.m.

For further information on the relay, visit the website at Relay for Life of McMinn County, or visit the Facebook page of the same name.

Photographed Below: Yvonne Raper, Ladies’ Day Out Chairwoman

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Joe Guy HISTORIAN

“A Mysterious Affair”: The Thomas Boyd Conspiracy

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n the fall of 1863, Confederate soldiers under the command of General John C. Vaughn of Monroe County tracked down a contingent of Union soldiers in the vicinity of Beaver Dam Bald between Murphy, NC, and Tellico Plains, TN. The Union group was commanded by Captain Goldman Bryson, also of Monroe County.

In the ensuing skirmish, 17 of Bryson’s men were captured. On the way into Tennessee, deep in the mountains, Vaughn’s men lined up the 17 Unionists and executed them.

Bryson was located and killed later near his home in Coker Creek. One of the things taken from his body was his muster role that listed the names of his men.

After the war, the US Government offered pensions to the Union veterans and their

General John C. Vaughn

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widows. Many of the Union men in Southeast Tennessee were awarded pensions, much to the jealousy of former Confederates, including Vaughn and his brother-in-law, Thomas G Boyd.

Nine years later, on Sunday, September 12, 1872, the Sweetwater Enterprise carried the story of a “Mysterious Affair”. Witnesses claimed that a burned body had been found in the mountains west of Tellico Plains, which they identified as Thomas G. Boyd, the well-known resident of Sweetwater and former Confederate official. Two men who had been with Boyd told a tale that would set in motion one of the most notable post-Civil War conspiracies in Tennessee history.

The two men, Justice of the Peace B.F. Reagan and Perrean Hensley, Reagan’s son-in-law, said that on Friday at about 2 o’clock, the three men were at Laurel Branch Spring, which is on the road from Madisonville to North Carolina in the mountains west of Tellico Plains. The men were traveling into North Carolina in order for Boyd to summon witnesses in a court case in which he was involved. The previous year, both Thomas Boyd and his brother-in-law, former Confederate General John C. Vaughn, had been charged with filing $100,000 in false Union pension claims.

Reagan and Hensley told authorities that, as they stopped at the spring, they were surrounded by five men with their faces painted black who blindfolded Reagan and

Hensley and took Boyd off into the woods.

Hensley claimed he was able to push his blindfold up enough to see their captors roughing up Boyd. He said he heard the men tell Boyd, “You are an old fox…but we’ve got you now,” and then they shot Boyd several times in the chest. Reagan and Hensley were tied to a tree until late in the night when they were able to loose themselves, and they made their way back to Mt. Vernon to alert Boyd’s family of the unfortunate events. A search party was formed that included John Carson, Monroe County Coroner, who went back to the area of Laurel Spring. About a half-mile from the spring on Laurel Ridge, they found the charred remains of a man. Although the body was burned beyond recognition, among the ashes, a few teeth were found, as were two pistol balls.

Coroner Carson soon held an inquest, and Reagan and Hensley gave sworn statements to what they had witnessed. Blood-saturated papers that belonged to Boyd were also found at the scene of the alleged murder. Although the inquest could not identify the remains, it was their belief that the evidence indicated the deceased was Thomas Boyd. The remains were taken up and transported to the family farm in Mt Vernon for burial.

The newspapers did record an interesting fact: the horses and saddles of Boyd, Reagan and Hensley that had been taken by the assassins conveniently turned up on nearby farms within a few days.

Since Boyd had been previously accused of defrauding Federal pensions, Secret Service investigators were sent to look into his untimely demise. The newspapers reported that the government men soon discovered that about a week before Boyd’s murder, a former slave of the Boyd family had taken sick and died. Boyd’s father had arranged for a coffin to be made and for the former slave’s body to be brought to Mt. Vernon for burial.

The investigators became suspicious. A court order was issued, and the coffin was dug up.

Alas, it was empty.

And so, the burned body reported to be of Thomas Boyd was disinterred and examined once again. Even though Boyd’s family and friends insisted it was him, the government agents believed it was actually that of the former slave and that Thomas Boyd had faked his death and fled the country.

Several months passed with much talk and whispering about the Boyd affair.

including Reagan and Hensley, who had previously been his attorneys. Boyd was tried in Federal Court in Knoxville, was convicted and was sentenced to prison for four years.

Vaughn pled guilty to his own charges in 1874 and had died in Georgia in 1875. But ever the “old fox”, Boyd returned to Sweetwater after serving his time and was elected town mayor. In January of 1882, he was involved in an altercation with his nephew, Joe Boyd, over a bad business deal. During the disagreement, Joe Boyd shot his uncle Tom dead, finally ending his life and the story of the whole sordid affair.

Joe D. Guy is a nationally published author, newspaper columnist and historian residing in McMinn County, TN. He may be reached via email at guyjd@hotmail.com or at PO Box 489, Englewood, TN 37329.

Sweetwater and Monroe County residents looked back on the whole thing with differing views, some even humorous. When a friend was asked if he was going to Boyd’s funeral, he remarked: “No sir, I went to the first one!”

The following year, Thomas Boyd was arrested in Canada. It had taken some time, but the Secret Service had finally gotten their man. It seems that Boyd and John C. Vaughn, still angry at their Union neighbors over the Civil War, had indeed filed the false pensions.

In fact, some of the names they had used were the men who had served under Goldman Bryson, who Vaughn’s men had executed way back in 1863. In attempting to fake his own death, Boyd had enlisted numerous family members and friends,

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Happenings: April 25 Fishing Derby Location: Athens Regional Park Sponsored by City of Athens Parks and Recreation For more information, call 423.744.2704 or visit www.cityofathenstn.com April 25 Lithograph & Embossed Collagraph Workshop/Presentation by Meghan O’Connor Living Heritage Museum’s Heritage School Time: 11am Free for members, $5 for non-members For information, call 423.745.0329

May 9 Shawn Lindsay Shinrin-Yoku Presentation Location: Living Heritage Museum’s Heritage School Time: 11am–2pm Shawn Lindsay, aka Sumo Shawnoson, will explore elements of Shinrin-Yoku (ways to empower participants to get the most out of walks in nature to reduce stress/improve health).

Free for members, $5 for non-members For information, call 423.745.0329 May 10 Mother’s Day

April 25–26 19th Annual National Cornbread Festival Location: South Pittsburgh Carnival, beauty contest, classic car show, historic tour, a 5K race, cornbread cook-offs and a pancake breakfast. http://nationalcornbread.com April 29–May 2 Museum Guild Trash & Treasure Sale Location: 306 S. Congress Parkway, Athens, Former Wiggins & Sons Hardware Building April 30 Prime Time Business Showcase Location: Market Park Pavilion Time: 4:30pm–7:30pm Sponsored by Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. Open to all Chamber members.

For more information, call 423.745.0334

May 8 Relay for Life Location: Market Park in Downtown Athens Time: 5pm For information, visit Relay for Life in McMinn County on the web or Facebook.

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McMINN LIFE SPRING 2015

May 17 Veterans Brick Dedication Ceremony Location: Veterans Park Sponsored by City of Athens Parks and Recreation For more information, call 423.744.2704 or visit www.cityofathenstn.com May 21 St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic Location: McMinn Senior Activity Center Free, everyone welcome.

For information, call 423.745.6830 May 25 Memorial Day

May 14–17 Tellico Bike Rally Four days of music, fun and vendors by the tons!

Karaoke during the day with live bands Friday and Saturday Nights. RV and trailer camping area free with tickets. http://tellicobikerrally.com May 16 Downtown Cruise-In Location: Market Park Pavilion Sponsored by Athens Travelers

May 2 Pat Knoechel Quilting Presentation Location: Living Heritage Museum’s Heritage School Time: 2pm–4pm Nationally-acclaimed quilting expert, Pat Knoechel, will present her latest quilting techniques and recently published books.

Free for members, $5 for non-members For more information, call 423.745.0329 May 5 Cinco de Mayo

May 16 Spring Dinner Theater “Shenanigans at the Blue Pelican Inn” Location: McMinn Senior Activity Center Time: 6pm For information, call 423.745.6830 Matinee performance on May 17th at 2pm.

Special Monday performance May 18th at 10 a.m.

May 30 Athens 21st Annual Soap Box Derby Sponsored by City of Athens Parks and Recreation For more information, call 423.744.2704 or visit www.cityofathenstn.com June Kids Art Camp - K–6 Location: Westside School Sponsored by Athens Area Council for the Arts. $65 per student.

For information, call 423.745.8781 or visit office@artscouncil.org June 4 United Way Day of Caring Location: Meet at McMinn Senior Activity Center Time: 8:30am To register, call 423.745.9606

May 16 Shane Moates Falcon Presentation Location: Living Heritage Museum’s Heritage School Time: 11am–2pm Shane Moates will introduce his falcon while talking about the history of the famous birds Free for members, $5 for non-members For more information, call 423.745.0329

June 6 Etowah Annual Custom Car Show & Street Rod Location: L&N Depot Grounds Time: 10am–5pm For more information, call 423.572.0999 June 6 Sportsman Expo Location: Vonore Baptist Church Time: 10am–4pm Fishing tournament in the morning, activities for all ages, vendors, demos and door prizes. Every child gets a door prize. This year’s speaker is Clay Byer.

Admission is free.

For more information, call Steve Giles at 865.680.0117 or visit http://vonorebaptistchurch.org

June 12–13 Etowah Moonshine Festival Location: 1817 Delano Road, Delano, TN Time: 11am–10pm Sponsored by Dixie Queen Stills and Savannah Oaks Winery. Bluegrass music, vendors, mechanical bull, food and beverages June 15–19 and 22–26 Learn to Swim Location: Ingleside Pool Sponsored by City of Athens Parks and Recreation For more information, call 423.744.2704 or visit www.cityofathenstn.com June 19 Wetlands Night Out Location: E. G. Fisher Library Time: TBA Dinner and firelight stories in the pergola.

Cost is $30 For more information, call 423.745.7782 or visit www.fisherlibrary.org

June 20 Tennessee Wetlands Festival Location: E. G. Fisher Library Time: TBA Celebrate Tennessee’s native beauty with falconry demonstrations, zoo animals and much more.

For more information, call 423.745.7782 or visit www.fisherlibrary.org

June 27 Englewood Celebrates Peyton Manning – Annual Athens Annual Chamber Event Location: McMinn County High School Time: 7am–1pm Square Dance on Main Street starts at 7:30pm.

Doors open at 6, program starts at 7pm.

For more information, call 423.745.0334

June 20 Downtown Cruise-In Location: Market Park Pavilion Sponsored by Athens Travelers

June 27 Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s Time: 7am–10am McMinn Senior Activity Center fund raiser Cost is $5

June 21 Father’s Day June 21 First Day of Summer

June 27 The Anniversary Special A Special Train will run from Etowah to Copperhill to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the Old Line Railroad. Proceeds will go toward restoration of Etowah Depot.

For reservations, call 423.263.7840 July 4 Independence Day

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We offer a wide variety of services for your pet, including Daycare, Boarding and Grooming Services. We also carry an array of supplies, including holistic foods, toys, handmade collars, leashes and harnesses!

1046 Congress Pkwy N, Athens, TN 37303 Mon. - Fri., 7am - 7pm Sat. 7am - 5:30pm Sunday Drop off & Pickup available

Serving the area for 30 years!

Fuller’s Frame Shop specializes in professional custom framing, large Art Gallery with national and local artists.

Now offering Wide ´ Printing Format Giclee

Monday - Saturday 9:30am-5:30pm

302 W. Bank St. Athens 423.745.7489

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McMINN LIFE SPRING 2015

TUE

The

Opening

of our new Physical Therapy Center

Sweetwater Hospital Association Physical Therapy Department is proud to provide state-of-the-art balance equipment calld the Proprio Reactive Balance System. Sweetwater Hospital Physical Therapy is the ďŹ rst in East Tennessee to provide this technology. The Proprio is the most advanced and versatile equipment for assessment, measurement and training of patients with neurological, orthopedic or vestibular issues affecting balance, posture, strength and mobility.

Our Expert Staff Roger Evans, PT Director Susan Atkins, PT, Assistant Director Leslie Lindsey, PT Gale Irons, PT, OCS Michelle Walker, PT, DPT Deana Duggan, PTA Paige Longwith, PTA

Megan Kile, PTA Cory Sutton, PTA Alison Hall, PTA Roger Whaley, OT Pam Eckert, COTA Heather Watson, CCC-SLP Ashley Freeman, Fiscal Services Registration

For your Physical Therapy needs see the professionals at Sweetwater Hospital Association.

We are in a new location offering easy patient access and convenient parking located across the street from the hospital at 202 North High Street in Sweetwater, Tennessee.