Monroe Life - Summer 2015

SUMMER 2015

A magazine for the people of Monroe County and those who come to visit.

THE FASHION

Returns To The Stage

Lake Restaurants Clifford Wilson

Not Your Average Attorney

The Lost Sea

Celebrates 50 Years!

LET CHOTA BE YOUR

PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER

Short Wait Times

Continuity of Care

Welcoming New Patients

Chota Community Health Services (CCHS) is a non-profit Community Health Center offering comprehensive primary healthcare to the residents of Monroe County and surrounding areas. Recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, CCHS has a staff of doctors, nurse practitioners, and behavioral health counselors dedicated to serving patients’ needs and ensuring their ongoing health through lasting relationships.

Services offered by CCHS include: Family Practice • Preventative Care • Well Woman • Pediatrics • Geriatrics • Chronic Condition Management • Adult Health • Immunizations • Health Education • Physicals • Specialty Referrals

Patient Assistance

Diagnostics

• Labs • X-Ray • Ultrasound (via ContractHealth)

Behavioral Health

• Counseling • Referral Coordination

Employment Services

• Workers Compensation Services • Pre-Employment Physicals

• Insurance Enrollment Counselors • Prescription Assistance • Sliding Fee Program • Coordination with Community Services

School Clinics

• Immunizations • School Entrance Physicals • Well Child Exams (EPSDT) • Chronic Condition Management

Chota Community Health Services Community Health Services

Affordable quality healthcare, close to home.

3 Convenient Locations to serve you better!

Tellico Plains 412 Hunt Street Tellico Plains, TN 37385 Phone: (423) 253-6545 Hours: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm, M – F

Vonore 1206 Highway 411 Vonore, TN 37885 Phone: (423) 884-7271 Hours: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm, M – F

www.chotahealth.org

New Madisonville Location 4798 New Highway 68 Madisonville, TN 37354 Phone: (423) 442-2622 Hours: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm, M – F 8:00 am – 5:30 pm, Sat – Sun

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

New 25,000 Square Foot located at 4798 New Highway 68 Madisonville, TN 37354

GROWING PRO EAST TENNESSEE COMPANY TURNS SURPRISE DISCOVERY INTO BLACK GOLD FOR GROWERS! At Proton Power, we’re proud to introduce our first soil amendment product: Pro-C Carbon Soil Enhancer. Researchers were stunned by the dramatic growth (400% & 800% respectively) of poplar trees after Pro-C was introduced to the soil. From this discovery, we set out to create the best, most natural line of sustainable soil products available for gardeners, nurseries, farmers and arborists.

Pro-C 40 tons/acre 2lb/ft2

Without Pro-C

Three rows of poplar trees were planted March 7, 2014. The native clay soil in rows #1 and #3 were amended with 40- and 10-tons-per-acre application rates of Pro-C™ Carbon Soil Enhancer. Our test Row #2 received zero amendments. You can see the difference the Pro-C makes.

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MONROE LIFE SUMMER 2015

A HAPPY SURPRISE. We discovered soil needs carbon to help it retain water and nutrients, prevent compaction and promote healthy roots. The rich,black carbon in Pro-C transforms soil, altering its physical structure. Pro-C is ideal for ornamentals, vegetables, herbs, trees and turfgrass.

Wins “Innovator Award” Proton Power was honored by the Knoxville Chamber’s Innovator Award as one of

TOTALLY NATURAL. MADE IN EAST TENNESSEE. Here’s the best part: Pro-C is made by carbonizing renewable organics like wood and grass.

Nothing artificial. Pro-C is a safe and natural product made right here in the Knoxville area.

When you buy Pro-C, you’re not only getting long-term gain in soil fertility, you’re investing in the local economy.

ADD PRO-C TO YOUR GARDEN TODAY.

Pro-C 10 tons/acre .5lb/ft2

Visit Amazon.com, email pro-c@protonpower.com or come by Dixie Lee Farmers Market in Farragut.

the most innovative East Tennessee companies in 2015. Founded in 2005

by Dr. Sam C. Weaver and Dan L. Hensley, Proton Power is a sustainable energy company that converts biomass material into energy in all the forms we use it, and produces a valuable co-product in Pro-C Carbon Soil Enhancer. The company and its technology has

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SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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ESCAPE

AT GALL AHER PL ASTIC SURGERY & SPA MD we encourage all to search for their own definition of “perfect.” With over 40 years combined experience, Dr. Tom Gallaher and his team of medical providers help assure patients that ideal results will be planned and executed exceptionally. Our practice employs highly credentialed medical providers, licensed aestheticians, nail technicians and massage therapists to help you achieve your desired result and we are certain that your definition of “perfect” is only one consultation away.

Call today.

MAIN OFFICE: 9700 Westland Drive, Suite 101, Knoxville, TN 37922 NORTH KNOXVILLE OFFICE: 7560 Dannaher Drive, Suite 150, Powell, 37849 4

MONROE LIFE SUMMER 2015

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NON-SURGICAL PROCEDURES

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Neurotoxins Dermal Fillers Volumizing Fillers Non-invasive Fat Reduction Sclerotherapy

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LASER PROCEDURES Wrinkle Reduction Skin Tightening Hair Removal Tattoo Removal Vascular Lesion & Vein Therapy

Facials Massages Waxing Skincare products Nails Chemical Peels Microdermabrasion & More

Tom Gallaher MD, FACS Daniel Fowler, MD Donna Cress, APRN, CPSN Brooke Nix, PA-C

865.671.3888 BEARDEN LOCATION: Cherokee Plaza, 5508 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, 37919 CROSSVILLE: 41 West Avenue, Crossville, 38557

SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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WindRiver Will Blow You Away.

T

he WindRiver Lakefront and Golf Community is one of East Tennessee’s best-kept secrets. Located just off of US Highway 321, WindRiver is nestled on the shores of Tellico Lake in beautiful Lenoir City, Tennessee. Many may know WindRiver for its world-class golfing and remarkable lakefront homes, but that’s just part of the story. When it comes to exquisite fine dining, stunning bed-and-breakfast accommodations and unforgettable special events, WindRiver should be on your shortlist of must-see destinations.

Besides the picturesque homes, lake and golf course, WindRiver has another claim to fame: Citico’s Restaurant and Club.

This elegant mansion turned fine dining establishment is gaining national attention and high praise for its sophisticated, creative dishes crafted by award-winning executive chef, Robert Allen. Allen originally hails from Texas and studied at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy in Austin.

His career includes a long list of successful positions and culinary distinctions. For WindRiver, he fuses classic southern flavors with new cutting-edge dishes into a tasteful harmony. These carefully crafted dishes feature unique components, such as fresh herbs, Lenoir City honey and decadent, fresh fish flown in daily from the Honolulu Fish Company in Hawaii.

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MONROE LIFE SUMMER 2015

Working side-by-side with Chef Allen is Citco’s in-house sommelier, Blake Parrish, who selects only the finest wines (some of which are exclusive to Citico’s) to accompany the meals. Through teamwork, the staff has shaped a menu and wine pairing unmatched in fine dining for the area. Dining is available by reservation only.

Citico’s isn’t the only cutting-edge service that WindRiver offers. Under the direction of Rylee Meyer, WindRiver provides complete wedding and event planning services.With access to three stunning, yet diverse venues on the property, couples and companies have plenty of options to choose from to make their event unforgettable. According to Meyer, her team’s commitment to

personalization, creativity and complete client satisfaction set them apart from other planners.

Events can be held almost anywhere on this lakeside community’s 700 acres, including the lakeside lawn or in Citico’s lounge. Meyer’s event planning offers distinctly different options, including complimentary cuisine tasting with Chef Allen, consultation with sommelier and an exclusive opportunity to stay

at the prestigious inn, as well as complete access to Meyer and her team throughout the planning process. In 2016, WindRiver plans to open three new event venues on the property, including a park location, a dockside grill and a sports club.

Special public events such as a scrumptious Monthly Brunch, Build-Your-Own Bordeaux and the intimate Tennessee Wine Dinner that features only dishes and wine comprised of ingredients solely grown and harvested in

Tennessee, as well as various other seasonal events, are available for small parties and are open to the public by reservation. To learn more about upcoming events or to book your dinner reservation, visit windriverliving.com CITICO’S Restaurant & Club | 865.986.0009 26898 Oakum Court | Lenior City, Tn 37772 Reservations Only | Thursday-Saturday | 5:30-9:00 PM Like us at Facebook.com/CiticosRestaurant

Quilts For Kids

24 Contents

Chip In For A Child

56

WindRiver

Lakefront & Golf Community Wedding & Event Planning Services

6

features

Click Funeral Homes Our Family Serving Your Family

20

Smoky Mountain Christian Camp

42

The Fashion Returned to the Stage

60

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MONROE LIFE SUMMER 2015

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A Wedding That Sparkles And Shines Brandon and Jamie Wear

The Best Of Lakeside Dining

48

departments

Clifford Wilson Not Your Ordinary Attorney

38

10 Letter From The Publisher 46 City Of Sweetwater

16

Annual Events

68 Tourism

Vintage Tea Party

12 Lost Sea

Celebrates 50 years!

Englewood Textile Museum

34

House’s Town History

Letter from the Publisher As always, this magazine’s main goal is to publicize the natural beauty of Monroe County and the exceptional people who work and live here. This summer issue will feature The Lost Sea Adventure, one of the largest attractions statewide, which will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary this summer! The Lost Sea is a huge part of the local economy, and it is still so exciting to visit year after year. We will also feature wonderful stories about local attorney Clifford Wilson and the love story and fairytale wedding of our own Jamie Patton.

Jamie Patton, who worked with me for over 10 years, is a spot of sunshine, and we are incredibly happy to include an article on her illustrious wedding. As always, we are happy to bring you breathtaking photos of the Cherohala Skyway. Monroe County is home to nature’s bountiful spread of adventures and friendly leisure that seem to thrive during warmer weather. For these reasons and many more, people continue to visit this beautiful area Jamie Patton holding Alyssa Faith Bingham while hard at work! every year!

We at The Bingham Group are incredibly pleased to announce that Cheryl Lee is joining our sales team. Cheryl grew up in Monroe County and has a special connection with the community. We look forward to her future here with The Bingham Group! We are also excited to have Abby Swabe, daughter of Tim and Yvonne Swabe of Madisonville, as an intern on our design team this summer. Abby is studying graphic design at Maryville College.

We would also like to extend a special thanks to all of our advertisers, readers and subscribers who have made this publication possible. We are blessed to be associated amongst such quality and hope to enjoy your continued involvement in our efforts to create the best community editorial for years to come!

Wishing you a wonderful summer season,

Monroe Life PUBLISHER

The Bingham Group President Lisa Atkins Bingham Graphic Designers Ben Grace Dustin Hayes Abby Swabe Contributing Writers Mark Cochran Marvin Harper Halea Lingerfelt Phil Roulier Contributing Photographers Robert Burleson Kristen Calhoun Mark Cochran F.A. Dockery Ben Gibson Tammy Lee Halea Lingerfelt Cover Photo Gary Cagle Copy Editor Jennifer Porterfield Web Melissa Hitt Advertising Sales Mignonne Alman Tel: 865.523.5999 mignonne@binghamgroup.com Cheryl Lee Tel: 865.523.5999 cheryl@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

Lisa Atkins Bingham

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MONROE LIFE SUMMER 2015

www.binghamgroup.com www.mcminnlifemagazine.com

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The Lost Sea, Tennessee’s fastest growing tourist attraction, is certainly removing doubts these days as to its value to the economy of Monroe County. Since opening day, June 6, 1965, The Lost Sea has attracted over 110,000 people. Manager Keith Cagle believes that the 1/4 million mark will be reached in its second year of operation.

Mr. Cagle and other Lost Sea executives believe that the attraction has swelled the Monroe County economy at least $450,000 in the first year of operation. “The national average that a tourist spends when stopping for an attraction like ours is $10.00,” Mr. Cagle said. “That average will not be reached here because there is a shortage of things for tourists to spend their money, on and for the same reason, we can assume that The Lost Sea is all that many tourists stop here for. So, if we can expect that say 70% of the tourists stopping at The Lost Sea spend as much as 70% of the national average in Monroe County, we can assume that The

Lost Sea has caused about $420,000 to be spent in our community. Add our payroll to this, and you have approximately $450,000.”

The Lost Sea takes pride in the fact that practically all of their employees are Monroe County residents. It takes a staff of 44 people to handle the flow of tourists coming to the cavern. Mr. Cagle estimates that the facility can handle up to 2,400 people per day, and there are approximately 1,000 people visiting the attraction each day at the present. As the popularity of The Lost Sea grows, so grows the staff.

Mr. Cagle and his staff keep an intricate set of records that provide some very interesting statistics. For instance, it would interest the people of Madisonville to know that 52.7% of The Lost Sea customers are Highway 411 travelers, while the balance of 47.3 are Highway 11 travelers. Placing billboards accounts for a particular set of statistics accumulated, which show that of the traffic coming to the cave, 33.2% are traveling north on 411 and 19.5% are traveling south. On Highway 11, the reverse situation exists: 33.6% are going south and 13.7% are going north. These statistics and their application to the manner of operation will pay off in more customers in the future.

My wife and I and our two children escaped the heat of last Sunday afternoon by taking a

tour through the caverns where the average temperature the year round is 58 degrees.

It had been only a few months since I was last in the cave, but I was amazed at the number of improvements. Inside, there are more handrails and better paths. Particularly noticeable is the new lighting in The Lost Sea itself. These new lights were only installed in June and were specially developed by the Sylvania people for underwater lighting.

The trout I remember as being large a year ago are huge. If they keep growing at the present rate, it will only be a few more years till they will be the main attraction, and the underground lake they swim in will be of secondary interest. I am kidding, of course, there is nothing more fascinating or interesting than that huge body of water in the heart of a mountain.

in itself, is situated in a beautiful wooded area several acres in size and surrounded by shady picnic areas complete with tables.

We noticed many people taking advantage of the free picnicking facilities. In fact, one group had several tables placed end to end having what appeared to be the annual family reunion.

There is also a “Snack Shack” that sells the best soft ice cream I ever put in my mouth.

In addition, the entrance to the cave has been more conveniently arranged, as has the souvenir and gift shop. Although they are handling more people than last year, the crowd seems smaller because of the new way of handling them. There just wasn’t a large crowd jamming the entrance, as was the case on busy days last year.

Although I have heard the chatter of the guides about ten times, I still found every word of Sunday’s guide exciting.

Of course, the fact that she was a lovely young college coed helped matters a lot.

I do believe, however, that the ability of the guides to hold the interest of the tourists is greatly improved.

The Lost Sea people are planning on even more improvements. Mr. Cagle predicts a kiddie ride attraction and other things of interest on the outside of the cave, including, in the future, an amphitheater.

They have less improvements planned for inside Craighead Caverns, but how can one improve much more on such a beautiful thing?

A great deal of improvement can be noticed when you first drive up to the entrance of the caverns. The road in front has now been paved, and the parking lots have been enlarged so that they will now hold about 800 cars. An old log building has been moved to The Lost Sea scene and turned into a crafts and picnic supply store, which has been aptly named “Ye Old General Store.” This quaint old building, beautiful

One thing that Monroe Countians can look for is a TV program that has been recently filmed about The Lost Sea. The film is in color and has been scheduled for showing on 327 television stations across the country. It has been shown in two states already, Florida and Michigan, and Manager Cagle reports that a noticeable increase of customers are coming from those states.

In fact, Mr. Cagle tells us that 3.9 percent of

their guests are from one of the two states.

The film has only been out about four weeks, and besides being highly interesting, it will undoubtedly bring many visitors to The Lost Sea. In Monroe County, we can be justly proud of the reactions of the people who have sailed The Lost Sea. They like it. It’s not one of those “sucker deals” that build you up at the box office then let you down inside. Tourists enjoy their trip through the caverns and leave feeling they have gotten their money’s worth.

Finally, we can look forward to even greater things at The Lost Sea. It takes years for tourist attractions of this sort to develop their potential. The Lost Sea will grow in customers for years to come, and Monroe County can expect to grow as a direct result of their growth. We have heard that there is already one group preparing to exploit the traffic to and from the attraction.

It is reported to us that a commercial campground is under construction and plans to be open next season. Undoubtedly, more people will get the idea in the future, and growth in the area will undoubtedly result in The Lost Sea becoming the hub around which a town will grow. We hope so.

This story was repurposed from a story published in The Monroe County Citizen-Democrat in 1966.

1 0 | a m 9 – 1 1pm e n u J On an ordinary day in 1905, in a seemingly ordinary part of East Tennessee, a very extraordinary thing happened. A young boy by the name of Ben Sands, while exploring the wilderness, stumbled upon a small hole in the ground. Curious as 12-year-old boys are, he decided to find out where it went. As he wiggled his way deeper and deeper into the earth, he began to realize that this was not just an ordinary hole, but something much more mysterious. Though fear gripped him, on he descended into the blackness, with nothing for light but a small oil lamp that he had brought with him. As the light from the lamp brightened the room, young Ben’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the light.

When they did, he didn’t believe them. The light showed a cavern, with almost alien rock formations rising up from the ground and hanging from the jagged ceiling. As Ben shined the light outward into the cavern, he was amazed. His eyes set on an enormous lake, buried underground within the intricate cave system. Thus, The Lost Sea was discovered.

Today, The Lost Sea has been and continues to be one of the most awe-inspiring attractions in East Tennessee. Recently, the attraction was added into the Guinness Book of World Records as America’s largest underground lake, and it has also been designated a Registered Natural Landmark by the U.S. Deptartment of Interior.

Celebration!

Free Tours & Refreshments 10am–1pm Ceremony Entertainment FREE For Everyone On Day Of Celebration!

Due to The Lost Sea’s growing popularity and positive growth since its inception, the Find us on Facebook and Twitter! attraction has been a catalyst for the local economy. With over 150,000 visitors per year (that’s close to 500 per day) spanning even the international, Monroe County has seen a plethora of eager tourists coming in to visit the attraction. This increase in traffic through the county has played a pivotal role in the growth of the surrounding areas within Monroe County and will continue to do so.

The Lost Sea has recently added many new features to their tours to give each individual the experience of a lifetime! Ask about private spelunking tours, a must for those more inclined to uncharted cave exploring. They also provide overnight tours for large groups and families, the perfect means for a lasting and wholesome experience.

The Lost Sea will soon be hosting its 50th Anniversary Celebration on June 19. The celebration will feature free tours from 10 A.M. thru 1 P.M. There will also be special events held at the Lost Sea Village, located right across from the main attraction. The Village boasts an authentic blacksmithery, a glass-blowing shop, a sweet and unique candy shop and a BBQ restaurant that is second to none. So bring the whole family to the 50th Anniversary Celebration of The Lost Sea Adventure, and see what you can discover!

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SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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“Journey Through More than 100 Years” Vintage Fashion & Tea Party Written By Halea Lingerfelt | Photography By Tammy Lee

T

he Cora Veal Senior Center in Madisonville held its first ever fundraiser, a vintage fashion show and tea party on May 23rd, 2015, entitled “Journey Through More than 100 Years”.

All the guests were treated to a show that featured unique clothing pieces from the past century while sipping on tea and specialty entrees and pastries that fit in with the theme of the event. The eclectic line of clothing was created or borrowed from local businesses, Cora Veal Senior Center members and citizens of the community. Citizens from the Monroe County area also volunteered their time by modeling and serving guests at the event. Executive Director, LeAnne Harrill, said that she was extremely pleased with the event and hopes to make it an annual

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event featuring a fashion show full of vintage-themed pieces. The fundraiser took place to benefit efforts to renovate the inside of the Cora Veal Senior Center that also serves as the Monroe County Office on Aging. Major renovations include an elevator system that would allow access to the upstairs portion of the space. Harrill is hoping to increase programming such as fitness, nutrition and various art courses when access to the top floor is possible.

The Cora Veal Senior Center is proud to offer many other services to the Monroe County community. These services include aid in applying for insurances such as Medicare and Medicaid, exercise classes, Motor Coach trips to various destinations and applying for housing in the area. The

Monroe County Office on Aging and the Cora Veal Senior Center are proud to announce new programming and services to the Tellico Plains community Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9am-2pm at the community center.

For more information on the Monroe County Office on Aging, the Cora Veal Senior Center or to learn how to volunteer and donate, visit our Facebook page or call 423-442-2022.

The Cora Veal Senior Center invites you to the following upcoming fundraisers: Yard Sale: June 25-26, 2015. Special preview sale ($5.00) June 24, 2015.

Reverse Raffle: August 21, 2015, 6:00 pm.

Wealth & Wellness Expo: Sept. 21, 2015.

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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.

423.506.9895 • 140 Harrison Rd. • Madisonville, TN 37354 • www.tsalinotch.com

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Our Family Serving Your Family CLICK FUNERAL HOMES Written By Phil Roulier

It is one of the most difficult aspects of life, to part with a loved one. Often it is a process that takes time, and our goodbyes are slow and painful. Often it is sudden, giving us a shock of grief that seems almost surreal, leaving us wishing but for only one more precious moment. Whatever the case may be, letting go is never easy, but thanks to Click Funeral Homes, setting arrangments for your loved one is. Click Funeral Homes is like no other in the industry; here, the dedicated staff strive to bring compassionate consultation and flexible options to the family.

Founders of Click Funeral Homes, Glenn and Polly Click

The Click Funeral Home was built on a simple idea: our family serving your family.

The Click family legacy began in 1965 when Glenn and Polly Click decided to open up a funeral home in the downtown Knoxville area. Glenn Click had been in the business all his life, so he and his wife decided to dedicate themselves to aiding other folks in the community with not only their funeral arrangements, but with the grieving process as well. Now, Glenn and Polly didn’t start out with a lot, and they sure didn’t know much about advertising, but they did know one thing, and that was how to serve others.

For years, they went door to door telling people about their new business and how grateful they would be to make them a part of the Click family. Their dedication to the community paid off, and they had enormous success. Needless to say, Glenn and Polly’s children were raised in the business and took over the running of things for a new generation built on the same moral and practical principles set down by Glenn and Polly. Today, Click Funeral Home is still owned by Glenn’s son, Larry Click, and still provides wonderful service to an even broader area, now bringing locations to Lenoir City, Tellico Village, Loudon and Farragut.

At Click Funeral Homes, you are treated like family. The folks here take care of every detail of your loved one’s service and give you the options you need to give them the servicethat best exemplifies them. A thoughtful and respectful staff meets you at the door right when you walk in, putting you and your loved one’s wishes as their top priority and making the most difficult of times seem a little less overwhelming. Burials, open casket viewing, cremation, graveside services and so many more– no matter what the wishes of the deceased or family members are, Click Funeral Homes is there to accomodate. They even have a new “Green Burial” option, for those who wish to be buried in a more eco-friendly manner. All of these options can be viewed on Click’s website, www.clickfh.com. Here, you can also view obituaries and see many of their beautiful facilities, including both chapels and multiple viewing areas. The website even has a grief support link, Click’s way of making sure that even after the funeral is over, their service continues. These many values coupled with Click’s affordable nature put them amongst the top funeral homes in East Tennessee.

Having had enormous success for their dedicated service, Click Funeral Homes has recently purchased some top-of-theline facilities in order to broaden the available options for the family’s grieving process. Their chapels, both simple and elegant, create a beautiful setting for loved ones to be viewed and respected.

For those more inclined to a less formal, casual setting to celebrate a loved one’s life, Click’s Milestones Event Center is a wonderful option. This facility, located just off Kingston Pike in Farragut, was designed in order to give the family a customizable setting. Catering options are endless.

Our event planner will work with you to make sure your time with us is perfect.

Even though losing a loved one can seem unbearable, the folks at Click Funeral Home’s dedication to respect, compassion and adherence to the family’s wishes help shoulder the burden and bring families together to honor those who have loved and those who have been loved. And in a world that seems so very superficial, it’s nice to know that there are still folks out there that genuinely care.

Contact them at their Farragut location at (865) 671-6100 or email them with any questions at info@clickfh.com.

MiddleBrook Chapel: Click Funeral Home’s Middlebrook location provides families with an intimate surrounding in the beautiful on-site Chapel.

Farragut Chapel: Conveniently located just off of Kingston Pike, the impressive Farragut Chapel has plenty of space to accommodate large numbers of guests.

McGill Click Facility: The McGill Click Funerals and Cremations Facility located in Loudon, Tennessee, allows guests to experience the excellence of the Click name at a new location.

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CHANGING THE WAY YOU SEE THE OUTDOORS

SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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QUILTS FOR KIDS Written By Marvin Harper | Photography By F.A. Dockery

For hospitalized children whose world may not seem so bright, Donna Powers and her band of volunteers in Quilts for Kids have a mission.

They are determined to bring joy, a little comfort and a whole lot of color into the lives of as many of those children as they possibly can.

That is what Quilts for Kids is all about, and the volunteers here in Monroe County get a lot of satisfaction doing it.

The organization was started a decade ago in Pennsylvania by an interior designer and mother who realized that discarded samples of cloth could be used to make colorful quilts. She made one for her own daughter who was in the hospital and then began making them for other children she saw in the same unfortunate situation.

The idea took hold, and within a few years, the interior designer from a little town in Pennsylvania had established a network of volunteer quilters across the country. The non-profit group, which now has 97 chapters, came to be called Quilts for Kids.

Donna leads the chapter in Monroe County, which meets each month at the Ruritan Clubhouse in Coker Creek, in the southern end of the county.

She started out with five members and

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MONROE LIFE SUMMER 2015

in five years has seen its ranks grow to 22 dedicated volunteers from five surrounding cities. The volunteers do much of the work at home, but once a month, they pack up their sewing machines and material and head for Coker Creek.

In the jovial atmosphere of an oldtime “sewing bee”, the volunteers start the day with “show and tell”. That is where they share stories and ideas with each other about their current quilting projects and have a lot of fun just renewing friendships. They follow it up with a covered-dish lunch, and then “The Mountain Pine Needlers”, as they call themselves, get down to the business of sewing quilts.

quilts. It helps my spirituality to give them to these children, and it’s been a way of giving back because I have been so fortunate.”

“For the children,” says Donna, “the quilts provide comfort, but for us, we just really get a kick out of putting them together.” They make three sizes of quilts, starting with a three-foot-square quilt for babies and increasingly larger ones for toddlers and teenagers.

Much of the material for the quilts is donated, but the chapter sponsors fundraisers to purchase additional supplies.

The quilts are also sold at the Coker

Through the years, the group has donated more than 400 quilts, most of them going to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville where many of the patients are there because of life-threatening illnesses or abuse. The hospital staff distributes most of the quilts, but on occasion, Donna and some of her quilters have been able to hand out the quilts themselves.

“It has been a joy,” says Donna.

“It really inspires me when I see a child with one of our

Donna Powers and her quilts

Monroe County chapter at the Ruritan Clubhouse

Creek Welcome Center Store with that money also going toward supplies.

says Donna. “It’s sad, but it’s nice to see them care about the quilts so much.”

As with traditional quilt-making, the volunteers must sew together three layers of material to make a quilt.

The top, which is all cotton, is pieced together with different shapes and colors or “blocks”, which are all sewn together to give the quilt its character.

A middle layer of cotton and polyester “batting” is put in place, and then a bottom layer, or “backing”, of solid cloth completes the quilt. Sewing them by machine instead of by hand is important for children’s quilts because it ensures that they will withstand machine washing, Donna points out.

“I truly feel that this is what was chosen for me to do,” says Donna. “I love kids, and if I have anything to leave to my own grandchildren it will be for them to know that their grandmother loved children and always wanted to help them. It makes me very happy.”

The letters, cards and E-mails from parents who want to thank Donna and her quilters for their donations say it all. “They tell us how much it means to their children to have something that truly is a comfort to them.” Many children who have to return to the hospital bring their quilts with them,

In fact, the “payback” for Donna is nothing short of “amazing,” she says.

“I am so fortunate. I get goosebumps sometimes because our quilters are so wonderful, and the children get to have these quilts. It’s just a total circle that has evolved, and it’s just amazing to me.” She adds, “Without these women who help me from month to month, Quilts for Kids couldn’t be as successful as it is. They are just wonderful.”

Quilts for Kids meets in Coker Creek on the second Saturday of each month and always welcomes new members. Sewing experience is not

necessary but is preferred. Donna Powers can be contacted by E-mail at: cokercreektnqfk@gmail.com. The national organization has a website at QuiltsforKids.org.

SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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Open year around for groups from 6 to 300+

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SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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A Wedding That Sparkles And Shines Written By Halea Lingerfelt | Photography By Kristen Calhoun

t all starts with fashion. What seemed like an innocent message from a man regarding the latest designer handbag posted online for sale was soon discovered as a way to reach out to his future wife. This was the beginning of a story that Brandon and Jamie Wear would soon call their own personal fairytale.

Brandon Wear of Rural Vale and Jamie Patton Wear of Tellico Plains had never met prior to their “purse party” messaging on Facebook. However, after dating for a year, the pair proved that opposites truly do attract, with Brandon being a Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency officer and Jamie being a dental hygienist and fashion lover.

Brandon proposed to Jamie on December 14th, 2013, at the couple’s favorite holiday

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destination in Dollywood. In the park’s intimate chapel, the groom surprised his future bride with a video at her late father’s grave asking for his permission and blessing on the wedding. A guard caught the magical moment on camera.

Jamie and Brandon said “I Do” on October 11, 2014, at Legacy Springs Event Center in Madisonville. The bride’s love for all things fashion, in particular diamonds, was showcased in the wedding through the decor, wedding party attire and the Bride’s custom-made diamond and flower bouquet. The groom and the groomsmen, who were all TWRA officers, wore boutonnieres that were crafted from duck feathers that perfectly captured the groom’s love for everything outdoors.

Jamie credits the special sentimental touches that were implanted into the wedding for making it everything she

wished for it to be. Jordan “Ryan” Patton, the bride’s brother, stepped in and walked Jamie down the aisle after allowing her a special moment by a memorial dedicated to her late father while audio was played of the groom asking permission for her hand in marriage. Ryan also crafted a treasured wedding gift for the bride: a Barbie doll created to look just like Jamie in her wedding dress.”He was my hero that day,” the bride commented when asked about her brother’s role in the wedding.

The wedding was followed by an equally stunning reception on the grounds, where the couple danced the night away.

The Wear wedding was one that was filled with love that shined and made the day exactly what the couple had dreamed of.

The Wears currently reside in Monroe County, where they are enjoying life together, one designer bag and hunting trip at a time.

The Bride’s brother, Jordan (Ryan) Patton (left) with the Groom, Brandon Wear (right).

The Bride purchased her dress from The Bridal Gallery in Maryville, TN. The bridal party’s hair and make-up was done by Brittany Dalton and Courtney Jenkins of Tellico Plains.

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The Bride with her mother, Linda Davis.

The Bride with her cousin, Lily Jewell (left), and Groom’s cousins, Finley Gentry (middle) and Navy Gentry (right).

The Groom awaits his Bride with Best Man and brother, Justin Wear and Matt Majors, a Boating Officer for the TWRA.

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MONROE LIFE SUMMER 2015

From left to right: Holly McCarty, Amber Kelso, Jessica Colvin, Jamie Patton Wear, Chelsi Fugate, Amy Ferguson, Madysen Iles

The Bride and Groom with her grandmother, Mary Easter Wooden. She is the only living grandparent of both Jamie and Brandon.

From left to right: Ben Davis, Mitch Clure, Justin Wear, Brandon Wear, Matt Majors, Casey Pittman, Ryan Patton

SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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The Bride and Groom’s cakes were both made

by Cori Hamilton, who also did the Bride’s hair and makeup. The entertainment and Master of Ceremony was Patrick Michael Weddings of Knoxville. Videography was by Milestone Pictures of Knoxville, TN, catering

by Catering Connections of Sweetwater, TN, and the entire wedding and decor was done

by Colby West.

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MONROE LIFE SUMMER 2015

Classes offered every 2 months in Cosmetology, Manicuring, Aesthetics and Instructor Training.

A full service salon is open Tuesday thru Friday from 10am–4:30pm offering all hair services, nails, facials and waxing. Open Tuesday and Thursday night from 5–9pm for skin care services. Offering facials, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and full body waxing.

423-351-0071 | www.sweetwatercosmetology.com | 409 Sweetwater Vonore Rd | Sweetwater, TN 37874 SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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The Englewood Textile Museum Houses Town’s History Written and Photographed By Mark Cochran

n the mid-1850s, a small mill village known as Eureka Cotton Mills sprang up along the banks of the Chestuee Creek in eastern McMinn County. In the 1890s, Nannie Chesnutt, the sister of Eureka Cotton Mill owner Sallie Brient, suggested that the town be renamed “Englewood” because the rolling hills surrounding the community reminded her of the “forests of Englewood” referenced in Robin Hood. The name change would prove to be fitting for the close-knit hamlet as over the next 120 years the small East Tennessee town would write a distinctive

and eclectic history that would rival any fictional story.

Englewood’s history contains both heroes and heroines. The town’s legends are made up of courageous entrepreneurs who put it all on the line to make better lives for their families, rugged individuals who believed in hard work and self-reliance, bold citizens who demanded reform, brave patriots who fought for freedom and many inimitable characters who were simply one-of-a-kind. One such individual was

Howard Goodin, who made national news and even earned a record in the World Almanac by sitting in a tree for forty-five days without coming down.

Another groundbreaker was Mary Ellen “Ma” Brendle who, in 1940, was Englewood’s, and perhaps Tennessee’s, first female mayor. She pledged to end the town’s staggering debt and fulfilled her campaign promise by the close of her term. Astor Bloom also left his mark. As a wealthy railroad investor, Astor left a sizeable fund to the Town of Englewood when he died in 1944

The Englewood Textile Museum is located at 109 N Niota Rd, Englewood TN and is open Monday-Friday from 11am-5pm and Saturday from 10am-4pm.

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to provide clothing for needy children each Christmas. The fund is still clothing children to this day, and in keeping with Astor’s wishes, each article of clothing given away has a card in memory of his mother that reads “By Martha A. Bloom, in Jesus Name”.

These stories and many more pieces of Englewood’s remarkable history are housed in the Englewood Textile Museum. Founded by the Community Action Group of Englewood in 1994, the institution originally focused solely on Englewood’s textile industry and the strong, independent women who were at its core. While much emphasis remains on textiles and how the industry shaped the town, CAGE has expanded the museum’s scope to include the histories of Englewood’s businesses, churches and the former Englewood High School. The museum has been expanded three times and now includes “The Chesnutt House”, which is the only remaining home of Englewood’s earliest textile mill owners and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Chesnutt House displays exhibits on local war heroes, the town’s founding families and wedding dresses throughout the twentieth century.

Those visiting the Englewood Textile Museum will find themselves immersed in the history of a proud people. The accounts they hear will be those of good times and bad, of overcoming great odds and of triumph and defeat. They will experience the story of small-town America, the story of Englewood.

The Chesnutt House, which is a part of the National Register of Historic Places and now is a part of the Englewood Textile Museum

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Clifford Wilson

Not Your Ordinary Attorney Written By Marvin Harper Photography By F.A. Dockery

I

f it’s Saturday night, you will probably find Clifford Wilson out on the dance floor at Baker’s Place on Highway 411 between Madisonville and Englewood.

Earlier in the day, he might be found in his back yard in Rural Vale trimming trees with a chain saw.

Perhaps not unusual activities for a man who loves dancing and doing things outside. But it’s not that simple. Wilson is totally blind.

With few exceptions, that hasn’t kept the 72-year-old attorney from doing many of the things in life he has wanted to do, except perhaps becoming a pilot. He also wanted to be a physicist, but 50 years ago, a student of science had to be able to read a slide-rule, a tool scientists depended on to

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make mathematical computations. Unable to read the numbers and symbols on the device, a career in science just wasn’t to be.

So with an undergraduate degree in Social Science from Tennessee Technical College already completed, Wilson decided to go into law, something else he had always been interested in. He earned his degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law and now, almost 50 years later, maintains a thriving law practice in downtown Madisonville. Wilson spent many years practicing all types of law, including criminal law, but for the past 20 years has specialized in civil law, which includes such things as wills, adoptions, property deeds and estate settlements.

Being blind hasn’t hampered Wilson’s law career any more than it has slowed his social life. He has two office assistants on staff to help out with the legal research, run the office and take him places he needs to go during the work day. With their help and the help of modern computer technology, he will tell you he gets along just fine. A device on his desktop computer called a “screen reader” uses text-to-speech programming to put anything that Wilson brings up on the screen into the spoken word. Wilson also uses a clipboard-size device called a “slate and stylus” to make notes in Braille, on paper. The device allows him to transcribe letters and numbers into Braille by pushing the “stylus” through holes in the “slate,” something he can do as fast as most people can write with pen and paper. He used the same device in college and law school to take notes during classes.

Wilson is quick to point out that while he does have a “handicap”, he is not “disabled” by any means. “It just means I will have more

Clifford Wilson using the slate and stylus to put Braille impressions on paper.

difficulty doing a task, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do it,” he says. “I have to work harder and be more prepared than the other guy in order to be successful,” he points out. And just because Wilson can’t see the people he deals with in or out of the courtroom, he says he picks up on things in their voices that a sighted person might miss. “I can pick out a liar pretty good,” he says. “I can also hear fear in a voice or if someone is real uncomfortable.”

It was at the age of four when Wilson’s vision began to decline. “One of the things I had at the time was extreme tunnel vision. I just thought that was the way everybody else saw things,” he recalls. One day, he and his family were outside in the yard when an airplane flew over. “I couldn’t find the airplane up in the sky,” Wilson remembers.

His mother took notice and later saw an even bigger problem when she asked her 4-year-old to pick up the pieces of a popped balloon in the yard. “I couldn’t find the rubber pieces in the grass, and they really got concerned at that point,” Wilson recalls.

His parents promptly took him to an ophthalmologist in North Carolina who diagnosed his condition as Retinitis Pigmentosa, a genetic disease in which the retina steadily degenerates, leading to total blindness.

The years that followed brought abrupt change to the life of young Wilson. At the age of five and on the recommendation of his doctor, his parents enrolled him

in The Tennessee School for the Blind in Nashville to begin kindergarten. It was nine months of boarding school broken up only by a two-week vacation at Christmas and the three-month summer break. “I was one home-sick puppy, I can tell you that,” says Wilson, who says he now realizes that it was “tough love” on the part of his parents. He remained a student at the school through high school, learning Braille and taking on an otherwise typical educational curriculum. His vision continued to deteriorate.

As a teenager, Wilson could still recognize faces, but by his mid-20s, that was no longer possible. “The last thing I ever remember seeing was Yellowstone Lake when I was 32 years of age, and I remember seeing a boat out on the lake and the reflection of a mountain in the water.”

That was on a two-week trip out West with his wife Sue in 1975. Wilson continued to have some “light perception” in the years that followed but lost all sight by his mid-50s.

“Blindness is not a source of pleasure for me or happiness, and if I had my way, I would have 20-20 vision instantaneously,” says Wilson.

“But if I had to change places with anybody else in the world, them be me and vice-versa, I wouldn’t do it.

The pluses are better than the minuses in my life. The friends that I have, the mind that I was given and the family

that I have, I wouldn’t trade any of that for the world.”

“I’m glad I had what I did,” says Wilson of his years with vision. “A person who has never seen anything at all really has no clue what red is, and I remember colors,” he says. He also remembers what his parents looked like but has never seen his wife, Sue, his son, Curt, or his two grandsons, Noah and Jonah. “I have a recollection of what my wife looks like, but I’m not certain it’s exactly accurate,” he says. Wilson had also developed cataracts, which frequently go along with Retinitis Pigmentosa, and at the age of 36, he had surgery on one eye to remove the cataract. He had hopes of restoring enough vision, even though it would have been temporary, to see his young son. The surgery, however, did not work out.

Wilson has a busy life outside of work.

He plays bass guitar in a group called the Mountain String Band, which entertains at area festivals and every week plays at the local senior citizens center in Madisonville. He is a HAM radio operator, likes to fish, hike and rides his tandem mountain bike with friends who do the steering, he points out.

No other family members have shown any sign of Retinitis Pigmentosa, including Wilson’s three brothers and a sister. Before their son’s birth, Wilson and his then pregnant wife went for testing at Emory University in Atlanta and learned that the odds would be solidly against any of their children ever having the disease. Grandsons Noah (12) and Jonah (7) have also been examined and found to be free of the disease.

SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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Smoky Mountain Christian Camp Written By Marvin Harper Photography By F.A. Dockery

A

s you leave County Road 619 in southern Monroe County and start down the winding gravel road through the woods, there is an air of anticipation for what lies ahead. The base of the towering Unicoi mountain range begins to appear through the trees, and you realize this could be East Tennessee at its finest.

And nestled in the clearing between forest and mountain is the site of Smoky Mountain Christian Camp. It isn’t wellknown outside of East Tennessee, but for almost 40 years, it has been a popular place for young people to come for a week of fun, fellowship and a return to nature.

The non-denominational camp has hosted thousands of boys and girls from grammar to high school through the years. It was started by an organization known as the Smoky Mountain Christian Men’s Fellowship Group, which in 1976 bought the current 60-acre site in the little community of Coker Creek. The camp is bounded on two sides by the Cherokee National Forest and is built around a seven-acre lake.

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Bill Clark, who recently retired after serving 22 years as Camp Director, was the longest serving director in the camp’s history. And much of the growth and continued popularity of the camp can be attributed to Clark’s labor and dedication. He has remodeled, rebuilt and constructed new buildings on the site, turning it into a place where youngsters can have the experience of a lifetime. The campers attest to it. Over 75 percent come back for a second session in subsequent years, says Clark.

During the past two decades, Clark and volunteers have built a new dormitory for the girl campers, six cabins for the boys, a gymnasium and a chapel. Most of the wood used in construction of the new buildings was cut on site and milled with Clark’s own portable saw. The original two-story building has been completely renovated and now houses the camp’s dining hall and a state-of-the art kitchen.

Every summer, the camp is home to kids who come for one of the eight, week-long sessions. Each session is limited to

50 campers of their own age group, and they are tended to by 15 to 20 counselors and 10 staff members. Counselors are all volunteers, many of them coming from the churches that comprised the original Smoky Mountain Men’s Fellowship Group.

Support for the non-profit camp now comes largely from donors, many of whom attended the camp in the past and those who sent their children and grandchildren there. Other support comes from independent churches. The balance of the camp budget comes from camp enrollment.

The price for a week at the camp is $150, while a special week of “Adventure Camp”, which includes a white-water rafting trip and rappelling, is available to teenagers at a slightly higher price.

Clark and his staff have maintained a strong “spiritual side” to the camp, in keeping with the founders’ intentions. Along with the canoeing, hiking and myriad of other group activities, the campers attend chapel twice a day. And early in the camper’s day, there is also what is called “family time”, where four to eight kids meet with counselors

Bill Clark at the hand-built log gymnasium, which has a full-size basketball court. Bill Clark and his son, Billy, operate the Smoky Mountain Christian Camp.

in group sessions. “They discuss family situations, school pressure, peer pressure and dealing with drugs and alcoholism,” says Clark. “It’s all the kinds of things that kids deal with today. Young people need to be with the kind of people and in the kind of experiences that help them shape the future of their lives.”

The campers get away from the fast-paced world of electronics and busy schedules.

“One of the good things about the camp is that we have no cell phone coverage here, so the kids come here and we get them away from friends, family and everything else that is going on in the world, and they can really focus on their personal life and their spiritual life,” says Clark. “We want them outdoors and active, not indoors and sitting around.” Campers can, however, call home anytime they want, and parents can call them, as well.

Smoky Mountain Christian Camp is unique in its role for young people, says Clark. “There are a lot of denominational groups that have their own camps that would be very similar to ours. This one just happens to be a non-denominational camp where we are focusing on helping the kids maintain a Christian lifestyle and supporting them in that.” That is what the founding fathers of the camp hoped for, he says. “They wanted to encourage and maintain Christianity among youth, for their faith and their ongoing lives.”

The philosophy apparently works. Almost 20 percent of the campers eventually go into church-related professions. “One of the things the camp is known for is

producing young people who eventually become ministers, youth ministers, church leaders and missionaries,” Clark points out.

The father of three is an ordained minister himself and serves as a parttime minister at Methodist churches in Coker Creek and nearby Tellico Plains. But as a self-proclaimed “jackof-all-trades”, Clark remains an active part of the camp. “I am basically retired from the camp, but I still come and work, doing plumbing and electric and mowing and other things that need to be done. I’m still available to help and work and share,” he said. When necessary, he doesn’t hesitate to step in and cook or wash dishes.

Clark’s son “Billy” was named by the board of directors as the new Camp Manager upon his dad’s retirement. He has grown up at the camp and has been an active part of it since high school.

It‘s a yearround job. He and his father remain busy in the off-season making the camp available to church groups, various retreat groups and even hosting weddings and family reunions.

Campers enjoy an improvised water slide on the grounds of the Smoky Mountain Christian Camp.

Clark’s dedication to the camp comes as no surprise to those who know him.

Growing up in Indiana, his own church camp experiences were instrumental in his life. “I had grown up in church, but it was in the camp setting that I went and made my personal confession of faith and became a Christian,” said Clark. He was ten years old.

At the age of 16, in another camp session, Clark “committed” himself to the ministry, which led him to Bible college and on to the seminary. At yet another camp session he met a girl named Deborah who later became his wife.

“The three most important decisions of my personal life were all made at church camp,” he says with a smile.

The Camp’s 7-acre lake.

Mason and Kelsey Boring

Photo By Tammy Lee

W

Married: June 6, 2015

e love the church. It’s the center of our lives and has been since childhood. It’s the place where we were led to the knowledge of God. It’s where we learned how to pray, how to sing, how to worship, and how to love. It will continue to be the center of our lives and our marriage and we are so thankful that First Baptist is the church we call home.

Mason and Kelsey

A Church To Call Home 423.442.4544 | www.fbcmadisonville.org

   

SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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Last Full Weekend in September The National Muscadine Festival is held in September to kick off the harvest season in Sweetwater.

This 3-day festival is a huge event, full of live music, inflatables, great food and fun for the entire family. During the National Muscadine Festival, you will be able to tour Tsali Notch, the largest muscadine vineyard in the state, and see the unique fruit ripe for picking. Admission is Free!

ALL DAY EVENTS IN DOWNTOWN SWEETWATER

Food & Art Vendors • Live Music • Kid Zone • Bar-B-Que Competition • Grape Stomping at Gazebo • Grapevine Wreath Auction at Gazebo • Parade • Muscadine Products www.nationalmuscadinefestival.com

A Small Towne Christmas

Independence Celebration

the Saturday After Thanksgiving Activities include horse and buggy rides, pictures with Santa, Christmas shopping, and hayrides through Historic Downtown Sweetwater. Stores will be open late and serving treats.

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July 4th Annually

Parade, games, tournaments, concerts and fireworks!

Celebrate Small Business Saturday

ANNUAL EVENTS

www.visitsweetwater.com

Tuesday: 11:30am - 5:00pm | Wednesday—Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm | Sunday—Monday: Closed

Sweetwater’s Gallery on Main Gifts and Fine Art

Featured Artist: Joy Merckson

Our gallery supports more than 30 local artists.

We have many kinds of art, such as wood turning, pottery, ceramics, oil paintings, acrylic paintings, colored pencil works, and hand crafted jewelry, just to name a few. We would welcome the opportunity to deliver to you some of the best art works in East Tennessee.

Joy Merckson is a graduate of the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida. She has 20 years of experience in the commercial art field. She has taught drawing, painting, and figure drawing at Brevard Community College and Studio Plus. She has exhibited in her own Rain Gallery and other locations throughout Canada and the United States. Design work experiences include an ad agency, an archeological dig artist, Disney World and the Center for Disease Control.

Sweetwater Gallery on Main | 109 E. Morris St. | Sweetwater, TN 37874 | 423.337.7400 SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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Fish and Chips.

Summertime Favorites On The Lake Lakeside Dining On The Shores Of East Tennessee Photography By Ben Gibson and Halea Lingerfelt

Cold weather has finally gone, and sunshine has taken its place.

Grab some sunscreen, hook up the jet ski and leave your worries at the dock. It’s time to go to the lake! Who can resist a relaxing and adventurous day on the lakes that so beautifully grace the East Tennessee area? Whether you are searching for an intimate dining experience or a casual hangout destination, there’s no reason to leave the water. All restaurants with dishes featured below can be accessed by boat. Happy boating!

Willy’s Bar & Grill

By Land: 2600 Whitten Lane, Knoxville, TN 37922 (865) 288-3480

By Water: Mile Marker 612.4 on the Tennessee River

Scallops Pomodori. Jumbo pan-seared sea scallops, tomatoes, basil, garlic and baby spinach combined with pasta and parmesan cheese call for a relaxing evening and a very happy appetite.

Lakeside Tavern

10911 Concord Park, Dr, Knoxville TN (865) 671-2980 SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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Osso Bucco. The Blue Heron’s mouthwatering version of the popular Italian dish, Osso Buco, is crafted with veal, grilled broccolini and roasted vegetables. The dish is paired perfectly with a boat ride on the water at sunset.

The Blue Heron at Tellico Village Yacht Club 100 Sequoyah Rd Loudon, TN 37774 (865) 458-4363

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Fish Tacos. Lettuce and creamy taco sauce is piled on top of crisp fish fillets caressed in warm tortilla shells. Fresh corn and bean salsa and hot dipping sauce are served on the side for a kick of extra flavor.

Rick’s Dockside Grill at Tellico Marina 2932 Boat Dock Road, Louisville, TN, 37777 (865) 982-4037

SUMMER 2015 MONROE LIFE

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Slab of Ribs. You’ll understand why these ribs are so popular this summer. Baked beans and coleslaw are paired here with fall-off-the-bone ribs smothered in Calhoun’s famous BBQ sauce.

Calhoun’s at Fort Loudoun Lake

4550 City Park Drive Lenoir City, TN 37771 (865) 988-9838 52

MONROE LIFE SUMMER 2015

– New Management – 423-884-2829

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years of Service, Dependability, Smooth Rides and now Our Price Match Guarantee! At the time of purchase, if you find a current lower advertised price on the identical, in-stock tire from a local retail competitor’s store, we will match the competitor’s pre-tax price. So call today and experience the hometown legacy of Matlock Tire Service.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE AT H E N S • L E N O I R C I T Y • M A RY V I L L E • FA R R A G U T www.matlocktires.com

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CHIP IN FOR A CHILD CASA Monroe Hosts their 3rd Annual Golf Tournament Photography By Joe Bingham

This year’s CASA Monroe Golf Tournament was held at Rarity Bay Country Club on May 30th. Over 100 players came out in this one-of-a-kind tournament dedicated to aiding neglected and abused children in the community. The weather was beautiful, and the lunch by Rothchild’s and dinner by Rarity Bay were fabulous! After the golfers finished, participants and guests alike were welcomed into an auction held at dinner. The whole event was a huge success!

There were 3 Major Hole Prizes up for grabs at this year’s event.

Hole #7 - $4,000 Food Package from Blue Ribbon Foods, Knoxville Hole #14 – 2015 Ford Focus from Jacky Jones Ford, Sweetwater Hole #17 – 2015 Golf Cart from Ladd’s, Knoxville Special thanks goes out to Fritts Financial and Fritts & Associates for their hard work and support of CASA Monroe and the abused and neglected children CASA serves!

Honesty.

Respect.

Professionalism.

Courtesy.

Pat Pennington, Agent 153 Warren Street Madisonville, TN 37354 Bus: 423-442-3200 pat.pennington.b1rw@statefarm.com

It’s how I treat all my customers. And you can be sure I’ll always do my best to meet your needs.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

CALL ME TODAY. ®

1101016.1

State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL

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MASON FURNITURE & APPLIANCES

168 WARREN ST, MADISONVILLE

423.442.2940

Bert’s

Hometown Grill &Pizzeria! 1987 est

Hand cut steaks, CHARBROILED CHICKEN , BLACK ANGUS BURGERS, HOMEMADE PIZZA. 902 Tellico Street • Madisonville, TN 423.442.2222 www.bertsgrill.com

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The Fashion Returned to the Stage Photography By Tammy Lee

T

ellico Plains High School has done it again. Last year, they gave you The Fashion. This year, the title of the upcycled and recycled fashion show stuck, and The Fashion returned to the stage.

In the days and weeks leading up to the event, students in Leah McCall’s fashion design classes turned ordinary household items into an entire avant-garde designer fashion line. On April 7th, the fairytale themed show hit the stage. Pieces ranging from men’s wear and women’s formal wear hit the stage and proved to all in attendance that plastic, garbage bags, curtains and blinds, among a plethora of other common materials, can be recreated into treasured pieces of fashion. The finale showcased a pony as a unicorn and a unique garment that was engineered from PVC pipe to form a dragon whose wings expanded over 20 feet.

On hand to donate their time and resources were a variety of vendors, without which this event might not have

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been possible. Southern Sirens provided makeup artists; Paul Mitchell Knoxville, Crystal Clonch and Matthew E. Davidson created stunning coiffures; and, for the first time, a luxurious VIP lounge was open for special guests thanks to Southern Graces in Savannah, Georgia. A full list of vendors can be found on The Fashion’s blog page.

There is no doubt that The Fashion is making amazing strides with creativity and design, but one cannot forget the purpose of the show: to display design expertise and raise money for students continuing their design education. TPHS is proud to announce that two Seniors in the program received scholarships with funds raised at this year’s show.

Want to learn more about The Fashion or volunteer to help with a future show? Contact Leah McCall at info@ whimsicalgatherings.com, visit the student design blog page tellicoplainsfashion. wordpress.com or check out the Facebook page facebook.com/ TPHSRecycledAndupcycledFashionShow.

The finale showcased a pony as a unicorn and a unique garment that was engineered from PVC pipe to form a dragon whose wings expanded over 20 feet.

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Students used ordinary household items, including PVC pipes, curtains, blinds, garbage bags and much more, to create stunning avant-garde fashion designs.

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Fort Loudoun Electric Cooperative Proudly Serving Blount, Loudon, and Monroe Counties since 1940.

Congratulations to the City of Madisonville...

100 YEARS...the Monroe County Seat!

TOGETHER...WE HAVE POWER! 116 Tellico Port Road P.O. Box 1030 Vonore, TN 37885 Toll Free: 1-877-353-2674

OďŹƒce Hours Monday- Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. www..ec.org

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Farms Bank on Farm Credit Mid-America Written By Phil Roulier

F

arm Credit Mid-America understands the business of farm loans and has been servicing farmers and their families for years. They specialize in all types of financing, from property, home construction to equipment loans. There are many advantages to Farm Credit, primarily the fact that you’ll never have to deal with the big name banks.

As representative Todd explains, “The banks just don’t understand the business of farming. We understand what it means to own land, equipment and livestock.

That’s what makes us different and what has brought us success.” This attention to detail and understanding is not the only reason Farm Credit Mid-America has been successful. At the core of it all, it's the folks who work there. Each loan officer sits down with the client and listens intently to the story that each of us has to tell. They then offer incredibly personal customer

service and make it a point to create a plan that works around your financial situation.

“We look after the little guy, and we pride ourselves on doing the little things that the big banks just can’t do.”

Another point of pride for the folks over at Farm Credit Mid-America is that in all their years of business, they have never once sold a loan. All finances are completed within the company, so you have peace of mind knowing that your loan will remain with a singular party that cares.

Farm Credit Mid-America has had an incredible retention rate, some spanning over three generations of satisfied customers. Recently, they have begun implementation of The Heritage Program, which offers financial incentives to customers who have been with them for over 50 years. Farm Credit Mid-America

retains business through generations because they understand farming. Here you will find no 1-800 number to dial, no frustrating conversation with some nameless bank agent you’ve never met, but rather a human being you know by name and trust.

Chad Reese of the Reese Family Tree Farm agrees. After years of having variable rates on his home and farm that most financial institutions offer on homes with large acreage, he was very happy to obtain a long-term fixed rate. “The process was fast, easy and saved our family significantly in our monthly savings. Most importantly, I was impressed with how much the entire staff at Farm Credit took an interest in our family personally and worked so hard to help come up with long-term solutions to the success of our business.”

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Summertime In Monroe County

By Nicole Yates, Monroe County Tourism Director

I

t’s that time of year again. The kids are out of school, the warm sunshine is bathing all who fall under her rays and the desire to travel seems more apparent now than ever. Ice cream always sounds like the perfect dessert to pair with any entree, and families seem to bond together on warm nights. It’s finally summertime.

Monroe County is the home to nature’s bountiful spread of adventures and friendly leisure alike, so on the next warm summer day, travel no further for an afternoon of enjoyment.

Nothing is more relaxing than a trip to the Cherohala Skyway. For those wishing to enjoy sightseeing at its finest, hiking through the breathtaking Cherokee National Forest, wading in the crystal clear Tellico River or marveling at the vastness of Bald River Falls, the Cherohala Skyway provides the perfect backdrop to an outdoor experience that offers something new to visitors time and time again.

Don’t forget to add some popular Monroe County attractions to your must-see list this summer. Spend an afternoon celebrating the 50th anniversary of enormous caverns and

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Bald River Falls at night, as featured on the cover, taken by Gary Cagle.

the largest underground lake in America at The Lost Sea Adventure. While in Sweetwater, stop by Tsali Notch and view the beautiful vineyard that attracts locals and tourists alike for its muscadine wine. Stop by Fort Loudoun State Park and Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in Vonore for a fresh taste of the past.

Cure your desire for unique shopping and dining experiences in all of Monroe County’s quaint Downtown and Main Street districts.

Antiques, tasty treats, eclectic boutiques and fine dining await you.

This summer treat yourself to discovering Monroe County, and you will find that all time here is well spent.

Contact Nicole Yates, Monroe County Tourism Director, for further information about Monroe County and all it has to offer you this summer.

Located at 225 Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains, TN 37385. 423-442-9147.

When Monroe County, expect to find smiling faces and excellent service.

Here are some of the shops near the Cherohala Skyway in Tellico Plains that make the town so unique.

Skyway Realty Land and Homes

Skyway Realty's associates create home and land dreams​for buyers and sellers. For buyers, we hone in on and help you select the places you are most likely interested in buying. Sellers have new dreams we help them find as we sell their current properties. We love being helpers in one of the most important decisions of your lives. We make the real estate experience enjoyable from the first call to the close and enjoy win-win transactions with everyone at the table talking to each other as friends... that's what we all like about Tellico Plains, it’s warm, friendly, peaceful and successful.

Call today 423 253 7100--7770. Email us at info1@tellico-tn.com. We are ready to go. Stop in and see us at our office on the Skyway...where the bears are.

411 Cherohala Skyway, 423.253.7100 www.tellico-tn.com

Charles Hall Museum and Gift Shop

A local historian and collector since boyhood, Charles also served as mayor of Tellico Plains for 31 years. Showcased in two museum buidlings are his magnificent collections of historial local pictures and documents, antique telephones, guns, Native American artifacts, coin and currency collections, a moonshine still, a 1922 Motel T Ford telephone repair truck and so much more.

Admission: Free Open Daily: 10am–5pm 229 Cherohala Skyway, 423.253.6767 Email: charleshallmuseum@hotmail.com www.charleshallmusuem.com

The Bookshelf

The Bookshelf is a quaint little bookshop in the Historic District just off the Town Square.

Celebrating 10 years as Monroe County’s only full service bookstore in May 2015, they offer new local history books and gently used books in all categories. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff also offers free out-of-print book searches.

Summer Hours: Tuesday–Saturday: 10am-5pm 108 Scott Street, 423.253.3183 www.tellicobookshelf.com

KramBonz BBQ

MARY’S MADHATTER BOUTIQUE

Come in and escape reality for a few minutes and have fun trying on crazy hats, vintage clothing, wedding gowns and jewelry. Mary opened the shop because she loves to interact with people and enjoys sharing her creativity with others through her collection of vintage hats. Her creative talents can be seen in the great hats she creates and also in beautiful one-of-a-kind wreaths.

Open: Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am-4pm 507 Veterans Memorial Hwy, 423-253-2623

If you’re looking for some of the best BBQ in Tellico Plains, then head out to KramBonz, located at 9188 New Highway 68. From tender briskets to juicy pulled pork and fall-off-the-bone ribs, KramBonz BBQ is sure to delight even the most discerning palate. The establishment is motorcycle-friendly, open Monday through Thursday from 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 10pm and Sunday from 11pm to 8pm.

9188 New Hwy 68, 423.253.2019

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Mountain View Cabin Rentals

If you’ve ever dreamed of staying in a cabin in the mountains, Mountain View Cabin Rentals has just the spot…all 38 units have unique décor and are located on the beautiful Tellico River, at the top of a hill, in the woods or on a private pond. Amenities include hot tubs, game rooms and grills, with prices starting at $39.95.

Mountain View Cabins is biker friendly and open all year. You are sure to find something to fit your dream and your budget!

133 Rafter Road, 423.519.2000 www.tellicologcabins.com

Tellico Arts Center

The Tellico Arts Center hosts 79 artists of varied media who reside within 30 miles. Fabric art includes quilts, hand-woven items, hand-knit sweaters and painting on fabric. There are metal works, pottery, beading, wheat weaving, leather works, stained glass, Intarsia, local authors, local music CDs, photography, soaps, candles, paintings and mixed media represented.

113 Scott Street, 423.253.2253

Tellico Vacation Rentals

Savor the serenity of your own cabin in the mountains! Choose from one to five bedrooms, sleep from two to ten guests. Select a cabin with a hot tub on the deck, a cozy stone fireplace or a pool table in the game room. Our cabins are ideal for a romantic getaway, a wedding or honeymoon, a family vacation or reunion. With your own kitchen, multiple bedrooms, comfortable living areas and outdoor decks, you’ll find cabin rentals to be a fabulous value for extended vacations for several couples or extended families. Our cabins are private and comfortable, each totally unique.

A change in altitude creates a change in attitude!

206 Cherohala Skyway, 866.253.2254 tvr@tellicovacationrentals.com

Stone Cottage Shops, Gardens & Antiques

New Service: “Free Little Library”. Are you hiking or camping? Stop by for a book. Come view great collections featuring Mission Oak and Taleware!

Open: 11am–6pm; Closed: Wednesday and Friday 121 Scott Street, 423.253.2400

Tellico Kats Deli

Located on the river with a wonderful view for lunch, Tellico Kats Deli has daily specials as well as homemade salads, goodies and soup. Join them for gourmet coffee or Luzianne iced tea and a friendly hello.

1929 Cherohala Skyway, 423.253.3411 www.tellicokats.com

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The Good Medicine Cabin

The Good Medicine Cabin is a very unique gift and antique store. We are a small store with a huge variety of items ranging from in-house turquoise and other handcrafted jewelry by Neo, as well as fine art by Neo and other artists, cabin décor, custom-made knives, antique knives, swords, biker gear, vintage leather jackets, American Indian items, pottery and so much more. Our hours can be as odd as some of the items you will find in our store, so before you make the trip from out of town, give us a call at 423.436.0255, or if you are in Tellico Plains, stop by. Our customers are highly valued and always treated with courtesy and respect. We shop the world for you and give you the most unique, rare items at surprisingly low prices. Please do stop by and see us. Shipping is also available for items purchased at our store anytime.

9172 New Hwy 68 (next to KramBonz BBQ) 423.436.0255

Scott Street Gallery

A visit to the studio/gallery will find the artist at work painting or carving in wood. Artwork on display in the gallery features flowers, animals, birds, beautiful mountain scenes and more. The medium varies, but the inspiration is always found in the natural world of God’s creation.

Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 11am–6pm 700 Veterans Memorial Dr. 423.253.7677

Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center

The Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center in Tellico Plains is a “must stop” before starting up the Skyway.

Come by between 9am and 5pm daily for free maps of the Skyway and Cherokee National Forest, Skyway driving conditions and local area souvenirs and gifts. Picnic tables and spotless restrooms are also available, with friendly staff waiting to welcome you with important Skyway and area information!

225 Cherohala Skyway, 423.253.8010 www.cherohala.org

Crab Trap

Welcome to the Crab Trap, a casual, friendly spot for lunch and dinner, with seafood and lots more!

Fish lovers can select from various crab specialties, as well as shrimp, grouper, scallops, clam strips, catfish, trout and other delights fried, grilled and other yummy preparations.

Watch for live Florida blue crab and seasonal raw oysters too. Brisket and pork are smoked on the premises, served as platters and sandwiches, while burgers and po-boys round out the selections. Check out the homemade noodle soups, and save room for Crab Trap’s signature Banana Split Pie. Relax with friends over a frosty mug of your favorite draft or bottled beer, hard cider or hard lemonade, ice cold soda or iced tea. Kids love the hand-breaded white meat Chicken Tenders, Fish Bites and, of course, Cheeseburgers with Fries.

There’s plenty of free parking, and Crab Trap welcomes locals and everyone who loves visiting the area. Be sure to get your photo taken with the Crab Trap Dragon.

WiFi available.

Coming soon, Live Blue Crabs steamed in garlic.

111 Main Street Open: March-November, Everyday 11am–9pm; December - January, Everyday 11am– 9pm 423.253.6800

Jenkins Realty

Everhart Lumber Company, LLC

Everhart Lumber Company offers wood products from contemporary to rustic styling including wide wood slabs, post and beams, wood flooring and paneling and custom-made cabinets, furniture, millwork and mantels. Everhart’s has created a niche for Extra Wide Wood Slabs from huge trees that are carefully selected for their distinctively unique grain, coloring and textures.

We build magnificent furniture and countertops from reclaimed materials and other sources such as Douglas Fir, Native Hardwoods, Southern Yellow Pine & Western Red Cedar. Please visit our Showroom in Tellico Plains and our online store.

911 Highway 165, 423.253.2323 www.everhart-lumber.com

Jenkins Realty is your one-stop source for real estate, covering the counties of Blount, Loudon, McMinn and Monroe. Real estate is one of the most important investments one can make, and Jenkins Realty is your resource for listings, comparative market analyses, free real estate reports and more.

418 Cherohala Skyway, 423.253.6145 www.easttennrealty.com

Vacation Rentals 4U

Vacation Rentals 4U in Tellico Plains offers a wide selection of vacation home options for any mountain getaway experience. Our passion is to provide affordable lodging to families who are wanting to experience a new sense of adventure…from the moment you arrive, you will know you are in the right place! From a romantic hideaway to a cabin for six, we know that there will be something perfect for you.

Come stay with us in East Tennessee and make your own memories in one of our special Vacation Rentals 4U cabins. YES, we are motorcycle and pet friendly!

Tellicafe

423.253.6060, www.tnvacationrentals4u.com

128 Bank Street, 423.253.2880

The Leudemann family can now boast twenty years and four generations of good service and good food at the county’s only sit-down restaurant employing a certified chef. The Tellicafe is open seven days a week all year round serving lunch and dinner. Our professional staff can easily serve one person or one hundred with friendly, efficient service. Specialties like Fried Green Tomoatoes, Trout Cakes, monthly Prime Rib Weekends and the Sea Food Extravaganza keep customers coming back time after time.

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Providing Service and Quality Since 1988

WHOLESALE PETROLEUM MARKETERS

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Serving East Tennessee 423.337.6671 www.sweetwatervalleyoil.com LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

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MAKING

Around Kids is a Felony:

UP TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON

AND LOSS OF CUSTODY.

GET HELP NOW: 800.889.9789 “THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED UNDER AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND IS SUPPORTED BY AWARD #2010-DJ-BX-0016 AWARDED BY THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, USDOJ.”