DEADLINE: The deadline for submitting Area Happenings, Church Events, Cemetery News, Reunions or Society items is Thursday at noon. See our website each week for a full listing of local events: www.claiborneprogress.net.
Pre-K Program
The Claiborne County Pre-K Program is now accepting applications for the 2016-2017 school year. You can fill out an application at any of the classroom locations or contact The Alpha School at 423-626-3323. Locations: The Alpha School, Ellen Myers, Powell Valley, Forge Ridge, Midway and Springdale.
First Tee Fundraiser
The First Tee Pine Mountain Bingo fundraiser will be every Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. at a new location, the Middlesboro Elks Lodge at the corner of 19th St. and Hwy. 441, behind Middlesboro Walmart. Doors open at 4 p.m.
LEGO Club at Library
A LEGO Club is meeting at the Claiborne County Public Library. All ages are welcome to attend. The club will meet on the second Monday and fourth Thursday of each month from 4-5 p.m. to create, build and express your imagination with LEGOs. All LEGO supplies will be provided by the library. No sign up is required – just show up for a building good time. The library is located at 1304 Old Knoxville Road in Tazewell, below Walters State. For more information call 423-626-5414.
Beginner’s Computer Class
The Claiborne County Public Library is hosting a beginner’s computer class at the Harrogate Senior Citizens Center every other Friday at 1 p.m. For more information call the library at 423-626-5414.
Alzheimer’s Support Group
Time change: Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice, Alzheimer’s Support Group will meet the last Thursday of each month at 3 p.m. at Laurel Manor Nursing Facility. The next meeting will be May 26. Community partners: Alzheimer’s Tennessee; Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice; Laurel Manor Nursing Facility; Lambert Bookkeeping & Financial Services; Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service, Inc.; Claiborne-Overholt Funeral Home; Eastridge Apartments LLC; Claiborne County Office on Aging. Everyone welcome.
Pool Opening
The New Tazewell Municipal Pool will open for a free day May 27. Hours for the pool this year are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5:30 p.m. Admission is $4 per person. Swimming lessons will be given June 6-10. For information on pool parties and lessons call the pool at 423-626-8450.
Heritage Christian Academy
Heritage Christian Academy will hold its Spring Fling May 27 from 5-8 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
The Heritage Christian Academy Pre-K program is now accepting applications for the 2016-17 school year. You can fill out applications at the school any time during regular school hours. For more information call 423-526-2807.
McDowell Reunion
A McDowell family reunion will be May 28 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at 1559 Back Valley Road, Speedwell, TN 37870. For more information call 865-278-0539.
Bee Friends Beekeeping Group
Interested in Beekeeping and Meeting Beekeepers? Whether you are looking for information, want to get started or have been beekeeping for years, you are welcome! BEE FRIENDS is your local beekeeping group. We meet monthly, on the first Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Tazewell Campus of Walters State in the auditorium. The next meeting will be June 2. Bodie Osborne, the President of Backyard Beekeepers in Middlesboro, Kentucky, will tell us how to extract and bottle our honey. This is also a great time to check the group out, just ask questions, and meet others with all levels of experience. There will be a sign at the door from the parking lot. As always, coffee and dessert will be served. For more information call 865-617-9013.
Claiborne County Emergency Communications District
The Claiborne County Emergency Communications District will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed FY 16/17 budget on June 3 at 11:30 a.m., at the Claiborne County Justice Center training room. Following the public hearing, the board will meet in regular session.
Harrogate Book Station
The Harrogate Book Station will be having its annual Summer Reading Program June 6-10 from 9 a.m. until noon. The program is for children ages 3-10. There will be special guests and lots of crafts, games and storytelling. A snack will be provided daily. For more information contact the Harrogate Book Station at 423-869-9777.
CCSWA Board Meeting
The Claiborne County Solid Waste Association board will meet for the regular monthly meeting on June 6 at 6 p.m. in the large courtroom at the Claiborne County Courthouse.
Jr. Pro Basketball Camp
Claiborne High School’s 2016 Jr. Pro Basketball Camp will be held June 6-10 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The cost is $60 for boys and girls from kindergarten through seventh grade and will be at the high school. For more information, call Gary Harmon at 423-626-.
Regional Planning Commission
The Claiborne County Regional Planning Commission will hold its next scheduled meeting at 12:30 p.m. on June 7 at the Chamber of Commerce Office, located at 1732 Main Street in Tazewell. This meeting will be a public hearing on the Claiborne County Subdivision Regulations. The public is welcome to attend.
Bereavement Support Group
The death of a loved one by suicide presents special problems in grieving. There is often more shock, a greater sense of injustice, more guilt and blame and a heightened sense of helplessness – and these all tend to complicate the healing process for survivors. You are not alone.
There is a safe place in this community for survivors (families and loved ones of suicide victims) to share their loss with others who are experiencing similar thoughts and feelings. Surviving Our Loss After Suicide (SOLAS) is a bereavement support group that will provide help, hope and healing. Groups are open to all adult survivors of suicide and will be held at The Well Being Foundation, 557 Narrows Road, Tazewell, TN 37879. To reach Well Being, go approximately 8.1 miles from the stop light at Cedar Fork Road then turn left on Narrows Road. The meetings will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. Upcoming dates are June 7, June 21, July 19, Aug. 2, Aug. 16, Sept. 6, Sept. 20, Oct. 4 and Oct. 18. For more information call Tammy Wilson, facilitator, at 865-585-2917.
Memorial Service
Everyone is invited to attend a memorial service in honor of the memory of Mary Jane Roark Bickford, a graduate of CCHS class of 1961, on June 11 at 11 a.m. at the England Cemetery, located off U.S. Hwy. 25E, north of Giles flea market. Everyone, especially family, friends and the CCHS class of 1961 is welcome. For more information, contact Kim Widner Smith at 423-526-8479 or Margaret Seals Bull at 423-626-3075.
Seal/Seals Reunion
The descendants of James W. Seal (Seals) and wife Emily Byrd will have a reunion on June 12 at the Tazewell Municipal Park on Richardson Road in Tazewell, beginning at 11 a.m. with a potluck meal to be served at 1 p.m. All friends and relatives are invited to attend and bring a covered dish and drink, along with old photographs and family history to share. For more information call Margaret Seals Bull at 423-626-3075, Delsie Seals Sullivan at 423-586-9091 or Becky Seals Brummitt at 423-566-1211.
Library Summer Reading Program
Readers of all ages will explore all things sports and fitness this summer as the Claiborne County Public Libarary presents “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read” during the annual summer library program. The Summer Reading Program is open to young people, preschool through 12, with programs, prize drawings, story times, a reading club and more. The program will kick off June 14 with Mr. Bond the Science Guy. The Claiborne County UT Extension Office will also present a weekly program at the library, Adventures in the Kitchen. Registration for “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read” begins June 6. For more information call the library at 423-626-5414, visit the website, claibornelibrary.org or like them on Facebook.
American Legion Post #109
All veterans are invited to attend monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is June 14. Activities begin at 6 p.m. with a meal. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at 335 Fulkerson Street in Tazewell.
Town of Tazewell BMA
The board meetings for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the Town of Tazewell are conducted at Tazewell City Hall at 1830 Main Street, the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The next meeting is June 14. The BMA workshops are on Wednesday prior to the scheduled board meeting at 6 p.m. as needed. The public is invited to attend all meetings of the board.
Benefit 5K
Go Ye Therefore 5K, based on Matthew 28:19, will be held June 18. Participants will walk or run the greenway trail from Harrogate, through the old train tunnel following the creek and through Cumberland Gap. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. and the event will begin at 10 a.m. There is a $30 registration fee and everyone registered before June 1 will receive a T-shirt. All proceeds from the race registration fees will go to send two local missionaries overseas, where they will help with construction of a new school in a poverty-stricken area. They will also be teaching Bible school to over 400 children. They will work alongside other missionaries in the community to reach out in an effort to help them with daily basic needs. Medals will be awarded for the fastest male, female, masters male and masters female. First through third place ribbons will be awarded in several age groups. All registered participants will be entered to win a Fitbit Charge along with other door prizes. The drawing will be held during the awards ceremony immediately following the race, and participants must be present to win. For more information or to register visit the event page on Facebook or call or text Desiree’ Doyle at 423-526-8165.
Story Time at Library
The Claiborne County Public Library will be having a Story Time every week in the Children’s Room. Story Time will be held on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. with books, music and crafts. Children of all ages are welcome. Call the library at 423-626-5414 for more information.
Clinch-Powell Head Start Registration
The Clinch-Powell Head Start Program is currently taking applications for children 3 and 4 years of age at all Head Start Centers in Claiborne County for the 2016-2017 program year. The child must be 3 years old by Aug. 15, 2016 to be age eligible for the program. Services are provided five days a week with centers open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Transportation services may be provided dependent upon availability. The program provides services to special needs children including children with severe disabilities. All services, meals and snacks are provided at no cost to the family. For more information or to complete an application, please contact: Child Development Center – 626-6423; Clairfield Center – 784-7700; Ellen Myers Center – 869-4513; Powell Valley Center – 869-0222; SMMS Center – 686-1622; Springdale Center – 626-5152; TNT Center – 626-5708.
Free Tech Classes at Library
Need help with technology? Would you like to learn more about your mobile device? You can now schedule an appointment at the Claiborne County Public Library for free help sessions. The library will be able to help with the following: Computers, tablets, phones, use of apps, etc.
Come prepared with: The device you need help with; any necessary usernames and passwords needed to access your device and/or accounts; the device fully charged, if not, please bring a charger; questions and/or concerns about your device.
The library staff will not: Run diagnostics; troubleshoot or fix any malfunctioning devices (unless related to library services); run antivirus scans; computer maintenance; replace parts on a device; credit card transactions.
Call for information, more details or to schedule an appointment at 423-626-5414 or email at claibornelibrary@gmail.com. One-on-one or group appointments are available.
Drug Test Kits Available
Free Saliva Based Drug Testing Kits are available, provided and sponsored through UNITE and (SIGCO) Stand in the Gap Coalition. Give Me a Reason (GMAR) is designed for parents/guardians to use to talk with their children and randomly test them, which gives them a reason to say “no” when tempted or offered drugs. They can be obtained at 44 different distribution points throughout tri-state area & at the SIGCO office, located at 502 Pennlyn Ave., Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. For more information where to find a distribution point near you contact the SIGCO office at 423-300-1302 or to pick one up stop by on Thursdays between noon and 5:30 p.m.
Arthur Community Center Association
The Arthur Community Center Restoration Organization has regular meetings the second Thursday and fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Arthur Community Center. All residents of Arthur Community are encouraged to attend. The ACCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of the Arthur Community Center for the public to use for meetings, family reunions, wedding receptions, etc.
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project
Outreach workers Tommy Brooks and Erin Haverland will be available to assist eligible veterans with enrollment in HVRP. The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project helps veterans find secure employment through case management, job training, and referrals and links with other local service providers. Outreach workers can arrange visits with veterans in outlying areas who are unable to travel to the program office.Veterans Can Help is located at 511 Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917. Phone: 865-524-3926. In Knoxville, call 865-546-4813 for more information.
Free Spay and Neuter
The Animal Welfare League of Claiborne County is sponsoring a free spay/neuter for dogs and cats in the Claiborne County area for families with income less than $30,000 per year, depending upon the number of people in the household. Pick up applications at Harrogate Hospital for Animals, Russell Veterinary Services or Rowland Veterinary Services. You can also request spay applications at awlccspay@gmail.com . Complete application, including proof of income and mail to AWLCC, 200 Hatfield Morgan Lane, New Tazewell, TN 37825 or scan/email to email address above. Be sure to include a phone number.
Town of Tazewell Brush Pickup
Brush pickup for the residents of the Town of Tazewell is resuming. A maximum quantity of two brush piles 4 ft. wide x 4 ft. tall x 10 ft. long will be collected from each household per visit. Brush and limbs shall be neatly stacked in 4 ft. x 4 ft. piles with the ends facing the same direction. Exceptions: Leaves or other debris may not be mixed with brush. No stumps will be picked up or limbs larger than 6 inches in diameter. Brush must be brought to the curbside and not placed in the street or on sidewalks. Lumber or construction waste materials will not be collected. No commercial, industrial, construction, or land clearing projects are included in the brush collection program. To schedule pickup call the Tazewell City Hall at 626-5104.