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.
Free Classes
The Claiborne County Adult High School is now offering free classes for students to earn credits to receive their Tennessee state high school diploma. Flexible scheduling is available for both day and evening classes. For more information, contact the Adult High School at 423-626-8222.
Town of Tazewell Meetings
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 BMA Workshops are on Wednesday, prior to the scheduled board meeting at 6 p.m. as needed. The Planning Commission Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The public is invited to attend these meetings.
Cumberland Gap Meetings
The regular monthly meetings for the Cumberland Gap Historical Zoning Commission will be held the first Tuesday (following the first Monday) of every month at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland Gap Town Hall, 330 Colwyn Street Cumberland Gap (if no items are to be discussed a meeting will not be held). The public is invited to attend.
The regular monthly meetings for the Cumberland Gap Planning Commission will be held the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland Gap Town, 330 Colwyn Street Cumberland Gap (if no items are to be discussed a meeting will not be held). The public is invited to attend.
The regular monthly meetings for the Town of Cumberland Gap Board of Mayor and Alderman will be held the first Monday evening of every month at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland Gap Town Hall, 330 Colwyn Street, Cumberland Gap. The Cumberland Gap Beer Board meeting follows the board meeting each month. At least one week before the regular scheduled meeting the board meets in a study session to review and finalize the agenda. That meeting starts at 6 p.m. and is usually held the Monday before the regular scheduled meeting. Both meetings are open to the public.
Greene County Skills
Greene County Skills, Inc. is seeking individuals in Tennessee that have developmental or physical disability. Tennessee has a grant program offering assistance. For more information, call Greene County Skills, Inc. at 423-798-7137, ask for Karin Hagenburger or 423-798-7144 Teresa Crawford, Family Support Coordinator.
October Activities at Harrogate Senior Center
Mondays: 9 a.m. — Bowling League; noon — Knitting Class; Oct. 31 at 10:30 a.m. — Halloween Party. Tuesdays: Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. Flu Shot Clinic; 10 a.m. — Bingo; noon — Shuffleboard. Wednesdays: Closed Oct. 12 for Staff Training; 12:30 p.m. — Blood Pressure Check; Oct. 19 — Trip to Cumberland Falls. Thursdays: 12:30 – Corn Toss; Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. — Changes in Medicare. Fridays: Oct. 28 — Trip to Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge 9:30 – Bowling; noon – MicroClinic class. Daily activities include: Fun and fellowship, puzzles, billiards, computers, library and educational speakers. For more information, please call 423-869-8080.
Medicare Help
Got Medicare? Got Questions? It’s always good to check your Medicare plan every so often to make sure you’re on the best plan for your needs. Now is a great time since open enrollment is Oct. 15 –Dec. 7. A representative from the SHIP Program (State Health Insurance & Assistance Programs) will be at the Harrogate Senior Citizens Center on Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. to help with any of the following: Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage; Medicare and Prescription Drug Costs; Medicare Supplement or Medigap Insurance; Medicare & other insurance; Medicare & Tenncare/Medicaid; Low income subsidy and Medicare Savings Plans. Please call 423-869-8080 for more information and for an appointment.
Youth Basketball Signups
TNT Youth Basketball signups will be held Tuesday and Thursday nights in November from 6-8 p.m. at Hardee’s in Tazewell. TNT Youth Basketball is open to boys and girls ages 5-15.
Fall Clean Up, Fix Up Week
Town of Tazewell residents, the week of Oct. 24-28 is Fall Clean Up Fix Up Week! Please place all trash at curbside for pickup during this week. Keep regular weekly household trash in a separate pile. Place electronics in separate pile. No major appliances, building materials or hazardous materials will be picked up and there is a limit of four tires per household, no rims. No brush will be picked up. One scheduled pickup per household. Anything placed at curbside after noon on Oct. 28 will not be picked up. You must call 423-626-7166 to request pickup.
Narcotics Anonymous
The launching of a new NA meeting will be Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Middlesboro, Kentucky. Meetings will be every Wednesday and Saturday. For more information call 606-670-4356.
New Tazewell Little League Softball, Baseball
There will be an open to the public, informational and officer election meeting for the 2017 Little League year at First Avenue Hall in New Tazewell on Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. If you are interested in helping to make this the best Little League year yet, come out and join us! All 2016 officers should attend.
Alzheimer’s Support Group
Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice, Alzheimer’s Support Group meets the last Thursday of each month at 3 p.m. at Laurel Manor Nursing Facility. The next meeting will be Oct. 27. 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.
Bluegrass Festival
There will be a Bluegrass Festival at the Jaycee’s Fairgrounds on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Featured bands expected include Shadow Ridge, Station Creek, Chasing the Sun Down, Appalachian Drive, Drop New River and Clinch Mountain Railroad. Games, food and crafts will also be available. Admission is a $5 donation at the gate. Bring a lawnchair and enjoy the day. All proceeds will go to benefit the Claiborne High School Band.
E-Commerce Seminar
Selling to the World will be offering an e-commerce and social media seminar on Oct. 29 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Palace, located at 2008 Cumberland Avenue in Middlesboro. For more info, call 606-302-2178 or email sellingtotheworld@gmail.com
Broken Spur Dance Club
There will be a Halloween dance party at the Broken Spur Dance Club on Oct. 29. Dress up in your favorite costume and dance the night away. Instructors will be teaching some line dances from 7-8 p.m. Open dance 8-11 p.m. Broken Spur is located in the American Legion Building, top floor below SMMS school. No smoking inside and no alcohol permitted. There is a $5 cover charge. Refreshments available.
Tri-County Veterans Honor Guard
There will be a memorial service for 12 unknown Civil War soldiers on Oct. 30 at 2:30 p.m. at Big Barren Cemetery on Little Valley Road in Union County. For information, call Wade Jones at 865-659-9655.
Pumpkin Carving Contest
The Town of Cumberland Gap will have its annual Pumpkin Carving Contest this month. Showcase your talent and win prizes: First Place — $50 and a one-hour dance party from the Pineapple Tea Room; Second Place — $50; Third Place — $25 gift certificate from Gap Creek Coffee House; Fourth Place — large specialty pizza from Angelo’s in the Gap.
Bring your carved pumpkin to Festival Park (downtown on Colwyn Street) by 6 p.m. on Oct. 28. Pumpkins will be displayed in the park Oct. 28-30. Trick or Treat hours are Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m. Don’t forget to write your name and phone number on the backside of pumpkin. The opening of the pumpkin should be on the bottom (using the “bottom” method allows us to place the carved pumpkin over a candle).
Truck Or Treat
The Springdale Volunteer Fire Department will be handing out treats to children at the Springdale School parking lot on Halloween night. Bring your children by for a treat and meet the firefighters.
Halloween at Tazewell Park
The Mayor of the Town of Tazewell, along with some employees and volunteers, will be handing out treats at the Tazewell Municipal Park for ages 12 years and younger on Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. or until there is no more, whichever comes first. Have a safe and happy Halloween!
Regional Planning Commission
The Claiborne County Regional Planning Commission will hold its next scheduled meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 1 at the Chamber of Commerce office, located at 1732 Main Street in Tazewell. The public is welcome to attend.
Bee Friends
Interested in beekeeping and meeting beekeepers? Whether you are looking for information or just curious, you are welcome to join Bee Friends, a 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. November 3 will be our last meeting of the year. We will be having a social meeting, including honey tasting, after elections. The taste of honey varies greatly and this is an opportunity to taste honey from local beekeepers and from around the world. This is also a great time to check the group out, just ask questions, and meet others with all levels of experience, especially if you are interested in learning more about bees next year. There will be a sign at the door from the parking lot. As always, coffee and dessert will be served. For more information call 423-648-4785.
HCA Fall Festival
Heritage Christian Academy will be holding its Fall Festival Nov. 4 beginning at 5:30 p.m. A live auction will begin at 8 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
Free Food Distribution
There will be a free food distribution for Claiborne County residents on Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. until noon or until the food is gone. The distribution will take place at Shawanee Baptist Church, located at 780 Shawanee Road in Harrogate. Working with Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee and REC Ministries, Shawanee Baptist Church is blessed to be able to share a truck load of free food. All food will be distributed until gone based on size of family. For more information and questions contact Mandy Seal at 423-851-2383.
HCA Yard Sale
Heritage Christian Academy will be having an inside yard sale on Nov. 12 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
Driver License Safety Checkpoints
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting driver license roadside safety checkpoints during the week of Nov. 13-19 on TN Route 63 in Claiborne County. Recognizing the danger presented to the public by unqualified drivers, troopers will concentrate their efforst on vehicles being operated by drivers who would violate the driver license laws of Tennessee. The THP has found these driver license roadside safety checkpoints to be an effective means of enforcing driver license laws of Tennessee while ensuring the protection of all motorists.
CCSWA Board Meeting
The Claiborne County Solid Waste Authority Board will meet for its regular monthly meeting on Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. in the large courtroom at the Claiborne County Courthouse.
National Survivors of Suicide Day
There will be a community charity event Nov. 19 from 4-7 p.m. at the National Guard Armory, located at 505 Old Knoxville Hwy., New Tazewell. The event will include a bake sale, silent auction, face painting, food & drinks, T-shirts, live music and vendors. There will also be a special keynote speaker and a special recognition ceremony as well as a balloon release. Community members are encouraged to come together to show love and support for those who have suffered loss and to bring awareness to suicide. Knowledge and awareness is the first step needed to begin making changes, and organizers are dedicated to changing the stigma surrounding suicide and depression and helping to save lives in Claiborne County. All proceeds from this event will go to the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network.
American Legion Post #109
All veterans are invited to attend monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. Activities begin at 6 p.m. with a meal. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at 335 Fulkerson Street in Tazewell.
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.
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.