Feedbag (212)
Georgia youth and disabled hunters get shot at early turkey season
A father and his daughter pose with a bagged Georgia bird. GDNR
ATLANTA — Youth and mobility-impaired hunters get an early start to turkey season on March 21-22. This special opportunity gives youth and mobility-impaired hunters a chance to harvest a gobbler on private lands before the statewide turkey season opens, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.
This early weekend hunt opportunity is available on private lands and is only for youth 16 years of age and younger, or hunters that are mobility impaired (i.e. confined to a wheelchair, hemiplegia, monoplegia, paraplegia, or single-leg amputation above the knee). Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult (18 years or older) who may call for turkey but may not take or attempt to take a turkey.
The season bag limit for turkeys is one gobbler (male turkey) per hunter per day, and a season total of two gobblers.
All turkey hunters, including those under 16 years of age, landowners, honorary, lifetime, and sportsman license holders, must obtain a free harvest record each season. Before moving a harvested turkey, hunters are required to immediately enter the date and county on the harvest record, and within 24 hours, must complete the reporting process through Georgia Game Check. More information at GeorgiaWildlife.com/HarvestRecordGeorgiaGameCheck.
-GDNR
Order up some saplings to beautify your patch on Tennessee Tree Day
NASHVILLE —The 19th annual Tennessee Tree Day continues to branch toward March 21. This is the first time there will be events in each of the state’s 95 counties. The Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) is the primary organizer. Tree reservations are open now and close on March 8.
Tennessee Tree Day is an opportunity for residents across the state to purchase native saplings of trees and woody shrubs to foster nature in their yards and neighborhoods. Woody plants provide habitat for wildlife, increase shade cover, help store carbon, and improve air quality.
Participants can pick up their trees on March 20 or 21 at any of the pick-up sites, which are run by various volunteer groups and businesses. Over a million trees have been planted thanks to Tennessee Tree Day since 2007.
There are 11 species to choose from this year, including sweet pecan, black elderberry and American persimmon — iconic Appalachian fruiting plants. Some other species are white pine, river birch, smooth sumac and eastern redbud.
Each sapling can be purchased for either $3.99 or $4.99, depending on species. For those who are unable to afford to participate, TEC offers tree scholarships. These scholarships are funded by corporate sponsorships, agency sponsorships and personal donations.
-Emelia Delaporte
SPJ invites media and public to annual legislative forum
KNOXVILLE — The East Tennessee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (ETSPJ) once again will partner with the League of Women Voters Knoxville/Knox County (LWVKKC) to hold the annual legislative forum of the Knox County delegation. The forecast for Knoxville is warm and sunny, unlike the original date on Jan. 31.
When: Saturday, Feb. 28, 9-10:30 a.m.
Where: YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center
What: Discussion with Knox County legislative delegation
Why: Hear from state senators and representatives about the 2026 session
It will be livestreamed on Facebook by the League of Women Voters HERE for those who can't attend in person.
The date is Saturday, Feb. 28, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center, located at 124 S. Cruze St., in East Knoxville near downtown. A parking lot next to the building and street parking are available. Parking is free.
Jesse Mayshark, a co-founder of Compass Knox, will serve as moderator. Access for one-on-one, in-person media interviews with the legislators in attendance also will be available at 10 a.m. after the hour-long forum.
Coffee and breakfast bagels and pastries will be available at 8:30 a.m. and are free while they last. The event is open to the public.
-ETSPJ
TVA reverses pledge to scrap two coal plants
KNOXVILLE — In a startling about-face, the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors on Wednesday voted unanimously to reverse plans to decommission two aging coal-fired power plants in Tennessee.
The board’s decision represents a dramatic departure from a utilitywide effort to move away from coal as an energy source.
Climate activists panned the board vote as a sop to the fossil-fuel industry and an abdication of the massive public utility’s statutory responsibility to the public.
The decision during the board’s meeting in Hopkinsville, Ky., applies to the Cumberland and Kingston fossil plants, both of which were to be replaced with natural-gas plants. The utility will continue planned natural-gas upgrades but will still fire the coal plants, which were both set to be decommissioned by 2028.
The site of the 70-year-old Kingston plant in Roane County was also supposed to be home to a solar array and other alternative-energy sources. A 2008 coal-ash slurry spill at the Kingston facility devastated a wide swath of adjacent property and the Emory and Clinch river watersheds. The Cumberland plant is situated near Clarksville in Middle Tennessee.
The Bull Run coal plant in Claxton near Oak Ridge was taken offline in 2023. Its locally iconic stacks were demolished in 2025. Last month, TVA announced a multimillion-dollar fusion energy research complex at the site in cooperation with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Tennessee and Knoxville-based Type One Energy.
The board’s decision on the Kingston and Cumberland facilities represents a dramatic departure from a utilitywide effort to move on from coal and shutter coal-fired boilers in favor, largely, of natural gas.
Burning coal and other fossil fuels releases large amounts of sulfates, nitrates and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and worsens a greenhouse effect that drives global temperature increases. Fine particles are also a threat to respiratory health. TVA has long operated costly emissions-control technologies at its coal plants.
Park officials seek help catching Deep Creek shooter
Both the SUV and pickup truck, as well as a gray sedan believed to be associated with the group, were seen fleeing the area toward Bryson City.
The suspect was described as
Although no additional details are available at this time, information from other visitors is often very helpful to investigators. If you were in the Deep Creek area during the late afternoon of Dec. 22 contact the NPS.
-CALL the NPS Tip Line 888-653-0009
-Report ONLINE go.nps.gov/SubmitATip
-EMAIL e-mail us
TVA seeks comment on 1,200-boat Norris marina
LONE MOUNTAIN ― The Tennessee Valley Authority is asking the public for comments on plans to issue a permit and 30-year easement for a new marina and connected facilities on 63 acres on Norris Reservoir at Clinch River Mile 134.7 in Claiborne County.
Per TVA’s draft environmental assessment: “The proposed (Norris Lake Serenity, LLC) Project would include 1,216 public boat slips, a floating marina store, fuel docks, a wave break, utilities to service the boat slips, land-based porticos, a boat ramp, and access roads and associated infrastructure. TVA’s action includes approval of the construction of proposed facilities within TVA’s flowage easement and approval of a 30-year easement for operation of the commercial marina.”
Details on the proposed Tennessee Vues Marina are found in a draft environmental assessment posted at tva.com/nepa. The draft assessment considers the potential environmental impacts of the commercial marina as requested in Section 26a permit applications. The marina would include boat slips for public rental and is consistent with TVA’s land management policies.
Comments on the draft EA can be submitted by Dec. 22, 2025, and may be submitted online at tva.com/nepa, emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or mailed to Jessica Wykoff-Carpenter, NEPA Specialist, Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 W. Summit Hill Drive WT 11B, Knoxville, TN 37902. All comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the project administrative record and will be available for public inspection.
-Tennessee Valley Authority
Deer baiting, endangered fish on tap for Fish and Wildlife Commission
CHATTANOOGA — The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold its final meeting of 2025 at the Tennessee Aquarium (Lupton Room) on Dec. 4-5. Committee meetings begin at 1 p.m. Dec. 4, with full commission proceedings continuing at 9 a.m. Dec. 5. Both meetings will be streamed on Youtube.
The commission will have three rule-making hearings, which were previewed by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency staff at the TFWC’s October meeting in Nashville. To view the October TFWC meeting, click here. They pertain to the deer-baiting privilege license (only on private or leased lands), the North Cumberland OHV permit, and changes to the endangered or threatened species list.
One species, the teardrop darter, is under consideration to be added to the state Threatened and Endangered Species list. It is only found in Tennessee and Kentucky, where it occurs in the Barren and Green river systems. Two species, the Clinch dace and Sequatchie darter, are proposed to be removed from the list because they are not recognized by the American Fisheries Society.
Leading up to the rule-making hearing, Wildlife and Forestry Division Assistant Chief Mark McBride and wildlife veterinarian Dr. Dan Grove will present background information on the Deer Baiting Privilege License during Thursday's committee meetings. Expected impacts of baiting on deer, deer harvests, impacts on other species, and CWD will be among the topics discussed.
-TWRA
Oak Ridge recreation center stores power in ice
OAK RIDGE — The city is investing in a new cooling system for the Oak Ridge Recreation Center at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.
The recreation center includes a game room with pool tables and arcade games, as well a gym and an indoor pool. In a news release, city government described the new cooling technology as innovative and “designed to improve operational efficiency, lower electricity costs, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions for the facility while supporting the growth of a local clean-tech company.”
That company is Shift Thermal and its system stores energy in the form of ice, made during off-peak hours when power is cheapest and cleanest.
“During the hottest parts of the day, when electricity demand and costs are at their highest, the stored ice supplements the building’s air conditioning, which then improves performance and reduces the strain on the power grid,” Shift Thermal CTO Mitchell Ishmael said in the news release.
The company uses an immiscible working fluid to circulate through the system, eliminating traditional ice-storage heat exchangers. This design simplifies installation, increases efficiency, and lowers costs for large-scale cooling systems, the news release stated.
-Ben Pounds
TWRA to sample deer for CWD at check-ins
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) will be operating chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling stations across the state on the opening day of the 2025 muzzleloader season, Saturday, Nov. 8, to monitor the presence of CWD in white-tailed deer populations. Hunters play a crucial role in this monitoring effort by bringing harvested deer to designated sampling locations.
CWD, a contagious and fatal neurological disease affecting deer, has been detected in 18 counties, all in West Tennessee except one positive county in Middle Tennessee (Lewis County). A complete list of counties where CWD has been detected and specific test locations is available at tnwildlife.org. By participating in CWD sampling, hunters can assist TWRA in early detection and prevent the disease from spreading.
-TWRA
Updated: Gatlinburg Spur reopens in Smokies
National Park Service The original article continues below.
TWRA probes 20th boating fatality of 2025
JOHNSON CITY — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is investigating a fatal boating collision on South Holston Lake on Saturday, Sept. 20.
At 9:45 p.m. a bass boat carrying two people struck a pillar of the Hwy. 421 bridge. The collision resulted in the death of the passenger and left the operator with serious injuries.
The operator was airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center, while the passenger, Ronald E. Taylor, 72, of Virginia, was dead at the scene. The medical examiner will be conducting an autopsy.
TWRA extends its gratitude to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Sullivan County Rescue Squad, Bristol Life Saving Crew, and a local volunteer fire department for their assistance.
This incident marks the 20th boating-related fatality on Tennessee’s waterways in 2025. The investigation continues.
-TWRA
Bearing witness to Hiroshima
80th Anniversary events organized by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance
Moving personal accounts of time spent in Hiroshima
Friday, August 8 | 6:00–8:00 PM
First Presbyterian Church Knoxville
First, readings from hibakusha Hideko Tamura Snider’s book “One Sunny Day: Childhood Memories of Hiroshima.” Then, Utsumi Gyoshu, Rachel Stewart and author Emily Strasser will each give remarks about recent experiences in Hiroshima. Q&A will follow.
Visit the OREPA website for details and more events.
Mitchie Takeuchi answering questions from the audience at Central Cinema on August 7. Wolf Naegeli/Hellbender Press
Screening of the feature-length documentary with Mitchie Takeuchi at Knoxville’s Central Cinema
Knoxville — As part of its Bearing Witness program to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atom bombings, the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA) organized a viewing of The Vow from Hiroshima and conversation with its co-producer/writer Mitchie Takeuchi. Takeuchi is a second generation ‘hibakusha,’ the Japanese word for atom bomb survivors. Her father, Dr. Ken Takeuchi, was a military surgeon and founding president of Hiroshima’s Red Cross Hospital from 1937 to 1947. He was at the hospital and badly wounded, but survived.
The film follows the story of Setsuko Thurlow, who was 13 when she barely managed to crawl out from the rubble of her school before it was overwhelmed by the fire that burned most of her schoolmates alive. Setsuko became the foremost international proponent for the abolition of nuclear weapons. She was part of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons’ delegation that received the 2017 Nobel Peace Price in Oslo. In her acceptance speech, she said:
A 52-minute short version of The Vow from Hiroshima can be watched on PBS.
Bearing witness: Peace Pilgrimage, Names and Remembrance ceremony
80th Anniversary events organized by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance
Peace pilgrimage from the Great Smoky Mountains
Peace Walk: Bearing Witness to Hiroshima, August 4–9, 2025
Names and remembrance ceremony
Wednesday, August 6 | 6:00–9:00 a.m.
Location: Across from the Y-12 Security Complex main entrance way in Oak Rige
Join us to honor the victims of Hiroshima with a morning of names and remembrance, bell ringing and a visual tribute of paper cranes; please be sure to bring a chair.
Photo Lecture & Artist Panel
Wednesday, August 6 | 6:30 p.m.
Addison’s Bookstore, 126 S. Gay Street, Knoxville
An evening with Yvonne Dalschen, Black Atticus and guest artists reflecting on the legacy of Hiroshima through art, storytelling and music.
Visit the OREPA website for details and more events.
Sweet nectar of spring flows at annual UT pollinator festival
Written by Lauren Tolley
Pollinators play a vital role in maintaining our ecosystems, economies and agriculture. Here’s a bee in flight at the UT Gardens in Knoxville. R. Lazarian/UTIA
Get your buzz on in Knoxville or two other locations in the state during Pollinator Week June 16-25
Lauren Tolley is a University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture marketing and communications associate.
KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee Bee Campus Committee, a group comprised of UT faculty, staff and students, in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority and UT Gardens, invites communities across the state to celebrate national Pollinator Week at a series of “Garden Buzz” pollinator events on June 17.
Pollinator Week is an annual celebration in support of pollinator health, initiated and managed by the Pollinator Partnership. This year’s theme is “Pollinators Weave Connections” — highlighting the essential roles pollinators play in creating and expression of human culture, the food we enjoy and the beauty that surrounds us. Pollinator Week is June 16-25.
Similar to UT and TVA’s collaborative Garden Buzz celebrations in previous years, the 2025 Garden Buzz celebrations will offer participants opportunities to learn more about pollinators in Tennessee through educational activities. Attendees can also learn how to start their own pollinator gardens with locally grown plants that help support a thriving ecosystem.
New citizens to take oath of allegiance against Big South Fork backdrop
ONEIDA — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will host an official naturalization ceremony on Thursday, April 24. One hundred and fifty individuals will take the oath of citizenship.
The event is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend and witness meaningful milestones. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at Bandy Creek Visitor Center, with the Honorable Thomas W. Phillips presiding. Local Boy Scout Troop and Crew 333 will conduct the presentation of colors.
“National Park Week is a celebration of America’s national heritage. And national parks preserve this great nation’s stories and natural and cultural wonders,” said Superintendent Niki Stephanie Nicholas. “Welcoming new citizens in such a special place is suitable to their inspirational journeys, qualities and characters.”
Naturalization is the official process through which a foreign citizen or national becomes a United States citizen after meeting the requirements set by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act. This process culminates in a formal court proceeding where individuals take the Oath of Allegiance, receive their Certificate of Naturalization and are officially welcomed as U.S. citizens, marking the beginning of their new chapters in the American community.
This official step unites new citizens through a shared commitment to the nation’s values, opening doors to new opportunities and a brighter future. Welcome them into the fabric of our nation.
Help steer mobility modes around Knox County
KNOXVILLE — Knox County is seeking community input on the East Knox Mobility Study. Officials with the county’s mobility study team would like people to help prioritize the final list of 23 projects designed to help improve safety and connectivity across East Knox County.
The feedback will help determine a phased approach to implementing the projects. To participate, you can log onto the survey’s website or scan a QR code, which will be posted on the county’s various social media platforms.
The website features an Interactive Project Map that provides more details about each transportation project and asks participants to help project leaders understand certain priorities by rating each project. Additionally, the website features a “Funding Tool” option that lets participants select projects to fund based on a limited budget.
The idea is to help county and project leaders identify which projects are most important to members of the East Knox County community.
“To ensure that your voice is heard in shaping the future of transportation in East Knox County, we have provided two activities where you can share your feedback,” mobility team members said. “The final projects have been identified based on public and stakeholder input, safety assessments, and the Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan. Your feedback will be instrumental in helping to prioritize these projects.”
The deadline to complete the survey is April 18.
Late last year, the county held several public information meetings to identify key transportation challenges, set priorities, and shape the final recommendations for the study.
About the Study: The East Knox County Mobility Study is a community-focused initiative designed to enhance transportation planning for the Gibbs, Corryton, Ritta, Strawberry Plains, and Mascot areas. This study will support the new Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan. The study will integrate transportation best practices and consider all modes of travel. More information on the study can be found at https://engagecdmsmith.com/east-knox-county mobility.
Get down and dirty with history at Big South Fork celebration of spring
A farrier demonstrates his skills during a past installment of the annual Spring Planting and Music Festival at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, set this year for April 26. National Park Service
ONEIDA — Step back in time and experience history in motion at the 25th Annual Spring Planting and Music Festival from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 26 at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
Traditions of early Appalachian settlers come to life at this free, family-friendly event. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the heritage of the Big South Fork region with live demonstrations, traditional crafts, music and hands-on activities that showcase the self-sufficient way of life practiced by generations past.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Oscar and Lora Blevins farm sites and the Bandy Creek area, the festival offers a rare opportunity to experience traditional Appalachian life. Visitors will see a variety of demonstrations and hands-on activities that highlight the skills and craftsmanship of early settlers.
One of the festival’s most anticipated highlights is the plowing and planting demonstration with mule and horse teams at the Lora Blevins field.
Children and adults alike will enjoy exploring old-time toys and taking part in interactive exhibits that make history come alive. Live music will be provided by some of the region’s most talented musicians.
Park service lifts ban on all fires in Great Smokies
GATLINBURG — The National Park Service lifted a ban March 17 (the ban was originally issued March 13) on all campfires and charcoal use in Great Smoky Mountains National Park put in place during recent windy and dry weather. Campers and hikers should still be cautious with fires.
The original story continues below:
This fire ban will remain in effect until further notice on both the Tennessee and North Carolina sides of the park.
Campers, backpackers, and visitors using picnic areas may continue to use cookstoves with compressed gas canisters and gas grills that feature an on/off switch. Stoves and grills must be attended at all times.
The NPS is collaborating with multiple agencies in response to current and predicted weather and fuel conditions. Visitors are urged to exercise extra caution while on public lands, including national parks and national forests, in North Carolina and Tennessee when fire danger is elevated.
For the latest information regarding the fire ban in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, please visit the park's current conditions webpage.
-National Park Service
Park service crews to remove hazardous trees from Cades Cove; road closures planned
A view of a greening Cades Cove as seen from Loop Road in mid-March 2016. Great Smoky Mountains National Park crews will remove hazardous trees from the cove over the last weeks of January. Thomas Fraser/Hellbender PressNOAA’s Teek and Tom bring fun and free science to classrooms and homes
It’s all about the ocean-weather-climate connection!
Join intrepid student explorer Teek from planet Queloz and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) climate scientist Tom Di Liberto as they explore planet Earth’s weather and climate. This five-part science series covers a range of scientific topics, including how the ocean influences weather and climate on Earth, and the technologies scientists use to gather information about our planet and its changing climate.
Each episode is supplemented by two lesson plans designed for students in the fourth through sixth grades — all of which are compiled in a single Educator’s Guide. Each lesson allows students to explore and investigate NOAA data, visualizations and content, allowing them to build knowledge of and skills associated with important Earth science concepts.
An understanding of how the Earth works as a system and how humans interact with the Earth is important for all inhabitants of our planet. Teek and Tom are a fun and engaging way to grow that understanding!
Teek and Tom: Educator’s Guide
The Teek and Tom Educator’s Guide includes 10 lesson plans — two supplementing each episode. The lessons allow students to build knowledge of and skills associated with important Earth science concepts. Through the exploration and investigation of NOAA data, visualizations, and content, the lessons support the videos in telling a cohesive story of key Earth systems, and how those systems impact each other.
Each lesson is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), national standards for math, national standards for English and language arts, and the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards. These standards reinforce the interdisciplinary nature of ocean, weather and climate studies, and support the teaching of these topics. The lessons engage students in content that is locally relevant; and use the 5E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) to provide a structure for students to connect science ideas with their own experiences, and apply their learning to new contexts.
To access this high-caliber, free science lesson, download the educator’s guide.
Gear up/look out: Deer hunting shot off Saturday
KNOXVILLE — Tennessee’s 2024-25 statewide gun hunting season for deer opens Saturday, Nov. 23. The season traditionally opens each year on the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving. During gun season, sportsmen may also use muzzleloaders or archery equipment.
The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is two. No more than one antlered deer may be taken per day, not to exceed two for the season. In Units 1, 2 and 3 there is an antlerless bag limit of three per day, and a limit of two antlerless for this season in Units 4, 5 and 6. The bag limit may only be exceeded as part of the Earn-A-Buck program or as replacement buck in a CWD positive county.
During season setting, new hunting units were implemented for this season. Hunters should refer to the 2024-25 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Guide for specific information about their hunting unit and complete license requirements.
Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969, is required to carry proof of satisfactory completion of a hunter education class or be in possession of the Apprentice Hunter Education Permit (along with other required licenses) while hunting any species in Tennessee. Hunter education can be completed online for free along with in person options offered by TWRA.
The statewide deer hunting season will continue through Jan. 5, 2025. The second Young Sportsman Hunt is Jan. 11-12.
State your case in local quest to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
KNOXVILLE — The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization seeks the public’s feedback on greenhouse gas emissions in East Tennessee. Take this brief survey and make your voice heard:
- The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and covers topics like climate change, energy efficiency and transportation to shape ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region. The survey is open through Sept. 30 at www.knoxbreathesurvey.com
- Residents of all nine counties within the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) — Knox, Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Grainger, Loudon, Morgan, Roane and Union — are encouraged to take the survey and make their voices heard.
- The Knoxville MSA was one of 82 metropolitan areas in the U.S. selected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to receive a planning grant to create a regional emission reduction plan as part of the agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program. “BREATHE” is the name for the Knoxville region’s CPRG initiative.
- More information on “BREATHE” can be found at knoxbreathe.org
Tennessee Fish and Wildlife commission returns to Paris Landing
Tennessee State Parks
BUCHANAN — The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will return to Paris Landing State Park for the first time in 15 years for a one-day meeting on Friday, Sept. 20. The meeting will start at 9 a.m.
A new video titled “Safe Boating Near Locks and Dams” will be presented. The video was produced by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in partnership with, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard and Hardin County Emergency Management Agency.
Retired TWRA Wildlife and Forestry employee Mark Gudlin will be recognized for his induction into the National Bobwhite and Grasslands Initiative Hall of Fame. He served in a variety of roles during a 38-year TWRA career and was serving as Habitat Program Manager upon his retirement in 2021.
Will Bowling from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will be recognized for a donation from the Foundation and the Mildred T. Edwards Trust. The gift will go toward purchasing a 1,322-acre tract at North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area.
There will also be a preview for rules and regulations governing licenses, permit fees and boating certificates.
Get plugged in to the facts about electric vehicles during SACE webinar
KNOXVILLE — You’re invited to join a Southern Alliance for Clean Energy webinar, “Understanding EVs: Real People Share Real Stories of Electrifying Their Ride,” at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29.
A panel of electric vehicle (EV) owners and drivers will share stories and insights from their experiences with EVs. Learn more about what it’s like to own, charge, travel and save money with an EV, plus hear advice from real people who have gone electric! Panelists for this webinar will include:
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EVNoire Associate Director Tarique André Miller, on EV charging levels and networks, best practices on charging, maintenance cost savings, plus EV incentives and opportunities for all
- SACE Electric Transportation Equity Manager Madelyn Collins and East Tennessee Clean Fuels Community Engagement Liaison Wesleigh Wright, on what they learned about EV range and community charging during their first ever EV road trip
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SACE volunteer Sara Vinson, on purchasing an EV, using federal tax credits to save money on an EV, and benefiting from the low maintenance of EVs (including her vow to never get an oil change again!)
Kayak fisherman drowns on Watauga River
Youth Conservation Corps team tends to Obed trails
A Youth Conservation Corps team performs trail maintenance at Obed Wild and Scenic River during a summer YCC program at the park. National Park Service
WARTBURG — 2024’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) team at the Obed Wild and Scenic River spent their summer working to maintain and enhance hiking trails. The YCC is a paid summer work program for youth ages 15-18 on federally managed lands. Since its inception in 1970, the YCC has introduced young Americans to conservation opportunities on public lands.
This year’s YCC team members include Lydia Barnett from Gateway Christian School, Emma Foust from Anderson County High School and Jimmy Hall, Haylee Morgan and Joshua Stedman from Wartburg Central High School.
Youth Conservation Corps members engage in activities that restore, rehabilitate and repair the natural, cultural and historical resources within federally preserved areas. The crew is led by National Park Service staff, who provide transportation, supervision, training and education. Students acquire basic trade skills and learn about cultural and environmental topics, fostering a sense of stewardship toward park resources. The program also includes instructor-led recreational activities, educational field trips and classroom instruction.
The completion of this year’s YCC project will extend the lifespan of trail assets and components, enhancing visitor satisfaction and safety. Participating youth will gain new skills, improve teamwork and develop a deeper understanding of environmental impact, contributing to the National Park Service’s mission.
Park service opens comment period for Foothills Parkway extension from Wears Cove to Gatlinburg
GATLINBURG — The National Park Service has posted the Foothills Parkway Section 8D Environmental Assessment (EA) for a 30-day public comment period ending Aug. 21. The EA evaluates the construction of nine miles of new parkway from Wears Valley to the Gatlinburg Spur near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
(Hellbender Press first reported on this proposal in 2021.)
A virtual public meeting about the EA and the proposed action will be held at 5 p.m. July 30. The meeting will include a presentation about the overview of the project and give time for the public to ask questions.
Read the EA, learn more about the proposed Foothills Parkway Section 8D project, and provide comments.
ORNL engineering eco-friendly solvents
ORNL researchers are using artificial intelligence to speed the identification of environmentally friendly solvents for industrial applications. Andy Sproles/ORNL, U.S. Department of Energy
OAK RIDGE — Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists developed a method leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate the identification of environmentally friendly solvents for industrial carbon capture, biomass processing, rechargeable batteries and other applications.
The research targets a class of solvents known for being nontoxic, biodegradable, highly stable, cost-effective and reusable.
The scientists developed a method to predict solvent viscosity — a key property impacting performance for industrial applications. They compiled nearly 5,000 data points on 672 solvents, evaluated quantum chemical features that guide solvent molecular interactions, and deployed an algorithm called categorical boosting to quickly parse the data and determine the best candidates.
“We reduced computational time and complexity with our approach, while still incorporating all possible molecular interactions,” said ORNL’s Mohan Mood.
ORNL’s Michelle Kidder said, “Interpretable machine learning helps us to design solvents with desired properties for carbon capture by reducing experimental time and cost in the laboratory.”
Less carbon, more chill: ORNL tech reduces refrigerator CO2 emissions by 30 percent
A novel technology developed by ORNL keeps food and beverages refrigerated with an advanced evaporator, phase change materials, metal foam, direct-contact defrosting technology and a low global warming refrigerant. Oak Ridge National Laboratory
OAK RIDGE — A technology developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory keeps food refrigerated with phase-change materials, or PCMs, while reducing carbon emissions by 30 percent.
More than 100 million household refrigerators in operation across the United States consume up to 2 kilowatts of electricity daily. These refrigerators contribute to energy consumption and carbon emissions by using compressors that cycle on and off day and night, pumping refrigerants across evaporator coils to maintain low temperatures for fresh and frozen compartments.
(Hellbender Press previously reported on the development of new coolants and systems at ORNL).
ORNL’s innovation uses advanced evaporators with PCMs installed in each compartment for cold energy storage. PCMs are useful for heating and cooling because they store and release energy when changing from solids to liquids or vice versa. Researchers applied porous metals, direct-contact defrosting technology and a refrigerant with low-global-warming potential to enhance performance and minimize environmental impact.
“PCMs are integrated with evaporator coils to keep temperature constant, requiring one operating cycle and allowing refrigerators to operate almost 100% at nighttime, when energy use is lower,” ORNL’s Zhiming Gao said. “This reduces electricity demand, saves costs and maintains efficiency.”
— Oak Ridge National Laboratory
TWRA recovers body of teenage drowning victim
ROCKWOOD — Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officers and local agencies recovered the body of Roane County resident, 19-year-old Braeden Hartup, from Watts Bar Reservoir just after 2 a.m. May 26.
The initial 911 call, concerning a male who had jumped from a boat and did not resurface, came in just after 9 p.m. May 25. Hartup and 10 others were on an anchored pontoon just south of Rockwood, near the Winton Chapel Access Area. Witnesses stated that Hartup decided to swim and jumped into the water from the front of the boat. Hartup was not wearing a life jacket.
TWRA officers and local agencies used a remote-operated vehicle to locate and recover Hartup’s body in 24 feet of water. The body was transported to the Knox County Medical Examiner’s Office. This is the eighth boating related fatality this year. The incident remains under investigation.
Find boating and statistical information at tnwildlife.org.
Sharing the love: Grayson Subaru presents $39K check to Ijams Nature Center
Grayson Subaru presented a check for $39,000 from Subaru of America’s 2023 Subaru Share the Love Event to Ijams Nature Center on April 24. Funds will be used to expand the popular Ijams Nature Playscape at Grayson Subaru Preserve and the Mead’s Quarry Lake swim area. Ijams Nature Center
KNOXVILLE — Grayson Subaru gave $39,000 to Ijams Nature Center to expand the popular Ijams Nature Playscape at Grayson Subaru Preserve and the Mead’s Quarry Lake swim area.
The local retailer chose the nonprofit nature center as its hometown charity for Subaru of America Inc.’s 2023 Subaru Share the Love® Event. From Nov. 15, 2023, to Jan. 2, Subaru and its retailers donated a minimum of $300 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased at more than 628 of its retailers nationwide to several national charities and a hometown charity chosen by each retailer.
“Subaru of America and Grayson Subaru are committed to the communities we serve,” Subaru Sales Manager JC Marquardt said. “We do that by showing support in ways that make a meaningful difference, and we’re incredibly grateful to our customers, who share our values and are committed to doing the same. This is a proud day for all of us.”
Work has already begun on Phase 2 of the Ijams Nature Playscape.
“Thus far, Ijams staff have scouted the new trail and, with the help of 115 trained volunteers, removed invasive species from about one acre of the new section,” Ijams President and CEO Amber Parker said. “This is the most time-consuming part of the process, because there is a more diverse mix of invasive and native species, and removal has to be done by hand.”
In addition to preparing the upper section of the 13.46-acre property, Ijams is planning a new feature to Phase 1 of the playscape after conducting a survey of the people who were using it.
“We learned that people wanted a way to cross through the mushier spots of the floodplain in an area we call the ‘Soggy Bottom Room,’ so we’re creating a narrow path of wood over utility poles to make a bog walkway,” she said. “We recently salvaged a large palette that was mired in the mud along the Tennessee River and will use that reclaimed wood in the project. There are perks to having an Ijams River Captain keeping our waterways clear!”
Parker said improvements to the Mead’s Quarry swim area will start at a later date.
ORNL chemists invent a more efficient way to extract lithium
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
OAK RIDGE — Chemists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have invented a more efficient way to extract lithium from waste liquids leached from mining sites, oil fields and used batteries. They demonstrated that a common mineral can adsorb at least five times more lithium than can be collected using previously developed adsorbent materials.
“It’s a low-cost, high-lithium-uptake process,” said Parans Paranthaman, an ORNL Corporate Fellow and National Academy of Inventors Fellow with 58 issued patents. He led the proof-of-concept experiment with Jayanthi Kumar, an ORNL materials chemist with expertise in the design, synthesis and characterization of layered materials.
“The key advantage is that it works in a wider pH range of 5 to 11 compared to other direct lithium extraction methods,” Paranthaman said. The acid-free extraction process takes place at 140 degrees Celsius, compared to traditional methods that roast mined minerals at 250 degrees Celsius with acid or 800 to 1,000 degrees Celsius without acid.
Lithium is a lightweight metal commonly used in energy-dense and rechargeable batteries. Electric vehicles, which are needed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, rely on lithium-ion batteries. Industrially, lithium is extracted from brines, rocks and clays. The ORNL innovation may help meet rising demand for lithium by making domestic sources commercially viable.
TWRA bans booze in management areas to combat trail-riding crashes
NASHVILLE — Alcohol possession and consumption will be prohibited on Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Wildlife Management Areas statewide, effective April 15 with the exception of designated areas. Alcohol is only permitted at designated TWRA campgrounds and on public waters bordering or within a WMA. Drunken-disorderly conduct is also prohibited.
This rule applies to all user groups, including hunters, hikers, off-highway (OHV) drivers and passengers, and other WMA users. Signs will be posted on the WMA noting that alcohol is prohibited. TWRA wildlife officers will be issuing citations for alcohol possession and use that is not in compliance with the regulations. Tennessee State Driving Under the Influence laws also apply on local roads and managed trails when operating OHVs.
The rule change is being implemented due to high rates of intoxicated trail riding on WMAs and frequent accidents where alcohol was a contributing factor. The TWRA is committed to public safety and is focused on keeping public lands family friendly and safe for all Tennesseans.
— TWRA
Updated: Missing man found near Tremont in Smokies
GATLINBURG — A missing man who was the subject of a search in Great Smoky Mountains National Park was found on Wednesday.
Jacob Riggs was located in the vicinity of Tremont by a park visitor who recognized that he was in need of care. The visitor brought Riggs to the Incident Command Post near the Townsend Wye. Riggs had minor injuries and exposure to weather. He was evaluated onsite and taken to a local hospital.
The previous story is below:
Park rangers are searching for a 35-year-old man near the Townsend Wye, Tremont and Cades Cove areas of the park. Jacob Riggs was last seen in Maynardville, Tenn. on April 7. His vehicle was found in the park on April 8.
Riggs is a white male, with black hair and a dark beard, and brown eyes. He is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds.
Knoxville’s new alternative transportation leader will start with traffic calming
Cody Gentry
KNOXVILLE — Transportation Engineering Specialist Cody Gentry is the city’s first Vision Zero coordinator.
As the city’s first Vision Zero coordinator, Gentry will oversee efforts by multiple city departments and community groups, including Bike Walk Knoxville, to improve roadway safety and meet the Vision Zero goal, which City Council unanimously endorsed in 2021.
Gentry has worked in the city’s engineering department for 17 years, most recently as a key member of the Neighborhood Transportation Safety Program. The neighborhood-driven program seeks solutions to vehicle speed and traffic safety concerns on residential streets.
“I’m eager for Cody to lend his significant experience to our Vision Zero efforts and find multi-modal solutions to road safety across Knoxville,” said Mayor Indya Kincannon. “We must work together across multiple city departments and community groups in order to reach our goal of ending deadly crashes by 2040. Cody is the person to bring those components together.”
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Smokies roads, trails affected by Smokies windstorm
GATLINBURG — Laurel Creek, Cherokee Orchard, Greenbrier and Upper Tremont roads and some sections of Foothills Parkway remained closed early Wednesday after a Tuesday storm packing 85 mph winds downed trees and damaged vehicles and structures across Great Smoky Mountains National Park. No injuries were reported.
The closures were still in effect as of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to park officials. Newfound Gap Road is open. Current road closures are listed on the park website.
A National Weather Service wind advisory and high wind warning remained in effect until 2 p.m. Tuesday. Wind gusts peaked at 85 mph in the park between 2 and 3 a.m, according to the park service.
Sugarlands and Oconaluftee visitor centers are open. Visitors coming to the park today are encouraged to stop in a visitor center for updates on current conditions.
Updated: TWRA plans adjustments to hunting laws, seeks public input
WAVERLY — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will preview its recommendations for the 2024-25 hunting and trapping seasons at the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission’s March 21-22 meeting at Buffalo Ridge Refuge in Humphreys County.
Thursday committee meetings begin at 1 p.m. while full commission session starts at 9 a.m. Friday.
Wildlife and Forestry Assistant Chief Wally Akins will share proposed changes to wildlife management areas and the furbearer season. Wildlife and Forestry Assistant Chief Mark McBride will follow with proposals for the “Take of Raptors for Falconry and Migratory Game Bird Seasons.” His presentation will conclude with big game harvest summaries and proposed season changes, including recommendations for the new deer and turkey management units and season dates.
The 2024-25 season setting comment period ended on January 15th. TWRA advises you to check its public comments page after the March commission meeting for a link to provide comments on the season recommendations presented at the meeting. The commission will vote on the proposed regulations at its April 18-19 meeting in Johnson City.
Update: You now have until April 12 to review and comment on the proposals.
Knox County is trying to fix what we broke at Plumb Creek
KNOXVILLE — Knox County government announced the kickoff of the Plumb Creek Park Stream Enhancement Project, a strategic effort aimed at revitalizing the water quality and ecosystem of Plumb Creek, a tributary of Beaver Creek, supported by federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act.
(Eds. note: Every Republican representing Tennessee in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House voted against the act that provided the money.)
Plumb Creek Park, located at 1517 Hickey Road, features a disc golf course, playground, shelter, walking trails and an 8-acre dog park.
The project, which began this month, is expected to wrap up in December and include a comprehensive set of restoration activities. Work includes removing obstructions such as culverts and debris; controlling invasive species; stabilizing stream banks; and installing stream structures to improve habitat quality, erosion, and sediment control measures.
Some sections of the park will close temporarily during construction. The dog park will remain open.
This project is funded in part by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a federal initiative to aid state and local governments in mitigating the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Knox County
This 90-year-old theater is on a mission to provide a space for Black artists
— Barter Theatre
Come talk words with writers at Tremont conference in Smokies
Writers discuss their craft during the 2023 Tremont Writers Conference, which returns in October. GSMIT
TOWNSEND — Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont this fall will host the second annual Tremont Writers Conference, an intensive five-day retreat for writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry coordinated in partnership with Smokies Life, formerly Great Smoky Mountains Association.
Applications to participate in the event may be submitted online through April 30.
From Wednesday, Oct. 23, through Sunday, Oct. 27, a small group of selected writers will join renowned authors and professional park educators on Tremont’s campus in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Participants will enjoy brainstorming and fine-tuning their work with award-winning author workshop leaders while also learning and writing throughout the day.
You’re invited to the annual Big South Fork and Obed science meeting
ONEIDA — On March 13, 2024 the National Park Service will host its annual public science meeting at Historic Rugby Visitor Center at 1331 Rugby Parkway, Rugby, Tennessee.
The public is invited to spend the day with scientists who have been conducting research at Obed Wild and Scenic River, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, and other areas on the Cumberland Plateau.
A wide range of topics specific to the Upper Cumberland Plateau will be covered during the day, including talks on wild hogs, restoration efforts at cultural landscapes, impacts from hemlock wooly adelgid on native hemlock trees, and other topics.
Rangers probe suspected arson in Great Smokies
GATLINBURG — The National Park Service is investigating a possible arson fire off Laurel Creek Road near Crib Gap Trail. The fire was extinguished, but as part of the investigation, rangers are requesting the public’s help to find anyone who was in the area of Crib Gap Trail, Anthony Creek Trail or Lead Cove Trail Feb. 6 at about 6 p.m.
If you have information about vehicles or suspicious activity in the area around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, please submit a tip. You don’t have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know. Rangers also ask that the person who originally reported the fire calls the number below as soon as possible.
CALL: 888-653-0009 or 865-436-1230
— National Park Service
Advance Knox plan gets policy committee approval; heads to other governing boards next
WATE: Knox County approves controversial Advance Knox plan in policy committee
KNOXVILLE — A Knox County growth plan advanced by Mayor Glenn Jacob’s administration was approved by the guiding committee behind Advance Knox.
Hellbender Press has reported and opined on the growth plan during its development. The plan was touted as a means of reducing sprawl and accompanying taxpayer-funded infrastructure.
Rural and suburban property owners remain dubious whether the proposed revamp of the original Knox County growth plan will control the countywide development encroaching on their land, according to reporting from WATE:
“Kevin Murphy doubles as an advisory committee member and resident of a rural area. He lives off of Washington Pike and said the area has already started morphing into a suburb.
“‘Today, there’s over 17,000 cars a day that pass by my farm. All this growth will increase that a lot and 17,000 cars a day is a pretty significant amount of noise, litter, light pollution, at all times of the hours, so the character is definitely changing,’ he said.”
The plan still needs to be approved by Knox County Commission, city of Knoxville and the town of Farragut.
Big South Fork NRRA celebrates 50th anniversary
New Year’s Day 2024: Mail Run bike ride
ONEIDA — Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area will commemorate its first 50 years with a year-long celebration in 2024. The park will recognize those who have played a pivotal role in making this special place what it is today.
Big South Fork prepares a year of honoring the past, celebrating today and planning for the future. “The story of Big South Fork is not finished. We are excited to engage with the community as we look forward to the next 50 years,” said Superintendent Niki Stephanie Nicholas.
As the new year approaches, there is a lot in store, from the installation of dozens of brand-new interpretive waysides and information boards — found at trailheads, parking lots and other points of interest throughout the park — to a completely overhauled official park map and guide, special events, ranger-led programs and incredible social media content, just to name a few.
Big South Fork’s 50th anniversary activities start with a celebration at Bandy Creek Visitor Center on Monday, Jan. 1, at 10 a.m., where mountain bikers are invited to ride the annual “Mail Run” event.
This ride is traditionally called the Mail Run because it occurs every year, no matter the weather. Just remember to BYOB (Bring Your Own Bike). The Mail Run consists of a choice of rides from 8-35 miles so bikers can pick the group ride of a length they are most comfortable with. Hot chocolate and coffee will be available at Bandy Creek Visitor Center before the rides start.
ORNL wants to leave watercraft carbon emissions in its wake
This Caterpillar in-line 6-cylinder marine diesel engine will be the subject of research and development for efficient, more climate-friendly marine propulsion with methanol fuel. Genevieve Martin, ORNL/U.S. Dept. of Energy
OAK RIDGE — The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Caterpillar Inc. have entered into a cooperative research and development agreement to investigate methanol as an alternative fuel source for four-stroke internal combustion marine engines. The collaboration supports efforts to decarbonize the marine industry, a hard-to-electrify transportation sector.
As the U.S. continues to seek ways to reduce environmentally harmful greenhouse gas emissions, methanol is an attractive fuel alternative to diesel because it reduces carbon emissions. Methanol also reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. In addition, methanol’s relatively high energy density makes it easier to store on marine vessels than gaseous fuels meaning it can be more easily integrated into overall existing engine design and operation.
Greener solution powers new method for lithium-ion battery recycling
ORNL researchers Lu Yu and Yaocai Bai examine vials that contain a chemical solution that causes the cobalt and lithium to separate from a spent battery, followed by a second stage when cobalt precipitates in the bottom. Carlos Jones/ORNL/DOE
OAK RIDGE — Used lithium-ion batteries from cell phones, laptops and a growing number of electric vehicles are piling up, but options for recycling them remain limited mostly to burning or chemically dissolving shredded batteries. The current state-of-the-art methods can pose environmental challenges and be difficult to make economical at the industrial scale.
The conventional process recovers few of the battery materials and relies on caustic, inorganic acids and hazardous chemicals that may introduce impurities. It also requires complicated separation and precipitation to recover the critical metals. However, recovering metals such as cobalt and lithium could reduce both pollution and reliance on foreign sources and choked supply chains.
This research is funded as a project of the Advanced Battery Recycling Consortium, or ReCell, a program of the Vehicle Technologies Office within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Lu Yu and Yaocai Bai and researchers Rachid Essehli and Anuj Bisht contributed to the study, which utilized the DOE’s Center for Nanophase Materials Science at ORNL.
— Oak Ridge National Laboratory
ORNL separates rare earth from the chaff
Membrane solvent extraction schematic. ORNL
OAK RIDGE — Caldera Holding, the owner and developer of Missouri’s Pea Ridge iron mine, has entered a nonexclusive research and development licensing agreement with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to apply a membrane solvent extraction technique, or MSX, developed by ORNL researchers to process mined ores. MSX provides a scalable, efficient way to separate rare earth elements, or REEs, from mixed mineral ores.
The MSX technology was pioneered at ORNL by researchers in the Department of Energy’s Critical Materials Innovation Hub, or CMI, led by Ames National Laboratory. The inventors, Ramesh Bhave and Syed Islam of ORNL’s Chemical Sciences Division are named in 26 inventions and five active licenses related to the recovery of REEs.