September 30, 2009 – The 2009 Knoxville Solar Tour & Fair will shine on all things solar Saturday offering everything from workshops on existing solar opportunities and financial incentives to help pay for them, to a tour of homes and businesses already benefiting from solar power. “This is an exciting and interactive way to learn about the opportunities for solar energy in Knoxville and see firsthand some local solar success stories,” said Erin Burns, the City of Knoxville’s Sustainability Coordinator. “If someone is interested in implementing solar technology in their home or business this event is great place to get some answers.” The Knoxville Solar Fair runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Krutch Park Extension, located on Gay Street in Downtown Knoxville,... (more...)

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.—Nowhere does fall make its arrival so abundantly known as in the Smoky Mountains, and Dollywood’s annual National Gospel & Harvest Celebration presented by Humana (Oct. 2-31; closed Tuesdays & Thursdays) honors the season with special music, crafts and food. Southern gospel music takes top billing during the monthlong festival with more than 200 free concerts.  Some of the artists appearing include Mike & Kelly Bowling (Oct. 2 & 3), Gold City (Oct. 4 & 5), The McKameys (Oct. 9 & 10), The Ball Brothers (Oct. 9 & 10), Brian Free & Assurance (Oct. 11 & 12), Michael Combs (Oct. 12), Legacy Five (Oct. 11 & 12), The Kingsmen (Oct. 16 & 17), Mark Bishop (Oct. 16 & 17), The Crist Family (Oct. 18 & 19), The Greenes (Oct. 18 & 19), The Inspirations (Oct. 23 & 24), The Whisnants (Oct. 23 & 24), Mark Trammell Trio (Oct. 25 & 26), The Isaacs (Oct. 25 & 26), Karen Peck & New River (Oct. 30 & 31) and... (more...)

Catch the Memory Walk Spirit – with the help of Collier Restaurant Group everyday this week! Monday 9/28 – Every registered walker who raises at least $35 online today will earn a FREE BBQ sandwich from World Famous Corky’s Ribs & BBQ! Get Started Now! Tuesday 9/29 – New Team Tuesday! New Teams that register online today and raise an average of $15 per team member today will receive a FREE take-out pizza from Gatti’s for each team member who signs up today! Wednesday 9/30 – Walker Wednesday! New walkers who sign up online and raise $10 or more for their team today online earn a FREE stack of buttermilk pancakes from Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin. Their Team Captain will eat, too! Thursday 10/1 – First 5 individuals whose online fundraising totals reach $550 or more by the end of today earn a buet dinner at the Golden Corral once a month for a year!! (Plus, any walker who raises $500 or more will be eligible to win a guitar autographed by Dolly Parton at the... (more...)

The Sevier County School System is pleased to announce a new method of communication to parents and other interested parties through text message broadcasts. The Sevier County Board of Education has partnered with a local company, Eric Bennecker & Associates, to offer its Zap411 text messaging system. This system is being sponsored by Citizens National Bank, making it a cost-free program for the Sevier County School System. Zap411 will enable the school system to directly send messages to parents on their cell phones once they opt-in using the instructions noted below. This text message system will allow parents and other interested parties to get messages immediately. Zap411 is totally secure and the subscriber’s phone number will not be seen by anyone or distributed to other parties. In other words, only official messages will be sent from the Sevier County School System. Solicitations or private individual material will not be sent to you through this process. Opt-in/Sign-up Proces ... (more...)

Construction on the City of Knoxville’s new downtown dog park is slated to begin by October 15, and should be completed by the end of the year. The 29,400-square-foot park will be developed on a section of green space located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Summit Hill and Central Avenue and will include separate sections for large dogs and small ones. There will be entrances at the corner of Central and Summit and at the intersection of Commerce Street and Central. “We’re looking forward to getting started,” said Joe Walsh, the city’s Parks and Recreation Director. “It’s been a long process to get to this point and this is something a lot of people, particularly downtown residents, have wanted to see. So we’re very excited and believe it will be a great addition to downtown.” Walsh said the park will include a six-foot-high black vinyl chain length fence running along the... (more...)

Exclusive exposition explores the battlefield beneath the sea as creatures of all sizes and shapes fight for survival. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (Feb 5, 2009) – The innovative and fascinating new exhibit at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is a Killer Exhibit. It features dozens of the most shocking and deadly creatures of the sea along with a host of hands-on interactive displays that will truly leave any visitor with a spine tingling and unique experience. “Lethal Weapons” takes visitors beyond the traditional jaws and maws survival story to discover some of the most lethal animals on earth, exploring their daily struggle for survival. The show, created specifically for Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, is free with admission and will be on display throughout 2009. “The new exhibit gives our guests the opportunity to witness the deadly environment that exists in the sea. An exciting element to the presentation is a hands-on opportunity to help understand the constant struggle between... (more...)

What do books from the Harry Potter series, To Kill a Mockingbird and Little Red Riding Hood have in common?  All have faced removal from library bookshelves in the United States.  In many cases, it is only through public intervention that books are saved from confiscation or from being kept under lock and key. From coast to coast, libraries and bookstores will battle censorship and celebrate the freedom to read during Banned Books Week, Sept. 26 – Oct. 3, 2009.  Thousands will read from banned or challenged books, speak out and learn about censorship as the nation celebrates the right to choose reading materials without restriction. According to the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), more than one book a day faces a request for removal from public access in school and public libraries. Challenges are defined as formal, written complaints filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. “Censorship... (more...)

HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER (on if there is a timetable for Vincent Fuller’s return and Cortland Finnegan’s injury) Vinny Fuller’s going to undergo surgery this afternoon to just repair the fracture. And that typically is a four to six week recovery time before he’s actually back on the field, four being optimistic, six probably being realistic. So, as far as Cortland I can’t say right now. (on the Week 7 bye helping the team heal) Yes. (on if the team will wait for Vincent Fuller to recover rather than make a roster move) I think it would be prudent to go ahead and do that. He’s a good football player and he’s been a very efficient, effective nickel corner for us. So, it makes sense for us to do that. (on if Vincent Fuller will wear a cast when he returns) Yeah, he’ll wear a protective cast. (on if the corner shortage is creating roster move decisions) We are in discussions with the roster, the practice squad roster, and the 53 right now. We’re in the middle of it and I don’t... (more...)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans (0-3) play their second consecutive road game and the first of two consecutive division contests this week, traveling to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars (1-2). Kickoff for the AFC South showdown at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (capacity 67,164) is scheduled for noon CDT on Sunday, Oct. 4. After dropping their first three games by a total of 13 points, including last week’s seven-point defeat against the New York Jets, the Titans look to claim their first win of the season against a team that is coming off their initial victory. The Jaguars traveled to Houston last week and beat the Texans by a score of 31-24. The AFC South standings show the Titans in last place, with the first-place Colts at 3-0 ahead of the Titans, Jaguars and 1-2 Texans. After visiting Jacksonville, the Titans return home to prepare for a nationally-televised Sunday night matchup with the Colts at LP Field. THE BROADCAST The game will be televised regionally on CBS,... (more...)

GATLINBURG, Tenn., (August 10, 2009) – From the anniversary celebration of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was formed the idea for Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts upcoming photography exhibition, “In View of the Smokies: Celebrating 75 Years.” The community is invited to Arrowmont for an opening reception, Friday, Aug. 21 from 6-8 p.m. in Arrowmont’s main gallery. The exhibition honors the park by featuring 75 spectacular images to celebrate each year of Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s anniversary. Fifteen photographers were invited to participate in this commemorative exhibition through a variety of considerations including representation from both Tennessee and North Carolina, Arrowmont’s Sevier County Biennial Exhibition award winners and faculty, as well as historical, botanical and park calendar photographers. Artists include: Tim Barnwell, Robert Batey, Ron Burke, Kendall Chiles, Jerry Drown (1915-2009), Jill Greene, Ken Greene, Cathy Griffin, Alan S.... (more...)