John Adams served as a diplomat to France with Benjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee in 1778 but soon found himself to be out of place. That is basically because, if you asked John Adams a question, he would answer it. You may not like the answer, but he would tell what he thought you needed to know as opposed what he thought you wanted to hear. Ironically, he was sent   Read More ...

Boot camp classes are great for weight loss and building muscular strength and endurance. LeConte Wellness Center’s new Boot Camp class will incorporate body weight exercises, interval training, and circuit training. This class is designed to give you the push you need to get past a plateau, achieve fitness goals, and provide a challenging and fun change from your normal exercise routine. Join Rachel Foster, ACSM Health Fitness Specialist and   Read More ...

The day started with a drizzle and slowly built into a full toad-floatin’ downpour, but the kids wanted to Rodeo, and what a Rodeo it was!  A total of 27 youth braved the elements to come out and participate in the season-opener of The Smoky Mountain Youth Rodeo.  The rain was light but steady for the barrels and poles, and I heard Mom tell her little girl, “It’s just a   Read More ...

Clingmans Dome Road is traditionally scheduled to reopen each spring on April 1. But this year, the snow melted off, and the Visitor Contact Station, restrooms and other facilities are ready to go, so the road will open Wednesday morning March 30. Related Stories:Clingmans Dome Road Reopening Delayed till June 21Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Park Springs Facility ScheduleApril 27 Tornado Prompts Closure of Seven Great Smoky Mountains National   Read More ...

The Sevierville Kiwanis Club is having its semi-annual Pancake Supper on Thursday, April 7th, from 4:00PM-7:00PM at the Flapjacks Pancake Cabin in Sevierville. All proceeds are used 100% for the benefit of a wide variety of Sevier County childrens needs year round. The meal, including drink, is a bargain at just $5.00! The supper includes pancakes, choice of breakfast meat, and choice of beverage. Club members will be serving tables   Read More ...

LeConte Sports Medicine is proud to provide athletic training services to the area high schools. Certified athletic trainers (ATCs), not to be confused with personal fitness trainers, are highly educated and skilled professionals. They offer the athletes in our high schools: Injury prevention education Recognition, evaluation and immediate care of injuries Bracing/taping/strapping to protect an injured structure, enable movement and restore normal functioning First aid/CPR Education and counseling about injury   Read More ...

Dr. Willard “Bill” Campbell, a surgeon with Premier Surgical Associates, is a man with a mission. Each January for the past eight years, Campbell has joined other local physicians, nurses, surgical techs and translators on a one-week medical mission trip to Guatemala. The missions are organized by Knoxville Medical Mission and were started with help from Dr. Lytle Brown, also of Premier Surgical Associates, and Olga Aragon, an anesthetist originally   Read More ...

Most of us just spout off at the mouth about wanting to take that big leap. Make a change in our lives and do something that we’ve wanted to do for years, but just never had the courage or will power to do it. It’s those little life moments that only come once in a blue moon, in the blink of an eye…the moment that has to be grabbed instantaneously,   Read More ...

Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about how we could end the gas crisis. It hit me like that little bell that goes off when my Jeep is running on fumes. Before I lay out my modest proposal an important word or two about “oxygen.” The percentage of oxygen in the air we breathe always stays constant at about 21%, but   Read More ...

Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about that age old question; “Which came first… the rocking chair or the front porch?” If you hike a few hundred yards on Fighting Creek Nature Trail behind Sugarlands Visitor center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park you will come across a humongous odd-shaped sycamore tree on the left. It is located just a   Read More ...