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Summer Wells: Three Years Later
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Things are starting to heat up, especially with the first-ever In The Pines music festival landing in Bristol on June 1st, so be prepared, scour the web and make plans to attend the festivals of your choice. There is so much talent and beauty in our region, and these are prime opportunities to enjoy it!
But - that’s not what I’m promoting today. Today I want to expand on our recent videos highlighting walking and hiking trails in the region, and Elizabethton’s riverside offering, the Patriots Path trail at Sycamore Shoals.
Patriots Path is a well-marked, flat, scenic, dog-friendly trail that is gravel-lined and easy to maneuver. It’s a great walk to take alone, with family or friends, with dogs and kids, or with that special someone. The majority of the trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible and there are comfortable benches along the way to take a seat and gather yourself if needed.
There are a few bridges along the way, as you cross streams by the Watauga river. There’s a large swing to spend time in, several spots to gain access to the river, and several places along the trail to grab a bag for your dog or throw it away - please, keep the park clean and keep your dog on a leash!
It’s a little over a mile to hike in and back out and there are a few offshoot trails that allow you to see more creeks and plants - and don’t forget to enjoy the garden just off the beaten path.
When you’re finished and you return to your car, you can always let the dog out to run in the dog park or spend a little time cooling off in the large public pool.
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park and the Patriots Path make for a quick day well spent enjoying the outdoors - spend some time in Elizabethton and check it out!
FYI (inside joke): if you plan on taking any pictures or video while you’re there, you run the risk of having one of the ladies from the gift shop come "talk to you about it."
This year, National Police Week is May 12th through 18th and the local Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Burgess-Mills Lodge #11 conducted a Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Kingsport Justice Center on Monday, May 13th, 2024 at 3:00 PM at the Kingsport Police Department Law Enforcement Memorial and Eternal Flame, located on the corner of West Market and Clay Streets in Downtown Kingsport.
The local Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Burgess-Mills Lodge #11 is named in honor of two of the Kingsport Police Department’s Fallen Officers, Patrolman Ira H. Burgess and Patrolman John E. Mills, who were tragically shot and killed in the line of duty in 1950 and 1940 respectively. Information regarding these and all of K.P.D.’s Fallen Officers can be found in the following link:
https://www.KingsportTN.gov/Police-Department/Our-Fallen-Officers/
The following inscription is found on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
“This Memorial is dedicated to all Law Enforcement Officers in the United States of America. Inscribed on these walls are the names of those men and women who died in the line of duty. It is not how these officers died that made them heroes. It is how they lived.”
The trail is located in the Cherokee National Forest in Johnson County, with rushing waters cutting their way through the Appalachian forest and giving hikers several opportunities to dip their feet in the river or just enjoy the beauty from the banks. An East Tennessee Rails-to-Trails project, the trail is built on the former Pea Vine Railroad, a narrow gauge railroad built to ship lumber and manganese ore more than a century ago.
It is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The water moves a little fast for fishing in the area, but there are a couple of deep spots that may make for good wading or floating. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.
She has starred in productions from Sam Shepard and Neil Simon and was awarded the 1996 Drama Logue Award for Outstanding Performance for "Psychopathia Sexualis" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
Her career has been exceptional and varied and lauded by many.
But, I would venture to say it is her work as an activist, seeking to clean our rivers and lakes, that has been most rewarding for her over the years. Ms. Overall has spent decades fighting to keep East Tennessee clean and viable, working to turn the Pigeon River from a sludgy mess into a model of reclamation, and working to keep the Nolichucky clean for her neighbors throughout the region.
Spend a few moments and get to know Park Overall.
Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park’s annual firefly lottery is now officially open and you must have a ticket from the lottery in order to attend the show.
Park-goers can enter for a chance to be selected to view a natural lightshow put on by the park’s synchronous or blue ghost fireflies.
Once thought to be found in only a few spots in the country, both species of fireflies are found in abundance at Rocky Fork.
Synchronous fireflies are known for their synchronized light pattern, while blue ghost fireflies are known for their blue, ghostly color.
“They’ll leave their lanterns on for up to a minute and you’ll see them floating through the woods with this dim, blue ghostly light – hence the name,” said Rocky Fork State Park Manager Tim Pharis.
Initially, Rocky Fork offered tickets to see the fireflies. However, because the tickets sold out in less than 10 minutes, park leadership opted to open up an annual lottery to give all interested participants a fair chance to see the lightning bugs.
Pharis said the park received over 14,000 firefly lottery entries last year. Only 10 winners are selected each night.
From their website, "Ham Radio is an alternative rock band from East Tennessee currently based in Johnson City defined by the music that made them and a commitment to authentic artistry. Motivated by raw emotion and unapologetic self-expression, they channel many diverse musical influences. Since releasing their debut single, Rip Lover, Ham Radio has been meticulously perfecting their sound while building a quickly growing fanbase."
The band has good things brewing, so spend a few minutes with Jamon Lee to get to know their music and what they have planned.
I spoke with Tony Kraft, the General Manager of both entities, who says White Duck Taco shop specializes in fusion tacos, creating interesting and unique flavor combinations. Kraft said this allows their menu to appeal to a diverse group of customers, offering tacos featuring Mexican, Asian, Indian and American flavors.
Yee-Haw Brewing offers a large selection of lagers and IPAs. It is famous for its Dunkel, which placed third in the World Beer Cup in 2016. Most of Yee-Haw’s beers are brewed on-site in Johnson City, but a few are brewed in their Knoxville location.
One thing Kraft promises from Yee-Haw Brewing and White Duck Taco Shop - great customer service. When you eat or drink here, the staff works to please, and I've had nothing but good experiences so far.
Visit Yee-Haw and White Duck downtown - you'll be glad you did!
Built in 1998, the park is 36 acres of beautiful land and views and if you’re looking for something to do this spring and summer and you want to be outdoors, this might be the place.
Named after a dairy that operated near the site, the shelters and light fixtures are reminiscent of the popular style during Johnson City’s earliest days. The playground bears the name Johnson’s Depot, named after Johnson City's first mayor Henry Johnson, who built a general store and post office near the park site. In 1857 when rail service was established to the area, Mr. Johnson built a depot.
The park offers more than just a playground, though, with basketball and volleyball courts, a dog-friendly walking path, plenty of rolling hills and hiking options, and well-attended picnic areas for rental and enjoyment.
Speaking of dog-friendly, Willow Springs is also home to Johnson City’s members-only dog park, wearing dogs out since 2006. So, sign up and take your dog to the park!
Or, just enjoy all the fun Willow Springs has to offer. You’ll be glad you did.
As the Chief Mastering Engineer and Owner of Well Made Music, Clint began the company in 2010 after purchasing his first Neumann VMS-70 lathe system. Since then, Clint has won several GRAMMY Awards as the lacquer cutting engineer for Bobby Rush’s Porcupine Meat and Otis Redding’s Live at the Whisky A Go Go and he continues to bring classics and essentials to market.
I was able to take a short tour of the Well Made Music facilities and speak to Clint about pressing some vinyl - check it out!
She and her partners are opening Little Magic in Johnson City today (Friday, April 12th) and they can't wait to let people see and enjoy what they've been planning. Comedy events, live music, custom cocktails, karaoke every night and the chance to meet wonderful regulars and newcomers - all on the menu at Little Magic - so come out this weekend and see what all the fuss is about!
You can find Sam and her staff at 121 N. Commerce Street in Johnson City - right across the street from the Johnson City sign and downstairs from Voodoo Chicken.
The Greenbelt is a linear park that connects the residential neighborhoods, parks, commercial districts, schools, and downtown. The pathway meanders along gentle streams, wanders through the marshlands, glides across open meadows, and passes by sites of historical and aesthetic value.
The Greenbelt is for pedestrian and bicycle use, with wonderful spots along the way for fishing and food, sightseeing or taking a break from life’s hustle and hassle.
With good restaurants and stopping points along the trail, a walk by the river makes for a wonderful way to spend a day. You can access the greenbelt at fifteen separate trailheads, from Cleek Road and Exchange Place to Netherland Inn and Center Street, and find something to do at several stops along the way.
The trail also offers Water fountains/refill stations, Outdoor restrooms, park Benches and Picnic shelters, Fishing piers, Boat ramps and A children’s playground.
So, look no further than Kingsport’s Greenbelt for a great walk on a good day.
More than 850 feet long and 10 stories high, Natural Tunnel was naturally carved through a limestone ridge over thousands of years. William Jennings Bryan called it the "Eighth Wonder of the World." Other scenic features include a wide chasm between steep stone walls surrounded by several pinnacles, or "chimneys."
Guests enjoy cave tours and canoe trips on the Clinch River, as well as the Cove Ridge Center, which offers environmental education, conference facilities and overnight dorm accommodations.
The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center at 371 Technology Trail Lane in Duffield is a satellite facility of this park. The center has a museum, library, conference room, gift shop and outdoor classroom. Various events, workshops and programs, which are listed under Natural Tunnel's events, are held here.
Facilities include two campgrounds, cabins, picnic areas, an amphitheater, a visitor center, a camp store and a gift shop. You'll also find the Wilderness Road historic area and a chairlift to the tunnel floor.
Russ Burdine always dreamed of opening his own restaurant, so when he was offered an opportunity to buy Riverfront Seafood Company in 2019, he jumped at the chance.
“It has always been a dream of mine, but I never wanted to start one from the ground up,” Burdine said. “So Wayne called me out of the blue one day, and my wife convinced me I should follow my dream and go for it.”
Burdine said people come to Riverfront Seafood Company for the view, but they return for something else.
“The draw is the view, obviously,” Burdine said. “What keeps them coming back, I think, is the consistency in the food and the service, which our team does a great job of. God created the view, and Wayne saw the vision and built the restaurant. The view brings them in, but the food and service bring them back.”
Riverfront Seafood Company serves seafood (obviously), including many fresh fish like salmon, trout, and sea bass. In addition to seafood, Riverfront Seafood Company also has excellent steaks and burgers.
Flying through storms is generally safe for modern aircraft, as planes are designed to withstand storms, lightning, or heavy rain. Passengers are protected by Faraday Cages, mesh or plated containers running through the plane that shield from electric fields such as lightning strikes.
That doesn't mean a large storm still isn't scary, though.
“It’s like a no-brainer kind of deal, you know–you get all that power coming out of the sun, you have to harness it,” Clarke said. “...you’re doing something to help the earth be in better shape for the…next generations.”
Clarke said that his personal tax credit for installing solar panels on a residential property totals 40%– which includes the 30% federal residential solar energy credit and a 10% tax credit for using solar panels that are American made.
Clarke also shared with the Press some of the common misconceptions about using solar energy–factors like weather conditions, cloud cover and unreliability.
“A lot of people think that just because it’s raining you can’t produce any solar,” Clarke said. “...a lot of the sunlight, ultraviolet sunlight, can get through.”
“It would be great to see (solar energy) more highly accepted and more people using it,” Clarke said.
The report detailed rentals and expenditures, but also allowed our editors to see that several individuals who protested his visit that day
had been kept under surveillance during and after the trip to East Tennessee.
We spoke with Democrat Resource Center Chair John Baker about his involvement as a protestor during the visit, and whether he was aware of surveillance activities of the Secret Service during and after the event.
The film is a collection of videos with a common theme, a concept album built from his latest EP.
I sat down with Mahto in our offices to get a better idea of the film and what it has to offer - spend a few minutes with the video and learn for yourself what to expect. And then make plans for the Generalist on April 12th.
A rails-to-trails project that converted the former East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad between Johnson City and Elizabethton, it’s a good walk without a lot of obstacles and inclines and makes for a wonderful spot to get your exercise - whether on foot or on wheels.
You’ll find information markers along the trail that explain the region’s history and makeup, if you’d like to know more about the area.
The first leg of the trail is a great place to get started - especially on a hot day. There’s shade and greenery and benches along the way to enjoy the colors of spring and summer.
But you’re here for the hike, or the bike, whichever you enjoy most. The trail is very well-maintained, with gravel evenly spread along nearly ten miles and several access points along the way. You can start at the trail head in Johnson City, access the trail at several points along the Milligan HWY, or jump on at almost any point once you reach Elizabethton.
Along the Milligan section of the trail you can hang out at the Milligan Depot or make your way to the Van Brocklin overlook at the former Cranberry Furnace Comapny Quarry, where you can sit for a spell or have lunch under the pavilion.
As you continue into Elizabethton, you’ll get the chance to stop at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, which offers even more history, trails, and beauty spots along the banks of the Watauga River. The Shoals offer a great respite from your hike or ride, with opportunities to learn and explore.
Once in Elizabethton, the trail runs adjacent to commercial areas and roadways, with lots of chances to stop and eat, grab a beverage, or window shop along the way - and there’s an extension in the plans, so the trail will continue past it’s current end point. So, whatever your intentions, the Tweetsie Trail could be just the ticket.
Get out and explore a little!
See how you compare against the VIP pickers in the College Bracket Challenge.
Want to know who our staff is picking this year? Watch the video and see if any of our people convinces you to change your choice.
We can't wait until next year, as this year's effort was one to remember!
So, what do busy guys do in their off time? They work harder and start indie labels to help their friends. With Downspout Records, Matthew has promoted and recorded some of the area's best bands and he continues to stay on the edge of what's happening, leading the charge.
I caught up with him in downtown Johnson City to see what's going on, what's going down, and how it's going. Check it out.
If you get a chance, make your way up the hill - the views are wonderful and the hikes are fun and amazing, and the shows are second to none. Check out "Totality" and "Appalachian Skies" while they are still showing.
You can enjoy Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium all spring long, so make plans now.