National Trails Day Event Tellico Plains Tennessee

National Trails Day Event in Tellico Plains
Saturday June 6, 9am - 5pm

Tellico Plains, "The Little Town with the Big Back Yard", is celebrating National Trails Day with a series of hikes and a work trip on a local trail on June 6. Tellico Plains is a designated TRAIL TOWN.   Join one of three guided hikes (various locations, lengths and difficulty levels - see descriptions below) or a work trip on the John Muir Trail. Those wishing to join a guided hike should meet in the parking area behind the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center, Hwy. 165, in Tellico Plains at 9 AM. Those wanting to spend the day working on building a reroute on the John Muir Trail along the Hiwassee River should meet at the Quinn Springs Campground shelter along Highway 30 between US 411 and Reliance at 9 AM.

All hikers should bring a day pack with plenty of water, and your lunch. Sturdy shoes, hiking poles or a walking stick might come in handy. Trail workers need to wear long pants and sturdy boots and to bring water and a lunch. Breakfast will be provided by Tellico Grains Bakery.

Dinner after the hikes will be provided at the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center, sponsored by Tellico Outpost. Two Dog Ranch Bluegrass Band will be playing old time mountain music, fiddle tunes, and bluegrass for the hikers at the Visitor Center. If you can, hikers please bring a chair to use for dinner and music at the Visitor Center. There is a covered pavilion with 4 picnic tables in place.

Dinner for the trail workers will be provided by Tennessee Wild at Quinn Springs. All trail workers on the work trip will receive a free T-shirt commemorating the day. Day hikers can buy these t-shirts at $5. Kids are welcome as well but must be attended by a responsible parent or guardian or youth group leader (church, scouts, etc). Leashed dogs are also welcome to join the guided hikes.

Guided Hikes:
1) Bald River Falls Trail - 9 miles
Rated moderate to strenuous due to length
    This beautiful trail climbs from the base of the 80' Bald River Falls and meanders riverside featuring stunning rock formations and several great views of other little falls along the way.

2) Unicoi Turnpike Trail - 3 miles
Rated Easy
    The Unicoi Turnpike Trail is recognized as part of the Trail of Tears, and in 2000 was designated as a National Millennium Trail. Walking this is like walking through history - literally. Your guide will share information about the history and heritage of the area, the Cherokee people and the site of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp Rolling Stone.

3) Falls Branch Falls - 3 miles
Rated moderate to strenuous due to short but steep descent
    This short hike has a BIG payoff at the end, the 70'+ Falls Branch Falls. The majority of the trail follows an old logging road, then turns for a steep but short descent through a medieval forest of old growth trees, large boulders and mossy rocks to the base of the falls. The hike itself is not difficult but there are slippery rocks along the creek.

Honoring Charles & Billie Nell Hall

Our community is mourning the loss of native son and influential community leader Charles Hall, who died at age 90 on December 31, 2014. Sadly, his wife of 71 years, Billie Nell, also just passed away, on January 5, 2015.

Charles and Billie Nell Lester Hall devoted their lives to their community. Charles served as Tellico Plains Mayor for a total of 31 years, two years as alderman-recorder, 12 years as a Justice of Peace and Commissioner. Charles and Billie owned and operated the Tellico Telephone Company from 1954 to 1985, bringing telephone service to isolated rural areas surrounding Tellico Plains. While raising their family of four girls, the couple actively participated in numerous community organizations. Charles was a member of the town's fire department for 52 years, organizing and training 11 rural fire departments throughout Monroe County. Charles was named "Monroe County's Most Outstanding Citizen" in 1969. He authored A History of Tellico Plains, TN in 2001, and, with his daughter Pamela Mathews, compiled A Pictorial History of the Tellico Plains Area 1849-1949, published in 2011, the 100th birthday of Tellico Plains.

Billie Nell was a member and leader in the Cherokee Women's Study Club, and worked tirelessly to support education, beautification and positive public relations in Tellico Plains. She was also honored as the 1986 Tennessee Mother of the Year. Billie Nell was also involved with Monroe County United Way, Monroe County Tourism Council, the board of directors for Overlook Mental Health Center, and chairperson of the Task Force for Better Schools.


Along with the numerous organizations both were involved with, Charles and Billie Nell spearheaded many projects that have developed the Tellico Plains area. Charles was involved with the Kiwanis Club during the 1958 Wagontrain. The Wagontrain was started to show the need for a road from Tellico Plains, TN, to Robinsville, NC. Charles was either the wagonmaster or chief scout for 49 years. The Cherohala Skyway opened on October 12, 1996. In 1997, the Tennessee State Legislature named the bridge over Laurel Branch on the Cherohala Skyway "The Charles Hall Bridge." Charles also played a leading role in the Tellico Dam construction.

Charles was a local historian since boyhood. Over the years, Charles and Billie Nell amassed an enormous and amazing array of local artifacts, antiques, and historic memorabilia. Showcasing their collections was a lifelong dream, and they opened the Charles Hall Museum in Tellico Plains in 2003. The couple filled two large buildings with stunning displays of guns, coins, tools, furnishings, and numerous treasures of local history. As former owners of the Tellico Telephone Company, the Halls included hundreds of telephones and related phone company hardware spanning decades, and well as a Model T phone truck and a unique life-size cross-section view of the unground cable vault. Many of the telephone company artifacts on display were donated by the East Tennessee Telephone Pioneers. Showcase after showcase unveils beautifully organized treasures from the past, many used by Tellico Plains residents long ago. Museum visitors were often treated to a tour by Charles himself, and the personal stories he shared will be cherished.

Charles also spent many years collecting old photographs from Tellico Plains, carefully documenting the people, places, and time periods. Many of these photos would have been lost forever without his foresight to save them. The museum displays over 1000 of his photos, uniquely preserving the visual history of Tellico Plains, including images such as old street scenes, logging operations from a century ago, mountain wagon trains, long forgotten town merchants, and school photos from years gone by. This museum was truly a labor of love for Mr. Hall, and the community will benefit far into the future with the history it has documented. View videos of Charles at the Museum and read more at http://tellico-plains.com/charles-hall-museum.html

The family will receive friends in honor of Billie Nell on Friday, January 9, 2015, from 5-7 with a memorial service at 7 at Myers Funeral Home. Interment Saturday 11:00 a.m. at City Cemetery.

Donations to the Charles Hall Museum, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) foundation, in memory of Charles and Billie Nell, are welcome. Museum admission is free, and donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Donate online at http://www.charleshallmuseum.com/

The Little Town with the Big Back Yard

Tellico Plains is proud to be a TRAIL TOWN, as designated by the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition (SEFTC) and the Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA) this past Saturday, August 9, 2014.

What is a Trail Town? The SEFTC/BMTA Trail Town Program is designed to promote hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, and horseback riding in communities with 100+ miles of trails in their immediate vicinity. Tellico Plains is truly "The Little Town with the Big Back Yard" - the areas surrounding Tellico Plains and nearby Coker Creek are blessed with over 200 miles of hiking, backpacking, equestrian, mountain biking and motorized trail bike trails. There are about 180 miles of trails in the Tellico Ranger District of the US Forest Service, and the adjoining districts have several hundred more miles of trails. Also, the Benton MacKaye Trail - a 300 mile long-distance wilderness trail from Springer Mountain GA to the northern end of the Smokies - traverses close to Tellico Plains, crossing the Tellico River just above Green Cove. As a "Trail Town," Tellico Plains is identified as an exceptional location to visit or use as a base to access these tremendous trail opportunities.

Information and links provided on the Trail Towns webpage are designed to help local and out-of-town visitors learn about the trail opportunities in the Tellico Plains area, and also serve as a guide to the support services available locally to trail users. We encourage you use this info as you plan your trail-based activities around Tellico Plains.

Deep gratitude goes to Richard Harris for his dedicated volunteer efforts on behalf of the SEFTC/BMTA Trail Town Program in making designation as a Trail Town a reality for Tellico Plains.

Trail Town Ceremony is Saturday Night!

Join Tennessee Wild and friends at 5:30pm, Saturday August 9th under the tent on the corner of Main Street and the Cherohala Skyway (beside the Exxon) where we'll celebrate the designation of Tellico Plains as an official "Trail Town"! We'll have a couple of speeches by the folks that made all this possible, then the ceremonial 'ribbon cutting' - except in our case, we're cutting a more forest-appropriate vine instead of a ribbon.

Bob Richards from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will share the exciting news about the Tellico Ranger District’s recent $200,000 grant award for trail improvements in the area, and the financial impacts of outdoor recreation on the economy in gateway forest towns like Tellico Plains. Following Bob, will be a fantastic and funny program by avid outdoorsman and storyteller Jim Pfitzer. Jim is best known for his nature based tales ranging from too-close-for-comfort black bear encounters to the significance of sweet tea in southern society. Throughout the evening we'll be drawing for some great prizes donated by our friends at Rock/Creek Chattanooga, Eno, Tellico Grains Bakery and others.

Representatives from the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition, Tennessee Wild, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, The Wilderness Society, US Forest Service, Monroe County, and the Town of Tellico Plains will be on hand to say hello and answer questions.

Come early for dinner at The Crab Trap and stay to enjoy the music of local musicians Faith Willin, performing inside 6pm - 9pm.

Be sure to see all the "TELLICO WILD" weekend activities, at http://www.meetup.com/Tennessee-Wild or at http://Facebook.com/TennesseeWild


Learn more about Tellico Plains as a "TRAIL TOWN".

Ramp Festival Near Tellico Plains

The Ballplay Ruritan Club is hosting the 3rd Annual Ramp Festival on Saturday, April 20 at the Friends Meeting of Ballplay Church fellowship hall and grounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  There will be live music, vendors and local community organizations.

The Ramp Dinner, served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., includes a beverage, fried potatoes, and dessert.  Adults are $7 and children under 12 are $4 for a “kid-friendly” alternative meal, if desired.  Scheduled entertainers include:  8 year-old singer Emi Sunshine and Perfect Joy Revival, The Mullins Family, Mountain Music String Band, and Kenneth Gay.  Proceeds will be used for community projects.  Event is “Rain or Shine” with free admission.

Friends Meeting of Ballplay is located at 157 Ballplay School Road and 1/2 west of the intersection of Hwy. 360 and Ballplay Rd. near Tellico Plains, TN.  Find us on Facebook, “BALLPLAY RURITAN” for updates.  Call John at (423) 442-7053 for more information.

Pancake Breakfast in Coker Creek

Join us!

Daddy Daughter Dance

March 23, 2013
Daddy Daughter Dance
Tellico Plains Lions Club
Sweetheart Dance        
Don’t have a daughter or dad?  Feel free to adopt a daughter or dad!
Daughters 12 and under, Dads 18 and over
Tickets available at:
Dickey McCay Insurance, Tellico Plains:  (423-253-3524)
The Bookshelf.  Scott Street.  (423-253-3183)

Christmas Candlelight Walk

Surround yourself with holiday spirit! Tellico Plains' Christmas Candlelight Walk is a special family event, presented annually on the first Saturday in December, from 5 to 8pm (December 1, 2012).

Step back in time, with flickering luminarias lining the sidewalks, strolling carolers, horse-drawn wagons, and gingerbread houses. Sponsored by the Town of Tellico Plains and organized by the Cherokee Women's Club, this festive event finds many businesses extending their hours and serving complimentary drinks and snacks. Visit Santa Claus with his elves, making his list of Christmas wishes and posing for photos with the children. You'll enjoy a Silent Auction, live Christmas music in many shops, the Grinch with 'Whoville' characters, a beautiful Live Nativity presented by one of our local churches, and bonfires to gather 'round. Select from a huge variety of delicious homemade Christmas cookies and candies at the popular Cookie Caper, with confections created by the town's finest bakers, all wrapped in big red-ribboned white boxes - you won't be able to wait until you get home to try some! Many townspeople don Victorian finery, adding to the nostalgic feel of the evening.

Bring your friends and tell your neighbors about this special old-time evening of holiday cheer.
More info, photos, & video
http://tellico-plains.com/candlelight-walk.html

MVFD Pasta Dinner Fundraiser

Mt. Vernon Fire Department and Laurel Mountain Lakes Association present a Pasta Dinner Fundraiser on Saturday, October 27, at the Bethlehem Baptist Church, 130 Bethlehem Church Road, Madisonville, TN (1 mile off Hwy 68 between Tellico Plains and Madisonville).

At 3:30pm MVFD will conduct fire department demonstrations, and at 5:00pm the Pasta Dinner, with Live Music (bluegrass, folk, old time) plus a Live Auction.

$6.00 Adult, $3.00 Children 12 and under.

Frances Brown Dorward at The Bookshelf

Etowah resident and local author, Frances Brown Dorward, will be at The Bookshelf on Saturday, November 10th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to sign copies of her new book, Uprooted, a novel about a family who was displaced by the building of the Tellico Dam. Frances is well known in the area for her first book, Dam Greed.

The Bookshelf is at 108 Scott St. in Downtown Tellico Plains.

Call 423-253-3183 for more info.

Gospel Christmas Songs at Christmas Walk

Kenneth Gay will be singing and playing old time Gospel music and Gospel Christmas Songs at D & D Antiques on Scott Street, beginning around 4pm, during the Tellico Christmas Walk on December 1st, 2012. Rebecca Furniss will join him on fiddle for a few songs. She recently played several songs with Kenneth at the Assembly of God church in Turtletown. Kenneth's playing schedule for other events.

Garden Party for the Tellico Plains Wildflower Garden

Friday, October 5th from 6 to 8pm

Join us at the Garden, behind the Tellico Plains Visitors Center and the Charles Hall Museum, for food, live music and a silent auction.
"Raising the Roof" help needed…. We are raising money to put the roof on the pavilion in the garden and help defer garden maintenance costs.
Pot luck dishes appreciated. DONATIONS for the silent auction accepted this week at Topiary Joe's.
Please come to the Party! Volunteers to help work in the garden can call Joe Kyte at 423-253-7199.

Hiwassee College Dental Hygiene Clinic

The new state of the art dental clinic combined with the well trained and educated dental hygiene students under the direction of an experienced and skilled faculty and staff will now provide residents of Monroe County and the surrounding areas with low cost dental hygiene services.

Hiwassee College Dental Hygiene Clinic charges $20 for a dental hygiene cleaning and may include the following on an as needed basis at no additional charge: Oral exam, Radiographs (full mouth series, panoramic, bitewings), nutritional counseling, fluoride treatment, tobacco counseling, oral hygiene instruction, oral cancer screening, prophy, scale and root plane. Sealants, night guards, and professional take-home whitening kits with custom trays are available at additional cost.  The funds from the bleaching kits support student mission trips, community projects and the student's graduation Professional Pinning Ceremony.

Call 420-1234 to schedule an appointment, which are scheduled for either 8am or 1pm (Please leave a message if prompted). Because the clinic is a learning environment, the patient treatment time maybe around 3.5 hours.

The brand new high tech dental clinic has five operatories fully equipped with medical grade computers for patient records management, digital x-rays, intra-oral cameras, and ultrasonic scalers. Dental hygiene students are provided with the most up to date technology and equipment including one of the first dental clinics in the area to provide portable digital x-ray equipment.

Hiwassee Dental Hygiene students will be offered opportunities to not only serve the local community in the dental clinic, but they will also have opportunities to participate in mission trips and service learning experiences with the public health department. These experiences will better prepare our students to be conscientious and compassionate health care providers that have a commitment to oral health and lifelong learning and service.

For more info

Getting Prepared for Disasters Fair

PREPAREDNESS FAIR IN BALLPLAY COMMUNITY

What will you do if a snowstorm, flood, fire or tornado strikes your home? Will you be ready?  In association with National Preparedness Month, the Ballplay Ruritan Club will host the first annual "Getting Prepared for Disasters Fair" on Saturday, September 22nd. The fair will be from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Friends Meeting of Ballplay Fellowship Hall located at 157 Ballplay School Road, near the intersection of Ballplay Road and Highway 360 about 10 miles from Telllico Plains, TN.
 The fair will provide valuable information for planning and preparing for all kinds of disasters and emergencies with a variety of informational displays, classes, and demonstrations, while showcasing and promoting local businesses whenever possible.  Learn about your options for emergency power, cooking, heating, lighting and more! Additional details will be published as we confirm guest speakers and vendors attending this event.

Mark your calendars now and be sure to pass this on to family and friends in and around the Monroe County area.  To be a participant or for more information, contact John Pearson at 423-442-7053.  The event is free to the public and all are welcome to attend.

2012 Fund Raiser Quilt

Drawing on December 9th

The Dorcas Ladies of Center Presbyterian Church have made another fund raiser quilt to help support our ministry of making comfort quilts for sick people.  We raise the money for the supplies we need for making quilts, and we donate to charitable causes from time to time.

Help us by buying a chance to win this beautiful quilt (see photo).  You can get your ticket(s) by asking any of the Dorcas Ladies at church, or e-mail me, or mail a check to me made payable to DLCP to my address (PO Box 515, Tellico Plains, TN 37385).

$1.00 each ticket or 6 tickets for $5.00
Thank you so much for your continued support.  We love what we do and we do it for the Glory of God. Sandra Black

Music Events in Tellico Plains

Lots of recurring music events in Tellico Plains
Visit our Events and Activities Calendar for details
http://tellico-plains.com/calendar.html

Open MIC Night every Friday 6pm - 9pm
The Outpost Pavilion
Bring your instrument of choice and/or your voice and join in the fun, or just kick back and listen food and beverages available. All instruments and levels are welcome. The audience at the Outpost often comes just because of this event, so there is usually great audience participation which makes performing there so much fun. There are 12 performance slots and a sign up sheet will be out by 5:30pm. Please call 423-253-2322 with questions.
The Outpost Pavilion, 123 Main Street, Tellico Plains, TN 37385

Live Bluegrass Music - Friday and Saturday 6:00pm 'til closing
The Cotton Pickin' Inn
Live bluegrass band almost every Friday and Saturday night. Call 423-253-3463 for details.
The Cotton Pickin' Inn, 100 Scott Street, Tellico Plains, TN 37385

Music Jam every Saturday 7pm - 10pm
The Castle
Bring your instrument for jamming at "The Castle". A wide variety of music is played from bluegrass, folk, jazz, blues, country, and oldies. It all depends on who shows up to pick! Non-musicians are also welcome to join the fun. This jam session happens every Saturday night starting at 7pm, subject to weather (Cancelled if the winter temperatures are too cold). Visiting tourists are encouraged to join local Tellico Plains musicians. This is a free event.
The Castle, 110 Scott Street, Tellico Plains, Tennessee 37385

Live Music every Saturday 6pm - 9pm
The Outpost Pavilion
"Music on the Menu"  Southbound, Mandy Alexander, Matthew Gallagher - a live radio broadcast this Saturday June 2. Otherwise, Faith Willin' plays live music at the Outpost Pavilion every Saturday evening. The husband & wife duo performs a wide variety of songs (Americana, folk, easy country, bluegrass, traditional, gospel, easy rock), singing vocals and harmony.
Please call 423-253-2322 for more info.
The Outpost Pavilion, 123 Main Street, Tellico Plains, TN 37385

Acoustic Jam Session every Wednesday - 6:00pm 'til closing
The Cotton Pickin' Inn
Acoustic "jam session" open to local and visiting musicians. Non-musicians are welcome to join the fun, enjoy dinner, and/or sing along. This jam session will be acoustic only instruments (i.e. guitar, mandolin, bass, fiddle, cello, banjo, dobro, etc.). No amplification is allowed. The music genre will include; bluegrass, old time, folk, gospel, old country, easy country, western, and pop folk. A "jam session" is when a group of musicians form a circle, then going clockwise, each takes a turn in selecting a song to play. Call 423-253-3463 for more info.
The Cotton Pickin' Inn, 100 Scott Street, Tellico Plains, TN 37385

Local Musicians, Promote Yourselves!

Are you a Tellico Plains area musician?
Would you like to post your band's performing information on the Guide to Tellico Plains for free? Visit our musicians page and send us your band's information. We want to make everyone aware of the talented musicians that reside in the greater Tellico Plains area.
Visit: tellico-plains.com/musicians.html

Puppy Love

Come love the dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens from Monroe County Animal Shelter and adopt your favorites at PUPPY LOVE, on Saturday, May 12th.

• Raffles from local businesses (drawing at 4:30pm) and door prizes every hour
• Get a photo with your favorite pet, $5 for a 4x6 glossy
• Microchipping for your dog, $10
• Spay/neuter vouchers after 1pm

Generously sponsored and hosted by The Outpost Pavilion. 

When: 
Saturday, May 12, from 11am - 5pm
Where:
Tellico Outpost Pavilion, 123 Main Street, Tellico Plains TN 37385

Come join the fun and support our Animal Shelter!

Bluegrass & Old Time Mountain Folk Music

Bluegrass Pickin' at Nut-n-Fancy

Come enjoy live bluegrass pickin' on Friday, April 27th, from 5:00pm 'til closing at Nut-n-Fancy Restaurant.

"Two Dog Ranch Bluegrass Band" is a group of friends who get together to pick bluegrass and old time music. The band is made up of local musicians, including Charles Morris (lead guitar, dobro, & vocals), Julie Crunk (mandolin & vocals), Bill Crunk (rhythm guitar), Judy Lavoie (banjo & vocals), and Rick Lavoie (guitar & bouzouki).

Nut-n-Fancy Restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, and will be featuring their "Friday Night Fish Fry".

Nut n Fancy is located at 390 Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains, TN 37385. Telephone: 423-253-6775. nut-n-fancy-restaurant.com

Indian Boundary Campground Opening

Indian Boundary Campground will reopen for the 2012 Season on Tuesday, April 17, at 2pm. The campground is part of the Cherokee National Forest, and is a favorite vacation spot for both locals and visitors. The 91 tent/RV sites are wooded, level, mostly shaded, and spacious, all with electric RV hookup and fire ring, some with RV pull-thrus. There are water spigots along the camping loop roads. Several sites have views of Indian Boundary Lake. There are flush toilets and shower facilities, a well stocked campstore, and a picnic pavilion at the beach.

Wild yellow trout lily growing along the hiking trail

The campground is within easy access of all the activities on and around picturesque Indian Boundary Lake: fishing (wheelchair accessible fishing pier too), beach swimming with bath houses, hiking and bicycling on the 3.2 mile track around the lake's shore, kayaking, canoeing and other non-motorized boats, volleyball, picnicking, and relaxing on the beach. The "overflow" camping area, open year round, is ideal for groups. Note there is no cell phone coverage and no public phone; the campground hosts have radio contact to the Ranger's station for emergencies.

Year-round, the lake is a special destination for day visitors too - a welcome escape from city life and crowds. PIck up a picnic lunch from a restaurant in Tellico Plains, grab a book, put on your walking shoes, pack your bathing suit, and enjoy the serenity of a day at Indian Boundary Lake.

Indian Boundary Lake is manmade, and dam controlled, and beautifully surrounded by mountains. It is at an elevation of about 1800 feet. The approximately 100-acre lake is drained during the winter off-season, allowing the Forest Service to do maintenance to fish structures, the fishing pier, etc. Flats Creek, which helps feed the Lake, can be seen in the photo of the drained lake, below. Old tree stumps have been preserved by remaining underwater. The forests around the lake are home to much wildlife, and beautiful wildflowers bloom along the trail all through the spring, summer, and fall.

Indian Boundary is two miles off the scenic Cherohala Skyway (TN Hwy 165, NC Hwy 143), about 16 miles east of Tellico Plains.
GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
35.40167, -84.10722
35°24'6"N, 84°6'26"W

Campsites can be reserved by calling 877-444-6777.

Make your camping reservations online, at least 4 days ahead of arrival, thru:
http://www.recreation.gov/camping/Indian_Boundary_Tn/r/campgroundBookingWindow.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70494
or
http://www.reserveamerica.com

During the winter, Indian Boundary Lake is drained for various projects.

We are sad to report that the March 2nd tornado leveled the KOA Tellico Plains Kampground in its path of destruction. The Kampground owners have plans to rebuild, and we look forward to seeing this wonderful facility reopen. In the meantime, Indian Boundary Campground will be a popular alternative for many campers.

For more information about Tellico Plains activities, events, and businesses, visit the Guide to Tellico Plains.