Old Time Mountain Music

On Thursday May 24th - 5:30pm 'til closing, The Cotton Pickin' Inn of Tellico Plains will host bluegrass & old time mountain folk music performed by the "Two Dog Ranch Bluegrass Band" featuring Rebecca Furniss on the fiddle. "Two Dog Ranch Bluegrass Band" is a group of friends who get together to pick bluegrass and old time mountain music. The band is made up of local musicians, including Rebecca Furniss (fiddle, mandolin, & bouzouki), Charles Morris (lead guitar & vocals), Julie Crunk (mandolin), Bill Crunk (rhythm guitar), Judy Lavoie (banjo & vocals), and Rick Lavoie (guitar & bouzouki). The Cotton Pickin' Inn features a "Pickin Hall" for music and dinner. The Cotton Pickin' Inn, 100 Scott Street, Tellico Plains, TN 37385 Telephone: 423-253-3463 tellico-plains.com/cotton-pickin-inn.html eMail: cottonpickininn@gmail.com

Becca Furniss & Two Dog Ranch

On Wednesday May 16th - 5:30pm 'til closing, The Cotton Pickin' Inn of Tellico Plains will host bluegrass & old time mountain folk music performed by the "Two Dog Ranch Bluegrass Band" featuring Becca Furniss on the fiddle.

"Two Dog Ranch Bluegrass Band" is a group of friends who get together to pick bluegrass and old time mountain music. The band is made up of local musicians, including Becca Furniss (fiddle & mandolin), Charles Morris (lead guitar & vocals), Diana Brake (upright bass & vocals), Judy Lavoie (banjo & vocals), and Rick Lavoie (guitar & bouzouki).

The Cotton Pickin' Inn features a "Pickin Hall" for music and dinner.

The Cotton Pickin' Inn
100 Scott Street, Tellico Plains, TN 37385
Telephone: 423-253-3463
tellico-plains.com/cotton-pickin-inn.html

eMail: cottonpickininn@gmail.com

Garage Sale Treasures

The Cherokee Women's Club is having a Garage Sale on Saturday, May 12th at the Community Center Parking Lot, to raise funds for their many projects in supporting Tellico Plains. The Club will be awarding a college scholarship to a Tellico Plains High School Senior in the next couple weeks. In addition, the Club's funds and member volunteers help support the Tellico Plains Library's summer reading program, add to the beautification of the City, conduct a poetry contest for Tellico Plains schools, and make many other beneficial activities possible. This sale will help this active organizations continue these endeavors. The Garage Sale will be set up by 8am, so come find some treasures and help support the Cherokee Women's Club.

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 The Cotton Pickin' Inn this Friday May 4th - 6:00pm 'til closing.
The Cotton Pickin' Inn is located on 100 Scott Street, Tellico Plains, TN 37385. Telephone: 423-253-3463. Three members of "Two Dog Ranch Bluegrass Band" will be pickin' bluegrass and old time music from 6pm til' closing. 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). The Cotton Pickin' Inn features a "Pickin Hall" perfectly setup for music and dinner. http://tellico-plains.com/cotton-pickin-inn.html

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.

RAMP FESTIVAL SCHEDULED IN BALLPLAY COMMUNITY

The Ballplay Ruritan Club is hosting the 2nd Annual Ramp Festival on Saturday, April 21 at the Friends Meeting of Ballplay Fellowship Hall and grounds from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be family activities, live music, craft vendors and local community organizations.

The Ramp Dinner, served from Noon to 3 p.m., includes a beverage, fried potatoes, and dessert.  Adults are $7 and children under 12 are $4.  We are also planning a “kid-friendly” alternative meal.  Proceeds will be used for community projects.

Event is “Rain or Shine” with free admission.  Friends Meeting of Ballplay is located ¼ west of the intersection of Hwy. 360 and Ballplay Rd in Tellico Plains, TN at 157 Ballplay School Road.  Plans are still underway for additional activities.  Look for us on Facebook, “BALLPLAY RURITAN” for updates.

We are looking for local crafts vendors and demonstrators who are interested in participating in this popular, community-based event.   Call John at 442-7053 for more information.

Tellico Tornado Victims Fundraiser Concert

Come to Tellico Plains Town Square on Saturday, March 24th, beginning at noon, for a free, family-friendly afternoon of music, food, and raffles - all to benefit the Tornado Victims of Tellico Plains. Enjoy music from Greylan James Band, Jason Stinnett Band, Wicked Garden, C.A.B., and Monroe County's own Southbound Band. All donations accepted and appreciated.

Smoke in the Mountains

Looking east from Tellico Plains you get a great view of the Smoky Mountains. But lately the "smoke" has been from burning. Don't be alarmed, this is part of the Cherokee National Forest's Prescribed Burning. Here is their news release:

"The Tellico Ranger District will be conducting three prescribed burns through April 15, 2012. The burns will be in the vicinities of Brushy Ridge, Turkey Creek, and Whigg Mountain. Neighboring communities should be advised that minimal smoke may be observed during the burning operations. 

USDA Forest Service officials say prescribed (controlled) fire is a useful tool for managing National Forest lands. Approximately 20,000 acres are scheduled for burning throughout the 650,000 acre Cherokee National Forest during 2012. A significant portion of the prescribed burning is planned for early spring."

Thank you to Debra and Mike Rogers for their photography, capturing the beauty of our mountains in every condition.

You Can Help!

The Relief Center at the Tellico Plains High School serving food.

Donations for tornado victims of Tellico Plains TN are now being collected at the Official FEMA Center:

New Providence Baptist Church
Fellowship Building
451 New Providence Rd
Tellico Plains TN 37385

Open for the next two weeks (March 26 - April 7):
Mondays and Wednesdays 12pm to 5pm
Saturdays 9am to 5pm.

Donations are still being accepted, and those who suffered loses in the tornado are welcome and encouraged to come for food, clothing, shoes, baby items, household goods, and more

Needed:  clothing, footwear, cleaning supplies, school supplies, toiletries, non-perishable food, tarps, totes for victims, garbage bags, towels and washcloths, kitchen towels, baby supplies, kitchen and household goods, small appliances.

A well-coordinated volunteer effort is manning the center, sorting the items to make it easier for those in need.

Financial donations for victims are being accepted at all Tellico Plains area banks.

For more info, see our website Tornado page.

Tornado Hits

On Friday, March 2, around 2pm, a tornado touched down in Tellico Plains, leaving a path of destruction through the city limits and up Hwy 360, Ballplay Road. Property damage to residential and commercial buildings is extensive, with some personal injuries but, miraculously, no fatalities. Many have suffered damage or loss of their homes, businesses, vehicles, and other personal belongings. One of the TDS buildings and the police department annex were destroyed. The cabins, main lodge and pavilion at the KOA Campground were leveled. Downed, broken, twisted, and uprooted trees cover hillsides and roadsides in the tornado's path.

Relief efforts began immediately, with city/county/state law enforcement, road crews, forestry personnel, volunteer firefighters and rescue squads, disaster relief workers, the Red Cross, and many others. Residents of Tellico Plains and surrounding communities came forth in numbers to help, in whatever means possible. All day Saturday, the sounds of chain saws, heavy equipment, and moving dump trucks filled the air, as clean-up crews worked all over town. Damaged roofs were covered with tarps to prevent more damage, huge trees were cut away from buildings, power crews replaced fallen poles and repaired damaged lines, and high school students and other folks picked up pieces of debris, large and small, which littered the town. Fluorescent "X" marks were spray painted on the exterior of buildings which were condemned due to the storm damage.


A relief center is set up at Tellico Plains High School, serving food and beverages to displaced residents and relief workers all day. Many area businesses have donated to the efforts too - Tellico Kats delivered dozens of sandwiches to the High School Relief Center, Tellico Grains Bakery provided sweets and other baked goods to those working at clean-up and directing traffic and to the High School Relief Center. Area churches coordinated to deliver additional meals to the Relief Center. Local banks are taking donations for aid to victims of the tornado. See the separate post about the FEMA center set up at New Providence Baptist Church for donations for those in need. The community has truly come together to help the victims of this devastation.

Thank you to all who have volunteered their labor so far, and those who will help with all that needs to be done in the coming days and weeks. Please keep us all in your prayers.

For more photos and information, see our website Tornado page.

Open Mic Night every Thursday Evening

OPEN MIC NIGHT every Friday beginning at 6 PM
Bring your instrument of choice and/or your voice and join in the fun, or just kick back and listen
food and beverages available. Sign up begins at 5:30pm.

Also, LIVE MUSIC every weekend
Please call 423-253-2322 for this weekend's details
The Outpost Pavilion, 123 Main Street, Tellico Plains, TN 37385

Garage Sale to Aid Community Projects

Come discover treasures and grab some goodies at the Garage Sale and Bake Sale of The Cherokee Women's Club, this Saturday, Oct. 15th. It takes place in the Tellico Plains Community Center parking lot on Bank Street, from 8am 'til 1 or 1:30pm.

The Sale will help fund projects which financially assist the Tellico Plains Library. The Club pays the annual software license fee for checking books in/out, helps with the Summer Reading Program children's gifts, and generously provides other assistance as needed.

In addition to supporting the Library, The Cherokee Women's Club also does beautification in the town seasonally, like the cornstalks and mums now decorating the town so beautifully for fall. The members help maintain the Botanical Garden behind the Charles Hall Museum, give a scholarship to a Senior at Tellico High, and conduct a poetry contest for all the local schools, grades 1 through 12. This year the Club also supported a Science Fair at the Junior High and help the horticulture students monetarily at the high school. Its major fundraiser is the popular "Cookie Caper" during the Tellico Plains Candlelite Walk, held annually on the evening of the first Saturday in December.

The Cherokee Women's Club meets on the first Monday of each month at noon, usually at the Visitor Center. They welcome any ladies who are interested in their community and helping improve it to join. Call Sharon Bodie at 423-253-2269.

Hope to see you there Saturday!

Please Neuter Your Pets

There are too many homeless pets, and neutering is a humane way to reduce these numbers. With the free vouchers available to Monroe County citizens in need, there is no excuse not to neuter dogs and cats. The distribution of these vouchers moves from one town to another over the course of the year, and this month is available in Sweetwater. Please print and post this flyer for your own employees and customers. Thanks.