out n about june 2010

For those who have never visited Austin Springs Spa & Salon, located on the lower fl oor of the Carnegie Hotel, you’re in for quite a “pampering” treat. Austin Springs is East Tennessee’s premier full-service spa and people come from far and wide to relax close to home, rejuvenate their senses, and renew their body and soul.

While on a recent tour of the facility, it was quite evident Spa Manager Laura Cusick is both passionate and enthusiastic about her job. She began her career at the Carnegie Hotel in 2001 at the front desk, moved to the accounting department and “begged and begged” for the Spa Manager’s job. “I soon found out that I didn’t want to pursue a ca-reer as an accountant,” she said with a smile.

Management could not have picked a better fi t to manage Austin Springs Spa than Cusick. Six years ago she stepped into the chal-lenging role of rescuing the fl edging spa that was losing money. She took over run-ning the day-to-day opera-tion with 15 employees and only fi ve treatment rooms located in cramped quarters on the lower level of the hotel.

Fast forward to today and Austin Springs Spa and Hair Salon is a sprawling center of activity that has swallowed up most of the lower fl oor, has 55 employ-ees, nine treatment rooms, a full-service hair salon, ac-

cess to Wellington’s Restaurant and Bar upstairs, and last year it made over $1 million in profi t.

So what happened? We asked Cusick.“We did take a 360 degree turnaround,” she said

emphatically. “I think it was a combination of many things, a great group of employees who are (just) a big family. Personal service to our clients and we are always looking for new products, new technology and continuing education is very important.” Last but not least

Cusick added, “And, we make every client feel like they are the only one we are taking care of that day. Like they are the King or Queen.”

It doesn’t hurt to have someone at the helm of the business who readily ad-mits, “I have a passion for my job. I love it.” Indeed. She begins her day at the hotel at 7:30 a.m. and gets home late at night.

According to Cusick, men are beginning to dis-cover “that it’s alright to do the girl-thing,” she laughed.

“Actually, our male business is up to about 20% and we have treatments designed especially for our male guests.” Those include: fa-cial treatments, deep tis-sue massage, hand and foot treatments, and of course a haircut. One can take ad-vantage of all the services at once or “mix-and-match.”

One popular activ-ity, Cusick said, was Austin Springs Spa’s offering of couples massages at a rea-sonable price. Other mas-sage treatments offered

include: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Cupping, Lomi Lomi, Four Hands, Herbal Ball, Swe-Thai, Reiki and Ultimate Foot Massage.

It took a 28-page brochure to list all the services and packages offered at the Austin Springs Spa & Sa-lon. So they’re not kidding when they emphasize the

fact they are a fi rst-class, full-service spa that’s open six days a week (soon to be seven as they will begin opening on Sundays). And, they’re conveniently open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. There are about a dozen SignatureSpa Packages to fi t anyone’s budget and they even of-fer a Spa Teen Queen package for girls of any age and Spa Princess Package for girls 12 and under. “Thosepackages are becoming increasingly popular and

some young ladies like to visit with their friends ormoms,” Cusick said.

Cusick and her staffwork with many coupleswho come to the hotelseeking a “turn-key wed-ding.” Once in the hotelwedding parties want fornothing. “We get themready for the big day in-cluding the entire wed-ding party. Then, theycan go upstairs for thewedding and receptionand then spend the nightin the hotel. Our weddingpackages are extremelypopular,” she said. “Our mission is to make you

feel more beautiful and more relaxed than ever before.

Ease your mind, body and soul with refreshing bodywraps, relaxing massages, soothing aromatherapy, re-juvenating facials, and professional salon services in aprivate, tranquil environment,” Cusick points out. “Weoffer something for everyone: popular tried-and-trueservices as well as trend-setting therapies and skin andbeauty products.”

For more on Austin Springs Spa and Salon visit: www.austinspingsspa.com

Out ‘N About Visits:

The Exquisite Austin Springs Spa & Salon

Quick Facts about Laura Cusick

• Graduated from ETSU with honors.• Married and has one son.• Working on her Master’s Degree.• Puts in 12 hour days and smiles doing it.• Has an “open door” policy offered to all employees.

Laua Cusick, Spa Manager

Couples massages are one of many services

Enjoy a pedicure as part of a spa package or by itself for a speciat feet treat.

Out ‘N About Magazine Pg, 2

From the Publisher’s DeskWelcome to the fi rst issue of Out ‘N About Magazine, a publication truly dedicated to the coverage of events throughout our region and beyond. North-

east Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina will serve as our canvas and the people and events in our region will supply the paint.We are truly blessed to be living here, working and raising families. While we all have much in common, each of our surrounding communities are quite

different as each enjoys its own identity and resilience. In the months to come, we will be covering all types of events from festivals, entertainment, the arts, business, politics and sports. Since we will publish

monthly we will have the time and drive to spend the time necessary to tell the complete story, and we will spend extra time with those in our area whowill be interesting for you to read about. Many of these folks you’ll know or have heard about.

Out ‘N About Magazine belongs to the readers and advertisers who support us in our effort to remain a free publication. Please send us your comments,advice and news and feature tips.

And, we wouldn’t mind at all to have your advertising business.Last by not least, please get out and support the Blue Plum and Covered Bridge festivals. A lot of people have worked very hard in an effort to showcase

our region during the fi rst week of June. Our staff hopes you enjoy our fi rst issue and we look forward to spending some quality time with all of you every month.

(Out ‘N About Magazine is not affi liated with any other newspapers or magazine published in the USA).

Ron ScalfEditor & Publisher

June, 2010 Volume 1, Issue 1

Web Site: www.outnaboutmagazine.comSend news and photo items to: [email protected]

Send advertising orders to: [email protected] free-lance material submitted becomes the property of Out ‘N About Magazine.

Advertising contained in this publication is accepted by the publisher upon the representation that the individual, agency or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter contained in the advertisement. The individual, agency or advertiser agrees to indemnify and save and hold the publisher harmless from any loss of expense reulting from

claims, legal action or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including any claims or suits for defamation, copyright infringement, libel plagiarism or right of privacy.

Pg 3June 2010

Ron Scalf, Editor & PublisherHeather Laurendeau, Graphics & News EditorPam Johnson, Advertising Sales ManagerPam Rhymer, Advertising Sales AssociateJim Sherrill, Advertising Sales AssociateJon Ruetz, Contributing Writer

Eileen Rush, Contributing WriterAmanda Carr, Contributing WriterBob Robinson, Contributing WriterJeri George, WQUT Music & Concert InformationPublished Monthly by Star Printing

Jonesborough, TN. --- Claudia Moody, Chief Executive Offi cer for the Northeast Ten-nessee Tourism Association (NETTA), has been the face of tourism in our region for 21 years. During those two-plus decades, Moody says she’s seen many changes.

“When I fi rst started, we had 75 members and today we have over 200 and we contin-ue to grow,” she said. “I think the (most) positive change that has occurred is the fact that more and more people recognize the economic engine that tourism churns. And, we’ve learned to maximize effort to minimize duplication in the promotion of our region.”

Years ago, local chambers and businesses set out on their own to promote its individu-al community strengths when it came to attracting visitors. “Everyone began to recognize that it was much easier for us to band together and seize the many opportunities through-out Northeast Tennessee to promote ourselves versus going it alone,” she added.

Moody laughs at the old days of “stuffi ng envelopes with brochures” and sending them out all over the country to tell our tourism story and try to get visitors to come here. “If you don’t have a website nowadays you’re not in business. You can go on our website and download all or some of the information you seek. Technology has really enhanced our organization and made us better promoters,” she said.

Staffi ng wise, NETTA consists of the same two employees brought on board years ago but its budget has swelled from $95,000 to $236,000 with the majority of the money allo-cated for promotions and co-operative advertising with NETTA’s many regional partners.

“The umbrella approach to tourism works very well for us,” Moody said with a smile. “We work together from the Tri-Cities to Abingdon and Bristol, VA. and back. We have traditional tourism members like hotels and attractions but we garner a lot of support from non-traditional partners like banks and other businesses like Food City for example. They recognize that tourism is good for everyone’s business.”

Moody says her daily routine, “is very hectic and you have to be fl exible and be able to multi-task, but I enjoy it or I wouldn’t have stayed these many years,” she said. Moody serves on the State of Tennessee’s Board of Trustees and chairs the steering committee

for the new Tennessee Sunny Side Trail initiative which touts our state’s many trails and by-ways. “Everyone knows about Bristol Motor Speedway for example,” she points out. “But the Ridgewood? (famous Bluff City eatery). We want people to discover some of our true culture that we take for granted.”

NETTA just awarded its Pinnacle Awards for the 13th year recognizing the “Best of the Best” in regional tourism. “I’m most proud of that,” Moody said when asked about past accomplishments. The recent awards show was attended by 175 people to pay tribute to “peak” performers. Tourism-wise, I guess that says it all.

Positive Changes Seen By Tourism Chief Following Years At Helm

NETTA Cheif Executive Offi cer, Claudia Moody

Claudia Moody Quick Facts

• Claudia was Head Majorette at Tennessee High School in Bristol, TN.

• She loves the University of Tennessee.

• She is a NASCAR fan and was an avid Dale Earnhardt cheer-leader.

• She loves Vols Coach Bruce Pearl (See #2).

• She performed with the Tennessee High Band at the first NASCAR race in

Bristol (The year of that event was left out at her request!).


Johnson City Elks & Johnson City Firefighters Association Golf Tournament

June 5th

Twins Creeks Golf Club

Shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.

1st: $450

2nd: $375

Middle: $300

Next to last: $300

Last: $180

Three person select shot. Blind drawing to be held at Johnson City Elks Lodge June 4 at 7 p.m.

$60 per player - includes food, carts and door prizes.

Deadline: June 3Contacts: John Rodgers 426-1650; Bobby Hyduck 483-1391;

Elks Lodge 928-4842; Kyle Whitaker 791-1682

New NFS President Brings 44 Years of Experience to FacilityErwin, TN. --- David Amerine, a native of Sandusky, Ohio, has taken charge

as the new leader of Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS), Unicoi County’s largest em-ployer. Amerine was named NFS President on March 1st and from ‘Day One’ hit the ground running, so-to-speak.

Since the 1960s, NFS has been a major supplier of fuel for the United States Navy’s fl eet of nuclear-powered vessels. It also converts Cold War-era govern-ment stockpiles of highly enriched uranium into commercial nuclear reactor fuel.

Amerine has made a career of getting facilities like NFS, “back on track and moving forward” with dedication to correcting old issues. He began his career in the U.S. Navy after graduating from the United States Naval Academy and has spent his entire career in the nuclear fi eld. “I spend a lot of time out in the (NFS) facility embracing the challenge of our company being successful through an approach of transparency,” he said of his daily routine.

It’s not uncommon for Amerine to begin his work day at 4:30 a.m. and end it well into the evening. He is passionate about his work at NFS and looks at the company’s 850 employees “as partners not employees.”

Some NFS employees are local contractors who engage local businesses and vendors that benefi t directly from the activity generated at the plant. NFS has also had a history of being a robust giver to local charities, civic and school groups as well as the founder of the Goal Card program that rewards students from across the region for achieving A’s and B’s in their classes.

While the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is charged with making sure NFS meets Federal expectations, Amerine’s approach goes beyond the routine expectations. “There is a common understanding and safety expecta-tions from our regulators and the general public. It’s up to us to prove we are up to the challenge.”

Amerine is also focused on developing a strategic plan for NFS’ future as well as a comprehensive business plan for the future growth of the plant. One other piece of the puzzle for future success, he says, “Is the partnership

and trust of us and the union leadership (that’s represented at NFS). We are talking about stake-holders who live in this community. . .who work and go to church together. . .and raise families right here. I try to look at things from their perspective,” he says of the union leaders and its membership.

This marks the 8th time in his career that Amerine has been called upon to head a leadership team whose commitment is to emerge as a stronger more vibrant organization in the near future. “I’m proud to be involved in produc-ing a product that is key to our National security,” he said.

David Amerine Quick Facts • Tries to work out every day at 4 a.m. before heading to work.• He and his wife own a house on Lake Erie and look forward to being able to spend more time there in the future with their children and their families.• Is an avid reader having finished several novels recently including: “Man Search-ing for Meaning”, “The Last Symbol”, “My Ninety Minutes in Heaven” and a “Brief History of Time”. • Was an accomplished wrestler in high school and college winning several AAU wrestling tournaments.• Holds a Certificate in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.• Has held many crucial positions within the nuclear power industry including stints at: Hanford, Washington, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Savannah River Site, and Millstone Nuclear Power Station just to name a few of his assignments.• Joined Babcock & Wilcox in 2009 as Vice President of the Technical Services Group before being elected NFS President.

NFS President David Amerine

June 2010 Pg 5

Without hesitation, Elizabethton Mayor Kurt Alex-ander points out the progress his town has enjoyed since becoming involved in local politics six years ago. Part of the key to growth, he says, is building re-gional partners. “I like to think as mayor I’ve made a difference in having a knack for bringing people together,” he said with a smile recently. “The mayor is not the boss but rather a consensus builder. In city government, to make a difference, you’ve got to get people involved. We have good (city) council whose members all have what’s best for Elizabethton at heart. We don’t always agree on every issue but we work together to achieve what’s best for our city and region.” Alexander also doesn’t duck the hard questions like, when asked, “Why is a property tax increase a good thing for Elizabethton?”

“First of all, I’m a fi scal conservative. But, we are at the point where we have to increase our revenue base. Manufacturing (like the old Bemberg and North American Rayon plants) are gone and they are not coming back. So, our focus is on the small business owner and the continuation of building on local tour-ism.” Alexander adds that it’s been nearly 50 years since much of the town’s infrastructure has been updated. “We have a plan to upgrade all nine (electric) sub-stations; we’ve fi nished three and have six to go,” he said matter-of-factly. “Our water source hasn’t been upgraded and we’ve taken a pro-active approach to upgrading our water and sewer systems and we have a new water plant under construction. And, across the board, we are addressing the over-due needs of our school system.”

Alexander is quick to point out the new water plant would not have been a reality without the partnership of the county. “With-out the partnership of Carter County the state would not have allowed us to build the plant just for Elizabethton. We have a great

working relationship with our county leaders and County Mayor Johnny Holder.” While going out of his way not to offend past ad-ministrations, Alexander admits 20 years ago Eliza-bethton’s growth was subdued somewhat due to com-placency and the lack of willingmess to partner with neighbors. “Regionally we have great friends and partners. We work together because we have discovered what’s good for Elizabethton business-wise is good for Bris-tol, Johnson City and Kingsport. Look at Bristol Mo-tor Speedway, for example. When they have a race all of our mo-tels are full and so are the res-taurants. We’ve discovered re-gional partnerships just makes sense for the entire econ-omy. Our communities have something different to offer and I’ve been all over the world but there nothing better than living and raising a family in Elizabeth-ton.”

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Thank You For Sharing My Vision...of Making A Great

County Even Better!

Washington County, I am humbled and honored by your vote and support.

A special thank you to the hundreds of people who worked tirelessly in my campaign and to all those who faithfully prayed.

Now it’s time to get to work. Please join me in making this great county even better.

Go to Jail,Go Directly to Jail

for buying or selling drugs in Unicoi County. Just don’t do it.

Just Say ‘No’ Stay Free, stay Drug-Free.

T.I.P.S. Hotline: 423-743-1855Brought to you by the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Department

Entertainment ScheduleThursday, June 3

4:45 – 5:10 p.m. First Baptist of Lilburn, Georgia

5:15 – 5:40 p.m. First Baptist of Elizabethton

5:45 – 6:15 p.m. Oak Street Baptist6:30 – 7 p.m. Zion Baptist Church Choir7:15 – 7:45 p.m. Valley Forge Free Will

Baptist8 – 9:30 p.m The Primitive Quartet

Friday, June 45:30 – 6:30 p.m. BULLSEYE

6:30 - 7 p.m. Mountain Rhythm7 – 8:30 p.m. Black Hat

8:30 – 10 p.m. Joy Lynn White

Saturday, June 53 - 3:45 p.m Dancers Unlimited 4 - 4:30 p.m. Mountain Rhythm

4:45 - 5:15 p.m. Circle R Dancers 5:20 – 6 p.m. Watts Dance

6 – 7:30 p.m. Slow Motion Trio 7:30 - 8 p.m. Trail Blazer Cloggers

8 - 10 p.m. Collegians

Experience on of the region’s most beautiful areas at the 44th Annual Covered Bridge Celebration in historic downtown Eliza-bethton, TN. Celebrate summer with fun activities for the entire family. Music on the Bridge will feature toe-tapping live enter-tainment including gospel, bluegrass, 50’s and 60’s beach music and county rock entertainers. Southeastern artisans will display unique and traditional arts and crafts. Kids Island will offer fun fi lled activities including a stocked river and a free fi shing clinic. OnSaturday evening, the streets of historic downtown will showcase more than 150 classic cars.

Pg 8Out ‘N About Magazine

Joy Lynn White

The Collegeans

Events5K Run and 3K Walk -

June 5, 7:30 a.m.Community Yard Sale - June 5, 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Aerial Flights - June 5, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Roan Groan Race - June 5, 9:00 a.m.Kids Fishing Day - June 5, 10 a.m.

Little Mr. & Mrs. Hillbilly Contest - June 5, 11:00 a.m.

New Tales by the Bridge - June 5, 1 - 4 p.m.

Cruise In - June 5, 5 - 9 p.m

Kids’ IslandThe Fun Factory - Inflatable & Trackless

Train

Thursday, June 3, 5 - 6:30 p.m. kids play free

Passin Time Fishing Booth - Carnival Games

Euro Bungee

Face Painting

Duck Pond

Carnival Games & Dunking Booth

Army National Guard (in the park) Free Rock Wall

USDA Forestry - Free fishing day -

Saturday, June 5th

Pg 9June 2010

For more information about the Covered Bridge Celebrationvisit http://coveredbridge.elizabethtonchamber.com

Cornhole TournamentPeople’s Community Bank Omnium Race - Sunday,

June 6

Festival Arts & Crafts5k Run - Saturday, June 5, at 10 a.m.

Animation Festival

Special Events

Festival Map


Main Street

Friday night line up:4:00 p.m. Town Mountain 5:30 p.m. The Brother Boys 7:00 p.m. Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas 8:30 p.m. Donna the Buffalo Saturday night line up:1:00 p.m. Barefoot Movement 2:30 p.m. Malcolm Holcomb 4:00 p.m. Spring Creek5:30 p.m. Casey Driesen7:00 p.m. Great American Taxi9:00 p.m. The Gourds

Market Street

Friday night line up:3:00 p.m. Johnson City Ballet 6:00 p.m. Avery Deakins7:30 p.m. These Undowners9:00 p.m. Wolf Creek Saturday night line up:2:15 p.m. Michael Jacobs 3:15 p.m. Jessica NixonStage Break5:00 p.m. Logan Murrel6:45 p.m. The Penny Dreadfuls9:00 p.m. Southern Culture on the Skids

Jazz Stage

Friday night line up:5:15 p.m. Bill Swann Trio6:30 p.m. Christabel and the Jons7:45 p.m. Unlimited8:30 p.m. Vertigo Jazz Project

Saturday night line up:2:45 p.m. Makia Groove4:00 p.m. Frito Puente 5:15 p.m. Left of Blue8:00 p.m. Jazz Doctors9:00 p.m. Daniel Weatherspoon

Sunday Stage

Sunday line up:12:00 p.m. Joel Buckner 1:00 p.m. Gina Salyer2:00 p.m. Blue Maze3:00 p.m. The Rock Church4:00 p.m. TBA 5:00 p.m. Bethel Christian Church Choir

Music Line Up

Pg 11June 2010

Her schedule is split between a vari-ety of Mayoral duties and running two independent businesses – Black Tie Formal Wear in downtown Johnson City and Jane’s Lunch Box on West Mar-ket Street.

“I take everything I do very serious-ly,” she said. “I have been able to bal-ance, juggle, whatever you want to say.”

A typical day for the snow-haired, blue-eyed Mayor begins at 5:30 a.m., with a kiss from her dog, a sheltie. Pretty early in the day she’s “off to the races,” thumbing through a men-tal list of meetings, presentations or phone calls.

Midday is spent at Jane’s Lunch Box, a restaurant of glass-topped ta-bles with business cards suspended just beneath the glass. Sesame Street and Dukes of Hazard lunch boxes hang overhead the counter. She en-joys working the lunch rush, because that is “our main time to serve the citi-zens, serve the customers.”

After lunch, she goes to Black Tie Formal Wear for prom season. In the afternoon, she sets out for Mayoral duties, which can take her all over the city: the Municipal Building, the Chamber of Commerce, the Senior Center or the Johnson City Public Li-brary.

Since 1973, Johnson City has been home to Myron, who was born in Nashville. In her time as a citizen, she’s seen a lot of changes in the Tri-Cities.

“I remember when Interstate 181 stopped at North Roan Street,” Myron said. “So I’ve seen quite a bit of growth and community spirit.”

The fi rst two community programs she got involved with were Big Brothers, Big Sisters and the Johnson City Cham-ber of Commerce.

“I fi rmly believe the more you give a program, the more you get out of it,” she said.

This sense of community service has translated into her work as a politician and Johnson City’s second female may-or.

“I’m all about taking care of people, and how the city improves and how we

can serve the people better,” she said. “I’ve been told the two main things the city does is when they get up in the morning and turn the water on, there better be water coming out of that spig-ot. The other one was garbage pickup. I think we do very well in both of those ar-eas. We are recognized for that.”

In addition to the basic services, Johnson City has seen a boom in new initiatives, including programs geared towards health and “going green.”

“Sometimes you suggest things and think, oh this is great, but it may not work out,” she said. “But at least I have learned something and can tweak it and go another route, making it a better plan for the citizens. ”

The Up and At’Em Health Initiative was the product of her concern over healthy eating and physical education. Johnson City now has a comprehensive program to combat obesity in Tennes-see, which has the fi fth highest rate of

obesity in the nation.“I continue to try to bring the aware-

ness of moving, activity, the awareness of what we put in our bodies,” she said.

In addition to the health initiatives she’s helped to start, she has also been involved with a number of “green” ini-tiatives in Johnson City. The city has

been recognized at the state level as Ten-nessee’s “First Green City.” Methane gas from the landfi ll at Iris Glenn now heats the Mountain Home V.A., saving around 10 percent on their electricity bill. John-son City was also the fi rst city in Tennes-see to initiate curbside recycling.

“We are constantly looking at ways to save energy that only translates into sav-ing the citizens money too. It’s one big circle. It affects every citizen, in one way or another.”

As a way to promote the fl ow of ideas from citizens to their local government, Myron has begun “Tuesday Talks with the Mayor.” Once a month, at the John-

son City Public Library, citizens canmeet one-on-one with Myron and dis-cuss anything – from dog waste to an-nexation, and beyond.

“I enjoy talking to the [citizens], getting ideas and I always, always getsomething positive from them,” she saidof the meetings. “I take all that seri-ously, listen to them and try to take care

of what they need. It gives people anopportunity to come down and kind-of vent. And we can take the opportu-nity to a more positive level. It givesme a chance to listen to people and see what’s going on with their lives. We might not be able to take care of everything. But I found out that if you are sincere and you listen, then a lot oftimes that’s what it’s about.”

Myron has seen a lot of buildinginitiatives put into place, including the construction of a new Senior Citizens Center and a new football stadium at Science Hill High School. Before she leaves offi ce, she says, one last thing ison her plate. She would like to fi nd a permanent home for the Johnson City Farmer’s Market – a building withrunning water, restroom facilities and storage capacity.

“Because of the way our culture is going, the interest in gardening and in fresh foods is growing,” she said. “This year we anticipate a very steadygrowth with the number of vendors atthe farmer’s market. … We want the farmer’s market to become a destina-tion.”

At the end of her busy days, Myron comes home, sits on the couch and cud-dles with her dog. “God sends us differ-ent things to soothe us,” she said. Sinceher husband’s death, she has thrownherself into her work – three jobs, notcounting all the committees she sits on – and her friendships. The greatest funshe has, she says, is nurturing the rela-tionships with her close friends.

“I am very fortunate to experiencewonderful qualities in my close friends,” she said. “The night my husband died,they were there. We tease each other to death, and we have fun. I hate to saythat it’s a hobby, but I will say that it’s a blessing.”

The Double Life of Johnson City Mayor Jane MyronBy Eileen Rush

Pg 12

Johnson City Mayor Jane Myron (Photo/Eileen Rush)

Out ‘N About Magazine

Johnson City’s newest hotel, the Courtyard Marriott, located at 4025 Hamilton Place off State of Franklin Road, sure is impressive. One would think this sprawling fi rst class hotel would be only found in a larger city.

The hotel’s designer left nothing to chance. The rooms and suites combine el-egance with homey comfort in a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Yet, the hotel is ex-tremely functional for business travelers or a couple just wanting a romantic get-away. Inside visitors will fi nd a functional business center, a Coffeehouse featuring Starbucks and the popular Bistro & Bar where you can enjoy breakfast or dinner or just relax with cocktails served during evening hours.

Visitors are fi rst welcomed to the new lobby area adjacent the Coffeehouse and Bistro and have a choice between staying one of the 87 luxury rooms on one of the three fl oors or in one of the hotel’s spacious ground fl oor suites near the outdoor pool. If you’re in need of getting your daily exer-cise, Courtyard Marriott has a comprehen-sive fi tness center. There’s even a private laundry room should you need to dry your swimming trunks after a dip in the pool.

The hotel is wired throughout with com-plimentary high-speed internet access and each room is equipped with a new 32-inch fl at screen television, microwave oven, refrigerator, iron, coffee maker and blow dryer. The sleeping quarters present guests with luxury bedding and crisp linens and oversized fl uffy pillows. In the lobby, hang-ing prominently next to the check-in coun-ter is a huge 52-inch “Go Board” interactive screen that’ll let you know what is going on in the region as well as the hotel’s meeting schedule. Meeting rooms are available for large or small groups and wedding receptions and dinners.

It’s no wonder that the Courtyard Marriott is quickly becoming the local hotel to hold meetings, weddings, and family and class reunions. Veteran General Manager Steve Bales says the new hotel is different from a tradition property. “We ask our guests to come and enjoy the hotel but we also encourage them to get out of their rooms,” he said. “Whether it’s a large group or you’re traveling alone there is a great opportunity for networking within the hotel; we have a lot of corporate traffi c. And, you can literally plug your laptop in anywhere!”

Bales joined LBA Hospitality, headquar-tered in Dothan, Alabama in April of 2009 and the new Courtyard Marriott opened later in September amid much interest and fanfare. For a new property with plen-ty of competition, Bales is pleased with the early results.

Statically, out of 789 Courtyard Marri-ott’s nationwide, Johnson City ranks #1 in on-time check-ins, #1 in room cleanli-ness, #2 in departures and #10 in guest satisfaction. Bales say the layout of the property sells itself. “There is music piped out to the pool area and a fi re pit with a lounging area. This is a fourth generation Marriott and we have more of a condo complex feel.”

On a recent visit to the hotel, we spoke to a family of fi ve from Kansas who had stayed at the hotel for over a week and were leaving the next day. “Whenever I thinkof Johnson City I’ll remember this hotel and the hospitality the staff showed us,”the mother of four kids said as the family lounged around the pool for the last time. “When you are far from home and have children and you receive the kind of atten-tion we’ve received this past week it makes you want to come back. And, we will.”

Bales is quick to give credit to his staff, especially Lisa Tolliver, Director of Sales and Angel Dennis, Ast. General Manager. “I’ve very proud of my staff, and I’d put them up against any others in the Tri-Cities,” Bales said, who got his start 20 years ago by opening the old Garden Plaza Hotel.

With occupancy numbers at the hotel the envy of many competitors, Bales isn’t letting up. He’s now going after locals who want a weekend get-away. Soon, travel packages will include wooing motorcyclists, who would like to ride and spend theday at Grandfather Mountain, or others who might want to travel to Gatlinburg orPigeon Forge and back.

“There are many opportunities to enjoy a variety of things in our backyard,” Balespoints out. “Our attitude is in helping our visitors come, enjoy and get out and enjoy themselves. And, while in our Courtyard Marriott, you can eat, drink and connect. Our concept is redefi ning the approach to the business traveler as well as the localpopulation.”

Courtyard Marriott:

New Johnson City Hotel Is Impressive

The new Courtyard Marriott is convenient to many of the areas attractions and landmarks.

Courtyard Marriott General Manager Steve Bales

Director of Sales Lisa Tolliver

The outdoor fi re pit, next to the pool offers guests a place to socialize and relax.

June 2010 Pg 13

Richard Venable: CEO NETWORKSNETWORKS website logo proudly proclaims: “You can get there from

here.” And, that’s just one selling point Richard Venable, Chief Operating Of-fi cer, touts every day. A veteran regional leader, former State Representative, former long-time Sullivan County Mayor and candidate for Congress, Ven-able knows all too well that attracting industry and business is not a boiler-plate mission. And, he knows all the nooks and crannies of our region better than anybody.

When it comes to attracting new busi-ness, the competition is fi erce. When NET-WORKS regional Economic Development Partnership alliance was formed six years ago between partners Sullivan County, Bris-tol, Bluff City, and Kingsport everyone in the region was trying to lure Bush Hog to its particular county, there was a noticeable let-down by some when Bush Hog chose a neighboring county instead of Sullivan.

“We soon found out that our friendly com-petition ended up being good for everybody when Bush Hog decided to locate in our re-gion. (Note: The plant eventually shut-down due to slow economic times). Because, we all benefi tted as a region. When I went down there, I notice license plates from Sullivan, Greene, Washington, Carter, and Unicoi (all over) so it was truly a regional gift. We’re all mobile and you can be anywhere in the Tri-Cities in a short time. On the other hand, it takes an hour or more sometimes just to get from one end of Knoxville to the other.”

Venable points to Tri-Cities Regional Airport as one of the biggest asset the region has to spur economic development and new business. “As a region, the airport is vital to developing the relationships that hold the key to growth. It’s our fi rst opportunity to introduce a prospect.”

Venable wears many hats but seems to enjoy the promotions end of the economic development business. “Our area has grown to celebrate our differ-ences as well as our common bonds,” he said with a smile. “By leveraging our uniqueness while combining our strengths, we continue to produce a growing economy,” he added.

One important thing Venable says he has helped accomplish since to es-tablishment of NETWORKS is its ownership of land.

“I guess at the beginning we were a marketing organization. Now, we own over 500 acres of our own land. We have the infrastructure in place and many great partners.”

In the highly competitive world of attracting new industry in tough eco-nomic times, Out ‘N About Magazine was interested in knowing what new business was looking for.

“How quickly you can act,” Venable said without hesitation. “You have to remember our neighbors are not the only competition but perhaps, the entire South. We have three industrial parks in Sullivan County and we can offer a great road system and the needed infrastructure quickly. It’s highly competi-tive, so these are the things we’ve worked hard on to develop over the years.

Plus, don’t forget, we have a great education training center for the workforceat Northeast State Technical College.”

Venable credits former Kingsport Mayor Jeanette Blazer with getting localbusiness leaders and government to begin to work closely together on eco-nomic development issues. So, with Venable at the helm, NETWORKS begandeveloping cost benefi t analysis package for business prospects. “We had toidentify what the employer brings to the table and at what cost to us (taxes,

spin-off employment, future growth)” hesaid. “If an employer has some ‘skin’ in thegame then in all likelihood he or she has areal stake in the success of the venture.”

With new start-up industries far-and-few between right now, Venable points tothe need to assist exiting businesses. “Sev-enty to eighty percent of existing businessare small to medium-sized entrepreneursand they really are the unsung heroes. Ireally think sometimes, to a great extent,they are overlooked. It’s much easier tohelp an existing company with a 50 job gapthan to land the big fi sh, so-to-speak. If anexisting business adds 25 new jobs, we canhelp them through training and state taxincentives. And, regionally we have a lot tooffer because of our quality of life and themany opportunities available all aroundus. . . from our lakes, State Parks, golfcourses, the racetrack, restaurants, small

shops as well as shopping centers. And, ourhealth care system is second to none. We have three major medical centers, a#1 cardiac center and a Level One Trauma Center, as well as great higher edu-cation facilities. These things mean a lot to business people who are thinkingabout moving here or expanding.”

Pg 14

Richard Venable, Networks Cheif Executive Offi cer

Richard Venable Quick Facts • Worked for Mason Dixon Truck lines before starting his own successful trucking business still flourishing and headquartered in Kingsport, TN.• Enjoys International Travel especially to Europe.• Many thought was the real winner in his race for Congress when not enough voting machines were available in (his) popular county of Sullivan. Former U.S. Rep. David Davis eventually won that race.• Was recently urged, but decided not to seek, the vacant Tennessee House seat recently given up by his good friend Rep. Jason Mumpower, R-Sullivan County.• Is believed to be the front-runner for Ron Ramsey’s state senate seat should Ramsey be elected governor. That decision will be up to the Sullivan County County Commission should Ramsey take the governor’s chair.

Out ‘N About Magazine

2010 Downtown Kingsport Concert Schedule

June 2010 Pg 15

Note to all the drug dealers out there: You might want to stay out of Unicoi County. Be-cause, if you plan to travel to Erwin to sell drugs or just cook some for yourself, Unicoi County Sheriff Kent Harris will fi nd you and put you in jail. After all, he’s done it hundreds of times.

Fresh off another unopposed land-side elec-tion victory with nearly 8,000 votes, Harris begins his third term more upbeat than when he fi rst took the sheriff’s chair eight years ago. “It’s a lot different now around here,” he said from behind his massive desk, cluttered with case fi les, memos and letters. “When I fi rst took offi ce meth (methamphetamine) was an epidemic. We worked day and night and that fi rst year we made over 300 drug arrests that stuck. I took a tough stance that you don’t come to Unicoi County and sell drugs. . .not on my watch.”

Harris found drug dealers cooking meth in cars, in motels and in rented houses. In fact, one rental house blew up while two drug deal-ers brewed meth on a kitchen stove. Now, with the county drug problem vertically cleaned-up, Unicoi County boosts one of the lowest crime rates in the state. And, Harris’ department has a remarkable 87 percent solvable crime rate re-

cord while the average in the country is in the 20 percentile.

“I’m very proud of that number and all the credit goes to the 52 men and women who work here,” Har-ris said in-between phone calls. “We’re like a family. We know each other’s wives and husbands and their kids. I dare say if someone has a dog, I know its name too,” he said with a laugh. “As the old saying goes, ‘There’s no I in We.’”Harris reserves Sun-

day for church and to spend time with his wife and three kids. Oth-erwise, he’s on the job daily from 7 a.m. until after midnight. He leads by example. However, he decries the low pay for his employees but there’s little he can do because Unicoi County sits in the middle of federal land that by law goes untaxed.

“I wouldn’t want my kids to pursue law en-forcement as a career. Unless you get a degree and go to work for the state or federal govern-ment. . .FBI. . .TBI. . .DA (District Attorney). Otherwise, its long hours and low pay. Our offi -cers make about $26,000 a year and $6,000 of that goes for medical insurance. I’ve fought for more pay for them but it’s just not there. You don’t work here for the money. It’s a cause. It gets in your blood.”

Nowadays when he’s not chasing criminals, Harris spends time working and planning for the future, in particularly the construction of Unicoi County’s Jail Annex and the renovation of the current old jail.

The 64-bed facility frequently housed over 100 inmates and beginning in 1986 the State of Tennessee demanded someone do something about it. “I don’t like to criticize those who came before me but they basically put temporary

Band-Aids on the place (jail). The pendulum dropped when I got here and the county had todo something or we faced decertifi cation.”

So, across town, a new jail annex is being built, local contractors were bid winners and 25 local laborers were put to work. Harris’ persis-tence resulted in the plan for the annex versus a new $8 million jail that the county couldn’tafford. “And, that was without any land,” he in-terjected. By hiring local contractor Kevin Hor-ton as Construction Superintendent, the annex will cost less than $3 million including the priceof the $700,000 land it sits on.

The annex will also house all of the county’s permanent records, serve as home to the Emer-gency Medical Service, plus there is room for animpound lot for confi scated vehicles and for thedepartment’s Blood Hounds to live. “Yes, it’smuch better here than eight years ago,” Harris says with a smile. “But I’m still vigilant and will continue to work hard for the citizens of UnicoiCounty as we continue to make this a better place in which to live and raise a family.”

Out ‘N About Magazine Pg 16

KENT HARRIS Quick FACTS

• Wanted to be a Marine but a serious car wreck prevented his sign-up.

• His great grandfather was Erwin Chief of Police 35 years ago.

• He once served as an Erwin City Councilman.

• Before becoming sheriff, he worked 8 years at Nuclear Fuels Services.

• He serves as an elder at Erwin First Pente-costal Church.

• He dabbles in rental property.

• Harris collects Andy Griffith memorabilia and is a big Mayberry fan.

Lawman: Kent Harris Enjoys PuttingThe Bad Guys Behind Bars

Unicoi County Sheriff Kent Harris

“Exceeding Expectations” is TriSummit Bank’s promise to its customers. And, in just three and a half years, it appears that promise has come to fruition.

“I work with the 50 best bankers on our team and that’s the reason for our success,” Lynn Shipley, TriSummit Bank President & CEO, said recently. “When we started the bank we raised the capital necessary in record time and in a little over three years we have $270 million in assets during the toughest of economic times during my busi-ness career.”

A Bristol, Virginia native, Shipley began work-ing at age 13 on State Street and hasn’t let up since. His banking career has taken him to leadership roles at banks in all the Tri-Cities and Bristol, VA. And, he knows the market and its people well.

While Shipley admits the loan demand in some areas of banking is soft at present, “The Tri-Cities, Southwest Virginia and all of Northeast Tennessee is resilient and we’ll bounce back. We, on the other hand, haven’t really seen the signifi cant downturn that markets have experienced in other parts of the country,” he said.

Shipley points to TriSummit’s conservative management philosophy that drives its portfo-lio. “We believe in basic banking fundamentals,” he said. “If people have skin in the game and they

have a plan to repay debt and have that capacity then they make for a good risk. If we determine that’s not the case and risk factors go up because the cash fl ow isn’t there then we (still) go to work to determine what the best solution is. . .maybe not such a big house or maybe the customer should look at a less expensive car. That’s just good busi-ness sense.”

When asked about the sub-prime mortgage business that pushed the U.S. economy on the brink of bank-ruptcy, Shipley decries the lack of regulation at the time. “Good community banks like ours and many others weren’t engaged in sub-prime loans. But, there were people out there ‘non-regulated’ that were. And, ultimately it hurt the entire economy. We have personal relationships with our customers andour goal is to make decisions in both their best interest and the in-terest of TriSummit Bank . . . because it is a long-term business part-nership.”

Shipley came up with the following words as the bank’s Mission Statement:

“Words don’t mean much unless they’re backed up with action. That’s why TriSummit’s real story isn’t in these words; it’s in the way we

do business every day:

Integrity.

Trust.

Responsibility.

Doing the right thing. Giving more than people have learned to expect. Treating custom-ers – and each other – the way we’d want to be

treated.

It’s not new.

It’s just rare.

And it’s who we are.”

Shipley has always been one to personally putback into the community. He served as United Wayof Kingsport’s Chairman a few years ago, and hasbeen active all his adult life in Bristol’s Life Sav-ings Crew. In fact, while working the races at Bris-tol Motor Speedway in 1977, the lifesaving crewbecame the fi rst EMS in Tennessee to provide ad-vance life support serves on site. He had a specialrelationship with former BMS owners Larry and

Shirley Carrier. Whileat First AmericanBank, his institutionwas the fi rst to sponsora suite building.

An avid NASCARfan, Shipley tells a fun-ny story about takinga ticket renewal letterwritten to him in 1961by Larry Carrier urg-ing him to purchasehis tickets for the nextrace. Tickets then were$6.

“I took that letterup to him over thirty years later and

told him I wanted to pick up my tickets,” he laughs.“They were about $70 at time. Larry got a big kickout of that!”

CEO Lynn Shipley is up for the challengein these challenging times

Lynn Shipley

Quick Facts about

Lynn Shipley:• Has a tool box instead of a golf bag.

• In the process of restoring a 1981 442 Black

Oldsmobile.

• Married to Kathy, 26 years; Son, Andrew;

Daughter, Brook; two granddaughters.

• Retired only to turnaround and start TriSummit

Bank.

• Believes personal finance should be taught to

students early in school.

Pg 17June 2010

A few weeks ago, the fi rst class of ETSU’s Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy accepted their diplomas and Guy Wilson, Jr., DPh., CEO and Chairman of Wilson Pharmacy couldn’t have been prouder.

Wilson hesitates to take per-sonal credit for landing a pharmacy school in Johnson City but the fact is he was a leading fi gure in the school’s creation. “We knew there was a genuine need here,” Wilson said from his headquarters on State of Franklin Road. “And, Memphis was the closest school to us and it might as well been in Canada (dis-tance wise).

The major hurdle Wilson and his colleagues faced was funding the new school, estimated to be around $16 million in community funds and the rest shared by government. But, ultimately he and other busi-ness and civic leaders convinced ETSU President Paul Stanton and Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen the idea had merit. “[Gov. Bredesen] told us if we could raise $5 million in 90 days he’d sign off on it,” re-fl ected Wilson. We were able to recruit 1,000 donors and one donor, (Bristol busi-nessman) Bill Gatton, personally pledged $5 million.”

The rest, as they say, is history.Once the funding was secured, the next worry was attracting 75 students to

Johnson City’s new pharmacy school who would be willing to plunk down $23,000 a year to study here. Wilson said he wasn’t worried and he was right.

The school now has a waiting list of 800 and faulty members have relocated to Johnson City from near and far. “It’s not real hard to sell our region,” a smiling Wilson said. “It’s a great place to raise a family and we have a lot to offer. After all, you get up every morning and you look out at these beautiful mountains and there is picturesque scenery wherever you go. Who wouldn’t want to attend school here. . .and stay after you graduate?”

Wilson says technology has dramatically changed the face of the pharmacy business, a business his family has been involved in dating back to his grandfather in 1935. And, he says, “(Independent) Wilson Pharmacy has survived and excelled because we are committed to fundamental customer service,” he said. “Health care is a very personal business whether it is the interaction of your doctor, nurse of pharmacist. It’s who we are. We not only have an obligation to get to know our customers, we use new technology and automation to help better serve them.”

A 1965 graduate of the Uni-versity of Tennessee College of Pharmacy, Wilson’s business has grown to over 150 employees. Wilson says his employees are family and faced with a teeter-ing economy last year he chose to freeze salaries versus laying people off. In the meantime, he ate a $29,000 loss.

“We learned through the tough times to be a lot more ef-fi cient because of the situation,” he added. “We have a lot of sharp young people in our organiza-tion. We are a knowledge-based organization . . .we don’t count pills anymore; we have machine that does that and our technol-ogy tracks every dose to every pa-tient. It’s quite remarkable what we are able to do these days.”

Today, Wilson’s business components include: infusion, compounding, retail, institu-tional and clinical management. “We’re much more diversifi ed and we are able to use our phar-maceutical knowledge to help

employers better manage their health care costs. We take time to interact with patients’ doctors to meet managed care and employer priorities as well as wellness goals.

Wilson is somewhat of a political activist when it comes to the pharmaceuti-cal industry staying in touch with local, state and federal leaders. Just back from Washington D.C. meetings with Congressional leaders including U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-TN and First District Congressman Phil Roe, Wilson and other pharma-cists want some input on the proposed new federal health care bill.

There is a lot of money being wasted and there is a lot of abuse in some man-aged care programs,” he said. “There are major problems with TennCare and we need a National Data Base to track duplications of services.” As for his business, Wilson sees the recession waning and better days are ahead for him and the stu-dents who attend the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy.

Well-known Local Pharmacist instrumental in Medical School Reality

CEO and Chairman of Wilson Pharmacy, Guy Wilson

Guy Wilson Quick Facts

• Golfer & private airplane pilot.• Crashed his fi rst plane in 1971 and walked away from it.• Daughter, Ellen lives in New York City with her daughter and husband.• Wife Debra Wilson, DPh., is President of Wilson Pharmacy and is a golfer too.• The Wilsons are active in many professional and civic organizations (too many to list).

June 2010 Pg 19

Regional HappeningsOld-Time Appalchian Music Jam

Fridays 6 - 10 p.m. Downtown BlountvilleSaturdays 2 - 4 p.m. Bristol Welcom Center

Contra DancesJune 6, 20 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. Jonesborough Visitors Center

Storytelling Tuesday EveningsTuesdays 7 - 8:30 p.m. The Cranberry Thistle, Downtown Johnesborough

Twilight Alive Concert SeriesThursdays 7 p.m. Downtwon Kingsport

Bluegrass on Board Concert SeriesFridays 7 p.m. Downtown Kingsport

Music on the SquareFridays 7 p.m. Downtown Jonesborough

Sunday Jams at Carter MansionJune 27 2 - 5 p.m. Carter Mansion, Elizabethton

44th Annual Covered Bridge CelebrationJune 3 - 5 Downtown Elizabethton

11th Annual Blue Plum FestivalJune 4 - 6 Downtown Johnson City

20th Annual Sycamore Shoals Native American Festival

June 5 - 6 Sycamore Shoals State Park, Elizabethton, Tenn.

Shakespeare and Friends Celtic Renaissance FaireJune 5 - 6 Crockett Spring Park, Rogersville, Tenn.

Sullivan County Civil War DaysJune 17-20 Downtown Blountville

64th Annual Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival

June 19 - 20 Roan Mountain, Tenn.

Living History – Militia Muster at theCarter Mansion

June 19 - 20 Elizabethton, Tenn.

1886 Spring Craft FestivalJune 19 - Whittier, North Carolina

BarterTheatre, Abingdon Va.:April, 30 – Aug. 29 Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays With Morrie May 13 – Aug 14 Revolutions June 2 – June 26 Pinocchio June 10 – Aug 14 The Blue-Sky Boys June 18- July 24 Violet www.bartertheatre.com

Jonesborough Repertory Theatre, Jonesborough, Tenn.:

June 18 – 19 Godspell Junior www.jonesboroughtheatre.com

Johnson City Community Theatre, Johnson City, Tenn:

June 11,12, Noël Coward’s “Improbable Farce” BlitheSpirit 18 -20, 26, 27 www.jcct.us

Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre, Mars Hill, N.C.:

June 2-6 The ForeignerJune 9-27 A Little Night Musicwww.sartplays.org

The Montford Park Players, Asheville, N.C.:June 4 – 13 The Asheville ShakesperienceJune 18 July 11 King Learwww.montfordparkplayers.org

Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville, N.C.:June 3 - 4 Ballet Conservatory of Asheville presents GiselleJune 5 Asheville Lyric Opera presents Taste of OperaJune 6 Jazz Series 2010 presents Rick Trolsen and the New Orleans Po’ BoysJune 11 - 12 Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre & White Dog ProjectX present Frank’s Got the Blues & Jaque-Mate (Check Mate)June 24 -26 Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance presents The Rite of Spring and other workswww.dwtheatre.com

Flat Rock Playhouse, Hendersonville, N.C.:June2 -July 4 For the Glorywww.flatrockplayhouse.org

Proud Annie Mystery Theatre, Jonesborough, Tenn:

Weekly dinner performances begin at 6:30 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays.www.proudannie.com

Festivals, Fairs & More

Music/EntertainmnetTheatre

Pg, 20Out ‘N About Magazine

Rafael Zabala, smiles when the question is asked, and he’s not coy about his answer. “Why take a chance with a big investment in downtown Johnson City, namely Tipton Street in these tough econom-ic times?”

“I’d have to give David Pen-nington with URA (Urban Re-development Alliance) much

of the credit for One12 locating here. The space was a good deal and we

are able to be the center of the downtown re-newal effort,” Zabala said. “I’m real happy about locat-

ing here and the fi rst few months have met up to my early expectations.”

Barely open three months, Zabala’s optimistic bet on bringing an up-scale full-service restaurant to the heart of downtown is already paying off with a steady patron base coming from East Tennessee State University, and the sur-rounding area. Plus, it didn’t take long for downtown shoppers to fi nd One12. Business people stop in after work, and families are fi nding a pleasant dining experience that won’t crowd their budget.

One12 is a restaurant you might fi nd in a big city minus the big city prices for food and drink.

Kids meals are only $4.99 while a hearty appetite can be satisfi ed with one of 112’s signature steaks, short ribs, Pan Roasted or Molasses Chicken, fi sh or pasta dishes. A variety of salads and homemade dressings are offered. And, of course, you can choose from over a dozen appetizers, burgers and sandwiches.

Although customers can view about any game or sporting event on the 18 largescreen LCD televisions that adorn the walls around the restaurant, Zabala isquick to point out, One12 is not your typical sports bar. “We’re more upscale andwe’re just a great place that you can bring a date for a nice dinner or bring the entire family for a great meal.”

One12 proudly carries the “Certifi ed Angus Beef” logo on its menu which basi-cally means any beef product offered at One12, from chili to steaks, only comes from the best cuts of beef.

Zabala also knows something about hiring good employees. “I know within fi veminutes of the interview if they’ll fi t in here,” he said matter-of-factly. “I look for people with good personalities who want to have a good time and who are more personable with our customers and who are committed to excellent service.”

One12 boast a real copper bar and the 1923 vintage building was renovatedevery step of the way by Zabala. The restaurant is open, airy and complimented by refurbished hard wood fl oors, classy booths and plenty of tables and chairs. The huge bar area is stocked with any beverage you could think of, and One12 offers 20 beers on tap.

As host, Zabala makes sure something is always going on. “We have events here all the time especially from Thursday through the weekend; there are always drink specials, food specials and great live music. It’s a unique space. . . and a happin place!”

thh“WbJSic

nd

of thehere. The sp

are able to be the newal effort,” Zabala said

ing here and the fi rst few montexpectations.”

B l th th Z b l ’ ti

Is Setting the Pace for a New Downtown Johnson City


Quick Facts

About

Rafael Zabala• Grew up in Mountain City.• Single (at time of interview, at least). • U.T. graduate and former stock broker with

Morgan Stanley.• Was born in Venezuela.• Take a tour: www.112DOWNTOWN.COM.• One12 can be rented for group luncheons,

dinners and parties.

Rafael Zabala (left) says he’s pleased to be part of the downtown renewal effort.

It’s a sunny afternoon and a large crowd has gathered for 18 holes of golf at the area’s premier golf course, Tri-Cities Golf Club. Rich in history and popularity, golf-ers will notice several unique changes at the course designed to help assist them in improving their game.

Course owner Andy Carrier recently took Tri-Cities Golf Club into the future of golf courses by installing ProShot GPS systems in all golf carts, a cutting-edge in-

teractive program that gives players actuate real-time data concern-ing each hole of play.

“On all our carts, the GPS system is mounted on the steering column and sits suspended in between the driver and passenger,” Car-rier explained. “The LCD screen viewing is line of site and does not obstruct the driver’s view. Golfers receive all pertinent yardage information without touching any buttons, in addition to, drive distances and playing tips from golf professional are contained on the message board.”

The ProShot GPS system is quite amazing and golfers at Tri-Cities Golf Club sing its praises. Tri-Cities is the only local course to have the interactive sys-tem available. “Everyone knows how challenging golf is, and in the past, I had to constantly get out of the cart and look for a yard marker or irrigation head before making my next club selection,” one golfer said after teeing off from the fi rst tee. “Now the calculation is done for me in the cart. The GPS provides me with a distance measuring the yardage to the front, center and back of the green and what hazards to be looking out for. It makes my golfi ng experience that much more enjoyable.”

Also, what’s unique about Tri-Cities Golf Club is the fact the course has 27 holes available not just the usual 18. “This enables us to hold tournaments at the course and at the same time still offer playing time to other customers and the general public,” Carrier pointed out.

Positioned in some of the region’s most picturesque mountain scenery, the course offers play in the pines, woods and lake settings. Greens Superinten-dant Billy Murphy doesn’t take personal credit for the fi nely manicured course

that greets hundreds of golfers every year. “We work as a team here and everyone wears many hats,” he said. “We stay on top of offering the best golfi ng experience available in the Tri-Cities.” He also admits watching the Weather Channel more than most as the weather dic-tates his plan for the course every day.

Obviously the “team approach management concept” is working because Tri-Cities Golf Club is one of the busiest courses in the region.

“I’d have to say that’s because we offer good customer service and our prices are [really] competitive,” Carrier added. “We want people to come back and enjoy the experience we offer at Tri-Cities Golf Club and we pay attention to the needs of our participants, whether you are promot-ing a tournament of playing an afternoon round of golf with family or friends.”

Carrier’s management assistant, Diane Hite, tracks the complex’s tournaments, oversees the Pro Shop and is involved in the newly re-vamped restaurant, the 28th Hole. “We host over 50 tournaments a year and probably one of the most special is our partnership with Bristol Motor Speedway’s Children’s Charities Golf Tournament,” she said. “One of the highlights of the August NASCAR weekend is the tournament. We’re proud to be presenting it again in August for the 12th year.”

Manning the Pro Shop during the day of our visit was Emmitt Burleson, a 35 year veteran employee of the golf course.

“Tri-Cities Golf Club is the best place to play for the money,” Bur-leson said. “You can play 18 holes during the week for $26 and $31 on the weekends. We’re sitting in an ideal location (Blountville, just down the road from Bristol Motor Speedway) so it’s easy to get here from Abingdon, Elizabethton, Kingsport, Johnson City, etc. The course is always in great shape and we enjoy a robust repeat business.”

“In the Pro Shop we offer a full line of items for every need the golfer might have,” Hite said. “Our prices are very competitive and we’ll match the price of any of the ‘Big Box’ stores.” The heav-ily stocked Pro Shop offers ev-erything from Oakley sunglass-es to golf balls and clubs. Brand names like Nike, Titleist, and Callaway welcome visitors to browse the Pro Shop for mer-chandise before or after their game.

Speaking of before or after the game, the 28th Hole restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and a dozen snack favorites from hot dogs to cheeseburgers, sandwiches and subs. The most popular item is their signature Hot Wings. The restaurant also offers a variety of beers and soft drinks.

Tri-Cities Golf Club is conveniently located for golfers in the Tri-Cities Tn/Va region and beyond.

Tri-Cities Golf Club offers play on three courses featuring pines, woods and lake settings.

Photos courtesy of Tri-Cities Golf Club

The Pro Shop carries name brand golfi ng equipment and accessories.

Bristol, VA. --- Steve Hawkins, WCYB News & Community Affairs Director is on the telephone in his offi ce when reporters from Out ’N About Magazine arrive. He hangs up the telephone only to pluck a Blackberry from his belt to look at text mes-sages he missed while being on the other phone.

“That’s the nature of the news businesses nowadays,” he announces. “It’s 24-7. But, I guess that’s what’s exciting and not boring about my job. The news (and weather) constantly change; it is an everyday challenge. It is also a huge responsi-

bility because our viewers not only depend on us every day to deliver news, sports and weather. . . they expect us to get it right.”

Hawkins is THE veteran newsman in these parts. For 34 years he had darkened the door everyday at WCYB, located barely in Virginia off State Street. He began hiscareer as a sports reporter long before the Internet, cell phones and his Blackberrysidekick became commonplace.

Before him there was Merrill Moore, probably the closest thing the Tri-Cities evergot to a local Walter Cronkite. Hawkins had big shoes to fi ll when in 2000 Merrillretired and Hawkins was asked to sit at the nightly Anchor Desk as well as keeping his News Director business post. Change takes a while but he fi lled Merrill’s shoesquite nicely thank you. You don’t stay in the same place in the news business for34 years by making mistakes and hiccups. And, there have been quite few of those.

Hawkins invited Out ‘N About Magazine into the sanctity of the world of NewsCenter 5 at 5p.m. and 5:30 p.m., a personal behind-the-scenes look at what goes onuninterrupted every evening. And, fascinating the private look was indeed!

Our tour guide, Joe Gragg, the same guy who for several years, camped out at theBristol Motor Speedway campground and brought us those zany stories from fans visiting BMS from around the country, knows his stuff. He too, is a long-term em-ployee and seemed to really enjoy sharing the behind-the-scenes wizardly whetherit be discussing WCYB’s $1 million mobile truck or explaining the goings-on in thecontrol room.

From high atop the “brain center” above the news room, or commonly known asthe Master Control Room, engineers bark orders and sit before thousand-buttoned control panels pushing a button here or sliding a button up or down there. If youdidn’t know it, you’d think you were back stage at a Led Zeppelin rock concert.

After the tour we went down on the fl oor to witness fi rst hand the 6 p.m. newscast. The news staff act like family and it is remarkably genuine. They laugh andhold small talk sessions during the breaks, catch-up on family matters and teaseone another. It’s comfortable in the news room but the Hollywood lights are brightand hot.

Probably the most surprising thing about the news, sports, and weather

WCYB NEWS: ACCURATE & RELIABLE

WCYB News Team: (From Left) Dave Dirks, Steve Hawkins, Ann Carter and Garick Zikan

Meteorologist Dave Dirks WCYB News and Community Affairs Director Steve Hawkins WCYB “brain center”


Continued on page 35

After 37 years at the helm of what started out as a modest festival of people telling stories and having a generally good time of fellowship and comraderie, Jimmy Neil Smith, the International Storytelling Center’s only director, still has a twinkle in his eye when ask to tell the story of the story of the festival.

“Would I ever had imaged we would be where we are now from that warm October day in 1973, when we rolled out an old farm wagon into Court-house Square in downtown Jonesbor-ough to gather around to tell stories?” he asked to my question over lunch recently. “You gotta be kidding!”

The festival’s beginnings were modest to say the least. But Smith, a

former Science Hill High School English and Journalism teacher, saw something in the early beginnings that perhaps few did. “Everyone has a story to tell,” he said matter-of-factly. “But storytelling is much more than that. Even our current presi-dent used storytelling very effectively on the campaign trail. People can relate to personal experiences told in one’s own words. It’s not only entertaining it quite interesting.”

Indeed. Crowds for years have sat spellbound listening to the many storytell-ers that used to frequent Jonesborough but once a year. However, that has now changed somewhat with Smith’s launching the wildly popular Tellers-in-Residence Program nine years ago. Storytelling thus, has become more accessable.

This year, from May through October, twenty six nationally known Tellers-in-Residence will be featured at the International Storytelling Campus, built in 2002 in the heart of downtown. Each week a different artist will appear at the Center The-ater in live afternoon concerts. Special evening performances, children’s concerts

and workshops are also offered.

Smith remains a popular local fi g-ure in town with many people dur-ing the lunch hour stopping by to say hello. One lady, a volunteer at the Center, particu-larly moved Smith back into conver-sation about where the Center’s been and where it’s go-ing.

“That lady you just met is one of our volunteers,” he said. “And, we have a great bunch of volunteers. We, like most non-profi ts, especially in these daysand times are struggling. Our numbers are down and that’s obviously discourag-ing. But our message has not changed and I expect the resiliency and interest instory-telling will continue to grow; and it is evolving into an international art form of interest.”

Somewhat comically, Smith said he declared the fi rst festival to be the start ofthe National Storytelling Festival. “I guess that was a bold statement. But, we de-clared that it was in fact, the National Storytelling Festival and we never lookedback.” After all, no one in the country was doing what Smith was in a small ruraltown in Tennessee let alone anywhere else in the nation. And, before long, story-telling fans from California to London (and all parts in-between) were coming to Jonesborough at least once a year.

Smith defl ects credit. “It was, is, and will always be a team effort,” he smiles. “Ihad the unusual experience to have been a part of a great organization and playeda small part in bringing story-telling to the mainstream of not only our area but na-tionally and now internationally. It’s been exciting and I still love my involvementand enjoy what I do every day.”

Jimmy Neil Smith is a credit to our region. Please support him and the Interna-tional Storytelling Center in Jonesborough. That’s the least we can do.

Jimmy Neil Smith

LEGACY & VISION:Jimmy Neil Smith still beating the drum for

the International Storytelling Center

Jimmy Neil Smith Quick Facts • Loves to travel to forgotten areas of Argentina and Brazil• Keeps a cluttered office in the back of Chester Inn but can lay his hands on documents at will• Once started his own local news/entertainment newspaper

The Chester Inn is the second oldest building in Tenessee’s oldest town.

June 2010 Pg 25

Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville:June 2 Diana RossJune 3 Barenaked LadiesJuly 6 Adam LambertJuly 8 Weird Al YankovicJuly 26-28 Widespread Panic

Bijou Theatre in Knoxville:June 26 Emmylou HarrisJuly 21 Mary Chapin Carpenter

Bridgestone Arena in Nashville:June 22 Nashville Rising Benefi t with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Lynyrd Skynyrd, LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride, Brooks & Dunn, Amy Grant and others.July 10 Scorpions and Ratt

Ryman Auditorium in Nashville:June 1&2 Neil Young and Bert Jansch

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, TN:June 10-13 Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Kings of Leon, John Fogerty, John Prine, Jeff Beck, Norah Jones and many others.

Biltmore in Asheville, N.C.:June 4 The Nitty Gritty Dirt BandJuly 23 Clay Aiken and Ruben StuddardJuly 29 Steve Miller Band

Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte:June 2 James Taylor and Carole KingJune 11 DaughtryJuly 10 Michael Buble’

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte:June 4 Brooks & DunnJune 19 Lynyrd Skynyrd/38 SpecialJuly 21 Dave Matthews bandJuly 28 Santana and Steve Winwood

House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, S.C.:June 19 Edwin McCainJune 26 Ted Nugent

Chastain Park in Atlanta:June 6 Jethro TullJune 7 Styx/Foreigner and Kansas June 11 Jeff BeckJune 28 & 29 Sting with Royal Philharmonic OrchestraJuly 1 Reo Speedwagon and Pat BenatarJuly 10 Ringo Starr and the All-Star BandJuly 12 Chicago and the Doobie BrothersJuly 29 Santana and Steve Winwood

The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Atlanta:June 3 James Taylor and Carole KingJune 5 Daughtry

WQUT Concert Schedule

Friday June 4 - Tony Feathers $10 door 11pmFriday June 11 - The Legendary Drifters $18 AdvanceFriday June 18 - Jill Andrews $16 AdvanceSaturday June 19 - Verlon Thompson $14 doorSaturday June 26 - Mary Gauthier w/special guest Matthew Ryan $16 Advance

Thursday July 1 - The Steel Wheels $10 doorFriday July 2 - Thursday Evenin’ Porch Choir $12 doorFriday July 16 - The Kruger Brothers $14 doorSaturday July 17 - Webb Wilder $20 AdvanceThursday July 22 - Jimmy Thackery $18 AdvanceFriday July 23 - The Angel Band $15 AdvanceSaturday July 24 - Tift Merritt $16 AdvanceFriday July 30 - Robin & Linda Williams $20 Advance

Concert schedule


You might say Bernie Moseley and David Meredith were destined to fi nd and fall in love with Maple Lane Farm. Quite by accident, the event planning “hands-on” duo bought the property at auction on a lark.

“We were looking at a location to do this (event plan-ning for weddings and special events) in Kentucky but as you know Kentucky is full of horse farms and the price of land is outrageous,” Moseley said.

Maple Lane Farm is perfect for retirement parties, rehearsal dinners and, of course, wedding ceremonies and receptions for between 50-250 people.

Sitting on 23 acres complimented by a huge Wil-

liamsburg-style home half way down Cherokee Road, the place is absolutely a slice of heaven. The views of the mountains from all around the property are breathtak-ing, and along the shores of a giant pond where geese and ducks bask in the warm afternoon sun.

“When we bought the farm we didn’t even know there was a pond on it,” Meredith refl ects. “The area around the pond was grown up and the side patio near the house was overgrown in ivy. The previous owner was getting up in age and just couldn’t look after it anymore.” So, the partners began their work of trans-forming what Maple Lane Farm is today, the Tri-Cities premier location for intimate weddings and special events.

Maple Lane Farm is a “turn-key” event location with everything provided including Bernie and Da-vid’s guidance and advice through the entire wedding or special event process. Once there, you don’t have to leave the property for anything and should a stray thunderstorm hit, guests can quickly move into a large closed-in pavilion complete with tables and chairs and a full banquet-style kitchen. The pavilion is newly constructed but several old barns were kept and refur-bished and make for great photo opportunities.

Purchased in 2005, Bernie and David hosted their fi rst wedding in May of 2006 “after completing their work on their labor of love,” David said with a smile.

Today, Maple Lane Farm plays host to over 30 wed-dings a year and a litany of special events. Winter brings a demand for corporate events, Christmas par-ties and board retreats. Bernie, who spent 18 years in the hotel business, says he has heard “horror stories”about couples who were overcharged for everythingfrom extra chairs to napkins at a their reception.

“We offer couples many options,” he said. “We haveeverything in stock from a rainbow of colored candlesto every color of napkin you can image and several dif-ferent center pieces to choose from,” he said. “The cou-ple knows exactly what the costs are right up front.”David adds, “It’s a streamlined process here and we know how important that special day is. We want to be a positive part of the experience. We have had friendsof friends and bride’s friends to recommend us. We’vebe blessed these past fi ve years. There’s just not an-other place like this in the Tri-Cities region.”

Couples may choose from either a gazebo by the pic-turesque pond or a location under a fl owering trellisby the lagoon shaped pool for their wedding. Coun-ty-style wedding receptions can be held in one of thebarns or a more formal function in the large pavilionor an elegant affair may be held in the Colonial-style home and adjoin pool area.

More recently, Bernie and David have been “giving back to our community,” by hosting fund-raisers forseveral charities including the American Cancer Soci-ety. “We are blessed to live where we do and be able to work in this setting and it’s a pleasure to share it,” bothmen said almost in unison.

Maple Lane FarmsThe Location for Weddings and Special Events

David Meredith (sitting) and Bernie Moseley (standing) in the large reception building at Maple Lane Farm looking at recent wedding photos.

Bernie Moseley

Quick Facts • Holds a degree in Recreation & Leisure Ser-vices.• Once worked at a resort island seven miles from shore.• Missed his high school senior year spending it in Madrid, Spain. • Fought a bull once and took a ride on a camel in Morocco (not at the same time).

David Meredith

Quick Facts • Passion for automobiles; has owned 34 cars.• Is a former school teacher.• Is a CASA (Children’s Advocacy) Board member.• While in college served on weekend as a beauty pageant judge for kids.

June 2010 Pg 27

Photos: Gary & Ladonna Cable/Cable Photography


Dan Eldridge has piercing blue eyes and an infec-tious smile. One would guess he worked at ETSU as a college professor and not as a highly successful mil-lionaire businessman and certainly not a farmer. He is about to step into unfamiliar territory as Washing-ton County Mayor in about 90 days. And, he says, he’s ready and eager to “hit the ground running.”

His race against former Johnson City Mayor, at-torney, and former State Senator Don Arnold set records in campaign spending and raised eyebrows. He launched his fi rst campaign with plenty of mon-ey but no campaign experience. The popular Arnold had been GOP Party Chairman and has a list of po-litical and business experience and accomplishments as long as your arm. But the race against Eldridge, as some political pundits would say, “Wasn’t even close by a county mile.”

Eldridge pushed an unpopular wheel tax against a waning property tax as a private citizen in the last election cycle and some insiders believed that would be enough baggage to sink his ship. The wheel tax idea was run out of town by the voters to the tune of 7 to 1. But the wheel tax issue hardly made the politi-cal debates and didn’t make the smallest dent in El-dridge’s upbeat drum-beating campaign message that

centered on “running Washington County like a business.” That theme resonated as the cornerstone of his platform. And, it caught fi re.

He’s well aware he and his family have given up the sanctity of their private lives to be thrust into the very public life of county politics. And, he says that’s okay.

What can voters expect from their new mayor? In challenging times will the wheel tax or increase in prop-erty taxes be in the offering? Not a chance, according to Eldridge.

“A wheel tax won’t be needed and a property tax increase is something that we cannot put on the taxpayers backs during these uncertain eco-nomic times,” he said with confi -dence and believability in his voice. “We can and will run Washington County like a business and I will be asking every department head to partner with me so that we can con-trol spending and make internal ad-justments that just makes good busi-ness sense without jeopardizing vital services.”

Eldridge has cut his own hours down on the farm to pour over the county’s $121 mil-lion budget while spending quality time with out go-ing Mayor George Jaynes. “He’s been extremely help-ful to me,” Eldridge said of Jaynes. “(Admittedly) the county has a lot of debt but (still) is in good shape. We will be faced with both challenges and opportu-nities. We will have to deal with potential revenue shortfalls from the state as well as shortfalls in local tax collections. The (federal) stimulus money will be gone in January. We need to focus on jobs and eco-nomic growth in an effort to get the 6,000 people un-employed in Washington County back to work again. To increase revenue you have to increase employment and have a stable workforce.”

During the campaign, Eldridge said “it was easy for me to get the message out . . . so clearly and contrast my approach to problem solving versus my opponent.” And now there may be fence-mending in the offi ng. “The division between Johnson City and Washington County was and is a big issue. One of the challenges will be to get leaders from the city and county and Jonesborough to come together to forge a clear vision for our collective future. To be successful, I think, we all need to fi nd common ground and together we can

achieve many things in the best interest of the tax pay-ers and the citizens of Washington County,” he said.

Eldridge said he isn’t “a summit kind of guy” but regular and consistent meetings are a good idea, “if the meetings aren’t just to get together and talk and we’re serious about our assignments and tackling the challenges before us.”

The new mayor said one of his fi rst tasks is to “fi nd out which county in Tennessee is ran the best” and bring some of those ideas back to Washington Coun-ty. He added the county needed to look at “outdated” policies and procedures andf create some that are not currently in place. “I’m big on lessons learned. I’ve been a successful businessman, and I think that’s a benefi t to Washington County and my job. I don’t see the economy, for example, coming roaring back anytime soon, so I will be asking each department to make evaluations top-to-bottom in an effort to spend the tax payers’ money wisely and effi ciently.”

Eldridge says his wife Tammy claims he’s an “adren-alin junkie.”

“I thrive on challenges,” he said with his signature smile.

We suspect come September there’re be plenty of challenges facing Dan Eldridge Washington County’s fi rst new mayor in more than two decades. And, he really seems up to the task.

Newly Elected Washington County Mayor Stands Ready to Steer the Ship

Washington County Mayor-elect Dan Eldridge

Dan Eldridge will be the fi rst new mayor in Washington Coun-ty in more than two decades.

June 2010 Pg 29

The fi rst time Scott Pratt’s slender, young hand gripped the writer’s pen, he was nervously preparing to write a paper for his high school English teacher.

It wasn’t easy to get published in Refl ections, a literary magazine com-prised of poetry, verse and short stories written by David Crockett High School students of Margaret Berry, who was also faculty adviser for the Jonesborough, Tenn. school’s award-winning yearbook, The Pioneer.

It was good training, though, and the internationally published author still remembers the anxiety as he handed in that fi rst paper. “It was a piece about black being a misunderstood and under-appreciated color, ostensibly about racism. The committee thought it was good enough to be published.

“I remember feeling proud. I was a jock, but I also thought I had at least a bit of a brain. And, once you gained Mrs. Berry’s approval, you knew you had something. She was tough, and it paid off,” Pratt said, his fi ngers si-lently drumming the tabletop for a brief moment before he leans his big frame back in the chair.

His high school years found his hands characteristically wrapped around a football or basketball – fi ngertips only for the latter, of course – or sending a golf ball rocketing down the fairways courtesy of a fi rm overlap grip.

Still, that fi rst high school competition, along with many rewrites andstringent grading, poured a fi rm foundation upon which a keen intellect could cause a determined hand to build with words.

“I majored in English in college, so I did plenty of writing for that. And I really enjoyed writing introspective and philosophical pieces for political science classes,” in which he studied under the late Dr. Glenn Broach, long-time professor at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, and later at Winthrop College in Rock Hill, S.C.

“I was never scared of writing. It always fascinated me. I always wantedto try to convey exactly what I meant. At the same time, I wanted to conveyeven more, depending on the symbols and images I was using.

And now, half a lifetime – and countless sprains, breaks and dislocations later – Pratt has once again turned his hand to the writer’s art, though tech-nology has replaced the pen with a computer keyboard. “It’s very much likepainting. I try more and more to layer things.”

Though, ironically, the writer is color-blind to darker shades of brown, green or gray, he has no trouble divining vivid colors, in either life or art. His third novel, Injustice For All, is now in bookstores across the nation.

Experienced hands craft a writer’s life

Read the fi rst chapter of Injustice For All at scottprattfi ction.com

Author Scott Pratt at work on his new novel.


Not long out of high school, Pratt gained experience far from his idyllic East Tennessee youth when he found his hand grasping the harshly effec-tive M-16 rifl e.

He entered the U.S. Air Force, studying languages in preparation to be-come a translator, and well remembers his fi rst day on the fi ring range in San Antonio.

“It was intense. It was exhilarating. I am left-eye dominant, so I shoot left-handed, and I was a pretty good marksman,” he says with a grin.

“But I was a young, idealistic man. Impressionable. That was about the time of the abortive Iranian hostage rescue attempt. I was studying Korean, and witnessing the whole intelligence game. And there was stuff going on all over the world, death and destruction all around the world.

“Rather than making me want to stay, it made me want to get away. I felt like I had done my duty.”

Eventually returning to John-son City, his hands returned to the favored exercise of writing. “I managed to land a job at the daily newspaper in Johnson City. I don’t know how I talked my way into that – I couldn’t even type.” But he learned quickly, and within a couple of years was deeply involved in both feature and investigative reporting and writing a Sunday column. He also wrote a screenplay, which “went nowhere.”

In 11 years as a journalist, covering business, courts, politics and education and writing columns for two dailies, “I would see things that would outrage me and I could report about it. But I would see attorneys, and they could do something about it. They would fi le a suit, or work to free somebody wrongly ac-cused.

“I guess I have a hero complex. And before I knew it, I had made up my mind what I wanted to do.”

There were detours along the way, including a foray as a owner/operator of a golf driving range in Boones Creek, which required his hands to grasp the mattock, rake and lawn mower handle. “I learned that I am not a real good businessman, but I greatly enjoyed the independence, and the satisfaction you gain working for yourself.”

Pratt’s journey to a legal career began with his hands gripping the han-dlebars of a motorcycle. Every day he drove himself from Johnson City to Knoxville, and back home – four hours a day in transit.

“That started in August, and I thought I could do it more economically. But by about mid-October, when the weather began to change, and I got thrashed by a couple of really good storms, I realized that hadn’t been the wisest choice.”

So his hands changed their grip – to the steering wheel of a used Honda

Civic.“I fi gured it up, and I traveled about 75,000 miles, the equivalent of three

times around the world, to get through law school. I guess all that time spent driving taught me patience, and I had a lot of time to think. Always keeping ‘the goal’ in mind, and that was walking off the stage with my diploma.”

The goal was realized in the spring of 1998. Forty-one years old, with twoyoung children, and exhausted from the effort he had put forth, Scott Pratt became attorney-at-law.

Pratt had worked for several years with legendary East Tennessee defenseattorney Jim Bowman. His own career began with his hand shaking Bow-man’s, and an offi ce with his friend and mentor. Being busy, Pratt didn’ttake the time to “cram” and fl unked his fi rst examination for the bar. “I didn’t fi nd out until October that I hadn’t made it, and I was irritated and disappointed. But I went back in the spring and aced it.”

The fi rst time his hand signed his name to an offi cial document, “It scaredthe hell out of me. I spent the fi rst few years worried to death

that I would make a mistake. I guess everylawyer does. They teach

you theory in law school, but whenyou get out, you re-

ally don’t know thatmuch about prac-tical application.” Along with Bowman,he credits fellow at-torneys Tony Seaton and Bob Greene with great patience and will-ingness to assist him. “I would call them up andask questions. I know I

aggravated them, but theynever turned me down.

“Bowman told me, ‘youcan’t rush success. Youhave to pay your dues.’ Iguess I didn’t listen as well as I should have. When they say ‘practicing law,’ that’s exactly what it is. You prac-tice at it, trying to get better.It’s the same as medicine, and

should be with writing, or art.“There was always plenty of

writing to do in the law business: plead-ings, motions, orders, briefs, etc., and I was pretty good at it. One judge told me to stop fi ling briefs in support of my motions because they were too persuasive. He told me to just give him the case law and he’d fi gure it out for himself.”

Eventually the diffi culties and disappointments took a savage toll on theattorney, to the point that he was hospitalized. With his health hanging in the balance, the scales of justice began to lose the allure that had drawn himso strongly. Pratt decided to turn away from the law.

“I had gotten to the point of being cynical, and I could not operate thatway. I stepped on toes, and I was naive about the effect it would have. And Ihave paid dearly for any mistakes I made.”

Pickens Bridge fi gured prominently in Scott Pratt’s fi rst novel, An Innocent Client.

June 2010 Pg 31

Pratt’s hands were 13 years old when he helped his family pack and made the trek to Tennessee from his native Michigan. His late father, Dan, a heavy equip-ment mechanic, went to work with Modern Equip-ment Co. in Johnson City. Now in retirement, his mother, Shirley, has returned to the great peninsula state for her summers, and travels west for the more temperate winter climate in Arizona with Pratt’s sis-ter, Laura.“I’ve been very lucky to have strong, wonderful wom-en in my life. They have supported and encouraged me every step I have taken.”Pratt married Kristy Hodge in 1987. They have two children: Kody, who is a rising sophomore majoring in theater at the University of Tennessee, and Dylan, who is fi nishing his junior year as a baseball standout at Walters State Community College.“There is nothing of which their mother and I are more proud than that we have raised two truly won-derful people. We look forward to seeing them walk through the door. They complete us.“My family has been through a great deal. We have endured trauma, life-threatening illness and humili-ation. And we have only grown closer and love each other more.”The writer says that one of the most frustrating things is trying to fi gure out fresh ways to describe the human face.The husband doesn’t have that problem, and loves his hands atop his wife’s shoulders, or cupping her face. “It may sound sentimental, but my favorite word in the English language is ‘Kristy.’ I love to say it, hear it, write it, read it, and most of all, I love what the word represents to me.“It makes me feel good. It reminds me of love and kindness and devotion and tenderness and generosity

and loyalty and all those other words I love so much. For me, Kristy is all those words rolled into one.”When the writer’s hands turn the pages written by oth-ers, one of his favorite sentences was penned by Mal-colm de Chazal: “Monkeys are superior to men in this: when a monkey looks into a mirror, he sees a monkey.”And what would compel someone to labor for a week on one sentence? “Obsessive compulsive disorder.” The hands drum the table and the writer chuckles his characteristic, hearty laugh.“The blank page never seems insurmountable to me. If I’m temporarily at a loss, I force myself to sit there and think. Where do I want to go with this story? What am I trying to say? How best do I use these characters to say it?“And then I write, even if it’s just a sentence, or a para-graph. I play with ideas, words, descriptions, charac-ters. I talk out loud to myself. If I feel the need, I an-swer myself, which is the true test of mental illness.“Bottom line, I refuse to accept the idea that I don’t have anything worth saying. I want to be a successful writer, after all, and that means I must have something worthwhile, or at least entertaining to say. So I make myself say something.“If it turns out later, when I’m rewriting, that it doesn’t work, then I deal with it. I’m a craftsman now. I prac-tice my craft. I don’t have time to sit around and look at blank pages. It’s frustrating when you start down a path with a character or plot, then realize you haven’t thought it through and it isn’t going to work.”The most exiting moment is when “the perceived char-acter changes from conception to creation. It’s like an awakening, an epiphany. The blurred image of the character’s face becomes clear, the voice takes on a distinctive tone, and the character literally comes to life in my mind. I can actually see and hear him or her. When I write the character, I temporarily take on his or her personality, and the works just seem to fl ow.”And fl ow they have, as Pratt’s two previous novels

have been published in six languages. His fi rst book, An Innocent Client, consistently ranks among the top 25 on Amazon’s Kindle, as e-readers transform thelong-held rite of gripping the covers and thumbingthe pages to the newest technology.And what is next for Joe Dillard, the central charac-ter of the series Pratt has created? Publisher’s Week-ly hailed his work with a coveted starred review: “... Pratt’s richly developed characters are vivid and be-lievable, especially the strong Southern women who fi ght their male-dominated culture from behind a fa-cade of vulnerability. Readers will eagerly anticipate Dillard’s further adventures.”“That was one of the most exciting moments of mylife, to read that the industry digest fi nds favor with your work is powerful, even heady stuff for a writer.“I’m not sure exactly what’s next for Joe. I plan to con-tinue to write the series, and to have him change andevolve. And I plan to write other things, too.“There is a great deal of material in the continuing de-humanization of the legal system. The criminal courts are clogged, the jails are overcrowded from the mo-ment they are built. It’s become almost completely aplaintiff/defendant situation, with almost no consid-

eration of the human beings behind the names.“And it’s very much about money, in that it takes mon-ey to get someone who is professional, thorough andconnected to represent you in the legal system, andthat’s what you have to have.”The writer believes the many works of his hands havemade him the sum of his experiences.“I’ve never been very good at compromise. I thinkthings through, and make a decision. I don’t give a lot of thought to what others think. I suppose that has made life more diffi cult, at times. But I’m satisfi ed that I’ve done my best, and I’m going to keep on trying to do it.”

Scott Pratt and his wife, Kristy.


For the third straight season the ETSU women’s basketball team reached the pinnacle by winning the Atlantic Sun Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Bucs, who won the conference regular season crown for the second time in the last three years, also set a new program record with 23 victories. ETSU was led by the dominate play of Siarre Evans and TaRonda Wiles, and they were both named Atlantic Sun co-Player of the Year. Evans became only the third player in school history to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career – fi nishing fi fth all-time with 1,829 points and third with 1,116 rebounds. Meanwhile, Wiles etched her name in the record books by scoring 1,503 points, and it was her off-balance bank shot with less fi ve-tenths of a second left that sent the Lady Bucs dancing to the March Madness – giving ETSU the 63-62 victory over North Florida in the conference championship game. In the NCAA Tournament, head coach Karen Kemp and her Lady Bucs gave fi fth-ranked Xavier all they could handle on its home court in Cincinnati, Ohio, but the Musketeers sneaked by with a 94-82 victory in round one of the Big Dance. Junior guard Tarita Gordon exploded for a career high 30 points, while the Lady Bucs tied an ETSU record with 15 three-point fi eld goals made. Despite losing two 1,000-point scores and all-conference stars, the Lady Bucs return nine letterwinners and three starters for 2010-11.

(Above) The Lady Bucs celebrate their ACT victory courtside.

TaRonda Wiles (left) made the winning shot taking the Lady Bucs to the NCAA Tournament.

(Below) The Lady Bucs celebrate ACT victory.

Tarita Gordon (above) is a returnng point guard from Wichita, Kan.

Best Two out of Three: The Lady Bucs take ACT twice in three years

June 2010 Pg 33

The ETSU men’s basketball team only added to its rich history of success during the 2009-10 season, capturing its second straight Atlantic Sun Conference Championship and earning the program’s ninth trip all-time to the NCAA Tournament. Posting the program’s fourth 20-win season in the past seven years, the Bucs overcame multiple challenges dur-ing the year before dropping Mercer in the A-Sun fi nals. The obstacles set in front of the Bucs a year ago included the tragic death of rising sophomore center Seth Coy in a car ac-cident in the preseason, followed by the loss of senior 1,000-point scorer Mike Smith to injury prior to the start of conference play. Even with those issues, the Bucs methodically gelled as a unit, and despite standing at 14-14 midway through the month of February, the team rattled off six-straight victories to earn yet another trip to March Madness. It was not easy however, as the team ultimately needed a 72-66 win over Mercer on the Bears’ home fl oor in Macon, Ga., to capture the title. The Bucs were led by a team of “role” players that included junior forward Tommy Hubbard, junior guard Justin Tubbs, junior guard Micah Williams, sophomore guard Adam Sollazzo, sophomore post Isiah Brown, and freshman post J.C. Ward. Only losing senior guard Jocolby Davis off the roster from 2009-10, the Bucs will add Mike Smith back to the mix after receiving a medical redshirt, and a trio of incoming recruits will also add to the talent pool. For those reasons, as the team looks to the 2010-11 season there is certainly reason to be excited and expectations will be high once again.

Tommy Hubbard protects the ball again Charelston, S.C. players

Sports Management major Micah Williams (left) manages the opposition for the ETSU Bucs.

(Below) The 2010 A-Sun Champion:ETSU Buccaneers

Adam Sollazzo (above) is a 6-foot-6-inch point guard from Tampa, Fla.

ETSU Buccaneers look ahead to 2010-2011 season


production is there is only one “fl oor manager” keeping time like referee at a bas-ketball game and the cameras beside the one she pushes to and fro are all robotic. There are no make-up artists or primping the “stars” during commercials. It is a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. And, we felt right at home. Much like we do in front of the TV set every night. I think that’s the idea.

The news, sports, and weather reports that night (as is fact most nights) went off without a hitch. Not so much as an unscripted pause or throat clearing was detected on camera. Another fi rst-class News Center 5 show was in the can as Ann Carter invited viewers to meet her and the gang back at 11. And, many of us did!

Pg 35

Thank You to the Voters of Unicoi County

I want to take this opportunity to thank the many voters of Unicoi County for re-electing my as your Superintendent of Roads. I would also like to thank my family and those who worked in my campaign.

I pledge to continue to work hard for all the citizens of Unicoi County in making our roads and highways safe.

Terry HaynesUnicoi County Road Superintendent

Quick Facts About the

News Center 5 Team

• Best “human” interest story in recent memory: Goat and dog meet;

become best friends. Adopted from animal shelter and move to local farm.

Live happily ever after.

• 30 minutes of news takes all day to put together. Just ask (editor) Ann

Carter.

• Dave Dirks “fell in love” with weather when he was 10 years-old. He’s

from Iowa and has been at WCYB for 23 years.

• Sports Director Jordan Conigliaro is a Shippensburg University (PA)

Alum and plays tennis competitively. He’s not doing as well on the golf

course. Boston Red Sox standout Tony Conigliaro is his cousin.

• Ann Carter is as bright, attractive and articulate in person as you see

her on camera. A bad news day for her is the task of reporting a story in-

volving a child being harmed. Her bright smile is genuine too. She enjoys

music and festivals and is active in her church and civically.

• Steve Hawkins is an author and noted after dinner speaker. Like Ann

Carter, he is active in many causes in the Bristol community.

Thank-You To the Citizens of Washington County

Scott Buckingham

I would like to personally thank all the citizens of Washington County who voted in the recent election. Voting is a privilege. I especially want to thank all my supporters, my staff, my family and all the people who placed their trust and confidence in me as your Assessor of Property. I am excited to serve and am looking forward to continuing my efforts in improving and modernizing the Assessors office and services to the public. I appreciate your vote and am asking for your support in the General Election in August. I am honored to serve as your Assessor and my door will always be open to your ideas and concerns. I can be reached at 753-1676, again, Thank-You for the trust you have placed in me. . .I will serve at the highest level of professionalism and dedication as your Assessor.

Continued from page 24

June 2010

As a college student, the energetic, bright-eyed Rick Rose spent two summers volunteering in rural areas of West Virginia and Kentucky. While working

with Appalachia’s “poorest of the poor,” he was drawn to the spirit of the people he helped.

“I grew to love Appalachian culture from those experiences and the people I met there, the values they hold,” Rose said.

After he was hired as the Artistic and Executive Director of the Barter Theatre in 1992, he immediately felt drawn to improve Appalachia’s perspective of itself. Rose the Barter’s staff and its board of directors agreed it was time to put forth a creative voice for Appalachia in the realm of theatre.

“We want to create a voice that is all of Appalachia,” Rose said. “That isn’t the cliché voice of Appalachia but really the stories and a wonderful celebration of these unique, independent, interesting heartwarming and loving people, that is Appala-chia.”

Rose was born in Wisconsin, and hired at the Barter after his work at the Ameri-can Stage Festival in Milford, New Hampshire. He’s celebrating his 18th year on the job, but says he could be at the Barter for decades to come.

A central part of his job is balancing the theatre’s artistic direction with its fi -nances.

“I am one of those rare birds who does both fi nances and art,” he said, “and we’ve been successful at it – and we’ve been successful, because of the tremendous people who are involved.”

In the last 18 years, the Barter has seen higher attendance rates, numerous world premiers of plays and a number of awards recognizing the theatre’s success.

“We’ve grown a lot,” he said in an interview in his Abingdon offi ce. “For me, as a executive director who handles both the artistic and fi nancial side of the theatre, I’m not what you’d call a ‘sustainor’ in terms of CEO-type. If you want someone to run your facility and keep it the way it is, I’m not the person who believes that. I believe unless you’re growing, you’re dying.”

When Rose began at the Barter, 47-49,000 visitors came through the Barter’s doors. Last year, 163,000 visited the theatre. But, at times balancing the checkbook and his artistic drive can make him feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

“We have constant arguments,” he said with a laugh. “I have those arguments

with myself all the time. There are some projects we simply can’t do because wecan’t afford them.”

The testament to his ability to balance comes in the form of a number of awards.In 2002, the Barter Theatre won the Tri-Cities Business of the Year Award, a rareaward to be given to a non-profi t arts organization. In 2008, the theatre received the Torch Bearer Award for the Commonwealth of Virginia by the Virginia Chamber ofCommerce, recognizing the Barter’s impact on the Commonwealth as a whole. In2009, the theatre was given the “Impact Award” for tourism from the Blue RidgeTourism Association. Most recently, the Barter received the Shining Star Award from Virginia for the Arts, recognizing the institution’s community building andlocal impact.

The business awards are complimented by a number of plays that received na-tional acclaim while on tour, including Keep on the Sunny Side, The Diary of AnneFrank, Man of Constant Sorrow and Of Mice and Men.

“That’s testament that we are able to balance the artistic side as well as the busi-ness side,” he said. “We are succeeding where a lot of theatres are not. We’ve con-tinued to grow, while a lot of other theatres have cut back around the nation. Andwe’ve done it through good strategic planning. Having a good business model and a strong artistic product is how we’ve survived. They, of necessity, have to be blend-ed.”

Rose has also found ways to blend artistic excellence with his vision for creating a new Appalachian voice. On a theatre level, the Barter has been the harbinger andteller of the Appalachian experience through the Appalachian Festival of Plays andPlaywrights, a “huge artistic move forward for Barter, for the region and for ourAppalachian playwrights,” Rose said.

“We have succeeded at exactly what we tried to do artistically,” Rose said. “Which was to give a voice to Appalachia that wasn’t the voice of ‘Deliverance’, so American culture begins to think of Appalachia in a much more positive light, so that Appala-chia begins to think of itself in a much more positive light.”

Premiers of plays by Appalachian playwrights has brought national attention to the Barter. In addition, the theatre has also tried to “broaden the horizons” of localtheatre. Rose said the Barter has done more world premiers of plays than any other theatre in the nation.

Rose Blooms at Barter Theatre


Richard Rose, artistic and executive director, Barter Theatre (Photo/Eileen Rush)

By Eileen Rush

“Aside from having an impact on America, we want to have an impact on local culture,” Rose said.

The Barter also boasts the only year-round resi-dent acting company in the country.

“From every perspective, I think we’re doing strong artistic work and I’d put this acting company against any in the nation,” Rose said.

For a taste of what the Barter’s top-notch acting company has in store for this summer, Rose gave his thoughts and reactions to this year’s lineup.

“It’s kind of an interesting summer here at Bar-ter Theatre,” he said, promising future audiences a “broad variety of work.”

Annie, which will run May 28 to Aug. 15, is a family audience piece and a follow up to last year’s Wizard of Oz and a past run of Peter Pan. More families are going to the theatre and having that experience to-gether, Rose said, and Annie fi ts family needs per-fectly.

This summer will also premier Tuesdays with Mor-rie, based on the beststelling book by Mitch Albom. The play will run April 30 to Aug. 29 on Stage II, the Barter’s smaller, more intimate theatre. “I think the

theatre piece is better than the book,” Rose said. “I think that will be an immensely popular piece.”

In addition to those popular plays, this year will also feature three world premiers. Revolutions is a play by Richard Alfi eri, who authored the popular piece “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks. “I think [Revolu-tions] is one of the most important new plays to be done in American theatre in the last few years,” Rose said. While it may be important, Rose also admitted that the subject matter could be tough for an Appala-chian audience. “[Revolutions is] The Big Chill meets No Exit, based on the [Baby] Boomers, an allegorical story on the impact and the lasting affect of the Baby Boomers for good or for bad,” he said. “It’s a beauti-ful, wonderful play and I think it will be done by the-atres all over the United States. But, it’s a tough play for our audience. It’s a piece that demands a certain amount of attention, and may not fi t in completely with the values of this region, but will speak to what’s going on with the Boomers nationwide.”

Another world premier is Deborah Vortz’s “The Blue Sky Boys,” a comedy about the race to land on the moon. Rose called the play funny, family friend-

ly and “a very good look at how we make things like this happen, how

we get hope, how we come close to destroying our best ideas and a modicum of how we should look at the world from a distance. It’s a great tale well told with lots of good characters, and has a nice message for us all. For us to be able to premier that is im-mensely special.”

This summer will also see the premier of Violet, a musical with a score by Jeanine Tesori, a North Carolina native. “It has a nice, interesting look at Ap-palachia and the South from the eyes of a Southern writer,” he said. “It doesn’t play into the clichés, but looks at race relationships and all sorts of issues of strength and fi nding yourself through a nice allegori-cal story.”

Overall, he said, this year’s lineup is a stretch – but hopefully, a stretch for the good of the theatre.

“There’s a good mix of southern material and stretch material and comedies and musicals – so it’s a nicely balanced season,” he said. “Not an easy sell – I don’t pretend these titles are easy to sell – but it’s a good stretch for us. I don’t think you can get any-where without taking risks.”

June 2010 Pg 37

Barter Theater was founded during the Great Depression by actor Robert Porterfeild.

NASHVILLE – Some words, like exquisite old wine, grow more beautiful with age.

Even more so the noble plea of a great patriot, giv-en voice during a perilous hour when liberty literally hung in the balance, and burnished by the brush of passing years and experiences of the nation he helped to create.

They echo yet above the hills of time, a clarion call to duty, and the action that springs only from valiant hearts overfl owing with a special and powerful love.

Through myriad struggles, against slavery and for the cherished birthright of equality; against the nar-row and petty in favor of the moral and grand; against tyranny and, always, for liberty – the uniquely Ameri-can words of a frontier minister remain just as com-pelling as when fi rst spoken.

Two hundred and thirty years ago, one late Sep-tember day, Rev. Samuel Doak climbed upon a stump on the plain along the southern bank of the Watauga River. There, at Sycamore Shoals, stood the irrepress-ible manhood of a young nation in the making, yearn-ing for freedom.

The air was crisp with courage, for around Doak were gathered the bravest of men. Friends and neigh-bors. Volunteers from near and far.

The leaders stood among the men who followed them. Colonels Andrew Hampton and Charles Mac-Dowell and 160 men from North Carolina. Col. Wil-liam Campbell and 400 Virginia men. Col. Isaac Shel-by and 240 men from Sullivan County. And Col. John Sevier, with a like number from Washington County, the far western North Carolina district that was the beginnings of what would become Tennessee.

They had joined in steely resolve to meet a lethal threat. Ravaging the western North Carolina coun-tryside, Lt. Col. Patrick Ferguson, commanding the western fl ank of Lord Cornwallis’ British Southern Army, had massed his dragoons with Tory sympathiz-ers and sent a simple message:

The frontier people would lay down their arms and

cease and desist their opposition to the crown, or he would “march over the mountains, hang the leaders and lay waste to the country with fi re and sword.”

At Sycamore Shoals, Doak looked upon the multi-tude and cried out:

“My countrymen! You are about to set forth on an expedition full of hardship and danger, but one on which the Almighty will attend you.

“The Mother Country has her hand upon you, these American colonies, and takes that for which our fathers planted their homes in the wilderness – our liberty!”

Doak had arrived on the frontier astride a good horse, his saddlebags fi lled with books. Coming across a group of men felling timber, they beseeched Doak to preach to them. He did so from the saddle, with such effect the frontiersmen offered him the land upon which his horse stood, along with their labors to build a church. It would become Salem Presbyterian Church.

“Your brethren across the mountains are crying out like Macedonia unto your help. God forbid that you shall hear but refuse to answer their call.

“... go forth then, to the aid of your brethren, and may the God of Justice go with you and give you vic-tory.”

Tall and muscular, Doak had earned prominence among his contemporaries. Bishop E.E. Hoss said “he feared God so much that he feared nothing else.” His loaded rifl e usually stood nearby as he delivered his powerful sermons.

“Let us pray. Almighty and gracious God, Thou has been the refuge of Thy people in all ages. In times of sorest need we have come to Thee, our Rock and our Fortress.

A graduate of Princeton, Doak poured his heart and learned mind into his service. With his found-ing of schools – the humble “log college” that became Washington College – and, later, Tusculum College, near Greeneville, he earned the sobriquet “the father

of education west of the mountains.” Several church-es he established still welcome congregants through-out East Tennessee.

“O! In Thy infi nite mercy, save us from the cruel hand of the savage and the tyrant. Thou who prom-ised to protect the sparrow in its fl ight, keep cease-less watch by day and by night over our loved ones,the helpless women and little children we commit to Thy care, for Thou wilt not forsake them in times ofloneliness, anxiety and terror.

“O! God of Battle! Arise in Thy might. Confoundthose who plot for our destruction. Crown this mighty effort with victory and smite those who exaltthemselves against Liberty and Justice and Truth.

“Help us as good soldiers to wield the Sword ofthe Lord, and of Gideon.”

From the throats of the volunteers, a great “Amen!” rang through the river valley. So headstrong was their enthusiasm that every seventh man had to be draftedto stay behind, and serve as a rear guard in case Fer-guson made good on his threat.

Twelve hundred men rose up and commenced amarch that would require 13 rigorous days to locatetheir enemy – the mightiest army on the face of theearth.

Across the mountains, more patriot volunteers awaited. Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, had sum-moned every able-bodied man of the western North Carolina militia.

It was their time, and they were ready.

Ignoring snow, rain, cold and mud that would havewithered the willpower of lesser men, the volunteers struck with lightning speed when the clouds inexpli-cably parted and the sun began to shine shortly after 1 p.m. on Oct. 7, 1780.

The battle was over in about an hour. In his massive history, Winning of the West, President Theodore Roosevelt described the stunning victory of the Over-mountain Men as “the turning point of the AmericanRevolution.”

Patriot’s words remain call to duty, actionA look ahead: “Liberty!” features in next month’s Out ‘N About Magazine

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Pg, 38Out ‘N About Magazine

Want to go for a really long bike ride or hike through some of our region’s most beautiful terrain? Or even a short walk or bike ride? Then, the Virginia Creeper Trail is for you!

The Virginia Creeper Trail is a public access, shared-use trail con-necting Abingdon, Virginia with the Virginia-North Carolina border 1.1 miles east of White Top Station, Virginia. The total length is 34.3 miles and you can access the beginning of the trail near downtown Abingdon. The Virginia Creeper Trail began as a Native American footpath. Later, the European pioneers, as well as early explorer Daniel Boone, used the trail.

In its day of hauling passengers, lumber, iron ore, and supplies, the Virginia Creeper Trail obtained its nickname from the early steam locomotives that struggled slowly up the railroad’s steep grades. With 100 trestles and bridg-es, sharp curves, and steep grades, the Virginia Creeper was the typical mountain railroad. Train crews often faced

wash-outs, rock slides, and other hazards, but i t was eco-nomics that sounded the line’s death whistle. Hav-ing failed to turn a profi t since the Great Depression, the Creep-er ran its last train on

March 31, 1977.Less than a century after the railroad

arrived, the Virginia Creeper once again became a quiet trail.

Through the work of volun-teers and with the help

from local and federal governments, the

Creeper became a National Recreation Trail.

Between Abing-don and Damascus, the trail right-of-

way belongs to two towns. Although the public legally has the right to use the

trail, most of the actual land between Abingdon and the Iron Bridge east of Damascus is privately owned. The 15.9 miles of

trail between Iron Bridge (Mile 18.4) to the state line are part of the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area in Jefferson Na-

tional Forest. Except for a short stretch through Taylor’s Valley, the public owns

both the right-of-way and the actual property. The Virginia Creeper Trail traverses through some of

the most rugged and picturesque scenery in the easternUnited States and is widely lauded as one of the most beautiful trailson the continent.

So, grab your bike or sneakers (or even your horse) and hit theCreeper Trail. It’s an experience you’ll never forget!

Jeepers Creepers!Abingdon, Va’s Creeper Trail


At the end of April, a contingent from Liberty!, the Offi cial Outdoor Dra-ma of Tennessee, journeyed to the state Capitol to present Doak’s immortal prayer for the Overmountain Men as the convocation of the State Senate.

The group was introduced to the Senate by Sen. Dewey “Rusty” Crowe (R-Johnson City) and escorted into the chamber by the Tennessee State Parks Honor Guard and State Rep. Matthew Hill (R-Jonesborough).

Standing erect and striding into the chamber, longtime cast member Chad Bogart presented the sermon and prayer verbatim, just as they were origi-nally delivered.

“We are so very proud to have this opportunity to showcase Liberty!, our offi cial outdoor drama, and to remind people everywhere of our important history,” Crowe said as he and Speaker of the House Kent Williams (R-Elizabethton) greeted the group in Legislative Plaza prior to escorting them upstairs into the Capitol building.

“This is a great moment for all of us,” Hill said outside the chamber, “and for our glorious history that we want to keep alive for the betterment of Northeast Tennessee, and for all generations to come.”

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) who, along with Hill and Crowe has ap-peared as a guest star in the drama, greeted the group prior to leading Bogart to the well of the Senate, and joked that he was “rehearsing my lines, so I’ll be ready.”

After completing the presentation – and taking photographs with legislators and visitors alike – Bogart exhaled deeply and smiled.

“I would have never dreamed that one day I would be standing in the Senate cham-ber, speaking those words,” Bogart said. “There is a timeless quality to them. They said so much to the hearts of the volunteers in 1780, and they still say a great deal to anyone who will listen to them now.”

A seasonal interpretive ranger at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area in Elizabethton and chaplain of the Washington County Regiment of the North Carolina Militia, the host living history organization at SSSHA, Bogart said he was humbled and honored to bring Doak’s phrases to life.

“Doak had a clear vision of the mission, and how diffi cult it was going to be for the volunteers to succeed. No doubt, in the back of their minds, most of those leaders probably expected considerable loss of life. I mean, they were going up against a powerful foe.

“And, knowing that, it becomes even more poignant, and heart-touching to listen to that exhortation. They all knew what they were up against, but they went anyway,” Bogart said. “And that is a trait of the volunteers from the very beginning of our country.”

Bogart was joined by fellow cast members Michael Barnett, president

of the Friends of Sycamore Shoals State Historic area, portraying Shel-by; Barnett’s wife, Lynne; B.K. Marlowe, portraying John Sevier; TaylorMoorefi eld, portraying Capt. Valentine Sevier; Nat Hyder, vice president of the Friends group; Dr. Paul Gabinet, portraying James Robertson, “the father of Tennessee;” and Joe Greene, portraying John Carter, chairman ofthe Watauga Association, the fi rst free and independent government on theNorth American continent.

“This gives us a tremendous kickoff for the upcoming Liberty! season. Itreally sets us in motion. I am so grateful to these members, and for all thepeople who are a part of keeping our treasured history alive,” Barnett said.

Hyder, a 12-year veteran of the outdoor drama, said, “To hear Rev. Doak’swords in the chamber of the Tennessee Senate sent chills, and inspired more than words can explain. The halls echoed from the crowd’s response. We

were taken back again and not just re-minded, but felt a compelling to rise forwhat is right in the defense of our liberty.

“Walking through the halls meeting other senators, representatives, SpeakersWilliams and Ramsey, and their staffs, I felt like a most important ambassa-dor. It was a thrill to see how our pres-ence affected so many people, both in the chamber and the halls, and later on the grounds of the Bicentennial CapitolMall,” Hyder said.

“It was a truly meaningful experi-ence,” Gabinet concurred. “Imagine – a 200-year-old prayer reminding the state’s lawmakers of our sacrifi ce for lib-erty. It was an honor for our community

to present this living history in such a touch-ing ceremony. I’m humbled to be associated

with the work from these hallowed grounds at Sycamore Shoals,” Gabinetsaid.

Greene agreed that the trip was “humbling, When we started our journey to the state Capitol, I was both excited and a little nervous. I mean, the thought of being in front of all the senators – come on, who wouldn’t be nervous?

“The night before, when we were putting the fi nal touches on exactly what to say in introduction, and a line from John Sevier’s rallying speech to the men getting ready to march off to war had such an effect on B.K. and me.That Ferguson would ‘march his army over here, hang you and I,’ reallymade me realize how important our story is and how those men – the fi rstrepresentatives in a sense, made the difference for a whole new country.

Greene, who is returning to direct Liberty! for his second season, said itwas “a great thing to let our politicians know the story, and that they havesome mighty big boots to fi ll, if you will. To see our people do the best job Ihave ever seen them do, it was exciting. It made me proud to be the director, to be a Tennessean, and an American,” Greene said.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey looks on as Chad Bogart, fl anked by the Tennessee State Parks Honor Guard, presents the prayer of Rev. Samuel Doak to the Tennessee State Senate

Liberty!contingent presents Doak’s prayer to Tenn. Senate

June 2010 Pg 41

When Herb Roberts came to Sycamore Shoals in 1983, about 75,000 visitors a year were crossing the threshold of the historic area.

“Previous superintendents had made no attempt to tell the story through in-terpretive programs. The drama was viewed as a waste of time and an inconve-nience,” said Roberts, who is now East Tennessee area manager for Tennessee State Parks.

“The Overmountain Victory Trail march was a one-day event to celebrate the muster and march. The Christmas tree exhibit in December was the only other event taking place, and these were programs initiated outside of state parks.

“The drama was free. There was very little sound, no lighting, and the script was mostly a history dialogue with narration, canned music and very little emotion. There were only a handful of volunteer participants and props, the costumes were a hodgepodge – some very good – but many were funky. There was very little money to work with for improvements and visitors either sat on the ground or brought lawn chairs.

“It was obvious that folks in the area, by and large, were unaware of the major signifi cant events that happened surrounding Sycamore Shoals in the late 18th century. There were several who wanted a state park, but once that was accom-plished they rested.

“The only reason there is a park at Sycamore Shoals is because of the people that precipitated extraordinary events in American history, exhibited great courage and sacrifi ce, and endured to help forward the cause of liberty in America.”

Roberts saw the drama as the best way to tell the stories of those events and the people that made them happen. He expanded the number of performances, bor-rowed bleachers from the high school track, added a catwalk to set the actors up so people could see them, changed directors, upgraded the script and expanded the story line some. Then he added an amphitheater with more sound and lighting, and eventually added a sound and light booth.

“All the while, costumes got better and we added more action and emotion.Directors Nils Cruz, Lucinda Flodin and Dennis Frederick and then Pat Buck

each made additions and fi ne-tuned the show according to their tastes, with Lu-cinda making some signifi cant improvements to the action, fl ow and script, and

adding live music and narration to the show.“Then came Dan Pratt, a good friend from my church. Dan made some wonder-

ful improvements to the script, and was a delight to work with as a director. He was very patient with the volunteers. But that lasted only one season.

“Dan brought Jon Ruetz over. Jon knew the history surrounding Sycamore Shoals, and that made a world of difference in improving and telling the story in an exciting way. Jon rewrote the script several times and added a lot of fl avor to the performances.

“He also jump-started the participation by volunteer actors. His creativity with acting, music, promotion, humor and the written word has made the drama a ma-jor factor in promoting the stories of those brave people, and making them come to life.

“He almost single-handedly succeeded in achieving the recognition of Offi cial Outdoor Drama of the State of Tennessee by the General Assembly. And now the drama is a signifi cant event for the region, and plays a major role in heritage tour-ism and economic development for Northeast Tennessee, western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia,” Roberts said.

Last year, nearly 350,000 people visited Sycamore Shoals. The park and the drama has been featured in a popular History Channel television special. An ab-breviated version of the drama headlined the Tennessee History Festival in Nash-ville in the fall of 2009.

Roberts said no matter how many times he hears the stories from America’s fi rst frontier, they remain fresh and inevitably move him.

“There have been nights when I had tears in my eyes, watching people, young and old, putting their hearts into telling the story. Listening to the music. Watch-ing the reaction of the great crowds who turned out to see what we were doing.

“I still cry when I hear Chad present the Doak sermon and prayer. I was over-whelmed with emotion, and so proud when the drama came to Nashville last fall to perform at the Bicentennial Mall,” Roberts said.

“And then, to stand and hear those magnifi cent words ring in the Senate cham-ber... my heart was pounding. It was like the culmination of all that we had worked for, and for which so many good people have given so much.”

History lives through the efforts of Liberty volunteers and staff

From left, Joe Greene (portraying John Carter), Nat Hyder (Dr. J.B. Coffi n), Lynne Barnett (Mrs. Isaac Shelby), Michael Barnett (Col. Isaac Shelby), Taylor Moorefi eld (Capt. Valentine Sevier), Sen. Rusty Crowe, B.K. Marlowe (Col. John Sevier), Paul Gabinet (James Robertson) and Chad Bogart (Rev. Samuel Doak) at the Tennessee State Capitol to present Doak’s Prayer.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey looks on as B.K. Marlowe, portraying Col. John Sevier, introduces Rev. Samuel Doak to the Tennessee State Senate in April.


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Unicoi County welcomes new welcome centerMore than 200 people converged on new new Unicoi County Welcome Center near Flag Pond at its grand opening on May 14th. Thousands of

tourists are expected to stop each year at the welcome center located just across the Tennessee boards amid some of the nation’s most beautiful mountain scenery.

Left: Three Mayors: Unicoi County Mayor Greg Lynch, his brother Johnny Lynch, Mayor of the Town of Unicoi, and Brushy Lewis, Mayor of Erwin wait to speak.Above: The crowd enjoys the festivities.Right: Congressman Phil Roe jams with ETSU Blue Grass Band

June 2010 Pg 43

out n about june 2010

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