Google+
Don't Miss
Home / Local (page 29)

Local

Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Earns Certificate of Meritorious Accreditation

Sevier County Sheriff's Office Earns Certificate of Meritorious Accreditation

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded the Certificate of Meritorious Accreditation by the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (TLEA). Sheriff Ron Seals made the decision over six years ago that the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office would become a state accredited agency under the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program and after three years of hard work by members of ...

Read More »

Great Smoky Mountains Association Gave More than $2M to Park in 2016

Great Smoky Mountains Association had its best year ever for both sales and membership income in 2016, allowing the association to contribute more than $2 million in support to Great Smoky Mountains National Park last year. “We continued our focus on retail sales, publications and customized product development, and membership development, throughout the year,” Executive Director Laurel Rematore said this week. “And just when we thought we’d end the year with no major events to mention – other than record-setting visitation – we experienced the late November wildfires that shut down the park for several days and destroyed nearly 2,500 structures in Gatlinburg.” Great Smoky Mountains Association immediately responded to the tragedy and successfully raised more than $200,000 from members and others to assist park employees, volunteers, and affiliates who had lost their homes, she continued. Despite the wildfires, some 11,312,785 people visited the Smokies in 2016, which was likely influenced by low fuel prices, an improving economy, and the “Find Your Park” multimedia campaign to mark the NPS Centennial. As operator of the park’s visitor center stores, Great Smoky Mountains Association also experienced a record-setting sales year. “Great Smoky Mountains Association continues to provide critical support that enables us to not only serve our visitors better, but also to provide unique opportunities in bringing the parks to people,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “In the spirit of the National Park Service Centennial, they helped us attract new audiences to all public lands in our region through the award-winning Airport Park exhibit and support of our Centennial Ambassadors.” The organization’s aid-to-park funding in 2016 was $2,005,787, capping another strong year of support. It's contributions to Great Smoky Mountains National Park fall into three broad categories: cash donations, which are provided for a host of educational, historical, interpretive, and scientific projects; in-kind services, which is primarily labor expense; and publications and digital media, which include development costs and free publications. In-kind services totaled $780,906 and included salaries for staff at eight park visitor centers and publications development costs, including free publications, such as Smokies Guide newspaper and pre-press costs for sales publications. Special projects funded by Great Smoky Mountains Association totaled $862,167 and included: • $18,251 – Bear collars, which allow researchers to track bears that may be obtaining human-related food. • $13,350 – Law enforcement interns who help park rangers encourage the public to enjoy the park safely. • $137,557 – Resource Management and Science interns who help rangers manage wildlife and fisheries, develop GIS maps, save hemlock trees, monitor air and water quality, and many other tasks. • $900 – Cades Cove Bicycle Patrol. This award-winning group helps keep bicyclists and wildlife safe in the park. • $50,400 – Cades Cove fence repair and maintenance. Repair of historic fencing to discourage vehicles from driving in Cades Cove fields. • $8,000 – Cades Cove viewshed field management. Mowing fields to maintain wildlife viewing and historic appearance of Cades Cove. • $5,000 – Alfred Reagan Tub Mill Repair. This historic, water-powered grist mill is now operational for the first time in decades. • $3,000 – Cataloochee field management. Mowing fields to maintain wildlife viewing and historic appearance of Cataloochee Valley. • $26,996 – Centennial Ambassador Program. Staff to communicate the park’s Centennial messages to the public and neighboring communities. • $1,000 – Centennial Hike 100 Smokies Challenge Pins. A special reward for hikers who accomplished the goal of hiking 100 miles in the park in 2016. Funding for the park’s interpretive operations totaled $204,881 and included special events, festivals, and interpretive demonstrations, including the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, Music of the Mountains, Mountain Life Festival, sorghum molasses making, and library supplies and materials. A specific breakdown includes: • $50,996 - Backcountry Information staff • $43,307 - Library staff • $33,427 - Living history demonstrators • $13,019- Library operations • $28,573 - Parks as Classrooms Coordinator • $35,560 - Special events and demonstrations Last year’s $2 million donation brings Great Smoky Mountains Association’s total contribution to the national park during its 64-year history to $37,618,810. A non-profit organization, Great Smoky Mountains Association derives its support primarily from sales of ranger-approved educational products and membership dues. Those who wish to enrich their Smokies experience are encouraged to “Get Rooted in the Smokies” through membership. For more information about GSMA, visit www.SmokiesInformation.org or call toll-free 888.898.9102. Photo: Great Smoky Mountains Association/Facebook

Great Smoky Mountains Association had its best year ever for both sales and membership income in 2016, allowing the association to contribute more than $2 million in support to Great Smoky Mountains National Park last year. “We continued our focus on retail sales, publications and customized product development, and membership development, throughout the year,” Executive Director Laurel Rematore said this ...

Read More »

Sevier County Health Department Schedules Rabies Clinics

Sevier County Health Department Schedules Rabies Clinics

Pet owners can have their dog or cat vaccinated against the rabies virus for only $10 per pet at one of several low cost rabies clinics offered by the Sevier County Health Department. Tennessee state law requires all dogs and cats over three months of age receive an annual rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian. Rabies is a deadly ...

Read More »

BBB and Allstate Hosting Fraud Prevention Day for Gatlinburg Fire Victims

BBB and Allstate Hosting Fraud Prevention Day for Gatlinburg Fire Victims

The Better Business Bureau, Allstate Insurance, TN Consumer Affairs and the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce, along with ACE Hardware in Gatlinburg, will host a free consumer education and fraud prevention event on Friday for victims of the Gatlinburg fires. The Fraud Prevention Day event will be held at ACE Hardware, 1025 East Parkway in Gatlinburg, at 10 a.m. on March ...

Read More »

2017 Sevier County Municipal Elections Calendar

2017 Sevier County Municipal Election Calendar

The Sevier County Election Commission has announced the following municipal election information for the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. City of Sevierville Municipal Election – May 4, 2017 Last day to Register to vote: April 4, 2017 Last day to request Absentee Ballot: April 27, 2017 Early Voting: NONE Election Day Polling Location: Sevierville Civic Center, 200 Gary ...

Read More »

Seymour Convenience Store Owner Subdues, Detains Robber

Marathon Gas Speedway Market Owner Subdues, Detains Robber

A man who attempted to rob a Marathon Gas Speedway Market in Seymour on Wednesday night has been arrested after the store owner detained him until police could arrive. The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting a robbery at the Marathon Gas Speedway Market, 626 Maryville Highway, just after 8 p.m. on March 22, 2017. Upon ...

Read More »

March Madness Continues as Task Force Rounds Up More Alleged Drug Dealers

March Madness Continues as Task Force Rounds up More Alleged Drug Dealers

Local authorities have arrested 16 more suspected drug dealers in connection with the March Madness undercover operation in Sevier County. Officers from Sevier County Sheriff’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms; Homeland Security; US Marshals Service; Tenn. Dept. of Corrections; and the police departments of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg began rounding up the alleged drug dealers on March ...

Read More »

Pigeon Forge Police Searching for Two Missing Teens

Pigeon Forge Police Searching for Two Missing Teens

The Pigeon Forge Police Department is searching for two missing 16-year-old girls who were last seen about 8 a.m. on Thursday, March 9, 2017 leaving the Pigeon Forge High School. Cassie Fitch is described as 5’02” tall and weighing 120 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink and purple hoody, purple glasses, ...

Read More »
© 2018 Sevier News Messenger, All Rights Reserved