Today's News

Those who have wanted to try rock climbing have a free opportunity to do it this weekend, during Obed Wild and Scenic River’s Climb-With-a-Ranger program.

Those wishing to participate should meet at Lilly Bridge at 11 a.m. Aug. 3.

All climbing gear will be provided.

Those participating are asked to bring drinking water and wear study footwear.

Depending on interests and ability levels, participants will travel to one of several different climbing areas around the park.

Amanda B. Crumby of Roane County’s Avery Trace DAR Chapter was recently awarded third place nationally for a pen she crafted that was entered in the Daughters of the American Revolution’s American Heritage  craft contest.

She received a certificate citing her achievement, making the pen from wood from an original beam of the historic Roane County Courthouse, from the DAR American Heritage Committee the area of crafts-miscellaneous.

Flowers are just like people.

They come in different sizes, colors, proportions, habitats, preferences and histories, and they have a venerable past. Of all the different lilies there are, the ones we call tiger lilies are demanding our attention.

Have you realized that so-called tiger lilies have spots, not stripes?

They are the subject for nearly as much poetry and fantasy as Madonna lilies. We notice such quotations as “When lilies turned to tigers, blaze.”

By GENE POLICINSKI
First Amendment Center
At various times, every American likely has wished for less of some things that the First Amendment protects.

Less hateful speech. One less noisy protest group. Or maybe even the swift departure of a media outlet or personality whose stance or voice is just grating on a personal level.

But for the most part, those wishes come and go – or the targets do, as media fortunes or political trends wax and wane.