Bass Fishing Tournament

The Claiborne County Rescue Squad's Eleventh Annual Bass Fishing Tournament is scheduled for April 7, 2012. Entry forms are available for Rescue Squad members. Prizes include: 1st place: $1,000, 2nd place: $500.00, 3rd Place: $350.00, 4th Place: $200.00, 5th Place: $150.00, 6th Place: $100.00, 7th Place: $75.00, 8th Place: $50.00, and 9th Place: $25.00. Boat entry fee is $50.00 per boat. Come and support your local Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Bee Friends

Interested in beekeeping? Whether you want to become a backyard beekeeper or have been one for years on your back forty, this is the group for you! Come join Bee Friends for our kickoff to the 2012 beekeeping year at Walters State Community College in Tazewell on Thursday, February 2, at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Lounge. Coffee and dessert will be served. For more information call 865-617-9013.

Broken Spur Dance Club

New Year – New You!!! The Broken Spur Dance Club would like to announce that they have Kickboxing Classes with Laura on Monday and Thursday nights 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Your first class is free with Laura. Also available is Zumba classes with Jessalyn on Wednesday nights 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. The club is located at 335 Fulkerson Street, Tazewell, TN, below SMMS, top floor of the American Legion Building (old preschool building). For additional information on either one of these classes please call Jamie at (423) 489-9829.

Burn Permits

The Tennessee Forestry Department is requiring a Burning Permit through May 15. A permit will be available online at burnsafetn.org for small leaves and brush eight feet in diameter only. If you have any questions please call, 423-869-8275.

Chili Supper and Auction

The Adult Education Program is hosting a Chili Supper, silent auction, and live entertainment with the Tazewell Pike Bluegrass Band and Mallory Tucker from 5-9 p.m. Friday, February 24, at Claiborne High School. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at any branch of Citizens Bank, the Realty Group in Tazewell, Chamber of Commerce, Communicomm, Betsy Maples at Claiborne Hospital, the Board of Education, and from any member of the Literacy Council. Proceeds will go to the Adult Education Scholarship and GED Testing funds. Your support will be much appreciated.

Claiborne Animal Shelter Spay and Neuter Clinic

The Claiborne Animal Shelter will be having a Spay and Neuter Clinic Saturday, Feb. 4, and Sat., Feb. 18, at the shelter. Dogs are $60 and cats are $45. A current certificate of rabies vaccine must be shown or rabies shot required at additional $10. Wellness shots: rabies, cat booster, dog booster, $10 each. To schedule an appointment call 423-4489-3389; M-F from 9:30-2:00.

Claiborne County Health Department Offers Free Flu Vaccine

Flu season is here, and the Claiborne County Health Department is working to protect the entire community by providing free flu vaccinations to area residents aged 19 years and older. Appointments must be made to receive flu vaccine, and are now being scheduled at the clinic. "Vaccination is the best protection against the flu, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone six months of age and older get a flu vaccine every year, said Charles Turner, County Director. "It takes about two weeks to be protected after you get the flu vaccine, so we want everyone who hasn't had their flu shots to get them now before flu starts circulating widely in our community." Flu shots will be provided at no charge to patients. Please call the health department at 423-626-4291 today to book your appointment. The clinic is located at 620 Davis Drive, New Tazewell, and is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Claiborne County Historical and Genealogy Society

Starting January 8th the Claiborne County Historical and Genealogy Society will be open two days per week to assist residents in the area with genealogy and county research. We will be open Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The society is located on Old Knox Rd. across from the library. For more information call the office 526-5737. CCHGS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of Claiborne County. Please email your tax-deductible contributions or annual membership dues to: CCHGS, PO Box 32, Tazewell, TN 37879. Dues are due January 1 of each year and are $15 for single and $20 for family membership. Contributions enable use to keep the lights on so everyone can use our research materials and also go to support the Battle of Cumberland Gap reenactment and restoration of the Old Jail. The restoration is a long term $100,000 project. The roof should be replaced this year but we still have along way to go!

Claiborne County Library offering free computer classes

Are you interested in beginning computer classes? Maybe you would like to do a resume or get help filling out an on-line job application. Maybe you would like to get an email address or start a facebook account. The Claiborne County Library will be offering classes in the near future. If you are interested, you must call the library and register. The library can be reached at 626-5414. We hope to see you!

Claiborne County Regional Planning Commission

The Claiborne County Regional Planning Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, in the meeting room of the Claiborne County Chamber of Commerce, Tazewell, Tennessee. The public is welcome to attend.

Dinner and Silent Auction to Benefit Shelter

You are invited to attend a $100 Plate Dinner and Silent Auction to benefit the Claiborne Animal Shelter on Sunday, February 12, at 5 p.m. at Woodlake Golf Club Restaurant. Entertainment will be by rising country star Tony Thomas. For tickets, while they last, Call: 865-585-7386. Only 80 tickets are available, so get yours early.

Divorce Care at Pump Springs

Divorce Care will be meeting Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at Pump Springs Baptist Church. There aren't many people around you who understand the pain your separation or divorce has caused. To you. Your family. Your friends. That’s the reason for Divorce Care! It’s a special weekly support group seminar conducted by people who understand what you are experiencing. Most importantly, you'll learn how to deal with the pain of your past and look forward to rebuilding your life. Contact information: 423-869-8323 or www.pumpsprings.org.

Driver License Roadblocks

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting driver license roadblocks during the week of February 5, 2012, on Hwy 33 North of Brogan's Boat Dock, four miles north of the Claiborne & Union line in Claiborne County. Recognizing the danger presented to the public by unqualified drivers. Troopers will concentrate their efforts on vehicles being operated by drivers who would violate the driver license laws of Tennessee. The Tennessee Highway Patrol has found these driver license roadblocks to be an effective means of enforcing driver license laws of Tennessee while ensuring the protection of all motorists.

Foster Parents Needed

Youth Villages is looking for caring people in Tazewell and the rest of Claiborne County to become foster parents to children who have suffered abuse, neglect, abandonment or other issues and need a home. More than 50 children in East Tennessee are currently in need of a home. These children desperately need families who will care for them until they can return to their birth families or an adoptive family is found for them.

If the children become available for adoption, foster parents often have the first right to adopt, and adoption through Youth Villages is free. Youth Villages’ foster parents receive a monthly stipend to help them offset the costs of adding a child to their household.

Candidates should be single or married adults over the age of 25 and living in the Claiborne County area who are interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents.

For more information about upcoming open houses or how you can change the life of a child, contact Jamie Hughes, foster parent recruiter at 423.283.6554.

Free Computer Classes

Free computer classes will be offered at the Claiborne County Board of Education. The classes will include: basic computer, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. For more information please contact Jammie Mullins at 626-8222 ex. 2222.

Free GED Classes

Free GED Classes, Don't Delay - Call Today! Claiborne County Adult Education, Great Classes, Great Locations, Unlimited Opportunities, 423-626-8222. www.claibornecountyschools.com/adulted.

Free Tutoring Available

The Learning Place of Claiborne County, Inc. will be providing free tutoring as a Tennessee Supplemental Education Service Provider to students who attend (T.N.T) Tazewell New Tazewell Primary School. Contact TNT for more information or call The Learning Place 869-9200 or visit our website www.thelearningplace09.com

Handgun Safety Classes

Tennessee and Virginia Certified Handgun Safety Classes (Concealed Carry) are held at the Powell Valley Conservation Club (212 Wellspring Road, Lafollette, TN 37766) in an Indoor Range and Classroom. A safe handgun, 50 rounds of ammo, eye & hearing protection are required and available at a nominal fee. Classes start at 8 a.m. and are finished by 3:30. Contact Rodger Moore with Pathfinders Tri-State Firearms LLC via email: rodger@pathfinderstri-state.com, website: pathfinderstri-state.com or by calling (865) 585-6539.

Harrogate BMA Meetings

The regular monthly meetings for the Board of Mayor and Alderman of the City of Harrogate for the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 will be conducted at City Hall, 138 Harrogate Crossing, the fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m. A monthly planning session is conducted each month at the City Hall on Tuesday prior to the scheduled meeting of the board at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend all meetings of the Board.

Little League Sign-ups

The New Tazewell Little League Sign-Ups for Baseball and Softball will be held every Tuesday in February and the first Tuesday in March at the Hardee's in Tazewell. Sign-ups will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

New Tazewell Planning Commission

The New Tazewell Planning Commission meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, in the New Tazewell City Hall. The public is welcome to attend.

North Tazewell Volunteer Fire Department

The North Tazewell Volunteer Fire Department meeting will be February 7, 2012, and at that meeting we will have the nominations and election of Officers and Board Members for 2012. The meeting will be held at the fire station in the Dogwood Heights area on Hwy 25E. For any more information, call a board member at 626-2220 or 626-1467.

Powell Valley Community Center

Powell Valley Community Center now has air conditioning and heat. Reserve your reunion, baby shower, or other gathering now. Only $50. PVCC is a smoke, drug, and alcohol free building. Contact Judy at 423-869-2428.

Red Cross Accepting Donations

If you are interested in donating to The American Red Cross please call 1-888-578-7531 or visit redcrossnetn.org all donations would greatly appreciated.

Scholarships for Claiborne High School Students

Two $1,000 (minimum) scholarships are available to qualified graduating Claiborne High School seniors. Through the University of Tennessee, the Shade and Dollie Pressnell, and the Faye Pressnell Layne Memorial Scholarships have been made available by the children of Shade and Dollie Pressnell. Each will be renewed for three additional years providing guidelines are met. Each scholarship could be rewarded later if a vacancy should occur. Interested seniors should contact the Development office at UT-Knoxville at 1-865-974-3131.

School Board Meetings

The public is invited to attend any and all of the coming up School Board meetings. The Board meets the 2nd Thursday of every month. Scheduled meetings are as follows: February 9, 2012, at TNT Primary School; March 8, 2012, at Springdale Elementary School; April 12, 2012, at Cumberland Gap High School; May 10, 2012, at Clairfield Elementary School; June 14, 2012, at Ellen Myers Primary School. All meetings begin at 7 p.m.

TENNderCare

The TENNderCare program wants babies, children, teens, and young adults to get the health care they need. Good health begins at birth, so it’s important to "Check In, Check Up, and Check Back" with your doctor every year. The program continues to increase the rate of children receiving health care services every year. Call today to set up a TENNderCare visit with your doctor or go to the Claiborne County Health Department. For information call 1-866-311-4287 or www.tennessee.gov/tenncare/tenndercare.

Valentine's Dance at VFW

The VFW Post 8779 will be having a Valentine's Day Dance on Saturday, February 11, 2012, from 8-12 p.m. Mike and Asa Mills will be performing live. $5 admission.

Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers meetings are at the Upper Room Ministries (Hwy. 33, New Tazewell, TN), every Thursday at 6 p.m. (weigh-in at 5:30). Come and learn about the PointsPlus Program, and get some great tips for keeping your weight under control! Come and meet new people, learn new cooking ideas and get great tips on how to lose weight and keep it off. For more information call 423-489-9987.

White Lightning Trail Festival

Come help us celebrate East Tennessee’s rich culture and history along the “White Lightning Trail.” The White Lightning Trail Festival is currently booking food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, art and craft demonstrators, antique dealers, antique and vintage cars, entertainers, musicians, variety acts, line dancers, cloggers, cheerleading squads, information booths, etc. Females, baby through 21 y/o, ask about the “Miss White Lightning Trail Pageant”. If you are interested in participating in the festival, contact: Carl Nichols, Director of Tourism, at 865-585-7386.

Wrestling Practice

Wrestling Practice has started at the previous location of Doc's Gym and the old Civic Center on Mon., Tues. and Thurs. from 5:30 to 7 p.m. For more information call 626-1931.