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.

Benefit 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, Carla's Cafe, Shear Design, Lazy Days 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.

Benefit Singing

There will be a benefit singing in Sneedville on Saturday, February 25, 2012, starting at 6 p.m. The singing will be at the Sneedville Masonic Lodge located behind the courthouse. For more details contact Larry Collins at 423-733-4342.

Board of Directors Meeting

The quarterly meeting for the Board of Directors of the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency, Inc. will be Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 2 p.m. in the Douglass Community Room - 1st Floor, 301 Louis Street, Kingsport, TN 37660.

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

Cedar Fork Baptist Church will be hosting a Chili Supper in their Fellowship Hall on Friday, March 2, 2012, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Chili, dessert and a drink will be provided for $5. Carry-outs will be available. Proceeds go for Retreat for Christ.

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

The Claiborne County Historical and Genealogy Society office is now open two days a week, Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for genealogy research. For more information call the office at 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.

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!

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.

Dog Obedience Classes

Good Dog Training Club obedience classes begin Monday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Middlesboro Armory. Current Kennel Cough vaccine required. For information call 423-626-1676, 606-246-1753, or 606-344-9083.

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 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. The eight-hour class starts at 8 am. 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.

Harrogate Little League

Harrogate Little League will be having baseball, softball, tee ball, and wee ball sign ups on Saturday, February 25, 2012, at Hardees in Harrogate from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Junior Gardening Classes

The LMU Organic Gardening project has Junior Master Gardner Classes for students scheduled at the Garden Center on the LMU Campus on the following dates: Monday, Feb. 27, and Friday, March 2. All classes are free and begin at 5:30. Classes are taught by Kelly Frady of the Claiborne UT Extension. For information on the classes you can email Kelly at kfrady@utk.edu or call her at 626-3742. For more info on the Organic Gardening project email Bill Clayton at organichillbilly_lmu@yahoo.com or visit http://lmugarden.wordpress.com/



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.

Midway Literacy Night

Midway Elementary School will have its annual Family Literacy Night on Friday, March 2nd. We would like to invite Midway parents and students to attend. Registration will begin at 5 p.m. We will be having a full sit-down meal starting at 5:15 p.m. Classroom activities will begin at 6 p.m. The theme this year is "Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss". Please come out and enjoy all the activities. There will be door prize drawings throughout the evening. Karen Hopper, Midway Literacy Leader.

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 and Cumberland Gap Seniors

The Claiborne County Farm Bureau will be awarding two $1500 scholarships to two area seniors. A senior from each public high school, Cumberland Gap High School and Claiborne High School, will be chosen to receive the scholarships. The scholarships may be used at any institution of higher learning. The family of the recipients of the scholarships must be members of the Claiborne County Farm Bureau. Interested seniors may pick up an application at their school’s guidance counselor’s office. The application along with a current transcript can be returned to the Farm Bureau office in Tazewell. Deadline for receiving scholarship applications is March 31. Any questions can be answered by calling (423) 626-4762.

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 Meeting Changed

The public is invited to attend any and all of the coming up School Board meetings. The Board meets the second Thursday of every month. Scheduled meetings are as follows: March 15, 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.

Tazewell Planning Commission

The regular meeting of the Tazewell Planning Commission will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 27, 2012, in the Tazewell City Hall.

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.

Tennessee Teen Institute

The 2012 Tennessee Teen Institute will be held at Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tenn., June 10th -15th, 2012. The Teen Institute is an exciting and educational 5-day youth leadership assembly sponsored by JACOA (Jackson Area Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependency) and the Tennessee Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services. TTI provides education and training for teens ages thirteen to eighteen in areas of personal development, leadership and alcohol/drug abuse prevention. The mission of the Tennessee Teen Institute is to challenge the youth of Tennessee to unlock their potential, lead by example and take a proactive role in making a positive impact in their own communities. Participants will enjoy outstanding keynote presenters and workshops as well as the fun-filled TTI night time activities. If your school, church, or organization is interested in sponsoring a team to attend this thrilling experience or if you would like more information, please contact the Teen Institute Director, at JACOA (731) 423-3653 or visit www.tnteeninstitute.net.



Tusculum College

If you are interested in enrolling at Tusculum College you can drop by the Claiborne County Walters State Campus from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on March 14 and April 5. Ask to speak to Lindsey Seal. For additional information, contact an Enrollment Representative at 888-488-7285 or 423-581-5002.

Walk-A-Thon and Memorial Balloon Launch

Senior Citizens Home Assistance Services would like to announce the first annual Walk-A-Thon and memorial balloon launch on Saturday, May 19. We would love to see Claiborne County come together for this event. Please call 626-0087 for further information. Kim Partin, Director and Joanne Rosenbalm, Coordinator.

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.

What's All the Buzz About?

Learn how to be a backyard or a back 40 beekeeper and be mentored in this rewarding and lucrative hobby along the way. Whether you are brand new to beekeeping or have been doing it for 30 years, you are invited to join our group of Bee Friends on Thursday, March 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Lounge at Walters State Community College in Tazewell. There will be a Guest Speaker from the Tennessee Beekeeping Association and coffee and dessert will be served. Information: Julianne at 865-617-9013.

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.