DEADLINE: The deadline for submitting Area Happenings, Church Events, Cemetery News, Reunions or Society items is Thursday at noon. See our website each week for a full listing of local events: www.claiborneprogress.net.

Driver License Safety Checkpoints

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting driver license roadside safety checkpoints during the week of Oct. 22-28, on U.S. Hwy. 25E, State Routes 33 and 63, and Old Hwy. 63, 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 roadside safety checkpoints to be an effective means of enforcing driver license laws of Tennessee while ensuring the protection of all motorists.

Fall Clean Up, Fix Up

The week of Oct. 23-27 is Fall Clean Up, Fix Up week for the Town of Tazewell. Please place all trash at curbside for pickup during this week. Keep regular weekly household trash in a separate pile. Place electronics in separate pile. No major appliances, building materials, or hazardous materials will be picked up and there is a limit of four tires per household, no rims. No brush will be picked up. One scheduled pickup per household. Anything placed at curbside after noon on Oct. 27 will not be picked up. You must call 423-626-7166 to request pickup.

Take A Stand

In observance of October as Domestic Violence Awareness month, CEASE Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Inc. invites you to TAKE a STAND with us against Domestic Violence on Oct. 25. We will Take a Stand on the Courthouse Steps at noon. There will be light refreshments and door prizes at the CEASE Office next door immediately following. For more information about CEASE Inc., domestic violence, sexual assault, this event and others or to make a donation, go to www.ceaseabuse.com, call the 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-303-2220 or the Claiborne County office at 423-259-8020.

Harrogate Senior Citizen Center

It’s time to check your Medicare plans: Part C – Advantage Plan and Part D – Drug Plan. You may also qualify for extra help on your premiums or medicines. Join us at the Harrogate Senior Citizen Center on Oct. 25 for more information and help from the SHIP Program from the East Tennessee Human Resources Agency. The meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. Call Donna Williams at 423-869-8080 to make an appointment.

Alzheimer’s Support Group

Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice, Alzheimer’s Support Group meets the last Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Laurel Manor Nursing Facility. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 26. Community partners: Alzheimer’s Tennessee; Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice; Laurel Manor Nursing Facility; Lambert Bookkeeping & Financial Services; Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service, Inc.; Claiborne-Overholt Funeral Home; Eastridge Apartments LLC; Claiborne County Office on Aging. Everyone welcome.

Claiborne County Public Library

There will be a Halloween Bash from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 28. Storytelling, games, snacks, trick-or-treat and much more.

Halloween Party

Broken Spur Dance Club will be hosting a Halloween Costume Party and Dance on Oct. 28. For more information call Jamie at 423-489-9829.

Pumpkin Carving Contest

The Town of Cumberland Gap is having its annual Pumpkin Carving Contest. Bring your carved pumpkin to Festival Park (downtown on Colwyn Street) by 6 p.m. Oct. 30. Prizes will be awarded. Write your name and phone number on the backside of the pumpkin. The opening of the pumpkin should be on the bottom (to place over a candle). Trick or treat hours for Cumberland Gap are Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m.

Trick Or Treat

Children are invited to visit the VFW #8779 in New Tazewell for trick-or-treating on Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.

Halloween at the Tazewell Park

The mayor of the Town of Tazewell, along with some employees and volunteers, will be handing out treats at the Tazewell Municipal Park for ages 12 years and younger on Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m. or until the treats run out.

Nursing Job Fair

Middlesboro ARH Hospital will hold a Nursing Job Fair on Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. inside the hospital’s main entrance. Licensed nurses and nursing students can meet with clinical management and HR to discuss current job opportunities during the job fair. Please bring a copy of current certifications. If you have a resume, bring a copy, but it is not required for the Nursing Job Fair. Contact Janice Absher 606-242-1162 with any questions.

Town of New Tazewell Leaf Pick-Up

The Town of New Tazewell will begin leaf disposal every Wednesday, weather permitting, from Nov. 1 – Dec. 27. All requests must be called in to New Tazewell City Hall at 423-626- 5242. All leaves must be bagged or raked to the curb side for pick-up. We ask that no limbs be raked with leaves, or trash.

Town of Tazewell Leaf Pick-Up

Bagged leaf pick up in the Town of Tazewell will be Nov. 1 through Jan. 1. Place all bagged leaves at curbside for pickup during that time. Keep regular weekly household trash in a separate pile. You must call 423-626-7166 to request pickup.

Bee Friends

Beekeeping has more potential benefits than honey. The next meeting of Bee Friends will be Nov. 2 at 6:30 pm. This is the regularly scheduled meeting of Bee Friends, a local beekeeping group. All are welcome, whether you are a seasoned beekeeper, someone just beginning to think about beekeeping, or anywhere in between. Regular meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month in the auditorium of the Tazewell Campus (the old high school) of Walter State Community College. If you have questions, you can call Jay at 423-268-4785. Coffee and dessert will also be available at no cost.

2nd Annual Pie Fest

Woodland Community Land Trust will be hosting its Second Annual Pie Fest on Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Clearfork Community Instititute (170 Y Hollow Road, Clairfield, TN 37715). A silent auction will be held for numerous gift certificates as well admission tickets to several area attractions such as WonderWorks Tennessee, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Hollywood Wax Museum, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Smokies Baseball and more great items. There will be a pie judging at 11 a.m. if you would like to enter a homemade pie, as well pie walks throughout the day, games, homemade crafts to purchase just in time for the holidays and local music. For more information please call the Woodland office at 423-784-5304.

Free Healthy Cooking Class

There will be a free Healthy Cooking Class Nov. 5 at the Claiborne County Senior Center, located at 180 Jaycee Lane, Tazewell, from 2-4 p.m. Please call to register or for more information at 423-973-4398 or email DVD.Lehrman@gmail.com.

Tazewell Senior Center

SHIP/SMP presents an Annual Enrollment Event at Tazewell Senior Center. Got Medicare? Got questions? If you need to check your Advantage Plan or Part D plan for 2018 or see if you may qualify for extra help on your premiums or medicines, please join us Nov. 7 at noon. Call Denise at 423-973-3673, ext. 2 to schedule your appointment.

Veterans Day Dinner

The VFW Post #8779 in New Tazewell is having a dinner to honor our veterans. All veterans are invited to come out and enjoy some good food and fellowship. The dinner is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

Arts and Crafts Show

The New Tazewell United Methodist Church will sponsor a Holiday Arts and Crafts Show Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Nov. 12 from noon until 1 p.m. All crafters are invited to participate. Crafts must be handmade articles, woodworking, paintings, jewelry, Christmas crafts, quilts, purses, etc. A baked goods table will also be available. Lunch will be available to purchase as well. Funds will be used for local missions. Last year’s funds bought throws for the elderly in the Tazewell area and some were donated to the Gatlinburg fire relief fund. Tables are $25 each. To reserve a table call the church office at 423-419-5028 or contact Jody Kennedy or Shelley Wieting.

Family Support

Do you or someone you know living in Claiborne County have a severe intellectual and/or physical disability? There may be public assistance available for their special needs. Call Greene County Skills, Inc. at 423-798-7137 or 7144 and ask Karin or Teresa about the Family Support Program. Family Support is a Tennessee state-funded program geared to serve individuals of all ages who are currently not enrolled in a Tennessee medical waiver program. Family Support may be able to help with respite or homemaker services, minor home or vehicle modifications, specialized equipment and more. We also serve individuals with disabilities in Greene, Hamblen, Union and Grainger counties.

Child and Adult Care Food Program

Cumberland Mountain Industries has announced participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Meals will be provided at no separate charge to eligible adults served at CMI, located at 1214 Cedar Fork Rd., Tazewell. For more information contact CMI at 423-626-6757.

Adult High School

Need a high school diploma? The Claiborne County Adult High School is now offering free classes. There is flexible scheduling offered to accommodate working adults. “The tassel is worth the hassle” – with a diploma, you can earn higher wages, have better job opportunities, can attend college, enter technical school and have careers in the military. For more information call 423-626-8222.

Adopt A Classroom

Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice would like to challenge all businesses in Claiborne County to “adopt a classroom” and help support local teachers in getting much needed supplies for the upcoming school year. It’s easy – if you don’t already have a teacher in mind, contact a specific school’s principal and ask if you can provide supplies to a classroom. Once you get approval, ask if you can get a list of those supplies that teacher is needing. Finally, buy the supplies and present them. Many teachers pay out of pocket throughout the year on supplies for their students simply because they want to make sure there students get the best education possible. Lets help these teachers!

Free Drug Testing Kits

The Stand in the Gap Coalition (SIGCO) is a 501(c)(3) faith-based organization and is providing free saliva-based drug testing kits with instructions. They are called Give Me a Reason (GMAR) kits. Anyone with questions about or needing to obtain GMAR kits or anyone interested in getting involved with SIGCO or volunteering in the office, with the jail ministry or any other ministry can stop by the Stand in the Gap Coalition office, located at 502 Pennlyn Ave. in Cumberland Gap. It is open on Mondays from 1-5:30 p.m. For more informattion you may also call 423-300-1302 and leave a message, email standntgap@gmail.com or mail P.O. Box 530, Cumberland Gap, TN 37724.

American Legion Post #109

All veterans are invited to attend monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. Activities begin at 6 p.m. with a meal. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at 335 Fulkerson Street in Tazewell.

Arthur Community Center Association

The Arthur Community Center Restoration Organization has regular meetings the second Thursday and fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Arthur Community Center. All residents of Arthur Community are encouraged to attend. The ACCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of the Arthur Community Center for the public to use for meetings, family reunions, wedding receptions, etc.

Bee Friends

Interested in beekeeping and meeting beekeepers? Whether you are looking for information or just curious, you are welcome to join Bee Friends, a local beekeeping group. We meet monthly, on the first Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Tazewell Campus of Walters State in the auditorium. This is also a great time to check the group out, just ask questions, and meet others with all levels of experience. There will be a sign at the door from the parking lot. As always, coffee and dessert will be served. For more information call Jay at 423-268-4785.

Beginner’s Computer Class

The Claiborne County Public Library is hosting a beginner’s computer class at the Harrogate Senior Citizens Center every other Friday at 1 p.m. For more information call the library at 423-626-5414.

City of Harrogate Meetings

The following meetings are held at Harrogate City Hall, 138 Harrogate Crossing: Board of Mayor and Aldermen – fourth Monday each month at 6 p.m.; Work Sessions – each month on the Tuesday prior to the BMA meetings, at 6 p.m.; Parks and Recreation Committee – second Monday of the month at 6 p.m., on an as-needed basis; Planning Commission – second Monday each month at 6:30 p.m. The Book Station Committee meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. at the Harrogate Book Station, 310 Bristol Road. All meetings are open to the public.

Cumberland Gap Meetings

The regular monthly meetings for the Cumberland Gap Historical Zoning Commission will be held the first Tuesday (following the first Monday) of every month at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland Gap Town Hall, 330 Colwyn Street Cumberland Gap (if no items are to be discussed a meeting will not be held). The public is invited to attend.

The regular monthly meetings for the Cumberland Gap Planning Commission will be held the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland Gap Town, 330 Colwyn Street Cumberland Gap (if no items are to be discussed a meeting will not be held). The public is invited to attend.

The regular monthly meetings for the Town of Cumberland Gap Board of Mayor and Alderman will be held the first Monday evening of every month at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland Gap Town Hall, 330 Colwyn Street, Cumberland Gap. The Cumberland Gap Beer Board meeting follows the board meeting each month. At least one week before the regular scheduled meeting the board meets in a study session to review and finalize the agenda. That meeting starts at 6 p.m. and is usually held the Monday before the regular scheduled meeting. Both meetings are open to the public.

Free Adult High School Classes

The Claiborne County Adult High School is now offering free classes for students to earn credits to receive their Tennessee state high school diploma. Flexible scheduling is available for both day and evening classes. For more information, contact the Adult High School at 423-626-8222.

Free Spay and Neuter

The Animal Welfare League of Claiborne County is sponsoring a free spay/neuter for dogs and cats in the Claiborne County area for families with income less than $30,000 per year, depending upon the number of people in the household. Pick up applications at Harrogate Hospital for Animals, Russell Veterinary Services or Rowland Veterinary Services. You can also request spay applications at awlccspay@gmail.com . Complete application, including proof of income and mail to AWLCC, 200 Hatfield Morgan Lane, New Tazewell, TN 37825 or scan/email to email address above. Be sure to include a phone number.

Free Tech Classes at Library

Need help with technology? Would you like to learn more about your mobile device? You can now schedule an appointment at the Claiborne County Public Library for free help sessions. The library will be able to help with the following: Computers, tablets, phones, use of apps, etc.

Come prepared with: The device you need help with; any necessary usernames and passwords needed to access your device and/or accounts; the device fully charged, if not, please bring a charger; questions and/or concerns about your device.

The library staff will not: Run diagnostics; troubleshoot or fix any malfunctioning devices (unless related to library services); run antivirus scans; computer maintenance; replace parts on a device; credit card transactions.

Call for information, more details or to schedule an appointment at 423-626-5414 or email at claibornelibrary@gmail.com. One-on-one or group appointments are available.

Greene County Skills

Greene County Skills, Inc. is seeking individuals in Tennessee that have developmental or physical disability. Tennessee has a grant program offering assistance. For more information, call Greene County Skills, Inc. at 423-798-7137, ask for Karin Hagenburger or 423-798-7144 Teresa Crawford, Family Support Coordinator.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project

Outreach workers Tommy Brooks and Erin Haverland will be available to assist eligible veterans with enrollment in HVRP. The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project helps veterans find secure employment through case management, job training, and referrals and links with other local service providers. Outreach workers can arrange visits with veterans in outlying areas who are unable to travel to the program office.Veterans Can Help is located at 511 Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917. Phone: 865-524-3926. In Knoxville, call 865-546-4813 for more information.

Narcotics Anonymous

NA meetings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Middlesboro, Kentucky. For more information call 606-670-4356.

Town of New Tazewell Meetings

The Town of New Tazewell board meetings for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen are conducted at New Tazewell City Hall at 413 First Avenue, the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen workshops are held one hour prior to the regular meeting. The Planning Commission meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The public is invited to attend these meetings.

Town of Tazewell Meetings

The board meetings for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the Town of Tazewell are conducted at Tazewell City Hall at 1830 Main Street, the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The BMA Workshops are on Wednesday, prior to the scheduled board meeting at 6 p.m. as needed. The Planning Commission Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The public is invited to attend these meetings.