Clark Center Park swimming area.  Ben Pounds / Hellbender Press

Major effort needed to secure co-funding from local area

The state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 gives the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation $10 million to establish a state park at Clark Center Park, a 40-acre area owned by the Department of Energy and currently open to the public as a park.

Named for Clark E. Center, the Manhattan Project’s Superintendent of the K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant and holder of ID badge #1, this park includes a swimming area on Melton Hill Lake with a sandy beach. It features many picnic tables with grills, a boat ramp, two ball fields, two volleyball nets and a paved surface with basketball hoops. Wooded hiking trails include ones giving access to fishing areas. It also serves as the trailhead to the Gallaher Bend Greenway, which is a separate area.

The caveat

The Tennessee budget states the area can only become a state park if Anderson County, the county in which this area is located, provides $6,250,000 in matching funds before June 30, 2031. Substantial funding is required to replace the aged amenities of the park and provide the level of facilities that meet state park standards while accommodating more visitors.

“Clark Center Park is a hidden gem,” said Virginia Dale, board member and past president of Advocates for the Oak Ridge Reservation (AFORR). The nonprofit group is dedicated to conservation and preservation of the reservation’s unique assets for future generations.

Pawpaws are best eaten raw, but are also crafted into foods like ice cream and soda. The custard-textured pulp tastes similar to a cross between a banana and mango. Karen Caspary/UTIA

Is that a pawpaw in your pocket? Come celebrate the fruit of the woods this weekend.

KNOXVILLE — The city celebrates a ubiquitous but largely underappreciated native forest fruit this weekend with the second installment of the Pawpaw and Wildcraft Festival.

There will be local food, craft beer and live music as Knoxville joins the list of cities celebrating the eastern North American trees.  The event is set for 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30 at Trailhead Beer Market, 1317 Island Home Ave. In South Knoxville. 

Knoxville attorney and activist Chris Irwin, one of the principal organizers (along with Joy Grissom and Lenny Zonda), told Hellbender Press to expect an even bigger and better paw-paw-palooza this year. He is a proponent of the tree as a both rural and urban food source for wildlife and humans. Pawpaw grows in the understory, and is actually thriving in most areas as farmland returns to woodlands (it also has a natural toxin that repels deer), but climate change will alter forest types. Either way, Irwin said, it's an underutilized resource that should be better ballyhooed.

The festival features other native plants, wildcrafting discussions, urban and rural gardening, pawpaw fruit sharing and seed swapping. Wildcrafting is the practice of sustainably harvesting uncultivated plants, herbs, roots and fungi from their natural or wild habitats for food, medicine or crafts.

The U.S. Department of Energy extolled the virtues of two proposed data center sites on the Oak Ridge Reservation in October 2025. DOE has since shifted its focus to potential sites in Ohio and Kentucky, and currently no longer accepts proposals for private data center development in Oak Ridge. As seen in this screenshot, DOE touted the nuclear-energy industries’ infrastructure and expertise as draws for private data center development. DOE via YouTube

DOE shifts data center focus away from Oak Ridge to sites in Kentucky and Ohio

OAK RIDGE — (updated Sep. 5 with more details on site B; extra video) The U.S. Department of Energy is at least temporarily moving its focus away from promoting federal Oak Ridge lands as sites for data centers and is instead looking at developing sites in other states.

On Sep. 30, 2025 the department requested private enterprises to submit artificial intelligence data center proposals for two parcels on the Oak Ridge Reservation. It held a virtual industry day on Oct. 15, 2025 attended by multiple companies from different industries.

One site is west of Oak Ridge National Laboratory at the intersection of Bethel Valley Road and Tennessee Highway 95, totaling 95 acres. The other totals 150 acres at East Tennessee Technology Park, including 83 acres that are part of Manhattan Project National Historical Park — formerly the site of the K-25 complex, which enriched uranium for atomic bombs. 

Just five weeks before the request, at noon on Aug. 23, the K-25 observation platform, which is part of the William J. Wilcox Jr. K-25 Interpretive Center, had been opened to the public. The platform was built specifically to provide visitors with a panoramic view of the historic 44-acre K-25 footprint and “to help visitors understand the scope and magnitude of the K-25 Building and Site.” Is watching construction of AI data centers already trumping our national history?

Ben Williams, communications director for the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management for DOE, said the department received proposals for the Oak Ridge sites in response to the request for proposals (RFP) before a Dec.1, 2025 deadline, but for now is turning them down. DOE will instead focus on completing and signing leases for data centers on two other former nuclear enrichment sites: its Portsmouth site in Ohio and its Paducah site in Kentucky.

The CSX rail line through the Nolichucky River Gorge near Erwin, Tennessee was one of many transportation and vital commerce links destroyed by epic river flooding spawned by Tropical Storm Helene Sept. 26-27, 2024. Computer modeling showed Helene was made substantially worse by climate change. Jonathan Mitchell for Hellbender Press

A plea to reject the 'unconscionable' 2026 Integrated Resource Plan and finally focus on clean energy

CLINTON — I urge you, as distinguished members of the TVA Board, not to accept the 2026 Integrated Resource Plan. That deeply flawed plan would commit TVA, which in the past has admirably led the nation in power production, to leading a shameful and costly retreat into clearly outdated and now unconscionable energy generation choices. 

The 2026 IRP predicts AI and other data centers will require increasing amounts of energy. Those needs may well be less than anticipated owing to computer efficiency innovations like quantum computing; new AI models requiring far less data; and rapidly growing public opposition to data centers, but prediction is difficult. Costly overbuilding will be best avoided by waiting and adding readily available and quicker-to-install renewables and storage as required, by which time they will be even cheaper than they already are. 

I agree with most analysts that carbon capture and storage is a fossil fuel industry scam unlikely to ever be effective, let alone cost-effective. 

The IRP’s rosy projections of the economic competitiveness of new nuclear designs fly in the face of nuclear’s long history of massive cost overruns. And nuclear cannot match battery storage’s instant on-off availability switch.  

My overarching concern, though, is this IRP’s abdication of responsibility for climate change. Notwithstanding decades of slick, seemingly believable fossil fuel industry propaganda, an Everest of evidence indicates continuing fossil fuel emissions undeniably will, increasingly and irrevocably, undercut not just our economy but the fundamental quality of life of untold billions of our fellow humans, for as far into that ugly future as we can imagine. 

The towering Space Needle in Gatlinburg offers views of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The city is host to the Tennessee Sustainability Conference set to begin Aug. 19 at the Park Vista Hotel. Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce

Tennessee Sustainability Conference offers networking and tips and tricks for people, agencies and businesses

GATLINBURG — The annual Tennessee Sustainability Conference is set for Aug. 19-21 at the Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg in the shadows of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The conference is a partnership between Tennessee Recycling Coalition, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Tennessee Environmental Conference, and brings together environmental professionals from across the region.

Tennessee mayors will also gather for the 6th annual Mayor’s Retreat on Aug. 20, to gain resources, share in conversation, and collaborate for solutions. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will provide information and updates on various programs, including Brownfield Grants, the 2035 Solid Waste Plan, and more. 

The conference brings together a diverse group of professionals, including government officials, business leaders, mayors, nonprofits, and sustainability experts. Attendees can discover the latest trends and best practices in environmental sustainability, and network with fellow attendees who are passionate about making a positive impact.

Hikers make their way to the summit of Mount LeConte via Alum Cave. A helicopter will ferry demolition debris from the site of the old LeConte Lodge, and some brief trail closures may result. Some areas of the summit may also be closed. Thomas Fraser/Hellbender Press

Demolition of LeConte Lodge may require a rest stop for summit-bound hikers

This is a news release from the National Park Service.

GATLINBURG — As the demolition of the LeConte Lodge Recreation Building continues, the National Park Service's contractor on the project will conduct helicopter airlifts the mornings of Aug.10-14. The contractor has made significant progress with most of the timber structure demolished and the focus is now on the basement, stonewalls, and foundation. During this second set of airlifts, demolished materials will be flown off the mountain via helicopter. 

Airlifts are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon each day during the second week of August. In the event of hazardous weather, the airlifts will be delayed. 

Visitors driving US441/Newfound Gap Road near the Oconaluftee Overlook, just south of Newfound Gap, should expect temporary traffic delays while the helicopter loads and unloads materials.  

The LeConte Lodge Recreation Building, built between the late 1960s and early 1970s, has served for more than 50 years as a gathering space and retreat for overnight guests from around the world. Exposure to harsh weather at 6,500 feet elevation has caused significant deterioration to the building, beyond what can be rehabilitated. For the safety of visitors and employees, the structure will be replaced later this year.   

Conservationists are sounding the alarm about a National Park Service plan to cull trees in the name of fire prevention along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Groups such as MountainTrue and Defenders of Wildlife urge the public to speak out against the plan. MountainTrue

National Park Service declares 'emergency' to circumvent public input on a wasteful intrusion into Parkway environs

Sally Watanabe is the Asheville summer intern with Defenders of Wildlife.

ASHEVILLE —This summer, visitors to the Blue Ridge Parkway might spot a bobcat – not the kind you’d hope to see on vacation, but the kind with a diesel engine and hydraulic arm. If the National Park Service (NPS) executes its plan to use heavy machinery in removing downed trees from nearly 3,000 acres of Parkway land, it will have damaging effects on recovering ecosystems and create more long-term harm than good. There are alternative ways to address fire risk that are better suited to protect the wellbeing of all communities, and NPS needs to reevaluate the project before it causes unnecessary and irreversible impacts. 

Starting in August, NPS plans to conduct what it calls “hazardous fuel reduction” to remove trees, bulldoze roads into hillsides, and clear areas of up to 5,000 square feet for log landing sites. The main concern driving this project is fire risk, especially to homes within proximity to the Parkway. Indeed, extended drought conditions have left the landscape drier than usual, but the majority of large debris left over is not the real threat.

Fire science tells us that dead wood larger than 8 inches in diameter takes 10,000+ hours of sustained drought to lose most of its moisture, so the massive downed trees far from roads are poor candidates for ignition. While large logs left to decompose actually absorb moisture and provide habitat for wildlife, smaller snags and debris closer to the forest edge pose greater fire risk. The vague plan raises many questions while also sidelining local conservation groups trying to support the project with data and recommendations. 

Swap seeds and stories and sample local pawpaws at first Pawpaw Festival

KNOXVILLE — Multiple wildcrafters, seed collectors and general treehuggers — and wild critters — here and throughout the Southern Appalachians are really getting into wild pawpaw trees and their fruit.

Asimina triloba, the American papaw, is native to hardwood forest understories of the eastern United States, including the rich oak, hickory and maple forests of the Appalachians. It can be cultivated on private land or urban food plots, and of course grows richly in area forests. Its fruit is widely described as custard-like in texture.

There is a growing critical mass of pawpaw fans to meet occasionally and swap seed and its Knoxville’s turn to recognize the humble yet mighty local fruit. The first of what is planned to be an annual event is set 6 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Trailhead Beer Market, 1317 Island Home Ave.

Last year’s Annual Incredible Farm Dinner Downtown had to be cancelled because of Hurricane Helene.

The already legendary Greeneville tradition celebrates local farms and community. It’s hosted by the Rural Resources Farm & Food Education Center. Many local sponsors, businesses, farms, churches and the Town of Greeneville make this event possible. Get your tickets early! The dinner sells out every year, a testament to its success and the value of the Rural Resources programming it supports. 

Hikers walk along Ramsey Creek during a dry time. Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning has assembled land to be turned over to the National Park Service to expand public lands at the Obed Wild and Scenic River.  Chuck Estes/Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning

There’s more room to roam in the Cumberlands thanks to Oak Ridge-based citizens group

WARTBURG — As East Tennesseans and tourists alike enjoy summer fun on the wild Obed River, enthusiasts are growing its amount of federally protected land.

Part of the U.S. National Park Service system, the Obed Wild and Scenic River in Cumberland and Morgan Counties on Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau offers swimming, hiking, picnicking, kayaking, fishing and climbing at the federally protected park. It currently includes about 45 miles along streams like the Obed and Emory Rivers. 

Residents of Oak Ridge, a little less than an hour’s drive away, created Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning (TCWP) and lobbied to create the federally protected area in 1976. Now, the same group, through fundraising and land swaps with anonymous private individuals, has gained 30 acres on which it plans to build a trail connected to the federal land.

A bee pollinates an almond tree in an orchard. Concerns are growing that there is an increasing disconnect between pollinating plants and their pollinators due to climate change.  David Kosling/U.S. Department of Agriculture

The problem with climate change isn’t just the temperature. It’s how fast the climate is changing.

This story was originally published by The Conversation. Courtney McGinnis is a professor of biology, medical sciences and environmental sciences at Quinnipiac University.

Historically, Earth’s climate changes have generally happened over thousands to millions of years. Today, global temperatures are increasing by about 0.36 degrees Fahrenheit (0.2 degrees Celsius) per decade.

Imagine a car speeding up. Over time, human activities such as burning fossil fuels, have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the Sun. This is like pressing the gas pedal. The faster the driver adds gas, the faster the car goes. 

The 21^st century has seen a dramatic acceleration in the rate of climate change, with global temperatures rising more than three times faster than in the previous century.

The faster pace and higher temperatures are changing habitat ranges for plants and animals. In some regions, the pace of change is also throwing off the delicate timing of pollination, putting plants and pollinators such as bees at risk.

Some species are already migrating

Most plant and animal species can tolerate or at least recover from short-term changes in climate, such as a heat wave. When the changes last longer, however, organisms may need to migrate into new areas to adapt for survival.

The regionally famous Bull Run smokestack was demolished this summer by the Tennessee Valley Authority as the federal utility phases out the use of coal to generate electricity. Climate activists are alarmed by TVA’s plans to replace coal with natural gas, itself a powerful greenhouse gas pollutant.  Tennessee Valley Authority

What’s next for mammoth utility after demolition of Claxton, Tenn. landmark stack?

CLAXTON — In a matter of seconds, the old smokestack fell like a giant tree, heaving clouds of dust as it hit the ground. Workers set off the implosion with a loud boom at the base of the towering smokestack on June 28, at Bull Run Fossil Plant just outside of Oak Ridge. Minutes earlier, the shorter and more modern ‘scrubber’ bit the dust in similar fashion.

Trichloroethylene is among the chemicals deemed a serious public health risk by way of the Environmental Protection Agency’s IRIS database. Legislation in Congress could bar the use of IRIS and its associated scientific methods from being used to calculate the environmental and human health risks of chemicals such as TCE, a proven carcinogen.  ChemLibrarian/Wikipedia Commons

Two bills in Congress would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from using hundreds of chemical assessments completed by its IRIS program in environmental regulations or enforcement.

This story was originally published by ProPublica.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — For decades, Republican lawmakers and industry lobbyists have tried to chip away at the small program in the Environmental Protection Agency that measures the threat of toxic chemicals.

Most people don’t know IRIS, as the program is called, but it is the scientific engine of the agency that protects human health and the environment. Its scientists assess the toxicity of chemicals, estimating the amount of each that triggers cancer and other health effects. And these values serve as the independent, nonpartisan basis for the rules, regulations and permits that limit our exposure to toxic chemicals.

Now IRIS faces the gravest threat to its existence since it was created under President Ronald Reagan four decades ago.

Legislation introduced in Congress would prohibit the EPA from using any of IRIS’ hundreds of chemical assessments in environmental rules, regulations, enforcement actions and permits that limit the amount of pollution allowed into air and water. The EPA would also be forbidden from using them to map the health risks from toxic chemicals. The bills, filed in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives earlier this year, are championed by companies that make and use chemicals, along with industry groups that have long opposed environmental rules. If it becomes law, the “No IRIS Act,” as it’s called, would essentially bar the agency from carrying out its mission, experts told ProPublica.

“They’re trying to undermine the foundations for doing any kind of regulation,” said William Boyd, a professor at UCLA School of Law who specializes in environmental law. Boyd noted that IRIS reports on chemicals’ toxicity are the first step in the long process of creating legal protections from toxic pollutants in air and water.

“If you get rid of step one, you’re totally in the dark,” he said.

If the act passes, companies could even use the law to fight the enforcement of environmental rules that have long been on the books or permits that limit their toxic emissions, environmental lawyers said.

The ForWarn vegetation tracking tool shows areas of red where extreme disturbance to the forest canopy occurred in Western North Carolina, East Tennessee and southern Virginia as a result of Hurricane Helene in late September 2024.  Jitendra Kumar/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Information will help timber gleaning, fire-hazard mitigation

Stephanie Seay is a senior science writer and communications specialist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

OAK RIDGE — A visualization tool that tracks changes to the nation’s forests in near-real time is helping resource managers pinpoint areas with the most damage from Hurricane Helene in the Southeast.

The ForWarn visualization tool was co-developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory with the U.S. Forest Service. The tool captures and analyzes satellite imagery to track impacts such as storms, wildfire and pests on forests across the nation. 

When staff with the Forest Service’s Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center in Asheville, North Carolina, were unable to work in the immediate aftermath of Helene due to utility outages, the ORNL-hosted ForWarn system continued monitoring the storm’s impact and providing reports. ForWarn indicated areas of severe disturbance to the forest canopy that were later confirmed by aerial photography. 

“ForWarn helps quickly identify areas that may need remediation such as timber harvesting or prescribed burns as piles of felled trees dry out and potentially pose wildfire hazards,” said ORNL’s Jitendra Kumar.

This still image from video shot by a victim of the flooding at Impact Plastics in Erwin illustrates the terror of the flood that killed six employees of the plant at the height of Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024.  Family of Johnny Peterson via WSMV

Attorney for families says evidence ignored; some cases will move to civil court

ERWIN — Prosecutors decided that no criminal charges will be filed in connection with the deaths of six employees of a Unicoi County manufacturing facility during last year’s catastrophic Hurricane Helene.

District Attorney General Steven Finney of the First Judicial District — whose office oversees cases in Washington, Carter, Unicoi and Johnson counties in northeastern Tennessee —  announced the decision nine months after asking the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to determine what happened on September 27, 2024, when six employees of Impact Plastics lost their lives as unprecedented flooding from Hurricane Helene, downgraded to a tropical storm at that point, swept the region and killed hundreds.

It remains unclear what the future holds for communities devastated by the hurricane, many of which are still struggling to rebuild. It’s believed that 252 people lost their lives due to Helene, and officials have estimated the storm caused nearly $80 billion in damage.

A laurel dace (Chrosomus saylori) collected by Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute scientists at Bumbee Creek in Rhea County, Tenn.  Tennessee Aquarium

Spring City set to celebrate a rare denizen of Walden Ridge almost decimated by drought

Wes Boling is marketing communications manager for Nokian Tyres Dayton Factory.

SPRING CITY — Nokian Tyres will serve as presenting sponsor of Laurel Dace Day, a community celebration of an endangered fish, set for Saturday, May 17, in Spring City.  

The inaugural event led by the Tennessee Aquarium raises awareness of the laurel dace, a critically endangered fish found only in the Walden Ridge area 20 miles from Nokian Tyres’ North American factory in Dayton. 

Laurel Dace Day features a 5K race and half-mile family fun run, followed by a festival at the Spring City Nature Park with live music, a farmers’ market, local vendors and conservation education. The event is free to attend, other than registration fees for participation in the races. 

Community members can learn more about the event and register for races at TNAqua.org

Paul Stoddard, a principal at environmental consulting firm EnSafe, unlocks the gate to the West Tennessee Wetlands Mitigation Bank in Shelby County. EnSafe planted more than 50,000 trees to restore portions of this 250-acre wetland, creating credits for developers to purchase to offset destruction of wetlands elsewhere.  Karen Pulfer Focht for Tennessee Lookout

Interests of all stripes push to preserve state wetlands protections against pro-developer pressure

This story is part of the series Down the Drain from the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an independent reporting collaborative based at the University of Missouri in partnership with Report for America, with major funding from the Walton Family Foundation. 

LEWISBURG — Fourth-generation Middle Tennessee cattle farmer Cole Liggett lined up with scientists and environmental advocates in March to urge Tennessee lawmakers not to gut the state’s historically strong protections for wetlands.

Wetlands protection has been good business for Liggett. In addition to raising cattle, he’s a manager at Headwaters Reserve, a firm that developers pay to preserve and restore wetlands and streams so they can destroy them elsewhere, called mitigation banking. If lawmakers follow through on a plan to deregulate an estimated 80 percent of the state’s isolated wetlands, that will upend the industry in Tennessee and drive up prices for developers still required to pay for mitigation, Liggett testified.

Liggett works in a growing industry that operates more than 2,500 mitigation banks nationwide, earning an estimated $3.5 billion in revenue in 2019, according to a 2023 study funded by the Ecological Restoration Business Association. 

The industry is built on demand spurred by the 1972 U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires developers to offset their damage to wetlands by building or restoring wetlands nearby.

But recent federal actions to shrink the scope of that law are pushing states to choose how strictly they will regulate wetlands. The consequences of those decisions not only threaten further degradation of land, water and wildlife, but also the fortunes of an industry that has made a big business out of conservation.

Allies come together to fight Enbridge’s Ridgeline gas pipeline through Obed watersheds

LANCING — Reclaim the Ridge is a weekend of music, nature, fun and action to raise awareness and funds in opposition to Enbridge’s proposed Ridgeline gas pipeline — set to slice across 122 miles of Tennessee and make 162 waterway cuts through tributaries of the Obed Wild and Scenic River system.

Project opponents and the like-minded plan to gather for Reclaim the Ridge Sept. 5-6 at the Lilly Pad Hopyard Brewery for an unforgettable time featuring live music by The Local Honeys, camping, hiking, swimming and giant puppets from the Cattywampus Puppet Council! 

80^th Anniversary events organized by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance

Rally and walk action for disarmament

Saturday, August 9 | 10:00 a.m.
Gather at Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.
Join the walk to the gates of Y-12 for a rally with music, street theater and calls for nuclear disarmament.

 

Lantern Ceremony along the Tennessee River

Saturday, August 9 | 8:00 p.m.
Sequoyah Hills Park in Knoxville
Close the week with a reflective lantern ceremony along the water — honoring the lives lost and our continued commitment to peace.

Visit the OREPA website for details and more events.

80^th Anniversary events organized by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance

Visit the OREPA website for details and more events.

Rosemary Bear (class of 2022) cools off in a cub tub (all to herself this time, thank you) on a hot July day at Appalachian Bear Rescue in Townsend. The center entered a new agreement with licensing authority Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency that calls for improved sanitation, regular pen rotation and burnovers and other management techniques. TWRA euthanized 13 bears in December 2024 following fatal and persistent strains of pneumonia. The center has been closed since; ABR director Greg Grieco said on July 22 the facility expects to complete renovations and be ready for the next crop of orphaned and injured bears by spring 2026.  Appalachian Bear Rescue

TWRA and bear rescue center reach agreement to resume rehab services at Townsend facility next year

This is a joint release from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Appalachian Bear Rescue.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) have reached a new partnership agreement for black bear rehabilitation in Tennessee.

During the course of 2023 and 2024, the presence of pneumonia raised initial concerns about the health of bears being housed at ABR. After a difficult decision in December 2024 to euthanize 13 bears, the agency temporarily paused the placement of bears at the facility.

In the months that followed, TWRA staff sought input from bear managers, wildlife veterinarians and disease pathologists in other states on best management practices and pen sanitation measures such as discing, burns and leaving pens empty on an annual rotational schedule. ABR staff immediately started working to implement extensive modifications and upgrades to the facility to align with the recommendations of these professionals. 

TWRA leadership also began working with ABR to draft an official operating agreement to strengthen the relationship between the two entities, set clear expectations for best management practices for bear rehabilitation and provide transparency to members of the public invested in wildlife conservation.

Pollinators play a vital role in maintaining our ecosystems, economies and agriculture. Here’s a bee in flight at the UT Gardens in Knoxville.  R. Lazarian/UTIA

Get your buzz on in Knoxville or two other locations in the state during Pollinator Week June 16-25

Lauren Tolley is a University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture marketing and communications associate. 

KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee Bee Campus Committee, a group comprised of UT faculty, staff and students, in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority and UT Gardens, invites communities across the state to celebrate national Pollinator Week at a series of “Garden Buzz” pollinator events on June 17.

Pollinator Week is an annual celebration in support of pollinator health, initiated and managed by the Pollinator Partnership. This year’s theme is “Pollinators Weave Connections” — highlighting the essential roles pollinators play in creating and expression of human culture, the food we enjoy and the beauty that surrounds us. Pollinator Week is June 16-25.

Similar to UT and TVA’s collaborative Garden Buzz celebrations in previous years, the 2025 Garden Buzz celebrations will offer participants opportunities to learn more about pollinators in Tennessee through educational activities. Attendees can also learn how to start their own pollinator gardens with locally grown plants that help support a thriving ecosystem.

USFWS names Laurel Dace Team a 2024 Recovery Champion

From left to right, top to bottom: Sarah Kate Bailey, Geoff Call, Stephanie Chance, Makenzie Foster, Anna George, Helaina Gomez, Abbey Holsopple, Bernie Kuhajda, Tigris Nevans and Warren Stiles.  Image Details

Congratulations to the honorees of the US Fish & Wildlife Service award for the Southeast

“During the summer and fall of 2024, a prolonged drought emerged as a preeminent threat to the Laurel dace, a freshwater minnow native to Tennessee. During this pivotal time, the Laurel Dace Rescue Team provided for the ongoing conservation and survival of the endangered fish by developing a water level monitoring protocol and planning for individuals to be collected and brought into captivity to maintain representation from the last two wild populations. In a short period, the team collaborated to rescue, transport, and house more than 200 fish while maintaining separation of individuals from each population. The Aquarium led the ‘Race for the Laurel Dace’ fundraising campaign, which helped significantly raise public awareness of the species’ plight and secure funding to help ensure the availability of the specialized emergency care needed for the rescued individuals. The Service’s diligent work to sample, collect, transport, and care for individual laurel dace were invaluable to this effort.”

Sarah Kate Bailey - Tennessee Aquarium

Geoff Call - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Stephanie Chance - Tennessee Aquarium

Makenzie Foster - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Anna George - Tennessee Aquarium

Helaina Gomez - Tennessee Aquarium

Abbey Holsopple - Tennessee Aquarium

Bernie Kuhajda - Tennessee Aquarium

Tigris Nevans - Tennessee Aquarium

Warren Stiles - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Recovery Champions are U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff and their partners whose work is advancing the recovery of endangered and threatened species of plants and animals.

Hellbender Press previously reported on emergency efforts to rescue the fish from drought conditions on Walden Ridge.

A postman butterfly feeds on a bloom in the Tennessee Aquarium’s Butterfly Garden in Chattanooga. At any one time, the garden may host 1,000 to 1,500 butterflies representing more than 200 species.  Courtesy Tennessee Aquarium

A third of species declined by half in U.S.; relatively simple steps can improve outlook

This story was originally published by The Conversation.

If the joy of seeing butterflies seems increasingly rare these days, it isn’t your imagination.

From 2000 to 2020, the number of butterflies fell by 22% across the continental United States. That’s 1 in 5 butterflies lost. The findings are from an analysis just published in the journal Science by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Powell Center Status of Butterflies of the United States Working Group, which I am involved in.

We found declines in just about every region of the continental U.S. and across almost all butterfly species.

Overall, nearly one-third of the 342 butterfly species we were able to study declined by more than half. Twenty-two species fell by more than 90 percent. Only nine actually increased in numbers.

Some species’ numbers are dropping faster than others. The West Coast lady, a fairly widespread species across the western U.S., dropped by 80 percent in 20 years. Given everything we know about its biology, it should be doing fine — it has a wide range and feeds on a variety of plants. Yet its numbers are absolutely tanking across its range. 

Feb 4  7–8:30 p.m. Why We Oppose the Proposed Oak Ridge Motorsports Complex Virginia Dale and Ellen Smith Advocates for the Oak Ridge Reservation (AFORR) Zoom Meeting - Free and open to the public - RSVP The proposed racetrack would destroy natural assets that DOE committed to protect and adversely affect recreational users and nearby residents.  Sponsored by Oak Ridgers for Responsible…

Mar 6  9 a.m.–noon Spring Cedar Barren Cleanup / Weed Wrangle Cedar barren next to Jefferson Middle School, Oak Ridge Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning with City of Oak Ridge and State Natural Areas Division Hands-on volunteer activity Cedar Barrens — a habitat characteristic of our ecoregion — have become scarce in East Tennessee. They are reduced or eliminated by economic…

Feb 26  noon–1 p.m. EST Anna Szynkiewicz, Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences University of Tennessee Science Forum Zoom Meeting - Free and open to the public - RSVP Dr. Szynkiewicz will show how studies in Antarctica and New Mexico provide clues about past water activity on Mars. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…

Video documents success of ‘Smokies Hikes for Healing’ endeavor Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash was as shaken as the rest of us this past spring and summer when a national reckoning of racism erupted across the country following the homicide of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. Also like many of us, Cash, who…

  After 17-year wait, millions of cicadas are coming “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at the close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light." — Dylan Thomas Imagine living 99.99 percent of your life underground largely unseen and then emerging above the earth for one last grand gesture of…

Mar 12  noon–1 p.m. EST Songbirds Changed Their Tune During the Pandemic Elizabeth Derryberry, associate professor in the UT Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Tennessee Science Forum Zoom Meeting - Free and open to the public - RSVP Dr. Derrberry’s study of white-crowned sparrow songs during lockdown received nationwide attention. With noise pollution from traffic cut in half, white-crowned…

A volunteer removes invasive plants from an Oak Ridge cedar barren as part of a Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning effort to keep the barren in its natural prarie state.  Anna Lawrence/Hellbender Press Volunteers play the part of fire to maintain the native grasses and wildflowers at an Oak Ridge cedar barren OAK RIDGE — It’s called a barren, but…

Mar 24  6–8 p.m. Volunteer Forester Certificate Level One Learn how to properly plant, mulch and prune trees Trees Knoxville The class will combine video instruction, 4 weekly Zoom meetings (Mar 24, 31, Apr 7, 14), and one 2-hour field day at a local park for hands-on training, which will follow The Arbor Foundation Covid best practices guidelines. Virtual Volunteer…

Mar 26  10–11 a.m. Integrating economics and ecology for seasonal migratory species conservation Dr. Charles Sims Howard H. Baker Jr Center for Public Policy Baker Cafe Zoom Meeting - Free and open to the public The Baker Cafe Series is an informal discussion about various topics. Guests are encouraged to ask questions that pertain to the topic and gain insight straight…

Put a lid on it: Rangers, cops targeting unsecured garbage loads to reduce roadside litter Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers and the Gatlinburg Police Department made 37 traffic stops targeting insufficiently contained garbage during an enforcement campaign on the Spur on March 28 and March 29. Unsecured trash and debris blowing from vehicles is a major source of litter…

Apr 8  5–6 p.m. Revolutionary Power: An Activist’s Guide to the Energy Transition Shalanda Baker, Deputy Director for Energy Justice & Secretary’s Advisor on Equity, U.S. Department of Energy Howard H Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, Distinguished Energy and Environment Lecture Series Zoom Meeting - Free and open to the public Dr. Baker will discuss her new book, which offers practical tools…

$20 million per mile: TDOT opens virtual-only comment on highly controversial roadway The Tennessee Department of Transportation has opened a virtual-only public comment period for the controversial Pellissippi Parkway extension, which would slice through the remaining rural areas of Blount County and move urban expansion and increased traffic flow ever closer to the Great Smoky Mountains, one of the most…

There are lots of ways to show your affection for our planet on Thursday, which marks the 51st annual observance of Earth Day. You can stay at home and plant a tree; donate to your favorite environmental charity; join a virtual event; or clean up your block. Or, unlike last year, you can join other like-minded individuals at socially-distanced observances…

Apr 22  1 p.m. EDT Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development (SEEED) In-person event with virtual participation option SEEED is building a completely solar-powered, energy efficient home, including battery backup, and will sell it at an affordable price to a low-income family. The groundbreaking will take place in the Lonsdale neighborhood, and will also be live streamed through Facebook. If you…

This photo provided by Ijams Nature Center is an example of the plethora of weird things removed from the Tennessee River and its tributaries during the annual River Rescue held March 27.  Mattresses, rocking horse and plastic shed among the stranger items retrieved from area waterways Volunteers removed 31,000 pounds from the Tennessee River and its watersheds on March 27…

Apr 29  submission deadline  Voices of the River Contest Show Us What the River Means to You! RiverLink Details, Contest Guidelines and Submission Form 2020 Winners video

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon and University of Tennessee, Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman launch the Tennessee RiverLine.  Thomas Fraser/HellbenderPress RiverLine dedicates itself to recreation and retrospect on the storied Tennessee River In many respects, the United States and Native American nations before it were carved out by paddle blades. Rivers provided transportation, communications, sustenance and avenues for exploration. They were…

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently announced plans to retire its five remaining coal-fired power plants by 2035. However, it is seriously considering replacing them with large fossil gas power plants and new gas pipelines! That’s like “two steps forward, one step back.” TVA could take many more steps forward by prioritizing clean energy. TVA’s new gas plan is not…

In a refreshing sign the worst of the Covid-19 crisis is behind us, the city of Knoxville on Monday announced the popular weekend Market Square farmers market will return July 10. The Nourish Knoxville Market Square Farmers Market will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and feature local produce, organic foods, crafts, and other homespun products through November.…

Exercise your body and your mind during a ranger-guided hike starting at 10 a.m. July 17 along the Cedar Hill Greenway in Oak Ridge that will examine the local features of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The “Secret City,” replete with housing, schools and shopping for a massive workforce, was carved out of largely rugged wilderness and farms during World…

The Tennessee Aquarium’s Gentoo penguin chick weighs more than 2 kilograms at 28 weeks old. Casey Phillips/Tennessee Aquarium  Baby penguin, endangered turtles and puffer fish are the newest additions to the Tennessee Aquarium (Casey Phillips is a communications specialist at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga) As any parent knows, kids tend to do whatever you least expect. In the case of…

Hundreds of humans attracted to stench of Rotty Top; Hard Knox Wire performs autopsy on UT corpse flower phenom This story was originally published by Hard Knox Wire. “What I feel the most is excited from all the exposure that folks are getting of biology and the greenhouses,” said UT biology greenhouse director Jeff Martin. “I didn’t realize this many people…

Coal miners who contracted black lung disease are at risk of losing their healthcare options as mining companies wind down operations. Join Appalachian Voices for an online overview of the disease, testimony from the afflicted and potential cures for this blemish on public health. From Appalachian Voices: “Rates of black lung are at their highest level in decades, and a…

Take Back TVA Rally August 18, 2021 Tennessee Valley Energy Democracy Movement

The Tennessee Theatre announced Monday it will require proof of inoculation against Covid-19 or a recent negative test for the virus before entry into the historic, storied theater on Gay Street in Knoxville. The theater will also require that all audience members be masked. The new rules are effective immediately. The theater said in an email that increasing rates of…

A true katydid is shown here. It’s one of the main insects that provides a permanent soundtrack to your summer life in the Knoxville area.  Stephen Lyn Bales/Hellbender Press What’s that buzz? We thought Brood X was over. In case you haven’t noticed: It’s hot! The “dog days of summer,” are so called because the season coincides with the period…

A public input session has begun as part of a joint effort between the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Park Service to establish limited helicopter tour routes over Great Smoky Mountains National Park along with protocols geared to reduce the environmental and visitor impact of the flights. The flights are already occurring, and have been for years; park service…

Hard Knox Wire: City takes media and politicos on a spin aboard KAT’s newest electric bus The city demonstrated and offered rides aboard the Knoxville Area Transit’s new electric buses at Caswell Park on Thursday. The city and Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) plan to acquire a total of 18 electric buses as part of a plan to reduce the city’s carbon…

One of the biggest electric vehicle loads in state history is set for Saturday at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville. The Knoxville Electric Vehicle Association; Pellissippi State Community College; and Drive Electric Tennessee are all plugging to make the 2021 Knoxville Drive Electric Week Event the largest ever in the state, according to organizers. Vendors, test drives and educational activities will be held…

Albright Grove Brewing Company will host a viewing Wednesday, Sept. 29 of “Hidden Rivers,” a documentary detailing the smaller, gilled denizens of Southern Appalachian creeks, rivers and streams and the threats they face. The screening of “Hidden Rivers” by Freshwaters Illustrated is planned for 6 p.m. at Albright Grove Brewing, 2924 Sutherland Ave. in Knoxville. “This film aims to show off the stunning freshwater biodiversity…

Charles Henry Turner The University of Tennessee One Health Initiative will host an impressive array of climate-related discussions, presentations and museum tours Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the UT Student Union on Cumberland Avenue in Knoxville. A virtual option is also available for the day-long event, which is affiliated with the 6th Annual World One Health Day. The day will feature a “One Health…

Open house for ideas at Mill and Mine is part of the Tennessee RiverLine project You can share your cultural and environmental visions for the Tennessee River and Knoxville waterfront during an open house this afternoon hosted by members of the RiverTowns Program leadership team. They will be taking down your thoughts as part of the overall Tennessee RiverLine project,…

Sign up for cleaner electricity in the Tennessee Valley! There’s a huge opportunity to fight for clean energy jobs in the Cumberland Fossil plant area! The Tennessee Valley Authority is planning to retire the Cumberland Fossil Plant in the coming years, but if local residents don’t take action, TVA will replace the coal fire with expensive, dangerous, and polluting natural…

MONTEAGLE — Naturalists and nature lovers are invited to South Cumberland State Park April 8-10 for the Trails and Trilliums Festival sponsored by Friends of South Cumberland State Park. The Dubose Conference Center will be the base of operations for activities throughout the park. Registration opens at noon April 8 with activities for those who arrive early, followed at 5 p.m. by…

Carson-Newman University Professor Brian Sohn is hosting a climate-oriented webinar on March 30.  Thomas Fraser/Hellbender Press Local installment of worldwide virtual Climate Teach-In is set for 2:30 p.m. March 30 JEFFERSON CITY — Brian Sohn had “the closest thing to a panic attack” when his second daughter was born. He had long been alarmed by climate change and its potentially disastrous…

The city of Knoxville has started a pilot composting project for residents and restaurants. Come meet cool people and learn more about limiting food waste and sip some beers April 9 at Crafty Bastard Brewery. City of Knoxville  Learn how to reduce food waste Saturday at Crafty Bastard Brewery  Paige Travis is a public information specialist for the city of…

KNOXVILLE — The New Harvest Park Farmers Market kicked off in East Knoxville on April 14 and will be open from 3-6 p.m. every Thursday through Sept. 29. The market will feature 15 small, locally owned businesses and showcase a wide variety of seasonal produce, meats, eggs, plants, prepared foods, and artisan crafts, and will grow to 20 vendors during peak season, according…

You can still share your own ideas to improve and protect our community   Advance Knox Updated again on May 4: Hundreds of ideas, complaints and comments, many of them with map locations, have been posted on the Advance Knox website. As announced in Hellbender Press earlier, Advance Knox held a series of public input events across Knox County during its…

Martha, Elizabeth, Mary, and Josephine Ijams (from left) are seen in this 1923 photo. The girls were active in scouting and became accomplished naturalists early in life. Ijams Nature Center Help give thanks across history to founders of the South Knoxville nature center and celebrate the addition of 3 acres Cindy Hassil is a writer for Ijams Nature Center. KNOXVILLE…

Tennessee Aquarium Director of Hospitality and Marketing Meredith Roberts and her daughter Lucy release a juvenile lake sturgeon during an Earth Day event on the Chattanooga riverfront.  Tennessee Aquarium Tennessee Aquarium releases endangered sturgeon on a fin and a prayer CHATTANOOGA — Lake sturgeon are living fossils. They are dinosaur fish. They have no scales. They are protected by a tough…

Dry Hollow before the bulldozers devastated it. This rural area is zoned agricultural except for the old commercial/light industrial cluster and the church area at right. The barn at the end of the church parking lot and the trees in the project area are already gone! The trees can grow back over time if Knox county commissioners make a wise…

On Dec. 23, 2008, a massive dam at the Kingston coal-fired power plant in Harriman, Tenn., ruptured and spilled 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash into the Clinch and Emory rivers. Appalachian Voices teamed up with Southwings to take pictures from the air and launched two separate missions by water to test the river and fish for pollutants as a…

Donna Moore and Anna Lawrence are pictured at The Big Camera event in May at Ijams Nature Center in South Knoxville.  Ben Pounds/Hellbender Press Lessons in early and enduring photo techniques are an organic way to spread the arts and cultivate love of nature KNOXVILLE — Donna Moore and Anna Lawrence showed people how to take photos with the sun. The…

  MEMPHIS — Area residents were invited to a film screening of “Keep the Lights On” and a panel discussion at the Memphis Rox climbing gym with community members, local advocates and policy experts. The event, which ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, coincided with Global Climbing Day, and professional rock climbers Nina Williams, Manoah Ainuu…

Spark CleanTech Accelerator participants join Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon during an Aug. 31 awards ceremony. Ben Pounds/Hellbender Press Knoxville celebrates sustainable technology startups from across the country KNOXVILLE — Leaders of start-up green businesses specializing in services and products ranging from carbon reduction to cleaning products and piping wrapped up some warp-speed lessons Aug. 31. At the conclusion of the three-month Spark CleanTech…

This story was provided by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Next demonstration on Thursday, Oct. 20 GATLINBURG — Great Smoky Mountains National Park is celebrating the success of a community science project led by nonprofit partner Discover Life in America (DLiA) called Smokies Most Wanted. The initiative encourages visitors to record life they find in the park through the iNaturalist nature app.…

An American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) paints art for the fall fundraising auction for the Tennessee Aquarium. The auction runs through Sept. 26.  Tennessee Aquarium Wildlife masterpieces mark an artistic autumnal fundraiser for the Tennessee Aquarium CHATTANOOGA — While getting ready to tackle his next artistic masterpiece at the Tennessee Aquarium, Avior the red-ruffed lemur likes to take a few steps to center himself:…

KNOXVILLE — Adolph Ochs’s path to running The New York Times started in downtown Knoxville, and local organizations and educators will recognize the historical significance with a panel discussion and dedication of a historic plaque. The East Tennessee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (ETSPJ); University of Tennessee School of Journalism and Electronic Media (UTJEM); Knoxville History Project; and Front…

ELO is a student-run organization at the University of Tennessee College of Law. It is not directly affiliated with the University of Tennesse or any particular non-profit organization. It is dedicated to providing students and attorneys with learning opportunities and leadership experiences. Networking environmental leaders across Appalachia and the State of Tennessee Knoxville — APIEL is a relative newcomer to the small…

The inordinate burden of energy costs is shown in this slide presented by Tony Reames during a discussion of energy injustice at the University of Tennessee Howard Baker Center.  U.S. Department of Energy Department of Energy official pushes goals for energy equity in midst of power turmoil KNOXVILLE — Energy injustice seems abstract until you run extension cords to your neighbor’s house…

  OAK RIDGE — The Oak Ridge Cedar Barren will again be the site of exotic invasive plant removal on Saturday, Nov. 5 as we conduct our fall cleanup, our third and final cleanup of the year.  Located next to Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, the Barren is a joint project of the City of Oak Ridge, State Natural Areas Division,…

This mighty oak is but one of many growing for decades in South Knoxville.  Thomas Fraser/Hellbender Press Contribute to the master plan to grow tree canopy in Knoxville KNOXVILLE — No matter where you are in the city, you’re not far from a patch or two of trees. These copses range from small groupings of oaks or dogwoods that are…

KNOXVILLE — A firewall is forming between those who plan to protest a Thursday night artistic performance and those who say the protestors are trying to stifle free speech and the right to self-expression. Right-wing agitators plan an assembly protesting the performance of a “Drag Queen Christmas”, which has a curtain time of 7 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre downtown…

Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton, Tennessee, was originally commissioned 55 years ago but TVA is now soliciting public input on the best way to shut down operations. Tennessee Valley Authority TVA solicits public input following release of environmental assessment for Bull Run Fossil Plant decommission CLAXTON — Tennessee Valley Authority plans to close its Bull Run Fossil Plant (BRF)…

KNOXVILLE — The East Tennessee Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists once again will partner with the League of Women Voters Knoxville/Knox County to hold the annual legislative forum of the Knox County delegation. The date is Saturday, Jan. 28, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay St., in downtown Knoxville. Jesse Mayshark, an ETSPJ board member and co-founder…

A sign warns against entry to the Smokey Mountain Smelters Superfund site off Maryville Pike in the Vestal community of Knoxville.  Heather Duncan Nelson/Hellbender Press EPA plans to contain toxic waste and restore waterways; community group will offer guidance KNOXVILLE — A crowd gathered in the South Knoxville Community Center to hear the Environmental Protection Agency’s long-awaited remediation plan for…

OAK RIDGE — For the month of April 2023, the exhibition can bee seen, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Oak Ridge History Museum, which is housed in the Midtown Community Center at 102 Robertsville Road, Oak Ridge, TN. That building itself is a significant landmark of Oak Ridge…

Professional angler Ish Monroe removes yet another bag of trash and a broken chair piece to take back to shore during a cleanup ahead of this weekend’s Bassmaster tournament on Fort Loudoun Lake.  Ben Pounds/Hellbender Press Ahead of marquee Knoxville lake showdown, pro anglers fish trash for fish on KNOXVILLE — The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will…

KNOXVILLE — Volunteer registration is open for the 34th Ijams River Rescue on Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A severe weather date is set for Saturday, April 22. Ijams Nature Center’s annual event removes tons of trash and tires from sites along the Tennessee River and its creek tributaries. Sites are typically located in Knox, Anderson, Blount…

Conservation Fisheries Executive Director Bo Baxter (second from right) leads young students in an inventory of Little River fish. The “Stream School” collaboration with Little River Watershed Association gets kids in creeks and rivers.  Michael Mollish /Tennessee Valley Authority ‘It’s very good for the soul.’ Bo Baxter and Conservation Fisheries focus underwater to save our Southern fishes. This is the…

WALLAND — The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will host a demonstration of its new robotic milking technology at the UT AgResearch and Education Center’s Little River Unit in Blount County. The new system, developed by the Lely Corporation in the Netherlands, allows for the cows to be automatically milked at their own will in a stress-free environment. The…

Caretaker Kody Hash leads a tour and points out cattle with tags at the UT AgResearch and Education Center’s Little River Animal and Environmental Unit.  Ben Pounds/Hellbender PressComputer-based milking methods offer the best cream of the crop WALLAND — The University of Tennessee is using a new automated system to milk cows in the hope it’s easier on the animals…

KNOXVILLE — Are you looking to take control of your utility bills to not only save money but also breathe easier knowing your home is healthier and more comfortable? Join us this Wednesday, May 17, from 6-8 PM for a free workshop to learn about newly available, once-in-a-generation funding, resources, and rebates that everyone can benefit from, regardless of if you own or…

Barrens topminnow (Fundulus julisia) at Conservation Fisheries, a native stream fish breeding center. This species is endangered (IUCN). It is only found in the Barrens Plateau in middle Tennessee, making it one of the rarest fish in eastern North America. © Joel Sartore 2023  Friday, May 19 is Endangered Species Day. Not just in Knoxville. The U.S. Postal Service is…

Citizens call on TVA to stop passing gas KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Valley Authority in coming years plans to add both natural gas and solar plants to its portfolio to meet what it says are rising energy demands. TVA’s Board of Directors laid out the federal utility’s plan in a meeting at Norris Middle School in May. Environmentalists at a…

Pollinator Pathway signs on the Tennessee Aquarium Plaza in Chattanooga lead guests on a self-guided tour highlighting native plants, pollinator behaviors, and unusual pollinators. Courtesy Tennessee Aquarium TDOT joins with Tennessee Aquarium to pollinate our pathways CHATTANOOGA — With their distinctive orange and black patterns, gossamer wings and harrowing 3,000-mile migrations, few insects are as charismatic or beloved as the monarch…

ORNL polymer scientists Tomonori Saito, left, and Sungjin Kim upcycled waste plastic to create a stronger, tougher, solvent-resistant material for new additive manufacturing applications.  Ben Pounds/Hellbender Press Thanks to an East Tennessee science powerhouse, recycling might become easier  This is the first in a series about ORNL’s Technology Innovation Program 2023 OAK RIDGE — Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory…

City says it presently has little idea how to cover potential cost overruns and the public liability behind proposed Oak Ridge airport OAK RIDGE — Opponents of a plan to build a 323-acre general aviation airport near the site of the former K-25 facility on the western side of the Oak Ridge Reservation have voiced ample environmental concerns, but many also…

Jimmy Groton, a Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning board member, clears invasive plants at Worthington Cemetery in Oak Ridge during a volunteer work party in July.  Ben Pounds/Hellbender Press  Volunteers nurture life in an Oak Ridge cemetery OAK RIDGE — The northern corner here is a small place teeming with treasures, including the Worthington Cemetery Ecological Study Area. Elza Gate Park…

ONEIDA — September 16, 2023 at 8:00 AM (ET), don’t miss the unique opportunity to explore the lush landscapes of the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, guided by Dr. Charles Nicholson. The walk will begin at the Bandy Creek swimming pool at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and promises to be an easy, enjoyable experience for all ages.…

KNOXVILLE — Trees Knoxville and the city will update citizens on progress on the Urban Forest Master Plan. Trees Knoxville, an organization dedicated to preserve and increase the urban tree canopy on private and public lands in Knoxville and Knox County, will host an open house from 5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 13, at the Public Works Service Center (3131 Morris Ave.)…

The Cumberland Trail Summit is happening October 19-21, 2023. The Cumberland Trail Summit is an opportunity to showcase our trail communities. The Summit will focus on outdoor recreation, community building and educational programs The mission of the Cumberland Trails Conference is to provide paid and volunteer labor, equipment, supplies and vehicles to design and construct the Cumberland Trail under the auspices…

“Ring of Fire” annular eclipse.  NASA While most people associate “Ring of Fire” with the great Southern country singer Johnny Cash, it will feature a different beat on Oct. 14 when the “Ring of Fire” annular eclipse will cross North, Central and South America.  For other locations and more details visit Time and Date. The moon will pass in front of the…

CHEROKEE — Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host a free youth fishing clinic and an Old Time Music Jam at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on Saturday, October 21, 2023. Both events are free and open to the public. In collaboration with the International Game Fish Association, the park will hold the fishing clinic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Try your…

ELO is a student-run organization at the University of Tennessee College of Law. It is not directly affiliated with the University of Tennesse or any particular non-profit organization. It is dedicated to providing students and attorneys with learning opportunities and leadership experiences. Networking environmental leaders across Appalachia and the State of Tennessee Knoxville — APIEL is a relative newcomer to the small…

Oct. 24 - 31, everybody is encouraged to learn about bats and get involved in their conservation.  National Park Service An excellent time to celebrate bats ASHEVILLE — Last year, the public was invited to “Bats N Brews” in honor of Bat Week at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. This year we have not heard yet of any event to celebrate bat week…

ASHEVILLE — The theme of our 2024 Creation Care Alliance Symposium is “Sacred Symbiosis: Relationships for Eco-Justice.” Our presentations, workshops and conversations will explore the relationships needed to build and nurture justice for all creation–human and non-human. We’re excited to dive in and learn together!  Hosted at Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, the symposium will begin on Friday, February 2nd,…

Fulton High School students with finished paintings at Plein Air Smokies event.  Lauren Gass, Friends of the Smokies More than 60 artists created one-of-a-kind paintings generating more than $319,000 to support Great Smoky Mountains National Park MARYVILLE — Friends of the Smokies recently welcomed 80 artists to Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the 2nd Annual ‘Plein Air Smokies,’ an event that not…

Elkmont company town circa 1912.  National Park Service GATLINBURG — Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers and volunteers invite the public to Daisy Town Day in the Elkmont Historic District on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Daisy Town Day is a celebration honoring those who lived, worked and played in the area before the creation of…

Please join Mayor Kincannon, City Council members, Trees Knoxville and University of Tennessee leaders, and others at the City Tree Board’s Arbor Day tree-planting at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, at Harriet Tubman Park, 300 Harriet Tubman St.  Thanks to two federal grants totaling $4.3 million, tree lovers hoping to expand Knoxville’s canopy — especially in neighborhoods needing it the most…

  Join Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) and Little River Watershed Association (LRWA) for a run (or walk!) by the Little River in view of the Great Smoky Mountains for the 5th Annual Little River Run 5K at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Townsend Abbey. This race is a great way to support a clean, green and beautiful Blount County. The Little River Run encourages…

KNOXVILLE — Knox County Residents can participate in and provide input at an upcoming Hazard Mitigation Plan update meeting. The meeting is designed to empower community members and raise awareness about potential risks as part of the initial planning process. Community members are also invited to take part in a public survey to share insights on hazard concerns and preparedness. The in-person…

Volunteers that came out to clean Wheeler Lake of the Tennessee River in Decatur, Ala. helped to remove 4,017 lbs. of trash, nudging Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful past their 600,000 lb. milestone at the last cleanup during Keep the Tennessee River Watershed Beautiful Month in October.  Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful Volunteers collected 25,397 pounds of trash from waterways…

KNOXVILLE — Members of the Knox County Growth Policy Coordinating Committee will hold their second (but first official) public meeting on Monday, Nov. 27 to hear from the public and consider amendments to the Growth Policy Plan that dates back to 2000. The meeting will take place at 5 p.m. in the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building. (This meeting…

Harvey Broome hiding in a buckeye tree on the way to Hughes Ridge, July 25, 1931.  Albert “Dutch” Roth KNOXVILLE — The latest round of Conversation on Tap features members of the local Harvey Broome group of the Sierra Club discussing its efforts to address climate change. It’s set for 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Albright Brewing Company, 2924 Sutherland Ave.…

Half-minute video with olympian and fitness expert Missy Kane. 2023 Mountain Commerce Challenge is almost finished Knoxville — Legacy Parks Foundation will wrap up another great year of the Mountain Commerce Challenge on Saturday, December 9 with the 17th Tour de Lights bike ride and celebration. The free and family-friendly holiday bike ride is presented by Visit Knoxville and Bike Walk Knoxville.…

It was supposed to be the second meeting of the Growth Policy Coordinating Committee The meeting was not conducted according to its announcement — as the official meeting of the Knox County Growth Policy Coordinating Committee for the second reading of the plan — but downgraded to a public comment session!A repeat of the same mistake made with the October meeting,…

Barrens topminnow (Fundulus julisia) at Conservation Fisheries, a native stream fish breeding center. This species is endangered (IUCN). It is only found in the Barrens Plateau in Middle Tennessee, making it one of the rarest fish in eastern North America. © Joel Sartore 2023 KNOXVILLE — The next round of Conservation on Tap features Conservation Fisheries and its efforts to restore…

KNOXVILLE — Join Chris Irwin and others to learn how to help track the origin of sediments and other pollutants in area waterways. The meeting was postponed by snow and is now set for 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at Barleys, 200 East Jackson Ave., Knoxville. “Spring is coming and with it rain and mud into the creeks and streams around Knoxville. We…

KNOXVILLE — The East Tennessee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (ETSPJ) once again will partner with the League of Women Voters Knoxville/Knox County (LWVKKC) to hold the annual legislative forum of the Knox County delegation. The forum, which was postponed by snow, is now set for 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17.  The event is set for the YWCA Phyllis Wheatley…

Tennessee Local Food Summit participants were encouraged to bring their favorite heirloom seeds for a seed swap and social.  Courtesy Matt Matheson Tennessee Local Food Summit is a hive for food justice in the Southeast NASHVILLE — About 70 miles north of Nashville in the town of Red Boiling Springs in Macon County, farmer and educator Jeff Poppen, better known as the…

WHITESBURG — Join Black in Appalachia supporters and friends for a fish fry, live music and fellowship at its field office in Whitesburg, Tenn.  The homecoming is set for 1-8 p.m. April 20 at 8004 Andrew Johnson Highway. The first Black in Appalachia Homecoming is meant to celebrate friends, families and coworkers near and far on the commemoration of setting…

WARTBURG — Do you have beautiful photos of the Obed Wild & Scenic River? Enter your images in the 2024 Obed photography contest. Images may show wildlife, plant life, natural landscapes, historic areas, weather, or people interacting with nature within the boundaries of the Obed Wild and Scenic River. All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it…

The Southern Environmental Law Center congratulates this year’s Reed Environmental Writing Award winners — Emily Strasser, David Folkenflik, Mario Ariza, and Miranda Green — who all demonstrate the power of writing to capture some of the most important environmental issues facing Southern communities.  Emily Strasser receives the Reed Award for “Half-Life of a Secret: Reckoning with a Hidden History.” In…

Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson speaks to community members assembled for the evening discussion during the People’s Voice on TVA’s Energy Plan.  John Waterman/Appalachian Voices A lack of public process brought together a coalition of environmental organizations  NASHVILLE — In every state except Tennessee, for-profit utilities and their regulators are required to get public input about energy-resource planning. These Integrated Resource…

WAVERLY — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will preview its recommendations for the 2024-25 hunting and trapping seasons at the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission’s March 21-22 meeting at Buffalo Ridge Refuge in Humphreys County. Thursday committee meetings begin at 1 p.m. while full commission session starts at 9 a.m. Friday. Wildlife and Forestry Assistant Chief Wally Akins will share…

The 4th annual Great Smokies Eco-Adventure, based at Camp Atagahi, promises you a unique, memorable experience The event is hosted by Discover Life in America (DLiA) and A Walk in the Woods Guide Service. This exciting fundraising event features “glamping” (glamorous camping), gourmet food and drink, as well as guided nature hikes in the Smokies — including an excursion on the Appalachian Trail in Great Smoky Mountains…

  KNOXVILLE — People across 13 counties in East Tennessee are urged to record animals, plants and fungi they observe for four days in late April. City Nature Challenge 2024 is international, but the Knoxville-area challenge includes anyone in Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union counties. It will run April 26 through April…

Grayson Subaru presented a check for $39,000 from Subaru of America’s 2023 Subaru Share the Love Event to Ijams Nature Center on April 24. Funds will be used to expand the popular Ijams Nature Playscape at Grayson Subaru Preserve and the Mead’s Quarry Lake swim area.  Ijams Nature Center KNOXVILLE — Grayson Subaru gave $39,000 to Ijams Nature Center to…

GATLINBURG — Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host the annual synchronous firefly viewing opportunity at Elkmont from Monday, June 3 through Monday, June 10. The public may apply for the limited viewing opportunity by entering a lottery for a vehicle reservation through www.recreation.gov. The lottery opens for reservation applications on Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m. EDT and closes Monday, April 29…

  The honor continues Hellbender Press’s tradition of excellence in journalism. KNOXVILLE — Hellbender Press: The Environmental Journal of Southern Appalachia, was honored with a first-place award by the East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists (ETSPJ) for its probe into a controversial municipal airport proposed by the city of Oak Ridge. Reporters Wolf Naegeli and Ben Pounds and Hellbender Press editor…

Andrew Zimmerman KNOXVILLE — Join Conservation Fisheries, Inc. and other experts for a discussion on how to HEAD UNDERWATER to snorkel and enjoy the beautiful underwater biodiversity of the Southern Appalachians. The free event is set for 6-8 p.m. June 15 at Remedy Coffee, 800 Tyson Place, Knoxville. The panel will be led by CFI Director Bo Baxter; Casper Cox…

A bumble bee (Bombus sp.) collects pollen from purpletop vervain (Verbena bonariensis) in a pollinator plot on the Tennessee Aquarium plaza in Chattanooga.  Tennessee Aquarium Aquarium celebrates Pollinator Week with activities and giveaways June 17-23 Doug Strickland is a writer for the Tennessee Aquarium. CHATTANOOGA — Pollinators. They’re kind of a big deal. From iconic monarch butterflies and humble honey bees…

KINGSTON SPRINGS — The 2024 Dinner IN the Creek, a fundraiser for the Harpeth Conservancy, will be nestled in the serene beauty of Bell’s Reserve in Kingston Springs. This hidden oasis, with over a mile of Harpeth River waterfront, offers a unique setting for the event in a charming spring-fed creek at the heart of the 600-acre property. This year’s Dinner IN the Creek,…

The photos of the Thompson Brothers, namely Jim Thompson, helped galvanize support for the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the Tennessee-North Carolina border. The photo is undated, but was likely taken in the 1930s. The original caption note from the photographer reads: “Most of the streams in the Great Smokies are entirely safe for drinking purposes. The…

MARYVILLE — Come hang out on Little River with friends and family and learn about river life with the scientists and staff of Conservation Fisheries Inc. and Little River Watershed Association.  The educational fun kicks off at noon July 27 with the start of shuttled floats down Little River ending back at River Johns, 4134 Cave Mill Road. (Bring your…

Certified master bander Mark Armstrong tends gently to a tufted titmouse shortly before turning his attention to a hummingbird at the 2021 Ijams Hummingbird Festival, set this year for Aug. 17.  Thomas Fraser/Hellbender Press KNOXVILLE — Ijams Nature Center’s 14th annual Ijams Hummingbird Festival: A Celebration of Wings will bring back its popular marketplace and add new activities to its offerings…

This event was postponed on a previous date.  GATLINBURG — Partner with Discover Life in America to find and collect mushrooms and fungi specimens for identification and DNA sequencing and learn more about the diversity of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Register here for the event, set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Oct. 16 at Twin Creeks, 1316 Cherokee…

Invasive carp jumping from the water at Barkley Dam in Kentucky. One option for eliminating carp is to eat them, and you can do just that on Saturday in Knoxville.  Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Learn about invasive species such as carp and zebra mussels at Conservation Fisheries panel KNOXVILLE —To hear Bo Baxter tell it, carp actually doesn’t…

OAK RIDGE — More than 2,500 people are expected to attend the ninth annual Butterfly Festival hosted by the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society and the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center. Gates will open at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at the UT Arboretum,  The festivities will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. Plenty of activities…

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, 5:30 p.m. at Barrelhouse by Gypsy Circus (621 Lamar Street). RSVP on Facebook Green Drinks Knoxville will host an in-depth discussion with Dave Maasberg on how he maintains his food forest including some rare heirloom apple varieties, figs, pears, blackberries and more. He will bring samples to try and fruits for purchase to savor at home. Raised around…

NASHVILLE — Join the rescheduled Rally for the Valley on Sept. 21 2024 at Centennial Park for a day filled with fun, music, learning and community spirit. The rally, organized by the Clean Up TVA Coalition, which includes Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and other allies, calls on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to stop its gas buildout and lead the way to…

This event was rescheduled from a previous date. MORRISTOWN — The regional office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is hosting a free open house featuring tours, scientific discussions and chats with area forecasters intimate with the intricacies of Southern Appalachian weather. Stop by the regional office, 5974 Commerce Blvd. in Morristown, any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.…

  This event was rescheduled from its original date. KODAK — Take a break from football, grab the kayaks, get outside and join your friends and family for Sturgeonfest 2024 on the French Broad River! The FREE celebration of the ancient fish, their lore and their future is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 2 at Seven Islands State…

KNOXVILLE — Learn how we can make cities safer for birds during this month’s Conservation on Tap at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at Albright Brewing Company, 2924 Sutherland Ave., Knoxville. Across North America, bird populations have declined by 2.9 billion since 1970. Cities, however, can play a vital role in reversing this trend by creating safer, healthier environments for birds. Learn…

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, 5:30 p.m. at Albright Grove Brewing Company (2924 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville TN). RSVP on Facebook To round out this year of great guest speakers we are thrilled to bring on Daniel Aisenbrey, the founder of Edible Abundance Foodscapes. Come hear why every landscape can and should be a foodscape!  Get inspired by the story and experience of…

A pileated woodpecker is seen seeking dinner; it is a common denizen of winter Southern Appalachian forests and likely made many Christmas bird lists.  Evan Kidd via Smokies Life Citizen-led Audubon Christmas Bird Count tallies our feathered friends for yet another year Holly Kays is the lead writer for Smokies Life. GATLINBURG — Since its origin in 1900, the Christmas Bird Count has…

A streetscape of downtown Knoxville. City leaders want input into how the city will spend federal housing dollars.  Thomas Fraser/Hellbender Press KNOXVILLE — The City of Knoxville will host a public meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 28 at the City’s Public Works Service Center, 3131 Morris Ave., to present information and data gathered about the city’s housing and neighborhood development…

6th Annual Summit on February 7, 2025! Is it hot in here or is it just the infrastructure? How we develop a city can either keep it cool or create intense heat pockets. Join us as we learn from experts about the necessity of building a heat resilient city where we can continue to live, work and play. We hope to see you for…

Clint Carroll, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, will talk Feb. 27 at McClung Museum about the Cherokee philosophy of the ‘Middle Way.’ KNOXVILLE — A central aspect of Cherokee worldview is ᎠᏰᎵ ᎦᏙᎬ (ayehli gadogv), or “Standing in the Middle,” a philosophy that humans occupy a role in a web of complex interactions between mutually dependent organisms. Standing in…

Tap this interactive map to find events that happen all over the world during GBBC. However, people anywhere can participate by themselves or encourage family and friends to join them at their favorite birdwatching site.   Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) weekend is underway Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these…

All great scientific solutions start with collaboration KNOXVILLE — The challenges facing the planet and its inhabitants have long been too complex for any one individual or group to address, and that’s why the great advancements in modern science begin with conferences, symposiums and collaboration. The first Environmental Future Symposium is an effort from the University of Tennessee Office of…

A farrier demonstrates his skills during a past installment of the annual Spring Planting and Music Festival at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, set this year for April 26.  National Park Service ONEIDA — Step back in time and experience history in motion at the 25th Annual Spring Planting and Music Festival from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 26…

This seemingly primeval scene is actually within the city limits of Knoxville at Ijams Nature Center. The popular park is part of the Urban Wilderness and will be home to the Outlandish Adventure Festival set for May 2-3.  Thomas Fraser/Hellbender Press Outlandish Adventure Festival’s celebrations of the outdoors include climbing competitions, SUP races, guided hikes and yoga KNOXVILLE — The…

ONEIDA — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will host an official naturalization ceremony on Thursday, April 24. One hundred and fifty individuals will take the oath of citizenship.  The event is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend and witness meaningful milestones. The ceremony will begin at…

Wednesday, May 14, 5:30 p.m. South Side Garage 1014 Sevier Ave, Knoxville For more information and RSVP go to “Green Drinks Knoxville” on Facebook   Join us on our NEW date, the second Wednesdays of the month KNOXVILLE — Tennessee has a natural abundance of water resources and biodiverse ecosystems. Unfortunately, 60% of Tennessee’s waterways are not meeting federal standards. Stream…

A black bear cub is released into the Cumberland Mountains as seen in this video from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Two other cubs were also released after wildlife officers retrieved them from the side of the road after a sow was struck by a vehicle in Sullivan County.  TWRA Wildlife officers rescue bear cubs after mother killed by vehicle…

Team coverage of Sept. 27 disaster spanned three devastated East Tennessee watersheds KNOXVILLE — Hellbender Press continued its tradition of excellence in journalism in 2024 with award-winning coverage of the unprecedented disaster spawned by Tropical Storm Helene in the Southern Appalachians. Editor and Publisher Thomas Fraser and writer and reporter John Stambaugh accepted the awards at an East Tennessee Society…

A ribbon commemorating Juneteenth drapes a historic marker in one of Knoxville’s multiple cemeteries where enslaved people are buried.  Angela Dennis East Tennesseans find ways to celebrate Juneteenth amid crackdowns on DEI This story was originally published by Tennessee Lookout. KNOXVILLE — As cities across Tennessee prepared for Juneteenth celebrations with banners unfurling, vendors setting up and leaders finalizing programs…

Join us for the first 80th Anniversary event organized by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance First Friday at the Birdhouse — August 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Birdhouse Neighborhood Center, 800 N 4th Ave, Knoxville, TN 37917 This casual OREPA gathering for a special First Friday sneak peek of Yvonne Dalschen’s photo exhibit will include light refreshments and an opportunity to engage with powerful images exploring…

80th Anniversary events organized by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance Rally and walk action for disarmament Saturday, August 9 | 10:00 a.m.Gather at Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.Join the walk to the gates of Y-12 for a rally with music, street theater and calls for nuclear disarmament.   Lantern Ceremony along the Tennessee River Saturday, August 9 | 8:00 p.m.Sequoyah Hills…

The towering Space Needle in Gatlinburg offers views of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The city is host to the Tennessee Sustainability Conference set to begin Aug. 20.  Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Conservation education event is hosted in part by Tennessee Chamber to address sustainability challenges GATLINBURG — The annual Tennessee Sustainability Conference is scheduled to take place Aug. 20-22…

Swap seeds and stories and sample local pawpaws at first Pawpaw Festival KNOXVILLE — Multiple wildcrafters, seed collectors and general treehuggers — and wild critters — here and throughout the Southern Appalachians are really getting into wild pawpaw trees and their fruit. Asimina triloba, the American papaw, is native to hardwood forest understories of the eastern United States, including the rich oak,…

TALLASSEE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) recovered the body of a missing kayaker on Tellico Lake after a days-long search.

Game wardens located the body of Richard Kitts, 57, of Maryville, on Tellico Lake Aug. 19, one week after he was first reported missing. Kitts was located during a targeted shoreline search at about 7:45 a.m. in the main channel off Citico Boat Ramp and was recovered by members of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Special Operations Team at approximately 10:30 a.m.

TWRA game wardens noted that Kitts was not wearing a personal flotation device when his body was recovered.

TWRA initially launched a full search effort Aug. 12 after being notified at about 1:40 p.m. of a possible missing person near the Tallassee Access Area along Highway 129. Responding TWRA game wardens determined that Kitts had left his residence the previous night around 8 p.m. and planned to kayak on Tellico Lake. His vehicle was located at the access area during the initial response.

Later that day, the search expanded when a boater discovered Kitts’ kayak and paddle adrift approximately one mile downstream from the access area, just below Chilhowee Dam. Personal belongings were found inside the kayak. TWRA game wardens began immediate shoreline and island searches.

In the days following the initial report, TWRA coordinated an extensive multiagency search effort involving BCSO, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), Tellico Boaters Assistance Response Team, Knox County Rescue Squad and several local volunteer organizations. Search methods included shoreline searches, foot searches of nearby islands, aerial surveys and water‑based searches using visual sweeps and side‑scan sonar. THP’s aviation unit and multiple drone teams assisted in covering the remote area, where radio and cellular service are limited.