DEADLINE: The deadline for submitting Area Happenings, Church Events, Reunions, Society items or Cemetery News is Thursday at noon.

Bee Friends

Interested in beekeeping and meeting beekeepers? Whether you are looking for information, want to get started or have been beekeeping for 30 years, you are welcome! Bee Friends is your 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. It’s a great time to check the group out, just ask questions, and meet others with all levels of experience. As you enter the parking lot there will be a yellow sign with directions at the door from the parking lot. As always, coffee and desert will be served. For more information call 865-517-9013.

Black Lung Screening

If you are interested in filing for federal black lung benefits, Community Health will be at the New Tazewell Town Hall on Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information call 423-563-1015 or 423-563-1009.

Broken Spur Dance Club

It’s time for our Beginners Line Dance Class at the Broken Spur Dance Club. Come on out and learn to line dance and have some wonderful fun and great exercise. Classes have started and take place at 7 p.m. We are also offering kickboxing classes and Zumba classes. Contact us at 423-489-9829 for more information. The club is located at 335 Fulkerson Rd., Tazewell, on the top floor of the American Legion Building.

Cancer Support Group

Claiborne County Hospital and American Cancer Society will sponsor Cancer Support Group session for cancer patients and families. The session will be held at the Claiborne County Hospital cafeteria on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. For additional information contact Linda Mallicoat 423-626-5763 or Lucy Greer 433-626-3024.

Claiborne County Animal Shelter

The CCAS provides a Spay and Neuter Clinic every Thursday. Dogs $60, Cats $45, Rabies Shots $10. CCAS Is required to administer a rabies shot prior to surgery if no certificate of Rabies Vaccination is provided by the owner. Please call for an appointment 423-489-3389. CCAS is located at 674 Ritchie and Lewis Drive in New Tazewell.

Claiborne County Board of Education

The Claiborne County Board of Education has changed its meeting time to 6 p.m. for each regular monthly meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for March 14 at 6 p.m.

Claiborne County Commission Change of Meeting Time

The Claiborne County Commission will begin meeting at 6:30 p.m. beginning with the February meeting. Meetings are normally held on the third Monday of the month in the large courtroom in the Claiborne County Courthouse, located on Main Street in Tazewell. Because of the President’s Day holiday, the February meeting will be on Feb. 25. The public is welcome to attend all meetings of the Claiborne County Commission.

Claiborne County High School Class of 1993

The planning has begun for the 20th class reunion of the CCHS Blue Devils, class of 1993. If you are interested in helping with the organization or if you would like more information, please contact Elizabeth Buis at 423-839-5987, Tammy Venable Givens at 423-489-6217, David Painter at 423-526-1917 or Melanie Carter at 423-526-8697. We also need a current mailing address so we can make sure you get the invitation…we can’t wait to see everyone and celebrate this milestone together!

Claiborne County Historical and Genealogical Society

The Claiborne County Historical and Genealogical Society is located on Old Knox Road across from the county library. Call 526-5737 for more information or email claibornecohistoricalsociety@yahoo.com. Our regular research hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. We are constantly updating our database of information on the people of Claiborne County. Please drop by and our volunteer researchers can help you build your family tree. Annual membership of $15 a year includes four issues of our publication “Reflections.” CCHGS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of Claiborne County. Please mail your tax-deductible contributions or annual membership dues to: CCHGS, P.O. Box 32, Tazewell, TN 37879.

Claiborne County Republican Party

The Claiborne County Republican Party will be holding their mass convention for the sole purpose of electing new officers on Feb. 21 in the small courtroom at the old courthouse. We are accepting letters of intent from anyone interested in running for any of the following officers positions: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer. If interested please mail your letter of intent to Claiborne County GOP, P.O. Box 73, New Tazewell, TN 37824 . The letter must be received by Feb. 19.

Claiborne County Trustee Office

The Claiborne County Trustee’s Office will be open on Fridays during the month of February from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Clinch River Regional Library Board

The Clinch River Regional Library Board will meet jointly with the Anderson County Library Board at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the Clinton Public Library, 118 S. Hicks St, in Clinton, TN. The boards will discuss library service in Anderson County and the State Library’s minimum standards. For more information, please call (865) 457-0931. The Clinch River Regional Library Board represents Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Morgan, Scott, Sevier and Union counties. Clinch River Regional Library provides services to public libraries throughout this nine county area.

Concealed Carry Classes

PATHFINDERS – Tri-State Firearms announces the 2013 schedule for TN & NRA Certified Safety Classes for Concealed Carry Permit Applications at the Powell Valley Conservation Club, 212 Well Springs Rd., Lafollette, TN 37766. Class dates are as follows: First Saturday of the month through March, 2013; second Saturday of the month April – September, 2013; first Saturday of the month October – December 2013. For more information please call Rodger Moore 865-585-6539.

Cumberland Gap BMA Meetings

The regular monthly meetings for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the Town of Cumberland Gap for the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 will be conducted at Town Hall, 330 Colwyn Street, the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. A monthly planning session is conducted each month at the Town Hall on Monday prior to the scheduled meeting of the board at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend all meetings of the Board.

DAR Meeting

The Major George Gibson NSDAR will have their monthly meeting on Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. The meeting will be at the Flatwoods United Methodist Church in Jonesville, Va. The program will be “First Lady Martha Washington in war times.” If you are interested in becoming a member please contact the registrar at 276-445-4120 or for information email Agnes Marcum at aymarcum@msn.com.

Divorce Care at Pump Springs

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

Dog Grooming

Claiborne County Animal Shelter is now offering grooming from a professional groomer. A portion of the earnings will benefit the shelter. The grooming will be done on Tuesday and Thursday to start but we will gladly add additional days if there is enough demand. For a list of services and fees, please call the shelter at 423-626-2686 on Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Don’t Keep Your Heap!

The economy is showing signs of recovery even with the rising cost of gas. Many people who held on to their car during the recession are now looking to replace it with a more fuel efficient one. If you are one of those people, you have to figure out what to do with your car. If your vehicle does not get good gas mileage, has a lot of miles, is more than 5 years old or is not in good condition, the dealership won’t offer you much for it as a trade in. They won’t want it because there is no demand for it. It will be difficult to sell it privately for the same reason. One alternative is to sell it for a couple of hundred dollars to a junkyard. A better alternative is to donate your car to charity. Cars4Charities will gladly take your old car, no matter what shape it is in. In return for your generosity, you will get a tax deduction of $500 or more. They have hundreds of charities that can be helped by your car donation. For details, please go to http://www.cars4charities.org/ or call 866.448.3487.

Foster Parents Needed

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

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

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

For more information about upcoming open houses or how you can change the life of a child, contact Jamie Hughes, foster parent recruiter at 423-283-6554.

Free Computer Classes

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

Go Green Science Fair

Clinch-Powell Educational Cooperative (CPEC) along with LMU will be hosting the Go Green Science Fair at the Tex Turner Arena on Feb. 22 beginning at 9 a.m. All sixth grade students from the CPEC five county service area will be eligible to win the first place prize of $1,000. Winners will be selected from each elementary school and will be awarded an iPad along with the chance to compete at LMU. Former State Senator and current SCORE CEO Jamie Woodson will be our guest and will provide a brief program about SCORE and their statewide educational initiatives. We have invited county commissioners, school board members and other elected officials from across the area to come and support our students in this event.

Grief Support Group

Amedisys Hospice will present “Pathways Through Grief,” a six-week grief educational and support group. The first session was Feb. 19 and will be held each Tuesday morning through March 26 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. The group will meet at the Senior Citizens Home Assistance Services Office, located at 1720 Church St., Tazewell. The group is free to any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. For more information or to register, call 423-587-9484 or 1-800-659-2633.

Handgun Permit Class

There will be a Handgun Permit Class at the Claiborne County Justice Center Training Room on March 2 beginning at 9 a.m. The fee is $80, only cash will be accepted. You must provide your own handgun, 50 rounds of ammunition and adequate eye and ear protection. Contact Lt. Stephen Hurley at 865-206-4700 to pre-register due to the large number of persons wanting to attend training. The state limit is 50 students per class.

Harrogate BMA Meeting Change

The regular monthly meetings for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Harrogate for the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 will be conducted at City Hall, 138 Harrogate Crossing, the fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m. The Feb. meeting was held early because of the Presidents’ Day holiday; the next scheduled meeting is March A monthly planning session is conducted each month at the City Hall on Tuesday prior to the scheduled meeting of the board at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend all meetings of the Board.

Hospice Volunteers Needed

Amedisys Hospice Services needs volunteers in your community. Come and be a part of a caring and compassionate team! Training is free and available at your convenience on an individual or group basis. If you would like to make a difference in the lives of the terminally ill, please contact: Gina Lane, Volunteer Coordinator, Amedisys Hospice Services. 423-587-9484 or 1-800-659-2633.

Hunter Education Class

There will be a Hunter Education Class on March 4 at 6 p.m. at the Claiborne County Justice Center, 215 Straight Creek Rd., New Tazewell. For more information contact Michael Cavins at 423-869-0217 (home). You MUST pre-register online at tnwildlife.org.

Little League Sign Up

Tazewell - New Tazewell Little League baseball sign ups are each Thursday in February and the first Thursday in March. They will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. at Hardees in Tazewell. For more information call Mandalyn Noe at 423-526-1941.

New Tazewell BMA Meetings

The regular monthly meetings for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for the Town of New Tazewell for the fiscal year 2012-2013 will be conducted at City Hall, 413 First Avenue, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. A monthly BMA Workshop is conducted each month at city hall on the second Tuesday prior to the scheduled meeting of the Board at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend all meetings of the board.

North Tazewell Volunteer Fire Department

The North Tazewell Volunteer Fire Department is open for new volunteers, and you don’t have to be a firefighter to play a major role. We do need some firefighters, but drivers, pump operators, fundraisers, and supporters of all kinds can be a big help. No matter what your experience, talents or skills might be, if you’d like to help, there’s an important place for you in the NTVFD family. Give us a call at (248) 292-9647 or email JFULTZ13@Yahoo.com.

Organic Gardening Classes

The following is a schedule of upcoming classes to be taught at the Garden Center/ Kitchen Classroom on the LMU campus. Classes begin at 6 p.m.

Feb. 25 - High tunnels by Stacy White, Bell County Extension

Mar. 4 - Off-season preparation by Kelly Frady, UT Extension

Mar. 18 - Preparing sweet potato plant beds by Stacy White, Bell County Extension (This will be a hands-on demonstration taught in the greenhouse.)

For more information about the LMU Organic Garden please call Bill Clayton at 423-441-9133 or email at organichillbilly_lmu@yahoo.com; Sue Granger at doglovercaery@netscape.net orr Debbie Clayton at debbiehoneybee9@gmail.com

Red Cross Accepting Donations

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

Senior Citizens Centers

The Tazewell Senior Citizens Covered Dish Luncheon will be Feb. 20. A representative from the Claiborne County Rehabilitation Therapy Services will be talking about occupational therapy at 10 a.m. The Harrogate Senior Citizens Covered Dish Luncheon will be Feb. 21. A representative from the Health Department and the U.T. Extension Agency will present a program on Healthy Heart at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

The Arthritis Foundation’s Walk With Ease program is being conducted at the Tazewell Senior Citizens Center. This is an exercise program that can reduce pain and improve overall health. If you can be on your feet for 10 minutes without increased pain, you can have success with Walk With Ease. Classes are being conducted every Monday from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. and every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. The classes are free and taught by a certified instructor. This will be a great way to get started on your summer walking.

Speedwell Freewill Baptist Yard Sale

Speedwell Freewill Baptist Church will be having a yard sale on March 1 and 2 from 8 a.m. until? The yard sale will be held rain or shine and hot dogs and drinks will be available throughout the day. SFWB is located on Highway 63 about one mile from Commercial Bank.

Tazewell BMA

The Board Meetings for the Board of Mayor and Alderman of the Town of Tazewell for the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 will be 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 public is invited to attend all meetings of the board.

Tazewell Planning Commission

The regular meeting of the Tazewell Planning Commission will be the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Tazewell City Hall. The public is invited to attend.

TENNderCare

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

Tennessee Right to Life

The Tenn. Right to Life, Claiborne Chapter, meets at Dogwood Heights Baptist Church the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. This is an opportunity for you to serve in the defense of vital issues of life. For more information, contact John Woods at 423-259-1385.

Tree Care Workshop

The Harrogate Tree Board is hosting a free workshop on tree care and maintenance on March 2 at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum auditorium in Harrogate. The workshop will be from 10 a.m. until noon, and will be facilitated by the Tennessee Division of Forestry. It will cover many important topics such as proper tree planting, pruning, fertilization and mulching. For more information call 423-526-2992.

Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency

The quarterly meeting for the Board of Directors of the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency, Inc. will be held Feb. 21 at 2:30 p.m. in the Douglass Community Room, 301 Louis Street – North Entrance, Kingsport, TN 37660.

Wrestling Available

Wrestling practice is being held from 5:30 until 7 p.m. at Heritage Christian Academy. For information, call 423-626-1931.