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

Claiborne County Democrats

Claiborne County Democrats will meet at Gap Creek Coffee House on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. They will be accepting nominations for a new treasurer and encourage members of the community to seek this position. The Coffee House is located at 710 Pinnacle Alley Ave., Cumberland Gap.

Beekeeper Course

Want to learn about honeybees? A beginning beekeeper short course will be held Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. An open house will be held Sept. 23 from 1-4 p.m. Clinch Valley Beekeepers Association in Hancock County is having a fall beekeeper’s short course for anyone who would like to learn about keeping honey bees. We will talk about equipment that you need to get started, costs involved, basic beekeeping tips, etc. We will also have some door prizes. The short course is free and will be held at Treadway Fire Hall, 189 Highway 131, Treadway, TN 37881. For more information, call Jr. Snelson, 423-626-5538.

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser

Evening Star Lodge #180, Free & Accepted Masons is holding its annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser Sept. 22 from 3:30-7 p.m., eat in or carry out, at the lodge, 510 3rd Avenue, New Tazewell. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door, from any lodge member or by contacting the secretary, Chip Smith at 865-585-6277. Donations are appreciated. All proceeds go to the Children’s Fund to help the needy children of Claiborne County.

GLOW 5K Run/Walk

There will be a GLOW 5K Run or Walk Sept. 23 beginning on Main St. in New Tazewell. Registration will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the race will begin at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Second Annual Harvest Fest, which will be held on Main St. on Oct. 28. Prizes during the GLOW 5K will be given for wackiest dressed, overall male winner, overall female winner and a winner in each age division. T-shirts and glow sticks are guaranteed for pre-registered runners. For ticket information or to register online visit www.claibornepartnership.com.

Lane Family Reunion

The family of Neal Lane, Belle Johnson Lane and Emma Collins Lane will be held at the Thorn Hill Community Center on Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Directions: From U.S. 25E, turn East on Hwy. 131, go approximately one mile to Thorn Hill Community Center on right and look for Lane Reunion signs.

Chronic Conditions Workshops

UT – TSU Extension Claiborne County is Offering Free Living Well with Chronic Conditions Program Workshops beginning Sept. 28 at Tazewell Senior Citizens Center. The Living Well with Chronic Conditions Program is led by an UT Extension educator and a Health Educator from the Claiborne County Health Department certified by Stanford University Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Master Trainers. Participants are encouraged to actively contribute to the sessions and to work together to find solutions and set healthy goals. Classes will be held every Thursday for six weeks at 1 p.m. Living Well with Chronic Conditions is a six-week workshop series designed to help community members manage their long-term health issues effectively. Chronic conditions of those attending may include asthma, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, chronic pain, sleep apnea, or fibromyalgia among others. If you or anyone you care for has a chronic disease, we welcome you to this series which is designed to address issues including: finding effective and healthy ways to deal with pain and fatigue; helping to establish better nutrition and exercise choices in your life; discovering new treatment options; managing side effects; communicating with your health care professional effectively; leading a fuller and better life despite having a chronic condition. For more information, or to sign up for the program, please contact Carol Brandon, Extension Agent at 423-626-3742 or email at cbrandon@utk.edu. You must register by Sept. 25.

Fold and Stitch Wreath Workshop

UT-TSU Extension Partnership in Claiborne County is offering a Fold & Stitch Wreath Workshop at the Extension office on Oct. 2. Participants will make a pretty seasonal wreath or an unusual table topper. The workshop will begin at 9:30 a.m. and work until finished, the finished size of the wreath or table topper is 21 inches. The cost for the workshop is $15. Participants must provide fabric for wreath: 5/8 yard back, 5/8 yard front, and 3/8 yard applique and matching thread. Fold and stitch wreaths are not just for Christmas! They can be seasonal, holidays, or regional. What is your theme? Call 423-626-3742, email at cbrandon@utk.edu or message Carol Brandon to sign up for this workshop or if you have questions. Space is limited, you must register by Sept. 25. Skill level: advanced beginner.

Line Dance Class

There will be a beginner line dance class at Broken Spur Dance Club starting Sept. 28 and going through Oct. 26. The class will be 6:30-8 p.m. Bring a friend have some fun learning to line dance. Each class is $5 or you can pay $20 for the entire five-week course. In addition, BSDC will be hosting a Halloween Costume Party and Dance on Oct. 28. For more information call Jamie at 423-489-9829.

Alzheimer’s Support Group

Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice, Alzheimer’s Support Group meets the last Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Laurel Manor Nursing Facility. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 28. Community partners: Alzheimer’s Tennessee; Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice; Laurel Manor Nursing Facility; Lambert Bookkeeping & Financial Services; Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service, Inc.; Claiborne-Overholt Funeral Home; Eastridge Apartments LLC; Claiborne County Office on Aging. Everyone welcome.

Clays For Children Tournament

The second annual Clays For Children Sporting Clays Tournament will be held Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Chilhowee Sportsman’s Club. This is a 100-shot competition where shooters will participate in teams of four in either a morning or afternoon flight. Entry fee is $125 per shooter, which includes lunch. A golf cart will be provided per team of four shooters. A silent auction will be held during the event, and station sponsorships are available. Both individual and team prizes will be awarded. The club is located at 7601 Old Railroad Bed Rd., Maryville. The tournament is hosted by the office of 8th District Attorney General Jared Effler and proceeds to to benefit the Children’s Centers of Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Scott and Union counties. To register or for more information, please contact Kathy Henard at 423-626-8002.

Bunch Family Reunion

The Bunch Family Reunion will be held Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Springdale Elementary School in Tazewell. Please bring a dish, dessert and drink.

Chili Cook Off

Do you think you make the best chili in the area? The annual Claiborne County Chili Cook Off is scheduled for Sept. 30 from 4-8 p.m. at the Tazewell Municipal Park, located at 201 Richardson Road, Tazewell. The cost to enter is $15 and judging will be held from noon until 3 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for judges’ favorite, people’s choice and best decoration. The competition is open to any individual, business, church/school group or community organization. There will also be vendors with arts, crafts and antiques to shop while sampling the chili. If you think your chili is the best, let voters and judges decide! For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce, 1732 Main St., Suite 1, Tazewell. Phone is 423-626-4149 or visit claibornepartnership.com.

VFW Fish Fry

There will be a fish fry at VFW Post #8779 in New Tazewell on Oct. 7 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The cost is $10 to eat in or for takeout. The meal includes two large pieces of fish, hushpuppies, green beans, coleslaw, fries or baked potato, dessert and tea or lemonade. There will also be a child’s plate with smaller portions for $5 (kids 9 and under). The Long Neck Gypsies will be playing beginning at 8 p.m.

Keck-Rouse Reunion

There will be a Keck-Rouse family reunion on Oct. 14 at Sharps Chapel Community Center, beside the school. We will be there all day, so stop by and say hello. We would feel blessed to see everyone. For more information, call 423-259-0932, 423-626-9905 or 865-992-1018.

Canning 101: Advanced Food Preservation

How do I…can meats? If you would like to know more about canning low acid foods such as meats and combination foods, like chili, soups with meat or meat stock, plan to attend the advanced food preservation class on Oct. 21 at Servolution Health Services. Participants will go home with a jar or two of canned product and recipes. So Easy to Preserve books will be available for participants to purchase at $15 each if you do not already have one. The cost for this class is $30. Class will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude around 2 p.m. Space is limited to ten people. This course is open for anyone who would like to learn more about preserving meats and poultry products. If you would like to learn more about how UT-TSU Extension serves Claiborne County you can visit the office, call 423-626-3742, visit the website at claiborne.tennessee.edu, like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/extensionclaiborne) or follow them on Twitter @ClaiborneExt.

Chair Bottoming Workshop

UT-TSU Extension Partnership in Claiborne County is offering a splint seat chair bottoming workshop on Nov. 4 at Harrogate Senior Center from 10 a.m. and will last until each participant finishes their chair. Participants will be learning the heritage skill of refinishing ladder back chairs with splint bottoms. Participants will need to supply their own chair and lunch. If the chair needs to be refinished this should be done before the workshop. Cost of the workshop will be $25. Call the extension office at 626-3742 to register or for more information. You must register by Oct. 23. You will need to bring a dishpan, 7-8 heavy duty spring type clothes pins or clamps, old scissors, screwdriver or table knife, needle nose pliers, stapler, and heavy duty sewing thread or waxed dental floss.

Child and Adult Care Food Program

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

Adult High School

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

Adopt A Classroom

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

Free Drug Testing Kits

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

American Legion Post #109

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

Arthur Community Center Association

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

Bee Friends

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

Beginner’s Computer Class

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

City of Harrogate Meetings

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

Cumberland Gap Meetings

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

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

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

Free Adult High School Classes

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

Free Spay and Neuter

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

Free Tech Classes at Library

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

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

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

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

Greene County Skills

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

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project

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

Narcotics Anonymous

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

Town of New Tazewell Meetings

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

Town of Tazewell Meetings

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