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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. Send all area events to: jan.runions@claiborneprogress.net.

The East TN Human Resource Agency (ETHRA) is accepting applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for residents of Claiborne County. Applications can be mailed or taken by appointment at the ETHRA Office in Tazewell. To schedule an appointment, call 423-973-3669. To have an application mailed, call 865-691-2551. PLEASE NOTE:  if you have received assistance since Oct. 1, 2020, you cannot apply again at this time. Sponsoring this program is the TN Housing Development Agency (THDA).

Walters State Community College registration for summer and fall semesters is now open. Summer sessions: June 3 (10 week and first 5 week sessions) with June 2 fee deadline; July 7 (second 5 week session) with June 28 fee deadline. Fall semester begins Aug. 23 with first fee deadline on Aug. 18. Late fee payment deadlines are available. WSCC will continue to offer traditional, hybrid and online classes. For more info, email: admissions@ws.edu or call 423-585-2685. To apply for admissions, log onto: www.ws.edu/admissions. Campuses are located in Tazewell, Greeneville, Morristown, Sevierville and Newport. Advisors are available on each campus by appointment.

MAY 20

CAB Rolling Resource Fair: the Claiborne County Community Advisory Board (CAB) is holding its drive-thru resource fair at Servolution Health Services on May 20, from 9 a.m. to noon at 181 Powell Valley School Lane in Speedwell. Swag bags full of community resources and goodies will be handed out to those attending the event.

MAY 20-21

MEDIC Blood Drives at Hammer’s and Tri-State Health & Rehab: Hammer’s Dept. Store will hold its drive on May 20, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The store is located at 513 Cross St. in New Tazewell. Tri-State Health & Rehab will hold its replacement blood drive for Teria Yeary on May 21, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 621 Shawanee Rd. Please notify medic staff that you are donating for Teria Yeary. Appointments at both blood drives are preferred but walk-ins accepted. All donors must wear facial coverings per the CDC regulations. To schedule an appointment, call 865-524-3074 or go to: www.tndonor.org/donor/schedules/driveschedule. All donors will receive a free tee and a coupon for a Texas Roadhouse appetizer.

MAY 22

Mobile Lifehouse Free Mobile Food Pantry, sponsored by Second Harvest Food Bank, will b held on May 22 beginning at 8 a.m. while supplies last. The pantry will be located at Jefferson Middle School drive-thru. The service will be collecting clothes, toiletries and school supplies as well. For more info, check Facebook: Mobile Lifehouse or the website: http://www.themobilelifehouse.weebly.com.

MAY 25

Powell Valley Electric Cooperative will hold its regular monthly board of directors’ meeting on May 25, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at its New Tazewell office located at 420 Straight Creek Rd. Due to continuing developments with COVID-19 and the possibility of changes, check the PVEC website at: pve.coop for meeting updates.

JULY 15 & JULY 22

The Eastern Region 4-H Quilt Camp will be holding classes on old timey quilting on July 15 and July 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The classes will be held at the Eastern Region Extension Office in Knoxville, TN. Cost: $25 total for the two days plus lunch and snacks. Sewing machines and quilting tools will be provided. You provide the quilting fabrics. The supplies list will be sent once registered. The classes are limited to the first 12 individuals who register. For more info, call 423-626-3742.

 Seeking those homebound elderly and/or dependent adults wanting to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccination: Tennessee is contracting with home health agencies to identify those who qualify and to provide this service. If you are truly homebound and have not yet received or are not yet scheduled to receive the vaccination, you are eligible to be put on the list to receive it at home. To be added to the list, contact Becky Pierce at: 865-705-9675 or email her at: bpierce@ethra.org. For more info about the vaccine or how to obtain it, call: 866-836-6648.

SEASONAL EMPLOYEES: the town of New Tazewell is currently seeking certified lifeguards for the 2021 pool season. Pick up an application at the New Tazewell City Hall Monday-Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The deadline for applications is April 9. For more info, call 423-626-5242. Jerry Beeler, mayor

Stand in the Gap Coalition has changed the day for its START (Support Transition and Recovery Training) group meetings. These weekly meetings will now be held each Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. with refreshments served at 6 p.m. Location: 325 Straight Creek Rd. in New Tazewell, inside the old Powell Valley Electric office. Pastor James Shoffner officiates these meetings.

The Shepherd’s Closet is now open each Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m. The nonprofit is located behind Thompson’s Chapel at 1015 Old Hwy. 33 near DeRoyal. For more info, call Diane at: 423-626-3913.

G.L.O.S.S. (Girls Loving Ourselves Seriously Sober) is helping those with addictions to find their way back to sobriety. The organization offers those without rides to probation appointments, court, rehabilitation and other destinations a way to get there. There are on-site recovery coaches and one-on-one counseling. The organization is currently accepting donations of money and items like clothing, hygiene products and food to help the homeless, whose population includes many recovering addicts. For more info, call Kelly at: 423-489-2689.

Live Free Recovery Program at the Hill Church is a state-certified program that collaborates with organizations like Metro Drug and the TN Dept. of Health & Substance Abuse. Program participants meet each Tuesday at 6 p.m. with a different speaker each evening. Weekly recognition of recovery milestones are discussed prior to the participants splitting into small groups depending on individual needs. Groups include such diverse subjects as substance abuse, self-care, anger control and ‘Adulting 101’. For more info, call Pastor Kyle Prichard at: 423-526-5655. The Hill Church is located at 1216 Cedar Fork Road in Tazewell. The website is:

www.loc8nearme.com/tennessee/tazewell/the-hill-claiborne/6148721.

Need Help with FAFSA? Free services are still available online and by phone. In Claiborne, Grainger and Hancock counties, contact Melanie Powell at: 423-748-4634 or mpowell@douglascherokee.org.

NARCONON New Life Retreat: With the spread of COVID-19, many families are struggling. Added to this stress, some have realized the extent of their loved ones addiction. Narconon would like everyone to know that this essential business is open and servicing clients. Fentanyl has been making headlines recently, this is because the incredibly potent chemical has been contributing to the increase in overdose deaths across America. Most people however do not know much about the chemical. For instance many don’t know that one of the things that makes fentanyl so dangerous is the fact that it can be absorbed into the system through skin contact. Meaning getting it on your skin could cause a potentially fatal overdose. To learn more about Fentanyl visit:https://www.narcononnewliferetreat.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-fentanyl.html. ADDICTION SCREENINGS Narconon can help you take steps to overcome addiction in your family. Call today for free screenings or referrals. 1- 800-431-1754. For more information visit: https://www.narcononnewliferetreat.org/blog/how-does-covid-19-effect-treatment.html.