Locals celebrate keeping Smokies open during shutdown

Tennessee officials recognized the extraordinary partnership that kept Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) fully staffed and open last fall during the longest federal government shutdown in history.

On August 4, 2026, Superintendent Charlie Sellars and the park’s staff were lauded for their dedication to protecting the park and its visitors, a major tourism and economic driver for the region and state.

Gov. Bill Lee presented the superintendent with a Tennessee flag flown over the state capitol.

Sevier County government coordinated funding park personnel during peak tourist season. Days after the shutdown began, Sevier County entered into a 30-day agreement with the U.S. Department of Interior — which oversees the National Park Service — to provide about $62,000 a day to keep the park fully open through the shutdown.

The county got commitments from six other governments and one nonprofit to provide additional funding.

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development provided $80,000 a week. Blount County, the nonprofit Friends of the Smokies, the Eastern Band of Cherokees and the cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville each provided about $45,000 a week.

The shutdown ran from October 1 until November 1, 2025.

Closures had been in effect since Oct. 1 for Cades Cove Loop Road, two visitor centers at Sugarlands and Cades Cove, and two picnic areas at Chimneys and Cades Cove. Local funding kicked in on October 4 to reopen these facilities.

Neighborhood improvements funded by city council

Knoxville City Council on August 4, 2026, supported Mayor Indya Kincannon’s range of proposals for investing in neighborhood amenities, ongoing Tennessee River cleanups, and home weatherization and accessibility upgrades.

  • Suttree Landing Park playground: Playworld Preferred, up to $128,626 to replace 10-year-old playground surface. The rubber surface will be red, blue and beige.
  • L.T. Ross Building: Henley Roofing Co. contract for a new 20-year roof was increased to almost $842,000 to cover additional repairs to the parapet wall and roof decking. The building at 2247 Western Ave. houses the main office of CAC and serves as a community gathering place.
  • Tennessee River: The city will continue a long-standing $60,000 annual contract with Ijams Nature Center to remove trash, debris and harmful materials from the Tennessee River. Ijams’ daily monitoring of the mouths of First, Second and Third creeks and corresponding trash and debris pickups total about 1,500 hours of labor a year, while Ijams’ River Rescue coordinates hundreds of volunteers who remove an average of 9 tons of debris and hundreds of tires from the river.
  • Home weatherization: SEEED will receive $25,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to weatherize about 20 homes serving low-income families.
  • Accessible Homes: Another $144,000 in CDBG funds will support the non-profit Family Investment Foundation, a part of Knoxville’s Community Development Corp., and the Accessible Homes, Stable Futures program. The money goes toward accessibility modifications to KCDC apartments – wheelchair ramps and roll-in showers, as examples.

Eric Vreeland provided information for this report.

Master Gardeners set upcoming events

Plants for the Watershed: Guided Nature Walk at Collier Preserve, 316 W Emory Road, Powell; Saturday, August 15, 9 a.m. Free and open to all.

Advice at Farm Markets:

  • Dixie Lee Farm Market, Saturday mornings through October at Renaissance, 12748 Kingston Pike, Farragut.
  • Ebenezer Farm Market, third Tuesday afternoons through November, Ebenezer UMC, 1001 Ebenezer Rd, Knoxville.
  • Tellico Village Farm Market, Wednesday mornings through October, 202 Chota Road, Loudon.

TN Smart Yards and Friends Festival: UT Gardens, 2518 Jacob Drive, Knoxville, Saturday, September 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Details to follow.

Knoxville Botanical Garden & Arboretum: Visitors Center: 2743 Wimpole Ave, Knoxville. Events meet at various locations throughout the garden. Some have a charge, others are free. Details and registration here. 

  • Sightseers: A Drawing Club -Third Thursdays
  • Yoga at the Garden – monthly
  • Green Thumb Gala – September 27
  • Fall Festival & Plant Sale – October 18
  • Holiday Open House – November 13

Got Gardening Questions? Master Gardeners are available to answer your home gardening questions. Contact one by phone (leave a voicemail at 865-215-3554), via email (you can attach your gardening photos), or drop by an information table at farm markets or special events. For more details visit the KCMG AMG Project Page.

Travis Wegener Car Show is August 8

The Tennessee Valley Mustang Club will roll into Powell on Saturday, August 8, 2026, for the 12th annual Travis Wegener Memorial Car Show. The show will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Powell High School.

There’s a playground and splash pad for kids adjacent to the car show at Powell Station Park. And behind the playground, a 9-hole disc golf course extends to Beaver Creek. Funds raised support the Enhance Powell committee of the Powell Business and Professional Association (PBPA).

Cars (bikes and trucks) pay $25 to enter with awards to the top 40. There is no admission charge to spectators. Travis Wegener was a Powell High School graduate who was killed when a shooter opened fire on a family gathering in Inskip.

Disc golf tourney planned for August 8

John Diamond is coordinating a disc golf tournament concurrent with the Travis Wegener Memorial Car show on August 8. Sponsors are Pluto Sports and Innova Discs. It’s $25 to play with tee times at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Prizes for each division: Beginner, intermediate, advanced, junior, women’s and 65+. Participants must pre-register at Powellstationdg@gmail.com/. Send name(s) of players, tee time, division and email address.

Notes & quotes

Battlefield Farm and the One Five Market, both organized by Pastor Chris Battle, need love and support. Info here.

Ijams Nature Center will celebrate hummingbirds Thursday-Saturday, August 13-15. Various events. Tickets and info here.

Quote: Ironically, one of the clearer threats to consumer privacy is the government’s largely unchecked ability to collect your sensitive information without due process. — Marsha Blackburn, U.S. senator who won the GOP nomination for TN governor on August 6, 2026.

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Sandra Clark compiles obituary links and writes daily at KnoxTNToday – the Let’s Talk series includes topics of law, neighbors, schools, leaders and outdoors. Enjoyed this article? Read more Let’s Talk – Outdoors by Sandra Clark.

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