by Mike Steely | Jun 19, 2017 | Columnist, Steely
By Mike Steely What may be the oldest settlement in our region is only an hour or so away. The village of Tellico Plains is, indeed, a gateway to the lower Smoky Mountains. The little town is just south of Madisonville and is an historic site that is the entry to the...
by Mike Steely | Feb 27, 2017 | Columnist, Steely
By Mike Steely It sits by itself in a lonely spot in Oak Ridge, a symbol of peace between Japan and the United States and a reminder of Pearl Harbor and the dropping of atomic bombs that ended World War II. The Friendship Bell seems like a contradiction between the...
by Mike Steely | Jan 23, 2017 | Columnist, Steely
By Mike Steely Silver Springs, Florida, is about eight hours south of Knoxville and a long day’s drive. There’re lots of places to stop to eat or stretch along the way. Once you get through the nightmare known as Atlanta traffic the drive becomes pretty routine. If...
by Mike Steely | Sep 18, 2016 | Columnist, Steely, Stories In This Week's Focus:
By Mike Steely Did you know that it’s quicker to fly from Knoxville to New York than to drive from here to Bristol or Nashville? Yep, in just less than two hours you’re there and what a change of cultures. My wife and I recently spent six days in New York City, the...
by Mike Steely | Jul 10, 2016 | Columnist, Steely, Stories In This Week's Focus:
By Mike Steely Ever wonder who built the state parks in Tennessee? The parks—with pools, trails, campgrounds, roads, parking lots, pavilions, cabins, dams and administration buildings— didn’t just spontaneously appear. As I’ve written before, my wife and I have...
by Mike Steely | Jun 13, 2016 | Columnist, Steely
By Mike Steely All Tennessee State Parks have some connection with our state’s history but Harrison Bay State Park just north of Chattanooga touches that category more than most. The 1,200 acre park on Chickamauga Lake on Highway 58 can claim pre-statehood links...
