February 2004 Archived Columns
2/3/2004
UPDATE 2/8 SUNDAYWe had a pretty snowfall yesterday, along with some brisk winds. Accumulation was minimal, but there might have been 1/2 inch in all. It's sunny today, and most of the snow is gone already, except in the shady spots. In fact, it's a beautiful day outside, if still a little cold. I wouldn't expect any travel difficulties, except perhaps in the very high elevations.
Last weekend was beautiful, although it was rainy Monday. Over the past sixteen years, I’ve often noted real signs of spring on February 1st, with the pastures greening up and the first Mourning Cloaks and red wasps taking wing on mild breezes. It hasn’t been quite like that, but Cynthia and I did get some good porch time last weekend. The recent rains have had a spring-like feel, and I believe things are greening up a little bit. That might be a bit subjective, but on the objective end of the scale, I can tell you that the roads are beginning to get torn up by heavy trucks, and that’s a sure sign that the spring thaw is getting underway. So it’s time to remind everybody that the worst sin in the mountains is tearing up someone else’s road.
The results are in, and according to the boss, we sold more this January than last January. That’s a surprising stat for me, because it didn’t feel as busy this year as last year, when everyone was disgusted with the stock market and determined to get into land. But I have to admit that there is a lot of property moving these days, and I’m beginning to see a good deal of interest in some of the higher end lots that didn’t move last year. I think my advice to bargain hunters would be to get up and see what’s available soon, before we get into season. The opening day of trout is March 27, and turkey March 20. Those two opening days, coming close together as they generally do, traditionally signal the beginning of the mountain tourist season. But I imagine it will be another month or so before things start to really get busy.
This weekend, February 7-8, is the 12th Annual Cherokee Indian Heritage and Sandhill Crane Viewing Days event, which is held at the Tennessee Wildlife Refuge and the nearby Birchwood School (in Birchwood, between Cleveland and Dayton, Tennessee, on TN 60). On the Cherokee side, Lawrence Alexander will speak on “Ten Thousand Years of Area History,” Mike Abram of the Cherokee Heritage Museum will lecture on “The Trail of Tears and Those Who Stayed Behind,” T.J. Holland will speak on “Myths and Truths Regarding Junaluska,” and the Welch Family Singers from the Snowbird Community near Robbinsville will lead a Cherokee gospel singing. For the birders, Bruce Anderson, Wildlife Biologist, will speak on TWRA restoration projects, Joan Garland of the International Crane Foundation will speak on “The Whooping Crane Story,” and Fred Alsop will speak on landscaping for wildlife. And then, there are the cranes. There should be thousands of migrating sandhill cranes present, along with golden and bald eagles and assorted wildfowl. There is also the possibility of seeing a wild whooping crane. Several of these birds, which were reintroduced after following an ultralight plane from Wisconsin (as part of the Eastern Whooping Crane Partnership) have been spotted in the area again this year. For more info call 423.334.5850 or 423.499.3584. The program is up on the Internet at www.state.tn.us./twra/sh_crane_04.pdf.
Those of you who haven’t been yet need to know that we have a new Italian restaurant that is kicking out excellent pizza and very good red sauce. It is located in the old roller rink, now known as Hampton Square, which is just across the four-lane and down the hill from our office and the McDonald’s, past the United Community Bank, on the way to the old downtown. At the bottom of the hill, turn left on Mountain Street, then left again on Ada Street, then immediately turn left into the parking lot.
