Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 83F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.

The School Board has been approached about beginning a donation effort to get new tennis courts on school premises.

The Franklin County Rebels beat the Coffee County Raiders 27-20 on the road Friday in their first game of the season.

(BPT) - Vacation season is in full swing, with summer travel in 2022 likely to surpass that of 2021. This season, August and September are projected to be some of the most popular vacation months too, representing 45% of all summer trips in 2022.

With summer in full swing, there’s no better way to enjoy the great outdoors than by visiting one of Tennessee’s neighboring state parks.

South Cumberland and Tims Ford state parks are located within Franklin and Grundy counties and offer hiking, boating, picnicking, golfing and much more.

South Cumberland’s 30,845 acres provides some of the most exciting and rugged hiking and backcountry camping in the region with 12 trailheads to explore. For more information, visit the park’s website at tnstateparks.com/parks/south-cumberland or call the visitor center at 931-924-2980. The visitor center is located at 11745 US Highway 41 in Monteagle.

Tims Ford State Park, located at 570 Tims Ford Dr. in Winchester, encompasses 3,546-acres in the shadows of the Cumberland Plateau. Lakeview Marina, located within the park, provides pontoon boat, canoe and kayak rentals as well as a boat launch and courtesy dock. Tims Ford Lake is considered one of the most picturesque lakes in Tennessee and is regarded as one of the top bass fishing and recreational lakes in the Southeast. The park includes the Bear Trace golf course and camping sites as well as cabin rentals. For detailed information on the park, call the visitor center at 931-968-3536 or visit tnstateparks.com/parks/info/tims-ford.

The following guided activities are open to the public. Guided adventures are a great way to meet new people who share your interest in the outdoors. All events will be guided by park staff who are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the natural, cultural and historical treasures in the parks. Participants are sure to learn something new. Register in advance as some events have a capacity limit.

Join seasonal interpreter J.D. Dickerson at South Cumberland State Park for an all-day guided hike on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to the north side of the park. This is an intermediate-level hike that will cover 10 to 12 miles, depending on time. Bring sufficient gear including lunch, snacks and water. The main challenge is the overall distance. Meet at Stone Door Ranger Station, 1183 Stone Door Road, Beersheba Springs. Cost is $5. Register for the event at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/allday-guided-hike. For more information, email john.dickerson@tn.gov or call 931-235-3992.

Join Park Ranger Kelsey Garcia on Aug. 27 at 12 noon at the Tims Ford State Park Visitor Center for an overnight backpacking trip to the newest lakeside backcountry campsites at the park. Hikers will trek about two miles to the Old Spann House Trail and the Old Spann backcountry campsite to camp for the night by the lake before returning the next morning to the visitor’s center by the same trail. Dinner will be provided but hikers will be responsible for other meals or snacks. All levels of experience are welcome for ages 13 and older. This is a great opportunity for beginner backpackers. Bring a tent or hammock, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, any meals you wish to cook along with pots, a water bottle and water, toiletries, sunscreen, insect repellent and swimwear (if desired). Cost is $35 for ages 13-18 and $50 for adults. For information, call 931-200-7265 or email Kelsey.gracia@tn.gov. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/overnight-backpa1.

Join host Park Ranger Dalton Smith for a sunset boat tour of Tims Ford Lake on Aug. 27 from 6:45-7:45 p.m. Meet at Lakeview Marina inside the park. Cost is $15 for children younger than 16 and $20 for adults. The trip will include views of some islands and talks about natural resources, history and more. Life jackets will be provided or bring your own. For information, call 931-434-6032 or email Dalton.smith@tn.gov. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/sunset-boat-tour1sdhsd0.

Join Park Ranger Spencer Baxter for a new moon night hike on Aug. 28 from 8-10 p.m. to the Stone Door overlook. This is a two-mile, roundtrip hike that will take hikers to several overlooks to experience the night sky in the beautiful Savage Gulf. Visitors need to bring a headlamp. The hike is limited to 10 people. Meet at 1183 Stone Door Road, Beersheba. Cost is $10. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/night-hike-to-the-great-stone-door27. For information, call 931-934-2980.

Join host Park Ranger Dalton Smith for a sunset boat tour of Tims Ford Lake on Sept. 4 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Meet at Lakeview Marina inside the park. Cost is $15 for children younger than 16 and $20 for adults. The trip will include views of some islands and talks about natural resources, history and more. Life jackets will be provided or bring your own. For information, call 931-434-6032 or email Dalton.smith@tn.gov. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/sunset-boat-tour1sdhsd0.

Join Park Ranger Mark Greenwood at South Cumberland State Park for a plateau guided hike on Sept. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Meet at Savage Gulf Ranger Station, 3157 State Route 399, Palmer. The 9.3-mile, roundtrip of Southern Cumberland Plateau woodlands and overlooks will cover portions of the Day Loop, North Plateau, Mountain Oak and North Rim trails. Bring water and snacks for this basic, introductory hike. The challenge is mostly in the overall distance. Cost is $5 for ages 12 and younger and $10 for adults. For information, call 931-924-2980 or email mark.greenwood@tn.gov. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/plateau-guided-hike0.

Join Park Ranger Mark Greenwood at South Cumberland State Park for a plateau guided hike on Sept. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Meet at Savage Gulf Ranger Station, 3157 State Route 399, Palmer. The 9.3-mile, round-trip of Southern Cumberland Plateau woodlands and overlooks will cover portions of the Day Loop, North Plateau, Mountain Oak and North Rim trails. Bring water and snacks for this basic, introductory hike. The challenge is mostly in the overall distance. Cost is $5 for ages 12 and younger and $10 for adults. For information, call 931-924-2980 or email mark.greenwood@tn.gov. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/plateau-guided-hike0.

Join host Park Ranger Dalton Smith for a sunset boat tour of Tims Ford Lake on Sept. 17 from 6:15-7:15 p.m. Meet at Lakeview Marina inside the park. Cost is $10 for children younger than 16 and $15 for adults. The trip will include views of some islands and talks about natural resources, history and more. Life jackets will be provided or bring your own. For information, call 931-434-6032 or email Dalton.smith@tn.gov. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/sunset-boat-tour1sdhsd0.

Join host Park Ranger Dalton Smith for a sunset boat tour of Tims Ford Lake on Sept. 24 from 6:15-7:15 p.m. Meet at Lakeview Marina inside the park. Cost is $10 for children younger than 16 and $15 for adults. The trip will include views of some islands and talks about natural resources, history and more. Life jackets will be provided or bring your own. For information, call 931-434-6032 or email Dalton.smith@tn.gov. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/sunset-boat-tour1sdhsd0.

Join host Park Ranger Dalton Smith for a sunset boat tour of Tims Ford Lake on Sept. 25 from 6-7 p.m. Meet at Lakeview Marina inside the park. Cost is $10 for children younger than 16 and $15 for adults. The trip will include views of some islands and talks about natural resources, history and more. Life jackets will be provided or bring your own. For information, call 931-434-6032 or email Dalton.smith@tn.gov. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/sunset-boat-tour1sdhsd0.

Join Park Ranger Mark Matzkiw for Forged at the Ford, a three-day survival school starting Sept. 30 at 9 a.m. and ending Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. This survival adventure will teach all the necessary skills to survive a planned or unplanned outdoor experience. It takes place on one of the many islands within Tims Ford Lake to which participants will be shuttled by boat. The course is taught by several Tennessee State Park rangers who are experts in their respective fields. Participants will learn about shelter construction from natural materials, wild edibles, friction fire, attainment and preparation of wild game, water purification and more. Participants should bring their own meals with the exception of one free wild game dinner. Required gear should include: hiking boots, a fixed-blade knife, a small cook pot, a ferrocerium rod, a 10x12 foot tarp, a sleeping pad and sleeping bag, a screw-top water bottle, an axe or hatchet, 50-feet of paracord, a flashlight or headlamp, a fishing line and small assorted hooks, extra clothes in waterproof bag, a small folding saw, a small first-aid kit with any needed medications and a bandana. The items may be shared if there is more than one person in your party. Cost is $100 for ages 15-18 (age limit is 15) and $200 for adults. For information, contact Ranger Matzkiw at 931-279-4893 or email mark.matzkiw@tn.gov. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/forged-at-the-ford4.

Join David Pineros at South Cumberland State Park’s Grundy Forest Parking lot on Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a Grundy Forest Expedition. Participants will be led on a long hike to see the highly diverse and scenic Grundy Forest and the Fiery Gizzard Creek. This is a three-mile, strenuous hike with rocky and rooty terrain. Pets are not allowed on this hike. For information, call 615-761-4250 or email David.pineros@tn.gov. Cost is $10. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/grundy-forest-expedition.

Join in for a free Heritage Day event at Tims Ford State Park Oct. 8-9 at the Rec Hall. The fall festival will feature music, food, vendors and historical reenactments. For more information call 931-279-4893 or email mark.matzkiw@tn.gov.  

Join State Park Ranger Mark Matzkiw Oct. 8-9 for an overnight canoe trip at Tims Ford State Park. Meet at Lakeview Marina at 10 a.m. on Oct. 8 and return on Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. Participants will paddle to Goose Island to camp for the night then paddle the next day to Devil’s Step Boat Ramp where the trip will end. Paddling distance will be approximately 5 miles each day. Boats, life jackets, paddles and campsite are included in the cost. Meals are not provided. No experience is required. A recommended gear list is available on the Tims Ford State Park website. Cost is $35 for children ages 13-18 (age limit 13) and $50 for adults. Register at reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/overnight-canoe-trip4. For information, call 931-279-4893 or email mark.matzkiw@tn.gov.

Hospice of the Highland Rim Foundation will host its Hospice 5k turkey trot and one-mile fun run on Oct. 22 starting at 9 a.m. at Tims Ford State Park. Check in at 7:30 a.m. Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome to participate either in-person or virtually. All entrants are guaranteed a T-shirt if they register by noon on Oct. 7. Cost is $35 per person or $100 for a group of up to five individuals. Awards will be presented at the visitor’s center. Proceeds go toward assisting hospice patients in Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Lincoln, Moore and Warren counties. www.hospiceofthehighlandrimfoundation.org.

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