Tag Archives: Rock Island

Black-eyed peas, turnip greens, the traditional southern start to a New Year. Newt’s BBQ in Rock Island will be serving up a traditional menu for New Year’s Day including cornbread, cabbage and BBQ pork. Newt Rowland said every dish has a story behind it. “In the Civil War, when Sherman came to the south he destroyed everything, and left fields ... Read More »

Potential plans for a bridge to connect businesses in Rock Island to Rock Island State Park drew community concern from Warren County residents. County Executive Terry Bell said from his understanding, conversations to make such plans occurred before he was elected between then-executive Jimmy Haley, Friends of Historic Rock Island Founder Beth Campbell, and a commissioner. “This was only a ... Read More »

State Parks across the Upper Cumberland will host free guided hikes and trail building opportunities Saturday as a part of National Trails Day. Rock Island Ranger Ethan Greene said the annual event is an opportunity to discover what the park offers while connecting with nature. “This year were offering a two-process hike,” Greene said. “Our event is going to include ... Read More »

The arrival of October means the arrival of haunted trails, forests, and houses across the Upper Cumberland. Dinosaurs, scary clowns, and a slaughter chute are among the scary features at the Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department’s Haunted Trail in Van Buren County Safety Officer Rebecca Bivins said that the trail started ten years ago as a fundraising idea for the ... Read More »

The recently formed DeKalb County Water Rescue Task Force has completed its first round of training. EMA Director Charlie Parker said the 20-hour swift water rescue course at Rock Island serves as the first of many. “We’re getting calls several weekends throughout the summer below the dam with the kayakers down there, and then we have other creeks around the ... Read More »

Governor Bill Lee was at Rock Island State Park Friday afternoon to tour the park’s Old Mill. The focus of the tour was to show future possibilities for the site and how the state could create future uses. Lee said that tours like this with community leaders make challenges something that can be overcome. “This spot right here is a ... Read More »

Four Upper Cumberland State Parks have received the highest honor from TDEC for their efforts in environmental sustainability. Burgess Falls, Cummins Falls, Rock Island and Standing Stone all received platinum status in the, “Go Green With Us,” program. Regional Director of External Affairs Tara Wohlgemuth said only 10 out of the 56 state parks earned the highest ranking. “The four ... Read More »

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Warren County are partnering to preserve Rock Island’s Great Falls Cotton Mill. Rock Island Park Manager Damon Graham said the national registered mill is in danger of collapsing if nothing is done. “It is a very significant sight as far as history and cultural resource in the region, really,” Graham said. “With ... Read More »