etricities.com

Guard unit to return through Camp Shelby
By Ashley Rowland
Staff Writer

Members of the 278th Regimental Combat Team will begin returning from Iraq to a Mississippi military base this month, even though many of their families can’t find vacant hotel rooms there.

The 278th is scheduled to return to Camp Shelby, 26 miles from Hattiesburg, Miss. However, Hurricane Katrina evacuees and emergency and construction workers have filled the South Mississippi city’s hotel rooms and campgrounds and set up tent cities there.

Tennessee National Guard spokesman Randy Harris said Fort Bliss, Texas, was the only other military base that could have accepted the 278th. Officials decided it was too far away, and Camp Shelby was prepared to handle the group’s paperwork, medical examinations and the return of sensitive equipment, he said.

“It’s just the logical thing to do,” he said.
Read More…

By Jeff Fleming

The Kingsport Convention & Visitors Bureau’s marketing and promotional material dubs the region: “Tennessee’s Bright Spot”. Justifiably so. A recent national study ranked Tri-Cities as the best place to live in Tennessee and among the best in the nation.
Read More…

From Deliverance
Alright, you hackers and duffers out there–quit swinging long enough to take a look at the number 2 position in this ranking (scroll down).

Metrogolfmap1Golf Digest magazine conducted a survey that ranked 330 Metropolitan Statistical Areas across the country for access to golf (45% of the score), the value (15%), the quality (15%) of golf and the weather (25%). Our own Upper East Tennessee is only behind the Auburn/Opelika Alabama MSA. Number two out of 330!

The living and the golf in East Tennessee is good. But I knew that all along. Now the rest of you do too.
Read the story…

From Derek’s weblog of life and travels
Its the 33rd annual storytelling festival here and I arrived to a rainy day, unusual for this time of year but it promises to be that way all weekend.
I love coming here to the festival. There is an energy of anticipation as people arrive and I see old faces and each year they change and get older and its great seeing them. The plane from Boston to North Carolina was late leaving but we made the plane to Tri Cities by one minute and most of the luggage arrived except for Charlotte’s bag.
Read More…

By Jeff Fleming
This chart compares the annual payroll generated within a county to its resident population.

Comparing the two columns, a lopsided differential between payroll and population means the county is an “economic engine” (generates jobs and payroll). A lopsided differential between population and payroll indicates a “bedroom community” (residents live in the county, but work elsewhere). Those in between have achieved a reasonable balance of jobs and residents.
Read More…

From Fishing Reports News
WATAUGA RESERVOIR

WATER CONDITIONS
Water surface temperatures have been in the mid 70’s at sunrise in the mornings this week. The lake is clear toward the dam with some stained water color toward the rivers. The lake level at the dam as of 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night was 1,951.31 feet above sea level.

SUMMARY
Bass fishing is getting better. Look for the cooler temperatures to really help it improve in the next couple of weeks. The best time to catch bass is still first thing in the mornings or later in the evenings before dark. Several bass seem to be in the fallen treetops and woody cover early in the mornings.
Read More…

From INSIDE THE DUGOUT
10- Kevin Slowey, SP, 6’3”/190, R/R DOB: 5/4/84
Slowey had an excellent pro debut, simply dominating opposing hitters. However, being an advanced college pitcher, that is exactly what he should have done, though no one could expect quite the dominance Slowey delivered. Slowey shows excellent command and control and backs it up with solid stuff. Slowey’s fastball has average velocity, but it is a solid to plus pitch because of his command. Slowey also shows a solid slider and a changeup with plus potential. Slowey has the upside of a #3 starter and will face his first real test next year.

2005 Stats
Rookie (Elizabethton) – 0-0, 1.17 ERA, 7.2 IP/2 H/1 HR/0 BB/15 K
Low A (Beloit) – 3-2, 2.24 ERA, 64.1 IP/42 H/4 HR/8 BB/69 K
INSIDE THE DUGOUT

This is an interview by Bill Palmer with Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys player from Elizabethton, Tennessee.

Quick Hits with Jason Witten
By Bill Palmer/ Contributor

There were probably many times in the life of a young Jason Witten when he dreamed of being a player in the NFL. Most young athletes try to emulate some of their favorite players and want to play like them. Whether it be Joe Montana or Emmitt Smith or Jerry Rice, they picture themselves doing great things on Sunday afternoons and hearing the crowds cheer them on. For most, however, they will never see that dream come true. The odds of becoming a professional football player are roughly the same as becoming the President. For Jason, he is living his dream every day.

I had a chance to talk with Jason between practice and position meetings in Oxnard during a particularly tough stretch of training camp this summer. Here are some of his thoughts going into his third season as a Dallas Cowboy.
Read the interview