Southern Progressives

Moving to the left one post at a time

October 03, 2023

National News

Trump turns his fraud trial into a campaign stop as he seeks to capitalize on his legal woes

Donald Trump’s court appearances are no longer distractions from his campaign to return to the White House. They are central to it.

apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-trial-2024-campaign-court-fb73b4275be2d43b0f92031737d3e9eb

Rep. Matt Gaetz files motion to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, throwing House into new turmoil

Speaker Kevin McCarthy is facing an extraordinary referendum on his leadership of the House after Rep. Matt Gaetz, a longtime critic, moved to launch a vote to oust him from the helm.

apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-matt-gaetz-speaker-vacate-congress-e7e5ccc6cf79ccbf5b4a7b73b9d5a3ae

About Merrick Garland

“The American people must protect each other.” That’s what Attorney General Merrick Garland said on 60 Minutes Sunday night. He choked up saying it, perhaps because it’s so out of reach these days, or perhaps because he has relatives who died in the Holocaust simply because they were Jews and that’s an integral part of who he is. Let’s not fault anyone who’s emotional on occasion about the fate of our country—we should all be at this point.

open.substack.com/pub/joycevance/p/about-merrick-garland?r=2cuzj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

State News:

'Running on Vibes:' Inside Nashville vice mayor Angie Henderson’s historic upset – Tennessee Lookout

Angie Henderson was prepared to lose. The August 3 municipal election had her pitted against longtime council member and incumbent Vice Mayor Jim Shulman. The early returns were concerning: Shulman was up by roughly 1,500 votes. The only poll conducted had her down 20 points, and now she was trailing. “I remained somewhat optimistic,” Henderson […]

tennesseelookout.com/2023/10/03/running-on-vibes-inside-nashville-vice-mayor-angie-hendersons-historic-upset

Local News:

Pumpkintown activities set as annual festival nears

The 20th Annual Pumpkintown festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, in Downtown Athens. Among the activities that will be held during the event is the Mutt Strutt, which kicks off the Doggie Costume Contest at 10:30 a.m. at Market Park, with costume winners announced at noon.

The 20th Annual Pumpkintown festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, in Downtown Athens. A petting zoo will be one of many activities and attractions featured in this year’s festival.

Activities will abound in less than two weeks during the annual Pumpkintown festival in Athens on Saturday, Oct. 14.

“We have a saying here in Athens that if you can’t find something to see, do, experience or eat while you’re at Pumpkintown, it’s not our fault,” Friendly City Festival President Meredith Willson stated.

Pumpkintown has become one of the region’s biggest festivals in the last 20 years with plenty of activities for young and old. The festival hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

These activities and more help festivalgoers celebrate history, heritage and culture, according to Willson.

The Scott Crisp Memorial PowWow is dedicated to the memory of Scott Crisp, a committee member of Pumpkintown until his untimely death in 2016.

The beat of the native drums and the notes of a flute will lead participants down to Market Park where they will experience tribal dancers, Native American crafts and participate in the broom dance.

Another fan favorite is the McMinn Regional Humane Society’s Adopt-a-Thon, which is co-sponsored by Tennessee Wesleyan University.

Registration for the costume contest begins at 10 a.m. at Market Park Pavilion, followed by the infamous Mutt Strutt at 10:30 a.m.

Contest winners will be announced by Athens City Manager Deb Wallace and TWU President Tyler Forrest at 11:35 a.m. Fullers Frame Shop will host cat adoptions and paw print activities from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more information about the Humane Society, visit www.mrhumane.org

The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum’s 36th annual Quilt Show, entitled “Sew Many Quilts,” will be available for Pumpkintown attendees free of charge during festival hours.

This award-winning show will feature more than 100 quilts in a variety of categories. For more information, visit www.livingheritagemuseum.org or contact 423-745-0329.

CASA Corridor of East Tennessee is hosting a celebrity dunk tank to raise funds and awareness for abused and neglected children in the community. Community members such as Forrest, Bo Cagle and Adam Lowe, just to name a few, will be standing by for festivalgoers to take their shot.

Visit www.casacorridor.org for more information on this non-profit organization that makes a difference in the lives of many children.

History buffs and laypersons alike can also take part in the Downtown Historical Walking Tour. Led by McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy and Paul Willson, participants can take a trip back in time through a journey of Athens the way it was.

Highlights include African-American business locations, TWU campus and The Battle of Athens little-known facts. Interested parties can take part starting at 10 a.m. at the corner of Washington and Jackson streets near the DAR booth.

Another highlight of Pumpkintown is Pumpkin Plinko. On South Jackson Street, one of the largest Plinko games in the world is set up by the Athens Parks and Recreation Department where young and old alike roll balls down the street through a maze of pumpkins.

The object is to score a perfect 30 to win a big prize.

Participants can also stop by the Athens Arts Center to check out the new space and get creative juices flowing with pumpkin painting from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. or as long as supplies last.

Participants in fall break theatre camp in grades 4-8 will perform two free performances of “Spookley the Square Pumpkin” at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and visitors may also enjoy ceramic art by Atlanta-based artist Miah Hall as well as AACA’s Annual Student Art Exhibition.

In addition to all of the above, Pumpkintown will feature local shopping, live entertainment on two stages, a host of children’s activities and 300 arts, crafts, info and food vendors.

Pumpkintown is a free-to-the-public production by Friendly City Festivals and a dedicated creative volunteer committee.

The festival is made possible by the following sponsors: The City of Athens, McMinn County Tourism Board, Tennessee Overhill, Tennessee Arts Commission, Wolfenden Family Pharmacies, EXIT Milestone Realty, Oneheart Dojo, Humana, Valley Oil, Dynasty Spas, Starr Regional Medical Center, DENSO, VEC Customer Shares, Citizens National Bank of Sevier County,3 Rivers Radio Group, Simmons National Bank, Simmons Wealth Management Group, Warren Jackson CPAs, Mayfield Dairy Farms, and Athens Kiwanis Club. Media support comes from The Daily Post Athenian, The Morning Fax, WCLE Mix 104.1, WRCB-TV, WBIR-TV and WATE-TV.

For more information about Pumpkintown, contact Willson by cell at 423-887-3544 or email at [email protected] or visit the website at www.friendlycityfestivals.com

 

The Arts:

Senior News:

Majorities Say Government Does Too Little for Older People, the Poor and the Middle Class

Majorities of Americans say the federal government does not provide enough help for older people (65%), poor people (62%) and the middle class (61%). By contrast, nearly two-thirds (64%) say the government provides too much help for wealthy people.

www.pewresearch.org/politics/2018/01/30/majorities-say-government-does-too-little-for-older-people-the-poor-and-the-middle-class

Bill Freeman is Southern Progressive Newsletter

If you would like to support what news I bring to progressives in McMinn County, buy me a coffee so I will have the energy to keep on going.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calabash52M

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