Tennessee
How The Unkind Raven bookstore gave new life to a Tennessee house built in 1845
Local independent bookstores have never been more important. With fair access to literature under political attack, bookstores are a bulwark against censorship and an asset to the communities they serve.
Each week we profile an independent bookstore, discovering what makes each one special and getting their expert book recommendations.
This week we have Leah Gilkerson and Kaitlyn Parker of The Unkind Raven in Dandridge, Tennessee!
What’s your store’s story?
We had a vision that The Unkind Raven Booktique could bring our community together in a non-traditional way by hosting workshops, fundraisers and events. Our charming indie bookstore is nestled in downtown historic Dandridge inside a quaint 1845 building known as the Historic Hynds House. As a women-owned establishment, we’re proud to have opened our doors in December 2023, extending a warm welcome to all who step into our shop.
What makes your independent bookstore unique?
We stand out by fostering community bonds through an array of classes, gifting children’s books, and housing a dedicated museum within our historic building, creating a space where stories come to life. Our commitment to creating a holistic literary experience sets us apart as more than just a bookstore, but a cultural hub for all to enjoy.
What’s your favorite section in your store?
Our most cherished spots within the bookstore are the cozy rooms, where one can immerse themselves in books, or enjoy spirited games with friends, creating lasting memories within the heart of our historic house.
What book do you love to recommend to customers and why?
Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” will always be recommended because of its stance against censorship and the upholding of literature. Additionally, John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” is such a classic that gets overlooked!
Why is shopping at local independent bookstores important?
It’s crucial as it directly supports the local economy, preserves community character, and sustains neighborhood livelihoods. These small shops often offer personalized recommendations, unique selections, and a sense of belonging, fostering a vibrant literary culture that celebrates individuality and diversity.
What are some of your store’s upcoming programs or partnerships you would like to share?
We are continuing to achieve this vision through the month of October with pottery, jewelry making, a release party and reading, The Unkind Raven One Year Anniversary Booktacular, cookie decorating, stained glass, and Halloween fun.
Tennessee
Watch Reese Chapman’s unbelievable catch for Tennessee baseball vs LSU
Tennessee baseball right fielder Reese Chapman made one of the most unbelievable catches of the season to rob LSU of a home run.
In the top of the fifth inning, LSU’s Steven Milam smoked a 1-1 pitch from Landon Mack to deep right field. Chapman sprinted toward the wall.
The ball was headed out of the ballpark when Chapman leaped, caught the ball and slammed into the wall. He held on to end the inning, triggering a wild celebration by Mack and the UT dugout.
It was a critical play for the Vols midway through Game 1 of their LSU series on April 3 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
“I don’t know if we’re going to see a better one than that, boys,” said ESPN analyst Chris Burke, a former Tennessee baseball player. “It’s not just the play that he made.. It’s the complete disregard for your own body.”
Chapman almost single-handedly put Tennessee in the driver’s seat. He not only robbed LSU of a home run in the fifth, he also hit a home run to put the Vols ahead.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Blake Grimmer blooped a single to left-center. Then Chapman pulled a 0-1 pitch over the right-field wall for a two-run homer. It was his third home run of the season, putting Tennessee ahead 3-1.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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Tennessee
Americans would be ‘up at night worrying’ if they knew the truth about alien life, Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett says
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said the American people would be “up at night worrying” if they knew what he’s been briefed on about extraterrestrial life.
“I’ve been briefed by just about every alphabet agency there is. And, I’ll just say this, if they were to release the things that I’ve seen, you’d be up at night, worrying about, thinking about this stuff,” Burchett told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on Wednesday.
Burchett — a member of the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets — recalled that he was briefed two weeks ago “on an issue” about extraterrestrial life that “would have set the Earth” on fire and “unglued” the country if released.
“They would demand answers,” Burchett said without going into further detail.
When Finnerty played a clip of former Rep. Matt Gaetz alleging knowledge of alien-human hybrid breeding programs, Burchett stopped short of directly addressing the explosive claims.
“I’m still a member of Congress, so I can’t really comment too much on what Matt said,” Burchett told Finnerty.
“Wait, seriously?” Finnerty slightly pushed back.
“I’m being 100% serious,” Burchett replied.
Burchett said that he has advocated for “full disclosure” despite the potential impact the truth could have on the public.
“The public has a right to know, dadgummit, it’s your tax dollars. Let’s get it out there,” he said.
Burchett also said that the people handling these sensitive matters are at the heart of the issue.
“When I’m in a meeting, in a closed-door meeting, and I ask about the president’s points on these. And then I’m told by some arrogant, unelected bureaucrat that the president is on a need-to-know basis. I think that says everything it needs to be said about what’s going on,” he told Finnerty.
The congressman said he’s described the handling of sensitive information to President Trump as “layers of the onion,” with each peeled away revealing “another one underneath.”
“When I sit in a meeting, and some little punk with a man bun is sort of running the show, and you have decorated officer military officers in the meeting there that are basically unallowed to say anything, and you can read their faces,” he shared.
Burchett also weighed in on the alarming string of disappearances and deaths among the country’s top researchers in the field — including the mysterious disappearance of retired Air Force Gen. William McCasland in February and his former colleague, rocket scientist Monica Reza, eight months earlier.
“There are no coincidences in this town. These folks have disappeared or died mysteriously,” he said. “I think overall, I think there is a connection there. People just do not disappear … not in this day and age.”
“For the record, I’m not suicidal, and I don’t take risks,” he added.
Burchett’s remarks follow President Trump’s vow in February to direct the Pentagon and other agencies to release files on UFOs and “alien and extraterrestrial life” to the public.
“Based on the tremendous interest shown,” the president wrote, “I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”
Since the president’s statement, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has registered the domains aliens.gov and alien.gov, according to People.
Tennessee
East Tennessee Foundation celebrates 40 years of service
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WCYB) — The East Tennessee Foundation celebrated 40 years of service across the region at Bristol Motor Speedway today.
The nonprofit community foundation led the way in long term recovery efforts in the wake of Helene’s destruction, creating and funding positions across Northeast Tennessee.
President & CEO Keith Barber says the organization is moving forward with the hopes to expand their philanthropy.
“The past 18 months have propelled us forward but so have the past 40 years,” he said. “As we look forward we take those experiences that we had – whether it’s the past 18 months or the past 40 years – and build upon them so that we’re better tomorrow than we were today.
The East Tennessee Foundation was also able to gift a $2,500 donation to the Speedway Children’s Charities.
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