Could the Corona Virus Spread like the Black Plague in the 1340's?

The Black Plague was a catastrophic epidemic of a bubonic type plague that killed millions of people in Europe during a period of 5 years, from 1347 to 1352.

"The plague arrived in Europe when 12 trading ships had docked at the Sicilian Port of Messina. People gathered at the docks were met with a horrifying surprise: Most sailors on the ships were dead, and those still alive were gravely ill and covered in black boils that oozed blood and pus. Sicilian authorities hastily ordered the fleet of "death ships" out of the harbor, but it was too late:
Over the next 5 years, the Black Death would kill more than 20 million people in Europe--at the time, this was about one-third of the continents's population." History.com

Doctors battling the Corona Virus in New York City are under extreme pressure, in the likes of which they have never endured. One was quoted as saying--" As doctors we are used to pressure, we are used to seeing a lot of things that normal people don't see, but this is really beyond anything I've seen in my career."


For the latest updates on the Coronavirus outbreak--TN department of health website.

 

Remote Area Medical Free Healthcare Clinic

CORE volunteers and professionals in medical, dental, and vision serviced over 2,000 patients at the Jacob Building in Knoxville on the weekend of February 1st and 2nd--anyone who showed up was able to get eyeglasses, dental work, or have a general check-up for free.

Remote Area Medical founder Stan Brock was a cowboy and TV actor turned philanthropist--he was 82 when he passed away a couple of years back--Stan's mission was clear: preventing pain and alleviating suffering.

Update: 4/1/2020---Due to the Coronavirus some clinics may be canceled or postponed

Find out when a clinic may be in your area--check out the RAM USA website RAMUSA.Org

Celebrity 'Con Man' Todd Sweet on Most Wanted List

One of the smoothest talking con men that ever passed through East TN is wanted as of 11/20/2019 for passing worthless checks in Bradley County 

Worthy of a Netflix documentary--considered (non-violent) and smarter than most law enforcement officers he has encountered: after walking away from a prison work farm in Michigan (2008) he went on a cross country crime spree.

While in Monroe County he told some area businesses and cops that he was an heir to a fortune and even convinced two Sweetwater PD cops to retire because he had promised them high paying security guard jobs. 

After he was brought back to Monroe County in 2008, he was part of the infamous 'fake attorney scandal' while he was housed in the Monroe County jail--in which Sweet, and two former MCSD detectives played an elaborate ruse on a jailed inmate.
read more on the fake attorney case Courthousenews

Farm Hands Band at Cherohala Skyway Festival

It was a windy and overcast Saturday, but the rain stayed away making the 4th annual October 26, 2019 Cherohala Skyway Heritage Bluegrass Festival a huge success at the Charles Hall Museum fairgrounds.

There were pioneer demonstrations, wagon rides, antique tractors, lots of food vendors, artisans, wood carvers, and several musical acts.
The Farm Hands were recently profiled on Bluegrass Today, but there is still no official word whether guest fiddle player Kimberley Bibb will become a permanent member of the band or an occasional guest artist--let's hope she stays on!