It will take place on Sunday, Sept. 15th, 2024--Meetup and start is at the Whitewater Center, Polk County TN. For additional details on time, fees, and how to register click on the 'Rides and Events' link https://www.scottsbikes.com
Friday, August 30, 2024
Friday, August 2, 2024
Car Accident Victim on Forest Service Road waits for 22 hours for help to come
Joe "Clooney" Rodriguez, a recent move-in to Monroe County TN escaped serious injury in what could have been a deadly single-vehicle car crash on USFS Wildcat Creek road just 10 miles from Tellico Plains on July 22, 2024.
The good news was that he was not hurt and his cell phone still had service, 'Thumbs-up' for Boost Mobile--although he did not call 911. Joe said he spent the rainy overnight ordeal sleeping underneath the car.
A USFS service employee happened to drive by and did report the accident to the Tellico ranger station, but they did not do any follow-up or offer assistance...this should serve as a warning to others: if possible, travel in a group or caravan and have plenty of supplies while on rural forest service roads. Use your head and plan ahead or you could easily become "bear food."
No tow truck service companies were willing to come out to the remote crash site except Shep's garage from Tellico Plains: they came out and did the salvage op/recovery. If not for the big tree, he would have fallen down a deep ravine and the outcome of the crash would have been entirely different. There are similar accidents yearly, see statistics of U.S Forest Service road accidents on Accidentdatacenter.com
Monday, July 8, 2024
Running on the Forest Trails--Endurance Event July 20, and 21st
It is a challenging mountain trail run event. To sign up and other information see the East Coast Adventures Website https://ultrarunning.com/calendar/event/the-cherokee If you are more of a hiker than a runner check out http://www.cherokeehikingclub.org/
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Car Rally Race may soon to be 10 Times Bigger, if allowed to continue
Derek Wooley KD5UBL, one of the chief collaborators in the recent Car Rally Race in Polk County TN is giddy with joy as he announces what he hopes will take place in 2 to 3 years in our Cherokee National Forest.
Road and Track magazine reports: "It's a sport on the fringes. Advertising dollars don't rain in for a sport that doesn't lend itself to television or even in person-viewing.The previous 19 months have hit the rally world hard: 3 deaths during rallies and two other drivers, including one of the sport's biggest, passing away in crashes away from the course."
USFS District Ranger Supervisors are not evaluating any other requests for future rally race events.
John Muir and other great naturalists that came before us would cringe at the thought of turning our Great Wilderness into a pit of Zombie Hell.
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Sparks Fly at USFS Meeting: Racetrack Event through the Forest Considered an "Environmental Crime"
Even though greedy corporate interests have managed to sway or influence forest service supervisors in other parts of the country, the proposed car rally race on June 15-16 in a Wildlife Management Area at the Starr Mountain Wilderness is in direct violation of "The Wilderness Act."
A Local resident asks "Why do you want to destroy our Natural Wilderness?" ...Another local resident says a friend was sentenced to almost 2 years in prison for accidentally damaging a tree in the forest: 2 days of car rally racing would have a much more severe impact on the environment.
Hiwassee Ocoee District Ranger Supervisor Philip Earhart has decided to authorize all portions of National Forest Service Roads (NFSRs) 23, 44, 55, 67, 99, 103, 220, 221, 302, and 1333 on National Forest System Lands on the Ocoee Ranger District, Cherokee National Forest, Polk and Monroe Counties, Tennessee for rally car racing events on June 15-16, 2024.
One of the first of many comments at a recent rally forum community meeting described how a man had been convicted to a year and a half in federal prison because he crossed the creek in his truck and accidentally damaged a tree at Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park... "You know what it cost that man? non-dui, non-drug, he just damaged a tree with his Toyota truck-he served 1-
1/2 years in prison because it's federal land."...Two days of car rally races in the forest would have a much more severe impact on the forest environment.
Sunday, May 5, 2024
U.S. Forest Service Allows Car Rally Road Race Near "Protected Wilderness" in Polk County TN
The Cleveland TN office of the U.S. Forest Service is allowing race car zombies to turn a narrow forest service road into a weekend-long race car rally on June 14-16, 2024--in the
Starr Mountain Wilderness.
The staging area will be the Polk County High School Hwy 411 on Saturday morning June 15th, 2024. The Tennessee Rally USA organizers are allowing what they call "spectator friendly viewing." ...They do not own your national forest. Come and witness your national forest turned into a racetrack--take pictures and gather information which could be used in court.
A petition with over 600 signatures was signed last year voicing strong opposition to allow our treasured national forest to be used for a Daytona Race Car-like event.
"A similar event was allowed to happen back in 2002 that caused a lot of problems as far as local residents being behind closed access roads, and a funeral procession being held up for over an hour due to the rally race. It's going to cost our county, it's going to tear up roads, disrupt wildlife habitat, cause an increased danger to residents, and impact all emergency services for the entire weekend...it's a wacko idea proposed by greedy city slickers."
The idea of holding such an event in the national forest has raised rumors of a possible 'kickback' or 'bribe' since it seems so unreal and may possibly be in violation of several federal laws. Call any other U.S. Forest Service district and ask if you can get a permit for a rally car race on a narrow and secluded forest service road, which borders a protected wilderness..."You Wanna do What?"...
Contact as many environmental activists as possible. Come to the event and show your support for our beautiful forests and wildlife. Your support will shape our future for generations to come.
The Wilderness Act was passed in 1964, passed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This Act established the National Wilderness Preservation System ..." for the permanent good of the whole people." This law also directs federal land management agencies, including the National Park Service (NPS), to manage these wilderness areas and preserve their wilderness character.
The Southern Environmental Law Center is the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental legal advocacy organization in and focused on the South. As lawyers, policy and issue experts they take on some of the toughest challenges to protect our air, water, land, wildlife, and the people who live here.
The video below shows where the same race group did a preparation/practice run on Lost Creek Campground Road near Reliance TN last year--notice the placard in the video, in a Wildlife Management Area: they referred to it as a "Special Event" as a way to hide or lessen public awareness. On the day of the practice "special event" (April 8, 2023) it rained hard all day long; windshield wipers in vehicles could barely keep up.
"All who enjoy the natural wonders of the Starr Mountain Wilderness will be victimized by the roaring of engines, the screeching of tires, and the aftermath of damaged roads and trails through our beloved forest, all in the name of entertainment."
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