Commercial Truck Insurance in Elizabethton, TN

A Hostel More Like a Nice B&B

In my time, I’ve stayed in enough hostels to know that some are nice while others are , well, let’s say more basic or rustic. That is polite talk for being a dump.

Far Not Fast is run by AT backpacker Daddy-O and his family. He is a fairly new retired veteran who served our nation in many roles including in the infinity in the Middle East. He and his wife also spent months backpacking on the AT with their five children a few years ago. I can’t imagine the logistics.

Far Not Fast falls into the category of what I call a 5 star hostel. The bottom floor of the house has room for 6. It isn’t like being stuck in the basement. This is a big and newly furnished room with big windows looking out onto acres and acres of pasture. There is laundry, hiker clothes, a ping pong table, darts, and a big honking TV. Daddy-O includes a shuttle from Wilber Dam Rd, Hampton, TN in the basic fee. Shuttle to Elizabethton, TN for dinner and resupply at Wally World also included. My breakfast, also part of the cost, was 3 eggs made to order, biscuits and jelly, and LOTS of coffee with half and half.

Far Not Fast sits on 20 acres of rolling hills. There are two cows (one is very pregnant and loved it when I scratched behind her ears) and a flock of colorful chickens.

Staying at Far Not Fast felt like I was staying at a fiend’s or with relatives. It definitely is what one hiker called it – the platinum plan.

Daddy-O also provides shuttle service.

Trail Correspondents Podcast and a Shout Out to Panther on the PCT

I want to give a plug for The Trek’s Trail Correspondents podcast. It is a fun podcast covering hikers on the big three trails this year. It also happensthat my friend, Panther, is a correspondent from the PCT this year. I had the fun experience of dropping Panther off at Campo to start her thru hike at the end of last month. So be sure to subscribe to Trail Correspondents for the 2023 season.

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ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) – A portion of Highway 91 in Elizabethton will continue to see slowed traffic as work continues, according to city officials and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

On Tuesday, the City of Elizabethton posted to social media saying TDOT had initially informed the city that 30-mile-per-hour signs along the highway corridor between the G Street and Mill Street intersections would be taken down. However, city officials stated Tuesday that a TDOT representative later informed them that those plans had changed and the signs would remain in place while work continued.

“Although the signs indicate that the speed limit will be 30 mph, that still is only temporary as the signs are being left up until the Highway 91 Project is completed, which according to [the TDOT representative] could be in the Spring of 2024,” the city wrote in a social media post.

TDOT informed the city that pavement markings needed to be added to the resurfaced part of the corridor before the signs could come down, and the department was still waiting for the paving portion of the project to be complete, according to the post.

“The City has done all it can do in regard to getting the speed limit signs changed,” Elizabethton Engineering Manager Matthew Balogh stated in the post. Balogh informed any Elizabethton residents with questions or concerns to reach out to TDOT.

On Thursday, TDOT provided a response to the post to News Channel 11. TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi said the department did receive a request from the City to see if the signs could be removed and, at the time of receiving that request, felt it would be appropriate to do so.

However, Nagi said TDOT felt the signs could be taken down because the highway project was “on hold” at the time. According to Nagi, before crews began to take the signs down, “final plans were received and TDOT and the contractor were able to start preparing for the resumption of work.”

Nagi said TDOT believed it would be in the public’s best interest to keep the speed reduction in place since crews would again be back in the road earlier than expected, and the speed requirements would have only briefly changed.

According to Nagi, TDOT crews are set to start pavement marking on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Those markings include stop bars and turn arrows throughout the Highway 91 corridor. Nagi said keeping the speed down in that area will help ensure worker safety.

TDOT’s full response can be read below:

“TDOT Operations reviewed a request from the City of Elizabethton with the Contractor to determine if the current speed reduction through most of the project could be removed. At the time of the request, a portion of the remaining work on the project was on hold and TDOT felt it would be appropriate to remove the speed reduction until work resumed throughout the project. However, before work crews were scheduled to remove the speed reduction, final plans were received and TDOT and the contractor were able to start preparing for the resumption of work. Because work crews are now back in the roadway much sooner than anticipated, TDOT felt it would not be in the public’s best interest to remove the speed reduction, only to reinstate it shortly afterward. Currently we are on schedule to have pavement marking crews on the roadway starting Wednesday, September 20. These crews will be applying pavement markings such as stop bars and turn arrows throughout the corridor. This work requires the crews to be out in the roadway using lane closures with hand equipment to apply the pavement markings. It is necessary to maintain reduced speeds while this work proceeds to help create a safer environment for the workers. TDOT is aware of the inconvenience that speed reductions cause to the motoring public and work closely with the contractor’s schedules to minimize the amount of time a speed reduction is necessary. TDOT, and the Contractor, have every intention of removing the speed reduction as soon as it is reasonably safe to do so. We ask that the public work with us to help ensure the safety of field crews as we try to finish up this project.”

Mark Nagi, TDOT spokesperson

BY ROBERT SORRELL Star Correspondent A $44 million expansion at the Snap-on Tools facility in Elizabethton will create about 50 new jobs, Tennessee officials said Tuesday. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and Snap-on officials provided details about the project, which has been in construction since last year. Snap-on’s project adds nearly 49,000 square feet of manufacturing space and new equipment to support additional capacity for forging, machining, heat treating, chrome plating and assembly at its location at 2195 State Line Road. The governor’s office said Snap-on is the third largest employer in Carter County, specializing in manufacturing hand tools including ratchets, wrenches, pry bars and pullers. Once fully operational, the expansion allows the Snap-on Elizabethton plant to employ nearly 500 people. Since 2020, TNECD has supported 35 economic development projects in the Northeast Tennessee region, resulting in approximately 3,200 job commitments and $981 million in capital investment, according to the release from Lee’s office. “Well-known brands like Snap-on continue to choose to do business in the Volunteer State, and I am grateful to this company for their commitment to expand and create additional job opportunities for Tennesseans across Carter County,” Lee said. Snap-on has become a vital part of Elizabethton, McWhorter said. “We are proud that Snap-on will expand its business in Tennessee, and we hope to continue partnering together to facilitate additional growth in this region,” McWhorter added. The Tennessee Economic and Community Development grant program supports the efforts of companies like Snap-on, said Jon Carley, the Elizabethton plant manager. “We value our hard-working associates in this facility as well as the community’s endorsement and on-going support,” Carley said. Snap-on, a Kenosha, Wisconsin-based company, first arrived in Elizabethton in 1974, and has undergone several expansions over the past 50 years. “For nearly half a century, Snap-on has provided high quality jobs right here in Elizabethton,” Elizabethton Mayor Curt Alexander said. “As Snap-on has grown, their commitment to our community and its workforce has only deepened.” The mayor said the city is grateful for Snap-on’s latest expansion project. “I look forward to seeing their continued growth over the next 50 years,” Alexander said. Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby said Snap-on has been an “excellent employer and industry partner” to Carter County for many years. “I am grateful for Snap-on’s investment in the advancement of industry and education in our community through their support of our school systems, TCAT and other educational centers,” Woodby said. “I look forward to continuing our relationship.” The Elizabethton Regional Planning Commission approved Snap-on’s plans in early 2023. The commission unanimously approved plans in January and March, which included expansions to the north and east sides of the property, including a parking lot. J.A. Street and Associates is the general contractor for the expansion.

By Lynn J. Richardson Forty-three years after graduating from Elizabethton High School, where he was a proud member of the Betsy Band, Nick Grindstaff is back in town — this time as the developer and co-owner of a brand new RV park located along the Watauga River at 155 Watauga Road in Carter County. The excitement he and his wife, Charlotte, have for their new project — Riverside RV Park — was evident as they described their new venture — a six-acre, 71-slot RV park they hope to open early next spring. Though the two now live in Friendswood, Texas, Nick says this area still feels like home. He grew up about two miles from the RV park he and his wife are creating. While Nick’s job in finance is winding down, he is currently considering other jobs as well as possible retirement. Charlotte, a former 7th grade math teacher, is already retired. Both look at the RV park as an exciting new project for this time in their lives. “We saw this property for sale in July 2022 when we were in town,” Nick said. “We thought it would be a beautiful place for an RV park, so we ran the numbers and looked at it and said ‘We can make this work.’ “We love East Tennessee, and come back at least once a year because we still have friends and family here. We look forward to spending more time here. “For a while at least, it will be a combination of Charlotte and me running the park,” Nick added. “We will be back and forth. At some point, we may hire a manager and maybe a staff person, but we don’t know what we don’t know, so we will just work to get an appreciation of everything and then figure out what needs to be done.” Work on the park is moving right along and Nick says it may be open for guests as early as this March 2024. The Grindstaffs say they are very pleased with the work and the progress Barker Construction of Elizabethton and other local subcontractors are making. When completed, Riverside RV Park will offer many amenities to guests including full hookups, including sewer, 30-, 50- and 20-amp electrical service and water at each location. Each slot is 25’ x 45′ and will include concrete pads to park RVs on. There will be a camp store that will sell camp supplies, firewood, ice, snacks, sodas and other essentials. Propane will be available for sale and there will be a fire ring at each site. The park will also feature a high-speed fiber internet network which Nick says will offer excellent internet service. There will be separate men’s and women’s restroom facilities with showers and private dressing rooms, a coin or card-operated laundry, a playground, a pet park and an expansive green space — close to two acres — for activities such as corn hole, frisbee and other activities. Roads throughout the park will be paved with asphalt. “The way it is built, the river is accessible to everyone in the park,” Charlotte added. “And with 600 feet of frontage on the Watauga River, there will be plenty of access to trophy trout fishing, with easy access off State Route 400.” “As we get closer to opening — March-ish — we will start taking reservations,” Nick said. “The website will be live in 60-90 days but until then we have a temporary site — RiversideRVTN.com — so that people can go there and sign up for information about the opening and know when the website will go live.” “We’re working hard to build a really nice park,” he added. “We want this to be the premiere park in the area, and it will be managed and maintained to a really high standard. I’m just so proud to be from here and we are so excited to be a part of the community. We want to have something nice, something so that both locals and out-of-towners can come and enjoy our Appalachian foothills area.”

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Elizabethton City Council voted Thursday night to once again manage the city’s municipal golf course.

The city hasn’t managed the Elizabethton Golf Course for five years. Instead, it has been managed by Hampton Golf.

However, Hampton Golf has decided not to renew its contract.

Mayor Curt Alexander said that after recent complaints about the condition of the course, it was time for the city to manage it again.

“It’s not being maintained like it should be, you know, appearance wise, play wise,” Alexander said. “We’ve had quite a few complaints.”

In May, the annual East Tennessee Amateur golf tournament that was supposed to take place at the course was canceled due to the poor conditions.

The course’s golf pro, Stephen Wilson, also resigned over “attacking comments” regarding the course. Wilson recently came back to the club to try to improve the course.

“The greens took some damage prior to me coming back,” Wilson said. “We’ve been working pretty hard on that around the clock. A lot of the rough and the areas were overgrown, it was pretty high with grass. So we’ve been mowing nonstop daylight to dark, trying to get some of that and taken care of.”

Wilson, who is employed by Hampton Golf, said he also represents the City of Elizabethton since it’s the city’s course. He believes it is a good thing the city is taking control of the course.

“I think we’re in a good state right now to where we can make the improvements that we need to make to get it back to where it used to be,” he said.

The city will soon begin hiring for the jobs to keep up the golf course, including grounds supervisors, mowers, mechanics, and more.

“I think that’s what we’ve not had in the past, is they’re not all trying to make that the best course that we can make it here in Elizabethton so hopefully we’ll be able to do that,” Mayor Alexander said.

Wilson asks that the public be patient as they go through the transition.

“As we start laying the framework for the business side of it, come spring, we’ll be able to do a lot more on the course maintenance part of the process,” Wilson said.

Wilson said he would also love to being back the East Tennessee Amateur tournament.

“I’m pretty sure I would assume that Bill Greene would love to bring the tournament back if the course conditions are to the standards that they should be,” Wilson said.

The city will put the job postings up on Friday. Annual labor costs are expected to be around $300,000.