Jan. 6 in New Orleans was the kickoff for Mardi Gras which normally features tableau balls, dinners, brunches, parties, concerts in the park and many parades. One of the first events there is the Joan of Arc Parade. Locals never need an excuse for a parade or a celebration and this year is no exception. Leading the parade was a standard bearer with a banner reading BE GONE FOUL ... (click for more)

Earlier this week someone dumped hundreds of plastic hangers, with metal hooks and clips, into the #2 plastic bin at the Hamilton County/Red Bank recycling drop off center. This happened when the regular, super conscientious attendant was off for the MLK holiday. Normally this particular drop off has single digit or very low double digit contamination rates, the lowest of any ... (click for more)

The town of Signal Mountain has received $1.2 million from the American Rescue Plan and will get a second installment next year from the federal government. It also has gotten $998,000 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Discussion about how to spend these grants took place at the town council meeting Monday night. Interim Town Manager Mitchell Moore ... (click for more)

The Hamilton County Health Department on Monday reported 467 new positive COVID-19 cases, down from 670 on Friday. The total number of cases in the county now stands at 84,442. There were 14 more deaths from the virus in Hamilton County reported on Monday, for a total of 971. Officials with the Hamilton County Health Department said nine are deaths added as part of the review ... (click for more)

ETSU Head Football Coach George Quarles announced on Monday afternoon the addition of David Blackburn to the staff as the new Director of Football Operations. Blackburn will join the staff in March prior to the beginning of spring practices. “I have had the privilege of knowing David Blackburn for many years and I am thrilled to welcome him to our staff,” stated Quarles. “David ... (click for more)

Some thoughts and observations about the weekend that was for Tennessee basketball: The Uros Plavsic story continued on Saturday. The former Hamilton Heights Christian Academy standout started again and scored 12 points, grabbed six rebounds and played a season-high 27 minutes, 38 seconds in the Vols’ 64-50 victory over No. 13 LSU at Thompson-Boling Arena. The 7-foot forward’s ... (click for more)