The fireworks at Riverbend are always awesome. I normally would be there to enjoy them but I had an interesting alternative offer become available to me that evening. I got to go four wheeling out to Edwards Point on Signal Mountain in the Prentice Cooper State Forest to view the fireworks from the bluff overlooking town. It had been many years since I had been out there, having sold my 4x4 years ago, and I was really looking forward to it. The almost one hour walking speed ride through mud holes and over rocks was great fun. The bluff there is a little over five miles as the crow flies from town and the view of the fireworks was spectacular.
I would say there were roughly 75 people there on the bluff for the show. What wasn't spectacular was watching many of these people tossing their beer cans and bottles over the edge. Even more disturbing was seeing the many lit cigarette butts arching out over the edge as they were casually flipped burning down into the woods below.
To say the least, it would have been extremely difficult to get the resources needed out there to fight a fire at the base of that bluff.
After much soul searching and discretion being the better part of valor, I decided not to speak up and start a fight with 100 people way less than half my age. These were some seriously trashy people and I was quite saddened by it. Also, unfortunately, I was not surprised by the behavior. It was simply continuing proof that Tennessee trash are alive and well.
Andy B. Jones
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Mr. Jones:
Speak up. Many of my boating friends have learned from my prompting about polluting “my” lake. I chastise them for throwing cigarette butts in the water, and other trash is simply not tolerated.
The next time you go on an excursion, take some trash bags with you, and designate some empty beer cans for butts. You may not understand what an impact you make by doing this, but trust me, it will. Carry the trash out with you when you leave. If it is too much for one person, designate someone. Make them proud of the contribution they make.
I have carried many a bag of trash off the lake, and no one has ever picked a fight with me over it. If enough people set an example, perhaps the trash will get it.
Dottie Brewer
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I applaud the discussion on littering in our community. I also feel compelled to raise another equally important question related to the vehicle trespass described in the article. To get to Edwards Point - which is privately owned by two local families - one must travel through Prentice Cooper State Forest and Tennessee River Gorge Trust property. Off-road vehicle traffic is not authorized on the Edwards Point tract of Prentice Cooper State Forest or on Tennessee River Gorge Trust property accept for the families that own Edwards Point - they have a Deeded Right of Way for ingress and egress to their property.
There are places in Tennessee where off-road vehicle operation is legally allowed and favorable, but not in the Edwards Point area. The Tennessee River Gorge Trust welcomes visitors who wish to access our trails by foot near Edwards Point during daylight hours, but we do not authorize any off-road vehicle access.
Rick Huffines
Executive Director
Tennessee River Gorge Trust
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Dear Mr. Huffines,
Please go easy on Mr. Jones. He sounds like a good guy. I am reminded of a scene from either South Park or Family Guy (both forbidden around me) that my sons told me about where there are three rednecks and one is mouthing off about some injustice he'd just suffered and how he was going for revenge. One of the other two says, "Now hold on there, Skeeter, he ain't hurtin' nobody." I don't want to but I laugh every time.
But you, Ms. Brewer and Mr. Jones are all right on. It's appalling how repulsive a gathering of stupid red birds can be. Flicking lit cigarettes off a bluff when we're about as dry as California right now? This has nothing to do with celebrating our freedom watching "foreworks" and everything to do with the destruction of somebody else's property. It's sickening.
Savage Glascock, Sr.