Category: Daily Life

Chattanooga, Chattanooga Audubon Society, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, Environment, outdoors, Sustainability

Responsible Recreation

Written by Maleah Holder

“All aboard!” Benny Braden, founder and former president of Responsible Stewardship tied his trash bags and tossed them on his jon boat as his volunteers shuffled back through the woods. The shoreline of Watts Bar Lake, previously covered in loose trash, old tires, and tangled fishing line, was near spotless after Braden and his team took on the challenge of collecting the debris. 

Responsible Stewardship is a non-profit organization that works with a volunteer base to remove trash from outdoor recreation spaces such as Watts Bar Lake to keep the space clean and family-friendly. Braden started his organization in August of 2022 working to clean up illegal dump sites and move them to landfills while recycling what he can. 

“That is something we are striving for in the next couple years to…recycle everything. We typically like to do zero added waste cleanups which means we use the barley bags and reusable gloves,” says Braden.

In just over a year of action, volunteers turned into ambassadors leading their own teams all over the country collecting trash and weighing it to report back to Braden. Recently, a new ambassador in Taiwan took it upon herself to collect trash overseas after being inspired by his work in the U.S. and has so far collected over 1,000 pounds by herself.

Continue reading “Responsible Recreation” →
Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Environment, Family, Love

Generational Gardens

Written by Maddie Charnes

Walden Peak Farm is a newly founded farm venue on a piece of generational land with rich history. (Photo by Maddie Charnes)

On the grassy mountain side located 20 miles from Chattanooga, the land of Walden Peak Farm has continued to be a place of family connections and community since 1841. 

“Something I think about is the people that used to be here,” said Lucy Bowick, former owner and resident of Walden Peak Farm. “I never come out here and I don’t think about them. They’re my ancestors.” 

In November of 1841, a land grant was deeded to Edwin Pickett and his brother. As the brothers married and settled, a flourishing community began. Although the family thrived from generation to generation, life was not always easy living on the mountain

“Times were not always easy,” said Jay Welch, Bowick’s sister and former resident of the farm. “We had a coal stove when I was growing up, and it was often very cold. We learned how to be self-sufficient living on the mountain.” 

Living further from the city, the sisters said they often farmed for their food and had to make their own way.

“There’s a saying in our family that if you’re not willing to fight for the land then you’re not worth having it,” Bowick said. 

Continue reading “Generational Gardens” →
Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, Family, Health, Hugs, Love, Sports

Anchored to Home

Written by Trevor Jolley

Adam and Jessica Moore lock arms as the Love on the Diamond wedding ceremony takes place. The Moores renewed their vows at the Chattanooga Lookouts’ home plate as one of the couples selected by Sunny 92.3 to participate in the ceremony. Saturday, February 17, 2024. (Photo by Bethany Cothran)

Drawn onto the arms of Jessica and Adam Moore is a dark anchor tattoo, keeping them together no matter what. The tattoo is a result of the couple’s appreciation of tattoos, meaning much more than what is on the skin. It is not only a symbol of love, but of commitment and dedication to their relationship and their family; a reminder of what is truly important when hard times may come. They are each other’s home plate and with each other, they are safe. 

“We are each other’s anchor, you know? It means multiple things,” Adam Moore said. “We keep each other tied down, we keep each other stable.”

Adam and Jessica met on an online dating service in 2009. Adam messaged Jessica after coming across her profile and the two made plans for a first date.

“I went to his house and we just watched a movie,” Jessica Moore said. “I didn’t get off work until two hours after I was supposed to, and I felt really bad because he had to be up for work in [like] six hours.”

After a late albeit successful movie night, the pair knew they wanted to see each other again. Being around Halloween, the pair decided to get in the holiday spirit, so they made a visit to see Jessica’s father at Ruby Falls’ Haunted Cavern, an annual Chattanooga Halloween favorite that converts the beautiful Ruby Falls cave into a spooky haunted tour. 

“After that, I remember he took the drive to me. Then I took him with me and brought him to go meet my dad. We met on the side of the mountain, and it was good,” Jessica Moore said. “You know, it’s your dad. You always want to make a good first impression.” 

Continue reading “Anchored to Home” →
Animals, Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, donate, Environment, Family, Food, Healing, Health, History, Love, outdoors, Philanthropy

Protecting Pets

Written by Olivia Smith

Alyssia Rich, left, trims Terri Greer’s dogs nails during a routine free pet food & supply delivery to a local neighborhood. Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Photo by Noah Camacho)

McKamey Animal Center is ten miles from Alton Park, one of the poorest zip codes in Tennessee. The Center is a thirty-minute drive but without other means of transportation, a three-and-a-half-hour walk, one way. 

During MAC C.A.R.E.S grand opening, Heather Hensley, the Community Solutions Manager at McKamey said, “Being at MetMin [Metropolitan Ministries] is such a big relief, we are closer to Alton Park and other populations that are looking for this assistance… We can spread the love so much better by being here with MetMin.”

In late January McKamey Animal Center and Metropolitan Ministries Impact Hub partnered to open MAC C.A.R.E.S Center. Located at 4001 Rossville Blvd., less than two miles from Alton Park. 

The grand opening being at noon, staff spent their morning giving pet supplies to people in need.

“More than half of MetMins clients have pets, they were already talking about this,” Hensley said. “As we were unloading food this morning people were coming to us, so we were giving it out.” 

Continue reading “Protecting Pets” →
Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, outdoors, Sports

Chatt Town Skate Clinic

Written by Noah Camacho

Skateboard instructor Gray Joyce gives a run down of the Outdoor Chattanooga learn to skate clinic held in Chattanooga’s Chatt Town skate park.

Surrounded by ramps, rails, ledges, and skateboards, families gather to spend a couple of hours learning how to skateboard. Alongside trained instructors, beginner skateboarders learn the basics of skateboarding at the Learn to Skate Clinic. 

Outdoor Chattanooga hosts a learn-to-skateboard class at the Chatt Town skatepark in downtown Chattanooga. During this class, equipment is provided ranging from helmets to kneepads—and most importantly, skateboards.

The class was led by Gray Joyce and Patrick Sheel, local skateboarders who are highly skilled and have extensive skateboarding knowledge.

According to Joyce, beginners should start the class by having a group stretch, which is crucial in skateboarding as it mostly involves their legs. The skateboarders are then taught how to ride a board properly and how to find their center of gravity.

Learning to push and having good foot positioning during this sport is one of the most important things to learn as a beginner, and one must have a firm understanding of both of these before they can move onto bigger obstacles. 

Continue reading “Chatt Town Skate Clinic” →
Animals, Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Family, Love, outdoors

Beyond Alpacas: Wildwood’s Hidden Gem

Written by Sammy Mckenzie

The Lewis Family poses for a portrait on their farm with their Alpacas. Monday, November 13, 2023. (Photo by Sammy Mckenzie)

In Wildwood, Georgia, 20 minutes from downtown Chattanooga, sits Rosie Mae’s Alpacas Farm, boutique, and coffee shop all wrapped up into one. 

The unique business is owned and operated solely by the Lewis family who embarked on this journey one year ago as of November 4th. The entire property was built by hand by Max Lewis with support from his wife Meagan and daughter Rosie Mae.  

“He started on the shop in January of 2021. He did it all himself, so it took a little while to get it done. So we actually didn’t open until November of 2022. Plus, processes were outrageous because of COVID,”  Meagan Lewis said.

While it was a slow start to open, as soon as the Lewis family welcomed the public on their property, the business took off and hasn’t slowed down since.

“So we opened the store on November 4th of 2022 and then our daughter Sparrow was born November 29th. So that has been crazy. Then we went viral in April of 2023 and then from there on out we have been just absolutely slammed,” said Lewis. 

Continue reading “Beyond Alpacas: Wildwood’s Hidden Gem” →
Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, UTC, women

College Cleaners

Written by Elizabeth Wynne

Brooke McFarlin cleans a surface for one of her clients for her business, College Cleaners. Sunday, December 3, 2023. (Photo by Elizabeth Wynne)

Starting a business is never easy. At a young age, it is even more of a challenge, but it can be done.

Founded by Brooke McFarlin, a sophomore in college at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, College Cleaners is an opportunity for students around the Chattanooga area to pick up a side gig in their busy schedule, while also providing a cleaning service for those looking for an affordable option.

Continue reading “College Cleaners” →
Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Diversity, Family, Immigration, women

Un Viaje de Oportunidades (A Journey of Opportunities)

Written By Cassandra Castillo

Editors Note: The following story was written in Spanish and translated to English. The two articles are listed side by side below.

Margarita Vicente arrived from Guatemala to a new world where she did not speak the language in a sea of over 1,000 students. With the help of various teachers at Howard High School she has achieved the skills of reading, writing, and speech in the span of three years.

Margarita Vicente llegó de Guatemala a un nuevo mundo donde no hablaba el idioma en un océano de 1,000 estudiantes. Con la ayuda de varios maestros en Howard High School, ella ha logrado leer, escribir, y hablar inglés durante sus tres años aquí. 
Continue reading “Un Viaje de Oportunidades (A Journey of Opportunities)” →
art, Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, Diversity, Entertainment, Environment, Family, Uncategorized, UTC

Rising Rock Radio Showcase
Graphic by Kylee Boone

Rising Rock is excited to partner with Scenic Roots at WUTC again this semester to showcase some of our top audio stories. To listen to Scenic Roots, visit https://www.wutc.org/scenic-roots.

Here, you can listen to all of the audio pieces written and recorded by UTC students in Rising Rock during the Fall 2023 semester. 

Welcome Home

During Larry Taylor’s Welcome Home Parade recognizing his receiving of the Medal of Honor, Lillian Simcox performs street interviews with spectators including Veterans and active military members.

The Letter

David Harman reads the letter that Dave Hill sent to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to upgrade Larry Taylor’s Silver Star to the Medal of Honor. Narrated by Taylor McKinley.

Honored Heritage

Steven Thomas enjoys his position as Director of Operations at the Heritage Center, but the lively historian has deeper motivations. Thomas sat down with Eli Rushing to discuss why this specific opportunity called to him.

Uncle Doss’ Legacy

Katie Stephens spoke with Desmond Doss Jr. regarding his mother and her impact on the Rising Fawn community as well as on her husband, Desmond Doss.

Flying Behind a Hometown Hero

Madeline Charnes sat down with Donald Smith to explain the intricacies of the benefits program and how difficult it is for veterans to receive the assistance they may not even know they need.

Rocking the Rodeo Scene

Bethany Cothran spoke with Stetson Bierman, good friend of West Mitchell, over Zoom about Bierman’s bareback bronc riding experience.

Creativity Behind Bars

Caleb McCool spoke with Francis McDonald about the power of poetry for inmates in her program.

A Game of Miracles

Elizabeth Wynne sat down with Alex Tainch, the main announcer of the Miracle League to discuss the importance the league has on those involved beyond only the athletes.

Continue reading “Rising Rock Radio Showcase” →
Animals, Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Family, Health, teachers, UTC, women

A Special Education

Written by Bethany Cothran

Hannah Wilson began teaching at Soddy Daisy High School in August 2023. As the only autistic teacher with a service dog she has ever seen, Wilson works to provide a safe space where all students, no matter who they are, can find a sense of belonging.

The smells of cafeteria food and teenage angst would be overwhelming to many, but to Soddy Daisy High School’s autistic ninth grade English teacher Hannah Wilson, the locker-lined hallways are more like home.

“[School] provided a really good structure for me and people with autism often need a lot of structure to keep them going or they get kind of off the rails,” Wilson said. “So I really like that structure and then I kind of fell in love with English.”

After a day of teaching, Wilson recognized that she has come a long way since she was first diagnosed with autism in seventh grade. 

“Finally getting that diagnosis was like an eye opening experience for me because like…other people experience the things that I’m experiencing,” Wilson said. “I’m not losing my mind, and I just need a little bit extra support in some places and some places are just not my area.”

Continue reading “A Special Education” →