Beginning Sunday, February 28th, the National Weather Service offices that serve Tennessee will be conducting Severe Weather Awareness Week 2021. Each day, a new topic will be covered by way of online presentations. You will be able to register for any or all of the FREE classes that will be offered during the week. Find out more at https://www.weather.gov/ohx/swaw2021
![]() PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville's Alumni Association will be hosting the much-anticipated Bear the 99 5K race on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Online registration is now open for both in-person and virtual races at www.runsignup.com/UPIKEBearthe99. Please register online by February 26 to guarantee a T-shirt and finisher medal. The event begins at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. With 2020's race being canceled due to COVID-19, organizers are more than ready to begin the race season in Pikeville. "It's the first scheduled race of the year in Pikeville!" explained race organizer and Director of Alumni Relations Lisa Blackburn. "Once again, the race will begin on Benefactors Plaza and end with a climb up the 99 steps back to the plaza, using the course designed by Joel Thornbury for the inaugural 5K in 2019." Social distancing and safety protocols will be observed. Face masks are required at all times while awaiting the start of the race. "We will be following the guidelines put in place by the City of Pikeville along with the guidelines from Healthy at UPIKE," said Blackburn. "We will social distance, require everyone to wear face masks before the race begins and we will be starting racers in smaller groups to keep people from congregating." All race proceeds go toward the UPIKE Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship Fund. In 2019, the 5K raised $18,000, and UPIKE Alumni Board President Kay Hammond hopes to reach or exceed this goal in 2021. "With sponsor and community support, we were able to raise funds for much-needed alumni scholarships that helped to change the lives of the students who received them," said Hammond. "We are very proud that we had over 100 participants at our first race, and we are looking for that support again so we can help even more students with alumni scholarships." Everyone who pre-registers by the required date will receive a face mask and T-shirt prior to the start of the race and commemorative finisher medal upon crossing the finish line. Top male and female will be awarded in each age division, as well as overall male and female winners, with these prizes being mailed to all recipients. For an updated list of 2020 alumni events and for more information about UPIKE's Bear the 99 5K, email alumni@upike.edu or call (606) 218-5276. Performing Concerts and Showing The Movie at Select Drive-Ins November 2020 --- John Schneider's new movie Stand On It is getting ready to make its November debut. Schneider wrote and directed the film, which is a tribute piece to Smokey and the Bandit. His wife Alicia Allain, in what is now their 11th project together, produced the movie. "We're so excited to start showing Stand On It," says Schneider." And we get to share it with our friends and fans at all of these incredible drive-in venues." The script's inspiration came of course from John and Alicia's love for the Burt Reynolds' classic. Schneider was also inspired by his real-life friendship with Burt. Fun Fact: John Schneider can be seen briefly in the racetrack scene of Smokey and the Bandit. The story behind his screen debut is one he enjoys sharing with audiences. John will be telling that story and a lot more this month, as the movie is finally released. He'll also talk about the BIG car jump over the Tickfaw River or how a police car crashes through a house and into the lake. You can rent Stand On It at Cineflixdod.com on Orange Friday, November 27th. Audiences will also be able to see the film outside and under the stars with STARS from the movie, like Schneider and Cody McCarver (from Confederate Railroad). "You'll get a great LIVE and IN-PERSON concert and then see the movie," says McCarver." Smokey and the Bandit was huge at drive-in theaters in 1977. I hope with this movie and concert we kind of take you back in time." Schneider and his team will be at any of six classic drive-ins scattered across Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia. McCarver, along with their Stars & Bars band will take center stage, performing with John at the venues. The road show will be making its debut in Gu-Win, Alabama on November 20th at the Blue Moon Drive-In for the Movie's FIRST OFFICIAL Premiere and LIVE Concert. Keith Burns from Trick Pony is another cast member who'll be performing at the launch. Schneider concludes, "We're gonna have a great time at our premiere. This is an excellent way to experience the movie. I'm glad a whole new generation is being introduced to the magic of the drive-in experience. I've missed it!" Other scheduled stops include: Birdsong Drive-In: Camden, TN on November 21st Montana Drive-In: Tullahoma, TN on November 28th Pink Cadillac Drive-In: Centerville, TN on December 4th Sparta Drive-In: Sparta, TN on December 5th Central Drive-In: Norton, VA on December 12th https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/6030937/central-drivein-concert-and-movie-livingston-drive-ins-maven-ent?country=US&language=en Big Stone Gap – The Mountain Empire Community College Alumni Advisory Committee is seeking nominations for the 2020 MECC Outstanding Alumnus Award, which recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to one or more areas of society, i.e., professional, academic, and personal achievements, civic service, or service to MECC.
All living MECC alumni who have completed at least one class at MECC are eligible to be nominated and considered for the award. Self-nominations are also welcome. Current members of the MECC Local Advisory and Foundation Boards of Directors, current faculty and staff of the college, and members of the MECC Alumni and Friends Advisory Committee are not eligible to receive the award. The nomination form is available online at the MECC website, www.mecc.edu or at the MECC Foundation website, www.meccfoundation.org. There is no limit to the number of nominations that one may submit. The deadline for nominations for the 2020 Outstanding Alumnus Award is February 28, 2020. A subcommittee of the MECC Alumni Advisory Committee will select the winner of the award and the winner will be announced at the annual Scholars’ Recognition Night banquet to be held in March. For questions, please contact Jeri Bledsoe in the MECC Foundation office at 276-523-2400, extension 287, or at jbledsoe@mecc.edu. |