Disaster Animal Response Team leader Rhonda Bender and Joseph Mead, Anderson County Emergency Agency director, stand next to the trailer the group has ready to use for helping pets during disasters. - Ben Pounds
A county emergency response group is looking for supplies and volunteers to rescue pets in emergencies.
The program is Disaster Animal Response Team a project of Anderson County Emergency Management Agency.
DART, as the group is known, is preparing to serve animals of human county residents registered at an American Red Cross human shelter.
Its next meeting will be on Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at 111 South Charles G Seivers Blvd. in Clinton, open to all, especially people curious about volunteering.
Karen Ooten, program manager for the Anderson County Emergency Management Agency, said the county hadn’t needed to use a DART shelter yet, but believed situations warranting one may come.
“What happened with Helene, up in [East] Tennessee and North Carolina, is a prime example,” she said.
Military veterans from Anderson County are invited to come together this Saturday (Sept. 12) for the monthly Veterans Breakfast at the Clinton Community Center, 101 S. Hicks St.
The chow line opens at 8:30 a.m. and there will be a brief program at 9 a.m. honoring veterans.
This month’s breakfast, hosted by Anderson County citizens, is sponsored by Alexander Guest House.
The doughnuts are provided by Comfort Keepers.
September’s Breakfast will also include a free flu shot and vaccine clinic provided by Kroger.
Vaccines offered will be flu(including high dose); COVID vaccine or booster; Pneumonia; Shingles; RSV; TDap.
Veterans are encouraged to bring a Photo ID and Insurance Card. No appointment is necessary.
Blankets on the grass in front of Norris Middle School were the way most people gathered for Sunday’s annual picnic. - G. Chambers Williams III
Norris residents and friends turned out on Sunday evening for the annual Norris Summer Picnic on the Commons.
Sponsored by the Norris Recreation Commission, the event is always a popular family gathering, which takes place in front of Norris Middle School and in the Lions Club Pavilion.
People gathered on blankets on the ground and at picnic tables in the pavilion, and were entertained by live music from the stage next to the pavilion by the group “Small Wars.”
Among the activities, with most geared to children, were lawn games, water fun, face painting, inflatables, chalk-walk viewing and more.
Most people brought their own food, which worked out well this year because the food truck that had been signed up for the picnic, Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ, canceled at the last minute, leaving only an ice cream vendor providing anything at the event.
This is one of several events presented each year by the Norris Recreation Commission.
