| Sources |
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 9 Jul 2011.
Sharon McGaha McMahan obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 23 Dec 2011.
Just Plain Talk: Winter's mild days & nights good for riding and walking
The awe for hikers is arriving at the mountain peak and seeing vistas that only those who venture on hikes get to witness. Ronnie McGaha has seen many wonderful natural sites and sights, such as this one on Snowball Mountain, 4,800 feet elevation, in the Pisgah National Forest. He has started the Pisgah 400 challenge.
Author: David Popiel
While utilities managers may not have been happy about the weather, folks about Newport seemed to relish the mid-60s days and mild climate of Christmas, one without snow or ice, and I attribute this to the new moon on Christmas Eve.
Even with the Winter Solstice last Thursday, outward appearances of the Newport landscape have changed little but there are a few things happening that should be positive and welcome as we move towards the end of the year. If you traveled along Cosby Highway in Newport you may have noticed a small sign in front of what used to be Bryant & Pack Lumber Company. The sign proclaims: Mister Salvage. Last weekend, while visiting Tractor Supply I bumped into Leon Bryant, a co-owner with Benny Bryant of the old lumber company property. Leon explained that Keith Keller is leasing the building and selling used and new housewares, tools, and other items. My plan is to chat with Keith about his new business. Leon said he was also pleased to lease what used to be the Newport location of Dr. Bill Frost's chiropractic service. Dr. Frost has moved into the Village center. The vacant large office owned by the Bryants will house a Helen Ross McNabb Center. These centers provide a variety of services from drug and alcohol rehabilitation to foster care. This will happen early in 2012.
Last week we were on the road with Cocke County Sheriff's Lt. C.J. Ball and his father, Newport Mayor Connie Ball. They were guests and speakers at the Newport Kiwanis Club earlier in the year. As an aside, Kiwanian Tina Kilgore announced good news that her husband, Alvin, is in remission from his leukemia. He was diagnosed in early Nov. and treated quickly with a medicine developed 10 years ago. Alvin is from Marion, NC, and retired from CF Group (Falcon Products).
Here are some more incidents that Connie recounted. On one 911 call, an hysterical resident said, "There's a snake in the house." Connie led the way into the house with C.J. right behind. Fortunately the boa constrictor was back in its cage by then. Another common call is a "1044" radio request to find a stolen vehicle. C.J. and sidekick Connie spotted the car on Clevenger Cut-Off Road and followed it to Judd's Lane. "This driver was drinking," said Connie. Of course, the driver said, "I've not had any to drink." Then he admitted to having one drink and finally said, "I've had a lot." He didn't know how much he had to drink. C.J.'s investigation revealed that the driver was sent to the store to get more beer and he was driving their stolen vehicle.
Then there was the sad end of a bull near Bridgeport. A farmer's bull had gotten out one too many times. C.J. spotted the bull but Connie was worried about how they would handle the situation. He asked C.J., "Have you ever dealt with a bull?" Convinced he did not know how to handle a mad bull, C.J. got back in the cruiser and used the siren to frighten the bull along the road back into its field. Deputy David Crowder also arrived to help. The very next day the bull escaped again but this time it was a fatality. It was the last time the bull ever broke through the fence.
Sometimes events are not the thrill of pursuit and arrest with guns and sirens, but embarrassing. A winter past, the men were answering a call near Hall's Top and it was snowing. At Low Gap the snow became much deeper until C.J. got the cruiser stuck. They called for assistance and waited about an hour before Connie got impatient and wanted to try to back up "to get a run at the hill." He heard C.J. exclaim in the night, "Go, Daddy, Go!" As Connie explained, "I think he was afraid Armando might write him up." Connie is experienced in snow driving and did get them moving.
Connie said officers deal with every sort of situation and learn from each one. Some are darkly amusing such as the time they arrested some folks for "fighting over a deadman's medications." And some of the worst are arriving on the scene of accidents with serious injuries. One that sticks in his memory is the time a pickup truck hit a guardrail. The driver stepped out into the darkness and was killed when a tractor-trailer struck him. Investigating officers found the victim's marijuana strewn along the pavement.
Hiking for Health & Happiness
Many of you knew Glade McGaha, who lived off Cosby Highway just south of Lane's market, with his wife, Sarah. He was a World War II veteran and returned to Newport to join hundreds of other Cocke Countians working at American Enka, Lowland. At the same time that I knew him, I also became friends with their son, Ronnie McGaha, who was working at Newport Grammar School. A couple of weeks ago we bumped into each other. Ronnie hikes for enjoyment and health, and we began talking about his family, former career, and his Appalachian Trail adventures. Glade's father, Chan McGaha, who was married to the former Hattie Gunter, was a logger for Crestmont Lumber Company. A logging accident caused him to be totally disabled. After this, Hattie continued living at Walnut Bottoms until the National Park Service bought up the land and forced out many residents. She moved a short hop to Roostertown and later to an area that is now Stonebrook. Ronnie told me that his family connection to NGS is through his mother. She was a sister to NGS Superintendent Wayne Vinson. I also learned during our chat that Glade and Sarah had a stillborn son before Ronnie was born in 1946 and later they had a daughter. Theresa Hall lives and does office work at Birmingham, Alabama. Ronnie was encouraged to get an education and eventually graduated from Tennessee Tech with a degree and added a master's degree later while teaching at NGS. He was also married to the former Sharon Mills.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 30 Dec 2011.
Just Plain Talk: "It's all up hill" a father warns his son on the trail
Ronnie McGaha often wears his 900 Miler Club badge on his cap. He said that less than
300 people in Tennessee have earned the distinction of hiking the 900 miles of Trails in
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hikers must keep a dated log book and
summary to submit for the recognition.
Author: David Popiel
Colder weather finally arrived after Christmas with hoar frost, snow-capped mountains, and clearing skies on December 29 in our hometown, where citizens are anxious to leave the old year's troubles and begin the long Leap Year 2012.
Before continuing my thoughts from last week, let me update you on the Dec. 28 fire where I met the victim, Elmer Shults, and his family. Some of you may be familiar with the old frame house he and Ruby (Caughron) Shults had lived in for the past 30 years off Greasy Cove Road. It was on the former J. Donald Cody farm and was the house where Cody's wife, Eva Templin, was born. Johnnie Wilson, who is a Templin, refers to it as the Richard Templin home and believes it was at least 150 years old. The property is now owned by Charles Lewis Moore, and Elmer has been helping with the hay crop farming. I chatted with Kim Costner again on Thursday. She is a stepdaughter, married to Tim Costner and she is the daughter of Jay and Nola Ball. No one knows the cause of the fire that destroyed the 150-plus-year-old home. The Shults family is staying with Tim's sister, Josephine Williams, while Charles Lewis and other friends are trying to make arrangements for housing. I also learned there were other residents in the home who had to flee: The Shults' daughter, Angie and her husband, Tommy Barnes. Anyone who wishes to help the Shults family may contact Kim at 487-4382 or drop off items to Leann Gooderham at All Seasons Realty next to Sherry's Market.
Hiking the AT with Ronnie
Last week we had just started hiking with Ronnie McGaha, retired educator, rural mail carrier and postal worker. At one time he was married to the former Sharon Mills. I had forgotten this and he refreshed my memory that she was a sister to Otis Mills and also to Irene Painter. All during this time Ronnie enjoyed outdoor activities and recounted this event when he was about 10. He thanks his father for introducing him to hiking in 1956. "He filled up two feed sacks with camping and fishing supplies, tied them together in a big knot, and slung them over my shoulder, as we looked at the start of the Low Gap Trail at the back of Cosby Campground." Glade McGaha did not sugar coat the start of what would be a lifelong passion and said, "It's all uphill and it's going to hurt." Ronnie continually thanks his father for setting him on the path "to so many exciting adventures."
After teaching and becoming instructional supervisor at Newport Grammar School for about 17 years, he left and went to Cosby High School. Ronnie's former wife, Dr. Carlene Jones, is still with NGS. Sharon McGaha died many years ago. Ronnie's stint at Cosby was about 1992 to 1994, when he was principal after Freddy James was promoted to attendance supervisor at the Material Center. Mike C. Moore was assistant principal. Of him, Ronnie notes, "He was a frequent and long-time partner for fishing and expeditions. In my opinion, Mike is one of the best all around fisherman in this area, as well as a master storyteller. We had many a fine trip together."
Now, being an educator is only one of Ronnie's work experiences and he has been blessed by two others. Around 1987, he worked for less than a year with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service at Gatlinburg. "That summer alone I covered 500 miles of trails." One of the interesting things he did was scientific sampling for bears and hog populations. "It was the most fun job that I've ever had." He did get to participate in a rescue mission but the hiker died. Another segment of work that was both rewarding but dangerous was firefighting, and this took him to Virginia and Western US forests. The other employment that was a pleasure, because of many fine folks he worked with at the local Postal Service, was as a rural mail carrier. You might recall him delivering your mail on the old Newport Route 4, which I also lived on.
While he did not count all the miles he put in as a youngster, he started officially logging Appalachian Trail (AT) miles in 1987.
The Elite 900-Miler Club
"I finished the 900 miles of the maintained trails in the Great Smokies in the fall of 2004," he said. Since those years he has hiked all the AT in Tenn., North Carolina, and segments in Virginia, Pennsylvania, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and a bit of Maine, too. With the established, well-trodden trails under his hiking boots, Ronnie then turned his attention and interest to off trail and what is known as "manway" hiking. I asked Ronnie what this meant and he replied, "I sometimes say about 170-180 pounds, but actually it is a discernible path, well most of the time. It can be an old settlers sled road, an abandoned trail, or even a game trail. But it is not a maintained trial." These are less-traveled paths. Off-trail is "truly cross country with no obvious trace for the hiker to follow."
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: Ronnie Darryle Mcgaha
Also Known As Name:
Name Suffix:
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 23 Aug 1970
Event Place: Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Male
Spouse's Name: Sharan Kay Mills
Spouse's Also Known As Name: Moore
Spouse's Name Prefix:
Spouse's Name Suffix:
Page: 348
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