Your Community. Your News. Stay Connected. VOL. 146, NO. 79 | GREENEVILLE, TENNESSEE
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2024
‘Newsies’ Cast Members Spread News Of Production BY TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY
“Newsies, hit the streets!” Jack Kelly yelled to his fellow salesmen. The newsies cheered in support of the directive. The mission immediately began as the newsies fanned out across the Greeneville Commons on Saturday to hand out copies of The Greeneville Sun, along with a small flyer promoting the upcoming performances of the musical “Newsies.” These cast members, dressed in full costume, enthusiastically offered the newspapers, provided for free by the Sun, to customers as they entered the various stores. Thirteen days ahead of opening night, these cast members, led by Todd Wallin, who plays Kelly, displayed the same energy and vibe on the sidewalks of the Commons that they will demonstrate when the curtain rises in The Capitol Theatre in downtown Greeneville for each of the six performances of “Newsies.” The Sun is the musical’s media sponsor, and the Commons graciously agreed to let cast members promote the shows in this innovative manner. “It’s a fun publicity angle,” said Steve Schultz, director of “Newsies” and Tusculum Arts Outreach. “We get our faces out in front of potential attendees, and the approach ties into the show they will see.
Official: Greene Mountain Fire 80% Contained
The newspaper is an important thread throughout the show. It also gives us an opportunity to highlight our partnerships with Brixmor Management Co. and with The Greeneville Sun and how important every facet of our community is.” Schultz also noted this was a change of pace for cast members. He said they have worked extraordinarily hard during rehearsals and on their own and said the visit to the Commons provided another method to express their delight about being part of “Newsies.” In addition to supporting Saturday’s distribution, The Greeneville Sun will have a display in The Capitol Theatre lobby during the performances highlighting the history of Greene County’s hometown newspaper. Schultz expressed his appreciation to the Sun for providing the papers and for the media sponsorship. He also shared his gratitude for Brixmor, which he said has been happy about the show and emailed wishes of good luck to the whole “Newsies” cast and crew. Theatre-at-Tusculum will hold the shows April 12, April 13, April 19 and April 20 at 7 p.m. and April 14 and April SUN PHOTO BY KEN LITTLE Cast members of the Tusculum University production of the musical “Newsies” took to the 21 at 2 p.m. at The Capitol Theatre. SEE NEWSIES, PAGE 5A
streets Saturday to spread the news about the production, which will have a six-performance run beginning April 12 at the Capitol Theatre in Greeneville.
Egg-Citing Events
BY KEN LITTLE STAFF WRITER
The wildland fire on Greene Mountain in the Cherokee National Forest was considered 80% contained as of Sunday afternoon, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The wildfire had burned over 44 acres as of 4 p.m. Saturday, said James B. Heaton, a forest service spokesman. “This is an increase from the numbers released (Friday), however we haven’t experienced any significant fire growth today,” Heaton said Saturday. “We are now calling the fire 80% contained,” he said. The Forest Service maintained that estimate Sunday afternoon as firefighting crews “continue to conduct mop-up activities to further strengthen control lines,” Heaton said. “The patrolling and reinforcement of existing lines is expected to continue over the coming days. Firefighters are looking for snags, hot spots, roll out material, or anything else that could compromise the fire line and allow the fire to escape. Expected precipitation and higher humidity forecasted for later this week is expected to aid in fire suppression efforts,” Heaton said in an email. On Sunday, the Midewin Interagency Hotshot Crew based SEE FIRE, PAGE 2A
TDEC Small Business Environmental Assistant Program Named Best In Nation NASHVILLE – A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) program that helps small businesses understand and comply with environmental regulations has been named the best in the nation by the National Small Business Environmental Assistance Program. The national organization’s Excellence Award was announced recently at a ceremony in Chattanooga. The award recognizes exemplary performance in compliance assistance, sustainability, advocacy, and collaboration at the national level. “This is a great example of how TDEC can be a resource, not just a regulator, when it comes to helping businesses navigate environmental requirements,” said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. “We are proud of the work we have done with Tennessee small businesses, and we are grateful for this national recognition.” The state’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) helps Tennessee small businesses with environmental SEE TDEC, PAGE 2A
SUN PHOTO BY KEN LITTLE
Children search for Easter Eggs Saturday during the annual “Easter Egg Roll” event held on the grounds of the Andrew Johnson Historic Site in Greeneville.
Weekend Easter Egg Hunts Draw Crowds Of Kids BY KEN LITTLE
“It’s wonderful, absolutely wonderful. There is beautiful weather and friendly people” Will Thomas said. The Easter Bunny was a very Children got to take home busy rabbit on Saturday. the wooden eggs they colored Children scrambled for at a crafts table before the egg colored eggs containing candy roll. and other goodies at sever“It’s going well. It continues al events in Greene County, the tradition of the egg roll,” including egg hunts at the Burns said. Andrew Johnson Homestead Earlier Saturday, several in Greeneville, the Tusculum hundred children and their Volunteer Fire Department parents waited eagerly for the and Doak House Museum on signal to search for eggs at Erwin Highway. the Tusculum Volunteer Fire The Presidential Easter Egg Department’s annual egg hunt, Roll was sponsored by the held on the grounds of the Andrew Johnson National Hisnew fire station on Alexander toric Site in partnership with Street. the Greeneville Greene County Excited children like 4-yearHistory Museum and Youth old Samuel Shelton and Builders. 3-year-old Daniel Shelton During the event, youthful practiced dashing for eggs next participants learned about the to the firehouse as they waited history surrounding the Presifor the hunt to begin. dential Easter Egg Roll. Their grandfather, Marty Ashley Burns, National Park Shelton, chief of the Tusculum Service education technician Volunteer Fire Department, and coordinator of the Easter said firefighters and other Egg Roll, explained the history volunteers look forward to of the Egg Roll on the White House grounds. TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY PHOTO hosting the event each year as Harrisson Andrus Fait carefully searched the grounds of the Doak a service to the community. President Andrew Johnson House Museum for Easter eggs Saturday during an Easter egg hunt Children also had fun inspectdecided to host an egg roll held at the museum. The event was sponsored by First Presbyterian ing Tusculum fire engines, paron the grounds of the White Church of Greeneville in conjunction with Tusculum University. ticipating in face-painting and House for his wife Eliza, who having a lemonade-and-cookwas ill at the time, and their colored wooden eggs across the ies snack after the event. grandchildren. Johnson want- resumed in 1877 during the “The weather couldn’t be backyard lawn of the Andrew presidency of Rutherford B. ed his wife to be able to enjoy better,” Shelton said. “This is Johnson Homestead to a the festivities. It began a tradi- Hayes. The White House egg tion of White House Easter egg roll now happens each year on finish line near the back of the just an outreach so the kids have a safe place to come and property. rolls that continues to this day. the Monday following Easter. also look at the trucks.” The little girl was asked if While the history behind the Johnson was the first presiWendy and Patrick Manning dent to hold an Egg Roll on the event is interesting, children at she enjoyed the event. attended the egg roll with their “Yes, but it was hard,” she White House lawn. It later be- the Andrew Johnson Homesons, 3-year-old Jean-Luc and said. stead Saturday were focused came an official White House 8-year-old Rand Manning. Hudson was at the egg roll event. After Johnson left office, on the contents of the eggs “They’re definitely excited. with her sister, 8-year-old they hunted for. Easter egg rolls continued on They’ve been asking about Marley Drake Thomas, and The Andrew Johnson Herithe grounds of the U.S. Capitol tage Association helped supply parents Will and Abbey Thom- this for a month now,” Wendy during the presidency of UlManning said. as. ysses S. Grant, but concern for the Easter treats. Rand Manning didn’t think Saturday’s weather was Hudson Thomas, 5, was firstthe landscape led to a bill that long when asked what he liked sunny and warm, ideal for the place winner in the younger banned the rolling of eggs on egg roll. Children and adults in most about the event. children category of the egg Capitol grounds. attendance thoroughly enjoyed roll competition. Children The egg roll on the South themselves. used wooden spoons to push Lawn of the White House SEE HUNT, PAGE 4A STAFF WRITER