Free Republic

wildfire that has burned over 100 structures in the hills near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is nearing full containment, Tennessee Wildland Fire officials said. Just over 3,700 acres of land have been scorched from the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire, but firefighters now report 85% containment.

The same week that a statue of Robert E. Lee led to the death of an innocent woman in Charlottesville, Virginia, I watched him oink and squeal in a race for the fate of the country. Lee, this time, was a piglet—part of Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, a Medieval Times–style dine-in attraction where seven nights a week and at occasional weekend matinees, the South rises again.

If it hasn't yet occurred to you to pray for Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge I feel negligent that we haven’t dealt with this before now. Yes, it’s nonpolitical, but we normally pay plenty of attention to stories that affect (and especially that threaten) large numbers of people. I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. I’ve been there several times, and even visited Dollywood, which may be in its final days - or even hours. It occurred to me yesterday that if there’s any silver lining to a situation like this, it’s that people would presumably...

<p>Up to 30 fire departments from East Tennessee this morning are battling flames that have consumed 35 cabins and 135 acres in Sevier County, a spokesman said.</p> <p>Two Black Hawk helicopters from the Tennessee Air National Guard stationed at McGhee Tyson Airport left at 7 a.m. to begin an aerial survey of the carnage, Perrin Anderson, spokesman for Sevier County, said this morning. After surveying the situation, the choppers will then will contribute their own unique aid.</p>

Four times I've watched this video and it makes my sides hurt every time. It's a home video from a show at the Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge, but the real laughs come not from the skit, but from the participants. Nice clean fun. Link: Funniest Video Ever