"All news is local!"

To paraphrase a former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Thomas "Tip" O' Neill (1912-1994), who proclaimed "All politics is local." Well, All News is Local, too!

Today, for example, here in my little corner of Southeast Tennessee... it RAINED last night, and more rain is in the forecast!

Finally, after more than two months, RAIN! Our little creek, in the attached photograph, is not yet flowing again, but for the first time in weeks there is some water shining up to the sun from the wee creek bed! Hooray!

Meanwhile today, 150 miles to the north of Chattanooga, the resort community of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is suffering from historically devastating wildfires. More than 1000 people have been evacuated from the homes. Dozens of homes, businesses, resort hotels have burned. The abnormally dry weather coupled with a spark from an uncovered chimney spread by literally hurricane force winds swept the the mountain community in the upper East Tennessee Great Smokey Mountains.

The destructive fires are a horror, they are tragic! It's news! But to me, in my little, isolated world, the day's greater news story is last night's rain!

The rain storm did pass through my part of the state and moved up to and past Gatlinburg, but the destructive force of the 80 miles per hour wind gusts fanning the flames had already proven catastrophic to the community before the rain began to fall.

A contingent of Chattanooga fire fighters has joined the Gatlinburg battle. But fire companies from many communities have sent and are sending engines, men, woman, and fire fighting supplies. The Chattanooga fighters left our city some hours ago for the two hour plus drive into the Upper East Tennessee mountains. They traveled the interstate, lights flashing, sirens screaming, and the latest I've heard they are now on the scene joining their experience and skills with those of others to help bring the fires under control.

But... here in my little world, rain is the big news. The creek at the bottom of my hill contains a wee bit of water.

Keep smilin'