Tag Archives: Coronavirus

The state of Tennessee experienced an unprecedented spike in new initial unemployment claims according to data released this morning by the United States Department of Labor. For the week ending March 21, 2020, Tennesseans filed 39,096 initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits. The week prior, the state received 2,702 new unemployment claims. The latest figure represents a nearly 20-fold increase ...

The mayors of Sevier County and Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Pittman Center, and Sevierville on Thursday declared a State of Local Emergency for Sevier County, Tennessee. This declaration is executed by political subdivisions of government, both City and County, to comply with Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s request to open the Sevier County Emergency Operations Center, to allow cities and the county ...

Fans of the annual Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass festival in Sevierville will have to wait until 2021 for the next event, as the 2020 festival is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass, with its barbeque contest, Mountain Soul vocal competition and free bluegrass concerts, was scheduled for May 15-16, 2020 in downtown Sevierville. However, the Sevierville ...

Citizens who need to file an unemployment application, but lack a computer or internet service, may visit certain Sevier County Library branches to file their application. Sevier County citizens who have been laid off due to the coronavirus, COVID-19, can file for unemployment. The easiest way to file is to access www.jobs4TN.gov, from home by using a computer, tablet or ...

Great Smoky National Park is closing all public access to slow spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, after experiencing a surge of visitors that defied previous park efforts to reduce congestion and crowds within the park to comply with health official’s guidance for social distancing. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that all park areas, except the Foothills Parkway and ...

Pigeon Forge officials on Monday told residents to stay home, except for essential needs, to slow the spread of COVID-19. Pigeon Forge COVID-19 advisory on Monday, March 23, 2020: To Our Pigeon Forge Residents After much consideration and input from our local, state and national health care officials, the Pigeon Forge City Mayor and City Commission have issued a Safe ...

Local officials are calling for all non-essential businesses and services in Sevier County to close in the interest of public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The mayors and city managers of Sevier County, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Pittman Center, and Sevierville are requesting and strongly urging non-essential businesses and services in Sevier County to temporarily close to the public due to ...

Sevier County Area Master Gardeners have a virtual hotline to assist those practicing social distancing—by gardening—during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of our day to day routines have been significantly impacted by the COVID -19 pandemic. In order to continue serving our community without being able to have staff on site at the Ask-A-Master Gardener Hotline, Sevier County Area Master Gardeners ...

Stopping short of ordering certain businesses to close, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Sunday ordered restaurants, bars, gyms and nursing homes to modify the way they do business for the next few weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Bill Lee signed Executive Order 17 calling for businesses across the state to utilize alternative business models beginning at midnight CDT ...

Visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park should be aware of recent facilities closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that campgrounds, picnic areas, and restrooms will be closed on Monday, March 23 through Thursday, April 30, in a continuing effort to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the ...