Morgan Simmons

• Popular state parks draw biggest numbers, but a remote area can 'permeate your soul' Published 05/28/2012 at 4 a.m.

  In 2007, Tennessee's state parks system was awarded the Gold Medal for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, the highest honor a park system can receive.

• Bob Miller, 'voice of the Smokies,' retires Published 05/26/2012 at 4 a.m.

  Bob Miller first visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1984 while on vacation. Until then, his only exposure to mountains was viewing the snow-capped peaks of Switzerland, which he'd seen while serving in the Army during the Vietnam War.

• Friends of Smokies hits fundraising goal for trails project Updated 05/22/2012 at 3:56 p.m.

  The Friends of the Smokies has met their funding goal for the Trails Forever project dedicated to rehabilitating some of the most heavily damaged hiking trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• Top trail guide for the Smokies by Johnny Molloy Published 05/17/2012 at 5 p.m.

  Great Smoky Mountains National Park has more than 800 miles of maintained trails, which have been profiled in dozens of guidebooks.

• Cumberland Gap National Historical Park targets ginseng poaching Published 05/07/2012 at 4 a.m.

  A Middlesboro, Ky., man will pay a stiff price for poaching wild ginseng is Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.

• A fine vine: Huge, winding wisteria a Fountain City landmark Published 05/04/2012 at 4 a.m.

  Six years ago Elizabeth and Marcus Woodworth purchased the oldest home in the historic neighborhood of Harrill Hills in Fountain City.

• Lone Mountain State Forest loop trail wanders through Morgan County wilderness Published 05/03/2012 at 5 p.m.

  Sandwiched between these two parks is Lone Mountain State Forest, a 3,572-acre tract with approximately 20 miles of trails open to horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking.

• Neck rubs, coloring books ease Finals Week stress for UT students Published 05/02/2012 at 4 a.m.

  For Bailey Staver, final exams are a pain in the neck. Staver is a junior at the University of Tennessee majoring in speech language pathology. This spring semester she's taking seven courses, which means seven exams.

• Much to celebrate: Guided hikes offered at Laurel-Snow scenic tract near Dayton Published 05/01/2012 at 4 a.m.

  DAYTON, Tenn. — Hiking into the Laurel-Snow State Natural Area, it's not just the scenic beauty that grabs your attention.

• Tennessee trout hatcheries facing threat of cuts — again Published 04/24/2012 at 4 a.m.

  On a recent morning, a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency hatchery truck backed up to the Clinch River below Norris Dam and dumped a load of rainbow trout. The trout had come from the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery in Celina, ...

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