Photo - Coke Ovens at Grundy Lake
by Ray Zimmerman
A few months ago, I started on a feature article about the Friends of South Cumberland State Park and their dedication to supporting the park and its managers. It was rambling and far too long at 1,700 words. The final article is a tribute to State Park Naturalist Mack Prichard, 1939–2021, and his achievement in helping the park to grow. Publication is pending. Here are a few paragraphs I had to cut to streamline the article.
The State of Tennessee established South Cumberland State Park in 1978 with approximately 10,000 acres, already large by state park standards. It has since grown to 30,899 acres, and some sources say it is our largest state park, though one source credits the Cumberland Trail State Park as the largest. Those two are our only state parks with more than 30,000 acres. The Friends of South Cumberland State Park was incorporated in 1993 to assist the park and its managers.
In the film Mack Prichard—My Story, Prichard thanks donors for two other parcels of land.
The Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Carter Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area is a 931-acre tract donated by the Carters, including caves and waterfalls typical of the Cumberland Plateau's karst topography. Rangers from South Cumberland State Park give occasional tours at Lost Cove Cave, also known as Buggytop [AM1] Cave. This portion of the park is a sensitive area with some rare plants and animals. Carter (Harry Lee) (tn.gov)
The University of the South donated the tract now known as the Natural Bridge Class I Scenic-Recreational State Natural Area. This three-acre tract includes a natural sandstone arch spanning a 50-foot-wide opening. Natural Bridge (tn.gov)
Denny Cove is another portion of the park, just south of Foster Falls. This natural landmark includes a waterfall, rock climbing opportunities, and rare plants. Further information is available from the Land Trust for Tennessee: Denny Cove (landtrusttn.org). The Southeastern Climbers Coalition assisted in acquiring this acre 380-acre parcel of land.
***
Multi-Genre Submissions Calendar
Here are some publications you may have overlooked, but they are open to all writers and produce a fine product.
Number One
Website: Publications | Volunteer State Community College (volstate.edu)
Genre(s): Poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction with an emphasis on sense of place
Notes: Volunteer State Community College faculty produce this journal, not to be confused with their student publication, the Pioneer Pen. They print one issue per year in the fall. They have published my poetry.
Submissions: Materials are due in February to emily.andrews@volstate.edu
Catalpa Magazine
Website: https://scholar.utc.edu/catalpa/
Genre(s): All
Notes: This magazine is affiliated with the graduate program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Copies can be downloaded from their website. Graduate students produce one issue per year in the spring. They have also published my poetry.
Submissions: Contact scholar@utc.edu for further information
Nashville Review
Website: Nashville Review – A Publication of Vanderbilt University
Genre(s): All
Notes: Sample works from the current edition are available on the website. Join their mailing list for alerts about submission deadlines.
Submissions: Accepted through the Submittable platform in January, May, and September
Submit (vanderbilt.edu)
Open Mic Opportunity
Poetry in the Brew
Website: https://poetryinthebrew.wordpress.com
Notes: Poetry in the brew offers an online open mic via Zoom on the final Saturday of each month. They also have a midmonth in-person open mic at Portman Brewing East in Nashville and poetry pop-up events in surprise locations. Christine Hall hosts the two-hour online event and allows four minutes per poet.
by Ray Zimmerman
A few months ago, I started on a feature article about the Friends of South Cumberland State Park and their dedication to supporting the park and its managers. It was rambling and far too long at 1,700 words. The final article is a tribute to State Park Naturalist Mack Prichard, 1939–2021, and his achievement in helping the park to grow. Publication is pending. Here are a few paragraphs I had to cut to streamline the article.
The State of Tennessee established South Cumberland State Park in 1978 with approximately 10,000 acres, already large by state park standards. It has since grown to 30,899 acres, and some sources say it is our largest state park, though one source credits the Cumberland Trail State Park as the largest. Those two are our only state parks with more than 30,000 acres. The Friends of South Cumberland State Park was incorporated in 1993 to assist the park and its managers.
In the film Mack Prichard—My Story, Prichard thanks donors for two other parcels of land.
The Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Carter Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area is a 931-acre tract donated by the Carters, including caves and waterfalls typical of the Cumberland Plateau's karst topography. Rangers from South Cumberland State Park give occasional tours at Lost Cove Cave, also known as Buggytop [AM1] Cave. This portion of the park is a sensitive area with some rare plants and animals. Carter (Harry Lee) (tn.gov)
The University of the South donated the tract now known as the Natural Bridge Class I Scenic-Recreational State Natural Area. This three-acre tract includes a natural sandstone arch spanning a 50-foot-wide opening. Natural Bridge (tn.gov)
Denny Cove is another portion of the park, just south of Foster Falls. This natural landmark includes a waterfall, rock climbing opportunities, and rare plants. Further information is available from the Land Trust for Tennessee: Denny Cove (landtrusttn.org). The Southeastern Climbers Coalition assisted in acquiring this acre 380-acre parcel of land.
***
Multi-Genre Submissions Calendar
Here are some publications you may have overlooked, but they are open to all writers and produce a fine product.
Number One
Website: Publications | Volunteer State Community College (volstate.edu)
Genre(s): Poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction with an emphasis on sense of place
Notes: Volunteer State Community College faculty produce this journal, not to be confused with their student publication, the Pioneer Pen. They print one issue per year in the fall. They have published my poetry.
Submissions: Materials are due in February to emily.andrews@volstate.edu
Catalpa Magazine
Website: https://scholar.utc.edu/catalpa/
Genre(s): All
Notes: This magazine is affiliated with the graduate program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Copies can be downloaded from their website. Graduate students produce one issue per year in the spring. They have also published my poetry.
Submissions: Contact scholar@utc.edu for further information
Nashville Review
Website: Nashville Review – A Publication of Vanderbilt University
Genre(s): All
Notes: Sample works from the current edition are available on the website. Join their mailing list for alerts about submission deadlines.
Submissions: Accepted through the Submittable platform in January, May, and September
Submit (vanderbilt.edu)
Open Mic Opportunity
Poetry in the Brew
Website: https://poetryinthebrew.wordpress.com
Notes: Poetry in the brew offers an online open mic via Zoom on the final Saturday of each month. They also have a midmonth in-person open mic at Portman Brewing East in Nashville and poetry pop-up events in surprise locations. Christine Hall hosts the two-hour online event and allows four minutes per poet.
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