Polar Plunge at Tims Ford State Park.

by | Jan 2023

HOW DO you and your loved ones bring in the new year? Do you take time to reflect, journal, and perhaps write new goals? Do you pray and worship? How about throwing a party? Do you and your family make a bunch of festive food? Do you hit bars and spend your time dancing the night away? What about sitting around a table playing board games or telling old stories until the ball drops? We can tell you how some of the COOLEST people in the area bring in the new year.

Whether as a dare, as a fundraiser, to celebrate the end of a race, or just for a good laugh, hundreds of brave souls across the region participate in what is called a Polar Plunge. A Polar Plunge is a jump, run, dash, or tiptoe into a body of water. The only catch that these dips into the water are in the middle of winter! So participants who enter the body of water do so despite its low temperatures. They fully submerge themselves in ice-cold, bone-chilling water and come up breathless from its sting. Talk about feeling alive!

Over the years, a few local groups in our area have participated in this madness. Twin Creeks Marina hosts a Polar Plunge 5K where participants run 3.1 miles and, if they are brave enough, end the race with a quick and not-so-easy dip into Tims Ford Lake.

Another group known to kick off the new year with this same chilling thrill can be found across the lake as the crow flies. Last year, Tims Ford State Park rangers and staff hosted a Polar Plunge to act as a small fundraiser for their honeybee initiative. The Plunge raised enough money to cover the cost of the hives, plus it gave 12 participants a memory of a lifetime. Friends of Tims Ford State Park has organized another Polar Plunge at Lakeview Marina on the park property this year.

Additionally, many friend groups and family members have jumped on the bandwagon and decided to do their own sort of Polar Plunge. folks decide to raid nearby rivers, ponds, or even backyard swimming pools, we hope you kickstart 2023 in the best way possible for you and your family. And if you decide to take a dip, slip, or accidentally trip into ice-cold water, we hope you stay safe while making your favorite memories! Cheers to 2023! GN

More Good News

Healing Hearts by Herding Horses

Healing Hearts by Herding Horses

EIGHT-YEAR-OLD LEANNE Hale and her sister, Gina, dreamed of owning horses. Little did Leanne know that this dream would win her championships as a horsewoman and ignite a philanthropic journey. She...

read more
In Other News

In Other News

THS Tennis Team Donates Old Tennis Balls to Police K-9 Unit.  You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can give old tennis balls to a certified police service dog. That is exactly what...

read more
Recipes: Touchdown Favorites

Recipes: Touchdown Favorites

IT’S THAT time of year again when friends gather, jerseys are donned, and anticipation fills the air. Whether you’re an avid sports fan or simply enjoy the camaraderie, there’s one thing that can...

read more
In Other News

“In Other News”

TCS Named 2023 Best Communities for Music Education Award Winner.  FOR THE second year, Tullahoma City Schools (TSC) has been awarded the Best Communities for Music Education Award by the...

read more
Women Impacting the Community

Women Impacting the Community

"WE CAN all do more than nothing,” said Dr. Monica Blake-Beasley. As the keynote speaker for the Women Impacting the Community event held on May 9, she recalled how she learned to “fail forward.” In...

read more
Faith: “I Got You, Girl.”

Faith: “I Got You, Girl.”

IT IS the best of times; it is (sometimes) the worst of times. I have three children, ages 16, 12, and 5. It’s not lost on me how fast they grow. Now, with a child who is nearing 18, it really does...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Women of Tullahoma

JUST OVER 100 years ago, women finally received what other Americans, but not all, already had — the right to vote. Now, we have the opportunity to lift up and celebrate the groundbreaking women...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Recipes – Spread the love

MARCH 1 is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day — a day to celebrate the rich, gooey goodness of a pantry staple. What better way to start the day than with a batch of special pancakes? Then, keep up...

read more
From the heart

From the heart

IMAGINE LIFE is a car, and our goal is to make it from one side of the country to the other. The only way to do that is by having a full tank of gas. What is the gas in our lives, as humans, that...

read more
History over and over again

History over and over again

I AM IN the middle of my third decade of life, and within the last two years, I’ve discovered something I always ignored: music from the midcentury. Life does not seem to be slowing down. Our...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Faith – ‘Just as you are’

FOR OVER 30 years, children’s television host Mister Rogers came into the homes of millions via our television sets and told each of us one of the most important things a person could say to us. “I...

read more
History over and over again

Tis the season

ALL I want for Christmas iiiiiiis…yoooooOOooooOOoouuuUUUuuu.” Can you hear it already? It’s that time of year once again. A time of year when a heated blanket feels like a hug. Every inch of the...

read more
History over and over again

Life’s short; eat dessert.

WE DUST off the artificial pumpkin decorations and pull orange and purple wreaths from storage. We pull out rakes and sweaters as the weather drops like the leaves do. The weather feels therapeutic...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Go straight to the best

TAKE A deep breath and smell the aroma of lunch cooking in the kitchen. It was a very important meal. Jesus and the 12 stopped in to visit the home of Martha and Mary, in Bethany. Through the...

read more
If you dream it, they will come.

If you dream it, they will come.

IN 1995, Susan Binkley was running a high-profile horse hotel and selling her artwork at a gallery in Nashville. Becoming the founder and president of Blue Monarch, a nonprofit for women seeking to...

read more
A stroke of opportunity

A stroke of opportunity

GIVING TULLAHOMA High School and Tullahoma Virtual Academy art students a unique opportunity to showcase their artistic talents is the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center (TFAC). The arts center will...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Someone Has Your Back

WHEN THE SMELL of warm caramel coffee lingers in the air of your vehicle on the way to work, you don’t have to think about watching your back. While not every driver on the road is aware of their...

read more
From the ground up

From the ground up

AS HE sits back in the chair to smile for a picture, he laughs. “It’s not often I’m sitting still,” he said, smiling. Just as soon as it is taken, the Tullahoma City Schools (TCS) maintenance...

read more
Making a splash!

Making a splash!

SINCE 1959, the Tullahoma Swim Club has been making a splash in the community. Over the years they have added a team at Tullahoma High School and most recently a middle school team for both East and...

read more
Being the Calm in the Storm

Being the Calm in the Storm

THICK BLACK SMOKE pours out of an old home that sits back off of a long winding road. Though the scene looks relatively calm to the naked eye, appearances can be deceiving. Inside, red, orange, and...

read more
Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

WHETHER GOOD, or bad, some of the most memorable moments of a person’s life have been inside the walls of a sterile hospital. For some people, those days are incredibly painful to reflect on or...

read more
With care and appreciation

With care and appreciation

WHEN TRAGEDY and hardship strike, we want to help. We demonstrate our love and care in various ways, but feeding those hit hard meets a basic need and fuels them to manage their situations. Few...

read more
Front Porch Fridays

Front Porch Fridays

TENNESSEE backroads are notorious for their beauty and knack for hospitality. Pick any old country road, and you’ll find good times hiding around each and every bend. Locally, if you were to take a...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Game Day Party Recipes

THE ELECTRIFYING atmosphere under Friday night lights is majorly fueled by loyal fans scattered across stadium seats. Young children with painted faces, parents with cushioned seats, and...

read more
Planning for growth

Planning for growth

THE CITY of Tullahoma is growing. Responsible for making sure that growth takes place in the correct space is Mary Samaniego. Samaniego is the planning director for the City of Tullahoma Planning...

read more
Bringing the beat to the game

Bringing the beat to the game

YOU CAN hear them before you see them. Instruments, performing in perfect unison, send an infectious sound out into the air that alerts all who hear it that the evening’s events are about to begin....

read more
An Honest Conversation

An Honest Conversation

PROVERBS 24:26 reads, “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.” But what kind of kiss are we talking about? Because not every kiss is enjoyable, and not every honest word is easily received....

read more
A cheerleader’s perspective

A cheerleader’s perspective

IN A SMALL TOWN, many components culminate to make Friday night football games the memorable experiences they are. The most notable element, of course, is the people. Individuals playing different...

read more
Letter From the Editor – The Women of Tullahoma

Classrooms made of steel

THE CLASSROOM is like railroad tracks. Hard workers spent years, decades—centuries even—laying the groundwork for the trains to run smoothly from coast to coast. They’re strong. And they last for...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Prepping for Back to School

IT MIGHT be one of the most exciting yet stressful times of the year, rivaling that of Christmas. It requires preparation, planning, logistics, time, and money. I’m almost sure there are military...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

But, God

WITH THE first cup of steaming coffee in my hand and the stiffness still in my joints, I gently ease into my spot on the couch. A fresh, new day offers a blank page, although the to-do list in my...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Classroom Approved

THE WORDS “back to school” can stir up many different emotions. Some young parents hear “school” and are instantly filled with dread and anxiety. Leaving their wide eyed babes for the first time can...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

So much more than teaching

DEFINING THE meaning of teacher requires more than Merriam-Webster; it takes a deeper look and a second glance. More than a job with a summer-long vacation, teachers are motivated by their love for...

read more
Bringing the beef

Bringing the beef

BROADENING THE public’s accessibility to local beef and produce is Farmington Local Market. The market opened to the public in April. The store is a part of Farmington Angus, a farm based in...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Making the most of every day

FOR TEACHER Sharron Woodard, her approach to the classroom is all about making the most of every single day. The Tullahoma High School (THS) marketing teacher has worked tirelessly over the last two...

read more
Good changes in industry

Good changes in industry

THE BEGINNING of the year marked a large change in the industrial community of Coffee County, as Cookeville native Stephen Crook was hired as the Coffee County Industrial Board executive director....

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Beyond Victory

CHANCES ARE, if you’ve played basketball, softball, ran track, or been on the bowling team for West Middle School (WMS) or Tullahoma High School (THS) in the last 37 years, you’ve come across the...

read more
The Courtyard stage

The Courtyard stage

THIS TOWN can seem a bit off when the Tullahoma Wildcats aren’t taking the field at Wilkins Stadium on any given Friday night. It’s quiet and feels too still. We’ve all felt it, heard it, and...

read more
Letter From the Editor – The Women of Tullahoma

The Sound of Trumpets

IF YOU took a snapshot of any 10 years in our country’s history, there is a hurt we were trying to heal. The same is true today. It’s our independence that lets us correct that, to heal, and to...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

The Dream Maker

WHEN VIKTOR Makela arrived in America from Finland, the Statue of Liberty welcomed him. He brought more than a few material possessions with him; he arrived with a heart filled with dreams. Makela...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Food, Fireworks & Fun

WE WELCOME a summer celebration more than ever, and Independence Day is the perfect time to gather for food, fun, fireworks, and flag-waving. There’s an event near you, so there’s no excuse for...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Freedom of fire

WHEN I was a young buck, I decided if there was a rule, I was going to break it. There have been many distinct times in my life when I have felt suffocated by others’ control, expectations, or...

read more
A Job Well Done

A Job Well Done

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER Week was recently observed April 17-23. To further mark the importance of the week, President Joe Biden declared it National Volunteer Week in a presidential proclamation to...

read more
School Lunch 101

School Lunch 101

FOR ALMOST a decade, Angela Cardwell has worked tirelessly to make sure the bellies of the Tullahoma City School (TCS) students are full and well-nourished. The director of nutrition for TCS and a...

read more
Raptor Rescue

Raptor Rescue

FOR TULLAHOMA residents Lyle and Valerie Russell, rehabilitating raptors has become a labor of love. As longtime falconers, the two have opened the Middle Tennessee Raptor Center (MTRC). According...

read more
Trusting the process

Trusting the process

THE TULLAHOMA High School (THS) girls and boys wrestling teams recently wrapped up successful seasons that included state appearances by both squads. While winning is important for the two teams...

read more
Celebrating those who impact

Celebrating those who impact

THE ANNUAL Women Impacting the Community event was held on May 17, at the Lakewood Golf and Country Club. Hosted by the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC), the event celebrated the success...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Floating Vacations on Local Water

Whether it’s relaxation or adventure you’re seeking, you don’t have to look far to find it. Middle Tennessee’s waterways will refresh and restore you. A lazy float with nature’s soundtrack of...

read more
Letter From the Editor: Savoring the Summer Delights

Selfless

THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER dictionary defines the word selfless as “someone who has no concern for self, or unselfish.” As the world keeps turning, it may feel like selfless people are few and far between....

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

In the spirit of selflessness

WEBSTER MAY define selflessness as having no concern for self, but givers in our community give the world and our lives deeper meaning. They take to heart the well-being and care of others and place...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

Do bunnies lay eggs?

Easter parades may have passed on by, but its many other traditions are alive and well. Even though the internet has changed how we watch movies, families still watch “The Ten Commandments” every...

read more
Refreshing Summer Treats Straight Out of Mama’s Cookbook.

When empty is full

AS MORNING’S first light nudged the last of the darkness, Mary Magdalene walked with heavy heart and feet along the dirt road. The garden’s birdsong and fragrant blossoms, usually welcomed,...

read more