Rhea County officials have launched a new series of commercials to promote the area's points of interest and a "life less complicated" in time for holiday-season travelers. County Executive George Thacker said he wanted to create the commercials to showcase "great things in Rhea County that don't cost anything," since budget-conscious travelers research affordable tourism options.

DAYTON, Tenn. -- Rhea County officials have launched a new series of commercials to promote the area's points of interest and a "life less complicated" there in time for holiday-season travelers.

George Thacker, Rhea County executive, said he wanted to create the commercials to showcase "great things in Rhea County that don't cost anything," because budget-conscious travelers research affordable tourism options.

Nearly 250,000 people across Southeast Tennessee will have an opportunity to view the varied segments on local channels and radio stations until February 2012.

Chris Weir, with Tabor Consulting LLC in Cleveland, Tenn., said his company worked with Thacker to videotape locations across the county for the ads, which include four different 30-second commercials and 10-second segments derived from the longer versions.

The promotional segments will air on network television channels and radio stations 92.3 FM and 96.5 FM, Thacker said.

He said he wanted people to realize that Rhea County was "an hour away from anything but miles away from everything."

Thacker said the commercials were funded through the hotel and motel tax budget and that he planned to use high-definition video footage of next year's Strawberry and Scopes Festival for more promotional segments.

Resident Cindy Lou Geisler, who moved to Rhea County in January, said she thought the commercials would serve as a helpful source to newcomers. Geisler said she became discouraged last year when she had researched the Internet for information about the area.

Geisler, who hadn't viewed the new ads, said that a parks and recreation feature, along with "shots of the quaintness of the city," would help newcomers.

The advertisements include footage of the Rhea County Courthouse, a couple hiking at Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness Park and fishing and boating on Watts Bar Lake.

The videos may be viewed at http://vimeo.com/32282084.