Jay GreesonThere's a lot of attention on South Pittsburg, Tenn., right now.
This weekend's Cornbread Festival is the highlight of the events calendar. Iron skillets, music, cornbread and beer. It really has it all.
Now, along with the preeminent festival, South Pittsburg can brag about something else.
Sweetens Cove golf course was ranked No. 59 on Golfweek magazine's top 100 list of modern courses in the country.
Rob Collins, who along with Tad King redesigned the nine-hole track in the Sequatchie Valley, should be accustomed to high honors and acclaim. Sweetens Cove has routinely been recognized among the best nine-hole courses in the state and country.
But this is different - and bigger.
"Fantastic news," is how Collins described the honor, as Sweetens Cove was one of just two courses in Tennessee to make Golfweek's latest list. The other Tennessee course is a little place called The Honors in Ooltewah, which Golfweek had at No. 20.
"To be 59 on their list, obviously, this is a tremendous honor. For comparison's sake, Quail Hollow, host of the 2017 PGA Championship, is rated No. 60. On the 2016 list, Erin Hills, host of this year's U.S. Open, was ranked No. 127 on the "Next 100" Modern list."
High company to be sure, but Sweetens Cove has earned its place and prestigious praise.
Now, if they only served cornbread.
---
United they fall
Been a rough month or so for United Airlines.
You may have heard a few things about it.
Now, of course, comes the latest.
On a flight from London to Chicago, United was carrying a growing celebrity. Literally growing, that is.
On board was a 3-foot rabbit being shipped to U.S. buyers. Experts believe Simon was well on his way to becoming the world's largest rabbit - somewhere between Harvey and former country music star Eddie Rabbitt.
He was headed to Iowa where his purchasers were hoping to cash in on his size at the famed Iowa State Fair.
Sometime during the transport, Simon just kept on ascending. He bought the farm at 30,000 feet in the sky.
United says Simon arrived alive and died waiting for a connection. (Most commuters can relate.)
Whenever it was, United just can't catch a break.
---
Snack break in a hunger strike
We frequently have covered the snowflake views and safe-space culture crowding college campuses and threatening to turn this generation softer than shortening.
Well, we may have found the ultimate head-scratching scene of softness.
Let's go to Yale, where the union of graduate students is protesting working conditions. Conditions, mind you, that include a $30,000 salary, health benefits and their $40,000 tuition covered.
Well, at those awful conditions, student union members have embarked on a hunger strike outside the Yale president's house.
A hunger strike. A powerful statement, right?
Well, according to the Yale student newspaper, this hunger strike is not exactly a hard-line effort.
This hunger strike offers strikers the opportunity to go grab a bite if they get hungry.
So it's a hunger strike with snacks and juice boxes.
That seems fitting for this generation.
---
Power breakfast
Each year the Chattanooga Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast folks bring in a speaker to highlight service and fellowship.
Tuesday will be the 39th prayer breakfast. John Aden, a high-level executive for several companies ranging from Frito-Lay and Mac Tools to Wal-Mart, will be the featured speaker at the Chattanooga Convention Center event. Visit chattanoogaprayerbreakfast.org for ticket information.
A powerful message at a meaningful morning meeting.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-4363.