StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders East Side Christian Church members Brandy Corbett, on the ladder, and Jay Odom works on the church’s welcome sign. They are placing a verse, Psalms 122:1, that many other churches in Carter County may well want to copy as they reopen for in-house worship services in the coming weekends. Corbett says this is the church’s first in-person service in almost eight weeks this Sunday morning at 10 AM.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Even a late afternoon rainstorm didn’t dampen the spirits of five-year-old Tatiana Gold as she gives chase to her grandfather Daniel and one-year-old sister Leilana on the walking path in Riverside Park along the Watauga River.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders An impromptu photo shoot along the banks of the Watauga River in Riverside Park finds Jeanne Darland holding her ten-month-old granddaughter McKendra Blackwell while Andrea takes the photo and Derek Blackwell provides the entertainment to make her smile.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders A Blue Heron catches a little sun while standing on a rock in the Watauga River off of Steel Bridge Road not far from the Wilber dam.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Elizabethton’s Calum Trivette and his “ Lil Buddy” canoe up the Watauga River in Lynn Valley to get a little fly fishing on a perfect May afternoon.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Watauga Lake presents a pristine backdrop as two boats head up the lake possibly for some fishing or water skiing.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Rhododendrons are coming into season in the lower elevations around Carter County and should hit their peaks in the higher elevations of the county in the coming months. Unfortunately, the Roan Mountain Rhododendrons Festival, held annually in the park every June since 1947, has been canceled for the first time in over 70 years because of the ongoing concerns of the CoVid-19 pandemic.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Eastside Elementary’s Evan Chambers works on his jump shot while his dad Rusty Chambers captures it all on video. The younger Chambers is getting in shape for an upcoming National’s Basketball tournament in Gatlinburg the week of June 17th thru the 21st at the Rocky Top Sports World venue.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Around the county, many different kinds of flowers are in bloom now, like these Iris. The Iris is the Tennessee state flower and it comes in many different shades and colors.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Even a late afternoon rainstorm didn’t dampen the spirits of five-year-old Tatiana Gold as she rides her scooter on the walking path in Riverside Park along the Watauga River.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Rhododendrons are coming into season in the lower elevations around Carter County and should hit their peaks in the higher elevations of the county in the coming months. Unfortunately, the Roan Mountain Rhododendrons Festival, held annually in the park every June since 1947, has been cancelled for the first time in over 70 years because of the ongoing concerns of the CoVid-19 pandemic.