July/August Issue Pre-Launch

Mid-State Messenger FREE! FurryTake One! Foster Friends The Joys Of Adopting A New Family Member Plus Your Summer Guide to State Parks



Letter from the Publisher Mid-StateKickback and enjoy yourself messengerHi, my name is Ryan Drew. I am proud to introduce our Publisher and Designernew publication the Mid-State Messenger. Growingup in Tennessee, I learned there is no other place in Ryan Drewthis nation greater than this state. From the blues ofMemphis to the Bluegrass of the Smokey Mountains. Editor andSoon to be residing in middle Tennessee I am setting Account Executiveout to create a magazine which will warm the heartand most of all inspire. So sit back and grab a cup of Elijah Drewcoffee. I hope you will enjoy reading this as much asI enjoyed making it. Advertise With Us Contents Call Us At3 State Park Information (386)697-6170 Guide: Historical facts and information to plan a sum- Email Us [email protected] mer trip to a Tennessee State Park near you. Scripture Of The7 July and August calendars Month to plan your summer Jeremiah 29:119 Letter From A Friend For I know the plans I submit your content and you could have for you, declares be in the next issue) Details in article. the LORD, plans to prosper you and not11 The Joys Of Adopting A to harm you, plans to give you hope and a Pet future.16 List of summer events

Johnsonville munitions, food until 1944 atState and other needed which time theHistoric Park supplies from the construction of northern states the Kentucky DamDeep in the Heart down to Georgia flooded the areaof Tennessee is the where fierce battles and made whatserene 2,000-acre were raging. The is now called thearea that houses depot was named Kentucky Lake.the site of an Johnsonville after Visitors to the parkimportant supplies President Andrew enjoy a varietydepot during the Johnson. A late of activities. TheAmerican Civil war attack on the Kentucky LakeWar. The location depot left it in near offers abundantof the area near ruins. Despite this, fishing and is athe Tennessee the location turned popular placeRiver made it the into a bustling little to swim in theideal hub to pass town. warmer months. The town existed Miles of hiking

Summer Is Here Enjoy The Outdoors In A State Parktrails with historical understanding Rock Islandinterpretive of how soldiers State Parkmarkers allows lived during thenature lovers to civil war. The Rock Islandtake a walk through park hosts annual State Park ishistory. reenactments of a must visit forMany relics of the the battle that took hikers who prefercivil war structures place on the land. moderate trails.remain and visitors The visitor’s center There are severalcan view the old delves deep into breathtakingfort foundations, civil war history. waterfalls andrailroad beds Johnsonville State a natural sandand graveyards. Park also offers beach. TheReplica soldier’s sites for picnicking, rushing rapids ofquarters that are bike trails andavailable to tour numerousoffer a greater bird watching opportunities.

the river have madeit a popular placefor experiencedkayakers. For thoselooking to get awayin comfort, the parkhas a limited numberof cabins.Harpeth RiverState ParkThis parkencompasses 40miles of the HarpethRiver. It was createdto preserve a lineof natural wonders,archeological sitesand historic areas.One of the most Mousetail lovers, the remains Landing State of an old blacksmithinteresting features Park shop and a cemeteryof this park is the still exist.hand carved tunnelthat was completedin the early 19th Visitors to this middlecentury. Various trails Tennessee parklead to fascinating enjoy stunning viewsremains of buildings. of the TennesseeA dilapidated resort River. It is a veryand an old forge popular fishing siteare just some of the because of thehistorical sites you abundance of largecan visit in this park. fish. For the history

IF YOU GO • Pack extra water. You can’t predict the weather and it might be unusually warm. Bottles of water will allow you to enjoy the outdoors in comfort. • Bring a small bag to place your litter. You will love serene nature. Let others enjoy it too by clean- ing up after yourself. • If you haveBig Cypress to be a 1,350-year- children, bring someTree State old bald Cyprus.Park outdoor toys to keep Unfortunately, aVisitors to this park them occupied.love the wild beauty lightning storm in theof the Obion River.The oldest tree in mid 1970s ended the • Check out thethe Eastern United tree’s long life. There back page and insideStates once lived are still several very calendar for a listin the middle of the old bald Cyprus trees of events to planpark. It was reported to visit as well as a variety of other trees your trip around. that can be seen on one of the easy walking trails.

This space is reserved for localevents. If you know of a Dickson orHumphreysCountyeventhappeningin July, please email the Mid-State Messenger to have it listed. [email protected]

This space is reserved for localevents. If you know of a Dickson orHumphreys County event happeningin August, please email the Mid-State Messenger to have it listed. [email protected]

Letter From A Friend Submit letters and content to the Mid-State Messenger. Email us at [email protected] my name is Scooter Drew,I came to live with my mom a few years ago. I was a breeder dog. I lived allmy life in a cage until they couldn’t use me anymore; then they dumped me. Itwas December and it was very cold. I only weighed 4 pounds and was so hun-gry. Some nice man found me and brought me to the shelter. Then Ann Hunterfrom the Humane Society talked to my mom and asked if she would foster methrough the holidays. Of course she said yes. She was going to foster me butthen she loved me so much she made me her forever furbaby! I had some prob-lems at first but my mom took care of them I’ve been living with her now for al-most 3 years. Things are going good. It’s a whole new life!! I don’t have to stayin a cage anymore. I get to play with toys sometimes, I get brushed and pettedall the time, I get lots of loving, I sleep in bed with mom,and I eat real good. Iweigh 7 pounds now but there is another story here.About 10 months ago mom brought home another dog. Angela Rye from theshelter asked mom if she would take another senior dog that was abandoned.Of course she did. That’s when my sister Sophie came to live with us. She wasabout my age (13). She was really, really cute, but kind of quiet. She slept a lotand wasn’t too interested in toys. She would get real excited whenever momwent out and came back home, also whenever she had a bath! But every timeshe got excited she would fall over and wet herself. She was starting to havethese episodes a lot. Mom was giving her lots and lots of attention. It made mea little jealous, but mom explained she had to give her extra lovin’ because shewasn’t well. Mom even cooked special people food for her sometimes if it wasa day she didnt want to eat much. About a month ago Sophie crossed over theRainbow Bridge. Mom buried her in the backyard in her favorite spot and plant-ed a pretty tree there. But mom told me she’s not really there. She’s in heavenand she doesn’t fall over anymore. She has a new heart and is healthy again.She’s running and playing like a pup and she will be there to greet us someday!Speaking of pups, what they say about old dogs is not true. You CAN teach anold dog new tricks!! And they sure have lots of love to give. We understand mostpeople want young dogs, that’s why when we do find a home we are so grateful!So I’d like to say to anyone wanting a dog, please consider a senior like me orSophie. We’ll love you till forever and beyond and we’ll make your heart smile!You won’t be sorry! I know because mom tells me all the time she feels blessedto be able to care for us and we’ve made her so happy!



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The Rewards of AdoptionEach year, millions of companion who always Unconditional LoveAmericans welcome new communicates in the mostfurry friends into their honest way. You now have Receiving unconditionalhearts and homes. One someone who will always love is a feeling thatof the best feelings is be happy to take a walk many people may neverintroducing your timid with you or snuggle up experience. This is nevernew pet to your home and watch Netflix. true for pet owners. Evenand watching them go if you only walked to thefrom shy to blending right mailbox and back, yourinto the family. Knowing Saving Lives dog will always be overthat you saved a life the moon to see you.makes these moments Most people have an Your cat also enjoys youreven sweeter. Adopting a innate desire to help a presence even thoughpet is beneficial not just fellow creature in need. they may choose toto your animal but also to Saving a life is the display their affectionyourself. ultimate way to help. by sitting directly on the Adopting a pet ensures book you are enjoying orConstant that you are saving the laptop you are using.Companionship life of the cat or dog youWe are a lonely nation. adopt from the shelter. Cost EfficientAs communication When you take your newbecomes increasingly best friend home, you are The cold hard truth is thatelectronic, people are also making space in the purchasing your pet fromsocializing less and less. shelter for another animal a breeder or pet store isA pet provides a constant in need. Congratulations, just far more expensive you just saved two lives. than adoption. The initial costs of adoption

are definitely lower. Buying a pet often and dogs. Supporting an adoptioncreeps into the hundreds of dollars agency is a great way to make surerange. On top of that, purchased pets that your animals have received theare unlikely to be fully vaccinated or best care. Shelter staff are less likelyspayed and neutered. Most pet shelter to mistreat animals by viewing thempets come with all their shots and are as goods rather than living beings withfixed before you even take them home. emotions.If they are not, adoption agencies almostalways offer low cost care for basic Improved Healthveterinary services. While youcan find purebred animals It should come as noat a shelter, these animals surprise that thosehave been so inbred who own pets tendover the centuries that to be healthier.they come with a lifetime Dog ownersof health problems that automaticallyturn into costly vet have a goodvisits. These are the reason to getbread and butter of out of the housepuppy mill owners. and take a walk.Mixed breed dogs Numerous studiesare much more likely have shown thatto live longer and pets help humanshave fewer health live longer byproblems due to lowering overalla good genetic blood pressurevariance. and reducing heart disease.BAudsoipnteiosns Is Not a Cats and dogs provide a calming presence, reduceUnlike a pet store symptoms of anxietyor a breeder, animal and depression, helpshelters do not run owners cope withtheir facility in order to traumatic events and,make a profit. They are even if you don’t admitgenuinely interested in it, provide a listening ear.finding the best human This pet superpower iscompanion for their catsFor More Information Or To Adopt A Pet

the reason why they are used to give early warning of seizures, help veteransmanage posttraumatic stress and detect cancer.Angela Rye is very experienced with the richness that pet adoption can add toa person’s life. She heads the Waverly Animal Shelter in Waverly, Tennessee, afacility that adopts out roughly 1,500 cats and dogs on an annual basis. Angelahas dedicated 16 years of her life to finding forever homes for animals in need.The number of animals that come into the Waverly shelter can sometimes getoverwhelming. To mitigate the challenges, all animals must be spayed andneutered to prevent an increase in the pet population, and many of the animalsare placed in foster homes. Foster families take a cat or dog for a brief periodof time until it can be adopted. This opens up space in the shelter for morehomeless animals.Angela points out the monetary advantages of adopting from a shelter versusbuying a pet from a puppy mill. The adoption costs at Waverly Animal Shelterrange from 55 to 75 dollars depending on the age and type of animal you choose.As with most agencies, this shelter offers low cost shots, spaying and neutering.Not everyone is in the position to be able to care for a pet full time. Angelaemphasizes that while pet adoption is a compassionate act, you should onlyconsider adoption if you are ready to make a lifelong commitment. If you are notable to adopt with the certainty that you can care for an animal for the duration ofits life, there are plenty of ways you can still help. Shelters are always in need ofvolunteers. The Waverly Animal Shelter would like people to spend time cuddlingand walking the animals, taking photographs to post on adoption websites andhelp raise funds.Even if you lack the free time, you can always make a donation. Angela stressesthat shelters are constantly in need of donations. Pet food, cleaning supplies, firstaid items and old linens are continuously needed. Of course, a cash donation is agreat way to support your local shelter and it is tax deductible.Adopting a pet is a great way to add positivity to your local community whileimproving the lives of a special animal and your family. You may be surprised athow your quality of life increases when you open your home to an adorable ballof fur.Contact Angela Rye At 931-296-7319

Important Events To Remember!If you are a church or localorganization that would liketo have your even listed,please email the Mid-StateMessenger to have youreven placed.Stay Blessed,Ryan [email protected]