☕ Front Porch Morning: Mail Is Back, a Free Medicare Talk Tonight, and Tomorrow’s Social Security Raise

Or: A Normal Tuesday Plan — Check the Mailbox, Circle Wednesday, and Drive Slow in the Fog

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Tuesday, October 12, 2026

Good morning, neighbor. The holiday is over. Mail and post offices are back today, and Social Security live phone help is back too. This morning starts with areas of fog before 9 a.m., then turns sunny and warm, high near 87°F. Tonight there is a free Medicare talk in Hixson, and tomorrow is a big day for your money and your ballot. Let’s take it one cup of coffee at a time.

⏱️ Your 30-second morning recap

• Yesterday (Columbus Day): No mail. Post offices, Social Security offices and most banks were closed. Fog early, then sunny and warm near 85°F. School buses were back for Homecoming Week.
• Yesterday: The Better Business Bureau warned that Medicare open-enrollment season brings more scam calls and fake websites. Hang up if someone asks for your Medicare number.
• Today: Mail is back. Post offices open. Social Security live help is back at 1-800-772-1213.
• Today: Free Wills & Living Trusts class at the Sequatchie County Public Library, 10 a.m. Central. Free Medicare talk at Morning Pointe of Hixson, 6 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. Central).
• Weather: National Weather Service: areas of fog before 9 a.m., then sunny, high near 87°F. Tonight clear, low near 60°F.

📝 Jot This Down: today’s 3 things to remember

1. Fog until about 9 a.m. Low beams on, slow down, and watch for school buses. Sequatchie kids are in school this week (Homecoming).
2. Mail and Social Security are open again. A good day to drop a bill or call 1-800-772-1213 if you need live help.
3. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 14: Social Security’s 2027 raise is expected after the inflation report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern (7:30 a.m. Central), and early voting starts. Never pay anyone to “boost” your raise.

Tomorrow’s heads-up: Wednesday, Oct. 14 looks sunny and even warmer, high near 89°F. Early voting runs through Thursday, Oct. 29. Medicare open enrollment opens Thursday, Oct. 15.

📰 In Case You Missed It Yesterday (Monday, Oct. 12)

📪 Columbus Day Wrap-Up: What Was Closed

Monday was a federal holiday. Regular mail did not run. Post offices were closed. Social Security offices were closed, with no live phone help. Most bank lobbies were closed (ATMs and online banking still worked). Tennessee state offices stayed open — the state observes its Columbus Day holiday on Friday, Nov. 27. Marion County offices were closed. Sequatchie County and City of Dunlap holiday hours were not confirmed in advance.

What it means for you: Anything you held for the holiday can move today. If a deposit sat over the weekend-plus-Monday, check your balance this morning. If you need Social Security, call now while live help is back.

👉 Read more (USPS: Columbus Day closure notice)

🛡️ BBB Reminder: Medicare Season Means More Scam Calls

Late Monday, Tennessee Better Business Bureau coverage reminded folks that Medicare open enrollment starts Thursday, Oct. 15, and scammers ramp up right with it. Common tricks: callers claiming to be Medicare or an “enrollment specialist,” texts saying benefits are about to expire, and lookalike websites that copy Medicare.gov. A real helper will never cold-call and ask you to read numbers off your card or pay with gift cards.

What it means for you: Hang up on unsolicited Medicare calls. Type Medicare.gov into your browser yourself. For free, no-sales help, call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044. To report a scam in Tennessee, call Consumer Affairs at 1-800-342-8385.

👉 Read more (BBB warns of Medicare open-enrollment scams)

🏫 Homecoming Week Is Underway

Sequatchie County students returned Monday after fall break. It is Homecoming Week, with spirit dress-up days and school buses back on the roads. (Marion and Hamilton County kids are on fall break this week.) The homecoming parade is Friday morning, Oct. 16 — times listed locally as 9 or 9:30 a.m., so arrive early or call ahead. Friday night football: Indians vs. Community at 7 p.m. in Dunlap.

What it means for you: Extra patience at bus stops this morning, especially in the fog. A folding chair on the parade route Friday is one of the best seats in town for grandparents.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Back Monday and Homecoming Week)

📅 Today in the Valley (Tuesday, Oct. 13)

🌫️ Today’s Weather: Fog First, Then Sunny Near 87

The National Weather Service Dunlap forecast (updated early this morning) calls for areas of fog before 9 a.m., then sunny, with a high near 87°F. Wind calm becoming southwest around 5 mph. Tonight is clear, low near 60°F. Wednesday looks sunny near 89°F. A cooler front arrives later in the week — Friday night’s low is forecast near 44°F, and Saturday’s high near 66°F. Forecasts that far out can shift, so check again Thursday.

What it means for you: If you can, wait until the fog lifts to run errands. If you must drive early, use low-beam headlights, slow down, and leave extra room. This afternoon is warm, so drink water and take it easy in the yard. Start thinking about jackets before the weekend cool-down.

👉 Read more (National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast)

📪 Mail and Social Security Are Open Again

Regular mail delivery and post office windows are back today after the Columbus Day holiday. Social Security offices are open and live phone help is available again at 1-800-772-1213. Banks should be on normal lobby hours — call your own branch if you’re unsure.

What it means for you: A good day to mail a bill, pick up a package, or call Social Security about a question you held over the holiday. Keep your paperwork nearby so you don’t have to hunt for it mid-call.

👉 Read more (Social Security Administration)

📚 Free Wills Class at the Library This Morning

The Sequatchie County Public Library, 227 Cherry St., Dunlap, reopened today after the Columbus Day closure. At 10 a.m. Central, it hosts a free Wills & Living Trusts class. No sign-up required. The library is also closed on Thursdays. Phone: (423) 949-2357.

Also on today’s library calendar: Friends of the Library meeting at 4 p.m. Tomorrow (Wednesday): genealogy help 9–11 a.m., and Chair Dancing at 1 p.m.

What it means for you: The wills class is a gentle, free way to start a conversation many of us keep putting off. Bring a notepad. You do not have to decide anything today — just listen and ask questions.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: library and week calendar)

🏥 Tonight: Free Medicare Talk at Morning Pointe of Hixson

Morning Pointe of Hixson Assisted Living hosts a free educational session tonight: “Medicare Changes, Made Simple: What’s New for 2027?” It features MedicareMisty, with time for questions. Open to seniors, family members and anyone who wants to learn more.

• When: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 6 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. our Central time)
• Where: Morning Pointe of Hixson, 5501 Old Hixson Pike, Hixson
• Cost: Free. Reservations requested: (423) 777-5577 or misty@medicaremisty.com

This is general education, not a sales pitch you have to sit through. Medicare open enrollment itself opens Thursday, Oct. 15, and runs through Dec. 7.

What it means for you: If Hixson is a drive you can make, tonight is a calm way to hear what’s changing before open enrollment starts. If you can’t go, call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 for free, unbiased counseling — they do not sell insurance.

👉 Read more (Chattanoogan: Morning Pointe Medicare session)

🗓️ Put These on the Fridge: This Week

• Tuesday, Oct. 13 (today): Mail back. Fog early, sunny near 87°F. Wills class 10 a.m. at the library. Medicare talk 6 p.m. Eastern at Morning Pointe of Hixson.
• Wednesday, Oct. 14: Early voting starts (through Oct. 29). Call Sequatchie Election Commission (423) 949-2431 for sites and hours. Social Security’s 2027 raise expected after the CPI report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern (7:30 a.m. Central). Never pay to “boost” it.
• Thursday, Oct. 15: Medicare open enrollment opens (through Dec. 7). Dunlap City Hall board meeting, 5 p.m. Central, 15595 Rankin Ave. State burn permits required for debris fires starting today.
• Friday, Oct. 16: Homecoming parade morning (about 9–9:30 a.m. — call ahead). Football vs. Community, 7 p.m. Cooler air arrives; Friday night low near 44°F.
• Saturday, Oct. 17: Dunlap Farmers Market, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Harris Park (245 Cedar St.). Days of Yesteryear tractor show, gates 8 a.m., Coops Creek Commons, 287 Pine St. (free). High near 66°F — bring a jacket.
• Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 17–18: Free Remote Area Medical dental, vision and medical clinic at Notre Dame High School, 2701 Vermont Ave., Chattanooga. First come, first served. Questions: 865-579-1530.
• Tuesday, Oct. 20: Free flu shots at Sequatchie County Health Department, 16939 Rankin Ave., Dunlap, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central. Also: “Let’s Talk Medicare” at the library, 10 a.m.

✅ Your Calm Morning Checklist

• ✅ Wait for the fog to lift if you can. If not, low beams and slow down.
• ✅ Watch for school buses this morning.
• ✅ Check the mailbox — mail is back.
• ✅ Need Social Security? Live help is back: 1-800-772-1213.
• ✅ Consider the free wills class at 10 a.m. at the library, or the Medicare talk at 5 p.m. Central in Hixson.
• ✅ Hang up on anyone who wants money to “boost” your Social Security raise or asks for your Medicare number out of the blue.
• ✅ Drink water this afternoon. It’s warm, near 87°F.
• ✅ Circle fridge dates: Oct. 14, 15, 17–18, 20.

Practical rule: You don’t have to remember it all. Just keep this page handy, and check back tomorrow morning.

— Dunlap.Today

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is the mail running today?

Yes. Regular mail delivery and post office windows are back Tuesday, Oct. 13, after the Columbus Day holiday Monday.

Can I call Social Security today?

Yes. Live phone help is back at 1-800-772-1213. The website, ssa.gov, also works.

What time is the Morning Pointe Medicare talk, in our time?

6 p.m. Eastern is 5 p.m. Central. Address: 5501 Old Hixson Pike, Hixson. Reservations: (423) 777-5577. Call ahead to confirm before you drive.

When will I know my Social Security raise for next year?

It’s expected Wednesday, Oct. 14, after the government’s inflation report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern (7:30 a.m. Central). Forecasts are in the mid-3% range, but nothing is final until Social Security announces it. The new amount starts with January 2027 payments.

Do I have to sign up or pay to get the raise?

No. It comes automatically, and it’s free. Anyone asking for a fee, your Social Security number or your bank details to “boost” your check is a scammer. Hang up.

When does early voting start?

Wednesday, Oct. 14, through Thursday, Oct. 29. Call the Sequatchie County Election Commission at (423) 949-2431 for local sites and hours, or check GoVoteTN.gov. Bring a Tennessee or federal photo ID.

Do I have to change my Medicare plan on Oct. 15?

No. Open Enrollment is optional. Use it if your doctors, drugs or costs changed. Free help: TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.

🔗 Helpful Numbers & Resources

• Social Security: 1-800-772-1213. SSA.gov · Report a scam: ssa.gov/scam
• Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Medicare open enrollment
• TN SHIP free Medicare counseling: 1-877-801-0044
• Morning Pointe of Hixson Medicare talk RSVP: (423) 777-5577
• Sequatchie Senior Center, 103 Heard St., Dunlap: (423) 949-2228
• Sequatchie County Election Commission: (423) 949-2431 · 68 Spring St., Dunlap
• Sequatchie County Public Library: (423) 949-2357 · 227 Cherry St., Dunlap
• Dunlap City Hall: (423) 949-2115
• Sequachee Valley Electric outages (24/7): 1-888-421-7832
• Sequatchie County 911 non-emergency: (423) 949-9912. For an emergency, call 911.
• TN Division of Consumer Affairs (report a scam): 1-800-342-8385
• Tennessee Adult Protective Services: 1-888-277-8366
• BBB Scam Tracker: bbb.org/scamtracker
• Remote Area Medical clinic info: 865-579-1530. RAM Chattanooga Oct. 17–18
• National Weather Service Dunlap forecast: weather.gov point forecast

🌅 One Good Morning at a Time

A quiet Tuesday after a holiday is a gift. Let the fog lift, check the mailbox, and save a little energy for tomorrow’s raise news and early voting. You don’t have to rush any of it. We’ll walk through each one with you, one morning at a time. Read Dunlap.Today every morning for plain-English Valley news, and find local businesses on Dunlap.Directory.

— Dunlap.Today