☕ Front Porch Morning: Sunny 66, a Veterans Meal After Church and the Food Bank's Holiday Closings

Or: Hang Up on Fake Power-Shutoff Calls, Pick Up Groceries Before Veterans Day, and Enjoy a Calm, Sunny Sunday Around Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Sunday, November 8, 2026

Good morning, neighbor. Today, Sunday, Nov. 8, is sunny, with a high near 66°F. It’s a cool start, so grab a sweater before church.

Yesterday brought two handy reminders. First, the Sequatchie County Food Bank will be closed this Wednesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day. Second, Sequachee Valley Electric says calls threatening to cut off your power are fake. Hang up on them.

Today is a quiet Sunday: church services, a veterans meal at Highway 28 Church of God, and a big soccer game in Chattanooga this evening. Nothing here needs worry. Just a few things to jot down.

⏱️ Your 30-second morning recap

• Yesterday: The Food Bank is closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, and again Nov. 25 and 26 for Thanksgiving. A call saying your power will be cut off today? Hang up and call the co-op yourself.
• Today: First Baptist Church of Dunlap worships at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. Highway 28 Church of God serves a veterans meal after its morning service.
• Weather: The National Weather Service says sunny, high near 66°F, with calm wind. Tonight, clear and chilly, low around 36°F.

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

1. Food Bank closed Wednesday, Nov. 11. If you need groceries, plan to go before or after Veterans Day. Phone: (423) 949-7716.
2. Power-shutoff calls are fake. Sequachee Valley Electric won’t call and demand payment. Hang up and call 1-888-421-7832.
3. Social Security pays Tuesday, Nov. 10, for birthdays on the 1st through 10th. That’s a day early, because of the holiday.

Tomorrow’s heads-up: Monday, Nov. 9, is sunny, high near 67°F, after a low near 36°F. Give your windshield a few extra minutes. Road crews may have flaggers on SR-111, SR-28, SR-399 and SR-8 this week, so be ready for a short stop.

📰 In Case You Missed It Yesterday (Saturday, Nov. 7)

🥫 Food Bank Closed on Veterans Day and for Thanksgiving

On Saturday, the Sequatchie County Fellowship of Churches and Food Bank shared its November closing days. It will be closed:

• Wednesday, Nov. 11 (Veterans Day)
• Wednesday, Nov. 25 (Thanksgiving week)
• Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving Day)

The food bank asks folks who need help to reach out before or after those dates.

What it means for you: It’s like knowing the store’s closed on the holiday. Just shop a day ahead. If you or a neighbor counts on the food bank, circle those three days. It’s at 103 Heard St., Dunlap, phone (423) 949-7716. We didn’t see this week’s open hours in the notice, so call ahead to confirm before you drive over.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: November Closure Dates at the Food Bank)

⚡ A Call Says Your Power Will Be Cut Off? Hang Up. It’s Not the Co-op.

Saturday’s Dunlap.Today Scam Watch passed along a warning from our own electric co-op, Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC). Callers are telling members their power will be shut off right away unless they pay. Some say SVEC has a “new billing system.” Others say the co-op no longer takes checks over $1,500. SVEC says all of that is false.

SVEC’s own scam page says the co-op will not call you, threaten to cut you off, or demand payment over the phone. It does make automated reminder calls when a bill is late, but if you want to pay, you make the call. Anyone who comes to your door from SVEC should wear an ID badge and SVEC clothing, and drive a truck with the SVEC logo.

What it means for you: Your lights aren’t going anywhere because a stranger says so. Hang up, and don’t give out bank or card numbers. Then call SVEC yourself at 1-888-421-7832, or the number on your bill.

👉 Read more (Sequachee Valley Electric: Beware of Scams)

🎖️ Veterans: The VA Won’t Call to “Fix” Your Benefits

Saturday’s Scam Watch also shared a Better Business Bureau reminder for the week of Veterans Day. Scammers may pretend to be from the VA, say there’s a problem with your benefits, or ask you to “verify” your information. Others ask for money for veterans’ causes that aren’t real.

The VA’s own website says it never charges a fee to apply for benefits. It says to hang up on any caller who claims to be from the VA, and then call a number you look up yourself.

What it means for you: Don’t share your Social Security or bank numbers with a caller you didn’t expect. To check on your benefits, call the VA at 1-800-827-1000, or use the number on your VA letter. Want to give to veterans? Give straight to a group you know, like our local American Legion or VFW.

👉 Read more (VA.gov: Protect Your Identity and Your VA Benefits From Scammers)

🚧 Flaggers Back on Four Sequatchie County Roads This Week

Saturday’s Dunlap.Today roads report said the state’s new road list puts flaggers back on four county roads for “closeout” work, the last touch-ups after this fall’s paving:

• SR-111: near Lewis Chapel Road to near East Valley Road
• SR-28: the Marion County line to east of Wilson Road
• SR-399: the Grundy County line to near SR-111
• SR-8: near Whitlow Road to near Sherman Road

TDOT didn’t list exact days or hours, so expect them any workday this week.

What it means for you: Add about five minutes to trips on those roads, like you would for a slow tractor. Stop when the paddle says stop, and give the crew a wave. For road conditions, dial 511.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Roads & Commute for the Week)

📅 Today in the Valley (Sunday, Nov. 8)

☀️ Sunny and 66, Then a Clear, Chilly Night

The National Weather Service says Dunlap is sunny today, high near 66°F. The wind is calm, then turns west around 5 mph. Early this morning, Chattanooga’s airport read about 41°F. Tonight: clear, low around 36°F, calm wind. Monday: sunny, near 67°F. Tuesday: mostly sunny, near 70°F. Veterans Day, Wednesday: mostly sunny, near 70°F, with a 30% chance of showers late Wednesday night.

Yesterday’s forecast mentioned patchy fog this morning. Today’s newest forecast doesn’t list any fog, but slow down if you drive into some low spots near the creeks.

What it means for you: A lovely day for porch sitting. Wear layers to church. A clear, calm night near 36°F can leave frost on windshields Monday morning, so give the defroster a few minutes. Cooler air arrives by Friday, with a high near 48°F.

👉 Read more (National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast)

⛪ First Baptist Church of Dunlap: 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.

First Baptist Church of Dunlap, 12 Church St., has two services this morning:

• 8:15 a.m.: Sanctuary service
• 9:30 a.m.: Sunday School
• 10:30 a.m.: Worship Center service

Pastor Josh will preach “Christian Responsibility,” from Galatians 6:1-10, in the church’s series on Galatians. Visitors are welcome. Phone: (423) 949-2441.

What it means for you: If you like an early, quiet service, the 8:15 is for you. If you’d rather sleep in a little, there’s 10:30.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: First Baptist Church in Dunlap This Sunday)

🇺🇸 Veterans Meal After Church at Highway 28 Church of God

Highway 28 Church of God in Dunlap will honor veterans and their families with a special meal after its morning service today. There’s also a discipleship class today, continuing a study of the Names of God in the Bible.

What it means for you: A warm way to thank the veterans in your family, over a good meal. The church’s notice didn’t list the service time, an address or a phone number, so call ahead to confirm the time before you go.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: November Events at Highway 28 Church of God)

⚽ Tonight: Chattanooga FC Plays for a Championship, 5 p.m. Central

For the sports fans: Chattanooga FC plays Los Angeles FC 2 for the MLS Next Pro Cup tonight at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. The Times Free Press says kickoff is 6 p.m. Eastern. That’s 5 p.m. our time. A win would be the club’s first professional championship.

What it means for you: If you’re going, streets around Finley Stadium close about 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. our time, so park a little farther out. We didn’t find ticket prices or a TV channel, so call ahead to confirm or check the team’s website. A blanket will help once the sun goes down.

👉 Read more (Times Free Press: Big Year for Soccer in Chattanooga)

🗓️ Coming Up: Payday Tuesday, a Health Talk Tuesday Night, the Parade Wednesday

• Tuesday, Nov. 10: Social Security pays for birthdays on the 1st through 10th, a day early because Wednesday is Veterans Day.
• Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m. Central: A free talk on Sequatchie County Health Department services, with administrator Beth Blevins, at the Cagle Mountain Community Center, 8208 State Route 8. Bring your questions.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11, 10 a.m.: Dunlap’s Veterans Day Parade starts at the Sequatchie County Courthouse and heads down Rankin Avenue to the park. The program is at 11 a.m. at Sequatchie County Veterans Memorial Park. Retired Army Staff Sgt. Mindy King will speak. The Food Bank is closed that day.
• Friday, Nov. 13: The Indians play at Unicoi County, 6 p.m. Central.
• Monday, Dec. 7: Medicare open enrollment ends. Free help: TN SHIP, 1-877-801-0044.

What it means for you: Write these on the kitchen calendar today. The Senior Center is at (423) 949-2228 if you need help with a ride this week.

👉 Read more (The Dunlap-Tribune: King to Speak on Veterans Day) · Social Security paying early (AL.com) · Health Department talk (Dunlap.Today)

✅ Your Calm Sunday Checklist

• ✅ Church at 8:15 or 10:30 a.m., First Baptist, 12 Church St.
• ✅ Veterans in the family? Ask about the meal at Highway 28 Church of God.
• ✅ Food Bank closed Wednesday. Plan groceries before or after.
• ✅ Hang up on anyone who says your power will be cut off today.
• ✅ Hang up on “VA” callers you didn’t expect. Call the VA yourself.
• ✅ Monday morning: chilly, near 36°F. Give the windshield a few minutes.

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

When is the Food Bank closed this month?

Wednesday, Nov. 11 (Veterans Day), Wednesday, Nov. 25, and Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving). Call (423) 949-7716 to confirm open hours on other days.

Someone called and said my power will be shut off today. What do I do?

Hang up. Sequachee Valley Electric says it won’t call and threaten you or demand payment by phone. Call the co-op yourself at 1-888-421-7832, or the number on your bill.

Does the VA charge a fee to help with my benefits?

No. The VA says it never charges a fee to apply for benefits. If someone asks for money or your numbers, hang up and call the VA at 1-800-827-1000.

When does my Social Security come this week?

If your birthday falls on the 1st through 10th, it comes Tuesday, Nov. 10, a day early because of Veterans Day. Birthdays on the 11th through 20th are paid Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Is the soccer game on our time or Chattanooga time?

Kickoff is 6 p.m. Eastern, Chattanooga time. That’s 5 p.m. on Dunlap clocks.

🔗 Helpful Numbers & Resources

• Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) · TN SHIP free Medicare counseling: 1-877-801-0044
• Medicare Plan Finder: medicare.gov/plan-compare
• Senior Medicare Patrol (Tennessee): 877-808-2468
• Social Security: 1-800-772-1213 · Report a scam: ssa.gov/scam
• Sequatchie Senior Center, 103 Heard St., Dunlap: (423) 949-2228
• Sequatchie County Fellowship of Churches and Food Bank, 103 Heard St., Dunlap: (423) 949-7716
• Bledsoe County Senior Citizens Center, Pikeville: (423) 447-6111
• SETHRA Transit rides: (423) 478-1396
• Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative (billing questions and outages): 1-888-421-7832
• VA benefits: 1-800-827-1000 · VA.gov
• Sequatchie County-Dunlap Chamber of Commerce: (423) 949-7608
• Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability: 1-866-836-6678
• Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency: (423) 949-9912. For an emergency, call 911.
• AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360
• TDOT road conditions: SmartWay.tn.gov or dial 511
• National Weather Service Dunlap forecast: weather.gov point forecast

🌅 A Sunny Sunday to Take Slow

Here’s the whole day in one breath. Church in the morning, maybe a meal with our veterans, a sunny afternoon near 66, and a sweater for the chilly night. Pick up groceries before Wednesday, because the Food Bank closes for Veterans Day. And if anyone calls to say your power or your benefits are in trouble, just hang up and call the real number yourself. Nothing today needs hurrying, and nothing needs worrying over. Read Dunlap.Today every morning for plain-English Valley news, and find local businesses on Dunlap.Directory.

— Dunlap.Today