☕ Front Porch Morning: Cooler and Breezy, Errands Are Back, a Dunlap Doctor's Door Opens and a Quick Cheese-Drawer Check

Or: Grab a Jacket, Visit the Bank and Post Office, Save a Seat at Tonight’s Food Class and Get Ready for a Freezing Friday Night

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Thursday, November 12, 2026

Good morning, neighbor. Today is Thursday, Nov. 12. The National Weather Service says partly sunny, high near 58°F in Dunlap, then cooling to about 52°F this afternoon with gusts up to 20 mph. Wear a jacket.

Veterans Day is behind us, so banks and post offices are open again today. Winter is knocking: tonight dips to about 32°F, and Friday night drops to about 30°F. Nothing here needs worry. Just a few things to jot down.

⏱️ Your 30-second morning recap

• Yesterday: Pikeville Clinic is still closed, with no reopening date. Pikeville Urgent Care is open, and Mountain Bend Medical Associates in Dunlap is taking new patients. A raw cheddar cheese sold in Tennessee was recalled. And the East Valley Road bridge is open early.
• Today: Partly sunny, high near 58°F, breezy. Errands are back on. A free “Food for All” class for older adults runs 5 to 6 p.m. in Dunlap. Call first.
• Tonight: A 20% chance of a shower before 8 p.m. Then partly cloudy, low around 32°F.

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

1. Errands are back TODAY, Thursday. Banks and post offices are open again. The library is closed on Thursdays, so it opens again Friday.
2. “Food for All” class: TODAY, 5 to 6 p.m., UT Extension Office, 170 Church St., Dunlap. Only 10 seats. Call 423-949-2611 before 4:30 p.m. to see if one is left.
3. Cold nights start now. About 32°F tonight and 30°F Friday night. Keep space heaters 3 feet from blankets, curtains and chairs.

Tomorrow’s heads-up: Friday, Nov. 13, is chilly, with a high near 47°F. There’s a blood drive in Dunlap, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Citizens Tri-County Bank, 15699 Rankin Ave., and Chair Dancing at the library at 1 p.m.

📰 In Case You Missed It Yesterday (Wednesday, Nov. 11)

🩺 Need a Doctor? A Dunlap Clinic Is Taking New Patients

Here’s an update on a story we’ve been following. Sequatchie Valley Now reported on Nov. 11 that Pikeville Clinic in Bledsoe County is still closed for now. Presley Healthcare says the closure is legal in nature, and no reopening date has been given. Pikeville Urgent Care is a separate business, and it is open and fully staffed.

Closer to home, Mountain Bend Medical Associates in Dunlap said so many people asked for new-patient visits that it opened early Wednesday to fit more folks in.

Mountain Bend Medical Associates: 29 Crestview Drive, Dunlap. New patients call 423-949-6300. The clinic says appointments are limited.

What it means for you: If Pikeville Clinic was your doctor, you have choices. Call Mountain Bend for a new-patient visit, or walk in at Pikeville Urgent Care, (423) 447-2992. To move your records, contact Pikeville Clinic directly. Check how many refills you have left this week. For an emergency, call 911.

👉 Read more (SValleyNow: Pikeville Clinic update) · Dunlap.Today: Mountain Bend takes new patients

🧀 A Quick Look in the Cheese Drawer

The FDA posted a recall on Nov. 10. Family Farmstead Dairy of New York is recalling all of its cheddar cheese because it may carry Listeria, a germ that can make people sick. It was sold in 12 states, including Tennessee.

Look for: Family Farmstead Raw Mild Cheddar or Raw Sharp Cheddar, 8-ounce, plastic-wrapped, with dates of 10/16/27 or earlier.

What it means for you: This is a small farm brand, so it may well not be in your fridge. If it is, don’t eat it. Take it back to the store, or call the company at (607) 397-4044, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern (7 a.m. to 4 p.m. our time). If you ate some and get a fever or an upset stomach, call your doctor and mention the recall.

👉 Read more (FDA: Family Farmstead Dairy recall)

🔥 Five Cold Nights Ahead: Give the Heater Some Room

On Nov. 11, Dunlap.Today’s Healthy Valley report shared winter safety tips from the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office and Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, ahead of a string of nights at or below freezing.

• Keep blankets, rugs, curtains and furniture at least 3 feet from a space heater or wood stove.
• Plug a space heater straight into the wall, never into an extension cord or power strip.
• Turn it off when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Never heat the house with the oven.
• Smell rotten eggs or hear hissing? Get everyone outside first. Don’t flip switches. Then call your gas company from outside.

What it means for you: Take one slow walk through the house today. Scoot the recliner back from the heater, and press the test button on your smoke alarm. If a neighbor lives alone, give them a call Friday evening to ask if their heat is working.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Healthy Valley report)

🌉 The East Valley Road Bridge Is Open, Weeks Early

The Dunlap Tribune reports that the new bridge on East Valley Road at Barker Branch, about 1.5 miles south of the Old York Highway intersection, is finished. Traffic flows both ways again. It was expected in December. Road Supervisor Eric Higgins said the old bridge was narrow, and many drivers lost side mirrors on it.

What it means for you: A wider, safer crossing, and a shorter drive if you’d been detouring. A sign warns of a slight bump, so ease off the gas as you cross.

👉 Read more (The Dunlap Tribune: Bridge work complete on East Valley)

⛸️ Something to Look Forward To: Skating on the Jasper Square

Sequatchie Valley Now reports the Town of Jasper opens its winter skating rink on the downtown square on Saturday, Nov. 28. It uses synthetic ice, and skates are included. Hours are Thursday and Friday, 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 2 to 8 p.m. Cost is $7 for adults, $5 for kids.

What it means for you: You don’t have to skate to enjoy it. It’s a fine outing to watch the grandkids from a bench. Private parties: call Jamie Webb at 931-808-3359.

👉 Read more (SValleyNow: Skating begins Nov. 28 in Jasper)

📅 Today in the Valley (Thursday, Nov. 12)

🏦 Errands Are Back On

After Wednesday’s Veterans Day holiday, banks and post offices are open again today, and mail delivery is back. The Sequatchie County Public Library is closed on Thursdays, so it opens again Friday. Sequatchie County students learn from home today and Friday.

What it means for you: Today is your errand day. If the grandkids are home, they may want a ride or a snack. The Sequatchie County Health Department reopens today too, if you’ve been meaning to ask about a flu shot: (423) 949-3619. We found no posted news for the Senior Center, 103 Heard St., (423) 949-2228, so call ahead to confirm lunch and activities.

👉 Read more (The Dunlap Tribune: Remote learning days Nov. 12-13) · Sequatchie County Public Library

🍽️ “Food for All”: Stretch Your Grocery Money, 5 to 6 p.m.

UT Extension’s “Food for All” class for older adults is today, Thursday, Nov. 12, from 5 to 6 p.m. (Central) at the Sequatchie County UT Extension Office, 170 Church St., Dunlap. It covers budgeting, nutrition and local food help. It’s part of UT Extension’s “Everybody Gets Older” program.

What it means for you: Only 10 seats, and you must register. Call 423-949-2611 this morning. The office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed noon to 1. No fee was listed, so ask when you call. If a neighbor doesn’t drive, offer them a ride.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Food Security Class for Older Adults)

🏥 Free Clinic Day in Chattanooga, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Our Time

UTC’s MobileMOC free clinic sees adults 18 and older today at Purpose Point Community Health, 2800 N. Chamberlain Ave., Chattanooga, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. our time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern). No insurance is needed.

What it means for you: It’s a long drive for most of us, so call (423) 425-1657 before you go, to confirm today’s hours.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: MobileMOC schedule)

🌬️ Today’s Weather and Tonight’s Chill

Today: partly sunny, high near 58°F, falling to about 52°F this afternoon. Northwest wind with gusts up to 20 mph. Tonight: a 20% chance of a shower before 8 p.m., then partly cloudy, low around 32°F.

What it means for you: Hold onto your hat and the car door in the wind. Bring potted plants in tonight, and let the dog or cat sleep inside.

👉 Read more (National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast)

🗓️ Put These on the Fridge: The Days Ahead

• Today, Thursday, Nov. 12: Errands are back. “Food for All” class, 5 to 6 p.m. (call 423-949-2611). Low near 32°F tonight.
• Friday, Nov. 13: High near 47°F, low about 30°F. Dunlap blood drive, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Citizens Tri-County Bank, 15699 Rankin Ave. Chair Dancing at the library, 1 p.m. Rook Night at the Historic Burritt College Building, 445 Burritt College Drive, Spencer: food at 5 p.m., cards at 6 p.m. (Central), $20 per two-person team, $10 potato plate with drink and dessert.
• Saturday, Nov. 14: Sunny, high near 49°F. Saturday night is the coldest, about 28°F.
• Saturday, Nov. 28: Jasper’s skating rink opens on the square.
• 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, so you don’t have to remember them.

👉 Rook Night in Spencer (Dunlap.Today) · This week’s health calendar (Dunlap.Today)

✅ Your Calm Thursday Checklist

• ✅ Bank and post office are open today. Library is closed Thursdays.
• ✅ Want a seat at “Food for All”? Call 423-949-2611 this morning.
• ✅ Need a new doctor? Mountain Bend: 423-949-6300.
• ✅ Peek in the cheese drawer for Family Farmstead raw cheddar.
• ✅ Space heater 3 feet from everything, plugged into the wall.
• ✅ Bring the potted plants in tonight. It’s about 32°F.

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. Post offices were closed Wednesday for Veterans Day, and regular service is back today, Thursday, Nov. 12.

Is Pikeville Clinic open again?

Not yet. It’s closed for now with no reopening date. Pikeville Urgent Care, (423) 447-2992, is a separate business and is open. Mountain Bend Medical Associates in Dunlap, 423-949-6300, is taking new patients.

How do I get my medical records from Pikeville Clinic?

Contact Pikeville Clinic directly. Earlier reports also listed the email clinicpk@bledsoe.net for records questions.

Is the “Food for All” class full?

It’s limited to 10 people. Call 423-949-2611 to see if a seat is left. If it’s full, ask about future EGO classes.

Are today’s times Central or Eastern?

Dunlap, Spencer and Jasper are Central. Chattanooga runs one hour ahead on Eastern time, so we’ve listed “our time” for you.

🔗 Helpful Numbers & Resources

• Mountain Bend Medical Associates, 29 Crestview Dr., Dunlap: 423-949-6300
• Pikeville Urgent Care, 344 E. Church St., Pikeville: (423) 447-2992
• Sequatchie County Health Department: (423) 949-3619
• UT Extension, Sequatchie County, 170 Church St., Dunlap: 423-949-2611
• UTC MobileMOC free clinic: (423) 425-1657
• Sequatchie Senior Center, 103 Heard St., Dunlap: (423) 949-2228
• SETHRA Transit rides: (423) 478-1396
• Sequatchie County Public Library, 227 Cherry St., Dunlap: (423) 949-2357
• Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) · TN SHIP free Medicare counseling: 1-877-801-0044
• Social Security: 1-800-772-1213 · Report a scam: ssa.gov/scam
• Middle Tennessee Natural Gas emergencies (24 hours): 1-833-438-6864
• Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability: 1-866-836-6678
• TDOT road conditions: SmartWay.tn.gov or dial 511
• National Weather Service Dunlap forecast: weather.gov point forecast

🌅 A Jacket Kind of Day

Here’s the whole day in one breath. A breezy 58, cooling in the afternoon. The bank and post office are open again. A small class at 5 can help stretch the grocery money. A Dunlap clinic has room for new patients. Tonight, bring the plants in and give the heater some room. 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