☕ Front Porch Morning: A Sunny Tuesday, a Savings-Bond Login Change Wednesday and Hang Up on “You Won” Calls

Or: Three Days Left to Vote Early, Payday Tomorrow and a Porch-Sitting Afternoon Near 75

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Good morning, neighbor. Happy Tuesday. Yesterday brought a few helpful reminders: nobody real asks you to buy a prepaid card to collect a prize, the old sign-in for savings bonds at TreasuryDirect ends Wednesday, Oct. 28, and Medicare is weighing a change that could affect at-home blood pressure programs. There’s also a free haunted house and pumpkin patch coming to downtown Dunlap this weekend.

Today looks sunny, with a high near 75°F. Early voting is open again, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nothing here needs worry. It’s a fine day to run errands and sit a spell.

⏱️ Your 30-second morning recap

• Yesterday: The Better Business Bureau warned about a caller who says “you won $3.5 million” and asks you to buy a prepaid card. That’s always a scam. TreasuryDirect’s old sign-in works through Wednesday, Oct. 28. After that, you sign in with ID.me.
• Today: Early voting, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 68 Spring St., Dunlap. The school board holds a work session from 4 to 6 p.m. Central.
• Weather: The National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap (updated 1:26 a.m. Central) calls for sunshine, high near 75°F, with light wind. Tonight, partly cloudy, low around 49°F.

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

1. “You won a prize, just buy a gift card”? Hang up. Real prizes never cost money. Never read a card number or PIN to a caller.
2. Have savings bonds online? TreasuryDirect’s old sign-in ends Wednesday, Oct. 28. Your bonds are not frozen. Type TreasuryDirect.gov yourself. Don’t use email links.
3. Early voting is open today, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 68 Spring St., Dunlap. Only three days left. The last day is Thursday, Oct. 29.

Tomorrow’s heads-up: Wednesday, Oct. 28, is Social Security payday for birthdays on the 21st–31st. It’s also the last day of TreasuryDirect’s old sign-in. The forecast says mostly cloudy, near 73°F.

📰 In Case You Missed It Yesterday (Monday, Oct. 26)

🎟️ “You Won $3.5 Million!” Real Prizes Never Ask You to Buy a Card

On Monday, the Hendersonville Register shared a warning from the Better Business Bureau serving Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. A Middle Tennessee woman got a call from a man who said he was the “Executive Manager for the Tennessee BBB.” He told her she had won $3.5 million.

To collect it, he said, she had to go to a nearby store and buy a Green Dot prepaid card. She knew something was wrong, and she hung up. Good for her.

The BBB says it never calls people about lottery winnings, and it never asks anyone to buy a prepaid card. Once money is on a card and the number is shared, it’s very hard to get back.

What it means for you: Here’s the easy rule. If you have to pay to get a prize, it isn’t a prize. Don’t read gift card numbers or PINs to anyone on the phone. If a caller won’t let you hang up, or wants you to drive to the store while staying on the line, that’s your cue to hang up. You can report it to the BBB Scam Tracker or the FTC.

👉 Read more (Hendersonville Register, Oct. 26, 2026)

💵 Savings Bonds Online? Your Sign-In Changes After Wednesday, Oct. 28

In Monday’s Dunlap.Today Scam Watch, we shared a real change. If you or a family member keep savings bonds or I bonds at TreasuryDirect, the old sign-in works through Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. After that, ID.me is the only way to sign in.

You set it up from the “Secure Sign In” button on TreasuryDirect.gov. You’ll need your Social Security number and a government photo ID. TreasuryDirect says this does not freeze or take your money, and automatic reinvestments keep going. If you can’t use ID.me, there are paper forms.

What it means for you: Real changes like this bring fake emails. So type TreasuryDirect.gov yourself. ID.me’s website ends in .me, and it never asks for your password or one-time code. Ask a trusted family member to sit with you while you set it up. Stuck? Call TreasuryDirect’s help line, 844-284-2676.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today Scam Watch, Oct. 26, 2026)

🩺 At-Home Blood Pressure Programs: Medicare Is Weighing a Change

KFF Health News reported Monday on a proposed Medicare rule. Some doctors give patients a blood pressure cuff or other device that sends readings from home, often with a nurse who calls to check in. This is called remote patient monitoring.

The proposal would stop Medicare from paying doctors when an outside health technology company runs that service. Medicare would pay only when someone at the doctor’s own office provides it. Experts quoted by KFF said that could sharply cut back these programs, especially in rural areas. KFF says it would apply to traditional Medicare, not Medicare Advantage plans.

What it means for you: This is a proposal, not a final decision. Nothing changes today. If you use a home device that sends readings to your doctor, keep using it. At your next visit, ask: “Who runs my home monitoring, and would this change affect me?” Keep a paper log of your readings, too. It’s handy either way.

👉 Read more (KFF Health News, Oct. 26, 2026)

🎃 A Free Haunted House and Pumpkin Patch Is Coming to Downtown Dunlap

Dunlap.Today shared news of a community-run haunted house and pumpkin patch this Halloween weekend. It’s at 15889 Rankin Ave., Dunlap, the red house next to Smalltown Ceramics.

It’s open Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30–31, from 5 to 10 p.m. Admission is free, with a donation box. Donations help spay, neuter and feed cats in the community. Candy is handed out Saturday night only. Children under 13 need an adult.

What it means for you: The pumpkin patch in the front yard is a sweet spot for a photo with the grandkids. You can skip the scary parts inside. Parking is limited at Smalltown Ceramics. This is a neighbor’s event, so call ahead to confirm if you can.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today, Oct. 26, 2026)

📅 Today in the Valley (Tuesday, Oct. 27)

☀️ A Sunny Day Near 75, Then a Cloudier Wednesday

The National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap (updated 1:26 a.m. Central) calls for a sunny Tuesday with a high near 75°F, easing to around 72°F later in the afternoon. Wind stays light. Tonight is partly cloudy with a low around 49°F. Wednesday looks mostly cloudy, near 73°F. Thursday is sunny, near 77°F.

Remember, you need a free burn permit from Oct. 15 to May 15.

What it means for you: It’s a good day for errands, a walk or the porch. Mornings are still cool, in the upper 40s, so keep a light jacket by the door.

👉 Read more (National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast)

🗳️ Early Voting Is Open Today: Three Days Left

Sequatchie County early voting is open today, Tuesday, Oct. 27. The state’s early-voting list shows hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 68 Spring St., Dunlap. Thursday, Oct. 29, is the last day. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

What it means for you: Bring a photo ID. It’s OK if it has expired. Need a ride? Call SETHRA Transit, (423) 478-1396. Rides are usually booked ahead. Questions? Call the Sequatchie County Election Commission, (423) 949-2431.

👉 Read more (Tennessee early voting: Sequatchie County)

🏫 School Board Work Session This Afternoon

The Sequatchie County Board of Education holds a work session today from 4 to 6 p.m. Central. The board’s meeting notice lists the place as the Administration Building, Social Studies Classroom. The board’s online video channel lists a broadcast starting at 4:50 p.m. The next regular board meeting is Monday, Nov. 2.

What it means for you: A work session is a planning talk, usually without final votes. If you help raise grandchildren, it’s a good one to follow. The district lists its board office at 878 Cordell Drive, Dunlap. Call ahead to confirm the room and whether visitors are welcome.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Board of Education meeting notice)

🍽️ Senior Center, Lunch and a Tuesday Movie

The Sequatchie County Senior Citizens Center, 103 Heard St., Dunlap, is open for weekday calls. We couldn’t find today’s menu or activity list online, so call ahead to confirm lunch and activities at (423) 949-2228.

If you’re in Chattanooga today, the Chattanooga Public Library lists Tuesday Matinees at the Downtown Library, 1001 Broad St., from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern, with free popcorn. That’s 1 to 3:30 p.m. Central, Dunlap time. Call ahead to confirm today’s movie and any cost.

What it means for you: A movie and popcorn with a friend is a nice way to spend a sunny afternoon. Remember, Chattanooga runs one hour ahead of us.

👉 Read more (Chattanooga Public Library: Tuesday Matinees)

🗓️ Put These on the Fridge: The Week Ahead

• Tuesday, Oct. 27 (today): Sunny, near 75°F. Early voting 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. School board work session, 4 to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 28: Social Security payday (birthdays 21st–31st). Last day of TreasuryDirect’s old sign-in.
• Thursday, Oct. 29: Last day of early voting, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 30: SSI November payment arrives early. Haunted house and pumpkin patch, 5 to 10 p.m., 15889 Rankin Ave., Dunlap.
• Saturday, Oct. 31: Scare on the Square, 5 to 7 p.m., Harris Park, Dunlap. Haunted house again, 5 to 10 p.m., with candy.
• Sunday, Nov. 1, 2 a.m.: Clocks fall back one hour. Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day. Monday, Dec. 7: Medicare open enrollment ends.

✅ Your Calm Morning Checklist

• ✅ “You won a prize” call that wants a gift card? Hang up.
• ✅ Never read a card number, PIN or one-time code to a caller.
• ✅ Savings bonds online? Type TreasuryDirect.gov yourself before Wednesday’s change.
• ✅ Use a home blood pressure device? Keep using it, and ask your doctor about the proposed change.
• ✅ Write Wed., Oct. 28 (payday) and Thu., Oct. 29 (last day to vote early) on the calendar.
• ✅ Call the Senior Center, (423) 949-2228, about lunch and rides.

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

A caller says I won a big prize. Could it be real?

Not if they want money first. The BBB says it never calls to announce lottery winnings or asks you to buy prepaid cards. Hang up. If you already shared a card number, call the card company right away, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Are my savings bonds safe during the TreasuryDirect change?

Yes. TreasuryDirect says moving to ID.me doesn’t freeze or take your money. After Wednesday, Oct. 28, you just sign in a new way. Set it up from TreasuryDirect.gov, typed in yourself. For help, call 844-284-2676.

Will I lose my home blood pressure monitor?

Not today. KFF Health News says this is a proposed Medicare rule, and it would apply to traditional Medicare, not Medicare Advantage. Ask your doctor’s office who runs your home monitoring and whether it might change.

Is early voting open today?

Yes. It’s open Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 68 Spring St., Dunlap. The last day is Thursday, Oct. 29. Bring a photo ID, even an expired one.

When is the Dunlap haunted house open, and what does it cost?

Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30–31, from 5 to 10 p.m., at 15889 Rankin Ave., next to Smalltown Ceramics. It’s free, with a donation box for local cat care. Candy is Saturday only.

🔗 Helpful Numbers & Resources

• Social Security: 1-800-772-1213 · Report a scam: ssa.gov/scam
• Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) · TN SHIP free Medicare counseling: 1-877-801-0044
• TreasuryDirect help line: 844-284-2676 · TreasuryDirect.gov
• AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360 · Report fraud to the FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• BBB Scam Tracker: bbb.org/scamtracker · Chattanooga Better Business Bureau: (423) 266-6144
• Sequatchie County Election Commission: (423) 949-2431 · GoVoteTN.gov
• Sequatchie Senior Center, 103 Heard St., Dunlap: (423) 949-2228 (weekdays)
• SETHRA Transit rides: (423) 478-1396
• Sequatchie County Health Department: (423) 949-3619
• Sequachee Valley Electric outages (24/7): 1-888-421-7832
• Sequatchie County 911 non-emergency: (423) 949-9912. For an emergency, call 911.
• National Weather Service Dunlap forecast: weather.gov point forecast

🌅 Hang Up on the Hurry, Type It In Yourself, Enjoy the Sun

Here’s the whole day in one breath. If a caller says you won but wants a card first, hang up. If you have savings bonds online, type TreasuryDirect.gov yourself before Wednesday. Write tomorrow’s payday and Thursday’s last day of early voting on the calendar. Then enjoy a sunny Tuesday near 75. Nothing today needs hurrying, and nothing needs worrying over. We’ll be here again tomorrow morning. Read Dunlap.Today every morning for plain-English Valley news, and find local businesses on Dunlap.Directory.

— Dunlap.Today