🩺 Lung Checks Come to Dunlap Friday, Leaves Make Better Mulch Than Smoke and Five Questions Before You Pick a Plan: Your Healthy Valley Report

Or: A Lung Screening Stop on Rankin Avenue, a Cleaner Way to Handle the Leaf Pile, a Simple Open Enrollment Cheat Sheet and Where Old Medicines Can Still Go

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, October 24, 2026

Saturday health news ought to feel like a second cup of coffee on the porch: unhurried, useful and nothing that rattles the cup. That’s just what today’s report is.

Here’s what’s in today’s report. CHI Memorial’s mobile lung CT bus is still on its posted schedule for Walmart in Dunlap next Friday, Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., right before November’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month. With a sunny, dry week in the forecast and leaves piling up, the American Lung Association explains why leaf smoke is hard on lungs and what to do with the pile instead. A Times Free Press column this week offers five plain questions to ask before choosing a health plan, handy with HealthCare.gov opening Sunday, Nov. 1 and Medicare open through Dec. 7. And if today’s Take Back Day slipped by, don’t fret: Tennessee has year-round medicine drop boxes in every county.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Lung bus: Friday, Oct. 30, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Walmart, 16773 Rankin Ave., Dunlap. For adults 50 to 80 with a long smoking history. Call (423) 495-5864 to register and ask if you qualify.
• Leaf pile: Rake, mow or compost instead of burning. If you do burn, Tennessee requires a free same-day burn permit through May 15.
• Picking a plan? Look past the monthly price: check your doctors, your medicines and what you’ll pay when you use care. Free Medicare help: TN SHIP, 1-877-801-0044.
• Key dates: HealthCare.gov opens Sun., Nov. 1. Medicare changes end Mon., Dec. 7.
• Missed Take Back Day? Year-round drop boxes are listed at TNtogether.com/takebackday.

🫁 The Lung CT Bus Is Still Coming to Dunlap Walmart Next Friday

This is an update on a stop we first mentioned earlier this month. We checked CHI Memorial’s (CommonSpirit’s) posted schedule again this morning, and the Breathe. Easy. mobile lung CT bus is still listed for Friday, Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Walmart, 16773 Rankin Ave., Dunlap.

The bus offers a low-dose CT scan, a quick scan that looks for early signs of lung cancer before there are symptoms. According to CommonSpirit, you’re eligible if you are:

• Age 50 to 80 (50 to 77 for Medicare patients)
• Someone with a 20 pack-year smoking history (for example, a pack a day for 20 years, or two packs a day for 10 years)
• A current smoker or someone who quit within the past 15 years
• Not having symptoms of lung cancer, and no chest CT in the last 12 months

CommonSpirit says most insurance plans cover the screening for people who meet the criteria, grants may help those without insurance, and adults 40 and older who don’t meet the criteria can choose a $150 self-pay option. You can speed things up by printing and filling out the patient forms on their website before your visit.

It’s good timing, too. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and Saturday, Nov. 14, is National Lung Cancer Screening Day, when screening centers around the country are encouraged to open on a Saturday for folks who can’t come during the week. The American Lung Association notes that screening is for people at higher risk, and that it’s worth a talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks first.

What it means for you: A lung screening is like having the chimney swept before the first big fire of winter. You’re not expecting trouble, you just want to catch anything early while it’s easy to handle. At home, if you or a parent smoked for years, call (423) 495-5864 this week to see if you qualify and grab a time. At work, a small business owner can let a longtime smoker on the crew slip out for an hour Friday. It’s right on Rankin, so it’s an errand, not a road trip.

👉 Read more (CommonSpirit: Breathe. Easy. mobile lung screening schedule) · American Lung Association: Is lung cancer screening right for me? · National Lung Cancer Screening Day, Nov. 14

🍂 Leaves Make Better Mulch Than Smoke: Easy on the Lungs This Fall

The National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap calls for mostly sunny days in the mid-70s and cool nights in the 40s straight through next Friday. That’s prime leaf-raking weather, and it’s also the kind of dry stretch when a leaf fire can get away from you.

In an Oct. 12 article, the American Lung Association explained why burning leaves is hard on the lungs. Leaf fires tend to smolder, especially when the pile is damp, and that makes thick smoke with fine particles that can irritate the airways. That can be especially rough for people with asthma or COPD. The Lung Association’s better ideas:

• Compost them. Dry leaves mixed with green grass clippings make rich compost.
• Mow or shred them and leave them as mulch on the lawn or garden beds.
• Use a leaf collection or yard service if one is available.

If you still plan to burn, the Tennessee Division of Forestry says a free burn permit is required from Oct. 15 to May 15 for leaf or brush piles of any size. You get it the day you plan to burn, online at BurnSafeTN.org or with the MyTN app (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), or by calling 1-877-350-BURN (2876) on weekdays. Permits aren’t issued on high fire-danger days, and a fire must never be left unattended. Folks inside city limits should check with their town too.

What it means for you: A leaf pile is like a pot of beans. Left alone, it’ll turn into something good for the garden. Set it on fire and somebody’s coughing at the supper table. At home, mow over the leaves a time or two and let the lawn have them, and keep anyone with breathing trouble indoors when a neighbor’s pile is smoking. At work, if your business clears brush, make “check the permit first” part of the morning routine.

👉 Read more (American Lung Association: Being aware of the dangers of leaf burning) · Tennessee Division of Forestry: Burn permits and fire prevention · Get a burn permit in Tennessee · NWS forecast for Dunlap

📋 Five Plain Questions Before You Pick a Health Plan

Whether you’re on Medicare or buy your own coverage, this is plan-picking season. On Oct. 23, the Chattanooga Times Free Press ran a column by Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, with five questions to ask before you choose. They’re good questions no matter which company you pick:

• 1. Do I understand what I’m comparing? Words like deductible, copay and out-of-pocket maximum matter, so look them up in plain language first.
• 2. Beyond the premium, what will I pay? The monthly price is only part of it. Think about copays, coinsurance, prescriptions and the deductible.
• 3. Will my doctor and my prescriptions still be covered? Check the doctors and medicines you count on before you switch.
• 4. Will I know what care costs before I get it? Look for plans and tools that show prices up front.
• 5. Is mental health support included? See what’s covered, in person and by phone or video.

The dates to keep straight: Medicare open enrollment runs through Monday, Dec. 7. For folks under 65 who buy their own coverage, HealthCare.gov opens Sunday, Nov. 1, for 2027 plans. Pick by Dec. 15 for coverage that starts Jan. 1, and enrollment ends Jan. 15.

Where to get free, local help: For Medicare, TN SHIP offers free, unbiased counseling at 1-877-801-0044, and the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability, which serves Sequatchie and nearby counties, can be reached at (866) 836-6678. The Tennessee Department of Health also lists Insurance Marketplace enrollment assistance among the services county health departments offer, so you can call the Sequatchie County Health Department at (423) 949-3619 and ask what help is available.

What it means for you: Picking a plan is like buying a used truck. The price on the windshield is one thing. What it costs to keep it running is another. At home, make a short list tonight: your doctors, your medicines and how often you see each one. Keep it with your insurance card. At work, a small business owner can tape these five questions by the time clock for employees comparing their own options.

👉 Read more (Times Free Press: 5 questions to ask before choosing a health plan) · HealthCare.gov: Dates and deadlines · TN SHIP: Free Medicare counseling

💊 Missed Take Back Day? Your Old Medicines Still Have Somewhere to Go

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was today, Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you made it, thank you. If the morning got away from you, there’s no need to wait for spring.

The state says Tennessee has nearly 400 permanent prescription drug drop boxes, with at least one in every county, often inside pharmacies and sheriff’s or police offices. They’re free, safe and anonymous, and you can find one any day at TNtogether.com/takebackday. One thing to remember: the DEA says Take Back sites can’t accept needles or other sharps, so ask your pharmacist about those.

What it means for you: Missing Take Back Day is like missing the church yard sale. There’ll be another chance, and in the meantime the drop box is open like a neighbor’s door. At home, keep that grocery sack of old pills by the door and drop it off with your next errand. At work, it’s a fine reminder to clear out any expired first-aid-kit medicines.

👉 Read more (TDMHSAS and TDEC: Take Back Day and year-round drop boxes) · DEA: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

📅 This Week’s Sticky Notes

Quick reminders for the calendar by the phone (all times are our Central time):

• Any weekday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Sequatchie County Health Department, 16939 Rankin Ave. N., Dunlap, (423) 949-3619. Call ahead about flu shots if you haven’t had yours.
• Friday, Oct. 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Lung CT bus at Dunlap Walmart, 16773 Rankin Ave. Call (423) 495-5864.
• Friday, Oct. 30: CDC’s next weekly flu report. Last week’s said flu is still low but rising.
• Saturday, Oct. 31: Halloween.
• Sunday, Nov. 1: Clocks fall back one hour (set them back Saturday night), and HealthCare.gov Open Enrollment begins. Lung Cancer Awareness Month begins.
• Friday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Blood Assurance drive honoring Bella Cooper, Citizens Tri-County Bank, 15699 Rankin Ave., Dunlap, as shared earlier on Dunlap.Today.
• Friday, Nov. 13, 2 to 6 p.m.: Red Cross blood drive, Jasper Highlands Fire Department Bay, Jasper.
• Saturday, Nov. 14: National Lung Cancer Screening Day.
• Sunday, Nov. 15: UT Extension’s Move Around the Region walking challenge wraps up.
• Monday, Dec. 7: Medicare Open Enrollment ends. Free help from TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.
• Tuesday, Dec. 15: Last day to pick a HealthCare.gov plan that starts Jan. 1.

✅ Your Healthy Valley Checklist

• ✅ Smoked for years? Call (423) 495-5864 to see if you qualify for the Oct. 30 lung bus at Dunlap Walmart.
• ✅ Write “Lung bus, Fri. 9–2, Walmart” on the calendar by the phone.
• ✅ Mow, mulch or compost the leaves instead of burning them.
• ✅ Burning anyway? Get the free permit that day and never leave the fire.
• ✅ Make a list of your doctors and medicines before you compare health plans.
• ✅ On Medicare? Call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 for free help before Dec. 7.
• ✅ Keep the old-medicine sack by the door and drop it at a year-round box.

Practical rule: Breathe easy, ask twice. Clean air for your lungs, two questions for every plan, and one phone call to see if a screening is right for you.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist or a trusted health professional about what’s right for you and your family. In an emergency, call 911.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Health Glossary

• Low-dose CT lung screening: A quick scan that looks for early signs of lung cancer in people at higher risk because of smoking history.
• Pack-year: A way to measure smoking history. One pack a day for one year equals one pack-year.
• COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a long-term lung condition that makes it harder to breathe.
• Fine particles (PM2.5): Tiny bits of smoke and soot small enough to travel deep into the lungs.
• Burn permit: Free, same-day permission from the Tennessee Division of Forestry to burn leaves or brush during fire season.
• Premium: The amount you pay each month to have a health plan.
• Deductible: What you pay for covered care before your plan starts to pay its share.
• Copay: A set amount you pay for a visit or prescription, like $20 for a doctor visit.
• TN SHIP: Tennessee’s free, unbiased Medicare counseling program.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an appointment for the lung bus?

CommonSpirit asks people to call (423) 495-5864 to register or schedule, and to bring completed patient forms if possible. Calling ahead also lets them check whether you qualify.

I never smoked. Should I get the lung screening?

Screening is recommended for people at higher risk because of age and smoking history. If you don’t meet the criteria, the American Lung Association suggests talking with your doctor about your own risk. CommonSpirit does offer a $150 self-pay option for adults 40 and older who don’t meet the criteria.

Is burning leaves against the law in Tennessee?

Not if you follow the rules. From Oct. 15 to May 15, you need a free burn permit from the Division of Forestry on the day you burn, and some towns have extra limits. Burning without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor, according to the state.

What’s the difference between Medicare open enrollment and HealthCare.gov open enrollment?

Medicare’s is for people with Medicare, usually 65 and older, and runs through Dec. 7. HealthCare.gov is for people who buy their own coverage, opens Nov. 1 and ends Jan. 15, with Dec. 15 as the deadline for coverage starting Jan. 1.

Who can help me compare plans for free?

For Medicare, TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 or the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability at (866) 836-6678. For HealthCare.gov plans, ask the Sequatchie County Health Department at (423) 949-3619 about enrollment help.

Where can I take old medicines now that Take Back Day is over?

Tennessee has year-round drop boxes in every county. Find the nearest at TNtogether.com/takebackday. Needles and sharps aren’t accepted at take-back sites.

🔗 Other Resources

• CommonSpirit: Breathe. Easy. mobile lung screening schedule and forms
• American Lung Association: Is lung cancer screening right for me?
• National Lung Cancer Roundtable: National Lung Cancer Screening Day
• American Lung Association: Dangers of leaf burning
• TN Wildland Fire: Get a burn permit
• Tennessee Department of Agriculture: Fire prevention during wildfire season
• National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast
• Times Free Press: 5 questions to ask before choosing a health plan
• HealthCare.gov: Dates and deadlines
• TN SHIP: Free Medicare counseling
• Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability: Benefits assistance
• Tennessee Department of Health: Southeast Region county health departments
• TDMHSAS and TDEC: Safe medication disposal
• DEA: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
• CDC FluView: Latest weekly flu report
• Dunlap.Today: Blood drive honoring Bella Cooper, Nov. 13

🌻 Breathe Easy, Ask Questions and Enjoy the Sunshine

A lung check close to home, a leaf pile that can feed the garden instead of the smoke, a short list of questions for plan-picking and a drop box that’s open all year. None of it calls for worry. It’s the kind of fall housekeeping our grandparents did without a second thought: tend the yard, tend the paperwork, tend each other. Pick one thing from today’s list, enjoy this run of sunny weather and let the rest wait its turn.

We’ll keep watching for clinics, screenings and helpful services so you don’t have to. Read Dunlap.Today and sign up for our newsletter for plain-English Valley news, and find local businesses anytime on Dunlap.Directory.