🏫 Wild West Wednesday: Lady Indians Roll 9-0, Homecoming Friday

Or: Cowboy Hats Today, Soccer Win Last Night and Community Under the Lights Friday

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Good morning. The sun is already climbing, the buses are rolling and Sequatchie County kids are dressing for Wild West Wednesday.

This is the Wednesday porch talk — short enough to read with coffee, sticky enough to live under a magnet until Friday night under the lights.

Here’s what’s happening: Homecoming dress-up continues TODAY, the Lady Indians beat Sale Creek 9-0 last night and host CSAS tomorrow at 7 p.m., and homecoming football is Community on Friday at 7 p.m. Board minutes from Monday’s Griffith meeting are still not posted — so we won’t invent any votes. Free ACT Event 2 windows keep rolling, seniors still have a Nov. 2 TN Promise deadline, National School Lunch Week wraps Friday, and Marion and Hamilton County neighbors stay on fall break through Friday.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• TODAY, Oct. 14: Dress theme is Wild West Wednesday. Sunny — NWS Dunlap high near 89°F. Water bottle for the afternoon.
• Soccer update: Lady Indians won 9-0 over Sale Creek Tuesday night (seventh straight win, per MaxPreps). Next: CSAS Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. — confirm before you go.
• Tomorrow: Dress is Together Forever Thursday.
• Homecoming Friday: Indians vs. Community, Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. CDT. Dress theme: Go Indians Friday.
• Board: Met Monday, Oct. 12, at Griffith. Minutes/results still not posted. Next regular meeting Nov. 2; working session Oct. 27.
• ACT this week: Event 2 online windows Oct. 13–16 and Oct. 19–23. Ask SCHS counseling which day your senior uses.
• Seniors: TN Promise applications due Nov. 2. FAFSA 2027–28 opened Oct. 1.
• Neighbors: Marion County and Hamilton County schools are on fall break Oct. 12–16.

🤠 TODAY: Wild West Wednesday — And the Rest of the Week

Griffith Elementary and Sequatchie County Schools posted the official Homecoming Week spirit days. Students and staff are invited to join in each day as the count-down runs to Friday night’s game.

• Monday, Oct. 12 — Make Believe Monday ← done
• Tuesday, Oct. 13 — Take a Picture Tuesday ← done
• Wednesday, Oct. 14 — Wild West Wednesday ← today
• Thursday, Oct. 15 — Together Forever Thursday
• Friday, Oct. 16 — Go Indians Friday

A simple cowboy hat or school-friendly western shirt beats Cousin Billy’s full rodeo trunk. The SCHS calendar and MaxPreps both list the homecoming football game as Community at Sequatchie County on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. CDT in Dunlap. That matches Go Indians Friday.

What it means for you: Lay out Together Forever Thursday tonight so tomorrow morning stays calm. Purple and gold for Friday can wait until Thursday night — just don’t leave it for Friday morning when the house sounds like a barn auction.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Schools: Homecoming dress-up themes)

⚽ Lady Indians: 9-0 Over Sale Creek — CSAS Tomorrow at 7

MaxPreps reports the Sequatchie County High School girls soccer team beat Sale Creek 9-0 on Tuesday, Oct. 13, for their seventh straight victory. They headed into that matchup at 13-1-1 and first in district play.

The next listed home kickoff is Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7:00 p.m. against Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences (CSAS). The school’s soccer schedule still shows district playoffs running through Oct. 16. Tournament brackets can shift, so always confirm the kickoff time before you load the car.

What it means for you: Last night’s folding-chair night paid off. Tomorrow is another chance to cheer under the lights — pack light layers, and leave the air horn at home unless the coaches say otherwise.

👉 Read more (MaxPreps: Lady Indians schedule & results)

🏈 Indians Playoff Math — Homecoming Friday Matters

The Indians are 4-3 overall and 2-1 in Region 4-3A (third in the region), according to MaxPreps. The region has six teams: Cascade, Community, Forrest, Giles County, Sequatchie County and Watertown. TSSAA rules send the top four teams in each region to the playoffs.

Both of the Indians’ remaining region games are at home: homecoming against Community on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. CDT, and Giles County on Thursday, Oct. 30 (MaxPreps lists 8 p.m.). There’s also a non-region trip to Walker Valley on Oct. 23.

MaxPreps lists Community at 0-7 overall heading into the Dunlap game. First-round playoff games statewide are typically the first weekend of November; the Class 3A state championship is set for Dec. 4 in Chattanooga.

What it means for you: Think of it like a cakewalk at the fall festival — you don’t have to win every round, you just have to be standing on a good square when the music stops. Two home region games and a loud Friday night crowd can make a real difference. Country Roads 93.3 FM usually carries Indians games when they play.

👉 Read more (MaxPreps: Community at Sequatchie County, Oct. 16)

🏛️ Board Met Monday — Minutes Still Not Posted

The Sequatchie County Board of Education met in regular session Monday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Griffith Elementary. The Oct. 12 agenda is still posted on the district’s board-agenda page. As of Wednesday morning, approved minutes and vote results are still not posted — so we will not invent what passed.

Items that were listed on the public agenda for families to watch included a first reading of updated policies on medicines at school, the emergency allergy response plan and the use of an opioid antagonist; approval of the three-year District Improvement Plan and the TISA Accountability Report; a Griffith Elementary student presentation; selecting a board legislative liaison; and discussion of district property at 76 Jones Drive.

The board’s next regular meeting is listed for Monday, Nov. 2, with a working session Tuesday, Oct. 27.

What it means for you: A first reading is like the first coat of paint — nothing is final until the board votes again. When minutes go up, we’ll pass them along in plain English. Bring a notebook next time; leave the soapbox at home.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Schools: Board agendas)

🍎 National School Lunch Week Wraps Friday

National School Lunch Week runs Oct. 12–16 nationwide. The School Nutrition Association’s 2026 theme is “Cafeteria Circus” — a lighthearted way to spotlight the folks who feed kids every day.

Closer to home: The Dunlap-Tribune reported in September that all three Sequatchie County school cafeterias scored a perfect 100 on their Tennessee Department of Health food-service inspections. Nutrition supervisor Cindy Stevens and Director of Schools Sarai Pierce praised the kitchen staff. The same report noted that cafeterias prepare and serve breakfast and lunch each school day at no cost to families, regardless of income.

If you have meal questions, call the district office at (423) 949-3617.

What it means for you: Two more school days to say thank you to the cafeteria crew. If mornings are hectic, school breakfast is still one less pan to wash.

👉 Read more (Dunlap-Tribune: perfect cafeteria scores)

📝 Seniors: ACT Event 2 Windows Still Open — Plus TN Promise by Nov. 2

Tennessee still offers public high school seniors a free school-day ACT retake. ACT’s Tennessee schedule lists:

• Event 2: standard-time paper on Oct. 13; online windows Oct. 13–16 and Oct. 19–23 (accommodations use the same windows)
• Event 3: paper on Oct. 27; online windows Oct. 27–30 and Nov. 2–6

Each school picks its own date inside those windows. Ask the SCHS counseling office which day your senior uses. A 21 on the ACT is one path to the HOPE Scholarship (a 3.0 GPA is the other).

Separately, Tennessee Promise — the state’s last-dollar scholarship for community college or a Tennessee College of Applied Technology — has an application deadline of Nov. 2, 2026 for the Class of 2027. Students apply through the THEC Student Portal at collegefortn.org. The FAFSA for 2027–28 opened Oct. 1; Promise applicants must also complete the FAFSA by April 1, 2027, attend a mandatory meeting and complete community-service hours. Sequatchie County seniors are coordinated through tnAchieves.

What it means for you: If your senior hasn’t tested yet inside Event 2, call counseling today. Sleep and breakfast beat last-minute cramming. Put Nov. 2 on the fridge for TN Promise — three weeks goes fast when homecoming is this loud.

👉 Read more (TN Promise overview)

🌤️ Sunny Near 89°F Today — Cooler Friday Night Under the Lights

The National Weather Service point forecast for Dunlap (updated about 1:26 a.m. CDT Wednesday) calls for sunny with a high near 89°F today and a mostly clear low around 64°F tonight. Thursday looks sunny near 88°F. Friday — homecoming day — looks sunny with a high near 79°F, then a sharper cool-down Friday night near 43°F with north winds and gusts. Saturday looks sunny near 64°F.

What it means for you: Light jacket for the bus stop if needed, water bottle for Wild West Wednesday outdoors. Pack a warmer layer for Friday night under the lights — that cool-down will sneak up like a tractor coming over the hill. If power flickered overnight, Sequachee Valley Electric’s outage line is 1-888-421-7832.

👉 Read more (NWS: Dunlap point forecast)

🚗 Neighbors Still on Fall Break — Sequatchie Is In Session

Marion County Schools and Hamilton County Schools both list fall break for Oct. 12–16. Sequatchie County is in class — so if your household bridges districts, don’t assume every cousin is off this week.

What it means for you: Extra traffic near Dunlap schools is normal while neighboring counties sleep in. Leave five minutes early and watch for buses on the warm mornings.

👉 Read more (Hamilton County Schools: Fall Break)

✅ Your Wednesday Fridge Checklist

• ✅ TODAY: Wild West Wednesday — cowboy-friendly, school rules still apply.
• ✅ Pin the rest: Together Forever Thursday, Go Indians Friday.
• ✅ Lady Indians: Sale Creek done — 9-0 Tuesday. Next: CSAS Thursday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m. (confirm before you go).
• ✅ Homecoming football: Community, Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. CDT — Indians are 2-1 in region play.
• ✅ Board: met Monday at Griffith — minutes still not posted; next regular Nov. 2, working session Oct. 27.
• ✅ Lunch Week wraps Friday — say thanks to cafeteria staff.
• ✅ Seniors: ask counseling which free ACT Event 2 or 3 date you use; put TN Promise Nov. 2 on the calendar; FAFSA is already open.
• ✅ Kids in Marion or Hamilton County? They’re off through Oct. 16.
• ✅ Sunny near 89°F today — water bottle for the afternoon; warmer layer for Friday night.

Practical rule: Write Thursday’s 7 p.m. soccer kickoff, Friday’s 7 p.m. homecoming and the Nov. 2 TN Promise deadline on the fridge before supper, and the week runs itself.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English School Glossary

• Homecoming Week: A school spirit week of dress-up days leading up to a big home football game and related events.
• First reading: The first time a school board reviews a new or changed policy. It votes again before the change is final.
• Opioid antagonist: Emergency medicine, such as naloxone (Narcan), that can reverse an opioid overdose.
• TISA: Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement, the formula the state uses to send money to schools based on students’ needs.
• District tournament: The first playoff round inside a school’s district; winners move on to the region.
• Region standings: Win-loss record inside a TSSAA region; the top four of six usually advance to the football playoffs.
• ACT Senior Retake: A free, state-paid chance for public school seniors to take the ACT again during the school day.
• TN Promise: A last-dollar scholarship that can cover tuition and mandatory fees at a Tennessee community college or TCAT after other gift aid is applied.
• FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid — the form colleges use to figure need-based aid; the 2027–28 form opened Oct. 1, 2026.
• National School Lunch Week: A nationwide October celebration highlighting school meals; 2026’s theme is “Cafeteria Circus.”
• CSAS: Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences — Thursday’s listed soccer opponent.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What should my child wear today?

Today is Wild West Wednesday. Cowboy hats, western shirts or other school-friendly western looks work. If you’re unsure, a simple spirit shirt beats anything that would get them sent to the office.

Did the Lady Indians play Sale Creek — and who won?

Yes. MaxPreps lists a 9-0 Sequatchie County win over Sale Creek on Tuesday, Oct. 13, for their seventh straight victory. Next listed home kickoff is CSAS on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. Confirm before you go.

Is the Community football game this Friday?

Yes — Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. CDT in Dunlap. That’s homecoming night and Go Indians Friday. MaxPreps lists the Indians at 4-3 (2-1 region) and Community at 0-7 heading in.

Did the school board minutes get posted yet?

Not as of Wednesday morning. The board met Monday, Oct. 12, at Griffith Elementary. The agenda PDF is still on the district site; next regular meeting is Nov. 2, with a working session Oct. 27.

Do seniors still have free ACT windows this week?

Yes. Event 2 online windows run Oct. 13–16 and Oct. 19–23. Event 3 follows Oct. 27–30 and Nov. 2–6. Ask the SCHS counseling office which date your senior uses.

What is TN Promise, and when is it due?

TN Promise is a last-dollar scholarship for community college or a TCAT. The Class of 2027 application is due Nov. 2, 2026, through the THEC Student Portal. Students must also complete the FAFSA by April 1, 2027, attend a mandatory meeting and complete community-service hours. The 2027–28 FAFSA opened Oct. 1.

Are neighboring counties still on fall break?

Yes — Marion County and Hamilton County schools list fall break Oct. 12–16. Sequatchie County is in session.

🔗 Other Resources

• Sequatchie County Schools: Homecoming Week dress-up themes
• Sequatchie County Schools: Board agendas
• Oct. 12, 2026 Board Agenda (PDF)
• SCHS 2026–27 girls soccer schedule
• MaxPreps: Lady Indians soccer (results & schedule)
• MaxPreps: Community at Sequatchie County, Oct. 16
• MaxPreps: Indians football schedule
• ACT: Tennessee Senior Retake dates
• TN Promise overview (collegefortn.org)
• tnAchieves: high school seniors
• National School Lunch Week (School Nutrition Association)
• Dunlap-Tribune: cafeteria perfect scores
• NWS Dunlap point forecast
• Hamilton County Schools: Fall Break
• Marion County Schools calendar
• Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative: outage information

🏠 Keep Learning — Stay Calm

Homecoming Week is loud on purpose. Write the two kickoffs and the Nov. 2 Promise deadline on the fridge, tip your hat for Wild West Wednesday, and leave the worry for folks who enjoy it.

For more calm, practical Valley news you can use, keep reading Dunlap.Today.