NEWPORT-Members of the Cocke County Partnership Board of Directors approved the applications of nine new members at their December meeting Monday morning at the Newport/Cocke County Community Center.

Norwood Homes and Land, Full Circle Enterprise, KOA Newport, Wild Bear Falls, River Terrace, CLI, Inc., Ball Construction, Vassar Plumbing, and Norton Music Store joined the chamber. Two other businesses, Wright's Pool and Spa and Goddard Real Estate and Auction, rejoined.

Of the six businesses dropped from membership, five have closed, according to Chamber Director of Operations Kandee Veridal.

Veridal also announced that Ramay Winchester of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development will be in Newport on March 9 to present "Give 'em the Pickle", a training program designed to inspire employee commitment. "Please call the chamber to register," said Veridal. "This event is sponsored by the Partnership."

Veridal also reported that this year's Christmas parade featured over 100 units. "Newport Housing Authority, Ace Antiques, and Mineral Essence Day Spa have all hosted Open House celebrations this past month."

In her report, Cocke County Tourism Director Linda Lewanski said, "We have had an extremely busy year. The year-long celebration of Great Smoky Mountains National Park's 75th anniversary topped our list of events."

Local events pertaining to the Park's milestone included Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson's keynote address at last year's Partnership banquet, the premier of "Under the Apple Trees," an original play telling the story of the Carvers, a pioneer Cosby family, the appearance of Cocke County native and opera star Luke Grooms, a descendant of numerous Cosby families, in concert, and a September reunion of people born in the area later incorporated by the Park.

Lewanski also said that she would be traveling to Cookeville later in the week to explore grant opportunities for the Scenic Byway program.

She expressed gratitude to National Bank of Tennessee for their sponsorship of the Grand Marshall's float in the Christmas parade. Riding on the float were several younger descendants of Park families. "We also thank the Hard Times Street Rod Club for their help in the motorcade," she added.

The I-40 rockslide continues to top the list of concerns of Partnership President Don Hurst. "We continue working with state and federal officials on this," he said. "We desperately need it to reopen, and quite frankly, the prognosis is not great. We still hear that it will take three more months to reopen it, and that's if the weather cooperates."

Hurst also emphasized the need for Cocke County to "get a good count" in the upcoming 2010 federal census. "That means more money for schools and other things. Also, there are some part-time jobs available for census takers," he said.

Rep. Eddie Yokley attended the meeting. "We have a tough year ahead of us," said Yokley. "Legislators are not looking forward to returning to Nashville in January, but we'll do what we have to do."

Monday's breakfast meeting was sponsored by Bush's.