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Reina Cunningham

Staff Writer

Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) presented plans for their “Arts in the Gap Festival” to the Board of Mayor and Alderman on Monday.

LMU is currently renovating the old UNC building in Cumberland Gap. The new facility will house classes throughout the year and various types of workshops and entertainment throughout the summer.

“It’s really a center for the Appalachian region,” according to Martin Sellers, Dean at the School of Arts and Humanities.

Darnell Arnoult, LMU Writer-in-Residence, gave board members and those in attendance a copy of the projected schedule of events. Currently the schedule has events starting on June 9 and ending on July 13.

“(The events are) a group of programs that will be for a public audience,” explained Arnoult during the presentation. “Alongside our undergraduate arts education, these will be public programs offered to adults and children during the summer.”

LMU scheduled their events around Cumberland Gap’s annual tourism events.

After LMU’s presentation, John Ravnum, Alderman, gave an overview of scheduled tourism events.

The Civil War weekend is scheduled for April 26 through the 28, the Genealogy Jamboree is June 6 through the 8 and the White Lightning Trail Festival is scheduled for June 29 and 30 with Dale Ann Bradley performing at a special Friday night event kickoff.

In other business, the fire department has applied for a clean energy grant to purchase new heat pumps. The heat pumps will cost approximately $12,000. The grant is a 50/50 grant, which means if the department is approved for the grant, the city will have to find funding for their half of the bill.

The department currently uses propane to heat the building.

Additionally, the board made plans for a recycling program to be put into place at the fire department. Residents will be able to donate aluminum cans and other recyclables to the fire department. Barrels will be set up in front of the fire department for residents to drop off their donations.

Town Hall will be closed on Feb. 22, and the planning meeting for March is scheduled for Feb.25.

Reina P. Cunningham can be reached via email at rpcunningham@civitasmedia.com or by phone at 606-248-1010, ext. 205.