Friday, October 10, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1790, Gov. William Blount arrived at Rocky Mount to establish Tennessee’s first territorial government, just months after being appointed by President George Washington.

Tennessee icon Dolly Parton has cleared the air on her health issues after her sister alarmed fans by asking for prayers. Dolly posted a video assuring fans, “I ain’t dead yet!” See all the Dolly details in the story below.

If you’ve ever dreamed of investing in the booming surf industry, today’s sponsor, Surf Lakes’ revolutionary wave technology, is turning inland cities into surf destinations and creating seven powerful revenue streams along the way.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Burn Permits Required Starting Wednesday

Tennessee will require burn permits beginning next Wednesday as the fall wildfire season kicks off.

State officials say more than 90% of wildfires are human-caused, and with extra debris from Hurricane Helene, the risk is higher this year.

Permits—free and available online or by phone—will help authorities regulate when and where burning is safe.

Burning without a permit is a misdemeanor, and officials urge residents to consider alternatives to open burning.

Dolly Assures Fans, “I Ain’t Dead Yet.”

Dolly Parton, 79, told fans she’s not dying after health rumors swirled online, sparked by a prayer request from her sister Freida.

In a Wednesday video, Dolly explained that she neglected her health while caring for her late husband, Carl Dean, who passed away in March.

Dolly is now undergoing minor treatments in Nashville, having postponed her Las Vegas shows to focus on recovery.

The country legend asks fans in the video, “Do I look sick to you?” and promises, “I ain’t dead yet.” See full video here.

List: Halloween in Middle Tennessee

Middle Tennessee is rolling out a season full of pumpkins, costumes, hayrides, haunted trails, and fall festivals to celebrate the run-up to Halloween.

Nashville celebrates the spooky season with its 4th Annual Fall Festival, haunted ghost tours at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, and family fun, including corn mazes, hayrides, pumpkin patches, local food, and live entertainment.

Communities including Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, and Hendersonville are also hosting family-friendly events featuring candy and costume contests, with festivities continuing through late October for Tennesseans to enjoy before Halloween. See a full list of activities here.

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More Than Seven Revenue Streams from One Business

Most companies chase one or two ways to make money. Surf Lakes has at least seven.

At the heart of it all is their patented 360° Wave Tech, which enables 2,000 surfable rides per hour for both beginners and pros. That single breakthrough unlocks multiple revenue streams: licensing fees, royalties, memberships, day passes, media, coaching, food, retail, and direct park operations.

Another key aspect of this technology is that it enables the development of up to half a mile of beachside property, adding exponential value to each project.

It’s why surfing legends Tom Curren and Mark “Occy” Occhilupo are proud and vocal ambassadors of Surf Lakes.

Actor Chris Hemsworth even said this after his Surf Lakes experience: “What an incredible setup! Really thankful I got to test this out… an awesome day.”

Surf tourism is a $65B global industry, yet fewer than 1% of people can access real waves. Surf Lakes makes it possible anywhere, turning cities into surf destinations.

They’ve already sold nine licenses worldwide, and the expansion is coming. Invest in Surf Lakes by Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

➤ Statewide: Tennessee now requires sewage sludge used as farm fertilizer to be tested for “forever chemicals” linked to cancer, though the rule does not mandate any action based on the results. (More)

➤ Knox County: A Knoxville man who claimed to be a postal worker faces felony charges after deputies found nearly $1 million in stolen checks during a traffic stop on Clinton Highway, police said. (More)

➤ Putnam County: Police are warning families about a scam where callers impersonate law enforcement and demand payments in exchange for a loved one’s release from jail. (More)

➤ Nashville: Alan Jackson will perform the final full-length concert of his career at Nissan Stadium in June, with proceeds benefiting research for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a nerve condition he lives with. (More)

➤ Cookeville: Tennessee Tech broke ground on a $61.6 million Innovation Center and Residence Hall that will house 400 students and include fabrication labs, collaborative spaces, and a podcast studio. (See Video)

➤ Hamilton County: Officials proposed preserving over 1,000 acres of McDonald Farm while opening 500 acres at Enterprise South for industrial development—a compromise balancing conservation with growth. (More)

➤ Titans rookie Chimere Dike was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a 65-yard kickoff return against Arizona and currently leads the NFL in all-purpose yards through five weeks. (More)

➤ Quarterbacks Brendon Lewis of Memphis, Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt, and Joey Aguilar of Tennessee were named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award shortlist for their early-season performances. (See List)

➤ The Memphis Grizzlies will host a free youth basketball clinic in Memphis from Oct. 13–17 for children ages 6–14. Registration is available online. (More)

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➤ Oracle unveiled new renderings for its $1.2 billion East Bank campus in Nashville, featuring a pedestrian bridge, riverfront park, and plans for a future Nobu hotel and restaurant. (See Renderings)

➤ Gallatin has approved the Foxland Harbor Marina project, which will bring the city’s first marina on Old Hickory Lake in nearly 70 years, along with boat slips, condos, and retail space. (More)

➤ Healthcare provider Wellpath will lay off 91 employees across several Davidson County locations by mid-November after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May. (More)

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This Technology Makes Every City a Potential Surf Destination

Topgolf revolutionized golf by transforming it into a social, tech-driven experience for everyone. And they’ve made billions in annual revenue doing it. Surf Lakes is applying that same model to surfing. Their patented tech creates 2,000 ocean-quality rides per hour, anywhere in the world, across all skill levels.

Surf tourism is a $65B global industry, yet fewer than 1% of people live near real waves. They’ve already sold licenses across the U.S. and Australia, with plans for a first commercial park in the works.

Three-time world champ Tom Curren and surf icon Mark Occhilupo have joined as ambassadors and shareholders. Even actor Chris Hemsworth has praised Surf Lakes.

You have until Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT to invest in Surf Lakes.

This is a paid advertisement for Surf Lakes’ Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.surflakes.com

➤ Tennessee’s fall colors are peaking in the Smoky Mountains, while lower elevations such as Gatlinburg are expected to follow later in October due to ideal weather conditions. (See Details)

➤ LEGO lovers gathered in Knoxville for the third annual Brickonomicon, which featured a competition showcasing creations such as 13-year-old Ward Todd’s 200,000-piece masterpiece. (More)

➤ Country music star Luke Combs will headline a concert at Neyland Stadium in May, becoming only the fifth major performer in the venue’s history. (See Details)

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