The Newport Plain Talk

PHOTO SUBMITTED Jewelry Connection, located at 512-A West Broadway in Newport, in the West End Shopping Center in front of Tractor Supply, is January's advertiser in The Newport Plain Talk's news racks. Rhonda Evans, right, and Mary Pitner, owners of the Jewelry Connection, are preparing for Valentine's Day by sponsoring an engagement ring contest for the best, most romantic love story. Jewelry Connection also buys gold and silver jewelry and coins in addition to having the perfect Valentine's Day gift of gold, diamond, gemstone and sterling jewelry. For more information, call 423-623-9100.

NEWPORT-The growth in Cocke County's rafting industry not only reflects a increase in tourism but also in money paid directly to the county.

According to figures released this week by Cocke County Clerk Janice Butler, 177,400 paying customers rafted down the Pigeon River in 2012. That's 8,340 more than in 2011 for an increase of 5 percent.

With $2 from each rafting ticket designated to go to county coffers, the county this year will receive $354,800, an increase of $16,680 over last year.

"I'm thrilled to death with that," said Butler. "I would like for it to have been higher. At one time we were 10,000 customers ahead. But, the rains came and it slowed things down.

For more details, please see the Thursday edition of the Newport Plain Talk.