|
|
QUALITY OF LIFE
HEALTH CARE
Rhea County is fortunate to have its own well-equipped 49-bed hospital with a 24-hour emergency room, several clinics, an 89-bed nursing home, and a group of health care specialists to cover just about any medical need, eliminating the need to travel far distances for quality health care.
County-owned Rhea Medical Center (RMC) in Dayton is managed by Quorum Health Resources, Inc. and operated by a board of directors. RMC was accredited in 1999 by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of HealthCare Organizations and in 2002 received a perfect score with no recommendations on its accreditation review.
Its medical staff offers care in family practice, internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, plastic surgery, orthopedics and gynecology. Visiting specialists provide service in ENT, orthopedics, podiatry, OB/GYN, urology and general surgery. Other services at RMC include a radiology department that provides numerous imaging services such as MRI, bone mineral density, ultrasound, mammography, and nuclear medicine. RMC also operates an outpatient physical therapy center, managed by Professional Therapy Services of Tennessee, LLC.
Regional trauma centers are located at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville and Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. Both facilities offer helicopter ambulance services during crisis situations. RMC has its own helipad for use by these regional helicopters.
In addition to the Rhea County Nursing Home, there are two other nursing home, four assisted living centers, one retirement resort, and four agencies offering home health care services.
The Rhea County Health Department, which is jointly funded by the Tennessee Department of Health and Rhea County government, offers immunizations, testing and check-ups for children, along with many other services.
Mental health services are provided through Rhea County Mental Health Center. The center, located in Dayton, provides counseling and rehabilitative services to children and adults.
RECREATION
An indelible bond exists between Rhea Countians and a passionate love of sporting events and recreational activities. A wide variety of sports and recreational activities for leisure-time enjoyment are available through the year for people of all ages.
WATER RECREATION/HIKING
Rhea County is ideally positioned to provide recreational opportunities to its residents, but without a doubt, Watts Bar and Chickamauga Lakes are the most used recreational opportunities. Fishing, boating, water skiing, and swimming provide recreation for visitors from all over the United States.
The mountains along Rhea County's western edge provide plenty of opportunities for hiking, camping, even kayaking. Pocket Wilderness areas provide spectacular vistas west of both Dayton and Spring City. Please visit www.cumberlandtrail.org for maps on all of the hiking trails in Rhea County and the surrounding area.
HUNTING
Hunting is another pastime enjoyed by Rhea Countians as there is an abundance of deer, raccoon, turkey, dove, quail, and rabbit in the area. Detailed information about hunting seasons, bag limits, and rules and regulations can be obtained by visiting the TWRA website at www.state.tn.us/twra.
GOLF
The Dayton Golf and Country Club is an 18-hole golf course north of Dayton and just west of Rhea County Highway (Highway 27) on Payne Lane. It hosts an industrial league and other periodic tournaments, some of which require membership in the country club. The Dayton Golf and Country Club website is at: www.daytongolfclub.com. Crystal Springs Recreation Center also has a driving range in the Crystal Springs community off Old Graysville Road.
SOFTBALL/BASEBALL
Youth and adult softball leagues are offered in Rhea County. The Dayton Girls Fast Pitch Softball League offers teams and leagues for girls 6-and-under, 8-and-under, 10-and-under, 12-and-under, and 14-and-under. Dayton also offers an adult slow pitch softball league.
Organized youth baseball leagues are plentiful in Rhea County. Dayton and Spring City have youth baseball leagues. In Dayton, there are leagues for ages 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14. Spring City has leagues for 3-4, 5-6,7-8, 9-10, and 11-12 year olds. All leagues are in the Dizzy Dean Baseball organization.
TENNIS/BASKETBALL/WALKING TRACKS
Dayton, Graysville, and Spring City offer community tennis and basketball courts. Each community also offers a walking track for those interested in this relaxing activity.
SOCCER
Spring City's recreational soccer league for children ages 4-16 currently offers a spring league that begins in March each year, and a fall league that begins in September. The league is a member of the American Youth Soccer Organization.
FOOTBALL
Dayton and Spring City offer football teams for children. Both the Little Eagles and Red Dogs usually have teams for ages 5-6 (Wee Pees), 7-8 (Pee Wees), 9-10 (Juniors), and 11-12 (Seniors). To contact the Spring City Red Dogs, please call Matt Kaylor at 423-322-2866 or visit their website at www.springcityreddogs.synthasite.com.
BOWLING
Bowling is a year-round activity that attracts both the young and young-at-heart. Crystal Lanes on Old Graysville Road has leagues for adults all year and youth and children's leagues during certain times of the year. You don't have to be in a league to bowl at Crystal Lanes.
RACING
The Spring City Raceway offers dirt-track racing Saturdays at a track just off Highway 27 south of Spring City. The track is often closed only for the coldest months of the year. The season begins with Saturday afternoon racing, before moving to Saturday night racing during the warm-weather months.
YMCA
The Rhea Family YMCA offers a multitude of activities. In addition to the cardio fitness, weight training, aerobic classes and water exercise program, the “Y” also offers before and after school care and summer day camp. Individual and family memberships are available. Financial assistance is available through the YMCA scholarship program.
Flag football is scheduled yearly for the adults in the Rhea County area. The “Y” offers a full court adult basketball league and youth league yearly. Youth soccer is scheduled in the spring and fall. Tumbling is scheduled throughout the school year. Sports camps are offered in the early summer to teach the fundamentals of basketball, golf, tennis and soccer to the local children. Swimming lessons are taught throughout the months of June and July at the local pool.
COMMUNICATIONS
The Herald News, a twice weekly newspaper (Wednesday and Weekend), and the Watts Bar Observer, one local radio station, and several radio and television stations in Knoxville and Chattanooga representing all major networks, keep local residents informed of happenings. More than 45 stations are provided by Charter Communications. The local telephone service is provided by BellSouth Communications.
CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
The Rhea County community is served by a host of civic, fraternal, social, and professional organizations. The groups include, but are not limited to: Civitans, Ruritans, Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs, and Kiwanis.
The Dayton and Spring City Chambers of Commerce can provide you with a comprehensive list of the clubs and officials to contact if you're interested in membership.
|
