Stones River Campaign Anniversary Programs

Nearly 150 years ago, Union and Confederate forces clashed in Murfreesboro.

Stones River National Battlefield will commemorate the battle with living history programs through Friday with a memorial service at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Murfreesboro Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp No. 33 will hold their annual Battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River) memorial service Sunday.

The service is planned for the Confederate Circle in Evergreen Cemetery. Camp No. 33 will be dedicating a marker to Pvt. George Clinton Potts, Co. D., 2nd Kentucky Mounted Infantry, Confederate. Pvt. Potts died during the Battle of Murfreesboro.

The event is open to the public.

Friday, visitors to the battlefieldcan enjoy a variety of programs that tell the story of one of the most significant campaigns of the Civil War.

The anniversary programs will be held at the Stones River National Battlefield, 3501 Old Nashville Highway. For more information, call Stones River National Battlefield at 615-893-9501 or visit www.nps.gov/stri.

Polar Bear Plunge

Wake up from hibernation, Polar Bears, and let’s take the plunge at the 7th annual Polar Bear Plunge at 10 a.m. Saturday in the SportsCom outdoor pool.

Brave men, women and children from around the area will don costumes and swimwear and take “polar” dips into the SportsCom outdoor pool. Yes, that’s right, the Outdoor pool.

The Polar Bear Plunge is open to anyone 5 years or older who is a fan of having a good time for a good cause. For plungers under 18 years, a waiver/release form must be signed by a parent or guardian.

Each Polar Bear is required to bring nonperishable food items for the Murfreesboro City Scholls Family Resource Centers. All plunging Polar Bears can purchase an official Polar Bear Plunge commemorative sweatshirt or T-shirt on the day of the event. Last year’s event raised more than 700 pounds of food with over 400 plungers.

The average water temperature hovers around 40 degrees but for the not-so-brave souls, there is a Chicken Plunge into the heated indoor pool.

Plunges will commence at 10 a.m. with Vice-Mayor Chris Bratcher. Registration will begin at 8:15 a.m.

In addition to the plunges, there will be the “Arctic Adventure” with games and activities for the whole family and the “coolest costume” contest. The winner, voted by the crowd, will receive a trophy.

Preregistration is available at SportsCom between now and Jan. 3. SportsCom is located at 2310 Memorial Blvd., in Murfreesboro.

For more information, please contact Plunge Coordinator Nate Williams at 895-5040, nwilliams@murfreesborotn.gov.

Still time to recycle your Christmas tree

Don’t put that Christmas tree in the trash to take-up space in Middle Point landfill. Recycle those formerly live trees into mulch.

Trees will be collected through the Jan. 14 at Lee Victory Recreation Center in Smyrna, Jan. 21 in the parking lot at La Vergne’s Public Works Building and Jan. 9 at the Farmer’s Market shed at Cannonsburgh in Murfreesboro.

If you have questions, call Recycle Rutherford at 615-687-3497 or visit www.recyclerutherford.org.

If you have an event you’d like included, contact Michelle Willard at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.