Shady Valley’s annual Cranberry Festival kicks off Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. with a bean supper served with cornbread, coleslaw and cranberry cookies.

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. – For M.J. Light, joining the cast of “The Firebird” at the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre was a serious challenge.
At 22, the Bluff City woman has been working for five years as a sign language interpreter for East Tennessee State University and other schools. She also serves on a team of interpreters at the Celebration Church of Blountville, Tenn.
Light developed an interest in sign language a few years ago while being home-schooled. She met a deaf woman and studied sign language. She also took courses at ETSU and earned a national interpreter’s certification.
“I felt the calling into it kind of as a ministry as well as a profession,” Light said.