SmellaQue, a team from Calgary, Alberta, was named grand champion of the 37th Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg, Tennessee, on October 10, winning $25,000 and a chance to defend its title next year, the Lynchburg Times reports. B's Que was reserve grand champion and took $10,000. Ninety-nine teams from around the world competed in categories including pork ribs, pork shoulder, brisket, chicken, dessert, Jack Daniel's sauce and cook's choice. "This title means so much to us because it's a win for the entire international community," pitmaster Janice Smella said, according to Jack Daniel's. Last year's winner was Kings BBQ of Jacksonville, Florida.
Gulf Islands National Seashore reopened the Naval Live Oaks Area in Florida on October 26, the last section closed by Hurricane Isaias, and every area of the park is now open, including Okaloosa, Opal Beach, Perdido Key, Fort Pickens and Fort Barrancas, the park said. Superintendent Rick Clark said Isaias caused no substantial damage to buildings or infrastructure. Use caution on trails and stay out of any signed closed areas.
advisoryHigh surf advisories and high rip current risk, Southeast Georgia to Palm Beach CountyGeorgia · Florida Atlantic coastBreakers 6–12 ft, Mon to Wed morning; rip currents into Thuchecked Oct 19
The long coastal storm that closed Hatteras Island this weekend is now sending dangerous surf down the whole Southeast coast. Weather Service offices from Jacksonville to Miami have high surf advisories and high rip current risk on Monday, October 19.
The forecast breakers: 6 to 8 feet on the Southeast Georgia beaches until 5 a.m. Tuesday; 7 to 10 feet in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns and Flagler counties until 8 p.m. Tuesday, with minor coastal flooding along the beaches and the St. Johns River until 4 a.m. Thursday; 6 to 10 feet from Volusia through Martin County, including Brevard, until 4 a.m. Wednesday; 7 to 12 feet in Palm Beach County until 8 a.m. Wednesday; and 6 to 8 feet in Broward on Monday and Tuesday. High rip current risk runs through Wednesday night in northeast Florida and Thursday evening in South Florida.
openGulf Islands NS: Fort Pickens day use, Opal Beach, Perdido Key, Fort Barrancas, Mississippi DistrictEscambia & Santa Rosa Cos., Florida · Mississippi coastFort Pickens Campground, Naval Live Oaks and Okaloosa still closedchecked Oct 19
Gulf Islands National Seashore has reopened most of its Florida District after Hurricane Isaias. The Fort Pickens Area opened for day use at 9 a.m. Sunday, October 18, and remains under a boil-water notice. The Opal Beach complex in the Santa Rosa Area reopened October 17, and the Mississippi District, Perdido Key and Fort Barrancas reopened October 14.
Still closed because of large amounts of downed trees in visitor areas: the Naval Live Oaks Area, including park headquarters and all its trails; the Fort Pickens Campground and the Battery Worth pavilion; and the Okaloosa Area.
openU.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road; Carlos Campbell Overlook closedSevier Co., Tennessee · Swain Co., North CarolinaNot on park closure list Oct 13; no reopening releasechecked Oct 13
Great Smoky Mountains National Park's road closure page, updated October 13, no longer lists U.S. 441, Newfound Gap Road, which the park closed Friday night ahead of Hurricane Isaias, and the Blue Ridge Parkway's status table also shows it open. The park has not issued a release announcing the reopening. The closure page does list the Carlos Campbell Overlook on Newfound Gap Road as temporarily closed while crews assess cracks in the pavement and sidewalk, and Mingus Mill as closed for rehabilitation. Cosby Knob Shelter on the Appalachian Trail remains closed for bear activity. If you are driving across the park soon after the storm, check the park's road closure map first; the main switchboard is 865-436-1200.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is advising hikers to consider postponing trips on the southern part of the trail until Hurricane Isaias has passed. Its alert, posted Friday, says the storm's updated track brings heavy rain, flash flooding and high winds to the trail from Georgia through southwest Virginia, with possible heavy rain and flash flooding into central Virginia.
Areas hit by Hurricane Helene in 2024 are at particular risk because the landscape is still recovering. Wind can bring down trees and heavy rain can raise streams to dangerous levels and trigger landslides. Anyone on the trail during or right after the storm should stay well clear of standing dead, diseased or damaged trees, which can fall at any time.
closedU.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road; Balsam Mountain CampgroundSevier Co., Tennessee · Swain Co., North CarolinaFrom 8 p.m. Oct 9; high wind warningchecked Oct 9
Great Smoky Mountains National Park closes U.S. 441, Newfound Gap Road, at 8 p.m. tonight because of strong winds expected from Hurricane Isaias and the risk of downed trees and debris. Balsam Mountain Campground closed at 5 p.m. The road crosses the Appalachian Trail at Newfound Gap.
The National Weather Service has a high wind warning for the area starting today, with gusts to 70 mph possible on the Tennessee side of the park and moderate rain parkwide. Isaias is forecast to come ashore on the northern Gulf Coast and then move across the Southeast this weekend; the National Hurricane Center has the current track and warnings.
The Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue, known as the Jack, runs October 9 and 10 at Wiseman Park in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Only around 90 teams get in, each having won a qualifying contest such as a state championship, and the field usually includes a deep international contingent. Admission has traditionally been free, with a voluntary donation to the Moore County schools.
It comes a week after the American Royal World Series of Barbecue, which ran September 30 to October 4 on the Royal's new campus in Kansas City, Kansas, for the first time. Because the campus is still under construction, the event was limited to invited guests, with no main stage or public activities, and turkey was dropped from the categories.
