Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park — We are on the first day of a federal government shutdown with no end in sight. Thousands of workers are out of a job, or they aren't seeing a paycheck.

And national parks are closing or limiting services, and that includes the Smokies. Cindy and John Cloutier are visiting from Michigan for the first time in decades.

"My dad's family is from this area, and I haven't been here since I was a small child. I just retired, so we're starting to do a little bit of traveling and the Smoky Mountains were the number one place that I wanted to come and see again," Cindy said.

They said they didn't know the shutdown would impact their visit. Cindy said she was disappointed because she's not going to be back for a couple of years and some of the facilities she wante

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