> Just in case somebody wonders why I captalize Middle and East in the paragraph above, it's a constitutional thing. The Tennessee constitution divides the state into three Grand Divisions; West Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and East Tennessee. This makes the direction part of the proper noun.
> I have a tough time not using a capital letter when I refer to eastern Kentucky, but constitutions differ.


I still wince when the weather forecasters in Charlotte talk about the weather in eastern Tennessee.