Nuts and Bolts Benefit Union County American Legion

The Customer Appreciation Day at 33 Hardware was a multi-faceted occasion. Owner John Neal arranged for Shaun Abbott, a country and gospel singer from Knoxville, to entertain. Shaun is a popular musician all around Knoxville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and at the TN Valley Fair. Car owners were encouraged to bring their vintage, antique, or other cars to the Customer Appreciation Day, and about 30 vehicles were on display to look at and admire.

It’s Chili Time in Union County!

As the weather cools down, there’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of chili to bring family and friends together. This time of year means it’s officially chili season—and that means cook-off time too! Whether you’re stirring up a pot for your family, tailgating at a game, or entering a local competition, everyone has their own secret recipe.

Here are a few tried-and-true tips to help you make the perfect pot of chili:

Clink

Did you have a piggy bank when you were a kid? I did, except mine was in the shape of a black bear. My parents bought it for me in Gatlinburg when I was very small. Since it was ceramic, there was a noise that was both fun and irritating.

The Interurban Line

What is an Interurban? If you were not around during Depression Days, you would not know. Oh, you might notice the raised track bed out towards Parma or Grass Lake in the other direction. Probably a discontinued railroad line, you say. Nope. It was the remains of the Interurban line that ran between Chicago and Detroit.

Peach Cobbler

Here is a tasty way to prepare a peach cobbler. You have everything in your pantry. Appreciate the idea of using both peaches and pears. That is a tasty combination.

In saucepan over medium heat, combine peaches with syrup, 1/3 cup sugar, the spices and cornstarch. Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil. Add margarine. Stir to combine. Pour into ungreased 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Prepare drop biscuits, except add 1/3 cup sugar to dry ingredients. Drop biscuits from tablespoon onto peaches. Bake at 425 F. for 20 to 25 minutes or until top is lightly browned. Makes 6 servings.

Honoring Those Who Served: A Tradition with Ancient Roots

The idea of honoring the fallen with solemn ceremony stretches back thousands of years. Ancient Greeks and Romans held sacred rites for warriors who died in battle, often including a final vigil or watch. That tradition continued through centuries of military practice across Europe and America.

In the United States, military honors became more formalized after the Civil War and again after World War I, as the nation sought to publicly mourn and memorialize its dead. Over time, ceremonial honor guard units became standard in all branches of the armed forces.

Chiropractic use in the United States

In the United States, chiropractic is often considered a complementary health approach. According to a recent survey, about 8 percent of adults (more than 18 million) and nearly 3 percent of children (more than 2 million) had received chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation in the past 12 months. Additionally, an analysis of NHIS cost data found that adults in the United States spent approximately $11.9 billion out-of-pocket on visits to complementary health practitioners — $3.9 billion of which was spent on visits to practitioners for chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation.

Bewitched Hills: The Lore of Appalachian Superstitions

Why are superstitions and eerie stories so prevalent in the Appalachian mountain region? An article from 1909 in the Sequatchie Valley News offers a $5 reward (around ~$190 today) for catching the "Whistling Jack," which was a commonly reported creature at the time, yet no proof of "Jack's" existence has ever been offered...

10th Annual Dixie Roofing Clays for Children Sporting Clays Tournament Largest to Date

On Thursday, October 2 and Friday, October 3, 2025, District Attorney General Jared Effler and staff, in partnership with the Children’s Centers of the 8th Judicial District, hosted the Tenth Annual Dixie Roofing Clays for Children Sporting Clays Tournament at Iron Mountain Sporting Clays in Kodak, Tennessee. The purpose of the event was to raise money to support the Children’s Centers of the 8th Judicial District, comprised of Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Scott, and Union counties.

A Spooky Tale: The Deathwatch Beetle

With a nod to the season of Halloween, I’ll share a tale about something that has creeped people out for centuries. A superstition that came across with settlers from Europe and established itself here in the eastern U.S. It involves death and a bug.

Back in the day people did not die in hospitals, but in their own beds, and it became a tradition to watch over the dying until their end, and this became known as a death watch or vigil. During this time the house was kept very quiet, with limited activity and conversations held in a whisper. With the house this still, a tapping sound could often be heard that seemed to come from all over the house and occurred often enough that the sound became synonymous with impending death, and superstitions arose as a result. One thought was that the tapping sound was the grim reaper tapping his bony fingers impatiently waiting for the loved one to die. Another was that it was the sound of time ticking off the dying person’s last moments. Records of the phenomena date back to the 17th century, so it was a spooky occurrence that’s been around a while.