For filling, stir together in a bowl the first 6 ingredients. Transfer filling to a piping bag fitted with a tip or a small zip lock plastic bag and snip off a corner. Pipe filling into each pepper half. Put panko in a small dish. Dip peppers, filling side down, in panko to coat. Then lightly coat panko with cooking spray.

Preheat fryer to 375 F. Air-fry peppers, panko side up and working in batches until tender and light, about 8 minutes. Keep cooked poppers warm in 200 F. oven while air frying remaining batches. If you desire, garnish with additional fresh herbs. Makes 16 poppers.

After the recent Saint Patrick’s Day, I began to wonder how the holiday came to be. As I found out, the holiday originated in Ireland and has Christian roots. In the modern day, Saint Patrick’s Day is known for wearing green, leprechauns and their pots of gold. Some people celebrate Irish history, but it is not often that the holiday is actually observed in honor of the person it is named after. Maybe it is just me, but in my twenty-four years on this planet, I had no idea who Saint Patrick was.

Matthew 26:30 KJV – And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.

After Jesus and his Disciples celebrated the final Passover before his Crucifixion, both Matthew and Mark say they sang a hymn as they headed to the Mount of Olives. While none of the Gospels tell us what that hymn was, history tells us it was likely what the Hebrews called the Hallel.

By Steve Roark
Volunteer Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

With spring comes the urge to work in the yard and plant things. This often involves going to a garden center and buying plants alien to our area. Some of them can escape your yard through seed dispersal and grow where they are not wanted, negatively impacting local forest ecosystems. So if you get the itch to plant a tree, consider seeking out native plants to use in landscapes.

Awareness effort timed to prom and graduation season

The Thunder Road Car Show & Swap Meet took place on Saturday, March 21, in Maynardville, with an incredible turnout that brought together car enthusiasts from near and far for a day celebrating automotive culture, community and family fun. This year’s event showcased 262 registered cars, from vintage classics to modern muscle, attracting an estimated 1,500+ spectators who strolled through the show all day, taking in the sights, sounds and energy of the event.

Taking a child to a car show is more than just a way to spend a day. It’s an opportunity to inspire, educate and build lasting memories together. Across our region, car shows bring history and horsepower to life in a way that no classroom or screen ever could. For a child, walking through rows of classic cars, hot rods and custom builds is like stepping into a living museum, where every vehicle tells a story. It’s a hands-on history lesson, allowing kids to see firsthand how automotive design, engineering and culture have evolved over the decades.

On March 19th, the Union County 4H held their Achievement Day at HMMS. Students in the competition attend Maynardville, Luttrell, Paulette, Big Ridge, and Smoky Mountain Homeschool elementaries, and were in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. There were 30 categories that students could compete in. The ones they picked were Companion Animals, Creative Arts and Design, Outdoor Recreation, Animal Science: Horses, Science, and Animal Science: Poultry. The TN State University (TSU) 4H agent, Harley Brummit, arranged the competition and judges.

Nothing says spring like the colorful tulips you find at Oakes Farm. We had four generations walking around the grounds on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The tulip map listed 53 varieties—who knew there were so many different ones?

When asked, “Which is your favorite color?” the answers went something like this: the bright yellow, or purple, or red—oh, the orange! Ah, the pink ones are pretty too … so basically, all of them. Who can pick just one?

Another opportunity for veterans to gather together for fellowship and food is on Saturday, April 11. All veterans are invited to the American Legion Post 212 to meet and chat at 8 a.m. The breakfast line will open at 8:30, and there is always plenty of food for seconds. If you know of any veterans who cannot make the breakfast, please be sure to take them a to-go box! After breakfast, veteran and VA news and updates will be shared. The event concludes by 9:30.

The staff of the Trinity Funeral Home is very supportive of veterans and is pleased to sponsor this breakfast for them.