With Election Day approaching there is much discussion in America and Union County about who to vote for, especially with the election or re-election of a Commander-in-Chief. However, as is typical of any election, there are other offices which must be filled and many voters lack key information:
“What is the position in question?”
“Who is on the ballot?”
“What are their policies?”
These are often asked questions asked on election day or very shortly before.

Farmers and producers, October is here and with it brings the time for 2020 Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program (TAEP) Applications to be submitted. Following suit of recent years in the program, Application A can be completed between October 1 and 7, 2020, postmarked or online. This is the only time that applications are accepted all year. Check the website for more details https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/farms/taep.html , or call (865) 992-8038.

Union County Business and Professional Association is seeking nominees for the Man and Woman of 2020, and the public is invited to participate. If you know of a person who is a resident of Union County or gainfully employed Union County, you may want to send the name, the reasons for the nomination, your name, and your phone number to Shannon DeWitt by email to sdewitt@utk.edu or by mail to UCB&PA, PO Box 696, Maynardville, TN 37807. Nominations are due by October 20, 2020.

Earl Bull was cutting and baling 100 acres of hay, but still found time to talk to me. We were going back to our days spent on the farm as boys to help the family make it.
“Make it” meant to have food, wood cut for the winter, hay for the livestock and hopefully a cash tobacco crop to pay the farm taxes and put brogan shoes on our feet for winter, a couple of pair of jeans and flannel shirts for school.

(Morison, 1979) This great seafaring genius was born in the seaside port of Genoa in Italy in 1451 with the exact date unknown. His father was a poor wool weaver who owned a tavern where Christopher heard tall tales of the sea. The Portuguese had invented a new type of ship, the caravel, which could (Roselle, 1966) gain ground against the wind. Prince Henry the (Grove, 1997) “Navigator” set up a school for sailors to teach seafaring skills in Sargres, Portugal, improved the compass and made alterations in design of ships which gained multiple masts and studier sails.

The relationship between early settlers and Native Americans was and still is a very controversial subject.
Although it was a significant part of the history of early America, it was a short time period. It was not long after the first settlers of European descent had settled here that the hills and hollers were filled with people etching out a living.

The late summer/early fall season puts on a good flower show in our area, especially asters, those daisy-and sunflower-like species that come in a variety of colors, yellow in particular. One species that is not only pretty to look at but can also be enjoyed as a seldom-used vegetable is Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus).

You cannot trust the man of God. Many people waver or lose faith in God, when a “man of God” fails. Men of God fail all the time. We have a recent example of an immoral failure of the leader of one of the largest Christian colleges and churches in America.

I don’t mind it when people call me an “Early Bird.” But it’s a little different when others say, “She’s a morning person.” At times, their tone of voice makes it sound as if that’s a bad thing.
I can’t deny it. God hard-wired me to be an early riser. Even as a small child, I looked forward to hopping out of bed and greeting a new day. What new adventures were awaiting me? What was I in danger of missing by staying inside?
As I grew older, I discovered the hard way that most people don’t share my perspectives on mornings.

With the Secretary of Commerce attempting to complete the 2020 US Census by September 30, and a California judge issuing a ruling to require the secretary to have the census proceed until October 31, the ending date to be counted is somewhat confusing.