Still sitting in my bedroom at my small desk looking out at a lowering sky with a squall line approaching from the northwest and strong winds with lots of rain heading our way. As most folks I have developed a case of winter doldrums. We’ve had so far a cold winter and even a two-inch snow the morning of December 11th. A kid on my school bus ask how I liked the snow and I replied,” I love the kind of snow we experienced yesterday; It snowed two-inches early morning and melted by afternoon.” Kind of like being visited by relatives.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Union County TCAT (Tennessee College of Applied Technology) and the Walters State Community College (WSCC) occurred on the Union County High school campus on December 4. The construction fulfills a dream of a multitude of Union County citizens and officials.

Director Greg Clay received the Chancellor's Award for Philanthropy at the groundbreaking ceremony for the combination Tennessee College of Applied Technology and the Walters State Community College on the Union County High School Campus on December 4. The award recognized the Union County Board of Education's agreement to lease the parcel of land for the construction at no fee for 50 years. In return, the state of Tennessee will perform all of the construction, equipment and maintenance for the $7.5M facility.

The Union County Board of Education awarded 46 commendations to Union County teachers for excellence with regards to the state assessments at the December board meeting. Educators were recognized for achievement above the state average, growth scores of 4 or 5, and attainment of Level 5 overall.

At the Plainview Board of Aldermen meeting in December, Mayor Lynn Beeler announced “the Plainview truck has the snow plow attached and is ready to go” to clear the streets when winter weather makes its debut.

What in the world is going on? Sorrow upon sorrow, it seems like everyplace we look in the world something terrible is going on. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters are happening worldwide. Terror in many forms is seemingly on every corner of the world. In the last two weeks, individual Terrorist attacks with vehicles have occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana and Magdeburg, Germany. School shootings are happening worldwide at unprecedented rates, especially here in the United States. Various wars of different scales are going on across the globe. According to the Global Peace Index there are currently 56 countries engaged in military conflicts. Those 56 countries in conflict does not include other countries aiding these combatants with financial or other types of military support. Such as, the United States supporting Ukraine.

I have never outgrown my love of a fresh snowfall, which takes a bleak winter scene and transforms it into a wonderland. The quiet that snow brings is both eerie and wonderful, and a walk in the snow on a moonlit night is something you simply must experience. A lot of folks think that snow begins as rain that freezes on its way down and turns into snow. It's usually the other way around, with rain beginning as snow, which melts as it falls.

I’m not a farmer. Never claimed to be a farmer. Yes, I’ve done some farm work. Back in my youth (50-60 years ago) I worked every hay season for a neighbor farmer in exchange for free hay for my horses and goats. This was back when you picked up the bales from the field and tossed them up into the hay truck. Then later picked them up from the truck and tossed them up to the hay loft. I did have a one-acre organic garden for many years, trading my produce for things I did not grow. Eventually, though, I grew tired of starting each day by picking bugs off plants.

I receive many emails. At least half of them are what I call email “commercials.” They pretty much immediately go to my trash folder. Several months ago, I received one of those emails, and though it went to the trash folder, the subject line did give me something to think about—expectations versus desires. As we enter the unknown wonderland to be known as the year 2025, this week’s article will focus on desires.

Winter is a good time to prune most trees because they are dormant and their leaves are off, making it easier to see how the branches are laid out. Here are some general guidelines to help keep your trees healthy and more attractive.

1. This is the most important tip I can give. DO NOT LEAVE STUBS when you prune. Trees are wired to heal at branching intersections, so always, always prune where branches or twigs meet. That is where the tree will properly scab over, but if you leave a stub, it will totally screw up the healing process and lead to decay. End twigs should be pruned back just above a bud.