Oh my aching back: do yoga, tai chi or qigong help?

It’s a pain. About 80 percent of adults in the United States will experience lower back pain at some point. Treating back pain typically involves medication, including opioids, surgery, therapy and self-care options. Efforts to reduce opioid use and increase physically based therapies to reduce pain and increase physical function and safety are crucial.

In the Hay

A few weeks ago I left three fictitious youngsters in the hayloft of Uncle Ex Newman’s barn as they laid out of school— Clark Mosely, his older brother Hen, and their still older cousin Jay Harvey Tatum.
“It’s hotter’n seven hells in this blamed hayloft,” Jay Harvey said.
“That sun’s a beatin’ on that tin roof. I bet it’s a lot cooler down on the barn’s dirt floor,” Clark said.
“Yeah, and a sight more like to be caught hiding out down there, too,” Hen said. “How long we gonna stay up here, Jay Harvey?”
“’Til time for school to let out, I reckon,” Jay Harvey replied.

Finding Elvis

Have you ever taken a day trip that gave you quite the unexpected surprise? We did years ago. Most people probably wouldn’t have appreciated our experience the way I did, but I have a quirky way of enjoying things.

Our trip started out innocently enough. We were traveling to Tim’s family reunion in Churchill, which is located in the northeast corner of the state. Some of the roads had been reworked since our last visit, so we were following another relative.

Color Guard

Recently my niece sent me a picture of her youngest daughter on Instagram. Brittany was dressed in a sparkly maroon uniform with an equally sparkly maroon flag in her hand. She was a bit disappointed that this year had been abbreviated by the Covid 19 because she loved being in color guard and performing all those intricate routines.

Beef and Potato Boats

This is not just another filled baked potato. Creamy mashed potatoes are on top, but underneath there is a surprise waiting for your fork. Your family will wonder when you had the time to go to cooking school.

Funding approved for Hwy 33 construction

State Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, and State Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, today announced the funding has been approved for the final phase of construction of State Route 33 connecting Union and Knox counties.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has completed the right-of-way phase of the development for State Route 33 (Maynardville Highway). This 5.2 mile project will adjoin the portion of State Route 33 in Union County to the Knox County line and State Route 144. The proposed project includes widening the highway from two lanes to five.

A Little Bit of Normal

Vickie Burkhart has owned her business for 32 years. It was a hard hit when she had to close her salon, The New You, on March 27 due to a government order to help control the spread of Covid-19. But things are slowly returning to normal since Burkhart and her co-stylist Terry Shumate re-opened the salon May 6.

CDC Recommends Wearing Masks in Public

Recently, the CDC recommended wearing masks in public. Many people have regained confidence to enter super markets and other stores as result of wearing masks and gloves. However, gloves and masks, though important, should not be solely relied upon for protection. Homemade masks are not as effective as other masks like a type called N95s, and they are not always put on and taken off correctly. When wearing your mask, make sure it completely covers your mouth and nose. Make sure that you are still social distancing and only going out when necessary, even with a mask.