Locals set record with Operation Christmas Child

Milan Baptist Church wants children in need around the world to receive a gift this Christmas season and to experience the love and hope that we find in Jesus Christ.
For the seventh year, Milan Baptist Church has partnered with the Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child, to make a difference in the lives of children affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine. The annual project takes empty shoeboxes and turns them into gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items that will be delivered to children in need around the world.

Combating elder abuse in Tennessee

Tennessee’s District Attorneys General are on a mission to protect seniors from elder abuse. We are improving laws, increasing public awareness and, with the help of other partners, using criminal investigations and courtroom prosecutions to protect our seniors.
But, we need the help of informed citizens to win this battle.

Injury Prevention Tips

Following these guidelines can help you prevent injuries: Avoid doing too much, too soon. Never increase the length of your workouts by more than 10 percent from one week to the next, and never increase both the length and intensity of your workout at the same time. Never skip your warm-up or cool-down. Tight or stiff muscles around a joint will make the area more prone to injury. This is especially important in sports that require quick movements, such as basketball and tennis.

Horses transformed into magical unicorns

Everyone enjoys capturing milestones and memories in photographs so that the joy can be relived through the generations.
Here in Union County, KH Equine Event Rentals focuses on the happiness of clients and the take-home factor for moments like these. The creative business offers photo shoot setups and themed shoots as well as the very popular unicorn interaction at shoots and parties.

Johnson's Deer Processing & Taxidermy

A family tradition has sprouted into a family business for the Johnsons. Tyler Johnson and his dad, Terry, created a deer processing and taxidermy business partnership in Corryton, and it is a busy season for the fellows as deer hunting season is in full steam.
Inspiration for the industry arose from childhood stories told by Tyler’s papaw, Raymond Johnson. After a weekend hunt in Chuck Swan, Raymond and his brothers would cut the deer up in the kitchen floor.
Tyler says, “I guess you could say it’s in my blood.”

Country Connections: The musical Woods family

On April 11, 1932, in Goin, Claiborne County, Tennessee, a marriage was performed between Clifford Renee Woods Sr. and Virgie Alvelda O’Dell. Four months later, a song was recorded at the Victor Studio on Fifth Street in Camden, New Jersey, by the great Jimmie Rodgers.
The Great Depression was deepening worldwide. The song was “No Hard Times” about living in the country with a mule, a bucket of lard and chickens in my backyard.
On April 13, 1933, a girl child was born to Clifford and Virgie. They named her Wanda Lucille Woods. The family lived in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Local student wins regional 4-H public speaking

It’s public speaking time in Union County! One of the most exciting 4-H competitions is just around the corner: the 4-H Public Speaking Contest.
This experience really boosts your confidence. Almost everyone has fears of public speaking, but it sure is an excellent way to turn your weakness into strength. Preparing a speech makes you look inward to personal thoughts or ideas that you would like your audience to hear about.

The journey of a boy and his best friend

Our son was approaching his fifth birthday, and like many children, he decided a puppy was the present of choice for him. Wide open, rambunctious and never-tiring are adjectives which describe both our 5-year-old son and his new best friend.
My wife chose correctly when her always-meticulous research determined that a Jack Russell terrier was the dog breed of choice for our little boy. It was a match made in dog heaven, if there is such a thing.

Your name is?

The famous quote “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet” is from Act II Scene II of William Shakespeare’s enduring play Romeo and Juliet. Juliet speaks this to Romeo as she tries to reason with him that Romeo’s family name has no bearing on their love.
Perhaps that was true for Juliet, but it sure seemed to matter to her own family, the Capulets. It also seemed to matter to the principal players in the Hatfield and McCoy feud that has become historic in United States lore.