The first books I read as a child were the Dick and Jane readers in school. They had pictures with the prose. Later I discovered the Sunday comic strips in the newspaper. They were a step above Dick and Jane and their dog Spot. I fell in love with the Sunday comics. They were in color. The dailies were in black and white. I was much older when I discovered comic books. Married, with children, I secretly read their comic books while my kids were at school.

“It’s a gift.”
That’s the response I give now, but when I was younger, I didn’t see it that way. At all.
In case you don’t know, I’m a left-handed writer. I use that term instead of just saying left-handed because the only thing I do left-handed is write. I do everything else right-handed. No, I am not ambidextrous, which is the ability to use both hands equally well. (Ed. note: Using different hands for different tasks is known as cross-dominance or mixed-handedness.) I don’t fit the qualification because I can’t write with both hands with the same level of skill.

I began serving the Union County Public Schools as the Supervisor of Federal Programs in school year 2005-2006. For the first 13 years in this position I was blessed to have Norma Jones as my Administrative Assistant. Norma was absolutely wonderful to work with. There are not enough words to describe what a help, inspiration and support she was to me.

E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. middle and high school students, and USB-shaped e-cigarettes are increasing in popularity. As kids prepare to return to school this year, parents and other youth influencers (e.g. teachers, coaches, faith leaders, health care providers) can learn about the risks of e-cigarettes among young people by reading the CDC feature article: Back to School Without E-cigarettes.

What are e-cigarettes?

Deep rooted in the Black Fox community in Union County, Tennessee, sisters Lorene and Goldie Davis share a rich love for the county and an unwavering love of family instilled in them by their parents.

As the largest plants around, trees dominate our view when taking a woodland walk, and we enjoy the beauty of their trunk and branches as well as the shade they provide on a warm day. There’s another cool aspect about trees that’s overlooked: the beauty of their design.

It is football time in Union County and along with the sport comes homecoming season. For the past two years, Horace Maynard FFA Chapter candidates have worked hard and earned the Union County Homecoming Crown, with Savannah Jones earning over $17,000 last year. This year the FFA candidate is Union County High School Senior, Kennedy Hill.

I have the best idea for a new accessory: fashionable bibs for adults. I’m not joking. Imagine going to a highfalutin restaurant and being asked, “Would you also like a bib to go with your meal? Our latest ones are silk with sequins.” The sequins wouldn’t matter since you would still use the napkin to wipe your mouth.

Or maybe your bibs could be for everyday wear. You could personalize them with your favorite pictures or sayings on the front like a T-shirt or hat. Here’s a thought: they could be sold in matching sets like baby outfits.

For years, spine surgeons have debated the best methods for treating scoliosis in adults. Spinal curvature often results in more back pain, leg pain and other symptoms for adults than teens because adults also can have degeneration in the discs between vertebrae, as well as spinal stenosis—a narrowing of the opening for the spinal nerves. Still, there hasn’t been good evidence regarding whether it’s better for adults with scoliosis to have corrective surgery or whether nonoperative treatment, such as physical therapy or nerve injections, is adequate.

When I was still a child, I thought my dad was bigger than life! He could do anything in my eyes. I really didn’t consider that he might have some limitations.

When I was around ten years old, my sister, who was about seven years of age, climbed a very tall pine tree. This pine tree stood in our backyard to the right side of our then two-story house. The tree must have been around 20 feet tall. I’m guessing my sister must have climbed twelve to thirteen feet up that pine tree because she climbed higher than the top of our house.