As I lined up for the Christmas Parade in Maynardville, winning a trophy was the farthest thing from my mind. My purpose for being there was simply to take part in the event and enjoy the day with my wife, Frances. However, my wife loves to decorate, so she put together a theme as though we were heading on a trip to visit friends with a huge bag of toys stuffed in the rumble seat and packages tied on the back with ribbons and bows. I’ll have to admit, when she was finished and we were traveling the parade route, shouts of Merry Christmas came throughout the entire parade.

Congratulations, to Union County on your newest grant from The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Thank you, Mayor Williams for allowing me to celebrate with you today. The Clean Tennessee Energy Grant will help your community reduce costs, increase savings, waste less energy and promote clean air. These grants continue to make Tennessee a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

“Actions speak louder than words.”

“You’ve got to put your money where your mouth is.”

Those were just some of the values instilled in Marilyn Toppins by her mother, and they’re words she lives by to this day.

Clean-cut, honest, hardworking, competent, accommodating–these are all adjectives used to describe Sheriff Swan Kitts. There was a sense of presence about him that said, “Sheriff.” But his moment of fame perhaps came with the death of country singer, Hank Williams. I’ve heard and read several accounts of this event, but I’ll only touch on the event involving Patrolman Kitts. Writer Wayne Bledsoe wrote a good piece entitled “Hank’s Final Journey,” which was published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on December 30, 2002.

Do you like Chocolate Chip Cookies? Am I the only one who doesn't? The problem with me is the chocolate. We don't get along. If you need to send a batch of cookies to school with your child, you can't go wrong with Chocolate Chip Cookies.

In an effort to improve services and guide the future development of programs and facilities, Union County is conducting a strategic parks and recreation master plan. A major component of this process is public input, which includes this community survey.

Your participation in this survey is crucial in determining the future direction and goals of our community’s parks and recreation. Even if you do not currently participate in any park programs or utilize the park system in any way, your survey answers will still be important. Thank you for your time and valuable input.

This year's Operation Christmas Child shoebox drive in Union County wasn't just an opportunity to support foreign missions. It was also a chance for local churches and community organizations to come together and work towards a common goal.

A project of Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child asks donors to pack shoeboxes with much-needed sundries like hygiene items, school supplies and toys. The shoeboxes are given to children around the world, often in the most dire situations imaginable. And with each shoebox is delivered another gift: the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

My dear Boys and Girls–Big Children too,
I want you to know that I am so glad that you have good schools to attend. I’m sure glad that you have buildings that have floors, openings in the walls that have windows, and blackboards that are not just “wooden boards” painted black. But I also want you to know that things have not always been this way. I hope you will get grandma and grandpa to tell you their school experiences. Maybe they will even tell you what their parents told them.

Fried apples are an old timey breakfast treat. Back in Depression days before WWll, fresh oranges and bananas, for instance, were out of reach for most farm families. You made do with what you had. We usually had apples.

Pie Contest Winners
Grand Prize $100 Elizabeth Tindell Carmel Pecan Pie
Fruit 1st $50 Abigail Foust Salted Caramel Pie, 2nd Kennedy Hill Apple Pie, 3rd Carrie Cook Apple Pie
Nut 1st $50 Abigail Foust Fudge Pecan Pie, 2nd Kathy Venturella Chocolate Pecan Pie,
3rd Emma McMillan Macadamia Nut Pie
Other 1st $50 Emma McMillan Chocolate Pie, 2nd Jonathan Tindell Chocolate Chess Pie,
3rd Jeremiah Tindell Butterfinger Pie

All entries received ribbons.

Rebecca Hughes of Union County Extension coordinated the event.