Horace Maynard Middle School is welcoming back a familiar face with deep roots in Union County basketball.

Mike Johnson has been named to the HMMS boys basketball coaching staff, bringing with him more than two decades of experience and a long history of success at the high school level. A lifelong Union County resident and Horace Maynard graduate, Johnson returns to the court with a reputation for leadership, player development, and program building.

The Horace Maynard Middle School baseball program has become synonymous with consistency, discipline, and winning and this season only added to that legacy. Under the leadership of Coach Orrick, Coach Fuller and Coach Cooke, the team captured its third consecutive Appalachian Conference Championship.

Everyone who has walked off the beaten path has had an unfortunate run in with sawbriar (Smilax glauca). It's the green woody vine that wraps around your leg and proceeds to slice into your skin with sharp thorns.

There are several species of sawbriar, also called catbriar or greenbriar, growing in our area, and all have the same general characteristics: a green woody vine that is very thorny and shiny leaves with parallel veins. The vines climb up onto other vegetation by means of tendrils, and some can grow up into high trees. Most stay down at that critical ankle to waist high level and lay in wait for unsuspecting humans.

Have you ever had a realization after the fact? For example, a few days after I wrote:
“Small White Tornado,” I remembered another experience I had that involved meteorologist John Gerard .

Low back pain in school-aged children is a common occurrence. The prevalence of low back pain increases once children reach school age — one percent at age seven years, six percent at age 10 years, and 18 percent at ages 14-16 years. yet only seven percent of adolescents with lower back pain will seek medical care.

Because of Memorial Day, the May Union County Commission Meeting will be on Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. and workshop with the UC Farmers Market board at 6 p.m. The FY 27 Budget Workshop will be Tuesday, May 19, at 5 p.m. with a financial committee meeting to follow at 6.

Union County residents are invited to make plans now to attend the upcoming Party in the Park: Summer Fest, happening next week at Wilson Park. Hosted by the Union County Community Advisory Board (CAB), this free, family-friendly event will take place on Friday, May 8, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

The event is designed to bring the community together for an evening of fun, connection, and access to valuable local resources. A variety of community organizations will be on site sharing information about programs and services available to Union County families.

Homebound teacher’s pay was doubled from $15 per hour to $30 per hour at the regular meeting of the Union County Board of Education last month. The pay per hour is the same as the teachers who tutor after school. The increase was necessary to provide services of three hours per week to students who have a medical reason for missing school for a short amount of time. According to UC Schools Director Greg Clay, the pay had not increased in several (at least 15) years.

Today, April 30, 2026, is the last day to vote Big Ridge your favorite park. Make a donation at this link:https://tennesseestateparksconservancy-bloom.kindful.com/my-tn-state-pa…. Any amount from $1.00 to $1000 will help Big ridge restore historical buildings and improve trails. Big Ridge needs $1,103.00 to reach its goal and be the best in East Tennessee.

UNION COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
WORKSHOP
Union County High School
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2026
6:00 p.m.