Christmas Wreath Workshop Offered at Chuck Swan State Forest

The Union County Extension Office invites the community to kick off the holiday season with a festive, hands-on Christmas Wreath Making Workshop at Chuck Swan State Forest in Sharps Chapel.

The workshop will take place on Thursday, November 21 at 10 a.m. at 3500 Sharps Chapel Road, Sharps Chapel, TN 37866. The cost to attend is $20, and space is limited.

Calling all Veterans!

The 2nd Annual Veterans Family Picnic will be at Wilson Park on Saturday, November 15, from 11:00 – 2:00! This is a FREE event for all Veterans, their families, friends, and everyone else who appreciates the work and sacrifices these men and women have made for us and our country. We celebrate our Veterans!

Homelessness, Part 5

How do people become homeless? It can happen to anyone. Overall, there are fewer and fewer rental options available. And this provides money-making opportunities for landlords as they raised (sometimes doubled) their rents, forcing folks to move out because their home had become unaffordable. There are other stories of landlords selling, dying, or moving, which resulted in the homelessness of some of the people. Many folks lost their income when they were downsized or had an illness or disability that prevented them from working.

Not Good

I don’t mind surprises when they are fun or pleasant. But the frightening ones are a different story.

Taps

The bugle call known as Taps dates from the Civil War. In July 1862, while the Army of the Potomac camped near Harrison's Landing, Virginia, Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield summoned Pvt. Oliver Willcox Norton, his brigade bugler, to his tent. Butterfield, who disliked the bland "lights out" call then in use, whistled a different tune and asked the bugler to play it for him. After repeated trials, Norton played a 24-note call which suited the general.

Doctors of Chiropractic Provide Alternative to Opioids for Pain Management

Chiropractic services are an important first line of defense against pain and, in some cases, can lessen a patient’s reliance on addictive painkillers or prevent their use altogether. It makes sense to exhaust conservative forms of treatment such as chiropractic before moving on to riskier, potentially addictive pain medications.

Kathy Cox elected president of LMU Alumni

Katherine Oakes Cox became the President of the Lincoln Memorial University Alumni Association and its 40,000 graduates on October 11 during LMU Homecoming.
Kathy, as she is best known, grew up in Claiborne County, but chose Union County as her home. She never envisioned herself as the LMU Alumni Association president when she graduated from the Harrogate campus in 1978. But a phone call from her high school buddy and college roommate Nancy Neely Whitaker set her journey in motion. Nancy asked Kathy to accompany her to the LMU Homecoming. Of course, Kathy agreed, even though she had not returned to the campus in more than 20 years. Her friend Nancy had been diagnosed with cancer and it would be a chance to reminisce and share memories with her while enjoying the Railsplitter activities.

2025 Union County Heritage Festival winners

Booths: Rocky Top Theme - ICARE Union County, Best Heritage - A&B Bookkeeping and Tax Service,1st Best Booth - Uncle B's Barbecue, 2nd Best Booth - Nana's Attic, 3rd Best Booth - Little Valley Nursery, Best Demonstration - Tri County Veterans Honor Guard, Item of Distinction (Food) - Boiled Peanuts by KC Creations, Item of Distinction (craft) - Wine sign by Mtn.

UCRTA hosts TRTA workshop

Union County Retired Teachers hosted members of the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association for an annual workshop last month at First Baptist Fellowship Hall in Maynardville. After a welcome by President Elouise Jones, members learned about agendas, programs and projects that impact membership from a panel discussion represented by Marilyn Toppins from Union County, Libby Burney from Knox County, Pat Stonecipher from Anderson County and Bobby Jackson from Roane County.

UC Historical Society learns about TN First Families

Ann Blomquist, a retired math teacher in Jefferson County, addressed the Union County Historical Society meeting on October 19. Blomquist is the volunteer director of First Families of Tennessee. Her office is located at the East Tennessee Museum in Knoxville. She related that First Families of Tennessee began in 1993 in preparation for the 1996 Tennessee Bicentennial Celebration for the purpose of documenting pioneer ancestors and information on their families.