I am not the best when it comes to making purchases.

Take, for example, the first car I bought. It was an Oldsmobile, and I bought it because it was the right color and clean as a pin. Unfortunately, the engine had problems. As an example, on a drive to the Smoky Mountains to see the fall colors the engine kept overheating. I had to turn on the air conditioner to make the fan come on to keep the engine from getting too hot. Unfortunately, that meant those of us in the car intermittently froze and roasted alternately. Even when I had the engine replaced, that engine locked up on me. I had “negative equity” (meaning that I owed more on the car than it was worth in its undriveable condition).

So what did I do?

Join us for a Berry Sweet Experience! Want to learn how to make delicious strawberry jam and freeze fresh strawberries like a pro? Join FCS Agent Jaclyn Blair from UT Extension-Grainger County and Union County’s FCS Agent Abigail Thomas for a hands-on food preservation class! Learn to make delicious strawberry jam and properly freeze strawberries—all while taking home some of your finished product!

A Honor Roll
Ava Bailey, Mercedes Daniels, Marily Gonzalez Mercado, Olivia Harrell, Kinsley Hopson, Aubrey Lethgo, Kaylynn Luckett, Malachi Phelps, Noah Williams, Lakelynn Bussell, Heidi Park, Carter Ryan, Amelia Smith, Marshall Todd, Jameson Wells, Emilee Sword, Merakel Paul, Logan Wells, Gracie Webb, Emmarie Conley, Kinsley Coffey, Frankie Lundy, Levi Graves, Zayden Clark, Katie Arneburg, Adaley Burkhart, Greyson Crowder, Elizabeth Hodge, Tayo Mcloud, Charlie Lundy, Harley Ferguson, Shane Ward, Camila Soto, Rayen Dyer, Wannis Gilliland, Peyton Ramsey, Amelia Harrell, Maci Williams, Emma Hoskins, Ava Zielinski, Blakeley Bailey, Makenna Brogan, Zayla Stair, Chloe Hurst, Corbin Wells, Jeremiah Phelps, Cooper Bowman, Breanna Harper, Keaton Mathis, Bralynn Snyder

The Horace Maynard Middle School girls' softball team has made incredible progress and shown consistent growth to kick off the season.

Coach Lindsay Wagganer shared, “We have played some tough teams so far, including Rutledge, Cumberland Gap and Clinton, and our hard work has paid off with a 4-1 record. Each practice is an opportunity to improve, and the dedication from our players is evident in their performance on the field.”

The softball team is currently in first place in the district.

Every now and then I like to celebrate our heritage and list words that I’ve heard spoken in the mountain dialect. There is a difference between those raised in the country and those raised in the city, with the country folk using more dialect than those from the city. My parents and kin were of the country variety, so I had a rich collection of words to enjoy. In past articles I’ve covered A through C words. This one does the Ds. See how many you have heard used.

The Union County 4-H held its annual County Baking Contest, showcasing the incredible culinary talents of local youth. The competition, held on at the Union County Extension Open House, featured a variety of delicious baked goods, with each grade level assigned a specific category. Participants demonstrated creativity, skill and passion for baking, making it a delightful and delicious event for all involved.

The Union County 4-H program recently hosted its annual Photography Contest, providing a platform for young photographers across the county to exhibit their talents. Participants captured compelling images across various categories, demonstrating both technical skill and artistic creativity. After thorough evaluation, the judges have announced the winners.

The photography contest was displayed at the Extension Office Open House on March 27, where attendees had the opportunity to view the impressive entries and support the young photographers.

The Union County Family and Community Education (FCE) Club invites members and guests to join them for their April meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, April 29th, at 9:00 AM at the Kingston Community Center. This special meeting will provide a great opportunity for fellowship, learning, and exploring a new location together.

The Union County FCE (Family Community Education) Club has gone through various names. It started in 1917 as the Home Demonstration Club, then to Homemakers Clubs. The University of Tennessee Extension Office that oversees the club decided to change the name to Family Community Education Club back in the 1990s. At one time there were 128 members and 28 clubs throughout Union County. There were clubs in almost every community. The last club to exist is one of the first, and that’s the Big Ridge club.

About fifty years ago we were out of dogs. Our precious Kater was gone, as were several others after her. She was a full sized short­ haired dachshund. A friend at work had a small long-haired dachshund with a new litter of puppies. Kater had short black hair. These puppies had long wavy red hair. The mother was beautiful but mean. My friend distracted her long enough for me to grab the runt of the litter. It has been said they make the best pets but that's not always true. Certainly not in this case.