A new scientific review of 148 studies enrolling over 4.3 million adult chronic pain patients treated with prescription opioid painkillers has found that nearly one in ten patients experiences opioid dependence or opioid use disorder and nearly one in three shows symptoms of dependence and opioid use disorder. The researchers divided the 148 studies into four general categories, depending on how the studies defined problematic opioid use.

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to ask for help, but you really, really didn’t want to?

This recently happened to me. It was on the Tuesday after the last snow. That is my day to watch my little grandson, Maverick. The picture with this article is of him. Anyway, when I pulled into my daughter’s driveway, I immediately knew there was going to be a problem. The only place I saw that was clear from ice and snow was in front of her kennel. I knew I couldn’t park there because customers would be using that spot to drop off and pick up their dogs. So, I had no choice but to park in the grass still covered with snow.

When you think of Girl Scouts, delicious cookies often come to mind. However, for our girls, the focus extends beyond cookies. They are dedicated to reaching their full potential by trying new things, forming lasting friendships, helping others and the community, engaging in fun activities, and building a sisterhood within their troop. These principles were established by Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, who started the very first troop over 100 years ago in 1912. This gathering ignited and unlocked many potentials for young girls across America.

Several Union County students were recognized by the UC Board of Education for their outstanding performance in competitions covering academics and the arts at the Tennessee BETA Club Convention. These students may now compete at the National BETA Club Convention in Florida in June. During the workshop, Lily Rouse performed a dance that she choreographed, and Luke Goforth sang and played a ukelele during the meeting. Several displayed items they had entered in the competition including drawings, sculpture and photographs.

The Board of Education recognized students across Union County who achieved perfect scores on the Collaborative Assessments Solutions for Educators (CASE), This assessment is used by Union County educators to determine the rigor and strengh of instruction with regards to the state TCAP test. The assessment mirrors the TCAP and helps to project the TCAP results.

Over 30 citizens attended the Plainview Board of Alderman Meeting on last month to voice their opinion on Ordinance 165, which would amend the Zoning Ordinance of Plainview to allow up to four additional dwellings other than the primary dwelling without subdividing the property.

At the Union County Commission last month, the fire departments reported on the expenditures of the First Annual Fireman’s Fundraiser hosted by Tom Fitzharris of TK’s Gourmet Food Wagon in conjunction with a county donation of $15,000 and contributions from several businesses and individuals. Maynardville purchased high capacity batteries. Sharps Chapel purchased battery powered equipment, high capacity batteries and rescue equipment. Luttrell replaced all of the worn-out nozzles with variable intensity nozzles to enable high capacity water flow in multiple directions.

In 1996, as a high school graduate, I entered the workforce before pursuing higher education. My career started in accounts payable at Cooper Container Corporation (CCC). Since I had limited work experience, A.C. Cooper and the leadership team allowed me to develop the fundamental skills associated with clerical occupations and basic accounting processes.

I’m sitting in my bedroom looking out through the glass door at the gray afternoon with snow outside. Snow is not only beautiful but puts lots of nitrogen in the soil. This helps provide nourishment for spring flowers, grass and trees. Also, gardens for spring. While sitting here contemplating God’s work, my mind goes back to 1959 when on February 3rd at around 1:00 am at night a V33 Beechcraft Bonanza airplane lifted off the airport at Mason City, Iowa bound for Fargo, North Dakota. The plane a 1947 Beechcraft V33 Bonanza crashed only moments later killing all four aboard.

By Steve Roark
Volunteer, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Our winter has delt us with some single digit temperatures recently, so perhaps you don’t really want to hear any more about cold. But stay with me on this one and perhaps you won’t be so down on our own winter weather.