It’s a southern tradition that I usually experienced in church. On rare occasions it also happened to me in the funeral home. In those places, in front of God and everybody else, my mother felt the need to give me a spit bath. Yes, you read it right: a spit bath.
Let me tell you, I was such a little tomboy. While I am an only child, I have to two uncles who are not that much older than me. Growing up, they were more like brothers. My neighbors and cousins were mainly boys. I didn’t play with other girls on a regular basis until I started kindergarten.

I was working away one day at my computer when I heard a laugh just outside my door. Union County Mayor Jason Bailey was standing there. He asked, “Do you always talk to yourself like that?”

Years ago I added fruit to my cole slaw. Usually shredded apples. This is a better combination. Red peppers instead of green would be pretty, too, as would red grapes instead of the pineapple.

Each Spring many lawns, gardens and pasture fields grow a crop of wild onions, a plant considered by most to be a weed. However, to the American Indian the plant was considered an important food, using it both as a seasoning and a staple.

Local multi-published, multi-genre author Cyn Taylor is celebrating the launch of her twelfth book, Hearts on Fire.

"The book continues along the genre of romantic suspense, but with a bit less romance and a lot more suspense," says Taylor. "As always, my books are faith-based, clean reads."

By Mary Nicholas Johnson

WE CARE. DO THEY? Zero Union County Commissioners attended the March 8 Friends of Sharps Chapel meeting. All were publicly invited at the last Commissioner’s meeting in February. Their “no show” sent a message that was received loud and clear – “We Don’t Care What You Think”.

Theme: Field Implementation of Precision Livestock Farming

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will host the 2023 U.S. Precision Livestock Farming Conference. The theme is “Field Implementation of Precision Livestock Farming.”

Precision Livestock Farming involves the real-time monitoring of images, sounds and other biological, physiological and environmental parameters to assess and improve individual animal health and well-being within herd or flock production systems.

Up to $2,750,000 is available for Individual Artists and Arts & Culture Centered Nonprofit Organizations in 12 East Tennessee counties.
The Arts & Culture Alliance (ACA) is pleased to announce American Rescue Plan Recovery and Renewal Grants, a federal funding program made possible through the City of Knoxville, Knox County, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Dr. Justin Rhinehart currently serves as a professor and beef cattle specialist in the UT Department of Animal Science. A native of Loudon County, his family managed a diversified farming operation growing livestock, tobacco and nursery crops with family in Jefferson County.

In the medical and Dental profession of which I am a member the key word is PREVENTION!

Many times Government tries to correct a problem which it helped create by its INACTION!

I urge our local representatives to be PROACTIVE not REACTIVE to the problem of the "Chicken Farm" in Sharps Chapel. The runoff of untreated waste (6000-10000 pounds) per day from 36000-72000 hens will likely cause great damage to Norris Lake, including pollution causing fish to die, reduction of property values, thus reducing the tax revenue to Union County.