By Steve Roark
Volunteer Cumberland Gap National Park
Though their numbers vary from place to place, you likely have seen and for sure heard the periodical cicada, which has emerged this year in vast numbers and is creating a loud drone during the warm part of the day.
Setting here thinking about the tumultuous 1990’s and what occurred January 16th 1991 under the presidency of George H. W. Bush. On this date January 16th 1991 we entered a war against Iraq caused by Iraq invading Kuwait and committing major atrocities against the Kuwaiti people. Iraq at this time was under the dictatorship of Sadam Hussain. United States Army General Norman Schwarzkopf led the multi-national air, land and sea military invasion of Iraq to push Iraqi forces back into Iraq and stop them there. Next 14,000 Jews were airlifted from Ethiopia by Israel. Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested, tried and convicted for murdering young males and he was also suspected of cannibalism. Apartheid was cancelled in South Africa. Next the Soviet Union collapsed December 25th 1991 ending the cold war that started in 1947 between Russia and the United States.
I checked my Facebook account last Friday afternoon. There were several posts concerning awards that were given to staff at the school system’s end of the year celebration.
Teachers who completed 30 years of service to the district were recognized with the presentation of a “golden apple.” They have been “busy bodies,” having devoted their careers to educating students in the Union County Public Schools.
Walk 4 Water Union County’s third annual fundraiser is coming to the UC Farmers Market at Heritage Park on Saturday, June 7.
“We invite all Union County residents to come together to celebrate the blessed life we have here and to help spread the blessings to others suffering from extreme poverty and lack of access to clean, safe water in Uganda,” said Desiree Hensley, Walk 4 Water UC chair.
Join park rangers for an overnight experience in the back country. This is a beginner-friendly workshop at Norris Dam State Park for women where we will learn best practices for overnight camping and some survival tactics. The hike to the campsite is 3.5 miles. It is a moderate trail but very beginner friendly. This workshop is open to women and girls 15 and older.
We will meet at 2 p.m. June 21 to check off the gear list and pack up everyone’s bags, then hit the trail.
Paul Ollis addressed the Union County Business & Professional Association regarding the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council at the May meeting. The council was formed as a nonprofit by the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce to facilitate and coordinate information about services and resources for veterans in the East Tennessee region. The council meets on the first Thursday of each month at 8:30 at the Knoxville Chamber on Market Square. The council offers information from over 50 area organizations that help military families and veterans.
The City of Plainview awarded Braden Cantrell a scholarship at the regular Board of Aldermen meeting in May. Braden graduates with a 4.0 GPA and plans to enter East Tennessee State University to study engineering. He has performed over 300 hours of community service, mostly in construction of sheds, festival stages, cabinets and a platform desk used by the Union County Board of Education and Director Greg Clay. The Plainview Scholarship is awarded annually to the graduating senior with the highest GPA who is a resident of Plainview.
Brad Woods, Luttrell Volunteer Fire Department Chief, accepted a $10,000 donation from the City of Plainview. Each year Plainview includes LVFD in the budget. In addition, Plainview maintains a fire station on Tazewell Pike.
The fire department has experienced several brushfires this year. Chief Woods cautions that although burn permits are not required from May 15 to October 15, obtaining a permit puts the fire department on alert and may cause a faster response in case of an emergency. Fires need supervision. LVFD has responded to 51 calls in 2025.
At the senior awards celebration on May 14, the Union County Business and Professional Association awarded six scholarships to outstanding Union County High School seniors.
Amelia (Mia) Effler received the Jeffreys Memorial Academic Scholarship. Mia will obtain her real estate license while she pursues a degree in business from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
When living in Sharps Chapel many years ago, my husband and I explored an area called Palmer’s Junction. It was a lovely little picnic area right on the water. We noticed that some people were “probably” homeless, living there in tents and maybe cars. I am not one to walk up to strangers and ask them if they are homeless, which is why I say “probably.” Upon reflection, and after talking to other Chapel residents at the time, we discovered that many were. That was my introduction to homelessness in Union County.