A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to Nineveh

The book of Jonah is the sixth shortest book found in the Old Testament, which makes it a quick read. The literary style of Jonah’s story is a satire. Literary satire aims to make fun of a person, idea, or institution. An author’s motive for using satire is typically deeper than mere entertainment. The book of Jonah is different from all the other Old Testament prophetic books bearing a prophet’s name, because it is not by Jonah but about Jonah. The Jonah narrative uses irony to expose some deep character flaws in this reluctant prophet.

Wild Blue Yonder headlines the Union County Heritage Festival on the Emily Link Gazebo Main Stage on October 4 at Wilson Park behind the high school. Acoustic mountain gospel, old-time, and bluegrass songs in Appalachian style are heart and soul of Wild Blue Yonder. With a home base practically in spittin’ distance of Union County, WBY honors the rich musical traditions that have echoed from our ridges for centuries. The trio includes classical cellist/fiddler/vocalist Kristiana McCombs Arnwine, 2022 winner of the Mountain Soul vocal competition in Sevier County.

It began with a barely noticeable hairline crack in the dam that was easy to overlook. The man who owned the land saw it, but convinced himself it wasn’t urgent. Repairs would be expensive, and besides, the dam had held for years. So, he decided to ignore it. Year after year, the pressure slowly built behind the wall until one night, long after the man had passed, the dam gave way. His son, who was now living on the land, woke to a roar of water sweeping through the valley, destroying crops, homes, and everything in its path.

By Alice Hamilton, HCA board secretary

A 2nd “Gathering of the Generations” sponsored by the Hamilton Cemetery Association is set for Sept., 13, 11:00 a.m., at the Union County Museum and Genealogical Library, 3824 Maynardville Hwy., Maynardville, Tn. The first Gathering was last held in Sept. ’23. Ancestry displays and updates about the Hamilton Cemetery will be shared.

Occasionally you pay a price for being in the woods, especially if you go off trail as I often do. I recently got hammered with chigger bites, especially around my ankles and feet. They are almost microscopic yet pack a wallop of misery.

Chiggers are a species of mite in the larval stage. They are too small to see with the naked eye, and under a microscope look sort of like tiny ticks. The adults, which can be seen, feed only on plants and are not a problem for us, except for their laying eggs that make more baby chiggers.

There are many reasons for needing a shower trailer in Maynardville to help those who are living rough, do not have running water or need a hand up. The TN Valley Coalition for the Homeless (TVCH) has been taking this trailer to 12 rural counties, and this month has started a relationship with Union County. Their trained staff does an intake for each client – a chat to see what needs they can meet. Director of Outreach, Macrea Love, said that the intake “helps us better cater to each person’s individual needs.

When I was a little girl, I so wanted one of my own. Did you automatically think of a dinosaur or spaceship? While that was and still is very true, what I really wanted an American flag.

Local educator Sherrie Collins has been named State President of the Tennessee State Organization of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Collins, a 34-year teacher with the Union County School System and current librarian at UCHS, is a member of Beta Pi chapter where she has held many positions, including three times as chapter president. She has been a member of DKG, a professional organization for women educators, for 26 years. At the state level, she has served as First-Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary, along with chairing various committees.

Country Connections
By James Perry

Well, my old friend came back to see me today. He’s about two- and three-quarter inch long and might weigh an ounce and he’s green. Haven’t seen him since back in the spring. He was heading north to his summer grounds to raise another family of little hummingbirds. He stopped by to get some nectar from our flowers and now he is heading back south to over winter in Latin America.

So glad to see my little green friend on his spring and early autumn trips.

Legislation has been enacted by the Tennessee legislature designating the month of June as “Celebration of Life Month,” July as “Celebration of Liberty Month” and August as “Pursuit of Happiness Month.”
For lots of school children, I’m not sure August will be made happy by returning to school in pursuit of education. There is a certain irony there, for there are some parents who will undoubtedly look with joy at the month of August as their children return to school.