White-tailed deer are widespread in our area and can be often seen along wooded edges or making a mad dash across the road. Even if you don’t see them, there are signs to look for when hiking in the woods that show their presence.

For no apparent reason at all yesterday and today, my mind wandered back to memories of my brother, J. C. Truthfully, I think of him often, most probably daily if truth be told.
Particularly in the days of my early childhood, J. C. (James Clyde) Mincey was in many respects very much like Archie Bunker. (Oh, younger generation, Google and learn!)
J. C. was probably rougher than Archie in the days of his own youth, but I wasn’t around for that.

I shoved my key into the lock in the front door and turned it. It wouldn’t open. I tried again. It still wouldn’t open. I wiggled and jiggled the key, but it didn’t work. The door refused to open. As I stood in front of it, I realized that for the first time in 45 years, I had nowhere else to go. That was not a pleasant experience. At all.

Let me back up a little here. This happened right after we had bought my dad’s place. Prior to that, Tim and I had bought my parents’ house and remodeled it. So, I had lived in that house for all of my life.

I am always looking for an easier yeast roll recipe. I found one. It only makes a dozen. Just enough, even if we are having company. We didn't have homemade rolls during the Great Depression. Mother yearned for a good homemade yeast bread. Her only cookbook was that old 1936 Detroit Times Cook Book put together by subscribers. Some of those recipes were downright awful. Either a mistake was made in transcribing them or they weren't any good in the first place. It's a shame what some people will call good. They say you can get used to almost anything.

This is not a pecan pie. It's a peanut pie. I suppose it could be a black walnut or an English walnut pie, too. It is put together like a classic pecan pie, but, of course, it tastes peanuty.

The essential services provided by chiropractors represent a primary approach for the prevention, diagnosis and conservative management of back pain and spinal disorders that can often enable patients to reduce or avoid the need for riskier treatments, such as prescription opioid pain medications and surgery.

In 2017, the American College of Physicians released an update to its low back pain treatment guideline that recommends first using non-drug treatments, such as spinal manipulation (a centerpiece of chiropractic care), for acute and chronic low back pain.

The leaves are turning, the temperature is cooling, the days are waning. It's fall y'all!
In Union County, fall ushers in the Union County Heritage Festival. This tradition has graced Maynardville for the last 15 years. But this year a coronavirus changed how we celebrate.
In 2020 the Festival Committee has transformed the Heritage Festival into Heritage Crafts for the season!

Ann Dyer, Director of Finance, notified the Union County Finance Committee at the regular quarterly meeting in September that she would be retiring July 1, 2021.
Referencing scripture and the numbers seven and ten, Dyer believes that she was brought to Union County as a divine appointment to be secretary to Mayor Mike Williams in 2011.
From there she was called to become the first Union County Finance Director in 2013. She continued by saying that the number seven means completion and that describes her job to establish the finance department.

Union County Children’s Charity, Inc. (UCCC), a 501c3 nonprofit organization, is on a mission to ensure that every child in Union County receives a present on Christmas morning. With the COVID-19 pandemic afoot, many noble efforts and events have been derailed, but the UCCC is committed to doing whatever is necessary to see that this program survives. Gina Buckner, the current president of the UCCC, says, “It may look different this year, but extensive plans are underway now to safely distribute toys to families in need again this winter.”

Dr. Jimmy Carter, Director of Schools, remarked that his staff was preparing a rubric (rules for evaluation) for teacher incentive pay.
He further explained that the plan would not be ready for the Union County Board of Education September meeting and would need to be placed on the October agenda.