Tennessee Valley Fair canceled
“It is with great sadness that we announce the Tennessee Valley Fair Executive Committee has decided that the 2020 fair, scheduled to be held September 11-20, will not be taking place.

The Union County Commission approved the FY 21 Budget and set a tax rate of 2.13999 with no tax increase at its regular meeting on June 22. However, the raise for commissioners will not be included. Mayor Jason Bailey informed the commission that Governor Bill Lee prohibited any commissioner raises for FY21 in an executive order in March due to the high rate of unemployment and the impact of the coronavirus.

At the June 11 meeting, the Union County Board of Education began preparations to open schools for the 2020-21 school year. Director Jimmy Carter informed board members that he and his staff have been working with the state-supervised Union County Health Department to ensure that the state guidelines would be followed in relation to safe measures under the COVID-19 guidelines.

The City of Plainview made several donations at its June 2020 Board of Aldermen meeting. Mayor Gary Chandler awarded the Plainview Scholarship in the amount of $500 for outstanding academic achievement to Skylar Bates for having the highest grade point average as a graduating senior who resides in Plainview.

With the significant part of the global population forced to work from home, the occurrence of lower back pain may increase.

I met with the Reverend Gary Beeler in early May when I had the pleasure of learning about his inspiring spiritual journey and career. Although he retired as pastor of Fairview Baptist Church some 15 years ago, his work for the Lord did not end there.
But let’s go back to the beginning.
Rev. Beeler grew up the son of a proprietor of a general store and service station, his family business dating back to 1905 in the area where Union County Boat Dock is today.

While many found quarantine boring, endless, and unprofitable, some people made excellent use of their extra time.
Among these are the Union County 4-H members. In spite of having some events postponed or canceled, many 4-H students stepped up to the plate with enthusiasm. No small thanks to the leadership skills and abilities possessed, the students adapted very well to the online platforms they switched to during quarantine and COVID-19 regulations.

The Union County Business & Professional Association hosted the 26th Annual UCBPA Charities Scholarship Benefit Classic at Three Ridges Golf Course in Knoxville on January 27.

I recently watched an old silent movie on Turner Classic Movies. It brought back memories. It reminded me of the photographs of my dad and mother when they were dating back in the 1920s. My, how styles have changed.

In 1933, the northeast corner of Union County, Tennessee, saw a new business open in Luttrell. A short fifteen years later, after surviving the Great Depression, and World War II with most of the young men serving in the armed forces, the property that consisted of a general merchandise store and a small brick home was sold to Bethel Reed Stowers and he moved his family there.