t was March, 1939. John Clark Mosley set out to school that first day of first grade for the second time in two years with his brother (and best friend) Bobby Henry. “Hen”, as everybody in Tatum Holler called him, was for the most part a quiet, reflective child. He was a veteran of White Deer School, having spent two years already in the first grade, once when he was five and again when he turned six.

I don’t like waiting. At all!

A few years ago, we were driving south on I-75 to visit relatives in Florida. Being the history buff that I am, I asked Tim if we could take a little detour through Savannah. I was so excited when he agreed.

On the way in, we drove by the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. It’s a suspension bridge that’s absolutely breath taking. That alone was worth taking the detour.

One of my all-time favorite songs is “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra. I was only twelve years old when that song hit the airwaves in 1977. It struck a chord with me (no pun intended) because it seemed so hopeful and so happy. It also ended with a strange robot-like voice at the end, which was extra intriguing for a nerdy pre-teen like me. (More on that later.)

As if the blizzard of ’93 wasn’t enough, two months later, east Tennessee experienced the flood of ’93. The blizzard set the stage. When the snow melted it went a long way to filling creeks and other bodies of water. Then the rains began and kept coming.

It wasn’t just discouraging to have clouds and rain for days on end, but then after a particularly heavy night’s rainfall, it became impossible to get around town. Just as it had during the blizzard, school was cancelled.

Here we go again with another leftover ham casserole. Only this time I am pairing it with rice. Rice combines well with a lot of things, either savory or sweet. I think of Spanish Rice and Rice Pudding. This recipe is a bit different than most rice recipes. The uncooked rice is sauteed in butter until golden, rather than cooked before it is combined with the other ingredients. Don't worry, the rice won't get gummy. If you have never cooked rice this way before, you will be surprised how nicely it turns out.

Help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19

Attention Seniors! Need assistance with Shopping? SCHAS OUT SHOPPING is here to help! In response to government instructions for older adults to remain safely in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, Seniors Citizens Home Assistance Service has developed SCHAS OUT SHOPPING (S.O.S.) SCHAS will do your shopping and deliver your groceries directly to you. By partnering with other non-profit agencies, and by using screened employees and volunteers, Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service (SCHAS) is pleased to be able to offer this service at no cost to qualifying seniors.

As you know, the Governor has recommended that all schools remain closed through this academic school year. Union County Public Schools will be following the Governor’s recommendation.

The Union County Public School leadership team met on Thursday, April 16, 2020 to plan for the remainder of the school year. While our teachers, parents and students have worked extremely hard over the past month, our plan was meant to be short term. We realize the challenges of our short-term plan and are revising the plan beginning immediately.

How to Wear Cloth Face Coverings Cloth face coverings should— • fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face • be secured with ties or ear loops • include multiple layers of fabric • allow for breathing without restriction • be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape CDC on Homemade Cloth Face Coverings CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.