Union County 4-H Grill Masters have had a sizzling season, showcasing their grilling skills, teamwork and dedication at the Third Annual Union County 4-H Grill Masters Competition and the 2026 Regional 4-H Grill Masters Challenge.

The county competition gave local 4-H members an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in preparing chicken, beef, pork and lamb. After plenty of practice and hard work, participants competed for top honors in each meat category.

The next regular meeting of the Union County Board of Education is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, at Union County High School. The workshop will begin at 6 p.m. with the meeting to follow.

“Oh Lord!” That’s what I think when I’m out in public and I hear somebody call me by my full first name. You surprised? Brooke is a shortened version of my name, which I don’t like at all. I’ve tried to make peace with it for most of my life to no avail. I think that is one of the reasons names and even nicknames fascinate me. Seriously, I love hearing the stories of how people have not only their names, but also their nicknames.

Australian research has shown for the first time that a program of swimming can be clinically effective in reducing disability from chronic low back pain. Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the clinical trial found an eight-week individualized program of swimming and education, guided by a physiotherapist, improved function and pain significantly more than education alone in people with back pain.

Food pantries in Union County this week:

***TUESDAY October 20th
Fresh Wagon distribution starts between 12 and 1pm (whenever truck arrives and they get it sorted)
Big Ridge Elementary school
3420 Hickory Valley Rd.
Line up at the lower parking area, away from the front doors.

***TUESDAY October 20th
Beneath the Cross Mission Center
Free clothes closet
2pm - 5pm
3244 Hwy 61 E. Luttrell
2nd & 4th Tuesday, unless posted otherwise.

Wilson Park 12:00 – 4:00 November 7, 2026

The American Legion Post 212 invites you to celebrate the more than 1,200 Union County Veterans and all Veterans on Saturday, November 7, from noon to 4:00.

This is a FREE event for all Veterans, their families, friends, neighbors, and anyone else who appreciates the work and sacrifices these men and women have made for us and our country. We honor and thank our Veterans!

November 7, 2026 Wilson Park Maynardville

Calling all motorcycle riders! Join the American Legion Post 212 for this annual ride to the Veterans Overlook at Clinch Mountain, a scenic roadside memorial and viewpoint in Grainger County.

I have always been curious about the origin of unusual plant names, and with a nod towards Halloween, I thought I would embark on local plants with ominous or spooky names. So here goes:

Bloodroot: This early spring flowering plant has a large daisy-like flower and odd shaped scalloped leaves. As the name implies the roots when broken emits a bloody looking fluid, which Native Americans used for body paint and as an insect repellent

While I was growing up, I often heard the expression: “That went crossways.” Have you ever heard it? In my family, it meant that not only did something not work the way it should have, but also there was no going forward or backwards. Tim and I recently experienced this.