Do you have a child, family member, or friend who has difficulty seeing but cannot afford to go to an eye doctor? No problem! The Smoky Mountain Lions Charities Vision Van is coming to Union County High School in Maynardville on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants from Union, Claiborne, and Grainger counties will receive a free eye exam and free glasses. All you need is an appointment. Vision Screening for children six and under will also be available by appointment.

A car accident or other serious trauma, like a fall, are likely causes of back pain. But the pain can develop from a variety of sources that are not quite so obvious. Here are a few of the conditions that can play a role in creating back pain:

Assistant District Attorneys General Apryl Bradshaw and Lindsey Cadle attended training on April 3 and 4th, 2025 in Sevierville. The training was conducted by the Zero Abuse Project which partnered with the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Tennessee, Safe Harbor of the Smokies, and the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. Seasoned prosecutors lead the two-day training with essential material focused on trauma-informed investigations and prosecutions when dealing with child abuse.

Horace Maynard Middle School is excited to welcome future students and their families to the upcoming 6th Grade Night, scheduled for Monday, April 29th from 5:30 to 6:00 PM. This special event is designed to give rising 6th graders a preview of life at HMMS and help ease the transition into middle school.

Spring is a great time of year, when the dull browns of winter give way to fresh grass, soft greens of newly opened leaves, and lots of flower blooms. Actively seeking out wildflowers in their varying habitats is an enjoyable way to spend warming spring days, roaming the woods and fields for some fresh air, exercise, and the challenge of the hunt. An additional challenge if you’re so inclined, is identifying them.

Is there a cartoon character you associate me with? I know that’s a strange question, but that’s how my brain works. There is one that I have in mind for me. Here’s a little hint: it’s not a human one.
Bear with me so I can explain. As you all probably know by now, I pride myself on being different. I like to think of it as part of my charm. That being said, it’s not always been easy to be that way. Over the years, I have often said: “You don’t want to be in my head. If you were, you would go running and screaming.” My mind constantly goes from creating/imagining to worrying about problems. To be honest, some of these problems I created myself or I made a small issue seem to be worse than it actually was. I literally made mountains out of mole hills. I would look at others and (don’t repeat this) be a little envious that they seemed to have it all together. You know the ones that don’t seem to have a care in the world. I don’t know how many times I asked the Lord why I couldn’t be like that. He definitely answered me.

My father completed eight grades back in the day when that was all that was offered or needed. He was a farm boy. Dad could have thrived on much less. I wonder what the requirements were for a soldier when he enlisted in the Marines in 1917? Much different than today, I am sure.

Dad figured what was good enough for him was good enough for his children. My two brothers, Rodney and Russell ended their schooling at the eighth grade. Anyway, that was all that was offered in Pulaski Township in Jackson County in the 1940's. Rodney enlisted in the Navy and Russell did, too, a short time later. It was war time again.

I was the only one in our family that liked school. My grades were always at the top of my class. I wanted desperately to go to college, but that was not to be. Dad said unkind things about high school girls. I was encouraged to drop out of school and get a job. Women were only good for keeping house and having babies, he said. I fought to stay in school.

The Union County Extension Office, in partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division, is offering a free Mushroom Inoculation Workshop on Wednesday, April 30th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Chuck Swan State Forest.

Participants will meet at the Chuck Swan State Forest Work Center located at 3500 Sharps Chapel Rd, Sharps Chapel, TN 37866.

When you're out of potatoes, rice is the next best to go to. There are so many ways to flavor a bowl of rice. Here is another one.
In skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and brown the onions, celery, chopped chicken livers, oregano and salt. Add the rice and brown a few minutes more. Add the hot chicken broth. Transfer to baking buttered casserole. Cover and bake at 350 F. for about 40 minutes. Stir at least twice during cooking.

A new study shows that reducing daily sitting prevented back pain from worsening over six months. The result strengthens the current understanding of the link between activity and back pain as well as the mechanisms related to back pain.