Nashville, Tenn. – Meradeth Whitley has been named the 2019 June Dairy Month Chairman for Union County.

Whitley will be honored May 30 at the Tennessee June Dairy Month Kickoff Event at Battle Mountain Farm in College Grove. The event includes recognition from Celeste Blackburn, president of the American Dairy Association of Tennessee.

The official kickoff celebration recognizes Tennessee 4-H members’ efforts to promote June Dairy Month in Tennessee. The event is co-sponsored by The Dairy Alliance, 4-H and the Tennessee Farm Bureau.

On Saturday morning, May 25, 2019, a large crowd gathered at the entrance of Wilson Park in Maynardville, for the dedication and ribbon cutting of the Veterans Bridge Memorial that houses the new Wilson Park sign. The structure is made of approximately 4,000 pounds of steel pieces from the old Highway 33 Veterans Memorial Bridge that crossed Clinch River (Norris Lake) between Maynardville and Tazewell.

[Writer's Note: The Union County School Board meets the second Thursday of each month at UCHS. The Board uses a workshop prior to the meeting to discuss agenda items. After the workshop, the Board approves, rejects, or takes no action on individual items during the meeting.]

The Board discussed these agenda items during the workshop.

John Fugate requested approval for fifteen UCHS students to attend FFA Chapter Development Training from July 26-28 at Big Ridge State Park.

By Marilyn Toppins

Monday, June 10 at 7:00 pm, the Commission will meet in special session to consider the FY20 Union County Budget. Mayor Bailey announced, “The budget is balanced.” According to Finance Director Ann Dyer, 1.06 pennies were moved from debt service and 2.97 pennies were taken from capital projects to balance the budget. The tax rate remains the same as last year.

Union County Solid Waste collected 421 pounds of household hazardous waste during its event on Saturday, May 18.

On Saturday, May 4, 2019, Dale and Mary Kitts, along with their family, officially opened the Sunset Cove Adventure Park and Campground. The ribbon cutting was scheduled for 1:00 pm with lunch being served soon after. Thankfully, the rain held off long enough for Dale and Mary’s son, Daniel Kitts, to start the ceremony with prayer and for Dale to cut the red ribbon with the giant scissors.

Years ago, we received a five-pound block of American cheese when we picked up what we called “welfare food.” It was so good. There is nothing to compare with it nowadays. I miss that cheese.

I have a recipe for those of you who receive food commodities. Sometimes you really have to reach to find a good tasting recipe for those items that you are not familiar with. We grow up eating certain dishes. Our mothers made them as did our grandmas. It can be hard to learn to like something new, but give it a try.

Back pain is a fact of life for many people. Research shows that up to 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point during their lives. It is also the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.

Agriculture partners joined forces in a pleasurable and educational event for Paulette Elementary School students on May 15. This was the 25th Annual Farm Day hosted in Union County. The event is hosted at one of the county’s five elementary schools each year, in rotation, so that every student in the county gets at least one attendance.

Alyssa Long and Jaden Ayers, UCHS one seed doubles team, advanced to the Regionals for the second year in a row. Both girls are Juniors at Union County High School and have played tennis together since middle school.

Alyssa Long is seeded number one in singles and does an excellent job. Jaden Ayers is seeded number two in singles and also does an excellent job. But when these two team up in doubles, people pay attention. Last year as sophomores the girls won the doubles district championship. This year they came in second against a good Halls team (1-6, 7-5, 3-6).

Union County High School Class of 2019 students have now made their last entrance as seniors and students at UCHS. On May 14, at the Senior Brunch and Awards Ceremony, students were congratulated and honored with an estimate of a half million dollars in scholarship funds being presented.