The workshop occurs prior to the meeting to provide information on business items and discussion by board members. No votes are taken during the workshop, only the meeting.

Joseph E. Stephens

Fifty- seven years seems so short a life, but we must remember that God’s timing is perfect. In reflecting on Joe’s life since I've known him: Joe was kind, helpful and smart. He was interested in history and had a good memory.

For those raised to see Africa as "the mission field," it might come as a surprise that someone from Africa would seek a mission field in East Tennessee. But that's just what Erick Orandi is doing. Raised in the Western Kenya village of Myagetinge, Orandi is studying to become a Catholic priest, and he's serving part of a one-year internship program through Glenmary Home Missioners at St. Teresa of Kolkata Catholic Church in Maynardville.

The Recreation Hall at Big Ridge State Parked was packed on the 18th of October as concerned members of the community provided input to the Park’s Business and Management Plan. This plan is updated every five years and it provides the framework for future improvements to the park. Recognizing that place based economic investment is fundamental to the county's economic future, individuals attending Thursday evening’s meeting stressed that one of the most important investments in Union County to bring jobs and prosperity is Big Ridge State Park.

The UT Extension Agricultural Committee is set to meet on November 6th to welcome new members. UT Extension is an off-campus division of the UT Institute of Agriculture. Extension is a statewide educational organization, funded by federal, state, and local governments, bringing research based information to Tennesseans where they work and live. Information is available in a wide array of categories including Ag and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences, 4-H Youth Development, and Community Economic Development.

During the month of October, you can usually count on a fun time at the Bulls’ farm when it’s time to strip the cane and stir the molasses.

“Watch your head” and “duck” may not be the first phrases you think of in the molasses making process, but according to Earl Bull, it may be the most important.
“When that pole comes around you’d better be prepared,” said Earl. “It already got me a few times. Stops hurting after about the tenth time though,” he joked.

Last week, we promised to get right to the context of John 17:16, and so we will. Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure, plus much more. In John 14:28 and 16:7, Jesus puts it this way, “I go away.” By this, Jesus does not mean He is going from Bethany to Jerusalem and leaving them behind, but rather that He is about to allow Himself to be crucified and die. Now, Jesus has been preparing the disciples for His crucifixion for quite some time. Plus, the Apostle John details for us in John 1 that John the Baptist actually told whoever would listen that Jesus would give His life for sinners.

At your initial exam, you’ll go through your past medical history with the chiropractor, and he or she will determine areas of restricted joint motion, disc injury, muscle spasm, and ligament injury by performing a few simple tests.

Your chiropractor will also look at how you walk, as well as your overall posture. Those details will help him or her understand your body mechanics and how your spine moves.

I remember lots of things that happened when I was seven or eight years old. I do not remember celebrating Halloween during those years on the farm. We had no close neighbors. Halloween wasn't mentioned in school either.

All Saints Day on November 1st is celebrated in the Catholic church. Masses are offered to shorten their departed ones' time in Purgatory. October 31 is All Hallows Eve. We know it as Halloween. Ghosts and goblins supposedly roam the earth causing trouble. Do Trick or Treaters cause trouble? We did.

My husband, Tim, absolutely loves to fish. Me, not so much. I have a difficult time sitting still, I don’t like the quiet either, and I am coordination challenged.

One evening, Tim asked me to go fishing with him and a couple of his friends in Bull Run Creek where it flowed through Papaw’s field. I didn’t want to go, but Tim was insistent and told me I could use one of his fishing rods. He thought if I actually caught something that I would not only understand the thrill of fishing, but I may want to do it more. And that meant he could go fishing more. Boy, was he wrong.