Passing a budget and setting a tax rate in June has now become best practice in Union County. For two consecutive years, Ann Dyer, County Finance Director, and County Mayor Mike Williams have diligently worked with County Commission led by Chairman Gary England and the Budget and Finance Committee to complete the budget process before the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1. Their combined efforts have solidified the budget process into a transparent, accountable, and responsible fiscal practice that has set Union County on a course toward improvement and maybe even prosperity.

Local author Cyn Taylor was recently vetted by the Authors Guild of Tennessee and welcomed as a new member of the group in May.

A Knoxville native, Taylor writes Southern Contemporary Romantic Suspense staged in the Smoky Mountains and surrounding area. Smoky Mountain Mist is Taylor's first series. Blue Mountain Sky, Red Morning Glory and Dawn's Gray Light are the three books completing that series.

Recently my daughter labeled her father and me as curmudgeonly. She said it lovingly but I was instantly offended, even after she explained her reasoning. She claimed we were set in our ways and did not deal well with change or having anything out of place in our home. Nor did we like being away from said home. I calmed down. Sort of.

Precious Jewel is a song written by the late Roy Acuff about his sweetheart to whom he was engaged to marry. Before they married something happened, and one night she died. I am hoping someone can provide more detailed information–what was her name–what caused her death. Isn’t it interesting that in our sorrow we can do great work. This song is known wherever Roy Acuff is known and remembered . Again, I hope to learn more about this story. The following is Precious Jewel as written by Roy Claxton Acuff:

Rainy weather has long been blamed for achy joints. Unjustly so, according to new research from Harvard Medical School. The analysis found no relationship between rainfall and joint or back pain.

The visual, sounds, physical contact, aromas, odors, and even flavors that on occasion we taste upon our tongue can roll back the pages of time without the opening of a book. Obviously, we take photographs, often organizing them into albums, to preserve and reinforce our memories. A familiar song, unexpected, all but forgotten and obscured by time, may carry us back to the days of our youth. An experiential learner myself, running my fingers across the texture of practically anything directly linked with the past makes history all the more tangible.

There was a day when spring cleaning was a real chore with a capital “C.” Let's start with the windows. After the house had been shut up all winter and the wood stove in the parlor and the cooking range in the kitchen spewing out smoke and soot all winter, the windows really needed attention.

Mincey’s Musings
Year One, Week Twenty-Three

Have you ever thought about the lives our ancestors lived? Once our forefathers boarded ship in the Old World, there was no opportunity the next day to decide, “I don’t think I want to make this trip after all.” I’ve never read of any lifeboats or rafts on the Mayflower.

Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), also called tupelo gum and sour gum, can be found in almost any woodland in our area. It grows on a wide range of conditions, from wet areas to dry ridge tops.

My Papaw E.O. was quite the character. He was rather fearless; in fact, there were times he was too fearless.

I experienced it firsthand back when I was in my early 20s. I was riding with my Mamaw and Papaw as we drove on I-40 through downtown Knoxville. We were in Papaw’s nice farm truck. It was the one without cow stuff on the tires and wheels. He drove it everywhere except to church or the funeral home.