Preserving a Union County Heart

Life savers are important people–be it a doctor, nurse or someone who pulled you out of harms way. Frank “Tommy” Sharp is one of us even though he left Union County for the Atlanta area many years ago. A few years ago Frank had some serious heart problems, and he credits his cardiologist with saving his life. Dr. Michael Lesitt first did a bypass when Frank had a heart attack and then a quadruple bypass to bring him back to good health. Dr. Lesitt, who Frank says is a man of many talents, plays the mountain dulcimer and has been president of the Georgia Dulcimer Society.

Local Student Graduates from Milligan College

MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (May 15, 2018) ― Leslie Ann Beeler, of Maynardville, TN, graduated from Milligan College on Saturday, May 5, during spring commencement, in which Milligan awarded over 180 degrees. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Psychology. Milligan is a Christian liberal arts college in Johnson City, Tennessee, whose vision is to change lives and shape culture through a commitment to servant leadership.

Next Memoir Writing Class

Who was accepted in the draft during World War II? Any man breathing without a wooden leg, or so it seemed. At the last class we learned of a man who was blind in one eye. He was drafted. Of course he didn't see combat, but he did serve in the motor pool at a base in Texas. The armed forces are much different now. I doubt he would be called to serve, if there was still a draft. The draft back then was more of a lottery. Numbers were drawn by members of the local draft board. Many a man waited anxously to see if his number came up.

Courageous Characters

Mincey’s Musings
Year One, Week Nineteen

In his book, Who You Are When No One’s Looking: Choosing Consistency, Resisting Compromise, Bill Hybels says that character can be determined by what we do when no one is looking. Character is sometimes confused with reputation, but reputation is what other people think of us. Character is not the same as success or achievement—character is not defined by what we have done, but who we are.

Go A Pickin'

I have a knack for making anything into a fun adventure; even working in my grandparents’ huge garden when I was a kid.

“It’s time to go a pickin’,” my mamaw said when it was time to go to the garden. Green beans were my favorite things to “a pick.” As I dug through the vines, I pretended I was searching for buried pirate treasure and the cows in the fields behind us were keeping watch.

The Path Most Traveled

In adult years, it was only yesterday. In child years, it would probably seem like forever. Whatever measure you live by, the days when my children took the path between our former house and their Mamaw and Papaw’s are long gone. As I drove past the path, I brought my vehicle to a sudden stop, visualizing my children running through the grass. I have an aged and worn photograph I had taken of the two siblings as they covered the distance that lay from our house to the grandparents; but I don’t really need it to spur the memory. I realized today that it is forever etched in my mind’s eye.

VA Chiropractors Eligible to Perform Physical Exams for Military Veteran Truck Drivers

The new "Job For Our Heroes Act" is a provision allowing chiropractors working within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to perform physical exams on veterans needing a medical certificate to operate a commercial motor vehicle.

“The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is committed to improving the health of our veterans by removing barriers and expanding access to chiropractors in the VA as well as other federal programs,” said ACA President David Herd, DC.

Firefly Light Show

A peaceful form of summer entertainment is sitting out in the yard watching fireflies do their light show at dusk. And who hasn’t as a child stalked and captured “lightnin bugs” in a jar? Fireflies are real standouts of the insect world, so let me illuminate you (yes, humor).

State Mandated Barriers to Positive Educational Outcomes

“Burlington-the end of the line” the motormen would call as the streetcar would cross McCalla Avenue and loop around a set of commercial structures. Passengers who had boarded on Knoxville’s South Gay Street would disembark and make their way home or perhaps stop at one of the shops at the end of the line. In time, an entire retail district comparable in size to a small town would evolve along McCalla on both sides of the streetcar crossings. People continued to shop in Burlington long after the last streetcar had run.