What Is It?

Tim and I had a party at our house this weekend. It wasn’t just any ol’ party.
Back in February, we were so excited to receive the news that another grandchild was on its way. Our first grandchild, Maverick, will be two in August, so we saw it as perfect timing. By the way, God’s timing is always perfect. Of course, we all immediately began to wonder whether it would be a girl or another boy. While that is a natural thing to do, either way, we are going to love it and pray that it’s healthy.

Union County 4-H Youth Enjoy Hands-On Culinary Science Day Camp

Due to an overwhelming level of community interest, Union County 4-H recently hosted two sessions of its Culinary Science Day Camp at the Union County Extension Office, giving even more youth the opportunity to explore the exciting connection between science and cooking. Throughout the camp, participants discovered that cooking is much more than simply following a recipe—it is a hands-on science experiment.

Physical Activity Is Considered to Have Both Detrimental and Beneficial Effects on Lower Back Pain (LBP)

Physical activity is considered to have both detrimental and beneficial effects on LBP. On one hand, a common view among individuals with lived experience of LBP is that activities can trigger the onset or worsening of LBP (flares), and some occupational health studies attribute harmful effects to activities such as lifting and bending. On the other hand, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have found that exercise and activity-based interventions are generally beneficial for LBP prevention and treatment when studying longer-term outcomes up to 1 year after intervention.

July 4th, 2026 Farmers' Market

The July 4th morning was forecast to be dangerously hot and humid. But around 10 am the heavens opened up, rain poured down, and a light breeze started, cooling off the area, and the Market was quite comfortable. The rain on the metal roof was extremely loud, making conversation challenging. But it was so needed that no one really minded.

Dog Days, a Hot Topic

I’d heard of Dog Days all my life but only knew that it referred to the sweltering heat of late summer when dogs laid around more and were prone to go mad (with rabies). I had a request from a reader to write on the subject in more depth, so if you’re curious as well, read on.

Remember When

Nothing seems more vulnerable than children, the disabled/elderly, and pets. They so often have such limited ability to defend themselves. It is a truly evil person who intentionally mistreats defenseless people and animals.

Union County 4-H Grill Masters to Host Beef Backer Event at Farmers Market

The Union County 4-H Grill Team invites the community to attend the Beef Backer Event on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Union County Farmers Market, located at 115 Durham Drive, Maynardville.

Union County 4-H Grill Masters will be showcasing their grilling skills while promoting Tennessee's beef industry through this fun, family-friendly event.

Some Causes of Back Pain

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:
Spinal stenosis: a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord. It’s a condition often caused by arthritis. In the narrowed chamber, pressure can build on the spinal cord.

Sea of Leaves

Do you have a favorite tree? As for me, I love any Christmas tree, but my other favorite one stood close to my grandparent’s carport. To me, it was a wonderful place to play and use my imagination as a child. In case your wondering, I didn’t ever climb it. The bottom branches were too high for me to grasp. Believe me, I jumped several times and couldn’t grasp a strong enough limb. The only trees that short enough for me to climb were apple trees at Papaw Janesway’s house. But he stopped me because he didn’t want me to hurt them.