Healthy Habits for Backpack Wearing: Bend at the hips and knees when lifting a backpack. Pick the backpack up before threading the shoulders through the straps. when possible, place the backpack on a desk or whatever is near you, then turn around and thread the shoulders through the straps. Always wear both straps. Fill up water bottles at school rather than at home to reduce the weight of the backpack. Take breaks from carrying by removing the backpack when waiting at the bus stop or in the hallway. monitor contents nightly and remove what isn’t needed. organize contents for school-day rotation and unload unneeded items into a locker when possible.

Union County residents are reminded that registration is closing soon for the upcoming Take Charge of Your Diabetes education program offered by the University of Tennessee Extension. This free, evidence-based workshop is designed to help individuals with diabetes gain confidence and practical skills to better manage their health.

The 42nd Annual Cabin Fever Car and Motorcycle show is happening at the Knoxville Expo Center from January 9th to 11th!Admission Adults $15 Kids FREE (12 and under). Get out of the house and come hang out with WIVK at the show on January 10th starting at 10AM! Tickets go on sale Friday, January 9th at 5PM! For more information, see here! https://cabinfevercarshow.net/

In past articles I have covered mountain dialect that I have heard used either past or present. I probably heard more than the average person because my parents grew up on isolated farms in east Tennessee where the old way of talking didn’t get diluted by being around a lot of other people. But perhaps you’ve heard some of these and so this time I’m covering words starting with E and F.

I spoke with a gentleman today who told me about a lady he once knew. She was a major investor in stocks, and over the years accumulated a net worth of ten million dollars.
The woman was a “penny pincher”. Her goal became the accumulation of even greater wealth. She could not enjoy and use what she had because of her zeal to get even more.
Sadly, the woman drowned. She didn’t get to enjoy the fruits of her labors. Those who survived her were the ones who got the benefits of she had gained during life.

Did you watch cartoons when you were a kid? My favorite was “The Coyote and The Roadrunner.” In the episode “Scrambled Aches,” Wile E. Coyote was flattened by a steamroller. Recently, I felt like that that had happened to me and I brought it on myself.

Carrying a backpack to school is common for school-age children, but when not done properly, backpack-wearing can impact physical health. Improper backpack-wearing can cause discomfort, musculoskeletal issues, and fatigue. However, there are ways to properly pack and wear a backpack to reduce biomechanical strain. Choosing a backpack and wearing it correctly can help children start to develop responsibility for their own health and wellness and become aware of making healthy choices that will have a positive impact.

Choosing a Backpack

If you are like me, you are not particularly fond of the days between Christmas and New Year’s. The decorations remain, the songs still echo faintly, but the urgency, excitement, and expectation seem to have passed. It’s like the celebration is over, and the future is now waiting to begin. We find ourselves in a sacred in-between, after the miracle, before the movement. The Bible reminds us that God often does some of His most important work in moments just like this.

The Union County Retired Teachers Association shared pepperoni and veggie pizzas from Pizza Plus in Luttrell with the Union County Senior Center last month. Members also enjoyed treats of cookies and candy canes.

Union County Business & Professional Association held the Emily Link Gazebo Lighting in Wilson Park on December 5, 2025, to launch the Christmas holiday celebrations. Carols, cookies, and cocoa drew a crowd to participate in the festivities. Children of all ages enjoyed the cookies, popcorn, hot chocolate, water and candy, as well as Christmas coloring sheets and books. Especially delightful were the cream-filled chocolate chip cookies and brownies.