At the May 12 meeting of the Plainview Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA), Mayor Lynn Beeler installed Jessica Buck as the new recorder. Buck has been training with Emily Cooke, the former recorder, during April and May. Buck commented to this reporter that she really enjoyed working at Plainview. She is in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There is just something about water whether it’s a lake, creek or sea. We have some of the best places to enjoy nestled here within East Tennessee borders.

KUB is continuing to support Union County. KUB will be at the Farmers Market June 6 to talk about all things fiber internet and support a great community event.

Stop by the Farmers Market on June 6 to learn about high-speed fiber internet - or just to say “hi”!

KUB Fiber provides free public Wi-Fi at the Union County Farmers Market (located just west of Union County High School) in Maynardville, TN. This amenity allows vendors to easily process digital payments and shoppers to stay connected while enjoying the market.

Here is a good liver sausage spread. Try it

In mixer bowl combine liver sausage, broken up, half of cream cheese, sugar and chili powder. Beat until smooth. Form into a ball and place on glass plate. Cover and chill. Whip remaining cream cheese with milk, and Tabasco sauce until smooth. Spread evenly on liver sausage ball. Chill. Garnish with snipped parsley when ready to serve with crackers.

Does any Dear Reader age 60 or older remember when America celebrated its Bicentennial in 1976?
Is it just me, or do you feel as I do that there is not anywhere near the level of enthusiasm for the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States?

The children of Israel didn’t wander into their Red Sea moment by accident; they were led there by God Himself. Scripture is clear that after generations of bondage, they were finally walking in freedom, stepping out of Egypt with hope in their lungs and promise in their future. But freedom didn’t feel like victory for long. With the sun beating down on a massive crowd of people, families and livestock all pressing forward, their march comes to an abrupt stop.

Leadership Union County continued its 2026 program with an engaging Tourism and Agriculture Day on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, led by Abby Thomas and Becca Hughes. The day highlighted the vital roles that agriculture, forestry, tourism, and small business development play in Union County's growth and success.

The cohort began the morning at the UT Extension Office in Maynardville, where participants were welcomed for a full day of presentations and discussions centered around the county’s agricultural heritage and tourism opportunities.

UNION COUNTY, Tenn. (May 26, 2026) – Walk 4 Water Union County raised more than $33,000 during its Fourth Annual Fundraiser on Saturday, May 16. All funds raised will go toward the drilling of safe water boreholes for the remote villages of Naminyagwe Muyenga and Agururu B #3 Cell in Uganda, with the third village to be determined soon by Hope 4 Kids International.

When it comes to trees, we live in a blessed place, with more varieties of trees, shrubs, and vines than anywhere in the world except maybe the tropics. Each tree and shrub has its own unique leaf that, with a little practice, will allow you to identify it.

I traveled to Japan from April 8 to April 20, 2026. On the trip, I visited Tokyo, Nagano, Fukui, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and left from Osaka. Japan has an overall population of approximately 122 million. Most cities are densely populated, and the majority of the country's population lives in urban areas. The Japanese people are very polite and respectful. The country has one of the world's largest GDPs and is one of the United States' closest allies, with the US having 15 major military bases in the country and 55,000 military personnel stationed there, more than in any other foreign country in the world. Needless to say, I felt comfortable and safe in Japan, honestly, even more so than I do in the United States. In this paper, the paragraphs will be organized by the cities I visited, my thoughts on them, and what I did there. The paper will conclude with my final thoughts on the overall trip.