Young women of Union County are being presented an extravagant scholarship, personal growth, and transcript building opportunity. Union County is officially hosting a preliminary division of the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant. Ladies from Union County and surrounding areas can compete for the Miss Union County and Miss Thunder Road titles. This is an Official Miss America Local Competition.

Dave and Tomica Whaley are not strangers to restoring historic homes. At the encouragement of Dave's Grandmother, Freda Doyle Whaley, they purchased the historic home of well-known Knoxville Jeweler, Max Freedman, located in the 4th and Gill neighborhood where they lived for 2 years. They then purchased and restored the historic home of a turn of the 20th century, Knoxville Contractor, D. W. Brimer, on Glenwood Ave., in the Old North Knoxville neighborhood.

Mayor Bailey announced that Union County would be holding a Ms. Union County Contest to enable some young lady to compete in the Ms. Tennessee Contest to be held in Knoxville later this year. The Mayor also introduced the new trifold informational pamphlet that Thomas Skibinski and the Chamber of Commerce developed to advertise Union County. Finally, the Mayor encouraged everyone to review the new website: unioncountytn.com.

The Commission approved three notaries: Carla Beeler, Jamie Bowman, and Bethany Winstead.

Volunteers from 61 counties were honored at the Eleventh Annual Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards ceremony at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs on February 10, 2019. The awards celebrated the efforts of 108 volunteers statewide who have strived to improve their communities through service. Miss Tennessee 2018, Christine Williamson, presented the awards, and NewsChannel5 weekend anchor, Jennifer Kraus, served as emcee for the event.

On January 18, Mayor Bailey hosted the first of many Union County Project Planning Meetings. About half of the county commissioners and at least one school board member attended along with some elected officials and about a dozen members of the general public.

Risky opioids are no better at controlling chronic back or arthritis pain than non-opioid drugs, including Tylenol or Motrin, new research finds. With opioid overdose deaths rising in the United States, the findings suggest addictive medications like oxycodone (OxyContin) or morphine don’t have to be the first choice against crippling arthritis pain.

I like Chicken Chow Mein. It is a quick easy meal. I remember when I worked back in the late 70s with four kids at home and a hungry husband. I worked in a sewing factory. Sewing doesn't require much thinking capacity. Once you learn what the operations require, it was pretty much rote. I would plan my supper meal as I sewed.

The Union County Soil Conservation District is pleased to present its Annual Report of its 65th year. Organized in April 1953, the District began operations in December of 1953. The District possesses the technical expertise, information and delivery system for providing assistance to landowners with respect to the county’s soil and water quality, and to develop a safe and healthy environment in which to live and work. The Board of Supervisors operates the Union County Soil Conservation District. Three members are elected and two are appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee.

In 2017, according to the latest numbers from the Tennessee Department of Health, 1,776 people suffered fatal overdoses. Of those 1,268 were opioid overdoses. These numbers could decrease if more people understood The Good Samaritan Laws of 2015. During an emergency related to opioid overdose, bystanders should call 911 for emergency assistance but often don’t due to the fear of arrest or prosecution. This is especially true if they use or have a history of opioid use themselves.

In the 2005-2006 school year, Maynardville Elementary School opened the first Pre-K program in the county. The following year, Luttrell and Sharps Chapel Elementary schools added Pre-K programs in their respective communities. Due to the high number of applicants, the Union County Community Pre-K Advisory Council (also known as CPAC) requested additional funds from the Title I grant and then added a fourth program at Big Ridge Elementary. Finally, after applying for the yearly Voluntary Pre-K Grant, Paulette Elementary added the program for the 2018-2019 school year.