Hello everyone, my name is Katie Johnson. I am honored to be representing my class as a volunteer in a county-wide food drive in support of Union County’s Winter Court. Our objective is to provide assistance to local families by collecting non-perishable food items and monetary donations. Given the financial challenges faced by our county, every contribution genuinely makes a significant impact. All donations will remain within Union County and be distributed directly to those in need. Thank you for your support of our community.

Isn’t odd how we can still learn new tastes regardless of our age. It’s even more funny when it happens because we’re hungry. Tim and I both have experienced this.

UNION COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
WORKSHOP
Union County High School
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026
6:00 p.m.

The first monthly free breakfast for American Legion Post 212 Veterans on January 10 was very well attended, with over 50 participants. The Union County Veterans and their families and friends were supported by members of the TN Highway Patrol, Union County Sheriff’s Dept, Union County High School NJROTC, members of the Tri-County Honor Guard, Union County Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Mark Cook and several veterans from some of the other 17 East Tennessee counties. The bountiful breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy prepared by Food City was delicious.

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.