If attendance at the Union County Farmers Market Vendor Meeting and Chili Cookoff was any indication, the 2026 Farmers Market will be better than ever. Over 50 vendors were in attendance, many had previously participated, but several were new. Seven pots of delicious chili were in competition. Jodie Moore took first place for the best-ever chili. Running a close second and third were Dave Trandum and Bobby Nelson.

Shred the cheese. Transfer to a bowl. Add cream cheese, W. sauce, vinegar, pepper, garlic powder and cayenne. Beat at low speed until blended. Drain pimientos, reserving 2 tablespoons juice. Stir in pimientos and reserved juice. Serve with crackers and vegetables. Makes 2 3/4 cups.

If you read my article: “Orange Angel,” then you know a couple of things about me: I love to cross stitch and I love to give Christmas gifts that are unique to each person. A few years ago, I found a cross stitch pattern that would be an absolutely perfect one for the wolf lady.

It was an big week at Horace Maynard Middle School as Jaydon Battles captured first place in the HMMS School Spelling Bee and then followed it with another first-place finish at the Clinch-Powell Education Cooperative & Lincoln Memorial University Annual Science Fair.

A chiropractor can help address back pain and other herniated disc symptoms. At your initial appointment, your chiropractor will go through your medical history, do a physical exam, and perform orthopaedic and neurological tests.

Your chiropractor will look for several things. These are important questions the orthopaedic and neurological exams can help your chiropractor answer.

Are the reflexes intact? That is, are your nerves sending messages correctly? (The classic reflex test is when the doctor taps your knee with a small hammer and your leg kicks up.)

If you paid attention in health class you know that our body needs to move materials around to function properly, such as oxygen. The transportation system is the bloodstream, which utilizes red blood cells as a bucket brigade, going to the lungs via veins to pick up oxygen, and carrying it to various body locations via arteries. A tree has similar needs and also uses a liquid transportation system.

UNION COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
WORKSHOP
Union County High School
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026
6:00 p.m.

The Union County Board of Education will be participating in the TSBA sponsored workshop Planning: A Joint Venture on Monday, March 30, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. at the Jubilee Banquet Facility in Knoxville, TN.

My guiltiest pleasure is simple: I like some old-school country music. Before you assume the worst, I’m not talking about songs celebrating drunken binges or bad decisions. I’m talking about the golden era. The story songs. The kind that made your mind sit still long enough to reflect on the realities of life and what their lyrics were telling us about.

There are over a dozen all-inclusive playgrounds in Knoxville, Farragut, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Maryville and Lenoir City. It had been a while since I had been to any playground (the grandkids have grown up). Since I am researching the possibility of an all-inclusive playground for Union County, it seemed reasonable to visit a couple of these to see what they offer and what an all-accessible playground would be like. My personal concept of this type of playground is one with equipment that all kids, regardless of ability, can use.