When we have a big snow, it typically creates the opportunistic combination of having time on your hands and a massive amount of the key ingredient for making snow cream, so why not? Besides being a nostalgic but tasty treat to make with the kids, snow cream is the venerable ancestor of our modern ice cream.
If you know anyone needing hot hands, blankets, gloves, etc., we have plenty. Call (865) 217-6626. We can deliver if you can't get to us!
All parents/guardians of children enrolled in the Union County Public Schools and other interested community members are invited to an informational meeting at the Union County High School Library on Monday, February 2, 2026 at 3:45 p.m.
There are rumors in the air!
There are always rumors in the air about someone or something. To what rumors do I refer?
It’s not about who is running for which political office, though that conversation is heating up locally.
It’s not about who committed which indiscretion with whom, though there are always such rumors in the works somewhere.
The particular rumors to which I refer on this sunny but cold January 20, 2026 concern the weather.
Whether I was interested or not, I knew this phrase meant I was about to hear a story: “When I was a kid…” The ones I remember the most came from my Mamaw Jo. She often talked about not having electricity and walking to school in the snow. I heard them several, several times. In reality, those tales are a way of saying: “You don’t know how good you have it.” Honestly, that is very true. Recently, I even said that to myself. I know that sounds strange, but this is me we’re talking about here.
Injury Prevention
To prevent injury when using a backpack, do the following:
• If possible, leave unnecessary books at home or school.
• If carrying a water bottle, choose a smaller bottle that will not be as heavy when it is full.
• If bringing sports gear to school, pack it in a separate bag that can be stored in a locker during the school day.
• consider using a crossbody bag as a good alternative for carrying books and supplies.
Tips for Parents
Few engines in automotive history have earned the legendary status of Ford’s flathead V8. Introduced in 1932, the flathead forever changed the automotive world by making V8 power affordable for everyday Americans. Before its debut, eight-cylinder engines were reserved for luxury cars and high-end brands, placing them out of reach for most working families.
When you hear the word “exclusive”, of what do you think? The answer to this question will be one way to tell if you are an optimist or a pessimist.
An optimist will think of something exclusive as a fine thing. Exclusive can mean something or someone that is unique.
For example, the only known picture of Abraham Lincoln’s father, Thomas Lincoln, can be found at the Abraham Lincoln Museum on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Something that is one of a kind is exclusive.
With the leaves off the hardwood trees, plants that remain green are more prominent and a handsome contrast to the “dead of winter”. Two that you are likely to see in the mountains on hikes are rhododendron and mountain laurel, which look similar and are often confused.
January 24, 2026. 10 am - 2 pm. FREE
• Hot Breakfast
• Gloves, Blankets, Toboggans, Hot Hands, Socks
• Hygeine Bags provided by Tennessee Valley
Coalition for the Homeless
• Complete a survey to have an influence on services in Union County
• Connect with Cedar Recovery, the Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist, ICARE Union County, and other organizations
Samantha Brantley Smith
865-705-3157
samantha.brantley@unioncountytn.gov