After a hearty breakfast, NJROTC Mia Tamayo opened the meeting by leading the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Adjutant Norman Gillen recognized the different branches of service attending and, as a Navy man, reminded everyone that October 13 marked the 251st anniversary of the US Navy's founding. They then observed a moment of silence to remember the fallen soldiers of all services.

An individual, not a company, sponsored this breakfast. Union County Mayor Jason Bailey wanted to thank Union County Veterans by personally paying for this breakfast (no county funds were used!). He has been Mayor since 2018, and he ran unopposed in the last election. Mayor Bailey told the group that if they were ever to run for office, the best way to run is unopposed. Community service is in his blood; he is a 3rd generation politician in his family.

Our Mayor quickly updated the community on what is going on. The new middle school has opened, and the community really needed it. The project cost $42 million, with $13 million coming from the school system.

TCAT (Tennessee College of Applied Technology) is operating on the high school campus. Three disciplines are offered. Welding & Manufacturing/Nuclear provides hands-on training featuring NC3 (National Coalition of Certification Centers), OSHA, and 3D printing certifications, targeting local and regional job opportunities in Oak Ridge. Allied Health & Nursing Programs cover Patient Care Technology, Medical Assisting, Nursing Aide, Phlebotomy, Central Sterile Processing, Basic Life Support, CPR, and upcoming Certified Nursing Assistant and LPN practical nursing tracks with transfer pathways to Walters State Community College. Construction heavy equipment operation, NCCER safety credentials. Adult Education offers high school equivalency preparation.

These classes are for everyone: high school students, graduates, and any adults.

Union County is one of 2 counties in the state offering excavating classes. The county is purchasing skid steer, bulldozer, and Bobcat equipment. Land behind the high school will become the classroom.

Completing the 4-lane Route 33 will open Union County to new businesses. Once the road is widened, businesses will have direct access to the interstate for receiving supplies or shipping goods. Adding fiber-optic internet will make Union County even more attractive for commerce.

Another huge, but badly needed, project is the new jail. The present jail is over 50 years old and has struggled with infrastructure strain, staffing pressures, and safety concerns. Inmates are presently housed in other facilities. The county has purchased 22 acres on Prospect Rd for the new Justice Center. The new facility will house the jail, along with a courtroom, clerk's offices, the district attorney's office, and the sheriff's office. The Mayor said it will take at least 2 years to build the new facility and that, until then, it is imperative to bring the old jail up to code and get it certified to bring the inmates back. “I would hate to tell you that we will have to raise taxes to pay for this,” said Mayor Bailey. “But the reality is that we will”. He said taxes will have to go up, not a lot, but they will go up. We are presently paying a tax rate of 1.89.

The Mayor mentioned that the county is economically sound. We have received multiple grants and used those funds, rather than tax money, for various projects. This has increased our Capital Fund account.

Weigels should open in the next couple of months and will feature a Weigels Auto Spa (a car wash). Waffle House will soon begin construction between O’Reilly Auto Parts and Union Court. The complex being built on Maynardville Hwy and Oak St is an apartment complex possibly called Tuscan Flats.

Several members of the Union County Sheriff's Dept. attended this breakfast. Mayor Bailey introduced Sargent Chris Irrick. Sgt. Irrick has served in the department for over 27 years and works under our new sheriff, Rick Carter. Sheriff Carter is overseeing ongoing repairs and staffing adjustments at the existing Union County Jail. Sgt. Irrick feels Sheriff Carter is a capable leader in key roles within the department. He said that, in his opinion, Sheriff Carter is leading the Sheriff’s Office to better standards for the community.

Veteran James Meltabarger celebrated his 90th birthday on October 3. Congratulations, Mr. Meltabarger!

The Tri-County Honor Guard has a new member! Army Veteran Jackie Benham joined a few months ago. She related that in all her years in the Army, she never fired a gun. Now, as a member of the Honor Guard, she serves on the firing squad for the final salute. Congratulations, Jackie! And thank you!

The American Legion Post 212 Food Pantry chest freezer is presently loaded with 3-pound packages of chicken! This Food Pantry is open to anyone who needs it, not just Veterans. You can pick up chicken on the 1st Monday of the month from 6-8 pm, the 2nd Saturday of the month from 8:00 am-9:30 am, and the 3rd Thursday of the month from 3 pm to 7 pm. Or email Adjutant Norman Gillen at adjutant@altnpost212.org for other times. The Paulette Community Building has a food pantry on the 3rd Saturday of every month from 9 am until the food runs out.

About 1,200 U.S. Veterans live in Union County. And the county would like to honor and celebrate them.
The 3rd Annual Veterans Appreciation Day celebration will be held on Saturday, November 7. A free dinner will be served from noon to 4 pm. A motorcycle ride will take place to the Veterans Overlook. All riders are welcome.

UCHS Navy Junior ROTC Commanding Officer Adelina Montoya announced that UCHS and NJROTC invite all Veterans and community members to the school on November 10 at 1:30 for their Annual Veterans Day Ceremony to honor and recognize Veterans for their service, dedication, and sacrifice. NJROTC will serve food and drinks after the ceremony. Please attend if you can.

On November 13, 5:00-7:00, the Navy Junior ROTC will hold a Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction for $5 per person to support UCHS NJROTC.

Door prizes included a beautifully painted patriotic rock paperweight, a pocket knife, a T-shirt, a Car Care Bucket, and gift cards for Lowe’s and Food City.