The bugle call known as Taps dates from the Civil War. In July 1862, while the Army of the Potomac camped near Harrison's Landing, Virginia, Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield summoned Pvt. Oliver Willcox Norton, his brigade bugler, to his tent. Butterfield, who disliked the bland "lights out" call then in use, whistled a different tune and asked the bugler to play it for him. After repeated trials, Norton played a 24-note call which suited the general.

Chiropractic services are an important first line of defense against pain and, in some cases, can lessen a patient’s reliance on addictive painkillers or prevent their use altogether. It makes sense to exhaust conservative forms of treatment such as chiropractic before moving on to riskier, potentially addictive pain medications.

Katherine Oakes Cox became the President of the Lincoln Memorial University Alumni Association and its 40,000 graduates on October 11 during LMU Homecoming.
Kathy, as she is best known, grew up in Claiborne County, but chose Union County as her home. She never envisioned herself as the LMU Alumni Association president when she graduated from the Harrogate campus in 1978. But a phone call from her high school buddy and college roommate Nancy Neely Whitaker set her journey in motion. Nancy asked Kathy to accompany her to the LMU Homecoming. Of course, Kathy agreed, even though she had not returned to the campus in more than 20 years. Her friend Nancy had been diagnosed with cancer and it would be a chance to reminisce and share memories with her while enjoying the Railsplitter activities.

Booths: Rocky Top Theme - ICARE Union County, Best Heritage - A&B Bookkeeping and Tax Service,1st Best Booth - Uncle B's Barbecue, 2nd Best Booth - Nana's Attic, 3rd Best Booth - Little Valley Nursery, Best Demonstration - Tri County Veterans Honor Guard, Item of Distinction (Food) - Boiled Peanuts by KC Creations, Item of Distinction (craft) - Wine sign by Mtn.

Union County Retired Teachers hosted members of the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association for an annual workshop last month at First Baptist Fellowship Hall in Maynardville. After a welcome by President Elouise Jones, members learned about agendas, programs and projects that impact membership from a panel discussion represented by Marilyn Toppins from Union County, Libby Burney from Knox County, Pat Stonecipher from Anderson County and Bobby Jackson from Roane County.

Ann Blomquist, a retired math teacher in Jefferson County, addressed the Union County Historical Society meeting on October 19. Blomquist is the volunteer director of First Families of Tennessee. Her office is located at the East Tennessee Museum in Knoxville. She related that First Families of Tennessee began in 1993 in preparation for the 1996 Tennessee Bicentennial Celebration for the purpose of documenting pioneer ancestors and information on their families.

Emersyn celebrated her second birthday a few days early on October 18, with family and friends. She celebrated with a UT Volunteers Themed Birthday Party titled “It’s Great Two Be a Tennessee Vol” Emersyn is the daughter of Joshua and Brittany Bowlin of Washburn. She is the granddaughters of Ralph and Paula Bowlin of Washburn and Doug and Patricia Seal of Sneedville.
Happy Birthday Emersyn!!!! We Love You!!

Chairman Terry Washam and several members of the UC Board of Education escorted Representative Dennis Powers, 36th TN District, on a tour of the new Horace Maynard Middle School. Board members included Vice Chairwoman Jessica Buck, Rebecca Lock, and Harold Cooke. Director Greg Clay and Dr. Tobi Kilgore, principal, acted as the tour guides. Tony Bledsoe, project superintendent of Merit Construction, provided technical expertise and ensured a safe experience along with Assistant Superintendent Caden Rogers and engineer Davis Buehler.

During the October Plainview Board of Aldermen meeting, Brad Woods, LVFD Fire Chief, reminded everyone that burn permits are required to burn leaves or other plant waste from October 15 to May 15. Without a permit, the fire department must extinguish the fire. Also burning without a permit may cause a fine. For a burn permit contact the Tennessee Division of forestry at 1-877-350-2876 or online at Burnsafetn.

The Union County Lions Club pecans are on the way, fresh off the Georgia pecan trees. The organization sold out last year, and not everyone had the opportunity to purchase as many bags as they would have liked. This year, the Lions Club is offering both plain and amaretto-flavored pecans, cashews, chocolate-covered peanuts, and chocolate-covered raisins. And even though prices for these nuts and raisins have risen over the past year, the Lions Club is still asking only $10/bag.