Does the little girl in the picture look familiar? If you said it was me, you would be correct. Even though I was smiling, I was very frightened.

By Steve Roark
Volunteer Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.

Persimmons are a popular food source for many wildlife species such as fox, opossum, deer, raccoon, and a number of birds. Humans also find them quite tasty if gathered at the right time. If you want to try some, be sure and take along the kids when foraging, as a closer walk with nature is always a good thing.

UNION COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
WORKSHOP
Union County High School
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026
6:00 p.m.

There’s something about me that most of you probably don’t know. Over the years, I’ve had people tell me: “You have to be an only child.” Honestly, I don’t know if that’s good or bad.

Participants in a large clinical trial were randomly assigned to one of four groups for up to eight weeks of treatment and then followed for a full year:

• Supported self-management (SSM): a personalized program combining pain education, physical exercises, relaxation techniques, strategies for reframing negative thought patterns and guidance for staying active in daily life — all supervised one-on-one by a physical therapist or chiropractor and designed for home use.

Plainview police and elected officials welcomed trick or treaters from Plainview, Luttrell, and surrounding communities to come and get Candy with the Cops. Princesses, cheerleaders, monsters, cartoon characters, devils, and goblins enjoyed the hospitality of Halloween. The cops and officials seemed to have as much fun as the kids!

If your family missed this year, plan to stop by the Plainview Police Station/ Community Center next Halloween from 6:00-8:00.

Art Show

Best of Show: Sunflower Calico by Lakota Gibson
Best Heritage: Bluegrass Buddies by Aurora Harrison Bull

Two-Dimensional Art
First place: Posse Comitatus (Guineas) by Jennifer Garren
Second place: Begonias by Shirley Keaton
Third place: La Batalla (The Battle) by Renee’ Branum

Photography
First place: Tunnel from Cherokee by Aaron Russell
Second place: Beauty Mark by Hazel Butler
Third place: Cove Life by Sonya Corum

The Union County Commission heard two requests from citizens during its Oct. 26 meeting.

A resident of Timber Creek 2 Subdivision asked the county to finish the road in the development. The planning commissioner told Attorney David Myers that the road is private and possibly owned by Commercial Bank following the foreclosure of the developer, Bobby Brown. The road lacks a topcoat, which David Cox, superintendent of roads, estimates would cost about $30,000. The resident said 16 houses are on the road.

The Union County Board of Education voted during its Oct. 15 meeting to send a proposal for a concession stand at the new middle school sports field out for bid. Skilled Services developed the plan. The concession stand will be located beside the bleachers, near the sidewalk and access road to the sports field.

During the Oct. 13 meeting of the Plainview Planning Commission, Jordan Rockwell, Plainview city planner, explained the Tennessee Land Trust Program.

Agricultural land is eligible to be placed in the trust. The act passed in 2025, but the Trust Board has spent approximately a year establishing rules and guidelines. The Legislature allocated $25 million for the trust.