Once again, the Fourth of July holiday hovers just over the horizon. Perhaps by the time you’ve read this, Dear Reader, it will already be past.
It was 247 years ago, after a tedious time of separation from the “Mother Country”, resulting in the Revolutionary War, that our great nation officially came into existence.
Time wreaks many changes. There was a time that the school day began with the reading of a selection from the Bible, prayer was said, and the pledge to the American flag was dutifully recited.

Snakes have fascinated and frightened people for centuries, which has led to some interesting stories about some of them. I did some research on some sayings about snakes I heard as a kid to see how they held up under the science of animal behavior. Here’s a rundown of what I found.

Most of us have a favorite Tuna Salad. Here is another one to add to your recipe box. It contains a few ingredients that you don't usually find in a tuna salad - bean sprouts and spinach. It is great that we can now buy fresh spinach in the produce aisle at the supermarket. You will find the canned bean sprouts in the canned vegetable aisle. Let's get started

You don’t have to be an ironworker or a lumberjack to be at risk for back injury on your job. Every occupation, however physically undemanding it seems, carries the potential for back injury. Even office work can pose problems. A physically intense job might put a person at greater risk for a serious accident, but the sedentary practice of sitting at a desk all day brings its own set of physical concerns.

If you had to compare yourself to an animal, do you know what you would choose? I do. I would have to say a hound dog. Why? Because, I’m the type of person who is very keen on the various aromas and scents of our world; both pleasant and stinky
Honestly, I think I am more aware of smells than most people and it makes sense. You see, while my eyesight and hearing has never been that great, my sense of smell is very well developed. Like the brain of a hound dog, my brain has a rather large portion of it devoted to detecting odors.

I attended a meeting in Murfreesboro for work today. Amid the very useful information presented, there was reference made to the state’s past practice of providing Exemplary Educators (EEs) to schools deemed as in danger of failing academically under the former federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.

Canned tuna is the star here. Keep a 5 ounce package of instant potato flakes on hand and you are ready to go. You could make your own mashed potatoes , but this is way easier. No peeling. A great way to turn a small can of tuna into a supper delight. Prepare mashed potatoes, decreasing liquid to 1 cup. Cool slightly. Stir in beaten egg, onion and tuna. Shape into 6 patties. In skillet, over medium heat, cook patties in oil until browned, turning once. Top each pattie with 1/2 slice of cheese or tartar sauce. Serve.

I may be writing this for myself because I am a bona fide Type A person. I’m always engaged in some activity, making lists to check off, with my mind constantly engaged in problem solving or accomplishing some goal. And worthy things do get done for church and family, it can come with the cost of exhaustion, burn out, and self-imposed stress. One way to improve things is to take time to get away to a quiet place and be still for a little while.

Union County Business & Professional Association welcomed spring with its 26th Annual Prayer Breakfast on Good Friday, 2023. With the theme of “Dare to Begin Again, President Tammie Hill welcomed members, family, and friends to Maynardville Fellowship Baptist Church. Pastor Matt Cooke related several stories and passages from the Bible that told how people should never give in to adversity, but rather face life's challenges armed and supported by their faith.

A Gold Star veteran was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who died or was killed while serving in the military. Those who have died in the line of duty have sacrificed everything. They are initially mourned by the community. But time passes and, over time, they are sometimes forgotten.