Several years ago I was visiting Union County’s nursing home. I happened upon a gentleman I knew. I stepped inside his room for a short visit. I was not surprised that the man didn’t seem to recognize me, as we had never had occasion to be around each other a great deal.
What did surprise me is what he said when I told him who I was. He looked at me in amazement and said, “I thought you were dead.”
I found a certain humor in his comment, more at my younger age than I would now. I know that elderly folks are often confused.

Union County 4-H members recently returned from an exciting and fun-filled week at Junior 4-H Camp, held June 9–13 at Clyde Austin 4-H Center in Greeneville, Tennessee. Our campers spent the week learning, growing, and making lasting memories with fellow 4-H’ers from across the region.

The USA turns 250 on July 4, 2026. But the prelude celebrations are happening right now. Several local museums and libraries in Tennessee will be hosting celebrations for America's 250th Birthday, known as the American Semiquinncentennial Celebration. Sycamore Shoals State Park will perform "Liberty! The Saga of Sycamore Shoals" on June 19-21 and on June 26-28. Sycamore Shoals was one the foundations for democracy not only in Tennessee but also the nation.

Dr. Warren Dockter, East Tennessee Historical Society Executive Director will inform the public regarding the various informational talks and celebrations for America's 250th Birthday. He is the Vice Chair of the Tennessee Semiquinncentennial Commission and will lend a first hand knowledge of events happening across the state and those being planned in Union, Claiborne, Anderson, Campbell, Knox, and Grainger Counties that showcase the American Revolution in Tennessee.

The Union County Board of Education will have a special called meeting on Monday, June 30, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at the Union County Courthouse to approve final budget amendments for the fiscal year 2024-2025.

The next regular workshop and meeting of the Union County Board of Education will be on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at Union County High School. The workshop will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the meeting immediately to follow.

Who hasn’t struggled to learn something? One difficult thing for me was trying to learn how to drive a straight shift. Did you notice the word “trying?” I still don’t have the hang of it. But there is something else that I have also found to be quite the challenge. For me, it’s not just a matter of learning something new, but rather unlearning something old.

In the late 1700s or the early 1800s Thomas Jefferson stated, “The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”
By the late 1800s to the early 1900s, George Bernard Shaw had a somewhat different perspective when he said, “The problem we face today is that the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.”

Chicory was a popular wild plant back in the day when it was used to make a coffee-like beverage. It is very common in our area and can be seen right now growing along roadsides and abandoned places.

Chicory is easy to identify by its blue, dandelion-like flowers that have fringed, flat tipped petals, which can sometimes be white or pink. The flower will usually close up in the late afternoon or on overcast days. The leaves at the base of the plant are dandelion-like (they are in the same family) and will similarly bleed a milky sap when broken off. Chicory stands around two feet tall.

Horace Maynard Middle School is proud to announce two exciting additions to its leadership team for the upcoming school year.

Coach DJ Taylor has been named the new Athletic Director at HMMS. A 1998 graduate of Clinton High School, Coach Taylor enlisted in the U.S. Army during his senior year and went on to serve for 17 years, including multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Maynardville, TN - Lake Life BEST's recent fundraiser at Seven Springs Winery was a huge success, raising nearly $5,000 for Andrew Woods. The event brought the community together to support a great cause, demonstrating the power of local unity.

"We're thrilled with the outcome of our fundraiser," said Gina and Kristine with Lake Life BEST. "The generosity and support shown by our community and local businesses will make a significant difference in Andrew's life. We're proud to see everyone united to help Andrew during this challenging time."