Several Union County students were recognized by the UC Board of Education for their outstanding performance in competitions covering academics and the arts at the Tennessee BETA Club Convention. These students may now compete at the National BETA Club Convention in Florida in June. During the workshop, Lily Rouse performed a dance that she choreographed, and Luke Goforth sang and played a ukelele during the meeting. Several displayed items they had entered in the competition including drawings, sculpture and photographs.

The Board of Education recognized students across Union County who achieved perfect scores on the Collaborative Assessments Solutions for Educators (CASE), This assessment is used by Union County educators to determine the rigor and strengh of instruction with regards to the state TCAP test. The assessment mirrors the TCAP and helps to project the TCAP results.

Over 30 citizens attended the Plainview Board of Alderman Meeting on last month to voice their opinion on Ordinance 165, which would amend the Zoning Ordinance of Plainview to allow up to four additional dwellings other than the primary dwelling without subdividing the property.

At the Union County Commission last month, the fire departments reported on the expenditures of the First Annual Fireman’s Fundraiser hosted by Tom Fitzharris of TK’s Gourmet Food Wagon in conjunction with a county donation of $15,000 and contributions from several businesses and individuals. Maynardville purchased high capacity batteries. Sharps Chapel purchased battery powered equipment, high capacity batteries and rescue equipment. Luttrell replaced all of the worn-out nozzles with variable intensity nozzles to enable high capacity water flow in multiple directions.

In 1996, as a high school graduate, I entered the workforce before pursuing higher education. My career started in accounts payable at Cooper Container Corporation (CCC). Since I had limited work experience, A.C. Cooper and the leadership team allowed me to develop the fundamental skills associated with clerical occupations and basic accounting processes.

I’m sitting in my bedroom looking out through the glass door at the gray afternoon with snow outside. Snow is not only beautiful but puts lots of nitrogen in the soil. This helps provide nourishment for spring flowers, grass and trees. Also, gardens for spring. While sitting here contemplating God’s work, my mind goes back to 1959 when on February 3rd at around 1:00 am at night a V33 Beechcraft Bonanza airplane lifted off the airport at Mason City, Iowa bound for Fargo, North Dakota. The plane a 1947 Beechcraft V33 Bonanza crashed only moments later killing all four aboard.

By Steve Roark
Volunteer, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Our winter has delt us with some single digit temperatures recently, so perhaps you don’t really want to hear any more about cold. But stay with me on this one and perhaps you won’t be so down on our own winter weather.

Every time we went from our house over to the log cabin, we had to go down the steps to the lower driveway level and then up some more steps to the log cabin. Just doing that would wear a person out. Something had to be done. I thought long and hard about the problem.

If a bridge were built across the ravine behind our house, a walkway could be dug out of the ridge side over to the log cabin. I could see it in my mind, but could it be done? I took the twenty-five­ foot tape and measured the width of the ravine. Glory be! A twelve foot long two by twelve would fit across the opening, if I laid up a concrete block base at either end.

Grate 1/2 teaspoon zest and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice from limes. In large bowl combine tomatoes, chopped onions, cilantro, garlic, Tabasco sauce, lime zest and juice with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Transfer to serving bowl. Serve with tortilla chips. Makes 4 servings.

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — University of Tennessee Extension, in cooperation with Tennessee State University Extension is pleased to host an event celebrating the strength and resilience of women in agriculture. The ‘Ladies Raising Livestock Conference’ will focus on the unique struggles and experiences women face in the livestock business.

The conference will be held Friday, February 2, at the UT Clyde Austin 4-H Center in Greeneville. Note the venue has been updated from previous announcements.