Union County, a beautiful picture painted by rural Tennessee, but also one tainted by litter. What may start on a roadside is likely to end up in a children’s park, a waterfront area or affecting our wildlife populations.

Norris Lake, at a quick glance it it one of the cleanest lakes in the state due to its high water quality, but after a longer look in the coves you may find trash and debris left by previous visitors.

“It takes an entire community to make a difference…” a powerful statement posted by the Keep Union County Beautiful program.

Ever wonder what kind of trees are growing on your property?
Join our expert foresters to learn the basics of summer tree identification, and how to key out what species of tree you are seeing. Learning the names of trees is the first step that guides good decision making for any forestland owner.

Cattle producers interested in learning more about directly marketing beef to consumers are invited to join speakers from UT Extension, the Tennessee Beef Industry Council and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for a day-long workshop. Sessions will cover topics including regulations for marketing live animals for custom-exempt processing and meat, finishing cattle effectively, how to pencil out your potential for profit, what producers need to know about meat quality, how much meat to expect, tips for working with processors, marketing resources and assistance available.

I will never ever forget my awesome first-grade teacher. Nor will I forget something odd she used to do. When she needed to take out one of her contact lenses, she would place one of her hands in a cupped position in front of her eye. With the other hand, she would smack the back of her head. Then her contact lens would pop out of her eye and into her waiting palm. Seriously.

Before I married, I thought myself an expert on the subject. It did not matter that I was not a trained marriage counselor, I shared advice with anyone who would listen. I charged them what it cost me—absolutely nothing.
Now that I’m married, I realize how little I knew about marriage. I know less now than the day I said “I do”. I am thankful that all that marital advice I’ve given for years was free. It was worth what it cost.

I like a fully baked ham. It is so easy to work with. There are a zillions glazes for ham. Here is another good one.

Trees have been appreciated since the beginning of history, and are reflected in the earliest writings recorded. The Old Testament Bible mentions trees from one end to the other, using them both metaphorically and literally to teach wisdom that would be remembered. What follows is a small sampling of quotes from the Bible using modern text.

On August 5, 1989, my absolute favorite eatery in the world came into existence. A quick Google search will tell you that the 33 Diner, 3024 Maynardville Highway, Maynardville, Tennessee, is rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and is ranked number two of 14 restaurants in Maynardville.
One review states: “Great food. Love down home casual approach. Nice portions, home cooked goodness. You will leave happy.”
I totally agree with this review. 33 Diner is definitely a happy place for me. If you leave the 33 Diner still hungry, it will be your own fault.

As Emily Cooke walked into her storefront for the first time she was overjoyed as she had been waiting for this day for over a year. She was excited to fill the Buttercup Bakery with the sweet smells of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and pies.
“Opening day was very surreal and like a dream come true,” said Cooke. “The anticipation for the first couple of customers to walk through the door was so great! I could barely sleep more than an hour the night before the grand opening.”

August, an exciting time for all. Back-to-school shopping is well underway and school buses are not the only yellow thing on the community’s mind as the annual Youth and Corn Festival is right around the corner.
On August 6 from 10 o’clock to 1 o’clock, families can swing by the farmer’s market for a special treat. Everything from, farmer’s market vendors, a cooking demonstration, fair entries and history of corn exhibits there is a little bit for everyone.