Eighty percent of all visual impairment can be prevented or cured. The first step to prevention is awareness. The second step is early detection through vision screening. Early identification leads to a timely referral, professional treatment, and improved or restored sight. Pediatric vision screening detects children at risk for visual conditions with the goal of connecting those in need with an eye care provider for evaluation and treatment.

Who would have thought that a hurricane that made landfall in Florida could have such devastating effects more than one thousand miles away in the hills of Appalachia?
So it is with life. Just as the literal devastation of places so far away from the origination of Hurricane Helene in late September 2024 wreaked destruction, ill-advised life choices can have consequences for not only those who made the choice, but others who might be collaterally affected.

According to Wikipedia, “Missing in action (MIA) is a casualty classification assigned to combatants, military chaplains, combat medics, and prisoners of war who are reported missing during wartime or ceasefire. They may have been killed, wounded, captured, executed, or deserted”. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency researches, investigates, recovers and identifies American service members who never returned from wars and various other operational loss incidents and whose bodies have never been found and identified.

It was an evening to remember. My Mamaw and Papaw had me come to their house to watch a circus on TV. Even though I was very small, I still remember all the colors, clowns, and the daring feats as the trapeze artists flew through the air. Papaw cut up a watermelon and placed the pieces in a pie pan, so as we watched the circus, we ate and spit seeds in the pans. From that time on, I wanted to see another circus.

As many of you are aware, five of our North East Tennessee (Johnson, Carter, Cocke, Unicoi, Washington, and Greene) counties were hit extremely hard, suffering catastrophic impacts from Hurricane Helene. The devastating damage caused by Hurricane Helene is still being evaluated. Our hearts go out to our friends and families affected by the unimaginable floods. Currently, Greene County has no water, as the system was washed away by the Nolichucky River during the flood. However, the counties are strong, and many relief efforts are underway to assist our friends and neighbors.

In 1996, a young man from Union County’s Horace Maynard High School set out to explore the field of diesel mechanics. Since the options for continued education in this field were more limited at that time, this Union County native attended a trade school in Middle Tennessee, later returning to his hometown as he ventured to begin his career.
Securing a position in Knoxville in 1997, this young man began his professional journey as a diesel mechanic and began trudging through the technical and personal skill development that would promise him a long and lucrative career.

In 1940, Agent Moore launched the Mattress Project in Union County, utilizing cotton made available through the surplus Government Commodity Department. Families that once relied on straw-stuffed beds could now enjoy the luxury of cotton mattresses. In its first year, the project produced 931 mattresses, and by 1941, that number had surged to 2,600.

Country Connections By James and Ellen Perry
“Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories sweetened through the ages just like wine
Quiet thoughts come floating down
And settle softly to the ground
Like golden autumn leaves around my feet
I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories
Sweet memories

Luke 19:1-10 KJV – 1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

Do you experience regular back pain? You’re not alone. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, more than 1 in 4 working adults experience low back pain.

Not only is it painful, but studies show that back pain can limit your activities and impact your ability to work. In fact, the health policy institute found it to be a leading cause of work-loss days, with 83 million days of work lost per year.