At this year’s Union County Heritage Festival, Thunder Road Printing & Graphic Design, while promoting their products and services, was doing a fund raiser for Union County Children’s Charities, Inc. This charity has an annual event called “Under The Tree Project”. Headed by president Gina Buckner, this is a program focused on providing Christmas gifts to Union County children who otherwise would have none. In an effort to raise funds to purchase gifts, Thunder Road Printing & Graphic Design, for a donation, was having a drawing for a large print of Smoky, the UT mascot.

When the bell rang at Oak Grove School Sept. 30, a hush fell over the assembled crowd, not students this time but a community of volunteers, sponsors and well-wishers celebrating the grand opening of the renovated building.

“We’re going to ring the bell and take up books,” said Preservation Union County board member Betty Bullen. “Who remembers hearing that in a school like this?”

Bring your family and enjoy arts, crafts, music, and activities for all ages. Music is on three stages with the main stage in the gazebo. So grab a lawn chair or use one of ours, Following is a listing of the music line-up:

Gazebo

10:15 Stoney Point Bluegrass Band (formerly Hwy 33)
11:15 Wild Blue Yonder Band
12:00 Talk Around on Dr. Ralph Stanley
12:15 Stoney Point Bluegrass Band (formerly Hwy 33)
1:15 Wild Blue Yonder Band
2:15 Lakeway Twirlers w/ Caller: Mike Hoose
3:15 The Atkins

Melanie Dykes just bought a new toolkit, pink of course, with a matching pink drill. But she's not just doing DIY projects at home. She bought the toolkit so she can take her service to Union County's senior citizens to the next level.

This Tennessee Historic Marker is located on U. S. 170, Hickory Valley Road in Union County.

What do you do with overripe bananas? I make banana bread, banana pancakes or banana cookies. I have good recipes for all three. Let's talk about bananas.

All the prophets in the Old Testament prophesied of the coming of Christ. Matthew chapter 4 verse 23 refers to Jesus in this way: and Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

You still have time to enter a Heritage Festival contest. All registration forms are available at unioncountyheritagefestival.com and at the Union County Extension Office (4H) or Maynardville Public Library.

Hay Bale Contest-Decorate your business or yard by October 3. Must use a hay bale.

Pie Baking- Bake your favorite pie and bring to UT Extension on Friday, October 6.

Photo – Photograph a Union County person, place, or scene that shows coming home. Take your photos to the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, October 4, by 4 pm.

Union County High School football coach Larry Kerr and son Joseph Kerr came to Union County with one mission: to rebuild the Patriots football program. And they'll be the first to tell you it's going to take some time.

Russell Burnett, son of George and Clara Russell Burnett and brother to Cila, Clinton and Bertha, grew up in Big Valley. Like so many other families, their 45-acre farm and home was purchased by TVA for $1,100 in 1934 for the Norris Dam project. He is one of those persons who holds no hard feelings against TVA. He says his dad was able to purchase a better farm between Maynardville and Luttrell, the Goldie Tharp farm, for $800–and that TVA even paid his dad for the Sarvis (Serviceberry) trees on his farm.