Every year at Christmas time, our veterans get together and try to make the holiday season a little bit nicer for those less fortunate. The members of the American Legion New Liberty Post 212 on Veterans St in Maynardville gather each year at this time to provide toys for Maynardville pre-school kids as well as boxes of food, games and toys for families. Recipients may be veterans, widows or any folks in need. This year, these were distributed on December 16. John Langley delivered Christmas boxes to folks in Sharps Chapel while Darrell White took boxes to Loyston.

The 4-H Companion Animal and Outdoor Adventure groups met together at the Union County Extension Office afterschool for a service project. The December service project was to make dog treats for the animals at the Union County humane Society. 4-Her’s were eager to make oatmeal, banana, and peanut butter flavored treats! Some even took a treat or two home for their dogs to try.

Producers in UNION County are eligible to apply for 2023 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on full season improved pasture. On November 14, 2023, Union County reach a D3, Extreme Drought on the U.S. Drought Monitor, which may them eligible to file an LFP application with the Farm Service Agency.

LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land.

Air travel is among the biggest challenges we face to our spinal health. Long hours in a cramped airliner often lead to back pain. here are some steps you can take to avoid that pain during your next flight.

Stand up straight and feel the normal “S” curve of your spine. Then use rolled-up pillows or blankets to maintain that curve when you sit in your seat. Tuck a pillow behind your back and just above the beltline and lay another pillow across the gap between your neck and the headrest. If the seat is hollowed from wear, use folded blankets to raise your buttocks a little.

The prophets looked ahead and held a watch so true.
To see His incarnation that would soon come into view.
The single star announced His birth, with the angels, just a few.
To the shepherds on the hillside who would soon be watching too.
The disciples watched His life, and His death upon the cross,
And saw the resurrection as hope for pain of loss.

“That’s it!” Molly claps her hands. “I know how to get us a new star! I’m gonna pray for one!”
“What?” Momma asks.
“Jesus had me see that falling meteor so I would pray for the miracle of us getting one. And I’m gonna start now!”
She closes her eyes and cups her hands under her chin. “Dear Jesus, please send us a new star for our manager in time for Christmas. That way people can see you. Amen.”
“Amen,” Her mother repeats behind her.

As I write, the song “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” is on my mind. In reality, other than decorations and the endless Hallmark movies, and the absence of leaves on the trees, it wouldn’t look like Christmas at all. There is no snow, though the temperature is dropping below freezing, and a brisk wind is blowing, making the air feel colder due to the wind chill factor. A more appropriate song might be “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”.

Leaving family and really good friends behind in Idaho was searingly painful. But to age gracefully, we just did not want to do it shoveling and plowing snow, living through cloudy days and smoke-smoggered skies from fires in surrounding states and Canada.

Some cooks today buy a couple packages of chocolate pudding and maybe make their own pastry. However, that doesn't compare with this velvety chocolate pie. Heat milk in saucepan. Add baking chocolate, stirring constantly until chocolate is melted. Blend together sugar, flour and salt.

I like hearing the song 12 Days of Christmas, which generates imagery of a lot of interesting people and animals. While it is considered a nonsensical sort of song, it has been suggested that it’s actually a secretly coded song of Christian instruction.