In past articles I have covered mountain dialect that I have heard used either past or present. I probably heard more than the average person because my parents grew up on isolated farms in east Tennessee where the old way of talking didn’t get diluted by being around a lot of other people. But perhaps you’ve heard some of these and so this time I’m covering words starting with E and F.
I spoke with a gentleman today who told me about a lady he once knew. She was a major investor in stocks, and over the years accumulated a net worth of ten million dollars.
The woman was a “penny pincher”. Her goal became the accumulation of even greater wealth. She could not enjoy and use what she had because of her zeal to get even more.
Sadly, the woman drowned. She didn’t get to enjoy the fruits of her labors. Those who survived her were the ones who got the benefits of she had gained during life.
Did you watch cartoons when you were a kid? My favorite was “The Coyote and The Roadrunner.” In the episode “Scrambled Aches,” Wile E. Coyote was flattened by a steamroller. Recently, I felt like that that had happened to me and I brought it on myself.
Carrying a backpack to school is common for school-age children, but when not done properly, backpack-wearing can impact physical health. Improper backpack-wearing can cause discomfort, musculoskeletal issues, and fatigue. However, there are ways to properly pack and wear a backpack to reduce biomechanical strain. Choosing a backpack and wearing it correctly can help children start to develop responsibility for their own health and wellness and become aware of making healthy choices that will have a positive impact.
Choosing a Backpack
If you are like me, you are not particularly fond of the days between Christmas and New Year’s. The decorations remain, the songs still echo faintly, but the urgency, excitement, and expectation seem to have passed. It’s like the celebration is over, and the future is now waiting to begin. We find ourselves in a sacred in-between, after the miracle, before the movement. The Bible reminds us that God often does some of His most important work in moments just like this.
The Union County Retired Teachers Association shared pepperoni and veggie pizzas from Pizza Plus in Luttrell with the Union County Senior Center last month. Members also enjoyed treats of cookies and candy canes.
Union County Business & Professional Association held the Emily Link Gazebo Lighting in Wilson Park on December 5, 2025, to launch the Christmas holiday celebrations. Carols, cookies, and cocoa drew a crowd to participate in the festivities. Children of all ages enjoyed the cookies, popcorn, hot chocolate, water and candy, as well as Christmas coloring sheets and books. Especially delightful were the cream-filled chocolate chip cookies and brownies.
The Union County Historical Society hosted a holiday gathering at its December 2025 meeting at the Union County Museum. Hosts for the meeting were the officers: President Ellen Perry, Vice President Charles Hamilton, Secretary Jo Gibson, and Treasurer Glenda Cooke. The Board of Directors are Chairman Judson Palmer and members Fred Gibson, Dennis Johnson, Geraldine (Jeri) Lett, Dave Monroe, James A. Perry, Fred H. Simmons, Marilyn Toppins, Veronica Fox (recorder) and Tonya Atkins (accountant).
Luttrell Volunteer Fire Department and their families and friends enjoyed their Christmas dinner at the Plainview Fire Station in mid-December. Fire Chief Brad Woods welcomed everyone and encouraged them to not only enjoy the food but also the location. He also mentioned several of the LVFD blessings including new firefighters, improved equipment, and the expanded Plainview Station. He thanked the cities of Plainview and Luttrell and the many volunteer firefighters and citizens that provided the growth.
In last month’s article I brought you up into the 1950’s through the Democratic Party and after General Dwight Eisenhower retired from the army as supreme commander of all the Allied Forces during WWII. He changed from the Democratic Party, became a Republican and won the Presidency during the 1952 election. As the first article published in the December issue stated during the 1930’s and into the early 1970’s, the Democratic party had some very fine conservative congressmen, senators and governors. Let’s take a look at some who were mostly southern. We’ll start with a governor from the great state of Alabama. His name was George C. Wallace, a man born and raised from the tiny town of Clio, Alabama. George Wallace was short in stature, but big with brains and a large serving of common sense and political savvy.