The Thunder Road Car Show & Swap Meet took place on Saturday, March 21, in Maynardville, with an incredible turnout that brought together car enthusiasts from near and far for a day celebrating automotive culture, community and family fun. This year’s event showcased 262 registered cars, from vintage classics to modern muscle, attracting an estimated 1,500+ spectators who strolled through the show all day, taking in the sights, sounds and energy of the event.

Taking a child to a car show is more than just a way to spend a day. It’s an opportunity to inspire, educate and build lasting memories together. Across our region, car shows bring history and horsepower to life in a way that no classroom or screen ever could. For a child, walking through rows of classic cars, hot rods and custom builds is like stepping into a living museum, where every vehicle tells a story. It’s a hands-on history lesson, allowing kids to see firsthand how automotive design, engineering and culture have evolved over the decades.

On March 19th, the Union County 4H held their Achievement Day at HMMS. Students in the competition attend Maynardville, Luttrell, Paulette, Big Ridge, and Smoky Mountain Homeschool elementaries, and were in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. There were 30 categories that students could compete in. The ones they picked were Companion Animals, Creative Arts and Design, Outdoor Recreation, Animal Science: Horses, Science, and Animal Science: Poultry. The TN State University (TSU) 4H agent, Harley Brummit, arranged the competition and judges.

Nothing says spring like the colorful tulips you find at Oakes Farm. We had four generations walking around the grounds on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The tulip map listed 53 varieties—who knew there were so many different ones?

When asked, “Which is your favorite color?” the answers went something like this: the bright yellow, or purple, or red—oh, the orange! Ah, the pink ones are pretty too … so basically, all of them. Who can pick just one?

Another opportunity for veterans to gather together for fellowship and food is on Saturday, April 11. All veterans are invited to the American Legion Post 212 to meet and chat at 8 a.m. The breakfast line will open at 8:30, and there is always plenty of food for seconds. If you know of any veterans who cannot make the breakfast, please be sure to take them a to-go box! After breakfast, veteran and VA news and updates will be shared. The event concludes by 9:30.

The staff of the Trinity Funeral Home is very supportive of veterans and is pleased to sponsor this breakfast for them.

The obvious solution would be to get an eye exam! What? No vision insurance? Well, that can certainly be a limiting factor for many people who simply cannot afford an eye exam and glasses.

Not long ago I found myself in a conversation with two gentlemen. In the course of the discussion, the men discussed their businesses, houses and real estate.
The more they talked, the more insignificant I felt. It was obvious that their business acumen had made each of them prosper far above my life holdings. Even their utility bills were astronomical compared to mine, due to the large number of square feet of their dwellings. I would be hard pressed to pay either of their electric bills for one month.

Can sneezing cause a herniated disc? For many people with back pain caused by a back pain condition (ie, herniated disc), the problem starts off small and then gradually builds until you start to feel symptoms, such as back pain. For example, let’s say you sneeze and feel a sudden, sharp pain in your back. You may have had an underlying herniated disc, and the sneeze was what triggered it to progress.

By Elliott Brack,
Editor and publisher, https://www.gwinnettforum.com/author/bottomline

About 25 members of Frank Sharp’s 1960 Horace Maynard High School class gathered recently in Maynardville like they do every six months. Some would learn of the death of their classmate, while all recalled memories of him.

“Is that a tornado?”
As a child, I would ask this whenever I saw a whirlwind out on Papaw’s farm. It was fascinating to watch hay spin around up high in the air. For some reason, I had it stuck in my mind that all swirling winds were tornadoes. I even thought this as an adult.