Fall is here and its finally time for the hearty autumn dishes we all love. We’ve waited all year long, unable to use our ovens for fear of heating up our homes during the blazing summer. As it cools down, even with the surprise hot days here and there, many of us are geared up to cook our hearts out. With Thanksgiving around the corner, I’ve certainly got pumpkin pie and roasted turkey on my mind.

Trunk or Treat this Halloween was a hit! If you missed it, you might catch it next year. The unprecedented turnout has the Chamber of Commerce wanting to make this event an annual treat for Union County, but the feasibility of this depends on volunteers and donations. All the candy handed out was donated and the “trunks” were set up by local businesses.

It has long been known that there is an association between food and pain, as people with chronic pain often struggle with their weight. Researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience may have found an explanation in a new study that suggests that circuitry in the brain responsible for motivation and pleasure is impacted when someone experiences pain. “These findings may reveal new physiological mechanisms linking chronic pain to a change in someone’s eating behavior,” said Paul Geha, M.D., lead author on the study published in PLOS ONE.

When I was a girl, I absolutely loved to rough-house with my uncle, who was a few years older than me. We had so much fun until Mamaw Jo fussed at us to stop because we were “getting on her last nerves.” To be honest, I felt bad for my Mamaw Jo. She had no idea the fun she was missing out on. Ironically, years later, I was the one trying to stop the fun.

Back a long time ago when I was much younger, I participated in a United Way phone survey. We had high hopes that the survey would yield good results. It helps to know where the emphasis should be for the most effective use of donated funds. A phone survey would be a good tool.
I was an active participant in the local United Way, working on the Speakers Bureau, for instance. When someone suggested a Phone Survey. I volunteered to head the project. That meant finding people to do the survey as well as formulate questions to be asked.

Carrots and pineapple go good together. What would we do without pineapple? It certainly gets along well with carrots. Try this recipe when you are looking for a change. It is good.

I’ve written several articles about our native white tail deer, and every time I do my research I get inundated with information. White tail deer is the most popular game animal in eastern U.S., and there’s been a lot written about it.

Union County residents want children in need around the world to receive a gift this Christmas season and to experience the love and hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

By Helina Bailey
Most of us are familiar with halfway homes. Unfortunately, that’s because many of us have been touched by addiction in some way, shape, or form.
We have lost a loved one to addiction, have a friend who has lost a loved one, or have watched it impact our community. In many instances, addiction is much closer to us than we would like to acknowledge.

At the October meeting, the Union County Board of Education got a glimpse of the preliminary development of the new middle school. The Lewis Group, architects for the project, shared a preliminary plan for the property plat and a block drawing for the building. The school will be on John Deere Drive on property located behind the present Goodwill business.