This is a tribute I wrote for my sweet daddy, who recently passed away.
When I was first asked to write this by my family, I wondered how I was going to do it. Even though I am a writer, I couldn’t seem to find the words to do my daddy justice. So, I prayed about it. Then the Lord placed a memory and an image into my mind and heart.
The memory was of daddy and me practicing softball. That was some of our best father/daughter time. He wasn’t just training me on how to be a better ball player, but he was also teaching me important life lessons.

I look up at the sky and see white and dark clouds moving southeast like a herd of sheep being driven by the winds behind the weather front that passed over East Tennessee.
The frontal passage from the northwest brought in much colder temperatures. It was 36 degrees at 10 a.m. on this late November morning.
Our family got up early. Mama had breakfast ready at 6 a.m.
Today is a very important day in our way of life in 1958. It’s hog killing day.

I like carrots any way you fix them. I am always looking for something colorful for the relish tray. Here is a good candidate

Sometimes life can be like the mechanic that disassembled an entire car to find the rattle. It turns out the rattle was caused by a marble in the ashtray. To illustrate, let me share with you, Dear Reader, a grave tale.
My mother passed away in June 2004. One of her favorite flowers was the hydrangea. My sister Anna Mae chose one of Mother’s purple outfits for her burial, and the florist did a great job matching blue/purple hydrangeas for the arrangements.

A hero is a person, real or imaginary, noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose—especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.
Our need for a hero is so strong that in the absence of a real person we will invent fictional characters to satisfy our need to be rescued. Sometimes we will elevate a gifted athlete, actor or other famous personality to hero status irrespective of any actual heroic sacrifice, simply because we need a hero.

I’m going to sound like an old cranky dude for beginning a sentence with the time worn phrase “when I was young, I would…” fill in the blank. Well so be it. When I was young, we played outside, not necessarily because we wanted to but because that was all there was to do and our mom often shoved us out the door. I got exercise and was appreciating natural systems like forests and streams and didn’t know it, I just thought I was having fun. Kids today are the most technologically connected generation ever, but also the most disconnected to the natural world. That bodes ill for their long-term health and happiness, as well as the health of the planet.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — State Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, and State Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, announce that construction of the final phase of a State Route 33 widening project in Union County is scheduled to begin in April.

The 5.2-mile project will widen a portion of the highway from two lanes to five lanes from the Knox County line to south of State Route 144 in Union County, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

A community is made up of people, not city or county boundaries. Communities bring people together and allow them to build up, educate, fellowship, and ultimately live life with one another.
Dr. Sam Smith is one member of the local community that has made her way back and has this same idea in mind.

Programs to be Held Throughout the Summer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Gardens, Knoxville, is excited to announce that the 2022 UTG Summer Camp registration is open. A long-standing summer staple for many families in the surrounding community, summer camp at the UT Gardens is an opportunity for young learners to explore the gardens, experience the joy of summer, and exemplify what it means to be engaged in the natural world.

UT Extension Union County and Union County Soil Conservation service have partnered to thank Union County Farmers for their service to our community. On Friday, April 1, 2022 free breakfast will be served to any farmer at Union County Farmers Co-op from 8:30-10:30 am. Our world depends on farmers for survival, and we’d like to say “Thank you!”