Historic Union County

Spreading the good news of Union County

If things were different in your life, what would you do?

We often think about what we could do if we were millionaires? What would we do if we found our self in extreme poverty? In either situation, what would we do? The fact is, we are who we are and happiness is not about being wealthy. Happiness comes from being who you are, being content with yourself and treating your friends and neighbors the same way you would like to be treated.

Celeste Giordano, daughter of Union County Business and Professional Association's (UCBPA) founding member Emily Link, spoke at the association's October 2017 meeting. Celeste, a mentor and master sales strategist, is in the business of helping others realize their dreams of running a successful business. She spent 36 years in the direct sales market and about four years ago she reinvented herself and went into business coaching. She normally hosts workshops for business entrepreneurs, corporations and direct sales teams.

The Union County Heritage Festival Committee thanks all of our sponsors and hopes that you will shop local.

We would like to thank everyone who stopped by our booth at the 13th Annual Union County Heritage Festival on Saturday, October 7, 2017. This year our booth included a sign up for our weekly newsletter, as well as, special guest, Shirley McMurtrie. Shirley is a regular contributor on www.HistoricUnionCounty.com. Each week, she shares a story of her life and one of her special recipes. Most of the artwork that accompanies her articles are hand drawn by her.

Take one step into Dr. Ronnie Mincey's office in the Union County Public Schools' central office, and his role model will be obvious. Pictures and portraits of President Abraham Lincoln cover every surface, including the one pictured here, which Mincey describes as "the most comforting picture," a gift from Donnie Tharpe.

"You can look at it and think, 'What would you do if you were in this predicament?'" Mincey said.

Career and Technical Education, that block of high school programs that some of us used to call "vocational," is not just for shop class anymore. These days, students are using CTE at Union County High School to launch themselves into skilled, technical jobs right out of high school, and the fields represented may surprise you.

A recent conversation I had at the grocery store prompted this column. I believe that conversation certified the need and my obligation to your grandchildren–I don’t have any grandchildren-- to share this important survival knowledge. To assume we will always be able to buy everything we need at a local air-conditioned fancy grocery store is assuming a lot. Those of us who still remember how to do some things our parents and grandparents taught us need to share it. Some of the reasons our early schools were so successful is that older students taught the younger ones.

What did you have for breakfast this morning? Sausage gravy and biscuits? Ham and eggs? Lucky you! What did I have for breakfast back in the Great Depression days of 1934? It wasn't that, for sure. Did I have cornflakes and ice cold milk? Or Frosted Flakes? Or one of the many boxed cereals on the Food City shelves today? I wouldn't have known what you were talking about.

Many times, we read the Scripture without grasping the understanding the true message. After many years of pastoring a little church and studying the Bible, I have come to realize that God will give us understanding if we will seek for the Spiritual meaning.

I believe the Holy Scriptures were written by men who were inspired by God through the Holy Spirit to write. In order for us to have understanding, the Scripture must be spiritually discerned.

At this year’s Union County Heritage Festival, Thunder Road Printing & Graphic Design, while promoting their products and services, was doing a fund raiser for Union County Children’s Charities, Inc. This charity has an annual event called “Under The Tree Project”. Headed by president Gina Buckner, this is a program focused on providing Christmas gifts to Union County children who otherwise would have none. In an effort to raise funds to purchase gifts, Thunder Road Printing & Graphic Design, for a donation, was having a drawing for a large print of Smoky, the UT mascot.

Bring your family and enjoy arts, crafts, music, and activities for all ages. Music is on three stages with the main stage in the gazebo. So grab a lawn chair or use one of ours, Following is a listing of the music line-up:

Gazebo

10:15 Stoney Point Bluegrass Band (formerly Hwy 33)
11:15 Wild Blue Yonder Band
12:00 Talk Around on Dr. Ralph Stanley
12:15 Stoney Point Bluegrass Band (formerly Hwy 33)
1:15 Wild Blue Yonder Band
2:15 Lakeway Twirlers w/ Caller: Mike Hoose
3:15 The Atkins

Melanie Dykes just bought a new toolkit, pink of course, with a matching pink drill. But she's not just doing DIY projects at home. She bought the toolkit so she can take her service to Union County's senior citizens to the next level.

This Tennessee Historic Marker is located on U. S. 170, Hickory Valley Road in Union County.

What do you do with overripe bananas? I make banana bread, banana pancakes or banana cookies. I have good recipes for all three. Let's talk about bananas.

All the prophets in the Old Testament prophesied of the coming of Christ. Matthew chapter 4 verse 23 refers to Jesus in this way: and Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

You still have time to enter a Heritage Festival contest. All registration forms are available at unioncountyheritagefestival.com and at the Union County Extension Office (4H) or Maynardville Public Library.

Hay Bale Contest-Decorate your business or yard by October 3. Must use a hay bale.

Pie Baking- Bake your favorite pie and bring to UT Extension on Friday, October 6.

Photo – Photograph a Union County person, place, or scene that shows coming home. Take your photos to the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, October 4, by 4 pm.

Union County High School football coach Larry Kerr and son Joseph Kerr came to Union County with one mission: to rebuild the Patriots football program. And they'll be the first to tell you it's going to take some time.

Russell Burnett, son of George and Clara Russell Burnett and brother to Cila, Clinton and Bertha, grew up in Big Valley. Like so many other families, their 45-acre farm and home was purchased by TVA for $1,100 in 1934 for the Norris Dam project. He is one of those persons who holds no hard feelings against TVA. He says his dad was able to purchase a better farm between Maynardville and Luttrell, the Goldie Tharp farm, for $800–and that TVA even paid his dad for the Sarvis (Serviceberry) trees on his farm.