When people ask me where I grew up, I like to answer: “Next to water.” Around here, they usually ask: “Norris Lake?” Then I smile and respond: “Bull Run Creek.”
If my husband Tim is around, he shakes his head and tells me: “It’s not the same. You can’t ride in a pontoon boat or on a jet ski on the creek.” I argue: “It’s still a body of water.” That being said, I have to conceded his point. Lakes are used for recreation; whereas, people in the community went to the creek to either baptize or fish. By the way, those were the only times I was allowed to go to there.

To some distressed individuals enduring significant opposition to their new way of living, Peter offered these words of comfort: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous” (I Peter 3:12). This conveys a reassuring message that God is always watching over those who strive to do what is right. This is the core message of Peter's first letter to Christians trying to live out their faith in a merciless Roman Empire. His letter was meant to encourage them in the face of suffering and to challenge them to continue doing what is right, even when it is difficult.

With aging comes a tendency for the head and the neck to shift forward from the shoulders. Over time, this tendency will make the upper back more rounded and noticeable. This area of the back is sometimes referred to as the “hump pad,” and it’s a result of the body depositing fat over the newly exposed area. More technically it’s known as upper thoracic hump, a reference to the thoracic part of the spine.

Experience a timeless blend of traditional tea paired with a historic journey on a vintage train at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Located in Chattanooga, the trip is just two hours away and is the perfect way to celebrate a special birthday, anniversary, or just a relaxing day. Tea is served on fine china with exquisite linen and lace tablecloths. Some attendees dress in Victorian attire with long dresses and large hats but there is no dress code required. The tea occurs most every weekend and some weekdays at 11:00 AM.

Mayor Jason Bailey enumerated a multitude of projects that are in progress in Union County when he addressed the UC Business & Professional Association in February at the Maynardville City Hall.

The Union County Board of Education addressed two change orders for the new middle school during its meeting in February. The Lewis Group and Merit Construction requested an extension to the contract completion due to the snowy and rainy January weather, combined with the tremendous amount of time spent on removing rock and addressing voids and a cave at the site. The board agreed to an extension but commented that hopefully construction would not be extended for the full 30-day request.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, in cooperation with Union County Solid Waste Authority, will host a household hazardous waste collection on Saturday, March 22, at the Wolf Road Convenience Center at 295 Wolfe Road from 8 a.m. to noon. Household chemicals, cleaners and automotive products will be accepted.
Household hazardous waste is defined as corrosive, flammable, toxic or reactive materials used in your home, car or truck, or garden and lawn that is unwanted/unusable.

Plainview Board of Aldermen continued to discuss the wording of Ordinance 165 at their February meeting. At a workshop held the prior week, Alderman Rebecca Lock agreed to ask the planner, Jordan Rockwell, to formulate an amended Ordinance 165 that would further limit the number of single wide mobile homes and establish a minimum number of acres for each placement. Ordinance 165 contains language to allow multiple dwellings without subdividing on large tracts of land in the AR-1 zone only.

At the February meeting, the Union County Commission voted to revisit the issue of the position of constable in Union County. At the January meeting, the commission had voted to abolish the position. However, after a representative of the East Tennessee Constables Association and other community members addressed the commission and requested that a dialogue of expectations be opened between the constables and the commission, Commissioner Eddie Simpson asked that the issue be put on the March agenda for first reading and ample discussion. The motion was approved 13 for and 3 against.

Our 6th grade students at Horace Maynard Middle School are competing in the annual Science Fair. The top six winners will be judged on February 27 by Clinch-Powell Education Cooperative. The two school-wide winners will each receive $150 and advance to the 12th Annual Regional Science Fair at LMU on March 7, where they'll compete against 6th graders from six counties.