An effective new treatment for chronic back pain targets the nervous system

For people challenged with chronic back pain, a new experimental treatment that focuses on retraining how the back and the brain communicate offers a clinically meaningful effect on pain intensity and a clinically meaningful effect on disability, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. People were happier, they reported their backs felt better and their quality of life was better. It also looks like these effects were sustained over the long term; Twice as many people were completely recovered.

Bowling Shock

Have you ever done something and not known that you did it? I’m talking no clue. Or maybe there was one.
Not many people know this, but my parents were talented bowlers. They not only bowled in a league, but their team won the championship one year. When I went to the bowling alley with them, I would bowl with the other kids. Most of them there were good bowlers. I bet you’re thinking: “I can see that since their parents bowl too.” Unfortunately, that didn’t apply to me. As we say around here: “I couldn’t bowl my way out of a paper bag.”

Accentuate, Eliminate, Tune In

Once again, the Fourth of July holiday hovers just over the horizon. Perhaps by the time you’ve read this, Dear Reader, it will already be past.
It was 247 years ago, after a tedious time of separation from the “Mother Country”, resulting in the Revolutionary War, that our great nation officially came into existence.
Time wreaks many changes. There was a time that the school day began with the reading of a selection from the Bible, prayer was said, and the pledge to the American flag was dutifully recited.

Snake Lore Dispelled

Snakes have fascinated and frightened people for centuries, which has led to some interesting stories about some of them. I did some research on some sayings about snakes I heard as a kid to see how they held up under the science of animal behavior. Here’s a rundown of what I found.

Tossed Tuna Salad

Most of us have a favorite Tuna Salad. Here is another one to add to your recipe box. It contains a few ingredients that you don't usually find in a tuna salad - bean sprouts and spinach. It is great that we can now buy fresh spinach in the produce aisle at the supermarket. You will find the canned bean sprouts in the canned vegetable aisle. Let's get started

Back pain in the workplace

You don’t have to be an ironworker or a lumberjack to be at risk for back injury on your job. Every occupation, however physically undemanding it seems, carries the potential for back injury. Even office work can pose problems. A physically intense job might put a person at greater risk for a serious accident, but the sedentary practice of sitting at a desk all day brings its own set of physical concerns.

Hound Dog

If you had to compare yourself to an animal, do you know what you would choose? I do. I would have to say a hound dog. Why? Because, I’m the type of person who is very keen on the various aromas and scents of our world; both pleasant and stinky
Honestly, I think I am more aware of smells than most people and it makes sense. You see, while my eyesight and hearing has never been that great, my sense of smell is very well developed. Like the brain of a hound dog, my brain has a rather large portion of it devoted to detecting odors.

Exemplary

I attended a meeting in Murfreesboro for work today. Amid the very useful information presented, there was reference made to the state’s past practice of providing Exemplary Educators (EEs) to schools deemed as in danger of failing academically under the former federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.

Tuna Patties

Canned tuna is the star here. Keep a 5 ounce package of instant potato flakes on hand and you are ready to go. You could make your own mashed potatoes , but this is way easier. No peeling. A great way to turn a small can of tuna into a supper delight. Prepare mashed potatoes, decreasing liquid to 1 cup. Cool slightly. Stir in beaten egg, onion and tuna. Shape into 6 patties. In skillet, over medium heat, cook patties in oil until browned, turning once. Top each pattie with 1/2 slice of cheese or tartar sauce. Serve.

Seek the Stillness

Immersing yourself in a forest setting has proven health benefits.

I may be writing this for myself because I am a bona fide Type A person. I’m always engaged in some activity, making lists to check off, with my mind constantly engaged in problem solving or accomplishing some goal. And worthy things do get done for church and family, it can come with the cost of exhaustion, burn out, and self-imposed stress. One way to improve things is to take time to get away to a quiet place and be still for a little while.

Don Dare related the power of prayer at UCBPA Prayer Breakfast

Don Dare shares the Bible that brought him home from Vietnam.

Union County Business & Professional Association welcomed spring with its 26th Annual Prayer Breakfast on Good Friday, 2023. With the theme of “Dare to Begin Again, President Tammie Hill welcomed members, family, and friends to Maynardville Fellowship Baptist Church. Pastor Matt Cooke related several stories and passages from the Bible that told how people should never give in to adversity, but rather face life's challenges armed and supported by their faith.

Gold Star

A Gold Star veteran was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who died or was killed while serving in the military. Those who have died in the line of duty have sacrificed everything. They are initially mourned by the community. But time passes and, over time, they are sometimes forgotten.

National Dairy Month Celebration at the Market

June is National Dairy Month, National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, Fathers Day and more! The market will still have some spring produce like strawberries, lettuces and other greens; late spring produce like broccoli and cabbages are in abundance; the summer produce like tomatoes and summer squash have begun arriving, and we will be celebrating all of them.

Keep your plane trip as enjoyable as possible

We can’t give you advice on how to navigate a TSA security line, other than to say take a deep breath and be patient. But the American Chiropractic Association has pointed out that a long flight can play havoc with tightened muscles and restricted blood flow. When flying, here are some things to remember.

Rock Slide

One of my childhood pleasures was riding my bike on Papaw’s farm. I loved speeding across the gravel driveways. One was on a hill that lead to his barn. I would pedal to the top and ride down it as fast as I could. Also, I flew off of small hills and jumped over little dips in the yard and fields. I was a master at bike riding. Or so I thought.

Picky!

I was, like a lot of children, a picky eater. This was fine with Mother at home, but when it came to the “old line” teachers at school, things were different.
I don’t remember much about lunch during my two weeks of Headstart attendance. The one thing I do remember about food in Ms. Edna Loy’s Headstart class was a cake provided for those of us who had a birthday in July. I remember it had green icing, like grass, and that it was delicious.

Tuna Casserole

This is a different Tuna Casserole. The stove top stuffing makes it special. Very good. In mixing bowl, whisk eggs, salad dressing and water until blended. Add stuffing mix, flaked tuna, red pepper, celery, green onions and 4 tablespoons cheese. Mix lightly. Let stand 3 or 4 minutes to soften stuffing mix. Press mixture firmly onto bottom of buttered 8 inch square baking pan. Bake in preheated 375 F. oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting to serve.

Let There Be Light

Light is something we don’t think about much, but almost everything that’s alive on the planet needs light for sight and energy. Human eats cow, cow eats grass, grass grows on light… you get the picture. Scientists have studied light for centuries, but still don’t fully understand it.

Union County Patriots: State Champs

Tennessee State Champs: Union County High Baseball team

Union County Baseball became the official TSSAA Class 2A State Champs on May 26 with an 8-2 win over Milan at the Reese Smith Jr. Baseball Field in Murfreesboro. The game was tied until the 8th inning when Max Richardson hit several foul balls and finally forced a walk. Max’s “quality at bat” ignited the energy the Patriots needed to drive in six more runs and bring home the state title.

UC Walk 4 Water raised $58k for six wells in Uganda

Submitted by Desiree Hensley
UNION COUNTY, Tenn. (May 23, 2023) – Irwin’s Chapel United Methodist Church raised more than $58,000 during its Walk 4 Water Union County fundraiser on May 21.
All funds raised will go toward the drilling of safe water boreholes for four villages in Uganda. Two additional villages will be identified and assigned to receive boreholes in the coming days.

Pages