My parents where smarter than I gave them credit for when I was child. Why? Because they bought me plastic Easter Eggs. You see, they quickly discovered how much I loved hunting for and finding them. With the plastic ones, I could search for them year-round. That kept me happy and occupied, which kept my parents happy as well. Whenever I found one, I would yell: “AHA!” Of course, this led me to hunt for other things as well. While I was good at it, there was and still is something that I struggle to find.

Assistant District Attorneys General Ron Laffitte, Blake Mullins, and Graham Wilson participated in the "Navigating the Waters of a BUI Prosecution" training on July 16, 2025 in Lexington, KY. The course was a collaborative effort between the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), aimed at strengthening the prosecution of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) cases.

I remember when I had baby teeth, do you? They quickly became cavity prone. It was probably my diet during the Great Depression with a lack of calcium that caused it. Those back molars really hurt as they tried to poke through the gum areas. Of course, that meant the baby teeth had to come out before the permanent teeth came in. The most embarrassing time was when the baby front teeth were pushed out. It took a while for the second ones to appear.

Horace Maynard Middle School recently hosted a well-attended Meet & Greet event for its athletic coaches, and the evening was a huge success. Families, students, and community members packed the cafeteria to put names with faces—including newly hired coaches and returning coaches across nearly every sport offered at HMMS.

This event gave the community a chance to connect with the people who help shape student-athletes both on and off the field. It also served as a great way to kick off the upcoming athletic seasons and build excitement around HMMS’s extracurricular programs.

Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine apples, blackberries, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and lemon zest and juice. Toss together gently. Spoon into 9 by 13-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Grate butter with large holes of box grater into flour mixture. Toss to combine. Stir in buttermilk just until dry ingredients are moistened. Drop eight 1/4 cup scoops of dough over filling. Sprinkle with almonds.

Thousands of years before modern medicine, people depended on medicinal plants to ease pain and aid healing. Our early pioneer ancestors learned from native Indians what plants were useful to treat maladies. Many of these plants are common in our area and easy to identify. Here is a description of some of the easier to find medicinals found in our area.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Also called bloodwort, nosebleed, and soldier’s woundwort. This wildflower has a tight, flat cluster of white, five-petal flowers at the top, with soft, aromatic, fernlike leaves along the stem. It is common in pastures, roadsides, and disturbed places. The leaves and stems were used to promote healing of open wounds and as a diaphoretic (used to increase perspiration).

The University of Tennessee Extension, in partnership with the Union County Health Department, is bringing a valuable program to the community this August and September to help community members manage chronic health conditions.

The Living Well with Chronic Conditions Program is a free six-week series designed to help individuals with chronic illnesses—such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, COPD, and others—build skills to take control of their health and improve their quality of life. Caregivers and family members are also encouraged to participate.

Horace Maynard Middle School wrapped up a highly successful summer school session this June, averaging around 75 students each day—the largest turnout in recent memory. Students came ready to grow academically and personally, and they did just that through a mix of core academics and engaging enrichment activities.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has developed a new systematic review to summarize the evidence for epidural steroid injections and whether they reduce pain and disability for people with certain kinds of chronic back pain. With an epidural steroid injection, a steroid or corticosteroid medication is injected into a part of the spine called the epidural space. The goal is to help reduce certain kinds of back pain.

Bill Claiborne will address the Union County Historical society on preparations in East Tennessee to celebrate the United States 250th birthday. The meeting will begin at 2:30 at the Union County Museum on Sunday, July 20, 2025. The public is invited.