Historic Union County

Spreading the good news of Union County

The Union County Board of Education approved two candidates for consideration for director as recommended by the Tennessee School Board Association in a special called meeting on Monday, December 5, 2022. Ten applicants were considered by TSBA and the two recommended were Angela Messer, a Knox County Supervisor of Music, who will interview on Wednesday, December 14, and Gregory Clay, a Grainger County Principal, who will interview on Monday, December 19.

We all know about Black Friday, but did you know that the following day is dedicated to small businesses? Established in 2011 by American Express, and later sponsored by the SBA (Small Business Association), the Saturday after Thanksgiving was designated as a small business shopping day so that small businesses could get in on some of the holiday shopping action, which is the busiest time of the year for retail stores. Here in Union County, we do not have an abundance of retail shops, but we still have plenty of family run mom and pop shops offering giftable items/services.

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, Christmas is fast approaching. With it comes the beloved Christmas festivities! So, what does December have in store for the community? There are plenty of fun, family friendly events this month.

Q: Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from an MD?

A: A referral is usually not needed to see a doctor of chiropractic (DC); however, your health plan may have specific referral requirements. You may want to contact your employer’s human resources department — or the insurance plan directly — to find out if there are any referral requirements. Most plans allow you to just call and schedule an appointment with a DC.

Q: Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?

When I saw the dark, menacing clouds in the distance, my heart filled with dread. That is exactly how I felt as a child when I realized a storm was heading our way.

This salad makes a big batch. It keeps well in the fridge. I make it and much on it for several days. Very good..

In small saucepan, combine the sugar, vinegar, oil and salt.. Bring to a boil over medium low heat, stirring occasionally. Let cool to room temperature. Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Add dressing. Toss to coat. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours. Serve with slotted spoon. Makes 25 servings.

We all have heard adults fussing over a baby, called he/she silly names like “Snookums”, “Itsy-bitsy Sweety-pie”. Well, maybe not those exact words, but you get the idea.

My Dad had such a name for me, “Sally.” My given name is Shirley. My middle name is Delora, his mother’s name. Mother would explode whenever she heard him call me Sally. “We named her Shirley! Don’t call her Sally!”

Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) is my favorite of the pines. It is a beautiful tree to behold with its long straight trunk of map-patterned bark. It and Virginia pine are the most common pines found in our area, and can be found in almost any woodland hike. They are easy to tell apart just by looking at the trunk. Shortleaf usually has few limbs, whereas Virginia is very limby and often has dead stubs sticking out. Also, Virginia tends to hang on to its old pine cones, so they will appear numerous in the tree. Another commonly used name for shortleaf is yellow pine.

The Union County Lions Club annual pecan sale is now underway. You can purchase one pound packages of pecans for $10 per pound at Commercial Bank and First Century Bank (Maynardville Branches only) during their normal business hours. Regular pecans are available in half pieces. Pecans covered with white or amaretto chocolate and chocolate dipped peanuts are available while they last. For additional information contact Ronnie Mincey (865-278-6430).

By Helina Bailey
I am a coffee lover. My morning routine includes a large cup of iced coffee. If I am being honest, it’s more like two or three cups, with a few more in the afternoon. I’m not fancy with my cup o’ Joe. I’ll drink it black in a pinch, but I prefer it iced with a bit of milk. Every once in a while, I will give in to a craving for a decadent frappuccino, when I’m missing the Northwest.

Did cold season glide in on an Autumn breeze this year? It feels as though sickness is in the air, with coughs, sneezes, and the stomach flu finding their way into all of our homes. Many counties in East Tennesse have recently closed due to the high number of students and faculty falling ill. Union County opted to have virtual education this month, but many are still sick, with neighboring counties closing their doors before the holiday.

November 8, 2022, was Election Day, but for Sonja Saylor it was her Graduation Day for East Tennessee Regional Leadership Association. Graduation was held at Hunter Valley Farm in Knoxville, and Ms. Saylor was one of the key planners of the event. She worked with representatives from Knox County and Cocke County to acquire the speaker, design and send the invitations, set the program, and organize a silent auction.

Union County FCE members attended the 40th Annual Tennessee Association for Family and Community Education (TAFCE) Conference held November 13-16, 2022, at the Franklin Cool Springs Marriott. Their theme ‘Saddle Up with FCE’ was played to the hilt with decorations, hospitality room spreads, games, line dancing, and seated line dancing!

FCE members are recognized state wide for the certified volunteer hours they donate, their participation in the cultural arts contest, fashion revue, and creative writing.

Q: Are chiropractors allowed to practice in hospitals or use medical outpatient facilities?

A: Chiropractors are being recognized to admit and treat patients in hospitals and to use outpatient clinical facilities (such as labs, x-rays, etc.) for their non hospitalized patients. Hospital privileges were first granted in 1983.

Q: Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?

When I first saw the two rocks, I thought “Ah man. This is not going to be good for me.” Did you think I was climbing? Nope. I was playing miniature golf in Ormond Beach.
It’s a tradition. Every time we visit our relatives in Florida, we play putt putt at Pirate’s Cove. Believe it or not, I am not that secure in my ability to play miniature golf. It’s not like playing softball. When I walk out onto a ballfield, I am confident on how I will play the game, but when it comes to putt putt or bowling, I just ever know.

Was your Thanksgiving dinner when you were a youngster different than what you celebrate now? Mine was. Mother and Dad are gone as are my two brothers. Back in the day that was it, just the five of us. We seldom had company during the dark days of the Great Depression. It was just the five of us and Banjo, our supposed Beagle.

Do you remember when Bisquick came out with several "impossible pie" recipes? They are super easy to do. However, I had forgotten about them until I was going through my recipe file a while back. I found this one. It's easy . I hope you'll try it.

Turkeys have been in the Americas for a very long time. Fossil records show they were around 11 million years ago and were likely distributed continuously from middle latitudes of North America to northern South America during the Pleistocene Era. The Aztec Indians were the first to domesticate the bird, and it became an important staple to their diet. The Navajo gave up on keeping them away from their scanty desert corn crops, and instead began feeding the turkeys and fence them in. The invading turkeys unwittingly provided a dependable source of protein and ornamental feathers.

If you attended the Veteran’s Day Celebration at Union County High School this month, you know that the auditorium was full. The walls were lined with faculty and visitors, as the student body filled up most of the seating. Everyone present was eagerly looking towards the stage, giving their full attention to the string of speakers paying homage to our nation’s heroes.

Union County High School is buzzing with excitement as students work on various projects throughout the campus. I visited the school this week to introduce myself to the staff and was given a little tour, to see the various departments. While I was there, I stopped by the agriculture department and met with Mr. Edwards, who has recently taken over one of the agriculture classes.