The 14th Annual Union County Heritage Festival is loaded with ways to fiddle around on Saturday, October 6. With three venues and three music stages, there are sights, sounds, and activities for all ages. The 2018 Festival kicks off a two year tribute to Roy Acuff, Maynardville native and country music legend, who was hailed as the King of Country Music. The theme of Fiddlin’ Around reminds us of the importance of leisure time as well as Acuff’s favorite instrument.

On Saturday, August 25, 2018, Dr. Jason Bailey was sworn into office as Mayor of Union County. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Bailey to discuss his ideas and plans for the county. After our discussion, it became obvious that Dr. Bailey and HistoricUnionCounty.com have one goal in common: to promote all the positive attributes of Union County.

I recently sat down with the Director of Schools, Dr. Jimmy Carter, Union County High School’s CTE Director, Brian Shoffner, and Union County High School Teacher, Danny Satterfield, to talk about a new and exciting program called TCAT. The funny little acronym stands for Tennessee College of Applied Technology. TCAT is a post-secondary educational opportunity for graduating high school students as well as adults with a high school diploma or GED wanting vocational training.

CEASE is getting ready to paint the town purple this October. In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the organization will place purple ribbons on light poles in Maynardville to raise awareness in the community.

“Fiddling Around” is the theme of this year’s Union County Heritage Festival to be held on Oct. 6th, at Wilson Park, and it is also the title of the 2018 Festival Collectible Print. When asked to paint something to go along with this year’s theme, it didn’t take me long to come up with an idea.

A community thrives on leaders taking initiative and pushing themselves and others to full potential. Leadership Union County (LUC) is a local organization that focuses on developing leaders to help create a unified and progressive community by identifying opportunities and challenges, developing strategies, and providing resources to achieve community goals. LUC’s charter class began in 2000. On September 20th, Leadership Union County is honored to have added six graduates to the leadership program.

It is tradition to ring in autumn with trips to the fairs across East Tennessee, especially as a 4-Her. This year the Tennessee Valley Fair was held from September 7-16 with much participation from Union County 4-Her’s. On Thursday the 13th, Union County sent two teams of 4-H members to the Kerr Building to bake biscuits for fair goers all the whilst learning themselves, cooking together, kitchen safety, mannerisms, and more. The teams were assisted by volunteer leader Elizabeth Tindell as well as a few parents who stayed to help as needed.

Claude Kelly, father of Bruce and Ruth Kelly Collins, knew his nearby friends and neighbors needed not to travel for miles for some good cornbread and biscuits. In the late 1930s or early 1940s, Mr. Kelly had the opportunity to purchase a grain mill that could be powered by a gasoline engine. The more power of the engine, the more it cost and the faster the grain could be ground. No one really remembers just what size engine Mr. Kelly used to grind the grain, but it is believed his engine would grind about 15 turns [bushels] per hour.

My cousin, Sharon DeVault, had a case of reel love that turned into real love. It is quite the tale. Some may say Sharon and Wayne’s story of how they came together was one of chances and coincidences. I say it is one of how God moves in mysterious ways.

It started in 1966 at Sharon’s church, Cedar Ford in Union County. Their new pastor, RC Harless, told her about a young man who attended his previous church: New Corinth in Grainger County. His name was Wayne Roach and he was serving in Korea. He was very homesick and longed to attend the church services of home.

Like all good lies, it started as a little thing!

PART 1

A Serpents Tale (NOT)

Like all good lies, it started as a little thing! The master of deception doing what he does best. Just in case you don’t know the story, here is the introductory part from the Bible: