There are pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins. Here is a different take on pumpkin. I like it because I don't have to bother with a crust.

Mix together first 9 ingredients. Pour into buttered 9 by 13 baking dish. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture. Mix melted butter with nuts and distribute evenly over cake mix. Bake at 350 F. for 50 to 60 minutes or until pumpkin is set. Let cool before serving. If desired, add a spoonful of Cool Whip on each serving.

Terry Washam opened the October UC Board of Education workshop and meeting with the comment that he would follow Roberts Rules of Order and anyone who spoke without recognition from the chairman would be ruled out of order. Then he led the board in recognizing two leaders for their service.

Perfect Attendance
Asa Foust, Alexander Buchkovich, Isabelle Sycz, Lucas Tallent, Liam Sanders, Kaitlyn Lawson, Liam Rindom, John Simmons, Stuart Priest, Walker Zielinski, Ava Bailey, Nolynn Coaker, Kinsley Coffey, Tesla Graff, Emmarie Grace, Devin Keyes, Harley Reed, Dudlee Williams, Noah Williams, Lakelynn Bussell, Marily Gonzales, Logan Wells, Devon Keyes, Haley Reed, Amelia Bass, Lucas Lewis, Malachi Phelps, Landyn Cheatham, Hayden Jones, Brooke Payne, Joseph Jordan, Rayen Dyer, Kendal Atkins, Ellie Braden, Lilah Johnston, Maci Williams, Trayson Wynn, Jaxon Berry, Mackenzie Burbage, Airalynnn Keyes, Faith Merritt, Andrew Phelps, Dawson Walker, Timmy Buckner, Braicen Celani, Joey Gallaher, Chloe Hurst, Beau Lawson, Kenzlee Nicely, MJ Oxley, Melody Rindom, Carley Stansberry, Jack Dyer, Morgan Evans, Isaac Williams, Ava Zielinski, Isaiah Messer, Declane Faulkner, Raven Gibson, Addyson Matthews, Noah Walker

The Union County Community Fund (UCCF), an affiliate fund of the East Tennessee Foundation (ETF), announced its distribution of $1,500 in grants to three organizations serving the citizens of Union County.

The three grants awarded support a range of projects enhancing the quality of life in Union County. The 2025 grant recipients are:

The story behind the opening of trade relations between the United States and Japan is an intriguing one. For context, Japan during the Tokugawa period (1603-1868) had limited to no interactions with the West. At the beginning of the Tokugawa period, Japan traded with European countries such as Spain, Portugal, and England, but due to concerns about religious influence, particularly Christian influence, trade with these countries was cut off. The Japanese would deal only with the Dutch, and even that was restricted to ports in Nagasaki.

Are you in need of prescription eyeglasses but cannot afford them? Do you have eyeglasses that you have taped back together again because they are broken, and you are trying to make do? Did you lose your glasses and are struggling to see? Or do you have a prescription but not the funds to purchase glasses? Well, the Union County Lions Club has you covered - fill out an application and give it to one of your friendly neighborhood Lions Club members!

County Commission completed the purchase of the Hubbs property lower parcel at the October meeting. The core borings on the lower 10-acre parcel of the Hubbs property showed no issues. No sonar services were needed. With the upper tract of 10 acres at a cost of $300K plus 2 acres donated for a drug rehabilitation facility and the lower 10 acres for $250K, the total property would be 22 acres at a cost of $550K. The new jail and rehab center would be on the upper parcel with no immediate plans for the lower parcel.

Psalm 1 is the beginning of a collection of 150 individual Hebrew poems known as The Book of Psalms. Although each Psalm can stand by itself, the Book of Psalms is not intended to be an all-time top 150 Hebrew poetry list. Each poem has been intentionally placed or compiled in its specific order by scribes sometime after the Jewish exiles in Babylon returned to Jerusalem. If one reads and studies the Psalms in their entirety, it becomes clear that the Book of Psalms tells the story of God’s chosen people.

The 2nd Annual Union County Veterans Appreciation Picnic will be held on Saturday, November 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Veterans, families of veterans, and citizens who want to show their appreciation for our veterans are all welcome to this FREE event.

Pitmaster Fred England will start serving his popular pork butt BBQ at 11:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. The Union County American Legion is donating the pork. Local bands will provide entertainment.

Stop by and help celebrate our veterans!

Years ago, UT Extension Agent Carol Sue Hunter asked me to help teach 4-H middle schoolers a lesson on Etiquette. We set up a mock restaurant on the school stage and had our play teaching table manners with the students acting it out.