Vice Mayor Richard Phillips presided over the Plainview Board of Aldermen at the August meeting at the Plainview Community Building. Prior to the meeting, the board held a public hearing on Ordinance 168 to rezone Parcel 064.00 on Map 78 from R1 to AR1. During the meeting, the ordinance was approved on the second reading.

You may have noticed trees with end branches covered with a gaum of spidery webbing. The cause is a pesky little caterpillar called Fall Webworm, whose population seems to be up this year.

Seems like whenever I write about a tree pest it involves a foreign invader that got loose on us. But Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea) is actually a native species that shows up this time of year. The simplest way to describe them is to go through their life cycle.

Horace Maynard Middle School has been named a 2024-2025 National Beta School of Merit. The school earned this recognition by offering National Beta to all eligible grade levels on campus.
The National Beta School of Merit Award honors clubs that show outstanding dedication to academic excellence. To receive this distinction, schools must include members from all eligible grades in their Beta program.

It’s not easy being me. For one, I struggle to do anything that’s simple. It’s as if my brain says: “Don’t worry. You’ll find a way to make it harder than it’s supposed to be.”

On Wednesday, September 10. from noon until 5 p.m., the Union County Health Department will hold a Health Clinic at Heritage Park on 115 Durham Drive in Maynardville. Services include testing for syphilis, HIV, and Hepatitis C.
Visits for PrEP, DoxyPEP, and Hepatitis C treatment are also available. For more information, please call the Health Department at 865-995-3867.

Picture it—Knoxville, Tennessee, 2025. My nephew, that woman I married and I were eating in a popular local restaurant. As part of her meal, that woman ordered pancakes and asked for syrup to go with them.
Remember that we are in the Appalachian area. While noisy restaurants can make it difficult to hear, local dialect can add to the problem.
Consider—how do you pronounce the word “Syrup”? (Sir-up”? “Surp”?
“Seer-up”?)
As the waitress flew by on one of her busy treks, the woman hailed her and asked for more “surp”. She was even holding the container in her hand.

When I think of my mother-in-law's cooking, I think of potatoes, pancakes and goose. believe that Myrtle was basically a good cook, but not with anything involving these three items. When she came to live with us at Pulaski, she seldom volunteered to do any cooking.

Peeling potatoes was her favorite chore. When it was time to fix supper, she would cheerily announce, "I'll do the potatoes." There was no stopping her. She really wanted to peel the potatoes. Myrtle was good at it. The peelings would roll away from her paring knife in thin curls. She wasted very little. You could use her in a training video. She peeled potatoes that well. There was one problem. She peeled lots of potatoes, perhaps about five pounds at a time. That was too much for three adults and one baby for supper.

Keeping your cutting boards clean and in good condition is essential for food safety. Over time, boards can develop deep grooves, cracks, or warping that harbor bacteria and increase the risk of foodborne illness. While there isn’t a specific timeline from University Extension services for replacing cutting boards, following these best practices can help ensure a safe kitchen.

4 apples
1/4 cup toasted walnuts 1//4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, room temperature 14 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup apple cider 1/4 cup honey

Core and scoop out centers of apples, leaving a 1/2-inch shell. Mix nuts, brown sugar, butter and cinnamon. Spoon into apples. Mix apple cider and honey. Pour over apples. Bake in preheated 350 F. oven for 40 minutes. Makes 4 servings.

Union County Family and Community Education (FCE) members are gearing up for a busy fall filled with service projects, educational opportunities, and special events.

At the August 21 meeting, the group will host a yard sale fundraiser at the Union County Extension Office from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Proceeds will support community programs, educational outreach, and service projects throughout the year.