At their August meeting, the Union County Board of Education approved a resolution to support the state’s attempt to investigate teacher workload and to allow districts to decide how often to evaluate high-performing teachers. By the board’s action on the resolution, it may become a part of the TSBA Legislative Program and be supported by districts statewide. Legislation with wide local support usually has a better chance of getting the Tennessee General Assembly approval.

I thought I had a good start on getting ready for a special occasion, but I was wrong. I was more behind than I realized. Have you ever done that? Let me tell you, digging out of that hole wasn’t easy.

The occasion was a party for our grandson Maverick’s first birthday. Naturally, the first one is special, but this one was even more special to us because he was born six weeks early and spent 24 days in the NICU at Children’s Hospital. Obviously, he has been through a lot. In all fairness we all experienced that as well. So, we all needed a special birthday party.

The Union County Commission will have a workshop on Tuesday, September 9, at 7 p.m. to discuss the jail site with the architects. Commission also scheduled a workshop to discuss the implementation of the salary schedule passed in 2023 on Tuesday, September 16, at 5 p.m. Elected officials and county employees are encouraged to attend the salary workshop.

Union County Family and Community Education (FCE) held its August meeting at the Union County Extension Office. This month’s meeting featured a yard sale fundraiser, which proved to be a great success.

Members brought a wide variety of items including clothing, jewelry, children’s items, home décor, and household goods. Community members showed up in wonderful support, browsing the sale and helping raise funds to support our FCE programs. A special clothing deal at noon added excitement, allowing shoppers to fill a grocery bag with clothes for just five dollars.

Save the date for the Union County Business and Professional Association's 34th Annual Banquet to be held on Friday, November 7, with the program starting at 6:45 p.m. and dinner at 7:15.
The dinner will be catered by Pete's Place and the cost is $40.
This year's Man and Woman of the Year will be announced. Proceeds fund the UCB&PA Scholarship Program.

Fred Gibson addressed the Union County Historical Society at the August meeting. He shared pictures and information on the Lost Creek Reunion of 2024 and the Nicholas Gibbs Reunion of 2025.

A new study led by researchers at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health found that adults with newly diagnosed sciatica who initially received chiropractic spinal manipulation (CSM) were significantly less likely to experience opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADES) such as overdose and poisoning over a one-year follow-up, compared to those receiving usual medical care.

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.