Persimmons are a popular food source for many wildlife species such as fox, opossum, deer, raccoons, and many types of birds. Humans find them tasty as well if gathered at the right time. If you want to try some, be sure and take along the kids or grandkids, as they benefit from a shot of nature every now and then.
True story—A gentleman was sitting in my office a few weeks ago discussing an upcoming medical procedure. The man said his doctor told him, “We’ve performed this procedure on a dead person and it was successful.”
Had I been this man, I would have asked my doctor, “Was the person alive before the procedure was performed? Was death the desired outcome for the patient? Did the procedure somehow restore the dead to life?”
In 1924, a handful of local businessmen founded Home Federal Bank with one goal in mind: Create more homeowners. Their belief was that homeowners stabilized and improved the community. In other words—they had a stake in the future of Knoxville. For over 100 years East Tennessee and Home Federal have grown together. And while Home Federal has grown from a relatively tiny $500,000 in assets to a bank boasting almost $3.5 billion, they have never outgrown East Tennessee.
In the 1941 records of Union County Extensions, the 4-H programs began to expand into local schools. The inaugural 4-H Chick Program was launched in Union County, providing 50 chicks to seventeen 4-H students, who received a loan of $9.50 to cover the cost of the chicks and feed. The first Chick Sale took place in 1955, featuring 125 pullets that averaged $1.25 each.
Set oven rack about 6 inches from heat source. Arrange trimmed asparagus in a single layer in a baking dish. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil. Toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil until just tender, 6 to 8 minutes, depending on thickness. Meanwhile, stir together bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon oil and crushed red pepper in a bowl. Cut the ball of fresh mozzarella cheese into 1/4 inch thick slices. Arrange slices over asparagus, overlapping as needed. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture over cheese. Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 1 minute more.
On November 9, the Saturday before Veterans Day, Union County Veterans, their family members and anyone who simply wants to show their appreciation for our Veterans will gather at Wilson Park from 11:00-3:00. The American Legion Post 212 will supply 8 smoked pork butts, the 33 Diner will provide chicken nuggets and mashed potatoes. Rounding out the menu will be the Veteran Day standby: hotdogs! And you can’t beat the price! It’s all free.
High-heeled shoes may be one way to make a fashion statement, but any chiropractor will tell you it’s a risky way. Excessive wear of high-heeled shoes puts not only a woman’s feet at risk, but also her knees, hips and back. And it’s not just chiropractors who bemoan the perils of the high heel. Podiatrists, doctors who specialize in treatment of the foot, also have long warned against them.
The Union County Roy Acuff Museum was the place to be on October 5, 2024, during the Union County Heritage Festival if you wanted to view the exquisite handiwork of area quilters. Draped along the museum's upper floor were a spectrum of colors arranged and organized by Ellen Perry and Patricia Campbell. Among the 58 quilts were three antique quilts including a 103 years old hand made treasure and a vintage one quilted by the Amish. Ribbons were handmade to reflect the art of quilting and sewing. The judges bestowed these artistic awards to quilters in an assortment of categories.
The Union County Heritage Festival Olympics delivered another exciting round of competition on October 5, 2024, with folks showing off their skills in a series of traditional contests. Sixty-five participants of all ages participated in the event. The event featured the Nail Driving Contest, Feed Bag Toss, and Skillet Toss, where winners emerged after intense battles for the top spots.
Nail Driving Contest
Is there a house that you know of that is rumored to be haunted? Did you go inside of it? I went inside of one. Let’s just say it wasn’t what I expected.