Fourth District Commissioner Danny Cooke received unanimous support at the November Union County Commission meeting for his resolution to initiate an economic impact study looking at improvements to Big Ridge State Park.

On October 30, 2018, led by Commissioner Danny Cooke, a fundraising campaign was announced to restore Norton Mill.

Among those pictured here are: Mayor Jason Bailey, Josh Jones, Union County Business and Professional Association President Martin Shafer, Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Skibinski, County Commissioners Danny Cooke, Debra Keck, Sidney Jessee, Jr., and Dawn Flatford, Roger Flatford, Billy Myers, and James “Rick” Riddle of the Winery at Seven Springs.

The Recreation Hall at Big Ridge State Parked was packed on the 18th of October as concerned members of the community provided input to the Park’s Business and Management Plan. This plan is updated every five years and it provides the framework for future improvements to the park. Recognizing that place based economic investment is fundamental to the county's economic future, individuals attending Thursday evening’s meeting stressed that one of the most important investments in Union County to bring jobs and prosperity is Big Ridge State Park.

Big improvements are afoot at Big Ridge State Park, and park superintendent Keith Montgomery said what park guests see now is just the beginning.

Montgomery has been superintendent for about three years now, and along with park staff he's been working to address a list of issues with infrastructure and aesthetics at the park. At the top of the list are safety concerns, followed by subjects of complaints from visitors.

"It's a menagerie of reasoning," said Montgomery.

Not too long ago, I was honored to get to serve as hostess at the first Big Ridge Park Welcome Center. Many people stopped in during the Big Ridge Park Annual Blue Grass Festival. Some people stopped in just to see inside the building or to talk Union County history. One of the things I learned, or was reminded of, is that this little building was the first building in Union County to have electric lights switched on as a result of establishment of the Tennessee Valley Authority and the construction of Norris Dam. I did say “lights”–the building has two overhead lights.