I am familiar with the visual arts (painting, sculpture, ceramics) and the performing arts (music, dance, drama). But Culinary Arts? What exactly are ‘Culinary Arts’? Cooking? Heck, most of us can cook. Well, at least a little bit. (Popping popcorn or heating a Healthy Choice meal in the microwave do not count).
The Poet Voices will start this special concert with a sing-along of famous hymns and will then introduce the Union County High School Band, under the direction of Hunter Collins. The band will open with the National Anthem, accompanied by the Poet Voices bass singer KC Armstrong, a former member of the US Air Force Singing Sergeants and, later, the US Army Chorus.
Tennessee is called the Volunteer State because people in this state, the people in this county, step up to help one another. The Union County Lions Club is looking for some cheerful volunteers to assist with various functions of their fundraiser, the Freedom Concert with the Poet Voices and the Union County High School Band, on May 18th. The monies raised will provide eye exams, glasses and sometimes hearing aids to Union County residents. Doors open at 6:00 and we are looking for folks to take tickets, hand out free CDs, sell tickets at the door and various other tasks as needed.
In 2023, UCHS tennis barely had enough players to compete. This year, however, team effort and good coaching took them to the semifinals of the Division 1 Class A District Semifinal on May 2-3 at Pigeon Forge High School.
Third seed doubles team junior Jace Walker and senior Dalton Schreieck for Union County breezed past Pigeon Forge’s sixth seed Hutchison and Bohanan in the first round 8-4. Then Walker and Schreick eliminated Pigeon Forge’s #2 seed Naas and Lopez 8-6 to advance to the semifinal round to play the first seed doubles team from L&N Stem Academy.
The Union County High School Boys Basketball Team achieved a milestone in 2024 by competing in the Class 3A Sub-state Sectional. The team's 22-11 win-loss record with a district record of 6-4 or 60% propelled the Patriots to a round 1 game with Cumberland Gap in the district tournament in Scott County. The team handily put away the Panthers 83-69. A loss to Clinton in the District Semi-final resulted in a game for 3rd place with the Scott County Highlanders.
The tennis program is growing! Last year saw only 7 total players with two boys and five girls. But the 2024 roster more than doubled to15 total players, seven boys and eight girls. The Boys Team is Dalton Schreieck (Sr.), Jace Walker (Sr.), Jaxon Bailey (Fresh.), Lathan Garner (Soph.), Braylon Graves (Soph.), Max Corum (Fresh.), and Zachary Clark (Fresh.). On the Girls Team is Ava Tiller (Jr.), Travyn Farmer (Jr.), Janae Chapell (Sr.), Ella Branscomb (Fresh.), Hannah Groot (Jr.), Ashlyn Tiller (Fresh.), Nola Chesney (Soph.), and Evelyn Gentry (Sr.).
Teena Venable graduated from the University of Tennessee in May of 1977 and moved to Maynardville that August to start a band program for the schools. She discovered that there was a lot of musical talent in Union County.
At that time, the high school band was open to all grade levels. When she was starting out, Ms. Venable had eight students who already knew how to play and a small group of beginning musicians. Those eight students proudly marched in the 1977 Homecoming Parade.
The UCHS Tennis Team competed in the TSSAA District Tournament. The young team garnered two All District Athletes, Dalton Schreieck and Jace Walker. Schreieck, a junior, competed in boys individuals and took his opponent to a tie breaker in the first match before losing the second match. Janae Chapell challenged in the first round of Girls Individuals. Hannah Groot and Scarlett Gwaltney and also Ava Tiller and Saria Chapell competed in Girls Doubles.
"Friday nights lights" is a phrase used quite often by many community members and fans as they talk about the excitement around their hometown football games.
Whether the team has a winning or losing streak for the year, there is a nostalgia surrounding Friday night lights.
High school students celebrate the event with face paint and cow bells, while the football players prepare themselves by wearing their jerseys to school that day.
Union County High School seniors were honored for their exceptional devotion and work for the Patriots at the UCHS football game on October 25. The Patriots faced the Sullivan South Cougars in a cold pouring rain. Luckily, UCHS pulled off the win in an 18-12 final score.
Football, cheer, band and color guard seniors marched onto the field at 7 p.m. accompanied by their parents and family members. God Bless America played as the Patriots and families filled the field. Football teammates were carrying American flags in the presentation, creating a beautiful patriotic scene.