At the Heritage Park Farmers Market Pavilion! Celebrate the season of gratitude with a cozy outdoor market full of fall flavors and early holiday cheer! Our Grateful Gatherings Market is the perfect place to stock up for Thanksgiving and start your holiday shopping. Shop fresh produce, pasture-raised meats, baked goods, handmade crafts, and seasonal specialties—all while supporting local farmers and makers.

The Union County Children’s Charity “Under The Tree” 2025 Toy Drive is in full swing. Trees have been placed throughout the local businesses with green ornaments that have children’s Christmas wishes.

On November 5, 2025, the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, hosted a Missing Person Investigation and Alert Training for local law enforcement partners at the First Baptist Church of New Tazewell. The training provided critical information to law enforcement on the many resources available when conducting a missing person investigation. This included the various alerts the T.B.I. has the authority to issue as well as practical investigative tactics for locating missing persons.

By Steve Roark
Volunteer Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

White-tailed deer are widespread in our area and can be often seen along wooded edges or making a mad dash across the road. Even if you don’t see them, there are signs to look for when hiking in the woods that show their presence.

The Union County Extension Office will be hosting a Simmer Pot Kit Christmas Class on Tuesday, December 2nd at 5:00 p.m. This festive and hands-on workshop will take place at the Union County Extension Office and offers a fun opportunity to learn new skills while preparing for the holiday season.

The Union County Extension Office invites the community to kick off the holiday season with a festive, hands-on Christmas Wreath Making Workshop at Chuck Swan State Forest in Sharps Chapel.

The workshop will take place on Thursday, November 21 at 10 a.m. at 3500 Sharps Chapel Road, Sharps Chapel, TN 37866. The cost to attend is $20, and space is limited.

The 2nd Annual Veterans Family Picnic will be at Wilson Park on Saturday, November 15, from 11:00 – 2:00! This is a FREE event for all Veterans, their families, friends, and everyone else who appreciates the work and sacrifices these men and women have made for us and our country. We celebrate our Veterans!

How do people become homeless? It can happen to anyone. Overall, there are fewer and fewer rental options available. And this provides money-making opportunities for landlords as they raised (sometimes doubled) their rents, forcing folks to move out because their home had become unaffordable. There are other stories of landlords selling, dying, or moving, which resulted in the homelessness of some of the people. Many folks lost their income when they were downsized or had an illness or disability that prevented them from working.

I don’t mind surprises when they are fun or pleasant. But the frightening ones are a different story.

The bugle call known as Taps dates from the Civil War. In July 1862, while the Army of the Potomac camped near Harrison's Landing, Virginia, Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield summoned Pvt. Oliver Willcox Norton, his brigade bugler, to his tent. Butterfield, who disliked the bland "lights out" call then in use, whistled a different tune and asked the bugler to play it for him. After repeated trials, Norton played a 24-note call which suited the general.