Large trees are a great asset in a home landscape, providing shade, beauty, and added property value. Properly maintained trees are normally healthy and will provide these benefits for decades, perhaps a century. But trees with health issues can be dangerous. These are classified as Hazard Trees and pose the threat of dropping large limbs or falling down on people or property. Poor tree health can be caused by landowner neglect, insect or disease attacks, old age, or windstorms.

The Union County Family and Community Education (FCE) Club invites community members to attend its February meeting on Thursday, February 19, at 10:00 a.m. at the Union County Extension Office.

This month’s program will focus on heart health and healthy cooking choices. Special guest Anna Marie from the Union County Health Department will share practical tips for protecting your heart, improving everyday eating habits, and making small lifestyle changes that can lead to better overall health.

By Steve Roark

Yard trees add a lot of personal enjoyment and equity to a home. They are a long-term investment and so maintenance to keep them healthy is well worth the time. What follows are a couple of tree care projects that I often see mishandled.

Horace Maynard Middle School is rolling into the second half of the school year with an updated online presence and a full slate of upcoming events for students and families. The newly updated HMMS website is now live and will continue to serve as a key communication tool for families and the community. Parents and community members are encouraged to visit the site to stay informed about school news, events, and resources. This is an additional tool to the other means of communication that HMMS currently uses.

Few engines in automotive history have earned the legendary status of the Mopar HEMI. Instantly recognizable by its massive valve covers and thunderous exhaust note, the HEMI engine represents the pinnacle of American muscle, racing dominance, and engineering innovation. From NASCAR and drag strips to street-legal muscle cars, the HEMI has become a symbol of raw power, durability, and mechanical excellence.

UNION COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
WORKSHOP
Union County High School
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026
6:00 p.m.

My husband Tim used to call him: “Cantankerous.” Wondering who this was? Actually, it was our dog, Little John. Let me tell you, he was quite the hand full.

On the bank high above Maynardville Highway, across from HMMS middle school, are 2 old sign boards in desperate need of a major overhaul, but who do they belong to? Not the Little League, they have their own cute sign shaped like a baseball. Maybe the mayor knows – nope! One sign has a faded VFW Post 3968 sticker, let’s ask them. Nope – the VFW post surrendered its charter in 2019 and signed their building over to American Legion Post 212.

Veterans, their families, friends, and supporters are all invited to the monthly free breakfast at the American Legion Post 212 on Saturday, February 14th! Meet and greet starts at 8:00 am, and a substantial, delicious breakfast prepared by the Food City bakery and deli starts at 8:30! This breakfast is sponsored by the City of Luttrell. Thank you so much for supporting our Veterans! What an excellent opportunity to meet fellow Veterans and for community members to show their support by showing up and eating!

Be sure not to miss it!

The next regular workshop and meeting of the Union County Board of Education will be on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at Union County High School. The workshop will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the meeting immediately to follow.