By: Steve Roark
Volunteer, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Many birds remain in our area during the winter and don’t fly off to warmer climes. Songbirds (also called passerines) have a normal body temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit and yet appear to go about their business on cold days in comfort. They have several adaptations and tactics to make it through the winter, mostly involving maximizing calories consumed while minimizing calories spent.

This past month, Union County 4-Hers were hard at work preparing and rehearsing their speeches for the County Public Speaking Contest. Competitors and their families gathered at Horace Maynard Middle School the evening of January 20th to hear a variety of speeches on everything from historical figures to personal experiences. The 4-H organization believes public speaking is a vital skill for our youth. Through contests like these 4-Hers learn to communicate effectively, build self-esteem, and sharpen a variety of other skills such as organization, critical thinking, and research.

UT Extension Provides Six Simple Strategies to Build Wealth and Create Sustainable Spending Patterns

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The new year is a time that encourages many people to evaluate goals and plans in a myriad of areas, from weight loss and nutrition to education and career

Americans are in chronic pain, and a comprehensive new study exploring trends in this major public health concern reveals that what has been a long-standing and under-acknowledged problem is getting substantially worse.

While I am not into cars as much as my husband Tim is, there’s one car that I would absolutely love to have: the Batmobile.
As a child in the 1970s, I watched reruns of the Batman TV show every afternoon. One of my favorite things about it was the Batmobile. Even though I couldn’t drive, I wanted one for myself. For one, it had a batphone that sat between Batman and Robin.

During the Christmas holidays I visited with some of my favorite relatives in another state. While there, I watched the movie Don’t Look Up. The movie was a doomsday type of story that satirized the public reception of pertinent news in the United States and the political response.

This goes well with the sweet potato cupcakes. So pretty and tasty. Make them for that next potluck.

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) needs no introduction around here. There's no place you can go without seeing it in some fence row, abandoned field, or empty lot. It can also be found growing on rocky areas where the soil is very thin.

Knoxville TN: Author Bill Barbour, who was born and raised in south-western Pennsylvania, says his hometown is still blue-collar at heart. He says his interest in writing about human nature and societies was definitely influenced by his childhood. 
"My books are about people in different situations presented by the world, countries, governments, etc., with themes involving unique characters who face external oppression and ultimately, their struggle to prevail."
Barbour and his wife moved from the Atlanta area to Tellico Village last year.

Union County Public Schools is seeking feedback from different community stakeholders, such as parents, students, employees, and special interest groups, to survey how funds are being spent adequately. Some of the questions in the survey also address Union County's Safe to Return to School Policy implementation to this point.