Union County Retired Teachers Association provided corn crafts for children to make at the recent Youth & Corn Festival. At least 25 children custom painted corn refrigerator magnets. Another 16 strung beads on chenille sticks and shaped key chains that resembled Indian corn. Between craft projects a teacher read stories with corn themes that covered the uses and history of corn.
One young girl read the book to the teacher. Many of the participants wanted to craft as a family. All seemed to have a really fun time and many mentioned that they would be returning next year.

Occasionally I find onions in a five-pound bag at a reasonable price. Then it's time to make some of my onion recipes. Delicious served with liver or hamburgers.

Some sermons, or at least the sermon titles, just get stuck in my mind. An experienced preacher will often give their message a catchy title to help drive the point home.
I’ll never forget a sermon the Reverend Ronnie Beeler once preached which he entitled, “Wallowing Around Under a Log with the Mully Grubs.”
I’m fairly sure Reverend Beeler just made up the word “mully,” but I understood what he meant, having turned over many logs as a boy searching for fishing bait.

Our first national park was Yellowstone. Parts of Wyoming and Montana became Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant, and many more parks followed.
The U.S. Army was first used to regulate the parks and range the properties to protect the natural resources. Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service in 1916 and civilian employees began to work in our national parks.

By Steve Roark
Volunteer Interpreter, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
If you hike in the woods late summer into fall you are likely to have a face to literal face run-in with spiderweb.
The culprit is the spiny orb weaver, who has a knack for building webs across trails at eye level. The number of webs increase this time of year as the spiders increase their food energy intake to be able to lay eggs before hard winter sets in.

It’s a balmy afternoon with the temperatures hitting the 90s, but I’m comfortable on my porch as the afternoon shadows get long. The birds and squirrels are searching for their supper in my yard and trees.
While watching this late afternoon daily happenings I am hit with an old memory that almost ruins my afternoon reverie.
My thoughts go back to my earlier and more naïve life. As a younger man, I wanted to live my life on the ocean in a southern region.

I was on my way to work a few days ago when I saw a message on a local business’ signboard:
TRUST IN
GOD
LUNCH
BBQ
My warped sense of humor kicked in. I would never in my life have equated lunch and BBQ to be on a level with God. Then again, I’ve never literally starved, either. I have been blessed in life a few times for God to have provided me with BBQ for lunch, most pleasantly at the 33 Diner, my all-time favorite place on this earth to eat.
There was another occasion that I saw this message on a church’s sign:
GOD IS LOVE
RUMMAGE SALE

Being a little different is a part of who I am, and to be honest, it has never really bothered me. Well, that is except for the fact that I used to hate pizza. Did that blow your mind? If so, you are not alone.
I was the only person in elementary school who wasn’t excited when it was pizza day. When it was lunch time, the cafeteria ladies would fix me something else.

I have been a photojournalist and published author since 2016, but have always wanted to pursue the career of travel writer. So here we go. Hopefully I can offer some excursions of interest for my readers.
My travels will sometimes focus on areas in Tennessee and surrounding states. But if you don’t live close, that’s okay. I plan to extend my treks into regions hundreds of miles away, and even international. I might journey to somewhere you have never thought about as a place to get away. Or, I may dive toward a location you would in no way consider stepping into. My hope is that you will piggy-back on my journey and find a magical place you have always wanted to explore. Come along with me in written word as we traverse our beautiful country, and hopefully, others.

Mayor Bailey received a DAG grant during the Covid pandemic. Now the Maynardville Public Library has ADA doors push a button and they open automatic. We also have a new sign by Sign Guys at the road and on our Shed by Foxy Wrap. A Puppet Theater and Puppets in the teen room, and new rugs. At Sharp Chapel Book Station we got 5 medal shelves. Which was made possible by the DAG Grant through County Mayor, Jason Bailey. Once again, thank you, Mayor Bailey!