Three votes and a recess transpired before the Union County Commission agreed on new building permit fees at the regular meeting in November. The building permit fees were originally set by a private act of the Tennessee General Assembly, and to increase the fees takes another state legislative act. To meet the December 1 deadline required that action be taken at the November meeting in order to file the bill and receive action in the legislative session that begins in January 2025. The first two proposals failed by large margins.

My church celebrates the beginning of Advent around the first of December by sometimes carrying out the “hanging of the green” tradition of decorating the church sanctuary for the Christmas season. Our pastor explained the meaning of the Advent tradition, which was good because while I had heard of it, I didn’t really know what it was about. I’m all about old traditions, and so it sparked my own research which I thought I would share.

This is a great way to prepare fresh mushrooms for a relish tray. Use the small button mushrooms from the produce department at Food City. You wouldn't think that fresh mushrooms would have much flavor, but they do. If you never have tried them this way, it will be a treat for you, plus another recipe to add to your holiday collection.

In the 1973 Extension reports I found this in the Agents Report. It was titled “Facelift for Dolly”.

An all day Candle Making Workshop was held one day last Fall by a Homemakers Club. Since time would be taken for simply allowing the candles to harden, each member brought other hand work to do. One member (Mrs Graves) who belongs to a doll club was making doll clothing for her antique dolls she collects, renovates, dresses and sells. She showed us a doll dating 1848, that she had purchased in Nashville for $65.00. The doll was rare because of its wax head.

Did you discover there is no Santa Claus? How old were you when you found out there was no Santa Claus? When in her eighties, my Aunt Duskie said Christmas had never been the same since she learned there was no Santa Claus.

Just how sure are you there is no Santa Claus?

I believe the year I was seven I still truly believed in a real, tangible Santa Claus. By the next year, I suspected that perhaps Santa was a myth. I learned for definite sure when I was nine.

Due to the bad storms, it was not a good harvest year for the pecan season. Pecans are scarcer and their price has gone up. But worry not! The Union County Lions Club snagged some really good ones again this year. And with rising food prices everywhere, where else can you get a pound of Mammoth Pecans, Chocolate Amaretto Pecans or Chocolate Covered Peanuts for $10 each?
The time is now to stock up. If you buy too many, pecans freeze well and the Lions Club will run out soon.

A new research review published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies suggests that patients with spine-related musculoskeletal pain who see a chiropractor first may have lower overall healthcare costs compared to those who receive initial medical management. Spine pain is a significant burden in the United States, with annual costs estimated at $134.5 billion. Patients with this condition have various treatment options, each with potentially different cost implications.

Plainview Chief of Police Kenny Crider reported 52 calls for October with five incidents that resulted in two arrests. There were two traffic accidents, one with injury and one without injury, and the department wrote two citations. Chief Crider aided the Maynardville Police department in identifying and apprehending a group of men who robbed the Tobacco King in Maynardville and continued their actions in Sevier County in late October.

Big Ridge State Park Ranger Hannah Pascall informed the UC Historical Society about the restoration projects at the park during the November meeting. Ranger Pascall explained that Big Ridge was set up as a demonstration park in 1939 with the buildings and stone works built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The historical park will have three major renovation projects from 2024 through 2030 including the gatehouse, the cabins and the beach house.

In the Culinary Arts 2 class, I asked Peyton why she took this course. She really likes to cook and enjoys learning different cooking techniques, like sautéing or braising. Previously, she mostly baked and loved that, but now finds cooking to be more interesting and challenging. Using different knives for different cuts was a whole new concept for her.