Normally I am a plant lover kind of guy, but there is a group of foreigners that I love to hate. They are classed exotic invasive plants, and they are determined to take over the world an acre at a time, disrupting native plants and ecosystems as they go. Probably the most notorious and recognized invasive in the south is Kuzdu (Pueraria montana). You don’t have to drive far to find its vines carpeting the ground, trees, buildings, and anything else standing in the way.

The Grainger County Tomato Festival is back! After a one year hiatus because of the Coronavirus, Grainger County is hosting its 28th annual tomato festival on Friday, July 23rd and Saturday, July 24th at 7480 Rutledge Pike in Rutledge, TN. 1992 launched the first festival to, according to their website, “promote all Grainger County agricultural products, specifically the Grainger County Tomato, and to promote the many local artists, authors, talent, and craftsmen we have in our area”. This year’s schedule, however, will be a little different than in the past.

I recently had the joy of meeting young entrepreneur Jacqueline Stallard when I visited her newest shop location, Home Town Shack, in Maynardville. Stallard opened this location—her latest venture—in March 2021 to bring a wide variety of items to the community. In a way, the offerings harken back to the days of the local mercantile, as there is a wide array of merchandise, from boutique items to fishing supplies and even fresh produce when in season. Stallard aims to meet the needs of the underserved northern end of Union County.

By Kelly Irick

The BRIGHT Afterschool program, ran through the UT Extension Union County Office, hosted an afterschool and summer camp program at Big Ridge Elementary to align with the extended Summer School program provided to the county. The program, a grant funded opportunity, offered after school hours Monday through Thursday and full day camps on Fridays throughout the month of June.

By Meradeth Whitley

Cakes are delicious, but what would they be without the frosting?! That’s me without 4-H. You could say that 4-H is one of the most important things in my life. My name is Meradeth Whitley, I am entering high school this year, and I live in Union County. I love everything about where I live, and I am so proud to represent my county when I go to the many amazing 4-H events all over our region.

Mayor Bailey received grant monies during the Covid pandemic. Now the Luttrell Public Library has a sneeze guard around the service desk and 6 new computer chairs, which was made possible by County Mayor, Jason Bailey. Once again, thank you, Mayor Bailey!

Spinal adjustment/manipulation is a core treatment in chiropractic care, and it is synonymous with chiropractic treatment. Chiropractors commonly use other treatments in addition to spinal manipulation, and may combine the use of spinal adjustments and other manual therapies with several other treatments and approaches such as:

My all-time favorite television show is Bonanza. To me, it’s a lot like The Andy Griffith Show—no matter how many times I see an episode, it never grows old. There are two episodes of Bonanza that stand out because of one single statement.

Have you been in a situation where you thought, “Did that just happen?” My mom and I experienced that years ago at a flea market.

Eggplant is one of those vegetables that either you like or you don't. I happen to like eggplant. Of course, I haven't met a vegetable I didn't like. Why not fry up some sausage patties to go with it?