Born in 1928, my early years were through the Great Depression. Those were truly hard times. No food stamps, Medicaid or Medicare, and minimal welfare. My dad was too proud to accept welfare as were many men of that era. We got by, just barely. We thought everyone else was suffering like we were. That perception made it easier to take.

Researchers have determined for the first time the maximum weight a child should carry using a school backpack trolley: a maximum of 20% of their body weight.

To date, weight recommendations have been established for ordinary school backpacks, as they are the most widely used type in the school context worldwide. However, some children use backpacks on wheeled trolleys, and until now there have been no studies making weight recommendations for this type of backpack.

Her picture shed a whole new light on things. Literally.

The “her” is my step father’s granddaughter, Christine. She lives in Southern California. Last fall, she came out to our neck of the woods to visit and take in our beautiful East Tennessee.

And that she did.

Six years ago, I was working at East Ridge Elementary School in Chattanooga. That school year I had volunteered to be on the social studies textbook committee where we would choose new textbooks to match the new state standards. Even though I was a librarian, I taught social studies lessons. I was also interested in how the process worked. On Tuesday, January 28th, I was with the group of about 25 teachers meeting in an old county building in St. Elmo, which sits at the base of Lookout Mountain, near the Incline Railway.

… is what you get, right? At least that’s what Flip Wilson’s Geraldine character used to tell us. (If you are old enough to remember Flip Wilson, I’m sure that made you smile. You’re welcome.)

As it turns out, it’s more like, “What you want is what you see.” For example, take a look at the photo of the eye at the top of this article. See it? Oh, wait a minute! That’s not an eye. That’s sudsy water swirling around a drain. You would have sworn that was a picture of a human eye, right? Why?

Last Saturday night was the annual Burns Supper hosted by two friends of ours who live in West Knoxville but were born in Scotland. Every January on the weekend closest to Burns’s birthday (January 25th) they invite 35 or 40 of us to their home for a Scottish meal and celebration of the life and works of the poet.

As in past years, it was a fine evening. We saw friends we hadn’t seen in a while (some not since the last Burns Supper), there was pleasant conversation, toasts, and a Burns trivia game, but the centerpiece of the evening was the meal.

February is the month for cherry bread. I don't know if our first president really chopped down a cherry tree. I doubt it. I don't think he made any bread either.

Pre-K is an educational growth opportunity for children and families to participate as a transition into Kindergarten. Students who attend Pre-K are more prepared socially, emotionally, academically and physically as they enter Kindergarten. Many times, they are further ahead of those students who have not attended. Pre-K impacts students for life.

Commissioners Present: Jeffrey Brantley, Danny Cooke, Bill Cox, Earl Cox, Gary England, Dawn Flatford, Kenny Hill, Janet Holloway, Sidney Jessee, Jr., R. L. Jones, Larry Lay, and Becky Munsey
Commissioners Absent: Jeff Chesney, Debra Keck, Joyce Meltabarger and Jody Smith
- Notaries approved: Shannon Brooks, Elbra Davis, Jennifer Helms, Travis Patterson, Sheila Ann Rice, Carrie Elizabeth Rule, Teresa Lynn Satterfield, Barbara J. Williams

The Union County Board of Education continues to dispense with business in record time, according to Chairman David Coppock. The bulk of the meeting dealt with Tennessee School Board Association recommended amendments to the board policies.
One policy recommendation was postponed in order to refine the restorative practices for returning a suspended student, and the various disciplinary procedures that should be considered before any action is taken.