Union County is quite a special place when it comes to community recognizing opportunity and making it happen. This year of changes due to Covid-19 has been proof that all the effort Union County, and its organizations, put forth is “one step ahead.” UT Extension Union County has been staying “one step ahead” in a variety of ways during 2020. One example is by bringing an afterschool program to Big Ridge Elementary School for the next 5 years.

A Butcher, a Baker, a Candlestick Maker…Mother Goose nursery rhymes of yore had youngsters thinking of various professions in a fun and lyrical manner. Then, in the mid-twentieth century, as television entered America’s family rooms, the possibilities were more easily imagined. Wide-eyed kids began to imagine being an Astronaut, a Police Detective, a Rock-n-roll Musician, a Soldier, a Wilderness Explorer, or even President. Honorable Darryl Edmondson, General Sessions Court Judge, was one of those kids.

Historic Union County readers know the name Tilmer Wright Jr. from his many interesting and informative articles written for HUC. Wright was recently honored by Reader’s Favorite for his book "The Bit Dance" in its annual international book award contest, winning the Bronze Medal in the Fiction - Science Fiction category.
Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest featured thousands of contestants from over a dozen countries, ranging from new independent authors to NYT best-sellers and celebrities.

The very nature of the job puts soldiers at an increased risk for developing chronic pain. The regular demands and stress are often multiplied when a tough-it-out mentality does not seek medical attention until serious, chronic pain results ... and it often does. Cumulative stress, single-event trauma, and surgery are all contributing factors. Although these will likely remain a constant of military service, chiropractic care may be a helpful solution.

The Need for Alternative Treatments

I just shared a Facebook past with a very special classmate of mine from my undergraduate days at Lincoln Memorial University. We were recalling how simple times were then. I was thinking about how smart I thought I was then, and how misguided I was in reality.
I remember a visit I made during my freshman year to the girls’ dormitory lounge. It was the one place in the female dormitory that males were legitimately allowed to visit every day, but only at prescribed hours.

It was the one time where you didn’t hide your unmentionables.
As a child, I don’t know how many times we visited somebody else’s home and they had their clothes hanging out on the line. I mainly remember seeing bedsheets and underwear flapping in the wind.

Folks who would like a taste of some wild food ought to get out and hunt persimmons here soon when they get ripe. They are abundant in our area and easy to find in fencerows and woodland edges.

There are many varieties of persimmon trees in tropical areas of the world, but only two in the United States. The one growing here is called "common persimmon" (Diospyros Virginiana), or "possum tree" by some.

Apple picking time will soon be here. There are so many things you can do with apples, from cider to apple pie. Waldorf Salad is an old timey fruit salad. The traditional one had apples, walnuts and celery. This is not a traditional recipe. Back in the day, we didn't buy seedless table grapes or canned pineapple on our limited grocery budget. What a difference seventy years make. Back then it was hard to come up with variety in our diet. Now, Food City carries just about everything and we can afford to make this salad.

Uniquely Union host Dr. Ronnie Mincey interviews Maynardville Public Librarian Chantay Collins.

At one of Mayor Bailey's early commission meetings, he promised to seek as much funding from grants as possible.
True to his word, he requested acceptance of another state grant, the Tourism Enhancement Grant, for $75,000 with a 5% county match of $3,750, at the August Union County Commission meeting. Commissioners eagerly approved the motion and second by Commissioners Bill Cox and Keck along with multiple seconds.
The grant will build a state-of-the-art outdoor stage at the farmers market to be used for musical performances, including some sponsored by the Union County Opry.