The Union County Soil Conservation District is pleased to present its Annual Report of its 65th year. Organized in April 1953, the District began operations in December of 1953. The District possesses the technical expertise, information and delivery system for providing assistance to landowners with respect to the county’s soil and water quality, and to develop a safe and healthy environment in which to live and work. The Board of Supervisors operates the Union County Soil Conservation District. Three members are elected and two are appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee.

In 2017, according to the latest numbers from the Tennessee Department of Health, 1,776 people suffered fatal overdoses. Of those 1,268 were opioid overdoses. These numbers could decrease if more people understood The Good Samaritan Laws of 2015. During an emergency related to opioid overdose, bystanders should call 911 for emergency assistance but often don’t due to the fear of arrest or prosecution. This is especially true if they use or have a history of opioid use themselves.

In the 2005-2006 school year, Maynardville Elementary School opened the first Pre-K program in the county. The following year, Luttrell and Sharps Chapel Elementary schools added Pre-K programs in their respective communities. Due to the high number of applicants, the Union County Community Pre-K Advisory Council (also known as CPAC) requested additional funds from the Title I grant and then added a fourth program at Big Ridge Elementary. Finally, after applying for the yearly Voluntary Pre-K Grant, Paulette Elementary added the program for the 2018-2019 school year.

Union County 4-H meets monthly with youth in classrooms providing a lesson as well as announcements and upcoming 4-H contest information. During November and December, students are presented with opportunities to participate in the public speaking and poster contests. Many students research, prepare, and practice speeches for their respective in class competitions. At the time of their final presentations, the top speeches are awarded a blue ribbon and participants are invited to speak at the countywide event, held annually in January.

Most Valentine cards have red or pink hearts on them, but my cousin Kevin and his wife Jenny should have orange hearts on theirs. Why? Because of an orange UT hat and the “Isaac Syndrome.”

Did you just imagine Isaac wearing his Biblical clothes and an orange UT Hat? I did.

Actually, Kevin was the one wearing the orange UT hat. His parents are Wayne and Sharon Roach from my article, “Reel Love.”

You’ve all heard that much of our food requires pollination, and honey bees are the well-known heroes, making sure we all get to eat. And so they are, but there are other unsung pollinating heroes that are overlooked, and one of them is our native Orchard Mason Bee (Osmia Ligaria).

Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Eight

I was on my way to the Central Office this past Saturday to work on the districtwide plan. I drove down Main Street to see if there was flooding due to the record amount of rain that was being received. As I passed the First Baptist Church of Maynardville, I noticed organist and attorney K. David Myer’s truck in the parking lot.

Know, that you know, that you know! The "old time" preachers used to say that phrase frequently. Ralph Cox a long-time pastor at Milan Baptist Church in Maynardville was the first preacher I recall saying "know, that you know, that you know". The Apostle Peter said it this way, " Give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (see 2 Peter 1:10). Both phrases mean make sure you are saved!

Youth are the future; the forthcoming of our county, our country, our world. Insurance that the youth of today are prepared for tomorrow’s challenges as they grow more independent falls under the responsibility of us as teachers and role models. Communities progress from the education of adolescents, resulting in growth and sustainability.

Knoxville TN: Walter Lambert, or Chef Walter as he is known in these parts, claims to be recently retired. However, Lambert has set his mind on undertaking two main projects this year: a new book and a new podcast. Lambert says the new book will be a fairly long process that includes an autobiography with recipes.