We would like to thank everyone who stopped by our booth at the 13th Annual Union County Heritage Festival on Saturday, October 7, 2017. This year our booth included a sign up for our weekly newsletter, as well as, special guest, Shirley McMurtrie. Shirley is a regular contributor on www.HistoricUnionCounty.com. Each week, she shares a story of her life and one of her special recipes. Most of the artwork that accompanies her articles are hand drawn by her.

Take one step into Dr. Ronnie Mincey's office in the Union County Public Schools' central office, and his role model will be obvious. Pictures and portraits of President Abraham Lincoln cover every surface, including the one pictured here, which Mincey describes as "the most comforting picture," a gift from Donnie Tharpe.

"You can look at it and think, 'What would you do if you were in this predicament?'" Mincey said.

Career and Technical Education, that block of high school programs that some of us used to call "vocational," is not just for shop class anymore. These days, students are using CTE at Union County High School to launch themselves into skilled, technical jobs right out of high school, and the fields represented may surprise you.

The 13th Annual Union County Heritage Festival "Come Here, Come Home", with over 5,000 in attendance, was a great success and had something for everyone. The festival included various activities and vendors at Wilson Park, student and fine art shows at the Historic Snodderly House, a photography show at the Chamber of Commerce, and a quilt and author’s show at the museum.

A recent conversation I had at the grocery store prompted this column. I believe that conversation certified the need and my obligation to your grandchildren–I don’t have any grandchildren-- to share this important survival knowledge. To assume we will always be able to buy everything we need at a local air-conditioned fancy grocery store is assuming a lot. Those of us who still remember how to do some things our parents and grandparents taught us need to share it. Some of the reasons our early schools were so successful is that older students taught the younger ones.

What did you have for breakfast this morning? Sausage gravy and biscuits? Ham and eggs? Lucky you! What did I have for breakfast back in the Great Depression days of 1934? It wasn't that, for sure. Did I have cornflakes and ice cold milk? Or Frosted Flakes? Or one of the many boxed cereals on the Food City shelves today? I wouldn't have known what you were talking about.

Many times, we read the Scripture without grasping the understanding the true message. After many years of pastoring a little church and studying the Bible, I have come to realize that God will give us understanding if we will seek for the Spiritual meaning.

I believe the Holy Scriptures were written by men who were inspired by God through the Holy Spirit to write. In order for us to have understanding, the Scripture must be spiritually discerned.

At this year’s Union County Heritage Festival, Thunder Road Printing & Graphic Design, while promoting their products and services, was doing a fund raiser for Union County Children’s Charities, Inc. This charity has an annual event called “Under The Tree Project”. Headed by president Gina Buckner, this is a program focused on providing Christmas gifts to Union County children who otherwise would have none. In an effort to raise funds to purchase gifts, Thunder Road Printing & Graphic Design, for a donation, was having a drawing for a large print of Smoky, the UT mascot.

When the bell rang at Oak Grove School Sept. 30, a hush fell over the assembled crowd, not students this time but a community of volunteers, sponsors and well-wishers celebrating the grand opening of the renovated building.

“We’re going to ring the bell and take up books,” said Preservation Union County board member Betty Bullen. “Who remembers hearing that in a school like this?”

Bring your family and enjoy arts, crafts, music, and activities for all ages. Music is on three stages with the main stage in the gazebo. So grab a lawn chair or use one of ours, Following is a listing of the music line-up:

Gazebo

10:15 Stoney Point Bluegrass Band (formerly Hwy 33)
11:15 Wild Blue Yonder Band
12:00 Talk Around on Dr. Ralph Stanley
12:15 Stoney Point Bluegrass Band (formerly Hwy 33)
1:15 Wild Blue Yonder Band
2:15 Lakeway Twirlers w/ Caller: Mike Hoose
3:15 The Atkins