Everyone who has walked off the beaten path has had an unfortunate run in with sawbriar (Smilax glauca). It's the green woody vine that wraps around your leg and proceeds to slice into your skin with sharp thorns.

There are several species of sawbriar, also called catbriar or greenbriar, growing in our area, and all have the same general characteristics: a green woody vine that is very thorny and shiny leaves with parallel veins. The vines climb up onto other vegetation by means of tendrils, and some can grow up into high trees. Most stay down at that critical ankle to waist high level and lay in wait for unsuspecting humans.

Have you ever had a realization after the fact? For example, a few days after I wrote:
“Small White Tornado,” I remembered another experience I had that involved meteorologist John Gerard .

Low back pain in school-aged children is a common occurrence. The prevalence of low back pain increases once children reach school age — one percent at age seven years, six percent at age 10 years, and 18 percent at ages 14-16 years. yet only seven percent of adolescents with lower back pain will seek medical care.

Because of Memorial Day, the May Union County Commission Meeting will be on Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. and workshop with the UC Farmers Market board at 6 p.m. The FY 27 Budget Workshop will be Tuesday, May 19, at 5 p.m. with a financial committee meeting to follow at 6.

Union County residents are invited to make plans now to attend the upcoming Party in the Park: Summer Fest, happening next week at Wilson Park. Hosted by the Union County Community Advisory Board (CAB), this free, family-friendly event will take place on Friday, May 8, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

The event is designed to bring the community together for an evening of fun, connection, and access to valuable local resources. A variety of community organizations will be on site sharing information about programs and services available to Union County families.

Homebound teacher’s pay was doubled from $15 per hour to $30 per hour at the regular meeting of the Union County Board of Education last month. The pay per hour is the same as the teachers who tutor after school. The increase was necessary to provide services of three hours per week to students who have a medical reason for missing school for a short amount of time. According to UC Schools Director Greg Clay, the pay had not increased in several (at least 15) years.

Today, April 30, 2026, is the last day to vote Big Ridge your favorite park. Make a donation at this link:https://tennesseestateparksconservancy-bloom.kindful.com/my-tn-state-pa…. Any amount from $1.00 to $1000 will help Big ridge restore historical buildings and improve trails. Big Ridge needs $1,103.00 to reach its goal and be the best in East Tennessee.

UNION COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
WORKSHOP
Union County High School
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2026
6:00 p.m.

Alderman Keith Brantley and the rest of the Plainview Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) approved the first reading of the FY 27 budget which is balanced with revenues equaling expenditures in the amount of $576,432 at the regular meeting in April. Mayor Lynn Beeler thanked the board for attending the workshop and approving a balanced budget and commented on the work that Recorder Emily Cooke did to gather all of the information to achieve a balanced budget.

Names and titles of Jesus found in the Bible

At the start of the Gospel according to the Apostle John, we are told that John the Baptist bore witness that Jesus was the Christ. Years ago, because of my ignorance (lack of understanding or education), I thought Christ was Jesus’ last name. Then I learned that Christ is actually a title. Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Messiah. A short definition would be “Anointed One” or “Chosen One.” I am not so sure this glorious title, and it is truly glorious, can by itself truly define the one who created the Earth.