A recent study examined whether chiropractic spinal manipulation could lead to an increased risk of cauda equina syndrome (CES), a rare but serious condition affecting the bundle of spinal nerve roots in the lower back that requires emergency surgery. This retrospective study analyzed medical record data for over 130,000 adult patients from academic medical centers who received either chiropractic spinal manipulation or physical therapy evaluation for low back pain in the United States.

I was having lunch with a dear friend not too long ago. In the course of conversation, the phrase “pearl clutchers” came up. I am always intrigued with a phrase that I have never heard, and this one just tickled my fancy.
It did not bother me one bit to ask what the term meant. My friend informed me it was the gesture that some people make when they hear something unbelievable. The hand is raised in exaggerated amazement or disbelief to the neck, just where the knot in a strand of pearls would be if a woman was wearing it.

Requirements for good wildlife habitat can be broken down into three basic needs: water, food, and cover. While the need for water and food is pretty obvious, cover is more dynamic, and the need varies from day to day and season to season.

The UNION COUNTY Extensions began in 1917 on an Emergency War Time Basis. Agent E.G. Vickers was assigned to Union County by the University of Tennessee located in nearby Knoxville Tennessee. He only served three months and then was replaced by J.W. Kyker who was assigned to Union County to assist the local farmers and their families prosper. In 1911 the University of Tennessee Agriculture saw a great need and created the Extension Department with (6) Agents, hiring local farmers that were good at farming techniques. The first Agent arrived in late January 1918.

In a study published in Nature Mental Health, scientists have found that individuals suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) may face a higher high risk of brain aging.

CMP is a leading cause of disability, affecting more than 40% of the world’s population and impacting patients’ cognitive function. Although the exact mechanism is not fully understood, thus hampering prevention and treatment efforts, research indicates that inflammatory markers associated with brain aging are higher in CMP patients, suggesting a link between brain aging and CMP.

It was January of his fourth grade year. Charlie was playing quietly in his bedroom, just he and his mother at home.
He heard his father come home about 9:00 p.m. Charlie knew from the amount of noise his father was making that he was either drunk or well on the way. Charlie had learned over the years that when his father was sober that Charlie was to be seen and not heard. Charlie also knew when his father was “on the sauce” that Charlie could most likely make all the noise he wanted.

This salad tastes best when the fruits are fresh, so make it September to December. There are so many good fruit salads. Add this one to your recipe box. Wash and core apples and pears. Do not peel. Cut into 1 inch chunks. Slice banana in 1/2 inch pieces. Wash grapes and cut in half. Combine fruit in salad bowl. Mix yogurt with spices and cider. Pour over fruit and stir to coat evenly. Chill before serving.

Cheryl Booker Walker, 2nd District County Commissioner, and her dog Booker kicked off the 20th anniversary of The Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation by reading a a book. The mascot for GELF, which includes Imagination Library, is an owl named Booker. Booker the owl is celebrating his 20th Birthday Bash by touring Tennessee. Booker’s flight was grounded so his Cousin Reed and Cousin Page celebrated on his behalf.

The Union County Board of Education, with Andrew Reed presiding and the minimum of four members for a quorum in attendance, recommended Merit Construction’s bid to the county finance department for approval at the July regular meeting.

The Union County Board of Education invited Attorney Mary Ann Stackhouse to attend the board workshop on July 11, even though she retired at the end of June. Director Greg Clay asked her to approach the front. Clay surprised Stackhouse with a plaque to recognize the 12 years of dedicated service as the lawyer for Union County Public Schools. He commented that he really appreciated all of her advice and the many hours of phone conversations, “of which there were a lot.”

A new study has found that adults initially receiving chiropractic spinal manipulation for newly diagnosed radicular low back pain (sciatica) were significantly less likely to be prescribed Tramadol over the following year compared to those receiving usual medical care.

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid that has been increasingly prescribed for low back pain in the United States (U.S.) over the past decade. While Tramadol has a lower potency compared to other prescription opioids, it still carries risks of persistent use and adverse events.

The Union County FCE (Family Community Education) Club, better known as the Big Ridge Homemakers Club, calculated their volunteer hours for the past year, where they gave back to the community. They will turn the hours in to the Eastern Region which they belong to thru the University of Tennessee Extension.

Soil health experts from the Natural Resources Conservation Service will teach the basics of soil health principles, and their context within organic management systems. Presentations may identify barriers, challenges, and potential solutions for fostering soil health on organic operations at any scale.

A can of tuna is the beginning of a number of tasty recipes. You should have all the ingredients for this tasty entree in your pantry.
Add a some spinach and tomatoes and you have a new and tasty dish. Melt margarine in saucepan, Cook onions until tender over medium heat. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce and seasonings. Simmer uncovered over low heat for about 20 minutes. Crumble tuna and add to mixture with the cooked noodles.

I am writing this article on the last day of July, 2024. It is the day before the local election. By close of the day tomorrow (or early the following day) I will know who the newly elected school board members will be as well as other politicians who will continue to campaign for a few more months to serve at the state or national level.

The Union County FCE Club took a wonderful trip to Cades Cove on July 18th, 2024! They started off the day with a cup of coffee from the Artistic Bean in Townsend and then made their way to the loop. As they drove around Cades Cove, they made some stops at the churches, cemeteries, and the Cable Mill area. They were able to see a bear, turkeys, and a deer! Then they enjoyed a picnic lunch, which was closely watched by a crow, who scoured the ground meticulously for any crumbs after they left!

The Union County Lions Club will be hosting a free homemade spaghetti dinner for all Union County citizens on Saturday, September 7, at 5:30 p.m. at Union County High School. Dinner will include salad, Italian bread, drinks and desserts, and will be held just before the Union County Opry presents the Lonesome River Band. This band has been touring for 42 years and is one of the most respected names in Bluegrass.

What would you go back to get? As for me, I always go back for food. Good examples of this are: turkey and dressing, fried okra and pinto beans, and just about anything chocolate. Then there are other things that I have to go back for because I forgot them. My mom has always said that happens because I’m in too much of a hurry. While she’s right, let’s just say the fruit doesn’t fall too far from the tree.

With all the hot, dry weather we’ve had of late, watering plants becomes necessary. Water is a critical requirement for all plants, and they need a lot of it. Pulling water in from the soil through the roots is not only how plants get water, but also how they obtain the nutrients they need to grow, which is dissolved and suspended in soil water. Each day they take in a great deal of water through their roots, sift out the nutrients, and then release it as vapor through their leaves in a process called transpiration. Forests, being made up of a lot of really big plants standing shoulder to shoulder, account for some of the high humidity we experience each summer through this process. A mature maple tree can take up enough water to fill three bathtubs per day.

On July 20, Union County residents joined Mayor Jason Bailey, TN Rep Monty Fritts, Sheldon Livesay (Co-Ordinator for both National Day of Prayer and the TN Prayer Coalition), and Arnold Smallin (Chaplain for both the Tri-County Honor Guard and the Union County American Legion Post 212), at the County Courthouse for Pray4TN.

You don’t have to be an adult to experience the ill effects of a sedentary lifestyle. Kids sitting for hours in front of computers, televisions or hand-held devices are setting themselves up for problems later in life. Not only has childhood obesity reached epidemic proportion in the U.S., Chiropractors are seeing an increase in the number of children suffering from neck and back problems.

Remember some of those things we had to do in school that we have never had to do since? I went to college, majored in English, taught in public school and community college and have worked in the Union County Public Schools for many years, but never since high school have I had to conjugate a verb or diagram a sentence. I’m sure that you, Dear Reader, can remember many other things you had to do in school that you have never used elsewhere in life.

Used to early to mid-summer was considered tick season, but since here of late I have pulled them off me all twelve months, I no longer think there is a season. But warm weather gets more people outdoors, which ups the chance of contact with the little pests. I’ve also heard of several local folks that have gotten Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and they are other tick-borne diseases to be concerned about.

Union County Extension is thrilled to announce that Van Richardson has won multiple awards at the 2024 Tennessee State Junior Beef Show this June!
These are spectacular accomplishments that are literally years in the making. Winning a Grand Champion award requires commitment, dedication, and perseverance. Winning a Grand Champion award 4-H member bred and raised the animal is amazing. Van’s hard work, dedication, and passion for the beef industry have truly paid off. At this prestigious event, he showcased exceptional talent and skill, earning accolades that reflect his commitment to excellence.