Autumn Fruit Salad

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.

Food City expands, holds Grand Reopening

Food City of Maynardville held its Grand Reopening last month. Store manager Scott Inklebarger cut the ribbon along with Mayor Ty Blakely of Maynardville and K-VA-T/Food City CEO Steven Smith holding the ribbon along with a host of administrative employees. The UCHS JROTC raised the flag and Christina Cooper sang the National Anthem as well as a series of patriotic songs.

Bookers celebrate 20th birthday with Read S'more

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.

Union County election results

For the August 1 Union County General Election, the school board races in the four districts were the highly contested races. Many were close but at least one was a runaway.
In District 6 (Paulette), Harold Cooke soundly defeated incumbent Andrew Reed 230 to 93. Former Director of Schools Jimmy Carter defeated Chris Cooper 161 to 146 in District 4 (Big Ridge). The incumbents in Districts 1, 2 and 4 did not seek re-election.

Senator Frank Niceley addresses UC Historical Society

Senator Frank Niceley visited the Union County Museum to address the Union County Historical Society at its meeting in July. He donated a new United States Flag to replace the one that was frayed. He also donated a 2023-2024 Tennessee Blue Book.
But the major reason for his visit was to address the Union County Historical Society regarding a rare homemade banjo that he acquired as a teenager on a visit to Union County. The banjo is made of wood and the head is octagonal in shape rather than round.

BOE celebrates retiring attorney Stackhouse

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.”

Plainview welcomes new leadership

Lynn Beeler, owner of Pit Stop Market, was elected Plainview's fourth mayor in the recent city election. Judge Travis Patterson administered the oath to allow Beeler to take office on July 1. Beeler, the nephew of Imogene Seltzer, one of Plainview’s founders, also serves as one of the 7th District County Commissioners.

Chiropractic Associated With Lower Likelihood of Tramadol Prescription in Adults With Sciatica

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.

Stockpiling tall fescue reduces hay costs

Though many are wrapping up the summer hay-cutting season, it doesn’t hurt to think ahead about how to use forage resources through the winter. It is well known that the single greatest expense in a cattle enterprise is feed and forage production. Given the fuel and fertilizer costs associated with making hay, and then the labor and feed costs associated with delivering feed to cattle, winter feeding costs can be quite significant.