You have no doubt noticed all the white flowering trees that have been putting on a show the past couple of weeks along roadsides, fence rows, and field edges. They are Bradford pears, a popular landscape tree, noted for their beautiful flower blitz, symmetrical round crowns, and supposedly sterile so as not to produce messy fruit to clean up. That last part was a total failure, and the tree has gone Frankenstein and spreading rapidly to become what is called an exotic invasive plant, and a threat to our native plants and even our farmlands. This wasn’t supposed to happen, so what the heck?

From President Tammie Hill”s passage from Romans 8:32 “for all things work together for the good to them that know God” to the closing song Amazing Grace, the message of the 27th Annual Union County Business and Professional Prayer Breakfast on Good Friday, March 29, was “come together and ‘Just Believe.’”
Rev. Corey Carroll, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Maynardville, welcomed everyone to the gathering at the church and reminded them of the significance of Easter and the sacrifices that Jesus made.

UNION COUNTY, Tenn. (March 27, 2024) – Three local churches are sponsoring the 2024 Walk 4 Water Union County Fundraiser on Sunday, May 19.
St. Teresa of Kolkata Catholic Church, Irwin’s Chapel United Methodist Church and Miller’s Chapel United Methodist Church aim to help raise funds for two deep water wells for remote villages in Uganda that do not have access to clean, safe water. All funds raised will go toward the drilling of safe water boreholes for the villages of Kaseun and Amonikakinea B in Eastern Uganda.

A community building and convenience center became one step closer to reality for Braden and Big Ridge during the Union County Commission March meeting. Commissioners Greg Dyer (5th District) and Dawn Flatford (4th district) have spent many months searching for suitable property. Two community landowners have risen to the challenge and offered land at reasonable prices. Danny Kilgore in Braden is willing to sell a nearly 2-acre property for $30,000. The property will need clearing, a well, and septic.

The Union County Board of Education approved a use contract for four years at the field located below the sheriff's office on Hwy 33. Mary Ann Stackhouse, attorney for the BOE, recommended the approval. Stackhouse will be retiring this year, but the Board also extended the services of her affiliated firm with different legal representation.

Poet Voices (Phil Cross, Jeff Snyder, K.C. Armstrong and Donny Henderson) on the God & Country Tour will be in Maynardville for one night only. With their history of sold-out performances, be sure to get your tickets now for the May 18 performance.
One of the most highly acclaimed writers of gospel music, writing since he began his song writing journey in 1980, is Phil Cross. He is an award-winning singer, songwriter, mentor and producer with a passion to share his faith and experiences with the world. His music is well-known and well-loved.

“He was here at the inception of the City of Plainview,” proclaimed Vice Mayor Richard Phillips as the City of Plainview recognized Paris McBee for his dedication and service that has spanned over 32 years. McBee set a standard of high work ethics and insisted on quality work performance that has made Plainview what it is today. His emphasis on training ensured that those who followed his retirement would continue his legacy.

Sharps Chapel Elementary School was one of 400 hundred schools across the state to be recognized as a Reward School by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) for the 2022-2023 school year.
Principal Jamie Bowman said, “I’m extremely proud of the hard work and dedication from our teachers, staff, students, and parents. So much time is put into ensuring that our Hornets are high achievers in all areas, and it is wonderful to see the extra effort paid off. Go Hornets!”

A new study conducted by researchers at University Hospitals (UH) Connor Whole Health sheds light on the potential benefits of chiropractic spinal manipulation (CSM) for adults experiencing ongoing sciatica following low back surgery. The study, titled “Association between spinal manipulative therapy and lumbar spine reoperation after discectomy: a retrospective cohort study,” was recently published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.

Over two dozen citizens attended the Plainview Planning Commission on Tuesday, March 12. They wanted to know who was responsible for closing a nearly 100 year old deeded right of way from Tazewell Pike to the adjoining cemeteries, Elbert Wyrick Cemetery and Clear Branch Cemetery. A descendent had attempted to visit one of the cemeteries and found the right of way blocked by a massive wooden fence and a concrete driveway. When the descendent asked how she was to visit the cemetery, she apparently was told that a new right of way had been constructed from the new road, Periwinkle Drive.