As with our Thanksgiving writing contest, we had some wonderful entries for our Christmas/New Years writing contest. We are happy to announce that Natalya Bender is our first place winner. Congratulations Natalya! We will be in touch with your prize.
Below is Natalya's wonderful story. The first four runners up stories follow in no particular order.
Thanks again to all who entered our contest. Watch for more writing contests to come next year!

The nativity scene took center stage on the mantle above the glowing fireplace. Following our yearly tradition, the freshly cut Fraser Fir stood magnificently, illuminated by a myriad of lights. Our gold and silver ornaments were dispersed evenly throughout the tree, glimmering like precious metals. I had always wondered why, however, I was never allowed to help put those shiny trinkets up.

Back in 1978 my dad Bob Hansen and I set out on a cold sunny Sunday afternoon in December to find my first live Christmas tree. I was 16 years old and had never had a real living Christmas tree.
We set out to Darrel Hundley’s farm along Bull Run Creek. Dad and I had never done anything like this alone, as I was one of eight Hansen kids, I felt special on this day. Dad carried a bow saw and I was on the lookout for the perfect tree.

Randy had just celebrated his eighth birthday. As the second grandchild in our extended family, he was awarded special attention from everybody.
Born on December 1, 1966, his birthday party and presents always made selecting a Christmas gift difficult.
For this birthday, he received a G. I. Joe doll, hot wheels, a Play-Doh modeling set, little golden books, coloring books and a 64-count of Crayola. In addition, Wilma had removed several packages before he opened them. She knew they would be neglected, and Christmas was only twenty-four days away.

It was December 31, 1999, the day before the world would come to an end. For a year and a half, we knew there was a problem. When entering dates on forms or computer programs, the year was only assigned two digits. 1999 would normally be entered as 99. What would happen when the new century began and the date was 00? Worldwide, the computer geeks worked tirelessly to adjust programs so that the date would not mean 1900. If that happened, computers and all they control could come to a sudden standstill. No power, no water. Planes would fall out of the sky.

My favorite Christmas memory is during a mini blizzard in 2021. It all started at Mamaw’s on Christmas Eve. I took the dogs out one last time before we left for Mamaw’s to spend Christmas eve with her. Once we got there it started to snow.

Every year at Christmas time, our veterans get together and try to make the holiday season a little bit nicer for those less fortunate. The members of the American Legion New Liberty Post 212 on Veterans St in Maynardville gather each year at this time to provide toys for Maynardville pre-school kids as well as boxes of food, games and toys for families. Recipients may be veterans, widows or any folks in need. This year, these were distributed on December 16. John Langley delivered Christmas boxes to folks in Sharps Chapel while Darrell White took boxes to Loyston.

The 4-H Companion Animal and Outdoor Adventure groups met together at the Union County Extension Office afterschool for a service project. The December service project was to make dog treats for the animals at the Union County humane Society. 4-Her’s were eager to make oatmeal, banana, and peanut butter flavored treats! Some even took a treat or two home for their dogs to try.

Producers in UNION County are eligible to apply for 2023 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on full season improved pasture. On November 14, 2023, Union County reach a D3, Extreme Drought on the U.S. Drought Monitor, which may them eligible to file an LFP application with the Farm Service Agency.

LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land.

Air travel is among the biggest challenges we face to our spinal health. Long hours in a cramped airliner often lead to back pain. here are some steps you can take to avoid that pain during your next flight.

Stand up straight and feel the normal “S” curve of your spine. Then use rolled-up pillows or blankets to maintain that curve when you sit in your seat. Tuck a pillow behind your back and just above the beltline and lay another pillow across the gap between your neck and the headrest. If the seat is hollowed from wear, use folded blankets to raise your buttocks a little.