March was National Nutrition Month, a time to focus on making informed food choices and developing healthy eating habits. One of the best resources for balanced nutrition is MyPlate, an initiative by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helps individuals and families build nutritious meals.

Spring is an exciting time of year at Horace Maynard Middle School. Not only does it mark the start of spring sports season, but it also highlights the achievements of standout students in the classroom. This month, the school community came together to celebrate the Student of the Month for December, January and February. These students (in photo) have demonstrated exceptional effort, leadership, and a positive attitude in their studies and extracurricular activities.

Trees provide thousands of products we use every day and they are a great blessing to our society. Some tree products are even addictive and consumed in large amounts. Take chewing gum for instance. A few decades ago the chewy part of gum was obtained from a tree called the Sapodilla that grows in Central America. The sap from the tree is called chicle and was the mainstay of the chewing gum industry until after World War II, when synthetic gums largely replaced it. Gum chewing is a common habit and some folks are never without it.

Stuffed animals somehow have always aroused a sense of sorrow in me. I have never been quite able to explain why. Like babies, a new stuffed animal is fresh and clean, full of the promise of happiness to those very children as they grow. But what about those stuffed animals who become dirty, worn, torn and tattered?

Union County Board of Education Public Notice

The Union County Board of Education will enter into Executive Session with Counsel on Monday, March 10, 2025 at Union County High School Library beginning at 6:00 p.m.

I never gave a whole lot of thought about spaghetti when I was growing up. Mom made it about once a week. The meatless sauce, made from scratch, would be simmering on the stove most of the day, and when supper time came, the spaghetti took no time at all to cook. It was always good and included some type of bread to sop up extra sauce. I just took it for granted and never gave much thought to spaghetti. Horses, yes. Spaghetti, no.

When people ask me where I grew up, I like to answer: “Next to water.” Around here, they usually ask: “Norris Lake?” Then I smile and respond: “Bull Run Creek.”
If my husband Tim is around, he shakes his head and tells me: “It’s not the same. You can’t ride in a pontoon boat or on a jet ski on the creek.” I argue: “It’s still a body of water.” That being said, I have to conceded his point. Lakes are used for recreation; whereas, people in the community went to the creek to either baptize or fish. By the way, those were the only times I was allowed to go to there.

To some distressed individuals enduring significant opposition to their new way of living, Peter offered these words of comfort: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous” (I Peter 3:12). This conveys a reassuring message that God is always watching over those who strive to do what is right. This is the core message of Peter's first letter to Christians trying to live out their faith in a merciless Roman Empire. His letter was meant to encourage them in the face of suffering and to challenge them to continue doing what is right, even when it is difficult.

With aging comes a tendency for the head and the neck to shift forward from the shoulders. Over time, this tendency will make the upper back more rounded and noticeable. This area of the back is sometimes referred to as the “hump pad,” and it’s a result of the body depositing fat over the newly exposed area. More technically it’s known as upper thoracic hump, a reference to the thoracic part of the spine.

Experience a timeless blend of traditional tea paired with a historic journey on a vintage train at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Located in Chattanooga, the trip is just two hours away and is the perfect way to celebrate a special birthday, anniversary, or just a relaxing day. Tea is served on fine china with exquisite linen and lace tablecloths. Some attendees dress in Victorian attire with long dresses and large hats but there is no dress code required. The tea occurs most every weekend and some weekdays at 11:00 AM.