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union county
VOL. 6, NO. 16
APRIL 16, 2011
INSIDE
Gideon comes to visit
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Horace Maynard Middle School student Kelsey Rivers examines a candidate for her 4-H Chick Chain flock. Photos by C. Taylor
Dog days at Lions Club See page A-4
Fulfilling the mission
Twenty-eight 4-H students signed up and paid a $30 deposit to receive 25 chicks each. The students will raise the chicks then bring them to the Union County Co-op on Sept. 7 for a show and sale.
Gospel pair make CD See page A-8
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
County accepting cleaning proposals Union County will be accepting proposals for cleaning services for county buildings until 4 p.m. Friday, April 22. Proposals should be turned in to the Union County Mayor’s Office, 901 Main Street, Suite 214, Maynardville, TN 37807. Info: 992-3061.
Cancer support group to meet The Union County Cancer Support Group will meet at 7 p.m. every third Thursday at Fellowship Christian Church. Info: Debbie, 659-1052.
FEATURED COLUMNIST JAKE MABE
‘From here to absurdity’ With David Hunter See page A-5
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Birds of a feather
4-H’ers pick their pullets By Cindy Taylor
If you think it is exciting to see baby chicks arrive at the Union County Extension, imagine how the postal carrier who brought them feels. Seven hundred chirping and cheeping babies were delivered April 6. They were distributed to the 4-H students who had signed up to raise them. While the chicks waited for their future owners to pick them up, a home was provided in the Extension office restroom where a floor heater kept them warm. Each participating 4-H student received a record book and a feeder donated by Tractor Supply. The babies were 2-day-old black Sex-Link Pullets, all female. Twenty-eight 4-H students signed up and paid a $30 deposit to receive 25 chicks each. The students will raise the chicks then bring them to the Union County Co-op on Sept. 7
Commission approves new ambulance By Cindy Taylor Union County will soon add a new ambulance to its fleet thanks to the combined efforts of Union County EMS Director Andrew Reed and the Union County Commission. At the April 11 meeting the commission voted unanimously to make a loan to EMS in the amount of $100,000 at an interest rate of 1.5 percent to allow for the purchase. “We have a bid on an ambulance at a cost of $113,750, and we are asking for a loan for $100,000. We’ll pay the $13,750. We will be making a payment of $74,000 back to the county on a previous loan, so that actually lessens the amount we will borrow back,” said Reed. A motion was made by Commissioner Brenda Jessee and seconded by Commissioner Doyle Welch to grant the loan at an interest rate of 2 percent. Reed was happy with the interest rate, but many commissioners were not. “That 2 percent isn’t right. It should be less. We’re already making money by loaning them the money,” said Commissioner J. M. Bailey.
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a $25 gift certificate. Other awards will also be given. This is the second year that homeschooler Abigail Kadron has participated, but 13-year-old Horace Maynard Middle School student Kelsey Rivers is new to the program. “Last year I lost a few chicks,” said Abigail. “I have them on electrolytes and vitamins now and keep them warm and safe from predators like foxes and hawks. Our dog actually helps protect them.” Other students arrived with parents after school to choose their babies. On an interesting side note, Extension Agent Shannon Perrin made a snack of chicken dip that morning, and lunch for the day for Extension office employees was Abigail Kadron picks her chicks from among the 700 available for the 4-H Chick chicken. There was pie too, but Chain and finds a chick of a different color. agent Wendi Purcel claimed it was fruit, not chicken. All the chicks had made it safely for a show and sale. The students back to the program for sale. The will receive their deposits back and students will keep journals of their to their new homes by the end of will relinquish six of their brood chicks, and the best record will win the day.
• I-CAR, /ASE trained technicians • Frame/electronic measuring system
Warranty On Repairs
Realtor Jill Dyer speaks to Union County Commission about property across the street from the Union County Courthouse. Photo by C. Taylor
“You can’t put a dollar amount on a human life.” The motion failed but passed on the next vote when the interest rate was lowered to 1.5 percent from a motion made by Commissioner Stanley Boles and seconded by Commissioner R. L. Jones. Realtor Jill Dyer spoke to the commission about property owned by Joe Painter across the street
from the courthouse. “This property could be a great asset to the county,” said Dyer. “There are actually two houses on the property. These could be used for office space, and the property is available for $189,900. It has original hardwood floors and hardware. We just wanted to be sure the commission is aware of the value of this property.”
WE BUY
GOLD Directly across from Fountain City Park
The commission took the information under advisement. The mayor’s office is looking at the budget for the upcoming year, and one item being reviewed is profit and loss at community centers in the county. Road Commissioner Clayton Helms spoke about the possibility of acquiring insurance for employees in his department. Cost savings could be substantial if all county employees were on the same insurance plan. A committee will be formed to explore all the options and come back with a recommendation. In the ongoing effort by the current administration to save money and decrease the budget, the commission approved moving the county’s communication services from AT&T to Comcast with a five-year locked-in rate at a per-year savings of $48,000. This switch will take place within the next few weeks and will cover all county communication services, but no numbers or email addresses will be changed.
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