Union County Shopper-News 010417

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VOL. 12 NO. 1

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The

A closer look at 2016

By Scott Frith

We all know that 2016 was a great year for Republicans (and a not-so-great year for Democrats), but let’s take a closer look at what happened and what’s ahead in 2017.

First, while the biggest political story of the year was Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential race, some observers were surprised by the size of Trump’s win in Tennessee. Trump won the state by nearly 25 points – a higher margin than Mitt Romney’s 20-point win in 2012 and John McCain’s 15-point win in 2008.

The other big story was Knoxville state Rep. Martin Daniel winning re-election despite being criminally charged with assault for shoving former state Rep. Steve Hall during a campaign event. Even more absurd is that the mess isn’t over yet. Daniel’s criminal charges remain pending as legislators return to Nashville this month.

Here are some things to watch in 2017: Knoxville City Council district seats will be on the ballot this fall, but few will notice.

On average, only 5,000 people vote in a typical city election.

(Knoxville has a population of about 185,000 people.)

Also, although the Republican primary won’t be held until May 2018, two heavyweight candidates are lining up to be the next Knox County sheriff: assistant chief Lee Tramel and former deputy chief Tom Spangler.

Political posturing is also underway in the race to succeed Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett. Rumored and announced candidates are Brad Anders, Law Director Bud Armstrong, county GOP chair Buddy Burkhardt and Bob Thomas. The wild card is Glenn Jacobs (the professional wrestler formerly known as “Kane�). Celebrities win elections. Jacobs would be a strong candidate for mayor or Congress.

Rumors continue to swirl around the political futures of Burchett and U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. Both have been around a while. 2018 will be the 30th anniversary of Duncan’s election to Congress and the 24th anniversary of Burchett’s first election to the state Legislature.

According to a Federal Election Commission filing this month, the “Duncan for Congress� campaign account has $974,058.05 in available cash. That’s a lot of money.

2017 will be an interesting year.

Scott Frith is a Knoxville attorney. You can visit his website at pleadthefrith.com.

Pick up extra copies at Union County Senior Citizens Center 298 Main St. Maynardville NEWS (865) 661-8777 news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark | Shannon Carey ADVERTISING SALES (865) 922-4136 ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Amy Lutheran | Patty Fecco Beverly Holland

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By Shannon h Carey

“I believe that 2017 is going to be a year of growth and new opportunities for the citizens of Union County.� – Mike Williams Williams, Union County mayor

Whether you’re approaching the New Year with excitement or trepidation, one thing’s certain: This is a time for fresh starts, new initiatives and most of all, hope. We at Shopper News asked some community members to share their hopes for Union County or for themselves. We wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2017!

Collins

“I would like to see us all work together for the betterment of the county.� – Chantay Collins, Maynardville Public Library Director

“I hope to spend my time soaking up the little moments in my life and to contagiouslyy ishare my happiness, blessings,, and smiles. ll Also, to steal all the baby kisses I can!� – Ashleyy Mike Mike, Union County UT Extension Adminis-trative Assistant

“Each of us should each write down onee goal that we h can accomplish in 2017 to makee Union County a better place for our family and friends.

Imagine what a Riddle – Rick Riddle, Seven Springs Farm

Jody Smith and Mayme Taylor

“2016 afforded us more strength than we knew we had. Best wishes to all in 2017.� – Jody Smith and Mayme Taylor

“America’s veterans continue to service their country with the ideals that have made it great.

May the New Yearr bring us peace, health and an optimistic future.� – Frank DiGennaro, o, Tri-County Veter-DiGennaro ans Honor Guard and American Legion Post 212

“I would like to see the Roy Acuff homeplace reconstructed on its original site. I would like to see a huge rise in people’s empowerment.

Education will greatly improve empowerment. I Peters 2017.� iin n 2017 7 � – Bonnie Peters, Union County historian

“I wish the people of Union County to strive for greater unity, a deeper spirit of joy and greater trust in the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Pawelk year of 2017 be the best ever for everyone living and working in Union County.� – Fr. Steve Pawelk, St. Teresa of Kolkata Catholic Church

“I want to “May your year be filled with thank all of the wonder by practiccitizens of Union ing the following: County for ‘Whatever things their support in are true, whatever 2016. The Union things are noble, County Sheriff’s whatever things Office has startare just, whated and continues ever things are to grow existB Breeding pure, whatever ing programs things are lovely, Chesney Ches Ch C esne neyy throughout the community. One t th whatever things o these programs starting in of are of good report, if there is any 2 2017 is ‘Life Skills,’ which will virtue and if there is anything b implemented in the middle be praiseworthy – meditate on these sc school to help educate our youth things.’ (Philippians 4:8)� – Kathy about illegal drugs, cybera ab Chesney, pastor of Millers Chapel b bullying and other internetMethodist and admissions and re related crimes. The Union marketing director of Willow C County Neighborhood Watch has Ridge Center c continued to grow and has assisted us in solving or preventing si si se several types of criminal activi“It is our desire ti I want to thank you for this ties. that everyone in h and hope that I see more of help this great comy at meetings in the New Year. you munity will be richly blessed in 2017.� – Marvin together with your assistance, Jeffreys, Thunder w will strive to provide you we Road Printing and w the best service possible in with Graphic Design m making 2017 a better, safer year.�

Jeffreys – Billy Breeding, Union County Sheriff

Coon a la Delta – a recipe for the New Year Louisiana Bayou and has long been stashed

By Bonnie Peters To honor Lions Chancellor Bob Corlew, who away for that SPECIAL OCCASION worthy of is serving as president of Lions Clubs Interna- world renowned Tennessee cuisine: tional, and his wife, Dianne, Tennessee Lions have compiled a cookbook.

Bob and Dianne are just down the road from us at Murfreesboro; but, of course, they are traveling the world on behalf of Lions ev1 Raccoon erywhere. It was easy to get to Bob when we Salt and pepper to taste needed to help with the disastrous inferno at Cayenne pepper to taste Sevier County and Gatlinburg.

3 cloves garlic, chopped A special recipe was dedicated to Bob and 1 cup celery, chopped Dianne. Perhaps by now you are a bit tired of 1 large onion, chopped ham, turkey, chicken dumplins and fruitcake.

1 medium bell pepper, chopped If so, here is something different for celebraFlour for gravy tion of the New Year. It is with immense pride Shortening (bacon drippings) for gravy that the cookbook committee presents this and for browning the coon recipe in honor of Bob and Dianne, and it is my 6 medium sweet potatoes honor to pass it on to my readers. The recipe was obtained by the editor during a trip to the

Coon A La Delta

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After the coon has been properly dressed, soak for one hour in mild vinegar solution.

Drain. Cut up or cook whole as desired. Salt and pepper the coon and cover with water. Add cayenne pepper, chopped garlic, celery, onion and bell pepper. Parboil until partially tender.

Remove from heat and drain. Brown coon in a small amount of shortening, then place in a roasting pan.

Make a thin brown gravy, seasoned as desired. Pour over coon, place peeled sweet potatoes around coon and bake in 350-degree oven until potatoes are done.

If you just can’t come by a raccoon, this recipe will work for a possum. However, my mother told me she had cooked a possum only one time. Even with the sweet potatoes, she thought the possum was just too greasy.

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business Massage therapist joins Union County Chiropractic

By Shannon Carey Licensed massage therapist Ron Cowan has an interesting view of massage therapy, which he pursued as a second profession after retiring as a union carpenter in Sacramento, Calif.

Massage therapy, he said, is as fulfilling to him as carpentry. In both professions, you are working with your hands, and at the end of the day you see the results of your work, whether that’s a new floor or a happy, painfree client.

Cowan recently joined Dr. Darrell Johnson at Union County Chiropractic as the clinic’s on-site massage therapist.

Cowan said he followed in his father’s footsteps as a carpenter after Cowan got out of the U.S. Marine Corps in 1969. His father had opened a construction company, and Cowan worked there for eight years, learning the trade from his dad. When Cowan’s father went back into inspecting schools, Cowan found work with another company and put in 23 years there, often working 60 hours per week.

“I loved it very much,” he said. “I wanted to be like my dad.”

Cowan said he learned a lot of life lessons from his father, who was raised on a sharecropper farm in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. He didn’t just learn carpentry, but a way of life, a work ethic and ways of “creating your own happiness.”

In 2004, Cowan and his

KN-1247945

wife, Catherine, decided it was time for a change. They were both working long hours and wanted a “fresh start and a more balanced life.” Cowan was 58 at the time.

“I think we just had a little bit of wanderlust, too,” he said.

They started researching cities, comparing climate, cost of living, quality of life, and then they started visiting the cities they liked.

They came to Knoxville and decided it was the place for them. Cowan retired from carpentry, and Catherine found a job in Knoxville.

At first, they lived in Roane County, but Catherine’s work commute was too long.

They found another place just on the Knox County side of the Knox/Union County line, and they’ve been there ever since.

After speaking with an alternative healing business owner in Knoxville, Cowan decided to go back to school and learn massage therapy.

He worked for a time at a private practice in Fountain City, then switched to Massage Envy. He enjoyed the profession, but most of all, he enjoyed helping people.

“The clients who come to me regularly are the ones who come for help with pain,” he said. “I find it very rewarding to see the person get up off the table with a big smile on their face after coming in being in pain. It’s similar to carpentry. You get to see the benefits.”

Alleviating back pain through deep tissue mas-

2 • January 4, 2017 • Union County Shopper news in an office where people are coming in to see me, not just being assigned by a recepLicensed massage therapist Ron tionist,” he said. “It’s also an Cowan is ready to see clients at opportunity to learn more Union County Chiropractic in Mayfrom being around a chironardville. Cowan specializes in pain practor.” management. Photo by S. Carey But most of all, he wants to build rapport with clients and help them relieve pain sage is Cowan’s specialty, position at Union County and live fuller, happier lives. although he also does relax- Chiropractic through a “What I love about doing ation massage and can tai- Craigslist ad, and he decided massage is to listen to peolor the massage to the needs to explore the opportunity. ple tell me about what’s goof the client.

He knew some people who ing on with them and then “The goal is to give each live in Union County, and he listen to my fingers when I client the type of massage enjoyed driving on the coun- find what I think may be the they want,” he said. ty roads with his motorcycle. source of pain,” Cowan said.

He found out about the “I’d been wanting to work “I hope to help people.”

Cowan is now available to see clients at Union County Chiropractic in Maynardville. For now, his hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday and Thursday, but he hopes to build to more hours soon.

He also said he has some flexibility and can try to schedule clients outside those hours.

To schedule an appointment with Cowan noon to 6 p.m. Monday or Thursday, call the Union County Chiropractic office, 865-9927000. To check on other availability, call Cowan direct at 865-308-3802.

Rodney Malone of Hawg Heaven BBQ wins a festive tie door Chris Corum of State Farm receives a door prize bottle of wine prize presented by Mayme Taylor. Photos submitted from Mayme Taylor.

Chamber presents Networking After 5 The Union County Chamber of Commerce held an after-hours networking event for Union County business people at the Winery at Seven Springs Farm Dec. 15.

There were door prize drawings every half hour, plus light refreshments.

Chamber president Leslie Corum thanked everyone who helped make the networking time a success, especially the Winery at Seven Springs for hosting the event.

Door prize winners were Rodney Malone with Hawg Heaven BBQ, Lauren Effler with Union County Public Schools, Jody Smith and Chris Corum with State Farm.

Tamara Bernadot presents Lauren Effler with a bottle of wine door prize at the Chamber of Commerce networking event.

UNION COUNTY Shopper news • JANUARY 4, 2017 • 3

Thaller ‘bridges the gap’ with UPLIFT

By Shannon Carey Take a look at the conference room at the Maynardville Hardee’s at 11 a.m. on Sunday, and you’ll see a group that’s not just there for a good burger and fries.

They’re there to learn and pray together, and to support one another in faith.

The group is called UPLIFT, which stands for Universal Peace, Love, Inspiration, Faith and Truth, and it was founded by Eva Thaller to give a faith home to those who don’t choose a traditional church. Thaller said it’s hard to find words for the group that don’t have negative connotations, so she has settled on “Christian-based positive thought.� “My vision for UPLIFT is to help bridge the gap for people who have outgrown churches but have never been exposed to anything

the church where their parents went.�

Thaller lives on the William Montgomery Hubbs Farm in Luttrell, which she calls Crimson Oak, a farm owned by her family for 100 years. While her immediate family spent Thaller’s younger years traveling, she has been in Tennessee since 1979, and has lived at Crimson Oak since 1987. One day, she hopes to establish a retreat and conference center at the house on the ridge, but for now she’s meeting folks at Hardee’s.

The need she seeks to fill is not her own, but one she sees in the community.

UPLIFT founder Eva Thaller sits in the conference room at Hard“I can sit on top of the ee’s in Maynardville, where she spends most Sundays leading ridge and look at Clinch the Christian-based group. Photo by S. Carey Mountain and pray,� she said. “I feel there are people else,� she said. “There is no come and share their ideas. who need this. It may never creed. You don’t have to join It’s for people who would be large, but I’m hoping to anything. It’s a study and like to be going to church have a core group of people prayer group for people to but don’t fit in anymore in who enjoy praying together

community and setting goals together.�

UPLIFT meetings are similar to a basic church service, including prayer and a lesson prepared by Thaller, but sometimes meetings are just conversation, especially when there are new people. “It’s open and flexible and flowing and growing,� said Thaller.

UPLIFT started in June 2015, and since then the group has hosted activities, like an Easter breakfast at Crimson Oak and a holistic health fair. They also have a basic statement of beliefs, including “God is absolute good and is present everywhere. God is the source and creator of all,� and “We are spiritual beings created in God’s image. Human beings have a spark of divinity within them, the Christ spirit within.�

UPLIFT also incorporates elements from differ-

A holiday birding treat Our 520-plus National Wildlife Refuges, covering 93 million acres, offer great opportunities for folks to get out and enjoy nature.

Their rivers, lakes, swamps, fields and mountains are home to a myriad of varieties of trees and flowers, bushes and grasses. That means they are also home to innumerable critters that people like to watch – big animals, butterflies and, in the case of birders, birds.

Over 200 of our National Wildlife Refuges were set aside specifically to protect, manage and restore habitat for migratory birds, and one result of that effort has been to yield a list of over 700 species of birds that have been seen in America’s National Wildlife Refuges. And the good people who manage those refuges have made many of them very birder-friendly, with wildlife drives meandering through all their different natural features, plus nature trails, photo blinds and observation towers.

Through the years, Grandma and I have accumulated many fond memories, and some large bird lists, from such places as Santa Ana NWR in south Texas, Savannah NWR in coastal South Carolina, and Malheur NWR, the recently hooligan-occupied but still wild and beautiful refuge in eastern Oregon.

And through those years, one of our favorites has been the reasonably nearby 34,500-acre Wheeler NWR, only a four-hour drive away in north Alabama, spread out along TVA’s big Wheeler Lake. Its headquarters are just east of Decatur, Ala. It was established in 1938 as a wintering area for ducks, geese and other migratory birds and consists of woods, water and hundreds of acres of agricultural fields managed partly as bird food.

It also happens to be a convenient 12-minute drive from our son’s home, where we usually find ourselves at Christmas time, the high season for the hordes of water birds that congregate

Dr. Bob Collier

at the refuge in December, January, and February.

The late December weather there in north Alabama can be dicey for birding – we’ve had inches of snow one year, all-day monsoons of rain another. But this year was calm, dry, and a balmy 72 degrees by midday – a great Christmas present from Mother Nature! And a marvelous two-hour birding trip to Wheeler NWR in shirt sleeves on Dec. 24 was a perfect addition for us to add to the holiday festivities.

The best plan for enjoying Wheeler NWR is to start at the Visitors Center, where there are friendly and knowledgeable volunteers to tell you what’s going on out there, plus interesting displays of wildlife, maps and other information. The major attraction, though, is the Observation Building, 200 yards away down a wooded gravel pathway.

Sitting right on the edge of the water, the Observation Building is there for one purpose: observation. You walk in the back side, and there before you are two walls, front and side, facing out over the big embayment of calm, bird-filled water,

one-way glass from floor to ceiling. Most first-timers walk in and say “wow!�

Across the water from the building is a huge farm field managed to produce bird food, lying fallow at this time of the year; beyond that, woods and more water. The numbers of water birds peak out in January; when we were there the refuge personnel estimated that the big farm field held around 11,000 sandhill cranes – it looked like a million to us. This time of year the sandhills are joined by Sandhill cranes and other water birds peak in population in Deinnumerable geese, ducks, cember, January and February at the nation’s wildlife refuges. white pelicans, gulls and herons, with smaller numbers of less commonly seen cranes. And sure enough, in a couple hundred feet of us species, just waiting to be the far back of the big field in there behind the glass, were 15 white blobs, which, in awe of seeing, up close, discovered.

The sandhill cranes set with the aid of binoculars, one of the rarest birds in the the scene and the mood for became 15 big whooping world!

Once one has had a full the bird drama. Thousands cranes! Ironically, back in dose of crane watching, of the big, gray, 5-foot-tall 1941, at their lowest point, birds stand around in the there were only 14 or 15 one turns to the ducks. And field and along the shore, whooping cranes left in the there they were, probably making a constant din of wild, and here we were, see- more than a thousand of background noise with their ing 15 of the approximately them, right there in the wastrange bugling crane calls. 600 whooping cranes in the ter and on the shore outside And more of them are over- world today, all in a single the windows. We identified head, coming and going in bunch! And we didn’t have eight species, loafing, swimV-formations of from three to charter a boat or plane ming, eating, occasionally to 30 or more, flying high trip to go somewhere to see chasing one another, constantly in motion. And in and low. That overall pic- them.

And as if to make things addition to large numbers ture in and of itself makes the visit worthwhile, a scene even better for us, one of the and good close looks, the right out of a nature docu- big guys decided to come ducks provided us with one over close to the Observa- more rare-bird treat for the mentary of some sort.

But against that backdrop tion Building to hang out day. there were more wonders to with a dozen or so of its new be seen. One noted author- best friends, the sandhill ity on cranes was quoted cranes. It flew in, sipped as saying that Wheeler is some lake water, worked on one of the best places in its feathers for a bit, and sat the world to see whooping down for a nap – all within

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Among all those ducks, the two most numerous species were ducks called gadwalls, and then American wigeons; both are totally familiar to our duck-hunting friends; both species were there in the hundreds. But then there is another wigeon, called the Eurasion wigeon, that breeds in Europe and Asia. It is known to winter along both coasts of North America, though only rarely at inland locations like the TVA lakes. Not an especially rare bird, but rarely seen where we are.

The refuge staff had told us that there was a Eurasion wigeon around; one fellow at the Observation Building had driven down from Nashville just to see it. And after two hours of looking at all those ducks, there it was – close enough to see well and to photograph! Icing on the birding cake!

A brief scan for small land birds at the headquarters feeders and nearby woods, and we were back in our car and POOF! Back to the world of cars and gas stations, fast food places and last-minute shoppers. But happy to have had that time outdoors, seeing a tiny corner of the earth as it was intended to be, and knowing that those refuges are there, all across the country, saving those treasures for us all. So a Happy New Year to you all; get out somewhere and enjoy your surroundings!

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ent religions, including Buddhism. The group also uses affirmations in its meetings, a practice that Thaller calls “faith instead of fear.� “I think every religion is just a different pathway to God,� said Thaller. “There is good in every religion, and everybody is on a journey upwards.�

Right now, UPLIFT is studying the Twelve Spiritual Powers system, one spiritual power for each month.

The power for January is Faith, and other powers include Love, Strength and Wisdom. Thaller also plans to bring in guest speakers once a month to cover topics like miracles, the Healing Touch System, and Reiki Touch.

UPLIFT meets at 11 a.m. every Sunday, at the Hardee’s in Maynardville. Info: Eva Thaller, 865-992-0185 or eva.thaller@att.net.

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4 • January 4, 2017 • Union County Shopper news

opinion Honoring our

history

Union County has many historic sites, and it will take years to try to identify and mark all of them. It’s a work in progress. This year, with the help of Roads Superintendent David Cox, Preservation Union County has been able to get signs placed for three more sites: Ailor Mill; Union County’s only hanging site, where Clarence Cox and John Stanley were hanged on Dec. 22, 1894; and Lost Creek School. Thank you, David Cox and your crew. I’ve previously written about these sites, but for our young people who may not have access to the Union County history books, I’ll write again.

Bonnie Peters

or ridges for trails – these breaks are known as gaps.

It was much easier to move around the ridge than to try to maneuver a wagon, buggy or just a horse around the trees, rocks and streams along the ridges. Early writings that form our history refer to Samuel Sharp relocating from North Carolina to Flat Creek (a Union County place name) at what is now Union County, Tenn.

James Ailor was among those who came with SamWhen driving down Ailor uel Sharp and, after living Gap Road, look for the Ailor with Sharp for some years, Mill sign just north of the settled in what we now Free Spirit Missionary Bap- know as Ailor Gap – the tist Church and across Ailor “Gap” being the break in Comb Ridge (another Union Gap Road.

In olden days, as rest- County place name). Ailor less pioneers began moving Gap, named for the Ailor westward, they explored the family, is a place name in breaks between mountains Union County and in par-

Ailor Mill

Ailor Mill bore the name of an original settler of Union County. ticular in Civil War history in East Tennessee. As far as we know, James Ailor was the first settler in the Ailor Gap area, which runs from Tazewell Pike at Plainview to State Highway 33 at Maynardville. Civil War records document troop movements between Blaine’s Crossroad and Cumberland Gap. A part or parts of this “Ailor” trail was or became

what is also known as the old Jacksboro Road that ran from Emory Road to Jacksboro, Tenn. I have tried without success to find an early map showing the old Jacksboro Road across Union County.

The pieces of the old road bed still visible show so many meanders that those who used it were somewhat like the children of Israel wan-

Tomorrow is ours to win or lose “Yesterday is not ours to warfare and younger obrecover, but tomorrow is servers may remember and benefit from mistakes. It is ours to win or lose.” said that smart people do not make the same ones twice. We shall soon see who is smart and who is Marvin not and whether this distinction factors in the fate West of the 2017 Volunteers.

Object lessons are in LARGE print. There is conSo said Lyndon B. John- siderable need for change, son, Democrat from Texas, adjustments, better ideas, leader of the country, 1963 better tacklers – and much to 1969. Speechwriter better results.

Under the heading of reRichard Goodwin probably assembled the words. LBJ bounding from blunders, be delivered the challenge as reminded that all Tennessee losses are not the same. if it came from the heart.

Bits of presidential wis- Fans in my medium circle dom are rarely applicable still think the Vols of 2001 to Tennessee football. That went from the highest of quote can be a benediction highs to the lowest of lows. for the Volunteers of 2016. They whipped Florida in They are gone to Mem- Gainesville in the game deoryland. Do-overs are not layed by 9/11 and emerged available. There is no way No. 2 in Bowl Championto go back and achieve ship Series ratings. They what might have been. were one victory from the It is possible that re- Rose Bowl and a shot at Miturning survivors of ami and another possible Southeastern Conference national championship.

In the SEC title game at the Georgia Dome, the Volunteers fizzled and fell before handicapped LSU, 31-20. Many consider this Tennessee’s most disappointing defeat, worse than any loss to Alabama and even the upsets by Rutgers and Memphis State.

It was devastating for SEC bean-counters. The Vols fell to the Citrus Bowl.

The difference in payouts between Pasadena and Orlando was many millions.

Some can close their eyes and still see the symbol of frustration, those wilted orange roses.

If you listen closely, you might still hear the hurt in Phillip Fulmer’s post-game comments: “I am very disappointed we are not going to the Rose Bowl. We had a lot of energy and excitement but we came out flat and didn’t finish the job.

“You can’t expect to win when you make as many mistakes as we made. We dropped passes, fumbled

and drew penalties. We picked a bad time to play our worst game.”

Butch Jones was not so expressive after the Tennessee loss to Vanderbilt on Nov. 26. His press conference was brief. Maybe he figured the defeat didn’t matter all that much. It was only the final spill on an already disappointing season. A preliminary letdown happened at South Carolina.

Losing to the Commodores did knock the Vols out of the Sugar Bowl.

Butch probably realizes what a blow that was, the difference in a drive over to Nashville and an adventure in New Orleans, biscuits and sausage gravy at McDonald’s or Oysters Rockefeller at Antoine’s.

Alas and alas, 2016 is not ours to recover and repair. Fortunately, 2017 is out there, to be won or lost.

Good luck, Butch.

Marvin West invites reader reaction. His address is westwest6@netzero.com

dering in the wilderness!

As roadwork became a legal requirement of those males living along these trails, the trails were widened to wagon roads, and in some places paved with fieldstones, this particular trail became Ailor Gap Road. Along Bull Run Creek near the old Union Church building, James Ailor built a grist mill and became a lo-

cal miller. The mill ground both corn and wheat; the miller charged a “toll” of a certain amount – maybe a gallon of meal or flour per bushel in payment. The mill also served as a meeting place for the locals to learn the latest news as they waited for their corn or flour to be ground.

I found in the 1880 Census that the mill was passed on to James and Sarah “Sally” Sharp Ailor’s son, Samuel (1810-1883). Ownership of Ailor Mill then passed to Samuel and Sally Warwick Ailor’s son, Nicholas Ailor (1834-1913). Although Nicholas owned the mill for some years, it is believed that someone else was the miller. Nicholas Ailor became a lawyer and served as an early county judge of Union County.

The mill was passed down and operated by members of the Ailor family until about 1940. I recently learned from Carson Thompson that Johnicam Norris was the last miller to operate Ailor Mill and that the property owner, after the mill closed, gave the building to Arthur Harless to tear down and remove.

Harless built a shed out of the lumber at his homeplace.

In coming weeks, I’ll again write about the hanging, and the Lost Creek School.

Happy New Year

Surprising snow There is something both magical and dangerous about snow. Snow is most safely enjoyed while sitting near a window next to a warm fire on a cold winter day.

For schoolchildren and teachers, snow almost always brings a pleasant and sometimes unexpected holiday from educational responsibility. My earliest memories of snow are the times that school was canceled due to inclement weather.

Weather in East Tennessee can be tricky and hard to predict because of the unique geography. Modern technology has made forecasting more highly accurate than it was 45 years ago. It was not unusual to have unexpected snowstorms when I was an elementary student.

There was the eager anticipation of watching the six o’clock news to see if classes would be held the next day.

There was also the inconvenience of getting up early to hear the report when the snow fell during the night.

Our phone number was one number different from Superintendent Dwain

Ronnie Mincey Burke’s; therefore, we received several calls each winter wanting to know if school was in or out. If we knew, we answered – if we didn’t know, we told them they had the wrong number. It was easier than explaining otherwise.

Most dangerous of all was getting to school when an unexpected snowstorm required early dismissal. Ice storms are rarer in our area.

I was teaching at Luttrell and school was in session when freezing rain laid about a quarter of an inch of ice on the ground before lunch. This happened so quickly that no one had time to dismiss school. No one could get to us, and we could get nowhere.

My students asked what we were going to do. I told them we were going to have school as usual until 3 p.m. and then we would see. I was thinking in my mind how we would all spend the night at school and if there was enough food in the cafeteria to feed the students. I tried not to think how much more desperate our situation would become if the power went off.

Miraculously, the temperature rose during the afternoon and school dismissed on regular schedule.

What more proof is there of the adage, “If you don’t like the weather in East Tennessee just hang around – it’ll change”?

When I was later principal at Sharps Chapel Elementary, the sun was shining on a winter day. The Central Office called to say school was being dismissed. I asked why and was told there was 3 inches of snow in Luttrell. I wondered who told that lie and how Superintendent David Coppock got suckered into believing it.

Amazingly, there was indeed snow in Luttrell but seemingly in no other part of Union County. It seems that Luttrell has a monopoly on unexpected winter weather.

May the snows of 2017 be safe for all, and may you enter the New Year carefree.

Next week I’ll share some things that have hung over mine and other people’s heads, sometimes without our knowledge.

Union County Shopper news • January 4, 2017 • 5

faith cross currents Lynn Pitts lpitts48@yahoo.com

A whole new world!

Mia Johnikins shows her handprint in clay at the Milan Baptist Church winter VBS. Photos by S. Carey

Mary Effler helps Mia Effler make a craft at Milan Baptist Church’s winter Vacation Bible School.

Milan winter VBS in second year

If you are in the habit of skipping the verses of Scripture that always appear at the beginning of this column, stop right now, and go back to the top! Read and reread those six verses and reflect on the power and the wonder of that passage. It is stunning! The magnitude of creation – the centrality of Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection in that creation – is jaw-dropping! The Apostle Paul captured in those words an astonishing description of Jesus: the Creator, the Son, the Man, the Lamb, the Savior. Sometimes I fear we get so familiar with the Bible we don’t read it with amazement and joy. We read it just like we would read yesterday’s paper: “Oh, yeah, I know what happened. I know all that stuff.” As we start a New Year, let’s try – every day – to remember what God has done for us in the person of Jesus Christ. Let’s live into His promises; let’s be His people on earth!

Kyra Peace tosses a beanbag during game time at Milan Baptist Church’s winter Vacation Bible School. VBS goers recited their Bible verse for the day before getting to play games.

By Shannon Carey Milan Baptist Church is in the second year of a wonderful idea: Vacation Bible School for winter break as well as summer break. This year’s winter VBS, held Dec. 26-28, drew 107 attendees of all ages.

With the theme “From the Cradle to the Cross,” Milan’s winter VBS sought to teach “the true meaning of Christmas,” said Ami Winstead, wife of pastor Jody Winstead.

“The kids are out of school and ready for some fun and energy release,” she added.

Jackie Muncey, who directs Milan’s VBS with wife Sharon, said the winter VBS was the brainchild of former Milan pastor, the late Michael Viles. Muncey said the first year of winter VBS

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers – all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of the cross.

(Colossians 1:15-20 NRSV)

Asher Effler made this craft at the Milan Baptist Church VBS. was for the glory of God, “but also in remembrance of Michael.”

While you may think it would be tough to find volunteers for VBS the week after Christmas, Muncey said that isn’t the case at Milan.

“Milan is such a strongfaithed church that volunteers just pour out,” he said.

FAITH NOTES Community services ■■ Hansard Chapel Methodist Church, on Highway 33 across from Tolliver’s Market, hosts a food pantry 6-7 p.m. each third Saturday.

Gently used clothing is also available. Info: the Rev. Jay Richardson, 776-2668.

Special services ■■ UPLIFT, a nondenominational study/prayer group for Universal Peace, Love, Inspiration, Faith & Truth, meets 11 a.m.-noon Sundays in the conference room at Hardee’s, 2825 Maynardville Highway, Maynardville. Info: Eva, 992-0185 or eva.thaller@ att.net.

HMMS helps Sevier County Horace Maynard Middle School student council members hold a donation check to the Sevier County Wildfire Relief Fund in front of a poster signed by some of the students who donated. The donation totals $1,068.09 and will go to help Sevier County Schools students affected by the wildfires. Pictured are (front) Chloe LeFevers, Evan Singletary, Spencer Cox; (back) Quatley Russell, Jordan Watts, Haley Nix, Joshua Brantley, Caitlin Mays, Koby Dyer and Morgan Johnson. Photo submitted

COMMUNITY EVENTS ■■ Big Ridge 4th District Neighborhood Watch meeting, 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, Big Ridge Elementary School library. Info: 9925212.

■■ Paulette 6th District Neighborhood Watch meeting, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, Paulette Elementary School cafeteria. Info: 992-5212.

■■ VFW meeting, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 12, 140 Veteran St., Maynardville. All veterans invited. Info: 278-3784.

■■ Dichoric Pendant workshop, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, Appalachian Arts Craft Center,

2716 Andersonville Highway 61, Norris. Instructor: Donna Gryder. Registration deadline: Jan. 7. Info/registration: 4949854 or applachianarts.net.

■■ Roane State’s Wilderness First Responder course, Sunday-Sunday, Jan. 15-22, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Meets Tennessee EMS standards and national standards for first responder training. Must have completed professional-level CPR training. Info/registration: gsmit.org/wfr.html or 4486709.

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 140 Veteran St., Maynardville. All veterans invited. Info: 256-5415.

■■ Plainview 7th District Neighborhood Watch meeting, 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, Plainview Community Center. Info: 992-5212.

■■ Pottery on the Wheel class, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Mondays, Jan. 23-Feb. 13,

Appalachian Arts Craft Center, 2716 Andersonville Highway 61, Norris. Instructor: Sandra McEntire. Bring a lunch each day. Registration deadline: Jan. 16. Info/registration: 4949854 or applachianarts.net.

■■ VFW meeting, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 9, 140 Veteran St., Maynardville. All veterans invited. Info: 278-3784.

■■ Honor Guard meeting, 7 p.m.

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One resolution to keep for sure Chiropractic Outlook

By Dr. Darrell Johnson, DC

Some resolutions are easier to keep than others. That’s because some are fully within our control; others are more elusive. Picking up the phone and making an appointment to see a chiropractor and start the year with a thorough checkup and a spinal adjustment is one step that is, literally, at your fingertips. A chiropractic adjustment will put your spine in proper alignment, and that, according to the cornerstone of chiropractic philosophy, will help your body to care for and heal itself.

The basic tenet of chiropractic is that misalignments in the bones of the spine – the verte-

brae – can cause trouble ranging from pain and discomfort to reduced function throughout the body. The nerves that transmit signals from the brain to the organs and limbs emanate from the spinal cord and between the vertebrae. So keeping those lines of communication perfectly clear is going to keep your body functioning at maximum efficiency.

A doctor of chiropractic is trained to do just that. So let 2017 be the year you see what chiropractic can do for you.

Presented as a community service by Union County Chiropractic; 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, Tenn.

992-7000

6 • January 4, 2017 • Union County Shopper news

Kennedy Hill (left, in black) and Summer Beeler (right) show their hogs in the Tri-County 4-H Market Hog Show.

Union County 4-H Hog Club shows well at Tri-County Market Union County 4-H Hog Club member Clay Foust and his hog Allison.

Kennedy Hill had both the grand champion and reserve grand champion hogs at the recent Tri-County 4-H Market Hog Show. She is a ninth grader.

UT livestock judging coach Zach Bartenslager poses with Union County 4-H Hog Club member Summer Beeler and one of her hogs.

Students winning showmanship awards were: 11th-grader Austin Berry, Grand Champion, Senior Level II; 11th-grader Emma Parker, Reserve Grand Champion, Senior Level II; ninth-grader Kennedy Hill, Grand Champion, Senior Level I; ninth-grader Summer Beeler, Reserve Grand Champion, Senior Level I; eighth-grader Abigail Foust, Grand Champion, Junior High; eighthgrader R.L. Lloyd, Reserve Grand Champion, Junior

High; fifth-grader Jonathan Tindell, Grand Champion, Junior; fifth-grader Jeremiah Tindell, Reserve Grand Champion, Junior; fourth-grader Gracie Lloyd, Grand Champion, Explorer.

In weight classes, in which the pig is judged, the following students won awards: Gracie Lloyd, first place, Weight Class 1; Kaleb Hanna, second place, Weight Class 1; Kennedy Hill, first place, Weight Class 2; Austin Berry, sec-

ond place, Weight Class 2; Kendra Sellars, first place, Weight Class 3; Savannah Jones, second place, Weight Class 3; Kennedy Hill, first and second place, Weight Class 4; Savannah Jones, first and second place, Weight Class 5.

The Union County Hog Club is taking orders for whole and half processed hogs to help fund next year’s competitions.

For info or to order: 865-992-8038.

See photo on next page

TennCare Kids provides services TennCare Kids is Tennessee’s commitment to see that children and teens have the best start to a healthy life. TennCare Kids is a free program of check-ups and health care services for children from birth to age 21 who are TennCare eligible, including health history, complete physical exam, lab tests as appropriate, immunizations, vision and hearing screening, developmental and behavior screenings as appropriate, and advice on healthy living. Union Countians interested in the program should contact the Union County Health Department’s community outreach representative, Pam Williams. Info: 992-3867, ext. 131.

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NORRIS LAKE - Private and gated 2.08 acre lakefront peninsula on Norris Lake. 4Br 3Ba features: year round deep water on all sides, elevator, open floor plan, custom kitchen,w/breathtaking views of Norris Lake views, boat dock, launch ramp, concrete/steel catwalk and handicapped SHARPS CHAPEL - Private accessible. $899,000 (981728) wooded 9.5 acr setting with POWELL - 20.53 acre Cattle Farm convenient to I-75. This property has it all. The property has two residences: Custom built brick 4Br 3Ba 2900 sqft & 2Br2Ba 2000 sqft rental home.

Plenty or work space with 52x48 metal barn with underground utilities, 40x70 metal barn with 14ft roll up doors & Pond. $1,000,000 (981058)

LUTTRELL – 18.41 Acres with HEISKELL - Private setting. This 17.67 acres is mostly wooed. barn. Approximately 8 acres of Cleared and Graded for home site with views of Cumberland pasture and utilities available Mountains. 3-bay shed on property and utilities available at road. $129,900 (981786) on road. $99,900 (967145) KN-1419733

seasonal

Norris

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view.

This property is 3 parcels and features: 2BR 2BA basement rancher with attached 2-car garage. Detached 20x36 2-car garage with circular driveway & Storage bld with electric.

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HEISKELL - 22.2 acres in private UNION CO -This Move in Ready wooded setting. Convenient to I-75 & US 441. $124,900 (979949)

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UNION COUNTY Shopper news • JANUARY 4, 2017 • 7

kids Book club boosts school library Members of the Sunset Bay Book Club love to read, and over the years several of the club’s members have volunteered to read each week to the children of Sharps Chapel Elementary School. After learning of a need for more quality books in the school library, club founder Debbie Brown suggested that club members donate books each Christmas in lieu of exchanging gifts among members.

For the last three years, thousands of dollars’ worth of books have been donated, and this year added to the total.

Cheryl Roark’s second-grade class, along with Sharps Chapel principal Bryan Shoffner and librarian Lisa Brantley (back), gather with some of the books donated to the school library by the Sunset Bay Book Club. Photo submitted

Sharps Chapel FCE donates books

By Shannon Carey What do “Rush Revere,� “Garfield the Cat� and “Heaven is for Real� have in common? These titles are among the many books given with love to the children of Sharps Chapel to further their joy of reading.

This has become an annual tradition for the members of Sharps Chapel FCE (Family and Community Education). Instead of having a gift exchange, the members share the stories behind why they chose the books they did for Sharps Chapel Elementary School.

It is something that they look forward to each year because it allows them to express their personalities by purchasing books that they enjoyed as children or contain subjects of interest to them now, such as bird watching or cats.

Over the years, thousands of dollars of books have been donated.

The Sharps Chapel FCE club, sponsored by the UT Extension Office, meets 1 p.m. every third Thursday at the Sharps Chapel Community Center. Info: Gloria Holcomb, 865-278-3488, or Sharps Chapel FCE members hold books they donated to Sharps Chapel Elementary School. They are (front) Becca Hughes, Mary Johnson; (back) Rena Begley, Linda Osborne, Terry Reinitz, Pat Owens, Gloria Holcomb, Sandy Manter, Sue Ross and Carolyn holcombgd@gmail.com.

Shields. Photo submitted

MAYNARDVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS â– One-on-one classes are available by appointment for those wanting to learn how to use computers and other devices. For appointment: 992-7106. The Maynardville Public Library is at 296 Main St. Info: 992-7106, maynardvillepubliclibrary.org or on Facebook.

Savannah Jones and one of her hogs at the Tri-County 4-H Market Hog Show

New livestock feed rule to take effect Livestock producers have new federal rules to follow when feeding their animals.

Beginning Jan. 1, a licensed veterinarian must approve and supervise use of certain medications in livestock feed. “Antibiotics are vitally important for fighting illness and maintaining livestock health,� state veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher said. “However, we must make sure that drugs don’t develop resistance.

These new rules will move us toward the elimination of antibiotic use for production purposes, while still allowing producers to use prescribed antibiotics to treat and control disease.�

The Food and Drug Administration will require producers to have a veterinary feed directive (VFD) in order to feed certain antimicrobial drugs. Before a producer can obtain a VFD, their licensed vet of record must examine and diagnose the livestock in question. Producers must then provide the VFD to their feed manufacturer or supplier.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture routinely inspects feed manufacturers.

Any mills that mix antimicrobials into livestock feed will be required to show proof of the VFD during inspection. Extra-label use of a VFD drug in an animal feed for weight gain or feed efficiency is prohibited.

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8 • January 4, 2017 • Union County Shopper news

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