By Mark A. Halcomb / UT Area Nursery Specialist The big concern for many has been fireblight, mostly on crabapple, but a few serviceberry were hit. Turns out, it has been a bad year for fireblight.The only thing that can be done now, is prune it out and hope for regrowth. Make the cuts 6…

Pictured, from left, are Ricky Curtis, Chris Sims, Ben Cannon, Ashley Phillips, John Douglas, and John Carmichael, who represented Warren County High School at the Envirothon. (Photo provided) The 11th annual Hull-York Lakeland RC&D Envirothon competition was held recently at Cane Creek Park in Cookeville.Twenty-four teams competed, representing 11 counties from the Upper Cumberland area.Clarkrange…

By J. Dale Beaty / Extension Leader Over 1,500 feeder calves went through the local sale barn this past Wednesday night, and if you’re selling you’re in the right place.Many folks have told me that they’ve never in their lives found a bargain. There weren’t any at the local feeder calf sale last week. Any…

Baby BoyJacquie and Jonathan Ferrell announce the birth of their first child, Zackery Adam Lee Ferrell. He was born at River Park Hospital April 16 weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces. He was 19 inches in length.His grandparents are Janet and Ed Watson and Mary and Gary Ferrell. Great-grandparents include Alt and Judy Judkins, Francis Judkins,…

Beulah McBee conducted the meeting of the Hickory Creek FCE recently at the Extension office. She welcomed guest Kristie Bouldin to the gathering. Vickie Gibbs read for the devotional from Luke: 18 and led a simple believing prayer.Carolyn Womack attended the environmental meeting, “clean house is a healthy house.” She conveyed how to make cleaners…

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The government has been looking at the possibility of terrorists targeting food destined for school cafeterias, a federal food safety official said Monday. “The school lunch program is particularly vulnerable,” said Carol Maczka, an administrator within the Agriculture Department’s Food Safety Inspection Service. Maczka, speaking to the annual conference of…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Indicted state Sen. Ward Crutchfield met a deadline to state his desire to keep his leadership positions but must request a hearing before the Senate Ethics Committee, chairman Ron Ramsey said Monday. Crutchfield, a Chattanooga Democrat, faxed a letter to Ramsey on Sunday proclaiming his innocence and stating his desire to retain…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — State Sen. Ward Crutchfield, one of five current or former state legislators arrested in a federal and state bribery sting, is resigning as attorney for the Hamilton County Board of Education. Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga, said he was leaving the position in a letter to school board chairman Chip Baker. “I have contemplated retiring…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A claims commissioner has authorized former University of Tennessee President John Shumaker to continue with an effort to collect $423,000 in severance pay from the state. Dan Warlick, a Nashville attorney representing Shumaker, told WTVF-TV of Nashville that an oral agreement for the money between his client and Gov. Phil Bredesen should…

COLUMBIA (AP) — Authorities have arrested a manager and employee of a Columbia convenience store who they suspect sold thousands of cold tablets for the purpose of making methamphetamine. Ugresh Patel, manager of the Marathon convenience store at 1515 Nashville Highway, and Biren Patel were charged with the promotion of meth manufacturing under the Meth…