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Programs aim to help arthritis patients become more active
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If you have arthritis or are simply looking for a joint-safe way to get moving, please consider the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP) or the Tai Chi for Arthritis program. These two programs are being offered through the UT TSU Extension Office with Hilda Lytle serving as the instructor. Programs are open to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, genetic information veteran status and parental status. Both programs will be held in the Early Voting Room at the Warren County Administrative Building.


Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program

Developed by physical therapists specifically for people with arthritis, AFEP is a low-impact, joint-safe exercise program that’s been documented to help increase joint flexibility and range of motion and to help maintain muscle strength. It may also improve balance and coordination. 

Participants will go through a series of gentle movements and activities designed to increase mobility and range of motion. The exercises are designed to work all joints in the body in a slow and gentle manner. In addition, health information, joint checks, cool downs and relaxation techniques will be provided. 

The arthritis exercise program classes are free and are scheduled for most Tuesdays & Fridays. The tentative dates are:  July 11, 18, 21, 25, Aug. 4, 8, 11, 18, 22, 25, 29 and Sept. 1, *7, 15, 22 & 26.  (*Note; September 7 is a Thursday.) Participants should plan to attend all classes as possible.

Tai Chi for Arthritis – Level 1:

This joint-safe program is designed to help you manage the effects of arthritis through slow agile steps and exercises. The focus of the program will be to learn the basic forms of the sun style of Tai Chi to reduce pain and stiffness while improving balance & memory. 

Created by Dr. Paul Lam with the help of a team of medical experts, Tai Chi increases heart and lung activity, aligns posture, improves balance and integrates the mind and body. Other benefits may include:  improved ability to cope with stress & depression, memory, coordination, muscle strength & stamina, and body awareness. Studies have shown that people with arthritis who have completed the class have experienced less pain and stiffness, tend to exercise and relax more and have more overall knowledge of their condition. 

Sessions will be held at 3:30 p.m. on most Tuesdays and Thursdays in July & August. The fee is $48 for all ten (1-hour) sessions. Tentative dates are:  July 18, 20, 25, 27, and August 8, 10, *14, 17, 22, & 29. (*Note: Aug. 14 is a Monday.)  Participants should plan to attend all ten sessions to receive the most benefit from the program.

Please call the UT-TSU Warren County Extension Office at 473-8484 or email Hilda Lytle at hlytle@utk.edu to register for one or both of these exercise programs by July 7, 2023. Payment for Tai Chi class is needed by the first day of class. Class size is limited, so register as soon as possible.

Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. 


Local farm partnership brings fresh beef to Warren County Schools
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Warren County Schools has beefed up lunch menus this school year through a new community partnership. Thanks to a collaboration between the district’s School Nutrition Department and Barton Creek Farms, students at Warren County High School, Warren County Middle School, West Elementary, Eastside Elementary, and Dibrell Elementary are enjoying locally sourced, farm-fresh beef in their lunches as part of a pilot program.

The initiative, spearheaded by Terri Mullican, Director of School Nutrition, has already shown great promise in its first few months. The partnership with Barton Creek Farms, located in Rock Island, Tennessee, ensures that the beef served is not only local to Warren County but of the highest quality. Barton Creek Farms specializes in farm-to-fork beef, with grass-fed and grain-finished cattle. Each calf is born and raised in Rock Island and goes through USDA-inspected processing, ensuring it meets the strictest safety and quality standards.

“When the opportunity arose to provide fresh, local beef, we knew it was a no-brainer,” Mullican said. “The fact that it’s a product from right here in our community makes it even more special. We can’t wait to implement it district-wide.”

Barton Creek Farms delivers fresh ground beef to the district monthly, and the nutrition

department incorporates it into homemade recipes such as lasagna, meatloaf, chili, and tacos.

As of now, the beef is being served at five schools, but the ultimate goal is to expand the program to all ten lunch-serving schools in the district.

The pilot program originated from a conversation between Mary Roller of Barton Creek Farms and Mullican. Roller, recognizing the farm’s potential to support local schools, reached out to gauge the district’s interest in serving local beef to students. Around the same time, a Warren County school board member contacted Mullican to share information about a similar partnership in neighboring Dekalb County, which helped push the initiative forward.

The timing worked in the district’s favor, as the nutrition department was able to fund the purchase of the beef using existing resources, eliminating the need for additional funding. Now that the pilot program is enjoying a successful run, the department has budgeted to extend the partnership district-wide for the 2025-26 school year.

Dr. Grant Swallows, Director of Schools, praised the program’s economic approach to student nutrition.

“This pilot is a perfect example of how we can use local resources to continue providing nutritious, healthy meals for our students,” he said. “We are grateful for partnerships like this one that benefit both our students and our local community. We always strive to support our local businesses when we can because our community is so good to us.”

In addition to working with Warren County Schools, Barton Creek Farms also partners with local restaurants to offer farm-fresh beef on their menus. The farm’s offerings include ground beef, steaks, roasts, and custom cuts by the quarter, half, or whole cow, meeting diverse consumer needs.

As the program continues to grow, the district hopes to expand its focus on farm-to-school meals, benefiting students’ health and connecting them to the agricultural roots of the community