Hello Banner Friends, My husband, Jack Hall, and I have just returned home to The Villages, Florida, on Sunday after spending a wonderful two and a half days in our former hometown. more

After her separation from Ike, lawsuits for canceled shows compiled into a mountain of debt. To start paying the creditors, she resumed touring. In 1977, she re-emerged with a sexier image and costumes created by Bob Mackie. She headlined a series of cabaret shows at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and took her act to smaller venues in the United States. She then embarked on her first solo concert tour in Australia. more

June 20, 2023 — The mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville has led to an extraordinary legal battle over the public records law and transparency of our criminal justice system. more

It was enough to give you whiplash. Or at the very least, confuse a young mind.   more

I have a serious announcement to make this morning. And I would appreciate it if you would gather around a little closer and give me your full and undivided attention. more

In the annals of country music history, one name stands out with a unique blend of talent, humor, and tragedy: David “Stringbean” Akeman. Born on June 17, 1915, in Annville, Kentucky, Akeman’s musical journey would take him to great heights, including performances on the Grand Ole Opry and the iconic television show Hee Haw. However, it is his untimely death and the subsequent events that would forever etch his name in the hearts of fans and musicians alike. more

Time keeps marching on. As we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, there’s a palpable sense of anticipation in the air. The ticking clock symbolizes not just the passage of time but the chance for a fresh start, a canvas waiting to be painted with the vibrant hues of new adventures and new memories. more

In 1968, Buford Pusser was re-elected Sheriff of McNairy County for a third and final term. According to his family, in the six years he served as sheriff he was stabbed seven times and shot eight (those numbers can not be confirmed). more

I have been thinking about moving to Wyoming. They’ve got drifting tumbleweeds and wide open spaces like Gene and Roy sang about back when the west was really wild. They’ve got mountain ranges with enticing names like Teton, Wind River, Bighorn, Medicine Bow and my favorite, Absaroka. more

March is Women’s History Month. The month-long declaration is designed to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. The next four weeks will be dedicated to Tennessee women who were trailblazers that left a legacy impacting future generations. more

What’s that old adage about not missing the water till the well runs dry…. It came to life when I woke up from the operation and couldn’t see jack squat out of my right eye. A detached retina is not a thing of beauty. more

Three years ago I wrote a letter to the editor about a CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) of two wean-to-finish hog barns that were proposed to be built in the Big Buck Community northwest of Huntingdon. more

Get out that old record player and join the current revolution of listening to music. more

In the rugged and majestic embrace of East Tennessee’s untamed wilderness, a saga of courage, resilience, and determination began to unfold, with the Crockett family at its core. At the center of this narrative stood David Crockett, a legend in the making. Born on a balmy August day in 1786, within the rustic confines of a cabin aptly named “Limestone,” David’s arrival marked the dawn of an era defined by exploration, hardship, and triumph. more

The first time I saw Dale Kelley was at a basketball game in Bethel College’s old gym. He was playing. I was a kid tagging along just to aggravate and embarrass my elder brother in front of his friends, Jackie Burns and Paul David Campbell. more

Between political campaigns and football programs, it’s been a hard and busy last couple of weeks at the Banner office. more

Well, I sure made a mistake. And many of you caught it right away. Maybe y’all are paying too much attention! more

You can call it luck. Or blessed. Or God’s divine intervention. I’m not smart enough to understand half of the stuff that makes up life as we know it. Maybe I owe it all to the Domestic Egg Company. more

John Howell Ingram could outrun the wind. I saw him make a diving catch in deep left-center in that old baseball field across from the Pajama Factory that you would not believe! It was the best I ever saw. more

A few days ago, I came across an interesting piece of regional history. In 1908, Obion and Lake counties set the scene for seven months of violence and intimidation due to the greed of the West Tennessee Land Company. more