As baseball gears for another season. I just happened to come across an article saying Tennessee had a professional baseball team. My curiosity got the best of me, and I naturally clicked on the link expecting to be thoroughly disappointed. Well, I was wrong, what a shock. more

Today, McKenzie’s new mayor Ryan Griffin takes the oath of office for a four-year term. He has pledged to continue on the successes of retiring Mayor Jill Holland. Griffin plans to continue the city’s growth in new ways. more

For the last couple weeks, the Banner staff has been hunkered down prepping for the upcoming football season. Each year we publish our gridiron guide along with a host of football programs for area schools. While it is a painstaking process, we take pride in what we do and feel honored to help the schools. more

10 Years Ago — McKenzie United Neighbors hosted Second Harvest Mobile Pantry at First Baptist Church and served over 250 needy families. more

My father grew up the son of a sharecropper working a farm with mules during the Great Depression. That experience greatly influenced how he raised me and my siblings. One thing we were taught was to always “turn out that light!” when leaving a room. It didn’t matter if we were just going to the bathroom and would be right back, we were still supposed to turn out the light. more

Operation Tennessee Waltz was a sting operation set up by federal and state law enforcement agents, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The operation led to the arrest of seven Tennessee state lawmakers and two men identified as “bagmen” in the indictment on the morning of May 26, 2005, on bribery charges. more

Mom was not a big proponent of Halloween. She thought it had pagan roots. Or at least, she feared the idea of haunted houses, witches stirring up secret recipes over a burning cauldron, and guys running around wearing that bloody mask with the hatchet sticking into the skull might warp us for life. more

Sampson W. Keeble, a prominent figure in Tennessee’s political history, left an indelible mark on the state through his remarkable accomplishments and dedication to public service. Born in 1833, Keeble’s life journey took him from humble beginnings as a slave to becoming the first African American to serve in the Tennessee General Assembly in the late 19th century. His legacy of resilience and trailblazing in politics continues to inspire generations of leaders and citizens. more

Over Christmas dinner, my eldest granddaughter seemingly intrigued about the possibilities, asked what I thought of the rapidly growing popularity of A.I. I was caught off guard, with a fork full of sweet potato casserole suspended halfway to my mouth. It took me a second— more

John Wesley Crockett was born on August 10, 1807, in East Tennessee, to David and Mary Crockett. He came from a notable lineage, being the eldest son of the legendary frontiersman and former congressman. John Wesley Crockett would leave his mark on the world. more

Politics is destroying everything we know and love. Families, friendships, reputations… nations, the planet… nothing is spared from its wrath. more

Few figures have left as profound an impact as Owen Bradley on music. He was a visionary producer and a key architect of the Nashville Sound, Bradley played a pivotal role in transforming country music from its rustic roots to a polished, sophisticated sound that resonated with a broader audience. more

I played in my first Super Bowl in 1953. Against my will! It was freezing cold that December in West Tennessee. I had just opened my Christmas present. Good gosh, it wasn’t even daylight yet! more

Am I the only one confused here... I thought the Supreme Court ruled some time ago this “forgiving” government loans to college students was not legal, proper or allowed. I breathed a sigh of relief. Simply because I was under the strong persuasion that what’s fair for the goose is fair for the gander. more

10 Years Ago — Brooke Baucum signed to play softball for the Lady Wildcats. more

It was 1979, and I was the guest song leader for a church’s summer revival (although it was called “a gospel meeting” because “revival” sounded too much like a rival religious group). more

End of the year reports were a lot simpler when I was a boy. Eisenhower reelected to another term. Yankees win the World Series. The yearly inflation rate rises 0.28 percent. Swanson introduces TV dinners. Elvis Presley has a hit record. more

The events of World War I left an indelible mark on humanity. Amidst the horrors of trench warfare on the Western Front, an unexpected and extraordinary event occurred during the Christmas season of 1914 – the Christmas Truce. This unplanned ceasefire defied the brutality of war, offering a brief respite in the form of shared humanity and camaraderie. more

10 Years Ago — Carla Craddock slides safely for an RBI triple against the Lady Bulldogs. *Carroll County coordinated a health mock crash for high schoolers. *Jason Martin and Brittany Washburn announced their engagement. more

Last week, much to my chagrin, I was not only surprised by the story of Lem Motlow but also by the fact that I have never written about one of Tennessee’s most prolific sons, Jack Daniel. I’m not one to shy away from occasional libations, especially one of the brown spirit nature. So this week, it is a fine time to devote a little ink to the whiskey maker. more