I have been accused of living in the past. Boy howdy, what a bum rap! I write about growing up “back then” for sure. I share some memories of those thrilling days of yesteryear, hopefully to refresh the minds of older folks and to enlighten the younger crowd as to what they have missed. more

My brothers and sisters in the Middle East are suffering. Therefore, I am advocating for the following six actions. more

Running short on research ideas, I decided to do another looking back article. This week, someone had left the 2006 edition laying out so I took a little look and this is the just a few treasures I found. more

In the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, a musical revolution was brewing that would leave an indelible mark on the world of soul music. What began as Satellite Records would soon evolve into Stax Records, becoming a pivotal force in shaping the cultural and musical landscape of its time. The story of Stax Records is one of triumph over adversity, of a close-knit community that defied social norms, and of the artists who turned their struggles into soulful melodies that continue to resonate to this day. more

I first started running when I said something, or did something, to make Leon mad. He was the older brother. By five years! I couldn’t stand and fight. He’d beat the living daylights out of me! more

W.E.B. Du Bois was a towering figure in American history, renowned for his intellectual prowess, tireless activism. From his early life in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, to his pioneering work in sociology, his time at Fisk University in Tennessee, his prolific publications, and his pivotal role in the founding of the NAACP, Du Bois left an indelible mark on the struggle for racial equality and social justice in the United States. more

I went to New York City. more

Like most jobs, at least high-profile positions, there is usually something that resembles a job search to fill the void. In August Dr. Walter Butler announced his plans to retire on December 31, 2023. It’s extremely important to put the right person in the position of President. more

Dear Editor, McKenzie has been my hometown for 94 years and I love it. more

Red and white are not my favorite colors. And that personal preference, in some kind of off-handed, backwards, subliminal way, may have a direct connection to Valentine’s Day. I have never been on friendly terms with the little half-dressed chubby guy who comes out every February waving his bow and arrows around. more

In the late 1960s and into the early 1980s, the Nashville Sound began to evolve into a much smoother and richer sound. The twangy classic sound was still popular on some fronts but to keep up with the growth of rock n’ roll, rhythm and blues, and ever-changing pop sound the Nashville Sound gave birth to what many country music historians or enthusiasts refer to as Countrypolitan. more

Dear Editor, Jon Petryshyn, USMC gave out misinformation in his letter to the editor comment. more

A recent spate of undelivered newspapers through the United States Postal Service (USPS) is concerning to the McKenzie Banner staff. more

My Mother wasn’t too smart. Now, I know that is a harsh thing to say. But the facts are irrefutable! more

I have been a music nut for most of my life. This may come as a shocker to some, but I have never cared much for modern music. It has always been classic country or classic rock. I don’t know if that makes me an old soul or just an oddity, but it wasn’t easy to be a teenager listening to George Jones and Merle Haggard while your friends were into Metallica or Pearl Jam.  more

One of the more intriguing individuals from Tennessee history has a more significant impact on Texas history. Sam Houston, who became the first President of Texas, was originally from Virginia and found a foothold in politics within the State of Tennessee. He would go on to be the only person to serve as governor of two separate states. more

With time ticking away and deadline quickly approaching, I struggled to find a muse for this week’s story. Thank goodness for Google as a search of "on this date in history” turned up a quote from Tennessee’s Andrew Johnson. On May 9, 1865, President Johnson declared the Civil War “may be regarded as virtually at an end.” This opened the rabbit hole and away I went. more

Politicians don’t like to be forced to share information. Some are more forthcoming than others but every last one of them — regardless of party — prefer to shape their own narrative without outside interference. more

There’s admirable support for independent local businesses these days. more

Some of my fondest memories growing up come from my recollections of me as a little boy spending time with my granddad, Verdell Story. He was born and raised here, and when he returned home in the early 1980s after his career in California, it was as if he never left. Most of his friends and acquaintances welcomed him home. more