Growing up I heard a tale of two gun-toting outlaws from out west robbing the little bank on the square. Which in my mind gave way to the romanticized idea of a John Dillinger or Bonnie and Clyde sweeping into town with Tommy guns blazing followed by a high-speed chase; woe the imagination of a child. Needless to say, this week I set out to find what I could of the real story. Even though it wasn’t Bonnie and Clyde that knocked over the bank, it was still a pretty darn interesting story. more

Ray Blanton’s term as governor ranks as one of the most controversial in Tennessee’s history. Despite the corruption that surrounded his administration, there were also numerous accomplishments. He created the Department of Tourism, the first in the nation. Blanton traveled extensively for the state, making numerous trips to Washington, D.C., and three overseas trips to recruit foreign investment. more

I don’t remember the exact year. I was in my first days of junior high, struggling almighty hard to find my way. If I had to guess, I’d say 1960. more

Rising to the top in the political arena is nearly impossible without committing a few sins along the way. Some in Tennessee’s history stand out for their questionable ethics and have enveloped themselves with cronyism and nepotism. The governorship of Ray Blanton is probably the most atrocious in the modern era. more

 I’m not against New Year resolutions. I even made one once. But it didn’t work out. I explained it in great detail to Jane Hill. I told her it came to me in a vision in late December. And I “resoluted” it because there was definitely a higher power involved; it was like some unseen force destined it to be….  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

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

After the death of Louise Hathcock, the legend of Buford Pusser began to snowball with each story or tale, some true, some stretched and others just outright untrue. Each week a new story would be published in the local papers. As the legend grew, so did the battles between Buford and the State Liners. Both sides believed violence was the answer to the problem at hand. more

Someone asked about my most memorable Christmas. I cheated and said, “They are all memorable.” It was an easy and ready available retort. And it didn’t take any thought. more

The story of Buford Pusser is one of intrigue wrapped in mystery. Depending on who tells the story dictates the level of truth, glamorization, or defamation varies. more

The church of God seems to be under attack today by every nation, group, organization, almost the entire movie industry, half of the politic body and the proverbial partridge in a pear tree. The naysayers love to point out that the United States is no longer a “Christian” nation. more

I sometimes feel sorry for people who live in large cities. Actually, I feel sorry for them most of the time because they will never get to experience what the small town I live in just experienced. more

A few months back, I received a rather strange Facebook message asking if I would be willing to judge the Miss McNairy/Miss Riverview Volunteer beauty pageant. My response was simple, I think you’ve reached the wrong person. Never in a thousand years would I think my name would come up as a beauty pageant judge. Well, that was not the case. more

I missed Black Friday completely. I must have been one of the few. Most accounts put the total amount of purchases for this year’s most famous “shopping day” over the nine billion dollar mark. It is easily a new Black Friday record! ’Course, I wonder if it is truly “shopping” in every sense of the word when you never leave the friendly confines of your own home... 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

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

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

One Thanksgiving Leon decided he was going to shoot a turkey for the big meal. I’m not sure till this day why he took me along. I’d never seen a live turkey in my whole life. I sure couldn’t help him find one. more

Growing up, it was not uncommon for my parents to go on a Sunday afternoon drive. I honestly think it was handed down through the generations. I know my grandparents did the same thing back in the day, and the Lord knows driving all the back roads with my granddaddy back in the day taught me how to get just about anywhere without hitting a major highway.  more

I don’t want to hear any talk of being a scrooge. And no, my Mother didn’t drop me on my head when I was a child. My Father never abandoned us. I didn’t get left in the parking lot at Junior’s J&J Grocery Store...and have recurring nightmares of no one coming to look for me. more