A few years ago I came across an old Life Magazine cover with a baseball player who looked as if he was trying to knock the cover off the ball. Since the cover was with other historical photos of McKenzie, I assumed the player had something to do with McKenzie but I never pursued any information. Then last week during a Rotary Club meeting, I noticed the photo downstairs at Lakeside Senior Living Community. more

Willie and Shirley Ramsey started talking to me about writing a weekly article for The Star in 1983. more

On Tuesday, August 3, the class of 2022 will begin their final year at McKenzie High School. Students will attend the traditional half-day on August 3 and begin a full-day schedule on August 4. I want to welcome all of our new and returning students for what is going to be an exciting year. more

We left the house and drove up to North Carolina. The mountains were spectacular, the cooler temperatures refreshing and the folks we met along the way were most friendly. more

When talking about Mike Snider and his music career, it is a must to bring up Gordon Stoker as both men hail from Gleason. I didn’t realize until the other day, it was Stoker who arranged for Snider to appear on the Opry. more

Voting by every US citizen who is 18 years of age or older is perhaps the most important tenant of American democracy. It is sacred and must be encouraged and protected by everyone. more

Most communities have a claim to fame and even a favorite son. For Gleason, the town is Tater Town U.S.A. and they too have a favorite son, banjo champion and Grand Ole Opry star Mike Snider. more

It didn’t make any sense. Then, a lot of things with me don’t. It was July 3rd. 6:45 in the morning. I was running around Lake Junaluska. Somewhere in the mountains of North Carolina. The houses surrounding the lake were adorned with red, white and blue bunting. Signs along the route advertised the fireworks display set for the next day. more

Carolyn Keiper Wrinkle Fite was the oldest of the two children born to Amos (1902–1995) and Elsie Keiper Wrinkle (1903–1990). Born on June 9, 1924, she was five years older than her brother Bailey Moore (1929–2015). Her father owned Wrinkle-Moore Hardware and Furniture which later became Wrinkle Hardware. more

Martha Sanborn was one of the first people I met when I moved to Port St. Joe in 1969. I coached her two sons. I had both of them in my history class. Her husband was a bit more country than I was…and that is quite a statement! I appointed her daughter the first bat girl ever in the history of Port St. Joe High School baseball. more

The story of Charlie Cox is the epitome of perseverance. Born in 1935, in the Buchanan community of Henry County, little Charlie fared worse than most children of the Great Depression. When he was nine months old, his father committed suicide. more

Wanderlust. It’s kind of a little brother thing. I’d remind David Mark that Mother said not to go past Archie Moore’s bottom field. He’d be over the fence and almost to the pond before my echo faded away. I was six months shy of being two years older...so naturally I had to shinny over that fence and go after him! more

Born in 1923, Homer Dwayne Pearson grew up during the Great Depression. When he was old enough (around 17 years old), he enlisted with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He left the Terry Community of Carroll County and was shipped out west to work in the state parks and forests of Oregon and Washington. more

Summers were the best. Now, we understood the importance of school from an early age. All of us. Even Buddy Wiggleton admitted it was a “necessary evil.” more

Harold Ross Martin was born December 11, 1929, to Luther Lee (1889–1961) and Mossie Cooper Martin (1892–1967). He was the youngest of five children; Caywood, Hazel, Kathryn and Rachael Jean. more

Daddy woke me up at first light the morning after I graduated from college with a 28 inch McCulloch 142 chainsaw in his hand, “Son, get up! Mother’s got breakfast on the table. We’ve got work to do.” more

Ezra Martin was born on August 30, 1914, to Seth Thomas Martin and Millie B Hayes Martin. As the eldest of eight children, he grew up in Trezevant. His parents were sharecroppers with plenty of work for the eight kids. The siblings joined in picking beans, corn and strawberries, digging potatoes and other jobs around the house. more

I’ve been doing some serious thinking. About life, living, children, work ethic, vacations, brown Jersey cotton work gloves, the-way-it-used-to-be and weeds. more

Joseph R. Biden is the President of The United States of America. more

If you asked me 20 years ago about the USS Indianapolis, I would have told you it was the ship in Quint’s monologue from Jaws. Robert Shaw in his whiskey and cigarette-rich voice delivered the semi-factual tale of what took place. more