For those inquisitive minds who have wondered why I wasn’t visible around McKenzie last week, well I finally got to take a vacation. On our drive to the gulf coast, my mind wasn’t necessarily focused on the beach, restaurants, or what shenanigans the kids were going to pull. With each mile and small town, I thought about the poverty in the Mississippi Delta, stories of sharecroppers, and how once-thriving townships were nothing more than tiny specks on a map. more

On September 12, I was told by the Veterans Administration Community Care to go to Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic for treatment of my elbow after injury in a fall.  Upon arrival, I was told by the receptionist they would not accept my Veterans Administration Insurance.  I ultimately ended up going to Baptist Memorial Hospital Emergency Room for diagnosis and treatment. more

 I never dated a homecoming queen. And I have wondered over the years why. Then, just yesterday, in a moment of complete honesty, it hit me like a thunderbolt out of the past: homecoming queens are always very pretty! more

I figure by now most of our readers know that I have some of the most random recollects of history. more

No attempt at humor today. more

I was running past the courthouse a couple of days ago with the early Saturday morning sun bouncing off my face. After a long hot summer, the air finally held a hint of that marvelously crisp “first touch” of fall. It was wonderful, but still a fairly routine Saturday morning in this stage of my life...until my mind got to moving faster than my legs. more

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

In the September 13 issue of The McKenzie Banner, more

The recent series of earthquakes in Mexico got me thinking about the New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-1812. For those unfamiliar with the New Madrid Earthquakes, these were a set of three earthquakes and aftershocks that led to the natural creation of Reelfoot Lake in Lake and Obion counties. more

There was some controversy over where President Joe Biden and the First Lady were seated at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. I believe they were 14 rows from the front. And many politicians, pundits, court watchers and regular folks took this as some type of slight to a sitting American president. more

Dale Kelley said, “Some men like to hunt or fish. I chose officiating basketball as my personal pursuit.” more

It’s been almost four years since my wife stole our neighbor’s cat. That’s old news by now. Folks have even quit laughing at me when I walk into the grocery store or the Ace Hardware or church…            more

During Dale’s senior year of college, he began officiating junior high basketball games with Don Durden. This segued into high school games through the Northwest Tennessee High School Basketball Officiating Association. more

I took a road trip. Which is pretty rare for me these days. For lots of reasons: I enjoy being home. I don’t travel “as good” as I once did. The price of gas makes going less fun. It’s hard to get a good pimento cheese sandwich at most any roadside eatery. And our cat doesn’t like it when we leave. more

For two years, I have been on the cusp of writing a series of Weekly 150 articles on the life of Dale Kelley. Following his death a few weeks ago, I figure it’s finally time to pay homage to a man whose name has become synonymous with Huntingdon and Carroll County. more

On the third day of football practice my freshman year in high school Tommy Herron hit me so hard I saw stars. Literally! The whole earth started spinning. Trees behind the practice field seemed to be falling. My helmet was twisted around my face so I was looking out the ear hole. 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

I lay awake at night trying to think of something good about getting older. Before I can drift off to sleep my left shoulder will start throbbing from a football tumble I took in 1965. My right heel will remind me that planter fasciitis lingers longer than an out of work brother-in-law. I can’t remember if I turned off the light in the kitchen… more

Initially, the plan for this week was to write a story of interest, but flipping through the archives got the better of me once again. So  I hope everyone is enjoying the Looking Back segments I am putting out because these are true records of McKenzie and the Tri-County area’s history.  more