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

I met Larry Logan in 1981, when I came to Grace Baptist Church, where I would serve as pastor for 34 years. Larry was the Juvenile Judge with an office in McKenzie. I sought his help with a youth headed for trouble. He was eager to help then, and he had continued to be a tremendous help to youth and others, I have observed him during his tenure as judge. His love for people, his honesty and his knowledge of the law are apparent when he is on the bench. more

I hadn’t bought a BB in years. Well, over 60 in fact. I wasn’t sure they even made the things anymore. The young man at Ace Hardware pointed to the next aisle over like hundreds came in everyday looking for them. more

This week, I decided to pull an archive I’ve not looked at since working on this column. Much to my surprise 1981, was something of an interesting year for McKenzie and Carroll County. more

It is difficult to watch Tennessee courts roll back the meaning of the sunshine law. more

I opposed Jill Holland when she first ran for mayor. more

Phil Cook was never not in my life... more

I’m not much for buying things on the side of the road. Cathy insisted. She wanted some fresh home-grown tomatoes. I got to thinking about a good BLT with just the right amount of mayonnaise. And I hadn’t had a baloney and tomato sandwich in years... more

Teachers’ cars are in the parking lots. The sounds of the band practicing have returned to Holly Hills, the neighboring subdivision. The soccer girls are practicing when I drive by headed to breakfast. Middle and high school football players are on the practice fields. All of our schools have fresh wax on the halls. These indicate that the class of 2023 are about to begin their senior year. Students will attend the traditional half-day August 2nd and begin a full day schedule August 3. I want to welcome all of our new and returning students for what is going to be an exciting year. more

After the opening of the Sesquicentennial vault was a bust thanks to water damage. I decided to look through the Banners 1972 archives and find a little memorabilia for our readers. more

Today’s political climate resembles a category five hurricane due to the highly charged division between the two political parties. Yes, both parties are to blame as neither truly looks for a middle ground. For most of my adult life, I have studied politics and government and in the last five years or so I’ve even thrown my hat into the political arena. more

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents Board of Directors met on July 7, 2022 and voted unanimously to provide this public statement refuting the disparaging statements about public educators made by the President of Hillsdale College, Larry Arnn in Franklin, Tennessee released late last week. more

Mrs. Ethel Elizabeth Mitchum’s face had more wrinkles than a cheap cotton shirt fresh out of the wringer. But don’t think unattractive here. Her eyes literally sparkled when she talked to you. And she had the most approving smile you ever saw! Like she had been waiting, and hoping, to run in to you since she first woke up that morning! more

A few months back, I came across a Facebook post about “Weakley County’s notorious gangster of the 1940s.” I had never heard of Earl David Birchem, but his crime spree and subsequent capture were very intriguing. This story may be a little longer than most, but it is well worth the read. I would also like to take a second and thank Shawn M. Herron and The Courier-Journal for supplying the research for the story. more

I spent most all of this past Fourth of July weekend humming the same tune over and over. more

Let me start by saying that I am not taking anything away from the Lady Rebel championship this year, but I wanted to take a few moments to remind and/or make our readers aware they were not the first female basketball team from Carroll County to win a state championship. more

The current heat wave across the South has got folks talking more about the weather in the last couple of weeks than college football, gas prices or the latest political jokes coming out of Washington put together. And I live in Florida. Everyone is a hot weather expert down here... more

A fairly plain factory green 1960 Chevrolet was not a chick magnet by any stretch of the imagination. Now, if I’d a’had Nicky Joe Stafford’s brand new, shiny, fire engine red Corvette convertible that would have been a whole different story! more

During the bicentennial celebration in Huntingdon, the story of a Korean War-era military plane crash came to my attention. The Colonial Tea Room displayed a piece of the wreckage that had landed on its roof from the 1954 incident. This week, I am sharing what I have put together of the story, and I’d like to thank Sam McGowan for his compilation of research on the crash. more

Gosh, how well I remember the day Daddy drove the 1960 Chevrolet up into the yard. It was green; which we barely noticed. What we did notice was that it was brand new. We’d never had a new car. Ever! more