Hunker Down With Kes: Raised On Milk Duds and Goo Goo’s
August 4, 2026
People ask me how did we have the energy to do all the things I write about in those black and white bygone years of the 1950’s. The answer here is simple.
Opinion
283 articles
The Wit and Wisdom of David Johnson: Over The River and Through the Woods
August 4, 2026
“Over the river and through the woods” — it’s a phrase that makes me sing the song, a song that reminds me of the coming holidays.
Editor's View: Scrap
August 4, 2026
Editor’s Note: The following is a detailed account of a traffic accident that occurred on Monday, July 27, 2026. If you think reading specific details about the accident will trigger you, please use caution before reading.
Hunker Down With Kes: There Are Teachers, Then There Is…
July 28, 2026
Chick King was the best baseball coach I ever played for. He spent 11 years in professional baseball, at times with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals.
The Wit and Wisdom of David Johnson: A Stinking Dog
July 28, 2026
You know how it is at the end of a workday and supper's over and the dishes are done? You're ready to settle down, put on your pajamas, and have a little quiet time before going to bed. Yeah, that's the way I like it, too.
Editor's Viewpoint: Novelty Tennessee License Plates Are Often Upside Down
July 28, 2026
Travel across any Tennessee highway today, and you are likely to spot a curious sight: the iconic three-star logo of the novelty front license plates.
Editor's Viewpoint: The Weight of Witnessing a State-Sponsored Execution
July 21, 2026
If you were granted the opportunity to witness a state-sponsored execution, would you take it? It is a question that challenges the boundaries of professional duty and personal beliefs.
Guest Editorial: Do We Really Need Local Libraries And Small-Town Newspapers?
July 21, 2026
With the world at our fingertips via the click of a mouse or the touch of a mobile phone screen, are libraries and newspapers necessary anymore, especially in small towns?
Editor's View: Respect Your Elders
July 21, 2026
This morning on my way to work I met an older man driving slowly. I got a glimpse of his face and it was familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen him. Like he was someone I used to see often, maybe a former business owner?
Hunker Down With Kes: Off The Cuff, And Then Some
July 21, 2026
If you are looking for a witty, intriguing, plot-thickening story of the Old South, with a jaw-dropping ending…stop right here! And do yourself a favor. Move on to the column below. I don’t have a story in mind today.
Hunker Down with Kes: Why I Don’t Smoke
July 9, 2026
Me and Buddy Wiggleton grew up wanting to be the Marlboro Man.
Hunker Down with Kes: An Unsuspected Fourth of July Postscript
July 7, 2026
It came out of nowhere. And good golly, I was not prepared.
The Wit and Wisdom of David Johnson: Embrace Your Fear and Anxiety
July 7, 2026
Kerry stares numbly at the notice on the bulletin board announcing the permanent closing of his plant. It’s the only job he’s had for twenty-five years.
Hunker Down with Kes: What Were Those Guys Thinking!
June 30, 2026
I’m talking about Samuel Adams, Dr. Joseph Warren, JOHN HANCOCK, Penelope Barker, Thomas Jefferson…all the men and women who had gathered in quiet places to discuss hard questions about life, British rule, independence, and the future.
The Wit and Wisdom of David Johnson: Casseroles and Deer Heads
June 30, 2026
Sarah was the kind of woman who kept casseroles in the freezer ready to pop one in the oven for every occasion, like a funeral or a birth, or when a woman had surgery and couldn’t cook for the family, or, of course, when there was a potluck meal at church.
The Wit and Wisdom of David Johnson: The Prayer Wall
June 23, 2026
I'm quite certain what I'm about to describe is not the way things really work, but in my imagination, it makes me feel warm and safe.
Hunker Down with Kes: Hula Hoops Can Lead To Good Health
June 23, 2026
Life is so much fun. I don’t care where you are on the journey.
Hunker Down With Kes: What A Friend We Have In Miss Floy
June 16, 2026
I believe with all my heart this story today is universal.
Letter to the Editor: A Million Here, or There
June 16, 2026
“A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money,” a quote often attributed to Senator Everett Dirksen, R-Ill.
Editor’s Sideline: A Memorial on Father’s Day
June 16, 2026
From my office window in downtown McKenzie, I can see the Stars and Stripes flying over a memorial dedicated to veterans who lost their lives in America’s conflicts.
