Reader’s Letter on Recent Advertising on the Back Page
March 31, 2026
Christy Walton (born 1949) is a billionaire Walmart heiress and is known for her high-profile political activism.
Opinion
273 articles
Wit and Wisdom: Losers Need Not Apply
March 24, 2026
Memphis, Tennessee. 1989.
Meet the Illustrator: Charlie Manfredi
March 24, 2026
The saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Kes: Fading Symbol Of A Bygone Time
March 24, 2026
I stared at the empty lot with abject disbelief. Confusion reigned. I had stopped the car in the middle of Stonewall Street and stumbled out to get a better look. I must be at the wrong place! I hadn’t been back in years. And things change.
Wit and Wisdom: The Cost of a New Life
March 17, 2026
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to change? Strangely enough, even positive change is hard!
Kes: The Art Of Hunkering Down
March 17, 2026
A lot of folks “Hunker Down with Kes” every week and don’t completely understand what is going on.
Burke Receives Purple Heart
March 17, 2026
REPRINTED FROM MARCH 14, 2006 McKENZIE (March 13) — Larry Dean Burke received his Purple Heart today for wounds he sustained in Vietnam on January 21, 1969.
Letter: EV Trucks Not The Answer For McKenzie
March 10, 2026
On February 24th, 2026, The Banner published an article on page 2 titled “McKenzie to Purchase EV Dump Trucks, Chargers.” In that article, Mayor Ryan Griffin announced at a city council meeting that the city had received a $543,255 grant to purchase electric vehicles (EVs), but the city would need to fund an additional $181,000.
Editorial: Dunning-Kruger Effect Takes Center Stage On Social Media
March 10, 2026
The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people wrongly overestimate their knowledge or ability in a specific area.
Editorial: Eternal Sunshine of the Sleep-Deprived Mind
March 10, 2026
Of all the wild beliefs and rituals that have ever existed, Daylight Saving Time has got to be one of the most devastating the day after the time change happens in Spring.
Editorial: My Plea for a Nation Under Duress
March 10, 2026
HAVANA — For those of us who have borne witness to the slow, steady decline of Cuba, the current reality is a profound, heart-wrenching tragedy.
Kes: Influences Can Come in Small Packages
March 10, 2026
I don’t know for sure if Lou Owens wrote for the McKenzie Banner or the Carroll County Democrat.
Wit And Wisdom: Is There Any Hope For Me?
March 3, 2026
It’s one of the most common questions I’m asked during the first session of therapy.
Kes: Every Kid Dreamed of Being Him
March 3, 2026
He wasn’t a big guy, known more for his glove than his bat; although his 2,000 plus major league hits indicated he could bring some wood to the plate. He turned double plays at second base like Rembrandt painted portraits.
Wit And Wisdom: How To Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
February 24, 2026
Why is it that some people can overcome childhood trauma and become active, thriving adults and others are crushed by it and never recover? That question has plagued me through the years, and I wished I could figure it out.
Kes: Be Careful Whose Snake You Are Picking Up
February 24, 2026
I am not a member of an organized religious organization. I am a Southern Baptist. I’m not sure exactly what that means.
Wit and Wisdom: The Face of Addiction
February 17, 2026
Addiction is something that touches the lives of every human being because everyone knows someone they care about who has or is battling an addiction.
Editorial: The Time Machine
February 17, 2026
Have you ever read or watched “The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells? In the 2002 movie, there are timelapses of rapid change when he is inside the time machine. Innovations pop in and out of frame as humanity flies forward in time. The TV show “Futurama” has done a similar bit in some of its episodes.
Kes: Mom Always Said 'Practice Makes Perfect'
February 17, 2026
You talk about a dilemma. We’re in the first grade.
Editorial: Year of the Fire Horse
February 17, 2026
February 17, 2026, is the start of the Lunar New Year as we welcome the Year of the Fire Horse, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Based on the information provided, it is going to be an intense year.
