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

Sometimes people ask me why I don’t write meaningful stories. I’m kinda baffled by that. And I know exactly what they mean…. more

This week, I wanted to look at the 1961 Banner archives just to see what was going on in our town compared to the excitement taking place on a global scale.  more

My basketball career began in that large space where our living room ran into the dining room. I “shaped” a coat hanger into a goal and hung it on the facing above the opening between the two rooms. I bounced a tennis ball off the floor, feinted left, deftly moved around Wilt Chamberlain and banked a right-handed hook shot off the “backboard” and through the coat hanger for the winning basket. more

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