Literature and poetry may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But in Carroll County, most are familiar with the poetic musing of Billy O. Williams. more

The year 2022 is a great time to start a McKenzie High School Alumni Association, a Community Fund, and a Newcomers’ Welcome Initiative. more

Dorothy Jean Swearingen passed away. The name won’t ring a bell with most of you. But this story might. If you let your mind cruise back down your own memory trail... more

I wish I could remember every Christmas. Every present. Every popcorn stringing. Every tree lighting moment...... But the reality is it all kinda blends together in my memory bank. more

Carl Mann was born August 22, 1942, in Huntingdon, Tennessee to Iva Mae Smothers (1910–1989) and Tommie Newton Mann (1906–2000). Growing up in rural Carroll County, young Carl developed a love for music. So much so, that he wanted a music career and not a life working at the family lumber company. more

Over Carroll County’s 200 years of existence, we have been fortunate enough to have a few locals make it to the national stage, most have been athletes. Yet, the most noted and probably admired has to be the late Dixie Carter. She was a southern lady to her core and never forgot the roots of her raising no matter how big of a name she made on Broadway or in Hollywood. While I never had the privilege to meet Dixie in person, I did meet her husband Hal Holbrook on more than one occasion. To know one, was to know the other. more

I don’t want to mention any names here. So as not to “throw off” on any one person, place, time or thing. This is just another generic Christmas story…that might or might not have taken place. And it might or might not have adjusted my whole thinking about gift getting and giving… more

We express our deepest gratitude to the McKenzie High School Class of 1981 for including us in their 40th reunion this past September. It was a privilege to spend time reminiscing and learning of the impressive accomplishments of the class members. more

During World War II, Gordon Browning initially served as deputy head of the Belgium-Luxembourg mission, which aimed to restore civilian government to these areas and aided in the Allied victory at the Battle of the Bulge in early 1945. more

It was 34 degrees and dropping when we turned on to Bell Street; pretty cold for a guy who’d lived in the Sunshine State for the past 50 years. We parked just inside the chain link fence, behind the visitors’ bleachers, in what was deep leftfield when I played baseball here two eons and a light year ago. more

One of, if not the, most distinguished Carroll Countians has to be the late former Governor Gordon Weaver Browning. From a humble birth in a log cabin to a lawyer, military officer, congressman, governor and statesman very few lived a more interesting life than Browning. more

The first week of December used to be the pits. I’m talking the very bottom! Listen, they gave us two days off from school at Thanksgiving...and fed us pretty well. We were living large, enjoying the freedom the holiday provided. We didn’t even mind that the grown-ups got to eat first (well, maybe just a little). more

I have no idea when you get old enough to “know something.” I was about five when I fell on the gravel running down what was then called the Como Road. I slid head first past six rows of cotton, two water troughs and a rusted out Arcade hay rake. more

Two Tennessee governors have called Carroll County home. Both men, Alvin Hawkins and Gordon Browning were lawyers and politicians whose careers took hold in Huntingdon. This week I would like to share the story of Alvin Hawkins, most of which came from the History of Carroll County publication and William Robertson Garrett and Albert Virgil Goodpasture’s History of Tennessee. more

I find it interesting how many institutions, colleges and preparatory schools have called Carroll County home over its 200 years of existence. Currently, Bethel College/University is the only four-year accredited institution of higher learning in Carroll County, not to take anything away from McKenzie’s branch of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology. more

I don’t do travelogue stories. I am not Triple A, Expedia, Travelocity or Hotel Finder.com. I don’t hardly even know where I’ve been...so it would be silly of me to suggest where you go. more

The McKenzie Banner has a larger audience than in its recent history. I am talking about the combined print and digital editions. While the number of printed pages has declined, the number of online subscribers has increased. The Banner offers many daily updates on www.mckenziebanner.com, which also includes years of archives replica editions of the full newspaper. more

By 1825, Carroll County was establishing itself as a growing county. Mills were popping up throughout the county as more folks arrived via westward wagon trains. more

Have you ever “sat and wondered” what those Massachusetts militia guys thought as the British regulars filed into Lexington on that fateful April 19th morning in 1775. They were fixing to start a fight with the biggest dog on earth as those Red Coats marched into town with the early morning sun at their backs. more

Our 2021 MHS Rebels played ten games on the field and a Bruceton forfeit. Shoot! I’m calling that eleven wins and zero losses. At any rate, it’s an undefeated regular season. Those are so hard to come by for most folks. more