The major league baseball season opens this week. Many “purists” are upset with three big changes to the game this year. The bases (not counting home plate) have been enlarged. A pitch clock has been instituted. And the shift of additional fielders to one side of the diamond has been eliminated. more

Dale Kelley, our father, had a dream and a vision for a lake to be built in Carroll County, Tennessee. Dad’s dream was for the lake to generate pride for Carroll Countians through residential growth, economic development, and recreation. more

Throughout history, women have faced diversity. It has taken women of a special nature to tear down the walls blocking their path and have had to shatter many a glass ceiling. One such woman from Tennessee history is Martha Craig Daughtrey. She is one of the leaders in firsts for women across the state. From being the first female U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville to the first Tennessee State Supreme Court Justice. more

Tennessee’s history is filled with numerous trailblazers. Yet, one individual not only blazed a trail in history, but she also blazed a trail outside our atmosphere. In 1978, she was one of the females selected as part of the first group of astronauts to include women. She went on to log over 720 hours in space. more

Sometimes I think I have lived my life backwards. Spring break is a perfect example. We’d never heard of “such a thing” in 1962. We thought it was mandatory to go to school every weekday from January 3rd until school ended in late May. If it didn’t snow a foot or two, or the boiler blew up, we were in the classroom studying Chaucer or heating some chemical compound with a Bunsen burner or conjugating verbs or following some guy named Byrd to the North Pole... more

One of the most distinguished and memorable females in Tennessee history has to be Pat Summitt. From her stare that sends chills down your spine to her eight national championships coaching the Lady Vols basketball team, Summitt was the epitome of class on and off the court. The legendary status of a coach is upheld by her list of accolades which include membership in the Basketball Hall of Fame, coach of the year, coach of the century, winningest coach, mentor and philanthropist. more

People hear a couple of my stories and immediately say, “You must have had the most wonderful childhood.” And they are absolutely correct. I grew up at a wonderful time, in a wonderful place, with a wonderful family...surrounded by astonishingly wonderful friends. more

March is Women’s History Month. The month-long declaration is designed to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. The next four weeks will be dedicated to Tennessee women who were trailblazers that left a legacy impacting future generations. more

I have been thinking about moving to Wyoming. They’ve got drifting tumbleweeds and wide open spaces like Gene and Roy sang about back when the west was really wild. They’ve got mountain ranges with enticing names like Teton, Wind River, Bighorn, Medicine Bow and my favorite, Absaroka. more

I did not have the honor of being a part of the Greatest Generation. But I did have the privilege of knowing many of them “up close and personal.” I grew up in a small town surrounded by these icons. more

I came across another story of interest this weekend about the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The story centered around Fisk University in Nashville and how the Jubilee Singers saved the school. Founded in 1866, Fisk University, a private historically black liberal arts college, is the oldest institution for higher education in Nashville. The school is named for Clinton B. Fisk, a Union general and assistant commissioner of the Freedmen’s Bureau of Tennessee. Fisk secured a site to house the school in a former military barracks near Union Station and provided $30,000 for its endowment. more

A few days ago, I came across an interesting piece of regional history. In 1908, Obion and Lake counties set the scene for seven months of violence and intimidation due to the greed of the West Tennessee Land Company. more

Well, I sure made a mistake. And many of you caught it right away. Maybe y’all are paying too much attention! more

In last week’s story about Sam Houston, I briefly touched on Houston’s involvement with the Cherokee Nation. He somewhat assimilated with the Cherokee and became a trusted ally. What I failed to mention is why the Cherokee Nation was sent to Oklahoma and needed a liaison. more

I played in my first Super Bowl in 1953. Against my will! It was freezing cold that December in West Tennessee. I had just opened my Christmas present. Good gosh, it wasn’t even daylight yet! more

Politicians don’t like to be forced to share information. Some are more forthcoming than others but every last one of them — regardless of party — prefer to shape their own narrative without outside interference. more

There’s admirable support for independent local businesses these days. more

Red and white are not my favorite colors. And that personal preference, in some kind of off-handed, backwards, subliminal way, may have a direct connection to Valentine’s Day. I have never been on friendly terms with the little half-dressed chubby guy who comes out every February waving his bow and arrows around. more

A recent spate of undelivered newspapers through the United States Postal Service (USPS) is concerning to the McKenzie Banner staff. more

One of the more intriguing individuals from Tennessee history has a more significant impact on Texas history. Sam Houston, who became the first President of Texas, was originally from Virginia and found a foothold in politics within the State of Tennessee. He would go on to be the only person to serve as governor of two separate states. more