The Benton County Fair is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. That is quite an accomplishment for any county organization, particularly one that survives on the efforts of volunteers. If you …

Music plays in the warm summer air. Bright neon lights spin and flash, All the pretty girls compete for a sash. Smells of popcorn, funnel cake, and cotton candy draws one close. A …

That’s probably something you learned and believed in elementary school. But somewhere along the way, after learning about the Electoral College, safe congressional districts, red states and blue …

I have been encouraged by the information that a number of the new candidates running for commission have attended committee and commission meetings. They have been familiarizing themselves with the …

Political fear rules the crowd with loud voices and angry cries. This fear runs and paints the world in dark heavy colors. Quiet minds filled with the deep embrace of doubt delay. …

Tennessee’s new property-defense law took effect July 1. Some descriptions of it may leave people with the impression that the law now gives them a broad right to shoot or threaten someone with a …

There’s something about this time of year that feels like a fresh start. The calendar may still say summer, and the Tennessee heat certainly hasn’t gone anywhere, but you can feel the …

Summer waves begin to fade, Golden skies grow soft and cool, Backpacks wait where plans are made, Morning bells will ring by rule, Calling hearts back into school. A change …

One of the unexpected joys of raising five children is getting to observe just how differently people are wired. Scientists call them chronotypes—our natural tendencies toward being an early bird …

The mountain rises, crown of silver dust, A sovereign peak, in solitary grace. It stands alone because it knows it must. Defying age and time’s relentless rust. The monarch of a …

Running for office is stressful anywhere, but in a small town or rural county, politics often feels less like a public contest and more like a family argument conducted on the courthouse steps, at …

I don’t want to complain too much about rain in July. Anyone who has lived in Tennessee very long knows that summer can turn hot and dry in a hurry. A good rain can be a blessing. It keeps the …

This week marks the 250th anniversary of one of the most important moments in American history. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. …

Running through the sprinkler and catching fireflies. Time on the river swimming and boating or just floating. Dipping your feet in the cold creek on a hot day. Picnics, BBQs, camping, …

For most families, the college application process is a major source of anxiety. But it doesn't have to be extra stressful if a family takes enough time to address the many questions and issues …

Thinking of you, telling stories about you, Looking through old photos of years of life,  Often reminds me that I miss you. Remembered joys we shared, lessons learned …

History lessons in public education teach about women standing up for women’s rights. This gives the current generations a sense of the personal empowerment of women and a sense of the power of …

As we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, it is worth remembering that July 4, 1776, did not come out of nowhere. The Declaration of Independence was not the result of one …

June 7 is not as famous as July 4. Most Americans know July 4, 1776, as the day connected with the Declaration of Independence. It is the date printed at the top of the document. It is the day we …

Discuss, declare, announce, and petition. Meeting and greeting leads to disclosure and debate. Knock on one door and then another. Show up and show out.  Signs posted on the …