I went to Knoxville this past weekend hoping to come home with a Tennessee victory. Instead, I brought home a sunburn, some Greek baked goods and a reminder that a weekend with an old friend can …

Didn’t we just start football season? It seems like I was just writing about opening night, looking forward to another season of packed stands, marching bands and hometown rivalries. Now Friday, …

Does anyone really understand the college football ranking system? As a Tennessee fan, I am perennially frustrated by the preseason rankings. Of course, I also believe Tennessee is better than …

Pretty much anyone old enough to remember September 11, 2001, can tell you where they were when they first heard that something terrible was happening in New York. I was sitting in a …

It has been a pretty crazy week and a half in the newspaper world. Last Wednesday night, a storm blew through Huntingdon and knocked out power to our printing plant. The power outage lasted long …

Every August, almost like clockwork, something happens across America. Walmart suddenly looks like a Crayola factory exploded. Parents begin hunting for very specific three-ring binders. Children are …

While traveling lately, I stopped and purchased a simple cup of ice cream w/sprinkles on top. To access the ice cream inside, first I had to remove a sticker of "ingredients" on the exterior of the …

There’s just something about the high school football season in Tennessee. The weather is still hot, the days are still long, and technically summer isn’t over yet. But once the lights come …

I owe you all an apology. If you've noticed that my articles haven't appeared quite as consistently lately, there is a very sophisticated explanation: I've been busy. But because of that, I noticed …

Well, for better or worse, the election is behind us. First, congratulations to those who won. Running for public office—especially at the local level—is not easy. It takes a tremendous …

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 …

A Blue Star Memorial Highway marker is located at the corner of South Lindell Street and University Street, where the old electric company was, in Martin. I have driven by this large metal sign and …

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 …

My dad mentioned something recently that I haven't stopped thinking about. He asked me, "Have you ever thought about where a dollar goes after you spend it?" I'll admit, I hadn't. Like most people, …

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 …

President Trump has been musing about whether he's the most powerful man in world history, and judging by the results lately, the answer is definitely "no." It's certainly true that Trump has …

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. …

I sometimes wonder when boredom got a bad reputation. When I was growing up in Dresden, boredom was not a problem to be solved. It was the start of my next adventure or creation!  A boring …

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 …