Some 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon every year, and almost all of them see it from the top down. It’s impressive. However, not nearly as many have viewed it from the bottom up, rafting along the roughly 270 miles of the Colorado River, a mile or so below the rims.

We in the news business forget sometimes that readers don’t really understand or appreciate what goes into producing stories and deciding where they go in the paper.

As many in Sevier and surrounding counties are aware, over the years Dale Carr has given generously of his time, talents and resources to both individuals and organizations in need. April 20 witnessed yet another unselfish act on his part when he came to the aid of the Friends of NRA.

The cheating scandal that has rocked the Memphis school system does not speak well for the quality or integrity of that public school system. Public schools needs the best teachers they can find. What they don’t need are teachers who needed to resort to cheating to get certified.

My thanks goes to all the postal carriers in Seymour and around the country for their efforts in helping to stamp out hunger.

The May 13 edition of the Weekly Standard relates a statement made by President Barack Obama on Oct. 30, 2012 as follows:

With a supermajority of Republicans in the House and Senate, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam seemed to have it made when he took office two years ago. Instead he sometimes has to act as traffic cop to save the state from foolish and overreaching legislation passed by members of his own party. Fortunately, he is prepared to do that.

Perhaps it’s naive to think that any government agency can be unbiased, its employees free of the prejudices and personal agendas that mark so many people. The Internal Revenue Service was thought or hoped by some to be one of those agencies. Not any more. As much as people profess to hate it, they now have reason to distrust it.

I left Sevier County in 1985, after five years spent reporting the news and voicing my opinions in The Mountain Press. I wouldn’t say I never looked back, for I thought often and positively about my years here. But I never got around to coming back — until April.

Sevier County is blessed with some wonderful, entertaining and classy festivals each year, but maybe none quite like Sevierville’s annual Bloomin’ Barbeque and Bluegrass. The event will be held Friday and Saturday this week and promises to be as fun as any of them.

It should be clear to everyone with or without school-age children that we have to do something to improve the quality and intensity of public education. This country, as great as it is, is falling behind other nations in comparative student test scores and benchmarks. That cannot be allowed to continue.

I had always thought that the day my mother died in my lap, with my arms wrapped around her, was the worst day of my life. I was 17, she was 54. That was June 9, 1973.

During my eight days in the Grand Canyon, cut off from the outside world, I did what folks don’t usually do these days: talk to other people, making real conversation. Instead of watching TV, reading a book or playing a video game, everyone on the trip passed the time at night engaging the others.

Sevier County Food Ministries wants to say thank you to everyone who made the fundraiser Fiesta on April 18, 2013, a great success. We realize there have been lots of fundraisers in the past two months. We only have one a year, for cash.

Thanks for printing the letter in Sunday’s paper about Sevier County Food Ministries and the postal carriers food drive scheduled for this Saturday, May 11.

This is Arson Awareness Week nationally, a good time to focus on ingtentinally set fires that can cauise widespread damage and casualities. The U.S. Fire Administration has dedicated this year’s campaign to the theme of reducing residential arson.

Sometimes the best way to reach teenagers who seem to ignore the wisdom and experience of their elders is to show them exactly what could happen when they don’t do what’s right. That’s the theory behind today’s mock crash demonstration at Pigeon Forge High School.

Sevier County residents should be alarmed by SB1248/HB1191, the anti-whistleblower bill that, if signed into law, will criminalize the actions of those who document inhumane and illegal activity at industrial farming operations and horse stables.

Sevier County High School's culinary program has won wide recognition and praise for getting students involved in a what could become a career in the food business. Leading this effort is Sissy Ivy, the culinary arts instructor. That she is a teacher was never in her plan, but her students are grateful her life took that turn.

No matter what studies some television executive may point to, sensible people know that a steady diet of violence as portrayed on TV has an effect, especially on young people. When you note the number of hours a day children watch television, and the types of shows broadcast on networks and cable channels, it’s hard not to see a link between TV and societal misbehavior.

Celebrate Life would like to publicly thank everyone who helped make our fifth annual “Cruise Against Cancer” a tremendous success. There would not be a “Cruise” if it weren’t for Nathan Manning and the Hard Times Street Rod Club they are angels sent from God to Celebrate Life. You are wonderful people with big hearts.

The Sevier County High School Prom Committee would like to thank Life of the Party DJ Services of Dandridge, Tenn., for coming to our rescue Friday night, April 26, when our scheduled DJ didn’t show.

In the news recently was an story about the price that America has to pay to get a lift to the Space Station. It is costing NASA $424 million to grab a seat for our six astronauts to go into space, which we pay to Russia.