As events and corruption continue to be exposed, we must keep our focus on God’s promises and our responsibilities! Defending our country against enemies takes constant vigilance!
Gentle reader, that great American humorist and political commentator, Will Rogers, used to preface his remarks with the line, “All I know is what I read in the newspapers.” Unfortunately, no one can truthfully say that in this day, considering the current state of the newspaper business. Th…
The IRS is preparing to implement a new verification system for taxpayers. You will be able to use the single sign-on tool to access your IRS documents and make payments using IRS.gov as soon as next week.
“Influencers” are described these days as social media icons with large followings. Not for me. My heroes influenced me the old fashioned way.
I write this column because I believe that insights from the past can help us make sense of our own confounding and polarized present. But occasionally, I concede, this task seems overwhelming.
RCONWS-03-22-23 EDITORIAL CARTOON
“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” — (Mark Twain)
Gentle reader, inasmuch as the date of publication of this issue falls on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day, it behooves us to dedicate a portion at least of this column to an Irish theme. And, of course, the fact that my linage on my mother’s side is predominately Irish, what with McGlothins, a…
RCONWS-03-15-23 EDITORIAL CARTOON
You won’t find anyone prouder of their Southern heritage than me. Heck, I even wrote a book called “Volunteer Bama Dawg,” celebrating my connections to Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, the states in which I’ve lived all my life.
Blustery winds downed several pine trees across our driveway last week. Addressing the mess, reminded me of important lessons that those of us who seek to learn from history often overlook.
Tennessee has 95 counties, and there used to be a 96th. Known as James County, it was a tiny sliver of a county east of Hamilton and west of Bradley. Formed after the Civil War, it was done away with shortly after World War I.
A strong storm system moved through the Southern United States on Friday morning, March 3. Although rain didn’t fall in East Tennessee until mid-day, it was accompanied by strong, straight-line winds throughout most of the morning and afternoon. These winds averaged between 40 and 50 mph, wi…
Those who are able to see through the shadows and lies of their culture will never be understood, let alone believed by the masses.” (Plato)
Gentle reader, the old curmudgeon is somewhat upset. So, what’s new about that some might question? And there is some merit in that query. But this is a matter which we think most right-thinking citizens will agree should trouble us all.
RCONWS-03-10-23 EDITORIAL CARTOON
Last Wednesday, my cousin and regular hiking buddy, Bill Pierce, and I purchased an annual parking permit for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The day before, Justices of the US Supreme Court heard arguments for and against President Biden’s recent executive order that would forgive …
I try to avoid getting personal when writing a column. For one thing, why should I burden you with my problems? But as Ernest Hemingway (allegedly) defined writing, “You sit at a typewriter, open a vein and bleed.”
The refund trap occurs when there are different credit and refund deadlines.
I read an article the other day that said Tennessee “got into the car manufacturing business in 1983, with the arrival of the Nissan plant.”
Gentle reader, here we are in the first week of March, on the cusp of Springtime, hard as it is to believe. Already the daffodils are blooming, as is the Forsythia and other of spring’s harbinger. And very soon the Beech trees, which have worn their light tan leaves through winter’s worst, w…
“The Price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” (Plato)
Several tax changes may reduce your refund this year.
A framed photo of Kathy and me with Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter along with a brief, hand-penned note from the former president hangs at the entry to my study. I owe a huge debt to one-time Kingston resident, the late Paula Terry, for orchestrating the circumstances that culminated in Mr. Carter…
Do these names mean anything to you? Zayre. Western Auto. Woolworth’s.
Back in the early 2000s, there were certain games on certain systems that, if you didn’t have them then people would look at you funny.
The Roane County “Black History” Series gives thanks by honoring and acknowledging our African American Veterans. Harriman and Oliver Springs acknowledgements and honors of African Americans has been published. This article will focus on Rockwood African American Veterans.
Gentle reader, the news of that former president Jimmy Carter, a.k.a. James Earl Carter, has gone home to be with his family during his final days, under the care of Hospice, has brought back a flood of memories.
There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what is not true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true!
The IRS recently announced that you now have the option to send the requested information online through IRS.gov. This new secure step will enable you or your tax professional to upload documents electronically rather than sending them in the mail. The new option could reduce time and effort…
Two weeks ago, an American fighter jet shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina. A week later, American aircraft took out three even more curious unidentified aircraft over Alaska, western Canada, and Lake Huron. More recently — this past Saturday — a top Chin…
The hits just keep on coming. Every time I write a column about misspelled words, the floodgates open. So sit for a spell, and enjoy more Facebook flubs, goofy signs, and Spell Check blunders.
Gentle reader, our column for this week is in response to a letter we received from one of your number, Mr. Mark E. Littleton who now lives in Farragut, but grew up in the Dodson Subdivision area of Roane County, at the home of his parents, where his mother, our good friend Gloria, widow of …
Using a national platform, Sam Smith is teaching our youth how to worship Satan! The sick thing is that the public is calling it “art” and publicizing it all over our nation! We must not compromise, but get informed and be vigilant! What happened at the Grammy Awards was demonic! It was a sa…
When people think about historic events, they usually think about military rebellions, battles and elections. But in 1854 something important happened to Nashville that doesn’t fall into any of those three categories. Had it not occurred, Nashville would have become a publishing center, and …
If you can’t get your W-2 or other documents, there may be a way to file without them.
I often write on how America has changed in my lifetime. Someday I will focus on the ways it has changed for the better.
Four New Jersey teenagers have been charged in connection with the attack of a 14-year-old girl who later took her own life after video of the incident was posted on social media.
We as Americans now have, as in the past, the capacity to do whatever needs to be done to preserve the last and greatest bastion of freedom in this present crisis. Government is NOT the solution to our problem. GOVERNMENT IS THE PROBLEM! (Ronald Reagan — January 20, 1981)
Gentle reader, we read with great interest the lengthy article in the issue of the Knoxville News Sentinel of 31 January, which began on Page One under the caption “Nuclear site plan generates questions,” with a sub-head reading, “Public comment period in place until Feb 14.” The thrust of t…
Can you name the three people whose named appear in the Tennessee Constitution?
Forty years ago this week, I was doing my radio show when I heard that Karen Carpenter had died.
Thanks to the reader who constructively critiqued last week’s column. I indeed “dropped the ball” when I failed to include the experiences of Blacks in my musings about Roane County’s migration history and encounter with diversity. My only excuse is that I hoped to devote a full column to th…
Delays can be caused by many reasons.
