Why Bob Corker would be re-elected

Corker does not back down from a political fight. A case in point: Democrat Harold Ford Jr., on Oct. 27, 2006, tried to crash a Corker news conference in Memphis at the peak of their U.S. Senate race. Ford got taken to the woodshed. Corker branded the confrontation as Ford’s “Memphis Meltdown.” Ford competed hard in GOP-leaning Northeast Tennessee and still got beat.

Updated Oct 19, 2017 at 11:36 AM

My younger son, Creed Wagner, at the BB firing range at Cub Scout Camp at Camp Davy Crockett in Hawkins County. Out of three shots, he got three in the center. I'm to the left in the farmer's hat.

Cub Scouts

VIDEO: My guide to tent camping: Go with the flow

WHITESBURG, Tenn. — Everybody at least once should go tent camping, spending time with the family and experiencing everything from fun to fussing without cell phones, tablets, computers or television.

Oct 15, 2017 at 3:00 PM

The way we think defines who we are

If we focus on being the best we can be, good things will come. But if we expect the worse, we release the powers of negativity that can diminish our joy and hope.

Oct 8, 2017 at 9:00 AM

Protecting our spiritual sensitivity

If we are not careful, we will become numb to perversion, darkness, and wickedness like the frog who sits in the pan of water on the stove and hardly notices he is being boiled.

Oct 1, 2017 at 8:30 AM

Back row, L-R: My great-grandmother Mary (Willis Johnson Moore) Baker; her sisters Minnie Lee Willis Giles, Florence Willis Robinson, Sarah Willis Smith, and Doshie Willis Wallen (or Dosha, depending on who you ask). Front row, L-R: Their brother Milum Newton Willis, father William Willis, and brother Hampton Rufus Willis.

Destinations & Diversions

DESTINATIONS & DIVERSIONS: Country roads take me home ... and back

Mom did become a fan of one pop singer. John Denver. Especially his songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Grandma's Feather Bed." Even as a child I understood the nostalgic appeal these songs had for her. I appreciate it even more now.

Sep 30, 2017 at 9:09 PM

Flatboats, like this one in front of the Netherland Inn, once lined the banks of the Holston River at Kingsport or, as it was more commonly called at the time, the ‘boat yard.’

Welcome to Boat Yard, Tennessee?

I am reading the memoirs of Methodist preacher David Sullins. He preached in Jonesborough through most of the 1850s, helping to form a “female college” there in 1853. He came to Blountville in the early 1860s where he became the first chaplain of the 19th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment at the start of the Civil War.

Sep 30, 2017 at 8:00 AM

Inside Politics

Sticking together is what teams do

On the flag and national anthem issue, NFL owners are probably thinking and even asking: Mr. President, please shut your mouth and Twitter account on this issue because it’s killing our business. It’s a huge distraction and has to be affecting play on the field.

Updated Sep 28, 2017 at 2:59 PM

All things geek

Want to follow ‘Star Trek: Discovery’? Be prepared to pay up

If you're in the United States, the only way you can watch new episodes of Discovery is by subscribing to CBS All Access – the company's fledgling streaming service. The cost is $5.99 a month or $9.99 a month if you don't want to see the commercials.

Sep 27, 2017 at 12:30 PM

Blog

My hate, then love relationship with books

Some people seem to have an instinctive love for books that begins the moment they read their first word. I am not one of those people.

Sep 24, 2017 at 6:00 PM

Demonstrating our gratitude

Relaying a kind word is so easy, yet to someone who could use a pick-me-up these small acts of compassion can make a huge difference.

Sep 24, 2017 at 8:30 AM

Thisd is one of several small waterfalls and pools that Jeff, Lynn and Maggie discovered Sunday at Rocky Fokr State Park during their "Anything Can Happen Day" adventure Sunday.

Rocky Fork State Park

'Anything Can Happen Day' excursion leads to Rocky Fork discovery

The purpose of Anything Can Happen Day is a completely unplanned and spontaneous adventure, and it's on these excursions that we usually make our most amazing discoveries, such as Rocky Fork State Park in Unicoi County.

Sep 20, 2017 at 12:39 PM

Diligence requires less talk and more action

Each of us are born with a custom designed blueprint and it only makes sense that our spiritual gifts and abilities are intended to be an important part of this highly detailed plan. The question is how many people will understand how all of this is going to come together?

Sep 17, 2017 at 9:00 AM

A statue of Cherokee Chief Junaluska stands outside the Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska Conference Center

Holston Conference

Church downsizing number of districts, addresses racism

MAGGIE VALLEY, N.C. — Was online communion recently banned by a Protestant denomination’s regional annual conference? And did an Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians member named Junaluska save the life of Tennessean Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812, only to be later forced onto the Trail of Tears Jackson implemented as president?

Sep 12, 2017 at 12:20 PM

Sunset from Jeff and Lynn's idyllic camp site on Cherokee Lake in Grainger County.

camping

Stinky camper taints otherwise idyllic lakeside expedition

It smelled like a Port-O-Potty at Bristol Motor Speedway that hadn't been emptied after the Truck, Xyfinity or Cup races, and then was taken to a week long chili, burrito and boiled egg festival.

Aug 31, 2017 at 2:52 PM

School Resource Officer Carolyn Gudger (center) is honored for her bravery during the 2010 school shooting at Sullivan Central High School. Behind her is then-Director of Schools Jubal Yennie. To the left is then-Assistant Principal Kim Kirk, to the right then-secretary GiGi Whiteman.