Ever so slowly like a hot August afternoon, the Cocke County scene shifts over decades, covering and uncovering the past. The new and the bright still to be revealed.
August is living up to its reputation of heat and drier days for our hometown, where athletes take to the fields to prepare for fall football and students return to their studies.
First, I’d like to take a moment to recognize the victims of the recent tragic events in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas. My heart breaks for the families and friends of the victims of these recent shootings. I join President Trump and all political leaders in denouncing the hateful ideology…
There is no better investment we can make for our future than one that benefits our children – early childhood education. Early learning is proven to help children perform better in school, get higher-paying jobs, rely less on social programs, save taxpayer money and contribute more to the e…
A distinct cool spell fell over the mountains in late July to dispel some of the early heavy rains for our hometown, yet the arrival of August seems to have brushed away the chill.
With morning temperatures in the mountains challenging the low 60 degrees accompanied by low humidity for our hometown you might begin to think about fall football.
As sure as the baby blue cornflowers have been opening every morning the thunderstorms returned daily drenching our hometown that is barely dry for the last days. The highlight happened to be a clear patch of sky for the full buck moon on July 16.
Social media is just like mom’s apple pie, it’s not good to eat a whole pie every day.
It is said that sunshine is the best medicine and the best sunshine is found during the summer. The concept of an Endless Summer was based on a 1964 Bruce Brown movie built on the idea that if someone had enough time and money would it be possible to chase summer across the world.
One thing that makes America the greatest nation in the world is our belief in the dignity of work. Work can provide purpose in our lives, and we take pride in the work we do. Hardworking Americans can provide for their families because of good-paying jobs.
Immediately before Congress adjourned for Independence Day, the House finally passed the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act. It fulfilled the President’s request for much-needed, long-overdue humanitarian aid and funding …
A recent visit to Belfast Metropolitan College helped heighten my own awareness of the role of higher education and job training in promoting economic growth, not only in Northern Ireland but also here in East Tennessee. Some of our students at Walters State may soon have a similar opportunity.
June rumblings rolled into July thunderheads that dumped rain on Thursday laced with blazing bolts of lightning until the cooler night air arrived for our hometown at this mid-month point in time.
Less rain and more heat for July cast its spell over the mountain landscape for our hometown, yet drying days improved chances of harvesting summer hay and taking advantage of outdoor picnics for the holidays.
Snaps of bright white lightning and sudden dark skies shaped over the mountains in late afternoons continuing the weather pattern for our hometown that expects to usher in July with temperatures in the 90s and above normal heat for at least the next 90 days.
One of the first policy questions I was ever asked was, “Do you think Iran should have a nuclear weapon?” I remember my answer clear as day: “During the Vietnam War, I served nearly 13 months near the Demilitarized Zone in Korea. Does anyone believe the world is safer and more stable now tha…
The fourth of July is here and all Americans hopefully will embrace the day without fear, total liberation and the American spirit.
Every month, more immigrants are crossing our border, worsening the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Even as Congress has agreed to provide emergency assistance to communities ravaged by natural disasters, Democrats have refused to include any assistance to help improve the situation on our sout…
In their effort to come up with a budget the CLB is barking up the wrong tree. Their attention should be on reducing spending.
Sharp cracks of lightning frightened the birds off their perches and winds scrambled the wailing trees about our hometown, as summer continued to its relentless arrival on Friday.
By the time today’s edition has been put to bed and the ink has dried on the newsprint, my office has been cleaned out and my time as the Publisher & Editor of your newspaper has come to an end.
After skies cleared revealing the firefly activity last week, the temperatures slid into the 50s for our hometown, that had recently endured 90s in May and now early springtime temperatures as summer edges in closer for Newport.
Every day, millions of Americans receive calls from unknown numbers. Thinking it might be someone they know trying to reach them, they answer but low and behold, it is a robocall. I too receive these countless unwanted calls that are not just annoying but harassment. Many of these calls are …
June will soon usher in the beginning of summer yet the last week of rain and thunderstorms has caused the black bears to scurry for shelter near our hometown, where gardens respond thirstily to the sweet showers.
June 6th marks the one-year anniversary of President Trump signing the VA MISSION into law. This is also the official launch date of the VA MISSION Act’s community care program, a huge win for veterans that embodies President Trump’s commitment to serving them. The new community care program…
For the last couple of meetings, the Cocke County Finance Committee discussions have actually been enjoyable.
One of the most infuriating experiences for patients in our health care system occurs when they seek care at what they believe is a facility covered by their insurance, only to find out weeks later they were treated by an out-of-network physician – without the patient’s knowledge – and are n…
As many of you have likely heard and read by now, my time here as the Publisher & Editor of the Newport Plain Talk is growing nigh.
We start the month of June steady on a Saturday, June 1, with promises of moderating weather to put us in an Andy Griffith easy-going mood in our hometown, where swallows circle late in the darkening afternoon skies.
On Monday, April 15, 2019, we had the unfortunate event of a house fire.
The May 18 full moon, some call The Flower Moon, a blue moon because it is an extra full moon for the season, illuminated the heavy blossoms of the blackberry brambles around our hometown that now bakes in 90-degree weather.
Memorial Day is our country’s most somber holiday, reminding us of the men and women who have died protecting the freedoms we hold dear. As a veteran myself, I believe every veteran who lived through combat and is still alive today feels a little bit of guilt when we think back on our fallen…
Last Thursday, May 16, I received a call from Bill and Barbra Snyder inviting me for lunch, Friday, May 17.
I just want to give some praise, since it seems not as common to do.
New businesses and building activity, such as Commercial Bank, seem to be boosting the spirits of our hometown after a somewhat dreary early spring but the sunshine is shouldering through after blackberry winter.
Dear Editor,
Dear Editor,
All Americans agree that individuals should be treated fairly and with respect.
When McKenzie Regional Hospital closed last fall, it meant more than the loss of the only hospital in rural Carroll County. It meant the loss of one of the county’s largest employers. It meant babies born in McKenzie can no longer be delivered there. It meant nursing students at Bethel Unive…
As a physician, my entire career has been dedicated to caring for patients. I came to Congress because I believed we needed – and still believe we need – health care reform that improves quality and lowers cost. Instead, I watched Democrats ram through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), ma…
It was 3 p.m. Monday when my iPhone buzzed on my desk. If you know me, my phone buzzing with some sort of notification is not an unusual occurrence.
Dear Editor,
The 2019 session of the 111th General Assembly has adjourned to become a part of Tennessee history with important bills approved during the final week of legislative action. These include the passage of the state budget, legislation expanding TennCare coverage for in-home care for children w…
Happy Mother’s Day to my dear wife who is a great mom and to every Mother everywhere!
To all the great and fine citizens of Cocke County, I want to start off by saying thank you for the continued support and encouragement that you are showing to your Sheriff’s office.
Driving home on Tuesday night after leaving the Cocke County Legislative Body’s Finance Committee, the only thing I could think of was how we are in the position we find ourselves in and just how many years the can has been kicked down the road.
Thunderstorms shook the pink and purple petals off the azaleas and newly blooming rhododendrons about our hometown that just passed through a mini-heat wave in early May.
The most important part of my job is listening to and learning from East Tennesseans to ensure I effectively represent the First District. While in Washington D.C., I host regular telephone town halls and Facebook Live events to stay in touch with constituents, but nothing can replace face-t…
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