By Dr. Jim Ferguson “Let’s start at the very beginning…” sang Julie Andrews in the The Sound of Music. Becky and I recently attended a wonderful stage production of this beautiful story. We moderns often take for granted cinematic magic. However, magic also occurs with a stage production where our imagination takes the place of […]
By Steve Williams One way or the other, Dale Jones will be at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 3. I sure would like to see him at the 2016 season opener on the Tennessee sideline as the Vols’ new defensive coordinator instead of on the other side coaching inside linebackers for Appalachian State. No offense Mountaineers. […]
By Alex Norman As is tradition in this column, for my last effort of the year I called my psychic for some help in terms of looking to the future. Just what will happen on the local and national sports scene in 2016? Save this column for posterity and make sure to get rich by […]
Susan Horn Kicks off School Board Campaign By Sally Absher sallyabsher@knoxfocus.com Susan Horn hosted a well-attended campaign kick-off last Friday evening at the Milestones Event Center in Farragut. Over 75 supporters and several elected officials attended the event. Susan and her husband Brad have lived in the 5th District for 14 years. They have two […]
By Ray Hill Tennessee, like the rest of the country, was suffering terribly from the effects of the Great Depression. Despite the general impression the 1920s had been a decade of plenty and prosperity, that was not entirely true in the South. Tennessee was especially hard hit. Following the crash of the stock market, […]
By Steve Hunley The decision by Superintendent of Schools Jim McIntyre to announce his plans to leave office July 8, 2016, contingent upon being given a year of salary, was not necessarily the selfless act some would have us believe. The plain fact of the matter is McIntyre was about to lose control of the […]
By Joe Rector What I’m about to discuss will bring about disagreement. I’m just hoping that none of my comments will upset or anger anyone. The problem is that I’m confused about meals. I never know which one I’m eating. Breakfast isn’t a problem. It is the first meal for most of us. I don’t […]
By Ralphine Major “She understands the true meaning,” I said as I heard her say without hesitation that her family would still have Christmas even if they had no presents. It was Christmas Eve, and the lady in the news had lost her home—a victim of the many deadly tornadoes that hit our nation during […]
By Dr. Jim Ferguson “I had just settled my brain for a long winter’s nap,” when the Focus editor informed me that there would be no rest at this year’s end. “The [paper] must go on” she said, and so I must put to paper my Holiday thoughts. I pulled a proverbial rabbit out of […]
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