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Truth, nothing but the truth

The importance of truth in everyday life is something that each of us are responsible for upholding. When thinking on the topic of honesty, I fondly remember back on the Andy Griffith Show episode where “Opie” wants to sell his bike without mentioning all the little things that are wrong with it. “Barney” decides to […]

Come as you are

  If there is a place where folks come as they are these days, it’s on social media and often it does not reflect our best. Have you ever wondered what happened to dressin’ up when you go to town or when placing yourself in an environment to be seen such as online? When I was […]

A shave and a haircut

As I sat and squirmed in my chair trying to scratch a place in the middle of my back, I wasn’t very happy that I made a trip to get a haircut. Have you ever noticed when you go to the barber that those little hairs that fall inside your shirt collar can make you […]

The Sign Jumping Contest

I drove up on the mountain and when I arrived, I found that the sign I had carefully placed had jumped out of the ground and was lying on its side. It had jumped out of the ground the day before that and I had received a call the night before letting me know it […]

Activity helps strengthen each day

Click, click, click, click, emanates from my sneakers as I walk along the hiking path ever hopeful that with each passing mile I am a little more fit and well on my way to losing the few pounds I am seeking to shed. After opening boxes, and pulling jeans up only to find they will […]

NQC is a slice of Americana that fills the soul

I entered the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and found myself in a sea of smiling faces. They were looking forward to hearing and seeing their favorite gospel music performer either on the stage or in their booth at the National Quartet Convention. The people walked gleefully towards their seats for the event only […]

The Little Things Mean a Lot

When I was growing up, I had many role models. My parents were great role models imparting many lessons. Some were easily learned while others took a bit of strict discipline to get them through my thick head. My grandfather Jesse and both my grandmothers were role models. My older brothers in a way, even […]

Uncle Dud Doolittle and the rickety ladder

I am sitting on experience overload as we all are dealing with the nationwide pandemic shutdown and my local region is reeling due to tornadoes and flooding. So, I am turning us to a bit of levity to raise the spirits: My great Uncle Dud Doolittle was an entrepreneur extraordinaire who operated the little general […]

A refuge under the covers

When I was a little boy, my brother and I shared a room with two maple single beds, a maple night stand, and a maple dresser with six drawers – three on each side with a large mirror spanning its width. The beds had pineapple finials on their posts. My older brother left me behind […]

Joe Barger

  Award-winning author Randall Franks joins long-time Ringgold Georgia Mayor Joe Barger in writing his autobiography Testing the Metal of Life (The Joe Barger Story) by Joe Barger with Randall Franks is released in October 2023. “Former Mayor Joe Barger called me several months ago and asked me to come over to his home,” Franks […]