by Tina Neeley | Jun 15, 2024 | Feature
TAMMY MCCONNELL was never one to sit on the bench. Growing up on a dairy farm in Fayetteville, she learned the value of hard work and hustle. Basketball was her passion, and a full-ride scholarship to the University of Alabama in Huntsville offered a game-winning...
by Tina Neeley | Jun 15, 2024 | Feature
ON THE second Saturday in December, volunteers with arms ringed with balsam wreaths tied with red velvet bows make their way among the headstones at cemeteries across the country. The sound of muffled voices and crunching footsteps on grass stiffened by frost...
by Tina Neeley | May 11, 2024 | Feature
AS YOU step into Bogart’s Cigar Lounge, the door shuts in the face of whatever is weighing on you. The scent of rich, aged tobacco mingles with the lively hum of diverse voices engaged in captivating conversations. It’s a haven for the unconventional, the curious, and...
by Tina Neeley | May 11, 2024 | Feature
FOR HOURS, they circled the wood floor, their wheels a muffled whir, keeping pace with the spirited music and crescendos of laughter. Then came the call signaling the end of the evening for many: “Last song before the all-night skate!” Parents crowded at the entrance,...
by Tina Neeley | Apr 13, 2024 | Feature
IT’S A familiar but uncomfortable tradition and way of life. Countless times, we’ve walked the sidewalk as slowly as possible to the front doors of the funeral home, mentally rehearsing our condolences or recalling our favorite memories. It’s an uncomfortable dance...
by Tina Neeley | Apr 13, 2024 | Feature
FRESHLY BREWED coffee steaming in your favorite cup patiently waits as you fill a small plate with pats of butter. You slowly pour sorghum syrup over them, then swirl it together until the sweet, amber, ooey-gooey goodness is just right for your hot buttermilk...
