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As the frost thaws and redbuds bloom across Lincoln County, the energy at the Lincoln Bedford Moore Farmers Co-op in Fayetteville shifts into high gear. Spring in Middle Tennessee is the most...
Dr. John Boyle, known by patients as "Doc," brings more than 20 years of clinical expertise to the Hazel Green community. Since graduating from Life University in 2000, his career has been defined...
WHEN LYDIA Marshall talks about her theater students at Lincoln County High School, she often calls them her “kids” — a habit she jokes she now has to clarify as she prepares to welcome her first...
A STUDENT IN our community today will walk the halls of Congress with a pinned American flag on their chest. A student in our community today will pray their knees still hold when their nerves get...
THE FABULOUS Fifties Show celebrated 39 years of entertainment this March, once again bringing together singers and performers for an exciting production that combines theatrical pizazz with...
LIKE MANY small towns, Flintville offers rustic charm and a strong sense of community for those seeking a slower pace of life. But this small town has one attribute that other small towns don’t...
A TENNESSEE COLLEGE of Applied Technology (TCAT) nursing student shadows a Lincoln Medical Center nurse, staying full shifts to assist where needed and observe every aspect of the job. One Lincoln...
SOMEWHERE OVER the rainbow in the southwestern part of Lincoln County is a place teacher Briana Mann describes as “a world of unicorns and rainbows,” at least compared to many other places that make...
TOM DEAL began our conversation by talking about his daughter. For years, their family has navigated the long, uncertain road of spinal cord tumors together. They have endured surgeries, setbacks,...
THE WAY Brandi Thompson talks is precise — sharp, detailed, and without fluff. Even while describing a busy life with three children, one of whom had just participated in a Martin Luther King Jr....
As temperatures rise across the region, Powerhouse Plumbing Pros is helping homeowners transition into spring by emphasizing the importance of preventative maintenance. The local plumbers, known for...
J&J Pest Control is redefining property maintenance by prioritizing essential, high-quality service over expensive, unnecessary add-ons. Founded by Jason and Jennie Keith on the principle that...
Oftentimes, customer service is sacrificed for efficiency. However, at Small & Small Oil Company in Fayetteville, the philosophy is exactly the opposite. Family-owned and operated since 1947,...
Hand and wrist pain are significant barriers to the daily lives of those affected by this nagging discomfort. Conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury often leave...
Southern Sun Tanning & Wellness is redefining the local glow, providing a comprehensive suite of premium services designed to boost client confidence through state-of-the-art technology and...
Since 1947, Small & Small Oil Company has served the Fayetteville community, building a legacy that now spans nearly 80 years. This family-owned and operated enterprise has spent decades...
A CHILD’S CONFIDENCE can begin with something as simple as clothing. Shoes that fit, a warm coat, or a shirt they feel proud of can shape how they walk into a classroom and how they see themselves....
DISASTER RELIEF rarely begins with a plan. More often, it starts with a phone call, a half-packed truck, and the question no one ever asks until it’s too late: What do people need right now? In...
At Hazel Green Chiropractic, the ultimate goal of treatment is to provide immediate relief and empower patients to achieve lifelong wellness. Under the leadership of Dr. John Boyle, the clinic...
A malfunctioning sewer line is a direct threat to a family’s comfort and health. For one Fayetteville business, the realization didn't come from a visible leak, but from a sluggish drain. Realizing...
WHEN WE think about the basic requirements of a thriving community, our minds naturally go to the grocery stores that feed us, the banks that hold our futures, and the schools that educate our...
ON MOST Sunday mornings in Fayetteville, you can spot Lynn Moore long before you hear the church bells. He walks purposefully and unhurried down long-trodden sidewalks toward Washington Street...
NO MATTER the time of year, children in Lincoln County can always benefit from extra support, such as places that encourage them, opportunities for growth, and adults who believe in their potential....
EACH OCTOBER, as the fall season gets many excited about cooler days and turning leaves, it’s also time for a long-held and beloved tradition to take place at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds. For one...
ON A cool February evening, when winter still lingers, but Valentine’s season has Fayetteville feeling a little softer around the edges, downtown begins to glow. Shop windows are lit, doors are...
In Fayetteville, Southern Sun Tanning & Wellness is evolving far beyond the traditional tanning salon, becoming the destination for holistic health and recovery. By integrating cutting-edge...
For homeowners in Fayetteville and across Middle Tennessee, protecting a property starts from the ground up. J&J Pest Control has established itself as a local leader in comprehensive structural...
AT PLEASANT Grove Baptist Church in Alabama, a teenage boy named Terry first laid eyes on a girl named Tracy. Her father was the pastor there, and Terry remembers the moment vividly. “As she walked...
LOVE IS one of those things we recognize instantly, even when we struggle to explain it. We feel it before we understand it. We see it in the quiet moments that never make headlines, and in our...
EACH MORNING before the sun rises over Fayetteville, Dorothea Kolle makes her way to the Hampton Inn. It’s still dark outside when she unlocks the kitchen door at 4:30 a.m., turning on the lights,...
WHEN DR. Rickey McCauley looks back on his time as a physician, he recalls a childhood dream of becoming a doctor. It seemed distant, almost too ambitious to believe he could ever follow through. “I...
CERTAIN CALLINGS develop slowly, unfolding through seasons of steady obedience. Others present themselves with undeniable force, a conviction that settles on the heart with clarity and weight. For...
IN A world that often celebrates grand gestures and dramatic romances, Greg and Cindy Arnold’s story is a reminder that the most enduring love is often the simplest. Married for 35 years, their...
THE MORNING air had a bite of winter chill, carrying the scent of pine and coffee, and the parking lot at Elk River Trading Company was already full of activity. Families arrived carrying bags of...
This Valentine’s Day, true romance is found in the gift of a confidence-boosting glow. While flowers fade, the feeling of being pampered lasts much longer. This year, many thoughtful partners are...
For over 70 years, Standard Furniture and Mattress has been a key part of the Fayetteville community. Located on our historic Downtown Square, this family-owned institution provides quality home...
On a quiet street in Fayetteville, an underground water line leak can be a homeowner's most deceptive enemy. For one local resident, the first sign of trouble wasn't a geyser in the yard, but a...
For homeowners and businesses in Fayetteville and surrounding areas, J & J Pest Control understands that termite control is an essential investment in structural integrity. Unlike other pests,...
A WAITING ROOM chair creaks as someone shifts their weight. A cup of water sweats onto the lobby’s tile floor. Somewhere down the hall, a name is called. Life pauses in places like this. It always...
FOR MORE than two decades, Kristie Sanders has devoted her heart and hands to the people of Lincoln County. Her story is one of faith, compassion, and continuity — a nurse whose care flows not only...
FOR REGISTERED nurse (RN) Sieara Ashby, becoming a health care professional was the only option. Ashby, who works with Quality First Home Care, is part of a profession known as home health nursing —...
DR. SARAH Thelen has spent the past 15 years caring for patients of all ages, from newborns to centenarians, at her small-town practice in Fayetteville. Grounded in faith, compassion, and a deep...
FOR CLAUDIA Cunningham, the call to serve began in a third grade classroom. She remembers watching the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on a box TV at Flintville Elementary and feeling a deep urge to make...
DR. TYLER Edge, founder of Elk River Chiropractic, blends clinical precision with strong faith and a caring approach to patient care. For Edge, true healing comes from unlocking the body’s ability...
ON A December evening in Fayetteville, the lights dim, the curtain waits, and anticipation gathers backstage at the Carriage House Players. Now in its 13th year, the annual holiday performance has...
The excitement of bringing home a "gently used" Pack 'n Play for the new baby quickly turned to sheer panic. It was a deal too good to pass up, spotless on the outside, but hidden deep in the folds...
As the New Year commences, bringing with it a fresh slate of architectural dreams and construction ambitions in Fayetteville, the importance of foundational quality has never been clearer. When a...
When the family first walked into Standard Furniture on Main Avenue in Fayetteville, they were just hoping to find a durable sofa that could withstand their two young boys and a golden retriever....
The chill of a late December morning had settled deep into Sarah's bones, and she felt that familiar, scratchy sensation in her throat — the first unwelcome sign of a winter cold. As a busy mother...
JEREMY THOMPSON is currently the executive director of a leading military nonprofit. Before that, he served for 22 years in the Army National Guard and has been a volunteer firefighter and a reserve...
MANY FAMILIES gather around the dinner table during holidays, but Paige and Eric Hose work hard to make sure others can do the same. Paige, an EMT, and her husband, Eric, a sergeant with the Lincoln...
THE CALL comes in, and the world doesn’t slow down. The clock feels like it ticks faster, but our heroes stay strong. The firefighter is halfway through dinner. The nurse just pulled into the...
Press release submitted by Carriage House Players IN THE heart of Lincoln County, a passionate community theater group known as the Carriage House Players (CHP) is working to bring the magic of the...
ONE FREEZING winter’s night, several water pipes burst across the city of Fayetteville. Joseph Self, from Fayetteville Water & Sewer System, worked with his crew through the cold weather, racing...
JENNIFER SULLIVAN was just 17 years old when her beloved aunt, Betty Gordon, invited her to work at Lincoln-Donalson Care Center, a nursing home facility in Fayetteville. What started as a part-time...
AFTER MORE than three decades of incredible service to Lincoln County, Doug Campbell has achieved a career milestone, taking on the role of Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director and fire chief...
ON NOV. 11, 2025, Riverside Christian Academy (RCA) students filled the gymnasium with red, white, and blue attire for the school’s first on-campus Veterans Day program. Families of veterans also...
The family's home proved Fayetteville was full of festive cheer. Snow dusted the lawn, Christmas lights adorned the home, and guests packed every room. The hostess, pouring eggnog, caught eyes with...
J&J Pest Control understands that a home in Fayetteville is more than just a structure made of wood, brick, or concrete. Home is where life happens, and J&J Pest Control takes its role in...
Southern Sun Tanning & Wellness LLC calls Fayetteville home. Since opening their doors, they have empowered every client who walks through their door to feel and look their absolute best. They...
The scent of cinnamon and pine needles hung heavy in the air. The scents mixed with the rare but beautiful glow of snow falling on Fayetteville. But inside the Miller house, it was the new furniture...
IN MARCH of last year, my cousin’s work schedule became incompatible with raising his first pet, a brown and white Bernedoodle puppy. I took her in, not knowing just how much she would change, well,...
AT SOME point in every child’s life, when asked what they want to be when they grow up, many commonly answer “a veterinarian.” For Hannah Renfroe, that childhood dream was more than a passing phase;...
AVERY SHELTON lives and breathes rodeo. What began as a spark of curiosity in 2019 has grown into a full-fledged passion, fueling long nights at the barn, countless hours of practice, and drive for...
THE HUMANE Society of Lincoln County plays a vital role in strengthening the community while giving animals in need a second chance. Through fostering, adoptions, and community outreach, the...
FROM AN early age, Seth Campbell has had a natural gift for caring for animals. As a child, he would craft toys and bake small treats to deliver to his local animal shelter, eager to bring comfort...
WE KNOW one person can change the trajectory of another’s life. The same is true for animals. For Leroy, that person was Angie Moore. Leroy, an aging stray, was brought to Fayetteville Animal Clinic...
IN 2020, Bradley and Raye Drach opened their land in Flintville to host the first Bear Wallow Marketplace. Though the marketplace initially began as a small gathering, it has quickly grown into one...
THE CREAK of an old wooden floor, the worn edges of a brick building, the way a nameplate on a storefront shines a little softer with age. These are not just small details from the past. They are...
A TEACHER’S IMPACT doesn’t end when the school year does — or even when they stop teaching. The support, encouragement, and belief they show their students can last a lifetime. A lesson shared or a...
NURSES ARE vital to our communities. Often serving on the front line of health care, they are compassionate, composed, knowledgeable, and work tirelessly to build strong relationships while taking...
JOYCE MCCONNELL has made a life of serving her community. Serving in law enforcement for over three decades, McConnell has worked her way from humble beginnings as a corrections officer to a county...
The story of Fayetteville Public Utilities (FPU) is one of dedication and service. FPU’s purpose remains the same today as it did when the company was established. The utility exists to strengthen...
IN LINCOLN County, record-keeping is more than just a bureaucratic task — it’s a cornerstone of preserving community heritage. From courthouse ledgers to family archives, each record tells a story...
FAYETTEVILLE’S DOWNTOWN is alive and well on a busy Monday afternoon. Even on a sweltering summer day, the heat doesn’t keep folks from running errands and visiting local shops and cafes while the...
THE TOWN of Petersburg was established in 1814. The town, in its entirety, is 1 square mile in size and surrounded by rolling farmland. Its quaint town square is a nod and fond reminder of the...
“FRANKENSTEIN,” PUBLISHED in 1818, is considered the first science fiction novel. The Gothic story cracked open an entire genre of literature that has endless new entries today. It inspired...
ORGANS ARE a longtime staple of the church. They connect the past to the present, weaving values and tradition. They remind us of where we have come from and help guide us as we move forward....
In memory of Lily Shelton: With hearts full of both sorrow and gratitude, we honor the life of Lily Shelton. Lily passed away on Sept. 8, 2025, after two courageous years of defying the odds of a...
THE EMERGENCY Medical Service (EMS) personnel are a special breed. You could say that they are adrenaline junkies of sorts; however, it requires much more than just adrenaline. Their job requires...
IT IS often said that today’s youth are the leaders of tomorrow. When it comes to our local communities, youth involvement in community leadership is essential for building a vibrant and inclusive...
TEACHERS ARE remarkably resourceful individuals. You often find them transforming limited supplies and challenging circumstances into rich learning experiences. They adapt swiftly to diverse needs,...
FAYETTEVILLE HIGH School’s Class of 2025 turned their tassels this spring, but for Za’Lea Hampton and Akeelah Pullen, the milestone marked a new beginning, not an end. They graduated with cheer...
THE SCENT of warm butter-covered popcorn and the huge roar of the crowd… does anything bring you back faster than a Friday night under the stadium lights? For me, it’s a flood of memories: the...
ON MAY 7, the community gathered at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds for the 21st Annual Blue Ribbon Walk. This powerful tradition raises awareness for child abuse prevention and provides critical...
WHEN LINDA Pettie retired in 2014 and moved to Lincoln County, her property held the seeds of a lifelong dream. The vision had been with her since childhood, fertilized by a mother’s green thumb and...
LIFE TODAY is often captured with a cellphone — snapped, posted, and stored in the Cloud. We scroll through headlines, hobbies, and celebrity news, intending to pass a few minutes. Instead, we often...
THEY STEPPED onto the court believing, not in an easy win or in being the favored team; they believed in each other, in what they’d built, and in what they’d become. When the Unity boys basketball...
THE GYM fell quiet for a split second — just long enough for Olivia Honey’s three-point shot to arc toward the basket. It was the kind of moment you dream about but also carry on your shoulders....
IF YOU’VE ever seen a fighter jet cut across the sky, you know what powerful looks like. You know what freedom sounds like. That roar overhead reminds us that we live in a country where people put...
THE SLAWBURGER Festival is an annual event that brings the community together in celebration of the town’s signature dish: the mustard-based, slaw-topped burger. First introduced in 2015, the...
ON A June Saturday morning, the Stone Bridge Park ducks are a sideshow, not the main attraction. Children crowd the banks, poles in hand — some steady, some wobbling — as adults crouch nearby to...
SUNDAY NIGHTS used to be quiet. Now, they’re alive with voices — sometimes joking, sometimes heavy, always present. Veterans from the 278th G Troop of the Tennessee Army National Guard gather on...
THE PHONE rang, but Deb Schroeder barely glanced up. Another call. Another message to take. She sat behind the reception desk at the University of Michigan, watching the clock and wondering if this...
DEPUTY SAM Smiley stood at the front of the fifth-grade classroom, feeling the weight of expectant eyes. As he asked the students to name responsibilities at home or school, some answered eagerly,...
ANITA ASHWORTH pulled open the door to the Warrior Exhibit. Outside, traffic circled the square, everyday life in motion — its freedom preserved by those remembered within these walls. Time slowed...
A FAMILY LOADS up their navy blue Jeep in Tennessee and takes a cross-country road trip. It’ll take several days to get to the Sequoia National Park in California. There may be hours when the Jeep...
A LINE OF children shifts forward, the faint shuffle of feet echoing in the school hallway. Blake Copple steadies the vision screening device inside a room nearby, preparing for the next student....
THE COUNTDOWN echoed through Maggie English’s headset. Five. She adjusted her grip on the camera, her fingers steady despite the adrenaline rush. Four. The production truck crackled with final...
THE ROOM was all too familiar: chairs that pulled out for sleeping, fold-up cots, and vinyl-covered couches piled with last night’s pillows. In the corner, half-open suitcases and overnight bags...
WHILE THE fields no longer stretch unbroken to the horizon, what remains is rooted deep. The land carries the weight of generations — hands that cleared the first fields, feet that walked familiar...
TIFFANY AND Liam Calvert are the owners of Magic Athletics. They have been anchored in the community for years and began their business at the old cotton mill. It was a space they quickly outgrew...
THE FABULOUS Fifties Show completed its 38th season in March with nine performances held at Lincoln Central Academy in Fayetteville. The show blends nostalgic entertainment with local impact,...
WHEN YOU choose a locally owned business over a national chain, you’re not just spending your money, you’re planting it. And the roots of that investment reach deep. Every dollar counts, and it...
LIKE THE sky overhead, most of Fayetteville is still asleep when Rob Barnett arrives at Elk River Trading Company on a cold December Saturday morning. Today isn’t about sales — it’s about giving...
ON CHRISTMAS Eve in 1960, Charles Gleghorn stepped behind the teller’s counter at Lincoln County Bank for the first time. He slid open a heavy wooden cash drawer, its metal dividers clinking against...
HOLT’S IGA may bear Dan Holt’s name, but this hometown grocer’s greatest success is carried on the shoulders of his team. Holt never set out to own a grocery store. In October 2016, he bought a...
FROM THE corner of your eye, Mt. Washmore looms — laundry stalled by a dead washing machine. The big box store’s helpline? Forty-five minutes on hold, promising you’re “next.” It hasn’t always been...
TRAFFIC CRAWLED along Lincoln Avenue, a backhoe leading the way, soon joined by a Fayetteville Police Department car’s flashing blue lights. The officer eased the machine over, clearing the way for...
A STUDENT IN our community today will walk the halls of Congress with a pinned American flag on their chest. A student in our community today will pray their knees still hold when their nerves get...
LOOKING AT the answers on the worksheet before her, Bridgette Jones leaned in to make eye contact with the young student she tutored. It wasn't just the correct answers that brought them both joy;...
SPEND A few minutes with former educator and school superintendent Stan Golden, and you’ll leave with an impression of his heart for the students and community he served. A sense of humor and...
BEYOND THE front door of Backstage Performing Arts (BPA) are studios with mirrored walls, barres, balance beams, and music punctuated with instructors’ directions. Little ones tippy-toe twirl while...
IN A Highland Rim School classroom, Peggy Eddins Wright moves with purpose, her eyes as bright and enthusiastic as the young students she guides. She is sounding out letters in a reading lesson....
MAPS TELL stories of possibility. Not the kind printed on paper but the invisible routes we chart through life’s most challenging terrains. Some journeys are straightforward highways; others are...
AS YOU wait in the car rider lane for your student to emerge from one of Lincoln County’s schools, it’s hard to see. The double doors burst open, and students pour out, run-walking to their rides,...
ON THE beach of Playa Junquillal, Costa Rica, Makayla Martin gently releases baby sea turtles one by one onto the beach. The tiny creatures, no larger than the palm of her hand, instinctively...
BILL SMITH broke the surface of Tims Ford Lake, his uncle, Bobby Smith, in one numb hand, and his 3-year-old son, Jess, clutched desperately in the other. The 48-degree water bit into their skin...
THE FAMILY gathers near the mahogany casket adorned with fresh roses and lilies. Despite their grief and exhaustion, they remain steadfast, receiving the hugs and condolences of those who come to...
YOUNG ATHLETES navigate the court under the bright gym lights, accompanied by the rhythmic bounce of basketballs and the swish of nets. The Fayetteville Lions Club Basketball Tip-Off Classic is in...
WHEN “LITTLE” Joe Burns’ 1954 Buick and his friend Cody Mitchell’s 1949 Chevy 3100 truck hit the road after the extra touches the duo added to their classics in 2015, the process and end results...
PASTOR CHARLES Mayo has always believed in the power of faith to heal, comfort, and guide people through life’s most difficult moments. His journey with Lincoln Health System began in March 2021...
THE FLINTVILLE School library hums with the quiet energy of modern education. Today’s school libraries hold not just books but endless opportunities for wonder and exploration. Bookcases line the...
THE SOUNDS of the self-checkout registers beep through the entire store. The short lines of people with baskets and carts move across the reflective tile like a conveyor belt and out the door. Uh,...
Open the door at 1622 Huntsville Highway and step over the threshold into Kaylee’s Korner. Vintage olive green stemware, opaque carnival glass, depression glass, teapots, coffee mugs, and snow-white...
The house was set way back from the road, old, run-down, and covered in weeds and poison ivy. Its roof had holes, the floor had deteriorated, and the basement was full of trash — but Keith Syler and...
What does a flag represent? Is it the values of the group it flies over, the efforts of those who carry it, or the history written under its banner? The United States Stars and Stripes embodies all...
She spent nearly five months in the hospital and some 45 days on a ventilator; she had more than a dozen surgeries and a kidney transplant — all before she turned 4. Yet Jentry Prock is a bright and...
Mike and Mary Burton have shared a love story spanning 29 years — one that has defied doubts, embraced challenges, and thrived through life’s highs and lows. As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, their...
You know that first breath of spring? The way the warmer air gives you goosebumps — the air is soft, full of promise, carrying hints of something new. After months of cold, we step outside, and for...
The dance floor was full at the Palace of Riverbend as Carson Locker and Savannah Hardiman attempted to capture the memories of a lifetime. Twinkling fairy lights and cell phone flashes cast a...
A nurse walked down the hallway his mother walked decades before he did. Beep … beep … he could hear the sounds from patients’ rooms. He kept a small keepsake pinned to his scrubs, a pin his mother...
Small-town Friday nights look similar for teenagers in small, Southern rural communities. When school is in, the seasons determine the meeting spot. It’s Friday night football under the lights,...
“I just want to help people,” he said, his voice soft and calming. It’s the voice you'd like to hear making small talk while taking notes about the issues that brought you to the emergency room....
HH Lincoln Health President Mary Beth Seals shared an update in an August 2024 press release on the system’s second year of providing care for the Lincoln County community. She noted various...
With the morning sun and the center’s associates peeking over their shoulders, the senior adults gathered at the tables work intently on the day’s craft project. Their conversation is lively,...
His smile fills the brightest scenes in the film of her life’s memories. When Beth Andersen’s wobbling bicycle steadied, and she rode independently down the driveway, it was there. When she told him...
In Lincoln County's courthouse, addiction’s grip tightened relentlessly. Judge Andy Myrick's docket overflowed with repeat offenders, their charges a stark reflection of substance abuse's grip on...
The people of the year 1000 faced division, uncertainty, and fear for the future. They didn’t know it then, but they stood at the edge of change, transitioning from the Dark Ages to the Middle Ages....
In a town that wears its history like a well-loved quilt, a local club adds patches woven of surprising cultural threads. From Camp Blount to our long-standing traditions like the Host of Christmas...
The trail, long-established yet bearing recent footprints, stretched before him, promising breathtaking views and vistas with undergrowth of wildflowers, moss, and ferns. It also presented steep...
At first glance, it’s a small coffee shop in a revitalized rural community, its tall glass windows and stone foundation reminding you of a greenhouse. Flower-topped tables and conversation nooks...
“I'm hungry” echoes in homes everywhere, often before backpacks even hit the floor and students kick off their school shoes. It’s a refrain as common as the afternoon sun, often met with the rustle...
On Thursday morning, June 20, 2024, the steady flow of vehicles in front of Walmart on Huntsville Highway was like every weekday. Many were headed to and from work in Huntsville. Some needed to stop...
AUTUMN SETTLES into our town like a puppy in a warm bed. There’s a magic in the air that only this season can bring. Golden leaves drift gently from the trees, painting the sidewalks in shades of...
AT OLDE Town Protein & Energy in Petersburg, a mother watches her children huddled over adjoining, pint-sized tables, paint brushes moving thoughtfully across river rocks. These stolen moments...
AS THEY sit in the warmth of their mother’s home where her laughter once echoed and every corner holds a cherished memory, two grieving daughters, Lisa and Andrea, reflect on the immeasurable love...
BEFORE WE streamed our music and subscribed to an infinite number of podcasts, local radio kept us company in our vehicles, on our jobs, and around our homes. The station’s broadcasters weren’t just...
THE DAYS were already long. He challenged geometry students with theorems and proofs, balanced like the opposite sides of a parallelogram with banter that demonstrated his care and concern. Students...
ONCE FILLED with the rhythm of family, its memory-paneled walls stood patiently waiting, certain that life’s pause button would be released and the blaring silence would yield to a sweeter song. The...
AS THE morning sky fully awakened, its ombre pinks, blues, and yellows yielding to the full orb of the yellow sun, they waited. The men talked, gathered in clusters, many with coffee in hand, others...
IN THE West End Baptist Church fellowship hall, the weekly meeting of the Stitchin’ Sisters is in full swing. Lively conversation competes with the whirrrrr of the sewing machines. There’s the...
THE OFFICE’S furniture and decor matched his job description — drab and mundane. When Warren Bill Trimble hitchhiked from Sheffield, Alabama, to the Birmingham enlistment office in 1946, hours on...
AS STACY Johnson stands before students in his classes, he sees the earliest sparks of a desire to find their place among those who help us when we’re not able to help ourselves. As future emergency...
SHE FLASHES her lights and pushes the gas pedal a little harder. The walkie-talkie is too quiet, so she spins the dial and makes her bulletproof vest a little more comfortable. She worked hard to...
“911, WHAT’S your emergency?” We expect to hear it when we dial those three numbers in a crisis. All that’s on our minds is getting the quickest help possible. Television and movies are likely all...
IT’S A time of transition, celebration, and, for many, uncertainty. They hang their caps and gowns in the back of their closets, their tassels on their rearview mirror, and their hopes and dreams on...
IN THE two-room schoolhouse in Howell, many things distracted students on an average day. Thoughts of recess, the sights of changing seasons, note-passing, and sports rivalries interrupted lessons...
SHE SLIPPED into her car, her shoulders and her spirits slumping from the weight of the shift that just ended. In no hurry, she turned the ignition, not to back out but to roll down her window,...
OUR FOOD nourishes us, from the soil beneath our feet to the table where we gather with family and friends. The hot sun beams from the sky into the field of sprouting seeds. Farmers rise early,...
The gentle breeze whispered, “Come on out,” as the branches’ unfurling leaves waved at her, coaxing her from the open back door. New ferns spilling out of her mama’s concrete urns gently billowed,...
WHAT’S YOUR karate IQ? Is it informed by the wise instructor from “The Karate Kid,” Mr. Miyagi, or the or the Netflix series “Cobra Kai’’? Perhaps you still enjoy reruns of “Walker, Texas Ranger,”...
AS THE late afternoon sun cast its last shadows over the Kentucky woods, she limped into the open field, her young fawn following along playfully. “Take my coat off,” James “Skip” Parkes said to...
COOKING WITH produce, meats, and spices from nearby farms and growers brings the freshest flavors to our tables. And choosing local ingredients benefits our community while enhancing our family...
WITH HER tiny hand tucked inside his tan, weathered one, they walked purposefully past the colorful tents and silent carnival rides. The Earth’s aroma mingled with sweet hay. She couldn’t yet read...
GROWING UP on a farm teaches you a lot about life — hard work, commitment, respect, and the resilience to get back up when you fall. For Leslie Copeland, these lessons have profoundly shaped her...
ON AN early April morning, green finial-capped shoots stand tall amid King Stropharia mushrooms, welcoming their caretaker, Don Adams. Bees make their presence known, guarding their queen in the...
“SMALL TOWN, big dreams” – four little words and a familiar cliche but one carrying a lot on its wings. For some, it represents a hope to see, learn, or experience more, not to escape something...
THE UPROAR surrounding the field becomes a distant murmur as Mia Brown digs her cleats into the pitcher’s plate. The mound is her sanctuary, a judgment-free zone where she can simply be herself. Her...
AS THE late summer sun pressed down on the field, the clunk of helmets and the shrill blows from the coach’s whistle pushed against the hovering humidity. Tackle dummies fell back under the weight...
WHEN THE stadium lights blaze and the roar of the crowd echoes, true fans know the game-day experience begins in the parking lot. Celebrate your team’s spirit with these tailgating recipes, which...
THE SHADOWS of the late afternoon sun drape the asphalt courts as the Lincoln County High School (LCHS) tennis team battles its district rival. The rhythmic thwacks of fuzzy yellow balls drilling...
AS THE curtain fell on the Dec. 8, 2017, performance of The Broadway Show Stoppers in Chicago, the young performers buzzed with the excitement of their debut professional performance outside their...
SOME ARE lucky enough to find work they love; others go through the motions of their jobs to pursue outside passions once the workday ends. Few are blessed to have both — a job that fits their...
THE CROWD fills the stands, row after row, of people in our high school’s colors. The family in front of you sits down with a fresh hot dog from the concession stand. It’s still steaming with a...
THE GRAZING table before you is no ordinary feed trough. It’s a feast for the senses — a vibrant patchwork of colors, textures, and flavors that beckons you to dive in and start sampling. Wedges of...
IN AN age where technology often overshadows personal connections, our community’s very own Dr. William R. Jones remains a shining example of genuine human warmth and compassion. For 44 years, Dr....
LIKE MANY boys his age, Danny Green started thinking about finding that special someone when he was 16. But it was different for him because what he saw in the mirror told him he was not just...
PERSISTENCE AND perseverance are brushstrokes on the canvas of Allie Heffington Isbell’s life. In her sunlit studio, Allie’s art, inspired by rural life, features Hereford, Longhorn, and Highland...
AS THE warm summer sun shines high in the Southern sky, it’s time to embrace the vibrant flavors of the season. Our July recipes showcase the best of summer’s produce, from juicy peaches and crisp...
THE MOTTO, “Nobody cares. Work harder!” — made popular by podcast host, author, and endurance trainer Cameron Hanes — may sound harsh to some, but to Jon Bradford, those words were the motivation he...
ADVERSITY CAN come in many forms — from personal setbacks, financial struggles, loss of loved ones, and unexpected obstacles to health issues. While adversity is an inevitable part of the human...
WHEN I was 8, I wanted to be a teacher. I remember my third grade teacher clicking the chalk on the green board on the wall. And when I was 9, I wanted to be a director. My parents bought me a...
DOZENS OF cars — from old classics to Corvettes fresh off the car lot — line The Rock Family Worship Center parking lot. The smell of food trucks permeates the air as people inspect the many craft...
IF YOU took a snapshot of any moment in our country’s history, there is a hurt we were trying to heal. The same is true today. It’s our independence that lets us correct our wrongs, to heal, and to...
KEN’S FAST Foods is the best place in town to get a slawburger and fries! I have eaten other slawburgers in Fayetteville, but hands down, Ken’s is the best. The Elk Valley Times asked readers to...
THE STATUE of Liberty has remained a symbol of hope in New York Harbor since France gave it to our country to commemorate our allegiance to one another during the American Revolution. The statue on...
JULY FOURTH is a day for community, fireworks, parades, and food from the annual Lincoln Barbecue. Every year, members of the Lincoln community line up for the delicious barbecue and homemade...
THUNDER RATTLED every window in Kathy’s car. Lightning streaked across the blackening clouds above the back roads of Lincoln County. She gripped her steering wheel and leaned closer to the...
WHAT BETTER time to indulge in the ultimate celebration of all things American: backyard barbecues, July Fourth festivities, and the comforting flavors of home? Let’s salute the classic dishes that...
AS MEMORIAL Day begins, the first light of dawn casts a gentle golden glow over Lincoln Cemetery. Rows of headstones stand sentinel beneath the sprawling canopy of ancient trees, the weathered...
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...
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...
SUMMER IS coming. And surely your home will sit empty for a week in this heat. The playful cheers of the kids on summer break go missing for a week that was planned for a year. The dishes sit in the...
ON THE south side of Fayetteville’s historic square, there’s a Mexican restaurant you won’t want to miss if you love Mexican food like I do. It’s my favorite! On a recent Monday night, I visited...
WE OFTEN overlook the significance of basic abilities such as independence, clear sight, good hearing, problem-solving skills, and easy access to essential resources. Navigating the challenges...
LIKE A middle school basketball game, each day unfolds like a steady race toward the season championship. Bells signal class changes, not scoreboard buzzers, and cafeteria lunches offer healthier...
WE LIVE plugged-in, with the quality of our days dependent upon technology and connections. Notifications ding, DoorDash bells ring, and the microwave’s timer calls “done.” Apps promise everything...
IT’S JUST what you need: one-on-one time with your daughter as a “Mommy and Me” day. You want something special, but you’re not coming up with anything nearby. You’re hoping something in your social...
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...
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:...
THE ECONOMIC Policy Institute reports that for every dollar spent at a locally owned business, 68 cents of it stays in the local economy. Compare this to 32 cents staying in a local community when...
LIKE MOST other small towns, Fayetteville has some of America’s most popular fast-food restaurants where you can get a mediocre cheeseburger and fries. You can even get your sweet treat fix through...
AFTER MONTHS of checking out local home listings and daydreaming about a move, you’re finally ready. The real estate market seems like a maze, and the idea of navigating it might be overwhelming,...
AS YOU shuffle through the day’s mail, a single envelope erases your good mood in the blink of an eye. The return address is enough to tell you it’s almost time to pay your property taxes. Even...
TIME COULDN’T pass any slower. Hope cracked open a door in 1996 when an Arizona liaison located Michelle Costanzo’s birth mother in Pennsylvania. But when her response finally arrived, it appeared...
TREASURES ARE something highly prized or valued, yet not so easily defined. Our treasures may have no value in the form they exist but become priceless when they connect us to a dear friend or...
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...
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,...
THE METAL beams tick, tick, tick with every inch the cart climbs to the top of the hill. The experienced thrill-seekers in the front cart raise their hands as the coaster inches toward the climax of...
Fayetteville Public Utilities (FPU) seeks ways to give back to the local community, and youth programs offer many opportunities to make positive changes that have a lasting impact. For this reason,...
WHEN I hear the word barbecue mentioned, I immediately think of my late father, Benny. He loved a good “barbecue joint” as he called such restaurants most of the time. If someone recommended a new...
BOOTS CRUNCH over dead leaves, a symphony of anticipation echoing in the tranquil woods as sunlight flickers through the canopy, speckling the faces of young explorers eager for knowledge lost in...
WHEN JAY Simms moved to Yale University’s campus last summer, he took more than his hopes, dreams, and dorm furniture; he took the influence and inspiration of his former teachers and counselors....
THE LITTLE girl who always loved school would never have imagined how deep her love for school would grow. She couldn’t know how her participation in athletics was weaving a tapestry of love and...
AT THE forefront of shaping tomorrow’s health care leaders, the HH Lincoln Health Student Advisory Board is turning aspirations into action for local high school juniors and seniors, one student at...
FORGET TESTS and workbooks; Judy Moore’s lesson plan is a smile seasoned with 24 years of wisdom and a hug. While most of us battle against the tyranny of alarm clocks, Moore’s eyes light up at the...
INSTEAD OF the usual clinking trays and not-so-muffled chatter, Lincoln County High School’s (LCHS) cafeteria vibrates with the boisterous hum of a community gathered. Seated around linen-covered...
THE SCENT of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the rustle of papers as the Home Visit Team convenes. Outside, the sun casts long shadows, reflecting the shades of hardship they are about to...
THERE’S AN undertow in life nationally and at home today. Shoppers with bewildered faces wander the grocery store aisles, calculator in hand, trading items from their carts for the ones priced lower...
LINCOLN COUNTY — what do you know about it? Lifelong residents know Lincoln County as a tight-knit community that rallies to support its own in times of crisis. We know its country backroads, gently...
IN THE quiet corners around us, away from negativity, thrive the true heartbeats of our community — the local charities and the selfless individuals who support them. It’s in these spaces, often...
THERE’S A new restaurant on U.S. 64, near Interstate Highway 65. Like most locals, when I hear about a new restaurant opening, I can’t wait to try it. In a small town, it gives everyone something to...
THE SCHOOL lunches of our childhood memories vary greatly depending on the era in which you pulled up a seat at the cafeteria table. The most mature readers likely ate at home. When the Great...
IN THE heart of rural America, where the fields stretch wide, and community ties run deep, Tractor Supply Company (TSC) stands as a vital hub for those who till the land and tend to their animals....
WITH A heart full of compassion, Gail Wilbur is on a mission transcending the ordinary. She is the driving force behind Patches Place Cat Rescue, a local cat rescue and Trap-Neuter-Return nonprofit,...
HELEN KELLER said at the 1925 Lions Club International convention, “Try to imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly stricken blind today. I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your...
THE PLAYING field for high school football isn’t a hundred yards; it’s as large as the community’s hearts as they rally for their team and each other. Fayetteville High School’s Friday night lights...
IT'S HOLDING the door open for the person behind you. It's sending a sweet text when they cross your mind. It’s stopping by to say “hi” when they’ve had a bad day. Showing up and showing love is...
IT’S TIME for embracing warmth, love, and the joy of sharing delicious meals with those closest to our hearts. As we endure the lingering winter days, here’s a selection of recipes filled with...
THEY LOVE the thrill of the hunt. Cheryl Hobbs said she comes from a long line of women who sat up on Saturdays and sold their items at yard sales, auctions, and other events. The success of...
AT TRUVY’S Beauty Spot in “Steel Magnolias,” kinship forms among the stylists and their clients while hair color processes and dries under the blower. The laughter and free therapy leave hearts...
THE SILVER moon projects a light show of dancing branches upon the curtain, a winter waltz accompanied by the gentle hum of the heating unit. Pint-sized construction equipment and building blocks...
THE WARM aroma of garlic bread baking mingles with the spices simmering in the spaghetti sauce, enveloping the cozy space of the cafe. Soft morning light filters through the windows, casting a soft...
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE is the mark for Chase Bowden in his position at Copperweld. This American bimetals manufacturer became a leader in the wire and cable industry by engineering wire differently....
THE FIRST sounds of life are screams and cries of joy. Oxygen fills little lungs for the first time. The lights above are bright. And the beeping machines from every corner of the room can be...
EVERYTHING WAS ready for her. Gifts from friends and family contributed to the completion of the lovingly decorated nursery. Dresser drawers were filled with gowns and outfits, and the rocking chair...
CHRISTMAS IS the season of giving. Family and friends gather to share food, gifts, and precious time that will create life-long memories. Christmas also offers the opportunity to give back, making...
WHILE SOME students experience a school year filled with the excitement of homecoming events, spirited sports competitions, and bustling after-school projects, a different reality their siblings,...
At the age of 15, Derian Morales made the difficult decision to leave Honduras for a better future in the United States. He dreamed of helping his family financially, but he knew it would not be...
IT WAS a time when the world and healthcare resembled a sci-fi horror movie more than the world we’d known. At least our world before the pandemic was larger than theirs. The world of patients...
AS WE step into the new year, explore the tastes of hometown healing through recipes built around healthy ingredients. A soup loaded with healthy vegetables flavored with your favorite herbs hits...
It was a familiar scene in their Sochaczew, Poland home, though not in others. A mother and her preschool daughter huddled over an anatomy atlas from the mother’s nursing classes. Although not yet...
SHE WAS so proud of him. Eric Torres’s full-ride scholarship for a mechanical engineering degree made his family proud. His grandmother was his rock and the most significant difference-maker in his...
AMERICAN AUTHOR Pierce Brown said, “Home isn’t where you’re from; it’s where you find light when all grows dark.” In a time like we’d never seen, the pandemic gave us many opportunities to find...
EVERY CHRISTMAS Day, families across the country gather to eat and fellowship together, sharing stories and seeing people they may not have seen all year. However, not everyone has the ability or...
LIKE THE cozy warmth of a heated blanket, Good News and the holidays are in the air once again. The season of festive lights, crackling fireplaces, and familiar carols is upon us, inviting a sense...
BEFORE THERE was food stamps and welfare, there were poor farms. People with mental and physical disabilities, those without financial or familial support, or those who were unable to work...
THE DECISIONS and actions of past generations shape Lincoln County and Fayetteville’s landmarks, institutions, and culture. Though they are no longer here, their work, even down to their smallest...
GAIL GODWIN said, “Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths pure theatre.” Tim Hobbs has utilized theatre in the classroom throughout his Fayetteville City Schools (FCS) career and...
ALONG WITH December’s hustle and bustle, our kitchens come alive with the spirit of the holidays. As friends and families gather, delightful treats take center stage, each dish a connection to...
WITH THE summer sun bearing down and the harvest season still several calendar flips away, he looked for it while he worked in his gardens. He picked it before the first tomato and teased his...
THE CHRISTMAS season is all about the spirit of giving, and what better way to give than to help children in the community have a wonderful holiday season? The Lincoln County Toy Drive has been...
WE ENCOUNTER unsung heroes who walk among us without recognition. They may not be wearing a cape and a mask, but they’re a hero regardless. Their unwavering commitment to service and sacrifice makes...
Fayetteville Public Utilities (FPU) has a longstanding history of answering the call when there is a need. From restoring local utilities to responding when disaster strikes miles away from home,...
IN OUR moment of crisis, after dialing 911, the sight of first responders bursting onto the scene brings immediate relief. Help has arrived. In small communities like Belleville, it’s even better...
FAYETTEVILLE FEELS far removed from the high fashion runways of Paris, New York, and Milan, but it’s closer than you think. Within Lincoln County lies the inspiration for Juan Guerrero Designs, and...
FOR OVER two decades, former Sheriff Jimmy Mullins dedicated his life to law enforcement, ensuring justice and safety for the Lincoln County community. From heartfelt rescues to challenging...
In Tony Metcalf’s career as a student resource officer (SRO) and now as the lieutenant in charge of the SRO program, he loves the kids. He and his team are often superheroes to the youngest...
THANKSGIVING AND Christmas are getting closer, and it's time to plan for parties and get-togethers. Old standards served alongside new recipes on family buffets with family china, and finger foods...
IT’S ONE of our most basic needs, present from birth: the need to belong. To feel seen, heard, understood, and cared for is a critical part of our development at all ages. Karen Gardner saw the...
‘The Trailer Park’ Grand Opening: A Creative Hub for Art, Food, and Music in Lincoln County In July, Jennie Roles-Walter, an artist, teacher, county commissioner, and mom, launched...
NOTHING EXCITES me more than the idea of autumn. The trees are beautiful and never fail to take your breath away and then give it back to you. The perfect Saturday is a cool breeze coming in from...
FAYETTEVILLE OUTDOOR Sports (FOS), formerly Fayetteville Cycle, has been serving Lincoln County and surrounding communities for over 40 years, the last of which has been under the ownership of David...
CHILDHOOD SHOULD be a careless time filled with love, comfort, and security, like a favorite snuggle blanket. But too many times, things look terribly different in some children’s lives. Neglect or...
THE LOWER humidity and gentle breezes hint at the return of one of our favorite seasons. The earliest change in the leaves turns our thoughts to pumpkin patches, corn mazes, flannel shirts, and...
AS SUMMER slowly surrenders to fall, the Lincoln County Fairgrounds welcomes the return of competition, community, and colorful midway excitement. Red, white, and blue buntings flutter as funnel...
AS WARM summer days linger, thoughts and plans for returning fall traditions cool us, if only in our minds. We plan decorative porches with corn stalk bundles, pumpkin piles, and mums. We dream of...
AUTUMN BRINGS a bounty of delicious foods to enjoy as the weather cools down. From sweet to savory, there are plenty of flavors to savor during the fall season. Nothing quite beats a warm apple...
FROM INSPIRATIONAL NBA athletes and talented teammates to dedicated family members and compassionate coaches, former Riverside Christian basketball player Will Eldridge had a slam-dunk support...
IS THERE anything as polarizing, emotional, or inspiring as Tennessee Orange? Not in this neck of the woods. We wear the T-shirts, the jerseys, and the caps. We show up in the stands or cheer them...
THE SQUEAK of new tennis shoes on the court. The smell of buttery popcorn from concessions down the hall. The spirit of a dozen teenage girls problem-solving, coming of age, and commiserating...
OUR HOMETOWN sports is not simply a spectacle of athletic prowess; it is a celebration of the human spirit — an embodiment of the unwavering bond that emerges when we come together to support our...
WHEN HILARY Hardin taught middle school English, students weren’t always happy to see her. Now, as the librarian for South Lincoln School, she’s their superhero, or at least a smiling face during a...
IT COULD be the speedy service. It could be the family name or the devotion to God and country. Whatever it is, it’s working for Stovall’s Body Shop and Wrecker Service. The Fayetteville staple has...
AS THE sun rises over Tennessee baseball diamonds, golf courses, and public school parking lots, parents like Tana Adams make sure uniforms are freshly washed, the fridge is stocked, and the...
AS FAYETTEVILLE High School's cross-country program flourishes under former triathlete coach Chris Davis, two of its top athletes have signed with college teams. Their athletic (and academic)...
MARK TWAIN once wrote, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.” A few days before the first football game of his senior season, Fayetteville...
HH Lincoln Health celebrates a year of improved healthcare HH LINCOLN Health (HHLH) celebrated its one-year anniversary as part of the Huntsville Hospital Health System with a ribbon-cutting...
"WE ALL think, "What would I do if I won the lottery?' When I have those daydreams, assisting Junior's House is always at the top of my list," Executive Director Crystal Guess, M.S., MSP, said....
Building a new home is one of the most exciting and rewarding decisions a person can make. This decision is not one to take lightly and can consist of years of planning. In a lifetime, the...
AS A member of a group of people that only make up about 14% of the country’s population, and as a woman, I have faced unique challenges and experiences that have shaped my identity and journey of...
AN IVY League mentality is in Jay Simms’ DNA. At home, college football helmets lined up on a table and hanging on the walls testify to his dad’s love of the game. He impressed upon his son that the...
OH, IF walls could talk! The building at 114 W. Market St. has served the public in one form or another since the 1860s when jail cells encased in limestone housed the city’s inmates. The walls were...
JOHNNY DEPP said, “My body is my journal, and my tattoos are my story.” American tattoo artist Kat Von D agreed when she said, “I am a canvas of my experiences; my story is etched in lines and...
THE FAMILIAR piano notes open “Walking in Memphis” as four couples form a square at the Fayetteville Recreation Center on Thursday night. But instead of “Put on my blue suede shoes and I boarded the...
THE ENERGY in the air was palpable as participants stretched their legs, bounced up and down, and took a competitive glance around at their fellow participants. Some were neighbors, and others were...
CHECK YOUR pantry’s seasonings, and you may very well find a bottle with a perky, pantless pig smiling back at you. The journey of Bad Byron’s Butt Rub to a place at your table is seasoned with...
AS THE sun casts its golden glow upon our world, we find ourselves awakening to the delights of summer – the vibrant colors, the warm breezes, and the echoes of laughter and togetherness. With the...
IT’S A different world today. With a little spit or a swab of your cheek, a DNA test kit will promise to return details of your ancestors’ country of origin, inform you of your health issues, and...
IT WAS a time when small communities were more than a place you drive through memorialized by a highway road sign — the town’s name was usually followed by “unincorporated.” Unincorporated is an...
PETERSBURG HAS been a drive-through town for too long — not for lack of community, but for a shortage of places to shop, eat, and gather. Marsh’s Department Store, Ed Scott’s Grocery, W.W. Gill’s...
AS THE lazy days of summer drift into the warm embrace of August, our taste buds welcome the vibrant flavors offered by nature. The richness of the harvest season arrives as farmers markets brim...
WHEN I think of the next generation, I feel excitement. I want this issue of Good News to be a joyous celebration of the young adults who will be the leaders of tomorrow, carrying the torch of...
NINE MONTHS of excitement and anticipation preceded his birth. The first-time parents checked all the boxes of preparation. They asked about the most used baby items, were showered with love and...
WE SAW the sky but little else through the window in the room where we sat. The gray and white clouds marched briskly by as blues and grays traded places. She was convinced the clouds would...
SURROUNDED BY her pre-K students, Tami Schumacher is exactly where she always wanted to be. As a child of a stay-at-home mom, she played school and knew she wanted to be a teacher and a mama....
FAYETTEVILLE’S MAIN Street is more than brick-and-mortar storefronts and festivals. It’s more than area business owners, leaders, shoppers, and nonprofits. It’s about raising up generations of...
FAMILY IS full of ups and downs, but it’s also where we leave from and go back to. At its best, it’s where we belong. At its worst, it’s where we wish to go or return to — that place of belonging. ...
AMID A sea of orange and white on a clear, crisp fall Saturday afternoon created for college football, the crowd snaps to its feet as the ball crosses the end zone. The band and the fans launch into...
SOMETIMES THINGS aren’t what they appear to be. After the class bell has sounded, she’s mistaken for a student remaining in the halls. She’s often asked to point out the head coach of the boys...
AS THE sun breaks the horizon to begin the day, many can hear the rough but rhythmic sounds of a tractor approaching the parking lot of Lincoln County High School (LCHS). Its appearance is a sign...
AS SUMMER heats up, so do our grills and smokers, giving our kitchens a well-deserved break. Casual worknight dinners, weekend celebrations, and holiday parties bring together families for good food...
WHEN SOMEONE mentions Main Street, what comes to mind? Is it Mayberry? A trip to any small town, exploring new sights, shops, and stores? Or does Fayetteville’s central business district come to...
One summer afternoon, you notice dark clouds building in the distance. You check the weather and realize a storm is approaching. Twenty minutes later, the intense lightning, rolling thunder and...
JIM RYUN said, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” The Bank of Lincoln County (BOLC) motivates Lincoln County students with School Bank, its student savings...
THE AIR is thick and heavy, like a woolen blanket draped over the landscape. The sun blazes down, casting a golden glow over the world below. The grass is tall and green, swaying in the breeze like...
INSIDE AN unassuming building on the Lincoln County High School campus, tomorrow’s technology is developing, one idea at a time. What begins as a concept mapped out on a whiteboard wall is brought...
IT’S A timeless struggle, the setting of many stories and movies. Tradition nudges you to follow in your family’s footsteps while your heart pulls you in a different direction, leaving you torn...
Ah, retirement! We dream about it, save for it, and imagine how we’ll fill our days. While many seniors and retirees find countless ways to spend their time, others discover extra time on their...
LARRY ROBERTSON always answered when they knocked on his door selling brooms and lightbulbs each year. He knew a little about their community service, and he wondered why they’d never asked him to...
YOU’LL FIND HIM less on the housetops and more in the office or out meeting customers in the field these days, but Lucas Garrett of T & L Roofing is content wherever you find him. Three years...
FINDING SOMETHING the whole family can do during the summer can be challenging. The beach is too crowded, and the amusement parks are too far away. And both can be astronomically expensive. You are...
SUMMER’S NOT just for outdoors! Fellowship with friends and family while experiencing our area’s best arts and entertainment, indoors and out. Don’t forget the fireworks, but there’s more than...
SUMMER IS a season of warmth, joy, and fun. It is a time when people get together to enjoy the outdoors, dance to great music, and make unforgettable memories. Summer music festivals are a perfect...
THE BREEZE carries a hickory-smoked aroma from the nearby grill throughout the backyard as the family laughs and catches up in the early summer sunshine. It’s Dad’s day, but any excuse to get...
IT IS the best of times; it is (sometimes) the worst of times. I have three children, ages 16, 12, and 5. It’s not lost on me how fast they grow. Now, with a child who is nearing 18, it really does...
THE STAGE was set, performers prepared, and the audience was ready for one of their favorite performances of the year, the Fabulous Fifties Show. This was the 36th year for the annual show that...
THE ECONOMIC Policy Institute reports that for every dollar spent at a locally owned business, 68 cents of it stays in the local economy. Compare this to 32 cents staying in a local community when...
VISIT THE Fayetteville Public Utilities (FPU) website, and you’ll see that FPU serves 34,330 customers over a system undergirded by $213.3 million in gross plant assets, including 3,071 miles of...
THEY WERE her childhood heroes. When her family needed them, they were there. When complications from her brother’s diabetes required immediate attention, she knew they would always come, and they...
"PULL!” AT the shooter’s call, clay discs are hurled at 42 mph into the air, simulating a hunter’s flying game. Lincoln County Trap Team members are competing for more than bragging rights, and the...
ALTHOUGH THE first students won’t arrive for several more hours, the lunchroom at Riverside Christian Academy (RCA) is buzzing with activity. Pots and pans clang, cans are opened and produce is...
ART AND opportunities are found in everyday places, and on rare occasions, the two combine to create a unique career. Jessica Allen wasn’t looking for new work when she and her mother-in-law took a...
WORKING IN the summer heat shoveling mortar and toting brick on the job site alongside his father, Joe Hunter, and uncle, Raybon (Shorty) Hunter, 12-year-old Danny Hunter didn’t know he was working...
ANYONE WHO has lived in Fayetteville knows Higgins Funeral Home. Sadly, many of us have said goodbye to loved ones inside those walls. While it’s hard, the Higgins family is there for ours. Families...
FOR NEARLY 125 years, Carter’s Drug Store on the Fayetteville square has dispensed more than medicine to members of the Lincoln County community. To many, it’s been a steady job in good times and...
EVER CATCH the aroma of a memory? You know the one — your mama’s Sunday pot roast, fried onions and potatoes, chocolate chip cookies, or cinnamon rolls? We do our best to recreate them for our...
STAR OLYMPIAN Usain Bolt is known as the fastest man in the world, and his reputation was cemented when he won the gold medal in the 100-meter race at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London...
LOCALS WERE making a sweet trip around town, attending the first-ever Chocolate Walk event in downtown Fayetteville. The Fayetteville Main Street program sponsored the event to bring folks in to see...
Sometimes life just isn’t what it seems. There are situations where we view each other through the fishbowl of life. We watch from outside, sure of what we’re seeing. Meanwhile, inside, life is its...
I THINK OF education the same way I think of the spring season. In that time of year, out of season and lifeless-looking trees begin to bloom and become like new. The new nutrients, new water, and...
MEMORIES OF books, card catalogs, and hushing librarians come to mind when we recall the libraries of our childhood. We can almost smell that perfect mixture of paper, dust, and nostalgia. Those...
RECOGNIZED ON a national stage through the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, while still retaining the family atmosphere where students are not just a number, Fayetteville City Schools is a true...
YOUR FIRST thoughts when you hear “Girl Scouts” may be of Thin Mints and Tagalongs©, and who could blame you? Hold that thought because your favorite limited-time treat does much more than satisfy...
DRIVING TOWARD the Fayetteville square, the Lincoln County Courthouse stands like a sentry over the community. It’s an architectural dream, breathtaking in the glow of early morning or against an...
LIKE THE electricity powering your home's heating and cooling, you can't see it, but you can feel the results of it. At Highland Rim School, that thing you feel is the energy and effect of life in...
In 2010, Fayetteville Public Utilities' (FPU) CEO/General Manager Britt Dye envisioned a project to help generate awareness of the utility company and its role in the community. Dye's idea grew into...
AS A small boy, Thomas Hastings learned the letters of the alphabet as he helped his dad change the sign outside Lincoln County High School. He grew up surrounded by a family of educators. It’s all...
LIKE BAKING friendship bread, teaching requires patience, dedication, and the love of working with the ingredients: curious students, challenges at school, and a supportive community. Teaching...
LAID OFF for the second time from his factory job and newly married, Scott Posey considered a career change. He decided college would broaden his opportunities and attended Motlow State Community...
A FOUR-YEAR HIATUS of theater or musical production almost always means the end of it. People grow up, move on, or do not wish to revive what was put on hold. It takes dedication, devotion, and...
IMAGINE YOU’VE planned to spend several hours in your favorite bookstore. You schedule a time to search for a few good books for stolen quiet hours a few times each year. It’s something you always...
LAURA RADWAY Mayer always looked for the child on the playground with no one to play with, and it’s no different today. Her heart is bent toward women and children with broken hearts and lives, and...
THE TEST of history has proven that women have been foundational, like a sturdy rock that can withstand a storm. They overcame obstacles century after century, constantly adapting to the needs of...
JUST OVER 100 years ago, women finally received what other Americans, but not all, already had — the right to vote. Now, we have the opportunity to lift up and celebrate the groundbreaking women...
AT WORK, Eddie Medley wears many hats: job coach, record keeper, counselor, facilitator, job developer, etc. But he said it all comes down to three important tasks: advocate, facilitate, and...
DANA CASEY has always loved school; it’s where she’s wanted to be for as long as she can remember. As a little girl, she loved to play school and was always happy to receive old, discarded textbooks...
WHEN KAREN Martinez-Davis met Kyle Davis in their first year of high school, neither could have imagined their future. Most students were focused on making it to class on time and hanging out with...
LAST DECEMBER, Judy Carter enjoyed dinner and Christmas lights with her family. For some, it’s a little thing, but for Carter and her family, it was a reason to celebrate. And it was possible...
SOME PEOPLE spend their life putting others before themselves. They show up at just the right time, armed with answers and resources, making the world a better place through their presence. Judy...
THE STAGE was set for an Oscar-worthy evening where attendees enjoyed an evening on the red carpet while raising awareness and funds for a beloved hometown organization. The third annual Main Street...
MARCH 1 is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day — a day to celebrate the rich, gooey goodness of a pantry staple. What better way to start the day than with a batch of special pancakes? Then, keep up...
IT’S THE curse of getting older — you know — being told that we are acting like our parents by taking on their traits, actions, and beliefs. And it’s true. Now, at 39, I find it happening to me,...
ON ANY day, countless people cross our paths. Some are distracted, some are irritated, some are angry, and some are hurting. We may be one of them. Who knows how a kind word might change their mood...
WHEN I first saw her, something told me, ‘I’m going to marry that girl someday,’” Donny Ogle said, the love in his voice strong 55 years later. “And she couldn’t stand me. I guess I was a little...
IMAGINE LIFE is a car, and our goal is to make it from one side of the country to the other. The only way to do that is by having a full tank of gas. What is the gas in our lives, as humans, that...
ROSES ARE red, violets are blue, treat your loved one to a treat that is made by you! Whether you’re celebrating the beginnings of a new relationship, or spending the day with your longtime...
WHILE HIS jeweler grandfather took care of his customers in his store in Iran, a young David Sabghi looked over his shoulder and was soon captivated by what he learned. Sabghi’s interest in...
I DON’T KNOW a stranger. Call it a hazard of my job as a writer, but I genuinely enjoy meeting people, and it is even better if I can turn them into friends. There’s a great quote by Maya Angelou...
THE PETERSBURG Community Library was tucked away in the back corner of a treasure shop, Junk and Stuff, on the south side of Petersburg’s square. The small library with a big heart recently got a...
GILES COUNTY High School Principal Don Thomas was projected to be a second or third-round draft pick for the Atlanta Falcons until a back injury in college changed the direction of his career....
IN 2011, an overgrown hillside on the family farm needed attention, and David Robinson of Robinson Environmental Land Clearing got a call from an ad in the Farmers' Exchange. Gina McGee’s brother...
IT WAS a perfect autumn day — blue skies, golden leaves, and cottony clouds. Just off the square at the intersection of Elk and Washington Streets stands the 1800s steamboat Gothic home of Don...
CHARLES AND Linda McGee have learned a few things in their 60 years of marriage, and you can count on one thing: they learned them together. Because they lived in the same community, the couple knew...
MARTHA CRAIG and Charlene Richardson share a bond that’s grown stronger over time. What started with Craig cleaning for Richardson in her home blossomed into an endearing friendship as the two spent...
WITH A new year comes new and greater opportunities. Now, more than ever, the community can gather to support underserved families to help them get ahead in 2023. The Lincoln County Toy Drive serves...
THREE BROKEN mother-hearts form a circle of love and friendship, giving space for healing, remembering, and offering hope to each other and the world around them. “It’s not a club you want to join,”...
I AM IN the middle of my third decade of life, and within the last two years, I’ve discovered something I always ignored: music from the midcentury. Life does not seem to be slowing down. Our...
OUR COMMUNITY has a rich history. Businesses, people, and locations have created the foundation of who we are today. Each decade is a building block to our identity, creating a beautiful masterpiece...
FOR OVER 30 years, children’s television host Mister Rogers came into the homes of millions via our television sets and told each of us one of the most important things a person could say to us. “I...
MANY HAVE heard the popular adage, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” But it’s possible that many of you read that and immediately shrugged and thought, “But...
IMAGINE PURCHASING a tract of land overgrown with years of neglect. Cedar trees, privet bushes, and brush overgrow acres of rolling hills, potential pasture, and backyard. If not for the clutter,...
KNOWING THAT your partner has your back is a matter of life or death. With two legs or four, the bond is one of trust and faith. Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) K-9 Officer Andy Rodriguez and...
DREAMS CAN be hard things to follow. As you chase them, having a friend alongside you strengthens you for the journey. A group of like-minded friends becomes a brotherhood of believers, and the...
THE ILLUMINATED art deco invitation has stood on the square for over seven decades. Endless generations of families in Lincoln County have walked under the same lights; the lights have been featured...
THE NATIONAL anthem is finished. Spectators return their caps to their heads and settle into their seats—some on the outside ring, some in box seats, and others in the stands. The red, white, and...
IT WAS June Cleaver’s iconic wardrobe–what she wore while making breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She wore it when making up Beaver and Wally’s beds and vacuuming the floors. She wore it while talking...
KICK OFF the new year with a new hobby and built-in accountability—the type of accountability that might just turn the hobby into a new healthy habit! Jacked Up Runners is a laid-back running club...
ALL I want for Christmas iiiiiiis…yoooooOOooooOOoouuuUUUuuu.” Can you hear it already? It’s that time of year once again. A time of year when a heated blanket feels like a hug. Every inch of the...
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941 — no matter your age, the day World War II crossed our borders is more than a date on our calendars; it’s a somber memorial to the 2,335 lives sacrificed to...
As you put on your next new pair of shoes, hold that empty box a few minutes longer. Look inside at what it holds. What do you see? Packing paper? Cardboard? Look again. That empty box has the...
OFTEN, WHEN we think about helping someone in need, our minds immediately begin brainstorming what to do. Typical thoughts that come to mind are: "Let's pay the electric bill. Who can build a ramp...
HOW CAN a word trigger so many emotional responses, and why is it fair that it does? While we could erase the word from the dictionary, doing so would do nothing to erase it from our lives. However,...
A CHILD STARES at the blank page. She can’t remember the teacher’s instructions and believes she can’t draw. Only artists can do that. And she’s not alone. From childhood to adulthood, it’s a...
THEY SERVED our country and protected our freedom. They sacrificed their time and put their lives on the line while we carried on dayto- day life, safely and comfortably. Today, many of them are...
LOOK AROUND the grocery store today andsee bewildered faces in every aisle. Buggies once packed to the brim are now carefully curated from half-empty shelves. Coupons and calculators are in hand....
DO YOURSELF a favor and stop by Ken’s Fast Foods. You’ll be impressed by this small local restaurant with big flavors, quality service, and a budget-friendly menu. Be sure to get in early to beat...
BEFORE THE leaves in the trees begin turning shades of red, brown, yellow, and orange, the Host of Christmas Past Oversight Committee has long been at work preparing for the special event that falls...
EATING FUNNEL cakes, enjoying carnival rides, spending time with family and friends: The Lincoln County Fair, Inc. aims to make a difference in people’s lives. This fall, the organization celebrated...
SPEND 90 seconds with Jennie Schutte-Patrick, and you’ll know you’re about to get an education infused with passion and humor. It’s everywhere she is, and you’ll find this wife, mom, and chief of...
WE DUST off the artificial pumpkin decorations and pull orange and purple wreaths from storage. We pull out rakes and sweaters as the weather drops like the leaves do. The weather feels therapeutic...
YOU’RE NOT supposed to have dessert for breakfast. Well, at least that’s what my parents always told me when I was little. Now that I am an adult that makes my own decisions, I decide what I want...
TAKE A deep breath and smell the aroma of lunch cooking in the kitchen. It was a very important meal. Jesus and the 12 stopped in to visit the home of Martha and Mary, in Bethany. Through the...
HOME, HEART, Hospitality — Doug and Heather Clausen, owners of the new Fayetteville Liquidation Center (FLC), believe they’ve found all three here among the meandering hills of Lincoln County. The...
HELPING PREGNANT women has been woven into the fabric of Amanda Curtis’s life. During the 1980s, both her mother and her aunt served as pregnancy help counselors, and in the early 2000s her father...
WHEN HE retired at the age of 64, James D. Wheeler felt that he had missed out on something in life. Wheeler, 86, was raised on a farm in Lincoln County cultivating cotton, watermelons, and other...
THE LATE Colin Powell once stated that achieving one’s dream wasn’t for the weary. “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work." Owning a taco stand...
WHEN ENTERING a particular local restaurant located at 2715 Huntsville Highway, Suite C, in Fayetteville, the first thing you will notice is the friendly servers taking your order, happy that you...
204 COLLEGE Street E. in Fayetteville is a place where a special woman can make your favorite espresso drink any way you like it. Her name is Sheila Archer, and she can produce drinks fast. Java...
THE GHOST of Christmas Past from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” whisked Ebenezer Scrooge back through the ages of time where together they viewed reminders of his greatest triumphs and his...
IF AT first you don't succeed, try, and try again. And tried, and tried again is what Fayetteville-Lincoln County Public Library’s (FLCPL) staff did with the library’s summer reading program after...
WHEN THE SMELL of warm caramel coffee lingers in the air of your vehicle on the way to work, you don’t have to think about watching your back. While not every driver on the road is aware of their...
FAYETTEVILLE CITY Schools (FCS) is now participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, supplying breakfast and lunch meals to all students at no cost to families. The district...
ASHLYN KENDALL Poole’s age has been her greatest challenge. Hometown Lenders, Inc. opened up a new branch in Fayetteville earlier this year under Poole’s management, making her one of the youngest...
FAYETTEVILLE HIGH School (FHS) hired Fayetteville native Billy Jack Netherland as the new head coach of the Tigers baseball team, toward the beginning of the school year. Known as Coach B.J. on the...
ON MAIN Avenue North, in downtown Fayetteville, a particular building sticks out. It is hard to miss with its red, white, and blue colors bursting with patriotic pride. On the exterior of the...
IT COULD have been a quilt they were gathered around. Beneath could have been small children playing and watching as needles passed through the layers of calico fabric. With snacks nearby and warm...
IN A SMALL rural community, where the pace of life is undoubtedly slower, one would think that a first responder’s job would be fairly cushy. Images like firefighters tucked in bed at the fire...
MOST EVERYONE takes comfort in knowing that when they need help, someone is there to answer the call. But who is that someone? In Fayetteville, it’s quite possible that the person answering your...
MOST OF the population begins each workday with a basic understanding of the tasks that lie ahead of them. Expectations are clear, and circumstances are generally unchanging. For some, that may look...
THERE THEY were, a young couple in love, walking hand in hand down cobblestone streets in Rome. The two were giddy, swooning equally over one another and the romantic allure of the ancient city...
“TACO TUESDAY” is a pretty well known term. In fact, many people use that term to plan meals for the week. It’s so ingrained in my brain that I find myself craving tacos most Tuesdays. This...
THE FAYETTEVILLE-LINCOLN County Arts Center hosted multiple summer art enrichment camps this year, peaking with a mixed medium art camp July 11-15 for children ages 6 to 13, with arts instructor...
FITZGERALD HOPKINS desired to take Fayetteville City Schools’ (FCS) basketball to the next level. So he asked FCS director, Bill Hopkins, — no relation — to create a new position. In July, FCS named...
TENNESSEE GOV. Bill Lee and the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD), Bob Rolfe, announced earlier this year that Ariens Company (AriensCo) will...
THE LINCOLN County High School (LCHS) cheerleaders attended the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) camp in Cookeville, Tennessee, June 21-24, bringing home three major awards. UCA — an...
INSIDE THE pages of her favorite books, Sierra Arguello found a place of belonging but still longed for something that she couldn’t quite identify. In the early days of fifth grade, Arguello’s...
AS THE sun slips behind the grandstands, the drum corp marches the band toward the Lincoln County High School (LCHS) field. Students and spectators follow on their heels, many carrying their...
It’s finally here! Although the outside temperature argues for summer, your school spirit knows it’s fall. Tonight you’ve chosen shorts and flip-flops, but soon it will be flannel shirts, pants, and...
FORGET YOUR most potent, most aromatic memories of high school locker rooms. Lincoln County High School’s football locker room is saturated with the winning spirit of three state championship...
ACHIEVING ANY goal takes determination, self-discipline, and a certain level of grit. Short-term goals require a high level of mental acuity. Long-term goals require much more than a centered and...
IT WAS the beginning of school football season, and the boys of fall were anxious to rough the field between the two goal posts. New faces filled the coaching staff of Fayetteville High School’s...
JUST THREE miles North of Fayetteville, right off of U.S. 231, lies a family farm referred to as Shadow Valley. The picturesque farmland was purchased in 1993 by Carlton Brady. His vision was to...
“They want a better life. They want a better life and more opportunities for their children. The majority of the immigrants that come to America, that’s what they’re looking for,” she said. It’s the...
THE CLASSROOM is like railroad tracks. Hard workers spent years, decades—centuries even—laying the groundwork for the trains to run smoothly from coast to coast. They’re strong. And they last for...
IT MIGHT be one of the most exciting yet stressful times of the year, rivaling that of Christmas. It requires preparation, planning, logistics, time, and money. I’m almost sure there are military...
WITH THE first cup of steaming coffee in my hand and the stiffness still in my joints, I gently ease into my spot on the couch. A fresh, new day offers a blank page, although the to-do list in my...
THE WORDS “back to school” can stir up many different emotions. Some young parents hear “school” and are instantly filled with dread and anxiety. Leaving their wide eyed babes for the first time can...
Have you ever felt so hungry you could eat a horse? The growling and gurgling of your stomach begs you to fill it with something substantial. You’re angry and irritable because you know a mere...
DEFINING THE meaning of teacher requires more than Merriam-Webster; it takes a deeper look and a second glance. More than a job with a summer-long vacation, teachers are motivated by their love for...
SURROUNDED BY a sea of classmates, a student filled with potential may feel invisible or wish he could disappear. Another student’s highest aim might be to coast through school until graduation. One...
IT ALL began with the murder of about 250 men, women, and children. Their deaths at Fort Mims in Alabama, came at the hands of Creek Indians who had acquired weapons from Great Britain during the...
THE CARE for students in special education should always be a priority for the education system, but this care may be more important now, than ever before, with the current shortages of teachers....
NEXTERA ENERGY Resources, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and Meta announced in May the commissioning of the Elora Solar Energy Center: Tennessee’s newest large-scale solar energy project. Based...
THE LINCOLN County Lady Falcons softball team experienced some injuries during the season, but it ended with a feat never accomplished in school history: qualifying for the state tournament. “When...
MENTION YOUTH sports and organized athletic teams naturally come to mind – football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer – well, you see the common thread, don’t you? It’s a ball, but there are...
AS CHARLOTTE HOOPER attended regular services at The Father’s Refuge Church, she saw more than hymnals and church bulletins; she saw children and families in need. Wanting to help, she and her...
WHEN EDIE MARTIN graduated in 1999, she was deeply saddened. A Falcon at heart, she left Lincoln County High School only long enough to obtain her teaching degree. “It hurt me not to be there and be...
RALPH ASKINS School has been Karrie Pittenger’s second home for most of her life. A safe, inviting environment is the heart of any home. It’s the same atmosphere Pittenger wanted for students and...
ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO! The buzzer sounded and runners of all ages took off. Feet hit the blacktop in repetition as they spent the next 3.1 or 10.2 miles running in the muggy, summer-morning heat...
IF YOU took a snapshot of any 10 years in our country’s history, there is a hurt we were trying to heal. The same is true today. It’s our independence that lets us correct that, to heal, and to...
Here are fun facts to challenge your players: DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: John Hancock’s was the first and only one on July Fourth. The remaining signatures were added over time,...
“FREEDOM” enters the chatroom, and immediately it’s all, barbecued meat and who’s got the biggest bang of a firework show. While Independence Day is our nation’s designated time to pause and...
WHEN VIKTOR Makela arrived in America from Finland, the Statue of Liberty welcomed him. He brought more than a few material possessions with him; he arrived with a heart filled with dreams. Makela...
WE WELCOME a summer celebration more than ever, and Independence Day is the perfect time to gather for food, fun, fireworks, and flag-waving. There’s an event near you, so there’s no excuse for...
HMMM AAAHH. It smells like the weekend. Those grilled pineapple burgers will be lip-smacking, mouthwatering, and juicy down to the last bite. However, what lies on the grill is much more than your...
WHEN I was a young buck, I decided if there was a rule, I was going to break it. There have been many distinct times in my life when I have felt suffocated by others’ control, expectations, or...
FAYETTEVILLE MAYOR Michael Whisenant and the city alderman updated the city’s garbage and cart replacement policy to better clean the city. The city will make available a 96-gallon cart to all...
NONPROFITS PLAY important roles in everyone’s communities, offering services from caring for animals and supplying food to the hungry, to fighting human trafficking and providing education. The...
LINCOLN COUNTY High School (LCHS) partnered with JCF Housements through Work-Based Learning (WBL), to help provide students with manufacturing, technical, intellectual, and social skills needed in...
THE FAYETTEVILLE-LINCOLN County Industrial Development Board (FLCIDB) continues to seek ways to bring positive changes to Lincoln County communities by partnering organizations and building...
FAYETTEVILLE HIGH School (FHS) hired Daniel Johnson as the new head coach of the Tigers football team for the 2022 season. The new head coach seeks to take his team to the state championship to...
DICK CLARK said “music is the soundtrack of your life.” Eric Michael Taylor would say music is his life, and he enjoys writing and performing the soundtracks of your life. Taylor’s music style...
BEING ABLE to recognize people that have had huge impacts on the lives of others is always a special occasion. I am so proud to be able to share with all of you, the celebration of the career of an...
HOW DOES a man without any lower limbs, no arm on the left side, and a partial arm on the right side, become a Bassmaster professional angler? Many would speculate the fisherman would have to use...
LONG STRINGY brown hair peeks out from underneath a fuzzy blanket. Below, a precious child holds tight to her well-loved teddy bear. Her little body rustles around in bed. You can almost smell the...
TENNESSEE MAY not have sandy shores. We may not have Buckingham Palace sitting in our backyard. Vacation spots all around the world, from Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower, attract tourists from far and...
Whether it’s relaxation or adventure you’re seeking, you don’t have to look far to find it. Middle Tennessee’s waterways will refresh and restore you. A lazy float with nature’s soundtrack of...
According to nature.org, the Duck River is one of the state’s most scenic waterways and North America’s most biologically diverse freshwater river. It is located entirely within the state of...
Tims Ford Reservoir is 10,600 acres in South Central Tennessee, a major portion of which is located in Franklin County. The lake is considered one of the most picturesque in Tennessee. It’s regarded...
Located below Tims Ford Dam, the Elk River is popular for panfish and trout fishing. The tailwaters below the dam are about 50 feet wide with gravel bars and intermittent deep pools. For...
It’s hard to want to eat a large meal after a long day working or playing out in the blistering heat. You know you need something substantial to sustain you, yet you’re so worn out. Those hearty...
HAVE YOU ever given something away and later felt regret settle in? Last summer, I was push-mowing our grass. I thoroughly enjoy breaking a sweat and getting a little exercise while doing yard work....
FAYETTEVILLE WELCOMED a new individual who is seeking to bring positive changes to the city: new City Administrator Kevin Owens. Mayor Michael Whisenant said the position of city admin- istrator...
THE LINCOLN County Commission approved a $1 million incentive for the county’s five broadband providers earlier this spring, seeking to provide better internet connections to Lincoln County...
LINCOLN COUNTY Schools (LCS) received awards this past school year in recognition of its successful programs and contributions to student success. The Tennessee Department of Education named LCS an...
PEOPLE EXPERIENCE and witness the same problems resurface without end: COVID-19, economic hardships such as increased gas prices, natural disasters, racial injustice, political tension, death, and...
FAYETTEVILLE HIGH School (FHS) was established 11 years ago. Along with the school came a new Tigers basketball program, a lot of uncertainty, and a head boys basketball coach faced withthe...
FOR COREY Buckner, the path of his life changed in an instant. A diagnosis of Stage 2a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2013 shifted his focus from life’s ordinary routines and dreams to a fight for his life....
IF THE Japanese proverb that says happiness is to hold flowers in both hands is true, Sharon Guntherberg is one of the happiest people in Lincoln County, if not the world. And it’s a happiness she...
LESS THAN two miles from the Fayetteville square, a 50-acre farm provides local products to the Lincoln County community. Eli and Jessica Buckley, owners of Buckley Farm, are native to Fayetteville...
AN OLDER gentleman living across the street shows himself peculiar in this world, addicted to speed and noise. Our world rushes and zips by, yet he stands unmoved and never in a hurry. The way he...
Right in our own backyard, we have access to one of the most di- verse ecosystems in the world. Henry Horton State Park (HHSP) neighbors the peaceful Duck River and is waiting to be explored. The...
Many of us, especially our younger generations, do not realize the ease and accessibility our modern world has provided. Yes, life naturally can still present challenges of its own. However, we are...
STORES’ OPEN doors and pop- up canopies dotting the square welcomed visitors and hometown residents back to their festival. The hum of food truck generators was sweeter than the Daytona 500 lineup...
THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER dictionary defines the word selfless as “someone who has no concern for self, or unselfish.” As the world keeps turning, it may feel like selfless people are few and far between....
WEBSTER MAY define selflessness as having no concern for self, but givers in our community give the world and our lives deeper meaning. They take to heart the well-being and care of others and place...
TUCKED INTO central southern Middle Tennessee and enveloped in rolling hills and hollows, Lincoln County and its communities are rich in history and hospitality. The natural beauty will draw you in;...
CANCER SUCKS. Literally, it sucks the life out of seemingly healthy individuals and wreaks havoc in the most stable and secure homes. And it is not biased. Cancer will act as a leach to every...
Easter parades may have passed on by, but its many other traditions are alive and well. Even though the internet has changed how we watch movies, families still watch “The Ten Commandments” every...
AS MORNING’S first light nudged the last of the darkness, Mary Magdalene walked with heavy heart and feet along the dirt road. The garden’s birdsong and fragrant blossoms, usually welcomed,...
MEMBERS OF the Friends of the Library (FOL) hosted the “Last Gala” event at the Fayetteville- Lincoln County Public Library (FLCPL) on Feb. 26, to pay off the debt on the facility. FOL, a...
SOMETIMES PEOPLE’S great acts of service are not recognized enough today. Therefore, it was about time for Dr. Farris Beasley to be honored for serving Lincoln County all his life. Beasley was...
MANY EDUCATORS work hard to serve the students in their school districts with little recognition, so it’s good whenever we find ways to recognize the ones who invest in America’s children. Such...
THE FAYETTEVILLE Lincoln County Industrial Development Board (FLCIDB) is looking to bring growth to the community as it seeks to attract business to the area. The Tennessee Department of Economic...
LINCOLN COUNTY High School (LCHS) hired Eddie Cunningham as the new head coach of the Falcon football team for the 2022 season. The new head coach plans to help his team return to good football. ...
IF THERE is one thing I have found to be true over the years, it is this: there is always more to the story. A man’s garage lined with bins full of recycling matter seems to be pure laziness. “Why...
FEW PATHS to positive personal growth are more noble than resolving to help others through increased acts of generosity and kindness. According to Psychology Today, doing good for others—no matter...
IT’S HARD to imagine now, but there was a time when women weren’t allowed to cross the Fayetteville downtown square unattended. In the mid-1800s, several saloons were located around the square, and...
TUCKED AWAY on a back road just a few miles south of Fayetteville, nestled in an undeveloped valley of Pea Ridge, is a park where you can get back to nature and enjoy a world that exists right...
BE CAREFUL what you pray for,” he said, laughing. “God has delivered, and it’s such a wonderful ride. I will never forget my journey here,” Mr. Billy said. Mr. Billy and his wife, Shelia, have...
TOMMY GRAHAM’S uncommon job is not one many would choose. Known to many for his mortuary work, people naturally ask why he would choose such a career. “Truthfully, I really don’t know why. It was...
INSIDE SKILLED nursing facilities, time moves at different paces: the residents’ and everyone else’s. The employees escape to a world filled with things to do, places to go, and people to see when...
LONG BEFORE the sun rises over the horizon, Mama is up putting dishes in the oven and ironing everyone’s Sunday best. Then, it’s a hurried push out the door and into the car. Pulling into the church...
The perfect gift, all year long.
Latest Good News
As the frost thaws and redbuds bloom across Lincoln County, the energy at the Lincoln Bedford Moore Farmers Co-op in Fayetteville shifts into high gear. Spring in Middle Tennessee is the most...
Dr. John Boyle, known by patients as "Doc," brings more than 20 years of clinical expertise to the Hazel Green community. Since graduating from Life University in 2000, his career has been defined...
A STUDENT IN our community today will walk the halls of Congress with a pinned American flag on their chest. A student in our community today will pray their knees still hold when their nerves get...
WHEN LYDIA Marshall talks about her theater students at Lincoln County High School, she often calls them her “kids” — a habit she jokes she now has to clarify as she prepares to welcome her first...
A TENNESSEE COLLEGE of Applied Technology (TCAT) nursing student shadows a Lincoln Medical Center nurse, staying full shifts to assist where needed and observe every aspect of the job. One Lincoln...
